A regulation loss to the lowly San Jose Sharks has all but solidified the Edmonton Oilers as the foremost disaster in the NHL early into the 2023–24 season. Save for the strong play of Warren Foegele nothing has come up for the Oilers. In fact, the losing has formed into something of a black hole, sucking nearly every aspect of the team into uncertainty. Moment to moment tensions are high, and the possibility of seismic change looms across every level of the organisation, from general manager, to coach, to starting goalie.
Star players unable to produce
As such, it would be difficult to pinpoint specific areas that the Oilers can feel good about. As Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are off to the lowest production levels of their time together on the Oilers, it should not be too much of a surprise that the Oilers are doing so poorly. McDavid has clearly played through the injury that sidelined him already this season, at the very least, an understandable hindrance.
For his part, even Draisaitl’s position on the team is being openly questioned in certain corners of Oil Country. With the play of their superstars uncharacteristically lacking, the power play, and the offence as a whole has dried up behind them. Even before considering the defensive miscues that have led to grade A scoring chances for opponents, or the generally lacklustre performance of the goaltending this is trouble for the Oilers.
The team has played well, even carried play in some of their recent losses, yet the Oilers are lapsing in several metrics key to team success. Frustrations seem to present more clearly on the ice with each passing loss, the team clearly steeping in the negativity inherent in such a stretch of games, to open the season no less.
Is coaching and management in trouble?
In between it all the Oilers have fallen to the bottom of the NHL standings, and a growing speculation surrounds Coach Jay Woodcroft’s future with the team. With Jack Campbell being waived and Connor Brown falling to injury before receiving his bonus in dramatic moves by the Oilers, we have seen management take drastic measures to help turn the team’s fortunes.
Time will tell just how drastic the Oilers are feeling. With such a deep uncertainty befalling the team, the GM’s office might be as unsettled as any other aspect of the team. With Jeff Jackson stepping in as team president, and current GM Ken Holland with only one year left on his deal, there was already some thought that the Oilers might make a change beyond this season.
Holland himself has repeatedly expressed that he has no interest in a years long approach to teambuilding, otherwise known as “green bananas”. If the Oilers require a new direction or philosophy of teambuilding, one that might even might even require relinquishing control of the present. In other words, there’s reason for us to doubt if Holland is truly the best GM for the Oilers at this moment.
At the same time, it doesn’t appear that the Oilers have begun any formal GM searches. We would hope that the Oilers would have time to cast a wide web, combining through candidates beyond due diligence, especially in such a highly important position. It hardly seems like the Oilers would have a chance to hit the ground running with a new GM in the next month.
It is possible that instead of firing Holland in season that the front office might act more slowly. Perhaps bigger decisions are best deferred, away from the emotions running hot with a season slipping away. While there is time left to turn the season around, the Oilers need to exercise caution in trading away their first-round pick.
There is still hope
Oil Country is left with more questions than answers. While we can’t predict the future, it is safe to say the Oilers will have better 12 game stretches. Will there be enough time to make a playoff push? Are things unravelling enough to undo the Oilers 10-year plan?
Presumably, if the Oilers are able to squeak into a playoff spot they would command some level of respect. With their star power and a share of recent playoff successes, no matter how the Oilers sneak into the playoffs they will be a threat.
Photo by Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire
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