Things We Know: Oilers' Campbell giving Skinner a good push

EDMONTON — Things We (Think We) Know. Series 2, Volume 1. 

Things We Know

It was one thing that Stuart Skinner’s game eroded during last spring’s playoff run, as he started all 12 games the Edmonton Oilers played but only finished eight of them. It was quite another that the Oilers coaches, as the rookie Skinner’s save percentage plummeted to .883, did not trust Jack Campbell enough to give him a start. 

The way Campbell has played thus far in the pre-season — 122 minutes, a 0.98 goals-against average and a save percentage of .971 — bodes well for Edmonton’s crease. Skinner, who has a 2.99 GAA and an .880 saves percentage in the same minutes, is best served by having to earn his crease — not having the No. 1 job handed to him because of something he did a year ago. 

Things We Think We Know

Is it even possible that Campbell could earn the opening night start in Vancouver? Head coach Jay Woodcroft assures us, “It’s an open competition,” for that Game 1 start. 

If the numbers stay the same through these last two pre-season games, Woodcroft can’t start Skinner in Game 1 and tell us it is a meritocracy in goal. He knows it, and made that clear on Tuesday. 

Remember, it was a meritocracy a year ago when the rookie, Skinner, took the job from a struggling Campbell and ran with it. Could it back the other way in 2023-24? My guess is: Skinner starts opening night in Vancouver, but only if his last start (likely Wednesday versus Calgary) is superb. 

Anything less, and Campbell will claim the net with another strong showing in the pre-season finale on Friday. 

Things We Know

Edmonton’s stated goal is to lower its goals against. That will be accomplished not only with solid goaltending, but the defensive play in front of the goalies has to be better. 

That is why I have Vincent Desharnais on the team all day long, and why I’d say that the only player who young Ben Gleason could possibly beat out for a job — and it’s a long shot — is Philip Broberg. 

Things We Think We Know

A big part of lowering goals against is, as Mattias Ekholm so eloquently put it earlier this camp, surviving those time when the puck is in your end for 45 seconds or more. Zone exits are awesome, until the other team has the puck and won’t give it back. Or when you’re killing a penalty. 

Then you need to defend, block shots, and make opposing players not want to hang around your net front. At six-foot-six, Desharnais — with his willingness to mete out punishment — shores up a department where the Oilers are not so well stocked. 

I’ve loved Gleason’s pre-season. He’s the first call-up from Bakersfield, as it stands today. 

Broberg? We’re still trying to figure this player out. He shows flashes, both of offensive brilliance and defensive softness, but is so laden with tools that we all deserve the opportunity to see where it can all go. If Broberg is paired with Ekholm — and Woodcroft said he expects the latter to be ready for Game 1 in Vancouver — he’ll gain some confidence. 

Playing confidently, we’ll be able to really see what the Oilers have in Broberg. 

Things We Know

Leon Draisaitl has been more ornery than usual this fall. On the ice, we mean — not just in his media scrums. (We kid, we kid…) 

Draisaitl drilled Seattle defenceman Brian Dumoulin — late and from behind — into the corner boards on Monday night, settling a score from a crosscheck that rode up and caught Draisaitl in the face. 

Against Vancouver, when Nils Aman took a run at Draisaitl, the big German did not wait until the referee wasn’t looking to exact his revenge in the form of a healthy chop to the back of Aman’s knee. 

Like the election ads say, my name is Mark Spector and I endorse this style of play. Star players should stand up for themselves when possible, and Draisaitl takes his share of abuse. If he takes a penalty now and again, well, the way he scores power-play goals, his teammates can kill a few off for him. 

Things We Think We Know

There’s lot of talk about Connor McDavid growing into his captaincy. Well, this is Draisaitl maturing as well. 

He’s is both a shooter who needs to make space for himself, and a ragger of the puck who expertly uses body position to keep checkers at bay while he makes plays. 

Either way, if word gets out that it is painless to go after Draisaitl — whether clean or dirty — it impinges on his game. Some guys wait for teammates to send the message, some send it themselves. 

I prefer the latter. And when it comes from a 50-goal, 100-point man, I’m not sure we’re not talking about the perfect player. 

“He's not afraid to get after it if someone pisses him off,” said teammat6e Zach Hyman. “He's a big, strong guy who can more than take care of himself.” 

More please.