Alright, today's Cupcakes begin with some news. I opened a fourth fantasy league due to demand. It's set up as a rotisserie and the draft time will be Wednesday 9:30pm EST (7:30 Mountain), for some reason Yahoo wouldn't let me pick 8 or 9. If you want a link send me an e-mail.
A story that focuses on Peter Stastny's entry into the NHL and how that not only shaped Paul Stastny, but the NHL as well.
A year after their dramatic escape, Peter and Anton helped secure their brother Marian's freedom as well. The trio played together on the same line for Quebec, which quickly became one of the NHL's most exciting teams.
Peter claimed the Calder Trophy, given to the NHL's top rookie, to kick-start a 15-year Hall of Fame career, and his defection helped pave the way for other European players.
"It's a pretty important piece of history, not just in his life, but for the history of hockey," Paul said. "It kind of transformed the way the NHL is now with all the Europeans around the league."
A former All-Star, Paul proudly wears his father's old uniform number, 26, for his former franchise, which moved to Denver from Quebec in 1995.
NHL.com takes a look at the Colorado Avalanche defensive corps.
At 6-foot-2 and 207 pounds, Kyle Quincey was one of the beefier members of the Colorado Avalanche defense corps last season. That's hardly the case now.
When the Avalanche open the 2011-12 season on Oct. 8 against Detroit, the roster will include four defensemen who weigh 230-plus pounds.
"We're not going to be pushed around on the back end," Quincey told NHL.com. "That's a great thing."
ESPN has a bit about the "Ten things you need to know" about the Avs, including a quote from Erik Johnson.
"I knew I wasn't playing my best, so maybe I had a little inkling that something might happen, but you really never expect it to," Johnson said. "I kind of describe [the trade] as a dream you're never going to wake up from. Seriously, that's what it felt like. People were shocked by the trade. Just think how the players felt, even more so.
"It was a surreal experience to go through, but something I think that will change my career. … It's nice to be wanted by a team," he said.
Johnson came into camp much leaner and is hoping that will add to his foot speed.