Notable Captains Who Got Traded & Top Defensive Defensemen of the 2010s
Welcome to the THW Hockey History Substack newsletter, with all the best from our extensive archives.
In today’s edition, we have a couple of “Today in Hockey History” posts, some notable captains that got traded, ranking the best defensive defensemen of the 2010s, and more.
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Now on to the good stuff…
Today in Hockey History: Dec. 1
For those of you who like to look back at the early days of the National Hockey League, Dec. 1 is your kind of date. In cornerstone cities like Boston and Toronto, some of the first stars of the game had big moments that laid the foundation for future success. Plus, there were plenty of other memories from more recent history involving some great players.
NHL’s Top 5 Defensive Defensemen of the 2010s
The 2010s have come and gone, and as we embark on a new decade, the hockey world has been reminiscing on the greatest goals, saves and players of the decade. Most of those players include high-octane scorers and acrobatic netminders, but what about the defenseman who plays 20 minutes a night, blocks shots and has an underappreciated impact throughout the course of a season?
With that said, let’s take a look at the best defensive defensemen of the 2010s.
Notable NHL Captains Who Got Traded
by Ryan Gagne
The National Hockey League is a professional sports league and a business at the same time. The lines often get blurred, especially regarding the team’s finances. Whether signing big free-agent players, launching new jersey designs, hiring new staff, or orchestrating blockbuster trades to rebuild a pretender into a contender, the business side merges with the on-ice product you and I love so passionately.
Usually, the captain is one of the best players and carries a hefty contract. Sometimes the moment arises when that player is made available to change the franchise’s direction, and despite being a leader, they find themselves headed to a new city. Ultimately, no player is untouchable, so when we look back at the history of trades, it is no surprise that some of the game’s greatest leaders have ended up on a new team.
Today in Hockey History: Nov. 30
This date in 2005 saw a major trade that forever changed two franchises. Also, one of the greatest players in National League Hockey history hit a significant milestone. In addition, Nov. 30 was a very busy date on Long Island and for some of the biggest names in the game. So. let’s hop aboard the THW time machine and relive all the great best moments from this date.
Anaheim Ducks Logo History
Unsurprisingly, the Anaheim Ducks’ logo history bears the same commitment to nostalgia. What’s that? You prefer to think of it as a lack of imagination? I mean, how can you say a team that ripped off the title of a children’s movie lacks imagination? Especially when they were founded and owned (until 2005) by Disney, a company that tries to sell “platinum” and “remastered” editions of films that have been out for decades? Stop talking nonsense!