Hockey Free For All

Episode 116 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 07-26-2024

Hello Hockey Fan’s, get your fix of hockey in the off season and take a listen to Episode 116 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast, topics include-
#1. The Columbus Blue Jacket have filled the last head coaching vacancy in the NHL, as they have announced the hiring of Dean Evason as their next new head coach.
#2. Pittsburgh Penguins Penguin President and General Manager Kyle Dubas and Tampa Bay Lightning General Manager Julien Brisebois have been added to team Canada’s management team for the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off Tournament.
They will work alongside Ryan Getzlaf, Scott Salmond, Team General Manager Don Sweeney and associate General Manger Jim Nill. Kyle Dubas will serve as the team’s Director of Player Personnel, while Julian Brisebois has been added as an additional assistant General Manager, forming a very extensive management team
#3. Both Kyle Dubas and Julian Brisebois have also been named to team Canada’s men’s Olympic team management group in those same roles, joining General Manager Doug Armstrong, Don Sweeney, Jim Nill, rounding out that extensive management group.
#4. Edmonton Oilers President Jeff Jackson announces the hiring of Stan Bowman as their new Vice President of Hockey Operations and General manager, after mutually parting ways with Previous Vice President of Hockey Operations and General manager Kenny Holland.
 #5. It looks like Evgeny Kuznetsov is heading to the KHL after being bought out by the Carolina Hurricanes.
#6. The Buffalo Sabres have signed restrictive free agent forward Beck Malenstyn to a 2-year 2.7-million-dollar contract.
#7. The Vancouver Canucks have signed forward Daniel Sprong to a new 1-year contract.
#8. The Detroit red Wings have brought back restrictive free agent center Joe Veleno with a new 2-year contract
#9. The New Jersey Devils have brought back defenseman Santer Hatakka on a 1-year two-way contract worth $775.00 dollars.
#10. The Tampa Bay Lightning will look very different in the 2024/2025 season.
#11. Mitch Marner holds all the cards and will be the most topic in players news from the 2023/2024 offseason right up to the trade deadline of the 2024/2025.
#12. Brad Treliving could be facing a combination of getting nothing at all, when Johnny Gaudreau walked away and signed as a free agent with the Columbus Blue Jackets, and the controlled trade with the Florida Panthers regarding Mattew Tkachuk. Mitch Marner could force a trade exactly like that.
#13. Everything is changing for the Calgary Flames from the roster rebuild, to the new arena that they will be playing in.
#14. Rapheal Harvey-Pinards time might be closing in Montreal.

Episode 115 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast July 21st 2024

Hello Hockey Fans! Here is Episode 115 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast to take a listen too, topics include-
#1. The Ottawa senators have acquired forwards Xavier Bourgault and Chiasson from the Edmonton Oilers. In return the Edmonton Oilers obtain forward Roby Jarventie and a 4th round pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.
#2. The Ottawa Senators signs goaltender prospect Mads Sogaard to a 2-year contract extension.
#3. Apparently, there is a lot of hard feelings between Steven Stamkos and the Tampa Bay Lightning. In very conversations and letters that Steven Stamkos has held or written, he indicated that he did everything possible to remain and reup in Tampa Bay. It’s pretty clear, Both stood firm, and neither gave in.
#4. Nashville has clear won the offseason.
#5. Nashville General Manager Barry Trotz clearly wants to put his own stamp on the team, his own identity on the team.
#6 The Nashville Predators have clearly retooled on the fly and ready to be a contending team in the coming 2024/2025 season.
#7. The new Utah Hockey Club has quickly announced its arrival and has made many significant trades, acquisitions and solid draft picks. The ownerships is clearly has very proactive and has a very clear plan.
#8. San Jose Sharks and General Manager Mike Grier is clearly executing his plan very effectively Will Smith and Macklin Celebrini will make an exceptional center 1-2 punch for the next 10 to 15 years. Left defensive prospect Sam Dickinson will likely be the cornerstone of the future defense.
#9. The Columbus Blue Jackets are still looking for a new head coach and new staff.
#10. Montreal hires Pascal Vincent as the new head coach of the Laval rockets.
#11, Martin Necas, Trevor Zegras and Rutger McGroarty are not even remotely worth the asking prices, that their current clubs are asking for, and expecting in return them.
#12. Martin Necas and Trevor Zegras have been inconsistent at best since entering the NHL.
#13.Rutger McGroarty hasn’t even played a single game in the NHL as yet, and is acting as if he is Mario Lemieux or Wayne Gretzky.
#14. Montreal does need a veteran member added to their coaching staff. I hope Alexie Kovalev replaces Alex Burrows and runs the powerplay.

Episode 114 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 07-13-2024

Hello Hockey fans, take a listen to Episode 114 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast, topics discussed include.
#1. Chris Patrick named senior vice president and general manager of the Washington Capitals, replacing Brian MacLellan, who will remain as president of hockey operations
#2. Hey Montreal, remember the got to have defensive prospect Adam Boqvist that a significant amount of people wanted Montreal to trade anyone and everyone for? He just signed as a free agent with the Florida Panthers. He couldn’t even make it in Columbus.
#3. Max Pacioretty is not a mentor, is not a perfect fit for and he is not a Sean Monahan like replacement for Montreal Canadiens.
#4. Leon Draisaitl is not a fit with the Montreal Canadiens for many reasons.
#5. One has to wonder if the trade acquisition of Matthew Savoie is both a leverage and potential replacement move in the Leon Draisaitl contract negotiations as to say there are
#6. STOP! MONTREAL DOES NOT NEED A VETEREN COACH!
#7. Montreal won the Artturi Lehkonen trade, take a listen as to why and how.
#8. The Toronto Maple Leaf’s should not offer John Tavares a contract extension, they should let him walk.
#9. Mitch Marner could be the sought after center piece of the 2024/2025 trade deadline.
#10. The Utah Hockey Club signs their first-round pick, 6th overall pick in the 2024 NHL entry Draft Tij Iginla to a 3-year entry level contract.
#11. The David Savard chatter is heating up again.
#12. Jonathan Toews to Montreal, you have got to be kidding, for what possible reason?
#13. No thanks on Rutger McGroarty, one can’t help but about how it worked out for the L.A. Kings with Pierrer Luc Dubois. Montreal doesn’t need that, let that be some else’s mess to deal with.

Episode 113 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast-the Fee Agency Addition 07-04-2024

Hello hockey fans out there, get the latest hockey news and take a listen to Episode 113 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast, the Free Agency signing Episode. Topics of discussion include-
#1. What a classless display of unprofessionalism, integrity and poor league image by the Florida Panthers.
#2. Anyone else notice none of the other clubs congratulated or acknowledged them as Stanley Cup champions?
#3. For only the 6th time in league history a member opposition was awarded the Conn Smyth Trophy, that say’s a lot as to how unimpressive Florida’s win is!
#4. Just an absolutely insane free agency signing period, which resulted in an a massive amount of players changing addresses and over a billion dollars in contracts being handed out over the course of 3 days.
#5. The Seattle Kraken added Jessica Campbell and Bob Woods to their coaching staff.
#6. Thankfully, Vladimer Tarasenko has signed with the Detroit Red Wings, as he was yet another of the countless gotta have, must sign for Montreal, which continue to make absolutely NO since to sign.
#7. Montreal Canadiens assistant coach Alex Burrows has stepped down and along with Lauri Korpikoski has been added to the organization’s player development staff.

Episode 112 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast the 2024 Draft Episode 06-30-2024

Hello Hockey fan's. Here is Episode 112 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast, the 2024 draft episode 06-30-2024, topics include-
Let’s start off with pre-draft transactions.
#1. An amazing amount of pre-draft transactions, signings and players movement to talk about.
#2. No surprise as the San Jose Sharks selected center Macklin Celebrini with the first pick of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.
#3. As expected, the Chicago Blackhawks selected Michigan NCAA Defenseman Artyom Levshunov with the 2nd pick of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.
#4, The Chicago Blackhawks were extremely active in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, as they  were in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, stepping up multiple times in the first round to make selections.
 #5. The Anaheim Ducks then selected RW Beckett Sennecke with the number 3 pick in the first round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, which altered the draft for both the Columbus Blue Jackets who held the 4th overall selection and the Montreal Canadiens
#6. The Columbus Blue Jacket take Center Cayden Lindstrom at number 4
#7. The Montreal Canadiens Russian RW Ivan Demidov. At number 5.
#8. The Utah Hockey club is for real. They take center Tij Iginla at number 6.
#9. Many believe that Ottawa rolled the dice selecting defenseman Carter Yakemchuk, with
#10. For the 3rd draft in a row the Seattle Kraken select a center and take Berkly Catton, with
#11. At number 9, the Calgary Flames selected defensive prospect Zayne Parekh.
#12. With the 10th pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft the New Jersey Devils added the hulking  Russian defensive prospect Anton Silayev.
#13. The remainder of the 1st round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft signaled very specific team need selections to address specific franchise weaknesses or areas of concern.
#14. That’s 3 solid drafts now under Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes, with extraordinary scouting led by Director Martin Lapointe and Co-Director Nick Bobrov has provided the organization with outstanding talent additions.

Episode 111 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 06-29-2024

Take a listen to Episode 111 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast topics include-
#1. What a complete waste of Edmonton’s amazing effort.
#2. Any team that’s up 3 to nothing against their opponent and allows them to come back and tie the series up 3 to 3, is not champion worthy in their sport.
#3. Connor McDavid was the right choice for the Conn Smyth, he deserved it. Can’t even imagine how disappointed Connor McDavid was with the result of game 7.
#4. It was the right decision by McDavid to not come out and accept the Conn Smyth Trophy.
#5. What’s with the continued categorization obsession by people, of people. Why is it even relevant that Aleksander Barkov is the first Stanley Cup winning team captain from Finland? For what reason is that relevant? Why isn’t just being recognized as an outstanding player, outstanding leader or outstanding skilled talent.
#6. In coaching news as expected former Calgary Flames assistant coach Marc Savard has as expected been hired and added by the Toronto Maple Leaf’s.
#7. Former Montreal Canadians and Boston Bruins Coach Claude Julien has been added to the St. Louis Blues coaching staff.
#8. Massive amounts of player transactions, from the moment the Stanley Cup finals ended, and San Jose, Washington and the new Utah franchise are leading the way.
#9. Matvie Michkov has been released from his KHL contract for hardship reason’s and is will be playing  for the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2024/2025 NHL season.
#10. Former Toronto Maple Leaf Forward Sergi Berezin has passed away at 52.
#11. The Hockey Hall of Fame has announced that Pavel Datsyuk, Jeremy Roenick, Shea Weber, Colin Campbell, David Poile, Natalie Darwitz and Krissy Wendell-Pohl will be inducted in the hockey hall fame.
#12. It was announced by Hockey Canada that Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper will lead Canada at the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off and the 2026 Winter Olympics.
#13. In player retirement news, 36-year-old forward Derick Brassard has announced his retirement.
#14. In management retirement news, after a career spanning 6 decades in the NHL Glen Sather has announced he’s retiring.
#15. It looks like the Arizona Franchise in truly no more as the most resent attempt to purchase land for a new arena has fallen through, and owner Alex Meruelo has announced he is walking away from the franchise.

Episode 110 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 06-23-2024

Episode 110 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast Topic discussions.
#1. What a turn-a-round by the Edmonton Oilers
#2. Connor McDavid is truly a difference maker, if there was any doubt.
#3. The never-ending rumor mill.
#4. If Sidney Crosby was to go anywhere, it would only be to an on the edge true contender.
#5. What a reality check for Pierre Luc Dubois.
#6. The Ottawa Senators and the New Jersey Devils have made it known that the 7th and 10th picks overall picks in the 2024 NHL entry draft are available.
#7. The New Jersey Devils acquire goalie Jacob Markstrom of the Calgary Flames for a very high cost.
#8. The New Jersey Devils must truly believe their window of opportunity is now.
#9. The Calgary Flames have now amassed 6 first round draft pick in the next 3 entry drafts.
#10. Great news for the Montreal Canadiens, Pierre Luc Dubois has been traded to the Washington Capitals by the L.A. Kings straight up for goaltender Darcy Kuemper. May he resurrect his career by playing on a line with Alex Ovechkin and an equally talented left winger.
#11. The San Jose Sharks have named Ryan Warsofsky as their next head coach.
#12. What an odd week for the Montreal Canadiens on a positive note, they signed defensive prospect Adam Engstrom to a 3-year entry level contract. That was followed by the mutual departures of Director of Science and Performance Adam Douglas, and Laval Rocket Head Coach J.F. who after just signing a contract extension to remain as the head coach of the Laval Rocket, announce he was leaving, as he has excepted the head coaching position at Clarkson University of the NCAA, his alma mater.
#13. Guy Boucher would not be the right fit for Laval, and Pascal Vincent would be a better fit on the Canadiens staff, than he would be for the Laval head coaching position.
#14. The time is perfect for either Trevor LeTowski or Alex Burrow’s to take the Laval Head Coaching job?
#15. Utah names Chris Armstrong as it’s president of hockey operations.
#16. Utah signs prospects Noel Nordh and Julian Lutz.
#17. The Carolina Hurricanes name Eric Tulsky  as the team’s new general manager
#18. Early coaching candidates in Columbus include Todd McLellen and Jay Woodcroft.
#17. The San Jose Sharks have appropriately slammed the door shut on the circulating Logan Couture trade rumors, calling them absolutely false.
#18 The Anaheim Duck have added Rich Clune to their coaching staff.
#19. The New York Rangers surprisingly place forward Barclay Goodrow on waivers.
#20. The San Jose Sharks quickly claimed forward Barclay Goodrow off of waivers from the N.Y. Rangers.
#21. NHL player and prospect signings galore.
#22. Colorado Avalanche player Andrew Cogliano announces his retirement, and takes front office position as an amateur scout.

Episode 109 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 06-16-2024

Hello hockey fans, here’s Episode 109 of the of the Hockey Free For All Podcast to take a listen to, this episodes discussions  include-
#1. The Florida Panthers are clearly outplaying the Edmonton Oilers.
#2. Nearly 60% of the Canada has no interest in the Stanley Cup finals which is indeed surprising to say the least.
#3. Conner McDavid is finally in the Stanley Cup finals, and few seem to care?
 #4. The last 2 seasons have heavily influenced the Florida Panthers playing style in the 2023/2024 playoffs and finals.
#5. Florida Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice is a very different and focused coach this year.
#6. Stop! Montreal doesn’t need Trevor Zegras or Martin Necas or the countless other names mentioned.
#7. Pay reel close to the way Edmonton play’s and their weakness’s before being so ready to trade away Arber Xhakaj, Kaiden Guhle’s, David Reinbacher’s, Logan Mailloux’s or any other of what some call the defensive glut of prospect talent the Montreal Canadiens have in there system.

Episode 108 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 06-09-2024

Hello hockey fans, here’s Episode 108 of the hockey free for all podcast to take a listen to. Topics of discussion include-
#1. The offensive powerhouse Stanley Cup final that has been wanted by many for years has arrived, as the Florida Panther face off against the Edmonton Oilers.
#2. The Montreal Canadiens have signed 2022 5th round draft pick Center Jared Davidson to a new 2-year contract, as well as OHL/Swiss free agent goaltender Connor Hughes to a 1-year 2-way contract after posting exceptional numbers in both the regular and post seasons this year.
#3. The Montreal Canadiens have declined signing 2022 4th round draft pick left winger Cedrick Guindon, 2022 7th round draft pick defenseman Petteri Nurmi and 2022 7th round draft pick defenseman Miguel Tourigny.
#4. Montreal Canadien defensive prospects Dmitri Kostenko and Daniil Sobolev from the 2021NHL entry draft have chosen to sign contracts in the KHL, rather than remain with the NHL club.
#5. Not all prospects pan out. The prospects with the best shot from the 2019 through the 2023 draft to make the club and play a significant or key role are- Cole Caufield, Kaiden Guhle, Logan Mailloux, Joshua Roy, William Trudeau, Juraj Slafkovsky, Filip Mesar, Owen Beck, Lane Hutson, David Reinbacher, Jacob Fowler, Florian Xhekaj, Adam Engstrom, Bogdan Konyushkov and Yevgeni Volokhin.
#6. Prospects that could make a compelling case for roster spots could be Jared Davidson, Luke Touch, Sean Farrell and Jakub Dobes.
#7. Prospects unlikely to make it, walk away when their junior or NCAA careers have concluded or be part of a trade are- Gianni Fairbrother, Jacob Leguerrier, Fredick Dichow, Arsen Khisamutdinov and Kieran Ruscheinski, Jayden Struble, Mattias Norlinder, Rafael Harvey or Rhett Pitlick, Jan Mysak, Alexander Gorin, Jack Smith, Blake Biondi, Demitri Kostenko, Daniil Sobolev, Riley Kidney, Oliver Kapanen, Xavier Simoneau, Joe Vrbetic, Vinzent Rohrer, Cederick Guindon, Emmett Croteau, Petteri Nurmi, Miguel Tourigny, Quentin Miller, Filip Eriksson and Luke Mittelstradt. 7 prospects in this list are already no longer property of or with the Montreal Canadiens organization already, as of now.
#8. The San Jose Sharks have qualified prospects David Klee and Brandon Svoboda, while choosing not to sign goalie prospect Mason Beaupit.
#9. Mike Yeo has been hired as an assistant coach, as has Nolan Baumgartner to fill out the Ottawa Senators coaching staff for the 2024/2025 season.
#10. Montreal does not need to acquire RW Martin Necas.

Episode 107 of the Hockey Free For Podcast 06-02-2024

Hello hockey fans out there, take a listen to Episode 107 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast. Topics of discussion this week are-
#1. Nope Montreal the Montreal Canadiens do not need David Parron either.
#2. Is anyone surprised at all the Don Waddell who resigned as President and General Manager of the Carolina Hurricanes has been named as the new President and General Manager of the Columbus Blue Jackets?
#3. No, Montreal does not need Patrik Laine from the Columbus Blue Jackets either. Why would Montreal go out and obtain an injury riddled, unhealthy, underscoring, overpaid 26-year-old forward who does not like the limelight or being even remotely near pressure situations. This adds another bloated dead excessive contract and nothing else.
#4. The Seattle Krakens have hired Dan Bylsma as their new head coach.
#5. Lots of assistant coaching options out there including Mike Yeo formerly with Vancouver is available and Marc Savard formerly with the Calgary Flames to fill out new coaching staffs with.
#6. Laval Rockets head coach J.F. Houle and all of his assistants, except Kelly Buchberger have signed new multiyear contracts by the Montreal Canadiens. Kelly Buchberger has chosen to move on.
#7. NHL Players news, the Carolina Hurricanes have resigned forward Ryan Suzuki to a new 1-year 2-way contract. The San Jose Sharks have signed highly touted draft pick signings center Will Smith out of Boston College, who was the 4th overall pick in the 2023 NHL entry to an NHL entry level contract, and it’s been reported that Tanner Pearson will not be returning to Montreal in 2024/2025 as his contract has expired and is now free to sign elsewhere.
#8. Surprise, the Florida panthers have knocked out the New York rangers, winning their series 4 games to 2, lessons learned from past post season’s.
#9. Could there be a Florida Panthers Vs. Edmonton Oiler Stanley Cup Final in 2023/2024. What a high flying lethal offensive cup final that would be.
#10. Edmonton’s biggest concern would have to be inconsistent goaltending that they had in the first 2 rounds, that they could not afford to have against Florida.