The depth of the Edmonton Oilers is making a difference in the Stanley Cup Final, and former Erie Otter and Kingston Frontenac Warren Foegele is on fire
Former Erie Otter Connor McDavid has been the conductor of Edmonton’s monumental comeback in the Stanley Cup Final. But, the depth of the Oilers has come through massively for them in the last three games, and another ex-Otter has particularly elevated his game as of late.
The 2017 OHL Champion and Playoffs MVP with the Erie Otters (while playing under Kris Knoblauch), Warren Foegele scored the opening goal in Game 6 of the cup final Friday night.
Foegele gained a step on his man early in the first off the rush before receiving a perfect saucer pass from Leon Draisaitl. The Oilers winger had a wide-open cage and made no mistake in burying his shot and sending the Alberta faithful into a frenzy.
The Markham, Ontario native knows what it takes to step up in big moments. Foegele scored in Edmonton’s opening playoff game in the first round against Los Angeles but hadn’t put the puck in the back of the net until Game 3 of the Cup Final.
Since that goal, he’s recorded a point in every game, and has two goals, five points, and is a plus-3 in his last four games. Talk about stepping up for your team while the chips are down.
Foegele competed against his all-star teammates — Alex DeBrincat, Dylan Strome, Anthony Cirelli, and Taylor Raddysh — in the 2017 OHL Playoffs for that MVP trophy.
The Erie Otters acquired Foegele from the Kingston Frontenacs midway through the 2016-17 season. His impact was made immediately, registering 15 points in his first 12 games with his new squad.
His performance in the playoffs was exactly what management was hoping for when they traded for the big 6-foot-2 winger. Foegele potted home 13 goals and added 13 assists in 22 post-season games for Erie. Also, he tied DeBrincat for most shots with 101.
Even though he finished fifth on his team in scoring, Warren’s five goals and eight points in the OHL Finals against Mississauga was the icing on the cake for awarding him the Wayne Gretzky 99 Award for Playoff MVP.
Erie lost to the Windsor Spitfires in the Memorial Cup Final, but Foegele scored seven points, solidifying his reputation as a playoff performer.
Foegele is far from being in the running for the Conn Smythe Trophy, but his play over the last three games has certainly raised his value on a team that is one win away from finally breaking Canada's Stanley Cup drought.
People may look at Foegele’s production (eight points in 23 games) and assume that he hasn’t been an important piece to Edmonton’s comeback. Those people would be remitted if they didn’t take into account his speed in transition which has helped create opportunities off the rush, along with his outstanding play on the penalty kill.
Foegele has morphed his game into a terrific two-way winger that many NHL teams would love to have on their roster. He's incredibly dependable on the defensive side of the puck and plays a playoff-style game.
Considering his history of stepping up in big moments, don’t be surprised if the Edmonton winger has one of his best games of the series on Monday night’s Game 7.