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Oshie on the Olympic experience, the parity in the league and Ovechkin perspective
19 Jan 2026
Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
We're joined now by long-time NHLer, Cup winner, big-time Olympian. You see him on ESPN. There he is, TJ Oshie. What's up, TJ? Hey, how we doing? We're doing really well. We were actually just talking about going to the Olympics, and I guess you could speak to it based on your own experience. And, you know, injuries popping up beforehand. I don't know if you had to deal with that or not.
But what is the protocol with your club team? Like, if you're injured a couple weeks before you have to go to the Olympics...
Chapter 2: What was T.J. Oshie's Olympic experience like?
What is your GM asking you? What is your team asking you? How much of a priority do you have to be transparent about how you're feeling with the understanding you want to go to the Olympics, but you also have an obligation to be healthy and play for your club team?
Yeah, I don't know. That was never an issue with... I guess with me, I feel like if I had any chance of playing, there's no way a coach or a team could keep me out of it. I just am kind of more of an in-the-moment kind of guy. But I guess I can see where that could maybe be a factor.
For sure. And that's what we figured. Most guys would say, we're going.
Chapter 3: How do NHL players handle injuries before the Olympics?
Like, I don't care if my leg's holding on by a thread. I'm playing, right? Because you're dying to go to the Olympics. You can't blame guys for wanting to go.
Yeah, no, and I don't know. I think it's almost a little bit the culture of the game of hockey. Like, if you can play, you're playing. You know what I mean? And even leading up to it, I'm sure there's some guys right now that are banged up, but you work with your team all season long to try to get yourself into a place where you can make playoffs, even if you have the Olympics coming up.
In the end, you're really playing for your teammates, so I'm sure once the guys are with their local teams, they're doing everything they can to help that team, and when they get to the Olympics, they'll do the same thing.
TJ, your shootouts at the Olympics obviously is part of your legacy Stanley Cup winner, but the shootouts were awesome at the Olympics. I know Canada at the World Juniors had a shootout coach to help them. Do you think that that's possible?
If USA Hockey went to you and said, let's get you involved with the shootouts, do you think you can help in that aspect, or is that just something with what you just mentioned a couple minutes ago? It's just in a split second you've got to figure out what the heck you're going to do on the goaltender.
Yeah, I could definitely help. I think there's a certain thing that there's little tells that I used to look for when I was going down the ice. Certain ways, certain kind of fundamental things that anyone could kind of incorporate into their moves. But really when it comes down to a shootout, there's a lot of feel to it.
You can't just make up your mind on what you're going to do and then just close your eyes and hope it works. Yeah.
goalies are goalies are too good so you got to have a natural flow about how you make your moves to have a backup and then a second backup depending on what happens so um i mean there's no doubt in my mind shootouts are one of the like my favorite things in the world to do so i think i could help you know if anyone wanted a pointer i'm sure i could find figure something out but uh
There's also a natural component to it that I think the best in the game and the best that have been around are the ones that I'm sure we're going to see at least one shootout in the Olympics. The ones that it comes a little more naturally to, those are the ones that will have the most success.
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Chapter 4: How does team culture influence player transparency about injuries?
Yeah, I think it's great. It keeps everyone in it, right? You don't want to get around with 20 games left and have most of the playoffs already figured out. I think it makes it more competitive. I always loved games that felt important, right? Obviously, all games are important, but some games...
When you're trying to fight a team for a playoff spot, especially those teams, when bubble teams play each other, in your mind, in your locker room, you're saying, this is a four-point game. Like, we take two of their points and gain two. And, you know, sometimes in those games where we'd play, like back in the day when Ottawa wasn't doing very well, we would...
You know, you get up by a couple of goals and I almost get a little less interested. I'd still, you know, give it my all and go 100 percent. That's kind of who I was. But you get not it just wasn't as interesting when there wasn't a lot on the line. So I love I think it's great for hockey. I love it. I'd like to see my caps a little higher up on the list.
But other than that, I think it is great for hockey.
Just quickly before we let you go, has Obi always had the subway routine with the chips and everything, walking on the plane on the road, or is that just something lately as he's gotten a little older?
No, that's been going for a long time. They just finally snapped the right picture and it got the right amount of press behind it. I sat next to them at the card table on the planes and it is, yeah, every day. Every road trip stops, there's a little gas station on the way to Dulles and it has a subway inside the gas station.
And so, you know, guys were stopping in there, loading up, whatever, filling up with gas, getting whatever you need. And, yeah, Ovi would always be in line, and, you know, he'd look at you and be like, Ben, Subway, Ben? And you're like, I'm good, man. I ate the ring. And, yeah, Subway, I think he gets an Italian and hot Cheetos.
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Chapter 5: What makes T.J. Oshie a standout in shootouts?
Brilliant.
It's unbelievable. He's one of a kind, man. He's the world's most interesting man. He is a phenomenal human being.
It's so much better that it's a subway at a gas station. I know. Because it's probably grubbier than normal. It's so grubby. The guy cuts the lettuce with his feet up on the counter. There's definitely some petroleum in that.
It's good for 900-plus goals, so maybe I should have taken them up on it.
No kidding, man. Give me a gas sub and I'll snipe 900-plus in the NHL. What a beauty. All right, TJ, appreciate you doing this, man. We'll do it again soon. Thank you.
Absolutely. Thanks, gentlemen. Have a good one.
You got it. Cup winner, Olympian. See him on ESPN. There's TJ Oshie. Introducing Bryan Adams Radio. iHeartRadio. Hosted by Bryan Adams himself. Join me for an insider look on a wild ride through 40 years of global rock and roll. Bryan Adams Radio. Now available on the free iHeartRadio app. Or ask your smart speaker to play Bryan Adams Radio on iHeartRadio. Who's ready to rock?
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