Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

Peter Chiarelli Sees Improvement For The Edmonton Oilers

09/21/2016 at 11:54am EDT

from the CP at Sportsnet,

For years, the league wondered when the club would make a leap. This might be their year.

"I really feel like we’re going in the right direction," Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli said in a recent interview. "We made some moves this summer that I think had some shock and awe, not intentionally, but it was part of what we’ve been trying to do. I’m anxious. I’m excited to get the season going."

Chiarelli was hopeful of snapping the playoff drought, if also realistic.

On average, the minimum for a playoff spot in the west over the past three seasons was 92 points. Edmonton had 70 points a year ago, the worst mark in the conference and only one more than the league-worst Toronto Maple Leafs. Even getting to 87 points, which landed the Minnesota Wild a playoff spot last season, would require a 17-point improvement, a significant and perhaps unreasonable jump for any club to expect.

"I guess, never say never," Chiarelli said. "We improved last year, believe it or not by (eight) points. And we're going to improve again."

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Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.

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