Dallas Stars head coach Glen Gulutzan joins Neil Smith and Vic Morren for comprehensive discussion on unique rehire 13 years after being fired by Jim Nill, Vegas Wranglers ECHL days with midnight games for shift change workers and rowdy 1:30am fans, coaching evolution from chief cook and bottle washer in ECHL to managing massive NHL staffs, seven years in Edmonton building NHL-record 32.4% power play with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, Calgary years with Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk filling gap working with younger stars, exploiting Dallas weaknesses in playoffs now helping him fix them as head coach, two great power play units creating internal competition with Neil Graham running it, needing one degree more grit and physicality like Florida's blueprint, Panthers playing playoff hockey from October never changing for postseason, and Hudson Bay Saskatchewan vs La Paw Manitoba birth confusion. Plus working with legends like Tortorella, Hitchcock, Tippett, and why 82-game preparation matters for game 83.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[00:00] - Welcome: NHL Wraparound training camps opening week

[01:00] - Summer coolers: blanket coverage throughout NHL continuing

[02:00] - Dallas Stars: last three springs well positioned, something went wrong

[03:00] - Glen Gulutzan: looking to change narrative spring 2026

[04:00] - Probably main reason: change in Dallas, couldn't push over goal line

[05:00] - Taking over 106-point team: been to Final Four three years in row

[06:00] - Don't usually get that: usually rebuild, especially for guy like myself

[07:00] - First time Dallas: Texas Stars AHL coach, brought up

[08:00] - Made management change: second year, led to leaving Dallas

[09:00] - Conversations with Jim Nill: still same guy you fired few years ago

[10:00] - Walked into same room: fired in when came to interview

[11:00] - Dawn on me: walking into that room, situation little different

[12:00] - 13 years ago 2013: only worked with Jim

[13:00] - Joe Nieuwendyk GM hired me: Joe here, when Joe let go

[14:00] - Jim came in: about three weeks Jim Nill and I met before let me go

[15:00] - Contract was up: month left, either gonna resign or let go

[16:00] - Talked three weeks: players and team, young coach back then

[17:00] - Tuesday after long weekend: hey I'm gonna let you go

[18:00] - Bring in somebody else: at that time right decision

[19:00] - Just young coach: needed little bit more experience

[20:00] - Don't know that back then: certainly happened

[21:00] - Little rapport with Jim: 13 years later see each other Dallas

[22:00] - I was in Edmonton: opened his door bring me back

[23:00] - Little surreal: come back my old office, few chuckles

[24:00] - Reminders from previous stay: everything looked same

[25:00] - Most striking: development camp on, Dennis Suart second equipment guy

[26:00] - Now head guy: Jason Bradman head team ops, great relationship

[27:00] - Mark Janko, Scott White: assistant GMs, rapport with them

[28:00] - Scott White GM in Texas: real good rapport

[29:00] - Poke head in development camp: Jordie Benn had in Texas rookie

[30:00] - Verne Fiddler: alumni, had Verne here

[31:00] - American League staff: Max Fortunus, Travis Morin assistants

[32:00] - Had both guys Texas: Toby Petersen, had him here Dallas

[33:00] - Surrounded by guys: been around, players coached, moved into coaching

[34:00] - Felt very comfortable: all these people around, at some point coach

[35:00] - Four head coaches: Neil, could have seen rehiring somebody let go?

[36:00] - Think so: especially if hired young guy

[37:00] - Problem in my time: got hired 35 GM Rangers

[38:00] - Everybody hire: older than me, Roger Neilson Hall of Fame

[39:00] - Got me through first few years: wouldn't...

After a brief respite while awaiting the start of the Milan-Cortina Games, Vic and Neil offer up a few early thoughts on action thus far.

X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound

Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil

Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/

NHL Wraparound Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/

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Devils captain and Hall of Famer Scott Stevens joins Neil Smith and Vic Morren for comprehensive career discussion. From greatest open ice hits in NHL history to remarkable stat of only four elbowing penalties in 22-year career, hear about three Stanley Cups with three different coaches (Jacques Lemaire revolutionary system, Larry Robinson fired Robbie Ftorek late season, Pat Burns enforcing not changing). Kitchener Rangers Memorial Cup winner number retired, Washington Capitals fifth overall 1982 scoring first goal first shot on Eddie Mio at MSG with parents there, Brian Engblom mentorship sitting down every game going over roster, free agency compensation awarded to Devils for Brendan Shanahan (Curtis Joseph and Rod Brind'Amour equalization), never wanting to leave St. Louis but Lou Lamoriello at airport with car seats, Bruce Driver captain awkwardness, learning from 1994 Rangers loss in Eastern Final (best Devils team personnel wise), 1995 sweep Detroit in lockout season feeling invincible, Eric Lindros hit 2000 Game 7, Slava Kozlov and Paul Kariya hits, leading by example hitting guys with head down in practice, 13 All-Star games 908 career points never minus player any season, and first number retired in Devils history. Plus Three Stooges fan, growing up with three brothers competitive, and Dwight Schofield tough protector.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[00:00] - Welcome: Hall of Fame Edition Scott Stevens

[01:00] - Long history great open ice hitters: Eddie Shore to Jacob Trouba

[02:00] - Perhaps greatest open ice hitter: Scott Stevens joins

[03:00] - Honor: got to know each other 1996 Team Canada, did TV together

[04:00] - Rangers nemesis: Devils great rivalry so many years

[05:00] - Great hit given out today: guy has to fight after clean hit

[06:00] - Delivered lot great hits: caught guys head down, ever have to fight?

[07:00] - No don't remember: hitting big part of game

[08:00] - This day: would just turn cheek if good clean hit

[09:00] - Almost let them take penalty: try to swing game

[10:00] - Get it wanna stand up: good clean hits shouldn't happen

[11:00] - Bothers me too: find it very interesting

[12:00] - Sometimes might be free passes given: when does happen big news

[13:00] - People want retribution on hit: my feeling on it

[14:00] - In my day: used to finish all hits

[15:00] - Guy working get red line dump in: make him pay

[16:00] - So few and far between: especially big ones, everyone gets up in arms

[17:00] - Connor Bedard hurt rookie season: Brendan Smith clean hit

[18:00] - Nick Foligno credit: automatically fought Smith, stepped up on Bedard

[19:00] - Clean hit: happened in New Jersey

[20:00] - Do research: even as well as think you know somebody

[21:00] - Scotty Bowman on: 92 years old, sharp certainly sharper than me

[22:00] - Looking at your life: never realized been with Capitals

[23:00] - Kitchener Ranger: yeah for one year

[24:00] - Numbers retired by Kitchener Rangers: wonderful year, great team

[25:00] - Lot players went on NHL: fortunate win Memorial Cup, very special year

[26:00] - Moved on some stayed back: wanted to fast track as quick as possible

[27:00] - Tremendous year: still keep in touch, reunions, great group

[28:00] - One strongest teams ever seen junior hockey

[29:00] - Wore number three Kitchener: number three Washington

[30:00] - End of number three? Number two St. Louis

[31:00] - Devils couldn't get three: Kenny had that, Lou sort of gave me four

[32:00] - Miles O'Connor might have four: took four, great number

[33:00] - Looked good on Bobby Orr: not Bobby Orr but special number

[34:00] - Fifth overall 1982: first game first goal on first shot

[35:00] - Remember it: only one really remember

[36:00] - Just outside blue line: parents at Madison...

Addiction medicine physician Dr. Lipi Roy joins Neil Smith and Vic Morren for critical discussion on gambling crisis in professional sports. From NBA betting scandals (Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier, Damon Jones arrested, Jontay Porter permanently banned) to NCAA allowing athletes bet on pro sports despite Fresno State basketball conspiracy, hear comprehensive analysis of behavioral addiction science. Dr. Roy explains dopamine triggers, why competitive Type A athletes are high-risk, how male brain doesn't fully develop until 25, prop bet dangers enabling fixes, Swedish study showing 15x suicide rate for gambling disorder, American Heart Association research linking problematic gambling to 50% arterio sclerosis rates, and profound shame leading to depression. Plus treatment options including medications (not FDA approved yet) and cognitive behavioral therapy, why NHL Player Assistance Program needs separate gambling category, 2018 Supreme Court ruling allowing $120 billion legally wagered 2023, 10-year-old kids seeing DraftKings FanDuel ads at Madison Square Garden normalizing behavior, and why regulation matters when genie can't go back in bottle. Toronto-born hockey fan since age 9 combines medical expertise with deep sport understanding.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[00:00] - Welcome: Pro Sports Self-Inflicted Problem with Dr. Lipi Roy Encore Episode

[01:00] - October 23 NBA rocked: Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier, Damon Jones arrested

[02:00] - Rigged poker games: connections organized crime, insider betting schemes

[03:00] - Jontay Porter: Toronto Raptors forward permanently banned from NBA

[04:00] - Betting scandals over century: 1919 Black Sox throwing World Series

[05:00] - Pete Rose: Cleveland Guardians Luis Ortiz, Emmanuel Clase under suspicion

[06:00] - Throwing intentional balls: first pitches of innings since middle of summer

[07:00] - Basketball 1951 point shaving: CCNY, NBA referee Tim Donaghy 2007

[08:00] - Football several players suspended: violating NFL gambling policy recent years

[09:00] - Hockey two years ago: Shane Pinto suspended 41 games

[10:00] - Friends bet for him US while in Canada: claims did not wager NHL games

[11:00] - Gambling and addiction: problem continues to fester in society

[12:00] - Major leagues in bed with casinos: only matter of time

[13:00] - Young people drawn into gambling: knowing much more than I will

[14:00] - Dr. Lipi Roy: addiction medicine physician, international speaker

[15:00] - National media medical commentator: MSNBC, NBC News, CNN, News Nation

[16:00] - Forbes contributor: founder CDA Med health speaking company

[17:00] - Host YouTube show: Health, Humor and Harmony, Health Hockey and Leadership

[18:00] - Hockey and Mental Health gala: met in New York City

[19:00] - Diehard hockey fan since 9 years old: born and raised Toronto like Neil

[20:00] - Later years studied medicine: lucky to be physician, addiction medicine specialty

[21:00] - Addiction like heart disease: can affect absolutely anybody

[22:00] - Not moral feeling: sports betting form of gambling on rise

[23:00] - All sports pro leads: hockey not any different, clearly health consequences

[24:00] - Can be really serious problematic issue

[25:00] - Gambling addiction: brain gets addicted to, not something you ingest

[26:00] - Adrenaline from gambling: what happens in brain?

[27:00] - Glad you brought B word: brain most complex machine known to humankind

[28:00] - Explain to patients and public: how I kind of explain it

[29:00] - Think of addiction: think drugs, alcohol, cocaine, heroin

[30:00] - Substance use disorders: drug alcohol addictions true

[31:00] - Another type category: behavioral addictions

[32:00] - Gambling, gaming, pornography: work, social media, devices, food

[33:00] -...

They started 0-3-0 and were still three games below .500 on the morning of Dec. 9. Simply put, 2025-26 was shaping us the same way as the past 14 seasons have for the Buffalo Sabres.

28 games later, nobody's laughing at the Sabres any more. Though there's been a slight cool down over the past week, Buffalo News columnist Mike Harrington returns to the show to share what's been behind the stunning turnaround.

In Three Things You Need to Pay Attention to, the Olympic break is upon us, the Panthers and Lightning were at it again and Oilers superstar Leon Draisaitl calls the coaching staff.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[01:19] – Three Things You Need to Pay Attention To.

[11:49] – Mike Harrington from the Buffalo News makes an encore appearance and immediately dives into why the Sabres have done such an about-face - without moving any players

[15:16] - Neil poses the question as to when team owner Terry Pegula got an epiphany to finally make moves within the front office - moves which have quietly altered the culture of the franchise.

[17:31] - The difference in the on-ice product under the guidance of head coach Lindy Ruff.

[19:34] - Further elaboration on the Sabres depth and potential damage they could do if they qualify for the post-season.

[21:41] - Mike shares a pattern he sees with the 2025-26 Sabres and the one coached by Ruff in 2006 which reached the seventh game of the East Final.

[23:29] - Will pending UFA Alex Tuch remain with his hometown team beyond this season?

[25:56] - As the trade deadline looms, the holes which need to be filled in order to secure that elusive playoff spot.

[31:48] - With the Rangers trade of Artemi Panarin to the Kings, Neil looks at the moves made by GM Chris Drury since taking the team over in 2021.

[35:59] - Top NHL Draft prospect gavin McKenna charged with in connection with an altercation Saturday evening that left a man with a broken jaw.

[39:30] - Matvei Michkov's playing time has decreased under Rick Tocchet in Philadelphia. The GM isn't moving the player and head coach is in the first year of a five-year deal.

[42:19] - Plaudits for the offensive defensemen, two of which hit the 20-goal mark over the past couple of days.

[44:00] - Personnel notes with best wishes to Hall of Fame Craig Patrick, who is recovering from a stroke.

[46:21] - What the Olympic break means for NHL teams...and us.

X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound

Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil

Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/

NHL Wraparound Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/

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After being held out of the Rangers lineup, star forward Artemi Panarin has a new home on the left coast having been dealt to the Los Angeles Kings for a prospect and a draft pick.

Vic and Neil chat about the impact to both clubs and also discuss a smaller deal which took place between the Blues and Devils.

X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound

Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil

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NHL Wraparound Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/

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He's won two Stanley Cups. In fact, he's won everywhere he's coached. Still, Jon Cooper has never won the Jack Adams Trophy as Coach of the Year. That may have to change in June as Cooper as has led the Lightning to the top spot in the Eastern Conference despite dealing with a decimated defense all season.

Coming off the dramatic Stadium Series Sunday, the Lightning had more late heroics in store Tuesday on a night where all but one game was decided in the third period.

Vic and Neil break it down and also chat about three controversial game winners on Monday, Steven Stamkos moving up the all-time goal scoring list and Olympic replacements.

X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound

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Monday morning saw the surprise announcement that Nashville Predators GM Barry Trotz would be stepping down, though he would remain in his current role until a replacement is found.

Vic and Neil so a quick look into what impact this has on a team that has bounced back after a rough season-and-a-half and are looking to squeeze into a Wild Card spot in the West.

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Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil

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