Hello all, I've always dreamt about making one of these OT threads, but never think of it in time. idunno723 usually beats me to it.

Anyway, I need a place to share my observations before this post gets bumped down by all the newcomers creating an entire fanpost to say, "Hey, we could have done better and here's how!"

(By the way, that's annoying. Just put your comments in the post-game thread.)

I was looking over who's going onto the second round and saw some strange parity this year. Both conferences have the #1, 2, 3, and 5 seeds playing in the second round. Last year, the conferences were complements to each other. If I recall correctly, it was #1, 2, 3, and 5 in the west and #4, 6, 7, and 8 in the east. Feel free to correct me below, but does anyone find this telling of the strength of the top teams in each conference (specifically how each division had a really strong team) or is it just coincidence? Geez, this almost sound on-topic. Sorry about that.

So, for something off-topic, who's played Portal or Portal 2? I don't have a stand-alone system that will play it, but have heard wonderful things about it. I love puzzle type games and puzzles in general. For instance, I always play the Mario games on Nintendo to get all the stars and coins, or whatever there is to collect. Anyway, I'd love a review. I've heard it is available for the PC, too.

Poll

The Raiders announced today that their stadium will be renamed. Which name is your preference?

40%

Oakland/Alameda Coliseum

17 votes

0%

Overstock.com Coliseum

0 votes

14%

O.co Coliseum

6 votes

30%

That Thing Next to Oracle Arena

13 votes

14%

The House that Reggie Built

6 votes

42 votes | Poll has closed

I've been thinking about this for a while: which jersey numbers are most common in the NHL? Is number 20 really a "goalie number?" Which is most common for a forward? What about defensemen? Of course, some numbers have been retired by some teams, and one number has been retired by the league. I'll include those numbers as I find them.

 

Players who only played a few games will be ignored, and I'll put that cutoff at 10 games for skaters and 3 games for goalies, as of 3/19/2011. Also, teams will be listed in order alphabetically, except Winnipeg will be listed as PHX and be between PHI and PIT.

 

All right, found a slight problem. The official pages for teams who made trades during the season have already deleted contributions from their trade partner. Seriously, go look it up. I couldn't find Ben Eager 's old number. I couldn't find Ian White 's old number. I couldn't even find Dan Ellis' old number, even though I knew it to be 22 (because he was too, too rich ha!). All you'll get is numbers for new teams. If you're disappointed in this news, get over it.

 

Without further ado,

 

1. 0 Forwards, 0 Defensemen, 16 Goalies

Retired Numbers: CHI G, DET G, MIN fans, MON G, NYR G, PHI G, TOR G, TOR G

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA G, BUF G, CBJ G, NJD G, NYI G, PHX G, PIT G, VAN G, WAS G

 

2. 0 Forwards, 16 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: BOS D, BUF D, CAR D, MON D, NYR D, STL D

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : CHI D, DAL D, EDM D, FLA D, LAK D, NJD D, PIT D, TAM D, TOR D, VAN D

 

3. 1 Forward, 23 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: BOS D, CAR D, CHI D, CHI D, EDM D, MON D, NJD D, NYR D, STL D

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA D, BUF D, CAL D, COL D, CBJ D, DAL D, LAK D, MIN D, NAS F, PHI D, PHX D, SJS D, TOR D, VAN D, WAS D

 

4. 5 Forwards, 23 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: BOS D, MON F, NJD D, PHI D, TOR F and D, TOR F and D

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA D, ATL D, BUF D, CAL D, CAR D, CHI D, COL D, CBJ D, DET D, EDM F, FLA D, MIN D, NAS D, NYI D, NYR D, OTT D, PIT D, TAM F, VAN D, WAS D

 

5. 3 Forwards, 22 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: BOS D and F, MON F, NYI D, STL D, TOR D, WAS D

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA D, ATL D, CAL D, CAR D, CHI D, DET D, EDM D, LAK D, MIN D, NAS F, NJD D, NYR D, OTT D, PHI D, PIT D, STL D, TAM D, VAN D

 

6. 3 Forwards, 21 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: DET F, TOR F

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ATL D, BUF D, CAL D, CAR D, CHI D, COL D, CBJ D, DAL D, EDM D, FLA D, LAK D, MIN D, MON D, NAS D, NJD D, NYI D, PHI D, PHX D, PIT D, TAM F, VAN D, WAS D

 

7. 10 Forwards, 12 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: BOS F, BUF F, DAL F, DET F, EDM D, MON F, NYR F, PHI F, STL 4 Fs, TOR D, TOR D, WAS D

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : CAL D, CHI D, LAK D, MIN F, NAS D, NJD D, NYI F, PIT D, SJS D, TAM D

 

8. 12 Forwards, 8 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: BOS F, DAL F, OTT F, STL D

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA F, ATL F, BUF F, CAL F, CHI D, DET F, LAK D, MIN D, NAS D, NJD F, NYI D, NYR F, SJS F, TAM D, TOR D, WAS F

 

9. 25 Forwards, 1 Defenseman, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: BOS F, CAL F, CAR F, CHI F, DET F, EDM F, MON F, NYI F, NYR F, NYR F, PHX F, TOR F, TOR F

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA F, ATL F, BUF F, COL F, CBJ F, FLA F, MIN F, NAS F, NJD F, OTT F, PIT F, SJS D, TAM F, TOR F

 

10. 24 Forwards, 3 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: CAR F, DET F, MON F, PHX F, TOR F, TOR F

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA F, ATL F, CAL F, CHI F, COL D, CBJ D, DAL F, EDM F, FLA F, NAS F, NJD F, NYI D, NYR F, OTT F, PHI F, PIT F, SJS F, STL F, TAM F, VAN F, WAS F

 

11. 23 Forwards, 1 Defenseman, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: BUF F, EDM F, NYR F, STL F, VAN F, WAS F

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA F, BOS F, CAL F, CAR F, CBJ D, DAL F, DET F, FLA F, LAK F, MIN F, MON F, NAS F, NJD F, OTT F, PHI F, PHX F, PIT F, TOR F

 

12. 18 Forwards, 2 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: DET F, MON F, MON F, VAN F

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA F, BOS D, BUF F, CAL F, CAR F, COL F, LAK F, MIN F, NAS F, NJD F, NYI F, NYR F, PHX F, SJS F, STL D, TAM F

 

13. 13 Forwards, 1 Defenseman,  Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ATL F, CAL F, DAL F, DET F, EDM F, FLA F, LAK F, MON F, NAS F, OTT F, PHI F, PHX F, TAM D, VAN F

 

14. 14 Forwards, 2 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: BUF F, STL F

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ATL F, CHI D, COL F, CBJ D, DAL F, EDM F, FLA F, LAK F, MON F, NJD F, NYI F, PHX F, PIT F, VAN F

 

15. 18 Forwards, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: BOS F

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA F, CAL F, CAR F, CHI F, CBJ F, DAL F, FLA F, LAK F, MIN F, MON F, NYI F, OTT F, PHI F, PIT F, SJS F, VAN F, WAS F

 

16. 28 Forwards, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: BUF F, DET F, LAK F, MON F, MON F, PHI F, STL F, VAN F

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA F, ATL F, CAL F, CAR F, COL F, CBJ F, DAL F, EDM F, FLA F, MIN F, NAS F, NJD F, NYR F, OTT F, PHX F, PIT F, SJS F, TAM F, TOR F, WAS F

 

17. 23 Forwards, 2 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: CAR F, EDM F, TOR F and D

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA D, BOS F, CAL F, CHI F, CBJ F, DAL F, DET F, FLA F, LAK F, MIN F, MON F, NJD F, NYI F, NYR F, OTT D, PHI F, PHX F, PIT F, SJS F, STL F, VAN F, WAS F

 

18. 16 Forwards, 3 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: BUF F, CHI F, LAK F, MON D

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : BOS F, CAL F, CAR F, COL F, CBJ F, FLA F, NJD F, NYR D, OTT F, PHI F, PIT F, TAM F, TOR F, VAN D, WAS F

 

19. 25 Forwards, 1 Defenseman, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: COL F, DAL F, DET F, MON D, NYI F, VAN F

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA F, BOS F, BUF F, CAL F, CAR F, CHI F, CBJ F, FLA F, LAK F, MIN F, NJD F, NYR F, OTT F, PHI F, PHX F, PIT F, SJS F, TAM F, TOR F, WAS F

 

20. 16 Forwards, 4 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: LAK F

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ATL F, BOS F, BUF F, CAL F, CAR F, COL F, CBJ F, DAL F, DET F, FLA F, MIN F, MON D, NAS D, NJD D, NYR F, PHI D, PHX F, SJS F, STL F

 

21. 17 Forwards, 3 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: CHI F, PIT F, TOR D

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA D, BOS D, BUF F, CAR F, DAL F, MIN F, MON F, NJD F, NYI F, NYR F, OTT F, PHI F, SJS F, STL F, TAM F, VAN F, WAS F

 

22. 17 Forwards, 2 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: NYI F

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA F, ATL F, BOS F, BUF F, CAR F, CHI F, CBJ D, EDM F, LAK F, MIN F, MON F, NAS F, NYR F, PHI F, PHX F, SJS D, VAN F, WAS F

 

23. 11 Forwards, 7 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: MON F, NYI F

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA D, ATL F, BOS F, COL F, DAL F, DET D, EDM F, LAK F, MIN F, NJD F, NYR F, PHX D, STL D, TOR D, VAN D, WAS D

 

24. 10 Forwards, 4 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: BOS F, STL F

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ATL D, CAL F, CBJ F, DAL F, DET D, MIN F, NAS F, NYI D, NYR F, PHI D, PIT F, TAM F

 

25. 12 Forwards, 4 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: PHX F

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA D, BUF F, CAL F, CAR D, CHI F, CBJ F, LAK F, MIN D, NAS F, NJD F, OTT F, PHI D, PIT F, STL F, WAS F

 

26. 21 Forwards, 1 Defenseman, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ATL F, BUF F, CAL F, CAR F, COL F, CBJ F, DET F, EDM D, FLA F, LAK F, MON F, NAS F, NJD F, NYI F, NYR F, OTT F, PHX F, PIT F, STL F, TAM F, VAN F, WAS F

 

27. 9 Forwards, 8 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: PHX D, TOR F, TOR F

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ATL F, BUF D, CAL D, COL D, DAL F, FLA F, LAK F, NAS F, NYI D, NYR D, PIT F, STL D, VAN F, WAS D

 

28. 14 Forwards, 7 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: VAN D

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA F, BOS F, BUF F, CAL D, CHI F, COL F, CBJ F, DAL D, DET D, EDM F, LAK F, NJD D, NYI F, NYR D, PHI F, PHX F, PIT F, STL D, TOR F, WAS F

 

29. 6 Forwards, 4 Defensemen, 5 Goalies

Retired Numbers: MON G

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA G, ATL D, BUF F, CAL D, CHI F, COL F, DAL F, EDM G, FLA G, NAS F, NJD D, PIT G, SJS F, STL G, VAN D

 

30. 0 Forwards, 0 Defensemen, 16 Goalies

Retired Numbers: CAL G, LAK G

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : BOS G, BUF G, CAR G, CHI G, COL G, DAL G, DET G, FLA G, NJD G, NYR G, PHX G, SJS G, STL G, WAS G

 

31. 1 Forward, 0 Defensemen, 10 Goalies

Retired Numbers: EDM G, NYI G, PHI G

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ATL G, COL G, DET G, MON G, NYR F, OTT G, OTT G, SJS G

 

32. 8 Forwards, 2 Defensemen, 4 Goalies

Retired Numbers: WAS F

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA D, CHI F, CBJ G, DAL G, FLA F, LAK G, MIN G, MON F, NJD F, NYR F, PHX F, STL F, TAM D

 

33. 6 Forwards, 7 Defensemen, 4 Goalies

Retired Numbers: COL G, MON G

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA F, ATL D, BOS D, CAL D, CAR D, DAL D, DET F, EDM F, LAK D, NAS F, OTT G, PHI G, PHX F, STL D, VAN F

 

34. 4 Forwards, 2 Defensemen, 2 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : BUF D, CAL G, COL F, MON F, NJD D, TOR F, TOR G, VAN F

 

35. 0 Forwards, 1 Defenseman, 13 Goalies

Retired Numbers: CHI G, NYR G

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : BOS G, CAL G, CBJ D, DET G, EDM G, MON G, NAS G, NYI G, PHI G, TAM G, TOR G, VAN G

 

36. 8 Forwards, 4 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ATL F, BUF F, CAR F, CHI F, COL D, NYI D, NYR F, OTT D, PHI F, STL F, TOR D, VAN F

 

37. 7 Forwards, 1 Defenseman, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: ATL F

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA F, BOS F, COL F, DAL D, FLA F, NYI F, TOR F

 

38. 5 Forwards, 2 Defensemen, 1 Goalie

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA G, BOS F, NYI D, NYR D, OTT F, PHX F, TOR F, VAN F

 

39. 6 Forwards, 3 Defensemen, 2 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA F, ATL D, CAR F, COL F, DET F, NAS G, NYI G, NYR F, OTT D, SJS F, TAM D

 

40. 6 Forwards, 1 Defenseman, 4 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : BOS G, BUF G, CAL F, COL F, CBJ F, DET F, EDM G, NYI F, OTT G, SJS D, VAN F

 

41. 1 Forwards, 4 Defensemen, 3 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : EDM D, MIN D, OTT G, PHI D, STL G, TAM G, TOR F, VAN D

 

42. 7 Forwards, 1 Defenseman, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA F, BUF F, EDM F, NYI D, NYR F, STL F, TAM F, TOR F

 

43. 4 Forwards, 2 Defensemen, 1 Goalie

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : DET F, EDM D, FLA D, MIN F, NYR G, SJS F, TOR F

 

44. 3 Forwards, 11 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : BOS D, BUF D, CAL F, CAR D, COL D, DAL D, DET F, LAK D, MON D, NYR D, PHI D, PIT D, SJS D, TAM F

 

45. 4 Forwards, 1 Defenseman, 1 Goalie

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ATL F, LAK G, MON D, NYR F, PHI F, PIT F

 

46. 5 Forwards, 2 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ATL F, BOS F, EDM F, MIN D, MON F, STL D, TOR F

 

47. 1 Forward, 4 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : BOS D, FLA D, NYI D, TAM D, TOR F

 

48. 3 Forwards, 2 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : COL D, MIN F, PHI F, PIT F, TAM D

 

49. 4 Forwards, 1 Defenseman, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : BOS F, EDM D, OTT F, TAM F, VAN F

 

50. 1 Forward, 0 Defensemen, 3 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ATL G, CHI G, CBJ F, TOR G

 

51. 3 Forwards, 3 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA F, CHI D, CBJ D, DET F, NAS D, NYI F

 

52. 2 Forwards, 6 Defensemen, 1 Goalie

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : COL D, CBJ D, DET D, FLA D, MON F, NYI G, OTT F, PHX D, WAS D

 

53. 3 Forwards, 2 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : CAR F, LAK D, MON F, NAS F, PHX D

 

54. 2 Forwards, 1 Defenseman, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : BOS D, COL F, VAN F

 

55. 4 Forwards, 8 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : BOS D, BUF F, COL F, DET D, MIN D, MON D, NAS D, OTT D, PHX D, SJS F, STL F, WAS D

 

56. 0 Forwards, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : none

 

57. 3 Forwards, 1 Defenseman, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : BUF D, MON F, NYI F, STL F

 

58. 2 Forwards, 2 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : EDM D, MON F, NYI F, PIT D

 

59. 2 Forwards, 1 Defenseman, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : CAR F, NYI F, TOR D

 

60. 0 Forwards, 1 Defenseman, 3 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : CAR G, MIN G, NYI G, SJS D

 

61. 2 Forwards, 1 Defenseman, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : CAR F, CBJ F, SJS D

 

62. 0 Forwards, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : none

 

63. 5 Forwards, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA F, BOS F, BUF F, DAL F, FLA F

 

64. 2 Forwards, 1 Defenseman, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA F, SJS F, STL D

 

65. 0 Forwards, 1 Defenseman, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : OTT D

 

66. 1 Forward, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: PIT F

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : none

 

67. 3 Forwards, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : CHI F, EDM F, MON F

 

68. 0 Forwards, 1 Defenseman, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : MON D

 

69. 0 Forwards, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : none

 

70. 0 Forwards, 0 Defensemen, 1 Goalie

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : WAS G

 

71. 5 Forwards, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : CAR F, CBJ F, NAS F, OTT F, PIT F

 

72. 3 Forwards, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : BUF F, PIT F, SJS F

 

73. 1 Forward, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : BOS F

 

74. 2 Forwards, 1 Defenseman, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : NAS F, STL F, WAS D

 

75. 2 Forwards, 1 Defenseman, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : FLA F, MON D, STL F

 

76. 0 Forwards, 1 Defenseman, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : MON D

 

77. 1 Forward, 5 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: BOS D, COL D

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : CAR D, EDM D, STL F, TAM D

 

78. 1 Forward, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : SJS F

 

79. 1 Forward, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : STL F

 

80. 1 Forward, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ATL F

 

81. 4 Forwards, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : CHI F, DAL F, MON F, TOR F

 

82. 1 Forward, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : CHI F

 

83. 2 Forwards, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : EDM F, WAS F

 

84. 1 Forward, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : TOR F

 

85. 3 Forwards, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : EDM F, FLA F, WAS F

 

86. 1 Forward, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : NYR F

 

87. 1 Forward, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : PIT F

 

88. 1 Forward, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : CHI F

 

89. 2 Forwards, 1 Defenseman, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : EDM F, PHX F, WAS D

 

90. 2 Forwards, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : DET F, WAS F

 

91. 6 Forwards, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : BOS F, DAL F, EDM F, NYI F, PHX F, TAM F

 

 

92. 0 Forwards, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : none

 

93. 5 Forwards, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: FLA GM, TOR F

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : CBJ F, DET F, NYI F, PHI F

 

94. 3 Forwards, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : LAK F, MON F, NYR F

 

95. 0 Forwards, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : none

 

96. 2 Forwards, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : DET F, MIN F

 

97. 0 Forwards, 1 Defenseman, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : NYR D

 

98. 0 Forwards, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: none

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : none

 

99. 1 Forward, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies

Retired Numbers: all teams F

Active Numbers (2010-2011) : none

 

In conclusion, certain numbers appear to be meant for specific positions. The numbers 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 26, 63, 66, 71, 91, 93, and 99 appear to be used most often for forwards. Numbers 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 44 seem to be used most often for defensemen. 1, 30, 31, and 35 are the numbers used most often by goalies.

 

Four teams - Minnesota, Toronto, St. Louis, and Florida - have done strange things with their retirements of numbers. Minnesota retired the number 1 in honor the of the fans. Uh, yeah. Toronto has had many great players get their jersey numbers retired, but then un-retired. These new jersey numbers are considered "honored," but still in circulation for current players. Perhaps a pledge of respect is needed if a newer player wishes to use the honored number. St. Louis didn't exactly retire number 7, but four relatively great players have worn it for the Blues and it's now more or less out of circulation. Florida retired number 93 in honor of their general manager. Yes, really. Bill Torrey did equally wonderful things for the New York Islanders (who honored him, but didn't give him a number) and the Florida Panthers, in building a contending team via the draft shortly after arriving to kickstart a brand new team.

 

In all, I learned far more about jersey numbers than I thought I'd ever want to know. I can honestly say that I'm happy the Phoenix Coyotes have continued to honor the retired numbers of those who passed through the Winnipeg Jets franchise. I wish that the Colorado Avalanche had done the same. Dale Hawerchuk's name deserves to be hanging in someone's rafters. I also wish that the NHL would retire number 66 league-wide. There hasn't been an initiative to do it, to my knowledge, but no one with any talent has worn it since Super Mario's retirement.

 

Any other conclusions you can draw, please post in the comments!

 Sung to the tune of "I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas"

I want a Stanley Cup-amus this season
Only the Stanley Cup-amus will do
Not the Sabres, or silly Derek Roy
I want a Stanley Cup-amus to play with and enjoy

I want a Stanley Cup-amus this season
I don't think Bettman will allow, do you?
He won't have to use our revenue sharing
Just give it as a Summer bonus, that's the easy thing to do

I can see me now on Juneteenth, waking up the neighbors
Oh what joy and what surprise when I open up my eyes
To see a Conn Smythe hero standing there

I want a Stanley Cup-amus this season
Only the Stanley Cup-amus will do
Not Detroit, not for Columbuses
I only like Stanley Cup-amuses
And Stanley Cup-amuses like me too

Mom says winning the Cup would spoil me, but then
Teacher says the Cup would bring us more fans

There's lots of room for him on our big trophy rack
I'd keep him there with Calder and Richard and turtle wax
I can see me now on Juneteenth, waking up the neighbors
Oh what joy and what surprise when I open up my eyes
To see a Conn Smythe hero standing there

I want a Stanley Cup-amus this season
Only the Stanley Cup-amus will do
Not Detroit, not for Columbuses
I only like Stanley Cup-amuses
And Stanley Cup-amuses like me too!

Well, the Blackhawks won. In six games. Of course, now that Toews and Kane hit all their benchmarks and get all the bonuses possible, the team went over the salary cap. That means the Hawks will get penalized next season. Talk about being in Win-NOW mode! Amiright?

Thanks to everyone that played, especially if you stuck with it through all four rounds (all 8 of us)!

 

Drumroll, please! And the winner is... our fearless leader, Mr. Plank!

 

Final standings were...

 

Mr. Plank = 55 + 22(2) + 8(4) + 10(8) = 201

stufflife = 42 + 21(2) + 6(4) + 10(8) = 188

workthecycle = 50 + 29(2) + 1(4) + 8(8) = 176

Zeroindulgence = 34 + 23(2) + 1(4) + 8(8) = 148

SharksFanEst.1994 = 50 + 21(2) + 8(4) + 2(8) = 140

Krishna = 51 + 16(2) + 8(4) + 2(8) = 131

joe579 = 48 + 28(2) + 1(4) + 2(8) = 124

idunno723 = 48 + 19(2) + 1(4) + 2(8) = 106

EvilDucks = 30 + 16(2) + 0(4) + 2(8) = 78

teas = 44 + 16(2) + 0(4) + 0(8) = 76

warning = 0 + 26(2) + 6(4) + 0(8) = 76

In Bust We Trust = 0 + 27(2) + 1(4) + 2(8) = 74

mssjclowie29 = 0 + 0(2) + 0(4) + 8(8) = 64

SeanCrosby87 = 48 + 0(2) + 0(4) + 0(8) = 48

brandonMK50 = 45 + 0(2) + 0(4) + 0(8) = 45

denver_diaspora = 39 + 0(2) +0(4) + 0(8) = 39

jwizzle241 = 38 + 0(2) + 0(4) + 0(8) = 38

Toddmclellan'shair = 0 + 0(2) + 1(4) + 2(8) = 20

JenLovesHockey = 0 + 0(2) + 0(4) + 2(8) = 16

Advocate = 0 + 0(2) + 1(4) + 0(8) = 4

Here are updated standings of what you've put out there.

 

Mr. Plank = 55 + 22(2) + 8(4) = 131

SharksFanEst.1994 = 50 + 21(2) + 8(4) = 124

Krishna = 51 + 16(2) + 8(4) = 115

workthecycle = 50 + 29(2) + 1(4) = 112

joe579 = 48 + 28(2) + 1(4) = 108

stufflife = 42 + 21(2) + 6(4) = 108

idunno723 = 48 + 19(2) + 1(4) = 90

Zeroindulgence = 34 + 23(2) 1(4) = 84

teas = 44 + 16(2) + 0(4) = 76

warning = 0 + 26(2) + 6(4) = 76

EvilDucks = 30 + 16(2) + 0(4) = 62

In Bust We Trust = 0 + 27(2) + 1(4) = 58

SeanCrosby87 = 48 + 0(2) + 0(4) = 48

brandonMK50 = 45 + 0(2) + 0(4) = 45

denver_diaspora = 39 + 0(2) +0(4) = 39

jwizzle241 = 38 + 0(2) + 0(4) = 38

Advocate = 0 + 0(2) + 1(4) = 4

Toddmclellan'shair = 0 + 0(2) + 1(4) = 4

 

The Plankmeister is leading the way, not that we'd have it any other way. This is a sad group, though, let's see if you all can't pick the winner in the next round! Score to be multiplied by 8 this round!

 

Chicago Blackhawks (2) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (7)

 

Finally, points are awarded in the following way...

 

10 points for picking the right team in the correct number of games

8 points for picking the right team but wrong on number of games in the series by 1

6 points for picking the right team but wrong on number of games in the series by 2

4 points for picking the right team but wrong on number of games in the series by 3

3 points for picking the wrong team but series goes to 7 games

2 points for picking the wrong team but series goes to 6 games

1 point for picking the wrong team but series goes to 5 games

0 points for picking the wrong team and there's a sweep!

Well, most of us got burned by Montreal ... again. When I'm feeling a bit better, hopefully late tonight, I will update the standings. [update: done!] Until then, you can feel free to post your predictions below. Here's what's left...

 

Philadelphia (7) vs. Montreal (8) in the East

San José (1) vs. Chicago (2) in the West

 

Pick smart, not homer. Also, anyone visiting from other blogs is welcome to join, but you could be behind as much as 160 points, if the East didn't keep creating upsets. Now that there's only a 7th and 8th seed left in the East, can we really call it an upset?

 

 

Reminder that the scoring is as follows...

10 points for picking the right team in the correct number of games

8 points for picking the right team but wrong on number of games in the series by 1

6 points for picking the right team but wrong on number of games in the series by 2

4 points for picking the right team but wrong on number of games in the series by 3

3 points for picking the wrong team but series goes to 7 games

2 points for picking the wrong team but series goes to 6 games

1 point for picking the wrong team but series goes to 5 games

0 points for picking the wrong team and there's a sweep!

 

 

Updated scores below. Remember that round 2 series have their points doubled. Round 3 has a multiplier of 4, so there are still 80 points out there for the taking before we get to the SCF.

 

 

workthecycle = 50 + 29(2) = 108

joe579 = 48 + 28(2) = 104

Mr. Plank = 55 + 22(2) = 99

SharksFanEst.1994 = 50 + 21(2) = 92

idunno723 = 48 + 19(2) = 86

stufflife = 42 + 21(2) = 84

Krishna = 51 + 16(2) = 83

Zeroindulgence = 34 + 23(2) = 80

teas = 44 + 16(2) = 76

EvilDucks = 30 + 16(2) = 62

In Bust We Trust = 0 + 27(2) = 54

warning = 0 + 26(2) = 52

SeanCrosby87 = 48 + 0(2) = 48

brandonMK50 = 45 + 0(2) = 45

 

denver_diaspora = 39 + 0(2) = 39

jwizzle241 = 38 + 0(2) = 38

 

 

Go Sharks!

I was going to calculate current standings last night, but I had to play Final Fantasy instead. Forgive me. Instead and in the meantime, put in your predictions for the second round.

 

I will have to cut off the predictions by the end of the second intermission tonight in the Sharks game, so while you're hitting the bathroom and grabbing a beer after the second period, feel free to post your guesses below.

 

Cheerio.

 

[update]

Here they are, just as I'm watching the Versus (sucks) intro. Here's all I got from round 1...

 

Mr. Plank = 55

Krishna = 51 even without any points for the DET/PHO game

SharksFanEst.1994 = 50

workthecycle = 50

idunno723 = 48

joe579 = 48

SeanCrosby87 = 48

brandonMK50 = 45 even without any points for the SJS/COL

teas = 44

stufflife = 42

denver_diaspora = 39

jwizzle241 = 38

zeroindulgence = 34

EvilDucks = 30

 

Looks like all the Eastern Conference upsets hurt most everyone's scores.

Reminder that the scoring is as follows...

10 points for picking the right team in the correct number of games

8 points for picking the right team but wrong on number of games in the series by 1

6 points for picking the right team but wrong on number of games in the series by 2

4 points for picking the right team but wrong on number of games in the series by 3

3 points for picking the wrong team but series goes to 7 games

2 points for picking the wrong team but series goes to 6 games

1 point for picking the wrong team but series goes to 5 games

0 points for picking the wrong team and there's a sweep!

 

Go Sharks!

I got the okay from Plank to do this, so this is the official unofficial playoff pickem for 2010, baby!

 

As games have already begun, I will keep the first round predictions open until Midnight on Friday 4/16. Pick the winning team and number of games played in each series. Rounds will count equally, so make your picks wisely.

 

 

10 points for picking the right team in the correct number of games

8 points for picking the right team but wrong on number of games in the series by 1

6 points for picking the right team but wrong on number of games in the series by 2

4 points for picking the right team but wrong on number of games in the series by 3

3 points for picking the wrong team but series goes to 7 games

2 points for picking the wrong team but series goes to 6 games

1 point for picking the wrong team but series goes to 5 games

0 points for picking the wrong team and there's a sweep!

 

2nd round: all series' values x 2

3rd round all series' values x 4

SCF: values x 8

I've been working on this since game one, waiting for the right time to unveil. It all started when I tried to help mymclife create a new metric for power play effectiveness, but was unable to find the stats I wanted. I realized I was probably going to have to keep my own statistics for the players and their games.

 

Yeah, I'm a math geek.

 

This started as one page and eventually grew to five. It might see more iterations as time progresses, as I'm interested in what you think would be interesting to know. Here's my short list of things that could be added, in time...

 

1. Scoring first vs. Game outcome

2. Team plus/minus

3. Scoring streaks and other trends

 

As you'll no doubt notice, I've spent an enormous amount of time working on this. To appreciate it all, you'd have to see the Excel file from which this was created (with most column headers as vertical, not horizontal), but Google Docs won't let me upload that.

 

It's massive. It's bigger than a burrito that's bigger than your head. It floats, but it's not a witch. Without further ado...

 

stufflife's Sharks 31

stufflife's Sharks 35

(opens in a new window as a Google Doc)

I have been pumped and primed for the season to start since last Tuesday, September 8th, when my group sat down to draft out the tickets for the upcoming season. Due to luck of the draw, I missed out on a couple of potentially great games like Boston and Pittsburgh, but I am in love with hockey so much that I'm already really excited for next Saturday's preseason game against Phoenix! Bring 'em on! First game with a Michalek in the building, right!?!

I suppose I'm stealing this idea from Puck Daddy, but I'm not ashamed to admit that he introduced me to hockey blogging a couple of years ago. I can't stand to even read his comments or half of his stories now, but I would bet I'm not the only one. His unabashed homerism for the Capitals and Devils while still reviling others for their shameless ways taught me that there's nothing above loyalty to the hometown team.

Without further ado, the top 5 things I love about hockey.

5. Unplanned Fights

I'm a little torn about this one, due to the fact that I cringe and get a knot in my stomach when commercials for MMA or UFC get flashed on Spike or Versus. I have no interest in watching violence for the sake of violence. I have truly had to force my legs to move me toward a fight at work, to break it up. However, when the emotions of a game are running high and the players are jawing at each other, I'll stand up and yell all sorts of unpleasantries at the rink when the gloves come off.

I think it helps that I know the refs are near by to keep anyone from really getting hurt (except Jordin Tootoo, that fart). If someone really starts bleeding, fight's over. If one player effectively stops throwing punches, they're both done. Players have even learned to throw the other guy to the ice if he wants to be done. Thanks to Sidney Crosby for a reminder of that last fact.

I don't really enjoy the pre-planned, first faceoff fights, but it does speak to the hatred some teams have for others. I'm also a little tired of fights after clean hits, but if your guy smashes my guy's face into the boards from behind, someone's going to pay.

4. A Team Relentless on the Puck

Casual hockey fans probably enjoy a great save or a great goal scored in the game. I am a fan of everything else. Most people know how awful it feels to have their team beaten up on a nightly basis, what it feels like to have your five skaters play like four guys. The opposite is a great feeling!

Imagine: Your favorite team has the puck and is taking shot after shot on the opposing goalie. The goalie is doing an amazing job of keeping it out of the net, but can't seem to pick up the puck. The defense finally gets a hold of the play and knocks it down the ice, just in time for your goalie to pass it back up the ice to your team who goes at it again with five new players. Defense grabs the puck a couple of time, but each time they do, they are bowled over by your forwards, who start the cycle again! Maybe it all ends with a goal, maybe not, but you realize your face hurts because you've been grinning and shouting for the past four minutes! That's hockey, baby!

3. Walking to the Local Rink and Lacing Up the Skates 

Growing up in Minnesota, there was nothing quite like grabbing beat up skates and a stick, putting a pair of long-johns under your jeans, and meeting your friends at the outdoor rink on a Saturday morning. The great people at the parks and recreation department planned for your arrival when they built the park years ago by burying the water pipes deep underground so they wouldn't freeze in the Winter cold. They made sure there were plenty of benches with cubbies underneath inside the "warming house". They covered the sidewalk with thick rubber mats that were shoveled clean every morning. They paid some local teenager a few bucks extra to watch over the place, shovel any newly fallen snow off the ice, and break up any fights that might occur. If you were really lucky, there was at least a half-sized rink (boards and all) within walking distance. Otherwise, there was only a flat surface roughly in the shape of a rink and the warming house was locked (Thanks, Groveland Park!).

Kids would start showing up before 9 am and there would be usually two games going by 10. The games would use the same ice, alternating every 20-30 minutes when enough of the other guys had their faces on the boards yelling, "Come on, it's our turn now!"

Any kid that dared bring a composite stick or aluminum shaft with interchangeable blades was going to be pissed when he left because it had broken. Teams were chosen when an even number of kids threw their WOODEN sticks into a pile and someone took turns tossing the sticks into two separate piles. The fattest or slowest kid always played goalie if there wasn't a volunteer (yeah right!) and the game stopped when too many kids had left because his parents had picked him up. Me? I stayed until dark because there were no stadium lights and it got really cold after the warming house locked up at 5 pm.

2. Miracle and Every Other Underdog Story

I was too young to have remembered watching it live, but playing just one game at a time versus any given opponent means you have to be at your best all the time. The best teams in history will never win every game and the worst teams will never lose every game.

What "Miracle" taught me was that teamwork worked. The team didn't have anyone that could match the individual strengths of the Russians. The game because a genius plan of strategy. The Americans couldn't outmuscle the Russians, and their individual efforts would only get squashed, but as a team, nay, as a SMART team, they were able to overcome.

Geez, the team doesn't even have to win to be a great story. Look at "Mystery, Alaska". I love that movie and *spoiler alert* the team loses in the end.

1. Hockey in Minnesota

I live in downtown San Jose, but when I tell people where I am from, they almost always ask me if I'm a Vikings fan. I could not care less about the Vikings or the NFL. What people should know about Minnesota is that the people there aren't all hockey-mad, but a lot are. Most every high school has its own team, on top of the regional or "traveling" teams. That's a lot of hockey, but that's not even the end of it. In the spring every year, there is a tournament just for the high school teams to determine the state champs, just like in football or whatever. The difference is that this tournament is on television non-stop for several days. If you attend a school that is in the tourney, or even a school that feeds the school in the tourney, or even live in the same community as a team in the tourney, you basically get those days off. That's not an official decree, but in my experience, schools will be very lax on their truancy rules for the couple of days of tournament play. The results of the games are not only discussed in length in the newspaper, but on the news at 5 pm, 6 pm and 10 pm.

This all happened while I was living in the suburbs north of St. Paul, Minnesota. I wasn't born there, though; I hail from Grand Rapids, Minnesota - home of such notables as Pat White (now a Sharks prospect, gained in the Ehrhoff dump), Alex Goligoski (set to be a sophomore on the Penguins blue-line), Jon Casey (former NORTHStars netminder), Bill Baker (member of the Miracle on Ice), and some lady named Frances Gumm (probably better known as Judy Garland). If the state of Minnesota is hockey-mad, then Grand Rapids is hockey-f**king-bat-sh*t-insane.

Due to a bad economy that eventually led the NORTHStars out of Minnesota, my father lost his job and we were forced to move away from Grand Rapids after I finished the first grade. However, in two years of public schooling, I already knew that hometown pride was weighted on their high school hockey standing at the end of the season. Other sports didn't matter. Even in the first grade, we could get some skating practice during recess, as the elementary school was adjacent to a lake that froze over for most of the Winter, and Winter lasted most of the school year.

Yeah, some of these things happened to me instead of me searching them out, but I consider myself to be really fortunate to have seen all the things I have seen. Well, everything except the formation of the Dallas Stars.

My wife was going to get me a Sharks' jersey for last Christma/Hanukk/Kwanzaa. She gave me a week to think about what name to put on the back, but it's August and I still haven't made up my mind. Knowing that I'll only be able to purchase a new jersey every 3-5 years has made the pressure too great! $175 is a lot of money for a shirt, especially for the name of a player that I don't enjoying watching. That being said, I would have to get paid to wear a jersey with Mike Grier's name on it!

Poll

If you could only have one jersey to wear for the next three years, who's name would you put on the back? You have to create it today, so no Owen Nolan or Vesa Toskala and no Patrick Marleau #14!!

5%

Joe Thornton 19

5 votes

7%

Patrick Marleau 12

7 votes

11%

Devin Setoguchi 16

11 votes

3%

Ryane Clowe 29

3 votes

17%

Joe Pavelski 8

17 votes

1%

Milan Michalek 9

1 votes

7%

Torrey Mitchell 17

7 votes

16%

Dan Boyle 22

16 votes

2%

Rob Blake 4

2 votes

4%

Marc-Edouard Vlasic 44

4 votes

0%

Christian Ehrhoff 10

0 votes

8%

Douglas Murray 3

8 votes

1%

Evgeni Nabokov 20

1 votes

5%

Jonathan Cheechoo 14

5 votes

3%

Jody Shelley 45

3 votes

1%

Wow! I didn't know a poll could have so many choices!

1 votes

5%

Another player - please use comments

5 votes

96 votes | Poll has closed

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