Lightning at Oilers, G72 2025-26

This is the 1987 deadline. It was probably Glen Sather’s best one. He was at the top of his game as a GM, Lou Nanne foolishly kept taking his phone calls and every player acquired landed in a good spot on the roster. The 1987 Stanley Cup winners were the best team I’ve ever seen, and I believe they were the best team of all-time. Please read this.

Sather added three significant wingers at the 1987 deadline. Kent Nilsson would play on the second line with Mark Messier and Glenn Anderson, and the magic man thrived. Lacombe didn’t play much in 1987 for Edmonton, but he did get into plenty of action the following year. He was effective as a two-way type in his time on the Messier-Anderson line, and also played with Craig MacTavish on a line for a time. Lemay spent his time with Mike Krushelnyski, and I believe Marty McSorley based on scoring records. However, I can’t recall if McSorley was a forward or a defenseman that year. I do remember he was an emerging player in 1986-87, and suspect he played both positions.

What you get out of your trade acquisitions at the deadline won’t necessarily push the river (Nilsson was a complementary player on his line) but they have to make a difference.

WHAT TO EXPECT IN MARCH

• At home to: OTT, CAR (Expected 1-1-0) 1-1-0
• On the road to: VEG, COL, DAL, STL (Expected 2-2-0) 2-1-1 
• At home to: NAS, SJS, FLA, TBAY (Expected 2-1-1) 2-1-0
• On the road to: UTA, VEG (Expected 1-1-0)
• At home to: ANA, SEA (Expected 1-1-0)
• Expected Record: 7-6-1, 15 points in 14 games
• Actual Record: 5-3-1
• Season Record: 34-27-9, 77 points in 71 games

Edmonton’s acquisitions of Jason Dickinson, Colton Dach and Connor Murphy received generally positive reviews. We are a ways past the deadline now, how are these men doing? Here’s the tale of the tape.

• Jason Dickinson five-on-five: 1.19 points-60 (No. 9 among regulars); 33 percent goal share (No. 10 among regulars); 45 percent expected goals (last among regulars).

Dickinson plays 12:39 per night, that’s No. 7 (third line) among Oilers forwards since the deadline. You would like a little offense, but the 3-6 goal share at five-on-five at the deadline is a real problem. McDavid is 5-5, Draisaitl 5-4, Samanski 1-1. Only Adam Henrique (2-4 goals) is in the range with Dickinson. He needs to help outscore, the Oilers have plenty of forwards who can go 3-6 goals at five-on-five. Dickinson has played 16 PK minutes and has a clean slate. The minutes are No. 1 among Edmonton forwards since he arrived.

• Connor Murphy five-on-five: 17:24 TOI (No. 3 among regulars); 36 percent goal share (No. 3 among regulars); 44 percent expected goals (No. 4 among regulars).

Just two defensemen are making things work since the deadline and Murphy isn’t one of them. He is mid-pack and I don’t think it’s fair to frame his time in Edmonton as a failure. The numbers aren’t good despite a good eye test, but it’s early days. He plays two minutes a night on the PK (0-2 goals) and leads defenders in time-on-ice per game (PK) since the deadline.

• Colton Dach five-on-five: 3.89 points-60 leads the team but he’s only played three games and 5:15 per night so doesn’t qualify. He is 1-2 goals but 85 percent expected goals. Intriguing player.

Dach is intriguing. He should be included in the group that houses Samanski, Quinn Hutson and the other young players who lack draft pedigree but have emerged in their early 20’s as possible NHL regulars. Too soon to know on all of them.

The Oilers play the Lightning tonight. There’s something wrong with this team. I don’t know what it is, and speculation on my part doesn’t move the conversation forward. I think the best way to frame the current situation is this: I haven’t been this bewildered about the Edmonton Oilers since Pat Quinn was coach. I could write another 1,000 words about tonight’s game, but that one sentence does the job just as well. Someone needs to open up a window and let some air into that room.