The Edmonton Oilers Friday against Pittsburgh looked very much like the Oilers I think most of us were expecting to see this season.
A dominating offensive performance from buzzer to buzzer, with the requisite defensive responsibility to get the job done.
But it is fair to ask the question: Was Edmonton that good? Or was the outcome aided by their aging, slowing competition?
That and more in this edition of…
9 Things
9. Bill Hay died on Friday. He was eighty-eight. Mr. Hay was the President and CEO of the Calgary Flames when I was a member of the host radio broadcasting team in the early 90’s. Bigger-than-life, he was every bit his 6’3 when you stood beside him for an interview. Condolences to his family.
8. Troy Stecher hit 500 career NHL games on Friday against Pittsburgh. Stecher is “listed” at 5’10 and 184 LB. To have this kind of career while competing at that kind of height disadvantage at a big man’s position is a real accomplishment. It was terrific to see his friends & family greet him in the tunnel afterward.
7. Oilers fans often were nervous nellies when they had the great Grant Fuhr in the crease. If a future Hall of Famer and one of the very best goaltenders ever was cause for concern, then no wonder Stuart Skinner is dealing with some of the same doubts. But Skinner has a .950 SV% over his last two starts and has lately looked much more like the veteran of a Stanley Cup Final Game 7.
6. Newcomer Vasily Podkolzin lined up Friday alongside Leon Draisaitl and Viktor Arvidsson and did not look out of place. He earned his first point as an Oiler (an assist) and used his speed and heaviness effectively. Podkolzin is quietly becoming a pleasant story. Small sample, but he leads the club in both Hits (20) and 5v5 CF (66.5%). Plus, Podkolzin is averaging :34 per game short-handed.
5. Meanwhile, Connor McDavid played in his 653rd game on Friday. McDavid passes Ales Hemsky and ties Ethan Moreau and Dave Hunter for the fourteenth most games in franchise history. McDavid cracks the Top 10 once he passes Craig MacTavish’s 701. Barring an injury to #97, that should happen later this season. MacTavish and Randy Gregg were inducted into the Oilers Wall of Fame on Friday. Well deserved, both.
4. Thus far into the 2024-25 season Darnell Nurse is a way different player than he was for any portion of 2023-24. He had another spirited scrap on Friday and is second on the team in Hits. I remember watching a substandard game last year and asking, “When did Nurse stop being hard to play against”? But in fairness, Nurse was hurt and more so than many people realized. But now, Darnell is back to being a hard, physical force. More, please.
3. The Oilers bottom six is not fast. And those who dispute this should check their perceptions against NHL Edge. The fourth line is the real speed concern. Mattias Janmark is just a slightly above average” skater. However, Corey Perry and Derek Ryan’s boots are “below average.” Don’t get me wrong. Both Perry and Ryan help this team. But maybe not on the same line on the same night. Noah Philp could be a solution at 4C, and rotating Perry & Ryan at 4RW. Philp scored for Bakersfield again Saturday. Problem is…by carrying an extra player now, Edmonton loses available salary at the deadline.
2. It has been an uneven beginning to Ty Emberson’s career as an Edmonton Oiler. But as I wrote a couple of weeks back, small early samples can be misleading and a bit unfair. The Emberson we have watched in the last two games has been much better. He has interesting tools: To my eye he is a better-than-average skater. He is more than willing to battle to make up for his relative lack of size. And I like how willing he is to strategically pinch at the attacking blueline. Where he might be able to separate from the rest of the pack is his passing. When he tries to do too much, he gets himself in trouble. But when Emberson stays within himself, passes are crisp and accurate. When he is doing that, Emberson contributes considerably to a club that thrives on that transition game.
1.Kevin Weekes reported this week that Evander Kane “is on track for his return to (the) Edmonton Oilers lineup from his injuries/surgery etc. for early 2025”. Bob Stauffer added on the game broadcast Friday that he has run into Kane and that Evander said he was “feeling great.” On the one hand, this was major surgery and there is still a significant way for Kane to go. On the other hand, Evander has proven in the past that he is a fast healer. His comeback from that frightening cut to his arm was surprising to everyone but Kane. A healthy, aggressive Evander Kane does not just make the Oilers a better team. He would make them a much better club in a number of very substantial ways. Assuming he is back to 100%, Kane is a legit Top 6 power forward. He will eagerly go to the blue paint but can also score from distance. He has scored 20+ goals nine times, after all.
Just as importantly, Kane brings attitude. He carries himself with a confidence and swagger that is infectious. And he is willing to welcome all takers. This club was pushed around a bit early this year. And the push back took a while, primarily overseen by Darnell Nurse…who could use some heavyweight help. Evander Kane does have that ability to be the unpredictable cowboy who causes the townsfolk to glance over their shoulder to see if he’s coming. It keeps everyone honest and creates some more room on the ice.
In short: He is the kind of guy that winning teams need. And the sooner he can return (salary cap be damned) the better.
Now on Threads @kleavins. Also, find me on Twitter @KurtLeavins, Instagram at LeavinsOnHockey, and Mastodon at [email protected]. This article is not AI generated.
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