Ken Holland

McDavid and Draisaitl need backup in order for Oilers to be a legit contender

Edmonton Oilers general manager Ken Holland was asked a simple question: “Do you have a No. 1 goaltender for next season?” “No, I don’t think we have a number one goalie. I do not, no.” But if you think this is the only issue facing the Oilers and Holland this offseason, think again. The talk […]

Oilers: Leon Draisatil battled major injury for nearly all of the playoffs

The grimacing was a dead giveaway. But Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland confirmed Wednesday that forward Leon Draisaitl was battling a high-ankle sprain for nearly a month. Holland explained that Draisaitl injured the ankle during Game 6 of the quarterfinals against the Los Angeles Kings. But like a typical hockey player, Draisatil put on his […]

Detroit Red Wings: How Good is Jonatan Berggren?

Detroit Red Wings General Manager Ken Holland selected Jonatan Berggren 33rd overall in the 2018 Entry Draft. In May 2021, Berggren signed his three-year entry-level contract with the Red Wings. It is expected that Berggren will make his NHL debut next season. Was Jonatan Berggren the steal of the draft? Generational Entry Draft The 2018 […]

Oilers: How Have Mid-Season Additions Impacted the Oilers in the Playoffs?

History shows that Stanley Cup-winning teams are rarely a complete roster on the opening day of the NHL season. The two-time defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning were aggressive on deadline day in 2020, acquiring Barclay Goodrow and Blake Coleman, two key depth pieces to give them the boost they needed to win their second Stanley […]

Consistency Is Key

Heading into the 2021-22 season fresh off of signing a 2-year extension, Mike Smith was looking to replicate last season’s play, where he had an unbelievable campaign. In 2020-21, Mike Smith had a record of 21-6-2, a GAA of 2.31, and a .923 SV%. Both Smith’s GAA and SV% last season was the 2nd best […]

What Will Jay Woodcroft and Dave Manson Bring to the Oilers?

With the very recent news of Oilers firing Dave Tippett and hiring AHL affiliate Bakersfield Condors head coach Jay Woodcroft, the Oilers are doing something they haven’t done in a long time… taking a step towards adjusting to today’s game. Not only was Tippett fired, but the Oilers also fired defensive coach Jim Playfair. Holland […]

Report: Evander Kane Signs With the Edmonton Oilers

Evander Kane is an Oiler at last. After the NHL concluded their investigation into Kane, the reports were confirmed. The Oilers announced that Evander Kane signed a one-year deal in Edmonton worth an AAV of $2.094 million. Kane’s contract with the San Jose Sharks was terminated for violating the AHL’s COVID protocols while on a […]

Edmonton Needs To Make Changes Soon, Or Else

Last night, the Oilers were beating the visiting Ottawa Senators 3-1, heading into the 3rd period, in which their depth scored all three goals. All they need to do is not give up the lead to the 30th place Senators team, get the win, and get back into a wildcard spot. They can surely do […]

3 Takeaways From Ken Holland’s Press Conference

Tuesday morning at 10:00 am local time, Ken Holland took questions from the media and gave his thoughts on the state of the team. Here are some of the main takeaways from the media availability. Ken Holland is not keen on an in-season coaching change When asked if he believes in firing coaches during the […]

How Important Is Darnell Nurse to the Oilers?

This summer, Ken Holland extended Darnell Nurse to a controversial contract extension worth $9.25 million AAV. While I believe the contract was an overpay, it was a player they absolutely needed to sign. After losing Oscar Klefbom, Adam Larsson, and Ethan Bear over the course of two seasons, the Oilers have had to lean on […]