1998-99 record: 33-37-12, 78 points, 2nd Northwest Division
Coach: Kevin Lowe (first-year with Oilers)
New faces: Lowe, C Eric Houde, RW Michel Riesen, D Chris Hajt, D Brad Norton
Losses: Coach Ron Low, LW Kelly Buchberger, D Marty McSorley, G Steve Passmore, RW Chris Ferraro, LW Joe Hulbig, D Craig Millar
Strengths: The Oilers remain one of the speediest teams in the NHL with the likes of Todd Marchant, Bill Guerin and, when healthy, Doug Weight. The late-season emergence of rookie Tom Poti added another piece to an already mobile defense that includes Roman Hamrlik and Janne Niinimaa. Guerin is coming off his first career 30-goal season – and that came without Weight, who missed 39 games due to a contract holdout and a knee injury. RW Mike Grier continued to emerge as a power forward, playing all 82 games and picking up 20 goals and 24 assists. Marchant kills penalties, shadows the opponents' top line and still managed to score 14 goals.
Weaknesses: The Oilers were one of nine teams to post losing home records last season. Lowe has never been a head coach anywhere, let alone the NHL. And he lost a key leadership component when captain Kelly Buchberger was claimed in the expansion draft. It's vital for Weight to stay healthy. He's a 100-point producer who scored only six goals last season. Special teams. Edmonton was 18th in the league on the power play and 21st in penalty-killing. There's a lot of pressure on G Tommy Salo because the only potential backup with experience is Bill Ranford. LW Ryan Smyth has never come close to realizing the potential he flashed with a 39-goal season in 1996-97. Limited by budget constraints, the Oilers still lack a second-line center to take the pressure off Weight.
Lowe says: "Two objectives this season. No. 1, I want all my players to learn the system. I want them to pick up each other and I want them to react as a team rather than as an individual. They have to execute our style. No. 2, we have to get all our guys back. Guys like Guerin, Hamrlik and Grier. They're important to our team, and we need a lot of hard work."