Editing Edmonton Oilers (section)

====After Gretzky (1988–1990)====
[[File:Mark Messier 2016.jpg|thumb|upright|left|[[Mark Messier]] was named the Oilers' team captain shortly following the Gretzky trade.]]
In a surprising and shocking trade, Gretzky, along with enforcer [[Marty McSorley]] and centre [[Mike Krushelnyski]], were traded to the Los Angeles Kings on August 9, 1988. In exchange, the Oilers received US$15&nbsp;million, young star [[Jimmy Carson]], 1988 first-round draft choice [[Martin Gélinas|Martin Gelinas]], and the Kings' first-round draft picks in 1989, 1991, and 1993. The trade occurred because Pocklington did not want to risk Gretzky leaving Edmonton without getting anything in return. Gretzky had converted his chance at free agency and refused, which ultimately led to the trade. None of this was public knowledge at the time.<ref>{{cite web |last=Staples |first=David |url=http://communities.canada.com/edmontonjournal/blogs/hockey/archive/2009/03/11/in-defence-of-peter-pocklington.aspx |title=In defence of Peter Pocklington (and his sale of Wayne Gretzky)&nbsp;... |work=Edmonton Journal |date=March 11, 2009 |access-date=November 17, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090515083521/http://communities.canada.com/edmontonjournal/blogs/hockey/archive/2009/03/11/in-defence-of-peter-pocklington.aspx |archive-date=May 15, 2009}}</ref> However, the Oilers and their fans were still upset. [[Nelson Riis]], the [[New Democratic Party (Canada)|New Democratic Party]] leader in Canada's [[House of Commons of Canada|House of Commons]], went so far as to ask the government to block the trade.<ref>{{cite web |last=MacNeil |first=Rob |url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2008/08/05/gretzky_trade_rumours_timeline/ |title=The Gretzky Trade: Rumours & Timeline |publisher=Sportsnet.ca |date=August 5, 2008 |access-date=November 16, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120620095200/http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2008/08/05/gretzky_trade_rumours_timeline/ |archive-date=June 20, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Several of the Oilers considered launching a team-wide strike and even considered demanding that Pocklington sell the team.<ref name=p115>{{cite book |last=Klein |first=Jeff |title=Messier |publisher=Doubleday Canada |location=Toronto |year=2004 |page=[https://archive.org/details/messier0000klei/page/115 115] |isbn=0-385-65907-5 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/messier0000klei/page/115}}</ref>

The loss of Gretzky had an immediate impact in [[1988–89 NHL season|1988–89]], as the Oilers were only able to finish in third place in their division. Mark Messier was chosen to succeed Gretzky as captain.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/LegendsMember.jsp?mem=P200703&type=Player&page=bio&list=ByName#photo |title=Mark Messier |publisher=Legends of Hockey |access-date=December 1, 2010}}</ref> Coincidentally, the Oilers' first-round playoff opponent was Gretzky's Los Angeles Kings. Edmonton took a commanding 3–1 series lead, but Gretzky and the Kings fought back to win the series, winning Game 7 6–3 in Los Angeles. It was the first time since 1982 that the Oilers had been eliminated from the playoffs in the first round.

The Oilers underwent more changes during the [[1989–90 NHL season|1989–90 season]]. [[John Muckler]] replaced Sather, who remained general manager and became the Oilers' president, as head coach of the team.<ref name="Muckler">{{cite web |url=http://www.oilersheritage.com/legacy/contributions_coaches_johnmuckler.html |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20101208160558/http://www.oilersheritage.com/legacy/contributions_coaches_johnmuckler.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 8, 2010 |title=John Muckler |publisher=Edmonton Oilers Heritage |access-date=December 1, 2010}}</ref> During training camp, Grant Fuhr came down with a severe case of appendicitis. He missed the first ten games of the season and when he returned he suffered a shoulder injury that eventually sidelined him for the remainder of the season.<ref name="Fuhr"/> This marked the emergence of Bill Ranford as a starter. Four games into the season, Jimmy Carson decided the pressure of playing in Edmonton was too intense and he was traded to Detroit with [[Kevin McClelland]] in exchange for [[Petr Klíma|Petr Klima]], [[Adam Graves]], [[Joe Murphy (ice hockey)|Joe Murphy]] and [[Jeff Sharples]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=10226 |title=Jimmy Charles Carson |publisher=Legends of Hockey |access-date=December 3, 2010}}</ref> The Oilers improved on their previous season, finishing with 38 wins and 90 points, good for fifth place overall in the NHL. Messier had 45 goals and 84 assists for 129 points, good for second in the NHL scoring race (behind only Gretzky).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1990_leaders.html |title=1989–90 NHL Expanded Leaders |publisher=Hockey-Reference.com |access-date=December 3, 2010}}</ref>

In the first round, the Oilers faced the Winnipeg Jets. Trailing the series 3–1 and trailing Game 5 by an identical score, the Oilers rallied to win the next three and take the series. In the division final, the Oilers met Los Angeles for the second straight season. Edmonton swept the series 4–0, outscoring the Kings 22–10. The Oilers then met the Chicago Blackhawks in the conference finals and fell behind 2–1 in the series. However, the Oilers won the next three games to earn a rematch of the 1988 Stanley Cup Finals with Boston. The series is remembered for Game 1, still the longest Stanley Cup Finals game played in the modern NHL. Despite being soundly outshot by the Bruins, the Oilers won the game 3–2 when Klima—benched for much of the game and thus the only player on either team who was not exhausted—scored at 15:13 of the third overtime.<ref>{{cite web |last=Sexton |first=Joe |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/05/16/sports/klima-s-goal-in-3d-overtime-wins-cup-opener-for-oilers.html |title=Klima's Goal in 3d Overtime Wins Cup Opener for Oilers |work=The New York Times |date=May 16, 1990 |access-date=December 3, 2010}}</ref> The Oilers defeated the Bruins in five games and won their first Cup without Gretzky. For his superlative goaltending, Bill Ranford won the Conn Smythe Trophy.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SilverwareTrophyWinner.jsp?tro=CST&year=1989-90 |title=Ranford, Bill |publisher=Legends of Hockey |access-date=December 3, 2010}}</ref>