Сезон НХЛ 2001–2002: Трагедия, Перемены и Победа "Детройта"

National Hockey League season

The 2001–02 NHL season was the 85th regular season of the National Hockey League. Thirty teams competed in an 82 game regular season. The regular season began on October 3, and the playoffs concluded on June 13, with the Detroit Red Wings defeating the Carolina Hurricanes in the Stanley Cup Finals in five games, winning their tenth Stanley Cup in franchise history. This season wasn't without tragedy however, as it was marred by the death of Brittanie Cecil, a 13 year old fan who died after getting struck in the head by a puck during a match between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Calgary Flames on March 16, 2002 at the Nationwide Arena, she died two days later. As a result of the tragedy, the NHL made it mandatory to install protective nylon mesh nets above the glass behind both goals.

The cash strapped Pittsburgh Penguins, desperate to dump payroll, could no longer afford perennial superstar Jaromir Jagr. He would be traded, along with Frantisek Kucera, to the Washington Capitals in exchange for Kris Beech, Ross Lupaschuk, Michal Sivek, and $4.9 million. Despite Mario Lemieux's return the previous season, the absence of Jagr proved devastating to the Penguins, and they missed the playoffs for the first time since 1990. The Penguins did not return to the playoffs until they drafted Sidney Crosby in 2005. The Dallas Stars moved their home games from Reunion Arena to American Airlines Center. The NHL honored the victims of September 11 attacks by having all players wear a patch on their jerseys, a ribbon sticker on the back of their helmet, and placed a red, white, and blue ribbon painted on the ice behind each net, with the Canadian teams having a red and white ribbon painted on the ice behind either net. On September 20, 2001, in the middle of a pre season game between the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers with both teams tied up 2–2, nine days after the attacks, the game was stopped so that a national television address by U. S. President George W. Bush about the September 11 attacks could be broadcast on the arena video screen. After the end of the television address, the game did not resume and was declared a 2–2 tie.

The NHL honored the victims of the September 11 attacks by having all players wear a patch on their jerseys, a ribbon sticker on the back of their helmet, as well as a red, white and blue ribbon painted on the ice behind each net, (with the Canadian teams having a red and white ribbon painted on the ice behind either net). Buffalo Sabres: In the wake of the September 11 attacks, the Sabres, in a sign of solidarity, took to the ice at Madison Square Garden on October 7 wearing jerseys reading "New York" on the front. Like the New York Rangers, their opponents in that game, the Sabres, play their home games in the state of New York. Colorado Avalanche: The Avalanche introduce a third jersey, with the word "Colorado" slanted across the front of the jersey. Columbus Blue Jackets: The numbers become more narrow and the names on the back shrink slightly. Edmonton Oilers: The team introduces an alternate jersey, featuring silver in place of bronze and red. The crest is their new Alternate logo with an oil bolt with 5 rivets for the team's 5 Stanley Cup titles. Los Angeles Kings: The Kings wore two patches. On the upper right chest was the All Star Game patch, as the Kings were the hosts of the 2002 All Star Game. On the upper left chest is a patch with the letters "AM," for director of scouting Garnet "Ace" Bailey and scout Mark Bavis, who were killed aboard United Airlines Flight 175 in the September 11 attacks. Nashville Predators: The Predators unveil a mustard yellow alternate jersey. New York Rangers: In the wake of the September 11 attacks, the Rangers wore ribbons on their uniforms in memory of the victims. Also in their October 7 game at Madison Square Garden against the Buffalo Sabres, both teams wore "New York" on their jerseys. For the Rangers, it was a return of sorts to the blue jerseys they wore from 1978 to 1987. Ottawa Senators: The Senators wore special stickers on their helmets marking their 10th season in the NHL. Philadelphia Flyers: The orange jersey is retired, leaving the black jersey to be worn on the road full time. In a "spooky" kind of way, the Philadelphia Flyers took to (what was then known as) the First Union Center ice on Halloween night 2001 wearing the orange jerseys that were thought to have been retired in the offseason. The jerseys brought good luck to the Flyers that night, as they shut out the Pittsburgh Penguins, 3–0. In a show of support for New York's finest and bravest, the Flyers wore three special patches at the bottom of the back of the jersey. From left to right, they were "FDNY," the American flag, and "NYPD." The jerseys were auctioned off after the game to benefit the NHL's Twin Towers fund. San Jose Sharks: The Sharks introduce a new black alternate jersey. Tampa Bay Lightning: Team has a font change due to fan complaints deeming them unreadable. Also, the Lightning wore a patch to celebrate their 10th NHL season. Toronto Maple Leafs: In honor of the 75th anniversary of the St. Pats becoming the Maple Leafs, the team wears vintage St. Pats jerseys in their game against the Buffalo Sabres on March 2. During the rest of the season, they wore special stickers on their helmets celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Maple Leafs. Vancouver Canucks: A new alternate jersey is introduced, featuring a torso that changes from navy blue to maroon. The jersey features a redesigned Canuck Place patch. Washington Capitals: The Capitals wore a patch in memory of the victims of the September 11 attacks.

2001 02 National Hockey League Division Team City Arena Capacity Atlantic New Jersey Devils East Rutherford, New Jersey Continental Airlines Arena 19,040 New York Islanders Uniondale, New York Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 16,234 New York Rangers New York, New York Madison Square Garden 18,200 Philadelphia Flyers Philadelphia, Pennsylvania First Union Center 19,519 Pittsburgh Penguins Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Mellon Arena 16,958 Northeast Boston Bruins Boston, Massachusetts FleetCenter 17,850 Buffalo Sabres Buffalo, New York HSBC Arena 18,690 Montreal Canadiens Montreal, Quebec Molson Centre 21,273 Ottawa Senators Ottawa, Ontario Corel Centre 18,500 Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto, Ontario Air Canada Centre 18,800 Southeast Atlanta Thrashers Atlanta, Georgia Phillips Arena 18,545 Carolina Hurricanes Raleigh, North Carolina Raleigh Entertainment & Sports Arena 18,700 Florida Panthers Sunrise, Florida National Car Rental Center 19,250 Tampa Bay Lightning Tampa, Florida Ice Palace 19,092 Washington Capitals Washington, D. C. MCI Center 18,573 Central Chicago Blackhawks Chicago, Illinois United Center 20,500 Columbus Blue Jackets Columbus, Ohio Nationwide Arena 18,136 Detroit Red Wings Detroit, Michigan Joe Louis Arena 20,058 Nashville Predators Nashville, Tennessee Gaylord Entertainment Center 17,159 St. Louis Blues St. Louis, Missouri Savvis Center 19,022 Northwest Calgary Flames Calgary, Alberta Pengrowth Saddledome 19,289 Colorado Avalanche Denver, Colorado Pepsi Center 18,007 Edmonton Oilers Edmonton, Alberta Skyreach Centre 16,839 Minnesota Wild Saint Paul, Minnesota Xcel Energy Center 18,064 Vancouver Canucks Vancouver, British Columbia General Motors Place 18,422 Pacific Dallas Stars Dallas, Texas American Airlines Center 18,532 Los Angeles Kings Los Angeles, California Staples Center 18,230 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim Anaheim, California Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim 17,174 Phoenix Coyotes Phoenix, Arizona America West Arena 16,210 San Jose Sharks San Jose, California Compaq Center 17,562

For the second time in three seasons, no player reached the 100 point plateau. In addition, for the first time since 1980, the Art Ross Trophy was not won by either Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, or Jaromir Jagr. Instead, the award went to Jarome Iginla, who scored 96 points.

Teams in bold qualified for the playoffs.

Teams in bold qualified for the playoffs.

The Finals were contested by the Western Conference champion Detroit Red Wings and the Eastern Conference champion Carolina Hurricanes. It was Detroit's twenty second appearance in the Finals, their last appearance being a win in 1998. It was Carolina's first appearance in the Finals in franchise history. Detroit defeated Carolina in five games to win their tenth Stanley Cup championship in franchise history.

The NHL Awards presentation took place in Toronto. Presidents' Trophy: Detroit Red Wings Prince of Wales Trophy: (Eastern Conference playoff champion) Carolina Hurricanes Clarence S. Campbell Bowl: (Western Conference playoff champion) Detroit Red Wings Art Ross Trophy: Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy: Saku Koivu, Montreal Canadiens Calder Memorial Trophy: Dany Heatley, Atlanta Thrashers Conn Smythe Trophy: Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings Frank J. Selke Trophy: Michael Peca, New York Islanders Hart Memorial Trophy: Jose Theodore, Montreal Canadiens Jack Adams Award: Bob Francis, Phoenix Coyotes James Norris Memorial Trophy: Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings King Clancy Memorial Trophy: Ron Francis, Carolina Hurricanes Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: Ron Francis, Carolina Hurricanes Lester B. Pearson Award: Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames Lester Patrick Trophy: Herb Brooks, Larry Pleau Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophy: Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames NHL Plus/Minus Award: Chris Chelios, Detroit Red Wings Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award: Jose Theodore, Montreal Canadiens Vezina Trophy: Jose Theodore, Montreal Canadiens William M. Jennings Trophy: Patrick Roy, Colorado Avalanche

This was the fourth and final season of the league's Canadian national broadcast rights deals with CBC and Sportsnet. CBC aired Saturday night Hockey Night in Canada regular season games, while Sportsnet's telecasts included Tuesday Night Hockey and other weeknight games. Coverage of the Stanley Cup playoffs continued to primarily be on CBC, while Sportsnet aired first round all U. S. series. The league would then sign a multi year deal with Sportsnet's rival TSN.

This was the third year of the league's five year U. S. national broadcast rights deal with ESPN and ABC. ESPN and ESPN2 aired weeknight games throughout the regular season. ABC's coverage included the All Star Game and five weeks worth of regional games on Saturday afternoons in January and March. During the first two rounds of the playoffs, ESPN and ESPN2 aired selected games, while ABC had Saturday regional telecasts. Each U. S. team's regional broadcaster produced local coverage of first and second round games (except for those games on ABC). ABC's weekend telecasts continued into the Conference Finals, while ESPN had the rest of the third round games. ESPN then aired the first two games of the Stanley Cup Finals before the rest of the series shifted to ABC.