Oilers Stuff And Things – Second Half Edition

All Star Break is over and the players are returning to their respective teams. It was a fun all star weekend with the obvious story being John Scott’s MVP performance. I’d just like to say that with out a doubt this was probably the best All Star game of the century, it was a refreshing change and if it keeps up then it will be a weekend all fans look forward to instead of something watched purely out of convenience. I just hope the NHL doesn’t take too much credit. If the league would have had their way, allegedly, then MVP Scott would never have suited up and the optics of this game may have been the same blase affair as we’ve seen in previous years.

Okay enough about that though, let’s talk about the Oilers who will be returning to the ice on Tuesday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets. This game has the honor of being the battle for last place in the west as both teams are tied with 43 points. That might not mean much but the Oil are currently just 5 wins out of a playoff spot as they trail the Arizona Coyotes by 10 points for 3rd in the pacific. That’s a lot of points I know, and it is very unlikely that we are talking about games for the Oilers in the middle of April. But the spot is there, for now, and the only way that spot stays in the conversation is if the Oilers can start the unofficial second half of the season on a winning note.

Something that may help the Oilers accomplish that feat is the fact that the team is slowly growing its way back to health. McDavid is likely to return on Tuesday, Brendan Davidson and Oscar Klefbom are also not that far out from what I’ve heard and read in the dailies. Nugent-Hopkins on the other hand (Pardon the pun) is still out for until at least the first week of March if the reports of his recovery time line are accurate.

Having Nuge out but seeing the return of McDavid almost cancels the RNH injury out, this team has been without all of it’s top players in the line up at the same time all season long. If McDavid can show the impact he was having before is clavicle cracked and Taylor Hall, Leon Draisaitl, Nail Yakupov and the other top 9 forwards can contribute offensively then it’s likely the Oilers should be able to win on a more regular basis then they were in the first half of the season.

Defense obviously is still a huge question with this team, but with all the rumors swirling on the team it sounds as if we are going to see changes to the rear guards sooner than later. The addition of right hand shooting Adam Clendenning likely is the the writing on the wall for one or both of Justin Schultz and Eric Gryba. I’m more likely to keep Gryba at least to the end of the season and take whatever I can get for Jultz. The return of Klefbom and Davidson also help immensely in the performance of the Oilers back end, it enables coach Todd McLellan to move Sekera over to the right side in need be. The Oilers D could look like this;

Klefbom – Sekera

Nurse – Fayne

Davidson – Gryba/Clendenning

Either way it looks better with Justin Schultz gone to pasture. Then if Peter Chiarelli makes a trade to bring in a true top end defender everyone slides down the chart and what a difference a trade can make. (By the way, I’m also all for sending Nurse to the minors to gain some confidence.

Like I mentioned above it is very unlikely that the Oilers find themselves in a playoff spot when the season is over on April 6th, and if I know it then Peter Chiarelli knows it too. That being said, its highly likely that Chia see’s his team as a seller leading into the February 29th trade deadline. players like Teddy Purcell, Benoit Pouliot, Matt Hendricks, Eric Gryba, and maybe even Mark Letestu will all have value for teams looking for depth going into the NHL’s second season. Our own Alex Thomas wrote a good piece on the Chiarelli’s first trade deadline with Boston, check it out. As you can see from that article, he made hockey trades, it’s refreshing and maybe there is a chance to bring in real value back instead of just long shot draft picks.

There are many important dates coming up for the Edmonton Oilers, but perhaps none are more important than the game tomorrow night against the Blue Jackets.

The #OilersRigLive4MS

Ticket sales have picked up nicely during the break for the Oilers Rig’s annual fundraiser for the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Alberta/NWT. I’ll be headed to see our friends at Pro Am Sports shortly to pick out some of our amazing silent auction items and the rest of the event is coming together nicely. If you’ve been on one of our fundraisers in the past then you know how great they are, and if you haven’t been well you need to make this year your first as it’s bound to be a fantastic night. Join us February 26th at On the Rocks on Jasper Ave, you know you want to.

Also if you’ve been thinking of purchasing your tickets, but are holding off, don’t. Like I mentioned tickets are starting to move quickly and they’re limited, do don’t hesitate get them now by clicking the ad below.

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