July 22 NHL History
1970: Sergei Zubov, one of the best Russian defensemen in NHL history, is born in Moscow. The New York Rangers select Zubov in the fifth round (No. 85) of the 1990 NHL Draft with a pick obtained as compensation from the Quebec Nordiques for their signing of free agent Guy Lafleur the previous summer, and he joins the Rangers for the 1992-93 season.
In 1993-94, Zubov’s 89 points (12 goals, 77 assists) are tops on the Rangers, who end a 54-year championship drought by winning the Stanley Cup; he and teammates Alexander Karpovtsev, Sergei Nemchinov and Alexei Kovalev become the first Russians to have their name engraved on the Cup.
After three seasons in New York and one with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Zubov is acquired by the Dallas Stars on June 22, 1996. He spends the remaining 12 seasons of his NHL career with Dallas, helping the Stars win the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history in 1999. Zubov ends his career after playing 10 games in 2008-09, finishing with 771 points (152 goals, 619 assists) in 1,068 games, as well as 117 points (24 goals, 93 assists) in 164 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
2003: Center Mike Sillinger is traded twice in the same day. The Columbus Blue Jackets send Sillinger and a second-round pick in the 2004 NHL Draft to Dallas for defenseman Darryl Sydor. The Stars then trade Sillinger and a conditional draft pick to the Phoenix Coyotes for defenseman Teppo Numminen. The Coyotes are the ninth of 12 teams that Sillinger plays for during his 18 seasons in the NHL.
2008: The NHL, Chicago Cubs, Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings formally announce that the Blackhawks will play the Red Wings in the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field on Jan. 1, 2009. It will be the third outdoor game in League history.
That’s Joe Nieuwendyk in the picture. smh