The 1993–94 NHL season was an exciting year for ice hockey! Twenty-six teams played 84 games each. The New York Rangers won the Stanley Cup, which is the biggest prize in hockey. This was their fourth championship win. The final game took place in Downtown Vancouver.
During this season, two amazing goalies, Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils and Dominik Hasek of the Buffalo Sabres, really stood out. They showed how important great goaltending was becoming in the NHL. Most teams didn't score as many goals as in past years. Only three teams scored 300 goals or more. The Detroit Red Wings were the only team to average more than four goals per game. Goalies had a total of 99 shutouts (meaning they didn't let the other team score any goals) during the regular season!
Regular Season Highlights
This season was special because it was the only time that all four teams from the former WHA (World Hockey Association) league missed the playoffs. These teams were the Edmonton, Hartford, Quebec, and Winnipeg teams. They had all joined the NHL in 1979.
Team Standings
Here's how the teams finished in the regular season.
- W means Wins (how many games a team won)
- L means Losses (how many games a team lost)
- T means Ties (games that ended with both teams having the same score)
- Pts means Points (teams get points for wins and ties)
- GF means Goals For (how many goals a team scored)
- GA means Goals Against (how many goals were scored against a team)
Eastern Conference Teams
Western Conference Teams
Note: x = made it to the playoffs, y = won their division, z = won the Presidents' Trophy (best regular season record)
Top Scorers
These players scored the most points (goals + assists) during the 1993-94 season.
| Player |
Team |
Games Played |
Goals |
Assists |
Total Points |
| Wayne Gretzky |
Los Angeles |
81 |
38 |
92 |
130 |
| Sergei Fedorov |
Detroit |
82 |
56 |
64 |
120 |
| Adam Oates |
Boston |
77 |
32 |
80 |
112 |
| Doug Gilmour |
Toronto |
83 |
27 |
84 |
111 |
| Jeremy Roenick |
Chicago |
84 |
46 |
61 |
107 |
| Pavel Bure |
Vancouver |
74 |
60 |
47 |
107 |
| Mark Recchi |
Philadelphia |
84 |
40 |
67 |
107 |
| Brendan Shanahan |
St. Louis |
81 |
52 |
50 |
102 |
| Jaromir Jagr |
Pittsburgh |
80 |
32 |
67 |
99 |
| Dave Andreychuk |
Toronto |
83 |
53 |
46 |
99 |
Stanley Cup Playoffs
The Stanley Cup playoffs are a series of games where teams compete to win the Stanley Cup. It's a knockout tournament, meaning if you lose a series, you're out!
Playoff Path to the Finals
Conference Quarterfinals
This was the first round of the playoffs. Teams played best-of-seven series.
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
NY Rangers (1) vs. NY Islanders (8)
| Date |
Away |
Home |
OT |
| April 17 |
NY Islanders 0 |
6 NY Rangers |
| April 18 |
NY Islanders 0 |
6 NY Rangers |
| April 21 |
NY Rangers 5 |
1 NY Islanders |
| April 24 |
NY Rangers 5 |
2 NY Islanders |
| NY Rangers wins series 4–0 |
|
Pittsburgh (2) vs. Washington (7)
| Date |
Away |
Home |
OT |
| April 17 |
Washington 5 |
3 Pittsburgh |
| April 19 |
Washington 1 |
2 Pittsburgh |
| April 21 |
Pittsburgh 0 |
2 Washington |
| April 23 |
Pittsburgh 1 |
4 Washington |
| April 25 |
Washington 2 |
3 Pittsburgh |
| April 27 |
Pittsburgh 3 |
6 Washington |
| Washington wins series 4–2 |
|
New Jersey (3) vs. Buffalo (6)
| Date |
Away |
Home |
OT |
| April 17 |
Buffalo 2 |
0 New Jersey |
| April 19 |
Buffalo 1 |
2 New Jersey |
| April 21 |
New Jersey 2 |
1 Buffalo |
| April 23 |
New Jersey 3 |
5 Buffalo |
| April 25 |
Buffalo 3 |
5 New Jersey |
| April 27 |
New Jersey 0 |
1 Buffalo |
4 OT |
| April 29 |
Buffalo 1 |
2 New Jersey |
| New Jersey wins series 4–3 |
|
|
Western Conference Quarterfinals
Detroit (1) vs. San Jose (8)
| Date |
Away |
Home |
OT |
| April 18 |
San Jose 5 |
4 Detroit |
| April 20 |
San Jose 0 |
4 Detroit |
| April 22 |
Detroit 3 |
2 San Jose |
| April 23 |
Detroit 3 |
4 San Jose |
| April 26 |
Detroit 4 |
6 San Jose |
| April 28 |
San Jose 1 |
7 Detroit |
| April 30 |
San Jose 3 |
2 Detroit |
| San Jose wins series 4–3 |
|
Calgary (2) vs. Vancouver (7)
| Date |
Away |
Home |
OT |
| April 18 |
Vancouver 5 |
0 Calgary |
| April 20 |
Vancouver 5 |
7 Calgary |
| April 22 |
Calgary 4 |
2 Vancouver |
| April 24 |
Calgary 3 |
2 Vancouver |
| April 26 |
Vancouver 2 |
1 Calgary |
OT |
| April 28 |
Calgary 2 |
3 Vancouver |
OT |
| April 30 |
Vancouver 4 |
3 Calgary |
2 OT |
| Vancouver wins series 4–3 |
|
Toronto (3) vs. Chicago (6)
| Date |
Away |
Home |
OT |
| April 18 |
Chicago 1 |
5 Toronto |
| April 20 |
Chicago 0 |
1 Toronto |
OT |
| April 22 |
Toronto 4 |
5 Chicago |
| April 24 |
Toronto 3 |
4 Chicago |
OT |
| April 26 |
Chicago 0 |
1 Toronto |
| April 28 |
Toronto 1 |
0 Chicago |
| Toronto wins series 4–2 |
|
Dallas (4) vs. St. Louis (5)
| Date |
Away |
Home |
OT |
| April 17 |
St. Louis 3 |
5 Dallas |
| April 20 |
St. Louis 2 |
4 Dallas |
| April 22 |
Dallas 5 |
4 St. Louis |
OT |
| April 24 |
Dallas 2 |
1 St. Louis |
| Dallas wins series 4–0 |
|
Conference Semifinals
The winners from the Quarterfinals moved on to play in the Conference Semifinals.
NY Rangers (1) vs. Washington (7)
| Date |
Away |
Home |
OT |
| May 1 |
Washington 3 |
6 NY Rangers |
| May 3 |
Washington 2 |
5 NY Rangers |
| May 5 |
NY Rangers 3 |
0 Washington |
| May 7 |
NY Rangers 2 |
4 Washington |
| May 9 |
Washington 3 |
4 NY Rangers |
| NY Rangers win series 4–1 |
|
New Jersey (3) vs. Boston (4)
| Date |
Away |
Home |
OT |
| May 1 |
Boston 2 |
1 New Jersey |
| May 3 |
Boston 6 |
5 New Jersey |
OT |
| May 5 |
New Jersey 4 |
2 Boston |
| May 7 |
New Jersey 5 |
4 Boston |
OT |
| May 9 |
Boston 0 |
2 New Jersey |
| May 11 |
New Jersey 5 |
3 Boston |
| New Jersey wins series 4–2 |
|
Toronto (3) vs. San Jose (8)
| Date |
Away |
Home |
OT |
| May 2 |
San Jose 3 |
2 Toronto |
| May 4 |
San Jose 1 |
5 Toronto |
| May 6 |
Toronto 2 |
5 San Jose |
| May 8 |
Toronto 8 |
3 San Jose |
| May 10 |
Toronto 2 |
5 San Jose |
| May 12 |
San Jose 2 |
3 Toronto |
OT |
| May 14 |
San Jose 2 |
4 Toronto |
| Toronto wins series 4–3 |
|
Dallas (4) vs. Vancouver (7)
| Date |
Away |
Home |
OT |
| May 2 |
Vancouver 6 |
4 Dallas |
| May 4 |
Vancouver 3 |
0 Dallas |
| May 6 |
Dallas 4 |
3 Vancouver |
| May 8 |
Dallas 1 |
2 Vancouver |
OT |
| May 10 |
Dallas 2 |
4 Vancouver |
| Vancouver wins series 4–1 |
|
Conference Finals
The winners from the Semifinals played in the Conference Finals to decide who would represent each conference in the Stanley Cup Finals.
NY Rangers (1) vs. New Jersey (3)
| Date |
Away |
Home |
OT |
| May 15 |
New Jersey 4 |
3 NY Rangers |
2 OT |
| May 17 |
New Jersey 0 |
4 NY Rangers |
| May 19 |
NY Rangers 3 |
2 New Jersey |
2 OT |
| May 21 |
NY Rangers 1 |
3 New Jersey |
| May 23 |
New Jersey 4 |
1 NY Rangers |
| May 25 |
NY Rangers 4 |
2 New Jersey |
| May 27 |
New Jersey 1 |
2 NY Rangers |
2 OT |
NY Rangers wins series 4–3
and Prince of Wales Trophy |
|
|
Stanley Cup Finals
The New York Rangers from the Eastern Conference played against the Vancouver Canucks from the Western Conference in the final series for the Stanley Cup.
NHL Awards
The NHL Awards ceremony happened on June 16, 1994. This is where the league gave out special trophies to the best players and teams of the season.
| 1993–94 NHL Awards |
| Presidents' Trophy: |
New York Rangers (Best regular season team) |
| Prince of Wales Trophy: |
New York Rangers (Eastern Conference playoff champion) |
| Clarence S. Campbell Bowl: |
Vancouver Canucks (Western Conference playoff champion) |
| Art Ross Memorial Trophy: |
Wayne Gretzky, Los Angeles Kings (Most points in regular season) |
| Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy: |
Cam Neely, Boston Bruins (Perseverance, sportsmanship, dedication) |
| Calder Memorial Trophy: |
Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils (Best rookie player) |
| Conn Smythe Trophy: |
Brian Leetch, New York Rangers (Most valuable player in the playoffs) |
| Frank J. Selke Trophy: |
Sergei Fedorov, Detroit Red Wings (Best defensive forward) |
| Hart Memorial Trophy: |
Sergei Fedorov, Detroit Red Wings (Most valuable player to his team) |
| Jack Adams Award: |
Jacques Lemaire, New Jersey Devils (Best coach) |
| James Norris Memorial Trophy: |
Ray Bourque, Boston Bruins (Best defenseman) |
| King Clancy Memorial Trophy: |
Adam Graves, New York Rangers (Leadership and humanitarian contributions) |
| Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: |
Wayne Gretzky, Los Angeles Kings (Sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct) |
| Lester B. Pearson Award: |
Sergei Fedorov, Detroit Red Wings (Most outstanding player, voted by players) |
| NHL Plus/Minus Award: |
Scott Stevens, New Jersey Devils (Best plus/minus rating) |
| Vezina Trophy: |
Dominik Hasek, Buffalo Sabres (Best goalie) |
| William M. Jennings Trophy: |
Dominik Hasek and Grant Fuhr, Buffalo Sabres (Goalies on team with fewest goals allowed) |
| Lester Patrick Trophy: |
Wayne Gretzky (Contributions to hockey in the United States) |
All-Star Teams
The NHL also picks the best players for "All-Star" teams each season.
| First Team |
Position |
Second Team |
| Dominik Hasek, Buffalo Sabres |
G |
John Vanbiesbrouck, Florida Panthers |
| Ray Bourque, Boston Bruins |
D |
Al MacInnis, Calgary Flames |
| Scott Stevens, New Jersey Devils |
D |
Brian Leetch, New York Rangers |
| Sergei Fedorov, Detroit Red Wings |
C |
Ron Francis, Pittsburgh Penguins |
| Pavel Bure, Vancouver Canucks |
RW |
Cam Neely, Boston Bruins |
| Brendan Shanahan, St. Louis Blues |
LW |
Adam Graves, New York Rangers |
New Players This Season
Here are some notable players who played their very first NHL game during the 1993–94 season.
- Mariusz Czerkawski, Boston Bruins
- Chris Osgood, Detroit Red Wings
- Darren McCarty, Detroit Red Wings
- Greg Johnson, Detroit Red Wings
- Jason Arnott, Edmonton Oilers
- Kirk Maltby, Edmonton Oilers
- Rob Niedermayer, Florida Panthers
- Chris Pronger, Hartford Whalers
- Donald Brashear, Montreal Canadiens
- Jason Smith, New Jersey Devils
- Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils
- Zigmund Palffy, New York Islanders
- Mattias Norstrom, New York Rangers
- Todd Marchant, New York Rangers
- Alexandre Daigle, Ottawa Senators
- Alexei Yashin, Ottawa Senators
- Pavol Demitra, Ottawa Senators
- Mikael Renberg, Philadelphia Flyers
- Markus Naslund, Pittsburgh Penguins
- Jocelyn Thibault, Quebec Nordiques
- Ian Laperriere, St. Louis Blues
- Chris Gratton, Tampa Bay Lightning
- Yanic Perreault, Toronto Maple Leafs
- Mike Peca, Vancouver Canucks
- Jason Allison, Washington Capitals
Players' Last Season
These are some well-known players who played their final NHL game in the 1993–94 season.
- Gordie Roberts, Boston Bruins
- Dave Christian, Chicago Blackhawks
- Michel Goulet, Chicago Blackhawks
- Mike Foligno, Florida Panthers
- Brian Propp, Hartford Whalers
- Dave Taylor, Los Angeles Kings
- Mark Hardy, Los Angeles Kings
- Keith Acton, New York Islanders
- Rob Ramage, Philadelphia Flyers
- Bryan Trottier, Pittsburgh Penguins
