The Edmonton Oilers were consistently mediocre all year. 93 points would not make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference. So what, everyone starts over in the playoffs.

The Oil had 2 good runs this season. During November and December when Connor McDavid put up Gretzky-esque numbers and especially in the last dozen or so games post trade deadline. After the 5-6 OT loss to Utah, the Oilers have shown improved goals against. Also consider that they were without Leon Draisaitl for much of this period.

But, and there is always a but, the Oilers had a very easy schedule post trade deadline. They played a lot of Pathetic division teams and were 7-2 against them. Compared to the three Eastern teams they played, where they were 0-3 and smacked badly in all three. They were a respectable 2-1-2 against Central teams that made the playoffs.

Compared to last year’s team…

Goaltending: Two different goaltenders. Ingram has put up good numbers recently behind more stout D. Is this real or an artifact of an easy schedule? Better or worse? I don’t know.

Defence: Last year the Oilers won three rounds playing five defencemen a lot. Bouchar, Nurse, Walman, Kulak, and Klingberg. Emberson and Stecher would be the sixth-guy and be used sparingly. This year they have a set six with Ekholm back in place of Kulak and Murphy in place of Klingberg. This version should be better than the 25 teams.

Forwards: There are many changes here. Perry, Brown, Skinner, Arvidsson, Kane are out, whilst Savoie, Lazar, Dach, and Dickinson, if he can play, are in. Hopefully Fredric can continue to play better than the Fredric we saw last playoffs. Is this better than last year’s group? That is the question. The Oilers have gotten much younger in the forward and it is hard to get younger and better at the same time. We will see.

Like most, I see the Oilers having a good shot at winning two rounds. Anything beyond that would be a bonus.

Ed from Edmonton

(A solid breakdown. Give me the Oil in 5.)

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Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s managing editor, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the Daily Faceoff DFS Hockey Report. He can be followed on X at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach.laing@bettercollective.com.