# 1983–84 Edmonton Oilers season

The 1983–84 Edmonton Oilers season was the Oilers' fifth season in the NHL. After an outstanding regular season, the Oilers won their first Stanley Cup.

## Regular season

It was another record breaking season for the club. The Oilers set club records in wins (57) and points (119), as they won the Smythe Division for the 3rd straight season. Edmonton broke the NHL record for goals in a season, set by the Oilers the previous season, by scoring 446 times.
The Oilers got off to a strong start, winning 39 of their first 53 games. Wayne Gretzky started strong too, scoring a point or more in the first fifty-one games. After failing to score in the fifty-second, he missed six straight games along with Jari Kurri. After winning their first game without Gretzky and Kurri, the Oilers lost five in a row, including an 11–0 loss to the Hartford Whalers on Sunday, February 12, 1984. It was the first time in 230 consecutive regular-season games that the Oilers were shut out; the last time Edmonton had been shut out was on Thursday, March 12, 1981, when they lost at home, 5–0, to the New York Islanders. But, after a lecture from coach Glen Sather, and the return of Gretzky and Kurri, the Oilers won eight in a row and finished the season first overall in the NHL.
Wayne Gretzky broke the 200 point barrier for the second time in his career, as he won the Art Ross Trophy for the 4th straight year with 205 points. Gretzky scored an NHL high 87 goals and 118 assists. Paul Coffey would put up 126 points, the 2nd highest point total ever by a defenceman, while Jari Kurri (113) and Mark Messier (101) each broke the 100 point mark for the club. Glenn Anderson had a solid season, getting 54 goals, behind only Gretzky, and just miss the 100-point club as he finished with 99.
Grant Fuhr led the club with 30 victories, while Andy Moog put up a team best GAA of 3.77.

### Season standings

Smythe Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Edmonton Oilers | 80 | 57 | 18 | 5 | 446 | 314 | 119 |
| Calgary Flames | 80 | 34 | 32 | 14 | 311 | 314 | 82 |
| Vancouver Canucks | 80 | 32 | 39 | 9 | 306 | 328 | 73 |
| Winnipeg Jets | 80 | 31 | 38 | 11 | 340 | 374 | 73 |
| Los Angeles Kings | 80 | 23 | 44 | 13 | 309 | 376 | 59 |
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

### Record vs. opponents

Smythe Division record vs. opponents :
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Smythe Division
1983–84 NHL records
Team
CGY
EDM
LAK
VAN
WIN
Total
Calgary
—0−7−14−3−15−2−14−1−313−13−6
Edmonton
7−0−1—6−26−1−18−027−3−2
Los Angeles
3−4−12−6—4−3−10−5−39−18−5
Vancouver
2−5−11−6−13−4−1—5−2−111−17−4
Winnipeg
1−4−30−85−0−32−5−1—8−17−7
Vs. Norris Division
1983–84 NHL records
Team
CHI
DET
MIN
STL
TOR
Total
Calgary
2−11−22−12−0−11−0−28−4−3
Edmonton
2−13−02−0−11−22−110−4−1
Los Angeles
3−02−0−11−1−11−1−10−2−17−4−4
Vancouver
1−22−11−1−11−21−0−26−6−3
Winnipeg
2−10−1−21−22−13−08−5−2
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Adams Division
1983–84 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
HFD
MTL
QUE
Total
Calgary
0−2−10−32−0−11−21−24−9−2
Edmonton
2−12−12−12−13−011−4−0
Los Angeles
0−30−2−11−22−10−33−11−1
Vancouver
0−2−10−33−02−12−17−7−1
Winnipeg
1−20−32−0−11−1−12−16−7−2
Vs. Patrick Division
1983–84 NHL records
Team
NJD
NYI
NYR
PHI
PIT
WSH
Total
Calgary
2−0−13−01−21−21−0−21−29−6−3
Edmonton
2−0−10−32−10−2−13−02−19−7−2
Los Angeles
1−20−2−10−1−21−22−10−34−11−3
Vancouver
2−10−31−1–12−12−11−28−9−1
Winnipeg
2−12−11−21−22−11−29−9−0 :

## Schedule and results

1983–84 Game Log :
Legend:
  Win (2 points)
  Loss (0 points)
  Tie (1 point) :

## Playoffs

In the playoffs, the Oilers made short work of the Winnipeg Jets, sweeping them in 3 games, and then faced their Battle of Alberta rivals, the Calgary Flames for the Smythe Division finals. The Flames pushed the Oilers to 7 games before Edmonton defeated them for the 2nd straight year. The Oilers swept the Minnesota North Stars in the Campbell Conference final, setting up a Stanley Cup rematch against the New York Islanders. The Islanders, who swept the Oilers the previous year, were looking to win their 5th straight Stanley Cup. Edmonton, however, had other plans, and after the teams split the first 2 games in New York, the Oilers won 3 in a row at home to win the series in 5 games, becoming the first team from the WHA to win the Stanley Cup. Mark Messier won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP.
1984 Stanley Cup playoffs :
Legend:
  Win
  Loss :

## Player statistics
### Regular season
#### Scoring leaders

| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Wayne Gretzky | 74 | 87 | 118 | 205 | 39 |
| Paul Coffey | 80 | 40 | 86 | 126 | 104 |
| Jari Kurri | 64 | 52 | 61 | 113 | 14 |
| Mark Messier | 73 | 37 | 64 | 101 | 165 |
| Glenn Anderson | 80 | 54 | 45 | 99 | 65 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | GP | TOI | W | L | T | GA | SO | Save % | GAA |
| Andy Moog | 38 | 2212 | 27 | 8 | 1 | 139 | 1 | .882 | 3.77 |
| Grant Fuhr | 45 | 2625 | 30 | 10 | 4 | 171 | 1 | .883 | 3.91 |

### Playoffs
#### Scoring leaders

| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Wayne Gretzky | 19 | 13 | 22 | 35 | 12 |
| Jari Kurri | 19 | 14 | 14 | 28 | 13 |
| Mark Messier | 19 | 8 | 18 | 26 | 19 |
| Paul Coffey | 19 | 8 | 14 | 22 | 21 |
| Glenn Anderson | 19 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 33 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | GP | TOI | W | L | GA | SO | Save % | GAA |
| Andy Moog | 7 | 263 | 4 | 0 | 12 | 0 | .891 | 2.74 |
| Grant Fuhr | 16 | 883 | 11 | 4 | 44 | 1 | .910 | 2.99 |

## Awards and records
### Records

* 446: An NHL team record for most goals in a single season.
      * 425: A new NHL team record for most goals in a single season on March 21, 1984.
* 12: An NHL record for most short-handed goals in a single season by Wayne Gretzky.
      * 11: A new NHL record for most short-handed goals in a single season by Wayne Gretzky on February 15, 1984.

### Milestones

Regular Season :
| Player | Milestone | Reached |
| Don Jackson | 200th NHL PIM | October 15, 1983 |
| Dave Hunter | 400th NHL PIM | October 16, 1983 |
| Willy Lindstrom | 200th NHL Point 300th NHL Game | October 22, 1983 |
| Mark Messier | 300th NHL Point | October 22, 1983 |
| Jaroslav Pouzar | 100th NHL Game | October 26, 1983 |
| Dave Semenko | 600th NHL PIM | October 26, 1983 |
| Wayne Gretzky | 19th NHL Hat-trick 5th Four-Goal NHL Game | November 6, 1983 |
| Jari Kurri | 100th NHL PIM | November 6, 1983 |
| Wayne Gretzky | 20th NHL Hat-trick | November 12, 1983 |
| Randy Gregg | 100th NHL Point | November 18, 1983 |
| Jari Kurri | 300th NHL Point | November 18, 1983 |
| Dave Lumley | 2nd NHL Gordie Howe hat trick | November 18, 1983 |
| Grant Fuhr | 10th NHL Assist | November 19, 1983 |
| Wayne Gretzky | 21st NHL Hat-trick | November 19, 1983 |
| Jari Kurri | 6th NHL Hat-trick 1st Five-Goal NHL Game | November 19, 1983 |
| Willy Lindstrom | 3rd NHL Hat-trick | November 19, 1983 |
| Jim Playfair | 1st NHL Game 1st NHL Goal 1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point | November 19, 1983 |
| Todd Strueby | 1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point | November 19, 1983 |
| Dave Lumley | 500th NHL PiM | November 26, 1983 |
| Glenn Anderson | 6th NHL Hat-trick | December 3, 1983 |
| Grant Fuhr | 100th NHL Game | December 7, 1983 |
| Wayne Gretzky | 300th NHL Goal | December 13, 1983 |
| Willy Lindstrom | 100th NHL Assist | December 13, 1983 |
| Glenn Anderson | 300th NHL Point | December 14, 1983 |
| Wayne Gretzky | 22nd NHL Hat-trick | December 14, 1983 |
| Wayne Gretzky | 500th NHL Assist 800th NHL Point | December 17, 1983 |
| Wayne Gretzky | 23rd NHL Hat-trick | December 21, 1983 |
| Mark Messier | 500th NHL PIM | December 23, 1983 |
| Jari Kurri | 200th NHL Assist | December 26, 1983 |
| Grant Fuhr | 1st NHL Shutout | December 30, 1983 |
| Dave Hunter | 100th NHL Assist | January 3, 1984 |
| Wayne Gretzky | 24th NHL Hat-trick 6th Four-Goal NHL Game | January 4, 1984 |
| Jari Kurri | 7th NHL Hat-trick | January 4, 1984 |
| Ken Linseman | 800th NHL PIM | January 4, 1984 |
| Dean Clark | 1st NHL Game | January 7, 1984 |
| Steve Graves | 1st NHL Game | January 7, 1984 |
| Wayne Gretzky | 50th Goal in 42 Games 25th NHL Hat-trick | January 7, 1984 |
| Mark Messier | 200th NHL Assist | January 7, 1984 |
| Ray Cote | 1st NHL Game | January 9, 1984 |
| Charlie Huddy | 100th NHL Point | January 9, 1984 |
| Glenn Anderson | 200th NHL PIM | January 15, 1984 |
| Paul Coffey | 400th NHL PIM | January 18, 1984 |
| Wayne Gretzky | 26th NHL Hat-trick | January 18, 1984 |
| Pat Hughes | 100th NHL Goal | January 20, 1984 |
| Rick Chartraw | 400th NHL Game | January 28, 1984 |
| Tom Gorence | 300th NHL Game | January 28, 1984 |
| Kevin McClelland | 200th NHL PIM | January 28, 1984 |
| Paul Coffey | 200th NHL Assist | February 3, 1984 |
| Lee Fogolin | 1,000th NHL PIM | February 3, 1984 |
| Pat Hughes | 200th NHL Point 2nd NHL Hat-trick 1st Five-Goal NHL Game | February 3, 1984 |
| Kevin McClelland | 100th NHL Game | February 9, 1984 |
| Don Jackson | 300th NHL PIM | February 11, 1984 |
| Pat Hughes | 500th NHL PIM | February 12, 1984 |
| Lee Fogolin | 700th NHL Game | February 15, 1984 |
| Paul Coffey | 300th NHL Point | February 17, 1984 |
| Kevin Lowe | 300th NHL PIM | February 17, 1984 |
| Wayne Gretzky | 27th NHL Hat-trick 7th Four-Goal NHL Game | February 21, 1984 |
| Randy Gregg | 100th NHL PIM | February 22, 1984 |
| Wayne Gretzky | 28th NHL Hat-trick 8th Four-Goal NHL Game | February 22, 1984 |
| Mark Messier | 6th NHL Hat-trick | February 25, 1984 |
| Paul Coffey | 300th NHL Game 100th NHL Goal | February 27, 1984 |
| Dave Lumley | 200th NHL Point | February 27, 1984 |
| Dave Semenko | 300th NHL Game | February 29, 1984 |
| Jari Kurri | 8th NHL Hat-trick | March 7, 1984 |
| Jari Kurri | 9th NHL Hat-trick | March 11, 1984 |
| Mark Messier | 7th NHL Hat-trick | March 11, 1984 |
| Wayne Gretzky | 900th NHL Point | March 13, 1984 |
| Dave Semenko | 100th NHL Point | March 13, 1984 |
| Jari Kurri | 50th Goal in 73 Games | March 15, 1984 |
| Jaroslav Pouzar | 100th NHL PIM | March 15, 1984 |
| Glenn Anderson | 7th NHL Hat-trick | March 17, 1984 |
| Pat Hughes | 100th NHL Assist | March 17, 1984 |
| Andy Moog | 100th NHL Game | March 17, 1984 |
| Pat Hughes | 400th NHL Game | March 18, 1984 |
| Glenn Anderson | 50th Goal in 76 Games 8th NHL Hat-trick 1st Four-Goal NHL Game | March 21, 1984 |
| Grant Fuhr | 20th NHL Assist | March 27, 1984 |
| Kevin McClelland | 1st NHL Gordie Howe Hat-trick | March 27, 1984 |
| Gord Sherven | 1st NHL Game | March 27, 1984 |
| Raimo Summanen | 1st NHL Game 1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point | March 27, 1984 |
| Gord Sherven | 1st NHL Goal 1st NHL Point | March 31, 1984 |
| Raimo Summanen | 1st NHL Goal | March 31, 1984 |
Playoffs :
| Player | Milestone | Reached |
| Wayne Gretzky | 50th NHL Assist | April 4, 1984 |
| Jari Kurri | 1st NHL Hat-trick | April 4, 1984 |
| Raimo Summanen | 1st NHL Game 1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point | April 4, 1984 |
| Glenn Anderson | 1st NHL Gordie Howe Hat-trick | April 5, 1984 |
| Raimo Summanen | 1st NHL Goal | April 5, 1984 |
| Pat Hughes | 50th NHL PIM | April 7, 1984 |
| Jari Kurri | 50th NHL Point | April 12, 1984 |
| Paul Coffey | 50th NHL PIM | April 15, 1984 |
| Dave Semenko | 100th NHL PIM | April 15, 1984 |
| Pat Hughes | 50th NHL Game | April 24, 1984 |
| Mark Messier | 50th NHL Point | April 24, 1984 |
| Glenn Anderson | 50th NHL Point | April 26, 1984 |
| Jaroslav Pouzar | 1st NHL Assist | April 26, 1984 |
| Wayne Gretzky | 100th NHL Point | April 28, 1984 |
| Larry Melnyk | 50th NHL PIM | April 28, 1984 |
| Grant Fuhr | 1st NHL Shutout | May 10, 1984 |
| Don Jackson | 50th NHL PIM | May 10, 1984 |
| Ken Linseman | 200th NHL PIM | May 12, 1984 |
| Mark Messier | 50th NHL PIM | May 12, 1984 |
| Wayne Gretzky | 50th NHL Game | May 15, 1984 |
| Dave Hunter | 50th NHL Game | May 15, 1984 |
| Kevin Lowe | 50th NHL Game | May 15, 1984 |
| Pat Conacher | 1st NHL Goal | May 17, 1984 |
| Dave Lumley | 100th NHL PIM | May 17, 1984 |
| Mark Messier | 50th NHL Game | May 17, 1984 |
| Dave Lumley | 50th NHL Game | May 19, 1984 |

## Transactions

Trades
December 5, 1983
To Pittsburgh PenguinsTom Roulston
To Edmonton OilersKevin McClelland 6th round pick in 1984
January 20, 1984
To New York Rangers9th round pick in 1984
To Edmonton OilersRick Chartraw
March 6, 1984
To Boston BruinsJohn Blum
To Edmonton OilersLarry Melnyk
March 6, 1984
To Washington Capitals4th round pick in 1985
To Edmonton OilersRisto Jalo :

### Waivers

| Date | Player | Team |
| October 3, 1983 (1983-10-03) | Don Nachbaur | to Los Angeles Kings |

### Signings

| Date | Player | Term |
| September 7, 1983 (1983-09-07) | Jeff Beukeboom | 2-year |
| September 7, 1983 (1983-09-07) | Kevin Lowe | 4-year |

## Draft picks

Edmonton's draft picks at the 1983 NHL Entry Draft
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 19 | Jeff Beukeboom | Canada | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) |
| 2 | 40 | Mike Golden | United States | Reading Senior High School (USHS) |
| 3 | 60 | Mike Flanagan | United States | Acton-Boxborough High School (USHS) |
| 4 | 80 | Esa Tikkanen | Finland | HIFK (SM-liiga) |
| 6 | 120 | Don Barber | Canada | Kelowna Buckaroos (BCJHL) |
| 7 | 140 | Dale Derkatch | Canada | Regina Pats (WHL) |
| 8 | 160 | Ralph Vos | Canada | Abbotsford Flyers (BCJHL) |
| 9 | 180 | Dave Roach | Canada | New Westminster Royals (BCJHL) |
| 10 | 200 | Warren Yadlowski | Canada | Calgary Wranglers (WHL) |
| 11 | 220 | John Miner | Canada | Regina Pats (WHL) |
| 12 | 240 | Steven Woodburn | Canada | Verdun Juniors (QMJHL) |