A New And Improved Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

It has been just over seven years since the Edmonton Oilers used the first overall pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft to select Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Though he has developed into a solid all-around player, it is fair to say the Burnaby native has yet to live up to his pre-draft hype. However, this could be the season that No. 93 finally puts it all together and becomes a top 25 scorer…thanks to a little help from Connor McDavid. 

Take A Look In The Mirror Pete

With roughly 25% of their 2017-18 season now in the books, it is clear there is something wrong with the Edmonton Oilers and contrary to popular opinion, it is not all on the players. No question the collective could be performing better but there does appear to be a taboo topic of sorts in my neck of the woods. Like it or not but the time has come for Peter Chiarelli to take some heat for where his club currently sits. 

Curious Decision Peter

After watching the Edmonton Oilers reach the second round of the NHL Playoffs for the first time in eleven years, one would have thought Peter Chiarelli would be looking to make a move to help his team get over that next hurdle in their development. If the last few days are any indication of what we can expect between now and the start of next season, it appears as though no such move is on the horizon.

You're Up Ryan Strome

In the six years that have passed since the New York Islanders used the fifth overall pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft to select Ryan Strome, the Mississauga native has yet to live up to expectation. However, after being sent to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for veteran forward Jordan Eberle, the soon-to-be 24-year old could not have dreamed of a better landing spot.

Interesting Times In Oil Country

The Edmonton Oilers will be in an interesting position heading into the 2017-18 NHL season. After exceeding expectations during the 2016-17 campaign and pushing the Anaheim Ducks to a seventh game in their second playoff series, simply qualifying for the post-season will no longer be good enough. With that being the case, Peter Chiarelli will need to ensure he doesn’t allow the moment to cloud his better judgment.

Thanks But Not Interested

With the Edmonton Oilers looking as though they are about to end their decade-long absence from the NHL post-season, names of potential Trade Deadline targets are starting to make the rounds. Of all the possible upgrades which have been mentioned in recent weeks, there are two this organization would be wise to steer clear of. As sexy as the notion of acquiring either one of Shane Doan or Jarome Iginla may sound to some, neither one would help address any of the holes currently on this roster.

RNH Sighting

In the eyes of many a hockey observer, Edmonton Oilers centre Ryan Nugent-Hopkins seemed poised for a bounce back season in 2016-17. After a rather disappointing campaign in 2015-16, it seemed almost like a foregone conclusion that the former first overall selection would put together a solid season playing second fiddle to Connor McDavid. While there is still plenty of hockey to be played, the opening two months of the season have not been kind to the Burnaby native.

The Curious Case of Jordan Eberle

To suggest the opening quarter of the 2016-17 season hasn’t gone exactly as Edmonton Oilers winger Jordan Eberle had hoped would be an understatement. After suffering through and injury-filled and inconsistent campaign in 2015-16, the Regina native was hoping for a bounce back performance playing alongside Connor David on a full-time basis. While the first 22 games may have been a struggle, the three-time 25-goal man is surprisingly not far off his career goal scoring average. 

A Taste Of Reality

We all knew it was coming. It was just a matter of when the Edmonton Oilers would hit the first bump in the road of the 2016-17 season. That moment came to fruition this past weekend, as the Pacific Division leaders dropped a pair of crucial contests to the visiting Dallas Stars and New York Rangers. While it may not be the result anyway wanted, everyone knew the month of November would be a tricky one for this club to maneuver through and it has proved to be exactly that.

Time's Up For Nail

There has arguably been no player in recent Edmonton Oilers history that has created as a much a divide among the fan base as Nail Yakupov. After being selected first overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft and putting together a fairly productive rookie campaign, the sky appeared to be the limit for the former Sarina Sting standout. Yet here we are, four years later and Edmonton is on the verge of moving the 22-year old in a trade that will likely net this organization a rather underwhelming return. 

No. 1 = Auston Matthews

After drafting first overall in four of the last six years, it seems as though certain chunks of the Edmonton Oilers fan base have started to lose their collective marbles. How else can one explain the notion that Peter Chiarelli and company should seriously consider trading their first-round pick if they happen to win the 2016 NHL Draft Lottery? While the masses may have had their fill of watching one losing season after another, giving away the chance to add a player as talented as Auston Matthews to this organization would be bordering on insanity. 

Original Core Was Never The Problem

When it comes to sports, there is no question that the belief an individual and/or team has in their own abilities to achieve their goal plays a part in how successful they will ultimately be. The Edmonton Oilers have demonstrated how a lack of confidence and self-doubt can result in a team continually spinning their wheels over the course of multiple seasons and in the minds of some, it has led to a “losing culture” apparently becoming an acceptable way of life for players inside their dressing room. 

Time For Something Bold

So we are finally here. After playing out the string for the better part of the past three and a half months, the Edmonton Oilers 2015-16 campaign finally came to an end on Saturday evening in Vancouver. While no one has any complaints with what we saw from Todd McLellan’s side during last night’s finale, an entertaining 4-3 shootout loss to the Canucks, a 29th place finish in the overall standings was not exactly what Peter Chiarelli had in mind for his first year at the helm of the organization.

Could Maple Leafs and Oilers Rebuild Mirror One Another?

Going through the process of doing a full rebuild is something few NHL organizations are willing to do. Contrary to popular belief, it is not an easy process and if things don’t break the right way, a franchise could find themselves spinning their wheels for the better part of a decade. The Edmonton Oilers have been living that nightmare for the past six years and in the process, have become the butt of one poorly executed joke after another because of their inability to get this franchise moving in the right direction. 

Parting Ways

It wasn’t supposed to go like this. After having the good fortune of winning the 2012 NHL Draft Lottery, theEdmonton Oilers used their third consecutive No. 1 pick to select Sarina Sting forward Nail Yakupov. With fellow first overall selections Taylor Hall and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins already in the mix, adding the talented Russian to the equation looked to be a move that would eventually help put the Oilers rebuild over the top. Unfortunately, that is not how things have played out and we are now on the verge of watching the two sides part ways after just four seasons together. 

How Much Change Can Be Made?

It is no secret general manager Peter Chiarelli will be looking to give the Edmonton Oilers roster yet another facelift during the upcoming offseason. While a change on the back end is a forgone conclusion, the former Boston Bruins GM might have his hands tied when it comes to his forward ranks. Surprised? Well, you really should not be because if you take a look at the contract situation facing this organization for the coming year, making wholesale changes could prove to be rather difficult. 

The 30 Win Club

It may not seem like much but for fans of the Edmonton Oilers, a 30-win season is nothing to sneeze at. For a club who has failed to qualify for the post-season over the past decade, celebrating even the smallest of victories can sometimes be a necessity. In fact, outside of their run the 2006 Stanley Cup Final, this franchise has played a grand total of six playoff games over the last fourteen years. One would think a little positivity could be a nice change of pace for this group. 

Eberle For Vatanen...Does It Work?

Of all the Edmonton Oilers trade rumours that have bounced around social media over the past few months, the one which seemed most plausible involved Jordan Eberle and Anaheim Ducks defenceman Sami Vatanen. While no one should have been expecting such a move to happen prior to the NHLTrade Deadline, the opportunity for a potential swap did appear to make sense for both sides. Though upon further examination, that may not necessarily be the case. 

Targeting Steven Stamkos

If you had asked me heading into the 2015-16 NHL season if there was any shot of Tampa Bay Lightening forward Steven Stamkos becoming a member of the Edmonton Oilers prior to the start of the 2016-17 campaign, my answer would have been a resounding no. While the chance of the one-time 60-goal man hitting the open market via free agency has looked like a real possibility for some time now, Edmonton just didn’t seem like a realistic landing spot. 

Doing The Unthinkable

So we are finally here. It has been nearly six full years since the Edmonton Oilers selected Taylor Hall first overall in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft and after years of doing nothing more than chasing their tail, it appears as though this organization has reached its boiling point. With yet another bottom five finish in the standings a near certainty, you can bet Peter Chiarelli will be moving one or perhaps even two of the “original” core pieces in the off-season.