The history of the Edmonton Oilers dates back to 1972, when the team was established as a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta. The team originally played in the World Hockey Association (WHA), before joining the National Hockey League (NHL) in 1979. The team played its first season in 1972–73 as one of 12 founding franchises of the major professional World Hockey Association (WHA). They were originally supposed to be one of two WHA teams in Alberta (the other one being the Calgary Broncos). However, when the Broncos folded before the WHA's first season began, the Edmonton Oilers were renamed the Alberta Oilers. They returned to using the Edmonton Oilers name for the 1973–74 season, and have been called that ever since. The Oilers subsequently joined the NHL in 1979; one of four franchises introduced through the NHL merger with the WHA.
After joining the NHL, the Oilers went on to win the Stanley Cup on five occasions: 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988 and 1990. For their success in the 1980s, the Oilers team of this era has been honoured with "dynasty" status by the Hockey Hall of Fame. During the NHL Centennial Season celebrations, four of those Oiler Cup-winning teams were placed in the Top Ten NHL Teams of all time, including the 1984–85 Edmonton Oilers being voted the NHL's Greatest Team in its first 100 years.
WHA years (1972–1979) On November 1, 1971, the Edmonton Oilers became one of 12 founding World Hockey Association (WHA) franchises. The original team founders were "Wild" Bill Hunter and partner, Dr. Charles A. "Chuck" Allard (1919–1991)Riess, Steven A.Sports in America from Colonial Times to the Twenty-First Century: An Encyclopedia, Routledge, USA, 2015, page 675. Retrieved September 22, 2018. (who, a decade later, also brought the SCTV sketch comedy TV series to Edmonton).Lampard, Dr. J. Robert "Dr. Charles Alexander Allard", Profiles and Perspectives from Alberta’s Medical History, Alberta Medical Foundation, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, 2008. Retrieved May 12, 2018. Hunter also owned the Edmonton Oil Kings, a junior hockey franchise, and founded the Canadian Major Junior Hockey League (now known as the Western Hockey League). However, Hunter's efforts to bring major professional hockey to Edmonton via an expansion NHL franchise had been rebuffed by the NHL. Therefore, Hunter looked to the upstart WHA instead. It was Hunter who chose the "Oilers" name for the new WHA franchise. This was a name that had previously been used as a nickname for the Edmonton Oil Kings in the 1950s and 1960s.
After the newly founded Calgary Broncos folded prior to commencement of the inaugural WHA season, the Oilers were renamed the Alberta Oilers as it was planned to split their home games between Edmonton and Calgary. Possibly for financial reasons or to allow for a less complicated return of the WHA to Calgary, the team ultimately played all of its home games in the Edmonton Gardens and subsequently changed its name back to the Edmonton Oilers the following year. They won the first game in WHA history 7–4 over the Ottawa Nationals.
The Oilers drew fans with players such as defenceman and team captain Al Hamilton, goaltender Dave Dryden and forwards Blair MacDonald and Bill Flett. However, a relatively little-noticed move in 1976 would have an important impact on the history of the franchise. That year, journeyman forward Glen Sather was acquired by the Oilers. It turned out to be his final season as a player. However, he was named player-coach late in the season, moving to the bench full-time after the season. Sather would be the face of the franchise for the next 23 years as head coach and/or general manager.
In 1976, Hunter and Allard sold the franchise to Vancouver real estate tycoon Nelson Skalbania– then soon to become notorious for flipping both real and franchised propertiesStewart, Monte Calgary Flames: Fire on Ice, Heritage House Publishing Co., Victoria, B.C., Canada, 2004, page 19. Retrieved September 22, 2018. –who quickly made local businessman Peter Pocklington a full partner, then sold his shares to him the following year. The team's fortunes improved dramatically in 1978 when, with new coach Sather playing a key role, Pocklington's Oilers acquired underage player Wayne Gretzky,CBC.ca, Number 99 goes to Edmonton Edmonton Journal "Oil Drop Time" (Timeline) February 6, 2008. Retrieved September 22, 2018. as well as goaltender Eddie Mio and forward Peter Driscoll, for cash, from Skalbania's moribund Indianapolis Racers. Gretzky's first and only WHA season, consequentially, prevented him from being an official 1979–80 NHL rookie) and, in 1978–79, the Oilers finished first in WHA standings, posting a league-best 48–30–2 record. However, Edmonton failed to win the championship, as they fell to the Winnipeg Jets in the Avco World Trophy Final. Dave Semenko of the Oilers scored the last goal in WHA history late in the third period of the final game, which the Oilers lost 7–3.
The Oilers joined the National Hockey League (NHL) for 1979–80, along with fellow WHA teams Hartford Whalers, Quebec Nordiques and the Jets following a merger agreement between the two leagues. Of these four teams, only Edmonton has avoided relocation and renaming; the Nordiques became the Colorado Avalanche in 1995, the Jets became the Phoenix Coyotes in 1996 and the Whalers became the Carolina Hurricanes in 1997.
Early years in the NHL (1979–1983) The Oilers lost most of the players from 1978–79 when the NHL held a reclamation draft of players who had bolted to the upstart league. They were allowed to protect two goaltenders and two skill players. Originally, Gretzky was not eligible to be protected; under the rules of the time, he normally would have been placed in the entry draft pool.
However, Pocklington had signed him to a 21-year contract in 1979. Pocklington used the contract to force the NHL to admit the Oilers: he promised the league Gretzky would fill every arena, but that since he was under a personal services contract to Pocklington, the only way Gretzky would enter the NHL was as an Oiler. The NHL relented, allowing the Oilers to protect Gretzky.
In the expansion draft, Sather and general manager Larry Gordon carefully restocked the roster. Sather later said that out of 761 players on the draft list, only 53 really interested him. He concentrated on drafting free agents, since the Oilers would get compensation if they signed somewhere else. He estimated this saved the Oilers as much as $500,000 that could be used in the Entry Draft.
Upon joining the NHL, the Oilers were placed in the Campbell Conference's Smythe Division. They were mediocre during the regular season in their first two seasons, finishing 16th and 14th respectively. However, due to the fact 16 of the 21 NHL teams made the playoffs at the time, the Oilers were still able to get their young players experience in the playoffs (they would make the playoffs for their first 13 years in the NHL). The Oilers would be swept by the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round of the 1980 playoffs, but in 1981, the Oilers would stun the hockey world with a three-game sweep of the heavily favoured Montreal Canadiens before losing in six games to the New York Islanders. However, because the top of the draft order at the time was determined by regular season standing, the Oilers still held premium draft picks. This allowed the Oilers to put together a young, talented, experienced team quickly. Within three years, Sather and chief scout Barry Fraser had drafted several players who would have an important role in the team's success, including Mark Messier, Glenn Anderson, Jari Kurri, Paul Coffey, Kevin Lowe, Grant Fuhr and Andy Moog.
In 1981–82, the Oilers rocketed up the standings, finishing with the second-best record in the NHL, behind only the Islanders. However, they took a pratfall in the first round of the playoffs when they were upset by the Los Angeles Kings in five games (game three of this series, now known as the "Miracle on Manchester", saw the Oilers take a 5–0 lead, only to lose 6–5 to the Kings in overtime). However, in the next season, the Oilers finished third overall advanced to the Stanley Cup Final (losing only once in the process) before getting swept by the New York Islanders. During this season, Gretzky, Messier, Anderson and Kurri all topped the 100-point plateau, with Coffey not far behind at 96. After the season, Lee Fogolin resigned as captain of the Oilers, picking Gretzky as his successor.
During this period, Wayne Gretzky began setting new NHL records. In his first season, he was ruled ineligible for the Calder Memorial Trophy (rookie of the year) (because of his previous WHA experience) and the Art Ross Trophy (NHL scoring leader) (although Gretzky tied with Marcel Dionne of the Los Angeles Kings in points, Dionne won the trophy on the basis of scoring two more goals). However, Gretzky still managed to win his first of an NHL record eight consecutive and nine total Hart Trophies. Next season, Gretzky quickly made up for not winning the Art Ross Trophy by winning his first of an NHL record seven straight and ten total. He easily won the Art Ross by setting new single season records for assists (with 109) and points (with 164). In 1981–82, Gretzky set the single season record for goals with 92. Also, he became the first player in NHL history to score 200 points (with 212). After the season, he won his first of a record four consecutive and five total Lester B. Pearson Awards (NHL MVP as selected by NHL players). Gretzky wasn't the only player to set a record during this time; Grant Fuhr set an NHL goaltender rookie record in 1981–82 by going undefeated in twenty-three straight games. Also, the Oilers became the first NHL team to score 400 goals in a season, a feat they would accomplish for five straight years.
Dynasty years (1983–1990) In 1983–84, the Oilers roared through the regular season, finishing with the best record in the NHL for the first time in their history. They won franchise record 57 games and earning 119 points (15 points ahead of the second place Islanders). They scored 446 total goals, a record that still stands. Gretzky broke the 200 point barrier for the second time in his career; the Oilers also became the first team in NHL history to have 3 players score more than 50 goals: Gretzky (87), Kurri (54), and Anderson (52). Finally, Paul Coffey became the second defenceman in NHL history to score 40 goals in one season. He finished with 126 points.
In the Smythe Division semi-finals, the Oilers swept the Winnipeg Jets. In the division finals, the Oilers faced a tougher challenge from the Calgary Flames, but ultimately prevailed in Game 7, disposing of their provincial rivals 7–4 after trailing 4–3 midway through the second period. After sweeping the Minnesota North Stars in the conference finals, the Oilers earned a rematch with the Islanders in the Stanley Cup Final. The Oilers split the first two games in Long Island, but then won three in a row in Edmonton to become the first former WHA team to win the Stanley Cup, as well as the first Western Canadian team to win the Cup in 59 years. After the series, Mark Messier was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.