The Greatest Era In NHL History?
Video Overview & Insights
The legacy of NHL hockey in 80s is still strong today, and its legendary players still stand out as some of the most significant, iconic, and influential players to ever play. There were dominant NHL dynasties, epic rivalries, a new-found global hockey intrigue, and changes to the game that have impacted how it is played today.
For me it was
Chapters:
0:00 — Intro
As a Devils fan, that 1987 - 1988 season was one to remember. That Spring of 1988 was a magical one. I bought playoff tickets on a hope and a prayer and when they won on the last game of the season against Chicago in Overtime, I was so excited that I fell off my chair. Went to 2 home games of every series: Islanders, Capitals, and the Bruins.
1:38-2:09 — 1979-80
2:10-4:30 — 1980-81
I have LONG believed that the 1980's were the best era of NHL hockey. The combination of skill, athleticism, training, passion, intensity, speed, dedication to their craft, toughness, fear, hatred, heated rivalries and some great old buildings where it all happened (MSG, Montreal Forum, Boston Garden, Chicago Stadium, Maple Leaf Gardens, the Spectrum, the Igloo, Nassau Coliseum, St. Louis Arena, Fabulous Forum in LA, Pacific Coliseum, Northlands, Saddledome, Winnipeg arena, Le' Colisee, the Mall etc, ALL in one decade, you'd be hard-pressed to come up with a better 10-year stretch of time to match. True, the number of goals per game were on the high side, but that only made the games more exciting and gave spectators more bang for their hard-earned buck. For me, there will NEVER be a better era of hockey. I miss the 1980's and hockey from that era.
4:31-10:18 — 1981-82
10:19-12:53 — 1982-83
70s 80s and 90s Hockey
There was no better !
🏒
12:54-16:28 — 1983-84
16:29-18:26 — 1984-85
EARTH IS FLAT...NO GLOWBALL!
18:27-21:43 — 1985-86
21:44-26:51 — 1986-87
Gretztky is the best ever beyond all doubt, in terms of best career. He has over 900 points more than the next guy (some nobody named Jagr, lol). It will be a long, long time before anyone surpasses this.
26:52-27:29 — 1987-88
27:30-31:28 — 1988-89
No, CSKA Moscow would have easily dominated the league. The 90s were much better with every single great player playing in the NHL unlike in the 80s.
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The Muntreeall Kanaydeeanns.
More User Perspectives
That's crazy , blaine stoughton was a superstar....over 40 goals 4 seasons in a row....if you ask 100 hockey fans today, 99 never heard of him. I had his hockey cards
@jeffng8580You did not talk about the greatest rivalry. Quebec Montreal... Just for that... Your video sux.
@remidallaire7450old hockey is so epic. Hockey forever.
@TwisTCDNewsNo flames pictures on the cover !
@Rae-s2j3e27:58. Oh! So close to making it the whole video without a wonky AI mispronunciation.
@VictorDiGiovanniSome of these name readings are brutal.
@justincamp5716The action was less predictable from game to game (even though a lot of the same teams had success). Shots could go in from further out and I felt the stand-up style of goaltending was more exciting. And of course, slapshots were common. You also had the element of surprise with random fights breaking out during the course of a given game.
@Robert86546Two of the best Dynasties in and around that decade as well. Islanders 4 in a row and Edmonton’s 5 in 7years
@kevinthekev1979Early 90s is much better.
@RorschachqpI know it's crazy but I've often wondered what would happen if Mario had a similar group of talented young guns, Grant fuhr in net and guys like Dave Semenko and Marty Mcsorley protecting him when he came in 1984 and Gretzky came in the league with linemates like Mickey mouse and bugs bunny and having to defend himself
@RobWallace-ng4szThe greatest nhl era is now hockey becoming more popular and the players are more better skill and speed wise than previous eras
@chadjrthebarber1You could do one of these for EVERY era , would a unreal piece of history especially for people who don't know and would love to learn !!!!
@Elementsoftheory29Wayne's record of 215 points in 1 season is Insane, it will Never, I mean never be broken.
@JohnShields-xx1ykin 1983-84 yes the overtime arrive 5 minutes but its not 3 vs 3 but 5 vs 5 and no sudden death .
@quebecforce111no , for the year 1982-83 the best player draft are Scott Stevens not Gilmour
@quebecforce111When you talk of the dynasty of the NY Islanders in the 80's there best player and core of the team are Denis Potvin.
@quebecforce111ion this era you have , Ciccarelli , Broten to
@quebecforce111It was a great time in the NHL but ...as a die hard Flyers fan.... painful to watch! 🤮🤮🤮
Let's go Flyers!!!
Лучшие времена NHL - 90-x .. Когда Россияне,Чехи, Фины начали приезжать..
@Dr1vovicWhere is Yzerman in this conversation ??
@LJ-qb4yyYou kinda missed out by not including how/why the all powerful Oilers didn't make the Cup in 86. That's three sentences worth sharing before you switched focus to Partick Roy
@daveymccrazy2977If your goal is to win, who do you take?
@dylanryan8241The 90s were the greatest for hockey. Nothing was better than watching the Wings/Avs rivalry in the playoffs. Must see TV!
@mattieafloThe Hockey News 2025 Yearbook is convinced that today's game "feels like a golden era of the NHL". Aside from the Florida Panthers and playoff hockey I beg to differ because I've lived through different era's of NHL hockey. Today's players are faster and in better shape but most of them waltz through the season with no honor and traditional rivalries have no meaning. I prefer watching an 1980's NHL game or a 1990's NHL game here on Youtube over a current game. And that's why I know a lot of long time hockey fans of all ages who no longer follow the sport. Even if it's a NHL game on TV they don't watch it and they don't care. But what the hay. Maybe they can convince the young and dumb that it today "....feels like a golden era for the NHL." Follow the money. 💵
@jeffreyg4626Kent Nilsson had a 131 point season with the Flames in 80-81. An overlooked player and season
@thomasgallagher7092Grant Fuhr gets a bad rap, but he was amazing behind Gretzky and Messier, and Coffey, Huddy, Anderson, Kerri, Lowe, Mactavish, then Moog and Randford as well.
Each year it was incredible. Now all goalies are 63 or 64 play! 6,7???? That’s a norm.
Goals are scored maybe not as much, but Ovi is going to hit 900, and chose to not break a record in less time by not going out as a player on a 5 on 6 open net….classy, and amazing player. Crosby, Lemieux? Yzerman? Lots of great players.
What an era. Fuhr was my fav, and got to meet him, such a great player, and such a nice guy! Too bad Steve Smith lost game 7, or maybe it would’ve been 5 in a row for the oilers…as Montreal still had a great D first type of study le, and Robinson, Gainey…etc etc…and rookie Roy.
What a series that would’ve been! Awe one can dream!
"it became must watch entertainment". It was bar league hockey back then and goal scorers were allowed to skate and score goals for ratings and to elevate the sport, it was a joke. Show me some video of anyone checking wayne gretzky, except for that one hit he took. No one was allowed to touch him.
@SteveJones-g9nYou can not talk about the NHL 80s decade without a single mention about Peter Stastny :
Rookie Season (1980-81):
Set a rookie record with 109 points, including 70 assists.
1980-1990 Statistics:
Was the second-highest scorer of the decade, with his career totals of 1,239 points in 977 games making him a prolific offensive player.
Dennis "Merrick" ha ha
@johnnythunder196Great era. High scoring. Fighting was still a huge part of the game. Lots of prominent Hall of Famers.
@cowetascore8476Then bettman happened. Weird how that worked out
@OggyfpsAwesome decade. Grew up watching Ray Bourque and Cam Neely play in the Boston Garden.
@richieauger4844Jari Kurri should also be in that thumbnail
@hidden_boogerlate 80s early 90s was goated
@the.wayne.bThe Original 21 Era was great. Lots of ice hate. Still had big brawls. Goalies weren’t very good. Teams seemed to play division rivals about 8 times per season. Everyone (16 of 21) made the playoffs.
@bjdon99I always thought what a great line it woulda been with me, Gretzky and Mario on the same line. I think we coulda put up 400 pts.
@JoeM-mt3suWithout question
@9and7Pocket Hercules!!! Theo Fleury!!!
@DallasDrake-g2gMy grandpa lived in Minnesota. I remember watching a lot of these games with him
@ScottHammonds-k1uNHL trophies are easily the best in sports. The Hart trophy is gorgeous.
Great era, I was there for all of it 6-16 years old. Many packets of hockey cards purchased. I want to find that gum if you can find it anywhere?
Strangely enough, as an American pre-teen, I fell in love with hockey watching Patrick Roy in 85-86. Been a Montreal fan ever since.
@budstickyHockey in the 80's was simply incredible. But it was pure magic in Alberta. The Flames/Oilers rivalry was beyond epic. As a die hard Flames fan Gretzky was of course public enemy number one
@jamesc7526