Bobby Hull is generally remembered for exciting fans with his rushes down the left wing and a slapshot that had goaltenders quivering in their skates. But his most lasting legacy will always be for what he accomplished by leaving the NHL.

Hull was a highly-touted 18-year-old player when he joined the Chicago Blackhawks for his rookie season in 1957. He immediately lived up to his reputation, and in only his third season, won the first of his three overall scoring titles.

During the course of a 16-year career with Chicago, Hull led the league in goals seven times and established a new single-season goals record. Only two men had scored at least 50 goals in a season prior to Hull making it to the NHL; he did it six times.

Off the ice, Hull was just as notorious as he was on, especially where his salary was concerned. He staged a long holdout in 1968 to get his first six-figure deal and a year later, missed 11 games in a dispute over deferred payments.

Hull also had a habit of annoying the team's conservative owner William Wirtz with his tendency to speak his mind in public. However nothing Hull ever said enraged Wirtz as much as the player's decision in 1972 to defect to the World Hockey Association, an upstart rival league that was threatening to overturn the league's carefully-cultivated and long-standing salary structure.

Armed with a $1-million signing bonus and a $1.75-million, 10-year contract, Hull joined the Winnipeg Jets and gave the new league instant credibility. Wirtz and other NHL owners fumed, and retaliated by preventing Hull from playing in the first Summit Series between Canada and the Soviet Union.

Bobby Hull struck fear in the hearts of goalies.

Not even a letter from Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau asking the league to allow Canada's "best" to participate in the series could sway the league or the influential Wirtz.

Hull went on to play seven seasons in the WHA, returning to the NHL for one final season with the Hartford Whalers, one of four WHA survivors who joined the NHL in 1979. He finished his NHL career with 610 goals, 12 selections to the All-Star team, and a pair of MVP awards.

On December 18, 1983, the Blackhawks and Hull put their stormy past behind them. The organization paid fitting tribute to Hull, officially retiring the No. 9 worn by the man who was arguably the best left wing ever to play the game.

It was one of the great moments in hockey history that took place during the week of Dec. 13-19.

December 13

Joe Nieuwendyk often scored in bunches.(Allsport)

There were great expectations for Joe Nieuwendyk when he broke into the NHL with the Calgary Flames in 1987. He didn't disappoint anyone. The 27th overall pick in the 1985 draft while playing for Cornell University, Nieuwendyk joined a talented Calgary team and quickly opened people's eyes by scoring 51 goals in his first season and winning the Calder Trophy as top rookie. On this date in 1987, he scored his second four-goal game of the season, becoming the first rookie to do so since Cully Wilson did it for Toronto in 1919.

December 14

The old Ottawa Senators knew how to treat a coach.

These days, coaches know that nothing makes them look smarter or better than a few wins. Especially if they are new to the NHL. Dave Gill found out the same thing out many years ago when he was a rookie coach behind the bench of the old Ottawa Senators. On this date in 1926, Gill improved his record to 9-0-1, the best start ever by a rookie coach, when the Senators blanked the New York Americans 2-0. Gill enjoyed his moment only briefly. The Sens lost their next game two days later.

December 15

Bobby Clarke holds the Flyers career record with 32 shorthanded goals.

The Philadelphia Flyers were once known as the "Broad Street Bullies. " They played the game rough and tough and they took a lot of penalties as a result. Still, they were usually able to get away with it because of the strength of their penalty killers, led by their inspirational captain, Bobby Clarke. On this date in 1983, the Flyers demonstrated just how good they were while playing a man short. They scored three times while penalized during one period in a game against Washington, setting an NHL record. Clarke started the onslaught by setting up Mark Howe and then Miroslav Dvorak and Ilkka Sinisalo added goals 41 seconds apart later in the second period. Philadelphia ended up winning the game 9-4.

December 16

Jean Beliveau was a class act at center.

For nearly 40 years beginning the mid 1930s, the Montreal Canadiens were given first choice of the top French-Canadian players who were turning pro. It helped the Habs create one of the greatest dynasties in professional sport and made their fans view the team as a source of pride and passion. Many great French-speaking players have worn the fabled rouge, blanc et bleu over the years, and on this date in 1950, two of the best -- Jean Beliveau and Bernard "Boom-Boom" Geoffrion -- began their careers with the Canadiens. Geoffrion even scored, lifting the Canadiens to a 1-1 tie with the Rangers.

December 17

Bill Cook took a trip on the Rangers.

Things certainly have changed in the last 60 plus years in New York. Especially where the Rangers are concerned. When Wayne Gretzky retired last spring after playing 234 game for the Rangers, the team staged a major celebration and presented the superstar with a car among other gifts. On this date in 1935, the Rangers honored five of their original members -- Bill and Bun Cook, Frank Boucher, Ching Johnson and Murray Murdoch -- for playing their 500th NHL game. They were each given a gift as well. A suitcase.

December 18

Rocket Richard took good care of his sticks.

He was a hero to local fans when he arrived in the NHL in 1942 and two years later he thrilled everyone in hockey when he became the first player to score 50 goals in a season. What was more incredible about Maurice "Rocket" Richard's accomplishment was that he took only 50 games to do so. Richard was a scorer's scorer, a player who would electrify crowds as he raced past opponents. One of the many times he did so took place on this date in 1954 when he scored his 400th goal in a game against Chicago to become the first player to reach that mark.

December 19

Doug Gilmour didn't waste much time.(Allsport)

If you blinked you would have missed it. That is, if you had time to blink. It happened that fast -- in fact, only two seconds apart. On this date in 1987, Ken Linseman of the Boston Bruins and Doug Gilmour, then with the St. Louis Blues, set a record by scoring the two fastest goals ever. Linseman put one in at 19:50 to narrow his team's deficit to one goal, but Gilmour fired the ensuing faceoff into an empty net to seal a 7-5 victory for the Blues.

Historical photos courtesy of Hockeyonline.com