Episode 225 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 08-07-2026

Hello Hockey Fans, Episode 225 of the Hockey Free All Podcast has arrived for you. This weeks topics include- #1. Thankfully, Gary Bettman nixed this trade in 2009 between the Montreal Canadiens and the Tampa Bay Lightning. #2. Vincent Lacavalier was good. Was he that good? #3. Carey Price gave everything he had and could, including his own health and longevity to the team. #4. Jaroslav Halak would have called players out. #5. Carey Price would have been far better off in San Jose or Dallas. #6. The best 2 defensemen that Carey Price had in front of him during his entire career were  Andre Markov and Shea Weber much later on. #7. Andre Markov was not Chris Pronger, Rod Langway Brian Engblom or Scott Stevens. #8. Shea Weber was the modern definition of the James Norris. #9. Kirill Marchenko does not present a massive opportunity for the Montreal Canadiens. #10. Montreal’s top 6 spots are spoken for already. #11. What the Columbus Blue Jacket would want back from Montreal for Kirill Marchenko. NOT A CHANCE!  #12. Now if Columbus wants to discuss some combinations of? Ok then. There’s room for dialog! #13. Here’s a one for one option. Montreal sends Kaiden Guhle to the Columbus Blue Jackets for Kirill Marchenko, no, no. Not in a straight one for deal. But for Kirill Marchenko and draft picks coming back to Montreal, as Kaiden Guhle is the better player and the likely captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets for the next 10 plus season, like Rod Langway was in Washington in the trade that made the Washington Capital a legit NHL club. Anyone recall that trade and impact on both clubs, for the next 10 plus years? #14. Should the Montreal Canadiens be entertaining the idea of and the reported interest from the Philadelphia Flyers suggested desire to acquire Arber Xhekaj from the Montreal Canadiens, not if the Montreal Canadiens actually have any desire to win the Stanley Cup. #15. Montreal’s depth on the Left-side boast’s: Lane Hutson, Kaiden Guhle, Arber Xhekaj, Mike Mathenson, Jayden Struble, Adam Engstrom, Owen Protz and Rasmus Bergvist. That’s not even all of the left side depth, but that’s 8 on the left side. #16. Montreal’s depth on the right-side boast’s: Noah Dobson, David Reinbacher, Bryce Pickford, Bogden Konyushkov. That’s 4. Hold on there’s more, Dmitri Kostenko, Daniil Sobolev, Luke Mittlestadt, the recently drafted Cooper Cleaves who is a 20-year-old, over age 6’ 03 over 200lb right-handed defenseman out of Dartmouth the Canadiens have tracked and liked for over 2 years drafted in 2026 and the 2026 2nd round selection of Tim Runtso. That’s 9 on the supposed weak right side and makes for 17 all together on both sides. #17. Those who believe Montreal missed the mark in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft are really clueless.