Oil Kings try not to lose perspective

WHL squad sticking to philosophy of focusing on youngsters as losses mount

It could be argued the Edmonton Oil Kings are paying the price of winning.

After making three consecutive trips to the WHL final, winning twice and going on to claim the Memorial Cup in 2014, the Oil Kings are now going through a rebuilding phase where they are likely to miss the playoffs for the second consecutive season.

Heading into the Christmas break last in the WHL standings, the team has won just seven of its first 33 games.

“I think that we’re keeping things in perspective, where we’re at and where we want to get to is the most important thing,” said Oil Kings general manager Randy Hansch. “In saying that, this first half has probably been streaky and inconsistent. We’ve had some play that we’ve been pleased with and we’ve had some situations that we’ve been inconsistent with and we’re trying to get out of that. It’s certainly been an up and down first half for sure.”

Heading into the 2017-18 season, the Oil Kings were hoping to be further along in their complete rebuild, which began just over a year ago.

The team bottomed out halfway through last season, trading away its two best players in defenceman Aaron Irving and centre Lane Bauer for early-round draft picks and highly-touted prospects.

After dealing away the two 20-year-olds, who were the last remaining members of the 2014 championship squad, the Oil Kings went on to win five of their final 33 games. The team gave increased ice time to a number of young prospects, hoping it would expedite their development.

Many of those same prospects are on the team this season, and while they have shown improvement, the Oil Kings have still been unable to gain any traction in the standings.

“We do have a fair number of guys coming back that you can say are returning players, but in saying that, they’re young returning players,” Hansch said. “That’s just the reality of it. We know where they’re at, at this stage in their development and we just have to keep on growing them and developing them and letting them grow. But we feel that’s a group to move forward with.”

The Oil Kings have just five players over 19 years of age on the roster. The heart of the rebuild is in their 17- and 18-year-old classes, which make up the bulk of this year’s roster. Such is the case particularly on the blue line, where the Oil Kings do not have a defenceman over the age of 18.

“That’s part of the thing with our D and even with our forward group, which is returning. If you can surround them with some older guys with more experience, that really helps, but within reason,” Hansch said. “We want to allow these guys a chance to grow. They’re obviously getting opportunities here the last couple of years that maybe they wouldn’t get other places, so you try to find that balance in between.”

To try and insulate his young core, Hansch brought in two 20-year-old veterans, goaltender Travis Child and forward Tomas Soustal. Both have been instrumental in helping out the young group through choppy waters.

“They’re starting to come. I think for Travis, there was a little bit of an adjustment at the start, a little bit of inconsistency, but I think he’s settled down and, for the most part, has found his game, which we need from a veteran goaltender,” Hansch said.

“I think Tomas has come in and definitely given us a presence on and off the ice. I think that’s been good for him, too, because I think that’s allowed him to grow a bit more as a player in that type of role.

“Both players are finding their stride and Travis is finding his game, which we need. They help in may other areas that you don’t see, off the ice with our group, how they deal with our younger guys, how Travis deals with (16-yearold goaltender) Boston (Bilous), how he helps him out and how Tomas just deals with the overall group, little things behind the scenes that are obviously valuable.”

The Oil Kings will return from the Christmas break with a homeand-away series against the Red Deer Rebels starting on the road on Dec. 27.

Whether they make a roster move shortly after the season resumes remains to be seen. Hansch has until Jan. 10 to make deals before the WHL trade deadline. Unlike last season, however, he doesn’t have two big chips to play.

“There are some pieces that maybe we can adjust or do something with,” Hansch said. “But in the end, we still have to make sense in what we’re trying to do. We may do some tinkering, but it all has to make sense with what you’re comfortable with.”