Hi everyone! The contenders are beginning to fall by the wayside. Goodbye Columbus. Goodbye Arizona. Goodbye Chicago. Goodbye Carolina. We’re down to teams 12 now and of those twelve, a couple are teetering on the brink of defeat. By next week at this time, we’ll be down to our final eight teams and then things will get really interesting. I’m particularly looking forward to the second round as so many of the league’s best teams, namely Vegas, Boston and Tampa Bay, are only beginning to gain steam, so we should be in for a real treat. Unfortunately, I will miss the rest of round one since I will be going to the in-laws who live where the Internet forgot to show up, so I’ll be lucky to find out what’s about to happen to my Habs, and the other eleven contenders who are left.

At least these teams got to play at least a few playoff games, unlike the 1971-72 Seals. They came awfully close, though, and one can only wonder if they would have made it with Carol Vadnais in the line-up. On February 23, the Seals were 18-29-14, which put them right in contention for the fourth and final playoff spot in the West Division. GM Garry Young was hoping that by trading the disgruntled Vadnais for Reggie Leach, Rick Smith and Bob Stewart, the Seals would improve their depth at several positions (namely defense). This week, we look into the famous trade since we are nearing the date of Carol Vadnais’s passing August 31, 2014 at the age of 68. You can find a brand new Hockey News article from March 1972 in the articles section.

On that note, I wish you all a pleasant playoff, and I’ll have new stuff for all of you next week upon my return. Until next time, stay gold!