Top 12 NHL stories of 2012

12. Stamkos' 60th goal. When the Tampa Bay Lightning's Steven Stamkos scored his 50th goal on March 13, that gave him 13 games to become the first center since Mario Lemieux (1995-96) to record 60 goals in a season. He promptly went scoreless in the next four games.

But Stamkos scored 10 goals over his last nine games to hit the mark. He scored his 60th goal a little more than three minutes into the third period of the season finale.

11. Jordan Staal trade. The Pittsburgh Penguins' strength was their top three centers: Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal. The question was whether the Penguins could afford all three under a cap system. Pittsburgh offered a 10-year extension to Staal and he turned it down.

At the June 22 draft, the Penguins responded by trading Jordan Staal, left, to the Carolina Hurricanes for Brandon Sutter, a prospect and a first-round pick. Jordan, who will join brother Eric, right, on the Hurricanes, found out about the trade during his wedding reception. Six days later, Sidney Crosby signed a 12-year, $104.4 million extension.

10. Winter Classic: The outdoor game was on Jan. 2, but Philadelphia Flyers goalie Ilya Bryzgalov made news the day before by saying he would be on the bench. That night, he tweeted a picture of the Thermos he planned to have with him.

The Rangers won the game 3-2 but not before goalie Henrik Lundqvist had to stop Danny Briere on a penalty shot with 19.6 seconds left.

Afterward, Rangers coach John Tortorella criticized the officiating: "I'm not sure if NBC got together with the refs or what to turn this into an overtime game. It started with the non-call on (Marian Gaborik), and he gets pitchforked in the stomach and everything starts going against us. So for two good refs, I thought the game was reffed horribly." Tortorella was fined $30,000.

9. Raffi Torres suspension. Amid a particularly nasty first round of the playoffs, the Phoenix Coyotes' Torres launched himself at the Chicago Blackhawks' Marian Hossa on April 17, leaving him with a concussion. Hossa was taken off the ice on a stretcher and Torres, a repeat offender, had a hearing with Brendan Shanahan.

Brendan Shanahan suspended Raffi Torres for 25 games, enough to cover the rest of the playoffs, with anything leftover to be served during the 2012-13 season. The NHLPA appealed and Commissioner Gary Bettman handed down a 21-game sentence instead.

8. Shea Weber offer sheet:The Philadelphia Flyers gave the Nashville Predators captain a 14-year, $110 million offer sheet that had $68 million in signing bonuses over six years, including an immediate $13 million payout.

The Predators decided immediately to match but waited the full week before revealing their decision on July 24. They held a news conference at a public rally the next day.

7. Tim Thomas' sabbatical: The goalie skipped the Boston Bruins' White House ceremony on Jan. 23 and later announced on Facebook that he didn't go because he thought the government was too big.

The defending champions and Thomas lost in the first round to the Washington Capitals. In June, he said he would take 2012-13 off. He again took to Facebook to explain that he wanted to reconnect with friends, family and faith.

6 The Rick Nash trade: Columbus Blue Jackets captain Rick Nash's trade demand made him the hottest player at the trade deadline. GM Scott Howson didn't find the right offer and Nash finished the season with Columbus.

On July 23, he was dealt to the New York Rangers in a deal that included Brandon Dubinsky and Artem Anisimov. The Rangers had the scoring star they desperately craved. The lockout, however, prevented his Manhattan debut and he played in Switzerland instead.

5. Flyers-Penguins series: Some predicted the Penguins might go far in the playoffs, but they blew a 3-0 lead in Game 1, precipitating one of the weirder playoffs series as the sides combined for 38 goals over the next three games.

Goals weren't the only things that were flying as numerous fights broke out, including one between stars Sidney Crosby and Claude Giroux in Game 3. Afterward, Crosby said, "I do not like any guy on their team." Penguins players Arron Asham, James Neal and Craig Adams were suspended during the series, which the Flyers won 4-2.

4. Wild's free agent splash: Zach Parise and Ryan Suter were the NHL's hottest free agents. Teams spent three days trying to sign both and the Predators tried to hang on to Suter.

The Wild had an advantage, though, because Parise is from Minnesota and Suter is from Wisconsin. On the Fourth of July, the Wild signed both to 13-year, $98 million contracts.

3. Nicklas Lidstrom retires: The Detroit Red Wings said goodbye to one of the best defensemen and classiest players of all time, leaving a gaping hole on their blue line.

After all, how do you replace someone who has won seven Norris trophies and four Stanley Cups? You don't. The Red Wings signed Carlo Colaiacovo to fill the roster spot and will count on Niklas Kronwall and Brendan Smith playing bigger roles.

2. New royalty: The Los Angeles Kings' regular season certainly wasn't what was expected as they barely finished eighth. They turned it around in the playoffs, getting past Vancouver, St. Louis and Phoenix in a total of 14 games.

Los Angeles took a 3-0 lead in the Stanley Cup Final and although the New Jersey Devils forced a Game 6, the Kings captured the first championship in the team's 45-year history on June 11.

The Kings and the NHL appeared to be on top of the world, but then came …

1. The lockout: This one seemed so inevitable that the league allowed the Sept. 15 deadline to pass without an announcement. There was acrimony galore, a few moments of hope, plenty of disappointment, player anger at Gary Bettman and owner frustration with Donald Fehr.