The NHL was born in 1917, but it would take nearly a decade for it to become recognized as the greatest hockey league in the world. Until then, the NHL had to contend with the Pacific Coast Hockey Association, a rival league created in 1911 by hockey visionaries Frank and Lester Patrick.

The PCHA was an innovative circuit that provided fans in Vancouver, Victoria, Seattle and Portland with exciting hockey and lured some of the greatest free-agent stars of the day out west. Its champion would annually challenge the winner of the National Hockey Association, the NHL's forerunner, for the Stanley Cup, and three times during its 13-year history, PCHA teams managed to capture the famed prize.

Unfortunately for the PCHA, as the game grew more popular in the east, and deep-pocketed promoters began to realize the value of signing the best stars, the western-based organization found itself struggling to survive.

Seattle folded in 1924 and the remaining teams tried to stay alive by joining the Western Hockey League. It turned out to be a futile effort which came to an end on May 4, 1926 when the NHL purchased all the contracts of WHL players for the princely sum of $258,000.

Players from the Portland team were sold to a new NHL expansion team in Chicago called the Blackhawks, while the Victoria Cougars players filled out the roster of a another expansion team in Detroit.

Other players scattered to remaining teams and a third expansion franchise - the New York Rangers - giving the NHL a 10-team league that was established in all the major urban centers of the northeast. At the same time, the league took official control of the Stanley Cup.

The demise of the small, regional rival was probably inevitable, but it was not until the western league actually folded that the NHL took its first concrete step to becoming the major enterprise that it is today. It was one of the most important events in hockey history, and it took place during the week of May 1-7.

May 1

Jean Beliveau was on 10 Stanley Cup winners.(None)

He was in homestretch of an incredible 18-year career with the Montreal Canadiens, but Jean Beliveau still knew how to rise to big occasions. That became clear on this date in 1965 when Beliveau was named the first winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy, an award created to recognize the playoff's MVP. Beliveau captured the award for scoring five goals and five assists, including the winner in Game 7, to lead Montreal to a victory over the Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup Finals.

May 2

Johnny Bower has a 1.64 GAA in the 1967 playoffs.(Provided to SportsLine)

NHL teams always look for young players who will take them into the future, but more than three decades ago, the Toronto Maple Leafs proved that age and experience still count for something. Icing the oldest lineup in Finals history - there were seven players older than 30, including 42-year-old goalie Johnny Bower and 41-year-old defenseman Allan Stanley - Toronto defeated Montreal 3-1 on this date in 1967 to win Game 6 and capture the Stanley Cup four games to two.

May 3

Jaromir Jagr has now won four scoring titles.(AP)

Few people argue that Jaromir Jagr is the top player in the game today, a skater who is able to control the tempo and the flow of the action every time he is on the ice. Jagr's greatness has been recognized since he arrived in the NHL a decade ago, even though he often played in the shadow of Mario Lemieux. On this date in 1995, he stepped out on his own so to speak, winning the league scoring title and becoming the first European player ever to do so.

May 4

Serge Savard's moves could spin opponents in circles.(Provided to SportsLine)

The great Montreal Canadiens teams of the 50s, 60s and 70s were known for their high-powered offenses, but the team also had a great group of defenseman turning back opponents. One of them was Serge Savard, who ended up in the Hall of Fame after a brilliant 16-year career. Savard's accomplishments were recognized during his playing days as well, never more than on this date in 1969 when he became the first blueliner to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

May 5

Roger Crozier was beaten by a goal at arm's length.(Provided to SportsLine)

One of the most famous - and controversial -- goals in Stanley Cup history was scored on this date in 1966 by Montreal's Henri Richard. The game-winning marker came at 2:30 of the first overtime period in Game 6 against Detroit and gave Montreal the Stanley Cup. Richard was driving toward Detroit goalie Roger Crozier when he lost his balance. As he slid into the netminder, the puck was lodged next to his arm, and managed to slip under Crozier's pad. The Red Wings protested the legitimacy of the goal, but the referee allowed it to stand, giving Detroit fans a taste of what Buffalo fans would go through 33 years later.

May 6

Turk Broda didn't come cheap, but was worth the price.(Provided to SportsLine)

The Toronto Maple Leafs made a player move on this date in 1936 that turned out to be one of their best ever. Paying a then-record price of $8,000, the Leafs purchased the contract of a young goaltender named Walter (Turk) Broda from the Detroit organization. Broda played the next 14 seasons for Toronto and ended up in the Hall of Fame. He won two Vezina trophies, but was at his best during the playoffs, leading the Leafs to five Stanley Cups. Broda won 60 playoff games during his career, and posted 13 shutouts to go along with a 2.15 goals-against average.

May 7
Ray Bourque helped make Boston a perennial post-season participant.(Allsport)	Bruins fans had legitimate complaints about the team's management this past season, but over the years, the Bruins front office has put together a pretty consistent lineup. On this date in 1995, the Bruins appeared in the playoffs for the 28th consecutive season. The Bruins would reach the playoffs again in 1996, extending their record, but missed the postseason in 1997.

Historical photos courtesy of Hockeyonline.com