During the NHL’s big growth phase in the 1990s, the league made a concentrated effort to expand the game of hockey in the South, as evidenced by both expansion teams (Tampa Bay Lightning in 1992-1993, Florida Panthers in 1993-1994, Nashville Predators in 1998-1999, Atlanta Thrashers in 1999-2000) and relocations (Winnipeg Jets to Phoenix Coyotes in 1996-1997, Hartford Whalers to Carolina Hurricanes in 1997-1998). A decade later, the Lightning and Hurricanes hoisted the Stanley Cup in back-to-back NHL seasons (around the 2004-2005 lockout), spurred in large part by the stellar goaltending play of Nikolai Khabibulin and Cam Ward, respectively. Long-time starting goalies who both had up-and-down careers highlighted by their Cup triumphs, there are some strikingly parallels between their careers, which leads to the question:
With the split of Czechoslovakia into two sovereign nations in 1993, this resulted in two hockey-rich countries in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. From the likes of Jaromir Jagr and Patrik Elias on the Czech side and Marian Hossa on the Slovakian side, each nation has produced a plethora of elite NHL players and in particular, is renowned for offensive talent. Two of the best goal-scorers to emerge from each half of the formerly unified countries have been Peter Bondra of Slovakia and Milan Hejduk of the Czech Republic – both 50-goal scorers and NHL scoring leaders during their illustrious careers, each racked up over 800 career points, thus prompting the question:
In the 1970s and early 1980s, the Philadelphia Flyers and the New York Islanders had their most successful stretches in franchise history, each winning multiple consecutive Stanley Cup titles (2x for the Flyers, 4x for the Islanders). At the forefront of these championship teams were dominant two-way centers in Bobby Clarke (Philadelphia) and Bryan Trottier (New York) – both perennial MVP candidates in their prime who scored 1,000+ career points and hold a number of franchise records, each can also stake a claim to being the best players in team history, thus bringing up an interesting debate:
During the 1960s, as the NHL moved from the Original Six era into expansion, the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs won nine out of the possible 10 Stanley Cups for the decade (five for Montreal, four for Toronto). While each team was loaded with future Hall of Fame players, two of the brightest stars were centers Dave Keon of the Maple Leafs and Henri Richard of the Canadiens – despite relatively diminutive physical sizes (both stood less than 5’10”), each was a giant on the ice, playing nearly 20 years apiece for their respective franchises and serving as captain for a number of those years. Even more than half a century later, these two stars from a bygone era remain legends of the game – in comparing the duo, the question arises:
For much of the 2000s, the Calgary Flames and the San Jose Sharks were perennial playoff contenders in the NHL’s Western Conference, with the Flames even making a surprise run to the Stanley Cup Finals. Though both teams were led by offensive stars such as Jarome Iginla (Calgary) and Joe Thornton (San Jose), each was also backstopped by an outstanding goalie in Miikka Kiprusoff and Evgeni Nabokov, respectively. The two European goalies were workhorses for much of the decade who often competed against each other, both in the NHL and on the international stage; throw in their overlapping careers and near parallel paths to stardom, and it is only a natural question to ask:
Who was better – Miikka Kiprusoff or Evgeni Nabokov?
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