| 2000–01 NHL season | |
| League: | National Hockey League |
| Sport: | Ice hockey |
| Duration: | October 4, 2000 – June 9, 2001 |
| Draft: | Draft |
| Draft Link: | 2000 NHL Entry Draft |
| Top Pick Link: | List of first overall NHL draft picks |
| Picked By: | New York Islanders |
| Season: | Regular season |
| Season Champ Name: | Presidents' Trophy |
| Season Champs: | Colorado Avalanche |
| Mvp: | Joe Sakic (Avalanche) |
| Mvp Link: | Hart Memorial Trophy |
| Top Scorer: | Jaromir Jagr (Penguins) |
| Top Scorer Link: | Art Ross Trophy |
| Playoffs: | Playoffs |
| Playoffs Link: | 2001 Stanley Cup playoffs |
| Finals: | Stanley Cup |
| Finals Link: | 2001 Stanley Cup Finals |
| Finals Champ: | Colorado Avalanche |
| Finals Runner-Up: | New Jersey Devils |
| Playoffs Mvp: | Patrick Roy (Avalanche) |
| Playoffs Mvp Link: | Conn Smythe Trophy |
| Nextseason Year: | 2001–02 |
| Prevseason Year: | 1999–2000 |
| Seasonslistnames: | NHL |
| No Of Games: | 82 |
| No Of Teams: | 30 |
| Tv: | CBC, Sportsnet, SRC (Canada) ESPN, ABC (United States) |
The 2000–01 NHL season was the 84th regular season of the National Hockey League. With the addition of the expansion Columbus Blue Jackets and the Minnesota Wild, 30 teams each played 82 games. The Stanley Cup winners were the Colorado Avalanche, who won the best of seven series 4–3 against the New Jersey Devils. The focus of Colorado's Stanley Cup run was on star defenceman Ray Bourque, who was on a quest to win his first Stanley Cup championship in his illustrious 22-year career.
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 four-official system (two referees and two linesmen) becomes mandatory for all games. It was used only for selected regular season games in 1998–99 and 1999–2000, but was used for all playoff games in both seasons.
The NHL opened the season in Tokyo, Japan with two games between the Nashville Predators and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
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.
| First season in the NHL * |
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)[1] [2] was eclipsed, as 186 shutouts were recorded.[3]
See main article: 2001 Stanley Cup playoffs.
The presentation ceremonies were held in Toronto.
| Award | Recipient(s) | Runner(s)-up/Finalists | |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Devils | |||
| Presidents' Trophy (Best regular season record) | Detroit Red Wings | ||
| Prince of Wales Trophy (Eastern Conference playoff champion) | Pittsburgh Penguins | ||
| Clarence S. Campbell Bowl (Western Conference playoff champion) | St. Louis Blues | ||
| Art Ross Trophy (Player with most points) | Jaromir Jagr (Pittsburgh Penguins) | Joe Sakic (Colorado Avalanche) | |
| Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy (Perseverance, Sportsmanship, and Dedication) | Adam Graves (New York Rangers) | N/A | |
| Calder Memorial Trophy (Best first-year player) | Evgeni Nabokov (San Jose Sharks) | Martin Havlat (Ottawa Senators) Brad Richards (Tampa Bay Lightning) | |
| Conn Smythe Trophy (Most valuable player, playoffs) | Patrick Roy (Colorado Avalanche) | N/A | |
| Frank J. Selke Trophy (Defensive forward) | John Madden (New Jersey Devils) | Mike Modano (Dallas Stars) Joe Sakic (Colorado Avalanche) | |
| Hart Memorial Trophy (Most valuable player, regular season) | Joe Sakic (Colorado Avalanche) | Jaromir Jagr (Pittsburgh Penguins) Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh Penguins) | |
| Jack Adams Award (Best coach) | Bill Barber (Philadelphia Flyers) | Scotty Bowman (Detroit Red Wings) Jacques Martin (Ottawa Senators) | |
| James Norris Memorial Trophy (Best defenceman) | Nicklas Lidstrom (Detroit Red Wings) | Ray Bourque (Colorado Avalanche) Scott Stevens (New Jersey Devils) | |
| King Clancy Memorial Trophy (Leadership and humanitarian contribution) | Shjon Podein (Colorado Avalanche) | N/A | |
| Lady Byng Memorial Trophy (Sportsmanship and excellence) | Joe Sakic (Colorado Avalanche) | Nicklas Lidstrom (Detroit Red Wings) Adam Oates (Washington Capitals) | |
| Lester B. Pearson Award (Outstanding player) | Joe Sakic (Colorado Avalanche) | N/A | |
| Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy (Top goal-scorer) | Pavel Bure (Florida Panthers) | Joe Sakic (Colorado Avalanche) | |
| NHL Foundation Player Award (Community enrichment and involvement) | Olaf Kolzig (Washington Capitals) | ||
| NHL Plus-Minus Award (Player with the best plus-minus) | Patrik Elias (New Jersey Devils) Joe Sakic (Colorado Avalanche) | Scott Stevens (New Jersey Devils) | |
| Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award (Goaltender with the best save percentage) | Marty Turco (Marty Turco) | Mike Dunham (Nashville Predators) | |
| Vezina Trophy (Best goaltender) | Dominik Hasek (Buffalo Sabres) | Martin Brodeur (New Jersey Devils) Roman Cechmanek (Philadelphia Flyers) | |
| William M. Jennings Trophy (Goaltender(s) of team with fewest goals against) | Dominik Hasek (Buffalo Sabres) | N/A |
| First Team | Position | Second Team | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dominik Hasek, Buffalo Sabres | align=center | G | Roman Cechmanek, Philadelphia Flyers |
| Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings | align=center | D | Rob Blake, L.A./Colorado |
| Ray Bourque, Colorado Avalanche | align=center | D | Scott Stevens, New Jersey Devils |
| Joe Sakic, Colorado Avalanche | align=center | C | Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins |
| Jaromir Jagr, Pittsburgh Penguins | align=center | RW | Pavel Bure, Florida Panthers |
| Patrik Elias, New Jersey Devils | align=center | LW | Luc Robitaille, Los Angeles Kings |
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh | 81 | 52 | 69 | 121 | |
| Colorado | 82 | 54 | 64 | 118 | |
| New Jersey | 82 | 40 | 56 | 96 | |
| Pittsburgh | 79 | 44 | 51 | 95 | |
| Boston | 82 | 36 | 59 | 95 | |
| Pittsburgh | 82 | 27 | 68 | 95 | |
| Florida | 82 | 59 | 33 | 92 | |
| Edmonton | 82 | 25 | 65 | 90 | |
| Los Angeles | 73 | 38 | 51 | 89 | |
| Colorado | 73 | 27 | 62 | 89 | |
Wins: Martin Brodeur (42); Patrick Roy (40); Dominic Hasek (37); Olaf Kolzig (37); Arturs Irbe (37);
Shutouts: Dominik Hasek (11); Roman Cechmanek (10); Martin Brodeur (9); Tommy Salo (8); Ed Belfour (8);
GAA: Roman Cechmanek (2.01); Manny Legace (2.05); Dominik Hasek (2.11); Evgeni Nabokov (2.19); Patrick Roy (2.21)
SV%: Marty Turco (.925); Mike Dunham (.923); Sean Burke (.922); Dominik Hasek (.921); Roman Cechmanek (.921)
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | 13 | 13 | 26 | |||
| 25 | 9 | 14 | 23 | |||
| Colorado Avalanche | 23 | 7 | 16 | 23 | ||
| New Jersey Devils | 25 | 10 | 12 | 22 | ||
| Colorado Avalanche | 23 | 6 | 15 | 21 | ||
| Colorado Avalanche | 23 | 6 | 13 | 19 | ||
| New Jersey Devils | 25 | 7 | 11 | 18 | ||
| 18 | 6 | 11 | 17 | |||
| Colorado Avalanche | 23 | 11 | 5 | 16 | ||
| New Jersey Devils | 25 | 6 | 10 | 16 | ||
| New Jersey Devils | 25 | 5 | 11 | 16 |
The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 2000–01:
The following is a list of players of note who played their last NHL game in 2000–01, listed with their team:
| Player | Team | Notability | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jesse Belanger[5] | 1-time Stanley Cup champion with the Montreal Canadiens. | ||
| Ray Bourque[6] | 1-time Stanley Cup champion with the Avalanche, 16-time NHL All-Star, 4-time James Norris Memorial Trophy winner, Calder Memorial Trophy winner, King Clancy Memorial Trophy winner, Lester Patrick Trophy winner, over 1600 games played. | ||
| Paul Coffey[7] | 4-time Stanley Cup champion with the Edmonton Oilers and Pittsburgh Penguins, 14-time NHL All-Star, 3-time James Norris Memorial Trophy winner, over 1400 games played. | ||
| Rene Corbet[8] | 1-time Stanley Cup champion with the Colorado Avalanche. | ||
| J. J. Daigneault[9] | 1-time Stanley Cup champion with the Montreal Canadiens. | ||
| Garry Galley[10] | 2-time NHL All-Star, over 1100 games played. | ||
| Tony Granato[11] | Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy winner, 1-time NHL All-Star. | ||
| Kevin Hatcher[12] | 5-time NHL All-Star, over 1100 games played. | ||
| 1-time NHL All-Star, 1996 World Cup Winner, 1998 Team USA member, holding almost every Mighty Duck of Anaheim Goalie record | |||
| Kris King[13] | King Clancy Memorial Trophy winner. | ||
| Kirk McLean[14] | 2-time NHL All-Star. | ||
| Joe Murphy[15] | 1-time Stanley Cup champion with the Edmonton Oilers. | ||
| Larry Murphy[16] | 4-time Stanley Cup champion with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Red Wings, 3-time NHL All-Star, over 1600 games played. | ||
| Ron Sutter[17] | Over 1000 games played, the last active Sutter brother to play in NHL. | ||
| Petr Svoboda[18] | 1-time Stanley Cup champion with the Montreal Canadiens, Olympic gold medalist, over 1000 games played. |
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.
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.