Podcast Summary: The Athletic Hockey Show
Episode Title: Should the Rangers fire Chris Drury?
Release Date: January 15, 2026
Hosts: Haley Salvian, Sean Gentile
Guest Analyst: Dom Luszczyszyn
Episode Overview
This episode takes a deep dive into the turmoil surrounding the New York Rangers and embattled GM Chris Drury, set against the backdrop of a lopsided loss to Ottawa that sparked “fire Drury” chants at Madison Square Garden. Alongside this, the panel recaps key NHL games from Wednesday night, reflects on Connor McDavid’s quietly dominant 20-game point streak (comparing it historically to Sidney Crosby), and offers playoff predictions, all while keeping the banter lively and irreverent.
Main Topics & Key Discussion Points
1. Rangers Meltdown & Fan Revolt
- Ottawa Senators vs. New York Rangers (8–5): The Rangers were handily beaten at home by an Ottawa team in turmoil, triggering loud “fire Drury” chants.
- Goaltending Woes: Igor Shesterkin’s absence is exposing the Rangers’ flaws; Jonathan Quick’s recent save percentage is in the 700s.
- Roster Construction Issues: The lack of successful draft picks under both Jeff Gorton and Drury is a glaring concern—rookie Noah Laba being the only Drury draft pick in the regular lineup.
- Team Identity Crisis: Adam Fox’s injury has left the blueline in shambles, and the prospect pipeline isn’t replacing aging or underperforming core players.
“God bless Jonathan Quick… But I think what the Rangers are seeing is what happens when you don’t have Igor Shesterkin bailing them out on a night-to-night basis.”
— Sean Gentile [06:14]
“This feels like the trench. This feels like the bottom of something.”
— Sean Gentile [09:39]
- Potential for Drastic Moves: Despite recent support from Rangers/Knicks owner James Dolan, the panel notes the “fire Drury” outcry might force action sooner than anticipated.
2. New Jersey Devils: Signs of Life?
- Recent Surge: New Jersey wins 3–2 in OT against the Kraken; Jack Hughes appears to be regaining form post-injury, even if still bandaged up.
- Dougie Hamilton’s Benchings: Hamilton has looked strong in his last two games after a surprising healthy scratch. Debate on his role/value continues.
“Dougie, my ride or die. I’ll always defend him… If the results are truly bad, then I will pivot.”
— Dom Luszczyszyn [13:41]
- Crowded Blue Line Concerns: The show discusses the challenges of fitting two high-priced “top pair” defenders into meaningful minutes, with Luke Hughes overtaking top power play duties.
3. Buffalo Sabres: Playoff Dark Horse?
- Hot Streak: Buffalo climbs into a Wild Card slot after winning 14 out of 16, pushing Toronto out of a playoff spot.
- Local Excitement: The Sabres’ fan base is energized, with listeners and personal anecdotes highlighting the mood in Buffalo.
- Long-Awaited Turnaround: Panelists (especially Dom) discuss feeling vindicated after preseason belief in Buffalo, noting “they’ve played not great hockey for 15 years before this.”
“We have boots on the ground with Sean’s friend Greg. I think the city's coming alive and… this is a hockey town that’s been starved.”
— Dom Luszczyszyn [17:38]
4. Connor McDavid’s 20-Game Point Streak vs. Sidney Crosby’s Era-Defining Run
[Segment Starts ~22:00]
-
Comparative Stats:
- McDavid (2026): 19 goals, 46 points in 20 games (career-best pace)
- Crosby (2010–11): 25 goals, 50 points in 25 games (in lower-scoring environment)
-
Historic Context: Only the fourth player in the salary cap era to hit a 20-game streak; analysis suggests McDavid’s underlying shot/chance stats might even outpace Crosby, but Crosby’s run remains more iconic due to the circumstances.
-
Media & Fan Attention Gap: The current streak feels “quiet,” lacking the national buzz and aura of Crosby’s HBO “Winter Classic” season.
“McDavid is doing things that even McDavid hasn’t done before… But it doesn’t have the same aura of Crosby’s streak.”
— Dom Luszczyszyn [23:14]
“Sidney Crosby did all that while he had an HBO show… That was a huge part of building the aura.”
— Sean Gentile [25:05]
- Aura Analysis:
- Crosby’s run was magnified by an HBO series, a Winter Classic, and Pittsburgh’s status as an NHL powerhouse at the time.
- Injuries derailed Crosby shortly after, elevating the historical significance of the streak.
- McDavid’s regular excellence may have induced “voter fatigue” and contributed to his streak’s under-the-radar status.
“I feel like it’s almost similar to the voter fatigue conversation we’ve had about the Hart. Connor McDavid ripping off point streaks… it’s just like, yeah, OK.”
— Haley Salvian [34:25]
5. Pre-Olympic NHL Schedule Crunch & Injury Risk
- Ramped-Up Schedules: The show notes NHL teams are entering a brutal stretch—Washington, for instance, will play 12 games in 22 days before Olympic break, with several back-to-backs and long road trips.
- Potential for Injuries: The frantic pace could lead to injury spikes and punish teams severely for poor stretches.
“You are punished pretty dramatically for having a bad six or seven or eight days in a way that you typically aren’t.”
— Sean Gentile [41:11]
6. Rapid-Fire Playoff Prediction: Sabres or Kraken?
[42:00–44:40]
- Buffalo Sabres favored: Both panelists pick Buffalo as the more likely playoff team over Seattle, citing the Sabres’ higher-end talent, five-on-five play, and underlying numbers. Seattle’s schedule only gets tougher.
“They have the high end in a way that Seattle doesn’t, they have the five on five play in a way that Seattle doesn’t.”
— Sean Gentile [42:32]
“Who is the best player on the Kraken, and where would they rank on the Sabres? …I would take Tage over [McCann], I would take Tuch over him…”
— Dom Luszczyszyn [43:44]
Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)
-
On Rangers Fan Revolt:
“This feels like the bottom of something… If ever there was a result that deserved to get booed, it was last night.”
— Sean Gentile [09:39] -
On Crosby vs. McDavid Aura:
“Sidney Crosby did all that while he had an HBO show. That was a huge part of building the aura around that streak.”
— Sean Gentile [25:05] -
On Dougie Hamilton’s Ups & Downs:
“Doug, my ride or die. I’ll always defend him. If the results are truly bad, then I will pivot.”
— Dom Luszczyszyn [13:41] -
On Sabres Renaissance:
“This is a hockey town that’s been starved for something like this. I really want to see the energy… if the Sabres do make it.”
— Dom Luszczyszyn [17:38] -
On NHL Schedule Madness:
“12 games in 22 days, including a bunch of back to backs and a whole bunch of travel… I think there’s going to be repercussions.”
— Sean Gentile [40:26]
Lighthearted Banter, Running Gags & Podcast Culture
- Repeated jabs at Max Boltman “demoted” to Mondays, minor-league/prospect podcast metaphors.
- Playful teasing about Dom's beer-league hockey skills and pet stories.
- Running joke about “Narayah Samuelson/Manoris Norrison” as possible Sabres defensive pairings (from Sean’s friend Greg).
- Cracks at the Kraken’s roster (“Who’s the best player on the Kraken?”) and Marner’s tough adjustment to Vegas life (“…Oh man, I can’t play video games with my friends. This sucks.” — Dom [45:54])
Additional Segments
- Leafs and Mitch Marner in Vegas: Brief chat about Marner’s struggles adjusting to a new city and being away from his comfort zone.
- Sign-off and Acknowledgments: Haley jokes about “getting fired,” Dom’s self-effacing Kraken apology, and reminders for listeners about the prospect show.
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Rangers vs. Senators, Drury Outcry: [06:00–11:00]
- Devils’ Recent Run, Dougie Hamilton Debate: [11:00–15:49]
- Sabres’ Hot Streak & Wild Card Race: [15:49–18:49]
- McDavid vs. Crosby Historic Point Streaks: [22:01–35:33]
- Olympic Schedule Squeeze Discussion: [37:22–41:38]
- Sabres vs. Kraken Playoff Ceiling: [42:00–44:40]
- Leafs/Marner in Vegas Banter: [45:19–47:59]
Overall Tone & Closing Thoughts
This episode balances sharp analytics with a conversational, jokey style. The team successfully connects big-picture narratives (like executive accountability and the fleeting nature of superstar “aura”) with the daily realities of NHL teams and their fans. In-depth analysis is punctuated by creative, snarky asides, offering something for both die-hard hockey nerds and fans who relish personality-driven sports talk.
If you missed the episode:
— The Rangers’ woes are now at crisis level, with Drury on the hot seat and few easy fixes in sight.
— Buffalo remains the East’s most intriguing playoff dark horse.
— Connor McDavid’s latest feat might be his best stretch yet, but still lacks the Crosby-era mystique (through no fault of his own).
— Watch for the coming Olympic break and how the schedule crunch could shake up the playoff race.
— And, apparently, don’t expect Dom to say anything nice about the Kraken.
For full stat breakdowns and streak analysis, visit The Athletic’s “16 Stats” column by Dom Luszczyszyn.