EDMONTON \u2014 There is little question this Oilers team is motivated to make amends for an early playoff exit.<\/p>\n
The signs are plentiful, as GM Ken Holland noted in his first official media address of the season on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Leon Draisaitl bought a house in Toronto so he could train more often with the team\u2019s contingent of Southern Ontario players. One of whom, captain Connor McDavid, called the squad back to Edmonton two weeks earlier than usual so they could all skate together. This team appears to be on a mission.<\/p>\n
Desire alone doesn\u2019t cut it, though. It\u2019ll take more than a little extra sweat and blood for the Oilers to take another step or two and win the ultimate prize.<\/p>\n
They\u2019re going to need the players who had successful campaigns to repeat their performances and ideally improve on them. Those who weren\u2019t up to snuff last season must find a way to get back on track.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s the individual, and then there\u2019s the collective, too.<\/p>\n
For as close and committed as this Oilers group seems, the true test of that will be how they play together on the ice. That starts Thursday when on-ice sessions of training camp begin.<\/p>\n
Based on what was discussed Wednesday, this is what\u2019s worth keeping an eye on.<\/p>\n
Everyone knows the Oilers can score. They led the NHL in offence thanks to McDavid, Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins recording at least 100 points and the best power play in league history.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s the defensive side of the ice where things need a boost. Never was that evident more than in the playoffs when they allowed 3.5 goals per game.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just maybe sacrificing 3-5 percent of your offence to ensure and be 100 percent instead of maybe 90 percent when it comes to playing defensively and keeping the puck out of your net,\u201d winger Evander Kane said.<\/p>\n
Kane was clearly speaking from a forward\u2019s perspective where he\u2019s part of an offensively charged top six. Holland is hoping that the inclusion of offseason acquisition Connor Brown, a two-way winger, to that group will help.<\/p>\n
Look for Mattias Ekholm, the defensive conscience of the team, to keep the group in line.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got to get to where it\u2019s OK to be in the D-zone for a minute, for a shift here and there even if you are a 60-goal scorer or a high-producing player,\u201d he said. \u201cYou can\u2019t start after 20 seconds to just go on your own page and then try to do something. It hurts us in the end.\u201d<\/p>\n
Per Ken Holland, Mattias Ekholm has a hip flexor and won\u2019t be on the ice to start training camp.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Daniel Nugent-Bowman (@DNBsports) September 20, 2023<\/p>\n
Of course, the forwards aren\u2019t the only players worth noting here.<\/p>\n
All seven defencemen \u2014 eight if Markus Niemelainen is included \u2014 are back and there were no additions nor subtractions to the mix. That means internal growth is a must, namely from 2019 first-round pick Philip Broberg.<\/p>\n
Kane hinted at some changes that could be coming to the Oilers\u2019 neutral- and defensive-zone coverages. Those will be interesting to watch in early practices and in preseason games. Buy-in and cohesion are essential.<\/p>\n
But the skaters can\u2019t do it all. There\u2019s also the last line of defence.<\/p>\n
Holland said the same thing Wednesday that he\u2019s said each year he\u2019s been the team\u2019s manager \u2014 the Oilers are going to need to rely on two goaltenders to be successful. They could really only trust one of them last season, and it wasn\u2019t the one anyone expected.<\/p>\n
Rookie Stuart Skinner stole the crease thanks partially to some sound work that earned him second place in the Calder Trophy voting. They can\u2019t afford his game to dip much considering everyone already witnessed in the playoffs what a dip looks like.<\/p>\n
Skinner also became the starter, essentially by American Thanksgiving, because Jack Campbell was so lousy. Campbell was statistically one of the worst goalies in the NHL last season.<\/p>\n
That changed in the playoffs when he had a .961 save percentage in 118 relief minutes. His postseason work could be a turning point. But Campbell and Holland are really banking on a fresh start and a tweak in the goaltender\u2019s mindset being the winning ticket.<\/p>\n
Campbell isn\u2019t tinkering with his equipment and doesn\u2019t plan on changing his gear like he did last season. He\u2019s now a lot more comfortable in Edmonton.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s also trying to not be so hard on himself \u2014 something he\u2019s long been known to do \u2014 for allowing bad goals or too many of them.<\/p>\n
\u201cI judge myself pretty heavily and sometimes you have to let that go,\u201d Campbell said. \u201cSometimes things are going to go great out there and some nights it\u2019s not going to go my way. But it\u2019s about not being too hard on myself and still keeping that passion and still having that standard of wanting to save every shot, but not necessarily losing a week\u2019s sleep over it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Skinner spent the summer on the ice with Oilers goalie coach Dustin Schwartz, and the Flyers\u2019 Carter Hart and Penguins\u2019 Tristan Jarry \u2014 the former a Sherwood Park native and the latter a former WHL Oil King. Campbell worked with former NHL goalie Manny Legace in Michigan before returning to Edmonton to reunite with Skinner and Schwartz.<\/p>\n
Fan favourite Sam Gagner\u2019s hips aren\u2019t healthy enough to play exhibition games, according to Holland, which means he won\u2019t be able to turn his tryout offer into an NHL contract in time for opening night.<\/p>\n
Oilers GM Ken Holland mentioned this tonight. Getting Gagner back up and running in Bakersfield (if that ends up happening) would give the Oilers another useful call-up option later in the season. https:\/\/t.co\/pR7xXeB4eR<\/p>\n
\u2014 Daniel Nugent-Bowman (@DNBsports) September 20, 2023<\/p>\n
Gagner\u2019s health leaves his playing future with the organization in question. Holland said the veteran forward is willing to resume his career in AHL Bakersfield in an attempt to earn a third stint with the team that drafted him.<\/p>\n
Whether it\u2019s soon or later, Gagner would be an asset to an NHL team in a player development or management role. There\u2019d be no better place than Edmonton, where his former agent Jeff Jackson is now the big boss, and his wife Rachel Linke is from.<\/p>\n
Heck, there could be a hole to fill within the organization due to a potential upcoming departure.<\/p>\n
Special adviser Steve Staios isn\u2019t listed on the Oilers website, nor does he appear in the media guide issued Wednesday. Holland said Staios has been dealing with a family issue and the two men haven\u2019t spoken in a month. He added that Staios remains with the Oilers.<\/p>\n
We\u2019ll see if that\u2019s still the case once Michael Andlauer officially becomes the new owner of the Senators. Staios worked for Andlauer as GM of the OHL\u2019s Hamilton Bulldogs before joining the Oilers last fall.<\/p>\n
(Photo of Jack Campbell and Stuart Skinner: Perry Nelson \/ USA Today)<\/p>\n