| abstract | - The Edmonton Oilers are a franchise in the National Hockey League (NHL), based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They originated as one of the twelve founding franchises of the World Hockey Association (WHA) in 1972, remaining with the league until it ceased operation after the 1978–79 season. The Oilers were one of four remaining WHA franchises to be admitted to the NHL as expansion teams for the 1979–80 season. The Oilers have won the Stanley Cup five times, with 48 different players winning the Cup as an Oiler. Seven players (Glenn Anderson, Grant Fuhr, Randy Gregg, Charlie Huddy, Jari Kurri, Kevin Lowe and Mark Messier) were members of all five Cup-winning teams. Six players from the NHL years have gone on to be elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame, most recently Glenn Anderson in November 2008. Another three ex-Oilers who only played for the WHA franchise are also in the Hall of Fame. The Oilers have retired the numbers of seven players. As of the completed 2008–09 season, 408 different players have worn the Oilers jersey in the NHL. Sixteen of those players also played at least one game for the WHA Oilers.
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