Episode 216 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 06-19-2026

Hi fans, episode 216 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast has arrived, the topics include- #1. So much for the 2025/2026 NHL season. #2. The Stanley Cup has been claimed by the Carolina Hurricanes. #3. Really wanted to see NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman have to hand the Stanley Cup to either Las Vegas Golden Knights Owner Bill Foley or Head Coach John Tortarella. #4. The Las Vegas Golden Knight should call for a no confidence vote to Gary Bettman as Commissioner. #5 Mario Lemieux, Mark Messier or Wayne Gretzky should be the Commissioner of the NHL. #6. The Buffalo Sabres and the San Jose Sharks have exchanged mid/late first round draft picks, as each team holds multiple first round picks and a prospect. #7.  Montreal does not need Dylan Larkin or Mason McTavish unless the Detroit Red Wings or the Anaheim Ducks will except Patrik Laine’s remaining rights for Dylan Larkin, Brendan Gallagher or Samual Montembeau Straight up for Dylan Larkin or Mason McTavish. At most Mike Matheson straight up for Dylin Larkin or Kaiden Guhle for Mason McTavish straight up? #8. The Red Wings and the Ducks in either or both cases would still end up with the far better player. #9. I still have no idea what people see in Dylan Larkin or Mason McTavish? #10. Jeff Gorton, Kent Hughes and Martin St. Louis are doing it right. #11. The Montreal Canadiens would be haunted for nearly a decade at least. #12. Untouchable NHL roster players should at a minimum include: Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, Ivan Demidov, Alex Newhook, Noah Dobson, Lane Huston, Arber Xhekaj and Jakub Dobes should be non-touchable for any other player in the league. #13. The list of prospect untouchables should include: Michael Hage, Alexandre Zharovsky, Adam Engstrom, Bryce Pickford, David Reinbacher, Jacob Fowler, Florian Xhekaj, Owen Protz, Owen Beck, L.J. Mooney, Sam Harris, Bogdan Konyushkov, Yevgeni Volokhin and Alexis Cournoyer and this is just the primary group and minimum, there are others that should also be include. #14. The Nashville Predators add Jamie Langenbrunner as a special assistant to new team President and General Manager Chris MacFarland’s staff. #15.  John Tortarella out as Head Coach of the Las Vegas Golden Knights.  #16. The Las Vegas Golden Knight hire Ryan Craig as their next Head Coach. #17. Is Mike Babcock the right choice in Edmonton? #18. Connor McDavid just wants to win! #19. Edmonton has 2-years to win the cup, or Connor McDavid likely moves on. #20. The L.A. Kings hire Peter Lovilette as their next Head Coach. #21. Not to be left out, the Toronto Maple Leaf’s have named Jim Hiller as their next head coach. #22. John Chayka has an immense amount of work to do with the player roster in order for new Head Coach Jim Hiller to be even remotely successful.