With the number of NHL teams remaining in contention for the Stanley Cup dwindling down, the 11th hour has begun for the 2023–24 season. The Western Conference final is set with the Dallas Stars taking on the Edmonton Oilers.
Dallas Stars
Even before a Cup win, the Dallas Stars have earned a lot of credit, their teambuilding philosophy revered to a level often reserved for champions. It was not too long ago that the franchise seemed adrift, the ageing core of Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin no longer amongst the league’s best players. However, through years of consistently strong decisions, GM Jim Nill has led the charge in revitalising the team.
The Stars have continued to add layers of talent to their lineup through the years. While there are veteran players added through free agency that have helped the Stars cause, like Joe Pavelski and Matt Duchene, more impressive has been their drafting and developing under Nill. Logan Stankoven joins Wyatt Johnston and Thomas Harley in providing all star level play on an entry level deal. With another group, Miro Heiskanen, Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz, and Jake Oettinger firmly in their primes it’s no wonder that the Stars have been among the favourites all season.
After a trip to the conference final last season, the Stars have had their mettle tested to a higher degree than any other team left standing. Both series to this point have seen the Stars against Stanley Cup level opponents in the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche. Despite falling behind early against the Knights, the Stars have looked like the stronger team in both series.
Edmonton Oilers
As an Edmonton Oilers blog, our readership is familiar with the Oilers. Nevertheless, led by two of the game’s all time great players, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, the Oilers stars give them a puncher’s shot in any given game. The duo are no strangers to individual success, unrelenting even under the lawlessness of the NHL playoffs. At one point criticisms about the Oilers strength beyond these two were legitimate, but that simply isn’t the case anymore.
Evan Bouchard has played well enough to be a Norris Trophy candidate, and should be in conversations to represent Canada at a best-on-best tournament. Bouchard has proven himself a cut above the rest of the Oilers blueline, though Darnell Nurse and Mattias Ekholm are still high quality options. All of Vincent Desharnais, Brett Kulak, and Cody Ceci are at least capable third pair players. This might not be the top blueline in the NHL, but it is deserving of a lot more credit than it gets.
Of course, the Oilers forwards are a strength, even beyond McDavid and Draisaitl. Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins lead the next wave, but Dylan Holloway is emerging even beyond that. With useful role players making up the Oilers bottom six there might be a wanting for more depth scoring, but as a whole there are a lot of skill sets at Coach Kris Knoblauch’s disposal.
The Oilers host the biggest question mark among the NHL’s four remaining teams, as public confidence in starter Stuart Skinner is shaken. In fairness to Skinner he has been thrown into the fire in his career, taking over the starting role for an aspiring contender as a rookie. Calvin Pickard proved capable of buying some time, but the Oilers will need Skinner to play up to his standard to have a chance.
At the very least the Oilers make their return to the Western Conference Finals a more complete team than they were two seasons ago. The players have bought in, and the team’s defensive identity has followed suit. The penalty kill is playing at a high level as well. Given their commitment to playing defence, the Oilers will make it easy for whichever goalie is in net.
Prediction
Stars in seven
Tensions will be as high as ever as these two historical rivals faceoff. The Stars have a decided advantage in net, boast a bit more skill deeper in their forward group, and perhaps most importantly have had great success against the Oilers on the power play. If the Oilers are able to win the special teams battle, as they have been so far this playoffs, they will be in a good position to overcome Oettinger and the Stars. Both teams have proved their worth in reaching this point, and the margins are slim, but the Stars will be favoured to advance.
Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire
