Edmonton Oilers Talk: What has been One of the Oilers Largest Issues in Recent Years?

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Oilersnation

A Deep Dive into Edmonton’s Bottom-Six

One of the largest issues with Edmonton in the past has always been their lack of forward depth behind their two superstars.
Derek Ryan signing was among Holland’s best moves this offseason.
- a lot of his value comes from his stellar two-way play. He’s put up excellent shot suppression results in each of the past 3 years and is a reliable penalty-killer.
Foegele is a very good but unique player to me.
- He creates a lot of scoring chances, but he doesn’t always capitalize or finish on those chances.
- …he’s still a very strong offensive player, largely due to his tenacious forechecking abilities and speed.
Perlini is a player I’m somewhat unsure about.
- He’s never managed to have a positive impact at 5v5 in the NHL in any facet…
- one encouraging thing about him is that he’s had above average finishing results in each of the three years before 19-20…
Sceviour is also a pretty low-risk player like Perlini. One difference between the two of them is that Sceviour’s 5v5 results are much more encouraging.
- …he’s been an above-average player in driving scoring chances and possession in a limited role in Pittsburgh.
I don’t think Devin Shore should be a regular player on this deep forward core.
- He’s a pretty average penalty killer, and his possession results in 20-21 were near the worst of all time for Oilers players since 07-08…
Zack Kassian is pretty interesting to me…
- until he proves otherwise, he shouldn’t be getting a lot of time on ice in the top 9 over the current options available in my opinion.
- …he’s been outproduced by Kris Russell at 5v5 since his extension.
Turris is currently competing to play as a 4th line winger.
- Turris has always posted weak defensive results throughout his career. But, there is a chance he could play somewhat well in an offensive 12-13F role.
In those 10 games, McLeod proved to be a very defensively sound player and a strong skater.
- He didn’t produce much, but with McLeod on the ice at 5v5, the Oilers controlled 52% of the shot attempts and 53% of the expected goals.
Benson is a sneaky good playmaker as his biggest strength is his passing ability (Benson was 3rd in the AHL in assists last year), and I feel that his skating is not as poor as others say.
- deploying Benson alongside McLeod on the 4th line with less responsibility could turn out to be a very good idea.

BLH’s Thoughts: I think this is a fair debate to delve into because there’s been a ton of ink spilt talking about how good Edmonton’s bottom-six has improved with very little said about a potential worst-case scenario.

For example, last night vs. Calgary, I thought that Edmonton had a really tough time generating anything when Connor and Leon weren’t on the ice. I found their bottom-sixers were really challenged in the muck and when it came to exiting their own zone and crossing the Flames’ blue line for the first half of the match.

I don’t know what happened, but after Perlini scored, Calgary decided to let their foot off the pedal and the Oilers laid on theirs. It was at that point, everybody forgot about the shit start Duncan Keith and Cody Ceci had, LOL.

Anyways, getting back to the bottom six. It was Edmonton’s fourth line that got the scoring started for the Oilers and that has been a spot of bother for the team in the past. I’m concerned that expectations are rising for Perlini and I’d feel a lot better if he didn’t use up all his goals for the 2021-22 season before the meaningful games got started, but at the same time, I’m encouraged by how he, Turris, and Shore are performing.

So, today, the question is, can Foegele, Ryan, and Kassian join the party and start scoring? Would it be fair to consider that line one of Edmonton’s legitimate keys to its success in 2021-22?

The Hockey Writers

3 Oilers That Need to Step Up in Final 3 Preseason Games

Tyler Benson

Competition for roster spots is stiff at forward, and Benson has fallen behind the likes of Perlini, who has four goals and five points in four games, and Colton Sceviour, a versatile utility type who is in Edmonton on a professional tryout agreement (PTO).

William Lagesson

In the mix for the left slot on Edmonton’s third defensive pairing, Lagesson remains behind veteran Kris Russell, who has been recovering from injury but is hoped to make his preseason debut Thursday (Oct. 7). He’s also looking up the depth chart at 6-foot-2 Slater Koekoek, who can play both right or left side, meaning there may not even be a roster spot for Lagesson as a seventh or eighth defenceman. Like Benson, Lagesson is waiver eligible.

Ryan McLeod

McLeod is one of only two Oilers to suit up for every preseason game. The other is the auditioning Sceviour. So clearly, Tippett wants to get a serious look at McLeod and has a lot to consider with the 2018 second-round draft pick.
But thus far into the preseason, potential bottom-six centers Derek Ryan and Devin Shore have looked a lot better in the middle than McLeod, who has zero points in five games and a team-worst minus-3 rating.

BLH’s Thoughts: Kris Russell is going to get into the final two preseason games I reckon and I would have to think Lagesson will be waived and sent to Bakersfield. He’s had some decent showings against more veteran-laden lineups this preseason, but Coach Tippett won’t have him ahead of Russell or Koekkoek.

Benson and McLeod are going to get at least another game before training camp is over and my advice to them would be to leave it all on the line if they’ve got intentions of making the team. It’s possible they’re playing too careful and they need to take some risks to show the coaching staff what they’ve got.

NHLTradeRumors.com

JOONAS KORPISALO LIKELY TO BE TRADED

Brian Hedger of the Columbus Dispatch reports the Blue Jackets had a tough choice while mulling the risk of losing both as free agents next summer. The salary now invested in Merzlikins indicates he’s their pick going forward.
Hedger went on to say, even if Korpisalo outplays Merzlikins during the season, the Blue Jackets will likely not retain him.

LATEST FILIP FORSBERG TRADE RUMORS

Gentry Estes of the Nashville Tennessean reports to know the Nashville Predators’ true intentions, watch Filip Forsberg’s contract. Estes feels it would be better for the Preds to trade their star forward.
If things change and Forsberg is re-signed at some point before the trade deadline, the Predators will build upon the assets they have in Matt Duchene, Juuse Saros and Roman Josi.

WILL THE NEW JERSEY DEVILS TRADE FOR SOME OFFENSIVE HELP?

Anthony DiMarco of The Fourth Period reports the Devils will enter the season with more than $12 million in salary cap space and, if all things remain equal, project to have just under $62 million in space come the NHL Trade Deadline. The salary cap space will allow the Devils to make some big moves.
DiMarco went on to say, the Devils’ centre-ice position is extremely young with Nico Hischier, Jack Hughes and Pavel Zacha. It would not be shocking to see Fitzgerald try to insulate his young pivots with some experience, even if on the wing.