Hockey Free For All

Hello Hockey Fans out there. Episode 207 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast is here and this week’s topics include-

#1. Stop with the attempts to cause chaos and discord regarding an upper body injury to defenseman Noah Dobson.

#2. The Montreal Canadiens have significant defensive depth beyond any other NHL club. Lane Hutson, Kaiden Guhle, Mike Matheson, Arber Xhekaj, Jayden Struble, Adam Engstrom, David Reinbacher, William Trudeau and even Luke Mittelstadt and anyone judges the last player, take a listen to Kent Hughes regarding this player.

#3. Nick Suzuki wraps up the 2025/2026 regular season with 101 points and is the first Montreal Canadiens player to hit the 100-point mark or more in 40 years.

#4. Cole Caufield scores 51 to tie Stephane Richer’s 1989/1990 season and is the first to do it in 36 years.

#5. Lane Hutson wraps up the 2025/2026 season tying Lary Robinsons single season all time assist record of 66 assists.

#6. Lane Hutson ties Larry Robinsons single season record of 66 assists by a Montreal defenseman.

#7. Montreal Canadiens center prospect Michael Hage is returning to the University of Michigan. People should be congratulating him to for having the Forsyth and wisdom he has displayed at age 20.

#8. Would it have been great to see and cheer for him in Montreal in the 2026/2027 season? Sure. But at the expense of his health or career.

#9. Fantastic news for the New Jersey Devils organization. New Jersey Devils Ownership have swooped in and stolon Sunny Metha from the Florida Panthers Organization, before the Toronto Maple Leaf’s could.

#10. With the New Jersey Devils hiring of Sunny Metha as their new General Manager, where does this leave the Toronto Maple Leaf’s?

#11. The Toronto Maple Leaf’s have a tremendous amount of issues, and the player roster and head coach position, is not part of that list of problems.

#12.  Apparently, many were offended in Toronto on locker clean out and exit interview day.

#13. Craig Beruby is the right coach for the Toronto Maple Leaf’s. The question is, are they smart enough to know that? If not, they will have many more problems.

#14. Patrick Allvin is out as General Manager in Vancouver. But he should not be the only change.

#15. Everyone other than the owner should be out and replaced in Vancouver.

#16. The Toronto Maple Leaf’s and the Vancouver Canucks are in nearly identical messes.

#17. The Columbus Blue Jackets have announced Rick Bowness is returning on a new 1-year deal as head coach.

#18. Canadiens prospect winger Vinzenz Rohrer has completed his time and contract with the Swiss National League team the ZSC Lions and has been reassigned to the Laval Rockets.

#19. Vinzenz Rohrer and Sean Farrell are the next generation of Brendan Gallagher and Paul Byron.

Hello Hockey Fans, welcome to episode 206 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast. It’s not just about players this week, it’s about General managers and Presidents of hockey clubs that have been relieved of their duties or that have stepped down.

#1. Coaching changes in 2026. January 12th 2026 in Columbus, Dean Evason out, Rick Bowness in. March 1st 2026 in Los Angeles, Jim Hiller out, D.J. Smith in.  March 29th in Las Vegas, Bruce Cassidy out, John Tortorella in. April 5th the N.Y. Islanders relieve Patrick Roy of his duties and name Peter DeBoer his replacement.

#2. General Manager news. Toronto, March 30th 2026 General Manager Brad Treliving fired. No replacement named as yet. Sunny Mehta looks like the obvious choice. New Jersey, April 6th 2026 Tom Fitzgerald out as General Manager. No replacement named as yet, but one has to wonder if this clears the way for Matin Brodeur to assume the G.M. role as well?

#3. Upper executive management of the Toronto Maple Leaf’s want to have far too much involvement in day-to-day operations.

#4. Anyone who’s good at what they do wants no part of, or to be involved with any franchise, company or even in any type of relationship, that has any kind of, or any amount of micromanagement within it.

#5. The injury list of the Florida Panthers this year is beyond eye opening. Here’s just the highlights Captain Matthew Tkachuk missed 47 games, Aleksander Barkov, Sam Reinhart and Johah Gadjovich all gone for the season and many others gone for weeks or months.

#6. Mats Naslund is keeping a close eye on Nick Suzuki, as he approaches the 100-point mark for the first time since Mat’s Naslund achieved it in the 1985/1986 season. Nick Suzuki has 98 and counting with the win against Tampa Bay last night.

#7. 41 years since a Montreal Canadiens player has reached 100 points, that is insane.

#8. Cole Caufield hits the 50-goal mark in last night’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, for the first time since Stephane Richer did in the 1989/1990 season. That too is insane.

#9. Juraj Slafkovsky hit’s the 30-goal mark for the first time in his career in the game in last night’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

#10. Dumbest trade proposal yet has Juraj Slofkavsky, Ivan Demidov a 2026 1st round pick, a 2027 1st round pick and Owen Beck to the Toronto Maple Leaf’s, and in return, Montreal received Austin Matthews and Michael Nylander.

#11. Not only are Ivan Demidov and Juraj Slafkovsky better than Matthews or Nylander, but so is Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Lane Hutson, Kaiden Guhle, Arber Xhekaj, Noah Dobson, Oliver Kapanen, Michael Hage, Alexander Zharovsky, Bryce Pickford, Adam Engstrom, L.J. Mooney, Jakub Dobes and Jacob Fowler.

#12. President of the Seattle Kraken Ron Francis has stepped down

Hello Hockey Fans Episode 205 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast has arrived, there is so much to discuss, this week’s topics include-

#1. What trade did Kent Huges need to make?

#2. The Montreal Canadiens have everything they need internally?

#3. Mason McTavish is not the 2nd line center Montreal needs.

#4. Michael Hage is the #2 center for the Montreal Canadiens.

#5. Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes are the best Management team in the NHL.

#6. Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes are the best Management team that the Montreal Canadiens have had since Sam Pollock.

#7. Toronto fires G.M. Brad Treliving

#8. The problems in Toronto go far beyond the player roster.

#9. The Las Vegas Golden Knights replace Bruce Cassidy with John Tortorella.

#10. The Ottawa Senators’ defense is getting crushed by injuries.

#12. Kirby Dach is injured again.

#13. It’s time to move on from Kirby Dach.

#14. The Montreal trades former 2nd round pick, Riley Kidney to Ottawa for center Jake Chiasson and goaltender Hunter Shepard.

#15. The Ottawa Senators have signed Penn State Goalie Keven Reider to a 2-year ELC

#16. David Reinbacher should remain in Laval for the rest of the 2025/2026 season.

#17. Montreal Canadiens Prospects Defenseman Bryce Pickford, Center Michael Hage and Winger Alexander Zharovsky are having lights out seasons.

#18. Jakub Dobes is the number one goaltender in Montreal.

#19. Is Grant McKenna still the undisputed number one overall pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft?

#20. IHF president Luc Tardif will not seek re-election.

#21. Connor McDavid’s comments are right on the mark regarding his organization.

#22. Alexander Carrier is out 2 to 4 weeks.

#23. Arber Xhekaj is back in the lineup but as a forward?

 #24. Start Arber Xhekaj on the 4th line for the rest of the season as a forward and let’s see how it plays out?

#25. Adam Engstrom called up from Laval to replace Alexander Carrier, not Arber Xhekaj.

#26. Could Arber and Florian Xhekaj be 2/3rds of the 4th line in 2026/2027 season.

#27. What warning would Gary Bettman possibly issue to the Montreal Canadiens?

#28. What’s with comparing Jacob Fowler to Carey Price?

#29. How about letting Jacob Fowler start his career before comparing him to anyone?

#30. Nick Suzuki is closing in on 100 points.

#31. Cole Caufield is closing in on 50 goals.

#32. Lane Hutson is closing in on Larry Robinson’s record.

#33.  Time to move on from Patrick Laine, Zachery Bolduc, Josh Anderson, Kirby Dach, Brendan Gallagher, Phillip Danault, Jake Evans, Joe Veleno, Alexander Carrier and Jayden Struble.

#34. 3 NCAA prospects for Montreal sign, TJ Hughes, Hank Cleaves and Isaiah Norlin.

#35. Montreal did not commit Grand Larceny with Alexander Zharovsky

#36. The Montreal Canadien have signed left defensive prospect Owen Protz to a 3-year entry level contract.

Hello Hockey Fan’s! Another bonus episode for this week has arrived. Episode 204 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast is about Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers, and will Connor McDavid finish his career in Edmonton?

#1. The state of the current team in Edmonton.

#2. Can the Edmonton Oilers as they currently are win the Stanley Cup?

#3. If the Edmonton Oilers can win the Stanley Cup before Connor McDavid’s newly signed extension expires, than Connor McDavid likely stays and finishes his career with the Edmonton Oilers.

#4. If the Edmonton Oilers do not win a Stanley Cup before Connor McDavid’s newly signed extension expires, it’s highly likely that Connor McDavid will finish his career elsewhere and not with the Edmonton Oilers.

#5. There is nothing indicating that Edmonton has the right mix to will a Stanley cup.

#6. There are many elements needed to win a Stanley that the Edmonton Oilers do have.

#6. There are just as many elements that the Edmonton Oilers do not have, that are needed to win a Stanley Cup.

#7. What the Edmonton Oilers actually do have.

#8. The components that the Edmonton Oilers do not have and are missing.

#9. It doesn’t look like the problem will be resolved, unless there is a significant mindset change within the organization. It’s unlikely that Connor McDavid gets his Stanley Cup or Stanley Cups in Edmonton.

#10. It seems very likely and an equal chance that Connor McDavid ends up with either the Los Angels Kings, Anaheim Ducks, Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Stars or at a slightly lower likelihood with the Utah Mammoth, which could be more possible than many would think.

Don’t underestimate the Utah Mammoth in this situation. The ownership of the Utah Mammoth is a highly motivated group with a tremendous to win and be successful as quickly, as effectively and as consistently as possible. The Ownership and management of the Utah Mammoth have absolutely no problem pulling the trigger on any deal that vaults the franchise into a consistent or top contender at all.

Hello Hockey Fans Episode 203 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast is a bonus episode about what’s going on in Toronto?

#1. It’s called lack of organizational stability.

#2. It’s called lack of direction.

#3. It’s called lack of a plan.

#4. It’s called lack of vision.

#5. There is a serious ego issue at the ownership level.

#6. There is a serious ego issue at the General Manager Position.

#6. Just throwing money at it, doesn’t work, just ask the New York Yankee’s.

#7. Having a few star players and no supporting cast doesn’t work in nearly any situation.

#8. There is no heart on the team.

#9. There has been far too many changes at the head coaching position far too often, and it’s been a very long time since a coach in Toronto has even remotely looked comfortable.

#10. Toronto is wasting it’s talent that it has and watching its window of opportunity flash by them that will be closed and over with before they know what hit’s them, and then its rebuild time once again for the Toronto Maple Leaf’s. Bet the Toronto Maple Leaf fans will love that!

Welcome to Episode 202 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast. This episode about goaltending part of the puzzle.

#1. This was saved as the last of the 3 puzzle pieces of the rebuild, because it is the most interesting and bizarre all at the same time.

#2. The state of Montreal’s goaltending right now.

#3. What has made absolutely no since at all regarding Montreal’s goaltending.

#4. Partial or across the board changes in Montreal’s goaltending after the 2025/2026 season.

#5. Does any current goaltender in Montreal on the roster in 2026/2027?

#6. Montreal has tremendous prospects and depth at the goaltending position, just like they do with defensive prospects and offensive prospects.

#7. Look at the prospects the Montreal Canadiens have collected regarding goaltending. They are having excellent seasons at every level. Jacob Fowler in Laval (AHL) who had a lights out career at Boston College and has continued it into the AHL flawlessly. Yevgeni Volokhin playing in the (KHL) and having another consecutive lights out season. Alexis Cournoyer, playing at Cornell University in the (ECAC) and is having a lights out year.

Additionally, on top of those prospects the Montreal Canadiens also have in there exist talent pool at the position of goaltending Quentin Miller who has found his home, playing at the University of Denver, one of the top programs, that’s been very successful for the last 10 years plus and is having a fantastic season.

They have Emmett Croteau who is a nearly identical carbon copy of Quentin Miller, as Emmett Croteau has found his home playing at Dartmouth College and is having a head turning season as well. That’s 5 options right there and there other just getting their feet wet and under them as well.

#8. There is absolutely no reason to look outside of the organization, someone explain what’s been the completely unfounded and pointless panic at this position, that I was going to say has been relentless in the 2025/2026 season, but’s its really been sadly going on since Carey Prices injury and with no valid reason.

Episode 201of the Hockey Free For All Podcast. This episode is all about the offense this week.

#1. What is the state of Montreal’s offense currently.

#2. The evolution of Montreal’s offense and where it goes after the 2025/2026 season.

#3. Who’s no longer there.

#4. Who makes it.

#5. How each player and the line play on actually compliments the other linemates, and the how’s and why it actually maximizes the effectiveness of each player on the line.

#7. What does Montreal’s offense likely end up looking like at the completion and why.

#6. Who gets traded or walks away in free Agency.

#8. How this will continue to not only shape the current roster on the ice, but how it will create continuous fantastic drafts that will keep the Montreal Canadiens flush with talent, even beyond the foreseeable future.

Hello Hockey Fan’s, Episode 200 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast has arrived for you. This week’s episode is all about the defense part of the puzzle.

#1. What is the state of Montreal’s defense currently.

#2. The evolution of Montreal’s defense.

#3. Who’s no longer there.

#4. Who makes it.

#5. How each player and who they are paired with truly compliments, and the how’s and why it actually maximizes the effectiveness of each pairing.

#7. What does Montreal’s defense likely end up looking like at the completion and why.

#6. Who gets traded.

#8. How this will continue to not only shape the current roster on the ice, but will create continuous fantastic drafts that will keep the Montreal Canadiens flush with talent, even beyond the foreseeable future.

Hello hockey fans Episode 199 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast topics has arrived and the topics include-

#1. Ivan Demidov loves playing with Juraj Slafkovsky.

#2. Why Move Juraj Slafkovsky back to Nick Suzuki’s line?

#3. Why not Leave Kirby Dach on the left wing on Suzuki’s line?

#4. If Slafkovsky is moved to Suzuki’s line, then replace Juraj Slafkovsky with Alex Newhook on Demidov’s line.

#5. If Montreal trades Arber Xhekaj, Montreal better be prepared to include Florian Xhekaj as part of that trade.

#6. Montreal has no other physical presence other than Arber Xhekaj.

#7. There is no other player in the NHL like Arber Xhekaj.

#8. The players that Montreal needs to move on from and trade are obvious.

#9. What does Sergei Bobrovsky, Jordan Binnington or Jasper Wallstedt bring or have that Jacob Fowler, Yevgeni Volokhin or Alexis Cournoyer do not?  

#10. What would Jordan Kyrou actually bring to the Montreal Canadiens that Alexander Zharnovsky won’t bring to Montreal Next season for a lot less money?

#11. What would Robert Thomas actually bring to the Montreal Canadiens that Michael Hage won’t bring to Montreal Next season and for far less money and prospects that Robert Thomas will cost the Montreal Canadiens?

#12. Jordan Kyrou 8 million plus per season for 5 more years.

#13. Robert Thomas 8 million plus per season for 5 more years.

#14. Nazem Kadri 7 million per season for 3 more years

#15. Nazem Kadri is 35 years and on the back nine!

#16. Ryan O’Reilly has the 2025/2026 and the 2026/2027 season remaining on his contract at 4.5 million per season, though a manageable number, is 34 years old?

#17. The Montreal Canadiens have more than enough veteran leadership and do not need any more.

#18. Wow, really Vinsent Trocheck and his remaining 40 million dollars of contract is a need in Montreal?

#19. Jake DeBrusk is a need in Montreal, “are you kidding”?

#20. Left wing Mason Marchment fits in Montreal because?

#21. St. Louis is asking for Michael Hage, Kaiden Guhle and 4 first round picks. Connor McDavid isn’t worth that compensation.

#22. The asking price by all NHL clubs at the 2026 trade deadline is off the chart ridiculous and insanely unrealistic.

#21. Montreal doesn’t have enough roster room for all of its own players.

#22. Montreal has the least cap space of any team in the NHL.

#23. Adam Engstrom can step in and replace Kaiden Guhle Tomorrow.

#24. Bryce Pickford is the right-handed defensive pairing for Lane Hutson.

#25. Over the summer, Montreal needs to move Kaiden Guhle, Samuel Montembeau, Brendan Gallagher, Josh Anderson, Jake Evans, Alexander Carrier, Jayden Struble, Samuel Blais and Joe Veleno and promote internal talent that’s waiting and ready.

#26. Michael Hage and Alexander Zharnovsky are top 6 players that need roster spots next season.

Episode 198 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast Topics

#1. If Montreal wants to win the Stanley Cup again in the foreseeable future, they better not even consider trading Arber Xhekaj.

#2. There absolutely no physicality on the Montreal Canadiens roster other than Arber Xhekaj.

#3. The only other 2 physical prospects that the Montreal Canadiens have within their entire organization at any level are Florian Xhekaj and Owen Protz.

#4. The Montreal Canadiens show consider this very carefully if they even consider trading Arber Xhekaj. Not only who is going to protect the Lane Hutson’s, Cole Caufield’s, Nick Suzuki’s, Alexander Texier’s, Ivan Demindov’s, Alexander Zharovsky’s and Alex Newhook’s.

#5. Montreal trades Arber Xhekaj, both the organizations management, its fan base, NHL league personnel and others around the league and the sport better get ready to see Lane Hutson, Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, Alexander Texier, Ivan Demindov, Alexander Zharovsky and Alex Newhook spending a lot of time on the long term injury list like Carey Price and everyone knows what happened to his career and how it came to an end.

#6. Arber Xhekaj is the sole reason other teams do take runs at afore mentioned players.

#7. Noah Dobson doesn’t, Mike Matheson doesn’t, Kaiden Guhle, Alexander Carrier and Jayden Struble do not have Arber Xhekaj’s physical element in their games.

#8. Kaiden Guhle and David Reinbacher have not been able to stay consistently healthy to date.

#9. Adam Engstrom, Bryce Pickford or Bogdan Konyushkov are not going to bring that physical element either.

#10. Only defensive prospect Owen Protz at 6’ 02 210 lbs and Forward prospect Florian Xhekaj at 6’ 04 and 205lbs bring the level of physicality to and with their games that Arber Xhekaj does. That 2 prospects in the entire organization, that’s not a lot.

#11. Samuel Montembeau has looked lost since day one of the 2025/2026 training camp.

#12. Fortunately, Jakub Dobes’s game has returned to October 2025 form at the same time that Montembeau’s game has vaporized.

#13. Do you call up Jacob Fowler, or do you let him get a massive amount of starts and minutes in Laval?

#14. Is Kaapo Kahkonen the answer to the backup goalie sport to spell Jakub Dobes when he needs a game off?

#15. If Montreal decides to acquire a backup goalie, they should engage in no trade that costs them more than prospect Riley Kidney, Sammy Blais or Josiah Didier. Nothing more. It’s a band aid trade for the remainder of the 2025/2026 season and nothing more.