Hockey Free For All

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.

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.

Hello Hockey Fans, take a listen to Episode 159 of the Hockey Free For all Podcast to get you’re your hockey fix, this week’s topics include- #1. Florian Xhekaj will be a very important player for the Montreal Canadiens. #2. The Compensation package for players that could or might be available around the NHL are off the charts ridiculous. Teams are asking for more than what the Edmonton Oilers got for Wayne Gretzky, and no player in the league today even comes remotely close to Wayne Gretzky. #3. There are multiple reasons beyond just the supposed 2nd center need to swap Filip Mesar with the Carolina Hurricane for Ryan Suzuki. #4. Anybody else starting to draw comparisons of Johnathan Drouin and Kirby Dach? #5. A trade of Kirby Dach to the Philadelphia Flyers for defenseman Jamie Drysdale is a legit scenario only because both of these players are entering the final year of their current contracts, so it’s a one-year test for both the Montreal Canadiens and the Philadelphia Flyers. #6. Logan Mailloux, David Reinbacher and Adam Engstrom should all have first shots at roster position before anyone from the outside does. #7. Cayden Primeau should be the number 1 goalie in Laval. He turned his season around, He’s carried the team, He had an enormous role in getting the team to where they are at and he’s earned it, as for the summer, its TDB! #8. The 2024/2025 Stanley Cup Final will be a repeat of the 2023/2024 Stanley Cup Final as both the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers have made it all the way back in a rematch. #9. The Montreal Canadiens do not need to sign pending free agent Left Winger Nikolaj Ehlers of the Winnipeg Jets. #10. Trade Patrik Laine to either the Pittsburgh Penguins or the Vancouver Canucks for the 11th or 15th overall pick respectively. #11. I say Mitch Marner ends up in one of 3 teams. Either the Las Vegas Golden knights or the Florida Panthers because of tax and weather reasons, or the Kyle Dubas factor with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Hello Hockey Fans. Take a listen to Episode 158 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast. This episode discussions include- #1. The Montreal Canadiens have absolutely no need for Alexis Lafreniere. #2. The Montreal Canadiens need to keep all their own prospects and draft picks. #3. In addition to not needing Alexis Lafreniere of the Rangers, Montreal has no need for Trevor Zegras of the Anaheim Ducks, Dawson Mercer of the Devils or the often-injured Marco Rossi from the Minnesota Wild. All of these teams are asking for greater compensation than the Edmonton Oilers got for Wayne Gretzky, and not one of them or all of them collectively are near Wayne Gretzky’s talent. #4. Listen to why the Montreal Canadiens do not need Bo Horvat and Noah Dobson either. #5. David Reinbacher, Logan Mailloux and Adam Engstrom are all already better than Noah Dobson. #6. The Montreal Canadiens have at least 8 options that they internally platoon in the 2nd center position? #7. It doesn’t stop. The Montreal Canadiens do not need to acquire Mason McTavish. #8. Dallas Stars are looking really good. #9. The Florida Panthers didn’t beet the Toronto Maple Leaf’s, the Florida Panthers smoked the Leaf’s. #10. The Florida Panthers are destroying the Carolina Hurricanes, its not even a contest #11. Wild 3rd period between the Dallas stars and the Edmonton Oilers in game 1. #12. The Montreal Canadiens need to keep all their 2025 draft pick and keep adding talent. #13. Lots of options at 16 and 17 for Montreal in the first round of the 2025 draft. Brady Martin, Cameron Reid, Cater Bear, Ivan Ryabkin, William Moore, William Horcroff, Lynden Lakovic, Logan Hensler and many more. #14. Will the New York Islanders select Center James Hagens of Boston College? #15. Want to bet that Mitch Marner lines up with Sidney Crosby in Pittsburgh next season? #16. Very Likely John Tavares will be back and Mitch Marner will not in Toronto. #17. Mathew Knies next contract will be very interesting after an outstanding 2nd half of the regular season and the playoffs. #18. The Boston Bruins sign General Manager Don Sweeney to a new 2 year contract. #19. The Toronto Maple Leaf’s allow the New York Islanders to speak with Brendan Shanahan. #20. The Toronto Maple Leaf’s have released and will not be resigning Team President Brendan Shanahan. #21. The New York Islanders did not select Marc Bergevin as their next General Manager, they chose Mathew Darch as their new and next General Manager. #22. The Toronto Maple Leaf’s have the most interesting offseason of all Canadiens teams. #23. The Chicago Blackhawks have hired Jeff Blashill as their new and next head coach. #24. Here’s 2 actual interesting options for the Montreal Canadiens, Ryan Suzuki and Issac Howard?

Hello Hockey Fans. Episode 157 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast has arrived for your enjoyment. This week’s discussions include- #1. Marc Bergevin would be a solid selection as President of Hockey Operations for the New York Islanders. #2. Mathew Darch would be an excellent choice as the New York Islanders next General Manager. #3. The New York Islanders have won the NHL draft lottery. Do they select defenseman Matthew Schaefer or Center James Hagens, Hear why. #4. Jaccob Fowler is having a lights out performance in Laval and making his case to be the number 1 goalie in Montreal next season. #5. Ivan Ryabkin and William Moore are the pick for Montreal at the 16th and 17th selection spots in the 2025 NHL draft. #6. Stop the insanity , the Montreal Canadiens do not need Sidney Crosby, Mathew Barzal or Bo Horvat! #7. Sidney Crosby is 38 and would cost far too many assets and draft capital, and by himself does not make the Montreal Canadiens winners of the Stanley Cup. #8. Mathew Barzal is a more effective winger than center and is far too inconsistent, for what he is paid. #9. Bo Horvat has 7-years left on an ungodly expensive contract. #10. Do not let Cayden Primeau just walk away for nothing, hear why. Florian Xhehaj, Brandan Gallagher, ring a bell? #11. Here’s a trade that actually make sense for a lot of reasons. Send Right Wing Prospect Filip Mesar to the Carolina Hurricanes straight for prospect center Ryan Suzuki. #12. Rob Blake outs as L.A. Kings General Manager. #13. Ken Holland in as the new L.A. Kings General Manager. #14. Rick Tocchet out as Head Coach of the Vancouver Canucks. #15. Adam Foote in as the new Head Coach of the Vancouver Canucks. #16. Rick Tocchet named as the 25th Head Coach of the Philadelphia Flyers. #17. Looks like the Toronto Maple Leaf’s are about to choke once again, as the Florida Panthers after being down 2 games to none, are about to knock them out of the 2024/2025 playoffs. #18. The Dallas Stars look like they are wiping the ice with the Winnipeg Jet’s. #19. The Edmonton Oilers are waiting for their next opponent. #20. The Carolina Hurricanes looked poised to eliminate the Washington Capitals. #21. Has anyone else notice the migration of Montreal Canadiens goalie prospect Quinten Miller, from the QMJHL, to Chiliwack of the BCHL and is now heading to the University of Denver next season. Here’s to him finding the home he has been searching for. #22. Hats off to Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Lane Huston and Juraj Slafkovsky for declining an invitations to play for team Canada, USA and Slovakia. These 4 players clearly understand their health and recovery far exceeds the importance of anything or anyone else.

Hello Hockey Fans, welcome to Episode 156 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast #1. Here’s a trade for all of the relentless blood thirsty people that have just been dying to trade away every player and prospect in the Montreal Organization, Filip Mesar to the Carolina Hurricanes straight up for Center Prospect Ryan Suzuki. #2. A blatant example of stupidity. Why Montreal Canadiens trade 4 1st round pick and prospect Michael Hage to acquiring Sydney Crosby? Ignorance knows no boundaries. #3. Why would Montreal destroy team chemistry, the looker room, player roles and start their rebuild all over again? #4. Sidney Crosby, Conner McDavid, Leon Draisaitl or any other individual player in the entire NHL would not be enough on their own to propel Montreal to a 25th Stanley Cup and Parade. Stop with the insanity. #5. The Montreal’s roster has no physicality other than Arber Xhekaj, plain and simple. #6. The Montreal Canadiens do not need to look outside of their own organization to replace David Savard. #7. Do not let Cayden Primeau walk for nothing. If nothing else get a 4th to 7th round pick for him. Why? Brendan Gallagher, Jake Evan, Sean Ferrall, Tyler Thorp and many others were all mid to late round draft picks. #8. Oliver Kapanen and Cayden Primeau were sent down to the Laval Rockets for their playoff run. Why wasn’t Iven Demidov? #9. The New York Rangers hire Mike Sullivan as their next head coach. #10. Peter Laviolette as Penguins head coach? #11. Gerard Gallant makes far more since in Pittsburgh. #12. Here’s to wishing a lot of luck to Kyle Dubas, he’s going to need it. There’s an enormous firestorm heading his way. #13. Mitch Marner to the Penguins in the offseason? #14. Apparently, coaches are not the only ones loosing their jobs. L.A. Kings Vp/G.M. Rob Blake have mutually agreed to part ways. #15. Mathew Darch is the perfect choice for the L.A. Kings next General Manager. #16. Don’t be surprised at all if Marc Bergevin is named President of Hockey Operations for the N.Y. Islanders. #17. Is time for the Montreal Canadiens to move on from Christian, Dvorak, Joel Armia or Michael Pezzetta. #18. At a Minimum, Ivan Demidov, Owen Beck, Jared Davidson, David Reinbacher, Logan Mailloux and Adam Engstrom are all ready to claim their roster spots. #19. In 2025/2026 Arber Xhekaj needs to play in all 82 games plus all playoffs in a regular every game role. #20. Trade Patrik Laine to the Vancouver Canucks for their first draft in the 2025 NHL entry draft, which is 15th overall, and there at it, include Oliver Kapanen for a 2nd and Gustav Lindstrom for a 3rd. #21. What a fantastic game 7 between the Winnipeg Jets and the St. Louis blues.

Hello Hockey fan’s take a listen to episode 155 of the Hockey Free For Podcast to get your hockey fix, this week’s topics include- #1. Patrik Laine has been a non-factor since arriving and right the playoff series against the Washington Capitals. #2. An Offseason move for the Montreal Canadiens is to trade Patrik Laine to the Vancouver Canucks for their 1st round pick in the 2025 NHL entry draft, and if Montreal can unload Oliver Kapanen for Vancouvers 2nd round pick, and Gustav Lindstrom for Vancouvers 3 round pick in the 2025 NHL entry draft all the better. #3. Montreal Goaltender Samual Montembeau, Forwards Laine, Gallagher, Anderson and defensemen David Savard and Alexander Carrier are all injured. #4. They playoff experience is invaluable for the Montreal Canadiens, but they were clearly out matched and out played. #5. The Montreal Canadiens clearly showed they have no physical presence on their roster, outside of Arber Xhekaj, and it showed from puck drop of game 1. #6. The Major offseason move is not to pay a ridiculous excessive price for a 2nd line center or 2nd pairing right-handed defenseman, its to add the next layer of prospects that are ready to supply, and provide Physicality, grit and sandpaper to the line up that desperately need it to take the next step, and Montreal has everyone of those players in their existing prospect pool in Florian Xhekaj, Tyler Thorp, Luke Tuch, Jared Davidson, Owen Protz, Lucas Condotta, and Owen Beck, and additionally Owen Beck plays a gritty 200 foot game with a faceoff win percentage above 70%, which is also a significant need to control games, and keep the puck out of the oppositions offensive hands, all of these players are the physicality, grit, sandpaper and glue, and as equally as important as the top 6 are. #7. The Montreal Canadiens had no answers for Tom Wilson at 6’ 04 230lbs plus, Protas at 6’ 06 and 247 lbs, Alex Alexeyev at 6’ 04 229 lbs, John Carlson at 6’ 03 223 lbs, Jakob Chychrun at 6’ 02 216 lbs, Brandon Duhaime at 6’ 02 210lbs, Dylan McIirath at 6’ 05 240lbs or Alex Ovechkin at 6’ 03 230lbs. #8. Even current larger Montreal players such as Patrik Laine, Joel Armia or Kirby Dach have been and remain non-physical factors. #9. The Montreal Canadiens no doubt have the talent, skills and ability to score and create offense with Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Ivan Demidov, Lane Hutson and Juraj Slafkovsky. #10. But other than Arber Xhekaj, there is zero physicality, sandpaper or grit in the Montreal lineup, and it glaringly showed and was the difference in the series against the Washington Capitals without question. #11. The playoff series against the Washington Capitals showed Juraj Slafkovsky exactly what he needs to focus on and accomplish in the offseason and what he needs to be and the game he needs to bring for the Montreal from the second he hits the ice in training camp. Juraj Slafkovsky needs to evolve into a combination of Alexander Ovechkin, Tom Wilson and Jaromir Jagr. #12. Learning time is over, fun time is over, I’m not sure of my self-time has ended and being surprised, caught off guard time has concluded and the understanding honey moon has come to a conclusion. It’s time for Juraj Slafkovsky to live up to his draft selection. #13. The starting 6 defensemen for the Montreal Canadiens in the 2025/2026 season must include David Reinbacher, Logan Mailloux and Adam Engstrom. #14. David Reinbacher is a very calm, smooth fluid defenseman. #15. Logan Mailloux is a gifted offensive, very smooth skating righthanded defenseman with a nasty mean streak. #16. Adam Engstrom is a consistent 2-way defenseman who plays a safe and nearly flawless game.

Hello hockey fans, welcome to Episode 154 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast, anything goes, topics include- #1. It’s not a big off season, coming for Kent Hughes. Not even remotely close #2. The Montreal Canadiens have all the talent they need internally for every single position. #3. There is no void to fill with David Savard’s retirement. #4. Lane Hutson does not belong paired with Kaiden Guhle even remotely. #5. Lane Hutson should be paired with David Reinbacher. #6. Logan Mailloux is the ideal pairing partner for Kaiden Guhle. #7. Davide Savard and Jayden Struble are not having a good playoffs. #8. Montreal Needs Arber Xhekaj bad in the playoffs. #9. Alexander Carrier has vanished. #10. Montreal Canadiens prospect Sam Harris has not turned his back on the Montreal Canadiens. #11. Does anyone actually care if Juraj Slafkovsky colors his hair blonde, if the Canadiens made the playoffs. #12. Jacob Fowler needs to be allowed to develop properly. #13. Don’t sleep on this Montreal Canadiens prospect, RW Tyler Thorpe. #14. Let’s give Ivan Demidov a chance to develop first and get paired with the proper linemates. #15. The Seattle Kraken Promote General Manager Ron Francis to team President. #16. Jason Botterill promoted to G.M. of the Seattle Kraken. #17. The Seattle Kraken Fire Head Coach Dan Bylsma. #18. Lou Lamoriello out as Islanders G.M. #19. The New York Rangers fire Head Coach Peter Laviolette. #20. Amazingly, Chris Drury signs a new multi-year contract. #21. Joel Quenneville option for the New York Rangers as their next Head Coach. #22. The Vancouver Canucks have a mess on their hands. #23. After only 1-year of existence, players are already leaving Utah, not good. #24. Pittsburgh Penguins President and General manager Kyle Dubas sends clear organizational message of expectations. #25. The Philadelphia Flyers have to find a coach and councilor. #26. Put in Arber Xhekaj or get ready to lose in the playoffs. #27. The Winnipeg Jets, Colorado Avalanche, Las Vegas Golden Knights, Toronto Maple Leaf’s and Dallas stars look the best so far. #28. Let’s see an all-Canadian team Final between the Winnipeg Jets and the Toronto Maple Leaf’s. #29. Trade Patrik Laine to the Vancouver Canucks for the 1st round draft pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. #30. Too bad Joel Armia wasn’t traded for a 2nd round pick. #31. Oliver Kapanen has clearly looked out of place. #32. Emil Heineman doesn’t look right. #33. The Montreal Canadiens 2025/2026 roster clearly needs Arber Xhekaj, Florian Xhekaj, Owen Beck, Logan Mailloux, David Reinbacher, Jared Davison, Lucas Condotta, Sean Farrell, Luke Tuch and Adam Engstrom all as regulars. #34. A starting 6 defenseman of David Reinbacher/Lane Hutson, Logan Mailloux/Kaiden Guhle and Adam Engstrom/Arber Xhekaj is must on day 1 of the 2025/2026 season in Montreal. #35. Martin St. Louis stay’s, replace the rest with.

Hello hockey fans, welcome to Good Friday Episode 153 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast. This week’s Topics Include- #1. Congratulations to Ivan Demidov for his multi point opening night. The NHL overreached excessively by fining Ivan Demidov for not wearing a helmet in the pregame, and league officials should be fired for it. #3. Olivier Kapanen should be sent down to Laval for their playoff run. He’s clearly over his head right now. #4. How is it Montreal beats teams like the Florida Panthers or The Las Vegas Golden Knights who are elite teams in the NHL but struggles against team like the Chicago Blackhawks and the San Jose Sharks? #5. The Montreal Canadiens do not need Erik Karlsson in any way shape or form. #6. Congratulations to Lane Hutson on passing Chris Chelios for most points by a Montreal Canadien rookie defenseman. #7. Here’s a trade that actually would make sense. How about sending right wing prospect Filip Mesar straight up to the Carolina Hurricanes for center prospect Ryan Suzuki? #8. David Reinbacher and Logan Mailloux are you number 1 and 2 right-handed defenseman starting in 2025/2026. Montreal does not need to acquire a right-handed defenseman #9. Alex Newhook’s game has both improved and changed as the center between Ivan Demidov and Patrik Laine. Alex Newhook can use both his speed and puck distribution skills to both position, and set up, his 2 goal scoring winters, and match them stride for stride, as all 3 of these players are excellent skaters. #10. Why is the NHL so star struck and dead set on the Atlanta and Pheonix markets for expansion. It’s been tried and it did not work at all. Houston TX, Quebec City Who already has an NHL ready to go rink, Portland O.R., Hamilton Ont., Kansas City Kansas “who already has a ready to go NHL rink or Kitchener Ont are all exponentially better options, and it seems like Kansas City Kansas and Quebec City are the hands down obvious choices, given they already have (NEW) NHL ready rinks built. Hello, anybody home? #11. Patrik Laine is a toxic player #12. If Montreal wants to move up in the draft trade Laine straight up or as part of the package. #13. Jakob lhl-Wozniak is not what Montreal Needs to draft in 2025. #14. I bet the Montreal Canadiens go off the draft board slightly in the first round and keep both of the first round draft picks and select Ivan Ryabkin-Center and Jack Nesbitt-Center, with their selection positions.

Hello Hockey fans out there. Take a listen to Episode 152 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast, the Alex Ovechkin and Ivan Demidov all Russian episode. #1. Alexander Ovechkin has– Played 20 years in the NHL Started his career with winning the rookie of the year with a 52 goal, 54 assist and 106 point rookie season. Has had a 65-goal season Has had Nine 50 goal plus season’s Has Had Five 40 goal plus season’s Tied Wayne Gretzky’s goal scoring record in the exact same amount of seasons and games. Won the Calder Memorial Trophy in his rookie season Has won the Art Ross Trophy once Has won the Hear Memorial Trophy as the MVP of the NHL (3) Times Has won the Lester B Person Trophy Has won the Ted Lindsay Award Twice Won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the Playoffs in the 2017/2018 when the Washington Capitals won the Stanley Cup. And that’s not enough, has won the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy 9 times. That’s right 9 times. #2. Yet. Somehow there are people questioning his amazing career and achievements. #3. There was a report saying, left wingers are the least import players of all on a team’s roster. #4. Is there anyone who wouldn’t have wanted Steve Shutt, Luc Robitaile, Maurice Richard, Brett Hull, Henri Richard, Jaromir Jagr, Yvan Cournoyer or Guy Lafleur on their team. If wingers are the least important. Explain this please. Can’t wait to hear that reasoning. #5. Extremely unlikely, that anyone currently in the NHL catches or Breaks Alexander Ovechkin’s goal total. #6. Thankfully for Ivan Demidov, he flew into Toronto. #7. Give Ivan Demidov Space. #8. Give Ivan Demidov the time to develop. #9. Give Ivan Demidov the opportunity to get his footing and to adapt to a massive amount of life changes, as he has just left his family, friends and every single thing familiar to him behind, and now finds himself at 19-years of age, in a brand new foreign country, he no one outside of the organization and is looking for a place to live and start his life and career. #10. At a minimum, until after the completion of the 2024/2025 regular season, after the conclusion of the 2024/2025 playoffs, until after the 2025/2026 rookie camp has completed and after the 2025/2026 training camp and preseason has completed, there is for any expectations on this prospect. #11. Once Ivan Demidov has regular linemates, knows what line he is playing on, and what the responsibility of his line is, can there even begin to be any kind of expectation.

Hello Hockey Fans. Here is Episode 151 of the Hockey Free For All podcast to get your hockey fix, topics of discussion this week include- #1. So much for Head Coach John Tortorella’s time in Philadelphia. #2. The Game, the league and its players have changed, can John Tortorella adapt, or is he done. #3. Can’t wait to see Alexander Ovechkin break Wayne Gretzky’s scored goal record and set a new record, he deserves it, he’s earned it, and I hope Ovechkin hits 900 plus goals this year. #4. It’s highly unlikely Joshua Roy returns to Montreal in 2025/2026. #5. Arber Xhekaj is a top 6 defenseman without question. #6. Without Arber Xhekaj as a core member of the team, the Montreal Canadiens do not win the Stanley Cup. #7. The Washington Capitals have signed their number 1 prospect winger Ryan Leonard out of Boston College. #8. Montreal Canadiens Goalie prospect Jacob Fowler should return to Boston College. #9. Finish center Oliver Kapanen’s season has concluded in Sweden and has been added to the Montreal Canadiens roster. #10. The Canadiens should create a 2nd line of Oliver Kapanen at center with Patrik Laine and Emil Heineman on the wings for the rest of the 2024/2025 season and see what they have and how they gel. Do they discover their 2nd line without making any lop sided trades? #11. Can’t wait to see winger Ivan Demidov in uniform, in Montreal in 2025/2026 #12. The New York Rangers sign their top prospect, winger Gabe Perreault. #13. The Colorado Avalanche have signed Cale Makar’s younger brother Taylor who’s 6’ 04 209 lbs to a 1-year entry level deal of 925.000 thousand dollars #14. Highly unlikely Montreal Canadiens defensive prospect David Reinbacher makes an appearance in the 2024/2025 season. #15. Logan Mailloux is exactly what and who Kaiden Guhle needs to be paired up with, starting in 2025/2026 #16. If Kaiden Guhle’s injuries do not come to an end, it’s very easy to see him replaced by Adam Engstrom, who then pairs with Logan Mailloux. #17. The first pair for the Montreal Canadiens defense looks like David Reinbacher and Lane Hutson. #18. Speaking of Lane Hutson, is there any question at all, that he wins the Calder Trophy in the 2024/2025 season? #19. Jayden Struble on the right and Aber Xhekaj on the left are the perfect 3rd pair to offset the top 4, as they bring an entirely different and desperately needed skill set and game style to the defense. #20. Montreal Canadiens prospect, center Michael Hage has already announced, he is returning to the University of Michigan. #21. Keep your eyes on Montreal prospect center Florian Xhekaj who will hit, break and surpass the 20-goal mark in his rookie season in Laval this season. #22. Connor Bedard is not even remotely worth 17 million per season, he’s at best a 3-million-dollar player in his next contract.

Hello Hockey Fan’s, out there. Take a listen to Episode 150 of the Hockey free For all Podcast to get your hockey fix. This week’s topics include- #1. Montreal did not need Dylan Cozens! #2. Montreal Doesn’t need to acquire Trevor Zegras. #3. Montreal does not need to acquire Matthew Barzal, unless its straight up for Patrik Laine and Kirby Dach, and at the end of Barzals current contract in the 2026/2027 season, that carries a 9.15 annual cap hit, Montreal trades Barzal for multiple 1st round picks. #4. Montreal is far better off platooning Owen Beck, Oliver Kapanen and Alex Newhook for the remainder of his current contract, rather than acquiring someone over paid and underperforming from another NHL club. #5. Ivan Demidov, hasn’t even arrived yet, what is wrong with you people? #6. Yes, Michael Hage has announced that he will be returning to the University of Michigan for his sophomore season, that doesn’t translate to Montreal taking on a bloated contract of an underperforming player to just say they filled a roster spot.#7. There is no player in the NHL worthy of Montreal Trading Michael Hage, David Reinbacher, Logan Mailloux, Adam Engstrom, Owen Beck, Tyler Thorp, Owen Protz, Jacob Fowler, Florian Xhekaj, Jaruj Slafkovsky Jakob Dobes, Cole Caufield, Sean Farrell, Luke Tuch or Jared Davidson for. They are all important pieces to the rebuild, that they will not nearly receive anything remotely in equal value for any of those prospects, from any club in the league, which is why every team would absolutely love to obtain any or all of them. #8. Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton are doing an exceptional job. Montreal has done exceptional drafting. #9. Carter Bear and Justin Carbonneau are exactly the types of wingers Montreal to round out their talented prospect pool with. #10. I hope David Savard retires and takes a defensive coaching or player/prospect developmental position at the NHL/AHL and ECHL levels. #11. Christian Dvorak, Joel Armia and Michael Pezzetta need to be allowed to walk away the completion of the 2024/2025, or as soon as the season end’s, trade their rights to a team and if that team signs them, Montreal receives agreed to draft compensation. #12. Patrik Laine, Kirby Dach, Alex Newhook and Joshua Roy, all need to be traded. They do not fit into Montreal’s rebuild and are not the right types of players. #13. Definitely hold onto Left Defensive Prospect Adam Engstrom. If Kaiden Guhle’s history of injuries does not stop with the conclusion of the 2024/2025 season, it’s time to trade Kaiden Guhle and replace him with Adam Engstrom. Nearly identical height and weight. At the moment Guhle is better defensively, Engstrom is better offensively, both are excellent skaters, and excellent in the transition game. https://Hockeyfreeforall.podbean.com/e/episode-150-of-the-hockey-for-all-podcast-03-28-2025/

Hello Hockey fan’s out there. Here is Episode 149 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast to listen to and get your hockey fix, topics of discussion include- #1. Sean Farrell has arrived and is having a tremendous 2nd half in Laval. #2. Joshua Roy is on his way out, unless he does a complete180. #3. Lucas Conndotta signs a new 2-year contract extension with the Montreal Canadiens. #4. Josh Andersson has found the right spot this season. #5. Josh Anderson chose the perfect time to wear the new cut protections clothing. #6. Montreal Does not need to resign David Savard. #7. Montreal Does not need to resign Christian Dvorak, with only exception being? #8. Montreal Does not need to resign Joel Armia. #9. Montreal can let Michael Pezzetta go. #10. Nick Suzuki is Patrice Bergeron 2.0 #11. Nick Suzuki is an Elite NHL center. #12. Who are the 24 NHL centers supposedly in front or/better than Nick Suzuki? #13. Are there 24 Mario Lemieux’s in the NHL, I think not! #14. There’s no better team captain in the NHL better, than Nick Suzuki! #15. I wouldn’t trade Michael Hage, Ivan Demidov, David Reinbacher, Logan Mailloux, Owen Beck, Arber Xhekaj, Florian Xhekaj, Jacob Fowler or Jakub Dobes straight up for Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl! #16. Before calling me clueless, take a deep look into the mirror. #17. Yes, Connor McDavid is one of the fastest, purest gifted skaters and puck handlers in the entire world. #18. Yes, Leon Draisaitl one of the best goal scorers and there’s room for the argument of he is one of the best 2-way center in the NHL. Yes, that argument can certainly be made. #19. Michael Hage, Ivan Demidov, David Reinbacher, Logan Mailloux, Owen Beck, Arber Xhekaj, Florian Xhekaj, Jacob Fowler or Jakub Dobes are all future top level/elite NHL players. #20. Want proof? Patrik Laine is the perfect current example. #21. It’s a locust market that invades and infringes on alone time, family time, get away time, recovery time, rejuvenation time or any other kind of time of players or their families. #22. Family members of a player on social media platforms even get trolled! #23. Connor McDavid is extremely private and is not particularly fond of the media. Want proof, recall his response to the media member of 2-years ago #24. Not so long ago the Montreal Canadiens entered a season with 5 rookie defenseman and nearly everyone blew a gasket. Opps, it thrived. #25. Why can’t Alex Newhook fill in as the number 2 center for the 2025/2026 season? #26. Why can’t Alex Newhook, Owen beck or Oliver Kapanen platoon in the 2nd center roll in the 2025/2026 season, If Michael Hage was to return to the University of Michigan? #27. Montreal has no need for unproven, underachieving players like Trevor Zegras, Dylon Cozens and countless others with bloated contracts. #28. Too bad the KHL doesn’t like the fact that Ivan Demidov doesn’t want to sign another KHL contract.

Hello hockey fans. Take a listen to Episode 148 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast and get your hockey fix this week. Topics include- #1. Why would anyone think Mitch Marner should have waved his no trade clause for the Toronto Maple Leaf’s? #2. Mitch Marner has more than earned the privilege to determine where he wants to go. #3. Mitch Marner is the Number one player on the Toronto Maple Leaf’s Roster. #4. Mitch Marner is the Swiss army knife of the Toronto Maple Leaf’s and bring more to the table than any other player on the Toronto Maple Leaf’s Roster by far. #5. William Nylander is the number 2 and 2nd most important player on the Toronto Maple Leaf’s roster. #6. Austin Matthews is the number 3 player of importance on the Toronto maple Leaf’s roster, has a concerning injury history and is a one trick pony. #7. Hockey is a business. Organizations understand that, and the players understand that. #8. What is wrong with those in Montreal, that want the Canadiens Organization to mortgage away all of its prospects for overpaid, underperforming, overrated and yet to do anything at the NHL level players with bloated long-term contracts, that will negatively saddle the club financially for the better part of a decade? #9. Kent Hughs and Jeff Gorton are doing it right. #10. If I had been offered a 2nd round draft pick for Joel Armia, I don’t know if I could have passed that up, but Kent Hugh’s stood his ground and has given his players a chance to prove it and made no additions or deletions to his roster. #11. It’s going to be very interesting to see where the Montreal Canadiens finish in the standing and to see if they can make and take a playoff spot? #12. At a minimum, the players have to know that Joel Armia, Christian Dvorak, Michael Pezzetta and David Savard won’t return next season and that there is a better than average chance that Patrik Laine, Kirby Dach, Alex Newhook and Josh Anderson could not return as well, in 2025/2026 season. #13. No one has drafted better than the Montreal Canadiens for the last 5-years and the 2025 NHL entry could be extremely interesting as Joel Armia, Christian Dvorak, Michael Pezzetta and David Savard could just end up walking away. But, what if Patrik Laine, Kirby Dach, Alex Newhook, Filip Mesar and Logan Mailloux were moved for 1st round picks, and Josh Anderson and Joshua Roy were moved for 2nd round picks in the 2025 NHL entry draft?

Hello Hockey Fans out there, take a listen to Episode 147 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast to get your hockey fix, and catch up the annual NHL trade deadline that expired at 3pm eastern time today. #1. The Kirby Dach experiment in Montreal is over. #2. Moving forward at best, Dack is the 1st or 2nd line right winger or will be no longer be with the organization at the end of his current contract. #3. The Montreal Canadiens do not need to acquire a 2nd line center. They already have the 1st, 2nd & 3rd lines centers in Nick Suzuki, Michael Hage and Owen Beck moving forward, and Can finish the 2024/2025 season with Nick Suzuki, Alex Newhook, Jake Evans and Christian Dvorak. #4. It’s time for Alex Newhook to prove to the organization he belongs there or its time to move on. #5. Jake Evans signs a new 4-year contract with an annual cap hit of 2.85 million dollars per season, rather than the insane numbers of 4 or 5 million dollars that were being thrown around. #6. The Montreal Canadiens have so many centers, that Oliver Kapanen, Florian Xhekaj and Jared Davidson will be vying for 4th line center minutes, that is stiff roster competition right there. #7. The Montreal Canadiens do not need to and have no need to acquire Simon Nemec, Trevor Zegras, Casey Mittelstadt, Mavrik Bourque or Dylan Cozens and give away far more talented prospects in Logan Mailloux, Joshua Roy or Future 1st round draft picks for unproven severely over paid players, who have all done absolutely nothing to this point of their careers. #8. How did the Ryan McDonagh trade work out? #9. How did the Mikhail Sergachev trade work out? #10. Jonathan Kovocevic for the first day he landed in New Jersey, has been the lock down, lights out number one defenseman for the New Jersey Devils all season long. Trade deadline Highlights #11. Thankfully, the Ottawa Senators have acquired Center Dylan Cozen from the Buffalo Sabres. #12. The Philadelphia Flyers traded forward Scott Laughton along with 4th and 6th round 2025 draft picks to the Toronto Maple Leaf’s for forward Nikkita Grebenkin and a 2027 top 10 protected 1st round draft pick. #13. Carolina Hurricanes Trade RW Mikko Rantanen to The Dallas Stars for Center Logan Stankoven, and 2 first round picks. #14. The Dallas stars have signed the newly acquired RW Mikko Rantanen to a new 8-year 96-million-dollar contract, with an annual cap hit of 12-million per season. #15. The New Jersey Devils have signed defenseman Jonathan Kovacevic to a new 5-year, 20-million-dollar extension with a 4 million per season annual cap hit. #16. The Boston Bruins have sent their team Captain Brad Marchand to the Florida Panthers for pending Compensation, TDB. #17. It looks like the Boston Bruins are in full reload mode.

It’s time for Episode 146 pf the Hockey Free For All Podcast, Topics include- #1. Whinny Patrik Laine is back. The honeymoon in Montreal Canadiens is over. #2. Montreal needs to trade Patrik Laine to the Vancouver Canucks, so Laine can line up with Elias Pettersson. The Vancouver Canuck can then concentrate on acquiring Mikko Rantanen to complete the line. #3. What is up with the continued and relentless trade rumors with every possible trade that the Montreal Canadiens could will start with or include Logan Mailloux? #4. Is there just an abysmal lack of understanding in talent level and excellence of this Montreal Canadiens prospect? #5. Unless Montreal Canadiens obtains Cale Makar straight up for Logan Mailloux, by the Colorado Avalanche, no one else is worthy of trading for! #6. Its time to move Patrik Laine’s, Kirby Dach, Alex Newhook, Josh Andersson, Christian Dvorak, Jake Evan, Michael Pezzetta, David Savard, Joel Armia and Cayden Primeau to move on, the organization has the replacements on hand #7. This just in, Kirby Dach will miss the remainder of yet another regular season. This is ala Jonathan Drouin all over again. #8. Kirby Dach is far too fragile. #9. Florian Xhekaj was a 4th round steel in the 2023 draft, hab’s fans will love him. #10. Tyler Thorp and Luke Tuch will make excellent linemates for Florian Xhekaj. #11. The Montreal Canadiens have their top 3 centers for the next decade plus. #12. Samual Montembeau returned from the 4-nations tournament a very different player #13. The Montreal Canadiens do not need to focus on the QMJHL in the 2025 draft, they need to focus on the best player/players for the organization. #14. The Montreal Canadiens finally started drafting the organization needs in 2019 after decades of bad drafting. #15. Kaidin Guhle’s injury though not a Knee or Shoulder injury, should be extremely concerning. #16. Kaiden Guhle needs to spend the rest of his recovery time, and all of the off season focused on protecting himself. #17. Arber Xhekaj’s greatest skill above all else is to be told he can’t succeed at something. #18. A line consisting of Brendan Gallagher, Sean Farrell and Raphael Harvey-Pinard for the rest of the 2024/2025 season would be great to watch. #19. Can’t wait to see Alexander Ovechkin break Wayne Gretzky’s all time most goals scored record. #20. I want to see Alexander Ovechkin notch 900 career goals by the end of the 2024/2025 regular season. #21. What’s with these morons that keep calling into question Martin St. Louis coaching? #22. The Montreal Canadiens do not need to trade Brendan Gallagher to the New Jersey Devils and the Montreal Canadiens do not need to acquire any more players on the smaller side. #23. The Montreal Canadiens need to net a 1st round draft pick for Jake Evans.

Hello Hockey Fans out there. Here is Episode 145 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast to take a listen to and get your hockey fix, topics this week include- #1. The fights at the beginning of the game were an unexceptionable disgrace. #2. Matthew Tkachuk and Brady Tkachuk should have been ejected from the game #3. Canada had injuries too, Cale Makar, Shea Theodore and Alex Pietrangelo. #4. Cale Makar is the undisputed best defensemen in the NHL #5. Fighting is not part of the game, it’s been allowed. There’s an enormous difference and distinction there. #6. Policing, protecting and retaliation to intent to hurt a player on purpose dose justify the permanent elimination of the offender, and sends a message, it will not be tolerated in any way, shape or form, or at any time. #7. Canada looked old in the first game against the United States #8. Canada looked flat in the first game against the United States #9. Canada was clearly relying on its history and past reputation, and didn't show up in the first game against the United States #10. Sidney Crosby was a non-factor in the first game against the United States #11. Connor McDavid was taken out of the remainder of the first game against the United States after scoring. #12. Team Finland and Sweden clearly outmatched in the 4 nations tournament by the United States and Canada, it wasn’t even close. #13. The 4 Nations Tournament was an enormous success for the NHL and far better than any traditional all-star game format. #14. Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid showed up and were engaged in the 4 Nation’s final game, there was a clear difference in their level of intensity, and everyone else fed off of it. #15. NHL All-star games should be replaced with tournaments like the 4 nations tournament, Rendezvous 87 where the best of the NHL lined up in a 2-game contest with the Soviet Selects or go to a different international city, every year and play that countries top team/teams. It would be far more interesting, result in far more viewership, and would be the best possible marketing for the NHL. #16. The 4 Nations Tournament would have been even better if Czechoslovakia, Russia, Slovenia and Germany were part of it. #17. It’s time to stop punishing Russian athletes. They are responsible in any way for the Ukraine war against Russia. The Athletes are being used as Pawns in a geo-political game. The athletes have dedicated their lives to and trained for tournaments, the Olympics and international contests, they have nothing to do with the war, and yet are being punished for it.

Hello Hockey fan’s, take a listen to episode 144 of the Hockey Free For All Podacst as Rumors and behaviors are running rampant. #1. The only way it makes sense for Jakub Dobes to be returned to Laval is? #2. The unacceptable behaviors of Montreal Canadiens fan’s after the the completion of the 4 to nothing shut out by the New Devils. #3. The Unprofessional conduct and treatment of Samual Montembeau at the 4 Nations Tournament? #4. The insanity of acquiring center Dylan Cozens from the Buffalo Sabres, who carries 7.1 million dollar annual cap hit until the 2029/2030 season, are you kidding me? That makes sense on what or who’s planet? #5. Its time for Patrik Laine, Kirby Dach, Alex Newhook, Josh Anderson, Christian Devorak, Joel Armia, Jake Evens, Dave Savard, Mike Matheson, Michael Pezzetta, Rapheal Harvey-Pinard and with the resent treatment of Samual Montembeau to all move on #6. The honeymoon ends with the completion of the 2024/2025 season. #7. The Injury to Kaiden Guhle has clearly shows how far away the Montreal Canadiens are from an actual playoff contending team. The loss of this player should not have affected the Canadiens to the level that is has. The Pittsburgh Penguins have lost Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, The Edmonton Oilers have lost Connor McDavid and the Colorado Avalanche have lost their captain Gabriel Landeskog for 277 games and counting and it remained game on, next man up and none of the 3 teams have so much missed a step, let alone catastrophically fallen into despair, like the Montreal Canadiens have since Kaiden Guhle’s injury. If that happens with an injury to Kaiden Guhle, what would happen if Nick Suzuki or Ivan Demidov got hurt? It should be business as usual next man up, but will it be? #8. The expectations increase exponentially on day one of training camp and the regular season of 2025/2026 with the full time arrivals of Ivan Demidov, Michael Hage, Owen Beck, Joshua Roy, David Reinbacher, Logan Mailloux , Adam Engstrom, Jakub Dobes, Oliver Kapanen, Jacob Fowler and maybe even Tyler Thorpe, along with sandpaper/grit players Florian Xhekaj, Luke Tuch and Jared Davidson.

Hello Hockey Fans Episode 143 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast is ready to listen to, topics include- #1. Everyone should be ready for another inevitable bottom 5 finish in the league for the Montreal Canadiens for a 3rd year in a row? #2. Why is has Kaiden Guhle’s injury effected the Montreal Canadiens to the degree that it has? #3. The Pittsburgh Penguins have lost and survived without Sidney Crosby, Kris LaTang and Evgeni Malkin. #4. The Colorado Avalanche traded an elite level roster and star player in Mikko Rantanen and have been without their captain Gabrial Landeskog who if he misses the 2024/2025 season, has not played since game 51 of the 2021/2022 season and let’s do the math on that for a moment. That is 271 games consecutively missed, or 3 and 1/3 seasons without their captain, a key player, a cornerstone, and league star, and have remained a top level club? #5. The Montreal Canadiens loose Kainden Guhle and go into a nose dive and completely fall apart? #6. Kaiden Guhle is a good, solid, but he is Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris LaTang, Mikko Rantanen’s or Gabrial Landeskog. Nor is he on that level of importance or impact to his team, sorry, let’s be brutally honest here. #6. The Montreal Canadiens do not have a team wolf pack mentality, clearly, as the St. Louis Blus, Dallas Stars and Boston Bruins do. #7 The Montreal Canadiens lack team resolve. #8. The Montreal Canadiens have no sandpaper element on their roster outside of Arber Xhekaj and Michael Pezzetta, and it’s very obvious. #9. Kaiden Guhle’s injuries and injury history should be a major concern to the Montreal Canadiens, both in the short and long terms. #10. Kaiden Guhle’s Injury should have been simply mitigated by moving Mike Matheson back to his natural left side, so that the left side of the Canadiens defense would then consist of Mike Matheson, Lane Hutson and Arber Xhekaj. The right side of the defense has Alexandre Carrier, David Savard and Jayden Struble, that’s it. Nothing more radical than that. Not wholesale changes of any kind. #11. Why do the Montreal Canadiens have an entire team meltdown when any player on their roster gets hurt? #12. Why have the Montreal Canadiens remained such and extremely fragile team since the end of the 70’s? #13. Chris Nilan is 100% correct, the Montreal Canadiens severely lack bite, fight and unity on their team. #14. Why does an overwhelming amount of people want to make endless ridiculous amounts of trades and pay ridiculous amounts of contract money, when highly skilled players, such as David Reinbacher, Ivan Demidov, Logan Mailloux, Michael Hage, Adam Engstrom, Owen Beck and Jacob Fowler haven’t even arrived yet, or the sandpaper grit players, such Florian Xhakaj, Tyler Thorpe, Luke Tuch and Owen Protz have no even arrived yet?

Hello Hockey Fans out there. Hear is episode 142 topics to take a listen to, to get your hockey fix for the week. Topics include- #1. The Colorado Avalanche decided it was time to change things up and refresh the team. #2. Why is head coach Martin St. Louis being questioned about given the team day’s off. The reasons are obvious and he’s right, and doesn’t need to answer to anyone. #3. Are Mike Matheson, David Savard, Jake Evans, Christian Dvorak, Josh Anderson, Joel Armia, Michael Pezzetta and Cayden Primeau the most likely if anyone to be traded? #4. Wake up, how has Mike Matheson, one of the most important players and leader on the team, become a scapegoat in the eyes of the significantly incompetent? #5. The Kaiden Guhle injury could not only drastically alter the Montreal Canadiens 2024/2025 regular season but significantly change what the Montreal Canadiens do at the 2025 trade deadline and who is or is not available. #6. Really, after an offseason and playing through a continuing regular season, the best 3 names that the NHL’s newest franchise in Utah could come with, are the Mammoth, the current name of the Utah Hockey Club and the Wasatch, seriously! Thankfully the option of the Wasatch has been replaced with the Outlaws today, as its always been the extremely obvious choice from day one, with maybe a distant 2nd option of either the Venom or the Blizzard. #7. Why, and for what possible reason is the NHL even remotely still interested in Atlanta as a franchise location after not 1, but 2 extreme failures. Why would Atlanta or Phoenix even be a discussion anymore. Why is the focus not on Houston TX, Portland OR or Kansas which are all far better options in the United states, or on Quebec City, Hamilton ONT or a New Brunswick Team In Canada that could not only pull from the entire Maritime region of Canada, but from Vermont and Maine of the United States as well being focused on.

Hello hockey fans. Here is Episode 141 of the Hockey Free For all Podcast to take a listen too. It’s a grab bag episode that Discusses- #1. Kirby Dach’s season has finally turned around and it would seem patients has paid off, and he has found his game. #2. Kaiden Guhle is quietly having a very solid season. #3. Yes, the Lane Hutson hype has not only gotten of hand. #4. Jake Evans is having a career season. #5. The Montreal Canadiens do not need to acquire Nikolaj Ehlers from the Winnipeg Jets during the season or sign in the offseason as a free agent center. #6. The Montreal Canadiens are doing a fantastic job at developing and cultivating their own internal prospects and talent. #7. Hat’s off to Arber Xhekaj. Xhekaj who has evolved a lot as a player this season. #8 The Montreal Canadiens do not even remotely need to or have a need to acquire Right-Handed Defenseman Simon Nemec from the New Jersey Devils. #9. Could Jakub Dobes establish himself as the Montreal Canadiens number 1 goaltender by the end of the 2024/2025 season? #!0. Could Jakub Dobes, who currently has a 1.55 goals-against and a 941 save percentage cause the Canadiens to consider trading Samual Montembeau, if the right team came calling with a can’t refuse offer? #11. Congratulations to Brendan Gallagher for playing in his 800 NHL game given all of the injuries he has incurred , is very impressive. #12. Ivan Demidov is excelling, and once again Canadiens Management made the right decision in keeping Ivan Demidov in the KHL, as the coaching and development have been not only outstanding, but better for the prospect. #13. Michael Hage and Jacob Fowler could both be Hobey Baker award nominees.

Hello Hockey Fan’s out there. Here is Episode 140 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast to take a listen too, topics include- #1. The Jonathan Kovacevic trade to the New Jersey Devils, maybe. #2. Patrik Laine and a 2026 2nd round pick for Left-Handed defenseman Jordan Harris. #3. The Alexandre Carrier trade for Justin Barron trade has been nothing short of a home run. #4. Emil Heineman’s fit. #5. Pay close attention to late pick Tylor Throp out of Vancouver in the WHL. #6. Nick Suzuki and Kirby Dach are 1 and 2. Plus you have Qwen Beck, Michael Hage, Oliver Kapanen, Jared Davidson, Lucas Condotta, Vinzenz Rohrer, Xavier Simoneau, Florian Xhekaj and Aatos Koivu at a minimum to arrive all at center, plus others. #7. This is exactly the time to trade and not resign, He is having a 1 off career year, which has maximized his trade value. Does the majority suffer from short term memory issues? Here are exhibits (A), (B) and (C) Josh Anderson, Jonathan Drouin, Karl Alzner. Helllloooo! #8. Let’s not leave out how badly Christian Dvorak needs to go. #9. At a minimal, Jake Evans, Davis Savard, Mike Matheson, Joel Armia, Josh Anderson, Christian Dvorak, Michael Pezzetta, Cayden Primeau, #!0 Lane Hutson is the Rookie of the Year, as no rookie has meant more to their club. #11. Why is nearly everyone so surprised by Jakub Dobes and his success? #12. Juraj Slafkovsky’s needs to take the next step and needs to become that consistent 96-to-105-point yearly player. Fun and growth time wrap up for his this season. #13. Nick Suzuki doesn’t need to take his game to even another level. The rest of the team needs to match him and his effort level. #14. The Colorado Avalanche have a serious issue on their hands with Mikko Rantanen, and Mikko Rantanen needs to decide if its just money, or is about being part of something and winning Stanley Cups. He’s not going to get both.

Hello Hockey Fans. Take a listen to Episode 139 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast to get your hockey fix, topics and discussions include- #1. Jakub Dobes has been outstanding since he arrived. Some are surprised, I am not, at all. Jakub Dobes has not only solved the backup goalie issue, but he is gunning for Samual Montembeau’s starting position and he is making an extremely strong case to this point to become the number one and starting goalie for the club by playing lights out hockey against not just the lower tier teams, but the elite team in the league. #2. What is with the continued questioning and doubting of Kent Hughes. Is just jealousy by the inept? #3. There are 2 transactions that Kent Hughes has made that I would love to gain his insight on that he has made. The 1st transaction would be the trade of Right-Handed Defenseman Jonathan Kovacevic to the New Jersey Devils this past offseason for a 4th round pick. The 2nd transaction is the Patrick Laine acquisition. It would have been even better if Right-Handed Defensive prospect Justin Barron was sent to Columbus, instead of Defenseman Jordan Harris. I think Jordan Harris is a class act all the way around. Jordan Harris perfectly meshed with the club; from the moment he stepped on the ice. Veteran Right-Handed defenseman David Savard who has and remains invaluable to the younger defenseman, the team’s locker room and leads by example showing the way and Christian Dvorak who has like several other roster players this year, has actually found a game and role that he can be a contributing member of the roster and not and every game liability. #4. Kent Hughes and that entire Management team clearly understands chemistry and the importance of it. #5. Hockey is a team sport, not an individual sport. #6. Why is anyone questioning the Montreal Management team for traveling to Russia to evaluate its prospects? #7. Stop trying to create incompetent and unneeded chaos by saying Ivan Demidov is getting all the love and Bogdan Konyushkov is the forgotten man. Ivan Demidov is a top 5 draft pick, and Bogdan Konyushkov was a 4th round draft pick. Of course, the attention levels will be different. Hello! #8. Absolutely Jake Evans, David Savard, Josh Anderson, Mike Matheson, Joel Armia, Cayden Primeau and Michael Pezzetta should all be move at or by the 2025 trade deadline. #9. Look at the A-List prospects yet to arrive in Montreal. Ivan Demidov, Michael Hage, Owen Beck, Logan Mailloux, David Reinbacher and Adam Engstrom. #10. Where does Emil Heineman end up? Jared Davidson, Luke Tuch and Florian Xhekaj will add grit Montreal needs and doesn’t have yet, and let’s not forget Joshua Roy! Is anyone paying attention to Sam Harris at the University of Denver?

Hello hockey fans out there, here is episode 138 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast to wrap up 2024 with, this week’s topics include- #1. It’s Friday format in 2025 #2. Bogdan Konyushkov has been a forgotten prospect for the Montreal Canadiens, no, but there are apparently that want to start that rumor, sadly. #3. Ivan Demidov is getting all the attention and love. He’s a top 5 prospect, he was the best in his draft class, and he should be getting that attention and generating that level of excitement. It’s normal people, hello! #4. Someone explain, justify or come up with any scenario as to why Montreal want to make this proposed trade, why and how it even remotely makes any sense, in any way? To Montreal: Elias Pettersson 2nd-round pick To Vancouver: Cole Caufield Christian Dvorak David Savard #5. If Patrik Laine did run his mouth, there can’t be any surprise to the wat the Columbus Blue Jackets responded, can there? #6. If there was an intent to target and injure Patrik Laine in any way, that’s unprofessional behavior, any way you cut it, and the suspensions start at the player level, continue to the coaching staff, then onto the management and even include ownership. #7. You respond by blowing out your opponent by an embarrassing score, not by injuring someone, which completely lacks sportsmanship and professionalism of any kind. #8. Must be a lot of sad jealousy regarding Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes and that is pathetic. #9. How has the acquisition of Alexandre Carrier stunting the development and opportunities of prospect Logan Mailloux? #10. What’s with the excessive concern regarding lack of contract talks between David Savard and the Montreal Canadiens? #11. Patrik Laine, has not taken or stolen Cole Caufield’s spot or any of the roles he has. #12. Cole Caufield is far more valuable to the Montreal Canadiens than Patrik Laine is. That’s not even a question or viable discussion. #13. Patrik Laine is a one trick pony. #14. Cole Caufield’s game has far more to it, than Patrik Laine game has or offers. #15. Samual Montembeau has reestablished himself as the number one goalie in Montreal at the moment. Consistency will determine if that is long term, or he’s a placeholder. #16. Cayden Primeau’s game has vanished. #17. Yes, Cayden Primeau has been put on waivers. Don’t be surprised at all if he ends up back in Laval, after the abysmal season he has had to this point. #18. No one should doubt that Jakob Dobes is a legit NHL Goaltender.

Hello hockey fans out there. Just before the holiday hits, here is Episode 137 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast to take a listen to, topics include- #1. What’s wrong with Kirby Dach’s game? #2. Has Kirby Dach’s actually healed from his injury/injuries? #3. Will Kirby Dach still be in Montreal and on its team roster after the trade deadline? #4. Kirby Dach has to be concerned and see the coming arrivals of Michael Hage and Owen Back! #5. What has happened to Alex Newhook? #6. Alex Newhook provides speed and fill in skill and options, but absolutely nothing else? #7. Alex Newhook has to see the writing on the wall that he will shortly no longer be part of the team’s top or even top 9 with the coming arrival of Ivan Demidov, with the acquisition of Patrick Laine, the pending arrival of Joshua Roy, the Arrival of Owen Beck, and a lot of other arriving talent coming soon? #8. Put Juraj Slafkovsky back on the number 1 line with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield and leave him on it for at least the remainder of the 2024/2025 season and let him truly gel with other gifted linemates. #9. Stop with the line changes. The roster players in Montreal are clearly in need of chemistry and gelling with consistent linemates. #10. What has happened to Cayden Primeau and his game?

Hello hockey fans out there. Take a listen to episode 136 of the hockey free for all podcast topics include. #1. Montembeau has returned to form at the same time Patrik Laine joined the Canadiens. #2. Patrik Laine’s return has had a tremendous impact throughout the entire roster, not just the offense, which is head scratcher. #3. Lane Hutson should be rookie of the year. #4. Igor Shesterkins new contract will haunt the New York Rangers. #5. Jake Evans trade value will never be higher, trade him and maximize the return. #6. Patrik Laine, Joel Armia and Samual Montembeau were very interesting selections to the 4 nation tournament. #7. Wow, what a complete disaster of a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins that ended in a 9 to 2 wipe out. #10. Stop with the calling for Martin St. Louis to be replaced. #11. The problem behind the bench lies with Trevor Letowski, Stephane Robidas and Eric Raymond. #12. Who are you going to replace him with, Pascal Vincent, because he was amazingly successful with the Columbus Blue Jackets last season? #13. The goaltenders are making the same mistakes and playing with the same inconsistencies nearly every night. That is Eric Raymonds job. #14. The pairing combinations are often questionable, there’s constant breakdowns in their own end, along with missed assignments, in combination with players just running around seemingly lost like chickens with their heads cut off. That is all Stephane Robidas’s job to address, resolve and prevent. #15. Kaiden Guhle, Arber Xhekaj, Logan Mailloux, David Reinbacher all need a Scott Steven type, Larry Robinson, Rob Blake, Chris Pronger type defensive coach. #16. Offensively, other than Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield all season long and Juraj Slafkovsky in the beginning of the season, the offense has been inconsistent. Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook look lost. There has yet to be a role found for Emil Heineman and zero chemistry other than Suzuki and Caufield, this is Trevor LeTowski’s job. #17. On a positive note, with a very small sample size, it looks like the acquisition of Patrik Laine looks great, but it’s a very small sample size. So far, so good. #18. Jake Evans is having has best and most consistent year of his career. #19. Josh Andersson has found a 2-way game that maximizes his effectiveness and skills, wonderful. #20. Christian Dvorak remains an enigma at best. #21. Brendan Gallagher is having a far better season than he has had in several years, outstanding. #22. Time for Christian Dvorak, Michael Pezzetta, Mike Matheson, Justin Barron, David Savard, Joel Armia , Jayden Struble, Alex Newhook, Kirby Dach, Jake Evans, Josh Andersson, Cayden Primeau and Samual Montembeau to move on. #23. Welcome in Ivan Demidov, Michael Hage, Owen Beck, David Reinbacher, Jacob Fowler, Logan Mailloux and Adam Engstrom in the 2025/2026 season.

Hello Hockey fans, take a listen to Episode 135 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast Topics include_ #1. Patik Laine came back at the perfect time and has had tremendous impact. #2. Why is it that any player injury seems to effect the Montreal Canadiens more than another team? #3. Why do the Montreal Canadiens players not seem to know or have the depth of knowledge about the advantages and disadvantages of their own home rink like other teams seem to, such as the Minnesota Wild, The Dallas Stars, The N.Y. Rangers or all the most resent additions like the Las Vegas Golden Knight, Seattle Kraken or the Utah Hockey Club, that already does? #4. The time has arrived for determinations to be made. The Montreal Canadiens are three to three and a half years into a rebuild. #5. Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Lane Hutson have solidified themselves as core key pieces, there than these 3, much work remains. #6. Many people will say that Kaiden Guhle should be and has also established himself as a key core member, but his injury history and consistency is concerning and raises questions about his durability and longevity to me. #7. Major key core players are on their way. For Skill Winger Ivan Demindov, 2nd line center Michael Hage, Future Staring Goaltender Jacob Fowler, Finally a consistent power forward with the frame and expected consistency and nightly game in Tyler Thorp, Right Handed Defenseman Logn Mailloux, L/R Defenseman Adam Engstrom, A complete 200 foot/2-way center that can play it any way you want to in Owen Beck, Nightly toughness and skill in C/LW Florian Xhekaj and Left Wing Like Tuch. Plus a host of others. #8. Arber Xhekaj’s shoulder injuries finally look to be behind him, which is fantastic news. #9. Michael Pezzetta looks disillusioned, disconnected or detached from the team this year. #10. Defensively, the time has arrived to move on from Justin Barron, Mike Matheson and David Savard have been inconsistent, along with Justin Barron, he can’t seem to figure out his game or put it together. #11. Logan Mailloux and Adam Engstrom should both be members of the starting 6 defensemen for the Montreal Canadiens as of January 1st 2025 and for the remainder of the season. #12. Martin St. Louis remains the perfect head coach for the Montreal Canadiens and Roger Grillo has been an excellent addition as a consultant. The concern sits with Trevor Letowski, Stephane Robidas and Eric Raymond.

Hello Hockey Fans, take a listen to Episode 134 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast Topics include- #1. Juraj Slafkovski needs consistent linemates #2. Kirby Dach. What is he, where is he, and will he be a part of the Montreal Candiens long term? #3. Give Joshua Roy a legitimate shot #4. There’s no team Chemistry Montreal #5. Coaching staff 2 stay and 3 go #6. A few players have established themselves, but there is a lot of work. #7. Ivan Demidov, Michael Hage and many other pieces have yet to arrive #8. At this point, Montreal is very like to finish in the bottom 5 teams of the league for the 3rd year in a row. #9. From December 1st to the 2024/2025 trade deadline is the key to the 2024/2025 season for the Montreal Canadiens.

Hello Hockey Fans, out there, take a listen to Episode 133 of the hockey free for all podcast. This week’s topics and discussions include- #1. Is there just an outright desire to start chaos, controversy or rumors, why would the Montreal Canadiens hire Jim Montgomery? #2. Only bring back Patrik Laine if he is absolutely 100% recovered and ready to go, not a second sooner. #3. Just let Cole Caufield play and stop questioning or 2nd guessing a player you have no business doing it to in the first place. #4. The shutout against the Edmonton Oilers was just another game. It was not any kind of turning point. The Montreal Canadiens actually played all 60 minutes. #5. The obvious list of players that should be traded by the Montreal Canadiens includes-David Savard, Mike Mathenson, Josh Anderson, Christian Devorak, Jake Evans, Joel Armia, Jayden Struble, Justin Barron, Michael Pezzetta and yes both Cayden Primeau and Samual Montembeau. #6. Three additional players that should also be moved are Brendan Gallagher, Alex Newhook and Kiby Dach. Brendan Gallagher has had a good season too this point and his trade value is the highest it’s been in a long time. As for Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook, they both need a change of scenery. #7. Enough with the Trevor Zeagras obsession. Montreal does not need another inconsistent, overpaid and under performing player like Alex Newhook who has all kinds of skill and is a ghost almost every night. #8. For what possible reason does Montreal need to acquire Right Defenseman David Jiricek from the Columbus Blue Jackets either?

Hello hockey fan's out there, Take a listen to episode 132 of the hockey free for all podcast, regarding the state of the Montreal Canadiens, where they are at, their options, how the current season should be utilized and if your really want to ever see the quality of club that they were return.

Hello Hockey Fan’s out there. Take a listen to episode 131 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast and this weeks topic focuses on one specific issue. #1. What’s going on with the Montreal Canadiens and is it a player issue or an assistant coach issue.

Hello Hockey Fan's, here is Episode 130 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast topics of discussion, to take a listen to- #1. After 2 lights out performances to start the 2024/2025 regular season Montembeau has crashed to earth. #2. Cayden Primeau has not looked good either, in the 2024/2025 season. #3. Call up Jakob Dobes, he’s earned it based on the 2nd of the 2023/2024 Laval season, this pre season and the start of the 2024/2025 season in Laval. #4. The Montreal Canadiens defense just looks completely lost, there’s no other way to put it. #5. Aber Xhekaj clearly needs to be coached, taught, influenced and worked with by a Scott Stevens, Chris Pronger or Rob Blake to show him how to effectively use his blend of skills and frame, effectively on a nightly basis. #6. For all of those who to see or think that Arber Xhekaj should be traded, prepare to see Cole Caufield and Lane Hutson absolutely obliterated and their careers prematurely ended by every single opponent the Montreal Canadiens faces. #7. Logan Mailloux does not have an NHL defensive game at this point. #8. Montreal needs more grit/in your face place players. Such as Florian Xhekaj, Luke Tuch and Owen Protz to name just a few. #9. You are witnessing why the Montreal Canadiens do not have too many draft picks or too much draft capital as some think. #10. Martin St. Louis and roger Grillo stay, everyone else gone. #11. Time for Kirby Dach to show what he has on an every night basis or step aside for Michael Hage, Owen Beck or several others. #12. Alex Newhook needs to step his game and consistency way up. #13. Line #1 is Nick Suzuki at center, Cole Caufield at right wing and Jaruj Slafkovski at left wing. Line #2 is Michael Hage at center, Ivan Demidov on left wing and Kirby Dach at right wing. #14. Time to start using Oliver Kapanen effectively and play him for 15 minutes minimal or send him back to Finland. #15. Time to unload Christian Dvorak, Josh Anderson, Justin Barron, Joel Armia ,Michael Pezzetta and Jake Even. #16. Ivan Demidov, Michael Hage, Tyler Thorpe, David Reinbacher, Jacob Fowler, Filip Mesar, Owen Beck, Adam Engstrom, Oliver Kapanen, Joshua Roy, Luke Tuch and Jared Davidson are on their way in 2025/2026. #17. Montreal does not need to acquire Trevor Zegras, stop with this rederick . #18. The 2024/2025 season is not the season that Montreal shoot for making the playoffs. Let everyone find there place on the roster and trade the others for future draft talent.

Episode 129 of the Hockey Free For All #1. The impact of injuries to Patrik Laine, Mike Matheson, Kaiden Guhle and Juraj Slafkovsky on the sidelines. #2. Logan Mailloux has returned and will need to put up or shut up, so he better be able to back up his reaction to being sent down defensively and offensively. #3. The plan should be minimal disruptions to the offensive line combinations and opportunity during the injuries, nothing more. #4. Kriby Dach is a center not a winger #5. Hopefully Juraj Slafkovsky returns after the St. Louis game and only misses a total of 2 games. #6. The Montreal Canadiens defense looks lost and confused. #7. Time for Arber Xhekaj to get his head in the game. #8. The Montreal Canadiens need their players to play with a consistent edge every game. #9. for Justin Barron is very inconsistent. #10. Has Samual Montembeau and Cayden Primeau come crashing back to earth, or is it because the team’s defense has left them hung out to dry? #11. Why is the young talented defense of the Montreal Canadiens not building their entire game and style centered around their exceptional skating, transition and fluidity, rather than trying to be something they are not, and will not be! #12. Nick Suzuki leaves it all on the ice, in every game and leads by example, how is anyone still even remotely questioning him? #13. Cole Caufield has rediscovered his game in the 2024/205 season and has looked fantastic. #14. Kirby Dach better be looking over his shoulder especially at center prospect Michael Hage. #15. What is with the ridiculous and pathetic microscopic minute to minute coverage, questioning and attacks on and about prospect Ivan Demindov? Again, the KHL is an outstanding league, they turn out exceptional talent on a regular basis. Let him play, let him develop and stop questioning the KHL regarding how he’s being used, the minutes that he is playing and the situations or opportunities he’s being given, realize that KHL knows better and know your place.

Hello Hockey Fan’s out there. Take a listen to Episode 128 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast, topics of discussions include- #1. I hope for Brady Tkachuk that a report I reviewed was completely inaccurate. Because if it has any accuracy to at all, then Brady Tkachuk has zero professionalism, zero integrity, zero ethics, zero class and has not grown up as yet. #2. What's with all the ridiculous North American unprofessional, unfounded and unknown factual coverage and stories regarding Montreal Canadians prospect Ivan Demidov. #3. Ivan Demidov is getting far superior training and development in the KHL, than he would anywhere else other than say under Martin St. Louis personal tutelage on the NHL roster. #4. The KHL is a fantastic league and has done a fantastic job turning out amazing talent consistently. Show some professionalism, know your place and understand your own limitations. Stop questioning people that are clearly more adept, knowledgeable and that actually excel at what they do, because of the skills they actually have. #5. Not surprising at all that Kent Hughes has likely struck gold with prospect Michael Hage. Everything that Kent Hughes has touched has turned to gold and that he has already established himself one of, if not the top General Manager in the NHL. #6. Cole Caufield has started the 2024/2025 season very nicely with consistent scoring and is seeing the ice very well and is no longer projecting what he plans on doing to the opposition or opposing goaltenders. #7. Nick Suzuki is playing a very complete, consistent game and leaving everything on the ice, every night and is the consummate captain. #8. Juraij Slafkovsky, has not only picked up right where he finished the 2023/2024 season at, but has looked stronger, is using his size and build to his advantage, but also now understands how to exploit the weaknesses of his opponents. It’s been so much fun him evolve, proving that he was the absolutely the correct choice as the number 1 overall pick in the 2022 daft by the Montreal Canadiens. Juraij Slafkovsky will not only be a star player on the Montreal Canadiens roster, but Juraij Slafkovsky will be a star player of the entire NHL. #9. Kirby Dach, definitely has not hit the ice at full speed and has a lot of rust to knock off.

Hello Hockey Fans, here is Episode 127 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast to take a listen to and the topics discussed. #1. The Montreal Canadiens have Sent Right Defenseman Logan Mailloux, Left Defenseman Adam Engstrom, Winger Joshua Roy, Goaltender Jakub Dobes, along with William Trudeau, Lucas Condotta and Brandon Gignac to the Laval Rockets. #2. Logan Mailloux in particular was not happy about being sent to Laval at all, as he believed that he had done more than enough to solidify a position on the NHL club roster. But his credit, he not only did not sulk or wine he hit the ground in mid-season form with a 4 point opening night game in Laval and made a statement of his own to the organization #3. Laval Coach Pascal Vincent will have a lot of talent to work with in Laval this season, and should be highly successful. #4. Not sure why the Montreal Canadiens have signed defenseman Gustav Lindstrom to a one year contract, given all of the defensive prospects and talent that the team already has. #5. Samual Montembeau starting the 2024/2025 season with lights out performances in Toronto and Ottawa. #6. Cayden Primeau did not look nearly as good in Boston, and still looks in preseason mode. #7. Forwards Brendan Gallagher and Josh Anderson look like the have a lot of jump that was missing last season an already look more productive this season. #8. Lane Hutson looks really, really good. He looks like exactly what Cole Caufield has needed to really excel. #9. Igor Shestererkin needs a reality check. #10. The Ottawa Senators have signed Linus Ullmark to a 4 year 33-million-dollar extension with an annual cap hit of 8.25 million hit per season and look like they have finally secured the goaltender that they have been looking for year for. #11. The new Utah Hockey Club have been lights out and look like they studied every detail of the Las Vegas Golden Knights success plan.

Hello to all the hockey fans out there. Here is Episode 126 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast to take a listen to, this is an off the cuff episode. #1. What is deal with the NHL Disciplinary department? #2. What is Bryan Hayes thinking. Saying Cedrick Pare was defenseless, are you kidding me, say what you. Cederick intentionally injured Patrik Laine. #3. So, Bryan Hayes is perfectly ok with Patrik Laine being injured and likely will miss the entire season #4. David Reibacher gone for 5 to 6 months. Even if that’s an accurate return, he should play any NHL games and if he is actually completely recovered, the AHL is where he should spend his time and develop this year #5. At the earliest Patrik Laine won’t be back until 1/1/2025. #6. Injuries in the sport of hockey. Their part of the game. It’s also a physical game! #7. If the Boston Bruins are truly offering Jeremy Swayman and his agent 8 million dollars for 8-years, then Jeremy Swayman and his agent need a serious reality check. Jeremy Swayman is not even remotely worth that amount of money for that many years. He hasn’t remotely done enough to validate that amount of money and years.

Hello to all the hockey fans out there. Here is Episode 125 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast to take a listen to, this is an off the cuff episode. #1. If only you were actually that gifted. #2. They are prospects and they are at the beginning of everything. #3. Prospect Owen Beck #4. Prospect Filip Maser #5. Injuries in the sport of hockey. Their part of the game. It’s also a physical game!

Welcome to Episode 124 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast Topics and Discussions include- #1. Why would Montreal have any interest in any way in trading Defenseman Mike Matheson to the Seattle Kraken for Center Shayne Wright in a one for one deal that Seattle would clearly win hands down in every possible way. Montreal Passed on Shayne Wright in his draft, Montreal doesn’t need Shayne Wright, Montreal has no room for Shayne Wright, and Montreal can and will get far more than Shayne Wright if they traded Mike Matheson. #2. Montreal does not need to acquire or sign Nikolaj Ehlers as a free agent when his current contract expires. Stop taking roster spots from Montreal’s tremendously talented young prospects. #3. Stop questioning Jeff Gorton, Kent Hughes and Martin St. Louis. Everything they have touched has turned to gold. #4. Montreal does not need to resign or keep Joel Armia when his current expires, or even if he’s willing to take less money in his next contract. #5. Tyler Thorp is the next diamond in the rough of later round Montreal draft picks. #6. Please stop with the over-reaction and unprofessional drama regarding Ivan Demidov. #7. Carey Price and Cole Caufield are even remotely in the same class as Guy Lafleur, what are people thinking or desperate for? #8. It was not surprising at all that there were 13 plus scouts in the stands of the Montreal Vs. Toronto preseason games with all of the exceptional talent Montreal has assembled, collected and has put together. Of course everyone is drooling. #9. It’s becoming extremely obvious who the 6 starting defensemen will be for a very long time David Reinbacher, Lane Hutson, Logan Mailloux, Kaiden Guhle, Arber Xhekaj and Adam Engstrom. Bogdan Konyushkov might be the only wild card. They are not going anywhere in trades. #10. Justin Barron on the other hand, has not developed at the same pace, has not gell as the previous 6 have, and might just find himself in say Edmonton, Vancouver or Dallas potentially for a 1st round pick coming back the other way to Montreal. #11. No, Josh Anderson is not a fit on a line with Kiby Dach and Patrik Laine. That spot belongs to Alex Newhook. #12. 2024/2025 Center depth and options for the Montreal Canadiens, Nick Suzuki, Kirby Dach, Owen Beck, Sean Farrel (can play all 3 forward positions), Jered Davidson, Alex Newhook (if needed, but a better right wing, Christian Devorak, Jake Evans, Oliver Kapanen and Lucas Condatta. How many more centers does Montreal need, come on!

Hello Hockey Fans out there, here is Episode 123 of the Hockey Free For All to take a listen to to get your hockey fix during the offseason, the topics discussed in this episode include- #1. No More 4 on 4 hockey. #2. No Sudden Death Overtime in the regular season. #3, No more shoot outs. #4. Absolutely no, on tailgating. #5. Definitely no need 3 on 3 for 10 minutes. #6. Kicked in goals should never be counted or allowed #7. This is a team game, it’s not a weekend skills competition or all-star game weekend event. #8. This Hockey, not soccer. If you want to see kicked in goals, then watch soccer. #9. Roger Grillo has been hired by the Montreal Canadiens as a consultant coach and will join Martin St-Louis' coaching staff. #10. The Montreal Canadiens promote Albie O'Connell to head scout for North America. #11. The Montreal Canadiens promote Tommy Lehman to head scout for Europe. #12. The Monteal Canadiens have hired Matt Ryan as a professional scout. #13. The Montreal Candiens have promoted Dale Lablans to Chief Performance Officer. #14. The Montreal Canadiens have promoted Stéphane Gervais from Fitness Coach in Laval to Fitness Coach in Montreal. #15. The Montreal Canadiens have hired Mitch Freeburn to replace Stéphane Gervais in Laval as the Rocket's Fitness Coach. #16. Corey Pronman of the Athletic rates the Chicago Blackhawk, The Ottawa Senators and the Anaheim Ducks as 1, 2, 3 regarding the rebuilding teams with the NHL, which is insane. #17. Corey Pronman of the Athletic rates the Montreal Canadiens 9th on the list of rebuilding NHL clubs, which makes absolutely no sense at all, in any way. #18. Kaiden Guhle, David Reinbacher, Logan Mailloux at a minimum are all James Norris Trophy Potential Winners. Look at the list of James Norris trophy winners since 1981, and find a way to argue this.

Hello Hockey here is Episode 122 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast to take a listen to get your offseason into training camp hockey fix, topics discussed include- #1. Mattias Norlinder declines offer. #2. Cole Caufield to wear and switch to jersey number 13 in honor of Jonny Gaudreau. #3. Leon Draisaitl signs an 8-year 112-million-dollar extension, with a 14-million dollar per season cap hit. #4. Patrik Laine does not have to learn French to appease anyone. He can if he wants to, but he does not have to. #5. The 2024/2025 Montreal Canadiens defense.

Hello hockey Fans, here is Episode 121 of the Hockey Free For all Podcast to take a listen to. Topics of discussion include- #1. Stupidity continues to run rampant this off season with people now wanting the Montreal Canadiens to offer sheet goaltender Jeremy Swayman of the Boston Bruins. #2. The Montreal Canadiens have steady goaltending already in place in Cayden Primeau and Samual Montembeau on the NHL roster, providing stable and above league average goaltending right now in Montreal. #3. They have, Jakob Dobes is the next man up in Laval. #4. Montreal has top goaltending prospects in the NCAA and in Russia with, Jocab Fowler at Boston and Yevgeni Volokhin crushing his way through the Russian leagues. #5. People understand cap management? #6. But it doesn’t stop with just goaltending. There was an article indicating how the Canadiens could extend offer sheets to available centers in the NHL, to bolster their center position. #7. The Montreal Canadiens currently have 13 centers within their organization, those players include, Nick Suzuki, Kirby Dach, Alex Newhook Center or Wing, Owen Beck, Christian Dvorak, Florian Xhekaj, Jake Evens, Jared Davidson, Lucas Condotta, Sean Farrell Center or Wing, Riley Kidney, Oliver Kapanen, Xavier Simoneau and Brandon Gignac. #8. The Tragic death of Jonny Gaudreau and the extraordinary amount of lives its touched and destroyed senselessly. Alcohol sensing devices should have been mandated in all vehicles January 1st 1980 and still are not. There is absolutely no valid reason for that.

Hello Hockey Fans out there. Here is Episode 120 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast to listen to, topics include- #1. What if the Las Vegas Golden Knights had sent C Cody Glass to the Montreal Canadiens instead of C Nick Suzuki in the Max Pacioretty trade? Is that where we are at, what if? #2. ESPN apparently has stated that they do not believe in Kirby Dachs Production and team value for the upcoming 2024/2025 season. I’m sorry, ESPN hockey coverage knowledge is questionable at best. #3. What is with the obsession with trading Logan Mailloux? He is a cornerstone right handed defenseman in Montreal for the next 10 to 15 years. #4. Baring injuries, its very obvious that Logan Mailloux, Kaiden Guhle, David Reinbacher and lane Hutson are being anointed as the top 4 for the next 10 to 15 tears. #5. The Montreal Canadiens already have 2 excellent goaltending prospects in Jacob Fowler at Boston, the Yevgeni Volokhin in the Russian. #6. Before it even gets started the Montreal Canadiens do not need to offer sheet or sign Leon Draisaitl. #7. Not a Patrik Laine fan. But I wish him the best. I truly hope he really does really like playing in a pressure situation as Montreal is the ultimate pressure center of all. #8. Plus Montreal picks up a 2nd round pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft from the Columbus Blue Jackets, for picking up Patrik Laine’s entire 8.7 million dollar contract over the next 2 seasons. #9. It’s hilarious that Patrik Laine will wear Jonathan Drouin’s number 92 on his jersey. Hope it’s not an indicator of what’s to come? #10. The Edmonton Oilers trade defenseman Cody Ceci to the San Jose Sharks. #11. The Edmonton Oilers choose not to match the restricted Free Agent offer sheets. #12. Very strange trade between the Edmonton Oilers and St. Louis Blues. #13. John Tortorella and Dan Quinn have been added to the U.S. coaching staff of the 2025 4 Nations Face Off tournament. #14. The Seattle Kraken sign center Matty Benier’s to a 7-year 49.98 million dollar contract. #15. The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed center Cole Sillinger to a new 2-year 4.5 million dollar contract. #16. Thankfully, goaltender Yaroslav Askarrov has been traded to the San Jose Sharks, and the insanity in Montreal can stop. The Nashville Predators center David Edstrom, goaltender Magnus Chrona drafted and a conditional top 10 protected 2025 first round draft pick that the San Jose Sharks acquired in a previous trade with the Las Vegas Golden Knights. #17. The Winnipeg Jets have traded Right Wing Rutger McGroarty to the Pittsburgh Penguins, straight up for Center Brayden Yager straight up

Hello Hockey Fans, take a listen to Episode 119 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast to get you offseason hockey fix, topics include- #1 Mitch Marners response to the relentless media was perfect #2. The Edmonton Oilers have been hit with 2 RFA Offer sheets by the St. Louis Blues. #3. Other NHL clubs are not happy when clubs go after another clubs talent with RFA offer sheets at all. #4. The Montreal Canadiens could help out the Edmonton Oilers by agreeing to take on Evander Kane’s 5.1 million dollar contract with 2-years remaining in it, for say, a 1st round draft pick, the same way they did with the Calgary Flames to take on Sean Monahan’s #5. The timing of the Captaincy change in Toronto makes no sense. #6. I wish new head coach Craig Berube all the best, as he has stepped into the ultimate powder keg in Toronto. If he loves pressure, he has found his dream job of his life. #7. Not a single one of the rumors in Montreal from the moment the off season started has have even remotely make any sense.

Hello Hockey Fans, out there! Here is Episode 118 of the Hockey Free For All podcast to take a listen to get you hockey fix during the long offseason summer months #1. Hiring of Stan Bowman response. #2. Why are people upset with Kent Hughs not making big trades or acquisitions in the 2023/2024 offseason? #3. Patrik Laine makes absolutely no sense for the Montreal Canadiens to sign. #4. Patrik Laine needs to play in a big market where he can blend right in, not stand out in any way and live a balanced life. Those franchises include the New York Rangers, the Los Angeles Kings, the Nashville Predators, the Dallas Stars, the Las Vegas Golden Knights, the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Edmonton Oilers, the Vancouver Canucks and the Colorado Avalanche. #5. Patrik Laine is an exact 50/50 of Johnathan Drouin and Josh Andersson. #6. The Montreal Canadiens are not expected to sign prospects Ty Smilanic and Rhett Pitlick. #7. How will the Laval Rocket will look under Pascal Vincent in the 2024/2025 season? #8. Edmonton Oilers Defenseman Oscar Klefbom has announced his retirement after battling a long-term shoulder injury that never allowed him to return the line up.

Hello Hockey Fan’s. Take a Listen to Episode 117 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast to get your hockey fix, topics discussed include- #1 Ottawa Senators assistant coach Bob Jones has passed away #2. The Columbus Blue Jackets sign restrictive free agent forward Kirill Marchenkoto. #3. The Nashville Predators sign restrictive free agent defenseman Spencer Stastny. #4. The Philadelphia Flyers sign forward Travis Konecny to a new 8-year 70-million-dollar extension. #5. The Buffalo Sabres sign goaltender Ukka-Pekka Luukkonen. #6. The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed restrictive free agent forward Kent Johnson. #7. The Montreal Canadiens have signed RFA defensemen Arber Xhekaj and Justin Barron to new 2-year contracts #8. The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed goaltender Sergei Murashov the a 3-year entry level contract. #9. Center Evgeny Kuznetsov has signed a 4-year contract with SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL. #10. The Minnesota Wild have signed defenseman Brock Fabert to a new 8-year contract. #11. The Carolina Hurricanes sign forward Martin Necas to a new 2-year contract. #12. The New York Rangers have signed defenseman Ryan Lindgren to a new 1-year contract. #13. The New Jersey Devils sign goaltender Nico Daws to a new 2-year contract. #14. The Montreal Canadiens signed defenseman Kaiden Guhle to a new 6-year contract. #15. The Toronto Maple Leaf’s have their 2024 1st round draft pick defenseman Ben Danford to 3-year entry level contract. #16. The L.A. Kings have signed defenseman Jordan Spence to a new 2-year 3-million dollar contract #17. Eric Staal is retiring after 18-years in the NHL. #18. The New Jersey Devils have added Chuck Fletcher as a Senior Advisor, Andy Green as an Advisor and Manny Legace as head amateur goaltending scout and development coach to their Hockey Operations. #19. Team Canada adds Bruce Cassidy, Peter DeBoer, Rick Tocchet and Misha Donskov to head Coach Jon Coopers staff for the 4 nations tournament. #20. Stop, the Montreal Canadiens do not need, and should not sign Patrik Laine #21. I hope Patrik Laine ends up on a line with Alexander Ovechkin and Pierre Luc Dubois in Washington. #22. Max Pacioretty is not a perfect fit in Montreal. Montreal should not sign him, and Montreal does not need or have any use for him.

Hello Hockey Fan’s, get your fix of hockey in the off season and take a listen to Episode 116 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast, topics include- #1. The Columbus Blue Jacket have filled the last head coaching vacancy in the NHL, as they have announced the hiring of Dean Evason as their next new head coach. #2. Pittsburgh Penguins Penguin President and General Manager Kyle Dubas and Tampa Bay Lightning General Manager Julien Brisebois have been added to team Canada’s management team for the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off Tournament. They will work alongside Ryan Getzlaf, Scott Salmond, Team General Manager Don Sweeney and associate General Manger Jim Nill. Kyle Dubas will serve as the team’s Director of Player Personnel, while Julian Brisebois has been added as an additional assistant General Manager, forming a very extensive management team #3. Both Kyle Dubas and Julian Brisebois have also been named to team Canada’s men’s Olympic team management group in those same roles, joining General Manager Doug Armstrong, Don Sweeney, Jim Nill, rounding out that extensive management group. #4. Edmonton Oilers President Jeff Jackson announces the hiring of Stan Bowman as their new Vice President of Hockey Operations and General manager, after mutually parting ways with Previous Vice President of Hockey Operations and General manager Kenny Holland. #5. It looks like Evgeny Kuznetsov is heading to the KHL after being bought out by the Carolina Hurricanes. #6. The Buffalo Sabres have signed restrictive free agent forward Beck Malenstyn to a 2-year 2.7-million-dollar contract. #7. The Vancouver Canucks have signed forward Daniel Sprong to a new 1-year contract. #8. The Detroit red Wings have brought back restrictive free agent center Joe Veleno with a new 2-year contract #9. The New Jersey Devils have brought back defenseman Santer Hatakka on a 1-year two-way contract worth $775.00 dollars. #10. The Tampa Bay Lightning will look very different in the 2024/2025 season. #11. Mitch Marner holds all the cards and will be the most topic in players news from the 2023/2024 offseason right up to the trade deadline of the 2024/2025. #12. Brad Treliving could be facing a combination of getting nothing at all, when Johnny Gaudreau walked away and signed as a free agent with the Columbus Blue Jackets, and the controlled trade with the Florida Panthers regarding Mattew Tkachuk. Mitch Marner could force a trade exactly like that. #13. Everything is changing for the Calgary Flames from the roster rebuild, to the new arena that they will be playing in. #14. Rapheal Harvey-Pinards time might be closing in Montreal.

Hello Hockey Fans! Here is Episode 115 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast to take a listen too, topics include- #1. The Ottawa senators have acquired forwards Xavier Bourgault and Chiasson from the Edmonton Oilers. In return the Edmonton Oilers obtain forward Roby Jarventie and a 4th round pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. #2. The Ottawa Senators signs goaltender prospect Mads Sogaard to a 2-year contract extension. #3. Apparently, there is a lot of hard feelings between Steven Stamkos and the Tampa Bay Lightning. In very conversations and letters that Steven Stamkos has held or written, he indicated that he did everything possible to remain and reup in Tampa Bay. It’s pretty clear, Both stood firm, and neither gave in. #4. Nashville has clear won the offseason. #5. Nashville General Manager Barry Trotz clearly wants to put his own stamp on the team, his own identity on the team. #6 The Nashville Predators have clearly retooled on the fly and ready to be a contending team in the coming 2024/2025 season. #7. The new Utah Hockey Club has quickly announced its arrival and has made many significant trades, acquisitions and solid draft picks. The ownerships is clearly has very proactive and has a very clear plan. #8. San Jose Sharks and General Manager Mike Grier is clearly executing his plan very effectively Will Smith and Macklin Celebrini will make an exceptional center 1-2 punch for the next 10 to 15 years. Left defensive prospect Sam Dickinson will likely be the cornerstone of the future defense. #9. The Columbus Blue Jackets are still looking for a new head coach and new staff. #10. Montreal hires Pascal Vincent as the new head coach of the Laval rockets. #11, Martin Necas, Trevor Zegras and Rutger McGroarty are not even remotely worth the asking prices, that their current clubs are asking for, and expecting in return them. #12. Martin Necas and Trevor Zegras have been inconsistent at best since entering the NHL. #13.Rutger McGroarty hasn’t even played a single game in the NHL as yet, and is acting as if he is Mario Lemieux or Wayne Gretzky. #14. Montreal does need a veteran member added to their coaching staff. I hope Alexie Kovalev replaces Alex Burrows and runs the powerplay.

Hello Hockey fans, take a listen to Episode 114 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast, topics discussed include. #1. Chris Patrick named senior vice president and general manager of the Washington Capitals, replacing Brian MacLellan, who will remain as president of hockey operations #2. Hey Montreal, remember the got to have defensive prospect Adam Boqvist that a significant amount of people wanted Montreal to trade anyone and everyone for? He just signed as a free agent with the Florida Panthers. He couldn’t even make it in Columbus. #3. Max Pacioretty is not a mentor, is not a perfect fit for and he is not a Sean Monahan like replacement for Montreal Canadiens. #4. Leon Draisaitl is not a fit with the Montreal Canadiens for many reasons. #5. One has to wonder if the trade acquisition of Matthew Savoie is both a leverage and potential replacement move in the Leon Draisaitl contract negotiations as to say there are #6. STOP! MONTREAL DOES NOT NEED A VETEREN COACH! #7. Montreal won the Artturi Lehkonen trade, take a listen as to why and how. #8. The Toronto Maple Leaf’s should not offer John Tavares a contract extension, they should let him walk. #9. Mitch Marner could be the sought after center piece of the 2024/2025 trade deadline. #10. The Utah Hockey Club signs their first-round pick, 6th overall pick in the 2024 NHL entry Draft Tij Iginla to a 3-year entry level contract. #11. The David Savard chatter is heating up again. #12. Jonathan Toews to Montreal, you have got to be kidding, for what possible reason? #13. No thanks on Rutger McGroarty, one can’t help but about how it worked out for the L.A. Kings with Pierrer Luc Dubois. Montreal doesn’t need that, let that be some else’s mess to deal with.

Hello hockey fans out there, get the latest hockey news and take a listen to Episode 113 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast, the Free Agency signing Episode. Topics of discussion include- #1. What a classless display of unprofessionalism, integrity and poor league image by the Florida Panthers. #2. Anyone else notice none of the other clubs congratulated or acknowledged them as Stanley Cup champions? #3. For only the 6th time in league history a member opposition was awarded the Conn Smyth Trophy, that say’s a lot as to how unimpressive Florida’s win is! #4. Just an absolutely insane free agency signing period, which resulted in an a massive amount of players changing addresses and over a billion dollars in contracts being handed out over the course of 3 days. #5. The Seattle Kraken added Jessica Campbell and Bob Woods to their coaching staff. #6. Thankfully, Vladimer Tarasenko has signed with the Detroit Red Wings, as he was yet another of the countless gotta have, must sign for Montreal, which continue to make absolutely NO since to sign. #7. Montreal Canadiens assistant coach Alex Burrows has stepped down and along with Lauri Korpikoski has been added to the organization’s player development staff.

Hello Hockey fan's. Here is Episode 112 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast, the 2024 draft episode 06-30-2024, topics include- Let’s start off with pre-draft transactions. #1. An amazing amount of pre-draft transactions, signings and players movement to talk about. #2. No surprise as the San Jose Sharks selected center Macklin Celebrini with the first pick of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. #3. As expected, the Chicago Blackhawks selected Michigan NCAA Defenseman Artyom Levshunov with the 2nd pick of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. #4, The Chicago Blackhawks were extremely active in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, as they were in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, stepping up multiple times in the first round to make selections. #5. The Anaheim Ducks then selected RW Beckett Sennecke with the number 3 pick in the first round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, which altered the draft for both the Columbus Blue Jackets who held the 4th overall selection and the Montreal Canadiens #6. The Columbus Blue Jacket take Center Cayden Lindstrom at number 4 #7. The Montreal Canadiens Russian RW Ivan Demidov. At number 5. #8. The Utah Hockey club is for real. They take center Tij Iginla at number 6. #9. Many believe that Ottawa rolled the dice selecting defenseman Carter Yakemchuk, with #10. For the 3rd draft in a row the Seattle Kraken select a center and take Berkly Catton, with #11. At number 9, the Calgary Flames selected defensive prospect Zayne Parekh. #12. With the 10th pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft the New Jersey Devils added the hulking Russian defensive prospect Anton Silayev. #13. The remainder of the 1st round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft signaled very specific team need selections to address specific franchise weaknesses or areas of concern. #14. That’s 3 solid drafts now under Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes, with extraordinary scouting led by Director Martin Lapointe and Co-Director Nick Bobrov has provided the organization with outstanding talent additions.