NHL Wraparound Podcast

Fresh off a 4-0 Wednesday, Neil picked up right where he left off winning the first four games on Thursday before having to settle for a 6-5 straight up mark with both Minnesota and Ottawa falling in overtime after failing to capitalize on great chances.

The Old Professor brings a 134-79 (.629) winning percentage into a modest three-game Friday with New Jersey and Vegas kicking things off at 6pm et.

X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound

Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil

Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/

NHL...

Our version of the popular on-line game "Connections" features NHL nicknames. Figure out the four categories and four names which best fit into each.

Give it a try and have your hockey history books at hand. Here are the nicknames:

Pee Wee

Hap

Chief

Sugar Jim

Rod the Bod

Pasta

Tiny

Turk

Grim Reaper

Lucky

Gump

Toe

The Flower

Cooney

Tiger

The Hammer

...

When Bryan Trottier entered the NHL in 1975, it was noted, "he looks like and angel and plays like the devil."

For 18 seasons, the Val Marie, Sask. native made and then left his permanent mark as one of hockey's best-ever two-way forwards.

From his proud beginnings of First Nations descent, through a half dozen Stanley Cups as a player to a post-career life that has presented its share of challenges, there's little Bryan Trottier hasn't seen or experienced.

This 90-minute discussion also touches on many aspects of human emotion and goes well beyond the...

Perfection comes in the form of home cooking as Neil's four hosts took care of business to raise his overall mark to 54 games over .500 at 128-54.

The usual busy Thursday brings eleven games. Check out the picks and see if The Old Professor can keep rolling.

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...

Time to give the goalies a bit of the spotlight with Connor Hellebuyck headlining the card as a winner in his Devils debut.

We'll also look at one of the recent bugaboos in the NHL: the three-goal lead and three-games that delivered various results Tuesday.

As has been previously noted, fighting is up in the NHL during the first month of the season. Vic and Neil share thoughts as to why.

Finally, whatever did happen to those Brady Tkachuk jerseys that found their way down to the ice in Ottawa last week?

Coming off a winless Monday, Neil took the big Tuesday schedule and ran with it going 7-4 for a straight up record of 124-74.

Check out his picks for a modest four-game Wednesday.

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 #UBS #TheLineup.pro

Some rarified air for Neil Monday and it wasn't good as all three favorites went down to defeat dropping his overall, straight up record to 117-70 (.626).

Having selected well with bigger schedules, an 11-game slate is on tap for Tuesday.

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 #UBS #TheLineup.pro

"H" may stand for hockey but this past weekend saw three significant happenings around the NHL starting with that letter.

Connor Hellebuyck finally traded.

Quinn Hughes making his first return to Vancouver.

Tim Hortons Heritage Classic.

Vic and Neil will do the deep dive into each and also look revisit two teams that never appear to a backseat in the NHL news cycle.

That plus notable performances, personnel news, and...let's play "Connections."

X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound

Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil

Neil completed a 13-6 weekend with a 3-2 Sunday to move his straight up mark to 117-67 (.636). A three-game card awaits on Monday.

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 #UBS #TheLineup.pro

Only the old overtime bugaboo could stop Neil from a truly spectacular night as Saturday delivered an 8-4 straight up record with three of those defeats coming in OT.

Nonetheless, he carries a 114-65 (.637) mark into a handful of Sunday games which includes Tim Hortons Heritage Classic between the Canadiens and Jets and former Canucks captain Quinn Hughes returning to Vancouver for the first time.

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...

After a few tepid nights following his torrid start, Neil won both Friday as the Canadiens skated out of Chicago with a victory as did the homestanding Avalanche against the Lightning. His straight up record improves to 106-61 (.635).

Similar to Thursday, a dozen games on tap Thursday including a couple of afternoon tilts.

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...

If the NHL is delivering this much entertainment in October, we're in for one of the most memorable seasons ever.

From Brady Tkachuk's return to Ottawa to the pinball machine numbers Connor McDavid is putting up, the last two nights simply added to a terrific first month of play.

Meanwhile the Flyers and Kings have picked themselves off the mat and we'll have the latest on the condition of Penguins second-year forward Ben Kindel.

The good times keep rolling this weekend as Quinn Hughes makes his return to Vancouver while the Canadiens and...

Neil split the two Wednesday games losing with Buffalo but spot on with the Senators galvanized to make Brady Tkachuk's return to Ottawa a miserable one.

A 12-pack awaits Thursday with a 98-55 straight up record.

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 #UBS #TheLineup.pro

Welcome home Brady!

Well, not exactly. After then-Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk informed the team during the off-season that he would not sign an extension beyond the 2027-28 season, the Senators opted to jettison Tkachuk to Florida.

Wednesday evening Tkachuk makes his return to Canada's capital and the reception is expected to be frosty.

Panthers radio analyst Bill Lindsay joins Vic and Neil to discuss the return and other news around the team.

We'll also have player news led by a scare concerning Penguins second-year forward Ben Kindel, other observations and...

For only the second time this season, Neil had a losing night going 1-3 to drop his overall mark to 92-48, still a .657 clip.

Having had some success with more games on the schedule, he looks to move the scales back in his favor with 11 Tuesday selections.

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...

Death, taxes and the Maple Leafs in the headlines for better or worse.

We now know the NHL regular season is in full swing as we get some of the usual as well as the unexpected - such as a burst of hat tricks around the league, most specifically authored by the Florida Panthers.

We'll touch on other news as the Flyers get into the win column after receiving an inspirational talk Saturday while Connor Hellebuyck's suspension in Winnipeg is reportedly ending Friday.

And stay tuned for Smith's Pix with Neil selecting at...

A beefy fourteen-game schedule did not deter Neil Saturday. An 11-3 record advances the straight up season mark to 90-44 (.672).

A quiet Sunday sees Columbus visiting Minnesota and Carolina in Calgary. Smith's Pix are appointment listening in the early going so check out what he has in store this evening.

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...

Neil split the two Friday games winning with Colorado over Pittsburgh before watching the Ducks get torched by the Bruins power play in the late game. He enters Saturday's 14-game slate with a 79-41 straight up record.

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 #UBS #TheLineup.pro

A two-goal lost lead by the Maple Leafs and some overtime heroics by Blackhawks goaltender Spencer Knight was all that stood between Neil and a perfect night.

The eleven-game Thursday delivered a 9-2 record for our intrepid prognosticator raising his season mark to 78-40.

A modest two game slate on Friday in advance of a busy Saturday.

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...

When a team shows an unexpected push that not only gains a playoff berth, but actually wins a round, there is an expectation for the trajectory to continue the next season.

In Philadelphia, it's been the opposite with the Flyers off to a start of historically bad proportions which has them in danger of becoming an afterthought early in the 2026-27 season.

Beat writer Jackie Spiegel from the Philadelphia Inquirer joins Vic to share how things have gone south so quickly...and what has to happen to reverse fortune before the season is lost.

Despite consecutive .500 nights, Neil's straight up record stands at 69-38, good for a .645 winning percentage, twenty points better than his 2025-26 mark which awarded for overtime/shootout losses.

Check out his picks on an 11-game Thursday.

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 #UBS #TheLineup.pro

The full Monte on Tuesday represented the only day until the final day of the regular season with every team in action. Entering the night with a lofty .674 winning percentage, Neil posted a pedestrian 8-8 mark to put his straight up record at 68-37.

Time to exhale Wednesday with just a pair of games on the schedule.

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...

Usually injury news is a backend item to shows but, with the season-ending injury to Igor Shesterkin plus a number of other high-profile maladies, it's become an alarming early-season trend.

With that in mind, does the NHL really need more teams? With it appearing increasingly imminent that Houston or Austin were about to be next to join the league, a group of owners have expressed concerns about both the depth of the talent pool and competitive balance. Thus, expansion is now on hold.

And, with all 32 teams in action Tuesday, Neil offers his Pix and...

Another winning night with Neil winning two of three to bounce the straight up record to 58-28, including 23-7 over the past four days.

Another short stack Monday with only three games in advance of Tuesday's Frozen Frenzy with all 32 teams in action. Both Neil and Vic will do picks on the show and invite listeners to send your picks to all 16 games to:

[email protected]

[email protected]

X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound

Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil

Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com...

Another eye-popping performance by Neil in packed 14-game Saturday. 10-4 straight up for a gaudy 56-27 mark. Even games decided after 60 minutes is now over .500 after prevailing on three of four.

A quiet three-game schedule on tap for Sunday.

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 #UBS #TheLineup.pro

The good times keep rolling for our fearless prognosticator in posting a 3-1 Friday to bump his straight up record to 46-23, a tidy .667 winning percentage.

A true test for Neil Saturday with 14 games on tap. Check out the selections.

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 #UBS #TheLineup.pro

Neil continues an early season roll with a 7-3 straight up mark Thursday including two wins beyond regulation. He's 43-22 for the season, including 17-5 over the past three nights. A tough four-game schedule awaits Friday.

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 #UBS #TheLineup.pro

Coming off an 8-1 mark on Tuesday, Neil followed it up winning two of three on Wednesday. A 36-19 straight up mark follows him into Thursday's ten-game slate.

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 #UBS #TheLineup.pro

On October 5, all-time NHL goal scoring leader Alex Ovechkin announced his 22nd NHL season will be his last. Joining Neil and Vic today will be the man who called Ovie's very first goal in 2005 and the record-breaker 20 years later.

Joe Beninati stops by to share his memories of Ovechkin's journey, the upcoming farewell tour and a legacy that is a bit more complicated than goal scoring.

IN THIS EPSIODE:

[01:52] - Neil welcomes Joe who quickly hits on the gratitude of covering Alex Ovechkin for so long before going back on how his broadcasting...

The Winnipeg Jets third period three-spot in Pittsburgh prevented Neil from a winning night and settle for 2-2. He takes a 26-17 straight up record into Tuesday's nine-game slate.

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 #UBS #TheLineup.pro

A major announcement kicks off Monday's show as the NHL's all-time goal scoring king shares this season will be his last.

Elsewhere, while the NHL's first full weekend provided plenty of entertainment, there's still the headline news of trade demand stars Connor Hellebuyck and Dylan Larkin with the commissioner and NHLPA taking different sides on the issue.

There's also plenty of personnel news on and off the ice as well as Smith's Pix to kick off the new week.

X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound

Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil

Looking to bounce back after his first losing night following three straight winning evenings to begin the season, Neil posted an 8-5 mark Saturday. His straight up win-loss mark now sits at 20-14.

A handful of games on the Sunday docket starting with a matinee in Detroit.

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...

The road teams had their way Friday sweeping all five games. Neil only won with the Rangers in Detroit in posting a 1-4 mark to drop his straight up record to 12-9. The first Saturday of the new season provides a 13-game test.

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 #UBS #TheLineup.pro

Finally time to talk about things happening on the ice. The 84-game regular season is here and Vic and Neil have plenty to cover from the first three nights as we go live on BZZR.com and YouTube.

We had a goalie score a goal and offensive outbursts bringing back memories of the mid-1980's. There's also some potentially significant injury news regarding Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov plus Smith's Pix.

X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound

Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil

Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/

...

Neil ran the home teams across the limited three-game schedule Wednesday and was 2-1 straight up to improve to 5-3 through eight games.

That's how many games are on the Thursday schedule so check them out.

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 #UBS #TheLineup.pro

Neil is back for a second season of Smith's Pix. After posting a .625 winning percentage a season ago, he's truly challenging himself as his overall record for this season with be straight wins and losses and no credit for teams picking up a point by virtue of an overtime or shootout loss.

Thus, his opening night record was 3-2 as opposed to 3-0-2. And therein, lies the challenge. What would have been an .800 winning percentage in 2025-26 sits merely at .600.

X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound

Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil

Nothing like a blockbuster trade on the eve of a new season to get fans going as Kirill Marchenko has moved on from the Columbus Blue Jackets to Toronto.

Vic and Neil break it down and go straight to the heart of the matter: for two non-playoff teams from a season ago, does the move push either into the top eight in the Eastern Conference?

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...

After eleven years without a playoff series win, the Minnesota Wild got that score settled in the spring by taking out the Dallas Stars in the opening round. Now they look to take the next steps.

Armed with a new contract, head coach John Hynes joins Neil and Vic to share how his team can elevate further in a brutally competitive Central Division.

In the post-interview segment, there's captaincy news, RFA and UFA signings, injury news, salary cap and a few interesting sidebar stories. We'll also introduce a new partner and some an update on...

An increased schedule and an earlier start to the season.

If you're a hockey fan, you're about to enter nirvana for the next nine months as we prepare the 2026-27 season.

For NHL Wraparound, Neil and Vic enter their third full season - and part of a fourth overall - with a new open and a Hall of Fame voice to mark the occasion.

Over the past two springs, TSN's Craig Button has joined the show throughout the playoffs but, why wait? There's plenty to get to now and Button's expertise goes on...

It's his sixth stop running an NHL bench. For Peter DeBoer, the New York Islanders will offer a challenge different from others faced previously. Since taking over for Patrick Roy in April, there's been minimal personnel turnover and an offense and power play among the lowest tanked in the NHL.

Still, there's a solid defense core led by Calder Trophy winner Matthew Schaefer and an elite-level goaltender in Ilya Sorokin.

DeBoer will share his thoughts on his team amidst a very competitive Metropolitan Division.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[01:52] - N.Y. Islanders...