Now that 2023 is coming to an end in a few hours (depending on which coast you are on), it is time to reflect on some of the big moments of the last 365 days, which there have been plenty of in the NHL.
On April 9th, in their game against the Philadelphia Flyers, the Boston Bruins won their 63rd game of the season, breaking the most wins of the regular seasons previously set by the 2018-19 Tampa Bay Lightning, and 1995-96 Detroit Red Wings. The Bruins would go on to win 65 games last season, cruising to the President’s Trophy, annually awarded to the team with the most points at the end of the regular season. Ultimately, Boston’s winning ways would not continue into the 2022-23 Stanley Cup playoffs, as they were ousted by the eventual Eastern Conference Champion, Florida Panthers, in seven games in the opening round.
Following along with the theme of team accomplishments, the Vegas Golden Knights became the quickest expansion team to win their first Stanley Cup, ousting the Panthers in five games in the 2023 Stanley Cup Finals. Originally founded in 2017, it took the Golden Knights only six seasons to win their first Stanley Cup, beating the previous record of the 1974 Flyers team, which took only seven years from their introduction to the league during the 1967 NHL Expansion.
On an individual level, on the Edmonton Oilers’s last game of the regular season on April 13th, Connor McDavid recorded his 153rd point of the season, by way of an assist against the San Jose Sharks. Because of this, McDavid would pass Bruins’ legend Phil Esposito for the 15th-best scoring season in NHL history, the highest of any player not named Steve Yzerman, Mario Lemieux, or Wayne Gretzky. Winning the Art Ross, Hart Memorial, Ted Lindsay, and Maurice Richard Trophy all in one season, McDavid would go on to have the best individual season in the salary cap era.
Aside from these moments, the NHL has been filled with memorable events in the 2023 calendar year. Now it’s time to pick, is one of these moments one of your favorites, or is there another that stands out?
Kraken make the playoffs and eliminate Colorado.
Picking the Panthers upset over Boston. President’s Trophy teams almost always burn themselves out. Even historic ones.
Otherwise a very bland year with a pretty pedestrian champion.
“We want Florida”
I didn’t know this was the answer until I saw it. Nice.
Bill Guerin going on Bally Sports North telling the fanbase, We are competing for the Stanley Cup.
The Flyers being relevant again
Eichel winning the Cup and shutting up all his detractors.
Panthers kicking Boston’s ass in 7 games and having their best-ever playoffs result.
Biased other: Canucks resurgence.
Jack Edwards being shamed for shaming Pat Maroon.
Watching Boston choke was the best.
Minnesota Wild, Joel Erickson Ek getting a roughing penalty for just standing in front of the net not doing anything and getting punched in the face.