2023-24 Game 33: Oilers at Kings

I wrote the item above after one of Connor McDavid’s transcendent moments. He’s still that player, especially that player in recent times. He has scored 10-25-35 in his last 19 games. Los Angeles Kings are constructed to overcome as many as three quality scoring lines, and will be a strong test.

THE ATHLETIC!

• Lowetide: Evander Kane’s concerning season and what it means to the Oilers.
• Lowetide: How the Edmonton Oilers are undergoing a changing of the guard on defence
• Lowetide: How the Oilers measure up to ‘reasonable expectations’ after 31 games
• Lowetide: Ranking the Edmonton Oilers’ top 6 trade assets
• Lowetide: Did the Oilers solve Leon Draisaitl’s winger issues in New Jersey?
• Lowetide: What can Dylan Holloway bring the Oilers when he returns?
• DNB: Evan Bouchard is unlocking his potential on the Edmonton Oilers blue line
• Lowetide: Do the Edmonton Oilers have enough actual NHL players?
• Lowetide: Winning or development? Assessing Oilers’ AHL team and what it means for the future
• DNB: Add a middle-6 forward or 2 to the long list of Oilers needs
• DNB: Why Paul Coffey’s surprise Edmonton Oilers coaching opportunity is paying off
• Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers top 20 prospects ranking, winter 2023

WHAT TO EXPECT IN DECEMBER

• At home to: CAR, MIN, NJD, CHI, TBAY, FLA (Expected 3-3-0) (Actual 4-2-0)
• On the road to: NYI, NJD, NYR, SJS, LAK, ANA (Expected 3-3-0) (Actual 3-1-0)
• Overall expected result: 6-6-0, 12 points in 12 games
• Actual December results: 7-3-0, 14 points in 10 games
• Oilers in 2023-24: 16-15-1, 33 points in 32 games

The Oilers are at a point in their season where they can see the playoffs from where they are, but top three in the Pacific Division may not come to pass. I never bet against McDavid, and things seems tight defensively, but I think facing VGK or the Avs most likely in the spring.

The Oilers will need to have quality efforts from 18 skaters and the goaltender. I assume it’s Stuart Skinner but one never knows. If Edmonton can sweep the weekend, we’ll be talking blue skies on my January 1 article.

LINEUP CHANGES TO COME

Sam Gagner is out, Dylan Holloway is too, at some point both men will return and I suspect that means Adam Erne and James Hamblin scoot back to Bakersfield. A team might choose this time, with Gagner out and Holloway not yet ready, to make a waiver claim and take some fringe player out for a spin. I don’t think Tyson Jost is that player (he was recently on waivers) but there should be a few available before the deadline worth pondering.

Edmonton has (as I see it) four areas of need: Goalie, second-pair RD defense, third line center and two-way winger. You’d love the center to be a righty.

On the farm, Olivier Rodrigue, Philip Broberg and Raphael Lavoie are the prominent young players I notice all the time. I suggested a recall for Rodrigue here, and it may come to pass.

I am fascinated by these Edmonton Oilers and the organization overall. I am willing to bet that the (already compromised) prospect pool will be flattened again around the deadline. Going all in is the thing to do, there’s no question. However, there’s a tipping point. Take what you need and leave the rest, you should never have taken the very best. Edmonton’s new general manager is going to swear at his predecessors and will absolutely kick at the darkness until it bleeds daylight.