Hot Links: Thursday, November 21

Morning folks!

The Oilers — still atop the Pacific Division after a quiet night in the NHL — take their talents to Venice Beach (close enough) to battle Todd MacLellan and the Kings tonight at 8:30 MST.

Edmonton was pretty good last time out, taking all two points in a bit of a routing of the San Jose Sharks, with Connor McDavid and Mikko Koskinen getting the plaudits.

Still no official word on Matt Benning’s status heading into tonight, so keep your eyes peeled for lineup information as it’s released. Adam Larsson is expected to make his return after fracturing a bone in his leg in the first game of the season.

Talk of Zack Kassian’s extension made the internet yesterday, with some pretty gaudy numbers (IMO) being discussed. I don’t care to do the work to find the timestamp of the clip from yesterday’s TSN1260 morning show, but for those interested:

Again, I haven’t gone back to listen myself, but if that’s anywhere near what Kassian’s extension will look like, count me out. Firmly. Alex Chiasson was re-signed after getting the first line treatment en route to a career year this summer and now look at him: serviceable enough for what he is, but paid about twice what he’s worth thanks to his peerless linemates for most of last year. This isn’t hard, and I really thought we might see some genuinely different approaches to building a roster this time around.

That we’re still having this discussion as Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl approach territory (both on pace for over 150+ points) no other duo has ever done in perhaps the most confusing bit. Lots of table-setting and amuse-bouching from the local MSM to get the fanbase ready for the inevitable career-year overpay yesterday and I just do not understand it.

Lots of positivity surrounding these Oilers right now otherwise, so I’ll stop it there and let you get read up in advance of tonight’s big hockey match. Til then.

From Us

Let’s Pump The Brakes On A Big Zack Kassian Extension (Copper and Blue)

SB Nation Fan Pulse: With Mike Babcock Gone, Who’s The Next Coach To Go? (Copper and Blue)

The Oilers Should Absolutely Push Hard To Reacquire Taylor Hall (Copper and Blue)

Hot Links: Wednesday, November 20 (Copper and Blue)

From Elsewhere

By The Numbers: Life Is Good (Oilersnation)

NHL Performers Of The Week: Ho Hum, 6-Point Night For McDavid (Sportsnet)

How Should The Oilers Handle Their Depth On The Blueline? (Oilersnation)

Kassian Finds Home On Oilers’ Top Line After Battling For Place In NHL (Sportsnet)

The Oilers Are A Playoff Team (Oilersnation)

Walk the Walk (Oilersnation)

For Money

Q&A: Woodcroft on Benson’s ‘gift,’ the next step for Bouchard and acting like a proud parent watching the Oilers (The Athletic)

Lessons learned from the nightmare free-agent class of 2016 and the price still being paid (The Athletic)