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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
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
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
If it appears the NHL off-season has been particularly active since the Carolina Hurricanes lifted the Stanley Cup on June 14, you're not alone. Re-signings, trades, the Draft and the prospect of several notable players looking to be moved are all making headlines. E.J. Hradek from The NHL Network joins Neil and Vic to discuss all of these areas in advance of free agency officially kicking off on July 1. IN THIS EPISODE: [01:54] - E.J. Hradek from the NHL Network worked the Draft and comments on how the feel of the vent has changed over the past couple of years in a de-centralized format. [08:03] - Discussion about Caleb Malhotra, selected third by Vancouver, and the prospect of being coached by his dad, Manny, who was drafted by Neil in New York in 1998. [13:27] - The top picks of the 2026 Entry Draft and which players could see NHL action in the new season. Particular attention to first overall pick Gavin McKenna to Toronto, who has roots unlike any player we've seen. [24:37] - The trade market has heated up significantly compared to a year ago in advance of free agency. Neil and E.J. weigh in with their thoughts, which may connect to the current free agent pool. [34:37] - Neil sidebars as to how potential expansion may affect team strategies and business models as the chances to win a championship mathematically decrease. [39:56] - Several RFA could be the targets of offer sheets. Opinion on what teams need to consider with reference to the Blues signings of Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway two years ago. [45:33] - On one side, teams are always looking to bolster their respective lineups. However, the climate also now has players seeking to be moved despite having no movement clauses in their contracts and other already suggesting they're not intending to extend with their current teams. [58:26] - What E.J. looks most forward to when free agency kicks off July 1. [1:01:09] - Wrap-up segment including two breaking trades and other NHL news. 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 #EJHradek #NHLNetwork #CraigButton #TSN #CalebMalhotra #MannyMalhotra #LiamRuck #MarkusRuck #AlexanderKarmonov #RoyWorters #DarrenPang #BobbyLalonde #MatthewSchaeffer #JustinBieber #PKSubban #StuartScott #GavinMcKenna #IvanStenberg #DaxonRudolph #AlbertsSmits #CarsonCarels #ChaseReid #ViggoBjorck #KeatonVerhoeff #WyattCullen #MattCullen #TynanLawrence #DarrenRaddysh #PavelDorofeyev #OlenZellweger #MasonMcTavish #BrandonCarlo #JohnCarlson #BowenByram #JordanGreenway #LouisCrevier #AlexTuch #JordanKyrou #ConnorMcMichael #ValNichushkin #JackDrury #JJPeterka #IvanIvan #DylanLarkin #DarnellNurse #JasonRobertson #ZachWerenski #KirillMarchenko #ConnorHellebuyck #DrewDoughty #KenHolland #ConnorMurphy #JasonDickinson #BobbyMcMann #ZachBenson #TonyDeAngelo #JordanSpence #BrentBurns #BrettKulak #BrandtClarke #ConnorBedard #LeoCarlsson #CutterGauthier #AdamFantilli #TrevorZegras #SimonEdvinsson #JetGreaves #JamieDrysdale #MitchMarner #NikolajEhlers #BradMarchand #BrockBoeser #MikaelGranlund #VladimirGavrikov #PatrickKane #IvanProvorov #DmitryOrlov #JakeAllen #MichaelBunting #JamieBenn #LarsEller #ClaudeGiroux #BooneJenner #AndersLee #AnthonyMantha #MasonMarchment #AlexOvechkin #CoreyPerry #VladimirTarasenko #MattsZuccarello #RasmusAndersson #JacobTrouba #FrederikAndersen #SergeiBobrovsky #StuartSkinner #CamTalbot #QuinnHughes #JeffSkinner #ViktorArvidsson #PhilipBroberg #DylanHolloway #SteveStaios #MavrikBourque #DougArmstrong #BillZito #BradyTkachuk #DonWaddell #JimNill #CaleMakar #EricLindros #PorterMartone #AustonMatthews #NikitaKucherov #KrisKnoblauch #JohnChayka #TerryPegula #ThomasHarley #LesterPatrick #RichardPatrick #MuzzPatrick #CycloneTaylor #LynnPatrick #KenHolland #SteveYzerman #DrewDoughty #AnzeKopitar #JohnTavares #MikeSullivan #RichNash #BrendanGallagher #NilsHoglander #SethJarvis #EricRobinson #JuanSoto #NewYorkYankees #NewYorkMets #GoldenStateWarriors #BrianCashman
Thirty two teams would appear to sit well as an appropriate number of clubs within the NHL. However, with record revenues, greater worldwide appeal and the skill/speed level at an all-time high, it might be hard for commissioner Gary Bettman to resist growing the league footprint further - in this case to Austin or Houston, Texas. Vic and Neil discuss potential plus and downsides to expanding the league and whether the talent pool can support more teams without short-changing the product. 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 #BZZR #NHL #GaryBettman #DanFriedkin #FreidkinGroup #ASRoma #Everton #EnglishPremiereLeague #BorjeSalming #IngeHammerstrom #VaclavNedomansky #PeterStastny #AntonStastny #MarianStastny #GordieHowe #MarkHowe #MartyHowe #DallasStars #VegasGoldenKnights #SeattleKraken #MontrealCanadiens #NewYorkIslanders #EdmontonOilers #QuebecNordiques #DetroitRedWings #TorontoMapleLeafs #BostonBruins #ColumbusBlueJackets #MinnesotaWild #NashvillePredators #TexasStars #HoustonAeroes #WHA #TheAHL.com #FourNationsFaceoff
Nothing like a little excitement heading into the NHL Draft and Free Agency with a somewhat controversial head coaching hiring in Edmonton and a quartet of deals. Noted columnist Steve Simmons joins Vic and Neil for an in-depth discussion on these topics plus the latest vibe in Toronto with a new GM, a new head coach, a major acquisition, a veteran on the way out and the first pick of the Draft on the way in. 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 #Smith'sPix #NeilSmith #VicMorren #BZZR #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 #HartfordWhalers #ArizonaCoyotes #SteveSimmons #SunMedia #MitchMarner #MikeBabcock #StanBowman #ConnorMcDavid #LeonDraisaitl #BowenByram #JordanGreenway #LouisCrevier #JordanKyrou #ConnorMcMichael #MiltonGastrin #WilliamEklund #KasperHalttunen #BrandonSvoboda #SimonNemec #MaximTsyplakov #EtienneMorin #JohnChayka #JimHiller #DarrenRaddysh #MorganRielly #GavinMcKenna #MikeKennan #ZachHyman #JoelQuenneville #ClaudeJulien #KenHolland #CraigConroy #DonMaloney #ConnorBedeard #LukeHughes #CalebMalhotra #PaulMaurice #ChrisPronger #DougArmstrong #AlexSteen #TJOshie #TomWilson #AliaksaiProtas #SpencerCarbury #MikeGrier #BradyTkachuk #MatthewTkachuk #SteveStaios #WilliamNylander #AustonMatthews #DarnellNurse #CarterVerhaeghe #MattBoldy #QuinnHughes #MarcoRossi #DylanLarkin #SteveYzerman #CliffFletcher #PatBurns #PatQuinn #BryanMcCabe #SherryBassin #ErieOtters #VictorHedman #SergeiBobrovsky #ConnorHellebuyck #KyleConnor #JosephWoll #KeithPelley #AleksanderBarkov #DanMuse #CraigBerube #ToddMcLellan #FrankMahovlich #BradTreliving #MatsSundin #BrendanShanahan #DougGilmour