10 Best 7th Round Picks Since 2005 & 10 NHL Oddities We’ll Never See Again
Also, some "Today in Hockey History", a lookback at Brett Lindros and Bryan Berard's careers, revisiting the Dan Boyle trade, and more.
Welcome to the THW Hockey History Substack newsletter, with all the best from our extensive archives.
Today in Hockey History: July 15
July 15 was a big date for head coaching changes in National Hockey League history. Two very successful coaches made decisions on this date, with one making a surprising exit with the other starting a decade of success. It’s time for our daily journey through the decades to relive all the top moments from this date.
10 Best 7th Round Picks Since 2005
The NHL Draft is used to try and level the playing field in the league. The teams near the bottom of the league standings get the opportunity to draft first in the draft, getting the first chance at some of the best players of that class.
Brett Lindros: A Promising Career Cut Short
Everyone has heard of Eric Lindros. He was the first overall pick in 1991 and started his career with a bang, refusing to sign with the Quebec Nordiques, the team that drafted him. That forced them to trade him to the Philadelphia Flyers, where he went on to be one of the biggest stars of the 1990s. Although concussions and other injuries derailed his career, he still earned a place in the Hall of Fame in 2016.
Today in Hockey History: July 14
July 14 was a day that saw two big-name general managers hired by two “Original Six” franchises. Also, some future head coaches and executives were on the move during the playing days, and a Hall of Fame goalie gets a new home. The THW time machine is gassed up and ready to take back through the decades to relive all the best from this date.
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Ultimate Perseverance: the Bryan Berard Story
In today’s article, we look back at the life and career of former New York Islanders defenceman Bryan Berard. From his early life growing up in Rhode Island to becoming a young star in the NHL, we reflect on his journey in which he showed ultimate perseverance by returning to the league following a life-altering injury.
10 NHL Oddities We’ll Never See Again
The saying is that records are meant to be broken, but in certain cases, they simply won’t be broken. Barring radical changes to the playing style and rules of the NHL, it’s highly unlikely that we’ll ever see anything like the below occurrences.
Today in Hockey History: July 13
July 13 has been all about returning to sites of great success throughout National Hockey League history. A handful of Hall of Fame players and coaches made return trips to teams they were either drafted by or hoisted Stanley Cups for. So, let’s begin our daily trip back in time to relive all the best this date has to offer.
Revisiting the Dan Boyle Trade That’s Still Impacting the Lightning
In 2022, the Tampa Bay Lightning competed in their first-ever Stanley Cup playoff series against their in-state rival Florida Panthers. The two teams have a long history of playing against each other in the Sunshine State Showdown but have never made any blockbuster transactions on the business side of the game. The Lightning, however, did make arguably one of the best trades in franchise history when they acquired defenseman Dan Boyle from the Panthers. He not only played a key role in the Lightning’s 2004 Stanley Cup win, but his trade ultimately led to the addition of Andrei Vasilevskiy.
