During the NHL’s hiatus, we at Last Word on Hockey are going to look back at each date’s historical significance to the game. We’ll remember the moments that shaped the sport of hockey that happened on this day. Here’s our look at this date in hockey history for July 13th, featuring George McPhee.
Today in Hockey History
George McPhee Hired as Knights GM
2016: The Vegas Golden Knights hire the former Washington Capitals general manager to the same position. McPhee helped the team to seven Southeast Division titles and 10 post-season berths. Washington also made the Stanley Cup Final in 1998 and won the President’s Trophy in 2009-10. He lasted as Capitals’ general manager for 17 seasons.
McPhee quickly builds the Golden Knights into a winner as they smartly draft a contending roster straight away. Vegas wins the Pacific Division and reaches the Final in its inaugural season. He wins general manger of the year honours for his quick build of the team. McPhee’s old team beats the Golden Knights to win their first Stanley Cup.
Other Notable Events
1950: Stanley Cup hero Pete Babando is traded from the Detroit Red Wings to the Chicago Black Hawks. Babando won Game 7 of the Final at 8:31 of the second overtime to beat the New York Rangers. He’s part of a nine-player trade between the rivals. The Pennsylvania native nets 18 goals and 37 points in his first season with Chicago.
1990: The St. Louis Blues trade Peter Zezel and Mike Lalor to the Capitals for winger Geoff Courtnall.
1998: The Carolina Hurricanes sign unrestricted free agent Ron Francis to a contract. He helped the team reach the 2002 Stanley Cup Final and was the team’s GM from 2014-2018.
2000: Mark Messier returns to the Rangers after three seasons with the Vancouver Canucks. The former captain signs a two-year deal with the club in one of Glen Sather‘s first moves in charge. Messier plays four seasons with the team, but the Rangers miss the post-season in all of them.
2005: The NHL and NHL Players Association announce a tentative deal to end the lockout that wiped out the 2004-05 season. It’s a six-year agreement that still needed to be ratified by the players and the owners. The agreement also introduces a hard salary cap for the first time in league history.
2009: Jacques Lemaire returns for a second coaching stint with the New Jersey Devils. He replaces Brent Sutter behind the bench and last two seasons. Lemaire had coached the last eight seasons with the Minnesota Wild.
Happy Birthday to You
1892: Punch Broadbent
1922: Ken Mosdell
1943: Bill Collins
1963: Bob Carpenter
1976: Sheldon Souray
1993: Mike Reilly
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