Hi everyone! These playoffs have been really fascinating compared to the last few years. The Winnipeg Jets have been a lot of fun to watch, the Leafs got struck down by Brad Marchand’s “kiss of death” (although Ryan Callaghan must have had an antidote at the ready in round two; then again, that really was more of a lick than a kiss…), Nathan Walker became the first Welsh-born player to score a playoff point since former Seals coach Jack “Tex” Evans in 1961, and the Vegas Golden Knights, against all odds, are still alive! I’ve had a great time following the Knights throughout the season, mainly because my new book (hopefully ready in time to be published around late 2019 or 2020) deals with the pitiful 1974 expansion draft, and its unfortunate participants, the Washington Capitals and Kansas City Scouts. This draft, unlike the one in which Vegas participated last year, was without a doubt the absolute worst expansion draft ever, and I mean that sincerely. Seriously, I’ve actually started studying the stats of players chosen in every expansion draft since 1967, and the title of “Worst Expansion Draft” ever is not even debatable. It will forever belong to 1974.

That the Knights have been by far the best first-year NHL team ever should not have come to anyone’s surprise. Imagine that the Knights were just handed James Neal, Jonathan Marchessault, David Perron, Erik Haula, and Marc-Andre Fleury, not to mention a career 18-goal scorer (William Karlsson) who wound up scoring 43 this season. Needless to say, neither the Scouts nor the Capitals were even remotely that lucky. Trust me, I’ve seen the protected lists of NHL teams before the 1974 draft, and thanks in part to the WHA luring several NHL players away, the Scouts and Caps were left with nothing but scraps, which easily explains why they won a combined 46 games in TWO seasons. And that includes games they won against each other! To write a book about these two teams, I must really be a glutton for punishment, but I digress…

This week, I’ve added a new review of Krazy George Henderson’s autobiography, Krazy George: Still Krazy After All These Cheers. Of course, George is known to visitors of this site as the Golden Seals’ one-man cheer-leading squad, and for years, that’s all I really knew about him, but he has in fact led a very busy life, and he has dabbled in more sports than I could have imagined. He’s cheered for literally dozens of teams, most of which you’ve probably never even heard of. His book is a very good read, and it reads really fast too, so I encourage you to pick it up at Amazon. You can also listen to the interview George did with Tim Hanlon at Good Seats Still Available, where they discuss the book: http://goodseatsstillavailable.com/listen/2017/4/15/episode-07-krazy-george-henderson-the-art-of-pro-sports-cheerleading

Also new this week, we dive back into the world of women’s hockey with a brand new induction for the Overexposed wing of the Hockey Hall of Shame, the really bizarre Cassie Campbell card from the classic 1997-98 Upper Deck Collector’s Choice set. I feel I may be able to induct cards from that set until the end of time, and if it wasn’t for me trying to mix it up from time to time by featuring cards from different sets and different eras, I probably would because this set is absolutely disastrous. Kinda like one of those movies from Mystery Science Theater 3000 that you can’t help but be drawn to even though you know it is a complete waste of time and brain cells.

Usual reminder time: go and vote for the Seals’ all-time greatest accomplishment in the surveys section, and keep on voting for the Seals Hall of Fame inductees for 2018. Also, if you’ve got the time and the desire, please leave some feedback about my book on Amazon.com or Amazon.ca. Any feedback is appreciated, and only helps get the word out about the Seals and their misunderstood history.

Until next time, stay gold!