The Edmonton Oilers core is locked in.

The players central to the team’s success in the next 4-5 years are entrenched. And key prospects who will be needed to fill in the gaps on their entry level deals in the post-pandemic NHL economy are on promising trajectories.

None of the above guarantees success, of course. But you sure won’t win without it.

That and more ahead in this edition of…

9 Things

9. Not to tell the Edmonton Oilers Events Team how to do their jobs, but would the lid not come right off Rogers Place if Olympic Gold Medallist Stephanie Labbe were to drop the puck on opening night? The Edmonton-born athlete with the $1,000,000 smile played her 1st game as a keeper on a Spruce Grove pitch.

8. The Professional Hockey Writers Association has awarded four NHL squads their annual Dick Dillman Award for PR excellence. The Oilers PR team, overseen by Tim Shipton, was among them. These past 18 months have been tough for everyone in journalism trying to do their “normal” jobs under abnormal circumstances. Well deserved.

7. I see the Oilers giving Kyle Turris every opportunity to earn the 13th F position. If he can do it Turris would be a very useful piece. He has on his resume many of the traits required, like flexibility, an adept faceoff man and solid 2-way play. Turris has committed his summer in Edmonton on an aggressive training program. We all know how last year went (or didn’t). But I give the guy credit for putting in the work.