Toronto Star Referrer

JOHNSTON,

Missing playoffs isn’t an option in Edmonton. A new goalie (and Kane) could help

CHRIS JOHNSTON AND ALSO IN THE STAR. FOLLOW HIM ON TWITTER: @REPORTERCHRIS

There sat the NHL’s best player looking like a beaten man.

Connor McDavid perfectly encapsulated the frustration boiling inside the Edmonton Oilers fan base — not to mention the management suite — when he spoke to reporters following Saturday’s loss to Ottawa that included a blown 3-1 lead.

The team has two wins in14 games and just emerged from a nine-day layoff because of postponements. That included seeing McDavid enter COVID-19 protocols and be held off the scoresheet by the Senators in his return to the lineup.

Of course, the NHL’s second-leading scorer doesn’t get paid to stop pucks. His 22-plus minutes and 1.56 points per game aren’t responsible for the tire fire burning around him.

As for what is, McDavid was at a loss to explain how the Oilers let such an important game slip away against one of the NHL’s weakest outfits.

“I’m not sure what to tell ya … I wish I had an answer for you there … We’ve talked it over and over and over again in that room and obviously we haven’t found an answer yet.”

The exasperation was evident on his face.

It should serve as a reminder of just how much is riding on this season in Edmonton — already the seventh of McDavid’s career. Missing the playoffs is not an option, and the Oilers have put themselves in the Pacific Division’s chase pack as we near the midway point of the year.

Ken Holland has so far kept a steady hand, publicly backing Dave Tippett while explaining why he doesn’t see much logic in a midseason coaching change. The veteran general manager is considered the lead pursuer of free-agent winger Evander Kane, who could sign his next NHL contract in the next few days, pending the outcome of a league investigation into the circumstances around a trip he took to Vancouver in late December after a positive COVID test.

Landing Kane would provide an immediate boost because it would see Zach Hyman shifted back to his more comfortable position at right wing and create more balance in the lineup, with Jesse Puljujarvi shifted to the third line.

However, it wouldn’t address Edmonton’s most glaring need. The team has won two games since Dec. 3 and scored five goals in both of them. It has started three different goaltenders during that stretch and seen them each perform below replacement level: Mikko Koskinen (0-5-1, .866), Mike Smith (0-2-1, .877) and Stuart Skinner (2-3-0, .882).

Any deal the Oilers could pull off for goaltending help would appear to be an act of desperation because these have become desperate times. But that doesn’t mean Holland should avoid aggressively pursuing an external answer.

His captain’s demeanour following Saturday’s loss said everything you needed to know about where the Oilers are at right now.

Soupy’s selection

What often gets lost in the telling of goalie Jack Campbell’s journey from a highly touted first-round pick to an ECHLer to an NHL allstar is how much better he’s gotten since arriving in Toronto on Feb. 6, 2020.

Campbell rebuilt his game and experienced his initial breakthrough with the Kings, but he’s become elite since joining the Leafs.

Consider that he’s made nearly the same number of career appearances with each organization — 57 in Los Angeles, 56 in Toronto — and produced considerably better numbers as a Leaf. His save percentage jumped from .918 to .926, his goals-against average shrunk from 2.51 to 2.19, and his goals saved above average exploded from 10 with the Kings to 27 with Toronto, according to hockey-reference.com.

That vaulted Campbell into the Vezina Trophy conversation and earned him an invite to next month’s NHL all-star game in his 12th professional season.

The 30-year-old has overhauled aspects of his game since arriving along with Kyle Clifford in a trade that saw two third-round picks and Trevor Moore sent back to Los Angeles. Always considered an athletic goaltender, Campbell has worked on becoming calmer and more confident in his crease.

The results have been staggering, especially considering the unexpectedly long road he travelled to establish himself as an NHLer after being selected 11th overall by Dallas in 2010.

Immensely popular inside the Leafs dressing room — and among the team’s fan base — Campbell’s appearance in Las Vegas promises to be one of the highlights of all-star weekend, Feb. 4 and 5. Let’s hope they mic him up for the event.

He gave a shout-out to his parents and sister after receiving word of his all-star selection on Thursday, and said something else that should perk up some ears: Campbell expressed a belief that he’s still going to get better.

#AskCJ

Are the Boston Bruins being overlooked as a team that could do damage in the East when playoff time comes?

@joseph_wood64

You may be right about the national media and opposing fans sleeping on the Bruins, but they’re definitely not being overlooked by opponents. That team has simply been too good for too long. Remember that Boston is going to have a little extra motivation come playoff time with captain Patrice Bergeron playing out the final year of his contract and noncommittal about his future beyond this season.

When do you see the season ending this year in the NHL? @vcitano

The regular season is currently scheduled to end April 29, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the league had to dip into the first week of May to account for all of the rescheduled games. The NHL will do everything it possibly can to get the Stanley Cup handed out by June 30.

In your opinion, which team in the NHL has the most entertaining playing style? @FilipKowalski2

Great question. The two teams I’ve most enjoyed watching this season are Florida and Colorado — both play high-paced, exciting games and aggressively pursue offence. The Maple Leafs score highly on my entertainment index, too. They can fill the net.

Will I ever be able to watch a Leafs game with a normal heart rate ever again? @McClernon85

No, you probably won’t. A big part of fandom is assuming that whatever could go wrong will go wrong, and the Leafs aren’t built to lock things down and win 2-1. They’re coming off a high-stress, high-entertainment road trip and as the games keep getting bigger your heart rate is going to keep being tested.

Parting thought

It’s a good thing we don’t have to file NHL awards ballots until late April because picking between Victor Hedman and Cale Makar for the Norris Trophy would be nearly impossible right now. Game recognizes game, too: Hedman recently said Makar is his favourite defenceman to watch in the league.

CHRIS JOHNSTON IS A TORONTOBASED JOURNALIST WITH A NEW GAMING COMPANY. HIS WORK WILL BE SEEN ON THE WEBSITE AND APP FOR THE NEW GAMING COMPANY,

SPORTS

en-ca

2022-01-17T08:00:00.0000000Z

2022-01-17T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://thestarepaper.pressreader.com/article/282205129255080

Toronto Star Newspapers Limited