from Eric Duhatschek of the Globe and Mail,

This improvement has received mixed reviews in Edmonton. Some believe that to win too many games when the season is hopelessly lost undermines the long-term future because it lessens the Oilers’ odds of landing either McDavid or Jack Eichel, the two most-coveted teenage prospects available in this year’s draft.

Others see the frustrating recent history of failure – eight consecutive years outside the playoffs – and just want the losses to stop, whatever the long-term consequences.

But there’s no divided agenda in either the dressing room or in the coach’s office. The Oilers are out to win every night and suggestions that they tank what’s left of the season to enhance their draft position are decisively rejected. Players and coaches are in the business of a) winning and b) survival. Accordingly, they couldn’t care less about who might be riding in with the cavalry come next season.

Under Nelson, “the biggest thing I’m noticing is, we’re playing better as a team,” said winger Jordan Eberle, who leads the Oilers in goal-scoring with 15. “We’re playing better as a five-man unit systematically. We’ve upped our tempo in practice a little bit and we’re playing more like that in games. Those two things – and we’re starting to enjoy coming into the locker room a bit more. A lot of that goes with winning, but it’s really a catalyst in helping you play better too.”

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