5 degrees of separation Topic

the_skipper
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I saw this thing online a few days ago that was interesting. They linked 5 players to connect the NHL's 1st season in 1917 to this past season.
1) Cy Denneny was there in 1917 when the NHL started and in his last season in 1928-29 he played with Dit Clapper.
2) Dit Clapper finished his career in 1946-47 and on January 12th 1947 he lined up against a rookie by the name of Gordie Howe.
Gordie Howe skated with his sons Mark and Marty in 1979 and in the 13th game of his NHL career, a young Mark Messier played against Gordie Howe.
Mark Messier retired in 2003 but not before playing in a game against a beardless I presume Brent Burns who was playing his 2nd game of his career.
Of course Brent Burns was active this past season.

So there you have them.
Denneny, Clapper, Howe, Messier and Burns.

How about we draft a team using these 5 players and a minimum of 3 of their teammates. The teamates can be scrubs but only 1 scrub per player. This gives you 20 players and the last 3 are your choice.

120 million. 4 injuries. no twisting.

Thoughts?
6/2/2026 7:22 PM
lucko
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im in. i love these kinds of drafts.
6/2/2026 11:35 PM
hockeyjoe87
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I'm curious how you guys do these types of drafts. This one and the Lemieux/Hull draft seem like it would be a ton of research to go through each season of said player and look at all the guys they played with and then try to draft from that. Its almost like you'd need a way just to filter out all the non-teammates and then draft from there. Obviously I'm in the minority on this but it just seems extremely tedious. Am I missing something or is there some way you guys make this easier to draft a team?
6/3/2026 7:47 AM
lucko
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Posted by hockeyjoe87 on 6/3/2026 7:47:00 AM (view original):
I'm curious how you guys do these types of drafts. This one and the Lemieux/Hull draft seem like it would be a ton of research to go through each season of said player and look at all the guys they played with and then try to draft from that. Its almost like you'd need a way just to filter out all the non-teammates and then draft from there. Obviously I'm in the minority on this but it just seems extremely tedious. Am I missing something or is there some way you guys make this easier to draft a team?
i think this is what makes a draft fun. having to search through the seasons and sift through a ton of players to try and get the best team possible. to try and find something that maybe another owner might miss. the more difficult or complicated the draft is exactly what im looking for. if i can set up a team in 10 minutes id rather not play.
6/3/2026 10:14 AM
demon_8
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count me in
6/3/2026 11:11 AM
Bruno421
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Do they have to be a teammate the season you draft for the player. In other words can you draft any season they were a teammate of the player?
6/3/2026 1:46 PM
the_skipper
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thanks guys.
6/3/2026 3:02 PM
the_skipper
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Posted by Bruno421 on 6/3/2026 1:46:00 PM (view original):
Do they have to be a teammate the season you draft for the player. In other words can you draft any season they were a teammate of the player?
Any season for the 5 players and any season for their teammates.
6/3/2026 3:03 PM
the_skipper
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Posted by hockeyjoe87 on 6/3/2026 7:47:00 AM (view original):
I'm curious how you guys do these types of drafts. This one and the Lemieux/Hull draft seem like it would be a ton of research to go through each season of said player and look at all the guys they played with and then try to draft from that. Its almost like you'd need a way just to filter out all the non-teammates and then draft from there. Obviously I'm in the minority on this but it just seems extremely tedious. Am I missing something or is there some way you guys make this easier to draft a team?
Also, if you plan on spending time here, looking at players and the database will help you in future drafts.
6/3/2026 3:05 PM
taybaijor
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I will try this
6/3/2026 6:31 PM
SAKABAKBRG
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Posted by hockeyjoe87 on 6/3/2026 7:47:00 AM (view original):
I'm curious how you guys do these types of drafts. This one and the Lemieux/Hull draft seem like it would be a ton of research to go through each season of said player and look at all the guys they played with and then try to draft from that. Its almost like you'd need a way just to filter out all the non-teammates and then draft from there. Obviously I'm in the minority on this but it just seems extremely tedious. Am I missing something or is there some way you guys make this easier to draft a team?
https://support.whatifsports.com/hc/en-us/articles/32805635768859-Is-there-a-downloadable-version-of-the-WhatIfSports-NHL-player-database-to-make-managing-my-theme-league-easier
6/3/2026 6:33 PM
Bruno421
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Posted by the_skipper on 6/3/2026 3:03:00 PM (view original):
Posted by Bruno421 on 6/3/2026 1:46:00 PM (view original):
Do they have to be a teammate the season you draft for the player. In other words can you draft any season they were a teammate of the player?
Any season for the 5 players and any season for their teammates.
Sorry, just to be clear. It has to be a season where they were teammates? For Messier could I pick a Brian Leetch season where they were NOT teammates?
6/3/2026 7:31 PM
the_skipper
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Posted by Bruno421 on 6/3/2026 7:31:00 PM (view original):
Posted by the_skipper on 6/3/2026 3:03:00 PM (view original):
Posted by Bruno421 on 6/3/2026 1:46:00 PM (view original):
Do they have to be a teammate the season you draft for the player. In other words can you draft any season they were a teammate of the player?
Any season for the 5 players and any season for their teammates.
Sorry, just to be clear. It has to be a season where they were teammates? For Messier could I pick a Brian Leetch season where they were NOT teammates?
yes, someone who played in Mark Messier's timeline
6/3/2026 8:03 PM
gollum
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Posted by SAKABAKBRG on 6/3/2026 6:33:00 PM (view original):
Posted by hockeyjoe87 on 6/3/2026 7:47:00 AM (view original):
I'm curious how you guys do these types of drafts. This one and the Lemieux/Hull draft seem like it would be a ton of research to go through each season of said player and look at all the guys they played with and then try to draft from that. Its almost like you'd need a way just to filter out all the non-teammates and then draft from there. Obviously I'm in the minority on this but it just seems extremely tedious. Am I missing something or is there some way you guys make this easier to draft a team?
https://support.whatifsports.com/hc/en-us/articles/32805635768859-Is-there-a-downloadable-version-of-the-WhatIfSports-NHL-player-database-to-make-managing-my-theme-league-easier
Normally, I would say that is good advice, however, whomever updated the database this year, obviously put miniml effort into it. Just look at the 1917 seasons: Berlinquette played 20 games, the whole season with Montreal. Somehow he ends up with 2 ifferent salaries??? The 2026 players who played for more than one team do have 2 salaries, however, they found it was too difficult to input the other team they played for. I am still updating my database that many of the owners, who are familiar with Excel, have been using for years. If you want something that is truly "workable and accurate", let me know. This year's update is crap! Then again, after I found out how important WIS Hockey is to the powers that be at WIS Sports, I am not surprised.
6/4/2026 6:52 AM
lostnfound74
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Sounds good, but everyone will have Messier- Kurri and Gretzky

Dunno if I will play.. I am done with being addicted to this stupid time consuming ,$$ bleeding, never updated- screw the customer piece of trash

Probably burn my remaining teams and then Kiss em good bye.

I started this about 24 years ago as Highstyx.. Could have knocked off a Law degree with the time I spent on this thing and and etc. So now a line from the song I heard in about 1963 : ' - - - - - a fool, such as I' -by Elvis

Here's a link if you want to hear it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-unOfZiTM_0&list=RD-unOfZiTM_0&start_radio=1
6/5/2026 12:32 AM (edited)
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