1995–96 NHL season
historyThe 1995–96 NHL season was the 79th regular season of the National Hockey League. Twenty-six teams each played 82 games. The Stanley Cup winners were the Colorado Avalanche, who, in their first year as the Avalanche, swept the Florida Panthers in four games.
League business
1995–96 was the first season in Denver for the Avalanche, who had relocated from Quebec City where they were previously known as the Quebec Nordiques. Prior to the season, Colorado was assigned to the Pacific Division of the Western Conference.
It was also the last season of existence for the Winnipeg Jets, as they announced that they would be moving from Manitoba to Arizona and become the Phoenix Coyotes at the season's end.
1995–96 would mark the last season the Buffalo Sabres would play in the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, the Philadelphia Flyers at the CoreStates Spectrum, the Senators at the Ottawa Civic Centre, and the Canadiens at the Montreal Forum. The Sabres made their new home at the Marine Midland Arena, the Flyers at the CoreStates Center, the Senators at the Corel Centre, and the Canadiens at the Molson Centre. The two latter arenas opened before the end of this season. With the Montreal Forum closed, The Maple Leaf Gardens was the last remaining arena from the Original Six at the time.
Regular season
The Detroit Red Wings had a spectacular season, finishing with the second-highest regular-season point total in NHL history (131 points), and setting the record for most wins ever in regular season NHL history (62). However, they fell to the Avalanche in the Western Conference final, the sixth game of which marked the beginning of the heated Detroit-Colorado rivalry, which would last for years to come. Jaromir Jagr broke the record for assists and points by a right winger in a single season »http://www.http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Pressbox/8025/bio.htm.Mario Lemieux had the NHL's last 150+ point season with 161 points in 70 games. This would be the last season in which at least 1 player would get at least 60 goals {Jagr and Lemieux] until 2008.»http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/recap?gid=2008032128&prov=ap
Final standings
GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against
Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in '''bold.''
Eastern Conference
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! width="47.5%" | Northeast Division
! width="5%" | GP
! width="5%" | W
! width="5%" | L
! width="5%" | T
! width="7.5%" | Pts
! width="7.5%" | GF
! width="7.5%" | GA
|- align=right
| align=left | Pittsburgh Penguins || 82 || 49 || 29 || 4 || 102 || 362 || 284
|- align=right
| align=left | Boston Bruins || 82 || 40 || 31 || 11 || 91 || 282 || 269
|- align=right
| align=left | Montreal Canadiens || 82 || 40 || 32 || 10 || 90 || 265 || 248
|- align=right
| align=left | Hartford Whalers || 82 || 34 || 39 || 9 || 77 || 237 || 259
|- align=right
| align=left | Buffalo Sabres || 82 || 33 || 42 || 7 || 73 || 247 || 262
|- align=right
| align=left | Ottawa Senators || 82 || 18 || 59 || 5 || 41 || 191 || 291
|}
{| class="wikitable" |- ! width="47.5%" | Atlantic Division ! width="5%" | GP ! width="5%" | W ! width="5%" | L ! width="5%" | T ! width="7.5%" | Pts ! width="7.5%" | GF ! width="7.5%" | GA |- align=right | align=left | Philadelphia Flyers || 82 || 45 || 24 || 13 || 103 || 282 || 208 |- align=right | align=left | New York Rangers || 82 || 41 || 27 || 14 || 96 || 272 || 237 |- align=right | align=left | Florida Panthers || 82 || 41 || 31 || 10 || 92 || 254 || 234 |- align=right | align=left | Washington Capitals || 82 || 39 || 32 || 11 || 89 || 234 || 204 |- align=right | align=left | Tampa Bay Lightning || 82 || 38 || 32 || 12 || 88 || 238 || 248 |- align=right | align=left | New Jersey Devils || 82 || 37 || 33 || 12 || 86 || 215 || 202 |- align=right | align=left | New York Islanders || 82 || 22 || 50 || 10 || 54 || 229 || 315 |}
Western Conference
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! width="47.5%" | Central Division
! width="5%" | GP
! width="5%" | W
! width="5%" | L
! width="5%" | T
! width="7.5%" | Pts
! width="7.5%" | GF
! width="7.5%" | GA
|- align=right
| align=left | Detroit Red Wings || 82 || 62 || 13 || 7 || 131 || 325 || 181
|- align=right
| align=left | Chicago Blackhawks || 82 || 40 || 28 || 14 || 94 || 273 || 220
|- align=right
| align=left | Toronto Maple Leafs || 82 || 34 || 36 || 12 || 80 || 247 || 252
|- align=right
| align=left | St. Louis Blues || 82 || 32 || 34 || 16 || 80 || 219 || 248
|- align=right
| align=left | Winnipeg Jets || 82 || 36 || 40 || 6 || 78 || 275 || 291
|- align=right
| align=left | Dallas Stars || 82 || 26 || 42 || 14 || 66 || 227 || 280
|}
{| class="wikitable" |- ! width="47.5%" | Pacific Division ! width="5%" | GP ! width="5%" | W ! width="5%" | L ! width="5%" | T ! width="7.5%" | Pts ! width="7.5%" | GF ! width="7.5%" | GA |- align=right | align=left | Colorado Avalanche || 82 || 47 || 25 || 10 || 104 || 326 || 240 |- align=right | align=left | Calgary Flames || 82 || 34 || 37 || 11 || 79 || 241 || 240 |- align=right | align=left | Vancouver Canucks || 82 || 32 || 35 || 15 || 79 || 278 || 278 |- align=right | align=left | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim || 82 || 35 || 39 || 8 || 78 || 234 || 247 |- align=right | align=left | Edmonton Oilers || 82 || 30 || 44 || 8 || 68 || 240 || 304 |- align=right | align=left | Los Angeles Kings || 82 || 24 || 40 || 18 || 66 || 256 || 302 |- align=right | align=left | San Jose Sharks || 82 || 20 || 55 || 7 || 47 || 252 || 357 |}
Head coaches of the Eastern Conference
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable"
|-
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" | Team
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" | Coach
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" | Comments
|-
|Boston Bruins
|Steve Kasper
|
|-
|Buffalo Sabres
|Ted Nolan
|
|-
|Florida Panthers
|Doug MacLean
|
|-
|Hartford Whalers
|Paul Holmgren
|Replaced midseason by Paul Maurice
|-
|Montreal Canadiens
|Jacques Demers
|Replaced early in the season by Mario Tremblay
|-
|New Jersey Devils
|Jacques Lemaire
|
|-
|New York Islanders
|Mike Milbury
|
|-
|New York Rangers
|Colin Campbell
|
|-
|Ottawa Senators
|Rick Bowness
|Replaced early in the season by Dave Allison, who would be replaced after 25 games by Jacques Martin
|-
|Philadelphia Flyers
|Terry Murray
|
|-
|Pittsburgh Penguins
|Eddie Johnston
|
|-
|Tampa Bay Lightning
|Terry Crisp
|
|-
|Washington Capitals
|Jim Schoenfeld
|
|}
Head coaches of the Western Conference
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable"
|-
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" | Team
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" | Coach
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" | Comments
|-
|Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
|Ron Wilson
|
|-
|Calgary Flames
|Pierre Pagé
|
|-
|Chicago Blackhawks
|Craig Hartsburg
|
|-
|Colorado Avalanche
|Marc Crawford
|
|-
|Dallas Stars
|Bob Gainey
|Replaced midseason by Ken Hitchcock
|-
|Detroit Red Wings
|Scotty Bowman
|
|-
|Edmonton Oilers
|Ron Low
|
|-
|Los Angeles Kings
|Rogie Vachon
|Replaced early in the season by Larry Robinson
|-
|St. Louis Blues
|Mike Keenan
|
|-
|San Jose Sharks
|Kevin Constantine
|Replaced early in the season by Jim Wiley
|-
|Toronto Maple Leafs
|Pat Burns
|Replaced late in the season by Nick Beverley
|-
|Vancouver Canucks
|Rick Ley
|Replaced late in the season by Pat Quinn
|-
|Winnipeg Jets
|Terry Simpson
|
|}
Scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points''
{| border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable"
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="37.5%" | Player
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="30%"| Team
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="7.5%" | GP
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="7.5%" | G
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="7.5%" | A
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="10%" | Pts
|- align="center"
| align="left" | Mario Lemieux || Pittsburgh || 70 || 69 || 92 || 161
|- align="center"
| align="left" | Jaromir Jagr || Pittsburgh || 82 || 62 || 87 || 149
|- align="center"
| align="left" | Joe Sakic || Colorado || 82 || 51 || 69 || 120
|- align="center"
| align="left" | Ron Francis || Pittsburgh || 77 || 27 || 92 || 119
|- align="center"
| align="left" | Peter Forsberg || Colorado || 82 || 30 || 86 || 116
|- align="center"
| align="left" | Eric Lindros || Philadelphia || 73 || 47 || 68 || 115
|- align="center"
| align="left" | Paul Kariya || Anaheim || 82 || 50 || 58 || 108
|- align="center"
| align="left" | Teemu Selanne || Winnipeg/
Anaheim || 79 || 40 || 68 || 108
|- align="center"
| align="left" | Alexander Mogilny || Vancouver || 79 || 55 || 52 || 107
|- align="center"
| align="left" | Sergei Fedorov || Detroit || 78 || 39 || 68 || 107
|}
]]
Conference quarterfinals
Eastern Conference
{| cellspacing="10"
| valign="top" |
{| cellpadding="3" border="1"
! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" | Philadelphia vs. Tampa Bay
|-
! Date !! Away !! Home
|-
| April 16 || align="right" | Tampa Bay 3 || 7 Philadelphia
|-
| April 18 || align="right" | Tampa Bay 2 || 1 Philadelphia || OT
|-
| April 21 || align="right" | Philadelphia 4 || 5 Tampa Bay || OT
|-
| April 23 || align="right" | Philadelphia 4 || 1 Tampa Bay
|-
| April 25 || align="right" | Tampa Bay 1 || 4 Philadelphia
|-
| April 27 || align="right" | Philadelphia 6 || 1 Tampa Bay
|-
| align="center" colspan="4" | Philadelphia wins series 4–2
|}
| valign="top" |
{| cellpadding="3" border="1"
! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" | Pittsburgh vs. Washington
|-
! Date !! Away !! Home
|-
| April 17 || align="right" | Washington 6 || 4 Pittsburgh
|-
| April 19 || align="right" | Washington 5 || 3 Pittsburgh
|-
| April 22 || align="right" | Pittsburgh 4 || 1 Washington
|-
| April 24 || align="right" | Pittsburgh 3 || 2 Washington || 4 OT
|-
| April 26 || align="right" | Washington 1 || 4 Pittsburgh
|-
| April 28 || align="right" | Pittsburgh 3 || 2 Washington
|-
| align="center" colspan="4" | Pittsburgh wins series 4–2
|}
|-
| valign="top" |
{| cellpadding="3" border="1"
! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" | NY Rangers vs. Montreal
|-
! Date !! Away !! Home
|-
| April 16 || align="right" | Montreal 3 || 2 NY Rangers || OT
|-
| April 18 || align="right" | Montreal 5 || 3 NY Rangers
|-
| April 21 || align="right" | NY Rangers 2 || 1 Montreal
|-
| April 23 || align="right" | NY Rangers 4 || 3 Montreal
|-
| April 26 || align="right" | Montreal 2 || 3 NY Rangers
|-
| April 28 || align="right" | NY Rangers 5 || 3 Montreal
|-
| align="center" colspan="4" | NY Rangers wins series 4–2
|}
| valign="top" |
{| cellpadding="3" border="1"
! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" | Florida vs. Boston
|-
! Date !! Away !! Home
|-
| April 17 || align="right" | Boston 3 || 6 Florida
|-
| April 22 || align="right" | Boston 2 || 6 Florida
|-
| April 24 || align="right" | Florida 4 || 2 Boston
|-
| April 25 || align="right" | Florida 2 || 6 Boston
|-
| April 27 || align="right" | Boston 3 || 4 Florida
|-
| align="center" colspan="4" | Florida wins series 4–1
|}
|}
Western Conference
{| cellspacing="10"
| valign="top" |
{| cellpadding="3" border="1"
! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" | Detroit vs. Winnipeg
|-
! Date !! Away !! Home
|-
| April 17 || align="right" | Winnipeg 1 || 4 Detroit
|-
| April 19 || align="right" | Winnipeg 0 || 4 Detroit
|-
| April 21 || align="right" | Detroit 1 || 4 Winnipeg
|-
| April 23 || align="right" | Detroit 6 || 1 Winnipeg
|-
| April 26 || align="right" | Winnipeg 3 || 1 Detroit
|-
| April 28 || align="right" | Detroit 4 || 1 Winnipeg
|-
| align="center" colspan="4" | Detroit wins series 4–2
|}
| valign="top" |
{| cellpadding="3" border="1"
! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" | Colorado vs. Vancouver
|-
! Date !! Away !! Home
|-
| April 16 || align="right" | Vancouver 2 || 5 Colorado
|-
| April 18 || align="right" | Vancouver 5 || 4 Colorado
|-
| April 20 || align="right" | Colorado 4 || 0 Vancouver
|-
| April 22 || align="right" | Colorado 3 || 4 Vancouver
|-
| April 25 || align="right" | Vancouver 4 || 5 Colorado || OT
|-
| April 27 || align="right" | Colorado 3 || 2 Vancouver
|-
| align="center" colspan="4" | Colorado wins series 4–2
|}
|-
| valign="top" |
{| cellpadding="3" border="1"
! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" | Chicago vs. Calgary
|-
! Date !! Away !! Home
|-
| April 17 || align="right" | Calgary 1 || 4 Chicago
|-
| April 19 || align="right" | Calgary 0 || 3 Chicago
|-
| April 21 || align="right" | Chicago 7 || 5 Calgary
|-
| April 23 || align="right" | Chicago 2 || 1 Calgary || OT
|-
| align="center" colspan="4" | Chicago wins series 4–0
|}
| valign="top" |
{| cellpadding="3" border="1"
! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" | Toronto vs. St. Louis
|-
! Date !! Away !! Home
|-
| April 16 || align="right" | St. Louis 3 || 1 Toronto
|-
| April 18 || align="right" | St. Louis 4 || 5 Toronto || OT
|-
| April 21 || align="right" | Toronto 2 || 3 St. Louis || OT
|-
| April 23 || align="right" | Toronto 1 || 5 St. Louis
|-
| April 25 || align="right" | St. Louis 4 || 5 Toronto || OT
|-
| April 27 || align="right" | Toronto 1 || 2 St. Louis
|-
| align="center" colspan="4" | St. Louis wins series 4–2
|}
|}
Conference semifinals
{| cellspacing="10"
|+ Eastern Conference
| valign="top" |
{| cellpadding="3" border="1"
! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" | Florida vs. Philadelphia
|-
! Date !! Away !! Home
|-
| May 2 || align="right" | Florida 2 || 0 Philadelphia
|-
| May 4 || align="right" | Florida 2 || 3 Philadelphia
|-
| May 7 || align="right" | Philadelphia 3 || 1 Florida
|-
| May 9 || align="right" | Philadelphia 3 || 4 Florida || OT
|-
| May 12 || align="right" | Florida 2 || 1 Philadelphia || 2OT
|-
| May 14 || align="right" | Philadelphia 1 || 4 Florida
|-
| align="center" colspan="4" | Florida win series 4–2
|}
| valign="top" |
{| cellpadding="3" border="1"
! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" | NY Rangers vs. Pittsburgh
|-
! Date !! Away !! Home
|-
| May 3 || align="right" | NY Rangers 1 || 4 Pittsburgh
|-
| May 5 || align="right" | NY Rangers 6 || 3 Pittsburgh
|-
| May 7 || align="right" | Pittsburgh 3 || 2 NY Rangers
|-
| May 9 || align="right" | Pittsburgh 4 || 1 NY Rangers
|-
| May 11 || align="right" | NY Rangers 3 || 7 Pittsburgh
|-
| align="center" colspan="4" | Pittsburgh wins series 4–1
|}
|}
{| cellspacing="10" |+ Western Conference | valign="top" | {| cellpadding="3" border="1" ! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" | St. Louis vs. Detroit |- ! Date !! Away !! Home |- | May 3 || align="right" | St. Louis 2 || 3 Detroit |- | May 5 || align="right" | St. Louis 3 || 8 Detroit |- | May 8 || align="right" | Detroit 4 || 5 St. Louis || OT |- | May 10 || align="right" | Detroit 0 || 1 St. Louis |- | May 12 || align="right" | St. Louis 3 || 2 Detroit |- | May 14 || align="right" | Detroit 4 || 2 St. Louis |- | May 16 || align="right" | St. Louis 0 || 1 Detroit || 2OT |- | align="center" colspan="4" | Detroit wins series 4–3 |} | valign="top" | {| cellpadding="3" border="1" ! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" | Chicago vs. Colorado |- ! Date !! Away !! Home |- | May 2 || align="right" | Chicago 3 || 2 Colorado || OT |- | May 4 || align="right" | Chicago 1 || 5 Colorado |- | May 6 || align="right" | Colorado 3 || 4 Chicago || OT |- | May 8 || align="right" | Colorado 3 || 2 Chicago || 3OT |- | May 11 || align="right" | Chicago 1 || 4 Colorado |- | May 13 || align="right" | Colorado 4 || 3 Chicago || 2OT |- | align="center" colspan="4" | Colorado wins series 4–2 |} |}
Conference finals
{| cellspacing="10"
| valign="top" |
{| cellpadding="3" border="1"
|+ Eastern Conference
! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" | Florida vs. Pittsburgh
|-
! Date !! Away !! Home
|-
| May 18 || align="right" | Florida 5 || 1 Pittsburgh
|-
| May 20 || align="right" | Florida 2 || 3 Pittsburgh
|-
| May 24 || align="right" | Pittsburgh 2 || 5 Florida
|-
| May 26 || align="right" | Pittsburgh 2 || 1 Florida
|-
| May 28 || align="right" | Florida 0 || 3 Pittsburgh
|-
| May 30 || align="right" | Pittsburgh 3 || 4 Florida
|-
| June 1 || align="right" | Florida 3 || 1 Pittsburgh
|-
| align="center" colspan="4" | Florida wins series 4–3
and Prince of Wales Trophy
|}
| valign="top" |
{| cellpadding="3" border="1"
|+ Western Conference
! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" | Colorado vs. Detroit
|-
! Date !! Away !! Home
|-
| May 19 || align="right" | Colorado 3 || 2 Detroit || OT
|-
| May 21 || align="right" | Colorado 3 || 0 Detroit
|-
| May 23 || align="right" | Detroit 6 || 4 Colorado
|-
| May 25 || align="right" | Detroit 2 || 4 Colorado
|-
| May 27 || align="right" | Colorado 2 || 5 Detroit
|-
| May 29 || align="right" | Detroit 1 || 4 Colorado
|-
| align="center" colspan="4" | Colorado wins series 4–2 and
Clarence S. Campbell Bowl
|}
|}
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="6" | Colorado vs. Florida
|-
! Date !! Away !! Score !! Home !! Score !! Notes
|-
| June 4 || align="right" | Florida ||align="center"| 1 || Colorado ||align="center"| 3 ||
|-
| June 6 || align="right" | Florida ||align="center"| 1 || Colorado ||align="center"| 8 ||
|-
| June 8 || align="right" | Colorado ||align="center"| ''' 3''' || Florida ||align="center"| 2 ||
|-
| June 10 || align="right" | Colorado ||align="center"| ''' 1''' || Florida ||align="center"| 0 || 3OT
|-
| align="center" colspan="6" | Colorado wins series 4–0
and Stanley Cup
|-
| align="center" colspan="6" | Joe Sakic (Colorado)
wins Conn Smythe Trophy
|}
Scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points''
{| cellpadding=3 border=1
! Player !! Team !! GP !! G !! A !! Pts
|- align="center"
| align="left" | Joe Sakic || Colorado || 22 || 18 || 16 || 34
|- align="center"
| align="left" | Mario Lemieux || Pittsburgh || 18 || 11 || 16 || 27
|- align="center"
| align="left" | Jaromir Jagr || Pittsburgh || 18 || 11 || 12 || 23
|- align="center"
| align="left" | Valeri Kamensky || Colorado || 22 || 10 || 12 || 22
|- align="center"
| align="left" | Peter Forsberg || Colorado || 22 || 10 || 11 || 21
|- align="center"
| align="left" | Petr Nedved || Pittsburgh || 18 || 10 || 10 || 20
|- align="center"
| align="left" | Steve Yzerman || Detroit || 18 || 8 || 12 || 20
|- align="center"
| align="left" | Sergei Fedorov || Detroit || 19 || 2 || 18 || 20
|- align="center"
| align="left" | Sandis Ozolinsh || Colorado || 22 || 5 || 14 || 19
|- align="center"
| align="left" | Dave Lowry || Florida || 22 || 10 || 7 || 17
|- align="center"
| align="left" | Mike Ricci || Colorado || 22 || 6 || 11 || 17
|- align="center"
| align="left" | Adam Deadmarsh || Colorado || 22 || 5 || 12 || 17
|}
NHL awards
{| cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"
| Presidents' Trophy: || Detroit Red Wings
|-
| Prince of Wales Trophy: || Florida Panthers
|-
| Clarence S. Campbell Bowl: || Colorado Avalanche
|-
| Art Ross Trophy: || Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins
|-
| Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy: || Gary Roberts, Calgary Flames
|-
| Calder Memorial Trophy: || Daniel Alfredsson, Ottawa Senators
|-
| Conn Smythe Trophy: || Joe Sakic, Colorado Avalanche
|-
| Frank J. Selke Trophy: || Sergei Fedorov, Detroit Red Wings
|-
| Hart Memorial Trophy: || Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins
|-
| Jack Adams Award: || Scotty Bowman, Detroit Red Wings
|-
| James Norris Memorial Trophy: || Chris Chelios, Chicago Blackhawks
|-
| King Clancy Memorial Trophy: || Kris King, Winnipeg Jets
|-
| Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: || Paul Kariya, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
|-
| Lester B. Pearson Award: || Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins
|-
| NHL Plus/Minus Award: || Vladimir Konstantinov, Detroit Red Wings
|-
| Vezina Trophy: || Jim Carey, Washington Capitals
|-
| William M. Jennings Trophy: || Chris OsgoodMike Vernon, Detroit Red Wings
|-
| Lester Patrick Trophy: || George Gund, Ken Morrow, Milt Schmidt
|}
All-Star teams
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:91%;"
|-
! style="width:21em;" | First team !! style="width:5em;" | Position !! style="width:21em;" | Second team
|-
|Jim Carey, Washington Capitals
| align=center | G
|Chris Osgood, Detroit Red Wings
|-
|Chris Chelios, Chicago Blackhawks
| align=center | D
|Vladimir Konstantinov, Detroit Red Wings
|-
|Ray Bourque, Boston Bruins
| align=center | D
|Brian Leetch, New York Rangers
|-
|Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins
| align=center | C
|Eric Lindros, Philadelphia Flyers
|-
|Jaromir Jagr, Pittsburgh Penguins
| align=center | RW
|Alexander Mogilny, Vancouver Canucks
|-
|Paul Kariya, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
| align=center | LW
|John LeClair, Philadelphia Flyers
|-
|}
Debuts
The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1995–96 (listed with their first team, asterisk(*) marks debut in playoffs):
Last games
The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1995–96 (listed with their last team):
1996 trading deadline
Trading deadline: March 20, 1996.»NHL trade deadline: Deals since 1980 | Habs Inside/Out