Episode 54

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Published on:

31st Mar 2025

Episode 54 - What's Next in Philly? With Hall of Fame Journalist Al Morganti

A pair of outstanding guests highlight Episode 54. First, Hall of Fame Journalist Al Morganti joins the show to talk about the past, present and future of the Flyers. Then former coach and NHL Network analyst Bruce Boudreau speaks about Alex Ovechkin's final push for the all-time scoring mark and where he's come from as a young player.

Neil and Vic update all of the key races, some on-ice happenings and player notes and wrap up the show with instances foes join forces for a chance to win a Stanley Cup.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[03:18] - In "Three Things You Need to Pay Attention To," the Oilers Leon Draisaitl hits 50 goals for the first time, the Blues winning streak hits nine and, do the Leafs want to win the Atlantic Division after all?

[14:49] - Al Morganti joins Neil and Vic with the initial topic being when it went off the rails during the John Tortorella era.

[19:29] - Was Torts fighting an uphill battle from the day he took the job in Philadelphia?

[23:19] - Discussion about how the Flyers evolved for two seasons but, with the parting of NHL assets in addition to their head coach, are they back to square one?

[26:40] - What ownership and the front office need to do to bring the Flyers back to respectability?

[34:17] - The immediate future for the Flyers and does the increased salary cap do anything in the short term?

[36:57] - Does Brad Shaw have the interim tag removed or is a different name next behind the Flyers bench.

[46:38] - Former coach of Alex Ovechkin, Bruce Boudreau, joins the show and start off with memories they share from their days growing up playing hockey in Toronto.

[51:00] - Bruce shares he saw greatness from early on with Ovechkin but not to the extent of breaking the goal-scoring mark.

[53:10] - The strategy of coaching Ovechkin early in his career and his evolvement as a player.

[57:26] - The Space OV has created for himself now based on his physical play early in his career.

[1:00:43] - Will the chase for the record affect the more important goals for the Caps come playoff time?

[1:07:55] - How did the Caps go from barely getting into the playoffs in 2024 to one of the NHL's elite?

[1:11:50] - Looking ahead to when the record may fall.

[1:14:28] - The maturation of Ovechkin and acknowledging Marc-Andre Fleury after their likely final meeting.

[1:20:01] - Quick check in on the bubble teams in the East - and it's not very flattering.

[1:21:46] - The West Wild Card, the race for first in the Central and the reality of the Kings finally getting home ice advantage against the Oilers in the opening round.

[1:27:00] - One of these days, the Sabres just might not occupy the cellar of the Eastern Conference.

[1:28:54] - Another example of being unselfish had potentially disastrous results.

[1:31:06] - The not-so-nice this past weekend.

[1:33:26] - Player Notes

[1:35:36] - "The Human Side of the Story" looks at former adversaries Brad Marchand and Sam Bennett now being teammates and other instances of former foes joining forces.

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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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.