OILERS NOTES: Holloway learning as he goes in rookie season
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Holloway was challenged again against the New York Islanders, moving up the middle in the fourth line between Mattias Janmark and Derek Ryan
Edmonton oiler. Forward Dylan Holloway (55) and Seattle Kraken forward Daniel Strong (91) chase the puck in the first period at Rogers Place on January 3, 2023. Photo by Perry Nelson / USA TODAY Sporting Article content
Edmonton Oilers forward Dylan Holloway is learning during his rookie season.
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Holloway has had his share of tough lessons this season and faced another challenge against the New York Islanders, which was moved midway through the fourth row between Mattias Janmark and Derek Ryan when head coach Jay Woodcroft shuffled the deck to a five -to-finish end. Game losing home skids.
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“I think at the center of the National Hockey League you definitely play a bigger role defensively — you have to be sharper all over the ice and support the puck everywhere,” Holloway said Thursday morning. “The only thing I learned coming into this league is that small mistakes cost you in the end, so you have to be really sharp when you play. I’ve played a lot of center in my life. I feel comfortable in the middle, but I also like playing on the wing.”
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Selected by the Oilers in the first round — 14th overall — of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, 21-year-old Holloway had one goal and four points for the game against the Islanders. He showed he could play in the NHL at a young age, but also made some mistakes with the puck that ended up in his own net.
Despite those difficult moments, Holloway keeps pushing and contributing to the roster.
“The confidence is huge, that’s definitely part of it,” Holloway said. “You just have to build on the things you think you can do well. You have to learn from the mistakes, you can’t take them negatively, it’s a learning process and that’s the most important thing for me to learn from and try to build my confidence as much as possible.
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“I feel good, the confidence feels good. I’m comfortable doing plays out there. I accepted my role there too, whether I’m playing physically or going out on the lane and blocking shots, I feel pretty confident.”
Holloway entered his first NHL fight in Seattle last week when he dropped the gloves with defenseman Vince Dunn after the two jostled in front of the net.
“I fought in the playoffs last year in the AHL,” Holloway said. “It was the first game of the playoffs and I kind of jumped on a guy, he hit one of our guys from behind.
“I feel like I’ve always been a physical player. I try to be proud of being able to play both ways, skillfully and physically. I enjoy playing like this, I think it’s a necessary role in our team and something we need and I’m trying to contribute to that.”
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So far, the Oilers are happy with Holloway’s progress and willing to be patient with the Calgary product.
“I think Dylan his process was correct,” Woodcroft said. “He made some mistakes early on and I think he’s averaging around the 10-minute mark in minutes played. I think he’ll find his way into the best league in the world. I think the more he plays, the more he learns what he can and can’t do at this level.
“I think if you look at some of the teams he’s played in it sometimes takes him a while to adjust to that level. I think he follows his pattern throughout his career, whether it’s in the American League or the NCAA. He finds out and sees what he can and can’t do. We’re very optimistic about him as a player, he has all the makings of being an effective player and we’re really looking forward to him and his future.”
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MILESTONE FOR DOBSON
The Oilers had the opportunity to pick defenseman Noah Dobson in the 2018 NHL Draft, but chose Evan Bouchard instead.
Picked two spots later by the Islanders, Dobson played his 200th NHL game on Thursday. He has developed into one of the islanders’ top defensemen, scoring 10 goals and 24 points in 39 games this season before facing contention against the Oilers.
Bouchard has played 141 NHL games and earned a berth in the Oilers’ second pair. He has three goals and 14 points this season.
“As a young D-Man, I think it takes a bit of time to get your footing,” Dobson said. “Looking back at where I was the first game, where I am now, you definitely feel a lot more comfortable. You have a recipe for how to play and how to succeed at this level.
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“But you’re always learning, whether it’s game #1, 200 or 800, you’re still picking things up. But I’m definitely a lot more comfortable in game 200 than game 1.”
Dobson was an attacking defenseman coming out of junior in the QMJHL. He had 15 goals and 52 points in 56 games between Acadie-Bathurst and Rouyn-Noranda in his senior year as a junior.
“I think he’s a lot more responsible defensively, he’s done a really good job working on that side of his game,” said Lane Lambert, Islanders head coach. “Offensively, his confidence has grown in those 200 games and he’s shaping up to be an elite NHL defenseman, offensively for sure.”
LOSE BET
Oilers forward Kailer Yamamoto lost a bet on the World Junior Championship game between the United States and Canada to assistant equipment manager Brad Harrison and had to pay Thursday morning.
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Yamamoto, a product of Spokane, Wash., addressed the media in a Team Canada jersey after the United States lost 6-2 in the semifinals on Wednesday.
“I’m not happy about that,” Yamamoto smiled. “I thought Team USA played a really good game and I thought they should have won but a couple of tough decisions went against them. I thought the one goal they didn’t concede should have counted – Harry (Harrison) disagrees but I’m not happy about that today.”
The United States had brushed aside an equalizer in the second half due to a suspected interference call from the goaltender, which changed the dynamic of the game.
“I thought it should have counted, but that’s how it goes sometimes, I guess,” said Yamamoto.
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