Oilers fans have been witness to yet another debacle of their club’s season, as they’re on track to miss the playoffs for the fourth straight year. After signing Nikolai Khabibulin from Chicago last summer, not to mention Mike Comrie, there was a sense from fans that a good season was in the making. The bad omen that many fans thought surrounded the Oilers after the charades of Comrie running out of town, could be displelled as he has been resigned for a one-year contract.
Oilers management signed future hall of fame coach Pat Quinn to a four-year deal and brought in Tom Renney and Jim Flemming to give them one of the most experienced and capable coaching staffs in the NHL. Nothing ever came of it and they’ve been bottom dwellers from the get-go, by 16 or so points out of eight in the western conference to be exact. This will be the fourth straight year the Oilers have failed to make the playoffs and hockey die-hards in Edmonton are upset. Actually, “livid” would be a more accurate way of putting it.
The players aren’t completely to blame. Decimated by injuries; a total of roughly 257 man games lost and several players suffered from the flu and other illnesses throughout the season. It hasn’t all been bad news for the fans as the wait is over for Dustin Penner to break out of his funk since he signed a 5-year $21.25 million offer sheet from then Oilers General Manager Kevin Lowe, who saw something special in Penner. However, he didn’t do it without agitating Brian Burke and other GMs who thought Lowe went behind his back and gave him too much money. No more calling out by reporters who flagged the large forward for being overweight. Penner came to camp in the best shape of his life, minimized his consumption of barley drinks over the summer and flew out of the starting gate this season. Before the midpoint he had already surpassed his totals from the previous two seasons and even got a good look by the Canadian Olympic team scouts. He has carried the load for the Oilers most of the season with 41 points in 46 games and a +6 rating.
After starting the season in the press box, Robert Nilson found his edge and is now playing somewhat to his potential and it’s showing on the ice. Gilbert Brule, the player who was given up on by the Columbus Blue Jackets last season with a demotion to their AHL affiliate, came into Oilers camp on fire and continued it when the season began. Brule is high risk at times, but he seems to be maturing into a quality third line player who can be counted on to contribute some valuable offence, while playing the body and fore checking hard.
To add to their problems this season, Khabibulin suffered a back injury and has missed 23 games, leaving Jeff Deslauriers and Devan Dubnyk to carry the weight of Oiler nation. Dynamic forward Ales Hemsky was lost to a shoulder injury, missing the last 21 games and disappointing Oilers fans who began to see him come out of his shell as he looked ready to make the jump to a legitimate all-star status.
Another bright spot for the Oilers has been the play of call-up Ryan Potuliny, who has recorded 16 points in 31 games.
The light at the end of the tunnel is the prospects available at this year’s draft. Jordan Eberle had a strong training camp and pre-season, however, was sent back to his junior team, The Regina Pats for the betterment of his development. The kid, nicknamed “The Messiah” to folks in Regina, extended his reputation for clutch play after scoring two goals in the remaining minutes of the World Junior gold medal game against the United States. Canada lost in overtime, but that magic by Eberle seems bound to follow him along during his professional career. They have a future star/hall of famer in my mind and a player who will help big-time in the very near future.
Taylor Hall destroyed the competition at the World Juniors and there’s a strong chance the Oilers could be in a position to draft him this summer. Tyler Seguin and Cam Fowler are no slouches in the draft either. They’re both rising stars that could change the fortunes of any franchise if Hall isn’t available.
Look no further than the Colorado Avalanche, Chicago Blackhawks, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Washington Capitals who have built their franchise around a strong rebuilding process known as the NHL draft. History backs the notion that building high draft picks is the key to winning and setting up the opportunity for a small dynasty, despite the parity in the NHL.
Oilers fans have been asking for a rebuild and now they’re getting it. Admittedly, it’s been the most painful season to watch that I can remember despite the many years of mediocrity prior to this one.
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