Transformation (1991 and After)
As the reckless and carefree days of
the 1980s gave way to the stripped-down conservatism of
the 1990s, Oilers fans began to realize that nothing lasts forever. When the team took the
Cup in 1990, it marked the end of the great reign that
had seen the Oilers take five Cups over the space of six
seasons.
The reality of the new Oilers era was to rebuild and
redefine the team if they wanted to return to glory,
which was not as easy as it seemed.
During the 1990s, a new National
Hockey League emerged due to an ambitious
expansion plan that saw membership swell to 30 teams. At
the same time, the American economic boom gave teams
across the border added spending power; as the American
dollar, causing financial hardships for Canadian clubs
trying to survive anywhere outside of Toronto.
A new Oilers franchise could not be
built on a collection of superstars. The Oilers of
the 1990s would be built with fast players and display the work
ethic set by the great Oilers of the past.
In an era where teams
adopted stifling defensive systems, the Oilers stuck to a fast-paced style that
emphasized putting
pressure on the puck at all times. Around the league,
teams would refer to the all-out strategy simply as “Oilers
Hockey.”
In this section, we look at the
Oilers progression from the ‘90s to the modern day,
including great playoff upsets, financial turmoil and fresh new
faces in both management and on the roster.
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