Published Nov 01, 2023<\/span> \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 9\u00a0minutes ago<\/span> \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 3 minute read<\/span><\/p>\n The bottom line forwards on the Edmonton Oilers have yet to score a goal.<\/p>\n But it\u2019s not just them failing to come through at the offensive end for the team, which has just two wins in eight games.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n It\u2019s all the forwards on the Oilers not named Leon Draisaitl, Warren Foegele or Zach Hyman. Every other forward is having a difficult time both in scoring goals and in launching Grade A shots on net, at least compared to last season.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n REGISTER TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The lack of production of the third and fourth lines was addressed by Oilers coach Jay Woocroft on Tuesday when he said: \u201cBottom line for us, we want to be a team that comes at the opposition in waves. We want to maintain a level of momentum in terms of stacking a good shift on top of a good shift, on top of another. Part of that requires some production from unusual sources or not the typical sources\u2026 Those players in our bottom six \u2014 or really bottom five right now \u2014 have to find a way to ensure they are affecting games in different manners. It\u2019s finishing checks, it\u2019s winning face-offs, it\u2019s contributing on face-offs. But finding a way to contribute on the scoreboard\u2026 that\u2019s concerning.\u201d<\/p>\n Between them Mattias Janmark, Derek Ryan, Connor Brown, Adam Erne, Dylan Holloway and Ryan McLeod have yet to score a goal in eight games.<\/p>\n They\u2019ve launched 20 Grade A shots on net, so part of their lack of scoring is bad luck. On average Grade A shots go in 25 per cent of the time so you might expect them to have about five goals by now.<\/p>\n But it\u2019s not just them struggling to score. Draisaitl and Foegele are the only two Oilers forwards who are getting off more Grade A shots per game on net than they did last year.<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Last year, Draisaitl got 2.0 Grade A shots per game. This year he\u2019s at 2.8 per game.<\/p>\n Foegele has shot up like a rocket, going from 0.9 per game last year to 1.8 per game this year, all that while playing hardly any power play time.<\/p>\n Hyman has held close to steady, with 2.2 last year, 1.8 this year.<\/p>\n But Connor McDavid. He\u2019s dropped from 3.1 Grade A shots per game last year to just 1.5 per game this year.<\/p>\n Ryan Nugent Hopkins? 1.4 last year, 0.9 this year.<\/p>\n Evander Kane: 1.6 last year, 0.9 this year.<\/p>\n McDavid had 64 goals in 82 games last year. This year he\u2019s at two in six games.<\/p>\n The big boys have not been able to get it done, in large part because that McDavid looks like he\u2019s been playing hurt for some time, culminating in him missing two games.<\/p>\n The good news?<\/p>\n This season is still young. Just eight games. Small sample size. Things can easily turn around. McDavid can get healthy again and again go supernova.<\/p>\n But it\u2019s not just the bottom line forwards struggling and dragging the team down just now. It\u2019s all the forwards who aren\u2019t up to their previous standard, which means all save for Draisaitl, Foegele and Hyman.<\/p>\n How Alberta can best survive the wretched meltdown of Trudeau\u2019s government<\/strong><\/p>\n McCURDY: Gagner is back. Again! And again!<\/strong><\/p>\n McCURDY: Adam Erne waived; who will replace him?<\/strong><\/p>\n STAPLES: Who has been the best Oiler\u2019s d-man so far this year?<\/strong><\/p>\n McCURDY: Player grades for Heritage Classic stomping of Flames<\/strong><\/p>\n LEAVINS: All systems go for McDavid in Heritage Classic \u2014 9 Things<\/strong><\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Share this article in your social network<\/p>\n Comments<\/p>\n Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. We have enabled email notifications\u2014you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. 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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – OCTOBER 19: Ryan McLeod #71 of the Edmonton Oilers skates with the puck during the third period against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center on October 19, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.<\/span> Photo by Tim Nwachukwu<\/span> \/Getty Images<\/span><\/p>\nArticle content<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nStaples on politics<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nAt the Cult of Hockey<\/h3>\n