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June 22, 2015
The Hockey News has been providing the most comprehensive coverage of the world of hockey since 1947. In each issue, you'll find news, features and opinions about the NHL and leagues across North America and the world.


JUST WINS, BABY
1. TOM JOHNSON Boston A Hall of Fame D-man with Montreal, Johnson piloted the B's to consecutive 50-plus win years and the 1972 Cup. 208 GP | 142-43-23 | .738 PTS% 2. DAN BYLSMA Pittsburgh Bylsma won the Stanley Cup as a rookie coach in 2009, a feat he was never able to repeat in Steeltown. 401 GP | 252-117-32 | .668 PTS% 3. BRUCE BOUDREAU Washington, Anaheim 'Gabby' won his first 300 games faster than any coach in history, thanks in part to OT and shootouts. Still impressive. 599 GP | 363-167-69 | .664 PTS% 4. SCOTTY BOWMAN StL, Mtl, Buf, Pit, Det The undisputed king of NHL coaching royalty, Bowman has nine Stanley Cups from his 10 final appearances. 2,141 GP | 1,244-573-324 | .657 PTS% 5. CLAUDE RUEL Montreal Ruel had two relatively short tours of duty behind the Habs…


OIL CHANGE IN EDMONTON
IT'S BEEN AWFUL IN EDMONTON on the NHL front I since the Oilers Stanley Cup final run in 2006, but there was something particularly odious about this season for the team. The fan base was beyond disgusted with another season of losing and missing the playoffs for the ninth consecutive year, with more than one paying customer willing to chuck their jersey onto the ice during a game. The notion a team could employ so many skilled young talents and look so lost -while owner Daryl Katz sat back and made no changes to an upper management group of glory-day Oilers -was infuriating, to say the least. The hockey gods must have taken some pity on those long-suffering supporters, because within a matter of weeks following their brutal campaign, a number…


NUMBERS GAMES
It STARTED LIKE ANY CONTRACT NEGOTIATION. Agent Allan Walsh, who represents Jonathan Drouin, David Perron and Antoine Vermette, among many others, sat across from an NHL GM and assistant GM. The group was hammering out a deal for one of Walsh's clients. They spent 45 minutes discussing staple statistics like points per game, goals, assists and ice time. Walsh, though, wasn't satisfied. He told the executives they were omitting a crucial criterion. It just so happened, Walsh explained to them, the player in question was tops on the team in almost every major possession metric, including Corsi and Fenwick. Walsh had his own advanced stat booklet prepared. He fished out two copies. "I saw them open the first page, and I saw the GM and the assistant GM lock eyes with…


DRAFT FALLOUT
THE SECOND NHL DEPUTY commissioner Bill Daly announced the Oilers were the winners of the Connor McDavid Sweepstakes (a.k.a. the draft lottery), dominos affecting a slew of markets were set in motion. Mc-David was destined for Edmonton, instantly jump-starting a franchise that has already had more than its share of No. 1 picks. But it wasn't only the Oilers whose destiny was shaped by the lottery ball combinations. The Buffalo Sabres finished last this season and had the best shot at selecting McDavid, but instead they will select Boston University phenom Jack Eichel. He's not a carbon copy of McDavid, but Eichel is nobody's consolation prize and will be the cornerstone of an up-and-coming Sabres squad. After that slot, there is no consensus for the draft order, and that's where the real…