| 1999–2000 NHL season | |
| League: | National Hockey League |
| Sport: | Ice hockey |
| Pixels: | 200px |
| Duration: | October 1, 1999 – June 10, 2000 |
| Draft: | Draft |
| Draft Link: | 1999 NHL Entry Draft |
| Top Pick Link: | List of first overall NHL draft picks |
| Picked By: | Atlanta Thrashers |
| Season: | Regular season |
| Season Champ Name: | Presidents' Trophy |
| Season Champs: | St. Louis Blues |
| Mvp: | Chris Pronger (Blues) |
| Mvp Link: | Hart Memorial Trophy |
| Top Scorer: | Jaromir Jagr (Penguins) |
| Top Scorer Link: | Art Ross Trophy |
| Playoffs: | Playoffs |
| Playoffs Link: | 2000 Stanley Cup playoffs |
| Finals: | Stanley Cup |
| Finals Link: | 2000 Stanley Cup Finals |
| Finals Champ: | New Jersey Devils |
| Finals Runner-Up: | Dallas Stars |
| Playoffs Mvp: | Scott Stevens (Devils) |
| Playoffs Mvp Link: | Conn Smythe Trophy |
| Nextseason Year: | 2000–01 |
| Prevseason Year: | 1998–99 |
| Seasonslistnames: | NHL |
| No Of Games: | 82 |
| No Of Teams: | 28 |
| Tv: | 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.
Throughout the regular season and playoffs, teams wore a patch celebrating the turn of the millennium (see above).
Beginning this season, teams would earn one point for an overtime loss in the regular season instead of zero. It was hoped that this change would stop 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 NHL was hoping to counter this trend and did so quite successfully with this rule change.[1] [2] [3]
Wayne Gretzky's jersey number, 99, was retired league-wide on February 6, 2000, at the season's All–Star Game.[4]
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.
A new award, the Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award, was introduced this season for the goaltender with the best save percentage.
The standings will record three points for games decided in overtime: 2 to the winning team, and 1 to the loser. In addition, overtimes will be played with four skaters per side, instead of five.[5]
League wide: an NHL 2000 patch was worn this season for the new millennium.
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.
| First season in the NHL * |
See main article: article and 2000 Stanley Cup playoffs.
| Award | Recipient(s) | Runner(s)-up/Finalists | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas Stars | |||
| Presidents' Trophy (Best regular-season record) | Detroit Red Wings | ||
| Prince of Wales Trophy (Eastern Conference playoff champion) | Philadelphia Flyers | ||
| Clarence S. Campbell Bowl (Western Conference playoff champion) | 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 |
| First team | Position | Second team | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olaf Kolzig, Washington Capitals | align=center | G | Roman Turek, St. Louis Blues |
| Chris Pronger, St. Louis Blues | align=center | D | Rob Blake, Los Angeles Kings |
| Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings | align=center | D | Eric Desjardins, Philadelphia Flyers |
| Steve Yzerman, Detroit Red Wings | align=center | C | Mike Modano, Dallas Stars |
| Jaromir Jagr, Pittsburgh Penguins | align=center | RW | Pavel Bure, Florida Panthers |
| Brendan Shanahan, Detroit Red Wings | align=center | LW | Paul Kariya, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim |
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 63 | 42 | 54 | 96 | ||
| Florida Panthers | 74 | 58 | 36 | 94 | ||
| Philadelphia Flyers | 82 | 28 | 63 | 91 | ||
| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | 74 | 42 | 44 | 86 | ||
| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | 79 | 33 | 52 | 85 | ||
| San Jose Sharks | 78 | 44 | 40 | 84 | ||
| Chicago Blackhawks | 82 | 43 | 41 | 84 | ||
| Dallas Stars | 77 | 38 | 43 | 81 | ||
| Colorado Avalanche | 60 | 28 | 53 | 81 | ||
| Detroit Red Wings | 78 | 35 | 44 | 79 |
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% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia Flyers | 35 | 2038 | 65 | 1.91 | 20 | 10 | 3 | 4 | .903 | |
| St. Louis Blues | 67 | 3960 | 129 | 1.95 | 42 | 15 | 9 | 7 | .912 | |
| Dallas Stars | 62 | 3620 | 127 | 2.10 | 32 | 21 | 7 | 4 | .919 | |
| Montreal Canadiens | 30 | 1655 | 58 | 2.10 | 12 | 13 | 2 | 5 | .919 | |
| Philadelphia Flyers | 50 | 2950 | 108 | 2.20 | 25 | 15 | 9 | 3 | .906 | |
| Buffalo Sabres | 35 | 2066 | 76 | 2.21 | 15 | 11 | 6 | 3 | .919 | |
| New Jersey Devils | 72 | 4312 | 161 | 2.24 | 43 | 20 | 8 | 6 | .910 | |
| Colorado Avalanche | 63 | 3704 | 141 | 2.28 | 32 | 21 | 8 | 2 | .914 | |
| Edmonton Oilers | 70 | 4164 | 162 | 2.33 | 27 | 28 | 13 | 2 | .914 | |
| Ottawa Senators | 38 | 2038 | 79 | 2.33 | 19 | 14 | 3 | 3 | .905 | |
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):
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):
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.
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.[6] ABC's terms of this deal included four to five weeks worth of regional games on selected Saturday afternoons,[7] [8] 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.