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Thoughts on the Pacific Teams |
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Hello everyone, sorry for the lack of blogs - I’ve been enjoying a bit of R&R in Egypt. The time change has made it difficult to catch full games but I’ve watched highlights and thought I would provide a quick blog on the state of the Pacific Division as of today.
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS
Vegas remains the top team in the division and are looking like they are the team to beat once the playoffs begin. Deep at every position and we all know that they are somehow going to make a top add at the deadline while somehow not having to worry about the cap. While teams like the Oilers have had some highs and lows this season - Vegas has remained consistent from the start of the season.
EDMONTON OILERS
Edmonton very much like last year started the season slow and had to get onto a hot streak to get back into contention. Now this team has reached the expectations that I had assumed in the offseason. The forward core has been very good with depth scoring throughout the roster - notable additions in Podkolzin and the surprise waiver add of Kapanen have added a different mix to the roster (even if Holloway would have provided more).
The defense which many assumed would be a weak spot has actually been very balanced. The Ekholm-Bouchard pairing remains the most potent pair that provides the team a chance to outscore the opposition every time they are on the ice. The big story this year has been Darnell Nurse who has arguably been the teams best defenseman this season and Kulak who has been highly reliable in every positiok that they have put him out in. Emberson continues to improve and is a stable player as has Stecher. The big upgrade still should be a second pairing option to play with Nurse but there is no panic to jump into a situation.
LA KINGS
LA looks like a rejuvenated team and as of today it is looking like the Oilers will face the Kings once again in the first round. While some oilers fans might be excited by that prospect I would not be so quick to jump at that matchup. The Kings this year are a much more potent offensive team and are not relying on the trap system they ran for so long. This is a very dangerous and talented team, especially with Byfield heating up and the eventual return of Drew Doughty.
VANCOUVER CANUCKS
The Canucks are competing for the most interesting team to follow this season not because of their on ice prowess but what is happening off the ice. While the team has played good enough to be in the mix, it is the off ice situations between Petterson and JT Miller that has been the main headline to the point where many expect the team to trade one of the players during this season.
I don’t see how the Canucks win a trade like that during the season and any move that sends one of those players away will make the Canucks worse; at least in the short term. Certainly this is not what Canucks fans were hoping for after a very good run last season.
CALGARY FLAMES
The Calgary Flames continue to dip one toe in the water of a rebuild and again we are seeing what that results in; not bad enough to be in the mix for a top end draft pick but also not anywhere close to being a contending team.
There have been some great stories in Calgary this year; the emergence of young talent like Dustin Wolf, Zary, Pospisil, and others but with respect to Flames fans I don’t see any of these players as franchise players. I would honestly love to hear from Calgary fans on where they see this team going in the next 3 years and who they expect to be leading this team.
SEATTLE KRAKEN
The Kraken are another team that needs to reevaluate where their franchise is trending. The Kraken front office seemed to think they had their top talent in Beniers and Wright and started spending big money on players like Stephenson and Montour to push for a playoff spot. Unfortunately their young players may not be as good as they thought they were and the result appears to be a middling team that doesn’t have the talent to compete against the likes of the Oilers, Kings, Canucks, or Knights.
ANAHEIM DUCKS
While I talk about the Flames needing to tank a bit and draft a legitimate top end talent, the Ducks are a cautionary tale of why that isn’t an automatic guarantee. The Ducks continue to flounder at the bottom of the Pacific Division with no real path forward to success despite a plethora of high end draft picks. Maybe the next one will solve things.
SAN JOSE SHARKS
While the Sharks sit dead last in the division, fans of the team are starting to see the frame work for what should be a successful franchise. Cellibrini has entered the league as a force and even as an 18 year old he is establishing himself as much watch television whenever possible. Add to that other talented players like Eklund, Smith, and Askarov and the future looks bright for San Jose, even if there are still plenty of bumps ahead.
Thanks for reading!
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • 
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