THN.com Blog: Cheering for half of the Original Six

Led by Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, the Blackhawks could break into the playoffs this season. (Photo by Bill Smith/NHLI via Getty Images)

Jason Kay
2008-08-09 10:42:27

Questions I’m frequently asked as editor-in-chief of The Hockey News (with the answers I wish I could furnish, but am too polite to utter, in parentheses) include:

1. Can you get me tickets to a Maple Leafs game? (Sure, I’ll just grab a pair from the enormous stash I keep under my desk, which sits alongside the game-winning puck from the Summit Series and Michael Ryder’s hands.)

2. Who’s gonna win the Stanley Cup this year? (Cleveland.)

3. What in the world do you guys at THN do all summer with no hockey being played? (We dream up ways to sarcastically answer this question.)

But seriously, the off-season is something of a misnomer for our staff. Once the playoffs are done, we have: NHL awards, the NHL entry draft and the start of free agency to cover; our Yearbook and Pool Guide, plus two full-length books to publish and get translated into French; planning and budgeting for the ensuing season; vacation time to finally use; and, now, blogs to write.

Speaking of which, here’s an abbreviated one I wrote before I bolted for my annual spiritual and healing retreat (I wonder if anyone has noticed I’ve already used up 200 words on idle, meaningless rambling?)

Seinfeld had the Summer of George. I’m predicting 2008-09 will be the Winter of Some Original Six Team. Theoretically, I’m not supposed to cheer, but deep down I’ll have a soft spot this season for these three golden oldie franchises:

Chicago: They’re finally emerging from the abyss with a bright, young team, augmented by the free agent signings of Brian Campbell and Cristobal Huet. Their season-ticket base has multiplied by a reported 300 percent, they’re hosting what promises to be a special outdoor game at Wrigley Field, they’re back on local TV and it’s safe to be a Hawks fan again. It would be a terrific story for the league if Chicago can actually execute on the ice.

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Montreal: The Habs are celebrating their 100th anniversary this year, they’re holding the All-Star Game and the entry draft at Bell Centre and the club is a bona fide contender in the East. It’d be sweet to see the NHL’s most storied franchise reach the peak again.

Detroit: On paper, the Wings are the team to beat. They’ve lost virtually nothing from the Cup-winning lineup; rather they’ve enhanced it with Marian Hossa. And they’re the closest thing the NHL has to the New England Patriots – minus the cheating. Isn’t it about time we had another dynasty and the buzz that surrounds it? Heck, consecutive Cups may even convince Motowners the club is for real and actually entice them to buy tickets.

Jason Kay is the editor in chief of The Hockey News and a regular contributor to THN.com. His blog appears every weekend.

For more great profiles, news and views from the world of hockey, Subscribe to The Hockey News magazine.

COMMENTS (78)

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Jim Reinecke Posted
(2009-04-30 06:47:28)

I'm going to respond to Flyerfan52, as he does pose a question that I believe is worth answering, so I'll scratch the sarcasm and try to do it thoughtfully (and it will be my last word on this topic). I didn't have to spend any time looking up factoids on the original team nicknames of the Leafs and the Red Wings or the defunct franchises; I knew of this info long before there were such animals as factoids. I've loved the game of hockey since my first exposure to it as a kid ('68-69 season) and I've always enjoyed delving into the history of things that I enjoy. So I've read extensively about the NHL's past over the years and that's how I happen to have this information (or "trivia" in some circles) at my disposal. Yes, I do enjoy reading and I'll bite my tongue (or fingers as the case may be) regarding any disrespectful sarcasm about my fellow posters not reading as I DID make a promise to do without that commodity. However, I really made no comments regarding the Cup and its earlier status as a challenge trophy, but your facts about it becoming the exclusive property of the NHL after 1926 are correct. (However, I must point out that the New York/Brooklyn Americans did survive the depression and were a casualty of wartime hockey, playing their last game in 1942.) Oh, and since you're a Pacino fan, how did you like "Heat" with Al and Robert DeNiro? (couldn't resist that one!)

Dannydoodledandy Posted
(2009-04-30 06:47:18)

Jimmy, 1) Origin - see FlyerFan52 2) Paraphrasing -Look it up! 3) Sagan- Trying to keep it simple without going into the details of Kants Nebular Hypothesis theory for which of course you would only know the details about. I couldn't agree more with Razzel-Dazzel on the term "contradicting" when it comes to bashing Detroit!

Braden Posted
(2009-04-30 06:47:17)

Ahhhh, thats our Jimmy. Just as wordy as ever. I will admit that you may have gained a few points by letting us know that some comments weren't yours, but I still find the idea that an adult would care enough about thoughts of a few teenagers he has never met to respond to their "horseplay",and attempt to defend himself,as slightly pathetic and hypocritical. On another note, I am assuming you have not met Turd's sister. IF she was just a child of about 10 years of age, your comment would make you a pedophile. Have fun with that. You also seem to need to have the last word on everything so I would suggest being the bigger man here and to "walk away" from us teenage characters. Unless you are enjoying this as much as the rest of us. I, for one, will cease to poke fun at you after this has been posted. Now can we all get back to talking hockey! It's what I came on this site to do.

Turd Ferguson Posted
(2009-04-30 06:47:16)

Jim R (the real one). I was not so much against your facts presented in the "Original Six" post, but by the way you choose to present them like you are somehow better than other posters casue you know big words, especially your response to "Bob". As for someone posing as you, I am not sure who did that but rest assured I am only Turd Ferguson, and proud of it. Oh, and I dont have a sister. Oh, and yes, I like Happy Gilmore very much, so I guess I do watch Adam Sandler videos.

Razzel-Dazzel Posted
(2009-04-30 06:47:16)

Come on guys, leave poor jimmy alone, he has more important things to do than engage in a war of words with us imbeciles ( which is hilarious because after he states this he just keeps going on and on ) like rearrange his star wars doll ( sorry, i meant * action figure * jim ) collection. Or maybe while he was doing somthing * more important * he had one hand free to bash us and surf the web for big words and POINTLESS facts!!! Oh and by the way jim, while we're looking up words in the dictionary you should look up contradicting and add it to your list of big words.

Flyerfan52 Posted
(2009-04-30 06:47:15)

Jim boy was finally right about something. Scent Of A Woman was a pretty good movie. It's no Godfather or Serpico but you seldom go wrong with Pacino. I should have known he was a Pengie fan. How much time did you spend looking up factoids to try to disprove to original six nickname? I hope you understand that originally, it was a challenge cup. That's why teams like Winnipeg and Kenora have their names etched on it. Only after 1926 did it become an NHL only trophy. True, the Senators were part of it and won their only Stanley Cup. Soon enough, only six teams strong enough to survive the Depession emerged and are the basis of the NHL. They bacame known as the original six. Nicknames need not be factual. Hence, tall guys named Shorty.

Dannydoodledandy Posted
(2009-04-30 06:47:14)

JR is against the ropes and down goes Jimbo!!! Finally after all your pointless arguments, you finally bow out and hopefully retire from this site forever. Gone are the pointless comments about Detroit, Refs, Detroit Sucks, Detroit is done, Pitt in Five games, Holmstrom "Cancer of the crease", Integrity of Refs, Crosby this, Crosby that. Did I mention the pointless remarks that you made about how Detroit sucks. Now of course I am paraphrasing here, Jimmy. The Original Six comments made us all snap. By the way here is a little bed time story for you. The "Original Six" are the six teams that from the early years that made what the NHL is today. From the mid to late 20's they are the teams that made it and are the center piece of this league today. Sort of like small stars and matter that bounced off of one another and formed larger stars that turn into planets and over time became our solar system. You with your divine insight should be able to fathom this concept. Hey, thanks for the memories Jimmy!

Jim Reinecke (Again, the REAL Posted
(2009-04-30 06:47:14)

Danny: 1) Look up the word "origin" in the dictionary (on the rash presumption that you own one); 2) I have never said Detroit (or anybody else for that matter) "sucks". . .my vocabulary IS a little more extensive; and 3) Somewhere Carl Sagan (like you would be familiar with that extraordinarily brilliant gentleman) is turning in his grave. (I said on my original post that it would rattle some cages. See how predictable you characters are?)

Jim Reinecke (The REAL One) Posted
(2009-04-30 06:47:13)

Since it's necessary for us to submit our email addresses when posting these comments, I'm sure that whoever edits them can tell the genuine article from the nimrods who feel a perverse need to misidentify themselves or to purloin someone else's identify. The last four posts with my name on them are NOT my creation (the third one down copies one of my comments word for word, then misconstructs his only original sentence. . .and believe me, kids, I DO know how to post a sentence!); the rest of them don't even reflect proper capitalization. However, Mr. Ferguson, I would like to inform you (and your drooling band of blanket heads who seem to comprise your cheerleading squad) that I am familiar with the "scent of a woman" (good flick by the way. . .you might want to sample it if you ever get tired of Adam Sandler or viewing "Caddyshack" for the 803rd time). Take your sister, for instance. . .she had the fragrance of all the lilacs in Lapland. Obviously either you or her is an adoptee since no one could emit such a wondrous aroma and share DNA with someone named after excrement. And you throwbacks to Mr. Kotter's sweathogs seem to have expended quite a bit of your valuable time by either hurling your feeble attempts at witty banter in my direction or pilfering my identity in a desperate stab at amusing yourselves. Yet you vindicators of Darwin's theory of evolution think that I need to get a life? It is to laugh, kids. . .it is to laugh! (And whatever happened to the "Original Six"?)

bostongm Posted
(2009-04-30 06:47:02)

Hhahahahaha....Jimmy is not getting any love on here. I dont know why he's acting all arrogant. Cause he can spell/say big words? Yes,Jimmy. Go impress the women with your linguistics. I'm very sure that'll have them chasing you. Jimmy....you are a legend in your own mind. Not a legend in the real world. (on a side note....maybe you should start practicing talking to a blow-up doll). Dont be offended that she ignores you though :0