Hello Hockey Fan’s Episode 191 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast has for your enjoyment. The topics this week include-

#1. Alexander Texier has been a solid acquisition, has gelled with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield like he has been playing on a line with them for years and is lighting it up.

#2. No kidding Patrik Laine’s injury will require the full amount of time initially stated to recover from his injury.

#3. Hopefully, Patrik Laine returns with enough time before the 2025/2026 trade deadline approaches, so that he can play and be showcased and Montreal can acquire a late first draft pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft for him.

#4. Yea, Phillip Danault has 3 assists in 7 games with the Montreal Canadiens

#5. Let’s take a moment and acknowledge Juraj Slafkovsky, his game, his growth, his production, his development and where he is at.

#6. The best thing for Juraj Slafkovsky was the move to Ivan Demidov and Oliver Kapanens line.

#7. Who comes out or gets sent to Laval when Kaiden Guhle comes back?

#8. Mike Matheson, Noah Dobson, Lane Hutson, Arber Xhakaj and Adam Engstrom are and should be all locks. So, Who comes out? Alexandre Carrier? Jayden Struble?

#9. Where’s Kirby Dach fit in. The top 2 lines are set. Line #1 Center Nick Suzuki, Winger Cole Caufield and winger Alexander Texier. Line #2. Right Wing Ivan Demidov, Center Oliver Kapanen and Left Winger Juraj Slafkovsky.

#10. At best it’s line 3 or 4 for Kirby Dach

#11. Glenn Hall has passed away at 94 years of age. What an amazing goaltender and out of all of the amazing things he accomplished, the one that stands out to me and leaves one speechless is his 502 consecutive starts. That is just incredible and leaves one without words. Just an unbelievable goaltender and career.

#12. For what possible reason does the Montreal Canadiens need to acquire forward Blake Coleman from the Calgary Flames for. Unless its straight up for Joshua Roy, keep him.

#13. Wave 2 of Montreal’s elite A-level prospects are on their way, stop sabotaging their opportunity, career and the long-term success of the Montreal Canadiens Organization to acquire has-beens who are overpaid, underproductive and are clearly on the back 9 of their careers.

#14. Does anyone else think Canada made an enormous mistake and really blew it by not adding right-handed defenseman Bryce Pickford to their team’s defense? Ouch!

Hi Hockey Fans, Episode 190 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast has arrived, topics include-

#1. I have seen nothing from Phillip Danault as yet.

#2. How does the acquisition of Phillip Danault actually help the Montreal Canadiens?

#3. The Montreal Canadiens paid a steep price. A likely top 9 pick in the 2nd round of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft and for what.

#4. Phillip Danault adds another bloated contract.

#5. Phillip Danault adds another underperforming and overpaid veteran to a team that had no such use or need for such a player.

#6. The L.A. Kings won the Phillip Danault trade hands down.

#7. There does not even seem to be any value in Phillip Danault being able to teach or pass along anything to any center on the NHL roster. The Laval AHL roster or to any prospect within Montreal’s pipeline.

#8. There still remains significant screaming and whining to acquire a 2nd line center, even after the acquisition of Phillip Danault?

#9. Why is there so much incompetence and underappreciation for Olivier Kapanen?

#10. Oliver Kapanen has done far more than asked or was expected to do.

#11. The Montreal Canadiens do not need to acquire anymore has been players who’s careers are clearly nearing there conclusion.

#12. Yet to arrive A-Level prospects include, Michael Hage, Alexander Zharanovsky, Bryce Pickford, Bogden Koshukov, L.J. Mooney, not to mention Adam Engstrom, David Reinbacher, Florian Xhekaj, Sam Harris and Owen Protz.

#13. Take a look at the top 9 producing players on the Montreal Canadiens roster and get a much-needed reality check.

#14. Of the injured, Alex Newhook is the player missed.

#15 Adam Engstrom would have made any other NHL clubs roster right out of training camp. It took an injury to Kaiden Guhle, for him to get called up from Laval and given his shot.

#16. Adam Engstrom has replaced Kaiden Guhle.

#17. Adam Engstrom has surpassed Alexander Carrier and Jayden Struble.

#18. Does anyone even know about Owen Protz, Bryce Pickford, Bogden Konyushkov or David Reinbacher and do not forget about Carlos Handel, Rasmus Bergqvist or William Trudeau.

#19. Michael Hage, Alexander Zharovsky, L.J. Mooney or Sam Harris, not to mention Florian Xhekaj, Tyler Thorpe and Luke Tuch likely all arrive in 2026/2027!

#20. Well people can stop whining, as Nick Suzuki has been named to Canada’s 2026 Olympic Roster.

#21. But hold on, Oliver Kapanen, you remember, the guy that has done a far more than adequate job as the Montreal Canadiens number 2 center, has been named to Finland’s 2026 Olympic Roster.

#22. Michael Hage, L.J. Mooney, Aatos Koivu and Calos Handel are all playing in the 2026 World Junior tournament.

#23. Smartly, the Montreal Canadiens have signed right defensive prospect Bryce Pickford to a 3-year entry level deal, who is lighting it up in the WHL.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

#12. Suzuki is the undisputed center

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

#24. Marc Bergevin knows how to find talent.

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

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

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