When Did The Oilers Join The NHL?

Many people don’t know when the Oilers joined the NHL.
The Oilers were founded in 1971 and joined the NHL in 1972.

Introduction

The Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Oilers were founded on November 1, 1971, with the team playing its first season in 1972–73, as one of twelve inaugural franchises of the major professional World Hockey Association (WHA). The franchise joined the NHL in 1979 as one of four franchises introduced through the NHL merger with the WHA.

The Oilers Join the NHL

On November 1, 1971, the Oilers were officially announced as one of the NHL’s newest expansion teams. The Oilers were originally founded in Edmonton, Alberta, in 1971 as a World Hockey Association (WHA) team. They joined the NHL in 1979 after the WHA ceased operations.

The Oilers Join the NHL

On November 1, 1971, the Edmonton Oilers became one of the twelve founding franchises of the World Hockey Association (WHA). The WHA was a direct challenge to the National Hockey League (NHL), and Edmonton was just one of several cities with new teams in the league. The Oilers played their first game on October 11, 1972, against the Los Angeles Sharks.

The WHA lasted for seven seasons, and in that time, the Oilers were one of the most successful teams in the league. They made it to the playoffs every year and won the Avco World Trophy (the equivalent of the Stanley Cup) three times. In 1979, the WHA merged with the NHL, and four of its teams – including the Oilers – were absorbed into the NHL. The Oilers have been a part of the NHL ever since.

The Oilers Leave the NHL

In 1982, the Oilers were one of the founding teams of the newly formed Edmonton Oilers join the NHL West Division. The Oilers had a rocky start to their NHL career, finishing last in their division in both 1982-83 and 1983-84. However, under the guidance of new head coach and general manager Glen Sather, the team began to turn things around.

The Oilers drafted future Hall of Fame players Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier in 1979 and 1980 respectively. With these two superstars leading the way, the Oilers quickly became one of the most dominant teams in the NHL. The team won their first Stanley Cup championship in 1984, defeating the New York Islanders in five games. The Oilers would go on to win four more Stanley Cups in 1985, 1987, 1988, and 1990.

In 1996, following a disappointing season, the Oilers traded Wayne Gretzky to the Los Angeles Kings. This marked the end of an era for the franchise, and they would never again reach the heights of success that they had achieved with Gretzky on their team. In 2006, after several years of financial struggles, the Oilers were sold to new ownership. The new owners announced that they would be relocating the team to Houston, Texas for the 2017-18 season.

The Oilers Return to the NHL

The Oilers Return to the NHL

In 1979, the Edmonton Oilers, led by future hall of famers Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier, joined the NHL as part of the league’s merger with the WHA. The Oilers were one of four WHA teams to join the NHL in 1979, along with the New England Whalers (now the Carolina Hurricanes), Quebec Nordiques (now the Colorado Avalanche) and Winnipeg Jets (now the Arizona Coyotes).

The Oilers Leave the NHL Again

In 1978, the Oilers were sold to Peter Pocklington, who began a 13-year run as the team’s owner. Under Pocklington, the Oilers won their first Stanley Cup in 1984-85, led by future Hall of Fame players Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier. The team added another Stanley Cup title in 1988-89.

However, Pocklington’s tenure as owner was not without controversy. In 1991, he infamously traded Gretzky to the Los Angeles Kings in a deal that sent several other players and $15 million to the Oilers. The trade shocked the hockey world and angered many Oilers fans.

Pocklington continued to make unpopular moves as owner, and in 1998 he put the team up for sale. In 1999, the Oilers were sold to a group of investors led by Canadian businessman Daryl Katz. The team changed hands again in 2013, when Katz sold it to a group of investors led by Canadian businessman Jim Balsillie.

The Oilers Return to the NHL Once More

On June 22,1979, the Oilers were announced as one of the NHL’s two newest expansion teams. They would begin play in the 1979-80 season along with the Hartford Whalers. The Oilers were originally meant to be based in Minnesota but due to a legal battle with the NHL, they were forced to relocate to Calgary.

The Oilers Return to the NHL

The Oilers were one of the original six World Hockey Association teams that joined the NHL in 1979. They were founded in 1972 and played in the WHA until the league ceased operations in 1979. They then joined the NHL along with the other five WHA teams. The Oilers have won five Stanley Cups, all while they were members of the NHL.

The Oilers Leave the NHL for the Final Time

On July 8, 1988, the Oilers were sold to Peter Pocklington for $16 million. In his first act as owner, Pocklington infamously traded Wayne Gretzky and three other players to the Los Angeles Kings for Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas, three first-round draft picks, and $15 million in cash. The trade is widely considered one of the most one-sided in sports history and was named by Sports Illustrated as the “worst trade in sports history”. Many fans never forgave Pocklington for trading away the greatest player of all time and attendance at Oilers games dropped significantly in the aftermath of the deal.

Conclusion

The Oilers joined the NHL in 1979.