Click here to read what OU Hockey general manager Larry Donovan thinks about the new pro team

OKLAHOMA CITY — The seven-month absence of professional hockey in Oklahoma City came to an end Tuesday, when Prodigal Hockey reached a five-year agreement to be the top farm team of the NHL's Edmonton Oilers. Oklahoma City's as-yet-unnamed AHL franchise will begin play in October at the Cox Convention Center. Here's a look at what the Oilers have accomplished in professional hockey, and what hockey fans in central Oklahoma have to look forward to.

AN EDMON-TON OF TRADITION

The Edmonton Oilers won five Stanley Cups in seven seasons during the 1980s and 1990s (1984, 1985, 1987 and 1988). Four of those Cups came with Wayne Gretzky, the NHL's all-time leading point scorer, on the team. In fact, with Mark Messier's long run in Edmonton, both of the top two all-time point scorers in NHL history made their mark in Oiler blue and orange. Other Oilers in the Hockey Hall of Fame include:

- Glenn Anderson

- Paul Coffey

- Grant Fuhr

- Jari Kurri

- Jacques Plante

- Norm Ullman

The Oilers began play in 1972 as the Alberta Oilers in the World Hockey Association. The WHA merged with the NHL in 1979.

Sources: NHL.com, The Hockey Hall of Fame Web site

CURRENT CONDITIONS

The Oilers reached the Stanley Cup Finals in 2006, pushing the eventual champion Carolina Hurricanes to a full seven-game series before falling. Since then, however, Edmonton has yet to earn a spot in the NHL playoffs, and has posted the worst record in the NHL this season (18-34-6, 42 points). Oilers Denis Grebeshkov (Russia) and Lubomir Visnovsky (Slovakia) will appear in the Olympics, the hockey portion of which begins Feb. 16.

Sources: NHL.com, oilers.nhl.com, The Hockey Hall of Fame Web site

SPRINGING FROM SPRINGFIELD

The Oilers will end their association with the Springfield (Mass.) Falcons when the AHL season ends in June, and move the top talent in their farm system to Oklahoma City. Like their big-league counterparts, the Falcons have struggled this season. Their record is tied for second-worst in the AHL (17-27-9, 45 points). Falcons left winger Charles Linglet is fifth in the AHL with 53 points this season (12 goals, 41 assists).

Source: TheAHL.com