Stanley Cup. The Blackhawks improved in the regular season in 1989–90, having the best record in the Norris Division with a 41–33–6, 88-point season. In the post-season, the Blackhawks defeated the Minnesota North Stars and St. Louis Blues to advance to the Campbell Conference finals for the second straight season. The Blackhawks run would end, as the Edmonton Oilers defeated Chicago in six games. After the season, Martin left the Blackhawks and joined the Quebec Nordiques as an assistant coach. Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche (1990–96) Martin joined the Quebec Nordiques as an associate coach, working under newly hired head coach Dave Chambers, in 1990–91. The rebuilding Nordiques had a tough season, going 16–50–14, missing the post-season. Quebec saw some improvement in the 1991–92 season, as the club had a 20–48–12 record, however, the team once again finished in last place in the Adams Division, missing the playoffs. Head coach Dave Chambers was fired early in the season, and was replaced with Pierre Page, as Martin was retained as the associate coach. The Nordiques saw great improvement in 1992–93, as the club finished with a 47–27–10 record, earning 104 points, and second place in the Adams Division, qualifying for the post-season. In the first round, Quebec lost a thrilling series to the Montreal Canadiens in six games. Martin was assigned to the Nordiques AHL affiliate, the Cornwall Aces, as head coach for the 1993–94 season. The Aces finished the year with a 33–36–11 record, third in the Southern Division, and a berth into the post-season. In the playoffs, the Aces defeated the Hamilton Canucks in the first round, followed by defeating the favoured Hershey Bears in seven games in the second round. The Aces then lost to the Moncton Hawks in the third round. Martin returned to the Nordiques as an assistant coach under Marc Crawford in 1994–95. Quebec finished the season with the best record in the Eastern Conference, going 30–13–5 in the lockout shortened season. In the playoffs, the Nordiques were upset by the eighth seeded New York Rangers in six games. After the season, the Nordiques franchise relocated to Denver, Colorado and became the Colorado Avalanche. Martin moved with the team to Colorado in 1995–96, however, he left the Avalanche on January 24, 1996, to become head coach of the Ottawa Senators. Ottawa Senators (1996–2004) Martin joined the Ottawa Senators midway through the 1995–96 season, taking over a club