Edmonton Oilers 2010 Preview & Predictions

Edmonton Oilers 2010 Season Preview, Predictions Picks & Odds

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EDMONTON OILERS

2009-10 record: 27-47-8
Shootout Record: 8-6
Division Finish: 5th, Northwest
Conference Finish: 15th, Western
Goals For: 214
Goals Against: 284

Edmonton Oilers 2010 Preview

The fans flocked to Rexall Place in June just to watch him get drafted on TV, to chant his name, toast him in the bars and then they came out in the July heat to stand 10 deep just to watch him work out.

work out. Imagine the scrutiny that Memorial Cup champion and MVP Taylor Hall is going to get once he plays in an actual game for the Oilers.

But such is life for the NO.1 pick from Windsor, the first time in 14 years the top choice has come to a hockey-mad Canadian city and the first time the storied Oilers’ franchise have been in this spot to catch one.

But there was some drama to the draft proceedings, too, as Edmonton had to consider the merits of Hall’s effectiveness on left wing versus Plymouth center Tyler Seguin, thought to be on par with Hall and playing a position the Oilers needed badly to fill as well.

Central Scouting bestowed its NO.1 status on Seguin, but the Oilers scouts came to the decision that Hall’s leadership as part of two junior titles and back-to back MVP awards at the Memorial Cup were what they craved most after four years out of the playoffs.

In addition to Hall, the Oilers have two other first-rounder’s looking to make the team, Magnus Paajarvi’Svensson (10th overall in 2009) and Jordan Eberle (22nd the year before). Could all three be in the lineup as early as this year?

Hall has had a dedicated workout routine since he was young and is fanatic about improving his skating. Combining that with his puck-handling and shot, he generated 106 points in the .regular season and also shone at the World Junior Championship and Memorial Cup.

For Renney, this is quite the way to start a new coaching assignment. With the Oilers’ 30th-place finish and 530 man-games lost to injury, there is nowhere to go but up.

2010 Edmonton Oilers Offense:

Hall knows he must bulk up and go through some rites of passage of physical play before he can be fully effective. He might get a shot at center as well as wing, with historians on the club quick to recall that Mark Messier could play both positions. As far as the rest of the offense goes, the Oilers do retain 32-goal winger Dustin Penner, coming off a career year after his arrival from Anaheim. But beginning with center Sam Gagner, a number of Oilers were sidelined for key stretches. Gagner couldn’t beat his rookie mark of 49 points and no other Oiler who finished the year in town reached the 40-point mark, while no one outside of Penner had 20 goals. Left winger thumper Steve MacIntyre will likely get more playing time under Renney than former coach Pat Quinn.

2010 Edmonton Oilers Defense:

Ryan Whitney made it to 39 points, with most coming. in Anaheim, to rank third in team scoring, but there will be a team challenge to keep their own zone clearer, especially if veteran Sheldon Souray doesn’t return. He had a disappointing year that included a lengthy absence with a broken hand. Enter Jim Vandermeer, acquired in a trade with Phoenix, and free agent Kurtis Foster – players who can take care of themselves and the younger Oilers. Foster had 42 points last year with Tampa Bay to lead all defensemen on that team. Tom Gilbert was a rarity last year, playing every game. Even though he had 26 assists, he was one of four defensemen at minus-10 or higher.

2010 Edmonton Oilers Goaltending:

Nikolai Khabibulin’s terrible season ended with back surgery that will require months of recovery. He appeared in just 18 games and was lit up for a 3.03 goals-against average, compared to 2.67 in 13 seasons with Winnipeg/Phoenix, Tampa Bay and Chicago. Rookie Jeff Deslauriers was pressed into service for 48 games, with the team in front of him often a patchwork effort. He took his lumps, though he did get 16 wins, three shutouts and three assists, the latter tied for second in the League. Another rookie, Devan Dubnyk, had four wins but was in survival mode a few nights as well. Things should be a lot better for all three this season.

Edmonton Oilers 2010 Special Teams

Once more, with injuries holding him out, Souray was unable to contribute his big shot all the time, but Edmonton was still as high as 18th with the extra man. Nine Oilers had at least three power play goals, Penner with nine, Ryan Potulny with seven (out of 15 goals overall) and Gagner with six. Foster also had three with Tampa Bay. Edmonton had the second-worst home penalty killing in the League and placed 26th overall. Forward Ethan Moreau, their short-handed goal leader with three, was put on waivers and claimed by Columbus.

Edmonton Oilers 2010 Season Predictions

The current team record for a most points jump in one season is 37 back in Year 2 to 3. Having dipped so far the other way last season, the Oilers will be happy to get back in 80-point territory.

We predict that the Edmonton Oilers will finish 5th in the NHL Northwest.

Edmonton Oilers Betting

Edmonton Oilers Stanley Cup Odds: +8500
Edmonton Oilers Western Conference Odds: +5000

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