The Winnipeg Jets made a blockbuster trade at the 1990 NHL Entry Draft on June 15, 1990, sending Dale Hawerchuk and their first-round pick in the same draft to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Phil Housley, Scott Arniel, Jeff Parker and the Sabres' first-round pick in the same draft. Hawerchuk, who had been with the Jets since the 1981–82 season, was coming off a season with 26 goals and 81 points, both career-lows, in 79 games. Housley, a defenceman, had 21 goals and 81 points in 80 games for the Sabres in the 1989–90 season, while Arniel had 18 goals and 32 points in 79 games with Buffalo. Arniel had previously played with the Jets for five seasons, from 1981 to 1986.