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NHL Wraparound Podcast

NHL Wraparound Podcast

By: Neil Smith & Vic Morren
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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.Copyright 2026 Neil Smith & Vic Morren Hockey Hourly Social Sciences
Episodes
  • NHL Wraparound Quick Takes - Neil's Best Available UFA's - July 5, 2026

    NHL Wraparound Quick Takes - Neil's Best Available UFA's - July 5, 2026
    Jul 5 2026

    Five days into free agency and we've seen an abundance of activity on both large and small scales.

    Still, there's a quartet of players Neil has identified that are for looking teams and would be good fits for a number of clubs.

    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 #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 #AnthonyMantha #PatrickKane #ConnorBedard #VladimirTarasenko #ClaudeGiroux #BradyTkachuk
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    4 mins
  • NHL Wraparound Quick Takes - The Free Agency/Trading Exhale - July 3, 2026

    NHL Wraparound Quick Takes - The Free Agency/Trading Exhale - July 3, 2026
    Jul 3 2026

    The initial rush of free agent signings has passed, as has the abundance of trades which took place well before July 1.

    With the holiday weekend upon the U.S., time to exhale just a bit and update on what's taken place since Wednesday's Free Agency recap which is available on YouTube and BZZR.com

    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 #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 #FrederikAndersen #RyanShea #BooneJenner #JonnyBrodzinski #AndersLee #JamieOleksiak #JoelKiviranta #LarsEller #JohnCarlson #MattGatcomb #MaxShabanov #VitekVanecek #SemyonVarlamov #IlyaSorokin #DavidRittich #JakeAllen #NicoDaws #AlexOvechkin #JakubDobes #NickFoligno #KasperiKapanen #ErikGudbranson #DylanCoghlan #DarnellNurse #ShakirMukhamadullin #ZackSharp #NickPaul #KeeganKolesar #VincentTrocheck #SeanDurzi #ColeBeaudoin #MarcusPettersson #BlakeColeman #OlliMaatta #JakeMiddleton #JamieBenn #MichaelBunting #ClaudeGiroux #PatrickKane #AnthonyMantha #PhilEsposito #VladimirTarasenko #CamTalbot #LoganStanley #JohnKlingberg #PatrikLaine #JimNill #BillArmstrong #MikeBabcock #JulienBriseBois #DavePagnotta #TheFourthPeriod #NHLNetwork #NHLNetworkRadio #SunnyMehta #BillGuerin #CraigConroy #JohnChayka #DevonLevi #PavelDorofeyev #WillBorgen #ChrisDrury #PeterLaviolette #KenHolland #DylanLarkin #SteveYzerman #ZachWerenski #DonWaddell #EJHradek
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    34 mins
  • Episode 105 - Amidst Change, Who's Actually Improved? - With Dave Pagnotta of The Fourth Period

    Episode 105 - Amidst Change, Who's Actually Improved? - With Dave Pagnotta of The Fourth Period
    Jul 6 2026

    In the season finale, Neil and Vic are joined by noted NHL contributor Dave Pagnotta to springboard us into the off-season. However, that doesn't mean business is shutting down.

    There are noted unsigned UFA's but, perhaps more significantly, RFA's and offer sheets are certain to affect the NHL landscape both in the immediate and in years to come with the salary cap continuing to rise and several of the league's superstars set to become UFA's in two years.

    Plenty to unpack including Dave's take on how the needle has moved for certain teams amidst a flurry of off-season activity to date.

    IN THIS EPISODE:

    [02:34] - Dave Pagnotta from The Fourth Period provides updates on several UFA's still looking for their destination for the 2026-27 season.

    [09:57] - The Flyers shock the hockey world signing Ducks forward Leo Carlsson to an offer sheet that would make him the highest-paid player in NHL history...for now.

    [15:58] - Having been in this spot dating back to the offer sheet saga with Joe Sakic in 1997, Neil talks about the resentment Ducks GM Pat Verbeek might have towards Flyers management. This also extends to the business ramifications for other teams around the NHL.

    [26:28] - How the economic climate brought on by the Carlsson offer sheet might affect the UFA market, particularly in two years when superstars Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews and Zach Werenski all will hit market unless they extend with their current clubs.

    [31:05] - Quietly, the New Jersey Devils signed Utah forward Barrett Hayton to a one-year offer sheet. Dave offers up the positions by both the Devils and Mammoth.

    [33:46] - With the trade market active prior to July first and, given the free agent activity since, Neil, Vic and Dave weigh in with where they see the needle moving with various teams around the league.

    [44:07] - A look back to the growth for the podcast during 2025-26 and thank you listeners and viewers.

    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 #SummerCoolers #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 #DavePagnotta #TheFourthPeriod #SiriusXM #NHLNetwork #BradyTkachuk #ClaudeGiroux #PatrickKane #MichaelBunting #AnthonyMantha #VladimirTarasenko #JohnKlingberg #LoganStanley #CamTalbot #PatrikLaine #LeoCarlsson #PavelMintyukov #CutterGauthier #OlenZellweger #MasonMcTavish #AlexanderNikishin #DanMilstein #KeithJones #DannyBriere #PatVerbeek #HenrySamueli #WayneGretzky #ThomasChabot #KyleConnor #QuinnHughes #SheaWeber #BarrettHayton #JoeSakic #ConnorMcDavid #AustonMatthews #ZachWerenski #EeliTolvinen #PhilEsposito #WarrenYoung #MarioLemieux #ConnorBedard #AntonFrundell #AlexTuch #ConnorHellebuyck #TroyTerry #FrankVatrano #AlexKillorn #KeithJones #DannyBriere #BowenByram #ColePerfetti #DylanLarkin #AlexDebrincat #PeterDeBoer #CaleMakar #SonnyMetah #BillArmstrong #BooneJenner #LoganThompson #JohnCarlson #RadkoGudas #JacobTrouba #CharlieLindgren #SeanDurzi #GavinMcKenna #ThomasChabot #WilliamEklund #JasonRobertson #IlyaLyubushkin #JamieBenn #SteveYzerman #AlexOvechkin #AndersLee #DarnellNurse #SidenyCrosby #ArtursSilovs #AlexTuch #JordanKyrou #VincentDesharnais #BooneJenner #DarrenRaddysh #SergeiBobrovsky #GavinMcKenna #AndersLee #DmitriSimashev #TijIginla #MavrikBourque #KenHolland #MoritzSeider #ViktorArvidsson #LucasRaymond
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    53 mins
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