NHL Wraparound Podcast

The Utah Mammoth took a major step forward last season, finishing with 92 points and reaching the playoffs for the first time since the 2020 bubble—and only the second time in 14 seasons dating back to the Arizona era. After losing to Vegas in six games, GM Bill Armstrong responded with an aggressive offseason built around keeping his core together while adding veteran leadership. Neil Smith and Vic Morren both see Utah as a team on the rise, with the potential to move beyond the wild-card conversation and challenge for a top-three spot in the Central Division.

[00:00:00] Utah finishes fourth in the Central with 92 points and finally returns to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

[00:00:20] The Mammoth take a 2-1 series lead against Vegas before ultimately falling to the Golden Knights in six games.

[00:00:35] Andre Tourigny enters his sixth season with the organization after overseeing significant progress dating back to the Arizona Coyotes years.

[00:00:50] Bill Armstrong focuses on continuity during the offseason with six re-signings and extensions.

[00:01:00] Utah also matches New Jersey’s offer sheet to Barrett Hayton, keeping him on a one-year, $4.775 million contract.

[00:01:15] Former Islanders captain Anders Lee joins Utah on a three-year, $5.4 million-per-season deal, adding leadership and character.

[00:01:30] Vinny Trocheck arrives from the Rangers in exchange for Sean Durzi, Cole Beaudoin and a 2027 third-round pick.

[00:01:45] Vic asks whether Utah has progressed beyond simply being a playoff team and could emerge as a major force in the Western Conference.

[00:02:00] Neil stops short of calling the Mammoth a powerhouse but believes they have broken through the wild-card bubble.

[00:02:15] Instead of scratching and clawing for one of the final playoff spots, Neil believes Utah can challenge for a top-three position in the Central.

[00:02:30] Trocheck receives particularly high marks as an addition who can strengthen Utah down the middle.

[00:02:40] Neil also loves what Lee brings in leadership and character, although he questions whether three years might be one year too many at this stage of Lee’s career.

[00:02:55] Overall, Neil believes Armstrong has done an excellent job strengthening a roster that was already moving in the right direction.

[00:03:00] Nick Schmaltz receives a major commitment with an eight-year contract worth $8 million annually.

[00:03:15] Michael Carcone, Kailer Yamamoto, Kevin Stenlund and Nick DeSimone are also retained.

[00:03:25] John Marino receives an eight-year, $6.75 million extension beginning in 2027-28.

[00:03:35] Defenseman Andrew Peeke joins Utah from Boston on a one-year deal, providing another veteran option on the blue line.

[00:03:45] Utah’s optimism extends beyond the NHL roster. The prospect pipeline includes 2024 sixth-overall selection Tij Iginla, son of Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla.

[00:04:00] Caleb Desnoyers, the fourth overall selection in 2025, gives the organization another high-end young forward.

[00:04:10] Goaltending prospects Sebastian Cossa and Michael Hrabal provide additional organizational depth for the future.

[00:04:25] Neil closes with a clear assessment: Utah has taken meaningful steps and should be considered one of the NHL’s teams on the rise.

The Mammoth are no longer simply hoping to sneak into the postseason. Armstrong has retained key players, added Trocheck and Lee, and built a prospect pipeline capable of supporting the NHL roster. After 92 points and a playoff appearance, the next challenge is establishing Utah as a consistent top-three Central Division team—and Neil and Vic believe the pieces are beginning to fall into place.

The Vancouver Canucks are starting over. After finishing dead last with only 58 points, a minus-100 goal differential and a staggering 32-point decline, the organization has undergone a major housecleaning. Ryan Johnson takes over as GM alongside co-presidents Daniel and Henrik Sedin, while Manny Malhotra replaces Adam Foote behind the bench. Neil Smith and Vic Morren aren’t talking playoffs—they’re looking for signs that Vancouver can finally begin building something sustainable.

[00:00:00] Vancouver undergoes a complete organizational reset after one of the NHL’s most difficult seasons.

[00:00:15] Ryan Johnson becomes GM, working alongside the Sedin brothers as co-presidents of hockey operations, while Manny Malhotra takes over as head coach.

[00:00:30] The numbers tell the story: 58 points, last overall, a minus-100 goal differential and a 32-point decline from 2024-25.

[00:00:45] Vancouver finishes tied for 30th offensively while ranking last in both defense and penalty killing.

[00:01:00] With expectations low, Vic asks what Johnson, the Sedins and Malhotra should consider meaningful progress this season.

[00:01:15] Neil believes the first objective is simply becoming a more unified team that competes consistently every night.

[00:01:25] Elias Pettersson becomes one of the organization’s biggest projects after his production dramatically declined.

[00:01:45] Brock Boeser remains an important piece, but Vancouver no longer resembles the roster that finished first just a few seasons ago.

[00:02:00] The most significant difference is the absence of Quinn Hughes, leaving Vancouver without the superstar defenseman who previously drove so much of its attack.

[00:02:15] Brendan Gallagher arrives in his hometown, bringing leadership, energy and the relentless style that has defined his career.

[00:02:30] Neil likes Gallagher’s competitiveness but still sees a roster nowhere close to serious playoff contention.

[00:02:40] Vic finds some positives in Vancouver’s outside additions, including Paul Cotter from New Jersey, Luke Schenn from Buffalo and Jamie Oleksiak from Seattle.

[00:02:55] Those veterans give Malhotra some size, leadership and foundational pieces as he attempts to establish a new culture.

[00:03:00] The departures continue with Nils Höglander traded to Nashville and Marcus Pettersson going to the Rangers for a conditional 2030 first-round pick.

[00:03:15] Teddy Blueger signs with Toronto, goaltender Jiri Patera heads to Boston and Curtis Douglas joins Seattle.

[00:03:30] Vic believes another seventh- or eighth-place finish is possible, but standings position shouldn’t be the only measurement of progress.

[00:03:40] If Vancouver can approach 70 points and develop a stronger team identity under Malhotra, there may finally be something to build upon.

[00:03:50] An interesting prospect storyline involves Malhotra’s son Caleb, who is headed to Boston University after ultimately being drafted by Vancouver.

[00:04:00] Neil wonders whether a strong freshman season could eventually lead Caleb Malhotra to join his father’s organization.

[00:04:15] Other prospects to watch include 2025 15th-overall selection Braeden Cootes and 2022 15th-overall pick Jonathan Lekkerimäki.

[00:04:30] Lekkerimäki has already appeared in 37 NHL games over two seasons and enters the final year of his entry-level contract with an opportunity to establish himself.

This season isn’t about expecting Vancouver to return immediately to the playoffs. It’s about rebuilding an identity. Malhotra needs Pettersson to rebound, young players to emerge and the entire roster to compete more consistently. After hitting the bottom with 58 points, even a climb toward 70 accompanied by meaningful development would represent an important first step.

The Pittsburgh Penguins surprised almost everyone in 2025-26, returning to the playoffs for the first time in four years before losing to Philadelphia in six games. Their offense exploded from 18th to third overall, the defense improved, and Dan Muse emerged as a Jack Adams finalist in his first season behind the bench. But Neil Smith and Vic Morren see warning signs. Pittsburgh remains built around Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang, several players who produced career seasons are gone, and goaltending has become a major question. Can the Penguins recreate last year’s magic?

[00:00:00] Pittsburgh exceeds expectations, makes its first playoff appearance in four years, but still hasn’t won a postseason series since 2018.

[00:00:30] The offense jumps to third in the NHL, the penalty kill finishes tied for sixth, and even the declining power play remains seventh at 24.1%.

[00:01:00] Despite Kyle Dubas reshaping the supporting cast, the franchise remains centered around Crosby, Malkin and Letang—a trio totaling 118 years of age.

[00:01:25] Malkin returns for another season, while Crosby and agent Pat Brisson are reportedly discussing another contract.

[00:01:45] Neil dismisses retirement speculation around Crosby, joking that the superstar seems capable of playing forever while maintaining an incredibly high level.

[00:02:00] Pittsburgh’s 41-25-16 record essentially amounts to 41 wins and 41 regulation/OT/shootout losses, but it was still far better than Neil and Vic expected.

[00:02:20] Dan Muse deserves considerable credit. The former Rangers assistant replaced Mike Sullivan and became a top-three Jack Adams candidate.

[00:03:00] Vic compares Pittsburgh to Washington’s previous surprise season because so many Penguins produced performances above expectations.

[00:03:15] Anthony Mantha delivered a career year before leaving for New Jersey, while Tommy Novak, Ben Kindel, Justin Brazeau, Noel Acciari and Blake Lizotte also contributed.

[00:03:35] Dubas attempts to replace those losses by adding Trevor van Riemsdyk and Andrei Kuzmenko while extending Novak and Connor Dewar.

[00:04:00] Pittsburgh also hopes Igor Cherepanov can take another step after playing extremely well following his arrival from Columbus.

[00:04:25] Neil identifies Mantha’s departure as a significant hole because his career-best production was an important part of Pittsburgh’s surprising season.

[00:04:50] Goaltending becomes another concern with Tristan Jarry and Stuart Skinner gone and Arturs Silovs potentially being asked to carry the No. 1 role.

[00:05:20] Neil worries that age, lost production and the disappearance of Muse’s first-year coaching boost could lead to regression.

[00:05:45] Sergei Murashov is expected to compete for the backup role after making four starts last season.

[00:06:00] Hendrix Lapierre, Kaedan Korczak and Nick Robertson are among the other offseason additions.

[00:06:25] One contract catches Vic’s attention: Ville Koivunen receives eight years at $4 million annually despite having only 47 games of NHL experience.

[00:07:00] Neil believes Dubas is betting heavily on analytics projecting Koivunen into a much better player than his current NHL numbers suggest.

[00:07:30] At $4 million, the gamble is manageable by modern NHL standards—but an eight-year miss would still consume valuable cap space.

[00:08:00] Defensive departures include John St. Ivany, Connor Clifton and Ryan Shea, while Skinner leaves for Winnipeg.

[00:08:25] Pittsburgh needs another wave of young players to emerge, including Harrison Brunicke and Rutger McGroarty.

[00:08:45] McGroarty has only four goals in 32 career NHL games, and Neil believes it is time for the former 14th overall pick to take a significant step.

[00:09:00] For Pittsburgh to duplicate last season, Neil believes somebody will need to produce another unexpected career year.

The Penguins proved last season that counting out Crosby and company can be dangerous. But they are older, several surprise contributors are gone, and the goaltending picture is uncertain. Pittsburgh may need another remarkable coaching job from Muse—and another collection of unexpected breakout seasons—to recreate last year’s success.

The Tampa Bay Lightning enter 2026-27 with Jon Cooper beginning his 15th season behind the bench after finally capturing the Jack Adams Award. But Tampa Bay’s championship core is getting older, and GM Julien BriseBois made some fascinating decisions this summer. Darren Raddysh and Nick Paul are gone, while veteran John Carlson joins a blue line already featuring Victor Hedman and Ryan McDonagh. Neil Smith and Vic Morren examine whether Tampa still has another Stanley Cup run left—or whether age is finally becoming the Lightning’s biggest opponent.

[00:00:00] Jon Cooper begins his 15th season with Tampa Bay after receiving the long-awaited Jack Adams Trophy as NHL Coach of the Year.

[00:00:20] One of the offseason’s biggest surprises is Darren Raddysh being signed and then traded following a breakout season on Tampa’s injury-depleted blue line.

[00:00:40] Raddysh signs an eight-year, $8.5 million-per-season contract before being sent to Toronto for a 2026 fifth-round pick.

[00:00:55] Nick Paul also heads to Toronto after establishing himself as one of the NHL’s more dependable middle-six forwards.

[00:01:00] Tampa receives goaltender Dennis Hildeby plus 2027 and 2028 draft picks in the Paul deal.

[00:01:15] John Carlson joins Tampa as a free agent, but his arrival only increases the age of an already veteran defense.

[00:01:30] Victor Hedman is 35, Carlson 36 and Ryan McDonagh 37, creating questions about how long this defensive core can remain effective.

[00:01:45] Neil notes that Hedman is reportedly healthy and ready to return after not playing following March 10.

[00:02:00] Tampa will miss Raddysh’s booming point shot and the career-best offensive season he produced before being dealt.

[00:02:20] Neil believes the Lightning need to begin stocking the organization with younger defensemen because Hedman, Carlson and McDonagh cannot remain the foundation forever.

[00:02:40] The aging issue extends up front. Nikita Kucherov is 33, Jake Guentzel 31 and Brayden Point 30, while Brandon Hagel is 27.

[00:03:00] Andrei Vasilevskiy remains an elite goaltender, but Neil points to his history of hip issues as something Tampa must continue monitoring.

[00:03:25] Hildeby provides another option in goal, while Tampa also adds Matt Zuccarello and Ilya Mikheyev.

[00:03:50] Jeffrey Viel and Jansen Harkins bring bottom-six depth, with Viel coming off an impressive playoff performance in Anaheim.

[00:04:00] Scott Sabourin returns on a one-year deal, giving Tampa additional toughness for matchups against its increasingly physical Florida rival.

[00:04:30] Neil likes Viel and Sabourin as players who can provide some of the grit Tampa will need against the Panthers.

[00:05:00] Corey Perry returns to Los Angeles, while Oliver Bjorkstrand joins the Rangers, Mitchell Chaffee heads to the Islanders and Declan Carlile signs with Pittsburgh.

[00:05:20] Prospects to watch include Sam O’Reilly, Dylan Duke and 2023 second-round pick Ethan Gauthier.

[00:05:45] Vic returns to the biggest offseason question: why trade Raddysh when he is six years younger than Carlson and both received $8.5 million annually?

[00:06:00] Neil believes the answer is track record. Raddysh produced one outstanding season, while Carlson has demonstrated his value for roughly a decade.

[00:06:20] Tampa is committing only two years to Carlson compared with the eight-year commitment attached to Raddysh.

[00:06:40] Neil considers Raddysh’s contract a major gamble because he has only one season that truly supports an $8.5 million valuation.

[00:07:00] BriseBois apparently decided he could not justify that long-term risk, accepted a fifth-round pick and moved on.

Tampa Bay still possesses Kucherov, Point, Guentzel, Hedman and Vasilevskiy, so the talent remains formidable. But this is now the NHL’s seventh-oldest roster, and several cornerstone players are entering the later stages of their careers. The Lightning remain dangerous—but the urgency to squeeze another championship out of this core is becoming impossible to ignore.

Two years ago at this time, the Nashville Predators were the talk of the NHL signing a trio of high-profile free agents and assuming the expectations that came with it. In short, 2024-25 was a train wreck from opening night.

Last season didn't start much better before a late push got the Predators into a spot in late March before falling short at the finish.

After an aggressive off-season by new team President/GM Chris MacFarland improved team depth considerably, the expectations have returned.

Head coach Andrew Brunette joins Neil and Vic to discuss a pivotal season coming up in Music City.

There's also some league news to catch up on as a former villain in Montreal signs with the Canadiens and the effect that has on the Anaheim Ducks.

IN THIS EPISODE

[01:18] - Predators head coach Andrew Brunette is welcomed to the show with a quick look back to the Game 7 overtime goal he scored for Minnesota in Colorado in 2003, a goal which was the last surrendered by Patrick Roy in his brilliant NHL career.

[02:53] - A seventh-round pick in both junior hockey and in the NHL, Brunette comments on a career spanning over 1100 games with a half dozen organizations including Nashville and twice with Minnesota.

[06:25] - The aspiration to be a head coach amidst having assumed several front office roles with Minnesota upon retirement as a player in 2013.

[11:02] - After taking over Florida for Joel Quenneville early in the 2021-22 season, Brunette leads the Panthers to the Presidents' Trophy and is a coach of the year finalist, yet is replaced. As opposed to accepting a front office position with Florida, he opts to join New Jersey as an associate coach in order to remain behind the bench.

[13:16] - The call from Nashville to be the head coach and what could have been in the Predators opening round series with Vancouver in 2024.

[15:53] - The summer of 2024. Three high-profile free agent signings came with equally high expectations for the Predators. Brunette candidly speaks about the difficulty of that season from its very outset.

[19:20] - 2025-26 started much like the season before. However, things eventually began to kick in and the team just fell short of the playoffs after finding themselves in a spot in late March. Brunette credits then-GM Barry Trotz for helping him grow through two challenging seasons.

[22:16] - Just as there was a transition two years ago with new players, there comes another one with Chris MacFarland coming over from Colorado to replace Trotz.

[24:05] - With MacFarland making a quick impression with numerous acquisitions, the feeling with this new group and the experience of two seasons ago that prepares Brunette for the expectation this time around.

[26:46] - What fans can expect to see when the Predators are on their game.

[29:14] - Wrapping up the discussion with Andrew Brunette and other league news including Chris Kreider's arrival in Montreal, a controversial signing in Edmonton, a former captain headed to Red Wings training camps and a couple of retirements.

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/

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The Seattle Kraken enter 2026-27 facing serious questions about the direction of the franchise. Seattle finished with just 79 points and missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season—and for the fourth time in five years since entering the NHL. Neil Smith and Vic Morren believe the early success of the Vegas Golden Knights created expectations Seattle has never been able to match. Even more concerning, high-end players appear unwilling to choose Seattle, while the Kraken have done little to pivot when those pursuits fail.

[00:00:00] Seattle finishes sixth with 79 points and misses the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the third consecutive season.

[00:00:25] The Kraken have reached the postseason only once in five seasons, advancing to Game 7 of the second round in 2023.

[00:00:45] Vic believes Vegas’ immediate expansion success created an unrealistic comparison for Seattle and raised expectations the Kraken have never approached.

[00:01:00] Neil is surprised Seattle has struggled to attract free agents because he views the city as a tremendous hockey destination with an outstanding arena.

[00:01:30] Despite those advantages, Neil says he does not like what he sees from Seattle heading into this season.

[00:01:50] Vic compares Seattle’s inactivity to Calgary’s previous offseason, when the Flames did almost nothing despite needing improvement.

[00:02:00] Seattle’s lone trade addition is Mackie Samoskevich from Florida for a 2026 first-round pick and conditional 2027 second.

[00:02:25] Goaltender Viktor Östman re-signs, while captain Jordan Eberle and Bobby McMann also remain with the Kraken.

[00:02:45] Curtis Douglas arrives from Vancouver as a bottom-six forward, representing Seattle’s only notable outside UFA addition.

[00:03:00] Two original Kraken players depart: Jaden Schwartz signs with Colorado and Jamie Oleksiak heads to Vancouver.

[00:03:15] Neil says Seattle’s problem goes beyond inactivity—the Kraken are being turned down by star players.

[00:03:25] Artemi Panarin reportedly had an opportunity to go to Seattle before joining Los Angeles but chose the Kings despite Seattle being able to offer more money.

[00:03:45] Jason Robertson also reportedly rejects an opportunity to move to Seattle before ultimately signing a one-year deal to remain with Dallas.

[00:04:00] Neil distinguishes Seattle from a market like Calgary. Seattle can pursue high-end players financially, but when those players say no, the Kraken seemingly have no Plan B.

[00:04:20] Neil also questions the organizational direction following Ron Francis’ departure and Jason Botterill taking over as GM.

[00:04:40] Lane Lambert begins his second season behind the Seattle bench, but Neil remains highly skeptical about the roster surrounding him.

[00:05:00] Offense is the biggest concern after Seattle finished 28th in scoring last season.

[00:05:15] Jordan Eberle led the Kraken with only 55 points, one of the lowest team-leading scoring totals anywhere in the NHL.

[00:05:30] That places even more attention on Matty Beniers, the second overall selection in 2021 and former Calder Trophy winner.

[00:05:45] Vic believes Seattle needs considerably more than approximately 20 goals and 50 points from a player drafted to become one of the franchise’s cornerstones.

[00:06:00] Neil agrees. Beniers had an excellent rookie season but has not developed into the impact player Seattle expected.

The Kraken need more than incremental improvement. They need stars, offense and a clearer organizational direction. Neil and Vic’s biggest concern is that Seattle is pursuing elite talent, getting rejected, and then failing to find meaningful alternatives. Unless Beniers takes a major step and the existing roster produces far more offense, another difficult season could be ahead.

The St. Louis Blues enter a new era with Alex Steen replacing longtime GM Doug Armstrong and Jim Montgomery beginning his third season behind the bench. After finishing with 86 points and missing the playoffs for the third time in four years, Steen has already begun reshaping the roster. Jordan Kyrou is gone, while Connor McMichael and Mason McTavish arrive as major additions. Neil Smith and Vic Morren see some intriguing pieces—but question whether St. Louis has enough depth to be anything more than a wild-card contender.

[00:00:00] Alex Steen takes over as GM from Doug Armstrong as St. Louis begins a new chapter with Jim Montgomery entering his third season as head coach.

[00:00:20] The Blues finish with 86 points and miss the playoffs for the third time in four seasons despite making a strong late push.

[00:00:35] Most of the underlying numbers decline. St. Louis drops from 13th to 24th offensively and from 10th to 19th defensively.

[00:00:50] The power play falls from 16th to 27th, while the penalty kill provides one of the few statistical improvements.

[00:01:00] Steen’s biggest move sends Jordan Kyrou to Washington for Connor McMichael, Milton Gastrin and a 2026 first-round pick.

[00:01:15] The Blues are betting that McMichael can rediscover the form he displayed with Washington during the 2024-25 season.

[00:01:25] Mason McTavish also arrives from Anaheim in exchange for two first-round picks, giving St. Louis another talented young forward with considerable upside.

[00:01:40] Neil likes both McMichael and McTavish, although he also recognizes the scoring ability St. Louis surrendered by moving Kyrou.

[00:01:55] The Blues add more size to the blue line by acquiring Brandon Carlo for two third-round selections.

[00:02:00] RFA Dylan Holloway receives a five-year contract worth $7.75 million annually, making him another important part of the long-term core.

[00:02:15] Jonatan Berggren returns on a one-year, $2 million deal after not receiving a qualifying offer.

[00:02:25] Ross Johnston arrives from Anaheim on a three-year deal, bringing additional toughness after a strong season with the Ducks.

[00:02:40] Dylan Dubé also joins the forward group from Calgary.

[00:02:50] The Blues avoid losing many major pieces beyond Kyrou. Hunter Skinner departs for Nashville, while Justin Holl signs with Washington and Matt Luff heads to the Islanders.

[00:03:00] Goaltending remains an intriguing storyline after Joel Hofer supplanted Jordan Binnington as the No. 1 last season.

[00:03:15] Binnington was frequently mentioned in trade speculation around the deadline, but remaining in St. Louis gives him an opportunity for a fresh start.

[00:03:25] Young players including Dalibor Dvorak and Jimmy Snuggerud could provide additional support around established forwards Robert Thomas, Jake DeBrusk and Pavel Buchnevich.

[00:03:40] Vic sees an extremely fine line between St. Louis becoming a legitimate wild-card team and once again falling short.

[00:03:50] Neil agrees, identifying depth as the biggest concern. Injuries exposed the roster badly last season when Montgomery simply did not have enough quality replacements.

[00:04:00] The Blues fought their way to 86 points but could never quite cross the playoff line. Neil sees a similar challenge this season.

St. Louis has made meaningful changes under Steen, and McMichael and McTavish give the Blues intriguing upside. But this roster still needs health, improved special teams and more depth to survive a difficult Central Division. Neil’s assessment is straightforward: if everything goes right, the Blues can battle for a playoff berth—but their ceiling currently looks like a wild-card team.

The Philadelphia Flyers finally appear to be moving in the right direction. After a 22-point improvement, Philadelphia finished third in the Metropolitan Division, returned to the playoffs, defeated Pittsburgh in six games, and then ran into Carolina in Round 2. Danny Briere and Keith Jones have largely kept their young core together while strengthening the goaltending picture. But Neil Smith and Vic Morren identify two fascinating questions: can the Flyers finally fix a power play that has finished last four times in five seasons, and what happens next with Matvei Michkov?

[00:00:00] Philadelphia finishes third in the Metro after improving by 22 points and returns to the playoffs for the first time since the 2020 bubble.

[00:00:20] The Flyers defeat Pittsburgh in six games, highlighted by Cam York’s dramatic overtime goal, before being swept by Carolina.

[00:00:40] Philadelphia improves offensively and defensively, with Dan Vladar providing stability in goal.

[00:00:55] One problem remains almost unbelievable: the Flyers have finished with the NHL’s worst power play four times in five seasons.

[00:01:10] Neil explains why that is so baffling. Unlike many parts of hockey, the power play is structured and rehearsed, making Philadelphia’s repeated struggles difficult to understand.

[00:01:35] Briere and Jones prioritize continuity, retaining RFAs Tyson Foerster, Trevor Zegras, Jamie Drysdale and Nikita Grebenkin.

[00:02:00] Owen Tippett’s absence during the Carolina series hurt, but Vic likes the overall direction of Philadelphia’s young core.

[00:02:15] Vladar receives a five-year extension worth $5.5 million annually beginning next season.

[00:02:30] Noel Acciari, Zach Aston-Reese, Jack Studnicka and Nolan Foote arrive to provide additional depth.

[00:02:45] Philadelphia also acquires Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit from Toronto for Sam Ersson, potentially giving the Flyers more stability in goal.

[00:03:00] Vic believes Woll represents an upgrade over Ersson, while Vladar has established himself as the clear No. 1 option.

[00:03:20] Neil is less convinced about Woll because of his inability to remain consistently available in Toronto.

[00:03:40] Neil does not envision a true 1A/1B situation. Vladar needs to carry the load, with Woll serving as the backup.

[00:04:00] The prospect pool offers additional optimism, led by Porter Martone after producing 10 points in nine regular-season games and another five in the playoffs.

[00:04:20] Oliver Bonk, Jett Luchanko and Alex Bump provide additional young talent that could eventually strengthen the lineup.

[00:04:35] The biggest X-factor may be Matvei Michkov, who enters the final year of his entry-level contract after reportedly clashing with Rick Tocchet.

[00:05:00] Neil notes Michkov also had issues with John Tortorella, making this a critical season for the young forward.

[00:05:20] Neil compares Michkov’s situation to Trevor Zegras in Anaheim: a highly talented player who may ultimately need either a new contract or a new environment.

[00:05:45] This could become the most important season of Michkov’s young NHL career.

[00:06:00] The conversation turns to Philadelphia’s enormous five-year, $18 million-per-season offer sheet to Anaheim star Leo Carlsson, which the Ducks matched.

[00:06:20] Neil jokes that Briere and Jones probably shouldn’t expect a Christmas invitation from Ducks GM Pat Verbeek.

[00:06:40] More seriously, Neil believes the offer sheet disrupted Anaheim’s salary structure and could have ripple effects throughout the NHL.

[00:07:00] Carlsson’s salary now exceeds Leon Draisaitl’s despite not yet reaching that level of accomplishment, potentially affecting future negotiations around the league.

The Flyers have momentum, young talent and improved goaltending, but their next step depends on solving the power play and determining Michkov’s future. Philadelphia is clearly building something—but after the Carlsson offer sheet, Briere and Jones have also shown they aren’t afraid to throw a bomb into the NHL marketplace.

The Ottawa Senators enter 2026-27 facing an identity change. Ottawa finished 44-27-11 with 99 points, earned a wild-card berth, and ranked ninth overall in the NHL before being swept by Carolina in the opening round. But captain Brady Tkachuk is gone, traded to Florida to join his brother Matthew. Neil Smith and Vic Morren examine whether a new core led by Tim Stützle, Drake Batherson and Jake Sanderson can replace Tkachuk’s leadership—and whether improved goaltending can keep Ottawa in the playoff race.

[00:00:00] Ottawa finishes 44-27-11 with 99 points, fifth in the Atlantic and sixth in the East, qualifying for the playoffs as a wild card.

[00:00:20] Despite being swept by Carolina in the opening round, the Senators were ninth overall in the NHL—a stronger regular season than their playoff exit might suggest.

[00:00:35] Everything changes with the June 21 trade of captain Brady Tkachuk to Florida for four draft picks.

[00:00:55] Tkachuk was Ottawa’s heart-and-soul player, although his temper occasionally created questions about his approach to leadership.

[00:01:10] Neil believes the Senators will now have an entirely different personality because teams often begin reflecting the style and attitude of their captain.

[00:01:30] Without Tkachuk, Ottawa must determine what kind of team it wants to become and who will establish its new identity.

[00:01:50] Neil believes that creates a significant challenge for head coach Travis Green, who has lost an enormous presence inside the locker room.

[00:02:00] Ottawa attempts to replace some of Tkachuk’s offensive production by acquiring William Eklund from San Jose and André Burakovsky from Chicago.

[00:02:20] Vic remains skeptical about Burakovsky, believing teams continually expect more production from him than he ultimately delivers.

[00:02:30] The new centerpiece becomes a big three of Tim Stützle, Drake Batherson and Jake Sanderson.

[00:02:45] Neil considers that a formidable young foundation, while veteran Claude Giroux remains an important leadership presence.

[00:03:00] Giroux’s experience as the former Philadelphia Flyers captain could become even more valuable as he helps mentor Ottawa’s younger core.

[00:03:15] Goaltending may determine the Senators’ season. Ottawa ranked 13th in goals against but an alarming 29th in save percentage.

[00:03:30] Linus Ullmark struggled early, stepped away during the middle of the season, and improved somewhat later in the year.

[00:03:45] Sam Ersson arrives to provide additional goaltending depth, while Ottawa also retains Elvis Merzlikins.

[00:04:00] Neil says Ullmark must rediscover the form he showed with Boston. Ottawa simply hasn’t seen that version of him consistently.

[00:04:20] The 29th-ranked save percentage is particularly concerning because Ottawa was not surrendering an overwhelming number of shots—too many of the shots they did allow were going in.

[00:04:35] Phil Tomasino joins as an unrestricted free agent, while Sammy Blais arrives on a two-year deal.

[00:04:50] Departures include Nick Jensen to Anaheim, Dennis Gilbert to Buffalo, Lars Eller to Florida and Mads Søgaard to Tampa Bay.

[00:05:00] Carter Yakemchuk, the seventh overall selection in 2024, could become an important part of Ottawa’s defense after showing promise in limited playoff action.

[00:05:25] Neil believes Yakemchuk has the potential to become a significant piece of the Senators’ blue line going forward.

[00:05:40] Other prospects include 2025 first-round defenseman Logan Hensler from Wisconsin and Kasper Halttunen, acquired as part of the Eklund trade.

[00:06:00] Halttunen’s big shot could eventually provide another source of offensive production.

Ottawa has talent, but this will not be the same Senators team. Tkachuk’s departure leaves an enormous leadership void, placing greater responsibility on Stützle, Batherson, Sanderson and Giroux. If Ullmark returns to form and the young core embraces its new role, Ottawa can remain in the playoff conversation. If not, losing the player who defined the personality of the franchise could prove much harder to overcome.

The San Jose Sharks may be ready to make the jump. After finishing 39-35-8 and making a legitimate push toward the playoffs, San Jose enters 2026-27 with one of the NHL’s most exciting collections of young talent. Macklin Celebrini exploded for 115 points in his second NHL season, while Will Smith, Michael Misa and other young players give the Sharks enormous upside. GM Mike Grier has also spent aggressively, adding veteran muscle and experience around that young core. Neil Smith and Vic Morren believe San Jose could follow the same path Anaheim did a year ago and emerge as a legitimate wild-card contender.

[00:00:00] San Jose finishes 39-35-8, falling short of the playoffs but taking a major step forward under Ryan Warsofsky, who begins his third season behind the bench.

[00:00:25] Almost every major statistic improves. The Sharks jump from 32nd to 17th offensively and from 26th to 16th on the power play.

[00:00:45] The defense improves only slightly from 32nd to 30th, making goals against the biggest remaining concern.

[00:01:00] Vic compares San Jose to Anaheim from a year earlier—a young team loaded with enough emerging talent to make an unexpected playoff breakthrough.

[00:01:15] Celebrini leads the way after an extraordinary 115-point second NHL season, while Smith, Misa and Collin Graf give the Sharks an impressive young foundation.

[00:01:35] San Jose also gets significantly more experienced on defense by acquiring Darnell Nurse and signing Jacob Trouba.

[00:01:50] Those additions are expensive. Nurse arrives with his full $9.5 million contract, while Trouba signs for four years at $8.25 million annually.

[00:02:00] Mason Marchment also receives a five-year deal worth $6.75 million per season as San Jose uses its available cap space aggressively.

[00:02:15] Celebrini receives the biggest contract of all—$18.8 million per season beginning the following year, making him the league’s highest-paid player.

[00:02:30] Neil believes the investment makes sense because San Jose may already possess the best young player in hockey.

[00:02:45] Michael Kesselring arrives from Buffalo to further strengthen the defense, while Eric Comrie comes from Winnipeg to provide goaltending help.

[00:03:00] San Jose does lose William Eklund, who is traded to Ottawa for the ninth overall draft pick.

[00:03:15] The Sharks ultimately hold two first-round selections, adding even more talent to an already impressive prospect system.

[00:03:30] Ivar Stenberg becomes another high-end prospect to watch as San Jose continues assembling what could become one of the NHL’s deepest young talent pools.

[00:03:45] Shakir Mukhamadullin and Zack Sharp head to Edmonton in the Nurse trade, while Mario Ferraro signs with Winnipeg and Vincent Desharnais joins Washington.

[00:04:00] Vic believes the Sharks can make the playoffs this season, although improving defensively remains essential.

[00:04:15] Neil agrees that San Jose should at least contend for a wild-card position, but points out one difference from Anaheim’s breakthrough.

[00:04:30] Anaheim had veteran championship coach Joel Quenneville guiding its rise. San Jose remains committed to Warsofsky, who has done a good job but does not possess Quenneville’s championship résumé.

[00:04:50] That puts pressure on Warsofsky to prove how much he can get from an extremely talented roster now carrying legitimate expectations.

[00:05:00] Another major question involves Celebrini’s leadership. After three seasons and an impressive Olympic performance, could he already be ready to become captain?

[00:05:20] Neil says his performance on the ice suggests he absolutely could. Celebrini has already demonstrated he can thrive alongside older elite players.

[00:05:40] The unanswered question is whether he is ready for the responsibility inside the locker room.

[00:06:00] Neil says only Warsofsky, Grier and those closest to Celebrini can truly evaluate whether his maturity and leadership are ready for the captaincy.

The Sharks are no longer simply rebuilding. Celebrini has become a superstar, the prospect pipeline remains loaded, and Grier has surrounded the young core with expensive veteran help. If San Jose can improve defensively, Neil and Vic believe this could be the year the Sharks return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.