1986-87

• Wayne Gretzky wins the last of his eight consecutive Hart Trophies as the NHL's MVP.

• The All-Star Game is replaced with Rendez-Vous '87, a two-game series pitting the NHL All-Stars against the Soviet Union national team in Quebec City. The Soviet team was paid $80,000 for their appearance, while the NHLers raised $350,000 for the players' pension fund. The teams split the series -- the NHLers winning the first game, 4-3, and the Soviets winning the second, 5-3.

• The first round of the playoffs is expanded from a best-of-five to a best-of-seven series.

• The Edmonton Oilers return to the top, beating the Philadelphia Flyers in seven games to win their third Stanley Cup in four years.



Boston Bruins


Buffalo Sabres


Calgary Flames


Chicago Blackhawks


Detroit Red Wings


Edmonton Oilers


Hartford Whalers


Los Angeles Kings


Minnesota North Stars


Montreal Canadiens


New Jersey Devils


New York Islanders


New York Rangers


Philadelphia Flyers


Pittsburgh Penguins


Quebec Nordiques


St. Louis Blues


Toronto Maple Leafs


Vancouver Canucks


Washington Capitals


Winnipeg Jets


Rendez-Vous '87
Quebec City, QC