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
They started 0-3-0 and were still three games below .500 on the morning of Dec. 9. Simply put, 2025-26 was shaping us the same way as the past 14 seasons have for the Buffalo Sabres. 28 games later, nobody's laughing at the Sabres any more. Though there's been a slight cool down over the past week, Buffalo News columnist Mike Harrington returns to the show to share what's been behind the stunning turnaround. In Three Things You Need to Pay Attention to, the Olympic break is upon us, the Panthers and Lightning were at it again and Oilers superstar Leon Draisaitl calls the coaching staff. IN THIS EPISODE: [01:19] – Three Things You Need to Pay Attention To. [11:49] – Mike Harrington from the Buffalo News makes an encore appearance and immediately dives into why the Sabres have done such an about-face - without moving any players. [15:16] - Neil poses the question as to when team owner Terry Pegula got an epiphany to finally make moves within the front office - moves which have quietly altered the culture of the franchise. [17:31] - The difference in the on-ice product under the guidance of head coach Lindy Ruff. [19:34] - Further elaboration on the Sabres depth and potential damage they could do if they qualify for the post-season. [21:41] - Mike shares a pattern he sees with the 2025-26 Sabres and the one coached by Ruff in 2006 which reached the seventh game of the East Final. [23:29] - Will pending UFA Alex Tuch remain with his hometown team beyond this season? [25:56] - As the trade deadline looms, the holes which need to be filled in order to secure that elusive playoff spot. [30:30] - Wrapping up the discussion with Mike Harrington. [31:48] - With the Rangers trade of Artemi Panarin to the Kings, Neil looks at the moves made by GM Chris Drury since taking the team over in 2021. [35:59] - Top NHL Draft prospect Gavin McKenna charged with in connection with an altercation Saturday evening that left a man with a broken jaw. [39:30] - Matvei Michkov's playing time has decreased under Rick Tocchet in Philadelphia. The GM isn't moving the player and head coach is in the first year of a five-year deal. [42:19] - Plaudits for the offensive defensemen, two of which hit the 20-goal mark over the past couple of days. [44:00] - Personnel notes with best wishes to Hall of Fame Craig Patrick, who is recovering from a stroke. [46:21] - What the Olympic break means for NHL teams...and us. 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 #MikeHarrington #BuffaloNews #BraydenPoint #SethJarvis #Milano-Cortina #MatthewTkachuk #BrandonHagel #J.J.Moser #GustavForsling #PaulMaurice #JamieKompon #BradMarchand #EvanRodrigues #AaronEkblad #DaniilTarasov...
After being held out of the Rangers lineup, star forward Artemi Panarin has a new home on the left coast having been dealt to the Los Angeles Kings for a prospect and a draft pick. Vic and Neil chat about the impact to both clubs and also discuss a smaller deal which took place between the Blues and Devils. 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 #QuickTakes #ArtemiPanarin #LosAngelesKings #LiamGreentree #WindsorSpitfires #OHL #ChrisDrury #NickBjugstad #StLouisBlues #ThomasBordeleau #NewJerseyDevils #DougArmstrong #TomFitzgerald
He's won two Stanley Cups. In fact, he's won everywhere he's coached. Still, Jon Cooper has never won the Jack Adams Trophy as Coach of the Year. That may have to change in June as Cooper as has led the Lightning to the top spot in the Eastern Conference despite dealing with a decimated defense all season. Coming off the dramatic Stadium Series Sunday, the Lightning had more late heroics in store Tuesday on a night where all but one game was decided in the third period. Vic and Neil break it down and also chat about three controversial game winners on Monday, Steven Stamkos moving up the all-time goal scoring list and Olympic replacements. 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 #QuickTakes #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 #AnthonyCirelli #NickPaul #JoshDoan #DarrenRaddysh #JakeGuentzel #NikitaKucherov #JonCooper #JackAdamsAward #VictorHedman #RyanMcDonagh #ErikCernak #NHLStadiumSeries #JulienBriseBois #WarrenYoung #MarioLemieux #EvanBouchard #FilipHronek #AlexLyon #JohnGibson #SteveYzerman #MarcoKasper #LucasRaymond #MathieuOlivier #ElvisMerzlikins #SheldonKeefe #RickBowness #DonWaddell #JackHughes #JordanStaal #BrandonBussi #JakeSanderson #FrederikAndersen #PyotrKochetkov #ProvidenceBruins TheAHL.com #MaineMariners #ECHL #WilliamNylander #MatiasMaccelli #AnthonyStolarz #LeonDraisaitl #ClaudeGiroux #ErikKarlsson #DanMuse #DaveJackson #KirillKaprizov #JoelErikssonEk #NickSuzuki #ConnorHellebuyck #MiroHeiskanen #MarkScheifele #ThomasHarley #FrancoisSt.Laurent #MartinBiron #TSN #AndrewBrunette #JustusAnnunen #JuuseSaros #StevenStamkos #DinoCiccarelli #BobbyHull #BarryTrotz #RyanO'Reilly #LukeEvangelista #QuinnHughes #CaleMakar #MatthewTkachuk #AleksanderBarkov #TomasNosek #BradMarchand #SethJones #DmitryKulikov #AntonLundell #MorganRielly #ZachBenson #NickPaul #FilipChytil #AdamFoote #DevonToews #SamBennett #BraydenPoint #JoonasKorpisalo #Ukko-PekkaLuukkonen #MikeHarrington #BuffaloNews
Monday morning saw the surprise announcement that Nashville Predators GM Barry Trotz would be stepping down, though he would remain in his current role until a replacement is found. Vic and Neil so a quick look into what impact this has on a team that has bounced back after a rough season-and-a-half and are looking to squeeze into a Wild Card spot in the West. 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 #QuickTakes #BarryTrotz #DavidPoile #BillHaslam #AndrewBrunette #RyanO'Reilly #StevenStamkos #BradySkjei
The first night of February brought perhaps the wildest outdoor game we've ever seen in a furious comeback win for the host Lightning. That was followed Monday morning by the surprising resignation of Nashville Predators GM Barry Trotz. Vic and Neil have the latest along with along with a couple of strong takes coming out of Saturday's games along with the possibility of the playoff field flipping by 50% by the time we get to April. All that plus some odds and ends including Linus Ullmark's return to the Ottawa net, the run by the Blue Jackets and the struggles taking place in Vegas. 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 #JohnSaunders #BarryTrotz #DavidPoile #StevenStamkos #JonathanMarchessault #BradySkjei #AndrewBrunette #NHLStadiumSeries #ESPN #ABC #WinterClassic #TNT #JonCooper #MarcoSturm #PavelZacha #EliasLindholm #VictorHedman #AnthonyCirelli #MarkKastelic #BraydenPoint #JulienBriseBois #OliverBjorkstrand #RayFerraro #DonSweeney #NikitaKucherov #JakeGuentzel #DavidPastrnak #AndreiVasilevskiy #JeremySwayman #DaleHunter #PierreTurgeon #SteveLevy #MarkMessier #PKSubban #NathanMacKinnon #ErikJohnson #PatrickKane #TomBarrasso #ChrisChelios #BrianLeetch #PhilHousley #BobbyOrr #MikeModano #SteveSimmons #BrettHull #PatLafontaine #QuinnHughes #AustonMatthews #JeremyRoenick #MakrHowe #SidneyCrosby #BobWischusen #ChrisDrury #GeorgeCostanza #ArtemiPanarin #MikaZibanejad #HartfordWolfpack #GerardGallant #MikeSullivan #PeterLaviolette #BillGuerin #VincentIorio #JeffMarek #ConnorHellebuyck #NikolajEhlers #MitchMarner #LinusUllmark #JackHughes #RickBowness #DeanEvason #ConnorMcMichael #MattRoy #MartinFehervary #LoganThompson #CharlieLindgren #ClayStevenson #GarinBjorklund #CarterHart #BrettHowden #WilliamKarlsson #MasonMcTavish #TroyTerry #LeoCarlsson #FrankVatrano #BrockMcGinn #JoelQuenneville #RobertThomas #MartinNecas #KrisLetang #MorganRielly #AlexTurcotte #BradMarchand #AntonLundell #WilliamNylander #AnzeKopitar #TrippTracy #TonyGranato #ShaneWillis #DarylEvans #CammiGranato #CatherineO'Hara #Schitt'sCreek #SidneyCrosby #EvgeniMalkin #MatthewSchaefer #CalvinPickard #ConnorIngram #TristanJarry #MikeHarrington #BuffaloNews
Kenny Albert, Rangers radio voice and one of sports broadcasting's most versatile talents, joins Neil Smith and Vic Morren for an in-depth career discussion. From 2025 National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame induction to his autobiography "A Mic for All Seasons" now available on audiobook, hear about calling the 1994 Stanley Cup Final on NHL Radio when Rangers-Canucks matched his two favorite teams, Barry Trotz fake arrest prank in Baltimore Skipjacks days, growing up with legendary father Marv Albert, and preparation differences between 20-30 hour NFL weeks versus NHL games. Plus comprehensive Rangers analysis on inconsistency and JT Miller trade impact, Washington and Winnipeg surprising success, Detroit and Ottawa turnarounds, Islanders injury plague with three waiver pickups, Devils inconsistency despite upgrades, why all three New York teams making playoffs raises excitement, radio versus TV call differences working with Dave Maloney and Eddie Olczyk, Twin Rinks Port Washington skating instructor origin story where Neil first saw Kenny's name, and humbleness making journey to top more fun than being there. Broadcasting legend shares 40 years of career insights. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:00] - Welcome: A Man for All Seasons with Kenny Albert joining NHL Wraparound [01:00] - Great privilege: reminiscing with good friend Kenny Albert [02:00] - 2025 National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame induction: great names inducted past years [03:00] - Hall of Fame located Commack Long Island: big honor to be included [04:00] - Madison Square Garden press room: sitting with mom and dad after Rangers games [05:00] - Neil scouting for Islanders: innocent days for all of us [06:00] - NHL this season: things didn't see coming or surprised you [07:00] - Two biggest surprises: Washington Capitals and Winnipeg Jets [08:00] - Washington last year playoffs: tired, old, slow against Rangers [09:00] - Retooled: Pierre-Luc Dubois, Logan Thompson, key players during off-season [10:00] - Alex Ovechkin amazing season: Spencer Carbery a lot of credit [11:00] - Winnipeg: Scott Arniel great guy, assistant coach with Rangers [12:00] - Head coaching opportunity Columbus: long time assistant, takes over where he played [13:00] - East Coast doesn't pay attention: tremendous goaltending Hellebuyck, terrific players [14:00] - Flip side disappointments: Detroit, Ottawa, Buffalo on the rise [15:00] - Todd McLellan coming in: terrific record since took over [16:00] - Ottawa finally next level: challenging for playoff spot, still time left [17:00] - Montreal rough start then great stretch: right in mix as well [18:00] - Pittsburgh impressive without Crosby and Malkin: leading up to break [19:00] - Not many teams really out of it: three-point games, 25-26 games remaining [20:00] - Players get to refresh: 100 players Four Nations, others recharge [21:00] - Doing color with Kenny at Joe Louis Arena: Detroit on Versus/OLN [22:00] - Over-preparer: tend to do even more than probably need [23:00] - Learning tricks of trade: what to do and what not to do through years [24:00] - Keep all game sheets: file cabinet to my left, could pull it out [25:00] - 1994 Stanley Cup Final: NHL Radio, looked through sheets recently [26:00] - Grew up Vancouver Canucks fan but also Rangers fan [27:00] - Working Washington doing Capitals home games cable 1992-95 [28:00] - Also WTOP radio station: Rangers-Devils conference final happening [29:00] - Howie Rose and Mike Keenan: 1993 Final NHL Radio, Los Angeles-Montreal [30:00] - 1994: Howie supposed to do NHL Radio final, unavailable if Rangers got there [31:00] - Got call day of Game 3 Rangers-Devils series: would you be interested? [32:00] - 26 years old: of course I'd be interested, Rangers and Canucks my two teams [33:00] -