1991–92 Minnesota North Stars season

1991–92 Minnesota North Stars
Division4th Norris
Conference9th Campbell
1991–92 record32–42–6
Home record20–16–4
Road record12–26–2
Goals for246
Goals against278
Team information
General managerBob Clarke
CoachBob Gainey
CaptainMark Tinordi
Alternate captainsNeal Broten
Stew Gavin
ArenaMet Center
Team leaders
GoalsUlf Dahlen (36)
AssistsBrian Bellows (45)
PointsMike Modano (77)
Penalty minutesShane Churla (278)
Plus/minusBobby Smith (+24)
WinsJon Casey (19)
Goals against averageDarcy Wakaluk (3.28)

The 1991–92 Minnesota North Stars season was the North Stars' 25th, and penultimate season in the Twin Cities area. A major aspect of the season was that several players were lost to the San Jose Sharks expansion team. To replenish their roster, the North Stars were permitted to select players from the other twenty NHL teams along with the Sharks in an expansion draft.

Minnesota North Stars 25th Anniversary patch, featuring Mike Modano facing off against Bill Goldsworthy.

Despite a diminished roster, the defending Campbell Conference champions still managed to claim the final playoff spot in the Norris Division. The North Stars were eliminated in the first round by the Detroit Red Wings in seven games.

Offseason

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The North Stars officially adopted a new logo for the 1991–92 season, retiring their original N logo. The new logo, featuring the word STARS set across the top of a slanted 5-pointed star, with the A forming the outline of the top point, had been introduced as a secondary mark during the prior season. Along with the new logo came new uniforms, with black as the primary color, with green and metallic gold trim. The team experimented with a Crillee typeface for the players' names during the preseason, but determined the names to be illegible, and replaced them with single-color block letters by the start of the season.

Howard Baldwin and Morris Belzberg came into conflict with fellow owner Norman Green over operation of the North Stars during the prior season, leading to Baldwin selling his stake to Green in August, and Belzberg selling to Green in October. The departing owners would then purchase the Pittsburgh Penguins from Edward J. DeBartolo, Sr. in November.

NHL Draft

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Minnesota's draft picks at the 1991 NHL Entry Draft held at the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium in Buffalo, New York.

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
1 8 Richard Matvichuk  Canada Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
4 74 Mike Torchia  Canada Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
5 97 Mike Kennedy  Canada University of British Columbia (CIS)
6 118 Mark Lawrence  Canada Detroit Junior Red Wings (OHL)
7 137 Geoff Finch  Canada Brown University (ECAC)
8 174 Michael Burkett  Canada Michigan State University (CCHA)
9 184 Derek Herlofsky  United States St. Paul Vulcans (USHL)
10 206 Tom Nemeth  Canada Cornwall Royals (OHL)
11 228 Shayne Green  Canada Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
12 250 Jukka Suomalainen  Finland Grankulla IFK (Finland)
S 14 Dan O'Shea  United States St. Cloud State University (WCHA)

Dispersal Draft results

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The Sharks selected 24 players from the North Stars.

  • The reason for the Dispersal Draft was attributed the fact that a compromise was implemented for the 1990–91 season. The previous owners of the North Stars, the Gund brothers were awarded an expansion team in the Bay Area, that would be called the San Jose Sharks. The Sharks would receive players via a dispersal draft with the North Stars. The 1991–92 Sharks featured 14 former North Stars members.
# Player
1. Shane Churla (RW)
2. Brian Hayward (G)
3. Neil Wilkinson (D)
4. Rob Zettler (D)
5. Ed Courtenay (RW)
6. Kevin Evans (LW)
7. Link Gaetz (D)
8. Dan Keczmer (D)
9. Dean Kolstad (D)
10. Peter Lappin (RW)
11. Pat MacLeod (D)
12. Mike McHugh (LW)
13. Jarmo Myllys (G)
14. J. F. Quintin (LW)
15. Scott Cashman (G)
16. Murray Garbutt (C)
17. Rob Gaudreau (RW)
18. Arturs Irbe (G)
19. Shaun Kane (D)
20. Larry Olimb (D)
21. Tom Pederson (D)
22. Bryan Schoen (G)
23. John Weisbrod (C)
24. Doug Zmolek (D)

Expansion Draft results

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# Player Drafted from Drafted by
2. Rob Ramage (D) Toronto Maple Leafs Minnesota North Stars
4. Dave Babych (D) Hartford Whalers Minnesota North Stars
6. Allen Pedersen (D) Boston Bruins Minnesota North Stars
8. Charlie Huddy (D) Edmonton Oilers Minnesota North Stars
10. Kelly Kisio (F) New York Rangers Minnesota North Stars
12. Randy Gilhen (C) Pittsburgh Penguins Minnesota North Stars
14. Rob Murray (C) Washington Capitals Minnesota North Stars
16. Tyler Larter (F) Winnipeg Jets Minnesota North Stars
18. Jim Thomson (RW) Los Angeles Kings Minnesota North Stars
20. Guy Lafleur (RW) Quebec Nordiques Minnesota North Stars

Regular season

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The North Stars allowed the most short-handed goals during the regular season, with 22. This tied an NHL record set by the 1984–85 Pittsburgh Penguins.[1]

Final standings

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Norris Division[2]
GP W L T GF GA Pts
Detroit Red Wings 80 43 25 12 320 256 98
Chicago Blackhawks 80 36 29 15 257 236 87
St. Louis Blues 80 36 33 11 279 266 83
Minnesota North Stars 80 32 42 6 246 278 70
Toronto Maple Leafs 80 30 43 7 234 294 67
Campbell Conference[3]
R Div GP W L T GF GA Pts
1 Detroit Red Wings NRS 80 43 25 12 320 256 98
2 Vancouver Canucks SMY 80 42 26 12 285 250 96
3 Chicago Blackhawks NRS 80 36 29 15 257 236 87
4 Los Angeles Kings SMY 80 35 31 14 287 296 84
5 St. Louis Blues NRS 80 36 33 11 279 266 83
6 Edmonton Oilers SMY 80 36 34 10 295 297 82
7 Winnipeg Jets SMY 80 33 32 15 251 244 81
8 Calgary Flames SMY 80 31 37 12 296 305 74
9 Minnesota North Stars NRS 80 32 42 6 246 278 70
10 Toronto Maple Leafs NRS 80 30 43 7 234 294 67
11 San Jose Sharks SMY 80 17 58 5 219 359 39

Divisions: NRS – Norris, SMY – Smythe
bold – Qualified for playoffs


Schedule and results

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No. R Date Score Opponent Record
1 W October 5, 1991 4–2 Chicago Blackhawks (1991–92) 1–0–0
2 W October 10, 1991 3–2 Quebec Nordiques (1991–92) 2–0–0
3 W October 12, 1991 3–2 Detroit Red Wings (1991–92) 3–0–0
4 L October 15, 1991 3–6 @ Calgary Flames (1991–92) 3–1–0
5 W October 17, 1991 8–2 @ San Jose Sharks (1991–92) 4–1–0
6 L October 19, 1991 2–5 @ Los Angeles Kings (1991–92) 4–2–0
7 L October 22, 1991 2–4 Calgary Flames (1991–92) 4–3–0
8 L October 24, 1991 2–5 Philadelphia Flyers (1991–92) 4–4–0
9 W October 26, 1991 4–0 Boston Bruins (1991–92) 5–4–0
10 L October 29, 1991 2–3 @ New York Rangers (1991–92) 5–5–0
11 L October 31, 1991 1–8 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1991–92) 5–6–0
12 W November 2, 1991 4–3 Chicago Blackhawks (1991–92) 6–6–0
13 T November 3, 1991 4–4 OT @ Chicago Blackhawks (1991–92) 6–6–1
14 W November 5, 1991 3–2 @ Detroit Red Wings (1991–92) 7–6–1
15 L November 6, 1991 3–4 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1991–92) 7–7–1
16 L November 9, 1991 2–3 Pittsburgh Penguins (1991–92) 7–8–1
17 W November 12, 1991 7–0 Toronto Maple Leafs (1991–92) 8–8–1
18 L November 16, 1991 3–5 @ St. Louis Blues (1991–92) 8–9–1
19 L November 19, 1991 4–7 New York Islanders (1991–92) 8–10–1
20 L November 22, 1991 3–4 @ Detroit Red Wings (1991–92) 8–11–1
21 T November 23, 1991 2–2 OT Detroit Red Wings (1991–92) 8–11–2
22 L November 29, 1991 2–3 Toronto Maple Leafs (1991–92) 8–12–2
23 W November 30, 1991 4–3 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1991–92) 9–12–2
24 T December 3, 1991 3–3 OT St. Louis Blues (1991–92) 9–12–3
25 W December 4, 1991 5–2 St. Louis Blues (1991–92) 10–12–3
26 L December 7, 1991 2–4 Washington Capitals (1991–92) 10–13–3
27 L December 8, 1991 2–7 @ Chicago Blackhawks (1991–92) 10–14–3
28 W December 10, 1991 4–3 New Jersey Devils (1991–92) 11–14–3
29 L December 12, 1991 5–7 @ Vancouver Canucks (1991–92) 11–15–3
30 W December 14, 1991 3–2 @ San Jose Sharks (1991–92) 12–15–3
31 W December 17, 1991 2–1 @ Los Angeles Kings (1991–92) 13–15–3
32 L December 21, 1991 0–3 Philadelphia Flyers (1991–92) 13–16–3
33 W December 26, 1991 3–2 @ Winnipeg Jets (1991–92) 14–16–3
34 W December 28, 1991 5–2 St. Louis Blues (1991–92) 15–16–3
35 W December 31, 1991 6–2 Chicago Blackhawks (1991–92) 16–16–3
36 L January 2, 1992 1–6 @ St. Louis Blues (1991–92) 16–17–3
37 W January 4, 1992 4–3 Vancouver Canucks (1991–92) 17–17–3
38 L January 5, 1992 2–5 @ Chicago Blackhawks (1991–92) 17–18–3
39 W January 7, 1992 5–3 @ Washington Capitals (1991–92) 18–18–3
40 L January 9, 1992 4–9 @ Detroit Red Wings (1991–92) 18–19–3
41 W January 11, 1992 7–4 San Jose Sharks (1991–92) 19–19–3
42 L January 13, 1992 4–7 Edmonton Oilers (1991–92) 19–20–3
43 W January 15, 1992 5–2 Montreal Canadiens (1991–92) 20–20–3
44 T January 22, 1992 3–3 OT Los Angeles Kings (1991–92) 20–20–4
45 L January 25, 1992 0–2 Chicago Blackhawks (1991–92) 20–21–4
46 L January 27, 1992 2–3 @ Boston Bruins (1991–92) 20–22–4
47 W January 28, 1992 4–3 @ Hartford Whalers (1991–92) 21–22–4
48 L January 30, 1992 3–5 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1991–92) 21–23–4
49 L February 1, 1992 1–2 New York Rangers (1991–92) 21–24–4
50 W February 3, 1992 4–2 Toronto Maple Leafs (1991–92) 22–24–4
51 L February 5, 1992 2–3 OT @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1991–92) 22–25–4
52 W February 7, 1992 2–0 @ Buffalo Sabres (1991–92) 23–25–4
53 T February 9, 1992 4–4 OT @ Hartford Whalers (1991–92) 23–25–5
54 L February 11, 1992 4–5 Edmonton Oilers (1991–92) 23–26–5
55 W February 13, 1992 6–1 Winnipeg Jets (1991–92) 24–26–5
56 W February 15, 1992 5–2 Pittsburgh Penguins (1991–92) 25–26–5
57 L February 17, 1992 0–8 @ Montreal Canadiens (1991–92) 25–27–5
58 L February 18, 1992 0–4 @ Quebec Nordiques (1991–92) 25–28–5
59 L February 21, 1992 4–5 @ New York Rangers (1991–92) 25–29–5
60 L February 22, 1992 1–2 @ New York Islanders (1991–92) 25–30–5
61 W February 24, 1992 3–1 @ New Jersey Devils (1991–92) 26–30–5
62 L February 26, 1992 1–4 Montreal Canadiens (1991–92) 26–31–5
63 L February 29, 1992 4–5 OT Hartford Whalers (1991–92) 26–32–5
64 L March 1, 1992 2–6 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1991–92) 26–33–5
65 W March 3, 1992 3–1 @ Washington Capitals (1991–92) 27–33–5
66 W March 5, 1992 4–2 @ Detroit Red Wings (1991–92) 28–33–5
67 W March 8, 1992 4–2 Winnipeg Jets (1991–92) 29–33–5
68 L March 10, 1992 2–5 @ St. Louis Blues (1991–92) 29–34–5
69 L March 11, 1992 0–3 Toronto Maple Leafs (1991–92) 29–35–5
70 W March 14, 1992 4–1 Detroit Red Wings (1991–92) 30–35–5
71 W March 17, 1992 3–1 Buffalo Sabres (1991–92) 31–35–5
72 L March 19, 1992 1–4 @ Chicago Blackhawks (1991–92) 31–36–5
73 L March 21, 1992 2–4 @ Quebec Nordiques (1991–92) 31–37–5
74 L March 24, 1992 2–4 Vancouver Canucks (1991–92) 31–38–5
75 L March 27, 1992 3–5 @ Edmonton Oilers (1991–92) 31–39–5
76 L March 28, 1992 3–4 @ Calgary Flames (1991–92) 31–40–5
77 W March 31, 1992 5–3 Buffalo Sabres (1991–92) 32–40–5
78 T April 12, 1992 1–1 OT St. Louis Blues (1991–92) 32–40–6
79 L April 14, 1992 4–7 Detroit Red Wings (1991–92) 32–41–6
80 L April 16, 1992 3–5 @ St. Louis Blues (1991–92) 32–42–6

Player statistics

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Forwards

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Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes

Player GP G A Pts PIM

Defencemen

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Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes

Player GP G A Pts PIM

Goaltending

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Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average

Player GP W L T SO GAA

Playoffs

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Detroit vs. Minnesota
Date Away Home
April 18 Minnesota 4 3 Detroit
April 20 Minnesota 4 2 Detroit
April 22 Detroit 5 4 Minnesota OT
April 24 Detroit 4 5 Minnesota
April 26 Minnesota 0 3 Detroit
April 28 Detroit 1 0 Minnesota OT
April 30 Minnesota 2 5 Detroit
Detroit wins series 4–3

Awards and records

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References

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  1. ^ "1991-92 NHL Summary".
  2. ^ "1991-1992 Division Standings". National Hockey League. Retrieved March 25, 2012.
  3. ^ "1991-1992 Conference Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". NHL.
[edit]
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