1992–93 NHL season

Did You Know?

• The Pittsburgh Penguins had four 100-or-more point scorers in one season, an NHL record.
• Luc Robitaille scored 63 goals, the most in one season by a left winger.
• Mike Gartner had 14 consecutive 30-goal seasons, an NHL record.

League business

Two new clubs joined the league: the Ottawa Senators, the second Ottawa-based NHL franchise, and the Tampa Bay Lightning, headed by Hockey Hall of Fame brothers Phil and Tony Esposito. The 1992 NHL expansion draft was held on June 18 to fill their rosters. This was the final season of the Wales and Campbell Conferences and the Adams, Patrick, Norris, and Smythe divisions; both conferences and divisions were renamed to reflect geography the following season.

The playoff structure bracketed and seeded teams by division for the last time until the 2013 realignment. The 1992 NHL entry draft took place on June 20 at the Montreal Forum, with Roman Hamrlik selected first overall by Tampa Bay. In summer 1992, NHL owners replaced President John Ziegler with Gil Stein on an interim basis; on February 1, 1993, Gary Bettman became the first NHL Commissioner, with the office created as senior to Stein's position.

After Stein's tenure expired on July 1, 1993, the President's office was merged into the Commissioner's. All teams wore a commemorative patch celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Stanley Cup. Rule changes included a game misconduct for instigating a fight, disallowing substitutions for coincidental minor penalties at full strength, and introducing a minor penalty for diving.

Regular season

As part of the 1992 strike settlement, the regular season expanded from 80 to 84 games per team. The NHL and Bruce McNall's Multivision Marketing and Public Relations Co. organized 24 additional games in 15 cities without a franchise, serving as a litmus test for future expansion; four of those cities—Phoenix, Atlanta, Dallas, and Miami—later hosted expansion or relocated teams. The Hartford-St. Louis game was originally scheduled for December 29, 1992, in Birmingham, Alabama.

The All-Star Game was held on February 6, 1993, at the Montreal Forum. Teemu Selanne of the Winnipeg Jets shattered the rookie scoring record with 76 goals and 56 assists for 132 points, winning the Calder Memorial Trophy; his goals and points marks remain NHL rookie records as of 2026. The New York Rangers missed the playoffs, marking the first time the previous season's President's Trophy winner missed the next year's playoffs. For the first time in his NHL career, Wayne Gretzky did not finish in the top three in scoring, limited by a back injury to 45 games and 65 points. The Pittsburgh Penguins set a new NHL record with 17 consecutive wins, ending with the regular season.

Events and milestones

Manon Rheaume became the first woman to play for a major sports league in North America, tending goal for the Tampa Bay Lightning in an exhibition game on September 23, 1992, against the St. Louis Blues. The Ottawa Senators and Tampa Bay Lightning both won their opening games and briefly sat atop their respective divisions. In October 1992, Gil Stein was named NHL President; in February 1993, Gary Bettman was named NHL Commissioner. On February 10, 1993, Calgary Flames goaltender Jeff Reese set NHL records for most points and most assists by a goaltender in one game, with three, in a 13–1 win over the San Jose Sharks.

The 1993 Stanley Cup playoffs marked the 100th anniversary of the Stanley Cup. The Pittsburgh Penguins set the NHL record for longest win streak at 17 games, while the San Jose Sharks tied the record for longest losing streak at 17 games. On June 30, 1992, Eric Lindros was traded from Quebec to Philadelphia for Peter Forsberg, Ron Hextall, Mike Ricci, Kerry Huffman, Steve Duchesne, future considerations (eventually Chris Simon), two first-round draft picks, and US$15 million.

The San Jose Sharks set records for most losses in a season (71), fewest ties (2), and most home losses (32). The Ottawa Senators set records for most road losses (40) and fewest road wins (1).

Broadcasting

For the fifth year, TSN and CBC's Hockey Night in Canada held the NHL's Canadian national broadcast rights. CBC kept Saturday night regular season games, while TSN aired some weeknight games. CBC handled most Stanley Cup playoff coverage, with TSN showing first-round series featuring only U.S. teams. In the United States, ESPN replaced SportsChannel America with a new national rights agreement.

SportsChannel America argued its contract allowed it to match any third-party offer and accused the NHL of breaking a nonbinding clause, but an appellate court denied its injunction, ruling the agreement was too vague and that SportsChannel failed to prove irreparable harm. ESPN's regular season games typically aired on Wednesdays and Fridays, plus Sundays between the NFL and baseball seasons. The All-Star Game was not part of ESPN's deal; NBC broadcast it for the fourth straight year.

ABC, through a brokered arrangement, aired five Sunday afternoon playoff telecasts from April 18 to May 16. The first three weeks featured regional coverage of first and second round games, while the last two were national broadcasts of a second round and a conference final. This was the first time NHL playoff games appeared on American network television since 1975. ESPN televised selected first and second round games, the remaining conference finals, and the Stanley Cup Final.