1999–2000 NHL season

National Hockey League season April 2023 1999–2000 NHL season National Hockey League Ice hockey NHL 2000 patch.png 200px Millennium patch celebrating the year 2000 October 1, 1999 – June 10, 2000 Draft 1999 NHL Entry Draft List of first overall NHL draft picks Patrik Stefan Atlanta Thrashers Regular season Presidents' Trophy St. Louis Blues Chris Pronger (Blues) Hart Memorial Trophy Jaromir Jagr (Penguins) Art Ross Trophy Playoffs 2000 Stanley Cup playoffs Stanley Cup 2000 Stanley Cup Finals New Jersey Devils Dallas Stars Scott Stevens (Devils) Conn Smythe Trophy 2000–01 1998–99 NHL 82 28 CBC, CTV Sportsnet, SRC (Canada)ESPN/ABC (United States) The 1999–2000 NHL season was the 83rd regular season of the National Hockey League. With the addition of the expansion Atlanta Thrashers, 28 teams each played 82 games. This was the first season played in which teams were awarded a point for an overtime loss. The New Jersey Devils defeated the defending champion Dallas Stars for their second Stanley Cup championship. During the regular season, no player reached the 100-point plateau, the first time in a non-lockout season since the 1967–68 season. Also, in the 2000 Stanley Cup playoffs, the New Jersey Devils overcame a three-games-to-one deficit against the Philadelphia Flyers to win the Eastern Conference Finals. League business Expansion The 1999–2000 season was the inaugural year for the Atlanta Thrashers. They would join the Southeast Division, marking the return of the NHL to Atlanta since the Atlanta Flames moved to Calgary in 1980. The 1999 NHL expansion draft was held on June 25 to fill the new Thrashers roster. Entry draft The 1999 NHL entry draft was held on June 26 at the FleetCenter in Boston. Patrik Stefan was selected first overall by the expansion Atlanta Thrashers. Rule changes The rule prohibiting a player from having a skate in the crease was abolished. This was a reaction to the controversial goal scored by Brett Hull in the 1999 Stanley Cup Finals Overtime during the regular season will now have four skaters per side, instead of the 5-on-5. Furthermore, teams will earn one point in the standings for an overtime loss instead of none. These changes were intended to discourage teams from playing very defensively during the overtime to guarantee the single point from a tie. The number of ties had been going up for some years, and the league was able to successfully reverse that trend with these changes.Lapointe Joe 1999-06-23 ON HOCKEY; Beware of Overtime Rule Changes en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1999/06/23/sports/on-hockey-beware-of-overtime-rule-changes.html subscription April 11, 2023 0362-4331 October 29, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231029111612/https://www.nytimes.com/1999/06/23/sports/on-hockey-beware-of-overtime-rule-changes.html live Fraser Edward March 22, 2011 The NHL's points inflation, and how to solve it https://thehockeynews.com/news/news/thn-com-blog-nhls-useless-loser-point-creates-detrimental-confusion live The Hockey News https://web.archive.org/web/20120328031501/http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/39172-THNcom-Blog-NHLs-useless-loser-point-creates-detrimental-confusion.html March 28, 2012 May 20, 2011Wilson Andrew 2014-10-28 Why Changing the NHL Point System is Pointless https://thehockeywriters.com/why-changing-the-nhl-point-system-is-pointless/ April 11, 2023 The Hockey Writers April 11, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230411215025/https://thehockeywriters.com/why-changing-the-nhl-point-system-is-pointless/ live Elliott Helene 1999-09-30 ITS ABOUT (OVER)TIME https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-sep-30-sp-16833-story.html 2024-05-15 Los Angeles Times en-US May 25, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230525071824/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-sep-30-sp-16833-story.html live The four-official system (two referees and two linesmen) continued its phase-in regularly in which teams played 25 home and 25 road games (50 games per team) for a total of 700 games with four officials. The system was also used for all playoff games again.2016-07-06 NHL Overview of Four-Man Officiating System https://scoutingtherefs.com/2016/07/13971/nhl-4-man-system/ 2024-09-04 Scouting The Refs en-US October 4, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231004111758/https://scoutingtherefs.com/2016/07/13971/nhl-4-man-system/ live 1998-11-10 REF GETS DEVILS IN FIRST STEP https://www.nydailynews.com/1998/11/10/ref-gets-devils-in-first-step/ 2024-09-04 New York Daily News en-US1999-03-10 NHL TO USE 2 REFS IN PLAYOFFS https://www.chicagotribune.com/1999/03/10/nhl-to-use-2-refs-in-playoffs/ 2024-09-04 Chicago Tribune en-US1999-06-22 NHL decides to abolish use of video replays League officials argue that review slows up games https://www.deseret.com/1999/6/22/19451942/nhl-decides-to-abolish-use-of-video-replays-br-league-officials-argue-that-review-slows-up-games/ 2024-09-04 Deseret News en August 15, 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250815145420/https://www.deseret.com/1999/6/22/19451942/nhl-decides-to-abolish-use-of-video-replays-br-league-officials-argue-that-review-slows-up-games/ live Uniform changes League wide: An "NHL 2000" patch was worn this season to celebrate the turn of the millennium. Wayne Gretzky's jersey number, 99, was retired league-wide on February 6, 2000, at the season's All–Star Game.Perfect setting: Gretzky's number retired before All-Star Game CNN Sports Illustrated Associated Press February 6, 2000 http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/2000/nhl_allstar/news/2000/02/06/gretsky_99/ June 9, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20131112022319/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/2000/nhl_allstar/news/2000/02/06/gretsky_99/ November 12, 2013 Anaheim: Jade Alternates Retired. Eggplant pants with Jade Stripes are restored. Atlanta: White jerseys have the team logo, while the road darks have the alternate mark. The team wore inaugural season patches for their first season. Carolina: Shade of red is darkened. In addition to the NHL 2000 Patch, the Hurricanes wore two other patches this season, one celebrated the opening of the Raleigh Entertainment and Sports Arena, and the other was in Memory of Steve Chiasson, who died in a single-vehicle, alcohol-involved crash after the Hurricanes were eliminated in the 1999 Stanley Cup playoffs. Chicago: The tan outline on the crest is removed. Colorado: Shade of Burgundy is darkened from 1998–1999. Dallas: The alternates from 1998–1999 become the basis of the team's new home Uniform. the actual 1998–1999 Alternates become the new road uniform. Los Angeles: New Purple alternates introduced. New York Rangers: Navy Blue Lady Liberty Alternates return. Ottawa: The Alternates from the 1998–1999 become the new Road Uniforms Phoenix: Crest on the alternates get a sand-colored outline. Tampa Bay: The alternate jerseys are dropped. Toronto: All-star game patch worn for 2000 NHL All-Star Game. The Alternates worn during the 1998–1999 season for the last year at Maple Leaf Gardens go on a one-year hiatus. Arena changes The expansion Atlanta Thrashers moved into Philips Arena. The Buffalo Sabres' home arena, Marine Midland Arena, was renamed HSBC Arena on March 17, 2000, in recognition of Marine Midland Bank's parent company HSBC retiring the Marine Midland brand. The Carolina Hurricanes moved from Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina to the Raleigh Entertainment & Sports Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Colorado Avalanche moved from McNichols Sports Arena to the Pepsi Center. The Los Angeles Kings moved from the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California to the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles. The Pittsburgh Penguins's home arena, Pittsburgh Civic Arena, was renamed Mellon Arena after Mellon Financial purchased the naming rights. Regular season All-Star Game The All-Star Game was held on February 6, 2000, at Air Canada Centre in Toronto, the home to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Final standings Eastern Conference Western Conference Playoffs 2000 Stanley Cup playoffs Bracket In each round, teams competed in a best-of-seven series following a 2–2–1–1–1 format (scores in the bracket indicate the number of games won in each best-of-seven series). The team with home ice advantage played at home for games one and two (and games five and seven, if necessary), and the other team played at home for games three and four (and game six, if necessary). The top eight teams in each conference made the playoffs, with the three division winners seeded 1–3 based on regular season record, and the five remaining teams seeded 4–8. 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, where home ice advantage was awarded to the team that had the better regular season record. Bracket Awards The Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award was introduced this season for the goaltender with the best save percentage. + 1999-2000 NHL awards Award Recipient(s) Runner(s)-up/Finalists Presidents' Trophy(Best regular-season record) St. Louis Blues Detroit Red Wings Prince of Wales Trophy(Eastern Conference playoff champion) New Jersey Devils Philadelphia Flyers Clarence S. Campbell Bowl(Western Conference playoff champion) Dallas Stars Colorado Avalanche Art Ross Trophy(Player with most points) Jaromir Jagr (Pittsburgh Penguins) Pavel Bure (Florida Panthers) Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy(Perseverance, Sportsmanship, and Dedication) Ken Daneyko (New Jersey Devils) N/A Bud Light Plus-Minus Award(Best plus-minus statistic) Chris Pronger (St. Louis Blues) Chris Chelios (Detroit Red Wings) Calder Memorial Trophy(Best first-year player) Scott Gomez (New Jersey Devils) Scott Gomez (New Jersey Devils)Brad Stuart (San Jose Sharks)Mike York (New York Rangers) Conn Smythe Trophy(Most valuable player, playoffs) Scott Stevens (New Jersey Devils) N/A Frank J. Selke Trophy(Defensive forward) Steve Yzerman (Detroit Red Wings) Michal Handzus (St. Louis Blues)Mike Ricci (San Jose Sharks)Steve Yzerman (Detroit Red Wings) Hart Memorial Trophy(Most valuable player, regular season) Chris Pronger (St. Louis Blues) Pavel Bure (Florida Panthers)Jaromir Jagr (Pittsburgh Penguins)Chris Pronger (St. Louis Blues) Jack Adams Award(Best coach) Joel Quenneville (St. Louis Blues) Joel Quenneville (St. Louis Blues)Alain Vigneault (Montreal Canadiens)Ron Wilson (Washington Capitals) James Norris Memorial Trophy(Best defenceman) Chris Pronger (St. Louis Blues) Rob Blake (Los Angeles Kings)Nicklas Lidstrom (Detroit Red Wings)Chris Pronger (St. Louis Blues) King Clancy Memorial Trophy(Leadership and humanitarian contribution) Curtis Joseph (Toronto Maple Leafs) N/A Lady Byng Memorial Trophy(Sportsmanship and excellence) Pavol Demitra (St. Louis Blues) Pavol Demitra (St. Louis Blues)Nicklas Lidstrom (Detroit Red Wings)Teemu Selanne (Mighty Ducks of Anaheim) Lester B. Pearson Award(Outstanding player) Jaromir Jagr (Pittsburgh Penguins) N/A Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy(Top goal-scorer) Pavel Bure (Florida Panthers) Owen Nolan (San Jose Sharks) NHL Foundation Player Award(Award for community enrichment) Adam Graves (New York Rangers) N/A NHL Plus-Minus Award(Player with the best plus-minus) Chris Pronger (St. Louis Blues) Chris Chelios (Detroit Red Wings) Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award(Best save percentage) Ed Belfour (Dallas Stars) Jose Theodore (Montreal Canadiens)Dominik Hasek (Buffalo Sabres) Vezina Trophy(Best goaltender) Olaf Kolzig (Washington Capitals) Curtis Joseph (Toronto Maple Leafs)Olaf Kolzig (Washington Capitals)Roman Turek (St. Louis Blues) William M. Jennings Trophy(Goaltender(s) of team with fewest goals against) Roman Turek (St. Louis Blues) N/A All-Star teams First team   Position   Second teamOlaf Kolzig, Washington Capitals GRoman Turek, St. Louis BluesChris Pronger, St. Louis Blues DRob Blake, Los Angeles KingsNicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings DEric Desjardins, Philadelphia FlyersSteve Yzerman, Detroit Red Wings CMike Modano, Dallas StarsJaromir Jagr, Pittsburgh Penguins RWPavel Bure, Florida PanthersBrendan Shanahan, Detroit Red Wings LWPaul Kariya, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim Player statistics Scoring leaders Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points Player Team GP G A PtsJaromir Jagr Pittsburgh Penguins 63 42 54 96Pavel Bure Florida Panthers 74 58 36 94Mark Recchi Philadelphia Flyers 82 28 63 91Paul Kariya Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 74 42 44 86Teemu Selanne Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 79 33 52 85Owen Nolan San Jose Sharks 78 44 40 84Tony Amonte Chicago Blackhawks 82 43 41 84Mike Modano Dallas Stars 77 38 43 81Joe Sakic Colorado Avalanche 60 28 53 81Steve Yzerman Detroit Red Wings 78 35 44 79 Leading goaltenders Note: GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage Player Team GP MIN GA GAA W L T SO SV%Brian Boucher Philadelphia Flyers 35 2038 65 1.91 20 10 3 4 .903Roman Turek St. Louis Blues 67 3960 129 1.95 42 15 9 7 .912Ed Belfour Dallas Stars 62 3620 127 2.10 32 21 7 4 .919Jose Theodore Montreal Canadiens 30 1655 58 2.10 12 13 2 5 .919John Vanbiesbrouck Philadelphia Flyers 50 2950 108 2.20 25 15 9 3 .906Dominik Hasek Buffalo Sabres 35 2066 76 2.21 15 11 6 3 .919Martin Brodeur New Jersey Devils 72 4312 161 2.24 43 20 8 6 .910Patrick Roy Colorado Avalanche 63 3704 141 2.28 32 21 8 2 .914Tommy Salo Edmonton Oilers 70 4164 162 2.33 27 28 13 2 .914Patrick Lalime Ottawa Senators 38 2038 79 2.33 19 14 3 3 .905 Source: 2001 NHL Yearbook Coaches Eastern Conference Atlanta Thrashers: Curt Fraser Boston Bruins: Pat Burns Buffalo Sabres: Lindy Ruff Carolina Hurricanes: Paul Maurice Florida Panthers: Terry Murray Montreal Canadiens: Alain Vigneault New Jersey Devils: Robbie Ftorek and Larry Robinson New York Islanders: Butch Goring New York Rangers: John Muckler and John Tortorella Ottawa Senators: Jacques Martin Philadelphia Flyers: Roger Neilson and Craig Ramsay Pittsburgh Penguins: Kevin Constantine and Herb Brooks Tampa Bay Lightning: Steve Ludzik Toronto Maple Leafs: Pat Quinn Washington Capitals: Ron Wilson Western Conference Mighty Ducks of Anaheim: Craig Hartsburg Calgary Flames: Brian Sutter Chicago Blackhawks: Lorne Molleken and Bob Pulford Colorado Avalanche: Bob Hartley Dallas Stars: Ken Hitchcock Detroit Red Wings: Scotty Bowman Edmonton Oilers: Kevin Lowe Los Angeles Kings: Andy Murray Nashville Predators: Barry Trotz Phoenix Coyotes: Bobby Francis San Jose Sharks: Darryl Sutter St. Louis Blues: Joel Quenneville Vancouver Canucks: Marc Crawford Milestones Debuts The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1999–2000 (listed with their first team, an asterisk(*) marks debut in playoffs): Patrik Stefan, Atlanta Thrashers Robyn Regehr, Calgary Flames Alex Tanguay, Colorado Avalanche Martin Skoula, Colorado Avalanche Brenden Morrow, Dallas Stars Brian Rafalski, New Jersey Devils Scott Gomez, New Jersey Devils Roberto Luongo, New York Islanders Brian Boucher, Philadelphia Flyers Simon Gagne, Philadelphia Flyers Evgeni Nabokov, San Jose Sharks Mike York, New York Rangers Last games The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1999–2000 (listed with their last team): Marty McSorley, Boston Bruins Grant Fuhr, Calgary Flames Steve Smith, Calgary Flames Ed Olczyk, Chicago Blackhawks Brian Skrudland, Dallas Stars Guy Carbonneau, Dallas Stars Ken Wregget, Detroit Red Wings Bill Ranford, Edmonton Oilers Ray Sheppard, Florida Panthers Darren Turcotte, Nashville Predators Ulf Samuelsson, Philadelphia Flyers Zarley Zalapski, Philadelphia Flyers Rob Brown, Pittsburgh Penguins Pat Falloon, Pittsburgh Penguins Bob Rouse, San Jose Sharks Murray Craven, San Jose Sharks Dave Ellett, St. Louis Blues Geoff Courtnall, St. Louis Blues Derek King, St. Louis Blues Daren Puppa, Tampa Bay Lightning Shawn Burr, Tampa Bay Lightning Wendel Clark, Toronto Maple Leafs Doug Bodger, Vancouver Canucks Broadcasting Canada This was the second season of the league's Canadian national broadcast rights deals with CBC and CTV Sportsnet. CBC aired Saturday night Hockey Night in Canada regular season games, while CTV Sportsnet's telecasts included Tuesday Night Hockey and other weeknight games. Coverage of the Stanley Cup playoffs continued to primarily be on CBC, while CTV Sportsnet aired first round all-U.S. series. United States This was the first year of the league's five-year U.S. national broadcast rights deal with ESPN and ABC. Much like ABC's initial contract with the NHL in the 1992–93 and 1993–94 seasons, ESPN essentially purchased time on ABC to air selected NHL games on ist sister broadcast network. This was noted in copyright tags at the conclusion of the telecasts (i.e., "The preceding program has been paid for by ESPN, Inc."). ESPN later signed a similar television rights contract with the National Basketball Association in 2002, allowing it to produce and broadcast NBA games on ABC under a similar time buy arrangement on the broadcast network.Without Showing Games, ESPN Leaves a Mark on the N.B.A. Finals https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/11/sports/basketball/without-showing-games-espn-leaves-a-mark-on-the-nba-finals.html?_r=0 Richard Sandomir Richard Sandomir The New York Times June 10, 2015 June 12, 2015 June 14, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150614154813/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/11/sports/basketball/without-showing-games-espn-leaves-a-mark-on-the-nba-finals.html?_r=0 live ABC's terms of this deal included four to five weeks worth of regional games on selected Saturday afternoons,Gatehouse Jonathon October 2012 The Instigator: How Gary Bettman Remade the NHL and Changed the Game Forever https://books.google.com/books?id=Ryb0O7riZnQC&q=ABC Triumph Books 165 9781623686567Harris Cecil Breaking the Ice: The Black Experience in Professional Hockey 2007 https://books.google.com/books?id=8E74agb2dk4C&dq=2003+Stanley+Cup+Finals+ABC&pg=PA187 187 Insomniac Press 9781897415054 typically between beginning in January or March for the first two seasons. ABC also had the All-Star Game. ESPN and ESPN2 continued to air weeknight games throughout the regular season. During the first two rounds of the playoffs, ESPN and ESPN2 aired selected games, while ABC had weekend regional telecasts. Each U.S. team's regional broadcaster produced local coverage of first and second round games (except for those games on ABC). ABC's weekend telecasts continued into the Conference Finals, while ESPN had the rest of the third round games. ESPN then aired the first two games of the Stanley Cup Finals before the rest of the series shifted to ABC. See also List of Stanley Cup champions 1999 NHL entry draft 1999 NHL expansion draft 1999–2000 NHL transactions 50th National Hockey League All-Star Game NHL All-Star Game NHL All-Rookie Team Lester Patrick Trophy 1999 in sports 2000 in sports References Dinger Ralph 2011 The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012 Dan Diamond & Associates 978-1-894801-22-5 Toronto, ON registration https://archive.org/details/nationalhockeyle0000unse_u6g5 Fischler Stan Fischler Shirley Hughes Morgan Romain Joseph Duplacey James 2003 The Hockey Chronicle: Year-by-Year History of the National Hockey League Publications International Inc. 0-7853-9624-1 Lincolnwood, Illinois Fischler 2003 Notes External links Hockey Database nhl.com 1999 1 1