The Edmonton Oilers have come a long way since the turmoil of the late 2000s, according to a recent rave review by former player agent and NHL GM Brian Lawton, now a league insider. Speaking with Oilers Now host Bob Stauffer, Lawton expressed his enthusiasm for the organization, calling it a prime destination for NHL talent.
Gone are the days when the Oilers had to overpay players or management to work for them. Today, the organization has a top-notch reputation, thanks in part to its palatial dressing room for visiting teams and its beautiful hotel, the JW Marriott Edmonton Ice District, located right next to the arena. Lawton, who talks to current players every summer to get a sense of what they like and don’t like about NHL franchises, has received overwhelmingly positive feedback about the Oilers. This “is a big reason I’m bullish on it,” he said. “It’s not just hearsay. It’s not just lip service. It’s what players are talking about and it’s why Edmonton is going to continue their rise up the ranks until they start winning championships.”
Lawton had high praise for Oilers GM Ken Holland, calling him “incredible” and saying that he deserved more credit for his work on the team. Lawton also commended the Oilers’ contracts, singling out players such as Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Evander Kane, Zach Hyman, Mattias Ekholm, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. “There’s just a lot of value on this roster,” he said. “And heaven help the rest of the league when the cap jumps up. Edmonton is going to be a dominant club… Assuming they can sign Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid, they will be a dominant club for the next 10 years.”
This assessment is good news for Oilers fans, who have struggled through lean years in recent memory. However, as the Cult of Hockey blog points out, these words are only encouraging if they translate into on-ice success. Still, Lawton’s credibility as a hockey insider gives weight to his positive assessment of the Oilers’ organization and their potential for greatness.
