Edmonton Oilers

Edmonton Oilers
Name	Edmonton Oilers
Current season	2023–24 Edmonton Oilers season
Conference	Western Conference
Division	Pacific Division
Founded	1972
History	Alberta Oilers (WHA), 1972–1973, Edmonton Oilers (WHA), 1973–1979, Edmonton Oilers (NHL), 1979–present
Arena	Rogers Place
City	Edmonton, Alberta
Colours	Blue, orange, white
Media	Sportsnet West
Owner	Daryl Katz
General manager	Ken Holland
Coach	Kris Knoblauch
Captain	Connor McDavid
Minor league aff	Bakersfield Condors (AHL), Fort Wayne Komets (ECHL)

Edmonton Oilers. The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, competing in the National Hockey League as a member of the Pacific Division within the Western Conference. Founded in 1972 as a charter franchise of the World Hockey Association, the team joined the NHL in 1979 following the NHL–WHA merger. The franchise is renowned for its dynasty in the 1980s, led by legends like Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier, which captured five Stanley Cup championships between 1984 and 1990.

History

The franchise originated in 1972 as the Alberta Oilers of the World Hockey Association, playing its inaugural season in Edmonton before adopting its current name. Under the ownership of Peter Pocklington and the on-ice leadership of a young Wayne Gretzky, the team dominated the WHA, winning the final Avco World Trophy in 1979. Following the NHL–WHA merger, the team, along with the Winnipeg Jets, Quebec Nordiques, and Hartford Whalers, was absorbed into the NHL. The 1980s dynasty, constructed by general manager and head coach Glen Sather, featured an iconic core including Paul Coffey, Jari Kurri, and Grant Fuhr, winning Stanley Cups in 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, and 1990. The controversial 1988 trade of Gretzky to the Los Angeles Kings marked a turning point, though the team won one more championship. After a period of struggle, a resurgence began with the drafting of Connor McDavid first overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, leading the team back to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2024.

Team information

The team plays its home games at Rogers Place, a state-of-the-art arena located in the Ice District of downtown Edmonton that opened in 2016, replacing the historic Northlands Coliseum. The club's primary colors are blue, orange, and white, with its iconic logo featuring an oil drop. The team is owned by billionaire Daryl Katz, chairman of the Katz Group. Their American Hockey League affiliate is the Bakersfield Condors, and their ECHL affiliate is the Fort Wayne Komets. Broadcast rights are held by Sportsnet West, with longtime play-by-play commentator Jack Michaels.

Players and personnel

The current roster is led by captain Connor McDavid, widely considered the world's best player, and alternate captains Leon Draisaitl and Darnell Nurse. Other key players include Zach Hyman, Evan Bouchard, and goaltender Stuart Skinner. The hockey operations department is led by president of hockey operations and general manager Ken Holland, with Kris Knoblauch serving as head coach. The franchise has retired the numbers of several legends, including Wayne Gretzky (99), Mark Messier (11), Jari Kurri (17), Grant Fuhr (31), Paul Coffey (7), Al Hamilton (3), and Glenn Anderson (9). Hall of Fame builders like Glen Sather and Rod Phillips are also honored.

Season-by-season record

Since joining the NHL in 1979, the team has compiled a notable regular-season record, qualifying for the Stanley Cup playoffs over 25 times. The most successful period was from 1982–83 to 1991–92, where the team never won fewer than 38 games in an 80-game season. After missing the playoffs for a decade from 2006–07 to 2015–16, the team returned to consistent postseason contention led by McDavid and Draisaitl, including a trip to the Western Conference Final in 2022. The 2023–24 season saw the team overcome a poor start under coach Jay Woodcroft to finish with over 100 points and advance to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Achievements and awards

The franchise has won the Stanley Cup five times (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990) and made seven Finals appearances overall. They have also won the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl as Western Conference champions seven times. Individual players have accumulated numerous major NHL awards: Wayne Gretzky won the Hart Memorial Trophy eight times with the team, while Connor McDavid has won it three times. Other award winners include Mark Messier (Hart Memorial Trophy), Grant Fuhr (Vezina Trophy), Jari Kurri (Lady Byng Memorial Trophy), and Paul Coffey (James Norris Memorial Trophy). The team has had fourteen inductees into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Rivalries

The team's most historic and intense rivalry is with the Calgary Flames, known as the Battle of Alberta, fueled by geographic proximity and numerous playoff meetings, including the 1986 and 1991 series. A significant rivalry with the Los Angeles Kings was ignited by the Wayne Gretzky trade and frequent postseason clashes in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In the modern era, competitive playoff series have fostered strong rivalries with the Vegas Golden Knights and the Colorado Avalanche. Original WHA and NHL merger rivalries also persist with the Winnipeg Jets and former franchises like the Quebec Nordiques.

Category:Edmonton Oilers Category:National Hockey League teams Category:Sport in Edmonton Category:1972 establishments in Alberta