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
- 35 minutes
- Episodes
- 263
- Years Active
- 2024 - 2025
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…
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - Beyond Preposterous - April 9, 2025
On a night the Ottawa Senators clinch their first playoff spot in eight years, two games involving teams on life support simply defied logic.
Vic and Neil update on all the races and a couple of fun A…
NY Centric - NJ on the Cusp and the End in Sight for NYR & NYI with James Nichols of New Jersey Hockey Now - Apr. 8. 2025
With just 10 days remaining in the regular season the fates of the New York-area teams is having clarity with the Devils within a point of clinching a playoff berth while the Rangers and Devils are r…
Episode 55 - The Gr8est Goal Scorer Ever - With Craig Laughlin
Call it the Thirty-one-year itch. Gordie Howe 1963, Wayne Gretzky 1994 and, now Alex Ovechkin in 2025 as the all-time goal scoring torch was passed at UBS Arena on April 6. Long-time Caps TV Analys…
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - Nastiness in Carolina as OV Gets a Step Closer -April 4, 2025
SInce our last show, three more clubs qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs while another joins a list having to officially wait until next year.
Meanwhile, #892 for Alex Ovechkin shares the spotlight …
Human Side of the Story - Ep. 54 - Uniting as Teammates...Despite Past History
The mention of junkyard dogs Brad Marchand and Sam Bennett being on the same team would have brought a laugh a year ago. However, after battling as adversaries, the pair won the Four Nations Faceoff…
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - High Drama in Montreal and St. Louis - April 2, 2025
The Canadiens and Blues kept the holds on their respective wild card positions with game-tying goals in the final minute followed by OT winners.
Meanwhile, the OV Chase Tour is officially underway, a …
NY Centric - Getting Late for Rangers and Islanders with Colin Stephenson from Newsday - April 1, 2025
Only two-a-half-weeks remain in the regular season. The Rangers are close but not in a playoff spot, the Islanders have slipped back and the Devils are in cruise control with their first round oppon…
Episode 54 - What's Next in Philly? With Hall of Fame Journalist Al Morganti
A pair of outstanding guests highlight Episode 54. First, Hall of Fame Journalist Al Morganti joins the show to talk about the past, present and future of the Flyers. Then former coach and NHL Netw…
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - Change in Philly, Class by OV - March 28, 2025
After guiding the Flyers to the final game of last regular season before being eliminated, John Tortorella was let go by the Flyers Thursday. With a weak roster by NHL standards, a 1-10-1 slide prom…
Human Side of the Story - Ep. 53 - Jack Michaels: From Meadville to Edmonton
How does a young man from a small town in Western Pennsylvania end up as the play-by-play voice of the Edmonton Oilers? You take inspiration from those before you, then take your craft far away hopi…
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - A Heavyweight Bout as Good as Advertised -March 26, 2025
For the second time this season, the Jets and Capitals went to overtime and, for the second time, the Jets prevailed to join the Caps in the playoffs. Not to be lost: Alex Ovechkin pulls to within f…
NY Centric - Isles Get Closer, Rangers and Devils Struggling with Thomas Hickey - March 25, 2025
A week ago, the N.Y. Islanders had five teams to jump in order to get to the second wild card position in the Eastern Conference. Today, they have one final hurdle to jump.
Meanwhile, struggles cont…
Episode 53 - Drilling Down with Edmonton Oilers PxP Jack Michaels
The Edmonton Oilers were one win from an historic comeback in the Stanley Cup Final last spring. While favored by many to take that last step in 2025, the best laid plans have not gone according to …
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - March Madness - The NHL Way - March 21, 2025
Crazy eights for Alex Ovechkin, Connor McDavid leaves Thursday's game and the last two teams in the NHL alphabet are the first to 100 points.
That's only the beginning as two stirring games involving …
Human Side of the Story - Ep. 52 - Hey Dad, You're Trading Me?
Trades are an accepted part of hockey business. Recently, Utica Comets GM Dan MacKinnon caught the attention of many pulling off a deal which involved moving his own son to playoff-contending Clevel…
NHL Wraparound Short Shifts - A Rotten Apple Pushes Montreal Into Wild Card Position - Mar. 19, 2025
March signals desperation for many clubs looking to make their final push to the post-season. Over the past couple of evenings, the Canadiens, Islanders, Canucks and Blues appear to have gotten the…