1991-92 NHL season

The NHL 75th anniversary logo

The 1991-92 NHL season was the 75th regular season of the National Hockey League. Twenty-two teams each played 80 games. The Stanley Cup winners were the Pittsburgh Penguins, who won the best of seven series 4–0 against the Chicago Blackhawks. The championship was the second in a row for the Penguins.

League Business

As mentioned above, 1991–92 was the 75th anniversary season for the NHL. Accordingly, all players wore a patch on their uniforms depicting the NHL 75th anniversary logo (seen at above right) for this season.

This was the first season for the San Jose Sharks, the first expansion team in the NHL since 1979. The birth of the Sharks returned NHL hockey to the San Francisco Bay Area after the California Golden Seals had relocated to Cleveland, Ohio in 1976.

This was also the last season for John Ziegler as NHL President. He would be succeeded by Gil Stein, who held the position for one year before being replaced by Gary Bettman.

New York Rangers defenceman Brian Leetch became the fifth, and last as of 2009, defenceman to score 100 points in a season. He finished the season with 102 points and captured the Norris Trophy. The Rangers also ended the season with the NHL's best record since the 1941-42 season, the same year as the Toronto Maple Leafs' stanley cup comeback.

For the first time, the NHL finished play in the month of June. A primary reason for this is the 10-day NHL strike that started on April 1. The games that were supposed to be played during the strike, which was the first work-stoppage in NHL history, weren't canceled. They were rescheduled and made up when play resumed on April 12.

Regular Season

Final Standings

Prince of Wales Conference

Adams Division

	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	PTS
Montreal Canadiens	80	41	28	11	267	207	93
Boston Bruins	80	36	32	12	270	275	84
Buffalo Sabres	80	31	37	12	289	299	74
Hartford Whalers	80	26	41	13	247	283	65
Quebec Nordiques	80	20	48	12	255	318	52

Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points
Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Patrick Division

	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	PTS
New York Rangers	80	50	25	5	321	246	105
Washington Capitals	80	45	27	8	330	275	98
Pittsburgh Penguins	80	39	32	9	343	308	87
New Jersey Devils	80	38	31	11	289	259	87
New York Islanders	80	34	35	11	291	299	79
Philadelphia Flyers	80	32	37	11	252	273	75

Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points
Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Clarence Campbell Conference

Smythe Division

	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	PTS
Vancouver Canucks	80	42	26	12	285	250	96
Los Angeles Kings	80	35	31	14	287	296	84
Edmonton Oilers	80	36	34	10	295	297	82
Winnipeg Jets	80	33	32	15	251	244	81
Calgary Flames	80	31	37	12	296	305	74
San Jose Sharks	80	17	58	5	219	359	39

Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points
Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Norris Division

	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	PTS
Detroit Red Wings	80	43	25	12	320	256	98
Chicago Blackhawks	80	36	29	15	257	236	87
St. Louis Blues	80	36	33	11	279	266	83
Minnesota North Stars	80	32	42	6	246	278	70
Toronto Maple Leafs	80	30	43	7	234	294	67

Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points
Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Scoring Leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points

Player	Team	GP	G	A	Pts
Mario Lemieux	Pittsburgh	64	44	87	131
Kevin Stevens	Pittsburgh	80	54	69	123
Wayne Gretzky	Los Angeles	74	31	90	121
Brett Hull	St. Louis	73	70	39	109
Luc Robitaille	Los Angeles	80	44	63	107
Mark Messier	NY Rangers	79	35	72	107
Jeremy Roenick	Chicago	80	53	50	103
Steve Yzerman	Detroit	79	45	58	103
Brian Leetch	NY Rangers	80	22	80	102
Adam Oates	St. Louis/Boston	80	20	79	99

Leading Goaltenders

Note: GP = Games Played; TOI = Time On Ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals Against; SO = Shutouts; Sv% = Save Percentage; GAA = Goals Against Average

Regular Season

Player	Team	GP	TOI	W	L	T	GA	SO	Sv%	GAA
Patrick Roy	Montreal	67	3935	36	22	8	155	5	.914	2.36
Ed Belfour	Chicago	52	2928	21	18	10	132	5	.894	2.70
Kirk McLean	Vancouver	65	3852	38	17	9	176	5	.901	2.74
John Vanbiesbrouck	NY Rangers	45	2526	27	13	3	120	2	.910	2.85
Bob Essensa	Winnipeg	47	2627	21	17	6	126	5	.910	2.88

Stanley Cup Playoffs

Note: All dates in 1992

Playoff Bracket

	Division Semifinals					Division Finals					Conference Finals					Stanley Cup Finals
	1	Montreal	4
	4	Hartford	3
						1	Montreal	0
						2	Boston	4
	2	Boston	4
	3	Buffalo	3
											P3	Pittsburgh	4
	Prince of Wales Conference
										A2	Boston	0
	1	NY Rangers	4
	4	New Jersey	3
						1	NY Rangers	2
						3	Pittsburgh	4
	2	Washington	3
	3	Pittsburgh	4
																P3	Pittsburgh	4
															N2	Chicago	0
	1	Detroit	4
	4	Minnesota	3
						1	Detroit	0
						2	Chicago	4
	2	Chicago	4
	3	St. Louis	2
											N2	Chicago	4
	Clarence Campbell Conference
										S3	Edmonton	0
	1	Vancouver	4
	4	Winnipeg	3
						1	Vancouver	2
						3	Edmonton	4
	2	Los Angeles	2
	3	Edmonton	4

Division Semi-finals

Wales Conference

Montreal vs. Hartford Date Away Home April 19 Hartford 0 2 Montreal April 21 Hartford 2 5 Montreal April 23 Montreal 2 5 Hartford April 25 Montreal 1 3 Hartford April 27 Hartford 4 7 Montreal April 29 Montreal 1 2 Hartford OT May 1 Hartford 2 3 Montreal 2OT Montreal wins series 4–3	Boston vs. Buffalo Date Away Home April 19 Buffalo 3 2 Boston April 21 Buffalo 2 3 Boston OT April 23 Boston 3 2 Buffalo April 25 Boston 5 4 Buffalo OT April 27 Buffalo 2 0 Boston April 29 Boston 3 9 Buffalo May 1 Buffalo 2 3 Boston Boston wins series 4–3
NY Rangers vs. New Jersey Date Away Home April 19 New Jersey 1 2 NY Rangers April 21 New Jersey 7 3 NY Rangers April 23 NY Rangers 1 3 New Jersey April 25 NY Rangers 3 0 New Jersey April 27 New Jersey 5 8 NY Rangers April 29 NY Rangers 3 5 New Jersey May 1 New Jersey 4 8 NY Rangers NY Rangers wins series 4–3	Washington vs. Pittsburgh Date Away Home April 19 Pittsburgh 1 3 Washington April 21 Pittsburgh 2 6 Washington April 23 Washington 4 6 Pittsburgh April 25 Washington 7 2 Pittsburgh April 27 Pittsburgh 5 2 Washington April 29 Washington 4 6 Pittsburgh May 1 Pittsburgh 3 1 Washington Pittsburgh wins series 4–3

Campbell Conference

Detroit vs. Minnesota Date Away Home April 18 Minnesota 4 3 Detroit April 20 Minnesota 4 2 Detroit April 22 Detroit 5 4 Minnesota OT April 24 Detroit 4 5 Minnesota April 26 Minnesota 0 3 Detroit April 28 Detroit 1 0 Minnesota OT April 30 Minnesota 2 5 Detroit Detroit wins series 4–3	Chicago vs. St. Louis Date Away Home April 18 St. Louis 1 3 Chicago April 20 St. Louis 5 3 Chicago April 22 Chicago 4 5 St. Louis 2OT April 24 Chicago 5 3 St. Louis April 26 St. Louis 4 6 Chicago April 28 Chicago 2 1 St. Louis Chicago wins series 4–2
Vancouver vs. Winnipeg Date Away Home April 18 Winnipeg 3 2 Vancouver April 20 Winnipeg 2 3 Vancouver April 22 Vancouver 2 4 Winnipeg April 24 Vancouver 1 3 Winnipeg April 26 Winnipeg 2 8 Vancouver April 28 Vancouver 8 3 Winnipeg April 30 Winnipeg 0 5 Vancouver Vancouver wins series 4–3	Los Angeles vs. Edmonton Date Away Home April 18 Edmonton 3 1 Los Angeles April 20 Edmonton 5 8 Los Angeles April 22 Los Angeles 3 4 Edmonton April 24 Los Angeles 4 3 Edmonton April 26 Edmonton 5 2 Los Angeles April 28 Los Angeles 0 3 Edmonton Edmonton wins series 4–2

Division Finals

Wales Conference

Montreal vs. Boston Date Away Home May 3 Boston 6 4 Montreal May 5 Boston 3 2 Montreal OT May 7 Montreal 2 3 Boston May 9 Montreal 0 2 Boston Boston win series 4–0

NY Rangers vs. Pittsburgh Date Away Home May 3 Pittsburgh 4 2 NY Rangers May 5 Pittsburgh 2 4 NY Rangers May 7 NY Rangers 6 5 Pittsburgh OT May 9 NY Rangers 4 5 Pittsburgh OT May 11 Pittsburgh 3 2 NY Rangers May 13 NY Rangers 1 5 Pittsburgh Pittsburgh wins series 4–2

Campbell Conference

Detroit vs. Chicago Date Away Home May 2 Chicago 2 1 Detroit May 4 Chicago 3 1 Detroit May 6 Detroit 4 5 Chicago May 8 Detroit 0 1 Chicago Chicago wins series 4–0

Vancouver vs. Edmonton Date Away Home May 3 Edmonton 4 3 Vancouver OT May 4 Edmonton 0 4 Vancouver May 6 Vancouver 2 5 Edmonton May 8 Vancouver 2 3 Edmonton May 10 Edmonton 3 4 Vancouver May 12 Vancouver 0 3 Edmonton Edmonton wins series 4–2

Conference Finals

Wales Conference Pittsburgh vs. Boston Date Away Home May 17 Boston 3 4 Pittsburgh OT May 19 Boston 2 5 Pittsburgh May 21 Pittsburgh 5 1 Boston May 21 Pittsburgh 5 1 Boston Pittsburgh wins series 4–0 and Prince of Wales Trophy

Campbell Conference Chicago vs. Edmonton Date Away Home May 16 Edmonton 2 8 Chicago May 18 Edmonton 2 4 Chicago May 20 Chicago 4 3 Edmonton OT May 22 Chicago 5 1 Edmonton Chicago wins series 4–0 and Clarence S. Campbell Bowl

Finals

Pittsburgh vs. Chicago
Date	Away	Home
May 26	Chicago 4	5 Pittsburgh
May 28	Chicago 1	3 Pittsburgh
May 30	Pittsburgh 1	0 Chicago
June 1	Pittsburgh 6	5 Chicago
Pittsburgh wins series 4–0 and Stanley Cup
Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh) wins Conn Smythe Trophy

NHL Awards

Presidents' Trophy:	New York Rangers
Prince of Wales Trophy:	Pittsburgh Penguins
Clarence S. Campbell Bowl:	Chicago Blackhawks
Art Ross Memorial Trophy:	Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy:	Mark Fitzpatrick, New York Islanders
Calder Memorial Trophy:	Pavel Bure, Vancouver Canucks
Conn Smythe Trophy:	Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins
Frank J. Selke Trophy:	Guy Carbonneau, Montreal Canadiens
Hart Memorial Trophy:	Mark Messier, New York Rangers
Jack Adams Award:	Pat Quinn, Vancouver Canucks
James Norris Memorial Trophy:	Brian Leetch, New York Rangers
King Clancy Memorial Trophy:	Ray Bourque, Boston Bruins
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy:	Wayne Gretzky, Los Angeles Kings
Lester B. Pearson Award:	Mark Messier, New York Rangers
NHL Plus/Minus Award:	Paul Ysebaert, Detroit Red Wings
Vezina Trophy:	Patrick Roy, Montreal Canadiens
William M. Jennings Trophy:	Patrick Roy, Montreal Canadiens
Lester Patrick Trophy:	Al Arbour, Art Berglund, Lou Lamoriello

Although not an award per se, the Buffalo Sabres set an NHL record for team penalty minutes, with 2713.

All-Star Teams

First Team	Position	Second Team
Patrick Roy, Montreal Canadiens	G	Kirk McLean, Vancouver Canucks
Brian Leetch, New York Rangers	D	Phil Housley, Winnipeg Jets
Ray Bourque, Boston Bruins	D	Scott Stevens, New Jersey Devils
Mark Messier, New York Rangers	C	Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins
Brett Hull, St. Louis Blues	RW	Mark Recchi, PIT/PHI
Kevin Stevens, Pittsburgh Penguins	LW	Luc Robitaille, Los Angeles Kings

Throwback Uniforms

As part of the NHL's 75th anniversary celebration, throwback uniforms were worn by Original Six teams for select games, and throwbacks were also worn for the All-Star Game.

The uniform styles that were worn include:
Boston Bruins - circa 1933
Chicago Blackhawks - circa 1940
Detroit Red Wings - circa 1928
Montreal Canadiens - circa 1926
New York Rangers - circa 1940
Toronto Maple Leafs - circa 1940
Wales All-Stars - white All-Star jersey circa 1952
Campbell All-Stars - red All-Star jersey circa 1952

The throwback uniforms would have an impact on future seasons in the NHL, as several teams adopted throwbacks as alternate jerseys. The National Football League and National Basketball Association would follow the NHL's lead, with teams wearing throwbacks to celebrate their leagues' 75th and 50th anniversaries, respectively.

Debuts

The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1991-92 (listed with their first team, asterisk(*) marks debut in playoffs):

• Glen Murray, Boston Bruins
• Joe Juneau, Boston Bruins
• Jozef Stumpel, Boston Bruins
• Brad May, Buffalo Sabres
• Keith Carney, Buffalo Sabres
• Dean McAmmond, Chicago Blackhawks
• Martin Lapointe, Detroit Red Wings
• Vyacheslav Kozlov, Detroit Red Wings
• Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings
• Vladimir Konstantinov, Detroit Red Wings
• Martin Rucinsky, Edmonton Oilers
• Darryl Sydor, Los Angeles Kings
• Derian Hatcher, Minnesota North Stars
• Bill Guerin, New Jersey Devils
• Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils
• Scott Niedermayer, New Jersey Devils
• Adam Foote, Quebec Nordiques
• Valeri Kamensky, Quebec Nordiques
• Arturs Irbe, San Jose Sharks
• Pat Falloon, San Jose Sharks
• Ray Whitney, San Jose Sharks
• Bret Hedican, St. Louis Blues
• Guy Hebert, St. Louis Blues
• Felix Potvin, Toronto Maple Leafs
• Pavel Bure, Vancouver Canucks
• Steve Konowalchuk, Washington Capitals
• Keith Tkachuk, Winnipeg Jets
• Stu Barnes, Winnipeg Jets

Last Games

The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1991-92 (listed with their last team):

• Barry Pederson, Boston Bruins
• Rick Vaive, Buffalo Sabres
• Tony Tanti, Buffalo Sabres
• Clint Malarchuk, Buffalo Sabres
• Greg Millen, Detroit Red Wings
• Ilkka Sinisalo, Los Angeles Kings
• Larry Robinson, Los Angeles Kings
• Chris Nilan, Montreal Canadiens
• Patrik Sundstrom, New Jersey Devils
• Rick Green, New York Islanders
• John Tonelli, Quebec Nordiques
• Mark Pavelich, San Jose Sharks
• Ken Linseman, Toronto Maple Leafs
• Mike Bullard, Toronto Maple Leafs
• Randy Gregg, Vancouver Canucks
• Mike Liut, Washington Capitals
• Mario Marois, Winnipeg Jets
• Lucien DeBlois, Winnipeg Jets
• Aaron Broten, Winnipeg Jets

See Also

• List of Stanley Cup champions
• 1991 NHL Entry Draft
• 1991 NHL Dispersal and Expansion Drafts
• 43rd National Hockey League All-Star Game
• National Hockey League All-Star Game
• NHL All-Rookie Team

References

• Hockey Database
• http://nhl.com/