It’s been a long time since the Edmonton Oilers were in the playoffs. Nine years to be exact. However, after one of their greatest off-seasons since 2005, the Oilers are raising high hopes. However, although each year we get a draft pick or a new coach, the Oilers seem to just fall back into their mold and remain at the bottom of the food chain. This year, however, they must shake that devil off their backs and they will do it, guaranteed.
I’m not saying this team is playoff ready. It’s a long ways off, and the team is still young and Todd McLellan‘s brand new. We can’t put all of the pressure on Connor McDavid, even though he is our second coming. Here’s how the Oilers will defeat their biggest opponent, who is… hold your breath… the team itself.
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Coaches’ Corner
McLellan’s a great communicator. He knows how to talk and he knows how to compliment a player and criticize a player effectively. He’s also great with young, developing players, which will take the team a long way.
However, there are some things he must do first. First of all, he needs to bring this team together. It’s not all about the talent. Every single player has a job and a role. Multiple jobs, even. It’s not a one-man show, nor is it just about the scoring. It’s about helping defensively and winning, while also putting 100 percent effort into each game.
Second, there needs to be one heck of a first impression. He needs to show that he is dedicated to this team and that there will be zero tolerance for slack, laziness or negativity. He must help the players develop by continuing to coach the way he did with the San Jose Sharks. His dump-and-chase style works, but he has to get each player to buy in. How? By having a positive yet aggressive attitude.
Players’ Locker Room
The players have a few things they need to do as well. First off, there are three players that must step up their game. Taylor Hall, Nail Yakupov and Andrew Ference.
Hall will improve with McDavid, but he needs to toughen up and start playing a more aggressive game, as well as making plays and not being afraid to shoot the puck.
Yakupov needs to start shooting the puck more and playing a full 60 minutes with full effort, and he also has to improve on the backend. A -30 cannot be allowed on this team this season. Period.
Ference needs to start acting like a captain. His play is rapidly declining to the point where he is rumored to not only be stripped of his captaincy, but to be traded as well. He needs to play like he did when he won a cup with the Boston Bruins in 2011. He still has a lot of fight left in him, but he is not playing like a team player, let alone a captain. He’s great when it comes to caring for the community and his fellow teammates, but other than that, he needs to improve.
Protect the Blue Line!
The defense also needs a major push. Andrej Sekera, like I’ve preached multiple times before, will help. He will. But this team cannot rest on one man’s shoulders. There needs to be a move made for another quality defender. It’s not impossible to get a well-known first pairing defenseman. Read our Weekly Oil Drop for trade rumors and potential defenders.
Cam Talbot will surely help the goaltending situation, but he needs to establish himself as a great starter who can work with a still-developing defense. However, with him in net, and Ben Scrivens as his backup, he’ll be fine.
Roundup
There are three simple things that must be on their A-Game for the team to break that mold: The coaching, player performance and defense. If all of that is said and done, this team is playoff bound sooner rather than later. Hopefully, the Mc’s and a more optimistic off-season will pay off.
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