NO NONSENSE.JUST HOCKEY.
The definitive NHL podcast network with expert analysis and insider perspectives.
Listen on Your Favorite Platform
Subscribe to NHL Wraparound and never miss an episode
Loading recent episodes...
The definitive NHL podcast network with expert analysis and insider perspectives.
Subscribe to NHL Wraparound and never miss an episode
Catch up on our latest NHL analysis and exclusive interviews
Spring Cleaning – St. Louis Blues The St. Louis Blues entered the 2025-26 season expecting to build on their surprising late-season surge under Jim Montgomery, but instead fell well short of a playoff berth. Offensive regression, inconsistent goaltending, and prolonged losing streaks prevented the Blues from challenging for a Wild Card position. Neil Smith and Vic Morren examine what went wrong, the transition from Doug Armstrong to Alex Steen in the front office, and how St. Louis can use an impressive collection of draft picks to begin its next chapter. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:00:00] The Blues are eliminated from playoff contention on April 11 after entering the season with realistic hopes of earning a Wild Card berth. Following their strong finish in 2024-25 under Jim Montgomery, expectations were considerably higher than the previous year. [00:00:30] St. Louis never finds sustained consistency. Losing streaks of 1-6-2 and 1-8-1 derail the season, accounting for nearly one-quarter of the schedule and making it difficult to recover in a competitive Western Conference. [00:00:50] Offensive production falls well below expectations. The Blues fail to produce a single 25-goal scorer, while injuries contribute to declines from Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou, leaving the offense without a consistent finishing touch. [00:01:10] Goaltending also becomes a concern. Jordan Binnington struggles throughout much of the season, forcing Jim Montgomery to rely more heavily on Joel Hofer down the stretch as St. Louis searches for answers in net. [00:01:30] Neil explains that the Blues never truly challenged the Utah Mammoth for the final playoff position despite preseason expectations that the two clubs would battle throughout the year. Instead, Utah clearly separated itself while St. Louis remained near the bottom of the standings. [00:01:45] Attention turns to the future as Alex Steen prepares to officially replace longtime General Manager Doug Armstrong on July 1. After spending two years preparing for the role, Steen now inherits responsibility for reshaping the franchise. [00:02:00] The Blues possess one of the strongest collections of draft assets in the league, entering the 2026 NHL Draft with 12 selections, including three first-round picks and three third-round picks acquired through previous trades. [00:02:30] Although St. Louis lacks a second-round selection, the organization also owns multiple fourth- and fifth-round picks, giving Alex Steen significant flexibility to either build through the draft or pursue trades. [00:02:45] Salary-cap flexibility remains limited, with the Blues projected to have only about $1.84 million in available space before the July 1 reset. That leaves little room for major free-agent additions. [00:03:00] Oscar Sundqvist headlines the unrestricted free agent class, while restricted free agents Jonathan Berggren, Matt Kessel, and Dylan Holloway become much higher priorities for the organization. [00:03:20] Neil points to Holloway as one of the club's most important offseason decisions after arriving via offer sheet. While another offer sheet remains possible in theory, Neil believes St. Louis will make retaining the young forward a top priority. [00:03:40] Looking at the roster from a broader perspective, Neil questions whether the Blues are close enough to contend or whether a more significant rebuild is necessary. He believes simply making minor adjustments may not be enough to return to the playoffs. [00:04:00] Jordan Binnington becomes one potential trade candidate. Neil wonders whether another organization would be interested in acquiring the Stanley Cup-winning goaltender, whose international success may still make him attractive despite an inconsistent NHL season. [00:04:30] Alex Steen now faces difficult decisions about which veterans remain part of the organization's future. Moving established players could accelerate the transition to a younger core while creating additional salary-cap flexibility. [00:04:50] Despite holding a wealth of draft picks, Neil cautions against trading too many of them away. Those selections represent one of the franchise's greatest long-term assets and must be used wisely to strengthen the organization. [00:05:00] The episode concludes with Neil emphasizing that modern NHL general managers must treat draft picks as both future players and valuable trade currency. For Alex Steen, successfully balancing those two approaches will determine how quickly the St. Louis Blues can return to playoff contention.
Spring Cleaning – San Jose Sharks The San Jose Sharks took one of the NHL's biggest steps forward during the 2025-26 season, narrowly missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs after exceeding nearly every preseason expectation. Fueled by the emergence of superstar Macklin Celebrini and a growing collection of young talent, the Sharks became one of the league's most exciting offensive teams. Neil Smith and Vic Morren break down San Jose's rapid progress, the defensive issues that still need attention, and why General Manager Mike Grier may have one of the brightest futures in the NHL. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:00:00] The Sharks are eliminated on April 13 after making an unexpected push toward the playoffs. Neil and Vic revisit their preseason expectations, when both believed San Jose was still another year away from serious contention despite an active offseason by General Manager Mike Grier. [00:00:35] Macklin Celebrini emerges as the driving force behind the Sharks' remarkable improvement. The young superstar explodes from 63 points as a rookie to 115 points in his second NHL season while improving his plus-minus from minus-31 to plus-eight. [00:01:00] Will Smith continues his development with 58 points despite playing fewer games than the previous season. Michael Misa also shows tremendous promise, while Kiefer Sherwood earns a five-year contract extension after arriving from Vancouver. [00:01:20] Veterans Tyler Toffoli, William Eklund, and Alexander Wennberg provide stability alongside the Sharks' young core, helping San Jose become a far more competitive team throughout the season. [00:01:45] Neil admits no one could have predicted Celebrini's meteoric rise, which included becoming an important contributor for Team Canada at the Winter Olympics. His development dramatically accelerates San Jose's rebuild. [00:02:00] Additional young forwards Pavel Regenda, Igor Chernyshov, and Michael Misa each contribute offensively, giving the Sharks an even deeper pipeline of emerging talent expected to improve in the coming years. [00:02:20] Team-wide improvements are significant. San Jose finishes 34 points better in the standings, improves its goal differential from minus-105 to minus-41, and scores 41 more goals than it did the previous season. [00:02:50] While the offense flourishes, major defensive concerns remain. The Sharks improve their power play to the middle of the NHL rankings, but the goals-against average and penalty kill remain among the league's weakest. [00:03:20] Neil credits the offensive explosion almost entirely to Celebrini's impact while emphasizing that Ryan Warsofsky's next challenge is transforming the Sharks into a stronger defensive hockey club. [00:03:45] Looking ahead, Mike Grier enters the 2026 NHL Draft with eight selections, including two first-round picks—one acquired from Edmonton in the Jake Walman trade—and two fourth-round selections accumulated through previous deals. [00:04:30] The discussion reviews the complicated series of trades that reshaped San Jose's draft capital, illustrating how Grier has continued collecting assets while rebuilding the organization. [00:05:00] The Sharks project to have minimal cap space before the July 1 reset, largely because they absorbed Carey Price's contract from Montreal to help reach the NHL salary floor while acquiring additional assets in return. [00:05:30] Neil explains why rebuilding teams often take on long-term contracts from other organizations, using available cap space to collect draft picks and prospects while remaining compliant with league salary requirements. [00:06:00] Logan Couture's retirement, Marc-Edouard Vlasic's buyout, Martin Jones' buyout, and retained salary from the Erik Karlsson and Tomáš Hertl trades continue to affect San Jose's salary structure, though much of that financial picture improves after July 1. [00:06:45] A large portion of the Sharks' defense enters free agency. Ryan Reaves, Pavel Regenda, John Klingberg, Nick Leddy, Mario Ferraro, and Vincent Desharnais headline the unrestricted free agent class, making defense Mike Grier's top offseason priority. [00:07:20] Restricted free agents Colin Graf, Philipp Kurashev, Zack Ostapchuk, and defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin also require new contracts. Neil expects Mukhamadullin to continue developing into an important piece of San Jose's blue line. [00:07:50] Neil also looks ahead to the following offseason, when Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith become restricted free agents. Celebrini is expected to command a franchise-changing contract, with Smith likely following shortly afterward. [00:08:10] Comparing the pair to Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in Edmonton, Neil believes Celebrini and Smith represent the foundation of San Jose's next era. With elite young talent already in place, the Sharks now turn their focus toward building a defense capable of supporting what could become one of the NHL's most dynamic teams.
Spring Cleaning – Philadelphia Flyers The Philadelphia Flyers made a surprising return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2026, finishing third in the Metropolitan Division and reaching the postseason for the first time since the 2020 bubble. After defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games, Philadelphia was swept by the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round. Neil Smith and Vic Morren examine Rick Tocchet’s impact, the late-season surge that changed the Flyers’ trajectory, and the offseason decisions facing Danny Brière and Keith Jones as the organization attempts to build on a major step forward. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:00:00] The Flyers complete a surprise playoff run after finishing third in the Metropolitan Division. Philadelphia defeats Pittsburgh in the opening round before Carolina ends the season with a four-game sweep. [00:00:40] Neil and Vic revisit the modest expectations surrounding the Flyers entering the season. While few predicted a playoff berth, Neil believed Philadelphia could remain in the Wild Card race if Rick Tocchet could get the roster to overachieve. [00:01:20] The Flyers’ young foundation already included Owen Tippett, Tyson Foerster, Noah Cates, Jamie Drysdale, and Cam York. Veterans Sean Couturier, Travis Konecny, and Travis Sanheim provided leadership, while Trevor Zegras, Christian Dvorak, and Dan Vladař were added during the offseason. [00:02:00] Tocchet receives significant credit for producing immediate results. Zegras finds new life after leaving Anaheim, while Vladař stabilizes a goaltending position that has troubled the Flyers for years. [00:02:40] Owen Tippett’s injury after the first round becomes a major loss against Carolina. Neil reflects on how Tippett developed into an important return from the trade that sent longtime captain Claude Giroux to Florida. [00:03:15] On February 26, the Flyers sit four games above .500 and eight points outside the final Wild Card position. Philadelphia responds with an 18-6-1 finish, including multiple five-game winning streaks, to force its way into the playoffs. [00:04:00] The late-season surge reveals a clear identity. The Flyers become difficult to play against in every zone, applying pressure on the forecheck, maintaining tighter defensive gaps, and fully embracing Tocchet’s demanding system. [00:04:30] Neil compares the team’s style to the traditional Philadelphia identity of physical, relentless hockey. Opponents once again understand that playing the Flyers will require a difficult, exhausting night. [00:05:00] Philadelphia’s first-round victory over Pittsburgh becomes a defining achievement. The Flyers eliminate a Penguins team led by Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, and Erik Karlsson before running into a deeper and more experienced Carolina club. [00:05:30] Dan Vladař emerges as the clear number-one goaltender, with Samuel Ersson serving as the backup. Ivan Fedotov is traded to Columbus before the season, ending another uncertain chapter in Philadelphia’s ongoing search for stability in net. [00:06:00] Rasmus Ristolainen misses much of the first half while recovering from triceps surgery. The Flyers also receive a major late-season boost from Porter Martone, who produces 10 points in his first nine NHL games. [00:06:30] Despite the team’s progress, the power play remains the NHL’s worst for another season. The relationship between Tocchet and Matvei Michkov also becomes a concern after the young forward is scratched twice during the playoffs. [00:07:00] Neil questions how Philadelphia handled Michkov’s arrival, arguing that the organization presented him as a franchise savior before he had earned that status. Both John Tortorella and Tocchet have since challenged his defensive play and willingness to follow the team’s structure. [00:08:00] Michkov remains one year away from restricted free agency. Neil believes the Flyers are unlikely to trade him immediately, but his future could become uncertain if his relationship with the coaching staff does not improve before his next contract. [00:08:30] Philadelphia still lacks a true game-breaking scorer and goes a second consecutive season without a 30-goal player. However, the organization’s prospect pipeline includes Martone, Denver Barkey, Alex Bump, Nikita Grebenkin, Jett Luchanko, and Oliver Bonk. [00:09:00] The Flyers enter the 2026 NHL Draft with only five selections and no picks in the fourth or fifth rounds. They project to have more than $7 million in cap space before the July 1 reset. [00:09:30] Unrestricted free agents include Carl Grundström, Rodrigo Ābols, Luke Glendening, and Noah Juulsen. Restricted free agents include Zegras, Grebenkin, Drysdale, Emil Andrae, and Ersson. [00:10:00] Neil identifies Zegras and Drysdale as the two most important players to re-sign. The organization must also continue adding young talent through the draft and determine which depth veterans still fit Tocchet’s system. [00:10:30] With available cap space and a suddenly more attractive competitive environment, Neil expects the Flyers to pursue at least one meaningful free agent who can improve the current roster without compromising the long-term plan. [00:11:00] The episode concludes with optimism surrounding Philadelphia’s direction. The Flyers now possess a defined identity, a respected head coach, a reliable starting goaltender, and an improving young core that has made the franchise an appealing destination once again.
Spring Cleaning – Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins entered the 2025-26 season with low expectations, an unproven head coach, and widespread speculation that the franchise might finally begin dismantling its aging core. Instead, rookie head coach Dan Muse engineered one of the NHL’s biggest surprises, guiding Pittsburgh to a second-place finish in the Metropolitan Division before a first-round loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. Neil Smith and Vic Morren revisit how badly they underestimated the Penguins, the remarkable resurgence of Erik Karlsson, and the difficult offseason decisions now facing General Manager Kyle Dubas. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:00:00] The Penguins finish second in the Metropolitan Division before being eliminated by Philadelphia in the opening round. Neil and Vic revisit the extremely low expectations surrounding Pittsburgh entering the season under first-year head coach Dan Muse. [00:00:40] Questions existed about whether Sidney Crosby would remain with the team through the trade deadline, whether Erik Karlsson would be dealt, and whether the collection of veteran depth additions could keep Pittsburgh competitive. [00:01:00] Dan Muse exceeds every expectation and quickly gets the roster to buy into his system. Pittsburgh becomes a more difficult, responsible, and consistent team than it had been the previous season. [00:01:20] Erik Karlsson’s transformation becomes one of Muse’s greatest accomplishments. After a disastrous 2024-25 campaign, Karlsson plays responsibly at both ends of the ice and reestablishes himself as a major contributor. [00:01:45] Neil and Vic admit they completely misjudged the Penguins during their preseason analysis. Muse becomes a Jack Adams Award finalist after leading a team expected to miss the playoffs to one of the strongest records in the Metropolitan Division. [00:02:00] Pittsburgh improves dramatically on offense, increasing its goal total from 243 to 293. The club’s goal differential rises by 75 goals, moving from minus-50 to plus-25. [00:02:20] The Penguins receive scoring throughout the lineup, with 12 players reaching double digits in goals and five surpassing 20. Anthony Mantha delivers a career-best season after signing a one-year contract. [00:02:45] Yegor Chinakhov scores 21 goals after arriving from Columbus, while Justin Brazeau, Connor Dewar, Tommy Novak, and Noel Acciari all contribute career-best or near-career-best production. [00:03:00] Karlsson improves from 53 points and a minus-24 rating to 66 points and a plus-eight. Rookie Ben Kindel also makes an immediate impact with 17 goals and 35 points in 77 games. [00:03:30] The coaching comparison becomes impossible to ignore. Mike Sullivan leaves Pittsburgh for the New York Rangers, while Muse departs the Rangers’ staff and immediately delivers a far more successful season with the Penguins. [00:04:00] Pittsburgh also makes major defensive progress. Its goals-against average drops from 3.46 to 3.09, supported by improved structure and a productive overhaul in goal. [00:04:20] The trade sending Tristan Jarry to Edmonton for Stuart Skinner and Brett Kulak becomes one of the season’s most successful moves. Pittsburgh escapes Jarry’s long-term contract while adding a more dependable starting goaltender. [00:04:45] Kulak is later moved to Colorado for Samuel Girard, giving the Penguins another useful defenseman. Artūrs Šilovs also provides reliable goaltending depth behind Skinner. [00:05:30] Neil explains why the season felt almost like a championship for Pittsburgh when compared to the expectations entering the year. Nearly every major move worked, and several veterans delivered unexpected career seasons. [00:06:00] The offseason presents a complicated challenge for Kyle Dubas. Pittsburgh enters the 2026 NHL Draft with five selections, including two second-round picks, but no choices in the fourth, fifth, or seventh rounds. [00:06:30] The Penguins project to have approximately $10.2 million in salary-cap space before the July 1 reset. Their unrestricted free agents include Evgeni Malkin, Kevin Hayes, Anthony Mantha, Noel Acciari, Connor Dewar, Connor Clifton, Ryan Shea, Ilya Solovyov, and Stuart Skinner. [00:07:00] Restricted free agents Yegor Chinakhov and Artūrs Šilovs also need new contracts. Neil expects a busy summer with the possibility of significant turnover if Dubas cannot retain several of the players who helped drive this year’s success. [00:07:20] Malkin wants to return, and Crosby has publicly expressed support for keeping his longtime teammate. Mantha’s career year creates a more difficult decision because another team may offer him a larger contract in free agency. [00:08:00] The Penguins’ unique challenge is that they are still building around one of the NHL’s oldest cores. Malkin turns 40, Crosby turns 39, Kris Letang is already 39, Erik Karlsson turns 36, and Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell are also well into their 30s. [00:08:40] Neil and Vic compare Pittsburgh’s position to the previous season’s Washington Capitals. Washington received career years from multiple veterans before injuries and regression caused the team to miss the playoffs one year later. [00:09:00] The Penguins could face the same danger if their older stars decline and the supporting players cannot repeat their career seasons. Pittsburgh must continue adding younger talent rather than assuming this year’s formula will work again. [00:09:30] Dan Muse receives enormous credit for creating belief, accountability, and structure throughout the lineup. His ability to get the players to buy into his approach becomes the defining reason behind Pittsburgh’s unexpected success. [00:10:00] The episode concludes with Neil and Vic admitting their preseason prediction was completely wrong. The Penguins earn an A-plus for the season, but sustaining that success will require a smart, aggressive, and carefully managed offseason.
Spring Cleaning – New York Rangers The New York Rangers entered the 2025-26 season with modest expectations under first-year head coach Mike Sullivan, but even a Wild Card berth proved well beyond their reach. A season defined by offensive struggles, major trades, and an aggressive roster teardown ended with the Rangers eliminated on March 25. Neil Smith and Vic Morren examine the dismantling of a team that reached the Eastern Conference Final only two years earlier, the young players receiving late-season opportunities, and the long rebuild now facing General Manager Chris Drury. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:00:00] The Rangers are eliminated from playoff contention on March 25 after entering the season as a possible Wild Card team. Neil and Vic revisit their preseason belief that New York would need to overachieve under Mike Sullivan to remain in the playoff race. [00:00:40] Neil’s preseason warning to “bring a program” proves accurate as the roster becomes increasingly unrecognizable. By the final weeks, the Rangers are relying heavily on Hartford call-ups, college signings, and inexperienced players auditioning for future roles. [00:01:00] New York’s offensive problems surface immediately. The Rangers are shut out by Pittsburgh on opening night and fail to score in each of their first three home games before finally breaking through in their fourth appearance at Madison Square Garden. [00:01:30] The dismantling continues after the offseason departures of K’Andre Miller and Chris Kreider. Artemi Panarin is later traded to the Los Angeles Kings, further removing proven scoring from a team already struggling to generate offense. [00:02:00] Neil explains that the returns for those veteran players may eventually benefit the organization through prospects and draft picks, but they provide almost no immediate help during the 2025-26 season. [00:02:20] The Rangers eventually discover a productive late-season line featuring Mika Zibanejad, Alexis Lafrenière, and Gabe Perreault. Zibanejad delivers a strong bounce-back season, Lafrenière improves, and Perreault emerges as one of the organization’s more promising young forwards. [00:02:45] Other prospects receive extended opportunities, including Noah Laba, Adam Sýkora, Drew Fortescue, and goaltender Dylan Garand. Their improved play provides some optimism, but Neil cautions against overvaluing performances after the team has already been eliminated. [00:03:00] Neil calls the late-season surge a mirage. With no playoff pressure and young players desperate to prove themselves, the final games resemble preseason auditions more than meaningful evidence of what the Rangers will become next year. [00:03:30] Attention turns to the unrestricted free agents, including Jonny Brodzinski, Conor Sheary, and veteran goaltender Jonathan Quick, who may retire after the season. [00:03:50] Restricted free agents Braden Schneider, Vincent Iorio, and Dylan Garand represent more important decisions for Chris Drury as the organization begins identifying which younger players belong in the next version of the team. [00:04:00] The Rangers enter the 2026 NHL Draft with 11 selections, including two first-round picks and four third-round picks. One of those first-rounders came from Carolina in the K’Andre Miller trade. [00:04:25] Despite the large number of selections, Neil believes the rebuild will take considerable time. The Rangers possess some useful pieces, but their prospect pipeline lacks enough elite talent to make them a likely playoff contender next season. [00:04:45] Neil identifies the draft as the organization’s most important path forward. Drury must maximize those selections while continuing to explore trades involving veterans who can bring back younger players or additional assets. [00:05:00] Igor Shesterkin remains the most important building block and gives the Rangers an elite foundation in goal. From there, management must determine how many current veterans still fit the club’s long-term timeline. [00:05:20] Mika Zibanejad remains a highly respected player, but his age creates questions about whether he should be part of a multi-year rebuild. Neil also argues that Lafrenière has not developed into the franchise-altering player expected from a first-overall pick. [00:05:45] The episode concludes with cautious evaluations of Perreault, Sýkora, Laba, and Garand. Each player showed promise, but Neil emphasizes that the pressure-free final weeks cannot be treated as proof that the Rangers are ready to contend again.
Spring Cleaning – Ottawa Senators The Ottawa Senators returned to the Stanley Cup Playoffs as the second Eastern Conference Wild Card, but their postseason stay ended quickly with a four-game sweep by the Carolina Hurricanes. Even so, Ottawa made measurable progress during the 2025-26 season, improving significantly on offense while overcoming injuries to several of its most important players. Neil Smith and Vic Morren examine the Senators’ scoring growth, defensive and goaltending concerns, and the increasingly important decisions surrounding Claude Giroux and captain Brady Tkachuk. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:00:00] The Senators qualify for the playoffs as the second Wild Card before being swept by Carolina in the opening round. Neil and Vic revisit the biggest question entering the season: whether Ottawa could generate enough offense after failing to produce a 30-goal scorer the previous year. [00:00:35] Tim Stützle and Drake Batherson both surpass 30 goals, while Dylan Cozens finishes with 28. Ottawa scores 278 goals as a team, an improvement of 35, and raises its goal differential from plus-nine to plus-32. [00:01:00] Neil discusses the continued development of Ottawa’s young core. Stützle, Batherson, and several other key players are entering the prime years of their careers, giving the Senators hope that their best talent can mature together. [00:01:20] Special teams remain a major concern. The penalty kill drops from 19th to 29th overall and ranks 31st on the road, creating a weakness that becomes increasingly difficult to overcome against stronger opponents. [00:01:45] Ottawa’s goaltending produces an unusual statistical profile. The Senators rank near the middle of the league in goals-against average but near the bottom in save percentage, suggesting the club limits shots but struggles to stop enough of the dangerous chances that get through. [00:02:00] Linus Ullmark misses time on personal leave, Levi Merzlikins fails to match his previous performance, and James Reimer is added later in the season to stabilize the backup position. [00:02:20] Injuries create even greater problems on defense. Brady Tkachuk suffers a thumb injury early in the season, while Jake Sanderson, Thomas Chabot, Nick Jensen, Tyler Kleven, and other defensemen miss significant time. [00:03:00] Neil explains how the repeated absences of Sanderson, Chabot, Jensen, and Kleven damaged Ottawa’s defensive structure. With several regulars unavailable at the same time, the Senators struggled to protect their goaltenders and maintain consistency. [00:03:30] Despite improved scoring, Ottawa cannot break through against Carolina. The Senators compete hard but lack the depth and execution necessary to challenge one of the NHL’s elite teams. [00:04:00] The discussion shifts to the offseason. Ottawa enters the 2026 NHL Draft with seven picks, including three selections in the third round, but has no second-round or seventh-round pick. [00:04:45] The Senators project to have approximately $2.34 million in cap space before the July 1 reset. Their unrestricted free agents include Claude Giroux, Lars Eller, Nick Cousins, Nick Jensen, Dennis Gilbert, Lassi Thomson, and James Reimer. [00:05:15] Restricted free agents Stephen Halliday, Jordan Spence, and Levi Merzlikins also require new contracts. Neil expects General Manager Steve Staios to prioritize Spence and address the defense and goaltending before making decisions on veteran forwards. [00:05:45] Claude Giroux’s future becomes another major storyline. The veteran has taken a hometown discount to remain in Ottawa, and Neil believes Giroux may prefer to finish his career with the Senators, although management must determine whether he still fits the club’s direction. [00:06:30] Attention then turns to Brady Tkachuk, who has two years remaining on his contract at $8.2 million annually. Trade speculation continues despite Tkachuk publicly denying that he wants to leave Ottawa. [00:07:00] Neil explains why the rumors will not disappear until Tkachuk signs another contract. As the captain approaches the final year of his deal, Ottawa must continue evaluating the market and understand what other teams might offer for its most valuable player. [00:08:00] Tkachuk’s value extends far beyond his production. He is the face of the franchise, an emotional leader, and one of the NHL’s most intimidating and competitive captains. [00:09:00] The episode concludes with Neil emphasizing that Steve Staios cannot remove any possibility from consideration. Ottawa has a strong young foundation, but improving the penalty kill, stabilizing the goaltending, resolving the defensive depth, and securing Tkachuk’s future will determine whether the Senators can take another step next season.