Who is Michael Jordan?
January 12, 2011
Guess who's bizzack and NHL All-Star
September 14, 2010
The aughts and the aught-nots: NHL draft-ees from 2000-2009
Pumped for the upcoming NHL season? Samesies.
2000
#1: Rick DiPietro, Goalie, NY Islanders
Rico was drafted first overall in 2000 by the New York Islanders, the team he currently plays for. Last season he was the ranked 68th goalie overall in the league, and only played 8 games. His best record was in ‘06-’07 with a win-loss record of 32-19.
#293: Lauri Kinos, Defence, St.Louis Blues
In the same year, the St. Louis Blues drafted an unknown boy, aged 20 at the time, by the name of Lauri Kinos. He remains unknown since he didn’t play one year with the NHL.
2001
#1: Ilya Kovalchuk, Left Winger, Atlanta Thrashers
When young Ilya was still just a boy of 18 years, not even legal to drink yet, he was drafted first overall by the Atlanta Thrashers. He played with Hotlanta his entire career, until mid-way the ’09-’10 season where he was traded to the New Jersey Devils. With the Devils he will stay, having recently signed a 15-year, $100-million contract. The End.
#289: Henrik Bergfors, Defence, Tampa Bay Lightning
If he made it into the NHL his nickname would’ve been Smorgasbord. But he didn’t, so...
2002
#1: Rick Nash, Left Winger, Columbus Blue Jackets
Nasher was drafted by the Jacks first overall and still plays with them. He ranks 36th in the league for points. He’s also a Gemini.
#291: Jonathan Ericsson, Defence, Detroit Red Wings
Here we go, finally someone who’s shakin’ things up a little. Johnny E was drafted LAST overall by the Detroit Red Wings, the team he still plays for. (So far these guys are as loyal as dogs.) He’s been back and forth the last few years playing between the NHL and the AHL, but he sits at a cool 160th in points in the league.
2003
#1: Marc-Andre Fleury, Goalie, Pittsburgh Penguins
Oui, oui, Fleury, the goalie, for... okay I spent two minutes thinking of another rhyming word but couldn’t come up with anything. Rebounds was drafted first overall by Pittsburgh, yes the team he still plays for, blah blah blah. He’s 9th overall in the league for goalies.
#292: Arseny Bondarev, Left Winger, New Jersey Devils
This Russian didn’t play one game in the NHL.
BUT #291 in the 2003 draft did. Brian Elliott, goalie for the Ottawa Senators, was drafted this year and he currently sits 16th overall in the league for goalies. See kids? Alls you gotta do is stay in skewl and work hard.
Fun fact: #271, also known as Jaroslav Halak, former spit-fire goalie for the Montreal Canadiens (who drafted him) was drafted this same year, too. He just signed with the St Louis Blues. Did you know Halak is a Slovack? I love rhyme time.
Oooooo wee, this was a big year.
2004
#1: Alexander Ovechkin, Left Winger, Washington Capitals
Have you heard of this guy? Me neither. Apparently he still plays for the Caps and he sits in 3rd in the league overall, but I think it must be some mistake.
#291: John Carter, Centre, Philadelphia Flyers
Oh shit, John Carter! I can’t believe this guy was drafted last he’s so phenomenal!
2005
#1: Sidney Crosby, Centre, Pittsburgh Penguins
My homeboy, Crosby, not to be confused with Troy Crosby, the goalie who was drafted by Montreal in 1984 240th overall. It’s Sidney, not to be confused with Sidney Veysey, the centre who was drafted 182nd overall by Vancouver in 1975.
#230: Patric Hornqvist, Right Winger, Nashville Predators
Here’s another heroic story of a man who defied gravity and rose from the ashes of last place like a phoenix who something something. Drafted by the same team he plays for, Hornqy busted his butt and finally had his first NHL appearance two years ago. Go get ‘em!
Some notables of this year:
5th overall: Carey Price, Goalie, drafted by and still plays for the Montreal Canadiens
21st overall: Tuukka Rask, Goalie, drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs and much to the chagrin of Toronto currently plays for Boston.
2006
#1: Erik Johnson, Defence, St Louis Blues
EJ was drafted first overall beating out Jordan Staal who was drafted second by Pittsburgh, and Jonathan Toews who was chosen third by Chicago. But who really has the last laugh? #2 and #3 have both won a Cup, so...
#213: Justin Krueger, Defence, Carolina Hurricaines
Krugsie never saw the big ice.
2007
#1: Patrick Kane, Right Winger, Chicago Blackhawks
Kaner, Big K, the Cabbie Killer. Still playing with the ‘Hawks, an ’09-’10 Stanley Cup champ at only 21-years old, and still playing with the ladies’ hearts.
#211: Trent Vogelhuber, Right Winger, Columbus Blue Jackets
Vogels hasn’t played in the NHL yet, but he’s still in skew (school).
2008
#1: Steven Stamkos, Centre, Tampa Bay Lightning
Stammy still plays for Tampa and he is killing it. He ranked 1st overall in the league for goals last year (well, tied at first with 2005 first overall draft pick, Sidney Crosby) and he is a ripe 20-years old. He was born in the 90’s (!).
#211: Jesper Samuelsson, Centre, Detroit Red Wings
Uh, he’s in Sweden right now.
2009
#1: John Tavares, Centre, NY Islanders
He had his first NHL experience last season with the Islanders, totaling 24 goals and 30 assists. Not bad for his first year. Not bad at all.
#211: Petteri Simila, Goalie, Montreal Canadiens
Alls I know is, he’s 6’6”, 189lbs, and is from Finland.
2000: Dany Heatley, Atlanta Thrashers
2001: Jason Spezza, Ottawa Senators
2002: Kari Lehtonon, Atlanta Thrashers
2003: Eric Staal, Centre, Carolina Hurricanes
2004: Evengi Malkin, Centre, Pittsburgh Penguins
2005: Bobby Ryan, Right Winger, Anaheim Ducks
2006: Jordan Staal, Centre, Pittsburgh Penguins
2007: James Van Riemsdyk, Left Winger, Philadelphia Flyers
2008: Drew Doughty, Defence, Los Angeles Kings
2009: Victor Hedman, Defence, Tampa Bay Lightning
September 8, 2010
Jose Canseco... that's right. Keep reading.
September 6, 2010
Player Haters Ball: starring the Miami Heat
September 2, 2010
Manny Pacquiao/Dos Pacquis: The Most Interesting Man in the World
August 31, 2010
Troy Polamalu: a millionHair
August 20, 2010
Brett Favre: the guy in purple all over sports TV
August 18, 2010
Okay, so you know he played basketball...
5. He starred in the movie Space Jam (yup, that's the guy I'm talking about.)
4. He's best known for playing with the Chicago Bulls, #23
3. He can't make up his mind and has retired from the NBA three times. Once in 1993 where he signed a minor league baseball contract; again in 1999; and a final retirement in 2003.
2. He is also known as His Airness, MJ, Air Jordan, and The Greatest Basketball Player of All Time
1. Jordan is currently the majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats
Other important things that didn't make the list:
- Nike had a hugely successful campaign designed after him. Remember the silhouette of the guy jumping? (See top of this blog). That's our man.
Donate 10 more seconds of your time and watch one of his dunks. Keep your eye on the red blur: