Ryan Whitney
Former NHL defenseman and co-host of the Spittin' Chiclets hockey podcast; Oilers fan
Ryan Whitney (Former NHL defenseman and co-host of the Spittin' Chiclets hockey podcast; Oilers fan) has appeared as a guest on 1 episode in TMT. Topics they speak about most include 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs, Connor McDavid, 2026 NHL Draft lottery.
In their words
Positions and remarks grouped by topic, each with the exact quote and where it was said.
2026 Stanley Cup playoffs
- Didn’t happen
Whitney names Colorado the favorite to win the Stanley Cup.
“It's tough to say Colorado's not going to win. Yeah, they look so good”
Pardon My Take: NHL Playoffs With Ryan Whitney, NFL Draft Recap, NBA Playoffs, Who’s Back Of The Week + We Get Involved In The Press Off (Apr 27, 2026) · Listen from 2:10:37
Whitney credits rookie Porter Martone with transforming the Flyers.
“Then he came and he changed the entire team. He looks unreal”
Pardon My Take: NHL Playoffs With Ryan Whitney, NFL Draft Recap, NBA Playoffs, Who’s Back Of The Week + We Get Involved In The Press Off (Apr 27, 2026) · Listen from 1:50:53
Whitney reports that Bruins coach Marco Sturm implicitly criticized his team after Swayman's outburst.
“Sturm was asked about it after, and he said at least we had one guy show some fire today”
Pardon My Take: NHL Playoffs With Ryan Whitney, NFL Draft Recap, NBA Playoffs, Who’s Back Of The Week + We Get Involved In The Press Off (Apr 27, 2026) · Listen from 1:47:33
- Came true
Whitney says that with Florida out, this is Carolina's best chance to reach the Stanley Cup Final.
“I think Carolina, actually, if there's any year that they could get to the cup final, it would be this year”
Pardon My Take: NHL Playoffs With Ryan Whitney, NFL Draft Recap, NBA Playoffs, Who’s Back Of The Week + We Get Involved In The Press Off (Apr 27, 2026) · Listen from 1:43:21
Connor McDavid
Whitney says he would feel bad for McDavid if he retired without a Stanley Cup.
“And for him, for McDavid, if he ever finished without one, I would feel really bad for him”
Pardon My Take: NHL Playoffs With Ryan Whitney, NFL Draft Recap, NBA Playoffs, Who’s Back Of The Week + We Get Involved In The Press Off (Apr 27, 2026) · Listen from 2:23:41
Whitney distinguishes McDavid as the best player he has seen while calling Crosby the greatest ever.
“So I've said he's the best hockey player I've ever seen”
Pardon My Take: NHL Playoffs With Ryan Whitney, NFL Draft Recap, NBA Playoffs, Who’s Back Of The Week + We Get Involved In The Press Off (Apr 27, 2026) · Listen from 2:22:13
Whitney describes McDavid's skating as unmatched, noting he is faster with the puck than without it.
“He skates like no one I've ever seen before. He's faster with the puck than without”
Pardon My Take: NHL Playoffs With Ryan Whitney, NFL Draft Recap, NBA Playoffs, Who’s Back Of The Week + We Get Involved In The Press Off (Apr 27, 2026) · Listen from 1:37:33
2026 NHL Draft lottery
- Came true
Whitney predicts Gavin McKenna will still go first overall though expectations of a McDavid-type player have cooled.
“I think he's still going to go first overall, but it's, I think some people now who were saying like McDavid type player”
Pardon My Take: NHL Playoffs With Ryan Whitney, NFL Draft Recap, NBA Playoffs, Who’s Back Of The Week + We Get Involved In The Press Off (Apr 27, 2026) · Listen from 2:17:41
Whitney jokingly claims the NHL draft lottery is rigged unless Vancouver or Calgary wins the top pick.
“If Vancouver or Calgary doesn't get first overall pick this year, it's rigged”
Pardon My Take: NHL Playoffs With Ryan Whitney, NFL Draft Recap, NBA Playoffs, Who’s Back Of The Week + We Get Involved In The Press Off (Apr 27, 2026) · Listen from 2:16:18
Youth hockey and relative age effect
Whitney says he emphasizes teamwork when coaching his children, citing business owners who prefer hiring former athletes.
“I just am like, learn how to be a good teammate, right? I know that from my friends I talk to, a couple guys who own their own businesses, the kids they hire are all former athletes”
Pardon My Take: NHL Playoffs With Ryan Whitney, NFL Draft Recap, NBA Playoffs, Who’s Back Of The Week + We Get Involved In The Press Off (Apr 27, 2026) · Listen from 2:05:38
Pardon My Take book
Whitney urges Pardon My Take to lead with hockey after football season to help grow the sport.
“After football season, I just think it would help hockey a lot. That's all I'm saying”
Pardon My Take: NHL Playoffs With Ryan Whitney, NFL Draft Recap, NBA Playoffs, Who’s Back Of The Week + We Get Involved In The Press Off (Apr 27, 2026) · Listen from 1:40:05
Predictions
2 came true · 1 didn’t
- Came true
Whitney predicts Gavin McKenna will still go first overall though expectations of a McDavid-type player have cooled.
“I think he's still going to go first overall, but it's, I think some people now who were saying like McDavid type player”
Pardon My Take: NHL Playoffs With Ryan Whitney, NFL Draft Recap, NBA Playoffs, Who’s Back Of The Week + We Get Involved In The Press Off (Apr 27, 2026) · Listen from 2:17:41 · 2026 NHL Draft lottery
Gavin McKenna was selected first overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs at the 2026 NHL Draft in Buffalo on June 26, 2026, before the June 30 deadline. Whitney's remark that McDavid-level expectations had cooled was his opinion and can't be checked; the testable claim was that McKenna would go first.
Sources: Maple Leafs make forward Gavin McKenna first pick of NHL draft (CBC Sports) · Draft Moments: McKenna goes No. 1 (NHL.com)
Checked Oct 6, 2026
- Didn’t happen
Whitney names Colorado the favorite to win the Stanley Cup.
“It's tough to say Colorado's not going to win. Yeah, they look so good”
Pardon My Take: NHL Playoffs With Ryan Whitney, NFL Draft Recap, NBA Playoffs, Who’s Back Of The Week + We Get Involved In The Press Off (Apr 27, 2026) · Listen from 2:10:37 · 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs
Whitney named Colorado the favorite to win the 2026 Stanley Cup, but the Avalanche were swept 4-0 by the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Final, which ended with a 2-1 Game 4 loss on May 26, 2026. The Carolina Hurricanes won the Cup on June 14, 2026, beating Vegas 4-2 in the Final.
Sources: Avalanche lose West Final, Makar injury, offensive issues among factors · Golden Knights Sweep Avalanche with 2-1 Win to Clinch Third Stanley Cup Final Berth in Nine Seasons · Carolina Hurricanes Win 2026 Stanley Cup Final · The Last 10 NHL Stanley Cup Champions: See the List
Checked Oct 6, 2026
- Came true
Whitney says that with Florida out, this is Carolina's best chance to reach the Stanley Cup Final.
“I think Carolina, actually, if there's any year that they could get to the cup final, it would be this year”
Pardon My Take: NHL Playoffs With Ryan Whitney, NFL Draft Recap, NBA Playoffs, Who’s Back Of The Week + We Get Involved In The Press Off (Apr 27, 2026) · Listen from 1:43:21 · 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs
Carolina beat Montreal 4-1 in the Eastern Conference Final to reach the 2026 Stanley Cup Final. It then beat the Vegas Golden Knights in six games, ending with a 3-0 win in Game 6 on June 14, 2026. No Florida team played in the Final.
Sources: Carolina Hurricanes Win 2026 Stanley Cup Final · 2026 Stanley Cup Final · 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Final: Carolina Hurricanes win first title in 20 years · 2026 Stanley Cup Final schedule
Checked Oct 6, 2026
Appearances
NHL Playoffs With Ryan Whitney, NFL Draft Recap, NBA Playoffs, Who’s Back Of The Week + We Get Involved In The Press OffPardon My Take · Apr 27, 2026 · 2 h 39 min
Big Cat and PFT Commenter recap the 2026 NFL Draft and NBA playoffs, stoke a fan 'press off,' and talk Stanley Cup playoffs with Ryan Whitney.
Often appears with
- Dan Katz · 1 shared episode
- PFT Commenter · 1 shared episode
- Hank Lockwood · 1 shared episode