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1996–97 NHL season

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The 1996–97 NHL season was the 80th regular season of the National Hockey League. The Winnipeg Jets relocated to Phoenix, Arizona, becoming the Phoenix Coyotes. 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.

1996–97 NHL season
LeagueNational Hockey League
SportIce hockey
DurationOctober 4, 1996 – June 7, 1997
Number of games82
Number of teams26
TV partner(s)CBC, TSN, SRC (Canada)
ESPN, Fox (United States)
Draft
Top draft pickChris Phillips
Picked byOttawa Senators
Regular season
Presidents' TrophyColorado Avalanche
Season MVPDominik Hasek (Sabres)
Top scorerMario Lemieux (Penguins)
Playoffs
Playoffs MVPMike Vernon (Red Wings)
Stanley Cup
ChampionsDetroit Red Wings
  Runners-upPhiladelphia Flyers
NHL seasons

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 regulatory factors, including ruling changes that resulted in 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.

This was the first time in 30 years—and in the entire expansion era—that the Boston Bruins had a losing record and missed the playoffs, ending a still-unsurpassed North American professional sports streak of 29-straight seasons in the playoffs.

League business

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Franchise relocation

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This was the first season for the Phoenix Coyotes, who had relocated from Winnipeg and had previously been known as the first incarnation of the Winnipeg Jets. They would remain in the Central Division.

On March 26, 1997, the Hartford Whalers announced that they would move from Connecticut following the 1996–97 season. On May 5, they announced that starting in the 1997–98 NHL season, they would be known as the Carolina Hurricanes.

Entry draft

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The 1996 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Kiel Center in St. Louis, Missouri, on June 22. Chris Phillips was selected first overall by the Ottawa Senators.

Rule changes

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  • The maximum stick length was increased from the 60-inch limit set in 1985–86 to 63 inches.[5]
  • Offside rules were clarified, requiring all players to clear their opponents' zone before they can shoot the puck back into that zone.[5]
  • Craig MacTavish, the last active NHL player who played without a protective helmet, retired after this 1996–97 season. MacTavish was the last active player who had been grandfathered under the rule requiring them to be worn because he had signed a pro contract before the rule was established on June 1, 1979. The first player to ever wear a helmet was George Owen in the 1928–29 season.

Arena changes

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Regular season

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All-Star Game

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The All-Star Game was held on January 18, 1997, at San Jose Arena in San Jose, home of the San Jose Sharks.

Highlights

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The Boston Bruins recorded the league's worst record, missing the playoffs for the first time in 30 seasons and ending the longest consecutive playoff streak ever recorded in the history of North American professional sports.

On November 16, 1996, the eight-sided scoreboard at the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo crashed to the ice during a maintenance check. The accident occurred only 90 minutes after the visiting Boston Bruins players had conducted their morning practice. No-one was injured, but the game between the Buffalo Sabres and the Bruins was postponed.[6]

A large-scale on-ice brawl occurred during the Colorado Avalanche–Detroit Red Wings game on March 26. The game featured 18 fighting major penalties and 144 minutes in penalties.

Final standings

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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
Eastern Conference[7]
R Div GP W L T GF GA Pts
1 New Jersey Devils ATL 82 45 23 14 231 182 104
2 Buffalo Sabres NE 82 40 30 12 237 208 92
3 Philadelphia Flyers ATL 82 45 24 13 274 217 103
4 Florida Panthers ATL 82 35 28 19 221 201 89
5 New York Rangers ATL 82 38 34 10 258 231 86
6 Pittsburgh Penguins NE 82 38 36 8 285 280 84
7 Ottawa Senators NE 82 31 36 15 226 234 77
8 Montreal Canadiens NE 82 31 36 15 249 276 77
9 Washington Capitals ATL 82 33 40 9 214 231 75
10 Hartford Whalers NE 82 32 39 11 226 256 75
11 Tampa Bay Lightning ATL 82 32 40 10 217 247 74
12 New York Islanders ATL 82 29 41 12 240 250 70
13 Boston Bruins NE 82 26 47 9 234 300 61

Divisions: ATL – Atlantic, NE – Northeast

bold – Qualified for playoffs

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


Western Conference[8]
R Div GP W L T GF GA Pts
1 p – Colorado Avalanche PAC 82 49 24 9 277 205 107
2 Dallas Stars CEN 82 48 26 8 252 198 104
3 Detroit Red Wings CEN 82 38 26 18 253 197 94
4 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim PAC 82 36 33 13 245 233 85
5 Phoenix Coyotes CEN 82 38 37 7 240 243 83
6 St. Louis Blues CEN 82 36 35 11 236 239 83
7 Edmonton Oilers PAC 82 36 37 9 252 247 81
8 Chicago Blackhawks CEN 82 34 35 13 223 210 81
9 Vancouver Canucks PAC 82 35 40 7 257 273 77
10 Calgary Flames PAC 82 32 41 9 214 239 73
11 Toronto Maple Leafs CEN 82 30 44 8 230 273 68
12 Los Angeles Kings PAC 82 28 43 11 214 268 67
13 San Jose Sharks PAC 82 27 47 8 211 278 62

Divisions: CEN – Central, PAC – Pacific

bold – Qualified for playoffs; p – Won Presidents' Trophy


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

Playoffs

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Main article: 1997 Stanley Cup playoffs

Bracket

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The top eight teams in each conference made the playoffs, with the two division winners seeded 1–2 based on regular season records, and the six remaining teams seeded 3–8. In each round, teams competed in a best-of-seven series (scores in the bracket indicate the number of games won in each best-of-seven series). The NHL used "re-seeding" instead of a fixed bracket playoff system. During the first three rounds, the highest remaining seed in each conference was matched against the lowest remaining seed, the second-highest remaining seed played the second-lowest remaining seed, and so forth. The higher-seeded team was awarded home-ice advantage. The two conference winners then advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Conference quarterfinals Conference semifinals Conference finals Stanley Cup Finals
            
1 New Jersey 4
8 Montreal 1
1 New Jersey 1
5 NY Rangers 4
2 Buffalo 4
7 Ottawa 3
5 NY Rangers 1
Eastern Conference
3 Philadelphia 4
3 Philadelphia 4
6 Pittsburgh 1
2 Buffalo 1
3 Philadelphia 4
4 Florida 1
5 NY Rangers 4
E3 Philadelphia 0
W3 Detroit 4
1 Colorado 4
8 Chicago 2
1 Colorado 4
7 Edmonton 1
2 Dallas 3
7 Edmonton 4
1 Colorado 2
Western Conference
3 Detroit 4
3 Detroit 4
6 St. Louis 2
3 Detroit 4
4 Anaheim 0
4 Anaheim 4
5 Phoenix 3

Awards

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The NHL Awards presentation took place on June 19, 1997.

Presidents' Trophy: Colorado Avalanche
Prince of Wales Trophy:
(Eastern Conference playoff champion)		 Philadelphia Flyers
Clarence S. Campbell Bowl:
(Western Conference playoff champion)		 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

All-Star teams

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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

Player statistics

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Scoring leaders

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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

Source: NHL.[9]

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

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

Leading goaltenders

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Regular season

Player Team GP MIN GA SO GAA SV%
Martin Brodeur New Jersey 67 3838 120 10 1.88 .927
Andy Moog Dallas 48 2738 98 3 2.15 .913
Jeff Hackett Chicago 41 2473 89 2 2.16 .927
Dominik Hasek Buffalo 67 4037 153 5 2.27 .930
John Vanbiesbrouck Florida 57 3347 128 2 2.29 .919
Chris Osgood Detroit 47 2769 106 6 2.30 .910
Patrick Roy Colorado 62 3698 143 7 2.32 .923
Mark Fitzpatrick Florida 30 1680 66 0 2.36 .914
Mike Vernon Detroit 33 1952 79 0 2.43 .899
Garth Snow Philadelphia 35 1884 79 2 2.52 .903

[3]

Coaches

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Eastern Conference

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Western Conference

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Milestones

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Debuts

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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):

Last games

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The following is a list of players of note who played their last game in the NHL in 1996–97 (listed with their last team):

Broadcasting

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Canada

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This was the ninth season that the league's Canadian national broadcast rights were split between TSN and Hockey Night in Canada on CBC. During the regular season, Saturday night games aired on CBC, while TSN primarily had Monday and Thursday night games. Coverage of the Stanley Cup playoffs was primarily on CBC, with TSN airing first round all-U.S. series.

United States

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This was the third season of the league's five-year U.S. national broadcast rights deals with Fox and ESPN. Both ESPN and ESPN2 aired weeknight games throughout the regular season, and Fox had the All-Star Game and weekly regional telecasts on six selected weekend afternoons between January and March. During the first two rounds of the playoffs, ESPN and ESPN2 aired selected games, while Fox provided Sunday regional telecasts. Each U.S. team's regional broadcaster produced local coverage of first and second round games (except for those games on Fox). Fox's Sunday telecasts continued into the Conference Finals, while ESPN had the rest of the third round games. The Stanley Cup Finals were also split between Fox and ESPN.

See also

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References

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  • Diamond, Dan, ed. (2000). Total Hockey. Kingston, New York: 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 978-1-894801-22-5.
  • Dryden, Steve, ed. (2000). Century of hockey. Toronto, ON: McClelland & Stewart Ltd. ISBN 0-7710-4179-9.
  • Fischler, Stan; Fischler, Shirley; Hughes, Morgan; Romain, Joseph; Duplacey, James (2003). The Hockey Chronicle: Year-by-Year History of the National Hockey League. Lincolnwood, Illinois: Publications International Inc. ISBN 0-7853-9624-1.
Notes
  1. ^ "1996-97 NHL Goalie Statistics". Hockey-Reference.com.
  2. ^ "1997 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Goalie Statistics".
  3. ^ a b "1996-97 NHL Leaders". Hockey-Reference.com.
  4. ^ "1995-96 NHL Leaders".
  5. ^ a b "Historical Rule Changes". NHL.com. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  6. ^ Weekes, Don (2003). The Best and Worst of Hockey's Firsts: The Unofficial Guide. Canada: Greystone Books. pp. 240. ISBN 9781550548600.
  7. ^ "1996-1997 Conference Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". NHL.
  8. ^ "1996-1997 Conference Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". NHL.
  9. ^ Dinger 2011, p. 154.
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