Hockey Free For All

Episode 97 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 04-04-2024

Hello Hockey Fan’s, take a listen to Episode 97 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast to get your hockey fix, topics include-
#1. In what world does trading Cole Caufield and Montreal’s own 2024 1st round pick to the to the San Jose Sharks for the 1st overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, so that Montreal could then select Boston University center Macklin Celebrini make any kind of sense?
#2. The negative ripple effect throughout the entire Montreal organization would be disastrous on every level. I would expect that Nick Suzuki would immediately demand a trade, and prospect development and opportunity would be destroyed.
#3. Montreal is solid 1-4 at center with Nick Suzuki, Kirby Dach, Owen Beck and Jared Davidson!
#4. Montreal has assembled everything it needs and does not need anyone else from any other club. What hasn’t been seen yet, is all of the talent Montreal has assembled on the ice at the same time. Starting in goal with Samual Montembeau and Cayden Primeau right now in Montreal, Jakub Dobes in Laval, Jacob Fowler at Boston College, Yevgeni Volokhin in the Russian league and Quentin Miller in the QMJHL.
Defense prospects, the top 7: Logan Mailloux, Kaiden Guhle, David Reinbacher, Lane Hutson, Arber Xhekaj and Jordan Harris or Jayden Struble. Followed by Adam Engstrom, Bogdan Konyushkov, William Trudeau, Juston Barron, David Savard, Mike Matheson, Mattias Norlinder, Dmitri Kostenko or Daniil Sobolev, Petteri Nurmi and Miguel Tourigny.
Looking at the offense, the top 6: Nick Suzuki , Cole Caufield, Jaraj Slafkovsky, Kirby Dach, Alex Newhook and Joshua Roy, then add Filip Mesar, Owen Beck and Sean Farrell to fill out the top 9, wrapped up with centers Lias Andersson, Lucas Condotta, Jared Davidson, Xavier Simoneau or Riley Kidney, Left Wingers Florian Xheakaj, Michael Pazzetta, Emil Heineman, Jordan Harris, that’s right I said Jordan Harris or Riley Kidney can also play left wing, Vinzenz Rohrer, Rhett Pitlick, Cedrick Guindon, and for right wing options Josh Anderson, Brendan Gallagher, Joel Armia, Jacob Perreault, Arnaud Durandeau, Blake Biondi who can also play center, Alexander Gordin or Jesse Ylonen. That’s an immense amount of options for a 4th line with 3 positions to fill.
#5. 2024 draft targets for Montreal include, Russian Winger Ivan Demidov, United States Hockey League winger Cole Eiserman, Medicine Hat center Cayden Lindstrom and Spokane Center Barkly Catton.
#6. Cayden Primeau has nothing to prove to anyone else, he’s proven what he needs to, to the people that matter.
#7. Jordan Harris has played beyond expectation since making the jump directly from Northeastern University to the NHL and nothing to prove to anyone.
#8. Josh Anderson is what he is.
#9. It’s great to see that Ryan Poehling has found a home in Philadelphia. I wish him absolutely the best, and a very long career.
#10. Nick Suzuki set’s new goal and points totals.
#11. Juraj Slafkovsky sets new point total record by a teenager in Montreal Canadiens history.
#12. Why does Montreal have to immediately sign prospects Oliver Kapanen, Adam Engstrom, Luke Touch, Jared Davidson and Lane Hutson, are they in imminent danger of losing these players rights?
#13. Why is the selling Carrey Prices home in Montreal such a big deal with so much drama attached to it?

Episode 96 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 03-31-2024

Hey, Hockey Fans, take a listen to Episode 96 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast, Topics Include-
#1. Sounds like the media is trying to get Philadelphia Flyers Head Coach John Tortorella kicked upstairs to management position, not anyone in the Flyers organization or John Tortorella himself wanting it.
#2. The Media and its relationship with John Tortorella has a screaming resemblance of those who have problems or issues with Bill Belichick in the NFL.
#3. Martin St. Louis did not, and does not owe any anyone, any kind of explanation about his emergency leave.
#4 It turns out that that are actual living human beings that have nothing better to do with their lives or within their lives than to continue to harbor bad will towards Johnathan Drouin. Really, do these people just outright refuse to grow up or what. He’s gone people. The management that acquired him is gone, get over it and, move on.
#5. Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes continue to do what’s right for the organization and ignore all of the external stupidity thankfully.
#6 If you like variety and the complete unknown, the 2024 draft could truly be very interesting for the Montreal Canadiens. They could stand pat and do nothing else. They could package to move up. They could trade out of the first round all together because they believe their prospect targets are gone.
#7. Top 2024 draft prospect interest should be in Russian Winger Ivan Demidov, Spokane WHL Center Barkly Catton, Medicine Hat WHL Center Cayden Lindstrom or Boston University H-East Winger, Cole Eiserman. It all depends on their finish and the draft lottery.
#8. If one is obsessed with moving prospects, try this list. Jesse Ylonen, Jacob Olofsson, Mattias Norlinder, Rhett Pitlick, Rafeal Harvey-Pinard, Luke Touch, Jack Smith, Blake Biondi, Alexander Gordin, Oliver Kapanen, Dmitri Kostenko, Daniil Sobolev, Joe  Vrbetic, Adam Engstrom, Vinzenz Rohrer, Cedrick Guindon, Emmett Croeau, Petteri Nurmi, Miguel Torigny, Sam Harris, Filip Eriksson, Luke Mittelstadt. Would be top level talent for other teams and would fill needs.
#9. Free Agent NCAA options to look at include, Winger Josh Nadeau who plays at the University of Maine. T.J. Hughes, who has not looked out of place at all on a stacked Michigan roster. Jaxon Nelson out of the University of Minnesota with NHL ready size and weight of 6’ 04 and 225 lbs. Jacob Quillan from Quinnipiac or Collin Graf a teammate of Jacob Quillan at Quinnipiac and is the only player to gather more point this season than Jacob Quillan did this season?
#10.  One has to really wonder if Head Coach Sheldon Keef either already has or is about to lose the locker room. Calling out players publicly too many time fractures locker rooms badly. Joel Quinnville .

Episode 95 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 03-28-2024

Hello hockey fans out there, here is Episode 95 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast to take a listen to, topics include-
#1. Why is there such a concern with Kaidan Guhle playing on the right side of the Montreal Canadiens defense?
#2. What’s with the ridiculous notion that many have apparently already have written off top end prospect, right-handed defenseman David Reinbacher and that he is somehow a bust.
#3. David Reinbacher and Lane Hutson do not need to play in Montreal this season. No one owed anything. They need to develop at the pace that best serves them, their careers and the organization. They will play when they are ready to.
#4. Has anyone noticed on a team dominated with multiple high negative plus minuses, that defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic has very quietly put together a very stable and effective season and has a +9, and that Arber Xhekaj is a +5, which are by far and away the best +/- rating on the roster?
#5. Nick Suzuki is having a fantastic season. Suzuki faces the oppositions best night in and night out every single game and is just about having a point per game season.
#6. Why are so many afraid to admit how wrong they blatantly were about the success that 2022 1st overall selection left winger Juraj Slafkovsky is having this season. He’ only played in 39 NHL games in his rookie NHL season and before that had 7 not 70, 7 internation games and 1 international tournament under his belt, had to adjust to an entirely new part of the world, at 18-years of age. How many 18-years-olds do you know that have been faced with or done that? Let him take a breath and get his feet under him, wow.
#7. What is even remotely polarizing about Jaraj Slafkovsky, it’s called growth, he’s growing, he’s growing into his frame and abilities, his game is growing, his skill set is emerging, hello! Everything has evolved as expected based on his age.
#8. By the way, where are all those self-anointed experts who wanted to crucify Montreal for not drafting Shayne Write, I’m hearing crickets, how’s that turned out? Let the real experts like Jeff Gorton, Kent Hughes and the entire scouting department do their jobs, and make selections as they actually know not only what they’re doing, what and who they are evaluating, but excel at what they do. That’s why nothing beats actual experience, ability, and skills.
#9. Fantastic news, head coach Martin St. Louis has returned to the team, and will no doubt have a significant effect on the game in Colorado.

Episode 94 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 03-24-2024

Hello to all hockey fans out there. Take a listen to Episode 94 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast to get your hockey fix, topics include-
#1. Wishing the best to Head Coach Martin St. Louis for a family.
#2. The unexpected departure of Head Coach Martin St. Louis due to family a family emergency, may just about guarantee a bottle 5 finish in league standing, greatly enhancing their selection position in the 2024 NHL entry draft.
#3. Stop with the Conner Bedard the great remarks.
#4 Stop comparing Conner Bedard to Mario Lemieux, Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe or even Conner McDavid. Let him evolve his own game and status.
#5. It’s extremely early to refer to Austin Mathews as the greatest goal scoring in NHL history.  Austin Mathews is not even remotely close in any way to what Wayne Gretzky, Alex Ovechkin, Gordie Howe, Jaromir Jagr or Brett Hull have achieved. Austin Mattews is not even anywhere near to Mike Gardner’s 708 career goals, who sits in the 8th overall spot of all time goal scorers, so this Rederick can stop.
#6 So, now that the 2023/2024 trade deadline has passed and Montreal has traded Jake Allen to the New Jersey Devils, it seems like there are people who have nothing better to than critique Cayden Primeau’s game.
#7. Samual Montembeau’s rise to being referred to as the undisputed number one goalie of the Montreal Canadiens, is still a long way from reality. Find out why.
#8. Why are there so many people that are either dying to, or that are immediately ready to anoint before actual abilities, skill sets, consistency and greatness have been truly shown, and consistently achieved. That’s why there are so few of the very best and its what sets them apart.
#9. The horrendous officiating continues, did anyone see the blatant elbow from Vancouver Canucks player Teddy Blugger, directly to the face of Montreal Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle? Truly a garbage player and garbage officiating right down to a granular level
#10. Where was the type of concern and response that Joshua Roy’s hand injury has received each and every time Brendan Gallaghers hands have been smashed and that now look like a deformed pretzel?
#11. Why do so many want to rush and ruin the careers of David Reinbacher and Lane Hutson?

Episode 93 of the Hockey Free For All 03-17-2024

Hello Hockey Fan’s, If you love hockey, take a listen to Episode 93 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast Content Includes-
#1. The NHL has clearly overstepped its authority by suspending Philadelphia Flyers head coach John Tortorella for 2 games and fining him 50,000 dollars. John Tortorella Calls it as he sees it.
#2. The officials in all sports have been horrendously bad for decades and are not beyond questioning in any way. Any league and the executives that believes officials are beyond question, have got it really wrong and backwards.
#3. How has officiating been able to remain so bad after video replay was not only made available, but was instituted within the game, that should have eliminated poor officiating, any and all missed calls within the game, shouldn’t it?
#4. The league officials and its executives deserve every bit of criticism they have received.
#5. I absolutely applaud 100%, the response of the Philadelphia Flyer’s CEO Dan Hilferty to Al Morganti of NBC Sports that he would pay the entire amount of what ever fine the NHL imposed on head Coach John Tortorella.
#6. Those that are predicting that the Philadelphia Flyers will crash and burn before the 2023/2024 season wraps up, should know that they have just provided the most fantastic bulletin board fuel to the Flyers to not only continue there outstanding season, but go deep into the playoff, and if there anyone who feeds off of those kinds of remarks and statement, its John Tortorella, and I truly hope Tortorella make all of these predictors choke on their comments.
In case you’re not on board with the stupidity of the league, try to explain this rationally.  Montreal Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher was hit with a longer suspension than New York Rangers forward Matt Rempe, and I have no problem with Rempe, that made since to someone?
#7. I am taking great enjoyment watching all the Kent Hughes questioners choke on their words.
#8. Montreal had a great 2023/2024 trade season.
#9. The 3-goaltender system worked great in Montreal. It allowed everyone time and growth, the team is in a rebuild and evaluation mode and Jake Allen's influence will make an enormous positive impact on Cayden Primeau's and Sam Montembeau’s careers. Cayden Primeau will ascend to the number one goalie position in Montreal.

Episode 92 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast03-09-2024

Hello Hockey Fans, Take a listen to Episode 92 Hockey Free For All Podcast, the topics include-
#1. Elias Pettersson signs a new 8-year contract to remain with the Vancouver Canucks.
#2. The rumor that the Montreal Canadiens has to offer sheet Elias Pettersson  in the off season is put to bed once and for all thankfully.
#3. An extremely busy 2023/2024 trading season that saw 44 trades made with Las Vegas, Colorado, Winnipeg and Carolina leading the way and preparing their rosters for the playoffs.
#4. Defenseman Tony DeAngelo, defenseman Jordan Oesterle, left winger Brendan Lemieux and goaltender Antti Raanta defenseman Boris Katchouk goaltender Evan Cormier on waivers, defenseman William Lagesson, defenseman Tobias Bjornfot were all placed on Waivers.
#5. The Florida Panthers have extended defenseman Gustav Forsling with a 46 million 8-year contract.
#6. The St. Louis Blues have signed forward Oskar Sundqvist to a new 2 year 3 million dollar contract.
#7 But the greatest trade of all had to be the trade of goalie Jake Allen from the Montreal Canadiens to the New Jersey Devils. Not because Montreal will receive either a 2nd or 3rd round 2025 draft pick from the New Jersey Devils, but because it brings to an end the relentless stupidity of the many who have whined continuously about, and who have gone out of there way attempting to make such a big deal out of Montreal carrying 3 goaltenders on their NHL roster from opening night to March 8th 2024.
In never hurt the Montreal Canadiens in any way to carry 3 goaltenders. I wasn’t unfair to any of the 3 goaltenders. It has not cheated any of the 3 goaltenders out of anything. None of the 3 goaltenders have yet to undisputedly take hold of the number 1 starting job, and still have not to this very moment.
Have each one of the 3 goalies had good games, stolen games, been on a good run from time to time. None of that is enough to claim a number one NHL goalie position. Its’s a start, but not enough. Has there been either a Martin Brodeur or Henrik Lundqvist reincarnation of any one of these 3 goaltenders in any way? The position of goal in Montreal, as to who the next true number one goalie is, or will be, remains extremely wide open, and unclaimed to this very moment.
The expectation and requirements are far higher in Montreal than they are anywhere else, Look at the history of who has played goal for the Montreal Canadiens. There is no other organization that come even close. Montreal talent in goal over its illustrious history is unmatched.

Episode 91 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 03-01-2024

Hello hockey fans out there, here is Episode 91 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast to listen to. Topics include-
#1. Once again Arber Xhekaj’s has displayed and proven his MVP value to the team!
#2. What is with the obsessive belief that the Montreal Canadien must trade defensive prospects or NHL roster defensemen?
#3. Are people suffering from some type of nostalgia or fantasy issue that want to see Sidney Crosby in an Montreal Canadiens uniform?
#4. I would love to see hockey franchises in Quebec City QC, Hamilton ONT, Saskatoon SK, as well as remain in all of the Canadien cities that teams are already in. However, one has to wonder if the Winnipeg Jets will become the Salt Lake City Utah Kansas City or Houston TX Franchise?
#5. There would absolutely nothing wrong with keeping David Savard until the 2024/2025 tradeline, and keeping Mike Mathisen until he is truly unseated by a prospect.
#6. Will there be a head coach or entire staff changes in Laval?
#7. Will Alex Burrows, Trevor Letowski or Stephane Robidas be back in Montreal in 2024/2025?
#8. Kent Hughes sounded concerned about the available talent in the 2024 NHL entry draft.
#9. As the 2023/2024 trade deadline approaches, here are 2 trades that I would love to see the Montreal Canadiens make. Trade 1 is with the L.A. Kings. Montreal sends RW- Josh Anderson, C/LW Christian Dvorak, C/LW Prospect, R Joel Armia and Goalie Jake Allen. In return Montreal receives C-Alex Turcotte RW- Arthur Kaliyev, RW- Alex Lafrerriere and a 3rd round pick in the 2026 NHL entry draft from the L.A. Kings. Trade 2. Montreal trades defensive prospect Juston Barron to the Winnipeg Jets and the Montreal Canadiens receive C-Prospect Brad Lambert.
#10. For the gotta make a trade obsessed, how about players like, Xavier Bourgault-C Edmonton Oilers 1st round pick 22nd overall in the 2021 Draft, Ryan Suzki-C Carolina Hurricanes 1st round pick 28th overall in the 2019 Draft, Francesco Pinelli-C L.A. Kings 2nd round pick 42nd overall in the 2021 Draft, Arthur Kaliyev-RW L.A. Kings 2nd round pick 33rd overall in the 2019 Draft or Raphael Lavoie-C/RW Edmonton Oilers 2nd round pick 38th overall in the 2019 Draft?
#11. The Montreal Canadiens do not need to trade for Trevor Zegras, Casey Mittelstadt or Jake Guentzel. All have consistency issues in their games, all have had injury issues and history, and all will be bad contracts.

Episode90 of the Hockey Free For All 02-25-2024

Episode 90 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast Topics Include-
#1. The Montreal Canadiens have signed 30-year-old free agent goaltender Kasimir Kaskisuo to a 1 year AHL contract.
#2. What is with the relentless conversations going on about how Montreal has to acquire every 22-year-old young talent, that’s not quite fitting into another organization? Give it a rest.
#3. How about rational trade options that sends Josh Anderson, Christian Dvorak along with Ty Smilanic, to the L.A. Kings for right wing Arthur Kaliyev, right winger Alex Lafrerriere and center Alex Turcotte? If that’s not enough, Montreal can throw in Jacob Olofsson. Or how about this trade. Many believe Montreal needs more top end talent. Brad Lambert from Winnipeg for Justin Barron of Montreal?
#4. Stop trading away Owen Beck, Emil Heineman, the return of Kirby Dach, Joshua Roy, Filip Mesar, Lane Hutson, Logan Mailloux, David Reinbacher, Lias Andersson, Sean Ferrall, Luke Tuch, Yevgeni Volokhin and Jacob Fowler, do you want to destroy the organization permanently?
#5. How is it so surprising that Logan Mailloux is leading all AHL Defenseman in scoring? Did a lot of people miss his 3 seasons with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League?
#6. What’s with the desire to cause pointless chaos, regarding Jeff Gorton? Talk about a complete lack of professionalism and integrity?
#7. Fantastic the hear that is Kirby Dach is on the ice, is skating and is ahead of expectations in his recovery!
#8. Hopefully, once the seasons of Lane Hutson and David Reinbacher concludes for, they are directly sent to Laval for the rest on the 2023/2024 season.
#9. Why are there so many surprised with the excellent development of Jaraj Slafkovsky and how well he is now playing? That’s what happens when professionals and the actual qualified are in charge.
#10. Looks like Rapheal Harvey-Pinard’s future and time with Montreal is coming to a close. There are too many prospects passing him who are ready, any he is injured too often.
#11. Is Nick Suzuki some type of plant? He’s organically growing as a leader? For most of societal history wasn’t that referred to as he’s maturing or he’s evolving as a leader? At what point did the verbiage of organic or organically somehow apply in this context.
#12. As the 2023/2024 trade deadline approaches, let’s see if Jake Allen, Joel Armia, Josh Anderson, Tanner Pearson, David Savard, Mike Mathisen or Christian Dvorak can all be moved by Montreal.

Episode 89 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast02-18-2024

Hello Hockey Fan’s. Take a listen to episode 89 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast
#1. What is the big concern with the Montreal Canadiens having 3 goalies in Montreal all season long. Not only is there no issue with it, it’s completely fair to all involved based on where the team is at in its process.
#2. What’s with the extreme overwhelming amount obsessive compulsive behavior regarding Montreal needs to mortgage all of its draft capital, prospects and top roster players to acquire a top center? For what possible rational reason or for what positive purpose would Montreal acquire Casey Middelstadt for?
#3. Unless a trade with Josh Anderson or Justin Barron as the center piece of the trade, with either Oliver Kapanen, Jacob Olofsson or Jan Mysak as the 2nd piece of the trade and Ty Smilanic as the 3rd and last piece of the trade can be completed, the compensation demands of Buffalo would be way too high, for a player that has not even remotely lived up to their skill set to date.
#4. The Montreal Canadiens have centers Nick Suzuki, Jake Evans, Brendan Gignac, Lias Andersson, Owen Beck, Lucas Condotta, Jared Davidson, Sean Farrell, Phillippe Maillet and Xavier Simoneau all available within their organization.
#5. What is wrong with all of these people that want to purposely ruin Arber Xhekaj’s career by being unprofessional, intentionally trying to start chaos, spread total B.S. creating completely unfounded doubts, and questioning of defenseman Arber Xhekaj? If anyone is looking for the definition of disgrace, look no further. Arber Xhekaj is that extremely rare physical talent that can actually play and not just enforce. That’s why so many teams want him on their rosters. If for some reason he’s traded, I hope it haunts Montreal forever. I hope Montreal never wins another Stanley Cup again, and I would never follow the franchise again.
#6. For anyone who thought Jaraj Slafkovsky from the first game he played was going to hit the ice like Conner McDavid, Sidney Crosby, Steven Stamkos or Alexandre Ovechkin, pull your head out of the sand. Slafkovsky wasn’t going to immediately step on the ice and replicate Jaromir Jager either, it takes time, and even more so on a rebuilding team.
He was 18-years of age when drafted, he’s just 19 years of age now. Prior to being drafted he played in 7 international games and a tournament before coming to the NHL. Is there actually a single living, mentally functioning human being that thought he would hit the ice like the afore mentioned, they need their head examined.
In case anyone has forgotten, not all 1st overall picks excel. How did Alexandre Daigle, Patrik Stefan, Rick DiPietro, Nail Yakupov and Alexis Lafreniere turn out. The jury is still out on Lafreniere It took Jack Hughes 4-years in the NHL before he lit it up, and his team had talent around him all the time.

Episode 88 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 02-11-2024

Take a listen to episode 88 of the hockey free for all podcast
#1. What’s with all of the people that are absolutely obsessed with the belief that Montreal is either readying for, or must package all their draft capital or mortgage the organizations future and trade it all away all for a determined league star or some big name?
#2. Conner McDavid himself, is not even remotely going to be enough to make Montreal a serious contender to win the Stanley Cup.
#3. Conner McDavid has more talent around him in Edmonton, and he has not won a Stanley Cup in Edmonton yet!
#4. This is yet another problem created by instant gratification, me/me/me, its all about me, I’m that that important, and it what I want. Who lied to these people causing them to believe that they are relevant in any way, shape or form?
Why is this not understood extremely clearly? There are apparently people thinking that the rebuild is taking longer than they want it to or is not going as quickly as they want it to. Your convenience, impatience or personal wants do not matter even remotely. No one is owed anything.
#5. Why is all of this misguided attention, not focused on trade’s involving NHL roster players such as, Josh Anderson, Christian Dvorak,  Jake Evens, Tanner Person, Joel Armia, Jesse Ylonen, Rapheal Harvey-Pinard, David Savard, Mike Matheson or Jake Allen. Or prospects such as Rhett Pitlick, Mattias Norlander,  Jacob Olofsson, Alexander Gordin, Blake Biondi, Jack Smith, Jan Mysak, Luke Touch. Daniil Sobolev, Dmitri Kostenko, Oliver Kapanen, Miguel Torigny, Petteri Nurmi, Cedrick Guidon, Vinzenz Rohrer, Luke Mittelstadt, Filip Eriksson, Sam Harris and Quentin Miller, who there will like not be room for, and should not be lost for nothing.
#6. How is there anyone out there that can still even remotely question Jeff Gorton or Kent Hughes as everything they have touched or been involved in, has turned to gold for the organization?
#7. There is absolutely a zero need for the Montreal Canadiens to experiment with Alex Newhook as a center. Alax Newhook is not a center in the NHL and that is extremely clear and already proven. Alex Newhook is Kirby Dachs right winger and will be very successful in the NHL at that position on a line with Dach.