Edmonton Oilers: Previewing The Pacific Division 2021-2022
After a year away from having a Pacific Division due to COVID-19, and intercountry travel restrictions, the Pacific is back. It has been a long time since we have had a chance to go through the changes made to each team. I am going to go through each team and highlight the major roster changes and see where they all fit around the Edmonton Oilers.
Anaheim Ducks (17W-30L-9OT)
Finishing last place in the West Division last year, I don’t see things getting much better for the Ducks this year.
Additions
- F Mason McTavish
- F Ryan Getzlaf (Re-signed)
- F Max Comtois (Re-signed)
Subtractions
- G Ryan Miller
- F Danton Heinen
- D Hayden Fleury
With the Ducks adding no new proven NHL skill, they will be depending on internal growth in order to get themselves out of the division basement. After watching the Edmonton Oilers for the last 10 years or so, I can say that strategy usually doesn’t work very well. They were able to re-sign the team’s highest point producer in Max Comtois and team captain Ryan Getzlaf, which will help the team from getting worse. I just don’t see enough growth from the younger player to give this team enough of a boost to get them to have a chance at a playoff team.
Calgary Flames (26W-27L-3OT)
Only missing the playoffs by 4 points last season while having more regulation wins than the team they were chasing, the Montreal Canadiens, has likely left a sour taste in the mouths of Flames players and fans. Were the changes in the offseason enough to get the Flames back in the Playoffs this year.
Additions
- F Blake Coleman
- D Nikita Zadorov
- G Dan Vladar
Subtractions
- D Mark Giordano
- F Derek Ryan
- F Josh Leivo
The signing of Blake Coleman was the big move made this offseason by the Calgary Flames. Coleman has been a large part of Tampa Bay’s playoff success in the past two seasons and will be a vital part of the Flames success this season. The loss of their captain Giordano in the expansion draft on the other hand was a big blow to the Flames. Just a couple years off winning the Norris, Giordano was still a large part of the core of this team.
Edmonton Oilers (35W-19L-2OT)
The Edmonton Oilers had a good regular season last year before getting swept in the first round to the Winnipeg Jets in four close games. Going into the playoffs we all knew the Oilers lack of depth scoring was an issue. The Oilers did good steps in addressing that this offseason
Additions
- F Zach Hyman
- D Duncan Keith
- D Cody Ceci
- F Warren Foegele
Subtractions
- D Adam Larsson
- D Ethan Bear
- D Caleb Jones
- F James Neal
Just taking a look at the addition and subtraction lists, I can say that the Edmonton Oilers will be a tougher team to play against. Creating a more veteran defense and more skilled forward group, this team won’t have the same issues with depth scoring as it has had in years past.
Los Angeles Kings (21W-28L-7OT)
After having a pretty underwhelming season in the COVID-19 shortened season, the LA Kings needed to make some changes to improve their team if they wanted to have a chance to make the Playoffs this coming season.
Additions
- F Phillip Danault
- F Viktor Arvidsson
- D Alexander Edler
- D Brandt Clarke
Subtractions
- D Kurtis MacDermid
Adding forwards like Danault and Arvidsson are only going to make your team better. With the core of the Kings getting older this could be one of the last years the team has a chance to make a run and win a Stanley Cup. Are the changes made to the roster enough to get them back into the playoffs? I am not so sure, but once you make the playoffs anything can happen.
San Jose Sharks (21W-28L-7OT)
The San Jose Sharks had the exact same record as the LA Kings, unfortunately, I think the Sharks are going to be getting worse this year and not better. The years of the Sharks being annual cup contenders is now over. The Sharks will now be lucky to make the playoffs
Additions
- G Adin Hill
- G James Reimer
- F Nick Bonino
- F Andrew Cogliano
Subtractions
- G Martin Jones
- F Ryan Donato
Whereas the Los Angeles Kings added some new forward skill to assist the aging core of the team, the San Jose Sharks added more age to an already weak forward group. The one good thing I think they did do is add some two-way forwards. Letting in goals was a problem for the Sharks last year, so adding some defensive forwards and new goaltending was the right move.
Seattle Kraken
The time is here for the Seattle Kraken to come and make their NHL debut. They are hoping to have the same success as the Vegas Golden Knights in their first season. I don’t think that they will, but I also thought that about the Golden Knights.
Additions
- All
Subtractions
- None
With the Kraken having the ability to handpick a player from every team this should be a pretty well-rounded roster on opening night. There are a couple of weak teams in the division, with that in mind there is a chance that the Kraken could end up making the playoffs. Once there, they could surprise a few teams.
Vancouver Canucks (23W-29L-4OT)
Finishing last place in the North Division last year, the Vancouver Canucks only have one way to go and that is up. Having a pretty rough go last year with having health issues related to COVID-19. I think the Canucks are a better team than they showed us last year.
Additions
- D Oliver Ekman-Larsson
- F Conor Garland
- G Jaroslav Halak
- D Luke Schenn
Subtractions
- D Nate Schmidt
- D Alexander Edler
- G Braden Holtby
- F Jay Beagle
The trade the Canucks made with the Arizona Coyotes has greatly improved this team. The Ekman-Larsson and Garland addition with help their team in both the offensive and defensive end. If this team stays healthy the Vancouver Canucks could be a team that people will not see coming this season.
Vegas Golden Knights (40W-14L-2OT)
After losing in the Stanley Cup Semifinals last year, the Golden Knights have made winning part of their culture and this year they are going to settle for nothing sort of the Cup itself.
Additions
- F Evgenii Dadonov
- F Nolan Patrick
- F Brett Howden
- G Laurent Brossoit
Subtractions
- G Marc-Andre Fleury
- F Ryan Reaves
- F Cody Glass
- D Nick Holden
The additions made to the forward group should really help the already strong depth of the Golden Knights. The only thing that I could see being an issue for the Golden Knights now, is the goaltending. Giving away Marc-Andre Fleury for almost nothing but cap space may be an issue if Robin Lehner struggles this year. Fleury carried the Knights through the playoffs that last couple years, and Brossoit has yet to show that type of ability in his career yet.
There has been lots of changes throughout the Pacific Division. Add the fact that half the teams haven’t played each other in over a year, this is going to be one of the toughest divisions to predict. That being said taking a look at the rosters and standings from last year, I think there is two groups teams, the contenders and the pretenders.
Contenders
- Edmonton Oilers
- When you have Connor McDavid on your team you are going to be a favorite going into almost every game.
- Vancouver Canucks
- I think if the Canucks didn’t get hit by COVID last year they would have passed both Calgary and Montreal and took the 4 playoffs spot in the North
- Vegas Golden Knights
- Doing nothing to make the team worse I believe they are still going to be the team to beat in the Pacific.
Pretenders
- Anaheim Ducks
- Being the second-worst team in the league and making almost no changes is not a good plan. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were the worst team in the NHL this year, but there is always Buffalo.
- Calgary Flames
- I don’t think the Flames have enough skill on their team to be considered a contender. I think they will be in a battle of a Wild Card spot if they want to make the playoffs this year
- Los Angeles Kings
- If the Kings want to make another run, this could be the last year before they have to enter a rebuild. They have gotten better, I just don’t think it was better enough.
- San Jose Sharks
- Hopefully for the Sharks’ fans sake I hope the San Jose Sharks can give up less goals this year. Their goaltending and defense need to be much improved if they want to have success. I personally don’t think there is going to be much improvement.
- Seattle Kraken
- Welcome to the NHL Seattle. It is a tough league to have success in, and I don’t think you will have the success that the Golden Knights had. Other NHL general managers were not as nice this time around having learned lessons the first time. I still think the roster is pretty balance and will cause some teams trouble.
My Standing Prediction
- Vegas Golden Knights
- Edmonton Oilers
- Vancouver Canucks
- Los Angeles Kings
- Calgary Flames
- Seattle Kraken
- San Jose Sharks
- Anaheim Ducks
This will be an interesting division for sure. Let me know in the comments how you think the division will line up and at the end of the regular season, we can all look back and see how we did.