Episode 91

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Published on:

11th Mar 2026

Episode 91 - Final Charge to the Top - With Lightning TV Analyst Brian Engblom

When a team is hot, the last thing they want to do is stop playing. When the Olympic break arrived, the Tampa Bay Lightning were on a 19-1-1 heater. However, after winning the first game back from the break, the club has gone 1-6-0 since. Longtime TV Lightning TV analyst Brian Engblom joins Neil and Vic to do a deeper dive into the recent play, battling through injuries and how head coach Jon Cooper plans to have the team where they need to be when the post-season opens in less than six weeks.

In Three Things You Need to Pay Attention To, Who wants to be in the playoffs? Teams are both conferences are making their cases...some better than others.

Also, Connor Bedard has been given the "A" in Chicago with team captain Nick Foligno dealt to Minnesota and alternate captain Jason Dickinson now in Edmonton. The hosts discuss the what should be most important when naming a captain in the NHL.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[03:08] - Three Things You Need to Pay Attention To.

[15:32] - Brian Engblom joins Neil and Vic and jump right into the recent struggles the Lightning have had since the second game coming out of the Olympic break. Oddly, getting healthier has played a part in the downturn in play according to Brian.

[23:30] - Neil adds in on several of Brian's points, having been a defenseman himself. A query on Jake Guentzel's productivity follows.

[27:22] - With two Stanley Cup rings, could this be Jon Cooper's best coaching job with the Lightning given the rash of injuries he's had to navigate through? Brian offers up what he sees as some of Cooper's best attributes in how he assesses teams and personalities.

[33:51] - Brian goes deep into discussion on one of the most compelling personalities and talents in the NHL, Nikita Kucherov.

[40:42] - Neil circles back to Cooper, never a Coach of the Year but certainly among great company - with a little trivia question dropped in.

[43:42] - Some thoughts on the re-acquisition of Corey Perry by the Lightning.

[48:17] - Despite the recent slide, the Lightning record remains strong. Still, there's a team in Buffalo which is pushing for tops in the Atlantic and two recent head-to-head matchups with the Sabres have been revealing for Cooper's charges.

[55:45] - Putting a wrap on the discussion with Brian Engblom.

[58:04] - With Connor Bedard becoming an alternate captain in Chicago with captain Nick Foligno having been dealt to Minnesota and alternates Connor Murphy and Jason Dickinson now in Edmonton, how long will it be before number 98 gets the "C"? To that end, does every team need a captain and what does that title require both on the ice and away from the rink which fans don't see?

[1:04:13] - The Maple Leafs are having an off year. It's not hard to see. But when Matthew Knies says "we'll be back better and stronger than ever," does he realize how low that bar really is?

[1:07:10] - On a two-game schedule Wednesday, is it possible the Canadiens Senators matchup is the most significant regular season game between the clubs since the Senators rejoined the NHL in 1992?

[1:08:29] - Personnel notes.

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.