With the New Jersey Devils still in contention in this year's NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, we turn the dials on our George Michael Sports Machine back to the late 1970s/early 1980s with hockey historian Greg Enright ("Rocky Hockey: The Short but Wild Ride of the NHL's Colorado Rockies") - for a deep dive into the Newark, NJ-based franchise's tenuous six-year incarnation as Denver's Colorado Rockies (1976-82).

It's a story that traverses four separate owners, six different coaches, a constant threat of relocation, a terrible lease arrangement in a state-of the art (McNichols) arena, one meager (1978) playoff appearance (despite finishing 21 games under .500), an iconic logo - and a bombastic (1979-80) season full of sour "Grapes."

If you consider yourself a fan of the Devils or even today's Colorado Avalanche, you'll love Enright's book - and this conversation!

Rocky Hockey: The Short but Wild Ride of the NHL’s Colorado Rockies - Buy book here

Screenshot 2023-04-30 at 21-02-52 original.png (PNG Image 955 × 525 pixels).png

Screenshot 2023-04-30 at 20-49-21 NOV 2 1978 NOV 3 1978 Ice Hockey Colorado Rockies.png

Screenshot 2023-04-30 at 20-22-23 Lanny-MacDonald-Rockies.jpg (JPEG Image 938 × 650 pixels).png

Screenshot 2023-04-30 at 21-01-07 who-knew-turns-out-colorado-was-the-birthplace-of-the-wave.jpg (JPEG Image 1200 × 796 pixels) — Scaled (90%).png

Screenshot 2023-04-30 at 20-45-48 gettyimages-51916338-1024x1024.webp (WEBP Image 1024 × 694 pixels).png

Screenshot 2023-04-30 at 21-00-36 s-l500.jpg (JPEG Image 448 × 500 pixels).png

Screenshot 2023-04-30 at 20-44-14 gettyimages-836867682-1024x1024.webp (WEBP Image 1024 × 965 pixels) — Scaled (74%).png

Screenshot 2023-04-30 at 20-22-40 20151022__p_90faf37e-d0c3-4f98-938a-258dfdc4abf4s200p2.jpg (WEBP Image 480 × 270 pixels).png

Screenshot 2023-04-30 at 20-46-00 gettyimages-836875224-1024x1024.webp (WEBP Image 1024 × 889 pixels) — Scaled (80%).png

Screenshot 2023-04-30 at 20-40-01 gettyimages-1253171695-1024x1024.webp (WEBP Image 691 × 1024 pixels) — Scaled (70%).png

Screenshot 2023-04-30 at 20-43-50 OCT 29 1976 OCT 30 1976 Ice Hockey - Colorado Rockies Capitals.png

Screenshot 2023-04-30 at 20-32-24 61szL644 3L._UF1000 1000_QL80_.jpg (JPEG Image 725 × 1000 pixels) — Scaled (71%).png

Screenshot 2023-04-30 at 20-40-46 gettyimages-82630716-1024x1024.webp (WEBP Image 1024 × 819 pixels) — Scaled (87%).png

Screenshot 2023-04-30 at 20-53-36 gettyimages-79843544-1024x1024.webp (WEBP Image 819 × 1024 pixels) — Scaled (70%).png

Screenshot 2023-04-30 at 19-26-28 FbMHrjlakAEC_JQ (JPEG Image 845 × 650 pixels).png

Screenshot 2023-04-30 at 20-49-32 gettyimages-162003237-1024x1024.webp (WEBP Image 1024 × 828 pixels) — Scaled (86%).png

Screenshot 2023-04-30 at 20-31-53 pittsburgh-penguins-colorado-rockies-october-31-1979.jpg (JPEG Image 400 × 513 pixels).png

Screenshot 2023-04-30 at 20-38-12 gettyimages-836875298-1024x1024.webp (WEBP Image 1024 × 783 pixels) — Scaled (91%).png

Screenshot 2023-04-30 at 20-29-30 3d585fb1c30b78b48d2cb305beb58d83.jpg (JPEG Image 600 × 705 pixels).png

Screenshot 2023-04-30 at 20-41-31 gettyimages-162004016-1024x1024.webp (WEBP Image 701 × 1024 pixels) — Scaled (70%).png

Screenshot 2023-04-30 at 20-28-30 gettyimages-106957263-612x612.jpg (JPEG Image 612 × 466 pixels).png

Screenshot 2023-04-30 at 20-42-49 gettyimages-836872358-1024x1024.webp (WEBP Image 1024 × 311 pixels).png

Screenshot 2023-04-30 at 20-29-01 Colorado-Rockies-NHL-Hockey-1977.jpg (JPEG Image 1000 × 675 pixels).png

Screenshot 2023-04-30 at 20-46-37 gettyimages-162003496-1024x1024.webp (WEBP Image 1024 × 696 pixels).png

Screenshot 2023-04-30 at 20-39-13 gettyimages-144060902-1024x1024.webp (WEBP Image 1024 × 819 pixels) — Scaled (87%).png

Screenshot 2023-04-30 at 20-30-27 76-77ColRoc.webp (WEBP Image 400 × 319 pixels).png

Screenshot 2023-04-30 at 20-38-41 gettyimages-836876362-1024x1024.webp (WEBP Image 1024 × 558 pixels).png

Screenshot 2023-04-30 at 20-37-02 gettyimages-1207169000-1024x1024.webp (WEBP Image 754 × 1024 pixels) — Scaled (70%).png

Screenshot 2023-04-30 at 20-33-06 s-l300.jpg (JPEG Image 188 × 300 pixels).png

Screenshot 2023-04-30 at 20-41-06 BOSTON MA. - 1980's Chico Resch of the Colorado Rockies adjusts his.png

Screenshot 2023-04-30 at 21-03-06 1981-82_O-Pee-Chee-085_530x@2x.jpg (WEBP Image 1060 × 764 pixels) — Scaled (94%).png

Screenshot 2023-04-30 at 21-05-52 gettyimages-836876280-1024x1024.webp (WEBP Image 607 × 1024 pixels) — Scaled (70%).png

Screenshot 2023-04-30 at 20-32-42 images (JPEG Image 443 × 114 pixels).png

Screenshot 2023-04-30 at 20-35-05 Simon Nolet of the Colorado Rockies skates on the ice during an NHL.png

Screenshot 2023-04-30 at 20-44-45 gettyimages-162003689-1024x1024.webp (WEBP Image 1024 × 574 pixels).png

Screenshot 2023-04-30 at 20-57-09 71d4W6p2xcL.jpg (JPEG Image 800 × 1122 pixels) — Scaled (64%).png

Screenshot 2023-04-30 at 20-37-36 gettyimages-151955409-1024x1024.webp (WEBP Image 1024 × 819 pixels) — Scaled (87%).png

Screenshot 2023-04-30 at 20-47-00 gettyimages-162003741-1024x1024.webp (WEBP Image 1024 × 678 pixels).png

Screenshot 2023-04-30 at 21-04-24 gettyimages-913114656-1024x1024.webp (WEBP Image 933 × 1024 pixels) — Scaled (70%).png

Screenshot 2023-04-30 at 20-30-04 77-78ColRoc.webp (WEBP Image 500 × 399 pixels).png

Screenshot 2023-04-30 at 21-16-07 1979-80_O-Pee-Chee-229_250x250@2x.jpg (WEBP Image 367 × 500 pixels).png

Screenshot 2023-04-30 at 20-43-07 gettyimages-51916335-1024x1024.webp (WEBP Image 1024 × 691 pixels).png

Screenshot 2023-04-30 at 21-04-37 gettyimages-911850946-1024x1024.webp (WEBP Image 761 × 1024 pixels) — Scaled (70%).png

Screenshot 2023-04-30 at 20-28-07 1980-81-Colorado-Rockies-Media-Guide.jpg (JPEG Image 400 × 632 pixels).png

Screenshot 2023-04-30 at 20-36-12 gettyimages-494135170-1024x1024.webp (WEBP Image 1024 × 666 pixels).png

Screenshot 2023-04-30 at 20-58-50 0000448697.jpg (JPEG Image 800 × 1003 pixels) — Scaled (71%).png

Screenshot 2023-04-30 at 20-48-02 gettyimages-151955420-1024x1024.webp (WEBP Image 1024 × 819 pixels) — Scaled (87%).png

Former Denver Post columnist and long-time sports writer/author Terry Frei (“Third Down and a War to Go;” “'77: Denver, the Broncos, and a Coming of Age” + plenty more) joins to discuss the briefly curious life (1976-82) of NHL hockey's Colorado Rockies - Frei's first-ever professional newspaper beat assignment back in the day.

As originally recounted in his eyebrow-raising 2010 memoir Playing Piano in a Brothel: A Sports Journalist's Odyssey, Frei helps us better understand the events, personalities and hijinks that comprised the six-year Denver incarnation of the former Kansas City Scouts and future New Jersey Devils franchise - with some perspective on its under-appreciated history and legacy.

It's a story that traverses four separate owners, six different coaches, a constant threat of relocation, a terrible lease arrangement in a state-of the art (McNichols) arena, one meager (1978) playoff appearance (despite finishing 21 games under .500), a legendary logo - and a bombastic season of sour "Grapes."

If you're a fan of the Devils or today's Colorado Avalanche, consider this your hockey history lesson for the week!

Support the show by getting four free months of NordVPN when you use promo code GOODSEATS at checkout!

Rocky Hockey: The Short but Wild Ride of the NHL’s Colorado Rockies - Buy book here

Playing Piano in a Brothel: A Sports Journalist’s Odyssey - buy book here

‘77: Denver, the Broncos, and a Coming of Age - buy book here

Third Down and A War to Go - buy book here

Rocky Hockey: The Short but Wild Ride of the NHL’s Colorado Rockies - Buy book here

Playing Piano in a Brothel: A Sports Journalist’s Odyssey - buy book here﻿﻿

‘77: Denver, the Broncos, and a Coming of Age - buy book here﻿﻿

Third Down and A War to Go - buy book here﻿﻿

Playing Piano in a Brothel: A Sports Journalist’s Odyssey - buy book here

‘77: Denver, the Broncos, and a Coming of Age - buy book here

Third Down and A War to Go - buy book here