I love everything about Dustin Byfuglien except the fact that my team has to play against him. His size, his skill, his physicality, his truly unique combination of talents and attributes make him a monster on the ice. When he makes a powerful play like using speed to drive outside then cut to the net, he becomes a wrecking ball. Davidson’s leg (knee) buckled after Big Buff cut through him.
Davidson’s injury is expected to be long term. Best wishes to Davidson, who has been one of the biggest and best surprises in another lost season. He was playing 20+ minutes a night for a little over a month and performing very well in that role.
He stabilized the 3rd pairing completely and just might be able to take on an expanded role in the future, though a perfect world sees the Oilers add 2 more top 4 Defenders in the offseason, which would keep Davidson in a lesser role. It’s what I’m hoping for. Davidson as a 5-6 that can come up to 4 in the event of an injury is the depth Edmonton has been lacking.
With Davidson sidelined, the Oilers recalled Griffin Reinhart. While I have not been disappointed with Reinhart’s play with the big club, the deck is still stacked against him fitting in on this team long term. He is another LHD on a team that has at least 4 other LHD ahead of him: Klefbom, Sekera, Davidson, and Nurse.
What does the future hold for Reinhart? I struggle to see how he can push out one of those 4 other left shot defenders. I don’t see how the Oilers can avoid upgrading the other 2 spots with actual right shot top 4 D.
The trade that landed Reinhart was suspect from the second it was announced. I *still* think Reinhart will have an NHL career, but he isn’t the player the Oilers needed to get by trading the assets they did. He wasn’t established. Even without the emergence of Davidson, the Oilers had the left side of the D presumably covered with Sekera, Klefbom, and Nurse. It’s been the right side that’s let them down for a long time now.
It just seems like the Oilers made a knee-jerk reaction after losing out on Hamilton and the next best thing they could get just isn’t what they actually needed.
Nevertheless, this is the mess the Oilers are in now. Reinhart gets his chance to shine.
LINEUP
Griffin Reinhart was recalled after Davidson’s injury revealed itself to be long term. Korpikoski is staying on the McDavid line because of course he is.
Hall Draisaitl Maroon Korpikoski McDavid Eberle Yakupov Letestu Kassian Hendricks Lander Cracknell
Sekera Fayne Nurse Clendening Reinhart Pardy
Talbot
OILERS KEYS TO THE GAME
1) Big Cat. Reinhart has returned and this is his chance to show that he belongs here. As mentioned previously, he hasn’t disappointed so much as he hasn’t excelled. In the AHL he played 27 games picking up 2-7-9 along the way. He has only appeared in 15 NHL games this year, 23 in his entire career. He should get the rest of the year to almost double his season total. What he proves here might catch the eye of another team at the very least. I have doubts about his future with the Oilers, but he could be thrown in with a pick or another player in the deal the Oilers have to make to land another defenseman. With Pardy he’s going to find a straightforward partner. There shouldn’t be a lot of surprises out there with him. Just some cool, calm hockey is all we’re after.
2) Jumbo. Joe Thornton is one of my favourite NHL players and has been for a long time. He is perpetually unloved because he cant win a Stanley Cup, as if 1 person can be the difference in winning a Cup. Thornton has pulled his socks up after a slow start to the year and is now a hair shy of being a Point per Game player again. He’s 8th in NHL scoring and surging up the charts. He could very well end up in the top 5 before the season is through. He had 15 points after October and November (23 games). In the 42 he’s played since then he’s picked up another 48. Not bad for a 36 year old playing in his 18th NHL season.
3) Gritensity. The Oilers newfound grit and scrappiness has been talked about a lot lately. I want to be clear that I am all for the Oilers employing big jerk hockey players who do big jerk things on the ice. However, the biggest reason Edmonton has been winning lately isn’t because they’re bigger. It’s because Cam Talbot has been standing on his head. Talbot has the highest save percentage in the NHL since December 14th when he took the reins as the starter fulltime. The splits for his save percentage over that time are Dec .934, Jan .932, Feb .914, Mar .981. He was just named 1st star of the week by the NHL because of his performance. Why this matters is because the new gritty identity of the Oilers should be welcome, but the team cant get delusional about it by, say, playing Korpikoski with McDavid because he’s bigger and plays a gritty game. He’s also the worst defensive player on the team (in the NHL) and long term isn’t likely a fit.
Puck drops tonight at 7PM Mountain Time on Sportsnet West. Game On!
Follow me on Twitter @Archaeologuy