I just got my copy of The Hockey News Yearbook for this upcoming season and as I was perusing it I found myself checking out the Oilers schedule a bit closer this season.
With McDavid here now there’s so much more to look forward to but there’s one thing that I’m vexed about. When will he pick up his first injury? As pessimistic as that sounds and correct me if I’m wrong but hasn’t each of the previous 1st overalls picked up a sizable injury in their rookie year?
Well there’s actually not much of a reason to fret because if McDavid goes down at any point in the year we can be assured that his replacement would be Leon Draisaitl. That sounds pretty damn good to me.
Let’s take a look at the five Edmonton Oilers games I can’t wait to watch in 2015/16!
Thursday Oct. 15th vs. St.Louis: The Home Opener!
Oh boy! I bet ol’ Rexall will be a pumpin’ that night! A sea of orange will wash over the crowd to celebrate the new 3rd jersey and the home debut of one Connor McDavid. I guarantee you that unless you attended any of the playoff games in 2006 or were around when the dynasty Oilers were the darlings of the NHL, that this will be the loudest game you might ever attend in Edmonton. And just wait until McDavid scores… Woof! Better bring the earplugs!
Friday Nov. 6th vs. Pittsburgh: Generationals Collide!
I can just see it now. The camera panning down over top of Crosby and McDavid as they ready themselves for the opening faceoff. Generational talents going head-to-head for the first time in a long time. I can see this game being very entertaining. Very much a back and forth affair with some HUGE names. I hope it goes to 3-on-3 OT just for the hell of it!
Monday Nov.30th at Toronto: The Homecoming!
All of Canada will be tuning in to this game to see McDavid make his return to Toronto! I predict that the Oilers run the tables on the Leafs here with McDavid getting 2 points. Hell I say they put the OHL Lottery line together for this one. Hall-McDavid-Yakupov sounds like a mighty fine way to say, “It’s good to be back!”
Sunday Dec. 6th vs. Buffalo: McDavid vs. Eichel
The entire NHL is looking forward to this one. You could cut the tension with a skate blade! You know McDavid and Eichel will be looking to one-up each other at every given opportunity. Buffalo has a pretty good looking roster now that they’ve sucked for a few years and there’s nothing better, for me at least, than watching two young teams duke it out!
Saturday April. 2nd vs. Calgary: The Battle of Alberta’s Final Chapter of the Season.
With the playoffs around the corner I’m hoping that these two teams are in a dead heat for the final playoff spot making this game just as intense as an actual playoff game. These two teams need no excuse to let the sparks fly and even a neutral fan could look at this match-up and say holy sh*tballs! The two rosters are absolutely stacked with u23 superstars! I’m hoping at this point we’ll see Darnell Nurse policing the ice for Edmonton as I’d probably pay a bit extra to see him drop the mitts with Dougie Hamilton.
What are some of the games you’re looking forward to most this season? Let me know in the comments below!
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– BLH (@beerleagueheroe)
What about the last game in Rexall ever?
Thanks for reading and commenting Murphy!
That’s enticing but not something I’m looking forward to. The game itself is vs. the Canucks… Ugh! Lots of good memories of that rink though. I still refer to it as Northlands Coliseum. I can’t bring myself to calling it Rexall. Lastly, I don’t know if the game on April 9th will be the Oilers’ last game in that Arena 😉
It’s funny how almost every blogger is picking the same games for their top5, and i’m pretty sure i’d pick the exact same games if i’d live in Edmonton.
But it’s different for me, living in Switzerland and all that… because three of those 5 games i’m looking forward to are the games i’ll actually be at Rexall, just like last season (April 2015) and the season before (March2014).
I wish the opponents would be different, but i have to pick homestands and a week i can take off from work, so there’s not much choice, right? Kings Dec.29th, Ducks Dec.31st and Coyotes Jan.2nd.
For the rest of the year i watch what i can. Sometimes it’s really hard to get up at 4am on a sunday morning, but whatever, right? Maybe McDavid is making it a little bit easier now, who knows… He he…
Cheers from the other side of the pond…
Greetings SwissOil! Thank you for reading our tiny blog and commenting!
I’m all the way over in Taiwan. So I know how you feel a bit being so far away. Last time I was home to Edmonton I think I went to 3 preseason games and the Oilers prospects games vs. the University of Alberta Golden Bears (National Collegiate Champs).
But you’ve got it right with McDavid. He’ll definitely make it worth getting up and whatever time to watch. I’m not quite as bad. I only have to get up at maybe 7am or 8 am if the games on are the east coast. If they’re in the west, I’m good to go as that is mid-morning for me!
Your 2nd paragraph echos my fears. He’s going to have a HUGE target on his back for every tough and cheapshot in the league. That’s one reason I don’t see Hall or Eberle or Purcell as being steady linemates with McD. If McClellan is as smart as HE.”D BETTER BE he;s going to have some protection around especially against some teams. It may surprise and shock us at times who he runs with McJ. This is a generational talent that no matter what anyone says, is JUST A KID. To not protect him like GOLD at least until he’s a man would be foolish!!! If it’s me? I protect him with a HELL OF A LOT MORE than Hall or Eberle or Purcell
Thanks for reading Wendell! I agree with your comment. I’ve always been a proponent of going after a premier power forward on the right side. Could Pouliot serve in that role though? He’s a bigger guy and not afraid to get mucky. My ideal player would be David Backes. I’d be willing to talk about almost any player on the roster for him. Tom Wilson is another I’d love to see the Oilers get their hands on.