Over the years, the road has been kind to the Edmonton Oilers. Some struggling home teams left town and got their act together and there were also times where a trade completed while the club was out east had an enormous impact.
CARRY THAT WEIGHT
- Jennifer Frey, March 18, 1993: Esa Tikkanen did not have to move his skates and his sticks very far. Neither did Doug Weight. A few hours before the Rangers played the Edmonton Oilers last night, Rangers President and General Manager Neil Smith announced that he had traded Weight, a 22-year-old center, to the Oilers for Tikkanen, a gritty player with four Stanley Cup victories to his credit. Weight moved his things, and a heavy heart, to the visitors’ dressing room at Madison Square Garden. Tikkanen brought his belongings and an ever-present grin to the home hallway, where he chatted cheerily with his new teammates while working on his sticks. (New York Times)
The Oilers were a struggling team at the time, the Rangers were pushing for a Stanley Cup that would, in fact, arrive the following spring. The standings on March 18, 1993, reflect the story. Edmonton had 58 points in 73 games, good for No. 5 in the Smythe Division. The Rangers were No. 4 in the Patrick Division, 73 points in 70 games.
FRACTURE
![](https://i1.wp.com/dev1.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/usatsi_9814525.jpg?resize=1424%2C948&ssl=1)
This year’s Oilers were supposed to be buyers, but in fact the national media is already talking about selling.
- Nick Kypreos: “The problem is, of course, is his salary is still very high at $6 million. But it’s a nice problem for the Oilers to have—that Nugent-Hopkins all of a sudden is making other people around the league notice him.” (Mike Johnston, Sportsnet)
Oilers fans may experience some rage when reading this quote, because of course people around the league should notice Nugent-Hopkins! He’s a fine player and is having one of the best seasons of his career. He’s the kind of player the organization should keep and build around—and that may inspire the biggest pressure point of this season.
Edmonton fans are up in arms over this season, a trade of Nugent-Hopkins for futures is going to be a very tough sell. Peter Chiarelli is under tremendous pressure and there are many who question his ability to get 100 cents on the dollar from a deal.
Added to all of this chaos is the fact RNH is 24. On the day Edmonton acquired Doug Weight, he had just turned 22. If you’re trading the Nuge for futures, why are you trading Nuge? It makes no sense. Even the cap argument is poor, since there are multiple options (including rumors of a cap for 2018-19 that could reach $80 million) that allow the Oilers to fit under the cap moving forward. Oilers fans are in a foul mood in regard to past trades, a Nugent-Hopkins deal that brings back unknowns or draft picks could blow this season wide open.
LINEUPS…
Oilers
Lucic-McDavid-Cammalleri
Maroon-Nugent-Hopkins-Slepyshev
Caggiula-Draisaitl-Strome
Pakarinen-Letestu-Kassian
Nurse-Larsson
Klefbom-Benning
Auvitu-Russell
These are the forward lines used at practice yesterday with the defence remaining relatively similar aside from Klefbom drawing back in on the second pairing. No lines have been released yet, so we will update as soon as the news comes out.
Bruins
Heinen-Bergeron-Pastrnak
Debrusk-Krejci-Vatrano
Schaller-Kuraly-Szwarz
Acciari-Nash-Beleskey
Chara-McAvoy
Krug-Carlo
Grzelcyk-Miller
Lineups (subject to change) are courtesy of DailyFaceoff.com
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
- Steve Conroy, Boston Herald: The Bruins’ goaltending world will take another turn today when Tuukka Rask gets the net again for a Garden game against the underachieving Edmonton Oilers. Rask has not played since a 4-2 loss to the Ducks in Anaheim on Nov. 15 and, since then, the B’s have gone on a four-game win streak with Anton Khudobin. The B’s have earned points in all nine games Khudobin has played this season (7-0-2, .932 save percentage, 2.22 goals-against average) but only five with Rask (3-7-2, .897 SP, 2.89 GAA). Source
TONIGHT
![](https://i2.wp.com/dev1.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/gdb15.jpg?resize=1424%2C949&ssl=1)
GAME DAY PREDICTION: The Bruins are a step slow in the first period, Edmonton receiving two power-play opportunities—cashing on one (goal by Oscar Klefbom). Cam Talbot has a quiet first period in goal, stopping just six shots.
OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: Boston finds itself in the second period, pushing for the entire 20 minutes, getting a pair of goals from David Pastrnak. Edmonton holds on after that, 2-1 home team after two periods.
NOT-SO-OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: The third period sees Edmonton play their best period since the Detroit game, Connor McDavid scoring with 112 seconds left to tie the game and send it to overtime. A brilliant fourth period sees both teams almost scoring and Pastrnak getting it done with one minute left. 3-2 Boston in a thriller.
GDB BROUGHT TO YOU BY SHERBROOKE LIQUOR
Take home a growler, a crowler, a sixer, a mixer, whatever. Sherbrooke Liquor. Where’s Your Beer?
Source: NHL.com, Official Game Page, 11/26/2017, 3:00pm MST
Whether the rumours are true or not, and I’ve just spent a ton of time on DailyFaceOff (best website ever), I think Chia needs to alleviate the Oilers of the cap hell we’re about to endure and trade Draisaitl for a Justin Faulk PLUS Julien Gauthier or Jake Bean type of thing. Nuge is clearly a No.2 C, Drai’s an expensive winger/No.3 C, and McJesus is too good not to find someone else to gel with.
That trade is dreamy ?
But drai is a top ten center in the league I thought. Even though he had barely played any center.
If that’s the perception, sell high!!
That was the perception…..but only in Edmonton.
lol
I like the lineup changes. Got a shooter on Mcdavids wing and three lines that should be able to score. I see oilersnation is already bringing the negativity so I’ll try bringing some positive energy. Go oilers!
should of kept Caigs on McDavids line
Morning drinking eh? Permissable because its Grey Cup Sunday. Jk. This is bizzaro season. Oilers win today.
I concur. Let’s be positive! Go oil go!
I wouldn’t hate seeing Caggiula and Cammaleri with McDavid. Boston probably isn’t the team to try it and leave McD out there with no protection though.
Why is it that we have to look at the centremen as first line, 2nd line, 3rd line? They’re all first line centres on ANY TEAM! Seriously, you guys need to stop being so negative. Yes it’s not looking good, but you’re all just now bashing EVERYTHING that made this team good last season just because of a poor start. Y’all were complaining that Draisitl wasn’t entering his own line and now that he is, you’re still upset. What would YOUR lines be then?
My ideal lines would be as follows:
Maroon-McDavid-Eberle
Hall-Draisaitl-Slepy
Caggiula-Nuge-Kassian
Khaira-Letestu-Pitlick
Oh wait…
That’s a forward group that could challenge for a cup right now
Switch pit and kass tho
Alex, shoving your head firmly into the sand will not alleviate the 8-13-2 start … we’re also beyond the 1/4 mark of the season & there is zero chance of playoffs … the last thing RNH is, btw, is a first line center on the majority of NHL teams …
23 games may be a start in MLB. But thats a good chunk in the NHL.
And football would be over.
Pastrnak – $6.6 mil, 12 goals so far. Drai – $8.5 mil, 6 goals so far. Grest job Chia, another massive overpay.
Gudreau 6.75 mill 3rd in league goal scoring.
Points
What dies Nuge have to do to get a look with McDavid?
He’d have to be a Chia Pete procurement.
This is a broken fragile team.
We are coming out of Boston with 0 points
I hate the fact that we are only in November and I could care less if they win or lose. Trade Draisaitl for what we are lacking. Take your pick as to what that is!
Good news Connor, got a piano and a oldtimer to play on your line. You will have to knock it back a notch.Dont worry they
will get there, it will just be a bit later.
Serious question. It’s obvious you hate Lucic. So when he scores a goal, what do you do? Do you cheer? Are you angry that he scores? I honestly don’t understand how you guys hate the players on your “favourite” team. If the oilers win 1-0 today and Lucic scored the only goal, would you be happy or mad? I don’t get it.
I got nothing against Lucici, as long as they keep him on the third line, where he belongs!
happy happy his trade value wont drop
Time to start a pool to guess when the first jersey hits the ice in the new arena
How are the Oilers supposed to score with those disastrous wingers? Why are we trying to even think of subtracting Nuge or Draisaitl? We need to add scoring help to this piss poor team, not subtract, which has been effectively ruined by Chiarelli and his management team. We are 10 million under the salary cap in the 7th most lucrative market in the NHL. Having Taylor Hall driving the second line would sure look nice at this time.
Lol. Those “disastrous” wingers helped get this team to the second round last year. How quickly we forget.
What we didn’t have any changes on wing??? Let we tell you a story about three bears
Elaborate please. Who are the different wingers we have from game 7 of the second round to today?? Eberle for strome. Other than that these are all the same wingers from last year. Seriously what are you guys smoking?
Take away points from McDavid, Draisaitl and Nuge and what are you left with. Answer=lowest offensive totals in the whole league in the 2017-2018 season. There is no secondary scoring and teams can just go out and blanket Connor McDavid.
Pitlick, Hendricks,Eberle and Poulout.
Why are there still people who think the oilers have like $6M+ In cap space? It’s already been mentioned that the actual cap space they have is closer to $3.5M because of bonuses and the fact that Sekera’s LTIR does NOT give them any cap relief because they didn’t spend to the cap. And if they did, it does NOT relieve any cap used on Bonuses.
Predicting a point out of this is pretty ballsy, I don’t expect the Oilers to get a sniff. Going to be another tough loss.
Why take out Auvitu?? Plays 2 good games and now he sits. Like come on now
didnt read until they said ‘no line info released yet will update’ huh
I did, however with klef coming back in, and the way auvitu was being used. I wouldn’t have put it past them to leave gryba in and pull him out
Positivity on grey cup Sunday. Big win for the oil
The Nuge trade talk is scaring the hell out of me. He’s finally rediscovered his game, don’t ship him out now. $6m for a 2C isn’t too bad, is it? Drai is pretty expensive, but he’s shown he can produce, and with RNH driving the second line, that frees up Drai to pot 70+ points on Connor’s wing. $8.5m for a 70+ point winger is a little rich, but it’s not the end of the world. I know we need some scoring help up front, but don’t use Nuge or Drai to get it. As much as I love the toughness he brings, the Lucic contract is starting to look pretty ugly.
Lucic is PC’s albatross. It will cost alot to get rid of him. Maroon looks like bye bye. Kassian is more talented than the two but doesn’t get their minutes? Nuge isn’t going anywhere unless…………..PC has an absolute great deal in place like when he got Griffin at the draft!
Lucic didn’t cost any assets. I f we can get him to waive his NMC for a cup contender at the deadline, I would be ok with anything coming back our way.
Wtf?? Kassian more talented than Lucic and maroon???? How many goals does kassian have this year? Should we compare career stats? Kassian is lucky to be in the lineup the way he’s playing imo. No fire in his game this year. Even when he was at his best last year he couldn’t tie Lucic’s skates. “More talented”….. ??????
Lucic is actually a bright spot this year – look at the numbers!
Numbers? Try watching the games.
Finally, someone who agrees with me! Reinhart is a monster and will be a Norris candidate in a few years. The guy is unreal!…….
GDP: We lose, ( I truly love this team but lets be honest)
GCP: Argo’s win and Ray retires. Thats right I am cheering for Toronto, ABC = Anyone But Calgary. I hate Shelbyville
I miss Ulanov
The fact the coach had scrambled the lines again shows he is toast. Lucic Nuge and JP did great pressure. 97 and Leon score better together. The bottom 6 is what it is. I would put 29-97-44 to see what happens. At least 44 has hustle
We have become another edition of the Bruins. Not as good but definitely just as boring to watch. Back to the NFL.
No way Edmonton isn’t pushing or passionate? No way!
What a slow and offensively inept team
Which team will show it itself today? We should know within the first few minutes. This season is starting to remind me of Dubnyk’s last season in Edmonton.
I’ve said it few times now that Talbots numbers last year and this resemble Dubys numbers from 2012-13 and
13-14 almost identical. So yeh it reminds me as well of that season.
I’m scared that this organization will allow Chia trade Nuge for probably nothing and act like it’s ok. The minute that happens I’m out the door. Forget it.
I have been a Oiler fan since before they joined the NHL and I have been contemplating the same thing.
Well if all it takes is a loss today to get rid of a couple whining bandwagoners, I’m all for it! Go bruins!
So cheering for the very game Oilers since 1976 is a bandwagon rider?
You are an idiot.
Whatever. The oilers will go on without you guys. Didn’t you keep calling eberle a quitter last year? And hated him for it? Hmmmmm
You tell him and I agree with you.
@jultz=2cup!
You try to insult people and when they stand up for themselves to say “chill dude”?
If you start crap expect a rebuttal.
Lol. Are you mad the oilers won? That’ll keep you around for a while longer hey? And I didn’t insult him. So you can chill as well. Grumpy Gus lol. The oilers won bro!! Be happy!
I never called out Ebs even through the playoffs never once did I make a comment on Ebs so don’t make things up just because have facts to back your statement up.
I was replying to spyder. Chill dude. It’s just a game.
Look. I was a Hab fan for over 40 years and due to circumstances I won’t get into here, I decided it was time for a change. My young son suggested we switch to the OIlers and we came on board last year. It was fun cheering on Edmonton last year. Now I’m reading that you old time fans are bailing? Give me some hope man! We just got on board here!
Love the team, not a big fan of the group Katz has put together.
Welcome aboard, but you’re in for a long bumpy ride 😉
Geez you must have really been impressed by Petry and scrivens.
Afternoon game on the road on the east coast. Three strikes and your out. Now having said that let’s see them win.
Today is 1 mcdavid point = 1 whiskey shot. If im not drunk by the 2nd ill be very dissapointed.
Are you drinking by yourself, double sad.
Naw im at nation HQ! We never drink alone!
Over McDavid’s career he has averaged 1.17 PPG it is 1.21 PPG this season. You must be a lightweight.
0-0 10 minutes in! Excellent start! Fantastic!!
Way to jinx it!
Is there some exemption that allows Chara to hold and flatten guys who haven’t touched the puck?
Sometimes it looks there’s a bias to American teams… last night tkachuk hauled down from behind on a breakaway to an empty net, no call. It’s a most comical at times
No one cares about any Flamers. Go back to FN if you want to talk about them
Lol somebody is quite butthurt. Nothing wrong with good ole hockey talk.
Drai’s dad doesn’t go see the coach and demand his son plays with McDavid. That’s up to the coach. So blaming Drai for not playing centre enough is just silly.
The problem is that they have very little depth on RW, so the coach uses Drai there. That’s on PC.
Not many guys looch couldn’t handle, but chara’s one of em. He beat the piss outta anyone in the league. Including reaves
Great win boys! 2 goals from a couple of the “disastrous” wingers and 2 points from the recently anointed “massive overpay” Draisaitl. Lol. Talbot was real solid too. Keep it going boys!