The 2013–14 NHL season was the 97th season of operation (96th season of play) of the National Hockey League (NHL). This season features a realignment of the league's 30 teams from a six to a four division format. The regular season began October 1, and concluded April 13. The Stanley Cup playoffs began April 16.
The Los Angeles Kings won their second Stanley Cup championship in franchise history (second in three seasons), defeating the New York Rangers four games to one in the 2014 Stanley Cup Final.
League business
Realignment The relocation of the former Atlanta Thrashers franchise to the current Winnipeg Jets in 2011 prompted the league to discuss realignment. On December 5, 2011, the NHL Board of Governors approved a conference realignment plan that would eliminate the current six-division setup and move into a four-conference structure from the 2012–13 season. Under the plan, which was designed to better accommodate the effects of time zone differences, each team would have played 50 or 54 intra-conference games, depending on whether it was in a seven- or eight-team conference, and two games (home and road) against each non-conference team. On January 6, 2012, the league announced that the NHLPA had rejected the proposed realignment, citing concerns about fairness, travel and the inability to see a draft schedule before approving, and that as a result, it would not implement the realignment until at least 2013–14.NHL realignment on hold after union balks . The Sports Network. Retrieved January 6, 2012.NHL Alignment Will NOT Change as NHLPA Rejects Re-alignment. Here's why... . Hockeybuzz.com. Retrieved January 8, 2012.
Upon NHLPA rejection of the previous realignment, a new joint NHL-NHLPA plan was proposed in February 2013 as a modification of the previous plan with both the Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings moving to the East and the Winnipeg Jets moving to the West. This revised plan also adjusted the previously proposed four-conference system to a four-division/two-conference system, with the Eastern Conference consisting of two eight-team divisions, and the Western Conference consisting of two seven-team divisions. A new playoff format was also introduced to accommodate the new proposal, with the top three teams in each division making the playoffs, along with two wild-cards in each conference (for a total of 16 playoff teams). The NHLPA officially gave its consent to the NHL's proposed realignment plan on March 7, and then the NHL's board of governors approved the realignment and the new playoff format on March 14, to be implemented prior to the 2013–14 season. The league then announced the names of the divisions on July 19: the two eight-team divisions in the Eastern Conference would be the Atlantic Division and the Metropolitan Division, and the two seven-team divisions in the Western Conference would be the Central Division and the Pacific Division.
The new alignment was as follows:
Western Conference Pacific Division Central Division Anaheim Ducks Chicago Blackhawks Calgary Flames Colorado Avalanche Edmonton Oilers Dallas Stars Los Angeles Kings Minnesota Wild Phoenix Coyotes Nashville Predators San Jose Sharks St. Louis Blues Vancouver Canucks Winnipeg Jets
Eastern Conference Atlantic Division Metropolitan Division Boston Bruins Carolina Hurricanes Buffalo Sabres Columbus Blue Jackets Detroit Red Wings New Jersey Devils Florida Panthers New York Islanders Montreal Canadiens New York Rangers Ottawa Senators Philadelphia Flyers Tampa Bay Lightning Pittsburgh Penguins Toronto Maple Leafs Washington Capitals
Rule changes All players with fewer than 25 games of experience were required to wear visors. The additional minor penalty for instigating a fight when wearing a visor was removed. Players were now assessed an extra minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct should they remove their helmets prior to fighting. Jerseys which were not worn properly (such as being tucked in), and other equipment infractions would now result in a minor penalty. The base of the goal frame was now shallower and narrower by 4 inches. The overall width of the base of the frame was reduced from 96 to 88 inches and the depth of the base of the frame was reduced from 44 to 40 inches. Additionally, the corners where the goal post meets the crossbar were bent with a smaller radius, allowing more area across the goal plane. The size of the goal itself remains 6 feet wide and 4 feet tall. The attainable pass exception to the icing rule was removed. Officials would nullify a potential icing only if a player made contact with the puck. Goaltender's equipment was modified. Pads couldn't rise higher on the goaltender's leg than 45 percent of the distance between the center of the knee and pelvis. The pads could rise no higher than nine inches above the knee for goalies with an upper-leg measurement of 20 inches. A new hybrid icing rule was adopted. The hybrid icing rule required officials to stop play immediately in a potential icing situation where, in the judgment of the official, the defender would win a race to the puck ahead of an attacker, and the puck would cross the goal line. The official was to make his judgment when a player gains an imaginary line connecting the end-zone faceoff dots. Note that the first player to gain this imaginary line may not have been the one who would win a race to the puck. Rule 48: "Illegal Check to the Head" was clarified so that an illegal check to the head is classified as a hit where the opponent's head is the main point of contact when said contact was avoidable is not permitted.
Entry draft The 2013 NHL entry draft was held on June 30, 2013, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Nathan MacKinnon was selected first overall by the Colorado Avalanche.
Uniforms The Dallas Stars debuted a new logo, featuring a star with the letter D on it, as well as redesigned uniforms. The green on the uniform was restored as the dominant color, using a brighter shade called "Victory Green," reminiscent of the team before their move to Dallas, thus making the colors easier to distinguish. The Nashville Predators add a slightly tapered gold stripe to the pants and they reverse the color pattern on their road socks. Previously, the color pattern matched that of the ends of the sleeves. The Anaheim Ducks introduced a replica of their inaugural 1993–94 jersey to wear in a regular season game against the Ottawa Senators on October 13. The Anaheim Ducks, Florida Panthers, and Boston Bruins were all wearing special patches to commemorate their first season in the NHL. The Ducks and Panthers were each wearing 20th season patches, and the Bruins were wearing 90th season patches. The Bruins' commemorative patch features six stars which signify the franchise's six Stanley Cup victories. The Carolina Hurricanes debuted a new uniform design that features different striping patterns on the home and away jerseys. The Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings wore specialized jerseys for the 2014 Winter Classic. The Los Angeles Kings and Pittsburgh Penguins retired their third jerseys. The San Jose Sharks modified their home and away jerseys. The Minnesota Wild changed their away jersey. The Buffalo Sabres added a new third jersey, featuring a gold front and navy back. The Calgary Flames retired their throwback third, and added a new third jersey partially inspired by Western wear. The New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks, Pittsburgh Penguins, Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks each unveiled new jerseys featuring chromed logos for the 2014 Stadium Series. Although the New Jersey Devils also introduced a chromed version of their original red and green logo, they wore their red and green throwback jerseys unaltered (save for a Stadium Series patch) for their Stadium Series game against the Rangers. The Ottawa Senators and Vancouver Canucks wore specialized jerseys for the 2014 Heritage Classic. The Canucks reused the 1915 Vancouver Millionaires design from the previous season, while the Senators wore an off-white version of their black third jersey.
Arena changes The Ottawa Senators' home arena, Scotiabank Place, was renamed Canadian Tire Centre, as part of a new naming rights agreement with Canadian Tire. The San Jose Sharks' home arena, the HP Pavilion, was renamed the SAP Center as part of new naming rights agreement with SAP.
Regular season + Coaching changesOffseasonTeam2012–13 coach2013–14 coachDallas StarsGlen GulutzanLindy RuffEdmonton OilersRalph KruegerDallas EakinsNew York RangersJohn TortorellaAlain VigneaultVancouver CanucksAlain VigneaultJohn TortorellaColorado AvalancheJoe SaccoPatrick RoyIn-seasonTeamOutgoing coachIncoming coachPhiladelphia FlyersPeter LavioletteCraig BerubeBuffalo SabresRon RolstonTed NolanFlorida PanthersKevin DineenPeter HorachekWinnipeg JetsClaude NoelPaul Maurice With realignment, a new scheduling format was introduced. Among the changes, the scheduling of inter-conference games ensured that all 30 teams would play in all 30 arenas at least once per season. Each team played 82 games – 50 or 54 games within their conference, depending on whether they were in a seven- or eight-team division, and two games (home and road) against each non-conference club. The regular season opened on October 1, 2013, with the first game seeing the Toronto Maple Leafs defeat the home team Montreal Canadiens by a score of 4–3.
The annual Christmas trade freeze was in effect from December 20, 2013, through December 26, 2013.
Olympics
There was no all-star game this season, due to the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Prior to the season, NHL, International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) and Olympic officials reached an agreement to send NHL players to the Olympics. The league took a break on February 9 and resumed play on February 25. All players participating in their respective national teams gathered in four U.S. airports and flew to Sochi on February 9 and 10.
Winter Classic
The 2014 NHL Winter Classic was held on January 1, 2014. The game, the sixth Winter Classic, featured the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Detroit Red Wings at Michigan Stadium at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The game was originally planned to be played on January 1, 2013, as the 2013 NHL Winter Classic, but was postponed due to the 2012–13 NHL lockout.
HBO once again produced a four-part documentary chronicling the preparation of the two teams for the Winter Classic as part of its sports series 24/7. The special also aired in Canada on Sportsnet.
Heritage Classic returns
The 2014 NHL Heritage Classic featured the Ottawa Senators facing off against the home team Vancouver Canucks at BC Place in Vancouver, British Columbia. This was third Heritage Classic game held in Canada following the Heritage Classic in 2011 when the Calgary Flames defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4–0 at McMahon Stadium in Calgary, Alberta. Unlike previous Heritage Classics, the 2014 event was technically held indoors; BC Place kept its retractable roof closed because of inclement weather.
Debut of the Stadium Series
On May 1, 2013, the NHL announced that the Chicago Blackhawks would host the Pittsburgh Penguins at Soldier Field in Chicago on March 1, 2014, as part of the new NHL Stadium Series. The NHL announced an unprecedented six outdoor NHL games for the 2013–14 season: one Winter Classic, four Stadium Series games, and a Heritage Classic game.
For the two Stadium Series games they were involved in at Yankee Stadium, the New York Rangers were the away team due to contract obligations with Madison Square Garden as they can't receive income from other venues in New York as the home team (this claim is dubious as Madison Square Garden owns the team and could theoretically waive that clause with its own team at any time).
The six outdoor games were: