The Oilers remain in the Pacific Division playoff picture. While they only scored one out of six points in their last three games, they did well enough to defeat Boston and Minnesota.
Still, the record over those three games, particularly the result versus Calgary, raises the question of whether Ken Holland can afford to wait until the deadline to improve this team in a few important areas.
This edition includes more information.
9 Things
9. The Oilers have the most extensive travel itinerary in the National Hockey League in terms of total miles traveled. Vancouver is second, while Vegas is third. Travel is easier now than it was 20 years ago. However, when compared to other teams, some continue to struggle.
8. Leon Draisaitl’s power play goal against the Minnesota Wild on Friday pushed him above the legendary Mark Messier (283) for the third most in franchise history. It is not surprising that Wayne Gretzky is first (439) and Connor McDavid is second (318).
7. If you’re wondering why Ken Holland hasn’t yet entered the NHL trade market, consider this: Edmonton is right up against the cap. But, if the Oilers do nothing between now and the deadline, they will have $2.37 million in annual cap space (PuckPedia). That is legitimate currency to have while Holland is shopping.
6. I know some folks are back on the “Oilers need a new starting goaltender” bandwagon after the last few. Aside from one or two questionable goals, the issue has been with the players in front of them, not the goalkeepers themselves. This defensive effort has a striking resemblance to their early struggles this season. The goalies are simply the symptom.
5. One of the few positives for the Oilers on Saturday was Mattias Janmark’s reaction to Blake Coleman’s hit on Connor McDavid. While Janmark has been a fine pro, I’ve wondered at times this season if he’s over his Best Before date. But I appreciated his performance on Saturday, and his late-game goal was a fitting reward.
4. Ryan McLeod isn’t a bad faceoff guy and is expected to improve as he matures. But delve a little further, and you’ll see what undoubtedly worries the Oilers in the immediate term: While Ryan McLeod has a 50% FO% overall, he is only 48% in the D-zone. Leon Draisaitl is very strong in those scenarios (57%), but Derek Ryan is simply competent (52%). Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has just 46%. If you’re reading this and believe Holland should strengthen this area, I agree.
3. Dylan Holloway was one of several key Oilers on Saturday. His 5v5 CF was 19-1 (95%). So, wonderful for the child. But what is he doing down on the fourth line with two other guys who have a combined five goals? It was clear that Jay Woodcroft did not see a player in Holloway. I hope Kris Knoblauch does not fall into the same trap and bury this promising potential in the depth chart. It’s not like the Oilers don’t need another top-six forward. What if he’s right beneath their noses?
2. I don’t have all the answers for the Oilers’ recent bad start to games. I won’t claim to know more than an NHL coach. I’m not on the bench or in the room. So, this is only a guess. However, I believe that frustration and how the club handles (or does not handle) those emotions play a significant role. During the winning streak, one of the club’s defining characteristics was its patience. When things went wrong (as happens to all teams at times), they didn’t miss a beat. Whereas against Minnesota and Calgary, that process was replaced by panic. The outcome was a missed assignment here, a bad penalty there, and over time, these things can and will mount up on you. In such cases, the bounces frequently begin to work against you as well. The classic game can be amusing in this way. I recommend a methodical and patient approach. And I understand: easy to say, difficult to do. The loss also raises concerns about the General Manager’s level of urgency.
Advertisement
