Along with author and Capitals expert Ted Starkey, we remember Richard Zednik, a talented player and borderline legend for three NHL teams, but a footnote in Islanders history.
Zednik started his career with the bang, as an exciting rookie on the Capitals 1998 Stanley Cup final team. He hit a ne...
Along with author and Capitals expert Ted Starkey, we remember Richard Zednik, a talented player and borderline legend for three NHL teams, but a footnote in Islanders history.
Zednik started his career with the bang, as an exciting rookie on the Capitals 1998 Stanley Cup final team. He hit a new level after being traded to Montreal and blossoming into a big scorer. But after a disappointing return to Washington, he found himself again shipped off to Long Island. In one of the strangest seasons in Islanders history, Zednik was a true passenger. Ten games, one goal and a disappearance during an electric run to the playoffs, in which he would also play briefly. Later, he had a renaissance with the Panthers and used the Islanders for one final highlight reel goal after coming back from a horrific injury,
Ted talks to us about Zednik's folk hero status in Washington - including a hilarious and era-appropriate promotional event - and what he meant to that fun squad that made a surprise run to the Cup final. We marvel at Zednik's numbers with the Canadiens and Panthers and laugh about his incredibly disappointing short time with the Islanders. He showed up, got some fans excited, did very little, dipped out for a while and came back just in time for a five-game playoff wipeout. It was yet another strange element to the extremely strange 2006-07 season, one we can't get enough of.
Thanks again to Ted for coming on and all his support over the years. Follow his work at Hockey Hot Stove and check out his books, Red Rising: The Washington Capitals Story and Chasing the Dream: Life in the American Hockey League.
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