The Edmonton Oilers are being represented by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl at the All-Star game, but who else should be joining them?
The Edmonton Oilers are being represented by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl at the All-Star game, but who else should be joining them?
EDMONTON -- The Edmonton Oilers have had quite the season so far. After starting 3-9-1 under Jay Woodcroft - management decided to let him go in favor of bringing in Kris Knoblauch. Since the coaching swap they have gone 26-6.
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Aside from the first month and a half, McDavid has been spectacular. He did miss a couple games due to injury - but there is speculation that he wasn't 100% healthy when he returned to game action. Since the coaching change he has looked more like the McDavid we know - cementing his place as an All-Star.
Draisaitl hasn't dominated to the same extend as McDavid, but still more than deserves to be at the All-Star game. He's been a power play assassin - scoring 10 of his 23 goals this season with the man advantage.
There are three other players that this writer feels should have been named All-Stars. The fact that they weren't speaks to the flawed method the NHL took in selecting this year's roster.
Evan Bouchard
Evan Bouchard has been nothing short of tremendous this season. He had his struggles with Woodcroft behind the bench, but the addition of Paul Coffey to the coaching staff has greatly reduced the unforced errors that Bouchard typically makes.
Offensively, he's been lights out. He's just under a point per game with 43 points in 45 games. For those unfamiliar, he has now tied his career high point totals - with 38 games left to play.
According to Evolving Hockey, his defensive impact is through the roof. His Corsi against per 60 minutes (CA/60) is two standard deviations above the league average. His expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60) isn't as impressive - approximately one deviation above average - but the fact that it's above average is a huge bonus for someone of his offensive talents.
Stuart Skinner
Stuart Skinner has had an up and down year - there's no debating that. At the end of October he had a .533 high danger save percentage. He had played in nine games by the time Woodcroft was replaced. He was 2-5-1 in that opening stretch, with 30 goals scored against him on 216 shots. That works out to a .878 save percentage (SV%) and a 3.33 goals against average (GAA).
At the All-Star break he is sitting in a very different position. He has had 12 wins in a row and has only allowed more than two goals once during that time. He now holds the record for most consecutive wins by a goaltender for the Oilers - and is two wins away from tying the NHL record.
His high danger save percentage is now .806 % - while league average is .783 %. Skinner is sporting a 2.44 GAA and a .910 SV%, league average for both is 2.93 GAA and .903 SV% respectively. Considering the hole he had dug for himself, this turnaround is All-Star worthy.
Zach Hyman
The steadiest, most consistent Oilers forward throughout this entire season has been Zach Hyman. He's over a point per game with 47 points in 44 games - and 30 of those points are goals. He's shooting more than he ever has and scoring more than he ever has.
Last year he potted 36 goals on 276 shots on net. He was shooting 3.5 shots per game and averaged 0.46 goals per game. This year he is averaging 3.7 shots and is scoring 0.68 goals per game. That has him on pace for 300 shots and 55 goals.
How a potential 50 goal scorer doesn't make it to the All-Star game is mind-boggling. I'm sure he has more important goals on his mind.
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Related: Oilers Defenseman Named Trade Target By Insider
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