1979-80 

Wayne Gretzky was the Oilers' top player. Because of his year in the WHA, Gretzky was not considered a rookie. He finished tied with Marcel Dionne of Los Angeles with 137 pts. The Art Ross went to Dionne because he had more goals. The Oilers finished fourth in the Smythe Division with a record of 28-39-13/69 pts. 

1980-81 

Gretzky wins the first of many scoring titles. The Oilers make it to the playoffs for the second straight year and upset Montreal in the first round of the playoffs. The Oilers lost in the quarter-finals to the eventual champs, the New York Islanders. The Oilers finished fourth in the Smythe with a record of 29-35-16/74 pts. 

1982-83 

The Oilers finish with a record of 47-21-12/106 pts. They reach the finals against the Islanders, who swept the Oilers in four games straight. 

1983-84 

Edmonton is first overall with a record of 57-18-5/119 pts. They meet the Islanders once again in the final, but this time the Oilers are the winners beating the Isles four games to one to capture the first Stanley Cup in Oilers history. 

1984-85 

The Oilers open the season with a record of 12-0-3. The Oilers post a record of 49-20-11/109 pts while Gretzky scores an unbelievable 208 pts. The Oilers meet the first overall Philadelphia Flyers in the final, and win their second cup four games to one. 

1985-86 

The Oilers win the first ever Presidents Trophy awarded to the top team in overall standings. The Oilers, with a record of 56-17-7/119 pts, and Gretzky, with 215 pts, were early favourites to win the cup. However, with game seven of the Smythe final against the Calgary Flames, rookie defenceman Steve Smith, at 5:14 of the third period, accidentally put the puck in his own net. The Oilers never recover and they were eliminated. 

1986-87 

The Oilers make it back to the finals and meet the Philadelphia Flyers in the finals, the Oilers win the cup in an amazing seven game final. It was also the scene of Ron Hextall's vicious chop to the back of the knees of Oiler Kent Nilsson. The Oilers record that season was 56-24-6/106 pts 

1987-88 

For the first time since the 79-80 season, Gretzky did not win the scoring title. That honour went to Pittsburgh Penguin Mario Lemieux. During this season Paul Coffey was traded to Pittsburgh after holding out for a better contract. Grant Fuhr set a record for the most games played, 75. The Oilers posted a record of 44-25-11/99 pts and met the Boston Bruins in the final. The Oilers jumped out to a three game to nothing lead but in game four with the score tied at 3 the lights went out at 16:37 of the third. The game was postponed and the next game played in Edmonton, where the Oilers beat the Bruins 6-3, for their fourth cup in five years. It would be Wayne Gretzky's last Stanley Cup to date, and Gretzky's last game in an Oilers' uniform. 

1988-89 

On August 9, 1988, Oilers team owner Peter Pocklington, stating team financial troubles, traded Wayne Gretzky, along with Marty McSorley and Mike Krushelnyski, to the Los Angeles Kings. In return, the Oilers received Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas, three first round draft picks (89,91,93) and an estimated $15-20 Million. 

In a twist of fate, the Oilers met up with Gretzky and the Kings in the first round of the playoffs. The Kings fought back from a three game to one deficit to defeat the Oilers in game seven in Los Angeles. Gretzky put in the empty net goal to seal the Oilers fate. The Oilers finished the season 38-34-8/84 pts, good for third in the Smythe division, behind the Kings. 

1989-90 

The Oilers were better this season. They came back from a three games to one deficit against Winnepeg o defeat the Jets in seven. They got their revenge on the Kings, sweeping them in the second round, thanks to the strong goaltending of Bill Ranford. The Oilers made it to the finals against Boston again. There was another power failure but no postponment, and the Oilers won their fifth Stanley Cup. Their record was 38-28-14/90 pts. 

1990-91 

The Oilers make it to the Campbell Conference championship, but lost to the Minnesota North Stars. Their record was 37-37-6/80 pts. 

1991-92 

Mark Messier was traded to the New York Rangers for Bernie Nichols and a couple of then minor leaguers (Louie DeBrusk and Steven Rice). The Oilers again made it to the Campbell Conference Championship but lost four straight to the Chicago Blackhawks 

This is by no means a complete history of the Edmonton Oilers, it is more of a summarization of their "glory" years. Come back soon for a complete history including the dark years (1992-1996).

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