Edmonton Oilers Talk: “A Change Could be in Store…”

This is your TL/DR (too long, didn’t read) summary post where excerpts are taken from the best of the best when it comes to Edmonton Oilers blogs. BLH gives you his two cents on the latest posts being published in the Oilogosphere! Including those from Lowetide.ca, The Athletic, Oilersnation, The Cult of Hockey, Copper N Blue, Oil on Whyte, and more!

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The Athletic (Mitchell)

Dylan Holloway’s season and why patience is vital for Oilers’ prospect

Hand or wrist injuries can be deadly.
At the World Junior Championship, Holloway played through the pain despite an injury on this play.
In March, Holloway suffered a broken thumb at the Big-10 tournament in a game against Penn State, which ended his season.
Daniel Nugent-Bowman at The Athletic reported Holloway had surgery March 29, just after Wisconsin’s season-ending loss to Bemidji State in the NCAA tournament.
The news ahead of training camp about a cautious approach to Holloway’s condition should be received as welcome news by Oilers fans.
Ideally, in the future NHL organizations are more open in regard to injuries. The increased betting on the league that is anticipated beginning in the fall may allow more openness in this area.
Even more important is making certain young prospects get the best possible advice and are encouraged to refrain from playing through pain. Oilers history is riddled with brave men who paid a heavy price to do it.

BLH’s Thoughts: Truth! To add to that, young players will do anything to achieve their dreams, including jeopardizing their long-term futures.

Teams DO need to handle their injuries a helluva lot better though. I wonder if having a larger day-to-day roster would help? 23 men is a lot but that’s one extra player per position only, why not have 2-3 extra at forward and defense and another goalie? Just remove the need to make a recall from the development league and insert a larger taxi squad.

Folks will kick and scream about having players up with the big club who aren’t playing, but that’s the nature of the game and honestly, a minor problem. Hockey’s a physical sport and I’m near 99% sure that not one NHL player goes through even a quarter of the season without playing with some sort of nick, bump, or bruise. Having those “tweeners” available could give teams the opportunity to protect their valuable assets in addition to extending some playing careers too.

With Covid looking to be staying around a lot longer than previously intended, the NHL might want to look at expanding roster sizes, that’s all I’m saying.

The Hockey Writers (Bochon)

Battle of Alberta Will Hold Extra Importance in 2021-22

Will it ever reach the all-out battle each side wishes it would take? Or will it settle back to a kinder, more peaceful hockey love fest that it seems to have morphed into over the past few seasons, with the exception of the February 1, 2020 game?
Key players and personnel on both the Oilers and Flames will be on the hot seat this season. If either team is unable to make the playoffs or win one or two playoff rounds, a change could be in store for Dave Tippett, Brad Treliving, Sean Monahan and even Ken Holland
As much as the Oilers will feel the effect of losing Larrson, Giordano’s departure represents a crater size hole in terms of leadership and skill to the Flames.
With the Oilers signing Zac Hyman and trading for Warren Foegele as well as the addition of Derek Ryan, their forward group is the strongest it’s been in over a decade.
The Oilers’ defence remains a question mark, and it’ll wait and see with the additions of Duncan Keith and Cody Ceci. While the Flames D will feel the loss of Gio, the addition of Nikita Zadorov to go along with the solid first pairing of Tanev and Hanifin still gives them a slight edge on the backend over the Oilers.
Goaltending could be the Achilles heel for both teams.
- The Oilers will nervously rely on another solid year from 39-year-old Mike Smith, but their backup situation still has to be sorted out.
- Meanwhile, in Calgary, the pressure is on Jacob Markstrom to have a bounceback year while prospect Dustin Wolf could be poised to take over the number two position in the organization.
Maybe 2021/22 is the year both teams square off in the playoffs. That’ll be sure to renew the hostility. Stay tuned. Puck drops Saturday, October 16th.

BLH’s Thoughts: Look, with the additions of Zadorov and Gudbranson to their blueline as well as Coleman, Richardson, Lewis, and re-signing Brett Ritchie; it’s obvious the Flames are giving their skilled pests the green light to “go there”.

I have some concern for the safety of Edmonton’s players, but what’s overriding my thoughts right now is how healthy will Calgary’s tough guys be able to stay if the plan is to reinvent the Broad Street Bullies? Honestly, I don’t think the game plan will last long and specifically to Edmonton, they’re a way better team. Way more skilled! Jacob Markstrom is the Flames’ saving grace here and if he gets tired or hurt, it’s game over for his club.

That said, I look forward to the BoA, as I do every year, because of the players Sutter and Holland have brought in.

Also, it wouldn’t shock me if the Oilers added some muscle somewhere down the line…

NHLRumors.com

Andy Strickland: Still believe that the St. Louis Blues will trade forward Vladimir Tarasenko… It might take a third team to get involved to make it happen. There is at least one team that is willing to get involved and retain a portion of Tarasenko’s salary.
Shawn Simpson: The Ottawa Senators have made it know that they have offered Brady Tkachuk an eight-year deal… Have been told that Tkachuk loves it in Ottawa and would consider signing an eight-year deal. Money is what will determine that.
Matt Porter of the Boston Globe: Defenseman Charlie McAvoy will likely be the next Boston Bruins player to sign a big contract extension. How much he’ll get paid and for how long is yet to be determined.
- Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski‘s six-year, $57.5 million deal is a comparable.
Jimmy Murphy of Boston Hockey Now: Multiple sources have said that the Boston Boston have explored the idea of acquiring defenseman P.K. Subban on more than one occasion.