1982–83 NHL season | |
---|---|
League | National Hockey League |
Sport | Ice hockey |
Duration | October 5, 1982 – May 17, 1983 |
Number of games | 80 |
Number of teams | 21 |
Regular season | |
Season champions | Boston Bruins |
Season MVP | Wayne Gretzky (Oilers) |
Top scorer | Wayne Gretzky (Oilers) |
Playoffs | |
Playoffs MVP | Billy Smith (Islanders) |
Stanley Cup | |
Champions | New York Islanders |
Runners-up | Edmonton Oilers |
The 1982–83 NHL season was the 66th season of the National Hockey League. The New York Islanders won their fourth Stanley Cup in a row with their second consecutive finals sweep by beating the Edmonton Oilers four games to none. No team in any major professional North American sport has won four consecutive playoff championships since.
Prior the start of the season, the Colorado Rockies moved to East Rutherford, New Jersey where they were renamed New Jersey Devils. They were also moved to the Patrick Division, forcing a reluctant Winnipeg Jets to leave the Norris Division and take Colorado's place in the Smythe Division. These would be the last relocations of an NHL team until 1993. After the season, a last-minute sale of the St. Louis Blues to Harry Ornest prevented Wild Bill Hunter from purchasing that team and moving it to Saskatoon.
The Calgary Flames played their final season at the 7,000-plus seat Stampede Corral before moving into the Olympic Saddledome, which had a capacity of 16,605.
At the end of the season, the long pants worn by the Philadelphia Flyers and Hartford Whalers are banned, due to player safety concerns.