Jeremy Laura: Berggren rookie of the year, and favorite moments - mine a Fedorov 5 spot

No to Feds # being retired. He left us over what amounted to a hill of beans.
Give that # to Kasper, it might inspire him!

No to Feds # being retired. He left us over what amounted to a hill of beans.
Give that # to Kasper, it might inspire him!
- HenryHockey

If you don't retire 91 just fold the (frank)ing franchise.

No to Feds # being retired. He left us over what amounted to a hill of beans.
Give that # to Kasper, it might inspire him!
- HenryHockey

I know his departure hurt a lot of feelings. He’s said in recent interviews that he regrets how things ended. He’s shown a willingness to say, “I’m sorry”, but regardless is a player that truly changed the course of the team, and even the industry. Every part of his life was public. He even had a small press corp on the day he “defected”. The pressure to carry the mantle and the reality of what he did for the city and the team are so much more than I realized even at the time.

On a personal note, I sat at my dad’s bedside when he was passing. I hadn’t seen him for 20 years. He’d had 4 marriages and I have 14 siblings and a family that was just broken. Yes, he made mistakes. They won’t give me those 20 years back. Fedorov brought excitement and helped businesses in a city that desperately needed it. He’s changed a lot over the past couple decades, and I really want to see the healing that can happen. I want to see people excited as his banner goes up while his former Captain and teammates can finally celebrate a truly unique career. We were spoiled to have so many game changers, and even amongst those Fedorov stood out. I hope we can bring some closure so that our new captain can see how special the time with the Russians was. It changed the game, even as GMs and commentators said some pretty nasty things. We’re all divided on enough stuff anymore. It would be such a great thing (in my opinion) to watch this happen and watch fans come together to celebrate the good and truly, the great.

Maybe a weird favorite moment to choose but I still remember game 2 of the 1998 Finals vividly. Such a bizarre game that ended in a crazy comeback win.

Wings were down 3-1 to start the third and later down 4-2, but got goals from Lapointe and Brown to tie, then Draper won it in OT, alone in front of the net to one-time redirect a centering pass from Lapointe.

This game also had:

Bondra scoring a goal after Osgood and Murphy had basically stopped playing because they were expecting a whistle for a two line pass.

Esa Tikkanen missing a wide open net that would have put the Caps up 5-3 halfway through the third.

Hands down, Vladdy being shown in the crowd during '98 SCF, then being given Lord Stanley's Chalise to carry around the ice. Gary Thorne cried, there was a standing O for the man. His tenacity, his humor, he represents all that's good in hockey....at all levels. He'd crush an opposing player, then ask if the player was ok (after the game, of course). Every time I see him, my eyes leak a bit. His was a life destroyed by a bad choice (as were 2 other lives...). Imagine us being able to keep him?

Now, there were many others to choose from: Gordie coming back to DET in the AS game, etc...my 2d however is very personal:
In 1987, I was stationed at Plattsburg Air Force Base in upstate NY. I left home a few years earlier because of being dumb, finished high school & enlisted. I worked on the flight line and would have to do periodic checks for stuff on the runway which could be sucked into a jet engine. I'd wait on a hill in a car until flight ops were done. It was Oct of '87, late at night on that hill that I learned of atmospheric skip and the AM band of radio waves. WJR could be picked up if the weather agreed. I picked up a Wings game. I was alone, facing homesickness and the bad choices I made. The ability to hear "home" helped cleanse my soul, the Wings made me whole again. That's my #2 moment.

Let's. (frank)ing. Go. Red Wings!

If you don't retire 91 just fold the (frank)ing franchise.
- Feds91Stammer

《《《《《 THIS!!!!!

Hands down, Vladdy being shown in the crowd during '98 SCF, then being given Lord Stanley's Chalise to carry around the ice. Gary Thorne cried, there was a standing O for the man. His tenacity, his humor, he represents all that's good in hockey....at all levels. He'd crush an opposing player, then ask if the player was ok (after the game, of course). Every time I see him, my eyes leak a bit. His was a life destroyed by a bad choice (as were 2 other lives...). Imagine us being able to keep him?

Now, there were many others to choose from: Gordie coming back to DET in the AS game, etc...my 2d however is very personal:
In 1987, I was stationed at Plattsburg Air Force Base in upstate NY. I left home a few years earlier because of being dumb, finished high school & enlisted. I worked on the flight line and would have to do periodic checks for stuff on the runway which could be sucked into a jet engine. I'd wait on a hill in a car until flight ops were done. It was Oct of '87, late at night on that hill that I learned of atmospheric skip and the AM band of radio waves. WJR could be picked up if the weather agreed. I picked up a Wings game. I was alone, facing homesickness and the bad choices I made. The ability to hear "home" helped cleanse my soul, the Wings made me whole again. That's my #2 moment.

Let's. (frank)ing. Go. Red Wings!
- mcmastermike1968

That Vladdy cheer vs Washington is still one that gets me. I think I was 21 at the time. All the fans, it seemed like, regardless of which team gave an ovation. In about 2011 I held the door for Vladdy at the player’s entrance for the Joe (someone left us tix with the parking lot attendant). He was using his walker, said a “thank you” and I was blown away by how much bigger than me he still was (I’m 6’1”). Sad reminder of how many more years he probably had in him.

Love the story about being on the base. They announce sometimes that the armed services are watching via some provision for certain games. I guess I never thought about what that would do for a young person in that situation. Very cool

Maybe a weird favorite moment to choose but I still remember game 2 of the 1998 Finals vividly. Such a bizarre game that ended in a crazy comeback win.

Wings were down 3-1 to start the third and later down 4-2, but got goals from Lapointe and Brown to tie, then Draper won it in OT, alone in front of the net to one-time redirect a centering pass from Lapointe.

This game also had:

Bondra scoring a goal after Osgood and Murphy had basically stopped playing because they were expecting a whistle for a two line pass.

Esa Tikkanen missing a wide open net that would have put the Caps up 5-3 halfway through the third.
- Sven22

Was that one of Brown’s “jump off the bench and score” goals? I loved that guy. Would see him at events later. Still with that thick Boston accent

That Vladdy cheer vs Washington is still one that gets me. I think I was 21 at the time. All the fans, it seemed like, regardless of which team gave an ovation. In about 2011 I held the door for Vladdy at the player’s entrance for the Joe (someone left us tix with the parking lot attendant). He was using his walker, said a “thank you” and I was blown away by how much bigger than me he still was (I’m 6’1”). Sad reminder of how many more years he probably had in him.

Love the story about being on the base. They announce sometimes that the armed services are watching via some provision for certain games. I guess I never thought about what that would do for a young person in that situation. Very cool
- Jeremy Laura

I would move mountains to meet Vladdy. His persistence in the face of adversity is off the charts. You're such a lucky guy!! I can't begin to imagine what his career would've been like. Just sad.

Armed Forces Network, or AFN, bring sights & sounds of home to us around the world. They did a live simulcast of Ernie Harwell's last game, SCPO/F, Super Bowl, US hit shows, etc... The only issue? Advertisements!!! "Balance your checbook"! "Keep it secure" reference to not talking about your job, capabilities, etc...), the list of silly adverts is extensive. But, it takes us home. The NHL actually negotiates certain games/events separately with AFN, that's how important it is to us.