Hey y’all! Welcome back for another season of Edmonton Oilers hockey! I’m BLH and I’ll be giving you the skinny on today’s game!
If you’re new here and are wondering what 3P2W means, well, it stands for Three Players to Watch and seeing I’m as lazy as I am, I figured we’d shorten it to 3P2W.
So with that out of the way, let’s talk a little bit about what’s been going on lately in the Oilogospehere and then get into the player’s I’ve put under the spotlight for today’s matchup!
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Random Pontifications
If you were to say, ‘look, the Campbell signing, obviously a mistake, whether it’s now or later, we’re going to have to pay a price to get out of his contract.’ Maybe this is the year you move a 2025 first-round pick plus whatever else you need to get rid of Campbell, and then you’ve got your 2024 pick on the table to add a big defenceman or an elite winger.” – Frank Seravalli
- I don’t think they’ll move on from him in-season. What’s the point, really? They only have so many tradeable assets and personally, I think they loath the idea of moving Broberg and Holloway right when they’re both on the cusp of being impactful NHL players on the cheap. But not only that, Campbell’s playing much better down in Bakersfield and I’d be willing to bet that he gets recalled at some point.
Jack Campbell's last 10 AHL games:
7-3 Record
.920 save percentage
2.73 GAA
1 shutout pic.twitter.com/tnBX4iThuX— x – Oilers Access (@oilersaccess) January 18, 2024
- I mean, is the addition of Perry and Holloway to the lineup really what’s opening the door for Edmonton to move him? Wouldn’t it be his play that’s really doing that and at the same time you’ve got to ask yourself, how much of his recent statline in Bakersfield is him and how much is the rest of the team considering The Condors are on one helluva heater.
“Insider Chris Johnston mentioned on his show that the Oilers are looking for an impact forward and threw out the names Jake Guentzel, David Perron, and Jordan Eberle.” – Cam Lewis, Oilersnation
- I’m going to say no on Guentzel and Perron and maybe on Eberle. Not to say they won’t try but if I’m Pittsburgh, Detroit, or Seattle, I’m not doing Edmonton any favors because after Broberg and Holloway, who would be an acceptable return for any of those players?
- Edmonton’d have to find a way to make the money work too and historically they’ve been quite averse to that kind of legwork.
- Also, those three teams aren’t exactly out of the playoff race by any means.
- Now, all of that said, those three names are exactly the kinds of players Ken Holland would be going after if he thinks his team has a good chance at winning the Cup and he’s never ever been afraid to move out youth for experience.
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Three Players to Watch for the Bad Guys
- #86 Kirill Marchenko (14g 10a 28pts) – This Russian is an absolute snipe show. 21 goals in 59 games as a rookie last year, he’s got 14 at the halfway point this season and he’s almost equaled last year’s point totals (only one point away). All for 925k… He’s going to cost this team a lot to re-sign after this season.
- #11 Adam Fantilli (11g 14a 25pts) – Not bad production for the rookie. The number that stands out for me is his 107 shots so far. Fantilli only has 2 goals in his last ten games or so and none in his last five and I’d say that’s pretty normal considering the club he plays for and where they sit in the standings, but a guy with talent like he has, he could break out at any moment if given the time and space.
- #4 Cole Sillinger (8g 10a 18pts) – Half of Sillinger’s goal output as come in CBJ’s last five games as he’s been promoted to play on the first line alongside Johnny Hockey and Yegor Chinakov. I like him because’s a bit of old school mixed in with the new school. Meaning, he’ll play a gritty game but he’s got some skills to go with it.
Three Players to Watch for the Good Guys
- #55 Dylan Holloway (1g 1a 2pts) – Hollywood comes back in the Flames game and immediately pays dividends by doubling his point totals on the year. With the addition of Corey Perry to the roster Edmonton is going to need as much speed in their bottom six as possible and Holloway definitely brings that. Would it shock you to see a Gagner/Holloway/Perry line at some point? I mean, honestly, what’s Connor Brown done to keep his spot in the lineup so far?
- #2 Evan Bouchard (11g 31a 42pts) – Two goals and six assists in his last five. This Columbus team looks about as strong as wet toilet paper defensively allowing 23 goals in their last five games (1-4-0) while the Oilers have allowed eight in their last five… Bouch is getting on the scoresheet.
- #97 Connor McDavid (16g 43a 59pts) – January is when Connor historically slows down a bit but tonight feels like one of those nights where he might blow up the other team. The Blue Jackets are reeling, they can’t get a save, and the Oilers are flying. Add to the fact that he’s only got one goal on 20 shots in his last five games.
