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Oilers and the NHL are much different

Jason Gregor
8 years ago
The Edmonton Oilers are in a much better position today than they were on December 23rd, 2014, but they aren’t the only team who looks at the standings and feels significantly different than last year.
The Oilers enter the Christmas break with 32 points (15-18-2) in their first 35 games, a massive improvement from this time last season when the Oilers had 21 points (7-21-7) in 35 games and were 20 points out of a playoff spot.
The NHL has played 516 games, 42% of the season, and at Christmas break in 2014 they had played 514 games (41.8%). The Oilers are a better team and their positioning in the league mirrors their play.
They are 22 points behind the league-leading Dallas Stars (54 pts). They were 30 points behind the Anaheim (51pts) last season. A 26.7% improvement.
They are three points behind the eighth place Vancouver and Colorado (35 points), Van is third in the Pacific so that is the final playoff spot, and last season Edmonton was 20 points behind the eighth place LA Kings — a stunning 85% improvement.
Many suggest the Oilers are only in the race because the Pacific division is weaker, and while that is true, the parity in the NHL is much more apparent this season compared to last year.
Last year, nine teams had 45+ points at Christmas, five in the East and four in the West.
Ducks: 51                                     Penguins: 49
Blackhawks: 48                             Islanders: 46
Predators: 46                               Canadiens: 46
Blues:  45                                     Lightning:   46
                                                    Red Wings: 45
This season only three teams have 46+ points: Stars (54), Capitals (52) and Blues (46).
Chicago and the Rangers have 44, NYI and Montreal have 43, while Minnesota, Boston, Florida and Los Angeles each have 42.
At the other end of the standings, the Ducks (30 )and Blue Jackets (29) are the only teams with 30 points of less compared to 2014 when four teams were under 30: Buffalo (29), Arizona had (28), Carolina (24) and Edmonton (21).
Essentially there are no Hurricanes or Oilers this season, thus the playoff gap is closer.
Here is a comparison from this year to last for all 30 teams on December 23rd.
2015
GP 
GF
GA
P

2014
GP 
GF
GA
P
Point difference 
35
124 
88
54
33
95
113 
33
21
33
105
71
52
34
99
90
40 
12
35
91
106 
32
35
75
121
21
11
35
83
87
39
36
78
104
31
8
34
80
101
31
34
70
93
24
7
33
91
80
42
32
93
89
35
7
33
90
104
34
34
80
112
28
6
35
105
104
40
34
90
94
34
6
35
95
81
42
32
73
82
38
4
36
104
93
44
32
97
83
40
4
33
104
85
42
35
91
91
39
3
34
79
89
32
35
69
115
29
3
34
74
92
37
34
97
101
34
3
35
99
97
35
34
90
101
34
1
33
84
76
42
35
97
88
41
1
36
92
85
46
34
100 
86
45
1
36
88
112
29
33
80
107
31
-2
36
105
89
43
35
95
84
46
-3
35
96
82
43
34
105
94
46
-3
36
96
87
44
35
107
72
48
-4
34
89
89
41
35
100
87
45
-4
34
91
113
34
36
104
98
39
-5
34
90
86
40
33
95
70
46
-6
34
93
94
36
35
99
90
43
-7
36
91
103
35
33
99
91
42
-7
35
87
82
37
36
117
96
46
-9
34
92
104
32
35
88
81
43
-9
33
86
93
31
35
118
102
43
-12
33
76
84
35 
34
108
80
49
-14
33
62
85
30
36
104
98
51
-21
The Stars (+21), Capitals (+12) and Oilers (+11) have improved the most, while the Ducks (-21), Penguins (-14) and Leafs (-12) have lost the most points.

QUICK HITS…

  • Twelve of the 13 teams with the biggest drop in points had 42 or more points last season. There is no Buffalo or Edmonton in the league this year and it has created even more parity.
  • The Dallas Stars have made improvements everywhere. They were -18 in GF/GA ratio at this time last season, but are now +36. A whopping 54 goal difference. Wow.
  • The Oilers were -46 last season, but are now -15. The Flames were +6 last season, but are -22 so far this year, which is why they are only two points apart.
  • The Ducks have scored 42 fewer goals. The Penguins’ and Leafs’ offence is struggling, down 32 goals, while the Lightning are 30 goals behind last year’s pace.
  • Here are some individuals who have had significant point increases comparing this season to last year prior to December 23rd..
    Draisaitl +23 points. He’s only played 25 games thus far but has 9-21-30 compared to 2-5-7 in 34 games last year.

    Klingberg +22. He only played 19 games prior to Christmas, 3-7-10, but he has 5-27-32 this season.
    Hall +18
    (21 to 39, he missed four games last year)
    Benn +16
    (30 to 46)
    Hoffman +16
    (16 to 32)
    Karlsson +15
    (23 to 38)
    Kane +14 (36 to 50)
  • Some of the biggest drop in points come from some of the league’s best.
    Voracek -23. He had 46 points last year but only has 23 in 2015.
    Getzlaf -19
    (20 from 39 and only one goal, an empty netter)
    Kessel -18 (20 from 38)
    Crosby -15
    (22 from 37)
    Hudler -14
    (19 from 33)
    Giroux -13
    (28 from 41)
    Stamkos -11
    (25 from 36)
    Foligno -11
    (19 from 30)
    T.Johnson -26. He’s only played 23 games (4-7-11) this year, but he had 13-24-37 last Christmas.
  •  I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas. Thanks for reading the Nation and for always supporting my charitable endeavours.

FINAL DAY: MONTH OF GIVING

A massive thank you to AG for his unreal bid of $9,000 yesterday on the dinner package at Vivo Ristorante with Ryan Smyth and Matt Hendricks. We have raised $79,050 thus far, and we will surpass $80,000 in only 17 days. AWESOME.
Package #1
  • Dinner for 8 at Jason Gregor’s home catered by Chop Steakhouse.
  • It will be a 
    five-course dinner with wine pairings as well as special hand crafted
    cocktails.  We will personalize the menu to the guest’s tastes.
  • Chef Jonathan Ruby will prepare all of the food.
    He has worked at some of the best restaurants in the world. His most recent
    is Le Bernardin with Chef Eric Ripert.
  • Brad German will be doing the wine and cocktails, 
  • Your party of eight will be picked up and driven home by Blue Sky Limos.
You can bid by calling 780.444.1260 or text 101260 between 2-6 p.m. today.
Package #2
I have had many listeners and readers mention they would love to donate, but usually the bidding gets to high. So today we have do a fun draw. I will take fifteen donations of $100. Those 15 people will be in a draw and the winner will win:
  • Four gold seats to the Oilers/ Ducks game on New Years Eve. Section 120, row 15.
  • Includes a parking pass.
At 2 p.m. I will announce on my show on TSN 1260 how people can enter.
Thanks in advance. 100% of donations go to towards The Christmas Bureau and MS Society.
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