Oilers Fans Can Exhale

It has been a mere five days since panic started to set in with large chunks of the Edmonton Oilers fan base. With a decade-long absence on the franchise’s recent resume and having just been passed in the standings by the red-hot Calgary Flames, all was not well in good ol’ Oil Country. While somewhat understandable, it was rather odd considering the club has been among the top teams in the Western Conference for much of the 2016-17 NHL campaign.

Blowing Off Unnecessary Steam

If nothing else, it has certainly been an interesting start to the 2016-17 season for the Edmonton Oilers. After laying the boots to the Calgary Flames in a home and home set to kick off the year, Todd McLellan’s side were brought back down to earth courtesy of the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday evening. While goaltender Cam Talbot had a night to forget in between the pipes, Dan Bylsma’s squad did a fantastic job of containing Connor McDavid and Co. in cruising to an easy 6-2 over at Rogers Place.

Maroon Time

After pulling the trigger on a last-second deal with the Anaheim Ducks during the 2016 NHL Trade Deadline, Peter Chiarelli was hoping he had found the proverbial “diamond in the rough” in landing Patrick Maroon. While he did pay what was deemed the going rate at the time, a bottom tier prospect in blueliner Martin Garnet and a fourth-round selection in last summer’s Entry Draft, he was acquired for what amounted to next to nothing. Well, if the initial stretch of his Edmonton Oilers career is any indication of what can be expected from the American winger, Chiarelli may have his wish granted. 

No Need For Pouliot To Leave Town

In the minds of many a hockey expert, the Edmonton Oilers took a pretty big risk in signing Benoit Pouliot to a five-year/$20 million deal in the summer of 2014. After playing for five different teams over a five-year stretch, it took many by surprise that an organization would be willing to cough up that sort of dough and term for a guy who had never quite lived up to the expectations that came with being the fourth overall pick in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. With that said, it is awfully difficult to not be tempted by the total package the 29-year old brings to the table. 

Making An Impression

It was exactly ten days ago that a piece appeared in this very spot focusing on the opportunity that awaited Edmonton Oilers winger Jordan Eberle following the NHL All-Star break. With Connor McDavid set to return from his broken collarbone and slated to play on a line with Eberle and Benoit Pouliot, the chances to turn around what had been a rather disappointing first-half of the season was there for the taking. 

A Lost Opportunity

Despite heading into the Christmas break with a 3-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets and having put together a 7-3 record over their previous ten outings, theEdmonton Oilers had not been playing fundamentally sound hockey for some time. While the occasional timely goal from their talented forward group and fantastic netminding from the tandem of Anders Nilsson and Cam Talbot helped mask many of this group’s shortcomings, everyone knew Todd McLellan’s crew was going to have to improve their overall game and do so in a rather timely manner. 

No. 4, No. 14 and No. 29

With Connor McDavid unavailable for the foreseeable future and the Edmonton Oilers lack of centre depth being what it is, Todd McLellan has been put into a rather difficult situation. He either moves Anton Lander up to the second line in hopes the hard-working Swede catches lightning in a bottle and starts producing offence or he bumps Leon Draisaitl from what is the hottest line in all of hockey and into a role the 19-year old is truly not ready for.

Mark This One Down

For the last number of seasons, fans of the Edmonton Oilers had grown accustomed to what they witnessed during the first period of last night’s tilt with the Montreal Canadiens over at Rexall Place. In years gone by, falling behind 3-0 in an opening frame to a team as good as the Habs, almost guaranteed an ugly scoreline after the final buzzer. On far too many occasions, this group would simply quit on itself and willingly take their medicine.

Tough Break

What can you say…while it was far from their finest effort, the Edmonton Oilers were certainly dealt a crappy hand on Sunday night against the Los Angeles Kings over at Rexall Place. While it looked as though Connor McDavid had snuck a last second game-tying goal past Jonathan Quick to force overtime, the replay official saw it differently and in the end it left Edmonton on the wrong side of a 3-2 decision.

An Opportunity Earned For No. 10

It was a trio which first saw the light of day during the Edmonton Oilers second game of the season against the Nashville Predators and one Todd McLellan has turned to in every game since. While Connor McDavid, Benoit Pouliot, and Nail Yakupov didn’t necessarily hit the ground running, the three have combined to give the Oilers new bench boss another legitimate scoring option. 

Game 3 - A Two Man Show

On an evening in which Connor McDavid potted the first goal of his career, the Edmonton Oilers were badly outclassed by the Dallas Stars. While a final score of 4-2 may suggest a different story, in actuality it was the performance of netminder Anders Nilsson that kept this one from being a blowout. 

Hurry Back No. 14

It may have taken a little longer than most had hoped but Edmonton Oilers rookie Connor McDavid ended the suspense on Tuesday night, scoring the first NHL goal of his career against the Dallas Stars. Unfortunately for the 2015 first overall pick and his new teammates, it was not enough to register their first win of the young season. 

Can't See It

With Connor McDavid mere days away from being added to an Edmonton Oilers roster which already includes the trio of Jordan Eberle, Taylor Hall and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, the need for a scoring power forward has never been more obvious. It appears as though the Boston Bruins could be open to the idea of possibly moving Milan Lucic in the right situation and landing in Edmonton could possibly be the perfect fit for all three parties.

The Perfect Ending

For the players inside the Edmonton Oilers dressing room, that final buzzer could not have come soon enough. In a year in which many had pegged this team to at least show some marked improvement in the standings, they took yet another step backwards in putting together a simply disastrous 24-44-14 record. 

The Arrival Of The Nuge

Following last night’s 5-4 overtime win over the Philadelphia Flyers, one cannot help but wonder if someone within the Edmonton Oilers sent over a thank you basket to netminder Ray Emery for essentially handing them two points. 

Hello Arizona!!!

Despite stringing together a handful of decent efforts on their recent five game road swing, the Edmonton Oilers returned home with nothing more than a couple of loser points in their back pocket and owners of seven game losing skid for their troubles. 

Jekyll And Hyde

While a rather large majority of the Edmonton Oilers fan base almost instantly fell in love with Ben Scrivens after he was acquired from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for a third-round pick roughly thirteen months ago, it has not exactly been a smooth ride for the Spruce Grove native upon returning to his home province. 

Preparing For A Rough Ride

After losing their eleventh straight game, the Toronto Maple Leafs had to have been licking their chops at the chance of facing the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night at the Air Canada Centre. As bad as the Leafs have been over the last six or so weeks, it was always just a matter of time before they would stumble in to a victory. 

Perron Delivers In Return

There is no question David Perron was absolutely thrilled to have been dealt by the St. Louis Blues to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Magnus Paajarvi and a second round pick during the summer of 2013. 

Time For A Break

In a season that has seen the Edmonton Oilers hand their fan base one disappointing result after another, Todd Nelson’s crew decided to give them something to smile about on Tuesday night.