Ken Campbell says these Edmonton Oilers are no longer trying to be "The Greatest Show on Ice" and have proven they are the real deal. What else has changed?
Edmonton Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner celebrates a Jan. 13 win against the Montreal Canadiens with teammates.The record tells us the Edmonton Oilers had their 16-game winning streak stopped Tuesday night with a 3-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. It also tells us the Oilers are 26-7-0 under Kris Knoblauch as their coach.
What it also tells us now is the Oilers are, probably for the first time in the Connor McDavid-Leon Draisaitl era, a true and legitimate Stanley Cup contender. They defend like a Stanley Cup contender, kill penalties like a Stanley Cup contender, have the poise of a Stanley Cup contender and are getting the goaltending of a Stanley Cup contender.
As the Oilers approach the trade deadline, could GM Ken Holland have an enormous move up his sleeve, perhaps getting Jake Guentzel? That would indeed give the Oilers an even better chance, but they know now that even if they stand pat at the deadline, they have a team that is capable of winning a Stanley Cup.