With the preseason simply weeks away, pleasure is build up amongst hockey followers. The Edmonton Oilers fell one win wanting profitable the Stanley Cup final season and wasted no time bettering the roster this offseason. Whereas there are numerous causes to imagine they will win the 2025 Stanley Cup, there are additionally loads of issues that would in the end lead the staff wanting their purpose.
Defensive Depth Issues
The primary, and most evident, concern the Oilers will face is within the protection, particularly the underside 4. The staff misplaced Philip Broberg, Cody Ceci, and Vincent Desharnais this offseason. Whereas none have been huge contributors to the protection, they every performed a task in getting the staff to Sport 7 of the Stanley Cup Remaining. Even with their mishaps, dropping three defensemen will damage the staff, at the very least to start the common season.
This isn’t a problem that can’t be overcome, however there are loads of hurdles to climb. The primary hurdle is determining the defensive pairings. 24-year-old Ty Emberson was introduced in from the San Jose Sharks and has expertise taking part in top-four minutes. Nevertheless, he has simply 30 NHL video games in his profession, all final season with the last-place Sharks, which means he has by no means performed a shift with as a lot on the road because the Oilers will likely be taking part in for. He beforehand performed for Kris Knoblauch with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL, so there’s purpose for optimism there, however solely time will inform if he is able to play a giant position within the Oilers high 4.
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Moreover, the Oilers nonetheless want to determine who their sixth defenseman is. Assuming Darnell Nurse and Brett Kulak stay on the left aspect, there’s nonetheless a necessity for a 3rd, right-handed defenseman. Josh Brown has not carried out effectively sufficient in his profession to be deemed able to being the third-pairing defenseman on a Stanley Cup-winning staff, and whereas Troy Stecher had some robust stretches final season, he, too, is in an identical boat to Brown. The Oilers might nonetheless signal a veteran like Kevin Shattenkirk or Justin Schultz to a PTO, however even then there’s loads of uncertainty.
No Cap Area
If the Oilers determine to start the common season with their present roster, it’s not like they might have the ability to simply make a midseason commerce to enhance the blueline. As of now, the staff has $945,833 in projected cap house. Sufficient wage might be accrued so as to add a stable defenseman on the 2025 Commerce Deadline, however with no first-round choose within the 2025 Draft, it will likely be onerous to seek out an reasonably priced, impactful defenseman.
Ekholm’s Age
Mattias Ekholm had a profession yr final season, posting profession highs in objectives (11), factors (45), major factors (34), hits (136), Corsi (57%), Fenwick (57%), objectives share (59.5%), and anticipated objectives share (58.6%). Collectively, he and Evan Bouchard fashioned the most effective defensive pairing within the NHL. Nevertheless, at 34 years outdated, he might start to regress.
Not solely is it a longshot for Ekholm to repeat final season’s success, however a major drop-off appears inevitable. Traditionally, defensemen regress faster than forwards, and given Ekholm’s in depth workload final season, particularly within the playoffs, lots can go unsuitable. Hopefully, this won’t be the case, however Oilers followers ought to undoubtedly mood expectations for his or her top-pairing defenseman.
Lack of Ahead Chemistry
As nice of an offseason because the Oilers had, there’s loads of uncertainty on the roster, and the ahead core isn’t any exception. The staff moved on from Warren Foegele, Dylan Holloway, and Ryan McLeod and introduced in Jeff Skinner, Viktor Arvidsson, and Vasily Podkolzin.
The Oilers objectively improved their roster, dropping a little bit of pace and physicality however including expertise, offense, depth, and reliability. Nevertheless, there is no such thing as a assure the additions will mesh effectively with the present roster, posing potential for concern. Whereas that is unlikely to be the case, the Oilers’ chemistry of their 2024 Playoff run was evident and performed an enormous purpose the staff made it so far as they did. Whereas they’ve an 82-game common season to achieve chemistry, the potential for roadblocks might pose a threat as soon as playoff time comes round.
Minimal Untapped Potential
When the Oilers misplaced Broberg and Holloway to the St. Louis Blues by way of provide sheets, they didn’t lose a lot on-ice affect. Neither skater performed a pivotal position within the staff’s playoff run final season, and neither was anticipated to interrupt out this season. Nevertheless, every participant’s age and upside introduced purpose for pleasure and optimism on an in any other case outdated roster. Neither participant will likely be terribly missed, however the lack of potential on the present roster is regarding.
Exterior of Podkolzin, the Oilers’ youngest ahead is 27-year-old, Connor McDavid. On the complete roster, the second youngest participant is Emberson, who’s simply 24 years outdated. This can be a good or unhealthy factor, relying on the way you take a look at it, however regardless, the dearth of untapped potential might show detrimental down the stretch.
Goaltending’s Expertise
Stuart Skinner’s 2023-24 season was a story of two halves. Previous to Dec. 21, he had a .884 SV% and -7.39 objectives saved above anticipated (GSAx), the fourth lowest of all goaltenders on the time. After Dec. 21, he had a .916 SV% and 20.46 GSAx, the fourth-best of all goaltenders in that interval. Which goaltender the Oilers will get is a thriller, and with minimal cap house and commerce belongings, the staff has put loads of religion in such a query mark.
Calvin Pickard is projected to again up Skinner, and he’s unlikely to have what it takes to step into the starter’s web if wanted. Earlier than his 23-game run final season, he gained simply seven video games previously six seasons. In these seasons, he gave up near 4 objectives per recreation. He has come up clutch earlier than, however his restricted monitor report is just not a really assured asset for Oilers followers.
The Oilers made it to the Stanley Cup Remaining final season, so it’s clear this present group has what it takes to win. Nevertheless, there are fairly just a few points the staff wants to deal with in the event that they hope to construct on final season’s success.
