The difference between the Edmonton Oilers and the addition behind the scenes

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From an 0-3 start to 18-10-2 today

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And over the course of the last three games, the Edmonton Oilers have defeated three Stanley Cup contenders, all featuring elite-level NHL goaltenders.

What a wild and sometimes disturbing ride it was.

But if you look under the hood to see what powers this engine, you'll find a skilled and proven mechanic tinkering away.

Is that man behind the scenes the difference in this mid-season turnaround?

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That and more in this edition of

9 things

9. Darnell Nurse led all Oilers in ice time on Saturday. We've seen a resurgence in his play, so pronounced that it has forced the trolls who hate anything remotely related to Nurse underground. Darnell is on a 40-point pace and is playing some of the best defense of his career.

8. Here's a name you've heard before: Taylor Hall. Chicago will offload the veteran winger at the deadline for a signing. It's inevitable. The former MVP and Edmonton Oiler could be a summer option in Edmonton. Would a playoff run be the best way to test that option on the road? Hmmm.

7. Zach Hyman has scored five goals in his last five games. At what point do you think the guys responsible for choosing the Four Nations squad realize they may have made a serious omission? In defense, Hyman started slow numbers-wise. But now they are coming fast and furious.

6. I was among those who were sad to see Vincent Desharnais leave the Oilers because I loved his story and his determination. But you should only pay so much for guys like that, and Vancouver is learning that the hard way. Vinny hasn't been good enough for the Canucks, who are now rumored here on the West Coast to want to move him.

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5. After the double bid, Stan Bowman moved quickly to replace Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway. Over time, both Vasily Podkolzin and Ty Emberson have grown nicely. Thursday was Emberson's best as an Oilers. He's looked like a solid six all day, maybe more. Podkolzin may not have the same speed and attacking edge as Holloway. But Vasily plays a slightly tougher game and has work with a real purpose. I was/am known as a fan of Holloway. But is he $1.3 million per year better than Podkolzin?

4. In the last month of play, Stuart Skinners' save percentage at evens is almost 0.920. I wasn't one of those wringing my hands about his early season return. To me, this is one of the best young goalies in the NHL. Almost by definition, they will have some ups and downs. If Skinner played for another team and had the same results, I bet some people in Edmonton would be clamoring for Stan Bowman to acquire him. I didn't like the short handed giveaway either. But don't let that distract you from the thirty-eight saves he did make.

3. A number of things have changed in recent weeks that have helped turn around the Oilers' fortunes. First, they just play better. That may seem overly simple. But when you consider that this roster isn't all that different from the one that played Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals against Florida, it's easy to conclude that they were always going to stabilize. And many of the stats at the start of the season suggested as much. But they're also getting some revivals now that that wasn't the case earlier this year. And anyone who has played this game at any significant level will tell you that the hockey gods are a thing.

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2. I scored Leon Draisaitl a rare perfect 10, in our Cult of Hockey Player Grades on Thursday after the Minnesota game. He was dominant against the Wild and on both ends of the ice. All he did next was throw another three-point night against Vegas. Draisaitl leads the NHL in goals with twenty-two and is third in points with forty-five. In a city blessed with a generational talent in Connor McDavid, Draisaitl is a different kind of great. Much like Mark Messier during his time here, Leon has the ability to physically impose his will on the opposition. It's that ability to play against your opposition that sets him apart. Also keep in mind that Messier had one 50-goal season and six 100-point campaigns in his career. At age 29, Leon is already on three 50-goal years and five 100-point performances.

1. Ken Holland certainly had his detractors as general manager of the Edmonton Oilers. I am also critical of some of his decisions. But ultimately, Mr. Holland brought this franchise within reach of a Stanley Cup. You can argue about a lot of things that happened on his watch if you want, but Game 7 is not a subjective measurement of Ken's record. However, we are now in a new era of Oilers management. This is now Stan Bowman's ship. And after some choppy waters in the beginning, the club has been sailing with a strong tailwind in recent weeks. They once again look very much like a Stanley Cup contender as a rematch with the Panthers looms this week.

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As mentioned a few paragraphs back, Stan Bowman made his first impact on the roster with the Podkolzin and Emberson trades in August. He then re-signed Len Draisaitl in September. He gave Noah Phil a startling first look in October. In November, a fairly quiet waiver claim resulted in an impactful Kasperi Kapanen (a real NHL player who essentially took over the departed Raphael Lavoies roster spot, Lavoie 2-3-5 in 17 games for Henderson of the AHL) on the second line of Oilers. Then came another waiver claim in December, this time from Boston's big right-handed D prospect Alec Regula. Regula seems to be a more tool-like version of the aforementioned Desharnais. Wow!

And that's just on the ice. Behind the scenes, the Oilers have also revamped their player development model. They have integrated analytical people and principles deeply into the DNA of the organization. They even reorganized their scouting department, which no doubt had some impact on many of the trades mentioned above. The organization under the new GM has taken on a very different look than what we have seen here in Oil Country over the past fifteen, often frustrating, years. It looks connected.

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Stan Bowman also still has access to the brilliant mind of the legendary Father Scotty. Let me be clear: Stan has long since surpassed any need to trade on his Hall of Fame father's name. Stan's own career stands for itself. But I've worked for some really smart people in my own career who believed in exchanging ideas with other really smart people. It's a damn good model.

Ultimately, Ken Holland certainly wanted to win competitions and cups and has done a lot for this organization. Otherwise you won't convince me. But I also don't think the Netherlands had anything left to prove. And maybe that's the subtle difference we see.

I don't get that same feeling at all with Stan Bowman. In fact, I feel like Bowman is operating like he really has something to prove, both on and (honestly) off the ice.

And his work rate since he came on the scene confirms that for me without a doubt.

That bodes well for the future, both near and far.

New on Bluesky @kurtleavins.bsky.social. On Twitter @KurtLeavins, Threads @kleavins, Instagram at LeavinsOnHockey and even on Mastodon at [email protected]. This article is not AI-generated.

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