Oilers ready to start climb from bottom of standings

By Bud L. Ellis

Remember when the Edmonton Oilers won all those Stanley Cups in the 1980s? Well, the current model isn’t your father’s Oilers.

Edmonton posted the second-lowest point total in franchise history last season, finishing with only 62 points. A 0-10-2 January doomed the Oilers to the bottom of the NHL standings, and a fourth-consecutive season without a berth in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

New coach Tom Renney is charged with turning around the once-proud franchise. Renney took over when former coach Pat Quinn moved upstairs into the front office.

There will be an influx of young talent coming, if not this year, than soon. It’s led by Taylor Hall, the first overall pick in this summer’s draft. Edmonton took four of the first 48 players drafted.

The season begins Oct. 7 at home against Calgary.

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Thursday, September 23, 2010 at 4:08 am by bud

Tags: Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers news, Edmonton Oilers schedule, Edmonton Oilers tickets, National Hockey League, Pat Quinn, Taylor Hall, Tom Renney