The Edmonton Oilers’ struggles proceed, and areas of want are rising
B/R Open Ice: Frank Seravalli, on the Edmonton Oilers and their struggles, particularly with the secondary scoring. The Oilers want some assist in internet and depth up entrance. They aren’t getting the returns, and the seat is getting hotter for head coach Kris Knoblauch. They want some scoring assist.
** NHLRumors.com transcription
“Look, it’s been a catastrophe on so many alternative fronts. And we talked very early on in at present’s present concerning the concept of the over reliance that the Oilers forwards have had on Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Imagine it or not, in the event you look again during the last 10 years, the Oilers have gotten fewer factors in manufacturing out of the underside half of their lineup this 12 months than another 12 months within the McDavid and Draisaitl expertise. Which is form of onerous to imagine.
If you discuss a internet objective share up to now this season with the Oilers, McDavid and Draisaitl on the ice versus off of it, there, they’ve been outscored 30 to 9 up to now this season with Conor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl off the ice. That’s loopy.
So the place do the Oilers go from right here? Nicely, David Tomasek hasn’t labored. Isaac Howard is again in Bakersfield. Matt Savoie is trending in the proper path. He seems to be like a man who’s approaching, goes to be a participant for this staff. The Oilers needn’t simply assist defending, not simply in internet, the place their goaltending has been poor, however additionally they want some extra expertise on their ahead group. That’s positively evident up to now.
NHL Rumors: Edmonton Oilers and Philadelphia Flyers
And man, this depth has eroded in a really brief order for Edmonton. So control what Edmonton does subsequent. As a result of, you already know, I believe the seat has gotten a bit of hotter beneath Kris Knoblauch as this street journey has gone on. They’re not seeing the returns, and Jay Woodcroft was fired beneath fairly related circumstances. Although Kris Knoblauch has taken this staff to 2 straight Stanley Cup Finals, the seats getting hotter.
However past that, sooner or later they’re going to need to do one thing as a result of lacking the playoffs this 12 months, they usually’re form of, imagine it or not, teetering nearer to that edge, as we’ve needed to readjust some expectations for Edmonton. It’s been ugly. How do they discover their means out of it? How do they discover extra ability?
Stan Bowman has his work lower out for him. He’s tried to seek out options. David Tomasek, the Swedish main scorer final season, he’s barely performed. And so looking for diamonds within the tough that hasn’t been it both.
They’re going to need to make some robust choices, because the Edmonton Oilers are tied with the Calgary Flames, imagine it or not, for regulation wins up to now this season. They each have simply 4, and Calgary has performed one fewer recreation up to now this season, and Calgary is on the backside of the West standings alongside St Louis.
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