1989–90 NHL season

The 1989 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 17, at the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota.

Sam St. Laurent of the Red Wings became the last goalie to wear a full fiberglass mask during an NHL game.

[4] This season would be the last the Toronto Maple Leafs would play under the 29 year ownership of Harold Ballard as a result of his death in April 1990 and the subsequent sale of the franchise.

Coverage of the Stanley Cup playoffs was primarily on CBC, with TSN airing first round all-U.S. series.

Meanwhile, NBC agreed to televise the All-Star Game, reportedly wanting to test the appeal of hockey.