The 1989–90 NHL season was the 73rd

season A season is a division of the year based on changes in weather, ecology, and the number of daylight hours in a given region. On Earth, seasons are the result of the axial parallelism of Earth's tilted orbit around the Sun. In temperate and ...

of the

National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey sports league, league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranke ...

. The Stanley Cup winners were the

Edmonton Oilers The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. They play their home games at Rogers Place, which ...

, who won the best of seven series 4–1 against the

Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The team has been in existence since 1924, making ...

. The championship was the Oilers' fifth Stanley Cup in the past seven years.

Regular season

This season marked the first time that all three New York City area NHL teams, including the New Jersey Devils, made the playoffs in the same season, a feat which has since been repeated twice more: in the and the seasons. Until

2017 File:2017 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: The War Against ISIS at the Battle of Mosul (2016-2017); aftermath of the Manchester Arena bombing; The Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 ("Great American Eclipse"); North Korea tests a s ...

, this was last time the

Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings (colloquially referred to as the Wings) are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit. The Red Wings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference, and are ...

missed the Stanley Cup playoffs. Sam St. Laurent of the Red Wings became the last goalie to wear a full fiberglass mask during an NHL game.

Final standings

''Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF= Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes''

Prince of Wales Conference

Clarence Campbell Conference

Playoffs

Playoff bracket

Stanley Cup Finals

The Edmonton Oilers defeated the Boston Bruins in the Final series, four games to one. For the Oilers, it was their fifth Cup win in seven years, and their only one without

Wayne Gretzky Wayne Douglas Gretzky ( ; born January 26, 1961) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. He played 20 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for four teams from 1979 to 1999. Nicknamed "the Great One ...

(in fact, they defeated Gretzky's Kings in the second round). In game one,

Petr Klima Petr is a Czech given name for males and a Czech surname. Petr is the Czech form of ''Peter''. For information on Petr as a first name, see Peter (given name). Given name * Petr Aven (born 1955), Russian billionaire banker, economist and polit ...

scored at 15:13 of the third overtime period to give the Oilers a 3–2 win. , this game remains the longest in Stanley Cup Finals history (Longest NHL overtime games), edging both Brett Hull's cup-winner in 1999 and Igor Larionov's game-winner in 2002 by less than 30 seconds. In game five at the

Boston Garden The Boston Garden was an arena in Boston, Massachusetts. Designed by boxing promoter Tex Rickard, who also built the third iteration of New York's Madison Square Garden, it opened on November 17, 1928, as "Boston Madison Square Garden" (la ...

on May 24, the Oilers won 4–1.

Craig Simpson Craig Andrew Simpson (born February 15, 1967) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger who played 10 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Edmonton Oilers and the Buffalo Sabres. He is currently a bro ...

scored the game-winning goal.

Awards

All-Star teams

Player statistics

Scoring leaders

''Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes, PPG = Powerplay Goals, SHG = Shorthanded Goals, GWG = Game Winning Goals'' Sources: NHL, Quanthockey.com.

Leading goaltenders

''GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GAA =

Goals against average Goals against average (GAA) also known as "average goals against" or "AGA" is a statistic used in field hockey, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, and water polo that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender or goalkeeper (dependin ...

; Sv% = Save percentage'' Source: Quanthockey.com.

Coaches

Patrick Division

*New Jersey Devils:

Jim Schoenfeld James Grant Schoenfeld (born September 4, 1952) is a Canadian professional ice hockey executive and former player. He most recently was the assistant general manager with the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL), as well as an inte ...

and

John Cunniff John Paul Cunniff (July 9, 1944 – May 10, 2002) was an American NHL hockey coach and former professional player who appeared in 65 World Hockey Association regular season games between 1972 and 1976. Cunniff was inducted into the United States ...

*New York Islanders: Al Arbour *New York Rangers: Roger Neilson *Philadelphia Flyers: Paul Holmgren *Pittsburgh Penguins: Gene Ubriaco and Craig Patrick *Washington Capitals: Bryan Murray and

Terry Murray Terry is a unisex given name, derived from French Thierry and Theodoric. It can also be used as a diminutive nickname for the names Teresa or Theresa (feminine) or Terence or Terrier (masculine). People Male * Terry Albritton (1955–2005), Am ...

Adams Division

*Boston Bruins: Mike Milbury *Buffalo Sabres:

Rick Dudley Richard Clarence Dudley (born January 31, 1949) is a Canadian professional ice hockey executive, former coach and former player. Dudley is presently serving as a Senior Advisor for the Florida Panthers. Dudley has previously served as an executiv ...

*Hartford Whalers: Rick Ley *Montreal Canadiens: Pat Burns *Quebec Nordiques: Michel Bergeron

Norris Division

*Chicago Blackhawks: Mike Keenan *Detroit Red Wings: Jacques Demers *Minnesota North Stars:

Pierre Page Pierre is a masculine given name. It is a French form of the name Peter. Pierre originally meant "rock" or "stone" in French (derived from the Greek word πέτρος (''petros'') meaning "stone, rock", via Latin "petra"). It is a translation ...

*St. Louis Blues: Brian Sutter *Toronto Maple Leafs: Doug Carpenter

Smythe Division

*Calgary Flames: Terry Crisp *Edmonton Oilers: John Muckler *Los Angeles Kings: Tom Webster *Vancouver Canucks:

Bob McCammon Robert McCammon (April 14, 1941 – December 23, 2021) was a Canadian professional ice hockey centre and a National Hockey League (NHL) and American Hockey League (AHL) head coach and general manager. He was a pro scout with the Detroit Red Win ...

*Winnipeg Jets: Bob Murdoch

Milestones

This season would be the last the

Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Div ...

would play under the 29 year ownership of

Harold Ballard Harold Edwin Ballard (born Edwin Harold Ballard, July 30, 1903 – April 11, 1990) was a Canadian businessman and sportsman. Ballard was an owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL) as well as their home arena, Maple ...

as a result of his death in April 1990 and the subsequent sale of the franchise.

Debuts

The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1989–90 (listed with their first team, asterisk(*) marks debut in playoffs): * Wes Walz, Boston Bruins *

Alexander Mogilny Alexander Gennadevich Mogilny (russian: Александр Геннадиевич Могильный; born February 18, 1969) is a Russian former professional ice hockey player and the current president of Amur Khabarovsk of the Kontinental Hoc ...

, Buffalo Sabres *

Rob Ray Robert John Ray (born June 8, 1968) is a Canadian sports broadcaster and former professional ice hockey player for the Buffalo Sabres and Ottawa Senators. He was awarded the King Clancy Memorial Trophy by the National Hockey League in 1999 for ...

, Buffalo Sabres *

Donald Audette Donald Daniel Audette (born September 23, 1969) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward who played fourteen seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Buffalo Sabres, Los Angeles Kings, Atlanta Thrashers, Dallas Stars, Montr ...

*, Buffalo Sabres * Sergei Makarov, Calgary Flames * Rob Blake, Los Angeles Kings * Helmut Balderis, Minnesota North Stars * Mike Modano, Minnesota North Stars *

Andrew Cassels Andrew William Cassels (born July 23, 1969) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played sixteen seasons in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Canadiens, Hartford Whalers, Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks, Columbus Blu ...

, Montreal Canadiens * Lyle Odelein, Montreal Canadiens * Vyacheslav Fetisov, New Jersey Devils *

Alexei Kasatonov Alexei Viktorovich Kasatonov (russian: link=no, Алексей Викторович Касатонов; born 14 October 1959) is a Russian former ice hockey defenceman, who was a long-time member of the Soviet Union national ice hockey team. Car ...

, New Jersey Devils * Murray Baron, Philadelphia Flyers *

Curtis Joseph Curtis Shayne Joseph (né Munro; born April 29, 1967) is a Canadian ice hockey coach and former professional player. Nicknamed "Cujo", Joseph was immediately recognizable on the ice for his masks featuring a snarling dog, drawing inspiration fro ...

, St. Louis Blues *

Tie Domi Tahir "Tie" Domi (born November 1, 1969) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. Known as an enforcer, he played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers and Winnipeg Jets over a 16-year NHL career. He is the Maple Leafs' al ...

, Toronto Maple Leafs *

Vladimir Krutov Vladimir Yevgenyevich Krutov (russian: Владимир Евгеньевич Крутов; 1 June 1960 – 6 June 2012), nicknamed "The Tank", was a Soviet ice hockey forward. Together with Igor Larionov and Sergei Makarov, he was part of the f ...

, Vancouver Canucks * Igor Larionov, Vancouver Canucks * Olaf Kolzig, Washington Capitals

Last games

The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1989–90 (listed with their last team): * Reed Larson, Buffalo Sabres *

Al Secord Alan William Secord (born March 3, 1958) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left wing who played in the National Hockey League for twelve seasons from 1978–79 until 1989–90. He's now a captain for American Airlines, flying Boein ...

, Chicago Blackhawks * Bob Murray, Chicago Blackhawks * Duane Sutter, Chicago Blackhawks * Bernie Federko, Detroit Red Wings *

Borje Salming Borje may refer to: * Börje, Swedish name * Börje, a parish in the former Ulleråker Hundred of Sweden * Borje (Foča), village in Bosnia and Herzegovina * Borje, Zagorje ob Savi, small settlement in Slovenia * Borje pri Mlinšah, small settl ...

, Detroit Red Wings *

Reijo Ruotsalainen Reijo Ruotsalainen (born April 1, 1960) is a Finnish former ice hockey defenceman. He was twice named Finland's top defenceman, and won two Stanley Cups with the Edmonton Oilers, in 1987 and 1990. Playing career Ruotsalainen started his career ...

, Edmonton Oilers * Barry Beck, Los Angeles Kings * Helmut Balderis, Minnesota North Stars * Curt Fraser, Minnesota North Stars * Mark Johnson, New Jersey Devils *

Ron Greschner Ronald John Greschner (born December 22, 1954) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 16 seasons between 1974 and 1990. Greschner was selected 32nd overall by the New York Ra ...

, New York Rangers * Doug Smith, Pittsburgh Penguins *

, Vancouver Canucks *

Paul Reinhart Paul Gerard Reinhart (born January 6, 1960) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played for the Atlanta Flames, Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks in the National Hockey League (NHL). He featured in the 1986 Stanley Cup ...

, Vancouver Canucks *

Doug Wickenheiser Douglas Peter Wickenheiser (March 30, 1961 – January 12, 1999) was a Canadian ice hockey player, who was drafted first overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft. Career Wickenheiser was born in Regina, Saskatchewan. A sup ...

, Washington Capitals

Trading deadline

Trading deadline: March 6, 1990.NHL trade deadline: Deals since 1980 , Habs Inside/Out
*March 6, 1990:

Adrien Plavsic Adrien Plavsic (born January 13, 1970) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played eight seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). Biography As a youth, Plavsic played in the 1982 and 1983 Quebec International Pee-Wee H ...

, St. Louis' first round pick in 1990 Entry Draft and second round pick in 1991 Entry Draft traded from St. Louis to Vancouver for Rich Sutter, Harold Snepsts and St. Louis' second round pick in 1990 Entry Draft (acquired previously). *March 6, 1990: Mike Gartner traded from Minnesota to NY Rangers for Ulf Dahlen, NY Rangers' fourth round pick in 1990 Entry Draft and future considerations. *March 6, 1990: Alain Chevrier traded from Chicago to Pittsburgh for future considerations. *March 6, 1990: Jack Capuano traded from NY Islanders to Vancouver for Jeff Rohlicek. *March 6, 1990: Jyrki Lumme traded from Montreal to Vancouver for St. Louis' second round pick in 1991 Entry Draft (acquired previously). *March 6, 1990:

Jim Korn James Allen Korn (born July 28, 1957 in Hopkins, Minnesota), is an American former professional ice hockey defenceman. He played in the National Hockey League with five teams between 1979 and 1990. Internationally he played for the American natio ...

traded from New Jersey to Calgary for Calgary's fifth round pick in 1990 Entry Draft. *March 6, 1990:

Peter Stastny Peter may refer to: People * List of people named Peter, a list of people and fictional characters with the given name * Peter (given name) ** Saint Peter (died 60s), apostle of Jesus, leader of the early Christian Church * Peter (surname), a su ...

traded from Quebec to New Jersey for Craig Wolanin and future considerations. *March 6, 1990: Jeff Sharples traded from Edmonton to New Jersey for

. *March 6, 1990: Brian Wilks traded from Edmonton to Pittsburgh for future considerations. *March 6, 1990: The rights to Cam Brauer traded from Edmonton to Hartford for Marc Laforge.

References

* * * * ;Notes

External links

Hockey Database
{{DEFAULTSORT:1989-90 NHL season 1 1