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The definitive NHL podcast network with expert analysis and insider perspectives.
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From Eastern Conference Finalists in 2022 and 2024 to NHL bottom-feeder. The New York Rangers fall from the NHL’s elite has been stunning with much of the blame being heaped on GM Chris Drury. Vincent Mercogliano covers the Rangers for The Athletic and joins Neil and Vic to do a deep dive into the current state of the franchise, how they got to this point and where they go in a 100th anniversary season that has been anything but memorable. In Three Things You Need to Pay Attention To, it took more than half of the season but we finally have a head coaching change. Also, the Lightning remain on fire while guess who’s back in a playoff spot? IN THIS EPISODE: [01:43] – Three Things You Need to Pay Attention To [13:10] – Vince Mercogliano joins the show and delivers a very extensive breakdown of how things have fallen apart at MSG. The on ice product is visible to all but much of the issues of today have their roots going back as far as two years with several episodes taking place off the ice. [22:25] – Further elaboration on the acquisitions made by GM Chris Drury and why hasn't there been greater accountability from ownership? [26:04] – Perhaps equally distressing for the Rangers organization is an equally weak team in Hartford with three prospects continuing to struggle at the NHL level. Add in the underwhelming career of the first overall pick in the 2020 Entry Draft. [31:06] – Perhaps one of the biggest rubs with GM Drury has been his treatment of players. This coming from a former player, captain of the Rangers and a Stanley Cup Champion in Colorado. [34:10] – The future of Artemi Panarin. [37:13] – The positives Vince sees in the immediate amidst the mess of the 2025-26 season. [39:44] – Updates on Adam Fox and Igor Shesterkin [40:21] – More on Fox. Injury aside, the reported pursuit of Quinn Hughes in New York and the not getting a call for the Olympics has been a double whammy. [43:36] - Putting a wrap on the discussion with Vincent Mercogliano. [45:35] - Coaching updates on a milestone for Jon Cooper and a health scare for a former NHL coach working in the KHL. [51:36] - 2026 NHL Draft to be held in Buffalo. [55:00] - The ongoing drama at the main rink at the Milan-Cortina Olympic site. [58:00] - Personnel items. 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 #PatrickHoffman #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 #VincentMercogliano #TheAthletic #DeanEvason #SteveMcCarthy #RickBowness #DougMacLean #ScottHowson #JarmoKekalainen #DonWaddell #JohnnyGaudreau #JimMontgomery #DrewBannister #LukeRichardson #NHLonTNT #KenHolland #BooneJenner #BraydenPoint #CamYork ##ChrisJohnson #TSN #ConnorBedard #SamBennett #WyattJohnston #MarkScheifele #JulienBrisebois #WilliamNylander #MitchMarner...
When a team loses, it's one thing. When it gets blown out, it's another. When that blowout comes in the form of surrendering 10 goals in front of a national TV audience, you're in pretty hot soup and that's exactly what the New York Rangers are in following one of their most embarrassing losses in recent memory. Vic and Neil break it down and also look at the reversal of fortune in Toronto, the first steps taken by Winnipeg in an attempt to get back into the Western Conference playoff picture and some unrest in New Jersey as the slumping Devils sit a veteran defenseman. 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 #PatrickHoffman #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 #ChrisDrury #BillGuerin #MikeSullivan #JonathanQuick #SpencerMartin #MikaZibanejad #JTMiller #AlexisLafreniere #AdamFox #IgorShesterkin #WillCuylle #MaratKhustnutdinov #PavelZacha #DavidPastrnak #AndyHebenton #DeanPrentice #JoonasKorpisalo #WilliamNylander #JakeMcCabe #CraigBerube #BradTreliving #SteveSullivan #MarcSavard #EricComrie #VladislavNamestnikov #ConnorHellebuyck #KevinCheveldayoff #ScottArniel #MikeYeo #JohnathanKovasevic #DougieHamilton #SheldonKeefe #TomFitzgerald #JacobMarkstrom #JackHughes #AlexOvechkin #ConnorMcDavid #NathanMacKinnon #TrentMinor #DrewCommesso #ConnorBedard #JaccobSlavin #KaidenGuhle #BryanRust #ColinMiller #StefanNoesen #ZackMcEwen #AlexKerfoot #CarterHart #ThatcherDemko #QuinnHughes #AdamFoote #JamesReimer #LinusUllmark #LeeviMerilainen #SteveYzerman #CamTalbot #GrantFuhr #PhilipBroberg #MarkStone #BraydenSchenn #PatriceBergeron #LukeSchenn #JonathanAspirot #DonSweeney #MarcoSturm #NikitaZadorov #SergeiFedorov #JacobTrouba
Bernie Parent and Jay Snyder join Neil and Vic to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Philadelphia Flyers' back-to-back Stanley Cup Championships in 1974 and 1975. From Ed Snyder's vision after being brutalized by the Blues to Fred Shero's revolutionary coaching, this is the story of how the Broad Street Bullies became the first expansion team to win the Cup. Hear Bernie describe learning from Jacques Plante, the Terror Squad's impact, Bobby Clarke's leadership, and beating Bobby Orr's Bruins 1-0 in the ultimate Game 6. Jay shares his father's passion, Kate Smith singing live, and why Bernie's 1976 injury cost them a three-peat. This is Flyers hockey at its finest. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:00] - Welcome: Special Edition reliving Cup on Broad Street 50 years later [01:00] - Jay Snyder (Ed Snyder's son, former Flyers president) and Bernie Parent join [02:00] - Bernie: "50 years ago we won, I'm only 55" - where does time go? [03:00] - 1967 expansion: Flyers finished first but Blues pushed them around in playoffs [04:00] - Ed Snyder's decision: "I'm not letting one of my teams get pushed around again" [05:00] - Noel Picard coldcocking Claude Laforge: seminal moment requiring change [06:00] - Ed Snyder building winning culture with right people: Keith Allen, Fred Shero [07:00] - Bobby Clarke drafted 1969: smallish player, diabetic, questions about holding up [08:00] - Fred Shero hired 1971-72, growing pains but building towards something [09:00] - Gary Dornhoefer goal 1973 quarterfinals: immortalized in bronze [10:00] - Bernie traded to Toronto: learning from Jacques Plante about reading plays [11:00] - WHA stint with Blazers: "if it doesn't work, I'll come back to NHL" [12:00] - Returning to Philly 1973-74: whole team ready, whole city ready [13:00] - Goaltender living in moment philosophy: goal goes in, move on immediately [14:00] - Reading defensemen: left-hand shooter vs right-hand, studying positioning [15:00] - Team construction: Terror Squad (Schultz, Kelly, Dupont, Van Impe) with skill [16:00] - Broad Street Bullies coined 1972-73 by Jack Chevalier, Philadelphia Bulletin [17:00] - Jay on Bernie returning: "this is the piece we're missing, a lot of excitement" [18:00] - Ed Snyder philosophy: build team from goal out, back end first [19:00] - 50 wins, 112 points regular season: longest losing streak only three games [20:00] - Nationally televised Montreal game February: Dave Schultz one-punch knockout John Van Boxmeer [21:00] - Bench-clearing brawl: team vilified but best draw in league [22:00] - Bernie on Ed Snyder: "great ownership, great individual, loved him dearly" [23:00] - Successful people surround themselves with right people: Keith Allen, Fred Shero, players [24:00] - Jay witnessing Bernie's physical strength: arms black and blue from 70+ games [25:00] - Bernie: old days more about studying game than protecting yourself [26:00] - Playoffs: sweep Atlanta Flames, then Rangers seven games - adversity [27:00] - First expansion team knocking out Original Six team [28:00] - Dave Schultz-Dale Rolfe Game 7 fight: Rangers didn't jump in, heart taken out [29:00] - Third man rule in effect: Rolfe told teammates not to jump in [30:00] - Neil's Ranger friend: "disgraceful to Rangers, not Flyers" - lived on 20 years [31:00] - Barry Ashby career-ending eye injury Game 4 OT from Dale Rolfe shot [32:00] - Team getting closer: "somebody has to pay price" - team rules [33:00] - Fred Shero bulletin board material: saying Rangers tougher than Bruins [34:00] - Bernie: Freddy was my driver to airport, Columbus joke after California trip [35:00] - Strategy against Bobby Orr: cover him without puck, dump puck his side [36:00] - Bernie searching for weakness 12 hours: "couldn't find one, just...
he final episode of our 1994 Rangers series celebrates three decades of memories and impact. Hear from team members like John Davidson calling it "a roadmap for life," Glenn Healy on family sacrifice for getting a last name on the Cup, and Steve Larmer on incredible teammates. Barry Meisel shares his Daily News coverage balancing fan and reporter, while fans reveal how the championship changed their lives - from holding up 1-year-olds to fighting cancer to selling season tickets. This is how 1994 became forever, touching everyone from MSG employees to dentists to fans who waited 54 years. Neil Smith reflects on the greatest gift: bringing joy to millions of New Yorkers. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:00] - Welcome to Episode 5: Reflection - how 1994 impacted lives 30 years later [01:00] - Once Rangers get in DNA, becomes lifestyle and emotional part of being [02:00] - Neil Smith and Barry Meisel join Vic for final episode [03:00] - Neil growing up 1960s Toronto: could never have imagined being part of this [04:00] - Barry's first memories: blue seats, crying after '72 and '74 Finals [05:00] - Vic walking out seeing Oakland Seals 1968: hooked immediately [06:00] - John Davidson: bigger than just hockey, loyalty of generation after generation [07:00] - JD's family: daughters hugging Cup, scrapbook photos, roadmap for life [08:00] - Barbara Danfarcey: executive assistant to Neil, front row seat to roller coaster [09:00] - Lynn Markey: MSG employee, what it did for fans who stuck through frustration [10:00] - Don Solomon: team dentist 39 years, cohesiveness and inclusivity making everyone feel one unit [11:00] - Matt Lare: director of team operations, 30 years blink of eye, memories last forever [12:00] - Mike Hartman: Neil taking time when he was 15, winning Cup with idol Mark Messier [13:00] - Amy Kay: VP Human Resources, one of few women executives treated like counterparts [14:00] - Neil on all-inclusive culture: motivating everyone at MSG to be part of wins and losses [15:00] - Every single person important: without Mike Hartman might not have won Cup [17:00] - Barry Meisel: Daily News writer, kid wanting Rangers to win vs reporter staying objective [18:00] - Dad in sixties never seeing Cup, 18 million New Yorkers feeling same intensity [19:00] - Biggest challenge: getting story right, objectivity from training not from heart [20:00] - Neil respecting media doing their job: as long as story correct, had to be told [21:00] - Don't lie philosophy: credibility more important than bad story or opinion [22:00] - Embracing New York City chaos: honking horns, running between cars, Post's flamboyance [23:00] - Best of times standing in hallway talking to writers: really loved it [24:00] - Frank Brown: 71 years old, only Cup in lifetime, Gary Bettman presenting at 72 [25:00] - Joe Whelan: MSG producer, best team ever covered, Cable Ace award [26:00] - Kenny Albert: first Stanley Cup Final call, met wife Barbara after Game 5 [27:00] - Steve Levy: ESPN rights holder, in dressing room missing ice celebration [28:00] - Adam Graves: "I realize how important this win was for you" - greatest moment thinking of reporter [29:00] - Levy drinking from Cup 2 AM, unprofessional but worth it [30:00] - Howie Rose: fell in love 1966, practicing play-by-play with tape recorder [31:00] - Dentist drilling: closes eyes thinking final seconds Game 7, drinking from Cup [32:00] - Mark Halbert: WFAN broadcaster, going between NBA Finals and Rangers [33:00] - 54 years thinking most people wouldn't see during lifetime, extraordinary [34:00] - Neil on relationships: best friends when arguing over who pays for pizza [35:00] - Barry on balancing pressure/excitement/nervousness: New York all in it together [36:00] - Vic keeping dad...
Talk about an abundance of riches. One half of your job is running one of the top teams in the NHL while the other half is assembling the best American players in the world for the upcoming Olympics. GM of both the Minnesota Wild and U.S. Men’s team headed to Italy, Bill Guerin joins Neil and Vic to talk about both teams. In Three Things You Need to Pay Attention To, an American Legend reaches a milestone, a future legend puts on a virtuoso performance in Hollywood and what’s more stunning at this point of the season, the Sabres run or the Jets nosedive? We'll have other items of note and pay tribute to "Mr. Goalie," Glenn Hall before celebrating Neil's birthday. IN THIS EPISODE: [02:30] - Three Things You Need to Pay Attention To [13:39] - Team USA/Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin is welcomed to the show pleased about the selection process being done and the success of the Wild in a city once again in going through unrest. [16:03] - Guerin shares it's the people around him that is making it possible for him to take on the leadership role of both teams. [17:30] - Construction of Team USA in relation to playing style needed to succeed. [19:06] - The calls to those who make the team and those who did not...and the second-guessing from media and fans that comes with those decisions. [21:00] - Neil draws off on his own experience sharing with Bill that it was easier to sleep at night knowing decisions being made were in the best interests of the team. Bill adds a point about the importance of how people are treated. [22:37] - As a three-time Olympian, the advice Guerin can share with Team USA about the upcoming experience, something only two of his 25 players have known. [24:52] - Shifting to the Wild: In 2024-25, the team started hot and struggled to make the post-season. This season, a sluggish start followed by a major about-face which actually started prior to the acquisition of Quinn Hughes. [28:35] - More on Hughes, who has not committed to staying with the Wild beyond the end of the season. [30:23] - The NHL-record Kaprizov contract and the reception within the Wild. [32:05] - Even with a large chunk of the schedule remaining, the Wild appear on a collision course with Dallas for the opening round of the post-season. Where is Guerin looking to upgrade? [35:14] - Putting a wrap on the Bill Guerin discussion. [35:59] - A few random items of note. [47:01] - Personnel notes. [48:44] - Tribute to Glenn Hall. [53:15] - Happy Birthday Neil 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 #PatrickHoffman #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 #BillGuerin #MatsZuccarello #PatrickKane #MikeModano #KeithTkachuk #JeremyRoenick #JoeMullen #MikeBossy #MarkMessier #RickTabaracci #MikeGartner #GuyLafleur #MacklinCelebrini #WarrenFoegele #AdrianKempe #WilliamEklund #NathanMacKinnon #ConnorHellebuyck #LindyRuff #PeytonKrebs #MattiasSamuelsson #JonathanQuick #MarkStone #ConnorMcDavid #ChrisKelleher #ChrisDrury #TomFitzgerald #BillZito #StanBowman...
An abbreviated show with Neil traveling so Vic handling the updates and storylines from the past couple of nights as 77 goals were scored Tuesday including a surprising blitz at UBS Arena. Speaking of being blitzed, it's becoming a regular occurence in Anaheim whey are no longer outscoring mistakes. Some key injury news - particularly in New York - is noted as well as penalty shot happenings in three games, two of which were rather unique. 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 #PatrickHoffman #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 #BillGuerin #AnthonyDuclair #PatrickRoy #JacobMarkstrom #IlyaSorokin #LaneLambert #PhilippGrubauer #BerklyCatton #ConnorMcDavid #NathanMacKinnon #JonCooper #BrandonHagel #NikitaKucherov #MaxCrozier #BrockNelson #ValNichushkin #AustonMatthews #MatsSundin #BradMarchand #MitchMarner #PaulMaurice #SethJones #SethJarvis #MikkoRantanen #LoganStankoven #CutterGauthier #TrevorZegras #BobbyBrink #JansenHarkins #JamieDrysdale #RossJohnston #JustinSordif #TomWilson #RyanLeonard #JacobTrouba #BrandonDuhaime #RyanStrome #TomasHertl #KyleConnor #ReillySmith #HaydnFleury #KeeganKolesar #AdamLowry #IgorShesterkin #JonathanQuick #DylanGarland #AdamFox #AnzeKopitar #JoelArmia #CoreyPerry #HampusLindholm #MarcoSturm #HenriJokiharju #JakeMcCabe #ChrisTanev #BrandonCarlo #KasperiKapanen #TristanJarry #EgorZamula #PhilipTomasino #AlexWennberg #ChistianDvorak $JussoValimaki #BobPulford #SteveLarmer #TonyAmonte #StephaneMatteau #BrianNoonan #WorldJuniorChampionships #GavinMcKenna #MichaelHage