1989–90 Winnipeg Jets season

Offseason

After a very disappointing 1988-89 season, in which the Jets failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 1980-81, with a 26-42-12 record, earning 64 points. During the previous season, the Jets replaced general manager John Ferguson with Mike Smith, while head coach Dan Maloney was replaced with Rick Bowness on an interim basis. On May 25, 1989, the Jets named Bob Murdoch as their new head coach. Murdoch had previous head coaching experience in the NHL, as he was the Chicago Blackhawks head coach for the 1987-88 season, going 30-41-9.

At the 1989 NHL Entry Draft held on June 17, 1989, the Jets held the fourth overall selection, and drafted Stu Barnes from the Tri-City Americans of the WHL. Barnes had 59 goals and 141 points with the Americans during the 1988-89 season. Other notable players the Jets selected were Kris Draper in the third round, and Dan Bylsma in the sixth round.

The Jets were also busy with trades at the 1989 NHL Entry Draft, as they acquired Randy Cunneyworth, Rick Tabaracci and Dave McLlwain from the Pittsburgh Penguins for Randy Gilhen, Andrew McBain and Jim Kyte. Cunneyworth, was coming off a 25-goal, 44 point season in 70 games in 1988-89, while McLlwain had a goal and three points in 24 games with the Penguins. Tabaracci posted a 24-20-5 record with a 4.24 GAA with the Cornwall Royals of the OHL.

The Jets also acquired Greg Paslawski and the St. Louis Blues third round pick in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft from the Blues for the Jets third round pick in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft and second round pick in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft, and Winnipeg traded away their third round pick in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft to the New Jersey Devils for the Devils third round pick in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft.

On July 22, 1989, the Jets acquired Shawn Cronin from the Philadelphia Flyers for future considerations. Cronin had three goals and 12 points with the Baltimore Skipjacks of the AHL during the 1988-89 season. On September 28, 1989, Winnipeg acquired Keith Acton and Pete Peeters from the Philadelphia Flyers for future considerations, however, both Acton and Peeters were returned to Philadelphia on October 3, 1989, for the Flyers fifth round draft pick in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft.

Also, on September 28, 1989, the Jets traded goaltender Pokey Reddick to the Edmonton Oilers for future considerations, and on October 2, 1989, Winnipeg selected Moe Mantha from the Philadelphia Flyers in the NHL Waiver Draft. Mantha, who played with the Jets from 1980–84, split the 1988-89 season between the Minnesota North Stars and Philadelphia Flyers, scoring four goals and 18 points in 46 games.

Final standings

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Divisions: NRS – Norris, SMY – Smythe

bold – Qualified for playoffs

Playoffs

The Jets lost the Division Semi-Finals (4-3) to the Edmonton Oilers.

Regular season

Playoffs

Note:

Free agents

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Draft picks

Winnipeg selected the following players at the 1989 NHL Entry Draft, which was held at the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota, on June 17, 1989.