On paper, the Edmonton Oilers have one of the most dynamic offenses in the game, a top-15 goalie and a decent, not good but decent, defensive unit. There’s a reason I said on paper, because on the ice Edmonton is 3-7-1 and sitting dead last in the western conference. There is something wrong here.
The team is getting the better of the shot-clock and corsi numbers most nights, but still not winning hockey games, and that is absurdly frustrating. Edmonton easily could have five or six wins right now, but currently sit with just three. That’s a problem.
Devan Dubnyk and Jason Labarbera arguably cost the Oilers three wins in the early going (Winnipeg, Toronto, Pittsburgh), but have evened out since then. Dubnyk has been really good this past week and the Oilers have been in every game. Even though it looked like his time was up (I even wrote a piece on it) Dubnyk has quieted most people down. He’s looking like the goalie I expected and the Oilers can get by with that.
Everywhere else though needs work. It’s not for a lack of talent, but it’s just not the right mix of players in Edmonton. The Oilers lack a lot of things, and it is starting to show. Let’s start up front.
The Oilers have a lot of talent, but don’t have the right mix of it. Edmonton still doesn’t have a veteran that can lead the way up front. Ryan Smyth is supposed to be that guy, but it is unfair to put him in that spot. He’s no longer a legit top-nine option. The Oilers top-six is all younger skilled players, and believe it or not that’s a problem. No team will win with just skilled guys, there needs to be a mix. Edmonton doesn’t have that mix.
Lars Eller was right. Call him stupid for saying it, but he was right. The Oilers do play like a junior team. The guys up front are focused on scoring only and not playing a complete game, and it shows big time. The young forwards try too hard to make the pretty play and aren’t focused enough on just getting the job done. It’s a big reason why the Oilers can’t score when it matters and why the team doesn’t win.
The Oilers need a top-six veteran leader that plays a complete game. Can score, can play a responsible defensive game and knows how to win. I know getting those players isn’t easy, but if Edmonton wants to take the next step they need to go out and find that kind of player. The top-six is arguably the worst mix of players in the whole league. It’s a one-trick pony that too many teams know how to stop. Say all you want, but David Clarkson would have been a great fit for this unit.
The Oilers need another element in their top-six forwards, and need to move out some of the skill there. It’s time to make a decision on who actually is going to be part of this thing long term. I think Hall, RNH, Eberle, Gagner and Perron will be. I think Yakupov, right or wrong, will end up being the guy moved to help bring in that different kind of forward.
The Oilers bottom six needs a lot of help too. There aren’t enough NHL players in this unit, and that is the first problem. Will Acton works hard, but the numbers don’t lie, this guy is not an NHL option and should be in OKC the second Sam Gagner returns. Luke Gazdic hits, but that’s about it. I guess he’s a decent option for an extra skater, but having him as an every night option is bad news.
Ben Eager? He’s looked lost these first few games back in the lineup and has been largely unimpressive. That said, no one will take him, so Edmonton is stuck with it. Mike Brown was traded, so that’s a positive.
I like Boyd Gordon, think Jesse Joensuu might be something, don’t have a problem with Ryan Smyth on line four, and love Hemsky on line three. That’s only four guys though, and that’s a problem. When healthy this unit doesn’t look too bad, but it’s still lacking a few things.
Gordon is a prefect shut-down center and Joensuu is a good crash and bang winger, which every team needs. The Oilers don’t have that Fernando Pisani, or that Ethan Moreau kind of player, and it’s a big hole. They don’t have that guy that can PK, take the body and pitch in some goals. It’s something every team needs, but something Edmonton doesn’t have. They need their Pascal Dupuis, their Chris Kelly, their Todd Bertuzzi.
The defense lacks a number one guy, but I don’t expect that to change any time soon. Those guys are hard to come by, and rarely become available. I would suggest Dion Phaneuf (Like him or not, he’s that kind of guy) but Oilers fans have some unneeded hate and poor bias against the guy.
The Oilers lack any complete defender. Jeff Petry is the closest thing and might get there soon, but he isn’t there yet. That said, he’s a good option for any team. Ladi Smid is one-dimensional, as are Justin Schultz, Andrew Ference, Nick Schultz and Anton Belov. That’s a problem.
Justin Schultz is brutal defensively, and I’m starting to worry about him. Andrew Ference is good defensively, but doesn’t bring much in terms of offense, same goes for Ladi Smid. Nick Schultz? I’m not exactly sure what he’s supposed to be good at, and Anton Belov is a good puck-mover and is probably the second most complete defender. That said, he’s not much to write home about yet defensively, although he’s showing improvement.
The Oilers need to add a defender that brings them the element of being able to play in all areas if they want to be successful.
A lot of people have asked if the mix is part of the issue in Edmonton. The answer? There isn’t a doubt in my mind that the mix is wrong and that the Oilers are going to have to change things up. The team is too predictable and put all their eggs in one basket. Unless they change up some of the players, the losing will continue. Craig MacTavish did a decent job this past summer, but still has a lot of work ahead of him.
Hey Craig, I think were gonna need a different mix.
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