June 13 in Hockey

# June 13 in Hockey History

June 13 has marked pivotal moments across NHL history, from landmark draft classes that shaped franchises to memorable playoff performances. The date stands as a record of transformative decisions and individual excellence spanning multiple decades.

The Landmark 1987 Draft Class

The most significant June 13 in NHL history occurred in 1987, when the league held its draft and fundamentally altered the trajectory of several organizations. The Buffalo Sabres selected Pierre Turgeon with the first overall pick, acquiring a franchise cornerstone from the Granby Bisons. Turgeon's selection at #1 overall represented one of the most consequential choices in Sabres history.

The opening round continued with immediate impact across the league. The New Jersey Devils selected Brendan Shanahan at #2 overall from the London Knights, securing a player who would become one of the era's most dominant power forwards. The Boston Bruins followed by selecting Glen Wesley at #3 overall from the Portland Winter Hawks, adding defensive depth to their roster.

Later in the first round, the Los Angeles Kings selected Wayne McBean at #4 overall from the Medicine Hat Tigers, while the Pittsburgh Penguins chose Chris Joseph at #5 overall from the Seattle Thunderbirds. These selections reflected teams' strategic priorities in building competitive rosters during a transformative period for the franchise.

The 1968 Draft Era

Two decades earlier, June 13, 1968 produced another significant draft class that shaped the Original Six expansion landscape. The Montréal Canadiens dominated the early selections, selecting Michel Plasse at #1 overall from the Drummondville Rangers. The Canadiens continued their aggressive approach, selecting Roger Belisle at #2 overall from Montreal North Beavers and Jim Pritchard at #3 overall from the Winnipeg Jets.

The Pittsburgh Penguins selected Garry Swain at #4 overall from the Niagara Falls Flyers, while the Minnesota North Stars chose Jim Benzelock at #5 overall, also from the Winnipeg Jets. These selections occurred during the expansion era when teams were actively building foundational rosters.

Modern Era Performances

More recently, June 13, 2023 witnessed an outstanding individual performance during the Stanley Cup Finals. Mark Stone of the Vegas Golden Knights scored three goals in a contest against the Florida Panthers, recording a 3-goal, 0-assist performance that demonstrated his elite scoring capacity on hockey's biggest stage. This performance highlighted the competitive intensity of championship-level play.

The date also marked a playoff contest on June 13, 2024, when the Edmonton Oilers faced the Florida Panthers at Rogers Place in a closely contested playoff matchup that ended with the Panthers prevailing 4-3.

By the Numbers