Oilers opening eyes around the NHL
Team winning with structure and defence on the way to top spot in Pacific Division
It isn’t normal that a first place team gets to add Connor Mcdavid to its roster, for nothing, at the trade deadline.
Then again, a lot of what we’re seeing this season is unusual for the Edmonton Oilers.
They’re good, for starters, which bucks a 13-year trend. They’re deep and have a solid development system in place, which also goes against some pretty heavy grain.
And, after watching them roll out to a 3-1-1 record with Mcdavid on the shelf, and push the Boston Bruins to overtime without six regulars in the lineup, there is every reason to believe the Oilers are even better than we thought.
“They’ve been great,” said Mcdavid, who practised with the team Thursday morning and lists himself as day-to-day as he recovers from a quad injury. “The guys have been unbelievable. It’s been fun to watch.”
The Oilers are winning with structure and defence, the kind of stuff eluding teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs right now. When you combine that with their talent and goaltending, it makes them a very tough out, even when they’re without their entire first line and No. 1 defenceman.
“We’ve shown over the last little bit that, even with the players who are out, we are still a good team, we can compete with anyone,” said Art Ross and Hart Trophy front-runner Leon Draisaitl.
“We’ve got the right players in here. We always knew we’re a good team, but over the last little stretch we’ve been a little more consistent than usual.”
If the last couple of weeks didn’t change the way they view themselves, it certainly changed the way everyone else is looking at the Oilers. They were expected to drown without Mcdavid, not rise to the top of their division.
“I preach almost every day how good the guys are in here on and off the ice and now everyone is getting to see it,” said Mcdavid. “They’re getting the credit they deserve. They’ve been so good and I’m looking forward to getting back out there with them.”
With a 12-4-3 record in the last 19 games, the Oilers are showing that this is more than a hot streak. They’ve taken down some big dogs on their way to top spot in the Pacific Division, and their only two losses without Mcdavid were to Boston and Tampa Bay, teams that are a combined 21-1 in their last 11 games.
“I don’t think it surprised me,” said GM Ken Holland. “It’s a good team. Different people on different nights need to step up and that’s been the key.
“They know their roles. Some have a bigger piece of the pie, some smaller, but they all have roles and they understand them. That’s why when we’ve had these injuries we’ve been able to compete. This is something Dave Tippett worked on from Day 1 of the season.”
There’s no question the off-season changes brought about by owner Daryl Katz and chairman Bob Nicholson made a massive difference in culture and personnel. Holland’s off-season moves and Tippett’s unwavering pursuit of structure are changing the direction of a moribund franchise.
But as much as the brass deserves credit, Holland says none of this works unless the players buy in and execute.
“When I first got here and talked to some of the players who’ve been here, they said they want to win,” said Holland. “I don’t know what happened in the past, why it didn’t happen in the past, but the players are the guys who really grabbed it and bought into the program that coach Tippet has been preaching and selling.”
How good will they be when
Mcdavid, Zack Kassian, James Neal, Oscar Klefbom, Joakim Nygard and Kris Russell are back? And if Holland adds a piece or two at the trade deadline?
Who knows, but it’s exciting to think about.
The goal at the start of the season was just to be in playoff contention, but after what we’ve seen lately, expectations are changing. Now it’s how deep can this team go?
“Absolutely,” said Mcdavid. “The West is so tight, anyone can win it. The Blues and Avalanche are still good, but especially in the Pacific it’s pretty wide open, anything can happen.”