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Today in Hockey History: Pittsburgh Penguins Take Sidney Crosby First

Hockey is finally back, but we at Last Word on Hockey are still 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 30th, featuring Sidney Crosby.

Today in Hockey History

Sidney Crosby Taken First Overall by Penguins

2005: The Pittsburgh Penguins get their franchise player when they take the Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia native. Crosby is billed as a generational talent after plying his trade with Rimouski of the QMJHL. Pittsburgh wins a weighted lottery because of their worst record during the 2003-04 season. There was no season in 2004-05 due to the lockout and special drawing was held.

Crosby wins three Stanley Cups with the Penguins and two Conn Smythe Awards. The draft also sees the Montreal Canadiens take Carey Price at No. 5. Anze Kopitar is selected 11th by the Los Angeles Kings and Patric Hornqvist is taken last at 230 by the Nashville Predators.

Other Notable Events

1936: Montreal names two-time Stanley Cup-winning Cecil Hart as its new head coach. He replaces Sylvio Mantha behind the bench. Hart gets fired 30 games into the 1938-39 season after the Habs struggle to sixth. He dies after a long illness in July 1940. Hart’s father, David, donated the league’s MVP trophy in the 1923 season.

1982: Pittsburgh signs undrafted free agent defenceman Marty McSorley to a contract. He spends parts of two seasons with the Penguins before joining the Edmonton Oilers.

1998: Six-time Stanley Cup winner Kevin Lowe calls it a career. The former Oilers and New York Rangers defenceman plays 19 seasons in the league. He was the first draft pick after the Oilers joined the NHL. Lowe becomes Oilers’ coach in 1999 and is promoted to general manager in 2000. He adds titles of president of hockey operations in 2008 and vice chair, alternate governor of Oilers Entertainment Group in 2015.

2003: The Detroit Red Wings sign Columbus Blue Jackets leading scorer Ray Whitney. He lasts one season in Hockeytown before heading to the Carolina Hurricanes. Whitney would be instrumental in Carolina’s only Stanley Cup in 2006.

2018: Jarome Iginla retires in Calgary after 20 seasons in the league. He spends 16 of those campaigns with the Calgary Flames after coming over in a trade from the Dallas Stars. Iginla is the Flames all-time leader in goals (525) and points (1,095). He finishes his career with 1,300 points (625 goals, 675 assists) in in 1,554 NHL games.