Edmonton Oilers

Founding and WHA Years

The Edmonton Oilers were founded on November 1, 1971 by W.D. 'Wild Bill' Hunter and Dr. Charles Allard as one of the twelve founding franchises of the World Hockey Association (WHA). Hunter, who had been rebuffed in efforts to secure an NHL expansion team for Edmonton, turned to the new league to bring major professional hockey to the city. The team was initially announced as the Edmonton Oil Kings but was renamed the Oilers before their first season. For the inaugural 1972-73 WHA season, the team was briefly known as the Alberta Oilers after the planned Calgary Broncos folded, with the intention of splitting home games between Edmonton and Calgary. This plan was short lived, as the team played all its home games at Edmonton Gardens and reverted to the Edmonton Oilers name the following year. The Oilers won the first game in WHA history, defeating the Ottawa Nationals 7-4.

Early Oilers teams featured players like captain Al Hamilton, goaltender Dave Dryden, and forwards Blair MacDonald and Bill Flett. A significant but understated acquisition in 1976 was forward Glen Sather, who joined the team that year. Sather's playing career ended that season, and he was named player coach before moving to the bench full time as head coach thereafter. The franchise remained financially stable by WHA standards despite mediocre on ice performance for much of the league's existence. Ownership changed in 1976 when Hunter and Allard sold the team to Vancouver real estate tycoon Nelson Skalbania, who soon brought in local businessman Peter Pocklington as a partner.

Gretzky's arrival coincided with the team's best WHA season in 1978-79, where they finished first in the league standings with a 48-30-2 record. They advanced to the Avco World Trophy finals but lost to the Winnipeg Jets. Dave Semenko scored the final goal in WHA history during that series. The Oilers were one of four WHA teams admitted to the NHL in 1979 as part of the NHL WHA merger, joining the Hartford Whalers, Quebec Nordiques, and Winnipeg Jets. Of these four franchises, Edmonton is the only one that has not relocated or been renamed since joining the NHL.

NHL Entry and Building a Contender

The Oilers' entry into the NHL for the 1979-80 season was complicated by a league reclamation draft that allowed existing NHL clubs to reclaim players who had jumped to the WHA. The Oilers were only permitted to protect two goaltenders and two skaters. A key factor in the team's foundation was owner Peter Pocklington's 21 year personal services contract with Wayne Gretzky, signed in 1979. Pocklington used this contract to pressure the NHL into admitting the Oilers and allowing them to retain Gretzky, who otherwise would have entered the NHL entry draft pool. The team was placed in the Smythe Division of the Campbell Conference. Their first two NHL seasons were mediocre in the regular season, finishing 16th and 14th league wide, but they qualified for the playoffs each year due to the era's expansive 16 team playoff format. This provided valuable postseason experience for a young core. The Oilers won their first playoff series in 1981, upsetting the Montreal Canadiens.

General manager and coach Glen Sather, along with chief scout Barry Fraser, used high draft positions to assemble a formidable young team. Key draft selections in the early 1980s included Mark Messier, Glenn Anderson, Jari Kurri, Paul Coffey, Kevin Lowe, Grant Fuhr, and Andy Moog. The team's improvement was swift and spectacular. In the 1981-82 season, the Oilers finished second overall in the NHL. Gretzky set a single season goals record with 92 and became the first player to reach 200 points, finishing with 212. Grant Fuhr set a rookie record by going undefeated in 23 consecutive games. The team became the first in NHL history to score 400 goals in a season, a feat they would repeat for five consecutive years. Despite their regular season dominance, they suffered a shocking first round playoff loss to the Los Angeles Kings, highlighted by the Miracle on Manchester where they blew a 5-0 third period lead in Game 3.

In the 1982-83 season, the Edmonton Oilers finished third overall in the National Hockey League. They advanced all the way to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time, losing only once in the process before getting swept by the defending champion New York Islanders. During that season, Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Glenn Anderson, and Jari Kurri all topped 100 points, with defenceman Paul Coffey not far behind at 96 points. After the season, captain Lee Fogolin resigned and named Gretzky as his successor.

The Dynasty Era and Five Stanley Cups

The Oilers' dynasty began in earnest with the 1983-84 season, where they finished first overall with a franchise record 57 wins and 119 points. The team set an NHL record by scoring 446 goals and was the first to feature three 50 goal scorers Gretzky, Kurri, and Anderson. Gretzky recorded a point in the first 51 games of the season, and Paul Coffey became only the second defenceman to score 40 goals. After sweeping Winnipeg and defeating Calgary in seven games, the Oilers swept Minnesota to reach the Stanley Cup Final for a rematch with the Islanders. Edmonton won the series in five games, capturing its first championship and becoming the first former WHA team to win the Cup. Mark Messier won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

The team repeated as champions in 1984-85, finishing second overall. Gretzky led the league with 73 goals while Kurri scored a career high 71. In the playoffs, Paul Coffey set records for a defenceman with 12 goals, 25 assists, and 37 points in a single postseason. Jari Kurri tied the playoff goals record with 19. The Oilers defeated the Philadelphia Flyers in five games in the Final, with Gretzky winning the Conn Smythe after setting a playoff points record of 47. This 1984-85 team was later voted the greatest NHL team of all time during the league's 2017 centennial celebrations. The 1985-86 season saw the Oilers win the inaugural Presidents' Trophy with the league's best record. Gretzky set records with 163 assists and 215 points, while Coffey scored 48 goals from the blue line. However, their quest for a third straight Cup ended in the second round when rookie defenceman Steve Smith's infamous own goal in Game 7 gave the series to the Calgary Flames.

The Oilers reclaimed the Presidents' Trophy and the Stanley Cup in 1986-87, defeating the Philadelphia Flyers in a seven game Final. In a poignant moment, Gretzky immediately handed the Cup to Steve Smith upon winning it, redeeming Smith's prior mistake. The 1987-88 season began with the departures of Paul Coffey and Andy Moog, but Grant Fuhr set a team record with 40 wins. The Oilers swept the Boston Bruins in the Final to win their fourth Cup, though Game 4 was cancelled due to a power outage and replayed. Gretzky won the Conn Smythe, and after the clinching game, he started the tradition of a team photo at centre ice with the Stanley Cup. The dynasty concluded with a fifth championship in 1989-90. After trading Gretzky, the team, now captained by Mark Messier and coached by John Muckler, defeated the Boston Bruins in the Final. Game 1 of that series was the longest Stanley Cup Final game in the modern NHL era, a 3-2 Oilers victory.

The Gretzky Trade and Post Dynasty Challenges

On August 9, 1988, in one of the most shocking trades in sports history, the Oilers traded Wayne Gretzky, along with Marty McSorley and Mike Krushelnyski, to the Los Angeles Kings. In return, Edmonton received 15 million US dollars, young centre Jimmy Carson, prospect Martin Gelinas, and three future first round draft picks. The trade was motivated by owner Peter Pocklington's desire to avoid losing Gretzky for nothing, as the star's contract included an option for unrestricted free agency after the 1988-89 season. The move devastated the team and its fans, prompting political commentary and even talk of a player strike. Mark Messier succeeded Gretzky as team captain. The immediate on ice impact was clear in the 1988-89 season, as the Oilers finished third in their division. In a cruel twist, their first round playoff opponent was Gretzky's Kings. Edmonton took a 3-1 series lead but lost three straight, with Gretzky's Kings winning Game 7 in Los Angeles for an early Oilers exit.

The following seasons were marked by transition and change. Glen Sather moved from head coach to president and general manager, with John Muckler taking over behind the bench. Goaltender Grant Fuhr missed most of the 1989-90 season due to appendicitis and a shoulder injury, paving the way for Bill Ranford to become the starter. Early in that season, Jimmy Carson, struggling with the pressure in Edmonton, was traded to Detroit in a multi player deal that brought Petr Klima, Adam Graves, Joe Murphy, and Jeff Sharples to the Oilers. Despite these changes, the team rallied to win its fifth Stanley Cup in 1990. The subsequent years saw the gradual dismantling of the championship core due to financial pressures and the NHL's changing economic landscape. Key players like Messier, Fuhr, and Kurri were traded or left as free agents. The team entered a prolonged period of middling performance, missing the playoffs several times and failing to recapture its former glory for over a decade.

Rebuilding and Return to Contention

After a surprise run to the 2006 Stanley Cup Final, which ended in a loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, the Oilers entered a prolonged period of struggle. The team missed the playoffs for ten consecutive seasons from 2007 to 2016. This drought resulted in numerous high draft picks, giving the franchise an unprecedented opportunity to rebuild through the draft. From 2007 to 2019, Edmonton made 16 first round selections. This included 11 picks within the top ten overall, six within the top four, and four first overall selections. Of these, only Nugent Hopkins and McDavid remained long term core pieces.

The team's fortunes began to improve with McDavid's arrival, and they returned to the playoffs in 2017, ending the decade long drought. The team moved into its new arena, Rogers Place, in 2016. After several deep playoff runs, the Oilers returned to the Stanley Cup Final in 2024, led by captain Connor McDavid. They were defeated by the Florida Panthers. The very next season, in 2025, the Oilers again reached the Final, only to fall once more to the Florida Panthers. These back to back appearances signalled a return to the NHL's biggest stage, though the championship eluded them.

Recent Seasons and Current Outlook

As of the 2026-27 NHL season, the Edmonton Oilers continue to be a prominent force in the Western Conference's Pacific Division. The team is led by captain Connor McDavid and head coach Mike Babcock. Their home games are played at Rogers Place in downtown Edmonton. The official 2026-27 roster includes key players such as defencemen Evan Bouchard and Mattias Ekholm, reflecting a blend of offensive stars and defensive reinforcements. The team's financial health is robust, with Forbes listing the Edmonton Oilers as the third most profitable sports team in the world in 2026. This profitability underscores the franchise's strong market position and dedicated fan base, even decades after its dynasty years. The Oilers' schedule for the 2026-27 regular season is set, with full details available on major sports networks. The team aims to build on its recent successes and finally end its Stanley Cup drought, which has persisted since 1990.

The core of McDavid, Draisaitl, and Nugent Hopkins provides a foundation for continued contention. The organization's challenge remains translating regular season prowess and deep playoff runs into a sixth championship. The Battle of Alberta rivalry with the Calgary Flames continues to be a highlight of the NHL calendar, maintaining its intensity and importance to fans across Canada. The Oilers' story remains one of historic achievement, prolonged struggle, and a determined quest to return to the summit of professional hockey.

Questions about Edmonton Oilers

How many Stanley Cups have the Edmonton Oilers won?

The Edmonton Oilers have won the Stanley Cup five times. Their championships came in the 1983-84, 1984-85, 1986-87, 1987-88, and 1989-90 NHL seasons. This run in the 1980s and early 1990s earned the team official dynasty status from the Hockey Hall of Fame. They are tied with the Pittsburgh Penguins for the most championships won by any team since the 1979 NHL WHA merger.

Why did the Oilers trade Wayne Gretzky?

The Oilers traded Wayne Gretzky to the Los Angeles Kings in August 1988 primarily due to financial concerns of owner Peter Pocklington. Gretzky had signed a standard player contract in 1987 that included an option to become an unrestricted free agent after the 1988-89 season. Unwilling to risk losing his star asset for no return, Pocklington initiated the trade. The deal sent Gretzky, Marty McSorley, and Mike Krushelnyski to Los Angeles for 15 million US dollars, players Jimmy Carson and Martin Gelinas, and three future first round draft picks.

When did the Oilers join the NHL?

The Edmonton Oilers joined the National Hockey League (NHL) for the 1979-80 season. They were one of four teams from the rival World Hockey Association (WHA) that were absorbed into the NHL as part of the NHL WHA merger. The other three teams were the Hartford Whalers, Quebec Nordiques, and Winnipeg Jets. Of these four franchises, the Edmonton Oilers are the only one that has not relocated or changed its name since joining the NHL.

Where do the Edmonton Oilers play their home games?

The Edmonton Oilers play their home games at Rogers Place, located in downtown Edmonton. The arena opened in 2016, replacing the longtime home of the Oilers, Northlands Coliseum (originally known as Edmonton Coliseum and later Rexall Place). Rogers Place is a modern multipurpose arena and serves as the centrepiece of the city's Ice District. It hosts all Oilers home games and provides the team with a state of the art facility for operations and fan experience.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-19.