In light of the pot-stirring comments made by Washington Capitals defenceman Roman Hamrlik, who cited this being his third lockout as one source of frustration, we take a quick look at the 14 NHLers who have been enshrined into the rather dubious Three-Lockout Club. Meaning, the following players have had to deal with this kind of mess on three separate occasions: 1994-95, 2004-05 and, of course, 2012-13.
The big question is, Will this third lockout mean the end for some of these veterans’ NHL careers?
Jaromir Jagr, Dallas Stars
While lockouts are certainly hard to deal with, they have yet to impact Jagr’s play.
After the 1994-95 lockout, Jagr went on to be the league’s leading scorer with 70 points (32 goals and 38 assists) in 48 games. Jagr’s outstanding season helped him earn his first of five Art Ross trophies and finish as a finalist for the Hart Trophy as the league’s most valuable player (Eric Lindros).
After the 2004-05 lockout, Jagr finished second in the league in scoring behind San Jose Sharks forward Joe Thornton with 123 points (54 goals and 69 assists) in 82 games.
Teemu Selanne, Anaheim Ducks
With retirement right staring several NHLers in the face, this particular lockout is certainly bad timing, especially for Anaheim Ducks’ forward Teemu Selanne.
After experiencing his first lockout in 1994-95 with the Winnipeg Jets, Selanne averaged just more than a point a game in the 48-game shortened season on 22 goals and 26 assists for 48 points in 45 games played. Selanne was even better after the 2004-05 lockout as he put up 90 points (40 goals and 50 assists) in 80 games with Anaheim Ducks.
Hopefully, this lockout will not spell the end for the “Finnish Flash”.
Jason Arnott, UFA
After having a successful rookie campaign in which he potted 68 points (33 goals and 35 assists) in the 1993-94 season, then Edmonton Oilers’ forward Jason Arnott had to see if he could follow up that successful season in a shortened 48-game schedule.
Arnott did alright as he posted 37 points (15 goals and 22 assists) in 42 games, which probably would’ve put him right around the same point-mark he had his rookie year had it been a full season. Following the 2004-05 lockout, Arnott had a terrific year with the Dallas Stars as he scored 32 goals (his second 30-goal campaign in his NHL career) and added 44 assists for 76 points, which is currently his career high.
Still an unrestricted free agent after playing with the St. Louis Blues last season, who knows if and when the 38-year-old power forward will be back on the ice again.
Ray Whitney, Dallas Stars
The NHL’s Little Engine That Could, Dallas Stars forward Ray Whitney, is now involved with his third league lockout.
With the San Jose Sharks in the 1994-95 shortened season, Whitney had 25 points (13 goals and 12 assists) in 39. He also scored 8 points (4 goals and 4 assists) in 11 postseason games, including the game winning goal in Game 7 of the first round against the Calgary Flames.
After the 2004-05 lockout, Whitney came back strong with the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2005-06 season. That year, Whitney had 55 points (17 goals and 38 assists) in 63 games and added 15 (9 goals and 6 assists) more in the postseason in helping lead the Hurricanes to their first Stanley Cup.
At 40 years of age and with a new two-year contract with the Dallas Stars, this lockout certainly impacts his first season with his new club. Let’s hope that when the puck drops, Whitney can finish his career strong and keep showing the league why he is one of its most consistent players.
Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils
Prior to the 1994-95 lockout, then young New Jersey Devils netminder was coming off a rookie season in which he won the Calder Trophy as the league’s rookie of the year as well as getting his team to within one game of making the Stanley Cup final for the first time in team history.
While a shortened 1994-95 season was not ideal for a Cup-winning campaign, Brodeur helped the Devils make it so. Brodeur went 16-4 with a stellar 1.67 GAA, a .927 save percentage and three shutouts in helping lead the team to its first Stanley Cup by defeating the league-best Detroit Red Wings in a four-game sweep.
The 2005-06 season after the 2004-05 lockout may not have led to another Cup, but Brodeur certainly had another solid season. He won 43 games, had a 2.57 GAA, a .911 save percentage and five shutouts in getting the Devils into the postseason for the ninth straight year.
Like Whitney, Brodeur signed a two-year deal during the off-season, so this lockout significantly cuts into his remaining time in the league.
Chris Pronger, Philadelphia Flyers
When the league was under a lockout in 1994-95, then Hartford Whalers’ young defenceman Chris Pronger had barely made his mark in the NHL.
Yes, Pronger was the second overall pick in the 1993 NHL Draft and yes, he posted 30 points (5 goals and 25 assists) in his rookie campaign. However, Pronger was nowhere near the monster defenceman he would turn out to be in his NHL career.
After the 2004-05 lockout, Pronger started with the Edmonton Oilers after nine terrific seasons with the St. Louis Blues. In 2005-06, Pronger quickly made his presence felt by leading the Oilers to their first Stanley Cup Final since 1990 as he posted 21 points (5 goals and 16 assists) in 24 games.
Currently, Pronger is still suffering from post-concussion syndrome and it is not yet known whether or not Pronger will ever return to the ice the next time the puck drops.
Other NHLers who have endured three lockouts:
Adrian Aucoin, Columbus Blue Jackets
Sergei Gonchar, Ottawa Senators
Roman Hamrlik, Washington Capitals
Nikolai Khabibulin, Edmonton Oilers
Jamie Langenbrunner, St. Louis Blues
Sean O’Donnell, UFA
Brian Rolston, UFA
Ryan Smyth, Edmonton Oilers