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Today in Hockey History: Tampa Bay Lightning Sign Martin St. Louis

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 31st, featuring Martin St Louis.

Today in Hockey History

Martin St Louis Signs with Tampa Bay

2000: The Tampa Bay Lightning sign the 25-year-old free agent to a deal. He got used mostly as a checking forward by the Calgary Flames, but the former Vermont product flourishes in Florida. St. Louis makes the most of his increased ice time and scores 30 goals in 2002-03. He wins the Hart Trophy, the Art Ross Trophy and the Ted Lindsay Award in 2003-04. The Laval, Quebec native is key in Tampa’s Stanley Cup win that season.

St. Louis has NHL career highs of 43 goals and 102 points in 2006-07 and wins another scoring title in 2012-13 with 60 points in 48 games during the lockout-shortened season. Tampa deals him to the New York Rangers in 2013-14 and he helps the Blueshirts reach the final. He retires one year later with 1,033 points (391 goals, 642 assists) in 1,134 NHL games. The veteran forward is inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018.

Other Notable Events

1995: The Philadelphia Flyers sign veteran centre Joel Otto. He had spent the previous 11 seasons with the Flames.

The Rangers and St. Louis Blues swap defenceman as the Blueshirts deal Jay Wells for Doug Lidster.

1998: The Los Angeles Kings acquire goalie Manny Legace from the Carolina Hurricanes. Carolina gets a conditional draft choice in return.

2000: The Hurricanes sign veteran defenceman Kevin Hatcher. It would be his final season in the league where he played 57 games and scored four goals.

2003: The Pittsburgh Penguins sign veteran free agents Mike Eastwood and Kelly Buchberger to contracts.

2006: Dominik Hasek returns to the Detroit Red Wings after playing for the Ottawa Senators in 2005-06. “The Dominator” spends his final two seasons in Detroit and helps the Wings to Stanley Cup in 2008.

2008: The Chicago Blackhawks name Scotty Bowman as a senior adviser. He is the father of team general manager Stan Bowman and won nine titles as a coach. He’s part of Chicago’s Cup winners in 2010, 2013 and 2015.