Overview of Spittin' Chiclets — Episode 635 (Featuring Rick Middleton)
This episode (Barstool Sports’ Spittin' Chiclets #635) is a long-form hockey roundtable with hosts talking news, playoff races, coaching/GM moves, breakout rookies, and locker-room drama — then a featured interview with Bruins legend Rick “Nifty” Middleton. The show mixes game reaction, award debates, trade/management fallout, fan moments, and a heartfelt personal segment about a close family friend’s recent passing.
Major headlines & topics discussed
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Macklin Celebrini (San Jose)
- Celebrini’s huge rookie season and MVP conversation: hosts argue he’s legitimately in the Hart race (even if the Sharks miss the playoffs) given how much he’s carried San Jose offensively.
- Stat context: team dependence on Celebrini for wins; comparison to Gretzky/Lemieux-era dominance.
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Islanders shock coaching change
- Islanders’ GM (“Matthew Darsh” in the transcript) fires coach Patrick W. with four games left and hires Pete DeBoer. Hosts debate the reasons (post-Olympics collapse, underlying numbers, trying to “save” the playoff push), and whether DeBoer can quickly fix defensive/system problems.
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Other playoff-race & award talk
- Norris / Vezina / Hart debates: Bucci/Booch/Bacardi-Boosh-style banter about who deserves votes (Wierenski discussion mentioned).
- Oilers (and Torts talk), Bruins, Hurricanes, Sabres surge, Preds/ Sharks / Wild storylines, and the increasingly chaotic playoff picture in both conferences.
- Penguins milestones: Sidney Crosby accomplishing another ironman/point-run milestone.
- Buffalo Sabres’ comeback story (huge midseason surge to the playoffs) — celebrated by the hosts.
- Flyers resurgence: Porter Martone breakout, Tippett/Zegras adjustments, and Mitchkov playing better lately.
- Senators drama: Brady Kachuk / Walt/ media friction and Brady answering critics on-ice.
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Management and front-office news
- New Jersey Devils: Tom Fitzgerald reportedly parted ways (breaking news covered live on the episode). Hosts discuss domino effects and what the team needs next.
- General GM/coach decision-making themes: when GMs hit their “one shot,” the cost of midseason changes, and hiring choices like DeBoer/Torts copycat theory.
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Notable game moments
- Sharks comeback and Celebrini highlights (power/rocket goals, three-point games).
- Wild/Wings game: late comeback and heartbreaking penalty by a star (Kaprizov snipe afterward).
- Emotional color: fan moments (baby born in Rogers Arena at an Oilers game), and memorable playoff-type nights like Dallas–Colorado.
Guest segment — Rick “Nifty” Middleton (highlights)
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Career snapshot
- First-round pick, big junior numbers, & NHL career chiefly with the Boston Bruins.
- Nickname origin: “Nifty” — Don Cherry, teammates, and media cemented it; memorable for skill, playmaking, and doing lots of his damage in tight.
- Played without tape on his stick (street-hockey habit) and discussed how it felt and why he preferred it; experimented with tape during slumps.
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Rangers → Bruins trade
- Traded from the Rangers to Boston; Middleton shares behind-the-scenes anecdotes and how that move defined his legacy.
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Playing style & teammates
- Describes working with linemates (e.g., his chemistry, Don Cherry’s coaching, Barry Pederson, Ray Bourque era changes).
- On Don Cherry: player-first coach, charismatic, heavy personality; amusing locker-room/vacation/press anecdotes.
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1979 Stanley Cup semifinal (vs. Montreal)
- Reminisces about the famous “too many men on the ice” game 7 and the heartbreak; shares a small behind-the-scenes story about advice from the team’s third goalie and the goal he scored late in that game.
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Post-playing career & stories
- Short Swiss stint after NHL; medical and retirement circumstances.
- Agent/union controversy: talks about Alan Eagleson era and what players discovered later (financial mistreatment allegations and prosecutions).
- Jersey retirement and emotions of seeing his number raised.
- Sled hockey / Paralympics coaching (major highlight): Middleton coached the U.S. sled hockey team for 2002 Salt Lake City Paralympics. He describes:
- How he was recruited to coach a poorly organized program with almost no prep.
- Building a system in months, overcoming the lack of practice and tournament play (9/11 impacted preps).
- The dramatic run to gold: USA beating Canada, Norway, Sweden, etc., ending with a shootout/over time gold — a proud, emotional moment he still treasures.
Notable quotes & insights
- On Celebrini and the Hart Trophy: “If he breaks the San Jose single-season points record as a 19-year-old — even if they miss playoffs — I’d vote him MVP.”
- On coaching changes: front-office timing often forces a GM’s hand — “you don’t waste a coach hire when you only get a couple bullets.”
- On hockey careers & roles: players can find pride and longevity by embracing shutdown roles even if they were offensive prospects.
- Rick Middleton on coaching sled hockey: “We had one weekend-a-month camps, we hadn’t played a game since September, and then four months later we go and win gold at home — it was nuts.”
Personal / emotional segment
- Hosts shared a heartfelt tribute for a very close friend (Laura) of their buddy “Reggie” (Kenny), who battled cancer and passed on Easter Sunday.
- Laura is described as an extraordinary partner and mother (children ages mentioned: Page — 9, Caroline — 7, Luke — 5; small family details shared respectfully), a devoted caregiver to family members, and someone who once even filled in as Blades (Bruins mascot) during an internship moment.
- The hosts spoke candidly about the pain, how the community will support the family, and the urgent reminder to cherish loved ones. This is a very personal and somber portion of the episode.
Sponsors & promos mentioned (brief)
- Chevy Equinox
- Bombas (socks, slides, base layers)
- DraftKings (player props, early exit protection)
- BodyArmor Flash IV
- Roback (apparel)
- Skills x Spittin’ Chiclets hockey training aids (now at Dick’s & Pure Hockey)
- TastyTrade
What to watch / follow next (recommended)
- Full interview with Rick Middleton — the episode includes ~1hr 15m conversation; worth listening for Boston-era stories + sled-hockey gold.
- Keep an eye on:
- San Jose’s finish (Celebrini’s chase for records and the Hart debate).
- Islanders’ final games under new coach Pete DeBoer — will they rally into playoffs?
- Devils front-office (Tom Fitzgerald news) and subsequent GM search decisions.
- Flyers’ momentum (Porter Martone, Tippett adjustments), Sabres playoff form, and the Oilers’ late-season prep.
- Upcoming Spittin’ Chiclets content: hosts say there’s an extra Friday show this week; Game Notes reporting from Las Vegas/Frozen 4.
Quick takeaways (TL;DR)
- Celebrini is a legitimate MVP conversation because he’s been single-handedly putting San Jose in games; hosts would even vote him #1 under certain historic-benchmark scenarios.
- Islanders’ late-season coaching firing/hiring is bold — DeBoer’s a smart, experienced choice if the Isles can turn things around quickly.
- Buffalo’s surge is one of the year’s feel-good stories; Sabres fans and city are rightly excited.
- Rick Middleton’s interview is a standout: great old-school hockey stories, candid takes on management issues (Eagleson), hilarious Don Cherry tales, and an inspiring Paralympic coaching chapter (2002 sled hockey gold).
- Personal reminder: an emotional tribute to a friend’s wife, Laura, underscores how fragile life is — hosts ask listeners to value family and community.
If you want a single takeaway to share: the episode blends up-to-the-minute playoff drama and hard news with an exceptional oral-history interview (Rick Middleton) and one of the most honest, emotional moments the hosts have had on-air.