“If you want a winner, you need four or five abrasive players”: Do the Edmonton Oilers miss the grit factor?
This insight comes from the legendary Philadelphia Flyers coach Fred Shero, who led his team to two Stanley Cup victories in the 1970s. In a 1982 interview with Don Cherry on *The Grapevine Show*, Shero stated, “If you want a winner, you need four or five abrasive players.”
My Perspective
1. Hockey has evolved since the 1970s, a period marked by more aggressive play in the NHL. Nowadays, there are fewer designated enforcers, and every player needs to maintain a certain skill level, particularly in skating, to stay competitive. However, if you think modern teams can win without tough, intimidating players, you likely didn’t watch the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs. The Florida Panthers, arguably the grittiest team, clinched the Cup.
2. The 2024 playoff version of the Edmonton Oilers had their fair share of gritty players, led by the fierce Evander Kane, and supported by tough players like Dylan Holloway, Vincent Desharnais, Sam Carrick, and Darnell Nurse. Even players not typically known for physicality, such as Adam Henrique, Derek Ryan, Warren Foegele, Connor McDavid, and Zach Hyman, played a rugged style in the playoffs. Leon Draisaitl also brought physicality until he got injured in Game 1 against Vancouver. However, with Holloway, Desharnais, and Carrick no longer on the team, and Kane recovering from injury, will the Oilers have enough grit to succeed, according to Shero’s formula for success?
3. While Edmonton has lost some of its toughness, it has also added players known for their grit. Viktor Arvidsson has a reputation for being feisty, Josh Brown is a heavy hitter, possibly even more so than Desharnais, and Ty Emberson joins from San Jose with a strong physical presence. The key for Arvidsson, much like Kane, is to stay healthy, while Brown might be a long shot for the third defensive pairing.
Holloway was emerging as a power forward for the Oilers, and his absence will be felt, but perhaps Arvidsson can fill that void.
4. The Oilers can still rely on their veteran players to bring aggression in the playoffs. Janmark, though not leading in hits, played with a lot of snarl. Star forwards Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl can also turn up the physicality when needed.
5. Kane’s health is crucial. When he’s fit, the Oilers generally have the most intimidating player on the ice in any playoff game. Kane’s physical play against L.A.’s defensemen Drew Doughty and Mikey Anderson was key to Edmonton’s success against Los Angeles. Against Vancouver, when Nikita Zadorov posed a threat, it was Kane who stepped up and neutralized him. With Zadorov now in Boston, the Oilers might only face him again if both teams reach the Final.
6. Darnell Nurse is a wildcard for the Oilers. His hit rate was low in the 2024 playoffs. Although he played a tough game, the edge he usually brings was somewhat missing, possibly due to injury. It’s known that he injured his hip in Game 2 of the Final against Florida, but that was late in the playoffs.
7. In conclusion, while the veteran Oilers are unlikely to be intimidated this season, I expect that by the trade deadline, there will be significant pressure on Edmonton to acquire one or two more abrasive players.
