The Sick Podcast - Raw Knuckles with Chris Nilan

There are few sports as exciting or dangerous as professional hockey. Raw Knuckles is a podcast that celebrates the highs, lows, and in-between moments of pro hockey. It examines the grit and intensity of the sport with a sense of humor and through the insight of elite experience.

The hosts of this podcast are Chris "Knuckles" Nilan and Tim Stapleton. Both are former NHL players who set records during their time in the league. Nilan was a right wing who won a Stanley Cup in 1978 with the Montreal Canadiens. He is remembered for his fights. He also holds the record for most penalty minutes by an American-born player. Stapleton is the first-ever player of Filipino descent in the National Hockey League. He scored the last goal in Atlanta Thrashers history. The team would then go on to become the Winnipeg Jets. Stapleton was part of the NHL from 2008 to 2012. He spent another six years in international play before retiring in 2018.

One of the most exciting things about this podcast is the "odd couple" pairing of the hosts. Nilan retired from the NHL when Stapleton was ten years old. This means there are significant generational differences between the two. This often contributes to the comedic aspects of the show.

Each episode of the podcast features an interview with a hockey player. Some of them, such as Alex Killorn, remain active in the NHL. Others, such as Clint Malarchuk, have been inactive for decades. This interesting selection of players allows listeners to learn about the game as it evolved through the decades. It is interesting to hear about how the rules of the game and its culture have changed over the years. This is especially true in terms of the rules around fighting. Discussions about how equipment has improved are also a part of the podcast.

New episodes of Raw Knuckles air on Thursdays of each week and average around an hour in length.