1982-83: Isles Stop Gretzky For 4th Straight Stanley Cup

The Three Stars:

Isles Win 4th Consecutive Stanley Cup: The New York Islanders almost make it look easy. They sweep the upstart Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup final, holding scoring champion Wayne Gretzky goalless. The Islanders join the Montreal Canadiens as the only teams to win 4 consecutive Stanley Cups, and the possibility of matching Montreal's record of 5 straight becomes a hot topic.

Devils Pay The Price - John McMullen buys the Colorado Rockies and moves them to New Jersey to become the Devils. On top of the purchase price McMullen has to pay upwards of $30 million to the Rangers, Islanders and Flyers for territorial indemnity fees.

Brain Hemorrhage Ends Normand Leveille's Career - In a tragic end to a brief career, Boston's Normand Leveille, just 19, collapses during the first intermission in Vancouver. He's rushed hospital where it is discovered he has suffered a brain hemorrhage. The 1981 first round draft pick is left partially paralyzed and his career is over after just 75 games.

Season Highlights:

• The St. Louis Blues are in ownership trouble. The NHL has to take over control of the team after team owners Ralston Purina opted out of the NHL draft. There was also serious talk about selling the team to interested parties in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
• Wayne Gretzky sets a new NHL record with 125 assists. He adds a league leading 71 goals and wins the Art Ross Trophy with 196 points! He also wins the Hart Trophy and Pearson Trophy.
• Not only did Wayne Gretzky set a new record with 125 points, but he joined Bill Cowley as the only players to have more assists than anyone else in the league had total points.
• Down the road in Calgary the mustachioed Lanny McDonald tries to keep pace with Gretzky by scoring 66 goals. Kent Nilsson amasses 104 points, also.
• The three Stastny brothers combine for 295 points in Quebec.
• Pete Peeters has an outstanding season in Boston, leading the league with 40 wins a 2.36 GAA, good enough for the Vezina Trophy. He was runner-up for the Hart Trophy
• How good was Rod Langway? The defensive defenseman only scored 3 goals but is awarded the Norris trophy as the league's top defenseman.
• Despite no goals in the Stanley Cup final, Wayne Gretzky does set a new NHL playoff scoring record with 38 points.