The Evolution of the Boston Bruins Sweater(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.

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:

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).

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!