Thread: NHL history in a 127 years of bite sized pieces.
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Old 06-08-2024, 11:36 AM   #208
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1991-92



It was clear that the Pittsburgh Penquins were going to be the favorites to repeat as Stanley Cup Champions in 1991-92, besides having the Magnificent One Mario Lemieux, the Pens boasted a lineup that included Joe Mullen, Ron Francis, Jaromir Jagr, Kevin Stevens and Rick Tocchet. From a pure skill, scoring, and two way aspect it was the best group of forwards in the NHL.

However the Pens would have to overcome the death of their coach "Badger" Bob Johnson, one of the most beloved coaches in the NHL. He had undergone surgery for cancer in the summer of 1991 and died 3 months later.

Of course the Stanley Cup champions went to the well of coaches and bought out Scotty Bowman who hadn't coached since 1987, the hockey world wondered if the aloof and manipulative Bowman could effectively control the free wheeling Pens.

Bowman had a simple strategy, he let the artists do the painting and turned over most of the off day coaching to his assistant coaches. The plan was partially successful during the regular season, but still the Pens fell behind the Mark Messier led Rangers.

The Rangers got a strangle hold on Patrick division title, and looked like they were the front runners to win their first Cup since 1944.

Then the unthinkable happened that caused every NHL fan to drop their cup of coffee and adopt a blank stare. After months of threats and counter threats, the League Owners and the NHLPA hit an impasse over a new collective bargaining agreement. On April 1, 1992 the Players went on strike.

For a time it appeared that neither side would budge and the playoffs would be cancelled, but after 10 days without hockey and at the 11th hour, an agreement was sealed and the players returned to the rink. For the Rangers the strike resulted in a loss of momentum and the Rangers faded, and they were eliminated in the playoffs by the Pens who seemed to have found their motivation, even though Adam Graves broke Mario's hand and he wouldn't return until the Whales Conference Finals against Boston where he would lead his team to a sweep and a seat in the Stanley Cup Finals.

The Black Hawks on a 11 game playoff winning streak, charged out of the gate and won game 1, Mike Keenan's strategy was simple, he'd use cement heads Mike Peluso and Stu Grimson to up the intimidation scale, but the Pens didn't buckle and won 4 straight games to win their second straight Stanley Cup. Having scored 16 playoff goals in 15 games Mario carted off the Conn Smythe trophy.

The question was, would Pittsburgh ascend to dynasty status and win a third straight cup?

Trivia

  • The NHL expands to 22 tams as the San Jose sharks take to the ice.
  • The NHL adopts several rule changes in regards to the goal crease. Also Video replay is employed to review goals.
  • Using the first pick of the draft, and their 3rd straight number 1 pick, Quebec drafts Eric Lindros who immediately announces that he won't sign with the Nordiques.
  • The Hall of Fame inducts 5 including Mike Bossy, Denis Potvin, Bob Pulford and Clint Smith.
  • NHL Entry Draft https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1991_NHL_Entry_Draft
  • NHL Expansion and Dispersal Draft https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1991_N...pansion_Drafts
  • On July 1991 the Blues sign free agent Brendan Shanahan to a $5 million dollar contract. NHL President then awards defenseman Scott Stevens to the Devils as compensation.
  • Canada wins its third straight Canada Cup beating the Americans 2 games to zip in the finals.
  • Pavel Bure leaves the Central Red Army team and joins the Canucks who "illegally drafted him the year before".
  • The Oilers clean house trading Grant Fuhr and Glenn Anderson to Toronto for Vincent Damphousse and sending Mark Messier to the Rangers for Bernie Nicholls. The Oilers also trade Jari Kurri and Steve Smith.
  • Eric Lindros returns to junior hockey rejecting a $50 million dollar contract.
  • On October 14 Ranger Mike Gartner scores his 500th goal.
  • Pat Lafontaine walks out of the Islanders dressing room and demands a trade. The Islanders would trade him to the Sabres for Pierre Turgeon.
  • After just nine games Pat Lafontaine is knocked out of the Sabres lineup when Flame Jaime Macoun breaks his jaw in two places with a slash to the face that requires major reconstructive facial surgery.
  • The Hockey world mourns the death of Bob Johnson who dies on November 26, 1991.
  • On November 30th Bobby Smith of the Stars enters the 1,000 point club.
  • On December 8th the Sabres and Flames engage in a 39 minute brawl as an aftermath of the Macoun - Lafontaine incident.
  • On Jan 2, the Flames and Toronto engage in the biggest trade in history as former Flames GM Cliff Fletcher, now the GM of the Leafs shorts Doug Risebrough. The Flames send Doug Gilmour, Ric Nattress, Jamie Macoun, Kent Maderville and Rick Wamsley to the Leafs for Gary Leeman, Craig Berube, Alexander Goodynyk, Michel Petite and Jeff Reese.
  • Leeman played 59 games for the Flames and was traded to Montreal for Brian Skrudland
  • Berube played 113 games and was traded to Washington for a fifth round pick
  • Godynyuk played 33 games and was claimed by Florida in the expansion draft
  • Petit played 134 games and left as a free agent
  • Reese played 39 games and was traded to Hartford for Dan Keczmer
  • On Jan 4, Mike Gartner enters the 1,000 point club.
  • On Feb 16th Michel Goulet of the Hawks scores his 500th point.
  • On Feb 29th Boston's Ray Bourque becomes the third defenseman to join the 1,000 point club.
  • On March 24th, Mario Lemieux scores his 1,000th point in his 513th game.
  • On April 1st the NHL players go on strike rejecting the owners Collective Bargaining agreement offer.
  • On April 12th the players ratify a new agreement by a vote of 409-61 and the players return to the ice after a 10 day strike.
  • The Rangers post a league best record of 50-25-5 for the first time in 50 years. Mark Messier leads the way with 107 and Brian Leetch scores 102 points.
  • The Flyers finish last in the Patrick missing the playoffs for a third straight year.
  • Montreal finishes first in the Adams division with a 41-28-11 record lead by Patrick Roy who leads all goalies with a 2.36 gaa.
  • Boston finishes in second place although Cam Neely misses 71 games due to an injury caused by a Ulf Sammuelsson of the Penguins during the 1991 playoffs.
  • The Sabres finish third in the Patrick and set an NHL record with 2713 PIM.
  • Detroit goes 54-25-12 to win the Norris division.
  • Brett Hull has his third straight season scoring at least 70 goals as the Blue's finish 3rd in the Norris.
  • The midseason robbery of the Flames helps the Leafs, but they miss the playoffs.
  • The Canucks win the Smythe division with a 42-26-12 record thanks to Kirk McLean's 2.74 gaa.
  • The gutted Flames miss the playoffs despite Gary Roberts 53 goals.
  • San Jose wins just 17 games in their first season.
  • Mario Lemieux wins the scoring crown with 131 points.
  • The only 50 goal scorers are Brett Hull with 70, Kevin Stevens with 54, Gary Roberts with 53 and Jeremy Roenick with 53.
  • In the Patrick Division playoffs the Rangers beat New Jersey in 7, The Pens survive the Caps in 7. In the finals the Pens erase the Rangers in 6.
  • Adam Graves is suspended 4 games for breaking Mario Lemieux's hand.
  • In the Adams division Montreal beats Hartford in 7 games scoring in double OT to close the series. Boston beats Buffalo in 7, and then go on to sweep the Habs to win the Adams.
  • In the Norris Detroit edges the Stars in 7, and Chicago beats the Blues in 6. In the finals Chicago sweeps Detroit.
  • In the Smythe Vancouver survives the Jets in 7, Edmonton beats the Kings in 6. In the Division finals the Oilers bounce the Canucks in 6 games.
  • In the Whales Conference finals Pittsburgh sweeps the Bruins.
  • In the Campbell Conference finals Chicago beats Edmonton in 4 extending their playoff winning streak to to 11 games.
  • In game one of the finals, the Pens win 5-4.
  • Mario scores twice to lead the Pens to a 3-1 win.
  • In game 3 the Pens win a nailbitter 1-0.
  • In game 4 the Pens win a wild shootout 6-5 with two third period goals by Larry Murphy and Ron Francis aas the Pens win their second straight Stanley Cup.
  • Ed Belfour and Tom Barraso each break an NHL record with 11 game winning streaks.
  • Mario Lemieux with 34 points in 15 games wins his second straight Conn Smythe.
  • Mark Messier wins the hart and Lester B. Pearson.
  • Patrick Roy wins his third Vezina Trophy.
  • Canucks rookie Pavel Bure wins the Calder Trophy.
  • Brian Leetch of the Rangers wins the Norris Trophy.
  • Islanders goalie Mark Fitzpatrick who battles a rare blood disorder wins the Masterton.
  • Vancouver coach/GM Pat Quinn wins the Jack Adams.
  • Wayne Gretzky wins his second straight Lady Byng.
  • Montreal's Guy Charbonneau wins his third Selke Trophy.
  • Charles Poulin of St. Hyacinthe is the CMJ player of the year.
  • Kamploops wins the Memorial Cup.
  • The United Team beats Canada 3-1 in the finals to win the Gold at the Olympics in France.
  • Lake Superior beats Wisconsin to win the NCAA title. Maine's Scott Pellerin wins the Hobey Baker.

First games
Last Game


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