After being sent to the WHL after playing nine games in the NHL, Yamamoto went
on a tear in the WHL with 64 points in 40 games. That points-per-game (1.60)
would';ve had him finish top five in the WHL if he played the full
season.Opening Night Roster Predictions & Thoughts

In theory, this team should have better goaltending this year if Cam Talbot
returns to his average career numbers and if Mikko Koskinen exceeds low
expectations. On paper, the team is better in net than they were a year ago.

The defense took a hit with Andrej Sekera';s injury, and the minor additions of
 Jakub Jerabek, Kevin Gravel, and Jason Garrison (PTO) aren';t expected to fill
 those shoes. Then again, Sekera was a shell of his former self and was
primarily used as a third-pairing blueliner in 2017-18.

If the team can manage to add a top-four puck-moving defender, it would bolster
 the defense. It would also allow the club some flexibility to not be forced to
 rush the 18-year-old Bouchard who could go back to junior for the year.

Watch for Bear to have an opportunity to jump into the fray if injuries strike
the backend once again.Predicting the Oilers Roster (Vince Richard/The Hockey
Writers)

Edmonton Oilers Depth Chart 2018-19

Goaltenders

Left Defense

Right Defense

1. Cam Talbot1. Oscar Klefbom1. Adam Larsson

2. Mikko Koskinen2. Darnell Nurse (RFA)2. Matt Benning

3. Al Montoya*3. Kris Russell3. Evan Bouchard

4. Stuart Skinner*4. Jakub Jerabek4. Ethan Bear*

Left Wing

Center

Right Wing

1. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins1. Connor McDavid1. Ty Rattie

2. Milan Lucic2. Leon Draisaitl2. Tobias Rieder

3. Drake Caggiula3. Ryan Strome3. Jesse Puljujarvi

4. Jujhar Khaira4. Kyle Brodziak4. Zack Kassian

5. Pontus Aberg5. Cooper Marody*5. Scottie Upshall (PTO)

* Denotes players expected to start the year in the AHL.Season Predictions

In putting together predictions for this season preview, one thing is clear;
there';s a lot of wild cards in the Pacific Division. Here';s what some of the
others at THW think might happen with the Oilers this coming season.Ian Wilson:
 2nd in Pacific Division

Many crystal ball holders picked the Oilers to make the Stanley Cup Finals
entering last year. Before that many "experts" said they wouldn';t make the
playoffs two years ago. So, while I';ve read the early predictions, and I admit
 that I don';t know anything, I view other forecasts with similar
disdain.Related: More Stories from Ian Wilson

I pick the Oilers to finish second in the Pacific behind San Jose. In my
opinion, the Oilers aren';t as bad as they were last season, and bounce back
seasons from players capable of them - Lucic, Talbot, Klefbom, etc. - will
trump more predictable forecasts.Is Edmonton a playoff team? (Amy Irvin / The
Hockey Writers)

How much do Anaheim and Los Angeles have left in the tank from their core
players? Is Vegas bound for a repeat after losing key players? Calgary still
has goaltending concerns and a defense corps that is not nearly as good as
their reputation.

So, yes, the Oilers are a playoff team. Don';t ask how just enjoy the
ride.Larry Fisher: 3rd in Pacific Division

Outsiders will consider this overly optimistic - some will say homer - but I
swear I'm trying to temper my expectations in predicting the Oilers will finish
 third in the Pacific Division. I foresee Edmonton falling just short of 100
points.Related: NHL Standings Predictions - Off-Season Edition

According to my offseason predictions, I have the Oilers advancing to the
Western Conference Final with playoff wins over San Jose and Calgary in the
first two rounds before bowing out to Winnipeg. OK, that part is overly
optimistic, though I made those predictions before Andrej Sekera blowing out
his Achilles.Darnell Nurse (Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports)

That changes the outlook a bit, but not a lot in my opinion. It may result in
rushing Evan Bouchard, but I'm looking forward to seeing him alongside Darnell
Nurse in the preseason to get a glimpse of the future - and perhaps present -
top pairing.Related: More Stories from Larry Fisher

Special teams and goaltending, even more so than defense, will determine
Edmonton's fate this season. If the Oilers can rank middle of the pack on the
power play and in save percentage - and providing Connor McDavid stays healthy
- I like their chances of returning to the playoffs.

Yes, I'm a glass-half-full guy for 2018-19, or maybe I'm wearing rose-colored
glasses. You tell me!Alex Thomas: 4th in Pacific Division

While Id love to see playoff hockey return to Edmonton, I have the Oilers 9th
in the west and 4th in the Pacific Division. They are a bubble team for sure,
and while it could go either way, I lean towards no playoffs simply because
there are too many questions.Related: More Stories from Alex Thomas

Cam Talbot has to be better, and he's arguably the biggest key to the season.
If he plays well, Edmonton can get in. Special teams will be big, and they
have to return to at least average, while guys like Milan Lucic, Pontus Aberg,
and Jesse Puljujarvi have to produce offense for this team to have a chance.Cam
 Talbot (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

There is so much pressure on this team that I wonder what happens between now
and the opener. Peter Chiarelli can't be content with this roster, and I wonder
 if he makes a move. Overall, I think Edmonton is the most interesting team to
watch this season.Sander';s Final Thoughts & Predictions

As mentioned above, there';s a ton of wild cards to consider in the Pacific
Division. The best way to look at it is in three tiers. The first tier is of
the teams most have projected to be playoff teams (in alphabetical order); the
Calgary Flames, San Jose Sharks, and Vegas Golden Knights.

The bottom (third) tier is of the "also-rans" or teams considered to finish
well outside the playoff picture; the Arizona Coyotes and Vancouver Canucks.
That leaves the middle (second) tier to be; the Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles
Kings, and the Oilers.

So let';s compare those three clubs (a more in-depth comparison and preview
will follow soon). The Kings didn';t lose any significant pieces this summer,
and it';s mostly the same group coming back, plus Ilya Kovalchuk.The LA Kings
could make noise this year (Amy Irvin / THW)

Kovalchuk';s KHL stats translate into a 38 goal, 78 point season according to
the NHL Equivalent (NHLe) stat. Add in another solid year from Anze Kopitar and
 Dustin Brown, some rekindled success from That 70';s Line (Jeff Carter, Tyler
Toffoli, Tanner Pearson) and the offense should be better than it was a year
ago.

They';ve also got world-class goaltending in Jonathan Quick, and a yearly
Norris trophy candidate in Drew Doughty. The Kings bowed out in the first round
 last year. Surely they';ll be a threat to get back to the playoffs again in
2018-19.

The Ducks have arguably the best goalie in the division in John Gibson, and a
talented backend with Cam Fowler, Hampus Lindholm, Josh Manson, and Brandon
Montour. The problem is up front. The Ducks are an aging group, and Ryan
Getzlaf, Ryan Kesler, and Corey Perry are slowing down.John Gibson (Amy Irvin /
 The Hockey Writers)

Anaheim is in the midst of a transition upfront with Rickard Rakell coming off
a 34 goal, 69 point season to lead the team in scoring. Anything is possible
with a hot goalie, but the offensive depth might not be enough to push them
into the playoffs.

So that leaves the Oilers in the middle between the Kings and Ducks, fifth in
the division. Calgary went out and addressed their depth issues by adding Noah
Hanifin, Elias Lindholm, James Neal, and Derek Ryan. San Jose can almost never
be counted out with Brent Burns, Martin Jones, and Marc-Edouard Vlasic holding
things down behind a good crop of forwards.

San Jose is still in win-now mode, and they have the cap space to make a move
or two to push them over the top and challenge for the division again.
Meanwhile, the team currently holding the division crown (Vegas), made
significant additions in Paul Stastny and Max Pacioretty this summer. They';ve
got the same group coming back (more or less).Vegas acquired Max Pacioretty
(Stephen R. Sylvanie-USAT Sports)

Edmonton didn';t make any big moves, and there are far too many question marks
with this roster to make them a shoo-in to be a playoff team. They need a lot
of things to go in their favor this season, and if they get off to another slow
 start, they';ll once again be in danger by US Thanksgiving, again.

Talbot needs to get back to playing at his old ways. The defense needs a bounce
 back from Klefbom and Larsson. They also need Nurse to take his offense to
another level. Then there';s the scoring concerns upfront with the wingers. For
 now, the Oilers, on paper, look like the fifth-best team in the Pacific
Division.

Putting Edmonton in the ballpark of 86-90 points seems reasonable if they
indeed aren';t as bad as they appeared in 2017-18. The big question was what';s
 more representative of this club; 2016-17 or 2017-18? I';m leaning towards the
 middle ground on this.

It';s still not enough to put them in the playoffs, but good for ninth in the
Western Conference.

Pre-Season Prediction: 86-90 points, 5th in Pacific Division, 9th in Western
Conference.

The post Edmonton Oilers 2018-19 Season Preview appeared first on The Hockey
Writers.

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