Edmonton Oilers

Edmonton Oilers Quick Hits: Klingberg, Ekholm and Skinner

Last night, the Edmonton Oilers lost of the Detroit Red Wings. How did Jeff Skinner stand out? How did John Klingberg do in his debut?

by
Old Prof
January 31, 2025

In this edition of Edmonton Oilers Quick Hits, I’ll look at some news emerging from the Oilers team. I’ll also assess how Jeff Skinner and John Klingberg played in last night’s loss to the Detroit Red Wings.

Quick Hit One: Illness Is Circulating in the Oilers Locker Room

It looks like something’s going around the Edmonton Oilers locker room. Due to illness, John Klingberg and Mattias Ekholm were sidelined for Friday’s practice. Klingberg made his Oilers debut in Thursday’s 3-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings. However, whether he can play in Saturday’s home matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs is still up in the air.

Meanwhile, due to illness, Ekholm wasn’t supposed to go in Thursday’s game. However, he gutted it out. Perhaps he shouldn’t have. He missed Friday’s practice, and he, too, might not play on Saturday against the Maple Leafs. If neither of these blueliners can play, look for Troy Stecher to get the nod.

Quick Hit Two: Could Jeff Skinner’s Strong Showing Get Him More Minutes?

Jeff Skinner might have just delivered the kind of play that helps him get more time on the ice and become a more significant part of the Oilers lineup. In Thursday’s 3-2 shootout loss to the Detroit Red Wings, Skinner scored another goal. That’s two games in a row now.

This goal, in particular, came off a broken play in front of the net, where Skinner capitalized with a quick puck poke into the empty net. While it seemed like a simple goal, Oilers head coach Knoblauch praised the former 40-goal winger. He pointed out that Skinner got to the right spot. For Knoblauch, that skill often goes unnoticed.

What stood out in Skinner’s game wasn’t just his offense but his defensive effort, as well. Although he’s known more for scoring, Skinner showed off a strong backcheck. It’s an area of his game some people miss. He also worked well with defenseman Evan Bouchard, slowing down the Red Wings’ attack and quickly transitioning the play back the other way. This well-rounded performance could help Skinner earn a more consistent spot in the lineup.

Despite a slow start to the season with just nine goals and eight assists in 45 games, Skinner’s recent play suggests he could be ready to rebound. If he can continue to play well, and everyone knows he has the talent, his ice time could increase. With Kasperi Kapanen also showing some success, it doesn’t hurt to have both as solid secondary scorers. The question is whether Skinner can keep up this level of play. If he can, he’ll find his role expanding as the Oilers head toward the postseason.

Quick Hit Three: Grading John Klingberg’s First Oilers’ Game

Many fans (including me) were anxious to see how John Klingberg’s debut in an Oilers sweater went. Thursday night certainly had its share of intrigue. Given his recent injury history, several key questions need to be answered. They still do. Yet, so far so good.

Klingberg became a star in Dallas because he could (1) move the puck and (2) put up points. Perhaps those days are long gone after hip surgeries and a long layoff. Still, it’s fascinating to see how a veteran player negotiates adverse changes in his game. The body might not be what it was, but tons of game-time experience gives a player a modicum of on-ice intelligence.

What would he bring to the Oilers? He has the potential to be a low-risk, high-reward guy. But how could his “new” hips hold up?

In his first game since November 2023, Klingberg played 16:39 of ice time. In that time, he put one shot on goal and posted a -1 rating. It was his first game in 14 months, and he was rusty but not horrible. Klingberg can still move the puck up the ice, and that’s exactly what the Oilers want him to do. With a month to get him up to speed before the trade deadline, the Oilers can now determine if Klingberg is the right fit for their blueline moving forward.

It’s still hard to know, but he didn’t disappoint. If Klingberg stays healthy and finds his game, he could be a nice addition to the Oilers’ lineup.