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Hutson to Play, Prospect Signings and Injuries |
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The Oilers could look very different next season with a potential injection of younger talent.
Let's start with Quinn Hutson, a 24 year old forward out of Boston University and the eldest Hutson brother. His younger brother Lane is currently the Calder favorite in Montreal. Hutson is a pure shooter who dominated with 23 goals and 50 points in 38 games. Being a bit of a smaller forward, his style compares more to the likes of a Jordan Eberle; the Oilers would be incredibly lucky if he comes anywhere close to Ebs. At 24 years of age, Hutson is not a spring chicken who will be playing in the AHL for years. Edmonton expects this is a player who could fit into the NHL immediately and it seems that he will play tonight against the LA Kings.
One note with Hutson, because he was not on the Oilers reserve list at the trade deadline, he is ineligible to play in the playoffs this season though he can appear in regular season games. Edmonton will get a quick look at him over these next two games and will have a better idea of if he can slot into the Oilers roster next season.
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In addition to the Hutson signing, Edmonton has also signed the leading scorer of Finland's Liiga league, Atro Leppänen, a defenseman who set the record for points by a defenseman with 63, going 21-42-63 in 60 games played. The left shot defenseman plays the game far more like a forward, excelling at moving the puck and certainly has an NHL shot. He is 26 years old.
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Not a new player, but it also seems that Edmonton will be signing their 5th round draft pick from the 2020 NHL Draft, 23 year old forward Maxim Berezkin. At 6'4, 211lbs, Berezkin is second in scoring on his KHL team Yaroslavl Lokomotiv with 15 goals and 42 points in 66 games.
There is a chance all three of these players could have NHL careers or none of them but it is good to see Stan Bowman and the Edmonton Oilers signing younger talent that has the potential to be NHL ready next season. Whether or not this coaching staff will give these players a legitimate shot or opportunity remains a big question.
We have seen the down side this season on being a "veteran team" as with age comes increased risks of injuries and declining play. Edmonton desperately needs to find ways to add new blood with potential to make up for abysmal drafting, developing, and retaining of prospects.
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Onto the NHL team. The Oilers have won three straight with Connor McDavid being a huge factor since his return to the lineup and is on pace to hit 100 assists despite playing only 66 games this season. Draisaitl is also expected back soon (I would hold him out against LA tonight) and while it is not a recipe for long term success, it still remains hard to count the Oilers out of any playoff series with Draisaitl and McDavid playing at their best.
That being said, the injury woes remain a big concern for this team and the medical and coaching staff for the Oilers have a ton to answer for.
Leon Draisaitl gets injured.... returns to the lineup... leaves from injury again.
Trent Frederic gets injured.... returns to the lineup... leaves from injury again.
Mattias Ekholm gets injured...returns to the lineup... leaves from injury again.
Players get hurt and there is nothing the coaching staff can do about that, but when a player goes down to an injury, returns, and is injured in the following game than one of two things is happening.
1) The player was still hurt, team knows they are still hurt, but let the player dictate their own return to the lineup.
2) The medical staff cleared them to play but clearly missed something crucial which led to reaggravation of the injury.
According to TSN reporter Ryan Rishaug, Ekholm who was injured March 26th and returned for 1:52 of play on April 11th, is now likely done for the season (though he is getting a second opinion). How a player can go from "ready to play" to "missing the remainder of the season" is beyond me. Someone in the organization is going to likely have to answer for this.
While unlikely, there is a chance that Edmonton can still clinch home ice advantage in the playoffs. A regulation win tonight against the Kings ties Edmonton with LA with 101 points. LA will still have two more games to play while the Oilers only have one. LA holds the tiebreaker with 41 regulation wins to the Oilers 35 as of today. Edmonton would need at least 3 points in their final two games and for the Kings to lose all three of their remaining games in regulation. Not likely with this Kings roster playing the way they are but mathematically possible.
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Last thought; it is wild that the Wild Card in the West remains up for grabs with the Flames still technically in the mix. Calgary is two points behind the Blues right now but St Louis has the tie breaker in regulation wins. Calgary can finished the season with a possible 96 points if they win their final two games of the season. Minnesota and the Blues sit with 95 and 94 points respectively with one game remaining. That is some must watch hockey.
Thanks for reading.
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • 
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