full

full
Published on:

25th Nov 2025

NHL Wraparound Celebrity Series - Stephen Gostkowski - November 25, 2025

In the third of the NHL Wraparound Celebrity Series, Neil and Vic welcome three-time Super Bowl champion placekicker with the New England Patriots Stephen Gostkowski to the show.

The four-time Pro Bowler and Patriots all-time scoring leader covers a range of topics from his early days or an athlete, to playing under Bill Belichick and with Tom Brady to life after football.

Gostkowski even mixes in a little hockey as a young fan of the Buffalo Sabres and, more recently, the Boston Bruins.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[01:49] - Neil welcomes Stephen Gostkowski to the show. Gostkowski shares how he got into placekicking as well as the uniqueness of the position where the participation in a game is brief but, often, very noticeable. Simply, the life of a kicker.

[06:47] - Given the apparent isolation for a kicker, Stephen shares who he bonded with during the course of his career.

[10:20] - The expectations succeeding Adam Vinatieri, a kicker who had carved his niche in NFL lore with four Super Bowl wins (three with New England) including some of the great clutch kicks in league history.

[13:16] - The relationship with head coach Bill Belichick.

[15:33] - Gostkowski's interesting take on why there's likely no coaching comparable in hockey, baseball or basketball to Belichick.

[17:29] - How 'bout Tom Brady?

[20:33] - Born in Louisiana and spending some early years in Buffalo, Gostkowski laced skates up at an early age and even suffered a casualty quite common to NHL players. However, any thoughts of playing hockey were erased by a move to Mississippi and played a significant role in Stephen eventually playing football.

[22:43] - A fan of the Sabres growing up, Stephen still recalls the heartbreak of the 1999 "Toe in the Crease" controversy which delivered the Stanley Cup to Dallas. Since coming to the New England area almost two decades ago, his team allegiance has shifted as he's gotten to know some of the Bruins players.

[24:51] - Remaining a fan of the team Stephen made his mark with.

[26:18] - Thoughtful dialogue about transitioning from pro sports back to a "normal life." It's something Gostkowski had to adjust to and an area he wants to be able to assist others with.

[31:17] - The deeper dive of the transition is the locker room/team environment being replaced family life and other activities which can be fulfilling, albeit not on a competitive level. Stephen adds a bucket list item for himself.

[35:49] - After investing so much in himself, Gostkowski was recognized in March...and just might be again in 2026...

Website: www.nhlwraparound.com

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/

#NHLWraparound #NHLWraparound.com #ShortShifts #NYCentric #CelebritySeries #HallofFameEdition #StanleyCupdate #SummerCoolers #Smith'sPix #NeilSmith #VicMorren #PatrickHoffman #NHL #SummerCoolers #BobbyValentine #ChrisChelios #StephenGostkowski #NewEnglandPatriots #TedyBruschi #AdamVinatieri #BillBelichick #NorthCarolinaTarheels #TomBrady #WayneGretzky #MichaelJordan #LeBronJames #DerekJeter #KobeBryant #AlexanderMogilny #PatLafontaine #RobRay #DominikHasek #MikeVrabel #AlexeiKovalev #CraigWolanin #NationalAmericanPolishSportsHallofFame #ProFootballHallofFame #PatrickChung

All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for NHL Wraparound Podcast

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.