Edmonton Oilers Legacy - All-Star Series

One of the more memorable All-Star events occurred in the 1986-87 season. The regular format was scrapped in favour of a series with more international appeal. Dubbed Rendez-Vous ’87, the NHL’s best–including seven Oilers – faced off against a squad of Soviet All-Stars in a two-game exhibition held in Quebec City. The NHLers took the first game 4-3 on February 11, while the visiting Soviets rebounded with a 5-3 victory two nights later. The very first goal of Rendez-Vous came at 5:23 of the opening game, when Kurri scored on a play assisted by Gretzky and Esa Tikkanen. Gretzky led all scorers with four points, all of which were assists.

Edmonton hosted the NHL All-Star Game in the 1988-89 season and six Oilers, head coach Sather among them, got the rare opportunity to perform in front of the home crowd at Northlands Coliseum. Kevin Lowe, Mark Messier, Grant Fuhr, Jari Kurri and Jimmy Carson were members of the Campbell Conference lineup that put on an offensive show that night, pummeling the Wales Conference by a lopsided score of 9-5. An old Oiler stole the show, however. Gretzky, playing his first season in Los Angeles, scored a goal and two assists to earn the second of his three All-Star Game MVP awards.

As the Oiler dynasty ended in the early 1990s, the once lofty number of annual Edmonton All-Stars took a hit. From 1991-92 through to 2002-03, 12 Oilers in total made appearances. Goaltender Tommy Salo accounted for two of those appearances (2000 and 2002), while blueliners like Roman Hamrlik (1999), Janne Niinimaa (2001) and Eric Brewer (2003) also proudly represented the famous Oil drop. Still, any All-Star selection produces a sense of pride in the organization.

"When they announced the team, I was lying on the massage table face down with all the guys around me," Niinimaa said. "I thought I did something. They heard it first. I get up and I see everybody’s all serious, but they just wanted to congratulate me."

Oilers’ All-Star participation is not simply limited to the NHL. The old World Hockey Association, the league in which the Oilers first played prior to joining the NHL, held All-Star games from 1973 to 1979. Rugged leader Al Hamilton played in four of those WHA All-Star Games. Hamilton was the second Oiler to have his number retired, behind Gretzky.