On this day, 31 years ago, Aug. 4, 1995, Curtis Joseph became an Edmonton Oiler and one of the most beloved in franchise history.

Joseph provided hope through a particularly trying time for the franchise. The Oilers suffered economic hardships that made keeping good players difficult, and with owner Peter Pocklington’s tangled debts, fans were on the brink of losing their franchise.

But on the ice, Joseph was the backbone of two upstart teams in 1996–97 and 1997–98 who beat Stanley Cup contenders Dallas and Colorado in consecutive seasons.

Named No. 33 on our Top 100 Oilers countdown, Joseph’s team highlights include some of the most memorable individual saves and performances in franchise history.

Joseph’s arrival also bookended the disastrous tenure of captain Shayne Corson, or better said, recently stripped “captain” by short-term coach George Burnett, that led to dressing room division.

The Oilers were a young hockey team at the time, and not a very good one, either, winning just 17 of 48 games in a lockout-shortened 1994–95. Corson was one of their best assets.

Aug. 5, 1995, edition of the Edmonton Journal.

How did Curtis Joseph become an Edmonton Oiler?

So when St. Louis Blues general manager Mike Keenan signed Corson to an offer sheet worth $6.95 million over five years in late July, with a $1.25 million signing bonus due in the first month, the Oilers’........

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