A recent subject today in Truth & Rumors on FanNation suggesting that there is speculation that the NHL post-season be shortened got me to thinking...
NO...I mean about the other thing... HOCKEY!
On this day, May 19, 1984...The Edmonton Oilers won their first Stanley Cup against one of the greatest dynasties ever by defeating the 4 time consecutive cup champions, New York Islanders in Edmonton by a 4-1 game series victory.
That was 25 years ago today, can you imagine?
A then, 23 year old kid named Wayne Gretzky had just completed what was his most productive season having played in only 74 games. He scored an unbelievable 87 goals coupled with 118 assists for a total of 205 points at a clip of 2.77 points per game!
In the mean time, the Edmonton Oilers set the NHL on fire by scoring an unprecedented 440 goals! A scoring output the likes of which has never been seen since nor is likely to be in the foreseeable future.
That year launched the careers of many other notable players to come with the likes of; Steve Yzerman-DRW, Chris Chelios-MC, Kelly Hrudy-NYI, Pat Lafontaine-NYI, Doug Gilmour-SLB, Dirk Graham-MNS, John McClean-NJD, Russ Courtnall-TML and Cam Neely-VC.
The year also saw the careers of Bobby Clarke, Billy Harris, Guy Lapointe, Dale McCourt, Rick Macleish and Tony Esposito come to a conclusion and exit the game.
So much hockey and great players have come and gone on this anniversary of the Oiler's, silver 25th year celebration since thier 1st lap around the rink while hoisting Lord Stanley's cup, it is impossible to imagine. Many fans now days never saw those players that left the game that year or even some of the ones that started their careers apart from clips and what they have read or looked up on a statistical charts somewhere. Neely's career ended in 1996 as an example.
How great was that year?
New records were set for goal scoring, others tied or broken, offence was the name of the game with the top 10 point leaders all surpassing the 100 point mark & the Cup was finally brought back to Canada where the largest parade in Edmonton was ever staged in the aftermath of the celebration. It also marked the torch being past from one incredible dynasty to what to date was the next and last.
Hockey has gone through enormous changes in those 25 years with new teams, new players, rules, salary caps, equipment and stadium designs etc.
25 years later I am still watching. It's still a great game in spite of the complaints and opinions we share on the league & its management.
But you know what?
25 years ago, we had similar issues to one degree or another.
However, on May 19th, 1984 we were able to close that season, while here we are just starting the 3rd round in 2009. That year gave us so much hockey and history, I'm personally glad that it finished when it did.
We don't need the NHL playoffs going into June & doing so will not ever make it any more entertaining or attractive. Shorten the pre-season if that's what it takes and call it a wrap in May.
Thanks for all those wonderful moments from that time until now.
Well, I guess if this were 25 years ago...we now could go back to thinking about other things since the season and cup would be decided.
Like this...
Well afterall, this is still Puck Bunnies gentlemen!
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Well, I'll leave a comment...I bet I can guess which most would concede as the most popular 'player' on this blog...
Baun-ded=PUCKHEAD
Total Comments (5610)
Where can I find a hockey MILF? Yummy
This blog brings back alot of memories of the Islanders and Oilers SC runs.
Zaboomafoo
Total Comments (347)
Seems hard to believe that was 25 years ago.......
Great post. Great pics. Especially that last one....
TenRingsSTL
Total Comments (3733)
Man, 25 years ago. O how I wish I could have watched those Oilers teams in the 1980's. If the Pens can somehow keep Crosby and Malkin together, they have a foundation that could come close to matching the Gretzky/Messier Oilers.
As far as the Playoffs, one thing that I would like to see is back to back games. I know that some will disagree, but I don't think that it's asking too much for teams to play back to back in one city and then have a travel day. Practices are harder than games anyway.
wtnelson = Big Chief
Fort Collins , CO
Total Comments (3335)
Babes and photos. This is what sports ILLUSTRATED is supposed to be like. There are too many blow-hards on this site who ramble on for 2000 words without a break or even a photo.
XX
Henderson , NV
Total Comments (292)
It is hard to believe that it was 25 years ago and I thought some might enjoy a little trip down memory lane and enjoy the photos of the beginning and end of some of the players mentioned to stimulate some memories of your own.
The one thing I would like to see apart from the playoffs ending sooner would be to see all board and rink advertising whited out. It may bring in sponsership dollars but without it the puck vision was so much better while watching the game making it easier to track it.
Glad you guys liked the post...and pics!
Baun-ded=PUCKHEAD
Total Comments (5610)
Nicely done Bauner. Perhaps this hastened the avatar change? ;)
LGP: Quash the…
Six Burgh, PA
Total Comments (6873)
That's a terrific post. Thank you.
kelso!
Total Comments (432)
Bauner fantastic job!
I have to say that if they shorten the series it will be a joke. The NHL is becoming more and more like the NFL. Just with more tampoons on the ice.
The reason the NHL is so good is because of the playoffs! No league in the world has this playoffs. No league is better because of it. The NBA playoffs? It is stale and boring, no real passion, and the usual people are the best.
The True Joker
Total Comments (11232)
My hats off to you Baun-ded. A great post.
Although I am a hockey fan, I tend to think of it as a winter sport that should be concluded before the official start of summer. May seems to be good. The NHL (Bettmen) will not shorten the regular season because of financial reasons. Maybe by reducing the pre-seasons games might be the only viable option?
torque1
Total Comments (611)
Well done. Those were some great times. Glad to see some of that excitement seems to be returning to the game. Good to see you provided some other points of interest. Nice little pucks she's got there. I was expecting maybe to SI swimsuit covergirl though.
JaCee
Paradise, PA
Total Comments (115)
Where's the Dirk Graham photo?
I guess Tony O was more then enough for a franchise who has not won a Cup since the Kennedy administration......
Mac Brody
Sj, CA
Total Comments (7704)
Nice pic of Neely Baun-ded. Good blog too.
detroitgm
Total Comments (9974)
Thanks, Baun-ded. I remember watching the Oilers of the middle 1970s and recalling how like the Wings of the late 1940s and early 1950s they were.
There have been some really great dynasties in the NHL: Montreal, Toronto, Detroit, New York Islanders, Edmonton to name a few.
I agree with your point about the advertising but it will never happen for the same reason that the NHL will never go to a full sized rink. Neither is seen as "cost-effective."
Appleseed Turtle
Carlin, MI
Total Comments (895)
Hey......them's fightin' words!
Seriously -- nice work, Bauner. I even remembered the hockey stuff after seeing that last picture, so it must have been pretty compelling.
Santo Says: Old Time…
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