Page 30 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 128
P. 30
30 Issue #128 September 2023 www.sportsenergynews.com
Over the Boards! Can the Edmonton Oilers Win a
Stanley Cup???
Draisatl. They are complemented him in the fold. His bombs from the
Cup winner since Tampa Bay did it
in the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons. by a trio of veteran offensive point help the #1 ranked powerplay
performers in Evander Kane, Zach hum along. Cody Ceci, Brett Kulak,
The Vegas Golden Knights bring
back pretty much the same lineup Hyman, and Ryan Nugent Hopkins. Vincent Desharnais, and Markus
By Brad Robertson They signed free agent (and Connor Niemelainen provide depth.
that took home the Cup last season
and their formula seems to work McDavid’s former OHL Erie Otter Goaltending will be a key. Last
these days. They have arguably the teammate) Connor Brown, to add off season the Oilers brought in free
to their forward depth and bottom
best defence core on the league and agent Jack Campbell to pair with
are big and deep up front. They play six forwards Warren Foegle, Ryan young Stuart Skinner. Campbell
McLeod, Mattias Janmark, along
a grinding style and have terrific lost the starters role to Skinner
balance and chemistry. Goaltender with youngsters Dylan Holloway and is looking at bouncing back to
Adin Hill, an unlikely playoff hero, and Raphael Lavoie are a very solid provide the Oilers with a solid one-
mix.
backstopped them once given the two punch in goal. It remains to be
opportunity and went 11-4 enroute to On the blue line the Oilers are led seen if Campbell can regain the form
the Cup victory. by Darnell Nurse. He is a stud on the he showed while a member of the
back end, and last seasons big addition Toronto Maple Leafs. The Oilers
I believe that the biggest threat to
at the deadline from Nashville was need that to happen in order to have
the Golden Knights is within their
own Pacific Division and that would the veteran Mattias Ekholm, whose the depth in goal necessary to win a
HL training camps are three be Canada’s own Edmonton Oilers. presence helped stabilize the back championship.
Nweeks away from opening and The Oilers have, without question, end. Restricted free agent with top The Oilers should once again be
as of now I am under the belief that the two best offensive players in the end talent, Evan Bouchard, was
we could have our first back-to-back world; Connor McDavid and Leon given a two year bridge deal to keep Continued on page 38
Photo by Robert Lefebvre, icelevel photography
