|
The 1996–97 NHL season was the 80th regular season of the National Hockey League. Twenty-six teams each played 82 games. The Stanley Cup winners were the Detroit Red Wings, who swept the Philadelphia Flyers in four games and won the Stanley Cup for the first time in 42 years. Goaltenders dominated the regular season as never before, combining for an all-time record of 127 shutouts. This domination continued into the playoffs, during which an all-time record of 18 shutouts were recorded. Only two players, Mario Lemieux and Teemu Selanne, reached the 100-point plateau during the regular season.
League Business
This was the first season for the Phoenix Coyotes, who had relocated from Winnipeg, Manitoba and had previously been known as the Winnipeg Jets.
On March 25, 1997, the Hartford Whalers announced that they would move from Connecticut following the 1996–97 season. Starting in the 1997–98 NHL season, they were known as the Carolina Hurricanes.
The 1996–97 season marked the retirement of Craig MacTavish, the last active NHL player who played without a protective helmet. He had been grandfathered under the old rule requiring them to be worn because he had signed a pro contract before the rule was established on 1 June, 1979. The first player to ever wear a helmet was George Owen in the 1928–29 NHL season.
Regular season
The Boston Bruins recorded the league's worst record, missing the playoffs for the first time in thirty seasons and ending the longest consecutive playoff streak ever recorded in the history of North American professional sport.
Final standings
Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF= Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points
Scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points
Playoffs
-
Playoff bracket
Conference quarterfinals
Eastern Conference
| Montreal vs. New Jersey |
| Date |
Away |
Home |
| April 17 |
Montreal 2 |
5 New Jersey |
| April 19 |
Montreal 1 |
4 New Jersey |
| April 22 |
New Jersey 5 |
4 Montreal |
| April 24 |
New Jersey 3 |
4 Montreal |
3OT |
| April 26 |
Montreal 0 |
4 New Jersey |
| New Jersey wins series 4–1 |
|
| Ottawa vs. Buffalo |
| Date |
Away |
Home |
| April 17 |
Ottawa 1 |
3 Buffalo |
| April 19 |
Ottawa 3 |
1 Buffalo |
| April 21 |
Buffalo 3 |
2 Ottawa |
| April 23 |
Buffalo 0 |
1 Ottawa |
OT |
| April 25 |
Ottawa 4 |
1 Buffalo |
| April 27 |
Buffalo 3 |
0 Ottawa |
| April 29 |
Ottawa 2 |
3 Buffalo |
OT |
| Buffalo wins series 4–3 |
|
| Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia |
| Date |
Away |
Home |
| April 17 |
Pittsburgh 1 |
5 Philadelphia |
| April 19 |
Pittsburgh 2 |
3 Philadelphia |
| April 21 |
Philadelphia 5 |
3 Pittsburgh |
| April 23 |
Philadelphia 1 |
4 Pittsburgh |
| April 26 |
Pittsburgh 3 |
6 Philadelphia |
| Philadelphia wins series 4–1 |
|
| NY Rangers vs. Florida |
| Date |
Away |
Home |
| April 17 |
NY Rangers 0 |
3 Florida |
| April 20 |
NY Rangers 3 |
0 Florida |
| April 22 |
Florida 3 |
4 NY Rangers |
OT |
| April 23 |
Florida 2 |
3 NY Rangers |
| April 25 |
NY Rangers 3 |
2 Florida |
OT |
| NY Rangers win series 4–1 |
|
Western Conference
| Chicago vs. Colorado |
| Date |
Away |
Home |
| April 16 |
Chicago 0 |
6 Colorado |
| April 18 |
Chicago 1 |
3 Colorado |
| April 20 |
Colorado 3 |
4 Chicago |
2OT |
| April 22 |
Colorado 3 |
6 Chicago |
| April 24 |
Chicago 0 |
7 Colorado |
| April 26 |
Colorado 6 |
3 Chicago |
| Colorado wins series 4–2 |
|
| Edmonton vs. Dallas |
| Date |
Away |
Home |
| April 16 |
Edmonton 3 |
5 Dallas |
| April 18 |
Edmonton 4 |
0 Dallas |
| April 20 |
Dallas 3 |
4 Edmonton |
OT |
| April 22 |
Dallas 4 |
3 Edmonton |
| April 25 |
Edmonton 1 |
0 Dallas |
2OT |
| April 27 |
Dallas 3 |
2 Edmonton |
| April 29 |
Edmonton 4 |
3 Dallas |
OT |
| Edmonton wins series 4–3 |
|
| St. Louis vs. Detroit |
| Date |
Away |
Home |
| April 16 |
St. Louis 2 |
0 Detroit |
| April 18 |
St. Louis 1 |
2 Detroit |
| April 20 |
Detroit 3 |
2 St. Louis |
| April 22 |
Detroit 0 |
4 St. Louis |
| April 25 |
St. Louis 2 |
5 Detroit |
| April 27 |
Detroit 3 |
1 St. Louis |
| Detroit wins series 4–2 |
|
| Phoenix vs. Anaheim |
| Date |
Away |
Home |
| April 16 |
Phoenix 2 |
4 Anaheim |
| April 18 |
Phoenix 2 |
4 Anaheim |
| April 20 |
Anaheim 1 |
4 Phoenix |
| April 22 |
Anaheim 0 |
2 Phoenix |
| April 24 |
Phoenix 5 |
2 Anaheim |
| April 27 |
Anaheim 3 |
2 Phoenix |
OT |
| April 29 |
Phoenix 0 |
3 Anaheim |
| Anaheim wins series 4–3 |
|
Conference semifinals
Eastern Conference
| NY Rangers vs. New Jersey |
| Date |
Away |
Home |
| May 2 |
NY Rangers 0 |
2 New Jersey |
| May 4 |
NY Rangers 2 |
0 New Jersey |
| May 6 |
New Jersey 2 |
3 NY Rangers |
| May 8 |
New Jersey 0 |
3 NY Rangers |
| May 11 |
NY Rangers 2 |
1 New Jersey |
OT |
| NY Rangers win series 4–1 |
|
| Philadelphia vs. Buffalo |
| Date |
Away |
Home |
| May 3 |
Philadelphia 5 |
3 Buffalo |
| May 5 |
Philadelphia 2 |
1 Buffalo |
| May 7 |
Buffalo 1 |
4 Philadelphia |
| May 9 |
Buffalo 5 |
4 Philadelphia |
OT |
| May 11 |
Philadelphia 6 |
3 Buffalo |
| Philadelphia wins series 4–1 |
|
Western Conference
| Edmonton vs. Colorado |
| Date |
Away |
Home |
| May 2 |
Edmonton 1 |
5 Colorado |
| May 4 |
Edmonton 1 |
4 Colorado |
| May 7 |
Colorado 3 |
4 Edmonton |
| May 9 |
Colorado 3 |
2 Edmonton |
OT |
| May 11 |
Edmonton 3 |
Colorado 4 |
| Colorado wins series 4–1 |
|
| Anaheim vs. Detroit |
| Date |
Away |
Home |
| May 2 |
Anaheim 1 |
2 Detroit |
OT |
| May 4 |
Anaheim 2 |
3 Detroit |
3OT |
| May 6 |
Detroit 5 |
3 Anaheim |
| May 8 |
Detroit 3 |
2 Anaheim |
2OT |
| Detroit wins series 4–0 |
|
Conference finals
Eastern Conference
| NY Rangers vs. Philadelphia |
| Date |
Away |
Home |
| May 16 |
NY Rangers 1 |
3 Philadelphia |
| May 18 |
NY Rangers 5 |
4 Philadelphia |
| May 20 |
Philadelphia 6 |
3 NY Rangers |
| May 23 |
Philadelphia 3 |
2 NY Rangers |
| May 25 |
NY Rangers 2 |
4 Philadelphia |
Philadelphia wins series 4–1
and Prince of Wales Trophy |
|
Western Conference
| Detroit vs. Colorado |
| Date |
Away |
Home |
| May 15 |
Detroit 1 |
2 Colorado |
| May 17 |
Detroit 4 |
2 Colorado |
| May 19 |
Colorado 1 |
2 Detroit |
| May 22 |
Colorado 0 |
6 Detroit |
| May 24 |
Detroit 0 |
6 Colorado |
| May 26 |
Colorado 1 |
3 Detroit |
Detroit wins series 4–2 and
Clarence S. Campbell Bowl |
|
Stanley Cup final
-
| Detroit vs. Philadelphia |
| Date |
Away |
Home |
| May 31 |
Detroit 4 |
2 Philadelphia |
| June 3 |
Detroit 4 |
2 Philadelphia |
| June 5 |
Philadelphia 1 |
6 Detroit |
| June 7 |
Philadelphia 1 |
2 Detroit |
Detroit wins series 4–0
and Stanley Cup |
Mike Vernon (Detroit)
wins Conn Smythe Trophy |
|
Scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points
NHL Awards
The NHL Awards presentation took place on June 19, 1997.
| Presidents' Trophy: |
Colorado Avalanche |
| Prince of Wales Trophy: |
Philadelphia Flyers |
| Clarence S. Campbell Bowl: |
Detroit Red Wings |
| Art Ross Memorial Trophy: |
Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins |
| Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy: |
Tony Granato, San Jose Sharks |
| Calder Memorial Trophy: |
Bryan Berard, New York Islanders |
| Conn Smythe Trophy: |
Mike Vernon, Detroit Red Wings |
| Frank J. Selke Trophy: |
Michael Peca, Buffalo Sabres |
| Hart Memorial Trophy: |
Dominik Hasek, Buffalo Sabres |
| Jack Adams Award: |
Ted Nolan, Buffalo Sabres |
| James Norris Memorial Trophy: |
Brian Leetch, New York Rangers |
| King Clancy Memorial Trophy: |
Trevor Linden, Vancouver Canucks |
| Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: |
Paul Kariya, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim |
| Lester B. Pearson Award: |
Dominik Hasek, Buffalo Sabres |
| NHL Plus/Minus Award: |
John LeClair, Philadelphia Flyers |
| Vezina Trophy: |
Dominik Hasek, Buffalo Sabres |
| William M. Jennings Trophy: |
Martin Brodeur/Mike Dunham, New Jersey Devils |
| Lester Patrick Trophy: |
Bill Cleary, Pat LaFontaine |
All-Star teams
| First Team |
Position |
Second Team |
| Dominik Hasek, Buffalo Sabres |
G |
Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils |
| Brian Leetch, New York Rangers |
D |
Chris Chelios, Chicago Blackhawks |
| Sandis Ozolinsh, Colorado Avalanche |
D |
Scott Stevens, New Jersey Devils |
| Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins |
C |
Wayne Gretzky, New York Rangers |
| Teemu Selanne, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim |
RW |
Jaromir Jagr, Pittsburgh Penguins |
| Paul Kariya, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim |
LW |
John LeClair, Philadelphia Flyers |
Debuts
The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1996–97 (listed with their first team, asterisk(*) marks debut in playoffs):
- Dwayne Roloson, Calgary Flames
- Marc Denis, Colorado Avalanche
- Roman Turek, Dallas Stars
- Tomas Holmstrom, Detroit Red Wings
- Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Hartford Whalers
- Tomas Vokoun, Montreal Canadiens
- Jay Pandolfo, New Jersey Devils
- Bryan Berard, New York Islanders
- Wade Redden, Ottawa Senators
- Janne Niinimaa, Philadelphia Flyers
- Vaclav Prospal, Philadelphia Flyers
- Patrick Lalime, Pittsburgh Penguins
Last games
The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1996–97 (listed with their last team):
- Tim Cheveldae, Boston Bruins
- Charlie Huddy, Buffalo Sabres
- Denis Savard, Chicago Blackhawks
- Sergei Makarov, Dallas Stars
- Neal Broten, Dallas Stars
- Mike Ramsey, Detroit Red Wings
- Vladimir Konstantinov, Detroit Red Wings
- Dale Hawerchuk, Philadelphia Flyers
- Brad McCrimmon, Philadelphia Flyers
- Dan Quinn, Pittsburgh Penguins
- Joe Mullen, Pittsburgh Penguins
- Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins (He would return for the 2000-01 Season)
- Tim Hunter, San Jose Sharks
- Craig MacTavish, St. Louis Blues (The last helmetless player)
- Gary Leeman, St. Louis Blues
- Jon Casey, St. Louis Blues
- Jay Wells, Tampa Bay Lightning
- Don Beaupre, Toronto Maple Leafs
- Nick Kypreos, Toronto Maple Leafs
- Mike Ridley, Vancouver Canucks
1997 Trading Deadline
- Trading Deadline: MARCH 18, 1997 1
- March 18, 1997: G Pat Jablonski traded from Montreal to Phoenix for D Steve Cheredaryk.
- March 18, 1997: RW Roman Oksiuta traded from Anaheim to Pittsburgh for C Richard Park.
- March 18, 1997: LW Josef Beranek traded from Vancouver to Pittsburgh for future considerations.
- March 18, 1997: D Marc Hussey traded from Calgary to Chicago for LW Ravil Gusmanov.
- March 18, 1997: C Ed Olczyk traded from Los Angeles to Pittsburgh for RW Glen Murray.
- March 18, 1997: LW Jon Battaglia and Anaheim’s fourth round pick in 1998 Entry Draft traded from Anaheim to Hartford for C Mark Janssens.
- March 18, 1997: RW Mike Prokopec traded from Chicago to Ottawa for RW Denis Chasse, D Kevin Bolibruck and Ottawa’s sixth round pick in 1998 Entry Draft.
- March 18, 1997: D Larry Murphy traded from Toronto to Detroit for future considerations.
- March 18, 1997: LW Derek King traded from NY Islanders to Hartford for Hartford’s fifth round pick in 1997 Entry Draft.
- March 18, 1997: D Frantisek Kucera traded from Vancouver to Philadelphia for future considerations.
- March 18, 1997: D Jamie Huscroft traded from Calgary to Tampa Bay for G Tyler Moss.
- March 18, 1997: RW Kelly Chase traded from Hartford to Toronto for Toronto’s eighth round pick in 1998 Entry Draft.
- March 18, 1997: D Dave Manson traded from Phoenix to Montreal for RW Chris Murray and D Murray Baron.
- March 18, 1997: RW Chris Murray traded from Phoenix to Hartford to D Gerald Diduck.
- March 18, 1997: C Robert Reichel traded from Calgary to NY Islanders for LW Marty McInnis, G Tyrone Garner and Calgary’s sixth round pick in 1997 Entry Draft (previously acquired by NY Islanders).
- March 18, 1997: D Jeff Norton traded from Edmonton to Tampa Bay for D Drew Bannister and the earlier of Tampa Bay or Anaheim’s sixth round draft pick in 1997 Entry Draft (Anaheim pick previously acquired by Tampa Bay).
- March 18, 1997: LW Miroslav Satan traded from Edmonton to Buffalo for LW Barrie Moore and D Craig Millar.
- March 18, 1997: C Kirk Muller traded from Toronto to Florida for RW Jason Podollan.
See also
References
- ^ NHL trade deadline: Deals since 1980 | Habs Inside/Out