Every NHL team has an identifier. It may be a goal song, or moment in history, or the anthem singer like Jeff Jimmerson for the Penguins, or Lauren Hart for the Flyers. Whatever your identifier is, I have found a better one that identifies your team with a song. A song that completely describes your franchise. The Atlantic Division has never sounded so good.
The New Jersey Devils – I Will Always Love You, Whitney Houston
I’m quite serious about this one. Devils fans will never disown their favourite puck magnet Martin Brodeur. When he retires, and when he is inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame five years later, the presence of Devils fans will not go unnoticed. Brodeur is one of the best goalies of all time in the NHL, and for that reason, he will always be loved especially by the organization and the fans.
The New York Islanders – The Middle, Jimmy Eat World
It has taken some time, and the Islanders have been participating in the battle of the basement for seasons on end, but they’re coming along. The emergence of John Tavares as a force to be reckoned with against the likes of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin in this past first round playoff series showed he has taken the step the Islanders have been waiting for. It’s not just Tavares that has come to life but Matt Moulson, Casey Cizikas, Travis Hamonic, Josh Bailey, Frans Nielsen, shall I continue? They’ll have a new home in Brooklyn soon and a fresh start from the days that were fighting for second last. Everything will be just fine, everything will be alright for the Islanders.
The New York Rangers – Blinded By The Light, Manfred Mann’s Earth Band
It’s a pretty obvious comparison to the let down that was the Rangers past season. Under performing with one of the most stacked rosters in the NHL, they were expected to be one of the toughest teams to beat all season long. That didn’t happen. Maybe the lights were too bright on broadway for this team to come together the way it should have, but a shake up did them some good and they managed to squeak into the playoffs and get into the second round. Star power doesn’t always work all together.
The Philadelphia Flyers – C.R.E.A.M., Wu Tang Clan
If anyone knows it’s about the dolla dolla bills, it’s Paul Holmgren and the Flyers. The amount of cash that has been displaced, and dispersed within the last few seasons has been immense. Jeff Carter and Mike Richards were unloaded to pay Ilya Bryzgalov $51 million to be their franchise goalie. That didn’t work, so they handed Steve Mason a bunch of cash, Mark Streit got paid, and something tells me they’re not done yet with buyouts to Danny Briere and that guy they paid $51 MILLION for, surely to be bought out next season.
http://youtu.be/bjZRAvsZf1g
The Pittsburgh Penguins – Wannabe, The Spice Girls
If you were to listen to the lyrics of this song carefully as I did when I was 8 years old, you would know that these girls are going to tell you what they want, what they really, really want. And that’s exactly what Ray Shero did… all season. Even in the trade to get James Neal and Matt Niskanen, he only gave up Alex Goligoski. He gave up a pick for Brenden Morrow, a late pick for Douglas Murray, and almost nothing for Jarome Iginla. Yea, he really fleeced all the GM’s in the league.
Check back tomorrow for the Northeast Division list.
Part 1: Central Division
Part 2: Northwest Division
Part 3: Pacific Division
great stuff