Hockey Free For All

Episode 169 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 08-08-2025

Hello Hockey fans. Episode 169 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast has arrived, and this is the Jonathan Huberdeau episode.
#1.This has to be the most insane trade proposal out of all, that have been rumored all offseason long. This trade has the Montreal Canadiens acquiring the 84-million dollar, 8-year contract, right winger Jonathan Huberdeau who by the way has 6-years remaining on that Albatross of a contract, in return for Josh Anderson, Arber Xhekaj, Owen Beck and a 2nd round draft pick.
#2. The Montreal Canadians have been suffocating under the weight of Carey Prices 84-million-dollar contract for years, who’s contract will finally conclude at the completion of the 2025/2026 season. In what rational world would the Montreal Canadiens take on another 84-million-dollar contract with 6-years left, for an aging player, who is a one trick pony and requires specific linemates.
#3. Where would the acquisition of Jonathan Huberdeau leave the acquisition of Zack Bolduc?
#4. Please stop with the veteran leadership diarrhea, it consistently spews from mouths of the clueless. The Montreal Canadiens have plenty of leadership in Nick Suzuki, Brendan Gallagher and Mike Mathenson, plus Kaiden, Cole Caufield, Samual Montembeau, Arber Xhekaj and Lane Hutson as well as Head Coach Martin St. Louis, General Manager Kent Huges and the leader himself of all hockey operations Mr. Jeff Gorton forms a tremendous group of leadership.
#5. I would not send Patrik Laine straight up for Jonathan Huberdeau.
#6. I would not trade Joshua Roy straight up for Jonathan Huberdeau.

Episode 168 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 08-01-2025

Hello hockey fans out there, episode 168 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast has arrived to address your hockey fix during the summer. This episodes topics include-
#1. David Reinbacher better be amazing soon.
#2. Tristan Jarry is not the solution or answer or solution to the Edmonton Oilers goaltending issues.
#3. What qualifications does David Pastrnak have to call out Juraj Slafkovsky regarding he lacks humility.
#4. David Pastrnak should focus on himself, his own game and most importantly come down from the mountain top he apparently thinks he’s on top of.
#5. The Montreal Canadiens need to trade Patrik Laine first and foremost.
#6. The Montreal Canadiens do not need to acquire Nick and Jason Robertson as depth or defensive players to replace Christian Dvorak and Joel Armia. The Montreal Canadiens have plenty of internal organizational depth.
#7. Why can’t a line of Brendan Gallagher, Jake Evans and Josh Anderson replace Christian Dvorak and Joel Armia?
#8. The Montreal Canadiens have 10 NHL ready defensemen, what is with the senseless panic over David Savard?
#8. Of course, Michael Hage has been very impressive at the Canada Cup this summer, how can anyone actually be surprised is my question?
#9. The Montreal Canadiens knew Michael Hage was the steel of the 2024 NHL entry, does anyone actually wonder why the Montreal Canadiens moved up from 24th to 21st to draft him.
#10. Michael Hage should not even be traded or included as part of a trade package for Connor McDavid, Sidny Crosby or Cal Makar.
#11.  Ivan Demidov should hands down win it in 2025/2026, unless he gets injured, providing the Montreal Canadiens with back-to-back rookie of the year players.
#12. Ok, Nathan Beaulieu retired, players retire all the time. Why is this viewed as anything outside the norm?  He has decided to move on, that’s it.
#13. It will indeed be a critical coming year for Kirby Dach, Alex Newhook, Patrik Laine and Joe Veleno.
#14. The Montreal Canadiens need to let Arber Xhekaj play to his strengths, style and game, rather than trying to change him. The Montreal Canadiens have not had a player like Arber Xhekaj since Chris Nilan. Arber Xhekaj is an extremely rare combination of size physicality with a blend of skating and offensive skills that’s more unusual that the generational talents are.

Episode 167 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 07-25-2025

Hello Hockey Fan’s out there. As we move through the offseason and very hot summer months, take a listen to episode 167 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast, to get your hockey fix. This episodes topics include-
 
#1. Carey Price actually has to be officially retired as a player and off of the team roster payroll for 3-years, before he can even be considered for the hockey hall of fame!
 
#2. The NCAA has once again raided the superior Canadien Hockey League in an effort to be considered talented.
 
#3. The decentralized draft format was not only a complete disappointment but is also a slap in the faces of and an insult to the fans of the sport.
 
#4. Pro sports leagues have clearly forgotten that their drafts are all about and are for their fans. The drafts of each sport is the premier event to give backs to the fans of each sport.
 
#4. Pro sports continually screws over the fans and bleeds them dry of money in any and every way possible, the drafts are the premier fan event.
#5. Drafts are a moment within a season that leagues cater to the fan’s by showing up in its entirety, along with the prospects at no cost to the fans, so the fan continue following and retain their passion for the game.
#6. It’s irrelevant that drafts are inconvenient or expense to a league. Without fan the entity goes away!
#7. Montreal’s starting 4 centers will come out of these 5 players. #1 Nick Suzuki, #2 Kirby Dach if he is and can stay healthy. If not, the #2 center will be Alex Newhook. If Dach remains healthy, than Alex Newhook will be the #3 center.
If Dach doesn’t remain healthy and Newhook moves up to the #2 center, then the #3 center is the recently acquired Joe Veleno and the #4 center is Jake Evans.
 
#8. Unless Jacob Fowler comes into training camp and gives a lights out Ken Dryden type performance, Samual Montembeau and Jakub Dobes will be the goaltending tandem for the 2025/2026 season.
 
#9. The defense is the part of the Montreal Canadiens roster that is truly the most intriguing as the team prepares for the 2025/2026season.

Episode 166 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 07-18-2025

Hello to all the hockey fans, episode 166 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast has arrived with a litany of topics to keep you up to date with during these long hot summer months.
#1. The Montreal Canadiens do not need Joey Kyrou.
#2. Yes, trade Patrik Laine now
#3. Montreal signs former first round draft choice, center Joe Veleno, a perfect replacement for Christian Dvorak.
#4. No thanks on acquiring Sydney Crosby after the 2026 Olympics, unless Montreal can get him for Kirby Dach and Oliver Kapanen straight up?
#5. In what way is Nazem Kadri even remotely the answer to the Number 2 center role in Montreal? He’s in his mid-thirties, he’s slower and he’s on the back nine of his career.
#6. Nazem Kadri bring an extremely bloated contract with, which has 4-years remaining on it.
#7. Montreal has a plethora of internal options at a far cheaper price for any and all positions.
#8. Of course, the Calgary Flames would not only love to unload Nazem Kadri, but even more, the Calgary Flames would love to get their hands on as many of Montreal’s outstanding prospects as possible.
#9. Nope Montreal Doesn’t need center Anthony Cirelli of the Tampa Bay Lightning and take on that bloated contract either. Nor does Montreal need to make the Tampa Bay lightning a better team by sending them A-prospect talent, that’s used against the Montreal Canadiens for years to come that haunts them relentlessly.
#10. Montreal is not facing tremendous trouble in replacing David Savard. His game was clearly in a steep decline since January 1st, 2024.
#11.  Christian Dvorak and Joel Armia were role players that Montreal has a plethora options to replace them with at a lower cost.
#12. Let Jayden Struble go to arbitration and is he’s rewarded an excessive amount, trade him and keep the assets pouring into Montreal
#13. It will be extremely interesting to see if the excitement around prospect center Oliver Kapanen translates to the NHL Level.
#14. It’s challenging seeing Oliver Kapanen as a 2nd line center in the NHL.
#15. I’m far more excited about what Aatos Koivu can do than Oliver Kapanen.
#16. Hage is the undisputed 2nd line center for the Montreal Canadiens. Michael Hage
#17. Owen Beck is a solid 3rd two-way center to me, that can play it any way you want to. But I think that Florian Xhekaj is the Dark horse in the role of 3rd line center, and it remains to be seen if Vinzenz Rohrer’s style can translate to the NHL’s game?
#18. I won’t even be remotely surprised at all if Adam Engstrom makes the Canadiens roster after the completion of training camp.

Episode 165 of the Hockey Free For All Podacst 07-11-2025

Hello hockey fans out there. Episode 165 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast has arrived. Take a listen and keep up on things happening in the off-season summer months that will affect the coming regular season.
#1. Hello! Carey Price can’t be voted in to the Hockey Hall of Fame. He’s not officially retired. He needs to be retired for 3 years at a minimum before he is even eligible.
#2. What is with the continuous trade insanity in Montreal?
#3. The definition of stupidity is?
#4. Players will want out of and prospects will reenter drafts if the is no path or roster spots for them in Montreal.
#5. Enough Trades in Montreal. Neither the Dobson or the Bolduc trade has made the Montreal Canadiens better. These trades appeased people. They were not hockey trade or for the betterment of the team’s roster.
#6 The Montreal Canadiens better hope that the trade of Logan Mailloux doesn’t haunt them for the next 10, 13 or 15 years!
#7. At the amount of Money Zack Bolduc is making he better be a minimum of a point per game player, which translates too a minimum of 82, soon to 84 points per season player, and that’s at a minimum. His contract value and yearly payroll impact should have expectations of a 100 point per season level.
#8 The soon to arrive prospects that there better be roster spots for in Montreal, starting with the forwards include, Alexander Zharovsky, Hayden Paupanekis, L.J. Mooney, Ivan Demindov, Michael Hage, Tyler Thorpe, Florian Xhekaj, Luke Tuch, Jared Davidson and Sam Harris. On the defensive side, prospects include David Reinbacher, Bryce Pickford, Owen Protz, Bogdan Konyushkov and Adam Engstrom. Anyone of these prospects are better than anyone else, on any other NHL club, that Montreal could obtain.
#9. Not fan of Grant McKenna signing with Penn State of the NCAA. I don’t see how, in any way, this prepares Grant McKenna any better for the NHL.
#10. The CHL is a far better league and player development system than the NCAA is.
#11. NCAA players are ready for the NHL any sooner.
#12. NCAA players are not any better developed.
#13. NCAA players do transition to the NHL game or its physicality any faster.
#14. Hockey is Canada’s sport. Always has been, always will be. Every other country is a guest at the table. Just like Baseball, Basketball and Football are America’s sports, always have been, always will be. Soccer is, always been and always will be Europe’s sport and no one else’s. This has been and always will be the reality for every one of these sports

Episode 164 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 07-04-2025

Hello Hockey Fan’s, out there. The 2024/2025 regular season, playoffs, Stanley Cup Championship, 2025 NHL Entry Draft and Free Agent frenzy may be over, but the topics to discuss continue at a relentless pace.
The topics of Episode 164 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast include-
#1. Was trading the 16th and 17th picks in the first round of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, plus NHL roster forward Emil Heineman the right move to acquire Right-Handed Defenseman Noeh Dobson.
#2. The highlight of Noeh Dobson’s career in his first 6-years, has been one 70 point season?
#3. Noeh Dobson is not a physical defenseman.
#4. Mitch Marner goes in a sign and trade with the Las Vegas Golden Knights that net’s the Toronto Maple Center Nicolas Roy
#5. The Montreal Canadiens trade goalie Cayden Primeau to the Carolina Hurricanes for a 7th round pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.
#8. Michael Pezzetta signs a 2-year free agent contract with the Toronto Maple Leaf’s
#9. The Edmonton Oilers have lost free agent winger Corry Perry to the Los Angeles Kings.
#10. The Montreal Canadiens trade Logan Mailloux in a 1 for 1 deal to the St. Louis Blues for Forward Zack Bolduc.
#11. Congratulations to the many people who just couldn’t see or understand how the Montreal Canadiens could draft Logan Mailloux.
#12. Better hope trading Logan Mailloux to the St. Louis Blues doesn’t haunt the Montreal Canadiens for the next 13-years.
#13. Imagine if Logan Mailloux has a lights out Stanley Cup Final against the Montreal Canadiens, eliminating them, and holds up the Stanley Cup in a victory lap around the Bell Center in Montreal.
#14. No idea what the signings of free agent forward Alex Belzile, defenseman Nate Clurman and forward Samuel Blais for 1-year contracts bring to Montreal other than veteran depth players for the Laval Rockets.
#15. One signing that does make sense is the signing of goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen as it provides Jacob Fowler in Laval with a legitimate back with experience.
#16. David Savard, Emil Heineman, Christian Dvorak, Michael Pezzetta and Joel Armia are gone. Hopefully it opens up roster spots for internal prospects.
#17. Rapheal Harvey Pinard signed by the Pittsburgh Penguins.
#18. Fortunately, the Montreal Canadiens still have David Reinbacher, Adam Engstrom, 2024 4th round draft pick defenseman Owen Protz and 2025 3rd round draft pick defenseman Bryce Pickford.
#19. Left Wing Nikolaj Ehlers has signed with the Carolina Hurricanes.
#20. It would be fantastic if the Montreal Canadiens traded Patrik Laine and center/left wing prospect Oliver Kapanen to the Carolina Hurricanes for Nikita Artamonov, Bradly Nadeau, Alexander Perevalov and Ryan Suzuki.

Episode 163 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 06-27-2025

Hello Hockey Fan’s. Welcome to Episode 163 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast, this week’s topics include-
#1. Mitch Marner is not worth a 15 plus million per season contract
#2. Conner McDavid is not worth a 20 million per season contract
#3. Brad Marchand is not worth an 8-million-dollar contract
#4. Sam Bennett is not worth 10 million per season even though his agent is demanding it.
#5. If you had a 100-million dollar team cap and you sign one player to a 20-million dollar contract, everyone understands that accounts for 20% of your entire team payroll, which has 20 players on a team.
#6. The Dallas Stars have resigned Matt Duchene to a new 4 year 18-million-dollar contract.
#7. The Ottawa senators have signed Fabian Zetterlund to a new 3-year contract worth 12.825 million dollars.
#8. Thankfully, the Chicago Blackhawks have resigned Ryan Donato to a 4-year 16-million dollar contract.
#9 The Philadelphia Flyers add Todd Reirden as an assistant coach and Dylan Crawford as a video coach.
#10. Steve Spott joins Marco Sturms staff in Boston .
#11. The Philadelphia Flyers acquire Trevor Zegras from the
#12. Best of luck to defenseman Roman Josi of the Nashville Predators as he was recently diagnosed with postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS).
#13. Michael Misa should decline playing for the Chicago Blackhawks if they draft him.
#14. After the conclusion of the AHL and NHL playoffs, its extremely who the true prospect talent is.  
#15. The future starting 6 defensemen should be extremely clear in Montreal, but there are apparently many who do not want the Montreal Canadiens to succeed.
#16. Are Kaiden Guhle’s injuries over, not likely.
#17. The goaltending team in 2025/2026 for the Montreal Canadiens should be Samual Montembeau and Jakub Dobes without question.
#18. Laval Rockets Goaltending team in 2025/2026 will be Jacob Fowler and who.
#19. Other than Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky there’s nothing right now.
#20. The arrivals of Florian Xhekaj, Tyler Thorp and Luke Tuch will bring physicality, until then, nothing.
#21. Carey Price isn’t even retired yet. How could he be voted into the Hockey Hall of Fame?
#22. The Montreal Canadiens have made a cataclysmically bad trade for Noeh Dobson, that makes absolutely know since in any way.
#23. David Reinbacher, Logan Mailloux and Adam Engstrom should be on the phone to their agent telling them, they want out of Montreal.
#24. What’s Lane Hutson’s next contract looks like now?
#25. No one should be getting paid more than Nick Suzuki or Cole Caufield on the Montreal roster.
#26. The Montreal Canadiens have an even softer and less physical defense.
#27. The Noeh Dobson trade doesn’t even remotely move the team or the needle forward at all. It actually moves both backwards.

Episode 162 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 06-20-2025

Hello Hockey Fan’s. Episode 162 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast is ready for you, this week’s topics include.
#1. Congratulations to the now 2-time and back-to-back Stanley Cup Champions the Florida Panthers.
#2. Why is there such insanity cataclysmic stupidity about trading prospect Logan Mailloux?
#3.  Young talented Right-Handed Defenseman are extremely difficult to find, draft and cultivate. The Montreal Canadiens have found 3 in Logan Mailloux, Adam Engstrom and David Reinbacher.
#4. For all the trade happy people, trade and move on from Mike Mathenson, Alexander Carrier and Jayden Struble.
#5. The biggest issue by far is the zero physicality on the roster other than Arber Xhekaj. Stop trying to trade highly touted A-Level talent and prospects.
#6. Group one staring 6 on defense for the Montreal Canadiens is extremely clear. Those 6 should be Lane Hutson/David Reinbacher. Logan Mailloux/Kaiden Guhle and Adam Engstrom/Arber Xhekaj.
#7. If Kaiden Guhle’s injuries continue replace him with OWEN PROTZ..
#8. Congratulations to Juraj Slafkovsky as he has been named to the 2026 Slovakian Olympic Team.
#9. The really sad part of all the Logan Mailloux trade rumors, is that it being driven by his past history.
#10. The Montreal Canadiens do not need Nicolas Hague unless it’s a swap of Michael Pezzetta for Michael Hague.
#11. The Montreal Canadiens sign 2022 3rd round pick Left Winger Vinzenz Rohrer to a 3-year entry level contract, will his game and does his game translate to the NHL level?
#12. Regarding Celeb Desnoyers, unless the Montreal Canadiens can obtain the 4th overall pick from the Utah Hockey for Patrik Laine, Kirby Dach, Mike Matheson, Jayden Struble, all the first refusal signing rights to their free agents or some combination, Utah can keep the pick.
#13. Lane Hutson was hands down the de facto choice for rookie of the year. Congratulations!
#14. Arber Xhekaj is by far the most valuable player of the Montreal Canadiens.
#15. Nick Suzuki deserved heart/MVP and lady Bing trophy votes.
#16. Connor Hellebuck was the legit Vezina Trophy Winner, but, he was not the MVP of the League.
#17. Chris Kreider traded to the Anaheim Ducks?
#18. Congratulations to the Montreal Canadiens ECHL Club the Trois Rivieres Lions who the Kelly Trophy.
#19. Why would the Montreal Canadiens trade for Noah Dobson?
#20. The best days of Jonathan Marchessault are clearly behind him. Montreal does not need him or his contract.
#21. Why and how does acquiring Alexis Lafreniere even make remote since to anyone?
#22. Emil Heineman is a primary piece of Montreal’s future.
#23. Not seeing Olivier Kapanen’s games translating to the NHL.
#24. Mason West would be an excellent 2nd round pick by the Montreal Canadiens.
#25. Doesn’t look like Pascal Vincent is going to be poached by another team.

Episode 161 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 06-13-2025

Hello Hockey Fans. Get your hockey fix, episode 161 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast has arrived, this week’s topics include-
#1. Finally, some much needed rationality by Grant McCagg.
#2. The Montreal Canadiens and the Laval Rockets lost in the NHL and AHL playoffs for the exact same reason!
#3. Reality check time. The Montreal Canadiens have absolutely no physicality on their roster other than Arber Xhekaj.
#4. Now that the 2024/2025 season has concluded for the Laval Rockets. The actual A-Level prospects are Florian Xhekaj, Luke Tuch, Adam Engstrom, David Reinbacher, Logan Mailloux and Jacob Fowler, Michael Hage, Tyler Thorpe and Owen Protz.
#5. Other possible and promising prospects could be, Vinzenz Rohrer, Jared Davidson, Sam Harris, Bogdan Konyushkov or Yevgeni Volokhin, but the jury is still out these prospects, TBD
#6. There is still a lot of work to done for the Montreal Canadiens.
#7. There is still a lot drafting and development to do in Montreal.
#8. Time to move on from Kirby Dach, Patrik Laine, Jake Evans, Josh Anderson, Alex Newhook, Mike Matheson, Alexandre Carrier, Jayden Struble, Filip Mesar, Owen beck, Joshua Roy, Oliver Kapanen, Riley Kidney,  Xavier Simoneau, Filip Eriksson, Quentin Miller, Luke Mittelstadt, Jack Smith, Blake Biondi, Cayden Primeau and this is on top of letting Joel Armia, Christian Dvorak and Michael Pezzetta walking off into free agency.
#9. Off season concern number 1:  Samual Montembeau needs to play 50 games max and Jakub Dobes plays in 32 for both to be effective.
#10. Off season concern number 2: The right side of the Canadiens defense needs to consist of David Reinbacher, Logan Mailloux and Adam Enstrom.
#11. Offseason concern number 3: Lack of physicality and lack of wolf pack mentality.
#12. The 2025/2026 player roster is inclusive of David Reinbacher, Logan Mailloux, Adam Engstrom Florion Xhekaj, Luke Tuch and Tyler Thrope or Montreal has no chance of improving next season.
#13. There are obvious reasons why the Dallas Stars, Las Vegas Golden Knights, Tampa Bay Lightning and the Colorado Avalanche are the most consistent teams.
#14. Hopefully the Montreal Canadiens are looking really close at the Florida Panthers of the NHL, and the London Knights of the OHL.
#15. 1st round picks at 16th and 17th for the Montreal Canadiens should be Danill Prokhorov and Vaclav Nestrasil.
#16. The 2 picks in the 2nd round by Montreal should be  Cole Amico and Mason West.
#17. Why Dan Muse in Pittsburgh.
#18. Why Marco Sturm in Boston.
#19. It was a mistake to fire Peter DeBoer in Dallas.
#20. Marco Rossi is not a viable solution in Montreal.
#21. Sidney Crosby would not be a fit in Montreal.
#22. Vancouver can keep Elis Pettersson, no thank you.

Episode 160 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 06-06-2025

Hello Hockey fans out there. Episode 160 of the Hockey Free For All Poacast has arrived for you to enjoy and get your weekly hockey fix, this week’s topics include-
#1. Let’s talk about really bad ideas and likely new level catastrophic organizational rumors.
#2. Rumors out of Montreal that just bring a new level to stupidity.
#3. No current player in the entire league is worth the insane compensation packages that are being demanded.
#4. Logan Mailloux is a potential Norris Trophy caliber defensemen.
#5. Anyone remember how fantastically well the Ryan McDonaugh and Mikhail Sergachev trades worked out for the Montreal Canadiens?
#6. The 2025 NHL Entry Draft has tremendous depth throughout the entire 1st round and well beyond, that would allow the Montreal Canadiens to fill many organizational that they still have.
#7. It really sounds good to anyone, that the Montreal Canadiens should mortgage away and destroy their team to acquire a 38-year-old?
#8. Ya, let’s trade away a highly skilled level of talent in that the Montreal Canadiens have not seen in decades for aging or underperforming players that bring with then bloated contract that will handcuff the team for the long term. That’s a great idea!
#9. Here’s yet another stunningly great idea in the package to acquire Sidny Crosby, include as part of the excessive compensation your one and only pure scorer. Anybody home? Hello! Wow, really?
#9. Ya. Let’s acquire the 35-year-old Johnathan Marchessault who is clearly in decline and on the back 9 of his NHL career and who brings 4-years of his bloated NHL contract with him. That’s an outstanding idea.
#10. The purest definition of ignorance ever. Montreal acquires Elis Pettersson from the Vancouver Canucks for following insane compensation package. A-Level Prospect Michael Hage, A-Level Prospect Logan Mailloux, Forward Patrik Laine, Center Kirby Dach, and if that is not nuts enough, both the 1st round draft picks that the Montreal Canadiens hold, in the first round of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft as well. I would not make this trade to acquire Conner McDavid.
 
The Vancouver Canucks would end up with more compensation for Elis Pettersson, than the Edmonton Oilers received from the L.A. Kings, when they acquired Wayne Gretzky, and there is no player in the entire NHL today better than, equal too, more skilled than or that impacted the game like Wayne Gretzky, no one even remotely.