Knoblauch also didn\u2019t name the starter in goal for the game.<\/p>\n
79 games<\/p>\n My take<\/p>\n 1. Max Jones has earned this promotion and it also makes sense to put him on the second line, as Ryan Nugent-Hopkins can use some beef on his wings if he\u2019s going to thrive at centre.<\/p>\n At the same time it makes sense for Jack Roslovic to get bumped down as he\u2019s been struggling on defence in recent weeks. Roslovic also provides some scoring balance on his line, teamed up with Adam Henrique and grinder Curtis Lazar.<\/p>\n 2. Jones was a first round pick in 2016, the same year the Oilers took Jesse Puljujarvi. But like Puljujarvi, Jones has struggled to find a steady job in the NHL. The way he\u2019s playing now, however, bodes well for future NHL employment. He\u2019s forechecking like a mad man, but also with purpose, winning pucks, not taking penalties, and creating Grade A shots for himself and others.<\/p>\n At the same time, he\u2019s making safe plays with the puck and making sure he\u2019s got his check on defence. He\u2019s on the last year of a deal that pays him $1 million this season, but if he keeps up this level of play he\u2019s certain to earn another NHL deal.<\/p>\n In a short run of games, Jones has been playing at the same high level as Vasily Podkolzin, so that explains his sudden rise up the depth chart.<\/p>\n 3. Last year with the Oilers, Jones started strong and then faded. This year, he started strong and has kept up his strong play, as if his next NHL contract depended on it, which it does. If he keeps up this level of play, he\u2019ll be\u00a0 a hard man to take off the playoff roster, even as he has no special teams role. But he\u2019s a big, tough and fast guy with some skill. RNH did well with two rugged wingers, Evander Kane and Zach Hyman, in the playoffs, so it\u2019s a good bet to have him with Jones and Kasperi Kapanen.<\/p>\n 4. Connor McDavid<\/a>\u2019s official on-ice NHL goals plus-minus this year is +16. But if you dig into his actual individual contributions to goals for and individual mistakes on goals against at even strength, he\u2019s +54 (92 contributions to goals for and 38 mistakes on goals against).<\/p>\n 79 goals<\/p>\n At the Cult of Hockey<\/p>\n Will Edmonton\u2019s new, improved version of Cody Ceci out-perform the old version when Oilers face Kings?<\/a><\/p>\n Edmonton Oilers coming on for playoffs \u2014 and hell\u2019s coming with them, you hear<\/a><\/p>\n![\"79](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/e8b930bde970c0c1b31cf9b07e698550.jpeg\"\/)
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"79](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/3e94a6ff3a4e380c51ae35b503218e16.jpeg\"\/)
<\/a><\/p>\n