Last night's game against the Jets was a fun affair to watch (for as long as the stream worked for me). With pre-season coming to a close, here are some thoughts.
A NEW SYSTEM
There is no style of hockey I hate watching more than the dump-and-chase. Not only is it dull to watch, but it's seldom effective in today's NHL. Most teams utilize strong skating defensemen who can usually beat the opposing forwards to a dumped puck. Aside from a couple of players on the roster, last season the Oilers simply didn't have the personnel to make such a strategy work. Possession is the name of the game and any strategy that regularly gives up the puck has no place in the game today.
This is why it's been satisfying to see Tippett trying to incorporate a possession game. The Oilers forwards are skating into the zone with the puck moving the puck from along the boards as well as making open ice passes into the middle. We have seen some egregious errors in training camp (Larsson's open ice pass to the opposition a notable one) but I would much rather see this team take risks and attack than watch 60 minutes of failed dump ins, followed by McDavid scoring on a couple rush plays.
The defense under Tippett and Playfair have been more aggressive as well. At both 5 on 5 as well as on the PK, the backend pairs are actually attacking at the blueline as opposed to immediately giving up the neutral zone to set up in their own end. Players like Nurse, Klefbom,Persson, and now Bear have shown to excel in this system while guys like Larsson and Russell have yet to really adapt.
BEAR PUNS AHEAD
With Persson out of the lineup for the near future, the right side D looked even more bare at the NHL level. However before we could even paws and try and figure out how this would work, Ethan Bear jumped in and took and now looks like a Grizzly vet.
Bear has looked strong all training camp, and his performance last night all but sealed his spot on the opening night roster, likely beside Oscar Klefbom. The pairing was a positive force in possession all night with Bear showing some real poise in the offensive end. His second goal in particular showed how confident he was with the puck and how quick his release can be. There will be some hiccups in his own end yet, but Klefbom is a great partner to have in that regard.
A NEW PLAYER HAS ARRIVED
Jurco was an afterthought by most going into camp; a player who might push for a 13th forward spot. Yercho however, has risen to the challenge of his coach and is looking like the best option for the remaining top 6 forward spot.
For those unclear on what I'm speaking of Tomas Jurco's last name should be pronounced Yer-cho.
Jurco played up with McDavid and Neal all night against the Jets. He finished the night with 3 points and two goals. He skated fast, made some great plays, attacked the net, and got back to his own end quickly. Honestly, if he can play with that kind of intensity through an entire season, Holland might have find a real diamond for Edmonton.
Injuries have been the story of Jurco's past seasons and time will tell what he will bring to this Oilers roster, but it looks as though the lineup for the Oilers has been set for opening night.
Draisaitl-McDavid-Kassian Jurco-RNH-Neal Nygard-Sheahan-Archibald P.Russell-Cave-Chiasson
Nurse-Larsson Klefbom-Bear Russell-Benning Lagesson
Koskinen Smith
Granlund is currently injured, and Khaira, Gagner, and Haas have not done enough in my books to warrant a spot ahead of anyone currently on this roster. Once the dust settles, Edmonton is going to have a set of spare parts they will need to make decisions on.
I liked Anton Burdasov's first game and while he had an assist last night, I don't think he will be here much longer. If Burdasov is serious about wanting to be in the NHL longer term, I would love to see the team come to terms on a two-way contract and garner more of a look at him in the AHL.
Quickly on Matt Benning; the young right shot is not a player I have ever really been enamoured with. At times he can look like a good puck moving defenseman but he makes far too many big errors and doesn't defend well enough to earn a look anywhere higher than a third pairing. Once Persson returns, he will be an asset to keep a close eye on.