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NHL Wraparound Podcast

NHL Wraparound Podcast

Written by: Neil Smith & Vic Morren
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 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.Copyright 2026 Neil Smith & Vic Morren Hockey Social Sciences
Episodes
  • NHL Wraparound Quick Takes - Spring Cleaning - Nashville Predators

    NHL Wraparound Quick Takes - Spring Cleaning - Nashville Predators
    Apr 24 2026

    Two years ago, the Nashville Predators were the talk of the hockey world. Usually a conservative franchise, GM Barry Trotz stunned many by signing a trio of high-end free agents. The result: a disastrous 2024-25 season.

    With expectations lowered, the Preds started this past season in similar fashion before turning into the team which was expected a season sooner. Though they finished short of a playoff spot, the personnel on the roster combined with a heap of draft picks in June will make this off season event - particularly with a new GM likely to be in place by then.

    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 #WashingtonCapitals #BarryTrotz #AndrewBrunette #StevenStamkos #JonathanMarchessault #BradySkjei #DavidPoile #FilipForsberg #RyanO'Reilly #LukeEvangelista #MatthewWood #FedorSvechkov #RomanJosi #GustavNyquist #MarkJankowski #TomFitzgerald #ErikHaula #TysonJost #JustinBarron
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    7 mins
  • Stanley Cupdate - Roadies Thrive as 'Canes and Avs push Sens and Kings to the Edge - April 24, 2026

    Stanley Cupdate - Roadies Thrive as 'Canes and Avs push Sens and Kings to the Edge - April 24, 2026
    Apr 24 2026

    While there was much anticipation in Boston, Ottawa and Los Angeles Thursday, home fans went home disappointed in each of those cities as the Sabres got a leg up on the Bruins and Hurricanes and Avalanche moved to within a win of advancing to round two.

    Vic and Neil discuss the matchups and set up a trio of third games Friday, which includes the first-ever home playoff game for the Utah Mammoth.

    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 #RogerDoucet #KateSmith #JohnAmirante #ReneRancourt #ToddAngilly #JoshNorris #NoahOstlund #LindyRuff #AlexLyon #Ukko-PekkaLuukkonen #PavelZacha #TannerJeannot #MattiasSamuelsson #RasmusDahlin #ViktorArvidsson #BowenByram #JeremySwayman #DavidPastrnak #CharlieMcAvoy #AlexTuch #TageThompson #ArtemZub #TylerKleven #LoganStankoven #JakeSanderson #JasonBlake #TaylorHall #TravisGreen #FrederikAndersen #BradyTkachuk #LinusUllmark #JordanMartinook #NickCousins #DrakeBatherson #K'AndreMiller #GabrielLandeskog #AntonForsberg #QuintonByfield #TrevorMoore #JoshManson #JoelEdmonson #CaleMakar #AnzeKopitar #BrettKulak #AdrianKempe #ArtturiLehkonen #LoganO'Connor #JackDrury #ArtemiPanarin #BrockNelson #VictorHedman #AndreiVasilevskiy #JakubDobes #ConnorMcDavid #MattiasEkholm #ConnorIngram #LukasDostal #JohnGibson
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    29 mins
  • NHL Wraparound Quick Takes - Spring Cleaning - Washington Capitals

    NHL Wraparound Quick Takes - Spring Cleaning - Washington Capitals
    Apr 23 2026

    After winning the Eastern Conference during the regular season in 2024-25, the Washington took a step back finishing out of the playoffs.

    There was significant drop off from a number of key players, a major injury and a slide on both special teams.

    With Alex Ovechkin's return in question, the Caps are a team in flux as Ovi's decision will likely determine the path the team will take in 2026-27.

    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 #WashingtonCapitals #AlexOvechkin #DylanStrome #AliaksaiProtas #ConnorMcMichael #Pierre-LucDubois #TomWilson #JakobChychrun #LoganThompson #RyanLeonard #JustinSourdif #IlyaProtas #SpencerCarbery #ChrisPatrick #JohnCarlson #DavidKampf #BrandonDuhaime #TrevorvanRiemsdyk #TimothyLiljegren #HendrixLapierre
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    8 mins
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