Edmonton Oilers should take a similar approach to the Dallas Stars when it comes to certain players.
EDMONTON -- The Edmonton Oilers were shut out by the Dallas Stars.
They were embarrassed by a 5-0 final score - when they have the horses to compete day in and day out with a team like the Stars. Ultimately though, it wasn't the Oilers night.
The Stars could teach the Oilers a thing or two about playing younger players - and giving them a defined role as well as good ice time. Wyatt Johnston and Thomas Harley could be the blueprint to what a successful integrating of Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway looks like.
Wyatt Johnston and Sam Steel.Johnston led the way with a goal and an assist. He played 15:45 and fired five shots on net. He's had a tremendous season posting 61 points - 20 more points than his rookie season last year. The 20-year-old forward is playing almost a minute and a half more than last year.
Harley is the other young player of note for the Stars. He played 40 NHL games before this season - spread across two years. The first year he only played 34 games, and last year only six.
Thomas Harley.He has exploded in 2023-24 - taking on big responsibility and big minutes. He's averaged 20:49 of ice time per game this year. The 22-year-old left handed defender ranks second on the Stars blueline in time on ice and second in points (41). Miro Heiskanen has 49 points and plays 24:28 a night - the one blueliner with more points and ice time than Harley.
There is a trickle down effect of having young players like Harley and Johnston in your lineup every night. More often than not, they are still on entry level contracts. That allows the organization to utilize saved cap space on acquiring new players to help in the playoff race.
Moving forward, the Oilers will need to take a look at the Stars roster and glean what everything that they can. Long term, the best way forward will be getting the most they can out of younger players, living with their mistakes (to a certain extent) so they can reap the benefits of their upside.
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