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Home , Caleb Jones (ice hockey), Connor McDavid, Dave Manson, Dave Tippett, Ethan Moreau, Evan Bouchard

Edmonton Oilers 2019-20 Season Preview

EDMONTON OILERS: TEAM LOOK-AHEAD Led by 100- players Connor McDavid and , the Oilers look to climb the Pacific Division standings – where they have finished higher than sixth place once in six seasons under the current alignment (2nd in 2016-17).

SEASON-OPENING STATS * shares the NHL record for longest season-opening assist streak, a feat achieved with the Oilers in 1982-83 (12 GP) and matched most recently by Carolina's (12 GP in 2018-19).

* The 1984-85 Oilers had a point in each of their first 15 games, the third-longest season- opening point streak in NHL history and longest outside the shootout era. That same run stands as the longest undefeated from the start of a season in League history.

OFFENSIVE OUTLOOK * Connor McDavid aims for a fourth consecutive 100-point season, a feat achieved by only 13 players in NHL history and not since 1992-93 when and concluded six- and four-season runs, respectively.

* McDavid, who will celebrate his 23rd birthday on Jan. 13, enters his fifth NHL season with 128- 244—372 in 287 career regular-season games. Only 10 players in League history have accumulated more points before age 23, with (122-260—382 in 334 GP) ranking just ahead of McDavid on that list. Only seven players have reached the 400-point mark before age 23, with (183-323—506 in 371 GP) the only active player to do so.

Edmonton Oilers 2019-20 Season Preview

* Leon Draisaitl can join Alex Ovechkin as the only active players to post consecutive 50- seasons, a feat Ovechkin accomplished in three straight campaigns from 2007-08 to 2009-10 and from 2013-14 to 2015-15. Wayne Gretzky and are the only players to score 50 goals in consecutive seasons with Edmonton, with their respective eight- and four-season streaks ending in 1986-87.

* Only eight teams in NHL history have had the same two players each hit the 100-point mark in consecutive seasons with Pittsburgh being the last team to do so with and Kevin Stevens in 1991-92 and 1992-93.

THE FUTURE IS NOW * In his last NHL game, Evan Bouchard became the youngest defenseman in Oilers history to score a goal when he scored Oct. 25 against Washington at age 19 years, 5 days. The Oilers play eight games before Bouchard’s 20th birthday Oct. 20; only two defensemen have recorded more than five points for the Oilers as a teenager: (9-23—32 in 74 GP) and Chris Joseph (4-9—13 in 51 GP).

* After leading all players and placing second among rookies with 15-51—66 in 2018-19 (68 GP), 21-year-old Tyler Benson will look to make his NHL debut this season.

* Caleb Jones, 22, averaged 19:48 time on ice per game in 2018-19 (17 GP) to rank fourth among NHL rookie defensemen behind (23:07), Rasmus Dahlin (21:09) and Filip Hronek (19:58).

BETWEEN THE PIPES * Mikko Koskinen and Mike Smith are expected to share the Edmonton net in 2019-20. Smith will reunite with new Oilers , for whom he played for with the Coyotes from 2011-12 to 2016-17. In his first season with Tippett as coach, Smith set career highs in games played (67), wins (38), save percentage (.930), goals-against average (2.21) and shutouts (8) as the Coyotes reached the Conference Finals.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS A look at how players have fared historically in their debut game/season with the franchise:

First game with the Oilers. . . SKATERS Most goals: 2 (3x; last: Petr Sykora on Oct. 5, 2006) Most assists: 3 (Ethan Moreau on March 20, 1999) Most points: 3 (4x; last: Petr Sykora on Oct. 5, 2006)

DEFENSEMEN Most goals: 1 (8x; last: Taylor Fedun on Nov. 5, 2013) Most assists: 2 (5x; last: Kris Russell on Oct. 12, 2016) Most points: 3 (IIya Byakin on Nov. 6, 1993)

GOALTENDERS Most saves: 49 (Laurent Brossoit on April 9, 2015) Shutout: 1 (Jussi Markkanen on Nov. 28, 2001)

Edmonton Oilers 2019-20 Season Preview

First season with the Oilers. . . SKATERS Most goals: 51 (Wayne Gretzky in 1979-80) Most assists: 86 (Wayne Gretzky in 1979-80) Most points: 137 (Wayne Gretzky in 1979-80)

DEFENSEMEN Most goals: 15 (Dave Manson in 1991-92) Most assists: 44 (Chris Pronger in 2005-06) Most points: 56 (Chris Pronger in 2005-06)

GOALTENDERS Most wins: 28 ( in 1981-92) Most Shutouts: 4 (Mathieu Garon in 2007-08 and Mikko Koskinen in 2018-19)