Meaningful Games in April
Jonathan Willis
April 09 2013 08:48AM
One of the items that the optimists watching the Edmonton Oilers have pointed to as a sign of progress is the fact that the team is playing meaningful games this late in the season. They were still in it at the deadline and they were still in it in April; these are big improvements over previous years.
Or are they?
The importance of draft picks – right now
Jonathan Willis
April 08 2013 10:36AM
‘Building through the draft’ has been the Oilers’ mantra for several seasons now, and they’ve accumulated some top-end talent in the number one spot. With Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Nail Yakupov and a host of other young talents on the team, has the importance of draft picks to the organization diminished?
Probably not, and if it has, it should not have.
GDB 38.0: They’re all big games
Jonathan Willis
April 06 2013 10:30AM
The out-of-town scoreboard wasn’t particularly kind to the Oilers yesterday. St. Louis, Detroit, and San Jose all won. Dallas won too (though they’re far enough back that it’s a secondary concern), while Columbus lost in regulation – though given that they lost to the Blues, that’s not really great news.
The Oilers aren’t particularly likely to catch Los Angeles, but they need the win today to keep pace with Detroit and St. Louis, the two most catchable teams.
Ryan Whitney and Corey Potter
Jonathan Willis
April 05 2013 11:58AM
The Edmonton Oilers’ most-used third-pairing this season has had some ups and some downs, but more of the latter than the former. Ryan Whitney’s ineffective play has led to him being a healthy scratch at times, while Corey Potter is often seen as a reserve defenceman who inexplicably finds himself on the regular rotation.
What’s wrong with the pairing?
Edmonton Oilers acquire Jerred Smithson from Florida
Jonathan Willis
April 03 2013 11:32AM
According to multiple reports, the Edmonton Oilers have acquired centre Jerred Smithson from the Florida Panthers in exchange for a fourth-round draft picks.
