During a recent visit to Edmonton, the author found the insights offered by observers from other hockey cities particularly “enlightening.” For instance, someone from Calgary helpfully explained the importance of different playoff rounds, leading the author to humorously note they learned the fourth round is apparently the most crucial.
A reader from Toronto provided unsolicited advice on building a roster and managing salaries, which the author sarcastically welcomed. Similarly, a Canucks fan offered their opinion on team chemistry, specifically suggesting Connor McDavid`s has deteriorated. The author ironizes about the value of this unsolicited guidance from seemingly unqualified external perspectives.
Despite reaching the Stanley Cup Final twice in a row, the prevailing external view is that the Oilers are not a strong team. To understand the team`s plans, the author attended the season-ending press conference featuring GM Stan Bowman and head coach Kris Knoblauch. The author`s objective was to learn how the team planned to improve for the next season, sarcastically assuming this would need to happen *without* star player Connor McDavid, who is often rumored (by rival fans) to be heading elsewhere.
Addressing the Goaltending Situation
The author raised the point to GM Bowman that for two consecutive Stanley Cup runs, the Oilers` goaltending was only the second best. They asked what steps a general manager could take in such a situation. Bowman responded that he anticipated this question and acknowledged the premise. He added that acquiring an “elite goalie” isn`t simple, as they aren`t readily available.
The author agrees, noting that even promising young goalies like Karel Vejmelka (Utah) or Dustin Wolf (Calgary) are highly valued, and trading them would likely cost a GM their job swiftly. To obtain a top-tier goaltender, the author suggests, a team often needs to acquire them *before* their elite status is widely recognized, citing the Florida Panthers` acquisition of Sergei Bobrovsky from Columbus as an example.
Bowman commented that goaltending is a “strange” aspect of hockey, difficult to fully grasp despite its critical importance. He referenced his experience winning Stanley Cups with goalies like Antti Niemi and Corey Crawford in Chicago, neither considered Hall of Fame candidates.
Bowman asserted that the Oilers` goaltending was superior to their opponents` in three out of four playoff rounds, specifically naming Darcy Kuemper, Adin Hill, and Jake Oettinger as goalies the Oilers` netminders outperformed. The author confirms Bowman`s assessment was accurate regarding those specific series. However, Bowman concluded, this advantage reversed in the Stanley Cup Final.
Duncan Priestley