As the NHL prepares to blow out the candles on its 100th birthday, it's a fitting time to look back at what is widely considered the greatest season in the history of the league.

Just think about all the things that happened that season:

• The Quebec Nordiques pull off one of the biggest trades in pro sports, dealing a future Hall of Famer for several players that set the team up for a pair of Stanley Cup titles later in the decade.

• A woman participates in a preseason game, becoming the first female in North American pro sports to do so.

• A journeyman forward signs on with an expansion team and scored four goals in that team's first game in NHL history.

• The All-Star Game is decided by a whooping 10 goals - and the MVP award is given to a guy who wasn't supposed to be there.

• A Finnish rookie takes the league by storm, scoring 23 more goals than any first-year player in the history of the league.

• One of the league's greatest players storms out to a record points pace, misses significant time after being diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease and not only returns to action, but rallies to win the scoring title.

• A dream Stanley Cup matchup is thwarted due to an uncalled Game 6 high stick by the greatest player in NHL history, who follows it up with what he calls the best game of his career in Game 7.

• A team with an average age below 25 wins a league-record 10 straight overtime games to become the most recent Canadian-based team to capture the Stanley Cup.

And that's not all. Not even close.

I've put together a 10-part series chronicling the greatest, craziest, and most memorable moments from that in comparable season. From start to finish, no campaign has provided more highlights, lowlights, astounding records, and heartbreaking near-misses as this one.

You will also be treated to a handful of interviews with key players from that season, including Hall of Famers Pat LaFontaine and Doug Gilmour, and several members of the Stanley Cup-winning Montreal Canadiens

For those who don't remember the 1992-93 campaign, or weren't around when it happened, this series is for you. And if, after reading it, you still aren't convinced that this was the greatest season in NHL history, then I hope you were at least entertained.

Here is the schedule of posts for the week:

• The trade that changed the NHL forever (July 24)

• Pat LaFontaine piles up the points (July 24)

• Pat LaFontaine recalls his greatest NHL season (July 24)

• A Wales of an All-Star rout (July 25)

• Manon Rheaume suits up for the Tampa Bay Lightning (July 25)

• Chris Kontos recalls his historic night in Lightning opener (July 25)

• Mario Lemieux's most magnificent season (July 26)

• The Toronto Maple Leafs' roller-coaster season (July 26)

• The Leafs' season as remembered by Doug Gilmour - Part I (July 26)

• Teemu Selanne's sensational rookie season (July 27)

• Sad-sack San Jose Sharks set NHL futility record (July 27)

• The Leafs' season as remembered by Doug Gilmour - Part II (July 27)

• Rocket scientist Juneau was no ordinary Joe (July 28)

• 20 other cool things that happened that season (July 28)

• An oral history of the Cup-winning Montreal Canadiens (July 28)

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Between injuries to star players, an erratic front office, and long stretches of subpar on-ice play, the Florida Panthers simply couldn't get it going in 2016-17.

Just a season prior, the Cats reached new heights, claiming their second-ever division title with a franchise-best 103-point output. Now, eager to put last season's troubles behind them, Panthers defenseman Keith Yandle believes Dale Tallon's return to his role as general manager will help the club get back on track.

"Having Dale back in charge, I think that was the main thing that got everyone going," Yandle told Dan Rosen of NHL.com earlier in July. "You sense the power over the locker room that Dale can have. It's such a positive thing when you have a guy like Dale Tallon. Everyone respects him and everything he does for the team. Going into the season knowing he has our back, he has the team, and obviously that he hired great coaches too, it's a great thing."

Tallon occupied Florida's GM seat from 2010-16, but was bumped up to president of hockey operations as Tom Rowe took over the gig. Rowe also served as Panthers head coach last season after the acrimonious firing of Gerard Gallant just 22 games into the campaign.

The optics of the situation weren't good, and early injuries to star forwards Jonathan Huberdeau and Aleksander Barkov quickly stifled Florida's postseason aspirations.

Since resuming his duties as GM, Tallon's hired Bob Boughner to his first NHL coaching gig, and lured KHL star Evgeny Dadonov to Florida on a three-year contract. However, after losing both Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith to expansion, as well as Jaromir Jagr and Jussi Jokinen to free agency, Tallon may have some work to do yet.

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One would be inclined to expect the Montreal Canadiens to try to extract full value from goaltender Carey Price, after signing him to an eight-year, $84-million contract extension earlier this offseason.

After all, the deal temporarily made Price tied for the league's highest paid player at an annual average value of $10.5 million. He was surpassed by Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid shortly after.

According to Steven Nechay of Canadiens.com, the Habs have another strategy in mind which could allow them to get the best out of Price in order to maximize his value to the club.

"I don't believe your starter can play 65 to 70 games a year anymore. It's too tough - physically and mentally - and that'll catch up with you in the spring, for sure," said Canadiens goaltending coach Stephane Waite.

Price's .923 save percentage last season was his worst since 2012-13. He started in 62 games.

Here's a breakdown of his starts and save percentage by month.

The lessening of Price's workload would lead to an increase of usage of backup goaltender Al Montoya.

"(A) good backup can start 20, 22… even 24 games a year, and give your No. 1 goalie a break while still helping you make the playoffs," said Waite.

Montoya made 18 starts last season, posting a save percentage of .912 and goals-against average of 2.67 while recording two shutouts. He posted a record of 8-6-4, earning credit for the Canadiens' playoff berth as the Atlantic Division's top seed.

"He gives us a chance to win every time he plays, and that's huge when your backup has to start an average of 20 games in today's NHL. We needed him to play at least .500 hockey if we were going to make the playoffs, and that's exactly what he did. He's a very big part of our team," said Waite.

The Canadiens re-signed Montoya to a two-year, $2.125-million contract this offseason.

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The 2018 Winter Olympics could set the stage for the next Miracle on Ice.

The hockey phenomenon, when a ragtag group of U.S. collegiate players captured gold in 1980 in Lake Placid, N.Y., could be the storyline once again when the Olympics heads to Pyeongchang next year.

"We look at it like we will be able to compete with anybody there," Jim Johannson, USA Hockey's assistant executive director of hockey operations, told Kevin Allen of USA Today. "We are going to be a very competitive team, regardless of who we are playing."

While NHLers won't be in Pyeongchang, Olympic squads could include those playing professionally in Europe plus players on minor-pro deals in the AHL.

The American team could have a distinct advantage, though, as it could dip into its pool of talent in the U.S. development system, where many up-and-comers have moved through the ranks with the national development program and now play in the NCAA.

"No other country has that type of player available to them," USA Hockey executive director Pat Kelleher told Allen. "This tournament could highlight each country's depth, and we think we have greater depth than we've ever had."

Related: Projecting Team USA's men's hockey roster at the 2018 Olympics

While it's not known which players will make up the American squad, Johansson noted USA Hockey could also recruit veteran defensemen playing in Europe to create a team that defends well and is difficult to play against.

"Most of the dynamic offensive players are in the NHL," Johansson added. "I think it's going to be low-scoring hockey. We are going to try to keep games under control."

If the upcoming U.S. edition wins gold in Pyeongchang, they'll be the first American squad to do so since the collegiate talent won it all in 1980. The Americans have medalled twice since, taking home silver in 2002 and 2010.

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Mika Zibanejad has set his price tag.

The New York Rangers center is looking for a new contract worth $5.35 million a year, while the team has offered $4.1 million annually, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

A leg injury limited Zibanejad to 56 games last season, in which he netted 14 goals and 23 assists. It was his first year in New York after he was acquired from the Ottawa Senators last offseason.

The 24-year-old is coming off a two-year pact which carried a $2.625-million annual average value.

The two sides will need to work quickly to put together a new contract, as an arbitration hearing is set for Tuesday.

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