The Edmonton Oilers are off to another bad start and it won’t get any easier for them tonight when they visit Los Angeles (10:30 p.m. ET).
Kings head coach Darryl Sutter doesn’t think the news is all bad for the Oilers though. If nothing else, some of their young forwards have earned his respect.
“I think that Hall, for sure has become an elite-level – not just an offensive guy – but for sure an elite top two-way guy in the league,” Sutter said, per LA Kings Insider. "[He’s] arguably the best left winger in the game. I’d say that’s the biggest difference.
“I think that Eberle’s looked on as (changed and matured) already. I mean, that wasn’t just something that happened last year. I think he is a top two-way guy, and I think, quite honest, with the number of high first round picks that they’ve had, that those kids are starting to come into their own.”
That’s certainly some high praise for Hall, although it’s also worth noting that Eberle is out tonight with an undisclosed injury. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is also sidelined while Jeff Petry will be a healthy scratch.
The Kings will be missing forwards Marian Gaborik and Trevor Lewis though along with defenseman Jake Muzzin, so they’re certainly not at full strength either.
