The Edmonton Oilers slide down the standings requires some context: 9 Things

Edmonton Oilers head coach Dave Tippett answers questions from the media after team practice in Edmonton on Friday December 10, 2021. The Oilers have lost the last four games that they have played. Photo by Larry Wong /Postmedia

The Edmonton Oilers are staring down a big dose of adversity.

As it almost always is in rough seas, there is more than one thing going wrong at a time. And that has forced the General Manager and the coaching staff into one hell of a plate-spinning act.

It’s too easy to say it’s “just 11 games”. But it has only been that long since the Oilers had the best record in the NHL. But it feels longer, right?

That and more in this edition of…

9 Things

9. With all the COVID cancellations of late the Oilers will go almost a full month between home games. From a health and business standpoint, it makes complete sense. But it also could end up a competitive dis-advantage, especially with a compressed schedule later.

8. I’m sure enjoying Jack Michaels and Bob Stauffer together on TV. Radio play-by-play talent often (although not always) tends to be more visual because they have to be. Jack & Bob’s radio chops enhance the video, there’s lots of substance and these 2 guys have long had great on-air chemistry. But none of that’s to say it won’t be good to have Louie DeBrusk back.

7. It is fair to assume that not everyone connected to the Oilers organization was enamoured with the Dmitri Samorukov benching. There were cap reasons for Samorukov being in that spot to begin with. But the short fuse with the rookie (who, to be clear, was certainly not good that night) seems to speak to a bigger concern with this staff when it comes to the kids. More on that to come.

6. When he was first hired by Ken Holland lots of people were concerned that Dave Tippett’s defence-first coaching style would stifle the Oilers high-octane offence. Who instead had “poor 5v5 defence” on their bingo card? Sound Defence has been Tippett’s calling card wherever he has been. But the Oilers neutral zone play lately has been regretful. So, how did this ship get off course? A few key things…

5. Injuries and COVID have been factors beyond the coaching staff’s control. The Defence was plundered. At one point the entire left side was out. The intended “starting 6” has only been back together the last 2 games. Does anybody know what they really have until this group gets fully back up and running? And that doesn’t happen at the snap of a finger. Although both Duncan Keith and Tyson Barrie have turned in solid performances of late.

4. A big part of the Edmonton Oilers great start was a historically hot Power Play. But the Oilers only have 2-man advantages so far on the road trip. And I don’t think you can argue that they’ve earned much more than that. If anything, the officiating in the Devils game probably favored the Oilers. You make a lot of your own luck in this game. A more confident, aggressive group of players would be drawing more calls. But losing streaks also don’t breed confidence. Vicious circle.

3. And then there’s goaltending. The club has been without its De Facto #1 for all but 5 games. Yes, Mike Smith’s health is a going concern. And if they can’t count on him to start 2 out of every 3 games, it’s a problem. Mikko Koskinen is perfectly capable of being the “good Mikko” we saw on Long Island Saturday. But there is zero evidence of him being able to carry a starter’s load. And while Stuart Skinner’s performance this season has been tantalizing, running a raw rookie out there every night is fraught with potential potholes as well. Hmmm.

2. But while all of that business is real, the staff can’t avoid their fair share of blame. Part of the issue I see is the confluence of Dave Tippett and Jim Playfair being in their contract years and the consensus within the organization to “win now”. These 2 coaches are hard-wired to prefer veterans. In certain situations? There is absolutely some logic to that approach. But in a cap-driven NHL, is there not a limit to what extent you can do that? Like it or not, it’s just not the same league as it used to be. You need ELC players impacting your club’s lineup every night. The most recent example I can cite: I see Devin Shore as a solid 4 ^th line option. But plugging him into the injured Ryan Nugent-Hopkins spot Saturday instead of Warren Foegele or Tyler Benson seems like pounding a square peg into a round hole.

1.Another part of the problem in this rather frayed environment right now is all of the losing that came before the current administration. It quite understandably sapped any surplus patience from this loyal fan base. As a result, it is very difficult to preach more of it to Oilers fans. And who can blame them for feeling that way? However, context matters. Ken Holland and Dave Tippett have only been on the job for 160 games. That’s about 2 “normal” seasons worth of games, and in highly unusual times and circumstances. Over that time the club has played at a 97-point pace. In a normal year that is a Top-14 result. That’s a playoff team. Not great, no. But surely not a fire-able offence, either.

Besides, are we positive coaching is the issue? There were lots of people a while back who wanted Todd McLellan’s head. Well, they got it. And I’d argue it was not only the wrong decision at the time, it also set the organization back several years. Dave Tippett is a smart hockey man and a good coach. And I do not get the sense from the people I talk to that Dave has lost the room. That would be a whole different pickle.

This club has also had impatient General Managers including the one immediately preceding Ken Holland. And that didn’t work out so well, either. But that doesn’t mean a good, old-fashioned hockey trade wouldn’t have the desired result.

In fact, a roster shakeup seems like a more logical next step. Because while we might not all agree on the “what”, something needs to give.

Source: EdmontonJournal

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