The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team in the NHL, competing in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. Based in Edmonton, Alberta, they play their home games at Rogers Place. As of July 2024, Stan Bowman is the general manager and Kris Knoblauch is the head coach. The Oilers share a heated rivalry with the Calgary Flames, known as the "Battle of Alberta".
In 1919, Charles A. "Chuck" Allard, one of the original owners of the Edmonton Oilers, was born.
In 1920, "Wild Bill" Hunter, one of the original owners of the Edmonton Oilers, was born.
The design of the uniforms that the Oilers wore in 2023 Heritage Classic, was inspired by Team Canada's 1952 Winter Olympics gold medal-winning team represented by the Edmonton Mercurys.
Since the NHL expansion in 1967, only the Montreal Canadiens have won more Stanley Cups than the Edmonton Oilers.
In the 1985-86 season, Paul Coffey nearly broke Bobby Orr's record of 139 points by a defenceman, finishing with 138 points.
On November 1, 1971, the Edmonton Oilers became one of the 12 founding franchises of the WHA, owned by "Wild Bill" Hunter and Dr. Charles A. "Chuck" Allard.
In 1971, W. D. "Wild Bill" Hunter and Dr. Chuck Allard founded the Edmonton Oilers.
During the 1972-73 season, "Wild Bill" Hunter served as the head coach for the Edmonton Oilers.
In 1972, the Edmonton Oilers' original logo was designed by James Harvey. The uniform featured the colors blue and orange, with orange being the dominant color. Player names were initially not displayed, with "ALBERTA" written instead.
In the 1972-73 season, the Edmonton Oilers played their first season as a founding franchise in the World Hockey Association (WHA).
Inductees are selected based on their contributions or services to the team since its founding in 1972
The Oilers were established in 1972, which is referenced by the number 72 worn on the jersey of the team's mascot, Hunter.
During the 1974-75 season, "Wild Bill" Hunter served as the head coach for the Edmonton Oilers.
In the 1974–75 season, the Edmonton Oilers jersey was changed to a blue base with orange trim.
During the 1975-76 season, "Wild Bill" Hunter served as the head coach for the Edmonton Oilers.
During the 1975–76 WHA season, Clare Drake served as the head coach of the Edmonton Oilers.
Glen Sather was a head coach for the Oilers from 1976 to 2000, leading them to four Stanley Cups.
In 1976, Glen Sather was acquired by the Edmonton Oilers and was named player-coach later that season.
In 1976, Hunter and Allard sold the Edmonton Oilers franchise to Nelson Skalbania.
In 1978, Peter Pocklington acquired Wayne Gretzky, Eddie Mio, and Peter Driscoll from the Indianapolis Racers.
In 1978-79, Wayne Gretzky played his first and only WHA season with the Edmonton Oilers.
In 1978-79, the Oilers lost most of their players from the previous season due to the NHL reclamation draft.
Jacques Plante, who briefly played for the Oilers in the WHA, was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1978.
In 1979, Peter Pocklington signed Wayne Gretzky to a 21-year personal services contract, ensuring the Oilers could keep him upon joining the NHL.
In 1979, the Edmonton Oilers joined the National Hockey League (NHL) as part of the NHL-WHA merger.
In the 1978-79 season, the Edmonton Oilers finished first in the WHA standings with a 48-30-2 record.
Kevin Lowe played with the Oilers from 1979 to 1992 and from 1996 to 1998.
In the 1980-81 season, Gretzky set new NHL records for assists (109) and points (164).
Jari Kurri was an Oilers selection from the 1980 NHL entry draft, he played ten seasons with the Oilers, winning all five of their Stanley Cups.
During the 1981-82 season, Wayne Gretzky unanimously won the Hart trophy. This makes him and Connor McDavid the only two unanimous winners in league history.
From 1981 to 2011, Paul Lorieau was the Oilers anthem singer.
From 1981-82, the Edmonton Oilers won six straight division titles.
In the 1981-82 NHL season, Grant Fuhr emerged as the starting goaltender and set a rookie record, while Gretzky set a single-season record for goals (92) and became the first player to score 200 points (212).
From 1982 to 1989, Nike provided the Edmonton Oilers' sweaters.
In 1982, it was the first time since 1982 that the Oilers had been eliminated from the playoffs in the first round.
In the 1982-83 season, the Edmonton Oilers advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals but were swept by the New York Islanders.
Norm Ullman, who played for the Oilers in the WHA, was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1982.
In the 1983-84 NHL season, the Edmonton Oilers finished first overall, winning a franchise record 57 games and earning 119 points. They won the Stanley Cup.
Roger Neilson worked for the Oilers as a video analyst during the 1984 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
In the 1985-86 season, the Edmonton Oilers won the inaugural Presidents' Trophy and had Gretzky, Kurri, and Anderson each score 50 goals. Gretzky set records for assists (163) and points (215).
In the 1986-87 season, Edmonton returned to the Stanley Cup Finals and faced the Philadelphia Flyers, the same opponent as they had in 1985. The Oilers won the series in Game 7, securing the Stanley Cup.
Prior to creation of the Presidents' Trophy in 1985–86
In the 1986-87 season, the Edmonton Oilers captured their second straight Presidents' Trophy with 50 wins and 106 points.
In the 2022-23 season, the Edmonton Oilers had their first 50-win season since the 1986-87 season.
The Oilers' rivalry with the Flames stems from several playoff matchups during the 1980s. However, the Flames did defeat the Oilers in the 1986 division round.
During the 1987-88 season, Grant Fuhr won 40 games as a goaltender for the Oilers, which at the time was a franchise record.
In 1987, the Edmonton Oilers began losing key players. Paul Coffey sat out the first 21 games before being traded. Grant Fuhr also set a league record by starting 75 games and achieving 40 wins for the team.
On August 9, 1988, Wayne Gretzky, along with Marty McSorley and Mike Krushelnyski, were traded to the Los Angeles Kings for $15 million, Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas, and draft picks. The trade caused significant upset among Oilers fans and even prompted political discussion.
In 1988, Andy Moog was traded to the Boston Bruins after playing in the Winter Olympics. Despite these changes, the Edmonton Oilers finished third in the NHL and swept the Boston Bruins to win the Stanley Cup, although one game was replayed due to a power outage. Wayne Gretzky won the Conn Smythe Trophy. After the season, Grant Fuhr won the Vezina Trophy.
In 1988, following the trade of Wayne Gretzky, the Edmonton Oilers finished third in their division. Mark Messier was appointed as the new captain.
In 1988, the Edmonton Oilers earned a rematch against the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup Finals.
From 1982 to 1989, Nike provided the Edmonton Oilers' sweaters.
In 1989, Grant Fuhr's appendicitis and shoulder injury led to Bill Ranford's emergence as a starter. Jimmy Carson was traded to Detroit, with Petr Klima, Adam Graves, Joe Murphy and Jeff Sharples joining the Oilers.
In 1989, the Edmonton Oilers received their first-round draft pick from the Los Angeles Kings as part of the Wayne Gretzky trade.
During the 2023-24 season, Connor McDavid became the fourth player since 1990-91 to record 100 assists in a single NHL season.
In 1990, Jari Kurri chose to play in Italy, and Grant Fuhr was suspended for 60 games due to drug abuse.
In 1990, the Edmonton Oilers had a comparable season to the previous year and made it to the conference finals.
Mark Messier lead Edmonton Oilers to Stanley Cup championship in 1990
In 1991, Charles A. "Chuck" Allard, one of the original owners of the Edmonton Oilers, passed away.
In 1991, the Edmonton Oilers received another first-round draft pick from the Los Angeles Kings as part of the Wayne Gretzky trade.
In 1991, the Edmonton Oilers saw the departure of several star players, including Grant Fuhr, Glenn Anderson, Steve Smith, and Jari Kurri, who were traded to other teams. Additionally, Mark Messier was traded to the New York Rangers shortly after the season began.
In 2022, the series against the Calgary Flames was the first Battle of Alberta since 1991.
In 1992, serious deficiencies in the Edmonton Oilers' player development system became apparent.
Kevin Lowe played with the Oilers from 1979 to 1992 and from 1996 to 1998.
In 1993, the Edmonton Oilers missed the playoffs for the first time as an NHL team.
In 1993, the Edmonton Oilers received their final first-round draft pick from the Los Angeles Kings as part of the Wayne Gretzky trade.
In 1994, the NHL changed its playoff format.
Mark Messier lead New York Rangers to Stanley Cup championship in 1994
In 1995, the Quebec Nordiques relocated and became the Colorado Avalanche.
In 1995, the Quebec Nordiques relocated.
The 2022-23 season marked the first time since the 1995-96 NHL season that one team had three players score 100 points.
In 1996, the Edmonton Oilers made the playoffs for the first time in five years, largely due to the stellar performance of goaltender Curtis Joseph.
In 1996, the Edmonton Oilers' team colors were changed to midnight blue and copper with red trim. The shoulder bar and cuffs were removed from the away jersey, and the "Rigger" alternate logo was added to the jersey's shoulders.
In 1996, the Winnipeg Jets relocated and became the Phoenix Coyotes.
In 1996, the Winnipeg Jets relocated.
Kevin Lowe played with the Oilers from 1979 to 1992 and from 1996 to 1998.
Glen Sather was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1997.
In 1997, the Edmonton Oilers upset the Dallas Stars in the first round of the playoffs, winning a seven-game series.
In 1997, the Hartford Whalers relocated and became the Carolina Hurricanes.
In 1997, the Hartford Whalers relocated.
On March 14, 1998, the Edmonton Investors Group (EIG) agreed to buy the Edmonton Oilers for $70 million, preventing the team from moving to Houston, Texas. Cal Nichols spearheaded the EIG, ensuring that NHL hockey would remain in Edmonton.
In 1998, the Edmonton Oilers ended their playoff drought with a first round victory against the Detroit Red Wings.
Kevin Lowe played with the Oilers from 1979 to 1992 and from 1996 to 1998.
Wayne Gretzky was immediately inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1999, after retiring the same year.
Glen Sather was a head coach for the Oilers from 1976 to 2000, leading them to four Stanley Cups.
During the 2022-23 season, the Oilers unveiled a second "Reverse Retro" uniform, using the 2001–2007 alternate but with orange replacing silver in the trim, as well as making the oil drop orange to match the drop in the standard logo.
In 2001, Jari Kurri became the first Finnish player to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
In 2001, the Edmonton Oilers introduced their first alternate third sweater, designed by Todd McFarlane, featuring a flying set of gears with an oil drop on top as the primary logo.
In 2002, "Wild Bill" Hunter, one of the original owners of the Edmonton Oilers, passed away.
Roger Neilson was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2002. He briefly worked for the Oilers as a video analyst during the 1984 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
On November 22, 2003, the Edmonton Oilers hosted the 2003 Heritage Classic against the Montreal Canadiens at Commonwealth Stadium. The Canadiens won 4-3 in front of a record-breaking crowd of over 55,000 fans.
Broadcaster Rod Phillips was awarded the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award by the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2003.
During the 2003 Heritage Classic, the Edmonton Oilers wore their 1980s white uniform paired with the then-current navy pants.
Goaltender Grant Fuhr, who was present during the "dynasty era," was inducted in 2003 into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
In 2004, Paul Coffey was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.
In 2004, the Edmonton Oilers faced difficulties due to their small-market status.
In 2005, the Edmonton Oilers were aided by a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the NHL owners and players, which included a salary cap and a more favorable conversion rate of Canadian dollar revenues.
Chris Pronger helped lead the Oilers to their 2006 Stanley Cup run.
In 2006, the Edmonton Oilers had not made the playoffs since then. General Manager Peter Chiarelli signed Milan Lucic to a seven-year contract in an attempt to make the playoffs for the first time since 2006.
In 2006, the Edmonton Oilers lost the Stanley Cup Finals to the Carolina Hurricanes in seven games. Dwayne Roloson's injury in Game 1 and the subsequent use of Jussi Markkanen in net were key factors.
In 2006, the Edmonton Oilers reached the Stanley Cup Finals but did not win, subsequently missing the playoffs for ten seasons.
In the 2006 playoffs, the Edmonton Oilers eliminated the San Jose Sharks with a 3-1 win in Game 6, marking their first playoff series win since 2006.
In the 2023-24 season, the Edmonton Oilers reached the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 2006, eventually losing to the Florida Panthers in seven games. Connor McDavid won the Conn Smythe Trophy.
During the 2022-23 season, the Oilers unveiled a second "Reverse Retro" uniform, using the 2001–2007 alternate but with orange replacing silver in the trim, as well as making the oil drop orange to match the drop in the standard logo.
In 2007, with the NHL's switch to Reebok Edge jerseys, the Edmonton Oilers kept their team colors but changed the style of their jerseys. The waistline stripes were removed in favor of vertical piping.
Mark Messier was inducted in 2007 into the Hockey Hall of Fame, also in his first year of eligibility.
Since 2007, the Edmonton Oilers have had nineteen first-round selections in the NHL entry draft.
The Edmonton Oilers' sweater design remained stable from 1997 until 2007.
On July 30, 2008, the Oilers announced a restructuring of their hockey operations, promoting Kevin Lowe to president of hockey operations and replacing him with Steve Tambellini.
In 2008, Glenn Anderson became the final Oilers player to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame during the 2000s.
In 2008, the Edmonton Oilers introduced a new alternate jersey that closely resembled the blue-and-orange away jersey of the dynasty era.
For the 2009-10 season, the Edmonton Oilers' alternate jersey became the main home jersey as blue and orange became the primary team colors once again.
Pat Quinn coached the Oilers for one year in 2009. The team finished in last place in the league with a record of 27–47–8.
On December 14, 2010, The Octane performed for the first time at a home game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
On June 24, 2011, the Edmonton Oilers presented their new white road jerseys at the 2011 NHL entry draft, when they selected Ryan Nugent-Hopkins first overall.
From 1981 to 2011, Paul Lorieau was the Oilers anthem singer.
Adam Oates was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2012. Oates played sixty games with the Oilers after signing a one-year contract in 2003.
The midnight blue jersey remained as the third jersey before being dropped altogether in 2012.
On December 3, 2013, Rogers Communications announced it had the naming rights to the new 18,641-seat arena, which was named Rogers Place.
Since 2013, the Oilers' anthem singer has been Robert Clark, an opera singer from Sherwood Park.
On March 5, 2014, Ales Hemsky was traded to the Ottawa Senators.
On December 15, 2014, after 31 games of the 2014–15 season, Dallas Eakins was terminated as head coach.
On January 29, 2015, the Oilers announced the relocation of their AHL franchise from Oklahoma City to Bakersfield, California, as part of the AHL's new Pacific Division.
On April 24, 2015, Craig MacTavish was removed from his position as general manager and was replaced by Peter Chiarelli.
On October 7, 2015, the Oilers elected to begin the 2015–16 season without a team captain for the first time since entering the NHL in 1979.
Chris Pronger, who played defence for the Oilers, was inducted in 2015 into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Pronger helped lead the Oilers to their 2006 Stanley Cup run.
For the 2015-16 season, the Edmonton Oilers introduced a new alternate jersey inspired by their original WHA design, with orange as a primary color. The "Surge of Orange" fan tradition emerged in response.
On February 27, 2016, after being mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, the Oilers traded defenceman Justin Schultz to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
In August 2016, the Oilers Entertainment Group announced it was discontinuing the Octane and announced auditions for the Oilers Orange and Blue Ice Crew.
On September 26, 2016, the Oilers mascot, a Canadian lynx named Hunter, was unveiled. Hunter wears the number 72 on his jersey.
Coming into the 2017-18 season, there were high expectations following the surprising 2016-17 season. The Oilers, however, regressed and missed the playoffs.
In 2016, Rogers Place became the new home arena for the Edmonton Oilers.
In 2016, the Edmonton Oilers wore the alternate orange jerseys in the Heritage Classic.
In 2016, the Oilers had a successful season, finishing with a 47–26–9 record. Connor McDavid had a 100-point season, and Cam Talbot set a new franchise record with 42 games won by a goaltender.
Pat Quinn, who coached the Oilers for one year in 2009 was posthumously inducted in 2016 into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
On March 28, 2017, the Edmonton Oilers defeated the Los Angeles Kings 2-1, securing their spot in the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs and ending an 11-year playoff drought.
Clare Drake was inducted in 2017 into the Hockey Hall of Fame. During the 1975–76 WHA season, Drake served as the head coach of the Edmonton Oilers.
In 2017, the 1984-85 Edmonton Oilers were voted the greatest NHL team of all time during the league's centennial celebrations.
In the 2017 off-season, the Edmonton Oilers traded Jordan Eberle to the New York Islanders for Ryan Strome. They also signed Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl to 8-year contract extensions.
In the 2021-22 season, the Edmonton Oilers had their first 40-win season since 2017.
With the switch to Adidas jerseys in the 2017-18 season, the Edmonton Oilers' orange jersey became the home design, with midnight blue returning as an accent color.
In 2018, to commemorate the franchise's 40th anniversary in the NHL, the Oilers wore their classic 1980s blue jerseys for four home games against original Smythe Division rivals Los Angeles Kings, Calgary Flames, Winnipeg Jets and Vancouver Canucks.
Ken Hitchcock coached the Oilers during the 2018–19 NHL season.
On January 22, 2019, the Edmonton Oilers terminated Peter Chiarelli's employment as president and general manager.
On May 7, 2019, Ken Holland was announced as the new general manager for the Edmonton Oilers.
Before the 2019-20 season, the Oilers unveiled a new midnight blue alternate jersey with minimal striping and lack of white elements.
Ken Holland started as Oilers general manager and president of hockey operations from 2019 to 2024.
On March 12, 2020, the Edmonton Oilers had a 37-25-9 record when the COVID-19 pandemic suspended the 2019-20 season.
In the 2020-21 season, Connor McDavid reached 105 points in 53 games. He also earned his second Hart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player, becoming the second unanimous winner in league history.
In the 2020–21 season, the Oilers released a "Reverse Retro" alternate uniform, reviving the 1980s white jersey but with the orange and blue switching places, save for the team's crest.
Ken Holland, Oilers general manager and president of hockey operations from 2019 to 2024 was inducted in 2020 into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
As of 2021, Jack Michaels calls play-by-play on most Oilers TV broadcasts alongside Louie DeBrusk and reporter Gene Principe.
During the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Oilers wore their midnight blue alternate jerseys at home playoff games.
In the 2021-22 season, the Edmonton Oilers finished with a 49-27-6 record.
On September 7, 2022, the Oilers announced the establishment of their own club Hall of Fame. The inaugural Class of 2022 members included Al Hamilton, Wayne Gretzky, Jari Kurri, and others.
Beginning with the 2022–23 season, the Oilers brought back the 1980s blue and white jerseys, while retaining the alternate midnight blue jerseys.
During the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Oilers wore their midnight blue alternate jerseys at home playoff games.
In 2022, the Edmonton Oilers made it to the conference finals for the first time since 2006. They beat the Los Angeles Kings in the first round and the Calgary Flames in the second round before being swept by the Colorado Avalanche.
In the 2022-23 season, Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins each reached the 100-point milestone.
On September 20, 2023, the Oilers announced that Charlie Huddy and former team captain Doug Weight would be the two members of the 2023 Hall of Fame class.
On November 12, 2023, the Edmonton Oilers dismissed head coach Jay Woodcroft and assistant coach Dave Manson due to a disappointing start to the 2023-24 season.
On November 12, 2023, Kris Knoblauch was appointed as the head coach of the Edmonton Oilers.
On December 21, 2023, the Edmonton Oilers began a 16-game win streak against the New Jersey Devils.
For the team's appearance in the 2023 Heritage Classic, the Oilers wore specially designed uniforms. The design was inspired by Team Canada's 1952 Winter Olympics gold medal-winning team represented by the Edmonton Mercurys.
In 2023, the Oilers announced their LOILTY Rewards program, a free program allowing fans to earn rewards by attending games, buying merchandise, and making concession purchases.
Ken Hitchcock, who coached the Oilers during the 2018–19 NHL season, was inducted in 2023 into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
On February 6, 2024, the Edmonton Oilers' 16-game win streak ended against the Vegas Golden Knights.
On June 27, 2024, three days after the Oilers' loss in the Stanley Cup Finals, Ken Holland and the Oilers mutually decided to part ways, and Jeff Jackson assumed the role of interim general manager.
On July 24, 2024, Stan Bowman was named the general manager of the Edmonton Oilers.
On August 1, 2024, the Oilers announced Craig MacTavish and Randy Gregg would be inducted into the Oilers Hall of Fame, ahead of their home game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on October 25.
Bryn Griffiths will serve as new reporter for the 2024–25 season onwards, replacing Reid Wilkins as of September 18, 2024.
Beginning in the 2024–25 season, Rogers will sublicense Monday night NHL games, including those involving the Oilers, exclusively to Prime Video, with no regional broadcast available for these streaming broadcasts.
In 2024, the Edmonton Oilers reached the Stanley Cup Finals but lost to the Florida Panthers in seven games.
Ken Holland stopped as Oilers general manager and president of hockey operations from 2019 to 2024.
Updated March 18, 2025
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