Walt Poddubny: Rangers’ Brief and Tragic Star & Marc Bergevin’s 5 Biggest Mistakes as Canadiens GM
Also, some "Today in Hockey History", how Maple Leafs former owner Harold Ballard perfected greed, the Sabres' worst trades of all time, and more.
Welcome to the THW Hockey History Substack newsletter, with all the best from our extensive archives.
Today in Hockey History: July 26
One of the greatest defensemen of all time changed addresses after 17 seasons in his original home. Plus, one of the best returns on a dollar called it a career, and a talented group of players is celebrating a birthday. So, let’s begin our daily trip back in time and enjoy all the great moments from this date.
Walt Poddubny: Rangers’ Brief and Tragic Star
For established world-class athletes, joining a team in New York City from elsewhere always has been, and always will be, a different animal. A select group of imported players thrives under the white-hot spotlight, while many more wilt under the pressure of rabid fanbases and the unrelenting coverage of the Big Apple’s media horde, an often-shocking entity for those unfamiliar with its ways. Occasionally, a star player can find a comfortable under-the-radar niche that allows him to perform in what amounts to a supporting role – though that occurrence is about as rare as finding a cab on Fifth Avenue at 5 p.m. during the week.
Maple Leafs’ Harold Ballard: The Owner Who Perfected Greed
Jason Priestley, who most Canadians know from his time on television’s ‘Beverly Hills 90210’, is a lifelong hockey fan. As a result, his foray into creating a documentary about controversial Toronto Maple Leafs’ owner Harold Ballard should not come as much of a surprise.
Today in Hockey History: July 25
One of the most colorful coaches in the history of the National Hockey League got his first job in the league on this date. Also, a pair of elite goaltenders share a birthday today. Let’s hop aboard the THW time machine so we can go back through the years and enjoy all the best July 25 has given us.
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Canadiens: Marc Bergevin’s 5 Biggest Mistakes
Marc Bergevin was the general manager (GM) of the Montreal Canadiens for nine years and had his ups and downs. He seemed to be very good at making trades but lacked the ability to draw in good free agents.
Buffalo Sabres’ Worst Trades Ever
Last week we looked at some of the best trades the Buffalo Sabres have made in their history, and while the list was impressive, it raises the question – what about the ones that didn’t go so well?
