1997 Sees Whalers Move, Scoring Down and Wings End Misery

Here is the latest in the news and notes from years gone by series.
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[@bjp1920]

Glad you mentioned the Russian Five. I wrote about them for my final high school essay.

[@matthewdaley746]

Hope you did well.

[@bjp1920]

@@matthewdaley746, got a 95 iirc.

[@matthewdaley746]

@@bjp1920 That is magnificent, ironically, that's not a year they remember fondly.

[@chrisolivo6591]

As a Flyers fan, I was so confident we’d beat the RedWings in the Finals. After Game 1, I realized they were so much better than us from top to bottom. We had the Legion of Doom, but they had 3 deep scoring lines, a great defense and great goaltending. Who would thought this was Lindros last good playoffs as the concussions started in 1998 and he was never the same.

[@wilnerolivier7971]

It's very unfortunate because Lindros at his best was a 1 man wrecking crew!! There really hasn't been a player that compares to him currently in the league.

[@matthewdaley746]

@@wilnerolivier7971 He was never nearly as good as he thought he was.

[@sportsrook8282]

Stevie Y. finally earns his first ring, making the city of Detroit very happy.

[@matthewdaley746]

Too bad Mike Vernon got dumped.

[@klompsauce]

Matthew Daley Osgood did okay for himself

[@matthewdaley746]

@@klompsauce It's hardly the point, Mike Vernon won the Conn Smythe Trophy, and, never played for them again, he was done an enormous disservice, likely financially motivated.

[@gocanuckurself1]

Legend

[@aldenkajy3087]

If you haven’t seen the Russian Five documentary I seriously recommend it

[@matthewdaley746]

Might be too depressing.

[@theresas14]

I have not seen it but I watched Detroit every year as much as available (depended on coverage) where I was living then. I was a huge Federov fan. My only NHL memorabilia (besides jerseys) is Federov.

[@Adam202]

I just finished watching the Russian Five documentary and I just wanted to say thanks for the recommendation. Despite having lived through it I learned a lot of things that I had forgotten or didn't know. The film is actually about much more than just the Russian Five too, it's about the organization and the city too. An incredibly moving documentary and I've seen a ton of them. Probably don't even need to be a fan of hockey to be able to enjoy watching it. Cheers.

[@BrodieBr0]

Boston finished LAST this season? I don't even remember that, this is why I love your season recaps! We kind of forget that ALL teams usually go through some nightmare seasons but we only pay attention to our own teams misery. haha As a Ranger fan, I so enjoyed the Islanders fishstick era....hahaha I do remember Konstantinov's limo accident though, so sad. :(

[@matthewdaley746]

Boston finishing LAST in ANYTHING is shocking.

[@Loopholez91]

Mike Keenan single handedly sabotaged the Blues.

[@matthewdaley746]

A repeating story.

[@sotahullu1]

Wasnt he best friends with brett hull :D (i know i know)

[@wilnerolivier7971]

Lemieux called the NHL a garage league!! He was complaining about the clutching & grabbing that was becoming more synonymous with the league.

[@matthewdaley746]

He complains a lot.

[@wilnerolivier7971]

@@matthewdaley746 He also retired a lot!!

[@matthewdaley746]

@@wilnerolivier7971 His body betrayed him, in more ways than one!

[@matthewdaley746]

@UCBefoI7e-p4lV-BHMUedZmg The only thing that could beat Lemieux was Lemieux.

[@holoholopainen1627]

Did He say - That He Doesnt want to play for a Mickey Mouse Team !

[@mikebarrett6375]

You're killin' it, Shannon! If there's some way to leave a review for your channel or something helpful for you like that, let the fans (i.e., me/hockey fans) know. Your dedication is really something

[@CMartMatross]

The wings made a major trade before the season started in getting Brendan Shanahan for Paul Coffey, Keith Primeau and a 1st. Wings would get D-man Larry Murphy later that season from Toronto.

[@matthewdaley746]

Shanahan bounced around a lot, Coffey never recovered after Yelle ricocheted a Playoff Goal off of him.

[@CMartMatross]

Matthew Daley actually Coffey shot it into his own net. Wings fans including myself were not happy.

[@matthewdaley746]

@@CMartMatross Perhaps, but, the goal was credited to Yelle, and, that was it for Coffey, I don't think Scotty Bowman every liked him anyway.

[@ChildishRambino]

I didn't go all the way back to rounds 1 or 2, but the Wings were not 16-0 whenever the Russian's scored. They did not score in game 2 or game 4 of the finals. Game 2 saw Fedorov get an assist, but none of them got a point in Game 4. I wish I was a little older when they played together so I could really appreciate how awesome they were to watch. I certainly remember seeing them play, but I didn't really understand the significance of their impact. I wish Vladdy could have played his whole career. He was so fun to watch.

[@matthewdaley746]

Sometimes players are just too good for this sinful game.

[@tysonmontgomery3849]

I grew up a Wings fan. I still hate the Avalanche.

[@matthewdaley746]

You won more than they did.

[@dreamwarriordiary5339]

I still hate the Red Wings even though they suck now.

[@matthewdaley746]

@@dreamwarriordiary5339 If it makes you feel any better, they suck because they cared more about, "The Streak," than the future.

[@Daveyboy10053]

these videos are great! I've been watching everyday since the 87 vid

[@matthewdaley746]

I've watched since they started.

[@erikjohnson3434]

Maybe the happiest day of my life. My Wings win the cup.

[@matthewdaley746]

First of four.

[@LittleRosston]

Another awesome vid. Can't wait for 99' tomorrow!

[@matthewdaley746]

Me too, it'll be great.

[@drb4024]

The comeback of Mickey Vernon Conn smythe!!!

[@matthewdaley746]

Followed by being kicked to the curb.

[@wilnerolivier7971]

Vernon should be in the HHOF!!

[@matthewdaley746]

@@wilnerolivier7971 Damn right, two Cups, and, a Conn Smythe Trophy, I have no idea what's going on here!

[@wilnerolivier7971]

@@matthewdaley746 He also played in 3 finals(86,89,& 97)!! Only goalie to defeat the Habs on Forum ice to win the Cup.

[@matthewdaley746]

@@wilnerolivier7971 I say again, "Why is he not in the Hall of Fame?"

[@klompsauce]

I was 10, 42yr drought comes to an end, I lost my mind watching the McCarty game winner

[@matthewdaley746]

He lost his mind too.

[@PancakesAndHammers2426]

I am ashamed to admit it, but I laughed at how poor Carey played for Boston at the time.

[@matthewdaley746]

It's shameful how he has a Vezina Trophy, and, Mike Vernon doesn't.

[@matthewdaley746]

@@111highgh He's as underrated as Grant Fuhr is overrated.

[@matthewdaley746]

@@111highgh 1988, pretty much a career achievement award, once Gretzky left, he was exposed, his jewelry collection got him in, he also has ZERO Conn Smythe Trophies.

[@matthewdaley746]

@@111highgh When the goaltender of the LOSING team wins the Conn Smythe Trophy, and, you don't that says everything.

[@SverigeiSverige]

Mario only player to retire after winning Art Ross.

[@redwing3150]

Still have my autographed poster of Stevie Y. hoisting that Cup.

[@matthewdaley746]

Probably worth a lot of money.

[@BoyNamedSue4]

This is when I fill in love with hockey and the Ducks. That being said they definitely were a one line team.

[@matthewdaley746]

They were a two-player team.

[@BoyNamedSue4]

Matthew Daley Hebert put up some decent numbers for them. Never was a top 5 goalie but doesn’t get the credit he probably should

[@matthewdaley746]

@@BoyNamedSue4 The team was largely forgotten except for its two stars.

[@jordanwolfcastle7387]

You left out the coyotes and the sharks

[@matthewdaley746]

That may have been deliberate.

[@DARK24-7]

Dickens "Tale of Two Cities" ref. noted.

[@theresas14]

I can confirm LA Kings fans in the 90s definitely were "fair weathered" fans. It was the cool thing to do to go to playoff games and tickets were insanely hard to afford especially when they went on that run to the finals. I also stopped going when Gretzky left so... 🤷‍♀️ There were other reasons why I didn't go but I don't think I ever saw a game in LA after he left. Winning is fun. Losing not so much. I still would watch for other teams. I was a big fan of certain players and teams. All that said I used to go to Ducks games to root for anybody but the Ducks. I think their tickets cost a little more at the time but their arena was nicer.

[@matthewdaley746]

Ironically, they won before you did.

[@theresas14]

@@matthewdaley746 Gosh darn it! Why'd you have to tell me that? Lol! Too bad I didn't even know that or if I did I didn't care. I didn't follow NHL for awhile there... I only noticed after the Kings won as I read the news and thought "oh hey, they FINALLY won." I pretty much stopped watching in 2003. I didn't get to live it so it doesn't really mean much at this point. So at some point if Shannon keeps going with these history videos they will become educational for me because I really don't know much of what happened for like 15+ years. That's quite a gap. I missed entire players careers. Lol. It's really interesting what's different, etc. My attitude is different too. Back in the 90s I was like okay, hockey playoffs are over. I don't want to know about trades or anything just give me the lineup at the start of the season and as I watched games I was surprised when I would find out "oh hey that guy plays on this other team now. Ok cool." I just enjoyed watching the game. Obviously I picked players and teams I liked to watch certain years... but ultimately as a viewer I was kinda limited by what was available to me at the time/location.

[@creepyrobsta5509]

QUESTION IS Did Bobrovsky play great for the team even though he was leaving? Or for the money he could make as nobody would pay him big bucks how he started the season?

[@gregsifaction]

probably a mix of both

[@serfindukdb1776]

Yeah, the Panthers lost their identity... but the Gagner signing wasn't that bad... what stunk was the trade that sent Stu Barnes & Jason Wooley to Pittsburgh for... wait for it... Chris Wells?! The guy couldn't skate, and wasn't even worthy of being an AHL'er...

[@Nickleblanc41]

*Anaheim Cartoon Ducks

[@matthewdaley746]

A terrible team at that.

[@gaah23]

Am I blind or did you miss out on Sharks and Coyotes :(

[@matthewdaley746]

He picks, and, chooses.

[@JoeBatson]

Devils? Coyotes? Lightning? Sharks? Did they not play that year?

[@TheHockeyGuy]

I didn't note every team's season in this series.

[@allsystemsgo8678]

Spano, Milbury, 14 million payroll. Amazing I kept watching, lol

[@matthewdaley746]

This just keeps drawing you in.

[@dreamwarriordiary5339]

You look good in that jersey.

[@matthewdaley746]

The jersey was later improved upon.

[@blue_spork1784]

The Birth of the Hurricanes. My fave team, always will be.

[@matthewdaley746]

Do yourself a favor, NEVER go to Hartford.

[@blue_spork1784]

Matthew Daley I was born in '97 and I'm from NC. I can't help I hold no attachment to Hartford. Any animosity they have towards the Canes is well In there right. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@matthewdaley746]

@@blue_spork1784 As well it should be, just giving you some free advice, like if you ever should visit California. North of Monterey, NEVER wear Dodgers merchandise. South of Monterey, NEVER wear Giants merchandise.

[@bullet3827]

I was 17 and at the last game. Cried like a little girl cuz my childhood was being ripped out from under me. Hartford will ALWAYS be a hockey town and its time the NHL gave us back our Whalers.

[@rashawnreese7995]

During the 96-97 season lafontain he ended up getting traded that year because he said he could play but buffalo but buffalo wanted to take there time with him because of his concussion issues so buffalo trade him to the rangers then in the off season nolan was the reason why muckler got fired as the GM of the Sabres then Darcy rehear was hired as the Sabres GM then he offered Nolan a 1 year deal Nolan wanted more term after winning the Jack Adams award as coach of the year and taking buffalo to there 1st division title since 1980 and winning there 1st game 7 in team history but also during that off season then everything came out about dom was one of the reasons that Nolan got let go and dom was being questioned about why he didn't play in the second round again philly it was a crazy 97 summer with the Sabres

[@matthewdaley746]

He got let go because the Sabres had no balls, Hasek, AND NO ONE ELSE, said he wouldn't play for him. Like a bunch of cowards, the Sabres did what he he said, he was one of the greatest goaltenders ever, but, was also a MEAN-SPIRITED SELFISH BASTARD! For that reason alone, I was glad that the Sabres never won a Cup with him.

[@rashawnreese7995]

@@matthewdaley746 that is true and I was one of the fans that called out Hasek for his lack of toughness and not playing game 5 ecsf against Philadelphia and also that off season Hasek pissed off few of his teammates in Matt barnaby who said in the buffalo news that he was going to go after Hasek when training camp began but also the other reason why Nolan being let go there was a rumor that Nolan had affair with Hasek wife but I don't know how true that rumor was

[@rashawnreese7995]

There last game at the Boston garden was in shorten season of 95 then they open the fleet centre aka TD bank garden in 95-96 season and in that 96-97 season also that was the first year Boston had missed the playoffs in 30 years

[@matthewdaley746]

The Blues also had a long streak.

[@rashawnreese7995]

Refresh my memory on that losing streak

[@matthewdaley746]

@@rashawnreese7995 It wasn't a losing streak, it was the longest playoff streak ever, longer than that of the Red Wings. However, it gets overlooked because in that time they won no Cups, and, had only two Conference Final appearances, (1986, 1999).

[@rashawnreese7995]

@@matthewdaley746 oh ok

[@Chub-Chub_The_Third]

Was sad to see the whalers move

[@matthewdaley746]

The inevitability did nothing to alleviate the despair.

[@janellemaynait]

Tremblay wasn't fired he resigned

[@matthewdaley746]

He's one of Colorado's heroes.

[@Nickleblanc41]

I thought it was because Eugene Melnyk couldn't afford the rebrand?

[@matthewdaley746]

Couldn't, or, wouldn't?

[@Nickleblanc41]

@@matthewdaley746 Couldn't

[@matthewdaley746]

@@Nickleblanc41 Now, it's, wouldn't.

[@Nickleblanc41]

@@matthewdaley746 We all know Melnyk is worth like $20

[@matthewdaley746]

@@Nickleblanc41 I don't believe a thing he says.

[@joeclark2646]

Take 8?

[@matthewdaley746]

He sure has dedication.

[@rileyholden9152]

Nice ducks Jersey

[@PancakesAndHammers2426]

The CCM Vintage series jerseys are beautiful.

[@rileyholden9152]

@@PancakesAndHammers2426 yep

[@matthewdaley746]

@@rileyholden9152 They looked less wimpy after they were changed.

[@rileyholden9152]

@@matthewdaley746 but they're not as lit as their old ones though

[@matthewdaley746]

@@rileyholden9152 When I see that old one, I think of the movie.

[@aomoxomoa3658]

Hey Shannon want to join my fantasy hockey league?

[@matthewdaley746]

He just might.

[@matthewdaley746]

@@111highgh Might be gold-plated, we're running real short.

[@BXCDavid]

Hackett and Burke BOTH on the 03-04 Flyers roster. Hackett retires due to Vertigo.

[@matthewdaley746]

Never heard of that ending a career.

[@theresas14]

Vertigo sucks really bad. It's one of the worst things you can suffer from.

[@LightningNC]

_CANES CANES CANES CANES CANES_

[@matthewdaley746]

People in Hartford don't want to hear that.

[@wilnerolivier7971]

@@matthewdaley746 The league never understood that certain teams were better off remaining in their original markets!! The Whalers should've never left Hartford because they had a great fan base that came out every night. The market in Raleigh is a soft hockey market & only responds to the sport when the team does that stupid surge.

[@matthewdaley746]

@@wilnerolivier7971 I lived in Virginia Beach, Virginia, when they won the Cup, and, they had a slight uptick in popularity, however short-lived.

[@wilnerolivier7971]

@@matthewdaley746 They had the slight uptick in popularity because they won!! However if they had won in Hartford then it would've been 10 times bigger because those fans went through the ups & downs with the Whaler franchise, unlike the fans in Carolina who only had the team at that time for only 9 years.

[@matthewdaley746]

@@wilnerolivier7971 I know, they also had a rather strange-looking victory parade with a lot of pickup trucks.