1984-85 NHL season facts for kids

The 1984–85 NHL season was the 68th exciting season for the National Hockey League! Twenty-one teams played 80 games each, battling it out on the ice. The Edmonton Oilers were super strong and won their second straight Stanley Cup! They beat the Philadelphia Flyers four games to one in the final series.

This season was also a big deal for hockey fans watching at home in Canada. For the first time in a long time, the CBC wasn't the only TV channel showing games. While Molson continued to present Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday nights, another company, Carling O'Keefe, started showing Friday night games on CTV. Both networks shared the exciting playoff and final games.

Regular Season Highlights

The regular season is when all the teams play many games to see who is the best. Teams earn points for winning or tying games. The teams with the most points get to move on to the playoffs!

Top Teams and Standings

The NHL had two main groups of teams, called conferences: the Prince of Wales Conference and the Clarence Campbell Conference. Each conference had smaller groups called divisions.

• In the Prince of Wales Conference, the Philadelphia Flyers were amazing, finishing with the most points in the entire league! Other strong teams included the Montreal Canadiens, Quebec Nordiques, Buffalo Sabres, Washington Capitals, and New York Islanders.
• In the Clarence Campbell Conference, the Edmonton Oilers were the top team, showing everyone they were ready to defend their Stanley Cup title. The Winnipeg Jets, Calgary Flames, St. Louis Blues, and Chicago Black Hawks also had great seasons.

Teams needed to finish high in their divisions to make it to the playoffs.

Who Scored the Most Points?

The 1984–85 season saw some incredible players score tons of points! Points are given for goals (when a player scores) and assists (when a player helps another player score).

• Wayne Gretzky from the Edmonton Oilers was the top scorer by a huge margin! He played 80 games and got an amazing 208 points (73 goals and 135 assists).
• His teammate, Jari Kurri, was second with 135 points.
• Other top scorers included Dale Hawerchuk (Winnipeg Jets), Marcel Dionne (Los Angeles Kings), and Paul Coffey (Edmonton Oilers).

These players were super important for their teams, helping them win games with their incredible skills.

Stanley Cup Playoffs: The Road to the Cup

After the regular season, the best teams battle it out in the Stanley Cup playoffs. This is a knockout tournament where teams play a series of games. The first team to win a certain number of games (usually four) moves on, and the losing team is out!

The Stanley Cup Finals

The final series for the Stanley Cup was between the Edmonton Oilers and the Philadelphia Flyers. It was a thrilling battle to see who would be crowned champions!

The Edmonton Oilers won the series 4–1, showing their dominance and winning their second straight Stanley Cup!

NHL Awards: Celebrating the Best

At the end of the season, the NHL gives out special awards to players and teams who did amazing things. These awards celebrate different skills and achievements in hockey.

• Prince of Wales Trophy: Awarded to the champion of the Prince of Wales Conference (East). Won by the Philadelphia Flyers.
• Clarence S. Campbell Bowl: Awarded to the champion of the Clarence Campbell Conference (West). Won by the Edmonton Oilers.
• Art Ross Memorial Trophy: Given to the player who leads the league in points. Won by Wayne Gretzky of the Edmonton Oilers.
• Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy: For the player who best shows perseverance and dedication to hockey. Won by Anders Hedberg of the New York Rangers.
• Calder Memorial Trophy: Given to the best rookie (first-year player). Won by Mario Lemieux of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
• Conn Smythe Trophy: Awarded to the most valuable player in the playoffs. Won by Wayne Gretzky of the Edmonton Oilers.
• Frank J. Selke Trophy: For the best defensive forward. Won by Craig Ramsay of the Buffalo Sabres.
• Hart Memorial Trophy: Given to the player judged most valuable to his team. Won by Wayne Gretzky of the Edmonton Oilers.
• Jack Adams Award: Awarded to the best coach. Won by Mike Keenan of the Philadelphia Flyers.
• James Norris Memorial Trophy: For the best defenceman. Won by Paul Coffey of the Edmonton Oilers.
• Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: For the player who shows the best sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability. Won by Jari Kurri of the Edmonton Oilers.
• Lester B. Pearson Award: Voted on by the players themselves for the most outstanding player. Won by Wayne Gretzky of the Edmonton Oilers.
• NHL Plus/Minus Award: For the player with the best plus/minus rating (how many goals are scored for/against their team when they are on the ice). Won by Wayne Gretzky of the Edmonton Oilers.
• William M. Jennings Trophy: Given to the goaltenders of the team with the fewest goals scored against them. Won by Tom Barrasso and Bob Sauve of the Buffalo Sabres.
• Vezina Trophy: Awarded to the best goaltender. Won by Pelle Lindbergh of the Philadelphia Flyers.
• Lester Patrick Trophy: Honors contributions to hockey in the United States. Won by Jack Butterfield and Arthur M. Wirtz.

All-Star Teams: The Dream Teams

At the end of the season, the very best players are chosen to be part of the "All-Star Teams." These are like dream teams made up of the top players in each position.

New Faces and Farewell Skates

Every NHL season brings new players who are just starting their careers and sees some experienced players play their last games.

Players Who Started Their NHL Journey

The 1984–85 season was the first time many future stars played in the NHL. One very famous player who made his debut this season was Mario Lemieux for the Pittsburgh Penguins. He would go on to become one of the greatest players ever! Other notable players starting their careers included Patrick Roy (Montreal Canadiens) and Rick Tocchet (Philadelphia Flyers).

Players Who Played Their Last NHL Game

This season also marked the end of an era for some well-known players who retired or played their final NHL games. These players had long and successful careers, leaving their mark on the sport.