While the Edmonton Oilers have yet to string together three straight wins this season, they have been fairly consistent. Sitting second in the Pacific Division, the Oilers remain in a decent position as the second half of the season gets underway. In recent years the team has found a way to ramp up in the back half of the season.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the storylines surrounding the team in this week’s rumour roundup.

Jenner linked to the Oilers

While in some ways this appears to be a newer rumour, Boone Jenner has long been a player linked to the Oilers. The Columbus Blue Jackets captain is a versatile forward who can play on the penalty kill and brings a physical edge. Injuries have been an issue, but Jenner’s ability to play centre and his play style make for an intriguing option for the Oilers. Jenner could provide a stable presence as a third line centre, perhaps moving into a bigger role on the wing should Zach Hyman or Vasily Podkolzin miss time. He would provide a different play style that some of the Oilers younger wingers might benefit from, like Matthew Savoie, Isaac Howard, or a Quinn Hutson.

With rumours that the Jackets might be interested in Andrew Mangiapane, some are connecting the dots that the two might be a starting point for a trade. Mangiapane seems likely to be traded at this point, but the Oilers would have to add to the deal to entice the Jackets. In the muddled race for playoff spots in the Eastern Conference, there might not yet be an appetite for the Jackets to start selling off assets. At the same time, it might be time for roster change now that the Jackets have fired former head coach Dean Evason.

This might also unleash more rumours from the Jackets, as becoming the Eastern Conference’s first true seller remains a possibility. More players might find themselves part of speculation. Mathieu Olivier is among the league’s most feared fighters with a decent power forward game. Oiler fans searching for right handed defencemen might be curious about Erik Gudbranson, a pending UFA, but Gudbranson is out long term with little news on a potential return.

Kane’s return to Edmonton?

Some rumours are about who could become an Oiler, but this rumour surrounds a player who will not become an Oiler. Reportedly there was some discussion about the Vancouver Canucks returning Evander Kane to the Oilers.

The Oilers got some good hockey out of Kane, but it was clear that his best years were behind him. In the last year of his contract, and with the Canucks entering some type of retool, it does make sense for them to explore a trade.

Some fans might be hoping that the Oilers look to add more size up front, in that way Kane might fit the profile. Whether or not the Oilers are looking to add such a player, it is clear that Kane will not be the option.

Kotkaniemi as an option

Another popular school of thought is that the Oilers will look to add a centre. With Adam Henrique’s offence drying up and Noah Philp being lost to waivers, the Oilers depth at centre has become more of an issue. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is better higher in the lineup on the wing, or at least in a scoring role. Trent Frederic has not stuck at centre, and has not played well enough to elicit much confidence.

One option who might make sense is Jesper Kotkaniemi. Despite some promise earlier in his career, Kotkaniemi’s effectiveness has waned with the Carolina Hurricanes. There might still be some room for a bounce back, as Kotkaniemi’s play has not matched his salary.
Still, it might be too costly against the cap for the Oilers to manage. Perhaps the Oilers could make it fit, but that would require some equally inefficient contracts going the other way. The only chance is that the Hurricanes are desperate to switch things up, even taking on other less desirable contracts in return like Andrew Mangiapane and Trent Frederic.

It does not seem likely that the Oilers will be a landing spot for Kotkaniemi. Instead, this rumour might be more representative of the type of player the Oilers might try to acquire. The Oilers need a capable third line centre behind Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, specifically one who can handle defensive situations. It would be nice to have some offence from this spot, but the Oilers do have some talent on the wings that could help support this hypothetical third line centre.

What about Stolarz as a goaltending option?

In the spirit of mentioning former Oilers, the goaltending situation for the Toronto Maple Leafs has become one to watch around the league. Heading into the season, the Leafs tandem appeared set as Anthony Stolarz was extended. Stolarz has since missed a lot of time with injury, which has been the major issue of his career.

In the meantime the Leafs have gotten excellent play from Joseph Woll and Dennis Hildeby. Hildeby remains waiver exempt until next season, meaning that the Leafs will not be forced into a trade until then.

The Oilers have not been linked to Stolarz, which says something on its own. For years the Oilers have been central in most goaltending rumours, but the recent shakeup in net seems to have shifted the conversation. The Oilers might be forced to choose between Calvin Pickard and Connor Ingram as their backup when Tristan Jarry returns to health.

There is also a lot of promising news from deeper within the organization. Connor Ungar has been spectacular this season, playing on multiple ECHL teams before getting called up to the AHL. The 24-year-old appears to be on a remarkable trajectory. Younger prospects Simon Jonsson and Nathaniel Day are further away, but are notable. Neither has been given an AHL role, though a jump up the ranks might not be far away.

Time will tell how the dust settles, but the Oilers might be able to adjust their goaltending this offseason by taking a swing on Stolarz. His play and his contract are desirable for any team that can afford his injury risk. The Oilers youth and depth in net might make them look interesting suitors down the line. Until then it appears the noise surrounding the Oilers crease has quieted, as the current group looks to come into its own down the stretch.

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Oilers looking to add more analytics

The Oilers tweeted out that they are accepting applications for analytics roles. The team is looking to hire a Senior Data Scientist, a Data Engineer, and a Full Stack Developer. As the field of hockey analytics grows, it is prudent for the Oilers to be exploring new ways to bolster their operation.

Regardless of who is hired and when, it is good to see the Oilers continuing to find areas to improve. This is a forward thinking approach from team president Jeff Jackson to modernize the Oilers operations. Recently the team has come under fire for some of their professional scouting endeavours. Both Andrew Mangiapane and Trent Frederic have been disappointing, while David Tomasek did not receive much chance to find his way as an NHLer before leaving the Oilers.

These hires will not guarantee better results in the future, but it does show some self awareness that the Oilers have missed on some recent deals.

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