Tag Archives: Eric Lindros

Philadelphia Flyers – Philly Flyer

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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 visit the City of Brotherly Love, home to the infamous Broad Street Bullies, aka Philadelphia Flyers:

Establishment Story: The Flyers joined the NHL as an expansion team in 1967, when the league expanded from six to 12 teams. Previously, Philadelphia had an NHL team for the 1930-31 season, when the Pittsburgh Pirates relocated to become the Philadelphia Quakers. The team’s Flyers nickname was suggested by owner Ed Snider’s sister Phyllis. Other monikers considered, included Liberty Bells, Ramblers and a return to Quakers.

Stanley Cups: The Flyers won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 1974 and 1975, becoming the first of the 1967 expansion teams to accomplish the feat. However, since then, the franchise has been on the losing end of six straight Stanley Cup Finals appearances (1976 to Montreal Canadiens, 1980 to New York Islanders, 1985 and 1987 to Edmonton Oilers, 1997 to Detroit Red Wings, and 2010 to Chicago Blackhawks).

Celebrity Fan: Actor David Boreanaz, who has starred on shows such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel and Bones, is a massive Flyers fan. So much so, that his character on Bones wears Flyers shirts or jerseys in a number of episodes. Boreanaz even wrote about his fandom for an essay that was included in the program for the 2012 Winter Classic. U.S. President and First Lady, Joe and Jill Biden, are also supporters of the team.

David Boreanaz

Super Fan: Bill Schoeninger has turned the basement of his Pennsylvania home into a shrine dedicated to the Flyers. His collection includes signed sticks and trading cards, as well as a variety of pucks, jerseys, game tickets and other memorabilia. Elsewhere, Larry Mathers calls himself the “biggest Flyers fan in Canada!” Mathers, from Exeter, Ontario, has put together three levels of Flyers souvenirs, highlighted by his Flyers-themed Christmas tree.

Mascot: In Gritty, the Flyers may have not only the greatest mascot in the NHL or even all of sports, but perhaps the greatest mascot EVER. Sure, he had a 2019 brush with the law, where he was accused of punching a 13-year-old in the back of the head (Gritty was later cleared of the accusation), but appearances on talk shows such as The Tonight Show and Last Week Tonight have made the giant orange creature immensely popular.

Tradition: On December 11, 1969, prior to puck drop, God Bless America sung by Kate Smith was played, rather than The Star-Spangled Banner (U.S. national anthem). Fans loved the change and the Flyers won the game, so it was decided to use the song for select important contests. At times, Smith performed the song live, especially during the playoffs, and the Flyers record is overwhelmingly good when it’s used.

Appearances in Media: The Flyers have appeared in a number of TV shows, included characters attending games on The Goldbergs and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. The starting lineup of the 1976 Flyers also appear as animated jury members (Jury of the Damned) on The Simpsons, when Homer is on trial for making a deal with the devil in one of the Treehouse of Horror segments. Lastly, Gritty appears in a Robot Chicken skit, spoofing the Tonya Harding-Nancy Kerrigan scandal.

Gritty

Events/Scandals: The Flyers organization has made some interesting decisions regarding coaches and players diagnosed with cancer. First, coach Roger Neilson was replaced and later dismissed after leaving the team in 2000 to undergo treatment. Years later, in 2019, player Oskar Lindblom was diagnosed with the disease. The team supported him throughout his battle, even resigning him to a three-year, $9 million contract when he was ready to return, but bought him out of that deal in 2022, with one year remaining.

Rivalry: Given their reputation as the Broad Street Bullies, the Flyers have made many enemies over the years. This includes state rival the Pittsburgh Penguins (Battle of Pennsylvania), New Jersey Devils (Battle of the Jersey Turnpike), New York Rangers (Broadway vs. Broad Street), Boston Bruins (Big Bad Bruins vs. Broad Street Bullies), and Washington Capitals – the two teams separated by only 124 miles.

Tragedy: The Flyers have experienced a number of deaths over the franchise’s 50-plus seasons. These include Pelle Lindbergh’s fatal car accident, Dmitri Tertyshny having his throat slashed by a boat propeller, and Yanick Dupre and Barry Ashbee passing away from cancer as members of the organization. Also, in 1990, Kathy Kerr, the wife of former Flyers star Tim Kerr, died 10 days after giving birth to the couple’s first child, due to an infection.

Player Nicknames: Ken Linesman had an interesting career, even before he became a pro player. His lawsuit was responsible for the World Hockey Association and later the NHL to change the minimum age a player could be drafted. Based on his appearance and the way he played (on the dirtier side of the ledger), Flyers teammate Bobby Clarke nicknamed him The Rat. Linesman originally played four seasons with Philadelphia and another 29 games years later.

Ken Linesman

Line: The Legion of Doom, comprised of Eric Lindros, John LeClair and Mikael Renberg, was one of the NHL’s highest scoring lines ever, but they could also hurt opponents with physical play, given each member was at least 6’2” and 230 lbs. Their best season as a trio, the 1995-96 campaign, saw them score 121 goals combined. Lindros (#88) also featured in the popular Crazy 8s Line with Mark Recchi (#8) and Brent Fedyk (#18).

Captain: With Bobby Clarke as captain from 1973 to 1979, the Flyers identity as a tough and unpleasant team to play against was fortified. Clarke led Philadelphia to their back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in the mid 1970s. When Clarke was named a playing assistant coach, NHL rules stated he must relinquish the captaincy. Clarke became captain again from January 1983 to May 1984, when he retired and became GM of the club.

Enforcer: Dave ‘The Hammer’ Schultz not only holds the Flyers record for most penalty minutes in a season at 472 (1974-75), but it’s also an NHL record. He also ranks fifth all-time in career penalty minutes with the team. Schultz’s popularity in Philadelphia led to him recording the local hit song The Penalty Box and appearing as a guest referee for a Broad Street Bully Match (No Holds Barred) at World Championship Wrestling’s Slamboree 1994 event.

Family Values: A few brothers have played together with the Flyers. This includes Joe and Jimmy Watson, who won two Stanley Cups together during their Flyers stint from 1973 to 1978, as well as twins Rich and Ron Sutter (1983 to 1986) and Luke and Brayden Schenn (2013 to 2016). Also of note, Bill Dineen was coach of the team from 1991 to 1993, while his son Kevin was a member of the franchise.

Dave Schultz

Returning Players: Brian Boucher always seemed to find his way back to the Flyers, playing three stints with the team. He was drafted by Philadelphia 22nd overall in 1995, debuting in the 1999-2000 season. He was traded to the Phoenix Coyotes in June 2002, suiting up for four other NHL teams, before returning to the Flyers as a free agent in 2009. After spending time with the Carolina Hurricanes, Boucher played four final games with Philadelphia in 2013, ending his NHL career.

Short Stint: When Keith Yandle signed with the Flyers for the 2021-22 season, he was in pursuit of the NHL’s iron man streak record. Through his 77 games with Philadelphia, Yandle broke Doug Jarvis’ previous mark, finishing with 989 consecutive games, before he was made a healthy scratch. When he was taken out of the lineup, Yandle ranked worst in a number of defensive statistical categories. He retired in September 2022.

Undrafted: Tim Kerr was signed as an undrafted free agent in 1980. From 1983-84 to 1986-87, Kerr recorded four straight 50-plus goal seasons, before injuries hampered much of the rest of his career. He returned to form for the 1988-89 campaign, scoring 48 goals in 69 games, earning the 1989 Bill Masterton Trophy for perseverance and dedication in the process. Kerr never played more than 40 games in a season again, despite suiting up for another four years.

Trade: The biggest trade in Flyers history was landing Eric Lindros at the 1992 NHL draft, one year after he refused to ever play for the Quebec Nordiques, who had drafted him first overall. The price was hefty, with Philadelphia giving up six players (including future Hall of Famer Peter Forsberg), first round draft picks in 1992 and 1993 and $15 million. While Lindros was a dominant force for a handful of years, the Nordiques would become the Colorado Avalanche and win two Stanley Cups during Lindros’ career.

Lindros Trade

Signing: Two top signings by the Flyers were Jeremy Roenick in 2001 and Danny Briere in 2007. Roenick played three seasons for Philadelphia, recording 173 points in 216 regular season games. He was traded to the Los Angeles Kings coming out of the 2004-05 NHL lockout. Briere inked an eight-year, $52 million deal with the Flyers, helping the team turn around from being the worst team in the league in 2006-07 to a Stanley Cup Finals appearance in 2010.

Draft Pick: The 1969 draft was integral to shaping the Flyers identity, as the club selected Bobby Clarke (17th overall) and Dave Schultz (52nd overall). Philadelphia has only selected first overall once, taking Mel Bridgman with the top choice of the 1975 draft. Their two second overall choices could be seen as misfires, as they took James van Riemsdyk in 2007 and Nolan Patrick a decade later in 2017.

Holdouts: Eric Lindros was no stranger to holding out on a team to force a trade. That’s how he ended up in Philadelphia in the first place. After eight seasons with the Flyers, Lindros now wanted to play elsewhere, following poor treatment by medical staff, having his captaincy stripped by GM Bobby Clarke and being offered a two-way contract as a restricted free agent. Lindros wanted to play for the Toronto Maple Leafs, but after sitting out the entire 2000-01 season, was dealt to the New York Rangers.

Buyouts: Ilya Bryzgalov was signed in 2011 to a nine-year, $51 million contract, with the organization hoping they’d finally found a franchise goalie. Instead, inconsistent play and bizarre behaviour lead to Bryzgalov being nicknamed Mr. Universe. With two compliance buyouts granted to each team coming out of the 2013 NHL lockout, Philadelphia used one of these get-out-of-jail-free cards on Bryzgalov. They were on the hook to pay him $23 million, but his contract didn’t count against their salary cap.

Bryzgalov

Unique Game: The Flyers have participated in two Winter Classics contests, first versus the Boston Bruins in 2010 and next against the New York Rangers in 2012. They have also faced the Pittsburgh Penguins in a pair of Stadium Series games in 2017 and 2019. Lastly, Philadelphia took on the Boston Bruins, as part of the NHL Outdoors at Lake Tahoe in 2021. They will next play outdoors as part of the 2024 Stadium Series, opposite the New Jersey Devils.

Goal: On December 8, 1987, Ron Hextall became the first goalie to score a direct goal in NHL history, when he fired a shot from deep in his own zone into the Boston Bruins’ empty net. Speaking to media following the game, Hextall stated: “I knew I could do it. It was a matter of when.” Hextall scored again during the 1989 playoffs, adding first goalie to score a direct goal during the post-season to his resume.

Fight/Brawl: Being known as the Broad Street Bullies comes with the reputation as being a tough team. That was evident in previously documented in this project brawls with the Montreal Canadiens (1987 warm-up scrap) and Ottawa Senators (2004 melee that set a new NHL record for combined penalty minutes at 419). One lesser discussed fracas occurred in 1972 between the St. Louis Blues and Flyers fans and even police patrolling the Spectrum, which saw a number of Blues players and coach Al Arbour arrested.

Injury: During the 2009-10 season, gritty forward Ian Laperriere twice blocked a shot with his face. The first caused him to lose seven teeth and receive 50-100 stitches. The second came in the first round of the playoffs, resulting in a mild concussion and orbital injury. Although he returned to action, symptoms of post-concussion syndrome surfaced during the 2010 training camp and Laperriere was forced to never play again. He was awarded the 2011 Bill Masterton Trophy for his dedication and perseverance.

broad-street-bullies-pub

Penalty: Given the team’s reputation as bullies, it shouldn’t be a surprise that a number of Flyers have served long suspensions for various transgressions. Enforcer Dave Brown was handed a 15-game suspension in 1987 for crosschecking Tomas Sandstrom, causing a broken jaw and concussion. In the 2007 pre-season, Steve Downie received a 20-game ban for an illegal hit on Dean McAmmond. Just weeks later, Jesse Boulerice crosschecked Ryan Kesler in the face, leading to a 25-game suspension.

Wildest Story: During a February 8, 1972 game against the Vancouver Canucks, Flyers goalie Bruce Gamble suffered a heart attack (diagnosed the next day after he travelled with the team and his chest pains continued), but managed to finish the game and earn a 3-1 win. Unfortunately, this incident would end Gamble’s pro career and over a decade later, another heart attack would claim Gamble’s life.

Blooper: One of the most infamous scenes in hockey history saw Flyers fan Chris Falcone fall into the penalty box after the glass divider gave way, following being sprayed with water by Toronto Maple Leafs goon Tie Domi. Once he fell, Falcone was punched a couple times by Domi, who was fined $1,000 for the incident. Falcone later sued Domi and others involved, but settled with the player, burying the hatchet, after Domi offered tickets to a couple Leafs playoff games to Falcone and his family.

Miscellaneous: The NHL record for going undefeated (including ties) was set by the 1979-80 Flyers, who went without a loss for 35 games, from October 14, 1979 to January 6, 1980. The mark not only tops the NHL’s all-time list, but all North American professional sports leagues. Despite the regular season success, the Flyers were defeated by the New York Islanders in that year’s Stanley Cup Finals.

Philadelphia Flyers: Philly Flyer

Philly Flyer

  • 2 oz Gin
  • 0.33 oz Maraschino Liqueur
  • 0.25 Crème de Cassis
  • Splash of Lemon Juice
  • Garnish with a Maraschino Cherry

This cocktail was created by Philadelphia Magazine to be the signature cocktail of Philadelphia. You can also find some other great beverage options compiled by Broad Street Hockey contributor Kelly Hinkle.

Colorado Avalanche – Avalanche Shot

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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 may need some oxygen, as we visit the high altitudes of Colorado and try to survive the Avalanche:

Establishment Story: What is now the Colorado Avalanche began as the Quebec Nordiques, one of the original franchises of the World Hockey Association (WHA) in 1972. The Nordiques joined the NHL in 1979, as part of the NHL-WHA merger. The franchise was sold and relocated to Denver, Colorado in 1995 and renamed the Avalanche. Other possible names for the team included Extreme, Blizzards and Black Bears.

Stanley Cups: The Avalanche won the Stanley Cup in their first year in Colorado, helped along by the Avalanche picking up Patrick Roy from the Montreal Canadiens, a double shot at the province of Quebec. The team reached the league pinnacle again in 2001 and 2022, totalling three Stanley Cups. They have won each of their Stanley Cup Finals appearances. As the Nordiques, the franchise also won one WHA Avco Cup in 1977.

Celebrity Fan: South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone are Avalanche supporters, as both grew up in Colorado. Another famous fan of the team is baseball Hall of Fame member Larry Walker, who played for the Colorado Rockies for 10 seasons. Walker, a Canadian who grew up also playing hockey, was honoured by the Avalanche for his 2020 Hall of Fame election by being named the team’s honourary emergency back-up goalie for a game.

Nordiques

Super Fan: During the Avalanche’s Stanley Cup-winning 2022 season, one fan was banned from the team’s home games, but it was for a somewhat noble reason. Ryan Clark was caught throwing a small bag of his friend’s ashes onto the ice during a January 8, 2022 contest. The friend was Kyle Stark, a die-hard Avalanche supporter, who died unexpectedly the previous December. Clark admitted the tribute may not have been the best idea, but had no regrets.

Mascot: Bernie the St. Bernard debuted on October 3, 2009, replacing Howler the Yeti, who was retired in 1999 after an issue with an opposing team fan. Bernie wears jersey #1, with a bone used to make the number. The Nordiques mascot was Badaboum, who first appeared for the Rendez-vous ’87 series between NHL All-Stars and the Soviet National Team in Quebec City. Badaboum was a furry blue creature, similar to a seal.

Tradition: For the past few seasons, the Avalanche have used the Blink-182 song All the Small Things as a theme song. For a portion of the track, the audio is cut off, so fans can sing the parts themselves. As the Avalanche made their run to the 2022 Stanley Cup, the tradition was often highlighted by the media. Blink-182 lead singer Mark Hoppus joined the team as they raised the Stanley Cup banner, leading the crowd in a rendition of the tune.

Appearances in Media: In the South Park episode Stanley’s Cup, Stan Marsh is forced to coach a kid’s hockey team, parodying The Mighty Ducks movie. When Marsh’s team is invited to play during the intermission of a Colorado Avalanche-Detroit Red Wings game, the other peewee team no-shows. As consolation, the Avalanche let Marsh’s team play the third period against Detroit, where they get absolutely annihilated, losing 32-2.

All the Small Things

Events/Scandals: Avalanche goalies have a history of being arrested for domestic violence. First, in October 2000, Patrick Roy was detained after an argument with his wife. His case was later dismissed for not meeting the standard of criminal mischief. 13 years later, Semyon Varlamov was arrested and charged with the misdemeanor assault of his girlfriend. The charges were dropped when prosecutors couldn’t prove their case.

Rivalry: As the Quebec Nordiques, the team had a long-standing feud with provincial rivals the Montreal Canadiens, known as the Battle of Quebec. The teams met in the playoffs five times and even battled over TV rights. As for the Colorado Avalanche, their greatest battles occurred with the Detroit Red Wings, as the two teams battled for Western Conference and league supremacy in the late 1990s.

Tragedy: Peter McNab was the color analyst for the Avalanche from their debut in 1995 up until his death from cancer on November 6, 2022. He was 70 years old. McNab played in the NHL for 14 seasons, before moving into the broadcast booth, first with the New Jersey Devils. For all of his contributions to the game, McNab was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2021.

Player Nicknames: Two of the Avalanche’s most legendary players also have the most memorable nicknames in team history. Joe Sakic was known as Mr. Clutch throughout his long tenure with the franchise, always coming up big when it mattered most. Sakic’s former teammate, Peter Forsberg, was dubbed Peter the Great, a nod to the Tsar of Russia from 1682 to 1721.

Joe Sakic

Line: Colorado’s dominant top line over the last few seasons has consisted of Gabriel Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen. The trio has piled up points since being combined and were integral members to the Avalanche winning the 2022 Stanley Cup. Two other notable lines were comprised of Alex Tanguay and Milan Hejduk on the wings, with Joe Sakic or Peter Forsberg at center, for the JAM Line and AMP Line, respectively.

Captain: After serving as the Nordiques co-captain for the 1990-91 season, Joe Sakic was named the permanent captain for the 1992-93 campaign and held the mantle through to his retirement in 2009. Another enduring captaincy is that of Gabriel Landeskog, who was the youngest NHL captain ever, when he began his term in 2012. Landeskog is still the team’s captain to this day.

Enforcer: Nicknamed ‘The Sheriff’, Scott Parker patrolled the ice for the Avalanche for 237 games, over two separate stints. During his time with the franchise, Parker tallied 538 penalty minutes, to go along with five goals and 11 assists. Parker was a member of the Avalanche’s 2001 Stanley Cup championship team, suiting up for four games of the team’s playoff run.

Family Values: The Stastny brothers (Peter, Marian and Anton) starred for Quebec through the early 1980s, piling up points as the team’s top line. The Nordiques even helped the brothers defect from Czechoslovakia to play hockey in Canada, a move which opened the door for other Iron Curtain players to follow. Later, Paul Stastny, son of Peter, was drafted by Colorado, playing eight seasons with the Avalanche.

Stastny

Returning Players: Peter Forsberg played 10 seasons for the Nordiques/Avalanche franchise, before moving on to the Philadelphia Flyers and later Nashville Predators. He then sat out most of the 2007-08 season, recovering from foot surgery, before rejoining the Avalanche for nine games. After two seasons in Sweden, Forsberg attempted an NHL comeback with Colorado, but only lasted two games, citing his chronic foot issues as a reason for his retirement.

Short Stint: When Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne came to the Avalanche for the 2003-04 season, the reunion of the two star players was supposed to bolster an already strong team. Kariya and Selanne both underperformed, though, and Colorado was eliminated from the playoffs in the second round. Following the 2004-05 NHL lockout, Kariya would sign with the Nashville Predators, while Selanne returned to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.

Undrafted: Peter Stastny’s Hall of Fame career began by fleeing Czechoslovakia with his pregnant wife, assisted by Nordiques President and CEO, Marcel Aubut. Stastny dominated the NHL upon arrival, breaking the record for most points in a season by a rookie, including a two consecutive game effort of seven goals and seven assists. Stastny would also play with the New Jersey Devils and St. Louis Blues over 15 seasons.

Trade: The greatest move the franchise ever executed was sending Eric Lindros to the Philadelphia Flyers for a massive package of assets. This included Peter Forsberg, Ron Hextall, Steve Duchesne, Mike Ricci, Kerry Huffman, Chris Simon, two first round draft picks and $15 million. While Lindros was a dominant player in the league for a time, the Avalanche would go onto win two Stanley Cups during Lindros’ career.

Forsberg

Signing: In 2019, the Avalanche took an $850,000 chance on forward Valeri Nichushkin, who was coming off being bought out by the Dallas Stars, following a season where he failed to score over 57 games. Nichushkin rebounded with Colorado, finding the form that made him the 10th overall pick of the 2013 draft. In 2021-22, Nichushkin recorded 25 goals and 27 assists, as well as contributing 15 points in the team’s Stanley Cup victory. This resulted in an eight-year, $49 million contract extension.

Draft Pick: The Nordiques/Avalanche have done very well with the first overall selection, including three consecutive top choices from 1989 to 1991 (Mats Sundin, Owen Nolan and Eric Lindros). The franchise also selected Nathan MacKinnon first overall in 2013. Additionally, choosing defenseman Cale Makar at fourth overall in 2017 may go down as one of the greatest draft steals of all-time.

Holdouts: Going into the 1991 NHL Entry Draft, Eric Lindros and his camp made it clear he would not play for the Nordiques, despite them owning the first overall selection and Lindros being the clear cut favourite to be picked. The Nordiques took Lindros anyway, resulting in the player refusing to put on the team’s jersey. At the 1992 NHL Entry Draft, the Nordiques traded Lindros to the Philadelphia Flyers, ending the impasse.

Buyouts: Three years in a row, from 2016 to 2018, the Avalanche used buyouts on aging defensemen, ending the Colorado tenures of Brad Stuart, Francois Beauchemin and Brooks Orpik in subsequent seasons. The Stuart buyout cost the team $2.4 million, while the Beauchemin and Orpik releases cost $3 million each. Orpik’s buyout came just weeks after he was traded to the Avalanche, allowing him to return to the Washington Capitals on a cheaper deal.

Lindros

Unique Game: From 1997 to 2016, the Avalanche played a pre-season game almost each year, dubbed Frozen Fury, against the Los Angeles Kings in Las Vegas. Colorado also returned to Quebec City for an exhibition game in 2002 against the Montreal Canadiens. The franchise has played a few outdoor games, including the 2016 Stadium Series vs. Detroit Red Wings, 2020 Stadium Series vs. Los Angeles Kings and NHL Outdoors at Lake Tahoe Saturday vs. Vegas Golden Knights.

Goal: Defenseman Uwe Krupp was injured for much of the Avalanche’s inaugural 1995-96 season, returning just in time for the end of the campaign. Good thing, as Krupp would score the winning goal in the third overtime period of Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals versus the Florida Panthers, clinching Colorado’s first championship. In doing so, Krupp became the first German-trained player to win the Stanley Cup.

Fight/Brawl: Two of the NHL’s most memorable brawls involved the Nordiques/Avalanche franchise. First, the Good Friday Massacre between the Nordiques and Montreal Canadiens occurred during the 1984 playoffs, resulting in 11 ejections and 252 penalty minutes. Second, the 1997 Brawl in Hockeytown between the Avalanche and Detroit Red Wings was the outcome of tempers boiling over from the previous year’s playoff meeting.

Injury: When the Avalanche played the Vancouver Canucks on March 8, 2004, Colorado’s Steve Moore was a marked man for his previous elbow on Canucks captain Markus Naslund. With the Avalanche up 8-2, Canucks players began targeting Moore, with Todd Bertuzzi punching him from behind. As a result of the punch, the players falling to the ice and a pile up that ensued, Moore suffered three fractured neck vertebrae, a concussion and cuts to his face. This ended Moore’s career and led to a lawsuit settlement.

Good_Friday_Massacre

Penalty: Speaking of the Brawl in Hockeytown, it was all precipitated by Claude Lemieux’s hit-from-behind on Detroit’s Kris Draper in Game 6 of the 1996 Western Conference Finals. Draper ended up with a concussion, broken jaw and shattered cheek and orbital bones. Lemieux was ejected from the contest and subsequently suspended by the NHL for two games.

Wildest Story: Further complicating the Eric Lindros trade saga, the Nordiques had actually arranged two different deals for the coveted player. The other transaction was negotiated with the New York Rangers and an independent arbiter was needed to settle the matter. The Flyers deal was enforced, while the Rangers offer of Tony Amonte, Alexei Kovalev, Sergei Nemchinov, James Patrick, either Mike Richter or John Vanbiesbrouck, multiple first-round draft picks, and $20 million was voided.

Blooper: Patrick Roy was one of the greatest goalies in NHL history, but he is also remembered for this major error, made during the 2002 Western Conference Finals, against the Detroit Red Wings. Roy made a sprawling glove save, but when he went to show off the stop, he dropped the puck, allowing the Red Wings to score. The Avalanche, who were leading the series 3-2, went on to lose this game and the next, with the Red Wings advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Miscellaneous: Another great trade for the Avalanche, was bringing in defenseman Ray Bourque from the Boston Bruins in 2000. Bourque waited 23 long seasons to finally win the Stanley Cup. When the Avalanche finally did so in 2001, captain Joe Sakic didn’t hesitate to immediately pass the trophy to Bourque, once it was presented to him. The joy and relief on Bourque’s face, as he skated the championship around the ice was evident. This would mark the end of Bourque’s NHL career, going out on top.

Colorado Avalanche: Avalanche Shot

Avalanche Shot

  • 0.75 oz Raspberry Vodka
  • 0.75 oz Blue Curacao

This is the first shooter of the NHL project, as I could find no suitable cocktails. You’re supposed to drop the shot into a glass of Red Bull, but I don’t like working with that ingredient. The colours of the shot replicate Avalanche jerseys hues.