Hot Garbage Sports Podcast

The best player in Tampa Bay Lightning history just told his team he won't re-sign. Two days earlier Detroit suspended its own captain for walking out. Players are picking the exit now, not the teams.

This week we get into Kucherov's reported ask of six years at $20 million, Larkin sitting at home without pay, Connor Hellebuyck's strong debut in New Jersey, and the Winnipeg Jets losing eight straight. Then the president vs GM question, Montreal winning without Suzuki, the Leafs back to expectations, the Sabres climbing, and the Week 4 Coach's Tier Sheet. Hot East, cool West. So who's next out the door, and is your team's star already halfway there?

Get the free Week 4 Tier Sheet with every number from this episode:

https://hot-garbage-sports.kit.com/53761e02b2

Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HotGarbageSportsPodcast

Main channel: https://www.youtube.com/@HotGarbageSports

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hotgarbagesports_

Waggle hats and gear, code HGS10 for 10% off: https://getyourwaggleon.com/

Hockey Tactics 2026 by Coach Jack Han (affiliate link): https://gumroad.com/a/564783955/lnahxb

Support the show on Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/hotgarbagemedia

No gambling ads here, just real hockey analysis supported by real people who love the game.

Coach Ryan D is a Hockey Canada High Performance coach with 10,000+ hours behind the bench.

0:00 Kucherov just asked out

0:19 Welcome to the Hot Garbage Sports Podcast

1:09 Nikita Kucherov wants a trade and $20 million

9:46 Dylan Larkin suspended, could Detroit swap him for Kucherov?

15:13 Connor Hellebuyck's New Jersey Devils debut

18:28 Winnipeg Jets lose eight straight, last season all over again

26:13 Is Kevin Cheveldayoff on the hot seat? President vs GM

30:42 Waggle, code HGS10

31:17 Montreal Canadiens win five straight without Suzuki

39:09 Toronto Maple Leafs back to expectations, Buffalo Sabres climbing

42:56 Main channel, Hockey Tactics 2026 and supporting the show

44:39 Carolina Hurricanes are still the best team in hockey

45:53 Coach's Tier Sheet Week 4, Hot East Cool West

46:41 McDavid's tear and the Edmonton Oilers' big three

51:47 Tier 2, Boston Bruins to Colorado Avalanche

56:27 Tier 3, the playoff bubble

59:04 Tier 4, Buffalo Sabres to Anaheim Ducks

1:03:24 Tier 5, Calgary Flames to Vancouver Canucks

1:04:00 Mailbag

1:13:05 Who's next out the door?

Connor Hellebuyck is a New Jersey Devil, and the Winnipeg Jets got Dawson Mercer, Nico Daws, Nick Bjugstad, Alexander Command and two picks for him. Buffalo had a deal in June and walked away. Brady Tkachuk got booed out of Ottawa, and Connor McDavid has 33 points in 11 games while Toronto just beat Edmonton 7-2 in its own building.

Episode 3 breaks down what Winnipeg actually got, why the Jets defensive structure was the real problem, whether Buffalo blew it, Brad Marchand going after Jesse Pollack over no-trade clauses, Edmonton's defence, Toronto's hot start, Carolina and the Nikishin standoff, and my Week 3 Tier Sheet for all 32 teams. Players come and go and GMs get fired. So who is actually tied to your team?

FREE Coach Ryan's Tier Sheet Week 3 PDF and the full library through the email list

https://hot-garbage-sports.kit.com/53761e02b2

Watch the full video version on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@HotGarbageSportsPodcast

Main channel, Hot Garbage Sports

https://www.youtube.com/@HotGarbageSports

Listen on Apple Podcasts

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hot-garbage-sports-podcast/id6821813124

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/hotgarbagesports_

Waggle golf gear and hats. Use code HGS10 for 10% off

https://getyourwaggleon.com/

Hockey Tactics 2026 by Coach Jack Han. This is an affiliate link and I earn a small commission at no cost to you

https://gumroad.com/a/564783955/lnahxb

Support the show on Buy Me a Coffee

https://buymeacoffee.com/hotgarbagemedia

No gambling ads here, just real hockey analysis supported by real people who love the game.

Coach Ryan D is a Hockey Canada High Performance coach with 10,000+ hours behind the bench.

Chapters

0:00 Who Is Truly Part of a Hockey Team

2:16 The Connor Hellebuyck Trade and What Winnipeg Got

5:42 Film Breakdown of Where the Jets Defence Breaks Down

7:25 Dawson Mercer and the Jets Middle Six

10:11 Why Late Draft Picks Are a Lottery Ticket

12:50 Nico Daws and the Jets Crease

14:06 Did Buffalo Have the Better Offer With Picks 4 and 8

18:52 Buffalo Missed on Hellebuyck and What Comes Next

20:45 Brad Marchand vs Jesse Pollack on No-Trade Clauses

24:49 Players, GMs, Owners and Fans and Who Owns a Team

29:34 Brady Tkachuk Booed in Ottawa

35:06 Waggle

35:55 Is Edmonton a Wagon and Can Anyone Stop Connor McDavid

40:41 What Changed in Connor McDavid's Game

42:23 Are the Toronto Maple Leafs Real

50:51 Can Anyone Beat the Carolina Hurricanes

52:44 The Alexander Nikishin Standoff

57:16 Support the Show

58:09 Coach's Tier Sheet Week 3 With All 32 Teams

1:17:14 Quick Hits on the Heritage Classic and Dylan Larkin

1:18:17 Mailbag

1:24:21 Fan Shoutouts

1:25:23 Why I Do This

1:27:51 The Big Idea That Fans Are the Only Ones Tied to a Team

The Players Are Running the NHL | Hot Garbage Sports Podcast Ep. 2

Over 300 NHL players can block a trade, and the stars are using that power to pick their next team. Brady Tkachuk picked Florida and scored back-to-back natural hat tricks. Connor Hellebuyck held out, and the Jets kept winning. Nathan MacKinnon and Roope Hintz didn't wait for a referee.

Episode 2 of the Hot Garbage Sports Podcast. No-trade clauses, fighting coming back, Connor McDavid's best start, Connor Bedard's early return, the Hellebuyck standoff, and my Week 2 Tier Sheet re-ranking all 32 teams. So who actually runs your team, the GM or the guy with the clause?

FREE Coach Ryan's Tier Sheet Week 2 PDF, plus the Goalie Study, through the email list:

https://hot-garbage-sports.kit.com/53761e02b2

Main channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@HotGarbageSports

Listen on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/1n0qFJqM2oS7WlhGNL2j95

Listen on Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hot-garbage-sports-podcast/id6821813124

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/hotgarbagesports_

Waggle golf gear and hats. Use code HGS10 for 10% off:

https://getyourwaggleon.com/

Hockey Tactics 2026 by Coach Jack Hann (affiliate link, I earn a small commission at no cost to you):

https://gumroad.com/a/564783955/lnahxb

Support the channel on Buy Me a Coffee:

https://buymeacoffee.com/hotgarbagemedia

No gambling ads here, just real hockey analysis supported by real people who love the game.

Coach Ryan D is a Hockey Canada High Performance coach with 10,000+ hours behind the bench.

#NHL #Hockey #HockeyPodcast #NHLPowerRankings #WinnipegJets #ConnorMcDavid

Chapters

0:00 The Players Are Running the NHL

1:01 No-Trade Clauses: Over 300 Players Can Block a Trade

8:15 Fighting Is Back in the NHL

9:19 Nathan MacKinnon vs. Roope Hintz

13:31 Tyrel Bauer: The Jets Rookie Who Fights

16:41 Connor McDavid's Best Start and the Oilers' Defence Problem

20:56 Brady Tkachuk's Back-to-Back Natural Hat Tricks

24:15 Connor Bedard Is Back

32:38 The Winnipeg Jets and the Connor Hellebuyck Standoff

41:33 Carolina Hurricanes: Best Team in Hockey

44:40 New York Rangers: Bad Night or the Real Team?

46:33 Vegas Golden Knights: World Class

49:41 Boston Bruins: Fool's Gold?

51:13 Seattle Kraken: Good Team or Good Goalie?

52:22 Sabres vs. Canadiens: The Atlantic's Next Great Rivalry

57:16 Coach's Tier Sheet Week 2: All 32 Teams

1:04:28 Mailbag: Is Hockey Getting Boring?

1:08:35 Hockey Tactics 2026 and Waggle

1:10:17 Could Coach Ryan Coach in the NHL?

1:12:34 Wrap-Up

Who’s Real and Who’s Fake in the NHL | Hot Garbage Sports Podcast Ep. 1

The New York Rangers are winning, and they just lost Igor Shesterkin for the season. The Winnipeg Jets have a winning record and have been outscored. Two weeks in, the NHL standings are lying to you.

In the first episode of the Hot Garbage Sports Podcast, Hockey Canada High Performance coach Ryan D breaks down who’s for real and who’s faking it. That means shot differential, special teams, and the coach’s read the standings can’t show you. We cover the Rangers’ crease without Shesterkin, the Connor Hellebuyck standoff, Vegas vs. Edmonton in the West, the injuries that change seasons, Ovechkin’s final lap, and an updated Tier Sheet for all 32 teams. Plus your comments, your questions about me, and fan shoutouts.

Is your team’s record telling the truth?

FREE TIER SHEET PDF, all 32 teams, September rank vs. now:
https://hot-garbage-sports.kit.com/53761e02b2

WATCH THE BREAKDOWNS ON THE MAIN CHANNEL:
https://www.youtube.com/@HotGarbageSports

CHAPTERS
0:00 The NHL Standings Are Lying
0:21 Welcome to the Hot Garbage Sports Podcast
2:04 Igor Shesterkin Out for the Season: What Now for the Rangers?
4:37 Is Dylan Garand Ready to Start in the NHL?
6:54 How the Rangers Defend: Breakouts and Box-Plus-One
12:41 Why Early NHL Standings Lie
14:56 Teams Playing Worse (and Better) Than Their Record
23:19 The Connor Hellebuyck Standoff and No-Movement Clauses
30:23 Can the Jets Win Without Hellebuyck?
35:05 Vegas vs. Edmonton: Who Runs the West?
37:56 Mike Babcock and the Oilers
39:52 Crosby, Gretzky, McDavid: Greatest of All Time
40:49 Colorado Avalanche: Stars vs. Depth
43:17 Utah Mammoth and Anaheim Ducks Are Real
45:02 Support the Show
47:23 Alexander Ovechkin’s Final Season
50:53 Tier Sheet: Cup Contenders
54:02 Tier Sheet: Cup Possibilities
58:27 Tier Sheet: The Playoff Field
1:00:57 Tier Sheet: Outside Looking In
1:05:39 Tier Sheet: The Bottom of the League
1:06:58 Mailbag: Your Comments
1:11:53 Did Coach Ryan D Play Hockey?
1:17:33 Doing This With a Baby and a Full-Time Job
1:18:31 Do I Use AI?
1:20:55 One Thing Every Hockey Parent Needs to Hear
1:22:42 Fan Shoutouts
1:23:13 Who’s Real, Who’s Fake

WAGGLE, golf gear and hats. Code HGS10 for 10% off:
https://getyourwaggleon.com/

HOCKEY TACTICS 2026 by Coach Jack Hann (affiliate link: I earn a commission at no extra cost to you):
https://gumroad.com/a/564783955/lnahxb

SUPPORT THE SHOW:
https://buymeacoffee.com/hotgarbagemedia
No gambling ads here, just real hockey analysis supported by real people who love the game.

Coach Ryan D is a Hockey Canada High Performance coach with 10,000+ hours behind the bench.