The 1990–91 NHL season was the 74th season of the National Hockey League. The Stanley Cup winners were the Pittsburgh Penguins, who won the best of seven series 4–2 against the Minnesota North Stars. This was the last NHL season to end in the month of May.
At meetings in Florida in December, the NHL Board of Governors awarded provisional franchises to groups from Ottawa and Tampa. The Ottawa franchise marked a return to one of the original cities of the NHL, while Tampa meant the first franchise in the sunbelt state of Florida. In a later book published by NHL president Gil Stein, Stein revealed that the two groups were the only ones of the applicants who agreed to the $50 million expansion fee without question. The Ottawa Senators and Tampa Bay Lightning began play in the 1992–93 season.
Final standings
Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF= Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points
Wales ConferenceDivisions: PTK – Patrick, ADM – Adams
bold – Qualified for playoffs
Campbell ConferenceDivisions: NRS – Norris, SMY – Smythe
bold – Qualified for playoffs; p – Won Presidents' Trophy
The North Stars defeated the Edmonton Oilers to become the first Norris Division team to appear in the Stanley Cup Finals since the 1981 realignment. At the time a record of 92 playoff games were played, and for the first time since the 1973 playoffs, no team was swept in a playoff series, it would not happen again until the playoffs of 2002.
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes, PPG = Powerplay goals, SHG = Shorthanded goals, GWG = Game winning goals
GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average
The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1990–91 (listed with their first team, asterisk(*) marks debut in playoffs):
Robert Reichel, Calgary FlamesDominik Hasek, Chicago BlackhawksKeith Primeau, Detroit Red WingsMike Sillinger, Detroit Red WingsSergei Fedorov, Detroit Red WingsBobby Holik, Hartford WhalersGeoff Sanderson, Hartford WhalersJohn LeClair, Montreal CanadiensPatrice Brisebois, Montreal CanadiensSean Hill*, Montreal CanadiensDoug Weight*, New York RangersTony Amonte*, New York RangersMike Ricci, Philadelphia FlyersJaromir Jagr, Pittsburgh PenguinsMats Sundin, Quebec NordiquesOwen Nolan, Quebec NordiquesPetr Nedved, Vancouver CanucksDmitri Khristich, Washington CapitalsPeter Bondra, Washington CapitalsKris Draper, Winnipeg JetsThe following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1990–91 (listed with their last team):
Gord Kluzak, Boston BruinsTony McKegney, Chicago BlackhawksGlen Hanlon, Detroit Red WingsDon Maloney, New York IslandersLindy Ruff, New York RangersPete Peeters, Philadelphia FlyersGuy Lafleur, Quebec NordiquesHarold Snepsts, St. Louis BluesPaul MacLean, St. Louis BluesRick Meagher, St. Louis BluesStan Smyl, Vancouver CanucksJoel Quenneville, Washington CapitalsTrading Deadline: MARCH 5, 1991March 4, 1991: Ron Francis, Grant Jennings, and Ulf Samuelsson traded from Hartford to Pittsburgh for John Cullen, Jeff Parker, and Zarley Zalapski.March 5, 1991: Allan Bester traded from Toronto to Detroit for Detroit's sixth round pick in 1991 Entry Draft.March 5, 1991: Geoff Courtnall, Robert Dirk, Sergio Momesso, Cliff Ronning, and future considerations traded from St. Louis to Vancouver for Dan Quinn and Garth Butcher.March 5, 1991: Mark Hunter traded from Calgary to Hartford for Carey Wilson.March 5, 1991: Mark Pederson traded from Montreal to Philadelphia for Philadelphia's second round pick in 1991 Entry Draft and future considerations.March 5, 1991: Keith Osborne traded from St. Louis to Toronto for Darren Veitch and future considerations.March 5, 1991: Ken Priestlay traded from Buffalo to Pittsburgh for Tony Tanti.March 5, 1991: Dana Murzyn traded from Calgary to Vancouver for Ron Stern, Kevan Guy and future considerations.March 5, 1991: Kim Issel traded from Edmonton to Pittsburgh for Brad Aitken.March 5, 1991: Steve Weeks traded from Vancouver to Buffalo for future considerations.March 5, 1991: Marc Bureau traded from Calgary to Minnesota for Minnesota's third round choice in 1991 Entry Draft.March 5, 1991: Joey Kocur and Per Djoos traded from Detroit to NY Rangers for Kevin Miller, Jim Cummins, and Dennis Vial.March 5, 1991: Bobby Reynolds traded from Toronto to Washington for Robert Mendel.March 5, 1991: Mike McNeill and Ryan McGill traded from Chicago to Quebec for Paul Gillis and Daniel Vincelette.March 5, 1991: Ilkka Sinisalo traded from Minnesota to Los Angeles for Los Angeles' eighth round choice in 1991 Entry Draft.