Edmonton Oilers

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{{NHL Team Infobox |team_name = Edmonton Oilers |bg_color = #00285D |text_color = white |logo = Edmonton Oilers.gif |alternate_logo = Edmonton-alternate.gif |founded = 1972 |home_arena = Rexall Place |hometown = Edmonton, Alberta |team_colors = Midnight blue, copper, silver |head_coach = Craig MacTavish |captain = Jason Smith |alternate_captains = Ethan Moreau
Ryan Smyth |general_manager = Kevin Lowe |owner = Edmonton Investors Group Limited Partnership |minor_league = Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL and Odessa Jackalopes of the CHL }}

The Edmonton Oilers are a National Hockey League team based in Edmonton, Alberta.

Contents

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Facts

Founded: 1972, as member of the World Hockey Association (WHA). Joined the National Hockey League (NHL) in 1979.
Formerly known as: Alberta Oilers (1972-1973)
Arena: Rexall Place
Former Arena Names: Northlands Coliseum, Edmonton Coliseum, Skyreach Centre
Former Home Arena: Edmonton Gardens
Uniform Colours: Copper, White and Midnight Blue
Logo Design: A circle surrounding the word "OILERS", a copper-coloured drop of oil at the top
Third Jersey: A navy blue, white and silver jersey with a metallic gear logo (designed by part owner and comic book writer/artist Todd McFarlane) with a navy blue oil drop centred on the gear and three blades coming out the back
Stanley Cups won (5): 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990
Main Rivals: Calgary Flames, Dallas Stars
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Franchise history

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The WHA years

Image:Edmontonoilerslogo80s.gif In 1972 the Alberta Oilers joined the World Hockey Association as a founding member. The team was originally owned by Bill Hunter. Hunter had previously owned the Edmonton Oil Kings and founded what would become the Western Hockey League, but his efforts to bring professional hockey to Edmonton had been rebuffed by the NHL. Originally, the team was named the Alberta Oilers as it was planned to split their home games between Edmonton and Calgary after the Calgary Broncos folded. For various reasons, possibly financial reasons or the possibility of allowing easier expansion of either the NHL or WHA to Calgary, the team played all of its games in Edmonton, and changed their name to reflect this the following year.

The team was not one of the league's more successful on the ice, accumulating a mediocre record until the final WHA season of 1978-79, where, led by future superstar Wayne Gretzky, the Oilers gained a 48-30-2 mark to lead the league in the regular season, but fell to the Winnipeg Jets in the finals. However, the team proved popular with the fans, behind stars such as defenceman and team captain Al Hamilton, star goaltender Dave Dryden and forwards Blair McDonald and Bill Flett.

In 1978, new owner Peter Pocklington scored one of the greatest trades in hockey history, acquiring already-aspiring superstar Gretzky from the Indianapolis Racers for a token sum. Gretzky played only a single season in the WHA before the league folded, and Edmonton joined the NHL with the Winnipeg Jets, Hartford Whalers, and Quebec Nordiques. Of these four teams, only Edmonton has avoided relocation and renaming.

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Career leaders (WHA, 1972-1979)

  • Games: Al Hamilton, 456
  • Goals: Rusty Patenaude, 126
  • Assists: Hamilton, 258
  • Points: Hamilton, 311
  • Penalty Minutes: Doug Barrie, 620
  • Goaltending Wins: Dave Dryden, 112
  • Shutouts: Dryden, 8
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Jersey history

Image:Oilers 1975 Away Alt.gif The original 1972 design featured the traditional colors of blue and orange, but reversed from their more familiar appearance in later seasons, orange being the dominant color and blue used for the trimming. For the first few games of the 1972 season, player names weren't displayed on the uniform; rather the word 'ALBERTA' was written in that space. Once it became clear, however, that the team would play exclusively in Edmonton, the player names made their appearance. These jerseys also featured the player numbers high on the shoulders, rather than on the upper sleeve.

In 1975-1976 the jersey was changed to the more familiar blue base with orange trim, but with some minor differences. The logo that appeared on programs and promotional material remained the same, however the logo that appeared on the home jersey had a white oil drop, on a dark orange field, with the team name written in deep blue. The away jersey featured the orange-printed logo that many mistakenly attribute to the entire history of the WHA Oilers. In every other facet, though, the jerseys were identical to the dynasty-era form that is known throughout the hockey world. Image:Oilers 1975 Home Alt.gif

When the team jumped to the NHL in 1979, the alternate logos were discarded, and the jersey took its most famous form, though the logo did appear very slightly differently on different vintages of the jersey (1979, 1986, 1990). The essential design remained untouched until 1996, when the blue and orange were replaced by midnight blue and copper. Other changes made to the jersey at that point were the removal of the orange shoulder bar and cuffs from the away jersey, and the addition of the "Rigger" alternate logo to the end of the shoulder bar on the home jersey, and the equivalent position on the road jersey. A year later, the shoulder bars were removed from the home jersey as well, giving the Oilers' sweater its modern look.

The introduction of the third jersey, with a logo designed by Spawn creator Todd McFarlane, in 2001 was a controversial move, particularly given how ghastly so many other teams' designs turned out. While there remains some disdain towards both the Rigger logo and McFarlane's "Blades" logo--meant to symbolize elements of the Oilers' past--the navy, silver, and white design is generally considered a success, though it's unlikely it will ever become the basis for the team's primary jerseys as it has in Dallas and Los Angeles.

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The NHL years

With an incredible core of young players, including Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Jari Kurri, Glenn Anderson, Grant Fuhr, and Kevin Lowe, the Edmonton Oilers became one of the greatest dynasties in hockey history with their domination of the NHL in the 1980s. The Oilers made a name for themselves very early, making the Stanley Cup playoffs in only their first season. Although they were swept in three games by the Philadelphia Flyers and their second regular season gave them mediocre results in the standings, the Oilers scored a stunning upset in the first round of the 1981 playoffs, defeating the strongly-favoured Montreal Canadiens three games to none, the Oilers making a case that they needed swift respect. In the 1981-82 season, the Oilers became the league's strongest team in the regular season, but youthful lapses of discipline led to their losing the first playoff round. In 1983 they made it to their first-ever Stanley Cup finals, but were swept in four games by the three-time defending champions, the New York Islanders. A year later, however, Edmonton defeated the Islanders in five games (four to one) to claim their first Stanley Cup.

Edmonton repeated Cup success in 1985 against the Philadelphia Flyers, but were knocked out of the playoffs in 1986 when Steve Smith scored on his own net in the seventh game of the Campbell Conference finals against the rival Calgary Flames. In 1987 Edmonton returned to the finals to defeat the Philadelphia Flyers in a tense seven-game series. In 1988 the Oilers made their strongest-ever run to the Cup, losing only 2 games of 18 and sweeping the Boston Bruins in the final to claim their fourth trophy in five years. Image:Oilers Team Photo '88.jpg

That summer however was extremely bittersweet for the Edmonton fans, as Gretzky was traded to the Los Angeles Kings for $15 million and two players. The 1989 season was a troubled one because of this trade, and for the first time since 1982, the Oilers were out of the playoffs in the first round, losing a seven-game series to the Kings.

1990 seemed set to continue the troubles for the Oilers, especially when All-Star and future Hall of Fame goalie Grant Fuhr was charged with possession and use of cocaine. But the team rallied behind new goalie Bill Ranford, and despite finishing third in their division, behind Calgary and Los Angeles, the Oilers made it all the way for the fifth and (to date) final time, once again defeating the Boston Bruins, this time in five games. Ranford won the playoff MVP that year for his brilliant goaltending.

The writing was on the wall however. The Gretzky trade had opened up a new reality of rapidly climbing salaries in the NHL, and small-market teams like Edmonton simply couldn't compete with salaries offered in large U.S. cities. Messier, Kurri, Fuhr, and Anderson all left the team in rapid succession, leaving behind an underdeveloped base of young players and unproven prospects. Despite appearances in the Conference Finals in 1991 and 1992, the Oilers were nowhere near the powerhouse that had dominated the previous half-decade. In 1993 the Oilers missed the playoffs for the first time since their inaugural season. They would not return for four years, despite the emergence of young centremen Doug Weight and Jason Arnott.

Trouble followed the team off the ice as well, as the Gainers meat-packing industry owned by Pocklington failed amidst charges of scandal and corruption. For most of the 1990s the Oilers were desperately trying to stay alive. In 1999 a consortium of 37 owners finally purchased the team, vowing to keep the team in Edmonton. The Oilers have received support in this endeavour from the NHL, which was deeply troubled by the loss of two Canadian teams in short order.

Image:Oilers Rigger.gif In 1997 the Oilers returned to the Stanley Cup playoffs and emerged victorious again, defeating the Dallas Stars in a seven-game series considered to be one of the most exciting of all time. Riding on the hot goaltending of Curtis Joseph, the Oilers completed the upset with the final goal coming on a breakaway by Todd Marchant in overtime. Another of the highlights of that playoff series occurred on April 20th. Down 3-0 with just under 4 minutes to go in game #3 of their western conference quarter final match-up against the Dallas Stars, the Edmonton Oilers rallied for three goals in the final three minutes of the third period to tie the game and eventually win 4-3 in overtime on Kelly Buchberger's game-winning goal.

Though Edmonton would lose to Colorado in the next round, fans were ecstatic about the Oilers' return to the playoffs. In 1998 Dallas and Edmonton met again, this time in the second round of the playoffs, with Dallas emerging the victor. This has led to one of the most unusual rivalries of all time in hockey: between 1997 and 2003 the Oilers and Stars have played each other in the playoffs six times, five of them first-round matchups. The only year in which they did not meet was 2002, when neither team made the playoffs. In 2004 the streak came to an official end, when Edmonton failed to qualify for the playoff round, while Dallas went on to play the Colorado Avalanche.

On November 22, 2003, the Oilers hosted the Heritage Classic, the first outdoor hockey game in the NHL's history. The Edmonton Oilers were defeated by the Montreal Canadiens 4-3 in front of more than fifty-five thousand fans, an NHL attendance record, at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton.

On July 23, 2004, the team announced that its minor league affiliate, the Toronto Roadrunners would play the 2004-05 AHL season at the Oilers' home arena, now known as Rexall Place. The decision, an unusual one for a North American professional sports organisation, was likely influenced by the expectation that the 2004-05 NHL lockout would wipe out the 2004-05 NHL season. After an unsuccessful year, the Edmonton Road Runners were suspended at the end of 2004-05.

The Oilers have struggled with their small-market status for years as big-market teams scooped up high-priced help. But following the wiped-out 2004-05 NHL season, the Oilers appear poised to compete again. With a league-wide salary cap in place, all teams are placed on a much more equal financial footing, allowing the Oilers to sign two important stars - former league MVP Chris Pronger, and New York Islanders forward Michael Peca - giving fans hope that the team may return to the playoffs, if not to their former glory. So far those hopes have panned out: the Oilers have recovered from a streaky, inconsistent start to clinch a playoff berth in April. The additions of goaltender Dwayne Roloson from the Minnesota Wild and forward Sergei Samsonov from the Boston Bruins at the trade deadline were designed to shore up a team that had begun to suffer again from inconsistency. While the team somewhat limped into the position, they were able to clinch a playoff spot on April 13, in their 81st game, by defeating the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, while the San Jose Sharks beat the ninth-place Vancouver Canucks. The Oilers will play the Detroit Red Wings in the first round of the 2005/2006 NHL payoffs.

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Season-by-season record

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Alberta/Edmonton Oilers (WHA 1972-79)

Logo Season GP W L T Pts GF GA PIM Finish Playoffs
Image:Edmontonoilerslogo80s.gif 1972-73 78 37 35 6 80 259 250 843 4th in West Out of Playoffs
Image:Edmontonoilerslogo80s.gif 1973-74 78 44 32 2 90 332 275 1273 3rd in West Lost Preliminary (MIN)
Image:Edmontonoilerslogo80s.gif 1974-75 78 36 38 4 76 279 279 896 5th in Canadian Out of Playoffs
Image:Edmontonoilerslogo80s.gif 1975-76 81 27 49 5 59 268 345 991 4th in Canadian Lost Quarterfinals (WPG)
Image:Edmontonoilerslogo80s.gif 1976-77 81 34 43 4 72 243 304 1319 4th in West Lost Quarterfinals (HOU)
Image:Edmontonoilerslogo80s.gif 1977-78 80 38 39 3 79 309 307 1296 5th in WHA Lost Preliminary (NE)
Image:Edmontonoilerslogo80s.gif 1978-79 80 48 30 2 98 340 266 1220 1st in WHA Lost Final (WPG)
Image:Edmontonoilerslogo80s.gif Grand Totals 556 264 266 26 554 2030 2026 7838
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Edmonton Oilers (NHL 1979-present)

Logo Season GP W L T OTL Pts GF GA PIM Finish Playoffs
Image:Edmontonoilerslogo80s.gif1979-80 80 28 39 13 -- 69 301 322 1528 4th in Smythe Lost Preliminary (PHI)
Image:Edmontonoilerslogo80s.gif1980-81 80 29 35 16 -- 74 328 327 1544 4th in Smythe Lost Quarterfinal (NYI)
Image:Edmontonoilerslogo80s.gif1981-82 80 48 17 15 -- 111 417 295 1473 1st in Smythe Lost Division Semifinal (LA)
Image:Edmontonoilerslogo80s.gif1982-83 80 47 21 12 -- 106 424 315 1771 1st in Smythe Lost Stanley Cup Final (NYI)
Image:Edmontonoilerslogo80s.gif1983-84 80 57 18 5 -- 119 446 314 1577 1st in Smythe Won Stanley Cup
Image:Edmontonoilerslogo80s.gif1984-85 80 49 20 11 -- 109 401 298 1567 1st in Smythe Won Stanley Cup
Image:Edmontonoilerslogo80s.gif1985-86 80 56 17 7 -- 119 426 310 1928 1st in Smythe Lost Division Final (CGY)
Image:Edmontonoilerslogo80s.gif1986-87 80 50 24 6 -- 106 372 284 1721 1st in Smythe Won Stanley Cup
Image:Edmontonoilerslogo80s.gif1987-88 80 44 25 11 -- 99 363 288 2173 2nd in Smythe Won Stanley Cup
Image:Edmontonoilerslogo80s.gif1988-89 80 38 34 8 -- 84 325 306 1931 3rd in Smythe Lost Division Semifinal (LA)
Image:Edmontonoilerslogo80s.gif1989-90 80 38 28 14 -- 90 315 283 2046 2nd in Smythe Won Stanley Cup
Image:Edmontonoilerslogo80s.gif1990-91 80 37 37 6 -- 80 272 272 1823 3rd in Smythe Lost Conference Finals (MIN)
Image:Edmontonoilerslogo80s.gif1991-92 80 36 34 10 -- 82 295 297 1907 3rd in Smythe Lost Conference Finals (CHI)
Image:Edmontonoilerslogo80s.gif1992-93 84 26 50 8 -- 60 242 337 2027 5th in Smythe Out of Playoffs
Image:Edmontonoilerslogo80s.gif1993-94 84 25 45 14 -- 64 261 305 1858 6th in Pacific Out of Playoffs
Image:Edmontonoilerslogo80s.gif1994-951 48 17 27 4 -- 38 136 183 1183 5th in Pacific Out of Playoffs
Image:Edmontonoilerslogo80s.gif1995-96 82 30 44 8 -- 68 240 304 1709 5th in Pacific Out of Playoffs
Image:Edmonton Oilers.gif1996-97 82 36 37 9 -- 81 252 247 1368 3rd in Pacific Lost Conference Semifinal (COL)
Image:Edmonton Oilers.gif1997-98 82 35 37 10 -- 80 215 224 1690 3rd in Pacific Lost Conference Semifinal (DAL)
Image:Edmonton Oilers.gif1998-99 82 33 37 12 -- 78 230 226 1373 2nd in Northwest Lost Conference Quarterfinal (DAL)
Image:Edmonton Oilers.gif1999-00 82 32 26 16 8 88 226 212 1344 2nd in Northwest Lost Conference Quarterfinal (DAL)
Image:Edmonton Oilers.gif2000-01 82 39 28 12 3 93 243 222 1287 2nd in Northwest Lost Conference Quarterfinal (DAL)
Image:Edmonton Oilers.gif2001-02 82 38 28 12 4 92 205 182 1267 3rd in Northwest Out of Playoffs
Image:Edmonton Oilers.gif2002-03 82 36 26 11 9 92 231 230 1203 4th in Northwest Lost Conference Quarterfinal (DAL)
Image:Edmonton Oilers.gif2003-04 82 36 29 12 5 89 221 208 1220 4th in Northwest Out of Playoffs
Image:Edmonton Oilers.gif2004-052 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Image:Edmonton Oilers.gif2005-06 82 41 28 -- 13 95 256 251 1178 3rd in Northwest
Image:Edmonton Oilers.gifGrand Totals 2046 968 781 262 35 2221 7560 6963 41158
1 Season was shortened due to the 1994-95 NHL lockout.
2 Season was cancelled due to the 2004-05 NHL lockout.
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Notable players

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Current squad

As of March 29, 2006 [1]

Goaltenders
Number Player Catches Acquired Place of Birth
29 Template:Flagicon Ty Conklin L 2001 Anchorage, Alaska
30 Template:Flagicon Jussi Markkanen L 2004 Imatra, Finland
35 Template:Flagicon Dwayne Roloson L 2006 Simcoe, Ontario
Defencemen
Number Player Shoots Acquired Place of Birth
2 Template:Flagicon Matt Greene R 2002 Grand Ledge, Michigan
6 Template:Flagicon Jaroslav Spacek L 2006 Rokycany, Czechoslovakia
21 Template:Flagicon Jason Smith - C R 1999 Calgary, Alberta
23 Template:Flagicon Dick Tarnstrom L 2006 Sundbyberg, Sweden
24 Template:Flagicon Steve Staios R 2001 Hamilton, Ontario
44 Template:Flagicon Chris Pronger L 2005 Dryden, Ontario
47 Template:Flagicon Marc-Andre Bergeron L 2001 St-Louis-de-France, Quebec
55 Template:Flagicon Igor Ulanov L 2004 Krasnokamsk, U.S.S.R.
Forwards
Number Player Shoots Position Acquired Place of Birth
10 Template:Flagicon Shawn Horcoff L C 1998 Trail, British Columbia
12 Template:Flagicon Sergei Samsonov R LW 2006 Moscow, U.S.S.R.
13 Template:Flagicon Todd Harvey R RW 2004 Hamilton, Ontario
14 Template:Flagicon Raffi Torres L LW 2003 Toronto, Ontario
16 Template:Flagicon Jarret Stoll R C 2002 Melville, Saskatchewan
18 Template:Flagicon Ethan Moreau - A L LW 1999 Huntsville, Ontario
20 Template:Flagicon Radek Dvorak R RW 2003 Tabor, Czechoslovakia
22 Template:Flagicon Rem Murray L C 2006 Stratford, Ontario
26 Template:Flagicon Brad Winchester L RW/LW 2000 Madison, Wisconsin
27 Template:Flagicon Georges Laraque R RW 1995 Montreal, Quebec
34 Template:Flagicon Fernando Pisani L RW/LW 1996 Edmonton, Alberta
36 Template:Flagicon Marc-Antoine Pouliot R C 2003 Quebec City, Quebec
37 Template:Flagicon Michael Peca R C 2005 Toronto, Ontario
83 Template:Flagicon Ales Hemsky R RW 2001 Pardubice, Czechoslovakia
94 Template:Flagicon Ryan Smyth - A L LW 1994 Banff, Alberta
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Hall of Famers

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Team captains

Note: This list includes the (NHL) and (WHA)

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Retired numbers

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Franchise scoring leaders

These are the top-ten point-scorers in the history of the Oilers in the NHL. Figures are updated after each completed NHL regular season. Note: GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points

Player POS GP G A Pts
Wayne Gretzky C 696 583 1086 1669
Jari Kurri RW 754 474 569 1043
Mark Messier C 851 392 642 1034
Glenn Anderson RW 845 417 489 906
Paul Coffey D 532 209 460 669
Doug Weight C 588 157 420 577
Esa Tikkanen LW 490 178 258 436
Ryan Smyth LW 642 198 232 430
Kevin Lowe D 1037 74 309 383
Charlie Huddy D 694 61 287 368
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See also

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External links

National Hockey League 1917 to present
Current teams : Anaheim | Atlanta | Boston | Buffalo | Calgary | Carolina | Chicago | Colorado | Columbus | Dallas | Detroit | Edmonton | Florida | Los Angeles | Minnesota | Montreal | Nashville | New Jersey | NY Islanders | NY Rangers | Ottawa | Philadelphia | Phoenix | Pittsburgh | San Jose | St. Louis | Tampa Bay | Toronto | Vancouver | Washington
Trophies and awards: Stanley Cup | Prince of Wales | Clarence S. Campbell | Presidents' Trophy | Adams | Art Ross | Calder | Conn Smythe | Crozier | Hart | Jennings | King Clancy | Lady Byng | Masterton | Norris | Patrick | Pearson | Plus/Minus | Rocket Richard | Selke | Vezina
Template:Seealso
bg:Едмънтън Ойлърс

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