Edmonton Oilers Talk: Can a Toxic Fanbase be “Fixed”?

Coming from an Edmonton Oilers point of view, BLH provides you with excerpts from the latest NHL news, rumors, and speculation from all of the internet’s best sites including Spector’s Hockey, The Fourth Period, NHL Trade Talk, The Hockey Writers, Sportsnet, The Athletic, TSN and more!

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Oil on Whyte (Mallon)

The Edmonton Oilers Have a New Look But Are They Better?

Adding Zack Hyman, regardless of the term or dollars, makes Edmonton’s top six better today. He’s a big body (6’1″, 211lbs) who had consistently proven he can play with elite talent.
With players like Jujhar Khaira, Dominik Kahun, and Alex Chiasson out of the mix, Foegele, along with youngsters like Ryan McLeod, and the recently added Brendan Perlini, need to do what the past group simply could not, prevent the other team from outscoring Edmonton when McDavid and Leon Draisaitl aren’t on the ice.
Edmonton will almost definitely allow more goals against. While that’s generally a bad thing, the hope will have to be that they also score in bunches, canceling out any defensive gaffs.
(Mike) Smith seems to have rediscovered himself, and there’s a chance he can fill the main role once again. Koskinen, in limited starts, has the potential to win half of them for Edmonton. But the train will go off the rails if Edmonton’s now 39-year-old starter gets hurt. It’s a frighteningly plausible scenario, and barring the emergence of Stuart Skinner (who recently signed a two year extension) as a number one NHL goalie, Edmonton’s playoff hopes would immediately be in doubt.
Does Edmonton now have the team that will deliver them past the first round of the playoffs for only the second time in McDavid’s career?

BLH’s Thoughts: Wouldn’t it be something if the Oilers, who’ve brought in three former Toronto Maple Leafs who’ll play prominent roles on the team, make it past the first round before Kyle Dubas’ team does?

I’m not a huge fan of the team attempting to outscore their opposition and I’m not sure if that’s the plan at all. My feeling is that Tippett is going to clamp things down style-wise to mitigate the risk he’s got between the pipes and on defense. Connor and Leon are going to get their candies but the rest of the team might be tasked with playing as risk-free and as simple as possible.

Oilersnation

Monday Mailbag – Defencemen Getting Paid

What does everyone make of the giant contracts some defencemen are getting this offseason, especially with Nurse landing his own deal on Friday afternoon?

“It really feels like teams just don’t want to risk losing good, young defenseman and are willing to pay more than they were before to make sure they don’t get to market.”-Yaremchuk

With Zach Hyman now signed, could you see Dave Tippett keeping McDavid and Draisaitl together and having the new guy along RNH on the second line?

“Hyman-RNH-Puljujarvi could be a solid second line and I could see Tippett trying that trio to see what they do. If they play well and produce, then playing the Dynamic Duo more often is a big advantage. Colorado has loaded up their top line for a few years, same as Boston and they’ve had lots of regular season success.” – Gregor

Kailer Yamamoto didn’t have the best season in 2020-21. What does he need to do this upcoming season to ensure he rebounds because the Oilers need him to produce?

“I would be more worried about Yamamoto if he wasn’t getting chances but the guy was cursed in 2021 and just couldn’t cash to save his life. If he keeps working hard and busting his ass as he always has, I’d bet on seeing a bounce back year from Yamo.” – baggedmilk

What are the chances of Oliver Rodrigue or even Stuart Skinner ever playing for the big team?

“Historically most goalies have .920sv% or higher in the AHL, before they are recalled and become regular NHL goalies. Of course there are some exceptions, but Skinner will need to raise his sv%, which was .914 last year, to over .920 this season.” – Gregor

Going back to Jason Arnott, Oilers fans have criticized good to great oilers players to the point where many have decided to move on because of the negative environment. Or they’ve spoken about how tough it is to play here because of the negative fan attention. Arnott, Schultz, Petry, Larson, Bear and Eberle. Come to mind. Do you see this is a problem? How do we fix this?

- “There are plenty of markets in the NHL just as demanding as Edmonton, so we’re not alone and I’m not sure it’s something you can “fix… Negative attention from fans used to be largely limited to inside the rink or to the call-in shows on radio. Now, everybody, including the dim and perpetually angry, have their say in real time.” – Brownlee

BLH’s Thoughts: Almost every one of the ON writers who were asked this question said Edmonton wasn’t the only market that has fans like this and it is what it is, the players have to ignore it, and basically that it’ll never change, but my question is, why does it have to be that way in Edmonton?

Since Elliotte Friedman put it out there that UFAs are wary of playing in Canada because of the toxic ultras within each of the seven markets, I think there’s an opportunity for Edmonton (the hockey team and the fanbase) to flip the switch and create a more nurturing and caring experience for the players and how that could be done is the kind of conversation I’d like to listen to.

So I ask, why can’t the toxic portion of a fanbase be “fixed”? Why do we have to justify the actions of few because “it’s the same in other markets”? We don’t accept abusive behavior around our kids when they play hockey and if somebody went as far as to take things too far online with minors, there’d be ramifications, would there not? Could that same theory not be extended to a professional hockey team?

Lowetide.ca

MUNZENBERGER INTEL

Munzenberger is a big defenseman with good speed and shutdown ability. Since arriving in Edmonton as general manager, Ken Holland’s Oilers have drafted three defensemen. The two drafted inside the top 100 overall (Philip Broberg, Munzenberger) have size, speed and a defensive reputation. I expect we’re going to see a big, strong and mobile defense in Edmonton through the rest of the Holland era.

BLH’s Thoughts: This is what Bob Stauffer’s been saying for a couple of years since Philip Broberg was drafted. To become a championship caliber team, Edmonton’s defense needs to become bigger, more mobile, better at moving the puck, and smarter on the ice. The GM can always go out and grab a tough cycle breaker at the trade deadline on the cheap, but the quality must be drafted and developed from within.

NHLRumors.com

Eric Stephens of The Athletic: The Anaheim Ducks still have some money available this offseason if they want to spend. The prices for the remaining UFAs may come down as players may just want to make sure they have a team to play with next season.
Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun: The Toronto Maple Leafs are over the cap but don’t have to be cap compliant until the start of the season. They’ll need to waive some players or find a taker for forward Alex Kerfoot.
- Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly is entering the final year of his contract and will be looking for a raise from his current $5 million. A long-term extension could come in around $8 million per season.