1997–98 NHL season facts for kids

The 1997–98 NHL season was the 81st regular season for the National Hockey League (NHL). It was an exciting year for hockey fans! The Detroit Red Wings were the big winners, taking home the famous Stanley Cup. They beat the Washington Capitals in the finals, winning all four games.

Regular Season Fun Facts

Cool Moments from the Season

The 1997–98 season had some memorable moments:

• Hockey legend Jari Kurri reached a huge milestone. He scored his 600th career goal! He ended up with 601 goals in total.
• For the very first time, the NHL played games outside of North America. The Vancouver Canucks and the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim started their season with two games in Tokyo, Japan. How cool is that?

Top Teams and Standings

The NHL had 26 teams playing 82 games each this season. Teams earned points for wins and ties.

• In the Eastern Conference, the New Jersey Devils were the top team. They had an amazing 107 points! The Pittsburgh Penguins led the Northeast Division, while the Devils topped the Atlantic Division.
• Over in the Western Conference, the Dallas Stars were the best team overall with 109 points. The Stars led the Central Division, and the Colorado Avalanche were first in the Pacific Division.

Many teams worked hard to earn a spot in the playoffs!

Who Scored the Most Points?

Here are the top players who scored the most points (goals plus assists) during the regular season: Note: GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points

Stanley Cup Playoffs: The Road to the Cup

The Stanley Cup playoffs are a thrilling tournament where the best teams battle it out! Teams play a series of games, and the first team to win four games moves on.

Playoff Journey

Here's a quick look at how the teams battled through the playoffs:

The Stanley Cup Final

The final series was between the Washington Capitals from the Eastern Conference and the Detroit Red Wings from the Western Conference. The Red Wings were on fire! They won all four games against the Capitals to claim the Stanley Cup. It was a sweep!

Playoff Scoring Stars

Here are the top players who scored the most points during the intense playoff games: Note: GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points

NHL Awards and Honors

At the end of the season, special awards were given out to the best players and teams. The NHL Awards ceremony took place in Toronto, Ontario.

Team Trophies

• Presidents' Trophy: Awarded to the team with the most points in the regular season. This year, it was the Dallas Stars.
• Prince of Wales Trophy: Given to the Eastern Conference playoff champions, the Washington Capitals.
• Clarence S. Campbell Bowl: Given to the Western Conference playoff champions, the Detroit Red Wings.
• Stanley Cup: The ultimate prize, won by the Detroit Red Wings!

Player Awards

• Art Ross Memorial Trophy: For the player with the most points in the regular season. Won by Jaromir Jagr from the Pittsburgh Penguins.
• Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy: For dedication and sportsmanship. Awarded to Jamie McLennan of the St. Louis Blues.
• Calder Memorial Trophy: For the best rookie (first-year player). Won by Sergei Samsonov from the Boston Bruins.
• Frank J. Selke Trophy: For the best defensive forward. Awarded to Jere Lehtinen of the Dallas Stars.
• Hart Memorial Trophy: For the most valuable player (MVP) in the regular season. Won by Dominik Hasek from the Buffalo Sabres.
• Conn Smythe Trophy: For the most valuable player in the playoffs. Won by Steve Yzerman from the Detroit Red Wings.
• Jack Adams Award: For the best coach. Awarded to Pat Burns of the Boston Bruins.
• James Norris Memorial Trophy: For the best defenceman. Won by Rob Blake from the Los Angeles Kings.
• King Clancy Memorial Trophy: For leadership and community service. Awarded to Kelly Chase of the St. Louis Blues.
• Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: For sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct. Won by Ron Francis from the Pittsburgh Penguins.
• Lester B. Pearson Award: Voted by the players as the most outstanding player. Won by Dominik Hasek from the Buffalo Sabres.
• Lester Patrick Trophy: For outstanding service to hockey in the United States. Awarded to Peter Karmanos, Max McNab, Neal Broten, and John Mayasich.
• NHL Plus/Minus Award: For the player with the best plus/minus rating. Won by Chris Pronger of the St. Louis Blues.
• Vezina Trophy: For the best goaltender. Won by Dominik Hasek from the Buffalo Sabres.
• William M. Jennings Trophy: For the goaltender(s) on the team with the fewest goals allowed. Won by Martin Brodeur from the New Jersey Devils.

All-Star Teams

The NHL also picks the best players for "All-Star Teams" at the end of the season. These are like dream teams!

New Faces and Farewells

Players Who Started Their NHL Journey

Here are some notable players who played their very first NHL game during the 1997–98 season:

• Joe Thornton, Boston Bruins
• Sergei Samsonov, Boston Bruins
• Derek Morris, Calgary Flames
• Olli Jokinen, Los Angeles Kings
• Brendan Morrison, New Jersey Devils
• Sheldon Souray, New Jersey Devils
• Zdeno Chara, New York Islanders
• Marc Savard, New York Rangers
• Chris Phillips, Ottawa Senators
• Marian Hossa, Ottawa Senators
• Daniel Briere, Phoenix Coyotes
• Marco Sturm, San Jose Sharks
• Patrick Marleau, San Jose Sharks
• Pavel Kubina, Tampa Bay Lightning
• Danny Markov, Toronto Maple Leafs
• Mattias Ohlund, Vancouver Canucks

Players Who Played Their Last NHL Game

Some famous players also played their final NHL game in 1997–98:

• Brent Sutter, Chicago Blackhawks
• Jari Kurri, Colorado Avalanche
• Slava Fetisov, Detroit Red Wings
• Kevin Lowe, Edmonton Oilers
• Andy Moog, Montreal Canadiens
• Bruce Driver, New York Rangers
• Pat LaFontaine, New York Rangers
• Joel Otto, Philadelphia Flyers
• Michel Petit, Phoenix Coyotes
• Mike Gartner, Phoenix Coyotes
• Al Iafrate, San Jose Sharks
• Kelly Hrudey, San Jose Sharks
• Jeff Brown, Washington Capitals