In The NHL in Pictures and Stories, authors Bob Duff and Ryan Dixon recount the events that have shaped the NHL. From its madcap early years all the way to the 32-team elite professional sport that it will be -- once the newest franchise, Seattle, takes the ice in 2021 -- no stone is left unturned.

In this new edition, readers are treated to more than 150 stories, ranging from game changing decisions like allowing goalies to wear masks, to jaw-dropping performances like Maurice Richard's 50 goals in 50 games, to outstanding starts like the expansion Vegas Golden Knights competing for the Stanley Cup.

Some of the events covered in The NHL in Pictures and Stories:

1945: Maurice Richard scores 50 goals in 50 games 1951: Bill Barilko scores his last goal -- a Cup winner 1958: Willie O'Ree breaks the NHL's color barrier 1959: Jacques Plante starts to wear a mask 1960: Montreal Canadiens become the first ever five-time Cup champs 1966: Bobby Hull breaks Richard's 50-goal record 1971: Phil Esposito scores 76 goals 1980: Peter Stastny defects to the NHL 1981: Wayne Gretzky scores 50 goals in 39 games 1989: First Russians play in the NHL 1998: NHL players go to the Olympics 2005: NHL installs shootout 2015: Carey Price becomes first goalie to win four major awards 2016: Auston Matthews' incredible rookie debut 2018: Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals win the Cup.

With more than 200 images, hundreds of star players and dozens of artifacts from the Hockey Hall of Fame, The NHL in Pictures and Stories is the definitive guide to the history of the NHL.

Published in association with The Hockey Hall of Fame.

Bob Duff and Ryan Dixon

Bob Duff's profile page

Ryan Dixon and Bob Duff

Ryan Dixon's profile page