Hello Hockey Fans, episode 235 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast has arrived and this episode has 2 massive topics of discussion.

#1. The Jayden Struble trade was not just a trade. It was organizational strategy and why, what it did and the reaching effects of it!

#2. A really ugly picture, pattern and habit is showing itself in Montreal regarding goaltending, why it’s really ugly and its impact is enormous.

Hello hockey fans, episode 237 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast has arrived for your enjoyment, this week’s topics include-

#1. What could the Carolina Hurricanes offer to the Red Wings for Dylan Larkin?

#2. What could the Minnesota Wild offer to the Red Wings for Dylan Larkin?

#3. What could the Utah Mammoth Offer to the Red Wings for Dylan Larkin?

#4. No way the Utah Mammoth trade Tij Iginla, Caleb Desnoyers or Ethan Belchetz to the Detroit Red Wing for Dylan Larkin.

#5. No way Utah sends Clayton Keller, Mikial Sergachev, Logan Cooley, Nick Schmaltz, Denis Guenther, Vincent Trovcheck or John Marino as part of any deal for Dylan Larkin.

#6. Utah wants to make its roster better, not weaker.

#7. Thankfully, Dylan Larkin has not included any Canadien team on his list to be traded to.

#8. Montreal has been the best drafting organization in the entire NHL and has proven that for at least 7 consecutive years now. Keep all draft selections.

#9. Here’s proof that Montreal has no issue at center as team Captain Nick Suzuki is out 2 to 4 weeks and finally for the first time in decades when a star or key player on the roster has gone out with an injury, it is next man up, and in this case Oliver Kapanen and Alex Newhook have stepped up, as well as the rest of the team and its business as usual, with absolutely zero drop and absolutely no negative effect, of any kind.

#10. Montreal’s organizational depth has filled in flawlessly.

#11. Jacob Fowler has stepped in and is equally responsible for the success of the Montreal Canadiens and has played lights out. Once again, showing why you don’t randomly and frivolously trade your organizational assets.

#12. The Montreal Canadiens do not need a single player from any other organization in the league period.

#13. Can we stop with the early on Jacob Fowler has entered the Calder trophy race. How about some common sense, professionalism, ethics, integrity and maturity being applied, and let’s see where thing are, after the all-star/four nation/frozen four or whatever version the NHL wants to do at the traditional break this season, and give Jacob Fowler some time to evolve and hone his craft before some anyone starts chanting oh he’s the next great goaltender .

Hello Hockey fans! Episode 236 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast has arrived for your hockey fix, this weeks topics include-

#1. You are watching a carbon copy meltdown of Jakub Dobes in 2026/2027 season that Samuel Montembeau had in 2025/2026 season.

#2. It’s scary how similar this comparison is.

#3. This speaks volumes and clearly shows why all of the trades that so many want to make, or see the Montreal Canadiens make, that has nearly all of the organization’s prospects and future draft picks getting shipped out are horrifically incompetent ideas and trades.

#4. The concerning goaltending issue that Montreal now has for the second consecutive season in a row, is exactly the reason why, one does not trade away their draft picks and prospects such as Jacob Fowler, Yevgeni Volokhin, Alexis Cournoyer, Quentin Miller, Mikus Vecvanags or Arseny Radkov. In a not so significant period of time, one can envision or realize that Samuel Montembeau, Jakub Dobes and Kaapo Kahkonen all traded away or have moved on from the organization.

#5. Now for the defense, which has been a circus event at best

#6. Kaiden Guhle seems to once again hit the ice at full speed, returning from another injury. Good for him. Montreal Needed that.

#7. Lane Hutson is just in his own class and seems to be the only member of the defense that plays his game to a lights out level every single game.

#8. Adam Engstrom has been a solid addition and is clearly one of Montréal’s top 3 defensemen on their club roster.

#9. The right side of Montreal’s defense has been a joke so far in the 2026/2027 season from Noah Dobsen, right down the right side.

#10. The right side of the defense has a lot issues. But they can all be solved internally.

#11. Could the eventual starting 6 defensemen for the Montreal Canadeins be Lane Hutson, Owen Protz, Luke Mittlestadt, Bogdan Konyushkov, Bryce Pickford and Adam Engstrom. What are the odds on that combination. It’s very fortunate that Montreal has all of the prospects that it does.

#12. Offense is not an issue in Montreal. But Defense and goaltending are both completely different issues and problems. There are many problems to solve, but it can all be done internally with no trades of any kind needed.

#13. The Connor Hellebuyck trade is finally over and the reality check that it should mean and represent to every fan, every media member and every club who wants to or are willing to give away every roster player, A-Level prospect and every draft pick an organization has, that the other club is demanding in such ridiculous return package for said players. No player in the entire league is worth the ridiculous compensations that are being demanded, no one.

Hello Hockey Fans episode 234 of the Hockey free For All Topics is here and it’s like mid-season already.

#1. Absolutely not. Alexander Nikishin is not even remotely worth Adam Engstrom and multiple 1st round picks.

#2. Montreal does not need Alexander Nikishin.

#3. I wouldn’t even trade Kaiden Guhle even up for Alexander Nikishin. Because when Kaiden Guhle is healthy, he is clearly a better defenseman.

#4. 16th overall in the 2020 NHL entry draft, is not a fair trade for 69th overall, in the 2020 NHL entry draft.

#5. Montreal has 8 legit defensemen on the left-hand side.

#6. Montreal has 9 legit defensemen on the right side.

#7. That is 17 and they do not need to trade any of them away or acquire any others from anyone else.

#8. Really, now it’s Dalibor Dvorsky to Montreal? Come on, give a rest and at the same time, grow up.

#9. Montreal does not have 6 difficult player decisions to make in 2027 and here is why.

#10. Physicality of the future is Tyler Thorpe, Florian Xhekaj, Gleb Pugachyov and Hayden Paupanekis, all forwards yet to arrive address the same size and skills and have higher upsides and in some cases are even bigger and Owen Protz and Arber Xhekaj.

#11. The Montreal Canadiens have 13 centers. Just to clarify and put an exclamation point on that, that is 3 sets of starting 4 centers plus and extra.

#12. Montreal has 6 starting left wingers, not even on the team!

#13. Montreal has drafted not just well, but exceptionally better than all other clubs in the league and has an exceptional talent pool that spans every position.

#14. It’s official. The 2026/2027 season will be the final season for Alexander Ovechkin. What an amazing player and career and why.

#15. If the Montreal Canadeins do not win the Stanley Cup in 2026/2027, I hope the Washington Capitals win the Stanley Cup and Alexander is the MVP of the regular season, The Conn Smyth winner of the playoffs and walks away a Stanley Cup Champion.

#16. Stop with Dylan Larkin, Montreal does not need Dylan Larkin for any reason.

#17. Montreal does not need Mark Scheifele either in any way, for any reason or to fill any so-called believed voids.

#18. Dylan Larkin, Mark Scheifele and Connor Hellebuyck are not even remotely worth what their clubs are asking for and expecting in return. Their ages and productivity do not justify the trade package demands. Regular seasons have been far more consistent than the playoffs for Dylan Larkin, Mark Scheifele and Connor Hellebuyck.

Hello hockey fans, episode 233 of the Hockey Free For podcast has arrived. This episodes topics include-

#1. The eventual starting 6 defensemen for the Montreal Canadeins will be?

#2. Arber and Florian Xhekaj would make a very interesting 2/3rds of a 4th line.

#3. It’s so exciting and fantastic that Kirill Marchenko has been traded to the Toronto Maple Leaf’s and Michael Knies has been traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets and Why.

#4. Did anyone actually notice what it actually took, to make the Marchenko/Knies trade, versus the outright pure insanity that was suggested that Montreal would have had to give up to acquire either or both of these players?

#5. Is it highly questionable if any of the other players involved in the Marchenko/Knies trade will even make or play for the new clubs?

#6. There was only one draft pick involved in the Marchenko/Knies trade and it was conditional 2nd round pick that is all based on how Marchenko and Knies perform and where these team finish. Have people taken note of that extremely important fact?

#7. No first round picks were given up or part of the Marchenko/Knies trade. Have people taken note of that extremely important fact?

#8. No elite A-Level prospects or mortgaging of either Columbus or Toronto was a part of the Marchenko/Knies trade. Have people taken note of that extremely important fact?

#9. Let’s look at Michael Knies stats to this point of his NHL career and why!

#10. Let’s look at Kirill Marchenko stats to this point of his NHL career and why!

#11. The reason Knies and Marchenko stats are relevant and why!

#12. Neither Michael Knies or Kirill Marchnko are game changing players.

#13. What it would have actually taken for Montreal to acquire Marchenko or Knies or both would have been and turned out to be far different than the screaming insanity out there was saying and calling for.

#14. Neither Marchenko or Knies are even remotely worth Hage, Alexander Zharovsky, Adam Engstrom, Owen Beck, David Reinbacher or Jacob Fowler individually let alone a package that would include several.

#15. Yes, let’s trade Kirby Dach to the Edmonton Oilers. Absolutely and why.

#16. No, Adam Engstrom and Luke Mittelstadt have not positioned themselves as trade assets or trade bargaining chips. Both Adam Engstrom and Luke Mittelstadt have positioned themselves as important organization pieces and members and the team’s success.

#17. Jocelyn Thibault must be extremely busy still trying to pull his foot out of his mouth, regarding his off-season comments regarding Jakub Dobes.

#18. Jakub Dobes was the reason Montreal won their opening game and why.

#19. Josh Anderson had a fantastic season opening game and quickly showed why he was chosen as the new alternate Captain.

#20. Alexander Carrier had a solid season opening game.

Hello Hockey Fan’s, episode 231 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast has arrived as the 2026/2027 training camps and regular season slowly approaches, this week’s topics include-

#1. The Montreal Canadeins have actually signed the hockey player that ended star goaltender, Carey Prices career.

#2. I wish Chris Krider the best.

#3. It will be interesting to see how plays it out in Montreal.

#4. Carey Price himself has clearly taken the high road.

#5. Where does Chris Krider play and on what line?

#6. The Chris Krider signing is a band aid for? But it Screws?

#7. Alex Newhook should be Montreal’s number 2 center.

#8. Oliver Kapanen is a solid 3 and he;s not the team’s #2.

#9. Zach Bolduc not worth 4.2-million-per-season and why.

#10. The St. Louis Blues got the far better player and why.

#11. Josh Anderson has been named an alternate captain.

#12. Arber Xhekaj’s new contract is just the tip of the iceberg and why.

#13. Jayden Struble’s expires at the end of the 2026/2027 season, he’s an RFA.

#14. Alexander Carrier’s contract expires at the end of the 2026/2027 season and he is an UFA.

#15. Kaiden Guhle’s health and injury history is of an epic concern now and moving forward and why.

#16. When Kaiden Guhle returns it might just be the perfect opportunity to make that very uncommon 1 for 1 trade and send Kaiden Guhle to the Columbus Blue Jackets for forward Kirill Marchankov and a 2nd round pick and why.

#17. Adam Engstrom should replace Kaiden Guhle in game one on the regular season 2026/2027 and the team should move on from Kaiden Guhle.

#18. Kaiden Guhle is an excellent player, no question when healthy. His health history is just far to risky.

#19. If David Reinbacher has a solid training camp, at a minimum, he play 42 games and outright replace Alexander Carrier and Jayden Struble by the 2026/2027 playoffs.

#20. Great news. The Montreal Canadiens have signed Alex Newhook to a new 4-year, 22-million-dollar contract worth 5.5 million dollars per season.

#21. The best news of all the Montreal Canadeins have signed Head Coach Martin St. Louis to new 4-year contract heading into the 2026/2027 season and

#22. The Washington Capital’s have signed right winger Ryan Leonard of the Washington Capitals signs a new 8-year contract.

#23. The Anaheim Duck’s have signed center Cutter Gauthier of the Anaheim Ducks signed a new 6-year contract.

#24. Jordan Stall has signed a new 1-year contract worth up to 10 million dollars with the Carolina Hurricanes.

#25. Cale Markar is injured, how much time will he really miss?

#26. Lightning forward Yanni Gourde is out to at least December.

#27. Toronto Maple Leaf forward Max Domi Failed his physical and is out indefinitely due to complications of medical procedures during 2025/2026 season.

Hello Hockey fans episode 232 of the Hockey Free For Podcast is here as training camps have started and the 2026/2027 regular season is just around the corner. This week’s topics include-

#1. The Canadiens do not in any way need to force the Columbus Blue Jackets Hand and offer a massive offer in any way to obtain Kirill Marchenko and why.

#2. Kirill Marchenko would be a top 9 forward in Montreal. Not a top 6.

#3. Montreal does not need Ryan O’Reilly in any way, for any reason, he is not a perfect fit in any way in Montreal.

#4. Fraser Minten’s new contract is in no way any kind of measuring stick for Zach Bolduc’s next contract.

#5. David Reinbacher and Adam Engstrom have arrived.

#6. Time to move on from Kaiden Guhle, Alexander Carrier and Jayden Struble.

#7. Then as Bryce Pickford, Bogdan Konyushkov and Owen Protz arrive, it time to move on from, then Mike Matheson, Noah Dobson and perhaps Arber Xhekaj stays at left wing all the time?

#8. The eventual top 6that form Montreal’s defense are?

#9. Forwards Florian Xhekaj and Owen Beck are not just knocking on the door, they have also arrived and should replace Phillip Danault and jake Evans.

#9. Stop with the Dylan Larkin garbage.

#10. Alex Newhook is clearly Montreal’s number 2 center.

#10. Time doesn’t heal all wounds and why.

#11. Chris Krider should have absolutely no impact on Alex Newhook.

#12. Chris Krider should absolutely have zero effect on the chances of Florian Xhekaj or Owen Beck making the team.

#13. Chris Krider could impact Kirby Dach’s roster spot.

#14. Chris Krider could impact where Zach Bolduc plays and how often.

#15. What some are predicting the starting 4 lines way off and why.

#16. The Montreal Canadiens do need or have any use or need for Connor Hellebuyck.

#17. Winnipeg would require a completely ridicules return package that would destroy Montreal.

#18. Connor Hellebuyck is 34 years old!

#19. Montreal already has 2 better and far younger stud goalies in Jakub Dobes and Jacob Fowler.

#20. No kidding this could be Phillip Danault’s last season in Montreal and why.

#21. I have never understood the acquisition of Phillip Danault and never will.

#22. I can only imagine who Montreal would have selected with that high second draft pick

#23. Nikkita Kucherov to Montreal? Really, is there illicit drugs in the water supplies?

#24. Nikkita Kucherov is not a good fit in Montreal and why!

#25. There is no competition between Juraj Slafkovsky and Chris Krider. Juraj Slafkovsky win’s hands down and why.

#26. Wow, the Kirill Marchenko rumors are just getting more ignorant by day, have heard this one?

#27. Nope. Montreal does not need a 33-year-old center by the name of Mark Scheifele either and why.

Hello Hockey Fans, episode 230 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast has arrived and with training camps just around the corner, this episodes topics include-

#1. The Montreal Canadeins top 6 forward roster are spoken for already.

#2. The Montreal Canadiens do need to acquire another dud top 6 forward from another team.

#3. Of course, everyone wants to make trades with the Montreal Canadiens and why.

#4. Teams want to unload bad, bloated contracts.

#5. The Toronto Maple Leaf’s have made a lot of changes, let’s see how it plays out.

#6. The Buffalo Sabres have assembled an excellent new management team, but there are many questions.

#7. Would Connor Hellebuyck make a difference in Buffalo, maybe. But?

#8. The asking price of the Winnipeg jets will be over the top insane.

#9. Connor Hellebuyck will be 36 years of age, not 26 years of age. That fits very few teams.

#10. The Boston Bruin have a massive number of questions of their own heading into the 2026/2027 season.

#11. The solution and future of the Detroit Red Wings starts with Hiring of-

#12. Dylan Larkin has been stripped of his captaincy and deserves it.

#13. Dylan Larkin and Patrick Roy both believed they were bigger than and the best players of their organization and they were both wrong.

#14. How does Alex Tuch and Jordan Kyrou make the Washington Capitals automatic cup contenders?

#15. Alex Tch and Jordan Kyrou will benefit greatly from teammates Alexander Ovechkin, Ryan Leonard and Tom Wilson.

#16. Yes, Jordan Kyrou has been a 3 time 30 plus goal scorer and 70 plus point player 3 times in his first 5 NHL season, but he’s no-

#17. Why can’t the Montreal Canadeins start the 2026/2027 season with 3 goaltenders?

#18. The Montreal Canadeins have done the best drafting for at least in the last 5 consecutive years of any NHL club.

#19. The Montreal Canadeins have the best Management team, the best head coach, the best scouting team, the best player development department in all of the NHL.

#20. Is Montreal’s success a surprise?

#21. Hat’s off to Arber Xhekaj and his agent!

#22. No, Jacob Fowler does not compare to a young Carey Price.

#23. What are believed to be the 3 worst trades in Montreal’s History. 2 of the 3, I agree with.

#24. The top 6 goaltenders in Montreal history are and not?

#25. Personal issue between Jose Theodore and Jakub Dobes?

#26. When Marco Marciano replaced Eric Raymond, Jakub Dobes was lights out.

#27. Yevgeni Volokhin signing another 3-year contract with his KHL team, is not a problem at all.

#28. Only Huston of the 3 cities being looked at, makes sense and why.

#29. Chris Kreider to Montreal makes less sense than any and all other acquisitions, and the reason is frighteningly obvious.