During the NHL’s hiatus, we at the Last Word on Hockey are 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 June 29th, featuring P.K. Subban and Shea Weber.
Today in Hockey History
P.K. Subban Dealt to Predators for Shea Weber
2016: One of the wildest days in transactions takes place on this date. The New Jersey Devils acquire former top pick Taylor Hall from the Edmonton Oilers. Adam Larsson comes to Edmonton in return at 3:34 p.m. ET. Hall wins the Hart Trophy for MVP in the 2017-18 season.
The Montreal Canadiens and Nashville Predators swap All-Star defencemen just 20 minutes later. Montreal parts with the charismatic Subban for the Weber, who is Nashville’s captain. Subban helps the Predators reach their first Stanley Cup Final in franchise history the next season.
The Tampa Bay Lightning lock down Steven Stamkos for eight years just 13 minutes later. Stamkos spurns advances from other teams to stay with the only team he’s skated with.
Other Notable Events
1967: The expansion St. Louis Blues sign Hall of Fame defenceman Doug Harvey to coach their minor league team in Kansas City. Harvey comes out of retirement to play for the Blues in 1968.
1990: Montreal acquires Denis Savard 10 years after passing on him in the draft. The Habs send Chris Chelios to his hometown Chicago Blackhawks. Savard doesn’t score like he used to, but he’s important in Montreal’s 1993 Cup win. Chelios plays five years with the Blackhawks before being traded to the Detroit Red Wings. The American defenceman retires in 2010 after 1,651 games and 948 points (185 goals, 763 assists); he plays on three Cup-winning teams.
1995: Chicago names Craig Hartsburg as the team’s new head coach. He replaces Darryl Sutter, who resigned a month ago.
1999: The Ottawa Senators acquire Rob Zamuner and a future draft pick from Tampa Bay. Ottawa gets Andreas Johansson to complete a deal that allows Tampa to sign Ottawa general manager Rick Dudley.
2013: The Colorado Avalanche select Nathan MacKinnon with the first pick of the draft. Aleksander Barkov goes second to the Florida Panthers while Jonathan Drouin is picked third to Tampa Bay. Defenceman Seth Jones goes to Nashville at the No. 4 spot.
2018: Todd Reirden becomes the new head coach of the Washington Capitals. He replaces Barry Trotz, who joined the division rival New York Islanders. Reirden is the first coach to take over a Cup-winner since Dave Lewis did with Detroit in 2002.
Happy Birthday to You’
1918: Heini Lohrer
1948: Rick Smith
1959: Craig Hartsburg
1963: Peter Sidorkiewicz
1965: Brian Lawton
1968: Theoren Fleury
1971: Mike Sillinger
1981: Cherie Piper
