The Edmonton Oilers have iced an entertaining brand of hockey this 2016-17 season.
Connor McDavid has come in to his own and seems to embrace his role as superstar and leader. He has eight points in the last three games and has surged to the top of the NHL’s scoring list.
One former NHL player told me McDavid can do things with the puck at a high rate of speed that most other players can’t.
If you look past McDavid, Oilers coach Todd McLellan has this team doing many good things. The Oilers have scored 10 more, and have allowed 10 fewer goals than they did at the 21 game mark last season.
This is a team that has improved dramatically in their own zone. Goaltender Cam Talbot has stolen a game or two when needed, and defenceman Andrej Sekera is +6 this season.
The knock against the Oilers in recent years is that their talent has underachieved. That can’t be said at the quarter pole in 2016-17.