Jari Kurri

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Kurri began his pro career with Jokerit in the Finnish SM-liiga. After an eleven-point rookie season for Jokerit in 1977–78, Kurri scored 30 and 39 points the next two years, playing all 33 games in each season.^{[citation needed]}

In March 1979, Kurri played for the Finnish national team in Edmonton, versus the World Hockey Association-leading Edmonton Oilers.^[2] As related by Kurri, he was not initially aiming to play in the NHL, noting that the dream for someone growing up in Finland was playing for the national team. He noted in a 2022 interview:

When we won the European junior championship, we heard there were scouts watching us play. That’s the first time I’d ever heard that people were following us. Matti Vaisanen explained to me (before the draft), that this might be happening. Don Baizley was my agent, based in Winnipeg, and he told me the [Winnipeg] Jets were interested, too, and might even draft me in the early rounds. But somehow there was a rumor over here (North America) that I’d signed a contract with the national federation to play at home until 1982, that I had a contract with the Finnish federation for two more years. I didn’t. It was not true. Matti Vaisanen knew that; maybe Winnipeg didn’t.

After his third professional season, Kurri was eligible for the 1980 NHL entry draft, although most teams believed that he still had to fulfill his mandatory military service. The Edmonton Oilers, who had joined the NHL after the WHA merged following the 1978–79 season, waited until the fourth round before selecting Kurri with the 69th overall pick. Kurri remains regarded as one of the greatest "steals" in the history of the NHL draft.^[2]

When Kurri joined the Oilers, he was accompanied by fellow Finnish players Risto Siltanen and Matti Hagman, which made him feel more comfortable in playing in the league beyond terming it as a "one-year experiment". Oilers coach Glen Sather paired Kurri and Hagman early in the year before eventually putting Kurri with Wayne Gretzky on the same line. Kurri and Gretzky became one of the most prolific scoring duos ever to play in the NHL. Despite not always playing on the same line, Gretzky assisted on 364 of Kurri's 601 career goals, while Kurri had an assist on 196 Gretzky goals.^[3]

Kurri played in 75 games in his rookie season. He recorded his first assist in his first NHL game on 10 October against the Quebec Nordiques, recording an assist. Eight days later against the New York Islanders, Kurri recorded his first-ever goal off Ron Low in the 5-5 tie.^[4] On 26 November, he had his first hat trick, doing so against the Chicago Black Hawks (with Tony Esposito as goaltender in Edmonton.^[5] Kurri went through a dry spell of seventeen games without a goal but credited Gretzky as encouraging him to not worry. In total, Kurri recorded 32 goals and 43 assists for a 75-point season.^[6] The Oilers reached the Stanley Cup playoffs in every season that Kurri played with them. In his first playoff game on 8 April, he scored two goals and recorded an assist in the 6-3 victory over the Montreal Canadiens; in total, he had 12 points in nine games. In his sophomore season with the Oilers, he scored 32 goals and recorded his first 50-assist season with 54.

Kurri logged in his first 50-goal season in the 1983–84 season. He scored five goals in the 19 November game against the New Jersey Devils (with Glenn Resch and later Ron Low as goaltender) at home in Edmonton.^[7] He scored 52 goals and recorded 61 assists for 113 points in 64 total games. He finished 3rd in the Selke and Byng Trophy voting.^[8]

Kurri won five Stanley Cups, all with Edmonton (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988 and 1990). In 1984–85 he had 135 points and scored 50 goals in his first 50 games; however, his 50th game was the Oilers' 53rd game so it does not count as an official 50 goals in 50 games. A year later, he led the league in goals with 68. In 1984–85 Kurri set a record for goals by a right winger when he scored 71, which was broken by Brett Hull when he scored 72 goals in 1989–90 (Hull's 86 goals in 1990–91 is the current record). Kurri also scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal in game seven against the Philadelphia Flyers in 1987.^{[citation needed]}

In the 1985 Stanley Cup playoffs, Kurri excelled on a historical level. Kurri had a goal in three of the first six playoff games before starting his run of goals with Game 4 of the second-round matchup against Winnipeg, where he recorded a hat trick in the 8-3 victory to send the Oilers to the third round. Playing Chicago, Kurri logged two goals in Game 1 before logging a hat trick in Game 2 as the Oilers won each time. He was held scoreless in the subsequent losses in Game 3 and 4 before exploding in Game 5 for three goals in a 10-5 victory before sending the Oilers to the Stanley Cup Final with a four-goal night in the 8-2 victory of Game 6.^[9] He set two records with the hat trick: he set a record for most hat tricks in a single postseason (4) and he set a record for most hat tricks in a single postseason series (3).^[10] In the buildup to the Stanley Cup Final against the Philadelphia Flyers, Kurri was labeled as one "may be the most underrated player in hockey." He was held in check for the first two game before recording an assist to start Game 3 and recording two assists in Game 4. In the decisive Game 5, he scored the opening goal before recording three assists in the eventual 8-3 victory. Kurri tied the record for most goals in a postseason that had been set by Reggie Leach in the 1976 Stanley Cup playoffs (Leach played in sixteen games whereas Kurri played in eighteen). All three records still stand as of 2026.^[11][12]

His longest streak of goals in a game was 10, doing so from January 29, 1989 to February 19.^[13]

During his career in Edmonton, he was nicknamed the "Finnish Flash" (a title since bestowed on Teemu Selänne). Kurri was "by far our most complete player", according to Oilers' director of personnel Barry Fraser. Although Kurri never won the Selke Trophy, he was regarded as one of the best defensive forwards in the NHL. Alongside Kurri, Esa Tikkanen and Gretzky, Edmonton had future hall-of-famers Paul Coffey, Grant Fuhr, Glenn Anderson, Kevin Lowe and Mark Messier. The team won four Stanley Cups during Gretzky's tenure. In 1988, Gretzky was traded, along with team enforcer Marty McSorley, to the Los Angeles Kings. Following Gretzky's trade, Kurri recorded 195 points in 154 games, leading the Oilers to their fifth and last Stanley Cup in 1990.^[2]

Kurri's contract with the Oilers expired in 1990 but his NHL rights were still owned by the Oilers. Instead of accepting a new contract from the Oilers, Kurri opted for a season in Italy and played for Devils Milano of the Italian Serie A. Kurri had 27 goals and 48 assists in 30 games while he played in the Italian league.^{[citation needed]}

After a season in Italy, Kurri's rights were traded to the Philadelphia Flyers and then to the Los Angeles Kings on the same day. He made an impression in his first game as a King, scoring 3 goals on opening night. For the first time since the 1988 trade, Kurri was reunited with Wayne Gretzky. The pair had a fairly successful campaign in 1993 leading the Los Angeles Kings to the Stanley Cup Finals where they faced off against the Montreal Canadiens. Kurri managed to put together 17 points in 24 games during the run, in which the Kings ultimately fell short and lost the series in 5 games. Kurri followed the run up with a few more solid seasons as a Los Angeles King, scoring 146 points in 176 games; his decline in scoring was primarily due to his transition into a more defensive-minded forward in a somewhat reduced role. (Though they were back on the same team, by this time he and Gretzky were not usually playing on the same line.)^{[citation needed]}

Kurri's best season for the Kings was during the successful 1992–93 season when Kurri posted 27 goals and 60 assists in 82 games.^{[citation needed]}

During the 1994–95 NHL lockout Jari Kurri represented Jokerit, the team for which he played before his NHL career. Kurri played alongside Teemu Selänne, the 1993 winner of the Calder Memorial Trophy who had established himself as one of the top stars in Finland during early success in the NHL. Kurri had one memorable moment during his visit to SM-liiga when Jokerit faced their local rivals HIFK. Kurri played against his former Oilers linemate Esa Tikkanen and another Finnish NHL player, Christian Ruuttu. Kurri, Selänne, and Jokerit captain Waltteri Immonen led Jokerit to a 4–2 victory over Russian HC Lada Togliatti in 1994 European Cup Finals.^{[citation needed]}

After the lockout, Kurri returned to Los Angeles but was traded to New York Rangers in 1996 for their playoff run.^{[citation needed]}

Kurri played the remainder of the 1995–96 NHL season with the Rangers and posted one goal and four assists in 14 games. While he may not have put up the points the Rangers expected him to at the end of the regular season, Kurri proved some of his value by notching 8 points in 11 playoff games with the Rangers.^{[citation needed]}

After his short period with the Rangers, Kurri signed with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. Kurri intended to play alongside Teemu Selänne and Paul Kariya, but was ultimately reduced to a smaller role on the second and third lines, despite a newfound confidence from rigorous summer training. The Mighty Ducks made it to the playoffs and defeated the Phoenix Coyotes in the first round but were swept by the Detroit Red Wings in the second round.^{[citation needed]}

After his single season with the Mighty Ducks, Kurri was signed by the Colorado Avalanche, the 1996 Stanley Cup champions. Kurri had a more defensive role with the Avalanche. Kurri's highlight of the season was his 600th NHL career goal, which he scored during a regular season game between the Avalanche and the Kings. Despite having a strong team with players like Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg and Patrick Roy, the Avalanche were eliminated quickly in the playoffs by the Oilers.^{[citation needed]}

Kurri finished his career as the highest-scoring European-born-and-trained player in NHL history, with 601 goals, 797 assists, and 1,398 points; Stan Mikita, who was born in Slovakia, but raised in Canada, retired 18 seasons before Kurri with 926 assists and 1,467 points. Jaromír Jágr set the new mark for European-born players, passing Kurri (who he labeled as his idol) and Mikita in 2006.^[14][15]

He is 22nd all-time in goals with 601 (at the time he retired, only eight other players had 600 goals).^[16][17] Teemu Selänne (who grew up with a picture of Kurri and Gretzky on his bedroom wall at home) passed him for the most goals by a Finnish player in 2010 and passed him in points in 2012.^[18][19][20] His 797 assists as a Finnish player is still a record for all Finnish players.^[21] Kurri finished with 233 points (106 goals, 127 assists) in the Stanley Cup playoffs, third most in NHL history. Kurri, alongside Gretzky and Mark Messier, is one of three players to record 100 goals and 100 assists each in the Stanley Cup playoffs.^[22][23]

He is the fourth leading point-scorer in Oilers history, with 1,043 points in 754 games, behind Gretzky, Connor McDavid, and Leon Draisaitl.^[24] On 6 October 2001, Kurri had his No. 17 retired by the Oilers in a ceremony at Skyreach Centre prior to the game versus the Phoenix Coyotes.^[25] He also has had his jersey number retired by the Finnish national team and Jokerit. ^[26]

The Jari Kurri Trophy is given to the most valuable player in the SM-liiga playoffs. In 2000, he was named along with longtime linemate Gretzky to the IIHF Hall of Fame.^[27] He was ranked among the top 50 players of the century by the The Hockey News'.^[28] Referred to as "Mr. Hockey" in his native county, he was the first Finnish-born player inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001.^[29] He was named among the 100 Greatest NHL Players in 2017.^[30]

Kurri also had a lengthy international career for the Finnish national team. Kurri debuted during 1980 Winter Olympics when Finland played in the Olympic ice hockey tournament. Kurri scored two goals and an assist in his international debut.^{[citation needed]}

Since NHL players were unable to participate in the Olympic Games and World Championships, Kurri's national team appearances were limited after he started his NHL career. Kurri was part of the Finnish national team during 1981 Canada Cup. Finland lost four games and had a 4–4 tie with the United States. Kurri had a disappointing performance, with only one assist in five games.^{[citation needed]}

After the Oilers were eliminated in the 1982 NHL playoffs, Kurri was able to join the Finnish national team in 1982 World Championships. The tournament was held in Finland. Kurri formed Finland's top line along with SM-liiga players Reijo Leppänen of TPS and Kari Jalonen of Kärpät. The lineup led the Finnish team in points and played well during the tournament but Finland was not able to advance to the medal round.^{[citation needed]}

Kurri was part of the Finnish team at the 1987 Canada Cup and the 1989 World Championships, but Finland was unable to gain success in those tournaments, ranking 6th of 6 and 5th of 8, in those respective tournaments.^{[citation needed]}

In 1991, Kurri represented Finland at the 1991 World Championships held again in Finland. Finland ranked 5th of 8 teams. Later that year, at the 1991 Canada Cup, Finland lost 3–7 to the United States in the semi-finals.^{[citation needed]}

At the 1994 World Championships, Kurri managed to get his first international medal when Finland earned silver after losing 1–2 in a shootout against Canada.^{[citation needed]}

At the 1998 Winter Olympics, Kurri faced Gretzky on ice for the last time, when Finland and Canada played for the Olympic bronze medal in Nagano. Finland was the underdog against Canada, but Finland won the game 3–2. Kurri scored the first goal of the game, which turned out to be his last goal for the Finnish national team.^[31]

After being long-time general manager of the Finnish national men's ice hockey team, scouting players and assisting the head coach.

Kurri was the general manager of the first Finnish KHL league team Jokerit. In the summer of 2019, Hjallis Harkimo sold the Jokerit to Kurri. in 2022 Kurri sold his share of team and is no longer part of its ownership.^[32]

Kurri is married to former Miss Finland, Vanessa Kurri, nee Forsman; they wed in 2004 and have three daughters: Odessa (born 2002), Alissa (born 2005), and Isla (2012), and one son, Paulus (born 2007). Kurri also has twin boys (Joonas and Ville) from his first marriage to Tiina Kurri. Former linemate Wayne Gretzky is the godfather of Kurri's children from his first marriage.^{[citation needed]}

Kurri is the godfather of Sami Lepistö.^[33]

Bold indicates led league
Bold italics indicate NHL record

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1977–78	Jokerit	FIN U20		5	5	4	9	2		1	1	0	1	2
1977–78	Jokerit	SM-l		29	2	9	11	12		—	—	—	—	—
1978–79	Jokerit	FIN U20		2	1	1	2	2		—	—	—	—	—
1978–79	Jokerit	SM-l		33	16	14	30	12		—	—	—	—	—
1979–80	Jokerit	SM-l		33	23	16	39	22		—	—	—	—	—
1980–81	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		75	32	43	75	40		9	5	7	12	4
1981–82	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		71	32	54	86	32		5	2	5	7	10
1982–83	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		80	45	59	104	22		16	8	15	23	8
1983–84	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		64	52	61	113	14		19	14	14	28	13
1984–85	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		73	71	64	135	30		18	19	12	31	6
1985–86	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		78	68	63	131	22		10	2	10	12	4
1986–87	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		79	54	54	108	41		21	15	10	25	20
1987–88	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		80	43	53	96	30		19	14	17	31	12
1988–89	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		76	44	58	102	69		7	3	5	8	6
1989–90	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		78	33	60	93	48		22	10	15	25	18
1990–91	Devils Milano	ITA		30	27	48	75	6		10	10	12	22	2
1991–92	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		73	23	37	60	24		4	1	2	3	4
1992–93	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		82	27	60	87	38		24	9	8	17	12
1993–94	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		81	31	46	77	48		—	—	—	—	—
1994–95	Jokerit	SM-l		20	10	9	19	10		—	—	—	—	—
1994–95	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		38	10	19	29	24		—	—	—	—	—
1995–96	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		57	17	23	40	37		—	—	—	—	—
1995–96	New York Rangers	NHL		14	1	4	5	2		11	3	5	8	2
1996–97	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	NHL		82	13	22	35	12		11	1	2	3	4
1997–98	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		70	5	17	22	12		4	0	0	0	0
SM-liiga totals				115	51	48	99	56		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				1,251	601	797	1,398	545		200	106	127	233	123

Year	Team	Event		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1978	Finland	EJC		4	6	2	8	4
1979	Finland	WJC		6	2	3	5	2
1980	Finland	WJC		5	4	7	11	0
1980	Finland	OLY		7	2	1	3	6
1981	Finland	CC		5	0	1	1	0
1982	Finland	WC		7	4	3	7	2
1987	Finland	CC		5	1	1	2	4
1989	Finland	WC		7	5	4	9	4
1991	Finland	WC		10	6	6	12	2
1991	Finland	CC		6	2	0	2	7
1994	Finland	WC		8	4	6	10	2
1996	Finland	WCH		4	1	0	1	0
1998	Finland	OLY		6	1	4	5	2
Junior totals				15	12	12	24	6
Senior totals				65	26	26	52	29

NHL

Award	Year(s)
NHL All-Star Game	1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1998
Stanley Cup champion	1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990
NHL Second All-Star Team	1984, 1986, 1989
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy	1985
NHL goal scoring leader	1986
NHL First All-Star Team	1985, 1987
Edmonton Oilers #17 jersey retired	2001
Hockey Hall of Fame	2001

SM-Liiga

Award	Year(s)
President's trophy	1994–95
Kanada-malja Runner-up	1994–95
Helsingin Jokerit #17 jersey retired	2007

International

Award	Year(s)
EJC All-Star Team	1978
EJC Best Forward	1978
WC, All-Star Team	1991, 1994
Italian Serie A League Bronze	1990–91
IIHF Hall of Fame	2000[34]
IOC Athletes' Commission	2002–2006