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2023–24 NHL season
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| 2023–24 NHL season | |
|---|---|
| League | National Hockey League |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
| Duration | October 10, 2023 – June 24, 2024 |
| Number of games | 82 |
| Number of teams | 32 |
| TV partner(s) | Sportsnet, CBC, TVA Sports (Canada) ESPN/ABC/ESPN2, TNT/TBS (United States) |
| Streaming partner(s) | Sportsnet+ (Canada) ESPN+/Hulu, Max (United States) |
| Draft | |
| Top draft pick | Connor Bedard |
| Picked by | Chicago Blackhawks |
| Regular season | |
| Presidents' Trophy | New York Rangers |
| Season MVP | Nathan MacKinnon (Avalanche) |
| Top scorer | Nikita Kucherov (Lightning) |
| Playoffs | |
| Playoffs MVP | Connor McDavid |
| Stanley Cup | |
| Champions | Florida Panthers |
| Runners-up | Edmonton Oilers |
The 2023–24 NHL season was the 107th season of operation (106th season of play) of the National Hockey League (NHL). The regular season began on October 10, 2023, and ended on April 18, 2024. The 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs began on April 20. The Stanley Cup Finals began on June 8, and ended on June 24, 2024, with the Florida Panthers defeating the Edmonton Oilers in seven games, winning their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.[1] This was the first time that the NHL season (not counting the lockout shortened seasons of 1994–95 and 2012–13, and the COVID-19 shortened seasons of 2019–20 and 2020–21) extended until the 24th of June, which meant that the entire NHL season covered all four seasons of the year, beginning with autumn in October during the regular season and lasting all the way to Game 7 of the Finals which was played on June 24, the third official day of summer. Game 7 was also the latest finishing date of an NHL season.
This was the final season for the Arizona Coyotes before they suspended operations, following the sale of the team to Utah businessman Ryan Smith, who moved the team's hockey assets to Salt Lake City, where they will begin play as an expansion team in the 2024–25 season. The Coyotes have until 2029 to construct a new arena, upon which they will be reactivated as an expansion team with all previous team history, records, and uniforms being maintained; otherwise, the franchise will cease operations.[2] The Coyotes became the first team to suspend operations since the Brooklyn Americans in 1942.
League business
Entry draft
The 2023 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 28–29, 2023, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.[3] Connor Bedard was selected first overall by the Chicago Blackhawks.[4]
Preseason games in Australia
The NHL held games in Australia for the first time in league history. The Arizona Coyotes and Los Angeles Kings played on September 23 and 24 at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, best known as the main venue for the Australian Open. Since the arena was not designed for ice hockey, the league built a temporary rink akin to other NHL outdoor games, though the arena's retractable roof was closed for the games.[5]
Coaching changes
| Off–season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Team | 2022–23 coach | 2023–24 coach | Notes |
| Anaheim Ducks | Dallas Eakins | Greg Cronin | On April 14, 2023, one day after the conclusion of the Ducks' season, the team announced that Eakins' contract would not be renewed. In four seasons with Anaheim, Eakins totaled a 100–147–44 record, with no playoff appearances.[6] Cronin, most recently the head coach of the Colorado Avalanche's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Colorado Eagles, was named head coach on June 5, 2023.[7] |
| Calgary Flames | Darryl Sutter | Ryan Huska | Sutter was fired on May 1, 2023, two and a half weeks after the conclusion of the Flames' season. In just under three seasons during his second stint as the Flames' head coach, Sutter posted a 103–63–28 record, winning the Jack Adams Award in 2021–22 and reaching the playoffs as Pacific Division champions the same year; the team ultimately lost in the second round.[8] Huska, an assistant coach for Calgary since 2018, was promoted to head coach on June 12, 2023.[9] |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | Brad Larsen | Mike Babcock (resigned) Pascal Vincent |
Larsen was fired on April 15, 2023, one day after the conclusion of the Blue Jackets' season. In two seasons with Columbus, Larsen posted a 62–86–16 record, with no playoff appearances.[10] Babcock, most recently head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs from 2015 to 2019, was named head coach on July 1, 2023.[11] However, after allegations of improper behavior via the Spittin' Chiclets podcast led to an NHLPA investigation into Babcock, he announced his resignation as head coach on September 17, before the start of the preseason.[12][13] Associate coach Pascal Vincent was subsequently promoted to head coach, signing a two-year contract.[12] |
| Nashville Predators | John Hynes | Andrew Brunette | Hynes was fired on May 30, 2023, a month and a half after the conclusion of the Predators' season. In three and a half seasons with Nashville, Hynes registered a 134–96–18 record, reaching the playoffs three times, but failing to advance past the first round.[14] Brunette, most recently an assistant coach with the New Jersey Devils, and previously interim head coach of the Florida Panthers during the 2021–22 season, was named head coach the following day.[15] |
| New York Rangers | Gerard Gallant | Peter Laviolette | Gallant and the Rangers mutually agreed to part ways on May 6, 2023, five days after the Rangers' elimination from the 2023 playoffs. In two seasons with New York, Gallant led the team to a 99–46–19 record with two playoff appearances, reaching the Eastern Conference finals in 2022.[16] Laviolette, most recently head coach of the Washington Capitals from 2020 to 2023, and who had left Washington two months prior, was named head coach on June 13, 2023.[17] |
| Washington Capitals | Peter Laviolette | Spencer Carbery | On April 14, 2023, one day after the conclusion of the Capitals' season, in which they missed the playoffs for the first time since 2014, and with his contract expiring, the team and Laviolette mutually agreed to part ways. Laviolette posted a 115–78–27 record in three seasons with Washington, reaching the playoffs twice but failing to advance past the first round.[18] Carbery, most recently an assistant coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and formerly head coach of Washington's minor league affiliates, the ECHL's South Carolina Stingrays and AHL's Hershey Bears, was named head coach on May 30, 2023.[19] |
| In–season | |||
| Team | Outgoing coach | Incoming coach | Notes |
| Edmonton Oilers | Jay Woodcroft | Kris Knoblauch | Woodcroft was fired on November 12, 2023, after the Oilers started the season 3–9–1. In parts of three seasons with the Oilers, Woodcroft totaled a 79–41–13 record and made the playoffs twice, including reaching the Western Conference finals in 2022. Knoblauch, formerly the head coach of the New York Rangers' AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, was named head coach the same day.[20] |
| Los Angeles Kings | Todd McLellan | Jim Hiller* | McLellan was fired on February 2, 2024, with the Kings holding a record of 23–15–10; despite a 20–7–4 start to the season, the team went 3–8–6 in the 17 games preceding his dismissal. In four and a half seasons with Los Angeles, McLellan posted a 164–130–44 record, reaching the playoffs twice but failing to advance past the first round. Hiller, an assistant coach, was promoted to interim head coach.[21][22] |
| Minnesota Wild | Dean Evason | John Hynes | Evason was fired on November 27, 2023, after the Wild started the season 5–10–4. In parts of five seasons with Minnesota, Evason posted a 147–77–27 record, reaching the playoffs four times but failing to advance past the first round.[23] Hynes, most recently head coach of the Nashville Predators from 2020 to 2023, was named head coach the same day.[24] |
| New Jersey Devils | Lindy Ruff | Travis Green* | Ruff was fired on March 4, 2024, after the Devils started 30–27–4. In just over three-and-a-half seasons with New Jersey, Ruff totaled a 128–125–28 record, with one playoff appearance. Green, the associate coach, and previously head coach of the Vancouver Canucks from 2017 to 2021, was promoted to interim head coach the same day.[25] |
| New York Islanders | Lane Lambert | Patrick Roy | Lambert was fired on January 20, 2024, after the Islanders started the season 19–15–11. In a season and a half with New York, Lambert recorded a 61–46–20 record, making the playoffs in his only full year. Roy, most recently head coach of the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) from 2018 to 2023, and previously head coach of the Colorado Avalanche from 2013 to 2016, was named head coach the same day.[26] |
| Ottawa Senators | D. J. Smith | Jacques Martin* | Smith was fired on December 18, 2023, after the Senators started the season 11–15–0. In just over four seasons with Ottawa, Smith compiled a 131–154–32 record, with no playoff appearances. Martin, a senior advisor to the coaching staff who previously served as the team's head coach from 1996 to 2004, and most recently served as head coach of the Montreal Canadiens from 2009 to 2011, was promoted to interim head coach.[27] |
| St. Louis Blues | Craig Berube | Drew Bannister* | Berube was fired on December 12, 2023, after the Blues started the season 13–14–1. In parts of six seasons with St. Louis, Berube compiled a 206–132–44 record with four playoff appearances, leading the franchise to its first Stanley Cup championship in 2019. Bannister, previously the head coach of the Blues' AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds, was promoted to interim head coach.[28] |
| Winnipeg Jets | Rick Bowness (temporary, October 23 – November 24) |
Scott Arniel* | On October 23, 2023, Bowness announced that he was taking a temporary leave of absence after his wife suffered a seizure and was admitted to the hospital. Arniel, the associate coach, took over as interim head coach,[29] and totaled a 9–2–2 record before Bowness returned from his leave on November 24.[30] |
(*) Indicates interim
Front office changes
| Off–season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Team | 2022–23 general manager | 2023–24 general manager | Notes |
| Calgary Flames | Brad Treliving | Don Maloney* Craig Conroy |
On April 17, 2023, five days after the conclusion of the Flames' season, and with his contract expiring, the team and Treliving mutually agreed to part ways. Treliving had served as general manager since 2014, overseeing five playoff appearances and two Pacific Division titles. Maloney, formerly general manager of the New York Islanders and Arizona Coyotes, and most recently a pro scout, was subsequently promoted to president of hockey operations, and assumed the role of interim general manager.[31] Conroy, formerly the assistant general manager, was promoted to general manager on May 23.[32] |
| Nashville Predators | David Poile | Barry Trotz | Poile announced on February 26, 2023, that he would retire as GM on June 30, but remain as a consultant. The sole general manager in Predators history until his retirement, Poile had served in the role since 1997, overseeing fifteen playoff appearances, two Central Division titles, one President's Trophy, and one Stanley Cup Finals appearance. Poile also won the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award in 2017. Trotz, who served as the team's first coach from 1997 to 2014, and most recently was head coach of the New York Islanders from 2018 to 2022, was announced as Poile's successor on the same day, formally assuming the general manager role on July 1.[33] |
| Philadelphia Flyers | Chuck Fletcher Daniel Briere* |
Daniel Briere | Fletcher was fired on March 10, 2023, with the Flyers holding a record of 24–30–11. Fletcher had served as general manager since 2018, with the team making the playoffs once during his tenure. Assistant general manager Briere was named interim general manager,[34] before being made the official general manager on May 11.[35] |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | Ron Hextall | Kyle Dubas | Hextall was fired on April 14, 2023, one day after the conclusion of the Penguins' season, after the team missed the playoffs for the first time in 16 seasons. Hextall had served as general manager of the Penguins since 2021, overseeing two playoff appearances and one division championship.[36] Dubas, most recently general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, was hired as president of hockey operations on June 1,[37] assuming the role of interim general manager;[38] he was later named permanent general manager on August 3, 2023.[39] |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | Kyle Dubas | Brad Treliving | On May 19, 2023, one week after the Maple Leafs' elimination from the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs, and with his contract expiring, the team announced that Dubas would not return. Dubas had served as general manager of the Maple Leafs since 2018, with the team reaching the playoffs all five years of his tenure, and winning one North Division title.[40] Treliving, most recently general manager of the Calgary Flames, was named general manager on May 31.[41] |
| In–season | |||
| Team | Outgoing general manager | Incoming general manager | Notes |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | Jarmo Kekalainen | John Davidson* | Kekalainen was fired on February 15, 2024, after the Blue Jackets began the season 16–26–10. Kekalainen had served as general manager of the Blue Jackets since 2013, overseeing five playoff appearances, including the franchise's first playoff series win in 2019. Davidson, the president of hockey operations, was named interim general manager.[42] |
| Ottawa Senators | Pierre Dorion | Steve Staios | Dorion was fired on November 1, 2023, after the Senators forfeited a first-round draft pick due to their role in issues surrounding the trade of Evgenii Dadonov to the Vegas Golden Knights, and Dadonov's subsequent voided trade to the Anaheim Ducks. Dorion had served as general manager of the Senators since 2016, overseeing one playoff appearance. Staios, the president of hockey operations, was subsequently named interim general manager,[43] before being named official general manager on December 31.[44] |
(*) Indicates interim
Arena changes
- The Florida Panthers' home arena, FLA Live Arena, was renamed Amerant Bank Arena on September 19, 2023, as part of a naming rights agreement with Amerant Bank.[45]
Regular season
The regular season began on October 10, 2023, and ended on April 18, 2024.
International games
The league held four regular season games on four consecutive days at Avicii Arena in Stockholm, Sweden. The Detroit Red Wings and the Ottawa Senators faced each other on November 16. The Red Wings then played the Toronto Maple Leafs on November 17. The Minnesota Wild took on the Senators on November 18. Finally, the Wild played the Maple Leafs on November 19.[46]
Outdoor games
The following outdoor games took place:
- The 2023 Heritage Classic was held on October 29 at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, with the Edmonton Oilers hosting the Calgary Flames. This was the seventh game in the Heritage Classic series, and the first outdoor game in the Battle of Alberta rivalry.[47][48]
- The 2024 NHL Winter Classic was held on January 1 at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, with the Seattle Kraken hosting the Vegas Golden Knights in a battle between the league's two youngest expansion teams.[49]
- Two Stadium Series games were scheduled this season for the first time since 2016. Both were held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Philadelphia Flyers faced the New Jersey Devils on February 17, and then the New York Rangers faced the New York Islanders on February 18.[50]
All-Star Game
The 2024 All-Star Game took place on February 3, 2024, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, the home of the Toronto Maple Leafs.[51]
Postponed game
- The Buffalo Sabres home game against the Chicago Blackhawks scheduled for January 17, 2024, was postponed to January 18, due to travel restrictions in Buffalo.[52]