Crosby vs. Lemieux & Longest Stanley Cup Playoff Streaks
Also, some "Today in Hockey History", revisiting the Artemi Panarin trade, toughest 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, comparing Sidney Crosby and Mario Lemieux, long playoff streaks, a look back at the Artemi Panarin trade that sent him to the Columbus Blue Jackets, and more.
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Today in Hockey History: Dec. 11
One of the wildest games in National Hockey League history was played on this date in the Windy City. Offense was the theme of the day over the years as numerous players set the scoresheet on fire. Additionally, one of the game’s all-time greats came out of retirement, and there was quite a bit of success with penalty shots. It is time for our daily trip back in time, so let’s get started.
Sid the Kid vs. Super Mario: Crosby Still Falls Short
Sidney Crosby is in his 17th season as captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins and is playing some of the best hockey of his career. At 36 years old, he is showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon. This season, he has played in 24 games and has scored 15 goals with 11 assists for a total of 26 points. There is no denying his talent, but does he belong in the same conversation as Penguins’ great Mario Lemieux?
Top 10 Longest Stanley Cup Playoff Streaks
The end of the 2022-23 NHL season is upon us, leaving many teams outside the playoff picture and putting several streaks on the line. Moreover, the Pittsburgh Penguins are on the verge of losing their 16-year streak, currently the longest in professional sports, ranking 10th all-time.
As the discussions continue to center around the possible end of an era in Pittsburgh, our focus shifts to where the Penguins rank all-time on the NHL’s consecutive playoff appearance list. Here’s a look at the longest streaks in league history.
Today in Hockey History: Dec. 10
The Great One proved that his nickname was well-earned twice on this date in NHL history. This was also a very busy date in upstate New York. In addition, some cross-town rivalries were put into motion, and the last game of two record-setting streaks occurred. It is time to take our daily trip back through the decades.
Blue Jackets: Revisiting the Artemi Panarin Trade
Bread anyone? It’s been approximately six years since the Russian sensation and “Bread Man”, Artemi Panarin, was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in a move that sent shock waves across the National Hockey League. One year removed from claiming the Calder Memorial Trophy, awarded to the league’s best rookie, Panarin was on the move.
Panarin’s speed, skill set, “soft hands”, and a knack for goal-scoring made him an instant threat in the NHL. It’s no surprise that he found immediate success with Kane. However, that stunning trio that experienced so much on-ice success was soon separated, and to the surprise of many, Panarin was moved to the Blue Jackets. Let’s take a closer look at how this move came to be.
Today in Hockey History: Dec. 9
This has been a very busy date in the history of the National Hockey League. The theme of this day has been expansion, leading scorers, historic firsts, and the number 100. So, let’s strap into our frozen way-back machine and take a look back at all the history Dec. 9 has to offer us.
3 Toughest Maple Leafs Since 1990
In NHL terms, a “tough guy” normally refers to a player whose primary role on the team is to engage in physical play, often involving fighting, with opposing players. There are two reasons for these actions. First, they are ways to protect teammates. Second, the narrative is that physical play (a solid hit or a fight) can work to shift the momentum of a game.
Players who engage others in 1-to-1 battles are often called “enforcers.” They typically pile up high penalty minutes with their willingness to engage in rough play. The physical play of such enforcers used to be more prevalent in past decades; and, these days such physical play both morphed a bit into what are called pests (the Michael Buntings of the game).
Yet, although they have diminished in the modern NHL, there are still players who are valued primarily for their physical play and fighting ability. During the recent history of the Toronto Maple Leafs (and in this post, I’ve limited my analysis back about 30 seasons), a number of tough guys have suited up for the team. In this post, I’ll look at the three I believe are the top Maple Leafs’ tough guys since 1990.