1992–93 NHL season

The 1992–93 NHL season was the 76th regular season of the National Hockey League. Each player wore a patch on their jersey throughout the season to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Stanley Cup. The league expanded to 24 teams with the addition of the Ottawa Senators and the Tampa Bay Lightning.

1992–93 NHL season
Commemorative patch celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Stanley Cup
LeagueNational Hockey League
SportIce hockey
DurationOctober 6, 1992 – June 9, 1993
Number of games84
Number of teams24
Draft
Top draft pickRoman Hamrlik
Picked byTampa Bay Lightning
Regular season
Presidents' TrophyPittsburgh Penguins
Season MVPMario Lemieux (Penguins)
Top scorerMario Lemieux (Penguins)
Playoffs
Playoffs MVPPatrick Roy (Canadiens)
Stanley Cup
ChampionsMontreal Canadiens
  Runners-upLos Angeles Kings

The Montreal Canadiens won their league-leading 24th Cup by defeating the Los Angeles Kings four games to one. This remains the last time that a Canadian team has won the Stanley Cup.

It proved, at the time, to be the highest-scoring regular season in NHL history, as a total of 7,311 goals were scored over 1,008 games for an average of 7.25 per game.[1] Twenty of the twenty-four teams scored three goals or more per game, and only two teams, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Chicago Blackhawks, allowed fewer than three goals per game. Only 68 shutouts were recorded during the regular season.[2] A record twenty-one players reached the 100-point plateau, while a record fourteen players reached the 50-goal plateauboth records still stand as of the 2020–21 NHL season.

League business

This was the final season of the Wales and Campbell Conferences, and the Adams, Patrick, Norris, and Smythe divisions. Both the conferences and the divisions would be renamed to reflect geography rather than the league's history for the following season. This was also the last year (until the 2013 realignment) in which the playoff structure bracketed and seeded teams by division; they would be bracketed and seeded by conference (as in the NBA) for 1993–94.

This season saw two new clubs join the league: the Ottawa Senators and the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Senators were the second Ottawa-based NHL franchise (see Ottawa Senators (original)) and brought professional hockey back to Canada's capital, while the Tampa Bay franchise (headed by Hockey Hall of Fame brothers Phil and Tony Esposito) strengthened the NHL's presence in the American Sun Belt, which had first started with the birth of the Los Angeles Kings in 1967.

This was also the final season of play for the Minnesota North Stars, before relocating to Dallas, Texas, the following season.

All teams wore a commemorative patch this year celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Stanley Cup.

Gil Stein was appointed NHL President in the summer of 1992, on an interim basis.

On February 1, 1993, Gary Bettman became the first NHL Commissioner. With the expiration of Gil Stein's tenure on July 1, 1993 (note: Bettman's office was created senior to Stein's), the position of President was merged into the position of Commissioner.

On March 28, 1993, through a brokered deal with ESPN, ABC begins the first of a two year deal with the National Hockey League to televise six regional Sunday afternoon broadcasts (including the first three Sundays of the playoffs). This marked the first time that regular season National Hockey League games were broadcast on American network television[3] since 1974–75 (when NBC was the NHL's American broadcast television partner).

Rule changes

  • Schedule length changed to 84 games. Two games in each team's schedule to be played in non-NHL cities.
  • Instigating a fight results in a game misconduct penalty.
  • Substitutions disallowed for coincidental minor penalties when teams are at full strength.
  • Minor penalty for diving introduced.

Regular season

Teemu Selanne of the Winnipeg Jets shattered the rookie scoring record by scoring 76 goals and 56 assists for 132 points this season. He was named the winner of the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL Rookie of the Year, and his goals and points marks remain the NHL rookie records as of 2020.

The New York Rangers missed the playoffs. This marked the first time since the President's Trophy had been introduced that the previous season's top team missed the next year's playoffs.

For the first time in his NHL career, Wayne Gretzky did not finish in the top three in scoring. A back injury limited Gretzky to 45 games in which he scored 65 points.

The Pittsburgh Penguins set a new NHL record, winning 17 consecutive games. The streak ending with the regular season.

Final standings

Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, Pts = Points

Prince of Wales Conference

Adams Division
GP W L T Pts GF GA
Boston Bruins8451267109332268
Quebec Nordiques84472710104351300
Montreal Canadiens8448306102326280
Buffalo Sabres8438361086335297
Hartford Whalers842652658284369
Ottawa Senators841070424202395

[4]

Patrick Division
GP W L T Pts GF GA
Pittsburgh Penguins8456217119367268
Washington Capitals844334793325286
New York Islanders844037787335297
New Jersey Devils844037787308299
Philadelphia Flyers8436371183319319
New York Rangers8434391179304308

[4]

Clarence Campbell Conference

Norris Division
GP W L T Pts GF GA
Chicago Blackhawks84472512106279230
Detroit Red Wings8447289103369280
Toronto Maple Leafs8444291199288241
St. Louis Blues8437361185282278
Minnesota North Stars8436381082272293
Tampa Bay Lightning842354753245332

[4]

Smythe Division
GP W L T Pts GF GA
Vancouver Canucks8446299101346278
Calgary Flames8443301197322282
Los Angeles Kings8439351088338340
Winnipeg Jets844037787322320
Edmonton Oilers842650860242337
San Jose Sharks841171224218414

[4]

Playoffs

Playoff bracket

  Division Semifinals Division Finals Conference Finals Stanley Cup Finals
                                     
A1 Boston 0  
A4 Buffalo 4  
  A4 Buffalo 0  
 
  A3 Montreal 4  
A2 Quebec 2
A3 Montreal 4  
  A3 Montreal 4  
Prince of Wales Conference
  P3 NY Islanders 1  
P1 Pittsburgh 4  
P4 New Jersey 1  
  P1 Pittsburgh 3
 
  P3 NY Islanders 4  
P2 Washington 2
P3 NY Islanders 4  
  A3 Montreal 4
  S3 Los Angeles 1
N1 Chicago 0  
N4 St. Louis 4  
  N4 St. Louis 3
 
  N3 Toronto 4  
N2 Detroit 3
N3 Toronto 4  
  N3 Toronto 3
Clarence Campbell Conference
  S3 Los Angeles 4  
S1 Vancouver 4  
S4 Winnipeg 2  
  S1 Vancouver 2
 
  S3 Los Angeles 4  
S2 Calgary 2
S3 Los Angeles 4  

Stanley Cup Finals

Montreal won series 4–1

NHL awards

1992–93 NHL awards
AwardRecipient(s)Runner(s)-up/Finalists
Stanley CupMontreal CanadiensLos Angeles Kings
Presidents' Trophy
(Best regular-season record)
Pittsburgh PenguinsBoston Bruins
Prince of Wales Trophy
(Wales Conference playoff champion)
Montreal CanadiensNew York Islanders
Clarence S. Campbell Bowl
(Campbell Conference playoff champion)
Los Angeles KingsToronto Maple Leafs
Art Ross Trophy
(Player with most points)
Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh Penguins)Pat LaFontaine (Buffalo Sabres)
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy
(Perseverance, Sportsmanship, and Dedication)
Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh Penguins)N/A
Calder Memorial Trophy
(Best first-year player)
Teemu Selanne (Winnipeg Jets)Joe Juneau (Boston Bruins)
Felix Potvin (Toronto Maple Leafs)
Teemu Selanne (Winnipeg Jets)
Conn Smythe Trophy
(Most valuable player, playoffs)
Patrick Roy (Montreal Canadiens)N/A
Frank J. Selke Trophy
(Defensive forward)
Doug Gilmour (Toronto Maple Leafs)Doug Gilmour (Toronto Maple Leafs)
Joel Otto (Calgary Flames)
Dave Poulin (Boston Bruins)
Hart Memorial Trophy
(Most valuable player, regular season)
Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh Penguins)Doug Gilmour (Toronto Maple Leafs)
Pat LaFontaine (Buffalo Sabres)
Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh Penguins)
Jack Adams Award
(Best coach)
Pat Burns (Toronto Maple Leafs)Pat Burns (Toronto Maple Leafs)
Pierre Page (Quebec Nordiques)
Brian Sutter (Boston Bruins)
James Norris Memorial Trophy
(Best defenceman)
Chris Chelios (Chicago Blackhawks)Ray Bourque (Boston Bruins)
Chris Chelios (Chicago Blackhawks)
Larry Murphy (Pittsburgh Penguins)
King Clancy Memorial Trophy
(Leadership and humanitarian contribution)
Dave Poulin (Boston Bruins)N/A
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy
(Sportsmanship and excellence)
Pierre Turgeon (New York Islanders)Pat LaFontaine (Buffalo Sabres)
Adam Oates (Boston Bruins)
Pierre Turgeon (New York Islanders)
Lester B. Pearson Award
(Outstanding player)
Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh Penguins)N/A
NHL Plus/Minus Award
(Leadership and community activities)
Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh Penguins)Larry Murphy (Pittsburgh Penguins)
Vezina Trophy
(Best goaltender)
Ed Belfour (Chicago Blackhawks)Tom Barrasso (Pittsburgh Penguins)
Ed Belfour (Chicago Blackhawks)
Curtis Joseph (St. Louis Blues)
William M. Jennings Trophy
(Goaltender(s) of team with fewest goals against)
Ed Belfour
(Chicago Blackhawks)
Grant Fuhr and Felix Potvin (Toronto Maple Leafs)
Lester Patrick Trophy
(Service to ice hockey in U.S.)
Frank Boucher, Mervyn "Red" Dutton, Bruce McNall, Gil SteinN/A

All-Star teams

  Position  First TeamSecond TeamPositionAll-Rookie
G Ed Belfour, Chicago Blackhawks Tom Barrasso, Pittsburgh Penguins G Felix Potvin, Toronto Maple Leafs
D Chris Chelios, Chicago Blackhawks Larry Murphy, Pittsburgh Penguins D Vladimir Malakhov, New York Islanders
D Ray Bourque, Boston Bruins Al Iafrate, Washington Capitals D Scott Niedermayer, New Jersey Devils
C Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins Pat LaFontaine, Buffalo Sabres F Eric Lindros, Philadelphia Flyers
RW Teemu Selanne, Winnipeg Jets Alexander Mogilny, Buffalo Sabres F Teemu Selanne, Winnipeg Jets
LW Luc Robitaille, Los Angeles Kings Kevin Stevens, Pittsburgh Penguins F Joe Juneau, Boston Bruins

Player statistics

Scoring leaders

Player Team GP G A PTS +/– PIM
Mario LemieuxPittsburgh606991160+5538
Pat LaFontaineBuffalo845395148+1163
Adam OatesBoston844597142+1532
Steve YzermanDetroit845879137+3344
Teemu SelanneWinnipeg847656132+845
Pierre TurgeonNY Islanders835874132-126
Alexander MogilnyBuffalo777651127+740
Doug GilmourToronto833295127+32100
Luc RobitailleLos Angeles846362125+18100
Mark RecchiPhiladelphia845370123+195

[4]

Leading goaltenders

Player Team GP MIN GA SO GAA
Felix PotvinToronto48278111622.50
Ed BelfourChicago71410617772.59
Tom BarrassoPittsburgh63370218643.01
Curtis JosephSt. Louis68389019613.02
Kay WhitmoreVancouver3118179413.10
Dominik HasekBuffalo2814297503.15
Andy MoogBoston55319416833.16
Jeff ReeseCalgary2613117013.20
Patrick RoyMontreal62359519223.20
Daren PuppaBuffalo/Toronto3217859623.23

Neutral-site games

As a part of the 1992 strike settlement, the NHL and Bruce McNall's Multivision Marketing and Public Relations Co. organized 24 regular season games in 15 cities that did not have a franchise, providing as a litmus test for future expansion. Four of the cities chosen Phoenix, Atlanta, Dallas and Miami were eventually the sites of expansion or relocations, and although neither Cleveland nor Cincinnati received NHL franchises, there would be one placed in Columbus, located halfway between the two cities.

Two arenas that hosted neutral-site games had hosted NHL teams before: Atlanta's The Omni (Atlanta Flames) and Cleveland's Richfield Coliseum (Cleveland Barons).

Date Winning Team Score Losing Team Score OT City State/Province Arena Attendance
October 13, 1992 Calgary 4 Minnesota 3 Saskatoon SK SaskPlace 8,783
October 20, 1992 Toronto 5 Ottawa 3 Hamilton ON Copps Coliseum 7,186
November 3, 1992 Washington 4 Chicago 1 Indianapolis IN Market Square Arena 8,792
November 17, 1992 Quebec 3 Toronto 1 Hamilton ON Copps Coliseum 17,026*
November 18, 1992 New Jersey 3 Buffalo 2 Hamilton ON Copps Coliseum 6,972
December 1, 1992 Los Angeles 6 Chicago 3 Milwaukee WI Bradley Center 16,292
December 8, 1992 Montreal 5 Los Angeles 5 (OT) Phoenix AZ Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,276
December 9, 1992 NY Rangers 6 Tampa Bay 5 Miami FL Miami Arena 12,842
December 13, 1992 NY Islanders 4 Edmonton 1 Oklahoma City OK Myriad Convention Center 11,110
December 15, 1992 NY Islanders 4 St. Louis 3 (OT) Dallas TX Reunion Arena 11,251
January 4, 1993 Montréal 4 San Jose 1 Sacramento CA ARCO Arena 11,814
January 18, 1993 Winnipeg 8 Hartford 7 Saskatoon SK SaskPlace 7,756
February 8, 1993 Pittsburgh 4 Boston 0 Atlanta GA The Omni 12,572
February 8, 1993 St. Louis 3 Hartford 1 Peoria IL Carver Arena 9,013
February 16, 1993 Calgary 4 Philadelphia 4 (OT) Cincinnati OH Riverfront Coliseum 7,973
February 20, 1993 Quebec 5 Tampa Bay 2 Halifax NS Halifax Metro Centre 9,584
February 22, 1993 Detroit 5 Philadelphia 5 (OT) Cleveland OH Richfield Coliseum 13,382
February 22, 1993 NY Rangers 4 San Jose 0 Sacramento CA ARCO Arena 13,633
February 23, 1993 Winnipeg 8 Ottawa 2 Saskatoon SK SaskPlace 7,245[5]
March 1, 1993 Vancouver 5 Buffalo 2 Hamilton ON Copps Coliseum 17,098*
March 11, 1993 Minnesota 4 Vancouver 3 Saskatoon SK SaskPlace 12,006*
March 16, 1993 Washington 4 Detroit 2 Milwaukee WI Bradley Center 9,836
March 16, 1993 Boston 3 New Jersey 1 Providence RI Providence Civic Center 10,864
March 21, 1993 Pittsburgh 6 Edmonton 4 Cleveland OH Richfield Coliseum 18,782*

The Hartford-St. Louis game was originally scheduled to be played on December 29, 1992, in Birmingham, Alabama.

Events and milestones

  • Manon Rheaume became the first woman to play for a major sports league in North America as she tended goal for the Tampa Bay Lightning in an exhibition game on September 23, 1992, against the St. Louis Blues.
  • The Ottawa Senators and Tampa Bay Lightning were two new teams to be added to the league, bringing the league to 24 teams, one-third of which were Canadian teams, as they comprised eight of the twenty-four teams. Both teams would win their opening games and briefly sit atop their respective Divisions, which led to Harry Neale jokingly proclaiming before the end of Ottawa's first win that both the Senators and Lightning would reach the Stanley Cup finals in May.
  • October 1992: Gil Stein named NHL President.
  • February 1993: Gary Bettman named NHL Commissioner.
  • Record set for most 100-point scorers and most 50-goal scorers in one season.
  • February 10, 1993: In a 13–1 drubbing of the San Jose Sharks, Calgary Flames goaltender Jeff Reese set NHL records for most points and most assists by a goaltender in one game, with three.
  • The 1993 Stanley Cup playoffs marked the 100th anniversary of the Stanley Cup.
  • Pittsburgh Penguins set the NHL record for longest win streak at 17 games. Conversely, the San Jose Sharks tied the NHL record for longest losing streak at 17 games.

Major transactions

Team
  • Most losses, one season: San Jose Sharks (71)
  • Fewest ties, one season: San Jose Sharks (2)
  • Most home losses, one season: San Jose Sharks (32)
  • Most road losses, one season: Ottawa Senators (40)
  • Fewest road wins, one season: Ottawa Senators (1)*
  • Longest winning streak: Pittsburgh Penguins (17) (All time NHL record)
  • Longest losing streak: San Jose Sharks (17)*
  • Longest road losing streak: Ottawa Senators (38)
  • Longest road winless streak: Ottawa Senators (38)
  • Most 100-or-more point scorers, one season: Pittsburgh Penguins (4)*
  • Fastest three goals from the start of period, one team: Calgary Flames (0:53, February 10, 1993)
Individual
  • Most goals, including playoffs: Wayne Gretzky (875)
  • Most 30-goal seasons: Mike Gartner (14)*
  • Most consecutive 30-goal seasons: Mike Gartner (14)
  • Most goals, one season, by a left winger: Luc Robitaille (63)
  • Most goals, one season, by a rookie: Teemu Selanne (76)
  • Most assists, one season, by a left winger: Joe Juneau (70)
  • Most assists, one season, by a rookie: Joe Juneau (70)* (Note: Wayne Gretzky scored 86 assists in his first year, but he was not considered a rookie)
  • Most points, one season, by a left winger: Luc Robitaille (125)
  • Most points, one season, by a rookie: Teemu Selanne (132) (Note: Wayne Gretzky scored 137 points in his first year, but he was not considered a rookie)
  • Most assists, one game, by a goaltender: Jeff Reese (3, February 10, 1993)
  • Most games missed while winning Art Ross Trophy: Mario Lemieux (24)
Team
  • Most overtime games, one playoff year: 28
  • Most overtime wins, one playoff year: Montreal Canadiens (10)
  • Most consecutive overtime wins, one playoff year: Montreal Canadiens (10)
  • Most consecutive wins, one playoff year: Montreal Canadiens (11)*
Individual
  • Most consecutive wins, one playoff year: Patrick Roy (11)*
  • Most goals by a defenceman, one game: Eric Desjardins (3, June 3, 1993)*
  • Most power-play goals, one game: Dino Ciccarelli (3, April 29, 1993)*
  • Most shorthanded goals, one game: Tom Fitzgerald (2, May 8, 1993)*
  • Most assists, one period: Adam Oates (3, April 24, 1993)*

* Equalled existing record

Debuts

The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1992–93 (listed with their first team):

Last games

The following is a list of players of note who played their last game in the NHL in 1992–93 (listed with their last team):

Four of the five remaining helmetless players in the league played their final games: Carlyle, Marsh, Langway, and Wilson. The only remaining helmetless player was Craig McTavish who retired following the 1996–97 season.

Trading deadline

Trading deadline: March 22, 1993.[6]

  • March 22, 1993: Mark Hardy and Ottawa's fifth round choice in 1993 Entry Draft (previously acquired from Ottawa) traded from NY Rangers to Los Angeles for John McIntyre.
  • March 22, 1993: Jim Hrivnak and future considerations traded from Washington to Winnipeg for Rick Tabaracci.
  • March 22, 1993: Peter Taglianetti traded from Tampa Bay to Pittsburgh for Pittsburgh's third round choice in 1993 Entry Draft.
  • March 22, 1993: Steve Konroyd traded from Hartford to Detroit for Detroit's sixth round choice in 1993 Entry Draft.
  • March 22, 1993: Vancouver's ninth round choice in 1993 Entry Draft traded from Vancouver to Winnipeg for Dan Ratushny.
  • March 22, 1993: Mike Hartman traded from Tampa Bay to New York Rangers for Randy Gilhen.
  • March 22, 1993: Murray Craven and Vancouver's fifth round choice in 1993 Entry Draft (previously acquired from Vancouver) traded from Hartford to Vancouver for Robert Kron, Vancouver's third round choice in 1993 Entry Draft and future considerations.
  • March 22, 1993: Mike Ramsey traded from Buffalo to Pittsburgh for Bob Errey.
  • March 22, 1993: Craig Muni traded from Edmonton to Chicago for Mike Hudson.

Coaches

Prince of Wales Conference

Team Coach Comments
Boston Bruins Brian Sutter
Buffalo Sabres John Muckler
Hartford Whalers Paul Holmgren
Montreal Canadiens Jacques Demers
New Jersey Devils Herb Brooks
New York Islanders Al Arbour
New York Rangers Roger Neilson Replaced on January 5 by Ron Smith
Ottawa Senators Rick Bowness
Philadelphia Flyers Bill Dineen
Pittsburgh Penguins Scotty Bowman
Quebec Nordiques Pierre Page
Washington Capitals Terry Murray

Clarence Campbell Conference

Team Coach Comments
Calgary Flames Dave King
Chicago Blackhawks Darryl Sutter
Detroit Red Wings Bryan Murray
Edmonton Oilers Ted Green
Los Angeles Kings Barry Melrose
Minnesota North Stars Bob Gainey
St. Louis Blues Bob Plager Replaced on October 30 by Bob Berry
San Jose Sharks George Kingston
Tampa Bay Lightning Terry Crisp
Toronto Maple Leafs Pat Burns
Vancouver Canucks Pat Quinn
Winnipeg Jets John Paddock

See also

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 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, IL: Publications International Inc. ISBN 0-7853-9624-1.
Notes
  1. "1992-93 NHL Summary - Hockey-Reference.com". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  2. "1992-93 NHL Goalie Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  3. Jim Shea (May 7, 1993). "Select few watching NHL on ABC". Hartford Courant. p. E9.
  4. Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 154. ISBN 9781894801225.
  5. MacKinnon, John (February 24, 1993). "Jets take off on Senators". Ottawa Citizen. p. D1.
  6. NHL trade deadline: Deals since 1980 | Habs Inside/Out Archived 2009-02-16 at the Wayback Machine
  • Hockey Database
  • NHL Official Guide & Record Book 1993–94. Toronto, ON: NHL Publishing. 1993. ISBN 978-1-880141-43-4.
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