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| unfortunately, no, that middle one is not a joke |
Coach: Dave Tippett (since 2019). 7/10
2018-19 record: 35-38-9, 79 points (7th in Pacific Division, 14th in Western Conference).
Playoffs: Did not qualify
Departures: Andrej Sekera (D), Cam Talbot (G), Milan Lucic (LW), Tobias Rieder (LW), Ty Rattie (RW), Anthony Stolarz (G), Al Montoya (G).
Arrivals: Mike Smith (G), James Neal (LW), Markus Granlund (LW) Tomas Jurco (LW), Josh Archibald (RW), Ken Holland (GM), Dave Tippett (head coach).
Top forwards: Connor McDavid (95-110 points), Leon Draisaitl (85-95 points), James Neal (30 goals, 50 points), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (45-65 points), Sam Gagner (40-50 points), Alex Chiasson (35-45 points), Zack Kassian (25-35 points), Markus Granlund (25-40 points) Tomas Jurco (20-30 points).
Must-improve forward: James Neal had an abyssal year with the Calgary Flames, after starting his career with ten-straight 20-goal seasons, most of them close to 30 (and a high of 40 in 2011-12). He will bounce back. Even if he disapponts, he'll get 20.I expect he'll be given a chance to play with at least one of McDavid, Draisaitl and RNH - possibly even two at a time - and will score 30.
Top defensemen: Oscar Klefbom (25-45 points, depending on injury status), Darnell Nurse (35-50 points), Evan Bouchard (25-30 points), Ethan Bear (15-20 points), Adam Larsson (15-20 points), Matt Benning (15-20 points), Kris Russell (15 points).
Goalies: Mike Smith (81/100), Mikko Koskinen (79/100).
Top prospects: Evan Bouchard (19 years old, D, 2018 first-round pick), Caleb Jones (22, D, point-per-game defenseman in the WHL), Ethan Bear (22, D), Tyler Benson (19, LW), Kailer Yamamoto (20, RW, 2017 first-round draft pick), Ryan McLeod (20, C), Kirill Maksimov (20, RW).
Analysis:
The revolving staff door is closed with Holland taking the GM position hostage until he retires. At least he'll have a singular vision that he'll see through, whether it works or not. As far as his first head coach pick, Tippett, I was never really sold on him, he never brought a fringe team to the playoffs (save for that one year in Phoenix where Mike Smith played like a Vezina winner). But I spoke to players who had him in Dallas and Phoenix, and they all had good things to say about his being a "players' coach". Unfortunately, the Oilers need an "Xs and Os" guy, but maybe someone who will have their backs when things start to go sour will help.
I've read a lot about Holland not doing much this summer and how the Oilers were essentially in stasis, but he bought out Sekera, let a few UFAs leave and did the unthinkable: traded the so-called "worst contract in hockey" (Milan Lucic) for a perennial 20-goal scorer who can still hot 30 (Neal). That's a miracle in itself.
Of Holland's time in Detroit, Oilers fans need to be made aware of a few facts: he inherited the team that won the 1997 and 1998 Stanley Cups, but the 2008 one followed by a Cup Final in 2009 was all his doing, with his guys. The reason why the Wings extended their consecutive playoff series to 26 seasons was because he made it happen. That's the good.
He also created the prolonged rebuild process by handing out lucrative contracts to aging veterans he wanted to reward, because he is loyal to a fault. To a fault. To. A. Fault. He needs to take a page out of the, well, Oilers playbook, like his successor Steve Yzerman is currently doing in Motown: hand out fair contracts, asure the player he will keep on getting compensated well with a front-office job when retirement comes, even if it's a year early like it did a few weeks ago with Niklas Kronwall.
Prediction: 4th in the Pacific Division, 21st in the NHL. Out of the playoffs by a couple of points.
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