Rise & Fall of Andrew Raycroft & 10 Things About the NHL's 50-Goal Scorers
Also, some "Today in Hockey History", a 2012 redraft where the Oilers didn't take Nail Yakubov, and more.
Welcome to the THW Hockey History Substack newsletter, with all the best from our extensive archives.
Today in Hockey History: April 26
One of the biggest treats for National Hockey League fans is the thrill of watching a Game 7 during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. This date has provided quite a few of those, including one that completed an epic comeback. Let’s strap into the THW time machine and enjoy all the best moments April 26 has given us through the decades.
The Rise & Fall of Andrew Raycroft
Eighteen years ago, Boston Bruins goaltender Andrew Raycroft took the National Hockey League by storm. Boston’s fifth-round pick in 1998 had spent the previous three seasons bouncing back and forth on Interstate 95 between Boston and Providence. In fact, a majority of Raycroft’s early professional career in the AHL, playing in 121 games on the Bruins’ farm club with a 56-48-13 record. However, the 2003-04 season was anything but average for Raycroft and the Bruins. It proved vital to the future of the franchise.
The NHL’s 50-Goal Scorers – 10 Things You Need to Know
After seasons of low scoring, the 2021-22 and 2022-23 NHL seasons brought back a rejuvenation of goals. In 2021-22, four players hit the 50-goal mark. Meanwhile, in 2022-23, five did it. The five who reached the mark in 2022-23 were the most since 2005-06 and you have to go back to 1995-96 to find a season when more did it.
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Today in Hockey History: April 25
April 25 has provided us with some great playoff moments throughout the history of the National Hockey League. Two of the greatest players to ever lace up a pair of skates had offensive explosions on a date that saw plenty of great postseason moments. Let’s take our daily trip back in time to relive all the best this date has had to offer.
2012 Redraft: What if the Edmonton Oilers Didn’t Take Nail Yakupov?
Nail Yakupov is one of the NHL’s most notable draft busts in recent memory. The Edmonton Oilers surely whiffed on this first-overall pick in 2012, as Yakupov contributed next to nothing on the ice, and found himself out of the league a few years later.