It's a 1994, which came stock with 7-speed LX shifters. The 970 of that year had the 8-speed XT shifters.
They both had the 8-sp XT rear derailleur, however.
That musta caused a little bit of confusion. Customer brings bike in for 6-month free tune-up - "I noticed it says 8 on the derailleur but I only have 7
"
Yeah, that right shifter certainly looks like a burn victim.