Game 55 2022-23: Red Wings at Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers get to hit refresh this evening and erase memories from the weekend in Montreal. The team is home and dry, as rested as any team can be during the marathon NHL season, and the Detroit Red Wings (6-3-1 in their last 10) are a solid opponent. Edmonton is 10-3-3 since the beginning of January, and are in a good spot as long as the wins keep coming.

THE ATHLETIC!

• New Lowetide: Is Edmonton Oilers’ 7-11 alignment here to stay?
• Lowetide: The Oilers’ asset cost in an Erik Karlsson trade and why it’s worth it
• DNB: What I’m hearing about Oilers’ interest in trading for Sharks’ Erik Karlsson
• Lowetide: Will Oilers prospect Phil Kemp have an NHL career?
• Lowetide: Connor McDavid’s top Oilers linemates and what it could mean for trade plans
• DNB: Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland NHL trade deadline Q&A
• Lowetide: Three ways the Oilers could improve without a big trade deadline deal
• Lowetide: How the Oilers finally found the key to five-on-five outscoring
• DNB: With Kailer Yamamoto nearing a return, which Oilers could be salary-cap casualties?
• Lowetide: Oilers prospect Raphael Lavoie turns a corner, now NHL-ready
• Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers are about to start a major makeover at right wing
• New DNB: How Oilers’ Stuart Skinner learned to be a pro — and an NHL All-Star
• Lowetide: Is Edmonton Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft saving another season?
• DNB: Why Ryan Nugent-Hopkins matters more to the Oilers now than ever before
• Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers ride high-flying offence to strong January finish
• DNB: Are the Oilers actually good again or are they simply benefitting from an easy schedule?
• Lowetide: Oilers rookies Philip Broberg, Dylan Holloway arriving right on time
• Lowetide: 3 trades that could help the Oilers this season and beyond
• DNB: Oilers’ Zach Hyman subscriber Q&A
• DNB: What I’m hearing on Oilers’ trade deadline plans
• DNB: Oilers must act at the trade deadline
• Lowetide: Oilers top 20 prospects, winter 2022

WHAT TO EXPECT IN FEBRUARY

• On the road to: DET, PHI, OTT, MTL (Expected 3-1-0) (Actual 2-1-1)
• At home to: DET, NYR (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
• On the road to: COL (Expected 0-0-1) (Actual 0-0-0)
• At home to: PHI (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
• On the road to: PIT, CBJ (Expected 1-0-1) (Actual 0-0-0)
• At home to: BOS (Expected 0-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
• February expected result: 6-3-2, 14 points in 11 games
• February actual result: 2-1-1, 5 points in four games
• January actual result: 8-2-2, 18 points in 12 games
• December results: 7-6-2, 16 points in 15 games
• November results: 7-7-0, 14 points in 14 games
• October results: 6-3-0, 12 points in 9 games
• Oilers in 2022-23: 30-19-5, 65 points in 54 games

A win tonight puts Edmonton on a 101-points trajectory and at that point we’re talking the top (or near) of the Pacific Division. Edmonton has done a nice job over the last 20 games and another 20 like the most recent run (12-5-3, 27 points) will make the last two weeks of the season a time for rest.

PROSPECTS IN DEADLINE TRADES IN PURSUIT OF STANLEY, A RETROSPECTIVE

It’s damn rare, ladies. Here’s the list, I might have missed one or two.

• Walt Poddubny played in four NHL games before being dealt to the Toronto Maple Leafs in March 1982 (Laurie Boschman coming the other way) in the early days of the franchise.
• John Blum traded to the Boston Bruins in March 1984 for Larry Melnyk. Edmonton signed Blum out of the University of Michigan in the spring of 1981.
• Martin Rucinsky was traded in March of 1992 to the Quebec Nordiques for Ron Tugnutt.
• Jani Rita (and Cory Cross) was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Dick Tarnstrom in January of 2006.
• Tony Salmelainen was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks for Jaroslav Spacek, same day.

Do the Oilers have prospects with enough value for use in trade now? Yes, of course. I don’t think Philip Broberg or Dylan Holloway will be dealt, but Xavier Bourgault (who scored last night), Reid Schaefer, Raphael Lavoie (had an assist last night), Tyler Tullio (scored a dandy goal last night), Mike Kesselring and others have value. Markus Niemelainen could be in play since Vincent Desharnais is eating his lunch. The two quality Russian prospects (Maxim Berezkin, Nikita Yevseyev) could be of interest.

DEADLINE

Ken Holland should pursue Erik Karlsson to the ends of the earth. If that doesn’t work, checking down to Jakob Chychrun or Jake McCabe works for me. A RH center who can help out on the penalty kill would be good and increasingly I believe a scoring right-winger with scoring ability is a strong need. So, it’s 1. RHD; 2. RW; 3. RHC. Here is the addition and the list in total.

1. RD Erik Karlsson, San Jose Sharks. Karlsson is the only available name I see who could have a major impact in an area of weakness. He’s a sublime player with the puck on his stick, and when he’s on the ice the puck is 200 miles from danger. One of the things we do as fans is project players into a role and then get stubborn on anything that runs counter to our own bias. Karlsson is an impact possession player, he has a 53 percent shot share, a 55 percent goal share and a 57 percent expected goal share on a poor team. If you can buy into the idea that not playing defense because the puck isn’t in a dangerous area is a net positive, then the logic and reason of Karlsson comes into view. His relative possession stats are real real gone, too. I’m beyond pumped at the idea, even as I wonder how in the hell Holland could get this done. One thing I will say: There’s an analytics feel to this idea. Go Brad Holland! Helluva turn, boys. Music!
2. LD Jakob Chychrun, Arizona Coyotes. I’d do it unless the ask includes Philip Broberg. If it’s the first-round pick in 2023, plus say Xavier Bourgault, I’d do it. Lots of chatter Chychrun is heading to Boston or the Kings, both destinations make sense.
3. LD Jake McCabe, Chicago Blackhawks. He’s available, under control, doesn’t cost the moon and can help the Oilers. If the Oilers are going deep, eight blue will see action plenty through the postseason. McCabe is a strong option.
4. RW Brock Boeser, Vancouver Canucks. I know he’s expensive, but Vancouver might retain and Boeser with one of the skilled centers could spike in a quick hurry. The top two lines could roar with the addition of this player.
5. RW Ivan Barbashev, St. Louis Blues. He can play RW and the Oilers need some help there now. Skilled, versatile, playing some of the best hockey of his career.
6. RC Nick Bjugstad, Arizona Coyotes. He’s not the first guy I’d deal for on this list, but in some ways he is the best fit for Edmonton.
7. LC Lars Eller, Washington Capitals. The veteran isn’t going to deliver as much offensively as he has in the past, but he’s a smart two-way pivot who has utility.
8. RW Taylor Raddysh, Chicago Blackhawks. Edmonton’s RW depth chart with everyone healthy is Hyman, Yamamoto, Kostin, Ryan, with Jesse Puljujarvi waived and traded or in the minors. The injury worry surrounding Yamamoto is enough to motivate Ken Holland to add a useful player. I think Raddysh gives the team a few things and he’s scored well in his first big NHL chance. No one but me pays attention to rel numbers anymore, but Raddysh has good ones five-on-five.