Edmonton Much Improved Over Last Season Despite McDavid Injury

The Edmonton Oilers are not without their share of problems, but they already have won five more games and have seven more points than last year at this same time of the season.

The Oilers are headed toward being one of the NHL’s most improved teams despite a number of breakdowns on the defense, goaltending that is inconsistent and a huge hole left by the broken clavicle of rookie Connor McDavid.

However, even with their problems, the Oilers remain one of hockey’s most improved teams, but it remains to be seen where they will be sitting at the end of the regular season when the playoff arrive.

Four clubs have better point totals this season than last year at the same date than do the Oilers who are plus 7. Edmonton has 26 points after 29 games while last season they had 19 points through 28 games as of December 9, 2014 and 2015.

The four teams that have increased their points better than Edmonton compared to last season are the Dallas Stars at plus-19, the New York Rangers at plus-11, the Washington Capitals at plus-10 and the Ottawa Senators at plus-8.

With Edmonton in the top five in the league in that group, it shows the growth the team has made from last season under new coach Todd McLellan.

The Oilers improvement in a number of statistical categories compared to last season has now started to transform into their standing in the Western Conference.

The Oilers won their fourth straight game on Wednesday. There is nothing to compare with McDavid as he was not with the team last season, but consider this: five of the nine losses Edmonton has suffered since McDavid’s injury were by a single goal. The rookie before his injury scored 12 points in 13 games.

If McDavid were not injured and using his pace of points per game, it would be reasonable to think the Oilers would have scored more points than they now have, which would push their plus ratio compared to last season even higher.

Few expect the Oilers to be around come playoff time, but at this point with one third of the regular season over, Edmonton is just three points from a playoff spot.

Therefore, one would think if McDavid can return sooner than later, the Oilers may have the game to be one of the final eight in the Western Conference when the Stanley Cup playoffs arrive.