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 - Striking Oil, Striking Gold and Be-Leaf Restored...For Now - May 2, 2025
Three more clinchers Thursday as the Maple Leafs overcame mounting pressure to book a second rate date with the defending champion Panthers while the Golden Knights and Oilers will see each other aft…
Stanley Cupdate - Caps and Cats Advance While the Jets Move Ahead - May 1, 2025
The upstarts from DC and the defending champions join the Carolina Hurricanes in the Conference Semi-Finals as the Canadiens and Lightning bow out. In the West, the Winnipeg Jets move to within a wi…
Human Side of the Story - Ep. 58 - Gabriel Landeskog's 34-month Road Back to the NHL
A freak injury in 2020 became the beginning of an odyssey lasting the better part of four-and-a-half years for Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog. After multiple knee surgeries, including …
Stanley Cupdate - Hurricanes First to Advance & Getting Uncomfortable in Toronto - April 30, 2025
Two had the opportunity to move on. One did and other is being reminded of their history. Meanwhile, the Oilers and Golden Knights have rebounded from series deficits to put themselves from within …
Stanley Cupdate - Momentum Reversed for the Lightning and Avalanche - April 29, 2025
Not the best of nights for two teams looking to feed off the momentum of their previous games. The big guns for Dallas play a major role in giving the Stars a 3-2 series lead while the Lightning are…
Episode 58 - From Blue to Blueshirt to Blue Jacket with CBJ Senior Advisor John Davidson
Longtime NHL executive and Columbus Blue Jackets senior advisor John Davidson joins Neil and Vic to share thoughts on a stirring opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the three organizations …
Stanley Cupdate - Welcome Back, Captain - April 27, 2025
Any of the four Saturday games would have been headline worthy on their own merit. However, when a player returns to the lineup after 34 months and gets on the scoresheet, it's worthy of top billing…
Stanley Cupdate - All the Comforts of Home for Canadiens, Devils and Oilers -April 26, 2025
Returning home Friday proved just the tonic for the Canadiens, Devils and Oilers with an abundance of storylines and subplots.
Vic and Neil also look ahead to Saturday's four-game slate. The Lightning…
Stanley Cupdate - West Wild Cards Showing They Belong while Leafs and Panthers on a Collision Course - April 25, 2025
As if there was any doubt before, the Presidents Trophy winning Jets and Pacific leading Golden Knights had it confirmed they have their hands full with the Blues and Wild respectively.
Meanwhile, con…
Stanley Cupdate - Two Higher Seeds Hold Serve While Dallas Regains Home-Ice Advantage - April 24, 2025
A virtuoso goaltending performance sends the Capitals into Montreal with a 2-0 series while the Kings are enjoying a similar advantage thanks to a sizzling power play against the Oilers. Meanwhile, a…
Stanley Cupdate - The Defending Champs Make a Statement - April 23, 2025
It would have been nearly impossible to replicate Monday's drama. Nonetheless, storylines and subplots were in abundance as the defending Cup served notice they are more than ready to make another r…
Stanley Cupdate - The Absolute Essence of What This is All About - April 22, 2025
Four one-goal games including two overtimes and a final minute finish. An incredible third day of Stanley Cup hockey gets wrapped up in a neat package.
Four more on the slate for Tuesday as the Light…
Stanley Cupdate - A Handful Break Quickly from the Gate - April 21, 2025
Winnipeg, Colorado, Carolina, Toronto and Vegas all pick up victories over the weekend to get a leg up in their respective series. Two more series open Monday with Tampa Bay and Florida kicking off …
Episode 57 - The Stanley Cup Preview Show - Craig Button
TSN Analyst and former NHL executive Craig Button joins Neil and Vic to look at all eight opening round series and offer up some bold - and no so bold - predictions along the way.
IN THIS EPISODE:
[02:…
Human Side of the Story - Ep. 56 - Sam Rosen
After forty years and many memorable calls, one stands out for Sam Rosen. Born in Ulm, Germany, he was an aspiring baseball player before focusing his attention on broadcasting.
On April 17, 2025, …
Episode 56 - His Calls Will Last a Lifetime! - With Hall of Fame Broadcaster Sam Rosen
For forty seasons, Sam Rosen has been synonymous with New York Rangers hockey. With the Blueshirts missing the playoffs in 2025, Rosen's final game will be Thursday against Tampa Bay.
Neil and Vic ar…
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - Hype, Ecstasy and a Letdown in Montreal - April 15, 2025
The Ivan Demidov era opened in Montreal Monday and it did not disappoint. Unfortunately, for the Canadiens, they were unable to sustain the early energy and, while getting closer to wrapping up the …
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - Complete Weekend Update - April 14, 2025
Clinched, eliminated and still battling to either get in or enhance a playoff spot already gained. Vic and Neil evolve the weekend to set up the final four days of the regular season.
In addition, so…
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - Canadians, Wild and Oilers Primed to Clinch - April 11, 2025
The final weekend of the NHL regular season has arrived. Twelve playoff spots have already been clinched with three more possible Friday.
Vic and Neil look at all of the permutations and also throw u…
Human Side of the Story - Episode 55 - Reverence and Respecting the Game
It may have started with a photo taken in 1952 with a defeated Bruins goalie named Sugar Jim Henry bowing to a bloodied and, perhaps semi-conscious, Rocket Richard at the conclusion of their semi-fin…