Winnipeg Jets – Jet Stream

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Throughout the year, the Sip Advisor will alphabetically travel the National Hockey League (NHL), discovering the best and worst each team has to offer in a variety of subjects. We will also feature a drink based off the franchise. Today, we brave frosty temperatures to fly with the Winnipeg Jets:

Establishment Story: Version 2.0 of the Jets was born when the Atlanta Thrashers were relocated to the Manitoba capital in 2011. The Thrashers had joined the NHL as an expansion team in 1999. After some debate, new Jets owner Mark Chipman/True North Sports & Entertainment decided to return to the Jets nickname, which had been given to the previous World Hockey Association/NHL franchise that had relocated to Phoenix in 1996.

Stanley Cups: The Jets have yet to win a Stanley Cup, coming closest in 2018, when they were eliminated in the Western Conference Final by the Vegas Golden Knights. As for the Thrashers, they only qualified for the playoffs once in their existence, being swept in the first round by the New York Rangers in 2007. The original Jets won the WHA Avco World Trophy three times, but that legacy belongs to the Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes.

Celebrity Fan: Professional wrestler Chris Jericho is such a big Jets fan (original and 2.0) that the Winnipeg native has donned his team gear at opponent rinks, including his current home of Tampa Bay, even when he’s been given free tickets by Lightning employees. When jokingly told “You can’t do that,” Jericho simply replied “Watch me!” Jericho also once appeared on WWE Monday Night Raw in a Jets t-shirt.

Thrashers to Jets

Super Fan: Len ‘Kroppy’ Kropioski was often featured on the Winnipeg scoreboard, as the World War II veteran sang the Canadian national anthem and saluted the country’s flag. Kroppy had been a season ticket holder since the Jets returned in 2011, making a 2.5-hour trek from Kenora, Ontario for each home game. Sadly, Kroppy passed away in 2016, at the age of 98. In 2018, Kroppy was immortalized with an Upper Deck hockey card release.

Mascot: Mick E. Moose was the mascot of the minor league Minnesota Moose, moving with the team to Manitoba in 1996. When the Jets returned to the NHL in 2011, Mick E. was called up to the big leagues. He now represents both the Jets and Moose. Benny, the mascot of the original Jets, was resurrected at the 2016 Heritage Classic, becoming a secondary mascot for the Jets 2.0. While in Atlanta, the team’s mascot was Thrash, a brown thrasher, the state bird of Georgia.

Tradition: The Winnipeg White Out was first used for the opening round of the 1987 playoffs, when fans were encouraged to wear all white, as a counter to their opponents, the Calgary Flames, whose fans created a ‘C of Red’. When the Jets won the series, fans continued the tradition. Fans are also known to emphasize the “true north” portion of the Canadian national anthem, an homage to Winnipeg’s geographic location.

Appearances in Media: On the sitcom How I Met Your Mother, character Robin Scherbatsky was occasionally seen wearing a Vancouver Canucks jersey. That all changed in a later season episode, when she is shown wearing a Thrashers jersey, with the logo removed. All this, despite the team having moved to Winnipeg years earlier. Also, the Jets 2.0 franchise is profiled in a series of documentary shorts called Jets Legends, on the Crave streaming service.

White Out

Events/Scandals: When an entire article is devoted to a timeline of a player’s behavioural incidents with a team, you might call said player a problem. Despite his obvious talent, drafted fourth overall in 2009 by Atlanta, Evander Kane caused many headaches during his time with the Jets, including issues around his social media use, relationships with local businesses, angering his own teammates, allegations of faking injuries, benchings by coaches, and even legal matters.

Rivalry: While the new incarnation of the Jets shares some minor rivals with their original predecessors (Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks), these battles aren’t what they used to be, given they no longer all share the same division. The honour of current top rival would likely go to the geographically close Minnesota Wild, with the Colorado Avalanche and Nashville Predators being other options.

Tragedy: On September 29, 2003, Dany Heatley crashed his Ferrari with his Thrashers teammate Dan Snyder in the vehicle with him. Heatley suffered a number of injuries, but eventually made a full recovery. Sadly, Snyder never awoke from his coma, succumbing to septic shock on October 5, 2003. Despite the team’s relocation, the Jets continue to present the Dan Snyder Memorial Award for perseverance, dedication and hard work, in his memory.

Player Nicknames: Nikolai Ehlers earned the nickname Fly thanks to his speed and finesse. Ehlers has spent his entire career with the Jets, drafted ninth overall in 2014 by the team. Friend and former teammate Patrik Laine also once dropped the moniker ‘Little Buddy Nik’ towards Ehlers in an interview. The 6’5” Laine is definitely big, but Ehlers holds his own at a respectable 6’0”.

Dan Snyder

Line: One notable line from Jets history was the checking unit of Tanner Glass, Jim Slater and Chris Thorburn, dubbed the GST Line, a reference to the Canadian Goods and Services Tax. Going back to the Thrashers days, Dany Heatley and Ilya Kovalchuk were a dangerous combo, even as freshmen. The duo were both nominated for the 2001-02 Calder Trophy (rookie of the year), playing on a line together.

Captain: Blake Wheeler was named captain of the Jets prior to the 2016-17 season. He remained in the role until September 2022, when he was stripped of his captaincy, with Winnipeg electing to go into the season with no selected captain. New head coach Rick Bowness stated he wanted to go with a committee leadership approach, with a number of assistant captains, rather than one particular captain.

Enforcer: Chris Thorburn holds the Jets/Thrashers franchise record for career penalty minutes with 832, while Jeff Odgers tops the list for most penalty minutes in a single season with 226. Had Dustin Byfuglien not surprisingly retired at the age of 35 (more on that later), he certainly would have surpassed Thorburn, as he sits second on the Jets all-time list with 826 penalty minutes. Big Buff is best remembered for his bone-crunching hits and not shying away from the rough stuff.

Family Values: Father and son, Dave and Adam Lowry, enjoyed a coach/player relationship from November 2020 to April 2022. Adam was drafted by the Jets in 2011, with Dave joining the team as an assistant coach in 2020. Dave was named interim head coach just over a year later, with the departure of Paul Maurice, leaving the team at the end of the season to join the Seattle Kraken as an assistant coach.

Dustin Byfuglien

Returning Players: Paul Stastny first joined the Jets at the 2018 trade deadline, brought in to be the team’s second line center. Despite being a perfect fit with the club and the team having a successful playoff run, Stastny signed with the Vegas Golden Knights in the off-season. After two season with Vegas, Stastny was again traded to Winnipeg, where he resumed his spot on the team’s second line for two campaigns.

Short Stint: When Hall of Fame member Chris Chelios retired in August 2010, at the age of 48, he held the record for most games played by a defenseman, with 1,651. The last seven NHL contests of his lengthy career were spent with the Atlanta Thrashers. Chelios had signed a 25-game tryout contract with the minor league Chicago Wolves, being recalled by the Thrashers to close out the 2009-10 season.

Undrafted: Brandon Tanev was signed by the Jets out of college in 2016, joining the team for their final three games of that season. Tanev remained with the organization until 2019, when he was lured away by a six-year, $21 million contract offer by the Pittsburgh Penguins. For much of his time with Winnipeg, Tanev was used in a checking line role, often playing with Adam Lowry and Andrew Copp.

Trade: The organization’s final season in Atlanta saw the Thrashers take great advantage of the Chicago Blackhawks, who had serious salary cap issues. In two separate moves, the Thrashers brought in Dustin Byfuglien and Andrew Ladd (among others), who were coming off the Blackhawks 2010 Stanley Cup championship and would be important members of the franchise once moved to Winnipeg.

Chris Chelios

Signing: The Jets don’t often dip their toe into the big name free agent market, preferring to draft and develop their players, while acquiring others via trade. In this vein, one of the biggest moves the organization has ever made was re-signing center Mark Scheifele and goalie Connor Hellebuyck to identical seven-year, $59.5 million contracts, when everyone in the hockey world assumed the players were as good as gone from Winnipeg and would be dealt for packages of draft picks, prospects and other pieces.

Draft Pick: The Thrashers/Jets franchise has had the first overall pick twice, taking Patrik Stefan in 1999 and Ilya Kovalchuk in 2001. Stefan proved to be one of the biggest draft busts of all-time, while Kovalchuk enjoyed some success with Atlanta, before being traded. Mark Scheifele, taken seventh overall in 2011, was the first-ever pick of the franchise after it relocated to Winnipeg. A definite draft steal was selecting goalie Connor Hellebuyck at 130th overall in 2012.

Holdouts: A number of top Jets players have staged holdouts with the organization. Both Josh Morrissey in 2018 and Patrik Laine in 2019 missed training camp, but put pen to paper before the start of the season. Jacob Trouba was a different story, missing the first month of the 2016-17 season and even requesting a trade out of Winnipeg, before finally coming to terms with the organization.

Buyouts: Blake Wheeler played 12 seasons in Winnipeg, the last remaining player to come over from Atlanta. In 2023, the Jets bought out the last season of Wheeler’s five-year, $41.25 million contract, leading to the player being owed $5.5 million over two years. Wheeler left the organization as its career leader in games played (897), assists (550) and points (812). He signed a one-year deal with the New York Rangers for the 2023-24 campaign.

Blake Wheeler

Unique Game: The Jets have been involved in two Heritage Classic games, facing the Edmonton Oilers at Investors Group Field in Winnipeg in 2016, and the Calgary Flames at Mosaic Stadium in Regina, Saskatchewan in 2019. The Jets were shutout 3-0 at home against Edmonton, while they defeated the Flames 2-1 in their neutral site game, although they were listed as the hosting team.

Goal: On November 24, 2018, Patrik Laine scored five goals against the St. Louis Blues. Even more impressive, the Finnish sniper only had five shots in the game. The feat earned a Winnipeg man $1 million, as part of a promotional contest. Another notable tally in team history was Nik Antropov scoring the first goal of Jets 2.0 history, giving fans their first chance to erupt for an NHL marker in 15 years.

Fight/Brawl: While the original Jets had their fair share of melees, version 2.0 hasn’t shied away from scuffles with opposing teams, particularly against divisional rivals such as the Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators and St. Louis Blues. A memorable one-on-one tilt, saw unlikely fighters Blake Wheeler and Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins drop the gloves, as Wheeler looked to avenge an elbow to the head by Malkin during the teams’ previous meeting.

Injury: In an injury that would make all men squeamish, former Jets captain Blake Wheeler suffered a ruptured testicle when hit with a friendly fire shot during a December 15, 2022 game against the Nashville Predators. Amazingly, Wheeler finished the contest, quipping afterwards: “There’s a difference between being hurt and being injured. I didn’t know I was injured until the next day.” He missed five weeks of action to heal.

Patrik Laine

Penalty: During the second round of the 2021 playoffs, the underdog Montreal Canadiens were on the verge of winning Game 1, when Jets center Mark Scheifele decided to take his frustrations out on Canadiens forward Jake Evans, who had just scored an empty net goal, with a massive hit. Evans had to be stretchered off the ice and missed multiple games recovering from a concussion. Scheifele was handed a four-game suspension for the infraction.

Wildest Story: Dustin Byfuglien was among the Jets top defensemen coming into the 2019-20 season. As training camp was set to begin, news broke that Byfuglien had been granted a leave of absence from the team for personal reasons. Then, the popular player just never returned, being suspended by the team, so his contract wouldn’t affect Winnipeg’s salary cap. Byfuglien never played again, his contract mutually terminated in April 2020. In retirement, Byfuglien became a professional fisher.

Blooper: During an October 6, 2013 game between Winnipeg and the Anaheim Ducks, Jets defenseman Zach Bogosian retrieved the puck from behind his own goal line. When he attempted to pass the puck up the ice, he fanned on it, sending it straight to Ducks center Corey Perry, who promptly put it past Jets netminder Ondrej Pavelec for an easy goal. Worst of all, the marker was a 3-2 game-winner for Anaheim.

Miscellaneous: Although technically not connected to the original franchise, whose history belongs to the Arizona Coyotes, Jets 2.0 has honoured those jerseys retired by the first club. This includes Bobby Hull, Dale Hawerchuk and Thomas Steen. The team has also built a Hall of Fame, annually recognizing members of the original Jets, such as Randy Carlyle, Teemu Selanne and Teppo Numminen.

Winnipeg Jets: Jet Stream

Jet Stream

  • 1.5 oz Crown Royal
  • 0.5 oz Crème de Violette
  • 0.5 oz Sweet Vermouth
  • Splash of Lime Juice
  • Dash of Agave Syrup
  • Dash of Angostura Bitters
  • Garnish with a Lemon Slice

I found this cocktail on a Jets Reddit page. Crown Royal is produced in Gimli, Manitoba, so I appreciate its inclusion in the beverage. This wraps the year-long NHL project. I hope you’ve enjoyed travelling the best sports league in the world with me!

Washington Capitals – All Caps Smash

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Throughout the year, the Sip Advisor will alphabetically travel the National Hockey League (NHL), discovering the best and worst each team has to offer in a variety of subjects. We will also feature a drink based off the franchise. Today, we head to the U.S. capital to filibuster the Washington Capitals:

Establishment Story: The Capitals joined the NHL as an expansion team in 1974. Their first season was the worst ever for an NHL expansion team, finishing with a 8-67-5 record. Things didn’t get much better for the Capitals for the next few years and the team was in danger of being relocated in the early 1980s, before a ‘Save the Caps’ campaign kept the franchise in Washington.

Stanley Cups: The Capitals have won one Stanley Cup, defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in 2018. Washington has played in one other Stanley Cup Final, being swept by the Detroit Red Wings in 1998. Even making the playoffs was once very difficult for the Capitals, as after joining the NHL in 1974, they didn’t reach the post-season for the first time until 1983. That was followed by 14 straight playoff appearances, though.

Celebrity Fan: Some of the Capitals celebrity supporters include Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak, who has been a season ticket holder for many years, and Wonder Woman actress Lynda Carter, who became a Washington fan early into the team’s existence, when she moved to the area. Both were present for and participated during the Capitals 2018 Stanley Cup championship run.

Ovechkin Cup

Super Fan: For many years, Capitals season ticket holder Sam Wolk was best known by other supporters as Horn Guy. During games, Wolk would blow his horn three times, leading the rest of the crowd to chant “Let’s go, Caps!” His fandom led to being cast in a Capitals advertising campaign and being included as part of the Caps Road Crew. Wolk crafted each of his horns himself, spending hours on them prior to the season.

Mascot: Slapshot is a bald eagle, donning jersey number 00. He debuted with the team on November 18, 1995, and is sometimes flanked by secondary mascots, Air Slapshot and Hat Trick. The Capitals first mascot was Winger, who still makes rare appearances at games. Aside from the usual mascot work, riling up crowds and handing out merchandise, Slapshot even appeared on a 2009 episode of The Price is Right.

Tradition: The Capitals fight song, released in 2008, is called Rock the Red, by Washington, D.C. heavy metal band Darkest Hour. Fans of the team are also encourage to Rock the Red, by wearing red gear to home games. Another notable team slogan is Unleash the Fury, which is often used when the Capitals need to rally back from a deficit. Unleash the Fury was originally created by Scott Brooks, when he was a member of the Atlanta Thrashers organization.

Appearances in Media: The HBO sports documentary series 24/7: Road to the NHL Winter Classic series debuted in 2010, detailing the Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins seasons, as they were set to meet in the 2011 Winter Classic. The four-part series highlighted the rivalry between superstars Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby. Speaking of Ovechkin and Crosby, the two helped promote the 2011 Winter Classic with an appearance on The Price is Right, presenting a VIP prize package for the marquee game.

Slapshot

Events/Scandals: Following the 1989-90 campaign, four Capitals players – Dino Ciccarelli, Geoff Courtnall, Neil Sheehy and Scott Stevens – were accused of raping a 17-year-old girl, following a team season wrap-up event. While the case never made it to court, police believed there was enough evidence that a crime had occurred. In the aftermath, all but Ciccarelli never played for Washington again.

Rivalry: The Capitals have feuded with both Pennsylvania-based teams (Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers), along with both New York City-located clubs (the Rangers and Islanders). All five franchises comprised the Patrick Division for much of its existence and remained together for the early years of the Atlantic Division and later Metropolitan Division. Washington was moved to the Southeast Division from 1997 to 2013.

Tragedy: For an almost 50-year-old franchise, the Capitals have managed to avoid player misfortunes. There has been deaths of notable fathers close to the organization, including T.J. Oshie’s dad, Tim, and Alex Ovechkin’s dad, Mikhail. Tim Oshie was suffering with Alzheimer’s during Washington’s 2018 Stanley Cup run, with the son and father embracing during the championship celebration becoming one of its most memorable moments. Mikhail Ovechkin also spent a lot of time around the team, before health issues.

Player Nicknames: There’s been some clever nicknames in Capitals history. First, rearguard Rod Langway was dubbed the Secretary of Defense, based on the team playing in the American capital. Next, goalie Jim Carey was given the moniker Net Detective, a play on actor Jim Carey’s Ace Ventura: Pet Detective film. And you can’t forget superstar Alex Ovechkin earning the nickname The Great Eight, based on his play and number.

Rod Langway

Line: Alex Ovechkin has been a constant on the Capitals best line for close to two decades. Over that time, he has been combined with Alex Semin and Nicklas Backstrom as the SOB Line, as well as with Evgeny Kuznetsov and Tom Wilson. At times, Backstrom has taken the place of Kuznetsov, to complete the unit. Ovechkin holds the NHL record for career power play goals, so those five-man groupings deserve great credit.

Captain: Alex Ovechkin has served as the Capitals captain since January 2010, following the trade of Chris Clark to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Ovechkin would lead the team to their only Stanley Cup championship, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoffs MVP, in the process. Ovechkin continues to wow crowds to this day, as he chases down Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record for most career goals.

Enforcer: Dale Hunter has the second most penalty minutes in NHL history and ranks first in playoff penalty minutes. Much of that time spent in the penalty box was accrued as a member of the Capitals, with Hunter holding the franchise penalty minute record with 2,003. Shockingly, he does not hold the single-season record, however. His 12-year stint with the team was honoured with the Capitals retiring Hunter’s jersey in 2000.

Family Values: Brothers Dale and Mark Hunter were both members of the Capitals in 1992-93, although Mark only played seven games for the squad and retired at the end of that season. Also in 1992-93, brothers Kelly and Kevin Miller played for Washington together, with Kevin suiting up for 10 games. A third Miller brother, Kip, played two seasons with the Capitals a decade later.

Dale Hunter

Returning Players: A number of players have spent two stints with the Capitals, including former third overall (1981) draft pick Bobby Carpenter, defenseman Sylvain Cote, enforcer Craig Berube, checking center and published author Eric Fehr, all-time Ukrainian scoring leader Dmitri Khristich, and winger Todd Krygier. Additionally, goalie Vitek Vanecek was a Seattle Kraken expansion draft selection from Washington, only to be returned to the Capitals via trade a week later.

Short Stint: While not the most glamorous name that could have been included here, John Kordic’s seven-game tenure with the Capitals in 1990-91 was productive, with nine fights and 101 penalty minutes, as well as two suspensions (one from the team and another from the league). Tragically, Kordic died in August 1992, never able to overcome the demons he was battling when he joined Washington. Kordic’s death came after a drug-fuelled police incident in L’Ancienne-Lorette, Quebec.

Undrafted: Jeff Halpern was signed by the Capitals out of college in 1999, becoming the first player born and raised in the Washington, D.C. region to play for the team. He even played on the Little Caps minor hockey team as a youngster. Halpern remained with the organization until 2006, serving as captain for the 2005-06 campaign, and also joined the club for the 2011-12 season. In 2023, Halpern was an unsuccessful candidate for the Capitals vacant head coach position.

Trade: With the Capitals having never made the playoffs in their eight years of existence, in the 1982 off-season, they acquired defenseman Rod Langway (along with Doug Jarvis, Craig Laughlin and Brian Engblom) from the Montreal Canadiens for Ryan Walter and Rick Green. Langway replaced Walter as team captain and Washington made the post-season in each of the next 11 seasons, with Langway winning two Norris trophies along the way, until he retired during the 1992-93 campaign.

Jeff Halpern

Signing: On July 1, 2014, newly-minted Capitals GM Brian MacLellan made two contract offers that would pay great dividends down the road. On the opening of free agency, MacLellan signed defensemen Brooks Orpik and Matt Niskanen (both taken from the Pittsburgh Penguins) to five-year, $27.5 million and seven-year, $40.25 million contracts, respectively. Both would be members of the 2018 Stanley Cup championship squad, with Orpik scoring the Finals Game 2 winner.

Draft Pick: The Capitals have selected first overall three times in franchise history, highlighted by taking Alex Ovechkin in 2004. Some other top picks for the team, include fourth overall choices Mike Gartner (1979) and Nicklas Backstrom (2006), Scott Stevens (5th overall in 1982) and Olaf Kolzig (19th overall in 1989). One of Washington’s greatest draft steals was selecting Peter Bondra at 156th overall in 1990.

Holdouts: The Capitals have experienced a number of holdouts over the years, sometimes with two players or more sitting out much of training camp. This includes Peter Bondra and Michal Pivonka in 1995, as well as the trio of Jan Bulis, Sergei Gonchar and Chris Simon in 2000. Others to go through a contract dispute at different lengths with the team are Kevin Hatcher (1990), Don Beaupre (1991) and Adam Oates (1997).

Buyouts: The Capitals have only used three buyouts over the course of the salary cap era, with the most expensive being defenseman Jeff Schultz, who was owed $2 million, when a compliance buyout was used on the final year of his deal in 2013. Other buyout recipients were Ben Clymer in 2008 and Tyler Sloan in 2011, each with one year remaining and $616,667 and $466,667 due, respectively.

Olaf Kolzig

Unique Game: Washington played the 2011 Winter Classic versus the Pittsburgh Penguins, 2015 Winter Classic against the Chicago Blackhawks, a 2018 Stadium Series contest opposed by the Toronto Maple Leafs, and a 2023 Stadium Series match opposite the Carolina Hurricanes. Internationally, the Capitals played a four-game exhibition series versus the Kansas City Scouts in Japan, winning the Coca-Cola Bottlers’ Cup. They also participated in the 1980 and 1981 DN-Cup, which were round robin tournaments in Sweden.

Goal: Despite the importance of Lars Eller’s Stanley Cup-clinching goal in 2018, one of the greatest tallies in NHL history belongs to the future league goal scoring king, Alex Ovechkin. With so many goals to his name (currently at 827), what made this one against the Arizona Coyotes so special was Ovechkin scored from his back, while hooking the puck into the net. This occurred during Ovechkin’s rookie season, setting a high bar for future goals to be compared to.

Fight/Brawl: For whatever reason, nothing brings NHL fans to their feet quicker than a goalie fight. In 2013, they got one, when Braden Holtby battled Ray Emery of the Philadelphia Flyers. Holtby was somewhat of an unwilling combatant, given Emery’s reputation as a fighter (not to mention he had no reason to drop the gloves, given the Capitals were winning handedly), but the two tussled anyway.

Injury: On December 23, 2022, defenseman John Carlson took a slapshot to the side of the head, resulting in a small skull fracture and severed temporal artery. On the plus side, Carlson never lost consciousness and was not concussed on the play. The injury also necessitated Carlson’s ear having to be partially reattached. Carlson was able to return to the team before the end of the season.

Ovechkin Scores

Penalty: During the 1993 playoffs, Pierre Turgeon scored for the New York Islanders, putting his team up 5-1 and confirming the Capitals would be eliminated. While celebrating, Turgeon was slammed into the boards by a frustrated Dale Hunter, who had lost the puck, leading to the goal. Turgeon suffered a separated shoulder from the hit, while Hunter was handed a 21-game suspension, then an NHL record.

Wildest Story: The 1974-75 inaugural season for the Capitals is viewed as one of the worst campaigns for a team in NHL history, with their .131 winning percentage (8-67-5 record) remaining a league record. When the club finally won their first road game towards the end of the year, they celebrated like winning the Stanley Cup, using a garbage can as a trophy.

Blooper: One of the funniest moments in NHL history took place in January 2009, when Alex Semin dropped the gloves with Marc Staal of the New York Rangers. What followed resembled a percussion musician playing the bongos, as Semin slapped at the head of Staal. Semin would never be confused as an enforcer, but young kids can throw better punches than he displayed in this tilt.

Miscellaneous: The Capitals (along with the Washington Wizards of the National Basketball Association (NBA) – both teams owned by Ted Leonsis) are potentially set to move south to Alexandria, Virginia. The franchises would play out of a new sports and entertainment complex, set to open in 2028. Speaking of Capitals owners, it should also be noted NBA megastar Michael Jordan once had a minority stake in the club.

Washington Capitals: All Caps Smash

All Caps Smash

  • 2 oz Vodka
  • Top with Grapefruit Juice
  • Garnish with a Maraschino Cherry

This drink is based off a ready-to-drink canned cocktail served at Capitals games. It is produced by Devils Backbone Distilling Co. I threw in the Maraschino Cherry so even the beverage was rocking the red!

Vegas Golden Knights – Knight Time

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Throughout the year, the Sip Advisor will alphabetically travel the National Hockey League (NHL), discovering the best and worst each team has to offer in a variety of subjects. We will also feature a drink based off the franchise. Today, we travel to Sin City to take a gamble on the Vegas Golden Knights:

Establishment Story: The Golden Knights joined the NHL as an expansion team in 2017. Vegas played their expansion draft to perfection, putting together a lineup of “misfits/castoffs” that ended up working very well together. This changed the trajectory of the franchise and instead of struggling for many years, as most expansion clubs do, the Golden Knights have chased the Stanley Cup instead.

Stanley Cups: The Golden Knights captured their first Stanley Cup (2023) in only their sixth season of existence, just as owner Bill Foley forecast, defeating the Florida Panthers. They also came incredibly close in their first year of operation, losing in the 2018 Finals to the Washington Capitals. Vegas has been a contender nearly every season, missing the playoffs only once.

Celebrity Fan: Being based in the entertainment capital of Las Vegas has allowed for many celebrity supporters to adopt the team. This includes long-time performers in the city, such as Wayne Newton, Criss Angel and Carrot Top. Other inhabitants of Vegas, including poker player Daniel Negreanu, chef Gordon Ramsay and boxing ring announcer Michael Buffer have also had associations with the team.

Golden Knights

Super Fan: John ‘Hulk’ Baratta was an original Golden Knights season ticket member, who attended games sporting a Hulk Hogan-style mustache and dressed in a shirt he would rip off when Vegas scored. Sadly, Baratta passed away in March 2020, prompting the Golden Knights to honour him with a video tribute at their next home game. Fans in Baratta’s usual section were given tear-away shirts, which they ripped off when Vegas scored.

Mascot: Chance is a gila monster who came to the team from Red Rock Canyon, located outside Las Vegas. The lizard, coloured the same as the hockey team, debuted at the Golden Knights second ever home game on October 13, 2017. Vegas purposely stayed away from using a knight as their mascot, as they felt examples from other teams weren’t very child-friendly.

Tradition: The Golden Knights home rink, T-Mobile Arena, has quickly become one of the most raucous barns in the NHL. This is thanks to in-game entertainment, highlighted by a battle between knights, themed around that game’s combatants. Given T-Mobile Arena’s location along the Vegas strip, the fun begins well before game time, including a parade that winds its way from the Brooklyn Bridge outside New York New York up to the building.

Appearances in Media: The Golden Knights inaugural season is documented in the film Valiant, released in 2019. The movie received its premiere screening at T-Mobile Arena. Many also believe that first Cinderella season could eventually be turned into a Hollywood film, with casting choices including Anthony Hopkins as coach Gerard Gallant, Jon Hamm as GM George McPhee and Adrien Brody as goalie Marc-Andre Fleury.

Chance

Events/Scandals: As the Golden Knights chased the Stanley Cup, under the mandate of owner Bill Foley, some have accused the team of being disloyal to players who helped the team become successful. Original misfits, such as Erik Haula, Nate Schmidt and Marc-Andre Fleury (the first face of the franchise), were callously jettisoned to make room for replacements/in salary cap dumps. With a Stanley Cup won in just year six of existence, some would argue the ends justify the means.

Rivalry: A top rival to the Golden Knights, thanks to a nasty playoff history, is the San Jose Sharks. Facing each other in back-to-back post-seasons, both clubs have won one series. The hatred between the teams has diminished lately, though, as San Jose is going through a long-term rebuild. Another adversary of Vegas is any fan who believes their success came to soon and more suffering should have been endured in the team’s earliest years.

Tragedy: On October 1, 2017, days before the Golden Knights played their first-ever game, 64-year-old Stephen Paddock shot and killed 58 people from his 32nd-floor suite in the Mandalay Bay hotel. The victims were attending the Route 91 Harvest music festival nearby. For Vegas’ home opener on October 10, the team paid tribute to those slain, retiring jersey #58, as a remembrance of the incident.

Player Nicknames: Phil Kessel, holder of the NHL’s Iron Man record at 1,064 consecutive games played, joined the Golden Knights for the 2022-23 season. Known for his prolific scoring, rather than his defensive acumen, Kessel was nicknamed Selke by teammates, a reference to the NHL trophy given to the best defensive forward each season. Another good moniker was given to goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, who was dubbed The Dude, during his time with Vegas, comparing him to the protagonist of The Big Lebowski.

Phil Kessel

Line: The Misfit Line, comprised of William Karlsson, Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith, played together since the Golden Knights began play in 2017, up until Smith was dealt to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2023 off-season. Each joined the team as part of the Expansion Draft, with Karlsson and Marchessault being selections and Smith being traded so Vegas selected Marchessault. In year one, Karlsson scored 43 goals, a single-season NHL expansion team record.

Captain: Mark Stone is the only captain in Golden Knights history, given the distinction on January 13, 2021. Prior to Stone’s appointment, the team had gone with groups of alternate captains, with Deryk Engelland and Reilly Smith being part of the leadership group for each season, along with others. In 2017-18, six different players wore an ‘A’ at some point for the club.

Enforcer: Ryan Reaves holds the Golden Knights single-season penalty minutes record with 74. The record was set in 2018-19, Reaves first full season with the team after coming over from the Pittsburgh Penguins in February 2018. In the 2021 off-season, Reaves was traded to the New York Rangers, in exchange for a third-round draft pick in 2022. Brayden McNabb holds the team’s all-time penalty minute record, while Keegan Kolesar has the most fighting majors in Vegas history.

Family Values: Vegas has yet to have any family members play together or even at different times in their brief history. The best I can fill this section is to highlight second generation/brotherly players who have suited up for the Golden Knights, such as Jake Leschyshyn, whose father Curtis Leschyshyn played 1,033 NHL games; Brett Howden whose older brother is Quinton Howden; and Reilly Smith whose older brother is Brendan Smith.

Mark Stone

Returning Players: While his tenure with the team technically never ended, the Golden Knights did attempt to trade forward Evgenii Dadonov to the Anahemi Ducks at the 2022 NHL trade deadline, with the transaction voided, due to Dadonov having Anaheim on his no trade list. The Ottawa Senators, who had previously traded Dadonov to Vegas, had neglected to inform the Golden Knights of his no-trade contract clause, leading to later punishment of the Senators organization.

Short Stint: A number of the players that were integral to the Golden Knights successful inaugural season left the team that campaign. This included early stars David Perron and James Neal. Also, goaltender Jonathan Quick joined Vegas for 10 regular season games and zero playoff appearances, winning his third Stanley Cup as the Golden Knights took home the 2023 championship.

Undrafted: Defenseman Zach Whitecloud was signed out of college by the Golden Knights in 2018. He remains with the team to this day, having signed a six-year, $16.5 million contract extension in 2021. Whitecloud is the first player to reach the NHL from the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation and was a member of the team’s 2023 Stanley Cup championship squad. During that playoff run, Whitecloud contributed two goals and six assists.

Trade: With the early success of the franchise, the Golden Knights have often gone big game hunting, in on every NHL star that becomes available. This has led to the team acquiring the likes of Mark Stone, Max Pacioretty and Jack Eichel via trade. While giving up notable assets to add these players to the roster, both Stone and Eichel were key cogs of the 2023 Stanley Cup-winning crew.

Jack Eichel

Signing: Much like going after big fish in trades, Vegas has also pursued many of the top free agents in their early years. The organization’s best signing was luring Alex Pietrangelo from the St. Louis Blues in 2020, inking the former Blues captain to a seven-year, $61.6 million pact. Pietrangelo brought with him to Vegas the experience of winning the 2019 Stanley Cup, hoisting a second championship with the Golden Knights.

Draft Pick: Vegas entered their first ever draft in 2017 with three first round picks. They selected Cody Glass (6th overall), Nick Suzuki (13th overall) and Erik Brannstrom (15th overall), all of which have been traded away in an attempt to sustain the unprecedented success of the team’s first season. Later, Peyton Krebs (17th overall in 2019) would also be sent packing as part of another trade package.

Holdouts: Following his breakout rookie season, defenseman Shea Theodore was due a new contract. With each side looking for a different length to his next deal, Theodore missed the first two weeks of training camp, before finally putting pen to paper. With a seven-year, $36.4 million pact finalized, Theodore continued his upward trajectory, even while being treated for testicular cancer.

Buyouts: Vadim Shipachyov’s time in the NHL was brief, but interesting. The Golden Knights signed him out of the Kontinental Hockey League in May 2017, before they had even formed the bulk of their team via the expansion draft. After three games to begin Vegas’ inaugural season, Shipachyov was demoted to their minor league affiliate. After failing to report to the team, Shipachyov’s contract was terminated and he returned to Russia.

Vadim Shipachyov

Unique Game: Despite their short history, the Golden Knights have already been summoned to participate in a number of marquee NHL events. First, Vegas faced the Colorado Avalanche as part of the 2021 Outdoors at Lake Tahoe. They are also set to oppose the Seattle Kraken for the 2024 Winter Classic. Lastly, the Golden Knights played a pre-season game in both 2021 and 2022 against the Los Angeles Kings in Salt Lake City, with the contests dubbed Frozen Fury.

Goal: James Neal scored the first two goals in franchise history, earning the Golden Knights their first ever victory. Years later, Jonathan Marchessault tallied three game-winning goals in the 2023 playoffs, earning the Conn Smythe Trophy for his efforts, becoming the first undrafted player to win the playoff MVP award since Wayne Gretzky in 1988. Vegas’ cup-clinching game was won with a score of 9-3, the game-winning goal coming off the stick of Reilly Smith.

Fight/Brawl: As the Golden Knights took a commanding 3-1 lead at the end of Game 4 of the 2023 Stanley Cup Finals versus the Florida Panthers, a typical scrum between the two teams began. The gathering quickly turned into more than just players grabbing jerseys, as some combatants started fighting with one another. Adding to the chaos was frustrated Florida fans littering the ice with debris. The Panthers were assessed 26 penalty minutes in the melee, while Vegas walked away with just two penalty minutes.

Injury: The Golden Knights have always seemed to struggle with injuries to their goaltenders. In their first month of NHL play, they were forced to use four different backstops and five goalies appeared for the team in that inaugural campaign. The trend has continued with starting netminder Robin Lehner missing two full seasons with chronic hip issues and the team using a triage of goalies en route to their Stanley Cup championship.

Lake Tahoe

Penalty: In the first round of the 2019 playoffs, the Golden Knights were up 3-0 in Game 7 of their series against the San Jose Sharks. Off a faceoff, Vegas center Cody Eakin cross-checked Sharks center Joe Pavelski, who fell awkwardly, hitting his head and becoming injured. The referees gave Eakin a five-minute major for a hit to the head. San Jose scored four goals on that power play, eventually winning the game 5-4 in overtime. Golden Knights GM George McPhee said the NHL later called to apologize for the penalty call error.

Wildest Story: For their inaugural season, the Golden Knights were given 500-1 odds of winning the Stanley Cup. When the team exceeded expectations and made the Finals, sportsbooks must have grown a little nervous about potential payouts. All tolled, only 13 bets were placed on Vegas at 500-1, all $20 or less. That said, a $20 wager would earn $10,000 in winnings, while $1 gambles would translate to a $500 payout. It was all moot, though, as Vegas failed to win the championship.

Blooper: During an April 2022 game against the Vancouver Canucks, the Golden Knights handed their opponents an easy power play goal. William Karlsson won a faceoff in his own zone, drawing the puck back to defenseman Alec Martinez, who while trying to play the puck, redirected it past goaltender Robin Lehner. The tally was credited to Bo Horvat, who took the faceoff for Vancouver. In the end, Vegas still managed to win the game 3-2 in overtime.

Miscellaneous: Lil Jon, who has been attached to the Golden Knights on occasion, is actually listed as the team’s Offensive Coordinator on their website, thanks to a funny viral video, featuring the rapper. The video sees head coach Bruce Cassidy bring in Jon to help his club’s offensive woes, with the rapper advising all will be well if the team just takes “shots, shots, shots… YEAH!”

Vegas Golden Knights: Knight Time

Knight Time

  • 1.5 oz Whiskey
  • 0.5 oz Orange Liqueur
  • Top with Sweet & Sour Mix
  • Garnish with Lemon and Lime Slices

A number of bars around Vegas have got in on the act of supporting the Golden Knights with themed cocktails. This particular offering can be found at Station Casinos around the infamous vacation destination.

Sip Trips #228: Wild Winter

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November was interesting, with two getaways spread throughout the month – one a guy’s weekend and the other a family vacation. Let’s see what the Sip Advisor got up to as the temperatures dropped and winter announced its arrival:

The fun got started early, as the Sip Advisor joined a group of guys on a weekend away at a cabin in Concrete, Washington. The trip was full of drinking debauchery, including stops at a couple restaurants in the area, which each provided amazing eats. En route to our destination, we stopped for drinks at Double Barrel BBQ in Sedro-Woolley, where I enjoyed a pint of Boneyard IPA, one of my all-time favourite brews. The place also offers to-go Bourbon Slushies, which we took advantage of upon leaving. We returned to Double Barrel on our way out of town for lunch, where I had a delicious Turkey Bacon Ranch sandwich, paired with another serving of Boneyard.

Slushie

As for our day spent in downtown Concrete, we began with a beverage at The Hub, where I had the Mac & Jack’s African Amber. Following that, we went for lunch a few doors down at The Lonestar. There, I had a scrumptious Ambush sandwich (turkey, ham, bacon, lettuce, tomato), paired with an Elysian Space Dust IPA. We also added orders of Sidewinder Fries (steak-curly fry hybrid), which completed a very good feast.

A week later, the Sip Family was off to the Mayan Riviera for a week at an all-inclusive resort. Unfortunately, some kind of stomach bug hit me on our second day, which drastically affected how much I ate and drank during the holiday. I tried to still participate in as much of the fun as I could, but quickly grew tired of sugary drinks and shitty beer. Mrs. Sip found me my favourite cocktail of the vacation, a double Cucumber Gin and Soda offering that really hit the spot and steered me away from the overly sweet options.

Upon returning home, we took the kids to Disney on Ice, beginning our evening with dinner at Gino’s Restaurant in Sapperton. Boy Sip and I shared the Chicken Tenders platter and I look forward to trying other menu items at the eatery when we can return.

Disney on Ice

Towards the end of the month, we joined friends to celebrate a birthday, including a wine tasting at Township 7 Vineyards in Langley, followed by dinner at the nearby Milestones Grill + Bar. I really enjoyed my Sweet Chili Chicken Bowl, which was accompanied by a glass of Trading Post Hazy IPA.

To wrap the month, Mrs. Sip and I had dinner and drinks at Ludica Pizza, prior to our Vancouver Canucks game. We shared the Hansa Pizza (Mozzarella, Chicken, Bacon, Caramelized Onions, Smoked Gouda), which was pretty good. I also had a pair of Phillips Free Ride Hazy IPAs to complete the meal.

December is already loaded with events, to the degree one wonders how we’ll be able to survive the madness. I will say, our normal schedule doesn’t look all that different, so I guess it’s just par for the course!

Vancouver Canucks – Vancouver Canucks Cocktail

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Throughout the year, the Sip Advisor will alphabetically travel the National Hockey League (NHL), discovering the best and worst each team has to offer in a variety of subjects. We will also feature a drink based off the franchise. Today, we look at the Vancouver Canucks, the Sip Advisor’s hometown and favourite squad. I’ll try my best to not show any bias!:

Establishment Story: The Canucks joined the NHL as an expansion team in 1970. Previously, minor league versions of the Canucks played in the Pacific Coast Hockey League and Western Hockey League from 1945-70. Canucks owners had bid to join the NHL for its 1967 expansion, but were denied. They also tried to have the Oakland Seals moved to Vancouver, but that was vetoed by the NHL.

Stanley Cups: The Canucks have not won the big one, despite appearing in three Stanley Cup Finals (1982 vs. New York Islanders, 1994 vs. New York Rangers and 2011 vs. Boston Bruins). In two of those championship series, they played to a seventh and deciding game, coming up short both times. Vancouver did win back-to-back President’s Trophies in 2011 and 2012, but the ultimate prize has always eluded the franchise.

Celebrity Fan: Singer Michael Bublé is a passionate supporter of the Canucks, as the Burnaby native has been for most of his life. Bublé even has an ownership stake in the Western Hockey League Vancouver Giants junior team. Bublé is such a hockey fan, part of his concert contract rider asks each promoter to include the puck of a local team in his dressing room.

Buble

Super Fan: First appearing on December 22, 2009, the infamous Green Men – wearing full-body spandex outfits – quickly became recognizable fixtures at Canucks games. Taking their seats next to the visitor’s penalty box, the Green Men (Adam ‘Force’ Forsyth and Ryan ‘Sully’ Sullivan) would mercilessly mock those sent to the sin bin with signs and other antics. The duo was inducted into ESPN’s Hall of Fans, before retiring after the 2014-15 season.

Mascot: Fin the Whale was introduced on June 4, 2001. Among the orca/killer whale’s favourite things are B.C. salmon, the book Moby Dick and the movie Free Willy… not to mention arena popcorn! His least favourite team, of course, would be the defunct Hartford Whalers. While Fin is perhaps best known for his charity appearances, he also has a habit of chomping unsuspecting fan’s heads.

Tradition: Towel Power was born during the 1982 Campbell Conference Finals. When coach Roger Nielson grew frustrated over what he viewed to be lopsided officiating, he waived a white towel attached to a raised stick as his sign of surrender. Upon the team’s return to home ice, fans began waving towels in support of the coach and team. The Canucks won three straight, advancing to their first Stanley Cup Finals.

Appearances in Media: Thanks to actress Cobie Smulders hailing from Vancouver, like her How I Met Your Mother character Robin Scherbatsky, a number of references to the Canucks occurred over the course of the sitcom’s nine seasons. These included multiple occasions where Scherbatsky is clad in a Canucks jersey, mentions players from the team and attends a Canucks-New York Rangers game.

Green Men

Events/Scandal: Following their defeats in both the 1994 and 2011 Stanley Cup Finals, Downtown Vancouver became engulfed in riots that destroyed property and caused numerous injuries. Thankfully, in both incidents, no deaths were reported. In the aftermath of the 2011 riot, 887 criminal charges were laid against 301 suspects, hopefully deterring future similar behaviour.

Rivalry: The Canucks lacked a true geographic rival until the Seattle Kraken entered the NHL in 2021. Up to that point, rivalries with fellow western Canada clubs the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers have always existed, as well as incident- and playoff-born rivalries with teams such as the New York Rangers, Colorado Avalanche, Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins.

Tragedy: The Canucks franchise has been struck with tragedy on a few occasions. One of the team’s first stars, Wayne Maki, was diagnosed with brain cancer in 1972, succumbing to the disease in 1974, aged 29. Then, in 2008, defenseman Luc Bourdon was killed in a motorcycle accident at the young age of 21. Finally, forward Rick Rypien committed suicide in the 2011 off-season, after his tenure with Vancouver, but before debuting with the Winnipeg Jets.

Player Nicknames: Canucks history is loaded with great nicknames. Among them: Russian Rocket (Pavel Bure), Steamer (Stan Smyl), Captain Kirk (Kirk McLean), Brockstar (Brock Boeser), King Richard (Richard Brodeur), and JovoCop (Ed Jovanovski). An underrated entry would be Cowan the Brabarian, given to Jeff Cowan after a bra was thrown on the ice following a goal from the enforcer.

Riot

Line: Two Canucks lines had very successful runs as a unit. First, the West Coast Express (Markus Naslund, Todd Bertuzzi and Brendan Morrison) terrorized opponents from 2002-06. The line was named after Vancouver’s commuter train line. Second, the Lotto Line (Brock Boeser, Elias Petterson and J.T. Miller) had a shorter but memorable stint together. The trio received its moniker when a Twitter user realized their numbers 6, 40 and 9, matched the local 649 lottery.

Captain: While the Canucks have had a number of memorable leaders, including Stan Smyl, Trevor Linden and Henrik Sedin, in 2008, the organization abandoned all convention, naming goalie Roberto Luongo as the team’s captain. He was the first netminder to hold such an honour since 1947-48. Luongo’s reign as team leader lasted only two seasons, before it was mutually agreed he should relinquish the role.

Enforcer: Canucks history is littered with teams that couldn’t beat opponents on the scoreboard, so they just tried to beat them up. Among the franchise’s many fighters, perhaps the most beloved was – and still is – the ‘Algonquin Assassin’ Gino Odjick. Odjick holds the team record for total penalty minutes at 2,127, over eight seasons with the club. Odjick also holds five of the top 10 slots for penalty minutes in a season.

Family Values: The Canucks have a long history of family relations within the organization. This is best highlighted with the Sedin twins, who were able to come to Vancouver together thanks to the incredible draft day dealings of GM Brian Burke. The Canucks also united the Courtnall brothers – Geoff and Russ, from nearby Vancouver Island – for 13 games in the 1994-95 season.

Gino Odjick

Returning Players: The trading of Trevor Linden during the 1998 Olympic break never seemed right for both the player and the organization. That was all remedied in 2001, when Linden was reacquired by the Canucks. Linden played out the rest of his career with the team, reaching 1,000 games played and points scored with the club it was meant to happen with.

Short Stint: A free agent in 2008, Toronto Maple Leafs icon Mats Sundin weighed contract offers from a number of teams, while also considering retirement. The Canucks two-year, $20 million offer would have made Sundin the highest paid player in the NHL. After sitting out the start of the season, Sundin finally put pen to paper with Vancouver on December 18, 2008, being paid a prorated $5 million for the season. Sundin played 49 games combined (regular season and playoffs) with the Canucks, before retiring.

Undrafted: Alex Burrows story of perseverance from undrafted to star player is inspiring. He quickly rose through the ranks of the minor leagues, joining the big league squad in January 2006 and never looked back. Originally a checker, Burrows eventually found himself on the top line, where he and the Sedins became a popular trio. Burrows was added to the Canucks Ring of Honour in 2019.

Trade: Among the best moves the Canucks have made are acquiring Roberto Luongo from the Florida Panthers and stealing Markus Naslund from the Pittsburgh Penguins. Both trades are among the most lopsided in NHL history. On the flip side, dealing a young, homegrown Cam Neely to the Boston Bruins has always been lamented by Canucks fans. While the return was decent, Neely blossomed into a superstar, plus they also gave up a first-round draft pick in the transaction.

Trevor Linden

Signing: There are more bad signings in Canucks history than good ones. Among the worst would be Mark Messier’s three-year, $18 million pact in 1997 and Loui Eriksson’s six-year, $36 million deal in 2016. Messier was a cancer in the Canucks locker room, while Eriksson vastly underperformed his contract, both drawing the ire of the fan base. Also, Roberto Luongo’s 12-year, $64 million resigning in 2009, eventually led to a three-year, $3 million cap recapture penalty, upon Luongo’s retirement.

Draft Pick: The Canucks have never selected first overall, but have done fairly well with the number two pick, using their first ever choice in 1970 on Dale Tallon and also getting Trevor Linden (1988) and the Sedin twins (1999) at second and third. Their greatest draft steal was Pavel Bure in the sixth round, 113th overall. The Nucks drafted Bure in 1989, despite confusion over his eligibility.

Holdouts: Once the team’s most popular superstar, Pavel Bure’s exit from the Canucks was ugly. Following the 1997-98 season, Bure gave new GM Brian Burke the first headache of his tenure, stating he would not play the final year of his contract. It took until January 17, 1999, for Bure (along with Bret Hedican, Brad Ference and a third-round draft pick) to be sent to the Florida Panthers in exchange for Ed Jovanovski, Dave Gagner, Mike Brown, Kevin Weekes, and a first-round draft pick.

Buyouts: The Canucks own the largest non-compliance buyout in the NHL salary cap era, used to terminate the contract of defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Ekman-Larsson had joined Vancouver via trade in 2021, lasting only two seasons before his eight-year, $66 million deal was bought out with four seasons remaining. Ekman-Larsson will be paid by the Canucks $19.33 million over eight years.

Roberto Luongo

Unique Game: The Canucks have taken part in a number of NHL international firsts. The first regular season games played outside North America saw Vancouver and the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim meet for a pair of 1997-98 season-opening contests in Tokyo, Japan. In 2017, the Canucks would play two pre-season games against the Los Angeles Kings in Shanghai and Beijing, China. These were the first NHL matches ever played in the country. Vancouver also hosted the 2014 Heritage Classic, facing the Ottawa Senators.

Goal: Two Alex Burrows goals during the 2011 run to the Stanley Cup Finals are among the greatest in team history. First the ‘Slay the Dragon’ Game 7 overtime winner versus the Chicago Blackhawks finally put the Canucks past their nemesis. Later, Burrows tally mere seconds into overtime of Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals versus the Boston Bruins gave Vancouver a 2-0 series lead, causing mass hysteria across the province.

Fight/Brawl: When Canucks coach John Tortorella saw the Calgary Flames starting lineup flush with goons prior to a 2014 game, he knew something was up. Kellen Lain was playing his first NHL game and a receipt was due for an injury he’d caused in an earlier minor league contest. A line brawl ensued to start the game, with Lain and others ejected from the match. At intermission, Tortorella went to the Flames dressing room, trying to confront Calgary coach Bob Hartley. This resulted in a 15-day suspension for Tortorella.

Injury: On February 11, 2000, Canucks enforcer Donald Brashear fought and defeated his Boston Bruins counterpart Marty McSorley. McSorley pursued a rematch, which Brashear turned down. Late in the contest, McSorley hit Brashear in the side of the head with his stick, knocking Brashear unconscious. Brashear suffered a seizure and concussion, while McSorley was suspended indefinitely, ending his career. McSorley was later convicted of assault with a weapon and sentenced to 18 months probation.

John Tortorella

Penalty: The Todd Bertuzzi-Steve Moore incident is one of hockey’s biggest black eyes. The Canucks were out for revenge after Moore had previously elbowed Canucks captain Markus Naslund, resulting in a concussion. In the midst of a blowout loss, Bertuzzi punched Moore in the back of the head, knocking him out. The resulting fall fractured three of Moore’s neck vertebrae. Criminal and civil action followed, along with Bertuzzi being suspended for the rest of the 2003-04 season and throughout the 2004-05 lockout.

Wildest Story: Canucks fans have long had a feeling the team is cursed, dating back to one of the team’s first official activities. To decide which of Vancouver and the Buffalo Sabres would get the first overall choice in the 1970 NHL Draft, a roulette wheel was used. NHL president Clarence Campbell declared the Canucks the winners, before it was pointed out the ball didn’t stop on number one, but 11 instead. Thus, the Sabres earned the right to select junior standout Gilbert Perreault.

Blooper: In the first round of the 2002 playoffs, the surprising Canucks were up 2-0 in their series against the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Detroit Red Wings. What happened next changed the entire course of the series, as Red Wings defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom launched a shot from center ice, beating Canucks goalie Dan Cloutier. Detroit won four straight games, eliminating the Canucks, en route to another Stanley Cup.

Miscellaneous: Wayne Gretzky, the greatest player in NHL history, twice almost became a Canuck. In 1988, before he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings, the Canucks could have had ‘The Great One’ for $25 million, Kirk McLean, Greg Adams and three first-round draft picks. A decade later, Gretzky was a free agent and had committed to signing with Vancouver, until he was pressured to put pen to paper and didn’t like the pushy approach. He ended up with the New York Rangers to finish his career.

Vancouver Canucks: Vancouver Canucks Cocktail

Vancouver Canucks Cocktail

  • 1 oz Vodka
  • 0.5 oz Melon Liqueur
  • 0.5 oz Blue Curacao
  • Splash of Lemon Lime Soda

For this cocktail, you mix the Vodka, Melon Liqueur and Lemon Lime Soda, before adding a float of Blue Curacao. The Canucks are looking good this season, renewing the faith of the countless disappointed diehards of this franchise. Go Canucks Go!!!

Toronto Maple Leafs – Toronto Maple Leafs

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Throughout the year, the Sip Advisor will alphabetically travel the National Hockey League (NHL), discovering the best and worst each team has to offer in a variety of subjects. We will also feature a drink based off the franchise. Today, we *looks at calendar*… ugh, travel to Toronto to investigate why the Maple Leafs have often been named the “Most Hated Team in Hockey”:

Establishment Story: The Toronto hockey team was founded in 1917. The club was known as the Arenas and later St. Patricks, before finally receiving the Maple Leafs moniker in 1927, when the team was bought by Conn Smythe. An Original Six franchise, the Leafs were rebranded by Smythe to match the national symbol of Canada. They were also to wear red and white jerseys, but briefly wore white and green, before settling on their iconic blue and white.

Stanley Cups: None since 1967 and that’s all that really matters. Seriously, though, the Leafs have won 13 championships, all of which occurred when the league consisted of only six teams. The Leafs have two recognized dynasties, from 1946-51 and 1961-67. Not only has the team not won a Stanley Cup since 1967, they have no Finals appearances since then, as well, with five Conference Finals losses during that time.

Celebrity Fan: Somehow, the Leafs have quite the collection of celebrity supporters. Actors Mike Myers, Jim Carrey, Will Arnett and Keanu Reeves support the team, along with musicians Justin Bieber and Drake. Professional wrestler Edge is a fan, as is astronaut Chris Hadfield. As for female celebs, tennis star Bianca Andreescu can often be seen rocking the blue and white. Personally, I think they’re all nuts!

Leafs Blue

Super Fan: Steven Glynn, better known by the moniker Steve Dangle, turned his Leafs fandom into a career. Dangle went from posting YouTube videos to becoming an analyst for Sportsnet. His book This Team Is Ruining My Life (But I Love Them): How I Became A Professional Hockey Fan, was released in 2019 to critical acclaim. Today, Dangle co-hosts a podcast and the blooper web series Steve’s Dang-Its.

Mascot: Carlton the Bear is a polar bear, named for the street Maple Leaf Gardens was located. Carlton wears jersey number 60, in homage to the address of the iconic arena. Carlton debuted for the 1995-96 season. At the 2000 NHL All-Star Game in Toronto, Carlton hosted the inaugural Mascot Summit. Carlton is on track to surpass long-time Leafs player George Armstrong for most appearances with the franchise during the 2023-24 season.

Tradition: The Leafs greatest ritual is losing, particularly in the first round of the playoffs, if they even get there. Just kidding! When the team has made the post-season in more recent years, fans have gathered in Maple Leaf Square, located outside Scotiabank Arena. This has provided the Sip Advisor with many moments of schadenfreude, as Toronto supporters have been visibly crushed by losses. I must admit, their tears sustain me!

Appearances in Media: The Leafs most prominent appearance in popular culture is in the Mike Myers’ movie The Love Guru, where Myers plays a guru tasked with fixing the team’s players, particularly star Darren Roanoke. The Leafs were also heavily featured in the 1971 Canadian film Face-Off. Another notable appearance in media is Toronto’s inclusion in the children’s book The Hockey Sweater.

Carlton the Bear

Events/Scandals: The Harold Ballard years as owner of the Leafs were filled with controversies, with perhaps the most notable blemish on the franchise being the Maple Leaf Gardens child sex abuse scandal. Ballard owned the arena during the time a trio of employees abused at least two dozen children. Ballard was also convicted of 47 counts of fraud, theft and tax evasion, during his ownership tenure, serving one-third of a nine-year prison sentence.

Rivalry: Everyone hates the Leafs, right? Okay, they do have a substantial fan base, much of whom probably don’t like me very much, but I’m not wrong that many revile Toronto. Enemy teams include the Ottawa Senators (Battle of Ontario), Montreal Canadiens (only two Canadian clubs, divided by language and other cultural differences, until 1967), Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, and Buffalo Sabres (Battle of the QEW).

Tragedy: Bill Barilko spent his entire NHL career with the Leafs. He was the overtime hero of the 1951 Stanley Cup Finals, but disappeared that off-season while on a fishing trip. In 1962, the wreckage of the plane Barilko had been travelling in was discovered. Barilko is the subject of The Tragically Hip song Fifty Mission Cap, which has become an anthem of sorts for Leafs fans. Also, Leafs prospect Rodion Amirov succumbed to a brain tumour in August 2023.

Player Nicknames: As much as I hate the Leafs, their fans have come up with some creative monikers for players. Tops among them, would be Optimus Reim for goaltender James Reimer. The name was based on Optimus Prime from the Transformers franchise. Other popular culture nicknames for players include The Cat (Felix Potvin), from the character Felix the Cat, Captain Crunch (Wendel Clark), based off the children’s cereal, and Uncle Leo (Leo Komarov), borrowed from Seinfeld.

Harold Ballard

Line: Many trios in hockey history have been dubbed ‘The Kid Line’, but the original played for the Leafs during the 1930s. Joe Primeau was 23 years old, while his linemates, Charlie Conacher and Harvey Jackson were only 18 when they were put together in late 1929. The unit only won one Stanley Cup together, despite five Finals appearances. The line has remained popular over the years, with a children’s book published in 2001.

Captain: George Armstrong was captain of the Leafs for a club record 12 seasons. He played his entire 21-campaign career with the team, winning four Stanley Cups. Armstrong’s jersey number 10 was retired by the Leafs in 2016. Another notable captain for Toronto was Mats Sundin, who in 1997, became the first non-Canadian to wear the ‘C’ in franchise history. Sundin served in the role for 11 seasons, becoming the longest serving non-North American born captain in NHL history.

Enforcer: Tie Domi is the Leafs single-season and all-time penalty minute king, with 365 and 2,265 minutes in the sin bin. Domi also has the most fighting majors in NHL history with 333, a majority of those recorded during his time with Toronto. Domi was originally drafted by the Leafs in 1988, but didn’t play for them until 1995, after stops with the New York Rangers and Winnipeg Jets.

Family Values: Perhaps the most notable family members to play together with the Leafs were brothers-in-law Shayne Corson and Darcy Tucker, from 2000 to 2003. Tucker is married to Corson’s sister, with the two also previously playing for the Montreal Canadiens together. Father and son combos to play for the Leafs, include Mike and Nick Foligno, Bryan and Mason Marchment and Tie and Max Domi.

Tie Domi

Returning Players: Wendel Clark spent three stints with the Leafs. He was drafted first overall by the team in 1985, playing nine seasons (three as captain) in his first tenure. Clark then spent two campaigns with other teams, before returning to Toronto for another go around. Clark retired after the 1999-2000 season, following a final 20 games with the Leafs. Fellow franchise icon Doug Gilmour also ended his career with the Leafs in 2003, injured in his first game back after a trade deadline deal.

Short Stint: For a time, each season seemed to feature the Leafs bringing in an aged star – or two – hoping they would add something to their upcoming playoff chances. This included Tom Barrasso (four games in 2002), Phil Housley (four games in 2003), Glen Wesley (12 games in 2003), Brian Leetch (28 games in 2004), and Ron Francis (24 games in 2004). Another brief tenure with the club, belongs to Joe Thornton, who suited up with Toronto for 51 games in 2020-21.

Undrafted: Borje Salming was brought to the NHL from Sweden as a free agent in 1973. By the end of his long tenure with the Leafs, he changed the perception of European players being seen as soft. This was perhaps best exemplified when Salming had his face accidentally stepped on by a skate in 1986, requiring over 200 stitches and cosmetic surgery to repair. Salming holds a number of Leafs records for a defenseman.

Trade: One of the largest transactions in NHL history was the 1992 10-player deal between the Leafs and Calgary Flames that brought cult hero Doug Gilmour to Toronto. During his first full season with the Leafs, Gilmour recorded 127 points and earned the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the best defensive forward in the league. Gilmour’s tenure would also see the team make back-to-back appearances in the Conference Finals.

Doug Gilmour

Signing: The Leafs struggled mightily from the late 2000s to the mid 2010s, exacerbated by a number of misguided free agent deals. This included contracts for Jeff Finger (four-year, $14 million in 2008), Mike Komisarek (five-year, $21.5 million in 2009) and David Clarkson (seven-year, $36.75 in 2013). Finger played half his contract with Toronto’s minor league affiliate, Komisarek had his contract bought out in the final season and Clarkson was traded after two campaigns.

Draft Pick: The Leafs have picked first overall twice in their history, taking Wendel Clark in 1985 and Auston Matthews in 2016. Some of their other top picks include Darryl Sittler (8th overall in 1970), Lanny McDonald (4th overall in 1973), Morgan Rielly (5th overall in 2012), and Mitch Marner (4th overall in 2015). Perhaps their greatest diamond in the rough selection was taking Tomas Kaberle 204th overall in 1996. He would go on to play 12 seasons in Toronto.

Holdouts: During the 1981-82 season, Darryl Sittler requested a trade due to the deterioration of his relationship with Leafs management and ownership. When no deal was reached after months of waiting, Sittler left the team, at the advice of his doctor, on the basis he was “mentally depressed”. Sittler was eventually dealt to the Philadelphia Flyers, ending his 12-season tumultuous stint with the franchise.

Buyouts: Mikhail Grabovski had completed the first season of his five-year, $27.5 million contract, when the Leafs surprisingly used one of their compliance buyouts from the 2012-13 lockout on him. This meant Grabovski was due $14.33 million over the next eight seasons. Two days earlier, the Leafs used their other compliance buyout on defenseman Mike Komisarek, owing him $2.33 million over two years.

Darryl Sittler

Unique Game: Given the Leafs profile, the team has been used for many marquee NHL events. This included the 2014 Winter Classic and 2017 NHL Centennial Classic, both against the Detroit Red Wings, a 2018 Stadium Series contest versus the Washington Capitals, and the 2022 Heritage Classic opposite the Buffalo Sabres. Toronto also played two 1993 pre-season games against the New York Rangers in London, United Kingdom.

Goal: Each game of the 1951 Stanley Cup Finals went to overtime, with the Leafs pulling off a 4-1 series victory over the Montreal Canadiens. Bill Barilko scored the Stanley Cup-clinching goal at 2:53 of Game 5’s extra period. Another famous tally in Leafs lore is the one Bobby Baun scored in overtime of Game 6 of the 1964 Stanley Cup Finals, while playing with a broken ankle. The Leafs would win Game 7 4-0, earning their third consecutive championship.

Fight/Brawl: Things got out of hand during a 2013 pre-season game versus the Buffalo Sabres, leading to a brawl. When Buffalo enforcer John Scott went after Toronto star Phil Kessel, newly-signed Leaf David Clarkson left the bench to protect Kessel. This resulted in an automatic 10-game suspension for Clarkson, who never got going in Toronto, and was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets after 118 games and only 15 goals and 26 points, despite an annual salary of $5.25 million.

Injury: When Leafs forward Ace Bailey suffered a severe head injury, following a hard check by Eddie Shore of the Boston Bruins, two major developments came from the incident. First, the inaugural NHL all-star game was played months later to raise money for Bailey and his family. Second, at that all-star benefit game, Bailey’s number 6 jersey was retired, becoming the first player in professional sports history to receive such an honour.

Ace Bailey

Penalty: Leafs enforcers have a history of getting into trouble. Tiger Williams was charged with assault (later acquitted) for a 1977 stick hit on Dennis Owchar, which required 46 stitches to seal. A decade later, John Kordic high sticked Keith Acton, resulting in a 10-game suspension. Tie Domi had two infractions earn him lengthy bans, one for sucker punching Ulf Samuelsson in 1995 (eight games) and another for elbowing Scott Niedermayer in the 2001 playoffs (rest of series and eight games the following season).

Wildest Story: When Brian Spencer was to make his debut with the Leafs on December 12, 1970, he informed his father, Roy, of the good news. Later, Roy tried to watch the game on TV, but was greeted with a Vancouver Canucks-California Golden Seals contest instead. Upset, Roy drove 135 km to the closest TV station, where he threatened employees at gunpoint to air the Leafs game. A standoff with police and shootout ensued, resulting in Roy’s death. Brian would later also die by gunshot during a drug robbery.

Blooper: In one of the most viewed NHL videos of all-time, enforcer Tie Domi was banished to the penalty box during a game in Philadelphia. A Flyers fan was heckling Domi, so the enforcer squirted his water bottle into the crowd. Another angered fan ended up falling into the penalty box when the pane of glass separating players from the audience gave way. Domi punched the fan multiple times before being pulled away. Domi was fined $1,000 for the incident.

Miscellaneous: In an event that would make international headlines, the Leafs lost a 2020 game with Emergency Back-up Goalie David Ayres in net for the opposing Carolina Hurricanes. Worst of all, Ayres was employed by the Leafs, as a building operator/Zamboni driver. Ayres became a legend following the 6-3 victory, receiving his own day in Raleigh, North Carolina, and the story is set to become a Disney feature film.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Toronto Maple Leafs

Toronto Maple Leafs

  • 0.75 oz Blue Curacao
  • 0.75 oz Irish Cream

I still find it hard to believe, as a youngster, I was a fan of the Leafs. Today, everything about Toronto and their sports landscape irks me. This is because the sports networks are all based there and we who live elsewhere in the country are treated to an unwanted deluge of coverage on Toronto teams.

Tampa Bay Lightning – Lightning Bolt Lemonade

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Throughout the year, the Sip Advisor will alphabetically travel the National Hockey League (NHL), discovering the best and worst each team has to offer in a variety of subjects. We will also feature a drink based off the franchise. Today, we stop for a smoke in the Cigar City (what a nickname!), and learn about the Tampa Bay Lightning:

Establishment Story: The Lightning joined the NHL as an expansion team in 1992. Two groups had bid to bring a team to Tampa Bay, with the consortium led by Phil and Tony Esposito being awarded a franchise, as they were able to pay the full $50 million expansion fee in advance. The Lightning moniker was given to the team because Tampa Bay is the Lightning Capital of North America.

Stanley Cups: The Lightning have won three Stanley Cups, including back-to-back championships in 2020 and 2021, defeating the Dallas Stars and Montreal Canadiens, respectively. Their other win came in 2004, over the Calgary Flames. Tampa Bay has also lost in two Stanley Cup Finals appearances, defeated by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2015 and the Colorado Avalanche in 2022, as they attempted to complete a three-peat.

Celebrity Fan: Hulk Hogan, a Tampa Bay resident, has been a Lightning fan for some time. The Hulkster appeared regularly at games during the team’s 2004 Stanley Cup run and has continued to support the franchise, despite his own scandals. Fellow wrestler Chris Jericho, another Floridian, has been the Lightning’s Social Media Captain before, but the Canadian has also showed up to a Lightning-Winnipeg Jets game wearing a Jets jersey.

Hulk Hogan

Super Fan: The Malektronic Rocketman began life as a Lightning super fan, appearing at games during the 2014-15 season, before becoming a viral sensation and marketing campaign during Tampa Bay’s 2015 run to the Stanley Cup Finals. The character was created by Malektronic (wireless speaker/headphones company) CEO Ben Malek, who is an avid supporter of the Lightning, having both rink-side season tickets and owning a suite at Amalie Arena.

Mascot: ThunderBug is a lightning bug who wears jersey number 00. He is known to play a drum as Thunderstruck by AC/DC blasts through the arena in one of the team’s pre-game customs. A 2012 viral video of ThunderBug spraying a Boston Bruins fan with silly string, prior to the fan becoming upset and pushing the mascot, resulted in the performer being fired by the team. The team stated the incident was among other issues leading to the dismissal.

Tradition: The Lightning’s home building, Amelia Arena, has a very unique fixture inside. A Tesla Coil hangs from the roof of the stadium, shooting lightning bolts as part of the teams entrance, as well as when they score a goal. Also comprising the team’s arrival is the song Thunderstruck by AC/DC. Another tune important to the club is Thunder and Lightning by Vo Williams, with the track known as the official anthem of the squad.

Appearances in Media: The animated series American Dad! Has featured a number of references to the Lightning, including a character being decked out in numerous Lightning logo tattoos, as well as the talking fish character Klaus asking if anyone knows the score in the Lightning game. Also, one of the guys playing hockey on top of the Quick Stop in the movie Clerks is wearing a Tampa Bay jersey.

ThunderBug

Events/Scandals: Today, the Lightning are viewed as a model NHL organization. However, that wasn’t the case in the franchise’s earliest years, as the team was owned by a rarely seen Japanese businessman, who was rumoured to have ties to the yakuza (Japan’s mafia) and was operating with 236 per cent debt in 1997. Some believed the Lightning were merely a money laundering device. Later owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie weren’t much better, as their interference with the team led to the resignation of GM Jay Feaster.

Rivalry: The Battle of Florida, between the Lightning and the Florida Panthers, has existed since both teams joined the NHL in subsequent years in 1992 and 1993. The teams compete annually for the Governor’s Cup (aka Sunshine Cup/Nextel Cup Challenge), with the Panthers holding an advantage of 15-12-1. That said, the teams have only met in the playoffs twice, with the Lightning winning both series.

Tragedy: John Cullen was one of the Lightning’s top players when he was diagnosed with cancer in 1997. The disease forced Cullen to sit out the 1997-98 season, during which he went into cardiac arrest while attending a treatment. Cullen survived and the cancer went into remission, leading to the forward attempting to make a comeback. He made the 1998-99 roster, but wasn’t the same player and decided to retire early that campaign. Cullen was awarded the 1999 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for his efforts.

Player Nicknames: Wayne Gretzky’s less famous, less successful younger brother Brent played 13 games for the Lightning over two seasons from 1993 to 1995. While Wayne was nicknamed ‘The Great One’, Brent received the dubious title ‘The Other One’. Brent’s four points, combined with Wayne’s NHL record 2,857 points make the pair the highest scoring brothers in league history.

Brent Gretzky

Line: Martin St. Louis and Vincent Lecavalier were a formidable duo, being combined with Vaclav Prospal to form the MVP Line. Later, Prospal would be replaced by Steven Stamkos, establishing the Centers Line. Other notable units, include The Triplets/Coop’s Troops (Nikita Kucherov, Ondrej Palat and Tyler Johnson) and Dirt Line (Dave Andreychuk, Tim Taylor, Chris Dingman).

Captain: Steven Stamkos was named captain on March 6, 2014, replacing Martin St. Louis. He is the longest serving captain in franchise history, still in the role as of this article. And why not? Stamkos holds the franchise records for goals and points and is on track to takeover the games played and assists marks in due time. While injuries were thought to have taken their toll on the former first overall pick, Stamkos is still putting up great statistical seasons.

Enforcer: Zenon Konopka (aka Zenon the Destroyer) only played one full year with the Lightning, but he set the franchise single-season penalty minute record at 265, during that campaign. The next two highest totals belong to Enrico Ciccone, who likely would have set a higher bar for Konopka, had he not been traded to the Chicago Blackhawks during the 1995-96 season, while sitting at 258 penalty minutes.

Family Values: A couple brother combos have been members of the Lightning at the same time. First, Nolan and Cal Foote were first round draft picks by Tampa Bay in 2017 and 2019, respectively. Unfortunately, before the two could play together, Nolan was traded to the New Jersey Devils in 2020. Also, Darren and Taylor Raddysh were briefly members of the 2021-22 squad at the same time.

Steven Stamkos

Returning Players: Chris Gratton had three separate stints with the Lightning. He was drafted by the team third overall in 1993, immediately joining the team that season. Gratton signed an offer sheet with the Philadelphia Flyers in 1997, but was traded back to Tampa Bay early in the 1998-99 campaign and traded again to the Buffalo Sabres in March 2000. His final run with the Lightning lasted from 2007 to 2009. Gratton holds the franchise record for career penalty minutes at 828.

Short Stint: Two goalies, known for their time with other teams, finished their careers with brief Tampa Bay tenures. First, after rewriting most of the Washington Capitals goalie records, Olaf Kolzig played eight games with the Lightning in 2008-09. He was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs at the trade deadline, but never suited up for them. Second, Evgeni Nabokov played 11 games with the Lightning in 2014-15, before being traded back to the San Jose Sharks, retiring with the team he backstopped for a decade.

Undrafted: Yanni Gourde, a 5’9” undersized junior star, almost gave up on having a hockey career, feeling stuck in the minor leagues. He was finally signed by the Lightning in March 2014, becoming a full-time member of the roster in 2017-18. Gourde would go on to be an integral part of Tampa Bay’s 2020 and 2021 Stanley Cup championship squads, before being selected by the Seattle Kraken in their expansion draft.

Trade: The arrival of Vincent Lecavalier in Tampa Bay changed the team’s fortunes. Lecavalier only ended up with the Lightning due to a trade with the San Jose Sharks, which gave them the first overall selection in the 1998 draft. Lightning owner Art Williams (who also owned the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association) proclaimed that Lecavalier would be “the Michael Jordan of hockey”. For his part, Lecavalier did bring a Stanley Cup championship to Tampa Bay.

Vincent Lecavalier

Signing: When Martin St. Louis signed with the Lightning in 2000, he had just endured being exposed and not selected in the Expansion Draft and being bought out by the Calgary Flames. St. Louis had recorded only four goals and 20 points over a combined two seasons and 69 NHL games. Upon arriving in Tampa Bay, his game grew and he became a star and leader with the team.

Draft Pick: The Lightning selected two franchise players with the first overall choice, taking Vincent Lecavalier (1998) and Steven Stamkos (2008). Tampa Bay also did well choosing Victor Hedman second overall in 2009. The Lightning have also made some steal selections, with the likes of Brad Richards (64th overall in 1998), Nikita Kucherov (58th overall in 2011) and Brayden Point (79th overall in 2014) all coming in later rounds.

Holdouts: Jonathan Drouin was drafted by the Lightning third overall in 2013. As the young winger struggled during the 2015-16 season, he was sent to the minor league Syracuse Crunch. After a few games, though, Drouin refused to further play for the team and demanded a trade. The holdout ended after two months, with Drouin agreeing to rejoin the Crunch. Shortly after, Drouin was recalled by the Lightning and played the full 2016-17 year with them, before being traded to the Montreal Canadiens.

Buyouts: The Lightning have paid out a fair bit of money to players they no longer want on their roster, including Vaclav Prospal ($7 million) and Matt Carle ($7.33 million), but nothing compares to the team using one of their compliance buyouts, coming out of the 2012-13 lockout, on captain Vincent Lecavalier. Lecavalier had signed an 11-year, $85 million deal in 2008, so he was due $32.67 million over 14 years. He will be paid $1.76 million per year until 2026-27.

Martin St Louis

Unique Game: In 1998, the Lightning and Buffalo Sabres took part in a four-team tournament in Austria, with the Lightning defeating the Sabres in the finals. Tampa Bay returned to Europe to open their 2008 season with a pair of contests against the New York Rangers in Prague, Czechia. As part of the 2019 Global Series, the Lightning once again faced the Sabres, this time in Stockholm, Sweden. As for outdoor games, Tampa Bay battled the Nashville Predators as part of the 2022 NHL Stadium Series.

Goal: In Game 1 of the 2020 playoffs for the Lightning, center Brayden Point scored the winning goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets in the fifth overtime period. This ended the fourth longest game in NHL history and started Tampa Bay’s run to the 2020 Stanley Cup. Point would also score the winner in Game 5 of that series, in only the first overtime period, helping the Lightning advance to the second round.

Fight/Brawl: Lightning teams of recent years have been involved in a number of skirmishes with opposing clubs. This includes in back-to-back playoffs, with the Lightning having early line brawls with the Florida Panthers in 2021 and Toronto Maple Leafs in 2022. They also had a memorable melee with the Vegas Golden Knights near the end of the 2022-23 season, which resulted in all 10 players involved being ejected from the contest.

Injury: During a November 11, 2013 game against the Boston Bruins, Lightning star Steven Stamkos crashed into the Bruins net, breaking his leg. A stretcher was needed to remove Stamkos from the ice and surgery was required to repair his right tibia. At the time of the injury, Stamkos was tied for the league lead in scoring. He would be forced to miss the 2014 Olympics due to the injury.

Lightning-Maple-Leafs

Penalty: During a pre-season game against the Washington Capitals on September 19, 2000, winger Gordie Dwyer left the penalty box to join a bench-clearing brawl. During that fracas, Dwyer verbally and physically abused the on-ice officials, earning himself a 23-game suspension. This total was based on adding up three automatic suspensions for his actions. Dwyer played 78 games with Tampa Bay over three seasons, scoring zero goals, with four assists and 291 penalty minutes.

Wildest Story: When Lightning GM Steve Yzerman didn’t name Martin St. Louis to the Canadian Men’s Hockey Team for the 2014 Olympics, he didn’t realize the events he’d set off with his own star player and captain. Feeling disrespected, St. Louis requested a trade and despite eventually joining the Olympics team as an injury replacement and winning a gold medal, St. Louis still wanted out. He was dealt to the New York Rangers shortly after returning from Sochi, Russia.

Blooper: Steven Stamkos is among the most offensively dangerous players in NHL history, but his scoring acumen failed him during a 2011 penalty shot attempt. Down 5-0 to the Pittsburgh Penguins, Stamkos was awarded a penalty shot. As he broke in on goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, he lost control of the puck, then fell, sliding into the end boards, as Fleury easily knocked the puck away, negating the penalty shot attempt.

Miscellaneous: Female goaltender Manon Rhéaume became the first woman to play in a major North American sports league, when she attended the Lightning’s inaugural training camp in 1992. While the invite was a bit of a publicity stunt, with Rhéaume appearing in one pre-season period, she played well enough to earn a contract with Tampa Bay’s International Hockey League affiliate, the Atlanta Knights.

Tampa Bay Lightning: Lightning Bolt Lemonade

Lightning Bolt Lemonade

  • 2 oz Vodka or White Rum
  • 1 oz Blue Curacao
  • Top with Lemonade
  • Garnish with Lemon Slices

There are a number of Lightning-named cocktails, with some of them having a similar composition to this drink. I’m finding it quite interesting how many of the hockey-themed beverages include Blue Curacao as an ingredient.

Sip Trips #227: Halloween Haze

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October was busy, with many Halloween events on the calendar. That said, there wasn’t a whole lot of going to places (compared to other months, at least) for drinks and meals. Let’s see what the Sip Family got up to in a mixed bag month:

For the (Canadian) Thanksgiving long weekend, we surprised the Sipplings with another voyage to the Great Wolf Lodge in Grand Mound, Washington. Our journey began with an overnight stay in nearby Olympia, where we once again had a nice dinner at Red Lobster. Enjoying the Sesame-Soy Salmon Bowl so much last time, I ordered the entrée again, paired with a Blue Moon Wheat Ale.

Thanksgiving

For this trip, we only stayed at the Lodge for two nights (our first expedition was for four nights) and we’ve come to the conclusion that three nights is the perfect stay duration. Mrs. Sip purchased the Sip & Savor Pass again, which offered an appetizer at the Wood Fired Grill, $40 arcade game card, two tiki drinks at Grizzly Robs, a wine/beer package (we selected the ‘Kids Snoring, More Pinot Noir-ing’ truffles and Pinot Noir option), and two Mimosas or Bloody Marys at Loose Moose.

Upon arriving at the resort, we needed some lunch, so visited the Wood Fired Grill, using our free appy on the Jumbo Chicken Wings (Korean and Hickory BBQ flavours). While I enjoyed a Great Wolf LIT (Long Island Iced Tea), Mrs. Sip drank a Lodge Mojito. For dinner the following night, we tried The Cantina. I had a very filling Carnitas Burrito, washed down by a Sam Adams Summer Ale.

On our way home, we returned to Olympia to visit the Well 80 Brewhouse. I had very good L.A. Street Truck Style Drive-In Fries, while sharing the Mahalo Chicken Bites with Mrs. Sip. I later combined leftovers of the two for another good meal. To drink at the brewery, we had servings of the Muffin Man’s Thai Farm Saison and Volle Pulle! Hefeweizen.

Fries

The following weekend, I joined some friends for a guy’s night out, beginning with dinner at The Story Café in Richmond. The eatery had an odd $65 minimum per person policy, but it wasn’t hard to get to that amount, with drinks, appies, mains and dessert for some. My beers for the evening included the Strange Fellows Jongleur Wit, East Van Humble Hive Honey Brown and Hoyne Dark Matter (my dessert). To eat, I went with Garlic Escargot and a very tasty Great Canadian Burger.

After our feast, we walked over to the River Rock Casino, which was full of interesting clientele (folks getting kicked out as we arrived, another getting sick outside later in the night) and had a bizarre liquor serving rule, where you had to wait an hour for your next serving, after ordering a shot or double drink. The shots we ordered were necessary after one of the guys in our group put $20 into a slot machine on a whim and it turned into $1,200, following a 100 free games win. The drinks I did have while we were at the casino were a trio of their featured cocktails.

That wraps the month. I’m not sure yet if November will see a return to our normal level of activity or not. Already schedule is a guy’s weekend away and the Sip Family spending a week at a Mexican all-inclusive. There will also be a soft lean into Christmas, so I’m betting it’ll be busy!

St. Louis Blues – Monday Night Miracle

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Throughout the year, the Sip Advisor will alphabetically travel the National Hockey League (NHL), discovering the best and worst each team has to offer in a variety of subjects. We will also feature a drink based off the franchise. Today, we journey through the Gateway to the West, checking in with the St. Louis Blues:

Establishment Story: The Blues entered the NHL during the 1967 expansion from the Original Six to 12 teams. The league had previously dabbled with the city by relocating the original Ottawa Senators there, becoming the St. Louis Eagles. The Eagles played one season (1934-35) before folding. The Blues are named for the W.C. Handy song Saint Louis Blues, released in 1914.

Stanley Cups: The Blues lone Stanley Cup victory occurred in 2019. The team also made the Stanley Cup Finals three times in their first three seasons, when the league’s divisions were split into the Original Six and the 1967 expansion teams (Next Six). St. Louis lost each time, twice to the Montreal Canadiens and once to the Boston Bruins. Revenge against Boston finally came with that 2019 championship.

Celebrity Fan: There are a number of famous supporters of the Blues, including actors Jon Hamm and Jenna Fischer, who both call St. Louis home. Hamm and Fischer were honourary coaches during the 2020 NHL All-Star Game in St. Louis and were prominent in the Blues Stanley Cup run in 2019. Because of his lifelong love of the Blues, Hamm has also done a fair bit of work for the NHL, including hosting the NHL100 event.

Jon Hamm

Super Fan: Laila Anderson is often credited with inspiring the Blues to turn around their 2018-19 season, which climaxed with their Stanley Cup championship. Anderson, who battled a rare auto-immune disease during that season, became a mascot of sorts for the club, as she celebrated the Stanley Cup win with them on the ice and at their rally. Anderson was also presented with a Stanley Cup ring, which is etched with her name on the inside.

Mascot: Louie is a blue polar bear, who debuted during the 2007-08 season. Louie’s backstory says he travelled to St. Louis from the Arctic Circle, inspired to search out his favourite hockey team. A 2021 poll conducted by Play Canada ranked Louie as the fourth most popular mascot in the NHL, but given the winner of the poll was Carlton the Bear of the Toronto Maple Leafs, the poll loses all credibility.

Tradition: The Blues and their fans have a couple rituals of note. First, following a goal, a bell tone is played for each tally scored that night, as the crowd counts along. Also, during the team’s 2018-19 season turnaround and Stanley Cup run, the song Gloria by Laura Branigan became the Blues theme track, played after each win. The tune was retired after St. Louis celebrated raising their Stanley Cup banner.

Appearances in Media: The Tom Hanks post-apocalyptic movie Finch is set in St. Louis and features his characters wearing a classic Blues jersey. Also, musician Nelly, a proud St. Louis native, can be seen alternating between St. Louis Cardinals and Blues gear throughout the music video for his hit song Country Grammar. Nelly can often be seen in Blues paraphernalia and is a big fan of the team.

Nelly

Events/Scandals: Just days after the Blues were eliminated from the 2004 playoffs, player Mike Danton was arrested on a conspiracy to commit murder charge. Danton had attempted to hire a hitman to murder his agent David Frost. Danton was sentenced to 90 months in prison, serving 63 before he was released. Danton later claimed his estranged father was the intended target of the murder-for-hire plot.

Rivalry: The Blues have had a long-standing feud with the Chicago Blackhawks, as the two teams have shared a division since 1970. While brawls between the clubs were common, one particular melee in 1991 is known as the St. Patrick’s Day Massacre. The result of the fights was 12 players ejected and three players suspended. Interestingly, all six Sutter brothers were members of each team in 1991-92.

Tragedy: Bob Gassoff played for the Blues from 1973 to 1977. At a party following the 1976-77 season, hosted by teammate Garry Unger, Gassoff was involved in a motorcycle accident, killing him at only 24 years old. Following his death, Gassoff’s number 3 jersey was retired by the Blues and the Bob Gassoff Trophy was created, rewarded to the most improved defenseman of the Central Hockey League. Gassoff holds the Blues record for penalty minutes in a season at 306.

Player Nicknames: Brett Hull’s father, Bobby Hull, was nicknamed the Golden Jet during his illustrious hockey career. Therefore, the moniker the Golden Brett was bestowed upon Brett, who shared his father’s scoring touch. Once Brett joined the Blues in 1988, he became one of the league’s most dangerous scorers, holding the franchise records for single-season and career goals. Hull’s jersey number 16 was retired by the Blues in 2006.

Brett Hull

Line: Sometimes, it doesn’t matter who the third member of a line is, so long as the first two pieces have tremendous chemistry. Such was the case when Brett Hull and Adam Oates were paired together, comprising the duo of Hull & Oates, a play on the musical tandem Hall & Oates. Together, Hull and Oates played together from 1989 to 1992, with Hull scoring 212 goals during that span, while his frequent playmaker Oates recorded 228 assists.

Captain: Brian Sutter was the longest-serving captain in Blues history, holding the mantle from 1979 up until his retirement in 1988. Sutter played his entire career with St. Louis, drafted by the team 20th overall in 1976. After hanging up his skates, Sutter became head coach of the Blues, leading them behind the bench from 1988 to 1992. Sutter’s number 11 jersey was retired by the organization on December 30, 1988.

Enforcer: Kelly Chase and Tony Twist were known as the Bruise Brothers while they played together for the Blues in 1989-90 and later from 1997 to 1999. The two had been together in junior hockey with the Saskatoon Blades and the minor leagues with the Peoria Rivermen. Despite being good friends and Twist living in Chase’s house while he was with the Hartford Whalers, the two even fought each other during a March 9, 1996 game.

Family Values: The Plager brothers (Bobby, Barclay and Bill) played together for the Blues from 1968 to 1972. The trio helped lead St. Louis to their three straight Stanley Cup Finals appearances after the Blues joined the NHL. Another brother set to suit up together with St. Louis was Gino and Paul Cavallini. They were both members of the franchise from 1987 to 1992.

Plager Brothers

Returning Players: David Perron has had three stints with the Blues. He was drafted by the team in 2007, playing six seasons, before being traded to the Edmonton Oilers in 2013. Perron returned to St. Louis as a free agent in 2016, but after one season, was the Vegas Golden Knights Expansion Draft choice from the Blues. He was back in St. Louis in 2018, playing four seasons, before signing as a free agent with the Detroit Red Wings in 2022.

Short Stint: Some of the greatest players of all-time have had such short stints with St. Louis, that seeing them in a Blues jersey looks odd. This includes goalies Martin Brodeur (seven games after two decades with the New Jersey Devils), and Tom Barrasso (six games), along with Peter Stastny (27 games, regular season and playoffs combined), and even Wayne Gretzky (31 games, regular season and playoffs combined).

Undrafted: Curtis Joseph, nicknamed Cujo, from the Stephen King novel of the same name, was signed out of the NCAA University of Wisconsin in 1989. He would remain in St. Louis until 1995, gaining a reputation as one of the best goalies in the league, including being a Vezina Trophy finalist for the 1992-93 season. In 2015, Joseph was inducted into the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame.

Trade: Among the Blues better acquisitions were bringing in Brett Hull from the Calgary Flames in March 1988 (along with Steve Bozek for Rob Ramage and Rick Wamsley), followed by Adam Oates from the Detroit Red Wings in June 1989 (along with Paul MacLean for Bernie Federko and Tony Mckegney). The two combined to make one of the most lethal offensive duos in NHL history, as noted above.

Curtis Joseph

Signing: In the early 90s, the Blues made a number of offer sheet signings to restricted free agents. They threw out contracts to the likes of Scott Stevens (twice!), Dave Christian, Brendan Shanahan, Michel Goulet, Marty McSorely, Petr Nedved, and Shayne Corson. Only Goulet, McSorely and Stevens (the second time) didn’t end up with the club, but the cost of the acquisitions was a number of draft picks and key players lost in compensation.

Draft Pick: The Blues have had an interesting draft history. The team passed on their opportunity to make any picks in their very first draft in 1967, didn’t participate in the 1983 draft, and had five straight first rounders (1991-95) transfer to the Washington Capitals, as compensation for the successful Scott Stevens offer sheet. They have selected first overall just once, taking defenseman Erik Johnson in 2006.

Holdouts: Alex Pietrangelo only missed one training camp practice before signing a seven-year, $45.5 million contract with the Blues in 2013. The hope was that Pietrangelo would spend his entire career with the team, but the defenseman, who was selected fourth overall in 2008, joined the Vegas Golden Knights in free agency in 2020 (seven years, $61.6 million), upon the expiry of the aforementioned pact.

Buyouts: The Blues have only used two buyouts in their history and none since 2009. In 2007, the team parted ways with captain Dallas Drake, following six seasons in St. Louis. Drake would move onto the Detroit Red Wings for a season, retiring as a Stanley Cup champion. Two years later, defenseman Jay McKee was bought out of the final year of his four-year, $16 million contract signed in 2006. His final campaign came with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Pietrangelo

Unique Game: The Blues have participated in two Winter Classic games. First, they hosted the rival Chicago Blackhawks in 2017, followed by facing the Minnesota Wild in 2022. St. Louis and the Edmonton Oilers also participated in the 1990 Epson Cup in Dusseldorf, West Germany, which included a game against each other as part of the tournament. Finally, the Blues opened their 2009-10 season with a pair of games against the Detroit Red Wings in Stockholm, Sweden, for the 2009 NHL Premiere.

Goal: Blues fans waited 52 years for the club’s first Stanley Cup and it took a 4-1 win in Game 7 of the finals against the Boston Bruins to get that title. The St. Louis faithful were put at ease when Ryan O’Reilly tallied the opening goal of that game at 16:47 of the first period and the Blues never looked back. O’Reilly was later named the Conn Smythe Trophy recipient as playoff MVP.

Fight/Brawl: Blues history is littered with infamous brawls. These include melees against the Philadelphia Flyers (1972), Pittsburgh Penguins (1973), New York Rangers (1974), Chicago Blackhawks (1991 St. Patrick’s Day Massacre), and Detroit Red Wings (1993). The fracas with the Penguins occurred during a pre-season contest and lasted 20 minutes, with fighting occurring in the penalty boxes and the hallway leading from them to St. Louis’ dressing room.

Injury: Two Blues defensemen have suffered serious heart issues during games with the team. First, during the 1998 playoffs, Chris Pronger was hit with a slapshot to the chest in a contest against the Detroit Red Wings. This caused Pronger to go into cardiac arrest due to his heart rhythm being disrupted. Next, in 2020, Jay Bouwmeester collapsed on the bench due to cardiac arrest. Thankfully, both players survived their ordeals, but Bouwmeester never played in the NHL again.

Ryan O'Reilly

Penalty: During a 1969 pre-season game, Wayne Maki got into a stick swinging fight against Ted Green of the Boston Bruins. Maki clubbed Green over the head, resulting in a fractured skull and brain injury. Both players were charged with assault, becoming the first NHL players to face criminal prosecution for an on-ice incident, but were acquitted. Maki was suspended 30 days, while Green missed the entire season recovering.

Wildest Story: The Blues were almost moved to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in 1983, but the NHL’s Board of Governors voted to reject the proposed $12 million sale. This led to lawsuits between then owner Ralston Purina (of the Purina animal food empire) and the NHL, with control of the franchise taken over by the league. The result was the Blues stayed in St. Louis, when a new ownership group, led by businessman Harry Ornest, was put together.

Blooper: In February 2006, Blues defenseman Dennis Wideman made one of the most memorable shootout attempts of all-time… memorable for all the wrong reasons. As Wideman swiftly skated towards Chicago Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford, he made a nice deke move, but lost a skate edge and went flying up in the air, landing flat on his back, with the puck sliding into the corner of the rink.

Miscellaneous: Bernie Federko deserves some mentioning, as he’s the Blues career leader in games, assists and points, while sitting second all-time in goals. Federko was drafted by St. Louis seventh overall in 1976, remaining with the team until a 1989 trade to the Detroit Red Wings. Federko would have his number 24 jersey retired by the Blues in 1991 and for an extended period was the color commentator on the team’s TV broadcasts.

St. Louis Blues: Monday Night Miracle

Monday Night Miracle

  • 1.5 oz Gin or Vodka
  • 1 oz Blue Curacao
  • Splash of Lime Juice
  • Garnish with a Lime Slice

This cocktail is named after the greatest comeback in Blues history, Game 6 of the Campbell Conference Finals, which occurred on Monday, May 12, 1986. The Blues were down 5-2 with 12 minutes left in the contest, when they rallied to force overtime and won 6-5. Despite the momentum change, they would still lose the series to the Calgary Flames.

Seattle Kraken – Seattle Kraken Drop

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Throughout the year, the Sip Advisor will alphabetically travel the National Hockey League (NHL), discovering the best and worst each team has to offer in a variety of subjects. We will also feature a drink based off the franchise. Today, we head to the Emerald City to look at the NHL’s newest franchise, the Seattle Kraken:

Establishment Story: The Kraken joined the NHL as an expansion team in 2021. The nickname Kraken was chosen from a list of contenders, as it resembles the giant Pacific octopus, found in the nearby Puget Sound waters. Previous professional hockey teams based in Seattle, included the Seattle Totems (Western Hockey League, 1943-75) and Seattle Metropolitans (Pacific Coast Hockey Association, 1915-24).

Stanley Cups: In only their second year of operation, the Kraken earned a Stanley Cup playoffs berth, even making it to Game 7 of the second round, before they were eliminated for post-season competition. The Seattle Metropolitans did capture Lord Stanley’s chalice all the way back in 1917. A banner was raised by the Kraken prior to their second home game, as they hosted the Montreal Canadiens, the team the Metropolitans defeated. A 1919 rematch was never finished, due to the Spanish Influenza outbreak.

Celebrity Fan: Musician and Seattle native Macklemore is not only a fan of the Kraken, he has a minority ownership stake in the club. Joining Macklemore on the ownership side of things is former Seattle Seahawk, Marshawn Lynch, and Jerry Bruckheimer, producer of the Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise, as well as the CSI: Crime Scene Investigation TV empire.

Macklemore

Super Fan: The city of Seattle has quickly embraced the Kraken. One fan has become popular not only because of his support of the team, but because he also looks like a doppelganger for Seattle forward Brandon Tanev. Nicknamed Twin Turbo, based on Tanev’s nickname Turbo, Connor Roestel even bumped into the player at the team’s training facility, taking a photo together. Roestel also received a signed stick from Tanev.

Mascot: Buoy the Troll was introduced on October 1, 2022. Buoy is a nephew of the Fremont Troll, a sculpture found in the Seattle suburb of Fremont. Buoy wears jersey #0 and his favourite meal is Shark with Maple Leaf seasoning. Prior to Buoy’s arrival, which was delayed almost a year because of game postponements due to the Covid pandemic, the Kraken had a team dog named Davy Jones.

Tradition: While it’s customary for home players to toss a souvenir stick or puck into the crowd when they are named one of the three stars of the game, in Seattle, stuffed sockeye salmon toys are thrown into stands, similar to the Pike Place Market fish toss. Another ritual for the Kraken is having Lithium by Nirvana (the band famously formed in Seattle) as the team’s goal song.

Appearances in Media: As mentioned earlier, musician Macklemore is involved with the Kraken as a minority owner. Taking advantage of that association, the singer filmed the music video for his song No Bad Days during a 2023 Seattle game against the Philadelphia Flyers. The video features Macklemore, along with his daughter Collett, singing from the Zamboni, as it cleans the ice between periods of the contest.

Buoy

Events/Scandals: One of the first orders of business for the new Kraken franchise was to conduct their Expansion Draft. While the event was filled with celebrities helping to announce the team’s selections, many of the choices had already been leaked to the public, making for an anticlimactic affair. The organization was also critiqued for not exploiting the 31 other teams the way the Vegas Golden Knights had under identical rules.

Rivalry: A natural rival for the Kraken are the geographically close Vancouver Canucks. Although a true hatred between the two clubs has yet to fully materialize, fans on both sides have already dreamt up various names for the feud, including Krakens vs. Killer Whales (the Canucks logo features an orca), Cascadia Clash/Battle of Cascadia, The Feeding Frenzy and even The Pig War, based on an 1859 border dispute in the San Juan Islands.

Tragedy: During a 2022 pre-season game, Kraken forward Joonas Donskoi collided with teammate Kole Lind, suffering a concussion on the play. Donskoi would go on to miss the entirety of the 2022-23 season, and then announced his retirement on August 27, 2023, due to ongoing head issues. Donskoi cited experiencing a number of concussions over the course of his career as a factor in his decision to hang up his skates.

Player Nicknames: Kraken defenseman Jamie Oleksiak is known as Big Rig, thanks to his 6’7” height, which makes him among the tallest NHL players ever. Oleksiak is an original member of the team, being plucked from the Dallas Stars in the Expansion Draft and then quickly signed to a five-year, $23 million contract by Seattle. In two seasons with the Kraken, Oleksiak has recorded 42 points and 116 penalty minutes.

Rivals

Line: Some memorable lines for the Kraken include their top unit in the 2023 playoffs, comprised of Matty Beniers, Jared McCann and Jordan Eberle. Together, Beniers broke out as NHL rookie of the year, McCann scored 40 goals and Eberle enjoyed one of the best statistical seasons of his career. Another notable trio, made up of Yanni Gourde, Oliver Bjorkstrand and Eeli Tolvanen, had some pundits calling them the best third line in the NHL during the 2022-23 season.

Captain: Mark Giordano has, thus far, been the only captain in franchise history. He was flanked by alternate captains Jordan Eberle, Yanni Gourde, Adam Larsson and Jaden Schwartz, who have comprised the leadership group since Giordano was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs at the 2022 trade deadline. It’s yet to be seen if the team will name a captain for the 2023-24 campaign.

Enforcer: The NHL has changed greatly since the days of goons patrolling and protecting, so players piling up penalty minutes doesn’t happen to the degree it used to. As evidence, Yanni Gourde holds the franchise records for both most penalty minutes in a season (76) and career penalty minutes (121). In fact, it’s fairly rare for players to hit triple digit penalty minutes in a season nowadays.

Family Values: Brothers Haydn and Cale Fleury were both selected by the Kraken as part of their expansion draft, taken from the Anaheim Ducks and Montreal Canadiens, respectively. The two defensemen played some games for the team in its inaugural season, even being paired together for a pre-season contest. Following the franchise’s first year, Haydn signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning, while Cale remains in Seattle.

Yanni Gourde

Returning Players: While goalie Magnus Hellberg has not appeared in a game for the Kraken, he has had two separate stints with the organization. Hellberg signed with Seattle in July 2022. Failing to make the club out of training camp, Hellberg was claimed on waivers by the Ottawa Senators. After one game, Hellberg found himself waived again and reclaimed by the Kraken, dressing as the team’s backup goalie for a number of contests. Following this run, Hellberg was on the move again, this time to the Detroit Red Wings.

Short Stint: Mark Giordano’s tenure with the Kraken and as the team’s first captain lasted all of 55 games. During that time, Giordano hit the 1,000-game plateau and was honoured by the organization. Another brief stay in Seattle was for Mason Appleton, who was selected in the Expansion Draft from the Winnipeg Jets and returned there at the 2022 trade deadline. He only suited up for 49 games with the Kraken.

Undrafted: Tye Kartye was signed by the Kraken on March 1, 2022. He played the 2022-23 season with Seattle’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, leading all rookies with 57 points. During the Kraken’s first playoff berth, Kartye was recalled by the team, making his NHL debut for Game 5 on April 26, 2023 and scoring his first career NHL goal. He became the eighth player in NHL history to do this.

Trade: In the 2022 off-season, the Kraken took advantage of the Columbus Blue Jackets, who needed to shed some salary after handing out large contracts to other players. For only a third and fourth round pick in 2023, they received Oliver Bjorkstrand in exchange. The forward put up 20 goals and 25 assists in his first season with Seattle, which was actually down from his 2021-22 career season.

Bjorkstrand

Signing: While the Kraken have only participated in three signing seasons, they have made some deft moves. As part of the team’s 2021 expansion draft process, they signed defenseman Adam Larsson to a four-year, $16 million deal, making him their selection from the Edmonton Oilers. Larsson is a dependable defender, having suited up for every Seattle game to date.

Draft Pick: With such a brief history, the Kraken have only made two first round draft picks, taking Matty Beniers second overall in 2021 and Shane Wright fourth overall in 2022. The selections could set the team up with a strong 1-2 punch at center ice for years to come. Beniers won the 2023 Calder Trophy (rookie of the year), while Wright may turn out to be a great steal, as he was projected to go first overall, before falling to Seattle at number four.

Holdouts: The Kraken have had no player holdout situations to date. One contact snag the organization did encounter had to do with their free agent offer to goalie Philipp Grubauer. When Seattle submitted the six-year, $35.4 million pact to the NHL’s Central Registry, it was rejected for how much Grubauer’s salary increased in year three of the deal. After restructuring the contract, it was eventually approved by the league.

Buyouts: The Kraken haven’t had to process any player buyouts yet, but they did terminate the contract of defenseman Michal Kempny in October 2022. Kempny had signed a one-year, $750,000 deal with Seattle just months prior. When he failed to make the team out of training camp, Kempny was assigned to the Kraken’s minor league affiliate. After appearing in only two games, he elected to leave North America and return to his native Czechia.

Beniers

Unique Game: As the Kraken’s home arena was still undergoing renovations prior to the team’s debut, they played 2021 pre-season home games at the arenas of the Spokane Chiefs, Everett Silvertips and Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League. Seattle will also host the 2024 Winter Classic versus the Vegas Golden Knights on New Year’s Day from T-Mobile Park. The contest is a battle of the league’s two most recent expansion clubs.

Goal: Few things are more exciting in hockey than an overtime game-winner. During the Kraken’s 2023 playoff run, Jordan Eberle (in Game 4 of Round 1 vs. the Colorado Avalanche) and Yanni Gourde (in Game 1 of Round 2 vs. the Dallas Stars) provided the heroics for Seattle. Another notable tally was the first goal scored in Kraken history, which was notched by Ryan Donato.

Fight/Brawl: Vince Dunn recorded the first fight in franchise history, as he dropped the gloves with Yakov Trenin of the Nashville Predators. This game would be notable for also being the franchise’s first ever win. A brawl in the stands between a Kraken and Predators fan went viral, perhaps gaining more attention than the on-ice action. Jamie Oleksiak leads Seattle in all-time fights with nine.

Injury: During the first round of the 2023 playoffs, Jared McCann had a breakaway opportunity, but failed to score. Following the attempt, Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar hit McCann hard into the boards, despite the puck being out of play. Makar was suspended for one game, while McCann missed six contests recovering. Another notable injury happened to Brandon Tanev early in the team’s inaugural season, as the cult favourite player tore his ACL, putting him out of action for the rest of the 2021-22 campaign.

Kraken

Penalty: Defenseman Jamie Oleksiak has served the longest suspension in Kraken history, banned three games for a hit to head of Washington Capitals defender Alexander Alexeyev in December 2022. Earlier that season, Oleksiak narrowly avoided a suspension for a similar play, as he made contact with the head of Blake Lizotte of the Los Angeles Kings. That’s what happens when you’re a towering 6’7” rearguard.

Wildest Story: While Kraken and Vancouver Canucks fans hope a rivalry between the two teams gains traction, Kraken fan Nadia Popovici put her energy into saving the life of Canucks trainer Brian ‘Red’ Hamilton. Popovici was sitting behind the Canucks bench during Seattle’s first-ever home game, when she made Hamilton aware she thought he had a cancerous mole on his neck. Hamilton had the malignant melanoma removed and the two teams provided Popovici with a $10,000 scholarship towards her medical schooling.

Blooper: Something that started off innocent turned serious quickly, when the Kraken began posting content to the BookTok sub-community of TikTok, featuring player Alex Wennberg and his “chiseled Nordic good looks.” Wennberg’s wife, Felicia, took to Instagram to call the posts objectifying, predatory and exploitative. The Kraken social media team swiftly removed all references to the subject on their accounts.

Miscellaneous: The Kraken have retired number 32 from being worn by players. This is in honour of the Kraken being the NHL’s 32nd franchise and for the 32,000 fans who made ticket deposits on the club’s first day. A number 32 banner hangs in the rafters of Climate Pledge Arena, simply reading “Kraken” with the digits below. Some notable players who wore the number during their NHL careers, include Jonathan Quick, Dale Hunter and Claude Lemieux.

Seattle Kraken: Seattle Kraken Drop

Seattle Kraken Drop

  • Muddle Raspberries
  • 2 oz Vodka
  • Top with Club Soda
  • Splash of Lemon Juice
  • Dash of Orange Bitters
  • Garnish with Raspberries

I adapted this recipe from a ready-to-drink cocktail produced by Denali Spirits, which is the official canned cocktail of the Kraken. It should also be noted, Kraken Rum (naturally!) is the official rum of the team and the company has a bar in Climate Pledge Arena.