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
Underrated Montréal Canadiens: Mats Näslund
October 21st, 2020 Given the history of the Montréal Canadiens and the sheer number of great players and Hockey Hall of Famers who have worn the CH, it might be very easy to overlook some of the team's less legendary names, including those who aren't immediately connected with the franchise. This unfortunately includes the first European to put on the...
Habs Have the Best Fan Culture in the League
October 17th, 2020 The Montréal Canadiens occupy a position no other franchise in the National Hockey League occupies, and one only shared with a select few franchises across major sports. Alongside great teams like baseball's New York Yankees, football's Green Bay Packers, and the great soccer teams of Europe, the Canadiens form the pantheon of...
Canadiens' Marc Bergevin is Gambling on the Josh Anderson Contract
October 14th, 2020 Montreal Canadiens' general manager Marc Bergevin gambled when he signed Josh Anderson to a seven-year contract with a $5.5 million average annual value (AAV). While his performance has been relatively consistent, his injury history makes this contract precarious at best. While the Habs definitely needed a power forward, the success of...
A New "Hab"itat: Montréal Canadiens Draft Day 2 Recap
October 8th, 2020 After an eventful and emotional first of the 2020 NHL Draft, we've arrived at the second, the day for depth picks and trades and where most of the craziness usually happens. The Canadiens began the draft with one pick on the opening day, which they used to select defenceman Kaiden Guhle from the Prince Albert Raiders of the Western...
Draisaitl & Stützle Leading the Resurgence of German Hockey
October 6th, 2020 In a nation renowned for its soccer clubs and players, it seems that hockey is once again getting noticed in Germany and German players getting noticed in North America. Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers is arguably the best player in the National Hockey League. The German men's team claimed silver at the most recent Olympic Games...
Too Good for Television: Great Commentary's Move to Radio
September 27th, 2020 "Good evening Canada, and hockey fans in the United States and Newfoundland!" If you listened to the early days of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), those words were more than a programme's introduction, they signified the beginning of a cultural institution and English Canada's love affair with the Toronto Maple Leafs....
