1989–90 Winnipeg Jets (1972–96) | |
---|---|
Division | 3rd Smythe |
1989–90 record | 37–32–11 |
Goals for | 298 |
Goals against | 290 |
Team information | |
General Manager | Mike Smith |
Coach | Bob Murdoch |
Captain |
Randy Carlyle, Dale Hawerchuk and Thomas Steen |
The 1989–90 Winnipeg Jets season was the 18th season of the Winnipeg Jets, their 11th season in the National Hockey League. The Jets placed third in the Smythe to qualify for the playoffs. The Jets lost to the Edmonton Oilers in the first round.
After a very disappointing 1988-89 season, in which the Jets failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 1980-81, with a 26-42-12 record, earning 64 points. During the previous season, the Jets replaced general manager John Ferguson with Mike Smith, while head coach Dan Maloney was replaced with Rick Bowness on an interim basis. On May 25, 1989, the Jets named Bob Murdoch as their new head coach. Murdoch had previous head coaching experience in the NHL, as he was the Chicago Blackhawks head coach for the 1987-88 season, going 30-41-9.
At the 1989 NHL Entry Draft held on June 17, 1989, the Jets held the fourth overall selection, and drafted Stu Barnes from the Tri-City Americans of the WHL. Barnes had 59 goals and 141 points with the Americans during the 1988-89 season. Other notable players the Jets selected were Kris Draper in the third round, and Dan Bylsma in the sixth round.
The Jets were also busy with trades at the 1989 NHL Entry Draft, as they acquired Randy Cunneyworth, Rick Tabaracci and Dave McLlwain from the Pittsburgh Penguins for Randy Gilhen, Andrew McBain and Jim Kyte. Cunneyworth, was coming off a 25-goal, 44 point season in 70 games in 1988-89, while McLlwain had a goal and three points in 24 games with the Penguins. Tabaracci posted a 24-20-5 record with a 4.24 GAA with the Cornwall Royals of the OHL.