Best of 2010: 50 Moments that Defined the NHL
From the rise of the Atlanta Thrashers to the decline of the New Jersey Devils, the 2010 NHL season has provided plenty of surprises.
Ilya Kovalchuk, the NHL leader in goals since being drafted first overall in 2001, has struggled in New Jersey.
On the other hand, Anthony Stewart, Andrew Ladd and Dustin Byfuglien have thrived in Blueland. The Thrashers are currently in first place in the Southeast as a result of the Capitals' eight-game slump.
Rookie forward Linus Omark pulled off a spin-o-rama goal against Tampa Bay, a team that has been rejuvenated by Steven Stamkos—who was poised to go 50-for-50 early in the season—and newly-acquired GM Steve Yzerman.
Controversial Vice President Colin Campbell has come under fire due to recent suspensions issued to franchise players and e-mails that have surfaced where he criticized officials and called Marc Savard a "faker."
The Minnesota Wild's honeymoon period is over. The home of the former North Stars is no longer drawing sellout crowds due to paltry on-ice performance.
Players from around the league joined together to honor the life of Pat Burns, who led the Devils to their last Stanley Cup championship in 2003.
It's not even 2011 and the season has been full of notable moments.
The following are the best of the 2010-11 season.
Marcus Vinnerborg Becomes First European-Trained NHL Referee
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After serving as an official in the Swedish Elite League and a 10-game stint in the AHL, Marcus Vinnerborg, 38, became the first European-trained referee in the NHL.
He made his NHL debut Tuesday, November 9th, in Dallas. The Stars won that contest over the Ducks 2-1.
"Of course, you're the pioneer when you're the first one to do something," he told NHL.com after officiating the Colorado Avalanche's 4-3 overtime win against the San Jose Sharks at the Pepsi Center on November 10th.
"To be honest, I don't look at it too much like that. I came here to learn from the best officials in the world and to adapt to their way of working, and to work in the best league in the world."
Jonathan Bernier Returns Home
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Los Angeles' November 24th contest with the Habs was significant for Jonathan Bernier.
The Laval, Quebec native is in competition with Team USA backup Jonathan Quick (Milford, Connecticut) for the Kings' starting spot.
Unfortunately for the Quebecois net-minder, his team was routed 4-1 by his hometown heroes.
Marian Gaborik's Hat Trick Against the Oilers
3 of 50On November 14, in his second game back after being injured in the Rangers' third game of the season (October 15 vs. Toronto), Marian Gaborik lit up the Oilers.
His hat trick put an exclamation point on the Blueshirts' 8-2 romp over Edmonton. It also sparked the talented, but competitively dormant, Rangers, who are now in contention for the Atlantic crown with Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.
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Tyler Seguin's First Goal
4 of 50It only took two games for Tyler Seguin, the second overall pick in last year's draft, to net his first NHL goal.
He did it in spectacular fashion against the Coyotes in Glendale on October 10th.
Taylor Hall of the Oilers, the first selection, took eight games. He scored his first on October 28th against Columbus.
Donald Fehr Is Named Head of NHLPA
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On December 18, Donald Fehr, 62, was named head of the NHL Players Association.
He previously served as the head of Major League Baseball's Players Association (1986-2009).
Fehr led the players union through the 1994-95 Major League Baseball strike and subsequent World Series cancellation. He was also instrumental in implementing the rejection of future admissions into the MLBPA by replacement players who planned to fill in during the strike of 1995.
Anaheim's Ryan Getzlaf, New Jersey's Jamie Langenbrunner, Detroit's Brian Rafalski, New Jersey's Brian Rolston and Mathieu Schneider formed the search committee that made the recommendation of Fehr to the executive board.
David Booth Bounces Back by Putting 14 on Net
6 of 50A year after David Booth was lit up by Mike Richards (Flyers), the headshot-prone defenseman—Booth also suffered a head injury against Montreal this year—bounced back from a knee injury by putting 14 shots on net in a November 18th contest against the Bruins.
This puts him in elite company. In the last six years, only Alex Ovechkin and Marian Hossa have put that much rubber on net.
However, Booth did not produce a goal and the Cats lost 4-0.
Lindy Ruff Coaches His 1,000th Game
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Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff, the longest-tenured coach in the NHL, became the 18th coach in NHL history to reach 1,000 games on November 10th. His team defeated the pitiful Devils 5-4 in OT.
Ruff is the third coach in league history to reach that milestone with the same team. Only Billy Reay (1,012 with Chicago) and Al Arbour (1,500 with the New York Islanders) have coached one team more often; Ruff will be the first man to coach 1,000 games in the NHL with only one team.
Anthony Stewart's Hat Trick
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Often overshadowed by his younger brother Chris (Colorado), Anthony Stewart, Florida's first-round pick in 2003, produced his first hat trick against the Anaheim Ducks.
That night tied his previous NHL total of four goals.
The forward currently has nine goals in 34 games, more than doubling his previous total.
Linus Omark's Shootout Spin-O-Rama
9 of 50In the salary cap era the NHL has had a serious influx of young players.
Some of these players are understated, but others enter the league with some serious swagger.
Linus Omark is certainly the latter (see video).
Brett Sutter Is Charged With Assault
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Following an incident in which Brett Sutter was involved in a bar fight near Glendale, Arizona, the son of Calgary Flames coach Brent was shipped off to Carolina where the disgraced winger joined his cousin Brandon.
Sutter has yet to appear in an NHL contest since.
Jere Lehtinen Announces His Retirement
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After 14 seasons with the Stars, Finnish forward Jere Lehtinen announced his retirement on December 8th.
The Minnesota North Stars' fourth-round selection in 1992 was one of two players with ties to the relocated franchise. With Mike Modano's retirement imminent, the Second Six's ties to the league are being phased out this year.
Lehtinen had 243 goals and 514 points in 875 games. He was a two-time 30-goal scorer and seven times had at least 20. He's seventh in franchise history in goals and eighth in points.
However, Lehtinen will be remembered more as one of the pre-eminent defensive forwards of his era. He won three Selke trophies (1998, 1999, 2003). He is one of four players in NHL history to win the award at least three times.
Lehtinen also was a major contributor to the Stars' run to the 1999 Stanley Cup. He was tied for second on the team with 10 goals, including three game-winning goals, and had a plus-7 rating.
Mike Modano Joins the Red Wings
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After 20 seasons with the Minnesota North Stars/Dallas Stars, Mike Modano, the first overall selection in 1988, joined his hometown Red Wings for what will most likely be his last season.
Modano returned to Texas on October 14th, his third game in a red sweater, uncertain how he would be accepted by the Stars faithful.
He received a standing ovation, but his new team lost the contest 4-1.
On November 27 he was ruled out indefinitely with a wrist injury. He has not played since.
Bill Guerin Announces His Retirement
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After 18 season with the Devils, Oilers, Bruins, Stars, Blues, Sharks, Islanders and Penguins, Bill Guerin announced his retirement on December 6th.
He has won the Stanley Cup twice: first with the Devils in 1995 and most recently with the Penguins in 2009.
In 1,263 career games, the winger had 429 goals and 856 points.
The Spectrum Is Demolished
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Bill Guerin was offered a tryout with the Flyers, who played in the Spectrum from their inception in 1967 until 1996. During the season, "America's Showplace" was destroyed.
The Flyers currently play in the Wells Fargo Center, their venue since leaving the Spectrum in the mid-90s.
It was a bittersweet day for The City of Brotherly Love.
The in-state rival Penguins are currently playing in a new arena, the CONSOL Energy Center. In time, Mellon Arena will suffer the same fate.
Blackhawks Face Antti Niemi for the First Time
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On October 24, Antti Niemi, who led the Blackhawks to a Stanley Cup championship last season, faced his former team as a member of the San Jose Sharks in the Bay Area.
The Sharks won 5-2, defeating the team that eliminated them in the Western Conference Finals last season.
Jaroslav Halak Joins the Blues
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Like Antti Niemi, goaltender Jaroslav Halak led his team to the conference finals, only to be sent home.
Both goaltenders were relatively unknown before navigating their teams through the postseason, and both are wearing different sweaters this year.
Halak has been more successful in new colors this year, but the Blues have fallen out of contention following an injury to one of their key players.
TJ Oshie Breaks His Ankle
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After a phenomenal sophomore season in which he had 18 goals and 48 points, TJ Oshie broke his ankle 13 games into the season on November 10th in Columbus.
At the time, the Blues were in contention for the Central Division title and packing the Scottrade Center.
After the injury, however, St. Louis has struggled to score and is sitting with Columbus in the cellar of their division.
Oshie is expected to make a return in the near future. Perhaps with his production on the ice the Blues will be able to battle their way back into the mid-season playoff race.
Guillaume Latendresse Is Placed on Injured Reserve
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After being traded for capricious winger Benoit Pouliot (fourth overall, 2005), Guillaume Latendresse netted 25 goals in 55 games for the offensively-challenged Wild.
Earlier in the season, he had two goals in 23 games for his former employer, the Montreal Canadiens.
The Minnesota faithful expected Latendresse to carry the team offensively.
Unfortunately for the residents of the State of Hockey, the forward was injured in an October 25th contest against the Kings and is yet to return.
He only has three goals this season.
Wild Lose Attendance Record
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As a result of poor drafting—Minnesota's first round picks from 2004 (A.J. Thelen) and 2005 (Benoit Pouliot) are no longer with the organization and James Sheppard (2006) was involved in an offseason injury—the once-popular Wild have plenty of empty seats in the Excel Energy Center for their home contests.
For their first nine seasons the Wild had no trouble filling their arena. Fans were upset that Norm Green had relocated the North Stars (1967-1993) and enjoyed having professional hockey back in the Twin Cities.
The team went to the Western Conference Finals in 2003 and won the Northeast Division, a subsection with four other historically-significant teams, in 2007.
However, the team has been far from competitive this season and despite strong acquisitions—Cam Barker, Greg Zanon and Patrick O'Sullivan have been productive—the team has struggled in the post-Marian Gaborik era.
As a result, one of the NHL's paramount markets has a team that is slowly becoming irrelevant.
Rick Rypien Attacks a Fan in Minnesota
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Needless to say, hockey aficionados in Minnesota are ornery.
For some reason, Vancouver pivot Rick Rypien decided to pick a fight with one of them. As a result, the pugnacious player got a six-game suspension.
He has yet to net a goal this year and has not played since November 17th.
Marian Hossa Is Hurt in Practice
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After a season when Marian Hossa, a blockbuster acquisition for the Hawks, produced his lowest goal total (24) since the 1998 season when he was a member of the Ottawa Senators, Chicago got a scare when their star was injured in practice on November 29.
His strong start, eight goals and 18 points in 21 games, suggested the Slovakian forward was out to prove that last season was an anomaly.
However, he has yet to play a game since the injury.
Steve Yzerman Joins the Bolts
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Steve Yzerman spurned his former employer, the Detroit Red Wings, by joining the reeling Bolts.
After winning the Stanley Cup in 2004, the once-popular Lightning had fallen out of favor in Tampa. Since the lockout the team has not gotten out of the first round and hit rock bottom in 2008.
His acquisition brought instant credibility to the organization and produced instant results.
Stevie Y brought in longtime Flyer Simon Gagne and the Bolts, led by phenom Steven Stamkos, are currently among the best teams in the East.
Vincent Lecavalier Breaks His Hand
23 of 50On draft day Vincent Lecavalier was considered the "Michael Jordan" of hockey.
In 2004, he led his team to a Stanley Cup victory.
Two years later he earned the Rocket Richard Trophy when he netted 52 goals.
He followed that performance with a 40-goal effort.
However, since the 2008 season his production has decreased.
This year he suffered a hand injury against Washington on October 11th. He returned on December 15th, but has not yet scored a goal.
Flyers and Lightning Score 15 Goals in One Game
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In a game that may have been better off played with 12 skaters on the ice, the Flyers and Lightning hit the twine 15 times.
Both teams are contenders in the Eastern Conference and know how to score. The Flyers are usually competent on defense while the Bolts give up three-and-a-half goals per game.
Superstar Steven Stamkos recorded a hat trick and had his first five-point game.
Tampa Bay won the contest 8-7.
Steven Stamkos Looks to Join 50-50 Club
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Following the victory in Philly, Steven Stamkos, the first overall selection in 2008, had recorded 19 goals in 19 games, leading to speculation that he may become the sixth player in NHL history to have 50 goals in 50 games.
Since then he's cooled off, but his performance this season has put him in the same conversation as Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin.
More important for the league, his performance has given residents of Tampa reason to attend Lightning games.
Following their Stanley Cup victory in 2004, the St. Pete Times Forum was packed full of 20,000 fans every night. However, poor play began to empty the once-vibrant arena.
Should Stamkos continue on his torrid pace and Vincent Lecavalier and Simon Gagne produce following their injuries, the former Ice Palace will be the place to be again.
Pat Burns Dies at 58
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In 1988, his first season as an NHL coach, he led the Montreal Canadiens to the Stanley Cup finals.
In 2003, his final season as an NHL coach, he led the New Jersey Devils to a Stanley Cup championship. After winning that Cup, Burns left the game in order to take care of his health.
He bested colon and liver cancer, but lost the fight to lung cancer at age 58 on November 19th.
Over 14 seasons between 1988 and 2004, he achieved a record of 501-350-161-14 in 1,019 games with the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins and New Jersey Devils.
Maple Leafs and Canadiens Face Off in 50,000th NHL Game
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Two of the NHL's oldest rivals faced off in the 50,000th NHL contest (regular season and playoffs) on November 20th.
Carey Price, who recorded a shutout against the Leafs, placed Pat Burns' initials on the back of his helmet and had the former Habs coach on his mind during the game.
''He was a special person and he did a lot of great things in this league for both teams,'' Price said of Burns. ''He left me a message before the season started and I was really touched. He gave it to (assistant coach) Kirk Muller and he passed it on to me.''
The Canadiens won 2-0.
Jarome Iginla Bounces Back
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After recording only three goals in 17 contests and being banished to the third line, Jarome Iginla recorded a hat trick against Chicago on November 19th to get out of coach Brent Sutter's doghouse.
The winger was originally drafted by Dallas (11th overall, 1995), but has spent his entire career in Calgary.
As a member of a non-contender late in his career, the 13-year vet is currently rumored to be coveted by the Kings.
Dion Phaneuf Returns to Calgary
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Joining Toronto as a part of a blockbuster trade on January 31st, 2010, Dion Phaneuf made his first return to Calgary on December 16th.
The recently-named captain of the Leafs was held off the scoreboard and was defeated 5-2 by his former team.
Dany Heatley Returns to Ottawa
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Drafted second overall in 2000 by the Atlanta Thrashers, Dany Heatley was shipped to Ottawa after being involved in the vehicular fatality of teammate Dan Snyder in 2003.
He had his most productive seasons in Canada's capital, netting 50 goals and tallying 100 points twice, but fell out of favor with the natives when he requested a trade after the 2008 season.
After scoring a point per game in San Jose last season, Heatley returned to Ottawa for the first time on December 2nd.
He was not well received.
The German-born winger had a point, but teammate and former Ottawa 67 (OHL) winger Logan Couture stole the show with two goals in a 4-0 victory for the Teal.
Jeff Carter Signs With Flyers Long-Term
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Philadelphia lost longtime Flyer Simon Gagne to Tampa Bay after their Stanley Cup run last year and did not want to risk having Jeff Carter return to the City of Brotherly Love in a new sweater.
On November 13th, the player and club agreed to an 11-year, $58 million pact, the longest deal in the post-Ilya Kovalchuk arbitration era.
David Backes Signs Five-Year Deal With Blues
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In order to keep their outstanding young core intact, the Blues signed David Backes, who had a 31-goal season in 2008 and is coming off an Olympic stint in Vancouver, to a five-year, $22.5 million deal.
Backes currently has 24 points in 31 games this season.
Shane Doan Is Suspended for Three Games
33 of 50Following massive headshots to players last season, the NHL cracked down on conduct that could potentially cause concussions.
Shane Doan, a former Winnipeg Jet who has never been suspended in his 15-year career, was the first big-name player to be upbraided by the league.
He forfeited $73,300 as a result of delivering an illegal check to the head of the Ducks' Dan Sexton.
Joe Thornton Is Suspended for Two Games
34 of 50Joe Thornton of the San Jose Sharks was the next player to be chastised by the league.
Following a hit on David Perron of the Blues, Thornton received a two-game suspension that cost him $77,400.
Olli Jokinen Is Suspended for Three Games
35 of 50Late in his career, Olli Jokinen has fallen from grace.
A superstar with the Panthers, Jokinen has seen his production drop in the last four seasons, three of which he has spent with the Flames.
In mid-November he made headlines for the wrong reason: He became the next big name to be suspended.
After slashing Wojtek Wolski of the Coyotes, Jokinen was suspended three games and forfeited $48,300 of his salary.
Colin Campbell Calls Marc Savard a 'Faker'
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NHL Vice President Colin Campbell, who plays a pivotal role in the league's decisions regarding player suspensions, has come under fire from the NHL community following rulings that appear to have a double-standard:
Big-name players tend to receive lesser discipline than grinders.
The heat was turned up in mid-November when investigations revealed that Campbell called Boston forward Marc Savard, who was injured in a collision with Penguins agitator Matt Cooke, a "faker."
In an interview with TSN on November 19th, Campbell brushed the acquisitions off, stating that he was simply acknowledging that Savard was a proficient diver, rather than suggesting that he faked his injuries.
It was also discovered that Campbell criticized two officials in his emails.
Tim Thomas Wins Eight in a Row
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The Nordiques' ninth-round pick in 1994, Tim Thomas took a long route to his NHL prominence.
Two years ago, Thomas was the Bruins' go-to goaltender and was named to Team USA. However, he struggled early in the 2009 season and was replaced by rookie sensation Tuukka Rask.
This year he bounced back by winning eight straight decisions before losing to Ottawa on November 13th.
He gave up only 10 goals during the stretch and now is considered a leading candidate for the Vezina Trophy.
Tyler Myers Is Pickpocketed Twice During Sophomore Slump
38 of 50A year after receiving the Calder Trophy as the NHL's rookie of the year, Tyler Myers is experiencing a major sophomore slump.
As of Tuesday, Myers has a minus-7 ranking in 33 games played and is turning the puck over routinely.
In an October 30th contest against Dallas, Myers coughed up the puck twice on the power play, allowing Jamie Benn to set up teammate Steve Ott for a shorthanded goal.
Tomas Fleishmann Is Dealt to Colorado
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As a member of the Washington Capitals this season, Tomas Fleischmann was moved from his natural position on the right wing to center. The result was a decrease in production and demotion to the defensive lines.
Viewing him as an expendable player, the Caps traded Fleischmann to the Avalanche for Scott Hannan, a veteran defenseman the organization felt was the missing piece for this preseason Stanley Cup contender.
The trade has been counter-productive for Washington. The Hannan acquisition has not shored up the defensive corps and Fleischmann tallied his first career hat-trick five days after the trade in a 4-3 Avalanche victory over the Chicago Blackhawks.
With Fleischmann on the wing, the Avs have become one of the hottest teams in the NHL.
Sidney Crosby's Point Streak
40 of 50As of Tuesday, Sidney Crosby has recorded a point in his last 21 contests. Crosby is on pace to break his career highs in goals (51), assists (84) and points (120).
In that streak he has had two hat tricks.
There have been only four games when he hasn't had a point.
Crosby leads the league with goals (27) and points (57) and is tied for second with 30 assists.
On top of that, Sidney Crosby displayed incredible athletic ability. Earlier this season he hit a home run out of the Pittsburgh Pirates' PNC Park.
Too bad that's the best baseball Pirates fans will see this year...
The Coyotes Stay in Glendale
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After a year of turbulence following an attempted heist by Hamilton, Ontario, native and Blackberry magnate Jam Balsillie, who tried to relocate the former Winnipeg (Manitoba) Jets to his hometown, the Phoenix Coyotes are staying in the desert.
On December 14th, the Glendale City Council approved a $197 million deal that kept the the team in Arizona under new owner Matthew Hulsizer, a Chicago businessman.
Canucks Retire Markus Naslund's No. 19
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Following one of the most lopsided trades in NHL history, Markus Naslund was dealt from the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Vancouver Canucks in 1996.
He would spend 12 years with the team and served as captain in his final eight years in British Columbia.
On December 11th, Naslund had his number retired before a Canucks contest against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Swede still holds the Canucks' all-time points record with 756, after leading the club in scoring in seven of his 12 seasons. His jersey became the third to be raised to the rafters along with those of fellow former captains Trevor Linden and Stan Smyl.
Nicklas Lidstrom's Hat Trick
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With Six Norris Trophies, four Stanley Cups and appearances in 10 NHL All-Star Games, Nicklas Lidstrom, the only European-born player to captain a team to a Stanley Cup championship, will eventually have his number placed in the rafters.
The 40-year-old defenseman is not resting on his laurels, however. On December 15th, the future Hall of Famer produced another personal first—an NHL hat trick.
Flyers Snap Pittsburgh's 12-Game Win Streak
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After weeks of sitting in the shadows, the Penguins thrust themselves in to the spotlight by winning 12 straight contests from November 17th to December 14th, when they were defeated by the rival Flyers in Philadelphia.
Both Pennsylvanian teams have the potential to meet in the playoffs this year and will most likely compete for the Atlantic Division title.
Capitals Drop Eight Straight
45 of 50On the other hand, the Capitals, a perennial contender since drafting Alex Ovechkin in 2004, dropped eight in a row from December 2nd until December 19th, when they defeated Ottawa in Canada's capital.
The Caps need to get it together posthaste or risk being humiliated in the Winter Classic on New Year's Day.
Bruce Boudreau's Mother Upbraids the Coach for His Vulgar Language
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24/7 Penguins-Capitals: Road to the Winter Classic, the NHL's version of Hard Knocks captured a panicking Bruce Boudreau swearing profusely on camera.
The head coach is on thin ice following an early postseason exit last year and his club's recent slump.
Appalled by his boorish language, Boudreau's mother dialed her son and asked him to curb the profanity.
Perhaps Rex Ryan's mother should have done the same.
Islanders Win Final Game in November
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Dating back to October 23rd, the Islanders had dropped 14 straight after winning three in a row.
The Islanders almost went winless in November, but were able to shut out the lowly Devils 2-0 on November 26th.
During that streak the Islanders went to a shootout once and overtime twice.
After that win they proceeded to drop six straight before beating Anaheim on December 16th.
That represents their only win in December...
Ilya Kovalchuk Struggles in New Jersey
48 of 50The Devils are a mess.
A year after winning the Atlantic Division and signing former Atlanta Thrasher Ilya Kovalchuk—who has more goals than any other player since being drafted first overall in 2001—to a 15-year, $100 million deal, the Devils are sitting in the league cellar next to the Islanders.
For years, GM Lou Lamoriello was praised for efficiently concocting a winner in a saturated market—many New Jersey residents hold allegiances to the nearby Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers—but is now being scorned for mismanaging a potential contender.
On November 11th the team dressed only 15 players against the Pittsburgh Penguins due in part to a cap binding resulting from recent transactions.
To make matters worse, the team's $100 million man is struggling. As of Tuesday the Russian winger has 10 goals and 27 points in 27 games. Decent numbers for most players, but certainly an insubstantial number for a cornerstone player.
Kovalchuk hit an all-time low with a botched shootout against Buffalo on November 10th.
Zach Parise Injures His Knee
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To make matters worse, Team USA superstar Zach Parise was injured in an October 30th contest against Los Angeles.
Pictures surfaced of Parise in crutches while attending Pat Burns' funeral.
The winger, who is entering his prime, is most likely done for the season.
Blackhawks-Thrashers Blockbuster Trades
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After seeing Ilya Kovalchuk, the face of the Thrashers franchise since being drafted first overall in 2001, depart for New Jersey, Atlanta needed a drastic makeover in order to rejuvenate a franchise that has yet to win a playoff game since its inception in 1999.
Their first step was taking advantage of the Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks' mismanagement of the salary cap.
In two separate trades they brought over Dustin Byfuglien, Brent Sopel, Ben Eager and Andrew Ladd.
Byfuglien and Ladd have made the most impact for the Thrash. Ladd has been named team captain and Byfuglien is serving as his alternate.
The team is in contention for the Southeast Division crown due to this transaction and, early in the season, looks poised to win its first playoff game in franchise history and perhaps fill the once-crowded Philips Arena again.
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