Hockey Hall of Fame writer Jim Matheson talks to Oil Spills host Craig Ellingson about the Edmonton Oilers’ successful stretch of games under head coach Ken Hitchcock, taking points in 10 of 13 games — eight of them wins — since he replaced Todd McLellan on Nov. 20, 2018. The team finally looked, shall we say, human in Vancouver on Dec. 16 in a 4-2 loss to the Canucks, a team behind them in the NHL’s Western Conference standings. While it’s important to win such games if you’re a team such as Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Edmonton Oilers have enjoyed a successful start to the Ken Hitchcock era, with the adjustments brought in by the legendary NHL coach tightening things up defensively and creating more scoring opportunities. Their play is also being bolstered by the solid goaltending by the tandem of Mikko Koskinen and Cam Talbot, and has led to a flurry of wins. All this success with a bit of a blast from the past as former Oilers captain Andrew Ference recently sounded off on the team’s dressing-room culture of a f Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We found out what a superstar-less Edmonton Oilers team is like, and it wasn’t pretty when Connor McDavid sat out his team’s game on the road against the Dallas Stars when he fell ill. While it was just one game, short of expecting McDavid to be the ultimate iron-man, illness and injuries do happen, and the Oilers certainly looked like they were running on a lower-octane fuel minus him. What it did was magnify the team’s current lack of depth on the wings. Podcast host Craig Ellingson talks to hock Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ken Hitchcock has had a good glimpse at what ails his new team, what works and what doesn’t early in his tenure behind the Edmonton Oilers bench. With other teams who had gone through a ‘rebuild’ phase at the same time as these Oilers finally realizing success — like the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Buffalo Sabres — is there anything Hitchcock, the third-winningest coach in NHL history, can do to jumpstart flailing Edmonton? Oil Spills podcast host Craig Ellingson talks to Oilers beat writer Rob Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Todd McLellan is out, Ken Hitchcock is in as the head coach of the Edmonton Oilers. The move comes after the team lost six of its last seven games heading into a road trip to California, sitting a game below .500 and sitting outside the NHL playoff picture. Host Craig Ellingson talks to hockey beat writers Jim Matheson and Derek Van Diest about the coaching change, why it happens now and what we might expect from Hitchcock, an Edmonton native and one of the winningest head coaches in NHL history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Edmonton Oilers have come crashing back to earth after a good showing in October, when they posted a 6-4-1 record while beating strong teams such as the Winnipeg Jets, the Nashville Predators and the Washington Capitals, the defending Stanley Cup champions no less, along the way. Heading into their Nov. 13 home game against the Montreal Canadiens, the Oilers had lost four games in a row in rather convincing fashion, harkening back to memories of last season’s adrift squad. Host Craig Ellingson talks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The carousel at right-wing keeps turning for the Edmonton Oilers, with Drake Caggiula catching fire in back-to-back games and hanging onto a spot on the top line alongside star Connor McDavid, even though Ty Rattie — the regular on McDavid’s right-hand flank — was ready to return to the lineup. So there’s that, and there’s also the strong play of a couple of others on the right side, Alex Chiasson and Zack Kassian, who for the moment are entrenched on the second- and fourth lines, respectively. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The goaltending’s been the big thing lately for the Edmonton Oilers. While many things have gone right for the Oilers, particularly in their last four games, to go 6-3-1 in their first 10 games of the season, the play of starting goalie Cam Talbot as well as backup Mikko Koskinen in his single appearance have backstopped the team to its winning record. Remember: many a pundit and average fan on the street weren’t giving the Oilers much of a chance to win games in October, much less come out of it wit Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s the heart of the order for the Edmonton Oilers in October — three games in a row against some of the NHL’s heavyweight teams — and the big question is how they will do against them. If last Saturday’s game against the Nashville Predators, a shutout loss, is any indication, the games against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Washington Capitals and the Predators again will prove thought tests for an Oilers squad that has bared its flaws. Oil Spills podcast host Craig Ellingson talks to NHL beat w Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Leon Draisaitl, the centre of the Oilers’ second line that includes wingers Milan Lucic and Kailer Yamamoto, has failed to muster offence with his even-strength linemates to start the new NHL season. So it comes as little surprise the idea of once again moving Draisaitl onto Connor McDavid’s wing — something the Oilers have done in the past to generate goals — has come up again in the media as an option for head coach Todd McLellan, who has summarily dismissed it. The team wants Draisaitl to be Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NHL beat writer Jim Matheson has been on the road with the Edmonton Oilers for the last week and a half, starting in Germany, where the team played an exhibition game in centre Leon Draisaitl’s home town of Cologne, followed by their regular-season debut in Gothenburg, Sweden, against the New Jersey Devils, a 5-2 loss. And now, the Oilers will make their debut on North American ice on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018, facing the host Boston Bruins — a potentially tough matchup as are most of their games at the Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

They’ve made the big jump across the pond, and now the Edmonton Oilers are preparing for a big challenge to start the N-H-L season — four games on the road, with the first one in Sweden, all against what should prove to be stiff competition. That’s this backdrop for the Oilers as they continue to make final adjustments to the lineup, such as waiving players such as Pontus Aberg, who was claimed by the Anaheim Ducks on Monday, and trading defenceman Jakub Jerabek, who they had waived on Sunday to send Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Decisions, decisions. The Edmonton Oilers are about halfway through training camp, and while the NHL team has made a number of roster cuts already — sending players in bunches back to junior clubs and to the minor league in Bakersfield for the AHL team camp — the hard work deciding who stays and who goes starts now. The Oilers have three pre-season games left before they depart for Europe, where they’ll play an exhibition in Cologne, Germany, before starting the 2018-19 season in Gothenburg, Swede Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Darnell Nurse has finally signed a new contract with the Edmonton Oilers. It’ll be a big boost for the N-H-L team’s blue-line as Nurse played some important minutes for the club last season. He’ll slot into the team’s top four and take some pressure off prospects such as Ethan Bear, Caleb Jones and recent first-round draft pick Evan Bouchard. Host Craig Ellingson talks to hockey writers Jim Matheson and Derek Van Diest all about the Oilers’ defence and the challenges the players face as they Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The gang’s almost all here! Edmonton Oilers prospects have reported to rookie camp ahead of the opening of main camp later this week. It features the likes of Evan Bouchard, the Oilers’ first-round draft pick this past June, as well as other hopefuls who have an opportunity to make an impact and get a longer look as the team readies for the season. Tyler Benson, the Oilers’ second-round pick two years ago, is playing in his first pre-season games after missing action the past couple of Septembers beca Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Andrej Sekera lost for a few months after tearing his Achilles tendon this summer, the Edmonton Oilershave signed free-agent defenceman Jakub Jerabek to fill his spot — at least at training camp, where the NHL team will see ho stands out and deserves that sixth spot on the blue line. Prospects Ethan Bear, Caleb Jones and the oilers’ most-recent first-round pick, Evan Bouchard, will also likely be in the mix. Is adding Jerabek the right move? Podcast host Craig Ellingson talks to Edmonton Journal an Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s officially been summer going on two months now, but almost 10,000 people packed the lower bowl of Edmonton’s Rogers Place this past week for an international hockey tournament featuring a bounty of 17-year-old top prospects. The Hlinka Gretzky Cup, under a variety of names including the Air Canada Pacific Cup, the Nations Cup and the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, is a major pre-season showcase of under-18 prospects. A big question surrounding the tournament was whether fans would turn up in the Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we enter what·s typically a quiet period of the year for the Edmonton Oilers and the NHL · it is summer, after all · we are coming off recent news of the team signing their first-round pick last month, Evan Bouchard, to a three-year entry level contract. As has been the case with the franchise particularly over the last dozen years, such high picks have been getting long looks at training camp and in exhibition and have seen NHL playing time right away. Can we expect Bouchard to get the same kind of l Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There’s still one major fish for the Edmonton Oilers to sign, and that’s restricted free agent Darnell Nurse, the defenceman who has shown much promise on the back end and who could very well blossom into a top-pairing NHL blueliner. But right now, the Oilers aren’t in a position to sign Nurse to a long-term deal, so look for them to come to terms on a bridge contract — something shorter-term, like two years, and worth say 3 to 4 million per season. And what else can the Oilers do to add to their li Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Derek Van Diest talks to Edmonton Oilers beat reporters Jim Matheson and Rob Tychkowski about the NHL’s free agency period, which starts Sunday, July 1, 2018. Not that Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli is licking his chops, pen and chequebook in hand, to give out some fat contracts this time around. No, the Oilers will be looking way, way down the list of available free agents in search of forward depth, to the likes of Kyle Brodziak, Jason Chimera and Tobias Rieder — all former Oilers, as it Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Derek Van Diest talks to Edmonton Oilers beat reporters Jim Matheson and Rob Tychkowski about the Edmonton Oilers at this year's NHL Draft in Dallas, particuarly what the team should do with their first-round, 10th overall draft pick. Should they keep it or trade it? If they keep it, what sort of player should they target? They also talk about the possibility of the Oilers trading forward Milan Lucic, who is coming off a disappointing season with plenty of time left on his expensive contract. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Derek Van Diest talks to Edmonton Oilers beat reporters Jim Matheson and Rob Tychkowski about the Vegas Golden Knights, the NHL expansion team that is in the Stanley Cup final in its first year of play against the Washington Capitals. They talk about the construction of the Golden Knights roster, how the team’s success might change the way other teams assemble theirs and how they look at salary structures, and about the entertaining home-ice production at Las vegas’s T-Mobile Arena. The trio also t Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Edmonton Oilers signed Swedish defenceman Joel Persson, who played for the Vaxjo Lakers in the Swedish Elite League last season. Will Persson help the Oilers in their quest for an offensive, puck-moving right-shot defenceman, or will he be another European who struggles to make an impact at the NHL level? The Oilers have gone down this road before with the likes of Yohann Auvitu, Anton Belov and Philip Larsen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hockey writers Jim Matheson and Robert Tychkowski talk to sports editor Craig Ellingson about the biggest news this week in Oilersland, the signing of Mikko Koskinen, a Finnish goalie who has spent the past six years in the KHL and who will be 30 years old by the time training camp rolls around in September. Who is the guy and why sign him to be the backup to push starter Cam Talbot? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

No. 1 overall. Could it happen to the Edmonton Oilers again? Yes it could. Three years ago, the Oilers won the 2015 NHL draft lottery with 11.5% odds of gaining the right to choose Connor McDavid first overall. This year, the Oilers head into the 2018 lottery holding the ninth overall pick. They have a five per cent chance of winning the first overall pick, and shots at moving up to second or third overall — or dropping back to 10th, 11th or 12th. If the Oilers win one of the lotteries, they will certainl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Questions about the Edmonton Oilers’ coaching staff linger following season-ending media conferences held by the team’s brass. Head coach Todd McLellan and his staff weren’t declared safe in their jobs — not that anyone thought they were given the Oilers finished well back of the NHL playoff pack this year after last year’s promising campaign. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The end of the Edmonton Oilers’ season is here and the questions that have been dogging the team all season remain. Why did the Oilers stumble this year and finish almost 30 points behind last season and out of the playoffs? Is this season or last season’s run into the post-season an anomaly? Is this the most disappointing season in the Oilers’ NHL history? Should anyone be fired as a result? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hockey Hall of Fame writer Jim Matheson talks to sports editor Craig Ellingson about Connor McDavid, the Edmonton Oilers captain who has been scoring at a torrid rate for more than a month, averaging almost two points a game in the month of March alone, and has vaulted into the NHL scoring lead. But how far should that scoring prowess, among his other qualities as a leader, teammate and ultra-skilled hockey player take him when it comes to voting for the league's most-valuable player award, the Hart Trophy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Beat writer Rob Tychkowski talks to sports editor Craig Ellingson about streaky Edmonton Oilers Leon Draisaitl, and why he's been hot and cold on the NHL scoring charts all season. For stretches, Draisaitl can score a point or better each game. That would be followed by strings of games in which he fails to put up any points. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hockey writers Jim Matheson and Derek Van Diest talk to sports editor Craig Ellingson about the unclear course ahead for Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli when it comes to making decisions on personnel this coming off-season — namely who to trade and who to keep and develop in the wake of Ottawa Senators GM Pierre Dorion’s attendance at two recent Oilers games. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hockey Hall of Fame writer Jim Matheson talks to sports editor Craig Ellingson about the Edmonton Oilers playing out the string on the rest of the 2017-18 NHL season, with the team out of the playoff picture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Edmonton Journal and Edmonton Oilers beat writers Jim Matheson and Rob Tychkowski join host Trevor Robb to discuss the moves Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli made prior to Monday’s NHL Trade Deadline and this period of evaluation the team has now entered as they wind down the season — a season that will not involve a trip to the playoffs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A special edition of Oil Spills at this year's NHL trade deadline: Host Paul Chapman talks with Postmedia hockey writers Jim Matheson, Ed Willes and Michael Traikos about the upcoming NHL trade deadline. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hockey writers Jim Matheson and Derek Van Diest talk to sports editor Craig Ellingson about the trading landscape ahead for the Edmonton Oilers, who are effectively out of the National Hockey League playoff race. Before the summer hits, there's the upcoming NHL trade deadline on Feb. 26, which will almost certainly see Oilers forwards Patrick Maroon and Mark Letestu, both set to become unrestricted free agents in July, peddled to other teams. But it's not as though the Oilers don't need such players — tak Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hockey writer Robert Tychkowski talks to sports editor Craig Ellingson about what is looking to be the final stretch of meaningful games for the Edmonton Oilers as, while they have been playing better lately, the NHL team can't move up the standings in the quest for a playoff spot. With the NHL trade deadline less than three weeks away, the team will have to make decisions on who they might trade to best manage assets, moves that would effective signal the season, as far as chasing the post-season is concer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hockey writer Robert Tychkowski talks to sports editor Craig Ellingson about the ailments that have been plaguing the Edmonton Oilers this season: their substandard special teams, both the power play and their weak penalty-killing efforts on home ice. Also: Goal-review glitches and the aftermath of backup goalie Al Montoya's refusal to speak to media before a game. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hockey writers Jim Matheson and Robert Tychkowski talk to sports editor Craig Ellingson about the struggles the Edmonton Oilers have on home ice and whether their poor performance against a lowly Buffalo Sabres squad could segue to immediate staff changes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hockey writer Jim Matheson talks to sports editor Craig Ellingson about the Edmonton Oilers coming out of their NHL bye week and how the club can try to build off momentum of their previous trio of games. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hockey writer Robert Tychkowski talks to sports editor Craig Ellingson about the on-again, off-again performance of the Edmonton Oilers as they continue to show signs of improvement one game only to play horribly the next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hockey writers Jim Matheson, Robert Tychkowski and Derek Van Diest talk to sports editor Craig Ellingson about the faint playoff hopes left for the Edmonton Oilers and where the blame should be cast for the failure of the team many were calling probable Stanley Cup contenders this year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hockey writer Jim Matheson talks to sports editor Craig Ellingson about the playoff hopes of the Edmonton Oilers being very much pinned to pivotal games against Western Conference opponents between now and mid-January. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hockey writers Jim Matheson and Robert Tychkowski talk to sports editor Craig Ellingson about the better play by the Edmonton Oilers, who face a strong lineup of teams after a promising three-game road trip, in which they collected four of a possible six points. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hockey writer Jim Matheson talks to sports editor Craig Ellingson about the continuing inconsistencies of the Edmonton Oilers, who can't gain enough traction to win enough games to claw back into the 2017-18 NHL playoff race. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hockey writers Jim Matheson, Robert Tychkowski and Derek Van Diest talk to sports editor Craig Ellingson about the injury to Edmonton Oilers goalie Cam Talbot and how the team needs to rally behind backup Laurent Brossoit and win games in early December to stay relevant in the NHL playoff chase. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hockey Hall of Fame writer Jim Matheson talks to Craig Ellingson about the sputtering ways of the Edmonton Oilers a quarter of the way through the 2017-18 NHL season, which finds them five points out of a playoff spot at U.S. Thanksgiving. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Edmonton Journal and Edmonton Sun hockey writers Jim Matheson, Robert Tychkowski and Derek Van Diest talk to sports editor Craig Ellingson on Nov. 16, 2017, about the better play by the Edmonton Oilers following a four-game road trip. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hockey writer Jim Matheson talks about the Edmonton Oilers' struggles at the beginning of the 2017-18 NHL season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hockey writers Jim Matheson and Robert Tychkowski, and sports columnist Dan Barnes, join host Craig Ellingson to talk about Connor McDavid's $100-million contract extension with the Edmonton Oilers, its effect on the team, and how it could impact contract negotiations with Leon Draisaitl. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hockey writers Jim Matheson and Robert Tychkowski join host Craig Ellingson to talk about the contract extension being negotiated between the Edmonton Oilers and star Connor McDavid, what moves the team might make during free agency and the prognosis of its 2017 NHL Draft crop of prospects. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hockey writers Jim Matheson and Robert Tychkowski join host Craig Ellingson to talk about the NHL's Vegas expansion draft, the process of stocking the Golden Knights team and what it means for the Edmonton Oilers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hockey Hall of Fame writer Jim Matheson talks to sports editor Craig Ellingson about the Edmonton Oilers' play over back-to-back games on the road in Anaheim and Denver, where the Oilers lost one in a playoff-style clash (in Anaheim against the Ducks) and where they rebounded from a poor first two periods against the last-place Colorado Avalanche to win. Cam Talbot was pulled in both games and spelled off by a steady Laurent Brossoit in goal, and Connor McDavid put more distance between himself and those ch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hockey Hall of Fame columnist Terry Jones joins Edmonton Sun and Journal sports editor Craig Ellingson to talk about the Edmonton Oilers' recent dominant offensive performances, how the prospect of the team making the NHL playoffs is becoming a very real thing and how changes to the Alberta clock could have a negative effect on the Oilers and the provincial rival Calgary Flames. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hockey Hall of Fame writer Jim Matheson and Montreal Gazette sports columnist Stu Cowan join Edmonton Journal and Sun sports editor Craig Ellingson to talk about the Edmonton Oilers, the Montreal Canadiens, the NHL playoff picture in both the Western and Eastern Conferences, the recent trade between the two teams that saw centre David Desharnais come to Edmonton and defenceman Brandon Davidson head to Montreal, the on-going and forever present phenomenon of Canadiens fans (and their Toronto Maple Leafs coun Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Postmedia hockey writers Robert Tychkowski and Derek Van Diest talk to sports editor Craig Ellingson about the Edmonton Oilers' heavy home schedule through the remainder of the 2016-17 NHL season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hockey writer Jim Matheson talks to sports editor Craig Ellingson about who the Edmonton Oilers might and might not target by the NHL trade deadline on March 1, 2017. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Edmonton Journal and Edmonton Sun sports editor Craig Ellingson talks to hockey writers Jim Matheson and Derek Van Diest about what the Edmonton Oilers might be looking at doing come the NHL trade deadline, which comes March 1, 2017. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hockey writer Jim Matheson talks to sports editor Craig Ellingson about the Edmonton Oilers' clashes with fellow Pacific Division top dogs the Anaheim Ducks and the San Jose Sharks just before the 2017 NHL all-star break. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hockey writer Jim Matheson talks to sports editor Craig Ellingson about the Edmonton Oilers goaltending situation, specifically the workload of starter Cam Talbot and the question-mark that is the team's back-up position as the NHL all-star break nears. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Edmonton Journal and Edmonton Sun hockey writer Robert Tychkowski talks to sports editor Craig Ellingson about the Edmonton Oilers' road trip and recent run of success heading into their game Friday, Dec. 23, against the host San Jose Sharks just prior to a five-day Christmastime break. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Edmonton Journal and Edmonton Sun hockey writer Jim Matheson talks to sports editor Craig Ellingson about the play of the Edmonton Oilers following a 6-3 win over the Colorado Avalanche and heading into a game against the host Arizona Coyotes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hockey writers Robert Tychkowski and Derek Van Diest and sports columnist Dan Barnes talk about the slumping Edmonton Oilers, who sport a record of 2-5-1 in their last eight NHL contests heading into what could be a gruelling three-game road trip. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sports columnist Dan Barnes and hockey writer Jim Matheson talk to sports editor Craig Ellingson about the adjustments the Edmonton Oilers need to make to end their three-game losing streak before back-to-back road games on the weekend of Nov. 5-6, 2016. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sports columnist Dan Barnes, and hockey writers Jim Matheson and Derek Van Diest talk to sports editor Craig Ellingson about the strong start to the 2016-17 NHL season by the Edmonton Oilers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hockey writers Jim Matheson and Robert Tychkowski talk about the Edmonton Oilers' Taylor Hall trade and what the team might do to addresses its many roster needs as NHL free agency opens. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Edmonton Journal and Edmonton Sun hockey writers Jim Matheson and Robert Tychkowski talk to sports editor Craig Ellingson about what moves the Edmonton Oilers might or might not make at the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sports columnist Dan Barnes and sports writers Derek Van Diest and Jim Matheson join sports editor Craig Ellingson on the Edmonton Journal and Edmonton Sun's Oilers podcast to talk about the upcoming NHL draft lottery and what the Edmonton Oilers should do if they earn the right to pick No. 1 overall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EJ Sports Oilers Podcast: The Back in Action edition The Oilers are back in Edmonton on Saturday to play the Calgary Flames, on the heels of a disappointing road trip that ended with a 2-1 overtime loss to the San Jose Sharks. Just past the halfway point in the National Hockey League season, Journal sports editor Sarah O’Donnell sat down with hockey writer Jim Matheson and sports columnist John MacKinnon to talk about the ups and downs of the season that has the Oilers in a familiar spot. The trio discu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Oilers go into Friday's game against the Washington Capitals as the league leaders in penalty killing with three wins on their resume. Journal hockey writer Jim Matheson and columnist John MacKinnon joined sports editor Sarah O'Donnell on Oct. 22nd to talk about the first seven games of the Oilers season, Connor McDavid's evolution as an NHL player and the performance of players such as Taylor Hall and Nail Yakupov. They also look ahead to upcoming games against the L.A. Kings and Montreal Canadiens. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Edmonton Oilers roster is set. The questions about team captain are settled (for now). Oilers rookie Connor McDavid is about to make his regular season NHL debut when the puck drops Thursday night in St. Louis against the Blues. In this edition of the Edmonton Journal's Oilers podcast, sports editor Sarah O’Donnell talks with hockey writer Jim Matheson and columnist John MacKinnon about the final phases of the team’s pre-season revamp and looks ahead at what’s to come. The trio also share their Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Edmonton Journal's Oilers podcast: The Training Camp edition The Edmonton Oilers are a more than a week into full-fledged training camp mode, with three exhibition games under their belts. That makes it a perfect time for some pre-season analysis by the Edmonton Journal’s hockey writers Joanne Ireland, Jim Matheson and columnist John MacKinnon. The trio joined sports editor Sarah O’Donnell on Thursday, Sept. 24, to talk about the new look of the 2015-16 Oilers squad and training camp developments. L Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oilers rookies report to Rexall Place Thursday morning for the kick-off of rookie training camp — Connor McDavid included. The highly anticipated 2015-16 NHL season is here. That means it’s time for the Edmonton Journal’s sports department to launch a new season of its Oilers podcast. Tune in to hear hockey reporters Joanne Ireland and Jim Matheson discuss the rookie camp roster with sports editor Sarah O’Donnell. They look at what’s on the line for prospects in this weekend’s Young Stars tour Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Edmonton Journal hockey writers Jim Matheson and Joanne Ireland, and sports columnist John MacKinnon talk to sports editor Craig Ellingson about the massive changes in the Edmonton Oilers organization, including the addition of general manager Peter Chiarelli and head coach Todd McLellan, and the impending arrival of No. 1 draft pick Connor McDavid. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Edmonton Journal hockey writers Jim Matheson and Joanne Ireland and sports columnist John MacKinnon talk to sports editor Craig Ellingson about what changes for the Edmonton Oilers if they win the NHL draft lottery and use the No. 1 pick in June to take so-called generational superstar Connor McDavid. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Edmonton Journal hockey writers Jim Matheson and Joanne ireland, and sports columnist John MacKinnon, talk to sports editor Craig Ellingson about the change in timing of the NHL draft lottery, the race to the bottom of the NHL standings by a handful of teams in anticipation of drafting a player labelled as the next superstar in Connor McDavid; about watching two key Oilers prospects, Darnell Nurse and Leon Draisaitl, take part in the major junior playoffs on teams expected to make a run for the memorial Cup Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Edmonton Journal hockey writers Jim Matheson and Joanne Ireland, and sports columnist John MacKinnon, talk to sports editor Craig Ellingson about the impending return of Taylor Hall from injury to the Edmonton Oilers lineup; about the improvement of the Oilers' power play to the point where it's been the NHL's best since the all-star break; and about the deficiencies facing the Oilers on defence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Edmonton Journal hockey writer Jim Matheson talks to sports editor Craig Ellingson about the Edmonton Oilers' fruitless road trip through the eastern U.S., the shoddy defensive play by the team in stops at Carolina and Pittsburgh, the landscape for bringing in one or two veteran defenceman next season, the 'race' to the bottom of the NHL standings -- which include the 29th-place Oilers -- with touted generational stars Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel available to be taken at the beginning of June's NHL draft Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Edmonton Journal hockey writer Jim Matheson talks to sports editor Craig Ellingson about the play of the Edmonton Oilers' call-ups from the American Hockey League farm and how the remainder of the 2014-15 NHL season is mostly an audition for them, and about the team's need to secure a future No. 1 goaltender. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Edmonton Journal hockey writers Jim Matheson and Joanne Ireland, and sports columnist John MacKinnon, talk with sports editor Craig Ellingson about the upcoming NHL trade deadline; what sorts of moves the Oilers might make in the near future on defence with Jeff Petry likely to be traded; the play of goalie Ben Scrivens, who is 'the man' in net for the Oilers down the stretch with Viktor Fasth out of the lineup due to a knee injury; and on the performance of interim head coach Todd Nelson and where he stand Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Edmonton Journal hockey writers Jim Matheson and Joanne Ireland, and sports columnist John MacKinnon, join sports editor Craig Ellingson to talk about how the Edmonton Oilers are dealing with a rash of injuries, about the sale-ability of soon-to-be unrestricted free agent defenceman Jeff Petry, the better play of forward Nail Yakupov and the labelling of Edmonton as the least-favourite NHL free agent destination. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Edmonton Journal hockey writers Jim Matheson and Joanne Ireland, sports columnist John MacKinnon and sports editor Craig Ellingson talk about a change in the Edmonton Oilers' work ethic over the past few weeks as interim head coach Todd Nelson tries to instill a teamwork mindset in his players. They also touch on the improved play of players such as Jordan Eberle, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Anton Lander and Oscar Klefbom, and the rising trade-market value of defenceman Jeff Petry in the wake of the recent blockbu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Edmonton Journal hockey writer Joanne Ireland and sports columnist John MacKinnon join sports editor Craig Ellingson to talk about the NHL Edmonton Oilers' six-game Eastern road trip, the future of the team's blueline corps and the trade deadline, for which Jeff Petry factors large in the Oilers' plans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Edmonton Journal hockey writer Jim Matheson talks about the difficulty the Edmonton Oilers, the National Hockey League's last-place team, have playing away from their home arena. The team hasn't won on the road since Nov. 9, 2014, in New York against the rangers -- more than two months. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Edmonton Journal hockey writers Jim Matheson and Joanne Ireland, sports columnist John MacKinnon and sports editor Craig Ellingson talk about: the impact coaching changes and newly acquired players have had on the last-place NHL team; the deterioration of forward Nail Yakupov's ability to score and whether or not he should be traded; rumoured shuffling in the scouting department; probable future trading moves that would involve the departures of defenceman Jeff Petry and goalie Viktor Fasth; and the long-te Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Edmonton Journal hockey writer Joanne Ireland talks about the coaching changes for the Edmonton Oilers in the wake of the firing of Dallas Eakins and about the team's continuing offensive woes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Edmontonn Journal hockey writer Jim Matheson talks about the inconsistent play of Edmonton Oilers goalie Ben Scrivens, a lack of scoring by the team, and a possible winning forward line combo in Jordan Eberle, Leon Draisaitl and Nail Yakupov. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Edmonton Journal hockey writers Jim Matheson and Joanne Ireland, and sports columnist John MacKinnon, talk about the Edmonton Oilers' 10-game losing skid, comments about 'moping' teammates made by captain Andrew Ference following that 10th loss, and about what the struggling team should do now and in the near future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Edmonton Journal hockey writer Jim Matheson talks about the Edmonton Oilers' improved play in an overtime loss to the Nashville Predators as the team prepares to face the host St. Louis Blues. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Edmonton Journal hockey writer Jim Matheson talks to sports editor Craig Ellingson from Nashville as the Oilers, losers of seven in a row, prepare to face the Predators in the midst of trade rumours surrounding the team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Edmonton Journal hockey writers Jim Matheson and Joanne Ireland, and sports columnist John MacKinnon, talk to sports editor Craig Ellingson about the recent losing ways of the Edmonton Oilers heading into a string of three home games in four nights, starting with a match against the Vancouver Canucks on Nov. 19, 2014. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Edmonton Journal hockey writer Joanne Ireland talks to sports editor Craig Ellingson about the Edmonton Oilers' upcoming game on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2014, against the Nashville Predators, the final game of a five-game road trip. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Edmonton Journal hockey writer Joanne Ireland talks to sports editor Craig Ellingson from Buffalo, N.Y., where the Edmonton Oilers play the host Buffalo Sabres Nov. 7, 2014. The Oilers are coming off a 5-2 loss the night before to the Boston Bruins. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Edmonton Journal hockey writers Jim matheson and Joanne Ireland, sports columnist John MacKinnon and sports editor Craig Ellingson talk about the impact of the injury to star forward Taylor Hall on the Edmonton Oilers' lineup as the NHL team hits the road for a five-game trip through the eastern U.S. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Edmonton Journal hockey writers Jim Matheson, Joanne Ireland and John MacKinnon join sports editor Craig Ellingson to talk about the Edmonton Oilers' early season win streak and the stories that surround it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Edmonton Journal hockey writers Jim Matheson and Joanne Ireland, and sports columnist John MacKinnon join sports editor Craig Ellingson to talk about the Edmonton Oilers' first half-dozen games of the 2014-15 NHL season on Oct. 21, 2014. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Edmonton Journal hockey writer talks to sports editor Craig Ellingson in the wake of the Edmonton Oilers' 7-4 loss on Oct. 15, 2014, to the host Arizona Coyotes. The Oilers are in a defensive shambles following the shelling in the desert and the previous night's 6-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Edmonton Journal hockey writer Jim Matheson talks to sports editor Craig Ellingson about the Edmonton Oilers' 6-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings Oct. 14, ahead of their game Oct. 15 against the Arizona Coyotes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Edmonton Journal hockey writer Jim Matheson talks to sports editor Craig Ellingson about the Edmonton Oilers' road game Oct. 14, 2014, against the Los Angeles Kings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Edmonton Journal hockey writers Jim Matheson and Joanne Ireland and sports columnist John MacKinnon join sports editor Craig Ellingson for the first Oil Spills podcast on the 2014-15 NHL season, as the Edmonton Oilers prepare to face the Calgary Flames in their season-opening game Oct. 9, 2014. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices