Pacific Division Preview: How the West Will Be Won
Edmonton Oilers
Head Coach: Todd McClellan
Key Additions: Kyle Brodziak, Kailer Yamamoto (Rookie), Evan Bouchard (Rookie)
Key Losses: David Desharnais, Matt Hendricks, Benoit Pouliot
Strengths: Connor McDavid, Speed, Youth
Weaknesses: Anyone not named Connor McDavid, Goaltending, Defnesemen
Predicted Point Total: points, 85 points (40-37-5)
The Edmonton Oilers are the enigma of the Pacific Division. On one hand, they have the best player in all of hockey. Connor McDavid, there is no disputing that.
McDavid lead the league in points (again) last season with 108 and a whopping 41 of those being goals. He was sixth in the NHL in that category behind the likes of Evgeni Malkin, Wild Bill Karlsson, and Alexander Ovechkin to name a few.
He was third in the NHL in assists with 67, only one behind the career years of Claude Giroux and Blake Wheeler.
A team with Connor McDavid, the best player in all of hockey, should be better than Edmonton was last season.
There is a caveat to last year though for the Edmonton Oilers. His name is Peter Chiarelli.
Edmonton was already seeing the effects of what could go down as the worst trade in NHL history before the season even started. I need not remind you that after the 2016-2017 season GM Peter Chiarelli traded current Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall to the New Jersey Devils for…wait for it…ADAM LARSSON. Only a day after another blockbuster that sent P.K Subban to Nashville for Shea Weber, another one which will live in infamy.
Not to be outdone, before the start of last season, Chiarelli struck again, trading perennial 25 goal scorer Jordan Eberle to the New York Islanders for not 25 goal scoring Ryan Strome.
Add this to absolutely horrible Milan Lucic and the absolutely horrible contract he’s signed to, and you got yourself a recipe for disaster.
San Jose Sharks
Head Coach Todd McClellan has found himself on the hottest of seats in the Pacific Division. The Oilers’ record last season, with all the talent that team has warranted his job being on the precipice.
However, and a big however, I think it is going to be the Edmonton Oilers, rather than the Arizona Coyotes who are going to be the surprise team in the Pacific Division.
The Copper and Blue have a plethora of very young talent starting their first full seasons in the NHL or even making their debuts.
2017 First Round Pick Kailer Yammamoto has been lighting up the preseason, and they have big hopes for him in Edmonton. Same goes for 18 year old defenseman Evan Bouchard. The 10th overall pick in this years draft apparently cannot be optioned to the AHL until 9 games in, but look for the kid from Oakville Ontario to make an immediate impact.
He’s an excellent two way D-man, very adept at moving the puck, something the Oilers desperately need on the Blue Line. He will be optioned to the AHL after 9 games, but don’t be surprised if we see him again in Copper and Blue very soon.
Darnell Nurse and aforementioned Adam Larsson are not puck movers (as Larsson was advertised), and are more physical than anything. I enjoy the way Nurse plays but don’t see him making a huge impact.
Starting Goaltender Cam Talbot has been somewhat of a disappointment since coming over from the New York Rangers. Talbot posted a meager 3.02 GAA and .908 SV% in 67 games last year. That uh, isn’t good.
Juggernaut forwards Connor McDavid and Leon Draisatl should keep Edmonton in it longer than they should be. Expect to see some impact from Yammamoto and a healthy former number one pick Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Free Agent addition Kyle Brodziak will add some much needed veteran presence to a younger bottom six for the Oilers.
While I expect them to come out strong, their youth and inexperience will catch up to them at the end of the season, and I predict a slide at the end of the year to keep them out of the playoffs. But an improvement year in Northern Alberta.