What Was the Best NHL Season Ever?

By Amelia Walker Senior Content Writer Updated: 20 November 2023

Amelia Walker Senior Content Writer

Amelia Walker is a Senior Content Writer at Betting.US. She has a law degree and deep knowledge of the gambling laws in the United States. Her mission is to keep players informed about responsible gambling, while her passion for sports helps her create useful guides. Amelia has over a decade of experience in betting, which has positioned her as a trusted voice among our readers.

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The Best NHL Season Ever

• What’s The Best Season in NHL History?
• The Best Season in the NHL of All Time: 1993-1994
• 2005-2006: The Season After the Lockout
• 2012-2013: The Short but Sweet Season
• 1987-1988: Gretzky’s Trade
• 2018-2019: The Year of the Underdog
• 1992-1993: High Scoring and Playoff Shockers
• Frequently Asked Questions

If you’re a hardcore NHL fan or just someone who enjoys the game, you’re probably curious about the best NHL season ever. In today’s blog, we aim to answer exactly that – so, let’s dive into the action, looking at incredible wins and heartbreaking defeats to legendary players who made their mark.

What’s The Best Season In NHL History?

So, what’s the best season in NHL history? It’s a tough call, honestly, and, like many things in life, it’s completely subjective; what you may see as the most exciting NHL season ever may, to someone else, be nothing special. There are, however, a few highlights. The 1987-88 season saw Gretzky get traded, while the 2012-2013 saw the Chicago Blackhawks take the crown.

And don’t forget the 2018-2019 Tampa Bay Lightning with their incredible regular season. Those are just a few of the best NHL hockey season highlights we’ll be covering. Plus, don’t forget, if you’re looking to bet on the NHL online, make sure to check out our recommended sports betting sites!

The Best Season in the NHL of All Time: 1993-1994

If you’re looking for an NHL season that had it all, the 1993-1994 season is, for many, the best season in the NHL of all time. This was a year where history was made, stars were born, and legends cemented their legacies. The New York Rangers, who hadn’t won a Stanley Cup since 1940, were the main highlight of the season. Rangers fans were desperate to see if their team could finally break the curse.

You had Mark Messier, a player who already had five Stanley Cup wins under his belt with the Edmonton Oilers. He joined the Rangers and made a bold promise to win game 6 against the New Jersey Devils. And guess what? He delivered, scoring a hat trick and leading the team to a win. Then came the Stanley Cup Finals against the Vancouver Canucks. It was a seven-game series that had people on the edges of their seats, and, to many analysists’ amazement, the Rangers pulled it off, ending their 54-year drought.

This season also saw Wayne Gretzky scoring his 802nd goal, breaking Gordie Howe’s record. So not only did you have a monumental team achievement, but you also had individual milestones that set this season apart. If you’re a hockey fan, the 1993-94 season is almost certainly one of the best seasons in NHL of all time.

2005-2006: The Season After the Lockout

After the entire 2004-2005 NHL season was canceled due to a lockout, hockey returned with a bang in the 2005-2006 season. It was set to be an exciting year – and most teams lived up to expectations, although perhaps none quite as much as the Carolina Hurricanes.

Before the season, if you were to bet on the Hurricanes to win the Stanley Cup, you’d have been laughed at by many – but to everyone’s surprise, they came out strong, finishing second in the Eastern Conference, and then managing to keep the momentum going all the way through the playoffs. To make the season even more interesting, we saw several unexpected heroes make their mark in the game, including, notably, rookie goalie Cam Ward, who went on to win the Conn Smythe Trophy.

Rule changes also made this season interesting. You had the removal of the two-line pass rule, which opened up the game, making it faster and more exciting. It was action-packed, fast-paced, and memorable for many fans.

2012-2013: The Short but Sweet Season

You might think a lockout-shortened season couldn’t pack much excitement, but the 2012-2013 season begs to differ. With only 48 games in the regular season, every match counted, making each game a must-watch. The Chicago Blackhawks were one of the most exciting teams to watch, grabbing fans’ attention from the get-go – and holding it throughout the season.

They started the season with a 24-game point streak, breaking NHL records and setting the tone for the rest of the year. Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane were on fire, and goalie Corey Crawford was nearly unbeatable. When they reached the playoffs, they faced some solid competition, but managed to defeat the Boston Bruins in a thrilling six-game series.

This season was memorable for different reasons than many of the others we’re looking at today. With fewer games, the stakes were higher, and the Blackhawks proved that they could rise to the occasion. Their combination of skill, teamwork, and luck made it a season to remember, cementing its place as one of the best NHL hockey season contenders on this list.

1987-1988: Gretzky’s Trade

Now, if you’re talking about moments that shook the NHL to its core, you can’t forget about the 1987-1988 season. This was the year that saw “The Trade.” Yes, we’re talking about Wayne Gretzky getting traded from the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings. This was one of the biggest moves in the league’s history – and it affected the entire league.

Before the trade, Gretzky had led the Oilers to four Stanley Cup titles in just five seasons. So, when news broke that he was getting traded, it’s no surprise that Canadians and Americans alike were shocked. Not only did the trade change the landscape for the Oilers and the Kings, but it also had a significant impact on the NHL’s popularity in the United States, especially in non-traditional hockey markets like California.

While Gretzky continued to be a scoring machine with the Kings, it was the Oilers who got the last laugh that season. They went on to win the Stanley Cup, beating the Boston Bruins, and proving they were more than just a one-man team. That’s not to say that Gretzky didn’t have an immediate impact on the Kings; he led them to their first playoff appearance in five years. But the trade showcased that hockey is a team sport, and even losing a legend like Gretzky can be overcome.

The 1987-1988 season also featured the emergence of young talents like Mario Lemieux and Brett Hull. With the Oilers proving that life could go on without Gretzky and new stars rising, this was another highly memorable season that’s rightly gone down in the history books.

2018-2019: The Year of the Underdog

If you’re a fan of the underdog story, then you’ve got to love the 2018-2019 NHL season. This was the year that the St. Louis Blues went from zero to hero. Starting off the year, they were at the bottom of the rankings. No one seemed willing to even entertain the idea they’d do well – and even them making the playoffs seemed like a long shot.

However, they then went on to pull off one of the greatest mid-season comebacks ever. With rookie goaltender Jordan Binnington stepping up to the plate and players like Ryan O’Reilly and Vladimir Tarasenko finding their natural groove, the Blues began climbing up the rankings – and by the time the playoffs came around, they were unrecognizable from when they began the season.

Then came the Stanley Cup Finals against the Boston Bruins. Game 7. To everyone’s surprise, the Blues delivered a jaw-dropping performance, winning 4-1 and winning their first-ever Stanley Cup. Here’s a table with some key points from the season:

1992-1993: High Scoring and Playoff Shockers

Going back in time to the early ’90s, specifically the 1992-1993 NHL season, NHL fans will remember that this season was all about high-scoring action and unexpected turns in the playoffs. You had guys like Mario Lemieux and Pat LaFontaine playing like there was no tomorrow, and the Pittsburgh Penguins were the favorites, having won the previous two Stanley Cups. They finished the regular season with the league’s best record, and it looked as though they’d manage the hattrick.

But that’s when things began to get surprising; the playoffs were anything but straightforward, and the Penguins got knocked out in the second round by the New York Islanders in a stunning seven-game series. Then you had the Los Angeles Kings, led by none other than Wayne Gretzky, making it all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals. They would ultimately lose to the Montreal Canadiens, but their journey was filled with action, suspense, and excitement.

It was a year where anything seemed possible, making it a memorable season for fans who love the unpredictability and excitement that only hockey can deliver.