Hot Links: Christmas Eve Eve, 2021

Morning, folks!

Sorry again for the links being so broken of late, but the new year promises a more regular appearance by me on my daily soapbox, I...promise.

The big news of late has to be about the NHL both postponing almost every game in the last few days and withdrawing NHL players from the Beijing Olympics. Once again the Olympic tournament will feature precisely 0 professionals from the world’s best league, and given the time change I can’t imagine waking up for a single minute of Olympic hockey come February.

As of this writing, the Oilers are slated to play against the Calgary Flames on Dec. 27, but I’d have to imagine that’s a tentative date with everything still so up in the air. At present, 140 players, 6 head coaches and an untold amount of support staff are in COVID-19 protocols. In other words, almost 20% of the NHL’s player base. Edmonton’s supposed to cross the border for a game against the St. Louis Blues on the 29th, but who knows what the NHL will do with cross-border games between now and then.

Jesse Puljujarvi was facing a Christmas alone in a Seattle hotel room after testing positive stateside last week, but the Oilers chartered a plane to ensure that wouldn’t happen. That might be the best thing Bob Nicholson has done as an Edmonton Oiler, but one might consider that simply doing his job.

Otherwise, after another taxing year and heading into an uneasy holiday szn, we here at Copper and Blue thank you for hanging out with us, and wish you and your families all the best over the holidays and into the New Year. Stay classy. Thanks for stopping by.

And stay classy.

PODCAST SZN

The Edmonton Oilers are back in the win column after breaking a six-game skid last week. Preston & Shona go over the reasons why the Oilers were able to get back on track including some questions about coaching and a new-look bottom-six sparking some life.

Darnell Nurse, William Lagesson Enter League’s Covid-19 Protocol (Copper and Blue)

Copper & Blue Podcast Ft. Dennis King (@DKingBH) (Copper and Blue)

Is This What “All-In” Looks Like? (Copper and Blue)

Through The Past, Darkly (LT)

2022 World Juniors: Previewing The Rest Of The Field, Medal & All-Star Predictions (DF)

All NHL Teams’ Bottom 6 Goal Share Since The 08/09 Season (BO)

Edmonton Oilers 2021-22 Mid-Season Report Cards (ON)

Another Olympics Down The Drain For Oilers Captain Connor McDavid (ES)

How Much Do You Know About The Edmonton Oilers? (ON)

Top 5 Oilers Prospects: Refining His Defence Will Unlock Broberg’s Other Skills (SN)

You Can’t Be 20, On Sugar Mountain (LT)

Oilers Games, World Juniors Limited To 50% Capacity (ON)

About Jakob… (ON)

City Of Edmonton To Name Park After Late Joey Moss (ON)

Jesse Puljujarvi’s Next Contract? Expectations For Dylan Holloway? Trading For Evander Kane? Oilers Mailbag (TA)

Lowetide: If The Oilers Add A Big Deadline Asset, Philip Broberg Will Be The Ask (TA)

Fourth lines usually don’t matter but the Oilers’ unit is killing them (TA)

The Oilers are still even strength lightweights and it’s liable to cost them (TA)