Episode 63 - Stanley Cup Final Preview with TSN's Craig Button

Episode 63 - Stanley Cup Final Preview with TSN's Craig Button

Author: Neil Smith & Vic Morren June 2, 2025 Duration: 1:36:29
NHL Wraparound Podcast
SportsCultureHockeyJournalsPersonalSocietySociety & Culture

After almost 14 hundred regular season and playoff games and 14 playoff series, we're in familiar territory as the Florida Panthers will be defending against the same Edmonton Oilers team that took them to seven games last spring.

As he done throughout the post-season, TSN's Craig Button joins Vic and Neil to do a comprehensive breakdown of the finalists.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[01:39] - The Things You Need to Pay Attention To has all of it's focus on the upcoming Stanley Cup and several sidebar stories to look out for.

[09:10] - The significance of the championship ring and the lasting legacy of having ones name on the Stanley Cup

[12:55] - The first of the seven areas covered: Playing styles.

[17:38] - Which forward group will dictate? The skill and brilliance of the Oilers forwards led by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl or the 200-foot steadiness and pressure of the Panthers four line depth.

[23:54] - Defensive units and team defense.

[31:08] - The Goaltenders

[37:48] - The Special Teams

[45:58] - Maurice vs. Knoblauch

[51:07] - The Intangibles

[57:28] - Opinion on the Conference Final runner-ups and which teams might be the closest to challenging Florida and Edmonton in their respective conferences next season.

[1:06:11] - The esteemed panel weighs in with Stanley Cup Final predictions.

[1:14:52] - The Memorial Cup and news from around the NHL.

[1:25:47] - The Human Side of the Story focuses on the life of a GM as a conference final runner-up. You're close, but not quite there. To that point, the situations moving forward for the Dallas Stars and Carolina Hurricanes could not be any different.

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/

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There’s no shortage of hockey talk out there, but what sets the NHL Wraparound Podcast apart is the specific, hard-earned perspective of its hosts. Neil Smith, the architect of the 1994 Stanley Cup Champion New York Rangers, and longtime ESPN/NHL voice Vic Morren don’t just react to headlines-they unpack them with a blend of front-office savvy and media insight that’s rare to find. Their conversations move seamlessly from today’s breaking news to historical context, giving listeners a full understanding of why things happen the way they do in the league. This isn’t about hot takes; it’s a no-nonsense examination of the sport’s biggest issues, grounded in decades of direct experience. You’ll hear how decisions in the boardroom affect plays on the ice, how narratives are built in the press box, and what it all means for the future of hockey. The dynamic between Smith and Morren creates a unique partnership that feels like a compelling, inside conversation you’re privy to. Each episode of this podcast delves into the intersections of sports, culture, and personal legacy, offering depth that appeals to both the casual fan and the dedicated historian of the game. It’s that thoughtful, experienced analysis that keeps an audience returning, episode after episode.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 440

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