4 Big Questions for the Edmonton Oilers in 2020-21

There are Four Big Questions facing the Edmonton Oilers in 2020-21.

We are cracking on with our 2020-21 NHL Season Previews and today we hone in on the Edmonton Oilers.

The Oilers made it back to the postseason in 2019-20 but they were humiliated by the Chicago Blackhawks in the Best-of-Five Play-In series, making it yet another year of Playoff disappointment for Connor McDavid.

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As such, the pressure will be on the Edmonton Oilers heading into the 2020-21 season to ensure that they give their franchise cornerstone every possible chance and every weapon needed to quickly get back to the postseason.

It does appear to be heading in the right direction under General Manager Ken Holland and Head Coach Dave Tippett, although there is still a hell of a lot of work to be done before the Oilers can be considered legit contenders.

Therefore, let’s stop wasting time and delve straight into the 4 Big Questions the Edmonton Oilers will need to answer in the 2020-21 NHL Season…

4. How will they fare in an All-Canadian Division?

One of the big consequences to come from the devastation the COVID-19 Pandemic has wreaked on the NHL has been Division Realignment, with the league bringing in four new Divisions for the 2020-21 season.

One of the most intriguing Divisions will be the North Division, which will house all the Canadian teams together.

It is a dream outcome for a lot of hockey fans north of the border, but it will be interesting to see how the Edmonton Oilers navigate what will be a tricky Division.

For starters, each team will play each other 10 times and that means the Oilers will have to try and take down a Toronto Maple Leafs team that added some serious substance to their skilled lineup, not to mention also having to deal with 10 Battle of Alberta’s with loathed rivals the Calgary Flames.

Speaking of substance, the Montreal Canadiens should also be one of the top teams in the North Division given that they loaded up on size, speed, grit, snarl and tenacity during the offseason and they could be a real dark horse for a deep postseason run.

The Calgary Flames also improved after adding a legit franchise goaltender in Jacob Markstrom during the offseason, although there are legit question marks over the likes of the Winnipeg Jets, the Vancouver Canucks and the rebuilding Ottawa Senators.

However, 10 times is a lot to play each opponent and it ensures that the element of surprise will be taken out of gameplans, so the Edmonton Oilers will need to ensure that they feast off the likes of the Senators and the Jets while being at least .500 against some of the other top teams in the North Division if they are to secure a return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2020-21.

3. Is the goaltending going to be good enough in 2020-21?

There is no doubt that Edmonton Oilers General Manager Ken Holland missed a huge opportunity to improve the weakest area on this roster during the offseason.

In what was a market dominated by elite goaltenders like never before, many felt certain that Holland would go out and acquire a franchise netminder in Free Agency.

However, for some baffling  and unknown reason, the Oilers stood pat while big-name goalie after big-name goalie went off the board.

And, to escalate things further, two of Edmonton’s North Division Rivals in the Calgary Flames and the Vancouver Canucks both upgraded their goaltending respectively by signing Jacob Markstrom and Stanley Cup champion Braden Holtby.

It made no sense as to why the Oilers didn’t go out and acquire a legit starting goaltender, instead opting to re-sign veteran Mike Smith to a one-year, $2 million contract.

Smith was solid for Edmonton in 2019-20, going 19-12-6 with a .902 Save Percentage and a 2.95 Goals Against Average to go along with one shutout, but he isn’t the long-term answer between the pipes for this franchise.

Then there is the other half of this less-than-average goaltending tandem, Mikko Koskinen, who put up a .917 SV% and a 2.75 GAA in 33 starts during the regular season, before struggling in the postseason with a .889 Save Percentage and a 3.16 Goals Against Average.

In a season where goalies will be relied on more than ever in a condensed 56-game schedule, it remains to be seen if Smith and Koskinen are good enough to carry the Oilers to the promised land.

They may not even be good enough to get the job done in a stacked North Division, so it may be up to Ken Holland to go and acquire a legit starting goaltender in a big trade in order to ensure that Connor McDavid has enough help to drag this team into the postseason again.

Marc-Andre Fleury, anyone?

1. Are there enough weapons around Connor McDavid?

Much like with Jack Eichel and the Buffalo Sabres, the Edmonton Oilers have been guilty of not surrounding their face of the franchise in Connor McDavid with enough quality weapons to truly succeed.

That has been a large factor behind why this franchise has only reached the postseason twice in McDavid’s five years in the league, despite the superstar routinely putting his team on his back and scoring at least 90 points every year apart from his injury-shortened rookie season.

Granted, the arrival of renowned team-builder and architect of the Detroit Red Wings Stanley Cup dynasty, Ken Holland, a year or so ago offered new hope to McDavid, as did the appointment of highly-respected Head Coach Dave Tippett.

And there has been some improvement to the roster this offseason with offensive defenseman Tyson Barrie signed in Free Agency, as was depth center Kyle Turris.

Is it enough though?

Having Leon Draisaitl, who cemented his reputation as arguably the second best player in the NHL behind McDavid with a 110 point season (43 G, 67 A) in 2019-20 certainly helps, but what about the rest of the roster?

Kailer Yamamoto is an intriguing prospect and he could be set for a breakout year on the same line as Draisaitl, while the Oilers will hope that winger Jesse Puljujarvi is motivated to resurrect his NHL career after playing two seasons in Finland following a falling out with the previous regime.

Outside of that, much of the burden will fall on center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and veteran winger James Neal, but you get the sense that this team needs another legit top-six scoring threat in order to transform the Edmonton Oilers into a genuine cup contender.

And it may have to be something GM Ken Holland considers at the Trade Deadline, or else risk upsetting his most prized asset with another failed season.