Looking back, the Edmonton Oilers have not exactly had a season destined for the record books, and the team – and their fans – are getting frustrated. In the following segments I break down the Oilers 2014 season, compiling what I believe to be the worst moments endured by a very discouraged Oilers lineup.
The following video introduces the Oilers’ 2014 struggle, and will give you an idea of why the NHL draft couldn’t come soon enough for this failing franchise.
Now, without further delay, let the countdown begin.
6. “Acquiring Mark Fraser”
Earlier this season the Oilers acquired under performing defenseman Mark Fraser from the Toronto Maple Leafs. In Toronto, Fraser was a healthy scratch because he was terrible, though with Edmonton he secured a job as a part of their third defensive pairing. Fraser has one goal in his last 114 games, and is minus 7 since joining Edmonton’s lineup.
5. “The Scoring Struggle”
This season the Oilers have been shutout a league leading nine times. They were shutout back to back against Toronto and Detroit, followed by Dallas, Vancouver, Los Angeles, St. Louis, Boston, Minnesota, and the New York Rangers. Combined, the Oilers have given up 37 goals as a result of this offensive slide.
4. “The Single Hop”
Although this occurred on March 8, 2013, Devan Dubnyk started for the Oilers to begin the 2014 season, despite giving up one of the worst goals in NHL history. With 72 seconds remaining, David Legwand scored from the blue line, and the puck only bounced once before finding the back of net.
3. “Losing the Battle for the Basement”
(Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images)
On March 20, 2014, the Oilers faced the Buffalo Sabres, and were the better team entering the game for the first time this season. On top of this, the Oilers were 10-4-3 in their last 17, while the Sabres were on the verge of setting a team record for consecutive losses at eight in a row. Despite these statistics, the Oilers lost the game 3-1, showing the hockey world that their age long rebuild is far from over.
2. “The Heartbreaker”
Four games into the regular season, the Oilers were 2-2, and were holding their own each night. However, on October 12, 2014, the Oilers had 2 points stolen right out from under them. They led the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-4, but with 31 seconds left to play in the game Joffery Lupul tied it up, and Dave Bolland scored the OT winner shortly thereafter. This was one of the first indicators that the 2014 Oilers were not a shutdown NHL club.
1. “Fanning the Flames”
Oilers head coach Dallas Eakins towels off after being sprayed when Taylor Hall slammed his water down on the bench in frustration in Edmonton’s 8-1 loss to the Calgary Flames on March 22, 2014 at Rexall Place.
On March 22, 2014 the Oilers faced off against the rival Calgary Flames, and initially things seemed to be going well. The Oilers scored first, Jordan Eberle was back in the lineup after missing the previous game, and tough guy Luke Gazdic dropped the gloves early. But afterwards the Flames scored eight unanswered goals, and Taylor Hall threw his water bottle in frustration, accidentally spraying his head coach Dallas Eakins. This blowout came directly after losing to the last place Buffalo Sabres, dropping the Oilers to an all-new season low.
Upon reflection, one can only hope that the Oilers management can find and/or develop the pieces to complete this age long rebuild. Though the Oilers have many pieces to the puzzle it’s still incomplete, and at this point it’s best to simply look ahead to next season. There is no point ruminating on the past, and after all, the NHL draft is just around the corner.
Andrew Roberts
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