Edmonton Oilers Tickets

Edmonton Oilers 2010-11 Season Preview The Edmonton Oilers weren't just one of the worst teams in the Western Conference last year, but the absolute worst club in the entire NHL, finishing with a record far below the .500 mark.

They weren't expected to be a playoff team, but at least a contender.
The Oilers definitely weren't supposed to be that bad, but the last place finish is indicative of the team's youth movement to turn the franchise around as quickly as possible.

It's important to remember that the Oilers lost goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin early last season and went into a serious tailspin as they tried to find someone to replace him in the net. There was a 21-game span where the Oilers managed to earn just four points. Ouch.

The silver lining to being such a terrible team is always your position in the NHL Draft, and Edmonton took full advantage by selecting goalie Taylor Hall. Many feel he is the real deal and will be a star in the league.

While Hall won't be helping the team in the immediate future, there are plenty of other young, talented players who should. Also, Khabibulin is expected back in net after undergoing surgery to fix a herniated disk in his back.

Last year's finish doesn't inspire a lot of hope or confidence in the upcoming season, but maybe the Oilers can show significant improvement in the standings and at least entertain a possible playoff berth.