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What's The Biggest Need For The Oilers

November 30, 2020, 8:12 PM ET [21 Comments]
Sean Maloughney
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Today, writers at HockeyBuzz are looking at the biggest need for each NHL team.

For the Oilers, it's a fairly obvious answer but certainly requires some deeper delving to truly understand it.

Goaltending remains an area of concern for the Edmonton Oilers, but not for the reasons that those looking from the outside might believe.

Through all of the playoffs, including the play-in rounds the Edmonton Oilers finished first at 5 on 5 with a HDCF% of 60.76% and second with an xGF% of 60.73%. The offense was there so what gives?


Well the worst combined SV% of 0.855 may have had something to do with it.

Koskinen finished with a 0.889SV% through four games and Mike Smith finished with a 0.783SV% in his one game. Neither were anywhere close to good enough for Edmonton.

Comments were made and Ken Holland himself singled out goaltending as an area that the team wanted to address this off-season... fast forward and the Edmonton Oilers will be going with the same tandem once more.

While there are reasons to be concerned and the lack of change is frustrating, it isn't a wonky playoff performance, where the team returned after four months that I am pointing the finger at. The work during the regular season should be the focus.

Of the 34 goalies who played at least 1500 minutes at 5 on 5, Koskinen ranked 15th in the league with a 0.924SV%. Not elite, but not bad. Koskinen proved this season he can be a good starter. If you look at the Oilers from January 1st to the end of the season, Koskinen actually ranked 6th in the league with a 0.938SV% at 5 on 5. Promising indeed.

Now looking over that same January 1 to end of season timeline, of the 45 goalies who played 500 minutes or more at even strength, Mike Smith ranked 40th. (Quick side note Demko finished dead last in this category Nucks fans).

That isn't good for Smith... what about over the course of the full season? Of the 66 goalies who played at least 500 minutes, Mike Smith sits at #60. Obviously that is bad.

What about the 18/19 season where 68 goalies played 500+ minutes at even strength? Mike Smith finished #60 again so on the plus he is consistent.

Here-in lies the issue. Over small stretches of the season, Mike Smith stole some games for the Edmonton Oilers and looked like the Mike Smith of old and some fans seem to think of only that. The much harsher reality is Smith is a 38 year old aging goalie who will only slow down more as the years tick by.

The one possible relief for the Oilers this coming season is the fact that it will likely be a shortened schedule which would mean less games for Smith. The bad news is if what some of the rumours we have heard occur, there will likely be a larger number of back to back scenarios as teams will face off against their division far more frequently.

Koskinen can be a steady hand and provide NHL starter level quality for the Oilers but this team does not have a Connor Hellebuyck that can be brilliant in front of a lacklustre defense group such as the Oilers. Last season Nurse and Bear together were on the ice for the most 5 on 5 goals against (71 and 70 respectively). Both are skilled players but are playing far too many minutes.

Edmonton made big depth improvements this off-season, but question marks in goal remain the largest concern for this team.
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