1986 - Canucks trade Cam Neely to Boston
After three seasons with the Vancouver Canucks, former first-round pick Cam Neely is traded to the Boston Bruins along with their first-round pick in the 1987 draft in exchange for Barry Pederson in what will go down as one of the most lopsided trades in NHL history.
Neely never recorded more than 21 goals and 39 points in a season with Vancouver, but the young star explodes (36 goals, 72 points) in his first season with Boston, kicking off a five-year stretch of dominant play.
Vancouver's pick in 1987 is third overall and the Bruins use it to select defenseman Glen Wesley, who will play 1,457 games in his career. Meanwhile, Pederson plays two quality seasons with the Canucks before fading away and being dealt to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1989 for far less than Neely and Wesley.
1989 - Wayne Gretzky wins record ninth Hart Trophy
The Great One is awarded his ninth Hart Trophy after posting 54 goals and 168 points with the Los Angeles Kings, becoming the first and only player to win an award nine times.
It is the most productive season Gretzky will record as a member of the Kings, whom he would lead to a Stanley Cup Final berth in 1993.
1967 - First NHL expansion draft
The NHL holds its first expansion draft to fill the rosters of its six new teams. A total of 120 players are selected from the Original Six franchises, who are allowed to protect one goaltender and 1 position player on their rosters.
The Los Angeles Kings pluck future Hall of Fame goaltender Terry Sawchuk from the Toronto Maple Leafs with the first-overall pick. The first 12 picks are all goaltenders, including names like Bernie Parent, Glenn Hall and Charlie Hodge.
Birthdays
1958 - Ed Giacomin
1958 - Wayne Babych
1965 - Cam Neely
1974 - Anson Carter
1987 - Niklas Hjalmarsson