The latest Blueshirt Bandwidth podcast examines key hockey events and player performances. Scott Stevens's controversial history with violent hits is highlighted, particularly his well-known concussions of players like Paul Kariya and Shane Willis. The discussion also covers Rod Brind'Amour's lengthy coaching tenure without a Stanley Cup Final appearance, the inconsistency of goaltending in the playoffs, and comparisons of historic number 11s in NYC sports, specifically between Jalen Brunson and Mark Messier.

By the Numbers
  • In the 21 seasons since the lockout, there have been 21 teams that won the Stanley Cup; 7 had Hall of Fame goalies, 7 had franchise goalies, and 7 won with less recognized goaltending.
  • Rod Brind'Amour is one of only 11 coaches since the lockout to serve eight or more seasons without reaching the Stanley Cup Final.
State of Play
  • Scott Stevens's aggressive play history continues to spark debate regarding player safety and accountability.
  • The Rangers are analyzing their goaltending strategy as they aim for playoff success, with Igor Shesterkin showing strong postseason performance metrics.
What's Next

The podcast suggests future discussions will focus on how current players handle concussions and aggressive play, alongside a deeper exploration of established goaltenders' roles in playoff success.

Bottom Line

Listeners should remain attentive to emerging debates on player safety in the NHL and the pivotal role of consistent goaltending in championship runs, as past performances can shed light on future outcomes.