NHL History September 10 features a franchise-altering Toronto Maple Leafs trade, the induction of several hockey legends into the Hockey Hall of Fame, the beginning of Lou Lamoriello’s remarkable run as New Jersey Devils general manager and Shane Doan becoming captain of the Phoenix Coyotes.
One of the day’s biggest moments happened on September 10, 1943, when Toronto acquired the rights to Ted Kennedy from the Montreal Canadiens. Kennedy would become a cornerstone of the first great Maple Leafs dynasty, helping Toronto win five Stanley Cups.
September 10 also marks the birthday of three-time Stanley Cup champion Joe Nieuwendyk, while Dave Keon, Serge Savard and Leo Boivin entered the Hockey Hall of Fame on this date in 1986.
Here are some of the biggest NHL and hockey moments to happen on September 10.
NHL History September 10: Biggest Moments and Milestones
1943: Maple Leafs Acquire Ted Kennedy From the Canadiens
One of the most consequential transactions in Toronto Maple Leafs history took place on September 10, 1943.
Toronto acquired the rights to 17-year-old centre Ted “Teeder” Kennedy from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for the rights to defenseman Frank Eddolls.
It proved to be an outstanding move for the Maple Leafs.
Kennedy spent his entire NHL playing career with Toronto and developed into one of the most important players of his generation. Known for his relentless work ethic, faceoff ability and leadership, Kennedy became one of the driving forces behind the NHL’s first modern-era dynasty.
He helped Toronto win the Stanley Cup in 1945, 1947, 1948, 1949 and 1951. The Maple Leafs became the first NHL team to capture three consecutive Stanley Cups when they won championships from 1947 through 1949.
Kennedy eventually played 696 regular-season NHL games, recording 231 goals, 329 assists and 560 points. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1966 and was later selected as one of the NHL’s 100 Greatest Players during the league’s centennial celebration.
Looking back, acquiring Kennedy for the rights to Eddolls stands as one of the most successful transactions in Maple Leafs history. Toronto didn’t simply acquire a productive player. The organization acquired a future captain and a player who would become central to one of hockey’s greatest dynasties.
1966: Joe Nieuwendyk Is Born in Oshawa, Ontario
Hall of Fame centre Joe Nieuwendyk was born on September 10, 1966, in Oshawa, Ontario.
Nieuwendyk developed into one of the premier centres of his era after being selected 27th overall by the Calgary Flames in the 1985 NHL Draft.
His arrival in Calgary was spectacular. Nieuwendyk scored 51 goals during the 1987-88 season and won the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie. He followed that performance with another 51-goal season in 1988-89 while helping Calgary win the Stanley Cup.
What makes Nieuwendyk’s career particularly impressive is that he won championships with three different organizations.
After winning with Calgary in 1989, Nieuwendyk captured another Stanley Cup with the Dallas Stars in 1999. He scored 11 goals during that postseason and earned the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. He then added a third championship with the New Jersey Devils in 2003.
Nieuwendyk finished his NHL career with 564 goals, 562 assists and 1,126 points in 1,257 regular-season games. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2011.
1986: Dave Keon, Serge Savard and Leo Boivin Enter the Hockey Hall of Fame
September 10 produced another major hockey milestone in 1986 when the Hockey Hall of Fame held its induction ceremony at the Hotel Vancouver.
Dave Keon, Serge Savard and Leo Boivin entered the Hall in the player category, while longtime Canadian Amateur Hockey Association executive William “Bill” Hanley was inducted as a builder.
Keon remains one of the most celebrated players in Toronto Maple Leafs history. He won four Stanley Cups with Toronto, including the franchise’s most recent championship in 1967, when he also captured the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.
Savard was a cornerstone of the Montreal Canadiens dynasty and won eight Stanley Cups as a player. The smooth, intelligent defenseman also won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1969.
Boivin built a reputation as one of the NHL’s toughest and most respected defensemen during a career that included time with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, Pittsburgh Penguins and Minnesota North Stars.
The presence of both Keon and Savard makes September 10 particularly notable in the history of Canada’s two most storied NHL franchises.
1987: Lou Lamoriello Takes Over as New Jersey Devils General Manager
Another franchise-changing moment occurred on September 10, 1987, when New Jersey Devils president Lou Lamoriello added the responsibilities of general manager.
The appointment was unconventional. Lamoriello had built his reputation primarily in college hockey as the longtime coach and athletic director at Providence College rather than through the traditional NHL management route.
It didn’t take long for the decision to pay off.
During Lamoriello’s first season as general manager, the Devils reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs and advanced all the way to the Wales Conference Final.
Over the decades that followed, Lamoriello built New Jersey into one of the NHL’s most successful organizations. The Devils won Stanley Cup championships in 1995, 2000 and 2003 and reached the Stanley Cup Final two other times during his tenure.
Lamoriello remained New Jersey’s general manager until 2015, making his September 10, 1987 appointment one of the most important front-office decisions in franchise history.
2003: Shane Doan Is Named Phoenix Coyotes Captain
On September 10, 2003, the Phoenix Coyotes named Shane Doan their new captain.
Few captaincy decisions have become as closely associated with a franchise as Doan’s.
Originally selected seventh overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 1995 NHL Draft, Doan moved with the franchise when it relocated to Arizona and eventually became the face of hockey in the market.
He served as captain from 2003 until the end of his NHL career in 2017.
Doan finished with franchise records of 1,540 games played, 402 goals, 570 assists and 972 points. He also became one of the organization’s most respected ambassadors away from the rink.
His leadership was especially evident during the 2011-12 season when the Coyotes won the Pacific Division and advanced to the Western Conference Final, the deepest postseason run in franchise history at the time.
Doan’s longevity and connection to Arizona ultimately made him one of the most recognizable captains of his generation.
Why September 10 Is an Important Date in NHL History
NHL History September 10 connects several generations of the sport.
The Ted Kennedy transaction helped build Toronto’s first great dynasty. Joe Nieuwendyk went on to win Stanley Cups with three different organizations. The 1986 Hockey Hall of Fame ceremony recognized legends from both the Maple Leafs and Canadiens, while Lou Lamoriello’s appointment helped establish the foundation for three New Jersey Devils championship teams.
Shane Doan’s captaincy represents a different type of legacy. Rather than championships, his story is about loyalty, longevity and becoming the face of an NHL franchise in a developing hockey market.
Together, these moments make September 10 an underrated but significant date on the NHL calendar.
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