Best Rookie Seasons & Longest Stanley Cup Droughts
Also, some "Today in Hockey History", the Ron Francis trade tree with the Maple Leafs, and more.
Welcome to the THW Hockey History Substack newsletter, with all the best from our extensive archives.
In today’s edition, we have a few “Today in Hockey History” posts, the best rookie seasons of all time, the longest Stanley Cup droughts, the Carolina Hurricanes’ Ron Francis trade tree with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and more.
Don’t forget to check out all of our FREE team Substacks, and sign up for your favorites…or all of them if you want.
You can also upgrade your subscription to a paid THW account, and get access to ALL of our Premium content from ALL of our team Substacks for one low price.
Now on to the good stuff…
NHL's Most Traveled Journeymen: Paul Coffey
March 23, 2024 by Matthew Zator (THW Premium Content)
Not all journeymen are depth players and fringe NHLers. Some are superstars - like Paul Coffey. The generational talent surprisingly spent time with nine teams throughout his career, starting in Edmonton and ending in Boston, finishing with a sublime 1,531 points in 1,409 games. He has gone down as arguably the best offensive defenseman hockey has ever seen, and nine fanbases got to see his greatness live.
Today in Hockey History: March 25
Today’s date in National Hockey League history has been all about things happening for the first time, both in the regular season and Stanley Cup Playoffs. The greatest player of them all had one of the biggest first in league history. Let’s take our daily trip back in time to relive all the top moments from March 25.
The Best Rookie Seasons in NHL History
The National Hockey League has witnessed a number of sensational rookie campaigns throughout its storied history and this trend is set to continue. With the next squad of exceptional young stars, the NHL is stronger than ever in terms of elite young talent.
Hurricanes’ Ron Francis Trade Tree With Maple Leafs
If you have ever glanced at the all-time stats for the Carolina Hurricanes franchise, you will recognize the same player sits atop all three lists. Ron Francis is unique in that regard as someone iconic in both cities for a franchise that has been relocated because of his utter dominance when he was at his best. But like anyone else, Francis was traded from the Carolina Hurricanes. This is the Francis trade tree with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Today in Hockey History: March 24
Today’s trip through the history of the game takes to some of the most storied cities in the National Hockey League. We will make stops in Detroit, Montreal, Chicago, Toronto and Pittsburgh, where there has been plenty of winning over the decades. Plus, if you are a fan of shutouts and coaching milestones, then March 24 is a good day for you.
Longest Stanley Cup Droughts
It’s often said that the Stanley Cup is the hardest trophy to win in professional sports. Of the league’s 32 teams, only 20 have won the Stanley Cup and just 14 have won multiple championships. In the modern era, it’s become tougher to win championships and build dynasties which begs the question: what are the longest active Stanley Cup droughts?
Today in Hockey History: March 23
This date in National Hockey League history is etched in stone as it gave us a new all-time leader in goals scored. One of the greatest rivalries in sports was amped up, a legend in the Windy City set a new record and a handful of goaltenders gave it their all. Let’s take our daily trip back in time to relive all the best moments from March 23.
Top 5 Canadiens Trades in the Bergevin Era
Marc Bergevin was a busy general manager after taking over at the helm of the Montreal Canadiens in 2012. While some of his decisions left people bewildered, others earned him praise and a reputation as a savvy front office boss. Here’s a look at Bergevin’s five best trades during his tenure as Canadiens GM.