The Edmonton Oilers have battled many things over the last five seasons, but the attrition that occurs during the postseason may well be the team’s biggest obstacle to winning the Stanley Cup.
The club consistently reaches a playoff breaking point with a roster that is populated by injuries. The team’s top talents, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, are constant targets from opponents and it takes a toll each spring.
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This is not unique to the Oilers.That’s the price of pursuing Stanley, and all teams who make the playoffs have to deal with these issues.
In Fluto Shinzawa’s brilliant article for The Athletic recently, he quoted Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand: “People don’t want to say it. But part of the playoffs is trying to hurt every player on the other team.”
It was known by hockey people throughout the industry before the playoffs that the way to get past Edmonton was smash-mouth hockey.
An April 19 article for The Athletic from Harman Dayal and Chris Johnston quotedan anonymous executive expressing the postseason game plan: “We had a good meeting about that before we played Edmonton. We executed that strategy perfectly and we just abused them. If I’m going up against the Oilers and I identify that vulnerability, that is what I’m going after.”
The Oilers played Game 6 against the Vancouver Canucks with the kind of dogged puck pursuit and physical edge required every game in the postseason.
The club did it without the ultimate forward of this type in Corey Perry.
How did the team do it? Can the Oilers do it again?
Depth
During the 2023 offseason and at the deadline, general manager Ken Holland added depth in an effort to address possible roster attrition during the playoffs.
From June 2023 through the trade deadline in March 2o24, the club brought in the following players who could help in this area.
They included Perry, a legendary agitator with slow boots. Connor Brown, a speedy winger who can play any style. RC Sam Carrick, who brings a unique element (RH centre) and has some rugged elements to his game; LC Adam Henrique, the big deadline acquisition who brings a veteran presence and attention to detail.
The moves worked, but health has been an issue.
On Saturday night, without Perry and Henrique, the coaching staff found the answers with a mixture of youth and experience.
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The Saturday night wingers
The Oilers received exceptional effort on Saturday night, with the wingers playing an aggressive style and contesting all over the ice.
Zach Hyman is robust and tireless. For the postseason, he is averaging 16:01 per game at five-on-five and is the owner of 2.72 points per 60 in the discipline. He’s a top-flight winger. He has battled through injuries and delivered at a high level.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored three points on Saturday against Vancouver and has 14 for the playoffs so far. He is a great example of a player whose attention to detail and quickness allows him to impact the game often. Nuge is not a burly type, but can win picks with aplomb, using his veteran guile.
Evander Kane is a throwback enforcer who can play with skill. He scored again Saturday and now has four goals in 11 playoff games.
Dylan Holloway scored the first goal on Saturday night and is now up to three goals in 11 postseason games. No one has made a bigger move up the Oilers depth chart than Holloway, now spending time with Draisaitl and Kane. He’s a fine athlete and a willing participant physically.
Warren Foegele played 13:21 on Saturday and posted a high-danger scoring chance. The coaching staff faded his ice time in some games during these playoffs, (7:45 in Game 4) partly due to an errant pass that proved costly in Game 3. His presence on Saturday gave the team more pace and a greater forechecking presence.
Mattias Janmark and Connor Brown played solid depth minutes again and have teamed up for some offence in this series. Janmark is 3-1 goals at five-on-five during this year’s playoff run, and is a solid veteran with capable speed. Brown has played in just five games but is increasing his role as the Canucks series rolls on. His pass to Janmark to cash in Game 5 was one of the highlights of the spring for the depth lines.
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Derek Ryan might be the smartest player on the team and serves as a calming presence no matter the line.
Perry did not play Saturday night. The Oilers found a way to make up for his absence by committee brought on by the best depth on the roster since 2006 and the Stanley Cup run under then-coach Craig MacTavish.
The good and the bad
Holloway’s emergence in the postseason is the most encouraging development this postseason.
He was always fast and rugged, but the offence did not suggest he was an obvious option for a feature role. He’s a faster player who can get to the play more often.
Perry is the exact player type Edmonton needs, but his age and speed mean he’s unable to impact the game like he did in the past.
The wrinkle added on Saturday worked for all involved.
Credit Holloway, Brown and others, but every winger on the club had an impact against Vancouver.
Procurement
Perry isn’t a long-term solution, and finding a player of his type has been a long-term problem in Edmonton.
The club needs an outscorer with sandpaper who can play across the depth chart as required.
The template should be a player who has speed, no fear of physical contact and great attention to detail.
The player doesn’t need to be the size of someone like Kane, but should be able to move up and down the lineup.
Holloway is a strong candidate because of his speed and courage.
The goal he scored Saturday night was a perfect example of what Edmonton needs.
Perhaps Holloway signalled he has arrived, and just in time.
(Photo of Quinn Hughes and Dylan Holloway: Curtis Comeau / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Allan Mitchell is a contributor to The Athletic's Oilers coverage. Veteran radio broadcast. His blog, Lowetide, has chronicled the team since 2005. Follow Allan on Twitter @Lowetide
