Training camps are 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 27th, featuring the Chris Pronger for Brendan Shanahan deal.
Today in Hockey History
Blues Trade Brendan Shanahan to Whalers for Chris Pronger
1995: The St. Louis Blues and Hartford Whalers pull off a sweep for a pair of future Hall of Famers. St. Louis sends Brendan Shanahan to Hartford in exchange for Chris Pronger. His career takes off while with the Blues for nine seasons. Pronger helps the Edmonton Oilers to the 2006 Stanley Cup Final. He wins his coveted title with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007. Injuries force him to retire as a member of the Philadelphia Flyers in 2012 and enters the Hall in 2015.
Shanahan scores 44 goals for the Whalers in his first season, but is traded to the Detroit Red Wings in Oct. 1996. The power forward wins Stanley Cups in 1997, 1998 and 2002 with the Wings. He retires with 1,354 points (656 goals, 698 assists) in 1,524 NHL games. Shanahan makes it into the Hall in 2013.
Other Notable Events
1986: Veteran defenceman Dave Lewis signs a deal with Detroit after leaving the New Jersey Devils. Lewis ends up coaching the Red Wings in 2002 and he wins two Central Division titles. However, Detroit is eliminated opening round and he is fired at the end of the 2003-04 season.
1988: Inventor Frank Zamboni passes away at the age of 87. He creates the Zamboni machine that resurfaces the ice in short order. The process is becomes shortened to a 15-minute job that requires only one person. The Boston Bruins are the first NHL team to use one in 1954 and they become popular everywhere.
1994: The Flyers ink left winger Shjon Podein to a deal. He scored 15 goals with Philadelphia in the 1995-96 season. Podein repeats the feat with the Colorado Avalanche in 2000-01.
1999: The Washington Capitals sign veteran forward Joe Sacco to a contract. He plays three seasons with the Caps and scores seven goals in the 1999-2000 and 2000-01 campaigns.
Happy Birthday to You
1914: George Allen
1949: Andre Dupont
1967: Craig Wolanin
1969: Jason Woolley
1987: Sarah Parsons
