Eric Friesen
@EricJFriesen
Eric Friesen is a freelance sports broadcaster and journalist in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Eric has diplomas in Broadcasting from Mount Royal University in Calgary and Sports Journalism from Centennial College in Toronto. A lifelong hockey fan, Eric has followed the Edmonton Oilers for more than 20 years. He cheers for the Oilers because of his hockey hero Wayne Gretzky, who played his more productive seasons in Oil Country.
Connor McDavid's Remarkable Comeback
January 22nd, 2020 The fact that Connor McDavid is even playing hockey this season is a minor miracle. The Edmonton Oilers' superstar has made a full recovery from a major knee injury he suffered when he crashed hard into the goalpost in the final game of the 2018-19 season. What makes this even more unthinkable is that he looks better than ever. The...
Edmonton Oilers Should Recall Tyler Benson
January 9th, 2020 The Edmonton Oilers appear to have found an internal solution for their scoring woes on the wing. After a 4-10-1 slump, the team is on a 3-0-1 run since recalling Kailer Yamamoto from the Bakersfield Condors. Yamamoto has fit in nicely on a skilled line with Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and he's producing like a legitimate...
Oilers' Most Memorable Goals of the 2010s
December 20th, 2019 The Edmonton Oilers did not enjoy much success during the 2010s, but there were some great moments. They added high-end talent through the NHL Draft, but the supporting cast has been consistently awful. Still, when you have superstar players like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in the lineup, statistical achievements and individual...
Edmonton Oilers: 3 Keys to Making the Playoffs
November 29th, 2019 When Ken Holland was introduced as general manager of the Edmonton Oilers this past May, he made it clear that his goal was to make the playoffs in 2019-20. At the time, it seemed like a lofty goal for an Oilers team that missed the playoffs by 11 points in 2018-19. However, with one-third of the season behind them, they sit atop the...
Edmonton Oilers: Sam Gagner's Variety of Roles
November 27th, 2019 The post is about Gagner. His name is even in the title. The reader knows it's about Gagner. You don't need to repeat his name 35 times in 800 words.I fixed it in this one, but next time it's going back to drafts.
Projecting the Edmonton Oilers' Defence in 2020-21
November 25th, 2019 After more than a decade of defencive woes, the Edmonton Oilers will soon be able to call their back end an area of strength. Thanks to quality drafting and plenty of patience, the Oilers are now at a point where their young defenders are pushing for roster spots instead of being thrown into them out of desperation. Although the...
Oilers' Individual Awards at First Quarter of 2019-20
November 21st, 2019 The Edmonton Oilers have been one of the league's best stories through the first quarter of the season. Few experts picked the Oilers to make the playoffs prior to the season, but they are tied for the second-most points in the NHL through 23 games. Edmonton began the season 5-0-0 for the first time since 1985-86 while outscoring the...
Edmonton Oilers' 2003-04 Season
October 31st, 2019 Sixteen years ago, the Edmonton Oilers were a very different team. In 2003-04 they didn't have a Connor McDavid or a Leon Draisaitl, but they had a stronger supporting cast than the current squad. Despite their lack of high-end talent, head coach Craig MacTavish maximized the potential of every player on the roster and nearly guided the...