What if the NHL Renamed Its Awards? Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MTk0ODE0MjQxODA1NDQ0MjU4/usatsi_19222956.jpg] The year 2022 was a notable one in the hockey world, with triumphs, tragedies, and controversies aplenty. To go along with THN.com's top five special NHL moments in 2022 [https://thehockeynews.com/news/five-special-nhl-moments-in-2022], here are the top 10 storylines of the year across the hockey world. 10. SHANE WRIGHT FALLS OUT OF TOP DRAFT RANKING, LANDS AT FOURTH OVERALL For months leading up to the NHL’s 2022 draft, Kingston Frontenacs star center Shane Wright was projected to be the first-overall pick. However, that’s not how the draft turned out: Slovakian forward Juraj Slafkovsky was taken by Montreal with the No. 1 pick, and Wright slid all the way to the fourth spot [https://thehockeynews.com/news/shane-wright-falls-to-fourth], where the Seattle Kraken were delighted to select him. Wright vowed to make the Kraken happy he fell to them in the fourth-overall spot, and although he received limited playing time at the NHL level – playing just eight games with the Kraken through December – Wright is an integral component of Team Canada at the 2023 World Junior Championship. He’s somewhat out of the spotlight in Seattle, which may turn out to be good news for him. But certainly, Wright is intent on proving the Habs and two other teams (New Jersey and Arizona) made a mistake by passing on his services. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MTk0ODE0NTM2ODE2MDEwNDAy/usatsi_19676341.jpg] 9. HISTORIC MILESTONES BY PHIL KESSEL AND ALEX OVECHKIN Veteran NHL stars Alex Ovechkin and Phil Kessel each reached impressive milestones in 2022, with Kessel setting the new all-time record [https://thehockeynews.com/news/phil-kessel-is-just-the-best] for most consecutive games played (990, with the Vegas Golden Knights) and Ovechkin reaching the second spot in all-time goals-scored [https://thehockeynews.com/news/alex-ovechkin-passes-gordie-howe-for-second-all-time-in-goals] by an NHLer (passing Gordie Howe, with his 802nd career regular-season goal). Both players had to be models of consistency to reach their lofty perches, and it will be extremely difficult for any current NHLer to match and overtake them in their respective categories. Ovechkin and Kessel are surefire Hockey Hall of Famers, and although they’re much closer to the end of their NHL careers than the beginning, fans still have time to appreciate their efforts. 8. RUSSIA AND BELARUS KICKED OUT OF INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENTS Russia’s war against Ukraine – and Belarus’ support – resulted in the IIHF banning the two countries from international play until further notice [https://thehockeynews.com/news/iihf-bans-russia-belarus-from-international-hockey-tournaments-until-further-notice]. Russia was also stripped of its hosting duties for the 2023 World Junior Championship, and the uncertainty about the political future of the countries was reportedly a reason the NHL postponed plans for the 2024 World Cup of Hockey. Russian and Belarusian players had to bear the brunt of their homeland’s political decisions, but the game overall also suffered a big blow with their absence from best-on-best play. At the moment, there isn’t any good news on the horizon that would see the two countries welcomed back by the IIHF. But things can change drastically, and hockey aficionados would love to see the international game back at full strength. 7. BLOCKBUSTER FREE AGENCY AND FLAMES/PANTHERS TRADE Once again, the NHL’s talent carousel spun quickly in the off-season; this year, the biggest moves were a) the free-agency signing by Columbus of former Calgary Flames sniper Johnny Gaudreau [https://thehockeynews.com/news/blue-jackets-sign-gaudreau-to-massive-seven-year-deal], and b) the massive trade between the Flames and Florida Panthers [https://thehockeynews.com/news/panthers-acquire-tkachuk-from-flames-in-blockbuster-trade-sign-him-to-eight-year-extension] that sent winger Matthew Tkachuk to Florida and winger Jonathan Huberdeau to Calgary. None of those moves were predicted by NHL observers, and both transactions had major ramifications for the teams involved. Gaudreau’s Blue Jackets team, Tkachuk’s Panthers squad and Huberdeau’s Flames group all have performed below expectations in the 2022-23 campaign, proving that even blockbuster deals can’t be a cure-all for teams. But there’s no question Calgary, Florida and Columbus all made huge headlines this year by choosing the trade route to help reshape their rosters. 6. AUSTON MATTHEWS WINS HART TROPHY, SETS RECORD FOR LEAFS’ ALL-TIME SCORERS The Toronto Maple Leafs knew they had a generational player when they selected American center Auston Matthews first-overall in 2016, but six years later, Matthews set new career highs in goals (60) and points (106) in 73 games. As a result, the 25-year-old won the Hart Trophy [https://thehockeynews.com/news/auston-matthews-wins-the-2022-hart-trophy] as the NHL’s most valuable regular-season player. Matthews’ sterling year also set a Leafs franchise record for goals in a single season, and though he was unable to carry them to post-season success, Matthews had one of the best-ever seasons by a U.S. player and asserted himself as one of the NHL’s biggest superstars. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MTk0ODE0NTY2NjEyMzQ2Mzky/usatsi_17728930.jpg] 5. FINLAND WINS FIRST OLYMPIC HOCKEY GOLD MEDAL The lack of NHL player participation at the 2022 Beijing Olympics took some of the shine away from the tournament, but don’t tell that to the good people of Finland, who were thrilled to see their national team win their first-ever hockey gold medal [https://thehockeynews.com/news/finland-defeats-roc-to-win-mens-olympic-hockey-gold]at the games. The Finns beat the Russian Olympic Committee team in the final and improved on their 2006 silver medal and 2010 and 2014 bronze-medal showings. On the women’s side, Finland has four bronze medals, including one in 2022. Finland’s men’s squad has now won medals in seven of their past 10 international tournaments, and they’re always a well-coached team that plays well as a unit. Not having NHL players involved with the Beijing Games doesn’t detract from their latest on-ice achievement. 4. WOMEN EARNING ASSISTANT GM ROLES AT NHL LEVEL The ascent of women in NHL roles continued in 2022, with well-known former players Hayley Wickenheiser [https://thehockeynews.com/news/maple-leafs-promote-wickenheiser-others-to-assistant-gm-hire-goalie-coach] and Cammi Granato [https://thehockeynews.com/news/canucks-hire-cammi-granato-as-assistant-gm] promoted to assistant GMs, respectively, with the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks also hired former player agent Emilie Castonguay [https://thehockeynews.com/news/canucks-hire-emilie-castonguay-as-assistant-gm] as an assistant GM this year. Sooner or later, there’s going to be a female NHL GM. But the trio of female pioneers we saw this year have paved the way for those who will follow them into the upper echelons of power at the sport’s highest level. 3. AVALANCHE WIN STANLEY CUP, PREVENT THREE-PEAT BY LIGHTNING The Colorado Avalanche were one of the more dominant teams in modern NHL history last season, winning their first Stanley Cup championship in 21 years [https://thehockeynews.com/news/colorado-avalanche-beat-lightning-to-win-2022-stanley-cup] and stopping the juggernaut Tampa Bay Lightning from winning their third consecutive championship. The Avs iced an incredibly deep and skilled group and won despite not having elite goaltending. Blossoming superstar defenseman Cale Makar won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, but it took a team effort – including crucial performances from star forwards Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog – to outlast the Bolts. The Avs had some significant roster turnover after their Cup victory, most notably in net, where veteran Darcy Kuemper departed as an unrestricted free agent and was replaced by former New York Rangers goalie Alexandar Georgiev. But the foundation for a dynasty remained in place, and the Avalanche remain one of the favorites to win the Cup in 2023. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MTk0ODE0NDkxOTg3Mjg5NjI0/usatsi_18148029.jpg] 2. HOCKEY LOSES ICONS BOSSY, LAFLEUR AND SALMING The hockey world lost three legends this year: first, former New York Islanders icon Mike Bossy [https://thehockeynews.com/news/mike-bossy-nyi-65] passed away from cancer in mid-April at age 65. One week later, Montreal Canadiens all-time great Guy Lafleur [https://thehockeynews.com/news/guy-lafleur-passes-away-at-age-70]died at age 70, also after a bout with cancer. And in late November, former Maple Leafs superstar Borje Salming [https://thehockeynews.com/news/borje-salming-passes-away-at-age-71] passed away at age 71 following a battle against the degenerative muscle disease ALS. Hockey inevitably loses former players every season, but there was a sense that all three of Salming, Bossy and Lafleur died far too soon. Their legends will only grow from here, but it’s a shame they couldn’t continue as the terrific ambassadors for the sport they always were. 1. HOCKEY CANADA EMBROILED BY FOUNDATION-CHANGING SCANDAL Far and away the most disturbing news in the hockey world in 2022 were the revelations [https://thehockeynews.com/news/hockey-canada-re-opens-investigation-into-alleged-sexual-assault] about sexual abuse allegations and discrimination [https://thehockeynews.com/news/horrifying-experts-react-to-hockey-canadas-900-plus-cases-of-on-ice-discrimination] that decimated Hockey Canada’s reputation. Consequently, multiple major sponsors withdrew their support of the organization, and Hockey Canada’s entire board of governors stepped down [https://thehockeynews.com/news/hockey-canada-board-of-directors-steps-down-ceo-scott-smith-departs] and were replaced by new members in mid-December [https://thehockeynews.com/news/hockey-canada-elects-new-board-of-directors] while the CEO is also departing. Hockey Canada earned all the criticism it received for allowing abuse to fester, but after a public relations nightmare, it is on the road to redemption. Still, there will be skeptics about its turnaround until such time as true change is seen throughout the organization.
