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Edmonton Oilers: Ranking Players That Are Trending Down This Season

By Phil Gretzky

VANCOUVER, BC - DECEMBER 17: Milan Lucic #27 of the Edmonton Oilers looks on from the bench during their NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena December 17, 2018 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)"n
VANCOUVER, BC - DECEMBER 17: Milan Lucic #27 of the Edmonton Oilers looks on from the bench during their NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena December 17, 2018 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)"n /
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Edmonton Oilers
EDMONTON, AB – MARCH 27: Ty Rattie #8 of the Edmonton Oilers skates during the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 27, 2018 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ty Rattie /

Second Player Trending Down

2.  Ty Rattie 

Ty Rattie was signed by the Oilers to a 2-way contract as a free agent in the 2017 offseason, and at the time we all said “Who?”

Fast forward to the end of 2017-18 when the Oilers were looking for a spark on offense and decided to bring up Rattie from Bakersfield, who was on a bit of a tear as he’s put up 21 goals and flirted with the PPG mark.

He was called up at the end of 2017-18 where he put up five goals and 9 points in 14 games riding shotgun next to Connor McDavid.

” Great,” we all thought “FINALLY we have an inexpensive winger we can put next to Connor McDavid who can put up points.”

Fast forward to this season and my how 1 season changes things.

Struggling to start the season, Rattie was immediately taken off the 1st line and has been in and out and up and down the lineup since.

He doesn’t seem to be able to generate offense with anyone other than Connor McDavid, and even then it’s only sporadic.

That’s a part that’s easily replaceable.

He’s only put up 2-5-7 in 24 games with the Oilers this year, which projects out to 6 goals and 24 points.

As a bottom six depth scorer that would be perfect, but as a top 6 forward that’s simply not good enough.

He’s only got two saving graces – Connor McDavid has publicly said he likes playing with him, but we have to take that with a grain of salt since what good does it do for a captain to disparage his teammates publicly?  There’s no upside to it, and plenty of downside.  I would bet dollars to donuts that without mics or cameras around and behind closed doors, Mcdavid’s story would change.

The other one is even though he has trouble scoring he is still responsible defensively, being +1 in 2 seasons with the Oilers.

At this point, Ty Rattie’s contract is up after this season, and he has a 50-50 chance at best of being re-signed.  If the Oilers plan to upgrade their wings and bottom 6 depth scoring once the season is done – and honestly at this point I don’t see why they wouldn’t – then they’ll probably do what St. Louis did 2 seasons ago and simply not give him a qualifying offer (he’s an RFA after this season).

He might get a 2-way contract, though, as he can definitely score in the AHL.  Whether that’s with the Oilers or another team remains to be seen.

Unless, of course, he goes on a hot streak in the 2nd half of the season and then all bets are off.  But with every passing game that looks less and less likely for Rattie.

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