THW Hockey History Substack - Oct. 2, 2023
Welcome to the THW Hockey History Substack newsletter, with all the best from our extensive archives.
In today’s edition, we have a couple “Today in Hockey History” posts, revisiting the Cal Clutterbuck-Nino Niederreiter swap between the Minnesota Wild and New York Islanders, a biography of Phil Kessel, an unhappy reunion with Glenn Anderson, and more.
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Now on to the good stuff…
Today in Hockey History: Oct. 1
Oct. 1 has been a very busy day over the years. The greatest player in NHL history had his number retired by the team he started his career with. The greatest coach ever returned to the bench to lead another team to the promised land. There were new captains named, plenty of trades, and even a retirement. So, let’s take our daily trip back in time to relive all the memories from this date.
Revisiting the Cal Clutterbuck-Nino Niederreiter Trade
In the years when the New York Islanders consistently finished at the bottom of the standings, then-general manager Garth Snow made one of the most talked-about trades among Islanders fans. It was a simple swap of Nino Niederreiter for Cal Clutterbuck, but the deal will always be debated. Let’s take a look back at the trade that was made on July 1, 2013, between the Islanders and the Minnesota Wild.
Today in Hockey History: Oct. 2
This has been a very busy day in NHL history. The greatest offensive defenseman ever took his place at the top of the goals list, a new franchise debuted, multiple captains were named, and a season began in Europe. It is time for our daily journey through the decades to relive all the best moments Oct. 2 has given us.
Phil Kessel – Biography
Few players in the NHL have dealt with a rollercoaster-like career quite like the one Phil Kessel has. From being drafted high in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft to his battle with cancer and subsequent trade to the Toronto Maple Leafs, Kessel’s career started off with as many peaks as it had valleys. After a tumultuous time in Toronto, Kessel’s trade to the Penguins seemed to finally establish him as one of the most likable guys in the entire NHL. It also made him a two-time Stanley Cup champion.
Oilers’ Unhappy Reunion with Glenn Anderson 25 Years Later
There have been many instances of former players returning to the Edmonton Oilers years after their initial go-round with the National Hockey League club.
Kevin Lowe came back to provide invaluable leadership and championship experience that helped the new generation of Oilers achieve their first playoff success.
Ryan Smyth’s homecoming righted what many saw as a terrible wrong, allowing the universally beloved winger to close his career with the team he never wanted to leave.
And then there’s the curious case of Glenn Anderson.