The Headline
NHL Network released their list of the top 20 wings in the NHL last night. And for the second straight year, Nikita Kucherov was at the top of the list.
Kucherov tops the list for the second straight year. After leading the NHL with 128 points (41 goals, 87 assists) last season, the most since Pittsburgh Penguins forwards Mario Lemieux had 161 and Jaromir Jagr had 149 in 1995-96, Kucherov won the Hart Trophy voted as NHL MVP by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association and the Ted Lindsay Award as most outstanding player in a vote by the NHL Players’ Association. The 26-year-old right wing increased his points for a fifth straight season and has scored at least 30 goals in each of the past four. He led the NHL in power-play points (48) and was tied for fifth in game-winning goals (eight). Kucherov’s 379 points the past four seasons are second in the NHL.
While Kuch being at the top is defensible, the rest of the list is…well…not. Any list in 2019 that says Patrick Kane is a better player than Mark Stone has issues. And this one says that as well as several other other questionable things. But hey, it’s August, so at least they gave us all something to get mad about.
The Rest
-The Rochester Red Wings, the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, paid tribute to the Rochester Americans (AHL club of the Buffalo Sabres) on Sunday. The two are certainly a model for minor league partnerships in the same city! The game featured hockey-style uniforms and a Brian Gionta bobblehead.
Baseball’s @RocRedWings will wear hockey-themed jerseys inspired by their in-town neighbors, the AHL’s Rochester @AmerksHockey today. See the story here: https://t.co/f65eF8WeaV pic.twitter.com/lEpSvVmj7e
— Chris Creamer (@sportslogosnet) August 11, 2019
Went to a baseball game to get a @Giostyle21 bobblehead. Thanks @RocRedWings! pic.twitter.com/zDowW2RF8c
— Let’s Go Amerks (@LetsGoAmerks) August 11, 2019
-Translations can be tough to interpret meaning through, we can certainly assure you of that. They’re also easy to remove the context from.So, take this translated interview with Sabres defenceman Rasmus Ristolainen kind of lightly.
The Sabres have added defenceman Colin Miller and Henri Jokiharju in the off-season, adding fuel to the trade rumours surrounding Ristolainen.
When asked about such reports, the 24-year-old was tight-lipped about his discussions with Sabres management.
”I cannot say anything other than the fact that on the 12th of September, I will be at one of the NHL team’s training camps,” he said.
-The Arizona Coyotes are trying to help spread the word about the missing gear trailer for the Arizona Bobcats Youth Hockey Program. It was stolen early Sunday morning.
We need your help, Arizona.
Contact the @ChandlerPolice if you have any details. https://t.co/qGdx1v36AV
— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) August 11, 2019
-The Carolina Hurricanes are just one piece of a rich history of hockey in North Carolina. Jared Ellis focused in on Winston-Salem, North Carolina on an article for Fansided.
Winston-Salem, North Carolina is currently home to the reigning Federal Hockey League champion, Carolina Thunderbirds. While this Thunderbirds franchise is still very young, they are hardly the first to call the city home. The Twin City has a history of hockey spanning decades.
-Sports writer Mike Chambers of the Denver Post mused on why former Colorado Avalanche forward Pierre Turgeon isn’t in the Hall of Fame yet.
While Turgeon isn’t the only NHL forward to average more than a point per game over 1,000-plus games and not make the HHOF, he’s in a pretty exclusive group that also includes Theo Fluery (1088 points in 1,084 games) and Bernie Nicholls (1,209 in 1,127).
-The Chicago Police Department and the Chicago Fire Department took to the ice Sunday afternoon for a charity hockey game. The funds raised all went to the 100 Club of Chicago, an organization that helps families of first responders who have died in the line of duty.
-How does one use hockey to become internet famous? Tyler Day has that answer.
Day decided to reward his long hours of work by posting his trick-shot videos online – on Instagram. His first post came on April 19, 2014.
Now, 283 posts and more than 40,000 followers later – Day is a bit of social media star when it comes to trick shots.
