A couple of weeks ago in Edmonton, Glen Sather became just the third general manager or coach to be honored by his franchise with a banner-raising ceremony, the other two being the Islanders’ all-time coach Al Arbour and all-time general manager Bill Torrey.
And if that denotes something symbiotic about the last two great NHL dynasties, and the only two in league history to grow outside the Original Six, then so we should celebrate the heritage and history of both of those franchises, and both on the ascent, in this year in which we lost Al.
Of great dynasties: The Canadiens have retired the numbers of 18 players, but if they operated like the Yankees, the Habs surely would retire No.