How to Fix the Edmonton Oilers

 Okay, so the topic of hockey is not the norm for this blog - I get it. There will be a number of blogs coming very shortly on the usual political issues, but after watching my favorite team foe the last, few, painful months, something needs to said.

It's not that the Edmonton Oilers are a team without talent. The Oilers have talent. They even have an excellent backup defence corps that are doing the job wonderfully. That is especially comforting given the Oiler's regular defence corps has been worse than the backups. Take Barrie for example. He should be the reincarnation of Paul Coffey with his speed and offensive capabilities, but since signing his big contract he has looked like a deer in the headlights on the ice. His play in his own end has been, well, bordering on embarrassing. I had great hopes for Duncan Keith as well, but he has played panicky, "please don't hit me " hockey", and it's obvious. Sad really. There is a real short term and long term problem here for the Oilers, but defence was not exactly the strong suit of the Oilers of old, when they won all those cups. 

The Oilers were, at the beginning of the season, worried about their goaltending. Smith was good in 2020, but was it a fluke?  Koskinen was atrocious in 2020, and it could only get worse. Skinner was an up and coming prospect with no NHL experience - how would he fair? Turns out that Smith was injured a few games into the season, and Koskinen took over - much to the horror of Oiler fans. Yet, Koskinen played most of the games since, and has played well in relief. Then there is the rookie Skinner. He has played well at home, where he is confident before the home town fans, and average at best on the road. Yet, goaltending isn't the Oilers' problem either. 

The Oilers problem is their offence. There are two main problems with the Oilers' offence:

1.    The offensive players are not being utilized intelligently; and

2.    The players are not producing intelligent energy.

Perhaps the two are related. Or perhaps the proper use of the players is exasperating ego issues below the surface. The bottom line is that the Oilers' coach is not putting his lines together properly. He is trying desperately, juggling them like balls in several games, desperately seeking energy, momentum, and cohesion. Yet there is none. The answer is not as much what Edmonton's lines have, but what they don't. For example, the use of McDavid, without Nugent-Hopkins on the same line means all any team has to do is shut down McDavid and there are no other playmakers to take his place. This is what has been happening. McDavid ends up trying to do it all himself, fails, and then loses it. In other words, there is no playmaker with McDavid to free him up as either a shooter or a play maker. That means Edmonton's offence becomes painfully predictable. McDavid needs to be teamed with a playmaker, and that person is Nugent Hopkins. 

Similarly, Nugent-Hopkins is being wasted as a playmaker on a line of power forwards or grunts. He is an artist with the puck, but his line mates aren't that fancy or finishing. As a result, over 50% of his points have come on the powerplay, but his contribution at full strength has been emasculated. The same goes for Draisaitl. He is a finisher more than he is a playmaker. He can pass, but not as well as either Nugent-Hopkins or McDavid. The three of them on one line means teams cannot predictably isolate one man to take down the whole team. It means flexibility and the option for surprise. It makes sense.

The second line needs to be centred Hyman. Hyman is captain material in his own right. His spirit, talent and commitment is evident throughout the game. He is a leader. If he can't be the leader of the team, well, then he needs to the leader of his own line. A power forward, gut crashing, net smashing, line to throw a whole new look at the opponents every other shift. On either side of him put Scevior and Puljujary (the Happy Warrior). This is line full of absolute drive, and loving it. This is a line that can score and destroy, and do so shift after shift if they wish. This is a line of spirit which they can share amongst themselves. They can show the other lines what commitment is.

The third line needs to centred around young McLeod. He is a star rising, of that there should be no question, but he needs time to find all that he is. His own line, further down the rotation, gives him that confidence of place, and ability to improve without the main spot light that can shatter confidence. He can move and he can score. On either side of him place Yamamoto and Foegele. This is a line built on skill and speed competing against other's third lines not so endowed. Foegele might be a power forward, but he has excellent speed, determination and can score. Yamamoto has speed, and can score, but he should be trade bait as his size makes him an easy smear on the boards. He fights through, but it is clear that he is too small to be a difference. When he goes Turris could take his place - even before he goes. Turris has played inspired hockey this year, yet he finds himself scratched quite often. This isn't fair. He has tremendous speed and can score. He has good drive and desire. He should be playing every night on this line. 

The fourth line should be centered on Ryan. He is a wily veteran, and good on the face off. He is also a relentless fore checker, and determined fighter in the corners. Benson and Kassian should be his wingers. If the fourth line is a checking line, then these three can get it done. Both Kassian and Benson can score, but they can also check harshly, especially Kassian - if he wants to. 

That's the four lines. They need to each be given a name, aka "the French connection" or whatever like it, and they must stay together to develop their esprit de corps. Swapping players around like proverbial widgets kills all these things that are essential to developing a "TEAM", which they currently are not. Their record is only impressive if you have not witnessed each and every game. Their special teams, ie line one above, have won them almost every game. They have started each game as if they just left their stock brokers office, and the last thing on their mind is hockey. This team needs serious discipline, but before that can happen intelligent effort is required by the coach. Change the lines, then enforce the discipline of the team vision. Don't play down to your competition, but make them rise to you level - every night. This team has the talent, if it can get out of the way of its egos and entitlements.    

Puljujarvi

DraisaitlSceviour