I was in shit for something in grade 5. My after school punishment was to do some research to help my teacher pick the staff playoff pool. He wanted Islanders and Oilers, Flames and Flyers secondarily, I think. I think he just assigned me to list what the top players had for points in the regular season.
I wasn’t smart enough for ratios, but I did recognize that some guys had missed games, so I added a + column for points over games played. The teacher told me to ignore plus/minus, but when I explained he was pretty impressed.
Anyways, what am I nostalgic for? Mikko Makela! I doubt I ever watched him actually play, but it’s the first name that made me say, ‘huh’?
I’m nostalgic for those old Euros with the crazy names that got flack from the old timers, but ultimately were the pioneers for bringing in some great, great players not too long afterwards. I don’t know why, but I always loved the Stastnys, Loob, Naslund.... just seemed like the cards were stacked against them... ya,I guess that’s why I loved them.