NHL Wraparound Podcast Podcast By Neil Smith & Vic Morren cover art

NHL Wraparound Podcast

NHL Wraparound Podcast

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 Biographies & Memoirs Hockey Social Sciences
Episodes
  • NHL Wraparound Smith's Pix - Mar. 24, 2026

    NHL Wraparound Smith's Pix - Mar. 24, 2026
    Mar 24 2026

    Just a single game on Monday but they all count towards the overall mark.

    Like shooting fish in a barrel, the Ottawa Senators held the Rangers to just nine shots on goal despite playing most of the final two periods with only four defensemen in continuing to move towards a wild card spot.

    Neil gets put to the test Tuesday with a beefy 15-game schedule taking a 477-260-103 (.629) record into play.

    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
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    6 mins
  • Episode 93 - March of the Penguins - With Radio/TV Analyst Phil Bourque

    Episode 93 - March of the Penguins - With Radio/TV Analyst Phil Bourque
    Mar 23 2026
    One of best stories of 2025-26 has been that of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Assumed to be largely in a re-building phase, the team has been in the hunt for a playoff from opening night under the stewardship of first-year head coach Dan Muse.Two-time Stanley Cup champion and current Pens radio/TV analyst Phil Bourque joins Neil and Vic to discuss not only this season but the future of the team while sharing some stories of his own career.Also, in Three Things You Need to Pay Attention To, the first two playoff spots have been grabbed while one officially waits until next year. Meanwhile, think about one player scoring 1000 goals. Alex Ovechkin reached that mark Sunday while Nikita Kucherov joined some elite company of his own.Finally,IN THIS EPISODE:[01:31] - Three Things You Need to Pay Attention To.[08:43] - Neil welcomes Phil to the show with the discussion with how Bourque, raised in Massachusetts, wound up advancing his hockey career in Ontario.[13:57] - Neil recounts other connections he shares with Phil going back to days in Kingston.[16:00] - Arriving in Pittsburgh, a place that's still home, through generations of superstars playing with the Penguins.[19:19] - The renaissance in Pittsburgh in 2025-26 led by a first-year NHL head coach who has defied expectations of what was expected from the club.[23:02] - Having seen so many coaches over the decades, what has Dan Muse done that has been so effective among a mix of veterans, youth and journeyman players?[26:07] - Selling Muse to the veterans that he was the right man for the job. Or did a sell to the stars on the team need to be made at all?[27:29] - One of the most lopsided trades of the season - as of now, was the acquisition of Stuart Skinner and Brett Kular from Edmonton for Tristan Jarry.[30:48] - The story of Neil trading Phil to Ottawa at the deadline in 1994 after signing him two years earlier. But the story doesn't end there.[37:04] - Bourque shares stories about his book, published in 2019, and the special relationship with the Penguins late Hall of Fame play-by-play man, Mike Lange.[41:24] - What the Penguins need to do to secure their first playoff berth in four years and best wishes continue to be extended to Craig Patrick, recovering from a stroke.[47:02] - Putting a wrap on the discussion with Phil Bourque.[49:39] - Standings update with a beef from Vic.[57:21] - Some props for a Buffalo player who's toughness epitomizes the grit the Sabres have shown with them on the verge of ending a 14-season playoff drought.[59:29] - Discussion on the AJ Greer suspension for his act against Connor Zary of the Flames Friday evening.[1:04:36] - Remembering Minnesota Wild nhl.com correspondent Jessi Pierce.[1:05:40] - Personnel notes.X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparoundNeil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeilVic 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 #PhilBourque #AlexOvechkin #WayneGretzky #NikitaKucherov #BrianEngblom #MarioLemieux #SteveYzerman #ConnorMcDavid #BernieNicholls #MarkMessier #BobTindall #JeanRatelle #JimmyMorrison #KingstonCanadians #RikWilson #MikeStothers #ShawnBabcock #KirkMuller #JaromirJagr #SidneyCrosby #EvgeniMalkin #KrisLetang #ErikKarlsson #RickardRakell #BryanRust #DanMuse #KyleDubas #ParkerWortherspoon #YegorChinakov #TommyNovak #BenKindel #ConnorDewar #AnthonyMantha #BobJohnson #MikeSullivan #DeanEvanson #RickBowness #RodBrind'Amour #StuartSkinner #SamGirard #BrettKulak #NoelAcciari StanBowman #TristanJarry #EdOlczyk #MikeHartman #MikeGartner #RogerNeilson #IfTheseWallsCouldTalk #JoshYohe #MikeLange #PaulSteigerwald #StephaneMatteau #CraigPatrick #CaleMakar #NathanMacKinnon #JoeQuenneville #ArizonaCoyotes #UtahHockeyClub #SeanMcDonough #RayFerraro #ZachBenson #BraydenMcNabb #JoelEdmondson SamCarrick #RasmusDahlin #AJGreer #ConnorZary #EliotteFriedman #RadkoGudas #JessiPierce #NikoMikkola #MackieSamoskevich #UvisBalinskis #RyanStrome #RyanReaves #GarrettWilson #DennisGilbert #OliverEkman-Larsson #TravisGreen #RyanPulock #AnthonyDuclair #GabrielLandeskog #NealPionk #JoelArmia #MichaelCarcone #MikaZibanejad
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    1 hr and 15 mins
  • NHL Wraparound Smith's Pix - Mar. 23, 2026

    NHL Wraparound Smith's Pix - Mar. 23, 2026
    Mar 23 2026

    Neil's sizzling weekend concluded at 6-2-1 with a 19-2-4 mark dating back to Friday. He even overcame his nemesis: overtime and shootouts winning five of six on Sunday.

    He takes a 476-260-103 mark into the lone contest Monday as the surging Ottawa Senators visit Madison Square Garden.

    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
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    1 min
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