The Edmonton Oilers: the dynasty that once was.
The National Hockey League has seen its share of dynasties over the years, and the Edmonton Oilers were one of the most dominant.
The Edmonton Oilers won the Stanley Cup in 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, and 1990. They combined offensive finesse with decent defense and superb goaltending to become a team that few could compete with.
In that dynasty period, the Oilers had a plethora of rising stars. Paul Coffey, Grant Fuhr, Jari Kurri, Mark Messier, and, of course, Wayne Gretzky were considered among the league's elite and all eventually ended up in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Gretzky is easily the most famous of the Edmonton Oilers alumni. He broke record after record as a member of the club. His scoring feats while in Edmonton might stand forever.
Mark Messier was known as the true captain of the team. His intensity forced those around him to emulate his strong work ethic. He demanded a great deal of his teammates, and as a result is known as one of the most revered captains in the game.
Edmonton Oilers fans were shocked to learn on Aug. 9, 1988, that Gretzky had been traded to the Los Angeles Kings, along with Marty McSorley and Mike Krushelnyski. In exchange, the Oilers received Jimmy Carson, Martin Gélinas, three first-round draft picks, and a large bucket of cash from Kings' owner Bruce McNall.
The shocking development came at a time when the owner, Peter Pocklington, was in need of financial help, and selling Gretzky was a way of helping to keep creditors away.
The trade had a profound impact on the Edmonton Oilers. They were bumped out of the first round of the playoffs the season Gretzky was traded, but managed one last Cup in 1990. Unfortunately, they never returned to their dominant form after that famous trade.
Now, ownership is an issue for the team, currently owned by 38 shareholders called the Edmonton Investors Group. Alberta billionaire Daryl Katz has made several attempts to purchase the club, all of which have been unsuccessful to date.
The current version of the Edmonton Oilers is a younger club that seems intent on rebuilding, as has been the case for many years now. The roster is weak and the prospect system is lacking in depth.
Unfortunately for Oilers fans, the days of the dynasty are long behind them. Just making the playoffs will seem like a monumental task in upcoming seasons.