Since Kris Knoblauch and his staff took over the coaching of Edmonton Oilers, the team’s ability to identify issues and quickly overcome them is a key to overall success.
Knoblauch is the first Oilers coach to guide the club to the Stanley Cup final since MacT in 2006. He’s also one of four (MacT, plus Glen Sather and John Muckler) to get the Oilers that far.
This season, the team has been more focused on goal suppression, with the strategy impacting both offense and defense. Is it worth it?
WHAT TO EXPECT IN FEBRUARY
- At home to: TOR (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-1-0)
- On the road to: STL, CHI (Expected 2-0-0) (Actual 2-0-0)
- At home to: COL (Expected 0-1-0) (Actual 0-1-0)
- On the road to: PHI, WAS, TBY, FLA (Expected 2-2-0) (Actual 0-2-0)
- Overall expected results: 5-3-0, 10 points in 8 games
- February result: 2-4-0
- Oilers in 2024-25: 34-19-4, 72 points in 57 games
The Oilers are on pace for 104 points, a total that will get them into the playoffs easily while also being zero threat for the Pacific Division crown. In all honesty, shutting down Leon Draisaitl is impossible but the rest of the roster is a Sunday drive so far this month.
Everyone knows they are trying hard, but the number of players who can’t score and or outscore on the Connor McDavid line is truly shocking.
NUMBERS WITH 97 (PTS-60; GOAL SHARE) (FIVE-ON-FIVE)
- Leon Draisaitl: 3.93; 63 pct
- Vasily Podkolzin 2.94; 67 pct
- Viktor Arvidsson 2.08; 29 pct
- Connor Brown: 1.91; 43 pct
- Zach Hyman 1.52; 57 pct
- Kasperi Kapanen 1.5; 40 pct
- Corey Perry 1.35; 44 pct
- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins 1.29; 53 pct
- Jeff Skinner 0.98;11 pct
What an absolute dog’s breakfast. Holy crap. I wonder if Knoblauch’s suppression system has taken the heart out of McDavid’s game. I have zero evidence, and injury is the first thing that rolls around in my brain, but holy hell what a mess. Now, let’s look at McDavid’s numbers with each of these men.
97 NUMBERS WITH: (PTS-60; GOAL SHARE) (FIVE-ON-FIVE)
- w/Leon Draisaitl: 3.21; 63 pct
- w/Zach Hyman: 2.82; 57 pct
- w/Ryan Nugent-Hopkins: 2.26; 53 pct
- Kasperi Kapanen 2.26; 40 pct
- Vasily Podkolzin 1.96; 67 pct
- Corey Perry 1.35: 44 pct
- Connor Brown 1.27; 43 pct
- Viktor Arvidsson 1.04; 29 pct
- Jeff Skinner 0.98; 11 pct
McDavid was 4.05 points-60 with Hyman last season, boasting a 67 percent goal share. The McDavid-Hyman duo is the best available past the Glimmer Twins on the ice together, but the goal scoring is way down.
Important to note the minutes: 97-Hyman (553); 97-Nuge (372); Draisaitl (336); Connor Brown (94); Corey Perry (89); Kapanen (80); Skinner (61); Podkolzin (61); Viktor Arvidsson (57).
At five-on-five this season, Edmonton is 2.62 GF and 2.39 GA (52 pct). Last year, those numbers were 2.9 GF and 2.3 GA (56 pct). The goal suppression efforts have delivered very little in actual goal suppression. Meanwhile, the scorers are off the pace by enough for this to be a concern.
Edmonton’s previous coaches during the McDavid-Draisaitl era let the horses run, but I’m hopeful Knoblauch stays the course and insists on structure and usage of the middle part of the ice for breakouts as an option.
I don’t have an answer for the McDavid line dilemma. I also don’t understand why the Glimmer Twins are scoring at last year’s rates. They are 4.46-60 and 63 percent this year at five-on-five, last year it was 4.89-60 and 64 percent.
My list of possible issues are injury, Hyman falling back to earth, Nuge no longer getting to plays (speed issues), McDavid’s natural tendency to pass instead of shoot, the coaching staff preferring battles along the wall to the freewheelin’ Connor McDavid.
I am impressed with Knoblauch and his staff. Their ability to MacGyver a solution to problems over the piece is a big storyline for this team. It’s possible Knoblauch is meeting his Everest.
A busy day on the Lowdown, as we tee up tonight’s Oilers game. We hit the airwaves at noon, Sports 1440. Daniel Nugent-Bowman at The Athletic will join us, we’ll chat Toronto Blue Jays and MLB Cactus and Grapefruit baseball, and the NBA. I’m at Lowetide on twitter, in the comments section here and on the Sports 1440 text line at 1.833.401.1440 directly. We can be heard at sports1440.ca; iHeartRadio, Radioplayer Canada, it’s available post-show on apple and spotify, and we tweet it out on X.
The top breakout players in the NHL this season:
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6145570/2025/02/25/nhl-most-improved-players-2024-2025/
Holloway tops the charts.
“presented in no particular order.”
lol
That’s low, even for you Mr. Hair.
Oh, he can and has gone lower before. This is one of the mildest examples.
The summer spending spree that netted Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner and resulted in Henrique resigning, came at the expense of having the cap space to take care of Holloway and Broberg.
Broberg would have been an overpaid 3rd pairing d-man on the Oilers, but we are going to regret losing Holloway for years to come.
Any articles concerning Rafferty or Colborne?
I would like to take Holloway’s Grandmother out for a nice seafood dinner and then never call on her again!
LT talking about the deadline. A winger a top 4 RD have been a thing for a while. I’m starting to think the need a 3C with some pace as a top priority, that can at least tread water
Henrique is far better served on wing now. A good player still, but the team needs another line that can pressure and speed helps do that at least on the forecheck. That’s not Henri or Nuge
Still more needs than assets. Maybe they pull a 180 and everyone plays up to norms and it’s not so bad to close out. Yikes
JG Pageau would fit the bill nicely.
Good boots, RHC, defensively responsible, not a black hole offensively.
Might be available as well. I don’t know much about his style of game
His PuckIQ is really strong, but he makes 5M and has a year more. Could shake some things up to fit him in
Knob has yet to lose 4 in a row.
I’m betting on blue and orange tonight.
Lowetide is fortunate that Seth Jones wants Dallas, not Edmonton, because otherwise one could see
Bouchard and Kane (regardless of injury status) for Jones (retained to $7 million).
@dstaples
Oilers GM Stan Bowman tells Frank Seravalli that he wants clarity on Evander Kane’s injury situation by March 1.
Funny that.
That’s first day Kane’s No Movement Clause ends, can be traded to one of 16 teams.
Well, obviously.
This season they are 8th in GF and 12th in GA, 9th in Goal Diff
Last season 4th in GF and 10th in GA, 5th in Goal Diff, even after a far worse start
They aren’t more defensive or better at it comparatively, they have lost offense. It’s more than Foegele’s 20 goals being gone
I wouldn’t want to be Stan right now, talk about pressure given expectations
Combined with mediocre goaltending no wonder so many games are a struggle
I would say the number one thing the coaches need to do is get the paddles out and on offensive strategy
“The game’s changed. They think there’s defending in today’s game. Nah, it’s how much you have the puck.” – some guy
They have the puck a lot, isn’t working
Is this 5v5? Special teams have been a factor this season also
It’s all strengths. At the end of the day you have to put it all together
Prospectulu!
‘Tis a different tandem what takes the spotlight tonight, and ’tis south of the 49th.
The Terriers of BU are the only ranked team to house NAmateurs, #10 in NCAA Div-1.
Lachance’s empty-netter has him 4th in team scoring (31 GP, 10-15-25) while Copponi is 8th (31 GP, 4-14-18). Will the latter’s senior campaign be enough to get him signed? Only the Oilers braintrust has the answer.
Puck drops @ 5 p.m. Elkford (BC) time.
The ebb and flows of a season are in full display right now. Every team has them and you only hope that the down part of a micro-cycle in a season are few and far between.
While I’ve never coached at the NHL level, I do know that seasonal and even yearly planning are a key to any coaches success or failure. If you’re Knoblauch, hopefully you’ve planned for this. I know that personally, January is a long month for minor hockey. The kids are numb due to the long break, parents are a little edgy, because, well, January, and whatever momentum you gained or lost just before Christmas, is gone. I always try my best to find some exhibition games at this point, hopefully against opponents out of your division/league. It’s just a fresh look and a chance to see the improvement in your squad. You hope for a win and if you do win, you build on that momentum. February then becomes a month of excitement as the players themselves often see the improvement in their game. It is an exciting time for coaches.
I look at the Oilers now and I see the frustration in this team. The media amplifies it, the fans demand changes, and all the old grudges (poor goal tending, defense, lack of forward depth) all come to the surface, and it is not a fun time. As someone who coaches kids, I certainly don’t have the media stirring the pot, our biggest fan is Teddybear, who is the unofficial mascot (a grandparents pooch who comes to all our games), and the parents for the most part are pretty casual (at least on the surface). After all, we are a girls team playing in a boy division and we finished 0-16. No one if going to fire me and my job is to keep it as fun as I can while teaching the basics of a breakout all while teaching basic skating skills.
Where does this leave the Oilers now? Well, build on the positives, try to rally the team, and work through whatever is ailing the team (I’m not convinced McDavid is 100% and I’m not convinced this is a new injury), and try to find the magic once again. As tough as this road trip has been so far, being on the road is a good chance to iron out the kinks as there are far less distractions on the road. Sell the short time frame as in we only have ____ games left _____ periods, ______minutes ________ shifts, until we get home.
The bottom line to me is that this is still a good hockey team, and I sure hope they don’t mortgage the future for a short term gain.
That’s just my words from a very sleep deprived, taken in too many zamboni fumes brain.
I like it. This is a good, talented team. This coach has shown his capabilities. These are the times that test us – the team, management, the fans. Not a time for panic.
I would like to see Connor work on having fun. Take a load off Connor. Enjoy the game.
Nailed it. First thing KK did when he came in was get everyone to calm down and enjoy playing again. Connor gets would up, 4 Nations didn’t help, needs to chill and just play
Can’t win the Cup right now, first things first
McDavid took part in the optional morning skate today.
I expect him to lead this team tonight.
Jeff Skinner & John Klingberg are in the press box tonight. Janmark & Stecher draw in.
Arvidsson-McDavid-Hyman
Podkolzin-Leon-Savoie
Janmark-Nuge-Brown
Kapanen-Henrique-Perry
Ekholm-Bouchard
Nurse-Stecher
Kulak-Emberson
Skinner
Back to basics, except for Skinner sitting to enable Savoie to get his trial.
I don’t think a contender can run both Bouchard and Klingberg. It was a worthwhile gamble, but Klingberg is really only Bouchard injury insurance.
This is what MacT was saying last night on ON w/Stauffer as well.
Agree that it was worth the gamble. No assets lost to make the deal, so low risk, high reward. If it doesn’t work, you haven’t lost a thing.
I disagree, I think Klingberg could fit well with a low-event 3L or 4L facing the soft parade to provide a bit of an offensive punch to a unit that lacks finishers up front.
If so, he needs some PP reps
Reward for Skinner scoring his 11th of the season last game, forward leading 3 shots and one of only 3 plus players.
Still working him to lift the boat anchor.
The 11 goals might as well all be ‘unassisted’ given who he has to drag around.
Look, I’m not sure he is the right fit, but the guy is doing everything he can to earn trust. Take out the slow start, adjusting to a new team, he’s actually +3 since the start of Dec.
Knoblauch is losing me. And fast.
Unwilling to confront struggles by those who have been entrenched (the powerplay as a for instance), and unable to see the weaknesses and weak play in his favorites.
Not good.
He literally has called out everyone not named Leon Draisaitl.
Nuge was the only player making anything work on the PP with Leon when McDavid was out.
Unable to see weaknesses and weak play in his favorites.. So dishonest.
Literally has everyone moving up and down the lines, rotates forwards in and out of the line up, never scared to start his backup.
One game McDavid has Podkolzin/Kapanen another game has Arvidsson/Hyman as his wingers.
Let’s ignore reality and stomp feet because he isn’t doing whatever it is you’d like. Whatever that is.
Good times.
Bouchard is the problem on the power play. He has been unable to adjust to teams figuring him out. Is he going to figure out how to adjust by taking him off the power play?
Draisaitl, McDavid, Skinner, Perry, Ekholm
Kapanen, Hopkins, Hyman, Bouchard, Klingberg
Even just for a few games.
Serious question: what has Kapanen done to warrant any such opportunity?
He’s a strong shooter with speed who has shown the ability to make plays that would help the powerplay.
I certainly wouldn’t have popped him to line 1.
Yet he’s also getting roundly outscored, pretty consistently making pretty glaring errors and doesn’t really seem to think the game at a high level. That aside, he’s pretty bad at puck battles by my eye. Seems we’re seeing this player very differently.
I agree that there’s no planet he should’ve been popped on L1, though.
McDavid and Draisaitl understand how important Nugent-Hopkins is to the power play. If they wanted somebody else, there would suggest trying somebody else.
They can talk again when they’re #1 in the league. Sather wouldn’t have stood for this.
They’re sitting Klingberg tonight, maybe they sit Bouchard next game depending on his performance.
I think Gulatzan is part of the problem, have for years. They don’t set up anything much except look for Drai. Allegedly they have many plays for the PP, it sure doesn’t look like it especially when they are struggling. They need set plays to free up Bouch so that there are two shooting threats, and to fall back on when the ‘pond hockey’ isn’t happening
I’m having concerns as well. In any sport how many of the truly great players don’t win at least one championship? I think it’s rare
Great teams usually have a coach to match. In hockey Sather, Arbour, Bowman, Cooper and others. Coaches that are out front leaders and get teams humming and keep them humming. 10 years into Connor’s career the best coach was a defensive leaning guy who couldn’t take a stacked perennial league top team there in McLellan
Other than passive or poor GMing I see it as one of the limiting factors on what should be one of the great teams. That has passed by now, but they could at least make some noise back half of Connor’s career
There’s a very good coach sitting at home who knows how to do it and can handle coaching players like they have. I have no more patience to waste more time, I’d make the change right now. There are only so many prime seasons left. He might prove me wrong but I am back to thinking Knobby might be too passive for this type of team, possibly the NHL. Put him with a normal team and I wonder how he’d look? Decent but not with his Oilers record driven mostly by having elite players
1) Before the season started, I predicted the Oilers would make it no further than the WCF, and was close to predicting they’d lose a close series in the second round. I felt the team was worse than it was a year ago and, even setting aside the poor last month or so, still feel the same way about the team.
2) That being said, I don’t think the team is in need of a massive, franchise-altering shake-up. I’d like to see them keep Stu and Bouchard, hopefully extend the latter this summer at a reasonable number and bank on a return to form. Deadline additions should be rentals that will not come at the expense of next year’s/2026-27’s roster. Donato, Vemelka, and Jokiharju would be my ideal deadline if it could be done without giving up Savoie/Akey/O’Reilly/a 1st (big if).
3) The biggest need for me at the deadline is figuring out non-Draisaitl solution at LW to play with McDavid. When this team can trot out McDrai for 40+ minutes a night, and their lines are out-scoring at a >55% rate, a lot of this team’s flaws can be offset. 97’s “struggles” this year are very concerning.
4) LT’s article about eye-test/analytics for Stu/Bouchard is bang on. Both are having down years that present some legitimate questions/issues both players need to sort out, but neither has fallen off to a point the team should be moving on from them. It’s smart to hold onto both players and shore up those positions with the extra cap $ next summer, rather than attempt a significant in-season makeover.
5) Safe to say JJ’s short tenure as GM has backfired in a big way. I’d be tempted to move on from 19/33/53 (if he would waive his NMC) this trade deadline in an effort to get younger/faster/bigger up front. Holloway and Broberg would look pretty great in Oilers silks right now…
I’m not sure how you get to “no further than WCF” because by that time theres only 4 teams left, they’ve already won two series, and we remain the only team with 97 and 29. I have deep suspicion of this years squad as is, but if they get to WCF I would say watch out other three teams.
I’m going to talk out of both sides of my mouth here but I would simply lock McDavid/Hyman as a duo – there is a long history of success there.
At the same time, Hyman has been poor this season. He was playing well early and not scoring. Then he got hot. Then he stopped doing what’s made him successful – full effort. I swear he’s barely broken a sweat in 2025. His poor defensive play from his first season as an Oiler (which was gone last year) is back and he’s been moved down the lineup on merit.
He doesn’t deserve to be locked at 1RW but I do it and move on.
Janmark in and……. Skinner out.
I really don’t understand how coach decides in Skinner to sit over Arvy (and certain others – Brown, Henrique, Kap and even Hyman).
Is it “perceived effort”? Arvy works hard. Completely ineffective, but he works hard.
Stecher in for Klingberg (who had has best, then worst) game. He’s not it for a 2RD upgrade, in my opinion.
Seems like he’s placing more value on preventing vs. scoring. One thing I’ve noticed with Skinner is rarely do you see him as the 3rd man high in the zone, in position to slow the counter attack.
Now, that just may not be his role, but, putting Janmark back in may signal that he wants the team to cut down on the number of opportunities coming back on them.
Perhaps but I would note that Arivdsson is FAR from a great defensive player and we’ve seen him back poor back passes in the offensive zone, bad line changes and neutral zone giveways.
I think and most former players I’ve heard think the Oilers are too small and not aggressive enough at D
Stecher, Emberson, Kulak are all pretty good players, but not hard to play against because they aren’t tall or heavy. Smaller guys hitting doesn’t worry anybody, unless it’s a semi hinged tank like Gudas. It’s not a good mix and Klingberg doesn’t change that, none of them are true 2nd pair players right now either
In a perfect world the Dallas Klingberg is probably a good fit with Nurse, replicates Ek Bouch. But he seems far off that as it stands
Kulak has played well in playoffs, but I don’t see him as that strong on the boards or net front. I think he needs a big physical partner to balance the pair. As always every player needs to be able to play, not just a big puck optional type. Emberson needs the same if they are keeping him next season
Oleksiak is having a pretty mid season, I wonder what he would cost to acquire.
With Bowman in charge a normal reasonable amount. Despite the latest fad where suddenly tons of D can play both sides – regardless of longstanding evidence that few do it well – I strongly prefer L R pairs. So there would be decisions, and LD is entrenched
But zero depth after Kulak.
They should absolutely be looking for a LHD that can play both sides, of the Alec Martinez, Brandon Dumoulin ilk.
Skinner out really baffles me. Again he was great before the break. The coach didn’t put him back in the top 6. Baffling. Tonight Arvidson on McD’s wing. He stunk in both games and really adds nothing at all right now.
Klingberg out doesn’t hurt this team at all. Stetcher battles hard at least
When do they try Klingberg instead of Bouchard on the top PP? And are they shopping both of J Skinner & Arvidsson? Questions and more questions.
Skinner flat out sucks.
There. Fixed it for you.
Doesn’t seem to line up with recent reality.
Forwards he’s been better than recently, in my opinion: Arvidsson, Brown, Janmark, Henrique, Kapanen, Hyman, Podkolzin – shit even Nuge.
“Completely ineffective, but he works hard.”
Hey that’s me in Sunday night D league. I haven’t been scratched either. 🙂
More concerned about the mostly goalies save % of 0.865 when McDavid is on the ice rather then McDavid’s offense.
It’s too bad Connor McDavid was forced to travel to Philly with the enemy. They obviously got in his head.
Then the Capitals likewise were waiting in the wings to lay an uncharacteristic beat down on our Bhoys.
Today they encounter John Cooper who together with his team won the recent 4 nations tournament. The question is: Are the Oilers really in a swoon right now, or can they right the ship quickly before they’re right back in another race with the LA Kings?
Jeff Skinner was sent back down the lineup post Four Nations to give Matt Savoie a legitimate trial before the trade tradeline, not as punishment for Skinner.
It would have made no sense to play Savoie on the 3rd or 4th lines in his first NHL trial.
If Savoie fails to stick, then Skinner might be moved back up.
One has to treat prospect players fairly, a hard lesson the Oilers learned last summer.
Oilers have too many Skinners.
Which one do the fans want to see go?
Vote thumbs up for the goalie
Vote thumbs down for the forward
Both. Throw in Bouchard/Arvy for good measure.
Agreed on Savoie, but they could have left Skinner with Drai and dropped Nuge to 3 Dot and Savoie on McD’s Left
Maybe they could try Savoie with Connor & Zach. But Zach would have to shift back to LW.
So you want to play a promising rookie in his first NHL trial on his offside out of position?
Not over paying RFA’s isn’t unfairly treating anyone.
Holloway ended the year playing top 6 minutes in the finals.
Broberg was playing top 4 minutes in the finals.
Broberg was cooking for a way out long long long before Knoblauch ever came along, Holloway literally stated he took the cash with one good arm.
No one was treated unfairly.
Ovi will likely over take Wayne this season for most goals scored. There is a difference between most goals and best scorer. Given that anyone at the top of the list can obviously score more than the average player, most goals is about longevity, Ovi and Wayne played far more games than the other fellas. Best scorer is about goals per game
For modern era players these are the numbers:
M Bossy 752 GP, 573 G, 1126 P, 1.50 P/GP – .76 G/GP +380
M Lemieux 915 GP, 690 G, 1723 P, 1.88 P/GP – .75 G/GP +114
A Matthews 604 GP, 389 G, 696 P, 1.15 P/GP – .64 G/GP +143
P Bure 702 GP, 437 G, 779 P, 1.11 P/GP – .62 G/GP +42
W Gretzky 1487 GP, 894 G, 2857 P, 1.92 P/GP – .60 G/GP +520 (wow!)
A Ovechkin 1467 GP, 882 G, 1596 P, 1.08P/GP – .60 G/GP +67
C McDavid 696 GP, 357 G, 1054 P, 1.51 P/GP – .51 G/GP (tied 18th with Pastrnak) +153
The era argument always comes up, but to me looking at the player versus peers tells the story. Not everyone that played in the 80’s scored like Wayne and Mario, and the list which is from NHL Records has a variety of players from many eras including current players. Leon is tied for 20th with a 5 other players
Connor is of course 3rd all time P/GP. Next for active players is Sid at 9th with 1.25 P/GP
If Ovechkin scores 1 more goal than Gretzky’s total then he’s the new all time leader, period.
Parsing various records from different eras is the equivalent of train spotting.
I think you missed his point.
That’s what I’m saying, most goals scored. I’m parsing that from ‘best scorer’ that I keep hearing. You like words, you know what I mean. Why you heff to go all Begbie on me?
I think that’s flawed since as players age they score less. What would Ovi’s goals per game be after 752 games to compare him to Bossy, or 915 for Lemieux. Longevity actually lowers the per game stats. As McDavid ages no doubt his points per game will decrease. The longer he plays the lower that number ends up.
In the top 30 except for Bossy and Lemieux almost all players had at least 1200 games and lots many more than that
Yes players score less as they age, but lots of goals takes lots of games. Bure is 4th in G/GP but scored 437 in 702 GP and is far down the most goals list. It takes time, as does HOF careers usually
In 921 games Ovi scored 558 goals, Mario had 690 in 915. Mario also had cancer, Ovi has been very healthy mostly. In 925 games Gretz had 647 goals
Ovi is the best. Full stop. How many would he have without work stoppages? He would have passed Weiner years ago.
Gretz lost a season to lockout, he would have been >900 otherwise.
I was saying the most, for me not the best. Matthews has more G/GP
What about a third category for player who scored the best goals?
I think that might be McDavid.
He’d be up there. There have been some others who had beauties, maybe not as many solo efforts
Somebody should do playoff G/GP. That’s the heart of the matter
Playoff G/GP with a 50 game minimum:
1. Mario Lemieux: 0.71
2. Mike Bossy: 0.66
3. Maurice Richard: 0.62
4. Cam Neely: 0.61
5. Wayne Gretzky: 0.59
6. Leon Draisaitl: 0.55
7. Jake Guentzel: 0.55
8. Pavel Bure: 0.55
9. Nathan MacKinnon: 0.55
10. Craig Simpson: 0.54
11. Jari Kurri: 0.53
19. Connor McDavid: 0.50
25. Alex Ovechkin: 0.48
48. Auston Matthews: 0.42
54. Zach Hyman: 0.41
How can we say “zero threat for the pacific division crown” when the team is two points out of first with a game in hand and an easier schedule remaining?
104 points will not win the division. Last season’s winner delivered 109 points. That’s what I was saying when writing “the Oilers are on pace for 104 points, a total that will get them into the playoffs easily while also being zero threat for the Pacific Division crown.”
The 104 points won’t finish first. The Oilers could win more games, but I framed the issue in this way.
It’s because we’re Oiler fans, with long memories. That’s why.
LA is only 5 points back of 1st with 3 games in hand.
And even after a month when they had 7 games at home and 2 on the road (1 of each remaining), the Kings still will have 16 home games and only 9 on the road in March and April.
Their home record is now at 19-3-2 with Vancouver coming to town tomorrow.
As a wise Sage once said on this blog, “don’t let the highs get too high or the lows get too low”.
I am choosing to believe that they are focusing on the destination, not the journey. I’ll panic in June if the car’s still spitting smoke and we can’t get it out of first gear. Until then,I’ll just enjoy the rich Corinthian Leather and the Quadraphonic 8 track.
Only today I saw a clip on Youtube of a guy starting the engine up on a $600 1973 Thunderbird.
Once he had it running it ran great, btw.
Oilers are 1-8-2 against the top 2 teams in each division this year, being outscored 45-27. Absolutely ghastly. Maybe I’m jumping the gun but I’m ready to call JJ’s offseason moves a colossal failure. The decision to go old, small and slow has been a disaster.
My take was that he reacted to the finals like so many do, and wanted ‘proven’ 5v5 scorers
Really not that different than what Holland would do, except they did move on from some Holland guys. I wouldn’t have kept Bro at the cap hit, but Holloway I think so. A head scratcher, unless they think his wrist is that bad
Oilers seem too unphysical and unfortunately as both the USA team and various NHL teams like Washington show you is a genuine hockey beating. Oilers are going to be 4 cups out of 20 seasons Red Wings playoff hockey failures as a result. And that’s even if they ever end up winning even 1 cup.
It’s nearly impossible to win against a team playing that kind of hockey when combined they also retain a high skill level.
Brady Tkachuk would make a great Oiler right now.
Kane back for the playoffs 100 % healthy is a must.
If they get to use his LTIR ( which they really need to make good adds) and can even move Arvidson they would have 9-10 mill.
If they could add
Trent Frederic 2.3, LW/C UFA
Jamie Oleksiak 4.6 LD. 1yr Left
Those 2 would make us definitely tougher . It would also leave the team with 3 ish mill left for another tough bottom 6 guy or a goalie like Vejmelka to push Skinner
Biggest thing with trades is Assets going out I guess
I’m starting to get worried we’ll be looking back at Summer of 2024 as an inflection point in this team’s development. Losing two of the team’s best draft-and-develop players who brought speed and (in Holloway’s case) without many more strong prospects coming through the pipeline to replace them is looking more and more devastating as the season goes on.
The strength of this team under Knoblauch has been their defensive system. And they’ve shown it’s repeatable. I hope they can add something at the deadline, and get a productive Kane back for game one of the playoffs.
With all the noise about trading for a goalie reminds me of when Dubnyk was here.
They say defense wins championships, but not usually without enough offense in hockey. Cup teams score
Losing franchises tend to fret an inordinate amount more than successful ones; successful like Boston for example.
I rarely question effort but 100% believe that, in recent games, many of the bets are far from full effort. Hyman hasn’t broken a sweat in February, McDavid looks disinterested all month, etc.
Many Oilers need to start performing near expectations: McDavid, Hyman, Nuge, Bouchard, Stuart Skinner, Ekholm, Arvidsson.
yep plus a few others
I too hope they stay the course on the structure game. Only two months ago we were watching some of the best
BruinsOilers “rocking chair” hockey. Out shooting opponents at an alarming rate. However, when they meet up with the fast free wheeling teams with top superstar players, it miraculously goes out the window. Insert Pittsburgh and Colorado. They haven’t really got back to any defensive hockey since the Avs game. And as for injury, I was extremely concerned with McDavid’s collision by the bench with Couturier on Saturday. He immediately grabbed his left knee. Surprised nobody else mentioned it (from what I saw). Insert Tampa and Florida, two more fast wheeling teams with superstars, this could be ugly by the weekend.I have not seen anyone mention this, maybe I missed it, did anyone else notice that when McDavid got his turn to raise the 4 Nations Cup, he did not raise it above his shoulders?
Maybe it is nothing, however for a guy who feels pain when raising his arms above the shoulder, I though I recognized something.
It is not the Stanley Cup. Many players made a quick up and down. The goal was beating the Americans, and is the Olympic gold medal, not raising the 4 Nations Cup.
Lingering on the 4 Nations Cup is like raising the Prince of Wales or Clarence Campbell Trophy.
I definitely don’t feel confident that this team wins tonight. I hope I am wrong.
Yes McDavid seems to be having an off year. Why no clue. Funny his off year still has him in the top 5 in scoring. But over the last 10 games he seems extra off. I have never seen him bobble as many pucks in that time frame.
This team is lucky Drai is a beast this year.
Team is definitely slower and older and that seems to be an issue.
Knoblauch makes some weird decisions. His treatment and utilization of Skinner is baffling. Especially after the break when he was playing very well with Drai and instead of starting him on that line again they Put Savoie on it. Great Savoie came in , but why not put him on McD’s line and drop Nuge to 3rd dot.
He blenders lines like no other coach has or dam close to it. Enough of trying to find Chemistry . We are 3/4 into the season almost.
It is definitely a weird year that started with acquisitions that lots ( including me) thought would be good in Skinner and Arvidson. That has thus backfired..
Then we lost 2 youngins. Fogey and McLeod left. Lots of turnover and the team looked good at times and are still in 2nd place. But it seems to be slowly slipping away with weaker goaltending, bad D, terrible pk, and a really slow bottom six.
I guess they need to figure out Kane and $$$. And Bowman will make moves, but who and how many.
I hope they could move Arvidson and that $ out Skinner as well if you aren’t playing him in the top six. Not sure that happens.
Hopefully Savoie plays well and they keep him up. Kane comes back for the playoffs 100% . They get a #4 Legite Dman. And at least move Arvidson and pick up a faster tougher forward .
But win tonight boys, or it will get scary ugly from a fan base that will be screaming for a goalie
So Vegas and LA can have catastrophic months but the Oil can’t? Teams go through lulls. I’d rather this happen in February than April.
Knobby uses the season for what he should (with a very good team). Try out different looks, get players some chem with other players cause you never know what might click. What looks good on paper may not work out, see Cooper, John with team Canada. No Point-97 switch up, no win for Canada imo.
Not worried.
Vegas is having one now lol. LA had 1 as well . So sure. Oil seem to have had a Bad couple already
re: Drai in beast mode. From where I sit, here’s how Oilers’ top skaters are performing relative to ‘23-24:
Draisaitl = better than ever
McDavid = worse
Hyman = worse
RNH = worse
Bouchard = worse
Ekholm = worse
Not just this latest horrible stretch, but season to date.
i welcome counter arguments & some sort of reassurance that this team is somehow on track.
Yes to all of that. I appreciated your article in the Journal about 97s fall off, especially in the last number of games. Zach Laing did a similar thing over at Oilers Nation, pin pointing that 97s fall off has been especially notable since his suspension.
I believe he is hurt worse than we know. Having that coincide with a team-wide malaise makes this all the more problematic.
McDavid – Bored with not being a cup winner and 100% focussed over every other possible consideration including personal trophies and new mini tournaments…
Hyman – Injured badly earlier on in the season and deserves a pass for the rest of this one to recover. Even though, he’s still a fairly effective player if not a star one.
RNH – Will give the Oilers 20 honest seasons, but isn’t going to worry himself over maintaining high levels of production on any given one of them.
Bouchard – Absolutely should not be getting a huge contract, but appears to have the team over a barrel. Sather/Lamorello would know how to handle this and not come out losing.
Ekholm – an excellent player but he’s not a Chris Pronger level one as is sometimes pinned on him. Oilers probably need another quality defender anyway, since it’s almost a given one of their current regulars is going down and might miss playoffs altogether.
Man that looks like a coaching issue, that many guys off their established games. And I like Knoblauch, but something ain’t right
Maybe as I said the other day, my initial thoughts about Knoblauch were that a team with these players needs a coach with enough gravitas and a big enough personality to handle these thoroughbreds, and know how to use them
Not a bully, a leader like Slats, or some other current guys. Asking thoroughbreds to plow never works, they want to run, it needs more nuance
Slush buying coaching futures for 2026 gains off guys not having career years.
We had gravitas and it almost lost the season last year.
It is surprising they are in the mix for top spot in the Pacific with this many skaters not playing as well as last year
My sense is the lull this season has something to do with not having to dig out of such a tremendous hole.
Despite not playing at 9.9/10ths every night, they’re still second in the division (with a game in hand), and seventh in the league (one spot ahead of that deplorable team from the City of Florida, ahead in both wins and points percentage, all with a game in hand) overall.
While playing below expectations.
Ten years ago any of us would have killed for this tragedy.
Machiavelli wrote that men were the equivalent of dogs.
100%. The gnashing of teeth is shocking for a team in the upper echelon.
Is anyone scared of Winnipeg? The Leafs?
I’d put Washington as the only team to truly fear in the NHL. Everyone there is having a career year.
Florida isn’t as good as last year, Carolina might come around, Dallas seems the same as last year, and Vegas is not what they used to be. They’re good, not 2 years ago good. Leafs are the 10’s Sharks until they aren’t. Colorado would be scary in a series but I don’t see as a threat to win yet.
The deadline is all kinds of mid, so I don’t expect huge needle movers.
Precisely.
I don’t care how they get to the playoffs, only that they’re riding a tidal wave of positive momentum when they arrive.
Concerning for sure. They should have a sit down with Adam Oates and get his take, he’s not a fan of the way the Oilers (or any team doing it) are playing and what is happening is what he said happens playing too much for offensive TOP over attacking
With an unlimited staff budget, I wonder what it would cost to pry Oates away from his cushy/prefered one-on-one skills coaching gig and into some kind of coaching/consulting capacity with the Oilers?
He’d be quite the upgrade from Gully.
I’m hoping the 4Nations experience has 97 shoot more.