The Athletic Hockey Show – January 14, 2026

Who replaces Brayden Point if he can't play in the Olympics?

Episode Overview

This episode revolves around the fallout from Brayden Point’s injury, which casts doubt on his Olympic availability for Team Canada. Hosts Sean Gentili and Sean McIndoo debate Canada's options for replacing Point on the roster, considering implications for both the Olympic squad and the Tampa Bay Lightning. The show also covers significant NHL news, such as the Columbus Blue Jackets’ coaching change and a check-in on prominent teams and players as the Olympic break nears.

Brayden Point’s Injury and Team Canada’s Dilemma

[03:00 - 13:45]

• Brayden Point Injury Details

  • Point suffered an apparent right knee injury, with the Lightning yet to disclose full details but a source described the situation as “not good.”
  • He is considered “week to week,” possibly avoiding the worst-case scenario (i.e., torn ACL), but his Olympic status is uncertain.
  • Discussion about the tough call John Cooper (Lightning and Team Canada coach) faces if Point is borderline healthy:

    “Are you gonna risk a guy who is a key piece of a team that right now is absolutely a Stanley Cup contender?”
    — Sean McIndoo [05:28]

• Olympic Roster Dynamics

  • Unique conflict of interest as Cooper coaches both Lightning and Team Canada.
  • Would Team Canada accept a not-fully-fit Point, or opt for a replacement?

Who Replaces Brayden Point?

[07:04 - 13:45]

• Replacement Candidates (as mentioned by CJ and Pierre LeBrun)

  • Sam Bennett
  • Connor Bedard
  • Wyatt Johnston
  • Mark Scheifele
  • Seth Jarvis
  • Travis Konecny

• Hosts' Analysis

  • The two-tiered replacement decision: filling out the roster spot and identifying the right player-type for Point’s role.
  • McIndoo argues Bedard is the natural choice, especially if Point would have played wing with McDavid:

    “If you’re trying to find a one-for-one replacement… it's Bedard.”
    — Sean Gentili [09:38]

  • They discuss schematics—Team Canada has a plethora of centers, so positional flexibility isn’t an issue.
  • McIndoo downplays Sam Bennett’s candidacy, noting Tom Wilson's existing selection fills the physical/power forward spot.
  • Bedard’s increased appeal:
    • Connection between Bedard’s NHL coach Jeff Blashill and Team Canada’s Cooper as a “tick” in his favor. [12:17]
    • Recent roster debates had focused on Bedard vs. Celebrini; both are in electric form now.

• Fun Aside

  • Gentle ribbing about “stacking the Lightning” with Canadian Olympic invites.

Coaching Carousel: Columbus Blue Jackets Post Evison Era

[17:53 - 32:57]

• Rick Bowness Hired as Head Coach

  • Dean Evison dismissed after a string of blown leads and poor third periods.
  • Don Waddell, GM, described this season as “the most frustrating of his career.” [18:43]

    “That’s an incredible statement from a guy who’s been in the league that long."
    — Sean Gentili [18:41]

• Timing & Terminology

  • Bowness is not labeled as “interim,” but no promise is made beyond the season.
  • The show jokes about Blue Jackets’ long list of coaches, contemplating if Aaron Portzline should apply for the job. [21:41]

• Why Was Evison Fired?

  • Team blown multiple multi-goal leads, especially to Pittsburgh.
  • Portzline outlines two types of teams that collapse: those lacking structure vs. those overly cautious.

    “They lock it down so much that they’re paralyzed.”
    — Sean McIndoo [23:10]

  • Columbus’ problem: panic and paralysis leading to squandered leads.
  • Critique of the team’s lack of physical edge—Voronkov cited as a 6’5” power forward who “skates away from scrums.”

    “The space in front of both nets is just way too easy against the Blue Jackets.”
    — Aaron Portzline [31:59]

• Will Bowness Fix It?

  • Bowness: “I’m a pressure coach. I’m not a sit back coach at all… We’re going to play pressure, we’re going to manage the puck better and we’re going to make it hard for the other team to create offense.”
    — Rick Bowness via Portzline [26:36]
  • Hosts and Portzline agree that coaching “bumps” often arise from new messaging and hope, even if tactical changes take time.

Rapid-Fire: Mitch Marner’s Vegas Transition & Bruins Emerging

[35:17 - 49:35]

Mitch Marner’s Adjustment in Vegas

• Jonas Siegel’s Athletic article highlights Marner’s adjustment pains: missing snow, family, and experiencing desert dryness.

• Gentili and McIndoo discuss the narrative of Marner’s happiness—or lack thereof—in Vegas:

  “Even if you’re a Leafs fan... you hope the best for him.”
  — Sean McIndoo [37:43]

• Prediction: Marner may finish his career with a return to Toronto.

• On Marner’s public perception:

  “I feel like there’s a degree of obliviousness to him... he doesn’t quite... get it.”
  — Sean Gentili [40:32]

Boston Bruins: Quiet Contenders?

• Despite skepticism about the roster, Bruins have won six of seven and are in a wild card spot.

• Sweyman (+7 GSAA, .920 SV% last seven games) and Pastrnak (15 points, 4 goals in last seven) leading the way.

  “This is how we thought they would... this was their chance at winning games.”
  — Sean Gentili [44:23]

• McIndoo points out quirk in standings: Bruins’ win-loss compared to teams like the Canadiens (both 26-21), but with few overtime points.

• Importance of points percentage versus raw rankings at this point in the season, due to games played disparity.

• Boston’s +9 goal differential is respectable and ahead of other wild card hopefuls.

• On Bruins’ playoff legitimacy:

  “Maybe if you have an elite goal scorer... and a goalie like Swayman... Maybe that’s all it takes to keep them in the mix.”
  — Sean Gentili [48:31]

Timestamps of Notable Segments

• Brayden Point injury and Team Canada impact – [03:00—13:45]
• Blue Jackets coaching change with Aaron Portzline – [17:53—32:57]
• Mitch Marner in Vegas/Leafs trade aftermath – [35:17—42:24]
• Are the Bruins for real? – [42:26—49:35]

Memorable Quotes

• “If it’s a situation where Brayden Point can play, but there’s an element of risk to it… what do you do if you’re John Cooper?”
  – Sean McIndoo [05:27]

• “If there’s a silver lining here… a large subset of people are going to get what they want: Bedard and McDavid.”
  – Sean Gentili [09:59]

• “That’s an incredible statement from a guy who’s been in the league that long… the most frustrating season of his career.”
  – Sean Gentili [18:41]

• “The space in front of both nets is just way too easy… They curl away from hits… This should be [a] physical team.”
  – Aaron Portzline [31:59]

• “It’s easy to say it sounds like [Marner’s] not happy in Vegas… but he’s making an adjustment.”
  – Sean McIndoo [36:05]

• “This is how we thought [the Bruins] would… this was their chance at winning games.”
  – Sean Gentili [44:23]

Episode Tone & Takeaways

• The hosts keep a humorous and conversational tone, full of inside-jokes and friendly teasing.
• They balance analytics, insights, and banter, making roster debates and organizational changes accessible and fun.
• The Olympic break and injury crises layer high stakes into team dynamics.
• The recurring lesson: roster depth, coaching tweaks, and chemistry (or the lack thereof) drive teams’ fortunes in unpredictable ways as the Olympic break approaches—making the next weeks pivotal for contenders and bubble squads alike.