Episode 62

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Published on:

27th May 2025

Episode 62 - Crowning a New Leader With Kings VP/GM Ken Holland

Ken Holland helped build the Edmonton Oilers into a Stanley Cup Finalist. Now he's tasked with leading the L.A. Kings quest in trying to figure out how to take them down next season. The new Kings VP/GM joins Neil and Vic to discuss that plus the conference finals.

"Three Things You Need to Pay Attention To" looks at both the Panthers-Hurricanes and Stars-Oilers series while The Human Side of the Story is a chance encounter a couple of days after one of the most memorable games in Stanley Cup history.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[01:11] - Some good natured banter about spoilers and Wordle.

[03:54] - "Three Things You Need to Pay Attention To" hits on the Carolina Hurricanes avoiding elimination in the East Final, the Florida Panthers seeing their game come down a notch and the baffling offensive outage being experienced by the top eight goal scorers on the Dallas Stars.

[11:54] - Neil welcomes old friend Ken Holland back to the show, this time as VP/GM of the Los Angeles Kings...although not without a little fun to kick off the discussion.

[15:12] - The difference Ken sees between His Oilers team last year and the one looking to return to the Final.

[16:57] - The up and down world of the Oilers goaltending tandem of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard.

[20:14] - The task of building the Kings and being able to overtake and defeat the Oilers in the playoffs.

[22:35] - Has constructing team changed or is it fundamentally the same?

[28:15] - Ken weighs in on goaltender Darcy Kuemper.

[31:03] - What a best-built team looks like for the Kings in 2025-26.

[34:00] - While the NHL is a copy-cat league looking to emulate the latest champion, would the Panthers physical success make skilled free agents less attractive?

[37:32] - Ken gives his thoughts on the conference final series.

[45:01] - Injury news for Game 4 - Edmonton-Dallas and a couple of other items.

[46:45] - In The Human SIde of the Story, Vic recalls an unexpected encounter at a New Jersey restaurant following the epic Rangers-Devils conference final series.

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.