Welcome to The Oil Rig’s Edmonton Oilers best team of the decade review. Today I will be turning the clocks forward to the beginning of the 1990s and looking at the best Oilers players of that time. Hall of Fame and other well known players like Glenn Anderson, Ryan Smyth, Kelly Buchberger, Dave Manson and Doug Weight to name a few.
I will be reviewing each player (23 total) and discussing what they meant for Edmonton, their total points as an Oiler, their season’s best points total and how many cups they won in that timeline—if they won any.
Esa Tikkanen, Winger
Esa Tikkanen is one of the Edmonton Oilers who was there in the early ‘90s. In 185 games through three seasons, Tikkanen produced 53 goals and 77 assists for 130 points.
His best season with the Oilers in the ’90s, saw him put up 27 goals and 42 assists for 69 points in 79 games. That season, he had an average of 0.87 points per game and through the ‘90s, an all time average of 0.70 PPG.
Esa Tikkanen was not able to win a Stanley Cup in the ‘90s (1991, 1992, 1993).
Petr Klima, Winger
Petr Klima is one of the Edmonton Oilers who was there throughout the ‘90s. In 274 games across four seasons, Klima produced 94 goals and 62 assists for 156 points.
His best season with the Oilers in the ‘90s, saw him put up 40 goals and 28 assists for 68 points in 70 games. That season, he had an average of 0.97 points per game and through the ‘90s, an all time average of 0.57 PPG.
Petr Klima was not able to win a Stanley Cup in the ‘90s (1991, 1992, 1993, 1997).
Joe Murphy, Winger
Joe Murphy is one of the Edmonton Oilers who was there in the early ‘90s. In 160 games through two seasons, Murphy produced 62 goals and 82 assists for 144 points.
His best season with the Oilers in the ‘90s, saw him put up 35 goals and 47 assists for 82 points in 80 games. That season, he had an average of 1.025 points per game and through the ‘90s, an all time average of 0.90 PPG.
Joe Murphy was not able to win a Stanley Cup (1991, 1992).
Craig Simpson, Winger
Craig Simpson is one of the Edmonton Oilers who was there in the early ‘90s. In 214 games across three seasons, Simpson produced 78 goals and 86 assists for 164 points.
His best season with the Oilers in the ‘90s, saw him put up 24 goals and 37 assists for 61 points in 80 games. That season, he had an average of 0.76 points per game and through the ‘90s, an all time average of 0.77 PPG.
Craig Simpson was not able to win a Stanley Cup in the ‘90s (1991, 1992, 1993).
Glenn Anderson, Winger
Glenn Anderson is one of the Edmonton Oilers most well known players, who was there in the early ‘90s. In 91 games through two seasons, Anderson produced 28 goals and 37 assists for 65 points.
His best season with the Oilers, saw him put up 24 goals and 31 assists for 55 points in 74 games. That season, he had an average of 0.74 points per game and through the ‘90s, an all time average of 0.71 PPG.
Glenn Anderson was not able to win a Stanley Cup in the ‘90s (1991, 1996).
Steve Smith, Defenceman
Steve Smith played his last season as an Edmonton Oiler in the early ‘90s.
In 77 games across a single season, Smith produced 13 goals and 41 assists for 54 points. That was his best season with the Oilers in the ‘90s, and he had an average of 0.70 points per game and through the ‘90s, an all time average of 0.70 PPG.
Steve Smith was not able to win a Stanley Cup in his only Oilers season played in the ‘90s (1990-1991).
Craig MacTavish, Centre
Craig MacTavish is one of the more well known Edmonton Oilers who was there in the first half of the ‘90s and when he retired, coached the Oilers as well.
In 308 games through four seasons, MacTavish produced 55 goals and 79 assists for 134 points. His best season with the Oilers in the ‘90s, saw him put up 17 goals and 15 assists for 32 points in 80 games. That season, he had an average of 0.40 points per game and through the ‘90s, an all time average of 0.44 PPG.
MacTavish was not able to win a Stanley Cup in the ‘90s (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994).
Kevin Lowe, Defenceman
Kevin Lowe is one of the Edmonton Oilers who was there throughout the ‘90s. In 199 games across four seasons, Lowe produced six goals and 34 assists for 40 points.
His best season with the Oilers in the ‘90s, saw him put up three goals and 13 assists for 16 points in 73 games. That season, he had an average of 0.22 points per game and through the ‘90s, an all time average of 0.20 PPG.
Kevin Lowe was not able to win a Stanley Cup in the ‘90s (1991, 1992, 1997, 1998).
Vincent Damphousse, Centre
Vincent Damphousse is one of the Edmonton Oilers who played a single season in the early ‘90s.
In 80 games through a single season, Damphousse produced 38 goals and 51 assists for 89 points. That was his best season with the Oilers in the ‘90s, and he had an average of 1.11 points per game and through the ‘90s, an all time average of 1.11 PPG.
Vincent Damphousse was not able to win a Stanley Cup in his only Oilers season played in the ‘90s (1991-1992).
Dave Manson, Defenceman
Dave Manson is one of the Edmonton Oilers who was there in the early ‘90s. In 219 games across three seasons, Manson produced 33 goals and 78 assists for 111 points.
His best season with the Oilers in the ‘90s, saw him put up 15 goals and 32 assists for 47 points in 79 games. That season, he had an average of 0.59 points per game and through the ‘90s, an all time average of 0.51 PPG.
Dave Manson was not able to win a Stanley Cup in the ‘90s (1992, 1993, 1994).
Kelly Buchberger, Winger
Kelly Buchberger is one of the Edmonton Oilers who was there for almost all of the ‘90s. In 655 games through nine seasons, Buchberger produced 74 goals and 143 assists for 217 points.
His best season with the Oilers in the ‘90s, saw him put up 20 goals and 24 assists for 44 points in 79 games. That season, he had an average of 0.56 points per game and through the ‘90s, an all time average of 0.33 PPG. Kelly Buchberger was not able to win a Stanley Cup in the ‘90s (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999).
Bernie Nicholls, Centre
Bernie Nicholls is one of the Edmonton Oilers who was there in the early ‘90s. In 95 games across two seasons, Nicholls produced 28 goals and 61 assists for 89 points.
His best season with the Oilers in the ‘90s, saw him put up 20 goals and 29 assists for 49 points in 49 games. That season, he had an average of 1.00 points per game and through the ‘90s, an all time average of 0.94 PPG.
Bernie Nicholls was not able to win a Stanley Cup in the ‘90s (1992, 1993).
Igor Kravchuk, Defenceman
Igor Kravchuk is one of the Edmonton Oilers who was there in the first half of the ‘90s. In 160 games through four seasons, Kravchuk produced 27 goals and 61 assists for 88 points.
His best season with the Oilers in the ‘90s, saw him put up 12 goals and 38 assists for 50 points in 81 games. That season, he had an average of 0.62 points per game and through the ‘90s, an all time average of 0.55 PPG.
Igor Kravchuk was not able to win a Stanley Cup in the ‘90s (1993, 1994, 1995, 1996).
Zdeno Ciger, Winger
Zdeno Ciger is one of the Edmonton Oilers who was there in the first half of the ‘90s. In 240 games across four seasons, Ciger produced 64 goals and 91 assists for 155 points.
His best season with the Oilers in the ‘90s, saw him put up 31 goals and 39 assists for 70 points in 78 games. That season, he had an average of 0.90 points per game and through the ‘90s, an all time average of 0.65 PPG.
Zdeno Ciger was not able to win a Stanley Cup in the ‘90s (1993, 1994, 1995, 1996).
Doug Weight, Centre
Doug Weight was probably the most dominant Edmonton Oiler in the ‘90s, and he played in the orange and blue for 80% of the decade. In 506 games through eight seasons, Weight produced 132 goals and 355 assists for 487 points.
His best season with the Oilers in the ‘90s, saw him put up 25 goals and 79 assists for 104 points in 82 games. That season, he had an average of 1.27 points per game and through the ‘90s, an all time average of 0.96 PPG.
Doug Weight was not able to win a Stanley Cup in the ‘90s (1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000).
Boris Mironov, Defenceman
Boris Mironov is one of the Edmonton Oilers who was there for most of the ‘90s. In 320 games across six seasons, Mironov produced 42 goals and 118 assists for 160 points.
His best season with the Oilers in the ‘90s, saw him put up 16 goals and 30 assists for 46 points in 81 games. That season, he had an average of 0.57 points per game and through the ‘90s, an all time average of 0.50 PPG.
Boris Mironov was not able to win a Stanley Cup in the ‘90s (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999).
Ryan Smyth, Winger
Ryan Smyth was one of the best Edmonton Oilers when he played in the ‘90s, and he played in the copper and blue for 60% of the decade. In 351 games through six seasons, Smyth produced 102 goals and 88 assists for 190 points.
His best season with the Oilers in the ‘90s, saw him put up 39 goals and 22 assists for 61 points in 82 games. That season, he had an average of 0.74 points per game and through the ‘90s, an all time average of 0.54 PPG.
Ryan Smyth was not able to win a Stanley Cup in the ‘90s (1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000).
Andrei Kovalenko, Winger
Andrei Kovalenko is one of the Edmonton Oilers who was there towards the end of the ‘90s. In 176 games across three seasons, Kovalenko produced 51 goals and 58 assists for 109 points.
His best season with the Oilers in the ‘90s, saw him put up 32 goals and 27 assists for 59 points in 74 games. That season, he had an average of 0.80 points per game and through the ‘90s, an all time average of 0.62 PPG.
Andrei Kovalenko was not able to win a Stanley Cup in the ‘90s (1997, 1998, 1999).
Roman Hamrlik, Defenceman
Roman Hamrlik is an Edmonton Oilers All-Star who was there in the final years of the ‘90s. In 196 games through three seasons, Hamrlik produced 22 goals and 81 assists for 103 points.
His best season with the Oilers in the ‘90s, saw him put up eight goals and 37 assists for 45 points in 80 games. That season, he had an average of 0.56 points per game and through the ‘90s, an all time average of 0.53 PPG.
Roman Hamrlik was not able to win a Stanley Cup in the ‘90s (1998, 1999, 2000).
Bill Guerin, Winger
Bill Guerin was another one of the well known Edmonton Oilers who was in Oil Country in the late ‘90s. In 190 games across three seasons, Manson produced 67 goals and 72 assists for 139 points.
His best season with the Oilers in the ‘90s, saw him put up 30 goals and 34 assists for 64 points in 80 games. That season, he had an average of 0.80 points per game and through the ‘90s, an all time average of 0.73 PPG.
Bill Guerin was not able to win a Stanley Cup in the 90’s (1998, 1999, 2000).
Jason Arnott, Centre
Jason Arnott is one of the Edmonton Oilers who was there for about half of the ‘90s, and he was one of the best to play for them in that time. In 286 games through five seasons, Arnott produced 100 goals and 139 assists for 239 points.
His best season with the Oilers in the ‘90s, saw him put up 33 goals and 35 assists for 68 points in 78 games. That season, he had an average of 0.87 points per game and through the ‘90s, an all time average of 0.84 PPG. Jason Arnott was not able to win a Stanley Cup in the ‘90s (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998).
Bill Ranford, Goaltender
Bill Ranford was one of the main goaltenders for the Edmonton Oilers, who was there for most of the ‘90s. In 358 games across seven seasons, Ranford was able to win 125 games and lost 169 in the process.
His best season with the Oilers in the ‘90s, saw him end up with 27 wins and 27 losses. That season, he had a goals against average of 3.20, and a save percentage of .893. Through the ‘90s, he had an all-time GAA of 3.59, with a .886 SV%.
Bill Ranford was not able to win a Stanley Cup in the 90’s (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000).
Curtis Joseph, Goaltender
Curtis Joseph was probably the best goaltender for the Edmonton Oilers in the ‘90s. He only wore the copper and blue in the final years of the decade. In 177 games through three seasons, Joseph was able to win 76 games and lost 76 in the process.
His best season with the Oilers in the ‘90s, saw him end up with 32 wins and 29 losses. That season, he had a goals against average of 2.93, and a save percentage of .907. Through the ‘90s, he had an all-time GAA of 2.90, with a .902 SV%.
Bill Ranford was not able to win a Stanley Cup in the ‘90s (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000).
All time 1990’s roster construction
Even though the Edmonton Oilers did not win a cup in the entirety of the 1990s, they still had a very solid roster on paper, and were able to pick up some very well known players as well. In terms of season standings, they were a bit all over the place throughout the ‘90s. If you took these players and put them onto a 20-man roster, what would it look like? Here is what I came up with.
Ryan Smyth – Doug Weight – Kelly Buchberger
Craig Simpson – Jason Arnott – Joe Murphy
Petr Klima – Craig MacTavish – Bill Guerin
Zdeno Ciger – Bernie Nicholls – Andrei Kovalenko
Dave Manson – Boris Mironov
Kevin Lowe – Roman Hamrlik
Igor Kravchuk – Steve Smith
Bill Ranford
Curtis Joseph
Bench: Esa Tikkanen, Glenn Anderson, Vincent Damphousse
Do you agree with my constructed lineup? What changes would you make? Let me know in the comments below.
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