1987–88 Edmonton Oilers season
The 1987–88 Edmonton Oilers season was the Oilers' ninth season in the NHL, and they were coming off a Stanley Cup championship against the Philadelphia Flyers the previous season, which was their third Stanley Cup in the past 4 seasons. This was the first time since 1980–81 that the Oilers did not win the division, break the 100 point barrier, or lead the NHL in goals.
| 1987–88 Edmonton Oilers | |
|---|---|
Stanley Cup champions | |
Campbell Conference champions | |
| Division | 2nd Smythe |
| Conference | 2nd Campbell |
| 1987–88 record | 44–25–11 |
| Home record | 28–8–4 |
| Road record | 16–17–7 |
| Goals for | 363 (2nd) |
| Goals against | 288 (8th) |
| Team information | |
| General manager | Glen Sather |
| Coach | Glen Sather |
| Captain | Wayne Gretzky |
| Alternate captains | Kevin Lowe Mark Messier |
| Arena | Northlands Coliseum |
| Average attendance | 17,503 (100%) |
| Minor league affiliate(s) | Nova Scotia Oilers (AHL) Milwaukee Admirals (IHL) |
| Team leaders | |
| Goals | Craig Simpson and Jari Kurri (43) |
| Assists | Wayne Gretzky (109) |
| Points | Wayne Gretzky (149) |
| Penalty minutes | Steve Smith (286) |
| Plus/minus | Steve Smith (+40) |
| Wins | Grant Fuhr (40) |
| Goals against average | Grant Fuhr (3.43) |
Wayne Gretzky led the team with 149 points (sitting out 16 games with a knee injury), his lowest point total since his rookie season in 1979–80, and the first time since then that he failed to lead the NHL in scoring. Jari Kurri and Craig Simpson, who the Oilers acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins during the season, led the team in goals with 43, and Mark Messier set a career high with 111 points. With Paul Coffey being traded during the season to the Penguins, Steve Smith stepped up and led Oilers defense with 55 points and have a team record 286 penalty minutes.
In goal, Grant Fuhr appeared in 75 of the 80 Oilers games, winning a career high 40 games and getting 4 shutouts, while posting a 3.43 GAA and becoming the first Oilers goalie to win the Vezina Trophy. Goalie Andy Moog demanded to be traded from the Oilers, and at the trading deadline, Edmonton dealt Moog and left wing Moe Lemay to the Boston Bruins for goaltender Bill Ranford, left wing Geoff Courtnall, right wing Alan May, and a second-round draft pick in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft.