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Committee Chairman

Committee Chairman

Kirk Buchner, "The Committee Chairman", is the owner and operator of the site.  Kirk can be contacted at [email protected] .

Sports enthusiasts certainly love untypical forms of entertainment that might ensure the same rush of adrenaline as a heated game of their favorite sport. However, sometimes it might be challenging to find something that will engage you the same as a great match between rival teams. Here are some suggestions for the best forms of entertainment that will satisfy even the pickiest sports enthusiasts.

1. Pavel Datsyuk

Pavel Datsyuk might be one of the best stick handlers the world of hockey has ever seen.

A Red Wing for his entire NHL career, Datsyuk was lightly scouted and wasn't noticed until the 1998 Draft when the Red Wings (who were the only team that seemed to be aware of the Russian) took him in the Fourth Round. Three years later, Datsyuk reported to Detroit, scoring 35 Points as a rookie and finishing fourth in Calder voting. Datsyuk also helped Detroit win the Stanley Cup, a fantastic accomplishment for a rookie.

The Russian Center gradually improved over the next few years, and he posted back-to-back 87 Point years (2005-06 & 2006-07), which he followed with two 97-Point campaigns. In all four of those years, Datsyuk won the Lady Byng, and he also had a three-year run of Frank J. Selke wins (2008-10). The gifted two-way player won a second Stanley Cup in 2008, and Datsyuk's overall post-season performance saw him score 113 Points.

Datsyuk stayed with Detroit until 2016, and he had three more years with a third-place finish for the Selke. A Second Team-All-Star in 2008-09 (he was third in Hart voting that year), Datsyuk went to three All-Star Games and had 918 Points for Detroit.    

Datsyuk was traded to Arizona in a cap move, but he never played for them, electing the play in KHL instead. Datsyuk scored 918 Points over his NHL career, and while representing Russia, he won a Gold Medal in the 2016 Olympics.

4. Patrick Marleau

So…what does longevity mean?

As far as we are concerned, it should matter a lot!

As of this writing, Patrick Marleau is the most tenured player in the National Hockey League.  The Canadian forward played 23 seasons (21 with San Jose) and logged 1,779 Games with 1,197 Points.  Marleau was never a threat for any individual award, but he was consistent for a long time, played both ends of the ice, and was a clean player who rarely made mistakes.  He was also a three-time All-Star.

As good as he was, and as long as he played, is Patrick Marleau a Hall of "Very Good" player, or was he the next level?  Anyone, who holds the record for Games Played, is a member of the 1,000-Point club will likely be considered Hall of Fame worthy!

We are fascinated to debate this further!

Braydon Coburn

Braydon Coburn had a phenomenal career in Junior Hockey, winning Gold in the World Juniors and WJU18 while excelling at the blueline for the Portland Winter Hawks.  Coburn was a First Round Pick (8th Overall) in 2003, debuting two years later with the Atlanta Thrashers, but he only played 38 Games in ATL before he was traded to Philadelphia.

Coburn honed his skills in Broad Street, becoming a stalwart on Defense capable of providing an offensive rush.  Better as a traditional stay-at-home Defenseman, Coburn was dealt to Tampa Bay in 2015, giving depth to the contenders and playing a small role in their 2020 Stanley Cup win.  He finished his career with brief spells with the New York Islanders and Ottawa before retiring in 2021.