Regardless of there being no video games ever performed on Aug. 20, earlier than 2020, that’s, this has been a really busy day over the a long time. There have been huge strikes in a few of the NHL’s cornerstone cities like Boston, Philadelphia, New York, and Toronto. So, let’s start our every day journey again in time to relive all the good moments from this date.
Shore Involves the NHL
With the previous Western Hockey League ceasing operations, Boston Bruins proprietor Charles Adams spent $50,000 on Aug. 20, 1926, to usher in seven gamers. A type of gamers was defenseman Eddie Shore, a uncommon blueliner who joined the play within the offensive finish of the ice.
Shore scored 12 targets and 18 factors, in 41 video games, throughout his first season whereas additionally racking up 136 penalty minutes. Not solely did he assist the Bruins make the playoffs for the primary time in franchise historical past, however they superior to the Stanley Cup Remaining, the place they misplaced to the unique Ottawa Senators. He and the Bruins returned to the Remaining three extra instances and received championships in 1929 and 1939.
He retired in 1940 after 551 video games, the place he scored 105 targets and 284 factors. He received the Hart Trophy, for being the league’s Most worthy participant, in 1934. Shore went on to take house the Hart three extra instances, turning into the primary four-time winner in NHL historical past.
Rangers Lastly Land Lindros
The New York Rangers thought that they had a deal in place to purchase Eric Lindros from the Quebec Nordiques again in 1992. Nevertheless, an unbiased arbitrator dominated that the Philadelphia Flyers’ provide was agreed to first, and the remaining was historical past.
On Aug. 20, 2001, the Rangers despatched defensemen Kim Johnsson, forwards Jan Hlavac and Pavel Brendl, and third-round alternative in 2003 NHL Entry Draft to the Flyers for Lindros. The Flyers used the draft decide to pick ahead Stefan Ruzicka, who performed in simply 55 NHL video games.
(Photograph by Jim McIsaac/Getty Photos)
When Lindros made his Rangers debut on Oct. 5, 2001, it was his first NHL recreation since March 12, 2000. He missed your entire 2000-01 season on account of concussion points and a contract dispute. His first season in New York was, by far, his greatest as he scored 37 targets and 73 factors in 72 video games.
Over his three seasons with the Rangers, Lindros scored 66 targets and 158 factors in 192 video games. He signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs when the league returned from the homeowners’ lockout that price us the 2004-05 season. He spent the 2006-07 season with the Dallas Stars earlier than retiring after 13 seasons within the NHL.
Newsworthy Date for Devils
Just a few weeks forward of their first recreation after relocation on Aug. 20, 1982, the New Jersey Devils named ahead Don Lever their first-ever captain. He changed the Colorado Rockies’ final captain, Rob Ramage, who was traded to the St. Louis Blues for a first-round draft decide in the course of the offseason, which was used to pick John MacLean. Lever scored the primary purpose in Devils’ historical past throughout their 3-3 tie with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Oct. 5, 1982.
Three years later, on Aug. 20, 1985, Devils’ normal supervisor Max McNab signed his son Peter, who grew to become simply the fourth NHL participant ever, to affix a workforce the place his father was the overall supervisor.
It is a huge date for the McNab household, as Max was traded throughout his enjoying days again in 1951. He was a part of a bundle, together with Clare Martin, Jim Peters, Clare “Rags” Raglan, George Gee, and Jim McFadden, who was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks by the Detroit Pink Wings, in alternate for Hugh Coflin and $75,000.
Maple Leafs Make Modifications
On Aug. 20, 1973, the Maple Leafs employed Pink Kelly as their new head coach. He changed John McLellan, who resigned when the 1972-73 season concluded. Kelly, a Corridor of Fame participant for the Pink Wings and Maple Leafs between 1947 and 1967, had earlier teaching stints with the Los Angeles Kings and Penguins. He spent 4 seasons behind the bench in Toronto, going 133-123-62. The Maple Leafs missed the playoffs in his first season and didn’t get out of the primary spherical within the subsequent three.
(THW Archives)
Quick ahead 22 years to Aug. 20, 1997, and the Maple Leafs named Montreal Canadiens’ goaltending legend Ken Dryden as their new workforce president and normal supervisor. A part of his first order of enterprise was naming Anders Hedberg and Mike Smith as his assistant normal managers and Invoice Watters as an assistant to the president. He held onto the overall supervisor position till 1999, when head coach Pat Quinn was given the job.
Odds & Ends
The San Jose Sharks traded Jayson Extra, Brian Swanson, and a fourth-round draft decide to the Rangers for Marty McSorley on Aug. 20, 1996. He performed 113 video games for the Sharks over the subsequent two seasons, scoring six targets and 28 whereas amassing 326 penalty minutes. Extra and Swanson by no means performed for the Rangers, and the draft decide was finally drafted by San Jose.
Buying and selling Lindros wasn’t the one transfer the Flyers made on this date. On Aug. 20, 1997, they traded Mikael Renberg and Karl Dykhuis to the Tampa Bay Lightning in alternate for 4 first-round draft picks. Renberg had lots of success on the Legion of Doom line in Philadelphia, scoring 109 targets over his first 4 seasons within the league. He by no means reached these heights with the Lightning.
(Getty Photos)
The Flyers made out like bandits within the deal. They used three of the draft picks to pick Simon Gagne, Maxime Ouellet, and Justin Williams. The fourth decide was traded to the Senators. Tampa Bay ended up buying and selling Renberg again to the Flyers on Dec. 12, 1998, together with Daymond Langkow, for Chris Gratton and Mike Sillinger.
On Aug. 20, 2001, Corridor of Fame defenseman Salva Fetisov was named the Russian nationwide workforce’s normal supervisor and head coach. The previous Devils assistant coach led Russia to the bronze medal on the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake Metropolis, UT. Pavel Bure took over the overall supervisor position for the 2006 video games.
On Aug. 20, 2020, the Stars erased a 3-0 first-period deficit to roll to a 7-3 win over the Calgary Flames in Recreation 5 of their First Spherical Stanley Cup Playoff collection. Denis Gurianov was the offensive hero for Dallas by scoring a hat trick in a five-goal second interval earlier than including a fourth tally within the ultimate body. This was the Stars’ fourth straight win to remove the Flames after they received the collection’ opening recreation.
The New York Islanders closed out their first spherical collection with the Washington Capitals on this similar night time by incomes a 4-0 win in Recreation 5. Anthony Beauvillier scored the one purpose wanted halfway by way of the primary interval earlier than doubling the lead within the center body. Nick Leddy and Josh Bailey added late empty-netters to seal the deal. Goaltender Semyon Varlamov stopped all 21 pictures he confronted to earn his third profession postseason shutout.
On Aug. 20, 2021, long-time Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist introduced his retirement from the NHL. The 15-year veteran hung up his skates with 459 wins together with a Vezina Trophy in 2012 and Olympic gold with Sweden in 2006. Regardless of signing a contract with the Washington Capitals in October 2020, he by no means suited up for a recreation with them. Thus ending his profession as a member of the Rangers, a franchise he ranks first in video games performed (887), wins (459) and shutouts (64). He’s additionally second in save proportion (.918) and goals-against common (2.43), solely behind present starter Igor Shesterkin.
Joyful Birthday to You
Aug. 20 has produced 21 NHL gamers through the years. The primary was Ernest Kenny, who was born on this date in 1907. He performed in 10 video games for the Rangers and Blackhawks in the course of the Thirties. The newest was Flames goaltender Dan Vladar, who was born on Aug. 20, 1997.
The participant who had essentially the most impactful profession of this lot is Chris Drury, who was born on Aug. 20, 1976. He received the Calder Trophy for being the league’s high rookie when he scored 20 targets and 44 factors for the Colorado Avalanche in the course of the 1998-99 season. He was an enormous a part of the Avalanche’s Stanley Cup win in 2001.
(THW Archives)
On the time of his retirement in 2011, Drury had performed in 892 video games, scoring 255 targets and 615 factors with the Avalanche, Buffalo Sabres, and Rangers. He’s at the moment the overall supervisor of the Rangers.
Different notable gamers born on this date embrace Al Hamilton (78), Steven Finn (58), Robert Dirk (58), Joe Vitale (39), Jyrki Jokipakka (33), and the late Ed Sanford.
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