Hot Links: Thursday, October 15

Morning, folks!

Another day another donair in Oil Country this morning. Nothing too pressing other than Czechboy’s Grading Ken Holland piece from yesterday that’s sure to spark some discussion.

Past that, we’ve got a few other reviews of the Oilers’ work in Free Agency, and some preliminary power rankings if you’re into those sorts of things.

FWIW, I have the Oilers as presumably better up front, probably worse on D, and likely worse in net. I think their PP is likely to be historic again, but that their PK is due to regress, as it was mostly built on some uncharacteristically good 4v5 goaltending last season.

I don’t know if Ken Holland’s done enough to improve the team’s 5v5 fortunes to cover for any special teams regression, though admittedly, I haven’t run any numbers. Just based off the old gut.

From where I sit, there are still a few contracts that need to be moved. I’m not sure its possible, TBH, I can’t imagine a team looking at the pool of available free agents right now and then deciding that they’d rather part with literally anything for a crack at any of Zack Kassian, Jujhar Khaira, Kris Russell, James Neal, Josh Archibald, or Alex Chiasson, but I digress.

Rumors are the Oilers are done. I don’t think they should be. Suppose we’ll have to wait and see.

Grading Ken Holland (Copper and Blue)

Hot Links: Wednesday, October 14 (Copper and Blue)

The Capstan Shafts (Lowetide)

Weekly Rumours – Are The Oilers Done? (Oilersnation)

Pacific Power Rankings: Golden Knights, Canucks, Oilers And Flames Escalating Arms Race (Sun)

Edmonton Oilers: Recapping The Start Of Free Agency (Oil On Whyte)

In Search Of... The Method In Ken Holland’s Madness Re: Edmonton Oilers’ Goaltending (Journal)

Time For Oilers’ Puljujarvi To Turn Promise Into Performance (THW)

Edmonton Oilers May Move AHL Afflilate Bakersfield Condors To Edmonton For 2020-21 Season (Oilersnation)

The Edmonton Oilers Really Thought They Were Going To Land Jacob Markstrom (Oilersnation)

Help Me Understand… (Oilersnation)

NHL’s Top 15 Unsigned RFAs: Latest Rumours, Reports (Sportsnet)

Lowetide: Finding Connor McDavid’s optimal linemates among 2020-21 Oilers (Athletic)