The final time I regarded, the Stanley Cup was nonetheless received in June and never November. That’s why I discover it puzzling {that a} well-respected hockey pundit akin to Craig Button might make made such a daring assertion that in his thoughts the Edmonton Oilers don’t have a group adequate to contend for the Stanley Cup.
Button made this assertion just lately on Sportsnet with Jay Onrait and talked about that, “they (the Edmonton Oilers) don’t have sufficient good gamers to be Stanley Cup contenders…that’s the underside line.” These feedback got here on the heels of 1 the Oilers 3-0 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Nov. 18 – one of many Oilers worst performances of the season. The Oilers bounced again the following evening with a 5-2 thumping of the Ottawa Senators to make their three-game japanese Canadian street swing look considerably respectable.
There’s a whole lot of hockey to be performed between now and the start of the playoffs, and regardless of the Oilers somewhat-slow begin to the season, I might respectfully counter Button’s commentary by saying that there are a couple of elements that also make the Oilers a group to be careful for within the NHL’s Western Convention.
Oilers Have Key Gamers on the Injured Listing
The Oilers sick bay is beginning to pile up with Viktor Arvidsson and Zach Hyman out daily, Darnell Nurse out till late November and Evander Kane on long run injured reserve (LTIR) after preseason hip surgical procedure. Kane is a key issue for the Oilers as he won’t solely add a sorely-missed bodily presence to the lineup when he returns, but when stays on LTIR till the playoffs, the Oilers might presumably add one other impression participant on the March 8 NHL Commerce Deadline.
They must take a web page out of the Vegas Golden Knights’ LTIR playbook, the place veteran ahead Mark Stone has returned from LTIR simply in time for the playoffs the final previous three seasons. This level about LTIR and Kane’s eventual return signifies that the Oilers roster continues to be a piece in progress, and I might see how the group is doing in late March and early April earlier than saying whether or not they’re Stanley Cup contenders or not.
Enhancements To Oilers’ Defence Will Come
It’s no secret the Oilers are in search of assistance on the again finish. In a current interview on Oilers Now, former NHL basic supervisor (GM) Brian Lawton advised host Bob Stauffer that there’s room for enchancment on the blue line that would assist the goaltenders. They mentioned the opportunity of the Oilers hitting the jackpot similarly to how they did when buying and selling for Mattias Ekholm in 2022-23. Can lightning strike twice for the Oilers? There’s a whole lot of strain on Oilers GM Stan Bowman to usher in a top-four defenceman. Proper now the Oilers are counting on Ekholm, Evan Bouchard, Brett Kulak, Travis Dermott, Ty Emberson and Troy Stecher to hold the load. Bouchard seems to be as if he’s rising from his early-season droop and it seems to be just like the Oilers have an rising d-man in Emberson, so the sky isn’t utterly falling proper now. Nonetheless, they might nonetheless use one other confirmed defenceman for a drive to the playoffs.
Oilers Ahead Group Hasn’t Discovered Their Stride But
The Oilers appear to be entrance finish loaded however the actuality is Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are at present carrying the group. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Zach Hyman, Jeff Skinner and Arvidsson are all underneath performing. There’s nonetheless a whole lot of runway left within the season for this group of forwards to show issues round. It may be clever for the teaching employees to provide Skinner extra time on the highest two strains. He’s a confirmed goalscorer and level producer, and wishes a possibility to gel and discover some chemistry with some line mates. As soon as that occurs, the floodgates might open.
Goaltending Will Enhance
Many followers are screaming for the Oilers to exit and get a Dominik Hasek kind of goalie who can win video games by himself. However top-end goalies don’t come low-cost and the Oilers are tight in opposition to the wage cap. Is there an affordable Chris Osgood kind goalie who performs properly throughout the system established, or do the Oilers have already got that within the duo of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard?
Associated: Oilers’ Goalie Stuart Skinner Has Confirmed Himself, Regardless of Mounting Criticism
Until Bowman can fleece one other group for a top-end goalie with wage retained, the Oilers will drive in the direction of the postseason with Skinner and Pickard. Skinner particularly wants to select up his sport, and he’s able to doing that. He’s nonetheless the man that out-dueled Dallas Stars starter Jake Oettinger within the Western Convention Closing final season. He simply hasn’t discovered his sport but, however appears to have the expertise and psychological capability to enhance. In the meantime Pickard, although not flashy, continues to be dependable. It’ll be fascinating to see whether or not Bowman makes a transfer for a goaltender on or earlier than the commerce deadline.
Oilers At the moment in Rivalry within the Pacific Division
It looks like no one is operating away with the Pacific Division. As of Nov. 21, the Oilers are simply two factors again of the division main Golden Knights and are proper within the thick of issues after 20 video games. The Oilers have a historical past of getting a powerful second half to the season and if they’ll stick with the pack within the Pacific over the following two months, they might have a respectable shot at profitable it. They’re additionally at present solely two factors again of the Dallas Stars within the NHL’s Western Convention, and regardless of the robust begin from each the Minnesota Wild and league-leading Winnipeg Jets, you simply by no means know the place issues will land as soon as winter turns to spring.
It’s actually exhausting to make predictions and look into the longer term. I don’t take a lot inventory within the pre-season Stanley Cup predictions. They’re enjoyable for followers and good for debate, however there are such a lot of issues that occur in an extended NHL season. Proper now the Jets appear like the group to beat within the NHL however the playoffs is usually a totally different animal. That’s why I wouldn’t depend out a battle-hardened group just like the Oilers to make some noise as soon as the postseason comes. In any case, they nonetheless have McDavid and Draisaitl on their roster and that alone could make all of the distinction.
