10 Moments That Permanently Changed NHL History

The NHL has had many moments throughout its history, but only a few such as the Wayne Gretzky trade truly transcend the game. The addition of Gary Bettman as commissioner was another moment that still impacts the NHL today.

There are many moments to choose from, and here are 10 moments that permanently altered the history of the game.

The 2004-05 Lockout

Prior to the 2004-05 lockout, there was only one season in which the Stanley Cup was not awarded. That all changed on February 16, 2005 when the NHL and NHLPA cancelled the 2004-05 season after failing to find a reasonable way to equally split revenue. 

The lockout was one of the darkest moments in the league's history, because money was put ahead of the good of the game. The NHL did go through another lockout in 2012-13, but the lockout of 2004-05 was league-altering in many ways.

Willie O'Ree Makes NHL Debut in 1958-59

Jackie Robinson famously broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball when he suited up for the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1940s. The NHL had a similar watershed moment in the 1950s, when Willie O'Ree made his NHL debut with the Boston Bruins.

O'Ree only had a short NHL career, but he paved the way for other African Americans to become professional hockey players.

Jacques Plante Dons a Mask

On November 1, 1959, Andy Bathgate and Jacques Plante were involved in a moment that forever altered NHL history. Plante was in goal for the Montreal Canadiens when Bathgate of the New York Rangers released a tremendous blast.

Bathgate successfully lifted the puck at an extreme velocity and drew blood from Plante. After a brief absence, Plante returned to the ice wearing a mask.

It was the first time a goaltender wore a mask for an extended period. Plante had previously wore a mask in practice.

At the time Plante was the league's top goaltender, and his endorsement of a mask led to other goaltenders donning a piece of cloth and fiberglass. 

Wayne Gretzky Trade

On August 9, 1988, NHL history was made when Wayne Gretzky was dealt by the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings. Peter Pocklington was hemorrhaging money, and he needed to get out of Gretzky's contract.

General manager Glen Sather says he wanted to break up the trade because he didn't want to get rid of the best player he ever coached.

However, the trade did a ton of good for the NHL. Gretzky's time in California helped foster connections. It developed a greater appreciation for hockey in the United States.

To this day, any player in the NHL never has job security, because if Gretzky was traded, anyone can be traded.

The Stastny Brothers Defect for NHL

In 1980, the Stastny brothers became the first Europeans to defect to the NHL. The brothers left communism and risked their lives to play in the NHL. The result of the brothers' jump to the NHL was historic.

The three brothers played tremendous hockey, but more importantly, they inspired numerous players to make the jump. Ponder this for a second: Would Jaromir Jagr be an NHL player if the Stastnys had stayed in Slovakia?

That is a tough question to answer in hindsight, but the contributions they made to the NHL forever changed history. The Stastnys were trailblazers, and European players owe them a huge debt for their tremendous risk.

Two-Referee System Introduced in 2000-01

Since the 2000-01 season, the NHL has used two referees. Prior to that, one referee was tasked with managing the antics on the ice. It is hard to comprehend that only one official was tasked with keeping track of goals, penalties and other rules, but it was a reality at one point.

Although referees still get a ton of flack today (see this erroneous non-goal from the playoffs this year), things could be a lot worse in 2013-14 if only one referee was still in total control. 

Safety Nets Installed in Rinks as a Result of Brittanie Cecil's Death

There have been a number of dark days in the NHL's history, and this was one of the darkest. On March 16, 2002, a young fan named Brittanie Cecil at a Columbus Blue Jacket game was struck with a deflected puck. 

She left the game, and two days later her life was over. It was a saddening moment for all involved, and the league had to take action.

Gary Bettman commented on the incident and steps the league needed to take at a Board of Governors meeting back in 2002. According to this AP report (via Sports Illustrated):

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Bettman said there hasn't been a day since the accident that he hasn't thought of her. "Our buildings are safe, but when we've had a tragedy like we had, it's time to reevaluate," Bettman said. "I believe at the end of this process, we'll do the right thing. ... We're doing a thorough analysis of what must be done to improve safety."

"

The following fall, NHL arenas had extra safety nets installed so that further incidents could be prevented.

Gary Bettman Becomes Comissioner

On December 12, 1992, Gary Bettmann became the NHL's first official commissioner, and since then there has been a ton of change. Money Players by Bruce Dowbiggin and The Instigator by Jonathon Gatehouse are two great books that talk about Bettman's tenure as commissioner. 

He arguably is the league's most powerful and polarizing figure in its almost 100-year history, and since he took office the league has become drastically different.

The league has gained national exposure, revenue has increased, and the reach of the sport has grown through billion-dollar television contracts. The league also has gone through a few work stoppages, and those incidents fostered major change.

All in all, the NHL has changed drastically during Bettman's tenure, for better and for worse.

The Salary Cap

For the longest time, NHL players could be had by whatever team offered the most money. Super agents and NHL general managers were like cowboys in the wild west, and the NHL could do nothing about it. A few lockouts later, and that all changed.

Every NHL team is forced to abide by the almighty salary cap, and there are consequences if teams spend too much. Currently NHL franchise can only spend $64.3 million a year, and they can't exceed that limit.

Previously, deep-pocketed teams like the New York Rangers could sign whoever they wanted for however much they wanted, and it was perfectly legal. The introduction of a salary cap in 2005 helped to create parity, and it introduced a new level of competition to hockey.

Now teams had to strategically spend money to fill out their roster, and they had the task of keeping their own valuable players happy.

One day the salary cap could go away, but its introduction forever has changed the economics of hockey. 

Expansion

The NHL consisted of the Original Six (or arbitrary six if you ask Jeff Marek of Sportsnet) from the 1920s until 1967. From that point forward there were the addition of multiple teams. There was expansion in the 1970s, and then there were numerous expansion teams born out of the 1990s.

Expansion ended in the early 2000s, but it is still a hot topic today that impacts the NHL. With the addition of teams, support for the NHL has grown, and it has led to development of youth hockey across America.

The NHL still wants to expand in 2013, and that should tell you how much they value the integration of new franchises.