The 1988-1989 NHL Season

[Ace36758]

Was something in the water that year? A few interesting tidbits:

-This is the only season in NHL history that four players topped 150 points.
-This is the only season in NHL history where linemates topped 150 points (Gretzky and Nicholls). Side note, I love Bernie's stat line that year - 70G 80A 150P.
-Before McDavid added himself to the list last year, there were only 5 players in NHL history who topped 150 points, and 4 did it that year! (Esposito the only other one)
-Big drop off after Nicholls, as the 5th highest scorer (Rob Brown!) had 115 points.
-Two juggernauts, and the clear best two teams - Calgary and Montreal - were clearly above all the other teams, and they actually met in the finals, which is rare.
-This was the last time two Canadian teams met in the finals.


Anything else people remember that sticks out from this year? Would love some insight on this year in general, and what led to the otherworldly production at the top of the league this year. From a quick scan of goals per game, 1988-89 is a bit higher than the previous year and following year, but not materially (3.74 vs 3.71 vs 3.67).
Was it PP opportunities? Were the top scorers beating up on some bad teams? (no team stands out as historically bad that year).

Click to read more...

 

[NyQuil]

-This is the only season in NHL history where linemates topped 150 points (Gretzky and Nicholls). Side note, I love Bernie's stat line that year - 70G 80A 150P.

While Nicholls played on the PP with Gretzky (21 goals and 28 assists for 49 points), he was the 2nd line C so they weren't regular linemates.

He posted 87 ES points on the 2nd line with a rotating group of wingers including Robitaille, Taylor, Tonelli, Allison and Krushelnyski.

Interestingly, he also tallied 8 SHG (3rd in the NHL) and 6 SHA for 14 shorthanded points.

 

[frisco]

Anything else people remember that sticks out from this year?

Mario's NHL record 13 shorties.

My Best-Carey

 

[KillerMillerTime]

Was something in the water that year? A few interesting tidbits:

-This is the only season in NHL history that four players topped 150 points.
-This is the only season in NHL history where linemates topped 150 points (Gretzky and Nicholls). Side note, I love Bernie's stat line that year - 70G 80A 150P.
-Before McDavid added himself to the list last year, there were only 5 players in NHL history who topped 150 points, and 4 did it that year! (Esposito the only other one)
-Big drop off after Nicholls, as the 5th highest scorer (Rob Brown!) had 115 points.
-Two juggernauts, and the clear best two teams - Calgary and Montreal - were clearly above all the other teams, and they actually met in the finals, which is rare.
-This was the last time two Canadian teams met in the finals.


Anything else people remember that sticks out from this year? Would love some insight on this year in general, and what led to the otherworldly production at the top of the league this year. From a quick scan of goals per game, 1988-89 is a bit higher than the previous year and following year, but not materially (3.74 vs 3.71 vs 3.67).
Was it PP opportunities? Were the top scorers beating up on some bad teams? (no team stands out as historically bad that year).

Kluzak missed basically the entire RS and PO for Boston. The next year he came back and Boston went back to the Finals in 90.

 

[VanIslander]

1988 was a year after I had my last killer Miller. I threw up behind the high school, swearing never again. After graduating, i never touched the putrid stuff again.

@KillerMillerTime

1988... i believe that was when Jon Casey had his creepy TV interviews. Some of us shrugged it off as typical goalie weirdness. Others thought him psycho.

 

[KillerMillerTime]

1988 was a year after I had my last killer Miller. I threw up behind the high school, swearing never again. After graduating, i never touched the putrid stuff again.

@KillerMillerTime

Life sucks then you die Van.

 

[Ace36758]

While Nicholls played on the PP with Gretzky (21 goals and 28 assists for 49 points), he was the 2nd line C so they weren't regular linemates.

He posted 87 ES points on the 2nd line with a rotating group of wingers including Robitaille, Taylor, Tonelli, Allison and Krushelnyski.

Interestingly, he also tallied 8 SHG (3rd in the NHL) and 6 SHA for 14 shorthanded points.

Great point. I think I meant to write “teammates”.
What a season from Bernie.

 

[VanIslander]

Life sucks then you die Van.

Life sucks then you die Van.

Oh, life got a lot better from 1988 onward!

I went off to uni, worked across Canada, then went overseas for twenty years. And watching NHL hockey is a joy, among others.

The most important thing is to have a good day. "Have a good day." It's said as a hollow gesture but is full of meaning. String together hundreds, thousands, of those... and life's great. Hockey every day until late spring! Game on.

 

[Dingo]

Yzerman carried much lesser linemates, much as Mario did.

Yzerman did not make a year end allstar team, Gallant did. Somehow Brown didnt.

Brown only played 68 games!

Jimmy Carson had a very respectable season in Edmonton.

 

[alko]

It was the last NHL season for Anton Stastny

First (and only) NHL season for Slovak legend Igor Liba

First (and only) NHL season for another Slovak legend Dusan Pasek

 

[The Panther]

I remember this season really well. I guess it was the second NHL season I followed from start to finish and, obviously, after the Gretzky trade things in Edmonton were up in the air.

It was also the season I first attended an NHL game in person, at the Saddledome. Not bad, as I got to see Gretzky, Robitaille, Nicholls, Gilmour, Mullen, Fleury, Nieuwendyk, McDonald, Roberts, and MacInnis all in my first game! There was even a near-brawl after some Flame knocked over Gretzky.

Ah! Here's the skirmish in question:


What I remember about it is towards the end, as the refs were sorting it out and Gretzky was standing near the bench, Wayne skated away and Kings' coach Robbie Ftorek (who would soon be fired) reached out, grabbed Gretzky by the shirt, and yanked him violently back to the bench. The Flames' faithful started booing Ftorek. (In Calgary, Gretzky was enemy #1, yet Flames' fans had a certain respect for him at the same time.)

Anyway, fun season in the Smythe division, as suddenly there were three competitive clubs, plus Winnipeg and Vancouver weren't that bad. Trevor Linden a rookie. But by God, it was depressing for Oilers' fans. By early December, the Oilers were 17-9-3, which was as good a start as the year prior with Gretzky. But then they went a horrid 21-25-5 in the final 51 games, which was their worst stretch (by far) in eight years. To top it all off, they blow a 3-1 series lead and are eliminated by... Gretzky.

Calgary had its greatest-ever regular season and won the President's Trophy, but in fact Montreal was the League's best club from November 1st onward. It's great that the two best teams met in the Finals. (Though this wasn't that uncommon back then. It happened also in 1987... 1984...)

Jacques Demers took all reigns off Yzerman (more ice-time, less defensive responsibility, more PK time. etc.) and he went nuts with 155 points. The Red Wings fell in the standings, however, and entered that 'no man's land' period between 1987-88 and 1991-92, before their 90s team would emerge.

Mario and Pittsburgh finally made the playoffs and won a round. Had Philly down 3-2 in round two, but then lost two straight.

I remember watching Joe Sakic quite a bit that season and liking him very much. He got 32 points in his first 24 NHL games, but then got injured in game 25. Quebec was heading into the crapper, of course.

Yeah, it's weird that four players hit 150 points. I guess it's the usual two suspects, plus two very talented but inconsistent guys that they played with. Brown was obviously buoyed by playing on Mario's wing and especially on the PP, while Nicholls was inspired by Gretzky's arrival in general. Bernie got all the PP-time with Wayne and a lot of shorthanded time, which was unusual prior to that.

Despite Bernie's crazy stat line that season, this might be my favorite moment of his:

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

I remember this season really well. I guess it was the second NHL season I followed from start to finish and, obviously, after the Gretzky trade things in Edmonton were up in the air.

It was also the season I first attended an NHL game in person, at the Saddledome. Not bad, as I got to see Gretzky, Robitaille, Nicholls, Gilmour, Mullen, Fleury, Nieuwendyk, McDonald, Roberts, and MacInnis all in my first game! There was even a near-brawl after some Flame knocked over Gretzky.

Ah! Here's the skirmish in question:


What I remember about it is towards the end, as the refs were sorting it out and Gretzky was standing near the bench, Wayne skated away and Kings' coach Robbie Ftorek (who would soon be fired) reached out, grabbed Gretzky by the shirt, and yanked him violently back to the bench. The Flames' faithful started booing Ftorek. (In Calgary, Gretzky was enemy #1, yet Flames' fans had a certain respect for him at the same time.)

Anyway, fun season in the Smythe division, as suddenly there were three competitive clubs, plus Winnipeg and Vancouver weren't that bad. Trevor Linden a rookie. But by God, it was depressing for Oilers' fans. By early December, the Oilers were 17-9-3, which was as good a start as the year prior with Gretzky. But then they went a horrid 21-25-5 in the final 51 games, which was their worst stretch (by far) in eight years. To top it all off, they blow a 3-1 series lead and are eliminated by... Gretzky.

Calgary had its greatest-ever regular season and won the President's Trophy, but in fact Montreal was the League's best club from November 1st onward. It's great that the two best teams met in the Finals. (Though this wasn't that uncommon back then. It happened also in 1987... 1984...)

Jacques Demers took all reigns off Yzerman (more ice-time, less defensive responsibility, more PK time. etc.) and he went nuts with 155 points. The Red Wings fell in the standings, however, and entered that 'no man's land' period between 1987-88 and 1991-92, before their 90s team would emerge.

Mario and Pittsburgh finally made the playoffs and won a round. Had Philly down 3-2 in round two, but then lost two straight.

I remember watching Joe Sakic quite a bit that season and liking him very much. He got 32 points in his first 24 NHL games, but then got injured in game 25. Quebec was heading into the crapper, of course.

Yeah, it's weird that four players hit 150 points. I guess it's the usual two suspects, plus two very talented but inconsistent guys that they played with. Brown was obviously buoyed by playing on Mario's wing and especially on the PP, while Nicholls was inspired by Gretzky's arrival in general. Bernie got all the PP-time with Wayne and a lot of shorthanded time, which was unusual prior to that.

Despite Bernie's crazy stat line that season, this might be my favorite moment of his:

Good old 80's hockey!

Quite the goon squad out there for both teams. Why was Gretzky even on the ice? Must have been a line change.

1988-89 was the last season Gretzky was in the top 10 in goals.

1988-89 was one of the best seasons in Hartford Whalers histrory. 37-38-5. Damn near a .500 season.

1988-89 Patrick Roy won his first Vezina.

 

[Moose Head]

Good old 80's hockey!

Quite the goon squad out there for both teams. Why was Gretzky even on the ice? Must have been a line change.

1988-89 was the last season Gretzky was in the top 10 in goals.

1988-89 was one of the best seasons in Hartford Whalers histrory. 37-38-5. Damn near a .500 season.

1988-89 Patrick Roy won his first Vezina.

…. and Chelios won his first Norris

 

[The Panther]

1988-89 was the last season Gretzky was in the top 10 in goals.

That's true. I think in 1989-90, 1990-91, and maybe 1993-94 he was hovering around top-10 much of the year, but he always fell off late in seasons. (Actually, in 1988-89 this happened as well. Wayne had 46 goals in 59 games, and then only 8 goals in his final 19 games.)

1988-89 was one of the best seasons in Hartford Whalers histrory. 37-38-5. Damn near a .500 season.

I never thought of '89 as a good Whalers' season, but this is all relative, ha! In 1986-87 they'd actually 'won' the Adams Division in the regular season with 93 points.

1988-89 Patrick Roy won his first Vezina.

There was some crazy stat with Patrick this season, like he lost only once on home ice all year? Is that correct?

 

[Michael Farkas]

There was some crazy stat with Patrick this season, like he lost only once on home ice all year? Is that correct?

No, that would be ridiculous.

He lost zero games at home.

25-0-4 | 2.17 | .912 | 3 SO

He also didn't lose after the all-star break...11-0-3, 2.11, .922

 

[The Panther]

No, that would be ridiculous.

He lost zero games at home.

25-0-4 | 2.17 | .912 | 3 SO

He also didn't lose after the all-star break...11-0-3, 2.11, .922

You're right!

What's crazy (looking at the game logs) is that Brian Hayward somehow lost, on home ice, to Quebec (twice), Toronto, and the last-overall Islanders (and to Pittsburgh and Calgary, which are more understandable). What a change from a couple seasons earlier when Hayward had briefly looked as good, or better, than Roy.

 

[Michael Farkas]

Hayward is a career I'd like to dissect in due time. But when he started to play less, he seemed to respond very poorly. In '89 in particular, he was better on 0 days rest than multiple days.

 

[Ace36758]

You're right!

What's crazy (looking at the game logs) is that Brian Hayward somehow lost, on home ice, to Quebec (twice), Toronto, and the last-overall Islanders (and to Pittsburgh and Calgary, which are more understandable). What a change from a couple seasons earlier when Hayward had briefly looked as good, or better, than Roy.

Anyone know the Vezina voting numbers that year? Roy looks to have had far and away the best numbers that year. GAA of 2.47, next closest was Vernon at 2.65, no one else under 3.00. SV % of .908, Casey at .900, no one else above .900.

Granted, he only played 48 games.

 

[Michael Farkas]

Anyone know the Vezina voting numbers that year?

1988-89 NHL Awards Voting | Hockey-Reference.com

www.hockey-reference.com

Roy won handily in a one and a half horse race...by ballot appearances, Hayward finishes t-4th, actually.

 

[Jaulie Poyce]

That was a very, very good Montreal Canadiens team. 53-18-5 but lost to a superb 54-17-9 Calgary Flames team. What a way to close out a glorious decade that had two dynasties (Islanders and Oilers) with The Great One re-writing the record book.

*53-18-9

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

that year the presidents trophy flames were a vernon save on stan smyl in OT from a stunning upset to a canucks team led by 18 year old trevor linden (the youngest player in the league), their old broken down PMD that they gave away because they had too many puck movers (paul reinhart), brett hull’s old center from the farm team who they also gave away because they had no room for him (brian bradley), and basically a blueline that was half human garbage.

it would have been epic. remember that this flames team had three future conn smythe winners (macinnis, vernon, nieuwendyk) plus doug fffffing gilmour as their 1C. their fourth line center was theo fleury. remember also that otto kicked it in.

 

[Jaulie Poyce]

that year the presidents trophy flames were a vernon save on stan smyl in OT from a stunning upset to a canucks team led by 18 year old trevor linden (the youngest player in the league), their old broken down PMD that they gave away because they had too many puck movers (paul reinhart), brett hull’s old center from the farm team who they also gave away because they had no room for him (brian bradley), and basically a blueline that was half human garbage.

it would have been epic. remember that this flames team had three future conn smythe winners (macinnis, vernon, nieuwendyk) plus doug fffffing gilmour as their 1C. their fourth line center was theo fleury. remember also that otto kicked it in.

They were also down 2 games to 1 to Montreal in the cup final after losing a heartbreaker in overtime in game 3. That was a resilient Flames club, many felt they should have won more than one cup.

 

[BraveCanadian]

that year the presidents trophy flames were a vernon save on stan smyl in OT from a stunning upset to a canucks team led by 18 year old trevor linden (the youngest player in the league), their old broken down PMD that they gave away because they had too many puck movers (paul reinhart), brett hull’s old center from the farm team who they also gave away because they had no room for him (brian bradley), and basically a blueline that was half human garbage.

it would have been epic. remember that this flames team had three future conn smythe winners (macinnis, vernon, nieuwendyk) plus doug fffffing gilmour as their 1C. their fourth line center was theo fleury. remember also that otto kicked it in.

That Flames team was soooo deep. It is strange that they didn't put it all together more than once, but they did h ave some tough opponents to get through and did make the finals other times.

 

[Ace36758]

that year the presidents trophy flames were a vernon save on stan smyl in OT from a stunning upset to a canucks team led by 18 year old trevor linden (the youngest player in the league), their old broken down PMD that they gave away because they had too many puck movers (paul reinhart), brett hull’s old center from the farm team who they also gave away because they had no room for him (brian bradley), and basically a blueline that was half human garbage.

it would have been epic. remember that this flames team had three future conn smythe winners (macinnis, vernon, nieuwendyk) plus doug fffffing gilmour as their 1C. their fourth line center was theo fleury. remember also that otto kicked it in.

I have watched some highlights of that Game 7 OT. Vernon made a few other HUGE saves, one on Tanti and another huge toe save on #26 from Van (not sure who that was).

Here's a good video with an overview of the 89 playoffs (shows some of Vernon's saves in the OT)

 

[markymarc1215]

Brian Leetch's rookie stats: 68GP 23-48-71. Playoffs 4GP 3-2-5. Total of 26 goals in 72 games for a rookie defenseman! Now THAT is impressive!