HOCKEY CRUNCH By Jamie Gilcig – Oilers Slipping Out of Contention. Can Their Season Be Saved?

JANUARY 7, 2022 – GM Ken Holland has to be feeling the pressure. He gambled with the Duncan Keith trade and the signing of Zach Hyman & Cody Ceci while not truly addressing the team’s goaltending issues.

The team jumped out to a great start, but now are 2-6-2 in their last team with McDavid in Covid Protocol.

Add to that his head coach publicly dissed one of his goalies who retorted back that he’s not getting goal support.

NHL teams rarely air their dirt publicly. One of the two will be gone soon, or maybe both?

Holland, being a bit of a dinosaur may turn to his only coach Mike Babcock. Frankly it may be what the team needs, but mostly the bigger question is what is Holland waiting for? Edmonton will now be in a dogfight for the last Wild Card spot. There’s very little room for error at this stage of the season and five teams behind them, including Vancouver, which good chances for a dog fight down the pipe.

Stuart Skinner has played well and may be part of the solution. Does Holland gamble the season on the 23 year old goalie or trade for a Jake Allen who seems a perfect fit for the cap strapped Oilers?

A larger deal involving Gallagher and Allen to Edmonton might just be what saves the Oilers season.

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