Working From A Position Of Strength

Isn’t it funny how things can change? Following what was another difficult campaign in the overall standings, many believed Edmonton Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli would be forced into making a splash at the 2016 NHL Entry Draft; be it dipping into the pool of “$6 million men” currently on his roster to make a move or trading the fourth overall selection in the draft. 

The Vatanen Effect

The Edmonton Oilers have not played an NHL game for two and a half months but from the standpoint of their fan base, this week could not come soon enough. Despite what was yet another disappointing season for Oilers Nation, the thought of what lies ahead continues to keep fans on the edge of their collective seats when it comes to seeing what this franchise does at the Entry Draft and via trade and/or free agency. 

Learning How To Win Again

From an Edmonton Oilers standpoint, the 2016 IIHF World Championship could not have gone much better. While the likes of Leon Draisaitl, Matt Hendricks, Patrick Maroon and Andrej Sekera enjoyed relative degrees of success, it was the trio of Canadians who had the biggest impact at the tournament. Heading into this year’s event all signs pointed towards Taylor Hall, Connor McDavid and Cam Talbot playing key roles on Bill Peters squad and all three were up to the challenge in helping Canada to their second consecutive Gold Medal. 

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.