Hot Links: Monday, February 10

Morning, folks!

A busy weekend in the books, one that saw the Oilers snap their two-game slide with a comeback win over the Nashville Predators on Saturday and re-sign their 2LD to a 2-year extension.

The victory was inspired by a Leon Draisaitl-led comeback in the third period and went a long way to calming the angst creeping into the city after two straight bad games.

The extension seems to have had a similar effect, as the reaction to Nurse’s deal seems to be mostly positive despite sharing similarities with Jeff Petry’s last contract in Edmonton. My best guess is that it’s because Darnell Nurse isn’t Jeff Petry, and that the Oilers are actually in a position as an organization to handle the loss of such a player if it comes to it at any point in the next two years.

Right now? I’m still feeling somewhat positive (likely from relief) that they didn’t give him a franchise destroying contract. I must say, however, that if this is simply Holland putting the decision on Future Ken’s plate, that I’ll come to like this deal much less.

The Oilers are back in action tomorrow night when they’ll host the Chicago Blackhawks before heading out for a three-game set in the Southeastern USA where they’ll play Tampa Bay, Carolina, and Florida before returning home.

Tyler Benson was sent back down yesterday after a shade over 14 minutes of NHL ice in his two games. The verbal from the club is that he’ll help the playoff push, but they didn’t send any more reinforcements so you can probaby safely regard that reasoning as BS, and anyone who peddles it as worthy of your derision.

Colby Cave was brought back up in his stead, which does give one a little pause about the actual health of Connor McDavid after The Captain slammed his knee into the end wall against Nashville on Saturday. It’s a space worth paying attention to, that’s for sure.

From Us

UPDATE: Oilers, Darnell Nurse Agree to Extension (Copper and Blue)

Oilers Break Skid With 3-2 Win Over Predators (Copper and Blue)

GAME THREAD: Edmonton Oilers - vs - Nashville Predators (Copper and Blue)

From Elsewhere

Getting Ready For Summer Business (Lowetide)

Monday Mailbag – First Impressions For Tyler Benson (Oilersnation)

Sheahan Effective For Oilers On Penalty-Kill And Face-Offs (Sun)

Oilers Sign Darnell Nurse To Two-Year Contract Extension (Sportsnet)

Oilers Recall C Colby Cave (Oilersnation)

Grease Is The Word (Oilersnation)

Oilers’ James Neal ‘Likely’ To Return Tuesday, Benson Assigned To AHL (Sportsnet)

Keep On Truckin’ (Lowetide)

For Money

Oilers Reportedly Finalizing Short-Term Deal For Darnell Nurse To Free Up Cap Space For Summer (Athletic)

Lowetide: The Oilers Urgently Need First-Shot Scorers, So Expect A Flood Of Additions This Summer (Athletic)