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Published on:

10th Sep 2025

2025 NHL Summer Cooler - Vancouver Canucks

In this Summer Coolers episode of NHL Wraparound, Neil Smith and Vic Morren dissect the rollercoaster that is the Vancouver Canucks. Coming off a season filled with locker room drama, failed expectations, and big-name regression, the Canucks hit reset under first-year head coach Adam Foote.

After missing the playoffs for the fourth time in five years, Vancouver aims to rediscover the promise shown during their 2024 second-round playoff run. But with tensions between Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller, injuries to Demko and Hughes, and Rick Tocchet walking out the door, can this new-look squad get back on track?

🧊 IN THIS EPISODE:

[00:00] Coaching change: Rick Tocchet out, Adam Foote in

[01:00] Rewind to 2024: Why so much promise fell apart

[02:00] Pettersson vs. Miller drama & Demko injury fallout

[03:00] Brock Boeser: Contract chaos & eventual re-signing

[04:00] Offseason adds: Evander Kane, PO Joseph, Chase Stillman

[05:00] Key re-signings: Boeser (7 yrs, $7.25M), Demko (3 yrs, $8.5M), Aatu Räty

[06:00] Notable losses: Dakota Joshua, Pius Suter, Di Giuseppe

[07:00] Top 6 preview: Pettersson, Boeser, DeBrusk, Kane, Chytil

[08:00] Defensive core still solid: Hughes, Hronek, Myers, Pettersson

[09:00] Rookie coach, lower expectations: Can that help Vancouver rebound?

[10:00] Connor Garland: Annoying everyone—in the best way

🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS:

The drama is over—hopefully. The Canucks parted ways with coach Rick Tocchet and now turn to Adam Foote to stabilize the locker room and unify the bench.

Elias Pettersson's regression (from 102 points to 45) was a major anchor last season. With his big deal in place, it’s time to rebound.

Brock Boeser stays on a seven-year deal, providing some scoring certainty alongside Jake DeBrusk and a hopefully healthy Filip Chytil.

The defense remains the team’s strength, led by Quinn Hughes and a healthy Filip Hronek. If Demko stays healthy, Vancouver has a fighting chance.

Evander Kane adds grit, but Vancouver still lacks forward depth beyond their top two lines.

🎯 FINAL WORD:

The Canucks are not the Cup hopefuls they were a year ago—and that’s a good thing. With expectations reset, a new coach behind the bench, and fewer off-ice distractions, Vancouver has a chance to quietly climb back into the playoff picture. But only if their stars play like stars again.


🔗 RESOURCE LINKS:

📺 YouTube: NHL Wraparound Channel

🐦 X (Twitter): @NHLWraparound

🎤 Neil Smith: @NYCNeil

📘 Vic Morren: Vic on LinkedIn

📸 Instagram: @NHLWraparound

🎵 TikTok: @NHLWraparound

👍 Facebook: NHL Wraparound Facebook


🏒 HASHTAGS

#NHLWraparound #VancouverCanucks #SummerCoolers #AdamFoote #EliasPettersson #FilipHronek #TylerMyers #DakotaJoshua #DerekForbort #TeddyBlueger #JakeDeBrusk #DantonHeinen #KieferSherwood #VincentDesharnais #JTMiller #BrockBoeser #RickTocchet #ThatcherDemko #FilipChytil #QuinnHughes #AatuRaty #POJoseph #ChaseStillman #ArtursSilovs #PhilDiGiuseppe #PiusSuter #NoahJuulsen #ConorGarland #MarcusPettersson


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About the Podcast

NHL Wraparound Podcast
Neil Smith & Vic Morren
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.