Edmonton Oilers: Fans need to have patience as the season unfolds
By Phil Gretzky
New players need to get used to each other on the Edmonton Oilers
Anyone expecting new players to be inserted into your lineup and instantly click is dreaming in technicolor. NHL hockey is based on split-second decisions, and you have to get used to each other. Holland did a great amount of work in player procurement over the offseason and up until now.
Tyson Barrie hasn’t scored a goal at evens or the PP yet. Does this mean after 5 games he’s a failed signing? Not at all. The rest of the guys on the 1st unit PP are used to Oscar Klefbom and his left-handed shot, so inserting a right-shot guy in Barrie into the PP will take some time to get used to. Not to mention playing with McDavid, Draisaitl, and Nuge on the PP takes some getting used to on Barrie’s end too.
A lot of people are calling out the Oiler’s depth after only 2 of those players – Josh Archibald and Devin Shore – have scored a goal. But Kyle Turris is new to the team, as is Jesse Puljujarvi. The 1 incumbent, Tyler Ennis, has no history of playing with either one.
Yes, Ennis and Turris both played for Ottawa, but both players were with the Sens at different times. This is an entire line that needs to learn how to play together. Devin Shore is new to the 4th line and will have to learn to play with his regular linemates in James Neal and Josh Archibald.
If Kahun, Barrie, Turris, and Pulujarvi still have no goals at the halfway mark of the season, then we can panic. But we’re only 6 games into the season right now, so please, everyone, let’s calm it down. It’ll take all these players at least 10 games to learn to play with each other, maybe more. The point is you can’t write off the entire bottom 6 after 6 games. That’s just silly.