Every Wednesday for the next seven weeks Sportsnet.ca gets you set for a fresh NHL season with looks at players from Canadian teams who could have breakout seasons in 2012-13.
The Edmonton Oilers have a wealth of talent under the age of 25 unlike any other team in the National Hockey League. However, the club has missed the postseason six straight times. Not only have the Oilers missed the playoffs lately, but they’ve finished at or near the bottom of the standings the last three years.
The silver lining to that is they’ve been able to draft the likes of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Taylor Hall and Nail Yakupov. Combine those three first-overall picks with forwards Jordan Eberle, Sam Gagner, Ales Hemsky and Ryan Smyth, and the Oilers should have one of the most potent offences in the league.
But if the Oilers want to end their playoff drought and become a contender in the Western Conference, they need these players to take their game to the next level and for other players to step up and have a breakout campaign.
Here are one forward and one defenceman on the Oilers who could take their play to the next level in 2012-13 and become difference-makers.
Justin Schultz
Outside of Zach Parise, new Oilers defenceman Justin Schultz was arguably the most sought-after available player this off-season. Schultz was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in the second round, 43rd overall, in 2008 but never played a game with the franchise. Due to a stipulation in his contract he was eligible to become an unrestricted free agent this summer and the Oilers took advantage, signing him to a two-year contract on June 30.
The 22-year-old is just what the Oilers need on the back end. He is a serious offensive threat that is not a defensive liability. In his three years at the University of Wisconsin, Schultz scored 40 goals and 113 points in 121 games. Solid numbers for a skilled forward, let alone a D-man.
And although there will be pressure on him to perform, the weight of an entire team will not be on his shoulders.
The West Kelowna, B.C., native joins a team that will have the last three first-overall draft picks in the lineup — Nugent-Hopkins, Hall and fellow rookie Yakupov — plus a stable of veteran defencemen like Ryan Whitney, Andy Sutton and Nick Schultz (no relation) who can act as leaders on the blue line.
It’s unknown whom Schultz will be paired with, but he should get plenty of ice time as well as significant minutes on the power-play unit.
Linus Omark
Linus Omark began his NHL career with a solid 2010-11 season in Edmonton. As a rookie he had 27 points in 51 games but only played 14 games with the big club last year.
He only registered three points with the Oilers and broke his ankle in November in a game with Oklahoma City Barons of the American Hockey League, which put a damper on his campaign.
Omark is a player who can show signs of flash, as evidenced by this stylish shootout goal in his first-ever NHL game:
This type of fan-friendly flare fits in with the Oilers’ high-tempo offence. The Overtornea, Sweden, native was minus-16 in his rookie year and minus-5 last year. If he can improve his play in his own end, it could result in a steady spot on the roster.
The 25-year-old should build on his six goals, 16 points and plus-4 rating he had in 18 AHL games last year. He does that, and he’ll be a difference-maker for the Oilers this coming season.