PRIME MEMBER EXCLUSIVE | 3 Months Free Trial

Auto-renews at INR 199/mo after 3 months. Cancel anytime. Offer ends 15 July, 2026.
NHL Wraparound Podcast cover art

NHL Wraparound Podcast

NHL Wraparound Podcast

Written by: Neil Smith & Vic Morren
Listen for free

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 Hourly Social Sciences
Episodes
  • NHL Wraparound Quick Takes - Spring Cleaning - Carolina Hurricanes

    NHL Wraparound Quick Takes - Spring Cleaning - Carolina Hurricanes
    Jun 19 2026

    Yes, even the Stanley Cup champions have spring cleaning though, in the case of the Carolina Hurricanes, not nearly as much as past winners.

    Sticking with the on-ice strategy set forth by head coach Rod Brind'Amour, the lineup was augmented during the off-season by GM Eric Tulsky with the team among the NHL elite from Day 1 to mid-June.

    Vic and Neil break down what made the difference and discuss how Carolina is set up both in the immediate and long term.

    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 #BZZR #NHL #CarolinaHurricanes #VegasGoldenKnights #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #MontrealCanadiens #FloridaPanthers #ChicagoWolves #TheAhl.com #ColoradoAvalanche #WinnipegJets #TorontoMapleLeafs #BostonBruins #NewJerseyDevils #DallasStars #EdmontonOilers #PittsburghPenguins #NewYorkRangers #ArizonaCoyotes #DetroitRedWings #RodBrind'Amour #EricTulsky #K'AndreMiller #NikolajEhlers #BrentBurns #DmitryOrlov #FrederikAndersen #PyotrKochetkov #CaydenPrimeau #BrandonBussi #JeffMarek #TheSheet #SethJarvis #AndreiSvechnikov #NathanMacKinnon #NikitaKucherov #MikkoRantanen #RayFerraro #ESPN #ShayneGostisbehere #EricRobinson #MarkJankowski #NickDeLauriers #MikeReilly #JordanStaal #ConnSmytheTrophy #JordanMartinook #JalenChatfield #AlexanderNikishin #JacksonBlake #TaylorHall #LoganStankoven #JaccobSlavin #CaleMakar #JackEichel
    Show More Show Less
    16 mins
  • NHL Wraparound Quick Takes - New Bench Bosses in Toronto & Vegas, Edmonton Close? - June 18, 2026

    NHL Wraparound Quick Takes - New Bench Bosses in Toronto & Vegas, Edmonton Close? - June 18, 2026
    Jun 18 2026

    Three head coaching vacancies whittled down to one Wednesday with eye-opening selections in both Toronto and Vegas, leaving the Edmonton Oilers as the lone NHL club without a bench boss though that might not be for long.

    Following an apparently exhaustive search, the Maple Leafs landed on former Kings coach Jim Hiller while the Golden Knights opted to stay within the organization, tabbing AHL Henderson Silver Knights coach Ryan Craig for his first NHL head coaching position.

    Vic and Neil discuss both hirings plus, the breaking news in Edmonton where Mike Babcock has been cleared by the NHL to resume coaching, with all signs pointing to him signing with the Oilers.

    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 #BZZR #NHL #TorontoMapleLeafs #VegasGoldenKnights #EdmontonOilers #LosAngelesKings #PhiladelphiaFlyers #DetroitRedWings #ColumbusBlueJakctes #HendersonSilverKnights #TheAHL.com #JimHiller #JohnChayka #MikeBabcock #DJSmith #BruceCassidy #MannyMalhotra #AustonMatthews #WilliamNylander #JohnTavares #MorganRielly #KellyMcCrimmon #GeorgeMcPhee #PatrickRoy #JayWoodcroft #JohnTortorella #CraigBerube #PatFerschweiler #WesternMichiganBroncos #DavidCarle #DenverPioneers #JoePavelski #PeterLaviolette #ToddMcLellan #KenHolland #JosephWoll #SamErsson #KrisKnoblauch #GerardGallant #PeterDeBoer #StanBowman #TrentFrederic #MikeCommodore #JohanFranzen #ESPN #WorldCupofHockey
    Show More Show Less
    16 mins
  • NHL Wraparound Quick Takes - Spring Cleaning - Vegas Golden Knights

    NHL Wraparound Quick Takes - Spring Cleaning - Vegas Golden Knights
    Jun 16 2026

    Since entering the NHL in 2017, no team has operated quite like the Vegas Golden Knights. With a "win now" mindset from their inaugural season, the team has traded draft picks and have made whatever moves the rules have allowed in order to be annual contenders.

    After removing Stanley Cup-winning coach Bruce Cassidy with just eight games left in the regular season, the VGK responded to interim coach John Tortorella to within two wins of the Stanley Cup.

    And within two days of the Final, Torts was gone and replaced by the Golden Knights AHL affiliate head coach in Henderson, Ryan Craig.

    So begins the off-season for the Golden Knights. Short on draft picks, salary cap challenged and the search for a new coach comprises the summer laundry list for team President George McPhee and GM Kelly McCrimmon.

    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 #BZZR #NHL #VegasGoldenKnights #JohnTortorella #BruceCassidy #KellyMcCrimmon #GeorgeMcPhee #MitchMarner #JackEichel #PavelDorofeyev #MarkStone #NoahHanafin #AnthonyMantha #AlexPietrangelo #ReillySmith #ColeSmith #ColtonSissons #BrandonSaad #RasmusAndersson #BenHutton #JeremyLauzon #DylanCoghlan #AkiraSchmid #CarterHart #AdinHill #NicDowd #WilliamKarlsson #RyanCraig #UtahMammoth #AnaheimDucks #ColoradoAvalanche #CarolinaHurricanes #DallasStars #MinnesotaWild #WinnipegJets #CalgaryFlames #PhiladelphiaFlyers #WashingtonCapitals #NewYorkRangers #TheAHL.com #HendersonSilverKnights
    Show More Show Less
    12 mins
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
No reviews yet