Who Are the Two Most Underrated Edmonton Oilers Going into the 2021-22 Season?

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The Athletic

Xavier Bourgault and his ETA with the Edmonton Oilers

Xavier Bourgault was drafted from the Shawnigan Cataractes of the QMJHL in the first round, No. 22, by the Edmonton Oilers at the 2021 entry draft.
Bourgault shines as a scorer in the group of forwards recently drafted in the early rounds. He is a high-percentage offensive sniper and a volume shooter based on his draft-year results.
He’s a quality offensive prospect; even more evidence comes in the fact that Bourgault posted strong numbers in the QMJHL in his draft-minus-one season.
Red Line Report is a respected draft service, and its ranking and verbal suggested Bourgault lacks intensity and effort.
Bourgault is advanced as a prospect, and if he turns pro in 2022 could challenge for an NHL roster spot based on his pure scoring ability. He’s also right-handed and could play his NHL hockey as a scoring right wing.
Holland is building toward a difficult decision at right wing, with young skill forward Yamamoto not yet signed and top right wing Jesse Puljujarvi one year away from a significant payday.
Internal options via the pro pipeline (Raphael Lavoie, Ostap Safin, Kirill Maksimov) show promise, but none is pushing for NHL time this year.
If Yamamoto signs a one-year deal, it sets up the possibility that management will have to choose between the two players.

BLH’s Thoughts: I can’t think of one player under Holland’s tenure that has come in during his first season of NHL eligibility and made the club. Prior to that the Oilers have given their first rounders an early season runout consistently.

So, with that said, I don’t think that Go-Go is going to be playing for the Edmonton Oilers on opening night in the 2022-23 season. Injuries and contract issues could change that, but Holland doesn’t build his perennial playoff clubs that way if he can help it.

NHLTradeRumors.me

Edmonton Oilers: 2 Underrated Players To Watch

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins C/LW: He has the ability to play both center and on the wing, so the Oilers have multiple options with him. He also can be utilized on both the power play and penalty kill. They were wise to re-sign him to an eight-year extension because of everything he provides. Although he never became that elite talent many expected him to be, he is still a very solid top-six forward in this league.
Jesse Puljujärvi RW: When he returned to the Oilers this past season, he found success. In 55 games, he scored 15 goals and had 25 points. He seems to be forming into a top-six winger, so expect big things from him this year.

BLH’s Thoughts: These two members of the Edmonton Oilers are surely underrated by a lot in the hockey world, I agree with that. They’re quiet individuals and they don’t have the same sort of flash and dash that Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have, but I’d say they’re absolutely fine with that.

As for Nuge and Pulju being the most underrated players on the Oilers to keep an eye on this year, I think Derek Ryan might be worth adding to that list as well as Cody Ceci.

Ryan and Ceci are highly unspectacular hockey players and often overseen as they play a very simple game. They’re like a couple of ghosts who only show up when they want you to see them…

The Daily Goal Horn

Blues starting season with Tarasenko

Head coach Craig Berube was recently on the Cam & Strick Podcast and gave the following update on Tarasenko.

“I expect Vladi to play for us. I’m going to treat him like every other player. And yeah, he asked to be traded, and things happen, but again, you know, we want Vladi to play good hockey for us,”

Penguins looking for center help

Veteran center Brian Boyle who did not play last season was signed to a PTO and has a chance to get a contract. Another center on their radar is Tyler Bozak, but he may be an expensive option.
Two other possible options could be 27 year-old Alex Galchenyuk or 36 year-old Eric Staal.

Rangers working on Zibanejad extension and missed out on Ritchie

No deal (with Zibanejad) is imminent, but the desire for both sides to stay together is there.
Another interesting note is the Rangers went after Nick Ritchie, whom the Bruins did not qualify. It turns out that Ritchie turned down the Blueshirts to sign with the Maple Leafs because he felt he’d get more ice time there.