Hockey Timeline, Part One:
Lord Stanley's Donation, the Original Six, Hockey Night in Canada
Part Two:
The Richard Riot, the Zamboni, the Miracle on Ice
1982:
The Colorado Rockies move to New Jersey and become the Devils.
1983:
The NHL introduces a five-minute sudden death overtime period at the end of ties games in the regular season.
1989:
Sergei Priakin plays for the Calgary Flames, becoming the first Soviet player permitted to join an NHL club.
1990:
Canada wins the first Women's World Hockey Championship.
1991:
The San Jose Sharks join the NHL.
The NHL introduces video review.
1992:
The Ottawa Senators and Tampa Bay Lightning join the NHL.
1993:
The Florida Panthers and Mighty Ducks of Anaheim begin play.
The Minnesota North Stars move to Dallas and become the Stars.
1994:
One of the NHL's most famous futility streaks comes to an end as the New York Rangers win the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1940. Rangers' defenseman Brian Leetch is the first American-born player to win the Conn Smythe trophy as playoff MVP.
In the league's first major labour dispute, NHL players are locked out for 103 days at the beginning of the 1994-95 season. The regular season, which begins January 20, 1995, is the shortest in 53 years.
1995:
Jaromir Jagr becomes the first European to lead the NHL in scoring.
The Quebec Nordiques move to Denver and become the Colorado Avalanche.
1996:
The Winnipeg Jets move to Phoenix, where they are re-named the Coyotes.
1997:
The Hartford Whalers become the Carolina Hurricanes.
Craig Mactavish, the last remaining helmetless player in the NHL, retires.
1998:
The Nashville Predators join the NHL.
The NHL begins using two referees in each game.
NHL players compete at the Olympics for the first time, with the Czech Republic winning the gold medal.
The United States defeats Canada to win the first Olympic gold medal in women's hockey.
1999:
The Atlanta Thrashers join the NHL.
2000:
The Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild bring the total number of NHL teams to 30.
2002:
NHL players return to the Winter Olympics, with Canada winning the gold medal. The victory comes 50 years to the day after the last Canadian gold medal in men's hockey.
Canada defeats the United States to win the second Olympic gold medal in women's hockey.
The Detroit Red Wings win the Stanley Cup, with Swedish-born defenseman Niklas Lidstrom claiming the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. Lidstrom is the first European to win the award.
2004:
The United States wins its first ever World Junior Hockey Championship.
The Stanley Cup arrives in Florida, as the Tampa Bay Lightning win the NHL championship in their 12th season.
Canada wins the second World Cup of Hockey, defeating Finland 3-2 in the championship game and finishing the tournament undefeated. Vincent Lecavalier is named tournament MVP.
On September 15, the owners lock out the players, putting the 2004-05 NHL season on hold pending a new collective bargaining agreement.
2005:
On February 16, the 2004-05 NHL season is officially cancelled because of the failure to reach a new collective agreement.
On July 13, the 301st day of the lockout, the NHL and NHL Players' Association announce a tentative agreement, allowing the league to resume play in October.
The NHL introduces a series of rules changes for the 2005-06 season, including shootouts to end tie games.
2007:
The Anaheim Ducks become the first California-based team to win the Stanley Cup.
Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins finishes the season with 120 points, making him the youngest scoring champion in NHL history at 19 years, 244 days.
2011:
NHL introduces new rules governing hits to the head and hits from behind. Penguins' star Sidney Crosby misses almost the entire calendar year because of a concussion, and diagnosis of concussions increases throughout the league.
The Atlanta Thrashers are relocated to Winnipeg and are renamed the Winnipeg Jets.
