TSN's Craig Button brutally sums up the current state of the Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers haven't been at their very best this season, but according to TSN's Craig Button, this is just about what we should expect from them.
After making the Stanley Cup Finals a year ago, the expectation was that this year after some big moves in the summer, the Edmonton Oilers would find their way back there this season.
Unfortunately, their start hasn't inspired much confidence to this point, with the team sitting at 10-8-2 through 20 games, and while the record isn't bad, it's the play on the ice that worries many.
Craig Button of TSN is one of those people, as he has made a massive statement about the lack of talent that this current team has, suggesting that they rely too heavily on their top two stars to be a great team.
«The reason their expected goals are so high and their actual goals are so low is because they don't have enough talent,» Button said. «They rely on obviously [Connor] McDavid and [Leon] Draisaitl to carry a big significant part of it, and they do, but after that, they have real struggles. On the blue line, when they make a mistake, it becomes something that goes in their net, and the goaltending hasn't been very good.»
With the high expectations, Button believes that to get back there, the Oilers front office needs to make some massive moves if they are to be seen as genuine contenders once again this season.
«Now you look at a team that went to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final last year, had so much going for themselves. They're a weaker team. They're a lesser team. Now, it's incumbent. It's all on management here to go and make significant moves to improve this team. We know the top end is outstanding, but after that, real problems.»
At this point of the season, it's hard to argue with Button, as the Oilers rank in the bottom third of the league in goals scored, with neither of their goaltenders posting a save percentage of .900 or above.
There's still plenty of time for things to turn around, but at this point, the team has plenty of doubters, so expect the front office to make some big moves to change that.
| POLL | ||
Will these Edmonton Oilers make it back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs? | ||
| Yes | 34 | 42 % |
| No | 47 | 58 % |
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