EDMONTON — Things We Know. Series 1, Volume 2.
Things We Know: St. Louis had Klim Kostin, who was seriously considering a return to the KHL. Edmonton had Dmitri Samorukov, who was threatening the same thing. Both were on one-year, sub-$800,000 contracts.
So general managers Ken Holland and Doug Armstrong swapped problems, hoping that a couple of fresh starts could keep one or both in the NHL beyond this season. Both GMs were hoping to hit a single here.
For Holland it’s been, at worst, a triple.
Things We Think We Know: The pending RFA Kostin has endeared himself to his teammates, and Oilers management, to the point where he is a lock for a contract this summer. In the fans’ world, he is stepping seamlessly into the role that is soon to be left behind by Jesse Puljujarvi as a fan favourite.
So long Bison King. Hello Drago, the Russian boxer from the Rocky series.
If you got this guy at the trade deadline, he’d cost you a second-round pick and you’d be ecstatic with the deal: Kostin has stabilized a third line with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Mattias Janmark; he has 9-4-13 in 31 games; he leads the Oilers in hits per 60 (16.54) and fights, with three.
Kostin fought Pat Maroon in Thursday’s 5-3 win over Tampa, a tough opponent but a fight that needed to happen. Maroon had been leaning on Connor McDavid, and it’s long past the time this Oilers team started showing opponents that there is a heavy price to be paid for messing with McDavid.
They fought right off of the draw to open the second period.
“(Maroon) was asking me, like, three times: ‘Are you sure?’” Kostin said Friday. “I was, like, ‘Ya, I am sure.’”
“Kosty leads the way there,” said McDavid of his team’s recent increased physical play. “You know, he wants that, and it's been impressive to watch. He takes on a big man there (in Maroon). (Darnell Nurse) does the same. Kaner is willing to do that.
“I think some teams come in here and think that they're going to run us right out of the building with physicality. We’ve got the guys to stand in there.”
Things We Know: The generational problem in Edmonton has been about participation. As we outlined in a recent column, they’ve always drafted these young stars, handed them the keys to the organization, and the veterans and depth players just became part of the furniture.
Coaches have always been seduced by the Halls, Eberles, McDavids and Draisaitls. And whenever there is a problem — a slow start, a late deficit, a game that needs to be retrieved — they bypass the roster and go right to the superstars.
Things We Think We Know: Jay Woodcroft has found his way past this problem here in the second half of the season. It may have existed earlier, but today — with his 11 forwards and seven defencemen alignment — he’s found a way to get 18 skaters feeling like they have a role in any success the Oilers may have.
It’s about participants; a lineup where everyone gets a minimum of 10:00 in ice time. And it shows in the third period, where Edmonton has — since Christmas — found a resolve that wasn’t there before.
“Composure,” said Leon Draisaitl. “We’re a little more confident playing with a lead. If you’re going to win hockey games you’re going to be in that situation, and you have to be able to close games out. Lately, we’ve done a really good job with that.”
Things We Know: Big Vincent Desharnais has shown himself to be meaner, better with the puck, and hungrier to make a difference at the NHL level than Markus Niemelainen.
Things We Think We Know: Desharnais is here for keeps. He’s added to the dressing room culture, brings much-needed physicality and borderline dirty play to the area in front of Edmonton’s goal, where he makes it hurt if you want to hang around.
And when the puck finds him, he can buy himself just enough extra time to make a tape-to-tape pass, rather than wiring it off the glass — which is Niemelainen’s issue.
The big Finn may yet play. But the 26-year-old rookie Desharnais has stepped in front of him in line, and good luck taking that job back.
Things We Know: Edmonton’s next eight games are against Vancouver, Columbus, Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia, Ottawa, Montreal and Detroit. Combined, they have a winning percentage of .446, which would rank 26th in the NHL.
Things We Think We Know: Edmonton had the second most difficult schedule in the NHL in the first half. Now comes the reward.
The Oilers awoke Friday morning one point behind Los Angeles, and three points behind Seattle and Vegas, who are tied atop the Pacific. Where will the Oilers be eight games and 23 days from now?
If they’re not in second place or better in the Pacific — within a point or two of first — it will be a disappointment.
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