Episode 63

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Published on:

2nd Jun 2025

Episode 63 - Stanley Cup Final Preview with TSN's Craig Button

After almost 14 hundred regular season and playoff games and 14 playoff series, we're in familiar territory as the Florida Panthers will be defending against the same Edmonton Oilers team that took them to seven games last spring.

As he done throughout the post-season, TSN's Craig Button joins Vic and Neil to do a comprehensive breakdown of the finalists.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[01:39] - The Things You Need to Pay Attention To has all of it's focus on the upcoming Stanley Cup and several sidebar stories to look out for.

[09:10] - The significance of the championship ring and the lasting legacy of having ones name on the Stanley Cup

[12:55] - The first of the seven areas covered: Playing styles.

[17:38] - Which forward group will dictate? The skill and brilliance of the Oilers forwards led by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl or the 200-foot steadiness and pressure of the Panthers four line depth.

[23:54] - Defensive units and team defense.

[31:08] - The Goaltenders

[37:48] - The Special Teams

[45:58] - Maurice vs. Knoblauch

[51:07] - The Intangibles

[57:28] - Opinion on the Conference Final runner-ups and which teams might be the closest to challenging Florida and Edmonton in their respective conferences next season.

[1:06:11] - The esteemed panel weighs in with Stanley Cup Final predictions.

[1:14:52] - The Memorial Cup and news from around the NHL.

[1:25:47] - The Human Side of the Story focuses on the life of a GM as a conference final runner-up. You're close, but not quite there. To that point, the situations moving forward for the Dallas Stars and Carolina Hurricanes could not be any different.

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.