Some Edmonton Oilers players need to step up in during the early stages of the season
The Edmonton Oilers are entering the 2024-25 season with significant pressure on defenseman Darnell Nurse.
Following the departure of Cody Ceci and Josh Brown, Darnell Nurse now finds himself in the spotlight particularly due to his big $9.25 million AAV contract. Aftera bad season where his plus-minus dropped from +26 to +3, Darnell Nurse faces bigger expectations from both fans and coaches. In a recent sit-down with Oilers assistant coach Paul Coffey, Nurse was encouraged to focus on being an all-around player rather than a strict shutdown defenseman. The Oilers are expecting a bounce-back season from Nurse and they need him to have a good one to justify his salary that they gave to him a couple years ago.
Edmonton Oilers forward depth is under the scope particularly with the integration of 23-year-old Vasily Podkolzin in the offense. Acquired from Vancouver, Vasily Podkolzin is seen as a key piece for the Oilers' future, but his offensive contributions have been limited since the beginning of the season. Despite leading the team in hits, Podkolzin has struggled to translate his physical play into scoring opportunities by participating to the goal of his team. He was recently demoted to the fourth line which highlighted the challenge for head coach Kris Knoblauch to unlock his potential.
The Oilers will face a significant test in their next game against the Dallas Stars with a team that has become their primary rival in the Central Division. Edmonton has lost its last eight regular-season games in Dallas but after defeating the Stars in last season's Western Conference Final, the Oilers will look to build confidence with a crucial road victory.
Source: Sportsnet
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