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1994–95 NHL season

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1994–95 NHL season
LeagueNational Hockey League
SportIce hockey
DurationJanuary 20 – June 24, 1995
Games48
Teams26
TV partner(s)CBC, TSN, SRC (Canada)
ESPN, Fox (United States)
Draft
Top draft pickEd Jovanovski
Picked byFlorida Panthers
Regular season
Presidents' TrophyDetroit Red Wings
Season MVPEric Lindros (Flyers)
Top scorerJaromir Jagr (Penguins)
Playoffs
Playoffs MVPClaude Lemieux (Devils)
Stanley Cup
ChampionsNew Jersey Devils
  Runners-upDetroit Red Wings
NHL seasons

The 1994–95 NHL season was the 78th regular season of the National Hockey League. The season start was delayed due to a lockout of players imposed by the NHL franchise owners. After a new labour agreement was reached between the owners and the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA), a 48-game season started on January 20. The season ended when the New Jersey Devils swept the heavily favored Detroit Red Wings for their first Stanley Cup win. It was also their first appearance in the finals overall.

League business

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Entry draft

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The 1994 NHL entry draft was held on June 28–29, 1994, at the Hartford Civic Center in Hartford, Connecticut. Ed Jovanovski was selected first overall by the Florida Panthers.

Lockout

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On October 1, 1994, the NHL initiated a lockout of the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA). The players had begun training camps a few weeks earlier as if to start the season. However, as these camps came to a close, labour negotiations remained unresolved.[1] The big issue was the implementation of a salary cap. The NHL owners were strongly in favor of the cap while the players were opposed to it. The NHL wanted to levy a luxury tax, a financial penalty that is assigned by the league, on salaries that were higher than the average. However, the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) viewed that as a variation on a salary cap and refused to accept it. This came right off the heels of the 1992 walkout by players, which interrupted the race for the Stanley Cup.[2] Unlike in the 1992 strike however, it was the owners who wanted to make sure that they got the right deal.[3] Under the leadership of executive director Bob Goodenow, the NHLPA position was that it would be open to a small tax, however the bulk of the financial goals could be achieved through revenue sharing.

After the lockout had dragged on, the talk of salary cap faded and new items entered the debate. Talk of rookie salary cap, changes to the arbitration system, and loosened free agency. However, large market teams such as Toronto, Detroit, the New York Rangers, Dallas, and Philadelphia eventually broke with the league, as they feared that an extended lockout would outweigh the benefits from getting a salary cap and did not want to be the first league in North America to forfeit an entire season just to help out their small-market colleagues.[1]

The lockout ended on January 11, 1995. As a result, the league shortened the season length from 84 games, the length of the previous two seasons, to 48.[4] The regular season would then last from January 20 to May 3, the first time in NHL history that the regular season extended into May. All games were limited to intra-conference play. The NHL and NHLPA agreed to shorten future seasons to 82 games. The NHL All-Star Game, which had been scheduled to take place January 20–21, 1995, in San Jose, California, was canceled; San Jose was then awarded 1997 NHL All-Star Game instead. The lost revenue due to the lockout would eventually contribute in part to three teams relocating: the Quebec Nordiques moved to Denver, Colorado after the 1994–95 season to became the Colorado Avalanche; the Winnipeg Jets relocated to Phoenix, Arizona after the 1995–96 season to became the Phoenix Coyotes; and the Hartford Whalers moved to Greensboro, North Carolina after the 1996–97 season to become the Carolina Hurricanes.

Rule changes

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  • Two Zambonis would now be required by every arena for the resurfacing between periods.
  • A coach can call for a stick measurement in any overtime period or shootout, but the request must be made before the winning goal is scored.
  • Leaving the penalty box to join an altercation on the ice risks automatic three-game ban, plus any other penalties assessed.
  • Any severe check from behind risks a major penalty and game misconduct.
  • Referees and linesmen would wear numbers instead of nameplates; this restored a practice that had been in use previously from 1955 to 1977.

Arenas

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Regular season

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The lockout delay pushed the start of the 1994–95 season to January 20. The regular season was shortened from 84 games, the length of the previous two seasons, down to 48. Regular season games would be limited to intra-conference play. The shortened regular season ended on May 3, the first time in NHL history that the regular season extended into that month.[5]

The March 10, 1995, Detroit Red Wings–San Jose Sharks game was postponed due to the Guadalupe River flooding, making it impossible for the teams to travel to the San Jose Arena.[6]

This was the first season since 1969–70, that the Montreal Canadiens missed the playoffs.

Final standings

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Atlantic Division
No. CR GP W L T GF GA Pts
12Philadelphia Flyers482816415013260
25New Jersey Devils482218813612152
36Washington Capitals482218813612052
48New York Rangers482223313913447
59Florida Panthers482022611512746
612Tampa Bay Lightning481728312014437
713New York Islanders481528512615835
Northeast Division
No. CR GP W L T GF GA Pts
11Quebec Nordiques483013518513465
23Pittsburgh Penguins482916318115861
34Boston Bruins482718315012757
47Buffalo Sabres482219713011951
510Hartford Whalers481924512714143
611Montreal Canadiens481823712514843
714Ottawa Senators48934511717423
Eastern Conference[7]
R Div GP W L T GF GA Pts
1Quebec NordiquesNE483013518513465
2Philadelphia FlyersAT482816415013260
3Pittsburgh PenguinsNE482916318115861
4Boston BruinsNE482718315012757
5New Jersey DevilsAT482218813612152
6Washington CapitalsAT482218813612052
7Buffalo SabresNE482219713011951
8New York RangersAT482223313913447
9Florida PanthersAT482022611512746
10Hartford WhalersNE481924512714143
11Montreal CanadiensNE481823712514843
12Tampa Bay LightningAT481728312014437
13New York IslandersAT481528512615835
14Ottawa SenatorsNE48934511717423

Divisions: AT – Atlantic, NE – Northeast

bold – Qualified for playoffs

Central Division
No. CR GP W L T GF GA Pts
11Detroit Red Wings483311418011770
22St. Louis Blues482815517813561
34 Chicago Blackhawks482419515611553
45Toronto Maple Leafs482119813514650
58Dallas Stars481723813613542
610Winnipeg Jets481625715717739
Pacific Division
No. CR GP W L T GF GA Pts
12Calgary Flames482417716313555
26Vancouver Canucks4818181215314848
37San Jose Sharks481925412916142
49Los Angeles Kings481623914217441
511Edmonton Oilers481727413618338
612Mighty Ducks of Anaheim481627512516437
Western Conference[8]
R Div GP W L T GF GA Pts
1p – Detroit Red WingsCEN483311418011770
2x – Calgary FlamesPAC482417716313555
3St. Louis BluesCEN482815517813561
4Chicago BlackhawksCEN482419515611553
5Toronto Maple LeafsCEN482119813514650
6Vancouver CanucksPAC4818181215314848
7San Jose SharksPAC481925412916142
8Dallas StarsCEN481723813613542
9Los Angeles KingsPAC481623914217441
10Winnipeg JetsCEN481625715717739
11Edmonton OilersPAC481727413618338
12Mighty Ducks of AnaheimPAC481627512516437

Divisions: CEN – Central, PAC – Pacific

bold – Qualified for playoffs; x – Won division; p – Won Presidents' Trophy [9]

Note: No. = Division rank, CR = Conference rank, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points
         Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Playoffs

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Bracket

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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 Quebec 2
8 NY Rangers 4
2 Philadelphia 4
8 NY Rangers 0
2 Philadelphia 4
7 Buffalo 1
2 Philadelphia 2
Eastern Conference
5 New Jersey 4
3 Pittsburgh 4
6 Washington 3
3 Pittsburgh 1
5 New Jersey 4
4 Boston 1
5 New Jersey 4
E5 New Jersey 4
W1 Detroit 0
1 Detroit 4
8 Dallas 1
1 Detroit 4
7 San Jose 0
2 Calgary 3
7 San Jose 4
1 Detroit 4
Western Conference
4 Chicago 1
3 St. Louis 3
6 Vancouver 4
4 Chicago 4
6 Vancouver 0
4 Chicago 4
5 Toronto 3

Awards

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The NHL Awards presentation took place on July 6, 1995.

Presidents' Trophy:Detroit Red Wings
Prince of Wales Trophy:
(Eastern Conference playoff champion)		New Jersey Devils
Clarence S. Campbell Bowl:
(Western Conference playoff champion)		Detroit Red Wings
Art Ross Trophy:Jaromir Jagr, Pittsburgh Penguins
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy:Pat LaFontaine, Buffalo Sabres
Calder Memorial Trophy:Peter Forsberg, Quebec Nordiques
Conn Smythe Trophy:Claude Lemieux, New Jersey Devils
Frank J. Selke Trophy:Ron Francis, Pittsburgh Penguins
Hart Memorial Trophy:Eric Lindros, Philadelphia Flyers
Jack Adams Award:Marc Crawford, Quebec Nordiques
James Norris Memorial Trophy:Paul Coffey, Detroit Red Wings
King Clancy Memorial Trophy:Joe Nieuwendyk, Calgary Flames
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy:Ron Francis, Pittsburgh Penguins
Lester B. Pearson Award:Eric Lindros, Philadelphia Flyers
NHL Plus-Minus Award:Ron Francis, Pittsburgh Penguins
Vezina Trophy:Dominik Hasek, Buffalo Sabres
William M. Jennings Trophy:Ed Belfour, Chicago Blackhawks

All-Star teams

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First team  Position  Second team
Dominik Hasek, Buffalo Sabres G Ed Belfour, Chicago Blackhawks
Paul Coffey, Detroit Red Wings D Ray Bourque, Boston Bruins
Chris Chelios, Chicago Blackhawks D Larry Murphy, Pittsburgh Penguins
Eric Lindros, Philadelphia Flyers C Alexei Zhamnov, Winnipeg Jets
Jaromir Jagr, Pittsburgh Penguins RW Theoren Fleury, Calgary Flames
John LeClair, Montreal/Philadelphia LW Keith Tkachuk, Winnipeg Jets

Player statistics

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Scoring leaders

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Bold depicts leader in category[10][9]

Regular seasonPlayoffs
Player Team GP G A Pts
Jaromir JagrPittsburgh48323870
Eric LindrosPhiladelphia46294170
Alexei ZhamnovWinnipeg48303565
Joe SakicQuebec47194362
Ron FrancisPittsburgh44114859
Theoren FleuryCalgary47292958
Paul CoffeyDetroit45144458
Mikael RenbergPhiladelphia47263157
John LeClairMontreal/
Philadelphia		46262854
Mark MessierNY Rangers46143953
Peter BondraWashington4734943
PlayerTeamGPGAPts
Sergei FedorovDetroit1771724
Stephane RicherNew Jersey1961521
Neal BrotenNew Jersey2071219
Ron FrancisPittsburgh1261319
Denis SavardChicago1671118
Paul CoffeyDetroit1861218
John MacLeanNew Jersey2051318
Claude LemieuxNew Jersey2013316
Vyacheslav KozlovDetroit189716
Nicklas LidstromDetroit1841216

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

Leading goaltenders

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Bold depicts leader in category[11][12] Regular season

Player Team GP MIN GA SO GAA SV%
Dominik HasekBuffalo4124168552.11.930
Jim CareyWashington2816045742.13.913
Chris OsgoodDetroit1910874112.26.917
Ed BelfourChicago4224509352.28.906
Jocelyn ThibaultQuebec188983512.34.917
Dominic RousselPhiladelphia1910754212.34.914
Glenn HealyNew York Rangers178883512.36.907
Blaine LacherBoston3519657942.41.902
Andy MoogDallas3117707222.44.915
Martin BrodeurNew Jersey4021848932.45.902
Patrick RoyMontreal43256612712.97.906

Milestones

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Debuts

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The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1994–95, listed with their first team (asterisk(*) marks debut in playoffs):

Last games

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The following is a list of players of note who played their last game in the NHL in 1994–95 (listed with their last team):

Coaches

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Eastern Conference

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Team Coach Comments
Boston Bruins Brian Sutter
Buffalo Sabres John Muckler
Florida Panthers Roger Neilson
Hartford Whalers Paul Holmgren
Montreal Canadiens Jacques Demers
New Jersey Devils Jacques Lemaire
New York Islanders Lorne Henning
New York Rangers Colin Campbell
Ottawa Senators Rick Bowness
Philadelphia Flyers Terry Murray
Pittsburgh Penguins Eddie Johnston
Quebec Nordiques Marc Crawford
Tampa Bay Lightning Terry Crisp
Washington Capitals Jim Schoenfeld

Western Conference

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Team Coach Comments
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim Ron Wilson
Calgary Flames Dave King
Chicago Blackhawks Darryl Sutter
Dallas Stars Bob Gainey
Detroit Red Wings Scotty Bowman
Edmonton Oilers George Burnett Replaced midseason by Ron Low
Los Angeles Kings Barry Melrose Replaced midseason by Rogie Vachon
St. Louis Blues Mike Keenan
San Jose Sharks Kevin Constantine
Toronto Maple Leafs Pat Burns
Vancouver Canucks Rick Ley
Winnipeg Jets John Paddock Replaced midseason by Terry Simpson

Broadcasting

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Canada

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This was the seventh season that the league's Canadian national broadcast rights were split between TSN and Hockey Night in Canada on CBC. This was the first season that HNIC had doubleheaders on every Saturday night of the regular season. TSN continued to televise regular season weeknight games, primarily on Mondays and Thursdays. Coverage of the Stanley Cup playoffs was primarily on CBC, with TSN airing first round all-U.S. series.

United States

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This was the first season of the league's five-year U.S. national broadcast rights deals with Fox and ESPN. Fox's deal marked the NHL's first major American broadcast network agreement since the 1974–75 season. ESPN's original deal that began 1992–93 season was also restructured, as Fox replaced ESPN's brokered deal with its sister broadcast network ABC. Fox had the All-Star Game and weekly regional telecasts on the last five Sunday afternoons of the regular season, while ESPN and ESPN2 had weeknight games.[13][14]

For playoff coverage, this was the first time that all Conference Finals and Stanley Cup Finals games were exclusive to Fox or ESPN. American regional sports networks could still carry their teams' first and second-round games, but they could no longer televise local coverage beyond those rounds. During the first two rounds, ESPN and ESPN2 televised selected games, while Fox had regional Sunday afternoon telecasts. Fox's Sunday telecasts continued into the Conference Finals, while ESPN had the rest of the Conference Finals games. The Stanley Cup Finals were also split between Fox and ESPN.[15]

See also

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References

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  • Diamond, Dan, ed. (2000). Total Hockey. Kingston, NY: Total Sports. ISBN 1-892129-85-X.
  • Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Toronto, ON: Dan Diamond & Associates. ISBN 978-1-894801-22-5.
  • Dryden, Steve, ed. (2000). Century of hockey. Toronto, ON: McClelland & Stewart Ltd. ISBN 0-7710-4179-9.
  • Fischler, Stan; Fischler, Shirley; Hughes, Morgan; Romain, Joseph; Duplacey, James (2003). The Hockey Chronicle: Year-by-Year History of the National Hockey League. Lincolnwood, IL: Publications International Inc. ISBN 0-7853-9624-1.
Notes
  1. 1 2 McIndoe, Sean (September 3, 2014). "The Often Forgotten 1994 NHL Lockout". grantland.com. Archived from the original on October 3, 2024. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  2. ↑ "CBC Archives". Archived from the original on September 22, 2020. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  3. ↑ "How to fix the NHL standings". February 6, 2014. Archived from the original on September 6, 2017. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Abbreviated Seasons". Sports Illustrated. July 1, 2011. Archived from the original on September 6, 2017. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Abbreviated Seasons". Sports Illustrated. July 1, 2011. Archived from the original on September 6, 2017. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  6. ↑ Weekes, Don (2003). The Best and Worst of Hockey's Firsts: The Unofficial Guide. Canada: Greystone Books. pp. 240. ISBN 9781550548600.
  7. ↑ "1994-1995 Conference Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". NHL.
  8. ↑ "1994-1995 Conference Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". NHL.
  9. 1 2 Regular-season standings, scoring leaders: NHL Public Relations Department (2008). Dave McCarthy; et al. (eds.). THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Official Guide & Record Book/2009. National Hockey League. p. 154. ISBN 978-1-894801-14-0.
  10. ↑ "1994-95 NHL Skater Statistics | Hockey Reference.com". Hockey Reference. Archived from the original on November 14, 2025. Retrieved April 17, 2026.
  11. ↑ "1994-95 NHL Goalie Statistics | Hockey Reference.com". Hockey Reference. Archived from the original on August 9, 2025. Retrieved April 17, 2026.
  12. ↑ "1994-95 NHL Leaders". Archived from the original on July 10, 2017. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
  13. ↑ "Fox, ESPN ink deals with NHL". UPI. September 13, 1994. Archived from the original on March 16, 2021.
  14. ↑ Gatehouse, Jonathon (October 2012). The Instigator: How Gary Bettman Remade the NHL and Changed the Game Forever. Triumph Books. p. 161. ISBN 9781623686567.
  15. ↑ "Fox, ESPN ink deals with NHL". UPI. September 13, 1994. Archived from the original on March 16, 2021. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
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