OilersNation has reported:
The Edmonton Oilers rose to third place in Daily Faceoff’s weekly NHL power rankings, up from seventh the previous week, after winning both of their games. The team defeated the Anaheim Ducks 5-2 on Wednesday and the San Jose Sharks 3-1 on Saturday.
Daily Faceoff writer Scott Maxwell said Edmonton’s five-on-five play and special teams have produced sharply different results early in the season. “Edmonton’s play at 5v5 compared to their special teams has been a polar opposite in the early going,” Maxwell wrote. “Their 5v5 chance generation? Mediocre. Their power play? Clicking as usual, even without Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. The Oilers’ 5v5 defense? (sic) Elite. Their penalty kill? Horrendous.”
Maxwell said the club still has areas to address, while pointing to its start and the play of several key players. “They have a few kinks to work out, but it has to be encouraging for fans to see them off to their best start in years, and to see Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard dominating as usual.”
Edmonton is scheduled to play three times in the coming week. The Oilers visit the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday night to finish a three-game road trip, then return home to face the Utah Mammoth on Thursday night before visiting the Mammoth on Saturday night.
Former Edmonton defenceman Caleb Jones is headed to Buffalo after Pittsburgh traded him and defenceman Danile Laatsch on Monday. The Penguins received defenceman Ryan Johnson in return.
Jones, 29, was selected by Edmonton in the fourth round of the 2015 draft and spent four years in the organization. He played 93 NHL games for the Oilers from the 2018-19 through 2020-21 seasons, scoring five goals and 19 points. In 125 AHL games with the Bakersfield Condors, he recorded 11 goals and 57 points.
The Oilers dealt Jones to the Chicago Blackhawks in July 2021 as part of the trade that brought Duncan Keith to Edmonton. Jones later had stints in Chicago, with the Colorado Avalanche, Los Angeles Kings and Penguins. Across his NHL career, he has played 255 games and scored 14 goals and 56 points.
In Chicago, captain Connor Bedard could return to the Blackhawks lineup Tuesday night against Pittsburgh. He is considered a game-time decision, while head coach Jeff Blashill offered a cautious assessment during a Monday media availability.
“I would say he’s certainly trending towards being a coach’s decision tomorrow night,” Blashill said. “Certainly trending towards looking like he’s got the possibility to play.”
Bedard, 21, has not made his season debut after shoulder surgery in July. He was injured during an on-ice training session, and the injury was expected to keep him out for four months. In 219 games over three NHL seasons, he has scored 75 goals and 203 points.
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