Bet On NHL Hockey: Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers will attempt to finally realize the enormous potential of an unenviable young roster when they take to the ice for the 2014-2015 season. It seems like every year we talk about the Oilers as an interesting deep sleeper but end up very, very disappointed.
NHL Predictions
Edmonton Oilers
Odds to win the 2015 Stanley Cup: 50/1
Odds to win the 2015 Western Conference: 28/1
Odds to Win the 2014 Pacific Division 9/1
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2014-2015 Edmonton Oilers Betting Preview:
Edmonton finished last year dead last in the West in shots taken, second-to-last in even-strength goal ratio, 24th in goals for and a miserable 30th in goals against. The time for excuses is over – it’s time for coach Dallas Eakins to get the talent to mesh and for the Oilers to finally gain a little respectability!
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There is absolutely no excuse for the offensive woes in Edmonton – none! Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Jordan Eberle, David Perron, Leon Draisaitl, Nail Yakupov, Benoit Pouliot, Boyd Gordon and Teddy Purcell are, on paper a good top three lines – Hall was terrific last year, Nugent-Hopkins was injured and David Perron has a tremendous breakout season.
So what was the problem with this team? Firstly the Oilers puck possession game was awful – something that will hopefully change with the addition of veterans Teddy Purcell and Benoit Pouliot.
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These two bring leadership and NHL success to a team that hasn’t learned how to win.
Offense
Another problem was the play of Nial Yakupov, the former first pick overall who scored just 11 times last year and fell out of favor with the coaches and the fans alike.
The biggest issue with the Oilers last year was defense – 30th in the NHL last year. Ben Scrivens and Viktor Fasth provide the Oilers with a respectable goaltending tandem – something that has sadly been lacking in the Alberta capital for years. Remember Ben Scrivens’ 59 save performance last year?
Defense
There is also a little bit of optimism that the Oilers’s much maligned defensive corp. may actually be decent – something that can’t be said for this team the last few years. Nikita Nikitin should be an upgrade despite having some issues in Columbus last year, Mark Fayne comes over from New Jersey and should add a strong physical presence and Keith Aulie has a ton of experience on some very good teams.
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Andrew Ference and Justin Schultz also exist on a blue line that should be vastly improved this upcoming season.
FREE Oilers NHL Predictions 2014/2015
At risk of sounding like a broken record, the Oilers should be an improved team this year with the potential to be THE most improved team in the league. But as we’ve seen in the past with this club potential doesn’t always translate to wins.
The Oilers won’t make the playoffs but they will be a tad more competitive this year. It will definitely be a few years before we are talking about the Oilers as a serious threat to even crack the top eight of the Western Conference. Edmonton is a bottom third team once again – sorry Oilers fans!
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