A surprising Oilers forward has been measured to be the fastest player on the team.
According to NHL data tracking players going back to 2021-22, Connor McDavid was unsurprisingly the forward at speed bursts over 32km an hour, but James Hamblin is the forward that's motoring around most often. Per 60 minutes, Hamblin leads the Oilers in skating at least 29km an hour.
This shouldn't be surprising to Oilers fans who watched Hamblin play 41 games in the last two years and work his tail off in every game. Coach Knoblauch has commented on the battle for the fourth line position on the roster and mentioned speed specifically as a skill they need. In training camp so far, Hamblin's speed is an asset that will make him stand out. If Hamblin can keep speeding around the ice, it may be something that keeps him at the NHL level.
James Hamblin is an incredibly easy Oiler to cheer for, even if you aren't a fan of the team. The Edmonton-born Hamblin lost his mother to cancer back when he was playing in the WHL, and he's continued on with her money at the forefront of everything he does. When he scored his first NHL goal he memorably dedicated it to his mother, and this season Hamblin is changing his jersey number to honour her too. Hamblin is a great story of hard work overcoming hard personal circumstances, and it's a testament to how great of a person he is.
It's also cool to see Vasily Podkolzin near the top of the rankings as well. He's also impressed in preseason games, and hopefully could find new life in his tenure with the Edmonton Oilers.
The regular season opener is now less than two weeks away. The Oilers begin the season at home against the Winnipeg Jets on October 9th. Gear up Oilers fans, hockey is finally here!
