Michel Goulet's Arrival

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Lore & Background

Goulet's arrival coincided with a turbulent period for the Nordiques. After being forced to release all but three players in the 1979 dispersal draft, the team struggled immensely in their first NHL campaign. Yet, Goulet stood out immediately as a bright spot. Led by Stastny's Calder Trophy-winning season, the team defeated both the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins in winner-take-all games during their Cinderella run to the conference finals. Goulet was central to these victories, embodying the resilience of a franchise that refused to quit despite early setbacks.

In Their Own Story

The narrative of Goulet's tenure is defined by highs and lows within the Adams Division rivalry. In the 1983–84 playoffs, tensions with the Canadiens erupted during the infamous Good Friday Massacre at Montreal Forum. Although the Nordiques were eliminated in a dramatic third-period collapse following brawls that ejected Peter Stastny and Dale Hunter, Goulet remained a key offensive threat throughout the series. The following season saw the team reach its deepest NHL playoff run ever, defeating the Canadiens in seven games to advance before falling to the Philadelphia Flyers. However, by 1988–89, decline set in with a league-worst record of 27–46–7. In March 1990, facing continued struggles and an abysmal 12–61–7 record the prior year, the Nordiques traded Goulet to the Chicago Blackhawks, ending his era as one of the franchise's most important players.

Reader's Guide

1979–1980: Goulet joins the Nordiques as a rookie left winger, providing hope in a season that ended with the second-worst record in the league. 1987–1990: The team battles through intense rivalries but begins to decline. Goulet plays through the bad Friday Massacre series and a division championship loss, eventually finishing last in the division for five straight years starting in 1987. March 1990: The franchise trades Goulet to the Chicago Blackhawks as part of a roster overhaul amidst struggles, marking the end of his significant tenure with the team.

Did You Know?

• Michel Goulet was a promising rookie left winger during the Nordiques' inaugural NHL season in 1979–80, which resulted in the second-worst record in the league.
• In March 1990, the struggling Nordiques traded Goulet to the Chicago Blackhawks amidst a five-year streak of finishing last in their division.