Ken Holland assesses cards that may need to be addressed heading into cup play

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The All-Star Game is over. The same goes for the warm, sandy interludes of other songs.

It's time for the Edmonton Oilers to get serious.

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That will happen in an interesting way on Tuesday night as the Oilers head into Las Vegas on a 16-game winning streak and face a rematch with the club they eliminated in the postseason last spring.

But while that bill is certainly flashy, even that is somewhat dampened by the hoopla surrounding the NHL Trade Deadline.

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In this edition we will discuss both in detail…

nine things

9. Probably like you, I also notice Jordan Eberle's A name was mentioned linking the former Oilers star and now-expired Seattle UFA to Edmonton. You see, I have plenty of time for Hébert. However, his income is $5.5 million. He doesn't have much else left if they're going to clear cap space for him. And I'm not sure his skillset (legitimate NHL scorer) is what the Oilers need most.

8. stuart skinner was named the NHL's Star of the Month for January. All he did was win all nine games he started (part of a 12-game winning streak) with a 1.33 GAA and .953 SV%. Barring an injury or other exigent situation, Skinner will get the most time in the playoffs for Edmonton.What on earth are you impressed by? Calvin Picard I've been doing this since I arrived. But does the organization view this combination as a (potential) combination to win the Stanley Cup? jack campbell By the way, his SV% is .935 in his last seven starts.

7. I see the Oilers' top target at the deadline as a 3-4 two-way center with some size, faceoff ability, and penalty experience. I always say you can never have too many centers. We'll discuss some names in a moment.But I also have doubts ken holland Are you looking to adjust your defensive unit? Now I understand the logic behind adding an experienced veteran layer in case of injuries. However, upgrading their existing top four (particularly good players) may not be in their best interest.

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6. The NHL All-Star Game Skills Contest is the single part of All-Star Weekend that I'm most excited about. And it's another platform where we can test our eyes on ideas like: conor mcdavid He may be the most advanced player in league history.I grew up watching bobby orr It was such an incredible feat that I thought, “How did he do that?” I had a similar experience with Connor. He won all four divisions and walked away with a check for $1 million.

5. The big news after the All-Star break was that NHL players would be returning to the Olympics. I know that some people think that only amateurs can compete in the Olympics. But that's an outdated way of thinking. Even the “amateurs” who competed in past Olympics were (in most cases) not true amateurs. Besides, there's no reason not to be a fan of the “best athletes'' who represent their country in their favorite sport. I really don't think it can get any better.

4. So, if Canada's roster were to be chosen today, how many Edmonton Oilers do you think would be selected? conor mcdavid It's obviously rock. Zach Hyman's His 30 goals and excellent two-way play make him a top prospect.I think ryan nugent hopkins Serious consideration will be given in advance. On defense, he will make his critics wonder, nurse darnell It's worth a look. He has 11 goals and 43 points in 45 games, so Evan Bouchard. Finally, Team Canada's Achilles heel could be goaltending.do stuart skinner By then it will be in focus. It will be fun to watch.

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3. That's old news now Elias Lindholm Vancouver Canucks. He could have been a good Oilers, but both his purchase price and (more to the point) cap situation weren't ideal.I have and will continue to watch over you Colton Sissons and Nick Dowd. Dowd is of particular interest to me. It may not be a very sexy name. But he does a lot of the heavy lifting in Washington. His 93% of his 5-on-5 shifts start in the defensive zone, but his goal-for-go rate is 61%. His TOI/game on his penalty kill ranks in the top 10 in the NHL, and the right-handed center has won 52.3% of his draws over the past six years. This is a very high value of $1.3 million.

2. The Edmonton Oilers assistant manager and professional scout was seen the last few nights at Claire Drake Arena in Edmonton against the Alberta Golden Bears. Remember: brad holland Based in Toronto. He could have just been hanging out at the All-Star festivities. Instead, Brad Holland was actually going out and doing the work, scouting two dozen or so people who could become important members of the organization in the future. Canada West is a good league. These players are often great overage juniors who just went undrafted. But they are mature, smart and competitive.everyone likes Eric Frochuk (a big, talented center from Fort Saskatchewan who was a point-a-game player in the WHL and CWUAA) and Jakin Smallwood (Leduc's good boy who played on the line) conor geeky (located in Winnipeg) is in the Oilers' backyard. If Edmonton releases draft capital this spring, it will fill an organizational hole.

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1. Ken Holland also missed the NHL All-Star Game, instead spending the last few nights in Bakersfield watching the Condors. Believe please. All the players' ears perked up. Knowing that their “boss” took the time to meet with them in person should have made them take a step forward. Of course, with the NHL's trade deadline approaching on March 8th, it will be important for GMs to get direct access to prospects within their organization. He needs to know exactly what's in the cupboard. Still, it's nice to see that Ken Holland is still willing to go out there and put in the effort after 27 years as a general manager in this league.So when Ken accepted everything, it was no coincidence that the young kid he drafted was born Xavier Bourgaudhad perhaps the best two games of his AHL career.

You'll remember that Burgaud was Oilers 1.^cent Round pick (22^n.d. Overall) in the 2021 Entry Draft. After four very productive seasons with the Shawinigan Cataracts of the QMJHL, the crafty Bourgaard found moderate success in 2022-23 (13-21-34 in 62 games as a rookie). Although his points per game rate has remained flat this season, his two-way play has significantly improved. Bourgeau's name will likely come up in multiple conversations as Edmonton's deadline approaches.Many clubs will be looking for one^cent Round pick or 1^cent Round equivalence in exchange for assets. How will other clubs rate Bourgod? And is that view changing? After all, AHL prospects often improve midway through Season #2.

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I wasn't always interested in what was going on over there in Bourgog. However, he was finally selected by Bakersfield's top line players (Drake Kagiura and lane pederson) I hear they were just as impressive in their last few games in the Lone Star State as the farmworkers in Dallas maverick burg (Burgaard's teammate at Shawinigan) and Logan Stankhofen. And these two guys who happen to be 1-2 in AHL scoring right now. And as mentioned above, Bourgog's two-way game is a strength. He's a regular penalty taker and scored a shorthanded goal on Friday.

Some are uncomfortable with the conversation that the Oilers' pool of prospects, already diminished by the past two trade deadlines, will be further diminished if an attractive player like Bourgod ends up being moved. And to some extent I understand that. but…

…The Oilers’ chances of winning are now wide open. There's not much point in getting into a gunfight unless you're willing to fire every bullet.

Currently in thread @kleavins. You can also find us on Twitter at @KurtLeavins, on Instagram at LeavinsOnHockey and on Mastodon at KurtLeavins@mstdn.social.

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