Episode 151 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 04-04-2025

Hello Hockey Fans. Here is Episode 151 of the Hockey Free For All podcast to get your hockey fix, topics of discussion this week include- #1. So much for Head Coach John Tortorella’s time in Philadelphia. #2. The Game, the league and its players have changed, can John Tortorella adapt, or is he done. #3. Can’t wait to see Alexander Ovechkin break Wayne Gretzky’s scored goal record and set a new record, he deserves it, he’s earned it, and I hope Ovechkin hits 900 plus goals this year. #4. It’s highly unlikely Joshua Roy returns to Montreal in 2025/2026. #5. Arber Xhekaj is a top 6 defenseman without question. #6. Without Arber Xhekaj as a core member of the team, the Montreal Canadiens do not win the Stanley Cup. #7. The Washington Capitals have signed their number 1 prospect winger Ryan Leonard out of Boston College. #8. Montreal Canadiens Goalie prospect Jacob Fowler should return to Boston College. #9. Finish center Oliver Kapanen’s season has concluded in Sweden and has been added to the Montreal Canadiens roster. #10. The Canadiens should create a 2nd line of Oliver Kapanen at center with Patrik Laine and Emil Heineman on the wings for the rest of the 2024/2025 season and see what they have and how they gel. Do they discover their 2nd line without making any lop sided trades?  #11. Can’t wait to see winger Ivan Demidov in uniform, in Montreal in 2025/2026 #12. The New York Rangers sign their top prospect, winger Gabe Perreault. #13. The Colorado Avalanche have signed Cale Makar’s younger brother Taylor who’s 6’ 04 209 lbs to a 1-year entry level deal of 925.000 thousand dollars #14. Highly unlikely Montreal Canadiens defensive prospect David Reinbacher makes an appearance in the 2024/2025 season. #15. Logan Mailloux is exactly what and who Kaiden Guhle needs to be paired up with, starting in 2025/2026 #16. If Kaiden Guhle’s injuries do not come to an end, it’s very easy to see him replaced by Adam Engstrom, who then pairs with Logan Mailloux. #17. The first pair for the Montreal Canadiens defense looks like David Reinbacher and Lane Hutson. #18. Speaking of Lane Hutson, is there any question at all, that he wins the Calder Trophy in the 2024/2025 season? #19. Jayden Struble on the right and Aber Xhekaj on the left are the perfect 3rd pair to offset the top 4, as they bring an entirely different and desperately needed skill set and game style to the defense. #20.  Montreal Canadiens prospect, center Michael Hage has already announced, he is returning to the University of Michigan. #21. Keep your eyes on Montreal prospect center Florian Xhekaj who will hit, break and surpass the 20-goal mark in his rookie season in Laval this season. #22. Connor Bedard is not even remotely worth 17 million per season, he’s at best a 3-million-dollar player in his next contract.