There were times where the Edmonton Oilers would simply outscore you to win a game.
Those days are far gone now.
The shifting landscape of the Western Conference has increasingly turned physical and gritty, and now the Oilers have embraced it with great success, nearly leading the to one of the greatest comebacks in sports history last spring.
Dallas and Colorado may grab the headlines with their own brand of physical play combined with quick transition, but the Oilers have mastered it under new coach Kris Knoblauch.
Related: The Dallas Stars Dig Deep, And Utah Will Get To Experience That
Related: What Utah Fans Can Expect From Colorado This Season
Yes, Leon Draisatl and Conn Smythe winner Connor McDavid are still scoring at will, but the additions of players like Zach Hyman and Warren Foegele have completely changed the approach of the once high-flying Oilers.
In fact, Hyman was one of the top scorers in the playoffs last season for Edmonton, becoming a huge part of the secondary offence.
Utah has also embraced that blueprint, as we’ve stated many times this off-season, and with Clayton Keller leading the charge, now the club’s additions of snarl like Ian Cole and Kevin Stenlund will increase the defensive fire they play with.
The only question remains who can be that secondary scorer for Utah this season, whether it be Mattias Maccelli, Logan Cooley, or maybe even first-round pick Tij Iginla.
If Utah can answer that question, they’ll take a big step to eventually matching up with — and maybe even shocking — the Campbell Bowl holders.
Source Agencies
