Another season brings about another hope that this will finally be the season that the Edmonton Oilers can get things right. After all the money spent on free agency, coaches, really high draft picks the Oilers finished in last place for the fourth time in five years.
With so much promise, talent and determination to succeed, you would be hard pressed to find a team that has been as disappointing as the Oilers in recent years.
The shadow of Wayne Gretzky is nothing more than the size of the statue of the “Great One” in front of Rexall Place, but the Oilers have found every conceivable way to struggle in recent years. Despite the talented roster a combination of injuries, poor goaltending, inconsistent play and just bad luck have nearly supplanted the memories of a franchise that won five Stanley Cup titles between 1984 and 1991.
Through it all the Edmonton fan base has remained intensely loyal, supporting their club during the worst of times. We’ll excuse the token attention seeker that tossed their jersey on the ice last season, and acknowledge that Edmonton has some of the best fans in the NHL. They are realists, but they still have high standards and expectations that they want for their hometown team.
This year the Oilers again made some moves, spent some money and got a high draft pick, but coach Dallas Eakins will be given some time to develop the core of this young team. Could this be the year for Edmonton’s return to the playoffs?
Offense
The Oilers have one of the most exciting lines in the world with Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jordan Eberle. They can absolutely fly and the chemistry between them will only get better. Unfortunately, the Oilers have been a one-trick pony, and if the top guys get shut down, they can’t get consistent production from anyone else. Nail Yakupov is supremely talented if he can stay out of Eakin’s doghouse. He’ll fight for ice time on the second or third line. Benoit Pouliot was signed for big time money this summer despite never topping the 20-goal mark and playing for, what will be his sixth team in as many seasons in the league. Balance is what Edmonton needs and they still lack in that department. The gap between the top line and everyone else is significant, but they just need to get consistent production from everyone else.
Defense
The biggest challenge has been to solidify the defensive zone in Edmonton. Andrew Ference brought Stanley Cup pedigree from Boston and the 35-year old captain will attempt to bring more levity to the defense in his second season in charge. Justin Schultz is the top offensive option on the blue line while veteran newcomers Mark Fayne and Nikita Nikitin provide significant upgrades.
Goaltending
The biggest reason for optimism in Edmonton this fall is the combination of upgrading the defense, and the solidification of the goaltending. Ben Scrivens and Viktor Fasth will duke it out for the starting gig, though Scrivens returns as the incumbent. It is the most promising goaltending duo that the Oilers have been able to send out in the last decade. A combination of youth and talent (though Fasth is 32) should collectively turn a position of weakness into a position of strength. Should.
Special Teams
Ironically the Edmonton special teams fared better when they were down a man than when they played with the extra skater. The Oiler’s power play was clicking at only 17%, good for the 21st spot in the league while the penalty kill had a modest 82% success rate (15th). With the talent the Oilers possess offensively, it’s frankly stunning that they had such a low percentage of success on the power play.
With veteran additions on defense and Scrivens and Fasth in goal all season, the penalty kill could be significantly better for Edmonton. Ference, Fayne and Jeff Petry, each excel in shorthanded situations, and solid goaltending makes everything better.
Coaching
Eventually a formula has to begin working in Edmonton and the coaching carousel has to stop, right? Eakins seems to be well equipped to handle the young talent and has been an excellent motivator in his previous coaching gig with Toronto’s Marlies of the AHL. The leash will be relatively long for Eakins in Edmonton, but if success doesn’t follow, management will need to decide if maybe the players are the issue.
Outlook
For at least the last two seasons I have predicted wonderful things for the Edmonton Oilers and they have greatly disappointed me:
http://edraft.com/nhl/news/nhl-2013-14-preview-edmonton-oilers/
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1103798-edmonton-oilers-2012-wait-til-next-yearno-really
The Bleacher Report article was mid-season, but was written with the confidence that the talented group of youngsters would spread their youthful exuberance throughout the roster and take the Oilers back to the world of NHL relevance. Alas, it has yet to happen, but I just can’t seem to quit you Edmonton.
Whether it is my perpetual fondness of the blue and orange sweaters (most underrated in the NHL in my opinion), or the blind determination that if I keep beating this horse it may rise up and join the race. I’ll stop short of declaring them contenders for the Pacific Division, but the Oilers could be a lucky bounce or two from finding themselves in the playoffs picture. They still have some youngsters, Oscar Klefbom, Leon Draisaitl, Darnell Nurse yet to suit up for the Edmonton full time, so the future continues to look bright. Eventually I have to be right, don’t I?