NHL Wraparound Podcast
Breadth and depth. Contemporary and historical. Straight-forward and experienced. The NHL Wraparound podcast features Neil Smith, President-General Manager of the 1994 Stanley Cup Champion New York Rangers and longtime ESPN/NHL veteran Vic Morren sharing no-nonsense opinions on news and issues around the National Hockey League. Bringing decades of experience from their respective fields, Smith and Morren create a unique partnership that examines the NHL from multiple perspectives. Additionally, as hockey historians, the pair can delve into any topic in today’s game and enlighten the audience with connections to events from previous years. To truly appreciate where hockey stands today, on...
Fri, April 11, 2025
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - Canadians, Wild and Oilers Primed to Clinch - April 11, 2025
The final weekend of the NHL regular season has arrived. Twelve playoff spots have already been clinched with three more possible Friday. Vic and Neil look at all of the permutations and also throw up some red flags for three teams already in the playoffs but playing far from their best hockey with the post-season nearly upon us. X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #ColinStephenson #Newsday #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #MathhewKnies #MitchMarner #AustonMatthews #BobbyMcMann #JohnTavares #WIlliamNylander #BradTreliving #CraigBerube #AnthonyStolarz #JosephWoll #BradMarchand #AleksanderBarkov #SteveYzerman #ToddMcLellan #AlexOvechkin #JalenChatfield #ConnorMcMichael #BrandonDuhaime #SethJarvis #SpencerCarbery #RodBrind'Amour #Pierre-LucDubois #JackHughes #DougieHamilton #TysonFoerster #ArtemiPanarin #MikaZibanejad #AdamFox #BrettBedard #IgorShesterkin #JamesvanRiemsdyk #ZachAston-Reese #BooneJenner #JetGreaves #ElvisMerzlikins #DaniilTarasov #KirillKaprizov #JoelErikssonEk #MacklinCelebrini #WillSmith #Marc-AndreFleury #FilipGustavsson #MarianGaborik #MattBoldy #MatsZuccarello #FrankVitrano #CutterGauthier #LeoCarlsson #MasonMcTavish #TrevorZegras #PatVerbeek #ConnorHellebuyck #KyleConnor #KevinCheveldayoff #ScottArniel #PeterDeBoer #KieferSherwood #DakotaJoshua #NathanMacKinnon #NikitaKucherov #KevinLankinen #IvanBarbashev #WilliamKralsson #AdinHill #KevinFiala #JimHiller #QuintonByfield #AdrianKempe #AndreiKuzmenko #AnzeKopitar #ConnorMcDavid #ConnorBrown #CalvinPickard #NathanWalker #LeonDraisaitl #RyanDonato #NickFoligno #DavidPastrnak #RyanO'Reilly #FilipForsberg #JuuseSaros #GregMillen #RayShero #FredShero #BillGuerin #TaylorHall #DanBylsma #SidneyCrosby #EvgeniMalkin #BradyTkachuk #TravisGreen #SteveStaios #TylerSeguin #BrockBoeser #BoHorvat #JTMiller #VictorManici #PatrikAllvin #ChazLucius #Ehlers-DanlosSyndrome #GuyLafluer #IvanDemidov #MartinSt.Louis #DougWeight #TonyAmonte #SamRosen
Thu, April 10, 2025
Human Side of the Story - Episode 55 - Reverence and Respecting the Game
It may have started with a photo taken in 1952 with a defeated Bruins goalie named Sugar Jim Henry bowing to a bloodied and, perhaps semi-conscious, Rocket Richard at the conclusion of their semi-final playoff series. Reverence and respect for the game. The post-series handshake has been a longstanding tradition in the NHL and extends to all levels of hockey. However, are we now seeing a new sub-culture where teams and players make it a point to honor greatness or simply the end of a distinguished career? X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #HumanSideoftheStory #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #MuariceRichard #SugarJimHenry #AlexOvechkin #Marc-AndreFleury #WayneGretzky #GordieHowe #DerekNansen #GhislainHebert #CraigLaughlin
Wed, April 09, 2025
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - Beyond Preposterous - April 9, 2025
On a night the Ottawa Senators clinch their first playoff spot in eight years, two games involving teams on life support simply defied logic. Vic and Neil update on all the races and a couple of fun Alex Ovechkin items post-record-breaking goal. X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #ColinStephenson #Newsday #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #TravisGreen #LindyRuff #Don Waddell #JustinDanforth #MathieuOlivier #TomWilson #AdamFantilli #ElvisMerzlikins #BradyTkachuk #SamMontembeault #ColeCaufield #JoshAnderson #MartinSt.Louis #DylanLarkin #PatrickKane #KylePalmieri #ScottMayfield #StevenStamkos #FedorSvechkov #JonathanMarchessault #BradySkjei #MarcusHogberg #IlyaSorokin #MichaelMcCarron #SimonHolmstrom #JamesReimer #Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen #TageThompson #AlexTuch #JJPeterka #DavidPastrnak #EetuLuostarinen #CarterVerhaeghe #BradMarchand #MitchMarner #AleksanderBarkov #SamReinhart #GustavForsling #JosephWoll #JohnTavares #BradTreliving #NikitaKucherov #WayneGretzky #PaulCoffey #BobbyOrr #BraydenPoint #JakeGuetnzel #AndreiVasilevskiy #AdamKlapka #JonathanHuberdeau #MattCoronato #DustinWolf #WillSmith #MacklinCelebrini #LaneHutson #MatveiMichkov #ConnorMcDavid #LeonDraisaitl #AatuRaty #PuisSuter #ConorGarland #QuinnHughes #FilipHronek #DarylReaugh #MikhailSergachev #DylanGuenther #KarelVejmelka #AndréTourigny #JimMontgomery #AlexIafallo #ConnorHellebuyck #JimmyVesey #CharlieCoyle #MartyBeniers #JoeyDaccord #BrandonMontour #CutterGauthier #MasonMcTavish #LukasDostal #EvanBouchard #OlivierRodrique #TristanJarry #SidneyCrosby #KevinHayes #EddieLack #AlexOvechkin #SamBennett #JakeMiddleton #KirillKaprizov #JoelErikssonEk #PaulMaurice #LukeSchenn #NikolajEhlers #NealPionk #ColinMIller #K'AndreMiller #GabePerreault #BrettBerard #GabrielLandeskog #IvanDemidov #VicentLecavalier #ZayneParekh #GregMillen #BobCole #MeredithGaudreau #JohnnyGadreau #CarterMichaelGaudreau #SamRosen #JohnDavidson #NHLonTNT #RyanNugent-Hopkins
Tue, April 08, 2025
NY Centric - NJ on the Cusp and the End in Sight for NYR & NYI with James Nichols of New Jersey Hockey Now - Apr. 8. 2025
With just 10 days remaining in the regular season the fates of the New York-area teams is having clarity with the Devils within a point of clinching a playoff berth while the Rangers and Devils are running out of real estate to make up ground. James Nichols from New Jersey Hockey Now joins Vic and Neil to break it all down. X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #ColinStephenson #Newsday #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #JamesNichols #NewJerseyHockeyNow #JohnMacLean #JackHughes #DougieHamilton #JesperBratt #ScottStevens #TimoMeier #NicoHischier #LukeHughes #DawsonMercer #SheldonKeefe #JacobMarkstrom #ConnorHellebuyck #JakeAllen #TomFitzgerald #SimonNemec #DennisCholowski #MikkoRantanen #MartinNecas #JonasSiegenthaler #MattRempe #KurtisMacDermid #PeterLaviolette #JohnTortorella #JacobTrouba #ChrisKreider #ArtemiPanarin #AdamFox #GabePerreault #WillCuylle #PatrickRoy #AnthonyDuclair #AlexOvechkin #IlyaSorokin #MattBarzal #BoHorvat #LouLamoriello #CalClutterbuck #RyanPulock #AdamPelech #BrockNelson #CalumRitchie #MattGatcomb #KyleMacLean #SpencerCarbery #WayneGretzky #CaseyCizikas #KylePalmieri #NoahDobson
Mon, April 07, 2025
Episode 55 - The Gr8est Goal Scorer Ever - With Craig Laughlin
Call it the Thirty-one-year itch. Gordie Howe 1963, Wayne Gretzky 1994 and, now Alex Ovechkin in 2025 as the all-time goal scoring torch was passed at UBS Arena on April 6. Long-time Caps TV Analyst Craig Laughlin joins the show to share his thoughts on covering The Great 8 since the very beginning of his NHL career. In addition to covering the various races over the final week-and-a-half of the regular season, we'll also talk about a subculture in the NHL which is becoming more evident: Despite the ferocity of competition, teams and players ensuring they honor opponents and officials for a job well done. IN THIS EPISODE: [02:00] - In "Three Things You Need to Pay Attention To," Neil describes the atmosphere in UBS Arena before we hit on Ottawa and Minnesota strengthening their holds on playoffs spots. [07:50] - Longtime Capitals TV analyst Craig Laughlin joins the show. Before getting into Alex Ovechkin, he discusses a recent personal ordeal having undergone recent open heart surgery. [14:04] - Laughlin shares what he's observed about Ovechkin behind the scenes since coming into the league in 2005. [17:45] - Ovechkin's rejuvenation following a 2023-24 season in which he looked like he might be at the end of his career. [24:10] - The significance of this record when put in relation to Barry Bonds, Emmitt Smith and LeBron James. [28:59] - In a world of political turmoil, how is it a Russian is wildly cheered in eclipsing a record of a Canadian legend? [32:21] - With 895 in the books, 900 right around the corner, are 1000 goals possible? [35:25] - The Caps recent play has been mid-level. Laughlin assesses where the team needs to improve with the record behind them. [46:20] - The authentication process for OV's jerseys, sticks and pucks. [48:11] - The playoff races. [57:02] - Let's talk other superstars: Crosby-Pastrnak/MacKinnon Kucherov. [1:02:20] - Vic gets on his TV soapbox about directors cutting away from intimate moments for wide shots and crowd shots. [1:05:55] - Player notes [1:08:05] - The Human Side of the Country focuses on the reverence and respect seen with more increased frequency around NHL arenas. X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #ColinStephenson #Newsday #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKr
Fri, April 04, 2025
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - Nastiness in Carolina as OV Gets a Step Closer -April 4, 2025
SInce our last show, three more clubs qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs while another joins a list having to officially wait until next year. Meanwhile, #892 for Alex Ovechkin shares the spotlight with a controversial takedown during a raucous third period Wednesday in Raleigh. X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #ColinStephenson #Newsday #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #AlexOvechkin #Gr8Chase #GeorgeParros #JadenChatfield #ConnorMcMichael #BradyTkachuk #ShanePinto #JakeSanderson #LinusUllmark #RidlyGreig #BrandonHagel #NikitaKucherov #BraydenPoint #NickSuzuki #BrendanGallagher #JakeEvans #ColeCaufield #JohnnyGaudreau #VincentTrocheck #KirillKaprizov #JoelErikssonEk #PeterLaviolette #GabePerreault #FilipGustavsson #JohnVanbiesbrouck #ArthurKaliyev #NathanMacKinnon #DevonToews #CharlieCoyle #CaleMakar #MartinNecas #JonathanDrouin #MikeGreen #ZachWerenski #QuinnHughes #RobertThomas #JakeNeighbours #JimmySnuggerud #RutgerMcgroarty #CutterGauthier #WillSmith #DougMohns #BrianLeetch #BlakeColeman #NzaemKadri #DustinWolf #JoeyDaccord #JaredMcCann #VinceDunn #AndreBurakovsky #RickTocchet #MitchMarner #MatthewKnies #AnthonyStolarz #SamReinhart #AleksanderBarkov #PaulMaurice #MatthewTkachuk #BradMarchand #MarkScheifele #AdamLowry #MikeComrie #ScottArniel #NikolajEhlers #ColePerfetti #JohnMairno #KevinFiala #PhillipDanault #TrevorMoore #KarelVejmelka #JeffSkinner #EvanBouchard #CalvinPickard #KitchenerRangers #LeonDraisaitl #ConnorMcDavid #JasonRobertson #MattDuchene #MasonMarchment #MikkoRantanen #WyattJohnston #JamieBenn #DylanHolloway #AnthonyDuclair #PatrickRoy #QuebecRamparts #MattMartin #MaximTsyplakov #ArvidSoderblom #SpencerKnight #JordanStaal #AndreiSvechnikov
Thu, April 03, 2025
Human Side of the Story - Ep. 54 - Uniting as Teammates...Despite Past History
The mention of junkyard dogs Brad Marchand and Sam Bennett being on the same team would have brought a laugh a year ago. However, after battling as adversaries, the pair won the Four Nations Faceoff as teammates, then reunited at the trade deadline as Marchand was traded from Boston to Florida. While those two collectively look to earn the Panthers back-to-back Stanley Cup Titles, Neil notes a couple of instances where former foes come together while others remain a nasty part of NHL lore. X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #BradMarchand #SamBennett #FloridaPanthers #BostonBruins #RichPilon #KevinStevens #NewYorkIslanders #PittsburghPenguins #LosAngelesKings #PatLafontaine #JohnMuckler #BuffaloSabres #LucRobitaille #WayneGretzky #CamNeely #UlfSamuelsson #TieDomi #DenisPotvin #UlfNilsson
Wed, April 02, 2025
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - High Drama in Montreal and St. Louis - April 2, 2025
The Canadiens and Blues kept the holds on their respective wild card positions with game-tying goals in the final minute followed by OT winners. Meanwhile, the OV Chase Tour is officially underway, a quarter of the playoff pool is set and guess who's no longer in last in the Eastern Conference? X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #ColinStephenson #Newsday #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #AlexOvechkin #Gr8Chase #DylanStrome #RyanLeonard #DavidPastrnak #DonSweeney #CamNeely #JeffreyViel #DylanMcIlrath #BradyTkachuk #RyanGraves #RasmusDahlin #AlexTuch #DylanCozens #PeytonKrebs #DrakeBatherson #NickSuzuki #LaneHutson #MacklinCelebrini #MatveiMichkov #DustinWolf #IgorShesterkin #ChrisKreider #MikaZibanejad #AdamFox #KirillMarchenko #SeanMonahan #AdamFantilli #KentJohnson #DeanEvason #JohnnyGaudreau #MatthewGaudreau #DonWaddell #BooneJenner #JakeGuentzel #NikitaKucherov #NathanMacKinnon #PatrickRoy #AnthonyDuclair #BoHorvat #JordanKyrou #JordanBinnington #CamTalbot #JakeDeBrusk #VictorManicni #AnthonyBeauvillier #JimMontgomery #DougArmstron #JimmySnuggerud #LukeHughes #PaulCotter #JesperBratt #JacobMarkstrom #MattBoldy #RyanHuska #RyanLomberg #AdamKlapka #YegorSharangovich #DanVladar #NazemKadri #JonathanHuberdeau #CaleMakar #KevinStenlund #KarelVejmelka #TrevorMoore #AnzeKopitar #AndreiKuzmenko #MattDuchene #WyattJohnston #EsaLindell #CaseyDeSmith #LeonDraaisaitl #ConnorMcDavid #RyanNugent-Hopkins #EvanBouchard #JakeWalman #MasonMcTavish #BradShaw #RickTocchet #MatthewTkachuk #DmitryKulikov #FilipChytil #JasonDickinson #MiroHeiskanen #MarkStone #DougieHamilton #TaylorMakar #RogersSportsnet #RonMacLean #ElliotteFriedman #KevinBieksa #KellyHrudey #GaryBettman #BillDaly #FrozenFour #WesternMichiganBroncos
Tue, April 01, 2025
NY Centric - Getting Late for Rangers and Islanders with Colin Stephenson from Newsday - April 1, 2025
Only two-a-half-weeks remain in the regular season. The Rangers are close but not in a playoff spot, the Islanders have slipped back and the Devils are in cruise control with their first round opponent all but certain. Plenty to break down on all fronts and Vic and Neil do so with Colin Stephenson from Newsday. X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #ColinStephenson #Newsday #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #StanFischler #GordieHowe #BarclayGoodrow #JacobTrouba #ChrisKreider #RyanLindgren #AlexisLafreniere #K'AndreMiller #JonathanQuick #GabePerreault #IgorShesterkin #ArtemiPanarin #VincentTrocheck #PeterLaviolette #ChrisDrury #MikeGreer #WillBorgen #JTMiller #DavidQuinn #GerardGallant #MikaZibanejad #JeffGorton #JohnDavidson #RyanReaves #BrennanOthmann #SemyonVarlamov #IlyaSorokin #JamesHagens #AnthonyDuclair #BrockNelson #MarcusHogberg #AlexOvechkin #WayneGretzky #TJOshie #SpencerCarbery #ChrisPatrick #BrianMacLellan #TedLeonsis #JakobChychrun #DawsonMercer #LukeHughes #NicoHischier #JesperBratt #PaulCotter #DougieHamilton #JacobMarskstrom #TomFitzgerald #SheldonKeefe #JackHughes #ConnorMcDavid #AustonMatthews
Mon, March 31, 2025
Episode 54 - What's Next in Philly? With Hall of Fame Journalist Al Morganti
A pair of outstanding guests highlight Episode 54. First, Hall of Fame Journalist Al Morganti joins the show to talk about the past, present and future of the Flyers. Then former coach and NHL Network analyst Bruce Boudreau speaks about Alex Ovechkin's final push for the all-time scoring mark and where he's come from as a young player. Neil and Vic update all of the key races, some on-ice happenings and player notes and wrap up the show with instances foes join forces for a chance to win a Stanley Cup. IN THIS EPISODE: [03:18] - In "Three Things You Need to Pay Attention To," the Oilers Leon Draisaitl hits 50 goals for the first time, the Blues winning streak hits nine and, do the Leafs want to win the Atlantic Division after all? [14:49] - Al Morganti joins Neil and Vic with the initial topic being when it went off the rails during the John Tortorella era. [19:29] - Was Torts fighting an uphill battle from the day he took the job in Philadelphia? [23:19] - Discussion about how the Flyers evolved for two seasons but, with the parting of NHL assets in addition to their head coach, are they back to square one? [26:40] - What ownership and the front office need to do to bring the Flyers back to respectability? [34:17] - The immediate future for the Flyers and does the increased salary cap do anything in the short term? [36:57] - Does Brad Shaw have the interim tag removed or is a different name next behind the Flyers bench. [46:38] - Former coach of Alex Ovechkin, Bruce Boudreau, joins the show and start off with memories they share from their days growing up playing hockey in Toronto. [51:00] - Bruce shares he saw greatness from early on with Ovechkin but not to the extent of breaking the goal-scoring mark. [53:10] - The strategy of coaching Ovechkin early in his career and his evolvement as a player. [57:26] - The Space OV has created for himself now based on his physical play early in his career. [1:00:43] - Will the chase for the record affect the more important goals for the Caps come playoff time? [1:07:55] - How did the Caps go from barely getting into the playoffs in 2024 to one of the NHL's elite? [1:11:50] - Looking ahead to when the record may fall. [1:14:28] - The maturation of Ovechkin and acknowledging Marc-Andre Fleury after their likely final meeting. [1:20:01] - Quick check in on the bubble teams in the East - and it's not very flattering. [1:21:46] - The West Wild Card, the race for first in the Central and the reality of the Kings finally getting home ice advantage against the Oilers in the opening round. [1:27:00] - One of these days, the Sabres just might not occupy the cellar of the Eastern Conference. [1:28:54] - Another example of being unselfish had potentially disastrous results. [1:31:06] - The not-so-nice this past weekend. [1:33:26] - Player Notes [1:35:36] - "The Human S
Fri, March 28, 2025
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - Change in Philly, Class by OV - March 28, 2025
After guiding the Flyers to the final game of last regular season before being eliminated, John Tortorella was let go by the Flyers Thursday. With a weak roster by NHL standards, a 1-10-1 slide prompted the fifth coaching change this season. As usual, several points can be raised and we do just that. In the meantime, in his first game, interim head coach Brad Shaw faced the eighth seed in the east, the Montreal Canadiens, with a lot on the line for the Habs. In addition, the Senators and Red Wings met in a pivotal game for both while the Blues looked to extend their hold on a wild card spot in the West. X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #JohnTortorella #BradShaw #KeithJones #CarterHart #DannyBriere #MatveiMichkov #SeanCouturier #CamYork #RickTocchet #GerardGallant #PeterLaviolette #DavidQuinn #JimMontgomery #LinusUllmark #AlexLyon #AlexDebrincat #SimonEdvinsson #TimStutzle #BradyTkachuk #KieferSherwood #PiusSuter #DrewO'Connor #QuinnHughes #ThatcherDemko #IlyaSorokin #FrederickGaudreau #MattBoldy #FilipGustavsson #Marc-AndreFleury #AlexOvechkin #DylanHolloway #CamFowler #JonathanMarchessault #ColtonParayko #MikkoRantanen #NazemKadri #CaseyDeSmith #MacKenzieWeegar #ConorZary #BlakeColeman #JasonRobertson #RoopeHintz #ThomasHarley #CoreyPerry #MacKenzieBlackwood #MartinNecas #CaleMakar #NathanMacKinnon #JadenSchwartz #JoeyDaccord #OlivierRodrique #ConnorMcDavid #LeonDraisaitl #GaryBettman #KarelVejmelka #JaxsonStauber #JohnTavares #WilliamNylander #MitchMarner #WillSmith #MacklinCelebrini #RyanMcDonagh #NikitaKucherov #VictorHedman #JakeGuetzel #OliverBjorkstrand #BraydenPoint #JiriKulich #TageThompson #TristanJarry #SidneyCrosby #EvgeniMalkin #KrisLetang #ErikKarlsson #WayneGretzky #DawsonMercer #LukeHughes #NicoHischier #JesperBratt #BradMarchand #DavidPastrnak #CaseyMittelstadt #LeoCarlsson #AlexPietrangelo #MattRempe #TannerJeannot #MichaelBacklund #RayBourque #ESPN #GaryThorne #JohnSaunders #BernieSaunders #SteveLevy #LannyMcDonald #NCAAFrozenFour #UMassMiddlemen #WesternMichiganBroncos #MinnesotaState #UniversityofMinnesota #DarrylSittler
Thu, March 27, 2025
Human Side of the Story - Ep. 53 - Jack Michaels: From Meadville to Edmonton
How does a young man from a small town in Western Pennsylvania end up as the play-by-play voice of the Edmonton Oilers? You take inspiration from those before you, then take your craft far away hoping for that one big opportunity. For Jack Michaels, his blueprint is similar to many looking to break into the broadcast industry but few actually realize. X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #JackMichaels #EdmontonOilers #MarioLemieux #MikeLange #DaveJohnson #ColoradoGoldKings #WestCoastHockeyLeague #AlaskaAces #ECHL #NewYorkIslanders #FloridaPanthers
Wed, March 26, 2025
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - A Heavyweight Bout as Good as Advertised -March 26, 2025
For the second time this season, the Jets and Capitals went to overtime and, for the second time, the Jets prevailed to join the Caps in the playoffs. Not to be lost: Alex Ovechkin pulls to within five of Wayne Gretzky's all-time goal scoring mark in a game that was full value. At the other end of the playoff spectrum, the Blues and Canadiens also had a date as they looked to hold their the final spots in the respective wild card races and there's a new team finding their way into a playoff bubble...for all the wrong reasons. X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #NikolajEhlers #MarkScheifele #KyleConnor #JoshMorrissey #ConnorHellebuyck #AlexOvechkin #TomWilson #RobertThomas #PhilipBroberg #DylanHolloway #CamNeely #DonSweeney #JimMontgomery #DougArmstrong #NazemKadri #RasmusAndersson #JordanEberle #MattCornoato #DustinWolf #JoeyDaccord #DonMaloney #ThatcherDemko #PaulCotter #EliasPettersson #NilsHoglander #PiusSuter #QuinnHughes #IlyaSorokin #ThomasHickey #JakeOettinger #JackEichel #NoahHanafin #MarkStone #KirillKaprizov #JoelErikssonEk #BillGuerin #TageThompson #JamesReimer #LindyRuff #DylanCozens #JoshNorris #KirillMarchenko #SeanMonahan #AndersLee #ErikGudbranson #KevinFiala #DarcyKuemper #JacobTrouba #PeterLaviolette #IgorShesterkin #AustinWatson #AlexDebrincat #SimonEdvinsson #DevonToews #NathanMacKinnon #MartinNecas #JonathanDrouin #SteveYzerman #WilliamNylander #JohnTavares #BobbyMcMann #ScottLaughton #JohnTortorella #CarterHart #ChuckFletcher #OwenTippett #TravisKonecny #TravisSanheim #RockyThompson #AnthonyCirelli #NikitaKucherov #BraydenPoint #BrandonHagel #TristanJarry #RyanGraves #LukeEvangelista #JuuseSaros #SteveStamkos #JonathanMarchessault #BradySkjei #RyanO'Reilly #RomanJosi #BarryTrotz #FilipForsberg #GabeVilardi #PetrMrazek #DylanGuenther #MichaelBacklund #SheaTheodore #JakubChychrun #ArizonaCoyotes #BaldforBucks #MartinBiron #DanDunleavy #BrianDuff #Great8Chase #HockeyFightsCancer #VFoundation #NoahDobson #JakeDeBrusk #JTMiller #FilipChytil #VictorMancini #BoHorvat
Tue, March 25, 2025
NY Centric - Isles Get Closer, Rangers and Devils Struggling with Thomas Hickey - March 25, 2025
A week ago, the N.Y. Islanders had five teams to jump in order to get to the second wild card position in the Eastern Conference. Today, they have one final hurdle to jump. Meanwhile, struggles continue in New Jersey and Manhattan. Former Islander and current TV analyst Thomas Hickey joins Vic and Neil to go in depth with the playoffs coming up in just three-and-a-half weeks. X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #ThomasHickey #ButchGoring #BrendanBurke #ShannonHogan #JodyShelley #JaromeIginla #RobynRegehr #DerekMorris #MikeCommodore #KylePalmieri #NoahDobson #BoHorvat #PatrikLaine #BrendanGallagher #IlyaSorokin #KyleMacLean #JonathanHuberdeau #NazemKadri #KirillMarchenko #MaximTsyplakov #AndersLee #PatrickRoy #BrockNelson #CaseyCizikas #PierreEngvall #MatthewBarzal #MarcGatcomb #SimonHolmstrom #KirillMarchenko #SidneyCrosby #EvgeniMalkin #ErikKarlsson #KrisLetang #DougieHamilton #NikitaKucherov #AndreiVasilevskiy #JonasSiegenthaler #JohnathanKovacevic #NicoHischier #JacobMarkstrom #JesperBratt #LukeHughes #JackHughes #LinusUllmark #ThatcherDemko #PiusSuter #RichTocchet #QuinnHughes #EliasPettersson #NilsHoglander #CraigBerube #ArtemiPanarin #VincentTrocheck #JohnTavares #JakeMcCabe #JohnnyBrodzinski #JTMiller #IgorShesterkin #BrennanOthmann #WillBorgen #JuusoParssinen #CarsonSoucy #ZacJones #SeattleThunderbirds #JacobTrouba #BarclayGoodrow #RobertoLuongo #AlanQuine #JohnTavares #LannyMcDonald #CliffFletcher #TerryCrisp
Mon, March 24, 2025
Episode 53 - Drilling Down with Edmonton Oilers PxP Jack Michaels
The Edmonton Oilers were one win from an historic comeback in the Stanley Cup Final last spring. While favored by many to take that last step in 2025, the best laid plans have not gone according to plan as injuries, spotty defensive play and offensive shortcomings have hurt the club. TV Play-by-play voice of the Oilers Jack Michaels joins Vic and Neil to break it down. Also, the playoff races have taken several turns during the week, "The Big Rig" announces his plans to retire and some history in the PWHL during Women's History Month. IN THIS EPISODE: [01:49] - In "Three Things You Need to Pay Attention to," the Washington Capitals balance is a primary reason they are the only club to have clinched a playoff berth. [12:16] - Jack Michaels joins the show with an update on the status of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. [16:12] - Aside from the two superstars, Michaels addresses where the offense needs to come from in order to be the formidable team they'll need to be come playoff time. [21:40] - The question of defensive play, a signature of the improvement a season ago, has raised its head often this season... [25:00] - ...and that leads into inconsistent goaltending. Jack has a very interesting response as to whether the Skinner/Pickard tandem is enough. [30:10] - Michaels share the differences in the Oilers between current GM Stan Bowman and his predecessor, Ken Holland. [36:50] - Vic believes all of the Western powers have improved. Jack says otherwise. [48:33] - Before leaving, Jack shares a pointant story of being in a hallway in the arena not long after the Oilers had dropped Game 7 of the Final. [53:05] - The Playoff Races [1:01:42] - The NHL and NHLPA set to begin talks on a new CBA next month, almost a year-and-a-half before the current one expires. [1:04:12] - Player news. [1:08:01] - The Human Side of the Story looks at Jack Michaels journey from a small Western PA town to the Edmonton, Alberta X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #JackMichaels #ColoradoGoldKings #AlaskaAces #AlexOvechkin #AliakseiProtas #TomWilson #DylanStrome #JakobChychrun
Fri, March 21, 2025
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - March Madness - The NHL Way - March 21, 2025
Crazy eights for Alex Ovechkin, Connor McDavid leaves Thursday's game and the last two teams in the NHL alphabet are the first to 100 points. That's only the beginning as two stirring games involving teams in both bubble races highlights our re-caps and...if anything symbolized the last 14 seasons in Buffalo, the last 90 seconds of their game in Utah was it. X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #AlexOvechkin #ConnorMcDavid #LeonDraisaitl #StuartSkinner #CalvinPickard #PatQuinn #AdamFox #DougArmstrong #TylerTucker #DylanHolloway #BrockBoeser #QuinnHughes #EliasPettersson #PhilipBroberg #BraydenSchenn #JonathanHuberdeau #JacobMarkstrom #RyanHuska #JackAdamsTrophy #PatrickRoy #DylanGuenther #TageThompson #KevinStenlund #MikhailSergachev #RasmusDahlin #LindyRuff #AlexTuch #OwenPower #BoHorvat #PatrikLaine #BrendanGallagher #IlyaSorokin #SamMontembeault #AnthonyDuclair #StevenLorentz #SimonBenoit #KellySutherland #JosephWoll #AnthonyStolarz #JohnTavares #JakeMcCabe #WilliamNylander #ArtemiPanarin #AleksanderBarkov #KirillMarchenko #ElvisMerzlikins #SergeiBobrovsky #BrandonHagel #AnthonyCirelli #GabeGonclaves #CaseyDeSmith #JeffSkinner #ZachHyman #JoshMorrissey #KyleConnor #LinusUllmark #NathanMacKinnon #BrockNelson #CaleMakar #RyanHartman #MattBoldy #LiamOhgren #MarcoRossi #KirillKaprizov #JoelErikssonEk #FilipGustavsson #PavelDorofeyev #WilliamKarlsson #TrevorMoore #AlexTurcotte #ConnorBedard #SethJones #KaapoKakko #AlexisLafreniere #JackHughes #TravisKonecny #MatveiMichkov #TravisSandheim #SebastianAho #SethJarvis #GaryBettman #MikkoRantanen #DougieHamilton #RodBrind'Amour #DavidPoile #JoshManson #EvanderKane #DmitryKulikov #DanFriedkin #SamRosen #JackMichaels #LouieDeBrusk #EvanBouchard #DarnellNurse
Thu, March 20, 2025
Human Side of the Story - Ep. 52 - Hey Dad, You're Trading Me?
Trades are an accepted part of hockey business. Recently, Utica Comets GM Dan MacKinnon caught the attention of many pulling off a deal which involved moving his own son to playoff-contending Cleveland. While unique, it's actually happened before and, on the NHL level, no less. The player involved is one who Neil later acquired in New York after this noteworthy trade from Colorado to Los Angeles. X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL#DanMacKinnon #WillMacKinnon #UticaComets #NewJerseyDevils #ClevelandMonsters #ColumbusBlueJackets #WashingtonCapitals #LesterPatrick #LynnPatrick #MuzzPatrick #EricLacroix #PierreLacroix #ColoradoAvalanche #LosAngelesKings #UniversityofNewHampshire
Wed, March 19, 2025
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - A Rotten Apple Pushes Montreal Into Wild Card Position - Mar. 19, 2025
March signals desperation for many clubs looking to make their final push to the post-season. Over the past couple of evenings, the Canadiens, Islanders, Canucks and Blues appear to have gotten the memo. Apparently, one team has not. We're all over both wild card races with 14 games worth of coverage plus some other news around the NHL. X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #DanVladar #ArtemiPanarin #DustinWolf #DonMaloney #IgorShesterkin #ChristianDvorak #BrendanGallagher #JoshAnderson #KylePalmieri #NoahDobson #PierreEngvall #SimonHolmstrom #TristanJarry #JakeAllen #JesperBratt #JackHughes #TimoMeier #Pierre-LucDubois #TomWilson #ConnorMcMichael #AliakseiProtas #SpencerCarbery #AlexOvechkin #AlexTuch #DavidPastrnak #BrockBoeser #PiusSuter #QuinnHughes #ConnorHellebuyck #ThatcherDemko #FilipChytil #RickTocchet #VictorMancini #BrianLeetch #JeffBeukeboom #JustinFaulk #JakeNeighbours #GordieHoweHatTrick #JordanKyrou #JoelHofer #JimMontgomery #ZachHyman #MattiasEkholm #ViktorArvidsson #RyanNugent-Hopkins #ConnorMcDavid #VasilyPodkolzin #LeonDraisaitl #KarelVejmelka #MatsZuccarello #FilipGustavsson #MikaelGranlund #ThomasHarley #MikkoRantanen #LeoCarlsson #MiroHeiskanen #TylerSeguin #ErikGudbranson #ColeSillinger #SeanMonahan #AndreiVasilevskiy #NikitaKucherov #JakeGuentzel #SteveSimmons #AustonMatthews #WilliamNylander #MitchMarner #OliverEkman-Larsson #ShaneWright #AdamLarsson #TomFitzgerald #CaseyFitzgerald #HartfordWolfpack #AHL #AdamJohnson #NHLPA #RyanReaves #MattMartin #JamieBenn #EvanderKane #TJOshie #GabrielLandeskog #JoshManson #IIHF #GaryBettman
Tue, March 18, 2025
NY Centric - A Final Islanders Push at Hand? With Stefen Rosner of NHL.com - Mar. 18, 2025
The New York Islanders have become somewhat forgotten in the race for the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. However, following a stirring comeback against the defending Stanley Cup champions Sunday, a favorable schedule this week may provide to tonic needed to gain ground on the handful of teams they need to pass. Stefen Rosner from the NHL.com helps break it down as we update the Rangers and Devils as well. X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #StefenRosner #NHL.com #AnaheimDucks #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #AndersLee #TonyDeAngelo #QuintonByfield #JohnMacLean #MatthewBarzal #BrockNelson #KylePalmieri #SemyonVarlamov #MarcusHogberg #JakubSkarek #IlyaSorokin #BoHorvat #TristanJarry #AlexNedeljkovic #LeonDraisaitl #MattGatcomb #MaximTsyplakov #NoahDobson #BarclayGoodrow #JacobTrouba #MattRempe #ChrisKreider #RyanLindgren #KaapoKakko #WillBorgen #ChrisDrury #HenrikLundqvist #JTMiller #CalvindeHaan #CarsonSoucy #ArthurKaliyev #MikaZibanejad #ArtemiPanarin #IgorShesterikin #AdamFox #VincentTrocheck #BrennanOthmann #SamCarrick#JesperBratt #AleksanderBarkov #JacobMarkstrom #CodyGlass #LukeHughes #JackHughes #SimonNemec #JohnathanKovacevic #TomFitzgerald #SheldonKeefe #JakeAllen #TimoMeier #BrettPesce #TheElmonters #MarkFitzpatrick #JoeNieuwendyk #CamNeely #GaryLeeman #AdamGraves
Sun, March 16, 2025
Episode 52 - Be-Leaf Them or Not? With Steve Simmons from The Toronto Sun
The Toronto Maple Leafs are always in the news and, amidst some recent struggles, uncertainty is once again setting in as to whether the team has the goods to end its 58-year Stanley Cup drought. Longtime Toronto Sun writer Steve Simmons joins the show to go in depth on their prospects. With the regular season ending in just over four weeks, Vic and Neil check out those looking to secure the final wild card spots in the East, flip the discussion to the heavyweights in the central division and then talk about a player whose attempt at generosity backfired on his team. We have a usual player note plus, in The Human Side of Story, an AHL GM just traded his son...and got nothing immediate in return. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:53] - In "Three Things You Need to Pay Attention To," we're watching as the Ottawa Senators are not only pushing to wrap up a Wild Card, but, perhaps threatening the Maple Leafs for third in the Atlantic. [08:15] - Steve Simmons joins the show and Neil poses the question whether the Leafs get the same grief about their title drought as he did three-plus decades ago in New York. [13:33] - With a Stanley Cup hardened head coach, Simmons shares whether he sees a different spring on the horizon based on the composition of the team. [21:33] - Mitch Marner's future in Toronto remains uncertain beyond this season. There's a more layers to this story than what appears on the surface. [30:55] - Auston Matthews season has been inconsistent by his standards. Is it Injury, new system or both? [34:58] - Simmons speaks to the importance of Chris Tanev. [41:05] - Moving away from the Leafs but, staying in Canada, will Winnipeg's magnificent regular season translate to playoff success? [44:23] - Simmons transitions from the Jets back to his earliest days covering hockey in the 1980's bridging similar stories of a young Wayne Gretzky and a young Connor McDavid. [52:20] - Scrub of the Eastern bubble clubs [1:01:01] - Scrub of the Western bubble club [1:07:19] - The Dallas Stars faced two Central Division powers in Winnipeg and Colorado during the weekend, the latter being Mikko Rantanen's return to Denver. Despite an overtime and regulation loss, does this make the Stars any less formidable? [1:11:47] - Tomas Hertl learns a hard lesson [1:13:55] - Player Notes [1:16:04] - The Human Side of the Story focuses on an AHL GM who just traded his son. Believe it or not, it's happened before. X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRed
Fri, March 14, 2025
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - The Senators Create Seperation - March 14, 2025
The surge in Canada's Capital continues while the St. Louis Blues miss a major opportunity to push their way into a tie for the final Western Conference Wild Card berth. Elsewhere, two very different overtime strategies to discuss while the first meeting between the last two number one overall picks didn't exactly deliver the expected. X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #QuinnHughes #RyanLomberg #EliasPettersson #JTMiller #ConorGarland #BradMarchand #ConnorZary #NazemKadri #DannyBriere #HenrikLundqvist #OlliJokinen #BrianBoucher #TristanJarry #SidneyCrosby #BrianRust #BlakeLizotte #RickardRakell #JordanBinnington #DylanGuenther #DeltaCenter #KarelVejmelka #ConnorIngram #NHLPlayerAssistanceProgram #DrakeBatherson #JeremySwayman #LinusUllmark #MasonLohrei #TravisGreen #SpencerCarbery #ScottArniel #DeanEvason #AdinHill #NickRoy #TomasHertl #BrandonSaad #DougArmstrong #BradenSchenider #JaredSpurgeon #KirillKaprizov #NathanMacKinnon #BrandonMontour #ChandlerStephenson #JordanEberle #LaneHutson #PatrickKane #AlexDebrincat #MarcoKasper #DylanLarkin #PetrMrazek #AlexTuch #TageThompson #OwenPower #RasmusDahlin #TerryPegula #SamBennett #SethJones #MaxDomi #CarterVerhaeghe #NateSchmidt #AustonMatthews #JacobTrouba #TieDomi #ChrisTanev #WilliamNylander #FredShero #BobbyBrink #OwenTippett #CamAtkinson #NikitaKucherov #AndreiVasilevskiy #JonasJohansson #JesperBratt #SimonNevec #JakeAllen #DougieHamilton #TomFitzgerald #JohnathanKovacevic #JackHughes #ConnorMcDavid #LeonDraisaitl #DarcyKuemper #MacklinCelebrini #ConnorBedard #WillSmith #CollinGraf #ChrisRooney #CalderTrophy #KyleDubas #EvgeniMalkin #KrisLetang #JonathanToews #DuncanKeith #BillTorrey #ClarkGillies #BryanTrottier #MikeBossy #BillySmith #DenisPotvin #ChrisChelios
Thu, March 13, 2025
Human Side of the Story - Ep. 51 - They Call Him Maurice
Leading in with reference to The Steve Miller Band, Neil shares some background on Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice which further sheds light on how he got into coaching. X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #PaulMaurice #WindsorSpitfires #PatJablonski #PeterKarmanos #RalphKreuger #2016WorldCupofHockey #TeamEurope #AdamGraves #PeterDeBoer #FloridaPanthers #HenryGraves #SteveMillerBand
Wed, March 12, 2025
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - The New Bruins Embracing the Underdog Role - March 12, 2025
Following the trade of Brad Marchand, the Boston Bruins have delivered two of their finest efforts of the season, the latest coming at the hands of their former captain's new team. Whether this is sustainable remains to be seen but, it has certainly created yet another piece of intrigue in the East wild card race where the Ottawa Senators have put some space between themselves and the rest of the field. Out West, the struggles continue for Edmonton and Vancouver, the latter about to play their biggest game of the season Wednesday against Calgary. X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #BradMarchand #DavidPastrnak #MasonLohrei #PavelZacha #NikitaZadorov #SamBennett #AleksanderBarkov #CarterVerhaeghe #TDGarden #AaronEklblad #NHL/NHLPAPerformanceEnhancingProgram #SethJones #LinusUllmark #DylanLarkin #DylanCozens #MichaelAmadio #AntonForsberg #LeeviMerilainen #BradyTkachuk #JesperBratt #LukeHughes #CodyGlass #JackHughes #MathieuOlivier #MattRempe #BobProbert #QuinnHughes #RickTocchet #NickSuzuki #BrockBoeser #JurajSlafkovsky #ColeCaufield #SamMontembeault #MartinStLouis #GabeVilardi #ConnorHellebuyck #MorganBarron #PresidentsTrophy #ArtemiPanarin #IgorShesterkin #AdamFox #MikaZibanejad #ChrisKreider #VincentTrocheck #QuintonByfield #TonyDeAngelo #DarcyKuemper #LeonDraisaitl #TageThompson #KrisKnoblauch #ConnorMcDavid #ZachHyman #SamReinhart #ViktorArvidsson #JeffSkinner #AdamHenrique #MattiasEkholm #EvanBouchard #RyanNugent-Hopkins #NathanMacKinnon #RocketRichardTrophy ##ArtRossTrophy #JakeWalman #StuartSkinner #QuebecNordiques #JoeSakic #PeterStastny #ScottWedgewood #MatsZuccarello #MattBoldy #FilipGustavsson #MacKenzieBlackwood #MitchMarner #SimonBenoit #MichaelKesselring #EddieShack #LouFontinato #PyotrKochetkov #AliakseiProtas #AlexOvechkin #BrandonDuhaime #TomWilson #Pierre-LucDubois #NoahHanafin #ErikKarlsson #SidneyCrosby #TristanJarry Wilkes-Barrie/ScrantonPenguins #KyleDubas #FilipForsberg #StevenStakos #KieferBellows #MacklinCelebrini #AdamFox #RasmusDahlin #JackEichel #KevynAdams #JoshNorris #CamAtkinson #JonathanQuick #AdamBoqvist
Tue, March 11, 2025
NY Centric - Realities for the New York City Locals Post Deadline - March 11, 2025
With the trade deadline passed, the Devils, Rangers and Islanders have the rosters they will finish their regular seasons with. For different reasons, none of the three are in enviable positions and time is running short to change course. X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #JackHughes #DougieHamilton #CodyGlass #BrianDumoulin #TomFitzgerald #SheldonKeefe #DanielSprong #TimoMeier #JesperBratt #DawsonMercer #BrianLeetch #MapleLeafGardens #NathanMacKinnon #AlexOvechkin #JohnDruce #TomWilson #ChrisKreider #CarsonSoucy #BradyTkachuk #BradenSchneider #AdamFantilli #ArtemiPanarin #MikaZibanejad #JonathanQuick #IgorShesterkin #PeterLaviolette #JohnTortorella #GerardGallant #UBSArena #PatrickRoy #BrockNelson #WilliamDufour #OliverKylington #CalumRitchie #AdamBeckman #DennisCholowski #KylePalmieri #LouLamoriello #MagnusHogberg
Mon, March 10, 2025
Episode 51 - Top Cat - A Chat with Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice
After three decades behind NHL benches, Paul Maurice finally reached the top of the coaching mountain last spring when his Florida Panthers held off the Edmonton Oilers to win the Stanley Cup. Maurice visited with Neil and Vic Friday to discuss his long history as a coach, several recent acquisitions, preparing to defend the title and then...as the interviewed wrapped up, there was another piece of business the coach had to attend to. There's also some unpacking to the trade deadline both from player and team perspectives as well as a discussion on growth of Ottawa Captain Brady Tkachuk. IN THIS EPISODE: [01:36] - In "Three Things You Need to Pay Attention To," Brad Marchand is a Florida Panther, Hurricanes GM Eric Tulsky is taking a positive stand having to move recent acquisition Mikko Rantanen and two front-runners are emerging in the East Wild Card picture while the defending Presidents' Trophy winners flounder. [12:52] - Paul Maurice joins the show and reflects on winning the Stanley Cup in 2024 and how the feeling gets better with time. [17:18] - Neil and Paul embark on the journey of Maurice's long head coaching career dotted throughout with some terrific stories about people and hockey culture. [40:00] - In advance of the trade deadline acquisition of Brad Marchand, Maurice speaks about several other additions the Panthers had brought in leading up to 3pm last Friday. [44:35] - While the Panthers were bolstering their lineup, so too were other clubs around the NHL. Maurice addresses the importance of paying attention to other deals around the league. [49:09] - A little levity. Maurice is one of the great humorists in the NHL and he tells us which comedian's style he's found effective in delivering his own messages. [50:20] - The meaning of the Cup and its impact to others is brought home to wrap up the discussion. [57:05] - Notable trade deadline debuts. [1:00:08] - Brady Tkachuk has matured into one of the NHL's top leaders. We look at what has changed in Canada's capital. [1:03:34] - With the trade deadline behind us, Neil takes Vic's $100 and evaluates the Western Conference powerhouses before placing his bet. [1:15:22] - Player Notes [1:20:44] - In the Human Side of the Story, a few things you may not have know about Panthers head coach Paul Maurice. X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIsl
Sat, March 08, 2025
NHL Wraparound 2025 NHL Trade Deadline Recap Show
WOW! Brad Marchand and Mikko Rantanen (again) on the move headline a fascinating conclusion to the NHL trade deadline as the defending champs load up while there's an arms race in earnest in the West. X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #BradMarchand #SethJones #NicoSturm #VitekVanecek #KaapoKahkonen #ChrisDriedger #MatthewTkachuk #SamBennett #TrentFrederic #BrandonCarlo #FraserMinten #CharlieCoyle #CaseyMittlestadt #WilliamZellers #JustinBrazeau #HenriJokiharju #JimMontgomery #PatriceBergeon #DavidKrejci #EliasLindholm #JeremySwayman #NikitaZadorov #ClaudeGiroux #YanniGourde #OliverBjorkstrand #MichaelEyssimont #PatrickGiles #MikkoRantanen #LoganStankoven #ChrisJohnston #TSN #NathanMacKinnon #MartinNecas #TaylorHall #JackDrury #BrockNelson #CalumRitchie #OliverKylington #ErikJohnson #JimmyVesey #RyanLindgren #MacKenzieBlackwood #ScottWedgewood #CalvinDeHaan #JussoParssinen #BrandonTanev #LukeSchenn #ConnorMcDavid #LeonDraisaitl #MaxJones #PetrHauser #JakeWalman #CarlBerglund #StuartSkinner #CalvinPickard #AndreiKuzmenko #CarsonSoucy #BrockBoeser #JTMiller #EliasPettersson #ThatcherDemko #KevinLankinen #QuinnHughes #ReillySmith #BrendanBrisson #JonCooper #JulienBrise-Bois #ScottLaughton #AnthonyStolarz #JosephWoll #BradTreliving #AnthonyBeauvillier #ChrisPatrick #SpencerCarbery #BoHorvat #JackHughes #DougieHamilton #BrianDumoulin #CodyGlass #DennisCholowski #LukeKunin #DylanCozens #DennisGilbert #JoshNorris #JacobBernard-Docker #BradyTkachuk #FabianZetterlund #ErikBrannstrom #NiccolasAube-Kubel #SonnyMIlano #NicklasBackstrom #TJOshie #PetrMrazek #CraigSmith #JoeVeleno #CamTalbot #AlexLyon #DylanLarkin #PatrickKane #LucasRaymond #MoritzSeider #LouLamoriello #AdamBeckman #KylePalmieri #WilliamDufour #MatthewBarzal #AndersLee #SheaWeber #BillArmstrong #KarelVejmelka #IanCole #OlliMaatta #AlexKerfoot #NickBjugstad #MarkJankowski #JoelArmia #DavidSavard #TylerMotte #PatMaroon #JasonZucker #AlecMartinez #MattGrzelcyk #RyanDonato #WyattJohnston #EvanderKane #PaulMaurice
Thu, March 06, 2025
Human Side of the Story - Ep. 50 - The Angst of a GM at the Trade Deadline
There are several benchmarks on the NHL calendar by which general managers are judged. One is the trade deadline. Neil shares the differences he's seen in the deadline over the past three decades as well as the array of emotions that one in that position experiences. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #JoeKocur #KevinMiller #PerDjoos #DetroitRedWings
Wed, March 05, 2025
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - Calm Before the Storm? - March 5, 2025
In two days, the rumors and speculation will cease and 32 teams will know the personnel they will ride through to the completion of their respective seasons. In the meantime, we have two trades to report - one at the beginning of the show and one at the end. In addition, Vic and Neil talk about each game over the past two nights, and their impacts, not only on the standings but as to how it may affect the decisions of certain GM's. And you won't want to miss on Neil's fearless predictions on who stays and who goes by Friday's deadline. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #TrentFrederic #MaxJones #PetrHauser #MaxWanner #ShaneLachance #EvanderKane #CoreyPerry #KenHolland #StanBowman #JimMontgomery #JeremySwayman #DustinWolf #CalvinPicard #MasonMcTavish #JacksonLacombe #CutterGauthier #LeonDraisaitl #ConnorMcDavid #StevenStamkos #RyanO'Reilly #MorganFrost #JoelFarabee #ConnorZary #JTMiller #ArtemiPanarin #WillCullye #IgorShesterkin #JordanMartinook #FrederikAndersen #Pierre-LucDubois #DylanStrome #ShanePinto #JakeSanderson #MikeMatheson #ColeCaufield #NickSuzuki #RasmusDahlin #LouLamoriello #SemyonVarlamov #MagnusHogberg #AndersLee #AdamLowry #BrockNelson #KylePalmieri #IlyaSorokin #AleksanderBarkov #SethJones #SergeiBobrovsky #RyanMcDonagh #VictorHedman #NikitaKucherov #JakeGuentzel #ZachWerenski #YegorChinakhov #NicoHischier #BrettPesce #ThomasHarley #SheldonKeefe #JackHughes #RoopeHintz #AnthonyBeauvillier #LoganO'Connor #CaseyMittlestadt #ArtturiLehkonen #RyanLindgren #SamMalinski #NathanMacKinnon #DaveHakstol #DanBylsma #CochellaValley #FilipGustavsson #RyanHartman #GeorgeMcPhee #RonFrancis #SpencerKnight #IlyaMikheyev #RyanDonato #FabianZetterlund #MackinCelebrini #BradMarchand #UBSArena #BrockBoeser #BrandonTanev #JoelArmia #NickBjugstad #DavidSavard #BrianDumoulin #JasonZucker #PatMaroon #AlecMartinez #TylerMotte #MattGrzelcyk #NicoSturm #IanCole #AlexKerfoot #VitekVanecek #ChrisDriedger #DougieHamilton #MasonMarchment #JoshManson #JakeEvans #JesperBoqvist #DylanHolloway #PhilipBroberg #DougArmstrong #RickBowness #PaulMaurice
Tue, March 04, 2025
NY Centric - The Rangers Trade Update with Peter Baugh from The Athletic - Mar. 4, 2025
With Friday's trade deadline approaching, the three New York-area teams all have very different areas to address. Rangers writer for The Athletic, Peter Baugh, joins NY Centric before Vic and Neil tackle the Islanders and Devils. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #PeterBaugh #TheAthletic #MadisonSquareGarden #RyanLindgren #JimmyVesey #HankKempf #CalvindeHaan #JussoParssinen #ChrisDrury #SamRosen #JoeMicheletti #RileySmith #ChrisKreider #CaleMakar #AdamFox #ZachWerenski #BooneJenner #KirillMarchenko #IgorShesterkin #PeterLaviolette #MikaZibanejad #ArtemiPanarin #JTMIller #WillCuylle #AustonMatthews #MitchMarner #TylerToffoli #JackRoslevic #IlyaSorokin #AlexanderRomanov #LouLamoriello #AnthonyDuclair #MaximTsyplakov #TonyDeAngelo #ScottPerunovich #AdamBoqvist #MatthewBarzal #PatrickRoy #KylePalmieri #BrockNelson #StevenStamkos #BillySmith #RobRamage #ColoradoRockies #AndersLee #TimoMeier #NicoDaws #JacobMarkstrom #JackHughes #JackEichel #TomFitzgerald #BrianLeetch #ChrisJohnston #SheldonKeefe #NicoHischier #JacobMarkstrom #NicoDaws #JakeAllen #BraydenSchenn #CaseyMiddlestadt #RyanO'Reilly #DougArmstrong #BillChadwick #BruceMcNall #BarryBeck #ChrisWells #UBSArena
Mon, March 03, 2025
Episode 50 - Buckle Up for the Trade Deadline with TSN's Chris Johnston
One of most anticipated weeks of the NHL season is upon us with the trade deadline approaching. Chris Johnston from TSN and The Athletic join Neil and Vic to talk trades that have happened and a look ahead to those looking to fill those missing final pieces to make a title run. Other in-show discussions address differences in handling adversity during a season, the generational players in the 2000's and 2010's and plays that have reflected forgettable seasons in Pittsburgh and Nashville. [00:59] - Two injuries headline "Three Things You Need to Pay Attention To" in addition to the Columbus Blue Jackets Memorable outdoor win Saturday. [05:47] - Chris Johnston joins the show with his take on the Seth Jones trade from Chicago to Florida as well as what the defending Stanley Cup champs might do with cap space with Matthew Tkachuk headed to LTIR. [14:18] - Analysis of the Rangers-Avalanche deal with Ryan Lindgren and Jimmy Vesey heading to Denver. [17:09] - Gustav Nyquist joins the Minnesota Wild for the second time in three years, coming over from Nashville. [19:34] - Still without a contract for 2025-26, the Carolina Hurricanes must decide whether to move recently acquired sniper Mikko Rantanen or roll the dice, keep him and risk losing him for nothing on July 1. [23:00] - After a record-setting season two years ago, the Boston Bruins are at a crosswords with captain Brad Marchand as an impending UFA. [26:58] - Chris speaks about what certain contenders will try to do in order to ensure a strong playoff run. [34:15] - Hitting singles vs. home runs at the deadline. [38:51] - Adversity: All teams deal with it but it comes in very different forms. Case studies are Columbus and Washington. [41:41] - The generational players of the 2000's are having a better time of it in recent weeks than the generational players of the 2010's. [44:47] - If anything summed up the seasons of the Penguins and Predators, you saw it this past weekend. [48:45] - Player Notes [51:04] - The Human Side of the Story focuses on Neil's experiences of how the trade deadline has changed, the need to detach from emotions when player upheaval is involved and the feelings of a GM once the deadline has passed. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #Otta
Fri, February 28, 2025
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - Intrigue Abounds Heading Into March - Feb. 28, 2025
In one week, teams will finalize the rosters they will move forward with to seasons end as the trade deadline is a week away. While more time has been spent on the East bubble, the Western Conference is tightening up a bit with improved play by Utah, St. Louis and Anaheim. Vic and Neil go over all 15 games over the past two nights and also tip their hats to the Schenn brothers in reaching a very unique milestone. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #NateSchmidt #CarterVerhaeghe #LeonDraisaitl #ConnorMcDavid #ZachHyman #JeffSkinner #AdamHenrique #RyanNugent-Hopkins #StuartSkinner #EvanBouchard #NHLStadiumSeries #OhioStadium #DaniilTarasov #ElvisMerzlikins #JamesvanRiemsdyk #BooneJenner #KirillMarchenko #MoritzSeider #DeanEvason #SpencerCarbery #ScottArniel #PresidentsTrophy #JohnHynes #JackAdamsAward #ToddMcLellan #IlyaSorokin #AlexanderRomano #IgorShesterkin #BrockNelson #MattPoitras #DavidPastrnak #NickSuzuki #ColeCaufield #MacklinCelebrini #BellCentre #JoshMorrissey #EvgeniMalkin #ErikKarlsson #AlexNedeljkovic #JoelBlomqvist #JohnTortorella #SidneyCrosby #GarnetHathaway #NoelAcciari #BokoImama #MikeSullivan #BellevilleSenators #WilkesBarrieScrantonPenguins #TucsonRoadrunners #JoeyKocur #TieDomi #MatveiMichkov #BobbyBrink #PhilipTomasino #BradyTkachuk #ShanePinto #JoshNorris #MarkScheifele #KyleConnor #ConnorHellebucyk #MartinBrodeur #BradenHoltby #JuuseSaros #MikeComrie #VezinaTrophy #ConorGarland #QuinnHughes #DrewDoughty #RyanStrome #TroyTerry #AndreiVasilevskiy #DeltaCenter #ClaytonKeller #NickSchmaltz #PhilipBroberg #DylanHolloway #JoelHofer #JordanBinnington #JimMontgomery #DougArmstrong #TomWilson #MikkoRantanen #IvanBarbashev #KeeganKolesar #BrettHowden #ConnorMurphy #SethJones #NathanMacKinnon #MartinNecas #ValNichushkin #AdamFox #K'AndreMiller #KyleMacLean #JTMiller #ChrisKreider #NoahDobson #MattBarzal #ChrisTanev #TrentFrederic #RomanJosi #SamBennett #MichaelBunting #BraydenSchenn #LukeSchenn #RobbyFabbri #HartfordWolfpack
Thu, February 27, 2025
Human Side of the Story - Ep. 49 - Three Very Different Types of Compassion
The intensity and grit of the NHL is unmistakable. However, beneath that toughness lies a compassion which is as much a part of the fabric of the game as is the toughness. Three recent examples, all very different, drive that point home. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #PaulMorris #RedBarber #KevinShea #SkateforLAStrong #crypto.comarena #GuyGaudreau #JohnnyGaudreau #MikeEruzione #RobMcClanahan #MikeModano #FourNationsFaceoff #WorldCupofHockey #1980UnitedStatesOlympicHockeyTeam #JohnnyGaudreauJr. #WayneGretzky #LucRobitaille
Wed, February 26, 2025
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - Three Teams at a True Crossroads - Feb. 26, 2025
With the NHL trade deadline just over a week away, the time of reckoning is fast approaching for several teams. At the same time, others are continuing to push forward as the regular season is moving towards the three-quarter pole. Amidst the non-stop jockeying, Alex Ovechkin remains consistent in his assault of the all-time goal scoring mark. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #DonWaddell #KenMorrow #MitchMarner #JeremySwayman #LinusUllmark #EliasLindholm #NikitaZadorov #HampusLindholm #CharlieMcAvoy #BradMarchand #ChrisTanev #UBSArena #JohnnyBrodzinski #MattRempe #BrennanOthmann #UrhoVaakanainen #AdamFox #K'AndreMiller #ChrisKreider #MikaZibanejad #JTMiller #IgorShesterkin #IlyaSorokin #BrockNelson #LouLamoriello #NoahCates #BobbyBrink #TysonFoerster #JohnTortorella #KyleDubas #ErikKarlsson #SidneyCrosby #EvgeniMalkin #KrisLetang #TristanJarry #AlexNedeljkevic #JoelBlomqvist #PPGPaintsArena #SimonEdvinsson #KirillMarchenko #AdamFantilli #DmitriVoronkov #IvanProvorov #MathieuOlivier #SamMontembeault #NickSuzuki #PatrikLaine #MikkoRantanen #JoshAnderson #DanVladar #AlexOvechkin #PierreLuc-Dubois #LawsonCrouse #SethJones #KyleDavison #AndersSorensen #LukeRichardson #Connorbedard #PatMaroon #TaylorHall #NickFoligno #TylerBertuzzi #ZackBolduc #CamFowler #OskarSundqvist #NikkeKokko #KaapoKakko #JoeyDaccord #JJPeterka #AlexTuch #HenriJokiharju #DylanCozens #TageThompson #RasmusDahlin #NikitaKucherov #LeonDraisaitl #ConnorMcDavid #FourNationsFaceoff #SamBennett #AleksanderBarkov #JoshMorrissey #MarkScheifele #RyanWarsofsky #MacklinCelebrini #ThomasHickey #VitekVanecek #TrevorMoore #QuintonByfield #JimHiller #DarcyKuemper #ToddMcLellan #BradyTkachuk #MatthewTkachuk #TonightShowWithJimmyFallon #ShanePinto #JoshNorris #AndrewCopp #VilleHusso #TrevorZegras #MichaelRasmussen #CaseyCizikas #LianBichsel #JoelErikssonEk #RyanHartman #TimStutzle #GaryBettman #NHLDepartmentofPlayerSafety #MickeyRedmond #KenDaniels #RobRay
Tue, February 25, 2025
NY Centric - Olympic Gold and Stanley Cup Silver with Ken Morrow - Feb. 25, 2025
45 years ago, a group of college kids pulled off the greatest upset in sports history, upending the powerhouse Soviet Union before taking out Finland for Olympic gold in Lake Placid. The backbone of the USA defense was Bowling Green stalwart Ken Morrow. In the discussion with Neil and Vic, Morrow talks about the Olympic experience, head coach Herb Brooks and the quick transition to the NHL where even greater success was to come. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #KenMorrow #1980UnitedStatesOlympicHockeyTeam #LakePlacid #MiracleGold #AllanKreda #BowlingGreenUniversity #WesternMichiganUniversity #HerbBrooks #USAHockey #CraigPatrick #JeanPotvin #BertMarshall #RonMason #DenisPotvin #ClarkGillies #PhiladelphiaFlyers #TorontoMapleLeafs #NewYorkRangers #ButchGoring #MinnesotaNorthStars #VancouverCanucks #EdmontonOilers #WayneGretzky #MarkMessier #BobNystrom #MontrealCanadiens #StefanPersson #DaveLangevin #DuaneSutter #BobBourne #KurtRussell #GoldieHawn #KarlMalden #Miracle #Disney #SteveGuttenberg #MikeEruzione #AlArbour #BillTorrey #LosAngelesKings #MarioLessard #AndyMoog #GlenHanlon #DonMaloney #MikaZibanejad #ChrisKreider #AdamFox #JTMiller #VincentTrocheck #JackHughes #EricHaula #JesperBratt #BrockNelson #FourNationsFaceoff #NorrisTrophy #ChrisDrury #IgorShesterkin #BuffaloSabres #PittsburghPenguins #WashingtonCapitals #TorontoMapleLeafs #NashvillePredators #DallasStars #CaseyCizikas #LianBischel #LouLamoriello #UBSArena #IlyaSorokin #NicoHischier #NicoDaws #BostonBruins #ColoradoAvalanche #UtahHockeyClub #VegasGoldenKnights #AlTrautwig #MSGNetwork #NewYorkKnicks #SportsEmmyAwards #JohnDavidson #SamRosen #Indianapolis500 #TourdeFrance #USOpenTennis #NewYorkMarathon
Mon, February 24, 2025
Episode 49 - Columbus: Sailing to the Playoffs? With General Manager Don Waddell
No team in the NHL has captured more hearts this season than the Columbus Blue Jackets. The team has rallied around tragedy and are right in the mix for an Eastern Conference wild card berth. Team president and general manager Don Waddell joins Neil and Vic to talk about his team and the upcoming Stadium Series game with Detroit. When Mikko Rantanen was acquired by the Carolina Hurricanes in late January, it was believe the 'Canes had finally secured the blue chip goal scorer their team had been missing. Now, after needing more time to think about a contract extension, is Rantanen about to be flipped again before the trade deadline? Plenty of other news items and player notes in this episode as the kick towards the playoffs is fully underway. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:58] - In "Three Things You Need To Pay Attention To", the only team not to have a player originally selected for the Four Nations Faceoff bursts from the gate while some powerhouses struggle. And have you seen the ratings for the championship game of the tournament? [07:12] - Don Waddell drops by to talk about the remarkable season his team is authorning while still healing from the passing of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau last summer. [11:17] - Waddell discusses the how the club handled the tragedy, balancing the grieving process with preparing for a new season. [14:38] - Zach Werenski's emergence as one of the top defenseman in the NHL this season. [16:38] - With the trade deadline approaching, Waddell remains cautious as to how the Blue Jackets need to approach adding and moving assets. [19:53] - The opportunity for the Blue Jackets to be on the big stage as they look forward to the Stadium Series Game at "The Shoe" with Detroit. [22:49] - Having spent 10 years in Carolina, Waddell gives a quick take on the Hurricanes-Avalanche trade involving Mikko Rantanen, Martin Necas and Jack Drury. [28:39] - Vic and Neil elaborate further on Rantanen and whether he will sign an extension or force the Hurricanes hand into a trade. [31:17] - Two shoulder-to-head hits Sunday had very different responses from the on-ice officials. [34:51] - The NHL has announced a de-centralized draft for late June in Los Angeles. Neil shares what he'd miss most about the in-person gathering of years past. [40:05] - Player notes features significant injuries coming out of the Four Nations Faceoff. [47:20] - Amidst the ferocity and intensity of NHL games, there is also a deep-rooted piece of sensitivity and compassion. Three recent examples show, whether big or small, hockey knows how to do the right thing. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound
Fri, February 21, 2025
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - We Have a Champion - Feb. 21, 2025
The Four Nations Faceoff delivered a stirring conclusion with Canada prevailing over the United States in overtime in the championship game with the game's top playoff player delivering the heroics. With the margin between the nations so small, debate will continue as to who the premiere hockey nation is. Where there is no argument is that hockey itself was the biggest winner. With the tournament now behind us, Vic and Neil look at the some of the residual effects starting with injuries and delving into the sharpness of the rest of the league coming off an extended break in play. They'll also do a deep dive into the bubble teams in the respective conferences, looking at the remaining schedules of those aiming to secure a spot in the playoffs. The show concludes honoring the career of legendary Penguins play-by-play man, Mike Lange, who passed away Wednesday. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #NHLPA #FourNationsFaceoff #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #TDGarden #ConnorMcDavid #Mitch Marner #JordanBinnington #ConnorHellebuyck #CharlieMcAvoy #DonSweeney #NathanMacKinnon #DylanLarkin #MatthewTkachuk #SheaTheodore #BradTkachuk #JakeSanderson #ThatcherDemko #KevinLankinen #ArtursSilovs #AdamLowry #IgorShesterkin #ChrisKreider #AdamFox #MikaZibanejad #ArtemiPanarin #MikeSullivan #JohnTortorella #JohnHynes #CanadianTireCenter #MattBarzal #IlyaSorokin #SemyonVarlamov #MarcusHogburg #RyanPulock #JamieBenn #BrockNelson #PatrikLaine #QuinnHughes #JTMiller #FilipChytil #EliasPettersson #BrockBoeser #DustinWolf #CalderTrophy #ClaytonKeller #DylanGuenther #MikhailSergachev #MikeLange #FosterHewittAward #RickJeanneret #DanKelly #JohnKelly
Thu, February 20, 2025
Human Side of the Story - Ep. 48 - Magic in Monotone
The Four Nations Faceoff has brought forth a heightened level of intensity and pace spurring a move for more frequent best-on-best international competitions. The present-day hockey we enjoy and will continue to embrace in the future has deep roots, some complex and some quite modest. The recent passing of longtime Maple Leafs PA announcer Paul Morris is a reminder that some of the most basic aspects of life and the game itself can generate memories which resonate to this day. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #FourNationsFaceoff #PaulMorris #FosterHewitt #RedBarber #AndyFrost #MorganFrost #MikeRoss #SheaHippodrome #Dominion #DickDuff #DougMohns #AllanStanley #ClarenceCampbell #DarrylSittler
Wed, February 19, 2025
Episode 48 - Power Grab with ESPN's Greg Wyshynski
Just another game or is world hockey supremacy on the line as the United States and Canada square off in the Four Nations Faceoff Championship game? Greg Wyshynski from ESPN helps break down the significance but also delves into the "secret sauce" the NHL may have come upon with this upgrade of a mid-season event. Once the tournament completes and the regular season ramps back up over the weekend, the importance of goals becomes heightened with March approaching. Matthew Blittner, co-author of "Game Winners: The Greatest Game-Winning Goals in Hockey History" joins us to discuss the recently-released book. With so much focus on the present and future of international hockey, The Human Side of the Story takes a nostalgic look back at a much simpler time - where the unassuming voice of a PA announcer brought back rich memories for both Neil and Vic in their respective youths. IN THIS EPISODE: [01:02] - The Four Nations Faceoff dominates "Three Things You to Pay Attention To" from Canada securing their date with the USA to injuries creeping their way into the Americans lineup to encouraging TV ratings. [06:00] - Greg Wyshynski from ESPN joins Neil and Vic and discusses the success the Four Nations Faceoff is enjoying in place of an All-Star event and what it may mean for best-on-best play going forward. [12:30] - With the NHL having found a compelling mid-season event, the NBA is being looked out to see how they might enhance their mid-season showcase event. [15:44] - The significance of this game for both Canada and the United States. With a USA win, will the torch have been passed after a period of time going back to the 19th century? [22:19] - With injuries becoming a story with Team USA heading into the Final, the effect on NHL teams now becomes a reality for general managers. [27:40] - Matt Blittner, Co-Author of "Game Winners: The Greatest Game-Winning Goals in Hockey History" joins the show. In collaboration with Russ Cohen, Matt discusses the concept of the book, criteria used to determine what made the cut and how the final rankings came to be. [35:39] - Some healthy debate on goals noted in the book...and those that aren't. [44:56] - Vic and Neil exchange views on how they feel about the Four Nations Faceoff now that the round-robin games have been completed. [50:12] - The Human Side of the Story takes a warm look back to yesteryear following the passing of long time Maple Leafs public address announcer Paul Morris Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #
Sun, February 16, 2025
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - USA Punches Their Ticket to the Final - February 16, 2025
Team USA's prime time win over Canada Saturday has secured the first spot in the Final at the Four Nations Faceoff while the Canadians are now in survival mode as they prepare for Monday's round-robin finale against Finland. Meanwhile, once again, the Swedes are disappointing on the international stage. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #NHLPA #FourNationsFaceoff #ABC #MatthewTkachuk #BradyTkachuk #JTMiller #BrandonHagel #SamBennett #ColtonParayko #BellCentre #ConnorMcDavid #CharlieMcAvoy #JakeGuentzel #Jordan Binnington #JonCooper #SidneyCrosby #DrewDoughty #ThomasHarley #CaleMakar #MattBoldy #DylanLarkin #NathanMacKinnon #MitchMarner #BradMarchand #BraydenPoint #SamReinhart #SheaTheodore #TomWilson #MarkScheifele #KevinLankinen #JuuseSaros #SebastianAho #KaapoKakko #JoelArmia #AleksanderBarkov #FilipGustavsson #LinusUllmark #MikaelGranlund #AdrianKempe #ErikKarlsson #AdinHill #EsaTikkanen #MikeSullivan #ChrisKreider #ConnorHellebuyck #JakeOettinger #JakeSanderson #TNT #TDGarden
Fri, February 14, 2025
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - The Four Nations Faceoff is Underway - Feb. 14, 2025
The first two games are in the books in the Four Nations Faceoff with Sidney Crosby adding to his own international legacy while Team USA routs Finland. Conversely, one player has already been knocked out the tournament but that won't derail the NHL from having more in-season best-on-best hockey in 2028. A few notes in an otherwise quiet news week and our all-Valentine team wraps up the show - though Ben Lovejoy did not make this year's cut. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #NHLPA #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #1987CanadaCup #BernieSaunders #JohnSaunders #SidneyCrosby #NathanMacKinnon #MarkStone #GustavForsling #WayneGretzky #MarioLemieux #AlexOvechkin #MitchMarner #ConnorMcDavid #CaleMakar #SamReinhart #JordanBinnington #FilipGustavsson #SheaTheodore #AdrianKempe #ThomasHarley #TravisSanheim #ConnorHellebuyck #BradyTkachuk #MatthewTkachuk #JackEichel #MattBoldy #OlliMaatta #AustonMatthews #MikeSullivan #MarkMessier #PKSubban #SteveLevy #ESPN #BellCentre #TDGarden #WorldCupofHockey #MikeRichter #BrettHull #BrianLeetch #CurtisJoseph #GaryBettman #RyanHartman #TimStutzle #LouiEriksson #PaulMorris #MapleLeafGardens #FosterHewitt #CharlieConacher #ScottHartnell #MikeHartman #HartlandMonahan #Bernie"BoomBoomGeoffrion" #GerryHart #CraigHartsburg #MarcD'Amour #RodBrind'Amour #KellyKisio #BenLovejoy
Wed, February 12, 2025
Human Side of the Story - Ep. 47 - The Albert Broadcasting Legacy
Since the early 1960's, the Albert name has been synonymous with play-by-play. From Marv to his brothers Steve and Al to son Kenny, NHL, NBA, NFL and MLB games have been called by one of these four over the past seven decades. Their impact on the sportscasting industry has been enormous. However, even with the biggest platforms to call games, there's a humility and genuineness that's carried on through all these years. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #HumanSideoftheStory #KennyAlbert #NHLonTNT #MSG #FoxSports #MarvAlbert #DavidLetterman #NewYorkRangers #VancouverCanucks #AlAlbert #SteveAlbert #JimRobson
Tue, February 11, 2025
Episode 47 - A Man For All Seasons With Kenny Albert
One of sports most recognizable voices joins NHL Wraparound as Kenny Albert drops in to give his thoughts on the NHL season, broadcasting and the New York-area teams. Vic and Neil then offer up thoughts on the upcoming Four Nations Faceoff and then tackle a question regarding the NHL's most biggest disappointment: Are the Nashville Predators having a bad season or are they a bad team? IN THIS EPISODE: [01:00] - Three Things You Need to Pay Attention to focuses on Sidney Crosby's availability to Team Canada for the Four Nations Faceoff, the benefit of league-leading Washington not sending any players to the tournament and the importance of goal differential heading into the final third of the season. [04:10] - Kenny Albert joins Neil and Vic and the discussion opens with Kenny acknowledging congratulations for his upcoming induction into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and sharing his surprises and early disappointments which have turned their seasons around. [11:08] - Covering each at the four major North American Sports, Albert goes in depth about game preparation, the difference between calling games on TV and radio and how to integrate the analyst into a broadcast. [21:02] - Kenny shares about those who have been most influential in his development as a broadcaster. [26:50] - The biggest change that Kenny has seen in the broadcast industry during his three-plus decades in the business. [28:03] - An abbreviated NY Centric segment covering the Rangers, Islanders and Devils. [47:49] - Vic and Neil toss around the pros and cons of the upcoming Four Nations Faceoff. [57:48] - After making a significant free agent splash in during the off-season, the Nashville Predators have endured nothing but problems with their on ice showing. Is this simply a good team having a bad season...or is this a bad team? [1:04:18] - In The Human Side of the Story, Neil and Vic share stories about the legendary family of play-by-play men, the Alberts. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #KennyAlbert #NHLonTNT #MSGNetwork
Fri, February 07, 2025
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - An Anniversary Season to Remember and Newcomers Making an Impact - Feb. 7, 2025
The 50th anniversary season for the Washington Capitals has been nothing short of remarkable as their stellar record has been further highlighted by Alex Ovechkin's pursuit of setting the goal-scoring record this season. In this show, Vic and Neil note newcomers making impacts, goaltenders starting the offense and Connor Bedard's performance in his young career not living up to the "Generation Player" billing he's received. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #JakobChychrun #LarsEller #AlexOvechkin #CharlieLindgren #MatveiMichkov #TravisKonecny #JohnTortorella #SpencerCarbery #JackAdamsAward #DrewO'Connor #VitelVanecek #ThatcherDemko #QuinnHughes #FrankMahovlich #GordieHowe #BobbyHull #StanMikita #MartinNecas #CaleMakar #NathanMacKinnon #BrianLeetch #DenisPotvin #BobbyOrr #NicklasLidstrom #PaulCoffey #LaneHutson #ArizonaCoyotes #DeltaCenter #DylanGuenther #ConnorIngram #ZachWerenski #DanteFabbro #BraydenPoint #JakeGuentzel #AndreiVasilevskiy #BrandonHagel #ShanePinto #NickPaul #ToddMcLellan #VincentTrocheck #ChrisKreider #JacobMarkstrom #NicoHischier #SheldonKeefe #KirillKaprizov #RyanHartman #DavidPastrnak #AdinHill #VinnieHinostroza #FilipGustavsson #MatthewTkachuk #SamReinhart #PaulMaurice #AleksanderBarkov #SpencerKnight #SergeiBobrovksy #JordanBinnington #JoelHofer #AnthonyStolarz #JosephWoll #CraigBerube #AustonMatthews #WilliamNylander #MitchMarner #PhilippeMyers #WarrenFoegele #KevinFiala #PatrikLaine #MartinStLouis #ZachHyman #ConnorMcDavid #LeonDraisaitl #MikailGranlund #CodyCeci #ConnorBedard #1975StanleyCupFinal #JimLorentz #RickMacLeish #MarioLemieux #WayneGretzky #SidneyCrosby #JasonDickinson #AndreiKuzmenko #JakobPelletier #MarcusPettersson
Thu, February 06, 2025
Human Side of the Story - Episode 46 - Handling Strife Within a Team
In a team setting, having each member focused on the same goal is imperative. Similar to the every day workplace, not every individual is going to like or get along with the person next to them. However, unlike most businesses, professional sports is very public and when internal tension between athletes moves beyond the confines the team, the optic isn't a good one. Having served as an NHL general manager for a decade, Neil Smith has seen it all. From his perspective, there is clearly a right way and wrong way to deal with strife from within. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #JTMiller #EliasPettersson #VancouverCanucks #NewYorkRangers #ChrisKreider #JacobTrouba #BarclayGoodrow #BradMarchand #DavidPastrnak #DonSweeney #JoeSacco #CamNeely #JimRutherford #PatrikAllvin
Wed, February 05, 2025
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - Wings Rolling Sevens, Hartman Suspended and Talking Toughness - Feb. 5, 2025
It took just 20 games for Todd McLellan's Red Wings to notch a pair of seven-game winning streaks. While they fly, WIld forward Ryan Hartman sits for ten with his fifth career suspension. In addition to the usual deep dive into the bubble races, Vic and Neil talk some toughness and some mindless play as part of this latest episode of Short Shifts. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #ToddMcLellan #PatrickKane #SteveYzerman #DerekLalonde #LucRobitaille #DylanLarkin #LinusUllmark #VictorHedman #NikitaKucherov #ShanePinto #NickPerbix #NickPaul #RidleyGreig #AntonForsberg #JeremySwayman #KirillKaprizov #Marc-AndreFleury #BellCentre #FilipGustavsson #AlexTuch #JamesReimer #ZachWerenski #NorrisTrophy #CaleMakar #DanteFabbro #KirillMarchenko #Ukko-PekkaLuukkonen #MattiasSamuelsson #DonWaddell #TageThompson #StefanNoesen #DennisGilbert #MathieuOlivier #BrockNelson #IlyaSorokin #BrandonSaad #BoHorvat #IlyaSamsonov #AlexanderRomanov #JackEichel #JoelArmia #MikailGranlund #CodyCeci #TylerToffoli #BarclayGoodrow #ThatcherDemko #JakeDeBrusk #JTMiller #EliasPettersson #MarcusPetterson #MitchMarner #WilliamNylander #MichaelNylander #AustonMatthews #BradTreliving #DylanGuenther #MikhailSergachev #RodrigoAbols #ConnorMcDavid #LeonDraisaitl #ConnorBrown #DougArmstrong #JimMontgomery #RayBarile #AlexandreTexier #BraydenSchenn #Pierre-LucDubois #JakeOettinger #JohnGibson #TrevorZegras #PatVerbeek #AndrewMangiapane #TomWilson #LarsEller #NicDowd #AliaksaiProtas #AlexOvechkin #MikeComrie #NinoNiederreiter #JackHughes #TimMeier #NicoDaws #ArthurStaple #KyleDubas #EvgeniMalkin #RyanHartman #RayFerraro #DarrenDreger #TimStutzle #RaffiTorres #MattCooke #MiroHeiskanen #IlyaLybushkin # #ThomasHarley #EsaLindell #BrendanSmith #QuinnHughes #MattBarzal #ScottMayfield #AdamEdstrom #MattRempe #SamCarrick #JimmyVesey #EricHaula #JonasSiegenthaler #SheldonKeefe #AnthonyBeauvillier #JamesvanRiemsdyk #IanCole #AaronPortzline #TheAthletic #TrevorvanRiemsdyk #WesMcCauley #NickDeslauriers #LiamO'Brien #SpicyTuna #ScottLaughton #ClaytonKeller #JakeEvans #MartinStLouis #IIHF #IOC
Tue, February 04, 2025
NY Centric - News, Views and Question Marks with Arthur Staple - Feb. 4, 2025
When it comes to insight on the three New York City area teams, few can deliver insight and opinion on the Rangers, Islanders and Devils like Arthur Staple from The Athletic. From the JT Miller acquisition in Manhattan to the streak and injuries on Long Island to the inconsistency in Newark, Staple delivers on all counts as the teams ramp up for their final games leading up to the Four Nations Faceoff. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #NewYorkRangers #NewYorkIslanders #NewJersey Devils #VancouverCanucks #PittsburghPenguins #DetroitRedWings #ColumbisBlueJackets #PhiladelphiaFlyers #BostonBruins #MinnesotaWild #VegasGoldenKnights #BuffaloSabres #WinnpegJets #CarolinaHurricanes #ArthurStaple #TheAthletic #ChrisDrury #JTMiller #ErikBrannstrom #JacksonDorrington #FilipChytil #VictorMancini #MikaZibanejad #BradenSchneider #EliasPettersson #JimRutherford #PatrikAllvin #VincentTrocheck #RyanLindgren #ChrisKreider #K'AndreMiller #JonathanQuick #AdamFox #KaapoKakko #WillBorgen #UrhoVaakanainen #DrewFortescue #DavidPastrnak #PeterLaviolette #IgorShesterkin #BarclayGoodrow #JacobTrouba #ArtemiPanarin #AlexisLafreniere #GerardGallant #LouLamoriello #AdamBoqvist #NoahDobson #RyanPulock #TonyDeAngelo #ScottPerunovich #ScottMayfield #MatthewBarzal #BrockNelson #JGPageau #KylePalmieri #BarryTrotz #LaneLambert #PatrickRoy #JakubSkarek #SemyonVarlamov #MarcusHogberg #BrockNelson #AndersLee #BoHorvat #IlyaSorokin #SimonHolmstrom #JoshBailey #AndyGreene #MattMartin #CalClutterbuck #CaseyCizikas #KyleMacLean #MarcGatcomb #JackAllen #StefanNoesen #TageThompson #RodBrind'Amour #JacobMarkstrom #JesperBratt #JackHughes #PaulCotter #NicoHischier #TimoMeier #SheldonKeefe #LindyRuff #TomFitzgerald #DougieHamilton #FourNationsFaceoff #ChrisPatrick #PresidentsTrophy #BobNevin
Mon, February 03, 2025
Episode 46 - Let's Make a Deal - With NHL on TNT Analyst Brian Boucher
A loaded show as we're joined by NHL on TNT/NBC Sports Philadelphia analyst Brian Boucher to dissect a quarter of deals. We also do a deeper dive into the salary cap bump, which will be heading north of $100 million in two years. Two terrific games over the weekend between four of the NHL's top teams and some very significant injury news to report before wrapping up the show on the right and wrong way to handle strife within a team. [02:01] - Three Things You Need to Pay Attention to kicks off the show with a game show theme when addressing the trades, the salary cap and a pair of pending suspensions. [05:50] - Brian Boucher joins Neil and Vic and first speaks on the Rangers-Canucks trade. [16:50] - Vancouver wasn't done Friday, completing a second deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins. [29:00] - The Dallas Stars made a statement in the Western Conference in a trade with the San Jose Sharks. [37:59] - Boucher speaks to the deal of the team he covers locally, the Philadelphia Flyers. As noted on Short Shifts Friday, this is a deal the Flyers consummated with the Calgary Flames. [50:56] - Vic and Neil turn the prism in several different directions to look at the effects of the salary cap increases coming over the next few seasons. [1:00:45] - Celebrating two terrific Saturday games in Washington and Edmonton as well as a pair of significant milestones. [1:06:50] - Significant injury and waiver wire new. [1:13:19] - Bringing the show full circle, during "The Human Side of the Story", Neil takes the Vancouver Canucks drama and speaks about the right and wrong way strifes are handled within a team. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #BrianBoucher #NHLonTNT #NBCSportsPhiladelphia #JTMiller #FilipChytil #RyanHartman #TimStutzle #ColePerfetti #StefanNoesen #TageThompson #MonteHall #BobBarker #DrewCarey #GeneRayburn #ChrisDrury #ErikBrannstrom #JacksonDorrington #ArtemiPanarin #MikaZibanejad #ChrisKreider #VictorMancini #VincentTrocheck #PresidentsTrophy #SamPollock #BarclayGoodrow #JacobTrouba #EliasPettersson #MattRem
Fri, January 31, 2025
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - Flames, Flyers & Fleury - Jan. 31, 2025
For the second time in as many weeks, a significant trade in the NHL. A memorable final game in Montreal for Marc-Andre Fleury. All you need to know about the Wild Card races and the new name for the Utah Hockey Club has become a saga onto itself. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #JoelFarabee #MorganFrost #AndreiKuzmenko #JakobPelletier #ElliotteFriedman #AndyFrost #JohnTortorella #MatveiMichkov #SimonHolmstrom #IlyaSorokin #MarcGatcomb #KylePalmieri #BrockNelson #BoHorvat #MattBarzal #NoahDobson #NikitaKucherov #AndreiVasilevskiy #Marc-AndreFleury #MartinStLouis #ThomasChabot #AlexOvechkin #SpencerCarbery #JoshNorris #JohnHynes #BrandonHagel #AnthonyCirelli #LucRobitaille #SergeiBobrovsky #DrewDoughty #JakeAllen #ColeSillinger #ZachWerenski #KentJohnson #TonyMassarotti #98.5TheSportsHub #JoeSacco #MarkScheifele #MasonLohrei #NikolajEhlers #JimMontgomery #JeremySwayman #JoonasKorpisalo #IgorShesterkin #PatriceBergeron #DavidKrejci #ZdenoChara #LucasRaymond #DylanLarkin #JohnKlingberg #LinusKarlsson #QuinnHughes #ThatcherDemko #MattCoronato #BlakeColeman #DustinWolf #LaneHutson #MacklinCelebrini #SidneyCrosby #MikkoRantanen #ConnorBedard #BrandonMontour #ChandlerStephenson #KaidenGuhle #NicoHischier #MiroHeiskanen #NickCousins #KevinBahl #MaxPacioretty #BrandonSaad #CraigBerube #VictorHedman #AleksanderBarkov #Wasatch #Mammoth #Outlaws
Thu, January 30, 2025
Human Side of the Story - Episode 45 - The Only Player to Wear All Original Six Sweaters
The most notable Jan. 26 birthday in the NHL belongs to Wayne Gretzky. However, there's another player who was born on that date 100 years ago who owns a distinction no other player in league history has. Vic Lynn played in only 327 NHL games but, by suiting up for the Rangers, Red Wings, Canadiens, Maple Leafs, Bruins and Blackhawks, he remains the only player to have skated for all of the "Original Six' franchises. Vic and Neil also take a look back at the first year of the podcast. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #BostonBruins #ChicagoBlackhawks #MontrealCanadiens #NewYorkRangers #DetroitRedWings #TorontoMapleLeafs #TrippTracy #DonWaddell #MarkMessier #BobbyOrr #WayneGretzky #VicLynn #BryanHextall #LynnPatrick #MapleLeafGardens #CraigPatrick #GordieHowe #SydHowe #ToeBlake #MiltSchmidt #PhilEsposito #KenWharram #BudPoile #TheKidLine #HowieMeeker #TedKennedy #DanQuinn #PatQuinn #CaliforniaSeals #OaklandSeals #BrianLeetch #GlennHealy#JohnDavison #DonMaloney #DougArmstrong #BillGuerin #DonWaddell #EdJovanovski
Wed, January 29, 2025
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - This Is Why It's Called the "Mosh Pit of Mediocrity" - Jan. 29, 2025
Does anybody really want to claim the East Wild Card spots? By the look of things on Tuesday, four teams certainly did little to help themselves. Also, are you tired of all of the drama surrounding the Vancouver Canucks? Apparently they are too. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #TrippTracy #ChicoResch #TageThompson #JJPeterka #JoeSacco #KyleConnor #MarkScheifele #KaidenGuhle #JaydenStruble #AndreiVasilevskiy #JonasJohansson #ArvidSoderblom #FrederikAndersen #AndreiSvechnikov #ArtemiPanarin #VincentTrocheck #K'AndreMiller #RogerNeilson #ToddMcLellan #LucasRaymond #MarcoKasper #ScottLaughton #TravisKonecny #RasmusRistolainen #NathanBastian #NickSeeler #SimonHolmstrom #MacKenzieBlackwood #AlexanderRomanov #IlyaSorokin #ConnorMcDavid #TylerMyers #JTMiller #BraydenSchenn #ConorGarland #NorrisTrophy#CaleMakar #RickTocchet #QuinnHughes #JimRutherford #EliasPettersson #MacklinCelebrini #YaroslavAskarov #DrewO'Connor #Pierre-LucDubois #DylanStrome #AliakseiProtas #LoganThompson #WyattJohnston #JakeOettinger #SheaTheodore #MiroHeiskanen #MarkStone #LucasDostal #JohnGibson #AlexPietrangelo #DrewDoughty #KellyMcCrimmon #GeorgeMcPhee #RobBlake #LucRobitaille #NicklasLidstrom #NikitaKucherov #BrandonSaad #AlexandreTexier #DougArmstrong #PatrickKane #EvgeniMalkin #KirillKaprizov #JonasBrodin #NicoHischier #EmilLilleberg #JTCompher #BooneJenner #DominikShine #Marc-AndreFleury
Tue, January 28, 2025
NY Centric with Devils Radio Analyst Chico Resch - Jan. 28, 2025
Devils radio analyst Glenn "Chico" Resch drops by NY Centric to chat about the Devils, Islanders and Rangers...and a whole lot more. This discussion features an array of off-the-cuff stories and is a great listen. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #NewYorkRangers #NewYorkIslanders #NewJerseyDevils #ChicoResch #AlArbour #RayShero #MikeEmrick #JacobMarkstrom #NicoHischier #NathanBastian #JakeAllen #JackHughes #JesperBratt #JPParise #ZachParise #SheldonKeefe #CraigBerube #TorontoMapleLeafs #NickSeeler #BrettPesce #JoelFarabee #AlexeiKovalev #TomFitzgerald #DougieHamilton #TomPoti #DenisPotvin #BrendenDillon #JohnathanKovacevic #ScottNiedermayer #JacquesLemaire #Paul Coffey #FourNationsFaceoff #DonWaddell #SamPollock #GlennGoldup #DenisDeJordy #MontrealCanadiens #PrinceofWalesofTrophy #StanleyCup #Presidents'Trophy #MadisonSquareGarden #NassauColiseum #UBSArena #PrudentialCenter #MikeKeenan #ScottyBowman #DanKelly #StLouisBlues #PhilGoyette #EarlIngarfield #StanMikita #PatPrice #QuebecNordiques #DrJohnMcMullen #BillyMacMillan #PatrickRoy #BryanTrottier #ButchGoring #JohnTonelli #BrentSutter #KenMorrow #GordLane #StefanPersson #AndersKallur #TerryO'Reilly #ClarkGillies #GarryHowatt #WayneCashman #BillySmith #NoahDobson #RyanPulock #JacksonBlake #LouLamoriello #TonyDeAngelo #ScottPerunovich #HobeyBakerAward #UniversityofMinnesotaDuluth #MattBarzal #ArtemiPanarin #CaleMakar #WillBorgen #ArtturiLehkonen #ColoradoAvalanche #MacKenzieBlackwood #SanJoseSharks #IgorShesterkin #AdamFox #CarolinaHurricanes #BostonBruins #VegasGoldenKnights #MikeBossy #BillTorrey #JimDevellano #ChicagoBlackHawks #EddieLitzenberger #BillHay #RogerNeilson #GaryInness #MarioLemieux #EdWestfall #JeanBeliveau #BobbyOrr #GordieHowe #WayneGretzky #SidneyCrosby
Mon, January 27, 2025
Episode 45 - Storm Chasing - With Hurricanes TV Analyst Tripp Tracy
A significant three-way trade between Carolina, Colorado and Chicago brings long-time Hurricanes TV analyst Tripp Tracy to the show. Afterwards, we take a business look at the trade through the eyes of a former GM. With this show wrapping up our first year of wraparound, what better way to conclude than to acknowledge a couple of birthdays, including one with a special hook. IN THIS EPISODE: [01:00] - "Three Things You Need to Pay Attention To" sets up the show with the details on the three-way Carolina, Colorado, Chicago trade. That leads into unfound speculation on a second deal involving a long-time superstar before the segment wraps with a journeyman defenseman landing with the New York Islanders. [08:20] - Carolina Hurricanes TV analyst Tripp Tracy joins the show and shares how news began to break on the major deal which had Mikko Rantanen and Taylor Hall heading to the 'Canes. [16:32] - Tracy does a deeper dive into what Carolina gets with these players in the current and the need for GM Eric Tulsky to re-sign UFA Rantanen long term. [21:49] - While gaining Rantanen and Hall, the Hurricanes parted with Martin Necas and Jack Drury. Tracy shares the qualities of the players the team is losing. [29:25] - The Hurricanes post-season goaltending has come under close scrutiny in recent years. Tracy tells us why this spring may be different. [41:00] - The business side of the trade is discussed from the perspective of the three teams. [49:30] - Discussion on whether Brad Marchand should have been suspended for his latest indiscretion and a case for an award for the best defensive defenseman. [52:45] - The Frank Selke Trophy has been awarded to the top defensive forward in the NHL since 1977-78. Is it time to create an award for the top defensive defenseman? [56:20] - Player Notes [1:01:20] - The Human Side of the Story acknowledges the 100th birthday of the only player to suit up for all of the "Original Six" teams, Vic Lynn. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #TrippTracy #MikkoRantanen #Taylor
Fri, January 24, 2025
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - Major Injury News in New Jersey and OV Gets Closer - Jan. 24, 2025
The New Jersey Devils receive a timeline on goaltender Jacob Markstrom, the Edmonton Oilers get revenge on the Vancouver Canucks, Alex Ovechkin is now 20 goals from becoming King of the Hill and Auston Matthews decides if he can't have his stick, he'll grab the one laying on the ice. All 15 games of the past two nights are covered along with the latest injury news and rumblings Jonathan Toews is garnering attention for a potential return to the NHL. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #LeonDraisaitl #ConnorMcDavid #ZachHyman #ConorGarland #CoreyPerry #QuinnHughes #NorrisTrophy #VincentDesharnais #AlexOvechkin #CharlieLindgren #JacobMarkstrom #JustinBrazeau #DawsonMercer #JakeAllen #SheldonKeefe #TomFitzgerald #NicoDaws #JoonasKorpisalo #JeremySwayman #MorganGeekie #DavidPastrnak #BradyTkachuk #GordMiller #AdamFantilli #LucaDelBelBelluz #JamesvanRiemsdyk #TrevorvanRiemsdyk #RyanReaves #MathieuOlivier #AustonMatthews #ElvisMerzlikins #IgorShesterkin #PeterLaviolette #JacobTrouba #BarclayGoodrow #KaapoKakko #DylanLarkin #MasonMacTavish #AlexKillorn #JohnGibson #DaniilTarasov #SamMontembeault #JonathanHuberdeau #NazemKadri #DustinWolf #CraigConroy #DonMaloney #MarkStone #PavelDorofeyev #DougArmstrong #BarrettHayton #KarelVejmelka #KirillKaprizov #JaredSpurgeon #NealPionk #ConnorHellebuyck #VezinaTrophy #AdrianKempe #LAFireReliefFund #FilipForsberg #StevenStamkos #BradySkjei #JacquesLemaire #HerbHammond #OswegoState #PatrickKane #WilliamKarlsson #NoahDobson #MatthewKnies #AdamLowry #JoshNorris #NicoSturm #DavidPerron #WalkerDuehr #NoahJuulsen #EliasPettersson #JTMiller #MattMurray #DennisHildeby #AnthonyStolarz #AlekseiKolosov #SamErsson #IvanFedotov #JonathanToews #MarioLemieux #StarWars #TravisGreen
Thu, January 23, 2025
Human Side of the Story - Ep. 44 - Willie O'Ree
On January 18, 1958, Willie O'Ree broke the color barrier playing his first game for the Boston Bruins against the Montreal Canadiens. The youngest of nine children, O'Ree's journey to the NHL is one of commitment and dedication which continues to inspire to this day. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #WillieO'Ree #BostonBruins #MontrealCanadiens #QuebecAces #LeoLabine #JackieRobinson #MikeGreer #SanJoseSharks #JohnGiannone #MSGNetwork #CraigLaughlin
Wed, January 22, 2025
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - The Big Cheese of the NHL - Jan. 22, 2025
The Connor McDavid suspension comes down, nachos make an appearance in the middle of a play and the Eastern Conference bubble continues to get more muddled by the day. Also, Vic and Neil tip their hat to Marc-Andre Fleury. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #ConnorMcDavid #ConorGarland #TylerMyers #EvanBouchard #MarcusJohansson #TomWilson #StanMikita #LadyByngTrophy #BradMarchand #LoganThompson #LeonDraisaitl #CoreyPerry #JiriKulich #JJPeterka #UkkoPekkaLuukkonen #FilipForsberg #JonathanMarchessault #JustusAnnunen #JusseSaros #JesperiKotkaniemi #ThomasHarley #RogerNeilson #RickBowness #IgorShesterkin #BradyTkachuk #MattRempe #AdamEdstrom #KaapoKakko #JacobTrouba #CraigButton #RasmusRistolainen #JohnTortorella #TravisKonecny JakeEvans #LaneHutson #SamMontembeault #PatrikLaine #LaneHutson #AndreiVasilevskiy #NikitaKucherov #AustonMatthews #MitchMarner #MatthewKnies #JosephWoll #JonasJohansson #FirstResponders #LAFD #ScottArniel #Marc-AndreFleury #MartinBrodeur #MikeRichter #TrevorZegras #BrockMcGinn #JoshNorris #VincentTrocheck #ScottLaughton #MaxPaciretty #ValNichuskin
Tue, January 21, 2025
NY Centric - Rangers and Islanders Still Hopeful While Devils Offense Sputters - January 21, 2025
Vic and Neil paint a realistic picture on whether the Islanders can get back into the East Wild Card Race. The Rangers take an eight-game point streak into the week while Devils offense continues to struggle during a 2-6-3 slide. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #MaximTsyplakov #PatrickRoy #BoHorvat #MatthewBarzal #ZachWerenski #IlyaSorokin #NoahDobson #RyanPoehling #IgorShesterkin #JonathanQuick #RogerNeilson #JacobTrouba #KaapoKakko #AlexisLafreniere #ChrisKreider #DougieHamilton #JesperBratt #JackHughes #NicoHischier #DawsonMercer #JacobMarkstrom #JohnTortorella #TomMcVie #RodBrind'Amour #MarioLemieux #KirkMuller #EddieJohnston #KenMorrow #GlenHanlon #LarryPatey
Sat, January 18, 2025
Episode 44 - It's Miller Time! with Gord Miller from TSN
There's a buzz in Canada and for good reason: All seven clubs north of the border are in contention for the post-season and long-time voice for TSN, Gord Miller, joins Neil and Vic to get the pulse in the Dominion. Plenty of other news to update and The Human Side of the Story acknowledges the 67th anniversary of Willie O'Ree becoming the first black to play in the NHL. IN THIS EPISODE: [01:25] - In "Three Things You Need to Pay Attention To," an examination of the incident which will likely earn Connor McDavid a suspension. Plus, the Ottawa Senators and New Jersey Devils are two ships passing in the night...for now. [08:07] - TSN's Gord Miller joins the show to talk the seven Canadian clubs starting with the ongoing drama in Vancouver, particularly the events surrounding J.T. Miller [16:56] - Miller addresses whether the Edmonton Oilers can take the final step to a championship. [19:55] - The Calgary Flames are holding a wild card spot past the midway point and are riding a rookie goalie to a surprising season. [26:56] - The Winnipeg Jets currently lead the Western Conference but can they match up with the heavyweights once the playoffs arrive? [31:15] - The Montreal Canadiens have rebounded from a rough start and are riding a 12-3-1 spurt into playoff contention as young players mature and veteran Patrik Laine has turned over a new leaf. [39:00] - After a challenging road trip, the Ottawa Senators resiliency and identity are on full display amidst a surge into a wild card spot. [44:40] - The pressure and scrutiny of the Maple Leafs cannot be mistaken as they seek their first Final and Stanley Cup since 1967. [1:01:28] - A closer with Gord tipping the hat to the best story in the NHL this season: The Columbus Blue Jackets. [1:07:35] - Some league notes including a rule clarification, a suspension and a player being held to answer for his actions. [1:12:48] - On MLK Day in the United States, we look back at the 67th anniversary of the first player in NHL history, Willie O'Ree. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapita
Fri, January 17, 2025
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - Hot Oil - Jan. 17, 2025
The Stanley Cup runner up from a season ago showing they are serious about getting another shot at the silver mug. Alex Ovechkin sets a new record and a unique occurrence in Buffalo Wednesday. All that plus the Eastern Conference Wild Card race manages to tighten even further. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #ConnorMcDavid #AlexLaferriere #KasperiKapanen #MarcusJohansson #MarkMessier #GordieHowe #EvanBouchard #NathanMacKinnon #JamesvanRiemsdyk #AlexOvechkin #JaromirJagr #LeeviMerilainen #LoganThompson #RogerNeilson #AlexNewhook #LaneHutson #JakubDobes #ToddMcLellan #DylanLarkin #PatrickKane #PaulMaurice #ChrisKreider #ChrisTanev #JohnTavares #SheldonKeefe #AustonMatthews #WilliamNylander #MitchMarner #DarrylSittler #RyanPoehling #MaximTsyplakov #JohnTortorella #TravisKonecny #LouLamoriello #DylanDeMelo #NikolajEhlers #AdamLarsson #AlexTurcotte #EliasPettersson #JTMiller #ThatcherDemko #JimRobson #BraydenPoint #JakeGuentzel #DougArmstrong #BraydenSchenn #FilipForsberg #StevenStamkos #RyanMcLeod #BrentBurns #ThomasChabot #AdamPelech #JakeMcCabe #KirillKaprizov #EvgeniMalkin #HockeyDayinCanada #Canmore #GrizzlyPawPub #DustinTokarski #PyotrKochetkov #TorontoArenas #TorontoStPatricks #MontrealWanderers #RickTocchet #JackAdamsAward #LindyRuff #JimMontgomery #ScottArniel #JimHiller #KrisKnoblauch #JonCooper
Thu, January 16, 2025
Human Side of the Story - Episode 43 - Luc Robitaille: Forever a King
From a ninth round draft pick to one of the elite scorers in NHL history, Luc Robitaille is synonymous with hockey greatness in Los Angeles. Three playing stints with the Kings and now club president. Neil details a remarkable career. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #LucRobitaille #DaveTaylor #WayneGretzky #HockeyHallofFame
Wed, January 15, 2025
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - In a Pitfall - Jan. 15, 2025
Troubles in Pittsburgh again, a few outliers and the "Mosh Pit of Mediocrity" receives additional scrutiny. Plus, there's a buzz in several markets north of the border. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #MarioLemieux #SidneyCrosby #KrisLetang #KaapaKakko #JackHughes #EvgeniMalkin #LowellMacDonald #DanBylsma #JeremySwayman #DonSweeney #TrentFrederic #EmilLilleberg #MarkKastelic #ZackMacEwen #MattMartin #RyanReaves #JamieBenn #RyanO'Reilly #JonCooper #PatrikLaine #AdamEnstrom #ArtturiLehkonen #DevonToews #MikaZibanejad #MattRempe #ZachWerenski #KirillMarchenko #JohnnyGaudreau #DonWaddell #DeanEvason#LinusUllmark #AntonForsberg #TravisGreen #PatrickRoy #MarcusHogberg #IlyaSorokin #LeeviMerilainen #VilleHusso #KyleDubas #LouLamoriello #MarcGatcomb #PatLaFontaine #LoganStankoven #MattDuchene #LoganThompson #EthenFrank #NicoHischier #AntonLundell #RadekFaksa #JordanBinnington #StevenStamkos #PavelDorofeyev #KyleConnor #ConnorMcDavid #KrisKnoblauch #StuartSkinner #DustinWolf #MacklinCelebrini #MatveiMichkov #LaneHutson #ThomasHickey #ConnorBedard #BraydenPoint #ChrisKreider #FilipChytil #FilipHronek #QuinnHughes #EmilHeineman #CharlieMcAvoy #HampusLindholm #ColeKoepke #DarrenRaddysh #GordMiller #TSN
Tue, January 14, 2025
NY Centric - Starting the Week On A High Note with Peter Baugh from the Athletic - January 14, 2025
Peter Baugh from the Athletic to talk about the three New York area clubs which saw the teams go a collective 6-0-2 in the past week. We dive into the week passed, week ahead and drop in some fun trivia. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #PeterBaugh #ArthurStaple #TheAthletic #NewYorkRangers #NewYorkIslanders #NewJerseyDevils #AdamFox #AdamEdstrom #JohnnyBrodzinski #MattRempe #ChrisDrury #JacobTrouba #BarclayGoodrow #ChrisKreider #BradenSchneider #PeterLaviolette #FilipChytil #ArthurKaliyev #WillCuylle #RileySmith #MikaZibanejad #JacobMarkstrom #StefanNoesen #JackHughes #TomFitzgerald #PaulCotter #BrettPesce #BrendenDillon #JohnathanKovacevic #SheldonKeefe #DamonSeverson #RyanGraves #TimoMeier #RyanLindgren #WillBorgen #BrockNelson #IlyaSorokin #MatthewBarzal #LouLamoriello #ClaudeJulien #RobbieFtorek #NoahDobson #BoHorvat #JohnTortorella #RogerNeilson #TomMcVie #JohnVanbiesbrouck #ChrisTerreri #MartinBrodeur #CraigBillington
Mon, January 13, 2025
Episode 43 - The Kings Reign Again with President Luc Robitaille
Hall-of-Famer and President of the L.A. Kings Luc Robitaille visits with Neil and Vic to discuss a team which has become a force in the Western Conference. We'll pour a little cold water on Alex Ovechkin's chase of the goal-scoring record and also talk about who needs to take the reigns when there's tension within a team. IN THIS EPISODE: [0:56] - In "Three Things You Need to Pay Attention To," we hit on the surging Red Wings, Alex Ovechkin's empty net goals and how a little adversity may have been the perfect tonic for the Canucks this past weekend. [11:55] - Kings President Luc Robitaille joins the show with an update on how the organization is coping with the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. [15:40] - Robitaille discusses his day-to-day role as team president. [18:10] - Robitaille speaks to the heavy, defense-oriented Cup winners in 2012 and 2014 as well as this season compared to the firewagon days when Luc played in Los Angeles. [25:50] - Assessment of the power play and goaltending. [30:28] - Luc talks about his experience with Neil Smith after having been acquired by the Rangers in 1995. [34:25] - Over the course of a season, tensions are going to rise within a team for a variety of reasons. Needless to say, media jumps on the slightest indication when waves appear. Neil shares thoughts of who needs to address issues and where it needs to take place. [40:29] - In our player notes section, we do a deeper dive into Cutter Gauthier's first game in Philadelphia and why the Flyers need more than a visit from a player who spurned them to bring energy to the Wells Fargo Center on a nightly basis. [46:40] - Our Human Side of the Story Focuses on our guest, Kings President Luc Robitaille. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #ToddMcLellan #DerekLalonde #MikeBabcock #SteveYzerman #DylanLarkin #PatrickKane #VladimirTarasenko #PhilippGrubauer #JoeyDaccord #AlexOvechkin #SpencerCarbery #EthenFrank #WayneGretzky #KevinLankinen #LucRobtaille #StaciaRobtaille #echoesofhope.org #RobBlake #NelsonEmerson #MarkBergevin
Fri, January 10, 2025
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - Dubois, Trap Games and Annoying PA Announcers- Jan. 10, 2025
Vic jumps on the Pierre-Luc Dubois bandwagon, sort of. A discussion on whether the Colorado Avalanche fell victim to the dreaded trap game between contests with Florida and Minnesota and a fun chat on the annoyance of public address announcers. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #PierreLucDubois #QuinnHughes #DylanStrome #NicklasBackstrom #TJOshie #TomGulitti #TomWilson #ConnorGarland #PetrMrazek #ConnorBedard #TrentMiner #JaredSpurgeon #BrockFaber #JonasBrodin #KirillKaprizov #JesperBoqvist #MatthewTkachuk #SamReinhart #JackQuinn #Ukko-PekkaLuukkonen #MOrganGeekie #ConorGeekie #BraydenPoint #IgorShesterkin #ArthurKaliyev #MattRempe #SamCarrick #JacobMarkstrom #Jonathan #FilipChytil #SamErsson #JohnTortorella #EvgeniMalkin #BryanRust #SidneyCrosby #RickardRakell #LeonDraisaitl #KrisKnoblauch #StewartSkinner #LucaDelBelBelluz #DentonMateychuk #DanBylsma #DaveHakstol #JessicaCampbell #SeanMonahan #JordanStaal #AustonMatthews #MitchMarner #MatthewKnies #PyotrKochetkov #BobbyOrr #MikeBossy #RichardBrodeur #RobertThomas #LarryPleau #IlyaSorokin #BrockNelson #NHLWinterClassic #NHLStadiumSeries #LoanDepotPark #RaymondJamesStadium #CutterGauthier #LucRobitaille
Wed, January 08, 2025
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - Two Nights of Late Game Heroics - Jan. 8, 2025
When the calendar flips, the NHL drama appears to get a bounce as well. Of the 14 games played Monday and Tuesday, 11 were decided in the third period, overtime or via shootout. Vic and Neil re-cap it all and also note the passings of two former NHL players. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #JTMiller #QuinnHughes #MartinStLouis #TomGulitti #ConnorMcDavid#CharlieMcAvoy #BradMarchand #DavidPastrnak #ConnorHellebuyck #AndreiVasilevskiy #JacquesPlante #JoshMorrissey #StevenStamkos #ScottArniel #SpencerCarbery #DevonToews #OndrejPalat #JacobMarkstrom #EeliTolvanen #MartyBeniers #OliverBjorkstrand #AdamLarsson #JuuseSaros #JakeOettinger #K'AndreMiller #AdamFox #RyanLindgren #FilipChytil #ChrisKreider #PatrickKane #DerekLalonde #DylanLarkin #JonathanHuberdeau #NazemKadri #GerardGallant #ConnorZary #DrewHelleson #TroyTerry #EvgeniMalkin #DmitriMalkin #KirillMarchenko #BraydenPoint #MatthewKnies #JohnTortorella #IvanFedotov #BrockFaber #MarkStone #JackEichel #ArthurKaliyev #DakotaJoshua #RomanJosi #JakeMcCabe #GarnetHathaway #AlexLyon #CamTalbot #SheldonKeefe #ErikHaula #ColinMiller #TrevorLewis #AlexChiasson #AlMcNeil #HenriRichard #TonyEsposito #JacquesLemaire #KeithMagnuson #KenDryden #JimPappin #DwightFoster #AlArbour #MikeBossy
Wed, January 08, 2025
Human Side of the Story - Episode 42 - Nashville Predator Fulfills Dream for Mom
Ozzy Wiesblatt is not likely to be a name that appears in when checking NHL news each morning and, despite being returned to the minors after his first two games, the story of perseverance inspired by his mom is what "The Human Side of the Story" is all about. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NashvillePredators #OzzyWiesblatt #KimWiesblatt #MemorialCup #PrinceAlbertRaiders #SanJoseBarracuda #MilwaukeeAdmirals #CalgaryFlames #VancouverCanucks #JimKyte #WinnipegJets
Mon, January 06, 2025
Episode 42 - NHL Wraparound & Debuting NY Centric
A combination episode to kick off NHL Wraparound in 2025 as NY Centric is introduced within the show. Tom Gulitti joins Neil and Vic to talk the surprising Washington Capitals, a history lesson on defunct NHL franchise and a special NHL debut on the Human Side of the Story. IN THIS EPISODE: [01:05] - Three Things You Need to Pay Attention to addresses whispers out of Vancouver that both J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson made be on the trade market while three franchises with struggles in recent seasons are showing an uptick as we near the midway point. [08:56] - Tom Gulitti joins the show and speaks about the additions in Washington who have meshed beautifully Spencer Carbery, [16:04] - Gulitti speaks to the adjustments Alex Ovechkin had to make with a rookie head coach last season amidst his chase for the all-time goalscoring record. [18:07] - The next steps needed by the Caps to go from being just a feel-good to legitimate Stanley Cup Contender. [20:42] - Arthur Staple from the Athletic helps launch NY Centric addressing whether the Rangers slight improvement is fact or fiction. [23:07] - Staple lays it where the struggles lay both up front and on the backline. [31:14] - A shift to the Islanders where the special teams and late game struggles remain and an overall assessment of the personnel GM Lou Lamoriello sticks with. [38:56] - The Devils have hit a bump in the road during their six-game road trip. Despite being a top team, there is still system acclimation taking place under head coach Sheldon Keefe. [46:00] - Any guess as to which was the first New York-based team in the NHL? A little history on defunct NHL teams whose cities still have a presence in the league. [50:42] - Player and injury notes. [59:40] - The United States wins consecutive gold medals at the World Junior Championships. Is the USA now the number one world hockey power? [1:04:30] - The Human Side of the Story shares the story of Ozzy Wiesblatt, who, along with four siblings, was raised by a deaf mother. Through her support, and that of others, Ozzy was able to play hockey at an early age and made his debut with the Nashville Predators on Jan. 3 in Vancouver. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #Philadelphia
Thu, January 02, 2025
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - Kicking Off the New Year - Jan. 2, 2025
The Winter Classic headlines a vast array of topics to kick off the first show of 2025. The Kings keep rolling in LA, the Canadiens and Blue Jackets continue to surprise, Patrick Roy discovers a new situation by which to pull his goalie and a discussion on an upcoming suspension coming out of game between Nashville and Minnesota. #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #DarcyKuemper #AndreLee #TimoMeier #MikeRichter #KenDaneyko #MartinBrodeur #JackHughes #JonathanToews #DuncanKeith #NHLWinterClassic #NHLStadiumSeries #CamFowler #BraydenSchenn #NickFoligno #GeorgeArmstrong #JeanBeliveau #HenriRichard #YvanCournoyer #PierrePilote #EddieLitzenberger #BobNevin #VicHadfield #KellyKisio #MarkMessier #AdamGraves #BernieNicholls #WindsorSpitfires #SidenyCrosby #AlexOvechkin #ConnorMcDavid #BrendanSmith #ConnorBedard #TNT #ESPN #LoanDepotPark #MiamiMarlins #MartinSt.Louis #PatrickRoy #IlyaSorokin #JohnTavares #ConnorHellebuyck #MikeComrie #ScottArniel #ToddMcLellan #PatrickKane #SteveYzerman #DerekLalonde #JoeSacco #JimMontgomery #DrewBannister #BruceBoudreau #LukeRichardson #AndersSorensen #LeonDraisaitl #KirillMarchenko #JackRoslovic #JohhnyGaudreau #MatthewGaudreau #DeanEvason #AnzeKopitar #LadyByngTrophy #AustonMatthews #FourNationsFaceoff #BradTreliving #BrendanShanahan #IgorShesterkin #RyanLindgren #SamBennett #LouieDominque #JonathanQuick #AlekseiKolasov #SamErsson #LukeKunin #RobertBortuzzo #KrisLetang #OliverKylington #ValNichushkin #KirillKaprizov #JaredSpurgeon #Zachary L'Heureux #AHL #QMJHL #MattRempe #MiroHeiskanen #GeorgeParros #TieDomi #PeterboroughPetes #SemyonVarlamov #MarcusHogberg #WorldJuniorChampionships
Tue, December 31, 2024
Human Side of the Story - Episode 41 - The Ilitch Legacy in Detroit
In 1982, Mike and Marian Ilitch purchased the Detroit Red Wings from the Norris family, who had owned the franchise for half a century. The early years weren't easy but, with some successful drafting led by Neil Smith, the foundation was laid for a team which eventually made the playoffs 25 consecutive years. The Ilitch's are synonymous with Detroit. Owners of the MLB Tigers and the Little Caesar's franchise, Neil also shares a story about the family patriarch and an iconic figure in American history which many may not ever heard. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #AdirondackRedWings #CalderCup #MikeIlitch #MarianIlitch #ChrisIlitch #DetroitTigers #LittleCaesars #MargueriteNorris #RosaParks
Mon, December 30, 2024
Episode 41 - Clipped Wings - With Max Bultman from The Athletic
The Todd McLellan era in Detroit highlights the show as Neil and Vic are joined by Max Bultman from The Athletic. Also, Alex Ovechkin returns to the Capitals lineup, the latest edition of the NHL Winter Classic is upon us and Neil brings the show full circle reflecting on his days in the Motor City under the ownership of the Ilitch family. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:55] - In "Three Things You Need to Pay Attention To," Jakub Dobes stuns the defending Stanley Cup Champions, Alex Ovechkin returns and picks right up in his quest of the all-time goal-scoring record and some bad blood brewing between the Devils and Hurricanes. [06:45] - Max Bultman from The Athletic joins the show providing the early take on Todd McLellan behind the Red Wings bench. [09:53] - Bultman looks back to player movement during the past off season as a root cause to the Red Wings problems in the 2024-25 campaign. [15:35] - With the coaching change having been made amidst a different roster from a season ago, discussion shifts to moves GM Steve Yzerman still has to make to raise the Red Wings prospects going forward. [19:45] - The pressure captain Dylan Larkin deals with looking at a ninth straight season missing the playoffs. [21:21] - Neil raises the questions of what Patrick Kane still has to offer and whether Yzerman gets a bit of a pass as GM due to his legendary status as an all-time great player for the Red Wings. [28:40] - How much longer can the Rangers wait to make more moves as 2024 began in the league penthouse and is heading towards the outhouse? [37:53] - Player notes [42:40] - Does the NHL Winter Classic still have the same buzz as when it began in 2008? [44:29] - In this Detroit Red Wings themed show, Neil looks back to his years in the Motor City, arriving as the Ilitch family has purchased the club in 1982. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NYCentric #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #MaxBultman #JakubDobes #SamMontembeault #MartinStLouis #AlexOvechkin #WayneGretzky #TimoMeier #MartinNecas #SheldonKeefe #ToddMcLellan #DerekLalonde #SteveYzerman #JeffBlashill #J
Fri, December 27, 2024
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - Wings of Change in Detroit - Dec. 27, 2024
The perilous world of NHL coaching saw it's latest casualty Thursday as Derek Lalonde was relieved of his duties in Detroit and was replaced by Todd McLellan. Vic and Neil discuss a move was becoming increasingly inevitable during December. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #DerekLalonde #BobBoughner #ToddMcLellan #TrentYawney #SteveYzerman #LucRobitaille #PeterLaviolette #DylanLarkin #LucasRaymond #AlexDebrincat #MoritzSeider #SimonEdvinsson #PatrickKane #VladimirTarasenko #MikeBabcock #KenHolland #LinusUllmark #AlexOvechkin #AustonMatthews #CutterGauthier
Tue, December 24, 2024
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - News Still Plentiful at the Holiday Break - Dec. 24, 2024
The three-day break gives teams a period to re-charge and re-set but significant news still reigns across the NHL. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #MattRempe #MiroHeiskanen #ChrisKreider #JacobTrouba #KaapoKakko #JackHughes #WillBorgen #RasmusDahlin #IlyaSorokin #PatrickRoy #MarioTremblay #MarcusHogberg #PatrikLaine #DmitriVoronkov #DanteFabbro #AaronPortzline #ZachWerenski #KirillMarchenko #JohnnyGaudreau #JTMiller #EliasPettersson #QuinnHughes #RickTocchet #ErikKarlsson #MikeHoffman #DavidPastrnak #LinusUllmark #LeeviMerilainen #AntonForsberg #JoeSacco #JimMontgomery #JeremySwayman #JonasJohansson #MatthewTkachuk #MichaelEyssimont AJGreer #SidneyCrosby #MarioLemieux #DylanHolloway #MacklinCelebrini #JohnGibson #BrockMcGinn #ColeSmith #AnthonyDuclair #DerekLalonde #SteveYzerman #PeterLaviolette #JohnTavares #WayneGretzky #MarkMessier #LannyMcDonald #KeithTkachuk #MarkScheifele #KyleConnor #ConorMcDavid #LeonDraisaitl #NathanMacKinnon #MikkoRantanen #AustonMatthews #MitchMarner #WilliamNylander #NikitaKucherov #BraydenPoint #JakeGuentzel #JoeMicheletti #WorldJuniorChampionships #MiracleOnIce #MikeModano #PatLaFontaine #BrettHull #BrianLeetch #MikeRichter
Fri, December 20, 2024
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - Dec. 20, 2024 - Goalies in Unique Spotlights
Three goalies make the show in different ways, three small deals come in advance of the NHL Trade Freeze and a couple of captains prepare to re-join their clubs. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #LinusUllmark #JonathanHuberdeau #TimStutzle #BradyTkachuk #JeremySwayman #ElvisMerlikins #JackHughes #LukeHughes #SeanMonahan #MackenzieBlackwood #AlexandarGeorgiev #JoelKiviranta #IlyaMikheyev #NolanAllan #BryanRust #SidneyCrosby #MattiasEkholm #LeonDraisaitl #ConnorMcDavid #ZachHyman #EvanBouchard #TomWilson #NikitaKucherov #AnzeKopitar #KevinFiala #PatrickKane #MatthewTkachuk #BillGuerin #JohnHynes #ClaytonKeller #DylanGuenther #MikhailSergachev #NicolasRobertson #JasonRobertson #JakeOettinger #JosephWoll #AnthonyStolarz #FrankVitrano #TroyTerry #LukasDostal #GabeVilardi #MichaelMarkovic #TylerMotte #SamErsson #NickSeeler #TravisKonecny #JohnTortorella #DaveJackson #SimonEdvinsson #MoritzSeider #RasmusRistolainen #MattDumba #BrockFaber #EetuLuostarainen #AlexOvechkin #RasmusDahlin #TerryPegula #JustinSchultz #KevinShattenkirk #KaapoKakko #WillBorgen #JacobTrouba #Pierre-OlivierJoseph #MathieuJoseph #MarcusPettersson #AlexandreCarrier #JustinBarron #BarryTrotz #StevenStamkos #TylerJohnson #ChrisDrury #VincentTrocheck #BarclayGoodrow #PeterLaviolette #MarkMessier #JimDolan #NHLTradeFreeze
Wed, December 18, 2024
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - The Higher Ups Speak - December 18, 2024
Short Shifts kicks off with the 1970 NHL Expansionists getting a talking to amidst their recent play. One had the desired result, a least in the short term. The other...well... We also look back at Monday's Stanley Cup Final rematch between the Panthers and Oilers and plenty of other news coming out of Monday's and Tuesday's games. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #TerryPegula #RasmusDahlin #LindyRuff #RogerNeilson #JoelArmia #PatrikLaine #RickTocchet #JimRutherford #FilipHronek #KeiferSherwood #ThatcherDemko #EliasPettersson #JTMiller #CarterVerhaeghe #EvanBouchard #ZachHyman #StuartSkinner #SergeiBobrovsky #ConnorMcDavid #DarnellNurse #KrisKnoblauch #LinusUllmark #TravisGreen #RoopeHintz #TJBrodie #RyanDonato #SpencerCarbery #LoganThompson #DavidPastrnak #PyotrKochetkov #JuuseSaros #KaapoKakko #PeterLaviolette #SteveValiquette #GerardGallant #JakeGuentzel #VictorHedman #JJMoser #TomMulligan #JimRamsay #DanteFabbro #JackHughes #LukeHughes #KyleConnor #AdamLowry #MacklinCelebrini #MatveiMichkov #LaneHutson #CalderTrophy #MattGrzelcyk #RickardRakell #AnthonyStolarz #SheldonKeefe #JosephWoll #DennisHildeby #CraigBerube #MarcusPettersson #DrakeBatherson #KevinHe #AndongSong #DerekLalonde #ScottLaughton
Mon, December 16, 2024
Episode 40 - Avalanche of Change with General Manager Chris MacFarland
Colorado Avalanche general manager Chris MacFarland joins Neil and Vic to discuss flipping his goaltending tandem, the challenge of an often disrupted lineup and the promise of the Avs through adversity. Also, after missing out on MacKenzie Blackwood, the Carolina Hurricanes have made it known they are in the market for a netminder and a closer look at the trade which sent long-time Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler to St. Louis. IN THIS EPISODE: [01:07] - You need to pay attention to more drama in the Big Apple, Carolina goaltending and the first matchup of the season between last season's Stanley Cup Finalists. [07:25] - Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland joins the show with insight on why he had to flip both of his opening night netminders within two months of the start of the season. [13:35] - MacFarland brings us inside the saga surrounding Val Nichushkin, the support of the Avs organization and the importance of re-earning the trust of his teammates. [20:00] - An update on Captain Gabe Landeskog, who hasn't played since raising the Stanley Cup in 2002, as well keys to what make Nathan MacKinnon and Cal Makar truly unique players. [27:28] - Looking ahead to the spring and what MacFarland still needs to evaluate as his molds his club for the playoffs. [35:50] - The Ottawa Senators look to prove they are for real coming off a successful weekend in advance of a nine-game road trip. [38:10] - A deeper dive into the Cam Fowler trade to St. Louis. [41:01] - Other player and league notes. [45:56] - The Human Side of the Story focuses on the player who scored the first goal in NHL history, 107 years ago this week. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #ArtemiPanarin #K'AndreMiller #KaapoKakko #ChrisKreider #PeterLaviolette #ChrisDrury #MacKenzieBlackwood #PyotrKochetkov #DustinTokarski #CareyPrice #FrederikAndersen #SpencerMartin #JohnGibson #PatVerbeek #StuartSkinner #ChrisMacFarland #JoeSakic #PierreLacroix #AlexandarGeorgiev #JustusAnnunen #ScottWedgewood #ConnorHellebuyck #JakeOettinger #MikeGreer #KevinStevens #ValNichushkin #M
Fri, December 13, 2024
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - Hats Off! - Dec. 13, 2024
A happy return in Vancouver, surprising wins for a pair of former Avalanche goalies and a quartet of hat tricks highlight the happenings over the past two nights in the NHL. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #JTMiller #KevinLankinen #AlexandarGeorgiev #MacklinCelebrini #NikolaiKovalenko #JustusAnnunen #RyanO'Reilly #RomanJosi #JimNill #JakeGuetnzel #NikitaKucherov #BraydenPoint #JonCooper #AndreiVasilevskiy #JulienBriseBois #StevenStamkos #NathanMacKinnon #ScottLaughton #CamTalbot #DylanLarkin #VladimirTarasenko #DerekLalonde #SteveYzerman #JimMontgomery #LukeRichardson #PatrickKane #MoritzSeider #LucasRaymond #BrianRust #RickardRakell #SidneyCrosby #DrakeBatherson #AlexOvechkin #AliakseiProtas #ConnorMcMichael #DylanStrome #PierreLucDubois #TomWilson #SpencerCarbery #JackAdams Award #PatrickRoy #MarioTremblay #BoHorvat #NoahDobson #MaximTsyplakov #TJBrodie #TylerBertuzzi #JackHughes #DougieHamilton #JacobMarkstrom #AnzeKopitar #AdrianKempe #TrevorMoore #DarcyKuemper #VictorOlofsson #IvanBarbashev #DylanDeMelo #GabeVilardi #KellySutherland #JustinKea #ConnorMcDavid #KirillKaprizov #JoelErikksonEk #JonasBrodin #MatsZuccarello #DylanGuenther #DavidBonderman #OliverBjorkstrand #JoonasKorpisalo #JoeSacco #DonSweeney #BradMarchand #AlexTurcotte #AnthonyStolarz #RogersSportsnet ##ElliotteFriedman #MikeRichter #JakeMcCabe #TrevorZegras #K'AndreMiller #MattDumba #AlexTuch #SaltLakeCityGoldenEagles
Wed, December 11, 2024
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - We ARE Going to Talk About Colorado Goaltending! - Dec. 11, 2024
Going back on their word not to talk about the Avalanche goaltending, Vic and Neil can't ignore it when another deal is made for a netminder. Also, a major return in Vancouver and a surprising statement about the which team has the best goaltending in the NHL. The show comes full circle somehow connecting a restaurant chain to Scott Wedgewood and Mackenzie Blackwood. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #AlexandarGeorgiev #NikolaiKovalenko #MackenzieBlackwood #GivaniSmith #ScottWedgewood #JustusAnnunen #MilesWood #MikkoRantanen #NathanMacKinnon #CaleMakar #ValNichushkin #ScottArniel #JoeSacco #MarcoRossi #MattBoldy #KirillKaprizov #BillGuerin #RyanSuter #ZachParise #ThatcherDemko #JTMiller #DylanHolloway #JimMontgomery #JonathanQuick #AnzeKopitar #AdrianKempe #JimHiller #DrewDoughty #Thomas Hickey #LeonDraisaitl #ConnorMcDavid #RomanJosi #PatrikLaine #JacobTrouba #AnthonyStolarz #MaxDomi #AustonMatthews #SheldonKeefe #JosephWoll #CraigBerube #AleksanderBarkov #SamReinhart #BrandonMontour #JoshMahura #GlennAnderson #BrianNoonan #CraigMacTavish #MikeKeenan #EvanBouchard #NikitaKucherov #BraydenPoint #KrisKnoblauch #JackDrury #WillSmith #TrevorZegras #AndersSorensen #SebastianCossa #CamTalbot #VilleHusso #JordanGreenway #KevinShattenkirk #KennyRogersRoasters #PeterLaviolette #AndrewBrunette #DerekLalonde #SteveYzerman
Mon, December 09, 2024
Episode 39 - New York Shuffle with Arthur Staple from The Athletic
A major trade. A major contact extension. But is the drama over in The Big Apple? Arthur Staple from The Athletic joins Neil and Vic to talk Rangers with some Islanders dropped in. Plus, patience is running thin in Buffalo and, after two decades, has the shootout run its course? IN THIS EPISODE: [01:00] - Three Things You Need To Pay Attention To examines the coaching change in Chicago, the top team in the East with no selections for the Four Nations Faceoff and a furry friend update. [13:20] - Noted New York hockey writer Arthur Staple joins the show and goes in depth on the Rangers trade of captain Jacob Trouba to Anaheim and the handling of the situation by the club. [28:18] - A deep dive into the contract extension signed by franchise netminder Igor Shesterkin. [33:57] - Staple weighs in on the comparatively stagnant doings with the Islanders and whether this is a franchise that can really afford to stand pat. [46:47] - A new show being added to the NHL Wraparound portfolio [48:33] - The shuffle heads to Buffalo where the constant front office turnover plays a big part in the inability of the Sabres to generate a winning culture [52:52] - Time to do away with the shootout [59:30] - Player/league notes [1:01:05] - The Human Side of the Story addresses the ugly side of the Jacob Trouba saga when things go public. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #LukeRichardson #AndersSorensen #DavidQuinn #JimMontgomery #DonSweeney #NikitaZadorov #EliasLindholm #KyleDavidson #PatMaroon #TylerBertuzzi #NickFoligno #ConnorBedard #CalderTrophy #PeterboroughPetes #SteveSimmons #PostMedia #LoganThompson #AlexOvechkin #SpencerCarbery #JackAdamsAward #TomWilson #JakobChychrun #FourNationsFaceoff #CharlieMcAvoy #KileyMcAvoy #JohnTortorella #ChristineTortorella #ArthurStaple #TheAthletic #JacobTrouba #BarclayGoodrow #ChrisKreider #ChrisDrury #UrhoVaakanainen #IgorShesterkin #JonathanQuick #ArtemiPanarin #RyanCallihan #RyanMcDonagh #AndrewCopp #FrankVatrano #BradyTkachuk #ShanePinto #JoshNorris #ThomasChab
Thu, December 05, 2024
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - Dec. 5, 2024
Vic and Neil open the show with what has exhausted them over the course of the first two months of the season. Plenty of league and player notes and some different takes on the upcoming Four Nations Faceoff now that the rosters have been rounded out. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #AustonMatthews #GustavNyqvist #AlexandarGeorgiev #ScottWedgewood #JakeOettinger #TheAtlantic #PatrikLaine #SemyonVarlamov #IlyaSorokin #JoeSacco #SidneyCrosby #JimMontgomery #Nikita Zadorov #AdinHill #IvanBarbashev #JackEichel #MarkStone #IlyaSamsonov #TannerJeannot #WarrenFoegele #JoelEdmonson #AnzeKopitar #DrewDoughty #TylerSeguin #JasonRobertson #WyattJohnston #PeterBeBoer #JohnnyGaudreau #MeredithGaudreau #MatthewGaudreau #GuyGaudreau #SeanMonahan #MichaelBacklund #FrederickGaudreau #KirillKaprizov #KevinLankinen #FilipHronek #JonasBrodin #JoelErikssonEk #MatsZuccarello #JakubLauko #TrevorLewis #JustinKirkland #MastertonTrophy #AlexOvechkin #TrevorZegras #TrevorLinden #FourNationsFaceoff #BillZito #MikeSullivan #CanadaCup #WorldCupOfHockey #MarkMessier #BrianLeetch #DanBylsma #CraigBerube #PhilipBroberg #DylanHolloway #MitchMarner #JohnTavares
Tue, December 03, 2024
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - Dec. 3, 2024
Almost 50 games have been played since heading into the long Thanksgiving weekend. In this episode of Short Shifts, Vic and Neil examine some items that have opened their eyes, some which have stayed the same plus a little bit of rapid-fire back-and-forth. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #MacklinCelebrini #WillSmith #TylerToffoli #MikaelGranlund #RyanWarsofsky #TrevorZegras #Pierre-LucDubois #BrianMacLellan #ChrisPatrick #RobBlake #KevinCheveldayoff #DarcyKuemper #SpencerCarbery #AdamGraves #JackHughes #JohhnyGaudreau #MatthewGaudreau #GuyGaudreau #ZachWerenski #KirillMarchenko #SeanMonahan #ColeSillinger #YegorChinakov #DamonSeverson #KentJohnson #MathieuOlivier #KevinLeBlanc #DmitriVoronkov #AdamFantilli #DeanEvason #DonWaddell #JackEichel #RyanO'Reilly #BrandonMontour #SamReinhart #AleksanderBarkov #DaveHakstol #DanBylsma #JessicaCampbell #RonFrancis #JimMontgomery #GerardGallant #LindyRuff #PeterLaviolette #TonyKornheiser #MichaelWilbon #CaleMakar #AnthonyStolarz #JosephWoll #CraigBerube #BarryTrotz #StevenStamkos #MacklinCelebrini #ConnorBedard #MatveiMichkov #JohnTortorella #FilipHronek #PatrikAllvin #AlexOvechkin #NikolajEhlers #MavericLamoureux #MilesWood #JoshManson #OliverKylington #RossColton #CamTalbot #PatrikKane #PatrikLaine #KirbyDach #JurajSlafkovsky #PyotrKochetkov #JustusAnnunen #ScottWedgewood #JakeOettinger #JusseSaros #AlexandarGeorgiev #DavidJiricek #DaemonHunt #KevinLankinen #JakeDeBrusk #NHLTampering #MontrealMaroons #BobbyOrr #PhilEsposito #RickMiddleton #TerryO'Reilly #PatriceBergeron #WillieO'Ree #JohnnyBucyk #KenDryden #EddieShore #DitClapper #FourNationsFaceoff
Wed, November 27, 2024
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - Nov. 27, 2024
The last edition of Short Shifts prior to Thanksgiving goes around the NHL where trade rumors are swirling in New York, a goalie melts down in Tampa and a Stanley Cup winning coach rips into his club. That, plus a very special anniversary coming up in Boston. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #BrockBoeser #KevinLankinen #JakeDeBrusk #DantonHeinen #DavidPastrnak #NikitaZadorov #EliasLindholm #ThatcherDemko #JTMiller #MikhailSergachev #PatrikLaine #MartinStLouis #JimMontgomery #ZackBolduc #SethJarvis #ChrisKreider #JacobTrouba #ChrisDrury #JimNill #MasonMarchment #WyattJohnston #ShayneGostisbehere #MartinNecas #MattDuchene #TylerSeguin#JakeOettinger #AlexOvechkin #PaulMaurice #SergeiBobrovsky #BrandonHagel #WayneGretzky #MarioLemieux #AnthonyCirelli #StevenStamkos #VictorHedman #JakeGuentzel #JustusAnnunen #AlexandarGeorgiev #NathanMacKinnon #MikkoRantanen #CaleMakar #ValNichushkin #IvanIvan #NicoHischier #TimoMeier #ZachL'Heureux #SeanCoututier #LucasRaymond #ConnorHellebuyck #MacklinCelebrini #YaroslavAskarov #SanJoseBarracuda #VitekVanecek #MackenzieBlackwood #DrewDoughty #JimHiller #RyanWarsofsky #LeoCarlsson #TyeKartye #TrevorZegras #PatVerbeek #PhilipTomasino #AnthonyStolarz #CraigBerube #AustonMatthews #JackEichel #BruceCassidy #MontrealArena #CarsonCooper #BostonArena #MatthewsArena #NortheasternUniversity
Wed, November 27, 2024
Human Side of the Story - Ep. 38 - Hey Nineteen: Thornton Jersey Retirement and Toews Trip to India
One number nineteen has his number raised to the rafters in San Jose while another traveled halfway around the world in an attempt to heal his body for a potential return to the NHL. Joe Thornton and Jonathan Toews are both shoo-ins for the Hockey Hall of Fame but their recent stories could not be any more different. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #JoeThornton #PatrickMarleau #RyanClowe #DouglasMurray #BillWalton #MarkMessier #TaylorHall #AdamOates #RyanClowe #BrentBurns SharkTank #JonathanToews #AyurvedicDetox #Panchakarma
Mon, November 25, 2024
Episode 38 - Texas Hockey with Dallas Stars General Manager Jim Nill
Stories abound on NHL Wraparound this week. Jim Montgomery was unemployed for exactly five days, Sidney Crosby reaches a milestone and Neil discusses the importance of goal differential as the NHL hits the quarter pole of the schedule. Plus, we'll take a look at teams diverting their play from recent history, for better or worse and a very in-depth discussion with Dallas Stars GM Jim Nill. IN THIS EPISODE [00:55] - Three Things You Need To Pay Attention To looks at the coaching change in St. Louis, Sidney Crosby hitting the 600-goal mark and the sophomore struggles of Connor Bedard. [05:35] - Dallas Stars GM Jim Nill joins Neil and Vic with initial discussion centering around the differences of constructing a team now as compared to the 1980's. [12:30] - Nill speaks about his current team and its balance. While the record is impressive, there's a strong belief the team has yet to play to its potential despite it's stingy defensive play. [16:00] - Neil and Jim share thoughts on new Blues head coach Jim Montgomery and the importance of teams wanting to bring in experienced head coaches. [18:40] - Over the past two seasons, the Western Conference champions have had to get through Dallas. Nill speaks about what it will take to take the next step. [25:30] - Nill speaks about why hiring he prefers hiring experienced head coaches such as Pete DeBoer as opposed to those with less of a resume. [28:45] - Vic takes Jim down memory lane to share his memories of the 1982 playoffs and his double overtime goal in Game 1 of the Campbell Conference Final. [33:09] - Jim shares his greatest memory in hockey. [44:10] - An intriguing weekend featured Sidney Crosby in a rare fight with one-time Lady Byng winner Kyle Connor. A little trivia is dropped in regarding the "Gordie Howe Hat Trick." [49:50] - Neil talks about the importance of goal differential and how it's a often an indicator of whether teams make the playoffs - even this early in the season. [53:13] - A discussion about teams whose play has altered from recent seasons - for better or worse. Also raised are a couple of teams that still look exactly the same. [58:25] - Player notes and injury updates [59:35] - The Trivia Answer [1:01:23] - The Human Side of the Story focuses on a pair of 19's: First, Joe Thornton who had his jersey raised to the rafters at the Shark Tank. Then, former Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews and a trip to India for a healing process with the hope of returning to the NHL. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks
Fri, November 22, 2024
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - Nov. 22, 2024
The Capitals begin their immediate future without Alex Ovechkin while the Boston Bruins begin a new era with Joe Sacco behind their bench. Vic and Neil discuss those games and plenty more including a feisty evening in Toronto Wednesday. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #AlexOvechkin #JackMcBain #WayneGretzky #DylanStrome #ConnorMcMichael #AliakseiProtas #TomWilson #JohnCarlson #LarsEller #Pierre-LucDubois #SpencerCarbery #MilesWood #AlexandarGeorgiev #JoeSacco #JimMontgomery #MarkKastelic #RobertBortuzzo #EliasLindholm #JesperBratt #FrederikAndersen #SpencerMartin #PyotrKochetkov #JackRoslevic #ZachHyman #DarnellNurse #RyanReaves #KirillKaprizov #DrakeCaggiula #FrederickGaudreau #Marc-AndreFleury #CoonorMcDavid #LeonDraisaitl #EvanBouchard #BillGuerin #JohnHynes #ZachParise #RyanSuter #MatsZuccarello #JoelErikssonEk #YaroslavAskarov #RadekFaksa #NathanWalker #AlexWennberg #MacklinCelebrini #JonatanBerggren #LucasRaymond #DylanLarkin #ZachWerenski #ConnorZary #IgorShesterkin #IlyaSamsonov #IvanBarbashev #PetrMrazek #ConnorBedard #NickFoligno #MarcusFoligno #SethJones #AustonMatthews #FraserMinton #JosephWoll #ZachWhitecloud #MatthewKnies #MitchMarner #JohnTavares #WilliamNylander #CraigBerube #MaxDomi #MaxPacioretty #DavidKamph #CalleJarnkrok #RodGilbert #NormFerguson #EdGiacomin #CarolVadnais #CharlieHodge #JimNill
Wed, November 20, 2024
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - Nov. 20, 2024
Fresh off a discussion about the struggling Bruins on NHL Wraparound Monday, Boston Globe writer/columnist Kevin Paul Dupont re-joins this edition of Short Shifts to address the coaching change made by the team after an embarrassing loss later that evening. Plus, Alex Ovechkin heads to the sidelines after suffering a leg injury in Utah and we'll also have other significant player and officiating updates. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #JimMontgomery #JoeSacco #ChrisKelly #JayLeach #RogerNeilson #ColinCampbell #DavidQuinn #LukeRichardson #MikeSullivan #Bruce Cassidy #ClaudeJulien #CamNeely #DonSweeney #FenwayGroup #PatriceBergeron #DavidKrecji #ZdenoChara #DavidPastrnak #CharlieMcAvoy#AlexOvechkin #JackMcBain #TomWilson #AustonMatthews #JackEichel #CalleJarnkrok #DarnellNurse #RyanReeves #MarkStone #BenHutton #MikeReilly #JordanGreenway #MitchDunning #JoshManson #SteveKazari #HadynFleury #JTMiller #BraydenPoint #FilipChytil #KasperiKapanen #PatrickJohnston #PostMedia #BrockBoeser #RobertThomas #KirillKaprizov #BraydenPoint #TristanJarry #SidneyCrosby #EvgeniMalkin #KrisLetang #FilipChytil #K'AndreMiller #KasperiKapanen #PhilipBroberg #DylanHolloway #MarkScheifele #KyleConnor #MorganBarron #ConnorHellebuyck #MikeComrie #VezinaTrophy #NickFoligno #TaylorHall #ConnorBedard #SamMontembeault #ConnorMcDavid #LeonDraisaitl #EvanBouchard #BobbyOrr #BrianLeetch #RayBourque #MacklinCelebrini #SteveYzerman #DerekLalonde #JeffBlashill #PatrickKane #VladimirTarasenko #JonCooper #DustinWolf #SemyonVarlamov #IlyaSorokin #MattBarzal #DanVladar #JacobMarkstrom
Tue, November 19, 2024
Human Side of the Story - Ep. 37 - Val Nichushkin Returns - Can He Regain The Avs Trust?
The Human Side of the Story focuses on the return of Val Nichushkin to the Colorado Avalanche lineup having completed a six-month suspension for violating terms of the NHL's Player Assistance Program. While a welcome boost to the Avs lineup, Nichushkin will be under constant scrutiny as he looks to earn back a trust which has been violated during past two springs. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #NHLPlayerAssistanceProgram #ValeriNichushkin #SamuelGirard #JackJohnson #BobProbert #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DetroitRedWings
Mon, November 18, 2024
Episode 37 - Boston "Un-Commons" - With Hall of Fame Writer Kevin Paul Dupont
Boston Globe and Hockey Hall of Fame writer/columnist Kevin Paul Dupont joins Neil and Vic to discuss the early season struggles of the Boston Bruins. Plenty of news and intrigue from around the NHL this past weekend and The Human Side of the Story takes a closer look at Val Nichushkin's return to the Colorado Avalanche following his six-month suspension while in the NHL's Player Assistance Program. IN THIS EPISODE [01:10] - Three Things You Need To Pay Attention To looks at two players whose contributions have helped Washington and Carolina to successful starts. Colorado goaltending and the Maple Leafs thriving without captain Auston Matthews are other topics in the segment. [10:09] - Kevin Paul Dupont joins the show and addresses the disappointments among the newcomers in the Bruins lineup. In addition, Dupont has concerns about the juice this version of Bruins is bringing to the rink each night, particularly in light of the players the club has lost in recent seasons. [18:55] - The question is raised whether head coach Jim Montgomery needs to adjust his systems in order to accommodate the 2024-25 personnel. [23:15] - Neil brings the goaltending situation to the fore questioning Bruins management about the handling of trading Linus Ullmark to Ottawa while anointing Jeremy Swayman without a contract. [29:30] - The shortcomings of the up-and-comers potentially buying the Bruins some time in order to get playing back to what's been their standard. [36:57] - Neil gives the answer to his trivia question which was posed on Friday's Short Shift. [39:02] - Some items of intrigue starting with the Florida Panthers whitewash of Winnipeg Saturday and continue with a couple of officiating decisions questioned by the N.Y. Islanders and Ottawa Senators. [44:18] - An array of league notes from returns to milestones to injuries. [48:01] - The Human Side of the Story takes a look at the return from suspension by Val Nichushkin. Neil and Vic provide some background and move forward into what the dynamic forward needs to do in order to regain the trust of his team. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #Toront
Fri, November 15, 2024
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - Nov. 15, 2024
A couple of major milestones and some truly intriguing games over the past couple of nights. Packed with info and insight, Vic and Neil also update some injury news and a significant development in the sexual assault case again five former World Junior Players. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #ConnorMcDavid #LeonDraisaitl #Darnell Nurse #WayneGreyzky #MarioLemieux #Mike Bossy #AndreiVasilevskiy #JacquesPlante #MikeComire #ConnorHellebuyck #BraydenPoint #JakeGuentzel #JesperBratt #JonahGadjovich #BrendenDillon #KurtisMacDermid #TomFitzgerald #SheldonKeefe #DakotaJoshua #JonathanLekkerimaki #RickTocchet #QuinnHughes #EliasPettersson #JakeDeBrusk #BrockBoeser #TannerJeannot #JohnTortorella #LinusUllmark #AnthonyRichard #BobbyBrink #IvanFedotov #JoshNorris #ShanePinto #MichaelCarcone #TysonJost #JackDrury #KarelVejmelka #SidneyCrosby #WilliamNylander #MitchMarner #AustonMatthews #MorganRielly #JohnTavares #StevenLorenz #MatthewKnies #OliverEkman-Larsson #JaniHakanpaa #DarcyKuemper #MikkoRantanen #ArtturiLehkonen #NathanMacKinnon #ValeriNichushkin #AlexTuch #RasmusDahlin #TageThompson #Ukko-PekkaLuukkonen #MattiasSamuelsson #FilipChytil #K'AndreMiller #PatLaFontaine #MikeKeane #EricLindros #BrettLindros #Scott Stevens #DariusKasparaitis #Jeff Beukeboom #MattJohnson #BarryTrotz #DonSweeney #JeremySwayman #DillonDube #CalFoote #AlexFormenton #CarterHart #MichaelMcLeod #SpencerCarbury #PPGPaintsArena #CivicArena #TheIgloo
Wed, November 13, 2024
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - Nov. 13, 2024
Short Shifts has no shortage of talking points as Vic and Neil speak about the Washington Capitals bringing a former hero back into the fold, the Winnipeg Jets building on their own history and plenty of other league news, injury updates and developments from the GM meetings in Toronto. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackHawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #LarsEller #AlexOvechkin #JohnCarlson #TomWilson#JoelBlomqvist #AlexNedeljkovic #TristanJarry #SidneyCrosby #KyleDubas #SamSteel #KevinHayes #CodyGlass #RidlyGreig #MorganRielly #LinusUllmark #AustonMathews #MorganGeekie #CharlieMcAvoy #DavidPastrnak #HampusLindholm #KyleConnor #MarkScheifele #Mika Zibanejad #K'AndreMiller #AlexisLafreniere #ConnorMcDavid #LeonDraisaitl #AndersLee #PatrickRoy #BrendenDillon #JonahGadjovich #MatveiMichkov #MacklinCelebrini #TageThompson #MattiasSamuelsson #AnthonyMantha #KaapoKahkonen #AlexandarGeorgiev #JustusAnnunen #NHLTampering
Tue, November 12, 2024
Human Side of the Story - Ep. 36 - New to The Hockey Hall of Fame...and Notable Omissions
The newest members of the Hockey Hall of Fame have been enshrined in Toronto with players Pavel Datsyuk, Jeremy Roenick, Shea Weber, Natalie Darwitz and Krissy Wendell-Pohl being joined by builders David Poile and Colin Campbell. While the entry to the Hall of these seven are celebrated, Vic examines the credentials two who are overlooked year-after-year. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #PavelDatsyuk #JeremyRoenick #SheaWeber #NatalieDarwitz #KrissyWendell-Pohl #DavidPoile #BudPoile #GeorgeMcPhee #BarryTrotz #ColinCampbell #GregoryCampbell #RogerNeilson #AlexanderMogilny #PatLaFontaine #AlArbour #MarkMessier #JeffBeukeboom #AdamGraves #AlexeiKovalev #SergeiNemchinov #SergeiZubov #AlexanderKarpovtsev #SteveYzerman #SergeiFedorov #VladimirKonstantinov #NicklasLidstrom #HockeyHallofFame
Tue, November 12, 2024
Episode 36 - Speak of the Devils - With GM and President of Hockey Operations Tom Fitzgerald
New Jersey Devils GM and President of Hockey Operations Tom Fitzgerald joins the show which salutes the best start in NHL history, the soon-to-be greatest goal scorer, plenty of league and college news and a player who took the NHL by storm three years ago whose production has fizzled. The Human Side of the Story concludes the show with the newest Hockey Hall of Fame inductees...and two who should be. IN THIS EPISODE: [02:40] - In "Three Things You Need to Pay Attention To," Vic and Neil simply can't ignore the historic start by the Washington Capitals, the energized Alex Ovechkin or the N.Y. Islanders continued negative trend of losing leads late. [10:15] - Tom Fitzgerald joins the show with a little reminiscing of being on either side of Manhattan as an Islander player and Devil GM. [12:40] - Fitzgerald shares the challenge of re-building his team after a disappointing 2023-24 season. [14:30] - The process involved in securing Sheldon Keefe to come to New Jersey as the head coach. [16:13] - Fitzgerald speaks about the addition of new players, healthy returnees and the fit with the new head coach. [20:30] - Neil and Tom share more stories from the early 80's about hockey camps, college and the connection with Jack and Luke Hughes dad, Jimmy. [22:00] - The transformation of Dougie Hamilton since coming to New Jersey as well as the accelerated growth of Simon Nemec when Hamilton went down for the season in November 2023. [27:10] - The maturity and growth of captain Nico Hischier [29:30] - Fitzgerald speaks on topics of discussion for the upcoming GM meetings with goaltender interference at the top of Tom's list. Fitzgerald also talks about an equal playing field for teams which don't have a state tax. [32:46] - Vic invites Tom to share his memories of the first Panthers team to make the Stanley Cup Final, thanks to his game winning goal in Pittsburgh in Game 7 in 1996. [36:15] - In the league notes section, significant goalie news as the Ducks John Gibson returns from an appendectomy, Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark face each for the first time since the latter was traded to Ottawa and Tristan Jarry is recalled by the Penguins. [38:11] - Injury and other player updates [40:20] - The Edmonton Oilers knock Kevin Lankinen from the Canucks net Saturday while the Colorado Avalanche end the Carolina Hurricanes eight-game winning streak with the help of a five goal-second period. [42:41] - The man known for "The Michigan" goals three seasons ago, Trevor Zegras, has become borderline irrelevant in Anaheim. [47:17] - With the NCAA lifting the eligibility ban on CHL players to join U.S. College teams, what does that mean for the future of Canadian Major Junior leagues? [50:30] - The Human Side of the Story notes five players and two builders as the newest inductees. However, for every inductee class, there are tho
Fri, November 08, 2024
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - Nov. 8, 2024
Winnipeg and Nashville now bookend the NHL overall standings while plenty of news surrounds the Flyers. Also, Neil and Vic delve into the drama in Boston, a messy night in New York and an eventful contest in Los Angeles between the Kings and Canucks. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackHawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #AlexOvechkin #DylanStrome #ScottWedgewood #ConnorHellebuyck #GabrielVilardi #ScottArniel #AlexandarGeorgiev #RogerNeilson #JohnTortorella #MatveiMichkov #AlekseiKolosov #IvanFodotov #KyleKonin #OwenTippett #AndreiVasilevskiy #PaulTheofanous #BraydenPoint #JimMontgomery #BradMarchand #EliasLindholm #NikitaZadorov #DavidPastrnak #AndrewPeeke #MaxPacioretty #TageThompson #RasmusDahlin #BowenByram #DylanCozens #JordanGreenway #SamLafferty #Ukko-PekkaLuukkonen #LindyRuff #BrettHull #MarioLemieux #AlexTuch #IgorShesterkin #JonathanQuick #KevinLankinen #JTMiller #QuinnHughes #BrockBoeser #FilipHronek #EvanBouchard #ThatcherDemko #ArtursSilovs #MikeyAnderson #ConnorMcDavid #NoahHanafin #CaleMakar #DylanHolloway #MacklinCelebrini #MikaelGranlund #SidneyCrosby #JeremySwayman #LinusUllmark #TomFitzgerald
Thu, November 07, 2024
Human Side of the Story - Ep. 35 - Bill Guerin
The Human Side of the Story takes a look back at the long career of Wild GM/President of Hockey Operations Bill Guerin, whose playing career spanned 18-seasons with eight NHL teams prior to becoming an executive. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #MinnesotaWild #BillGuerin #FourNationsFaceoff #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkRangers #EdmontonOilers #BostonBruins #DallasStars #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #NewYorkIslanders #PittsburghPenguins #SidneyCrosby #StanleyCup #PhiladelphiaFlyers #EdBelfour
Wed, November 06, 2024
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - Nov. 6, 2024
The latest edition of Shorts Shifts gives high marks to the Los Angeles Kings, a team flying under the radar for their quick start. Also, the Maple Leafs step up without their captain, some unique history made in Colorado and Carolina and a few injury and personnel updates. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackHawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #KevinFiala #DrewDoughty #JimHiller #AustonMathews #MatthewKnies #MitchMarner #MorganRielly #AnthonyStolarz #PatrickRoy #BradMarchand #DavidPastrnak #NathanMacKinnon #ArtturiLehkonen #CaleMakar #IvanIvan #AlexandarGeorgiev #JustusAnnunen #KaapoKahkonen #WayneGretzky #JoeSakic #JaredBednar #ConnorHellebuyck #KyleConnor #MarkScheifele #NikolajEhlers #NealPionk #NinoNiederreiter #JoshMorrissey #ScottArniel #MartinNecas #RodBrind'Amour #ShaneGosisbehere #SebastienAho # #BrentPesce #JakeGuentzel #StefanNoesen #AndrewBrunette #FilipForsberg #RyanO'Reilly #StevenStamkos #RomanJosi #JonathanMarchessault #ArtemiPanarin #MikaZibanejad #ChrisKreider #AdamFox #FilipChytil #DylanHolloway #NickPaul #PhilipBroberg #DougArmstrong #MacklinCelebrini #VitekVanecek #ConnorMcDavid #ValeriNichuskin
Mon, November 04, 2024
Episode 35 - Wild Things - With GM and President of Hockey Operations Bill Guerin
Wearing multiple hats, Minnesota Wild GM/President of Hockey Operations Bill Guerin joins Neil and Vic to talk about his team's surprising start, an upcoming improvement regarding the salary cap, the contract of star Kirill Kaprizov and heading up Team USA for the upcoming Four Nations Faceoff in February. Prior to Guerin's visit, "The Three Things You Need to Pay Attention To" touches on why N.Y. Rangers hot start should not be an indicator of what the playoffs will bring, the Toronto Maple Leafs goaltending and the continued strong play of Winnipeg and Vegas. Other items of note are a quick look back to the weekend games in Finland between Florida and Dallas, player updates, returns to former homes and injury news which leads to a segment on the New York Islanders quandary of what to do with a decimated roster amidst a challenging first dozen games to the season. IN THIS EPISODE: [01:10] - Vic and Neil dive into the shortcomings of the New York Rangers despite their impressive 8-2-1 start. [06:07] - After many seasons of questions in net, the possibility of stability in the Toronto goal with Anthony Stolarz appears real. [07:55] - The Winnipeg Jets and Vegas Golden Knights continue to throw up impressive records and getting some early separation in the Western Conference. [11:00] - Neil and Bill Guerin do a bit of reminiscing from 1994 with Neil as GM of the Rangers and Bill a power forward for the New Jersey Devils. [12:50] - Vic begins the discussion with Bill on the early regular season surge by the Wild. [16:36] - Neil inquires about what's different in Minnesota despite a roster quite similar to last season. [18:15] - Neil and Bill exchange stories about the difficulties of dismissing a head coach. [20:30] - After years of working with salary constraints due to contractual buyouts, Bill shares how the changing monetary landscape effective next season will affect the Wild. [22:59] - Kirill Kaprizov's attributes are discussed along with the possible challenge of retaining him after his contract expires at the end of the 2025-26 season. [25:45] - Team USA's coaching staff and thoughts on how Guerin will be looking to fill out his roster. Within the discussion, a sidebar on the how the development of American players has made the U.S. truly a world hockey power. [33:02] - League notes including the completed NHL Global Series in Finland between the Panthers and Stars, personnel moves, homecomings and injuries. [48:03] - The challenge for Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello to augment his team amidst a number [51:23] - Neil wraps up the show with a more in-depth look at Bill Guerin during the Human Side of the Story. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.
Fri, November 01, 2024
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - Nov. 1, 2024
Vic and Neil discuss the continued struggles in Boston, Nashville and Colorado. In addition, the pair note the surge in Washington and a veteran defenseman calling out his team in Vancouver. Plus, some injury updates. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackHawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #JeremySwayman #LinusUllmark #JimMontegomery #CamNeely #DavidPastrnak #PyotrKochetkov #FrederikAndersen #ShaneGostisbehere #BrentBurns #AndreiSvechnikov #ConnorMcDavid #LeonDraisaitl #ZachHyman #CalvinPickard #StevenStamkos #KaapoKahkonen #RossColton #MilesWood #MattStienburg #NathanMacKinnon #CaleMakar #NIkitaKucherov #ViktoirHedman #AlexOvechkin #SpencerCarbery #ConnorMcMichael #AliakseiProtas #NicoHischier #TylerMyers #RickTocchet #WillSmith #TimothyLiljegren #MattBenning #ConnorBedard #LukasDostal #JohnGibson #CutterGauthier #JohnnyGaudreau #BooneJenner #ElvisMerzlikins #MatthewBarzal #BillGuerin #MarkMessier #WayneGretzky #NHLGlobalSeries
Fri, November 01, 2024
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - Nov. 1, 2024
Neil and Vic discuss the ongoing struggles in Boston, Nashville and Colorado, the Washington Capitals continued early-season surge and the Vancouver Canucks getting called out by one of their veterans. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackHawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #JeremySwayman #LinusUllmark #CamNeely #JimMontgomery #DavidPastrnak #PyotrKochetkov #FrederikAndersen # AndreiSvechnikov #ShaneGostisbehere #BrentBurns #ConnorMcDavid #LeonDraisaitl #ZachHyman #CalvinPickard #StevenStamkos #AndrewBrunette #KaapoKahkonen #RossColton #MilesWood #MattStienburg #OliverKylington #NathanMacKinnon #CaleMakar #ErikCernak #NikitaKucherov #AlexOvechkin #ConnorMcMichael #AliakseiProtas #MartinSt.Louis #ColeCaufield #SpencerCarbery #NicoHischier #TylerMyers #RickTocchet #PeterLaviolette #WillSmith #ConnorBedard #TimothyLiljegren #MattBenning #CraigBerube #LukasDostal #JohnGibson #CutterGaauthier #SidneyCrosby #EvgenyMalkin #AlexNedeljkovic #JoelBlomqvist #ErikKarlsson #KrisLetang #BryanRust #TristanJarry #RickardRakell #MarcusPettersson #KevinHayes #MichaelBunting #JoshYohe #MatthewBarzal #BillGuerin #JohnHynes #JohnnyGaudreau #BooneJenner #ElvisMerzlikins #DonMaloney #MarkMessier #WayneGretzky #NHLGlobalSeries
Wed, October 30, 2024
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - Oct. 30, 2024
Major injury news to the Edmonton superstar Connor McDavid is at the forefront of today's episode as well a three-time Stanley Cup champion Marc-Andre Fleury returning to play in Pittsburgh one final time. Meanwhile, the undefeated Winnipeg Jets fall for the first time while the previously winless San Jose Sharks now are owners of a winning streak. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackHawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #ConnorMcDavid #LeonDraisaitl #ZachHyman #AdamHenrique #EvanBouchard #JeffSkinner#CoreyPerry #RyanNugent-Hopkins #AleksanderBarkov #Marc-AndreFleury #SidneyCrosby #EvgenyMalkin #KrisLetang #BryanRust #MatsZuccarello #KirillKaprizov #MattBoldy #MattMurray #JohnHynes #MikeSullivan #JoshYohe #JohnTavares #MaxPacioretty #FabianZetterlund #MikaelGranlund #TylerToffoli #AlexWennberg #RyanWarsofsky #KevinFiala #JimHiller #BradyTkachuk #TimStutzle #AdamGaudette #ShanePinto #JimMontgomery #BradMarchand #DavidPastrnak #PavelZacha #JonasKorpisalo #SamErsson #TysonFoerster #Olli Maatta #SeanDurzi #JohnMarino #StevenStamkos #RyanOReilly #JonathanMarchessault #FilipForsberg #RomanJosi #BrandonMontour #MartinStLouis #ColeCaufield #JakobChychrun #MattRoy #AlexOvechkin #AndrewMangiapane #DylanStrom #Pierre-LucDubois #SpencerCarbery #DeanEvason #AnthonyDuclair #MattBarzal #LukeHughes #JackHughes #QuinnHughes #KevinLankinen #ThatcherDemko #JakeDebrusk #NikitaZadorov #EliasLindholm #KaapoKahkonen #LukasDostal #JohnGibson #NHLGlobalSeries
Wed, October 30, 2024
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - Oct. 30, 2024
Major injury news leads this episode of Short Shifts with superstar Connor McDavid expected to miss 2-3 weeks after suffering a lower body injury Monday in Columbus. Also, Marc-Andre Fleury makes his final visit to Pittsburgh while Steven Stamkos returns to Tampa Bay for the first time. The Sharks win (twice) and the Jets lose while the Ottawa Senators put up a snowman for the second time in their first nine games. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackHawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #ConnorMcDavid #ZachWerenski #ZachHyman #LeonDraisaitl #AdamHenrique #JeffSkinner RyanNugent-Hopkins #CoreyPerry #EvanBouchard #AleksanderBarkov #Marc-AndreFleury #MattMurray #SidneyCrosby #EvgenyMalkin #KrisLetang #BryanRust #JohnHynes #MatsZuccarello #MattBoldy #KevinFiala #JimHiller #KirillKaprizov #JohnTavares #MaxPacioretty #RyanWarsofsky #FabianZetterlund #MikaelGranlund #TylerToffoli #AlexWennberg #MacklinCelebrini #BradyTkachuk #TimStutzle #AdamGaudette #ShanePinto #JimMontgomery #BradMarchand #DavidPastrnak #PavelZacha #JonasKorpisalo #TysonFoerster #SamErsson #BrandonMontour #FilipForsberg #JonathanMarchessault #RomanJosi #MartinStLouis #OlliMaatta #SeanDurzi #JohnMarino #StevenStamkos #RyanOReilly ##JakobChychrun #MattRoy #AndrewMangiapane #PierreLucDubois #AlexOvechkin #DylanStrome #SpencerCarbery #AnthonyDyclair #JackHughes #LukeHughes #QuinnHughes #ThatcherDemko #KevinLankinen #ThatcherDemko #EliasLindholm #NikitaZadorov #JakeDeBrusk #KaapoKahkonen #LukasDostal #JohnGibson #JoshYohe #NHLGlobalSeries
Tue, October 29, 2024
Human Side of the Story - Ep. 34 - Remembering Hockey Ambassador Bill Hay
His name may not resonate within many of today's hockey circles but Bill Hay's life in the game resonated well beyond that of a player and Stanley Cup champion. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #ChicagoBlackHawks #BillHay #CharlesHay #BobbyHull #MurrayBalfour #MillionDollarLine #CalderTrophy #HockeyHallOfFame #OrderOfCanada
Tue, October 29, 2024
Episode 34 - Plight of the Penguins with Josh Yohe from The Athletic
The struggles of the Pittsburgh Penguins take center stage as Josh Yohe joins Vic and Neil on a packed episode. Very few areas go untouched from the recent road trip to the front office, to head coach Mike Sullivan and superstar Sidney Crosby to the current dilemma in goal. Along with "Three Things You Need to Pay Attention To," Neil explains part of the mindset of what a GM considers when deciding whether to keep a player with the big club or send him back to juniors in order to save a year on their entry-level contract. Steven Stamkos return to Tampa as a Nashville Predator brings back memories to 1997 when Neil could not reach a contract agreement with Mark Messier and saw his captain sign in Vancouver. The episode concludes with the "Human Side of the Story" and a look back to the life of hockey ambassador Bill Hay. IN THIS EPISODE: [01:00] - The Winnipeg Jets burst from the gate as just the ninth team in NHL history to start 8-0-0. [03:06] - The struggles of the Edmonton Oilers overall play with Zach Hyman coming under particular scrutiny. [05:36] - Mark Stone the surprise scoring leader entering the last week of October. [07:22] - Josh Yohe from the Athletic joins the show and quickly takes the Penguins defensive play to task. [08:15] - Vic piles on asking Josh about the roaming, defense-void play of Erik Karlsson. [10:13] - Neil queries about Mike Sullivan's future as head coach and the overall plan of the Penguins leadership group. [14:20] - Discussion about Sidney Crosby taking lesser money to stay in Pittsburgh with the aim of freeing up money so the team can rebuild sooner. [15:47] - Vic follows up with the financial quandary of the Pens with very little cap space coupled with bad contracts the team has on its books. [18:35] - The goaltending saga is discussed with high-priced Tristan Jarry now the third wheel in net on the eve of multiple Penguins Stanley Cup winner Marc-Andre Fleury returning to Pittsburgh for the final time in the uniform of the Minnesota Wild. [22:30] - Remembering the one-year anniversary of the tragic passing of Adam Johnson from a skate cut while playing in Europe and the safety measures since taken by minor and youth leagues regarding neck protection. [25:15] - The N.Y. Rangers extend Alexis Lafreniere while the future of RFA Kaapo Kakko is in question [27:50] - Aleksei Kolosov makes his debut in the Philadelphia net, perhaps adding some much-needed depth in the Flyer goal. [29:24] - The surprising offensive outburst in Colorado by Ross Colton [31:40] - The significance of the nine-game mark for general managers and the challenge of keeping a junior player up at the NHL level or sending them back to junior so a year of the entry-level contract is not wasted. [34:00] - Former Lightning captain Steven Stamkos returns to Tampa for the first time after failing to r
Fri, October 25, 2024
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - Oct. 25, 2024
Neil and Vic cover the past two evenings around the NHL highlighting a rematch of the 2024 Eastern Conference Final, the club with the league's only perfect record and the first game for a Stanley Cup winning coach facing his former club for the first time. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #AnaheimDucks # #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackHawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahHockeyClub #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #TimeToHunt #SergeiBobrovsky #IgorShesterkin #SamBennett #SamReinhart #NikolajEhlers #KyleConnor #MarkScheifele #ScottArneil #JoshMorrissey #NealPionk #EricComrie #MarcAndreFleury #KirillKaprizov #JoelEriksson-Ek #JohnHynes #CraigBerube #AustonMatthews #DougArmstrong #SheldonKeefe #DylanHolloway #PhilipBroberg #JordanBinnington #JosephWoll #Jim Montgomery #JeremySwayman #RoopeHintz #PatrickKane #MichaelRasmussen #JackHughes #NicoHischier #DougieHamilton #CamTalbot #AlexLyon #PyotrKochetkov #JustusAnnunen #IvanIvan #SeanDurzi #JohnMarino #RobertBortuzzo #MavericLamourux ClaytonKeller #CaleMakar #WarrenFoegele #DavidRittich #MikaelGranlund #IvanFedotov #SamErsson #JohnTortorella #AnthonyDuclair #TristanJarry #JoelBlomqvist #AlexNedeljkovic #SidneyCrosby #ConnorMcDavid #CanadaCup #FourNationsTournment #SpencerCarbery
Wed, October 23, 2024
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - Oct. 23, 2024
For the only time in the 2024-25 season, all 32 NHL teams were in action. Vic and Neil hit on every game of the marathon evening. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #HockeyFightsCancer #PhiladelphiaFlyers #WashingtonCapitals #MinnesotaWild #FloridaPanthers #TampaBayLightning #NewJerseyDevils #DallasStars #BuffaloSabres #NewYorkRangers #MontrealCanadiens #TorontoMapleLeafs #ColumbusBlueJackets #DetroitRedWings #NewYorkIslanders #WinnipegJets #StLouisBlues #VancouverCanucks #ChicagoBlackHawks #ColoradoAvalanche #SeattleKraken #BostonBruins #NashvillePredators #CarolinaHurricanes #EdmontonOilers #OttawaSenators #UtahHockeyClub #PittsburghPenguins #CalgaryFlames #SanJoseSharks #AnaheimDucks #LosAngelesKings #VegasGoldenKnights #MatthewTkachuk #JonasJohansson #BrandonHagel #JakeAllen #UkkoPekkaLuukknen #PatrickKane #ConnorHellebuyck #DantonHeinen #KevinKankinen #JustusAnnunen #JuuseSaros #AndrewBrunette #BarryTrotz #ConnorMcDavid #SebastianAho #ShaneGostisbehere #AntonForsberg #NazemKadri ##JustinKirkland #RyanHuska #CutterGauthier #LukasDostal #TomasHertl #SidneyCrosby #EvgeniMalkin #KrisLetang #ErikKarlsson
Wed, October 23, 2024
Human Side of the Story - Ep. 33 - The First-Ever NHL Draftee
This Human Side of the Story acknowledges a player whose career stats were unremarkable yet, has a place in NHL history that nobody else will ever have. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #HumanSideoftheStory #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #GarryMonahan #MontrealCanadiens #NHLAmatuerDraft #NewYorkRangers #BostonBruins #StCatherinesTeepees #TorontoMarlies #ChicagoBlackhawks #TorontoMapleLeafs #DetroitRedWings #GordieHowe #KitchenerRangers #ConnorBedard #MacklinCelebrini
Tue, October 22, 2024
Episode 33 - Hot Start with Calgary Flames President of Hockey Ops Don Maloney
Calgary Flames President of Hockey Operations Don Maloney joins Neil and Vic to discuss one of the early surprises of the NHL season. Prior to Maloney joining the show, the hosts are giving a nod to a pair of players who are not historically big-time goal-scorers but putting some numbers early. They also credit the Florida Panthers for battling their way through some early season injuries as well as the Winnipeg Jets - authors of the NHL's only perfect record through two weeks. Following the discussion with Maloney, Vic and Neil look at the six clubs with the oldest average age and how each pair is in a very different stage based on their current expectations. A handful of player items is also discussed - most specifically, Bruins captain Brad Marchand being called out by head coach Jim Montgomery following an undisciplined play during the B's overtime loss in Utah. The show concludes with the Human Side of the Story and a look back of how a lesser-known player is actually a very important part of NHL history. IN THIS EPISODE: [01:05] - Quick goal-scoring bursts out of the gate by the Caps Tom Wilson and Ross Colton of the Avalanche. [02:35] - The defending champion Florida Panthers manage a quick start despite injuries to captain Alex Barkov and Matt Tkachuk. [04:20] - The Winnipeg Jets open the season 5-0-0, the only team with a perfect mark through the first two weeks of the season. [09:40] - Don Maloney speaks about the player personnel in Calgary and the goal of making the playoffs with a team not expected to contend. [13:02] - the growth of Ryan Huska as head coach behind the Flames bench. [16:00] - Maloney speaks about the difference of playing in Calgary as opposed to other NHL markets. [19:22] - A discussion about the role of President of Hockey Operations in conjunction with general manager Craig Conroy. [23:40] - The Flames get away early in the season for team bonding away from the ice. [25:50] - With a new Arena on the horizon, the possibility of Calgary becoming more of a go-to for future free agents and more in-depth discussion about building the team. [29:40] - Neil raises the point of the challenge Canadian markets face regarding the economics of taking in Canadian dollars while having to pay contracts in Americans funds. [33:15] - Some reminiscing with Maloney about the 1979 season when the Rangers advanced to the Stanley Cup Final. [37:00] - Neil and Don wrap up talking about their time working together and a couple of high-end draft picks who didn't pan out. [41:00] - Vic and Neil talk about the interesting dynamic of the six oldest teams in the NHL. [43:16] - Player notes from the Montgomery/Marchand exchange in Utah to milestones to a couple of personal items. [47:26] - The Human Side of the Story starts by acknowledging the birthday of Garry Monahan. While only a mar
Fri, October 18, 2024
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - Oct. 18, 2024
Vic goes solo with Neil on the road and he identifies the Sabres and Red Wings as teams already in trouble. Other key points see back-up goaltenders in the spotlight. The Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers turn to theirs for important roads wins while another backup not only shuts out the New York Islanders in overtime but, winds up starting the game-winning play with a sterling outlet pass. On the flip side, Flyers understudy Ivan Fedotov struggles and in Seattle and calls into question the Flyers depth in net. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NeilSmith #VicMorren #TampaBayLightning #WinnipegJets #CalgaryFlames #NasvhillePredators #ColoradoAvalanche #SidneyCrosby #EvgeniMalkin #PittsburghPenguins #DerekLalonde #DetroitRedWings #BuffaloSabres #VancouverCanucks #KevinLankinen #JTMiller #FloridaPanthers #MatthewTkachuk #AlexanderBarkov #EdmontonOilers #CalvinPickard #ConnorMcDavid #JonathanMarchessault #StevenStamkos #StLouisBlues #JoelHofer #PhilipBroberg #JakeNeighbours #NewYorkIslanders #IlyaSorokin #PhildelphiaFlyers #IvanFedotov #SamErsson #SeattleKraken
Wed, October 16, 2024
Human Side of the Story - Ep. 32 - Johnny Gaudreau Honored and Celebrated at Many Home Openers
With the start of the NHL season now clear of it's first weekend, Neil and Vic discuss the various ways the late Johnny Gaudreau was recognized in arenas leaguewide. #NHLWraparound #NeilSmith #VicMorren #JohnnyGaudreau #Matthew Gaudreau #KirillMarchneko #SeanMonahan #ColumbusBlueJackets ColeCaufield #MontrealCanadiens #CalgaryFlames #GoJohnnyGo #DustinWolf #FloridaPanthers
Tue, October 15, 2024
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - Oct. 16, 2024
Neil and Vic begin extend their league-wide coverage with the first installment of "Short Shifts." Neil provides an overview of the teams performing on the higher end of the scale then addresses those off to subpar starts in the first ten-plus days of the regular season. Key points from games of Oct. 15: The Columbus Blue Jackets have a poignant tribute to Johnny Gaudreau prior to their game with the Florida Panthers. Filip Gustavsson becomes the joins a small group of goaltenders who have scored a goal doing so against the St. Louis Blues. Alex Ovechkin is moved to right wing for the Washington Capitals win against Vegas while former Golden Knights goalie Logan Thompson shines in net for the Caps. Does Pyotr Kochetkov's performance against New Jersey suggest he could be the Hurricanes answer in goal come playoff time? The Edmonton Oilers avoid an 0-4 start with a late goal in regulation by Evan Bouchard followed by the OT winner by Leon Draisaitl. Games on the radar for Oct. 16-17. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NewJerseyDevils #BuffaloSabres #NewYorkRangers #TampaBayLightning #DallasStars #WinnipegJets #CalgaryFlames #MinnesotaWild #UtahHockeyClub #NashvillePredators #ColoradoAvalanche #EdmontonOilers #PhiladelphiaFlyers #VancouverCanucks #ColumbusBlueJackets #JohnnyGaudreau #MatthewGaudreau #GuyGaudreau #MeredithGaudreau #SeanMonahan #VictorHedman #FilipGustavsson #RonHextall #BillySmith #MartinBrodeur #ChrisOsgood #HartfordWhalers #AlexOvechkin #LoganThompson #SpencerCarbery #PyotrKochetkov #FrederikAndersen #JakeGuentzel #EvanBouchard #ConnorMcDavid #LeonDraisaitl #StuartSkinner #AlexandarGeorgiev #JustusAnnunen #JaredBednar #KaapoKahkonen #NathanMacKinnon #CaleMakar #StevenStamkos #JonathanMarchessault #AlexanderBarkov #ArtursSilovs #ThatcherDemko
Tue, October 15, 2024
Episode 32 - All American with LaSonjia "LJ" Jack
Neil and Vic welcome LaSonjia "LJ" Jack who, along with her son, former NFL Star Myles Jack, are the only African American majority owners in professional hockey for the Allen Americans of the ECHL. Prior to her their appearance on the show, the quick start of the Utah Hockey Club, the unlikely early fortunes for the two Alberta-based teams and potential goaltending issues in Colorado. We'll talk potential expansion and whether the NHL would have enough top-level athletes to accommodate more teams plus Igor Shersterkin's contract stalemate with the Rangers. The program concludes acknowledging the league-wide tributes to Johnny Gaudreau with the Blue Jackets home opener on the horizon. IN THIS EPISODE: [01:16] - The Impressive start by the Utah Hockey Club led by Clayton Keller and Dylan Guenther [02:12] - Unexpected starts in Alberta by the Flames and OIlers [04:47] - Ugly start between the pipes for the Colorado Avalanche [09:50] - LaSonjia "LJ" Jack shares how the very different careers of her and son Myles led to their majority ownership of the Allen Americans of the ECHL. [16:47] - LJ talks about making the Americans work while competing with the NHL and AHL teams in nearby Dallas. [19:35] - LJ speaks about what drew her to hockey. [21:40] - The long-term plan for LJ's empire and possible future ownership in the NHL [25:40] - Will there be enough NHL-level players to support expansion? [32:40] - The Igor Shesterkin contract drama. After turning down an 8-year extension at $11 million per year, is he simply waiting for the salary cap to go up in order to get more from the Rangers? [40:07] - The Human Side of the Story looks at tributes around NHL rinks during the first week of the season for the late Johnny Gaudreau. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHLWraparound #ShortShifts #NHL #UtahHockeyClub #DylanGuenther #ClaytonKeller #EdmontonOilers #CalgaryFlames #JonathanHuberdeau #NazemKadri #Rasmus Andersson #RyanHuska #DustinWolf #DanVladar #ConnorMcDavid #ZachHyman #ColoradoAvalanche #AlexandarGeorgiev #JustusAnnunen #KaapoKahkonen #DarcyKuemper #NathanMacKinnon #CaleMakar #MikkoRantanen #LaSonjiaJack #LJJack #TheLJWay #BreastCancerAwareness #MylesJack #AllenAmericans #ECHL #AHL #SavannahGhostPirates #TahoeKnightMonsters #JacksonvilleIcemen #CharlotteCheckers #JohnstownChiefs #GreenvilleSwampRabbits #NHLExpansion #BillDaly #MontrealCanadiens #IgorShesterkin #NewYorkRangers #AndreiVasilevskiy #TampaBayLightning #AdinHill #VegasGoldenKnights #SergeiBobrovsky#JohnnyGaudreau #ColeCaufield #GoJohnnyGo# #Ki
Thu, October 10, 2024
Human Side of the Story - Ep. 31 - Opening Night for a GM
Following a summer re-constructing a team for a new season, Neil shares what a general manager experiences when its time for that work to begin showing results.
Wed, October 09, 2024
Episode 31 - 2024-25 The E.J. Way! - Season Preview
Neil Smith and Vic Morren are joined by E.J. Hradek from the NHL Network to preview the 2024-25 NHL season. Youngsters Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini, graybeards Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin and two superstars in their prime, Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews are under the microscope. Breakout players, the plight of teams and Cup Final predictions are added to the commentary with The Human Side of the Story featuring Neil sharing what a GM experiences on opening night following months of off-season work in constructing a team. IN THIS EPISODE: [04:50] - The expectations for both 2024 first overall pick Macklin Celebrini and the Sharks team being built around him. [06:54] - Neil speaks of the difference between Celebrini coming out of US College as opposed Bedard coming through the Canadian Junior program. [09:15] - Discussion whether smaller players such as Connor Bedard and Jack Hughes be cornerstones of championship teams. [14:30] - Crosby/Ovechkin. Who gets back to the playoffs first? [18:22] - Neil and E.J. speak on the resistance of the Penguins and Capitals to full rebuilds, instead trying to re-tool on the fly. The plights of the Red Wings and Blackhawks are referenced as examples. [22:40] - Will OV catch The Great One for the all-time goals record this season? [23:23] - The pressure for Connor McDavid to win now as the Oilers salary cap gets more top-heavy. [27:50] - Auston Matthews is a new captain with a new coach and needs to do more to improve on one playoff series win in his career. [32:10] - The importance of having Stanley Cup pedigree on the roster as it relates to the Maple Leafs and other also-ran franchises. [34:30] - Neil, Vic and E.J. weigh in on their breakout players [39:20] - The Power Shifts: Teams on the rise and those on the slide. [43:40] - Fearless forecasts on who makes the post-season from each conference. [47:34] - Four different champions since 2021. Will the Panthers style fashion a repeat or does a new championship template emerge? [51:55] - Cup Final Predictions. Heed at your own risk. [57:57] - The Human Side of the Story gets to the inside of what a GM experiences once the summer work ends and his team embarks on the new season. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Star players from different eras are examined from various angles while the hosts and guests serve up players they believe will have breakout seasons. Team takes on those headed up, those headed down, those headed to the playoffs and those playing for the Stanley Cup. RESOURCE LINKS Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com
Sat, September 28, 2024
Human Side of the Story - Ep. 30 - Doug & Neil Armstrong
The Human Side of the Story discusses the career and life of Neil Armstrong, father of guest of the show, Blues President of Hockey Operations, Doug Armstrong.
Fri, September 27, 2024
Episode 30 - Looking to Hit the High Note with Blues GM Doug Armstrong
Neil Smith and Vic Morren welcome St. Louis Blues President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Doug Armstrong to the show marking the return of weekly recordings and influential guests in the hockey world. Other topics covered in the show include re-visiting the contract of Edmonton Oilers star Leon Draisaitl, the extension signed in Pittsburgh signed by captain Sidney Crosby, a couple of key injuries suffered by defensemen during the pre-season and Neil's "Burning Questions" from each division with the 2024-25 season fast approaching. IN THIS EPISODE: [ 03:22 ] - Neil and Doug Armstrong share stories about Doug's father, Hall-of-Fame linesman and, later, Montreal Canadiens scout, Neil Armstrong. [ 07:02 ] - A discussion on the offer sheets which lured Philip Broberg and forward Dylan Holloway from the Edmonton Oilers. [ 14:48 ] - The expectations of head coach Drew Bannister entering his first full season behind the Blues bench. [ 16:15 ] - Armstrong shares thoughts on how his Cup-winning coach Craig Berube will fare with a very different type of team in Toronto. [ 18:45 ] - With key defenseman Torey Krug likely to miss the entire season, Armstrong speaks about bolstering his backline - in particular the signing of Ryan Suter. [ 20:55 ] - After extending for two more seasons in his current duel roles, Armstrong talks about turning over the reigns to Alex Steen. [ 26:32 ] - Clarity on the Leon Draisaitl extention in Edmonton with Connor McDavid having two seasons remaining on his deal before becoming a UFA. [ 28:40 ] - Sidney Crosby extends in Pittsburgh leaving money on the table in order to give the club the opportunity to add stronger support players. [ 30:58 ] - Injury news on defensemen Ryan Lindgren (NYR) and Drew Doughty (LA). [ 34:17 ] - The contract saga of Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman. [ 37:24 ] - The New Jersey Devils have made notable changes behind the bench, in goal and on their blue line. How will it all mesh? [ 39:45 ] - A look at how the Nashville Predators profile has changed with the signings of Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei. [ 41:37 ] - Thoughts on potential impact on the Vancouver Canucks with number one goalie Thatcher Demko still recovering from a knee that has been nagging him since taking place in the opening game of the 2024 playoffs against Nashville. [ 46:02 ] The Human Side of the Story discusses the career and life of Neil Armstrong, father of guest of the show, Blues President of Hockey Operations, Doug Armstrong. KEY TAKEAWAYS: As he winds down his GM career with the St. Louis Blues, Doug Armstrong speaks about the cons
Wed, September 11, 2024
Human Side of the Story - Ep. 29 - The Gaudreau Brothers/Hockey Community
The Human Side of the Story discusses the the support of the hockey community in light of the Gaudreau tragedy. Neil provides his own personal perspective.
Sun, September 08, 2024
Ep 29 - From the GM Perch
Neil Smith and Vic Morren discuss the tragic passings of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau in a biking incident prior to Labor Day weekend. The show opens on this solemn note and concludes by noting how the hockey community supports its own in time of tragedy. The body of the show focuses on Neil's most improved teams during the off-season heading into the 2024-25 campaign. While some teams are obvious based on the discussions in the "Summer Cooler" series, others may take some listeners and viewers by surprise. Another key point of discussion notes Oilers superstar Leon Draisaitl re-signing with the club for an NHL-record $14 million per season for eight years effective 2025-2026. Conversely, with Connor McDavid's deal expiring in two years, is GM Stan Bowman boxed into a similar corner back to his days in Chicago when Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews occupied almost a third of the Blackhawks salary cap? IN THIS EPISODE: [0:56] - Opening thoughts on the passing of Columbus Blue Jackets star Johnny Gaudreau and this brother Matthew [2:35] - Neil's most improved team during the off-season - The Nashville Predators [4:10] - Second on the list: the New Jersey Devils [6:00] - The Vancouver Canucks have replaced a couple of important players and are primed to contend in the West [8:10] - Two offer sheets change the outlook for the St. Louis Blues [10:10] - The Chicago Blackhawks additions have given reasons for optimism in the Windy City [11:53] - The Utah Hockey Club has bolstered their defense after their move from the desert and earn an honorable mention [13:25] - Leon Draisaitl is under contract through 2032-33. However, with Connor McDavid's deal ending in two years, are the Oilers committing too much of their salary cap to two players? [17:45] The Human Side of the Story discusses the the support of the hockey community in light of the Gaudreau tragedy. Neil provides his own personal perspective. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Hockey is no stranger to unexpected loss. The loss of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau has left a hole in the hockey community heading into training camp. Several teams stand out to Neil as having improved the most during the season in relation to how they finished 2023-24. One superstar is locked up long-term in Edmonton but with a Connor McDavid deal coming up, are the Oilers going to begin leaving themselves short when it comes to spending on the supporting cast? RESOURCE LINKS Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ NHL Wraparound Tik Tok:https://www.tiktok.com/@nhlwraparound NHL Wraparound Facebook: https://www.faceb
Thu, August 29, 2024
EP 28 Summer Cooler Pacific Division
Neil Smith and Vic Morren discuss the Pacific Division, offering a detailed analysis of each team's offseason moves, challenges, and prospects for the upcoming NHL season. From the dominant Edmonton Oilers to the rebuilding San Jose Sharks, they discuss player signings, coaching changes, and the overall landscape of the division. The episode covers all eight teams in the Pacific Division: Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks, Los Angeles Kings, Vegas Golden Knights, Calgary Flames, Seattle Kraken, Anaheim Ducks, and San Jose Sharks. The episode also highlights key player movements, the impact of injuries, and the potential for each team to make a playoff run. IN THIS EPISODE: [01:39] - Discussion on Edmonton Oilers' offseason moves and key player departures, key player additions and salary cap challenges [9:47] - Vancouver Canucks' offseason analysis and their potential for the upcoming season [16:15] - Breakdown of the LA Kings’ offseason changes and expectations for the season [23:36] - Discussion on Vegas Golden Knights' roster challenges and injury impact [28:48] - Calgary Flames' rebuild process and key player signings [34:04] - Seattle Kraken’s new coaching staff and chances of playoff contention [43:27] - San Jose Sharks' outlook with new head coach Ryan Warsofsky and the arrival of top prospect Malcolm Celebrini [48:36] Human Side of Coaching in the Pacific Division KEY TAKEAWAYS: The Oilers face significant challenges managing their salary cap while retaining star players like Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid. The Canucks are one of the most complete teams in the Pacific Division, but their success hinges on their goaltending situation. The Golden Knights might struggle this season due to key losses and salary cap constraints, despite their strong core players. The Sharks are in full rebuild mode, with the focus on the development of their young star, Malcolm Celebrini, under a new head coach. RESOURCE LINKS Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ NHL Wraparound Tik Tok:https://www.tiktok.com/@nhlwraparound NHL Wraparound Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555451139787 SPONSORSHIP: GAME 7 GROUP- www.gamesevengroup.com/nhlwraparound At Game Seven Group, we specialize in transforming individuals into cohesive teams through our team-building events, coaching, and speaking. We believe every team h
Tue, August 27, 2024
Human Side of the Story- Ep 27 Joe Pavelski
The Human Side of the story on the recently retired NHL star Joe Pavelski. The episode highlights Pavelski's impressive career, despite being drafted in the seventh round. The hosts reflect on his journey from the USHL to becoming a standout player for the San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars. They discuss his potential candidacy for the Hockey Hall of Fame, emphasizing his leadership, toughness, and exceptional skill in deflecting pucks. The episode also features a segment on Peter DeBoer's remarkable Game 7 coaching record. Sponsored by the Game 7 Group, the episode wraps up with listener engagement details and a teaser for the upcoming Pacific Division analysis. TIMESTAMP: [00:50] Discussion on Peter DeBoer's Game 7 Record (8-0) [01:30] Introduction to Joe Pavelski's Career [02:05] Joe Pavelski's Early Career and Draft Details [03:00] Pavelski's Time with the San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars [03:30] Career Stats: 1,332 Games, 1,068 Points [03:45] Analysis of Pavelski's Playing Style and Leadership [04:30] Reflection on Pavelski's Potential Hall of Fame Induction [04:50] Vic Morren on Pavelski's Toughness and Puck Deflection Skills [05:00] Closing Remarks and Tribute to Joe Pavelski's Career [05:10] Thanks to Game 7 Group for Sponsorship SPONSOR: GAME 7 GROUP- www.gamesevengroup.com/nhlwraparound At Game Seven Group, we specialize in transforming individuals into cohesive teams through our team-building events, coaching, and speaking. We believe every team has the potential to achieve extraordinary results.
Tue, August 27, 2024
EP 27 Summer Cooler Central Division
Hosts Neil Smith and Vic Morren analyze the Central Division's eight teams, covering key offseason moves, signings, and prospects for the upcoming season. They discuss the Dallas Stars' aging roster, the Winnipeg Jets' challenges after significant player departures, and the Colorado Avalanche's defensive uncertainties. The Nashville Predators' bold signings under GM Barry Trotz are highlighted, alongside the St. Louis Blues' surprising offer sheet acquisitions. The Minnesota Wild's salary cap struggles, the Utah Hockey Club's fresh start, and the Chicago Blackhawks' rebuilding efforts are also examined, providing listeners with a comprehensive overview of the division. Additionally, the hosts share a heartfelt segment on the "Human Side of the Story," reflecting on Joe Pavelski's retirement and his impactful career in the NHL. IN THIS EPISODE: [01:35] - Dallas Stars: Analysis of the Stars' offseason moves and challenges with an aging roster [04:15] - Peter DeBoer's Playoff Woes: Discussion on DeBoer’s postseason struggles and the potential closing window for the Stars [09:07] - Winnipeg Jets Offseason changes and the challenges of maintaining competitiveness [18:20] - Colorado Avalanche Key signings and the impact of Gabriel Landeskog’s potential return [23:04] - Nashville Predators Barry Trotz’s bold offseason moves and the team’s outlook [31:46] - St. Louis Blues Surprising offseason acquisitions and the team’s playoff aspirations [37:20] - Minnesota Wild Challenges with salary cap constraints and limited offseason activity [45:40] - Utah Hockey Club the new team on the block and their potential to shake things up in the Central Division [45:45] - Chicago Blackhawks rebuilding process and the impact of new signings on the team’s future [49:44] - Human Side of the Story on Joe Pavelski's retirement and his impactful career KEY TAKEAWAYS: The Stars face a pivotal season with a roster that is getting older. Key players like Joe Pavelski have retired, and the team needs to find a balance between veteran experience and young talent. Barry Trotz is making his mark as GM with aggressive signings, including Steven Stamkos, signaling that the Predators are serious about contending in the upcoming season. The Blues made several unexpected moves, including offer sheets to Edmonton players, signaling their intention to return to playoff contention. With new signings and the continued development of Connor Bedard, the Blackhawks are looking to move past their rebuilding phase and become competitive again. RESOURCE LINKS Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren:
Sat, August 24, 2024
Human Side of the Story -Ep 26 Patrick Family
This Human Side of the Story focuses on the lasting legacy of the Patrick family in the NHL, from Lester Patrick's early contributions to Chris Patrick's current role as GM of the Washington Capitals. Neil and Vic explore how this family's influence has spanned over a century and discuss the potential for future successes under Chris Patrick. The episode ends with a teaser for the next discussion on the Central Division. Timestamps: [01:05] - Introduction to the Human Side of the Story segment, sponsored by Game 7 Group. [02:00] - Overview of the Patrick family's legacy in the NHL. [03:35] - Discussion on Chris Patrick's potential as the next Stanley Cup-winning GM. [04:20] - Episode conclusion and preview of the next episode on the Central Division. RESOURCE LINKS Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ NHL Wraparound Tik Tok:https://www.tiktok.com/@nhlwraparound NHL Wraparound Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555451139787 SPONSORSHIP: GAME 7 GROUP- www.gamesevengroup.com/nhlwraparound At Game Seven Group, we specialize in transforming individuals into cohesive teams through our team-building events, coaching, and speaking. We believe every team has the potential to achieve extraordinary results.
Fri, August 23, 2024
EP 26 Summer Cooler Metropolitan Division
Neil Smith and Vic Morren dissect the Metropolitan Division, analyzing team performances, key signings, and future prospects for the New York Rangers, Carolina Hurricanes, New York Islanders, Washington Capitals, Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, New Jersey Devils, and Columbus Blue Jackets. Highlights include discussions on team strategies, player trades, and how off-season activities might impact the upcoming season. The episode also touches on team-building strategies and the legacy of the Patrick family in the NHL. The hosts end the segment with a look ahead to their discussion on the Central Division in the next episode. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:37] Summer Cooler Series: Metropolitan Division Overview [02:28] New York Rangers Offseason Moves and Challenges [09:42] Carolina Hurricanes Roster Changes and Prospects [13:57] New York Islanders Struggles and Signings [19:35] Washington Capitals Confounding Moves and Future Outlook [27:34] Pittsburgh Penguins Aging Roster and Dubious Decisions [31:24] Pittsburgh Penguins A Season of Uncertainty [32:55] Jake Guentzel's Trade Fallout [33:45] Sidney Crosby's Future with the Penguins [35:46] Philadelphia Flyers Rebuilding Phase [38:35] John Tortorella's Impact on the Flyers [43:06] New Jersey Devils Offseason Moves and Expectations [47:58] Columbus Blue Jackets Struggles and Changes [56:50] The Patrick Family Legacy in the NHL [59:05] Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes KEY TAKEAWAYS: The Rangers face internal challenges with team chemistry and leadership following the loss of key players and potential unrest with captain Jacob Trouba. Carolina's goaltending remains a significant question mark, and the loss of key defensemen could impact their playoff chances. The Washington Capitals seem stuck between a rebuild and competing to support Alex Ovechkin's quest to break the goal-scoring record. The New Jersey Devils are poised for a significant bounce-back season with strong off-season acquisitions and new leadership under coach Sheldon Keefe. RESOURCE LINKS Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ NHL Wraparound Tik Tok:https://www.tiktok.com/@nhlwraparound NHL Wraparound Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555451139787 SPONSORSHIP: MeiGray is your source for Game-Worn jerseys. Head to MeiGray.com to get your collection started today. Get real, get it from MeiGray. https://www.MeiGray.com/ <
Thu, August 22, 2024
Human Side of the Story- Ep 25
This episode of the Human Side of the Story pays tribute to recently passed hockey community members, including Ottawa Senators assistant coach Bob Jones, NHL Hall of Famer Borje Salming, and former Calgary Flames assistant GM Chris Snow, all of whom passed away due to ALS. Tune in to stay informed and updated on NHL action, and don’t forget to subscribe. [00:00] Introduction to NHL Wraparound Podcast [00:35] Game7 Group: Building Winning Teams [02:01] Tribute to Bob Jones and Other Hockey Legends [04:10] Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes RESOURCE LINKS Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ NHL Wraparound Tik Tok:https://www.tiktok.com/@nhlwraparound NHL Wraparound Facebook::https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555451139787 SPONSORSHIP: GAME 7 GROUP - www.gamesevengroup.com/nhlwraparound At Game Seven Group, we specialize in transforming individuals into cohesive teams through our team-building events, coaching, and speaking. We believe every team has the potential to achieve extraordinary results.
Tue, August 20, 2024
EP 25 Summer Cooler Atlantic Division
In this episode of the NHL Wraparound podcast, hosts Neil Smith and Vic Morren bring their extensive NHL expertise to analyze the Atlantic Division. Covering team developments, trades, free agent movements, and key player performances, the focus is on the Florida Panthers, Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Tampa Bay Lightning. Additionally, they explore the challenges faced by the Detroit Red Wings, Buffalo Sabres, Ottawa Senators, and Montreal Canadiens in breaking through to the upper tier of the Division. The episode also honors the memory of significant hockey figures lost to ALS, including Ottawa Senators assistant coach Bob Jones, and highlights the importance of team building and development through services offered by their sponsor, the Game7 Group. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:36] Summer Cooler Edition Overview [00:40] Atlantic Division Breakdown [02:28] Florida Panthers Offseason Moves and Analysis [08:33] Boston Bruins Roster Changes and Expectations [14:39] Toronto Maple Leafs Core Four and Offseason Moves [23:14] Tampa Bay Lightning Stamkos Departure and Roster Turnover [30:15] Analyzing the Top Four in the Atlantic Division [31:43] Atlantic Division Bottom Four [32:23] Detroit Red Wings Key Signings and Losses [38:15] Buffalo Sabres Coaching Changes and Roster Moves [43:42] Ottawa Senators New Coach and Roster Updates [48:17] Montreal Canadiens Rebuilding and Key Acquisitions [56:01] In Memoriam Tribute to Bob Jones [58:07] Conclusion and What's Next KEY TAKEAWAYS: The Panthers face significant changes in their defense lineup with the loss of key players like Brandon Montour and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. The success of their new signings, including the Boqvist brothers, will be crucial in maintaining their defensive strength. The Bruins are adapting to life without long-time center Patrice Bergeron. The acquisition of Elias Lindholm is seen as a critical move to fill this gap, but the effectiveness of this replacement remains to be seen. The Leafs continue to be under immense pressure to perform in the playoffs. With their core four (Matthews, Nylander, Tavares, Marner) taking up a significant portion of the salary cap, the team’s success hinges on these players delivering results this season. RESOURCE LINKS Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ NHL Wraparound Tik Tok :https://www.tiktok.com/@nhlwraparound NHL Wraparound Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=
Mon, August 12, 2024
Human Side of the Story Ep 24- Keith Jones
Neil and Vic discuss the importance of a fun and accountable team culture. Neil contrasts his experience with the 1994 New York Rangers with Bill Zito's recent success with the Florida Panthers, highlighting different strategies for team building, including the use of free agency, intelligent trades, and seizing opportunities on waivers. The episode concludes by outlining upcoming analyses on player movements and rosters for the 2025 season. [00:00] Introduction to NHL Wraparound Podcast [00:35] Sponsor Spotlight: Game 7 Group [01:49] The Importance of Fun in Team Culture [02:52] Building a Championship Team: Florida Panthers Case Study [05:09] Key Trades and Acquisitions by Bill Zito [07:54] Steps to Building a Winning NHL Team [08:48] Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes RESOURCE LINKS Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ NHL Wraparound Tik Tok:https://www.tiktok.com/@nhlwraparound NHL Wraparound Facebook::https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555451139787 SPONSORSHIP: GAME 7 GROUP- www.gamesevengroup.com/nhlwraparound At Game Seven Group, we specialize in transforming individuals into cohesive teams through our team-building events, coaching, and speaking. We believe every team has the potential to achieve extraordinary results.
Fri, August 09, 2024
EP 24 Building it Back up with Keith Jones
Neil Smith and Vic Morren are joined by Philadelphia Flyers' President of Hockey Operations, Keith Jones, and championship team-building expert, Lee Elias, to discuss team building and culture in the NHL. Jones shares his experiences with the Flyers and emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive team culture. The episode also features insights from Lee Elias, CEO of Hockey Wraparound, on the significance of team dynamics and leadership. The hosts explore how effective team building and thoughtful management strategies can lead to success in the NHL. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:37] Hosts Catch Up on Summer Activities [01:22] Interview with Keith Jones of the Philadelphia Flyers [03:29] Keith Jones on Becoming a Grandfather [04:51] Challenges and Strategies for the Flyers [08:14] Expectations for Matvei Michkov [12:30] Flyers' Goaltending Situation [17:59] Keith Jones' Broadcasting Career and Advice [20:29] Introduction to Lee Elias Game 7 Group [29:19] Collaborative Leadership in Hockey Operations [29:40] Building a Competitive Team Without Hitting Rock Bottom [30:05] The Importance of Communication and Analytics [31:16] Recognizing and Balancing Noise vs. News [32:06] Identifying Red Flags and Key Indicators in Team Culture [32:43] The Role of Leadership in Building Team Culture [36:16] The Impact of Ownership on Team Culture [39:42] Youth Hockey and Emphasizing Team and Culture Building [43:33] Philadelphia Sports Fans [50:48] Building a Stanley Cup Winning Team KEY TAKEAWAYS: Keith Jones emphasizes the importance of working closely with all members of the team, from the coaching staff to the players, ensuring that everyone’s voice is heard in the decision-making process. Both Keith and Lee stress that a winning culture is a living entity that needs constant attention. Success in professional sports often starts with a strong, positive culture that resonates throughout the organization. Keith highlights how crucial it is to develop not just skilled hockey players, but also strong, well-rounded individuals, starting from youth hockey programs. The discussion touches on the demanding yet passionate nature of Philadelphia sports fans and how their expectations influence the way the Flyers operate. RESOURCE LINKS Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ NHL Wraparound Tik Tok:https://www.tiktok.com/@nhlwraparound NHL Wraparound Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=6155
Mon, July 08, 2024
Human Side of the Story- Ep 23
They discuss the recent NHL draft, highlighting Macklin Celebrini's first overall selection by the San Jose Sharks. The episode dives into what newly drafted players can expect, including development camps and the transition to adult life and professional hockey. Additionally, there is a spotlight on the Game 7 Group, which helps build cohesive teams. The hosts encourage listeners to stay tuned for offseason content and insights into all 32 NHL teams leading up to training camp. [00:36] Macklin Celebrini [01:04] Game 7 Group: Building Winning Teams [01:57] Transitioning to the NHL: What to Expect for Draftees [03:15] Challenges for New Draftees [04:33] Conclusion and Listener Engagement Partner: GAME 7 GROUP- www.gamesevengroup.com/nhlwraparound At Game Seven Group, we specialize in transforming individuals into cohesive teams through our team-building events, coaching, and speaking. We believe every team has the potential to achieve extraordinary results. #NHLDraft #MacklinCelebrini #SanJoseSharks #AlexBarkov #ConnorMcDavid #StanleyCupFinal #Teamwork #Game7Magic #TeamBuilding #Game7Group #TeamSuccess #HockeyProspects #NHLTrainingCamp #DevelopmentCamp #HockeyJourney #FromJuniorToPro #NHLNewbies #ProLife #AthleteLife #HockeyTraining #PlayerDevelopment #FutureStars #NHL2024
Thu, July 04, 2024
EP 23 Trading Places with Mike Santos
Special guest Mike Santos from Team 33 offers insights into the challenges of free agency and the importance of preparing for the draft and free agent negotiations. They provide in-depth analysis of the NHL offseason, discussing notable player movements, team strategies, and free agency developments. Key topics include Jessica Campbell's historic appointment as the first female assistant coach in NHL history, the intricacies of the NHL calendar, and the financial implications of tax-free states on team composition. The episode also discusses specific team changes, highlighting moves by the Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, New Jersey Devils, Washington Capitals, Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers, and more, exploring their implications for the upcoming season. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:40] Offseason Banter and Guest Introduction [01:38] Jessica Campbell's Historic Appointment [02:07] NHL Calendar and Free Agency Chaos [03:36] Tampering Issues in the NHL [06:37] Mike Santos on Free Agency and Trade Deadline [07:04] Florida Panthers' Strategic Moves [09:36] Nashville Predators' Risky Signings [14:23] Tampa Bay Lightning's Tough Decisions [21:38] Utah's New Beginnings [23:37] New Jersey Devils' Strong Offseason [27:27] Washington Capitals' Intriguing Moves [29:51] Analyzing Player Potential: Chychrun and Dubois [31:00] Toronto Maple Leafs: Roster Changes and Challenges [35:02] Edmonton Oilers: New Additions and Future Prospects [39:14] Boston and Vancouver: Player Swaps and Team Dynamics [47:13] Tax-Free States: Impact on NHL Teams [53:37] Transitioning to the NHL: What Draftees Can Expect KEY TAKEAWAYS: Jessica Campbell was named the first female assistant coach in NHL history, joining Dan Bosma on the Seattle Kraken's bench. This is a significant milestone for gender representation in the league. The discussion revealed widespread tampering in the league with free agents, facilitated by agents and third parties. This practice is prevalent and poses challenges for general managers, especially those whose teams advance deep into the playoffs. The Florida Panthers were praised for their strategic moves at the trade deadline, particularly acquiring Tarasenko and Okposo. These additions were pivotal in their successful playoff run and eventual Stanley Cup win. The intense and packed nature of the NHL calendar, with events like the finals, Hall of Fame announcements, NHL awards, draft, and free agency all occurring within a short period. This compression affects team preparations for crucial off-season activities. RESOURCE LINKS Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/ch
Thu, June 27, 2024
Human Side of the Story- Ep 22 Paul Maurice
In this episode of the Human Side of the Story, hosts Neil Smith and Vic Morren discuss the impressive coaching career of Paul Maurice, who recently led the Florida Panthers to win the Stanley Cup after 26 years of coaching. They provide an in-depth look at Maurice's career, his journey from the OHL to various NHL teams, and the support he received from influential figures like Peter Karmanos and Jim Rutherford. The episode highlights the importance of teamwork and offers insights into the services provided by the Game 7 Group. Listeners are encouraged to stay tuned for the upcoming NHL draft and free agency period. [00:36] Sponsor Spotlight: The Game 7 Group [01:46] Paul Maurice's Journey to the Stanley Cup [02:23] Paul Maurice's Coaching Career Highlights [04:02] Shoutouts and Acknowledgements [05:36] Conclusion and Upcoming Events GAME 7 GROUP- www.gamesevengroup.com/nhlwraparound At Game Seven Group, we specialize in transforming individuals into cohesive teams through our team-building events, coaching, and speaking. We believe every team has the potential to achieve extraordinary results. #NHL #Hockey #StanleyCup #HockeyLife #HockeyPodcast #GameSeven #TeamBuilding #Leadership #Teamwork #Coaching #LeadershipDevelopment #StanleyCup #HockeyLife #HockeyPodcast#NHLPlayoffs #GameSeven #HockeyHistory #NHLHistory #FloridaPanthers #PaulMaurice #PeterKarmanos #JimRutherford #WindsorSpitfires #DetroitHockey #CompuwareHockey
Tue, June 25, 2024
EP 22 Playoff Run with Craig MacTavish
Special guest Craig MacTavish is back to join hosts Neil Smith and Vic Morren to discuss the Florida Panthers' victory in the 2024 Stanley Cup, highlighting the decisive Game 7th against the Edmonton Oilers. They analyze the Panthers' effective strategies and the Oilers' struggles, noting the Panthers' strong forechecking and puck control. The human side of the story features Paul Maurice's coaching career, detailing his journey from a junior player to a Stanley Cup-winning coach. Neil and Vic discuss Maurice's resilience and tactical acumen, along with his impactful relationships with mentors like Peter Karmanos and Jim Rutherford, who are celebrated as key factors in his success. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:34] 2024 Stanley Cup Recap [01:16] Analyzing the Stanley Cup Final [03:54] Craig McTavish's Insights [11:32] Post-Game Analysis and Reflections [30:42] Offseason Transactions and Trades [39:32] Postseason Awards Predictions [44:39] Human Side of the Story - Paul Maurice's Journey to the Stanley Cup [48:29] Conclusion and Upcoming Events KEY TAKEAWAYS: The Florida Panthers clinched the 2024 Stanley Cup by winning a decisive seventh game against the Edmonton Oilers. The Panthers managed to regroup and deliver a strong performance despite surrendering a 3-0 series lead. The Oilers appeared tentative in Game 7, allowing the Panthers to control the game. Key players like Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid seemed exhausted, which impacted their performance in the crucial moments of the game. MacTavish highlighted the Panthers' effective forechecking and puck control as critical factors in their victory. He emphasized the importance of controlling the puck in the offensive zone and breaking up their opponent's plays in the defensive zone. Paul Maurice, coach of the Florida Panthers, was praised for his ability to lead the team to their first Stanley Cup in his 26th year as an NHL head coach.. His experience and tactical decisions were pivotal in the Panthers' successful playoff run. RESOURCE LINKS Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ NHL Wraparound Tik Tok:https://www.tiktok.com/@nhlwraparound NHL Wraparound Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555451139787 SPONSORSHIP: MeiGray is your source for Game-Worn jerseys. Head to MeiGray.com to get your collection started today. Get real, get it from MeiGray. https://www.MeiGray.com/ https://MeiGrayauctions.com/ NHL Wraparound guests
Thu, June 20, 2024
Human Side of the Story- Ep 21 Jim Montgomery
On the Human Side of the Story with hosts Neil Smith and Vic Morren they discuss the importance of leadership and team bonding in the NHL, featuring insights from Boston Bruins head coach, Jim Montgomery. They highlight Montgomery's recovery journey and his remarkable coaching career after overcoming personal struggles with alcohol. The episode also delves into Montgomery's successful college hockey career at the University of Maine, where he led the team to a national championship. [00:44] The Importance of Team Leadership [01:14] Game 7 Group: Enhancing Team Dynamics [01:57] Jim Montgomery's Inspiring Journey [03:12] Jim Montgomery's College Achievements [04:55] Wrapping Up and Future Episodes
Tue, June 18, 2024
EP 21 Stanley Cup update with Jim Montgomery
Neil Smith and Vic Morren discuss the upcoming Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers. They are joined by special guest Jim Montgomery, head coach of the Boston Bruins, who shares insights into the Panthers' resilience.. Montgomery also discusses his own team's performance, key players, and the importance of leadership and team culture. Additionally, he reflects on his personal struggles and triumphs, providing a heartfelt perspective on overcoming adversity. The episode wraps up with a nostalgic look at iconic arenas and historic moments in NHL history. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:37] Stanley Cup Finals Preview [03:07] Special Guest: Jim Montgomery [06:26] Reflecting on the Bruins' Season [10:47] Leadership and Team Dynamics [13:31] Goaltending and Player Updates [25:03] Jim Montgomery's Personal Journey [28:01] Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes KEY TAKEAWAYS: The Florida Panthers strong performance in the Stanley Cup Finals, highlighting their relentless play and ability to come back from difficult situations. Jim Montgomery speaks about the Boston Bruins' resilience and strong culture, emphasizing the importance of their experienced leaders and the team's commitment to success despite challenges. Montgomery contrasts the leadership styles of former captain Patrice Bergeron and current captain Brad Marchand, illustrating how each has positively influenced the team's dynamics and performance. The strength of the Bruins' goalkeeping duo, Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark, emphasizing their crucial role in the team's consistent performance over the past two seasons. RESOURCE LINKS Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ NHL Wraparound Tik Tok:https://www.tiktok.com/@nhlwraparound NHL Wraparound Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555451139787 SPONSORSHIP: MeiGray is your source for Game-Worn jerseys. Head to MeiGray.com to get your collection started today. Get real, get it from MeiGray. https://www.MeiGray.com/ https://MeiGrayauctions.com/ NHL Wraparound guests can take 10 percent off any hockey jersey when they order at meigray.com and use the COUPON CODE WRAP10 GAME 7 GROUP- www.gamesevengroup.com/nhlwraparound At Game Seven Group, we specialize in transforming individuals into cohesive teams through our team-building events, coaching, and
Mon, June 17, 2024
Special Series Ep 5 Reflection
Neil Smith and Vic Morren present the fifth and final episode of the '1990 Forever' series, commemorating the 1994 New York Rangers' Stanley Cup victory, along with special guest Barry Meisel. Featuring perspectives from players, team personnel, media, and fans, the episode reflects on the emotional impact and lasting significance of the championship that ended a 54-year championship drought. Contributions include stories from players and key figures from the '94 team, insights from journalists, and personal anecdotes from die-hard fans, emphasizing the profound effect this triumph had on their lives and the Rangers' organization. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:36] The 1994 Stanley Cup Victory [01:52] Personal Reflections and Memories [06:08] Impact on Fans and Media [15:22] Game 7 Group and Team Dynamics [26:27] Media and Personal Stories [34:59] Memories of June 14th [36:21] Personal Stories and Superstitions [37:37] Fan Experiences and Reflections [39:43] The Emotional Impact of 1994 [43:28] Tributes to Lost Members [46:15] Fan Clips and Testimonials [57:08] Ranger Organization Memories [01:05:17] Final Reflections and Gratitude KEY TAKEAWAYS: The 1994 Stanley Cup win was monumental for the New York Rangers, ending a 54-year championship drought. It brought immense joy and relief to fans who had waited for decades, marking a significant emotional milestone in the franchise's history. The championship had a profound impact not only on the players and management but also on the fans and media. It unified the city and left lasting memories for those who experienced it, demonstrating the deep emotional connection between the team and its supporters. Figures like Neil Smith, Mark Messier, and the entire team played crucial roles in achieving the championship. Their leadership, dedication, and performance were pivotal in the team's success, highlighting the importance of strong leadership and teamwork. The 1994 victory created lifelong memories for everyone involved. It left an enduring legacy that continues to be celebrated and remembered, illustrating how significant sports achievements can leave lasting impressions on individuals and communities. RESOURCE LINKS <st
Fri, June 14, 2024
Special Series Ep 4 This One Will Last a Lifetime with Mark Messier, Brian Leetch & Adam Graves
Adam Graves, Brian Leetch, and Mark Messier join Hosts Neil Smith and Vic Morren, commemorating the 30th anniversary of the New York Rangers' 1994 Stanley Cup Championship. The conversation covers key moments leading to the final, including the expectation playing upstart Vancouver coming off the epic Eastern Conference Final against the New Jersey Devils. Personal anecdotes and reflections highlight the importance of confidence, experience, and the bond between the team and its fans. The episode vividly recounts the historic championship parade, noting the unity and joy it brought to the city. Concluding with reflections on the lasting impact of the victory, this episode encapsulates the enduring legacy of the Rangers' historic win. IN THIS EPISODE: [01:08] Commemorating the 1994 Stanley Cup Championship [01:32] Special Guests: Adam Graves, Brian Leetch, and Mark Messier [02:59] Reflecting on the New Jersey Series [05:26] Adam Graves on Learning from Past Finals [08:43] Brian Leetch's First Stanley Cup Final [10:11] Neil Smith's Confidence in the Team [11:29] Game 1 and 2 of the Stanley Cup Final [12:12] Turning Point: Game 3 and Pavel Bure's High Stick [15:01] Penalty Shot Drama in Game 4 [19:27] Facing the Pressure of Game 5 [28:18] Preparing for Game 7 [31:01] Returning to New York for Game 7 [31:06] The Energy in New York City [33:54] Building a Winning Team [35:28] Game 7: The Ultimate Test [38:23] Mindset and Belief in 1987 and 1994 [40:02] Overcoming Challenges and Staying Focused [43:51] Key Moments and Goals in Game Seven [47:32] The Emotional Rollercoaster of the Final Period [57:15] Winning the Stanley Cup and Its Impact [01:09:59] The Parade and Celebrations KEY TAKEAWAYS: The journey to the Stanley Cup required overcoming significant physical and mental challenges, with every player contributing to the team's success. Key plays, such as Mike Richter's penalty shot save against Pavel Bure, were crucial in maintaining the team's momentum. The close-knit nature of the team and their ability to support each other played a significant role in their success. The energy and support from the New York fans were a constant source of motivation for the team. The victory ended a 54-year championship drought for the Rangers, creating lasting memories and a legacy that still resonates with fans today RESOURCE LINKS Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlWraparound/ NHL W
Wed, June 12, 2024
Human Side of the Story- Ep 20
The Human Side of the story discusses the leadership qualities of Stanley Cup captains Connor McDavid and Aleksander Barkov, the impact of injuries on players like Jacob Trouba and Adam Fox, and the dedication of athletes during playoffs. The episode also highlights the NHL's trailblazing efforts in broadcasting games with sign language for the deaf community. Sponsored by the Game 7 group, the podcast emphasizes team dynamics and offers exclusive incentives for listeners. Fans are encouraged to send feedback and stay updated at www.nhlwraparound.com [00:41] Spotlight on Stanley Cup Final Captains- Connor McDavid and Aleksander Barkov [01:29] Game 7 Group: Enhancing Team Dynamics [02:09] The Reality of Playoff Injuries [04:54] NHL's Commitment to Accessibility [06:13] Closing Remarks and Listener Engagement
Mon, June 10, 2024
Special Series Ep 3 A Series for the Ages with Mike Richter & Stephane Matteau
Episode 3 in the NY Rangers 30th Anniversary Special series . We hear insights from goaltender Mike Richter and left wing Stéphane Matteau, join hosts Neil and Vic to analyze the 1994 Eastern Conference Final against the New Jersey Devils. They highlight pivotal moments such as Mark Messier's Game Six guarantee and Matteau's double-overtime goal in Game Seven. This episode revisits the unforgettable moments that led to one of the greatest playoff series in NHL history. Relive the highs, the lows, and the sheer intensity of a series that has stood the test of time. IN THIS EPISODE: [01:08] Recap of the 1994 Championship Season [02:25] Special Guests: Mike Richter and Stéphane Matteau [03:21] The Historic Eastern Conference Final [04:23] Rivalry and Key Players [05:13] Regular Season Dominance [06:26] Trade Deadline Impact [07:23] Playoff Confidence and Challenges [09:10] Game One: A Tough Start [13:59] Mark Messier's Leadership in Game Two [19:59] Game Three: A Turning Point [31:57] Game Four and Five: Struggles and Controversies [40:53] The Rollercoaster of Emotions [41:40] Messier's Bold Guarantee [43:17] Turning the Tide: Key Moments [44:30] The Epic Third Period [46:07] The Tension of Overtime [48:33] The Game-Winning Goal [50:50] Reflections and Celebrations [01:14:22] The Legacy of the Series [01:20:12] Final Thoughts and Teasers KEY TAKEAWAYS: The Rangers' resilience was highlighted by Mark Messier's leadership, particularly his guarantee before game 6, which boosted the team's morale. The importance of team dynamics and the contributions of lesser-known players like Stéphane Matteau, who scored crucial goals. The 1994 Eastern Conference Final is considered one of the greatest playoff series in NHL history, not just for the games but for the lasting impact on the franchise and fans. Mike Richter's goaltending was pivotal, making key saves that kept the Rangers in critical games and allowed them to capitalize on scoring opportunities. RESOURCE LINKS Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ NHL Wraparound Tik Tok:https://www.tiktok.com/@nhlwraparound NHL Wraparound Facebook::https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555451139787 SPONSORSHIP: MeiGray is your source for Game-Worn jerseys. Head to MeiGray.com to get your collection started today. Get real, get it from MeiGray. https://www.MeiGray.com/ https://MeiGr
Thu, June 06, 2024
Ep 20 Stanley Cup Preview with Eddie Olczyk
Neil Smith and Vic Morren discuss the upcoming Stanley Cup Final between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers. Joined by Eddie Olczyk from TNT, the trio provides analysis, predictions, and insights on the series. They discuss topics such as the significance of touching the conference trophy, head coaching experiences, and previous playoff performances. The episode also includes a fun segment with the podcast mascot AJ predicting the winner of the Stanley Cup, discussions on player injuries, and a special feature on the NHL's initiative to broadcast games in sign language. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:36] Stanley Cup Final Preview [01:33] Conference Trophy Controversy [04:11] Eddie Olczyk Joins the Discussion [06:32] Stanley Cup Final Analysis [16:55] Coaching and Team Dynamics [25:59] Predictions and Introduction to Mascot AJ [31:07] Human Side of the Story KEY TAKEAWAYS: The long-standing superstition about not touching the conference trophies was discussed, with Neil Smith criticizing it as "ridiculous" and emphasizing the importance of celebrating achievements along the way. Historical data shows that teams who touched the trophy won the Stanley Cup two-thirds of the time since 1997. The disparity in coaching experience between Paul Maurice (Florida Panthers) and Chris Knobloch (Edmonton Oilers) was noted, with Maurice having significantly more NHL experience. However, Paul Coffey's impact as an assistant coach for Edmonton has been substantial in improving the team's defensive play. The importance of physical play and special teams was emphasized. Florida Panthers are expected to leverage their physicality to challenge the Edmonton Oilers, while the Oilers' success might hinge on their power play performance. The resilience of NHL players during the playoffs was discussed, with examples of players playing through significant injuries. The hosts stressed the need to appreciate the physical toll on players and how it impacts their performance. RESOURCE LINKS Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ NHL Wraparound Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nhlwraparound NHL Wraparound Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555451139787 SPONSORSHIP: MeiGray is your source for Game-Worn jerseys. Head to MeiGray.com to get your collection started today. Get real, get it from MeiGray. https://www.MeiGray.com/ https://MeiGrayauctions.com/ NHL Wraparound guests can take 10 percent off any hockey jersey when
Wed, June 05, 2024
Special Series EP 2 Quick Path to the Eastern Final with Steve Larmer & Kevin Lowe
Neil Smith, President and General Manager of the 1994 Stanley Cup Champion New York Rangers, along with ESPN NHL veteran Vic Morren are joined by Hall of Fame defenseman Kevin Lowe and two-way forward Steve Larmer, they recap the road to the Eastern Conference Final. The discussion highlights key moments from the Rangers' series against the New York Islanders and Washington Capitals, emphasizing the players' experiences, the importance of special teams, and critical saves by goaltender Mike Richter. The team reflects on the contributions of Esa Tikkanen and the strategic nuances employed by GM Neil Smith. Anticipation builds for the upcoming showdown against the New Jersey Devils—a series for the ages. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:36] Commemorating the 1994 New York Rangers [01:01] New York Islanders and Washington Capitals [01:10] Guest Introductions: Kevin Lowe and Steve Lahmer [02:31] Facing the New York Islanders: Rivalry and Challenges [07:00] Game Highlights and Key Moments [07:43] Mike Richter's Impact and Goalie Dynamics [14:37] Special Teams and Series Strategy [21:11] Leadership and Team Dynamics [24:26] Reflections on Building a Championship Team [30:49] The Importance of Sweeping the Islanders [33:31] Rangers vs. Capitals: A Historical Rivalry [40:30] The Impact of Esa Tikkanen [46:59] Overcoming the Capitals and Moving Forward [57:24] Setting the Stage for the Devils Series KEY TAKEAWAYS: The Rangers showcased their depth and resilience throughout the playoffs, with key contributions from both star players and role players. The team’s ability to adapt and support each other was crucial in their victories over the Islanders and Capitals. Goalie Mike Richter's outstanding performance was a significant factor in the Rangers' success. His ability to make crucial saves under pressure helped the team maintain momentum and confidence throughout the series. The Rangers' power play and penalty kill units were exceptionally effective. The team’s ability to capitalize on power play opportunities and shut down opponents’ power plays played a vital role in their series wins. The presence of experienced players like Mark Messier, Kevin Lowe, and Steve Larmer provided invaluable leadership. Their experience in high-pressure playoff situations helped guide the team through challenging moments and maintain composure. RESOURCE LINKS Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ NHL Wraparound Tik Tok:https://www.tiktok.com/@nhlwra
Mon, June 03, 2024
Human Side of the Story- Ep 19 Rick Bowness
Human Side of the Story- Rick Bowness , a veteran bench boss with 38 years of NHL experience. They discuss Bowness’ illustrious career as both player and coach in the NHL, his significant contributions to various teams, and his journey from being drafted in 1975 to his latest roles. Additionally, Vic shares an unforgettable memory from the 1987 Stanley Cup Finals, recounting a thrilling game between the Oilers and Flyers. The episode concludes with a nod to the series commemorating the New York Rangers' 1994 Stanley Cup championship. [00:00] Introduction to NHL Wraparound Podcast [00:34] Sponsor Spotlight: Game Seven Group [01:48] Rick Bowness: A Remarkable Career [04:32] Memorable Moments: 1987 Stanley Cup Final [08:35] Closing Remarks and Upcoming Episodes SPONSOR: GAME 7 GROUP - www.gamesevengroup.com/nhlwraparound At Game Seven Group, we specialize in transforming individuals into cohesive teams through our team-building events, coaching, and speaking. We believe every team has the potential to achieve extraordinary results.
Fri, May 31, 2024
Special Series: Episode 1 The Road Begins with Glenn Healy & John Davidson
Neil Smith, President and General Manager of the 1994 Stanley Cup Champion New York Rangers, along with ESPN NHL veteran Vic Morren, are joined by goaltender Glenn Healy and MSG color analyst John Davidson as they reflect on the thrilling journey to their historic victory. They reminisce about the dramatic trade deadline decisions, the influence of iconic players such as Mark Messier and Mike Richter, and the acceptance of roles by various team members. Personal anecdotes, key moments in pivotal games, and the strong sense of camaraderie that defined the team are highlighted. This episode takes listeners on an emotional trip down memory lane, celebrating the collective effort that led to the Rangers' unforgettable 1993-94 season and the joy of the Broadway parade. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:34] Reliving the 1994 Stanley Cup: A Journey Begins [02:01] The Legendary 1994 Rangers: Stories from the Team [20:27] Building a Championship Team: The Inside Story [44:18] Early Struggles and Turning Points [50:08] The Unforgettable Moments and Team Bonding [51:25] A Rollercoaster of Games and Team Dynamics [58:52] The Trade Deadline: Strategic Moves and Team Transformation [01:09:09] The Playoff Journey Begins: Challenges and Triumphs [01:23:08] Reflections on Victory and the Power of Team Spirit [01:33:04] Closing Thoughts and Looking Ahead to the Playoffs KEY TAKEAWAYS: The leadership of Mark Messier and the cohesive bond among the players were instrumental in navigating through the challenges of the season. Neil Smith's strategic management and timely trades were crucial in fortifying the team's roster, significantly impacting their path to the cup. The team's mental toughness and ability to stay focused under pressure played a pivotal role, particularly during crucial games and the playoffs. The 1994 Stanley Cup victory not only ended a 54-year championship drought for the Rangers but also left a lasting legacy on the players and fans alike. RESOURCE LINKS Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ NHL Wraparound Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nhlwraparound NHL Wraparound Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555451139787 SPONSORSHIP: MeiGray is your source for Game-Worn jerseys. Head to MeiGray.com to get your collection started today. Get real, get it from MeiGray. https://www.MeiGray.com/ https://MeiGrayauctions.com/ NHL Wraparound guests can take 10 percent off any hockey jersey when
Fri, May 31, 2024
EP 19 Playoff “Bowness” Edition with Rick Bowness
Special guest Rick Bowness, recently retired head coach of the Winnipeg Jets, shares his experiences and insights from his notable coaching career spanning nearly four decades. Bowness discusses the challenges and changes he faced in Winnipeg, the evolution of coaching and player relationships, and his thoughts on the current NHL playoff landscape. Host promotes upcoming special five part series on the Rangers' historic 1994 triumph. The hosts touch on Don Waddell taking over the ship in Columbus and the complexities facing the next general manager of the Carolina Hurricanes. The episode wraps up with the human side of Rick Bowness's story and reflections on the changing culture of the NHL, including Game 6 of the Flyers vs. Oilers in 1987, where the Spectrum shook. IN THIS EPISODE: [01:41] Conference Final Thoughts [04:19] Dallas Stars Analysis [06:00] Interview with Rick Bownass [06:26] Rick Bownass on Coaching and Retirement [08:26] Future of Winnipeg Jets [23:31] Evolution of NHL Coaching [25:06] The Evolution of Coaching Communication [25:52] The Impact of Video Replay in Modern Hockey [28:33] Reflecting on Rule Changes in Hockey [30:25] A Tribute to Rick Bowness [34:53] Don Waddell's New Challenge with the Blue Jackets [41:48] The Human Side of the Story- Rick Bowness & Anecdotes on the 1987 Flyers Vs Oilers [45:44] Memorable Moments in Stanley Cup History KEY TAKEAWAYS: Rick Bowness discusses the factors that led to his decision to retire, including health considerations and his desire to explore other opportunities within hockey. Rick Bowness emphasizes the importance of changing the team's culture and the significant progress made in player responsibility and team dynamics. The game has evolved significantly, with a greater emphasis on detailed communication and the need for coaches to establish trust and clear communication with players. Video replay and technological advancements have transformed how games are analyzed and decisions are made, adding a new layer of complexity to coaching. RESOURCE LINKS Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ NHL Wraparound Tik Tok:https://www.tiktok.com/@nhlwraparound NHL Wraparound Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555451139787 SPONSORSHIP: MeiGray is your source for Game-Worn jerseys. Head to MeiGray.com to get your collection started today. Get real, get it from MeiGray. https://www.MeiGray.com/ https://MeiGrayauctions.com/
Tue, May 28, 2024
One Timers- Canucks' Tough Lessons and Overcoming Playoff Adversities
The Vancouver Canucks' challenging experiences during the Stanley Cup playoffs. The team, initially underestimated, had a strong regular season and won the Pacific Division. Despite advancing past Nashville, they faced difficulties in the second round against the Edmonton Oilers, struggling after losing key player Brock Boeser to blood clots and their main goalie. The hosts emphasize the importance of maintaining performance throughout entire games to succeed in the playoffs. [00:38] Opening Remarks and Canucks Playoff Analysis [02:18] The Impact of Injuries on Team Performance [03:43] Introducing Game Seven Group https://gamesevengroup.com/nhlwraparound/
Tue, May 21, 2024
EP 18 Conference Finals Preview with Eddie Olczyk
In this Special Edition of NHL Wraparound, hosts Neil and Vic are joined by NHL on TNT analyst Ed Olczyk for an in-depth discussion on the NHL Conference Finals. They kick off with an analysis of the Vancouver Canucks' performance and their lessons in closing the series. The conversation shifts to the conference finals, with Olczyk sharing his insights into the matchups between the Rangers vs. Panthers and Stars vs. Oilers, highlighting key players, team strategies, and his playoff predictions. The episode also features a segment on each host's and Olczyk's Stanley Cup picks, reflections on Eddie's career and battle with cancer, and tips for aspiring broadcasters. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:39] Breaking Down the Conference Finals with Ed Olczyk [01:17] Vancouver Canucks' Playoff Journey [05:25] Special Guest Eddie Olczyk: A Hockey Life [08:28] Eddie Olczyk on the 1994 Rangers and the Power of Team Spirit [17:01]Rangers vs. Panthers: Previewing a Heavyweight Battle [23:22] Evaluating Star Performances and Team Dynamics [32:56] Hockey Insights: The Importance of Spatial Awareness [33:22] Analyzing Team Dynamics: Florida vs. Rangers [36:01] Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers Playoff History [37:02] Strategic Play and Team Strengths: Dallas's Journey [42:46] Edmonton's Goalkeeping Dilemma: A Critical Analysis [50:18] Predictions and Personal Reflections: Eddie Olczyk's Journey [53:46] Conference Finals Predictions: Expert Picks [57:10] Eddie Olczyk: A Story of Resilience and Contribution KEY TAKEAWAYS: Emphasis on how injuries to key players can dramatically affect a team's performance and morale. The Canucks' loss of Besser and Demko was a turning point in their series against Edmonton, illustrating the psychological and strategic impacts of such setbacks on a team's playoff journey Eddie Olczyk provided insights into Dallas's depth and defensive resilience, noting their effective use of a limited defensive roster throughout the playoffs. The importance of goaltending and defensive strategies for both teams was a key discussion point Edmonton's inconsistent goaltending was identified as a potential weakness. Olczyk discussed the pressure on Edmonton's goalies, particularly Stuart Skinner, and the possibility of turning to Calvin Pickard if needed. This issue was framed as a critical factor that could influence the outcome of their series against Dallas RESOURCE LINKS: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: <a href="h
Mon, May 20, 2024
Special Edition : Reliving the Cup on Broad Street 50 Years Later
In this special episode of the NHL WrapAround podcast, hosts Neil Smith and Vic Morren celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Philadelphia Flyers' first Stanley Cup victory. Joined by special guests Jay Snider, son of Flyers' founder Ed Snider, and legendary goaltender Bernie Parent, where they reminisce about the history and legacy of the 1974 championship team. The guests share insights into the Flyers' journey, the leadership and vision of Ed Snider, and the transformation of the team into the 'Broad Street Bullies.' They reminisce about memorable moments, including battles with the Boston Bruins, the strategy against Bobby Orr, and the impact of Fred Shero's coaching. The podcast also touches on the Flyers' subsequent victory in 1975, the team's enduring legacy, and the personal stories of camaraderie and triumph. The conversation is a heartfelt tribute to the Flyers' historic achievement and the figures who made it possible, evoking the spirit of teamwork and dedication that defined their Stanley Cup runs. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:34] Reliving the Cup on Broad Street: 50 Years Later [02:05] The Birth of the Broad Street Bullies [05:24] The evolution of the Flyers and the road to the Cup [12:36] Turning points in Flyers history [31:39] Flyers vs. Bruins for the Stanley Cup [36:49] Reflecting on unforgettable memories and legendary strategies [38:59] The road to the First Championship [42:48] Celebrating the victory and the power of togetherness and legacy [46:10] The impact of leadership and team spirit [56:53] The Second Cup [59:51] Legacy and reflections [01:03:55] The importance of passion and perseverance KEY TAKEAWAYS: Ed Snider's determination to transform the Flyers into a tougher team was pivotal. His decision to combat physical teams like the St. Louis Blues set the foundation for the Flyers' future success. Bernie Parent’s return to the Flyers brought crucial goaltending skills and experience, significantly contributing to the team's championship win. The Flyers' success was not just about individual talent but about a collective culture of passion, teamwork, and resilience. This culture was ingrained in the players, management, and fans alike. Bernie Parent learned valuable skills and strategies from legendary goaltender Jacques Plante during his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs, which he later applied to his play with the Flyers. Key moments, such as the Flyers' first-place finish in their inaugural season and the drafting of Bobby Clarke, were crucial steps toward building a championship team. The discussion highlights a deep sense of gratitude and legacy, emphasizing how the triumphs and challenges of the 1974 Flyers continue to inspire and shape the team’s identity today. RESOU
Wed, May 15, 2024
EP 17 Unbiased: With Former NHL Referee Dave Jackson
Dave Jackson, former NHL referee and current ESPN Rules Analyst, joins Neil and Vic to discuss the intensity of playoff hockey, the role and challenges of officials, and the evolution of the two-man officiating system. They explore video review complexities and the subjective nature of certain calls. Critiquing the rules like hand passing in the defensive zone and puck-over-glass penalties, while Jackson suggests reforms, such as allowing hand passes across all areas of the ice. They also discuss simplifying offside reviews and adjusting instigator penalties to reduce fighting. Debate on the Toronto Maple Leafs' salary cap management and coaching decisions, discussing the trend of firing coaches without clear improvements. Concluding with the Human Side of the Story on fan emotion swings in the second round. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:41] Spotlight on unexpected Playoff Heroes [01:46] One Timers: Analyzing playoff team dynamics [05:40] Referee Insights with Dave Jackson [14:23] The rigorous life of NHL Officials [17:43] Evolution of NHL officiating and rules analysis [29:20] Debating hockey rules and penalties [30:10] Expanding the hand pass rule [31:37] Controversy of puck over glass and goal scoring rules [35:10] Offside rule revisions and the impact on the game [37:47] Addressing open ice hits and instigator penalties [43:50] Navigating the Maple Leafs' coaching and salary cap challenges [50:48] Human Side of the Story: Fan Emotions KEY TAKEAWAYS: The Stanley Cup playoffs are highly competitive due to the evenly matched teams, with no clear dominant "super team." Goaltender interference is a complex and subjective area of officiating, with video review adding another layer of judgment. NHL referees undergo rigorous physical and mental preparation to handle the demands of officiating games, including the transition to a two-man system. Fans experience intense emotions, ranging from elation to despair, based on their team's performance in the playoffs. Send questions or comments to NHLWraparound@gmail.com RESOURCE LINKS Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren
Tue, May 07, 2024
EP 16 Bucci Strikes Again! Round Two Playoff Preview with John Buccigross
John Buccigross, Long-time studio host and Play-by-Play man for the NHL on ESPN, is back for round two of the Stanley Cup playoffs. They provide detailed analysis and predictions for each series, including team matchups and key players to watch. Throughout the episode, insights into coaching strategies, player performances, and potential outcomes of the playoffs are shared, alongside personal anecdotes and memories of working with Melrose. The Human Side of the Story also pays tribute to Barry Melrose, a beloved figure in hockey broadcasting who recently retired due to Parkinson's disease. IN THIS EPISODE: [01:17] Playoff formats and matchups [03:13] The Saga of the Toronto Maple Leafs: Analysis and Future Prospects [05:36] Round One Recap and Round Two Predictions with John Buccigross [07:17] Rangers vs. Hurricanes [18:00] Bruins vs. Panthers [29:28] Dallas vs. Colorado [31:51] Analyzing key players and strategies [33:14] Goalie Showdown: Georgiev vs. Oettinger [42:53] Vancouver vs. Edmonton [52:45] The Human Side: Saluting Barry Melrose KEY TAKEAWAYS: The discussion shifts to the Toronto Maple Leafs, focusing on their perennial playoff struggles and financial challenges. With significant salary cap commitments to key players, questions arise about potential roster changes and the team's direction moving forward. Peter DeBoer's coaching resilience is highlighted, with emphasis on his ability to quickly bounce back from job losses in the NHL. Despite being fired mid-season, he was hired by another team during the same season, showcasing his consistent employment and ability to command respect in the hockey world. Heartfelt tribute to Barry Melrose, a former NHL player and coach turned broadcaster, who retired due to Parkinson's disease. Melrose's impact on hockey, both as a player and a broadcaster, is acknowledged, emphasizing his quick wit, humor, and iconic presence in hockey broadcasting. Barry Melrose/BucciOT : https://www.bucciot.com/ RESOURCE LINKS Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil <
Tue, April 30, 2024
Ep 15 Second in Command A Discussion with NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly
Bill Daly, the Deputy Commissioner of the NHL joins Neil and Vic on an in depth discussion in Episode 15. Daly discusses the relocation of the Arizona Coyotes to Utah, highlighting the complexities of finding a long-term arena solution and the unexpected rejection of a public referendum for a new arena in Tempe, Arizona. He explains the transitional plan, which allows the team's owner to reactivate the franchise if a suitable arena is built. The episode also focuses on the league's use of video review technology, addressing concerns over its application and the potential for future expansion in its use. Additionally, Daly touches on the future of NHL broadcasting, specifically the role of streaming services and new deals, like the NHL's streaming with Amazon in Canada, in the evolution of how fans consume hockey content. The conversation encapsulates not only the current state of the NHL but also gives insight into its future direction in team management, technology, and media. Concluding with the Human side of the story of Bill Daly and the Canadian legend Bob Cole IN THIS EPISODE: [01:21] One Timer Segment: Deep Dives into the future of the Tampa Bay Lightning and the magic of playoff overtime [06:24] Exclusive Interview: Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly [06:53] The Intriguing Utah Situation: A Comprehensive Breakdown [14:45] Exploring the Future: NHL Expansion and Technological Advances [25:25] Exploring the Intricacies of NHL Video Review and Goaltender Interference [30:31] The Evolution of Video Review in Hockey: From Controversial Calls to Technological Limits [34:31] Future of NHL Broadcasts: The Shift Towards Streaming Platforms [38:40] The High Turnover of NHL Head Coaches [41:09] The Impact of the Salary Cap on NHL Coaching Changes [45:25] Lindy Ruff's Return to Buffalo [48:07] Human Side of the Story Bill Daly [53:08] Celebrating the Legacy of Bob Cole: A Voice That Defined Hockey Broadcasting KEY TAKEAWAYS: The Arizona Coyotes have been facing challenges finding a long-term arena solution, leading to their eviction from Gila River Arena. Efforts to build a state-of-the-art arena in Tempe faced a setback when a public referendum failed, prompting the team to explore alternatives. The NHL remains at 32 teams, with potential future expansions discussed but not imminent. The league's U.S. footprint is smaller than other major professional sports leagues, allowing room for potential growth in North American markets. Video review in NHL games is focused on maintaining a balance between accuracy and preserving the human element of the game. The evolution of broadcasting, including streaming platforms like Amazon, reflects ongoing changes in how fans consume NHL content. RESOURCE LINKS Y
Tue, April 23, 2024
EP 14 What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas? With George McPhee
Hosts Neil Smith and Vic Morren, along with special guest George McPhee, President of Hockey Operations for the Vegas Golden Knights, discuss the NHL playoff scenario, team dynamics, and franchise movements. They reflect on the historical and recent team relocations within the NHL, offering a glimpse into the impact on communities and individuals involved. George McPhee shares his extensive career journey, from his playing days to becoming a Stanley Cup champion, giving listeners an in-depth look at the trials and achievements encountered along the way. The episode also touches on the upcoming move of the Arizona Coyotes to Salt Lake City, exploring the challenges and opportunities of introducing NHL hockey to new markets. Emotional anecdotes from McPhee's personal experience with the Stanley Cup highlight the profound connections people have with the sport. Additionally, discussions on team strategy, player injuries, and the anticipation for the defense of the Stanley Cup by the Vegas Golden Knights provide a comprehensive overview of the current NHL landscape. IN THIS EPISODE: [01:29] The Playoff Debate: Structure and Strategy [05:56] George McPhee from career highlights to Stanley Cup victory [18:26] The emotional journey of winning the Stanley Cup [19:21] Reflections on career and life beyond the rink [23:51] The unforgettable Stanley Cup moments [27:22] The unconventional success of Vegas in the NHL [28:41] Addressing salary cap and player injury controversies [31:24] Strategic acquisitions and team dynamics [33:24] Goalkeeping strategy and playoff preparations [34:58] Reflecting on Alex Ovechkin's legendary career [37:37] George McPhee's family and hockey journey [41:38] The emotional impact of NHL franchise relocations KEY TAKEAWAYS: George McPhee's personal journey in the NHL, reflecting on his experiences from being a player to becoming an executive, and finally celebrating a Stanley Cup victory with the Vegas Golden Knights. The complexities of managing an NHL team, including navigating salary caps and making strategic player acquisitions. The emotional and logistical challenges of franchise relocations for players, management, and fans, highlighting the impact on communities left behind and the difficulties faced by those moving to a new city. RESOURCE LINKS Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: <a href="https://twitte
Fri, April 19, 2024
Special Edition: Playoff Preview with John Buccigross
Special guest John Buccigross Long-time studio host and Play-by-Play man for the NHL on ESPN joins us to cover the Stanley Cup Playoff Preview Show. Focus is on the teams strengths, weaknesses, and key factors that could influence the outcomes, such as coaching styles, player performances, and injuries. Predictions for each series and in depth discussion on the New York Rangers vs. Washington Capitals, Carolina Hurricanes vs. New York Islanders, Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning, Boston Bruins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs, and Winnipeg Jets vs. Colorado Avalanche. Potential upsets, and standout players are shared alongside the analysis of team structures, and goaltending merits. They end with rapid fire questions and who they are predicting to win the Stanley Cup. So buckle up, hockey fans and don’t miss this action packed episode! IN THIS EPISODE: [02:10] Rangers vs. Capitals: Strategies and Expectations [12:09] Carolina vs. Islanders: Analyzing Strengths and Weaknesses [19:37] Panthers vs. Lightning: A Battle of Skill vs. Grit [27:55] Bruins vs. Maple Leafs: A Historic Rivalry Rekindled [39:40] Jets vs. Avalanche: Analyzing the Central Division Showdown [43:44] The Great Goalie Debate: Hellebuyck vs. Georgiev [44:30] Colorado's Determination and Goaltending Dilemma [48:22] Vegas Golden Knights: From Champions to Underdogs [49:00] Dallas Stars: A Deep Dive into Their Strengths [56:14] Vancouver vs. Nashville: An Intriguing Matchup [01:04:12] LA Kings vs. Edmonton Oilers: A Tough Battle Ahead [01:12:59] Playoff Predictions and Final Thoughts KEY TAKEAWAYS: Across different playoff series, strategic matchups are crucial. For example, in the Carolina-Islanders series, Carolina's strong special teams, particularly their power play, could pose a significant challenge for the Islanders' weaker penalty-killing unit. Some series, like Florida vs. Tampa Bay, showcase a clash of styles. Florida's physicality and depth against Tampa Bay's skill and playoff experience create an intriguing matchup. The outcome might hinge on factors like power play success and bottom-six contributions. The coaches' influence on their respective teams is significant, particularly in terms of adapting strategies and motivating players. Knobloch's structural changes with the Oilers improved defensive numbers and goaltending, showcasing the impact a new coach can have mid-season. The path to the Stanley Cup Finals is critical. Teams like Edmonton and Florida are favored due to their potentially favorable matchups in the early rounds, providing them with a smoother path to the Conference Finals. Players who could unexpectedly shine in the playoffs, like Michael McCarran of Nashville or Tomasz Hurdl of Vegas, could significantly impact their teams' playof
Tue, April 16, 2024
EP 13 Looking to Strike Oil with Ken Holland
The final week of the NHL regular season is here and the intense competition for playoff spots, particularly focusing on the battle among five teams for the last two spots in the Eastern Conference. The episode features an insightful interview with Ken Holland, President of Hockey Operations and General Manager of the Edmonton Oilers, discussing various aspects of his career, player development, and the Oilers' playoff prospects. Neil and Vic also explore whether teams actually need an elite goaltender to win the Stanley Cup, considering recent trends, and share their thoughts on the goalie tandems across the league. The episode concludes with The Human Side of the Story: Ken Holland, inducted into the Hall of Fame and former general manager of the Detroit Red Wings, and the tribute to David Carle, celebrating his success as the University of Denver's head coach and his remarkable journey in hockey. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:41] The Playoff Race Heats Up: Insights and Predictions [01:54] One Timers: Hot Takes on NHL Stars and Playoff Drama [03:57] The Arizona Coyotes Saga: Sale, Relocation, and Future Prospects [07:32] Special Guest Ken Holland GM for the Edmonton Oilers [08:04] Ken Holland's Career [16:52] The Edmonton Oilers' Season [24:17] Reclamation Projects and Building a Competitive Team [28:25] Player Motivations and Team Dynamics [29:49] Playoff Preparations and Strategies [30:53] The Importance of Health and Depth in Playoff Success [34:14] Connor McDavid’s Health Status and Historic Milestones [36:31] Stu Skinner's Rise and Team Goaltending Strategy [42:18] Reflecting on a Storied Career [49:40] The Evolution of Goaltending and Playoff Dynamics [55:33] Human Side of the Story- Ken Holland's Path to Success KEY TAKEAWAYS: Ken Holland shares a personal anecdote about his transition from playing hockey to scouting and eventually becoming a successful general manager, highlighting the unpredictability and resilience required in the sports industry. The Oilers aimed to bolster their roster depth, particularly upfront, and on defense, through strategic acquisitions like Adam Henrique, Sam Carrick, and Troy Stecher, alongside earlier signing Corey Perry, to enhance their playoff prospects. With only Corey Perry having won a Stanley Cup on the current roster, and a few others having played in the finals, the Oilers recognize the value of playoff experience and leadership, aiming to build a well-rounded team capable of making a deep playoff run. RESOURCE LINKS Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: <a href="https
Tue, April 09, 2024
EP 12 Talking NY & Canadian Hopes with Nick Kypreos
Hosts Neil Smith and Vic Morren discuss the latest developments as the regular NHL season nears its end, analyzing the playoff prospects for both the Eastern and Western Conferences. Special guest Nick Kypreos provides insights into the New York Rangers' chances in the playoffs and discusses the ongoing drought of Canadian teams not winning the Stanley Cup. The episode also touches on the Dallas Stars' strengths, Artemi Panarin's playoff performance expectations, and the underdog status of teams like the Vancouver Canucks. In addition, the hosts explore the human Side of hockey, from the everyday lives of players and their families to the reality that referees, too, are susceptible to the game's physical dangers. IN THIS EPISODE: [01:35] One Timers: Playoff teams change from 2023 & Dallas primed to top Western Conference [05:31] Exploring the Rangers' Playoff Prospects with Nick Kypreos [07:00] New York Rangers' current team and its potential compared to their 1994 Stanley Cup-winning team. [08:00] Nick Kypreos discusses the New York Rangers' chances in the playoffs and compares them to other teams. [09:21] Discussion about the Rangers' playing style and their potential success in the playoffs. [12:09] Artemi Panarin's performance in the playoffs and his importance to the Rangers. [16:57] Conversation shifts to identifying a key player (a "horse") for the Rangers in the playoffs. [17:27] Evaluation of Matt Rempe's potential impact on the Rangers' playoff lineup. [22:09] Canadian Teams' Stanley Cup Drought Discussion. [29:53] Insights into the Vancouver Canucks and Winnipeg Jets. [36:03] Discussion about Evander Kane needing to step up for the Edmonton Oilers. [39:18] Nick Kypreos mentions his work with Sportsnet and Hockey Night in Canada. [41:28] Reflecting on the Human Side of the Story - players are people too. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Nick discusses the current New York Rangers team, expressing optimism about their potential to compete for the Stanley Cup. Despite acknowledging the presence of strong teams like the Vegas Golden Knights, he believes the Rangers have the talent, depth, and toughness to be contenders. Player Focus: The discussion highlights Artemi Panarin's significance for the Rangers' playoff prospects. Nick stresses the need for leadership and character growth in players like Panarin, alongside the importance of consistency from Chris Kreider. Playoff Strategy: The conversation also touches on the strategic decisions needed for playoff success, including the balance between lateral passing and straight-line attacks. The human aspect of professional hockey, emphasizing the personal lives and emotions of players underneath their uniforms, shedding light on the impact of career-related
Tue, April 02, 2024
EP 11 Capital Gains with Craig Laughlin
Episode 11 features an engaging interview with Craig Laughlin, a Washington Capitals TV analyst, exploring his career, insights on the Capitals' performance, and stories about Alexander Ovechkin. The hosts also address the recent controversy involving Zach Hyman's 50-goal milestone achievement and the debate on the influence of privilege in reaching NHL success. Reflections on missed story opportunities and critiques of John Hines' risky overtime goalie pulls, noting the subsequent loss nullifying initial gains. They discuss the rarity and necessity of such moves in NHL history. Shifting to Zach Hyman's milestone, criticism of his privileged background arises, but Neil dismisses it, stressing character and talent as key to NHL success. The dialogue concludes with recognition of diverse paths to NHL achievement and acknowledgment of Hyman's accomplishments. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:45] One Timers: Potential Award Winners and MVP Discussions [05:05] Special Guest Craig Laughlin: A Deep Dive into His Career and Insights [14:40] Analyzing the Washington Capitals: Challenges and Triumphs [21:45] The Future of the Capitals: Goaltending Dynamics and Playoff Prospects [23:54] Analyzing the Capitals' Path to the Playoffs [25:49] The Capitals' Strategy and Key Players [27:27] Future Prospects and Rebuilding the Team [29:01] Special Focus: Ryan Leonard's Potential Impact [31:20] Ovechkin's Legacy and Fun Stories [35:03] The Art of Broadcasting and Love for Hockey [38:26] Debating Pulling Goalie Strategies in Overtime [42:52] Human side of the Story -Zach Hyman's Milestone and the Debate on Privilege KEY TAKEAWAYS: Washington Capitals' performance and prospects for the playoffs, with a focus on their remaining schedule and the potential outcomes for the team in the Metropolitan division. The impact of injuries on key players such as Nicklas Backstrom and TJ Oshie, as well as the coaching staff's ability to adapt and integrate young players into the team's lineup. Goaltending dynamics of the Washington Capitals, particularly the performance of goaltenders Darcy Kuemper and Charlie Lindgren, and their contributions to the team's success. RESOURCE LINKS Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.lin
Tue, March 26, 2024
EP 10 Taking the NHL by Storm with Don Waddell
Episode 10 features Don Waddell, the Carolina Hurricanes' president and general manager, discussing player acquisitions and future plans. The hosts analyze wild card races, praising standout players like Hyman and Reinhardt, and spotlighting teams like the Washington Capitals and the Nashville Predators. Waddell shares insights on strategic acquisitions and roster management, including reflections on goaltending dynamics. The episode concludes with the Human Side of the Story sharing Laila Anderson's inspiring story and highlights Waddell's impactful career journey. IN THIS EPISODE: [03:30] - Overview of the Washington Capitals' season and their path to the playoffs. [05:09] - Acknowledgment of the phenomenal story of both the Nashville Predators and the Washington Capitals. [18:24] - Conversation about the physical condition and dedication of a player, Rod Brind'Amour. [20:03] - Discussion about the contract negotiations with Rod Brind'Amour, an unrestricted free agent. [22:12] - Discussion about the Boston Bruins' performance and challenges in the current season. [29:09] - Introduction to Laila Anderson's story and her battle with a rare autoimmune disease, leading up to the St. Louis Blues' Stanley Cup win in 2019. il[30:24] - Laila's Chesterfield Lady Falcons winning the Missouri state title and her contribution to the team's victory. [32:00] - Discussion about Don Waddell's background and his career in hockey management. KEY TAKEAWAYS: The wild card races in both the Eastern and Western Conferences, with a focus on the Washington Capitals and the Vegas Golden Knights setting the pace for playoff contention. Heartwarming story about Laila Anderson, a young fan with a remarkable journey of perseverance. The human side of the story, emphasizing the resilience and achievements of Laila. Don Waddell discussing player acquisitions, team performance, and future plans for the Carolina Hurricanes. RESOURCE LINKS Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ NHL Wraparound Tik Tok:<a href="https://www.t
Tue, March 19, 2024
EP 9 Between the Benches with Brian Boucher
Episode 9 features Brian Boucher, the analyst for TNT and NBC Sports Philadelphia. The discussions cover various topics, including the performance of the New York Rangers, the challenges faced by NHL teams, and the playoff race in both the Eastern and Western Conferences. They dive into the competitive landscape, strategic decisions, and critical factors influencing playoff success in the NHL. Throughout the podcast, the hosts and Boucher offered insights into these aspects. They analyzed the performances of various teams and players, providing a comprehensive overview of the NHL's current dynamics and the implications for the upcoming playoffs and finish up with the Human side of the story. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:36] - Introduction of guest Brian Boucher, discussing the upcoming topics and the Philadelphia Flyers. [01:33] - One Timers: Discussion about the New York Rangers' recent victories and their performance in a series of games. [03:00] - Conversation about the NHL teams' resilience and dedication to playing despite challenging schedules. [14:00] - Analysis of a coach's performance and impact on the team's success in the National Hockey League. [36:42] - Neil Smith shares a personal anecdote about Brian Boucher's career and his journey through various NHL teams. [39:15] - Discussion about the importance of dressing appropriately and the impact of personal presentation in professional settings. [40:30] - Anecdote about meeting Scotty Bowman and the lesson learned about dressing appropriately for professional interactions. [41:51] - Advice for young people entering the workforce to know their audience, be neat, and dress to impress. [42:06] - Human Side of the Story: appreciation for the opportunity to dress up for the occasion. KEY TAKEAWAYS: The importance of professional attire, as demonstrated by Neil Smith's encounter with Scotty Bowman, emphasizing the significance of personal presentation and professionalism in professional settings. The New York Rangers' recent victories and resilience in overcoming challenges during a series of games are discussed, highlighting the team's performance and determination. Brian Boucher provides insights into the Philadelphia Flyers' goaltending situation, specifically focusing on goaltender Carter Hart's performance and the team's progress and potential in the playoffs. The conversation delves into the competitive landscape of the NHL, highlighting strategic decisions made by teams and critical factors influencing playoff success, offering a comprehensive overview of the league's current dynamics and implications for the upcoming playoffs. RESOURCE LINKS Youtube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA" rel=
Tue, March 12, 2024
EP 8 Dissecting the Deadline with Mike Santos
Episode 8 features discussions on the NHL playoffs, trade deadline moves, and the future of Team 33 with Mike Santos, an experienced NHL assistant GM and the founder of Team 33. They evaluate the impact of trade deadline moves on the playoff race, strategic implications of pulling the goalie in overtime, and the physicality of games in the Western Conference. The conversation also addresses the complexities of evaluating player performance and contracts in today's NHL, and the future plans of Team 33 to develop a web-based program and app. Additionally, the hosts discuss the intense competition expected in the playoffs, potential upsets, and the significance of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Overall, the episode provides a comprehensive analysis of the NHL trade deadline, playoff race, and strategic decisions made by teams and players, offering insights into the competitive landscape and future developments in the hockey industry. IN THIS EPISODE: [01:27] - One Timer “The Neil Scorecard”: Outcome for 18 UFA’s for teams outside of playoffs [05:17] - Introduction to Mike Santos [06:57] - Discussion on evaluating contracts and having more scouts than NHL clubs [07:21] - Providing data in a hockey-specific and useful way [08:18] - Analysis of trade deadline moves in the Western Conference [29:09] - Mike Santos discussing trade deadline evaluations [30:12] - Discussion on pulling the goalie in overtime [34:48] - Human Side of the Story [39:06] - Discussing memories of playing against the Montreal Canadiens KEY TAKEAWAYS: Team 33 has a significant advantage in evaluating contracts and players, with over 20 professional scouts compared to the three or four typically found in an NHL club. The trade deadline moves in the Western Conference have created an intense arms race, with teams fortifying themselves for a playoff run. The increasing use of no-trade and no-move clauses in player contracts is impacting trade negotiations and player movement. The upcoming playoffs are expected to be highly competitive, with potential upsets and physicality, particularly in the Western Conference. RESOURCE LINKS Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ </
Fri, March 08, 2024
Trade Deadline Recap Show
The NHL trade deadline recap features significant moves and their impact on various teams. The Vegas Golden Knights' aggressive approach, acquiring Thomas Hertl, Anthony Mantha, and Noah Hanifin, aims for a second straight Stanley Cup. The Winnipeg Jets acquired Tyler Toffoli and added depth with Colin Miller, while the Colorado Avalanche bolstered their lineup with acquisitions like Scott Walker and Casey Mittelstadt. The Edmonton Oilers made three acquisitions, including Adam Henrique and Sam Carrick, to enhance their depth. The Carolina Hurricanes secured Jake Guentzel and the Florida Panthers added Kyle Okposo for leadership. The Boston Bruins acquired Pat Maroon for depth, and the New York Rangers made several acquisitions to add depth to their lineup. The Philadelphia Flyers traded Scott Walker to Colorado and acquired Eric Johnson to bolster their roster. The discussion also touches on teams that were surprisingly quiet at the deadline, such as the St. Louis Blues and the New York Islanders. The future prospects of the Pittsburgh Penguins are questioned, and the conversation concludes with a look at the teams best positioned to advance to the Stanley Cup Final, highlighting the efforts of teams like Vancouver, Vegas, Tampa Bay, and Carolina to strengthen their chances for playoff success. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:15] - Discussion on Vegas Golden Knights' aggressive approach [01:00] - Acquisitions made by Vegas Golden Knights [01:57] - Winnipeg Jets' acquisition of Tyler Toffoli [02:54] - Colorado's acquisitions to add to their depth [05:15] - Carolina Hurricanes' acquisition of Jake Guentzel [08:12] - Florida Panthers' acquisition of Kyle Okposo [08:18] - New York Rangers' depth moves [09:24] - Philadelphia Flyers' trade and acquisitions [10:30] - St. Louis Blues and New York Islanders' lack of activity at the deadline [11:24] - Discussion on the Pittsburgh Penguins' era of dominance [12:24] - Teams best positioned to make the Stanley Cup Final [13:36] - Discussion on the difficulty of winning the Stanley Cup [14:00] - Announcement of the upcoming analysis by Mike Santos KEY TAKEAWAYS: Vegas Golden Knights made aggressive moves, acquiring Thomas Hertl, Anthony Mantha, and Noah Hannafin, aiming for a second straight Stanley Cup. Carolina Hurricanes secured Jake Gensel, aiming to upseed the Florida Panthers, who acquired Kyle Okposo to strengthen their lineup. Boston Bruins added depth with Pat Maroon, while the New York Rangers made several acquisitions to enhance their roster. St. Louis Blues and New York Islanders were surprisingly quiet at the deadline, while the Pittsburgh Penguins' era of dominance is questioned. Vancouver Canucks, Vegas Golden Knights, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Caroli
Tue, March 05, 2024
Ep 7 Power Outage in Tampa? with Brian Engblom
Special guest Brian Engblom joins Neil and Vic in a comprehensive discussion about the physical play and historical aspects of the NHL. The focus is on the impact of hits and injuries in the game, particularly with insights from Brian Engblom regarding the performance, schedule, and standings of the Tampa Bay Lightning. The conversation takes an in-depth look at the evolution of player protection in the NHL, exploring topics such as the use of helmets and the nuances of penalties for high-sticking and physical altercations. Emphasizing the significance of enforcers in the game, the hosts stress the need for players to be safeguarded while still maintaining a level of physicality. Throughout the podcast, personal anecdotes and reminiscences are shared, underscoring the human side of the story and the connections that bind individuals within the hockey community. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:36] -The impulsive nature of general managers near the trade deadline. [01:51] -Nashville Predators' turnaround after a team event cancellation. [02:45] -Impact of injuries on teams, specifically Dylan Larkin's injury with the Detroit Red Wings. [12:12] - Brian Engblom's Introduction [12:42] -Discussion about Team vs. National Coverage [15:03] -Overview of Tampa Bay Lightning's Current Situation [19:45] -Discussion on Nikita Kucherov [24:00] -Discussion on Steven Stamkos' Contract Situation [26:36] -Discussion on Potential Trades and Deadline Deals [35:51] -Brian’s NHL Career [36:00] -Discussion on Matt Rempe, the Enforcer [37:06] -Brian's Perspective on Fighting in the NHL [38:27] -Importance of Enforcers in the Game [42:30] -NHL Game Changes and Safety Concerns [47:45] -Human Side of the Story [53:20] -Next guest announcement Mike Santos KEY TAKEAWAYS: The announcement of the upcoming guest, Mike Santos, indicates a focus on the trading deadline and player analysis in the next episode. The discussion about the impulsive nature of general managers near the trade deadline provides insight into the dynamics of NHL team management. Brian Engblom's insights into the Tampa Bay Lightning's schedule and position in the standings offer a perspective on the team's current challenges and opportunities. RESOURCE LINKS Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren:
Tue, February 27, 2024
EP 6 “My Way” with Brian Burke
Episode 6 features special guest Brian Burke, the executive director of the Professional Women's Hockey League Players Association. The hosts, Neil and Vic explore potential trades involving Eastern Conference UFAs, such as Jake Guentzel and Vladimir Tarasenko. Burke joins the conversation to discuss the second topic, the puzzle in Pittsburgh. The focus is on his impact and the challenges faced by the Penguins since their 2017 Stanley Cup win. The hosts then shift to the Pro Women's Hockey League (PWHL), detailing its connection with Brian Burke, unique rules, and reasons for anticipated long-term success. The episode wraps up with insights into potential trades involving Western Conference UFAs and a segment on "The Human Side of the Story," featuring reflections on Brian Burke's diverse career and an amusing anecdote about John Purdy's brief fame. IN THIS EPISODE: [01:21] Neil Smith announces the upcoming segments, including one-timers, discussions on the Eastern and Western conferences, and an interview with Brian Burke. [05:06] One Timers Segment: Battle of Alberta and Devils slow starts at home proving costly [12:39] Brian Burke joins the show, discusses the Pittsburgh Penguins, Jake Gensel's contract situation, Mike Sullivan's coaching tenure and PWHL [29:30] PWHL new rules in the league, including the jailbreak and unique standings format. [41:18] NHL Trade Speculation [46:15] Brief summary of the 18 players discussed between Eastern and Western conferences. [48:51 ] Personal Stories about Brian Burke [43:24] Discussion on Jordan Eberle's potential impact as a free agent at the end of the year. [44:24] Vic Morin and Neil Smith discuss potential player movements in California, focusing on the Anaheim Ducks. [45:33] Speculation about Anthony Duclair's potential move back to Florida and the trade deadline strategy for the San Jose Sharks. [46:37] Human side of the Story John Purdy’s 15-seconds of fame [48:49] Brian Burke's career, including his roles as a general manager and his personal advocacy for inclusion in hockey. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Discussion on the physicality and intensity of the game between the Calgary Flames and the Edmonton Oilers. Analysis of potential player movements and trade deadline dynamics in both the Eastern and Western conferences. Insights into the Professional Women's Hockey League and the involvement of Mark Walter and Billie Jean King in the league's ownership. Speculation on the potential impact of free agents, such as Jordan Eberle, Jason Zucker, and Matt Dumba, on various teams. Personal anecdotes and reflections on Brian Burke's career, including his contributions to the Vancouver Canucks and Anaheim Ducks, as well as his advocacy for inclusion in hockey. RESOURCE LINKS </str
Fri, February 23, 2024
Special Edition : A Conversation with “Big Walt” Keith Tkachuk
Neil Smith and Vic Morren, welcomes Keith Tkachuk, a former NHL player and father of current players Matthew and Brady Tkachuk. This Special Edition discusses the Florida Panthers' successful season, their physical and fast-paced playing style, and their strong team chemistry. Keith shares his thoughts on why the Panthers are performing well and credits their general manager, Bill Zito, for building a competitive team. The conversation also touches on Matthew Tkachuk's trade to the Panthers and his impact on the team. Keith talks about the challenges his son Brady faces as a young captain in Ottawa and the turmoil within the Senators organization. He offers advice based on his own experiences, emphasizing the importance of focusing on what can be controlled on the ice. Keith reflects on his own career, including his time with the Winnipeg Jets and the transition to the Phoenix Coyotes. He expresses his hope for the Coyotes' future in Arizona and shares his thoughts on the viability of the franchise in the state. IN THIS EPISODE: [01:16] How Keith got his name “Walt” [01:48] Keith Tkchuk talks about the Florida Panthers' successful season, their physical and fast-paced playing style, and their strong team chemistry [05:24] Physical Play and Team Identity [06:57] Matthew Tkachuk's Trade [08:30] Insights on his son Brady Tkachuk's role as a young captain in the NHL and the difficulties he faces [11:06] Challenges faced by the Ottawa Senators and the need for the team to mature [15:36] Arizona Coyotes' Viability [17:30] Final Days of Winnipeg Jets KEY TAKEAWAYS: Matthew Tkachuk was traded to the Florida Panthers, and according to Keith Tkachuk, Matthew played a role in dictating the trade. Matthew believed that joining the Panthers, with a core of players around his age, provided the best opportunity for success. The trade was influenced by Matthew's desire to play alongside players like Barkov, Reinhardt, Bennett, and others. The Florida Panthers had a remarkable playoff run the previous season, eliminating strong teams like Boston and Toronto. Keith Tkachuk attributes the team's success to their identity, playing a heavy, fast style that involves physical play. He mentions that the team's mentality and unity contribute to their winning streak and current standing at the top of the Eastern Conference. Keith Tkachuk discusses the challenges faced by his other son, Brady Tkachuk, who plays for the Ottawa Senators. The team has undergone significant changes, including new ownership, management, and coaching staff. Brady, as a young captain, has faced adversity, but Keith emphasizes the importance of focusing on what can be controlled on the ice and learning from the experience. Keith Tkachuk expresses his optimism about the viability of the Arizona Coyotes as a fran
Tue, February 20, 2024
EP 5 Panthers on the Prowl
"Panthers on the Prowl" episode five of NHL Wraparound, the One-Timers segment kicks off with Vic praising Auston Matthews' brilliance, drawing a comparison between Matthews and Jagr's jersey numbers. Neil follows with an analysis of the pros and cons of the Stadium Series games. The main topics highlight Vancouver as the next powerhouse in the West, dissecting their recent performance, champions' headlines, and key acquisitions. The focus then shifts to the Florida Panthers' impressive 9-1-0 streak, discussing the team's swagger and influence on other franchises. The "Ask the GM" segment explores the strategic decisions of teams aiming to win immediately versus those building for the future. The episode concludes with a human side of the story, commemorating the 44th anniversary of the U.S. Olympic Team Gold Medal and sharing a poignant story about Walt Tkaczuk and his son in the Canadian mines. IN THIS EPISODE: [01:45] The hosts discuss outdoor games at the MetLife Center, covering highlights and fan experiences [03:33] A detailed analysis of Austin Matthews' goal-scoring brilliance and its impact on the team [06:03] In-depth coverage of the Canucks' game against Minnesota, including key plays and team strategies [12:18] Comprehensive discussion about the Florida Panthers, focusing on recent matches and standout players [22:33] Neil Smith emphasizes playoff experience's importance, citing Florida's comeback, and highlights Vancouver's lack of it for upcoming playoffs [23:30] Discussion on trade dynamics, GMs' delicate balance between immediate success and future considerations, and risks illustrated by past examples [24:16] Exploration of trade scenarios for contenders like Colorado and Vegas, plus the Philadelphia Flyers' cautious trade approach. [29:42] Ends with a human side of the story about Walter Kachuk's contributions to the New York Rangers KEY TAKEAWAYS: The significance of playoff experience is emphasized, contrasting Florida's comeback with Vancouver's inexperienced roster. The delicate balance for GMs between immediate success and future sustainability is explored, citing historical examples and potential moves by contenders. Tribute to former Rangers player Walter Kachuk, highlighting his unique background, contributions, and impressive rankings in Rangers' history. RESOURCE LINKS Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://t
Tue, February 13, 2024
EP 4 Flying Under the Radar with Kevin Cheveldayoff
In episode four, they discuss the unexpected success of teams like the Detroit Red Wings and Philadelphia Flyers, analyze the polarizing career of player Brad Marchand, delve into the significance of backup goaltenders, and examine the strategic decision-making process in team management, especially with the impending trade deadline. The episode also features a segment titled "Winterpeg" where they interview Kevin Cheveldayoff, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Winnipeg Jets, discussing the team's performance during a recent slump, the impact of player acquisitions like Elias Lindholm, and the strategic blueprint for potential moves involving players like Guentzel, Tanev, Hanafin, and Henrique. The hosts also touch on the decision to keep Bowness and re-sign Hellebuyck and Scheifele during a rebuild. The segment then transitions to the "Anatomy of handing out supplemental discipline," exploring the factors and considerations involved in making decisions on player discipline. The Human Side of the Story, includes Vic's reflection on Rendez-Vous '87, featuring Connal, Mees, Sacks, and Saunders. Neil shares a camp counselor story involving Jimmy Hughes. IN THIS EPISODE: [01:39] Teams causing trouble in the East [03:00] Updated playoff projections [03:21] Brad Marchand's 1000th game and career [06:09] Impact of backup goaltenders [11:00] Historical playoff goaltending trends [14:03] Introduction of Kevin Cheveldayoff GM of the Winnipeg Jets [16:39]Cheveldayoff's experience with Butch Goring [17:06] Winnipeg Jets' performance and Sean Monahan acquisition [26:39] Cheveldayoff discusses the emotional aspect of playoffs [27:18] Loss of key players due to injuries in the playoffs [28:39] Decision to part ways with Blake Wheeler and transition leadership to Adam Lowry [29:10] Trade and signaling commitment to pushing the team forward [33:21] Discussion about a recent incident in the Ottawa-Toronto game [39:39] Human Side of the Story Vic Mention of Rendezvous 87 and a personal reflection on colleagues [41:56] Neil shares his camp counselor experience with Jimmy Hughes and years of friendship. KEY TAKEAWAYS: The surprising performance of the Detroit Red Wings and the Philadelphia Flyers is causing havoc for other playoff contenders. The impact of backup goaltenders in the NHL is a current trend that may change the role of franchise goalies in winning the Stanley Cup. Kevin Cheveldayoff shares insights into team management and the challenges faced as a general manager. Neil Smith reflects on past experiences and the impact of his mentorship on the success of NHL players like the Hughes brothers. RESOURCE LINKS Youtube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/ch
Tue, February 06, 2024
Ep 3 Hats off to the Oilers with Craig MacTavish
Former Edmonton Oilers GM and coach Craig MacTavish joins Neil and Vic to discuss the team's recent performance and playoff hockey adversity. They also celebrate Gary Bettman's 31 years as NHL commissioner and delve into NHL standings projections. The challenges of NHL head coaches, recent firings, and mid-season coaching changes are explored. MacTavish highlights the Oilers' resurgence, discussing player choices, reclamation projects, and the team's response to adversity. Additionally, they take a nostalgic look at the evolution of the NHL All-Star Game, including historic moments and the modern skills competition. The Human Side of the Story segment reflects on falling in love with the game and memorable first NHL game experiences. IN THIS EPISODE: [01:51] One timers segment [02:00] Discussion on Gary Bettman's 31-year tenure as NHL commissioner [04:29] Projections of NHL Standings [05:55] Discussion on Coaching [14:03] Interview with special guest Craig MacTavish [24:21] Energy and big moments within the team, highlighting the contributions of specific players and coaches. [26:27] Emphasizes the importance of goaltending and the performance of Stuart Skinner. [27:06] Neil Smith reflects on the historical approach of the Oilers in identifying and developing talent, drawing parallels with the current regime under Ken Holland. [38:33] Significance of leadership in winning, with references to specific players and their impact on the team. [42:00] First NHL All Star game [44:55] Human Side of the Story [49:30] Closing remarks and invitation to join the next episode of the NHL Wraparound podcast. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Gary Bettman's 31-year tenure as the commissioner of the National Hockey League, highlighting the challenges and complexities of the role, as well as the growth of the league from 24 to 32 franchises under his leadership. The Edmonton Oilers' near-record-setting winning streak and the impact of coaching, player contributions, and defensive structure on the team's success. The significance of facing adversity in the playoffs and the lessons learned from previous playoff experiences, emphasizing the maturity and evolution of players such as Connor McDavid. Strategic considerations for team improvement and the impact of player acquisitions, such as the potential impact of trades on team dynamics and the need for bolstering certain areas to enhance the team's championship potential. RESOURCE LINKS Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: <a href="https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blan
Tue, January 30, 2024
Ep 2 GREAT Beginnings with Wayne Gretzky
Neil and Vic are joined by "The Great One," Wayne Gretzky, who shares his thoughts on the current generation's game, the improvement of players, and the future of the NHL. The hosts analyze several teams, including the New York Islanders, Edmonton Oilers, and Chicago Blackhawks. They scrutinized the recent adjustments implemented by Lou Lamoriello, the Islanders' General Manager, in the team's coaching structure. Additionally, they delved into the potential achievement of Auston Matthews reaching the impressive milestone of 800 goals. The hosts also shared anecdotes from their own experiences, detailing how they initiated their careers in the hockey industry. IN THIS EPISODE: [01:49] Discussing the State of the NHL: One-Timers [05:29] The Pressure on Toronto Maple Leafs [08:10] The Challenges of Managing the Maple Leafs [10:34] The Future of the Maple Leafs [15:20] Interview with Wayne Gretzky [19:54] Discussing the Future of NHL Stars [24:51] Discussing the Edmonton Oilers' Season Turnaround [25:28] Analyzing the Oilers' Team Structure and Performance [25:58] The Importance of Team Balance in the NHL [26:44] The Oilers' Trade Decisions and General Management [27:23] The Oilers' Playoff Prospects and Competition [28:24] Reflecting on the Oilers' Past Seasons and Future Potential [29:36] Transitioning to Gretzky's Career as an Analyst [33:32] Discussing the Islanders' Coaching Change [39:25] Reflecting on Personal Career Starts in Hockey [46:21] Wrapping Up and Looking Forward to Future NHL Action KEY TAKEAWAYS: Vic emphasizes the transient nature of determining the best teams in the league, highlighting the importance of playing well, staying healthy, securing favorable draws, and relying on luck as crucial factors heading into the playoffs Neil expresses concern about the Chicago Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks tearing down their teams to a bare minimum, impacting young talents like Connor Bedard, and discusses the challenges of rebuilding a team from scratch Pressure on the Toronto Maple Leafs due to their prolonged Stanley Cup drought since 1967 and the financial implications of players' contracts are highlighted Wayne Gretzky shares insights about the Edmonton Oilers' performance, emphasizing their turnaround, improved team structure, and potential as a legitimate contender in the playoffs, and discusses the challenges faced by young players adapting to the physicality of the NHL RESOURCE LINKS Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: h
Tue, January 23, 2024
EP 1 Wraparound Puck Drop
Welcome to the NHL wraparound podcast! It's time to drop the puck with hosts Neil Smith, President-General Manager of the 1994 Stanley Cup Champion New York Rangers and longtime ESPN/NHL veteran Vic Morren. They aim to bridge the past, present, and future of the game, providing diverse insights into the National Hockey League, including gameplay, opinions on broadcasting, and the evolution of the sport. The hosts emphasize their commitment to delivering a dynamic and evolving show, inviting audience participation and feedback to tailor the content to their subscribers' interests. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:30] - Introduction to the podcast by Vic Morren and Neil Smith [03:20] - Discussion on appreciating the history and future of the game [05:10] - Intriguing topics and guests for the podcast [11:09] - Discussion on the dominance of teams and upcoming playoffs [13:26] - Plans for future episodes and audience engagement [15:15] - Announcement of the first real show dropping on January 30th KEY TAKEAWAYS: The podcast aims to provide a comprehensive view of the NHL, covering historical perspectives, current gameplay, and future trends. Neil and Vic plan to feature interesting guests and engage with the audience through new segments, potentially including a mailbag for listener questions. The show promises to be both entertaining and informative, with a focus on delivering valuable insights and knowledge to the audience. RESOURCE LINKS Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/ NHL Wraparound Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/ NHL Wraparound Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nhlwraparound NHL Wraparound Facebook:: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555451139787 BIO: Neil S. Smith, highly regarded NHL executive, served as the President and General Manager of the 1994 Stanley Cup Champion New York Rangers. During his eleven years with the team,
Trailer · Tue, January 16, 2024
NHL Wraparound Trailer
Breadth and depth. Contemporary and historical. Straight-forward and experienced. The NHL Wraparound podcast features Neil Smith, President-General Manager of the 1994 Stanley Cup Champion New York Rangers and longtime ESPN/NHL veteran Vic Morren sharing no-nonsense opinions on news and issues around the National Hockey League. Bringing decades of experience from their respective fields, Smith and Morren create a unique partnership that examines the NHL from multiple perspectives. Additionally, as hockey historians, the pair can delve into any topic in today’s game and enlighten the audience with connections to events from previous years. To truly appreciate where hockey stands today, one needs to understand its past. With 2024 marking the 30th anniversary of the Rangers last championship season, a special five-part series is planned to commemorate that magical run. Expect fascinating behind-the-scenes stories and special guests with particular focus on the GM who pushed all of his chips into the middle of the table amidst the most pressurized environments – and came out on top. Whether you’re new to the game or a seasoned fan, each episode of NHL Wraparound will leave you entertained and informed. Bio’s Neil S. Smith, highly regarded NHL executive, served as the President and General Manager of the 1994 Stanley Cup Champion New York Rangers. During his eleven years with the team, they achieved significant success, including three division titles, two Presidents’ Trophies, one Eastern Conference Championship, and a historic Stanley Cup victory—the franchise’s first in 54 years. Known for his expertise in professional sports franchise economics, Smith played a pivotal role in management decisions under four different Rangers owners.. His tenure saw iconic trades and acquisitions, including Hall of Famers Mark Messier and Wayne Gretzky, as well as successful drafts and free-agent signings. Starting as a pro scout, Smith's career highlights include the impactful 1989 draft for the Detroit Red Wings and bold trades that shaped NHL history. He briefly served as GM for the New York Islanders in 2006, later working as a consultant for the Dallas Stars, Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. A Toronto native, Smith's hockey journey began in junior leagues before a distinguished college career at Western Michigan University. He has received numerous awards and distinctions, including induction into the University's Sports Hall of Fame in 1991. Vic Morren: Born in New York City close to the Old Madison Square Garden, Vic Morren has had hockey in his blood his entire life as a fan, player and television production manager. A graduate of William Paterson University, Morren skated for three seasons with the Pioneers hockey club and became the first statistical analyst to apply his craft to telecasts worki
S1 Enull · Mon, January 01, 2024
NHL Wraparound Podcast - Coming Soon
Breadth and depth. Contemporary and historical. Straight-forward and experienced. The NHL Wraparound podcast features Neil Smith, President-General Manager of the 1994 Stanley Cup Champion New York Rangers and longtime ESPN/NHL veteran Vic Morren sharing no-nonsense opinions on news and issues around the National Hockey League. Bringing decades of experience from their respective fields, Smith and Morren create a unique partnership that examines the NHL from multiple perspectives. Additionally, as hockey historians, the pair can delve into any topic in today’s game and enlighten the audience with connections to events from previous years. To truly appreciate where hockey stands today, one needs to understand its past. With 2024 marking the 30th anniversary of the Rangers last championship season, a special five-part series is planned to commemorate that magical run. Expect fascinating behind-the-scenes stories and special guests with particular focus on the GM who pushed all of his chips into the middle of the table amidst the most pressurized environments – and came out on top. Whether you’re new to the game or a seasoned fan, each episode of NHL Wraparound will leave you entertained and informed. Bio’s Neil S. Smith, highly regarded NHL executive, served as the President and General Manager of the 1994 Stanley Cup Champion New York Rangers. During his eleven years with the team, they achieved significant success, including three division titles, two Presidents’ Trophies, one Eastern Conference Championship, and a historic Stanley Cup victory—the franchise’s first in 54 years. Known for his expertise in professional sports franchise economics, Smith played a pivotal role in management decisions under four different Rangers owners.. His tenure saw iconic trades and acquisitions, including Hall of Famers Mark Messier and Wayne Gretzky, as well as successful drafts and free-agent signings. Starting as a pro scout, Smith's career highlights include the impactful 1989 draft for the Detroit Red Wings and bold trades that shaped NHL history. He briefly served as GM for the New York Islanders in 2006, later working as a consultant for the Dallas Stars, Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. A Toronto native, Smith's hockey journey began in junior leagues before a distinguished college career at Western Michigan University. He has received numerous awards and distinctions, including induction into the University's Sports Hall of Fame in 1991. Currently, Smith works as an analyst for NHL Network and Rogers Sportsnet, offering his unique insight into the sport he has significantly influenced. Vic Morren: Born in New York City close to the Old Madison Square Garden, Vic Morren has had hockey in his blood his entire life as a fan, player and television production manager. A graduate of William
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