Ask The Staff-Oilers Post Season

The Edmonton Oilers playoffs cannot come soon enough. With the first game tonight against the Los Angeles Kings, the Oil On Whyte staff is coming together to talk about the regular season as well as some playoff predictions

Who was the “Hart” winner on The Oilers?

Phil Gretzky:

I’m not sure I could pick one person who was head and shoulders above the rest, because this edition of the Oilers have been so good as a team. I’d say candidates would be McDavid, Draisaitl, Hyman, Kane, and Bouchard.

Sean Mallon:

It’s still 97 for me. McDavid contributed to a massive share of Edmonton’s team scoring and if he goes down for any reason, the team’s fortunes follow.

Lane Golden:

Connor McDavid had some of the best play driving numbers we’ve ever seen. He managed to score 44 goals and 123 points despite having a career low on-ice shooting percentage. He is MVP without a doubt.

Devon Hladunewich:

It is really hard to not choose Connor McDavid here, so that is who I am going to pick. Draisaitl getting 55 goals is impressive, but McDavid’s 123 points is slightly more impressive.

What was the most important moment for this team this year?

Phil Gretzky:

The coaching change, no question.

Sean Mallon:

Changing coaches. Tippett wasn’t the right guy to lead the team to success, and that should have been obvious after the two previous playoff exits. Jay Woodcroft still has plenty to prove, but he got significantly more out of the same roster once he took over the head job.

Lane Golden:

The morning Dave Tippett was fired was the most significant moment of the season. Players have spoken at length about the positive change that was brought by the new coaching staff in terms of attention to detail. This coaching change altered the direction of the entire season.

Devon Hladunewich:

Since the rest of the staff went with the coaching change I will go somewhere else. For me I would say getting through December and not completely falling apart. They had so many injuries/COVID problems that half the defense was from the AHL.

Being able to get back in the lane after that is quite impressive.

Which player surprised you the most with their play?

Phil Gretzky:

For me it’s a tie between Evander Kane and Evan Bouchard.  I had a feeling Kane would do well but I didn’t think he would crack the 20 goal mark in half a season.  Bouchard, same thing, I knew he’d do well but cracking the 40 point mark in his first full season as an NHLer is phenomenal

Sean Mallon:

Cody Ceci. I hadn’t seen a great deal of live play from the defender but the storyline appeared to be that he’d played beyond himself in Pittsburgh and the most likely outcome was a return to his career averages. While his offensive numbers did dip slightly, he instead manage to improve his advanced statistics in 2022-22.

He’s not a superstar, but you didn’t notice him for the wrong reasons on a regular basis and if he can maintain that level of play, he gives the team defensive depth with a sprinkle of scoring.

Lane Golden:

The Duncan Keith trade last summer was a massive risk. Acquiring a 38 year old defenseman who was analytically one of the worst players in the league in 2021 on a $5.5m cap hit could’ve yielded disastrous results. Keith has his faults but he was relatively steady this season.

Devon Hladunewich:

For me it was Kailer Yamamoto, he finished 5th on the team in goals. After last season I didn’t know if he had much of a future, but he proved me wrong. Between him, Ryan McLeod and Jesse Puljujarvi there are 3 important RFA’s to sign this offseason.

Which player disappointed you the most with their play?

Phil Gretzky:

Zack Kassian. Dustin Penner syndrome (disappearing for large stretches of games) is a bad disease to have. I’m going to look for him to be traded in the offseason.

Sean Mallon:

Zack Kassian. Although I can’t say it surprised me, Kassian continued the trend of failing to live up to the contract handed to him by GM Ken Holland. There’s still hope that Kass finds another gear for the playoffs, but he is just as likely to be injured or take a bad penalty at a key moment.

Lane Golden:

I was never a big fan of Tyson Barrie’s game, but I hoped that he could continue to bring some offense at the very least. He managed to get 41 points, with only 20 of them coming at 5v5. For a player who struggles defensively and makes $4.5m per season, these are disappointing results.

Devon Hladunewich:

I wrote a whole article on this already, where I named three players that had underwhelming season. Of the three I noted I would say the biggest disappointment for me would be Kassian.

How far will the Edmonton Oilers go in this year’s playoffs?

Phil Gretzky:

I have no doubt the Oilers can get out of the division in the first two rounds, but past that I’m less confident, so I’m going to say the third round.

Sean Mallon:

I don’t want to jinx them, but if Edmonton makes faces Calgary in a Round 2 matchup, they will be hard pressed to advance. Darryl Sutter is a great coach who maximizes the value and contributions of his roster. The Oilers have the skill to move past the Flames but it would take a nearly perfect effort. However, if Calgary bows out in Round 1, all bets are off.

Lane Golden:

This might be a biased take, but I believe in Jay Woodcroft’s Oilers. I think they can make it to the Stanley Cup Finals. The second round will be their toughest test should they matchup against Calgary.

Devon Hladunewich:

They will beat the Kings for sure, the issue will be with Calgary. If Markstrom is playing good the Edmonton Oilers will lose. If Markstrom is an average goalie the Oilers will win. I don’t see the Oilers coming out of the West though as I assume Colorado will be winning the West.

Who will be the starting goalie game 1, will they be the starter the whole playoffs?

Phil Gretzky:

Mike Smith and Mike Smith.  He has more experience in the playoffs then Koskinen and a far superior track record.  But, that being said, I could see them going to Koskinen as well at some point considering how hot he was at the end of the season.

Sean Mallon:

Mike Smith is the clear cut starter at this point. If his body holds up, that doesn’t change. If he gets hurt, the playoff run likely ends

Lane Golden:

Mike Smith will be the starting goalie for the entire playoffs. The organization has immense faith in him and they have shown that time and time again.

Devon Hladunewich:

I think Smith will start game 1 as he is on fire right now and his puck moving skills will be very helpful against the forecheck of the Kings. I think if he will be the starter the whole way unless he has 2 back to back bad games. If he does Koskinen will get the chance to take over.

Who needs to be the Edmonton Oilers Conn Smythe player?

Phil Gretzky:

I’m going to say Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Mike Smith. All 3 of these guys will be key to the Oilers playoff success, and I don’t think I could pick between them.

Sean Mallon:

McDavid. Plain and simple. Just as he’s the regular season MVP, he’ll need to find a way to get past the non-calls and interference he’s destined to face if the team is to find success.

Lane Golden:

Mike Smith needs to continue his current hot streak and be a Conn Smythe level difference maker. If he does that the Oilers could win the Stanley Cup.

Devon Hladunewich:

For me it is Leon Draisaitl. In the playoffs goals can be hard to come by. Being the team’s leading goal scorer in the regular season he will need to be that in the playoffs if this team wants to have success.

If the Oilers go on a run, who is one player that could be the “2006 Pisani”?

Phil Gretzky:

Derek Ryan, no question.

Sean Mallon:

Jesse Puljujarvi. If JP finds his hands and starts scoring regularly, the Oilers may be able to cover up any defensive or goaltending weaknesses by putting 5-7 goals in the next each game. Puljujarvi has the skills to do it, and who wouldn’t be happy for the guy if he finds his form at this key moment in time?

Lane Golden:

Jesse Puljujarvi has been playing some good hockey, but has struggled to find the back of the net despite the many scoring chances he is creating. I think he is poised to break out soon and the playoffs could be his time.

Devon Hladunewich:

For me it’s Warren Foegele. He plays in a similar spot as Pisani did and has the ability to have an effect on both end of the ice. Plus he was starting to heat up at the end of the season.

Which team will win the Stanley Cup and who will they beat in the final round?

Phil Gretzky:

I’m thinking Tampa Bay beats Colorado to three peat.  Hard to bet against the TB machine

Sean Mallon:

I’ve liked the Carolina Hurricanes all season, but their goaltending concerns have me second guessing that prediction. The team I think has a shot at a Cup win is the New York Rangers. Young and skilled, the Rangers are only going to get better. They’ll surprise a couple opponents early on, and the other dynamos from out east are all going to beat each other up. Rangers over Avs in a six game series.

Lane Golden:

I’m not bullish on this, but I believe that everything is coming together at the right time for the Edmonton Oilers. I think they defeat the Panthers in a hard-fought Stanley Cup Final.

Devon Hladunewich:

I noted earlier I think that Colorado Avalanche will come out of the West. I think that the Florida Panthers will come out of the East. As for the Cup I think it will come back to the West with the Avalanche.

That is all of our break downs of the past regular season and a quick look at the playoffs ahead. It is now time to sit back and watch the Edmonton Oilers hopefully go on a nice deep playoff run.