Episode 189 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 12-23-2025

Hello hockey fans, episode 189 of the Hockey of the Hockey Free For All Podcast has arrived for the holiday, topics include-

#1. All of the individuals that have been relentlessly screaming how Montreal has to make a trade, you got your wish. Its on you, when it doesn’t work, and sets the team back.

#2. Montreal has reacquired center Phillip Danault for the Los Angeles Kings who is now 32 versus 28 when he left as a free agent.

#3. Phillip Danault has a whopping 5 assists in 30 games this season, that’s exciting.

#4. Phillip Danault brings with him yet another bloated 5.5-million-dollar contract to that gats added to the team’s payroll. How awesome is that?

#5.  Montreal paid to high of a price by trading the 2nd round pick that they acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets the Patrik Laine trade, which will likely be a top 39 pick in the 2026 draft.

#6. Montreal will miss out on a very good prospect in the very deep 2026 draft for an unproductive rental, ouch.

#7. At most, Montreal should have traded Joshua Roy straight up for Phillip Danault.

#8. Phillip Danault better be slotted in as the 3rd line center and not disrupt Oliver Kapanen’s development and team contribution in any way.

#9. Phillip Danault will not keep pace and will disrupt Ivan Demidovs and Juraj Slafkovsky’s games if he is slotted in as the #2 center.

#10. If Phillip Danault is slotted in as the #2 center, everyone can forget about Ivan Demidov winning the rookie of the year.

#11. If Phillip Danault is slotted in as the #2 center, The coaching staff will successfully destroy Kapanen’s game and confidence by demoting him to the 3rd center slot.

#12. Suzuki is the undisputed center

#13. Oliver Kapanen is the undisputed #2 center for the team in the 2025/2026 season.

#14. Oliver Kapanen will shift to the #3 center, when Michael Hage comes in and take the #2 center from day one of training camp in 2026/2027.

#15. Owen beck has earned a roster spot at the very minimum as the 4th center, and now that won’t happen with the Phillip Danault trade. So, Owen Beck gets truly screwed in this deal.

#16. With injuries, Phillip Danault greatest impact is if he is slotted in as the number #3 center, reuniting him with Brendan Gallagher as his right wing and Josh Anderson as his left

#17. My greatest concern regarding this acquisition is how it affects center prospect Michael Hage’s development and opportunity.

#18. Michael has done, and is doing everything absolutely right and will have nothing else to do, learn or achieve, unless he chooses to complete his degree before joining the NHL.

#!9. Want proof of my concerns regarding the Phillip Danault trade? Adam Engstrom is currently stating his case, proving himself and pushing through, for a roster spot that is packed with talented prospects, and the discussions have only centered around the NHL and Laval prospects.

#20. Keep an eye on and do not forget these prospects- Bryce Pickford from the WHL, Owen Protz from the OHL or Bogdan Konyushkov from the KHL, Alexander Zharovsky KHL, Michael Hage Big-10 (as apparently most have no idea how ready he is), L.J. Mooney Big-10, Hayden Paupenekis WHL or Sam Harris Big-10.

#21. The Buffalo Sabres fire General Manager Kevyn Adams and his assistant G.M.

#22. The Buffalo Sabres appoint Jarmo Kekalainen as their new G.M.

#23. Jarmo Kekalainen names former Montreal Canadiens General Manager Marc Bergevin who had been serving as a senior advisor with the Los Angelas Kings for the past 5 years as his Associate General Manager and top advisor.

#24. Marc Bergevin knows how to find talent.

#25. Remember it was Marc Bergevin who drafted Cole Caufield, Kaiden Guhle, Oliver Kapanen, Jayden Struble, Jakub Dobes, Alexander Romanov and Mikhail Sergachev.

#26. It was Marc Bergevin who signed Arber Xhekaj as a walk on

#27. The Buffalo Sabres could become very scary with these changes.