6/20/13: The Oilers have decided on (another) a head coach, and this time it is Dallas Eakins. Eakins may not be a household name, but he is highly regarded in the coaching ranks. His last job was with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL. He led the Marlies to the 2012 Calder Cup, which is the championship of that league. His first message is that everyone must be in perfect condition. He expects his team to be able to play with full energy, even through multiple overtimes. He has landed in a great spot. Edmonton is filled with big-time talent, but they are still young and raw. He has the chance to shape them into a dynasty.

6/13/13: Professional sports are designed to give the worst franchises opportunities to rebuild by providing them with higher draft picks. The Oilers, who were terrible for several years, hit the jackpot by landing the top spot in the NHL draft three seasons in a row. They turned those picks into a very young, but talented team - one that should grow together and be competitive for many years. However, they have not been as strong on coaching. The team fired Ralph Krueger after 48 games and is close to hiring a new coach. Dallas Eakins be their fourth coach in five years, with only Tom Renney coaching for more than one season.

5/9/13: By many standards, the Edmonton Oilers under performed this season. The Oilers finished at 19-22-7, good for 45 points and a third place finish in the Northwest Division. They were a full 10 points out of the last playoff spot and only edged out their bitter rivals, the Calgary Flames, by three points. Edmonton has a veritable cornucopia of offensive talent, which has been well-documented. What they do not have is grit. They need a true defensive defenseman and a couple big grinders on offense to transform from a finesse team to a contender. They could also use an upgrade in net - perhaps Jaro Halak in the offseason.

3/28/13: The Oilers had the bad fortune to catch the St. Louis Blues fully rested and mostly healthy last Saturday. The Blues had three days off, which they spent at an Alberta ski resort for a little R&R. It showed on the ice, as Blues goalie Jaro Halak and the St. Louis defense was impenetrable, allowing only 19 shots and zero goals. The Oilers play a much flashier style of hockey, but had no answers to the tight defense, even with all of their offensive talent. After high hopes for the team, this season may be chalked up to experience and growing pains for the young Oilers.

3/21/13: It has taken a couple of months, but the Edmonton Oilers are starting to play like the team we thought they may be. They have registered at least one point in their last four games, and have clawed their way back to a 500 record (11 wins). Surprisingly, the Oilers are now in the playoff hunt for the first time in years. That means that the Oilers could be in a shopping mood over the few weeks. Edmonton does not need another scorer, but they could use a solid defenseman to pick up 20 minutes a night and provide some grit for the team.

3/7/13: The Oilers remain an enigma. Or perhaps, too much was expected of them going into this season with a roster full of first round picks and young super talents. In any case, Edmonton is tied for third in the Northwest Division with Calgary and Colorado with an 8-9-4 record. Perhaps the record is not a surprise, considering how young the team is, but the goal scoring has not been as prolific as expected. The Oilers rank 24th out of 30 team in goals with only 49, which is less than three per game. But Oilers fans should not give up. This may be a training year for a team that should be very competitive for a long time.

2/28/13: The Oilers are turning into a disappointment this season. The team is absolutely stacked with talent due their amazing good fortune in the draft lottery the past three seasons. The Oilers won the first overall pick for three straight years and turned those picks into some of the best young talent in the league like Jordan Eberle and Nail Yakupov. But so far this season, the team has struggled to score goals. A lot of this may just be growing pains. Expect the team to improve in the second half of the year and be competitive for many years to come.

2/21/13: The kidsare hanging in there. Through 13 games, the young Oilers are 5-5-3, good for a .500 record, 13 points, and third place in the Northwest Division. The team is still not scoring like most expected them to. Considering all the young playmaking talent, the Oilers should have more than 29 goals (just over 2 goals/game average). This is a team that should be putting up at least four goals per night, while phrases like "Hall to Eberle, GOAL!!!" should be part of the NHL lexicon for years to come. The team will come around, but it would benefit them to get some playoff experience this year.

2/14/13: Edmonton currently sits at 5-4-3, good for 13 points and second place in the Northwest Division. They are three points behind the Canucks and tied with the Minnesota Wild. Surprisingly, the Oilers have only scored 28 goals, or just over two per game. With all the offensive talent on the team, they should be putting the puck in the net far more often. But Oilers fans should not worry yet. The team has time to get their timing down and make a playoff run. Also, this should be a team to watch for the next several years, as they have all the makings of being one of the most exciting offensive teams with so much young talent.

2/7/13: In the 21 years since the Oilers last won the Stanley Cup, they have only been to the playoffs nine times. The fan base is always supportive, but they are hungry. Especially after the team has been fairly awful for the past few years. But the three consecutive No. 1 overall picks, plus defenseman Justin Schultz has put Edmonton back on the map. So far they are 4-3-3 this year, good for second place in the Northwest Division and just one point behind Vancouver. They have scored 24 goals and given up 27. Expect scoring to go up from 2.4 per game as the team finds its bearings. Playoffs are almost certain.

1/24/13: Great news for the wonderful city of Edmonton…The city and the Oilers have reached an agreement to build a $480 million arena, which will keep the team where it belongs for decades to come. The team and city had been in a contentious battle over a new facility for some time, and it looked like the team would move - possibly to Seattle. But this agreement ends that speculation. And at a good time too. The Oilers are rife with ultra-talented youngsters who have the chance to become an NHL dynasty. Great news all around, as the final result is what it certainly should be.

11/29/12: Great news for Oilers fans and the Oilers franchise. Taylor Hall is playing again, and Edmonton will eventually need him along with Jordan Eberle, Ryan Hopkins-Nugent, and Nail Yakupov. Hall injured his shoulder and ended his season prematurely. But Hall looks like he will be quick to return to form. Hall was a little behind the play, which is to be expected. But the talented winger did score a goal in his first shift. Hall claims that he felt fine after the game, so expect him to be back in game form in the very near future.

11/22/12: Eric Cole had some choice comments in reaction to Roman Hamerlik's rant against NHLPA head Donald Fehr's negotiation tactics. Hamerlik essentially said that Fehr needs to go if they lose the season. That the players should vote whether to accept a CBA proposal or not, and to end the lockout. Cole was not pleased with a fellow player breaking rank, and wants to protect future generations of NHL players. Therefore the hard-line tactics are warranted. At this point, fans may not care either way, they just want NHL hockey to return, regardless of who is the winner and who is the loser.

11/15/12: First overall pick Nail Yakupov is back in North America as the captain of his hometown Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk. Neftekhimik is playing a team comprised of Ontario League All-Stars in Victoria and Vancouver next week. Yakupov is still very young, not even 20 years old yet. But he has scored 14 points in 13 games for his team while improving his size and strength. The Oilers have high expectations for the youngster, who may join the Oilers NHL team once the lockout ends. Justin Schultz is likewise playing well, leading the AHL with 6 goals and 9 assists for 15 points in his first 10 games as a pro (playing for the Oklahoma City Barons of the AHL.

11/8/12: Since Edmonton has a wealth of young blue chip talent, the expectations over the next several years are sky-high, and rightfully so. The Oilers probably have enough raw talent alone to make the playoffs (whenever NHL hockey returns), but are not steeled enough to be a true contender yet. Naturally, there is a lot of speculation about goal tending, and the possibility of acquiring Roberto Luongo from the Canucks. While Luongo is considered to be a top goaltender, he is aging. He also has a reputation of folding in clutch situations. Of course no trades are going on during the lockout, but this is a story to keep an eye on.

11/1/12: Now that the Islanders have settled on a new home for the next quarter century, the next arena issue to be solved is Edmonton. The City walked away from a deal to construct a new venue and retail center when owner Daryl Katz tried to get more money out of the tax payers. When the Islanders move, the Rexal Center will be the second oldest arena in the league. The implication for Oilers fans is that the team may move, and Seattle looks like the ideal landing spot. Seattle is constructing a new arena and is looking to attract an NHL and/or NBA team.

10/18/12: As the lockout drags on, hockey hotbed Oklahoma City is a surprise winner. The Oilers' young guns are in OKC to play for Edmonton's AHL affiliate, the Oklahoma City Barons. Jordan Eberle and Ryan Nugent Hopkins are already with the team and claim they are excited just to be playing hockey. Taylor Hall, the third member of the dynamic trio, will join them shortly. Playing at a lower level at least has them playing, but they should be in Edmonton and beginning their rise as Western Conference powerhouse. With any luck, the lockout will end soon, and the threesome will be back in Alberta to terrorize the Flames.

10/4/12: Bigger than the lockout, the news (and paranoia) in Edmonton is that the team may relocate to Seattle. Owner Daryl Katz visited the Emerald City, which is building an arena, to get the lay of the land. Katz wants a new arena for the Oilers, who have 24 month remaining on thier lease. The City of Edmonton was set to build one, but recent alterations to the design have held that up. Hopefully, Katz' trip was just a negotiating ploy, and the Oilers will remain in Edmonton (Canada), where they belong, and in time to usher in a new era of exciting hockey with their young and talented squad.

8/16/12: The Flames are said to be shopping defenseman Jay Bowmeester around the league. The level of interest around the league is really known only the team, but there have been reports that the Red Wings, Flyers, Predators, and even the hated Oilers are interested. There are a few hurdles to clear before any trade is possible. JBo has a no-trade clause (like most Flames defensemen, unexplicably) which he would have to waive. He also comes with a hefty price tag that someone would have to take on. With a new CBA looming and the likelyhood that the salary cap will decrease, not many teams are willing to make a move right now.

8/2/12: The Edmonton Oilers may have struggled for the past several years, but the strategy to rebuild the team is nearing completion. Bolstered by owning the #1 overall pick for the past three drafts, the Oilers legitimately look like a team that could contend and even win the Stanley Cup for the next decade. Not many teams can match the raw talent of Jordan Eberle, Taylor Hall, Ryan Hopkins-Nugent, and Nail Yakupov. Add in defensemen Jeff Petry and Justin Schultz, and this could be the core of an explosive and dynamic team for the next several years.

7/26/12: The Oilers signed #1 overall draft pick Nail Yakupov to a standard entry level contract. Unlike other Russian prospects, there is little doubt that Yakupov wants to play in North America and in the NHL. Several other Russian draft picks have opted to develop further in Russia (in the Kontinental Hockey League, or KHL) before coming to North America, or have simply stayed in Russia for their entire careers. Young players can earn more in the KHL than with the standard three-year entry level NHL deal, but veterans seeking second or third contracts tend to make more in the NHL and make more for their careers.

5/23/12: The Edmonton Oilers (finally) announced they will not renew the contract head coach Tom Renny this past week, a move that was anticipated for quite some time. Renny was 55-87-22 in two seasons, but those two seasons were truly rebuilding campaigns featuring a slew of talented (but green) players who may not have been ready for the rigors of the NHL. The announcement, predictably, sent the interwebs in Alberta screaming, with rampant speculation of who the next coach of the Oilers will be. One persistent rumor is that the team will hire Brent Sutter, who spent the last few seasons behind the bench of archrival Calgary.

5/16/12:The Oilers have steadily improvd over the past few years through a focused effort of developing very young and raw talent culled from high draft picks and excellent scouting. The results so far have been slow to realize, as the team missed the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season. But the talent is there and will only improve over time. Edmonton's front office, for their part, must put some muscle around their blue chippers. The young core is gifted but lacks size. If the Oilers can add a few grinders, this may be the last time the Oilers are playing golf in May for many years.

5/11/12: The Oilers have a head-start on their cross-providence rival Calagary Flames, at least in the rebuilding process. While the Flames were burdened by old contracts, the Oilers have been quietly rebuilding with high draft picks with talent to burn. The team ranked second on the power play for most of the year and improved by 12 points from the previous season. Moreover, the Oilers have the number one pick in the draft to grow with Jordan Eberle, Tayler Hall, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. The Oilers have missed the playoffs for the last six seasons, but are closer than ever to joining that next level.

5/3/12: The rumor mill is heating up in hockey-crazed Edmonton this week, with speculation flying about how the Oilers will improve both offensively and overall. Edmonton has a strong corp of talented and passionate youths like Jordan Eberle, Taylor Hall and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Additionally, they own the first overall pick in the June draft, and are likely to select Russian sniper Nail Yakupov. Yakupov scored 31 goals and 69 points in the Ontario Hockey League this past season. While speculators link Jordan Stahl and Ryan Johanssen to the club, the Oilers and their fans really only need patience and time while their young stars develop.

4/25/12: Oilers right winger Jordan Eberle not only led the team in goals (34), assists (42), and points (76), he was also named as a finalist for the Lady Byng award along with Panthers defenseman Brian Campbell and Islander's right wing Matt Moulson. Eberle only accumulated 10 penalty minutes in his second year, and showed tremendous improvement in all facets of his game.The Lady Byng is awarded to the player displaying the highest level of 'sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct' while also displaying 'a high standard of playing ability'. Past winners include Wayne Gretzky, Joe Sakic, Martin St. Louis and the late Pavol Demitra.

4/18/12: The rumors are flying in Edmonton that Brent Sutter, fired last week as head coach of the archrival Calgary Flames, will coach the Oilers next season. Sutter is currently working with Edmonton President of Hockey Operations Kevin Lowe in assembling Team Canada for the World Championships in Sweeden in May. Additionally, current head coach Tom Renney's contract is about to expired and the Oilers have not made any moves to renew. While this is off the radar to most in the U.S., it would compare to the Yankees hiring the Red Sox manager and letting their own manager walk.

Edmonton Oilers Tickets -Team History

Edmonton Oilers tickets allow fans the opportunity to see one of the most successful franchises in the NHL's Western Conference. Founded in 1972, the Oilers dominated the late 1980's and were able to win four Stanley Cups in five seasons. The Oilers play their games at Rexall Place and have called the venue home since it was opened in 1974. Watch as the Oilers add to their legacy and work to bring their sixth Stanley Cup to Edmonton!

Edmonton Oilers Tickets -Season Info

It's been tough sledding for the Edmonton Oilers in recent years, but the team looks to take big steps forward by focusing on its youth. Last season didn't end the way the Oilers planned, but encouragement and hope comes with the arrival of No. 1 overall draft choice Taylor Hall. With All-Star Ales Hemsky leading the way, the Oilers have a core of hungry young players working to get the franchise back into playoff contention.

Edmonton Oilers Tickets -Ticket Information

Edmonton Oilers tickets ensure that fans see the Oilers playing top contenders throughout the entire NHL season. The Oilers have their work cut out for them in a tough Northwest Division. With matchups against great teams like the Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames and non-divisional meetings with Sidney Crosby's Pittsburgh Penguins, the Oilers are sure to be tested all season long. Grab your Oilers tickets now and don't miss the action!

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