Edmonton Oilers: Predicting If Young Stars Will Improve or Decline in 2014

Though the Edmonton Oilers had a disappointing season in 2013, the team was by and large led by the young stars that it had accumulated over the past couple of years.

Taylor Hall emerged as a leader for the team, both through his performance on the ice and his outspokenness off of it. 

Jordan Eberle may have seen a bit of a regression in his third year with the team, having dropped off from his near-point-per-game pace from the previous campaign, but he still managed to finish third in team scoring with 37 points in 48 games played. 

Rookies Justin Schultz and Nail Yakupov also made strong impressions during their first seasons in the NHL and will look to improve heading into their sophomore years in 2014.

Here are predictions about whether the Edmonton Oilers’ top stars will improve or decline in 2014.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins: Improve

After an impressive rookie campaign in 2011-2012 which saw Ryan Nugent-Hopkins register 52 points in 62 games, the talented center seemed to struggle during his sophomore season. 

RNH only managed to net four goals and register 24 points for the Oilers in 40 games played during the lockout-shortened season.

Throughout the season, there were concerns surrounding the status of Nugent-Hopkins’ previously injured shoulder, which could explain the drop-off in performance.

After undergoing surgery to correct the shoulder as soon as the Oilers' 2013 season came to an end, it is safe to say that a healthy RNH should have no problems bouncing back in 2014.

If the shoulder was hampering his performance, the surgery should help him regain not only the strength needed to compete for faceoffs and battle along the boards, but the confidence to handle the physicality of the game without fear of further injury.

RNH should have a bounce-back season in 2014 if his shoulder issues are behind him and he is once again able to focus on hockey.

Justin Schultz: Decline

From an offensive standpoint, Justin Schultz had a phenomenal season for the Edmonton Oilers, providing the team with the puck-moving defenseman it had coveted for quite some time.

The talented blueliner registered 27 points in his first season in the NHL, but was a team-worst minus-17 and at times a liability in the defensive zone.

Schultz may see a decline in his offensive production next season as he becomes acclimated to a full NHL schedule, but if he can improve his play in the defensive zone, the Oilers may not mind a bit of a drop in his point production.

Nail Yakupov: Improve

Nail Yakupov may not have been nominated for the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie, but his performance for the Oilers during the 2012-2013 season warranted serious consideration, having finished the season with an impressive 17 goals and 14 assists in 48 games.

Yakupov was at times a liability on the ice and his plus/minus reflected that, but after being promoted to the Oilers’ second offensive line, it appeared that the Russian dynamo really established himself as a legitimate threat for the Oilers.

Considering that the Oilers should improve in 2014, Yakupov should improve as well as he becomes entrenched as one of the Oilers’ go-to offensive stars. 

Depending on whom Yakupov lines up beside in 2014, Yakupov could have a breakout season.

Jordan Eberle: Toss-Up

Jordan Eberle may not have maintained the point-per-game pace that he had during the 2011-2012 season, but the talented right-winger was still able to register 37 points in 48 games for the Oilers.

While he remains an interesting piece in the Oilers' overall plan, Eberle could very well be moved in the offseason should new GM Craig MacTavish see it fit.

If Eberle remains with the Oilers for the long term, it is almost certain that his play will improve as his already-established chemistry with Hall and Nugent-Hopkins continues to solidify. However, if he is moved, he could find himself playing with lesser talent and see his point production decrease drastically.

There is no question that Eberle is a gifted player, but he has benefited from playing with talented teammates and it has yet to be seen if he can carry the offensive load by himself.

Taylor Hall: Improve

Taylor Hall looks primed to lead the Edmonton Oilers out of the rebuilding phase and into respectability once again.

He emerged as a leader for the Oilers in 2013, leading the way for the Oilers with 16 goals and 34 assists for an impressive 50 points in 45 games played.

Hall also took a step forward in his leadership with the club, becoming outspoken when it appeared that the team started to pack it in during the last few weeks of the season.

This perhaps signaled that the speedy left-winger is ready to take the next step and earn the captaincy should Shawn Horcoff be moved.

Hall has improved every season that he has been in the NHL and it doesn’t appear that this trend should stop heading into 2014, when he should once again lead the Oilers in scoring barring any injury setbacks.