NHL Wraparound Podcast
Breadth and depth. Contemporary and historical. Straight-forward and experienced. The NHL Wraparound podcast features Neil Smith, President-General Manager of the 1994 Stanley Cup Champion New York Rangers and longtime ESPN/NHL veteran Vic Morren sharing no-nonsense opinions on news and issues around the National Hockey League. Bringing decades of experience from their respective fields, Smith and Morren create a unique partnership that examines the NHL from multiple perspectives. Additionally, as hockey historians, the pair can delve into any topic in today’s game and enlighten the audience with connections to events from previous years. To truly appreciate where hockey stands today, one needs to understand its past. With 2024 marking the 30th anniversary of the Rangers last championship season, a special five-part series is planned to commemorate that magical run. Expect fascinating behind-the-scenes stories and special guests with particular focus on the GM who pushed all of his chips into the middle of the table amidst the most pressurized environments – and came out on top. Whether you’re new to the game or a seasoned fan, each episode of NHL Wraparound will leave you entertained and informed. Bio’s Neil S. Smith, highly regarded NHL executive, served as the President and General Manager of the 1994 Stanley Cup Champion New York Rangers. During his eleven years with the team, they achieved significant success, including three division titles, two Presidents’ Trophies, one Eastern Conference Championship, and a historic Stanley Cup victory—the franchise’s first in 54 years. Known for his expertise in professional sports franchise economics, Smith played a pivotal role in management decisions under four different Rangers owners.. His tenure saw iconic trades and acquisitions, including Hall of Famers Mark Messier and Wayne Gretzky, as well as successful drafts and free-agent signings. Starting as a pro scout, Smith's career highlights include the impactful 1989 draft for the Detroit Red Wings and bold trades that shaped NHL history. He briefly served as GM for the New York Islanders in 2006, later working as a consultant for the Dallas Stars, Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. A Toronto native, Smith's hockey journey began in junior leagues before a distinguished college career at Western Michigan University. He has received numerous awards and distinctions, including induction into the University's Sports Hall of Fame in 1991. Vic Morren: Born in New York City close to the Old Madison Square Garden, Vic Morren has had hockey in his blood his entire life as a fan, player and television production manager. A graduate of William Paterson University, Morren skated for three seasons with the Pioneers hockey club and became the first statistical analyst to apply his craft to telecasts working New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils games from 1984-87. He co-authored two NHL-based statistics books within that span before moving to ESPN in 1987 and working the final season of the original deal the network had with the NHL. After departing in 1990, Morren worked as a studio producer for SportsChannel America’s NHL coverage and the 1992 Barcelona Olympics before returning to ESPN that fall where he worked all 12 seasons on the second ESPN/NHL deal and the first season of the most recent contract in 2021-22. Morren has also earned a Sports Emmy for his work on Sunday Night Football coverage in 2003. His relationship with Neil Smith dates back 33 years through their mutual friendship with the late ESPN/ABC commentator John Saunders. Morren looks forward to NHL Wraparound and collaborating with Smith with the goal to provide an experience of contemporary viewpoints, historical spin and an overall enriching podcast experience.
Episodes
After missing the playoffs a season ago, the expectations for the New York Islanders was a bit lower in the eyes of many coming into 2025-26.
Though they struggled at the outset of the new season, things have reversed course to the positive highlighted by a recent 6-1-0 road trip.
Former Islander and current TV analyst Cal Clutterbuck joins Neil and Vic to look at what's different thus far as well as key areas going forward.
Before...
In the third of the NHL Wraparound Celebrity Series, Neil and Vic welcome three-time Super Bowl champion placekicker with the New England Patriots Stephen Gostkowski to the show.
The four-time Pro Bowler and Patriots all-time scoring leader covers a range of topics from his early days or an athlete, to playing under Bill Belichick and with Tom Brady to life after football.
Gostkowski even mixes in a little hockey as a young fan of th...
There's the Colorado Avalanche. And then there's everyone else as the NHL's top team has a seven point lead on the field just past the quarter pole.
Vic and Neil will talk about the Avs but also a weekend which saw some other good (calling the Wild, Flames, Sabres, Flyers and Morgan Geeking)... and some bad (Calling the Maple Leafs, Rangers and Mikko Rantanen.)
We'll have some key injury updates as well as a special anniversary for...
The NHL season has entered the second quarter having delivered on a grand scale over the first 330 games played. The past couple of nights have encapsulated what the first quarter was about: Legendary greatness, a new age of greatness, surprises, disappointments and a late-breaking significant injury.
In short, never a dull moment in the NHL.
X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound
Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil
Vic Morren: https...
The NHL regular season will hit the quarter pole Thursday with all but a very few right in the mix. One of those teams is the Utah Mammoth, who have hung right in despite a very heavy road schedule. Team GM Bill Armstrong will stop by to update a unit more comfortable at home in their second season in Salt Lake City.
In Three Things You Need to Pay Attention To, we have three hat tricks, a wild finish Tuesday in Dallas and a look...
Some NHL history was made in Friday's quartet of games while we also saw a quartet of happy returns of some sort.
The Florida rivals got re-acquainted while some key injury news makes the show among our divisional updates.
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 ...
Another couple of nights rife with storylines. From Brad Marchand to home struggles to a few surging teams, Vic and Neil have it covered.
We'll also have the latest personnel news and the passing of a Hall of Fame journralist.
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/
#NHLWrapar...
It's the most over-hyped title in the NHL: The Generational Player. Every high-profile player projected to be a number one overall pick seems to get the label. In 2023, it was Connor Bedard. In '24, Macklin Celebrini. And be ready for Gavin McKenna to be anointed in advance of the 2026 Entry Draft.
Let's now take a step back. What truly defines a generational talent and who are those that are worthy? Who better to dissect that...
While unpredictability can always be counted on in the NHL, it's how those storylines take shape that provides the most intrigue.
We're still over a week or so from the quarter pole of the 2025-26 but what takes place on a nightly basis never leaves a shortage of talk points. Some good. Some not so good. And some outright ugly.
X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound
Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil
Vic Morren: https://www.linke...
At one time, it was difficult to fathom anyone reaching 500 goals, then 600, 700 and 800. And now, the 900 mark has been breached with ALex Ovechkin having reached the mark Wednesday and, he eventually got hold a hold of the puck.
Heading into the weekend, other vets left their marks over the past couple of evenings as have the first overall picks from 2023 and 2024.
We'll also touch on team-related items as Pittsburgh, Anaheim and ...
A season after surprising many with their first-ever Presidents' Trophy, the Winnipeg Jets are around the top of the NHL standings once again despite losing some key components from a season ago.
Executive VP/GM Kevin Cheveldayoff joins Neil and Vic to discuss his team, the challenges of remaining competitive in the league's smallest market and the inspiration by the return to play of native son Jonathan Toews.
In Three Things You Ne...
The calendar has flipped to November as we begin to settle in for the long winter months ahead. The flip side is the Eastern Conference is showing signs of a true dogfight that might have everybody in the playoff hunt come April while in the West...not so much.
Vic and Neil catch you up on the weekend highlighting some key games including the latest stunning performance from the first overall pick of the Entry Draft, a couple of ve...
In this Halloween edition, Vic and Neil don't trick-or-treat but, instead theme on good news and bad news around the league. They add in some other notable items and injury news before wrapping up with a great gesture by a Florida Panther and an honor for a Lightning superstar.
X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound
Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil
Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/
NHL Wraparound Instagr...
Professional sports was rocked October 23rd when a prominent NBA head coach and a Miami Heat player were arrested as part of two separate illegal gambling investigations, one allegedly connected to organized crime. The ripple effect of these cases underscores that sports betting is not only a concern for the NBA, but extends to other major sports as well as the college ranks.
While betting scandals in sports goes back over a century...
The first month of the season always yields some surprises. It's just hard to predict where they'll be originating from.
This season, it happens it be coming from the NHL's newest market as the Utah Mammoth have used a seven-game winning streak to vault themselves to the top of the Central, above three other division powerhouses.
Plenty of other news coming out of a 25-game weekend...some good, some bad and some ugly.
And, gear up fo...
In a night that saw 90 goals, scored, we're beginning to witness some of the NHL's former lesser teams show some genuine progress. That includes the league's lone winless team finally breaking into the win column.
Vic and Neil also note at a couple wild contests in the West, the latest injury updates and look ahead to a 25-game weekend.
X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound
Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil
Vic Morren: https://ww...
His voice has boomed across the airwaves of Canada for almost four-and-a-half decades. After the 2025-26 season, Joe Bowen will retire from behind the Maple Leafs microphone but not before hoping to make the one call Leafs fans have waited for since 1967.
Bowen joins Neil and Vic for an enlightening conversation covering his career, his famous moniker and his memories from a Hall-of-Fame career.
IN THIS EPISODE:
[02:15] - Three Thing...
A day later than planned but then again, who wasn't affected in some way by Monday's AWS outage?
Speaking of which, while the Rangers did manage to score a goal at home for the first time in four games, but their offense continues to fizzle at MSG.
Also, the NHL is an unforgiving league so there's little doubt 30 teams aren't feeling sorry for both the Panthers and Oilers - the frustration manifesting in different ways over last week...
Three struggling clubs in the East get much needed wins while the ghosts of the Montreal Forum appear to have taken residence in the Bell Centre.
Vic and Neil have the updates plus Carter Hart's new home headlines several goalie items heading into the weekend.
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.ins...
14 years ago, the Buffalo Sabres qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs with Lindy Ruff behind their bench. Fourteen years and six head coaches later, Ruff was tabbed again last year to try to recapture some post-season magic in Buffalo. Unfortunately, it hasn't gone exactly to plan.
Another slow start punctuated by lack of offense has quickly tested the patience of the fans in Western New York. Buffalo News columnist Mike Harrin...
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