It’s supposed to be a metaphor, that slumping hockey players “grip their sticks tighter.” Zack Smith of the Ottawa Senators can tell you it’s quite real. Mired in a horrific goal-scoring slump dating back to March 8, 2012, the big centre was gripping his stick so tight it hurt the palm of his right hand. [...]
There was a time when Hobey Baker Award winners made a serious impact on NHL rosters. Players named Paul Kariya, Ryan Miller, Chris Drury and Brendan Morrison.