Fan favourite former NHL coach Bruce Boudreau is now working as an analyst with TSN, and Brucey recently had a warning for the Oilers and some advice for Coach Knoblauch.
Boudreau spoke about the Oilers similar slow start to last season, where they cratered to a record of 2-9-1 before firing Jay Woodcroft. The Oilers turned it around with a 16 game win streak, and Boudreau wanted to never really expect something like that again - the Oilers need points now to keep pace in the standings.
"You can not depend, oh we're just gonna win 10-12 in a row they've started to come back, won two, but let's just say they have a little glitch and they lose the next two? They're starting all over again, another week or two down the drain. The idea is to get to .500, and go from there."
- Bruce Boudreau
TSN also created quite the unique graphic for Boudreau's segment. It's, festive. For sure.
Boudreau's message to treat these games as important as games in late March is totally correct. The Oilers should be competing for the president's trophy and jockeying for home ice advantage through the entire playoffs, and another brutal start could eliminate that possibility.
Nobody truly believes the Oilers are out of it yet with this minority slow start, but if it gets any worse, it will be near impossible to replicate last year's 16 game win streak.
After that, Boudreau also had some advice for Coach Knoblauch on how to get the most out of the slumping Zach Hyman. After scoring over 50 last year, Hyman has no goals or points in his first 7 games, and he's often been swapped out on the first line. Boudreau suggests the Oilers should be double shifting Hyman instead, to allow him to find his groove and get out of the slump.
"They're quick to change lines. If I was the Edmonton Oilers, I would play him more instead of less when he's not playing well. Double shift him until he gets out of this thing."
-Bruce Boudreau
It's not like Coach Knoblauch is going to hear this advice and change his methods, but Boudreau's message does carry some weight as a veteran NHL coach. He still believes the Oilers are a cup-contender this season, but judging by the first couple weeks. They sure don't look like one.
