EDMONTON — While the fans at Rogers Centre stressed and fumed over a Toronto Blue Jays club that is leaking oil at the most important time of the season, across the country at Rogers Place in Edmonton, weâ€re not even sure the Oilers players were overly concerned with the outcome of perhaps the most meaningless game of their entire season.
OK — thatâ€s probably not fair.
But as Edmontonâ€s big guns came out to play for the first time, what ensued was a “how to†video for why the National Hockey League will be going down to four pre-season games starting next September.
Over-passing, over-skating, and inevitably, overcharging those brave fans who couldnâ€t resist a September night at an NHL rink, the Oilers were pedestrian at best in a low-event, 4-1 loss to the Seattle Kraken.
“A little sloppy,†said the Oilers’ only goal scorer, Andrew Mangiapane. “Good, though, to get the rust off.â€
The Oilers were simply missing something on Wednesday.
Edmonton debuted its new top line of Connor McDavid between Leon Draisaitl and Trent Frederic. Three players whose last game was Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final looked decidedly in pre-season form, with more dangles and hope passes than youâ€ll see in a week of playoff hockey.
After 60 minutes, the McDavid line had combined for four shots on goal, zero points and a minus-9 overall.
“Well, if you look at the stat line, it doesn’t look very good. But they spent a lot of time in the offensive zone,†offered head coach Kris Knoblauch. “(Frederic) was doing what he was supposed to be doing. He was around the net, made some plays on the half wall. It’s early.â€
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Stuart Skinner made his pre-season debut, and was only average as well. Which is fine — it was the opening pre-season game for so many, and history tells us it often turns out this way.
“I didnâ€t feel amazing out there,†he said. “I certainly feel like I could have stopped the second and third goals.â€
They are a necessary evil, these pre-season games. No matter how stultifying, or how devoid of an NHL calibre of hockey gets played.
One day after announcing a new three-year deal for Vasily Podkolzin, the news on Wednesday was decidedly less welcome. The Oilers announced that Podkolzinâ€s father had passed away suddenly back in Russia, and the Oilers winger would take a leave to return home for the funeral.
After the morning skate, before the news was made public, Draisaitl spoke in glowing terms of the young Muscovite, who has found a home next to the German star.
“I see a lot of upside in him,†Draisaitl said. “He has a smart, bright hockey mind. He really understands the game. With his work ethic, itâ€s just a matter of time until it all clicks. Year by year, youâ€re going to see more on the offensive side of things.â€
“Yesterday was maybe his best day of his life, signing that contract,†said Knoblauch. “Then today, what happened unexpectedly. Pods is a very popular guy in our room — guys have a lot of respect for him. We feel terribly for his family.â€
For now, Draisaitl will skate with McDavid and Frederic, a unit that Knoblauch hopes will still be intact when the season begins on Oct. 8. Frederic seemed to keep up with his linemates on Wednesday, despite the high ankle sprain he took into the summer.
“With that specific injury, youâ€ve got to give him time — into the season as well,†Draisaitl said. “Thatâ€s an injury that lingers around for a while. Itâ€s always nagging at you.
“The history with Freddie, he scored 18 goals two years in a row (2022-24 in Boston) in a third-line role, so thatâ€s impressive,†Draisaitl continued. “He certainly has skill. Heâ€s tough as nails, and heâ€s certainly a guy who is willing to learn a certain way to play to be successful (with McDavid and Draisaitl). If we can help him become more productive, more successful, of course weâ€re going to do that.â€
Inevitably, Draisaitl was asked about starting the campaign on a line with McDavid. He sighed.
“Guys, weâ€ve done this for 10-11 years,†he said to the media. “Itâ€s going to switch; itâ€s going to go back and forth. I do think itâ€s probably easier to coach the bench when weâ€re together. But weâ€ve done this for so long — we know exactly how to flip flop when weâ€re together or apart. Obviously, itâ€s a pleasure to be on the same line as him.â€
On being the NHLâ€s top-paid player this season, Draisaitl shrugged: “I put more pressure on myself than the contract ever could. Than any dollar ever could. I donâ€t try to think about the number much.â€
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