1986–87 Winnipeg Jets season

The 1986–87 Winnipeg Jets season was the 15th season of the Winnipeg Jets, their eighth in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Jets placed third in the Smythe Division to qualify for the playoffs. The Jets defeated the Calgary Flames in the first round but lost the Division Final to the Edmonton Oilers. This was the last playoff series win for the original Jets before they moved to Phoenix, Arizona.

Offseason After a poor 1985–86 season, in which the Jets fired head coach Barry Long and replaced him on an interim basis with general manager John Ferguson, the team hired Dan Maloney to become the new head coach on June 20, 1986. Maloney had previously been the head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1984 to 1986, posting a 45–100–15 record with the Leafs during that span.

On June 21, 1986, the Jets selected forward Pat Elynuik with their first round, eighth overall draft pick at the 1986 NHL entry draft. Elynuik spent the 1985–86 season with the Prince Albert Raiders, scoring 53 goals and 106 points in 68 games. In the second round, Winnipeg selected defenseman Teppo Numminen from Tappara Tampere of the SM-liiga.

On August 15, 1986, the Jets made a trade with the Montreal Canadiens, acquiring goaltender Steve Penney and Jan Ingman for goaltender Brian Hayward. Penney had a 6–8–2 record with a 4.36 GAA with Montreal during the 1985–86 season as the back-up to Patrick Roy.

Regular season

Final standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

|1||W||October 9, 1986||3–2 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1986–87) ||1–0–0

|2||W||October 12, 1986||5–3 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1986–87) ||2–0–0

|3||L||October 14, 1986||1–2 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1986–87) ||2–1–0

|4||T||October 16, 1986||4–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1986–87) ||2–1–1

|5||L||October 18, 1986||3–5 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1986–87) ||2–2–1

|6||L||October 19, 1986||1–3 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1986–87) ||2–3–1

|7||W||October 24, 1986||5–2 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (1986–87) ||3–3–1

|8||L||October 26, 1986||4–8 || align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks (1986–87) ||3–4–1

|9||W||October 29, 1986||6–2 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (1986–87) ||4–4–1

|10||L||November 1, 1986||4–7 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1986–87) ||4–5–1

|11||W||November 2, 1986||5–4 OT|| align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1986–87) ||5–5–1

|12||W||November 4, 1986||6–3 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1986–87) ||6–5–1

|13||W||November 7, 1986||2–0 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1986–87) ||7–5–1

|14||W||November 9, 1986||8–1 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1986–87) ||8–5–1

|15||L||November 11, 1986||3–4 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1986–87) ||8–6–1

|16||W||November 13, 1986||6–5 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1986–87) ||9–6–1

|17||W||November 14, 1986||3–2 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1986–87) ||10–6–1

|18||W||November 16, 1986||3–1 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1986–87) ||11–6–1

|19||W||November 18, 1986||3–1 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1986–87) ||12–6–1

|20||L||November 21, 1986||1–4 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1986–87) ||12–7–1

|21||W||November 23, 1986||3–2 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1986–87) ||13–7–1

|22||L||November 26, 1986||3–4 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1986–87) ||13–8–1

|23||W||November 27, 1986||4–3 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1986–87) ||14–8–1

|24||W||November 29, 1986||6–3 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1986–87) ||15–8–1

|25||T||December 3, 1986||3–3 OT|| align="left"| Washington Capitals (1986–87) ||15–8–2

|26||L||December 5, 1986||3–6 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1986–87) ||15–9–2

|27||L||December 7, 1986||1–3 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1986–87) ||15–10–2

|28||L||December 10, 1986||4–7 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1986–87) ||15–11–2

|29||L||December 12, 1986||1–6 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1986–87) ||15–12–2

|30||L||December 14, 1986||1–4 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1986–87) ||15–13–2

|31||L||December 17, 1986||1–5 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1986–87) ||15–14–2

|32||T||December 18, 1986||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1986–87) ||15–14–3

|33||T||December 21, 1986||4–4 OT|| align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1986–87) ||15–14–4

|34||W||December 23, 1986||2–1 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1986–87) ||16–14–4

|35||L||December 26, 1986||2–4 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1986–87) ||16–15–4

|36||W||December 28, 1986||5–4 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1986–87) ||17–15–4

|37||L||December 31, 1986||1–6 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1986–87) ||17–16–4

|38||W||January 2, 1987||6–3 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1986–87) ||18–16–4

|39||W||January 4, 1987||4–2 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1986–87) ||19–16–4

|40||L||January 7, 1987||2–4 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1986–87) ||19–17–4

|41||W||January 9, 1987||3–0 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1986–87) ||20–17–4

|42||W||January 10, 1987||5–2 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1986–87) ||21–17–4

|43||W||January 13, 1987||3–2 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1986–87) ||22–17–4

|44||W||January 14, 1987||4–3 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1986–87) ||23–17–4

|45||W||January 16, 1987||5–4 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1986–87) ||24–17–4

|46||W||January 18, 1987||5–3 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1986–87) ||25–17–4

|47||W||January 19, 1987||5–4 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1986–87) ||26–17–4

|48||L||January 21, 1987||3–5 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1986–87) ||26–18–4

|49||W||January 23, 1987||7–5 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1986–87) ||27–18–4

|50||T||January 27, 1987||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1986–87) ||27–18–5

|51||W||January 28, 1987||2–1 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1986–87) ||28–18–5

|52||L||January 31, 1987||3–6 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1986–87) ||28–19–5

|53||L||February 1, 1987||4–6 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1986–87) ||28–20–5

|54||W||February 4, 1987||5–3 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1986–87) ||29–20–5

|55||W||February 6, 1987||6–1 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1986–87) ||30–20–5

|56||W||February 8, 1987||3–1 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1986–87) ||31–20–5

|57||L||February 14, 1987||2–5 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1986–87) ||31–21–5

|58||T||February 17, 1987||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1986–87) ||31–21–6

|59||L||February 18, 1987||2–5 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1986–87) ||31–22–6

|60||W||February 20, 1987||6–2 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1986–87) ||32–22–6

|61||W||February 22, 1987||5–2 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1986–87) ||33–22–6

|62||L||February 24, 1987||3–8 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1986–87) ||33–23–6

|63||W||February 26, 1987||4–3 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1986–87) ||34–23–6

|64||L||February 28, 1987||3–5 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1986–87) ||34–24–6

|65||W||March 1, 1987||6–3 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (1986–87) ||35–24–6

|66||L||March 4, 1987||2–3 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1986–87) ||35–25–6

|67||T||March 5, 1987||1–1 OT|| align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1986–87) ||35–25–7

|68||L||March 8, 1987||3–5 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1986–87) ||35–26–7

|69||W||March 11, 1987||2–1 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1986–87) ||36–26–7

|70||L||March 13, 1987||0–3 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1986–87) ||36–27–7

|71||T||March 15, 1987||1–1 OT|| align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1986–87) ||36–27–8

|72||W||March 18, 1987||4–3 OT|| align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1986–87) ||37–27–8

|73||L||March 20, 1987||5–6 OT|| align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1986–87) ||37–28–8

|74||W||March 22, 1987||3–2 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1986–87) ||38–28–8

|75||W||March 25, 1987||10–1 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (1986–87) ||39–28–8

|76||L||March 26, 1987||1–3 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1986–87) ||39–29–8

|77||L||March 29, 1987||2–6 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1986–87) ||39–30–8

|78||L||March 31, 1987||4–5 OT|| align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1986–87) ||39–31–8

|79||L||April 3, 1987||4–6 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1986–87) ||39–32–8

|80||W||April 5, 1987||3–1 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1986–87) ||40–32–8

Legend:

Playoffs The Jets won the Division semi-finals (4–2) versus Calgary Flames to advance to the Division Finals, which they lost 4–0 to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Edmonton Oilers.

Player statistics

Regular season Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG C 80 47 53 100 5231004 RW 72 32 42 74 75121006 RW 69 19 32 51 20-2704 C 75 17 33 50 597331 LW 79 27 21 48 243114 D 78 13 31 44 5319502 D 79 4 40 44 106-1100 LW 78 25 18 43 3618024 D 71 16 26 42 93-6504 C 80 17 24 41 152-17112 RW 80 18 18 36 105-13502 D 72 7 29 36 24-3102 RW 71 11 21 32 1066110 D 63 3 13 16 1195000 C 80 3 13 16 1310000 D 72 5 5 10 1624001 D 52 2 8 10 606000 C 30 3 6 9 12-3101 RW 20 1 8 9 8-4000 RW 36 3 4 7 521102 C 26 1 5 6 44-2000 LW 30 2 3 5 57-4001 LW 6 1 2 3 01000 LW 4 1 0 1 02000 LW 11 1 0 1 491000 LW 11 0 1 1 15-3000 LW 2 0 1 1 01000 G 31 0 0 0 20000 RW 6 0 0 0 0-1000 C 2 0 0 0 0-2000 G 7 0 0 0 70000 G 48 0 0 0 80000 D 3 0 0 0 12-4000 Goaltending PlayerMINGPW LTGAGAA SOSASVSV% 2762 48 21 21 4 149 3.24 012561107.881 1758 31 18 7 3 93 3.17 1810717.885 327 7 1 4 1 25 4.59 0134109.813 Team: 4847 80 40 32 8 267 3.31 122001933.879

Playoffs Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG C 10 5 8 13 4300 D 10 0 8 8 2000 RW 10 5 2 7 16200 C 10 3 4 7 8011 RW 9 4 2 6 0200 D 10 1 5 6 18000 C 10 2 3 5 32100 D 10 2 3 5 4100 LW 10 4 0 4 10010 D 10 1 3 4 23001 D 10 0 4 4 36000 C 10 1 2 3 0000 LW 8 2 0 2 2002 RW 8 1 1 2 30000 LW 7 0 2 2 6000 RW 9 0 2 2 10000 D 7 0 1 1 14000 G 8 0 0 0 0000 RW 3 0 0 0 7000 G 3 0 0 0 0000 LW 8 0 0 0 34000 C 1 0 0 0 10000 D 10 0 0 0 21000 Goaltending PlayerMINGPW LGAGAA SOSASVSV% 439 8 4 4 21 2.87 0210189.900 166 3 0 2 10 3.61 07464.865 Team: 605 10 4 6 31 3.07 0284253.891

Transactions

Trades June 21, 1986To Buffalo SabresScott ArnielTo Winnipeg JetsGilles Hamel July 3, 1986To Edmonton OilersMurray EavesTo Winnipeg JetsFuture Considerations August 15, 1986To Montreal CanadiensBrian HaywardTo Winnipeg JetsSteve Penney Jan Ingman January 5, 1987To Quebec NordiquesBill DerlagoTo Winnipeg Jets4th round pick in 1989 – Mark Brownschidle January 8, 1987To Montreal Canadiens3rd round pick in 1987 – François GravelTo Winnipeg JetsSteve Rooney June 5, 1987To St. Louis BluesPerry TurnbullTo Winnipeg Jets5th round pick in 1987 – Ken Gernander June 8, 1987To New York RangersBrian Mullen 10th round pick in 1987 – Brett BarnettTo Winnipeg Jets5th round pick in 1988 – Ben Lebeau 3rd round pick in 1989 – Denny Felsner

Draft picks The Jets selected the following players at the 1986 NHL entry draft, which was held at the Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto on June 15, 1985.

NHL entry draft Round Pick Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team1 8 Pat Elynuik (RW) Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)2 29 Teppo Numminen (D) Tappara Tampere (SM-liiga)3 50 Esa Palosaari (G) Oulun Kärpät (FinD1)4 71 Hannu Jarvenpaa (RW) Oulun Kärpät (FinD1)5 92 Craig Endean (LW) Seattle Breakers (WHL)6 113 Rob Bateman (D) St. Laurent High School (Que.)8 155 Frank Furlan (G) Sherwood Park Crusaders (AJHL)9 176 Mark Green (LW) New Hampton Prep (NH)10 97 John Blue (G) University of Minnesota (NCAA)11 218 Matt Cote (D) Lake Superior State University (NCAA)12 239 Arto Blomsten (D) Djurgårdens IF (SEL)S211Chris LevasseurUniversity of Alaska Anchorage (WCHA)

See also 1986–87 NHL season

References