The Oilers practiced in Leduc today before flying to Vancouver for their final game of the season. A victory gives them 71 points, which is still, at best, 25 points behind third place San Jose in the Pacific and 16 behind Minnesota for the final wild card spot.

This group still requires much improvement if they hope to make the playoffs in their inaugural season at Rogers Place next spring. We will have all summer to discuss and debate what needs to happen, so today let’s discuss the present.

I’ve read many speculating Craig MacTavish’s absence on Wednesday evening suggests there could be some friction between him and the organization. I don’t see it. If there is any friction with MacT it is more with some media and fans than it is with the organization. He was disappointed when he was demoted last year, but time heals all wounds and he is enjoying scouting.

MacTavish was hanging out with the Alumni at their get together on Tuesday evening. He flew to the NCAA final four in Tampa on Wednesday. Had he attended the Wednesday event, he would have been hard pressed to get to Tampa in time for the first game yesterday.

I don’t view his absence as friction with the organization. I do expect some changes within the management group this off-season. Scott Howson’s contract expires, so Peter Chiarelli will decide to re-sign him or hire his own guy. MacTavish has a year remaining on his contract, and I believe he will remain.

Maroon has a become a fan favourite very quickly. He has seven goals and 13 points in 15 games, which is his most productive stretch in his career. Can he produce like that over a full season? The possibility of playing with Connor McDavid for a full season will help, but 71 points (prorated over 82 games) would put him 15th in NHL scoring, so that is likely unrealistic. However, the potential to become a consistent top-six forward starts with Maroon dedicating himself in the off-season, and he readily admits it.

“It starts with me in the offseason and me dedicating myself and coming back in great shape. Being ready, being focused. I had a tough start in Anaheim. I wasn’t ready. I wasn’t playing my best, but this summer I need to focus on what I need to do to become better as a hockey player.

“It is a great opportunity for me to play with a great player. I’m not getting any younger, so I have to stay in shape, stayt fit and keep working on my foot speed. I’m excited to have that opportunity to come into camp thinking I can play with him (McDavid), but whoever I play with, I’m excited to come back and be an Edmonton Oiler.”

Todd McLellan addressed Maroon’s conditioning after the game and admitted he needs to be in better shape next year. Maroon has an incredible opportunity in front of him. He has very good hands. He can score, he can hit and if needed he’ll fight. He has two years to prove himself, and if he does he could earn a contract that will set him up for life. It will be up to him to make the most of this wonderful opportunity.

Maroon was very humbled and appreciative of the reception from Oilers fans on Wednesday. They chanted his name. Listen to him describe how it made him feel.

He was also pumped to meet Wayne Gretzky. He was a young boy living in St.Louis when the Blues acquired Gretzky at the trade deadline in 1996. He idolized Gretzky and when he and Mark Messier walked in the dressing room after the game, Maroon was visibly nervous and excited to meet him. I think we get jaded sometimes and forget how big of a deal it is for players to meet Hall of Famers and players they idolized as kids. Maroon had never met him, and when he got his picture taken with both of them you couldn’t wipe the smile off his face. It was a cool moment to see.

I love goal celebrations and Yakupov’s gun-in-the-holster sword in the scabbard was outstanding on Wednesday. I believe it was Yakupov’s final game as an Oiler in Edmonton. I think he did too. Watching how he tried to take in everything after the game and then during the post-game celebration leads me to believe he’ll be in a new city next fall.

He has the potential to become a consistent 20-goal scorer, but, like Maroon, much of the onus will be on him to improve as a player. He is still very young, and has time to alter his game. I believe his game is better suited for the Eastern conference, and I could see New Jersey taking a run at him.

I never spoke to Oates much when he played his final season with the Oilers in 2003/2004. I did talk to him about faceoffs and such, but never anything too in depth about skills. Turns out that was one of the biggest mistakes of my career.

I met Oates earlier this season on the catwalk at Rexall Place. He was in town to meet Teddy Purcell and Matt Hendricks, two of his clients. Oates is a skills coach for various NHL players, including Alex Ovechkin and Steven Stamkos.

I introduced myself to Oates and he said, “You’re the guy who wrote the article on Teddy. Thank you.” I sat down and watched the second and third period with Oates, and it was a free Hockey 101 experience. He sees things differently. I’ve long felt hockey was becoming less exciting. The emphasis on systems over skill is hurting our game.

Oates agreed and we had some great discussions during intermission and after the game. I convinced him to share his wisdom on my show and he joins me every Tuesday to discuss hockey skills. It has become one of my favourite segments. (Listen to last Tuesday’s conversation here.) I believe hockey needs more proven skills coaches. Goalies have a coach and they constantly work on positioning and habits. How often do players work on skills in practice?

I’d say the ratio from actual skill work to system play and skating is about 1:10. Players are faster today, no doubt, but many don’t have the skills to score when they get to the open area. How many players know how to shoot and score when they are blanketed by a defender?

Not many, and rarely do they work on improving that skill. In the summer so much focus is on cardio and conditioning, but thankfully players have decided to allocate some time to work on specific skill development. Oates works with over 20 NHL players and that number will grow this summer. At some point I’d hope NHL teams have a skills coach who works with the players as often as a goalie coach works with the goalies.

The NHL needs to realize their onus should be as much, if not more, on offence as it is on defensive systems and goaltending. I’m happy to see Oates is becoming more vocal about skill development. I highly recommend reading this article he wrote earlier today. 

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