benv Messages: 555
Registered: May 2006
Location: Edmonton
No Cups
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Coach: Brian Shaw (30-26-3) and Bill Hunter (6-12-1)
GM: Bill Hunter
Regular Season Record: 36W-38L-4T (.487)--76 points
279GF 279GA Finish: 5th Canadian Division (10th overall)--out of playoffs
Regular Season
Player Position Games Goals Assists Points
1 Rogers, Mike F 78 35 48 83
2 Long, Barry D 78 20 40 60
3 Baird, Ken D 77 30 28 58
4 Sheehan, Bobby F 77 19 39 58
5 MacGregor, Bruce F 72 24 28 52
6 Joyal, Eddie F 78 22 25 47
7 MacDonald, Blair F 72 22 24 46
8 Barrie, Doug D 78 12 33 45
9 Climie, Ron F 49 15 27 42
10 Patenaude, Rusty F 56 20 16 36
11 Gilmore, Tom F 74 12 19 31
12 Sheehy, Tim F 29 8 20 28
13 McKay, Ray D 69 8 20 28
14 Carlyle, Steve D 73 2 25 27
15 Perkins, Ross F 76 7 16 23
16 Kennett, Murray D 50 4 14 18
17 Buchanan, Ron F 22 6 9 15
18 Hamilton, Al D 25 1 13 14
19 Morris, Bill F 36 4 8 12
20 McCrimmon, Jim D 34 1 5 6
21 Laing, Bill F 42 2 4 6
22 Kerslake, Doug F 10 4 0 4
23 Herriman, Don F 33 1 2 3
Goalies
Goalie Games Min GAA SV % W-L-T
1 Worthy, Chris 29 1660 3.58 0.893 11-13-3
2 Plante, Jacques 31 1592 3.32 0.890 15-14-1
3 Brown, Ken 32 1466 3.48 0.898 11-11-0
Transactions
May 1974 (exact date unknown)
• Bob Falkenberg traded to San Diego to complete trade of March, 1974.
May 30, 1974
• Bernie Blanchette claimed by Phoenix in expansion draft.
• Roger Cote claimed by Indianapolis in expansion draft.
• Bob Fitchner claimed by Indianapolis in expansion draft.
• Brian McKenzie claimed by Indianapolis in expansion draft.
June 1, 1974
• WHA amateur draft—Oilers selected Mike Rogers (48) and Dave Langevin (96).
June 1974 (exact date unknown)
• Future considerations traded to Cleveland for Ray McKay.
• Jack Norris traded to Phoenix for future considerations.
July 1974 (exact date unknown)
• Bob McAneeley signed as free agent by California (NHL).
August 1974 (exact date unknown)
• Bob Wall traded to San Diego for Don Herriman.
October 1974 (exact date unknown)
• Signed Bill Morris as free agent.
October 26, 1974
• Jim Harrison traded to Cleveland for Ron Buchanan.
December 1974 (exact date unknown)
• Jim McCrimmon traded to St. Louis (NHL) for cash.
January 23, 1975
• Ron Buchanan traded to Indianapolis for Murray Kennett and future considerations.
February 15, 1975
• Ron Climie traded to New England for Tim Sheehy.
February 22, 1975
• Signed Doug Kerslake (Chicago (NHL)) as free agent.
The third WHA season saw some more team movement as well as an expansion. The league welcomed two new teams in the Indianapolis Racers and the Phoennix Roadrunners. Two other teams changed locations with the Los Angeles Sharks first moving to Detroit and becoming the Michigan Stags and then half way in the year moving again to Baltimore to become the Baltimore Blades. Finally, the New Jersey Knights went across the country and became the San Diego Mariners. With fourteen teams, the league realigned into three divisions, with the Oilers being in the new Canadian division with Vancouver, Winnipeg, Toronto, and Quebec.
Off the ice, Brian Shaw was back as head coach but would be relieved of duties late in the season, despite being 4 games above 0.500. Bill Hunter would step behind the bench for the remainder of the season, and was not able to make things better as the team crapped the bed down the stretch (more on that later).
On the ice, there were some big changes to the team. Gone were starting goalie Jack Norris, top scorers Jim Harrison and Len Lunde. Top 4 d-man Bob Wall was also gone while Al Hamilton would miss most of the season with injury (played only 25 games).
So what did the team look like? Well the biggest news came in goal, where the Oilers recruited none other than the legendary Jacques Plante (who had spent the previous season coaching in Quebec) to come out of retirement and be their goalie. While the move undoubtedly helped ticket sales, it’s hard to say how much it helped on the ice as Plante at the age of 45 was a good dozen years past his prime. To complicate matters further, Plante refused to travel with the team, planting (no pun intended) himself in Edmonton and playing only home games. This meant the Oilers needed to carry 3 goalies and Plante would be augmented by the two backups from the previous two seasons (Ken Brown and Chris Worthy). The three goalies all played a similar amount of time with similar (mediocre) numbers.
The defence would be greatly augmented by Barry Long, who defected over to the WHA after three strong seasons with the LA Kings. He had a phenomenal year with the Oilers getting 60 points from the back-end, being named to the second all-star team and stabilizing the defence who as I mentioned earlier were missing their captain for most of the year with the injury to Hamilton. Returnees Ken Baird, Doug Barrie, and Steve Carlyle as well as newcomers Ray McKay and Murray Kennett rounded out the d-core.
With the loss of Jim Harrison (traded to Cleveland for Ron Buchanan—who himself would be dealt for the previously mentioned Kennett later in the season) the offense was lead by their 4th round pick in the 1974 draft: 20 year old Calgary native Mike Rogers. Rogers exploded on the scene in his pro debut leading the team with 83 points (25 more than any other forward on the team). Other incoming forwards included veterans Bobby Sheehan, Bruce MacGreogor, as well as their first pick from the previous draft, Blair MacDonald, a future captain of the team. Returnees Ross Perkins and Rusty Patenaude were also contributors.
So how’d they do? Well not so good. As mentioned the team got worse after replacing the coach, and the end of season swoon lead to a sub 0.500 record of 36-38-4, tied for last place and out of the playoffs in the very competitive Canadian division. This would be the only season in the WHA where the Oilers would miss the playoffs.
But things would still get worse in the coming year…
[Updated on: Sat, 03 June 2023 02:01]
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50 seasons of Oilers hockey |
By: benv on Mon, 29 May 2023 11:06 |
Re: 50 seasons of Oilers hockey |
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Re: 50 seasons of Oilers hockey |
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Season 1, 1972-73: The Alberta Oilers |
By: benv on Mon, 29 May 2023 13:20 |
Re: Season 1, 1972-73: The Alberta Oilers |
By: Adam on Mon, 29 May 2023 13:28 |
Re: Season 1, 1972-73: The Alberta Oilers |
By: benv on Wed, 31 May 2023 14:50 |
Re: Season 1, 1972-73: The Alberta Oilers |
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Re: Season 1, 1972-73: The Alberta Oilers |
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Season 2, 1973-74; Second verse, same as the first |
By: benv on Wed, 31 May 2023 15:08 |
Re: Season 2, 1973-74; Second verse, same as the first |
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Season 3, 1974-75: Jacques Plante was an Oiler?! |
By: benv on Sat, 03 June 2023 01:55 |
Season 4, 1975-76: NORM!!! |
By: benv on Sun, 04 June 2023 18:01 |
Re: Season 4, 1975-76: NORM!!! |
By: Adam on Mon, 05 June 2023 12:08 |
Re: Season 4, 1975-76: NORM!!! |
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Re: Season 4, 1975-76: NORM!!! |
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Re: Season 4, 1975-76: NORM!!! |
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Re: Season 4, 1975-76: NORM!!! |
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Re: Season 4, 1975-76: NORM!!! |
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Re: Season 4, 1975-76: NORM!!! |
By: Leia on Mon, 05 June 2023 22:59 |
Season 5, 1976-77; welcome Slats and Peter Puck |
By: benv on Tue, 06 June 2023 22:33 |
Re: Season 5, 1976-77; welcome Slats and Peter Puck |
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Re: Season 5, 1976-77; welcome Slats and Peter Puck |
By: Adam on Wed, 07 June 2023 09:53 |
Re: Season 5, 1976-77; welcome Slats and Peter Puck |
By: benv on Thu, 08 June 2023 17:46 |
Re: Season 5, 1976-77; welcome Slats and Peter Puck |
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Re: Season 5, 1976-77; welcome Slats and Peter Puck |
By: Adam on Sat, 10 June 2023 15:18 |
Season 6: 1977-78; Steady improvement |
By: benv on Thu, 08 June 2023 22:35 |
Re: Season 6: 1977-78; Steady improvement |
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Re: Season 6: 1977-78; Steady improvement |
By: benv on Fri, 09 June 2023 10:11 |
Re: Season 6: 1977-78; Steady improvement |
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Re: Season 6: 1977-78; Steady improvement |
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Re: Season 6: 1977-78; Steady improvement |
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Re: Season 6: 1977-78; Steady improvement |
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Season 7, 1978-79; Well hello Mr. Gretzky |
By: benv on Wed, 14 June 2023 22:48 |
Re: Season 7, 1978-79; Well hello Mr. Gretzky |
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Season 8 (NHL season 1), 1979-80: NHL Baby! |
By: benv on Fri, 16 June 2023 22:15 |
Season 9 (NHL season 2), 1980-81: All arrows up |
By: benv on Sun, 18 June 2023 16:44 |
Re: Season 9 (NHL season 2), 1980-81: All arrows up |
By: Adam on Mon, 19 June 2023 09:12 |
Season 10 (NHL 3), 1981-82: The Bubble Bursts |
By: benv on Wed, 21 June 2023 01:20 |
Re: Season 10 (NHL 3), 1981-82: The Bubble Bursts |
By: Adam on Wed, 21 June 2023 10:10 |
Season 11 (NHL 4), 1982-83: Continued Improvement |
By: benv on Thu, 22 June 2023 17:40 |
Season 12 (NHL 5), 1983-84; Champions at last! |
By: benv on Sat, 24 June 2023 18:24 |
Season 13 (NHL 6), 1984-85; The greatest ever? |
By: benv on Tue, 27 June 2023 22:43 |
Season 14 (NHL 7); 1985-86: NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! |
By: benv on Thu, 29 June 2023 00:05 |
Season 15 (NHL 8). 1986-87; Back on the Horse |
By: benv on Sun, 02 July 2023 00:58 |
Season 16 (NHL 9), 1987-88: The first cracks |
By: benv on Thu, 06 July 2023 22:44 |
Re: Season 16 (NHL 9), 1987-88: The first cracks |
By: Adam on Fri, 07 July 2023 10:34 |
Re: Season 16 (NHL 9), 1987-88: The first cracks |
By: benv on Fri, 07 July 2023 11:34 |
Re: Season 16 (NHL 9), 1987-88: The first cracks |
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Season 17 (NHL10) 1988-89: Whiskey.Tango.Foxtrot. |
By: benv on Wed, 12 July 2023 21:48 |
Re: Season 17 (NHL10): Whiskey. Tango. Foxtrot. |
By: Adam on Wed, 12 July 2023 23:53 |
Season 18 (NHL 11); 1989-90: Return to Glory |
By: benv on Sat, 15 July 2023 16:34 |
Season 19 (NHL 12); 1990-91: A noble attempt |
By: benv on Fri, 21 July 2023 23:09 |
Season 20 (NHL 13) 1991-92; Year of transistion |
By: benv on Sun, 23 July 2023 17:24 |
Re: Season 20 (NHL 13) 1991-92; Year of transistion |
By: Adam on Sun, 23 July 2023 23:03 |
Season 21 (NHL 14); 1992-93: The bottom falls out |
By: benv on Wed, 26 July 2023 15:35 |
Season 22 (NHL 15); 1993-94: Full on rebuild |
By: benv on Fri, 28 July 2023 20:31 |
Season 23 (NHL 16), 1994-95: At least it was short |
By: benv on Sun, 30 July 2023 17:31 |
Re: Season 23 (NHL 16), 1994-95: At least it was short |
By: Steve on Thu, 03 August 2023 10:20 |
Re: Season 23 (NHL 16), 1994-95: At least it was short |
By: Adam on Thu, 03 August 2023 13:47 |
Re: Season 23 (NHL 16), 1994-95: At least it was short |
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Re: Season 23 (NHL 16), 1994-95: At least it was short |
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Re: Season 23 (NHL 16), 1994-95: At least it was short |
By: Adam on Thu, 03 August 2023 16:31 |
Re: Season 23 (NHL 16), 1994-95: At least it was short |
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Re: Season 23 (NHL 16), 1994-95: At least it was short |
By: Adam on Thu, 03 August 2023 17:53 |
Season 24 (NHL 17),1995-96: Enough with the losing |
By: benv on Thu, 03 August 2023 12:26 |
Re: Season 24 (NHL 17),1995-96: Enough with the losing |
By: Adam on Thu, 03 August 2023 13:53 |
Season 25 (NHL 18), 1996-97: Playoffs again! |
By: benv on Sat, 05 August 2023 00:26 |
Re: Season 25 (NHL 18), 1996-97: Playoffs again! |
By: Adam on Tue, 08 August 2023 09:51 |
Season 26 (NHL 19), 1997-98: Bye bye Peter Puck |
By: benv on Sun, 06 August 2023 19:20 |
Season 27 (NHL 20); 1998-99: Bye Cujo; Hi Salo |
By: benv on Wed, 09 August 2023 17:39 |
Re: Season 27 (NHL 20); 1998-99: Bye Cujo; Hi Salo |
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Re: Season 27 (NHL 20); 1998-99: Bye Cujo; Hi Salo |
By: Adam on Thu, 10 August 2023 12:03 |
Season 28 (NHL 21), 1999-2000: More of the Same |
By: benv on Sun, 13 August 2023 22:38 |
Season 29 (NHL 22); 2000-01:New millennium, new GM |
By: benv on Wed, 16 August 2023 15:41 |
Season 30 (NHL 23), 2001-02: Weight Loss |
By: benv on Thu, 17 August 2023 15:47 |
Season 31 (NHL 24), 2002-03: Rebuild and Reload |
By: benv on Mon, 21 August 2023 20:04 |
Re: Season 30 (NHL 23), 2002-03: Rebuildl and Reload |
By: Steve on Tue, 22 August 2023 08:40 |
Re: Season 30 (NHL 23), 2002-03: Rebuildl and Reload |
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Re: Season 30 (NHL 23), 2002-03: Rebuildl and Reload |
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Re: Season 30 (NHL 23), 2002-03: Rebuildl and Reload |
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Re: Season 30 (NHL 23), 2002-03: Rebuildl and Reload |
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Re: Season 30 (NHL 23), 2002-03: Rebuildl and Reload |
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Season 32 (NHL 25), 2003-04: Heritage Classic |
By: benv on Wed, 23 August 2023 15:05 |
Season 33 (NHL 26), 2005-06: The Surprise Cup Run |
By: benv on Tue, 29 August 2023 00:10 |
Re: Season 33 (NHL 26), 2005-06: The Surprise Cup Run |
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Re: Season 33 (NHL 26), 2005-06: The Surprise Cup Run |
By: Adam on Wed, 30 August 2023 12:56 |
Re: Season 33 (NHL 26), 2005-06: The Surprise Cup Run |
By: Adam on Wed, 30 August 2023 13:04 |
Re: Season 33 (NHL 26), 2005-06: The Surprise Cup Run |
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Re: Season 33 (NHL 26), 2005-06: The Surprise Cup Run |
By: Adam on Wed, 30 August 2023 14:36 |
Season 34 (NHL 27); 2006-07: #$@&%* Pronger! |
By: benv on Tue, 29 August 2023 23:51 |
Re: Season 34 (NHL 27); 2006-07: #$@&%* Pronger! |
By: oilfan94 on Wed, 30 August 2023 10:29 |
Re: Season 34 (NHL 27); 2006-07: #$@&%* Pronger! |
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Re: Season 34 (NHL 27); 2006-07: #$@&%* Pronger! |
By: smyth260 on Wed, 30 August 2023 14:59 |
Re: Season 34 (NHL 27); 2006-07: #$@&%* Pronger! |
By: oilfan94 on Wed, 30 August 2023 16:00 |
Re: Season 34 (NHL 27); 2006-07: #$@&%* Pronger! |
By: Adam on Wed, 30 August 2023 16:55 |
Re: Season 34 (NHL 27); 2006-07: #$@&%* Pronger! |
By: smyth260 on Wed, 30 August 2023 17:13 |
Re: Season 34 (NHL 27); 2006-07: #$@&%* Pronger! |
By: Adam on Wed, 30 August 2023 17:35 |
Re: Season 34 (NHL 27); 2006-07: #$@&%* Pronger! |
By: oilfan94 on Thu, 31 August 2023 08:27 |
Re: Season 34 (NHL 27); 2006-07: #$@&%* Pronger! |
By: Steve on Wed, 30 August 2023 10:57 |
Re: Season 34 (NHL 27); 2006-07: #$@&%* Pronger! |
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Re: Season 34 (NHL 27); 2006-07: #$@&%* Pronger! |
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Re: Season 34 (NHL 27); 2006-07: #$@&%* Pronger! |
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Re: Season 34 (NHL 27); 2006-07: #$@&%* Pronger! |
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Re: Season 34 (NHL 27); 2006-07: #$@&%* Pronger! |
By: Adam on Mon, 11 September 2023 12:51 |
Season 35 (NHL 28), 2007-08: Reason for optimism? |
By: benv on Thu, 31 August 2023 19:00 |
Re: Season 35 (NHL 28), 2007-08: Reason for optimism? |
By: oilfan94 on Thu, 31 August 2023 22:18 |
Re: Season 35 (NHL 28), 2007-08: Reason for optimism? |
By: Adam on Thu, 31 August 2023 22:41 |
Season 36 (NHL 28); 2008-09: Shuffle the Chairs |
By: benv on Sat, 02 September 2023 22:47 |
Season 37, 2009-10: Rock Bottom |
By: benv on Fri, 08 September 2023 23:10 |
Re: Season 37, 2009-10: Rock Bottom |
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Re: Season 37, 2009-10: Rock Bottom |
By: Steve on Mon, 11 September 2023 09:52 |
Re: Season 37, 2009-10: Rock Bottom |
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Season 38 (NHL 31); 2010-11: Year of H.O.P.E. |
By: benv on Sun, 10 September 2023 00:45 |
Re: Season 38 (NHL 31); 2010-11: Year of H.O.P.E. |
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Re: Season 38 (NHL 31); 2010-11: Year of H.O.P.E. |
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Season 39 (NHL 32), 2011-12: Enter the Nuge |
By: benv on Thu, 14 September 2023 17:22 |
Re: Season 39 (NHL 32), 2011-12: Enter the Nuge |
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Re: Season 39 (NHL 32), 2011-12: Enter the Nuge |
By: Steve on Fri, 15 September 2023 15:09 |
Re: Season 39 (NHL 32), 2011-12: Enter the Nuge |
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Re: Season 39 (NHL 32), 2011-12: Enter the Nuge |
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Re: Season 39 (NHL 32), 2011-12: Enter the Nuge |
By: Adam on Mon, 18 September 2023 14:12 |
Season 40 (NHL 33); 2012-13:Short and not so Sweet |
By: benv on Mon, 18 September 2023 22:44 |
Re: Season 40 (NHL 33); 2012-13:Short and not so Sweet |
By: Adam on Tue, 19 September 2023 01:57 |
Season 41 (NHL 34); 2013-14: Eakins' World |
By: benv on Thu, 21 September 2023 01:08 |
Re: Season 41 (NHL 34); 2013-14: Eakins' World |
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Re: Season 41 (NHL 34); 2013-14: Eakins' World |
By: Adam on Thu, 21 September 2023 10:39 |
Re: Season 41 (NHL 34); 2013-14: Eakins' World |
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Re: Season 41 (NHL 34); 2013-14: Eakins' World |
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Season 42 (NHL 35), 2014-15: Misery continues |
By: benv on Thu, 28 September 2023 18:39 |
Re: Season 42 (NHL 35), 2014-15: Misery continues |
By: Adam on Thu, 28 September 2023 21:59 |
Season 43 (NHL 36); 2015-16: 5-14-6-1 |
By: benv on Sat, 30 September 2023 22:19 |
Season 44 (NHL 37); 2016-17: Playoffs?! PLAYOFFS! |
By: benv on Fri, 06 October 2023 17:55 |
Re: Season 44 (NHL 37); 2016-17: Playoffs?! PLAYOFFS! |
By: Adam on Fri, 06 October 2023 22:10 |
Season 45 (NHL 38); 2017-18: A grim regression |
By: benv on Tue, 10 October 2023 23:30 |
Re: Season 45 (NHL 38); 2017-18: A grim regression |
By: Adam on Fri, 13 October 2023 12:04 |
Re: Season 45 (NHL 38); 2017-18: A grim regression |
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Season 46 (NHL 39), 2018-19; A resounding thud |
By: benv on Tue, 17 October 2023 13:31 |
Season 47 (NHL 40); 2019-20: Covidus Interuptus |
By: benv on Wed, 15 November 2023 22:45 |
Season 48 (NHL 41); 2020-21; Life in a Bubble |
By: benv on Sun, 19 November 2023 01:37 |
Season 49 (NHL 42); 2021-22: Big steps forward |
By: benv on Sun, 26 November 2023 23:00 |
Season 50 (NHL 43); 2022-23: Powerplay mania |
By: benv on Tue, 28 November 2023 23:16 |
Re: Season 50 (NHL 43); 2022-23: Powerplay mania |
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