NHL Wraparound Podcast

By Neil Smith & Vic MorrenSociety & Culture Sports Personal Journals Hockey

NHL Wraparound Podcast episodes

October 28 NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - Goalie Tales and the Dreaded Three-goal Lead - Oct. 28, 2026
Time to give the goalies a bit of the spotlight with Connor Hellebuyck headlining the card as a winner in his Devils debut.
We'll also look at one of the recent bugaboos in the NHL: the three-goal lead and three-games that delivered various results Tuesday.
As has been previously noted, fighting is up in the NHL during the first month of the season. Vic and Neil share thoughts as to why.
Finally, whatever did happen to those Brady Tkachuk jerseys that found their way down to the ice in Ottawa last week?
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 #NHLWraparound.com #ShortShifts #NYCentric #CelebritySeries #HallofFameEdition #StanleyCupdate #SummerCoolers #Smith'sPix #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #BZZR #UBS #TheLineup.pro #ConnorHellebuyck #JackHughes #JesperBratt #TimoMeier #AnthonyMantha #ArsenyGritsyuk #SheldonKeefe #SemyonVarlamov #IlyaSorokin #PeterDeBoer #MatthewSchaeffer #JamesReimer #DylanGarand #PavelDorofeyev #DevinCooley #MatveiGridin #MattCoronato #JonathanHuberdeau #CamFowler #JakubDobes #SamMontembeault #MichalPostava #ConnorMcDavid #LeonDraisaitl #RyanNugent-Hopkins #ToddMcLellan #DylanLarkin #SteveYzerman #ChrisIlitch #SimonEdvinsson #ShawnHorcoff #JamieDrysdale #KentJohnson #RickBowness #DeanEvason #JohnathanLekkerimaki #FilipHronek #JoelQuenneville #JakcsonLacombe #BradyTkachuk #MatthewTkachuk #ScottArniel #KevinCheveldayoff #OttawaCitizen #TannerJeannot #NicolasDeslauriers #JoeKocur #KirillMarchenko #YegorSharangovich #ZachHyman #AndreasEnglund #WarrenFoegele #JeremyLauzon #AndreLacroix #MarcTardif #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 #UtahMammoth #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #HartfordWolfpack #ProvidenceBruins #WHA #NewEnglandWhalers #HartfordWhalers
42 min
October 28 NHL Wraparound Smith's Pix - Oct. 28, 2026
Coming off a winless Monday, Neil took the big Tuesday schedule and ran with it going 7-4 for a straight up record of 124-74.
Check out his picks for a modest four-game Wednesday.
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 #NHLWraparound.com #ShortShifts #NYCentric #CelebritySeries #HallofFameEdition #StanleyCupdate #SummerCoolers #Smith'sPix #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #BZZR #UBS #TheLineup.pro
3 min
October 27 NHL Wraparound Smith's - Oct. 27, 2026
Some rarified air for Neil Monday and it wasn't good as all three favorites went down to defeat dropping his overall, straight up record to 117-70 (.626).
Having selected well with bigger schedules, an 11-game slate is on tap for Tuesday.
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 #NHLWraparound.com #ShortShifts #NYCentric #CelebritySeries #HallofFameEdition #StanleyCupdate #SummerCoolers #Smith'sPix #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #BZZR #UBS #TheLineup.pro
6 min
October 26 NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - Hellebuyck, Hughes & Heritage Classic - Oct. 26, 2026
"H" may stand for hockey but this past weekend saw three significant happenings around the NHL starting with that letter.
Connor Hellebuyck finally traded.
Quinn Hughes making his first return to Vancouver.
Tim Hortons Heritage Classic.
Vic and Neil will do the deep dive into each and also look revisit two teams that never appear to a backseat in the NHL news cycle.
That plus notable performances, personnel news, and...let's play "Connections."
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 #NHLWraparound.com #ShortShifts #NYCentric #CelebritySeries #HallofFameEdition #StanleyCupdate #SummerCoolers #Smith'sPix #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #BZZR #UBS #TheLineup.pro #ConnorHellebuyck #DawsonMercer #NickBjugstad #NicoDaws #StuSkinner #AlexanderCommand #KevinCheveldayoff #SonnyMehta #JacobMarkstrom #LaneHutson #KaidenGuhle #JacobFowler #JonathanToews #JohnPaddock #MikeSmith #EdOlczyk #StephaneMatteau #QuinnHughes #BradyTkachuk #MannyMalhotra #PeterDeBoer #AlexTuch #AustonMatthews #ConnorMcDavid #LeonDraisaitl #EvanBouchard #VasilyPodkolzin #DevinCooley #LannyMcDonald #MarkPavelich #NikitaKucherov #StevenStamkos #DarrenPang #CooperBlack #DevonLevi #DaveDryden #KenDryden #BobbyHull #DennisHull #MattiasEkholm #WilliamCarrier #JaredMcCann #AlexanderNikishin #JamesReimer #DylanGarand #SpencerMartin #CoreyPerry #MatsZuccarello #BryanTrottier #ClarkGillies #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 #UtahMammoth #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets
47 min
October 26 NHL Wraparound Smith's Pix - Oct. 26, 2026
Neil completed a 13-6 weekend with a 3-2 Sunday to move his straight up mark to 117-67 (.636). A three-game card awaits on Monday.
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 #NHLWraparound.com #ShortShifts #NYCentric #CelebritySeries #HallofFameEdition #StanleyCupdate #SummerCoolers #Smith'sPix #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #BZZR #UBS #TheLineup.pro
2 min
October 25 NHL Wraparound Smith's Pix - Oct. 25, 2026
Only the old overtime bugaboo could stop Neil from a truly spectacular night as Saturday delivered an 8-4 straight up record with three of those defeats coming in OT.
Nonetheless, he carries a 114-65 (.637) mark into a handful of Sunday games which includes Tim Hortons Heritage Classic between the Canadiens and Jets and former Canucks captain Quinn Hughes returning to Vancouver for the first time.
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 #NHLWraparound.com #ShortShifts #NYCentric #CelebritySeries #HallofFameEdition #StanleyCupdate #SummerCoolers #Smith'sPix #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #BZZR #UBS #TheLineup.pro
3 min
October 24 NHL Wraparound Smith's Pix - Oct. 24, 2026
After a few tepid nights following his torrid start, Neil won both Friday as the Canadiens skated out of Chicago with a victory as did the homestanding Avalanche against the Lightning. His straight up record improves to 106-61 (.635).
Similar to Thursday, a dozen games on tap Thursday including a couple of afternoon tilts.
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 #NHLWraparound.com #ShortShifts #NYCentric #CelebritySeries #HallofFameEdition #StanleyCupdate #SummerCoolers #Smith'sPix #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #BZZR #UBS #TheLineup.pro
7 min
October 23 NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - Brady's Return & Connor's Otherworldly - Oct. 23, 2026
If the NHL is delivering this much entertainment in October, we're in for one of the most memorable seasons ever.
From Brady Tkachuk's return to Ottawa to the pinball machine numbers Connor McDavid is putting up, the last two nights simply added to a terrific first month of play.
Meanwhile the Flyers and Kings have picked themselves off the mat and we'll have the latest on the condition of Penguins second-year forward Ben Kindel.
The good times keep rolling this weekend as Quinn Hughes makes his return to Vancouver while the Canadiens and Jets meet in the Tim Hortons Heritage Classic with Connor Hellebuyck having been traded to New Jersey.
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 #NHLWraparound.com #ShortShifts #NYCentric #CelebritySeries #HallofFameEdition #StanleyCupdate #SummerCoolers #Smith'sPix #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #BZZR #UBS #TheLineup.pro #BillLindsay #BradyTkachuk #MatthewTkachuk #SamBennett #RidlyGrieg #DmitryKulikov #DylanCozens #NickCousins #TimStutzle #LinusUllmark #SamErsson #TravisGreen #ConnorMcDavid #LeonDraisaitl #MarioLemieux #JackMichaels #JuusoValamaki #WayneGretzky #EvanBouchard #RyanNugent-Hopkins #SethJarvis #FrederikAndersen #DevinCooley #MattBoldy #ColeKnuble #MikeKnuble #BrandtClarke #ArtemiPanarin #CooperBlack #BenKindel #BryanRust #NickSuzuki #IgorChernyshov #NikolasMatinpalo #VincentDesharanis #JohnGibson #MichalPostava #MattiasEkholm #WilliamCarrier #RonDuguay #LeoCarlsson #QuinnHughes #ConnorHellebucyk #Dawson Mercer #NicoDaws #ClayStevenson #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 #UtahMammoth #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #VasovagalSyncope #TimHortonsHeritageClassic
37 min
October 22 NHL Wraparound Smith's Pix - Oct. 22, 2026
Neil split the two Wednesday games losing with Buffalo but spot on with the Senators galvanized to make Brady Tkachuk's return to Ottawa a miserable one.
A 12-pack awaits Thursday with a 98-55 straight up record.
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 #NHLWraparound.com #ShortShifts #NYCentric #CelebritySeries #HallofFameEdition #StanleyCupdate #SummerCoolers #Smith'sPix #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #BZZR #UBS #TheLineup.pro
7 min
October 21 Episode 119 - Hostile Homecoming - with Florida Panthers Radio Analyst Bill Lindsay - Oct. 21, 2026
Welcome home Brady!
Well, not exactly. After then-Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk informed the team during the off-season that he would not sign an extension beyond the 2027-28 season, the Senators opted to jettison Tkachuk to Florida.
Wednesday evening Tkachuk makes his return to Canada's capital and the reception is expected to be frosty.
Panthers radio analyst Bill Lindsay joins Vic and Neil to discuss the return and other news around the team.
We'll also have player news led by a scare concerning Penguins second-year forward Ben Kindel, other observations and Thelineup.pro Stat of the Week before wrapping up with Smith's Pix.
IN THIS EPISODE:
[01:54] - Panthers radio analyst is welcomed to the show and gives his immediate take on what he expects the reception will be for Brady Tkachuk upon his return to Ottawa.
[03:03] - With Tkachuk being an American leaving a Canadian city, whether politics actually played a part in Tkachuk's departure. Or does it come down to something much more simple?
[05:37] - Discussion on current players having greater control of where they want to play.
[07:52] - A sidebar story of Tkachuk asking any jerseys with his name or number, which may be tossed onto the ice, be donated.
[10:07] - The recent goal scoring outburst by not only Brady Tkachuk but the Panthers as a group.
[12:27] - Injury plagued in 2025-26, the Panthers are coping with the losses of captain Aleksander Barkov and Brad Marchand early this season.
[15:59] - The goaltending. After moving on from Sergei Bobrovsky, an injury to Jacob Markstrom gives both Akira Schmid and the tallest goaltender an NHL history the spotlight.
[20:40] - The calm behind the swirl of activity around the Panthers: Head Coach Paul Maurice.
[24:57] - Wrapping up the return of Brady Tkachuk to Ottawa as well as the return of Kirill Marchenko playing his first game in Columbus as a member of the Maple Leafs. Also, could we be seeing a new trend around the NHL when it comes to resting goalies?
[33:15] - Personnel news including a scary situation surrounding Penguins second-year forward Ben Kindel.
[39:32] - Saluting the offensive numbers of Connor McDavid and Nikita Kucherov.
[44:41] - A nod to a quartet of teams - two on the east coast and two on the west.
[48:17] - TheLineup.pro stat of the week.
[52:11] - Smith's Pix
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 #NHLWraparound.com #ShortShifts #NYCentric #CelebritySeries #HallofFameEdition #StanleyCupdate #SummerCoolers #Smith'sPix #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #BZZR #UBS #TheLineup.pro #BillLindsay #NHLNetwork #BradyTkachuk #MatthewTkachuk #CarterVerhaeghe #SamBennett #AlexanderBarkov #BradMarchand #JacobMarkstrom #CooperBlack #AkiraSchmid #SergeiBobrovsky #RobTallas #PaulMaurice #BrianLeetch #MarkMessier #MikeRichter #JohnVanbiesbrouck #GeorgeHainsworth #RoyWorters #ScottWedgewood #JakubDobes #BrandonBussi #CarterHart #FrederikAndersen #JohnTavares #DenisPotvin #KirillMarchenko #MatthewKnies #AdamFantilli #ZachWerenski #RickBowness #DonWaddell #GlennHall #JimHiller #BenKindel #BryanRust #CraigButton #ErikKarlsson #SidneyCrosby #EvgeniMalkin #MatiasMaccelli #SergeiBobrovsky #AnthonyStolarz #ArturAkhtyamov #CalumRitchie #LukeEvangelista #ConnorBrown #MattRoy #MatsZuccarello #QuintonByfield #PeterLaviolette #ThomasChabot #JakeSanderson #ConnorMcDavid #MarioLemieux #WayneGretzky #MikeBossy #BrentSutter #MarcelDionne #SteveYzerman #PhilEsposito #BernieNicholls #LeonDraisaitl #EvanBouchard #ZachHyman #MikeBabcock #NikitaKucherov #StevenStamkos #JeremyLauzon #LaneLambert #MacklinCelebrini #IgotShesterkin #DylanGarand #SpencerMartin #JoonasKorpisalo #GabePerreault #NoahLaba #WillCuylle #MarcoSturm #NikitaZadorov #DanVladar #Ukko-PekkaLuukkonen #RasmusDahlin #LinusUllmark #TravisGreen #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 #UtahMammoth #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets #QuebecNordiques #AtlantaThrashers #CharlotteCheckers
55 min

About NHL Wraparound Podcast

From the publisher's feed

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 working New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils games from 1984-87. He co-authored two NHL-based statistics books within that span before moving to ESPN in 1987 and working the final season of the original deal the network had with the NHL.

After departing in 1990, Morren worked as a studio producer for SportsChannel America’s NHL coverage and the 1992 Barcelona Olympics before returning to ESPN that fall where he worked all 12 seasons on the second ESPN/NHL deal and the first season of the most recent contract in 2021-22. Morren has also earned a Sports Emmy for his work on Sunday Night Football coverage in 2003.

His relationship with Neil Smith dates back 33 years through their mutual friendship with the late ESPN/ABC commentator John Saunders. Morren looks forward to NHL Wraparound and collaborating with Smith with the goal to provide an experience of contemporary viewpoints, historical spin and an overall enriching podcast experience.