NHL 2019/20

NHL 2019/20
league	National Hockey League
Period	October 2, 2019 to TBD
Teams	31
Games / team	82 (planned)
Draft
Event	NHL Entry Draft 2019
Top pick	Jack Hughes
Elected by	New Jersey Devils
Regular season
Presidents' Trophy	Boston Bruins
MVP
Top scorer	Leon Draisaitl (Edmonton)
Playoffs
Stanley Cup winner
finalist
NHL seasons
◄ previous	next ►

The 2019/20 NHL season marks the 103rd season of the National Hockey League (NHL). The regular season should run from October 2, 2019 to April 11, 2020, but has been interrupted since March 12, 2020 due to the corona virus pandemic . On May 26, 2020, the regular season was officially declared over and a plan for the resumption of play was presented at the same time. Among other things, this provides for a new playoff format with 24 teams and a modified lottery for the NHL Entry Draft 2020 . The playoffs began in August 2020.

The Boston Bruins won the Presidents' Trophy as the best point team , while Leon Draisaitl became the first German to win the Art Ross Trophy as the best scorer in the league.

League operation

Rule changes

In June 2019, the NHL announced a number of rule changes, particularly affecting video evidence, some of which are due to controversial decisions in the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs :

• The “Coach's Challenge” introduced for the 2015/16 season will be expanded to include a third category in addition to offside situations and goalkeeping disabilities . From now on, the head coach can check situations in which a goal was scored and the game should presumably have been whistled. This applies to hand passes, playing the puck with a high stick, and cases where the puck was out of play, for example because it touched the safety net. The prerequisite for the check is that the puck does not leave the attack third between the allegedly missed interruption and the goal scored. Furthermore, possibly missed penalties as a game interruption are explicitly excluded from this check.
• The availability of a challenge is no longer dependent on the time-out available to each team. Instead, the trainers can request video evidence as often as they want, but the penalty has been tightened for those cases where the challenge is unsuccessful. In all three categories, the first non-successful verification leads to a small penalty ( minor penalty ; 2 minutes) for delaying the game, each additional equivalent to a double small penalty (4 minutes) type.
• All major penalties ( major penalty or match penalty ; apart from penalties for fist fights) will from now on be checked directly by the referees on the ice in the sense of a video review. They can then either confirm their original decision or reduce it to a small penalty. Furthermore, the referees now have the voluntary option to check double small penalties for high sticks (high sticking) . In particular, it is a matter of finding out whether the stick that caused the injury required for the double penalty actually belonged to the originally punished player.
• If a player loses his helmet during the game , he is required to return to the bench immediately or to put his helmet on again on the field of play. If he does not comply, he should be punished with a small penalty. If he wields the puck or is directly in a duel for it, he should first be allowed to finish this action.
• The defending team is no longer allowed to change if the goalkeeper covers a puck and thus interrupts the game, which was shot from the opposing half of the field towards the goal. Likewise, a change is no longer permitted if a player unintentionally releases his own goal from its anchorage and thus causes an interruption. In both cases, the attacking team may choose on which side of the goal the game should be continued with a face- off. From now on, this also applies to face-offs after an icing and at the beginning of a power play .
• If a goalkeeper deliberately releases his own goal from its anchoring and thus prevents a clear chance to score (breakaway) , this is from now on counted as an automatic goal.
• If the attacking team takes the puck out of play in the attacking third, the game will continue with a face-off in the attacking third instead of in the neutral zone as before.

Events

As in the previous season, selected regular season games were played in Europe as part of the 2019 NHL Global Series . On October 4, 2019, the Chicago Blackhawks met the Philadelphia Flyers in Prague, Czech Republic , while the Tampa Bay Lightning and Buffalo Sabers faced each other in Stockholm, Sweden on November 8 and 9, 2019 . In the meantime, found on 26 October 2019 NHL Heritage Classic in 2019 in Mosaic Stadium of Regina in the open air between the Calgary Flames and Winnipeg Jets instead. The traditional NHL Winter Classic 2020 followed on January 1, 2020, in which the Nashville Predators and Dallas Stars faced each other in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas . Then carrying St. Louis Blues in their Enterprise Center , the NHL All-Star Game in 2020 on 26 January 2020. As a further open-air game, the 2020 NHL Stadium Series was played on February 15, 2020 between the Los Angeles Kings and the Colorado Avalanche at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs .

Salary cap

In June 2019, the NHL and gave NHLPA announced that the salary cap ( salary cap ) of 79.5 to 81.5 million dollars is raised.

Entry Draft

→ Main article : NHL Entry Draft 2019

The 2019 NHL Entry Draft took place in Vancouver on June 21 and 22, 2019 . With the First Overall Draft Pick , the New Jersey Devils chose US center Jack Hughes . The Finnish winger Kaapo Kakko for the New York Rangers and the Canadian center Kirby Dach for the Chicago Blackhawks followed in second and third place . A total of 217 players were drafted by the NHL teams in seven rounds.

Top 5 picks

#	player	nationality	position	NHL team	College / junior / professional team
1.	Jack Hughes		C.	New Jersey Devils	USA Hockey National Team Development Program ( USHL )
2.	Kaapo Kakko		RW	New York Rangers	TPS Turku ( Liiga )
3.	Kirby roof		C.	Chicago Blackhawks	Saskatoon Blades ( WHL )
4th	Bowen Byram		D.	Colorado Avalanche (by Ottawa Senators )	Vancouver Giants (WHL)
5.	Alex Turcotte		C.	Los Angeles Kings	USA Hockey National Team Development Program (USHL)

Interruption

On March 12, 2020, the NHL announced that it would cease gaming operations for the time being in response to the corona virus pandemic . In doing so, she followed suit with the NBA , which had interrupted their playing time the day before. At the same time, the NHL came before the first " ghost games " that regional authorities had already ordered for the home games of the San Jose Sharks and Columbus Blue Jackets . The duration of the interruption was not specified, while officials stated that the goal was to play the playoffs as the game progressed. In this regard, some teams have already been asked to check the availability of their arenas for games in July 2020.

On May 26, 2020, the NHL announced that it had basically agreed with the NHLPA on a new playoff mode with 24 teams, with which the season should continue in July 2020 at the earliest. At the same time, the regular season is over and all statistics and tables are final. There will also be a new version of the draft lottery for the upcoming NHL Entry Draft 2020 . In addition, the NHL published a protocol that is intended to create the framework conditions for a gradual return to gaming operations in accordance with hygiene regulations. In mid-July 2020, a specific schedule was finally published that provides for the start of the playoffs, which are to be played in Toronto and Edmonton , on August 1, 2020.

Regular season

Closing tables

Abbreviations: Division: ATL = Atlantic , MET = Metropolitan , CEN = Central and PAC = Pacific , GP = games, W = wins, L = defeats, OTL = defeats after overtime or shootout , GF = goals scored, GA = goals conceded, Pts = points, Pts% = point quota
Explanations:  = Playoff qualification, = Division winner, = Presidents' Trophy winner

Eastern Conference

rank	Eastern Conference	division	GP	W.	L.	OTL	GF	GA	Pts	Pts%
1.	Boston Bruins	ATL	70	44	14th	12	227	174	100	.714
2.	Tampa Bay Lightning	ATL	70	43	21st	6th	245	195	92	.657
3.	Washington Capitals	MET	69	41	20th	8th	240	215	90	.652
4th	Philadelphia Flyers	MET	69	41	21st	7th	232	196	89	.645
5.	Pittsburgh Penguins	MET	69	40	23	6th	224	196	86	.623
6th	Carolina Hurricanes	MET	68	38	25th	5	222	193	81	.596
7th	New York Islanders	MET	68	35	23	10	192	193	80	.588
8th.	Toronto Maple Leafs	ATL	70	36	25th	9	238	227	81	.579
9.	Columbus Blue Jackets	MET	70	33	22nd	15th	180	187	81	.579
10.	Florida panthers	ATL	69	35	26th	8th	231	228	78	.565
11.	New York Rangers	MET	70	37	28	5	234	222	79	.564
12.	Canadiens de Montréal	ATL	71	31	31	9	212	221	71	.500
13.	Buffalo Sabers	ATL	69	30th	31	8th	195	217	68	.493
14th	New Jersey Devils	MET	69	28	29	12	189	230	68	.493
15th	Ottawa Senators	ATL	71	25th	34	12	191	243	62	.437
16.	Detroit Red Wings	ATL	71	17th	49	5	145	267	39	.275

Western Conference

rank	Western Conference	division	GP	W.	L.	OTL	GF	GA	Pts	Pts%
1.	St. Louis Blues	CEN	71	42	19th	10	225	193	94	.662
2.	Colorado Avalanche	CEN	70	42	20th	8th	237	191	92	.657
3.	Vegas Golden Knights	PAC	71	39	24	8th	227	211	86	.606
4th	Dallas Stars	CEN	69	37	24	8th	180	177	82	.594
5.	Edmonton Oilers	PAC	71	37	25th	9	225	217	83	.585
6th	Nashville Predators	CEN	69	35	26th	8th	215	217	78	.565
7th	Vancouver Canucks	PAC	69	36	27	6th	228	217	78	.565
8th.	Calgary Flames	PAC	70	36	27	7th	210	215	79	.564
9.	Winnipeg Jets	CEN	71	37	28	6th	216	203	80	.563
10.	Minnesota Wild	CEN	69	35	27	7th	220	220	77	.558
11.	Arizona Coyotes	PAC	70	33	29	8th	195	187	74	.529
12.	Chicago Blackhawks	CEN	70	32	30th	8th	212	218	72	.514
13.	Anaheim Ducks	PAC	71	29	33	9	187	226	67	.472
14th	Los Angeles Kings	PAC	70	29	35	6th	178	212	64	.457
15th	San Jose Sharks	PAC	70	29	36	5	182	226	63	.450

Best scorer

Leon Draisaitl , best scorer and winner of the Art Ross Trophy .

Leon Draisaitl led the NHL scorer list with 110 points, becoming the first German to win the Art Ross Trophy . He also recorded the most assists with 67 assists. David Pastrňák and Alexander Ovetschkin shared the Maurice Richard Trophy as the league's top scorer with 48 goals each , with Ovetschkin receiving this honor for the seventh time in eight years. The best point defender was John Carlson with 75 points, while the plus / minus rating was headed by Ryan Graves with a value of +40.

Abbreviations: Sp = games, T = goals, V = assists , pts = points, +/- = plus / minus , SM = penalty minutes; Fat: best value

player	team	Sp	T	V	Pt	+/-	SM
Leon Draisaitl	Edmonton Oilers	71	43	67	110	–7	18th
Connor McDavid	Edmonton Oilers	64	34	63	97	–6	28
David Pastrňák	Boston Bruins	70	48	47	95	+21	40
Artemi Panarin	New York Rangers	69	32	63	95	+36	20th
Nathan MacKinnon	Colorado Avalanche	69	35	58	93	+13	12
Brad Marchand	Boston Bruins	70	28	59	87	+25	82
Nikita Kucherov	Tampa Bay Lightning	68	33	52	85	+26	38
Patrick Kane	Chicago Blackhawks	70	33	51	84	+8	40
Auston Matthews	Toronto Maple Leafs	70	47	33	80	+19	8th
Jack acorn	Buffalo Sabers	68	36	42	78	+5	34
Jonathan Huberdeau	Florida panthers	69	23	55	78	+5	30th

Best goalkeeper

The combined table shows the three best goalkeepers in the categories conceded goals and catch quota as well as the leaders in the categories shutouts and wins.

Abbreviations: GP = games, TOI = ice age (in minutes), W = wins, L = defeats, OTL = overtime defeats, GA = goals conceded, SO = shutouts , Sv% = shots saved (in%), GAA = goals conceded; Bold: Season best

Only goalkeepers who have played at least 25 games are recorded. Sorted by the best goals against.

player	team	GP	TOI	W.	L.	OTL	GA	SO	Sv%	ATM
Tuukka Rask	Boston Bruins	41	2401: 47	26th	8th	6th	85	5	92.9	2.12
Anton Chudobin	Dallas Stars	30th	1677: 29	16	8th	4th	62	0	93.0	2.22
Darcy Kuemper	Arizona Coyotes	29	1753: 24	16	11	2	65	2	92.8	2.22
Connor Hellebuyck	Winnipeg Jets	58	3268: 33	31	21st	5	140	6th	92.2	2.57
Andrei Wassilewski	Tampa Bay Lightning	52	3121: 54	35	14th	3	133	3	91.7	2.56

Best rookie scorer

The two defenders Quinn Hughes and Cale Makar made several changes at the top of the rookie scorer list during the season before Hughes won the duel with 53 points and provided the most assists with 45 assists. Dominik Kubalík scored the most goals with 30 goals. Adam Fox , the third defender among the top five scorers, led the plus / minus rating with a value of +22.

Abbreviations: Sp = games, T = goals, V = assists , pts = points, +/- = plus / minus , SM = penalty minutes; Fat: best value

player	team	Sp	T	V	Pt	+/-	SM
Quinn Hughes	Vancouver Canucks	68	8th	45	53	-10	22nd
Cale Makar	Colorado Avalanche	57	12	38	50	+12	12
Dominik Kubalík	Chicago Blackhawks	68	30th	16	46	+2	16
Victor Olofsson	Buffalo Sabers	54	20th	22nd	42	-1	6th
Adam Fox	New York Rangers	70	8th	34	42	+22	32

Stanley Cup playoffs

→ Main article : Stanley Cup Playoffs 2020

	Qualification round					Conference quarterfinals					Conference semifinals					Conference finals					Stanley Cup Final
	5	Pittsburgh Penguins	1			1	Philadelphia Flyers	4th
	12	Canadiens de Montréal	3			8th	Canadiens de Montréal	2
											1	Philadelphia Flyers	1
											6th	New York Islanders	3
	6th	Carolina Hurricanes	3			2	Tampa Bay Lightning	4th
	11	New York Rangers	0			7th	Columbus Blue Jackets	1
	Eastern Conference
																2	Tampa Bay Lightning
	7th	New York Islanders	3			3	Washington Capitals	1
	10	Florida panthers	1			6th	New York Islanders	4th
											2	Tampa Bay Lightning	4th
											4th	Boston Bruins	1
	8th	Toronto Maple Leafs	2			4th	Boston Bruins	4th
	9	Columbus Blue Jackets	3			5	Carolina Hurricanes	1
	(The teams are reset after the first two rounds.)
	5	Edmonton Oilers	1			1	Vegas Golden Knights	4th
	12	Chicago Blackhawks	3			8th	Chicago Blackhawks	1
											1	Vegas Golden Knights	3
											5	Vancouver Canucks	1
	6th	Nashville Predators	1			2	Colorado Avalanche	4th
	11	Arizona Coyotes	3			7th	Arizona Coyotes	1
	Western Conference
	7th	Vancouver Canucks	3			3	Dallas Stars	4th
	10	Minnesota Wild	1			6th	Calgary Flames	2
											2	Colorado Avalanche	2
											3	Dallas Stars	3
	8th	Calgary Flames	3			4th	St. Louis Blues	2
	9	Winnipeg Jets	1			5	Vancouver Canucks	4th

NHL Awards and trophies awarded

Award		team
Stanley Cup
Clarence S. Campbell Bowl
Prince of Wales Trophy
Presidents' Trophy		Boston Bruins
Award	player	team
Art Ross Trophy	Leon Draisaitl	Edmonton Oilers
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy
Calder Memorial Trophy
Conn Smythe Trophy
Frank J. Selke Trophy
Hart Memorial Trophy
Jack Adams Award
James Norris Memorial Trophy
King Clancy Memorial Trophy
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy
Mark Messier Leadership Award
Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophy	David Pastrňák Alexander Ovechkin	Boston Bruins Washington Capitals
NHL General Manager of the Year Award
NHL Plus / Minus Award  (unofficial)	Ryan Graves	Colorado Avalanche
Ted Lindsay Award
Vezina Trophy
William M. Jennings Trophy	Tuukka Rask Jaroslav Halák	Boston Bruins

Individual evidence

1. ^ NHL announces rule changes for 2019-20 season. nhl.com, June 21, 2019, accessed June 23, 2019 . 
2. ↑ Global Series games announced. nhl.com, March 21, 2019, accessed June 23, 2019 . 
3. ↑ Dan Rosen: NHL announces salary cap for next season. nhl.com, June 22, 2019, accessed on June 23, 2019 . 
4. ^ NHL statement on coronavirus. nhl.com, March 12, 2020, accessed on March 12, 2020 . 
5. ↑ Brett Cyrgalis: NHL suspends season amid coronavirus outbreak. nypost.com, March 12, 2020, accessed March 12, 2020 . 
6. ^ NHL announces Return to Play Plan. espn.com, May 23, 2020, accessed May 25, 2020 . 
7. ↑ PHASED RETURN TO SPORT PROTOCOL. nhl.com, May 25, 2020, accessed on May 25, 2020 . 
8. ^ Stanley Cup Qualifiers schedule. nhl.com, July 15, 2020, accessed on July 17, 2020 .