NHL Notebook: Oilers climb power rankings, Caleb Jones traded

The Edmonton Oilers are on the rise.

That’s according to Daily Faceoff’s latest weekly NHL power rankings, which slotted the Oilers as the third-best team in the league, a rise from the seventh spot they held last week.

Edmonton’s climb is off a week when they went 2-0, beating the Anaheim Ducks 5-2 on Wednesday and the San Jose Sharks 3-1 on Saturday.

“Edmonton’s play at 5v5 compared to their special teams has been a polar opposite in the early going,” wrote Daily Faceoff’s Scott Maxwell. “Their 5v5 chance generation? Mediocre. Their power play? Clicking as usual, even without Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. The Oilers’ 5v5 defense? (sic) Elite. Their penalty kill? Horrendous.

“They have a few kinks to work out, but it has to be encouraging for fans to see them off to their best start in years, and to see Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard dominating as usual.”

The upcoming week for the Oilers sees them play three games: Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Kings, capping off a three-game road trip, before returning home to face the Utah Mammoth on Thursday night, then visiting the Mammoth on Saturday night.

Former Oilers defenceman Caleb Jones traded

Caleb Jones is on the way to Buffalo.

The former Edmonton Oilers defenceman was traded by the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday, alongside defenceman Danile Laatsch, in exchange for defenceman Ryan Johnson.

Jones, 29, was drafted by the Oilers in the fourth round of the 2015 draft, spending four years playing in the teams organziation. He appeared in 93 NHL games, between the 2018-19 and 2020-21 seasons, scoring five goals and 19 points, adding 11 goals and 57 points in 125 AHL games with the Bakersfield Condors.

The Oilers traded Jones to the Chicago Blackhawks in a deal to acquire Duncan Keith in July 2021, and has since bounced around the league, having stints in the Windy City, as well as with the Colorado Avalanche, Los Angeles Kings, and the Penguins. He’s totalled 255 games in his NHL career, scoring 14 goals and 56 points.

Bedard nearing return to Blackhawks lineup

The Chicago Blackhawks are nearing the return of their captain to the lineup.

Connor Bedard is considered a game-time decision for Chicago on Tuesday night when they face the Pittsburgh Penguins. Blackhawks head coach Jeff Blashill, meanwhile, was coy during a Monday media availability.

“I would say he’s certainly trending towards being a coach’s decision tomorrow night,” Blashill said. “Certainly trending towards looking like he’s got the possibility to play.”

Bedard, 21, has yet to make his season debut after undergoing shoulder surgery in July, after getting injured during an on-ice training session. The injury was slated to keep him out of the lineup for four months.

In 219 games across his three seasons in the NHL, Bedard has scored 75 goals and 203 points.