The Oilers have one more game tonight before their Christmas break and a win would do them wonders. It’d provide a bit of cushion between them at the Calgary Flames as well as keep pace with the Arizona Coyotes and the Vegas Golden Knights at the top of the Pacific division.
The vocal minority is at it again crying wolf on Edmonton’s season. This slump was awoken them from their slumber and the targets of their ire have been Oilers GM Ken Holland and backup goalie Mike Smith. The “VM” is all pissy that Holland hasn’t pulled the trigger on a deal to help the team in its bid to be better than first in the Pacific. It’s as if they didn’t pay attention during Holland’s press conference when he blatantly spelled out his plan for this team and part of that plan was playoffs in 2019/20.
This is what I don’t get. Holland’s work in conjunction with Dave Tippett has seen the Oilers become a special teams powerhouse in the NHL. One of Edmonton’s biggest weaknesses for many years was their PK, now it is a strength. Goaltending was a weakness, now it is a strength (well, at least one of their netminders). On-ice structure was a weakness, now it is a strength.
Why would Holland look to change any of that so early in the season? Holland said the plan was playoffs in 2020 but also that he would provide stability. How is disrupting the roster before Christmas with a big trade showing stability?
As for Mike Smith, this is who he is. He’s either great or an AHL goalie and I imagine you probably knew that when he was signed. Personally, I like what he brings to the roster off the ice as well as on it even if he is having a tough go. Am I happy he’s not playing well? Of course not. Do I think he’s an NHL goalie? I sure do as he’s proven to me that he is. I’m a supporter of the team and as long as Smith is an Oiler, I’ll support him. Maybe Edmonton tightens up their defense when he’s in the net and fewer scoring chances against taking place, I don’t know. It’s a weird concept I know, but is it odd that the Oilers slump is coinciding with Smith’s poor play or is it because of Smith’s poor play? I bet I know the VM’s answer…
What’s the answer to the goaltending? They’re not calling up Shane Starrett anytime soon as he got hurt again in Bakersfield’s latest game. Stuart Skinner and Dylan Wells aren’t ready either and nobody is going to accept a 37-year-old slumping netminder in a trade right now. We won’t talk about his no-trade clause either. I suppose they could send him to the minors, but can you see Holland doing that to a veteran? Me neither. So unless Smith retires, he’s an Oiler until this year is up. Maybe as a fan of the team, you could offer up some “support” and lift the spirits a bit.
Not that Mike Smith would care mind you. That guy gives zero f*cks as to what anybody thinks. It’s part of what makes him special.
2019/20 World Junior Hockey Championships
The Edmonton Oilers will have a handful of player appearing in the annual holiday tournament. Philip Broberg (SWE), Raphael Lavoie and Oliver Rodrigue (CAN), and Matej Blumel (CZE) will all play for their respective countries in the Czech Republic this year. I don’t expect any of them to be feature players but they all have the potential to be game-breakers.
Here’s a list of players that I think will be worth watching for each team should you be the type that watches every game.
- John Beecher (USA) – C – The US will have better players at the tournament but I really like this player because he’s big, he’s a very fast and powerful skater, and he plays a physical brand of hockey. Boston is lucky to have drafted him last year.
- Connor McMichael (CAN) – LW – This Capitals prospect is on fire this year for his London Knights. McMichael is a stunning playmaker and has silky soft hands with the capability to make even the best defenders at his level look silly. He’ll be relied upon to feed Canada’s renowned snipers so that they can fill the net.
- Yaroslav Askarov (RUS) – G – Some say this young Russian is the best goaltending prospect to come along since Carey Price. He’s already had some time between the pipes in the KHL and as you might know, that’s a very rare occurrence indeed. The coaches at that level really do not like to play young players at all and when they do get into the lineup, they usually get only a few shifts. Askarov will be the key to Russia’s gold medal hopes. Another question is, how high will he go in this year’s draft?
- Rasmus Sandin (SWE) – D – Toronto’s bluechip prospect will be heading Team Sweden’s charge for a gold medal this year after spending last season and this year to date in the AHL for the Marlies. He’s a wonderful skater and a magical passer. The Swedes are loaded on defense this year and that’s probably a good thing considering their forwards and goaltending are a bit thin. It’ll have to be a group effort for them to medal this year in my opinion.
- Aatu Raty (FIN) – C – Karpat is about to produce another top-5 draft pick as Raty is being touted as possibly the first name to be called at the 2021 NHL entry draft. He’s electrifying with the puck on his stick and he’s the kind of player who loves to drive the middle of the ice instead of taking an easier route along the outside. His shot is hard and accurate. He won’t be relied upon by the reigning champs, but he does have the ability to be a solid contributor for the Finns.
- Tim Stutzle (GER) – C – This young German has exploded onto the scene this year and will be Germany’s feature player. A good bet to go in the top-ten of this year’s draft. His edgework is fantastic and when you combine that with his speed and his ever-dangerous wrist shot, you’ve got yourself a bonafide sniper. It’s not often that Germany produces such dazzling hockey players but they’re on a bit of a roll lately. If you plan on watching the Germans play, Stutzle will make it worth your while.
- Jan Mysak (CZE) – LW – The latest Czech sniper to hit the ranks. Mysak has the most points out of any junior-aged players in the Extraliga. He’s not the best skater in the world but he can shoot the puck and he knows instinctively where to find the soft ice in order to put himself in the best position to score. The Czechs aren’t expected to medal but playing at home and with a snipe show like Mysak, you never know. He’s draft-eligible this year.
- Maxim Cajkovic (SLO) – RW – Another player who scores goals for fun. Tampa’s 3rd rounder from last year has 22 points in 16 games for Saint John (QMJHL). He’s a hard worker and on this team, he’ll be a team leader as well. Does he have what it takes to inspire his teammates and drive them to a surprise top-three finish?
- Maxim Musarov (KAZ) – LW – I’ll be completely honest, I don’t know a lick about this guy but McKeen’s Hockey tells me he is a fast skater who likes to play the off-wing. He’s mobile and has decent size (5’10” 175lbs). He also plays well with another player by the name of Dias Guseinov, so look out for that duo.
- Valentin Nussbaumer (SWI) – LW – A 7th round pick for Arizona last year, Nussbaumer will be playing in his 3rd WJHC. He’s the kind of player that would project to be a bottom-sixer at the NHL level I feel. His toolbox screams PK specialist as he’s a smooth skater, he’s quite smart on the ice and makes solid decisions. Technically, he shines against his current peers, but at the next level, he’ll be challenged.
The Next Ten Games (31-40)
- vs. LA Kings (11-16-2) – A pissed off Oilers team will make short order of the Kings in this rubber match. (WIN) WIN
- vs. Buffalo Sabres (13-10-5) – No Dahlin for Buffalo but Jack Eichel is on a tear. Captain Jack will get his points but his team will not. (WIN) OT LOSS
- vs. Carolina Hurricanes (16-11-1) – Carolina is too deep for this Oilers team plus Andrei Svechnikov is making a mockery of the NHL as a 19-year-old. (LOSS) LOSS
- @ Minnesota Wild (13-11-4) – The Oilers seem to have trouble against teams like this for whatever reason. Immaturity in the club maybe? (LOSS) LOSS
- vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (13-13-4) – The Leafs defense is soft like a Wendy’s Frosty but they’ve got the kind of offense that could really tear open the Oilers. It’s a toss-up for me but I’ll say Edmonton takes it. (WIN) LOSS
- @ Dallas Stars (15-11-3) – Tough match-up for Edmonton here. Dallas already beat them once this year but that was when they were struggling. Now that they’re playing well, will the Oilers’ mindset going into this one be different? (WIN) WIN
- @ St. Louis Blues (18-6-6) – Edmonton’s been performing very well against the league’s top teams. I don’t expect that to stop in St. Louis. (WIN) LOSS
- vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (15-9-4) – The first game of a back-to-back at home and the Oilers are one up on Crosby’s Pens. Pittsburgh is going through one hell of an injury crisis mind you but as we’ve seen, the Oilers have failed to take advantage of these situations in the past. (LOSS) LOSS
- vs. Montreal Canadiens (12-10-6) – I feel like the Habs usually give Edmonton a hard time when they come to town and their team is a lot better than their record tells us. (LOSS) WIN
- @ Vancouver Canucks (14-11-4) – I like the Oilers chances against Vancouver here and it’s the last game before the Christmas break. (WIN)
(Standings as of December 5th, 2019)
Three Players to Watch for the Canucks
- #18 Jake Virtanen – It’s taken a few seasons, but it looks like Virtanen has found his groove. I’ve always liked him because he plays an old school brand of hockey. He’s fast, can shoot, and hits like a freight train.
- #40 Elias Pettersson – I think he’s got the best wrist shot in the NHL. This guy is so smart and slippery out on the ice in addition to being a bit of a cheapshot artist when the refs aren’t looking. That’s not a knock on him, I dig it and wish more skilled players would stick up for themselves like that.
- #57 Tyler Myers – The big man will be Connor McDavid’s shadow tonight, will he be able to contain the world’s greatest player or will HE be the threat for the Oilers. The six points in his last ten games tells me that he’s caught fire a bit and Edmonton will need to be aware of him.
Below is how Vancouver lined up in their win against the Penguins the other night. I don’t know how many alterations there’ll be, but I do know that their middle six is on fire while their top and bottom lines have been cold. The Oilers will have their work cut out for them.
https://twitter.com/BatchHockey/status/1208577430677417985
Three Players to Watch for the Oilers
- #44 Zack Kassian – He’s already scored in a couple of games against his old team this season, so it stands to expect he just might be a contributor again. Is there another player in the league playing this well on an expiring contract?
- #16 Jujhar Khaira – If JJ is back in the lineup for Edmonton, I expect him to have an above-average game because that’s just what he does when he goes back to Vancouver. He’s been on the downtrend recently after playing well for a period of time. If I had to guess, I think he could be moved at some point before next season. He just hasn’t come to grasp the concept of consistency in five seasons with the Oilers.
- #91 Gaetan Haas – I feel like Haas has been one of the better Oilers for a couple of weeks now. His unpredictable style of play is a real disruptor for opposition defenders and I think I’ve figured out why it is. There are no fly-bys in his game. Once you’re in his crosshairs, you’re getting hit and I reckon his opponents are anticipating the fly-by and get surprised when he hits them. Plus he’s got good hands in tight, so he can strip a player of the puck and then make a play. If he could put on some mass and become a bit heavier on his feet, he might turn into a potent asset for the Oilers.
Here are the last game’s lines. I don’t expect a lot of change given the last group won their game but I do hope that Khaira draws in for maybe Gagner. Sammy has been ineffective recently and could probably use a rest but not only that. Given how “assertive” the Canucks’ more effective middle six is, they might want to add some muscle to their own lineup to combat that.
Oiler lineup vs MTL:
Draisaitl-McDavid-Kassian
Neal-RNH-Chiasson
Granlund-Haas-P. Russell
Nygard -Sheahan-ArchibaldKlefbom-Larsson
Nurse-Bear
K. Russell-Jones*Koskinen vs Price in net…
*EDM 3-0 in 2nd half of back-to-backs this year.
— Jack Michaels (@EdmontonJack) December 21, 2019
