Hockey Free For All

Episode 132 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 11-18-2024

Hello hockey fan's out there,
Take a listen to episode 132 of the hockey free for all podcast, regarding the state of the Montreal Canadiens, where they are at, their options, how the current season should be utilized and if your really want to ever see the quality of club that they were return.

Episode 131 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 11-10-2024

Hello Hockey Fan’s out there. Take a listen to episode 131 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast and this weeks topic focuses on one specific issue.
#1. What’s going on with the Montreal Canadiens and is it a player issue or an assistant coach issue.

Episode 130 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 11-03-2024

Hello Hockey Fan's, here is Episode 130 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast topics of discussion, to take a listen to-
#1. After 2 lights out performances to start the 2024/2025 regular season Montembeau has crashed to earth.
#2.  Cayden Primeau has not looked good either, in the 2024/2025 season.
#3. Call up Jakob Dobes, he’s earned it based on the 2nd of the 2023/2024 Laval season, this pre season and the start of the 2024/2025 season in Laval.
#4. The Montreal Canadiens defense just looks completely lost, there’s no other way to put it.
#5. Aber Xhekaj clearly needs to be coached, taught, influenced and worked with by a Scott Stevens, Chris Pronger or Rob Blake to show him how to effectively use his blend of skills and frame, effectively on a nightly basis.
#6. For all of those who to see or think that Arber Xhekaj should be traded, prepare to see Cole Caufield and Lane Hutson absolutely obliterated and their careers prematurely ended by every single opponent the Montreal Canadiens faces.
#7.  Logan Mailloux does not have an NHL defensive game at this point.
#8. Montreal needs more grit/in your face place players. Such as Florian Xhekaj, Luke Tuch and Owen Protz to name just a few.
#9. You are witnessing why the Montreal Canadiens do not have too many draft picks or too much draft capital as some think.
#10. Martin St. Louis and roger Grillo stay, everyone else gone.
#11. Time for Kirby Dach to show what he has on an every night basis or step aside for Michael Hage, Owen Beck or several others.
#12. Alex Newhook needs to step his game and consistency way up.
#13. Line #1 is Nick Suzuki at center, Cole Caufield at right wing and Jaruj Slafkovski at left wing. Line #2 is Michael Hage at center, Ivan Demidov on left wing and Kirby Dach at right wing.
#14. Time to start using Oliver Kapanen effectively and play him for 15 minutes minimal or send him back to Finland.
#15. Time to unload Christian Dvorak, Josh Anderson, Justin Barron, Joel Armia ,Michael Pezzetta and Jake Even.
#16. Ivan Demidov, Michael Hage, Tyler Thorpe, David Reinbacher, Jacob Fowler, Filip Mesar, Owen Beck, Adam Engstrom, Oliver Kapanen, Joshua Roy, Luke Tuch and Jared Davidson are on their way in 2025/2026.
#17. Montreal does not need to acquire Trevor Zegras, stop with this rederick .
#18. The 2024/2025 season is not the season that Montreal shoot for making the playoffs. Let everyone find there place on the roster and trade the others for future draft talent.

Episode 129 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 10-27-2024

Episode 129 of the Hockey Free For All
#1. The impact of injuries to Patrik Laine, Mike Matheson, Kaiden Guhle and Juraj Slafkovsky on the sidelines.
#2.  Logan Mailloux has returned and will need to put up or shut up, so he better be able to back up his reaction to being sent down defensively and offensively.
#3. The plan should be minimal disruptions to the offensive line combinations and opportunity during the injuries, nothing more.
#4. Kriby Dach is a center not a winger
#5. Hopefully Juraj Slafkovsky returns after the St. Louis game and only misses a total of 2 games.
#6. The Montreal Canadiens defense looks lost and confused.
#7. Time for Arber Xhekaj to get his head in the game.
#8. The Montreal Canadiens need their players to play with a consistent edge every game.
#9. for Justin Barron is very inconsistent.
#10. Has Samual Montembeau and Cayden Primeau come crashing back to earth, or is it because the team’s defense has left them hung out to dry?
#11. Why is the young talented defense of the Montreal Canadiens not building their entire game and style centered around their exceptional skating, transition and fluidity, rather than trying to be something they are not, and will not be!
#12. Nick Suzuki leaves it all on the ice, in every game and leads by example, how is anyone still even remotely questioning him?
#13. Cole Caufield has rediscovered his game in the 2024/205 season and has looked fantastic.
#14. Kirby Dach better be looking over his shoulder especially at center prospect Michael Hage.
#15.  What is with the ridiculous and pathetic microscopic minute to minute coverage, questioning and attacks on and about prospect Ivan Demindov?  Again, the KHL is an outstanding league, they turn out exceptional talent on a regular basis. Let him play, let him develop and stop questioning the KHL regarding how he’s being used, the minutes that he is playing and the situations or opportunities he’s being given, realize that KHL knows better and know your place.

Episode 128 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 10-20-2024

Hello Hockey Fan’s out there. Take a listen to Episode 128 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast, topics of discussions include-
#1. I hope for Brady Tkachuk that a report I reviewed was completely inaccurate. Because if it has any accuracy to at all, then Brady Tkachuk has zero professionalism, zero integrity, zero ethics, zero class and has not grown up as yet. 
#2. What's with all the ridiculous North American unprofessional, unfounded and unknown factual coverage and stories regarding Montreal Canadians prospect Ivan Demidov. 
#3. Ivan Demidov is getting far superior training and development in the KHL, than he would anywhere else other than say under Martin St. Louis personal tutelage on the NHL roster. 
#4. The KHL is a fantastic league and has done a fantastic job turning out amazing talent consistently. Show some professionalism, know your place and understand your own limitations. Stop questioning people that are clearly more adept, knowledgeable and that actually excel at what they do, because of the skills they actually have. 
#5. Not surprising at all that Kent Hughes has likely struck gold with prospect Michael Hage.  Everything that Kent Hughes has touched has turned to gold and that he has already established himself one of, if not the top General Manager in the NHL.
#6. Cole Caufield has started the 2024/2025 season very nicely with consistent scoring and is seeing the ice very well and is no longer projecting what he plans on doing to the opposition or opposing goaltenders.
#7. Nick Suzuki is playing a very complete, consistent game and leaving everything on the ice, every night and is the consummate captain.
#8. Juraij Slafkovsky, has not only picked up right where he finished the 2023/2024 season at, but has looked stronger, is using his size and build to his advantage, but also now understands how to exploit the weaknesses of his opponents.
It’s been so much fun him evolve, proving that he was the absolutely the correct choice as the number 1 overall pick in the 2022 daft by the Montreal Canadiens. Juraij Slafkovsky will not only be a star player on the Montreal Canadiens roster, but Juraij Slafkovsky will be a star player of the entire NHL.
#9. Kirby Dach, definitely has not hit the ice at full speed and has a lot of rust to knock off.

Episode 127 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 10-13-2024

Hello Hockey Fans, here is Episode 127 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast to take a listen to and the topics discussed.
#1. The Montreal Canadiens have Sent Right Defenseman Logan Mailloux, Left Defenseman Adam Engstrom, Winger Joshua Roy, Goaltender Jakub Dobes, along with William Trudeau, Lucas Condotta and Brandon Gignac to the Laval Rockets.
#2. Logan Mailloux in particular was not happy about being sent to Laval at all, as he believed that he had done more than enough to solidify a position on the NHL club roster. But his credit, he not only did not sulk or wine he hit the ground in mid-season form with a 4 point opening night game in Laval and made a statement of his own to the organization
#3. Laval Coach Pascal Vincent will have a lot of talent to work with in Laval this season, and should be highly successful.
#4. Not sure why the Montreal Canadiens have signed defenseman Gustav Lindstrom to a one year contract, given all of the defensive prospects and talent that the team already has.
#5. Samual Montembeau starting the 2024/2025 season with lights out performances in Toronto and Ottawa.
#6. Cayden Primeau did not look nearly as good in Boston, and still looks in preseason mode.
#7. Forwards Brendan Gallagher and Josh Anderson look like the have a lot of jump that was missing last season an already look more productive this season.
#8. Lane Hutson looks really, really good. He looks like exactly what Cole Caufield has needed to really excel.
#9. Igor Shestererkin needs a reality check.
#10. The Ottawa Senators have signed Linus Ullmark to a 4 year 33-million-dollar extension with an annual cap hit of 8.25 million hit per season and look like they have finally secured the goaltender that they have been looking for year for.
#11. The new Utah Hockey Club have been lights out and look like they studied every detail of the Las Vegas Golden Knights success plan.

Episode 126 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 10-06-2024

Hello to all the hockey fans out there. Here is Episode 126 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast to take a listen to, this is an off the cuff episode.
#1. What is deal with the NHL Disciplinary department?
 #2. What is Bryan Hayes thinking. Saying Cedrick Pare was defenseless, are you kidding me, say what you. Cederick intentionally injured Patrik Laine.
#3. So, Bryan Hayes is perfectly ok with Patrik Laine being injured and likely will miss the entire season
#4. David Reibacher gone for 5 to 6 months. Even if that’s an accurate return, he should play any NHL games and if he is actually completely recovered, the AHL is where he should spend his time and develop this year
#5. At the earliest Patrik Laine won’t be back until 1/1/2025.
#6. Injuries in the sport of hockey. Their part of the game. It’s also a physical game!
#7. If the Boston Bruins are truly offering Jeremy Swayman and his agent 8 million dollars for 8-years, then Jeremy Swayman and his agent need a serious reality check. Jeremy Swayman is not even remotely worth that amount of money for that many years. He hasn’t remotely done enough to validate that amount of money and years.

Episode 125 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 09-29-2024

Hello to all the hockey fans out there. Here is Episode 125 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast to take a listen to, this is an off the cuff episode.
#1. If only you were actually that gifted.
#2. They are prospects and they are at the beginning of everything.
#3. Prospect Owen Beck
#4. Prospect Filip Maser
#5. Injuries in the sport of hockey. Their part of the game. It’s also a physical game!

Episode 124 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 09-21-2024

Welcome to Episode 124 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast Topics and Discussions include-
#1. Why would Montreal have any interest in any way in trading Defenseman Mike Matheson to the Seattle Kraken for Center Shayne Wright in a one for one deal that Seattle would clearly win hands down in every possible way. Montreal Passed on Shayne Wright in his draft, Montreal doesn’t need Shayne Wright, Montreal has no room for Shayne Wright, and Montreal can and will get far more than Shayne Wright if they traded Mike Matheson.
#2. Montreal does not need to acquire or sign Nikolaj Ehlers as a free agent when his current contract expires. Stop taking roster spots from Montreal’s tremendously talented young prospects.
#3. Stop questioning Jeff Gorton, Kent Hughes and Martin St. Louis. Everything they have touched has turned to gold.
#4. Montreal does not need to resign or keep Joel Armia when his current expires, or even if he’s willing to take less money in his next contract.
#5. Tyler Thorp is the next diamond in the rough of later round Montreal draft picks.
#6. Please stop with the over-reaction and unprofessional drama regarding Ivan Demidov.
#7. Carey Price and Cole Caufield are even remotely in the same class as Guy Lafleur, what are people thinking or desperate for?
#8. It was not surprising at all that there were 13 plus scouts in the stands of the Montreal Vs. Toronto preseason games with all of the exceptional talent Montreal has assembled, collected and has put together. Of course everyone is drooling.
#9. It’s becoming extremely obvious who the 6 starting defensemen will be for a very long time David Reinbacher, Lane Hutson, Logan Mailloux, Kaiden Guhle, Arber Xhekaj and Adam Engstrom. Bogdan Konyushkov might be the only wild card. They are not going anywhere in trades.
#10. Justin Barron on the other hand, has not developed at the same pace, has not gell as the previous 6 have, and might just find himself in say Edmonton, Vancouver or Dallas potentially for a 1st round pick coming back the other way to Montreal.
#11. No, Josh Anderson is not a fit on a line with Kiby Dach and Patrik Laine. That spot belongs to Alex Newhook.
#12. 2024/2025 Center depth and options for the Montreal Canadiens, Nick Suzuki, Kirby Dach, Owen Beck, Sean Farrel (can play all 3 forward positions), Jered Davidson, Alex Newhook (if needed, but a better right wing, Christian Devorak, Jake Evans, Oliver Kapanen and Lucas Condatta. How many more centers does Montreal need, come on!

Episode 123 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 09-15-2024

Hello Hockey Fans out there, here is Episode 123 of the Hockey Free For All to take a listen to to get your hockey fix during the offseason, the topics discussed in this episode include-
#1. No More 4 on 4 hockey.
#2. No Sudden Death Overtime in the regular season.
#3, No more shoot outs.
#4. Absolutely no, on tailgating.
#5. Definitely no need 3 on 3 for 10 minutes.
#6. Kicked in goals should never be counted or allowed
#7. This is a team game, it’s not a weekend skills competition or  all-star game weekend event.
#8. This Hockey, not soccer. If you want to see kicked in goals, then watch soccer.
#9. Roger Grillo has been hired by the Montreal Canadiens as a consultant coach and will join Martin St-Louis' coaching staff.
#10. The Montreal Canadiens promote Albie O'Connell to head scout for North America.
#11. The Montreal Canadiens promote Tommy Lehman to head scout for Europe.
#12. The Monteal Canadiens have hired Matt Ryan as a professional scout.
#13. The Montreal Candiens have promoted Dale Lablans to Chief Performance Officer.
#14. The Montreal Canadiens  have promoted Stéphane Gervais from Fitness Coach in Laval to Fitness Coach in Montreal.
#15. The Montreal Canadiens have hired Mitch Freeburn to replace Stéphane Gervais in Laval as the Rocket's Fitness Coach.
#16. Corey Pronman of the Athletic rates the Chicago Blackhawk, The Ottawa Senators and the Anaheim Ducks as 1, 2, 3 regarding the rebuilding teams with the NHL, which is insane.
#17. Corey Pronman of the Athletic rates the Montreal Canadiens 9th on the list of rebuilding NHL clubs, which makes absolutely no sense at all, in any way.
#18. Kaiden Guhle, David Reinbacher, Logan Mailloux at a minimum are all James Norris Trophy Potential Winners. Look at the list of James Norris trophy winners since 1981, and find a way to argue this.