The Patrik Stefan play changed the course of the NHL History
Patrik Stefan was the 1st overall pick in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft by the Atlanta Thrashers. Although never living up to that hype Stefan played in 455 NHL games accounting for 188 points. But what he is most known for is an empty net blunder in the final 15 seconds of a game that almost cost his team.
While skating towards an empty net Stefan bumbled the puck, stumbled and ultimately missed the net completely. The Oilers picked up the puck, turned up ice and Ales Hemsky scored the game tying goal with 2 seconds remaining.
If we stop for a second and view this game in a vacuum for just a second. It really seems like the Stefan miss cost the Oilers far more than it ever cost the Stars. Other than being on low light reels for years the implications of this comeback was far reaching.
Here's why:
The prize of the NHL Draft in 2007 was American born Patrick Kane, a player who would go on to win multiple Stanley Cups with the Chicago Blackhawks who drafted him.
The Blackhawks won the NHL Draft Lottery after they moved up from 5th to 1st to select Kane while the Oilers picked 6th and selected Sam Gagner.
Unfortunately for Edmonton though that Ales Hemsky goal earned the Oilers an extra point in the standings.
That point tied Edmonton and Chicago in the standings with the Blackhawks winning the tie breaker for lower seeding, which ultimately cost the Oilers the eventual draft spot that would have allowed them to draft Patrick Kane. So if Stefan buries that empty netter from between the circles maybe we're talking about another Edmonton Oilers dynasty instead of the Blackhawks.
And that's how Patrik Stefan changed hockey history.
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