1986-87 NHL season facts for kids

The 1986–87 NHL season was the 70th exciting year for the National Hockey League (NHL). Twenty-one teams played 80 games each. The Edmonton Oilers won the famous Stanley Cup by defeating the Philadelphia Flyers in a thrilling final series, winning four games to three.

Regular Season Highlights

The Edmonton Oilers were the best team in the regular season, winning the Presidents' Trophy for the second year in a row. Their superstar player, Wayne Gretzky, had an amazing season. He won the Hart Memorial Trophy (given to the most valuable player) for the eighth time in a row! He also won the Art Ross Trophy (for the player with the most points) for the seventh time in a row.

Top Teams in the Regular Season

The NHL teams are divided into two main groups called Conferences: the Prince of Wales Conference and the Clarence Campbell Conference. Each Conference has different Divisions. Here are the top teams from each Division:

Prince of Wales Conference

• Adams Division: The Hartford Whalers finished first in this division.
• Patrick Division: The Philadelphia Flyers were the top team in this division.

Clarence Campbell Conference

• Norris Division: The St. Louis Blues led the Norris Division.
• Smythe Division: The Edmonton Oilers were the best team in the Smythe Division and also the best team in the entire league!

Top Scorers of the Season

Here are the players who scored the most points (goals plus assists) during the 1986–87 regular season. Note: GP = Games Played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in Minutes

Stanley Cup Playoffs

The Stanley Cup playoffs are an exciting tournament where the best teams from the regular season compete to win the Stanley Cup.

The Stanley Cup, the ultimate prize in hockey.

The Road to the Finals

The playoffs started with 16 teams. They played a series of games, and the team that won enough games moved on.

• The Philadelphia Flyers won the Prince of Wales Conference, beating teams like the New York Rangers, New York Islanders, and Montreal Canadiens.
• The Edmonton Oilers won the Clarence Campbell Conference, defeating teams such as the Los Angeles Kings, Winnipeg Jets, and Detroit Red Wings.

Stanley Cup Finals: Oilers vs. Flyers

The final series was a battle between the Edmonton Oilers and the Philadelphia Flyers. It was a best-of-seven series, meaning the first team to win four games would take home the Stanley Cup.

The Edmonton Oilers won the series 4–3, becoming the Stanley Cup champions!

NHL Awards and Honors

Many players and teams received special awards for their great performances during the season.

• Presidents' Trophy: Awarded to the team with the best regular season record – Edmonton Oilers
• Prince of Wales Trophy: Awarded to the Eastern Conference playoff champion – Philadelphia Flyers
• Clarence S. Campbell Bowl: Awarded to the Western Conference playoff champion – Edmonton Oilers
• Art Ross Memorial Trophy: For the player with the most points – Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers
• Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy: For perseverance and sportsmanship – Doug Jarvis, Hartford Whalers
• Calder Memorial Trophy: For the best rookie player – Luc Robitaille, Los Angeles Kings
• Conn Smythe Trophy: For the most valuable player in the playoffs – Ron Hextall, Philadelphia Flyers
• Frank J. Selke Trophy: For the best defensive forward – Dave Poulin, Philadelphia Flyers
• Hart Memorial Trophy: For the most valuable player to his team – Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers
• Jack Adams Award: For the best coach – Jacques Demers, Detroit Red Wings
• James Norris Memorial Trophy: For the best defenseman – Ray Bourque, Boston Bruins
• Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: For sportsmanship and skill – Joe Mullen, Calgary Flames
• Lester B. Pearson Award: For the most outstanding player, voted by players – Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers
• NHL Plus/Minus Award: For the player with the best plus/minus rating – Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers
• William M. Jennings Trophy: For the goalie(s) on the team with the fewest goals allowed – Patrick Roy/Brian Hayward, Montreal Canadiens
• Vezina Trophy: For the best goalie – Ron Hextall, Philadelphia Flyers
• Lester Patrick Trophy: For outstanding service to hockey in the United States – Hobey Baker, Frank Mathers

All-Star Teams

The NHL also picks "All-Star Teams" which are like dream teams made up of the best players at each position.

New Faces in the NHL

Here are some notable players who played their very first NHL game during the 1986–87 season:

• Gary Roberts (Calgary Flames)
• Joe Nieuwendyk (Calgary Flames)
• Dave Manson (Chicago Blackhawks)
• Joe Murphy (Detroit Red Wings)
• Steve Chiasson (Detroit Red Wings)
• Kelly Buchberger (Edmonton Oilers)* (started in playoffs)
• Jimmy Carson (Los Angeles Kings)
• Luc Robitaille (Los Angeles Kings)
• Steve Duchesne (Los Angeles Kings)
• Craig Berube (Philadelphia Flyers)
• Ron Hextall (Philadelphia Flyers)
• Vincent Damphousse (Toronto Maple Leafs)
• Fredrik Olausson (Winnipeg Jets)

Saying Goodbye to the NHL

Here are some well-known players who played their last NHL game in the 1986–87 season:

• Thomas Gradin (Boston Bruins)
• Mike Milbury (Boston Bruins)
• Lee Fogolin (Buffalo Sabres)
• Don Lever (Buffalo Sabres)
• Gilbert Perreault (Buffalo Sabres)
• Phil Russell (Buffalo Sabres)
• Murray Bannerman (Chicago Blackhawks)
• Darryl Sutter (Chicago Blackhawks)
• Danny Gare (Edmonton Oilers)
• Wayne Babych (Hartford Whalers)
• Peter McNab (New Jersey Devils)
• Mike Bossy (New York Islanders)
• Chico Resch (Philadelphia Flyers)