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Yet for all that, Edmonton’s forward lines have improved dramatically under Holland, so much so that at today’s trading deadline the Oilers are reportedly not in the market for another forward.
They no longer need a top line winger or two to go with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. They no longer need a third line centre who can get the job done. They don’t even need some big grinding and tough forwards for the bottom line. All those roster spots have now been filled.
All that said, the list of players whom the Oilers have tried at forward in the Ken Holland era, 2019 to present, is long and full of players who could not cut it in Edmonton, with Turris being one of the most notable as his signing was meant to fill a key roster spot at third line centre, but he did not come close to doing so. The wheels simply weren’t there, nor was the ability to defend the defensive slot.
Others who have come and gone at forward?
Gaetan Haas, who was fast put unproductive, Riley Sheahan, who was slow and unproductive, Joakim Nygard, fast and unproductive, Patrick Russell, industrious but near historic unproductive, James Neal, old and unproductive, save for the power play, Alex Chiasson, a decent fourth liner and strong power player but slow, Sam Gagner, a fan favourite at the very least, Jujhar Khaira, inconsistent and too often injured, Markus Granlund, past his best before, Tyler Ennis, a strong attacker but chaos defender, Andrea Athanasiou, who never got untracked here, Tomas Jurco, skilled but slow, Tyler Benson, skilled but slow, Dominik Kahun, very skilled but slow, Colton Sceviour, slow, Brendan Perlini, big and skilled but ineffective, and Seth Griffith and Cooper Marody, who have had only the briefest of auditions.
Big Brad Malone is back in Bakersfield, but given how well he played in Edmonton, given his size, PK-ability and leadership, I expect we’ll see him back in Edmonton this year. He’s one of those fourth line grinders who can help Edmonton in a playoff run.
That is about 18 forwards who have come and gone.
But, again, for all that Edmonton’s situation at forward is uncommonly strong.
The team was smart enough to draft Leon Draisaitl and lucky enough to get Connor McDavid. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has found extra lives as an Oilers with his versatility at even strength — his latest incarnation as a third-line centre — and excellence on special teams. Kailer Yamamoto and Jesse Puljujarvi are both developing nicely as two-way players in a Top 6 role. Ryan McLeod is coming on strong. Zack Kassian can still hit and skate, even if his even strength play is marginal.
All those players were here before Holland got here, though he hit it big by convincing Puljujarvi to give it another go in Edmonton.
But Holland has hit it big again this year with the additions of Evander Kane and Zach Hyman, two quality Top 6 forwards, both of them big, skilled and aggressive, neither of them fast, but both fast enough, with solid hockey sense.
Warren Foegele has also been a decent addition, as he can skate and and he’s starting to now contribute more on the attack. Finally Derek Ryan has been a solid addition as a winger/centre. After a rough run of games from late October to early December, his two-way play has been strong, especially on the wing.
Source: EdmontonJournal
