2008–09 NHL season:
The 2008–09 NHL season is the 91st season of the National Hockey League. It runs from October 4, 2008 through April 12, 2009, with the Stanley Cup Playoffs to follow, ending in June 2009. This is the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team will play each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the other conference.[1] The Montreal Canadiens will host the 57th NHL All-Star Game at the Bell Centre on January 25, 2009, part of the Canadiens' 100th Anniversary celebration.[2]
[edit] League business
[edit] Increase in salary cap
National Hockey League announced that the regular season salary cap would be going up for the fourth straight season. The 2008-09 salary cap is being increased by $6,400,000(US) per team to bring the salary cap up to $56,700,000(US). The salary floor is at $40,700,000(US), which is higher than salary cap on 2005-06 season.
[edit] Rule changes
The NHL brought in a number of rule changes for the start of the 2008-09 NHL season aimed at increasing offence and safety. The first rule change was to Rule 76.2 on faceoffs. The first faceoff of a power play will now be in the defending zone of the team that committed the foul, regardless of where the play was stopped. The second rule dealt with the issue of safety while players are pursuing the puck on a potential icing call. Rule 81.1 states that, "Any contact between opposing players while pursuing the puck on an icing must be for the sole purpose of playing the puck and not for eliminating the opponent from playing the puck. Unnecessary or dangerous contact could result in penalties being assessed to the offending player." The third rule change also dealt with faceoff position: if a puck is shot off the goal frame, goal post or crossbar, the subsequent faceoff will remain in the end zone where the puck went out of play.[3] Another rule change prohibits TV commercials, and goaltender changes immediately after an icing call.
[edit] Season schedule
The 2008–2009 schedule returns to the pre-lockout schedule. The new schedule eliminates the three-year rotation where teams would only play teams in two of the three divisions of the opposite conference; instead the new schedule guarantees that each team plays every other team at least once. In the new schedule, each team will play their divisional rivals six times for a total of 24 games; they will play all other conference teams four times for a total of 40 games, and will play every team in the opposite conference at least once for a total of 15 games. To obtain a total of 82 games there are an additional three-wild card games; for the Canadian teams, the three-wild card games are composed of playing the three Canadian teams in the opposite conference an additional time.[4]
[edit] European openers
The 'regular season' started with four games to be played in Europe. The Ottawa Senators and the Pittsburgh Penguins played each other twice in Stockholm, Sweden and the New York Rangers and the Tampa Bay Lightning played each other twice in Prague, Czech Republic. These four teams also played some pre-season exhibition games in Europe. [5]
Other than the four overseas 'regular season' games starting October 4th, October 9th is the actual first day of regular season games as far as widespread continental North American broadcast from most providers, including pay per view hockey packages. Other teams still played preseason games between Oct. 4 and 6.
[edit] Winter Classic
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Because of the success of the 2008 Winter Classic, another outdoor game will be held for the 2008–09 NHL season. While Yankee Stadium was considered an early favorite, in a game to be hosted by the Rangers, cold-weather issues involving the old stadium put that location out of the mix. Another site considered was Beaver Stadium at Penn State University, with that game to likely involve the Penguins and the Flyers.[6]
On May 29, 2008, TSN reported that the 2009 NHL Winter Classic will be held in Chicago, Illinois on January 1, 2009, played between the Chicago Blackhawks and defending champion Detroit Red Wings.[7] Soldier Field was considered an early candidate, however the NFL's Chicago Bears objected, citing a possible home game for the 2008 NFL Playoffs that weekend (January 3-4) - ironically, the Bears ended up being eliminated from contention in the last week. It was decided that the game would be played at Wrigley Field, the North Side home of the Chicago Cubs, as confirmed by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune on July 6. Ten days afterward, the NHL confirmed the reports that the game would officially be held on New Year's Day.[8] Faceoff was scheduled for 1 p.m. EST (12 noon CST). The Red Wings won the game 6-4.
[edit] Trade deadline
The NHL and NHLPA agreed to move the trade deadline from Tuesday, March 3, 2009 to Wednesday, March 4, 2009. This was done mainly because the schedule has twelve games on March 3 and only two on March 4.[9].
[edit] Regular season
The first goal of the season was scored by Markus Naslund of the New York Rangers in Prague against the Tampa Bay Lightning.[10] On October 16, 2008, the Blackhawks fired head coach Denis Savard and replaced him with former Colorado Avalanche and St. Louis Blues head coach Joel Quenneville.[11] On Saturday, October 25, the NHL scheduled fifteen games—with all 30 teams playing—for the second time in league history.[12]
On November 3, 2008, in a game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the New York Islanders, Islanders forward Chris Campoli scored twice in one overtime. First, Campoli retrieved a loose puck and fired a shot past Jacket's goaltender Fredrik Norrena. The shot went through the net and, while Campoli celebrated, the game continued. Campoli then received a pass in front of the goal and shot the puck again into the net.[13]
Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Barry Melrose would record his first win as a head coach in over 13 years on October 21, 2008 with a 3-2 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers. However, the Lightning did not get off to a great start as hoped, and Melrose was fired by the Lightning with a 5-7-4 record. Rick Tocchet, who had been hired as assistant coach during the previous offseason, was promoted to interim head coach. Melrose subsequently re-signed with broadcaster ESPN. Melrose proceeded to get into a war of words with the Lightning management, accusing the management of interference during an interview on a Toronto radio station.[14]
On December 2, 2008, Carolina Hurricanes' head coach Peter Laviolette was fired and Paul Maurice was hired in his place. Ron Francis became the team's associate head coach.
During the annual December board of governors' meeting, the issue of the state of the economy was raised. The Phoenix Coyotes were reported to lose up to $35 million on the 2008–09 season. Asked to comment on Phoenix's loss, Commissioner Gary Bettman was quoted as saying "They're going to get through the season just fine."[15] The Buffalo Sabres, while not for sale, had been approached for purchase.
On December 5, Sean Avery of the Dallas Stars was suspended six games for 'off-colour' remarks prior to a game against the Calgary Flames.[16] On December 14, the Stars' management announced that he would not be returning to the team.
On December 23, the Toronto Globe and Mail reported that the Phoenix Coyotes team is receiving financial assistance from the league in the form of advances on league revenues. The Coyotes have pledged all of their assets to New York company SOF Investments LP to cover an estimated debt of $80 million. The team has lost an estimated $200 million since 2001 and may lose $30 million this season. One of the team's owners, Jerry Moyes' principal source of revenue, Swift Transportation is also in financial difficulty.[17] ESPN reported that the league has gotten involved with the operations of the Coyotes and their revenues. The NHL apparently wants to work with the city of Glendale which owns the arena and receives revenues from the team. ESPN also reported that Moyes wants to sell his share of the team and that Hollywood producer Jerry Bruckheimer is a possible interested purchaser.[18]
[edit] Scheduled events and deadlines
The Christmas holiday roster freeze went into effect on December 19, 2008 and ended on December 27, 2008.
The NHL Winter Classic was held on January 1, 2009 between the Detroit Red Wings and the Chicago Blackhawks at Wrigley Field.
The NHL All-Star break will be from January 22 to January 26.
The NHL SuperSkills Competition will be held on January 24 in Montreal.
The trade deadline is March 4 at 3 PM EST[19].
[edit] Standings
GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, OTL = Overtime/Shootout Losses, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points.
[edit] Eastern Conference
[edit] Western Conference
[edit] Conference standings
* – division leader
* – division leader
[edit] Tiebreaking procedures
Where two or more clubs are tied in points at the end of the regular season, the standing of the clubs is determined in the following order:
- The greater number of games won.
- The greater number of points earned in games between the tied clubs.
- The greater differential between goals for and against.
[edit] Scoring leaders
GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = Plus/Minus; PIM = Penalty Minutes
| Player |
Team |
GP |
G |
A |
Pts |
+/– |
PIM |
 Malkin, EvgeniEvgeni Malkin |
Pittsburgh Penguins |
41 |
15 |
48 |
63 |
+18 |
42 |
| Ovechkin, AlexanderAlexander Ovechkin |
Washington Capitals |
39 |
27 |
26 |
53 |
+12 |
46 |
 Crosby, SidneySidney Crosby |
Pittsburgh Penguins |
41 |
16 |
35 |
51 |
+5 |
59 |
| Savard, MarcMarc Savard |
Boston Bruins |
40 |
13 |
36 |
49 |
+25 |
44 |
 Parise, ZachZach Parise |
New Jersey Devils |
39 |
22 |
24 |
46 |
+12 |
16 |
 Elias, PatrikPatrik Elias |
New Jersey Devils |
39 |
18 |
28 |
46 |
+15 |
20 |
| Iginla, JaromeJarome Iginla |
Calgary Flames |
40 |
18 |
28 |
46 |
0 |
20 |
| Getzlaf, RyanRyan Getzlaf |
Anaheim Ducks |
40 |
15 |
31 |
46 |
+4 |
74 |
| Thornton, JoeJoe Thornton |
San Jose Sharks |
39 |
9 |
37 |
46 |
+19 |
28 |
| Datsyuk, PavelPavel Datsyuk |
Detroit Red Wings |
39 |
17 |
28 |
45 |
+17 |
10 |
- All statistics as of: 06:28, 8 January 2009 (UTC)
[edit] Leading goaltenders
GP = Games Played; TOI = Time On Ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/Shootout Losses; GA = Goals Against; SO = Shutouts; Sv% = Save Percentage; GAA = Goals Against Average
| Player |
Team |
GP |
TOI |
W |
L |
OT |
GA |
SO |
Sv% |
GAA |
| Mason, SteveSteve Mason |
Columbus Blue Jackets |
23 |
1,388:03 |
13 |
9 |
1 |
42 |
5 |
.934 |
1.82 |
| Fernandez, MannyManny Fernandez |
Boston Bruins |
18 |
1,040:51 |
13 |
3 |
1 |
34 |
1 |
.932 |
1.96 |
 Hiller, JonasJonas Hiller |
Anaheim Ducks |
19 |
992:27 |
10 |
6 |
1 |
34 |
3 |
.933 |
2.06 |
| Thomas, TimTim Thomas |
Boston Bruins |
23 |
1,382:23 |
16 |
4 |
3 |
49 |
3 |
.932 |
2.13 |
 Backstrom, NiklasNiklas Backstrom |
Minnesota Wild |
33 |
1,933:25 |
19 |
12 |
2 |
69 |
5 |
.929 |
2.14 |
| Luongo, RobertoRoberto Luongo |
Vancouver Canucks |
19 |
1,076:03 |
11 |
5 |
2 |
39 |
5 |
.928 |
2.17 |
| Clemmensen, ScottScott Clemmensen |
New Jersey Devils |
24 |
1,415:05 |
15 |
7 |
1 |
53 |
0 |
.922 |
2.25 |
| Price, CareyCarey Price |
Montreal Canadiens |
25 |
1,514:19 |
16 |
4 |
5 |
58 |
1 |
.921 |
2.30 |
| Anderson, CraigCraig Anderson |
Florida Panthers |
21 |
1,074:37 |
9 |
4 |
5 |
42 |
3 |
.933 |
2.34 |
 Ersberg, ErikErik Ersberg |
Los Angeles Kings |
19 |
990:42 |
8 |
6 |
2 |
39 |
0 |
.904 |
2.36 |
- All statistics as of: 06:28, 8 January 2009 (UTC)
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ NHL teams will play each other at least once per season
- ^ Montreal to host '09 All-Star Game
- ^ rule changes
- ^ Canadian Press (2007-11-29). "NHL owners finally approve schedule change; Nashville sale approved". The Hockey News. Retrieved on 2009-10-11.
- ^ NHL's European plans finalized
- ^ Staple, Arthur (2008-05-17). "Going, going, gone?", Newsday. Retrieved on 18 May 2008.
- ^ "Blackhawks to host next season's Winter Classic". TSN (2008-05-29). Retrieved on 2008-05-29.
- ^ "Blackhawks, Red Wings meet in the great outdoors". NHL.com (2008-07-16). Retrieved on 2008-07-26.
- ^ "NHL moves trade deadline back one day", TSN.ca. Retrieved on 28 October 2008.
- ^ "Markus Naslund scores the first goal of the 08/09 season - Canucks Board". Forum.canucks.com. Retrieved on 2008-10-21.
- ^ "Blackhawks fire Savard after four games". TSN.ca (October 16, 2008). Retrieved on 2008-10-16.
- ^ "30 teams, 15 games in 15 cities -- One night", NHL.com (2008-10-23). Retrieved on 23 October 2008.
- ^ "Campoli gives Isles OT win", The Globe and Mail, www.globesports.com (November 4, 2008). Retrieved on 4 November 2008.
- ^ Gordon, Sean (December 11, 2008). "Tampa takes first step up the mountain". Retrieved on 2008-12-16.
- ^ Gordon, Sean (December 9, 2008). "Optimism reigns despite economic woes". The Globe and Mail.
- ^ "Avery handed six-game suspension by NHL". NHL.com (November 5, 2008). Retrieved on 2008-12-16.
- ^ Shoalts, David (December 23, 2008). "globesports.com: Coyotes' financial situation gets uglier", The Globe and Mail. Retrieved on 24 December 2008.
- ^ Burnside, Scott (December 23, 2008). "ESPN - NHL helping Phoenix Coyotes find investors or new owners because of financial problems", ESPN. Retrieved on 24 December 2008.
- ^ "News: NHL Calendar - 12/01/2008" (2008-12-01).
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