Hockey cards, collectibles and culture
The Stanley Cup Finals are set. The defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning will square off against the underdog Montreal Canadiens. I’m excited to watch such an interesting matchup. If Tampa Bay wins, they’ll be the first team since 2017 to win back-to-back Stanley Cup Championships. If Montreal wins, they’ll be the first Canadian team to … Continue reading “Blake’s Takes: Stanley Cup Final Set”
Thirty years ago was the 1991 NHL Entry Draft. First-overall pick Eric Lindros was by far considered the best player available in the draft — a can’t-miss prospect who would be the next Wayne Gretzky. In fact, Lindros was called “The Next One” since he was 14 years old. And who could argue? He was … Continue reading “Re-imagining the 1991 NHL Entry Draft”
Just like the Golden State Warriors, the Maple Leafs have blown a 3-1 series lead in the first round of the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. Is it the Drake curse? Regardless, the Maple Leafs couldn’t get it done. I’m sure the entire hockey universe will be talking about this for years to come. That … Continue reading “Blake’s Takes: Toronto Blows a 3-1 Lead”
Which of these “Old Men Without a Cup” Will Go All the Way in 2021? The NHL Playoffs start Saturday, which raises an inevitable question in my mind: who is the oldest active player on each team to not win the Stanley Cup? Then, I always think back to the 2001 Stanley Cup Finals. Twenty … Continue reading “No Stanley for Old Men: 2021 Edition”
“Pond Hockey,” the seventh episode of The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers, starts out promising. The Don’t Bothers are understandably angry at Evan for thinking of rejoining the Ducks. But the episode crams too much into too little time, feels rushed, and isn’t as satisfying as the previous six episodes. NOTE: This review contains minor spoilers.
Upper Deck announced today that they have signed L.A. Kings first-round draft pick Quinton Byfield to an exclusive autograph deal. Upper Deck will sell memorabilia autographed by Byfield, who was picked second overall in the 2020 NHL Draft. He is the highest-drafted black player in NHL history. Byfield made his NHL debut on April 28, … Continue reading “Quinton Byfield and Upper Deck Sign Exclusive Autograph Deal”
The dust has settled and the 2021 trade deadline is behind us. Two major trades occurred during the deadline in addition to a plethora of other smaller deals that will surely pay dividends come playoff time. Other than the deadline, last week we saw three NHLers play in their 1,000th game, the Frozen Four champion … Continue reading “Blake’s Takes: Big Moves at the Trade Deadline”
“Hockey Moms” — the fourth episode of The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers — is about the characters moving out of their comfort zones, and doing what is right instead of what is easy. The episode focuses on a showdown between the the Don’t Bothers moms and the Ducks moms in a skills competition. Note: This … Continue reading “Review: The Mighty Ducks Game Changers, Season 1, Episode 4”
This week’s column is much more upbeat than week’s past. I’ll highlight one of hockey’s best stories unfolding in Toronto, as well as our first big trade before the deadline. My other takes involve two top prospects and my favorite goalie mask I’ve ever seen. Happy Monday!
Most hockey books chronicle the tales of elite players who were great at an early age, usually playing against older kids before going on to renowned hockey programs en route to an NHL career. “Thin Ice: A Hockey Journey from Unknown to Elite — and the Gift of a Lifetime” is not that book. Instead, … Continue reading “Book Review: Thin Ice”