Worst 1st Overall Draft Pick...Ever & Epic Comebacks: History of Playoff 3-0 Series Deficits
Also, some "Today in Hockey History", Conn Smythe Trophy winners in a losing effort, NHL hat trick history, top-5 father-son duos, and more.
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Today in Hockey History: June 17
There was a trio of Stanley Cup Final games played on this date with one providing and huge upset and another extending the season for one last game. Also, an Entry Draft took place on June 17 that brought some big names and future Hall of Famers into the National Hockey League.
Epic Comebacks: History of Stanley Cup Playoff 3-0 Series Deficits
Historically, when a team has secured their third win of the series, the foregone conclusion, based on statistics, is the matchup is all but over. However, throughout the 204 incidents (as of 2023) when a team fell behind 3-0 in a series, only four of those clubs rallied back and won in Game 7.
The Worst 1st Overall Draft Pick…Ever
The 2024 Draft is set for June 28, and the San Jose Sharks, with the first overall pick, are starting to dream of adding that next great piece to their roster. The majority of top NHL draft picks do work out in some form or fashion, but not always.
Top 5 Father-Son Duos in NHL History
Father-son bloodlines are deeply rooted in the NHL. And with every passing NHL Draft, it seems there’s high-end talent continuing to be passed-on. It’s a family tradition.
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Today in Hockey History: June 16
There was only one game played on June 16, and it brought the Stanley Cup back to Motown for the second straight year. This date in NHL history also saw a very memorable draft and more honors for two of the most decorated defensemen to ever play in the league.
NHL Hat Tricks History & Fun Facts
A hat trick is one of the NHL’s rarest achievements with only 115 during the 2023-24 season. That’s rarer than a shutout, with 134 in 2023-24, or a shorthanded goal, of which there were 233 this season. Of the 8,086 goals scored this season, 350 were scored with a hat trick.
Today in Hockey History: June 15
Hockey fans in Bean Town have enjoyed what they have seen on this date. Fans in the Windy City can’t complain either. This date has also seen numerous players join the National Hockey League via the draft, and a whole new franchise was added to the mix. Let’s begin our daily trip back in time to relive all the best moments from June 15.
History of Conn Smythe Winners in Losing Efforts
The Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded to the most valuable player of the Stanley Cup Playoffs as voted by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association. Of the 58 recipients in the award’s history, 51 played for teams that won the Stanley Cup. The other five recipients established a true novelty in the NHL that has only happened once in each of the three other major professional sports leagues. They earned the trophy as the MVP of the entire playoffs, leading up to and including the Stanley Cup Final, which each of the five players’ respective teams lost.