Duncan Taylor said after a Chrome fan day last September

The?Edmonton Oilers?-- who will move into a new arena this season that immediately becomes the best in the NHL -- may have timed their rebuilding effort perfectly. This may finally be a team worthy of such a home.Fans might not have liked the Taylor Hall-for-Adam Larsson trade with the?New Jersey Devils,?but one need only look at the Oilers offseason in its entirety to see that Edmonton is in considerably better shape than it was last year at this time.First and foremost, the Oilers are getting a Connor McDavid who enters the NHL much more comfortable than he was last year at this time. The 2015 No. 1 draft pick continues to add strength and even speed, which some thought impossible.I believe in my game a lot more heading in, McDavid said. I didnt know what to expect last year, going into my first NHL season. I didnt know what it would be like. I definitely have more confidence.If hes healthy for 82 games, McDavid will be one of the best players in the league this season and make a Hart Trophy push.The Oilers got a break in the draft lottery when winger Jesse Puljujarvi fell to them at No. 4. Hell make the team and be an impact player this season.Theyre still a top four right-shot defenseman short of playoff defense, but Larsson and a healthy Oscar Klefbom will go a long way in providing balance to the roster.Weve been hearing about an Oilers turnaround for years. This is the season it comes to fruition.Best new facesLarsson jumps into the lineup and provides the Oilers with a defenseman capable of taking on the tough assignment every single night. He did it on a regular basis with Andy Greene in New Jersey, and at 23 years old, Larsson is still developing as a defenseman. Once Oilers fans get over who was given up to acquire him, theyre going to really like Larssons game.Milan Lucic brings Stanley Cup experience and a physical edge Edmontons forward group needed to keep pace in the heavy Western Conference.You feel a little bit more safe out there with a guy like him on the ice, McDavid said. Hes one of the toughest guys in the league, if not the toughest. It definitely helps my game a lot to have him on our team.Puljujarvi is the wild card. His spot in the lineup is written in pencil, but its the kind of pencil thats pushed really hard on the paper and hard to erase. Assuming hes healthy and ready to go, he could be another dynamic player for this group.Biggest unknownsThe defense still needs work. Brandon Davidson was a bit of a revelation last season and is a good player. Klefbom has to prove that he can stay healthy. Is Larsson good enough right now to be a top-pair defenseman on a good playoff team? Probably not, but Id be comfortable with him on the second pair. Darnell Nurse is another guy whose ceiling is still in question. Hes probably a second-pair guy when the dust settles, but hes still young enough that its hard to project exactly what hell be this season.The Oilers have a lot of questions on defense.The other issue is whether this team has figured out how to win consistently. Edmonton was a dangerous team last year when trailing by a goal or two because it had the talent and skill to make up a deficit quickly. The problem was that the Oilers were just as dangerous when up a goal or two because they played the same way. Having a guy like Lucic around will help in that regard. And McDavid is nothing, if not a fast learner.Sure thingsThats the problem with this team. There are very few sure things. Were pretty sure McDavid will be a superstar. Will it happen this season? Probably? We think guys like Puljujarvi and Leon Draisaitl will be top-six contributors this season. Can we say so for sure? Nope!Even goaltender?Cam Talbot, who is a solid No. 1 starter, isnt a sure thing.Its a pretty strong bet that Jordan Eberle and McDavid will get every opportunity to play together and form a duo that could be a match for years. They both love playing with each other and have skill sets that complement each other.As a linemate, you have to be able to think the game quick and get the puck to him with speed, Eberle said. You have to be ready for the puck at all times.PredictionThe Oilers will make a leap this year. It will be considerable, like 20 points in the standings. The problem is that even with a 20-point improvement, the Oilers are still only at 90 points, and that wont be quite enough in the competitive Pacific. They will finish short of the playoffs. Air Jordan 3 Free Shipping .J. -- Marty Brodeur beat the Pittsburgh Penguins yet again. Air Jordan 3 Canada Online . Once again Jordan Cieciwa (@FitCityJordan) and I (@LynchOnSports) go head to head in our picks. Last weekend at UFC Fight Night 32 my #TeamLynch got the best of #TeamJC by a score of 9-6. Let us know which side youre on for UFC 167 use the hashtag #TeamLynch or #TeamJC on Twitter. http://www.airjordan3canada.com/ .com) - Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Roger Federer were easy first-round winners Tuesday at the Australian Open. Wholesale Air Jordan 3 Canada . -- The boos poured down on Tom Brady and the New England Patriots at the end of a horrible first half. Air Jordan 3 Canada Sale . If ever they start actually putting pictures beside words in the dictionary, the Blue Jays left-handers mug will appear beside “Consistency. As Maureen Pollock was rushed into heart surgery in May 2015, she thought of her children. And of California Chrome.Do the best job you can, she told the surgeons. I want to see California Chrome race again.At the time, no one knew whether the 2014 Kentucky Derby winner and American Horse of the Year would return to the racetrack. An ambitious plan for a triumph on the turf at the 2015 Royal Ascot in England would prove too much -- he withdrew with a bruised foot and returned to the United States.But Pollock is a Chromie, one of tens of thousands of fans who kept the faith. And this year, Chrome came back stronger than ever. On Aug. 20, Pollock watched from the grandstand at the Del Mar, California, racetrack for the TVG Pacific Classic. When the gates burst open, Chrome abandoned his usual stalking spot and leaped ahead of some of the nations best horses. He sailed along on his own, with no further urging by jockey Victor Espinoza, and won the race.Praise the Lord, Pollock texted to a friend.The Chromies, a large majority of whom are women, are a fan group unprecedented in modern-day horse racing. Many top racehorses, including Zenyatta (the first mare to win the Breeders Cup Classic), Triple Crown winner American Pharoah and undefeated filly Songbird, have official Facebook pages, but Chromes following surpasses that.Chrome not only has an official page, but fans run many other pages -- Everything California Chrome, California Chrome - Up Close, Paddock Chronicles, Mucho Chrome, Bring Chrome Home and others -- all filled with joy for Chromes amazing year of six-straight wins:Its amazing how this horse can bring us so much happiness, new friendships, and everything there is to be a Chromie.We love you Chrome. You lift our spirits in this crazy world today.He has worked so hard ... came from nothing ... and now on the absolute top of his game ... HE IS THE AMERICAN DREAM ...Chrome, who has won $13.4 million, the highest ever for an American racehorse, is the favorite to win the Nov. 5 Breeders Cup Classic.The rare combination of a super horse, loving people, unprecedented access, a longer-than-usual racing career and social media has nurtured the nation of Chromies. Theyve even fallen in love with those around him, including trainer Art Sherman, 79, groom Raul Rodriguez and exercise rider Dihigii Gladney, who are always by his side.dddddddddddd The Chromies also cheered jockey Espinoza when he won the Triple Crown atop American Pharoah last year.Can anyone say enough about you Raul Rodriquez? I do not think so!! The hard work, dedication, tireless days and nights grooming to keep the most famous horse on our planet today feeling Healthy, Happy, Safe, and Loved [sic]. Thank you so much for sharing all the videos and photos, I love watching him, he is perfection at its best!! What an awesome team he has behind him and thanks for taking such great care of him!!After Chrome returned from England last year, his former owner Steve Coburn?sold his minority share to Taylor Made Farm in Nicholasville, Kentucky. Founded by the late Joe Taylor and four of his sons, the farm is now the largest thoroughbred sales agent in the nation.Though the Taylors had never been involved much in racing horses, they checked Chrome over, rested him and decided to have fun. And the owners of top-class mares, who will be bred to Chrome, joined the syndicate.Id like to inspire people through Chrome, Taylor Made president Duncan Taylor said after a Chrome fan day last September.During Chromes time off last fall at the farm, about 500 fans were allowed to pet, hug and kiss their hero. (Another 500 visited him in April.) They met a kind and intelligent stallion that lives up to their idolization. Tours of the farm reassured Chromies that he will have a wonderful home for his stallion career.Arent they just the answer to all our prayers...more than I could have ever expected. I cant thank you enough for your postings -- they really make a person feel like they were there and for those of us left on the outside looking in -- well, it makes you feel more a part of things!On Oct. 1, Duncan Taylor was at Santa Anita Park awaiting Chromes race that afternoon, handing out Vote Chrome for President buttons. There theres now even a California Chrome for President Facebook page.Chrome is the only one who brings people together.What does Chrome think of his Chromies? He loves the attention, said his spokesman Alan Sherman. When he starts hearing cameras click, hell prick his ears and pose. Hes the man. ' ' '