Episode 70 - 2025 Summer Cooler - Metropolitan Division

Episode 70 - 2025 Summer Cooler - Metropolitan Division

Author: Neil Smith & Vic Morren August 22, 2025 Duration: 1:23:59

Installment 2 of the 2025 Summer Cooler Series as Vic and Neil examine the off-season moves in the Metropolitan Division.

IN THIS EPISODE

[03:29] - Washington Capitals - From barely making the post-season in 2024 to the top regular season team in the East, can many who had career seasons stage an encore?

[12:23] - Carolina Hurricanes - Do two significant off-season acquisitions make the Hurricanes any more of a threat to escape the East?

[24:20] - New Jersey Devils - With Jack Hughes and Dougie Hamilton returning healthy, the might be the club that sneaks up on Washington and Carolina for one of the top two spots in the division.

[30:45] - Columbus Blue Jackets - A new identity was forged after the tragic death of Johnny Gaudreau a year ago. The ability to sustain that identity over 82 games will be necessary in order to crack the playoff lineup next spring.

[40:09] - New York Rangers - From Presidents' Trophy winners to fractured franchise, the Broadway Blueshirts start anew with Mike Sullivan taking over behind the bench.

[50:03] - New York Islanders - A playoff team in 2024, the Isles missed out last season, switched GM's and have seen players move in and out of the organization during the summer. Though likely to be competitive, the future may be brighter than the present for this group.

[1:00:58] - Pittsburgh Penguins - The good news is first time NHL head coach Dan Muse has the likes of Crosby, Malkin and Letang to work with. The downside: aside from a few that will support the trio, the future doesn't look favorable in the Steel City.

[1:09:34] - Philadelphia Flyers - Former Flyer and a year removed from the Jack Adams Award, Rick Tocchet takes over behind the bench with some pieces which should be maturing into bona fide NHL talents. But will that goaltending ever come around?

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

NHL Wraparound Podcast
Podcast Episodes
NHL Wraparound Smith's Pix - Apr. 11, 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:34
Only a dark Friday could quiet Neil after posting an 10-3-1 Thursday. That's 22-3-3 over the last three game nights for an overall mark of 557-306-118.Saturday's slate has 15 games but Neil will select only 14 with the F…
NHL Wraparound Smith's Pix - Apr. 9, 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:00
Neil took the show to the road Wednesday and Buffalo, Washington and Edmonton all deliver to move the overall to 547-303-117 (.626).12-0-2 over the last two nights, let's see what how he'll do with a 14-game schedule Thu…
NHL Wraparound Smith's Pix - Apr. 8, 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14
If you took Neil's advice Tuesday, you did real well as the record for the night was 9-0-2 with the only losses coming as a result of the Red Wings and Oilers failing to hold late leads and falling after regulation.A lig…
NHL Wraparound Smith's Pix - Apr. 7, 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:35
On the right side of the ledger on a quiet Monday which saw Neil go 2-1-1. Eleven games on the Tuesday schedule as the jockeying for spots and positions continues. The season record entering play is at 535-303-115.X: htt…
NHL Wraparound Smith's Pix - Apr. 6, 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:54
Similar to Saturday, Easter Sunday started strong and fizzled late for Neil going 3-4-0. A tidy four-pack awaits on Monday with a 533-302-114 overall mark.X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparoundNeil Smith: https://twitter.c…
NHL Wraparound Smith's Pix - April 5, 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:06
In the collective, the 9-6-0 Saturday was quite good, but the taste went a bit sour with four regulation losses in the late games.Still, Neil's overall bumps to 530-298-114 with an Easter slate of seven games.X: https://…