The Edmonton Oilers are playing a reluctant game right now, which is proving far too costly. With the talent they have on their roster, they should be dominating and winning games more frequently than they are.
Where are the Oilers going wrong, and what corrections should be made? The team is not playing up to par, and one of the main takeaways is the energy they are displaying. There is a lot of negativity surrounding the Oilers in general right now, with them facing plenty of adversity during this time.
Pressure is mounting on the team, with the players not producing and the superstars not coming up clutch, leading to frustration for everyone. This has led to mounting pressure as the team tries to win games, but are being outdone by sloppy play and a style that is unusual for this team.
1) Not creating turnovers is a back-breaker for the team
Last season, this team had no problem creating turnovers, which in turn resulted in goals and crucial leads that led to wins for Edmonton. This season however, the team is not creating as much turmoil in the neutral or offensive zone, and the forecheck is not up to its usual standard.
The passing and playmaking are coming together, but the team isn't capitalizing on these opportunities to score in a dominant fashion. Normally, the Oilers would exploit the opposition’s weaknesses, taking advantage of any hesitation or sluggish gameplay. This season, however, they aren’t able to apply that same pressure.
To be precise about turnovers, the Oilers' offense, when deep in the offensive zone, would often take the puck in aggressively. If the other team managed to gain possession and attempted to clear the zone, the Oilers' defense would force a turnover by quickly intercepting, denying their opponents the chance to reset. This season, though, that level of disruption hasn’t been as consistent.
Speaking on the neutral zone, the team was previously incredibly savvy at taking the puck away and smothering the zone, with their forwards ready to pounce on the net. This aspect is not being shown nearly enough in games this season and is costing the team significantly.
2) Offensive and defensive puck cycling not taking shape against the boards
The main ingredient to Edmonton's powerhouse play last season, was their puck shuffling. Now compare that to this season with the team losing battles against the boards, resulting in costly goals being allowed on a nightly basis. These errors are not fun to watch and are frustrating for everyone concerned, especially Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard between the pipes.
Moving the puck along and creating chances was one of the team's strengths last season, but now it has faltered to the point that it is seriously costing the Oilers wins. In my opinion, as the team works to adjust and fix their weaknesses, this is a critical area that should not be overlooked.
To be fair, the Oilers are still hustling and trying, but just don't look as comfortable right now, whether as individuals or together. They are looking desperate, and giving opposing teams the advantage to capitalise on their mistakes.
3) Not defending at an elite level
The Oilers' defence is not playing well right now for their goalies, who are facing a backlash through no fault of their own. Skinner and Pickard are not being defended at a good enough level, which is in turn leading to costly goals.
After not matching the offer sheet for Philip Broberg and trading away Codi Ceci, these decisions are slowly haunting the team in a manner that's costing them games. Things may work out better for the defence as the season progresses, but at this point it is seriously concerning.
It's been a slow and sluggish start to the 2024-25 season, not helped by being blown out 6-1 by the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday night. The weaknesses are evident, and the team needs to find a way to relax and concentrate on the areas costing them wins.
Overall, the Oilers roster needs to figure out ways to score more goals and defend at an elite level again, to compete better and return to their winning ways of last season.