2021–22 NHL season
League	National Hockey League
Sport	Ice hockey
Duration	October 12, 2021 – June 26, 2022
Number of games	82
Number of teams	32
TV partner(s)	Sportsnet, CBC, TVA Sports (Canada) ESPN/ESPN2/ABC, TNT/TBS (United States)
Streaming partner(s)	Sportsnet Now (Canada) ESPN+/Hulu (United States)
Draft
Top draft pick	Owen Power
Picked by	Buffalo Sabres
Regular season
Presidents' Trophy	Florida Panthers
Season MVP	Auston Matthews (Maple Leafs)
Top scorer	Connor McDavid (Oilers)
Playoffs
Playoffs MVP	Cale Makar
Stanley Cup
Champions	Colorado Avalanche
Runners-up	Tampa Bay Lightning
NHL seasons
← 2020–21 2022–23 →

The 2021–22 NHL season was the 105th season of operation (104th season of play) of the National Hockey League (NHL). The league expanded to 32 teams with the addition of the Seattle Kraken. The league had an October-to-April regular season scheduling and a full 82-game regular season for the first time since the 2018–19 NHL season as the previous two NHL seasons were shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The season began on October 12.^[1][2][3]

On December 22, all games were suspended league-wide through at least December 26 (officially termed as an extension of the regularly scheduled Christmas break), in order to reconcile COVID-19 outbreaks that had impacted a large number of teams and resulted in various game postponements. Most teams were scheduled to resume play on December 28, but the home games of all seven Canadian teams through early January were further postponed due to COVID-19 attendance restrictions imposed by provincial health authorities.

The playoffs concluded on June 26, with the Colorado Avalanche defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Stanley Cup Finals in six games, winning their third Stanley Cup in franchise history.

League business

Expansion

On December 4, 2018, the NHL confirmed that it had granted an expansion franchise in the city of Seattle.^[4] The team was named the Seattle Kraken on July 23, 2020.^[5][6] On April 30, 2021, the team was permitted to begin making trades and signing players after sending its final expansion payment to the league.^[7] The 2021 NHL Expansion Draft was held on July 21, 2021, to fill out the Kraken roster.

Realignment

The league returned to the previous alignment with Eastern and Western conferences.^[3] As planned before the COVID-19 pandemic, the Seattle Kraken were placed in the Pacific Division and the Arizona Coyotes were moved to the Central Division.^[4] If the cross-border travel restrictions had continued for another year, the league would have been forced to use a temporary alignment with an all-Canadian division for a second year.^[2]

Entry draft

The 2021 NHL Entry Draft was held July 23–24, 2021, with Owen Power being selected first overall by the Buffalo Sabres. For the second consecutive year the draft was conducted in a remote format due to the COVID-19 pandemic, hosted from the NHL Network studios in Secaucus, New Jersey.^[8]

Sponsorships

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As in the previous season, NHL teams were allowed to display sponsor logos (helmet entitlement partner) on their helmets. The Edmonton Oilers and Philadelphia Flyers did not have a sponsor, opting to have the traditional team logo on their helmets. The remaining teams have the following helmet sponsors for this season:

Coaching changes

Coaching changes

Off–season
Team	2020–21 coach	2021–22 coach	Notes
Arizona Coyotes	Rick Tocchet	Andre Tourigny	On May 9, 2021, Tocchet and the Coyotes mutually agreed to part ways at the end of Tocchet's contract, one day after the team's final game of the 2020–21 season. Tocchet coached the Coyotes for four seasons, compiling a 125–131–34 record, with one playoff appearance in 2020.[32] On July 1, Tourigny was named head coach.[33]
Buffalo Sabres	Ralph Krueger Don Granato*	Don Granato	Krueger was fired on March 17, 2021, after parts of two seasons with Buffalo, with the team suffering a 6–18–4 start and a 12-game losing streak. Krueger totaled a 36–49–12 record during his short tenure, and failed to lead the team to the playoffs in his lone complete season. Assistant coach Granato was named interim head coach.[34] Granato was named the permanent head coach on June 29.[35]
Columbus Blue Jackets	John Tortorella	Brad Larsen	On May 9, 2021, one day after the Blue Jackets' last game of the 2020–21 season, Tortorella and the team agreed to mutually parts ways after Tortorella's contract expired.[36] Tortorella coached the Blue Jackets since the 2015–16 season and registered a 227–166–54 record, with four playoff appearances. On June 10, assistant coach Larsen was named head coach.[37]
Montreal Canadiens	Claude Julien Dominique Ducharme*	Dominique Ducharme	Julien was fired on February 24, 2021, after parts of five seasons during his second stint as head coach of the Canadiens, which had registered a 9–5–4 record to start the season. Julien compiled a 129–123–35 record during his second stint and the team reached the playoffs twice during his tenure, never advancing past the first round. Assistant coach Ducharme was named interim head coach.[38] On July 13, Ducharme was named the permanent head coach and signed a three-year extension with the team.[39]
New York Rangers	David Quinn	Gerard Gallant	Quinn was fired on May 12, 2021, after serving as team's head coach for three seasons. The Rangers went 96–87–25 under Quinn and made the playoffs once.[40] On June 16, Gallant was named head coach.[41]
Seattle Kraken	Expansion team	Dave Hakstol	On June 24, 2021, the Kraken named Hakstol, who previously served as head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers, as the franchise's first head coach.[42]
In–season
Team	Outgoing coach	Incoming coach	Notes
Chicago Blackhawks	Jeremy Colliton	Derek King*	Colliton was fired on November 6, 2021 after parts of four seasons with Chicago, with the team starting the season 1–9–2. In his tenure, Colliton compiled a 87–92–26 record and led the team to the first round of the playoffs in 2020. King, previously the head coach of the Blackhawks' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate Rockford IceHogs, was promoted to interim head coach.[43]
Edmonton Oilers	Dave Tippett	Jay Woodcroft	Tippett was fired on February 10, 2022, after Edmonton began the season 23–18–3; after starting the season 16–5–0, the Oilers had since registered a record of 7–13–3. In approximately two and a half seasons with Edmonton, Tippett totaled a 95–62–14 record with two playoff berths, failing to advance past the first round. Woodcroft, formerly the head coach of the Oilers' AHL affiliate Bakersfield Condors, was promoted to head coach the next day.[44]
Florida Panthers	Joel Quenneville	Andrew Brunette*	Quenneville resigned on October 28, 2021, after the results of an internal investigation revealed that he had improperly handled an accusation of sexual assault during his tenure as head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010.[45] Quenneville totaled a 79–40–13 record in just over two seasons with the Panthers, reaching the playoffs twice but failing to advance past the first round.[46] Assistant coach Brunette was named interim head coach.[47]
Montreal Canadiens	Dominique Ducharme	Martin St. Louis*	Ducharme was fired on February 9, 2022, after the Canadiens began the season 8–30–7, with the team last in the league at his time of departure. In his brief tenure over parts of two seasons, Ducharme registered a 23–46–14 record, reaching the Stanley Cup Finals in 2021.[48] St. Louis was named interim head coach later in the day.[49]
Philadelphia Flyers	Alain Vigneault	Mike Yeo*	Vigneault was fired on December 6, 2021, after the Flyers began the season 8–10–4. Vigneault compiled a 74–54–19 record in just over two seasons with Philadelphia, reaching the second round of the playoffs in 2020. Assistant coach Yeo was retained and named interim head coach.[50]
Vancouver Canucks	Travis Green	Bruce Boudreau	Green was fired on December 5, 2021, after an 8–15–2 start to the season. In just over four seasons with Vancouver, Green totaled a 133–147–34 record, leading the team to the second round of the playoffs in 2020. Boudreau, most recently the head coach of the Minnesota Wild from 2016 to 2020, was named head coach the same day.[51]
Winnipeg Jets	Paul Maurice	Dave Lowry*	Maurice resigned on December 17, 2021, after the Jets started the season 13–10–5. In just under eight and a half seasons with Winnipeg, Maurice totaled a 315–223–62 record, with five playoff appearances. Assistant coach Lowry was named interim head coach.[52]

(*) Indicates interim.

Front office changes

General managers

In–season
Team	Outgoing general manager	Incoming general manager	Notes
Anaheim Ducks	Bob Murray	Jeff Solomon* Pat Verbeek	Murray resigned on November 10, 2021, one day after being placed on administrative leave due to an investigation of alleged unprofessional conduct. Murray had joined the Ducks organization in 2005 as Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations, winning a Stanley Cup in 2007, before being promoted to general manager in 2008. He had also briefly served as the Ducks' interim head coach during the 2018–19 season. Assistant general manager and vice president of hockey operations Solomon was named interim general manager.[53] Verbeek, who most recently was general manager of the Grand Rapids Griffins, the AHL affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings, was named general manager on February 3, 2022.[54]
Chicago Blackhawks	Stan Bowman	Kyle Davidson	Bowman resigned on October 26, 2021, after the results of an internal investigation revealed that he had improperly handled an accusation of sexual assault within the Blackhawks organization in 2010. Bowman had been with the organization since 2001, and was named general manager in 2009, before ultimately being promoted further to President of Hockey Operations in 2020. His tenure included three Stanley Cup victories. Assistant general manager Davidson was named interim general manager, before being promoted to permanent general manager on March 1, 2022.[55][56]
Montreal Canadiens	Marc Bergevin	Jeff Gorton* (As executive vice president of hockey operations) Kent Hughes	Bergevin was fired on November 28, 2021, after the Canadiens started the season 6–15–2. Bergevin had served as general manager of the Canadiens since 2012, overseeing three division championships and a Stanley Cup Finals appearance in 2021. Gorton, most recently general manager of the New York Rangers, and who had been hired earlier in the day, was retained and named executive vice president of hockey operations in order to "assure the continuity of day-to-day operations," effectively serving as the interim general manager.[57] Hughes, formerly a player agent, was named general manager on January 18, 2022.[58]
San Jose Sharks	Doug Wilson	Joe Will*	Wilson resigned on April 7, 2022 for medical reasons,[59] with the Sharks holding a record of 29–31–9. Wilson had served as general manager of the Sharks since 2003, overseeing fourteen playoff appearances, five Pacific Division titles, one Presidents' Trophy, and one Stanley Cup Finals appearance. Will, the assistant general manager at the time, assumed the role of interim general manager.[59]
Vancouver Canucks	Jim Benning	Stan Smyl* Jim Rutherford* Patrik Allvin	Benning was fired on December 6, 2021, after the Canucks started the season 8–15–2. Benning had served as general manager of the Canucks since 2014, overseeing two playoff appearances. Smyl, who had served as Senior Advisor to the general manager since 2008, was promoted to interim general manager. On December 9, Rutherford, most recently general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins, was hired as president of hockey operations, and assumed the role of interim general manager.[60] Allvin, who was most recently an assistant GM for the Pittsburgh Penguins and briefly served as interim general manager after Rutherford resigned at Pittsburgh, was named general manager on January 26, 2022.[61]

(*) Indicates interim.

Arena changes and regulations

• The city of Glendale announced on August 19, 2021 that it would not be renewing its year-to-year lease of Gila River Arena with the Arizona Coyotes following the season, effectively evicting the team.^[62]
• The Florida Panthers' home arena BB&T Center was renamed FLA Live Arena, after Truist Financial (formed from the merger of BB&T and SunTrust) declined to renew its naming rights.^[63]
• The Los Angeles Kings' home arena Staples Center was renamed Crypto.com Arena on December 25, 2021, as part of a naming rights agreement with Crypto.com.^[64]
• The New York Islanders began playing at the newly-constructed UBS Arena for the 2021–22 season.^[65]
• The Seattle Kraken began playing at Climate Pledge Arena, a redevelopment of KeyArena—former home of the Seattle SuperSonics of the National Basketball Association (NBA).^[66][67] Amazon bought the naming rights to the arena, and chose to brand it as part of its partnership with Global Optimism on a pledge for its operations (and by extension, the arena) to become carbon neutral.^[68]
• The Winnipeg Jets' home arena Bell MTS Place was renamed Canada Life Centre, as part of a naming rights agreement with Canada Life.^[69][70]

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