I know this is a fantasy league and while we lightly touch on real life (we have the same team names and players), we don't necessarily emulate reality. When I read that Ray Emery passed away, it really hit home for me. I was always a big fan of Emery. I grew up liking Ottawa as my "second team" behind the Blackhawks. My buddy liked the Kings and I always felt that I needed a second team, especially out of the Eastern Conference since I didn't have a team over there to root for. Ottawa was so bad when I was a kid that I felt bad for them... I fell in love with them.
Emery wasn't a part of the miserable Ottawa teams but he was still a highly touted prospect that ran into issues. He ran into alcohol and health issues and you felt for the guy. When he joined the Blackhawks I was beyond thrilled. He was never going to start in front of Corey Crawford but he was a solid backup for a team that hadn't had a great goaltending duo since Belfour/Hasek. Emery didn't disappoint in his second season with the Hawks either. He finished that year 17-1-0 with a 1.94 GAA and .922 SV%. He felt as if he deserved to be a start and chased starter money. He joined Philly but struggled out of the gate and was never able to keep a starter gig there and only played 60 games over two years for the Flyers.
Emery is one of the best goalies of all time in the FNHL. Not statistically but his name will always be linked to FNHL glory. There was a time when EVERYONE wanted Emery on their team in this league. His glory days came a long time ago in Edmonton but he never really played that great in his last 12 seasons. Even though he didn't turn out to be the best ever, he is second all-time in wins with 518 (only behind David Tremblay) even though he has played 104 less games than Tremblay has and is only behind him by 22 wins.
Ray Emery is probably in his last season in the FNHL (maybe he has one more) and the ending of his actual life is coinciding with the end of his FNHL career as well. Obviously real life has more importance than fantasy does and nobody should ever compare life and death with it, but its just chilling to me. The guy I grew up rooting for was the same goalie that was the most wanted goalie in the league at one point has passed away and is about to get deleted from the FNHL.
RIP Razor!
7/16/2018 - 449 words
