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Published on:

23rd Feb 2024

SPECIAL EDITION: A Conversation with “Big Walt” Keith Tkachuk | Florida’s Rise, Leadership Challenges, and Hockey Legacy

In this special edition of NHL Wraparound, hosts Neil Smith and Vic Morren sit down with Keith Tkachuk—former NHL power forward and father of current stars Matthew and Brady Tkachuk—for a wide-ranging and insightful conversation covering team leadership, trade dynamics, and the evolution of NHL franchises.

Keith shares his perspective on the Florida Panthers’ success, their physical, fast-paced style, and how GM Bill Zito has built a tightly knit, playoff-ready roster. He also unpacks Matthew Tkachuk’s trade to Florida, explaining how Matthew sought a winning core built around players like Barkov, Reinhart, and Bennett.

The conversation shifts to Brady Tkachuk and the pressures of captaining a young, rebuilding Ottawa Senators team amid organizational changes. Keith offers fatherly advice rooted in his own career, emphasizing accountability and focus.

The episode wraps with reflections on Keith’s own journey—from the Winnipeg Jets’ final days, through the franchise’s move to Phoenix, to his optimism about the Arizona Coyotes’ future.


IN THIS EPISODE:

[01:16] The origin of Keith’s nickname “Walt”

[01:48] Panthers' identity: fast, physical, and unified

[05:24] How Florida built its team chemistry

[06:57] Inside Matthew Tkachuk’s trade and motivations

[08:30] Brady Tkachuk's role and pressure in Ottawa

[11:06] Organizational challenges within the Senators

[15:36] The uncertain but hopeful future of the Arizona Coyotes

[17:30] Keith's memories of the original Winnipeg Jets

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • Matthew Tkachuk actively guided his trade to Florida to join a team aligned with his competitive goals.
  • The Florida Panthers’ playoff identity—tough, fast, unified—is key to their rise.
  • Brady Tkachuk, as captain of the Senators, faces intense leadership challenges in a transitioning franchise.
  • Keith remains hopeful about the Coyotes’ long-term viability, especially with league support and a potential new arena.

LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE:

Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and all major podcast platforms.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA

X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound

Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil

Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nhlwraparound

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555451139787

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ABOUT KEITH TKACHUK:

Drafted 19th overall by the Winnipeg Jets in 1990, Keith Tkachuk scored over 500 goals and 1,000 points during his NHL career. A five-time All-Star, Tkachuk played for the Jets, Phoenix Coyotes, St. Louis Blues, and Atlanta Thrashers, and represented Team USA in four Olympic Games. He is widely considered one of the most impactful American-born power forwards in NHL history.

#FloridaPanthers #KeithTkachuk #MatthewTkachuk #BradyTkachuk #NHL #Hockey #Podcast #Sports #Broadcasting #StanleyCup #Coaching #Media #Management #Playoffs #NeilSmith #VicMorren #OttawaSenators #ArizonaCoyotes #WinnipegJets #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.