NHL season starts tonight and I am absolutely pumped for another season of Edmonton Oiler’s hockey. I have tickets to 5 games this season and will watch as many of the rest at home as I can.
My home team Oiler’s have a few interesting storylines heading into the season.
It looks like rookie Kailer Yamamoto has made the opening night roster. He’s slated to play on a line with former first overall pick Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and big bruising winger Milan Lucic. I don’t believe this exact line played together during the preseason but Yamamoto seemed to have success no matter who he was playing with during the preseason. It will be interesting to see how he fairs tonight in his first real NHL game.
Yamamoto is an interesting story because normally someone drafted as late in the first round as he was (22nd overall), would rarely crack an opening night roster in his draft year. On top of that Kailer is 30 pounds lighter than any other forward on the Oiler’s roster, weighing in at a very generous 154 lbs. No one had any thoughts of him making the team at the start of training camp but so far in his career, Yamamoto has continually proven everyone of his doubters wrong. After his stellar pre-season (5GP 5G-2A-7Pts) I suddenly have high hopes for Kailer.
Another interesting storyline is Ryan Strome, the return for this offseasons Jordan Eberle trade. So far Strome has look quite underwhelming. He started training camp playing on the top line with reigning MVP Connor McDavid and has played his way steadily down the roster, settling in as the third line center for opening night. While many will agree that it was necessary for the Oiler’s to trade away Eberle, so far the return is not looking so hot.
Lastly there is Andrej Sekera who got injured during the playoffs last season and is not yet ready to return to the lineup. His absence will be very apparent on the back end and could be a huge problem for the Oiler’s at the start of the season. The Oiler’s will be banking on their younger defensemen to step up in Sekera’s place, namely Darnell Nurse and Matt Benning. Neither will be able to fully step into Sekera’s shoes but hopefully together they can help to fill the void.
I’m pumped for puck drop tonight. Even more so since the first game is a Battle of Alberta versus the Calgary Flames. Both teams are looking to improve on great seasons last year and tonight should help to ignite a renewed rivalry between the two clubs.
LET’S GO OILERS!
Love,
bwar
Yamamoto did well in the preseason, but I can't get over how small he is. What happens in the preseason doesn't always translate well in to the regular season. Hope he proves me wrong though. Would be a fascinating storyline for the NHL.
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Doesn't look out of place so far tonight but McDavid and Driasaitl leading the way tonight.
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**@bwar got you a $3.17 @minnowbooster upgoat, nice!
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McDavid is a cheat code.
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McDavid 3 - Flames 0
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Good luck to your Oilers man! Maybe you guys and my Blackhawks will meet in the conference final! Followed! Check out my hockey vlogs if you get a chance!
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