The Edmonton Oilers'; biggest upgrade to the power play this summer was an
off-ice addition. Although they didn';t add a sniper on the wing or an
offensive defenceman, hiring power-play guru Manny Viveiros as an assistant
coach in May was a savvy move for an Oilers squad that ranked 31st in the NHL
with the man advantage (14.8 percent efficiency) in 2017-18.

Viveiros was the final piece of Todd McLellan';s revamped coaching staff that
also includes former NHL head coaches Trent Yawney and Glen Gulutzan.Todd
McLellan, Connor McDavid and Milan Lucic, Edmonton Oilers, Oct. 21, 2017 (Amy
Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Viveiros has been given a unique role with the Oilers as their "eye in the
sky" coach. He will watch the first two periods of each game from the press
box, a broader vantage point than McLellan and the other assistants, to help
the team make the proper adjustments in the third period.

While UFA signings Tobias Rieder, Kyle Brodziak and Jakub Jerabek should add
some value to the team this year, Viveiros could have the biggest
impact.Related: Todd McLellan's new assistants excel in areas Edmonton needs to
 improveManny Viveiros - Realizing a Dream

Like many kids who grew up in Northern Alberta, Viveiros dreamed of playing
for the Oilers. As a former sixth-round pick (106th overall) of the Oilers in
the 1984 NHL Entry Draft, he came closer than most. He was a brilliant
offensive defenceman with the Prince Albert Raiders in the WHL for four seasons
 (1982-1986), tallying 60 goals and 321 points in 251 career WHL games and
helped the Raiders claim the 1985 Memorial Cup title.

Fast forward 34 years from the day Edmonton called his name at the draft, and
Viveiros is finally an Oiler.

"It';s an honour and a privilege to work in the National Hockey League,"
Viveiros told Oilers TV. "It';s something I have always dreamed of, as a
player, or as a coach to get that opportunity to work in your hometown where I
grew up watching the Oilers.

I was originally drafted by Edmonton a long, long time ago, and I never had an
opportunity to play for those teams. Not many people did. That';s how good they
 were back in the 80s, but Edmonton has always been a soft spot for me. When I
was over in Europe for so many years, the first thing I would check in the [NHL
 scores] was the Oilers. It';s good for [my family] to be home."

Despite his dominance at the major junior level, Viveiros played just 29 career
 NHL games with the Minnesota North Stars before embarking on a 17-year
professional career in Europe. After retiring from the game in 2007, He
immediately began his coaching career.

The 52-year-old St. Albert, Alberta native honed his craft for nearly a decade
overseas, coaching top-level pro teams in Austria and Germany. Then, he
returned to North America in 2016 to coach the Swift Current Broncos, and
guided them to their first WHL championship in 25 years, in 2017-18. Now he';s
 ready to coach at the highest level.Related: More News on our Oilers Team
PageHow Much Impact Will Viveiros Have?

After working together for years, McLellan';s staff had run out of ideas to
improve their horrible special teams in 2017-18. Former assistant coach Jay
Woodcroft, who is now the head coach of the Bakersfield Condors, was in charge
of drawing up the power play but he couldn';t find the right formula all year
long.

Under Woodcroft, the power play ran entirely through Connor McDavid, setting up
 near the half wall, which made the Oilers too easy to plan against. I would
like to see Viveiros put Ryan Nugent-Hopkins back on the first power-play unit,
 where he played for the first four years of his NHL career. Having
Nugent-Hopkins share McDavid';s role as the set-up man would allow the latter
to use his excellent release more regularly and make defenders respect the shot
 whenever McDavid has the puck in the offensive zone.

The Broncos had a league-best 29.4 percent power-play efficiency in 2017-18
with Viveiros behind it, including seven players with five or more power-play
goals, three with at least 10, and one with over 20. Sure, the NHL is a harder
 league but Leon Draisaitl paced last year';s Oilers squad with just six
power-play goals.

The player who might benefit the most from Viveiros'; guidance is Jesse
Puljujarvi. Viveiros has plenty of experience coaching European players, and he
 could be the man to unlock Puljujarvi';s offensive game. McLellan rarely used
 the 20-year-old Finn on a scoring line or the power play during his first two
NHL seasons, which frustrated the fan base. Even after former power play
triggerman Mark Letestu was dealt at the trade deadline last season and the
Oilers'; playoff hopes were gone, Puljujarvi still couldn';t get consistent
time on the man advantage.Edmonton Oilers forward Jesse Puljujarvi (Anne-Marie
Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports)

The Oilers invested a fourth-overall pick on the kid just two years ago. It';s
time they give him an opportunity.

Puljujarvi has one of the most deadly shots on the team and he should be on the
 man advantage with other skilled players. If Viveiros can design a power play
 featuring McDavid, Nugent-Hopkins, Puljujarvi, Draisaitl, and (a healthy)
Oscar Klefbom, then the Oilers should be able to generate a goal on at least
one in five chances.

It';s still early, but Viveiros'; track record of power-play success is another
 reason for optimism heading into the new season.

The post Manny Viveiros Will Help Oilers Power Play appeared first on The
Hockey Writers.

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