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The definitive NHL podcast network with expert analysis and insider perspectives.
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In 2025-26, the top three teams in the Western Conference all resided in the Central Division...and all failed to make the Stanley Cup Final. In this episode, Neil and Vic examine the powerhouses in Colorado, Dallas and Minnesota while also checking to see if there's enough upgrade in Winnipeg to return to the Presidents' Trophy form of 2024-25. Also under the radar: The up-and-coming Utah Mammoth and the very active Nashville Predators under new Head of Hockey Operations, Chris MacFarland. IN THIS EPISODE: [02:32] - Colorado Avalanche [11:52] - Dallas Stars [16:07] - Minnesota Wild [22:39] - Utah Mammoth [27:31] - St. Louis Blues [31:48] - Nashville Predators [37:57] - Winnipeg Jets [46:54] - Chicago Blackhawks 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 #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
The second installment of the Summer Coolers brings the Atlantic Division into focus. 2025-26 saw the rise of the Buffalo Sabres and the fall of both the two-time defending champion Florida Panthers and the Toronto Maple Leafs. To say there has been change among this group of eight teams would be an understatement but, will change actually result in positive movement? IN THIS EPISODE: [02:47] - Buffalo Sabres [09:44] - Tampa Bay Lightning [16:49] - Montreal Canadiens [22:22] - Boston Bruins [30:32] - Ottawa Senators [36:39] - Detroit Red Wings [43:44] - Florida Panthers [49:40] - Toronto Maple Leafs 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 #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
Training camps are on the horizon but, before we get there, Neil and Vic return with their 2026 edition of the Summer Coolers. As has been the case in the previous two summers, the division of the Stanley Cup-winning team leads off the round up of team movement during the course of the off-season. Who's upgraded, who appears to have taken a step back and those who have maintained the status quo is the focus of this four-part series. IN THIS EPISODE: [02:58] - Carolina Hurricanes [08:44] - Pittsburgh Penguins [17:47] - Philadelphia Flyers [25:47] - Washington Capitals [31:34] - Columbus Blue Jackets [39:00] - New York Islanders [43:48] - New Jersey Devils [50:37] - New York Rangers 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 #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
Spring Cleaning – Washington Capitals The Washington Capitals entered the 2025-26 season expecting some regression after nearly winning the Presidents’ Trophy the year before. That concern proved justified as declining production, injuries, weaker special teams, and uncertainty surrounding Alex Ovechkin’s future left Washington outside the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Neil Smith and Vic Morren examine why the Capitals could not recreate the magic of their previous season and the major fork in the road facing General Manager Chris Patrick this summer. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:00:00] The Capitals are eliminated from playoff contention on April 13 after entering the season with expectations of taking a step backward from their Eastern Conference-leading 2024-25 campaign. [00:00:25] Neil and Vic revisit Washington’s late-season decline from the previous year. The Capitals were 32 games above .500 on March 23, 2025, but finished the regular season 4-7-1 as the pursuit of Alex Ovechkin’s scoring record became the team’s central focus. [00:00:55] Washington still won the Eastern Conference and defeated Montreal in five games, but looked noticeably slower than Carolina during its second-round playoff elimination. [00:01:15] Eight Capitals players produced career seasons in 2024-25, making it difficult to expect the same level of performance one year later. [00:01:35] Neil believes the attention surrounding Ovechkin’s record chase disrupted the team’s rhythm. Once the record was secured, Washington never fully regained the form it displayed earlier in the season. [00:02:00] A quiet offseason provides little reinforcement, and the Capitals pace toward only 90 points through their first 72 games before finishing the season with an 8-2-0 run. [00:02:20] Several important players experience major declines in production. Dylan Strome falls from 82 points to 58, while Aliaksei Protas drops from 66 points to 52. [00:02:45] Connor McMichael also regresses, falling from 26 goals and 57 points to 14 goals and 46 points. Neil and Vic discuss how only a few additional goals could have changed several close games and kept Washington in the playoff race. [00:03:00] Pierre-Luc Dubois becomes one of the team’s most significant losses. After playing all 82 games and producing career highs with 46 assists and 66 points the previous season, Dubois is limited to only 29 games. [00:03:30] Tom Wilson, Jakob Chychrun, and Logan Thompson remain dependable, while Ryan Leonard takes an encouraging step with 20 goals and 45 points. [00:03:50] Justin Sourdif contributes 15 goals and 35 points after arriving from Florida, while Aliaksei Protas’ younger brother, Ilya Protas, positions himself for a full-time role next season. [00:04:10] Washington’s special teams also regress. The power play falls from 14th to 25th, while the penalty kill drops from fourth to 15th. [00:04:35] Neil explains that even moderate declines become costly in a league where so many games are decided by one goal. [00:04:55] The Capitals also remain one of the NHL’s older teams, and the unified effort that produced so many career seasons in 2024-25 does not carry over. [00:05:10] Alex Ovechkin’s future becomes the defining offseason question. He has not yet decided whether he will return for another season or retire. [00:05:30] General Manager Chris Patrick enters the 2026 NHL Draft with five selections, including two first-round picks. [00:05:50] Washington owns its original first-round selection and Anaheim’s pick acquired in the John Carlson trade. [00:06:05] The Capitals do not own a second-round pick after the Justin Sourdif trade, a third-round pick following the Jakob Chychrun deal, or a sixth-round selection after acquiring David Kämpf. [00:06:25] Washington projects to have approximately $4.4 million in cap space, leaving Patrick with limited flexibility before additional offseason moves. [00:06:45] Unrestricted free agents include Ovechkin, Brandon Duhaime, David Kämpf, Trevor van Riemsdyk, and Timothy Liljegren. [00:07:00] Restricted free agents Connor McMichael and Hendrix Lapierre also require new contracts as management evaluates which younger players belong in the next version of the team. [00:07:20] Neil believes ownership and management must first learn Ovechkin’s intentions before deciding whether to retool or begin a more significant rebuild. [00:07:40] If Ovechkin returns, Washington is unlikely to dismantle the roster around him. The organization may instead attempt one more playoff push during the final chapter of his career. [00:08:00] If Ovechkin retires, the Capitals could accept several difficult seasons in order to acquire higher draft picks and inject more youth into the lineup. [00:08:20] Vic argues that Washington still possesses enough useful pieces to avoid tearing the roster down completely. A retool may be more appropriate than a total rebuild. [00:08:40] Neil compares the possible approach with Pittsburgh’s successful strategy of adding several complementary veterans around Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang. [00:09:00] The episode concludes with Washington standing at a clear organizational crossroads. Every major offseason decision—from free agency to roster construction—will depend on whether Ovechkin chooses to return for one more season.
Spring Cleaning – Winnipeg Jets The Winnipeg Jets suffered one of the NHL’s most dramatic declines during the 2025-26 season, missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs just one year after winning the Presidents’ Trophy. After entering the year as one of the expected powers in the Central Division, Winnipeg collapsed under the weight of declining goaltending, a lack of secondary scoring, and an overwhelming dependence on its top line. Neil Smith and Vic Morren examine what went wrong, the challenges of building in the Winnipeg market, and the difficult offseason awaiting General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:00:00] The Jets are eliminated from playoff contention on April 13, becoming the second consecutive Presidents’ Trophy winner to miss the postseason the following year. [00:00:25] Neil and Vic revisit the preseason expectation that Winnipeg would join Colorado and Dallas among the Central Division’s elite teams. [00:00:50] The departures of Nikolaj Ehlers and Mason Appleton weaken the forward group, while questions remain about how much Jonathan Toews can contribute after several years away from the NHL. [00:01:20] Winnipeg also enters the season needing more offense from its third and fourth lines to reduce the burden on Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, and Gabriel Vilardi. [00:01:45] Toews is viewed as a potential leadership addition for a team believed to be close to Stanley Cup contention, while Connor Hellebuyck returns as the reigning Vezina Trophy and Hart Trophy winner. [00:02:00] The Jets’ collapse is dramatic. Winnipeg finishes 34 points worse than the previous season, while its goal differential falls from plus-86 to minus-29. [00:02:25] After beginning the season 9-3-0, the Jets go 6-19-5 over their next 30 games, including four regulation losing streaks of at least three games. [00:02:50] An 0-7-4 stretch becomes the clearest sign that Winnipeg’s season is spiraling out of control. [00:03:00] Hellebuyck’s numbers fall sharply after his MVP season. His record drops from 47-12-3 to 23-23-11, while his goals-against average rises from 2.00 to 2.86 and his save percentage falls from .925 to .895. [00:03:30] Winnipeg becomes overwhelmingly dependent on its top line. Scheifele, Connor, and Vilardi account for 105 of the team’s 231 goals, representing more than 45 percent of the offense. [00:04:00] The supporting cast fails to provide enough production. Cole Perfetti, Vladislav Namestnikov, Nino Niederreiter, Adam Lowry, and Alex Iafallo collectively fall from 77 goals to 46. [00:04:25] Free-agent signing Gustav Nyquist produces only one goal and 12 points in 51 games, making his season one of the organization’s biggest disappointments. [00:04:45] Neil explains that injuries played a role, but the larger problem was the absence of meaningful secondary scoring throughout the lineup. [00:05:00] The discussion turns to the challenge of attracting free agents to Winnipeg. The weather, Canadian dollar, family considerations, and smaller market all complicate recruitment. [00:05:30] Despite those challenges, players who do join the Jets often speak highly of the organization and the city. [00:05:45] Cheveldayoff enters the 2026 NHL Draft with seven selections but no second-round pick after acquiring Luke Schenn from Pittsburgh. [00:06:00] Winnipeg owns two seventh-round picks, including one acquired from Buffalo in the Tanner Pearson trade. [00:06:15] The Jets project to have approximately $3.3 million in cap space before the July 1 reset. [00:06:30] Unrestricted free agents include Nyquist, Toews, Colin Miller, Jacob Bryson, and backup goaltender Eric Comrie. [00:06:50] Restricted free agents Cole Perfetti and Isak Rosén represent more important long-term decisions for the organization. [00:07:00] Neil expects Perfetti to be a priority but questions whether Winnipeg will retain Comrie, Toews, or Nyquist. [00:07:20] Cheveldayoff must find a way to add higher-end support players despite the difficulty of convincing free agents to sign in Winnipeg. [00:07:45] The Jets still possess a strong core that includes Scheifele, Hellebuyck, Connor, Josh Morrissey, and Neal Pionk. [00:08:00] Kyle Connor’s new eight-year, $12 million-per-season contract provides another major long-term commitment from one of the franchise’s top players. [00:08:20] Neil credits Cheveldayoff for successfully keeping several elite players in Winnipeg despite the market’s disadvantages. [00:08:40] The episode concludes with a clear offseason priority: improve the team’s depth and secondary scoring so the Jets are no longer dependent on one line and one goaltender to carry them back into the playoffs.
Spring Cleaning – Vancouver Canucks The Vancouver Canucks suffered one of the NHL’s sharpest declines, becoming the first team eliminated from playoff contention on March 22. Just two years removed from winning the Pacific Division and pushing Edmonton to seven games in the second round, Vancouver has been torn apart by internal conflict, major trades, coaching uncertainty, and poor performance at home. Neil Smith and Vic Morren examine how the Canucks fell so quickly and why their large collection of draft picks may not produce immediate results. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:00:00] The Canucks become the first NHL team eliminated from playoff contention on March 22. Neil and Vic begin by reviewing the expectations entering the season, the reality of Vancouver’s collapse, and the enormous amount of work ahead. [00:00:25] Expectations were already low after Vancouver missed the playoffs in four of the previous five seasons. The lone exception came in 2024, when the Canucks won the Pacific Division and reached the second round. [00:00:50] That successful run created optimism that Vancouver had filled several important roster gaps. However, the organization quickly unraveled during the following seasons. [00:01:05] The highly publicized conflict between J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson became one of the franchise’s biggest problems. Miller was eventually traded in a deal involving Filip Chytil, but the move failed to stabilize the team. [00:01:30] Vancouver also faced uncertainty surrounding Brock Boeser’s contract, Thatcher Demko’s health, and Rick Tocchet’s future behind the bench. [00:01:50] Tocchet ultimately chose to leave Vancouver despite previously winning the Jack Adams Award with the Canucks. He returned to Philadelphia, where he had been a popular player, raising additional questions about what he saw inside the Vancouver organization. [00:02:15] Boeser publicly indicated he would not re-sign with the Canucks, entered free agency, and then surprisingly returned to Vancouver on a new contract. [00:02:35] Kiefer Sherwood emerged as one of Vancouver’s better players before being traded to the San Jose Sharks, removing another productive piece from the lineup. [00:02:55] The Canucks then made their biggest move by trading Norris Trophy-winning defenseman Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild amid concerns that he would not sign another contract in Vancouver. [00:03:20] Neil acknowledges that Vancouver received a respectable return in the Hughes trade, but emphasizes that no package can fully replace a player of his caliber. [00:03:40] Conor Garland, whose energy and competitiveness represented much of Vancouver’s identity, was traded to Columbus and went on to play well for Rick Bowness and the Blue Jackets. [00:04:00] Veteran defenseman Tyler Myers was also moved to the Dallas Stars, leaving Vancouver without several recognizable pieces from its recent playoff team. [00:04:20] The Canucks’ disastrous home record further illustrates how far the franchise has fallen. A team that appeared to be building momentum two seasons earlier becomes one of the league’s biggest disappointments. [00:04:45] Vancouver’s notable unrestricted free agents include Evander Kane, Teddy Blueger, and Derek Forbort, creating additional decisions for an already depleted roster. [00:05:05] The Canucks do possess a strong collection of draft capital, entering the 2026 NHL Draft with 10 selections. [00:05:25] Vancouver owns two first-round picks, including its original selection and another acquired through the Quinn Hughes trade. [00:05:45] The organization also holds two second-round picks and three sixth-round selections, giving management several opportunities to add young talent. [00:06:05] Neil believes the draft picks provide a possible foundation for improvement three years from now, but they do very little to solve Vancouver’s immediate problems next season. [00:06:30] He explains that modern NHL team-building requires much more than simply accumulating picks and waiting for prospects to develop. [00:06:50] Successful organizations must balance drafting with trades, free-agent signings, player development, and creating an environment where established players want to join and remain with the team. [00:07:15] Neil compares the current NHL with his experience in Detroit during the 1980s, when teams could focus more heavily on collecting draft selections and patiently developing players. [00:07:40] Today’s general managers must use draft picks as both future players and trade assets while simultaneously finding experienced talent to support the roster. [00:08:00] The episode concludes with a blunt assessment of Vancouver’s direction. The Canucks have draft picks, but Neil does not believe the organization is currently drafting, trading, developing, or attracting players well enough to execute a successful rebuild.