The Edmonton Oilers enter the 2021-22 season as an underrated team, that nobody is expecting much from.
The amount of backlash the organization has received following the questionable off-season transactions has been interesting to say the least, but the team still has plenty of offensive firepowers to work with. I think it’s a given that McDavid will lead in almost every stat, so here’s who I think the top 10 players in points will be this season with the team coming in behind Connor.
- Connor McDavid: 170 Points
- Leon Draisaitl: 135 Points
- Zach Hyman: 77 Points
- Tyson Barrie: 68 Points
- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins: 67 Points
- Darnell Nurse: 50 Points
- Jesse Puljujarvi: 41 Points
- Kailer Yamamoto: 40 Points
- Warren Foegele: 30 Points
- Evan Bouchard: 26 Points
Those point totals can definitely change, but the order is my final prediction.
If Kailer Yamamoto re-signs with the team, and plays on a line with RNH and Draisaitl like I’d expect him too, I can see him getting back to that elite level we saw him at when he was putting up a point per game as a rookie in the league.
I think it’s obvious, but McDavid and Draisaitl will likely be first and second in the league again, leaving a nice gap between 2nd and 3rd place.
Barrie will continue to bring a strong offensive presence to the team, with him putting up 48 points last season, I can see him boosting his numbers even more. He’ll get some power play time on the top unit, and will probably stay there for most of the season, and if he’s alongside Nurse in the even-strength lineup, he’ll be a force to be reckoned with.
I’m predicting Puljujarvi is gonna have a breakout type season, and have a career year. Assuming he starts on the top unit with McDavid and Hyman like most people expect him too, he is bound to put up a career high in points.
Hyman was brought in to be an elite offensive powerhouse alongside McDavid, and he was paid to do so. I trust him, and I think playing on the first line and likely getting some powerplay time will set Hyman up for a career year as well.
Nugent-Hopkins has been consistent his entire career, and I expect nothing less after signing a massive 8 year extension with the team.
Nurse also signed a massive extension this off season, and I don’t expect him to slow down at all going in to a new season.
Bouchard will likely play the full 82 game season, and in his first full year I expect him to get some playing time on the power play, hence why I have him sitting as our 3rd highest scoring D man.
Lastly, Warren Foegele. A huge pickup in terms of bottom six forward depth, who can, and will play almost anywhere in our lineup. After a 20 point season in a shortened season with Carolina, I expect him to bring some serious firepower to the bottom of the lineup that the team hasn’t seen in a while from depth in a long time.