Nothing builds team morale like a road trip, and this one for the Edmonton Oilers is perfect. Three games in sunny California with multiple days between each matchup? What a gift from Gary Bettman. Something tells me golf clubs are loaded onto the private jet this week. 

“We got time to look at what we did and how to improve on things. Now, in saying that, when you’re going alright — keep playing. We had a good off-day on Sunday. We played three games in five days. It’s the start of the year. Freshen yourself up and get ready to go.”

But those off-days won’t feel so good unless the Oilers keep building their game after a stingy defensive showing Saturday against the Seattle Kraken. 

No touchdowns surrendered, and two points nabbed, meaning five of a possible six have been captured. Interestingly, the Oilers also started 2-0-1 a year ago. 

Visiting Anaheim, San Jose, and Los Angeles will be a step up in class, but a positive head-to-head record in the Pacific Division is what kept the Oilers afloat a season ago. They have higher hopes than just “getting through” the regular season, but Wednesday should have some extra juice. The Ducks beat the Oilers in six games back in April after all. “This is great,” said Connor McDavid. “Eight days in California, three games, so kind of unique that way. We’ll have lots of time to get together, get familiar with each other. We already are. But good to get on the road to spend some time together and enjoy that thing. But big games, divisional, and we want to make sure we’re ready to roll.”Dickinson nearing return to the lineup

We have Jason Dickinson sightings. 

The Oilers veteran centre has been labouring through his nagging ankle injury sustained last season, but practiced on the team’s second line two days in a row. Babcock is hopeful that Dickinson will be able to play on this trip, but it’s worth noting the forward’s comments from Monday about his injury status. 

This may continue to be an ongoing situation. 

“If I’m being totally honest, I never quite got to 100 per cent over the summer,” he said during a scrum on Monday. 

“I was making jumps, but it felt like every jump I made, I would plateau for a couple of weeks. There was one where I just couldn’t make another jump, so I spent a month trying to figure out what wasn’t working, what I was compensating for, and why I wasn’t getting the reactions I needed out of my ankle. We spent a good month here figuring that out.”

Dickinson would be a welcome return to help solidify the depth chart, although Owen Michaels has been working his tail off to become an NHLer. 

Two goals in three games is pretty good, and he’s not getting shelled by the competition. The score is 2-2 when he’s been on the ice at five-on-five, and the high-danger chances are equal 5-5, but his line has been outshot 15-11 at five-on-five. 

Considering the spot the Oilers have been in with their centre position, Michaels is chipping in as an older rookie, and that’s important as he gets his bearings. 

“He played college hockey for a while, and he’s like a pro,” said McDavid about his new teammate. 

“It’s so impressive how he’s come in and just done everything that’s asked of him. A guy who’s going to work defensively from his net out to get into this league, and obviously he’s done that. Then scored a couple of goals along the way. It’s impressive.”

If Dickinson slides in, you have to think Max Jones is the guy to come out of the lineup. 

Ducks looking to play a ‘man’s game’The Anaheim Ducks are coming off two days off for just their third game of the season tonight, and for all the talk about taking a step back, they’ve done just fine.

Ducks had a four-goal lead and held on late to defeat the Vegas Golden Knights 4-3 in their opening game, then defeated the Florida Panthers 3-2 in overtime. Those aren’t slouches and certainly are better opponents than the Oilers have faced. 

“We played a man’s team tonight and a man’s game,” said coach Joel Quenneville afterwards.Last season, the Ducks set an NHL record with 19 combined game-tying goals and game-winning goals in the final 5:00 minutes of regulation. It was a total of 26 comebacks, tied with Montreal for the most in the league, and nine of those were multi-goal.

The sign of a young team advancing is getting leads and holding them, which so far has been their path to victory.

But it’s a different world, not just on his team, but league-wide, since Leo Carlsson signed thee offer sheet for $18 million per season. Cutter Gauthier became a $13.5 million player, Pavel Mintyukov signed for a $7.2 million extension, and Tristan Luneau signed for…*checks notes* $7.2 million as well.

Now you may be wondering, who the hell is Tristan Luneau? He’s one of the many players who can thank his teammate Carlsson with a steak dinner.

Luneau set the NHL record for the richest contract signed for a player who has played fewer than 50 games with his six-year, $43.2 million deal. In fact, the former second-rounder from 2022 had played just 14 games before GM Pat Verbeek gave him this contract. If there’s ever been an organizational shift in signing players sooner, it’s this one after the Carlsson and Gauthier raises have put them right against the salary cap and changed the complexion of their future rapidly. 

Their layer of veterans has departed with Chris Kreider, Jacob Trouba, John Carlsson, and Radko Gudas, so looking at the Ducks blueline is an indication of why Elite Prospects is still in business. Who? What’s his name? Seen much Travis Mitchell tape? What’s your book on Noah Warren?

Including Luneau, there are four defencemen in Anaheim’s defensive corps from Sunday who have played 16 or fewer NHL regular-season games. Jackson LaCombe, at 25 years old with his 232 games, is the grizzled vet. They may get reinforcements in time for tonight, but it will be still quite green. 

Notes:The Oilers made their lateral trade on Wednesday morning, sending Spencer Stastney to Pittsburgh for Filip Hallander. Stastney finishes his tenure in Edmonton having played 36 games, and ten years from now, will make a great TikTok for Woz to do that begins, “Remember when…”Hallander has netted a couple points this season, but I can’t help but notice that he is a left shooting centre. I thought you wanted righties, Stan? Another vote of confidence for Owen Michaels?Leon Draisaitl and his linemates are having their absolute way with the opposition, outshooting the enemy 63-12 with Draisaitl on the ice in three games. That’s gross. With his late winner against Seattle, Draisaitl has now scored a game-winning goal against 29 different franchises. Only five active players have scored more GWGs against more franchises.Devon Levi gets the start with the plan to start Tristan Jarry in San Jose on Saturday. Levi made 19 saves on 20 shots vs. the Kraken and looked every bit of the netminder fans hope can take the crease and run with it. Connor McDavid is off to the best start of his career with nine points in three games. Evan Bouchard has four goals and eight points and was named NHL second star of the week.No one is making more actual cash this calendar year than Leo Carlsson, but one has to wonder whether his offence can produce at an elite level to match the paycheque. Last season, he had 29 goals and 67 points at 21 years old. Pretty good, but can he take a step? He’s got a goal and five points in two games so far.Cutter Gauthier had two goals and an assist versus Florida. Remember, the Ducks went 8-for-16 on the power play against the Oilers in the playoffs, but they also went 4-for-12 in the regular season series. Overall, 12-for-28 a year ago, they had the book against the Oil. This year, the Oilers PK is at 57 per cent, and the Ducks PP is at 50 per cent. Drew Helleson skates this morning and may be able to play tonight to give the Ducks blue line another option. First-round pick Nikita Klepov looks like he’ll make his NHL debut.Mike Babcock on Ty Emberson after his season debut: “I liked him…He wasn’t in trouble. That’s what I liked about him, he played simple. Anytime you’ve sat out two games and you’re evaluated and then you get in, you’re probably not as relaxed as you could be, but I thought he was good.”This game features two of the last six teams to not suffer a regulation loss yet.EDM is 4-6 against ANA in their last 10 meetings.Michael Menzies is an Oilersnation columnist and co-host of Pregaming and Postgaming. He’s also been the play-by-play voice of the Bonnyville Pontiacs in the AJHL since 2019. With seven years of news experience as the Editor-at-Large of Lakeland Connect in Bonnyville, Menzies collects vinyl, books, and stomach issues. Follow him on X at Menzies_4.THE EDMONTON ORIGINALS ARE BACKNation Gear’s iconic Nation Citizen, and Hope Will Never Die originals have returned in the limited edition OG Collection on nationgear.ca. 

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