1977-78

• The NHL requires all players to wear their last names on the backs of their jerseys. The Toronto Maple Leafs would defy this new mandate, claiming that putting names on the jerseys would lead to a sharp decrease in scorecard sales. They complied (well, sort of) on February 26, 1978 -- they put blue letters on their blue away jerseys! Not amused, the NHL threatened to fine the team $10,000, and eventually their blue jerseys had clearly-visible white letters above the number on the back. Names on their white jerseys would soon follow.

• John Ziegler takes over as NHL president following the retirement of Clarence Campbell.

• The Montreal Canadiens win their third straight Stanley Cup, beating the Boston Bruins for the second year in a row -- this time in six games.