{"id":81757,"date":"2020-07-30T11:05:40","date_gmt":"2020-07-30T15:05:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/?p=81757"},"modified":"2022-03-14T14:43:22","modified_gmt":"2022-03-14T18:43:22","slug":"edmonton-oilers-players-that-could-surprise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2020\/07\/30\/edmonton-oilers-players-that-could-surprise\/","title":{"rendered":"Edmonton Oilers Players That Could Surprise"},"content":{"rendered":"

During every playoff run, there are players who come out of nowhere to become playoff heroes. They come up big for their teams and outperform their expectations. <\/span>With Leon Draisaitl<\/a> <\/strong>and Connor McDavid<\/a> <\/strong>having an amazing regular season, Oilers fans have high expectations for the team heading into the qualifying round. Still, teams need contributions from all over the lineup to seriously contend for the Stanley Cup. The Oilers are no exception. But heading into the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Edmonton Oilers<\/a> have a few players that could surprise.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Edmonton Oilers Players That Could Surprise<\/h2>\n

Assuming that the Oilers get past the qualifying <\/span>round,<\/span> here is a look at three players that could surprise during the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ethan Bear<\/h3>\n

Ethan Bear<\/a><\/strong> has been one of the biggest surprises on the Oilers\u2019 defense this year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

An early surprise to make the team out of camp<\/a>, Bear has exceeded expectations on many fronts. Not only has he established himself as a full-time NHL player, but he has also been a key contributor to the Oilers\u2019 blue line.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Bear is averaging almost 22 minutes a night and playing against the other team\u2019s top-two lines on a nightly basis. The 23-year-old had five goals and 21 points in 71 games during the regular season.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Bear Could Bring<\/h4>\n

For those unaware, Bear is a right-shot defender with strong puck-moving skills and great offensive instinct. His poise with the puck and strong skating ability gives him the opportunity to safely transport the puck out of the zone often.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Bear has also been a key factor in helping the Oilers break out of their own zone smoothly with excellent breakout passes. The 23-year-old is not the biggest at 5\u201911\u201d but is a sound position player with a good stick, making him hard to beat one on one.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Another underrated thing about his game is playmaking ability. Bear has great offensive instincts, and the skills to match. Giving the Oilers a threat from the blue line in the offensive zone.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bear\u2019s Potential<\/h4>\n

Bear has also shown that he is capable of quarterbacking a power play. So if the Oilers choose to give him a bigger role on the PP, he could really be a breakout player and surprise some people.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If the Oilers go deep into the playoffs and want a shot at winning close games, they can\u2019t depend on McDavid and Draisaitl every night. And Bear could be one of those players that give the Oilers the extra offense from the blueline to win some close games.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Kailer Yamamoto<\/h3>\n

Kailer Yamamoto<\/a> <\/strong>is another Oilers that could surprise some people during the 2020 playoffs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite spending the early parts of the season in the minors, the 21-year-old has made a positive impact for the Oilers in the second half of the season.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Since getting called up in late 2019, Yamamoto has given the Oilers\u2019 offense a new dimension. Slotted in a top-six role, he has found success alongside Ryan Nugent-Hopkins<\/a> <\/strong>and Draisaitl.<\/span><\/p>\n

He was producing at close to a point-per-game rate, scoring 11 goals and 26 points in 27 games.<\/span><\/p>\n

How Yamamoto Contributes<\/h4>\n