Episode 232 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 10-02-2026

Hello hockey fans, episode 233 of the Hockey Free For podcast has arrived. This episodes topics include- #1. The eventual starting 6 defensemen for the Montreal Canadeins will be? #2. Arber and Florian Xhekaj would make a very interesting 2/3rds of a 4th line. #3. It’s so exciting and fantastic that Kirill Marchenko has been traded to the Toronto Maple Leaf’s and Michael Knies has been traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets and Why. #4. Did anyone actually notice what it actually took, to make the Marchenko/Knies trade, versus the outright pure insanity that was suggested that Montreal would have had to give up to acquire either or both of these players? #5. Is it highly questionable if any of the other players involved in the Marchenko/Knies trade will even make or play for the new clubs? #6. There was only one draft pick involved in the Marchenko/Knies trade and it was conditional 2nd round pick that is all based on how Marchenko and Knies perform and where these team finish. Have people taken note of that extremely important fact? #7. No first round picks were given up or part of the Marchenko/Knies trade. Have people taken note of that extremely important fact? #8. No elite A-Level prospects or mortgaging of either Columbus or Toronto was a part of the Marchenko/Knies trade. Have people taken note of that extremely important fact? #9. Let’s look at Michael Knies stats to this point of his NHL career and why! #10. Let’s look at Kirill Marchenko stats to this point of his NHL career and why! #11. The reason Knies and Marchenko stats are relevant and why!  #12. Neither Michael Knies or Kirill Marchnko are game changing players. #13. What it would have actually taken for Montreal to acquire Marchenko or Knies or both would have been and turned out to be far different than the screaming insanity out there was saying and calling for. #14. Neither Marchenko or Knies are even remotely worth Hage, Alexander Zharovsky, Adam Engstrom, Owen Beck, David Reinbacher or Jacob Fowler individually let alone a package that would include several. #15. Yes, let’s trade Kirby Dach to the Edmonton Oilers. Absolutely and why. #16. No, Adam Engstrom and Luke Mittelstadt have not positioned themselves as trade assets or trade bargaining chips. Both Adam Engstrom and Luke Mittelstadt have positioned themselves as important organization pieces and members and the team’s success. #17. Jocelyn Thibault must be extremely busy still trying to pull his foot out of his mouth, regarding his off-season comments regarding Jakub Dobes.  #18. Jakub Dobes was the reason Montreal won their opening game and why. #19. Josh Anderson had a fantastic season opening game and quickly showed why he was chosen as the new alternate Captain. #20. Alexander Carrier had a solid season opening game.