The Edmonton Oilers’ victory over the Utah Mammoth comes at a necessary juncture, as the men in blue and orange have had a rough time establishing their footing this season. With a mix of wins and losses, the Oilers sit in fourth place in the Pacific Division with 12 points. Edmonton’s 6-3 victory over the Mammoth disrupted Utah’s winning streak and salvaged the Oilers on home ice after they had been dealt an OT loss by the Vancouver Canucks.
However, the team’s underwhelming start to the season is readily acknowledged, and recently, to exacerbate anxiety around the Oilers’ production, goalie Calvin Pickard has been named one of the worst in the league. Under such circumstances, a former defenseman has chimed in with his invaluable insights.
Former Blueliner Weighs in On the Edmonton Oilers’ Lousy Season
The Oilers’ blue-eyed boy, Connor McDavid, caught in the vortex of the “slow start” conundrum, finally rose to the occasion with two goals against the Mammoth. Leon Draisaitl and Mattias Ekholm played like everyone expected them to, scoring one goal and one assist each. Contentious Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner made 20 saves and registered a save percentage of .870, and Evan Bouchard made three assists to lead Edmonton to a much-needed victory.
The community has longed for the Oilers to create a show like this. Edmonton’s season has been forgettable so far, and Chris Pronger, a former Oilers defenseman, Hart Trophy recipient, and 2015 inductee to the Hockey Hall of Fame, appeared on “NHL Morning Skate” to speak his mind on the subject.
According to Pronger, the Oilers’ two consecutive Stanley Cup defeats have taken an enormous physical and mental toll. Moreover, some roster changes here and there, including Evander Kane’s and Corey Perry’s moves to other teams, and Zach Hyman’s prolonged injury-induced absence, have all had repercussions for Edmonton’s production.
“…two heartbreaking losses in the Stanley Cup final and the toll that those playoff runs take on the team on the star players, not only physically but just mentally, and they’ve had their roster roll over a little bit, and they’ve had to make some changes, Hyman’s hurt. No Corey Perry, you know Evander Kane’s gone,” Pronger stated on the podcast.
Moreover, the former d-man highlighted Hyman’s crucial leadership role in the Oilers’ lineup. The veteran winger served as an example for the younger players on the roster. While Draisaitl and McDavid are excellent hockey players, Pronger stated that younger players aspire to be like Hyman instead.
“You know his energy is contagious. You know, as much as we want to look at Draisaitl and McDavid for the other players on the roster, they’re not as talented as those two. They look at a guy like Hyman, ‘like that’s how I need to play’, and when he’s not there, showing them, ‘this is how we need to prepare.’ You know, he’s a vocal guy,” the former blueliner said, highlighting Hyman’s essential role in the locker room.
Obviously, Pronger points out that every season is bound to be different for every team. Even though the Oilers made two consecutive Stanley Cup finals, there is no saying that they will be successful in repeating the feat this season. The team’s start has been mellow, but Edmonton could turn things around after the win against Utah.
