full

full
Published on:

29th Sep 2025

NHL Wraparound Hall of Fame Edition - Steve Yzerman

The third installment of the Hall of Fame Edition is a man synonymous with the Winged Wheel logo. Steve Yzerman's entire playing career was spent in the Motor City with the transition to management taking place nearly two decades ago.

Steve stops by for a chat with Vic and Neil and we cover the entire spectrum for youth to his playing career to the rivalry with the Colorado Avalanche to life as a hockey executive.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[01:10] - The show opens with Neil and Steve recalling their first meeting at the 1983 Memorial Cup when Yzerman was just 18-years-old and how he ended up with number 19.

[03:23] - Not so fond memories having to wear the one-piece Cooperalls for Peterborough during the junior years.

[04:27] - Early upbringing from Cranbrook, BC to the OHL and returning home a few years ago on a scouting trip where Yzerman visited his first rink.

[06:51] - The 1983 Entry Draft and the expectations of staying with the big club immediately. Current Seattle head coach Lane Lambert was selected in that draft as well.

[09:41] - Being named captain of the Red Wings in 1986 at age 21. As an executive now, his thoughts on whether he'd name a captain that young.

[11:06] - Learning to lead.

[13:03] - The key conversation with head coach Scotty Bowman where some of the big offensive numbers might need to be sacrificed a bit in order for the Wings to have more team success, particularly in the playoffs.

[17:17] - Steve's most memorable goals as he recalls them.

[18:07] - The white heat rivalry with the Avalanche born in 1996.

[21:36] - The first Stanley Cup in Yzerman's career in 1997 breaking a 42-year drought for the Wings dating back to 1955. Coming off the losses to Colorado and Team USA in the World Cup of Hockey in 1996, there were doubts Steve would ever become a champion.

[25:33] - The 1998 and 2002 championships where severely injured defenseman Vladimir Konstantinov and head coach Scotty Bowman had special Stanley Cup moments.

[28:25] - After winning another Cup as VP of the Red Wings in 2008, Yzerman became GM in Tampa, learning the ropes from Ken Holland. Though he didn't win a Cup with the Lightning, he laid the foundation for the championship teams in 2020 and 2021.

[32:29] - The difference of building a team in 2025 as compared to 2010.

[35:40] - The harsh reality of building a playoff team when only half of the teams make the post-season.

[40:59] - Putting a wrap on the Hall of Fame chat with Steve Yzerman

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 #ShortShifts #NYCentric #StanleyCupdate #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #CelebritySeries #HallofFameEdition #SteveYzerman #GusBadali #JimDevellano #CamNeely #KenYaremchuk #MemorialCup #AlfieTurcotte #RichSutter #RonSutter #PatLafontaine #JohnMacLean #BryanTrottier #RandyLadouceur #PaulHenderson #DetroitRedWings #PeterboroughPetes #OHL #Cooperalls #PhiladelphiaFlyers #HartfordWhalers #DaveDryden #PeytonKrebs #DougFavell #BoobySmith #LaneLambert #KellyKisio #NickPolano #JacquesDemers #DannyGare #ColinCampbell #DickTodd #ScottyBowman #WayneGretzky #MarioLemieux #DaveLewis #BarrySmith #JacquesLemaire #SergeiFedorov #PatrickRoy #SlavaKozlov #AdamFoote #ClaudeLemieux #KrisDraper #MinnesotaNorthStars #QuebecNordiques #PeterForsberg #ValeriKamensky #JoeSakic #GaryBettman #JoeLouisArena #BrettHull #MikeRichter #WorldCupofHockey #BrendanShanahan #VladimirKonstantinov #ViacheslavFetisov #IgorLarionov #KenHolland #NicklasLidstrom #JimNill #RyanMartin #JeffVinik #VictorHedman #StevenStamkos #MartinSt.Louis #VincentLecavalier #NikitaKucherov #BraydenPoint #AnthonyCirelli #AndreiVasilevskiy #AlMurray #JulienBriseBois #OndrejPalat #YanniGourde #TylerJohnson #RyanMcDonagh #MikhailSergachev #JohathanDrouin #ErikCernak

Next Episode 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.