Team Preview: Edmonton Oilers

2010-2011: 62 points, 15th in Western Conference
Key additions: C Ryan Smyth, W Eric Belanger, LW Ben Eager, D Cam Barker, D Andy Sutton
Key departures: D Kurtis Foster, D Jim Vandermeer, C Colin Fraser

Eberle (above) is helping leading a youth movement in EDM.

Why they'll contend: The Oilers have finished last in the NHL in consecutive seasons, but there's finally reason for optimism. The team has an excellent mix of young superstars, including forwards Taylor Hall, Linus Omark, Jordan Eberle, Magnus Paajarvi, and newly-minted first rounder Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. The team will be exciting, fast-paced, and fun to watch and have solidified things defensively. The additions of Cam Barker and Andy Sutton on the back end will help cut down the shots against (21st in the NHL) and improve the penalty kill (29th in the NHL) from last season. Ryan Smyth's return will go a long way in the locker room. Smyth is a great leader at 35 and spent 12 seasons in Edmonton before being traded in 2007. Smyth's return will help guide the wealth of young talent. If Nikolai Khabibulin can stay healthy, the Oilers will be in good position to climb out of the basement for the first time since the 2008-2009 season.

Why they'll falter: Youth is a wonderful thing, but the Oilers are relying too heavily on it too soon. The majority of the team still can't drink in the United States, and the guys that are old enough to are too old. Smyth & Khabibulin can just as easily be on the IR all year as they could be on the ice, and while Hall, Eberle, and the rest of the group project to be fantastic players and part of what could be a dynasty in the making, they are still a year or two away. Ben Eager was a waste of money to fill their third line and as much as Smyth will make positive contributions in the locker room, Eager will detract. The Oilers will contend some day, and that day will be soon. But 2012 looks to be another year on the outside looking in.

2012 prediction: 14th in Western Conference
Leading scorer: Taylor Hall, 27 goals & 57 points
Bold prediction: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will win the 2012 Calder Trophy.

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