1989 - Taylor Swift / Nick & Knight - Nick Carter & Jordan Knight
2013-14 results: 29-44-9, last in Pacific
Story line: Remodeled defense should lift Oilers
Arrivals: RW Teddy Purcell (trade with Tampa Bay Lightning); LW Benoit Pouliot; Ds Nikita Nikitin, Mark Fayne, Keith Aulie (free agents)
Departures: C Sam Gagner (traded to Arizona Coyotes via Lightning); RW Ryan Jones; Ds Anton Belov, Mark Fraser
Goaltending: GM Craig MacTavish hopes he solidified the goaltending with last season's acquisitions of Ben Scrivens (16-16-4, 2.55, .922) and Viktor Fasth (5-4-2, 2.82, .903). Both have had moments of brilliance, but neither has carried the load full time for an NHL team.
Analysis: Giving up 3.26 goals a game, the Oilers were the NHL's worst defensive team last season. They signed three free agent defensemen to help. Purcell and Pouliot give the team more size up front. But the heart of the team is its offensive might, supplied by a highly skilled forward group that includes Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, David Perron and Nail Yakupov. Justin Schultz is the defenseman who gets the puck to that group. Despite a collection of high draft picks, the Oilers have been slow to develop into a competitive team. MacTavish and coach Dallas Eakins have to be feeling pressure to turn it around.
Breakthrough candidate: Yakupov, 20, is an 11-goal scorer with the talent to score 30. The Oilers will be disappointed if he doesn't make major strides.
Youngster to watch: No. 3 overall pick Leon Draisaitl will get every chance to make the team. He had 105 points in 64 games in the Western Hockey League.
What the team really needs: A blue-chip center to tie together the offense. MacTavish would prefer one with size and feistiness.
Key question: Why isn't Edmonton's power play better? Despite their gifted offensive players, the Oilers ranked 21st last season. The hope is it's simply a matter of experience. Their power play should be above 20%. It was at 17% last season.
Forecast: The Oilers have work to do. Their playoff drought will hit nine seasons.
Top returning leaders
Goals: Jordan Eberle, David Perron, 28
Assists: Taylor Hall, 53
Points: Hall, 80
Plus-minus: Martin Marincin, Will Acton, -2
Penalty minutes: Luke Gazdic, 127
Shots: Hall, 250
Projected Western Conference standings
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