2019/20 Edmonton Oilers GM66: Oilers @ Predators – 3P2W – The Troops Are on the Way!

Wasn’t it music to my ears when I heard that James Neal and Oscar Klefbom were going to be joining Kailer Yamamoto on this three-game roadie for the Edmonton Oilers. I’m extremely curious to see how Dave Tippett is going to deploy his troops when everyone is healthy(ish).

I think this is how I’d send ’em out,

Ennis-McDavid-Kassian
RNH-Draisaitl-Yamamoto
Athanasiou-Sheahan-Archibald
Nygard-Haas-Neal
*Khaira, Russell, Chiasson

Klefbom-Larsson
Nurse-Bear
Jones-Benning
*Russell

I think there’s a blend of speed, grit, and skill in these line combos that could rival any other team in the Western Conference.

How would you run out the lines with a healthy lineup?

https://twitter.com/JasonGregor/status/1234482230925221888

Summer Thoughts (Some are good, Some are… Less good)

I understand the need for the defense to be better at puck-moving, but I also understand that not every defenseman on the team can be a skilled playmaker lest I want to have the kind of season the Toronto Maple Leafs are having. There’s a need for the Darnell Nurses, Adam Larssons, and Matt Bennings. The thing is, I keep hearing that hearing that these are the three players that could be moved on from and I think that may cause a problem.

The problem is, you don’t want to be that team that can’t break up the cycle or move players out from in front of the net and you definitely don’t want your goaltender to be the toughest guy below the blue line.

Sure, the Oilers have players like Evan Bouchard who should be ready next season to play in the NHL but other defenders like Philip Broberg and Dmitri Samorukov are at least two seasons away. To my eye, Samorukov is the only defenseman in Edmonton’s system right now with a real edge to his game.

For what it’s worth, I think there’s a solid possibility that Mike Green could come back for another year. Doesn’t that throw a wrench into things too?

So I hope that Ken Holland refrains from moving more than one of his veteran defenders this summer. I love Matthew Benning, that said, I think he’s the most likely to be traded despite all of the Larsson to Toronto or Florida rumors. Darnell Nurse is safe for at least one more year I figure.

What do you think? Would you be comfortable with the Oilers trading Larsson and Benning this off-season for help elsewhere?

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Three Players to Watch for the Preds

• #64 Mikael Granlund – This Granlund brother has been Nashville’s hottest player recently and they definitely could use the scoring help. An interesting time for him to heat up though. Would you call it clutch or just a player heating up in garbage time? I mean, Nashville isn’t out of the playoff race quite yet but they’re going to need more than this Finn scoring to make it to the post-season.
• #59 Roman Josi – I think Josi should be in the running for the Hart alongside Leon Draisaitl and Artemi Panarin. He’s been the team’s best player the entire season and will be on this night as well. I can’t even imagine how many points he’d have if he was on the Capitals and John Carlson was on the Predators…
• #9 Filip Forsberg – According to dailyfaceoff.com, the second-best Forsberg in NHL history hasn’t scored a goal in at least ten games and we can’t forget about the sloppy lacrosse goal he scored the last time these two teams met. Knowing how the hockey gords work, he’s most likely going to get one this evening, right?

These are the Preds lines from their last game against the Avs,

#Preds lineup in warmups:

Blackwell-Johansen-Sissons
Jarnkrok-Duchene-Arvidsson
Forsberg-Turris-Granlund
Grimaldi-Bonino-Smith

Josi-Ellis
Tinordi-Ekholm
Hamhuis-Fabbro

Saros
Rinne#COLvsNSH

— Brooks Bratten 🍪 (@brooksbratten) February 29, 2020

Three Players to Watch for the Oilers

• #25 Darnell Nurse – I didn’t think Nurse was all that bad last game out. In fact, I thought defensively he was stellar apart from one or two instances. I don’t like that he’s getting too much TOI but the Oilers are in a bit of a bind until Oscar Klefbom comes back (which will be soon).
• #56 Kailer Yamamoto – Not sure if I should change his nickname from “Killer” to “Gumby” or not but when he twisted his ankle and it was announced he was going to miss up to three weeks, I was convinced he’d done himself in good. But alas, here we are. Markus Granlund is back in Bakersfield (Lord knows they could use all they help they can get right now.) and it looks like Little Yams is going to be back in. Having him back will offer the coaching staff some serious flexibility in other parts of the roster.
• #28 Andreas Athanasiou – I’ve got a sinking feeling that AA isn’t 100% yet. He’s not skating like we know he can and he’s already been demoted to the third line because of some poor defensive play. I’ll be watching tonight to see how he’s deployed by Coach Tippett and to see if he creates some chemistry with other linemates.

I don’t imagine the lines will be posted before I go to bed and I won’t try to speculate as to what they’ll look like until I know if Klefbom and James Neal have been deemed healthy enough to go. They’re on the road trip and that’s a pretty indication that they’ll be suiting up at some point or another. I would venture a guess that if Klefbom comes in, that one of Kris Russell, Caleb Jones, or Matt Benning will be sitting and if Neal comes in I think it’s safe to say that Patrick Russell might come out. That’s a shame too because a source close to the team has told me that Russell is starting to get his confidence back and to my eye, it looks like that is very much the case.

The Next Ten Games (61-70)

• vs. Minnesota Wild (28-24-7) – Edmonton is 0-2 against the Wild this year and it’s about time the Oilers beat Bill Guerin’s boys. (WIN) LOSS
• @ Los Angeles Kings (22-34-5) – I have to say, the Kings are a dangerous team right now. They have nothing to lose and can spoil a lot of teams’ seasons. The Oilers have won 2/3 this year against their old coach but Connor McDavid might be back in this one. Keep an eye out to see if anybody out of the ordinary is sitting for this one because the next day is the trade deadline. (WIN) WIN
• @ Anaheim Ducks (24-29-7) – Last time out the Oilers put up six on Dallas Eakins’ Ducks. I expect Edmonton to equal that this time around and who knows how the roster will look as this is the game that follows the trade deadline. (WIN) OT LOSS
• @ Vegas Golden Knights (32-22-8) – The Golden Knights record might hover around Edmonton’s but I feel like this team is a bit better on paper plus this is the second game in a back-to-back. (LOSS) LOSS
• vs. Winnipeg Jets (32-25-5) – Big Buff sank this team when he decided he wasn’t going to play but the Jets have stuck in the race the whole season pretty much. You have to love the heart! (LOSS) WIN
• @ Nashville Predators (29-23-7) – I think the Oilers can sweep the season series with Nashville. The Preds defense isn’t what it used to be and there seems to be a bit of a dark cloud floating over the team at the moment. Pekka Rinne has hit a wall too… (WIN)
• @ Dallas Stars (35-19-6) – Edmonton and Dallas have each won one game-a-piece against each other this season so far. This will be the rubber match and I like Dallas here. (LOSS)
• @ Chicago Blackhawks (26-26-8) – Going into Chicago to play the Blackhawks is never an easy task and the Oilers have always had a tough time winning in the Windy City. (LOSS)
• vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (30-19-3) – Edmonton is 21-8-0 at home vs. Columbus all-time. It’s hard to argue with those numbers, right? On the other hand, John Tortorella has his team right in the running for a playoff spot in the East. This game should be a war of attrition to see who comes away with the two points. (WIN)
• vs. Vegas Golden Knights (32-22-8) – I like Edmonton’s chances at home against the Golden Knights. History tells us they have a better chance at beating them in Edmonton than in Vegas. (WIN)

(Standings as of February 21st, 2020)