FULL DISCLOSURE: THIS IS A PROMOTED POST BECAUSE BLOGSTAS GOTTA EAT.
Everyone knows the myth of NHL94. Swingers made it an iconic game that transcends all aspects of popular culture and it even made that dipshit Jeremy Roenick seem cool because he made that cheating bastard Wayne Gretzky's head bleed. But how many of us remember who was on that Leafs roster that returned to the Western Conference Final in 1994 after having their hearts ripped out of their chest by a criminally incompetent Kerry Fraser? Luckily, Hockey-Reference exists.
No. ▴ | Player | Pos | Age | Summary |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Damian Rhodes | G | 24 | 9-7-3, 2.62 GAA |
2 | Sylvain Lefebvre | D | 26 | 2 G, 9 A, 11 P |
3 | Bob Rouse | D | 29 | 5 G, 11 A, 16 P |
4 | Dave Ellett | D | 29 | 7 G, 36 A, 43 P |
7 | David Sacco | RW | 23 | 1 G, 1 A, 2 P |
8 | Chris Govedaris | LW | 23 | 2 G, 2 A, 4 P |
9 | Glenn Anderson | RW | 33 | 17 G, 18 A, 35 P |
10 | Bill Berg | LW | 26 | 8 G, 11 A, 19 P |
11 | Guy Larose | C | 26 | 1 G, 2 A, 3 P |
11 | Mark Greig | RW | 24 | 2 G, 2 A, 4 P |
11 | Mike Gartner | RW | 34 | 6 G, 6 A, 12 P |
12 | Rob Pearson | RW | 22 | 12 G, 18 A, 30 P |
14 | Dave Andreychuk | RW | 30 | 53 G, 46 A, 99 P |
15 | Dmitri Mironov | D | 28 | 9 G, 27 A, 36 P |
16 | Nikolai Borschevsky | RW | 29 | 14 G, 20 A, 34 P |
17 | Wendel Clark | LW | 27 | 46 G, 30 A, 76 P |
18 | Kent Manderville | LW | 22 | 7 G, 9 A, 16 P |
19 | John Cullen | C | 29 | 13 G, 17 A, 30 P |
20 | Alexei Kudashov | C | 22 | 1 G, 0 A, 1 P |
21 | Mark Osborne | RW | 32 | 9 G, 15 A, 24 P |
22 | Ken Baumgartner | LW | 27 | 4 G, 4 A, 8 P |
23 | Todd Gill | D | 28 | 4 G, 24 A, 28 P |
24 | Patrik Augusta | RW | 24 | 0 G, 0 A, 0 P |
25 | Peter Zezel | C | 28 | 8 G, 8 A, 16 P |
26 | Mike Krushelnyski | C | 33 | 5 G, 6 A, 11 P |
28 | Greg Smyth | D | 27 | 0 G, 1 A, 1 P |
28 | David Harlock | D | 22 | 0 G, 0 A, 0 P |
29 | Felix Potvin | G | 22 | 34-22-9, 2.89 GAA |
32 | Mike Eastwood | C | 26 | 8 G, 10 A, 18 P |
33 | Matt Martin | D | 22 | 0 G, 1 A, 1 P |
34 | Jamie Macoun | D | 32 | 3 G, 27 A, 30 P |
36 | Frank Bialowas | D | 24 | 0 G, 0 A, 0 P |
38 | Chris Snell | D | 22 | 0 G, 0 A, 0 P |
40 | Ken McRae | C | 25 | 1 G, 1 A, 2 P |
41 | Eric Lacroix | LW | 22 | 0 G, 0 A, 0 P |
44 | Yanic Perreault | C | 22 | 3 G, 3 A, 6 P |
55 | Drake Berehowsky | D | 22 | 2 G, 8 A, 10 P |
71 | Mike Foligno | RW | 35 | 0 G, 0 A, 0 P |
93 | Doug Gilmour | C | 30 | 27 G, 84 A, 111 P |
Was that team better? Well, as we all know, only results matter so the only way this year's incarnation could surpass them would be to make the Cup final or to win it all. Even I don't think that's possible and I'm writing this under the influence of enforced optimism. So how was that team better?
5. The Defence
Look at that defence corps and tell me you don't have dreams of the days when the Leafs couldn't be scored on? Sylvain Lefebvre, Jamie Macoun, and Bob Rouse were the steel that turned back anyone that dared to attempt to score on the Leafs. Cliff Fletcher once said that you could find anyone that could find anyone to chip the puck off the glass and out of the zone as this trio was broken up. Well guess what old man? No, you fucking can't. Ask Jeff Finger. No, not Kurt Sauer, JEFF FINGER. To top it off, Dave Ellett and Dmitri Mironov were the puck moving precursors to Tomas Kaberle and Drake Berehowsky...had a fun name to say. Even the presence of Todd Gill couldn't screw this up.
4. Dave Andreychuk
53 goals and I bet they didn't travel more than 100 feet. You think that that guy you like goes to the dirty areas? No, he doesn't. Dave Andreychuk went to the dirty areas. Whoever you are thinking of is a baby in comparison. Unless it's Wendel.
3. Doug Gilmour
This was the second season in which Doug Gilmour was probably one of the five best players in the NHL. His 1993 season was legendary and despite the incredible physical toll that took on him he came back and had ANOTHER huge season with 111 points and another conference final appearance.
2. Felix The Cat
I love James Reimer and maybe someday I'll love Jonathan Bernier but they have a long way to go before they capture the imagination of Leafs fans like Felix "The Cat" Potvin. Weak glove hand? Nope. What's that Bernier? You beat up Ryan Miller? Come talk to me when you take down King Kong in his own arena.
Hey Ron, you're bleeding fuck face. Fucking Philly homers. Bill Burr, TAKE IT AWAY.
1. Wendel Clark Was On The Team
Yeah, we're watching the All-Heart Video