1997–98 NHL season

The 1997–98 NHL season was the 81st regular season of the National Hockey League (NHL). For the first time, there was a break in the regular season to allow NHL players join their respective national hockey teams competing at the Winter Olympics. The Hartford Whalers relocated to North Carolina, becoming the Carolina Hurricanes. The Stanley Cup champions were the Detroit Red Wings, who swept the Washington Capitals in four games.

1997–98 NHL season
League	National Hockey League
Sport	Ice hockey
Duration	October 1, 1997 – June 16, 1998
Number of games	82
Number of teams	26
TV partner(s)	CBC, TSN, SRC (Canada) ESPN, Fox (United States)
Draft
Top draft pick	Joe Thornton
Picked by	Boston Bruins
Regular season
Presidents' Trophy	Dallas Stars
Season MVP	Dominik Hasek (Sabres)
Top scorer	Jaromir Jagr (Penguins)
Playoffs
Playoffs MVP	Steve Yzerman (Red Wings)
Stanley Cup
Champions	Detroit Red Wings
Runners-up	Washington Capitals

League business

Approval of four expansion teams

On June 25, 1997, the National Hockey League approved of four expansion franchises for Nashville, Atlanta, Columbus, and Saint Paul expanding the league to 30 teams by 2000. These franchises became the Nashville Predators in 1998, the Atlanta Thrashers in 1999, and the Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild in 2000.

To accommodate the incoming expansion teams, 1997–98 became the last season of the four-division quasi-geographic alignment inherited from the traditional Adams/Patrick/Norris/Smythe set. The league would change the following season to a six-division, more purely geographic alignment, with the Toronto Maple Leafs moving from the Western to Eastern Conference, among others.

Franchise relocation

The Hartford Whalers relocated to North Carolina, becoming the Carolina Hurricanes. They would remain in the Northeast Division until realignment the following season. It would be another 14 years before another NHL team would relocate.

Entry draft

The 1997 NHL entry draft was held at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on June 21. Joe Thornton was selected first overall by the Boston Bruins.

Rule changes

Due to the retirement of Craig MacTavish after the 1996–97 season, all NHL players were now required to wear helmets. MacTavish was the last helmetless player remaining in the league to be grandfathered in to 1979–80 rules requiring incoming players to wear helmets.

Arena changes

• The relocated Carolina Hurricanes moved from Hartford Civic Center in Hartford, Connecticut to Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina, while their new arena in Raleigh, North Carolina was under construction.
• The Washington Capitals moved from US Airways Arena in Landover, Maryland to the MCI Center in Washington, D.C. on December 5, 1997, with MCI acquiring the naming rights.

Regular season

First international regular season games

The Vancouver Canucks and Mighty Ducks of Anaheim opened the season with a two-game series at Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan, on October 3 and 4, 1997, the first time the NHL played regular games outside of North America.

Olympics and new All-Star Game format

This was the first time that the NHL took a break during the regular season to allow NHL players join their respective national hockey teams competing at the Winter Olympics. The league's break lasted 17 days from February 8 to 24 while NHL players participated at the men's hockey event at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan.

As a preview for the NHL's first Olympic participation, a new format was introduced at the 1998 All-Star Game at General Motors Place in Vancouver, the home to the Vancouver Canucks, on January 18. The league had the all-star teams consist of a team of North Americans playing against a team of players from the rest of the world.

Highlights

The all-time record for most shutouts in a season, set at 127 just a year earlier,^[1] was broken again as 160 shutouts were recorded, 13 of which were earned by Dominik Hasek,^[2] who set a League record with 11 teams shut-out. He zeroed the New York Rangers three times, and Los Angeles, Anaheim, Tampa Bay, Boston, Calgary, Washington, Montreal, Ottawa, Pittsburgh and Edmonton once each. Only two teams, the St. Louis Blues and the Detroit Red Wings, averaged more than three goals scored per game.^[3] In addition, only one player, Jaromir Jagr, reached the 100-point plateau during the regular season.^[4]

Jari Kurri reached 600 goals in his career, finishing with 601.

For the first time since 1968–69 season, the Chicago Blackhawks missed the playoffs.

Final standings

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division

No.	CR		GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
1	1	New Jersey Devils	82	48	23	11	225	166	107
2	3	Philadelphia Flyers	82	42	29	11	242	193	95
3	4	Washington Capitals	82	40	30	12	219	202	92
4	10	New York Islanders	82	30	41	11	212	225	71
5	11	New York Rangers	82	25	39	18	197	231	68
6	12	Florida Panthers	82	24	43	15	203	256	63
7	13	Tampa Bay Lightning	82	17	55	10	151	269	44

Northeast Division

No.	CR		GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
1	2	Pittsburgh Penguins	82	40	24	18	228	188	98
2	5	Boston Bruins	82	39	30	13	221	194	91
3	6	Buffalo Sabres	82	36	29	17	211	187	89
4	7	Montreal Canadiens	82	37	32	13	235	208	87
5	8	Ottawa Senators	82	34	33	15	193	200	83
6	9	Carolina Hurricanes	82	33	41	8	200	219	74

Eastern Conference^[5]

R		Div	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
1	New Jersey Devils	ATL	82	48	23	11	225	166	107
2	Pittsburgh Penguins	NE	82	40	24	18	228	188	98
3	Philadelphia Flyers	ATL	82	42	29	11	242	193	95
4	Washington Capitals	ATL	82	40	30	12	219	202	92
5	Boston Bruins	NE	82	39	30	13	221	194	91
6	Buffalo Sabres	NE	82	36	29	17	211	187	89
7	Montreal Canadiens	NE	82	37	32	13	235	208	87
8	Ottawa Senators	NE	82	34	33	15	193	200	83
9	Carolina Hurricanes	NE	82	33	41	8	200	219	74
10	New York Islanders	ATL	82	30	41	11	212	225	71
11	New York Rangers	ATL	82	25	39	18	197	231	68
12	Florida Panthers	ATL	82	24	43	15	203	256	63
13	Tampa Bay Lightning	ATL	82	17	55	10	151	269	44

Divisions: ATL – Atlantic, NE – Northeast

bold – Qualified for playoffs

Western Conference

Central Division

No.	CR		GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
1	1	Dallas Stars	82	49	22	11	242	167	109
2	3	Detroit Red Wings	82	44	23	15	250	196	103
3	4	St. Louis Blues	82	45	29	8	256	204	98
4	6	Phoenix Coyotes	82	35	35	12	224	227	82
5	9	Chicago Blackhawks	82	30	39	13	192	199	73
6	10	Toronto Maple Leafs	82	30	43	9	194	237	69

Pacific Division

No.	CR		GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
1	2	Colorado Avalanche	82	39	26	17	231	205	95
2	5	Los Angeles Kings	82	38	33	11	227	225	87
3	7	Edmonton Oilers	82	35	37	10	215	224	80
4	8	San Jose Sharks	82	34	38	10	210	216	78
5	11	Calgary Flames	82	26	41	15	217	252	67
6	12	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	82	26	43	13	205	261	65
7	13	Vancouver Canucks	82	25	43	14	224	273	64

Western Conference^[6]

R		Div	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
1	p – Dallas Stars	CEN	82	49	22	11	242	167	109
2	x – Colorado Avalanche	PAC	82	39	26	17	231	205	95
3	Detroit Red Wings	CEN	82	44	23	15	250	196	103
4	St. Louis Blues	CEN	82	45	29	8	256	204	98
5	Los Angeles Kings	PAC	82	38	33	11	227	225	87
6	Phoenix Coyotes	CEN	82	35	35	12	224	227	82
7	Edmonton Oilers	PAC	82	35	37	10	215	224	80
8	San Jose Sharks	PAC	82	34	38	10	210	216	78
9	Chicago Blackhawks	CEN	82	30	39	13	192	199	73
10	Toronto Maple Leafs	CEN	82	30	43	9	194	237	69
11	Calgary Flames	PAC	82	26	41	15	217	252	67
12	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	PAC	82	26	43	13	205	261	65
13	Vancouver Canucks	PAC	82	25	43	14	224	273	64

Divisions: CEN – Central, PAC – Pacific

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

Playoffs

Main article: 1998 Stanley Cup playoffs

Bracket

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	2
	8	Ottawa	4
						4	Washington	4
						8	Ottawa	1
	2	Pittsburgh	2
	7	Montreal	4
											4	Washington	4
	Eastern Conference
											6	Buffalo	2
	3	Philadelphia	1
	6	Buffalo	4
						6	Buffalo	4
						7	Montreal	0
	4	Washington	4
	5	Boston	2
																E4	Washington	0
																W3	Detroit	4
	1	Dallas	4
	8	San Jose	2
						1	Dallas	4
						7	Edmonton	1
	2	Colorado	3
	7	Edmonton	4
											1	Dallas	2
	Western Conference
											3	Detroit	4
	3	Detroit	4
	6	Phoenix	2
						3	Detroit	4
						4	St. Louis	2
	4	St. Louis	4
	5	Los Angeles	0

Awards

The NHL Awards took place in Toronto, Ontario

Presidents' Trophy:	Dallas Stars
Prince of Wales Trophy: (Eastern Conference playoff champion)	Washington Capitals
Clarence S. Campbell Bowl: (Western Conference playoff champion)	Detroit Red Wings
Art Ross Trophy:	Jaromir Jagr, Pittsburgh Penguins
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy:	Jamie McLennan, St. Louis Blues
Calder Memorial Trophy:	Sergei Samsonov, Boston Bruins
Frank J. Selke Trophy:	Jere Lehtinen, Dallas Stars
Hart Memorial Trophy:	Dominik Hasek, Buffalo Sabres
Conn Smythe Trophy:	Steve Yzerman, Detroit Red Wings
Jack Adams Award:	Pat Burns, Boston Bruins
James Norris Memorial Trophy:	Rob Blake, Los Angeles Kings
King Clancy Memorial Trophy:	Kelly Chase, St. Louis Blues
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy:	Ron Francis, Pittsburgh Penguins
Lester B. Pearson Award:	Dominik Hasek, Buffalo Sabres
NHL Foundation Player Award:	Kelly Chase, St. Louis Blues
NHL Plus-Minus Award:	Chris Pronger, St. Louis Blues
Vezina Trophy:	Dominik Hasek, Buffalo Sabres
William M. Jennings Trophy:	Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils

All-Star teams

First Team	Position	Second Team
Dominik Hasek, Buffalo Sabres	G	Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils
Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings	D	Chris Pronger, St. Louis Blues
Rob Blake, Los Angeles Kings	D	Scott Niedermayer, New Jersey Devils
Peter Forsberg, Colorado Avalanche	C	Wayne Gretzky, New York Rangers
Jaromir Jagr, Pittsburgh Penguins	RW	Teemu Selanne, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
John LeClair, Philadelphia Flyers	LW	Keith Tkachuk, Phoenix Coyotes

Player statistics

Scoring leaders

Regular season	Playoffs
Player Team GP G A PTS Jaromir Jagr Pittsburgh 77 35 67 102 Peter Forsberg Colorado 72 25 66 91 Pavel Bure Vancouver 82 51 39 90 Wayne Gretzky NY Rangers 82 23 67 90 John LeClair Philadelphia 82 51 36 87 Zigmund Palffy NY Islanders 82 45 42 87 Ron Francis Pittsburgh 81 25 62 87 Teemu Selanne Anaheim 73 52 34 86 Jason Allison Boston 81 33 50 83 Jozef Stumpel Los Angeles 77 21 58 79 Source: NHL.[7]	Player Team GP G A Pts Steve Yzerman Detroit 22 6 18 24 Sergei Fedorov Detroit 22 10 10 20 Tomas Holmstrom Detroit 22 7 12 19 Nicklas Lidstrom Detroit 22 6 13 19 Joe Juneau Washington 21 7 10 17 Adam Oates Washington 21 6 11 17 Martin Lapointe Detroit 21 9 6 15 Larry Murphy Detroit 22 3 12 15 Vyacheslav Kozlov Detroit 22 6 8 14 Mike Modano Dallas 17 4 10 14

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

Leading goaltenders

Regular season

Player	Team	GP	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%
Ed Belfour	Dallas	65	3581	112	9	1.88	.916
Martin Brodeur	New Jersey	70	4128	130	10	1.89	.917
Tom Barrasso	Pittsburgh	63	3542	122	7	2.07	.922
Dominik Hasek	Buffalo	72	4220	147	13	2.09	.932
Ron Hextall	Philadelphia	46	2688	97	4	2.17	.911
Trevor Kidd	Carolina	47	2685	97	3	2.17	.922
Jamie McLennan	St. Louis	30	1658	60	2	2.17	.903
Jeff Hackett	Chicago	58	3441	126	8	2.20	.917
Olaf Kolzig	Washington	64	3788	139	5	2.20	.920
Chris Osgood	Detroit	64	3807	140	6	2.21	.913

^[4]

Coaches

Eastern Conference

• Boston Bruins: Pat Burns
• Buffalo Sabres: Lindy Ruff
• Carolina Hurricanes: Paul Maurice
• Florida Panthers: Doug MacLean and Bryan Murray
• Montreal Canadiens: Alain Vigneault
• New Jersey Devils: Jacques Lemaire
• New York Islanders: Rick Bowness and Mike Milbury
• New York Rangers: Colin Campbell and John Muckler
• Ottawa Senators: Jacques Martin
• Philadelphia Flyers: Wayne Cashman and Roger Neilson
• Pittsburgh Penguins: Kevin Constantine
• Tampa Bay Lightning: Terry Crisp, Rick Paterson and Jacques Demers
• Washington Capitals: Ron Wilson

Western Conference

• Mighty Ducks of Anaheim: Pierre Page
• Calgary Flames: Brian Sutter
• Chicago Blackhawks: Craig Hartsburg
• Colorado Avalanche: Marc Crawford
• Dallas Stars: Ken Hitchcock
• Detroit Red Wings: Scotty Bowman
• Edmonton Oilers: Ron Low
• Los Angeles Kings: Larry Robinson
• Phoenix Coyotes: Jim Schoenfeld
• San Jose Sharks: Darryl Sutter
• St. Louis Blues: Joel Quenneville
• Toronto Maple Leafs: Mike Murphy
• Vancouver Canucks: Tom Renney and Mike Keenan

Milestones

Debuts

The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1997–98 (listed with their first team, asterisk(*) marks debut in playoffs):

• Matt Cullen, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
• Joe Thornton, Boston Bruins
• Sergei Samsonov, Boston Bruins
• Derek Morris, Calgary Flames
• Olli Jokinen, Los Angeles Kings
• Sheldon Souray, New Jersey Devils
• Zdeno Chara, New York Islanders
• Marc Savard, New York Rangers
• Chris Phillips, Ottawa Senators
• Marian Hossa, Ottawa Senators
• Daniel Briere, Phoenix Coyotes
• Patrick Marleau, San Jose Sharks
• Mattias Ohlund, Vancouver Canucks

Last games

The following is a list of players of note who played their last game in the NHL in 1997–98 (listed with their last team):

• Brent Sutter, Chicago Blackhawks
• Jari Kurri, Colorado Avalanche
• Slava Fetisov, Detroit Red Wings
• Kevin Lowe, Edmonton Oilers
• Andy Moog, Montreal Canadiens
• Pat LaFontaine, New York Rangers
• Joel Otto, Philadelphia Flyers
• Mike Gartner, Phoenix Coyotes
• Al Iafrate, San Jose Sharks
• Kelly Hrudey, San Jose Sharks
• Jeff Brown, Washington Capitals
• Brian Bradley, Tampa Bay Lightning
• Norm Maciver, Phoenix Coyotes

Broadcasting

Canada

This was the tenth and final 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.

The league then signed a new deal with the fledgling CTV Sportsnet, replacing TSN as the national cable television partner.

United States

This was the fourth 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. Fox had the All-Star Game, and the network's weekly regional telecasts then expanded from six to 11 weekend afternoons between January and April. During the first two rounds of the playoffs, ESPN and ESPN2 aired selected games, while Fox had 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.

The controversial "FoxTrax" puck system was last used this season. In August 1998, the NHL signed a five-year, $600 million rights agreement with ABC Sports/ESPN, and thus Fox elected not to use the system in the subsequent "lame duck" season.

See also

• List of Stanley Cup champions
• 1997 NHL entry draft
• 1997–98 NHL transactions
• 48th National Hockey League All-Star Game
• National Hockey League All-Star Game
• NHL All-Rookie Team
• Lester Patrick Trophy
• Ice hockey at the 1998 Winter Olympics
• 1997 in sports
• 1998 in sports