Sunday, July 17, 2011

NHL's Strange Record Breakers

This picture shows Martin Brodeur celebrating yet another goaltending record: most all-time losses (taken from the future).


Martin Brodeur has the most games played, starts, minutes, wins, shutouts and pretty much every other record for a goaltender not called save percentage.  A record he doesn't yet have, but rapidly approaching is the most losses in league history.  That's right, folks, Martin Brodeur is just two losses away from tying Gump Worsley and Curtis Joseph with 352 losses each, which is the most in NHL history.  With 625 wins, 116 shutouts, 99 playoff wins and 23 playoff shutouts, along with 3 Stanley Cup Championships and 4 Vezina Trophies, Brodeur will be the league's greatest loser.  Let's take a look at some other records that certain players and people in the NHL acquired last season that they may not be so proud of:


  • Scott Hartnell broke the NHL's record for most random falls while the puck isn't in the same zone as him, passing Scott Hartnell for the honor.
     
  • David Clarkson broke the league record for most wraparound goal attempts that result in the puck being turned over last season.
     
  • Dan Ellis broke the record for most goals allowed resulting in people using the hashtag #DanEllisProblems.
     
  • Brett Lebda broke the Toronto Maple Leafs franchise record (which naturally means league record as well) for the longest amount of time during a game having no idea where the puck is...in the offensive zone.
     
  • In an attempt to lure Brad Richards back to the Stars, Joe Nieuwendyk passed Bobby Clarke for most times saying "New York sucks" in a single season.
     
  • Roberto Luongo broke the league's record for most minutes spent on the bench in an opposing arena having started every game of the Stanley Cup Finals.
     
  • Don Cherry broke his own record for most times being stopped by police on his way to CBC's Hockey Night in Canada studios to make sure he was in a rational state of mind due to the loud clothing worn.  Craig Sager was second on that list.
     
  • Given the possibility of NFL and NBA lockouts, ESPN broke the all-time record for most scheduled dead air space during the winter sports season, passing the Versus for the honor.
     
  • Alain Vigneault broke the single-season record for most times a coach asked turned around after a goal and asked, "Who scored that?" after every Sedin goal.
     
  • The Ottawa Senators experienced a first for their franchise this past season: fans booing their coach's decision to pull a goaltender after Robin Lehner would be pulled from a game, rather than their usual casual acceptance of the notion that a Sens goalie should be pulled from every game.
     
  • The same thing happened in Philadelphia early last season, except it was with Bobrovsky, and Flyers fans became frustrated with him as the season wore on.
     
  • The Air Canada Centre broke a record for most waffles thrown onto the ice at one time last year.  The last time there was that much food on the ice, Kyle Wellwood happily stayed after the game to help clean up.
     
  • Jonathan Toews broke Brent Sutter's record for most consecutive games having been seen with the exact same facial expression.  In Toews' case, it was the lack of the ability to blink.
     
  • Carrie Underwood broke the Nashville Predators' franchise record for most fans who stayed after a game to get an autograph and picture with someone walking out of the arena.  But that was after the second person who stayed.
     
  • Nassau Coliseum broke the league record for most complaints from fans about their ear drums hurting the day after spending time inside the arena.
     
  • Tim Thomas broke a franchise record for most desperation saves made resulting in Jack Edwards having a seizure.
     
  • The Vancouver Canucks, Washington Capitals, Los Angeles Kings, Buffalo Sabres, St. Louis Blues, San Jose Sharks, Atlanta Thrashers Winnipeg Jets, Phoenix Coyotes Florida Panthers, Nashville Predators, Minnesota Wild and Columbus Blue Jackets all broke franchise records for most consecutive seasons of existence having never won a Stanley Cup.