Hello hockey fans, episode 170 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast has arrived for your summer offseason hockey fix, topics-

#1. There are no guarantees of a roster spot in the upcoming Olympics. Every spot has to be earned. Samuel Montembeau will have to earn it.

#2. There is no Lane Hutson contract dilemma, stop trying to create chaos and distractions.

#3. Andrei Markov was an unexpected 6th round draft pick in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft.

#4. Andrei Markov was a good transition game defenseman

#5. Andrei Markov was very good at carrying the puck into the opposition end and setting up the power play.

#6. Andrei Markov had a solid hard low shot from the point.

#7. Stop trying to include Andrei Markov on the same list with Doug Harvey, Tom Johnson, Emile “Butch” Bouchard, Serge Savard, Guy Lapoint, Jacque Laperriere, Larry Robinson, Brian Engblom, Rod Langway, Craig Ludwig or Chris Chelios. Andrei Markov is not on or part of this list.

#8. Maybe it’s because of the teams and era that Andrei Markov played on and in?

#9. Lane Hutson and other current Montreal Canadien defensemen will leap over Andrei Markov by the completion of their careers.

#10. Stop with the ridiculous and unfounded chaos of needing a 2nd line center at any cost.

#11. Saku Koivu was an excellent captain!

#12. Let Aatos Koivu make his way, find his own game, curve out his own style and most of all, stop with the comparisons of his father.

#13. The Montreal Canadiens have had, and continue to have many great captains.

#14. How about determining if the health reports on Kirby Dach are actually accurate?

#15. Alex Newhook is the go-to answer If Kirby Dach can’t go. Why? Alex Newhook has earned that chance based on the final 20 to 25 games of his performance in the 2024/2025 season. Montreal gave up the 31st and 37th picks to acquire him, it doesn’t rush any prospects and he has the skating speed and distribution skills to keep pace with and get the puck to skilled wingers who can bury it.

#16. The Montreal Canadiens as an organization, have impressive center depth.

#17. Regarding Marco Rossi and Brad Marchand. Many said Marco Rossi would not make because of his size. Many said Brad Marchand could not make it because of his size. Anyone even remotely recall the comments and remarks of Canadiens Director of Hockey Development Adam Nicholas about Sean Farrell?

Hello Hockey fans. Episode 169 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast has arrived, and this is the Jonathan Huberdeau episode.

#1.This has to be the most insane trade proposal out of all, that have been rumored all offseason long. This trade has the Montreal Canadiens acquiring the 84-million dollar, 8-year contract, right winger Jonathan Huberdeau who by the way has 6-years remaining on that Albatross of a contract, in return for Josh Anderson, Arber Xhekaj, Owen Beck and a 2nd round draft pick.

#2. The Montreal Canadians have been suffocating under the weight of Carey Prices 84-million-dollar contract for years, who’s contract will finally conclude at the completion of the 2025/2026 season. In what rational world would the Montreal Canadiens take on another 84-million-dollar contract with 6-years left, for an aging player, who is a one trick pony and requires specific linemates.

#3. Where would the acquisition of Jonathan Huberdeau leave the acquisition of Zack Bolduc?

#4. Please stop with the veteran leadership diarrhea, it consistently spews from mouths of the clueless. The Montreal Canadiens have plenty of leadership in Nick Suzuki, Brendan Gallagher and Mike Mathenson, plus Kaiden, Cole Caufield, Samual Montembeau, Arber Xhekaj and Lane Hutson as well as Head Coach Martin St. Louis, General Manager Kent Huges and the leader himself of all hockey operations Mr. Jeff Gorton forms a tremendous group of leadership.

#5. I would not send Patrik Laine straight up for Jonathan Huberdeau.

#6. I would not trade Joshua Roy straight up for Jonathan Huberdeau.

Hello hockey fans out there, episode 168 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast has arrived to address your hockey fix during the summer. This episodes topics include-

#1. David Reinbacher better be amazing soon.

#2. Tristan Jarry is not the solution or answer or solution to the Edmonton Oilers goaltending issues.

#3. What qualifications does David Pastrnak have to call out Juraj Slafkovsky regarding he lacks humility.

#4. David Pastrnak should focus on himself, his own game and most importantly come down from the mountain top he apparently thinks he’s on top of.

#5. The Montreal Canadiens need to trade Patrik Laine first and foremost.

#6. The Montreal Canadiens do not need to acquire Nick and Jason Robertson as depth or defensive players to replace Christian Dvorak and Joel Armia. The Montreal Canadiens have plenty of internal organizational depth.

#7. Why can’t a line of Brendan Gallagher, Jake Evans and Josh Anderson replace Christian Dvorak and Joel Armia?

#8. The Montreal Canadiens have 10 NHL ready defensemen, what is with the senseless panic over David Savard?

#8. Of course, Michael Hage has been very impressive at the Canada Cup this summer, how can anyone actually be surprised is my question?

#9. The Montreal Canadiens knew Michael Hage was the steel of the 2024 NHL entry, does anyone actually wonder why the Montreal Canadiens moved up from 24th to 21st to draft him.

#10. Michael Hage should not even be traded or included as part of a trade package for Connor McDavid, Sidny Crosby or Cal Makar.

#11. Ivan Demidov should hands down win it in 2025/2026, unless he gets injured, providing the Montreal Canadiens with back-to-back rookie of the year players.

#12. Ok, Nathan Beaulieu retired, players retire all the time. Why is this viewed as anything outside the norm? He has decided to move on, that’s it.

#13. It will indeed be a critical coming year for Kirby Dach, Alex Newhook, Patrik Laine and Joe Veleno.

#14. The Montreal Canadiens need to let Arber Xhekaj play to his strengths, style and game, rather than trying to change him. The Montreal Canadiens have not had a player like Arber Xhekaj since Chris Nilan. Arber Xhekaj is an extremely rare combination of size physicality with a blend of skating and offensive skills that’s more unusual that the generational talents are.