Oilers vs Blackhawks Preview - Hamonic to Edmonton?

TALE OF THE TAPE:

Game: Edmonton Oilers (6-12-0) vs Chicago Blackhawks (10-7-1)

Location: Rexall Place, Edmonton, Alberta

Time: 7:30 PM MT

Where to find it: TV: Sportsnet One – Radio: 630 CHED

Edmonton Oilers Preview:

Hard to think about a pregame when there are rumours of the Oilers trading for a stud defenceman like Hamonic. None the less, the team must prepare to take on the Chicago Blackhawks for the second time in the last 10 days. The Oilers know what they face in the Blackhawks.

They are a fast, strong, high-scoring team that will basically impose their will on any team they like. A tough task for any team, the Oilers need to look to slow down the Blackhawks game. When we played them 10 days ago, the Oilers were in it to the end and outshot the Blackhawks by a total of 36-28.

Tonight, the Oilers hope that they can replicate their November 8th performance only this time, come out on top.

Walter Foddis’ Pregame Metrics

Addressing the Rumours

Earlier this afternoon, it was reported by Elliotte Friedman that Travis Hamonic has requested a trade to a Western Canadian team.

Very quietly, the New York Islanders are trying a manoeuvre a difficult situation — the possibility of trading Travis Hamonic…There’s a ton to like about this player. He’s a right-hand shot, top-pairing defenceman with four years remaining on a good-value contract.”

This could in fact be a huge opportunity for the Edmonton Oilers to improve off of what has been a tire fire of a defence for some time.

Currently, the 25-year old right handed shot Hamonic has four more years left on a deal that will pay him an AAV of $3.85 Million/yr. His numbers aren’t fantastic. Over his 347 game career, he has scored 115 points, 47% CF all at 22 minutes of ice time.

BLH feels that “acquiring Travis Hamonic would be a GIANT step in the right direction for the Oilers and it would show not only the fans but the NHL that Chiarelli means business and he’s not willing to sit on his hands unlike previous GMs.” You can expect an article from him soon covering this potential deal in more depth.

My belief Oilers and Isles have had talks as far back as September on Hamonic. A defenceman who can play now is likely needed in return.

— Ryan Rishaug (@TSNRyanRishaug) November 18, 2015

The Otherside:

Goalie Corey Crawford will start for Chicago, which is 2-5-0 on the road heading into its “Circus Trip” to Western Canada and California. Since coach Joel Quenneville took over in October 2008, the Blackhawks have made six November “Circus Trips” and gone 25-10-2, outscoring opponents 125-92. They’re 4-1-0 against the Oilers during that span and 11-2-0 overall on the trip the past two years, including 5-1-0 last season. “I certainly think your team gets a lot closer [during the trip], and with the number of new guys that we have, I think that’ll be a good experience for some,” Quenneville said. “The best thing about it [is] it’ll be a good test to find out how we can play consistently on the road in some real tough buildings.” – nhl.com

Line Combos and Starting Goalies:

Oilers (Anders Nilsson):

Oilers lineup c/o Left Wing Lock