The Oilers played a fast wide-open brand of hockey that caught most NHL teams by surprise Edmonton could turn a good save or defensive play in its own end into a scoring opportunity the other way in the blink of an eye Gretzky was the team’s leader but he had plenty of help from other talented young stars Forwards Mark Messier Jari Kurri and Glenn Anderson were dangerous scorers Defensemen Kevin Lowe and Paul Coffey combined with goalie Grant Fuhr to keep opponents off the scoreboard Many of these players would one day join Gretzky in the Hall of Fame Edmonton turned to Gretzky as the new team captain in 1983 84 This gave the club the extra charge it needed The Oilers set a league record for goals and returned to the Stanley Cup Finals The Oilers won their first Stanley Cup that spring and Messier was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as postseason MVP They won another championship in 1984 85 as Gretzky set a playoff record with 47 points and Coffey broke several scoring marks for defensemen Edmonton won the championship again in 1986 87 LEFT Wayne Gretzky earned the nickname The Great One while playing for the Oilers ABOVE As a young player Paul Coffey was already being compared to the all-time greats 9
