Buds & Pucks

From Vezina winner to forgotten backup, Carey’s career trajectory serves as a cautionary tale for the dangers of burning bright too early. Let’s dive into his surprising rise and fall, and why his once-promising career barely had a chance to take off. 👇 #ALLCAPS

But, as quickly as he arrived, Carey’s career took an unexpected turn. By 1997, he was traded to the Boston Bruins, and from there, it was a steady decline. Injuries, inconsistency, and a loss of confidence led to a short stint in St. Louis before his early retirement in 1999. #ALLCAPS

He was already being called the future of the Capitals' crease, and for a moment, it looked like the NHL had a new star goalie on its hands. #ALLCAPS

A second-round pick in 1992, Carey was a standout from the get-go. After tearing up the AHL, he made a splash in the NHL with the Washington Capitals. In just his second season, he posted a Vezina-winning performance, securing 35 wins, a 2.26 GAA, and 9 shutouts—all at the ripe age of 22. #ALLCAPS

🏆 One-Year Wonders: Washington Edition 🏆

This week’s one-season sensation is Jim Carey—and no, not the comedian who made us laugh till we cried, but the goalie who made us believe he’d be a fixture in the NHL for years to come… before vanishing into thin air. #ALLCAPS

What do you think, Habs fans? Fowler: future No. 1 or just another goalie tease? Sound off below! ⬇️🔥 #GoHabsGo #ProspectWatch

So what’s next? If Fowler keeps this up, he’s going to push for an NHL job sooner rather than later. The Habs have had a goalie carousel since Price—this kid might be the one to end it. 🚨🔵⚪🔴 #GoHabsGo

International resume? Stacked. Backstopped Team USA to gold at the 2024 World Juniors AND the World Junior A Challenge. The dude’s a winner. Period. 🏅 #GoHabsGo

Sophomore season? Even crazier. Through 31 games: 24-5-2 record, 1.62 GAA, .941 SV%, 7 shutouts. That’s pure dominance. And let’s not forget, he got suspended for punching a guy with his blocker—love the fire. 🔥🥊

College career? Insane. As a freshman at Boston College, he shattered the NCAA wins record (32), won Hockey East Goaltender of the Year, and helped BC to a conference title. His .926 SV%? Yeah, that ranked top five in the country. 📈 #GoHabsGo

Draft day steal? Looks like it. Montreal grabbed him 69th overall in 2023, but this guy is already looking like a first-round talent. Just a calm, confident netminder who shows up when it matters most. 😤 #GoHabsGo

USHL days? Absolute domination. Fowler led the league in wins, GAA, and save percentage, then carried Youngstown to their first-ever Clark Cup, posting a .976 SV% in the finals. Oh yeah, he was named Clark Cup MVP too. 🏆 #GoHabsGo

🚨 Prospect Watch 🚨

Alright, Habs fans, let’s talk about a goalie who wins—Jacob Fowler. This dude has been lights out at every level, and Montreal might have finally found their next big thing between the pipes. 🛑🔥

🧵 Let’s break it down ⬇️ #GoHabsGo

Alright, your turn: 💬
Would the Leafs have beaten the Habs? Or was this heartbreak always written in the stars? Let’s hear it. #LeafsForever #WhatIf #NHLHistory

What actually happened:
👑Gretzky drops a hat trick in Game 7. Leafs fans collectively die inside.
🏆Habs win the Cup.
💔Leafs fans get stuck in 30+ years of pain and "What Ifs." #LeafsForever #WhatIf

So yeah, the non-call is bullsh*t, but if we’re keeping it real… would it have just been a bigger heartbreak in the Final? #LeafsForever #WhatIf

BUT... then reality kicks in.
Would they have won?
🥶The 1993 Leafs were good, but let’s be real—they were barely scraping by.
🥶The Habs? Rolling. And they had one thing the Leafs didn’t: Patrick f*ing Roy.
🥶No one was beating that guy. He was in God Mode. #LeafsForever #WhatIf

What if Fraser actually made the call? 🤯

Let’s break it down:
🍁Leafs get a five-minute power play—and yeah, they hadn’t scored on the PP all night, but c’mon, five straight minutes? Someone’s potting one.
🍁They win the game. They head to the Stanley Cup Final.
🍁Leafs vs. Habs for the Cup.

Wayne Gretzky straight-up high-sticks Doug Gilmour in the face. Blood everywhere. A five-minute major in OT, right? Nah, not tonight. Instead, Gretzky stays in the game, scores the OT winner, and suddenly we’re headed to Game 7. #LeafsForever #WhatIf

🚨 WHAT IF WEDNESDAY 🚨

Alright, Leafs fans… let’s rip this Band-Aid off. May 27, 1993—Game 6, Western Conference Finals. Leafs vs. Kings. The biggest moment in franchise history… and Kerry Fraser decided to just not do his job. #LeafsForever #WhatIf

From playoff hero to NHL afterthought—let's take a look at Borschevsky's wild ride through the league. 👇 #LeafsForever

But as quickly as he arrived, he started to fade. Injuries took a toll on his career, and by 1994-95, his promising start turned into a forgotten afterthought. A trade to Calgary, a brief stint in Dallas, and a quick exit from the NHL followed. #LeafsForever

In his rookie season, he delivered—34 goals and 40 assists in 78 games during 1992-93, with a Game 7 overtime winner against the Detroit Red Wings in the playoffs. Leafs Nation was buzzing—Borschevsky was a star in the making. #LeafsForever

A third-round pick in 1992, Borschevsky's rise to the NHL was anything but typical. After an impressive run in Russia with Spartak Moscow and a standout performance with the Unified Team at the 1992 Winter Olympics, the Leafs took a chance on him. #LeafsForever

🏆 One-Year Wonders: Toronto Edition 🏆

This week’s one-season shooting star is Nikolai Borschevsky—the guy who gave Leafs fans a glimpse of greatness before fading into obscurity faster than you can say "KHL." #LeafsForever

What do you think—bad pick, bad luck, or both? ⬇️ #LetsGoFlyers

Sittler’s bust status wasn’t about talent—it was about brutal luck. His body just couldn’t hold up, and his career ended before it even began. Biggest bust in Flyers history? Hard to argue against it. #LetsGoFlyers

Look at who the Flyers could’ve had instead:
Sergei Gonchar (14th overall) – 1,300+ NHL games, Stanley Cup champ
Martin Straka (19th overall) – 983 games, 717 points
Jere Lehtinen (88th overall) – Stanley Cup champ and 3 Frank J Selkes #LetsGoFlyers

At Michigan, Sittler wasn’t a bad prospect. He had size, a solid two-way game. But the problem? Injuries. A lot of them. He left school early to turn pro, but the hockey gods were not on his side. By 25 years old, he was done, never playing a single NHL game. #LetsGoFlyers

Biggest Draft Busts – Philadelphia: Ryan Sittler 🚨

The Flyers saw "Sittler" and thought they were drafting another franchise cornerstone at 7th overall in 1992. The name carried weight. But if NHL careers were built on bloodlines alone, Gretzky’s kid wouldn’t be selling real estate. #LetsGoFlyers