The Edmonton Oilers finished 18 points shy of a playoff berth last season, nestled into their last-place home in the Western Conference. As far as meaningful hockey goes, the Oilers were entirely irrelevant by Feb. 1.
Nearly a year later, Edmonton sits ninth in the NHL standings and just four points back of perennial powers Pittsburgh and Chicago. Year over year, they have improved by 14 points — a 34 per cent uptick — with sportsclubstats.com giving Edmonton a 94.8 per cent chance of making the playoffs for the first time in 11 seasons.
So you’ll have to forgive a less-than-harsh report card here, in a city where low-scoring wins have thus far overshadowed a lack of production from expected first-line wingers Jordan Eberle and Milan Lucic.
Here’s our report card, guaranteed to be the most positive one from this hockey writer in a decade.
Forwards
Connor McDavid, A-plus: McDavid leads the league in scoring with 51 points in 46 games, celebrating his 20th birthday only this past Friday. He has taken over the captaincy seamlessly, and often quietly gathers points at his steady pace on plays that won’t make the year-end highlight reels.
Quiet, steady production, and plenty of it. He’s the real thing.
Patrick Maroon, A-plus: Maroon has a career-high 18 goals through 46 games, makes just $1.5 million, and one third of that is being paid by the Anaheim Ducks this season and next. His size and skill have been exactly what Edmonton required.
Leon Draisaitl, A: The 21-year-old German has become Edmonton’s second most valuable player, and will ride shotgun for McDavid for years to come. He’s tied with Alex Ovechkin in points (39), with four fewer goals (16). He is a very, very good player.
Mark Letestu, A: Eight goals from your fourth-line centre? A whiz in the shootout (4-for-6)? The best faceoff percentage (50.2 per cent) among regular centres?
You want more from a 4C?
Milan Lucic, B-minus: Lucic leads all Oilers left wingers with 27 points and is on pace for 48 points, a good 10 shy of expectations. However, his physical presence on the ice, as well as his experience off it, is being given much credit.
“Those are things you can’t put a number on,” said his head coach Todd McLellan.
Zack Kassian, B-minus: In his first season of sobriety, Kassian gets a break for low numbers (2-8-10). He’s a fourth-liner here, and contributing as such.
Drake Caggiula, C: A good start, then faded the way many college players do as the schedule wears on. There’s an excellent third-liner here — maybe more. But in the present, this first-year pro is clinging to his NHL job.
Matt Hendricks, C-minus: A bad-luck season for the aging depth winger, Hendricks hasn’t found his speed after a knee injury.
Anton Slepyshev, C-minus: A team desperate for right-wing production is hoping for Slepyshev to produce. So far? Nyet.
Jordan Eberle, D-plus: Eberle hasn’t scored in 18 games, and has only eight goals and 27 points. He was supposed to be McDavid’s triggerman, but has been replaced by Draisaitl.
He’s paid $6 million to score, and will have to have a hell of a second half to get to 60 points.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, D-plus: Another $6 million man, RNH has 9-13-22 in 46 games and is 46.7 per cent in the circle.
None of those numbers are commensurate with a No. 1 overall making big bucks. More — far more — is required.
Benoit Pouliot, F: Eight points in 41 games? More minor penalties (14) than points? All for $4 million? Major fail here for Pouliot. This player has no redeeming features whatsoever.
—
Defence
Andrej Sekera, A: Last year’s free agent bust is this year’s steady-Eddie: 20 points, plus-12 and 22 minutes a night. That’s all you can expect from this player.
Adam Larsson, A: OK, an ‘A’ might be high, but Larsson’s brand of physical, steady, puck-moving defence has been absent for so long here in Edmonton, it’s no coincidence that some success has followed his arrival. He’s better than you think.
Matthew Benning, A: Who walks out of the NCAA, plays two AHL games, and makes this kind of an NHL impression? He’s a plus-player skating 17 minutes a night. Major UFA find here for Edmonton.
Kris Russell, B-plus: Another “culture-changer” in Edmonton, Russell is a walking, talking, shot-blocking lesson on how far hockey analytics have to go. Every member of this Oilers organization sings his praises, regardless of what the Fancy Stats say.
Oscar Klefbom, B: Seven goals and 16 points on a defence that does not have much offensive punch, Klefbom is still a growing player just 153 games into his NHL career.
Darnell Nurse, B: Hurt of late, there is a solid, physical second-pairing D-man here for years to come. Maybe even a No. 2 someday.
Eric Gryba, C-plus: A solid No. 6/7 D-man who gives you what you’d expect.
Brandon Davidson, N/A: Hurt too much.
Goalies
Cam Talbot, A-plus: He has started all but six games this season, leading all NHL goalies in starts, saves and minutes played. He’s the best goalie the Oilers have had since Dwayne Roloson, and the biggest single reason for their resurgence.
Jonas Gustavsson, D-minus: He’s done as an NHL goalie. A bad pickup by GM Peter Chiarelli.
Head coach
Todd McLellan, A: I know, another ‘A’. But how many coaches have rolled through Edmonton in the past decade? And how many have made real, tangible change? McLellan has this team back on the radar, big time. A huge improvement, year over year.
