2021-22 Game 77: Stars at Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars have a long history together. In 1984, when the Oilers had just moved Mark Messier to center and were mere weeks from the first Stanley in team history, the glory Oilers romped 4-0 past the Minnesota North Stars in the Campbell Conference Finals. Loved that team. Larry Melnyk came over in March, he was a champion a few weeks later.

1991, a loss to Minnesota, 1997, a win! and then losses in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2003. It’s a wonder the Oilers don’t make the Stars dress at the LRT station and walk to Rogers Place.

Edmonton is hoping to go deep again, it’s been five years since 2016-17. Dallas? Finals in 2020. Either of these teams could go deep or get flushed quickly. It’s an uncertain year in the NHL.

THE ATHLETIC!

• New Lowetide: Connor McDavid’s outscoring reaches peak with Jay Woodcroft as Oilers coach
• Lowetide: Is Ken Holland’s unusual approach to team building close to success for Oilers?
• Lowetide: Recent rash of injuries to Oilers prospects a familiar story
• Lowetide: Ryan McLeod’s comparables are encouraging for young Oilers centre
• DNB & Lowetide: Why the Jesse Puljujarvi criticism in Edmonton misses the mark
• Lowetide: Evan Bouchard’s deployment is working, despite play in Wild loss
• Lowetide: Evander Kane’s scoring prowess and what he brings the Oilers
• DNB: Connor McDavid’s Hart case
• DNB: Dylan Holloway call-up? Jay Woodcroft extension? Zack Kassian trade? Oilers mailbag
• Lowetide: Stock up or down for every prospect in the Oilers system
• Lowetide: Making the final call on the Oilers 2017 draft
• Lowetide: Early look at Oilers free-agent targets for 2022 offseason
• DNB: Should Oilers budget for Evander Kane beyond this season?
• Lowetide: 7 Condors who could impact Oilers’ fortunes in the playoffs
• DNB: How Jesse Puljujarvi, as a player and person, became perfect fit for Oilers
• Lowetide: Revisiting the Oilers’ choice of Evan Bouchard in the 2018 draft
• Lowetide: Oilers top 20 prospects, winter 2021

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM APRIL

• At home to: STL (Expected 0-0-1) (Actual 1-0-0)
• On the road to: ANA, SJS, LAK (Expected 2-1-0) (Actual 3-0-0)
• At home to: COL (Expected 0-1-0) (Actual 0-0-1)
• On the road to: MIN, NAS (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 1-1-0)
• At home to: VEG, DAL, COL (Expected 1-2-0) (Actual 1-0-0)
• On the road to: CBJ, PIT (Expected 1-1-0) Actual 0-0-0)
• At home to: SJS, VAN (Expected 2-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
• Overall expected result: 7-6-1, 15 points in 14 games
• Actual April results: 6-1-1, 13 points in 8 games
• Oilers in 2021-22: 44-26-6, 94 points in 76 games

It’ll long be forgotten by the fall, but in a real way Edmonton’s start to April allowed the team to rise above the rest and spend much of the home stretch above the worry. The 6-1-1 record could have been 4-3-1 (as predicted) and Edmonton’s lead would have been non-existent over the teams chasing. The magic number after last night is five. This is the good stuff.

THIS IS IT

This is it, you know. A quick exit and who knows what happens, but a strong showing in the postseason would mean progress and, perhaps as important, no need for turnover. The Oilers win a round, push deep in the second round and maybe ride a hot goalie to the final four. The recent games suggest a buy-in on what the coaching staff is saying, and the goaltending looks better than could have been hoped for based on long stretches of the season. The big item during the offseason is to return a roster that is better than the one currently playing in these games. It’s important to get better. Let me give you an example via two teams you remember. Let’s begin with the roster that met the Anaheim Ducks in Game 1, Round 2 of the 2017 playoffs:

• Patrick Maroon-Connor McDavid-Leon Draisaitl
• Milan Lucic-Nuge-Jordan Eberle
• Drake Caggiula-Mark Letestu-Zack Kassian
• Benoit Pouliot-David Desharnais-Anton Slepyshev
• Oscar Klefbom-Adam Larsson
• Andrej Sekera-Kris Russell
• Darnell Nurse-Matt Benning
• Cam Talbot (Laurent Brossoit)
• (Eric Gryba, Griffin Reinhart, Iiro Pakarinen, Mark Fayne, Matt Hendricks, Anton Lander, Jujhar Khaira, Jordan Oesterle, Nick Ellis, Joey Laleggia)

Talbot was brilliant, McDavid was fire and this Oilers team was very close to moving on to the third round. Flawed, young in some important spots, but there’s talent here. Move Draisaitl to center, hope Anton Slepyshev and Drake Caggiula continue to get better, and Jesse Puljujarvi jumps on to the roster and makes an immediate difference. Here’s the opening night roster following season.

• Patrick Maroon-Connor McDavid-Leon Draisaitl
• Milan Lucic-Nuge-Kailer Yamamoto
• Drake Caggiula-Ryan Strome-Jussi Jokinen
• Jujhar Khaira-Mark Letestu-Zack Kassian
• Oscar Klefbom-Adam Larsson
• Darnell Nurse-Eric Gryba
• Kris Russell-Matt Benning
• Cam Talbot (Laurent Brossoit)
• (Yohann Auvitu, Iiro Pakarinen)

The top line remains the same, Kailer Yamamoto replaces Jordan Eberle (!!!), and Jesse Puljujarvi doesn’t see the NHL until Remembrance Day. Jussi Jokinen was a free-agent signing that didn’t work out. Matt Benning was an impressive add, he had a great rookie year. Eric Gryba wasn’t what was needed, still think the Oilers should have given Yohann Auvitu a longer look. I don’t think this roster is better, and it isn’t just because Andrej Sekera is hurt. You?

CURRENT OILERS

These are the men about to enter the postseason, worries include goaltending (injury, can Smith sustain?) and five-on-five outscoring (I wrote about this at The Athletic today, seems to me Woodcroft-Manson have cured the problem but if it shows up it’ll be in the playoffs). If Tippett were still coach, I’d list him as a worry. Although his regular season coaching drove fans crazy, for me splitting up the Draisaitl line against Chicago and then benching some defensemen while stretching others to ridiculous minutes suggests Tippett wasn’t one of those “let’s stay with what got us here” fellows. Woodcroft-Manson might not be any better, the first test is to come, but based on their actions since February I’d say Edmonton fans should be heartened. Here’s what the team might look like next season.

POSSIBLE 2022-23 ROSTER

I didn’t do much here, dealt Tyson Barrie for Evander Kane replacement and signed all the RFA’s to one-year deals. Kulak for two but that isn’t important. The youngsters (Broberg, Skinner, Samorukov, Holloway) should be able to handle the jobs, and I’m not sure how well Kubalik will do the job so maybe Holloway slides in.

LOWDOWN WITH LOWETIDE

At 10 this morning, TSN1260, we preview the Oilers-Stars and more. Bruce McCurdy from the Cult of Hockey at the Edmonton Journal will discuss Edmonton’s chances against the Los Angeles Kings in the first round. We’ll also chat Blue Jays and Raptors. 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. See you on the radio!