What’s In a Name?

With the news about Nicklas Lidstrom just having broken, this is hardly important, but I wanted to post something before I forgot.

Paul Kukla pointed out a blog post today by Ben Shpigel of the NY Times, which states that the most common surnames in NHL history are “Smith (59), Brown (27) and Wilson (26).”

For the Red Wings, the results are similar.  The top three are Smith (12), Brown (8) and Johnson (5).  Wilson is one of eight names tied for fourth with four.

Defenseman Brendan Smith is the only player currently on the roster with one of those names.

Having never played a game in Detroit, Grand Rapids Griffin Jamie Johnson is not counted in the list.