With the new millennium and the projected apocalypse in the rear view mirror, the NHL turned the century stronger than ever. The collection of talent in the world’s greatest league seemed endless. The fresh young upstarts looking to build their own legend seamlessly overtook the old guard from the 1990s.
The end of the decade saw the final skate from Wayne Gretzky who hung his skates up in Madison Square Garden in 1999. Mario Lemieux restarted his career, albeit temporarily, as he conquered Hodgkin’s disease. His return provided limited glimpses of his supernatural talents, not so subtle reminders of what could have been.
Parity in the NHL was running at an all-time high in the 2000s as there was a new Stanley Cup champion every year. New faces joined the league and took it by storm as the next era of superstars showed the potential to be the greatest yet.
The parity wasn’t limited to the teams either as the decade had eight different Hart Trophy winners in the ten years. Oh yeah, there was a lockout too as Gary Bettman and the owners locked the players out. It was the first time in history that a major American sports league had lost an entire season. Fortunately for hockey fans such an aberration could never possibly happen again…..Oh…wait.
The NHL in the 2000s had a ton of statistical studs, but here is my top five.
5. Mats Sundin: The Swedish center spent the entire decade in Toronto except for his final year. Though his best years may have been in the 1990s, his most consistent play was throughout the 200s. He would retire in Vancouver in 2009 and finish the decade with 268 goals and 366 assists for 634 points.
4. Marian Hossa: The Czech sniper was a gun for hire throughout the decade with stops in Ottawa, Atlanta, Pittsburgh and Detroit before settling in Chicago. His 324 goals and 364 assists put him fifth in scoring for the decade with 688 points.
3. Daniel Alfredsson: The Swedish winger seemed to really hit his stride in this decade as he put up some amazing numbers. 277 goals and 434 assists for 711 points
2. Jarome Iginla: The lifetime member of the Calgary Flames was the leading goal-scorer of the decade with 347. He added 371 assists for 718 points. He probably would happily trade plenty of those points for another shot at the Stanley Cup, but Iginla was money in the 2000s.
1. Joe Thornton: Jumbo Joe played with a sneer in his younger days that gave him a competitive edge. Thornton was traded halfway through his most productive year in 2005-06 from Boston to San Jose. Though his mean-streak may have faded, but he was the leading scorer throughout the decade. Thornton’s totals were 246 goals and 548 assists for 794 points.