Good morning everyone. For my Canadian readers, a happy Thanksgiving weekend to you. To my American readers... why do you celebrate Thanksgiving in the wrong month? Pre-season is officially over and the Edmonton Oilers face off in their first regular season action on Wednesday against the Vancouver Canucks. I thought I would use this in between time to discuss 32 different individuals on this team. Originally I wanted to call this 32... something else but I've been informed by my lawyers that that name is already in use so "Musings" it is.
Let's get to it. One musing on each player for 32 different players.
1) Connor McDavid: Connor is the most elite forward in the NHL but we are starting to see him growing as a leader now as well. McDavid is the face of the league and he is starting to use that to his advantage by being more vocal about the things he doesn't like. The less intelligent will call him a whiner but when McDavid speaks the likes of Bettman are listening. While the new cross checking policies aren't in place purely because of McDavid, he certainly played a role.
2) Leon Draisaitl: Draisaitl is completely past living in the shadow of McDavid and is one of the top 5 players in the NHL. Will he play more of this season as an elite winger or an elite centre remains the question.
3) Zach Hyman: Hyman has already come as advertised and is showing his versatility. He's aggressive on the forecheck, can be a net front on the PP or a strong penalty killer, and has a scoring touch to boot. We assumed he was going to be stapled to Connor McDavid's wing but recent line shakeups suggest Tippett might try and use him away from the big 2 to see if he can boost the second line.
4) Ryan Nugent Hopkins: With his new contract signed, will Nuge be able to focus more on his own game and less about the future? That is the question fans are asking after the Nuge recorded a fairly mediocre year by his standards. For this team to be able to roll multiple scoring lines they need RNH to be producing at 5 on 5.
5) Jesse Puljujarvi: This season JP doesn't need to deal with questions from the media about if he feels he is ready to play in the NHL. He proved that in spades last season. So far in pre-season, Puljujarvi has continued to look like the strong dominating forward with a great shot we saw last year. It's also a contract year for Puljujarvi which typically means big numbers.
6) Kailer Yamamoto: Will Yamamoto be in the top six in a month? In the last pre-season game, Yammer scored a short-handed goal that was his bread and butter; being relentless on the puck, forcing a turnover and creating a scoring chance. That is the Kailer Yamamoto the Oilers need on every night and he needs to up his overall shot volumes.
7) Derek Ryan: Like Hyman, Ryan is another player that has come completely as advertised. Defensively sound, great in any situation on the ice and reliable. At the same time he is a solid playmaker and has shown some real chemistry with Warren Foegele.
8) Warren Foegele: Before recent events, Josh Archibald was a player I predicted upon signing would be a fan favourite in Edmonton and I was correct. Foegele is cut from the same cloth but has far more offensive ability. Foegele is the type of hard working, blue collar player that fans adore here in Edmonton.He is going to score a bunch of goals that commentators will call "greasy" or "hardworking goals" and the Oilers need more of that in their lineup. Don't be surprised if he ends up getting shifts with Draisaitl or McDavid here and there.
9) Zack Kassian: It was an unfortunate result when Kassian fell to the ice and hit his head but prior to that, Kassian was playing the type of game that first got him a long term contract in Edmonton. We are seeing depth in the Oilers roster and guys chomping to get bumped up in the lineup. Once Kassian is fully healthy he needs to be playing with that consistent edge or he will quickly find himself out of lineup.
10) Brendan Perlini: The surprise story of the pre-season. I knew little about Perlini prior to coming to Edmonton aside from that he had a great shot and we have seen that a total of six times in six games with the six goals that he has scored. Perlini probably isn't going to score on a pace for 82 goals once the regular season begins but I don't see why he can't pot 10 from a fourth line role. He has proven he has the ability to beat NHL calibre defenses and goaltenders and is showing great chemistry with his linemates.
11) Devin Shore: While Shore can make some good hits and look decent in both ends, more often than not last season the play seemed to die on his stick and not much was produced when he was on the ice. Perlini gets a ton of the credit here but Shore has been a good partner for him and the duo has some real chemistry. Hopefully with stronger linemates Shore can be a reliable fourth line centre.
12) Kyle Turris: Turris was not an NHL player last season but all reports spoke of how much effort he put in in the off-season and it is showing. Turris isn't the fast playmaker he was in the past anymore but he looks like he is redesigning his game to be a more reliable bottom six forward. Again I think much of the credit goes to his linemates but Turris has been good enough and has the "veteran" label which probably earns him a spot on the opening night roster.
13) Tyler Benson: Benson has been good in the pre-season but I don't think he has been good enough and unfortunately has to compete with a red hot Perlini. Benson needs to clear waivers and that alone might keep him on the roster as the 13th forward.
14) Ryan McLeod: McLeod might have had the most dissapointing pre-season of any Oiler. This is a player that many thought could push for the third line centre position with Derek Ryan but currently looks like he doesn't have a job on the opening night roster. I would not be surprised to see McLeod sent back down to the Condors in short order.
15) Colton Sceiviour: Sceviour has been okay in almost every aspect of the game. He is okay defensively and doesn't look like a liability. While penalty killing might be his best ability, the Oilers have slew of regular PK forwards and I don't see where he fits. May still earn a contract with the Oilers purely for depth purposes.
16) Darnell Nurse: Nurse has continued to look like the strong skating defenseman who will be relied on for big minutes for the Edmonton Oilers. I expect his overall goal scoring to drop but Darnell has always been a great producer at 5 on 5 and I don't see that changing.
17) Tyson Barrie: Barrie is back and will likely log plenty of minutes once more with Nurse. The offensive ability of Barrie is undeniable but it is issues in his own end that remain a concern. In an interview with Jason Gregor, Barrie spoke about how he has been working with the Oilers coaching staff to round out his overall game. We will see if those results show.
18) Duncan Keith: After waiting a week to see Keith in action, the results are a mixed bag. The 38 year old defenseman still has wheels and skates great with the puck but the turnovers and issues that we knew about from his recent years in Chicago are also on display. I think Ceci is 100% the wrong player to play with Keith.
19) Cody Ceci: My father screams at Oilers players regularly during games but there are always some that receive the brunt of his ire. I'm pretty sure Ceci is going to be that player. Ceci at times looks completely lost and at other times skates himself into situations that can only end in a turnover. I think this is a player who is going to see his icetime drastically cut down within the first month of the season.
20) Evan Bouchard: Bouchard has continued to look calm under fire as he has since he was an 18 year old player. He skates and moves the puck like an eight year veteran and his shot causes absolute mayhem for the opposition. Edmonton needs Bouchard to a player who can log 20+ minutes a night and quickly.
21) Slater Koekkoek: Injuries ruined most of Koekkoek's season last year. With a new lease on life, Koekkoek can bring a strong defensive play and physical presence to the Oilers bottom pairing and he should get at least 50+ games this season.
22) Kris Russell: Russell should thankfully be playing far less this season than he has in the past. When Russell is on the ice the puck remains in the Oilers end. That is a simple fact. Right now he has been passed by Koekkoek in the lineup and perhaps soon William Lagesson as well.
23) William Lagesson: Lagesson is more of a modern shut down defender; a player who uses his stick well and doesn't move himself out of position. I wonder if Tippett and Holland will opt to keep 8 defensemen on the roster.
24) Mike Smith: Right now Smith is looking like the Smith of last season but fans will be holding their breath with every hit and scuffle that takes place in front of the net.
25) Mikko Koskinen: Koskinen did a great interview about how being away from his family last season because of COVID really took a toll on him and it was a nice reminder that these players are in fact human beings. Koskinen had a great pre-season and I think we will see the same two game rotation we saw two years ago when Tippett first rolled out Smith and Koskinen as the tandem.
26) Stuart Skinner: Showed well in pre-season and still looks on track to have an NHL future. Right now that future is looking more like a backup than a starter but the player is only 22 and that can change quickly.
27) Ilya Konovalov: Another prospect netminder who showed well and will be a player to watch all year with the Condors. I could see Konovalov getting the call up if an injury occurs over Skinner as of today.
28) Philip Kemp: While Kemp was sent down earlier, the young right shot defender impressed with some strong offensive instincts and good two way play. The Oilers still remain weak in depth on the right side and should an injury occur, Kemp could be one of the first callups.
29) Filip Berglund: Another option on the back end who could see NHL action is Filip Berglund. Berglund is a shutdown defender, more in the style of an Adam Larsson. He was a great calming influence on the more active Broberg.
30) Philip Broberg: Clearly Broberg needs time to develop and improve and I think the best thing for the young player is to spend the full season with the Condors, learning from Jay Woodcroft and the rest of the staff.
31) Cooper Marody: This might be the last ride for Marody. Now 24 years old, the two way forward is being passed on the depth chart by players years younger. I hope he finds an NHL career but I don't think it will be with Edmonton.
32) Dylan Holloway: Holloway is going to miss a couple of months because of his hand injury but people shouldn't forget about this player. Right now Holloway is the most dynamic option the Oilers have in wait and once this team is prepping for what should be a long playoff run, there is a realistic chance that Holloway could be part of the roster.
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • 
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