July 10th has been a significant date in hockey history, marked by notable player transactions, retirements, and returns that have shaped the landscape of the NHL.

One of the most memorable events on this day occurred in 1957 when the Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings orchestrated a trade involving two future Hall of Famers. The Bruins sent goaltender Terry Sawchuk back to Detroit, a mere two years after acquiring him in a substantial nine-player deal. In return, they received Johnny Bucyk and cash. Sawchuk's initial trade to Boston in 1955 stemmed from the Red Wings' confidence in their young goaltending prospect, Glenn Hall, who was seeking increased playing time. Sawchuk had an impressive first stint with the Red Wings from 1950-51 to 1954-55. However, his time in Boston was marred by health issues, leading to media speculation about his performance. Bucyk, on the other hand, went on to become a legend in Boston.

Sawchuk's career was marked by incredible achievements, including being selected as an All-Star five times in his first five NHL seasons. He maintained a goals-against average below 2.00 and recorded 56 shutouts. In the 1951-52 playoffs, he led the Red Wings to sweep the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens, allowing only five goals in eight games with four shutouts. This remarkable eight-game streak inspired the Detroit tradition of throwing an eight-legged octopus onto the ice during playoff games. Despite his success, Toronto Maple Leafs GM Punch Imlach left Sawchuk unprotected in the June 1967 expansion draft, leading to his selection by the Los Angeles Kings. Sawchuk played one season with the Kings before returning to Detroit. He concluded his NHL career with the New York Rangers, achieving his 103rd and final shutout on February 1, 1970. The Hockey News recognized Sawchuk as the best goaltender and ninth-best player of all time in 1998.

In another significant event on July 10th, Dominik Hasek, "the Dominator," announced his return to the NHL in 2003, signing with the Detroit Red Wings after a brief retirement. Hasek had initially retired after leading the Red Wings to a Stanley Cup championship in 2002. However, he realized his mistake and returned to the game. Although a groin injury limited him to 14 games in the 2003-04 season, he later signed with the Ottawa Senators before returning to Detroit for two more seasons.

Sergei Nemchinov, a former New York Rangers forward, signed with the New York Islanders as a free agent on July 10, 1997. Nemchinov had a successful start to his career with the Rangers, scoring 30 goals in his rookie season and contributing to their 1994 Stanley Cup victory. However, his tenure with the Islanders was less fruitful, as he scored only 18 goals in 141 games before being traded to the New Jersey Devils in March 1999. He later won another Stanley Cup with the Devils in 2000.

July 10th serves as a reminder of the dynamic nature of hockey, with legendary players changing teams, retiring, and making comebacks, all contributing to the rich tapestry of NHL history.