1987–88 NHL season

The 1987–88 NHL season was the 71st season of the National Hockey League. It was an 80 game season with the top four teams in each division advancing to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The NHL introduced a new trophy, the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, which was to be awarded to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and who has made a significant humanitarian contribution in his community.

Regular season

This was Wayne Gretzky's final season with the Edmonton Oilers, and as injuries held him out of 20% of the season, this would be the only season of the decade in which he was not the winner of the Hart Memorial Trophy and did not hold or share the league lead in points. Mario Lemieux would capture his first Hart Trophy and lead the league in scoring. This season would also see the Edmonton Oilers win their 4th Stanley Cup in 5 years by sweeping the Boston Bruins 4–0 (plus one cancelled game) in the Stanley Cup finals. In the process of their cup win, Edmonton lost only 2 games, a record for the "16 wins" playoff format.

Final standings

"Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF= Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes"

Prince of Wales Conference

"Boston wins best-of-seven series 4–2"

Hartford Whalers vs. Montreal Canadiens

The Habs almost squandered a 3–0 series lead. The deep Habs roster was the best team in the Wales Conference during the season, consisting of six 20-goal scorers and another six with between 10 and 20 goals. Their best assets were goaltenders Patrick Roy and backup Brian Hayward who won 23 and 22 games respectively. The Ron Francis-led Whalers went 2–4–2 against the Canadiens during the season, twice losing by just one goal."New Jersey wins best-of-seven series 4–2"

Norris Division semi-finals

Chicago Blackhawks vs. St. Louis Blues

The Chicago Blackhawks were led by their three 40-goal scorers Denis Savard, Rick Vaive, and Steve Larmer. They were poor defensively, and were matched up against a similar St. Louis Blues squad that was better defensively if not in goal. Vaive had eight points, while Larmer and Savard had seven each."Edmonton wins best-of-seven series 4–1"

Los Angeles Kings vs. Calgary Flames

The Kings fourth place finish in the Smythe Division tied their best finish in their history, since being moved to the Smythe. Their defence was the worst in the league, and they relied on offence. The Kings met Calgary twice in the week before the playoffs and triumphed 9–7 at home and 6–3 in Calgary. The Flames would make a mockery of the Kings' defence and would light the lamp 26 times, even more than the Oilers scored against the Jets. Four months after this series mercifully ended, the only NHL franchise in California would undergo a massive makeover, thanks to new uniforms and a savior from the north.

"New Jersey wins best-of-seven series 4–3"

:Norris DivisionSt. Louis Blues vs. Detroit Red Wings

In another case of a team down 2–0 rallying to win game three, the Red Wings got aggressive, unafraid of the Blues' offence and won in five.

"Boston wins best-of-seven series 4–3"

:Clarence Campbell ConferenceDetroit Red Wings vs. Edmonton Oilers

Steve Yzerman and the Wings were no match for the Oilers again, and were edged out in five games.

All-Star teams

Debuts

The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1987–88:
*Tommy Albelin, Quebec Nordiques
*Rob Brown, Pittsburgh Penguins
*Sean Burke, New Jersey Devils
*Adam Graves, Detoit Red Wings
*Craig Janney, Boston Bruins
*Calle Johansson, Buffalo Sabres
*Brian Leetch, New York Rangers
*Jeff Norton, New York Islanders
*Luke Richardson, Toronto Maple Leafs
*Mathieu Schneider, Montreal Canadiens
*Brendan Shanahan, New Jersey Devils
*Ray Sheppard, Buffalo Sabres
*Kevin Stevens, Pittsburgh Penguins
*Ron Tugnutt, Quebec Nordiques
*Pierre Turgeon, Buffalo Sabres
*Glen Wesley, Boston Bruins
*Scott Young, Hartford Whalers

Last games

The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1987–88:
*Bob Bourne, Los Angeles Kings
*Richard Brodeur, Hartford Whalers
*Clark Gillies, Buffalo Sabres
*Doug Jarvis, Hartford Whalers
*Pierre Larouche, New York Rangers
*Dave Lewis, Detroit Red Wings
*Gilles Meloche, Pittsburgh Penguins
*Rick Middleton, Boston Bruins
*Wilf Paiement, Pittsburgh Penguins
*Steve Payne, Minnesota North Stars
*Denis Potvin, New York Islanders
*Doug Risebrough, Calgary Flames
*Dave Semenko, Toronto Maple Leafs
*Charlie Simmer, Pittsburgh Penguins
*Brian Sutter, St. Louis Blues
*Perry Turnbull, St. Louis Blues
*Tiger Williams, Hartford Whalers

1988 Trading Deadline

* Trading Deadline: MARCH 8, 1988 [ [http://www.habsinsideout.com/main/3969 NHL trade deadline: Deals since 1980 | Habs Inside/Out ] ]
*March 8, 1988: Charlie Bourgeois and Hartford's 3rd round choice in 1989 Entry Draft traded from St. Louis to Hartford for Hartford's 2nd round choice in 1989 Entry Draft.
*March 8, 1988: Geoff Courtnall, Bill Ranford and future considerations traded from Boston to Edmonton for Andy Moog.
*March 8, 1988: Brian Curran traded from NY Islanders to Toronto for Toronto's 6th round choice in 1988 Entry Draft.
*March 8, 1988: Moe Lemay traded from Edmonton to Boston for Alan May.
*March 8, 1988: Jim Pavese traded from NY Rangers to Detroit for future considerations.
*March 8, 1988: Gordie Roberts traded from Philadelphia to St. Louis for future considerations.
*March 8, 1988: Steve Tsujuira traded from New Jersey to Boston for Boston's 10th round choice in 1988 Entry Draft (Alexander Semak).
*March 8, 1988: Steve Weeks traded from Hartford to Vancouver for Richard Brodeur.

ee also

*List of Stanley Cup champions
*1987 NHL Entry Draft
*1987 NHL Supplemental Draft
*39th National Hockey League All-Star Game
*National Hockey League All-Star Game
*NHL All-Rookie Team
*Ice hockey at the 1988 Winter Olympics
*1987 Canada Cup
*1987 in sports
*1988 in sports

References

* [http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/nhl1927.html Hockey Database]
* [http://nhl.com/ NHL.com]
* [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/features/si_stanley_cup/1988/ SI Flashback to '88 Finals]