1994–95 Edmonton Oilers season explained

League:	NHL
Season:	1994–95
Year:	1994
Team:	Edmonton Oilers
Conferencerank:	11th
Divisionrank:	5th
Record:	17–27–4
Homerecord:	11–12–1
Roadrecord:	6–15–3
Goalsfor:	136
Goalsagainst:	183
Coach:	George Burnett (Jan-Apr) Ron Low (Apr-May)
Captain:	Shayne Corson (Jan-Apr) Vacant (Apr-May)
Attendance:	13,123 (76.7%)
Minorleague:	Cape Breton Oilers (AHL) Wheeling Thunderbirds (ECHL)
Goalsleader:	David Oliver (16)
Assistsleader:	Doug Weight (33)
Pointsleader:	Doug Weight (40)
Plusminusleader:	Dean Kennedy (+2)
Pimleader:	Bryan Marchment (184)
Winsleader:	Bill Ranford (15)
Gaaleader:	Bill Ranford (3.62)

The 1994–95 Edmonton Oilers season was the Oilers' 16th season in the NHL, and they were coming off a tough 1993–94 season, when they finished the year 25–45–14, failing to qualify for the playoffs for the 2nd straight season.

The 1994–95 season was nearly cancelled due to a lockout, however, on January 11, 1995, an agreement was made between the NHL owners and the players, and a shortened 48 game schedule was used for the season.

The Oilers named George Burnett as head coach of the club, as Burnett coached the Oilers AHL affiliate, the Cape Breton Oilers for the previous 2 seasons, including leading the team to the Calder Cup in 1993. Edmonton got off to a solid start, and 27 games into the season, the Oilers sat in 2nd place in the Pacific Division with 26 points, only 3 behind the division leading Calgary Flames. The Oilers then went on a 10-game winless streak, costing Burnett his job, as former Oilers goaltender Ron Low replaced him.^[1] It was too little too late, as Edmonton would finish the season 17–27–4, earning 38 points, and missed the playoffs for the 3rd straight season.

Offensively, Doug Weight led the team with 40 points, while David Oliver was the Oilers goal scoring leader with 16. Jason Arnott had another solid season, scoring 15 goals and earning 37 points. Defenseman Igor Kravchuk led the blueline with 18 points in 36 games, while Bryan Marchment had a club high 184 penalty minutes.

In goal, Bill Ranford played in 40 games, winning 15 of them, with a 3.62 GAA and 2 shutouts along the way. However, the Oilers allowed a league-high 183 goals and Oilers goaltenders combined for a league-low .877 save percentage.

The Oilers had the most power-play opportunities during the regular season, with 259. They also allowed the most power-play goals, with 52.^[2]

Regular season

Season standings

Schedule and results

|- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"| 1 || January 20 || Mighty Ducks of Anaheim || 1 – 2 || Edmonton Oilers || || Ranford || 14,967 || 1–0–0 || 2 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"| 2 || January 22 || Edmonton Oilers || 4 – 3 || Los Angeles Kings || || Ranford || 13,160 || 2–0–0 || 4 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 3 || January 23 || Edmonton Oilers || 4 – 5 || Mighty Ducks of Anaheim || OT || Ranford || 17,174 || 2–1–0 || 4 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 4 || January 25 || Edmonton Oilers || 1 – 5 || Chicago Blackhawks || || Ranford || 20,536 || 2–2–0 || 4 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 5 || January 28 || Edmonton Oilers || 2 – 5 || Detroit Red Wings || || Brathwaite || || 2–3–0 || 4 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 6 || January 30 || Detroit Red Wings || 4 – 2 || Edmonton Oilers || || Ranford || 12,120 || 2–4–0 || 4 || |-|- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 7 || February 1 || Chicago Blackhawks || 7 – 0 || Edmonton Oilers || || Ranford || 10,492 || 2–5–0 || 4 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"| 8 || February 3 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 3 – 5 || Edmonton Oilers || || Brathwaite || 14,307 || 3–5–0 || 6 || |- style="text-align:center; background:white;"| 9 || February 7 || Edmonton Oilers || 4 – 4 || Vancouver Canucks || OT || Ranford || 12,347 || 3–5–1 || 7 || |- style="text-align:center; background:white;"| 10 || February 8 || Winnipeg Jets || 3 – 3 || Edmonton Oilers || OT || Ranford || 10,308 || 3–5–2 || 8 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"| 11 || February 10 || San Jose Sharks || 1 – 5 || Edmonton Oilers || || Ranford || 11,555 || 4–5–2 || 10 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"| 12 || February 12 || Mighty Ducks of Anaheim || 0 – 2 || Edmonton Oilers || || Ranford || 12,487 || 5–5–2 || 12 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"| 13 || February 15 || Edmonton Oilers || 4 – 1 || Toronto Maple Leafs || || Ranford || 15,746 || 6–5–2 || 14 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 14 || February 17 || Edmonton Oilers || 2 – 4 || Detroit Red Wings || || Ranford || 19,875 || 6–6–2 || 14 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 15 || February 19 || Edmonton Oilers || 1 – 4 || Chicago Blackhawks || || Brathwaite || 20,536 || 6–7–2 || 14 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 16 || February 20 || Edmonton Oilers || 0 – 4 || St. Louis Blues || || Ranford || 17,119 || 6–8–2 || 14 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 17 || February 22 || Dallas Stars || 1 – 2 || Edmonton Oilers || || Ranford || 10,242 || 7–8–2 || 16 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 18 || February 25 || Los Angeles Kings || 4 – 3 || Edmonton Oilers || || Ranford || 16,945 || 7–9–2 || 16 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 19 || February 28 || Edmonton Oilers || 2 – 5 || Calgary Flames || || Brathwaite || 19,127 || 7–10–2 || 16 || |-|- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 20 || March 1 || Dallas Stars || 5 – 3 || Edmonton Oilers || || Ranford || 9,502 || 7–11–2 || 16 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 21 || March 3 || Chicago Blackhawks || 5 – 2 || Edmonton Oilers || || Ranford || 12,248 || 7–12–2 || 16 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"| 22 || March 5 || Detroit Red Wings || 2 – 4 || Edmonton Oilers || || Ranford || 12,780 || 8–12–2 || 18 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"| 23 || March 8 || Edmonton Oilers || 5 – 2 || San Jose Sharks || || Ranford || 17,190 || 9–12–2 || 20 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 24 || March 12 || Vancouver Canucks || 5 – 2 || Edmonton Oilers || || Ranford || 12,768 || 9–13–2 || 20 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"| 25 || March 14 || St. Louis Blues || 5 – 6 || Edmonton Oilers || || Ranford || 10,707 || 10–13–2 || 22 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"| 26 || March 17 || San Jose Sharks || 3 – 5 || Edmonton Oilers || || Ranford || 12,369 || 11–13–2 || 24 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"| 27 || March 20 || Calgary Flames || 2 – 5 || Edmonton Oilers || || Ranford || 14,060 || 12–13–2 || 26 || |- style="text-align:center; background:white;"| 28 || March 22 || Edmonton Oilers || 4 – 4 || Dallas Stars || OT || Brathwaite || 16,494 || 12–13–3 || 27 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 29 || March 23 || Edmonton Oilers || 1 – 2 || Dallas Stars || || Ranford || 16,924 || 12–14–3 || 27 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 30 || March 26 || Edmonton Oilers || 1 – 5 || St. Louis Blues || || Ranford || 20,185 || 12–15–3 || 27 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 31 || March 27 || Edmonton Oilers || 3 – 4 || Toronto Maple Leafs || || Brathwaite || 15,746 || 12–16–3 || 27 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 32 || March 31 || Calgary Flames || 6 – 2 || Edmonton Oilers || || Ranford || 17,013 || 12–17–3 || 27 || |-|- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 33 || April 1 || Vancouver Canucks || 5 – 1 || Edmonton Oilers || || Ranford || 14,465 || 12–18–3 || 27 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 34 || April 3 || Edmonton Oilers || 2 – 7 || Los Angeles Kings || || Ranford || 16,008 || 12–19–3 || 27 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 35 || April 5 || Edmonton Oilers || 3 – 4 || Mighty Ducks of Anaheim || OT || Ranford || 17,174 || 12–20–3 || 27 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 36 || April 7 || Edmonton Oilers || 0 – 5 || San Jose Sharks || || Ranford || 17,190 || 12–21–3 || 27 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 37 || April 9 || San Jose Sharks || 5 – 2 || Edmonton Oilers || || Ranford || 12,185 || 12–22–3 || 27 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"| 38 || April 13 || Edmonton Oilers || 6 – 4 || Vancouver Canucks || || Brathwaite || 13,290 || 13–22–3 || 29 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 39 || April 15 || Calgary Flames || 4 – 2 || Edmonton Oilers || || Ranford || 16,121 || 13–23–3 || 29 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"| 40 || April 17 || Edmonton Oilers || 6 – 5 || Winnipeg Jets || || Ranford || 14,501 || 14–23–3 || 31 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"| 41 || April 19 || Los Angeles Kings || 0 – 2 || Edmonton Oilers || || Ranford || 15,403 || 15–23–3 || 33 || |- style="text-align:center;"| 42 || April 21 || Edmonton Oilers || 3 – 3 || Los Angeles Kings || OT || Ranford || 15,624 || 15–23–4 || 34 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 43 || April 22 || Edmonton Oilers || 1 – 6 || Vancouver Canucks || || Ranford || 14,275 || 15–24–4 || 34 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"| 44 || April 25 || Edmonton Oilers || 5 – 3 || Winnipeg Jets || || Ranford || 12,994 || 16–24–4 || 36 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"| 45 || April 27 || St. Louis Blues || 2 – 3 || Edmonton Oilers || OT || Ranford || 12,655 || 17–24–4 || 38 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 46 || April 29 || Winnipeg Jets || 5 – 1 || Edmonton Oilers || || Brathwaite || 15,219 || 17–25–4 || 38 || |-|- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 47 || May 1 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 6 – 5 || Edmonton Oilers || || Gage || 14,044 || 17–26–4 || 38 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 48 || May 3 || Edmonton Oilers || 3 – 5 || Calgary Flames || || Gage || 18,851 || 17–27–4 || 38 || |-|-| Legend:

Player statistics

Scoring

Position abbreviations: C = Centre; D = Defence; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing
= Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Oilers only.
= Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Oilers only.

	Regular season
	Player
39		C	48	7	33	40	−17	69
7		C	42	15	22	37	−14	128
9		LW	48	12	24	36	−17	86
20		RW	44	16	14	30	−11	20
26		C	45	13	14	27	−3	32
16		RW	48	7	17	24	0	82
17		LW	47	10	12	22	−4	89
21		D	36	7	11	18	−15	29
25		RW	46	6	11	17	−12	21
28		RW	26	11	2	13	−14	8
22		D	46	3	10	13	−6	40
18		RW	47	8	3	11	−11	49
32		D	40	2	8	10	2	25
15		D	33	0	10	10	−4	20
2		D	29	1	7	8	−9	40
27		C	9	2	4	6	1	0
24		D	40	1	5	6	−11	184
28		D	12	1	5	6	−5	14
34		D	14	0	6	6	−8	15
33		RW	28	1	4	5	−11	54
6		D	12	3	1	4	−1	12
8		LW	5	2	2	4	−1	0
38		C	9	3	0	3	3	0
29		LW	34	2	0	2	−4	93
6		D	18	0	2	2	−9	35
30		G	40	0	2	2		2
23		C	1	1	0	1	−1	0
14		C	6	1	0	1	−5	0
19		C	6	1	0	1	1	14
12		LW	21	0	1	1	−2	2
1		G	2	0	1	1		0
36		C	1	0	1	1	1	0
43		D	2	0	0	0	0	0
31		G	14	0	0	0		0
37		LW	6	0	0	0	−1	0
34		D	8	0	0	0	−4	8
10		LW	3	0	0	0	−1	0
33		RW	4	0	0	0	0	0

Goaltending

	Regular season
	Player
30		40	15	20	3	1134	133	3.62	.883	2	2203
31		14	2	5	1	292	40	4.00	.863	0	601
1		2	0	2	0	40	7	4.25	.825	0	99

Awards and records

Awards

Type	Award/honour	Recipient	Ref
Team	Community Service Award	Bill Ranford	^[3]
	Defenceman of the Year	Luke Richardson
	Molson Cup	Bill Ranford
	Most Popular Player	Kirk Maltby
	Top Defensive Forward	Kelly Buchberger
	Top First Year Oiler	Todd Marchant
	Unsung Hero	David Oliver
	Zane Feldman Trophy	Jason Arnott

Milestones

Regular Season
Player	Milestone	Reached
	1st NHL Game 1st NHL Goal 1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point	January 20, 1995
	100th NHL Game	January 22, 1995
	1st NHL Game	January 22, 1995
	1st NHL Goal	January 28, 1995
	1,100th NHL PIM	January 30, 1995
	400th NHL Point	February 19, 1995
	800th NHL PIM	February 19, 1995
	300th NHL Game	February 22, 1995
	200th NHL PIM	February 25, 1995
Scott Thornton	200th NHL PIM
	500th NHL PIM
Dean Kennedy	700th NHL Game	March 8, 1995
Jason Arnott	100th NHL Game	March 12, 1995
Jason Arnott		March 20, 1995
David Oliver	1st NHL Hat-trick	March 22, 1995
	100th NHL Point	March 22, 1995
	100th NHL Game	March 23, 1995
Bryan Marchment	900th NHL PIM	March 26, 1995
	1st NHL Game 1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point	March 27, 1995
	100th NHL Game 100th NHL PIM	April 1, 1995
	1,200th NHL PIM	April 3, 1995
Shayne Corson	600th NHL Game	April 7, 1995
	1st NHL Game	April 19, 1995
	600th NHL PIM	April 15, 1995
Jason Arnott	100th NHL Point	April 17, 1995
	1st NHL Game	April 19, 1995
	10th NHL Shutout	April 19, 1995
	200th NHL PIM	April 21, 1995
Shayne Corson	1,300th NHL PIM	April 22, 1995
	1st NHL Game 1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point	May 1, 1995
	1st NHL Game 1st NHL Goal 1st NHL Point	May 3, 1995

Transactions

Trades

March 13, 1995	To Philadelphia Flyers Brad Zavisha 6th round pick in 1995	To Edmonton Oilers Ryan McGill
April 7, 1995	To Buffalo Sabres Scott Pearson	To Edmonton Oilers Ken Sutton
April 7, 1995	To Vancouver Canucks Roman Oksiuta	To Edmonton Oilers Jiri Slegr

Players acquired

Date	Player	Former team
		Cape Breton Oilers (AHL)
		Vålerenga Ishockey (Eliteserien)

Players lost

Date	Player	New team
		Hartford Whalers
		Chicago Blackhawks
		Philadelphia Flyers
		Hartford Whalers
		New York Islanders
		San Jose Sharks
		Fredericton Canadiens (AHL)

Waivers

Date	Player	Team
		from Pittsburgh Penguins
		from Calgary Flames
		from Winnipeg Jets
		from Dallas Stars
	Len Esau	to Calgary Flames

Draft picks

Edmonton's draft picks at the 1994 NHL Entry Draft held at the Hartford Civic Center in Hartford, Connecticut.^[4]

Round		Player	College/Junior/Club team (League)
1	4		Niagara Falls Thunder (OHL)
1	6		Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
2	32		Stratford Cullitons (MOJHL)
3	53		North Bay Centennials (OHL)
3	60	Brad Symes	Portland Winter Hawks (WHL)
4	79	Adam Copeland	Burlington Cougars (OPJHL)
4	95		KalPa (Finland)
5	110	Jon Gaskins	Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL)
6	136		Niagara Scenics (NAJHL)
7	160		Olds Grizzlys (AJHL)
7	162		Tivali Minsk (Russia)
7	179	Chris Wickenheiser	Red Deer Rebels (WHL)
8	185	Rob Guinn	Newmarket Royals (OHL)
8	188	Jason Reid	St. Andrew's College (High school)
9	214	Jeremy Jablonski	Victoria Cougars (WHL)
11	266		Sigma Olomouc (Czech Republic)
S	6	Chad Dameworth	Northern Michigan University (CCHA)

References

Web site: Edmonton Oilers 1994-95 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com . www.hockeydb.com . September 11, 2023.
Web site: 1994-95 Edmonton Oilers Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts . Hockey-Reference.com . September 10, 2023.
National Hockey League Guide & Record Book 2007

Notes and References

Web site: SPORTS PEOPLE: HOCKEY; Oilers Fire Coach . The New York Times . September 10, 2023 . April 7, 1995.
Web site: 1994-95 NHL Summary.
2014–15 Edmonton Oilers Media Guide, p.173
Web site: 1994 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com . www.hockeydb.com . September 10, 2023.