NHL Wraparound Podcast
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.
- Update frequency
- every day
- Average duration
- 36 minutes
- Episodes
- 259
- Years Active
- 2024 - 2025
Stanley Cupdate - Panthers Bring Their Show to Carolina - May 21, 2025
A mere 48 hours after taking the deciding game in Toronto, the defending champion Panthers impose their will on the Hurricanes in the East Final opener.
Meanwhile, the Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars…
Episode 61 - Conference Finals Preview with TSN's Craig Button
We're halfway home. Two rounds are in the books and Neil and Vic are pleased to be joined once again by long-time TSN analyst Craig Button to tackle the Conference Finals.
"Three Thing You Need to Pa…
Stanley Cupdate - In TO, As Much as Things Changed, They Still Stayed the Same - May 19, 2025
So much for a different result in Toronto. In a season where strides were made in winning a division title and getting out of the first round, dreadful performances at home in Games five and seven a…
Stanley Cupdate - Joy and Heartbreak - May 18, 2025
It is not often an overtime series clincher has to take a back seat to more important things in life. Unfortunately, that's what happened as the Dallas Stars advanced to the Western Conference Final…
Stanley Cupdate - 'Canes Take Out Caps & Jets Live Another Day - May 16, 2025
The Carolina Hurricanes join the Edmonton Oilers as conference finalists while the Winnipeg Jets put in a stellar performance to stave off elimination and head back to Dallas to try to do something t…
Stanley Cupdate - One Canadian Team Moves On, The Other Forgets to Show Up - May 15, 2025
The Edmonton Oilers have secured the first seat in the conference finals by virtue of a hard-fought overtime win in Vegas while the Maple Leafs barely put up a fight in dropping their third straigh…
Human Side of the Story - Ep. 60 - Relationships and Re-Connecting Still Important...Even After More than 40 Years
Hockey is life. It's been in the blood of both hosts from a very early age, has been a core component of both of their professional careers and it's the foundation of their NHL Wraparound venture.
A…
Stanley Cupdate - Stars Push Jets to the Brink - May 14, 2025
It's been a dozen years since the winner of the Presidents' Trophy has gone on to win the Stanley Cup. Unless the Winnipeg Jets can pull off three straight victories over the Dallas Stars - includin…
Episode 60 - Under Review - With ESPN Rules Analyst Dave Jackson
There's never a shortage of close calls, controversy and players skating the line - occasionally going over it - in the chase for the Stanley Cup.
We're at the halfway of the point in round two. With…
Stanley Cupdate - Panthers Hockey to a Tee While Stars Move Ahead - May 12, 2025
If you ever want to know what Florida Panther hockey looks like when it's executed to the max, Sunday's series tying victory over Toronto is one-stop shopping.
In Dallas, the Stars moved ahead of Win…
Stanley Cupdate - You Cannot Make This Stuff Up! - May 11, 2025
In a post-season about three weeks old, comebacks, drama and odd bounces have been in abundance. Add to it the scene in Edmonton Saturday evening when the Golden Knights may have saved their season …
Stanley Cupdate - A Nemesis Bites Toronto and Is Hellebuyck All the Way Back? - May 10, 2025
Two very different games Friday with overtime drama in Florida settled by a one who manages to stick in the craw of the Maple Leafs almost every spring. Meanwhile, the Jets were dominant from start …
Stanley Cupdate - Controversy in Vegas and the Caps Draw Even - May 9
Both needing a win after dropping their second round series openers, the Capitals prevailed while the Golden Knights fell short amidst controversy.
That word also rings true in Anaheim where Joel Quen…
Stanley Cupdate - The Moose is a Beast and the Leafs Hold Serve - May 8
Should the Conn Smythe Trophy be handed to Mikko Rantanen after just eight post-season games? Maybe so after the Moose collected his second consecutive hat trick to help the Stars get the jump on Wi…
Human Side of the Story - Ep. 59 - Everyone's Human
There is an expectation which comes with watching professional athletes that - both men and women - are often looked at to perform with robotic efficiency.
As we all know, it doesn't exactly work th…
Stanley Cup - Hurricanes and Oilers Put Their Hosts in a Quick Hole - May 7, 2025
There's a quick sense of urgency in Washington and Vegas as the Hurricanes and Oilers carried play for much of the night in a pair of conference semi-final openers.
The question in Toronto is whether …
Stanley Cupdate - Leafs Survive Late Panther Attack - May 6, 2025
It was a fast start and a shaky finish but the Maple Leafs managed to draw first blood against the defending champs in the opening game of conference semi-final action.
Still, there's reason for con…
Episode 59 - Second Round Preview with TSN's Craig Button
The second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs is here and what can be done for an encore following a first round which delivered more curves and unpredictability than anyone could have imaged?
TSN Anal…
Stanley Cupdate - Mikko's Revenge - May 4, 2025
In a seventh game where the Dallas Stars were short on juice for almost 48 minutes, high-profile, twice traded Mikko Rantanen, delivered perhaps the most epical, single game playoff performance since…
Stanley Cupdate - Rolling Sevens - May 3, 2025
The Presidents Trophy winners have one game to salvage their season after another disaster in St. Louis.
Their opponent will already have been determined Saturday when the Avalanche and Stars bring th…