(Photo Credit: NHL.com)
By: Evan Michael | Follow me on Twitter @00EvanMichael
Day One. Original Six.
On November 2nd, 1924 — some 96 years ago today — the Boston Bruins officially began to operate as a professional hockey team in the NHL.
This came after New England grocery store chain magnate Charles Adams (not to be confused with hockey’s coveted coaching award named after Jack Adams) did the following just one day earlier, according to the B’s official website:
“November 1, 1924 was a red letter day for both the city of Boston and the National Hockey League. On that day, Charles Francis Adams paid the NHL a rumored $15,000 and received in return a piece of paper entitling him to the first United States entry into the league.
Adams, a grocery chain tycoon from Vermont, held a contest to name his NHL club, laying down several ground rules. One was that the basic colors of the team be brown with yellow trim, the color scheme of his Brookside stores. The name of the team would preferably relate to an untamed animal embodied with size, strength, agility, ferocity and cunning, while also in the color brown category. He received dozens of entries, none of which were to his satisfaction until his secretary came upon the idea of “Bruins”.
— nhl.com/bruins
And thus the Boston Bruins were born! As hockey history guru Mike Commito recently shared as part of his #Hockey365 series on Twitter, the start of November will always hold a special place in the past of the B’s as a result of this timely expansion.
On this day in 1924, the NHL expanded to the United States when it welcomed the @NHLBruins to the league #Hockey365 #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/kgpLveDjSR
— Mike Commito (@mikecommito) November 1, 2020
However, this November looks to be shaping up as historically ho-hum when it comes to the Bruins. Especially if they’re trying to make any history.
As we’ve read right here on the Black N’ Gold Blog, the B’s free agent offseason plans did not go according “to plan” in any way, shape or form. Nor did their attempts to bolster the blue line to help the likes of Charlie McAvoy et al. or hint at the future of Captain Zdeno Chara staying in a spoked-B sweater. Even Habs fans can see the potential writing on the wall for Boston’s D-core:
#Bruins defense is taking a big hit this off season should Chara choose not to come back. Not to mention Krug leaving.
Grzelcyk McAvoy is a good pairing but it dramatically drops off after that.
Carlo Moore
Clifton Lauzon— Simard (@Simardtweets1) October 20, 2020
Then again, the fact that this November is considered the “offseason” is alone oft-putting, as we should be well into the start of the hockey regular season by now. But, by and large, there’s nothing regular whatsoever about 2020 (so perhaps the B’s need to be planning for 2021 as evidenced below).
One thing to be cognizant of IF the Bruins make any additional moves for players with term this offseason — the Seattle Kraken will be poised to scoop up at least one cost-controlled, young skater in 2021.
Who could be exposed to the NHL’s 32nd team?https://t.co/89bi0HSHqb
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) November 2, 2020
Which is why it’s always helpful, and will continue to be, to have such memorable On This Day In Bruins’ History Moments (OTDIBH) to fondly look back on, reflect upon, debate about and perhaps even learn from, Original Six style of course!
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