With a few days between games the organization managed to step back and start re-evaluating every aspect of the franchise. Apparently head-manned by Bob Nicholson every part of the Oilers is being examined, and that's long overdue. I don't have a lot of faith that real change will be made, but it's at least a possibility.
While all the off-ice stuff is being reviewed the in-ice product remains essentially unchanged, however. Edmonton now stands alone at the bottom of the NHL, no longer even tied for the worst. There is nobody worse than the Oilers. The team still has holes on Defense, Center, and in Net but management seems dead-set against using the waiver wire to plug any of the holes.
We saw the Oilers earlier this season avoid Harding as a potential fix in net. He hadn't played a game all year and the Sword of Damocles hangs over his head because of his MS diagnosis, so passing on him was understandable even if I would have taken the risk. However, the Oilers also just recently passed on Kyle Chipchura who could have easily filled a bottom 6 role on this team and been the 5th C on a club that is weak down the middle.
That's not to say that the Oilers have been completely hands off about boosting their Center ice deficiencies. Elliotte Friedman reported that the Oilers called Columbus recently about the availability of Ryan Johansen. They were told he that he wasn't available, but one has to wonder just what they were willing to move in order to get him. Johansen is Columbus' best and most prolific player. They couldn't have offered a 2nd Round Pick and some Belly Button lint. MacT must have been prepared to offer something significant.
The middle of the season is an unlikely time for a big deal to go down, so rumblings of the Oilers going big game hunting is something we should tuck away and keep in the back of our minds when the season ends and we come to the lead up to the Draft.
The GM may be preaching patience but I'm not exactly buying it.
LINEUP
A few Oilers were still absent from practice the other day as a result, we think, because of injury. Nikitin is in doubt, Hendricks is certainly still very questionable too. Nikitin's back has been hurt all year to some degree and Hendricks took that Weber shot off the Knee Cap and has been under duress ever since. Pitlick played pretty well on the top line. He plays a very simple game and that's exactly what needs to happen when you have 2 other players on the line capable of making some fancy plays. Pitlick can skate fast, lay the body, and isn't afraid to go to the net. Even if he doesn't score that can buy some critical time and space for Hall and RNH.
Hall RNH Pitlick Yak Draisaitl Eberle Perron Arco Purcell Gazdic Gordon Pinizzotto
Klefbom Petry Ference Fayne Aulie Schultz
Fasth
OILERS KEYS TO THE GAME
1) Hi Tempo. The Sharks just played last night against the Flames and the Oil have had a few days between games. Even accounting for the bag skate they got there's no excuse for the Oilers to blow their chance at taking advantage of the schedule. If the Oilers come out of the gate and aren't pushing the pace then they are inviting the Sharks to ease their way into the game.
2) Hit Somebody. I'm getting more and more concerned about the lack of physicality from Justin Schultz. I don't think anybody accuses Jeff Petry of being Scott Stevens out there, but he will take a hit to make the right play and he will engage in puck battles. The potential Norris Trophy winner turtles when other players come towards the puck and he throws the disc away without looking way too often. It's a concerning habit and one that he needs to correct.
3) Big Joe. The Oilers have had trouble containing the big California teams and especially so with Jumbo Joe Thornton. He was stripped of his C because of that Playoff meltdown the Sharks had last year but he's a fantastic player. He is still one of the team's best possession players, is killing it on the Faceoff dots, and is still putting up points. Containing him is going to be difficult and after him the team needs to contend with Couture, Marleau, and Pavelski. Ugh.
Puck drops tonight at 7:08PM Mountain Time on Sportsnet West. Game On!
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