Do you really want to read another article outlining what ails the Edmonton Oilers? I understand misery likes company, but there is little joy in Oilersville right now, so let’s take a break, at least for one day, and not discuss special teams or a struggling offence.
For a change of pace, let’s look at 10 questions and what answers we get.
1. Craig MacTavish and Randy Gregg will be inducted into the Edmonton Oilers Hall of Fame this Friday night after the Oilers/Penguins game. The ceremony will be post-game for a variety of reasons, but the good news for fans in attendance is that the concessions will remain open after the game. After the game, you will have 8-10 minutes before the ceremony begins. They will clear the ice, unroll the red carpet, set up the chairs and get Gregg, MacTavish and their families and friends down to the ice. Gregg is one of seven Oilers to have played on all five Stanley Cup-winning teams, while MacTavish was part of the Oilers as a player, assistant coach, head coach, VP of Hockey Operations and General Manager. Both are deserving of this honour.
My question is: You can nominate one person to go into the Oilers Hall of Fame next season. Who would you nominate?
2. Which of these four players will reach 500 career goals first?
A. David Pastrnak (352 goals).
B. Leon Draisaitl (350).
C. Nathan MacKinnon (338).
D. Connor McDavid (338).
Who and why?
3. Can you name the three active goalies who have scored an NHL goal?
4. There are many players who have scored 20+ goals in their careers, but are still looking for their first goal this season. How many of these players will finish with 25+ goals this season, despite having none yet?
Zach Hyman
Elias Pettersson
Jake Debrusk
Brad Marchand
Carter Verhaeghe
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
Quinton Byfield
Pierre-Luc Dubois
Viktor Arvidsson
5. Cale Makar is off to an amazing start with 14 points in seven games. Will he join Paul Coffey and Bobby Orr as the only defencemen to score 104+ points in a season?
6. How much will the Rangers pay Igor Shesterkin? Based on recent contracts I don’t see why they’d go any higher than $9.5m.
Connor Hellebuyck signed last October for $8.5m. Ilya Sorokin, Jeremy Swayman, Linus Ullmark, and Jake Oettinger have all signed for $8.25m starting now or next season.
I don’t see any numbers that suggest Shesterkin should get $3m more than Hellebuyck and company. I respect Shesterkin asking for it, but he’s only had one truly elite season thus far. Maybe he has another this year, but he will be turning 30 when his new contract begins. If he signs for a high salary, then the term has to be shorter. Giving him both would be a major risk for the Rangers.
I asked Kevin Woodley about Shesterkin’s alleged $11m+ ask.
“If I was going to (sign him for $11m), it would be at the expense of term. You’ve heard me say this, at the expense of my goalie union card: If I’m a GM I avoid term because there is so much volatility. Now he’s been, for the most part, free of that volatility. Even his down years are still good, and way better than most. But he only had one year at that incredible high level and that’s sort of what you’re asking him to be paid like. And so, their argument is he’s the best player on the team, he deserves to be paid the best. You could make the argument that he’s the best goalie in the league — does he deserve Vasilevskiy or Bobrovsk money — and the counter argument to that is nobody in the last five years has gotten this.
I think there are a lot of goalies in that upper echelon that look at Connor Hellebuyck, now with two Vezina’s, and say ‘Man why couldn’t you have pushed the bank a little higher?’ I don’t know what I would do if I was the Rangers, but if I’m going to have to spend that much I might, and this might sound crazy to some people, he’s not a young man either, it’s not like he is 22 or 23, I would be hesitant on going eight years just because of the volatility that surrounds the position. If nothing else, you know you’re not going to get value out of that contract because I don’t think everyone else is going to come up with him (salary wise) for at least 3-4 years into it. So how far do you want to push it down the road, and how confident are you that that explosive, dynamic style that he plays will stand up over time?”
What AAV will Shesterkin get on his next deal?
7. Erik Karlsson (96 in 2023), Mario Ferraro (92 in 2024) have been on the ice for the most 5×5 goals against in a season in the salary cap era. Both were members of the Sharks. Karlsson was even though, which was impressive. With offence increasing, is this the year we see a player on for 100 GA at 5×5? Any team or player seem plausible as a candidate?
8. If you had to pick one of Buffalo, Ottawa or Detroit to make the playoffs this season, who and why?
9. Auston Matthews had a career high 369 shots last season and a career high 69 goals (nice, twice). He is averaging over five shots/game early this season. Will be become the fourth player in the salary cap era with 400+ shots on goal in a season? Alex Ovechkin (3x), Pastrnak and MacKinnon (1x) were the others.
10. What will the Oilers’ record be at the end of this month? They are 2-4-1 and host Pittsburgh Friday, then play in Detroit, Columbus and Nashville.

PRESENTED BY STAR MECHANICAL

Star Mechanical is one of Edmonton’s biggest locally owned and operated plumbing and heating businesses. They have been working within the community for over 20 years, and many of the homes built in Edmonton over the last two decades have had their plumbing and heating systems installed by Star Mechanical.  Visit them at starmechanical.ca to schedule an appointment and let them help keep your home running smoothly.