Ten biggest hockey stories of the decade
As this decade draws to a close here’s a look back at the 10
most notable NHL stories of the past 10 years.
1.The Lockout. The NHL locked out the players in
September 2004 claiming it needed cost certainty — in other
words, a salary cap — to control the rapid rise of players
salaries, help struggling teams build competitive rosters and make
the game more affordable to its fans. After shutting down for the
entire 2004-05 season, the league returned to action in the fall of
2005 with a salary cap and the NHL Players Association in disarray.
It was, however, a Pyrrhic victory as today the average player
salary and ticket prices are at all-time highs, the league is still
trying to rebuild its visibility in the U.S. sports market and the
cap failed to help struggling teams in Phoenix, Nashville, Miami,
Atlanta and Tampa Bay.
2. Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin. Drafted
within a year of each other the two wunderkinds not only saved the
Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals but helped revive
interest in the NHL in the United States. Hockey fans today debate
over which is better, just as another generation did with Wayne
Gretzky and Mario Lemieux. By decade’s end Ovechkin had won
more individual awards, but Crosby helped carry the Penguins to a
Stanley Cup championship, becoming the youngest captain in league
history to do so. Heading into a new decade, Crosby and Ovechkin
will remain the NHL’s standard bearers.
3. Todd Bertuzzi attacks Steve Moore. Late in a
March 8, 2004 game between the Vancouver Canucks and Colorado
Avalanche, then-Canucks forward Bertuzzi attempted to get revenge
upon Moore for a borderline hit on linemate Markus Naslund earlier
in the season. When Moore failed to be provoked, Bertuzzi knocked
him out with a sucker punch from behind then jumped Moore, driving
his head into the ice. The incident was trumpeted by the mainstream
media as a prime example of mindless violence in pro hockey and
irrevocably changed the lives of the two players. Bertuzzi received
a lengthy suspension and continued his career but is no longer a
star forward, while Moore’s career was ended by the incident,
resulting in his filing lawsuits against Bertuzzi and the Canucks.
4. Red Wings and Devils dominate. Dynasties
— teams which win consecutive championships — are
rarities in the modern game but the Detroit Red Wings and New
Jersey Devils were the closest thing to dynasties during this
decade. Both teams advanced to the Stanley Cup final three times
and both won two championships; the Red Wings in 2002 and 2008, the
Devils in 2000 and 2003. Numerous players have passed through their
ranks during this decade but shrewd management and talented depth
made the Wings and Devils perennial Cup contenders.
5. Farewell to the Greats. Several superstars
retired during this decade, having left their mark upon the league
during their long careers. Mark Messier, Raymond Bourque, Patrick
Roy, Ron Francis, Brian Leetch, Steve Yzerman, Brett Hull, Scott
Stevens, Al MacInnis and Luc Robitaille retired and were inducted
into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Joe Sakic was the latest to retire
and his induction is a foregone conclusion. They were among the
greatest of their era and their achievements won’t be
forgotten by hockey fans.
6. Mixed Results for Southern NHL teams. The Tampa
Bay Lightning, Carolina Hurricanes and Anaheim Ducks won Stanley
Cup championships between 2004 and 2007 but have recently struggled
to ice competitive clubs while revenue concerns plague the
Lightning and Hurricanes. The Nashville Predators have been
competitive for several seasons but have struggled at the gate. The
San Jose Sharks emerged as a league powerhouse in recent years
while the L.A. Kings struggled for most of the decade. The Dallas
Stars were a dominant team earlier in the decade but
ownership’s financial woes now have them operating on a tight
budget. As for the continually struggling Phoenix Coyotes, Florida
Panthers and Atlanta Thrashers, it’s been a decade best
forgotten.
7. Rebirth of the Blackhawks. For most of the
decade the Chicago Blackhawks were considered a joke as crusty
owner William Wirtz nearly ran the franchise into the ground and
drove away legions of fans. Over the past three seasons, however,
the Blackhawks have gone through significant change. Rocky Wirtz
took over the franchise following his father’s death and
embraced modern marketing techniques. Rebuilding mainly around
young players — notably Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews
— the Blackhawks by decade’s end are considered a
Stanley Cup contender and lead the league in attendance.
8. The Winter Classic. Initially considered a lame
novelty attempt to compete with college football on New
Year’s Day, the Winter Classic instead turned into a
successful marketing gimmick for the NHL. Based on the Heritage
Classic outdoor game between Montreal and Edmonton in 2003, the
Winter Classic — an outdoor game featuring well-known
American-based teams — became a popular annual event, earning
solid television ratings. The NHL has received criticism over the
years for some of its marketing attempts but by returning the game
to its roots on New Year’s Day the league got it right.
9. The Blackberry Billionaire. Canadian
billionaire Jim Balsillie had the league’s blessing in 2006
to buy the Pittsburgh Penguins but backed out when the league
demanded a promise not to move the franchise. A year later he made
a pitch to purchase the Nashville Predators and move the team to
Hamilton, Ontario but was thwarted when the league opted to sell to
local investors. In 2009 he tried to purchase the bankrupt Phoenix
Coyotes for far above their estimated value, resulting in months of
litigation with the league until the court ultimately ruled against
his bid when he insisted on being allowed to move the franchise. It
remains to be seen if Balsillie will try again in the next decade
but with several NHL teams rumored to be in financial trouble, one
shouldn’t rule out the possibility.
10. The KHL. Formed in 2008, the Kontinental
Hockey League was established by several influential Russian
businessmen and sports figures providing an alternative to the NHL
for their country’s top talent. Several KHL teams also tried
to pry away Russian and European NHL stars with big contracts but
had limited success, becoming thus far an alternative destination
for fading veterans. Still, the KHL has shown no sign of going away
and its organizers remain intent on becoming a significant rival to
the NHL.
