The NHL in Pictures and Stories: The Definitive History

In The NHL in Pictures and Stories, authors Ryan Dixon and Bob Duff recount the events that have shaped the NHL. From its madcap early years all the way to the 32-team elite professional sport that it will be — once the newest franchise, Seattle, takes the ice in 2021 — no stone is left unturned. In this new edition, readers are treated to more than 150 stories, ranging from game changing decisions like allowing goalies to wear masks, to jaw-dropping performances like Maurice Richard’s 50 goals in 50 games, to outstanding starts like the expansion Vegas Golden Knights competing for the Stanley Cup. Some of the events covered in The NHL in Pictures and Stories: 1945: Maurice Richard scores 50 goals in 50 games; 1951: Bill Barilko scores his last goal — a Cup winner; 1958: Willie O’Ree breaks the NHL’s colour barrier; 1959: Jacques Plante starts to wear a mask; 1960: Montreal Canadiens first ever five-time Cup champs; 1966: Bobby Hull breaks Richard’s 50 goal record; 1971: Phil Esposito scores 76 goals; 1980: Peter Stastny defects to the NHL; 1981: Wayne Gretzky scores 50 goals in 39 games; 1989: First Russians play in the NHL; 1998: NHL players go to the Olympics; 2005: NHL installs shootout; 2015: Carey Price becomes first goalie to win four major awards; 2016: Auston Matthews’ incredible rookie debut; 2018: Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals win the Cup. With more than 200 images, hundreds of star players and dozens of artifacts from the Hockey Hall of Fame, The NHL in Pictures and Stories is the definitive guide to the history of the NHL.