The Athletic Hockey Show Which NHL offseason moves have aged the best and worst?
Nov 24, 2025
Joining the conversation are Murat Ates, a Winnipeg Jets reporter, and Jesse Granger, an NHL analyst for The Athletic. They discuss Connor Hellebuyck's knee surgery and the Jets' chances without him. Murat evaluates Jonathan Toews' performance while examining potential Team Canada players for the Olympics. The duo also ranks offseason moves, highlighting misses like John Gibson in Detroit and regrets from St. Louis. Conversely, they celebrate successful acquisitions like Chris Kreider in Anaheim and Buffalo's trade for Josh Doan.
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Olympic Selection Balances Form And Familiarity
- Mark Scheifele's hot start strengthens his Olympic case but two-way consistency matters.
- Team Canada selection may favor known winners over purely offensive form.
Build The Olympic Roster With Roles In Mind
- Decide whether to select specialists who fit roles or simply take the highest scorers.
- For Olympic tournaments, prioritize players who minimize penalties and fit small-sample formats.
Reputation Can Flip After Repeat Offenses
- Mikko Rantanen's consecutive illegal hits create a new disciplinary pattern despite his clean reputation.
- The NHL's one-game automatic penalty rule felt like an insufficient response to repeat dangerous hits.