Coach: Dave Tippett (first season)
Last season: 35-38-9; seventh place Pacific Division
5 KEYS
1. Neal's impact
Forward James Neal was acquired in a trade with the Calgary Flames for forward Milan Lucic and a conditional third-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft on July 19. Neal is coming off the fewest points in his 11-season NHL career: 19 points (seven goals, 12 assists) in 63 games with Calgary last season. In 2017-18, he had 44 points (25 goals, 19 assists) in 71 games for the Vegas Golden Knights. The Oilers are looking for the 32-year-old to have a bounce-back season; he entered training camp following an extended offseason after going to the Stanley Cup Final in 2017 with the Nashville Predators and 2018 with the Golden Knights.
2. Goalie tandem
Edmonton enters the season with goalies Mikko Koskinen and Mike Smith expected to share the workload. Koskinen is in the first of three-year contract extension signed last season after winning the No. 1 job over Cam Talbot. Koskinen was 25-21-6 with a 2.93 goals-against average, .906 save percentage and four shutouts in 55 games (51 starts) last season. Smith signed a one-year contract after he played the past two seasons for the Flames. The 37-year-old was 23-16-2 with a 2.73 GAA, .898 save percentage and two shutouts in 42 games (40 starts) with Calgary last season. Coach Dave Tippett said he would like to see the two play an equal number of games.
3. Star power
Centers Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl each had his most productive offensive season in the NHL in 2018-19, but it still was not enough to get Edmonton into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. McDavid had 116 points (41 goals, 75 assists) in 78 games and Draisaitl had 105 points (50 goals, 55 assists) in 82 games. Draisaitl was the first Oilers player to score 50 goals since Wayne Gretzky scored 62 and Jarri Kurri scored 54 in 1986-87. The Oilers need McDavid and Draisaitl to put up big numbers again to keep from missing the playoffs for a third straight season and 13th time in the past 14 seasons.
4. Under new management
Longtime Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland was hired by Edmonton on May 7 to replace Peter Chiarelli, who was fired Jan. 22. Tippett was hired as the Oilers' ninth coach in the past 11 seasons on May 28.
5. Defensive approach
Edmonton allowed 271 goals last season, tied for sixth-most in the NHL. Tippett is instituting a new defensive philosophy with the Oilers, who look to be on board during training camp. Edmonton needs to improve its penalty kill, which ranked 30th in the NHL last season (74.8 percent), ahead of only the Chicago Blackhawks (72.7 percent).
ROSTER RUNDOWN
Making the cut
There are openings at right wing on the top two lines to play with McDavid and Draisaitl, and with Neal and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Zack Kassian will start on the right wing on the Oilers top line but will need to produce to keep his spot. Competition for right wing on the second line will be intense; Sam Gagner will start with Neal and Nugent-Hopkins, but Alex Chiasson, Joakim Nygard and Tyler Benson will be in the mix.
At defenseman, Darnell Nurse and Adam Larsson will be Edmonton's shutdown pair. The Oilers are looking for a partner for Oscar Klefbom and hope Joel Persson, a free agent from Sweden, can fill the role. The third pair should have Kris Russell and Matt Benning, meaning there will be competition for the seventh defenseman between Brandon Manning, Caleb Jones, Ethan Bear and Evan Bouchard.
Most intriguing addition
The Oilers hope Neal will form a strong tandem with Nugent-Hopkins on the second line. Lack of secondary scoring was an issue for Edmonton last season and it is looking for Neal to provide that.
Biggest potential surprise
Bouchard is projected to start the season with Bakersfield of the American Hockey League but could force Edmonton's hand and earn a top-six spot out of training camp. Selected by the Oilers with the No. 10 pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, Bouchard could be the best option in a bottom-pair role despite his inexperience, He has been impressive thus far at training camp.
Ready to break through
Tyler Benson struggled with injuries shortly after Edmonton selected the forward in second round (No. 32) of the 2016 NHL Draft. The 21-year-old overcame a hip and sports hernia injury and led Bakersfield in scoring last season (66 points; 15 goals, 51 assists in 68 games). There is a roster spot available to Benson if he can provide secondary scoring.
Fantasy sleeper
Bouchard (average draft position: N/A) has an outside chance to emerge as the top Oilers defenseman considering he was better than a point per game (140; 41 goals, 99 assists in 112 games) over the past two seasons with London of the Ontario Hockey League. -- Pete Jensen
PROJECTED LINEUP
Leon Draisaitl -- Connor McDavid -- Zack Kassian
Sam Gagner -- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins -- James Neal
Markus Granlund -- Gaetan Haas -- Alex Chiasson
Jujhar Khaira -- Riley Sheahan -- Josh Archibald
Oscar Klefbom -- Joel Persson
Darnell Nurse -- Adam Larsson
Kris Russell -- Matt Benning
Mikko Koskinen
Mike Smith
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