Oilers Extend Fan Favorite Taylor Hall
Oilers fans across the country are still celebrating Taylor Hall’s seven year, $42 million contract extension with Edmonton. The deal cemented Hall’s future in Edmonton. It also helped the Oilers stay on the path to improvement.
The franchise hopes to escape the ‘NHL Basement’ during the 2012-2013 season.
Hall had a good season in 2011-2012 with 27 goals and 26 assists. His season was cut short due to a shoulder injury. Will this injury be a problem next season? No, his health is improving and currently he is about one month away from being game ready.
Betting websites agree that the team will be built around Hall in the future. Now the Oilers have many other offensive weapons at their disposal.
Edmonton Has a Bright Future
Other first overall draft picks Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jordan Eberle had great 2011-2012 seasons as well. As the team’s leading scorer last year, Eberle tallied 34 goals with 42 assists with Hall finishing in second.
Nugent-Hopkins had an excellent rookie debut with 52 points to his name. The three may even be on a single ‘First Overall’ line? Maybe not, that’s a lot of young players on one line, but sports betting sites would love to see that excitement.
The Oilers offense was 19th overall in the league. Edmonton should no problems with scoring come next season.
Along with all of the young players, Edmonton has a stacked veteran squad as well. The vets consist of Shawn Horcoff, Ryan Smyth and Ryan Whitney just to name a few.
Look for them to be consistent players as they will have to clean up some of the defensive mistakes that the new younger players will likely make.
Oilers Should Have Huge Season Win Improvement
According to online betting sites, Edmonton is sure to improve on their 32-40-10 record last season. Yea, I know what you’re thinking, last season they finished with 74 points. That was the second fewest in the league!
However, we have to remember that is 12 points more than they had the year before.
The Oilers improved from minus 42 in 2010-2011 to minus 18 last season at even strength. The penalty kill improved as well as it went from minus 68 in 2010-2011 to minus 47 in 2011-2012. So far they are moving in the right direction, but there are still some questions marks that surround the team.
The first question that concerns them is the goal-tending situation. Will Devan Dubnyk be able to play like a starting goalie should? The team finished 23rd overall in goals against. Neither Dubnyk, nor Veteran backup Nikolai Khabibulin, were able to win a consecutive amount of games.
Khabibulin characteristically starts the season off strong, but his game quickly fizzes out by November. Dubnyk will most likely step up to the challenge of being no. 1 in net and will support the young offensive team.
Overall, Edmonton should have a decent season. With a strong offensive and defensive core, as well as three pretty solid goaltenders. Edmonton should have no issues with some of the weaker NHL teams and be a winning online bet.
Statistically the Oilers are decent and have the ability to win many games.
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