Ben Wagner
Covering the Montréal Canadiens and other topics for The Hockey Writers. Also a big fan of the Chicago Cubs and progressive rock music.
Author's Posts
Josh Anderson's Canadiens Debut Should Make Marc Bergevin Proud
January 16th, 2021 It's only been one game, but I'm ready to reconsider my stance on Josh Anderson's contract. Okay, maybe not entirely, but his performance against the Toronto Maple Leafs on opening night certainly raised some eyebrows. If he can continue on this pace, Bergevin's shelling out of $5.5 million per year for Anderson won't seem as risky as...
The NHL's New North Division Will Re-Ignite the Canadiens-Maple Leafs Rivalry
January 14th, 2021 It's no secret that the rivalry between the Montréal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs has sputtered over the past few decades or so. What used to be the National Hockey League's must-see matchup has simply become another game on the schedule. https://twitter.com/PR_NHL/status/1340757002927153152 The game that used to consume...
Canadiens Can Be Happy About the 2021 World Juniors
January 6th, 2021 The last eight years of general manager Marc Bergevin's tenure have been tumultuous and divisive at best. Even some of my colleagues have weighed in on this. However, this offseason has marked a significant change from Bergevin's usual dealings. Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan...
A History of the PCHA's Vancouver Millionaires
December 31st, 2020 Contrary to popular belief, the city of Vancouver does have a Stanley Cup. While the Vancouver Canucks have never hoisted Lord Stanley's mug (and people were VERY upset at that fact), the other Vancouver franchise, the Pacific Coast Hockey Association's Vancouver Millionaires, won the greatest trophy in sports in 1914-15. Started...
The Legacy of the PCHA's Victoria Cougars
December 29th, 2020 Inspired by American broadcaster Keith Olbermann, earlier this month I embarked on a quest to uncover the true nature of the National Hockey League's 'Original Six'. During the course of my investigation, I found that the Chicago Blackhawks were not a new franchise when they were founded in 1926, but instead were relocated from...
A History of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association's Portland Rosebuds
December 21st, 2020 The Chicago Blackhawks are one of the National Hockey League's established and legendary franchises. With six Stanley Cup championships and numerous Hall of Famers including Stan Mikita, Bobby Hull, and Tony Esposito, the pedigree of the Blackhawks has entrenched them in hockey history since their founding in 1926. Although considered...
