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Irbe and Myllys walked so other could run - the beginning of European goalies.
The 1990s was the start of the era of the European goalie. Yes, there were European goalies who played in the NHL prior to the 1990s: the...
Jun 23, 202410 min read
What goes around comes around: free agency in the early 1990s
526 - Louie DeBrusk As part of the dismantling of the Oilers dynasty, Edmonton traded Mark Messier to the New York Rangers for DeBrusk,...
May 19, 20249 min read
The 'last dance' for the Edmonton Oilers, and Soviet hockey
The late 1980s represented the 'last dances' for two dynasties - the Edmonton Oilers and the Soviet Union. After winning four Stanley...
Apr 22, 20248 min read
Muller for Richer, a rare, mutually beneficial trade
As this journey through hockey history winds its way into the 'high series' of 1991-92 Upper Deck, we are beginning to encounter players...
Mar 27, 20247 min read
Team USA and the 1991 Canada Cup: a milestone moment
From the 1960s to the mid 1990s, the American men's national hockey team was considered an also ran on the international stage. Canada,...
Mar 8, 20245 min read
It Is Over! Canada Ends It's World Championship Drought.
Crowning the best hockey nation in the world was a difficult task throughout the 20th century. The banning of professional players for...
Feb 2, 20244 min read
From Wheels to Ice: NHL Players with Roller Hockey Roots
If you were alive in the 1990s, you will remember the phenomenon that was inline skating, aka Rollerblading. No one was immune to its...
Jan 2, 20248 min read
Sin Bin Legends: Top 5 NHL Players for Career Playoff Penalty Minutes
With the group of players featured in this blog post it was hard to come up with a unifying thread for the introduction piece. As a...
Dec 21, 20238 min read
Re-selecting the 1985 entry draft
It is a popular thing for hockey writers to do - take an Entry Draft from the past, and re-select the players based on years of...
Dec 2, 20238 min read
Players you didn't know were in the 1996 World Cup
The successor to Alan Eagleson's Canada Cup tournaments, the 1996 World Cup signaled a massive shift in international hockey. The United...
Nov 3, 20239 min read
The 1990s: when even 1st round picks weren't untouchable
In modern times, many teams have a franchise player that is 'untouchable', meaning they won't be traded for anything. Often these players...
Sep 18, 202310 min read
A history of 1990s college hockey in three minutes
In doing some research for this post, I learned that 1990s NCAA hockey was a pretty wild time. US college hockey was not huge deal it is...
Aug 17, 20239 min read
The Golden Brett
Card 464 - Brett Hull The son of the legendary Bobby Hull, right winger Brett was drafted 117th overall by Calgary in 1984. A goal scorer...
Jul 26, 20233 min read
Hard to follow sibling acts
Being a sibling can be hard, or so I am told as an only child. I’ve heard there are constant comparisons, both real and imagined, between...
Jun 29, 20239 min read
AHL Rookie of the Year tiers
The Red Garrett Memorial Trophy has been awarded annually to the best rookie in the AHL since the 1947-48 season when Bob Solinger won...
Jun 2, 202310 min read
The inexact science of drafting goalies
It is a well-established fact that drafting goalies is difficult. Trying to project how well an 18-year old will be able to handle the...
May 17, 20239 min read
Star Rookies and the 1989 draft
Editors note: As part of Series 1 for 1991-92 Upper Deck, 23 'Star Rookie' cards were released. The eponymous Young Guns set was released...
Apr 23, 202310 min read
The great Gretzky trade trees
Anyone who is even a casual fan of hockey knows pretty much all there is to know about Wayne Gretzky. So rather than rehash his career in...
Mar 31, 20238 min read
First, last and only: players who stayed with the franchise that drafted them.
In the era of free agency, trade deadlines and salary caps, a player spending his entire career with the team that drafted him is...
Mar 14, 20238 min read
Not drafted? No problem!
For most NHL players, the start of their pro career comes on a magical day in June known as the NHL entry draft. Alongside family and...
Mar 1, 20239 min read
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