We are less than 10 days from an NHL Draft that currently doesn't see Edmonton picking until the second round and then not again until the sixth round. It could be a slow day for Oilers news, unless the team makes a trade or two.

Instead let's take a quick moment to look back on the 22/23 season; specifically my predictions for the year. Some I nailed, some...less so. Enjoy.

1) Connor McDavid wins the Rocket Richard Trophy with 61 goals

VERDICT: McDavid wins the Rocket with 64 goals
Like many, I had the feeling McDavid was going to go supernova this season in the goals department. After a summer of post after post of people debating that Matthews is better than McDavid after his Rocket and Hart Trophy, Connor went to work this season with the "I'll do it myself" shooter mentality. I predicted 61 goals... he hit it with 64, beating out Pastrnak who ironically did have 61.

2) Jesse Puljujarvi has a better season than Kailer Yamamoto
It may or may not be with the Edmonton Oilers, but by the time the season ends, Jesse Puljujarvi with have better numbers (goals and assists) than Kailer Yamamoto.

VERDICT - No one wins?

Puljujarvi finished with 14 points in 58 games with the Oilers before being traded for scraps to the Hurricanes. JP would go on to have 2 points in 17 games with the Hurricanes and a healthy scratch through much of their playoff run.

Yamamoto finished with 25 points in 58 games and was invisible for most of the post season and now is a likely trade or buyout candidate for the Oilers. By the numbers Yamamoto had a better season but after hoping one of these players would step up into a top six role, neither was able to reach that level.

3) Evan Bouchard takes over top PP duties by December 1st

VERDICT - Did happen but not until end of February at the Trade Deadline

Evan Bouchard had an up and down start to the season, with a big part of it being he lacked a true top 4 partner to play with. At the end of February, Ken Holland brought in Mattias Ekholm and sent out Tyson Barrie. Bouchard stepped into the top PP role and not only had immediate success, but the Oilers PP started clipping at an even higher rate. Still calling this a win for me.

4) RNH scores 25 goals

VERDICT - Wrong... in the sense that Nuge blew these numbers out of the water.

After a 16 and an 11 goal season, my 25 goal prediction for RNH seemed like a bold take. Instead, RNH blew past his previous 28 goal career high with a 37 goal season (21 at EV and 15 on the PP and a SHG to boot) as well as his first 100+ point season. The regular season was incredible for Nuge.

5) Edmonton loses every regular season game to Calgary; still beats them in the second round

VERDICT - Calgary has to make the playoffs for Edmonton to beat them

A fun prediction but wrong nevertheless. Edmonton went 2-1 against the Flames in the regular season (a series that was done by December to the annoyance of all) and the Flames ultimately missed the playoffs entirely, preventing these two teams from having the chance to meet up.

6) John Klingberg will be an Oiler by the Trade Deadline

VERDICT - Ekholm was the big add.

Happy to be wrong about this one. Klingberg had a terrible season with the Ducks before ending up with the Wild at the trade deadline. Meanwhile, Holland actually made a pretty astute move in acquiring Ekholm, a veteran top 4 defender with some term left on his deal.

7) Dylan Holloway wins the Calder

VERDICT - Skip.

8) Connor McDavid has his first NHL fight

VERDICT - Kind of?

We didn't get a real fight with McDavid through the regular season but in the playoffs we kind of got one in Game 4 when McDavid went after Pietrangelo after the Golden Knights player took a two handed chop at Draisaitl. Calling this a win.

9) Raphael Lavoie gets a callup. Scores in his first NHL game

VERDICT - No callup. Saving this one for this season.

10) Every Oilers commentator gets sick at the same time; team asks me to do commentary to fill in.
VERDICT - Still waiting on that call.

How did you all do with your own predictions?

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