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The definitive NHL podcast network with expert analysis and insider perspectives.
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Neil is back for a second season of Smith's Pix. After posting a .625 winning percentage a season ago, he's truly challenging himself as his overall record for this season with be straight wins and losses and no credit for teams picking up a point by virtue of an overtime or shootout loss. Thus, his opening night record was 3-2 as opposed to 3-0-2. And therein, lies the challenge. What would have been an .800 winning percentage in 2025-26 sits merely at .600. 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
Nothing like a blockbuster trade on the eve of a new season to get fans going as Kirill Marchenko has moved on from the Columbus Blue Jackets to Toronto. Vic and Neil break it down and go straight to the heart of the matter: for two non-playoff teams from a season ago, does the move push either into the top eight in the Eastern Conference? 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 #JohnChayka #JimHIller #DonWaddell #KirillMarchenko #MilesWood #ElvisMerzlikins #MatthewKnies #StevenLorentz #EmilAndrae #SergeiBobrovsky #GavinMcKenna #DarrenRaddysh #NickPaul #AnthonyStolarz #WilliamNylander #JohnTavares #AustonMatthews #MitchMarner #ZachWerenski #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
After eleven years without a playoff series win, the Minnesota Wild got that score settled in the spring by taking out the Dallas Stars in the opening round. Now they look to take the next steps. Armed with a new contract, head coach John Hynes joins Neil and Vic to share how his team can elevate further in a brutally competitive Central Division. In the post-interview segment, there's captaincy news, RFA and UFA signings, injury news, salary cap and a few interesting sidebar stories. We'll also introduce a new partner and some an update on one of our franchises going live. IN THIS EPISODE: [01:10] - Minnesota Wild head coach John Hynes begins the show remarking on a 12th straight season behind an NHL bench. [03:33] - Some background on Hynes family, growing up in Rhode Island and playing under one of college hockey's most storied coaches - a gentleman who helped inspire Hynes on become a coach someday. [06:21] - At BU, Hynes played with a couple of current NHL GMs as well as a promising player whose life was forever changed on his very first college shift. [07:59] - More on players Hynes played with and then coached at Wilkes-Barrie/Scranton before making the move to the NHL. [11:57] - Acknowledging Hynes 2023 induction into the Rhode Island Hockey Hall of Fame. [12:59] - The adjustment of a shortened training camp and pre-season with veterans players limited to the amount of exhibition games they could play. [15:30] - Nothing like a little feistiness at the end of a pre-season game with the team the Wild knocked off in the opening round last spring to get the juices going. [16:54] - Injury updates on defenseman Brock Faber and goaltender Filip Gustavsson. [17:52] - Assessing the losses, pick-ups and re-signees since the end of the 2025-26 season. [20:23] - Working with the superstars on the Wild, led by Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy and Quinn Hughes. [22:47] - Appreciating Hughes having the opportunity to coach him. [24:34] - With his GM Bill Guerin also armed with a contract extension, the Wild leadership pair continue a parallel journey to get the Wild across the finish line. [28:07] - Summing up the John Hynes interview and the six head coaches appearing on NHL Wraparound in September. [30:38] - Plenty of player news across the NHL, some good and some not so good. [37:28] - Other news items from TV contracts to bonding trips to an obscure rule being enforced to a Winnipeg combining their franchise record book. [46:05] - Welcoming The Lineup. [51:26] - The Carolina Hurricanes rings and Smith's Pix for opening night. 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 #JohnHynes #BillGuerin #PeterDeBoer #JackParker #MikeBoyle #ChrisDrury #MikeGreer #TravisRoy #TomPoti #ShawnBates #ConorSheary #BrianDumoulin #BryanRust #MattMurray #Marc-AndreFleury #LouLamoriello #JackCapuano #DavidQuinn #BrianBurke #MikkoRantanen #QuinnHughes #MattBoldy #GlenGulutzan #JakeOettinger #MattDuchene #BrockFaber #MatsZuccarello #JakeMiddleton #BlakeColeman #OlliMaatta #JustinKirkland #MaxShabanov #CalvinPickard #MichaelMcCarron #BobbyBrink #NickFoligno #ZachBogosian #DavidSpacek #DaemonHunt #VladimirTarasenko #MarcusJohansson #KirillKaprozov #JoelErikssonEk #FilipGustavsson #JesperWallstedt #JaredSpurgeon #MarcusFoligno #BrianLeetch #DeanEvason #RogerNeilson #MikeKeenan #MacklinCelebrini #JoeThornton #DavidPastrnak #MikaelGranlund #BooneJenner #DylanLarkin #BradyTkachuk #BrockBoeser #AdamFantilli #DonWaddell #ZachWerenski #KirillMarchenko #OliverMoore #LoganStanley #MattGrzelcyk #JonasJohansson #LinusUllmark #SamErsson #LeeviMerilainen #ThatcherDemko #FilipChytil #BenKindel #BlakeLizotte #JustinBrazeau #AndreiKuzmenko #AnthonyMantha #SidenyCrosby #EvgeniMalkin #ErikKarlsson #JimMontgomery #LoganMallioux #TylerTucker #GaryBettman #ESPN #NHLonTNT #JohnChayka #AustonMatthews #TrevorZegras #SeanCouturier #AlexOvechkin #WayneGretzky #MarkChipman #ClintBenedict #FrankFinnigan #FrankNighbor #DaneilAlfredsson #BradyTkachuk #KenHolland #PatVerbeek #RyanCraig #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 #BostonUniversityTerriers #Wilkes-BarrieScrantonPenguins #AtlantaThrashers #AtlantaFlames #MinnesotaNorthStars
An increased schedule and an earlier start to the season. If you're a hockey fan, you're about to enter nirvana for the next nine months as we prepare the 2026-27 season. For NHL Wraparound, Neil and Vic enter their third full season - and part of a fourth overall - with a new open and a Hall of Fame voice to mark the occasion. Over the past two springs, TSN's Craig Button has joined the show throughout the playoffs but, why wait? There's plenty to get to now and Button's expertise goes on display to open the season. IN THIS EPISODE: [02:50] - Few things are more fun to open a season preview with than the financial landscape brought forth by massive contracts. However, that's where the NHL is and it can't be ignored. [08:18] - The effect of new CBA where contract limits dropped from 8-year maximums to re-sign with a current team and seven years as a UFA to seven and six years respectively. [11:35] - Items worth noting for new season, including the increased schedule, mandatory neck guards for incoming players, emergency backup goalie (EBUG) regulations and an overtime rule being implemented in the Western Hockey League which may someday be adapted by the NHL. [23:22] - Seven new general managers that were not in those positions with their clubs a season ago. [29:42] - Conversely, only five new head coaches but one is certainly making plenty of headlines - and not necessarily for the best reasons. [34:22] - When the greatest goal scorer in league history mixes sports and politics, the optic is poor and the ripple effect causes headaches elsewhere. [38:25] - On the media front, a tradition of nearly three quarters of a century is gone...but not forgotten. [43:10] - Homecoming dates for 10 players visiting their former arenas for the first time. [45:52] - Breakout players. [49:22] - Power shifts. Teams on the rise and those likely to slip. [54:22] - The "experts" offer their thoughts on the eight teams who will make the post-season from each conference as well as a potential sleeper. [57:29] - If we must, Stanley Cup Final predictions. [1:00:29] - Wrap-up and what's ahead. 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 #CraigButton #TSN #SamRosen #EJHradek #JeffMarek #SheaWeber #CareyPrice #LeoCarlsson #MacklinCelebrini #CaleMakar #ConnorMcDavid #AustonMatthews #RodBrind'Amour #DavidAyres #DarrylReaugh #EdBelfour #JohnDavidson #MartyBiron #FrankMahovlich #EvgenyKuznetsov #PatrickKane #MatsZuccarello #JoeSakic #ShawnHorcoff #SteveYzerman #ChrisMacFarland #BarryTrotz #SunnyMehta #TomFitzgerald #AlexSteen #DougArmstrong #JohnChayka #RyanJohnson #DanielSedin #HenrikSedin #ChrisIlitch #JackHughes #NicoDaws #BillTorrey #BobPulford #CliffFletcher #SergeSavard #BobbyClarke #GavinMcKenna #MikeBabcock #PeterLaviolette #JimHiller #MannyMalhotra #RyanCraig #PeterDeBoer #MarkMessier #StanBowman #AlexFormenton #MikeKeenan #LeonDraisaitl #SteveSimmons #AlexOvechkin #ChrisPatrick #HockeyNightinCanada #SaturdayNightHockey #DeloresClaman #FosterHewitt #MauriceRichard #VincentTrocheck #RadkoGudas #BradyTkachuk #FrederikAndersen #BooneJenner #SergeiBobrovsky #BrendanGallagher #PavelDorofeyev #AndersLee #JohnCarlson #DevonLevi #TristanJarry #AleksanderBarkov #CutterGauthier #GavinMcKenna #JordanKyrou #RyanLeonard #MatveiMichkov #WillSmith #AlexTuch #ConnorHellebuyck #PorterMartone #DanMuse #SidneyCrosby #DarnellNurse #JohnHynes #BillGuerin #QuinnHughes #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 #WesternHockeyLeague #JohnstownChiefs #ECHL #TorontoMarlies
It's his sixth stop running an NHL bench. For Peter DeBoer, the New York Islanders will offer a challenge different from others faced previously. Since taking over for Patrick Roy in April, there's been minimal personnel turnover and an offense and power play among the lowest tanked in the NHL. Still, there's a solid defense core led by Calder Trophy winner Matthew Schaefer and an elite-level goaltender in Ilya Sorokin. DeBoer will share his thoughts on his team amidst a very competitive Metropolitan Division. IN THIS EPISODE: [01:52] - N.Y. Islanders head coach Peter DeBoer is welcomed to the show and takes a trip down memory lane with Neil to his days in junior with Windsor of the OHL and some of the future NHL personnel he played with or was coached by. [06:03] - As the discussion moves to coaching, Neil and Peter talk about the humility of the coaching profession. [07:28] - By getting in late in the last season, DeBoer has now spent every season since 2008-09 behind an NHL bench. Still, he credits the break for most of 2025-26 for giving him the itch to get back in. [08:50] - Neil and Pete take a look back on DeBoer's coaching days in Kitchener, where he enjoyed success with two OHL championships and a Memorial Cup in 2003. [10:46] - DeBoer's Muhammad Ali story. [13:01] - And had DeBoer not gone on to coaching hockey, he likely would have been quite the lawyer. [15:33] - Now in his sixth NHL stop, the jury is still out for DeBoer as to whether this Islander team has any of the signatures of the Panthers, Devils, Sharks, Golden Knights or Stars teams he's led. [18:23] - The significance of the four games at the end of 2025-26 that helped ease the transition for the new season. [20:03] - Thoughts on the shorter training camp - one which another NHL head coach would like to see even shorter. [21:37] - DeBoer has enjoyed particular success in the first seasons at all of his previous NHL stops, similar to the current head coach in LA, Peter Laviolette. Is there a secret sauce? [23:55] - The comeback of Semyon Varlamov. After not having played for 662 days, there is a strong possibility he could start the season as Ilya Sorokin's backup. [26:30] - Matt Barzal update. [27:34] - With an team that has been offensively challenged for the past couple of seasons, DeBoer shares the priorities of where the team needs to get to in order to produce enough to compete for a playoff spot. [29:28] - Part of that offensive struggle has been a woeful power play. Is it simply a matter of good and bad coaching with the man advantage that decides success? [31:27] - The anticipation of working with Calder Trophy winner Matthew Schaefer. [33:34] - Putting a wrap on the discussion with Pete DeBoer [36:12] - Other league news including holdouts, contracts, injuries and 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/ #NHLWraparound #NHLWraparound.com #ShortShifts #NYCentric #CelebritySeries #HallofFameEdition #StanleyCupdate #SummerCoolers #Smith'sPix #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #BZZR #UBS #PeterDeBoer #PatrickRoy #SpencerCarbery #RodBrind'Amour #JeffBlashill #AndrewBrunette #JohnHynes #AdamGraves #BobBoughner #PaulMaurice #DarrylShannon #DarrinShannon #GlenFeatherstone #PatJablonski #PeterIng #JimRutherford #TomWebster #MarioLemieux #AlainLemieux #JackCapuano #MarkCrawford #RonWilson #MikeRichards #DerekRoy #NazemKadri #BrentSutter #SidneyCrosby #PatriceBergeon #RyanGetzlaf #CoreyPerry #SheaWeber #DionPhaneuf #MuhammadAli #ScottyBowman #PatDucharme #BobProbert #JoeNieuwendyk #GaryRoberts #NathanHorton #JayBouwmeester #ZachParise #IlyaKovalchuk #PeterLaviolette #KenHolland #MathewBarzal #SemyonVarlamov #VitekVanecek #IlyaSorokin #MathieuDarche #AndersLee #KylePalmieri #BoHorvat #MatthewSchaeffer #AlexanderRomanov #BraydenSchenn #MatiasMaccelli #CalumRitchie #SimonHolmstrom #RogerNeilson #JohnTortorella #BraydenPoint #NikitaKucherov #StevenStamkos #BrianLeetch #SergeiZubov #JonCooper #BrianBurke #SheldonKeefe #MikeSullivan #ConnorHellebuyck #DylanLarkin #JordanStaal #MarkStone #RyanLeonard #JustinSordif #DrakeBatherson #NoahOstlund #CutterGauthier #LeoCarlsson #DanVladar #JasonZucker #ElvisMerzlikins #CamTalbot #JetGreaves #NickBjugstad #AdamSykora #KevinHayes #RyanReaves #JamieBenn #RyanO'Reilly #ZachBogosian #CraigMacTavish #AndyBrown #CraigButton #TSN #QuinnHughes #KirillKaprizov #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 #WindsorSpitfires #OHL #TorontoMarlies #KHL #KitchenerRangers #MemorialCup #JoeLouisArena #HockeyCanada #CalderTrophy #ConnSmytheTrophy
Summer Coolers – Washington Capitals The Washington Capitals received a major wake-up call last season. After finishing atop the Eastern Conference in 2024-25, Washington dropped 16 points, finished fourth in the Metropolitan Division with 95 and missed the playoffs. GM Chris Patrick responded aggressively, surrounding Alexander Ovechkin with Jordan Kyrou, Alex Tuch and Boone Jenner. Neil Smith and Vic Morren see a Capitals roster that, on paper, looks significantly stronger—and determined not to repeat last season’s disappointment. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:00:00] Washington finishes fourth in the Metro with 95 points, a 16-point decline from the previous season, and misses the Stanley Cup Playoffs. [00:00:25] Despite winning the Cup in 2018, the Capitals have won only one playoff series since that championship. [00:00:40] Offense, defense, power play and penalty killing all decline as many players fail to duplicate their career seasons from 2024-25. [00:00:55] Pierre-Luc Dubois also misses significant time with injury, contributing to a season where many of the previous year’s positives disappear. [00:01:00] Neil describes missing the playoffs as an “ice bucket challenge” after Washington had challenged for the Presidents’ Trophy the year before. [00:01:25] That previous season also featured Ovechkin passing Wayne Gretzky’s career goal-scoring record, creating an unforgettable year in Washington. [00:01:45] The disappointing follow-up convinces management that dramatic changes are necessary to give Ovechkin and the existing core more support. [00:02:00] Ovechkin re-signs July 2 on a one-year, $4.25 million contract and enters the season 71 goals away from 1,000. [00:02:20] Jordan Kyrou arrives from St. Louis for Connor McMichael, Dalibor Dvorsky and a 2026 first-round pick. [00:02:40] Washington then lands Alex Tuch in a sign-and-trade with Buffalo and signs longtime Columbus captain Boone Jenner. [00:03:00] Vic views the three additions as a major statement from Chris Patrick, bringing Washington more scoring, experience and leadership. [00:03:15] Neil likes McMichael and acknowledges Washington surrendered quality pieces, but Tuch brings another high-end player into the lineup. [00:03:30] Kyrou provides the pure goal-scoring ability he displayed in St. Louis, while Jenner adds veteran leadership to an already mature roster. [00:04:00] Additional depth arrives with Johnny Brodzinski, Josh Dunne, Justin Holl and 6-foot-7 defenseman Vincent Desharnais. [00:04:25] Trevor van Riemsdyk leaves for Pittsburgh, Brandon Duhaime signs with Toronto and Brett Leason heads to San Jose. [00:04:40] Washington also has intriguing young players pushing toward larger roles, beginning with 6-foot-5, 225-pound Ilya Protas. [00:05:00] Protas produced four points in four NHL games last season and could become a much more significant part of the Capitals lineup. [00:05:15] Cole Hutson, younger brother of Montreal defenseman Lane Hutson, is another prospect to watch after appearing in 14 games for Washington. [00:05:35] Neil likes the young talent coming through the system and believes the Capitals look considerably stronger on paper than they did last season. Washington isn’t quietly hoping for a rebound. The Capitals responded to missing the playoffs by adding Kyrou, Tuch and Jenner around Ovechkin and the established core. They sacrificed some younger assets to do it, but the message is clear: this organization still intends to compete now. After last season’s dramatic step backward, Neil and Vic see a roster built to make sure Washington doesn’t experience the same disappointment again.