1983–84 NHL season

1983–84 NHL season
League National Hockey League
Sport Ice hockey
Duration October 4, 1983 – May 19, 1984
Number of games 80
Number of teams 21
Regular season
Season champions Edmonton Oilers
Season MVP Wayne Gretzky, (Edmonton)
Top scorer Wayne Gretzky, (Edmonton)
Playoffs
Playoffs MVP Mark Messier, (Edmonton)
Stanley Cup
Champions Edmonton Oilers
  Runners-up New York Islanders

The 1983–84 NHL season was the 67th season of the National Hockey League. The Edmonton Oilers de-throned the four-time defending Stanley Cup champion New York Islanders four games to one in the Cup finals.

League business

Not since World War II travel restrictions caused the NHL to drop regular season overtime games in 1942–43 had the NHL used overtime to decide regular season games. Starting this season, the NHL introduced a five-minute extra period of overtime following the third period in the event of a tied game. A team losing in overtime would get no points. This rule remained in effect until the 1999–2000 season, where a team losing in overtime was awarded 1 point. If the game remained tied after the five-minute extra period, it remained a tie, until the NHL shootout arrived in the 2005–06 season. Overtime in the Stanley Cup playoffs remained unchanged.

In the entry draft, Brian Lawton became the first American to be chosen first overall by the Minnesota North Stars. Three Americans were chosen in the top five: Lawton, Pat Lafontaine (third) and Tom Barrasso (fifth). Sylvain Turgeon was chosen second and Steve Yzerman was chosen fourth overall. The St. Louis Blues did not participate in the draft, having been 'orphaned' by Ralston Purina. The NHL took control of the franchise after the draft. Harry Ornest purchased the Blues for $3 million USD.[1]

Arthur M. Wirtz, long-time chairman and part-owner of the Chicago Black Hawks died at the age of 82 on July 21, 1983.[2]

Regular season

The Edmonton Oilers ran away with the best record in the league, and for the third straight year set a new record for most goals in a season, 446. The Oilers' new captain Wayne Gretzky was once again breaking records and rewriting his name into the record book. This season saw Gretzky score at least one point in the first 51 games of the season, a mark that is often compared to Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak in baseball. During those 51 games, Gretzky had 61 goals and 92 assists for 153 points, which is equivalent to exactly three points per game. He also won his fifth straight Hart Trophy and his fourth straight Art Ross Trophy. The season's second leading scorer was Gretzky's teammate Paul Coffey, who, with 126 points, became the third defenceman to score 100 points in a season.

The Calgary Flames played their inaugural season at the Olympic Saddledome.

Prior to the season, the St. Louis Blues were purchased by Harry Ornest, keeping the team from moving to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and remaining in the Missouri city, where it remains to this date.

Final standings

Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes

Prince of Wales Conference

Adams Division
  GP W L T GF GA PIM PTS
Boston Bruins 80 49 25 6 336 261 1606 104
Buffalo Sabres 80 48 25 7 315 257 1190 103
Quebec Nordiques 80 42 28 10 360 278 1600 94
Montreal Canadiens 80 35 40 5 286 295 1371 75
Hartford Whalers 80 28 42 10 288 320 1184 66

[3]

Patrick Division
  GP W L T GF GA PTS
New York Islanders 80 50 26 4 357 269 104
Washington Capitals 80 48 27 5 308 226 101
Philadelphia Flyers 80 44 26 10 350 290 98
New York Rangers 80 42 29 9 314 304 93
New Jersey Devils 80 17 56 7 231 350 41
Pittsburgh Penguins 80 16 58 6 254 390 38

[3]

Clarence Campbell Conference

Norris Division
GP W L T GF GA Pts
Minnesota North Stars 80 39 31 10 345 344 88
St. Louis Blues 80 32 41 7 293 316 71
Detroit Red Wings 80 31 42 7 298 323 69
Chicago Black Hawks 80 30 42 8 277 311 68
Toronto Maple Leafs 80 26 45 9 303 387 61

[3]

Smythe Division
GP W L T GF GA PTS
Edmonton Oilers 80 57 18 5 446 314 119
Calgary Flames 80 34 32 14 311 314 82
Vancouver Canucks 80 32 39 9 306 328 73
Winnipeg Jets 80 31 38 11 340 374 73
Los Angeles Kings 80 23 44 13 309 376 59

[3]

Playoffs

The Stanley Cup

Playoff bracket

  Division Semifinals Division Finals Conference Finals Stanley Cup Finals
                                     
A1  Boston 0  
A4  Montreal 3  
  A4  Montreal 4  
  A3  Quebec 2  
A2  Buffalo 0
A3  Quebec 3  
  A4  Montreal 2  
Prince of Wales Conference
  P1  NY Islanders 4  
P1  NY Islanders 3  
P4  NY Rangers 2  
  P1  NY Islanders 4
  P2  Washington 1  
P2  Washington 3
P3  Philadelphia 0  
  P1  NY Islanders 1
  S1  Edmonton 4
N1  Minnesota 3  
N4  Chicago 2  
  N1  Minnesota 4
  N2  St. Louis 3  
N2  St. Louis 3
N3  Detroit 1  
  N1  Minnesota 0
Clarence Campbell Conference
  S1  Edmonton 4  
S1  Edmonton 3  
S4  Winnipeg 0  
  S1  Edmonton 4
  S2  Calgary 3  
S2  Calgary 3
S3  Vancouver 1  

Stanley Cup Finals

It was a rematch of the 1983 final as the Islanders attempted to match the 1950s Montreal Canadiens and win five consecutive Stanley Cup champions, against the Edmonton Oilers attempting to win the franchise's first-ever championship. The Islanders lost the first game at home 1-0, but bounced back to defeat the Oilers 6-1 in the second game. Edmonton took over the series from that point, winning the next three games, all played in Edmonton.

Edmonton won series 4–1

Awards

1984 NHL awards
Prince of Wales Trophy:
(Wales Conference playoff champion) 		New York Islanders
Clarence S. Campbell Bowl:
(Campbell Conference playoff champion) 		Edmonton Oilers
Art Ross Trophy:
(Top scorer, regular season) 		Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy:
(Perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication) 		Brad Park, Detroit Red Wings
Calder Memorial Trophy:
(Best first-year player) 		Tom Barrasso, Buffalo Sabres
Conn Smythe Trophy:
(Most valuable player, playoffs) 		Mark Messier, Edmonton Oilers
Frank J. Selke Trophy:
(Best defensive forward) 		Doug Jarvis, Washington Capitals
Hart Memorial Trophy:
(Most valuable player, regular season) 		Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers
Jack Adams Award:
(Best coach) 		Bryan Murray, Washington Capitals
James Norris Memorial Trophy:
(Best defenceman) 		Rod Langway, Washington Capitals
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy:
(Excellence and sportsmanship) 		Mike Bossy, New York Islanders
Lester B. Pearson Award:
(Outstanding player, regular season) 		Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers
NHL Plus/Minus Award:
(Player with best plus/minus record) 		Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers
William M. Jennings Trophy:
(Goaltender(s) of team(s) with best goaltending record) 		Al Jensen, Pat Riggin, Washington Capitals
Vezina Trophy:
(Best goaltender) 		Tom Barrasso, Buffalo Sabres
Lester Patrick Trophy:
(Service to hockey in the U.S.) 		John A. Ziegler, Jr., Arthur Howie Ross

All-Star teams

First Team   Position   Second Team
Tom Barrasso, Buffalo Sabres G Pat Riggin, Washington Capitals
Rod Langway, Washington Capitals D Paul Coffey, Edmonton Oilers
Ray Bourque, Boston Bruins D Denis Potvin, New York Islanders
Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers C Bryan Trottier, New York Islanders
Mike Bossy, New York Islanders RW Jari Kurri, Edmonton Oilers
Michel Goulet, Quebec Nordiques LW Mark Messier, Edmonton Oilers

Source: NHL.[4]

Player statistics

Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points

Player Team GP G A Pts PIM
Wayne Gretzky Edmonton Oilers 74 87 118 205 39
Paul Coffey Edmonton Oilers 80 40 86 126 104
Michel Goulet Quebec Nordiques 75 56 65 121 76
Peter Stastny Quebec Nordiques 80 46 73 119 73
Mike Bossy New York Islanders 67 51 67 118 8
Barry Pederson Boston Bruins 80 39 77 116 64
Jari Kurri Edmonton Oilers 64 52 61 113 14
Bryan Trottier New York Islanders 68 40 71 111 59
Bernie Federko St. Louis Blues 79 41 66 107 43
Rick Middleton Boston Bruins 80 47 58 105 14

Source: NHL.[5]

Leading goaltenders

Note: GP = Games played; Min - Minutes Played; GA = Goals Against; GAA = Goals Against Average; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts

Player Team GP MIN GA GAA W L T SO
Pat Riggin Washington Capitals 41 2299 102 2.66 21 14 2 4
Tom Barrasso Buffalo Sabres 42 2475 117 2.84 26 12 3 2
Al Jensen Washington Capitals 43 2414 117 2.91 25 13 3 4
Doug Keans Boston Bruins 33 1779 92 3.10 19 8 3 2
Bob Froese Philadelphia Flyers 48 2863 150 3.14 28 13 7 2
Pete Peeters Boston Bruins 50 2868 151 3.16 29 16 2 0
Dan Bouchard Quebec Nordiques 57 3373 180 3.20 29 18 8 1
Roland Melanson N.Y. Islanders 37 2019 110 3.27 20 11 2 0
Richard Sevigny Montreal Canadiens 40 2203 124 3.38 16 18 2 1
Murray Bannerman Chicago Black Hawks 56 3335 188 3.38 23 29 4 2

[6]

Milestones

Debuts

The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1983–84 (listed with their first team, asterisk(*) marks debut in playoffs):

Last games

The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1983–84 (listed with their last team):

1984 Trading Deadline

See also

References

Notes
  1. ↑ McFarlane 1989, p. 232.
  2. ↑ McFarlane 1989, p. 233.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 152. ISBN 9781894801225.
  4. ↑ Dinger 2011, p. 229.
  5. ↑ Dinger 2011, p. 152.
  6. ↑ http://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1984_leaders.html
  7. ↑ NHL trade deadline: Deals since 1980 | Habs Inside/Out

External links

Media related to 1983-1984 National Hockey League season at Wikimedia Commons

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