Oilers' Sluggish Begin: Key Issues Behind Edmonton's Early Struggles

It is early, however the Edmonton Oilers shedding 6-0 in a single sport and dropping one other sport to a rebuilding workforce is not good at any time of yr.

The Oilers sit 0-2 to start the brand new marketing campaign after disappointing losses to the Winnipeg Jets and Chicago Blackhawks. Various regarding elements surfaced, shedding gentle on why the Oilers struggled proper out of the gate once more.

At the beginning, the workforce seems to be affected by a Stanley Cup closing hangover. After pushing the Florida Panthers to Sport 7 of the ultimate on the finish of June, the Oilers have regarded sluggish and disjointed of their early performances. Their gradual begin has left followers involved about how lengthy it’d take to shake off the fatigue and disappointment and regain their aggressive edge.

Some might argue this is not an excuse, however when you take a look at the Panthers, they, too, have not began nicely, off to a 1-2-0 begin with losses to the Buffalo Sabres and Ottawa Senators.

One other key challenge is the Oilers’ age and pace. Because the oldest workforce within the NHL, they’ve misplaced a few of their youthful vitality with the departures of Dylan Holloway, Ryan McLeod, Warren Foegele and Philip Broberg.

The Oilers’ slower tempo was evident within the first two video games. There appears to be much less urgency of their sport.

“Proper now, I feel we’re enthusiastic about how we have to play, simply not making it onerous sufficient on the opposite workforce,” Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch told reporters after Saturday’s loss to Chicago.

It isn’t simply foot pace, both.

“It simply appears to be like like we’re gradual with the puck proper now, and we’re not transferring it up the ice fast sufficient, and it isn’t on our ‘D’ or something – it is everyone concerned,” Oilers proper winger Corey Perry told the media.

The penalty kill has additionally been a serious drawback, which is a surprising distinction to the Oilers’ 94.3-percent kill proportion in final season’s playoffs. Edmonton’s allowed 5 objectives in six instances shorthanded. Goaltenders Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard haven’t even made a save yet in the course of the penalty kill.

The lack of key penalty-killers, equivalent to Cody Ceci and Vincent Desharnais, has solely exacerbated these struggles. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins said they should get again to what makes their penalty kill tick and that new faces needing to regulate will not be an excuse.

Whereas roster turnover is inevitable, coach Kris Knoblauch’s choice to delay taking part in sure strains within the pre-season affected the Oilers’ chemistry. Leon Draisaitl, Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson didn’t get sufficient early motion collectively, and it exhibits.

Related: Three Mistakes Oilers’ Kris Knoblauch Should Avoid That Past Coaches Didn’t

Lastly, Edmonton’s type of play has been a contributing issue. Moderately than taking part in a troublesome, north-south sport, the Oilers have been caught in an east-west mindset, attempting to go their strategy to objectives. In the event that they wish to flip issues round, they’ll must embrace a extra direct, aggressive type of hockey.

There’s nonetheless a whole lot of time but to keep away from shedding 10 of the Oilers’ first 12 video games of the season like they did final yr. However fixing the large errors should begin now.

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