With the NHL’s regular season soon to be underway, we will be previewing the season ahead for the entire Edmonton Oilers roster over the coming days.
Let’s take a look at what is to be expected for a group of forwards.
Leon Draisaitl
Perhaps the biggest issue for Leon Draisaitl’s reputation is that he plays on the same team as Connor McDavid, though already with a Hart Trophy to his name, and recently voted second to only McDavid in TSN’s annual top 50 player ranking, Draisaitl is well appreciated by the masses.
Sure, it wasn’t a career year for goal scoring in the 2022–23 regular season, but Draisaitl still posted the highest point total of his career last season. On top of this, Draisaitl lived up to an impossibly high playoff reputation, tying eventual playoff MVP winner Jonathan Marchessault in playoff goals with 13.
Draisaitl will continue to be one of the all-time great players this season, commanding a leading role on the Oilers and the league at large. The main question might be whether or not Draisaitl can continue to expand on his excellence, setting new career highs. At some point age will catch up to the superstar, but for now his game is still in top form, and is a significant part of the Oilers being considered a top contender.
Draisaitl 2023–24 prediction: 75 games, 55 goals, 120 points
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
Last season was a career year for the former first-overall pick, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Such a draft pedigree often bares a weight, one that RNH has often fallen a bit short of despite an all around game that Oilers fans appreciate fairly unanimously, but 2023–24 might have been an equal and opposite reaction.
Nugent-Hopkins added a ton of points on the NHL’s all time best power play, hitting the 100-point mark, something that many of the NHL’s best players failed to do. Alas, points are not everything. While Nugent-Hopkins has received votes for the Selke Trophy in the past, the highest compliment to his game might be that he always elevates the effectiveness of his linemates.
Last offseason, Coach Jay Woodcroft emphasised the importance of Nugent-Hopkins being able to play at centre ice. Most of his work in the middle last season came while McDavid and Draisaitl were sharing a line, which speaks to the fact that RNH is too quality a talent to leave outside the top six—if not also an endorsement of Ryan McLeod’s ability in the 3C spot.
From an overall level of play standpoint, we should expect something similar from Nugent-Hopkins this season. However, time will tell if he is able to repeat or approach his scoring pace from last season. Another 30-goal, 100-point season would be an achievement that might alter the very perception of RNH’s legacy, from Oilers Ring of Honour to potential Hockey Hall of Fame consideration.
Nugent-Hopkins 2023–24 prediction: 75 games, 25 goals, 85 points
Zach Hyman
After making his NHL debut in his mid-20s, Zach Hyman surprised, improving each season to become a great complement to top line scorers. Now in his early 30s, Hyman is still improving, having become a legitimate top-six forward in his own right, illustrated by a career season in 2022–23.
Despite his age, we should expect to see this trend continue. Though Hyman’s game has always relied foremost on an unrelenting competitive spirit, he has continued to add puck skills to his arsenal, applying them with savvy to buy he and his teammates more time and space. At some point his continuously improving production will slow down, though this does not appear imminent. Needless to say, the decision to sign Hyman as a UFA has already paid off in spades.
Hyman will be an integral part of the Oilers this season. Of course, playing alongside the Oilers top talent does not hurt his cause, though it is possible that a healthy Evander Kane bites into Hyman’s power play time.
Hyman 2023–24 prediction: 75 games, 30 goals, 85 points
Dylan Holloway
The past few seasons have been false starts for the former first-round pick Dylan Holloway. Despite his visible talents, Holloway has been limited by injuries each season. Of course, last preseason Holloway forced his way into the NHL roster but was unable to sustain his effectiveness, quickly shrinking to a fourth line role and eventually a demotion to the AHL.
Still, some turbulence is expected for many young players on their path towards the NHL. Holloway seems to have taken it all in stride, looking big, fast, and skilled enough to make an impact on the Oilers NHL roster this season. For now, Holloway finds himself on the fourth line, though the hope of some upward mobility is certainly justifiable.
At some point in the coming seasons Holloway might position himself for a top six role on the Oilers, though to expect that level of effectiveness this season would be quite optimistic. A more reasonable step in the right direction might be that Holloway is able to augment a third line with McLeod and perhaps Warren Foegele. Alongside McLeod, Holloway might provide the Oilers checking line with the speed and strength to excel defensively.
Holloway 2023–24 prediction: 65 games, 15 goals, 30 points
Lane Pederson
Pederson 2023–24 prediction: 10 games, 1 goal, 3 points
At some points over his coming of age as a professional, 25-year-old Lane Pederson flashed offensive potential, but this reality has faded from consensus. Pederson is still a big body who brings a work ethic and aggressiveness to the ice. He has enough skill to capitalise on golden opportunities, but should not be expected to drive offence at the NHL level.
Pederson has made his way into some NHL games, including a cup of coffee with the 2022–23 Columbus Blue Jackets last season. While the Oilers are a far deeper team than last season’s Blue Jackets, the Oilers circumstances left the possibility for a fourth line centre spot open for Pederson to compete for in the preseason.
Pederson is most likely to spend the 2023–24 season in the AHL, though with some injuries a time might come where his services are required by the Oilers this season. While in the NHL, the best hope for Pederson might be able to replicate some of what Klim Kostin brought to the Oilers last season, in that he is physically impressive enough that he might be able to contribute if he finds his way into the right spots of the ice every once in a while.
Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire
