THW's Sunday Substack - Best of the Archives
A Sunday Archives Edition of The Hockey Writers Substack
Welcome to The Hockey Writers Sunday from the Archives
In today’s edition, we have the best old school goalie mask rankings, historical Hobey Baker winners, the worst first-overall draft picks in league history, and much more.
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Here’s the good stuff:.
The 10 Coolest Old School NHL Goalie Masks
The goalie mask is one of the most interesting pieces of equipment in all of sport. It allows for personality to show, which hasn’t always been promoted in sport – especially in hockey. The modern goaltender’s mask is a blank canvas and has led to some incredible helmets such as Curtis Joseph’s “Cujo” mask and Ed Belfour’s “Eagle” mask.
But before the new-age helmet, the goalie mask looked a little different. You’ve certainly seen it. The single piece of fibreglass was used to “protect” the netminder’s face. The word “protect” is used very loosely here. Some goalies chose to keep their masks as the simple, white shield. However, some chose to let their personality show by getting creative with their masks. Here’s a look back at 10 of the coolest old-school masks in NHL history.
10 Greatest Pittsburgh Penguins in Franchise History
Since their inaugural 1967 season, fans of the Pittsburgh Penguins have witnessed some of the greatest players the sport has ever seen. Not just the players on the ice, but the stories that have stemmed off as well. From multiple bankruptcies to the threat of relocation on a couple of occasions, it was certain players that kept the team in Pittsburgh and brought storied success.
It’s difficult coming up with a top 10 list for anything; Most of the time the No. 1 choice won’t be contested, but it’s everything beforehand that can show struggles. For the Penguins and their history of players, there are some phenomenal names. Surely, a great name or two will be left off the list, but here it is; The top 10 players in Pittsburgh Penguins history.
The Worst First-Overall Draft Picks in NHL History
Ever since the NHL Draft began in 1963, NHL teams have been utilizing it as the main way to bring in talent to their teams. For the teams that have been able to secure the first-overall pick, chances are they are drafting an exceptional player that can change the outlook of the team’s future. Sometimes though – that’s just not the case.
Top 10 Hobey Baker Winners of All Time
The Hobey Baker Award, awarded annually to the most valuable player in the college hockey world, was first dished out in 1981. Since then it has been handed out to some of hockey’s biggest stars. Countless winners have gone on to become elite talent at the NHL level.
This article ranks the top 10 winners of NCAA Hockey’s most coveted trophy since its origin. The players are ranked based on their performance in their winning season and the rest of their college days, not necessarily their post-NCAA careers.
Wayne Gretzky Almost Joined the Detroit Red Wings
It’s been 35 years since the Wayne Gretzky trade to the Los Angeles Kings that sent shock waves throughout Edmonton, all of Canada, and the entire hockey world. This was a major event for the NHL, sparking hockey interest in the south and west and ultimately leading to a demand for more franchises.
The Anaheim Ducks, San Jose Sharks, Arizona Coyotes, Dallas Stars, Florida Panthers, and Tapa Bay Lightning fanbases can all thank Peter Pocklington’s stretched budget and preemptive planning for NHL teams in their cities.ESPN’s 30 For 30 franchise featured the trade in one of their documentaries, interviewing all parties involved and chronicling the events that led up to and consequently followed the seismic trade.
In the documentary, Gretzky mentioned that he was allowed to pick his next destination and that decision ultimately came down to two teams: the Kings and Detroit Red Wings. The Kings traded a fortune for Gretzky and the rest was history. But what would have happened if Gretzky had chosen the Red Wings to continue his illustrious career?
Revisiting the Blues’ Trade for Brett Hull
On March 7, 1988, the Calgary Flames agreed to send 23-year-old forward Brett Hull along with 27-year-old forward Steve Bozek to the St. Louis Blues for 29-year-old defenseman Rob Ramage and 28-year-old goaltender Rick Wamsley. The trade would go down as one of the biggest in Blues’ history. Here’s a look back at how the trade panned out for both clubs.
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