The New York Rangers endured one of sports longest championship droughts, as they went fifty-four years without winning the Stanley Cup. And while the Stanley Cup ultimately didn’t make it to New York, the years between 1940 and 1994 didn’t pass by without great moments and seasons. One of those memorable seasons was 1971-72. The ...
The subject of this week’s quotes of the week is the one and only Bobby Orr, arguably the greatest hockey player of all time. He could take his speed to whatever level he had to, to be faster than the guy chasing him. Darryl Sittler [3] Who’s to say what a player is worth? It’s ...
The Alan Eagleson story is well-known. He began representing NHL players in contract negotiations in the 1960s, and wasn’t making much of an impact until Bobby Orr came along. Eagleson made Orr the richest player in the history of the game to that point, and raised the salaries of every player as a consequence. He ...
Recently Ottawa’s Erik Karlsson was awarded the Norris Trophy. In his acceptance speech, Karlsson failed to thank the Norris family. Where’s the outrage? Why no scandal? The Norris Trophy is special because while the other trophies tend to overlook defensemen, this one celebrates them. According to the Hockey Hall of Fame’s entry on the trophy, ...
A Guest Post by Adrian Mercer – @MercerAdrian As Sidney Crosby readies himself for his return tonight, the watching world readies itself for the next hit. Such is now the reality of Crosby’s career. Any hit, knock, or bump to the head could force him from the game. We simply await the one that will ...
When the Ottawa Senators drafted Erik Karlsson 15th overall in the 2008 NHL entry draft they had high hopes for him as all first round picks are full of promise and potential. In less than four years those hopes are not only realized, but perhaps far exceeded! GM Bryan Murray thought so highly of ...
Book Review: Gretzky’s Tears – Hockey, America, and the Day Everything Changed By Stephen Brunt This 2009 release told the story of the most monumental trade in hockey history and perhaps all of sports history. Stephen Brunt captures the essence of the background of the trade, the trade itself and the aftermath in a way ...
Retiring jersey numbers is a ritual in almost every sport. It is a gesture by a team or league to show appreciation to a certain player for their contributions to the club, or even the game itself. In baseball, the New York Yankees have retired 17 numbers for greats such as Babe Ruth (#3) and ...
Have you ever wondered if there are hockey leagues that rival the NHL in terms of talent, viewership, and fan-base? Well, if you have, then this segment should be just for you. It is widely known that players from around the world flock to the NHL for a chance to win Lord Stanley’s Cup and ...
My First Goal: 50 Players and the Goal that Marked the Beginning of Their NHL Careers By Mike Brophy. (2011, Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, Ltd. Softcover. Pp. 254. CAN $19.99 / US $17.95. ISBN 978-0-7710-1682-0.) “I remember my first (fill in the blank).” It is the same for everyone, you always remember the ...
