What if: The 2004-05 NHL Lockout never happens?

As we all know as hockey fans, we had three lockouts and two of them were shortened seasons. I had a long thing about this for many years as it has itched me for years who it would be. Now the big upside of the lockout was the league grew more and the game got more fun to watch. But I'm a rare breed of hockey fan who can live without the fights and hitting. But we had gotten the addition of shootouts, and the goalie not being allowed to play the puck in certain areas. I personally don't always dwell on the past, but I like to think: what if this lockout never happened. 

But before I get to who wins the 2005 Stanley Cup, I will start out with who has good and bad seasons. 

Art Ross - Joe Thornton

Lady Byng - Martin St. Louis

Hart - Miikka Kiprusoff

Rocket Richard - Ilya Kovalchuk

Norris - Niklas Lidstrom

Vezina - Miikka Kiprusoff

William M. Jennings - Miikka Kiprusoff

Bill Masterson Memorial Trophy - Now, this is an award based off timing. I'm going to leave this blank.

Calder Memorial Trophy - Alex Ovechkin - I think Ovechkin would've had a killer rookie season, but I don't that rookie season gets Washington into the playoffs. And who knows if Ovechkin ends up playing with Backstrom who was a huge part of the Capitals success. 

For the final awards

Prince of Wales - Boston Bruins

Clarence Campbell - Detroit Red Wings

Stanley Cup Champion - I think the Detroit Red Wings would be the 2005 Stanley Cup Champions. Yzerman was just exiting his prime, they still had Lidstrom, Datsyuk was just starting to take over the NHL with his magician-like playing style, Zetterberg was just about to become a player to destroy the league before and after the lockout, and also they had Curtis Joseph who is low-key one of the best goalies of all-time. I also think Yzerman retires after this season.

Conn Smythe - Niklas Lidstrom

Last place I see it being either Columbus, Pittsburgh, Chicago or Los Angeles. But I think I'll keep it as Pittsburgh getting Crosby because I can't see him anywhere else. Would love to have seen him in Columbus because I think Crosby in Columbus would've been something incredible considering he'd be the guy they'd build around as they march their way into their first playoff appearance. But Pittsburgh is where Crosby made a name for himself. 

But how different would the NHL be today? 

Brendan Shanahan introduced new rules to Gary Bettman on how to make the game better. But as for teams, who knows if Thornton gets traded to San Jose. But also, would Dany Heatley get traded to Ottawa? Does Atlanta end up moving to Winnipeg? 

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