1995-96

• Unable to secure financing for a new arena in Quebec City, the Quebec Nordiques move to Denver to become the Colorado Avalanche. At the end of the season, the NHL would bid adieu to the Winnipeg Jets, who would move to Phoenix in the off-season.

• The NHL's third jersey program gets underway with five teams -- Anaheim, Boston, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh and Vancouver -- unveiling alternate jerseys. One would stick around for a while, one for a couple years, one would become the team's new full-time road jerseys and the other two are quickly put to pasture.

• The Detroit Red Wings set NHL records for most wins (62) in the regular season. It would not translate to a Stanley Cup title, as they are eliminated by the Avalanche in a very physical six-game series.

• The Avalanche get it right the first time, winning the Stanley Cup in their inaugural season in Denver, sweeping the three-year-old Florida Panthers in the Final.