1988–89 Edmonton Oilers season

The 1988–89 Edmonton Oilers season was the Oilers' 10th season in the NHL, and they were coming off a Stanley Cup championship, their 4th Stanley Cup in the past 5 seasons. The Oilers finished 3rd in the Smythe Division with 84 points, their lowest point total since the 1980–81 season. For the 8th consecutive season, the Oilers had five 30-goal scorers.
==Off-season==
Prior to the season, the Oilers would be involved in one of the biggest trades in NHL history, dealing Wayne Gretzky, Marty McSorley and Mike Krushelnyski to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas, the Kings first round draft picks in 1989, 1991 and 1993, and $15 million.
==Regular Season==
Jari Kurri would lead the club with 102 points, while Jimmy Carson would score a team high 49 goals, and Mark Messier would have a team best 61 assists. Charlie Huddy would lead the defense with 44 points, while Kelly Buchberger would provide the team toughness, leading the Oilers with 234 penalty minutes.
In goal, Grant Fuhr would get the majority of the starts, leading the team with 23 wins, while Bill Ranford would have a team best 3.50 GAA.
===Final Standings===
===Game Log===
# 	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record 	Pts
1 	October 7 	New York Islanders 	1–5 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–0–0 	2
2 	October 9 	Winnipeg Jets 	4–5 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–0–0 	4
3 	October 12 	Vancouver Canucks 	6–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–1–0 	4
4 	October 14 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–6 	Calgary Flames 	2–2–0 	4
5 	October 16 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–3 	Winnipeg Jets 	2–2–1 	5
6 	October 17 	Minnesota North Stars	3–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–2–2 	6
7 	October 19 	Los Angeles Kings 	6–8 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–2–2 	8
8 	October 23 	Edmonton Oilers 	5–6 	Vancouver Canucks 	3–3–2 	8
9 	October 25 	Edmonton Oilers 	5–4 	Los Angeles Kings 	4–3–2 	10
10	October 29 	Washington Capitals 	3–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	5–3–2 	12
11	October 30 	Chicago Blackhawks 	5–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	5–4–2 	12
12	November 2 	St. Louis Blues 	4–5 	Edmonton Oilers 	6–4–2 	14
13	November 4 	Buffalo Sabres 	3–7 	Edmonton Oilers 	7–4–2 	16
14	November 6 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–5 	Detroit Red Wings 	7–5–2 	16
15	November 8 	Edmonton Oilers 	7–3 	Pittsburgh Penguins 	8–5–2 	18
16	November 9 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–2 	New Jersey Devils 	9–5–2 	20
17	November 12	Edmonton Oilers 	6–2 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	10–5–2 	22
18	November 13	Edmonton Oilers 	5–4 	Buffalo Sabres 	11–5–2 	24
19	November 16	Winnipeg Jets 	2–1 	Edmonton Oilers 	11–6–2 	24
20	November 19	Toronto Maple Leafs 	1–9 	Edmonton Oilers 	12–6–2 	26
21	November 20	Edmonton Oilers 	4–7 	Winnipeg Jets 	12–7–2 	26
22	November 23	Edmonton Oilers 	3–3 	Minnesota North Stars	12–7–3 	27
23	November 24	Edmonton Oilers 	4–2 	St. Louis Blues 	13–7–3 	29
24	November 26	Edmonton Oilers 	5–7 	Montreal Canadiens 	13–8–3 	29
25	November 28	Edmonton Oilers 	7–4 	Quebec Nordiques 	14–8–3 	31
26	November 30	Vancouver Canucks 	2–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	15–8–3 	33
27	December 2 	Calgary Flames 	7–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	15–9–3 	33
28	December 4 	New York Rangers 	6–10 	Edmonton Oilers 	16–9–3 	35
29	December 7 	Quebec Nordiques 	3–8 	Edmonton Oilers 	17–9–3 	37
30	December 8 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–5 	Calgary Flames 	17–10–3	37
31	December 10	Winnipeg Jets 	7–6 	Edmonton Oilers 	17–11–3	37
32	December 14	Edmonton Oilers 	8–2 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	18–11–3	39
33	December 15	Edmonton Oilers 	3–4 	Boston Bruins 	18–12–3	39
34	December 17	Edmonton Oilers 	4–2 	Hartford Whalers 	19–12–3	41
35	December 19	Edmonton Oilers 	5–5 	Buffalo Sabres 	19–12–4	42
36	December 21	Vancouver Canucks 	2–1 	Edmonton Oilers 	19–13–4	42
37	December 23	Calgary Flames 	1–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	20–13–4	44
38	December 31	Montreal Canadiens 	4–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	20–14–4	44
39	January 2 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–2 	Minnesota North Stars	21–14–4	46
40	January 4 	Quebec Nordiques 	2–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	22–14–4	48
41	January 7 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–7 	Calgary Flames 	22–15–4	48
42	January 8 	Calgary Flames 	0–6 	Edmonton Oilers 	23–15–4	50
43	January 10 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–5 	Los Angeles Kings 	23–16–4	50
44	January 13 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–5 	Washington Capitals 	23–17–4	50
45	January 15 	Edmonton Oilers 	0–1 	New Jersey Devils 	23–18–4	50
46	January 16 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–2 	Chicago Blackhawks 	23–18–5	51
47	January 18 	Edmonton Oilers 	9–4 	Winnipeg Jets 	24–18–5	53
48	January 20 	Philadelphia Flyers 	1–1 	Edmonton Oilers 	24–18–6	54
49	January 21 	Pittsburgh Penguins 	7–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	24–19–6	54
50	January 23 	New York Rangers 	3–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	24–20–6	54
51	January 25 	Chicago Blackhawks 	6–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	24–21–6	54
52	January 28 	Edmonton Oilers 	7–6 	Los Angeles Kings 	25–21–6	56
53	January 31 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–6 	Vancouver Canucks 	25–22–6	56
54	February 1 	Vancouver Canucks 	3–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	26–22–6	58
55	February 3 	Detroit Red Wings 	5–8 	Edmonton Oilers 	27–22–6	60
56	February 5 	New Jersey Devils 	4–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	27–23–6	60
57	February 9 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–1 	Philadelphia Flyers 	28–23–6	62
58	February 11	Edmonton Oilers 	2–5 	Boston Bruins 	28–24–6	62
59	February 12	Edmonton Oilers 	3–1 	New York Rangers 	29–24–6	64
60	February 14	Edmonton Oilers 	3–5 	New York Islanders 	29–25–6	64
61	February 17	Washington Capitals 	8–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	29–26–6	64
62	February 19	Boston Bruins 	4–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	29–27–6	64
63	February 21	Hartford Whalers 	4–7 	Edmonton Oilers 	30–27–6	66
64	February 24	Los Angeles Kings 	1–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	31–27–6	68
65	February 25	St. Louis Blues 	3–5 	Edmonton Oilers 	32–27–6	70
66	March 1 	Montreal Canadiens 	0–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	33–27–6	72
67	March 3 	Edmonton Oilers 	7–4 	Winnipeg Jets 	34–27–6	74
68	March 5 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–2 	Pittsburgh Penguins 	35–27–6	76
69	March 7 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–4 	Philadelphia Flyers 	35–27–7	77
70	March 8 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–7 	Hartford Whalers 	35–28–7	77
71	March 11 	Calgary Flames 	5–5 	Edmonton Oilers 	35–28–8	78
72	March 12 	Los Angeles Kings 	6–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	35–29–8	78
73	March 15 	Detroit Red Wings 	8–6 	Edmonton Oilers 	35–30–8	78
74	March 16 	Edmonton Oilers 	0–3 	Vancouver Canucks 	35–31–8	78
75	March 19 	New York Islanders 	2–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	36–31–8	80
76	March 21 	Los Angeles Kings 	4–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	36–32–8	80
77	March 23 	Winnipeg Jets 	4–5 	Edmonton Oilers 	37–32–8	82
78	March 25 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–4 	Los Angeles Kings 	37–33–8	82
79	March 29 	Edmonton Oilers 	5–2 	Vancouver Canucks 	38–33–8	84
80	April 2 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–4 	Calgary Flames 	38–34–8	84
==Playoffs==
In the playoffs, the Oilers would face Wayne Gretzky and the Los Angeles Kings in the opening round of the playoffs. The Oilers would take a 3–1 series lead, however, the Kings would respond by winning 3 games in a row by a combined score of 16–6 to win the series, ending the Oilers bid at winning a 3rd straight Stanley Cup and for the first time since 1982, Edmonton would fail to win a playoff round.
=== Los Angeles Kings 4, Edmonton Oilers 3 ===
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record
1	April 5 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–3 	Los Angeles Kings	1–0
2	April 6 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–5 	Los Angeles Kings	1–1
3	April 8 	Los Angeles Kings	0–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–1
4	April 9 	Los Angeles Kings	3–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–1
5	April 11	Edmonton Oilers 	2–4 	Los Angeles Kings	3–2
6	April 13	Los Angeles Kings	4–1 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–3
7	April 15	Edmonton Oilers 	3–6 	Los Angeles Kings	3–4
==Season Stats==
===Scoring Leaders===
Player 	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM
Jari Kurri 	76	44	58	102	69
Jimmy Carson 	80	49	51	100	36
Mark Messier 	72	33	61	94 	130
Esa Tikkanen 	67	31	47	78 	92
Craig Simpson	66	35	41	76 	80
===Goaltending===
Player 	GP	TOI 	W 	L 	T	GA 	SO	Save %	GAA
Bill Ranford	29	1509	15	8 	2	88 	1 	.877 	3.50
Grant Fuhr 	59	3341	23	26	6	213	1 	.875 	3.83
==Playoff Stats==
===Scoring Leaders===
Player 	GP	G	A 	Pts	PIM
Mark Messier 	7 	1	11	12 	8
Jari Kurri 	7 	3	5 	8 	6
Steve Smith 	7 	2	2 	4 	20
Esa Tikkanen 	7 	1	3 	4 	12
Jimmy Carson 	7 	2	1 	3 	6
Normand Lacombe	7 	2	1 	3 	21
===Goaltending===
Player 	GP	TOI	W	L	GA	SO	Save %	GAA
Grant Fuhr	7 	417	3	4	24	1 	.894 	3.45
==Awards and Records==
*Jari Kurri, Right Wing, NHL Second Team All-Star
==Transactions==
====Trades====
July 22, 1988 	To Washington CapitalsGeoff Courtnall 	To Edmonton OilersGreg Adams
August 9, 1988 	To Los Angeles KingsWayne GretzkyMike KrushelnyskiMarty McSorley 	To Edmonton OilersJimmy CarsonMartin Gelinas*1st round pick in 1989 – Jason Miller1st round pick in 1991 – Martin Rucinsky1st round pick in 1993 – Nick StajduharCash
August 10, 1988 	To Los Angeles KingsJohn Miner 	To Edmonton OilersCraig Redmond
October 27, 1988 	To New York RangersRon Shudra 	To Edmonton OilersJeff Crossman
January 3, 1989 	To Detroit Red Wings10th round in 1989 – Rick Judson 	To Edmonton OilersMiroslav Frycer
January 23, 1989 	To Detroit Red Wings12th round in 1989 – Jason Glickman 	To Edmonton OilersDoug Halward
February 7, 1989]	To Philadelphia FlyersKeith Acton6th round in 1991 – Dmitri Yushkevich	To Edmonton OilersDave Brown
February 15, 1989	To New York Islanders5th round pick in 1989 - Kevin O'Sullivan 	To Edmonton OilersTomas Jonsson
March 7, 1989 	To Los Angeles KingsJim WiemerAlan May 	To Edmonton OilersBrian WilksJohn English
March 7, 1989 	To Vancouver CanucksGreg AdamsDoug Smith 	To Edmonton OilersJohn LeBlanc5th round in 1989 – Peter White
*Later traded to the New Jersey Devils.
====Free Agents====
{|class="wikitable"	
Player 	Former team
D Reed Larson	Boston Bruins
F Stan Drulia	Pittsburgh Penguins
F Nick Fotiu 	Philadelphia Flyers
====Draft Picks====
Edmonton's draft picks at the 1988 NHL Entry Draft
Round	# 	Player 	Nationality	College/junior/club team (league)
1 	19 	Francois Leroux	 	Saint-Jean Castors (QMJHL)
2 	39 	Petro Koivunen 	 	Kiekko-Espoo (Finland)
3 	53 	Trevor Sim 	 	Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
3 	61 	Collin Bauer 	 	Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
4 	82 	Cam Brauer 	 	R.P.I (NCAA)
5 	103	Don Martin 	 	London Knights (OHL)
6 	124	Len Barrie 	 	Victoria Cougars (WHL)
7 	145	Mike Glover 	 	Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
8 	166	Shjon Podein 	 	University of Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA)
9 	187	Tom Cole 	 	Woburn Memorial High School (USHS)
10 	208	Vladimir Zubkov	 	HC CSKA Moscow (Russia)
11 	229	Darin MacDonald	 	Boston University (NCAA)
12 	250	Tim Tisdale 	 	Swift Current Broncos (WHL)
==References==
*SHRP Sports
*The Internet Hockey Database
*National Hockey League Guide & Record Book 2007
Category:Edmonton Oilers seasons
Category:1988 in hockey
Category:1989 in hockey