Canadiens That Just Missed The Calder & Revisiting Jagr Trade
Also, some "Today in Hockey History", Yzerman's top trades as Lightning GM, Maple Leafs' best wingers of all time, 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 couple “Today in Hockey History” posts, Montreal Canadiens that just missed the Calder Trophy before Cole Caufield, a look back at the disastrous Jaromir Jagr trade, Steve Yzerman’s best trades as the GM of the Tampa Bay Lightning, and more.
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Now on to the good stuff…
Today in Hockey History: Feb. 16
Feb. 16 was a night to remember in Steel City as some of the biggest names in franchise history had special moments. Also, several of the best players in the history of the National Hockey League hit big-time personal milestones. In addition, the 1980s was an especially busy decade on this date. The THW time machine is fired up and ready to go, so let’s take our daily trip back through the years.
Revisiting the Capitals’ Disastrous Jagr Trade
Just hours after Washington Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin claimed his second consecutive ESPY award for Best NHL Player, a Capitals star of the past took to social media to take “credit”…of sorts…for the Caps’ recent run of success.
“After 18 years we should look the positive way. If I would play very good , you would never had a chance to draft OVI. And you would probably didn’t win the cup last year😀👍…….. you welcome😎”
While Jaromir Jagr was obviously joking, there is a grain of truth in those words. Fact is, the Capitals’ recent run of success wouldn’t have happened were it not for one of the costliest signings in recent NHL history, one which set the franchise back nearly a decade.
Steve Yzerman’s Best Lightning Trades
Steve Yzerman shocked the hockey world when he stepped down as general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning in Sep. 2018. He was the GM and vice president of the Lightning since 2010 and had been one of the most successful GMs in recent memory.
For many of his years in Tampa Bay, the Bolts had been favorites to make a run for the Stanley Cup. There was a lot of hard work in the organization, but Yzerman made some key trades and drafted some key players to help the Lightning get to where they were when he left. Here’s a look back at some of the top trades and draft picks during his tenure as Tampa Bay’s GM.
Today in Hockey History: Feb. 15
One of the most iconic teams in the history of the National Hockey League was close to relocating before a legendary name stepped up and took control. This date has been full of big moments by some of the greatest members of the Hockey Hall of Fame and a couple of players joining them soon. Let’s take our daily trip back in time to relive all the best memories Feb. 15 has given us over the decades.
Canadiens Who Just Missed Out on Calder Trophy Before Caufield
Montreal Canadiens rookie Cole Caufield looks like a new man under then-interim head coach Martin St. Louis. Well, at least a new version of the old Caufield, who took the NHL by relative surprise, when he became a key component on the team during the Habs’ 2021 run to the Stanley Cup Final.
In the end, Caufield finished his rookie campaign with 43 points in 67 games and was ninth in Calder Trophy voting. In doing so, he joined a fairly decent list of Canadiens who just missed out on the Calder in the years after Dryden won it, proves:
Maple Leafs’ 5 Best Wingers of All Time
In 2015, my THW colleague Andrew Forbes wrote a series of posts on the all-time best forwards in Toronto Maple Leafs history. With the 2019-20 NHL regular season now on hiatus in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, it seemed time to add my own thoughts to his. I encourage Maple Leafs fans to read his earlier post.
As I have been researching Maple Leafs history, I’ve come to my own thoughts about key players who make up that history. And, for the sake of conversation, I will place these players in an order of who I believe was the best. I grant that others will have different choices. Here’s my own take on the best wingers in Maple Leafs history.