So much stands out when analyzing what make makes New York's uniforms gleam. The drop shadow on the iconic diagonal "Rangers" wordmark pops, and it looks even better on the big red numbers on the back of the sweaters. Elsewhere, bright red pants and quiet striping patterns define the identity of the NHL's most glamorous team.
19. Houston Oilers (1980s)
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Perfect uniformity of striping. It's rarer than you might think among the hundreds of pro sports uniforms. And it's arguably never looked better than it did on the defunct Oilers uniforms, with their gorgeous, and rare, color palette. Red, white, baby blue, white, red. Those stripes in that exact pattern are there on the helmet, sleeves, and pants. Home and road. Perfect uniformity. J.J. Watt is among the Houston Texans players who would love the chance to wear these as throwbacks, but the Tennessee Titans own the rights and aren't likely to gift them to their divisional rivals.
18. UCLA basketball (current)
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College basketball's most accomplished program, with a record 11 national championships, UCLA has looked the part for decades with a luminescent combination of bright blue and yellow, which confidently counterpunches the red donned by archrival USC. Both looks are great, but we're giving the edge to the Bruins in the battle of Los Angeles.
17. Michigan football (current)
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Back in the '30s, Michigan made an effort to shift away from the black-and-brown helmets worn by almost everyone else and invented the "winged" design still in use today. The maize and blue combination is remarkable on the jerseys and pants, too, but the Wolverines' lids are unquestionably one of the most instantly recognizable uniform features in sports.
16. Detroit Red Wings (current)
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Detroit's winged-wheel logo is so untouchable that, at one point, the Red Wings were the only NHL franchise to put captain's letters on the right side of the jersey in order to leave the famous crest unimpeded. We respect that immensely, and we also appreciate how the club has never added a third color into the mix.
15. St. Louis Cardinals (current)
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The Cardinals have a certain magic about them as one of baseball's model franchises. Part of it is the vast collection of Hall of Famers they've produced and the 11 World Series titles they've collected. Part of it is playing in a gorgeous ballpark. But don't overlook the uniforms. The two birds sitting on the bat is timeless and creative, and whether the Cards are wearing their homes, roads, or alternates, it's difficult to identify a single flaw in their setup.
14. Texas (football)
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There aren't many better atmospheres in sports than 100,000-plus ballistic Longhorns fans packed into Texas Memorial Stadium on a sunny Saturday in the fall, clad in burnt orange. The unique color is exclusive to Texas' historic program and features so many likable qualities: the minimalist longhorn outline on the helmet; the accent stripes on the sleeves; the all-white pants. The giant "Texas" across the chest is even acceptable, because we all know everything is bigger down there.
13. Boston Celtics (current)
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The Celtics have repped green and white to a record 17 NBA titles and formed an everlasting image along the way. Boston's experimented with black and gold over the years, which is difficult to fathom considering the club's regular set is flawless. Bonus points for the subtle shamrock feature on the waistband.
12. Los Angeles Dodgers (current)
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Does it get any cleaner than this? The Dodgers' home whites are beautiful, and any notable changes to them would cause a significant uproar from the world's uniform purists. The cursive font and famous "LA" logos on the sleeve and hat are nice on their own, but the bright red numbers on the front are a special tradition that puts a bow on arguably baseball's best getups.
11. Green Bay Packers (current)
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No logo changes, no color changes. The Packers have stuck with what works for decades. Even though they often play through dark and dreary conditions at Lambeau Field, Green Bay's uniforms always shine through as one of the most aesthetically pleasing in football and in all of sports. Green. Gold. Greatness.
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While many of the NHL's general managers seem opposed to holding the draft in June if the season remains paused, a representative for some of the prospects said they'd like it to happen sooner rather than later.
"Surprisingly, they want to get it over with," player agent Andy Scott told Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch. "They’d rather have the draft in June and not have all of the anxiety the entire summer of where they’re going to go in the draft. They’d rather ... understand what team owns their rights, and be able to have some communication with that team throughout the summer."
Scott works for Octagon Hockey, which is representing several draft-eligible players, including top-ranked European skater Tim Stuetzle. He also works with current players such as Leon Draisaitl, Patrik Laine, Kaapo Kakko, and Rasmus Ristolainen, according to PuckPedia.
The player rep believes time is of the essence when it comes to figuring out when the draft is going to be held.
"I think they need to make a decision soon on whether there’s going to be a draft in June because guys want to know," he said. "There needs to be at least a month of lead time to make sure everybody understands their marching orders."
The 2020 draft was originally scheduled for late June in Montreal before it was postponed in late March, less than two weeks after the league paused the season. In April, deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the league was considering conducting a virtual version of the draft in June before the season potentially resumes.
Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman publicly questioned the idea, Washington Capitals GM Brian MacLellan said most of their contemporaries don't want it, and outspoken player agent Allan Walsh echoed the latter when he said none of the GMs he'd spoken to were in favor of an early draft.
New Jersey Devils defenseman P.K. Subban still believes he's one of the league's top defenders despite his poor performance during the 2019-20 season.
"In my opinion, I'm still one of the top defensemen in the league," Subban said when asked how important winning a second Norris Trophy is to him in an interview with Men's Journal. "In the biggest games, in the biggest moments, I feel that I'm one of the players that teams would love to have on their team and that they can rely on, and that's always been my game."
Subban was in the midst of one of the worst seasons of his career before the NHL's current hiatus. He posted seven goals and 18 points in 68 games while averaging a career-low 22:07 of ice time in his debut campaign with the Devils.
The 31-year-old previously spent three seasons with the Nashville Predators and seven with the Montreal Canadiens. He played integral roles on both teams, reaching the Stanley Cup Finals with Nashville in 2017 and winning the Norris Trophy as a Canadien in 2013.
"The past two years, definitely, have been different experiences," Subban added. "When you're on a team like Nashville that's got one Presidents' Cup Trophy, Stanley Cup Finals, conference finals, winning divisions, and then going to (New Jersey, which) hasn't made the playoffs or has made it one year and out - and is a younger team - it's just a different situation.
"So, it's an adjustment, but I definitely believe that there's better things to come for me in my career, whether it's winning a Norris Trophy or Stanley Cup."
Subban has two seasons remaining on his eight-year, $72-million contract.
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B.C. Premier John Horgan shed some light on his conversation with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman after the two talked late Tuesday about the possibility of the province hosting NHL games if this season resumes.
"We had a wide-ranging discussion about our desire in British Columbia to support the NHL and the Vancouver Canucks - who have been initiating these discussions with government - to see if we could put in place a framework where the NHL could use Vancouver as a hub city in part of the many plans that are floating around out there ... about the Pacific Division having a hub," Horgan told the assembled media, including CBC, at a news conference Wednesday.
The premier said the league knows the province has handled the coronavirus pandemic relatively well, but also acknowledged hosting games wouldn't come without further challenges.
"Mr. Bettman and his team recognize that British Columbia has had a pretty positive response to COVID-19 in terms of flattening the curve," he added. "Mr. Bettman also knows that this is a hockey-crazy province (that) would be happy to have hockey take place here so that we could see current games on our televisions, but there are obstacles, obviously, in the way.
"(A) 14-day isolation period would be required effective today," Horgan continued. "Where we are in two weeks, three weeks, (or) four weeks is up to (provincial health officer) Dr. (Bonnie) Henry and how she feels we're doing at managing the curve as we restart the economy. But Mr. Bettman was well aware of that, as are the NHL Players Association representatives, who are focused on making sure the players are safe, and of course the NHL's concerned about players and the communities they operate in."
The premier also said he's listened to ideas from others, including a scenario in which B.C. would host all of the NHL games upon returning, citing the many WHL facilities across the province that could help facilitate that.
Also present on Tuesday's call was NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly and Lisa Beare, B.C.'s Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, who is also responsible for sport in the province.
The Canucks were reportedly one of multiple teams that submitted bids to the NHL to serve as a hub for games. Earlier this month, Dr. Henry said there are ways B.C. could do so safely.
Following a trade request in December, Canucks forward Sven Baertschi knows the decision to move him ultimately rests with Vancouver with one season left on his contract.
"I don't want to be back in the minors ... It’s up to them (Canucks management) really what they’re going to do next. That’s their job and that’s what they do. I’m just going to work my ass off going forward making sure I’m ready to go to whatever camp I’m going to," Baertschi said, according to TSN's Jeff Paterson.
"I have no plans of going back to Switzerland or to Europe - I think personally I can play on any team in the National Hockey League. I can do it. I can just focus on myself and making sure I’m ready for another year. I think I’ve proved to everybody that was worried before. I'm 100% healthy, my game's going well and I'm preparing for whatever is next."
The 27-year-old was placed on waivers at the beginning of the 2019-20 season after failing to crack the Canucks' opening roster. He appeared in six NHL games this season, tallying two assists. He skated in 43 contests with the AHL's Utica Comets, recording 13 goals and 46 points.
After spending nearly a full season in the minors, he believes he's ready to be a full-time NHL player again.
"There were some moments in the AHL when I thought there are some darn good players - like really, really skilled players. Sometimes I looked at it as the best players aren’t always in the NHL," Baertschi said. "There are definitely some players in the AHL that don’t belong there. For me, it was more confirmation that I don’t belong there in many ways. I don’t want to be rude or look down on people, but the way I look at the game is a lot different than a lot of other guys."
Baertschi has appeared in 291 career games with the Canucks and Calgary Flames, recording 66 goals and 138 points.
After looking at each NHL team's biggest busts, theScore's hockey editors are examining the league's best draft steals. With some exceptions in extreme circumstances, the players included must have made significant contributions to the organization that drafted them. Today, we're focusing on the Metropolitan Division.
The pick: Sebastian Aho (No. 35, 2015) GM responsible: Ron Francis (2014-18) Honorable mentions: Jaccob Slavin (No. 120, 2012), Erik Cole (No. 71, 1998), Sami Kapanen (No. 87, 1995)
We're focusing on the Hurricanes here and not the franchise's previous iteration in Hartford. Aho wasn't a late-round pick, and the 2015 draft featured arguably the best class of the last decade. However, now that we have five years of hindsight, it's clear that more than a dozen teams - including the Boston Bruins with three straight picks - passed over Aho for worse options.
The 22-year-old has scored 121 goals in fewer than four full NHL seasons and has racked up 149 points over his last 150 regular-season games.
Goaltender Frederik Andersen would've been a steal for the Hurricanes after they selected him 187th overall in 2010, but the two sides couldn't agree on a contract and the Anaheim Ducks snagged Andersen in the third round of the 2012 draft.
Columbus Blue Jackets
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The pick: Elvis Merzlikins (No. 76, 2014) GM responsible: Jarmo Kekalainen (2013-present) Honorable mentions: Cam Atkinson (No. 157, 2008), Steve Mason (No. 69, 2006)
Merzlikins has played in fewer games than Atkinson and he was drafted 81 picks earlier, but there's no denying that he's already more important to the Blue Jackets given the position he plays and the promise he's shown. Meanwhile, the franchise doesn't have many other steals to chose from.
Atkinson has provided solid value as a sixth-rounder, burying 41 goals last season and scoring 35 in 2016-17. But just imagine how much earlier Merzlikins would have been selected if the league had known he'd post a .923 save percentage (including a .931 mark at five-on-five) over his first 33 NHL games.
Goalies are generally drafted later because their development is unpredictable, but getting a netminder of this caliber in the middle of the third round was a coup for Columbus. Speaking of goaltenders, Mason won the Calder Trophy with the Blue Jackets but ultimately enjoyed better seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers. Merzlikins will be in the Calder conversation himself, whenever that occurs.
New Jersey Devils
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The pick: Patrik Elias (No. 51, 1994) GM responsible: Lou Lamoriello (1987-2015) Honorable mentions: Adam Henrique (No. 82, 2008), Brian Gionta (No. 82, 1998), Slava Fetisov (No. 145, 1983), Pat Verbeek (No. 43, 1982)
It's a little hard to believe that Elias slipped to the second-last pick of the second round, but European scouting in 1994 wasn't what it is now. In any case, the retired Czech forward was the Devils' biggest-ever draft steal. He carved out a stellar 20-year career after being passed over with the first 50 picks, playing a key role on two championship teams and piling up 1,025 points across 1,240 games, all with New Jersey.
Elias is the Devils' all-time leader in goals, assists, and points, and he ranks third all time in games played for the club.
New York Islanders
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The pick: Anders Lee (No. 152, 2009) GM responsible: Garth Snow (2006-2018) Honorable mentions: Travis Hamonic (No. 53, 2008), Zdeno Chara (No. 56, 1996).
Lee was vastly overlooked until the Islanders nabbed him with the first selection of the sixth round in '09, but he's given New York plenty of value. The 29-year-old forward collected at least 25 goals in four of his first five full NHL seasons - potting 40 in 2017-18 - and he was on pace to near 25 again this year before the pause in March.
More importantly, Lee has played his entire eight-year career with the Islanders so far and has worn the "C" since 2018-19.
Chara's the obvious runner-up as the best player in this group, but the Islanders failed to maximize that pick, so he can't be considered a true steal for New York. The towering blue-liner played his best hockey (and accomplished far more) with the Bruins, while the Islanders would come to regret trading "Big Z" to the Ottawa Senators after only four years, especially because they got a diminishing Alexei Yashin in return.
New York Rangers
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The pick: Henrik Lundqvist (No. 205, 2000) GM responsible: Glen Sather (2000-15) Honorable mentions: Igor Shesterkin (No. 118, 2014), Ryan Callahan (No. 127, 2004), Sergei Zubov (No. 85, 1990), Tony Amonte (No. 68, 1988)
This one's a slam dunk, as "King Henrik" is easily the biggest steal in Rangers history. Sather scooped Lundqvist up in the seventh round - four rounds later than the Dallas Stars selected his twin brother, Joel - and it was a pick that forever altered the franchise for the better. Henrik became one of the greatest goaltenders ever and arguably the best netminder ever to play for the club.
Before his performance began to decline over the last few years, Lundqvist provided stability (and at times, brilliance) in the Rangers' crease for more than a decade, winning the Vezina Trophy in 2012 and helping the team reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2014.
Shesterkin has flashed plenty of skill through his first dozen NHL games, and the team clearly hopes the young Russian's career path follows that of his Swedish predecessor.
Philadelphia Flyers
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The pick: Rick Tocchet (No. 121, 1983) GM responsible: Bob McCammon (1983-84) Honorable mentions: Carter Hart (48th, 2016), Roman Cechmanek (No. 171, 2000), Ron Hextall (No. 119, 1982)
After being selected in the sixth round, Tocchet became one of the most dependable scorers of his time, enjoying parts of eight very productive seasons with the Flyers to begin his career and ultimately suiting up for the franchise in 11 of his 18 NHL campaigns. He topped the 30-goal mark four straight times with Philadelphia from 1987-88 through 1990-91 and buried at least 40 markers twice during that span. While he won the Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1992 and produced his career-best season with them the following year, he spent more time with the Flyers and was beloved in Philadelphia.
Plus, the trade that sent Tocchet to Pittsburgh netted the Flyers one Mark Recchi, who put up 53 goals and 123 points for Philadelphia before notching 40 and 107, respectively, the following campaign.
Shayne Gostisbehere was a good get for Philadelphia at 78th overall in 2012, but he hasn't enjoyed prolonged success and has struggled with injuries and inconsistency in recent years. Patrick Sharp would've been a steal for the Flyers, but he barely produced with the team upon entering the league and was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks - with whom he excelled - in a package that yielded an underwhelming return.
Pittsburgh Penguins
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The pick: Kris Letang (No. 62, 2005) GM responsible: Craig Patrick (1989-2006) Honorable mentions: Jake Guentzel (No. 77, 2013), Matt Murray (No. 83, 2012), Bryan Rust (No. 80, 2010), Max Talbot (No. 234, 2002), Recchi (No. 67, 1988)
Letang played a key role on two of the Penguins' championship squads (2009 and 2016) and was part of another in 2017 before suffering a season-ending injury in February of that year. He's been an elite defenseman for more than a decade and would be a sure-fire first-rounder if teams could redo the 2005 draft.
Murray backstopped Pittsburgh to its two most recent titles, but he hasn't had the same level of sustained success. Recchi won the Stanley Cup with the Penguins in 1991 and produced a couple of solid seasons with the team to start his career, but he played more with the Flyers and won his two additional championships as a player with other teams.
Washington Capitals
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The pick: Peter Bondra (No. 156, 1990) GM responsible: David Poile (1982-97) Honorable mentions: Philipp Grubauer (No. 112, 2010), Braden Holtby (No. 93, 2008), Dmitri Khristich (No. 120, 1988)
This one comes down to Bondra and Holtby, but the former sniper is the clear choice. The Holtby pick has obviously paid off in spades for the Capitals. He helped the club win the Cup in 2018, took home the Vezina Trophy in 2016, and until the last few seasons had played at an elite level since entering the league.
However, this isn't just about the most valuable or most decorated player. Bondra was drafted in the eighth round - 63 picks later than Holtby - but amassed a whopping 503 goals and 892 points in 1,081 games, with the vast majority of that production coming in Washington. That's the definition of a steal, and Bondra's exploits included two 52-goal seasons as well as 45- and 39-goal campaigns during the height of the dead-puck era (2000-01 and 2001-02, respectively).
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Sidney Crosby does not want to see the NHL resort to anything overly unorthodox when it comes to the postseason.
"The safety of players is No. 1, and if you're able to establish that, then you want to keep the integrity of what the playoffs have been for a long, long time," he told TSN's Darren Dreger.
Asked to choose between an NCAA-style tournament or the reported 24-team format, the Pittsburgh Penguins captain said he'd prefer the latter - as long as the postseason remains a grueling grind.
"It's difficult to win the Stanley Cup and you want to win it the right way, and that's four (best-of-seven) series," he said. "That's how we know it. With a time like this, we're all open to ideas and formats and things like that, but you hope that we can keep that."
The NHL was apparently willing in April to condense the playoffs in order to finish the regular season, but the league is now reportedly focusing on proceeding to the postseason immediately if hockey is able to return. Crosby said in March he'd be fine going straight into playoff action.
Crosby's Penguins were on pace to meet the state-rival Philadelphia Flyers in the opening round of a 16-team postseason when the league suspended the campaign.
