1992–93 Quebec Nordiques season

1992–93 Quebec Nordiques
Division	2nd Adams
Conference	3rd Wales
1992–93 record	47–27–10
Home record	23–17–2
Road record	24–10–8
Goals for	351
Goals against	300
Team information
General manager	Pierre Page
Coach	Pierre Page
Captain	Joe Sakic
Alternate captains	Mike Hough Mike Ricci
Arena	Colisée de Québec
Average attendance	14,981
Team leaders
Goals	Joe Sakic (48)
Assists	Mats Sundin (67)
Points	Mats Sundin (114)
Penalty minutes	Owen Nolan (185)
Plus/minus	Curtis Leschyshyn (+25)
Wins	Ron Hextall (29)
Goals against average	Stephane Fiset (3.40)

The 1992–93 Quebec Nordiques season was the Nordiques' 23nd season of operation and its 16th in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Nordiques qualified for the playoffs for the first time since the 1986–87 season. Quebec achieved the largest turnaround in NHL history, recording a 52-point improvement from the previous season. Joe Sakic became captain (after a stint as co-captain in 1990–91). Four Nordiques (Owen Nolan, Joe Sakic, Mats Sundin, and Scott Young) reached the 30-goal plateau. Nordiques goaltenders did not record a shutout during the regular season and playoffs. The Nordiques were not shut out in any game during the 84-game regular season and their six-game playoff series. In addition, the Nordiques led all teams in shorthanded goals scored during the regular season (21). The Nordiques also had the best shooting percentage in the league during the regular season, scoring 351 goals on just 2,519 shots (13.9%).

Offseason

The Eric Lindros trade

Main article: Eric Lindros trade

Eric Lindros was selected first overall by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1991 NHL entry draft. Lindros had signaled in advance that he would never play for the Nordiques, citing distance, lack of marketing potential, and having to speak French. He went as far as to refuse to wear the team's jersey on draft day; the team selected him anyway.

The president of the Nordiques publicly announced that they would make Lindros the centerpiece of their franchise turnaround, and refused to trade Lindros, saying that he would not have a career in the NHL as long as he held out. Due to Lindros' popularity and hype, it is alleged that the NHL president intervened to get the Nordiques to trade him, as it would otherwise damage the image of the league. During the hold out, Lindros spent the time playing with the Oshawa Generals and also participated in the 1992 Winter Olympics, winning a silver medal.

In 1992, the Nordiques worked out trades for him with both the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers. Eventually an arbitrator, Larry Bertuzzi (grand-uncle of Todd Bertuzzi), ruled in favour of the Flyers, for whom he played from 1992 to 2000, most of the time as the team's captain. The trade between the Nordiques and the Rangers that was ruled invalid by the arbitrator had Lindros being traded for Doug Weight, Tony Amonte, Alexei Kovalev, John Vanbiesbrouck and three first round draft picks (1993, 1994 and 1995) and $12 million.

Regular season

Final standings

Adams Division

	GP	W	L	T	Pts	GF	GA
Boston Bruins	84	51	26	7	109	332	268
Quebec Nordiques	84	47	27	10	104	351	300
Montreal Canadiens	84	48	30	6	102	326	280
Buffalo Sabres	84	38	36	10	86	335	297
Hartford Whalers	84	26	52	6	58	284	369
Ottawa Senators	84	10	70	4	24	202	395

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.

Wales Conference

R		Div	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
1	p – Pittsburgh Penguins	PTK	84	56	21	7	367	268	119
2	Boston Bruins	ADM	84	51	26	7	332	268	109
3	Quebec Nordiques	ADM	84	47	27	10	351	300	104
4	Montreal Canadiens	ADM	84	48	30	6	326	280	102
5	Washington Capitals	PTK	84	43	34	7	325	286	93
6	New York Islanders	PTK	84	40	37	7	335	297	87
7	New Jersey Devils	PTK	84	40	37	7	308	299	87
8	Buffalo Sabres	ADM	84	38	36	10	335	297	86
9	Philadelphia Flyers	PTK	84	36	37	11	319	319	83
10	New York Rangers	PTK	84	34	39	11	304	308	79
11	Hartford Whalers	ADM	84	26	52	6	284	369	58
12	Ottawa Senators	ADM	84	10	70	4	202	395	24

p – Won Presidents' Trophy (and division)
Divisions: PTK – Patrick, ADM – Adams
bold – Qualified for playoffs

Playoffs

Montreal head coach Jacques Demers held himself to a promise he made to goaltender Patrick Roy earlier in the season and kept him as the starting goaltender despite a couple of weak goals allowed in the first two games of the series against the Nordiques. With the Canadiens staring a potential 3–0 series deficit to the rival Nords in the face, overtime in Game 3 was marked by two disputed goals that were reviewed by the video goal judge. The first review ruled that Stephan Lebeau had knocked the puck in with a high stick, but the second upheld the Habs' winning goal, as it was directed in by the skate of Quebec defenceman Alexei Gusarov, and not that of a Montreal player.

Schedule and results

Regular season

1992–93 regular season
October: 7–3–1 (home: 4–1–0; road: 3–2–1) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Attendance Recap 1 W October 8, 1992 5–4 @ Buffalo Sabres (1992–93) 1–0–0 15,176 Recap 2 W October 10, 1992 9–2 Ottawa Senators (1992–93) 2–0–0 15,399 Recap 3 W October 13, 1992 6–3 Philadelphia Flyers (1992–93) 3–0–0 15,399 Recap 4 W October 15, 1992 4–2 @ Detroit Red Wings (1992–93) 4–0–0 19,683 Recap 5 L October 17, 1992 5–6 St. Louis Blues (1992–93) 4–1–0 15,086 Recap 6 T October 21, 1992 5–5 OT @ St. Louis Blues (1992–93) 4–1–1 14,862 Recap 7 L October 22, 1992 2–5 @ Minnesota North Stars (1992–93) 4–2–1 12,171 Recap 8 L October 24, 1992 2–3 @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1992–93) 4–3–1 9,528 Recap 9 W October 27, 1992 4–3 Tampa Bay Lightning (1992–93) 5–3–1 14,685 Recap 10 W October 29, 1992 6–3 @ New York Rangers (1992–93) 6–3–1 16,441 Recap 11 W October 31, 1992 3–2 Winnipeg Jets (1992–93) 7–3–1 15,041 Recap
November: 6–5–4 (home: 4–4–1; road: 2–1–3) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Attendance Recap 12 T November 3, 1992 3–3 OT @ Hartford Whalers (1992–93) 7–3–2 7,723 Recap 13 L November 5, 1992 4–6 @ Boston Bruins (1992–93) 7–4–2 13,898 Recap 14 L November 7, 1992 4–7 Chicago Blackhawks (1992–93) 7–5–2 14,561 Recap 15 T November 8, 1992 5–5 OT Calgary Flames (1992–93) 7–5–3 14,844 Recap 16 W November 11, 1992 7–3 @ Ottawa Senators (1992–93) 8–5–3 10,500 Recap 17 T November 12, 1992 4–4 OT @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1992–93) 8–5–4 16,164 Recap 18 W November 14, 1992 6–3 New York Rangers (1992–93) 9–5–4 14,592 Recap 19 W November 17, 1992 3–1 Toronto Maple Leafs (1992–93) 10–5–4 17,026 Recap 20 W November 19, 1992 4–3 Montreal Canadiens (1992–93) 11–5–4 15,399 Recap 21 W November 21, 1992 8–2 Hartford Whalers (1992–93) 12–5–4 14,445 Recap 22 L November 22, 1992 4–6 Washington Capitals (1992–93) 12–6–4 14,679 Recap 23 T November 25, 1992 1–1 OT @ Buffalo Sabres (1992–93) 12–6–5 14,832 Recap 24 W November 26, 1992 5–4 OT @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1992–93) 13–6–5 15,505 Recap 25 L November 28, 1992 3–6 New Jersey Devils (1992–93) 13–7–5 14,734 Recap 26 L November 30, 1992 3–4 Boston Bruins (1992–93) 13–8–5 14,328 Recap
December: 9–4–1 (home: 4–2–0; road: 5–2–1) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Attendance Recap 27 L December 3, 1992 2–3 OT @ Philadelphia Flyers (1992–93) 13–9–5 17,277 Recap 28 L December 5, 1992 4–7 Minnesota North Stars (1992–93) 13–10–5 14,431 Recap 29 W December 7, 1992 4–3 Buffalo Sabres (1992–93) 14–10–5 14,010 Recap 30 W December 10, 1992 5–4 @ Los Angeles Kings (1992–93) 15–10–5 15,221 Recap 31 W December 12, 1992 8–7 OT @ San Jose Sharks (1992–93) 16–10–5 11,089 Recap 32 T December 13, 1992 3–3 OT @ Vancouver Canucks (1992–93) 16–10–6 16,150 Recap 33 W December 16, 1992 5–1 @ Montreal Canadiens (1992–93) 17–10–6 17,582 Recap 34 L December 17, 1992 3–8 Montreal Canadiens (1992–93) 17–11–6 15,399 Recap 35 W December 20, 1992 5–3 New York Islanders (1992–93) 18–11–6 14,195 Recap 36 L December 21, 1992 4–7 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1992–93) 18–12–6 16,164 Recap 37 W December 26, 1992 4–2 Ottawa Senators (1992–93) 19–12–6 15,337 Recap 38 W December 27, 1992 6–1 @ Ottawa Senators (1992–93) 20–12–6 10,500 Recap 39 W December 29, 1992 4–1 New Jersey Devils (1992–93) 21–12–6 15,399 Recap 40 W December 31, 1992 6–2 @ Hartford Whalers (1992–93) 22–12–6 9,403 Recap
January: 6–4–2 (home: 2–2–1; road: 4–2–1) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Attendance Recap 41 L January 2, 1993 2–6 Detroit Red Wings (1992–93) 22–13–6 15,399 Recap 42 W January 5, 1993 2–1 @ New York Islanders (1992–93) 23–13–6 9,168 Recap 43 W January 7, 1993 3–2 OT @ Boston Bruins (1992–93) 24–13–6 14,128 Recap 44 L January 9, 1993 2–4 @ Hartford Whalers (1992–93) 24–14–6 11,265 Recap 45 L January 14, 1993 3–5 Montreal Canadiens (1992–93) 24–15–6 15,399 Recap 46 W January 16, 1993 4–1 San Jose Sharks (1992–93) 25–15–6 15,147 Recap 47 W January 19, 1993 5–2 @ Ottawa Senators (1992–93) 26–15–6 10,500 Recap 48 L January 22, 1993 2–6 @ Buffalo Sabres (1992–93) 26–16–6 16,325 Recap 49 W January 23, 1993 4–3 Buffalo Sabres (1992–93) 27–16–6 15,399 Recap 50 T January 26, 1993 4–4 OT Boston Bruins (1992–93) 27–16–7 15,082 Recap 51 W January 28, 1993 6–3 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1992–93) 28–16–7 17,297 Recap 52 T January 29, 1993 3–3 OT @ Washington Capitals (1992–93) 28–16–8 17,818 Recap
February: 7–4–1 (home: 4–3–0; road: 3–1–1) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Attendance Recap 53 W February 2, 1993 3–2 Los Angeles Kings (1992–93) 29–16–8 14,843 Recap 54 L February 3, 1993 1–4 Boston Bruins (1992–93) 29–17–8 14,287 Recap 55 L February 9, 1993 1–5 Vancouver Canucks (1992–93) 29–18–8 14,360 Recap 56 T February 12, 1993 4–4 OT @ Calgary Flames (1992–93) 29–18–9 20,214 Recap 57 W February 14, 1993 3–2 OT @ Edmonton Oilers (1992–93) 30–18–9 17,503 Recap 58 W February 17, 1993 6–4 Ottawa Senators (1992–93) 31–18–9 14,385 Recap 59 W February 20, 1993 5–2 @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1992–93) 32–18–9 9,584 Recap 60 W February 21, 1993 6–3 @ New Jersey Devils (1992–93) 33–18–9 5,246 Recap 61 W February 23, 1993 6–3 Edmonton Oilers (1992–93) 34–18–9 14,012 Recap 62 W February 25, 1993 6–4 New York Islanders (1992–93) 35–18–9 14,486 Recap 63 L February 27, 1993 3–5 Hartford Whalers (1992–93) 35–19–9 15,398 Recap 64 L February 28, 1993 4–6 @ Ottawa Senators (1992–93) 35–20–9 10,500 Recap
March: 8–4–1 (home: 3–3–0; road: 5–1–1) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Attendance Recap 65 W March 2, 1993 7–4 @ Winnipeg Jets (1992–93) 36–20–9 14,397 Recap 66 T March 4, 1993 3–3 OT @ Chicago Blackhawks (1992–93) 36–20–10 17,490 Recap 67 W March 6, 1993 10–2 New York Rangers (1992–93) 37–20–10 15,399 Recap 68 L March 8, 1993 2–4 Hartford Whalers (1992–93) 37–21–10 15,030 Recap 69 L March 10, 1993 4–7 Buffalo Sabres (1992–93) 37–22–10 15,021 Recap 70 W March 13, 1993 5–2 @ Montreal Canadiens (1992–93) 38–22–10 17,954 Recap 71 W March 15, 1993 4–2 Toronto Maple Leafs (1992–93) 39–22–10 15,399 Recap 72 L March 18, 1993 2–5 Montreal Canadiens (1992–93) 39–23–10 15,399 Recap 73 W March 20, 1993 5–1 @ New Jersey Devils (1992–93) 40–23–10 18,524 Recap 74 L March 23, 1993 1–5 @ Washington Capitals (1992–93) 40–24–10 12,861 Recap 75 W March 27, 1993 8–3 Philadelphia Flyers (1992–93) 41–24–10 15,399 Recap 76 W March 28, 1993 3–2 @ New York Rangers (1992–93) 42–24–10 18,200 Recap 77 W March 31, 1993 6–2 @ Montreal Canadiens (1992–93) 43–24–10 17,959 Recap
April: 4–3–0 (home: 2–2–0; road: 2–1–0) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Attendance Recap 78 W April 1, 1993 4–2 @ Ottawa Senators (1992–93) 44–24–10 10,500 Recap 79 L April 3, 1993 3–5 Pittsburgh Penguins (1992–93) 44–25–10 15,399 Recap 80 L April 6, 1993 1–7 Boston Bruins (1992–93) 44–26–10 15,399 Recap 81 L April 8, 1993 2–6 @ Boston Bruins (1992–93) 44–27–10 14,448 Recap 82 W April 10, 1993 6–3 Hartford Whalers (1992–93) 45–27–10 15,399 Recap 83 W April 11, 1993 3–1 @ Buffalo Sabres (1992–93) 46–27–10 14,003 Recap 84 W April 13, 1993 6–2 Ottawa Senators (1992–93) 47–27–10 15,399 Recap
Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)

Playoffs

1993 Stanley Cup playoffs
Adams Division Semifinals vs. (A3) Montreal Canadiens – Canadiens win 4–2 Game Result Date Score Opponent Series Attendance Recap 1 W April 18, 1993 3–2 Montreal Canadiens Nordiques lead 1–0 15,399 Recap 2 W April 20, 1993 4–1 Montreal Canadiens Nordiques lead 2–0 15,399 Recap 3 L April 22, 1993 1–2 @ Montreal Canadiens Nordiques lead 2–1 17,679 Recap 4 L April 24, 1993 2–3 @ Montreal Canadiens Series tied 2–2 17,955 Recap 5 L April 26, 1993 4–5 Montreal Canadiens Canadiens lead 3–2 15,399 Recap 6 L April 28, 1993 2–6 @ Montreal Canadiens Canadiens win 4–2 17,959 Recap
Legend:   Win   Loss

Player statistics

Regular season
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG Mats Sundin C 80 47 67 114 96 21 13 4 9 Joe Sakic C 78 48 57 105 40 −3 20 2 4 Steve Duchesne D 82 20 62 82 57 15 8 0 2 Mike Ricci C 77 27 51 78 123 8 12 1 10 Owen Nolan RW 73 36 41 77 185 −1 15 0 4 Andrei Kovalenko RW 81 27 41 68 57 13 8 1 4 Scott Young RW 82 30 30 60 20 5 9 6 5 Martin Rucinsky LW 77 18 30 48 51 16 4 0 1 Valeri Kamensky LW 32 15 22 37 14 13 2 3 0 Claude Lapointe LW/C 74 10 26 36 98 5 0 0 1 Curtis Leschyshyn D 82 9 23 32 61 25 4 0 2 Alexei Gusarov D 79 8 22 30 57 18 0 2 1 Mike Hough LW 77 8 22 30 69 −11 2 1 2 Gino Cavallini LW 67 9 15 24 34 10 0 0 0 Kerry Huffman D 52 4 18 22 54 0 3 0 0 Adam Foote D 81 4 12 16 168 6 0 1 0 Scott Pearson LW 41 13 1 14 95 3 0 0 1 Steven Finn D 80 5 9 14 160 −3 0 0 0 Bill Lindsay RW 44 4 9 13 16 0 0 0 0 Tim Hunter RW 48 5 3 8 94 −4 0 0 0 Mikhail Tatarinov D 28 2 6 8 28 6 1 0 0 Craig Wolanin D 24 1 4 5 49 9 0 0 0 Chris Simon LW 16 1 1 2 67 −2 0 0 1 Stephane Fiset G 37 0 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 Ron Hextall G 54 0 2 2 56 0 0 0 0 Tony Twist LW 34 0 2 2 64 0 0 0 0 Niklas Andersson LW 3 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 Len Esau D 4 0 1 1 2 1 0 0 0 Dave Karpa D 12 0 1 1 13 −6 0 0 0 Jacques Cloutier G 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L T GA GAA SO SA SV SV% Ron Hextall 2988 54 29 16 5 172 3.45 0 1529 1357 .888 Stephane Fiset 1939 37 18 9 4 110 3.40 0 945 835 .884 Jacques Cloutier 154 3 0 2 1 10 3.90 0 65 55 .846 Team: 5081 84 47 27 10 292 3.45 0 2539 2247 .885

Playoffs
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG Joe Sakic C 6 3 3 6 2 −3 1 0 0 Claude Lapointe LW/C 6 2 4 6 8 4 0 0 0 Mike Ricci C 6 0 6 6 8 5 0 0 0 Scott Young RW 6 4 1 5 0 5 0 0 2 Steve Duchesne D 6 0 5 5 6 0 0 0 0 Mats Sundin C 6 3 1 4 6 −4 1 0 0 Curtis Leschyshyn D 6 1 1 2 6 3 1 0 0 Martin Rucinsky LW 6 1 1 2 4 −3 1 0 0 Andrei Kovalenko RW 4 1 0 1 2 −5 0 0 0 Owen Nolan RW 5 1 0 1 2 −2 0 0 0 Steven Finn D 6 0 1 1 8 −3 0 0 0 Adam Foote D 6 0 1 1 2 −3 0 0 0 Alexei Gusarov D 5 0 1 1 0 −3 0 0 0 Mike Hough LW 6 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 Valeri Kamensky LW 6 0 1 1 6 −1 0 0 0 Gino Cavallini LW 4 0 0 0 0 −1 0 0 0 Stephane Fiset G 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Ron Hextall G 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Kerry Huffman D 3 0 0 0 0 −2 0 0 0 Dave Karpa D 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Scott Pearson LW 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Chris Simon LW 5 0 0 0 26 −2 0 0 0 Craig Wolanin D 4 0 0 0 4 1 0 0 0
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L GA GAA SO SA SV SV% Ron Hextall 372 6 2 4 18 2.90 0 211 193 .915 Stephane Fiset 21 1 0 0 1 2.86 0 12 11 .917 Team: 393 6 2 4 19 2.90 0 223 204 .915

Note:

Pos = Position; GPI = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals

Min, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

Transactions

The Nordiques were involved in the following transactions during the 1992–93 season.

Trades

June 30, 1992	To Philadelphia Flyers Rights to Eric Lindros	To Quebec Nordiques Steve Duchesne Ron Hextall Kerry Huffman Mike Ricci Chris Simon Rights to Peter Forsberg 1st round pick in 1993 (Jocelyn Thibault) 1st round pick in 1994 (Nolan Baumgartner) $15 million
July 21, 1992	To Toronto Maple Leafs Ken McRae	To Quebec Nordiques Len Esau
August 24, 1992	To Winnipeg Jets Dan Lambert	To Quebec Nordiques Shawn Cronin
September 9, 1992	To Detroit Red Wings Dennis Vial	To Quebec Nordiques Cash
October 27, 1992	To Calgary Flames Future considerations	To Quebec Nordiques Bryan Deasley
February 12, 1993	To Tampa Bay Lightning Herb Raglan	To Quebec Nordiques Michel Mongeau Martin Simard Steve Tuttle
June 15, 1993	To Washington Capitals Ken Kaminski	To Quebec Nordiques Mark Matier
June 20, 1993	To New York Islanders Ron Hextall 1st round pick in 1993 (Todd Bertuzzi)	To Quebec Nordiques Mark Fitzpatrick 1st round pick in 1993 (Adam Deadmarsh)
June 20, 1993	To Edmonton Oilers Scott Pearson	To Quebec Nordiques Martin Gelinas 6th round pick in 1993 (Nick Checco)
June 20, 1993	To Washington Capitals Mike Hough	To Quebec Nordiques Reggie Savage Paul MacDermid

Waivers

October 4, 1992

To Philadelphia Flyers Shawn Cronin

Expansion Draft

June 24, 1993	To Florida Panthers Mark Fitzpatrick
June 24, 1993	To Florida Panthers Bill Lindsay

Free agents

Player New Team Dave Marcinyshyn New York Rangers Jamie Baker Ottawa Senators

Draft picks

Quebec's draft picks at the 1992 NHL entry draft in Montreal, Quebec.

Round	#	Player	Nationality	College/junior/club team
1	4	Todd Warriner	Canada	Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
2	28	Paul Brousseau	Canada	Hull Olympiques (QMJHL)
2	29	Tuomas Gronman	Finland	Tacoma Rockets (WHL)
3	52	Manny Fernandez	Canada	Laval Titan (QMJHL)
4	76	Ian McIntyre	Canada	Beauport Harfangs (QMJHL)
5	100	Charlie Wasley	United States	St. Paul Vulcans (NAHL)
6	124	Paxton Schulte	Canada	Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
7	148	Martin Lepage	Canada	Hull Olympiques (QMJHL)
8	172	Mike Jickling	Canada	Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
9	196	Steve Passmore	Canada	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (ECAC)
10	220	Anson Carter	Canada	Wexford Raiders (MetJHL)
11	244	Aaron Ellis	United States	Culver Military Academy (USHS-IN)
S	4	Richard Shulmistra	Canada	Miami University (CCHA)

External links

• Nordiques on Hockey Database