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It’s early, but the Edmonton Oilers losing 6-0 in one game and dropping another game to a rebuilding team isn’t good at any time of year.
The Oilers sit 0-2 to begin the new campaign after disappointing losses to the Winnipeg Jets and Chicago Blackhawks. A number of concerning factors surfaced, shedding light on why the Oilers struggled right out of the gate again.
First and foremost, the team appears to be suffering from a Stanley Cup final hangover. After pushing the Florida Panthers to Game 7 of the final at the end of June, the Oilers have looked sluggish and disjointed in their early performances. Their slow start has left fans concerned about how long it might take to shake off the fatigue and disappointment and regain their competitive edge.
Some may argue this isn’t an excuse, but if you look at the Panthers, they, too, haven’t started well, off to a 1-2-0 start with losses to the Buffalo Sabres and Ottawa Senators.
Another key issue is the Oilers’ age and speed. As the oldest team in the NHL, they’ve lost some of their youthful energy with the departures of Dylan Holloway, Ryan McLeod, Warren Foegele and Philip Broberg.
Now that the actual season opening rosters are taking shape, here’s a look at the average ages for the current projected 20-man game lineups.
Buffalo – 25.24
Montreal – 26.30
Utah – 26.31
Philadelphia – 26.33
San Jose – 27.26
Anaheim – 27.30
Colorado – 27.37
Columbus – 27.73…— NHL Rosters (@NHL_Rosters) October 8, 2024
The Oilers’ slower pace was evident in the first two games. There seems to be less urgency in their game.
“Right now, I think we’re thinking about how we need to play, just not making it hard enough on the other team,” Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch told reporters after Saturday’s loss to Chicago.
It’s not just foot speed, either.
“It just looks like we’re slow with the puck right now, and we’re not moving it up the ice quick enough, and it’s not on our ‘D’ or anything – it’s everybody involved,” Oilers right winger Corey Perry told the media.
The penalty kill has also been a major problem, which is a shocking contrast to the Oilers’ 94.3-percent kill percentage in last season’s playoffs. Edmonton’s allowed five goals in six times shorthanded. Goaltenders Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard haven’t even made a save yet during the penalty kill.
The loss of key penalty-killers, such as Cody Ceci and Vincent Desharnais, has only exacerbated these struggles. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins said they need to get back to what makes their penalty kill tick and that new faces needing to adjust is not an excuse.
While roster turnover is inevitable, coach Kris Knoblauch’s decision to delay playing certain lines in the pre-season affected the Oilers’ chemistry. Leon Draisaitl, Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson didn’t get enough early action together, and it shows.
Related: Three Mistakes Oilers’ Kris Knoblauch Should Avoid That Past Coaches Didn’t
Finally, Edmonton’s style of play has been a contributing factor. Rather than playing a tough, north-south game, the Oilers have been stuck in an east-west mindset, trying to pass their way to goals. If they want to turn things around, they’ll need to embrace a more direct, aggressive style of hockey.
There’s still a lot of time yet to avoid losing 10 of the Oilers’ first 12 games of the season like they did last year. But fixing the big mistakes must start now.
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