As part of a series, writer Benjamin Benya will be forecasting the plan of the five worst NHL teams as the trade deadline nears. Will they be big sellers or stick to their guns and stomp through the trenches?
Another season has seemingly passed the Edmonton Oilers by, so we once again find ourselves wondering who, if anyone, Edmonton will attempt to dispatch this season. Since making the Stanley Cup Finals five years ago, it has been pretty much a steady decline for fans wearing the Oilers sweater.
Coaching and management changes, the ongoing saga of Sheldon Souray, and ridiculous contracts like those given to Dustin Penner an Shawn Horcoff locked Edmonton into an unenviable position of poor play and last place finishes. But the 2010-11 season started with such promise when the Oilers debuted three top fleet rookies to lead them into the future: Taylor Hall, Magnus Paajarvi, and Jordan Eberle.
Still, despite a few highlight reel moments and flashes of brilliance, this team evolution takes time and the Oilers are the only Western Conference team that, at press time, clearly won't be making the playoffs. Saying that things could be better would be ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Benjamin Benya
NHL Trade Deadline 2011 Team Preview, Part One: Edmonton Oilers
February 5th, 2011 by Benjamin Benya Leave a reply »
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