This day has seen its fair share of memorable events in National Hockey League history. The Los Angeles Kings have signed the future defensive end to his first professional contract. Also, there was a front office shakeup in Toronto and the birth of the Hall of Fame network. The THW time machine is on and ready to take us on our daily journey back in time.
Kings Strengthen Their Blue Line
On August 11, 2008, the Kings signed defenseman Drew Doughty to his first NHL contract. They selected him with the second overall pick of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, behind Steven Stamkos, after a successful youth career with the Guelph Storm in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).
Doughty was on the opening night lineup for the Kings. He played in 81 games in his rookie season, scoring six goals and 27 points. His offensive numbers peaked in 2009-10 when he scored 16 goals and 59 points. 16 goals is still the high water mark of his career thus far, and he didn't reach 60 points until the 2017-18 season.
There are many adjectives that describe Doughty, but honest is one of the best that applies. He averaged 26:13 of ice time per game in his career. Since entering the league, only Ryan Suter has averaged more ice time than Doughty.
The player from London, Ontario is still one of the best defenders in the league. He has been a four-time All-Star in this career. He was a big part of the Kings' Stanley Cup victories in 2012 and 2014, and won the 2016 Norris Trophy by being voted the best blueliner in the NHL.
Stellick Goes Down
Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Gord Stellick resigned on Aug. 11, 1989. He started working for the Maple Leafs when he was only 17 years old. He made history in April of 1988 by becoming the youngest general manager in major league history at just 30 years old. Floyd Smith was appointed in his place four days later.
Stellick's tenure with the Maple Leafs lasted only 16 months as he expressed disinterest in team owner Harold Ballard when he resigned. The New York Rangers hired him as an assistant general manager, but he was fired from that position in 1991.
With his managerial career over, Stellick stepped behind the microphone. He has had a successful broadcasting career, hosting various radio and television programs in Toronto including the Maple Leafs.
Odds & Ends
The New York Rangers purchased Max Bentley's contract from the Maple Leafs on Aug. 11, 1953. Bentley became a star with the Chicago Blackhawks, playing with his brothers Doug and Reg between 1940 and 1947. He won the Hart Trophy, as the league's MVP, in 1946 after scoring 31 goals and a career-high 61 points. In 1947, Bentley was traded to the Maple Leafs, where he was part of a team that won three Stanley Cups in four seasons.
He played 57 games in the 1953-54 season, scoring 14 goals and 32 points. When he refused to report to practice the following fall, his rights reverted to the Maple Leafs. When they refused to meet Bentley's request for a raise, they agreed to release him to become a player/coach for the Saskatoon Quakers in the Western Hockey League (WHL). Repeated back injuries forced him to retire in 1955.
The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim reacquired Stu Grimson on Aug. 11, 1998. Traded David Karpa, and a fourth round draft pick to the Carolina Hurricanes for Grimson and Kevin Haller. He was a member of the Ducks' first team after being selected in the 1993 NHL Expansion Draft. He played a total of 231 games in a Ducks uniform.
On August 11, 2007, the Phoenix Coyotes acquired Radim Vrbata from the Blackhawks for Kevyn Adams. He finished second in scoring for the Coyotes in the 2007-08 season with 27 goals and 56 points. He signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning the following summer and was traded back to the Coyotes, in July 2009, to stay with the team longer. Vrbata had three complete games with the Coyotes and played in 509 games, scoring 157 goals and 343 points.
On August 11, 2020, Dillon Dube scored two first-period goals to lead the Calgary Flames to a 2-0 victory over the Dallas Stars in Game 1 of their First Round playoff series in Edmonton.
Later that day in Toronto, the Tampa Bay Lightning and Columbus Blue Jackets opened their first round series. Yanni Gourde tied the game 2-2 just 23 minutes into the third period and it took a long time for another goal to come in. At 10:27 of the fifth overtime period, Brayden Point scored his second goal of the game to give the Lightning a 3-2 victory and a 1-0 series lead. 90:27 of overtime made this the fourth longest playoff game in NHL history. Blue Jackets defenseman Seth Jones led all players with an impressive 65:06 time on ice.
happy Birthday to you
There have been 21 players born on this day who have skated in the NHL. The first was singer Connie Dion in 1918. He played 38 games for the Detroit Red Wings between 1943 and 1945. Latest birthday is Aug. 11 was Montreal Canadiens goaltender Cayden Primeau, born on this day in 1999.
Goaltender Chuck Rayner is the team's only Hall of Famer, born Aug. 11, 1920, Sutherland, Saskatchewan. He made his NHL debut with the New York Americans in the 1940-41 season at age 20. When the group disbanded in 1942, he spent three years serving in the Royal Canadian Navy during World War II.
He returned to the NHL in 1945 when he signed with the Rangers. He played eight seasons, going 123-178-73 with a 2.98 goals-against average (GAA). He won the Hart Trophy, as the league's most valuable player, for his performance in 1949-50, a season that ended with a doubleheader loss to the Red Wings in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1973 despite never having a winning record in any of his 10 NHL seasons.
Former Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin was born on Aug. 11, 1965. He played in more games than any player born on this day, making 1,191 appearances as a defender for eight different teams over 20 seasons.
(Amy Irvin / Hockey Writers)
Ken Linseman is the team's top scorer. He scored 256 goals and 807 points in 860 games with the Philadelphia Flyers, Edmonton Oilers, Boston Bruins, and Maple Leafs.
Some notable players born on Aug. 11 include Dave Shand (68), Aaron Miller (53), Lubomir Visnovsky (48), Jason Williams (44), Alex Kerfoot (30), and the late Larry Popein.
*Originally created by Greg Boysen
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