This Day in Hockey History

1995 - Buffalo Sabres name Ted Nolan 14th coach in franchise history

With John Muckler struggling to juggle both the general manager and head coaching positions, the Buffalo Sabres hire Ted Nolan, an assistant with the Hartford Whalers, to man their bench. 

Nolan takes his lumps in his first season, but is revered in his second. He guides the Sabres to 92 points and the Northeast Division title and wins the Jack Adams Award as the league's top coach. 

However, when edgy relationships with Muckler and goaltender Dominik Hašek culminate in a disappointing postseason run, management low-balls Nolan in contract talks before eventually pulling their offer off the table. 

His two-year deal is left to expire, which ends Nolan's tenure in Buffalo to the disappointment of fans before he makes a return in 2013. 

1997 - Detroit Red Wings name Ken Holland general manager

The Detroit Red Wings' two-man general managerial partnership disband after a Stanley Cup title in 1997, and assistant Ken Holland emerges as the team's new architect.  

Since then, Holland has built a legacy as one of the greatest general managers in sport. The Red Wings have won the Stanley Cup three times under his guidance and have never missed the playoffs.

Birthdays

1943 - Don Awrey
1981 - Dennis Seidenberg
1989 - Jamie Benn