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Thankful Series 2019-20

What Your Team Is Thankful For: Ottawa Senators

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As the holiday season is upon us, PHR will continue its look at what teams are thankful for as we get closer to the halfway point. There also might be a few things your team would like down the road. We’ll examine what’s gone well in the early going and what could improve as the season rolls on for the Ottawa Senators.

What are the Senators most thankful for?

Before the season even started, almost everyone throughout hockey predicated that the Ottawa Senators would finish dead last and have yet another embarrassing season after they finished in 31st place last year with just 64 points, not even close to 30th place.

However, with new head coach D.J. Smith, the team has not been a last place team. Granted the young, rebuilding squad is hardly in a playoff position, but the team has proven that they aren’t a laughing stock anymore as the team is starting to regain respectability and is proving that they are no longer they easy victory they have been in the past. The team is currently in a tie for 26th place in the league with a 16-18-4 overall record and their 36 points is a far cry from the last-place Red Wings, who have just 21 points.

Who are the Senators most thankful for?

The team has gotten a large chunk of their offense from two players who they weren’t expecting to get it from. Anthony Duclair, who was playing for his fifth team already at the young age of 24 and was written off just a season ago by Columbus head coach John Tortorella as someone who can’t play hockey, has been a surprise as the forward looks to have figured things out, having scored 21 goals and 30 points in 38 games. Duclair always had potential as a third-round pick back in 2013 and had a 20-goal season with Arizona during his second NHL season, but fell out of favor and failed to re-establish himself the last few years until now.

The team also has seen center Jean-Gabriel Pageau take another step in his development. Used mainly as a third-line center the last few years, the 27-year-old Pageau has taken on a bigger role this year, having already potted 18 goals and 28 points. He is just one goal away from tying his career high.

What would the Senators be even more thankful for?

The team is loaded with prospects and young talent, but the team has gotten little production so far from them. Several top prospects have played with Ottawa, but few have made any impact. Erik Brannstrom, who was the key piece in the Mark Stone trade, has struggled in 28 games and currently is working on his game in Belleville. Several others, including Logan Brown, Filip Chlapik, J.C. Beaudin, Jonathan Davidsson, Vitaly Abramov, Maxime Lajoie, Max Veronneau and Drake Batherson, have been given opportunities, but none has been able to cement a spot into the team’s permanent rotation yet. The team also has a number of young players thriving in Belleville, including Josh Norris, Rudolfs Balcers and Alex Formenton. If the team can get one or two of those players to step up and establish themselves as top-line players, they would be in a much better state.

What should be on the Senators’ Holiday Wish List?

Goaltending.

While many have been pleased with the play of Anders Nilsson in net for Ottawa, his numbers still haven’t been that impressive for a starting goaltender. The netminder has a 9-9-2 record with a 3.18 GAA and a .908 save percentage, which might work for a backup, but what the Senators really need is to find a starting netminder who can help take the team to that next level. Whether the team could find a trade partner soon or wait to try to pry a goaltender off the free-agent market, the team must find an answer to this problem sooner than later.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

What Your Team Is Thankful For: New York Rangers

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As the holiday season is upon us, PHR will continue its look at what teams are thankful for as we get closer to the halfway point. There also might be a few things your team would like down the road. We’ll examine what’s gone well in the early going and what could improve as the season rolls on for the New York Rangers.

What are the Rangers most thankful for?

A stable of quality young talent.  Up front, Kaapo Kakko leads a strong group with players like Filip Chytil and Brett Howden holding down regular roles despite being 21 or younger.  On defense, Ryan Lindgren, Adam Fox, and Libor Hajek have all basically assumed regular roles and they’re all 21.  (K’Andre Miller and Nils Lundkvist give them a pair of quality youngsters in the system as well.)  Alexandar Georgiev and Igor Shesterkin are a little older (23) and give them what looks like will be a viable NHL tandem in the not-too-distant future.  The youth movement is in full effect and the early returns are certainly promising.

Who are the Rangers most thankful for?

Beyond their young core, they’re quite thankful for Artemi Panarin.  A winger in the prime of his career, he chose to join the Rangers even though they’re not quite at the point where they’re ready to contend.  There certainly hasn’t been an adjustment period as the 28-year-old is already on pace to set new career highs in goals and points and as some of their young talent matures around him, there’s certainly cause for optimism that he has a few more years like this in him.  Yes, the price tag is steep (it broke the record for the highest cap hit for a winger) but with his addition, they have a legitimate star to build around up front.

What would the Rangers be even more thankful for?

A bit more bang for their buck from their defensive veterans.  Jacob Trouba hasn’t quite lived up to his high price tag yet while Marc Staal, their second-highest-paid defenseman, has been a healthy scratch at times this season.  Meanwhile, Brendan Smith, who carries a $4.35MM cap hit, is being deployed as a fourth line winger and only playing his natural position in penalty kill situations or if someone gets injured.  That’s a fair bit of money tied up in players that aren’t quite pulling their weight.  With Kevin Shattenkirk’s buyout charge jumping to over $6MM next season, that could become more of a concern unless there are some improvements on the back end.  Otherwise, a buyout of Staal or Smith could be on the horizon.

What should be on the Rangers’ Holiday Wish List?

A resolution on the Chris Kreider front, one way or another.  If they can agree on an extension, that’s fine but if not, keeping him healthy to draw a sizable return on the trade front will be at the top of their list.  Finding a justifiable return for Lias Andersson, who left AHL Hartford and demanded a trade last weekend, is also on the list.  It’s one thing for him to want a trade but considering he’s just three years removed from being the seventh-overall selection, GM Jeff Gorton is going to have a reasonably high asking price.  If he can get a good return on both players, it will be a successful next couple of months for the Rangers.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

What Your Team Is Thankful For: New York Islanders

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As the holiday season is upon us, PHR will continue its look at what teams are thankful for as we get closer to the halfway point. There also might be a few things your team would like down the road. We’ll examine what’s gone well in the early going and what could improve as the season rolls on for the New York Islanders.

What are the Islanders most thankful for?

Head coach Barry Trotz’ system has held up, even after the departure of Robin Lehner.

Many experts and fans alike were skeptical when the Islanders allowed Lehner to walk this summer, splitting up the Jennings Trophy-winning duo of he and Thomas Greiss that allowed just 2.19 goals against last season. Even more perplexing was handing Semyon Varlamov a long-term contract with an AAV equal to that of the one-year deal signed by Lehner in Chicago. The crucial question for the Isles’ 2019-20 season was whether or not Lehner’s .930 save percentage and 2.13 GAA – both top three among NHL starters last year – were the key to the team’s success or rather a product of Trotz’ system that could be continued by Greiss and replicated by Varlamov.

Midway through this campaign, the front office’s decisions have not backfired. Instead, the Islanders are again one of the stingiest teams in the NHL. Their current 2.57 GAA ranks fifth in the league, helping New York to a .700 points percentage that ranks third in the league. Greiss has continued his roll from last year and Varlamov has fit in seamlessly. The team continues to play an effective shutdown style, protecting their goalies and not allowing the opposition many opportunities to control the pace of the game. So long as the club continues to buy in to this conservative system, the Islanders will continue to win by suffocating their opponent.

Who are the Islanders most thankful for?

Trotz is the answer again. The Islanders made a brilliant move by wooing the veteran head coach away from the 2018 Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals right after they won their title, both strengthening their own team while weakening a top rival (although the Capitals remain the Isles’ biggest roadblock to winning the Metropolitan Division). Trotz’ system has worked perfectly for the personnel in New York and has them again in position to be a Cup contender.

However, for the player on the ice that the team is most thankful for, it would have to be Mathew Barzal, even if only by a slim margin. The Islanders are one of the more balanced teams in the league in terms of offensive distribution, but Barzal still narrowly remains the team’s leader in goals, assists, points, plus/minus, and more. The 22-year-old center has 32 points in 35 games, including six points on the team’s tenth-ranked power play. While Barzal’s two-way game is still a work in progress and his shooting percentage suggests that there could be some goal-scoring regression on the way, most night’s he is the most valuable skater on the ice for the Islanders.

What would the Islanders be even more thankful for?

Faster starts. For a team in third-place in the NHL, the Islanders somehow hold a negative goal differential in the first period. The team is tied for fifth-worst in the league in goals for in the first frame, which often puts them at a disadvantage early on. The team can sit back and shut down an opponent when they have the lead, but are not well-equipped to play from behind, as their defensive abilities far outweigh their offense.

What should be on the Islanders’ Holiday Wish List?

A top-six scoring winger. The Islanders are in the enviable position of being a real contender that also will have relatively limitless salary cap space at the NHL Trade Deadline. The team’s low payroll will allow them to add anyone they like in a deadline deal, assuming they are willing to pay the price in trade capital. The target should be a scoring winger to assist with the Islanders’ 19th-ranked offense, currently scoring under three goals a game. Shutdown defense can win many regular season games, but is no guarantee when facing elite firepower or similarly strong defensive units in the postseason.

The Isles could really hit the jackpot if they can acquire a top-six caliber scoring winger who could also contribute on the penalty kill. Despite the team’s considerable ability to play defensive hockey in Trotz’ system, they have struggled short-handed this year, ranking 21st in the NHL. In a physical playoff series, the team could use all the help they can get with ensuring penalties don’t get the best of them.

What Your Team Is Thankful For: New Jersey Devils

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As the holiday season is upon us, PHR will continue its look at what teams are thankful for as we get closer to the halfway point. There also might be a few things your team would like down the road. We’ll examine what’s gone well in the early going and what could improve as the season rolls on for the New Jersey Devils.

What are the Devils most thankful for?

A promising young core down the middle.  Jack Hughes, the top pick in June, has shown flashes of the raw offensive upside he showed at the lower levels.  While his numbers aren’t the greatest this season, he is making the unprecedented jump from the USHL; much brighter days are on the horizon for sure.  Nico Hischier, the 2017 top selection, may not be a top-line producer in the end but his all-around game continues to improve.  He’s also under contract through 2026-27 after signing an extension back in October so he’s a piece for the long haul as well.  Pavel Zacha has held down more of a regular role this season as well and at 22, he could still be part of the long-term future.

They also have some other youngsters that aren’t far away from making an impact.  2016 first-rounder Michael McLeod has shown some early promise while the Devils are fond of Nate Schnarr, one of the prospects they added in the recent Taylor Hall deal.

The center position is a tough one to fill outside of the organization.  It’s unlikely the Devils will be dealing with that problem anytime soon.

Who are the Devils most thankful for?

While it would be easy to pick Hughes given his upside, they’re also quite thankful for Kyle Palmieri.  The winger has been a model of consistency since being acquired from Anaheim back in 2015 for a second and third-round pick.  Since then, he has scored at least 24 goals in each season (and he missed 18 games the year he had 24) and is on pace for over 30 this season despite New Jersey being among the lowest-scoring teams in the NHL.  While other players have garnered more attention along the way, he just has been steadily productive for a bargain price tag of $4.65MM.  It’s safe to say that GM Ray Shero will be looking to get a contract extension done when the window to do so opens up in July.

What would the Devils be even more thankful for?

Better performances from their high-paid veterans.  P.K. Subban’s acquisition seemed like a great fit but he has struggled mightily this season and has just seven points in 36 games.  They’re expecting a lot more for someone making $9MM per year.  Veteran goalie Cory Schneider was unable to build upon his good finish to last year and strong showing at the Worlds and is even languishing in the minors, posting a .853 SV% in five AHL games.  They’re expecting a lot more for $6MM.  Wingers Wayne Simmonds (four goals in 36 games for $5MM) and Nikita Gusev (five goals in 33 games for $4.75MM) aren’t getting the job done either.  If any of them could get on track, they’d be thrilled.

What should be on the Devils’ Holiday Wish List?

Long term, another starting goalie is something they’re going to need with Schneider not likely being part of their future plans anymore.  That’s likely an offseason move, however.

In terms of what they should be wishing for between now and the trade deadline, it’s more of what they got for Hall – picks and prospects.  Blueliner Sami Vatanen could yield a strong return if he’s not extended while defenseman Andy Greene could attract some interest as well if he’s willing to waive his no-trade clause.  Simmonds struggled down the stretch and in the playoffs a year ago but he could bring back a draft pick as well.  It’s not overly exciting but having cashed in their top trade chip already, New Jersey’s shopping is going to be quieter between now and late February.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

What Your Team Is Thankful For: Nashville Predators

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As the holiday season is upon us, PHR will take a look at what teams are thankful for as we get closer to the halfway point. There also might be a few things your team would like down the road. We’ll examine what’s gone well in the early going and what could improve as the season rolls on for the Nashville Predators.

What are the Predators most thankful for?

Cost certainty.

That doesn’t sound like a very sexy thing to be excited about, but the Predators have used long-term deals to create a program that keeps them in the race every year. All six of the team’s top scorers are currently on contracts of at least six years in length, a testament to David Poile’s willingness to extend his players early and often. If Roman Josi was still looking at unrestricted free agency in a few months while on pace for a career-high 30 goals and 77 points, his price tag would only be going up from the $9.059MM average annual value they got him to agree to in October.

That kind of foresight has worked out brilliantly in other cases too, like Calle Jarnkrok who agreed to a six-year deal in 2016 that carried just a $2MM annual cap hit. Jarnkrok has been outstanding this season with 25 points in 35 games, scoring in all situations.

Who are the Predators most thankful for?

That has to be Josi, who is not only scoring at the best rate of his career but is also carrying his best underlying analytics in some time. The 29-year old captain would be a real contender (or perhaps the clubhouse favorite) for the Norris Trophy this season as the league’s best defenseman if it weren’t for the absurdity that is John Carlson’s point production.

It’s hard to know exactly how Josi’s new eight-year, $72.47MM extension will work out in the long run, but at the current $4MM cap hit he carries on the last year of his old deal? He’s one of the biggest bargains in the entire league.

What would the Predators be even more thankful for?

A more consistent bottom-pairing.

Even with the exceptional talents that the Predators boast at the top of their defense group, the team has still allowed 114 goals this season and are barely keeping pace in the tough Central Division. Some of those struggles at least can be pinned on the backs of their depth defenders, including former star Dan Hamhuis who has shown his age this season. The 37-year old was once a rock solid two-way option for the Predators, but may need to be upgraded if the team wants to contend for the Stanley Cup once again.

What should be on the Predators’ Holiday Wish List?

Exactly what it says above, if there’s a way to fit another defenseman into the group right now. The Predators don’t need to add scoring after Viktor Arvidsson returned to the lineup, but tightening up defensively is an absolute must if they want to sneak their way back into the playoffs. With a reliable tandem of Pekka Rinne and Juuse Saros that can handle the net and enviable depth down the middle, a new option on the bottom pairing might be the only thing missing from a late-season run.

Whether they can find that fit will be the question, especially one that doesn’t cost much in the future. Obviously moving Kyle Turris out would clear some room down the road, but with the enigmatic forward seemingly finding his game recently there may be some hesitation to ship him out at this point.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

What Your Team Is Thankful For: Montreal Canadiens

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As the holiday season approaches, PHR will take a look at what teams are thankful for as the season heads past the one-quarter mark. There also might be a few things your team would like down the road. We’ll examine what’s gone well in the early going and what could improve as the season rolls on for the Montreal Canadiens.

What are the Canadiens most thankful for?

Plenty of depth scoring.

While the team may not be an elite scoring team, they do get quite a bit of offense from their team with multiple players producing for the Canadiens. The team has six players with 20 points or more and four players with 10 or more goal and another four that have seven or more goals. Tomas Tatar leads the squad with 13 goals and 30 points, while Brendan Gallagher is right behind him 15 goals and 28 points. Phillip Danault has eight goals and 27 points, while Max Domi isn’t far behind with eight goals and 24 points. Joel Armia has 12 goals and even rookie Nick Suzuki has potted seven goals this season.

Who are the Canadiens most thankful for?

Anyone who thinks that at age 34, Shea Weber’s career might begin to decline haven’t seen how well he’s played this year. In 58 games last season, he put up a respectable 14 goals and 39 points even though he was returning from a major injury. However, now fully healthy, he’s shown that little can stop him as he has produced almost a point-per-game pace with 11 goals and 29 points in 33 games this season and is on pace for a potential career-high in goals and points.

Of course, Weber still has six more years remaining on his mega-deal that is worth an AAV of $7.86MM per season, but with the way he’s playing at his age, that contract has been a better value than many thought it might be.

What would the Canadiens be even more thankful for?

The team still has a number of players underproducing and could use a solid second-half of the season.

While Carey Price hasn’t been a disappointment by any measure, his numbers also lack that dominance that has made him one of the best goalies in the league. Through 29 appearances, the 32-year-old has a very pedestrian 2.89 GAA and a .905 save percentage. With the Canadiens battling in quite a tight Atlantic Division, a dominant Price could vault the team even higher in the standings.

On the other hand, a pair of forwards continue to struggle. Jonathan Drouin still hasn’t figured it out. Brought in to be the new dominant face of the franchise back in 2017, Drouin hasn’t been that player and now has been derailed with a wrist injury, but if the team can get Drouin to become the star they had envisioned when he returns at some point in January, the team might be able to take that next step as well.

What should be on the Canadiens’ Holiday Wish List?

A star.

The Montreal Canadiens were rumored to be deep in trade negotiations in hopes of prying star forward Taylor Hall to the team, but failed in the end to land the former Hart Trophy winner. Regardless, the team that should have some cap money to spend this coming summer has made it clear it would like to bring in a big name to headline the team. Unfortunately, with Hall of the table, the options for landing a big name have dwindled as the next biggest star available to the team might be Chris Kreider, who likely doesn’t qualify as a franchise player.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

What Your Team Is Thankful For: Minnesota Wild

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As the holiday season approaches, PHR will take a look at what teams are thankful for as the season heads towards the midway mark. There also might be a few things your team would like down the road. We’ll examine what’s gone well in the early going and what could improve as the season rolls on for the Minnesota Wild.

What are the Wild most thankful for?

Not being at the bottom of the Western Conference. For the first 18 games of the season, Minnesota had a 6-11-1 and were at the bottom of the conference and looked to be an obvious lottery team that had a chance at the top pick. Instead the veterans seems to have found their game, going on a 11-3-4 run (including a six-game winning streak) and the team suddenly finds itself in the playoff race once again.

While the team currently sits outside the playoff race, the Wild have returned to respectability and have plenty of time to make up for lost time and try and fight for a playoff spot down the road.

Who are the Wild most thankful for?

Eric Staal.

The team got 42 goals from the veteran winger after the 2017-18 season, but then came away with a disappointing 22-goal performance last season, suggesting that the now 35-year-old might be fading quickly. While he may never return to that 42-goal season form ever again, Staal has looked a bit more like himself, having scored 13 goals already through 37 games, which could bring him close to a potential 30-goal season, something the team desperately needs.

Staal still has another season on his contract after this one and a big performance from Staal this year, will make his final year sound more promising.

What would the Wild be even more thankful for?

While the team has gotten solid production from backup goaltender Alex Stalock who has been solid with a 2.81 GAA and a .907 save percentage, the Wild need to get starter Devan Dubnyk back on track. The starter, who just returned Thursday after being out since Nov. 16 due to a personal matter, has struggled before this season. He carries a 3.48 GAA and a .891 save percentage through 15 games. Dubnyk appeared in 67 games last season and maintained a .913 save percentage, which is a number that the team needs their star goaltender needs to return to. A solid netminder in goal would help this veteran team make a legitimate playoff run.

What should be on the Wild’s Holiday Wish List?

The team needs to get some of its young players going and producing more offense. The team has been waiting for Joel Eriksson Ek, Jordan Greenway and Luke Kunin to take that next step and develop into bonafide top-six players. While they occasionally find themselves up there, they have yet to show any consistency the team needs to move forward. Eriksson Ek has just two goals and 12 points through 30 games, while Greenway has just four goals and 13 points in 35 games. Kunin might have the most goals with eight, but still has just 13 points in 36 games.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

What Your Team Is Thankful For: Los Angeles Kings

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As the holiday season approaches, PHR will take a look at what teams are thankful for as the season heads towards the midway mark. There also might be a few things your team would like down the road. We’ll examine what’s gone well in the early going and what could improve as the season rolls on for the Los Angeles Kings.

What are the Kings most thankful for?

A bounce-back first half from Tyler Toffoli.  Last season, he struggled offensively and posted the lowest point per game mark of his career.  As a result, any chance of maximizing his trade value a year ago fell by the wayside and GM Rob Blake rightfully held off on selling low.

His patience has been rewarded.  The 27-year-old sits third on the team in scoring while his scoring rate, if maintained, would see him reach the 20-goal mark and approach 50 points.  That’s going to help restore his value around the league and give Los Angeles one of the better rental trade chips heading into the trade deadline two months from now.  Of their expiring contracts, his is the one that can bring back a notable young asset.

Who are the Kings most thankful for?

Anze Kopitar.  Yes, his $10MM AAV is a bit on the high side but he continues to be a cornerstone piece for them.  He continues to play in all situations and has seen his production improve after a tough 2018-19 campaign.  The 32-year-old has played his entire career with Los Angeles and with a full no-move clause and four years left on his contract after this one, he’s not going to be getting trade anytime soon.

What would the Kings be even more thankful for?

Production from their veterans.  Drew Doughty is second to only Erik Karlsson in terms of the highest-paid defensemen in the league but he has struggled to put up the points unless his opponents are from Western Canada (13 of his 23 points have come in just 10 games against those teams).  They’re counting on a lot more than that from him.  Jeff Carter and Dustin Brown are on pace for roughly 40 points each but carry cap hits of over $5MM apiece.  Jonathan Quick is making $5.8MM and after a particularly rough start, his save percentage has still only worked its way up to .893, a mark that is well below average for a backup let alone a starter.  The Kings were built to rely on the veterans carrying the load but that just hasn’t been the case.

What should be on the Kings’ Holiday Wish List?

Draft picks and prospects.  The playoffs don’t appear to be a realistic possibility this season so for Blake, the focus needs to be adding for the future.  Toffoli is the likeliest to be dealt while Kyle Clifford should draw some interest if they don’t work out a contract extension.  If they want players over draft picks, adding to their group of young defensemen would be a good way to go.

In a perfect world, one of their veterans would go on a run and give the Kings a chance to open up some cap flexibility as well as an opportunity to give more playing time to some of their younger players.  The second half of the season should be about evaluating who could be part of the puzzle moving forward so creating more playing time for them would certainly be beneficial for the long haul.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

What Your Team Is Thankful For: Florida Panthers

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As the holiday season approaches, PHR will take a look at what teams are thankful for as the season heads past the one-quarter mark. There also might be a few things your team would like down the road. We’ll examine what’s gone well in the early going and what could improve as the season rolls on for the Florida Panthers.

What are the Panthers most thankful for?

Firepower and plenty of it.  Very quietly, Florida sits fourth in the league in goals scored heading into Thursday’s action and already have five forwards in double digits for goals.  Brett Connolly, an offseason free agent signing, leads the way somewhat surprisingly.  There are teams that are built to have one dominant line and then hope that the other trios can break even.  The Panthers are not one of those squads and have multiple lines that are capable of producing on a regular basis.  Assuming other elements to their game come around (more on that shortly), this offense should easily be strong enough to get Florida back to the postseason.

Who are the Panthers most thankful for?

Aleksander Barkov.  In recent years, he has blossomed into an offensive star and it hasn’t come at the expense of his defensive game either.  At a time where not a lot of forwards log over 20 minutes a night, he’s over that mark for the third straight season.  Barkov isn’t always mentioned among the elite centers in the NHL but his presence in that discussion is certainly warranted.

Another element that Florida is certainly thankful for when it comes to Barkov is his price tag.  With a $5.9MM AAV, he’s making money that’s more at the level of a second line forward; they’re getting a lot of bang for their buck for this one.  Considering he’s signed through 2021-22, they’re going to enjoy his below-market deal for a while yet as well.

What would the Panthers be even more thankful for?

When the Panthers handed Sergei Bobrovsky the second-richest contract ever given to a goalie this summer, the expectation was that they’d now get top goaltending which would give them a big boost.  If he wasn’t at the top of his game, he’d at least be better than what they got last year out of Roberto Luongo and James Reimer.  Bobrovsky’s .903 SV% is well below expectations and only a few points ahead of last year’s tandem.  As a result, they’re in the bottom ten in goals allowed which is why they’re still hanging around the bubble in the Atlantic Division.  If he can get up to even an average level, they’ll be in good shape.  If he can get back to his top form, look out.

What should be on the Panthers’ Holiday Wish List?

Beyond Bobrovsky getting back to form, not much.  It’s not that there aren’t areas where they could still improve but rather the fact that with barely $500K in cap space at the moment per CapFriendly, there isn’t a whole lot they can do right now.  Finding a new home for Mark Pysyk (a pending UFA with a $2.73MM cap hit) would give them a bit of flexibility but that’s a high price tag for a depth defender.  Improving the bottom of their back end would certainly be beneficial for a postseason push.

Their backup goalie situation is likely a bit of concern for GM Dale Tallon.  Samuel Montembeault struggled at the start of the season and as a result, Chris Driedger, a veteran of three NHL appearances heading into this season, is currently the backup.  Finding someone with a bit more of a track record that can spell Bobrovsky a bit more often would be ideal but they’ll need to free up some extra cap space to do that.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

What Your Team Is Thankful For: Edmonton Oilers

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As the holiday season approaches, PHR will take a look at what teams are thankful for as the season heads past the one-quarter mark. There also might be a few things your team would like down the road. We’ll examine what’s gone well in the early going and what could improve as the season rolls on for the Edmonton Oilers.

What are the Oilers most thankful for?

Getting out of the Milan Lucic contract with minimal long-term repercussions ($750K per year is much more palatable than carrying a $6MM AAV on a buyout-proof contract).  That alone was decent work by GM Ken Holland.

What truly makes them thankful for the move is what they got in the trade from Calgary.  Their cap dump, winger James Neal, has fit in surprisingly well with Edmonton’s attack.  Neal ranks third on the team in goals with 15 already; for perspective, he has all of seven last season while Lucic had 16 in the previous two years combined.  Yes, his $5.75MM cap hit means they’re not saving money but the Oilers are at least getting a lot more bang for their buck.  As a team with very limited financial flexibility, that’s huge.

Who are the Oilers most thankful for?

Who else?  They have arguably the best player in the league in Connor McDavid and he’s signed through 2026.  On top of that, his running mate in Leon Draisaitl is also locked up through 2025.  The duo are the top-scoring pair in the league with McDavid (59 points) and Draisaitl (57 points) sitting first and second in points heading into play on Tuesday.  Their combined 41 goals account for 38% of Edmonton’s offense while they each log over 22 minutes a night which; they’re the only forwards in the league playing that much.  They have arguably a generational player in McDavid and a franchise player in Draisaitl.  Those are two pretty strong building blocks to have in place.

What would the Oilers be even more thankful for?

Scoring beyond the top line.  Add in Neal’s goal total to McDavid’s and Draisaitl and all of a sudden, that trio accounts for more than half of their goals.  It is difficult to have success in this league when their secondary scoring is basically non-existent.  Zack Kassian is providing some value beyond those three but Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (six goals) and Alex Chiasson (four goals) have both underachieved relative to what they’ve provided in the past.  Despite the one-line attack, Edmonton is holding onto first place in the Pacific Division but someone stepping up and giving them a second line that’s a threat would really go a long way towards bolstering their chances of holding onto that spot.

What should be on the Oilers’ Holiday Wish List?

With Draisaitl spending a lot of time with McDavid, that has left Edmonton’s center depth thinned out.  Riley Sheahan and Gaetan Haas are serviceable players but both are better suited for fourth line duties.  If Nugent-Hopkins is staying in the top six, the Oilers are going to need a third-line pivot.

Adding more defensive depth is also something they could stand to do.  Joel Persson hasn’t been able to lock down a regular role while Brandon Manning and Caleb Jones are passable recalls but not full-fledged regulars either.  A top-four player would be ideal but with very limited cap room, Holland is likely going to be shopping for bargains which means a third pairing upgrade (or even a seventh defenseman improvement) will be what he winds up shopping for.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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