2005–06 Edmonton Oilers | |
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Western Conference champions
|
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Division | 3rd Northwest |
Conference | 8th Western |
2005–06 record | 41–28–13 |
Home record | 20–15–6 |
Road record | 21–13–7 |
Goals for | 256 |
Goals against | 251 |
Team information | |
General Manager | Kevin Lowe |
Coach | Craig MacTavish |
Captain | Jason Smith |
Alternate captains |
Ethan Moreau Ryan Smyth |
Arena | Rexall Place |
Average attendance | 16,832 (99.96%) |
Minor league affiliate(s) |
Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL) Iowa Stars (AHL) Greenville Grrrowl (ECHL) |
Team leaders | |
Goals | Ryan Smyth (36) |
Assists | Ales Hemsky (58) |
Points | Ales Hemsky (77) |
Penalties in minutes | Ethan Moreau (87) |
Plus/minus | Steve Staios (+10) |
Wins | Jussi Markkanen (15) |
Goals against average | Dwayne Roloson (2.43) |
The 2005–06 Edmonton Oilers season was the Oilers' 27th season in the NHL, and they were coming off a 36–29–12–5 record with 89 points and finishing 9th in the Western Conference in 2003–04 and missed the playoffs. In 2005–06, the Oilers qualified for the playoffs in eighth place, and put on a playoff run that brought them to the Stanley Cup Final finishing with a loss in Game 7 to the victorious Carolina Hurricanes by a score of 3–1. This was the first time an eighth seeded team reached the Stanley Cup finals (which was only repeated in 2012 and 2017).
Due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout, the 2004–05 NHL season was cancelled when the players and owners could not agree to a new CBA. The two sides would come to agreement, and there would be many changes for both the Oilers and the NHL as a whole.
The NHL introduced a salary cap of $39 million for the 2005–06, which meant the teams above that figure would cut salary to fit under the cap. The Oilers, who had a lot of cap room, took advantage of this, and the St. Louis Blues would trade former Hart- and Norris Trophy-winning Chris Pronger to the Oilers in exchange for Eric Brewer, Jeff Woywitka and Doug Lynch. Pronger would then sign a five-year, $31.25 million contract with Edmonton. The Oilers would then make another blockbuster trade, this time acquiring former Frank J. Selke Trophy winner Michael Peca from the New York Islanders for Mike York and a fourth-round draft pick.