2001-02

• The 9/11 attacks mark a tragic start to the season. Two of the victims have NHL connections -- Garnet "Ace" Bailey and Mark Bavis. Both worked as scouts for the Los Angeles Kings, with Bailey serving as director of pro scouting. Bailey was also a nine-year NHL veteran, playing for the Bruins, Red Wings, Blues and Capitals. He also played one year for the Edmonton Oilers in the WHA, taking future superstar Wayne Gretzky under his wing. The Kings wore an "AM" patch in Ace's and Mark's memories. The Rangers and Capitals also wore memorial patches.

• The Detroit Wings beat the Carolina Hurricanes in five games to win their third Stanley Cup in six years. With the win, Red Wings coach Scotty Bowman goes out a winner -- he retired immediately after the Final. And I do mean immediately -- he filed his retirement papers between the time the final horn sounded and the time Commissioner Gary Bettman presented the Cup to Steve Yzerman.