Holy cannolis, folks! We’re finally going to get to watch some NHL hockey here. I feel like it’s been ages since I wrote a game preview but I couldn’t be happier doing it.
This season’s opening night game for the Edmonton Oilers (0-0-0) has them hosting the Vancouver Canucks (0-0-0). A team that has seen its fair share of departures player personnel-wise, but also they’ve added some very interesting pieces.
Here are three players that I think you should keep an eye on for the Canucks tonight,
- Nils Hoglander (LW) – If you thought Elias Pettersson was entertaining, you’re going to love The Hog! He’s like a kicked up Linus Omark in that he’s extremely skilled and his creativity is otherworldly. The shit this kid can do with the puck will fascinate you and I fully expect him to pull something out of his ass against the Oilers tonight. He’s on a line with Bo Horvat and Tanner Pearson I’ve been told.
- Olli Juolevi (D) – He’s finally made it! It’s been five years since Juolevi was drafted and a ton of injuries and rehabilitations since then too. I want to see how he’s going to do because he was such a highly-touted blueliner in 2016 due to his silky smooth hands, hockey IQ, and puck-moving abilities.
- Nate Schmidt (D) – Here’s a guy that I imagine Travis Green will have going out against Connor McDavid because he’s the only defender on his team that can keep up and as we’ve seen in the past, those that can skate with Connor tend to do okay against him. Just don’t get caught looking or on your heels. McDavid’s taken another step in his development, I’ll be watching to see if Schmidt can keep up.
As for the Oilers, they’ve really had quite the roster turnover adding at least five new skaters, if not more once the time the gameday lineup is released. It would be easy to tell you just to watch the new players because as a fan you’re naturally drawn to those individuals anyhow, but for this post, I’ll only suggest one.
- Jesse Puljujarvi (RW) – He’s a man now at 22 years old and with that he’s got a man’s body and strength. What I witnessed with him in the AHL, we’re going to see that magic at the NHL level I believe. He’s caught up to his peers mentally and physically, plus he has a couple of fantastic linemates in Kyle Turris (the playmaker) and Josh Archibald (the digger).
- Caleb Jones (D) – It’s being said that he’s about to emerge as one of the Oilers’ better defenders and if he can be as good at the NHL level as he was at the NHL one, Edmonton has themselves a beauty. I think he could be as good as Andrej Sekera if not better.
- Tyson Barrie (D) – He’ll offer some faint memories of Paul Coffey to some of our vintage fans with his ability to jump into the play and provide offense, but I’m expecting that. What I want to see is how physical he gets. Barrie has a bit of a mean streak in him if you catch him the wrong way and I remember him going after Pat Maroon (I think) a few years ago after getting wallpapered behind the net.
Oilers Lines:
RNH-McDavid-Kassian
Kahun-Draisaitl-Yamamoto
Archibald-Turris-Puljujarvi
Ennis-Khaira-Chiasson
Nurse-Bear
Jones-Larsson
Koekkoek-Barrie
Russell-Lagesson
Koskinen
Smith
Taxi Squad: Tyler Benson, Ryan McLeod, Joakim Nygard, Stuart Skinner, Alan Quine, Patrick Russell
The Oilers really need a good start out of the gate here and a significant win over the Canucks would be just what the doctor ordered. I’m not expecting every new signing to have a great game nor am I expecting utter dominance but I would like to see a new brand of Oilers hockey displayed. One that is more responsible on the defensive side of the puck. If they can do that, the rest will fall into place.
This Canucks team is very gritty, much like their coach was when he played, and they won’t make it easy on Edmonton. That said, I’m of the belief that the pieces they lost in the off-season in Jacob Markstrom, Tyler Toffoli, and Chris Tanev will hurt them as well as the fact that JT Miller and Jamie Benn will be unavailable to them.
I’ll say the Oilers take this one to start the year 1-0-0.
