Soccer Dad

Twenty four years ago

The Oiler dynasty begins

On May 19, 1984, one dynasty ends and another begins when the Edmonton Oilers defeat the New York Islanders 5-2 to win the Stanley Cup. The Oilers had been swept by New York in the finals the year before, but the team’s talent had matured, and their offensive onslaught overwhelmed the four-time defending champs.

The now legendary Wayne Gretzky led the 1983-84 Oilers with 87 goals and 205 points; this was the second time he had scored 200 points in a year, a feat no one else had yet accomplished. Gretzky’s main partner on the ice was center Mark Messier, who had 101 points in 1983-84. The team’s other stars included right wingers Jari Kurri and Glen Anderson, with 113 and 99 points, respectively, and the high-scoring defenseman Paul Coffey.

The dynasty eventually faded. Gretzky wound up in LA and Messier with the Rangers.

I noticed that Gretzky is now coach of the Phoenix Coyotes. It doesn't seem that he's had quite the success that another icon of 80's sports, Larry Bird had with coaching. (No Bird never got the Pacers to the championship, but he did get them pretty far in the playoffs three straight years.)