With the halfway point of the season nearing, the Edmonton Oilers are riding high. It is not easy to carry the burden of high expectations, nor is it easy to get over the narrow defeat that ended last season, but the Oilers are full value as one of the NHL’s best teams.
With that in mind, let’s grade each individual player on their work so far this season. Admittedly, some players are held to higher standards than others, and these grade will reflect these individual rubrics as well as general contributions.
Forwards
Connor McDavid: A+
We have become used to exceptional from Connor McDavid, so much that his incredible performance so far this season is overlooked. The captain will earn plenty more individual recognition in due time, but the bigger concern is the ultimate team success. The Oilers have a great team around him, and he seems to be putting down more roots in Edmonton.
With Leon Draisaitl signed and the team poised for another strong season, not to mention his former agent at the helm as president, a contract extension seems inevitable. The Stanley Cup itself is not so fickle, but the Oilers are giving him a shot to get the job done.
Leon Draisaitl: A+
This season appears to be one of Leon Draisaitl’s finest yet, playing what might be the best defensive hockey of his career. Of course the offensive play is still in top form, as Draisaitl has come through in clutch moments as usual. The season he captured the Hart Trophy McDavid was absent due to injury, meaning this might be the first time one could argue that Draisaitl has outperformed McDavid straight up. Needless to say this is a good problem to have.
Zach Hyman: B-
Arguably the biggest underperformed of the first half, Zach Hyman had a rough start. While his shooting luck should turn around, expecting another 50-goal season is optimistic. At his age and cap cost, 30 goals would still be a great season, and Hyman still brings a lot more to the ice than net front goal scoring.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins: B
While equalling his 100-point season is an unreasonable expectation, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is still contributing on the penalty kill and providing the lineup with a lot of flexibility.
Viktor Arvidsson: B
Given his history, Viktor Arvidsson missing time with injury is not surprising. Still, the feisty winger has been a good fit with Draisaitl.
Vasily Podkolzin: B+
Vasily Podkolzin might not have outstanding production, but he has earned his increased icetime. The gamble to take a chance on the former high draft pick has paid off.
Adam Henrique: B
Like most of the middle six, Adam Henrique’s production so far leaves a bit to be desired. Still, Henrique is a stabilizing force on the lineup, joining Nugent-Hopkins as a key member of the penalty kill.
Connor Brown: B
After posting an abnormally low even strength points per 60 last season, Connor Brown boasts a career high in that metric this season. Playing some of the best hockey of his career, Brown has earned a spot higher in the lineup, and likely a raise on his next contract.
Mattias Janmark: B-
Like Brown, Mattias Janmark has been an unexpected source of secondary scoring for the Oilers. While a regular role higher in the lineup might be out of reach, aha mark does not cheat the Oilers for effort.
Jeff Skinner: C-
Jeff Skinner’s game is more one dimensional than many of the Oilers forwards who have similar production. Still, with McDavid and Draisaitl commanding so much of the offensive attention, it can be difficult for others to carve out offensive opportunities. Skinner has not found his footing yet, but much of his scoring has come at even strength, at least. Many will hope his cap hit is shipped out at the deadline, though his biggest moments as an Oiler might yet lie ahead.
Kasperi Kapanen: C+
Picked up off of waivers, the mercurial winger has played his best hockey in years as an Oiler. Despite often falling out of favour on weaker teams, Kasperi Kapanen brings an element of speed the Oilers appreciate. At the very least Kapanen is a nice rotational depth piece.
Corey Perry: C+
Though he has been old and slow for five years, Corey Perry is still finding way to contribute. He is still a force in close quarters, at the net front, and along the boards in cycle situations.
Derek Ryan: C-
The long-standing and unlikely NHL effectiveness of Derek Ryan is coming to a close. A regular spot as a fourth line centre might now be too much to ask. He is still a smart player, and can still fill in on the wing in leaner times.
Defence
Evan Bouchard: A
A high risk high reward player, Evan Bouchard will make his share of mistakes. These will ruffle more feathers when the team is struggling, but Bouchard often rounds into form as the season progresses. Even some of the NHL’s best teams struggle to get offence from their bluelines, something the Oilers do not have to worry about with Bouchard in the lineup.
Mattias Ekholm: A
Though not as flashy as Bouchard, Mattias Ekholm is every bit as impactful. Early season concerns of age related decline have receded. It is important to acknowledge that the Oilers only truly became a top tier team after Ekholm joined the fold, and have remained such since.
Darnell Nurse: A-
Like any defenceman, Darnell Nurse has had some tough moments. Often a whipping boy for Oil Country, largely due to his cap cost, Nurse is playing some of the best hockey of his career. Undeniably Nurse makes the Oilers better, login huge minutes in important roles for the team.
Brett Kulak: A-
Easily his finest season, Brett Kulak has been rock steady as a top-four defenceman. The Edmonton native has surpassed all expectations during his time as an Oiler.
Ty Emberson: B-
Acquired with a draft pick for Cody Ceci, Ty Emberson has held his own as a member of the Oilers top six. As a right shot, this is a great development for the Oilers, and comes at a minuscule cap cost.
Troy Stecher: C+
Troy Stecher is undersized and does not possess dynamic skill, yet he remains a capable depth option on the right side. Nurse is a fairly ideal partner for Stecher, and the team could do much worse than the veteran if his services are required in the playoffs.
Josh Brown: D+
Josh Brown is not an everyday NHL defenceman, but he is a big, strong, physical right shot. If playoff games are required it will be nerve racking, yet Brown provides a known commodity and has passed through waivers. The Oilers will be hoping that others surpass him on the depth chart, but for now there is at least some value here.
Goalies
Stuart Skinner: B+
Stuart Skinner seems subject to the Oilers fall malaise, though he has rounded into form alongside the rest of the team. He may not be a Vezina Trophy candidate or a member of team Canada’s 4 Nations Faceoff roster, but Skinner deserves recognition. His early years as a starter have been behind strong teams, and Skinner has delivered on all, save but one win in the spotlight.
Calvin Pickard: B-
Calvin Pickard is not the most highly touted backup in the league, but his cap cost reflects this. Behind a strong team and often receiving favourable starts, Pickard is still playing as well as can be hoped. There might come a time when Olivier Rodrigue starts to push for Pickard’s backup role, but for now the Oilers have a very cost effective tandem.
Photo by Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire
