1995–96 NHL season

The 1995–96 NHL season was the 79th regular season of the National Hockey League. Twenty-six teams each played 82 games. The Stanley Cup winners were the Colorado Avalanche. They swept the Florida Panthers in four games. This was the first year the team was named Avalanche.

League Business
1995–96 was the first season in Denver for the Avalanche, who had relocated from Quebec City where they were previously known as the Quebec Nordiques. 

It was also the last season of existence for the Winnipeg Jets, as they announced that they would be moving from Manitoba to Arizona and become the Phoenix Coyotes at the season's end.

1995–96 would mark the last season the Buffalo Sabres would play in the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, the Flyers at the Spectrum, and Canadiens at the Montreal Forum.

Regular season

The Detroit Red Wings had a great season, finishing with the second-highest regular-season point total in NHL history (131 points), yet they fell to the Avalanche in the Western Conference final, the sixth game of which marked the beginning of the heated Detroit-Colorado rivalry.

Final standings
Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF= Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points
+ Eastern Conference+ Northeast Division Team  W  L  T  GF  GA  Pts Pittsburgh Penguins  49  29  4  362  284  102 Boston Bruins  40  31  11  282  269  91 Montreal Canadiens  40  32  10  265  248  90 Hartford Whalers  34  39  9  237  259  77 Buffalo Sabres  33  42  7  247  262  73 Ottawa Senators  18  59  5  191  291  41+ Atlantic Division Team  W  L  T  GF  GA  Pts Philadelphia Flyers  45  24  13  282  208  103 New York Rangers  41  27  14  272  237  96 Florida Panthers  41  31  10  254  234  92 Washington Capitals  39  32  11  234  204  89 Tampa Bay Lightning  38  32  12  238  248  88 New Jersey Devils  37  33  12  215  202  86 New York Islanders  22  50  10  229  315  54

+ Western Conference+ Central Division Team  W  L  T  GF  GA  Pts Detroit Red Wings  62  13  7  325  181  131 Chicago Blackhawks  40  28  14  273  220  94  Toronto Maple Leafs  34  36  12  247  252  80 St. Louis Blues  32  34  16  219  248  80 Winnipeg Jets  36  40  6  275  291  78 Dallas Stars  26  42  14  227  280  66+ Pacific Division Team  W  L  T  GF  GA  Pts Colorado Avalanche  47  25  10  326  240  104 Calgary Flames  34  37  11  241  240  79 Vancouver Canucks  32  35  15  278  278  79 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim  35  39  8  234  247  78 Edmonton Oilers  30  44  8  240  304  68 Los Angeles Kings  24  40  18  256  302  66 San Jose Sharks  20  55  7  252  357  47

Scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points
 Player Team GP G A PTS Mario Lemieux  Pittsburgh  70  69  92  161 Jaromir Jagr  Pittsburgh  82  62  87  149 Joe Sakic  Colorado  82  51  69  120 Ron Francis  Pittsburgh  77  27  92  119 Peter Forsberg  Colorado  82  30  86  116 Eric Lindros  Philadelphia  73  47  68  115 Paul Kariya  Anaheim  82  50  58  108 Teemu Selanne  Winnipeg/Anaheim  79  40  68  108 Sergei Fedorov  Detroit  78  39  68  107 Alexander Mogilny  Vancouver  79  55  52  107

Stanley Cup playoffs
Playoff bracket

[[Image:Hhof stanley cup.jpg|right|175px|thumb|The Stanley Cup]]

Conference quarterfinals
Eastern Conference
 Philadelphia vs. Tampa Bay Date  Away  Home April 16  Tampa Bay 3  7 Philadelphia April 18  Tampa Bay 2  1 Philadelphia  OT April 21  Philadelphia 4  5 Tampa Bay  OT April 23  Philadelphia 4  1 Tampa Bay April 25  Tampa Bay 1  4 Philadelphia April 27  Philadelphia 6  1 Tampa Bay Philadelphia wins series 4–2 Pittsburgh vs. Washington Date  Away  Home April 17  Washington 6  4 Pittsburgh April 19  Washington 5  3 Pittsburgh April 22  Pittsburgh 4  1 Washington April 24  Pittsburgh 3  2 Washington  4 OT April 26  Washington 1  4 Pittsburgh April 28  Pittsburgh 3  2 Washington Pittsburgh wins series 4–2 NY Rangers vs. Montreal Date  Away  Home April 16  Montreal 3  2 NY Rangers  OT April 18  Montreal 5  3 NY Rangers April 21  NY Rangers 2  1 Montreal April 23  NY Rangers 4  3 Montreal April 26  Montreal 2  3 NY Rangers April 28  NY Rangers 5  3 Montreal NY Rangers wins series 4–2 Florida vs. Boston Date  Away  Home April 17  Boston 3  6 Florida April 22  Boston 2  6 Florida April 24  Florida 4  2 Boston April 25  Florida 2  6 Boston April 27  Boston 3  4 Florida Florida wins series 4–1

Western Conference
 Detroit vs. Winnipeg Date  Away  Home April 17  Winnipeg 1  4 Detroit April 19  Winnipeg 0  4 Detroit April 21  Detroit 1  4 Winnipeg April 23  Detroit 6  1 Winnipeg April 26  Winnipeg 3  1 Detroit April 28  Detroit 4  1 Winnipeg Detroit wins series 4–2 Colorado vs. Vancouver Date  Away  Home April 16  Vancouver 2  5 Colorado April 18  Vancouver 5  4 Colorado April 20  Colorado 4  0 Vancouver April 22  Colorado 3  4 Vancouver April 25  Vancouver 4  5 Colorado  OT April 27  Colorado 3  2 Vancouver Colorado wins series 4–2 Chicago vs. Calgary Date  Away  Home April 17  Calgary 1  4 Chicago April 19  Calgary 0  3 Chicago April 21  Chicago 7  5 Calgary April 23  Chicago 2  1 Calgary Chicago wins series 4–0 Toronto vs. St. Louis Date  Away  Home April 16  St. Louis 3  1 Toronto April 18  St. Louis 4  5 Toronto  OT April 21  Toronto 2  3 St. Louis  OT April 23  Toronto 1  5 St. Louis April 25  St. Louis 4  5 Toronto  OT April 27  Toronto 1  2 St. Louis  St. Louis wins series 4–2

Conference semifinals
+ Eastern Conference Florida vs. Philadelphia Date  Away  Home May 2  Florida 2  0 Philadelphia May 4  Florida 2  3 Philadelphia May 7  Philadelphia 3  1 Florida May 9  Philadelphia 3  4 Florida  OT May 12  Florida 2  1 Philadelphia  2OT May 14  Philadelphia 1  4 Florida Florida win series 4–2 NY Rangers vs. Pittsburgh Date  Away  Home May 3  NY Rangers 1  4 Pittsburgh May 5  NY Rangers 6  3 Pittsburgh May 7  Pittsburgh 3  2 NY Rangers May 9  Pittsburgh 4  1 NY Rangers May 11  NY Rangers 3  7 Pittsburgh Pittsburgh wins series 4–1

+ Western Conference St. Louis vs. Detroit Date  Away  Home May 3  St. Louis 2  3 Detroit May 5  St. Louis 3  8 Detroit May 8  Detroit 4  5 St. Louis  OT May 10  Detroit 0  1 St. Louis May 12  St. Louis 3  2 Detroit May 14  Detroit 4  2 St. Louis May 16  St. Louis 0  1 Detroit  2OT Detroit wins series 4–3 Chicago vs. Colorado Date  Away  Home May 2  Chicago 3  2 Colorado  OT May 4  Chicago 1  5 Colorado May 6  Colorado 3  4 Chicago  OT May 8  Colorado 3  2 Chicago  3OT May 11  Chicago 1  4 Colorado May 13  Colorado 4  3 Chicago  2OT Colorado wins series 4–2

Conference finals
+ Eastern Conference Florida vs. Pittsburgh Date  Away  Home May 18  Florida 5  1 Pittsburgh May 20  Florida 2  3 Pittsburgh May 24  Pittsburgh 2  5 Florida May 26  Pittsburgh 2  1 Florida May 28  Florida 0  3 Pittsburgh May 30  Pittsburgh 3  4 Florida June 1  Florida 3  1 Pittsburgh Florida wins series 4–3and Prince of Wales Trophy+ Western Conference Colorado vs. Detroit Date  Away  Home May 19  Colorado 3  2 Detroit  OT May 21  Colorado 3  0 Detroit May 23  Detroit 6  4 Colorado May 25  Detroit 2  4 Colorado May 27  Colorado 2  5 Detroit May 29  Detroit 1  4 Colorado Colorado wins series 4–2 and Clarence S. Campbell Bowl

Finals
 Colorado vs. Florida Date  Away  Score  Home  Score  Notes June 4  Florida  1  Colorado  3   June 6  Florida  1  Colorado  8   June 8  Colorado   3  Florida  2   June 10  Colorado   1  Florida  0  3OT Colorado wins series 4–0and Stanley Cup Joe Sakic (Colorado)wins Conn Smythe Trophy

Scoring leadersNote:''' GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points
 Player  Team  GP  G  A  Pts Joe Sakic  Colorado  22  18  16  34 Mario Lemieux  Pittsburgh  18  11  16  27 Jaromir Jagr  Pittsburgh  18  11  12  23 Valeri Kamensky  Colorado  22  10  12  22 Peter Forsberg  Colorado  22  10  11  21 Petr Nedved  Pittsburgh  18  10  10  20 Steve Yzerman  Detroit  18  8  12  20 Sergei Fedorov  Detroit  19  2  18  20 Sandis Ozolinsh  Colorado  22  5  14  19 Dave Lowry  Florida  22  10  7  17 Mike Ricci  Colorado  22  6  11  17 Adam Deadmarsh  Colorado  22  5  12  17

NHL Awards
 Presidents' Trophy:  Detroit Red Wings Prince of Wales Trophy:  Florida Panthers Clarence S. Campbell Bowl:  Colorado Avalanche Art Ross Memorial Trophy:  Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy:  Gary Roberts, Calgary Flames Calder Memorial Trophy:  Daniel Alfredsson, Ottawa Senators Conn Smythe Trophy:  Joe Sakic, Colorado Avalanche Frank J. Selke Trophy:  Sergei Fedorov, Detroit Red Wings Hart Memorial Trophy:  Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins Jack Adams Award:  Scotty Bowman, Detroit Red Wings James Norris Memorial Trophy:  Chris Chelios, Chicago Blackhawks King Clancy Memorial Trophy:  Kris King, Winnipeg Jets Lady Byng Memorial Trophy:  Paul Kariya, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim Lester B. Pearson Award:  Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins NHL Plus/Minus Award:  Vladimir Konstantinov, Detroit Red Wings Vezina Trophy:  Jim Carey, Washington Capitals William M. Jennings Trophy:  Chris Osgood/Mike Vernon, Detroit Red Wings Lester Patrick Trophy:  George Gund, Ken Morrow, Milt Schmidt

All-Star teams
 First Team    Position    Second TeamJim Carey, Washington Capitals GChris Osgood, Detroit Red WingsChris Chelios, Chicago Blackhawks DVladimir Konstantinov, Detroit Red WingsRay Bourque, Boston Bruins DBrian Leetch, New York RangersMario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins CEric Lindros, Philadelphia FlyersJaromir Jagr, Pittsburgh Penguins RWAlexander Mogilny, Vancouver CanucksPaul Kariya, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim LWJohn LeClair, Philadelphia Flyers

First games
The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1995–96 (listed with their first team, stars(*) mark start in playoffs):

Kyle McLaren, Boston Bruins
Jay McKee, Buffalo Sabres
Martin Biron, Buffalo Sabres
Jarome Iginla*, Calgary Flames
Stephane Yelle, Colorado Avalanche
Jere Lehtinen, Dallas Stars
Miroslav Satan, Edmonton Oilers
Ed Jovanovski, Florida Panthers
Jeff O'Neill, Hartford Whalers
Sami Kapanen, Hartford Whalers
Darcy Tucker, Montreal Canadiens
Jose Theodore, Montreal Canadiens
Saku Koivu, Montreal Canadiens
Patrik Elias, New Jersey Devils
Petr Sykora, New Jersey Devils
Steve Sullivan, New Jersey Devils
Bryan McCabe, New York Islanders
Todd Bertuzzi, New York Islanders
Daniel Alfredsson, Ottawa Senators
Daymond Langkow, Tampa Bay Lightning
Andrew Brunette, Washington Capitals
Brendan Witt, Washington Capitals

Last games
The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1995–96 (listed with their last team):
Cam Neely, Boston Bruins
Alexei Kasatonov, Boston Bruins
Troy Murray, Colorado Avalanche
Paul Cavallini, Dallas Stars
Jimmy Carson, Hartford Whalers
Glenn Anderson, St. Louis Blues
Greg Gilbert, St. Louis Blues
Jim Sandlak, Vancouver Canucks

1996 Trading Deadline
 Trading Deadline: MARCH 20, 1996 http://www.habsinsideout.com/main/3969 
March 20, 1996: C Jesse Belanger traded from Florida to Vancouver for Vancouver's 3rd round pick in 1996 Entry Draft and future considerations.
March 20, 1996: LW Ken Baumgartner traded from Toronto to Anaheim for Winnipeg's 4th round pick in 1996 Entry Draft (previously acquired).
March 20, 1996: D J-J Daigneault traded from St. Louis to Pittsburgh for Pittsburgh's 6th round pick in 1996 Entry Draft.
March 20, 1996: LW Kevin Miller traded from San Jose to Pittsburgh for Pittsburgh's 5th round choice in 1996 Entry Draft and future considerations.
March 20, 1996: LW Pat Conacher and Calgary's 6th round pick in 1997 Entry Draft traded from Calgary to NY Islanders for C Bob Sweeney.
March 20, 1996: RW Kirk Maltby traded from Edmonton to Detroit for D Dan McGillis.
March 20, 1996: D Jaroslav Modry and Ottawa's 8th round pick in 1996 Entry Draft traded from Ottawa to Los Angeles for RW Kevin Brown.
March 20, 1996: LW Patrick Poulin, D Igor Ulanov and Chicago's 2nd round pick in 1996 Entry Draft traded from Chicago to Tampa Bay for D Enrico Ciccone and Tampa Bay's 2nd round pick in 1996 Entry Draft.
March 20, 1996: LW Yuri Khmylev and Buffalo's 8th round pick in 1996 Entry Draft traded from Buffalo to St. Louis for D Jean-Luc Grand Pierre, Ottawa's 2nd round pick in 1996 Entry Draft (previously acquired) and St. Louis' 3rd round pick in 1997 Entry Draft.
March 20, 1996: C Dave Hannan traded from Buffalo to Colorado for Colorado's 6th round pick in 1996 Entry Draft.
March 20, 1996: RW Alek Stojanov traded from Vancouver to Pittsburgh for RW Markus Naslund. 
March 20, 1996: RW Ravil Gusmanov traded from Winnipeg to Chicago for Chicago's 4th round pick in 1996 Entry Draft.
March 20, 1996: RW Joe Kocur traded from NY Rangers to Vancouver for G Kay Whitmore.

References

Other websites
Hockey Database
http://nhl.com/

Category:National Hockey League seasons