Dec 16, 2023; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; The Edmonton Oilers celebrate a goal scored by forward Zach Hyman (18) during the second period against the Florida Panthers at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports
How the Edmonton Oilers’ recent slump has impacted Ken Holland’s trade deadline strategy.
It’s evident that the Edmonton Oilers are facing another challenging period.
Despite this, it’s crucial to consider the context. While the results have been less than stellar, they’re not insurmountable. The Oilers are still solidly positioned within the playoff picture for the Pacific Division. Even though they only secured one point out of a possible six in their last three games, they put up strong performances against both Boston and Minnesota.
However, their recent record and particularly the outcome against Calgary raise important questions: Can Ken Holland afford to delay potential improvements to the team until the trade deadline?
Here are some key observations:
9. The Oilers have the highest travel schedule in the NHL in terms of total miles traveled, with Vancouver and Vegas following closely behind. While travel has become easier compared to two decades ago, some teams still face significant challenges in this regard.
8. Leon Draisaitl’s power play goal against the Minnesota Wild propelled him past Mark Messier for the third-most power play goals in franchise history. Wayne Gretzky holds the top spot, followed by Connor McDavid.
7. The Oilers are currently near the salary cap limit, which explains Ken Holland’s cautious approach to entering the NHL trade market. However, if no moves are made before the deadline, the team will accumulate approximately $2.37 million in annual cap space, which could be valuable during Holland’s negotiations.
6. While there’s been talk about the need for a new starting goaltender, the issue seems to lie more with the team’s defensive efforts rather than the performance of the goalkeepers themselves. Improving the defense should be a priority.
5. Despite the challenges, there have been bright spots, such as Mattias Janmark’s response to a hit on Connor McDavid. Janmark’s performance demonstrates the potential for positive contributions from unexpected sources.
4. Ryan McLeod’s faceoff statistics highlight an area of concern for the Oilers, particularly in defensive zone situations. This underscores the need for improvements in specific areas to strengthen the team’s overall performance.
3. Dylan Holloway’s promising performance on Saturday raises questions about his deployment within the team. It’s essential to ensure that talented players like Holloway are given adequate opportunities to shine.
2. Frustration may be contributing to the Oilers’ recent poor starts in games. Maintaining patience and focusing on the process could help the team overcome these challenges.
1. As the trade deadline approaches, there are differing opinions on what areas the Oilers should prioritize for improvement, including goaltending, forward depth, and defensive upgrades. Finding the right balance within the salary cap constraints will be crucial for making effective moves.
