Episode 183 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 11-14-2025

Welcome to Episode 183 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast Hockey fans. This week’s episode topics include-

#1. Might be time to move on from Kaiden Guhle, maybe Anaheim, San Jose or Vancouver?

#2. The games of Kaiden Guhle and Jayden Struble are not the same, there is an enormous difference.

#3. Kaiden Guhle is a 1st or 2nd pair, 82 game, 23 plus minute player if and when healthy.

#4. Jayden Struble is a 3rd pairing 12 to 14 minute per night player.

#5. Montreal has 4 starting centers who are equal to what any other NHL club has and can ice. With that said, I would replace 2 of them, but with internal talent, that’s better than anything around the league.

#6. There isn’t another player in the entire league than Nick Suzuki.

#7. The number 2 center is Oliver Kapanen who has done everything asked of him and more.

#8. Kirkby Dach sits at the number 3 center position. Replace him with Florian Xhekaj or Jared Davidson

#9. Brendan Gallagher and Zack Bolduc are propping up Kirby Dach.

#10. Florian Xhekaj will protect Brendan Gallagher look no one ever has in his entire career

#11. Florian Xhekaj will provide Zack Bolduc space.

#12. Or Drop Jared Davidson between Brendan Gallgher and Zack Bolduc.

#13. Jake Evans is not having a good 2025/2026 season in many ways.

#14. If it’s decided Florian Xhekaj needs more time in Laval, which he does not, then Jared Davidson is the answer between Bredan Gallagher and Zack Bolduc, then the simple move is to replace Jake Evans with Owen Beck.

#15. Joe Veleno certainly is not the answer.

#16. If you want to add an entire new line, then call up Tyler Thorpe at right wing, Florian Xhekaj at center and Luke Tuch at left wing.

#17. That doesn’t even include Michael Hage and Alexander Zharovsky. Much will change in 2026/2027 anyway.

#18. The top 6 of the offensive for a decade will be Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield Ivan Demidov, Alexander Zharovsky, Michael Hage and Juraj Slafkovsky.

#19. The long-term top 6 defensively will be Noah Dobson, Bryce Pickford, Adam Engstrom, Lane Hutson, Arber Xhekaj and Owen Protz.

#20. Here is the actual concerns Kaiden Guhle 4 months, Patrick Laine 4 months or more, Kirby Dach not the same player he was when acquired, now Alex Newhook is out 4 months.

#21. This is why you do not trade draft capital, assets or existing prospects.

#22. What Montreal Canadien prospects likely won’t make it.

#23. What Montreal Canadien prospects will make it.

#24. Montreal Canadiens prospects to keep an eye on and not lose track of.