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1980 NHL playoffs

A New Era & A New Champion In The 1980 Stanley Cup Playoffs

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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

The 1980 Edmonton Oilers & The Arrival Of Wayne Gretzky

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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.