Hi everyone! It’s been an exciting and tumultuous couple of weeks in the NHL, so let’s get down to it, and sort through the fallout. The Florida Panthers did the unthinkable and signed all three of their marquee free agents. Winning two Cups in a row probably helps, but still, I never thought all three were going to be staying.

I’m already getting excited about next season, especially since my Habs have had themselves a very fruitful off-season thus far. I love the fact that they could afford to part with two first-round picks to get themselves an exciting offensive defenseman, Noah Dobson, who can complement the league’s most recent Calder Trophy winner Lane Hutson, and help Montreal’s power play. Most years, the Canadiens don’t do much of anything come free-agency season, except sign a plethora of fourth-liners and minor-leaguers who are never going to make an impact. When they do sign someone with a little value to bring to the line-up (hello, Mike Hoffman and Karl Alzner), the signing almost never works out. They almost never go for a really big score à la Nikolai Ehlers, so swinging for the fences with Dobson is an exciting development. And it’s all because the circumstances were just right to pull off a blockbuster deal. Normally, I would never condone trading two first-round picks, but since Montreal’s farm system is so stacked right now, who cares about the 16th and 17th selections.

This week, I’m taking us back to November 11, 1968, and the Seals are embarking on a short leisurely plane ride to St. Louis, except, well… it didn’t exactly turn out that way. To quote the great Curly Howard, the Seals were “a victim of soicumstance.” Everything that could possibly go wrong on a road trip went wrong here: bad weather, naturally, but airline mishaps, and incompetent bus drivers. Not surprisingly, the Seals dropped a 7-0 decision the next day. Head on over to the articles section to read all about the Seals’ road trip from hell. Thanks to Bob Marceau for sending me this great article my way!

I will be taking next week off again in order to work on my manuscript, which is due in a few weeks, so I will catch you all later. Until next time, stay gold!