An All Too Familiar Scenario

So here we are. Thanks to Connor McDavid crashing into the end boards against the Philadelphia Flyers and breaking his collarbone, the Edmonton Oilers suddenly find themselves in an all too familiar situation. For the last number of years, this organization has lacked depth at the centre position and, while it was still an issue heading into 2015-16, having No. 97 in the mix allowed them to be competitive on a nightly basis. 

Please...Not This Again

If the decision to use Taylor Hall at centre ice during yesterday’s 4-0 loss to the Calgary Flames was solely due to the fact Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was unable to suit up after taking a shot off his skate against the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night, than it is no big deal. 

The Finish Line Is Finally In Sight

While playing out the string is something the Edmonton Oilers have specialized in for far too long, the conclusion of their 2014-15 campaign simply cannot come soon enough. 

Too Many Hiccups

From an effort standpoint, it would be rather difficult to have any issue with the performance we saw from the Edmonton Oilers during last night’s tilt with the Winnipeg Jets. While Todd Nelson’s side essentially played the visitors to a standstill for much of the evening, it ultimately came down to a couple of things…special teams and goaltending. 

Turnovers, Turnovers, Turnovers

It’s not often that the Edmonton Oilers can say they have gone undefeated for what has essentially been a week and a half but that was exactly the scenario facing this team heading into their game on Tuesday night against the visiting Minnesota Wild.

Broken

As difficult as the past eight years have been to endure for fans of the Edmonton Oilers, nothing comes close to what they have been forced to watch over the first three months of the 2014-15 National Hockey League season. As bad as things have been since their surprising run to the 2006 Stanley Cup Final, this is on a completely different level. 

Losing Ugly

With just over twenty-one minutes to play and a three goal advantage staring them squarely in the face during what was a rare Sunday afternoon tilt at Rexall Place, the Edmonton Oilers seemed poised to put an end to their most recent losing streak against the defensively challenged Dallas Stars. 

Positive Signs

On an evening in which the Edmonton Oilers put together one of their finest all around performances of the season and managed to score three goals for the first time in the month of December, it was still not enough to keep this group from dropping their sixth consecutive game.

Another Loss, Another Perron Trade Rumour

Last night’s 3-2 loss to the Dallas Stars leaves the Edmonton Oilers with a mind-blowing 0-10-1 mark against Western Conference opponents and we are now twenty-two games into their 2014-15 schedule. This group has now lost seven straight and despite coming out with one of their better performances in some time, things appear to be getting worse for Dallas Eakins’ crew.

Something Positive

Before heading out onto their current five game road trip, the one game that looked to be an almost guaranteed two points for the Edmonton Oilers came last night in Buffalo against a Sabres lineup that frankly isn’t very good. Heck it’s not often that Dallas Eakins’ squad has the privilege of facing a team that is actually below them in standings. 

Another Failed Attempt In Beantown

With ten minutes to go in the third period of last night’s tilt with the Boston Bruins, it looked as though the Edmonton Oilers were about to end of couple of streaks. While Dallas Eakins’ squad came into this one on a three game losing skid, it had been almost eighteen years to the day since the Oilers last walked out of good ol’ Beantown with two points in their backpocket. 

Boyd Gordon....

Much of the praise for the Edmonton Oilers recent run of finding ways to win hockey games has been given, right or wrong, to netminder Ben Scrivens. While the twenty-eight year old Spruce Grove native has rebounded quite nicely from an absolutely dreadful start to his 2014-15 campaign, as a collective unit the Oilers are playing a far more disciplined style of game in their own end of the rink and in turn, give themselves a far better chance of earning two points on a nightly basis. 

The Floodgates Open!!!

After coming out and playing what was easily their best hockey of the season over their last three games, the Edmonton Oilers were nowhere near their best on Friday night against the Carolina Hurricanes. 
Despite struggling mightily over the opening thirty minutes of play, the Oilers exploded for six goals over the final period and a half and cruise to a 6-3 win over the winless Eastern Conference cellar dwellers. 

Time for MacT to Correct Miscalcualtion

ith the Edmonton Oilers getting off to their usual slow start, one can’t help but wonder when general manager Craig MacTavish will do the right thing and get both Leon Draisaitl and Darnell Nurse out of town. 

Leon Draisaitl and the 2014-15 NHL Campaign

So here we are. The Edmonton Oilers are just over twenty-four hours away from the start of their 2014-15 season and they are about to embark on that journey with the quartet of Mark Arcobello, Leon Draisaitl, Boyd Gordon and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins at centre. 

Time For Pitlick To Claim A Roster Spot

The moment Edmonton Oilers general manager Craig MacTavish decided to bring Benoit Pouliot and Teddy Purcell on board for the upcoming 2014-15 campaign, Tyler Pitlick had to have been wondering if he had missed his opportunity to stick with the team that drafted him back in 2010. 

Draisaitl signs and looks to be headed for regular duty in 2014-15

It may have taken longer than many across Oil Country would have hoped but as of this morning, Leon Draisaitl is officially a member of the Edmonton Oilers. The two sides finally agreed to dot the “i’s” and cross the “t’s” on a three year entry level deal that will likely all but guarantee the former Prince Albert Raiders star centre starts his National Hockey League career in the Alberta capital this October. 

Time for Pitlick to sink or swim

It wasn’t supposed to go like this for Tyler Pitlick and the Edmonton Oilers. 

Bolland will certainly be on MacT's radar

With the 2014 UFA market set to open in roughly three and a half weeks, Edmonton Oilers general manager Craig MacTavish is likely in the midst of putting together what has to be a rather lengthy shopping list. Unfortunately for him, this year’s crop of free agents is arguably the weakest we have seen in some time and his roster still needs more than a little tweaking.

Spending Wisely

There has always been a certain amount of sexiness that comes with trying to go out and acquire players via unrestricted free agency in the National Hockey League. Unfortunately, when it comes to the 2014 free agent crop there really isn’t a whole hell of a lot to get excited about