News Oilers Team Notes

[Edmonton Oilers]

Instant Reaction: Flyers run up the score against Oilers in first game after 4 Nations Face-Off break

The first Edmonton Oilers game in over two weeks didn’t go so well.

On Saturday morning, the Oilers started a five-game Eastern Conference road trip by taking on the Philadelphia Flyers. It was not their best performance, as they fell 6-3.

The Oilers once again got off to a poor start, as Matvei Michkov opened the scoring just over three minutes into the game. Poor defence led to a two-on-one, with Michkov’s first shot missing the net. However, he followed up after the puck was redirected off the boards and beat Stuart Skinner.

Matvei Michkov opens the scoring for Philly.

: Sportsnet | NHL#LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/kIiMshbUGQ

— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) February 22, 2025

However, the Oilers got one back just four minutes later, as Ty Emberson’s shot was saved. The rebound ended up on John Klingberg’s stick, with the right-shot defenceman making no mistake in scoring his first as an Oiler.

John Klingberg scores his first goal as an Edmonton Oiler!

: Sportsnet | NHL#LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/bDl9P1kJZ3

— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) February 22, 2025

The Oilers took the lead midway through the first period, as rookie Matt Savoie won a puck battle behind the net and made a nice pass to Leon Draisaitl, who made no mistake in scoring his 41st of the season.

Matt Savoie makes a great play to find Leon Draisaitl in front of the net and he buries his 41st goal of the season!

That is Savoie's first point as an Oiler in his first game!

: Sportsnet | NHL#LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/gfXlw7IxLa

— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) February 22, 2025

Another poor start to the period allowed the Flyers to tie the game. About two minutes into the period, the Flyers’ Owen Tippett won a foot race against Brett Kulak, beating Skinner on the backhand to make it 2-2. Just over seven minutes into the middle frame, Evan Bouchard gave the puck away in the defensive zone and no one covered Sean Couturier beside the net, as the Flyers took a 3-2 lead.

Sean Couturier scores. It's 3-2 Flyers.

: Sportsnet | NHL#LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/uQxGbWNfL1

— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) February 22, 2025

The Oilers answered back nearly a minute and a half later, as Draisaitl made a terrific pass to Mattias Ekholm in front of the net. Ekholm made no mistake in scoring his eighth goal of the season, with Draisaitl picking up his 44th assist of the year.

Draisaitl to Ekholm to the back of the net! We're all tied up!

: Sportsnet | NHL#LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/YSmvZc96Hp

— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) February 22, 2025

Unfortunately, the Oilers’ defence couldn’t stop shooting themselves in the foot. The Flyers retook the lead with seven and a half minutes left in the period. Brett Kulak got caught out and the Flyers had a rush chance, with Tippett scoring his second of the game. With 4:23 left in the second period, Andrei Kuzmenko scored his first as a Flyer on a deflection, giving Philadelphia a 5-3 lead. The Flyers added an empty net goal.

Andrei Kuzmenko draws a penalty and then scores on the power play. 5-3 Flyers.

: Sportsnet | NHL#LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/edD5wNVO3b

— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) February 22, 2025

Takeaways…​

• It’s hard to blame Stuart Skinner on any one goal but allowing five goals on 31 shots for an .839 save percentage is not ideal. At some point, you need your goaltender to make a save and bail your team out – Skinner was unable to on Saturday, at least until the third period.
• The Oilers’ defence cannot be excused in this game either, as the core gave up far too many odd-man rushes. Skinner needed to make a save but the defence could’ve made his job a lot easier.
• In fact, the offence wasn’t much better. It’s not often the Oilers are outshot in a game, but the Flyers put 32 shots on goal while the Oilers had just 18, including just three in the third period. For the record, they were trailing 5-3 heading into the final frame.
• Draisaitl continues to be the front-runner for the Hart Memorial Trophy, picking up two points (one goal, one assist) in the game. His 41st goal leads the league and it’s essentially a foregone conclusion that he’ll win the Rocket Richard Trophy this season, especially if he keeps up the pace.
• Matt Savoie looked good in his first game as an Oiler. He also picked up his first career point by getting involved on the forecheck and setting up Draisaitl for an easy goal. Expect to see the 21-year-old back in the lineup some more.
• With the loss, the Oilers drop to second in the Pacific Division as they have an equal number of games played as the Vegas Golden Knights while winning five fewer games in regulation. The Oilers could move back into first if the Golden Knights lose on Saturday night to the Canucks.
• This was a game the Oilers had to win, as the Flyers are by far the weakest team on their five-game road trip. They’ll face off against the Eastern Conference-leading Washington Capitals in another matinee game.

If you enjoy my content, you can follow me on Bluesky @ryleydelaney.bsky.social.

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Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/insta...-in-first-game-after-4-nations-face-off-break

 

[Edmonton Oilers]

At least Leon Draisaitl picked up where he left off, Matthew Savoie’s Oilers debut, and the 3rd annual Brunch for Ben

After a two-week break for the 4 Nations Face-off, the Edmonton Oilers were back in action on Saturday for some matinee action against the bottom-dwelling Philadelphia Flyers. Unfortunately, our beloved Oilers looked like they were in the league basement after a sloppy performance led to a disappointing 6-3 loss in Philly. It was not ideal, to say the least.

AT LEAST LEON DRAISAITL STILL LOOKS GREAT​

As much as losing to a bottom-feeder like Philadelphia is incredibly annoying — I’m still pissed off about the loss as I write this — I’m still buzzing off the 4 Nations final — and instead of rightfully ripping the team apart for that dreadful effort, I’m choosing to focus on the bright sides. And if we’re looking for silver linings, how could I not start with Leon Draisaitl’s game as the clear standout for best Oilers forward? I’m not saying Leon was perfect in Philadelphia, but I am saying that the biggest reason the Oilers were in the fight as long as they were was because of goal and assist he put up on the board.

If the Oilers are going to rebound from Saturday’s turd in the punch bowl, Leon Draisaitl will obviously be a big part of the solution. But he can’t do it alone. He can’t be the only one who is a consistent offensive threat, but that was definitely the case against the Flyers. Needless to say, we’ll need a hell of a lot more effort and execution if the Oilers are going to avoid a three-game losing streak tomorrow in Washington, and I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if it were Leon Draisaitl who ends up leading the charge.

MATTHEW SAVOIE’S OILERS DEBUT​

Solid #Oilers debut for Savoie #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/cf23EZ6Jn3

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) February 22, 2025

If I’m looking for positives in what was otherwise a disastrous outing by the Edmonton Oilers, I’m going to look at what Matthew Savoie got done in the 13:02 of TOI he got in his Oilers debut. Not only did he look like he could hang with NHLers in terms of his speed and skill, but he also picked up his first NHL point on a beautiful pass from behind the net to Leon Draisaitl. Even though he didn’t play much, I thought it was pretty clear how talented this kid is and how valuable that will be to the franchise moving forward.

While we’ll have to wait and see how long or if Savoie sticks around beyond this road trip, I couldn’t think of a bigger gift from the Hockey Gords than if this guy could force his way into the lineup down the stretch. We’ve all heard how much the Oilers would love another skilled winger ahead of the March 7th trade deadline, but it would be a huge win if Savoie can fill that void without Stan Bowman having to deal assets to make that upgrade. Again, this was only his first game as an Oiler and he only got limited minutes, but I’d argue his first impression was rock solid and that likely gave him a little bit of leash to keep this ride going for a little while longer.

BRUNCH FOR BEN​

I know this doesn’t have anything to do with the hockey game, but I wanted to send out a massive thank you to everyone who joined us for Brunch for Ben at Greta this morning. This was the third annual Brunch for Ben, and the event was our best yet thanks to the incredible Nation Citizens who made their way down to Greta to join us for the game and raise some money for the Ben Stelter Foundation.

It was a blast to get a bunch of us in the same room for the hockey game, and the fact that this is an all-ages event certainly added a different energy to the room. With the Oilers back in action, kids buzzing around everywhere, and prizes being handed out everywhere, the energy in that room was pretty special. I’ve said it countless times over the years, but I’m incredibly grateful that we’re able to throw these events and have the community spring to action like this. So, thank you, thank you, thank you everyone that joined us at Greta on Saturday morning for what was a fantastic morning. I already can’t wait for next year.

OTHER THINGS WORTH MENTIONING​

Nothing says oilers hockey is back quite like sloppily shitting your pants against a bottom feeder. Feels like home.

— Baggedmilk (@jsbmbaggedmilk) February 22, 2025

1. I really didn’t want to do this today, but I guess I have to ask what the hell is going on with the Oilers’ goaltending situation again. As much as I will absolutely agree that the Oilers were sloppy giveaway machines for most of Saturday’s game, it’s nearly impossible to win in this league when you’re getting an .839 save percentage and giving up five goals on 31 shots. Again, I don’t think all of those goals are Stuart Skinner’s fault, but I don’t know how anyone could possibly defend his game between the pipes. On a day when Edmonton needed their goalie to bail them out, Skinner didn’t come anywhere close to doing that for them. Instead, this will go down as another example people will use for why Stan Bowman needs to upgrade his goaltending situation.

2. Since I’m calling people out, I think it’s only fair to say there were a bunch of skaters who also had bad games. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was fumbling the puck all over the place, and it was a battle for him to even make tape-to-tape passes today. While connecting on the tape wasn’t Evan Bouchard’s issue, the problem he had was that some of his best passes of the day went to the other team. I mean, the goal by Sean Couturier never happens if Bouchard doesn’t think it’s a good idea to whip the puck up the middle of the ice to no one in particular. Simply put, these two needed to be way better than what we got from them.

3. Back to the positives, I wanted to give John Klingberg a shout out for picking up his first goal as an Oiler. When that puck went in the net, everyone at Greta thought it was going to be the start of something beautiful, but unfortunately, it was simply not meant to be. Either way, I’m still hopeful that Klingberg can keep improving as the games roll along here because Edmonton desperately needs him to work if they’re going to make another run in the spring.

4. Back into the sewer for a minute, the Oilers’ special teams stunk to high heavens on Saturday. The boys only had a single power play opportunity against the Flyers, but rather than taking advantage of the chance, they couldn’t even muster a single shot on goal. In fact, the best chance in that power play was a shorthanded 2-on-0 by the Flyers. At the other end of the ice, the penalty kill got tagged with a goal on one of two shorthanded situations, and it doesn’t take a mathematician to figure out that losing both sides of the special teams battle is like taking a long walk down the short pier to a bad time.

5. Viktor Arvidsson played 15:11 against the Flyers and didn’t register a single shot, block, or hit, but still managed to give the puck away three times. He needs to get going or really get gone.

6. It’s been weeks since I’ve been able to tell you about the Oilers’ faceoff percentages, and it’s finally time for my triumphant return. Unfortunately, I must report that the Oilers won only 46.5% of the draws against the Flyers, which isn’t anywhere near good enough.

THE DAILY FACEOFF TRADE DEADLINE SHOW​

Get ready, hockey fans! The Daily Faceoff Deadline is happening on March 7th from 11 AM to 4 PM Eastern, and you won’t want to miss it. We’ll be LIVE, breaking down every trade and big move as it happens, with instant reactions and expert analysis from the Daily Faceoff crew. Plus, we’ve got special guests lined up throughout the show, offering exclusive insights from some of the biggest names in the game. From blockbuster trades to surprise moves, we’re covering it all. Tune in to the Daily Faceoff YouTube channel and follow Daily Faceoff socials on March 7th to catch all the action!

Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/at-le...ilers-debut-and-the-3rd-annual-brunch-for-ben

 

[Edmonton Oilers]

Leon Draisaitl stays hot, Alex Ovechkin narrows the gap on Gretzky’s goal record, and the Oilers are a mess

I thought Saturday’s 6-3 loss to the Flyers was as painful as it gets, but then I watched the Edmonton Oilers get demolished 7-3 by the Washington Capitals and felt that maybe it wasn’t so bad after all. That, my friends, is a harsh lesson on perspective.

LEON DRASAITL STAYS HOT​

I may not be smart enough to come up with new and creative ways to describe Leon Draisaitl’s fantastic season after every game he plays, but I will never tire of trying anyway. No matter what has happened with the Oilers this season, Draisaitl has been a pillar of offensive consistency, and it’s turning into the kind of season we’ll be talking about for a long time. Not only is he running away with the NHL goal lead, but it doesn’t look like anyone has any ideas of how to stop him. The problem, of course, is that he can’t be the only one contributing.

Right now, there are way too many games where Leon Draisaitl is doing most of the offensive lifting, and that’s a problem that needs to be fixed immediately. As much as I love seeing Draisaitl in warlord mode, the team won’t get very far if we don’t get some goal from other spots in the lineup. Draisaitl can’t be the only one we can count on to score goals, but that’s where we’re at right now, and the losses we’re getting aren’t the least bit surprising.

ALEX OVECHKIN IS STILL RIDICULOUS​

Ovechkin from his office.

: Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/8JlpbQMlYr

— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) February 23, 2025

He may take about 15 strides per game at this point in his career, but Alex Ovechkin can still rifle the puck, can’t he? I mean, both of the goals he scored against the Oilers came on rocket shots that were basically unstoppable. Didn’t his first two goals both look like vintage Ovi? Either way, the hat trick puts Ovechkin only 13 goals away from passing Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal record, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets there this year based on how he’s pumping pucks into the back of the net.

What’s most amazing about Ovechkin’s goal record chase is that he would have easily gotten there if he didn’t have so much hockey wiped out in his career. The guy has seen multiple lockouts and a COVID-shortened season that robbed him of some of his prime scoring years, and it’s almost a shame that we’ll never know how many goals he could have had had those events not happened. Even so, we’re watching the best goal scorer the NHL has ever seen, and as much as it was annoying to watch him score against our beloved Oilers, it’s hard not to soak in the moment when you’re watching history happen.

WHERE ARE YOU, VIKTOR ARVIDSSON?​

Viktor Arvidsson‘s first season with the Oilers has been a mess, and it’s almost making me regret how excited I was to get him on free agency day. When Arvidsson is at his best, he can be an incredibly effective forward in terms of producing both offence and chaos around the net. This season, however, we’re not getting either of things from him. He doesn’t look anything like the guy who scored 30 goals twice with the Nashville Predators or even the one that popped 26 goals in L.A. two years ago.

I don’t think I have to explain to anyone reading this why it’s a problem that the Oilers have got $4 million tied up in a guy with seven goals this season, but that’s the state we’re in with Arvidsson right now. Outside of the occasional flash that reminds of how skilled he can be, the rest of the time is spent wanting for more. Couple the offensive issues with a bad penalty like the one he took that led to Tom Wilson’s goal, and you’ve got the recipe for another frustrating out for a guy who was supposed to be able to chip in now and then.

THIS ROAD TRIP COULD BE A DISASTER​

Sunday’s loss in Washington marks Edmonton’s first three-game losing streak since the first three games of the season. Not great, friends. Not great at all when you look at the three games that are left on this road trip. The boys are in Tampa Bay on Tuesday, Florida on Thursday, and wrap up the trip in Carolina on Saturday, which is a murderer’s row of opponents to face at the best of times let alone when they’re struggling this badly. Unless Edmonton can turn this ship around in a hurry, we could find ourselves in a whole by the time the week is over.

OTHER THINGS WORTH MENTIONING​

pic.twitter.com/mkTjBnH2sl

— Baggedmilk (@jsbmbaggedmilk) February 23, 2025

1. Pain.

2. I’m not going to try and defend Calvin Pickard’s numbers against the Capitals, but I will say that I feel sorry for him for having to face a firing squad while the team in front of him didn’t do much to prevent it from happening. I’d trade Gregor’s kingdom for a goalie at this point.

3. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins left the Oilers’ bench with TD Forss midway through the second period, but did return later in the frame. Who knows what the issue was, but it could be something that we end up watching down the line. On the bright side, Nuge picked up an even strength goal in the third period to narrow the gap — I’m being generous — and give him two points on the day.

4. I wanted to be happier about Jeff Skinner’s 11th goal of the season, but the game was already over at that point, so the marker almost like putting lipstick on a pig.

5. The Oilers were sloppy with the puck again on Sunday, giving it away 10 times according to the NHL boxscore. That number seems extremely light to me given that the Oilers were feeling especially generous with their giveaways from my side of the TV screen. Then again, they also didn’t have the puck much so many that number makes more sense than I thought.

6. Getting only 25 shots on goal after being limited to only 18 against the Flyers on Saturday was completely unacceptable. I don’t know what’s with their insistence on passing the puck around the perimeter rather than putting pucks on net, but what I can tell you for sure is that it’s almost impossible to score when you don’t shoot.

7. I like starting plays with the puck, and one way to do that is to win faceoffs. The Oilers won only 44.9% of those draws against the Capitals, and we were given yet another reason to be disappointed.

THE DAILY FACEOFF TRADE DEADLINE SHOW​

Get ready, hockey fans! The Daily Faceoff Deadline is happening on March 7th from 11 AM to 4 PM Eastern, and you won’t want to miss it. We’ll be LIVE, breaking down every trade and big move as it happens, with instant reactions and expert analysis from the Daily Faceoff crew. Plus, we’ve got special guests lined up throughout the show, offering exclusive insights from some of the biggest names in the game. From blockbuster trades to surprise moves, we’re covering it all. Tune in to the Daily Faceoff YouTube channel and follow Daily Faceoff socials on March 7th to catch all the action!

Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/leon-...oal-record-and-the-edmonton-oilers-are-a-mess

 

[Edmonton Oilers]

‘Everyone in that room can be a bit better’: Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch calls out team after back-to-back losses

The Edmonton Oilers have fallen flat on their faces out of the 4 Nations Face-Off break.

Apparently watching teammate Connor McDavid score the game-winning goal to put a Gold Medal around the necks of his countrymen wasn’t enough to motivate his teammates to find another level in their game. Instead, McDavid walked back into a tire fire of back-to-back matinees in which his team was outscored a stunning 13-6.

But that push has to come from somewhere, and after losing to the Capitals a day after falling to the Flyers, Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch had choice words for his players.

“Everyone just needs to dig in and get a little bit better,” said Knoblauch. “I can’t think of anyone that I’m saying ‘Oh I really like his game, he’s playing outstanding.’

“I think everyone in that room can be a bit better. Some more than others, but I think collectively we can step it up. There’s not a flip a switch, there’s nothing we can do immediately, everyone just has to be a bit better. Whether that’s on our backcheck, our breakout, our passing, our penalty kill. Everything can be a little bit better.”

Over the losses, the Oilers got caved in in pretty much every sense of the term. At five-on-five, they were outscored 8-5, controlling just 46.77 percent of the shot attempt share, and a dismal 36.38 percent of the expected goal share. The penalty kill was awful, allowing three goals against on four chances, while the power play went one-for-four.

Poor goaltending didn’t help, either, as Stuart Skinner, who started Saturday against Philadelphia, and Calvin Pickard, who went against Washington Sunday, looked like they were playing dodgeball combining for a .800 save percentage. 13 goals against on 43 shots, for those counting at home.

The team looked like a mess all weekend outside of five or so minutes to start Sunday’s game. Offensively, too cute. Defensively, not cute enough.

“For me, I thought we just looked slow,” said Knoblauch. “Slow to defend, slow to get up ice, on the attack. I think a lot of it (is) just not finding our legs and that makes it difficult to create offence if you’re not moving and gives them a lot more time and space to make plays.”

Edmonton won’t have much time to turn things around, as the next three games are daunting. They’ll continue this five-game road trip with games Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Wednesday against the Florida Panthers and Friday against the Carolina Hurricanes.

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Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s associate editor, senior columnist, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the DFO DFS Report. He can be followed on Twitter, currently known as X, at @zjlaing, or reached by email at [email protected].

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ARTICLE PRESENTED BY bet365​

Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/every...auch-calls-out-team-after-back-to-back-losses

 

[Edmonton Oilers]

NHL Notebook: Despite long-term injury concern, Matthew Tkachuk will play for the Panthers again this season

What’s going on with Florida Panthers’ forward Matthew Tkachuk?

The injury likely occurred during the 4 Nations Face-Off, as in the first Team USA matchup against Canada, he missed the final 12:36 of the game. He wasn’t able to finish the Gold Medal game, either, with his last shift coming towards the end of the second period.

On Monday morning, Panthers head coach Paul Maurice announced that Tkachuk is dealing with a lower-body injury, but that he will play again this season.

On the @JoeRoseShow this morning, FLA coach Paul Maurice said Matthew Tkachuk’s injury (believed to be a groin) could be a bit longer term, “But he’s playing for us this year.”

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) February 24, 2025

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman notes that his timeline is unknown, but it could be somewhat long-term, which would be a big loss for the Panthers. This season, the 27-year-old has 22 goals and 57 points in 52 games as the reigning Stanley Cup champions sit second in the Atlantic Division, one point behind the Toronto Maple Leafs.

John Gibson pulled from his most recent start due to injury​

The Anaheim Ducks announced on Sunday afternoon that netminder John Gibson is day-to-day due to an upper-body injury.

News: We have recalled Oscar Dansk from the @SDGullsAHL. John Gibson is day-to-day with an upper-body injury. #FlyTogether | @opendoor https://t.co/sryoyKo7He

— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) February 23, 2025

Gibson’s name has been in the rumour mill as of late, as he’s arguably the best netminder available before Mar. 7’s trade deadline. So far this season, the 31-year-old goaltender has a .916 save percentage and 2.61 goals against average in 24 games played, with a 9-9-2 record.

Still, the Ducks have a couple of reasons to trade him, as they’re still in a rebuilding phase and could get significant assets for the netminder. Moreover, the Ducks have a 1A/1B situation with 23-year-old Lukáš Dostál, who has a .910 save percentage and 2.92 goals against average in 34 games.

The Edmonton Oilers have been linked to Gibson since the beginning of the season and with Stuart Skinner’s struggles this season, acquiring a more experienced netminder like Gibson may bolster their chances of a deep Stanley Cup post-season run.

Trevor Zegras suspended for three games​

Sticking with news about the Anaheim Ducks, forward Trevor Zegras has been suspended for three games for interfering with Detroit Red Wings Michael Rasmussen on Sunday afternoon’s game.

Expecting a hearing with @NHLPlayerSafety for #FlyTogether Trevor Zegras for his hit on #LGRW Michael Rasmussen on Sunday.

Clear cut hit to the head which went uncalled by on-ice officials.

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) February 24, 2025

The play occurred late in the second period, as Rasmussen chipped the puck off the glass. Zegras came in with a blindside hit and the principal point of contact was the Rasmussen’s head. It’s worth noting that the Red Wings forward is considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

Trevor Zegras will have a hearing on Monday with @NHLPlayerSafety for intereference against Michael Rasmussen pic.twitter.com/oaYHXjU082

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) February 24, 2025

After back-to-back 23-goal, 60+ point seasons in 2021-22 and 2022-23, Zergras’ career has come to a screeching halt the past two seasons. He only played 31 games in 2023-24 due to injury, scoring six goals and 15 points. So far this season, during which he has spent a significant number of games on the Injured Reserve, Zergras has seven goals and 16 points in 34 games.

Ryan Hartman’s suspension reduced to eight games​

Ryan Hartman, who was suspended for 10 games before the 4 Nations Face-Off break, had his suspension reduced to eight games on Monday afternoon.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman reduces Ryan Hartman’s suspension from 10 to 8 games

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) February 24, 2025

The incident happened on Feb. 1’s game against the Ottawa Senators, as he pushed Senators centre Tim Stützle’s head into the ice after a face-off and was ejected from the game. Hartman has already served four games of his eight-game suspension and is set to return on Mar. 4 against the Seattle Kraken.

This season, Hartman has seven goals and 17 points in 48 games and is coming off a season where he scored 21 goals and 45 points in 74 games. The 30-year-old’s best season came in 2021-22, scoring 34 goals and 65 points in 82 games that year.

If you enjoy my content, you can follow me on Bluesky @ryleydelaney.bsky.social.

ARTICLE PRESENTED BY bet365​

Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/nhl-n...ay-for-the-florida-panthers-again-this-season

 

[Edmonton Oilers]

Real Life Podcast: Tyler’s Uber adventure, a 4 Nations recap, and Chantal Kreviazuk

Monday afternoon means another episode of the Real Life podcast is set and ready to kick off your week. In today’s episode, the guys discussed Tyler’s Uber issue, travel stories from Montreal and Boston, and whatever random topics came to mind while recording.

The guys started the Monday episode of Real Life by discussing why Tyler and Baggedmilk were the only ones who showed up for the Monday podcast. After starting the show by wondering where everyone was, Jay and Wanye wandered into the studio after the recording had already begun, derailing the conversation and making it better at the same time.

Changing gears, Tyler told a story about getting scammed by an Uber in Montreal after pre-booking a ride to the airport. As you’ll hear, this was one of the most confusing Uber situations ever. While the car was in motion on the way to the airport, the driver tried to hustle Tyler out of some cash instead of taking him where he needed to be for the pre-negotiated fare. No matter how you look at the situation, it seems like Tyler got ripped off in what can only be described as a very odd situation.

From there, Tyler told a few stories about his time in Montreal and Boston, which he described as one of the most incredible sports experiences he’s had with The Nation Network so far. He talked about the Canada vs. USA final, driving to Boston through a snowstorm, and took listeners behind the scenes on what it was like to put on live shows from the event. If you thought it was going to be one of those situations where everything ran smoothly, you will be pleasantly surprised at how things tend to go sideways.

Finally, the guys wrapped up the podcast with an array of topics, including everyone’s excitement for the Olympics, how great it was that Connor McDavid got his signature moament with Team Canada, and why Tyler needs to watch the movie Armageddon. As always, the Monday episode of Real Life was all over the map and wasn’t able to stick on a single topic for very long.

Listen to the Monday episode of Real Life below:

Subscribe to the Real Life Podcast for FREE on Spotify here, on Apple Podcasts here, on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/real-...nture-a-4-nations-recap-and-chantal-kreviazuk

 

[Edmonton Oilers]

Former NHL goaltender Devan Dubnyk discusses Oilers’ tandem, how the team can upgrade, and more

The issue of goaltending for the Edmonton Oilers has been a focal point for fans throughout the season and has only gotten louder after a rough weekend for the team.

Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard combined to give up 11 goals in blowout losses to the Philadelphia Flyers and Washington Capitals, putting their five-game road trip after the 4 Nations break off to a rocky start. While some rusty play from the players in front of them played a factor in their struggles, the goalies did not do themselves any favours by each giving up at least five goals in their respective starts.

Former Oilers goalie Devan Dubnyk knows a thing or two about how to be a netminder in this market and understands what Skinner and Pickard are going through. He made an appearance on OilersNation Everyday on Monday to share his thoughts on the state of the Oilers’ crease and assess their play so far this season.

“Well, it’s always gonna be a question in Edmonton. We talked about it last time I was on the show. It’s s something that the team’s gonna have to deal with, and it’s how they respond.  Watching those games, there’s definitely some rust. It’s a combination. There are some goals that needed to be saved there. But as a goalie, when you’re in there and it’s mayhem in front of you, that’s when those goals start to go in because you’re starting to see 10 guys on the ice on the other team and you’re thinking you look at that wrist shot on Pickard that you were just talking about.

Now watching that play, the last thing he’s thinking about is that wrist shot coming from the point. He’s thinking about other things. He’s drifting back in his net. He obviously let himself lose sight of the puck, which are all things that are our job. But when things are chaotic in front of you, you can start thinking that there’s going to be three, four passes, or it’s going to hit a shin pad.  All these things are going to happen. And then you forget to do all the little things to be set here. The puck comes out to the blue line, and you can watch his feet. He comes out, and he’s thinking something else. He starts drifting backwards here, drifting backwards, and he lets himself lose the puck. Obviously the puck was probably snapping around a little bit previously in this game,  and he’s thinking, he’s just not thinking that shot’s coming, and that’s just not being sharp. But that’s the kind of things that can happen

The play that Dubnyk was referring to is Jakob Chychrun’s goal where he fired a shot from long range that Pickard never saw and let get past him. Dubnyk went on to add that while it is the goalie’s job to do his best to read the play, the lack of structure from the team defence in front of the netminder has an impact on their confidence and it will take a collective effort for the goalies to feel good about their game.

Jakob Chychrun makes it a 2-1 game for the Capitals, scoring on the power play.

: Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/YHeZW4KQlP

— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) February 23, 2025

Pickard may have allowed more goals over the weekend between the two Oilers netminders, but Skinner wasn’t much better as he too had a blunder that he would like to forget. Midway through the second period, a routine faceoff in the defensive end turned into a disaster when the chaos in front of him made Skinner lose sight of the puck and Sean Couturier who slammed it home from in tight into the open side.

Dubnyk said that Skinner should not have overplayed the initial shot from the slot from Matvei Michkov and instead kept his composure while getting a feel for what was going on around him at that moment.

 ”You can see he just oversets on this one and allows himself to lose sight of the puck, which is something else that happens when you’re not feeling comfortable with what’s going on in front of you.  But you can see because he oversets on the initial shot, which turns out to be a pass.  there’s no movement side to side because he essentially loses edges right here and then reaches for it. He doesn’t actually read the play, and he’s probably allows himself to get screened here as well, which, like I mentioned, when things feel chaotic in front of you, that’s one thing that you have to battle through is finding the puck.

It’s a tendency. It’s an instinct where you kind of just allow yourself. You lose sight of the pocket. Instead of working through it to find it, you kind of allow yourself to lose it and you just freeze up a little bit. And that’s a perfect example on that play where I think he might allow himself to lose it. Instead of making one extra movement to find it and feel the guy off. He just wants to make sure he stops it. And so he drops and then all he can do is reach because it wasn’t it wasn’t a far push to go if he’s relaxed and feels that guy off to his left.”

Sean Couturier scores. It's 3-2 Flyers.

: Sportsnet | NHL#LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/uQxGbWNfL1

— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) February 22, 2025

As far as what can be done to stem the tide and get things back on track, Dubnyk said it boils down to the team in front of the goalies doing a better job of having better structure in front of the goalies. He argues that when a team is focused on trying to prevent scoring chances, that leads to chaos in the defensive zone because players go out of position in a desperate attempt to keep the puck away from the net. It results in the goalie losing confidence in the structure because of the frantic action happening in front of them.

That’s why the former Oilers netminder feels this can be solved with a veteran presence on defence who can calm things down when things get crazy.

 ”Edmonton is a position that they should be looking to upgrade any way they possibly can because they are a strong Cup contender.  But you kind of know what you get from the guys there,  so, for me, it’s a veteran presence back there.  Somebody stable that can calm things down when it does get chaotic.

Who that is – you guys are talking about salary cap and whatnot earlier –  I don’t think it’s necessarily a big splash, but an older guy that is stable that can go on the ice when things are feeling a little chaotic and really settle the whole group down.  I think it’s important for this team because things can just start to unravel and it goes five guys and a goalie on the ice when you don’t feel like things are in control.”

You can listen to the full segment with Dubnyk down below:

Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/forme...lers-tandem-how-the-team-can-upgrade-and-more

 

[Edmonton Oilers]

Adding a top-four defender needs to be the Oilers’ top priority before the trade deadline

The Edmonton Oilers are far from a perfect hockey team and honestly, that’s a little bit disappointing.

Sure, that might seem like a high bar, but this team came within one win of capturing the Stanley Cup last season and the expectation coming into this season was that this group would be determined to show that they were the class of the league.

I wanted to see them absolutely dominate from game one until game 82 and lock up home-ice advantage for as long as they could.

That obviously has not happened. There have been some serious speed bumps through the first 60 games of this season and now just winning the Pacific Division is going to be a serious challenge.

I don’t mean to sound all doom and gloom, especially considering the Oilers are 34-19-4 on the season. That is still a great record and the Oilers are a very good team.

But they aren’t perfect. In the 10th season of the Connor McDavid era, I think the bar should be very high and the truth is that they aren’t living up to that.

So how can they become perfect? Well, that’s probably not going to happen through in-season acquisitions. They don’t have the assets to make multiple trades for impactful players.

Yes, a goaltender would certainly help. They need someone who has the ability to steal them a game and this season, Stuart Skinner has not been that guy.

The reason I’m hesitant to say that they need a goaltender in order to win in the playoffs is because we’ve seen them win in the playoffs with Skinner and his backup Calvin Pickard and we’ve also seen long stretches, like the 16-game winning streak last season, where Skinner has proven he can be a goalie who steals games.

They’re capable of it but this season has been far from good. It’s not a popular thing to say right now, but I truly believe Stuart Skinner has it in him to bring this team to a Stanley Cup.

Should the Oilers be open to adding a goalie to work in tandem with Skinner who has a bit more of a higher upside than Pickard? Absolutely they should.

Is there a player like that on the market? I’m not sure.

John Gibson comes with a very high cap hit and while he’s been very good this season, it’s the first team in five seasons where he’s been above a .905. It would be very hard to make this deal work given the Oilers’ cap constraints.

If you don’t think you can upgrade the goaltending, then how about making the goalies’ lives easier?

I spoke with former Oilers goaltender Devan Dubnyk recently and he talked about how some of the goals against are a product of the system in front of the team.

“You can watch the chaos in both games,” said Dubnyk, who was talking about the team’s weekend losses to Philadelphia and Washington, “that can start to affect the way a goalie plays and you can see in his movement that he just isn’t trusting what’s in front of them.”

Dubnyk talked about some goals that seem to go in because the goaltender wasn’t set but this could be a product of the team’s defensive play being unpredictable.

“It’s a full team thing. They have to get structured in front of them (the goalies).”

The Oilers need to add another impact defenseman to the mix. They have a group of six defensemen who are really struggling right now.

Evan Bouchard has not been himself all season. He is turning over pucks in very dangerous areas and the kinds of plays that are happening two or three times a game are the types of plays that should be happening once every two or three games.

Still, they need his puck-moving ability out there and he’s still really good at defending on the rush.

He’s not alone when it comes to struggling blueliners either. Mattias Ekholm has looked slow on a lot of nights recently and Brett Kulak has been poor since coming back from the break.

Darnell Nurse and Ty Emberson have both had really solid seasons thus far and as of late, haven’t stuck out as bad as some of their teammates.

The point I’m getting at here is that they need to give that group another impact piece to support them. Go get another minute-eating player who can not only make Darnell Nurse’s’ life easier but ease the workload on Bouchard and Ekholm and properly slot Brett Kulak back on the third pair where he can play with a consistent partner.

John Klingberg was supposed to be that guy, but he clearly isn’t.

I was very skeptical about the Klingberg experiment from the jump and after watching him for seven games, I’m ready to say that he is not going to be an answer in the Oilers top-four.

If you give him another 15 games to continue to knock off the rust, could the results improve? It’s possible and I’m sure he’d get a little bit better, but the Oilers need a lot more in that position and they can run the risk that comes with just hoping Klingberg improves.

There might not be a truly impactful goaltender on the market but there are defensemen who would help the Oilers.

Jamie Oleksiak, Brandon Carlo, and Mike Matheson are all players who have been mentioned as potentially being available and I think they would all be great additions. They will be expensive but Stan Bowman needs to buck up and pay the price.

This team needs another impactful top-four defenseman because they cannot go into the playoffs with either Stecher or Klingberg playing the kind of minutes they currently are.

Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/addin...oilers-top-priority-before-the-trade-deadline

 

[Edmonton Oilers]

NHL Notebook: Seth Jones critical of Blackhawks’ lack of progress

It’s nearly crunch time of the National Hockey League season and frustration is starting to appear from players on underachieving teams.

Take the two bottom Central Division teams, for example. The Chicago Blackhawks remain one of the worst teams in the league with a 17-34-7 record, despite Connor Bedard. On the other hand, the Nashville Predators signed Jonathan Marchessault and Steven Stamkos in the off-season.

However, the Predators have the second-fewest goals and sit third last in the Western Conference with a 20-30-7 record. Both teams lost Tuesday, leading veteran defenceman on both teams to give us a spicy soundbite. Let’s start with the Blackhawks.

On Tuesday, they fell 2-1 to the Utah Hockey Club. After the game, defenceman Seth Jones (whose name has come up in trade rumours lately) had this to say:

“We’re the exact same team right now as we were in game one. It’s pretty evident out there. We haven’t made any strides to be a better, more simple hockey team, and it shows.”

“We’re the exact same team right now as we were game 1. It’s pretty evident out there. We haven’t made any strides to be a better, more simple hockey team, and it shows.”

Seth Jones shows his frustration after the Blackhawks loss to Utah tonight. pic.twitter.com/jsIXae3yxh

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) February 26, 2025

While the team hasn’t made any progress this season, they were expected to be bad. You can’t say the same after the Predators signed Marchessault and Stamkos, two players with 40+ goals in 2023-24, this past off-season.

After the Predators’ 4-1 defeat at the hands of the Florida Panthers, veteran defenceman Luke Schenn had this to say:

“I don’t think I’ve ever been a part of a group like this that literally can’t score a goal”

Luke Schenn vs Seth Jones – who had the better presser after last night’s games? #NHL pic.twitter.com/a2nQIuSrK8

— Dobber (@DobberHockey) February 26, 2025

This season, the Predators have scored 147 goals, the second-fewest in the league ahead of the Anaheim Ducks (who have 146).

Predators trade Anthony Angello to the Lightning for Jesse Ylonen​

On Wednesday afternoon, the Predators acquired Jesse Ylonen from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Anthony Angello.

TRADE: we've acquired forward Jesse Ylonen from Tampa Bay in exchange for forward Anthony Angello.

Full details » https://t.co/yBDZHH4eMz pic.twitter.com/qKyutx8EMa

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) February 26, 2025

Essentially, this is a swap of American Hockey League players. Jesse Ylonen, selected in the second round of the 2018 draft by the Montréal Canadiens, has more NHL experience than Angello, scoring 12 goals and 29 points in 111 NHL games. This season, the Finnish right-winger has played exclusively in the AHL where he has eight goals and 25 points in 47 games.

Angello was selected in the fifth round of the 2014 draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins In total, he played 31 games with the Penguins in three seasons, scoring three goals and five points. He hasn’t played an NHL game since 2021-22 and has seven goals and 14 points in 41 games this season with the Predators’ AHL team.

Alexander Ovechkin scores… again​

On Tuesday evening, Alexander Ovechkin scored his 30th goal of the season against the Calgary Flames, bringing him to 883 goals. He’s just 11 shy of matching Wayne Gretzky’s record and 12 away from breaking it.

#ALLCAPS Alex Ovechkin scores career goal #883
& extends his NHL record with his 19th career 30-goal season pic.twitter.com/r2JaiPum6g

— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) February 26, 2025

With the goal, Ovechkin became the fourth player aged 39 or older to score 30 goals in a season. This was also the 19th season where he’s scored 30 or more goals, extending the record that he owns.

With 12 more goals left to break Gretzky’s record, Ovechkin has an opportunity to do it in fewer games than the Great One. Gretzky managed 894 goals in 1,487 games while Ovechkin has 883 goals in 1,468 games. That means if Ovechkin can score 12 goals in 18 games, or a 0.67 goal-per-game pace, he’ll break the record in fewer games.

It’s worth noting that the 39-year-old has 30 goals in 42 games, which is a goal-per-game pace of .71.

---

Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Oilersnation, FlamesNation, and Blue Jays Nation. They can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/nhl-notebook-seth-jones-critical-of-blackhawks-lack-of-progress

 

[Edmonton Oilers]

Throwback Thursday: A forgettable trade deadline for the Oilers

On Thursday, the Edmonton Oilers face off against the Florida Panthers in a rematch of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final.

Sounds exciting, right? Not for me. That loss still stings eight months later. I’m guessing it does for you too.

So instead of reopening old wounds, let’s talk about the trade deadline in this week’s Throwback Thursday, considering this is one the Oilers can’t afford to botch.

Quick flashback: I started really investing myself in following the Oilers around 2008. Those were rough years. The Decade of Darkness, anyone? Painful times. But there was one glimmer of hope during the 2012-13 lockout-shortened season.

For a hot second, it felt like the Oilers were clicking. Ralph Krueger was behind the bench, and on April 3, they absolutely demolished the Calgary Flames 8-2. Nail Yakupov scored twice, the vibes were immaculate, and, get this, they were actually sitting in a playoff spot in April.

But earlier that same day? The 2013 trade deadline. And the Oilers’ big move? Trading a fourth-round pick to the Panthers for Jerred Smithson. There was a lot of talk about a pretty minor trade, and it wasn’t because fans were excited about the team’s deadline.

Our newest acquisition Jerred Smithson is trending Canada-wide! #Oilers #NHLTrade pic.twitter.com/DnbDgOMufz

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) April 3, 2013

Smithson played 10 games and scored one goal for the Oilers and left the team in the off-season as a free agent. The Panthers used that pick on Matt Buckles, who never cracked the NHL. So yeah, nothing groundbreaking on either side.

But the problem wasn’t the trade itself. It was what it represented.

Sure, the Oilers were rebuilding. Nobody expected a blockbuster deal. But the Smithson trade felt like a shrug, like management wasn’t really trying to push for the playoffs. And the team responded accordingly.

After that 8-2 win? The Oilers lost six straight, scoring just seven goals during that stretch. They finished the season 3-9-0, with two meaningless wins at the very end. They missed the playoffs, and that brief glimmer of hope faded back into darkness.

Would they have made the postseason with a better trade? Probably not. But it would’ve been nice to see them try.

Fast forward 11 seasons. The stakes are much higher now.

This isn’t a rebuilding team anymore. The Oilers are in their prime contention window. After the heartbreak of last year’s Stanley Cup Final, there’s no room for half-measures at this year’s trade deadline.
The roster has glaring holes. McDavid needs a scoring winger. The bottom six needs grit and penalty killers. The defense needs a second-pair, right-shot blueliner. And the goaltending? Don’t even get me started.

Fixing everything might not be realistic. But the Oilers have to make real moves this time. No more “safe” trades for guys like Jerred Smithson or Michael McCarron.

March 7 is coming fast. If they want to hoist the Cup, they can’t afford to sit back. Let’s hope they’ve learned from the mistakes of the past.

---

Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Oilersnation, FlamesNation, and Blue Jays Nation. They can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/throwback-thursday-a-forgettable-trade-deadline-for-the-oilers

 

[Edmonton Oilers]

Instant Reaction: Oilers’ losing streak extends to five amid longest skid in three years

When will the Edmonton Oilers win again?

On Thursday evening, they faced off against the Florida Panthers in a 2024 Stanley Cup Final rematch, falling 4-3 and bringing their losing streak to five games. That’s the longest losing streak the Oilers have had since the 2021-22 season. Yikes. Let’s take a look at what happened in this game.

Just like in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals, the Panthers opened the scoring. The goal was scored with about seven and a half minutes left in the first period, coming courtesy of Uvis Balinskis as his shot from the half boards deflected off Brett Kulak and knucklepucked into the net.

Uvis Balinskis opens the scoring for Florida.

: Sportsnet | NHL pic.twitter.com/ace97wHWLn

— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) February 28, 2025

Two minutes later, defenceman Brett Kulak threw the puck on the net and caught Sergei Bobrovsky napping. Good heads-up play by Kulak, as he had a solid game overall.

John Klingberg takes out two Panthers which opens up some space for Brett Kulak to bury his 7th goal of the season!

: Sportsnet | NHL pic.twitter.com/yn1UOBtX2R

— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) February 28, 2025

With four and a half minutes left in the period, the Oilers failed to clear it, leading to another chance for the Panthers. Aaron Ekblad’s shot from the point was deflected by Anton Lundell to give the Panthers a 2-1 lead.

Aaron Ekblad shoots the puck off Anton Lundell and in. 2-1 Panthers.

: Sportsnet | NHL pic.twitter.com/MRZLq4NMzr

— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) February 28, 2025

Again, the Oilers had an answer for the Panthers two minutes later. This time, Leon Draisaitl used his body, shielding the puck with a strong drive to the net. Moving it to the forehand, he was able to flip it top shelf for his 44th goal of the season. What a goal.

Leon Draisaitl scores a beauty! That's seven games in a row with a goal!

: Sportsnet | NHL pic.twitter.com/gTrLOr51FG

— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) February 28, 2025

With just under nine minutes left in the game, the Panthers took the lead as no back checker picked up the trailing Nate Schmidt. The defenceman was able to fire it past Stuart Skinner to take a one-goal lead and it’s one that Skinner needed to have.

Nate Schmidt puts the Panthers up by one.

: Sportsnet | NHL pic.twitter.com/f7Rpf4rDH0

— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) February 28, 2025

With six minutes left in the game, Carter Verhaeghe overpowered Mattias Ekholm and beat Skinner for the Panthers’ fourth goal of the game, the game-winner.

4-2 Panthers.

: Sportsnet | NHL pic.twitter.com/B91W1DSBNZ

— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) February 28, 2025

The Oilers got some hope, as Zach Hyman scored his 20th goal of the season and his shot squeaked by Bobrovsky with 3:25 left in the game. However, penalties sunk the Oilers late in the game as they fell 4-3.

This game is far from over! Zach Hyman makes this a one goal game with his 20th goal of the season!

: Sportsnet | NHL pic.twitter.com/w7Pn5DAqYU

— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) February 28, 2025

Takeaways…​

• Leon Draisaitl has been nothing short of incredible this season. His goal in the second period gave him a league-leading 44 goals and a goal in each of his last seven games. Draisaitl is almost a lock for the Rocket Richard this season, but there’s a chance he will win the Hart Trophy and Art Ross Trophy.
• Connor McDavid looked good in this game. He picked up an assist at even strength play but he was flying all over the ice looking like his pre-4 Nations Face-Off self. The Oilers need more of this from McDavid to get out of their slump.
• For the first time since Jan. 30, the Oilers didn’t allow a goal on the penalty kill. Unfortunately, they took far too many penalties and it took them out of their rhythm. Early in the game, they took back-to-back penalties, and shortly before the Panthers’ third goal, they took another penalty that killed any momentum they had. Good kill on Thursday, far too many penalties.
• John Klingberg was solid, picking up two assists on the first two Oilers goals. It wasn’t a particularly good game for Mattias Ekholm though. He got undressed by Carter Verhaeghe on the game-winning goal and took a penalty after the Oilers got within one. Not great, and the Oilers should consider pairing Evan Bouchard with Darnell Nurse when the latter returns.
• Stuart Skinner once again finished with a save percentage below .900, allowing four goals on 36 shots for an .889 save percentage. Aside from the third goal, it’s hard to fault him on the goals and he kept the Oilers in it, especially through the first two periods. This is the fifth consecutive game the Oilers were outshot. Their problems right now extend far further than just Skinner’s ability in the net.

Thankfully, the month from hell is over, as the Oilers won’t play again until Mar. 1 against the Carolina Hurricanes – another tough game. With that being said, the division is far from lost as they are just two points back of the Vegas Golden Knights with an extra game played. They have to get going soon.

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Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Oilersnation, FlamesNation, and Blue Jays Nation. They can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/insta...ends-to-five-amid-longest-skid-in-three-years

 

[Edmonton Oilers]

Leon Draisaitl can’t stop scoring, Brett Kulak is underrated, and the Oilers lose fifth straight game

The Edmonton Oilers were back at Amerant Arena for the first time since Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. Only this time, the boys were squaring off against the Florida Panthers to try and get out of their tailspin rather than lifting hockey’s ultimate prize. Not quite the same vibe, is it? Despite the situations being vastly and obviously different, the result was ultimately the same, as the Oilers dropped their fifth straight game by a 4-3 final score.

LEON DRAISAITL CAN’T STOP SCORING GOALS​

Leon Draisaitl scores a beauty! That's seven games in a row with a goal!

: Sportsnet | NHL pic.twitter.com/gTrLOr51FG

— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) February 28, 2025

Make it seven games in a row with at least a goal for Leon Draisaitl as he continues running away with the Rocket Richard race. Not only is he scoring en masse, but the goals he’s scoring are as varied as they are beautiful. Take Thursday’s masterpiece, for example. After seeing he didn’t have any teammates up on the rush with him, Draisaitl drove to the net, fought off the defender with one arm, and then perfectly placed his shot in the top corner of the net. It was ridiculous.

I’ll give you a minute to watch the goal highlight above before we move on.

With the team struggling to score goals, Leon Draisaitl keeps putting the team on his back and coming through with as much offence as he possibly can. The guy has scored at least one goal in each of his last seven games, and I just don’t know what else you can expect from him without getting a little help from his teammates. Even with 44 goals on the year, he simply cannot do everything on his own, but that’s been the situation way too often lately.

BRETT KULAK SETS CAREER-HIGH IN GOALS​

pic.twitter.com/qSAlDIHtyV

— ARB (@AdamBodnarchuk) February 28, 2025

I’m a big fan of underrated players, and I would certainly classify Brett Kulak as one of those guys. I’m not saying he’s the perfect defender, but he’s the kind of Swiss Army Knife you need in your roster to be successful. While the guy spends most of his time on the team’s third pairing, it’s not uncommon for him to work his way up the lineup at times of need and do a good job of it while he’s there. I love the guy and wish we had five more players in the lineup who were as versatile as he is. My favourite part of Kulak’s story, though, is the way he’s been giving the Oilers some sneaky scoring when they need it most.

He’s never been an offensive defenceman — no one is arguing that — but you’ve gotta love seeing him hit a new career high in goals in his 10th NHL season anyway. His seventh of the season was a low wrister that beat Bobrovsky on the blocker side, and while there wasn’t much that was special about it, the timing of the goal was huge for his team. Instead of being down by one and getting in their own heads, Kulak evened the score just over two minutes after the Panthers opened things up. That’s big for a group that has struggled so mightily since coming back from the break. That goal may be a small moment in the overall story of the season, but it was what could be the millionth reason to love Brett Kulak.

MAKE IT FIVE LOSSES IN A ROW​

the oilers losing streak now extends to five games, their longest since the 2021-22 season, when they lost seven straight between dec. 29 and jan. 20.

— zach (@zjlaing) February 28, 2025

No matter how poorly the Oilers played this season, they had the ability to avoid lengthy losing streaks. Outside of dropping their first three games, Edmonton hadn’t had a slide like that up until this first week back from the 4 Nations break. We haven’t seen much resilience from anyone outside of Leon Draisaitl, and the result is losing five games in a row for the first time in three years. That’s nowhere near good enough for a team that’s supposed to have Stanley Cup aspirations. Not ideal, to say the least.

The problem with this losing streak isn’t just that the Oilers are losing but that they’re losing in so many awful ways. They’ve been sloppy with the puck, their offence has dried up, can’t get a save when it matters most, and look generally dejected anytime something goes wrong. Where do you start when everything is on fire? As much as I believe that the team can and will turn things around, pretty much everyone on the roster needs to take a real look in the mirror if they’re going to stop the bleeding. I’m not saying I have the answers or anything, but maybe taking a step back to basics would help instead of trying to force things so much.

OTHER THINGS WORTH MENTIONING​

1. Sometimes you just need a save. That’s all I’m going to say because I’m tired of talking about the Oilers’ goaltending mess. The winning goal needed to be stopped, and you see how having that one go in deflated the bench. Something needs to change. It must.

2. Props to Corey Perry for trying to get the boys going by dropping the mitts with A.J. Greer less than three minutes into the first period. I don’t think I’m talking out of school when I say that the Oilers haven’t had much fight in them this past week, and I, for one, would welcome more emotion out of the group. Respect to the oldest guy on the team for taking it upon himself to try and be that spark.

3. While the NHL site may say that the Oilers had 10 turnovers on Thursday, I don’t know that my eyes believe that number. From my side of the TV screen, I saw the boys fumbling the puck all over the place with the worst offences winding up in the back of the net. On Florida’s first two goals, avoidable mistakes with the puck in the defensive zone led to secondary chances that the Panthers ended up converting. When you get the chance to clear the puck, you have to do it. But for whatever reason, the Oilers are really battling that aspect of their game.

4. If you’re looking for a bright side, it has to be that the Oilers’ PK was able to kill off all six shorthanded situations they faced. For a group that’s been leaking goals over the last seven games, having them run the table against the Panthers was certainly a welcomed sight. Of course, going to the penalty box six times in a game is a disaster, but I’ll complain about the team’s lack of discipline another time.

5. Tough night for Mattias Ekholm, right? He got caught with two bad penalties, turned the puck over at inopportune times, and didn’t look much like the Viking warlord that we’ve grown accustomed to seeing.

6. Viktor Arvidsson may never score again, and it’s certainly not going to happen if he keeps getting one shot per game.

7. We got another two-point performance from John Klingberg on the back end, which was nice to see. He’s a mess sometimes, and I would still like the Oilers to upgrade his position in the lineup, but I’ll still give him some love for producing some offence lately.

8. The worst part of the night could be that the Oilers only won 43.9% of the faceoffs. It could be.

THE DAILY FACEOFF TRADE DEADLINE SHOW​

Get ready, hockey fans! The Daily Faceoff Deadline is happening on March 7th from 11 AM to 4 PM Eastern, and you won’t want to miss it. We’ll be LIVE, breaking down every trade and big move as it happens, with instant reactions and expert analysis from the Daily Faceoff crew. Plus, we’ve got special guests lined up throughout the show, offering exclusive insights from some of the biggest names in the game. From blockbuster trades to surprise moves, we’re covering it all. Tune in to the Daily Faceoff YouTube channel and follow Daily Faceoff socials on March 7th to catch all the action!

Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/leon-...rated-and-the-oilers-lose-fifth-straight-game

 

[Edmonton Oilers]

Oilersnation Radio: The Oilers are in full free fall mode, and it’s painful to watch

Friday afternoon means a fresh episode of Oilersnation Radio is set and ready to massage your earholes with an hour of Oilers talk. This week, we’re discussing trade deadline moves, what’s happening with this losing streak, and much more.

To kick off the Friday episode of ONR, we started with a delicious debate about whether or not the boys think any of the current forwards on the roster will be traded ahead of next Friday’s trade deadline. As you’ll hear, the guys on the show all have their fingers pointed at a single forward who has drastically underperformed through the first 2/3 of the season. Despite agreeing on the initial target, the conversation really devolved once we broadened the conversation to potential d-trades.

With the delicious debate out of the way, the guys got into some of the issues that are plaguing the team over the course of this five-game losing streak. Whether you’re angry about the goaltending, coaching decisions with the lineup, or the team’s inability to manage the puck effectively, countless details need to be cleaned up if the ship is going to turn around. Needless to say, you can look at almost any facet of Edmonton’s game right now and find details that need to change.

Finally, the Friday episode of Oilersnation Radio wrapped up with some betting talk for our friends at bet365, another round of Ask the Idiots, and Hot and Cold Performers to recap the week that was. Needless to say, there is a lot going on in Oiler-land right now that needs to be corrected, and the squad spent an hour trying to figure out how to get out of this hole.

Listen to the Friday episode of Oilersnation Radio below:

Subscribe to Oilersnation Radio for FREE on Soundcloud here, on Apple Podcasts, or wherever else you get your podcasts from!

Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/oiler...-full-free-fall-mode-and-its-painful-to-watch

 

[Edmonton Oilers]

Oilers Game Notes 60.0: Edmonton faces Mikko Rantanen and the Hurricanes

The Edmonton Oilers will look to avoid going winless on this five-game road trip through the Eastern Conference when they face the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday evening.

1. This will be our first look at Mikko Rantanen as a member of the Hurricanes and it might also be our last. Carolina acquired the star forward from the Colorado Avalanche back in late January and the two sides aren’t any closer to a contract extension, so the Hurricanes could look to flip Rantanen before the trade deadline on March 7.

Adding fuel to the fire when it comes to these trade rumours is the fact Rantanen hasn’t hit the ground running with the Canes. The Finn broke the 100-point plateau in 2022-23 and 2023-24 with the Avs and was on pace to do so again with 64 points in 49 games before the trade. Through nine games with Carolina, Rantanen has just two goals and five points and the Canes have gone 3-5-1 with him in the lineup.

On the other side of the deal, Martin Necas has 13 points in 12 games with Colorado and Jack Drury has chipped in three goals in the same amount of games. Since moving Rantanen for Necas and Drury, the Avs have gone 7-5-0.

2. The Hurricanes have a 34-21-4 record on the season, good for second in the Metropolitan Division. They’re 12 points back of the Washington Capitals with the same amount of games played and they’re only two points up on the New Jersey Devils with one game in hand.

Carolina ranks ninth in the league with 192 goals and they’re seventh with 164 goals against. The team’s power play is below average, scoring on 19.8 percent of opportunities, while their penalty kill percentage of 84.0 is second in the league behind only the Dallas Stars.

3. Strong team defence and a deep offence are the key aspects of Carolina’s roster. The Canes don’t have a star forward in the mix for the NHL scoring lead and they don’t have an elite goaltender but they can win games in a variety of different ways.

Nobody in the NHL has better underlying numbers than the Hurricanes do. They have the league’s top shot attempt differential at even strength at 59.6 percent and they lead the way with a shot on goal share of 55.9 percent even strength.

4. Seth Jarvis and Sebastian Aho are leading the way offensively for Carolina with 23 and 21 goals while Jack Roslovic and Andrei Svechnikov are nearing the 20-goal mark with 19 and 18 goals. Eric Robinson, Jordan Staal, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Jackson Blake, and Jordan Martinook have each chipped in between 10 and 12 goals this season.

Carolina’s top defensive pairing of Jaccob Slavin and Brent Burns both have 21 points and are logging an average of just under 22 minutes per game. Shayne Gostisbehere, who plays the point on the Canes’ top power-play unit, leads the team’s defencemen in points with 32.

5. The Hurricanes have used five different goaltenders this season because Frederik Andersen had knee surgery back in November. Pytor Kochetkov has a .901 save percentage in 36 games, Andersen has a .903 save percentage in 10 games, Spencer Martin has a .846 save percentage in nine games, Dustin Tokarski has a .902 save percentage in six games, and Yavin Perets allowed one goal on seven shots in a relief appearance.

Since coming back from surgery in late-January, Andersen has made six appearances and has posted a .876 save percentage. Kochetkov started Carolina’s most recent game against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday and it appears likely that Andersen will start against the Oilers.

6. The Oilers are slipping in the Pacific Division standings and the team is badly in need of a win to stop the bleeding. Edmonton is now four points back of the Vegas Golden Knights with the same amount of games played and they’re only two points up on the Los Angeles Kings, who have two games in hand.

Playing in Carolina has been a challenge for the Oilers in recent years. The Hurricanes have won their last three games against the Oilers at home by a combined score of 15-to-6. Edmonton’s last victory in Raleigh was a 4-3 overtime win back in February of 2020.

Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/oiler...onton-faces-mikko-rantanen-and-the-hurricanes

 

[Edmonton Oilers]

Oilers’ Connor McDavid becomes third-fastest player to reach 700 assists

The greatness that is Connor McDavid continues.

In the Edmonton Oilers’ 3-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes Saturday night, the reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner picked up his 53rd assist of the season on Evan Bouchard’s empty-net goal to seal the victory.

The @EdmontonOilers wrapped up their road trip with a win and captain Connor McDavid reached the 700-assist milestone in the process.#NHLStats: https://t.co/lnK8Afsn2P pic.twitter.com/WBEhEmqsCK

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) March 2, 2025

It also marked the 700th assist of McDavid’s already illustrious NHL career, making him the 61st player in league history to accomplish the feat. The Oilers captain reached the milestone in 699 games, making him the third-fastest player to 700 helpers. Only Hockey Hall of Famers Wayne Gretzky (478) and Mario Lemieux (579).

The Richmond Hill, Ontario native is three assists behind catching the recently inducted Hall of Famer Jeremy Roenick for 60th all time. McDavid is eighth among active NHL skaters in helpers. Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby leads the crew with 1,048 assists.

It’s another milestone McDavid has reached this season in quick fashion. Back in November, he notched his 1,000th NHL point in his 659th game, making him the fourth-fastest player to reach the mark.

In 54 games this season, the 28-year-old has scored 22 goals and 53 assists for 75 points. He is fourth in assists and tied for fourth in points.

Outside of winning the Stanley Cup, there isn’t much McDavid hasn’t done in this game. He’s won five Art Ross Trophies, the Rocket Richard Trophy, four Ted Lindsay Awards and three Hart Trophies. He has posted over 100 points in seven of his first nine seasons in the league (97 points in the COVID-shortened 2019-20 season), including a career-high 153 points during the 2022-23 campaign. Currently, he’s on pace for 105 points.

In 699 appearances, McDavid has scored 357 goals and 1,057 points. He is second in Oilers history in assists and points behind Gretzky.

McDavid recently became a Canadian hero when he scored the game-winning goal in overtime in the 4 Nations Face-Off Final against the United States, further staking his claim as one of the best ever.

The Oilers (35-21-4) are still in second place in the Pacific Division, two points back of the Vegas Golden Knights for first.

ARTICLE PRESENTED BY bet365​

Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/oiler...mes-third-fastest-player-to-reach-700-assists

 

[Edmonton Oilers]

Leon Draisaitl named NHL’s third star of the month for February

It’s been another stellar month for Edmonton Oilers alternate captain Leon Draisaitl, as he continues to find the back of the net, make highlight reel plays, and play strong two-way hockey.

Now, he’s being recognized as the NHL’s Third Star of the Month for February, with 12 points across eight games played. This includes an ongoing seven-game goal streak highlighted by a multi-goal effort against the Colorado Avalanche before the 4 Nations break, which tail-ended a three-game streak of two-point games.

With eight goals in eight games including a current seven-game goal streak, Leon has been selected as the @NHL's Third Star of the Month for February! ️ https://t.co/TyNrBISI4D

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) March 1, 2025

Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon and Tampa Bay’s Brandon Hagel were named first and second stars, respectively.

Draisaitl currently leads the league in goals with 44, a considerable margin ahead of Toronto’s William Nylander, who sits second with 34. If he is able to hold on to that lead, he is poised to pick up his first Rocket Richard trophy. The German forward is also second in points with 88, just behind MacKinnon’s 91, and tied for second in points in the month of February.

Last September, Draisaitl signed an eight-year contract extension with the Oilers valued at $112 million or $14 million AAV, the highest number at which an NHL player has ever signed. Even with this new money burning a hole in his pocket, he is showing no signs of slowing down and settling in with his cashflow set through the 2032-2033 season. Instead, now in his eleventh season with the franchise, he is showing up on a nightly basis and proving he is worth every last penny.

There may be some additional drive for Draisaitl to perform at his finest right now too. Despite being a league leader in goals and points, Draisaitl was not part of the NHL’s “best-on-best” 4 Nations Face-Off last month, as his native Germany was not featured in the tournament. This may have worked out in favour of the Oilers, as he is one of their leaders in TOI/game, and was finally given an opportunity to rest up and reset, as Edmonton look to finish the season strong ahead of another potential Stanley Cup run this spring.

Meanwhile, German fans are anxiously waiting for the chance to watch their national star in best-on-best action early next year, when NHL players are set to make their return to the Winter Olympics in Milan.

Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/leon-draisaitl-named-nhls-third-star-of-the-month-for-february

 

[Edmonton Oilers]

Pre-trade deadline Q&A: Which of these Oilers trade proposals are most realistic?

It’s trade deadline week and we’ve already seen some big moves, perhaps none bigger than Saturday night when the Florida Panthers picked up disgruntled defenceman Seth Jones.

There’s a plethora of names that could be on the move with Brock Nelson No. 1 on Daily Faceoff’s Trade Targets list.

As I do every year leading up to the deadline, I crowd-sourced some trade proposals and offer my thoughts on them.

3 way trade:

Utah gets Gibson
Ducks get Pickard
Oilers get Vejmelka

Some picks spread around to even things out.

Who says no?

— Cervantes Xavier (@CervantesX) February 26, 2025

Here’s an interesting one to address the goaltending position. From the Oilers standpoint, a no-doubt home run here. Karel Vejmelka has been excellent this year, posting a 16-16-4 record, 2.45 goals against average and a .910 save percentage, but I have a hard time imagining the other two teams being interested. The Utah Hockey Club and the Anaheim Ducks both really come out on the short end, and unless there were first round picks and maybe more heading to each team, I have a hard time imagining them interested. John Gibson is a downgrade from Vejmelka, and Calvin Pickard is a downgrade from Gibson.

Viktor arvidsson, Sam O’Rielly, St Louis 2nd, 2026 4th
For
Mikko Rantanen, Carolina 2025 6th

— Alexander Richmond (@GoOilersEh) February 27, 2025

Spicy. I like it. Viktor Arvidsson hasn’t quite worked out in Edmonton thus far, with just seven goals and 19 points in 45 games, despite spending virtually all of his time in the top-six. That’s a tough pill to swallow given the dominance Leon Draisaitl has had this year. Sam O’Reilly is looking like a rock solid prospect, though he’s likely a few years from impacting an NHL roster in Edmonton or beyond.

Rantanen is a game-breaker, and while there’s been an adjustment, he’s scored a goal and four points in his last four games heading into Sunday. The Oilers could fit this under the salary cap dipping into the LTIR pool, but would this be enough for the Hurricanes?

If they do decide to flip Rantanen, they’re likely looking for another high-end, game-breaking talent. Arvidsson just isn’t that, so I have a hard time seeing this being enough.

Arvidsson+1st and other picks for Connor Murphy (50% retained) + Ryan Donato

— Tanner Doiron (@Tan976) February 26, 2025

Another Arvidsson deal here and another that’s close for both sides. Connor Murphy is a strong two-way defenceman, providing positive results both offensively and defensively, with his impacts bordering that of a first pairing blue liner, according to HockeyViz. Donato, meanwhile, is a strong offensive driver with a great shot he’s utilizing more and more this year. Both would be strong additions to the Oilers top-four defenders and top-nine forwards.

Murphy has two years left on a deal paying him $4.4-million, but Chicago isn’t able to retain salary on any more trades this season after the Jones deal Saturday. Still, the Oilers could fit this deal in under the cap.

Chicago gets back a top-six winger who could play alongside Bedard, as well as adding some draft capital as they continue to rebuild. The Oilers would kill two birds with one stone, getting upgrades in two spots they need. One concern would be Edmonton getting outbid for both of these players.

Half of my chicken wings for half of your nachos.

— Make 1812 Great Again (@sportsjunkie007) February 26, 2025

No deal.

Rasmus Ristolainen (PHI) for a 2026 1st.

— Jim Fraser (@fraz1962) February 27, 2025

This one is simple and while a first round pick for Rasmus Ristolainen might be considered malpractice a few years ago, he’s significantly improved his game over recent years. So much so that this season, he’s contributing at the rate of high-end first-pairing defenceman. The Oilers would need Philadelphia to retain money, or a third team to broker retention, but I could see them swinging something like this. He brings a physical edge the Oilers need on the blue line, and at 6’4″, 208 lbs., some size, too.

To EDM: Jake Evans (Right shot C who kills penalties) – $1.7M AAV

To MTL: Jarventie & 2025 2nd (acquired from STL as part of offer sheet compensation)

— Klima’s Lid (@thackattack41) February 26, 2025

Jake Evans’ stock has continued to climb with a strong season in a contract year. He’s been reliable, yet unflashy and would fit the bill as the depth centre the team is likely to look at acquiring. The return on the deal is reasonable, though there are injury concerns with Roby Jarventie in Bakersfield. I like this trade for the Oilers.

Trade Proposal from Steven Fiddler

To Edmonton: Alex Tuch and Mattias Samuelsson

To Buffalo: 2026 1st round pick, 2025 2nd round pick, Beau Akey, Matvei Petrov and Viktor Arvidsson

Steven DM’d me this as his social media account is private.

This one is a monster. First off, the money wouldn’t quite work as it would put the Oilers over the LTIR pool by $700,000. Still, Buffalo has all their retention slots, so they could eat some money on one, or both players. Tuch has a year left on a deal paying him $4.75-million, while Samuelsson has five years left on a deal paying him $4.285-million.

Tuch, 28, is a two-way, middle-six winger with offensive upside, scoring .71 points per game over his 512 game career, including career highs in goals, assists and points in 2022-23, going 36-43—79. He’s had positive impacts offensively and defensively equating to that of an borderline 2nd line forward, according to HockeyViz.

Samuelsson, 24, is a defence-first defenceman that has taken a step forward this year with his impacts similar to that of a high-end second pair blue liner. He’s locked in on a long-term deal at an affordable rate that will only look better over the next couple of years.

While Tuch appeared on Daily Faceoff’s recent trade targets list, with Frank Seravalli highlighting how he’s has been the model of consistency during one of the most turbulent periods in Sabres history. Steady. Tough. Competitive. That’s why teams are interested in shaking him loose from the Sabres.”

The Oilers would be giving up a lot here, essentially moving two first round picks, a second and Arvidsson, but given that both players have term, it’s a much easier sell.

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Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s associate editor, senior columnist, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the DFO DFS Report. He can be followed on Twitter, currently known as X, at @zjlaing, or reached by email at [email protected].

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ARTICLE PRESENTED BY bet365​

Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/which-oilers-trade-proposals-are-realistic

 

[Edmonton Oilers]

Oilers, Evander Kane may have ‘disagreement’ in medical assessment as winger wants to play before playoffs

With the Oilers hard at work ahead of Friday’s trade deadline, the team has been making calls to half of the league trying to gauge their interest in acquiring Evander Kane.

The rugged winger had a no movement clause change to a 16-team approved trade list late last week, which Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported on Monday’s 32 Thoughts Podcast is made up of contenders.

Kane wants a chance to prove he’s healthy after undergoing abdominal surgery last September and a knee surgery in January, with Friedman reporting there could be ‘a disagreement’ between the team and player as to when he’s ready to return. The 33-year-old dealt with injuries for much of last season and missed the final five games of the Stanley Cup Finals.

The newest variable is Evander Kane. His full no-trade protection ended on Friday night. Come Saturday, it was basically half the league and nobody has confirmed this to me, but I heard a list was submitted.

From what I’ve heard, and again, this is second hand, I think basically if you’re a contender, Kane will go to you. I heard his list is basically contenders where he can go to. He set it up where he wants to be in a place where he can win. That’s what I’ve heard, again, second hand. I thought that was interesting.

Again, as I’ve said here with Kane, I think it’s important for him to play. He wants to prove, he wants to come back in the regular season, and he wants to prove he can be a factor on a good team. I don’t know what the medicals say, I know there’s a disagreement.

I’m not sure the Oilers feel like… — I know we talked on Friday how they want to use the LTIR, right? Everything he’s been through, everything his body’s been through, I don’t know that the Oilers feel that makes sense. I just don’t know.

At the very least, the Oilers are doing their due diligence. They got his list, they’re definitely calling around to ask the teams he can be traded to, ‘is there interest?’ Kane has another year at just over a $5-million cap hit, so they’re doing their due diligence there, because if they do find something, and you have to think they’d have to provide some incentive while he’s hurt to get it done, you have think they’re looking at it and saying ‘if we can do this, maybe we have even more cap room and flexibility available to us.’

This complicates things for the Oilers, who are — as Friedman highlighted — hoping to use the $5.124-million in Long-Term Injured Reserve pool money Kane’s status provides them to be buyers ahead of the deadline.

The Oilers, of course, need to be cap compliant if Kane were to return in the regular season, but not if he was to return in the regular season. Another caveat that complicates any potential trade of Kane is that the team trading for him needs to have the requisite cap space for him to be on the active roster upon his acquisition before having the ability to place him on LTIR themselves.

He’s is in the third year of a four-year contract signed in July 2022. In his three seasons in Edmonton, he’s scored 62 goals and 111 points in 161 games, adding another 20 goals and 30 points in 47 playoff games. Much of that postseason production came in 2022, when he scored 13 goals and 17 points in 15 games, while in the two playoffs since, he’s scored just seven goals and 13 points in 32 games.

Kane isn’t the only player the Oilers could be looking to move, as Viktor Arvidsson’s name has reportedly popped up, Friedman reported, who reported the winger — along with Adam Henrique — have no movement clauses in their contracts.

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Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s associate editor, senior columnist, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the DFO DFS Report. He can be followed on Twitter, currently known as X, at @zjlaing, or reached by email at [email protected].

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ARTICLE PRESENTED BY bet365​

Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/oiler...sment-as-winger-wants-to-play-before-playoffs

 

[Edmonton Oilers]

Real Life Podcast: Be careful with the ice out there, Evander Kane rumours, and Oilers at the trade deadline

Monday afternoon means a fresh episode of the Real Life podcast is recorded, edited, and ready to kick off your week. On today’s podcast, the guys discussed slippery sidewalks in Edmonton, what the Oilers might do at the trade deadline, the weigh-in shenanigans, and much more.

Chalmers kicked off the Monday episode of Real Life with a story about falling on the ice after the melt in Edmonton has resulted in some of the slipperiest sidewalks you can imagine. As it turns out, Chalmers isn’t the only one to wipe out lately, as Baggedmilk revealed that he also took a spill this past week while walking his dog. Needless to say, reminding people to be careful out there when you’re walking around.

Turning the podcast to the Oilers, Tyler quizzed Chalmers on how much he’s been paying attention to the news ahead of the NHL trade deadline. As you likely suspected, Chalmers hasn’t really been paying attention all that much, but did hear about the recent Evander Kane news about wanting to come back to prove he’s still got it. Given the Oilers’ cap limitations, this latest Kane news isn’t likely to be overly popular around these parts.

Changing gears, Chalmers brought Tyler up to date with the Real Life weight loss challenge shenanigans, and how the boys still don’t feel as though they should pay him considering his winning weight was not at a sanctioned weigh-in. With Jay on his way back from France as the podcast was recording, it will be fascinating to hear his side of the story and whether he think his win is legitimate.

Finally, the fellas wrapped up the Monday podcast with an array of topics, including wallet innovation, getting ID’d at restaurants, men’s league showers, and whether anyone cares about St. Patricks Day. As always, the boys were all over the map to close out the show, which as predictable as it was unpredictable.

Listen to the Monday episode of Real Life below:

Subscribe to the Real Life Podcast for FREE on Spotify here, on Apple Podcasts here, on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/real-...kane-rumours-and-oilers-at-the-trade-deadline

 

[Edmonton Oilers]

GDB 61.0: The Edmonton Oilers Need to Cook at Home

As they enter the final quarter of the season, the Edmonton Oilers are in a battle with Vegas for first place in the Pacific Division, and they need to make home ice more of an advantage for them.

The Oilers are tied with Colorado for the 12th-best home record in the NHL at 18-10-2. Decent, but not good enough, and they will need to be better at home if they want to catch Vegas. The Golden Knights have the second-best home record in the league at 22-6-3 and they have 10 home games remaining while the Oilers have 11. A win tonight against the Ducks needs to happen.

The Oilers haven’t played a home game since February 7th. The 4 Nations break followed by a five-game road trip is why the Oilers will hear their fans for the first time in 25 days. And they need to give them something to cheer about. Edmonton hasn’t won at home since January 27th. A 3-2 SO loss to Detroit on January 30th, followed by a 4-3 loss to Toronto on February 1st and a 5-4 loss to Colorado on the 7th has the Oilers riding their second three-game home losing skid of the season. They opened this season with home losses to Winnipeg, Chicago and Calgary.

The Oilers had the second-best home record in the NHL last season. Earlier this year, between November 12th to January 27th, they went 16-3 at home and outscored teams 71-44. They’ve had long stretches of being a dominant home team and need to get back on track tonight.

The Anaheim Ducks aren’t the easy pushover they were earlier in the season. They are 8-3-1 in their last 12 games. They’ve won games due to their 5×5 play outscoring teams 27-20. However, their special teams are still bad. Their PP is anemic at 10.3% while their PK is 74.3%. They did defeat Dallas and LA as well as Vancouver and Boston.

The Oilers need to try and carry the momentum from their victory in Carolina. They reduced the glaring giveaways and odd-man rushes. The Oilers played sloppy hockey for almost a month until they improved in Florida and then performed even better in Carolina.

Edmonton has 11 home games remaining vs. Anaheim, Montreal, Dallas, Utah, Winnipeg, Seattle, Dallas, Calgary, St. Louis, San Jose, and LA. They should win at least eight of them if they want to finish first in the Pacific Division. They can’t afford a loss to the Ducks.

Edmonton is 11-2 vs. the Ducks over the past five seasons and 6-1 on home ice. Tonight needs to be a win — and should be one.

---

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SNAPSHOTS…​

— I spoke with Matt Savoie yesterday. He was very excited about possibly playing his first game in Edmonton. “Many of my buddies go to the U of A and over a month ago they bought some student tickets to tonight’s game. No one knew I’d be playing so it’s great they will be here. I hope I get to play.”

He will be playing, and his parents will be in attendance as well as some relatives and many of his good friends. It will be a fun night for them all.

— Young defenseman Jackson Lacombe is coming into his own for the Ducks. He has 3-7-10 in his last 12 games and is playing over 23 minutes a game. At 5×5 the Ducks have outscored opponents 10-5 with him on the ice, including 2-0 vs. Elite competition and 8-2 vs. Middle. In those 161 minutes his GF-GA is 10-2. Oddly, in 43 minutes against lesser competition, he’s been outscored 3-0. He’s been facing the opposition’s best players and done very well.

— It is wild, but Connor McDavid doesn’t have a 5×5 point in 10 games. He admitted he was a bit tired after the 4 Nations but was quick to point out he needs to play better. He hadn’t slept in his bed for over three weeks, and anyone who travels knows that even after the best holiday, there is something special about coming home to your own bed. McDavid has had three sleeps at home and is feeling refreshed. It is also March, and McDavid’s best month of the season, historically, has always been March.

— McDavid has 207 points in 123 career games in March. He’s played more games in March and has the highest P%.

October: 1.47 PPG in 88 GP.
November: 1.47 PPG in 112 GP.
December: 1.47 PPG in 105 GP.
January: 1.38 PPG in 98 GP.
February: 1.47 PPG in 114 GP.
March: 1.68 PPG in 123 GP.
April: 1.54 PPG in 51 GP.

Look for him to heat up this month.

— Leon Draisaitl needs one goal to tie Mark Messier (392) for fourth-most regular season goals as an Oiler. Messier played 851 games for the Oilers and tonight is Draisaitl’s 780th game.

— Draisaitl is currently tied with Dean Prentice, Marty St. Louis and Jean Pronovost for 121st most goals in NHL history. Nine more goals will make him the 111th player to 400 (I’m assuming Jamie Benn scores two before Draisaitl scores nine to be the 11oth player, but if not Draisaitl will be 110th). Currently only 48 players have 500 career goals. Patrick Kane (486) and John Tavares (480) will be the 49th and 50th, and Draisaitl will likely reach 500 goals near the end of the 2027 season. Even with a cautious 35 goal/season pace in the final six years of his contract, Draisaitl is tracking to become only the ninth player to score 700 goals.

What I find most remarkable about his goal scoring is that he’s also an elite passer. Not many players are truly elite at both. Brett Hull, Alex Ovechkin, Mike Gartner all scored 700 goals, but didn’t have the play making abilities of Draisaitl. Draisaitl is the best backhand passer in the NHL right now, and he’s among the best distributors alongside McDavid, Nikita Kucherov and Nathan MacKinnon. But he’s a better goal scorer than those three.

— I like Trent Frederic. He won’t play for a bit, so that isn’t ideal, but the Oilers desperately needed a player like him. When he’s ready to play, I’d slot him beside Leon Draisaitl. He’s physical, a good forechecker and has decent hands. Could he get hot like Patrick Maroon did when he arrived and played with McDavid? Maroon had a career high 11 goals before joining the Oilers. He scored eight goals in 16 games to end the 2016 season and then scored 27 goals the following year (24 at 5×5) and had 14 in 57 games before being traded. Frederic has already had seasons with 18 and 17 goals. It wouldn’t be crazy to think he could score 20-25 in a full season with Draisaitl.

He’s big (6’3″, 220) and plays a hard game. If he doesn’t re-sign then the trade won’t look as good, no question. Giving up Max Wanner, Shane Lachance, a second-round pick, and a fourth-round pick for Frederic, Max Jones, and prospect Petr Hauser won’t be nearly as appealing if Frederic is just a rental.

— Max Jones is a project/wildcard. He was the 24th pick in 2016. He’s big at 6’3″, 215 and can skate. And he was a regular with Anaheim from 2021-2024. Last season NHL Edge had his top speed as 22.96 mph which put him in the 86th percentile among NHL forwards. He also had 132 bursts of 20+ mph which ranked in the 82nd percentile. He has spent much of this season in the AHL. Boston opted to play Justin Brazeau up over him. Can Jones be an NHLer again? We’ll see. If he does, then the trade looks much better. He’s never been a penalty killer in the NHL, and that will make it hard for him to get in the mix in Edmonton.

LINEUPS​

Oilers​

RNH – McDavid – Hyman

Podkolzin – Draisaitl – Savoie

Janmark – Henrique – Brown

Arvidsson – Kapanen – Perry

Ekholm – Bouchard

Nurse – Klingberg

Kulak – Emberson

Pickard

Calvin Pickard starts consecutive regular season games for the first time as an Oiler. He did start consecutive games against Vancouver in the playoffs last May. Pickard gets rewarded for a very good game vs. Carolina, while Stuart Skinner gets a few more days of practice time, and we’ll see how he responds on Thursday.

Jeff Skinner healthy scratched again. I suspect the Oilers will try to move him before Friday. With Frederic coming in, the left side becomes even more congested.

Darnell Nurse returns to the lineup and Brett Kulak is expected to play after missing yesterday with an illness.

Ducks​

Vatrano – Strome – Terry

Zegras – Carlsson – Killorn

Gauthier – McTavish – Colangelo

Johnston – Lundestrom – Harkins

Lacombe – Gudas

Mintyukov – Trouba

Dumoulin – Helleson

Dostal

The Cutter Gauthier-Mason McTavish combo is one the Ducks hope becomes a threat. Both are big, strong players. McTavish has 11 points in his last 12 games, while Gauthier has five goals.

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Photoshop by Tom Kostiuk from Handmade by Tom

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TONIGHT…​

GAME DAY PREDICTION: Oilers continue their dominance over Anaheim and win 5-3.

OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: Oilers score a power play goal.

NOT-SO-OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: Vasily Podkolzin scores his first goal in 17 games and his first goal at home since November 23rd.

Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/gdb-61-0-the-edmonton-oilers-need-to-cook-at-home