Season Preview: The Pacific Division

Edmonton Oilers
Last Season: 19-22-7 (12th in Western Conference – 3rd in Northwest Division – Missed Playoffs)

Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports

The Edmonton Oilers, are a inching ever closer to making a playoff birth, thanks to their young talent stepping up to the plate, and really pushing hard for the team to make the playoffs yet again. Yet, they’ll come up short as other teams in the Pacific division are really positioned well to make the playoffs for at least the next few years.

The Oilers youth should help them win games, due to speed and endurance. Acquiring a few older pieces have helped the veteran presence in the locker room, yet I don’t think Dallas Eakins, and crew are ready for prime time yet.

Player to Watch: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
RNH will continue to grow and prosper as a young NHL center, and will continue to grow under Dallas Eakins. He’ll miss the first few months of the season due to an injured shoulder, but expect him to come back, and continue his rise as he certainly will be under the microscope thanks to a new deal he signed during the offseason.

Line Combinations
David Perron – Taylor Hall – Jordan Eberle
Ryan Symth – Mark Arcobello – Ales Hemsky
Jesse Joensuu – Boyd Gordon – Nail Yakupov
Luke Gazdic – Will Acton – Mike Brown

Ladislav Smid – Jeff Petry
Andrew Ference  – Justin Schultz
Nick Schultz – Anton Belov

Devan Dubnyk – Jason LaBarbera

Games vs. Rangers
Thursday Feb. 6 @ New York
Sunday Mar. 30 @ Edmonton