2008–09 Edmonton Oilers season explained

League:	NHL
Season:	2008–09
Year:	2008
Team:	Edmonton Oilers
Conferencerank:	11th
Divisionrank:	4th
Record:	38–35–9
Homerecord:	18–17–6
Roadrecord:	20–18–3
Goalsfor:	234
Goalsagainst:	248
Attendance:	16,839 (100%)
Minorleague:	Springfield Falcons (AHL) Stockton Thunder (ECHL)
Goalsleader:	Ales Hemsky (23) Sheldon Souray (23)
Assistsleader:	Ales Hemsky (43)
Pointsleader:	Ales Hemsky (66)
Plusminusleader:	Denis Grebeshkov (+12)
Pimleader:	Zack Stortini (181)
Winsleader:	Dwayne Roloson (28)
Gaaleader:	Dwayne Roloson (2.77)

The 2008–09 Edmonton Oilers season was the team's 37th season of play, 30th as a member of the National Hockey League (NHL). Nonetheless, the Oilers celebrated their 30th anniversary.

Pre-season

• The NHL Board of Governors on June 18 approved the sale of the Edmonton Oilers. All 34 members of the Edmonton Investors Group agreed in February to sell the club for $200 million to Rexall pharmacy magnate Daryl Katz. The new owner has promised to keep the team in Edmonton and pursue getting a new arena to replace Rexall Place.^[1]
• On July 31, the Edmonton Oilers promoted Kevin Lowe to become president of hockey operations. They also announced that they have hired Steve Tambellini as their new general manager, and had also moved Kevin Prendergast, who was the vice-president of hockey operations, and named him the new assistant general manager.
• On Friday August 8, the Edmonton Oilers announced that Rick Olczyk has been promoted to the position of assistant general manager and director of hockey operations/legal affairs.

Regular season

Conference standings

Schedule and results

2008–09 Game Log
October: 4–4–1 (Home: 2–0–1 ; Road: 2–4–0) Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 12 2 – 3 Edmonton Oilers 16,839 1–0–0 2 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020029 2 October 15 Edmonton Oilers 3 – 2 Garon 16,604 2–0–0 4 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020048 3 October 17 Edmonton Oilers 4 – 3 19,289 3–0–0 6 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020060 4 October 18 Calgary Flames 2 – 3 Edmonton Oilers Garon 16,839 4–0–0 8 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020074 5 October 22 Edmonton Oilers 0 – 3 21,168 4–1–0 8 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020091 6 October 23 Edmonton Oilers 1 – 4 Colorado Avalanche Garon 14,898 4–2–0 8 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020097 7 October 25 Edmonton Oilers 3 – 6 Garon 18,630 4–3–0 8 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020118 8 October 27 1 – 0 Edmonton Oilers OT Roloson 16,839 4–3–1 9 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020124 9 October 30 Edmonton Oilers 1 – 3 Garon 11,294 4–4–1 9 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020140
November: 6–7–1 (Home: 0–3–1 ; Road: 6–4–0) Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 10 November 1 Edmonton Oilers 3 – 1 Roloson 15,016 5–4–1 11 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020150 11 November 2 Edmonton Oilers 5 – 4 Roloson 19,437 6–4–1 13 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020162 12 November 5 Edmonton Oilers 4 – 5 Roloson 11,228 6–5–1 13 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020179 13 November 6 Edmonton Oilers 4 – 5 Garon 16,971 6–6–1 13 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020186 14 November 9 Edmonton Oilers 2 – 1 Deslauriers 14,193 7–6–1 15 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020209 15 November 10 Edmonton Oilers 3 – 2 SO Deslauriers 18,200 8–6–1 17 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020213 16 November 13 5 – 2 Edmonton Oilers Deslauriers 16,839 8–7–1 17 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020234 17 November 15 Colorado Avalanche 3 – 2 Edmonton Oilers SO Roloson 16,839 8–7–2 18 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020250 18 November 17 Edmonton Oilers 0 – 4 Roloson 18,934 8–8–2 18 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020260 19 November 18 Edmonton Oilers 7 – 2 Columbus Blue Jackets Roloson 12,689 9–8–2 20 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020264 20 November 20 Detroit Red Wings 4 – 3 Edmonton Oilers Garon 16,839 9–9–2 20 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020277 21 November 26 2 – 1 Edmonton Oilers Roloson 16,839 9–10–2 20 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020319 22 November 29 Edmonton Oilers 4 – 2 Roloson 19,150 10–10–2 22 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020334 23 November 30 Edmonton Oilers 3 – 4 Deslauriers 16,650 10–11–2 22 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020348
December: 7–5–1 (Home: 4–3–1 ; Road: 3–2–0) Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 24 December 3 Dallas Stars 2 – 5 Edmonton Oilers Garon 16,839 11–11–2 24 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020365 25 December 5 Edmonton Oilers 5 – 4 Los Angeles Kings SO Garon 14,920 12–11–2 26 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020379 26 December 6 Edmonton Oilers 3 – 2 OT Roloson 17,496 13–11–2 28 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020390 27 December 11 2 – 0 Edmonton Oilers Garon 16,839 13–12–2 28 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020418 28 December 13 Vancouver Canucks 0 – 3 Edmonton Oilers Roloson 16,839 14–12–2 30 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020439 29 December 16 Chicago Blackhawks 9 – 2 Edmonton Oilers Garon 16,839 14–13–2 30 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020453 30 December 17 Edmonton Oilers 2 – 4 Vancouver Canucks Roloson 18,630 14–14–2 30 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020458 31 December 19 Anaheim Ducks 3 – 2 Edmonton Oilers SO Roloson 16,839 14–14–3 31 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020473 32 December 22 2 – 4 Edmonton Oilers Roloson 16,839 15–14–3 33 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020492 33 December 26 Edmonton Oilers 3 – 2 Vancouver Canucks Roloson 18,630 16–14–3 35 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020514 34 December 28 Nashville Predators 2 – 5 Edmonton Oilers Roloson 16,839 17–14–3 37 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020531 35 December 30 3 – 2 Edmonton Oilers Garon 16,839 17–15–3 37 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020545 36 December 31 Edmonton Oilers 4 – 6 Calgary Flames Roloson 19,289 17–16–3 37 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020553
January: 8–4–0 (Home: 6–3–0 ; Road: 2–1–0) Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 37 January 3 Dallas Stars 1 – 4 Edmonton Oilers Roloson 16,839 18–16–3 39 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020573 38 January 5 2 – 3 Edmonton Oilers Roloson 16,839 19–16–3 41 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020584 39 January 7 Vancouver Canucks 4 – 2 Edmonton Oilers Roloson 16,839 19–17–3 41 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020597 40 January 9 San Jose Sharks 4 – 1 Edmonton Oilers Roloson 16,839 19–18–3 41 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020611 41 January 11 St. Louis Blues 1 – 2 Edmonton Oilers Roloson 16,839 20–18–3 43 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020627 42 January 13 Edmonton Oilers 5 – 2 Roloson 17,498 21–18–3 45 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020634 43 January 15 Edmonton Oilers 1 – 5 Roloson 18,568 21–19–3 45 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020650 44 January 16 Edmonton Oilers 3 – 2 Colorado Avalanche Garon 15,681 22–19–3 47 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020661 45 January 18 Phoenix Coyotes 3 – 6 Edmonton Oilers Roloson 16,839 23–19–3 49 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020675 46 January 20 Columbus Blue Jackets 3 – 4 Edmonton Oilers Roloson 16,839 24–19–3 51 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020689 47 January 27 10 – 2 Edmonton Oilers Roloson 16,839 24–20–3 53 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020710 48 January 30 Minnesota Wild 1 – 3 Edmonton Oilers Roloson 16,839 25–20–3 53 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020729
February: 6–6–2 (Home: 3–3–1 ; Road: 3–3–1) Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 49 February 1 Nashville Predators 2 – 1 Edmonton Oilers Roloson 16,839 25–21–3 53 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020744 50 February 3 Chicago Blackhawks 3 – 1 Edmonton Oilers Roloson 16,839 25–22–3 53 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020757 51 February 5 Edmonton Oilers 2 – 1 St. Louis Blues SO Roloson 15,668 26–22–3 55 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020768 52 February 7 Edmonton Oilers 3 – 8 Detroit Red Wings Roloson 20,066 26–23–3 55 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020778 53 February 8 Edmonton Oilers 2 – 3 Minnesota Wild SO Roloson 18,568 26–23–4 56 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020791 54 February 11 2 – 7 Edmonton Oilers Roloson 16,839 27–23–4 58 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020809 55 February 14 Edmonton Oilers 3 – 2 Los Angeles Kings SO Roloson 18,118 28–23–4 60 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020826 56 February 16 Edmonton Oilers 3 – 1 Phoenix Coyotes Roloson 14,547 29–23–4 62 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020845 57 February 17 Edmonton Oilers 2 – 4 San Jose Sharks Roloson 17,496 29–24–4 62 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020853 58 February 19 Edmonton Oilers 2 – 4 Dallas Stars Roloson 17,792 29–25–4 62 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020868 59 February 21 Calgary Flames 3 – 2 Edmonton Oilers SO Roloson 16,839 29–25–5 63 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020886 60 February 24 3 – 5 Edmonton Oilers Roloson 16,839 30–25–5 65 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020903 61 February 26 Columbus Blue Jackets 1 – 0 Edmonton Oilers Roloson 16,839 30–26–5 65 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020917 62 February 28 Minnesota Wild 2 – 3 Edmonton Oilers Roloson 16,839 31–26–5 67 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020933
March: 5–6–4 (Home: 1–3–2 ; Road: 4–3–2) Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 63 March 3 Edmonton Oilers 5 – 6 Nashville Predators OT Roloson 14,194 31–26–6 68 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020948 64 March 5 Edmonton Oilers 2 – 4 Ottawa Senators Roloson 17,904 31–27–6 68 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020959 65 March 7 Edmonton Oilers 4 – 1 Toronto Maple Leafs Roloson 19,364 32–27–6 70 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020972 66 March 10 Edmonton Oilers 3 – 4 Montreal Canadiens OT Roloson 21,273 32–27–7 71 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020993 67 March 12 4 – 3 Edmonton Oilers OT Roloson 16,839 32–27–8 72 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008021015 68 March 14 Colorado Avalanche 3 – 2 Edmonton Oilers OT Roloson 16,839 32–27–9 73 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008021028 69 March 17 St. Louis Blues 1 – 2 Edmonton Oilers SO Roloson 16,839 33–27–9 75 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008021048 70 March 19 Edmonton Oilers 8 – 1 Colorado Avalanche Roloson 13,612 34–27–9 77 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008021059 71 March 20 Edmonton Oilers 5 – 4 Chicago Blackhawks SO Roloson 22,151 35–27–9 79 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008021068 72 March 22 Edmonton Oilers 0 – 3 Minnesota Wild Roloson 18,568 35–28–9 79 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008021081 73 March 24 Detroit Red Wings 3 – 2 Edmonton Oilers Roloson 16,839 35–29–9 79 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008021095 74 March 26 Edmonton Oilers 2 – 3 Phoenix Coyotes Roloson 14,337 35–30–9 79 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008021109 75 March 27 Edmonton Oilers 5 – 3 Anaheim Ducks Roloson 17,257 36–30–9 81 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008021115 76 March 29 Minnesota Wild 3 – 2 Edmonton Oilers Roloson 16,839 36–31–9 81 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008021132 77 March 31 Anaheim Ducks 5 – 3 Edmonton Oilers Roloson 16,839 36–32–9 81 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008021142
April: 2–3–0 (Home: 2–2–0 ; Road: 0–1–0) Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 78 April 2 San Jose Sharks 2 – 1 Edmonton Oilers Roloson 16,839 36–33–9 81 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008021155 79 April 4 Vancouver Canucks 3 – 5 Edmonton Oilers Roloson 16,839 37–33–9 83 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008021172 80 April 7 Los Angeles Kings 2 – 1 Edmonton Oilers Roloson 16,839 37–34–9 83 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008021193 81 April 10 Calgary Flames 1 – 5 Edmonton Oilers Deslauriers 16,839 38–34–9 85 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008021212 82 April 11 Edmonton Oilers 1 – 4 Calgary Flames Deslauriers 19,289 38–35–9 85 http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008021226 Legend:
Schedule

Playoffs

The Oilers were in the thick of the playoff race all the way until March 20. However, they struggled down the stretch finishing 3-8-0 and missing the postseason by a total of six points.

Player statistics

Goaltenders

^†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Oilers. Stats reflect time with Oilers only.
^‡Traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with Oilers only.

Awards and records

Records

• 39 Years, 177 Days: an NHL record for the oldest goaltender ever played 60 games or more in a season by Dwayne Roloson.
  • 39 Years, 170 Days: A new NHL record for the oldest goaltender ever played 60 games or more in a season by Dwayne Roloson on March 31, 2009.
• 36: Oilers record for most consecutive starts by Dwayne Roloson.
  • 21: A new Oilers record for most consecutive starts by Dwayne Roloson on March 7, 2009.

Milestones

Regular Season
Player	Milestone	Reached
	100th NHL Point	October 12, 2008
	500th NHL Game
	1st NHL Game	October 15, 2008
	1st NHL Game 1st NHL Win	October 17, 2008
	200th NHL Point
	100th NHL Game	October 18, 2008
	400th NHL Game	October 22, 2008
	100th NHL PIM
	100th NHL Game	October 23, 2008
	200th NHL Assist
	100th NHL Game	October 25, 2008
Jeff Deslauriers	1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point	November 9, 2008
	500th NHL Game	November 10, 2008
	900th NHL PIM	November 15, 2008
	1st NHL Goal 1st NHL Point
	100th NHL Game	November 17, 2008
Dustin Penner	200th NHL Game	November 18, 2008
	500th NHL Game	November 20, 2008
	1st NHL Game	November 26, 2008
	100th NHL Game	November 29, 2008
Marc-Antoine Pouliot
Shawn Horcoff	300th NHL Point 1st NHL Gordie Howe hat trick
	1,100th NHL PIM
	1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point	December 3, 2008
Liam Reddox	1st NHL Assist	December 16, 2008
Jason Strudwick	700th NHL PIM	December 22, 2008
Ales Hemsky	300th NHL Point	December 26, 2008
Lubomir Visnovsky	300th NHL Point	December 28, 2008
Sheldon Souray	900th NHL PIM	December 30, 2008
Shawn Horcoff	200th NHL Assist	January 3, 2009
Zack Stortini	400th NHL PIM
	300th NHL Point	January 13, 2009
Steve MacIntyre	1st NHL Goal 1st NHL Point
Steve Staios	800th NHL Game	January 15, 2009
	200th NHL Game	January 16, 2009
Ethan Moreau		January 18, 2009
Ales Hemsky	400th NHL Game	February 26, 2009
	1st NHL Goal 1st NHL Point	March 3, 2009
Sheldon Souray	600th NHL Game	March 17, 2009
Sam Gagner	1st NHL Hat-trick	March 19, 2009
Ladislav Smid	200th NHL Game	March 26, 2009
Ethan Moreau	1,000 NHL PIM	March 27, 2009
	200th NHL Game

Transactions

The Oilers have been involved in the following transactions during the 2008–09 season.

Trades

Date
June 6, 2008	To Philadelphia Flyers Danny Syvret	To Edmonton Oilers Ryan Potulny
June 29, 2008^[2]	To Los Angeles Kings Jarret Stoll Matt Greene	To Edmonton Oilers Lubomir Visnovsky
July 1, 2008	To Carolina Hurricanes Joni Pitkanen	To Edmonton Oilers Erik Cole
July 1, 2008	To Columbus Blue Jackets Raffi Torres	To Edmonton Oilers Gilbert Brule
January 29, 2009	To Pittsburgh Penguins Mathieu Garon	To Edmonton Oilers Dany Sabourin Ryan Stone 4th round pick in 2011
March 4, 2009	To Buffalo Sabres 2nd round pick in 2009	To Edmonton Oilers Ales Kotalik
March 4, 2009	To Carolina Hurricanes Erik Cole 5th round pick in 2009	To Edmonton Oilers Patrick O'Sullivan 2nd round pick in 2009

Free agents acquired

Date	Player	Former team	Contract Terms
	Jason Strudwick^[3]		1 year, $650,000
	Carl Corazzini^[4]		1 year, $500,000

Free agents lost

Date	Player	New team	Contract Terms
			3 years, $3.6 million
			1 year, $500,000
			1 year
			1 year, $1 million
			1 year, $500,000

Waivers

Date	Player	Team	Ref
			^[5]
			^[6]
	Jesse Boulerice	to Colorado Avalanche

Player signings

Player	Contract terms
	6 years, $24 million
	3 years, $6 million
	1 year, $1.5 million
	1 year, $645,000
	2 years, $1.65 million
	2 years, $1.05 million
	3 years, $2.1 million

Draft picks

Round		Player	Nationality	NHL team	College/Junior/Club team (League)
1	22	Jordan Eberle (C)		Edmonton Oilers (from Anaheim Ducks)	Regina Pats (WHL)
4	103	Johan Motin (D)		Edmonton Oilers	Bofors IK (Sweden-2)
5	133	Philippe Cornet (LW)		Edmonton Oilers	Rimouski Océanic (QMJHL)
6	163	Teemu Hartikainen (C)		Edmonton Oilers	KalPa (Finland Jr.)
7	193	Jordan Bendfeld (D)		Edmonton Oilers	Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)

See also

• 2008–09 NHL season

References

• Player stats: Edmonton Oilers player stats on espn.com
• Game log: Edmonton Oilers game log on espn.com
• Team standings: NHL standings on espn.com

Notes and References

1. News: Oilers sale to Daryl Katz approved by NHL . CBC News . June 18, 2008 . 19 June 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080619134016/http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/story/2008/06/18/nhl-sales.html . 19 June 2008 . live .
2. https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=242046&lid=headline&lpos=secStory_main Oilers acquire Visnovsky from L.A.; ship Stoll and Greene
3. http://oilers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=430417 Oilers sign Jason Strudwick
4. http://oilers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=430420 Oilers sign Carl Corazzini to one-year deal
5. http://oilers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=430515 Oilers claim Steve MacIntyre off waivers
6. http://oilers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=430579 Oilers claim Jesse Boulerice off waivers