1996–97 NHL season

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1996–97 NHL season
League National Hockey League
Sport Ice hockey
Duration October 4, 1996 – June 7, 1997
Number of games 82
Number of teams 26
Regular season
Presidents' Trophy Colorado Avalanche
Season MVP Dominik Hasek (Buffalo)
Top scorer Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh)
Playoffs
Eastern champions Philadelphia Flyers
  Eastern runners-up New York Rangers
Western champions Detroit Red Wings
  Western runners-up Colorado Avalanche
Playoffs MVP Mike Vernon (Detroit)
Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup champions Detroit Red Wings
  Runners-up Philadelphia Flyers
NHL seasons
← 1995–96

1997–98 →


The 1996–97 NHL season was the 80th regular season of the National Hockey League. 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. The regular season saw a decline in scoring and rise in the number of shutouts, to an all-time record of 127.[1] This trend continued into the playoffs, during which an all-time record of 18 shutouts were recorded.[2] Only two players, Mario Lemieux and Teemu Selanne, reached the 100-point plateau during the regular season[3] (compared with 12 who reached the plateau in 1995-96[4]). Many factors, including fewer power-plays, more calls of the skate-in-the-crease rule, fewer shots on goal, and more injuries to star players than the season before contributed to the reduction in scoring and skyrocketing in shutouts. Paradoxically, teams actually averaged more even-strength goals scored (174)[5] than in 1995-96 (172).[6] This was the first time in 30 years that the Boston Bruins missed the playoffs.

Contents

[edit] 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. They would remain in the Central Division.

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 would be 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, and gritty defenceman Brad McCrimmon. MacTavish 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Final standings

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division
No. CR GP W L T GF GA Pts
1 1 New Jersey Devils 82 45 23 14 231 182 104
2 3 Philadelphia Flyers 82 45 24 13 274 217 103
3 4 Florida Panthers 82 35 28 19 221 201 89
4 5 New York Rangers 82 38 34 10 258 231 86
5 9 Washington Capitals 82 33 40 9 214 231 75
6 11 Tampa Bay Lightning 82 32 40 10 217 247 74
7 12 New York Islanders 82 29 41 12 240 250 70
Northeast Division
No. CR GP W L T GF GA Pts
1 2 Buffalo Sabres 82 40 30 12 237 208 92
2 6 Pittsburgh Penguins 82 38 36 8 285 280 84
3 7 Ottawa Senators 82 31 36 15 226 234 77
4 8 Montreal Canadiens 82 31 36 15 249 276 77
5 10 Hartford Whalers 82 32 39 11 226 256 75
6 13 Boston Bruins 82 26 47 9 234 300 61

Western Conference

Central Division
No. CR GP W L T GF GA Pts
1 2 Dallas Stars 82 48 26 8 252 198 104
2 3 Detroit Red Wings 82 38 26 18 253 197 94
3 5 Phoenix Coyotes 82 38 37 7 240 243 83
4 6 St. Louis Blues 82 36 35 11 236 239 83
5 8 Chicago Blackhawks 82 34 35 13 223 210 81
6 11 Toronto Maple Leafs 82 30 44 8 230 273 68


Pacific Division
No. CR GP W L T GF GA Pts
1 1 Colorado Avalanche 82 49 24 9 277 205 107
2 4 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 82 36 33 13 243 231 85
3 7 Edmonton Oilers 82 36 37 9 252 247 81
4 9 Vancouver Canucks 82 35 40 7 257 273 77
5 10 Calgary Flames 82 32 41 9 214 239 73
6 12 Los Angeles Kings 82 28 43 11 214 268 67
7 13 San Jose Sharks 82 27 47 8 211 278 62


Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF= Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points

[edit] Playoffs

large silver trophy with bowl on top
Main article: 1997 Stanley Cup playoffs

[edit] Stanley Cup Final

Main article: 1997 Stanley Cup Final

The Red Wings swept the Flyers in four games to win for the eighth time in franchise history and the first time since 1955. Mike Vernon of Detroit was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

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

[edit] Playoff bracket

  Conference Quarterfinals Conference Semifinals Conference Finals Stanley Cup Final
                                     
1  New Jersey 4     2  Buffalo 1  
8  Montreal 1     3  Philadelphia 4  


2  Buffalo 4 Eastern Conference
7  Ottawa 3  
    3  Philadelphia 4  
  5  NY Rangers 1  
3  Philadelphia 4  
6  Pittsburgh 1  
4  Florida 1   1  New Jersey 1
5  NY Rangers 4     5  NY Rangers 4  


  E3  Philadelphia 0
(Pairings are re-seeded after the first round.)
  W3  Detroit 4
1  Colorado 4     3  Detroit 4
8  Chicago 2     4  Anaheim 0  
2  Dallas 3
7  Edmonton 4  
  1  Colorado 2
  3  Detroit 4  
3  Detroit 4  
6  St. Louis 2   Western Conference
4  Anaheim 4   1  Colorado 4
5  Phoenix 3     7  Edmonton 1  
  • During the first three rounds home ice is determined by seeding number, not position on the bracket. In the Finals the team with the better regular season record has home ice.

[edit] 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 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

[edit] 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

[edit] Player statistics

[edit] Scoring leaders

Regular season Playoffs
Player Team GP G A Pts
Mario Lemieux Pittsburgh 76 50 72 122
Teemu Selanne Anaheim 78 51 58 109
Paul Kariya Anaheim 69 44 55 99
John LeClair Philadelphia 82 50 47 97
Wayne Gretzky NY Rangers 82 25 72 97
Jaromir Jagr Pittsburgh 63 47 48 95
Mats Sundin Toronto 82 41 53 94
Zigmund Palffy NY Islanders 80 48 42 90
Ron Francis Pittsburgh 81 27 63 90
Brendan Shanahan Hartford/
Detroit		 81 47 41 88
Player Team GP G A Pts
Eric Lindros Phi 19 12 14 26
Joe Sakic Col 17 8 17 25
Claude Lemieux Col 17 13 10 23
Valeri Kamensky Col 17 8 14 22
Rod Brind'Amour Phi 19 13 8 21
John LeClair Phi 19 9 12 21
Wayne Gretzky NYR 15 10 10 20
Sergei Fedorov Det 20 8 12 20
Brendan Shanahan Det 20 9 8 17
Peter Forsberg Col 14 5 12 17
Sandis Ozolinsh Col 17 4 13 17
Vyacheslav Kozlov Det 20 8 5 13
Paul Kariya Ana 11 7 6 13
Steve Yzerman Det 20 7 6 13
Janne Niinimaa Phi 19 1 12 13

Note: GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points

[edit] Leading goaltenders

Regular season

Player Team GP MIN GA SO GAA
Martin Brodeur New Jersey 67 3838 120 10 1.88
Andy Moog Dallas 48 2738 98 3 2.15
Jeff Hackett Chicago 41 2473 89 2 2.16
Dominik Hasek Buffalo 67 4037 153 5 2.27
John Vanbiesbrouck Florida 57 3347 128 2 2.29
Chris Osgood Detroit 47 2769 106 6 2.30
Patrick Roy Colorado 62 3698 143 7 2.32
Mark Fitzpatrick Florida 30 1680 66 0 2.36
Mike Vernon Detroit 33 1952 79 0 2.43
Garth Snow Philadelphia 35 1884 79 2 2.52

[7]

[edit] Milestones

[edit] 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):

[edit] 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):

[edit] Trading deadline

  • Trading Deadline: March 18, 1997 [8]
  • 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.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  • Diamond, Dan, ed (2000). Total Hockey. Kingston, NY: Total Sports. ISBN 1-892129-85-X. 
  • Dinger, Ralph, ed (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Toronto, ON: Dan Diamond & Associates. ISBN 9781894801225. 
  • Dryden, Steve, ed (2000). Century of hockey. Toronto, ON: McClelland & Stewart Ltd.. ISBN 0771041799. 
  • Fischler, Stan; Fischler, Shirley; Hughes, Morgan; Romain, Joseph; Duplacey, James (2003). The Hockey Chronicle: Year-by-Year History of the National Hockey League. Lincolnwood, IL: Publications International Inc.. ISBN 0785396241. 
Notes
  1. ^ http://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1997_goalies.html
  2. ^ http://www.hockey-reference.com/playoffs/NHL_1997_goalies.html
  3. ^ http://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1997_leaders.html
  4. ^ http://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1996_leaders.html
  5. ^ http://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1997.html
  6. ^ http://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1996.html
  7. ^ http://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1997_leaders.html
  8. ^ NHL trade deadline: Deals since 1980 | Habs Inside/Out

[edit] External links

1996–97 NHL season by team
Northeast Division
Atlantic Division
Central Division
Pacific Division
See also
 
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