Dazzling Defensemen
With a storybook ending to his 22 year career, not only did this player retire as the leading points scorer for all defensemen, but with his first Stanley Cup as well.
Who is Ray Bourque?
Having been called up halfway through the 2018-2019 season, this goaltender not only sparked a turnaround that led this franchise to their first ever Stanley Cup, but additionally set the rookie record for playoff wins.
Who is Jordan Binnington?
After being knocked unconscious by Scott Stevens in game 6 of the 2003 Stanley Cup Playoffs, this player returned from the locker room minutes later to give us one of the most iconic goal calls in playoff history.
What is "off the floor, on the board?"
Although the longest tenured non-North American born captain did so for the Toronto Maple Leafs for 11 seasons, Hall of Famer Mats Sundin actually finished his history in Scotiabank Arena by scoring a game winning goal from the visitor's side, doing so with this team.
Who are the Vancouver Canucks?
Ironically, Gordie Howe doesn't hold the record for the most career Gordie Howe Hat Tricks, that title actually goes to this current NHL coach.
Who is Rick Tocchet?
This defenseman was able to accomplish something that still hasn't been done a full quarter century later: being a finalist for the Hart trophy.
Who is Chris Pronger?
While we often think of Playoff staples such as Gretzky, Lemieux, Howe, and Crosby to lead teams to the cup, the player who set and still holds the record for goals in a single playoff run goes to this player, who did so with his third team, potting 19 goals in 16 games on his way to hoisting the cup in 1976.
Who is Reggie Leach?
After Jamie took a cross-ice saucer pass from his brother, Jordie, to score a shorthanded goal against Ottawa, Daryl Reaugh was quick to coin the highlight using a play on words with both of the players' shared last names.
What is "double Bennetration?"
Despite both sides being adamant that the 4 time Vezina winner would retire a New Jersey Devil, Martin Brodeur actually ended up logging 7 starts in the 2014-2015 season before retiring as a member of this team.
Who are the St. Louis Blues?
Having been picked up off of waivers by the Carolina Hurricanes before the 2025-2026 season, this 27 year old netminder just recently set the record for the fastest rookie goalie to reach 10 wins.
Who is Brandon Bussi?
Before Erik Karlsson broke the threshold in 2022-2023, this captain was the last blue liner to pass the 100 point mark in a season.
Who is Brian Leetch?
While only being a one time all star, this goaltender stopped a mind boggling 122 out of 123 shots against in the Western Conference Finals, leading him to boast the highest save percentage in any Stanley Cup Playoff run. This culminated with him winning the Conn Smyth trophy, even though his team lost the Stanley Cup to the New Jersey Devils.
Who is Jean-Sibastien Giguere?
After having fallen in consecutive years to the powerhouse Blackhawks in the playoffs, Alexandre Burrows fired an OT winner in 2011, prompting John Shorthouse to exclaim in metaphor the monumental task that the Canucks had finally accomplished.
What is "They've slain the dragon?"
Despite the team's core showing their age, management still wished to maintain their cup contention window, and in the 2003 offseason Anaheim Mighty Ducks legends Teemu Selanne and Paul Kariya both joined this team on one year contracts with hopes of hoisting the cup.
Who are the Colorado Avalanche?
Although Swedes are notably known as generators of offense, this right winger is the only Swedish born player that has ever hit the 50 goal mark.
Who is Hakan Loob?
While Brent Burns currently holds the active consecutive games streak, the owner of the most consecutive games played by a defenseman goes to this player, who's streak was ended by a healthy scratch from coach Mike Yeo in 2022.
Who is Keith Yandle?
This 3rd pairing defenseman netted only 6 goals in the 2013-2014 regular season season, but in the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs, he managed to net an additional 5, including an OT winner in game seven of the Western Conference Finals, and another in overtime of game five that won his team the cup.
Who is Alec Martinez?
With time winding down for Team Canada in the 2009 World Juniors Semifinals, Jordan Eberle improbably tied the game with only 5.4 seconds left in the third period, sparking Gord Miller to ecstatically scream out "Can you believe it?!" Unfortunately, Miller's boothmate, Pierre Turgeon, was unable to understand that it was a rhetorical question, sparking him to reply almost immediately with a simple rebuttal.
What is "I can!"
Having played for only 3 teams during his illustrious 25 year career, a 48 year old Chris Chelios decided to give it one more run, logging a measly 7 games played in 2009-2010 with this fourth team before finally calling it quits.
Who are the Atlanta Thrashers?
Who is Kellan Lain?
While scoring goals is not typically something that a team relies upon their blue line to accomplish, during the 2008-2009 season, this Washington Capital was able to string eight straight games doing so, which is the all-time record for defensemen.
Who is Mike Green?
Being a late year addition for the Buffalo Sabres in 1999, not only did this center score his first goal with the team during the playoffs, but an additional six, tying him for the team lead during their Stanley Cup Finals run.
Who is Stu Barnes?
After Ottawa defenseman Sean Hill blocked a shot on goal from close quarters, he went down in a heap, originally sparking color commentator Dale Tallon to claim that Hill's knee that had been hit. After the replay was showed, Tallon corrected his original comment to the unfortunate region in which Hill had been truly struck.
What is "not his knee, but his wee-knee?"
Considering he holds an unbeatable record of 7 Vezina Trophies, it's especially odd to know that at age 46, Jacques Plante actually retired as a member of this team in the WHA.
Who are the Edmonton Oilers?
This NHL player is the only one to have led a team in goals for three separate teams in three consecutive seasons, doing so for the Maple Leafs in 90-91, the Oilers in 91-92, and the Canadiens in 92-93.
Who is Vincent Damphousse?