1986–87 NHL season

1986–87 NHL season
Title	1986–87 NHL season
League	National Hockey League
Sport	Ice hockey
Duration	October 8, 1986 – May 31, 1987
No of games	80
No of teams	21
Season champion	Edmonton Oilers
Mvp	Wayne Gretzky
Top scorer	Wayne Gretzky
Playoff champion	Edmonton Oilers
Runner up	Philadelphia Flyers
Nav	National Hockey League seasons

1986–87 NHL season was the 70th season of the National Hockey League and featured intense competition among clubs such as the Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers, and New York Islanders. The season showcased star performances from Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Mark Messier, and goaltenders like Grant Fuhr and Patrick Roy, and culminated in the Edmonton Oilers winning the Stanley Cup over the Philadelphia Flyers. This campaign was notable for high-scoring games, significant personnel moves, and emerging international talent from Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia backgrounds.

League business

League governance under Glen Sather and the NHL Players' Association engaged in scheduling, broadcast, and expansion considerations while the National Hockey League continued relations with broadcasters such as HBO, CBC Television, and ESPN. The Board of Governors (NHL) discussed divisional alignments affecting the Prince of Wales Conference and Clarence Campbell Conference structure, and arenas operated by owners like Peter Pocklington and Bruce Norris were sites of commercial negotiation. International development initiatives included exchanges with the International Ice Hockey Federation and scouting attention toward players from the Soviet national ice hockey team and Czechoslovakia national ice hockey team.

Regular season

The regular season featured 21 teams each playing 80 games, with the Edmonton Oilers leading in points behind the points leader Wayne Gretzky and support from Jari Kurri, Mark Messier, and Paul Coffey. High-scoring matches involved dynastic clubs like the Montreal Canadiens featuring Patrick Roy in goal and the Boston Bruins with contributors such as Ray Bourque and Cam Neely. The Philadelphia Flyers under Mike Keenan and general manager Bobby Clarke rose in the Adams Division while the New York Islanders tried to rebuild after their early-1980s dynasty led by Mike Bossy and Bryan Trottier. Rivalries intensified in matchups between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators precursor franchises and in Original Six contests involving the Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, and New York Rangers.

Playoffs

The 1987 Stanley Cup playoffs saw the Edmonton Oilers dispatch Calgary Flames and St. Louis Blues en route to the Campbell Conference title against teams like the Winnipeg Jets and Vancouver Canucks precursors, while the Philadelphia Flyers advanced through the Patrick Division with wins over the New York Rangers and Washington Capitals. Key playoff performers included Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, and goaltender Grant Fuhr for Edmonton Oilers, and skaters Tim Kerr and Ron Hextall for the Philadelphia Flyers. The Stanley Cup Final featured memorable games characterized by offensive outbursts and clutch goaltending, culminating in Edmonton Oilers reclaiming the Stanley Cup in a series that reinforced the dynasty built by Glen Sather, Peter Pocklington, and the roster core.

Awards and honors

Major awards highlighted individual achievements: the Hart Memorial Trophy went to Wayne Gretzky for regular-season MVP performance, the Art Ross Trophy to Wayne Gretzky as scoring champion, and the Vezina Trophy finalists included Patrick Roy and Grant Fuhr. Rookie recognition saw contenders like Mario Lemieux-era peers and newcomers from Europe considered for the Calder Memorial Trophy, while the Conn Smythe Trophy in the playoffs was awarded to a standout from the Edmonton Oilers for playoff MVP performance. Coaching and executive honors involved figures such as Mike Keenan, Glen Sather, and general managers across the NHL.

Player statistics

Offensive leaders included Wayne Gretzky with league-leading points and assists totals, while Mario Lemieux and Mark Messier ranked among top scorers. Defensemen like Paul Coffey and Ray Bourque posted significant point totals and power-play production. Goaltending leaders featured Grant Fuhr with playoff success and regular-season wins, alongside strong seasons from Patrick Roy of the Montreal Canadiens and Tom Barrasso of the Buffalo Sabres. Plus-minus and advanced metrics of the era highlighted two-way stars such as Guy Carbonneau and Dale Hawerchuk, and European entrants from Sweden and Finland began to influence scoring charts.

Team standings

Final standings placed the Edmonton Oilers atop the NHL with the highest point total, followed by competitive clubs including the Philadelphia Flyers, Montreal Canadiens, Calgary Flames, and New York Islanders. Division races in the Adams Division, Patrick Division, Norris Division, and Smythe Division produced playoff matchups with clubs such as the Chicago Blackhawks, St. Louis Blues, Los Angeles Kings, and Toronto Maple Leafs. Attendance figures and arena capacities at venues like Northlands Coliseum and Spectrum (Philadelphia) influenced home-ice dynamics.

Transactions and personnel changes

Significant transactions involved trades and signings orchestrated by general managers including Bobby Clarke, Glen Sather, and Lou Lamoriello, affecting rosters of the Philadelphia Flyers, Edmonton Oilers, New Jersey Devils, and Toronto Maple Leafs. Notable moves included veteran acquisitions, draft-day trades, and contract negotiations with stars such as Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, and established goaltenders. Coaching changes occurred in several markets, with hires and firings impacting teams like the Winnipeg Jets and Vancouver Canucks.

Draft and debuts

The 1986 NHL Entry Draft saw teams select prospects who would debut in subsequent seasons, while the 1986–87 campaign featured NHL debuts by several future regulars and international imports from the Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia. Emerging talents drafted by organizations including the Buffalo Sabres, Los Angeles Kings, and Pittsburgh Penguins began to make NHL impacts, and scouting networks extended across Sweden, Finland, and United States junior systems. Young players breaking into lineups included prospects developed in the Canadian Hockey League and collegiate programs such as the NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament pipeline.

Category:National Hockey League seasons