The Journey

There will never be another Stratford Streak to rival Howie Morenz  -- known in his heyday as the Babe Ruth of hockey.

But there’s this kid from Stratford -- Joey Hishon -- whose playing style makes you want to call him the Stratford Streak, even though his talent does not rival that of Morenz.

Taking Brett Connolly with the 6^th overall selection was a bold pick for a new general manager.

There’s no disputing Connolly’s talent, but a pair of hip injuries last season that limited him to just 16 WHL games had teams concerned. That didn’t bother new Tampa Bay Lightning general Steve Yzerman, but it scared off a few other teams.

Got cap issues? Need to replenish the farm? No worries, just do what the Chicago Blackhawks did this past summer.

If Steve Downie can make it in the NHL and be a valuable contributor to a team – then there is hope for any prospect who has been involved in what  has become known as an “off-ice incident.” Often, the term “off-ice incident” is a euphemism for a pretty serious offence. In many cases, though, the ominous sound of the term doesn’t fairly reflect what in many cases is a minor transgression.

There are a couple of basic principles that I followed after joining a deep keeper league as an expansion team.

Successful NHL general managers don’t rely on just one way they find talent for their teams.

The traditional way of drafting players and waiting for them to develop will always remain a fundamental component of a successful franchise, but hockey players don’t always develop at the same rate. GMs and scouting directors who keep their eyes and minds open to watch and reassess players after their draft eligibility are often rewarded.