There’s a real split-screen feeling around the Oilers right now, and it starts with the strangest decision of the night: putting McDavid and Draisaitl together on the same line. That’s the kind of move that makes you shake your head immediately. It feels like a nonsense answer when the situation calls for something smarter.
And yet, the numbers at five-on-five are hard to ignore. Through seven games, Edmonton’s 5-on-5 GA-60 sits at 2.16, with an expected GA-60 of 2.26.
Both marks are inside the top 10 in the NHL. A year ago, those numbers were 2.76 and No. 26 for GA-60, and 2.63 and No. 13 for expected GA-60.
It’s still a tiny sample, sure, but compared with last season there is at least something encouraging to point to. There’s work left, but Babcock has a few positive stories in his back pocket.
The top unit kept rolling, and the McDavid side won its power-vs-power matchup against Schmaltz, with the Sergachev-Weegar pairing in the mix. The Mammoth are a tough-checking group and there wasn’t much room to work with. It was also one of those games where the stars ate heavy minutes, and that kind of load doesn’t just affect the night you’re watching - it spills into the next one too.
One thing that stood out to me was the Michaels line. That group logged 4:34 against the Trochek line and came out with a 2-1 shot edge, a 0-1 goal result and 65X.
That’s a strong showing, and the line also scored an even-strength goal. A young player in that mix impressed.
Edmonton’s top line generated six HDSC’s, while the other lines combined for three HDSC among Joseph, Frederic and Kapanen. There are useful complementary pieces in the group, but Draisaitl has to move into the middle.
Using Frederic at center was certainly a choice, but why not slide him next to McDavid or Draisaitl for a couple of games? Even better, Ike Howard!!
If the regular season truly doesn’t matter, and putting 97 and 29 together last night suggests this is being treated like an extended exhibition, then there’s a simple follow-up question: why not get Frederic or Howard into the top six?
Defensively, the first pair was effective. The second pair held up well enough considering the quality of the opposition and the forwards they were playing behind, mostly the Samanski line.
Shea has ability, but on that pairing he needs to be the creative driver, and the sense is that he defers to Murphy too often. That’s a mistake.
The third pair remains an issue, though early results point to Ty Emberson not being the problem. The blue line’s GA-60 through seven games tells the story, and Walman and Mukhamadullin need to be much better. The Dickinson injury also feels like more of the same: veteran additions who were brought in at significant cost but haven’t been able to answer physically after arriving.
On the Lowdown today, Steve Lansky from Inside the Truck podcast will join the show to talk about Oilers-Mammoth. The Elks game at Commonwealth will also get a preview. Noon to 2pm on Sports 1440 and YouTube.
In Other News...
Jake Walman Is Testing Edmontons Bet On Him Early
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The numbers have been mixed so far, with some encouraging shot-attempt results offset by the kind of expected-goals-against profile that raises questions about fit and usage. Edmonton may need to keep experimenting with his defensive partners and overall role to find a better match, because this is still a player the organization clearly believes in even if the opening weeks have not made that belief easy to see. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Linked To A Top-Six Target They May Struggle To Land
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The catch is the usual one for Edmonton at this stage: money and assets. Any serious pursuit would likely force the Oilers to move salary back the other way, and they are not exactly sitting on a deep reserve of prospect capital either. So while the link is real enough to keep an eye on, it also feels like the sort of idea that tests how creative Edmonton can get before the market and the cap start closing in. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Forward Depth Suddenly Has A New Jason Dickinson Problem
Edmontons forward depth took another hit Thursday when Jason Dickinson was unavailable after getting hurt in practice, adding a fresh complication to a role the Oilers had already been trying to stabilize. For a player whose start was delayed by a foot and ankle issue in the preseason, it was a familiar sort of interruption at an inconvenient time, one that left the team adjusting again on the fly.
The injury is separate from the ankle problem that slowed Dickinson earlier, which matters because the Oilers were hoping to build some continuity around him after that delayed ramp-up. Instead, they are suddenly dealing with another absence in a part of the lineup that can least afford churn, and the uncertainty now lingers over how long he might be out and what it means for Edmontons depth chart going forward. [Read more 🡒]