The Edmonton Oilers are not impressing anyone these days. A 1-3-0 start has the team firmly ensconced in the second division of the Western Conference and it’ll take a month of Sundays (good Sundays!) to move up the standings. How did things get this way? Will the new lines make things better?
THE ATHLETIC LEAD STORY IS HERE!
THE ATHLETIC!
- New Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers’ third line showing promise but not scoring yet
- New DNB: Oilers, in early-season disarray, left searching for answers: ‘It’s just unacceptable’
- Lowetide: What we’ve learned about the Oilers in the NHL season’s first week
- Lowetide: How can Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft solve the team’s early issues?
- Lowetide: Why the Edmonton Oilers’ AHL team is set up for 2023-24 success
- DNB: Several Oilers defensive issues remain despite Mattias Ekholm’s return
- Lowetide: How the Edmonton Oilers’ Connor Brown contract could impact roster decisions
- DNB: Stanley Cup-aspiring Oilers have a long way to go after ‘big gut punch’ in season opener
- Lowetide: Why the Oilers’ opening-night roster is short two foundational pieces
- DNB: Why Raphael Lavoie didn’t make the Oilers and other roster questions ahead of regular-season opener
- Lowetide: Oilers’ Brady Stonehouse signing an important indicator for the future
- Lowetide: Why the Oilers’ veteran-laden AHL team offers better depth
WHAT TO EXPECT IN OCTOBER
- On the road to: VAN (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-1-0)
- At home to: VAN (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-1-0)
- On the road to: NAS, PHIL (Expected 2-0-0) (Actual 1-1-0)
- At home to: WPG (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- On the road to: MIN (Expected 0-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- At home to: NYR, CAL (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- Overall expected result: 6-2-0, 12 points in 8 games
- Actual October results: 1-3-0, 2 points in 4 games
- Oilers in 2023-24: 1-3-0, 2 points in 4 games
I’m disappointed in Jay Woodcroft, but still believe he’s a good coach. I think the Oilers now have become similar to the team in the Craig MacTavish era. MacT eschewed young players, especially high draft picks, and preferred more mature rookies (Shawn Horcoff, Dan Lacouture, Fernando Pisani, Jason Chimera had to wait a couple of years) in the years before the Sam Gagner rebuild (1.0) began. He did play kids out of the box (Mike Comrie, Ales Hemsky) but they were exceptional talents.
When Woodcroft got to town, he went to town increasing the talent pool by playing youths. Since his arrival, rookies who have played for him include Ryan McLeod, Stuart Skinner, Philip Broberg, Dylan Holloway, Vincent Desharnais, Markus Niemelainen and James Hamblin.
That’s some good talent. Skinner was a finalist for the Calder Trophy, McLeod is coming into his own as as No. 3 center (that’s a key role) and I do think Broberg and Holloway will have solid if unspectacular careers.
Woodcroft HS’d Broberg for the Philly game and has Dylan Holloway in the middle on the fourth line as of yesterday’s practice.
- Hyman-McDavid-Draisaitl
- Janmark-RNH-Foegele
- Kane-McLeod-Brown
- Erne-Holloway-Ryan
- Nurse-Ceci
- Ekholm-Bouchard
- Kulak-Desharnais/Broberg
- Skinner (Campbell)
Holloway on the fourth line is outrageous based on his first games. I understand the idea of moving Kane down the depth chart, he has struggled. However, elevating Mattias Janmark (and I do like Janmark as a two-way winger) over Holloway is a MacT move for sure. Holloway and McLeod with Brown hasn’t scored, but Brown is still finding his legs and adding Kane to the trio isn’t going to help based on recent results.
I don’t know for sure, but it’s possible Woodcroft’s decision making has been altered by the struggles against Vegas. He’s being too careful now. I don’t think he’s playing a winning hand with this lineup. Edmonton can win tonight, but the coach’s decisions on deployment are not optimal. Jay Woodcroft is on the highway to the danger zone.
I am going to guess we are headed into the ‘ moral victory ‘ phase of Oilers fandom…..
“Didn’t appear to be anything…. it appeared to be more musculare to me. We’ll see, I’ll have more information tomorrow.” – Woody on McDavid
Connor Brown had a night. 1.13 xgf%.
5 games. O points. Minus 4.
Interesting to see if his GP bonus vests
The Oilers would be prudent if they demoted him before that bonus vests if his performance doesn’t improve.
He’s been all but invisible.
It almost certainly will.
This may be true, but he should be demoted. He’s got nothing. Go to Bakersfield and see if he can find his game.
The coach is at fault for overplaying McDavid and Draisaitl. No pop or energy left for overtime. Play more more players, and get contributionis from more players.
And if a player is clearly gasaed from too mluch ice time, why is the coach putting him out there in overtime.
Hindsight is great.
Do you play to win, or play to get to overtime?
On a lighter note. https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cx6j_BiriAO/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Skinner played well, other team had the better mostly goalie still. What can ya do.
Agreed … until that 2nd goal … that one was a stinker. We had a lot of good chances, just couldn’t find the back of the net, no thanks to Helle.
Let’s look on the bright side … we are in the drivers seat for the #1 overall pick in the upcoming draft.
Oilers 1st round pick has never been better.
Bieksa speculates hip pointer for McDavid and says him pulling out is a sign of maturity.
hopefully it’s nothing major.
PANIC, I am not panicking. Not panicking at all. McDavid was just giving the Jets a chance he’s not injured.
I don’t want to sound overly critical of Leon, he’s a generational talent, but his lethargic demeanor on the ice looks exceptionally bad there as Scheiffele just out energies him to be wide open in front.
In fairness, Leon played nine seconds more than Darnel Nurse.
23:40 is a lot of minutes for a forward.
I think 3 of that was in OT – he was just over 20 minutes at the end of regulation – kind of the right amount, really.
Jets used that exact same play the shift before and soft as butter Bouchard went with his man to the net but did absolutely nothing to disrupt the Jet. It’s a structured play of the Jets that the Oilers could not defend.
Skinner played well except for the give away. Nuge had a great game. Draisaitl did not.
slip sliding away
lucy’s pulling the football
I think the story you’re looking for is chicken little.
Vegas 6-0.
Are you trying to purposefully antagonize?
. . . If you have to ask the question.
Scheifele schooled Drai when slipping that coverage. Perfect path to escape and open the opportunity for that tip-in. Solid game by EDM that was turned into a loss on the back of that Skinner error.
Unsure how difficult the task is to slip Leon’s D coverage…..was certainly a great goal by the Jets.
The Edmonton Oilers. A team in the NHL.
Embarrassing OT for Drai
We got goalied again.
Skinner actually played well except for the short handed goal.
That’s all it takes to get “goalied” & lose
Skinner rocked .889 and I believe it was much lower after the brutal 2nd goal.
Whatever happens in OT, I think it’s a good result for the oilers. Shame about the Skinner brain fart but he was excellent otherwise. Showing improvement in his hands.
I hope McDavids ok!
3v3 is fun but a random game state. They had their chances. Shame cause Skinner played great.
McDavid being hurt is less than ideal – wonder if this is new or if he’s been dealing with some hand, wrist, arm thing all year given his poor puckhandling on the season?
Looks like a hip to me.
That was an inch from being too many men on the Oilers – lucky.
McLeod and Kane have not been good tonight.
I liked McLeod tonight, I’ll be interested to see the stats after.
Skinner saves Kane’s ass (with some luck on the Ehlers’ bobble).
Not much, but that’s a nice pass by Brown there.
Wow did you see how fast Broberg got to that puck behind the net?
Bourgault buries a rebound off a Dineen point shot with about 20 seconds left but its not enough as the Condors drop the game, 3-2.
Leon is a turnover machine
This team just isn’t scary with Leon & McD on the same line….
What happens when the nuclear option fails to work?
They’re playing like the team that was swept by Jets. Woof…
It’s like they’re hungover every night.
Condors with insane pressure – Wanner gets the puck at the right circule and a BEAUTIFUL cross-seem pass to Hamblin for a wide-open net.
I’m waiting to see a replay but it may have been one of the best saves I’ve seen in a LONG time.
Summarizing!
Lachance scored his first two NCAA goals along with 5 SOG in an 8-2 romp; both were ES tallies. (His assist was later take away.)
Akey procured an aPPle in a losing effort.
That moment of indecision ruined what was a fantastic period for Skinner, thought he made some good saves and was solid.
what’s happened to Mcdavid’s puck handling ? something is off. passed into skates, bobbling it, mishandling it. Weird.
All season long – he’s been very poor with the puck in the middle of the ice.
Mike Smith would be proud.
That would’ve been one of the most skilled backhand goals of all time had Drai connected.
Tend the goal
Now there;s a typical Oiler goal against
Time of period… check
Powerplay… chack
Buffoonery… double check
The sloppiness of this team is very 2010. Barf
That was a great pass inside by McDavid.
Great no-look by Connor gets the puck to the crease but no shotski results.
The number of poor McDavid giveaways in the middle of the ice on the PP for the season is starting to add up.
Something is really off with his puck handling so far.
Can Kozari kindly frig off
Good gord these penalties….
Principal Skinner has looked good but they’re playin’ with fire with these penalties
^ Did not age well.
Lol
even the PK looks (mostly) good
Condors getting pumped on flow of play but score one against the flow – a wonderful play in the slot by McKegg but they give it right back (which I missed and am not re-winding).
Lavoie loses his man in the nigh slot who take the pass from behind the net and buries it.
Condors down 1-0 early in the 2nd.
Darnell Nurse was VERY good in that first period.
Both Broberg and Deharnais played under 2 minutes at 5 on 5 (and about 3:30 each overall).
Feeling quite unlucky not to have a 3 goal lead coming out of that period.
NST has the 5 on 5 expected goals in the 90% range.
Lordy I am loving the pace tonight. That PP looks every bit as dangerous as last year or even more so!!
Hard to believe this is the same team that played the Flyers the other night.
Singer is just so second rate. Plz someone explain to me how he’s better than Kevin Quinn … and he gets the national broadcast….
I miss Cole followed by Cuthbert. (Dating myself)
I think he’s great. Has improved greatly over the past few years. Glad he has had the opportunity to grow.