Hockey Free For All

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.

Episode 87 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 02-04-2024

Hello to all of the Hockey Fans out there, here is Episode 87 of the Hockey Free For All podcast to listen to and satisfy your Hockey fix, Topics Include-
#1. Patrick is back in the NHL as the new head coach of the N.Y. Islander, and Patrick Roy looks like he has found the right home.
#2. What is going on with the Ottawa senators?
#3. The Montreal Canadiens have mutually agreed to terminate the contract of Left Defensive Prospect Nicolas Beaudin, to allow him to move on to other opportunities.
#4. Lucas Condotta looks good with the Montreal Canadiens. He seems to be exactly what the Canadiens need not only as a 4th line center, his size of 6’ 01 and 223lbs, but is that perfect lunch box, never quit and every minute engaged player.
#5. The Vancouver Canucks have acquired center Elias Lindholm from the Calgary Flames, to open up the trading season in the NHL, and the Calgary Flames, get a haul in return.
#6. The Montreal Canadiens have traded Forward Sean Monahan to the Winnipeg jets, and got that additional 1st round pick that most were saying Montreal could not and would not get for Sean Monahan, and more. So many were and are wrong again. That’s got keep stinging badly.
#7. Another coach has been fired. The L.A. Kings have fired head coach Todd McLellan, who now joins Jay Woodcroft, Dean Evason, Craig Berube, D.J. Smith and Lane Lambert.

Episode 86 of the Hockey Free for all podcast 01-27-2024

Episode 86 of the Hockey Free For all Podcast topics include-
#1. Why is it or how is it, that so many people are not getting or understanding the extreme value and rarity of Arber Xhekaj to the Montreal Canadiens. How is it that that only very few can clearly see what a better team Montreal is, when Arber Xhekaj is in the lineup, the clear differences he makes, the way the that the team plays a completely different game when he’s in the lineup, the fact that his fellow players clearly, not only feel safer with him on the roster, but can actually play their game with out fear, concern or retaliation from the opposition.
Not only is Arber Xhekaj clearly the most valuable player on the defense by far, Arber Xhekaj is the MVP of the entire team. Ig I had an expansion team and could draft any player I wanted in the entire league; Arber Xhekaj would be my pick. Arber Xhekaj is the definition of the type of player you win a Stanely Cup with. What is so difficult to understand here. I am at a complete loss to understand this.
#2. Every other team in the would trade a first round pick or more to obtain him.
#3. I would not have traded Arber Xhekaj to pick Conner Bedard in the 2023 draft of to select Macklin Celebrini as the likely number 1 pick overall of the 2024 draft.
#4. If there is anyone, anywhere in the entire world that doesn’t think Conner McDavid is the best and most gifted hockey in the world?
#5. Has Conner McDavid won a Stanley Cup, nope.
#6. I would love someone to Interview Wayne Gretzky to specifically ask him about teammate David Semenko and the value of him as a linemate to him, and that star studded roster that the Edmonton Oilers. Dave Semenko had in the 80’s.
#7. Wayne Gretzky, Jari Kurri, Glenn Anderson and Paul Coffee would have been targeted relentlessly every night and had their careers drastically shortened like Bobby Orr’s and Mario Lemieux were.
#8. Arber Xhekaj is not Stu Grimson’s, Donald Brashear or Marty McSorley.  Arber Xhekaj is a combination of Dave Semenko, Al IaFrate and Rod Langway. That’s a very rare breed of a player.
#9. The entire NHL Safety Department and 90% of its on-ice officials need to be replaced. There have been far worse offenses in the league that didn’t even receive a slap on the wrist and they hit Brendan Gallagher with not only a 5-minute penalty and a game misconduct which were completely warranted, but add a 5-game suspension, are you kidding me, this clearly shows an internal league and officials negative bias towards Brendan Gallagher.

Episode 85 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 01-21-2024

Hey Hockey Fan's, here's Episode 85 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast Topics.
#1. Kent Hughes wants more offence, but this needs to come through the draft. Montreal doesn’t need to trade for or ridiculously overpay for any NHL established offensive player, as they never work out in Montreal.
#2. Let’s see Josh Anderson, Sean Monahan, Tanner Person, Joel Armia, David Savard, Mike Matheson, Jake Allen or if they move any prospects such as Justin Baron, Filip Eriksson, Alexander Gordin, Oliver Kapanen, Ty Smilanic, Nicolas Beaudin, Luke Mittelstadt, Petteri Nurmi, Daniil Sobolev, Miguel Tourigny, Quentin Miller and Christian Dvorak first before trading anyone else.
#3. The 3-goalie system continues to work just fine in Montreal. It’s actually been an evaluation benefit.
#4. How about everyone just moves on from Jonathan Drouin and wishes him well Colorado is stacked, that’s why his product is up. Nathan is one of the best centers in the NHL, and that go all the way back to the QMJHL as teammates.
#5. What’s with the chaotic behavior regarding Alexander Ovechkin is falling off some kind of cliff?
#6. What is wrong with these people that want to or think that the Montreal Canadiens should trade Arber Xhekaj.
#7. Jaden Struble has even remotely replaced Arber Xhekaj in any way. Aber Jhekaj has been missed since the day he was sent to Laval!
#8. Patrick Roy is the NEW HEAD COACH of the N.Y. Islanders. Truly a fantastic hire, a perfect fit and for the perfect market match.

Episode 84 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 1-12-2024

Episode 84 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast, topics include-
 
#1. William Nylander’s new contract and cap room for the 2024/2025 season is not going to be a problem for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Tyler Bertuzzi, Max Domi, T.J. Brodie and Ilya Samsonov at values of 5.5 million, 3 million, 5 million and 3.55 million dollars respectively, which just over 17-million-dollar value, and that’s just the larger of the contracts that will be coming of the books.
At the end of the 2024/25 season the contract of John Tavares at 11-million per season comes off the books as well, So the Toronto Maple Leafs will be just as the salary cap will increase as well on top of that.
 
#2. Montreal not only doesn’t need to acquire any player for any particular position, they have a legit contending roster, that they can ice from the opening game of the 2024/2025 that can and will compete with any team in the league on a level playing field and be a legit contender.
 
Starting 6 defensive pairings
 
David Reinbacher with Lane Hutson
Logan Mailloux with Kadian Guhle
Arber Xhekaj with Jayden Struble
7th Defenseman Jordan Harris
 
Starting lines 1-4
 
Line #1 Joshua Roy-RW, Nick Suzuki-C, Cole Caufield-LW
Line #2 Alex NewHook-RW, Kirby Dach-C, Jaruj Slafkovsky-LW
Line #3 Filip Mesar or Emil Heineman-RW, Owen Beck-C, Sean Farrell-LW
Line #4 Jesse Ylonen-RW, Lucas Condotta-C or Oliver Kapanen-C, Micheal Pezzetta-LW or Riley Kidney at LW
 
Goaltending
Cayden Primeau
Sam Montembeau
 
#3. Why is the Cutter Gauthier for Jamie Drysdale and a 2nd round pick in the 2025 trade between the Anaheim Ducks and the Philadelphia Flyers being viewed as anything other than a normal trade? This has gotten completely out of hand, unallowable and unexpectable behavior lines have been clearly crossed.
#4. The Montreal Canadiens do not need Trevor Zegras, stop the insanity.
#5. William Nylander’s new 8-year 92-million-dollar contract with an average annual hit of 11.5 million dollars per season, will not be a measuring stick for unestablished younger or future talent.
#6. The Montreal Canadiens loose defensive prospect Gustav Lindstrom to the Anaheim Ducks on the waiver wire.

Episode 83 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 1-7-2024

Hi Hockey Fans, here is episode 83 of the hockey free for all podcast Topics include-
#1. Here are perfect examples of the differences between the International game versus the North American game.
#2. Why would the Canadiens even remotely consider acquiring a 2nd line center? It makes absolutely zero sense.
#3. What about evaluating organizational depth or prospects such as Jan Mysak, Riley Kidney, Lias Andersson, Lucas Condotta, Jared Davidson, Xavier Simoneau, Sean Farrell, Oliver Kapanen or Owen Beck after current tournaments conclude?
#5. Exceptional hire’s by Geoff Molson to bring in Jeff Gorton, who brought in Kent Hughes. Those 2 gentlemen then brought in Marty St. Louis and Vincent Lecavalier who just about everyone wanted to doubt and question, which all of those people had no business doing, as well as Adam Nicholas, Scott Pellerin, Nick Bobrov, Chrostopher Boucher and a host of other talented people, because these people understand what it takes, the time lime and the outside noise has no part in the rebuild process and are irrelevant.
#5 Jayden Struble has neither replaced or has somehow made Arber Xhekaj expendable. Arber Xhekaj and Jayden Struble’s would make a fantastic defensive pairing.
#6 There is no problem with the Montreal Canadiens continuing to utilize 3 goaltenders.
#7 Kent Hughes is remaining steadfast on his asking price and is no hurry to trade a goalie. Kent Hughes is clearly gaining leverage as the Carolina Hurricanes put veteran goaltender Antti Raanta on waivers, the Toronto maple Leaf’s have now placed veteran goaltender IIlya Samsonov on waivers, Buffalo needs to stabilize there organizational goaltending and the New Jersey Devils clearly look to be having goaltending issues.
#8. The state of goaltending in the NHL is not as dismal as people are making it out to be. Out of the top 100 goaltenders, 46 have a goals against average of under 3 goals against.
#9 Josh Anderson does not have a serious injury.
#10 Christian Dvorak has joined the season ending injury list with a torn pectoral muscle that he gets to have surgically repaired this week.
#11 Minnesota Wild forward Ryan Hartman has a serious issue and it needs to be addressed by the NHL or players should and will take care of it in their own way.

Episode 82 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 12-31-2023

Hello Hockey Fans, here is Episode 82 of the Hockey Free For Podcast topics include-
#1. The very impressive smooth transition to the NHL of the Montreal Canadiens defensive prospect Jayden Struble is not surprising at all.
#2. The only concern about Jayden Struble finishing up at and coming out of Northeastern University was will he be able to stay healthy, as he has sustained several injuries during his time at Northeastern, and he has. Fortunately, his injury and durability history which was a valid concern has not followed him to the AHL or NHL.
#3. Absolutely there is room for both Arber Xhekaj and Jayden Struble in the starting 6 defensive positions, as well as for Florian Xhekaj are exactly the types of players that Montreal has desperately needed for nearly 5 decades.
#4. The long-term starting 6 defenseman for the next 10 to 15 years should be David Reinbacher with Lane Hutson, Logan Mailloiux with Kadian Guhle and Arber Xhekaj with Jayden Struble hands down.
#5. Before trading Jordan Harris, with his skating, defensive game and awareness, there is a potention Right wing sot on the 4th line for him.
#6. Looks like it’s nothing more than total lip service regarding player safety if you were watching the Carolina Hurricanes and Montreal Canadiens game on Friday when there was no call against Carolina Hurricanes player Stafan Noesen who targeted and hit Montreal Canadiens left Winger Jaruj Slafkovsky in the head.
So much for ethics and integrity, this exactly the reason why Arber Xhakaj should have never been sent to Laval and is exactly why Arber Xhakaj is the MVP of the Montreal Canadiens roster, as well as a cornerstone player on the Montreal Canadiens roster for the next 10 to 15 year’s. Arber Xhekaj is a solid defenseman who was an undrafted walk-on at both the OHL junior level and at the NHL level who plays a solid game, who skates tremendously well with his stature, build and body type, who generates offensive production beyond expectation, who bring a formidable intimidation to his game that clearly cares about his teammates and protects them refreshingly and is team captain material, oh and did I forget who brings a calmness to the ice that keeps the opposition in their place and in check.
#7. Sam Montembeau and Cayden Primeau are the right goalies for the Montreal Canadiens to move forward with and evaluate as the organization continues its rebuild and prospects develop.

Episode 81 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 12-24-2023

Episode #81 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast Topics.
#1. Trade Bait Josh Anderson, Christian Dvorak, Jake Evans, Joel Armia, Rapheal Harvey-Pinard, Brendan Gallagher, Sean Monahan, Tanner Pearson, Mike Matheson, David Savard and Jake Allen.
#2. Goaltending should consist of Sam Montembeau and Cayden Primeau for the next 3 to 5 years while prospects develop 
#3. Prospects: Joshua Roy, Sean Ferrall, Owen Beck, David Reinbeck, Lane Hutson,
#4. Future 4 lines: Joshua Roy/Sean Ferrall, Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Alex Newhook, Kirby Dach, Juraj Slafkovsky, Joshua Roy/Sean Ferrall/Filip Mesar, Owen Beck, Emil Heineman and Luke Tuch, Jared Davidson, Florian Xhekaj.
#5. Future 6 D: Reinbacher/Lane Hutson, Logan Mailloux/Kaiden Guhle, Jayden Struble/Arber Xhekaj
#6. Goaltending Future: Jacob Fowler/Yevgeni Volokhin