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 September 3rd, featuring Scott Stevens.
Today in Hockey History
Scott Stevens Awarded to Devils
1991: An arbitrator awards the defenceman to the New Jersey Devils after the St. Louis Blues sign Brendan Shanahan. New Jersey got Stevens as compensation per terms of the collective bargaining agreement. The Devils ask for Stevens while the Blues offer Rod Brind’Amour, Curtis Joseph and two draft picks.
St. Louis gave up five first-round picks to sign Stevens from the Washington Capitals the year before. New Jersey turns the corner with the rugged defender in the lineup and they win the Stanley Cup in 1995, 2000 and 2003. Stevens wins the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2000.
Other Notable Events
1966: The Boston Bruins sign defenceman Bobby Orr to his first professional contract. Orr inks a two-year deal worth $70,000 and a season ans a signing bonus. The contract is signed after months of negotiations between Boston and Orr’s agent, Alan Eagleson. Orr turns out to be worth every penny as he wins the Calder Trophy for rookie of the year. He adds eight straight Norris Trophies and Stanley Cups in 1970 and 1972.
1987: The Toronto Maple Leafs and Chicago Blackhawks make a blockbuster off-season trade. Toronto acquires Ed Olczyk and Al Secord while Chicago gets Rick Vaive, Steve Thomas and Bob McGill. Vaive nets 43 goals in the following season for Chicago while Thomas hits the 40-goal mark in his third season. Olczyk nets 112 goals in three seasons with the Leafs, but Secord never regains his 54-goal form free 1982-83. Secord scores 15 goals in 1987-88 and is traded in the middle of the next season.
1991: The New York Rangers sign restricted free agent forward Adam Graves. He scores seven goals for the Edmonton Oilers in 1990-91, but finds his scoring touch with the Blueshirts. He scores 26 goals in his first season on Broadway. Graves sets a team-record for goals with 52 in the 1993-94 seasons. He is a key part of the Rangers winning their first Stanley Cup since 1940.
2003: Boston signs free agent goalie Felix Potvin to a contract. He previously played parts of the last three seasons with the Los Angeles Kings. It’s the last season in the league for “Felix the Cat.” He goes 12-8-6 with a .903 save percentage and 2.51 goals-against-average.
Happy Birthday to You
1916: Doug Bentley
1942: Gary Jarrett
1946: Gerry Meehan
1949: Brian Spencer
1955: Ron Delorme
1972: Martin Straka
1974: Martin Gerber
1975: Cristobal Huet
1978: Michal Rozsival
1987: James Neal; Meghan Duggan
