Fuzzy History of the NHL Playoff Beard & Red Wings Prospects That Busted
Also, some "Today in Hockey History", the top 5 goaltenders of the 1970s, Oilers' unhappy reunion with Glenn Anderson, and more.
Welcome to the THW Hockey History Substack newsletter, with all the best from our extensive archives.
Today in Hockey History: April 22
Breaking a record set by the Great One is quite the accomplishment, and a very unlikely player did just that on this date. One of the National Hockey League’s charter teams has had plenty of reasons to celebrate, while two legendary goaltenders had memorable games, and the hockey world lost another legendary Montreal Canadien as well. Let’s begin our daily trip back through time to take a look at all the moments, happy and sad, that April 22 has given us.
7 Red Wings Prospects That Busted
A promising pipeline of prospects is an integral part of a team’s long-term success. During the Detroit Red Wings’ 24-year playoff streak, they managed to strike gold in the later rounds of the draft several times, which considerably lengthened their reign of Stanley Cup contention. Even now, the Red Wings possess a solid core of young talent that is hoping to lead them back to relevancy.
Fuzzy History of the NHL Playoff Beard
When the 2024 Playoffs roll around, the beloved playoff beards will be back. Long a tradition of NHL players, the facial hair-growing frenzy has been adopted by fans in recent years. Snapchat filters, NHL sponsor commercials, and in-game giveaways have turned the playoff beard into a hockey pop culture phenomenon. It even has its own Wikipedia page!
Today in Hockey History: April 21
April 21 has been a hectic day in National Hockey League history. We have seen defensemen shine on the offensive stage, some big hat tricks, and plenty of other memorable Stanley Cup playoff moments on this date. Plus, one of many legends in Toronto began on this date.
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Top 5 Goaltenders of the 1970s
Ranking all-time greats, no matter the sport, is a near-impossible task. Almost every era is drastically different from the next and the game of hockey is no different. With that in mind, we decided to break down our look at the greatest goaltenders to have played the game by decade and see how each one fared against their contemporaries.
Today in Hockey History: April 20
April 20 has been a busy day in National Hockey League history. Among all the big moments, we saw some new records and Stanley Cup Playoff firsts. The THW time machine is fired up and ready to take back through the decades to relive all the memories this date has had to offer.
Oilers’ Unhappy Reunion with Glenn Anderson 28 Years Later
There have been many instances of former players returning to the Edmonton Oilers years after their initial go-round with the National Hockey League club. Kevin Lowe came back to provide invaluable leadership and championship experience that helped the new generation of Oilers achieve their first playoff success. Ryan Smyth’s homecoming righted what many saw as a terrible wrong, allowing the universally beloved winger to close his career with the team he never wanted to leave. And then there’s the curious case of Glenn Anderson.