NHL Oddities Trivia Quiz

Answer: Stephane Beauregard

Stephane Beauregard's career was that of a short-lived backup goalie who played more in the minors then in the NHL, but during the 1992 off-season, he was traded from Winnipeg to Buffalo for Christian Ruuttu. Buffalo then traded him to Chicago for a then unknown Dominik Hasek. Chicago then traded him to Winnipeg for Christian Ruuttu (sound familiar?). Shortly after the 1992-1993 season started, he was traded yet again from Winnipeg, this time to Philadelphia.

He played there the next few seasons before being relegated to the minors.

Answer: Jimmy Carson

Jimmy Carson played 86 regular season games in a 84 game season. How is that possible? He started the season in Detroit, and played in all the team's 52 games at the point he got traded. He was then traded to Los Angeles, who were two games behind Detroit in games played in the season, and played in all the team's remaining 34 games.

The schedule has since been reduced to a 82 game season, so until the league expands a few more teams or decides to extend their regular season then this may be a record that will never be beaten.

Answer: Teemu Selanne

Teemu Selanne was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets, but he never signed his entry level deal with them. Instead, he never signed with them and after a few seasons he became an unrestricted free agent (UFA) as an unsigned prospect (as per the collective bargaining agreement).

However, his UFA classification allowed Winnipeg the right to match any offer he signs. Calgary signed Selanne to an entry deal with a very generous signing bonus - something they felt Winnipeg couldn't afford. Winnipeg decided to match the offer, forcing Selanne to come to Winnipeg.

He then scored 76 goals in all 84 games he played - and an all-star was born!

Answer: Martin St. Louis

Martin St. Louis was an undrafted free agent scrounging around for a team to play for. He started playing for the now defunct International Hockey league, but shortly after managed to sign on with Calgary as a free agent. After parts of two seasons with the team producing modest numbers.

He was made available during the 2000 expansion draft, was not claimed, and ultimately released. He then signed with Tampa Bay as a free agent and he suddenly blossomed, posting seasons with 40, 35, 70, 94, 61, 102, 83, 94, 99, and 74 points.

He won the Art Ross trophy during the 2002-03 season making him the first undrafted player to win that trophy. Wayne Gretzky did "likewise" in 1980-81 but was not, technically, an undrafted NHL player, as he was drafted in 1977 in the Ontario Hockey League by Oshawa Generals before he moved to Indianapolis Racers in the WHA in 1978 and Edmonton Oilers a year later (who joined the NHL in 1980 when the WHA folded.

Answer: Scott Niedermayer

Scott Niedermayer is considered one of the most graceful skaters to ever lace up the skates. He won WHL player of the year in 1991 (Kamloops Blazers), CHL player of the year in the same year/same team, the CHL playoff MVP in 1992 (same team), the NHL all-rookie team in 1993 (New Jersey Devils), several first and second team all-stars throughout his NHL career (New Jersey Devils and Anaheim Ducks), Norris trophy in 2004 (New Jersey Devils), NHL playoff MVP in 2007 (Anaheim Ducks), 4 Stanley Cups between 1995-2007 (New Jersey Devils and Anaheim Ducks), World Junior gold winner in 1992 (Team Canada), and Olympic Gold winner in 2000 (Team Canada).

Answer: Detroit

Ray Bourque was traded from Boston to Colorado at the trade deadline in 2000 as they were a non-playoff team and it was believed he was going to retire so the only team he's ever played for wanted to give him a chance to win the Stanley Cup. Colorado didn't win that year but their post-season play was enough to persuade Bourque to come back for another season, and when the playoffs came the "16W" chants and marketing started and was a powerful motivational tool.

The following season, Dominik Hasek was acquired by Detroit from Buffalo, whom he played his whole career at that point and never won the cup, and the exact same idea was used... and it worked. Detroit won the Stanley Cup in 2002.

Answer: Eric Lindros

Prior to being drafted, Lindros was vocal about not wanting to play for Quebec and would refuse to do so if they drafted him. They drafted him anyway. Quebec then began crafting trades with both the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers, trying to carve the best deal for them. Ultimately Quebec made a deal with New York, but Philadelphia claimed Quebec made the deal with them, leading into an arbitration process, which led to a decision that Quebec agreed to Philadelphia's trade approximately 80 minutes before agreeing to New York.

The Flyers gave up Mike Ricci, Steve Duchesne, Kerry Hoffman, Ron Hextall, Peter Forsberg, Chris Simon, their first round picks in 1992, 1993, 1994, and $15 million. Talk about a lopsided trade! This one trade instantly turned Quebec into a regular Stanley Cup contender right into the 2000s.

Answer: San Jose

In 1991, the San Jose Sharks came into existence as a quasi-expansion team that was partially split off from the Minnesota North Stars because of a complicated ownership dispute. That led to a dispersal draft in which the Sharks stocked their roster with North Stars players, followed by an expansion draft in which both teams got to pick players from around the league. Sounds simple, doesn't it.

Answer: New Jersey Devils

Before the 17 year contract was signed the league was growing tired of these super-long contracts meant to cheat the system, including heavily front loaded contracts, however the attempted 17 year contract proved to be the tipping point, and the league stepped in to nix it, impose new rules, and punish the Devils for trying to cheat.

In a move that can only be called "karma" Kovalchuk inexplicably left the team only a few seasons into his deal to go home to play in the KHL. Due to Kovalchuk ditching the team so early in his contract the NHL ultimately gave the Devils its 1st round pick back.

Answer: Marty McSorley

Marty McSorley led the entire league in PIM in the 1992-93 with 399. He also had a very minor film career with bit roles in Con Air and Bad Boys. For whatever reason the players didn't work out in their new teams so they were swapped again for each other, however during the return trade, Tomas Sandstrom was added from LA and Jim Paek was added from Pittsburgh.