On this date, the Los Angeles Kings introduced again one of many nice gamers within the historical past of their franchise for the third time. As well as, a spectacular teaching transfer has lastly been formalized. Plus, some proficient Stanley Cup winners rejoice their birthdays right now. Let’s start our day by day journey again in time to relive all the very best reminiscences July 24 has left us.
Robitaille Returns to Hollywood… Once more
The Kings signed free agent Luc Robitaille on July 24, 2003. It was the third time Robitaille wore a Kings jersey. He was initially the most effective draft picks in franchise historical past when he was chosen within the ninth spherical (171st in complete) of the 1984 NHL Entry Draft.
His first stint with the Kings laid the inspiration for his Corridor of Fame profession. He received the Calder Trophy, for being the highest rookie of the 1986-87 season, scoring 45 targets and 84 factors. He scored at the least 44 targets in every of his first eight seasons in Los Angeles, together with 63 in 1992-93, which ended with a visit to the Stanley Cup Finals.
(Picture by Bruce Bennett Studios by way of Getty Photos Studios/Getty Photos)
In July 1994, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Rick Tocchet and a second-round draft choose that become Pavel Rosa. After one season with the Penguins, he was dealt to the New York Rangers.
Robitaille returned to Los Angeles earlier than the 1997-98 season when the Kings traded Kevin Stevens for him. He performed 4 seasons in his second stint, scoring 128 targets and 276 factors. He signed with the Detroit Pink Wings in the summertime of 2001. He scored 30 targets and 50 factors through the common season and received his one and solely Stanley Cup within the spring of 2002.
His third spherical with the Kings lasted two seasons, the final two of his NHL profession. He scored 37 targets and 75 factors earlier than retiring in 2006. Robitaille is the franchise’s all-time main scorer with 557 targets. He’s fifth with 597 assists and second in factors with 1,154. Marcel Dionne is the one participant to attain extra factors than Robitaille in a Kings uniform.
Keenan Transfer finalized
The nice Mike Keenan drama of 1994 lastly ended on this date. Keenan resigned as head coach of the Rangers on July 15, 1994, simply weeks after main them to the Stanley Cup championship. Two days later, the St. Louis Blues introduced that he had been employed as their new head coach and basic supervisor.
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The transfer was made official on July 24, 1994, when Gary Bettman lastly accepted the transfer. The Rangers acquired heart Petr Nedved whereas sending ahead Esa Tikkanen and defenseman Doug Lidster to St. Louis to finalize the signing of Keenan.
Nedved scored 11 targets and 23 factors in 46 video games through the 1994-95 season. He was traded to the Penguins in August 1995, together with defenseman Sergei Zubov, for Robitaille and defenseman Ulf Samuelsson. The Penguins traded Nedved in 1998 as a part of the Alex Kovalev deal.
Tikkanen performed 54 video games for the Blues over the following two seasons, scoring 13 targets and 40 factors. He was traded to the New Jersey Devils for a draft choose at first of the 1995–96 season. Lidster solely performed 37 video games within the 1994-95 season. He was traded to Rangers within the offseason for fellow defenseman Jay Wells.
Like most of his NHL saves, Keenan’s stint with the Blues did not final very lengthy. He was dismissed simply 33 video games into his third season.
All the pieces and nothing
On July 24, 1995, the Florida Panthers named Doug MacLean as their new head coach. He changed Roger Neilson, turning into the second head coach in franchise historical past. He led the Panthers to the Stanley Cup Finals in his first season behind the bench. They missed the playoffs in 1997 and he was fired after a 7-12-4 begin to the 1997-98 season.
The San Jose Sharks acquired former playoff hero Stephane Matteau on July 24, 1997 from the Blues, in alternate for Darren Turcotte. Matteau spent the following 5 seasons with the Sharks, the place he scored 55 targets and 119 factors in 345 video games. It was the longest stint with a crew in his 13-season NHL profession, which additionally noticed stops with the Calgary Flames, Chicago Blackhawks, Rangers and Panthers.
The Flames signed free agent Dave Lowry on July 24, 2000. The veteran ahead was named captain for the 2000-01 season, the 17e captain in franchise historical past. His first season in Calgary was the most effective of his profession, with 18 targets and 35 factors. He spent a complete of 4 seasons with the Flames, serving as captain in two of them.
Joyful birthday
A complete of 23 present and former NHL gamers have been born on July 24. Jamie Langenbrunner, born on this date in 1975, performed 1,109 video games with the Stars, Devils and Dallas Blues throughout his profession. He scored 243 targets and 663 factors, successful the Stanley Cup with the Stars in 1999 and the Devils in 2003.
Patrice Bergeron, born July 24, 1985, handed Langenbrunner for essentially the most video games performed at first of the 2020-21 season. He’s essentially the most scoring participant born on this date with 427 targets, 613 assists and 1,040 factors in 1,294 video games.
(Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)
He received a document six Frank J. Selke Trophies for being the league’s high defensive ahead. Bergeron received the Stanley Cup with the Boston Bruins in 2011. He was additionally instrumental within the Bruins’ Japanese Convention championships in 2013 and 2019.
Different notable gamers born on this date embody Jack O’ Calahan (66), Nathan Gerbe (36), Trevor van Riemsdyk (32), Robin Lehner (32) and Tanner Kero (31).
