Solution - Formulating Teams

by Craig Kasper

Answer: Click here to reveal

To solve the puzzle, first re-pair the clues so that each clue refers to a specific prominent NHL player, as below.

Fought crime on TV (12...)     (...+87) with Michael Jordan
Was given a suspension, (34...)     (...+74) which caused a riot
Is a donut shop namesake, (56...)     (...+49) in a Mike Myers movie
Pittsburgh team owner (78...)     (...+120) and Hodgkin's Lymphoma survivor
Tied for the league lead in goals (91...)     (...+69) as a rookie
Played internationally, (35...)     (...+46) alongside his son Mark
In 2004, became a minister (79...)     (...+37) in the Canadian government
Partnered with Smirnoff (24...)     (...+56) on a reality TV show in 2014
Cameoed as himself in a notable cinematic bomb, (68...)     (...+32) as did Mariska Hargitay

Answering the clues and performing the additions leads to the following list, in the order of the left halves of the clues.

  • Wayne Gretzky, 99
  • Maurice Richard, 108
  • Stan Mikita, 105
  • Mario Lemieux, 198
  • Teemu Selänne, 160
  • Gordie Howe, 81
  • Ken Dryden, 116
  • Sean Avery, 80
  • Rob Blake, 100

Expressing the number for each player as a percentage of that player's jersey number, as suggested by the flavortext, yields 100%, 1200%, 500%, 300%, 2000%, 900%, 400%, 500%, and 2500%. Converting how many hundred percent each player is "giving" in this way into letters yields the answer, ALEC TIDEY.