4 Edmonton Oilers players to keep an eye on following the All-Star Break
The Edmonton Oilers have been the talk of the NHL during their winning streak, and a few players must keep bringing their A-Game for that streak to continue.
Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are the faces of the Edmonton Oilers, and just about every NHL fan will watch as they look to keep the team hot following the NHL All-Star Break. They have been ultra-productive during Edmonton’s 16-game winning streak, with McDavid putting up 19 points since the new year kicked off while Draisaitl has 17.
Also, since January 2nd, they have a combined three power play goals and 10 assists, good for 13 points. So it’s clear McDavid’s and Draisaitl’s productivity has affected different phases of the game, and there is no reason to think it won’t continue.
But they can’t carry the team all the time, so quite a few players must keep their own hot streaks going if Edmonton figures to keep winning.
Stuart Skinner’s dominance in the crease must continue
There is no denying Stuart Skinner has embarked on quite a tear recently, and if he keeps up his incredible play, the better the odds that the Edmonton Oilers keep winning. Sure, the Oilers putting together solid play in front of the 25-year-old has helped, but it doesn’t mean Skinner hasn’t done his part.
If you have followed the Oilers throughout their 16-game winning streak, you may already know how good Skinner has been. But you may not have realized that he’s gone 11 straight games in allowing two goals or less.
Since December 28th, Skinner has been 11-0-0, with a save percentage of 0.954, a GAA of 1.26, and a shutout, per QuantHockey. His 293 saves rank 10th in the NHL in that same span, and as you probably know, Skinner’s 11 wins also paces the league.
How long will Edmonton’s No. 1 goaltender stay on a roll following the All-Star Break? This is a question we are looking forward to finding an answer when play resumes later this month.
Mattias Ekholm’s season can get even stronger
Mattias Ekholm has been one of the Oilers best pickups since he arrived via trade in February 2023, and through 21 regular season games last season, fans saw just what kind of asset the organization acquired. He put up 14 points and four goals in that small sample size, and despite not reaching that same threshold so far this season, it doesn’t mean he’s been any less effective.
Through 44 games, Ekholm has remained one of the Oilers most physical players, recording 75 hits and 53 blocks from the beginning of the season to the All-Star Break. He is once again logging top-four minutes regularly, skating for an average of 20:58 nightly.
Edmonton’s 5-on-5 play has also been excellent with Ekholm on the ice, averaging a stellar 61.0 Corsi For percentage, and 61.2 in the Fenwick. These two numbers are increases over what he accomplished during his short stretch with the team in the regular season last year, and if he keeps playing well, those numbers should keep increasing.
Ekholm may be in his 12th full NHL season, but his productivity and endurance haven’t gone anywhere. If that keeps up during the most pivotal part of the season, the Oilers will continue trending north in the standings.
Zach Hyman’s productivity must keep soaring
Next to Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman is the Oilers leader in points with 47. However, he’s above Edmonton’s top two stars in goals scored with 30, and he’s also leading the team with an incredible plus-19.
The key going forward is for the Oilers to keep finding ways to get the puck on Hyman’s stick while in the offensive zone. What’s even more amazing is the fact Hyman isn’t just producing remarkable numbers at even strength; he also has nine goals on the man advantage, which is second only to Draisaitl.
While Hyman is leading Edmonton in goals scored, 12 of them have come in the previous 15 games, so the takeaway is that when he scores consistently, the Oilers usually win. And if you want more fun, trace Hyman’s ability to find the net back to December 6th, or 23 games ago. You will see that he has 18 goals in those contests, and you will see that Edmonton only has three losses in that stretch.
Once again, get this guy the puck when setting up a play in the offensive zone, as he will reward you nearly 20 percent of the time if recent trends tell a compelling story.
The Oilers will keep winning if Evan Bouchard produces
Evan Bouchard has been the Oilers top defenseman in the offensive zone, and he has matched his career-high in productivity in just 45 games this year. So far, the fifth-year blueliner has 43 points, 11 goals, and 32 assists, the latter already being a personal-best.
But don’t make the mistake of thinking Bouchard is only productive in the offensive zone, as he also has 61 blocks and 30 takeaways. He’s also playing top-four minutes on most nights, with 22:47 of average total ice time. Therefore, while Bouchard provides immense value in the offensive zone, he’s also pitching in more defensively than you may think.
Sure, he’s on the ice often when the Oilers allow a goal, given the on-ice save percentage of 88.9 at 5-on-5. There is room for improvement, but if his scoring prowess continues when Edmonton has the puck and if his defensive play climbs a little more, the Oilers will likely keep finding themselves in sound position to keep scoring and winning. Either way, there is no doubt that Bouchard’s performances, even if they happen to dip, will parlay into him becoming a strong candidate for the Norris Trophy.
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(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)