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NHL Wraparound Podcast

NHL Wraparound Podcast

By: Neil Smith & Vic Morren
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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.Copyright 2026 Neil Smith & Vic Morren Hockey Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Scott Stevens: Devils Captain on Open Ice Hits, 3 Stanley Cups & Playing Clean
    Feb 8 2026

    Devils captain and Hall of Famer Scott Stevens joins Neil Smith and Vic Morren for comprehensive career discussion. From greatest open ice hits in NHL history to remarkable stat of only four elbowing penalties in 22-year career, hear about three Stanley Cups with three different coaches (Jacques Lemaire revolutionary system, Larry Robinson fired Robbie Ftorek late season, Pat Burns enforcing not changing). Kitchener Rangers Memorial Cup winner number retired, Washington Capitals fifth overall 1982 scoring first goal first shot on Eddie Mio at MSG with parents there, Brian Engblom mentorship sitting down every game going over roster, free agency compensation awarded to Devils for Brendan Shanahan (Curtis Joseph and Rod Brind'Amour equalization), never wanting to leave St. Louis but Lou Lamoriello at airport with car seats, Bruce Driver captain awkwardness, learning from 1994 Rangers loss in Eastern Final (best Devils team personnel wise), 1995 sweep Detroit in lockout season feeling invincible, Eric Lindros hit 2000 Game 7, Slava Kozlov and Paul Kariya hits, leading by example hitting guys with head down in practice, 13 All-Star games 908 career points never minus player any season, and first number retired in Devils history. Plus Three Stooges fan, growing up with three brothers competitive, and Dwight Schofield tough protector.

    IN THIS EPISODE:

    [00:00] - Welcome: Hall of Fame Edition Scott Stevens

    [01:00] - Long history great open ice hitters: Eddie Shore to Jacob Trouba

    [02:00] - Perhaps greatest open ice hitter: Scott Stevens joins

    [03:00] - Honor: got to know each other 1996 Team Canada, did TV together

    [04:00] - Rangers nemesis: Devils great rivalry so many years

    [05:00] - Great hit given out today: guy has to fight after clean hit

    [06:00] - Delivered lot great hits: caught guys head down, ever have to fight?

    [07:00] - No don't remember: hitting big part of game

    [08:00] - This day: would just turn cheek if good clean hit

    [09:00] - Almost let them take penalty: try to swing game

    [10:00] - Get it wanna stand up: good clean hits shouldn't happen

    [11:00] - Bothers me too: find it very interesting

    [12:00] - Sometimes might be free passes given: when does happen big news

    [13:00] - People want retribution on hit: my feeling on it

    [14:00] - In my day: used to finish all hits

    [15:00] - Guy working get red line dump in: make him pay

    [16:00] - So few and far between: especially big ones, everyone gets up in arms

    [17:00] - Connor Bedard hurt rookie season: Brendan Smith clean hit

    [18:00] - Nick Foligno credit: automatically fought Smith, stepped up on Bedard

    [19:00] - Clean hit: happened in New Jersey

    [20:00] - Do research: even as well as think you know somebody

    [21:00] - Scotty Bowman on: 92 years old, sharp certainly sharper than me

    [22:00] - Looking at your life: never realized been with Capitals

    [23:00] - Kitchener Ranger: yeah for one year

    [24:00] - Numbers retired by Kitchener Rangers: wonderful year, great team

    [25:00] - Lot players went on NHL: fortunate win Memorial Cup, very special year

    [26:00] - Moved on some stayed back: wanted to fast track as quick as possible

    [27:00] - Tremendous year: still keep in touch, reunions, great group

    [28:00] - One strongest teams ever seen junior hockey

    [29:00] - Wore number three Kitchener: number three Washington

    [30:00] - End of number three? Number two St. Louis

    [31:00] - Devils couldn't get three: Kenny had that, Lou sort of gave me four

    [32:00] - Miles O'Connor might have four: took four, great number

    [33:00] - Looked good on Bobby Orr: not Bobby Orr but special number

    [34:00] - Fifth overall 1982: first game first goal on first shot

    [35:00] - Remember it: only one really remember

    [36:00] - Just outside blue line: parents at Madison...

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    45 mins
  • Sports Betting Addiction with Dr. Lipi Roy: Dopamine, Competition & Self-Inflicted Crisis
    Feb 7 2026

    Addiction medicine physician Dr. Lipi Roy joins Neil Smith and Vic Morren for critical discussion on gambling crisis in professional sports. From NBA betting scandals (Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier, Damon Jones arrested, Jontay Porter permanently banned) to NCAA allowing athletes bet on pro sports despite Fresno State basketball conspiracy, hear comprehensive analysis of behavioral addiction science. Dr. Roy explains dopamine triggers, why competitive Type A athletes are high-risk, how male brain doesn't fully develop until 25, prop bet dangers enabling fixes, Swedish study showing 15x suicide rate for gambling disorder, American Heart Association research linking problematic gambling to 50% arterio sclerosis rates, and profound shame leading to depression. Plus treatment options including medications (not FDA approved yet) and cognitive behavioral therapy, why NHL Player Assistance Program needs separate gambling category, 2018 Supreme Court ruling allowing $120 billion legally wagered 2023, 10-year-old kids seeing DraftKings FanDuel ads at Madison Square Garden normalizing behavior, and why regulation matters when genie can't go back in bottle. Toronto-born hockey fan since age 9 combines medical expertise with deep sport understanding.

    IN THIS EPISODE:

    [00:00] - Welcome: Pro Sports Self-Inflicted Problem with Dr. Lipi Roy Encore Episode

    [01:00] - October 23 NBA rocked: Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier, Damon Jones arrested

    [02:00] - Rigged poker games: connections organized crime, insider betting schemes

    [03:00] - Jontay Porter: Toronto Raptors forward permanently banned from NBA

    [04:00] - Betting scandals over century: 1919 Black Sox throwing World Series

    [05:00] - Pete Rose: Cleveland Guardians Luis Ortiz, Emmanuel Clase under suspicion

    [06:00] - Throwing intentional balls: first pitches of innings since middle of summer

    [07:00] - Basketball 1951 point shaving: CCNY, NBA referee Tim Donaghy 2007

    [08:00] - Football several players suspended: violating NFL gambling policy recent years

    [09:00] - Hockey two years ago: Shane Pinto suspended 41 games

    [10:00] - Friends bet for him US while in Canada: claims did not wager NHL games

    [11:00] - Gambling and addiction: problem continues to fester in society

    [12:00] - Major leagues in bed with casinos: only matter of time

    [13:00] - Young people drawn into gambling: knowing much more than I will

    [14:00] - Dr. Lipi Roy: addiction medicine physician, international speaker

    [15:00] - National media medical commentator: MSNBC, NBC News, CNN, News Nation

    [16:00] - Forbes contributor: founder CDA Med health speaking company

    [17:00] - Host YouTube show: Health, Humor and Harmony, Health Hockey and Leadership

    [18:00] - Hockey and Mental Health gala: met in New York City

    [19:00] - Diehard hockey fan since 9 years old: born and raised Toronto like Neil

    [20:00] - Later years studied medicine: lucky to be physician, addiction medicine specialty

    [21:00] - Addiction like heart disease: can affect absolutely anybody

    [22:00] - Not moral feeling: sports betting form of gambling on rise

    [23:00] - All sports pro leads: hockey not any different, clearly health consequences

    [24:00] - Can be really serious problematic issue

    [25:00] - Gambling addiction: brain gets addicted to, not something you ingest

    [26:00] - Adrenaline from gambling: what happens in brain?

    [27:00] - Glad you brought B word: brain most complex machine known to humankind

    [28:00] - Explain to patients and public: how I kind of explain it

    [29:00] - Think of addiction: think drugs, alcohol, cocaine, heroin

    [30:00] - Substance use disorders: drug alcohol addictions true

    [31:00] - Another type category: behavioral addictions

    [32:00] - Gambling, gaming, pornography: work, social media, devices, food

    [33:00] -...

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    50 mins
  • Episode 88 - Who's Laughing at the Sabres Now? - With Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News
    Feb 6 2026

    They started 0-3-0 and were still three games below .500 on the morning of Dec. 9. Simply put, 2025-26 was shaping us the same way as the past 14 seasons have for the Buffalo Sabres.

    28 games later, nobody's laughing at the Sabres any more. Though there's been a slight cool down over the past week, Buffalo News columnist Mike Harrington returns to the show to share what's been behind the stunning turnaround.

    In Three Things You Need to Pay Attention to, the Olympic break is upon us, the Panthers and Lightning were at it again and Oilers superstar Leon Draisaitl calls the coaching staff.

    IN THIS EPISODE:

    [01:19] – Three Things You Need to Pay Attention To.

    [11:49] – Mike Harrington from the Buffalo News makes an encore appearance and immediately dives into why the Sabres have done such an about-face - without moving any players

    [15:16] - Neil poses the question as to when team owner Terry Pegula got an epiphany to finally make moves within the front office - moves which have quietly altered the culture of the franchise.

    [17:31] - The difference in the on-ice product under the guidance of head coach Lindy Ruff.

    [19:34] - Further elaboration on the Sabres depth and potential damage they could do if they qualify for the post-season.

    [21:41] - Mike shares a pattern he sees with the 2025-26 Sabres and the one coached by Ruff in 2006 which reached the seventh game of the East Final.

    [23:29] - Will pending UFA Alex Tuch remain with his hometown team beyond this season?

    [25:56] - As the trade deadline looms, the holes which need to be filled in order to secure that elusive playoff spot.

    [31:48] - With the Rangers trade of Artemi Panarin to the Kings, Neil looks at the moves made by GM Chris Drury since taking the team over in 2021.

    [35:59] - Top NHL Draft prospect gavin McKenna charged with in connection with an altercation Saturday evening that left a man with a broken jaw.

    [39:30] - Matvei Michkov's playing time has decreased under Rick Tocchet in Philadelphia. The GM isn't moving the player and head coach is in the first year of a five-year deal.

    [42:19] - Plaudits for the offensive defensemen, two of which hit the 20-goal mark over the past couple of days.

    [44:00] - Personnel notes with best wishes to Hall of Fame Craig Patrick, who is recovering from a stroke.

    [46:21] - What the Olympic break means for NHL teams...and us.

    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/

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    52 mins
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