Oilers set to open season in Sweden today vs. Devils

EDMONTON — Put simply, the Edmonton Oilers begin the 2018-19 NHL season today in a foul mood.

Throughout training camp, they have shown grim determination to get things right while acknowledging — through gritted teeth — that, until then, they will be reminded of the last season’s face-plant, when they went from touted Stanley Cup contender to out of the playoffs altogether.

If the small and skewed sample size of the preseason is any indication, the Oilers are on the right track.

Edmonton opens the regular season in Sweden against the New Jersey Devils this morning (10 a.m. PT), with Ty Rattie and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins flanking captain Connor McDavid on the top line. The three meshed at the tail end of last season and have picked up where they left off, filling the net in the preseason.

McDavid, now in his fourth season, is committed to shooting more and, barring injury, is a heavy favourite to lead the NHL for a third consecutive season in scoring.

At the other end of the ice, goaltender Cam Talbot shone in the exhibition games and appears ready to return to the stellar form he displayed two seasons ago, when the Oilers came within a game of the final four in the playoffs.

The question mark hangs over the supporting cast.

Veterans like winger Milan Lucic and centre Leon Draisaitl need to step up their games and drive the second line.

On the plus side, young wingers Jesse Puljujarvi and Kailer Yamamoto displayed an added level of poise, confidence, and grit in the preseason and may be ready for breakout campaigns.

Defencemen Adam Larsson and Oscar Klefbom must rebound and Darnell Nurse needs to take that next step and solidify himself as a top-four defenceman.

Special teams must also get better, but they can’t get much worse. The Oilers were dead last on the power play and 25th on the penalty kill last season, prompting Edmonton to overhaul its assistant coaches.