This will likely be the preface to all of this year's Season Preview posts: Unlike in the distant past where I would post different texts on my personal blog (here) and my collectibles blog, I've been using a new format for the past couple of years, where I'll copy the same text on each one. As a father of two young kids, I just do not have enough time to write two separate posts per day on each blog. This year again, the entire scope of the analysis will take place first and the featured player will have a direct or perhaps indirect connection to what's written, below.
Caveats: At this point, despite training camp being set to start in a few days, several players haven't found a team yet, (at least) three star players have active trade requests, and a few clubs are currently above the salary cap, which means there is much left to do.
Key Exits: Darnell Nurse (D), Calvin Pickard (G), Samuel Poulin (RW), Jack Roslovic (C), Connor Ingram (G), Curtis Lazar (C)
Key Arrivals: Shakir Mukhamadullin (D), Devon Levi (G), Frederik Andersen (G), Mathieu Joseph (RW), Ryan Shea (D), Alex Formenton (LW)
Top prospects: Isaac Howard (LW, 22), Quinn Hutson (RW, 24), Roby Jarventie (LW, 24), Beau Akey (D, 21), Matvey Petrov (LW, 23), Maksim Berezkin (LW, 24), David Lewandowski (LW, 19), Rudolfs Berzkalns (C, 18), Viljami Marjala (LW, 23)
A decade-plus of trading away first-round draft picks means the Edmonton Oilers mostly have an AHL roster of 20-somethings, and their only prospect that was picked in the first 31 or 32 players of their draft year is Howard, chosen by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2022. Their Stanley Cup window of contention has been "now" for the past five years and maybe the next two.
What makes their odds look good:
Any team with one of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl or Evan Bouchard has a shot; one with all three needs a combination of health, luck and above-average goaltending to make their way into the Final Four - which they have in three of the past five seasons.
Question marks:
Can Levi steal the #1 goalie spot away from Tristan Jarry while Andersen is out with injury? Did shipping out Nurse solve only a cap issue, or will it also allow the Oilers to make use of that space to solidify a defensive system in dire need of a rehaul? And, of course: what the fuck, Stan Bowman? Mike Babcock, really? And what will it take for McDavid to extend his contract beyond this one, which expires at the end of next season?
Outlook:
Nothing short of a Stanley Cup will atone for giving Babcock another NHL coaching job. Bowman explained this summer that the main reason why he keeps giving people with questionable pasts second or third chances is that he feels he's paying it forward, after being given a second chance himself. Sure, ok, I'll buy that, but it doesn't mean you need to surround McDavid, Draisaitl and Bouchard with a roster full of death row inmates.
Prediction:
2nd in the Pacific Division.
What more needs to be said about Connor McDavid at this point? He's the fourth-fastest in NHL history to reach 1,000 points (after Wayne Gretzky, Mike Bossy and Mario Lemieux) - and the only one outside the 1980s; he has the third-most points ever after 800 games, behind only Gretzky and Lemieux; he is one of only two players to win the Hart trophy unanimously (with Gretzky). This post wouldn't age well if I listed all of his hardware, as he's probably just going to add to his collection in the coming years.
This is my favourite card in my collection:
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