The Athletic Hockey Show — January 22, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of The Athletic Hockey Show, hosted by Haley Salvian and Sean Gentille, dives into the high-profile Team USA Olympic replacement decision: Why was Anaheim Ducks’ defenseman Jackson Lacombe picked over the electrifying Lane Hutson to fill Seth Jones’ spot? The discussion unpacks the selection process, the merits of both players, and the ever-vibrant Lane Hudson discourse online. The hosts are joined by Julian McKenzie to discuss the Ottawa Senators’ struggles, Linus Ullmark’s personal leave for mental health, and the ongoing hunt for goaltending stability in Ottawa. Additional highlights include updates on Sweden’s Olympic injury woes and insight into the PWHL’s anonymous player poll conducted by The Athletic.

Main Discussion: Team USA’s Seth Jones Replacement — Jackson Lacombe vs. Lane Hutson

[02:49–12:29] The Lacombe-Hutson Debate

Setting the Scene

• NHLers are returning to the Olympics for the first time since 2014. With the tournament approaching, injuries are shaking up rosters, most notably Team USA’s loss of Seth Jones.
• Anaheim’s Jackson Lacombe is officially named as Jones’s replacement, sparking heated debate, especially among Lane Hutson’s vocal supporters.

Lacombe’s Merits and the Lane Hutson Factor

• Sean Gentille: Emphasizes that Lacombe is an excellent player in his own right, pointing to his steady rise, size (6’2”, 208 lbs), elite skating, and his reputation among both scouts and analytics departments.

  • “I had a scout that I trust tell me over the summer, ‘I don’t want you to think they’re the same player, but Jake Sanderson and Jackson Lacombe are a lot closer than you think.’” [06:23]

• Lacombe’s international resume is strong, with participation in last year’s World Championships, and he’s seen as a reliable, two-way blueliner—attributes Team USA management prioritized to “replace like with like”.

• Haley Salvian: Observes that the furor is stoked by Lane Hutson’s dynamic, creative style and the perception that he’s been “disrespected” by selectors for years.

  • “Lane Hutson is the more offensively dynamic, skilled guy, but that’s clearly not what they were looking for in this injury replacement or in that roster spot...” [08:16]

Context and Selection Rationale

• The hosts agree the USA Hockey leadership (notably GM Bill Guerin) was looking for a player profile similar to Jones—a reliable defender with size and good two-way impact—not a high-risk, high-reward style.

  • Gentille: “Lane Hudson, he allows tons and tons of zone entries ... Not the case with Jackson Lacombe. Lacombe is elite at puck retrievals, elite at zone exits...” [09:43]
  • Salvian: “If you had a chance to correct this [by adding skill], you would have. But it’s very clearly Bill Guerin and the USA brain trust saying, ‘We need more size, defense, and two-way ability.’” [08:23]

• Lane Hutson’s “ceiling is higher”—but not what the team sought in this moment.

  • Gentille: “Of all the controversial Bill Guerin decisions, this is the one that makes the most sense.” [11:33]

Olympic Injury Update: The Swedish Situation

[13:01–17:13] Team Sweden’s Olympic Hopes Dimming

• Sweden’s injury list is severe: Jonas Brodin, Leo Carlsson, Victor Hedman, Erik Karlsson, Gabriel Landeskog, William Nylander, and more.

  • Haley Salvian: “This is just the name ... a list of players who are currently hurt right now.” [13:15]

• Recent updates confirm Carlsson and Brodin are unlikely to play; Hedman remains uncertain after elbow surgery.

• Sean Gentille: Emphasizes Leo Carlsson’s value: “Adding Leo Carlson, who profiles as that No. 1, two-way, high-end productive center to the Swedish lineup was the thing they were missing ... what made them a legit gold medal candidate.” [14:19–15:45]

• The hosts conclude Sweden remains competitive but not the favorite unless “something wild” happens.

Segment: Ottawa Senators and Linus Ullmark’s Mental Health Leave

[25:04–38:04] With Julian McKenzie

Ullmark’s Absence and Sens’ Struggles

• Linus Ullmark’s recent leave for mental health reasons led to public speculation. Ullmark addressed this openly in a TSN interview and a story by Julian McKenzie.

  • Julian McKenzie: “He deserves all the credit for being able to speak honestly and bravely. But once that ovation ends, everyone’s going to look at him and say, ‘Hey, are you going to do enough to get this team back to the playoffs?’” [28:14]

• The Senators’ playoff odds plunged from 76% in late December to a steep decline—poor goaltending and general instability cited as causes.

Goaltending Woes: A Persistent Ottawa Theme

• Both hosts and McKenzie note the franchise has not solved its long-running goalie instability since the Craig Anderson era.

  • “If this team had average-level goaltending, or anything close to that, they’d be in a much different spot ... [It’s] not just a stretch. This is a season-long problem.” —Julian McKenzie [32:25]
  • “This is just like Groundhog Day in a market that has not been able to find any goalie stability since Craig Anderson.” —Haley Salvian [34:52]

• Discussion highlights the effects of failed internal prospects, trades (e.g., giving up on Filip Gustavsson), and high-profile acquisitions (Ullmark) who haven’t stabilized the situation.

Brady Tkachuk’s Olympic Outlook

• McKenzie assesses Tkachuk’s standing for Team USA: “You’ll see a barrel and power forward. He’ll try to impose himself ... there’s a reason Ottawa fans love him.” [38:31]

Book Announcement

• McKenzie plugs his forthcoming book "Black Aces" (out Feb 3), sharing stories of Black hockey figures, with stars like Sarah Nurse, PK Subban, and Willie O’Ree. [39:57–42:05]

[46:28–53:52] PWHL Anonymous Player Poll Highlights

• Haley Salvian breaks down her anonymous PWHL player poll (51 respondents):
  • Best Player: Marie-Philip Poulin was the overwhelming choice.
  • Breakout Player: Hannah Bilka (“We’re going to see a healthy and rejuvenated Hannah Bilka at the Olympics.” —Salvian [51:33])
  • Best Trash Talker: Emma Malte edged Abby Roque — “It’s not the quality of what Malte is saying, it’s just the quantity in which she does it.” —Salvian [51:00]
  • Expansion Cities: Detroit, Denver, and Chicago topped the wish list.
  • Notable lighthearted response—the surprising TV comfort show pick “Young Sheldon.”

Notable Quotes

• “Lane Hudson’s ceiling is higher than Jackson Lacombe’s, absolutely ... but this is about filling the Seth Jones role. They want size and two-way play.” —Sean Gentille [08:16]
• “Of all the controversial Bill Guerin decisions, this one makes the most sense.” —Sean Gentille [11:33]
• “I think the mood around this [Ottawa] team has been antsy. This is not where they expected to be ... everyone’s going to look at [Ullmark] and say, ‘Are you going to do enough to get us back in the playoffs?’” —Julian McKenzie [28:14]
• “If this team had average-level goaltending, they’d be in a much different spot.” —Julian McKenzie [32:25]
• “Canada has the best player on the planet on their team.” —Haley Salvian, on Marie-Philip Poulin [53:33]

Key Timestamps

• 02:49 — Episode content and high-level agenda
• 04:19 — Seth Jones out for Team USA; why Jackson Lacombe was chosen
• 06:23 — Inside look: How Lacombe is perceived by scouts/analytics
• 07:26 — Lane Hutson “disrespect” and fan reaction
• 09:33 — Player archetype rationale — why not skill?
• 12:29 — Lane Hudson’s future chances if another injury arises
• 13:01 — Sweden’s injury crisis & Olympic impact
• 25:04 — Linus Ullmark addresses his leave; challenges for Sens
• 32:25 — Season-long Sens goaltending struggles, historical context
• 38:31 — Brady Tkachuk Olympic preview
• 39:57 — “Black Aces” book preview with Julian McKenzie
• 46:28 — Haley discusses results of the PWHL player poll
• 53:52 — Episode wrap-up and upcoming special episode teaser

Episode Tone & Style

• Candid, witty, hockey-nerd banter; deep inside knowledge of player evaluation, team building, and media narratives.
• Mix of earnest hockey analysis (“I think you can pretty convincingly argue it’s a viable choice”—Gentille), personal anecdotes (the traveling cowboy hat story), and contemporary sports culture perspectives.

This summary covers all major themes, providing a complete view of this episode’s in-depth debates, news, and behind-the-scenes hockey talk — perfectly suited for anyone who missed the episode but wants all the context and insight.