THW Hockey History Substack - Sept. 15, 2023
Welcome to the THW Hockey History Substack newsletter, with all the best from our extensive archives.
In today’s edition, we have a few “Today in Hockey History” posts, a look back at the Memorial Auditorium in Buffalo, Oilers Biggest Draft Busts, and every NHL team’s all-time points leaders.
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Now on to the good stuff…
Today in Hockey History: Sept. 15
The date was a pretty big one for Canadian hockey. The national team won a pair of big tournaments, and one of the greatest players to ever skate in the NHL announced his retirement. So. let’s start our daily trip back in time to revisit all the best from Sept. 15.
Every NHL Team’s All-Time Leader in Points
It means something to have a good NHL career. For players, numbers and success are everything. After all, that’s what defines a player’s career when they decide to hang them up. That’s what they are remembered for – the trophies, the awards and the career totals statistically.
But it’s something else to hold a place within a team’s history books, to have your name enshrined in their respective history, even if it’s just for a moment in time. With that, it’s time we take a look at each franchise’s all-time leader in points.
Today in Hockey History: Sept. 14
Sept. 14 has been a big date for international hockey as the United States pulled off a huge upset and Canada got redemption. In the NHL, a pair of Hall of Fame twins made their debut, a playoff hero in Motown called it a career, and a team advanced to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in two decades. It is time for our daily journey through the years to relive all the best moments this date has to offer.
10 Biggest Oilers Draft Busts Since 2000
The Edmonton Oilers struggles at the draft table have been well documented over the years. Poor drafting and developing has been a critical factor in why the Oilers have made the playoffs just four times since the 2000-01 season. Edmonton even went through a recent string where they had four first overall picks in six years.
They added Taylor Hall (2010), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (2011), Nail Yakupov (2012), and Connor McDavid (2015) Still — that did not affect the team’s overall outcome because they weren’t finding NHL caliber talent outside the first round. You can have stars, but you need to surround those stars with quality depth. Edmonton hasn’t done that.
Today in Hockey History: Sept. 13
Sept. 13 has been a huge date on the international stage as Canada, and the Soviet Union battled each other numerous times. Some of the biggest names in NHL history had the honor of playing for their country on this date. Also, an impressive Hall of Fame class was inducted and a superstar blueliner was traded across the continent. So, let’s begin our daily trip back in time to revisit all the great memories.
Remembering an Old Friend: Buffalo’s Memorial Auditorium
An electric atmosphere. Great sightlines. Lively glass panels and boards that would rattle and reverberate from solid body checks. There was so much to love about Buffalo’s Memorial Auditorium.
We take a moment to pause and turn back the clock to reminisce about the earlier years of the beloved Blue & Gold.
Today in Hockey History: Sept. 12
On this date, one of the greatest NHL defensemen ever made history, even though his playing days were over. Also, a very popular and successful captain announced his retirement while a regrettable contract was signed on Long Island. The THW time machine is ready to take you back through the decades to relive all the best moments, so let’s hop aboard.