Aug. 12, 1981: Defenseman Serge Savard, a seven-time Stanley Cup winner with the Montreal Canadiens,
announces his retirement
as a player at age 35. In 15 seasons with the Canadiens, Savard has 412 points (100 goals, 312 assists) in 917 games with a plus-492 rating. But Savard's retirement is short-lived; former Montreal teammate John Ferguson, now the general manager of the Winnipeg Jets, persuades Savard to play for the Jets, about to begin their third NHL season. Savard's rights are acquired from the Canadiens and he plays two more seasons. He retires in 1983, returns to Montreal as Canadiens GM and is inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1986.