NHL Hockey Betting - Edmonton Oilers

NHL Betting 2007-08 – Edmonton Oilers
Manager: Craig McTavish
Arena: Rexall Place
Last Season: 32-43-7 (5th Northwest, 12th Western Conference)
2008 Prediction: 12th Western Conference

Preseason Odds to win Stanley Cup: +6000

The Oilers were busy bees this offseason, finally being on the other side of the tracks as they brought in some solid players, instead of losing everyone because it’s literally too damn frigid in Edmonton - thus the ice cold NHL betting odds at the end of last season. Acquiring Dustin Penner to shore the scoring and help lead a young crop of hopefuls is a start. Joni Pitkanen and Sheldon Souray are here to anchor the blue-line and Dwayne Roloson will continue to be the man between the pipes. The question is whether the Oilers can move on without the leadership of Ryan Smyth and Jason Smith.

The good news is that Oilers will only be able to improve their scoring because there is nowhere to go for them but up. They finished dead last in the NHL last year with a paltry 195 goals. Of course, a lot of that was due to injuries. Alex Hemsky, Jarret Stoll and Ethan Moreau missed a total of 124 games last year. The Oilers need to stay healthy, and adding Penner might give them the consistent scoring touch they’ve been lacking.

The bad news is that every player on this team was in the minus for +/- last season. All of them. Every single one. That makes the Pitkanen (minus-25) and Souray (minus-28) signings a little befuddling. Still both will be getting fresh starts in Edmonton this season, and both should flourish under Craig McTavish who has had a knack for kick-starting slumping careers.

The worse news for the Oilers is that they are in a division with four established contenders for the playoffs. As they figure out which way to point their youth movement, the Canucks, Avalanche, Wild and Flames will all be ready once the gates of the NHL season swing open. That will leave these hopeful Oilers trying to play catch-up as they get left in the dust of the Northwest this season.

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Official Website: www.edmontonoilers.com