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The definitive NHL podcast network with expert analysis and insider perspectives.
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There are few teams in the NHL that have a higher upside coming off the 2025-26 season than the Anaheim Ducks. After qualifying for the playoffs for the first time since 2018, the managed to take out the two-time Western Conference champion Oilers before gamely bowing out to Vegas in six. There's a youth, experience and cap space for Pat Verbeek to work with heading into the off-season. At the same time, a combined 13 UFA's and RFA's are on the roster. How Verbeek continues to upgrade this team will be worth watching during the summer months. 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 #EdmontonOilers #VegasGoldenKnights #HartfordWhalers #PhiladelphiaFlyers #WashingtonCapitals #LosAngelesKings #PatVerbeek #JoelQuenneville #ChrisKreider #MikaelGranlund #RyanPoehling #LukasDostal #JacksonLacombe #OlenZellweger #PavelMintyukov #DrewHelleson #GregCronin #ConnorMcDavid #MasonMcTavish #CutterGauthier #LeoCarlsson #BeckettSennecke #PatVerbeek #JohnCarlson #RadkoGudas #JacobTrouba #RossJohnston #JeffreyViel #JansenHarkins #PetrMrazek #VilleHusso #IanMoore #TysonHinds #SteveYzerman #KenHolland
It all appeared to be falling into place for the Colorado Avalanche despite the 0-2 hole and having to dig out in Vegas. Cale Makar was back and, in a matter of 13:15, the Avs had a 3-0 lead. And just like that, it disappeared with their offensive superstar Nathan MacKinnon finishing the game on a gimpy leg after blocking a shot. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights appear more and more like the best in the West. Vic and Neil do the deep dive and also preview Game 3 of the Hurricanes and Canadiens in the Bell Center on this Memorial Day. 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 #CaleMakar #MarkStone #IvanBarbashev #NathanMacKinnon #CarterHart #DevonToews #NoahHanafin #GabrielLandeskog #JoshManson #MartinNecas #NazemKadri #ScottWedgewood #ColtonSissons #PavelDorofeyev #DaveJackson #ESPN #JackDrury #MitchMarner #JackEichel #SamMalinski #ParkerKelly #WilliamKarlsson #DylanCoghlan #KeeganKolesar #JaredBednar #BrettHowden #KaedenKorczak #TomasHertl #JohnTortorella #BruceCassidy #MartinSt.Louis #RodBrind'Amour #MaxDomi #TieDomi
It took a bit more than 60 minutes but the Carolina Hurricanes remained on point throughout Game 2 with the Montreal Canadiens to even the Eastern Final at a game a piece. Vic and Neil share their thoughts and also preview the third game of the Western Final between Colorado and Vegas. The hosts discuss the biggest question that being the status of Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar while also addressing a possible return for Golden Knights captain Mark Stone. 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 #FrederikAndersen #JoshAnderson #NikolajEhlers #EricRobinson #MarkJankowski #WilliamCarrier #TaylorHall #KaidenGuhle #PhillipDanault #AlexanderNIkishin #JordanStaal #AndreiSvechnikov #JordanMartinook #ColeCaufield #LaneHutson #NickSuzuki #NoahDobson #AlexandreTexier #K'AndreMiller #EdOlczyk #NHLonTNT #WayneGretzky #SethJarvis #JakeEvans #AlexNewhook #MuhammadAli #GeorgeForeman #MikeMatheson #JalenChatfield #CaleMakar #NorrisTrophy #QuinnHughes #BraydenMcNabb #MarkStone #GeorgeMcPhee #KellyMcCrimmon #JohnTortorella #GaryBettman #BobNystrom #PetePeeters
NHL Wraparound launched its first guest episode on Jan. 30, 2024 with Wayne Gretzky joining Neil and Vic. Less than 2.5 years and multiple franchises later, the 100th episode of the flagship show goes right to the top again for an insightful discussion with the man serving the longest as head of any of the North American pro sports, commissioner Gary Bettman. The 35-minute interview hits on numerous topics from his growing up in New York to the experience of presenting the Stanley Cup and plenty in between. IN THIS EPISODE: [01:49] - NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman joins Neil and Vic and shares his early years growing up as a fan in New York, which became further enhanced when going to college at Cornell. Also a little fun about an old Bettman family business. [08:04] - Bettman shares what he took from his NBA experience with commissioner David Stern into the position he's held with the NHL since 1993. [10:53] - Expansion. The NHL has grown from 24 to 32 teams under Bettman's leadership. Is there a true right number of teams to aspire to grow to given the difficulty of winning the Stanley Cup? [14:01] - Player safety. The standard NHL rink has been 200' x 85' since 1929 while the average player size has moved grown by over four inches and nearly 30 pounds. Given the speed of today's game, is there reason for concern? [16:33] - Load management and the debate of whether playoff solidified teams should be permitted to sit players in games against teams still fighting for playoff spots. [19:21] - The current relationship with current NHLPA head Marty Walsh. Having gone through three lockouts - including losing the entire 2004-05 season working with Walsh's predecessors, there is labor peace in the NHL through at least September of 2030. [21:33] - The obligation to the media, which has gotten some unwanted publicity following the Golden Knights penalties for violating media rules following their second round clinching game against Anaheim. [25:15] - The now de-centralized NHL Draft and the story of why it's currently the format in place. [27:50] - Legacy secured, the top items of importance for the commissioner for as long as he remains in the position. [29:48] - Bettman will present his 32nd Stanley Cup in June. A couple of things you may not have known and a heartfelt revelation of just how special those moments are to the commissioner. Then Neil brings the discussion full circle to wrap up. [37:31] - Wrap up segment. 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 #GaryBettman #WayneGretzky #KenDryden #JohnHughes #BrianCropper #SarahHughes #DavidStern #RussGranik #NBA #JohnZiegler #AlexOvechkin #SidneyCrosby #NathanMacKinnon #ConnorMcDavid #AustonMatthews #ConnorBedard #MacklinCelebrini #USAHockey #MikeSullivan #IIHF #IOC #MartyWalsh #NHLPA #SteveMayer #MarkMessier #ScottyBowman #MontrealMaroons
For 40 minutes, the Colorado Avalanche had the Vegas Golden Knights at arms length protecting a 1-0 lead. Then, in a span of 127 seconds midway through the third period, it disappeared and with it, the Presidents' Trophy winners now need to win at least twice in Sin City in order to gain the Final. Vic and Neil talk it through and also look ahead to the East where favorite Carolina will try to avoid a similar 0-2 against Montreal. 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 #CaleMakar #MarkStone #CraigButton #JaredBednar #ScottWedgewood #CarterHart #PavelDorofeyev #MitchMarner #BrentBurns #KaedenKorczak #RossColton #PavelDorofeyev #BraydenMcNabb #SamMalinski #JoshManson #IvanBarbashev #JackEichel #NathanMacKinnon #MartinNecas #DevonToews #BrockNelson #JohnTortorella #MartinSt.Louis #GaryBettman
So much for that 16-0 talk for the Carolina Hurricanes. As opposed to taking advantage of a Canadiens team that has endured consecutive seven-game series, it was the Habs with more jump as the 'Canes struggled to find their legs until it was too late in the opener of the Eastern Conference Final. Vic and Neil break it down and also look ahead to the Game 2 in the West where the Colorado Avalanche face a similar dilemma after dropping the home opener to the Vegas Golden Knights. 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 #RodBrind'Amour #SethJarvis #EdOlczyk #JackieRedmond #NHLonTNT #AndreiSvechnikov #ColeCaufield #NickSuzuki #JurajSlafkovsky #JakeEvans #AlexanderCarrier #PhillipDanault #FrederikAndersen #KaidenGuhle #AlexandreTexier #K'AndreMiller #AlexNewhook #IvanDemidov #SeattleMetropolitans #PCHA #JoeHall #WilliamCarrier #JakubDobes #JacksonBlake #LoganStankoven #TaylorHall #JaccobSlavin #CaleMakar #MarkStone #MartinNecas #NathanMacKinnon #JohnTortorella #JaredBednar #TroyTerry #GaryBettman