Hockey Free For All

Episode 77 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 11-24-2023

Hello Hockey Fans out there, Episode 77 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast has arrived for your hockey fix, topics include.
#1. Jayden Struble has been called up from Laval by Montreal, and the Canadiens need his physical game, grit, demeanor, attitude, style and approach to the game. Outside of Arber Xhekaj, the Montreal roster is devoid of it.
#2. Why is anyone even remotely surprised by the sudden realization that the Canadiens have plenty of, and exciting goaltending prospects. There is this sudden holly cow, the Canadiens actually knew what they were doing when the drafted 3 goaltenders in the 2023 draft. Jacob Fowler who will have the most pressure on him because of his draft selection in the 3rd round at the 69th position. But, Keep your eyes on the Russian goalie prospect Yevgeni Volokhin. He has been solid at every level he’s played and is both the wild card and the great unknown.
#3. Who in their right mind is even remotely thinking that the Canadiens should trade Prospect Sean Farrell. Has everyone forgotten the comments made by Director of Player development Adam Nicholes regarding prospect Sean Farrell, starting with, he’s going to be a special player. Does Montreal suddenly have too much talent, leaving no room for Farrell. Is there no more room in Montreal for top 6 talent?
#4. Injuries in Laval now include Emil Heineman and now Lias Andersson are out for the next 2-months!
#5. Montreal’s injury list has now grown to include Kirby Dach, David Savard, Arber Xhekaj, Jordan Harris and Raphael Havey-Pinard. This is why teams must have depth and the Montreal Canadiens organizational depth will be put to the test, not question about it.
#6. Cayden Primeau has emerged as the right goalie at the right time for the Montreal Canadiens. The team has played differently when he’s in goal, there’s comfortable level and trust that’s not there otherwise.
#7. Montembeau is the perfect contract, fit and solution for Edmonton.
#8. How glad is everyone that the Montreal Canadiens did not trade for Pierre Luc Dubois now?
#9. Montreal doesn’t need to sign Sean Monahan to a new longer-term contract. Monahan’s injury history is just too great of a risk.

Episode 76 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 11-18-2023

To all the hockey fans out there, here is Episode 76 of the Hockey Free For All podcast to take a listen and get your hockey fix.
#1. What is going on in Edmonton?
#2. The oilers really need to take a very close look at what the Las Vegas Golden Knights have done and replicate their model exactly.
#3. The coach was the fall guy in Edmonton!
#4. Montreal can solve the goaltending issues not only in Edmonton, but in Carolina and New Jersey as well.
#5. The Las Vegas Golden knights won the Stanley Cup last year with a 5th string goalie, who wasn’t even in the organization at the beginning of the season!
#6. Cayden Primeau displayed significant development in the Detroit and Las Vegas games, and to really see what Cayden Primeau is capable of, as well as where he is and fits into the organization, he should be the workhorse in goal in Montreal this season. It’s the perfect time in the organizations development to do it.
#7. There is no Martin Broduer or Henrik Lundqvist in the pipelines in Montreal, let’s see what Cayden Primeau’s got, if he can be the 50 game plus goalie, as Sam Montembeau or Jake Allen have not shown that they can be.
#8 The answer as to who is that perfect fit missing right winger for Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield the answer is Joshua Roy, who fit perfectly and seamlessly with Conner Bedard at the world juniors last year.
#9. Alex Newhook fit perfectly and the perfect right winger with Kirby Dach and Juraj Slafkovsky and that should be his permanent top 6 spot.
#10. Christian Dvorak’s return, and fill in for Kirby Dach in his absence his been a great fit for Alex Newhook and Jaruj Slafkovski, which completely unexpected, but fantastic to see.
#11. Rapheal Harvey-Pinard has not looked good this season.
#12. Justin Barron has some great wow games and some want to forget games.
#13. Jesse Ylonen should get a shot and solid look at playing right wing with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield.
#14. Josh Anderson can’t buy a goal this season so far, but it has been fantastic to see Josh Anderson be engaged in every game, actively moving, and most importantly staying healthy. Josh Anderson’s effort and consistency has bee outstanding to see and extremely positive.

Episode 75 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 11-11-2023

Take a listen to episode 75 of the Hockey Free For All Podacst.
#1. What’s with Jonathan Huberdeau in Calgary. It has apparently struck many nerves that he was benched in Calgary recently, as many are referring to the benching of this player as disgraceful?
#2. Are there actual living breathing people who think that there are players that are unbenchable, or beyond expectation and discipline, think again!
#3. Jonathan Huberdeau has not performed or lived up to expectations since he arrived in Calgary!
#4. There’s no question that the Florida Panthers overwhelmingly won the Matthew Tkachuk trade.
#5. Calgary has to be having buyers’ remorse regarding the 10.5 million annual, 84 million in total value contract that Johnathan Huberdeau signed last season.
#6. Darryle Sutter was the problem for Johnathan Huberdeau and a lot of other players last season, what’s the problem for Johnathan Huberdeau and others in Calgary this season, there is still zero chemistry?
#7. What is the big deal that’s being made out of the Montreal Canadien still carrying 3 goaltenders on there roster, its not like there’s a Martin Brodeur, Ken Dryden or Henrik Lundquist in Montreal. The best by numbers is Jake Allen, Sam Montembeau has fallen off the map so far and Cayden Primeau just had his first successful NHL game in Detroit a few days ago, none of these 3 have grabbed the number position and ran with it.
#8. If Montreal did not have to be concerned with losing Cayden Primeau on the waver-wire, they would have sent him down to Laval, before the 2023/2024 season even started.
#9. The Edmonton Oilers clearly have an enormous problem in goal. The New Jersey Devils would love to obtain a young goalie who can be tutored by the great Martin Brodeur, The Carolina Hurricanes need at least a solid backup goalie if not a solid 1A goalie, and Montreal could solve the problems of all 3 of these organizations and continue to stockpile assets!
#10. Keep your eyes on Montreal goalie prospect Yevgeni Volokhin though. There is something special there, to be excited about
#11 Kaiden Guhle and Arber Xhekaj could be the only 2 current roster defensemen still in Montreal in 2 years, so there’s plenty of room for Logan Mailloux, David Reinbacher, Lane Hutson, Bogdan Konyushkov, Jayden Struble and Adam Engstrom.
#12. 2022 1st pick overall Juraj Slafkovsky is definitely a different, better and far more comfortable player this year. He misses Kirby Dach.
#13. Alex Newhook is a high-end Right Winger, and a less than average center.
#14. Montreal has a laundry list of players that they can move before or the trade deadline this season.
#15. Brendan Gallagher and Micheal Pezzetta wore neck braces in practice to simply try them out, stop trying to make something out of nothing! The players, the players union and the league remain stunned by the death of Pittsburgh Penguin prospect Adam Johnson. How about, that particular situation wake some people up.

Episode 74 of the Hockey Free For Podcast 11--4-2023

Hello Hockey Fans, please take a listen to Episode 74 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast Topics Include-
#1. Shayne Pinto who has been suspended for 41 games do to sports activity wagering.
#2. The Ottawa Senators have forfeited a 1st round draft choice in the 2024 NHL Draft by the NHL due to withholding player limitation information regarding Evgenii Dadonov who was traded by Ottawa to Las Vegas, who in turn filed a grievance with the NHL in the 2021/2022 season when the Las Vegas Golden Knights then had attempted to trade Dadonov to Anaheim, only to discover at that point and time, that Dadonov had a 10 team no trade to list that Ottawa apparently failed to make Las Vegas aware of, when Ottawa traded Dadonov to Las Vegas.
#3. Ottawa General Manager Pierre Dorian has been fired.
#4. Newly Appointed Team President Steve Staios will serve as the interim General Manager until a permanent replaced is chosen.
#5. Jayden Struble, Logan Mailloux, William Trudeau, Lias Andersson, Joshua Roy have all looked fantastic in Laval
#6. The Montreal Canadiens flow of prospects and talent is showing no signs of slowing down, which has the potential to make for an extremely interesting trade deadline scenario this season. The trade list of players should include Josh Andersson, Joel Armia, Christian Dvorak, Jake Evans, Brendan Gallagher, Tanner Pearson, Jesse Ylonen, Justin Barron, Gustav Lindstrom, David Savard, Sam Montembeau, Cayden Primeau and Sean Monahan.
#7. Montreal does not want to get in a bidding to retain the services of Sean Monahan
#8. Is Lias Andersson the solution as the number 2 center for the Montreal Canadiens in Kirby Dach’s absence. Lias Andersson is 24 years of age, a former 1st round 7th overall draft pick that Montreal took a flier on this summer and signed, with nothing to lose or invested, and he could be the next steel for the Montreal Canadiens.
Lias Andersson had an excellent AHL season last season with the Los Angeles Kings organization and looks to be a late bloomer that has found his stride, and with the season ending injury to Kirby Dach, could very well be the player to slot in as the number 2 center, rather than effecting all the other lines, or having to constantly evaluate other options like Sean Monahan, Christian Dvorak or Jake Evan’s.
Sean Monahan has found his 2 niches where he will exceed all expectations of the organization as either the 3rd line center with Brendan Gallagher or Tanner Pearson on his wings which has been seamless from day one, or as the right wing on the Suzuki and Caufield line. Monahan has flawlessly excelled in both those situations. Is it worth the risk inserting Sean Monahan as the number 2 center and possibly ruining the success he’s had.
#9. Christian Dvorak’s greatest contributions to the team are his defensive awareness and high faceoff win percentage, but he has never been able to put it together with any kind of consistently in Montreal.
#10. Jake Evans had a solid opening night to kick off the 2023/2024 NHL season but has also been a ghost since then. Montreal has way too many prospects for Jake Evan’s top remain in Montreal long term.

Episode 73 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 10-28-2023

If you’re a hockey fan, or just a sports junkie, please take a listen to Episode 73 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast, topics include-
#1. Of all the Canadiens injury none effect the team more than Kirby Dachs injury.
#2. The Montreal Canadiens have been looking for the big 6’ 04 200 lb. plus center for nearly 5 decades.
#3. Its very clear that Kirby Dachs injury has had a direct effect on both Jaruj Slafkovsky and Alex Newhook, as both players have become dead silent. Slafkovsky clearly misses Dach as his center, as they were beginning to develop chemistry like Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield have, and the offense that Alex Newhook was producing has vanished, all since the moment Dach was injured. Both Slafkovski and Newhook were on their way to having very successful seasons.
#4. It’s clear that Alex Newhook is a much better right winger than center,
#5. Let’s hope that this is the last injury of significance in Kirby Dach’s career.
#6. Fortunately Kaiden Guhle’s injury looks to be minor thankfully and reports are saying that Guhle will be in the lineup to play against Winnipeg on Saturday night, which is fantastic news, if he is indeed fully healed up, and not rushing back into the lineup.
#7.  David Savard’s injury, it looks like he is out until at least January 1st 2024, which completely sucks for him. However, if one wants to find a silver lining in the injury to David Savard, it does open the door and provide an opportunity to Justin Barron and allows him to showcase his abilities, show what he add to the skillset of the defense.
#8. The line of Brendan Gallagher, Sean Monahan and Tanner Pearson seems to be a perfect and custom fit, as these 3 players
#9. It would now seem like a new contract is the least of Shayne Pinto’s and the Ottawa Senators concerns as he has been suspended for 41 games because of sports wager activities. Is that the new euphemism for questionable gambling?
#10. The NHL should take note and be about the low attendance in Winnipeg, Calgary, Buffalo, San Jose and Washington.
#11. It seems as though Conner Bedard is not worried even remotely about what fans think of him, as he has already reached his max regarding interviews and signings of things such as jersey’s. Conner McDavid and his insights as to how to deal with the media and society would be a tremendous to Conner Bedard, as McDavid has done an exceptional job at keeping everything and everyone in their proper context and place, to maintain balance in his life.

Episode 72 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 10-18-2023

Hello Hockey fans, here is episode 72 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast to take a listen to, topics include-
#1. Alex Newhook looks like a fantastic fit and has had an excellent start.
#2. It’s a new season and looks like the injury issues will continue in Montreal. Kirby Dach is gone for the season, Kaiden Guhle is day to day. 2023 1st round pick 5th overall defenseman David Reinbacher is injured in Austria, and just to top it off, high-end Prospect winger Emil Heineman is gone for a significant period of time with a concussion, and captain Gabriel Bourque is likely gone for the season in Laval.
#3. Kent Hughes Is once again a genius in not only the Alex NewHook Trade,  but the trade with Vancouver that Sent Goalie Casey DeSmith to the Canucks for Tanner Pearson and a 3rd round pick has also turned out to be a success, contrary to the many that are obsessed with questioning every transaction that’s completed by the Canadiens management, they have been nothing other than spectacular, since day 1.
#4. The Montreal Canadiens beat the Chicago Blackhawks in the first meeting at the Bell Center involving Connor Bedard.
#5. Goaltending and special teams are unquestionably the 2 main problems in Montreal for the 2023/2024 season.
#6. The Columbus Bluejackets look lost
#7. Changes could be coming in Ottawa very soon as expectations of team for the 2023/2024 season and the overall organizational progress that’s expected are much higher and the new owner or new team president won’t stand for another inconsistent or lost season.
#8. The Calder trophy race will be a 2-man race in the 2023/2024 season between Logan Cooley and Conner Bedard.
#9. Injuries and player durability, or the lack there of, may end up providing a significant part of the answer to question of how will Montreal find a roster spot for all of it’s arriving, yet to arrive and yet to be drafted additional talent that’s coming, and it may be because of tremendous player durability issue’s.

Episode 71 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 10-13-2023

Hello Hockey Fans out there. Take a listen to Episode 71 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast, topics include-
#1. The passing of Calgary Flames assistant general manager Chris Snow is beyond words
#2. Austin Mathews has not in any way, overtaken Alexander Ovechkin as the best goal scorer in the NHL. It’s not even close. Alexander Ovechkin is 73 goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record of 892 goals in his career.
Baring injuries, Ovechkin suddenly falling off the grid and never being seen or heard from again, the world unexpectedly ends, Ovechkin will break Gretzky’s record, and set a new record next year at some point based on his yearly statistical production.
Austin Mathews has had single 60 goal season in his career, and it’s extremely unlikely that he will ever get close to Wayne Gretzky’s goal total, let alone Alexander Ovechkin’s career goal total.
#3. It’s fantastic to see the NHL is not going to allow social issues of any kind to permeate and destroy its league or sport, as the issues have no place in sports or TV Programs, series or shows.
#4. The Montreal Canadiens continue to do things right. If you have earned a roster spot, you will have a roster, there are no automatics, and there are no exceptions.

Episode 70 of the Hockey Fee For All Podcast 10-06-2023

Hello to all the Hockey Fans out there, here is episode 70 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast to listen to. Topics include-
#1. Logan Mailloux has been loaned to Laval of the AHL
#2. Justin Barrons has yet to put it all together.
#3. Would Justin Barron make a better forward, than a defenseman? He skates and passes like one.
#4. Logan Mailloux and David Reinbacher are clearly in front of Justin Barron and have the top 2 right hand defensive positions locked up.
#5. Justin Barron is at best the 3rd pairing right-handed defenseman for the team, which will is not going to make him happy at all.
#6. Mattias Norlander has apparently decided to bring it this year and has had his best training yet and opened up a lot of eyes in the process.
#7 The Canadiens have made the right decision by returning David Reinbacher back to Swiss league to play, finish up school and develop properly.
#8. The Montreal Canadiens have more than enough players to fill spots rather than rushing anyone.
#9. Filip Mesar, Jan Mysak and Jakov Novak would make a fantastic line in Laval as will Joshua Roy, Sean Farrell and Riley Kidney. These 2 lines would make for a great top 6 in Laval.
#10. It certainly looks like the top pairing in Laval will be Logan Mailloux and Jayden Struble for sure. However, where does that leave William Trudeau who has been exceptional.
#11. Regarding the position of goal this year in Laval. It’s Jakob Dobes to lose. Unless Dobes proves he is not ready, the starting job seems his to lose.
#12. So much for Mid and late round draft picks not mattering.
#13. This of prospects doesn’t even include, C Owen Beck, Left Defensive prospect Lane Hutson, Right Defensive prospect David Reinbacher, Adam Engstrom who can play Left or Right Defenseman, C Jared Davidson, G Jacob Fowler, LW Florian Xhekaj, RD Bogdan Konyushkov “who’s already been named captain of his team in Russia at 20 years of age, which is virtually unheard of, G Yevgeni Volokhin or G Quentin Miller. That is insane talent.
#14. The jury is still out on 2022 1st round and 1st overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky, let him develop. The 3 most recent 1st overall picks at 18-years of age who came in and took the NHL by storm and lit it up in their rookie season are Wayne Gretzky Mario Lemieux and Sidney Crosby, enough said.

Episode 69 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 9-27-2023

Hey Hockey Fans, here is Episode 69 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast topics
#1. Who’s complaining now about the 1st round selection of right-handed defensive prospect David Reinbacher with the 5th selection overall in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft?
#2. Guess Logan Mailloux was the right pick with the 31st selection overall in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft by Marc Bergevin! For all of the wrong reasons, Logan Mailloux dropped into Montreal laps.
#3. The Canadiens now have 2 young top pairing right-handed defensemen like no other organization does in the league.
#4. Where are all of the self-proclaimed experts and geniuses now that had nothing good at all to say about these 1st round selections? Talk about egg all over the face, wow. That has got to sting a lot.
#5. Marc Bergevin and Kent Hughes stood their ground and made the proper selections, and they were right!
#6. At what point in history did anyone start thinking that the term sexy pick was appropriate for anything or than the clothing industry or perhaps for the perfume or makeup industries? It has absolutely no place, or viable reference in sports, automotive, food or just about anything else one can think of.
But this is where it all began for draft pick David Reinbacher, he wasn’t the sexy pick, as apparently there was great disappointment and resentment that the Montreal Canadiens did not select Russian Right Winger Matvie Mitchkov, who was considered the “sexy pick”. What?
Mitchkov, who by the way continues to have consistency issues, hasn’t played well, is apparently not much of a a team player, is apparently not easy to coach, and may never make it to the NHL if things do not turn around soon, was the preferred choice of these disgraceful individuals, who went on to personally attack David Reinbacher via social media, and are now demanding justification and answers, as if they are somehow owed any, as to how he has gained 15lbs from the day he was drafted to train camp.
No one is owed or entitled to anything. Has even of these people stopped to consider he’s very likely on an all-inclusive customized training regiment personally designed for him. Hello, anyone out there!
#7. For anyone who thinks it’s an absolute waste of a pick to select a defenseman with a pick that high, how many less Stanley Cups would have been won by the great Canadien dynasty teams of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s without Butch Bouchard, Doug Harvey, Tom Johnson, Jean-Guy Talbot, J.C. Tremblay, Jacques Laperriere, Noel Picard, Serge Savard, Carol Vadnais, Guy Lapointe, Pierre Bouchard, Terry Harper, Larry Robinson, John Van Boxmeer, Rick Chartraw, Bill Nyrop, Brian Engblom, Gilles Lupien and Rod Langway? A lot less!
#8. Has anyone stopped to think about the defense that Montreal can now ice in the very near future? Consider this for a moment as the starting 6 defensemen on the Montreal Canadiens roster. David Reinbacher with Lane Hutson, Logan Mailloux with Arber Xhekaj, Adam Engstrom with Kaiden Guhle and that starting 6 did not include Jordan Harris, Jayden Struble, William Trudeau or Bogden Konyushkov. Montreal has an embarrassing amount of defensive riches, that no other team in the league even remotely comes close to. That is nothing short of amazing defensive prospect depth.
#9. Defense and the quality of it, determines champions of all sports with very few exceptions.
#10. Montreal’s starting 6 defensemen of the future possess the skills to be the best starting 6 defensemen on one team at the same time that the NHL has seen in at least 4 decades. How about everyone allows them to develop, and watches excellence unfold before their eyes.

Episode 68 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 09-23-2023

Episode 68 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast topics include
#1. What is the obsession with the caliber of goaltending in Montreal?
#2. Carter Hart is not the answer in goal for Montreal in any way.  Cater Hart is unproven and inconsistent. Sam Montembeau is a better goalie than Hart is already. Carter Hart is way over paid!
#3. What’s up with the ridiculous questioning if not outright interrogation tactics regarding the 15 pounds that Prospect David Reinbacher has added this off season, He’s an 18-year-old prospect who’s training for the NHL Hello!
#4. Carey Price said Baring a Miracle, I’m done” does that leave any guessing in anyone’s mind still somehow? It’s a time of change, it’s time to move on!
#5. Mike Matheson and 4 rookies Xhekaj, Guhle, Harris and Kovacevic claimed their spots on the Defense in the 2022/2023 season. None should be sent to Laval. It would ruin careers.
#6. Regarding offense, try these line combinations! Line #1. RW, Alex Newhook, C, Suzuki, LW, Cole Caulfield. Line #2. RW, Josh Anderson, C, Kiby Dach, LW, Juraj Slafkovsky. Line #3. RW, Brendan Gallagher, C, Sean Monahan, LW Raphael Harvey-Pinard. Line #4. LW, Michael Pezzetta, C, Jake Evans or Christian Dvorak if healthy and if he is either have Jake Evans or Tanner Pearson play right wing and Joel Armia is the extra forward all the time.
#7. Unfortunately, it leaves no room for Emil Heineman, Owen Beck, Sean Farrell or Jesse Ylonen until at least Christian Dvorak, Tanner Pearson and Joel Armia are traded. These 3 players as well as Cener Sean Monahan and RW Brendan Gallagher can be traded if the right situations present themselves.
#8. The current goalies including Cayden Primeau are place holders.
#9. Why is everyone, or why do so many want to write off Jakub Dobes, Emmett Croteau, Jacob Fowler, Yevgeni Volokhin and Quentin Miller already?
#10. Henrik Lundqvist-round 7, Joe Pavelsky round 7, Vladimir Konstantinov round 11, Sergei Fedorov round 4, Pavel Datsyuk round 6, Henrik Zetterberg round 7, Brendan Gallagher round 5, Paul Byron round 6 and Nicklas Lidstrom wasn’t even a 1st or 2nd round pick, he was a 3rd round pick! Here’s the best part of all Martin St. Louis and Arber Xhekaj were undrafted walk on's! Opp’s, time to wake up from your coma!
#11. Casey DeSmith to the Vancouver Canuck's for LW Tanner Pearson and a 3rd round pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.
#12. Christian Dvorak will miss the first month of the 2023/2024 season.
#13. Head team physician Dr. David Mulder retires after 60 years with the Montreal Canadien's. An amazing career, well done and may your retirement be as amazing!