- Jun 7, 2021
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Can't believe it's been so long since that happened. Felt like it was yesterday. Crazy to think how fast time flies. Video:
15 Years Ago Today, Patrick Stefan infamously missed the empty netter.
- Thread starter Rapsfan
- Start date
Namikaze Minato
Registered User
Poor f***ing guy. This basically ruined the rest of his career, which hadnt exactly been smooth sailings to this point but this was definitely the straw that broke the camels back.
Sick mitts by Hemsky though, i really enjoyed watching him play back in the day.
Sick mitts by Hemsky though, i really enjoyed watching him play back in the day.
Channelcat
Unhinged user
DudeWhereIsMakar
Originator of the username
Think life would've been easier on him had he not have gone first overall. Solid NHLer, but just not anywhere near a star player.
Luigi Lemieux
Registered User
- Sep 26, 2003
- 21,602
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Ferraro way too rough on him. Yea he probably should have shot it quicker but it's obvious it bounced.
Kcb12345
Registered User
- Jun 6, 2017
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Yeah in hindsight most players would've swung and missed on that puck cause it bounced, however he was awfully casual about it and falling down after missing it certainly didn't help. Players constantly score empty net goals like this where they skate it in close, but this one was just extremely unlucky. I mean what an insane bounce lol
Channelcat
Unhinged user
holy
2023-2024 Cup CHamps
- May 22, 2017
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The commentary was gold though. Def bad for Stefan’s mental health, but such an iconic call. Anytime there’s a big goal scored all I can hear is “CAN YOU. BELIEVE. WHAT WE. JUST SAW?!”
Shakey Rustie
Smile
Hattrick Kane
Registered User
- Oct 8, 2018
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I like how this play snowballed into the Hawks ending up getting Patrick Kane in the draft that year.
No sense in defending Stefan. Late in game and ice can play tricks with puck. Players shall act by that fact. Stefan should have shot earlier and not being fancy. He deserved bashing.
Hank Plank
Registered User
TheSituation
Registered User
Thank you. I'm a fan of multiple sports and it's hockey fans by far make the most excuses. He blew it.
Namikaze Minato
Registered User
It bounced on him after he pulled it to the backhand for no reason, all he had to do was shoot the puck in the open net, he had all day.
Big Phil
Registered User
- Nov 2, 2003
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He should have shot, yes. But man, even if the puck bounced over him, do anything, I mean slash at the puck, trip the player who picked it up, anything is an improvement over what he did. Don't fall!
I think this happening to Stefan is just sort of the climax of everything that went wrong with him in his NHL career. He was very young when he retired, and he played for 3 games in the Swiss league in the fall of 2007 and then that was it, no more hockey at all. In a way it is sad, because to be done with hockey at 27 when you played and dominated your whole life up until an adult and to have that sort of a career when the expectations were high on you, it is just unfortunate. I can only imagine what was going through his head when that goal went in. There must have been a thought in his head where he said "That's it, I'm done with this for good!" He did retire at the end of this year.
I do sort of remember the story as to how this indirectly ended with the Hawks getting Kane, but how did this play do that again? My best memory is because the Oilers got a point in this game and it made them the 6th worst overall team at the end of the year, while Chicago was the 5th worst. The Hawks won the lottery and then moved up to #1 and got Kane, I believe.
Dallas did win after this, which NO ONE remembers because quite frankly it likely makes the Stefan play not seem as bad.
I think this happening to Stefan is just sort of the climax of everything that went wrong with him in his NHL career. He was very young when he retired, and he played for 3 games in the Swiss league in the fall of 2007 and then that was it, no more hockey at all. In a way it is sad, because to be done with hockey at 27 when you played and dominated your whole life up until an adult and to have that sort of a career when the expectations were high on you, it is just unfortunate. I can only imagine what was going through his head when that goal went in. There must have been a thought in his head where he said "That's it, I'm done with this for good!" He did retire at the end of this year.
I do sort of remember the story as to how this indirectly ended with the Hawks getting Kane, but how did this play do that again? My best memory is because the Oilers got a point in this game and it made them the 6th worst overall team at the end of the year, while Chicago was the 5th worst. The Hawks won the lottery and then moved up to #1 and got Kane, I believe.
Dallas did win after this, which NO ONE remembers because quite frankly it likely makes the Stefan play not seem as bad.
McGarnagle
Yes.
- Aug 5, 2017
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Eh, I’m one of those weirdos who will defend him- there’s a chance he misses the shot from further away. We’ve seen friggin McDavid miss from a similar spot, so it can definitely happen. In hindsight, ya, there’s a moment where he’s right in front and shoulda gone forehand, but I think he’s going for the easiest way and just doesn’t think about the ice being especially chewed up in the crease.
After that he just panics and inadvertently plays it as poorly as possible- he desperately tries to get it back and instead pokes it right to the Oilers. Compounding mistakes, but it’s not lazy or like he’s trying to do the wrong thing.
He stole the puck in the first place, everything after that just went poorly. Kinda highlights why he never became a star- lotta speed and skill, but the hockey iq and instincts.. oof.
All-time hockey moment though, Hemsky was so good.
After that he just panics and inadvertently plays it as poorly as possible- he desperately tries to get it back and instead pokes it right to the Oilers. Compounding mistakes, but it’s not lazy or like he’s trying to do the wrong thing.
He stole the puck in the first place, everything after that just went poorly. Kinda highlights why he never became a star- lotta speed and skill, but the hockey iq and instincts.. oof.
All-time hockey moment though, Hemsky was so good.
HisIceness
This is Hurricanes Hockey
Eh, shit happens. Crazy to think that Stefan was a 1st overall draft pick though, unfortunately this is what we know him for.
The Dallas broadcast brought up Leon Lett, which was very apropos.
The Dallas broadcast brought up Leon Lett, which was very apropos.
Back when he was a prospect, I was excited to learn that I shared a birthday with a potential #1 pick. As another poster alluded to, I think we judge Stefan more harshly since he went #1. If Atlanta had stayed put and taken him #2, he probably wouldn't have been as much as a lightning rod. Ie, Pavel Brendl doesn't get the same spotlight and he would have gone #1 if Brian Burke had figured out that Tampa wasn't taking Daniel Sedin.
Smirnov2Chistov
EEK!
Always wondered what he would’ve become. Was he labeled as a Power Forward center in his draft year?
The Panther
Registered User
The Stefan thing was funny, but since the Stars won the game anyway and it was a puck that skipped, I never thought much of it.
This, on the other hand, was hilarious:
This, on the other hand, was hilarious:
Killer Orca
Registered User
You know I've seen this play a hundred times plus but for the life of me never knew Dallas won the game.
