As we near the end of the dog days of summer, free agency has come and gone with only Evan Bouchard remaining as the last notable Edmontons Oiler left to be signed. The current rumor being a two-year contract in the $3.8-4.2M range for the defenceman and other rumblings that there will be enough cap space to add a fourth line centre as well. Once confirmed, the roster will be set with training camp only a few weeks or so away. This week we looked ahead and asked on our weekly poll, which rival are you most excited for this up-coming season? Let’s break down the results.
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Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks and Oilers have a long history of playing against each other and have actually played the most regular season games versus each other just edging the Calgary Flames by two. The Oilers lead the Canucks in both regular season and playoff wins.
Ask any Canuck fan old enough to remember the ‘80s and they will advise you of a painful decade full of misery while the Oilers were in the midst of a dynasty. Fast forward 17 years or so and Oilers fans will remember a Sedin twins team that dominated the Oilers for what seemed like forever. I specifically remember the end of a Hockey Night game when one of the Sedins was being interviewed and stated that he enjoyed playing in Edmonton and that they were fun games.
There is also usually a large contingent of Canuck fans at Oiler games and vice versa which give road wins just that little extra salt on the wound flavour. Nothing worse than paying for a game only to see an opposing fan cheer every away goal and home team loss.
Despite the long history between the two franchises, they have only met in the playoffs twice; the last meeting in 1992 when the Oilers won the division final 4–2. There does seem to be this weird dichotomy that when the Oilers are good the Canucks are not and vice versa.
It would appear that we are entering another time when the Oilers will be a perennial playoff team while the Canucks might finally embrace a rebuild. Vancouver has only made the playoffs once in the last eight years and despite being a cap team, they have missed the post season the last three years. With the recent buyout of Oliver Ekman-Larsson and many questions surrounding the team, it is more likely than not that they will be outside the playoffs for a little longer than Canuck fans care for.
Which could be the reason why no one voted for the Canucks on our poll. Let’s move on.
Calgary Flames
Four words: The Battle of Alberta. Nothing gets the juices flowing more than hearing that phrase prior to a game between these two franchises. This rivalry has been brewing ever since Calgary acquired the Atlanta Flames in 1980. It also helped that the Flames were a playoff team right out of the gate and every year in the ‘80s.
It’s one thing to play a rival that resides in the same province, but when you add the post season history these two teams have, it only intensifies the electricity of these matchups. It has been noted many times by players who have only heard of the BOA that only once they become a part of it that they fully understand just how special this rivalry is.
The Oilers have the better post season record against the Flames wining five out of six series. However, this also the only matchup on the poll where the opposing team has the better regular season record versus the Oilers.
There was a time, not so long ago when the Flames were contenders and the Oilers pretenders—a long stretch when the Flames pretty much owned the Oilers. With that said, the Flames appear to be headed for a rebuild after the highly publicized playoff loss to the Oilers two years ago and the fallout that occurred afterwards, including notable upcoming free agents who have requested trades or advised the team that they will not sign an extension. This may explain why they finished third on the poll.
Regardless, there is a huge Battle of Alberta Heritage Classic happening this season at Commonwealth and even though the Flames may not be as good this year, I still expect a high intensity for each game against the Oilers.
Los Angeles Kings
Coming in second on our poll with 25% of the vote and just edging out the Flames are the Los Angeles Kings. I was suprised to find out that the Oilers have played the most playoff games against the Kings over the other teams on the poll. It does help when you add 13 games in the last two years, but still surprising none the less.
The Kings have managed to change franchise philosophy and go from a defensive minded team that won two cups to once again a playoff team with a roster full of skill and speed. I suppose it is easier to do so when your team is a desirable destination for free agents.
I kind of expected the Kings to flounder for a lot longer than they have. Yet here we are looking at a playoff team that along with the Oilers and Golden Knights, was in a tight race for the division title down the stretch.
I guess it is also easier to overlook a team when you defeat them twice in the first round. I have no doubt however that the few hockey fans who reside in L.A. (zing!) will be looking for retribution, again, against the Oilers.
Hopefully the Oilers can buck the trend and face a different opponent in the first round or avoid the Kings all together next post season. I have a bad feeling the Kings will remember the past two exits and will give and do anything and everything to send the Oilers packing.
Vegas Golden Knights
The Oilers have done well against the Vegas Golden Knights winning 11 of 19 regular season games. I have heard that Vegas fans do not like Oilers fans and it’s easy to understand when you consider opposing fans coming to town to watch their team win on your home ice. It’s not our fault Vegas is cheap to fly to with amazing weather to escape our Edmonton winter.
Unfortunately for Oiler fans, Vegas gets the last laugh as they are the reigning Stanley Cup Champions. Even though they had to circumvent the cap and get favorable officiating all the way through the post season to do it.
I believe recency bias had a lot to do with the results of this poll and Vegas taking it with over half of the vote. Being ousted by the eventual Stanley Cup winner stings and leaves a lasting memory. Especially when considering how things played out in the playoff series, the first between these two franchises.
I wrote in our last Oil Check of the season that this rivalry now has the possibility to match the same intensity of the Battle of Alberta. Funny how one playoff series can do that but easy to understand when you consider the following:
- Knights fan giving Evander Kane not just the bird but the double bird and Kane responding by blowing a kiss
- the egregious high stick penalty from Alex Pietrangelo and weak suspension that followed
- Leon Draisaitl scoring four—count them, 1, 2, 3, 4 goals in a losing effort—then not even being name a star of the game
Conclusion
It is interesting that the poll went from the worst team to the best. I suppose a rivalry is more exciting when the games mean more. I along with most fans are looking forward to the Oilers extracting some revenge against the Knights and expect the same intensity in those games along the same line of the BOA. Just thinking about it is getting me excited for this season but until then I will enjoy what is left of this summer.
Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire
