This date in National Hockey League history has seen some major coaching moves in recent years. It has also hosted three different NHL Entry Drafts with some impressive classes.

Big Time Coaching Moves
June 21 has been a big date when it comes to some high-profile coaching hires. On this date in 2000, the Pittsburgh Penguins named Ivan Hlinka as their new head coach, replacing 1980 Olympics hero, Herb Brooks. He became just the second European-born head coach in NHL history, joining Alpo Suhonen who was hired by the Chicago Blackhawks in May of 2000.

Hlinka is a national hero in his native Czech Republic. He was a very successful player before heading behind the bench. He came over to North America and signed with the Vancouver Canucks in 1981, where he a team rookie record with 60 points in his first season.

On this day in 2000, the @penguins named Ivan Hlinka as their new head coach #Hockey365 #LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/aRMjopWH4v

— Mike Commito (@mikecommito) June 21, 2019
He took the Penguins to the Eastern Conference Final in his first season behind the bench, but he was fired just four games into the 2001-02 season, ending his only stint as a head coach in the NHL. Hlinka was killed in a car crash, in 2004, while back in the Czech Republic. He was just 54.

On June 21, 2013, Alain Vigneault became the 34th head coach in the history of the New York Rangers. The move comes a month after he was fired by the Canucks, just two years removed from a Game 7 loss in the Stanley Cup Final. Strangely enough, the Canucks replaced Vigneault with John Tortorella, who was fired by the Rangers three weeks earlier.

Vigneault landed the Rangers job on this date in 2013. (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)
Vigneault leads the Rangers to the Stanley Cup Final in his first season on Broadway, where they lose to the Los Angeles Kings. He is relieved of his duties after the 2017-18 season when the Rangers miss the playoffs for the first time under his guidance. He went 226-147-37 in his five seasons in New York.