Oct 21, 2026 · 1h 22m
Tkachuk’s Ottawa return collides with Larkin’s contender dilemma
Brady Tkachuk Revisits Ottawa, Dylan Larkin Revisits His Trade List
The episode weighs the spectacle of a captain’s hostile homecoming against the harder question of whether another captain can reasonably seek a better team.
- 1Brady Tkachuk’s Ottawa return carries unresolved resentment, with fans, former teammates, and the player all expected to shape the spectacle.
- 2Dylan Larkin’s expanded no-trade list raises questions about player autonomy, Detroit’s management, and the market for a top-line center.
- 3The hosts connect controversial penalties, broadcast mishaps, anthem debates, and jersey-teaser fatigue to hockey’s broader appetite for drama.
Don't miss
The hosts contrast Brady Tkachuk walking back into Ottawa’s hostile atmosphere with Dylan Larkin trying to control his next destination.
The brief
Brady Tkachuk’s return to Ottawa is framed as more than a former player’s visit: the hosts expect hostility, chants, possible fights, and a deliberate embrace of the villain role.
The episode’s lighter NHL detours include Evan Bouchard’s disputed reputation, a flying stick, unusual penalties, anthem controversies, and prolonged teasing around hometown remix jerseys.
The central argument shifts to Dylan Larkin’s expanded no-trade list: is a captain reasonably seeking a contender, or selectively protecting the league’s strongest teams?
The hosts place responsibility on both Larkin and Detroit, debating whether the Red Wings created this predicament and whether a comparable top-line center could replace him.
The standout tension is the contrast between Tkachuk’s public return to Ottawa and Larkin’s private leverage: one faces a crowd, while the other tries to choose an exit.
Weekly email
State of the Pod, every Monday
The week's most-discussed names and stories from podcasts, with the moments behind them. Free, five minutes, unsubscribe in one click.