One dynasty ended and another one began in the 1979-80 NHL season. The Montreal Canadiens saw their run of four straight Stanley Cup come to an end. The 1980 New York Islanders were the team that stepped into the void and not only won the Cup, but began their own string of four consecutive championships. […]
It was a year of change in the 1980 Stanley Cup playoffs. The Montreal Canadiens’ dynasty ended. The postseason expanded to 16 teams and allowed the Edmonton Oilers, with their 18-year-old star Wayne Gretzky to get in the playoffs. And the New York Islanders won their first Stanley Cup
This post is part of a series of sports history articles commemorating under-the-radar teams and moments in a given year. The 1980 Edmonton Oilers were more than a first-year expansion team. They were the team that debuted the game’s greatest player and laid the groundwork for an NHL dynasty.