2000–01 NHL season

League business

Expansion

Two expansion teams, the Minnesota Wild and the Columbus Blue Jackets, joined the league at the beginning of the season, increasing the number of NHL teams to 30. The Blue Jackets would join the Central Division, while the Wild would join the Northwest Division. This divisional alignment would remain static until the 2012–13 season, while the league did not expand again until the 2017–18 season when the Vegas Golden Knights entered the league. This was the first time the NHL would have a team in Minnesota since the Minnesota North Stars moved to Dallas, Texas in 1993, and the first time for Ohio since the Cleveland Barons merged with the North Stars in 1978.

The 2000 NHL expansion draft was held on June 23, 2000 to fill the rosters of the new expansion teams.

Entry draft

The 2000 NHL entry draft was held on June 24 and 25, 2000, at the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta. Rick DiPietro was selected first overall by the New York Islanders.

Rule changes

The four-official system (two referees and two linesmen) become mandatory for all games. It was previously used for selected regular season games in 1998–99 and 1999–2000, but all playoff games in both of those seasons.

Preseason games in Europe

This was the first preseason of the NHL Challenge, where selected NHL teams traveled to Europe to play exhibition games against European teams. The Vancouver Canucks traveled to Stockholm Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, to play against Swedish teams MoDo Örnsköldsvik on September 13, 2000, and Djurgården Stockholm on September 15.

Uniform changes

• Buffalo: New Red Alternates.
• Calgary: Previous Black Alternates become the new road uniforms.
• Carolina: Black outline added to players' names.
• Chicago: 75th-anniversary patch.
• Colorado: 2001 NHL All-Star Game Patch.
• Columbus: White Jerseys with red and blue stripes, Blue road jerseys have Red stripe. Team also wears an inaugural season patch. Alt marks are on the shoulders.
• Detroit: 75th-anniversary patch
• Minnesota: White Jerseys with red and green stripes, the Green jerseys have just the red stripe. Alt marks are on the shoulders.
• New York Rangers: 75th-anniversary patch.
• Ottawa: The team introduces a new alternate jersey—this one black with the forward-looking centurion crest.
• Pittsburgh: The Penguins introduce a new alternate jersey, welcoming back the skating penguin and introducing Vegas gold.
• San Jose: 10th Anniversary patch.
• Toronto: Alternates from 1998 to 1999 return, as well as a new TML Patch.
• Washington: Black alternates from 1999 to 2000 become new road uniforms.

Arenas

• The Calgary Flames' home arena, Canadian Airlines Saddledome, was renamed Pengrowth Saddledome as part of a new naming rights agreement with Pengrowth Energy.
• The expansion Columbus Blue Jackets moved into Nationwide Arena, named after the arena's original majority owner, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.
• The Dallas Stars played their final season at the Reunion Arena before moving to the American Airlines Center.
• The expansion Minnesota Wild moved into Xcel Energy Center, with Xcel Energy acquiring the naming rights.
• The St. Louis Blues's home arena, the Kiel Center, was renamed the Savvis Center as part of a new naming rights agreement with Savvis.

Cheerleaders

Cheerleaders and Ice Girls were introduced to the league during this season, with the New York Islanders Ice Girls making their debut.

Regular season

International games

The NHL opened the season in Japan with two games between the Nashville Predators and the Pittsburgh Penguins on October 9 and 10, at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama.

All-Star Game

The All-Star Game was played on February 4, at the Pepsi Center in Denver, the home of the Colorado Avalanche.

Highlights

On December 27, 2000, Mario Lemieux returned from his three-and-a-half-year retirement and, in a game nationally televised on Hockey Night in Canada and ESPN National Hockey Night, registered his first assist 33 seconds into the game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. He went on to add a goal and finish with three points, solidifying his return and bringing a struggling Jaromir Jagr back to his elite status, who went on to win his fourth straight Art Ross Trophy, narrowly surpassing Joe Sakic. Despite playing in only 43 games in 2000–01, Lemieux scored 76 points to finish 26th in scoring, finishing the season with the highest points-per-game average that season among NHL players. Lemieux was one of the three finalists for the Hart Memorial Trophy and Lester B. Pearson Award.

The record for most shutouts in a season (set at 160 in 1997–98 and equalled in 1998–99) was eclipsed, as 186 shutouts were recorded.

Final standings

Eastern Conference

Western Conference

Playoffs

Main article: 2001 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.

Awards

The presentation ceremonies were held in Toronto.

All-Star teams

Coaches

Eastern Conference

• Atlanta Thrashers: Curt Fraser
• Boston Bruins: Pat Burns and Mike Keenan
• Buffalo Sabres: Lindy Ruff
• Carolina Hurricanes: Paul Maurice
• Florida Panthers: Terry Murray and Duane Sutter
• Montreal Canadiens: Alain Vigneault and Michel Therrien
• New Jersey Devils: Larry Robinson
• New York Islanders: Butch Goring and Lorne Henning
• New York Rangers: Ron Low
• Ottawa Senators: Jacques Martin
• Philadelphia Flyers: Craig Ramsay and Bill Barber
• Pittsburgh Penguins: Ivan Hlinka
• Tampa Bay Lightning: Steve Ludzik and John Tortorella
• Toronto Maple Leafs: Pat Quinn
• Washington Capitals: Ron Wilson

Western Conference

• Mighty Ducks of Anaheim: Craig Hartsburg and Guy Charron
• Calgary Flames: Don Hay and Greg Gilbert
• Chicago Blackhawks: Alpo Suhonen
• Colorado Avalanche: Bob Hartley
• Columbus Blue Jackets: Dave King
• Dallas Stars: Ken Hitchcock
• Detroit Red Wings: Scotty Bowman
• Edmonton Oilers: Craig MacTavish
• Los Angeles Kings: Andy Murray
• Minnesota Wild: Jacques Lemaire
• Nashville Predators: Barry Trotz
• Phoenix Coyotes: Bobby Francis
• San Jose Sharks: Darryl Sutter
• St. Louis Blues: Joel Quenneville
• Vancouver Canucks: Marc Crawford

Player statistics

Regular season

Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points

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

Playoffs

Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points

Milestones

Debuts

The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 2000–01:

• Andrew Raycroft, Boston Bruins
• Marty Turco, Dallas Stars
• Eric Belanger, Los Angeles Kings
• Andreas Lilja, Los Angeles Kings
• Lubomir Visnovsky, Los Angeles Kings
• Marian Gaborik, Minnesota Wild
• Lubomir Sekeras, Minnesota Wild
• Rick DiPietro, New York Islanders
• Martin Havlat, Ottawa Senators
• Miikka Kiprusoff, San Jose Sharks
• Brad Richards, Tampa Bay Lightning
• Henrik Sedin, Vancouver Canucks
• Daniel Sedin, Vancouver Canucks

Last games

The following is a list of players of note who played their last NHL game in 2000–01, listed with their team:

Broadcasting

Canada

This was the third season of the league's Canadian national broadcast rights deals with CBC and the renamed Sportsnet (the latter was sold by CTV after acquiring rival TSN). CBC aired Saturday night Hockey Night in Canada regular season games, while Sportsnet's telecasts included Tuesday Night Hockey and other weeknight games. Coverage of the Stanley Cup playoffs continued to primarily be on CBC, while Sportsnet aired first round all-U.S. series.

United States

This was the second year of the league's five-year U.S. national broadcast rights deal with ESPN and ABC. ESPN and ESPN2 aired weeknight games throughout the regular season. ABC's coverage included the All-Star Game and then five weeks worth of regional games on Saturday afternoons between March and April. During the first two rounds of the playoffs, ESPN and ESPN2 aired selected games, while ABC had Saturday 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.

References

• {{cite book |last1=Fischler |first1=Stan |last2=Fischler |first2=Shirley

Notes

References

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4. (December 9, 1999). "Two-referee system made permanent". Tampa Bay Times.
5. https://www.nhl.com/stars/fans/ice-girls/history
6. (January 15, 2000). "Pittsburgh, Nashville to play in Japan - UPI Archives".
7. "1997-98 NHL Goalie Statistics".
8. "1998-99 NHL Goalie Statistics".
9. "2000-01 NHL Goalie Statistics".
10. "NHL Coaches".
11. (2009). "The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book/2010". Dan Diamond & Associates.
12. "Bourque relishes memory of winning Stanley Cup".
13. "Coffey gets his day as jersey officially retired".
14. Pilieci. (20 August 2015). "Brewing upstart makes beer to help "Do It For Daron" mental health initiatives". Ottawa Citizen.
15. "Legends of Hockey -- NHL Player Search -- Player -- Tony Granato".
16. Pelletier, Joe. (24 June 2009). "Washington Capitals Legends: Kevin Hatcher".
17. (December 8, 2001). "Kris King added to NHL head office".
18. "Kirk McLean".
19. "No. 4: Murphy proved a steal for Wings in '97".
20. "Sutter Brothers Receive WHL Milestone Award – WHL Network".
21. "Where are they now? Petr Svoboda - Historical Website of the Montreal Canadiens".