The Tampa Bay Lightning: A Championship in Newspapers

lightning_newspapers_mainEditor’s Note: Zach Bare is a new writer for Puck Junk. Please give him a warm welcome — even if you’re not a Lightning fan šŸ™‚

One of my favorite ways to remember a historical event of the Tampa Bay Lightning is to save the newspaper from the morning after. That all started back in 2004, after the Lightning eliminated the Philadelphia Flyers and won the Eastern Conference en route to their first Stanley Cup appearance. It was only by chance though, that I ended up getting my hands on and then keeping these historic headlines.

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Book Review: The Goaltenders’ Union

goaltenders_union_coverYou might enjoy the play of high-scoring forwards or hard-hitting defenseman more than that of puckstoppers, but “The Goaltenders” Union” is a must-read book for any hockey fan. It will get you up to speed on many of the game’sĀ  goalkeepers — not just the stars, but numerous rank-and-file netminders that have manned the pipes over the past 100 years.

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Puck Junk Podcast #8 – July 27, 2015

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In Puck Junk Podcast #8, Sal (@PuckJunk) and Tim (@TheRealDFG)Ā talk about the upcoming 2015 National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago, with a focus on hockey cards and collectibles. Topics include autograph guests, redemption sets, VIP sets and finding that diamond in the rough.

Total time is 36 minutes 28 seconds.

For more information about The National, visit their website here.

PODCAST INTRO AND ENDING MUSIC CREDITS:

ā€œDisco Medusaeā€ by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Who Will Be Named the Chicago Blackhawks’ Next Assistant Captain?

Craigslist_AdIt lasted seven years, but to most Chicago Blackhawks fans, it felt like forever. Since 2008, the Blackhawks’ leadership core has consisted of the same three players: Jonathan Toews serving as the team captain, along with Duncan Keith and Patrick Sharp as alternate captains.

But that will change now that Sharp has been traded to the Dallas Stars. ThisĀ begs the question, who will assume the role of the second assistant captain for the Blackhawks? NHL rules stipulate that all teams have one captain and two assistant captains (or three assistant captains) in the lineup, so someone has to fill Sharp’s skates as Keith’s fellow A-bearer.

Until the team makes an announcement, here is a look at the leading candidates for this job opening.

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Panini Presents: Another Confusing Card of Purported Value

headerPanini, my old foe…we meet again!

You know what grinds my gears in the card collecting world? Absolute laziness fortified with an attitude that no one will notice. On Friday evening, Iā€™m sitting back in my dapper, leather high-back Georgian wing chair, enjoying a freshly poured adult beverage consisting of Scotch old enough legally buy itself and nothing more, when my phone pinged with a message.

ā€œPiiiiiiiiNG!ā€

It was an email from an online sport card retailer that I frequent, directing my attention to a sale. I adjusted my pashmina afghan, tipped my yachting cap back on my brow, and dove in to see what wares awaited my eyes.

Shortly into the list, and much to my surprise, I saw a Ryan Miller card that looked familiarā€¦eerily familiar. Continue reading “Panini Presents: Another Confusing Card of Purported Value”

The 5 Worst Trades in Blackhawks History

trade_headerChicago Blackhawks’ General Manager Stan Bowman has had a busy summer, attempting to get the team under the salary cap before the start of the 2015-16 season. Some popular players were offloaded to create cap space: first, rising star Brandon Saad, followed by All-Star winger Patrick Sharp. These trades won’t be fondly remembered by ‘Hawks fans in the years to come, but they are from far the worst moves the team has ever made.

During the Blackhawks’ 89-year history, the team has made several trades that looked bad from the get-go. These moves were usually made because of personality conflicts with the coach or short-sightedness by management, with devastating effects in the years to come. Here are the five worst trades in Blackhawks’ history.

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Puck Junk Podcast #7 – July 8, 2015

…with your hosts, Sal Barry and Tim Parish.


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Now that the NHL season is over, Sal (@PuckJunk) and Tim (@TheRealDFG) talk about one of their favorite sets of hockey cards: 1971-72 Topps (and O-Pee-Chee). They also touch on the 2001-02 Topps Retro Hockey set, which used the 1971-72 design. Runtime is a (relatively short) 22 minutes. Pictures of the cards they discuss after the jump.

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Puck Junk Podcast #6 – July 1, 2015


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Podcast #6 is way overdue, but Tim (@TheRealDFG) and Sal (@PuckJunk) finally get around to talking about the end of the 2014-15 season. This week’s topics are:

  • The Chicago Blackhawks’ Stanley Cup Championship and Duncan Keith winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP (0:01 to 7:07)
  • The 2015 NHL Awards, including discussion about the Masterton, Lady Byng and Messier Award winners (7:08 to 22:30 — we reference this article here)
  • The 2015 NHL Draft — why it was (or wasn’t) worth watching (22:31 to 42:00)

Total time is 42 minutes, so hit play, make yourself a sandwich and enjoy!

PODCAST INTRO AND ENDING MUSIC CREDITS:

ā€œIron Baconā€ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/