Two Months Till The Start of The Edmonton Oilers Season

The Edmonton Oilers season is just under 2 months away from starting. This means in two months we will be back to watching our beloved Edmonton Oilers. Since two months can come and go pretty quickly I am going to take an  look at how the Oilers season may look.

Last season was a very exciting season to be an Oilers fan. The team had playoff success for the first time in a really long time. The best part about last season success versus the last Stanley Cup run is this team is poised to do it again.

The Edmonton Oilers were not only able to keep most of their teams core, but they were finally able to add a steady goalie. To me the re-signing of Kane and Kulak were the most important moves by Holland, but it is nice to finally see the Edmonton Oilers lock in a goalie long term.

That being said there are still some players in the organization that have gotten a year older. This should cause this team to get better from adding externals, but also the internal players should improve as well.

Players that should be improve internally are all the younger players. I would expect Yamamoto, Puljujarvi, Bouchard and McLeod to all improve this year. Last season was Bouchard and McLeod’s first full seasons in the NHL. They were both good players last season, so them improving can only help to improve the skill in the line up.

Edmonton Oilers Projected Lines

HYMAN-MCDAVID-KANE

NUGENT-HOPKINS-DRAISAITL-PULJUJARVI

FOEGELE-MCLEOD-YAMAMOTO

JANMARK-RYAN-SHORE

NURSE-CECI

KULAK-BOUCHARD

BROBERG-BARRIE

CAMPBELL

SKINNER

Comparing these lines to the start of last season it is clear to see that this roster is better. The addition of Kane mid season and Kulak at the deadline were in my opinion the main reason the Edmonton Oilers went on such a deep run.

The goal scoring of Evander Kane and the defensive ability of Kulak were difference makers in the playoffs. Kane was a goal scoring machine in the playoffs and in my opinion completely shut down the Tkachuk line in the Calgary Flames series.

I can’t wait to see the amount of goals he can score with a whole 82 game season on the Oilers. I think it is completely possible that this team could have three 40 goal players. The three players being Kane, McDavid and Draisaitl. Saying that doesn’t even seem like a stretch either.

My concern for this years team is their defensive depth. The fact the Broberg is starting on the NHL roster means that if there is an injury or two on this team doesn’t have quality replacement on this roster.

The same could be said for the forward group, but at least there is a still a few players that can move in. I full expect Holloway to be in this lineup on a regular basis around Christmas time. This should help out the skill in the bottom six.

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If Holloway comes in and plays on the third line I think that the Oilers may move Nugent-Hopkins down to centre the third line. This would make 3 lines that have the ability to score as well as act as a shut down line.

With all the moves made by the Edmonton Oilers this offseason coupled with the moves in the rest of the Pacific Division. I would say the the Edmonton Oilers are favourites to win the division.

I am really looking forward to this team this season. It has been a long time since the Edmonton Oilers were serious contenders going into the season. There is only a handful of teams that the Edmonton Oilers should lose to this season.

If the Edmonton Oilers stay healthy and make the right moves at the trade deadline to improve their team even more a Stanley Cup isn’t out of the question.