VanIslander
A 19-year ATDer on HfBoards
I agree with hunter1909: The Oilers would have been competitive throughout the nineties.
Especially if other Oilers stayed in the fold as well.
The Washington Capitals' coach attributed their Stanley Cup appearance to the phenomenal playoff skill and leadership of Esa Tikkanen, a postseason demon.
Even Fuhr had some very good, long seasons in St. Louis. And Gelinas of the 1990 Cup-winning Oilers proved this year that he still has mustard.
A Gretzky-Messier-Tikkanen-Gelinas-Fuhr core would have continued to compete for the Cup in conference finals against Detroit or Colorado (in all those years where the East was clearly a notch lower in competitiveness).
Especially if other Oilers stayed in the fold as well.
The Washington Capitals' coach attributed their Stanley Cup appearance to the phenomenal playoff skill and leadership of Esa Tikkanen, a postseason demon.
Even Fuhr had some very good, long seasons in St. Louis. And Gelinas of the 1990 Cup-winning Oilers proved this year that he still has mustard.
A Gretzky-Messier-Tikkanen-Gelinas-Fuhr core would have continued to compete for the Cup in conference finals against Detroit or Colorado (in all those years where the East was clearly a notch lower in competitiveness).