• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Previews and Predictions

Oilers Losing Ground After Horrendous November

By Shane Sander December 1st, 2016

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

It was just one month ago that the Edmonton Oilers were the toast of the NHL with a 7-2-0 record through October and sitting first overall in the Western Conference. Fan enthusiasm was through the roof, and the last time the Oilers were off to a start like that was nearly 30 years ago. As much as there was fan optimism, everyone knew that November would be a real test for the young Oiler squad.

Edmonton would play 15 games in November with just five of those at home. Of those games, 10 would be against teams that qualified for the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs. How did the Oilers respond? The team faltered to a 5-8-2 record through the month, picking up just 12 of a possible 30 points. The team currently finds themselves third in the Pacific Division with 26 points with the Calgary Flames (24) and Vancouver Canucks (22) gaining ground.

Let’s be real — the .778 winning percentage the Oilers held through October was unsustainable, but there was hope that they wouldn’t finish November playing .400 W% hockey either. Much of that has to do with the team dropping six in a row in the first half of the month.

Then there were the two points they lost in winnable games like the first game of the month against Toronto (Nazem Kadri scoring in overtime with Connor McDavid draped around him). The other was the shootout loss to the Arizona Coyotes a week ago.

So what did we learn in Oil Country? If Edmonton wants to stay in a playoff spot, a lot has to change starting in December.

If McDavid Slumps, Edmonton Slumps

(Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports)

Connor McDavid (Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports)

Just get this out of the way early here, everyone knows that McDavid is the one steering the ship in Edmonton.

Teams had figured out how to defend against the Oilers and Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock put it best when he said you might as well put all your eggs in one basket and smother McDavid and dare the rest of the Oilers to beat you.

That held true as McDavid went goalless through 10 games — the worst cold streak of his career — and the Oilers went 2-7-1 during that stretch. He broke that streak by scoring a hat-trick on November 19th against the Dallas Stars and put up 12 points in six games. The Oilers record during that time was 3-2-1.

It doesn’t take a genius to figure this out. If the Oilers are going to hold the ground they need their secondary scoring, pretty much everyone not named McDavid, to start producing on a regular basis and take the pressure off the 19-year-old phenom.

RNH, Draisaitl, Pouliot Need to Be Better

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports)

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports)

Three goals, 69 shots on goal and a 4.3 shooting percentage. You didn’t read that wrong — that’s Ryan Nugent-Hopkins’ stat line right now. The 23-year-old center is on pace for the worst statistical year of his career and heading towards a 10 goal, 34 point season. Sure that’s the total he put up last year, but that was in 55 games. If RNH had played a full season in 2015-16, that total would’ve been a respectable 18 goal, 51 point season. Even in the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season that would’ve been 49 points.

RNH truly is on pace for the worst year of his career, unless he turns things around in a hurry. He’s not the only one, though. Leon Draisaitl scored just one goal during the Oilers six-game losing streak and is currently on a three-game cold streak. The 21-year-old has been streaky and salvaged his November with an eight-point tally over six games recently. He’ll be on for three or four games, then off for the same number.

He needs to be more consistent, especially with Edmonton flip flopping between Draisaitl and RNH for the second-line center job.

Then there’s Benoit Pouliot who carries a $4-million price tag and was held pointless all through November. The 30-year-old was expected to fill a top-six role with the Oilers but has found himself in head coach Todd McLellan’s doghouse. Pouliot hasn’t put up any points since recording two assists against the Washington Capitals on Oct. 26. That’s a 14-game cold streak, not including the game’s he’s been a healthy scratch for.

If Edmonton is going to bounce back in December, these are the guys that are going to have to do it.

Injury Prevention & Bubble Wrap Investments

Whether the Oilers find a miracle for the injury bug or owner Daryl  Katz makes a sound investment in bubble wrap and bubble wrap accessories, something needs to give on the injury front. So far Edmonton has lost 119 man games to injury this year, and we’re only two months into the season. By the time April rolls around they’re on pace for 357 man games lost, if everyone keeps dropping like flies and this pace keeps up.

Eric Gryba

Eric Gryba. Photo: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports

The backend has been hammered with Brandon Davidson and Eric Gryba still on long-term injured reserve. Kris Russell, Matt Hendricks, and Drake Caggiula recently came back from injury and the team currently doesn’t have a significant core player on the shelf. Now that players are back, it’s about icing the best roster and keeping that roster healthy. Bubblewrap RNH’s hotel room, make sure no one comes around Connor unless they’ve had their flu shot and hire someone to shovel Cam Talbot’s driveway, so he doesn’t throw out his back pushing snow next month.

Edmonton plays 14 games in December, and five of them are against Pacific Division rivals. Sure the Oilers played 10 games against 2016 Playoff teams in November, but in December that number will be eight. Overall it’s a moderate schedule with a competitive balance, and the Oilers have done favorably well or at least stayed in all, if not most, games against the teams they’ll play again in December.

If the Oilers can average a point per game or .500 W%, they’ll make up ground for a horrendous November.

  • Tags
  • Benoit Pouliot
  • Connor McDavid
  • Leon Draisaitl
  • Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 15th 6:25 PM
Montreal Canadiens

Canadiens’ Romanov Fired Up to Face Oilers’ McDavid and Draisaitl

Jan 15th 6:00 PM
San Jose Sharks

Sharks’ Second Line Shines in Season Opener

Jan 15th 5:50 PM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs’ Marner Looking to Add Goals to His Stats

Jan 15th 5:35 PM
Buffalo Sabres

Three Takeaways from the Sabres’ Season Opener

Jan 15th 4:50 PM
Edmonton Oilers

Oilers News and Rumors: Smith, Barrie, Forsberg, Puljujarvi, More

Jan 15th 4:40 PM
Edmonton Oilers

Oilers Have Rough Season Opener but No Need to Panic

Jan 15th 4:20 PM
Column

Jets News & Rumors: Scheifele, Laine, Hellebuyck, Lewis & Quicksand

Jan 15th 4:10 PM
New York Rangers

Rangers Bring More of the Same in 2020-21 Opening Night

Jan 15th 3:45 PM
Column

Red Wings News & Rumors: Ryan, COVID, Markstrom & More

Jan 15th 3:30 PM
Boston Bruins

2020-21 Season Openers: Flames Lose Again, Islanders & Capitals Excel

Editor’s Picks
World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information