The Oilers' Impact

The Edmonton Oilers were already a source of civic and provincial pride before entering the National Hockey League (NHL) in 1979. The club made a conscious effort to hire local players and coaches during its seven years in the World Hockey Association (WHA), which resulted in a strong fan base. Edmonton went from solid to sensational shortly after entering the NHL. The Oilers ousted the Montreal Canadiens in the 1981 playoffs and were in the Stanley Cup finals by 1983. Edmonton captured its first Cup the following year after setting an NHL record with 446 goals in the regular season. The Oilers would win championships in 1985, 1987, 1988 and 1990. With five Cups in seven seasons, the Oilers of the 1980s are the NHL’s most recent Canadian dynasty. Off the ice, the Edmonton Investors Group, which are the Oilers' current ownership, has set an example of how to manage and operate a small-market franchise in Canada.

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