Pennants 2011

This is Garnet “Ace” Bailey as a Boston Bruin. Bailey would be on the 69-70 Stanley team but didn’t get into the playoffs that spring. Bailey did dress in 13 playoff games 1972 spring and helped Boston win a second Cup in three seasons.

After he graduated to pro hockey from the Edmonton Oil Kings, Bailey entered the Bruin system with the Oklahoma City (CHL) Blazers in 1967. He enjoyed a solid NHL career with various teams, notably Boston and Washington.

When he retired from playing, Bailey caught on as a coach and the Oilers had him coach their minor league team (again CHL) in Wichita. Walt Poddubny and Charlie Huddy were on that team, and there are some legendary stories about Bailey’s antics over the years.

Any references to Bailey now involve 9-11. As a hockey man, he enjoyed a terrific junior career, a decade as a solid pro, a short coaching career and a long run as a scout.
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It’s time to talk about pennants. It’s my belief that the NHL now–at 30 teams–should recognize and reward the two clubs who get to the finals each season. It’s important: if we did this as a matter of course, worthy men like Mark Howe wouldn’t be outside the Hockey Hall of Fame. So much importance is placed on winning a Stanley (Nikolai Khabibulin’s contract serves as witness) that it’s beyond reasonable to ask all HOFers to win one before fading into the distance.

Pennants are (imo) a nice compromise. Two teams per season are recognized for outstanding and historic runs. Here are the pennant winners since 1967 expansion:

1. Montreal (11): ’68, ’69, ’71, ’73, ’76-’79, ’86, ’89, ’93
2. Philadelphia (8): ’74, ’75, ’76, ’80, ’85, ’87, ’97, ’10
3. Boston (7): ’70, ’72, ’74, ’77, ’78, ’88, ’90
4. Edmonton (7): ’83, ’84, ’85, ’87, ’88, ’90, ’06
5. Detroit (6): ’95, ’97, ’98, ’02, ’08, ’09
6. New York Islanders (5): ’80, ’81, ’82, ’83, ’84
7. Chicago (4): ’71, ’73, ’92, ’10
8. Dallas (4): ’81, ’91, ’99, ’00
9. New Jersey (4): ’95, ’00, ’01, ’03
10. Pittsburgh (4): ’91, ’92, ’08, ’09
11. Calgary (3): ’86, ’89, ’04
12. New York Rangers (3): ’72, ’79, ’94
13. St. Louis (3): ’68, ’69, ’70
14. Anaheim (2): ’03, ’07
15. Buffalo (2): ’75, ’99
16. Carolina (2): ’02, ’06
17. Colorado (2): ’96, ’01
18. Vancouver (2): ’82, ’94
19. Florida (1): ’96
20. Los Angeles (1): ’93
21. Ottawa (1): ’07
22. Tampa Bay (1): ’04
23. Washington (1): ’98
24. Atlanta
25. Columbus
26. Minnesota
27. Nashville
28. Phoenix
29. San Jose
30. Toronto

It’s an interesting group this season. We have Boston–one of the NHL’s strongest franchises but a team that has gone a long time between pennants. Tampa Bay, a team with one pennant and a chance for an unlikely one this season with a new coach, a mixture of veterans and kids plus a goalie as old as the hills and twice as dusty.

In the west, we see San Jose is still waiting for their first pennant and the Canucks are back hoping the third time’s the charm.
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Nation Radio is back on the air today. Among the scheduled guests:

• James Mirtle from the Globe and Mail. I could have him on every week, the guy writes about five interesting articles a week.
• Gregg Drinnan from Taking Note. Subjects include the WHL championship (won by the Ice), the draft and some off-season news relating to the dub.
• Terry Jones from the Edmonton Sun. I’ll ask him about Vancouver’s chances to win the Stanley, the Oilers and their draft and off-season plans and a few other items.
• Olivier Gabriel from the Columbus Blue Jackets. I’ll ask him about his draft year experiences and why he decided to sign with the Jackets (he had several teams interested in him).

As always, I like to read your emails. Questions and opinions are appreciated at nationradio@theteam1260.com and the show is on Team 1260 between noon and 2 today.