* 1989 – Ron Hextall becomes the first goaltender in NHL history to score a goal in the playoffs.

Federko scored at least 90 points in seven of the eight seasons between 1978 and 1986, and became the first player in NHL history to record at least 50 assists in 10 consecutive seasons.

In 1946, one of the greatest players in hockey history came into the NHL with the Red Wings.

By his second season, Howe was paired with Sid Abel and Ted Lindsay to form what would become one of the great lines in NHL history – the " Production Line ".

He had coached for 15 years and served as general manager for 31 years on a handshake, and his 36 – year tenure as general manager is still the longest for any general manager in NHL history.

This was the first time in NHL history a game had been postponed by injury.

Yzerman retired with the additional distinction of having been the longest-serving team captain in NHL history. Nicklas Lidstrom, the former captain of the Wings

Although they finished second in the conference to the San Jose Sharks, the Wings became the first team in NHL history to top 100 points in nine straight seasons.

After losing the first three games of the series against the Sharks, the Red Wings won three consecutive games to force a Game 7, becoming just the eighth team in NHL history to accomplish the feat ( the Chicago Blackhawks became the seventh team to do so earlier in the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs, against the Vancouver Canucks ).

* 1980 – Gordie Howe of the then Hartford Whalers makes NHL history as he scores his 800th goal.

He is the leading point-scorer in NHL history, with more assists than any other player has points, and is the only NHL player to total over 200 points in one season – a feat he accomplished four times.

In addition to being its greatest scorer, Gretzky was the most gentlemanly superstar in the modern history of the NHL.

The season still stands as the highest point total by a first year player in NHL history.

He ended the 1981 – 82 season with records of 92 goals, 120 assists, and 212 points in 80 games, becoming the only player in NHL history to break the two hundred-point mark.

In 1997, prior to his retirement, The Hockey News named a committee of 50 hockey experts ( former NHL players, past and present writers, broadcasters, coaches and hockey executives ) to select and rank the 50 greatest players in NHL history.

* On August 9, 1988, in what became the biggest trade in NHL history ( also known as " The Trade Of The Century "), Wayne Gretzky was traded along with teammates Marty McSorley and Mike Krushelnyski from Edmonton to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Martin Gelinas, Jimmy Carson, three first round draft picks, and $ 15 million cash ( approximately $ 18 million CAD in 1988 ).

The Islanders won four consecutive Stanley Cup championships between 1980 and 1983, the eighth of the nine dynasties recognized by the NHL in its history.

However, this young and inexperienced expansion team posted a record of 12 – 60 – 6, one of the worst in NHL history.

In 1975, the Islanders made one of the biggest turnarounds in NHL history.

The Isles evened the series, which set the stage for one of the most famous games in NHL history: the " Easter Epic ".

The Islanders finished with the worst record in the NHL and the second-worst season in franchise history ; the team's 0. 317 winning percentage that year was only ahead of only 1972 – 73's. 192.

Despite his arrival, the team struggled in 1969 – 70 recording only 17 wins — the fewest in franchise history ( as of completion of the 2010 – 11 season — and set the NHL team record for most ties ( 24 ).

That same month, Clarke was the youngest player ( at that time ) in NHL history to be named team captain, replacing Ed Van Impe.

As a reward, Federko was drafted 7th overall by the St. Louis Blues in the 1976 NHL Amateur Draft.

Following the 1926 Stanley Cup playoffs, during which the Western Hockey League was widely reported to be on the verge of folding, the NHL held a meeting on April 17 to consider applications for expansion franchises, at which it was reported that five different groups sought a team for Detroit.

He was succeeded as team president by his daughter, Marguerite, the first ( and as of the 2006 – 07 season, only ) woman to head an NHL franchise.

Joseph, despite being one of the highest-paid players in the NHL, spent part of the season in the minor leagues, but after Hasek was sidelined for the season with an injury, Joseph led the team to the top of the Central Division and the league standings.

The letters of the captain and alternate captains were moved to the player's right shoulder ; Detroit is the only team in the league that made this change ( the change was necessitated by the stitching of the sweater ), although the 2008 NHL All Star jerseys featured this as well, and the Captain and Alternate Captain's letters have switched back to the left shoulder as of the 2011 – 12 NHL Season.

This jersey was also a basis for the uniforms worn by Wayne Gretzky's team of NHLPA All-Stars, nicknamed the " 99ers ", for their exhibition tour in Europe during the 1994 – 95 NHL lockout ; a picture of Gretzky in this jersey was used for the cover art of a video game bearing his name.

Armstrong's home in Yonkers also received designation in both the NHL and the National Register of Historic Places, but both were withdrawn when the house was later demolished.

This was done in two phases to allow for the hosting of the NHL Winter Classic.

The trophy was first awarded at the conclusion of the 1953 – 54 NHL season.

In 1997 Nashville was awarded an NHL expansion team which was subsequently named the Nashville Predators.

In 1978, the World Hockey Association ( WHA ) league was in competition with the established NHL.

Birmingham Bulls owner John F. Bassett wanted to confront the NHL by signing as many young and promising superstars as possible and saw Gretzky as the most promising young prospect, but it was Racers owner Nelson Skalbania who signed 17-year-old Gretzky to a seven-year personal services contract worth $ 1. 75 million US.

Skalbania opted to have Gretzky sign a personal-services contract rather than a standard player contract in part because he knew a deal to take some WHA teams into the NHL was in the works.

Gretzky's success in the WHA carried over into the NHL, despite some critics suggesting he would flounder in what was considered the bigger, tougher, and more talented league.

In his first NHL season, 1979 – 80, Gretzky was awarded the Hart Memorial Trophy as the League's Most Valuable Player ( the first of eight in a row ) and tied for the scoring lead with Marcel Dionne with 137 points.

Gretzky became the youngest player to score 50 goals but was not eligible for the Calder Memorial Trophy, given to the top NHL rookie, because of his previous year of WHA experience.

By the time he finished playing in Edmonton, he held or shared 49 NHL records, which in itself was a record.

The same success was not immediate when they joined the NHL, but within four seasons, the Oilers were competing for the Stanley Cup.