Time will Tell

With the NHL trading deadline almost on upon us (February 27^th) it is always interesting to see what trade may or may not happen, and which teams on the playoff bubble will be buyers or sellers? Who will be the winners and losers? Who will give up too much and which team will pull off the trade of the century? Will there be a repeat of the blockbuster trade that happened on March 4^th 1991? That would be the trade that sent center John Cullen, right winger Jeff Parker and defensemen Zarley Zalapski from the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Hartford Whalers for center Ron Francis and defensemen Ulf Samuelsson and Grant Jennings. At that time the experts said that even though the Penguins needed some help on the blue line the Whalers definitely got the better end of that deal. What is kind of rare these days in the salary cap era is two playoff teams making a trade.

John Cullen had his best year up until then in his career; between the two teams he had 101 points which he followed up the with 141 and 111 during the next two campaigns but then was mostly a 65 point scorer during the next 4 years. Jeff Parker was a solid NHL forward but only played four more NHL games after the trade due to a career ending injury. Zarley Zalapski seemed like an up and coming young defensemen, in 1989 he made the all rookie team and in 1993 he was an All-Star. Zalapski played in the league unitl 1999 but then over the next ten seasons he played in a number of North American minor leagues (ECHL, IHL) and European leagues (Switerland, Holland, Germany).

In 1991-92 Ron Francis was in his 10th season in the league and had yet to score 100 points in a season, keep in mind this was the high scoring 80s where if you were a third tier player you could still scarp together a 100 point season. Ron Francis after the trade ended up playing another 13 seasons winning two Stanley Cups as well as Selke Lady Byng (three times) and the Clancy trophies, 4^th all-time leading scorer and a Hall of Famer. Ulf Samuelsson was in his 6^th season in the league and was known for his bone crushing hits. “Ulfy” kept up this reputation as he won 2 Stanley Cups but in the end injuries forced him into retirement after the 1999-00 season. Grant Jennings like Samuelsson and Zalapski had a solid career after a couple seasons with the Penguins he was traded to Toronto and then spent the next couple of years in the minors.

Lets recap The Penguins got an above average center who became a Hall of Famer, an above average defensive force who became a cult hero wherever he played, and a sold defensemen. The Whalers got an above average forward whose best seasons were when the trade took place, an above average forward who got injured and a defenseman that was solid player who was probably more known for his name then for his on ice presence. In the end what tips the scale to Pittsburgh’s favor on this trade is that The Penguins won the Cup in 91 and 92 and the Presidents Trophy in 1993 and got a future Hall of Famer out of it.

Killer Goalie Masks (No not Jason’s)

Just like any other year NHL trade dead line always has some rumors floating around about goalies being picked up that need help in the cage, this year is no different. Evgeni Nabokov of the Islanders and Steve Mason of the Blue jackets are the two hot items from between the pipes. Nabokov’s mask this year just like years in the past when he was with the Sharks he mask has always had a Skeleton on it. Steve Mason since he has been with the Blue Jackets has had a Civil War-Union military theme to it which would fit to the team. The general consensus is that a goalie mask needs to be either fitting with the team’s colors or logo, which sometimes turns being a bit on the generic side or something creepy or scary. The second option is probably best explained by the notion that keepers regardless of the sport are a bit off the wall, which brings me to my Top 10 all time favorite goalie masks. First we have to look at the three types of mask that have generally been worn since that fateful night on November 1^st 1959 when Andy Bathgate’s shot broke Jacques Plante’s nose and forced him to put on the mask (Plante had been messing around with the mask in practice earlier).

            The three types of masks are the original fiberglass masks (ex. Jason from Friday the 13^th), the helmet with a cage combo (most under 18 players have) and of course the one that almost everyone has today, a carbon fiber or a fiberglass Kevlar mix mask with a cage to see through.

            So here is the Top 10 in reverse order.

Jimmy Rutherford

John Vanbiesbrouk

Jimmy Rutherford-Detroit Red Wings: It doesn’t look that spectacular but with those two little wings Jimmy’s mask became the first one to appear in a match with paint on it.

John Vanbiesbrouk-Florida Panthers: When the Beezer joined the Panthers he wanted a plain simple mask but ended up with one of my favorite masks from my childhood.

Steve Shields-Boston Bruins: This is one of those situations where the keeper is more known for his mask than the performance on the ice. But how can you not like the shout out to Garry Cheevers all the way down the ears and the hair being painted on it

Steve Shields

Brian Elliot

Brian Elliot-Ottawa Senators, Colorado Avalanche, St. Louis Blues: Where ever he has played Elliot has always had Casey Jones the hockey mask wearing character from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles painted on his mask.

Patick Lalime-Pittsburgh Penguins, Ottawa Senators, St. Louis Blues, Chicago Blackhawks Buffalo Sabers: What originally started out as a baby penguins eyes poking out of an egg shell morphed into Marvin the Martian in Ottawa and stuck throughout the rest of his career.

Patrick Lalime

Tuuka Rask

Tuuka Rask-Boston Bruins: Just having an angry bruin about to rip your head off looks pretty cool.

Curtis Joseph-St. Louis Blues, Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Mapleleafs Detroit Red Wings, Phoenix Coyotes, Calgary Flames: Where ever “Cujo” played he always had the ferocious dog from the Stephen King novel on his mask.

Curtis Joseph

Gary Bromley

Gary Bromley-Vancouver Canucks: Even though he did play for the Sabers as well he made the skull mask famous when he was plying his trade north of the border.

Gilles Gratton-New York Rangers: Only spent a short time in the NHL and was statistically one of the worst keepers all time. However what he lacked in skills he made up in flair with his feline mask. On top of all that he actually believed he was a lion in his previous life.

Gilles Gratton

Garry Cheevers

Garry Cheevers-Boston Bruins: Garry had one of the most iconic masks of all time. Cheevers would mark on his mask where he would have had to get stitched up every time he took a puck to the face.

49 and still the greatest

Michael Jordan, the greatest player of all time turns 49 today. I think that he could start for just about every team in the NBA. Just image a back court with Jordan and Jeremy Lin or Jordan and D-Wade, or CP3.

RIP

Gary Carter-Hall of Fame catcher.

Remember people 0-0 tie is love all.