Edmonton Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers are an NHL franchise in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference.

The Oilers were founded in 1972, as part of the World Hockey Association. When Edmonton acquired young superstar Wayne Gretzky, they finished at the top of the WHA league standings in the last season of its existence. In 1979, the Oilers joined the NHL, led by GM Glen Sather, who created one of the greatest teams in NHL history. With Gretzky’s talent complemented by superstars like Mark Messier, Jari Kurri, Paul Coffey and Grant Fuhr, the Oilers were one of the dominant teams in the ‘80s. While the Oilers made the playoffs each of their first four seasons. In 1984, Gretzky and Messier led the Oilers to their first Stanley Cup, and another in 1985. They lost the following season’s Division Finals playoff on a goal scored on his own net by defenseman Steve Smith. In 1986 and 1987, however, the Oilers won two more Cups, making them one of the most dominant teams in a single decade of NHL history.

In 1988, in one of the most controversial trades in history, Wayne Gretzky was traded to the Los Angeles Kings. The move came back to bite Edmonton almost immediately, as Gretzky defeated the Oilers in the first round of the playoffs that season. In 1989-90, the Oilers returned to the Cup Finals, this time not as the overwhelming favorites, but still managed to pull off their fifth Cup championship. The Oilers would struggle throughout the 1990s after Conference Final appearances in 1991 and ’92. A number of star players buoyed the Oilers’ rejuvenation in 1997. With Doug Weight and Jason Arnott leading the way and Curtis Joseph in net, the Oilers made it to the second round of the playoffs. Edmonton remained competitive over the next seven seasons, making the playoffs in every season but 2002. In an interesting coincidence, the Oilers would play the Dallas Stars every time they made the playoffs, five times in the first round.