2005–06 NHL season
LeagueNational Hockey League
SportIce hockey
DurationOctober 5, 2005 – June 19, 2006
Number of games82
Number of teams30
TV partner(s)CBC, TSN, RDS (Canada)
OLN, NBC (United States)
Draft
Top draft pickSidney Crosby
Picked byPittsburgh Penguins
Regular season
Presidents' TrophyDetroit Red Wings
Season MVPJoe Thornton (Bruins, Sharks)
Top scorerJoe Thornton (Bruins, Sharks)
Playoffs
Playoffs MVPCam Ward (Hurricanes)
Stanley Cup
ChampionsCarolina Hurricanes
  Runners-upEdmonton Oilers

The 2005–06 NHL season was the 89th season of operation (88th season of play) of the National Hockey League (NHL). This season succeeded the 2004–05 season which had all of its scheduled games canceled due to a labor dispute with the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) over the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the League and its players. The season featured the first time that all 30 of its member teams played games on the same day, which happened the first day of the season, October 5, 2005.

A mid-season break in February occurred to allow participation of NHL players in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. Because of the Winter Olympics break, there was no NHL All-Star Game for 2006.

The 2006 Stanley Cup playoffs began on April 21, 2006, and concluded on June 19, with the Carolina Hurricanes defeating the Edmonton Oilers to win their first Stanley Cup, after which the Oilers would miss the postseason ten consecutive times and 12 of their next 13, while the Hurricanes would miss 11 of their next 12.

League business

The modernized NHL shield logo was introduced for the 2005–06 season. The metallic silver color is said to have been inspired by the Stanley Cup, the trophy given to the playoff champion.[1]

On July 13, 2005, the NHL, and NHLPA jointly announced that they had tentatively agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement which would allow the resumption of hockey for the 2005–06 season. The agreement was voted on July 21 by NHLPA members, and approved by a nearly 7 to 1 margin. The following day, the NHL's Board of Governors (owners) voted unanimously to approve the new agreement.

A new logo for the NHL was also unveiled, with "NHL" printed in upward-reading letters to project a vibrant, optimistic image, and having silver as the dominant color to pay homage to the Stanley Cup.[1] Also, new Eastern and Western Conference logos were unveiled before the Olympic break, with red as the dominant East color, and blue as the dominant West hue.[2]

Rule changes

The league returned with a revamped rulebook, to the point that many refer to "pre-lockout" and "post-lockout" when comparing statistics. The rule experimentation was based on the previous season of play in the AHL, and was based on creating a more exciting game with more scoring opportunities. Furthermore, a new Competition Committee was formed to discuss future rule changes, and players were invited to participate in the discussion.

  • The league introduced shoot-outs at the end of over-time if the score is tied.[3] The shootout features only three shots per team, and if it is still tied, the shootout becomes sudden death. In preseason games (regardless of the outcome) shootouts were held. Shootouts are only in effect for regular-season games. Playoff games will continue with twenty-minute periods until a sudden-death goal is scored.
  • The neutral zone becomes smaller by four feet (1.2 m).[3]
  • All blue and red lines are returned to the traditional width of 12 inches (31 cm). The double-width lines used in the AHL 2004–05 season were abandoned.
  • If a team ices the puck, it is not allowed to make a line change afterwards.[3]
  • Linesmen are given more discretion when it comes to waving off icing calls when they are accidentally made as the result of a failed pass attempt.
  • The "two-line offside pass" rule was abolished; this rule required a stoppage in play if a pass originating from inside a team's defending zone was completed on the offensive side of the center line, unless the puck crossed the line before the player.
  • Goalies are now restricted from playing the puck from outside a new trapizod area located in the middle of the area behind the goal line with offenders who do not follow the rule being given a 2 minute delay of game penalty that is served by a teammate.
  • Players who instigate a fight in the last five minutes of a game will be given a game misconduct penalty plus a one-game suspension.[3] Furthermore, the player's coach will be fined $10,000 (US).
  • Goaltender equipment was reduced in size by eleven percent.[3]
  • All referees are equipped with wireless microphones so they can now announce penalties over the public address system, similar to National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL) referees.
    • With multiple penalties, only the first will be announced by the referee calling the penalty, with the others being announced by the arena's ice-side PA announcer (in English); penalty announcements will also be relayed in French via the Bell Centre's PA announcer for the Montreal Canadiens.
  • Any player that shoots the puck over the glass (without deflection) from his own defensive zone will be penalized for delay of game. After the 2006 Olympic break, the rule was modified to read that the puck must cross the glass before crossing the blue line.
  • After the 2006 Olympic break, all sticks to be used in the shootout will be measured prior to use.

Regular season

In terms of total goals scored during an NHL regular season, the 2005–06 regular season turned out to be the highest-scoring in NHL history, with 7,443 goals scored in 1,230 games.[4] However, the highest-scoring season in terms of goals per game still belonged to the 1992–93 regular season, in which 7,311 goals were scored in only 1,008 games, for an average of 7.25 per game (the average in 2005–06 was 6.05 per game).[5] The record for most shorthanded goals scored in a season, set in 1992–93 and matched in 1993–94 at 312,[5] was broken as 318 shorthanded goals were scored.[6] A total of 117 shutouts were recorded,[7] down from an all-time high of 192 in 2003–04. The higher offensive numbers were largely attributable, among other things, to greater frequency of power plays. In 2003–04, teams had an average of 348 power plays over 82 games.[8] In 2005–06, the average number of power plays per team over 82 games was 480.[6]

The NHL season began on October 5, which marked the first time ever that all 30 teams in the league played a game on the same day.[9] In the first period of each game, all teams wore a jersey with a special patch; the league and players association then auctioned off the jerseys for the benefit of the Red Cross in both the United States and Canada, earmarking the proceeds for Hurricane Katrina victims (the Islanders' ECHL affiliate in Biloxi, Mississippi suspended operations for the 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons because of this disaster, and the NHL toured ECHL cities with the Stanley Cup to raise additional funds for relief efforts). Jean-Pierre Dumont of the Buffalo Sabres scored the first goal of the regular season, and Daniel Alfredsson and Dany Heatley, of the Ottawa Senators became the first players to score the winning goals for a shootout in NHL history, both scoring against Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Ed Belfour. Their sticks were subsequently sent to the nearby Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

The All-Star Game, which would have been in Phoenix, did not take place (the city will host the event in a future year as a replacement (if at all)); the league instead took a break in February so that many of its players could participate in the XX Winter Olympic Games in Turin, Italy. The new schedule features more intra-division games in order to promote division rivalries. Consequently, there are whole divisions in the opposite conference that teams never played during the season.

This season saw the much-hyped debuts of (and immediate rivalry between) Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin. It was only the second time that two rookies had over 100 points in a season (Teemu Selanne and Joe Juneau performed the feat in 1992–93). Ovechkin finished with 106 points, which is third best all-time among NHL rookies. Crosby surpassed teammate Mario Lemieux's 100-point rookie season, finishing with 102 points, currently fifth best all-time.[10]

On November 30, 2005, Joe Thornton was traded from the Boston Bruins to the San Jose Sharks in a four-player deal which sent forwards Marco Sturm and Wayne Primeau and defenceman Brad Stuart to Boston. Thornton went on to win the scoring title and to date has consistently been a top ten League scorer. The Bruins would not make the playoffs until 2008.

On November 26, the New York Rangers and Washington Capitals played the second-longest NHL shootout to date. Rangers defenceman Marek Malik scored the winning goal in the 15th round, pulling the puck between his own legs to defeat Capitals goaltender Olaf Kolzig, giving the Rangers the victory by the final score of 3–2.

Three early-season games had to be rescheduled due to various events. Hurricane Wilma had forced the NHL to reschedule two Florida Panthers home games, in which their game against Ottawa Senators scheduled on October 22 was rescheduled to December 5; the game against the Washington Capitals scheduled for October 29 was moved to December 1. The Nashville Predators–Detroit Red Wings game on November 22 was called off with 7:30 left in the first period after Red Wings defenceman Jiri Fischer suffered a seizure and had to be resuscitated. It was rescheduled to January 23, 2006, with the game starting 1–0 for Nashville as Greg Johnson's goal from the original date was allowed to stand. The game that was originally scheduled for January 23 at Nashville between the two teams was moved to March 30, 2006.

On January 12, the New York Rangers retired the number 11 of long-time captain Mark Messier to the rafters of Madison Square Garden. The Rangers would beat Messier's former team, the Edmonton Oilers, 5–4 in overtime.

On January 16 in Phoenix, Washington Capitals rookie winger Alexander Ovechkin added himself to the league's historical highlight reel by scoring a goal from his back while rolling and sliding past the goal. Ovechkin was checked to the ice by Coyotes defenceman Paul Mara on a breakaway between the Coyotes' faceoff circles, but rolled to his back, reached over his head with his stick and hooked the puck in behind goaltender Brian Boucher.[11]

On January 19, Los Angeles Kings veteran left winger Luc Robitaille scored his 550th, 551st and 552nd goals as a member of the Kings, eclipsing Marcel Dionne's franchise record of 550 goals. The 40-year-old Robitaille retired at season's end.

The season was rocked with scandal in early February when it came to light that Phoenix Coyotes Assistant coach Rick Tocchet was found to be involved in a $1.6 million illegal sports gambling ring with Mafia ties. Apparently, no betting on NHL games was being done, but bets were being placed on college and professional football and college and professional basketball. Although Coyotes Head Coach Wayne Gretzky denied any knowledge or involvement in the ring, initial reports stated that wiretapped phone conversations he had proved that he not only knew about the ring, but was trying to find ways to conceal his wife's involvement in it. He was later cleared of these accusations, but long-term implications to his reputation are still unknown.

On April 15, in the Nashville Predators' 81st game of the season, Nashville goaltender Chris Mason was credited with a goal when the Phoenix Coyotes' Geoff Sanderson put the puck in his own net. Mason was awarded credit for the goal, as he was the last Predator to have touched the puck. It was the ninth regular season goal scored by a goaltender in NHL history. The last goal of the regular season was scored by Kyle Calder of the Chicago Blackhawks in overtime in a 3–2 victory over the St. Louis Blues, which ended the 2005–06 regular season at 10:50 EDT on April 18, 2006.

The Tampa Bay Lightning narrowly avoided becoming the first team since the New Jersey Devils in the 1995–96 season to miss the post-season after winning the Stanley Cup the previous season.

This season also marked the first time since the 1978–79 season that the St. Louis Blues did not qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs, ending the third-longest NHL post-season appearance streak at 25 seasons. Only the Chicago Blackhawks (28 seasons) and the Boston Bruins (29 seasons) had longer streaks.

This season also marked the last time until the 2022–23 season that the Pittsburgh Penguins missed the playoffs.

Final standings

The Detroit Red Wings won the Presidents' Trophy and home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs.

For ranking in conference, division leaders are automatically ranked 1–3. These three, plus the next five teams in the conference standings, earn playoff berths at the end of the season.

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division
No. CR GP W L OTL GF GA Pts
13New Jersey Devils8246279242229101
25Philadelphia Flyers82452611267259101
36New York Rangers82442612257215100
412New York Islanders823640623027878
515Pittsburgh Penguins8222461424431658

[12]

Northeast Division
No. CR GP W L OTL GF GA Pts
11Ottawa Senators8252219314211113
24Buffalo Sabres8252246281239110
37Montreal Canadiens824231924324793
49Toronto Maple Leafs824133825727090
513Boston Bruins8229371623026674

[12]

Southeast Division
No. CR GP W L OTL GF GA Pts
12Carolina Hurricanes8252228294260112
28Tampa Bay Lightning824333625226092
310Atlanta Thrashers824133828127590
411Florida Panthers8237341124025785
514Washington Capitals8229411223730670

[12]

Eastern Conference[13]
R Div GP W L OTL GF GA Pts
1 Z- Ottawa SenatorsNE8252219314211113
2 Y- Carolina HurricanesSE8252228294260112
3 Y- New Jersey DevilsAT8246279242229101
4 X- Buffalo SabresNE8252246242239110
5 X- Philadelphia FlyersAT82452611267259101
6 X- New York RangersAT82442612257215100
7 X- Montreal CanadiensNE824231924324793
8 X- Tampa Bay LightningSE824333625226092
8.5
9 Toronto Maple LeafsNE824133825727090
10 Atlanta ThrashersSE824133828127590
11 Florida PanthersSE8237341124025785
12 New York IslandersAT823640623027878
13 Boston BruinsNE8229371623026674
14 Washington CapitalsSE8229411223730670
15 Pittsburgh PenguinsAT8222461424431658

Divisions: AT – Atlantic, NE – Northeast, SE – Southeast

Z – Clinched Conference; Y – Clinched Division; X – Clinched Playoff spot

Western Conference

Central Division
No. CR GP W L OTL GF GA Pts
11Detroit Red Wings8258168305209124
24Nashville Predators8249258259227106
313Columbus Blue Jackets823543422327974
414Chicago Blackhawks8226431321128565
515St. Louis Blues8221461519729257

[12]

Northwest Division
No. CR GP W L OTL GF GA Pts
13Calgary Flames82462511218200103
27Colorado Avalanche824330928325795
38Edmonton Oilers8241281325625195
49Vancouver Canucks824232825625592
511Minnesota Wild823836823121584

[12]

Pacific Division
No. CR GP W L OTL GF GA Pts
12Dallas Stars8253236265218112
25San Jose Sharks8244271126624299
36Mighty Ducks of Anaheim8243271225422998
410Los Angeles Kings824235524927089
512Phoenix Coyotes823839524627181

[12]

Western Conference[14]
R Div GP W L OTL GF GA Pts
1 P- Detroit Red WingsCE8258168305209124
2 Y- Dallas StarsPA8253236265218112
3 Y- Calgary FlamesNW82462511218200103
4 X- Nashville PredatorsCE8249258259227106
5 X- San Jose SharksPA8244271126624299
6 X- Mighty Ducks of AnaheimPA8243271225422998
7 X- Colorado AvalancheNW824330928325795
8 X- Edmonton OilersNW8241281325625195
8.5
9 Vancouver CanucksNW824232825625592
8 Los Angeles KingsPA824235524927089
11 Minnesota WildNW823836823121584
12 Phoenix CoyotesPA823839524627181
13 Columbus Blue JacketsCE823543422327974
14 Chicago BlackhawksCE8226431321128565
15 St. Louis BluesCE8221461519729257

Divisions: CE – Central, PA – Pacific, NW – Northwest

P – Clinched Presidents Trophy; Y – Clinched Division; X – Clinched Playoff spot

Tiebreaking procedures

If two or more clubs are tied in points during the regular season, the standing of the clubs is determined in the following order:

  1. The fewer number of games played (i.e., superior points percentage).
  2. The greater number of games won.
  3. The greater number of points earned in games between the tied clubs.
  4. The greater differential between goals for and against.

Playoffs

The Stanley Cup

Bracket

Conference quarterfinals Conference semifinals Conference finals Stanley Cup Finals
            
1 Ottawa 4
8 Tampa Bay 1
1 Ottawa 1
4 Buffalo 4
2 Carolina 4
7 Montreal 2
4 Buffalo 3
Eastern Conference
2 Carolina 4
3 New Jersey 4
6 NY Rangers 0
2 Carolina 4
3 New Jersey 1
4 Buffalo 4
5 Philadelphia 2
E2 Carolina 4
W8 Edmonton 3
1 Detroit 2
8 Edmonton 4
5 San Jose 2
8 Edmonton 4
2 Dallas 1
7 Colorado 4
8 Edmonton 4
Western Conference
6 Anaheim 1
3 Calgary 3
6 Anaheim 4
6 Anaheim 4
7 Colorado 0
4 Nashville 1
5 San Jose 4

Awards

2005-2006 NHL awards
AwardRecipient(s)
Stanley Cup:Carolina Hurricanes
Presidents' Trophy:Detroit Red Wings
Prince of Wales Trophy:
(Eastern Conference playoff champion)		Carolina Hurricanes
Clarence S. Campbell Bowl:
(Western Conference playoff champion)		Edmonton Oilers
Art Ross Trophy:Joe Thornton, San Jose Sharks/Boston Bruins
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy:Teemu Selanne, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
Calder Memorial Trophy:Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
Conn Smythe Trophy:Cam Ward, Carolina Hurricanes
Frank J. Selke Trophy:Rod Brind'Amour, Carolina Hurricanes
Hart Memorial Trophy:Joe Thornton, San Jose Sharks/Boston Bruins
Jack Adams Award:Lindy Ruff, Buffalo Sabres
James Norris Memorial Trophy:Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings
King Clancy Memorial Trophy:Olaf Kolzig, Washington Capitals
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy:Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
Lester B. Pearson Award:Jaromir Jagr, New York Rangers
Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy:Jonathan Cheechoo, San Jose Sharks
NHL Plus/Minus Award:Wade Redden, Ottawa Senators;
Michal Rozsival, New York Rangers
Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award:Cristobal Huet, Montreal Canadiens
Vezina Trophy:Miikka Kiprusoff, Calgary Flames
William M. Jennings Trophy:Miikka Kiprusoff, Calgary Flames
Lester Patrick Trophy:Red Berenson, Marcel Dionne, Reed Larson, Glen Sonmor, Steve Yzerman

All-Star teams

First Team  Position  Second Team
Miikka Kiprusoff, Calgary Flames G Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils
Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings D Zdeno Chara, Ottawa Senators
Scott Niedermayer, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim D Sergei Zubov, Dallas Stars
Joe Thornton, Boston/San Jose C Eric Staal, Carolina Hurricanes
Jaromir Jagr, New York Rangers RW Daniel Alfredsson, Ottawa Senators
Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals LW Dany Heatley, Ottawa Senators

Player statistics

Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes

Player Team GP G A Pts +/- PIM
Joe ThorntonBoston Bruins/San Jose Sharks812996125+3161
Jaromir JagrNew York Rangers825469123+3472
Alexander OvechkinWashington Capitals815254106+252
Dany HeatleyOttawa Senators825053103+2986
Daniel AlfredssonOttawa Senators774360103+2950
Sidney CrosbyPittsburgh Penguins813963102-1110
Eric StaalCarolina Hurricanes824555100-881
Ilya KovalchukAtlanta Thrashers78524698-668
Marc SavardAtlanta Thrashers82286997+7100
Jonathan CheechooSan Jose Sharks82563793+2325

Source: NHL.[15]

Leading goaltenders

Minimum 1,000 minutes played.

Note: GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; Sv% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average

Player Team GP Min W L OT GA SO Sv% GAA
Miikka KiprusoffCalgary Flames744379:4042201115110.9232.07
Dominik HasekOttawa Senators432583:5828104905.9252.09
Manny LegaceDetroit Red Wings512905:0937831067.9152.19
Cristobal HuetMontreal Canadiens362102:5918114777.9292.20
Henrik LundqvistNew York Rangers533111:53301291162.9222.24
Manny FernandezMinnesota Wild583411:14301871301.9192.29
Ilya BryzgalovMighty Ducks of Anaheim311575:1313121661.9102.51
Marty TurcoDallas Stars683910:12411951663.8982.55
Vesa ToskalaSan Jose Sharks372039:132374872.9012.56
Martin BrodeurNew Jersey Devils734364:35432371875.9112.57

Coaches

Eastern Conference

Western Conference

Milestones

Debuts

The following are players of note who played their first NHL game in 2005-06:

Last games

The following is a list of players of note who played their last NHL game in 2005–06, listed with their team:

Broadcasting rights

In Canada, CBC and TSN resumed their coverage of the NHL after the lockout. CBC aired Saturday night Hockey Night in Canada regular season games, while TSN's coverage included Wednesday Night Hockey and other selected weeknights. During the first three rounds of the Stanley Cup playoffs, TSN televised all-U.S. games while CBC aired all games involving Canadian teams. CBC then had exclusive coverage of the Stanley Cup Finals.

In the U.S., NBC began its first season as the league's over-the-air partner after initially signing its contract prior to the lockout. NBC's deal involved a revenue sharing agreement with the NHL as opposed to a traditional rights fee, and included rights to six weekend regular season windows, seven weekend postseason broadcasts and games 3–7 of the Stanley Cup Finals. However, ESPN exercised its opt-out clause after the lockout, leaving the NHL without a U.S. cable partner. In August 2005, Comcast (who owns the Philadelphia Flyers) signed a three-year deal to put games on its Outdoor Life Network (OLN). The agreement called for 54 or more games each regular season, generally on Monday and Tuesday nights. Due to the abbreviated off-season, the 2005–06 regular season schedule did not offer OLN exclusivity, which they received in 2006–07. Comcast high-speed cable internet customers could watch at least seven games a week over the Internet as part of the new TV deal. OLN also televised selected first and second round playoff games, all Conference Finals games not aired on NBC, and the first two games of the Stanley Cup Finals.

See also

References

  • Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Toronto, ON: Dan Diamond & Associates. ISBN 978-1-894801-22-5.
Notes
  1. 1 2 "CBA FAQ". NHL Enterprises, L.P. July 22, 2005. Archived from the original on April 20, 2006. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  2. ↑ "NHL unveils new logo for 2005–06 season". CBC News. July 22, 2005. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2009). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book/2010. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 11.
  4. ↑ "2005-06 NHL Season Skater Statistics | Hockey-Reference.com". Archived from the original on December 4, 2013. Retrieved 2010-01-25.
  5. 1 2 "1992-93 NHL Summary".
  6. 1 2 "2005-06 NHL Summary".
  7. ↑ "2005-06 NHL Goalie Statistics".
  8. ↑ "2003-04 NHL Summary".
  9. ↑ Zator, Matthew (October 5, 2022). "Today in Hockey History: Oct. 5". The Hockey Writers. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  10. ↑ "HHOF Records and Rankings -- NHL Rookies". Archived from the original on December 3, 2010. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
  11. ↑ Watch Ovechkin's goal at Google Videos Archived February 8, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2009). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book/2010. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 162.
  13. ↑ "2005–2006 Standings by Conference". National Hockey League. Retrieved March 26, 2012.
  14. ↑ "2005–2006 Standings by Conference". National Hockey League. Retrieved March 26, 2012.
  15. ↑ Dinger 2011, p. 156.

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