Step in the right direction

In the eyes of many Edmonton Oilers fans, yesterday’s decision to “transition” long time assistant coach Kelly Buchberger into a different role within the organization was long over due.  After surviving five separate head coaching changes during his six year tenure in Edmonton, the clock finally struck midnight for the former Oilers captain and no one should have been surprised.

Tough Sell

No one should have been surprised with the approach Craig MacTavish decided to take to his year-end press conference. After promising big changes and letting the entire hockey world know he wasn’t an overly patient man during his introduction as the Edmonton Oilers general manager, the 55-year old tried putting a positive spin on what was a disastrous 2013-14 campaign.

Let the kid heal and learn

There is no question Edmonton Oilers forward Nail Yakupov has had himself a sophomore season to forget. As if his boxcar numbers of 11 goals and 13 assists in 63 games played with a league worst -33 plus/minus rating wasn’t bad enough, apparently the former first overall pick has been playing on a fractured ankle since taking a shot off his skate back on February 27th against the Minnesota Wild.

How many different ways can one team lose games?

Not sure how many different ways the Edmonton Oilers intend on losing games this season but they have to be running out of ways and we have yet to reach the end of the first month of their schedule. Despite another four goal performance from Dallas Eakins squad upfront, the Oilers still managed to allow five pucks into their own net, dropping a 5-4 decision to the Phoenix Coyotes on Saturday afternoon.

#89's return should not effect Gordon whatsoever

With Sam Gagner likely a week or so away from returning to the Edmonton Oilers lineup, there are those who believe Dallas Eakins would be wise to consider running with the quartet of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Gagner, Mark Arcobello and Boyd Gordon down the middle.

Another Game + Another Iffy Goaltending Performance = Another Loss

A costly four minute stretch in the middle of period two and yet another awful goal against an Edmonton Oilers netminder, proved to be far too much for the Oilers to overcome. A three point night from Nicklas Backstrom and a two point effort from Alex Ovechkin, helped propel a struggling Washington Capitals side to a 4-2 win over Dallas Eakins' slumping side.

Oilers are deeper down the middle than most think

Heading into the Edmonton Oilers season opener there were those who were quite critical of Edmonton Oilers GM Craig MacTavish and his decision to not "upgrade" the centre position within the organization. Even before the freak injury to Sam Gagner during the preseason, many felt the eventual quartet of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Gagner, Boyd Gordon and Will Acton would simply not be good enough to compete over a full 82 game schedule.

Pitlick and Belov impress in win over Jets

On a night in which the Edmonton Oilers did not dress the majority of their core forward group, the likes of Will Acton, Jesse Joensuu and Tyler Pitlick used the opportunity to send a message to head coach Dallas Eakins. Second period goals from Acton and Joensuu proved to be all the Oilers would need, as they reeled off their third consecutive preseason win, edging the Winnipeg Jets by a score of 2-1.

No Sam Gagner...Hello Boyd Gordon!!!

Apparently Sam Gagner and the NHL preseason don't mix. For the second time in three years, Gagner has had the misfortune of being hit with the injury bug during the Oilers exhibition schedule. Prior to the start of the 2011-12 campaign, it was a high-ankle sprain he suffered against the Calgary Flames that kept him out of action until late-October and hampered him until the end of the 2011 calendar year.

2013-14 Preview: No reason for Smyth not to see regular PP duty

Barring some sort of turning back of the clock, Ryan Smyth is headed for his final days as a member of the Edmonton Oilers. After suffering through what was easily the worst 90 or so game stretch of his career, it appears as though Father Time has finally caught up with the veteran winger. That being said, with the Oilers lack of depth on their bottom two lines and special teams, Smyth should be given the opportunity to show if he can still contribute on the power play in 2013-14.

Acton will get a shot at earning a spot with Oilers in 2013-14

With training camp just over five weeks away from kicking into gear, the Edmonton Oilers top six forwards appear to be set in stone. Their plethora of young talent upfront will ultimately decide if this club has a shot at earning a playoff spot in 2013-14. That being said, the team's third and fourth lines are yet again, a question mark heading into the coming season. While the likes of Mike Brown, Boyd Gordon, Ryan Jones and Ryan Smyth are all but guaranteed some sort of role inside Edmonton's bottom six, the battle for the fourth line centre spot is up for grabs.

MacTavish starts reconstruction of Oilers roster

 

It started with the trading of captain Shawn Horcoff on Thursday evening and continued early Friday morning. Everyone was expecting Craig MacTavish to be busy on the opening day of unrestricted free agency and the Edmonton Oilers GM did not disappoint. The organization wasted little time in announcing a trio of the signings, veteran defenceman Andrew Ference, centre Boyd Gordon and goaltender Jason Labarbera.