Edmonton Oilers rank number one in telling statistic for playoff success

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Ryan Hall
August 21, 2024 (7:21 PM)

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The Oilers organization is preparing for training camp which is set to begin in mid-September but according to eliteprospects.com, the team is far from youthful as they are the oldest team in the NHL.

After years of youth and speed, the oilers have become the oldest team in the NHL with an average age of 30.27 years. These stat eclipses the Penguins, Predators, the Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs who are 28.70 years.

The team has recently lost two former first round draft picks in Phillip Broberg and Dylan Holloway who were both in their early 20s. Though gaining back 23 year old forward Vasily Podkolzin from the Vancouver Canucks, it's a telling stat that the Oilers window is beginning to close and the team will need to evaluate adding more youthful players in order to keep up with the type of game that teams are starting to build.

Players like Evander Kane who are struggling with an injury who will likely need surgery and be out for months two superstars like Connor McDavid and Draisaitl who are in the prime of their careers but are closing in on the age of 30.

The last thing general manager Stan Bowman want is to be caught holding enormous contracts for long stretches of time with players that are heading into their twilight without any youthful movement coming into the fold.