Episode 136 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 12-15-2024

Hello hockey fans out there. Take a listen to episode 136 of the hockey free for all podcast topics include.

#1. Montembeau has returned to form at the same time Patrik Laine joined the Canadiens.

#2. Patrik Laine’s return has had a tremendous impact throughout the entire roster, not just the offense, which is head scratcher.

#3. Lane Hutson should be rookie of the year.

#4. Igor Shesterkins new contract will haunt the New York Rangers.

#5. Jake Evans trade value will never be higher, trade him and maximize the return.

#6. Patrik Laine, Joel Armia and Samual Montembeau were very interesting selections to the 4 nation tournament.

#7. Wow, what a complete disaster of a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins that ended in a 9 to 2 wipe out.

#10. Stop with the calling for Martin St. Louis to be replaced.

#11. The problem behind the bench lies with Trevor Letowski, Stephane Robidas and Eric Raymond.

#12. Who are you going to replace him with, Pascal Vincent, because he was amazingly successful with the Columbus Blue Jackets last season?

#13. The goaltenders are making the same mistakes and playing with the same inconsistencies nearly every night. That is Eric Raymonds job.

#14. The pairing combinations are often questionable, there’s constant breakdowns in their own end, along with missed assignments, in combination with players just running around seemingly lost like chickens with their heads cut off. That is all Stephane Robidas’s job to address, resolve and prevent.

#15.  Kaiden Guhle, Arber Xhekaj, Logan Mailloux, David Reinbacher all need a Scott Steven type, Larry Robinson, Rob Blake, Chris Pronger type defensive coach.

#16. Offensively, other than Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield all season long and Juraj Slafkovsky in the beginning of the season, the offense has been inconsistent. Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook look lost. There has yet to be a role found for Emil Heineman and zero chemistry other than Suzuki and Caufield, this is Trevor LeTowski’s job.

#17. On a positive note, with a very small sample size, it looks like the acquisition of Patrik Laine looks great, but it’s a very small sample size. So far, so good.

#18. Jake Evans is having has best and most consistent year of his career.

#19. Josh Andersson has found a 2-way game that maximizes his effectiveness and skills, wonderful.

#20. Christian Dvorak remains an enigma at best. 

#21. Brendan Gallagher is having a far better season than he has had in several years, outstanding.

 #22. Time for Christian Dvorak, Michael Pezzetta, Mike Matheson, Justin Barron, David Savard, Joel Armia , Jayden Struble, Alex Newhook, Kirby Dach, Jake Evans, Josh Andersson, Cayden Primeau and Samual Montembeau to move on.

#23. Welcome in Ivan Demidov, Michael Hage, Owen Beck, David Reinbacher, Jacob Fowler, Logan Mailloux and Adam Engstrom in the 2025/2026 season.