Aug. 7 saw one of the greatest goaltenders of all-time change addresses and finally get his chance to be a full-time starter. Also, this was a busy date for former number one overall picks, with one being traded and another being born. So, let’s begin our daily trip back in time to enjoy all that this date has given us through the years.
Hasek Traded to Buffalo
Back in 1992, the Chicago Blackhawks had a problem that every NHL general manager wished they had; two outstanding young goaltenders on the roster. They had both Ed Belfour and Dominik Hasek under contract but only one net to start them in. This led them to trade one of the future Hockey Hall of Famers.
(Photo by Denis Brodeur/NHLI via Getty Images)
On Aug. 7, 1992, the Blackhawks shipped Hasek to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for goaltender Stephane Beauregard and a fourth-round pick in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft. Hasek eventually became the starter in Buffalo and had great success.
He appeared in 491 games over nine seasons with the Sabers, posting a record of 234-170-70 with a .926 save percentage (SV%), 2.22 goals-against average (GAA), and 55 shutouts. He won five Vezina Trophies for being voted the best goaltender in the league. In 1999, he won 13 postseason games helping the Sabres reach the Stanley Cup Final. He was traded to the Detroit Red Wings in 2001.
(THW Archives)
Belfour remained the Blackhawks’ starting goaltender until 1997. Beauregard never played in Chicago. Three days after the Hasek trade, he was moved to the Winnipeg Jets for Christian Ruuttu, who put up 90 points in three seasons with the Blackhawks. The fourth-round pick was used to select Eric Daze. He scored 226 goals and 398 points in 601 career games for the Blackhawks.
Busy Date for Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins made a bevy moves on this date over the years. On Aug. 7, 1976, they signed free-agent goaltender Denis Herron. This was his second of three stints with the Penguins in his 14-season NHL career. Herron went 88-133-44 with a .886 SV% and 3.88 GAA over his 290 games in a Penguins sweater.
On Aug. 7, 1997, they re-signed center Martin Straka. The Penguins originally drafted Straka with the 19th overall pick of the 1992 NHL Entry Draft. He scored 30 goals during the 1993-94 season before being traded to the Ottawa Senators for Troy Murray and Norm Maciver.
He scored a career-high 35 goals during the 1998-99 season. He…
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