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What to Expect for the Edmonton Oilers in 2023?

By Gabriel Candido

Jun 6, 2022; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Colorado Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog (92) scores against Edmonton Oilers goaltender Mike Smith (41), defenseman Darnell Nurse (25) and defenseman Cody Ceci (5) during the third period in game four of the Western Conference Final of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Walter Tychnowicz-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 6, 2022; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Colorado Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog (92) scores against Edmonton Oilers goaltender Mike Smith (41), defenseman Darnell Nurse (25) and defenseman Cody Ceci (5) during the third period in game four of the Western Conference Final of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Walter Tychnowicz-USA TODAY Sports /
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Let’s head back to this time in 2021. The Edmonton Oilers were losing to the New Jersey Devils on New Year’s Eve in the OT after suffering the tying goal with 32 seconds to the end of the match. That loss made the Oilers 3-7-1 in the month of December, with a playoff spot and Dave Tippett’s job at risk.

After that, a new year came but the same problems remained in Edmonton. Another negative record (5-6-0) in the month and it looked like we wouldn’t see any playoff action if changes weren’t made.

But then two major changes happened. First, Evander Kane went to the Oilers with the NHL minimum salary and with the expectation he wouldn’t be the same person he was in San José. And he just excelled in Edmonton. Scoring 13 goals in 15 playoff games, he was playing at his best, focusing only on the ice and not getting one headline that wasn’t about how great he was playing.

The other change, and the main one, was changing Dave Tippett for Jay Woodcroft as the head coach. With great work in the AHL in Bakersfield, but with no prior NHL experience in the position, he completely changed the Edmonton Oilers, getting this team to the best run since 2006, reaching the Western Conference Finals.

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