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Published on:

13th May 2025

Episode 60 - Under Review - With ESPN Rules Analyst Dave Jackson

There's never a shortage of close calls, controversy and players skating the line - occasionally going over it - in the chase for the Stanley Cup.

We're at the halfway of the point in round two. With emotion and intensity continuing to rise, Neil and Vic welcome back a voice of reason, someone to bring down the heat: former NHL referee and current rules analyst for ESPN, Dave Jackson.

Later in the show, we do the deeper dive into all four conference semi-final series and in "The Human Side of the Story," after more than four decades with different roles in hockey, relationships still manage to come full circle for both hosts.

[01:00] - "Three Things You Need to Pay Attention To" provides a quick recap of the Monday games while it appears the hunt for a new general manager is over for the Los Angeles Kings.

[06:40] - Dave Jackson joins the show and adds his take on Sunday's open-ice hit the Maple Leafs Oliver Ekman-Larsson delivered to the Panthers Evan Rodriguez.

[08:58] - Would Max Domi's late Game 4 hit on Aleksander Barkov or Nick Roy's cross check against Trent Frederic in Game 2 of the Edmonton-Vegas have warranted just fines had these infractions taken place during the regular season?

[11:36] - Neil thorizes and Dave offers his thoughts on why goaltenders appear to be getting hurt more now than ever.

[16:36] - Thoughts on why the review of the Alex Petrovic goal in Dallas Sunday appeared to take an unusually long time.

[19:09] - If someone had told you it took 61 games this post-season to have fighting penalties doled out, would you have believed them?

[24:28] - Is it real or imagined that more scrums take place earlier in series and dissipate as that series gets deeper and closer to conclusion?

[26:05] - While a referee is neutral, Dave still can share thoughts what he's seen from various teams during the post-season.

[28:27] - To be a fly on the wall...or the ice. Dave let's us in on some of the banter that takes place between players and officials...and coaches.

[30:46] - As society has changed, Dave tells us how that has affected the tolerance of what can and can't be said on the ice.

[34:43] - Before leaving, Dave sends the reminder that, while officials aren't perfect, they are driven to be their best the same way the players so...as fans it's easy to forget that.

[40:07] - Deeper dive into the Capitals-Hurricanes fourth game.

[45:16] - The Oilers learned from Game 3 not to let up off the gas as they built a similar first period lead in Game 4 with the Golden Knights.

[48:43] - The Maple Leafs look to reverse the fortunes of Games 3 and 4 against the Panthers Wednesday.

[53:16] - If the Winnipeg Jets are to see the West Final, they will have to figure out how to win a road game. They have one, maybe two, chances to do so as they try to even their second round series with Dallas Tuesday.

[56:50] - The Human Side of the Story: Relationships and re-connections are even more valuable now to both Neil and Vic even after over four decades of involvement with hockey.

IN THIS EPISODE:

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.