Interviews and pressers are self-explanatory. It’s when somebody, a player, coach, member of the front office, gives an interview, and then we transcribe it for you, break it down, and provide some thoughts. When the Oilers speak, we’ll be there to analyze their comments as thoroughly as you’d expect from the cast of CSI Miami. From their lips to your eyeballs, we’ve got you covered on who said what.
James Neal’s best asset is goal scoring. He and Bobby Orr are currently tied at 250th for the most goals in NHL history at 270. If he scores 20 goals this season he will move up to 215th all-time. Scoring goals has been his calling card for the vast majority of his career.
When an NHL team misses the playoffs in 12 of the past 13 seasons there isn’t just one person or strategy that failed. Virtually all of them did, especially when you consider only four franchises in the history of the NHL have endured such a streak of losing.
Dave Tippett played eleven seasons in the NHL, skating in 721 games which is 56th most in NHL history for an undrafted player. He was a solid checking forward, and when he was 33 years old he was out of the NHL and played one season with the Houston Aeros of the now-defunct International Hockey…
Mike Smith has played 766 pro games in his 17 year career. He played 27 in the ECHL, 132 regular season and 12 playoff AHL games and another 571 regular season and 24 playoff NHL games. He’s played in Lexington, Utah, Houston, Iowa, Norfolk, Dallas, Tampa Bay, Arizona and Calgary, and he’ll wear his 10th…
Alex Chiasson won a Stanley Cup with the Washington Capitals in June of 2018. He celebrated with his teammates and family and then July came and once again he was an unrestricted free agent. Despite winning a Cup, no one called. July turned to August and then the calendar turned to September and Chiasson was…
Jim Playfair was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the first round, 20th overall, in 1982. He is one of only 14 players to average a point-per-game in their time with the Oilers. Playfair only played two NHL games with the Oilers, but he produced one goal and an assist. “I scored in the 13-4…
The draft is the first step to building a consistent NHL organization, but how you develop, support and nurture those draft picks is arguably more important. The Oilers haven’t drafted or developed good enough for the past 14 years. The NHL standings prove that, but over the past four years the drafting has improved, and…
Nearly three hours after selection Swedish defenceman Philip Broberg eighth overall, Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland met with members of the media. Below is be a full transcription of his media availability.
Keith Gretzky was a good hockey player. In 1985 he had 93 points in 66 games for the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League and that summer the Buffalo Sabres selected him in the third round. Two years later he tallied 101 points in 64 games between Windsor and Hamilton. He spent seven seasons…
Edmonton has hosted the NHL draft once. In 1995 the Edmonton Oilers had the sixth overall pick, and fans chanted “Doan, Doan, Doan” trying to encourage Oilers GM Glen Sather and head scout Barry Fraser to choose the 18-year-old from Halkirk, Alberta. It didn’t work, as they selected Steve Kelly instead. Kelly had blazing speed,…
“Can you give me 10 minutes, I just have a gator in my pond” That what’s the voice on the other end said when I dialled him up in Naples, Florida, for what I thought was going to be a 15-20 chat about Rob Schremp’s life now, and brief NHL career from the past.
Yesterday, Dave Tippett was announced as the 16th head coach in the history of the Edmonton Oilers. It will also be his 16th year as an NHL head coach, having spent seven years (six seasons due to lockout) in Dallas and eight years with the Coyotes organization. He signed a three-year deal, but he and…
