Evander Kane’s injury is a major test of Edmonton Oilers’ organizational depth: 9 things

Article content

The Edmonton Oilers faced a major challenge to revive and improve their breakout 2021-22 season long before they lost one of their best players.

Article content

But Evander Kane’s horrific injury isn’t just a loss or a big deal.

Article content

It is a rigorous organizational test. Can the Oilers go through with it?

More for this week…

9 things

9. Some might equate a $.500 road trip to kissing your sister. However, the road the Oilers had just completed his swing consisted of Murders his Raw opponent. Four of his eight possible points, I think he was probably one or more better than many critical watchers expected.

8. At an Oilers club that doesn’t have a good recent history of winning faceoffs Leon dry cite It continues to elevate that part of his game. His Draisaitl, a career 52.1% man-on-the-dot, has him 56.3% so far this season. If he keeps it up, he’ll be in the top 10 in the NHL pivot. I mean… elite level.

Article content

7. Solid Oilers debut Crim Costin, which is encouraging, but a small sample. he is ex 1^st A round pick for him is no surprise because of his skill. Costin proved to St. Louis that in his three seasons he appeared in 46 games and belonged to the NHL, they gave him up. Will he get so much here?

6. Connor McDavid 160 points pace. You might say, “Put the brakes on, Livins, 16 games to go.” fair enough. However, if McDavid kept it, Wayne Gretzky 1987-88 as Season 8^th Highest ever in Edmonton Oilers history. His 7 point total remaining still puts him ahead of McDavid?all #99. Mr. Gretzky was fine, but Connor is knocking on that iconic door.

Article content

5. Speaking of pace, Tyson Barry Tracking for a 60-point season.he is tied Dougie Hamilton for 9^th in scoring by an NHL defenseman. The same “put your brakes on” comment applies pretty much to Barry.But when I think Evan Bouchard With a slow start, Barry’s performance has been integral to the Oilers’ offense so far.

Four. Stuart Skinner It was everything the Oilers could ask for in a 24-year-old “backup” and more. His SV% is .932. Skinner ranks sixth among goalkeepers with 6 or more appearances in the NHL^thSkinner didn’t “steal” the Panthers game itself. Grade ‘A’ for/against chances tracked by The Cult of Hockey, he was 14-12 in favor of Edmonton. But anyone who watched his first ten minutes would agree that Edmonton pulled off in one of them.^st Due to Skinner’s success, the period is zero tie.

Article content

3. How am I not crazy Jay Woodcroft Available Dylan HollowayI think newcomers make rookie mistakes. Holloway turnover at 1^st Period Saturday was one of them, where he went down by four.^th line. in the meantime, Jesse Purjujalvi He wasn’t able to clear his own zone either, but that didn’t change much for him. Look: I think it’s great that the coach is staying in the same place as Jesse Purjujärvi. I wish I could do the same with Holloway, more than once at a time. Yoyo’s treatment is not good for him.

2. The above observations are not reflections Warren Fogel In-game Saturday promotion by Woodcroft. It was a matter of course. Last week, in this space, I wrote about the disappearance act his three $3m Oilers his wing has been pulling up to this season. I wasn’t the only one to point that out. However, Fogle saw him up front with regular and effective penalty turns, in which he scored two goals in three games.I wonder how many of us were expecting that Yamamoto Kyler, Jesse Purjujärvi When Warren Fogel Was it Vogel who jumped out first? He was great on this trip.

Article content

1, Do not doubt about it. Evander Kane A big threat to the Edmonton Oilers. The old “opportunity knocks” trope is a good sentiment and true in a pure “next person” sense. But it gets overused at its best, especially when it comes to replacing a deadly rock top-line winger like Kane for an extended period of time. , that it cannot replace Evander Kane and what he brings in the next three to four months.

But what it is is a serious test of its depth. Ken Holland It was incorporated into this roster during the offseason. Oilers pro scouting has not always been a trusted field for fans. And with his cap situation in his first 15 games, there was little chance to see if that changed for the better. But now that Kane has joined his LTIR, there is cap room for some of these acquisitions to be battle-tested.

Article content

just being here already Devin Shore. can Dylan Holloway promoted in him 1^st NHL shot? This is his second chance in his NHL career. Crim Costinmust be a veteran Matthias Jeanmarck Equally motivated to prove his post-training camp relegation was a mistake.

And there are others in Bakersfield waiting for their shots: Brad Malone. Philip Broberg. Xavier Burgaud. Hamblin. Demers. Kessel ring.

Today’s depth test has no answer. But he should have an answer by February, when Kane’s return is due.

Find me at @KurtLeavins on Twitter, LeafinsOnHockey on Instagram and KurtLeavins@mstdn.social on Mastodon.

Recently at The Cult…

Staples: Oilers wrap up road trip with 4-2 win in Florida

McCurdy: Edmonton is losing to Carolina.

LEAVINS: Oilers engineer gut check win in Tampa