EDMONTON – The Edmonton Oilers finally found themselves on the inside of the NHL Playoffs rather than looking on with envy like they have since the 2005-06 season, the last time the Oilers were in the playoffs. Finally Edmonton fans were not only looking on with pride but with a sense that the 2016-17 was the start of possibly a long stretch of playoff appearances for years to come. With Connor McDavid all but ready to take over 
the mantle of the NHL’s best player once Sidney Crosby decides he’s won enough Stanley Cup titles to retire with, Oilers fans just might be onto something special.
The Oilers had seven players with 10 or more goals. McDavid had 30 all by his lonesome. Not only were they in the top ten in goals scored but they were in the top ten in goals allowed. If Edmonton has a couple of weaknesses it’s on face-offs were they were dead last in the NHL and 14th on the penalty kill.
Edmonton is becoming a more well-rounded team than in years past when defense was an option not part of the equation. As good as the Oilers have become, there is still more work to be done. The Oilers have some solid wingers waiting to crack the lineup and for the most part they are solid down the middle once you get past McDavid.
At PHN, we look into at the NHL Entry Draft and we see the Oilers, always looking for blue-chip prospects on the blueline, will look hard and heavy at adding another piece to their defense core. Keep the names Conor Timmons, Henri Jokiharju, Nicolas Hague, and Urho Vaakanainen in the back of your brains. It will be a bit of a tough call but at the end of the night next Friday night in Chicago, we expect Edmonton to make the following announcement.
“With the 22nd overall pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, the Edmonton Oilers select, from the Mississauga Steelheads of the Ontario Hockey League, defenseman Nicolas Hague.”
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