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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Lowetide.ca
Leon Draisaitl—Connor McDavid—Jesse Puljujarvi
Zach Hyman—Ryan Nugent-Hopkins—Zack Kassian
Warren Foegele—Derek Ryan—Kailer Yamamoto
Tyler Benson—Kyle Turris—Colton Sceviour
Darnell Nurse—Tyson Barrie
Duncan Keith—Cody Ceci
Slater Koekkoek—Evan Bouchard
Mikko Koskinen (Stuart Skinner)
Extras: Mike Smith, Kris Russell, Brendan Perlini
- The coach wants to keep things fresh, and needs the third line to stop giving up something close to a goal-per-game. He’s also trying to keep 97 and 29 together, so the second line has a lot of pressure, too. Kassian moves up to hopefully provide a spark and maybe score a goal or two, and Yamamoto is a more certain player without the puck.
BLH’s Thoughts: Is Derek Ryan dealing with a knock? His form has dropped considerably since the beginning of the year and he’s taken a couple of good checks in that time…
How would Ryan McLeod look centering two elite muckmen in Foegele and Yamamoto? Then you throw Ryan to the 4th line to center Sceviour on the LW and Turris on the RW. It’s something to ponder nevertheless.
Oilersnation
Monday Mailbag – What makes the power play go boom, boom, pow?
How would you describe Mikko Koksinen’s play so far and do you think he’s doing enough to reduce the pressure to find a different solution in the crease?
- “He has played as well as I’d expect… Finding a different solution at the deadline isn’t that easy. How many legit #1 starters will be available?… He is an elite backup in the NHL, and next summer many teams will want to sign him.” – Gregor
BLH’s Thoughts: Koskinen said he’s going to play much better this year without the stresses of being away from his family like he did last season and he has done just that. Personally, if he’s playing well, why would you move him?
#1 goalies are hard to come by in the draft let alone via trade and if the Oilers were to go out and make a deal for one, they’re going to be overpaying by a large margin, just as if they were to sign one in the offseason. I believe Holland himself has said that he’s not a big fan of paying big money to his goalie because there’s not a massive divide in ability between the ones who are paid big bucks and the ones who are paid league average (or something to that effect).
What do you see in terms of tactics that are helping Edmonton look like a coin flip with the man advantage?
- “They’re just wildly unpredictable. Sometimes McDavid is in the one-timer slot, sometimes he’s up at the point, sometimes he’s on the other side of the ice, and sometimes both he and Draisaitl are just circling around the zone. They’re hard to stop because it isn’t like there’s just one system that they play.” – Yaremchuk
BLH’s Thoughts: This is pretty bang on from Yaremchuk. The Oilers have five legitimate threats at any given moment and all the other team’s PK unit can do is stay in their shape, over the lanes and hope to high hell that whoever is pulling the trigger misplays the puck.
The problem with that game plan is Connor McDavid. If he wants to skate through everyone and score, he can do it… The best bet for the defending team might be simply to get in the crease with their goalie and cover as much of the net as possible.
The club’s top three lines seem to be set and playing relatively well. The 4th line has not. Who do you want to see on that line and/or do you think it is a deployment issue?
- “The low TOI is a factor. It is very difficult for players to really contribute when they play 6-8 minutes. I don’t care who you are… They do miss Josh Archibald and his energetic style of play… I was told on Friday that Archibald is progressing well and might be ready for January.” – Gregor
BLH’s Thoughts: Another reason that line might not be playing well is that it’s not that good. Perlini left his scoring touch in the preseason (not predicted at all), Benson either has yet to find his NHL groove or he’s just not good enough to play on the Oilers. As for Turris and Shore, they’ve shown flashes or competence but a Cup contender would have better players in those spots.
As for Archibald coming back… I’d love to see him play again, but the ailment he’s dealing with is no laughing matter. There’s no guarantee he’ll be able to return ever again… A guy on my hockey team here in Taipei has myocarditis and he described the pain to me… No thanks. That said, my teammate is 60yrs old and still goes to the gym everyday.
How does Jack Eichel to Vegas change the equation for Edmonton and the Pacific Division?
- “Assuming Eichel fully recovers from the ADR surgery this Friday, he won’t play for months and the Golden Knights are already banged up, so the Oilers are clear favourites to win the division title. Even if/when Eichel does fully recover, I’m not convinced he’s the game breaker and difference maker some people think he is.” – Brownlee
BLH’s Thoughts: How will Jack Eichel look on a good team? That is the real question here. He’s not going to be the go-to guy in Vegas with the likes of Pietrangelo, Stone, and Pacioretty on the team too. And what happens if this trade sends the organization into a rebuild considering the team has gutted its future for the injury-riddled team they’ve got now.
The Daily Goal Horn
- Torts, 63, is currently on TV as part of ESPN’s hockey coverage. Although he is enjoying his time there, it’s clear what he wants to do… “I want to coach. I miss it already,” Torts said. “I’m a hockey coach and looking to get back into it.”… Two potential destinations are the Florida Panthers and Chicago Blackhawks.
- I have learned that two candidates that were discussed for the GM position are finalists for the Blackhawks…. Eddie Olcyck is in the running to become the next President of Hockey Operations and Jeff Gorton is under serious consideration for the General Manager position.
- The Rangers have lost three games in a row, two in OT, but are struggling to score at even strength… President and GM Chris Drury may opt to use his ample cap space sooner rather than later to get a top six right wing. Kessel and Tarasenko as previously mentioned fit the bill but I’m hearing Filip Forsberg in Nashville is a desired target.
- Per Luke Fox of Sportsnet, he relays recent reporting that Travis Dermott or Justin Holl are on the block.
