
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The team is currently part of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL).
The Oilers were founded on November 1, 1971 with the team playing its first season in 1972 as one of twelve founding franchises of the major professional World Hockey Association (WHA). Notably, the team was temporarily renamed the Alberta Oilers when the Calgary Broncos (a fellow WHA founding franchise in Alberta) relocated to Cleveland, Ohio. However, the team returned to the Edmonton Oilers name the following year. The Oilers subsequently joined the NHL in 1979 as one of four franchises introduced through the NHL merger with the WHA. The Oilers are now the sole remaining WHA team playing in their original city.
After joining the NHL, the Oilers quickly went on to win the Stanley Cup on five occasions: 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988 and 1990. As the dominant NHL team of the 1980s, the Oilers team of this era has been honored with "dynasty" status by the NHL Hockey Hall of Fame.
As part of the Battle of Alberta that has manifested throughout Alberta sports history, the Oilers continue to maintain an intense rivalry with the Calgary Flames. |