REMAKE/REMODEL

by Lowetide

I tried but I could not find a way
Looking back, all I did was look away
Next time is the best time, we all know
But if there is no next time, where to go?

THE ATHLETIC

A FEW THOUGHTS

They went 26-50-8 and gave up about 100 more goals than they scored, and surrendered 106 powerplay goals. No player scored more than 48 points, and only two (Petr Klima and Craig Simpson) got more than 20. Bill Ranford had a save percentage of .884 (Stuart Skinner is at .856 now) and most of the boys on the bus were gone (MacT, Simpson, Klima, Esa, Ranford, Geoff Smith remained). The 1992-93 Edmonton Oilers offered no hope, no future, no sunny days.

This is a different team. I know having talent isn’t everything, but this team cannot continue this way without some major and potentially catastrophic things happening. There’s too much talent to be losing every night, something’s gotta give. I think we’ll see some movement now, in one of the following areas:

  • firing the coach
  • naming a new general manager
  • dealing for a goaltender
  • finding a strong shutdown defenseman

Here’s the problem with doing any of these things: Connor McDavid is still hurt, Mattias Ekholm isn’t playing at his normal levels, and whatever they’re doing on defense has addled everyone who plays defense.

The other thing worth mentioning is just how much work the new coach is going to have to do. If you count the number of forwards who lose their man by pulling the chute, and count the number of times Oilers defensemen make the wrong decision, you know this team simply isn’t hard enough defensively. Defense can be taught. There’s a problem though. Players have to listen.

There isn’t much to say, honestly. This much sadness is too much sorrow. The Edmonton Oilers are a team in the National Hockey League.

At noon today, Sports1440, we’ll get the Lowdown from Daniel Nugent-Bowman at The Athletic and you. We’ll examine and cross examine what happened to this team and why they are in a death rattle. No holds barred.  You can reach me in the comments section, @Lowetide on twitter, or text us 1.833.401.1440 directly.

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DBO

My goalie target would be Vemelka (spelling?) From Arizona. If they are still rebuilding, then Campbell, Broberg and a 1st may do it.

Reja

The longer Holland waits to fire Woody and restart this team the further back we go. Woody’s time has run it’s course let’s begin this nightmare season over before it gets real nasty.

eastcoastoilfan

Woodcroft is either gonna abandon his new system or go down with it. Plain and simple, the team is unable to play it. The players are so tentative in their decisions and reads, which is why they are constantly late in getting to the open man. You got him, no I got him, no..he’s scored..
This type of system when it goes bad, breeds confusuion, which turns to anger and contempt. Right now we haven’t seen evidence of infighting but that may just mean they’ve tuned the coach out. The team does not have the leadership in place who are talking the talk and walking the walk. They gotta flush this system and get back to a semblance of what worked.
What works best in hockey is to simplify. Bend you knees and go. Both directions. And be aggressive on every shift. That’s it. That’s the formula for them to get back to sane.
no goalie in the world would look good behind this team. Flushing Campbell was a bit of a chickens!t move in my opinion. Pinning Mcleod or Bouch to the pine for a full period for being soft as butter would help more. Plant some stars on the bench and run the bot6 out till their legs fall of> Something has to change, and “work harder” under the same conditions is the definition of insanity.

Spartacus

holland is finally doing his job and you don’t like it?

shrug
shrug

Munny 2.0

Sharks win.

At least this removes the stigma of being their first victim from the Oil…

Tye

Somebody said: “The Oilers are exactly what the Sharks need right now” and it hurt. . . Because I agreed with it.

Reja

Mikey will have them ready especially facing the opposing G.M Holland.

Harpers Hair

Sharks win a game!!!

Iztok Turk

Just a quick note to our host – as a devoted fanbase watches in disbelief its collective hockey daydreams engulfed in flames, Ziggy and her expressions are helping. Thank you.

Harpers Hair

https://x.com/ckerneywriter/status/1722097750970642573?s=61

Reid Wilkins first reported that the #Oilers have interest in Jordan Binnington. I’m also hearing murmurs about it.

John Chambers

This seems plausible. The Blues haven’t been enamoured with Binner as his play has been in steady decline.

I imagine Holland & co spent time this summer building a contingency around a goaltending failure and probably have a framework in place with St Loo.

That said Binner is playing well again so far this season and the Oilers are in a terrible negotiating position.

Harpers Hair

I have no idea how the Oilers could accommodate that $6 million cap hit although you would have to think Campbell would be going the other way.

Reja

Since Holland is done this year and his Son isn’t taking over he’ll just put it on next years cap he’s a wizard when it comes to money.

Kurri17

Holland and Armstrong are buddies.

Primetime

Lots of suggestions of the unlikely but dream targets (eg. Saros, Hart, Hellebuyck)

I would think more realistic (but still unrealistic) are either of the following:

  • The “I think Campbell can turn it around so lets trade our own struggling expensive goalie for him to give it a shot” angle

(Jarry, Korpisalo, Merzlikens)

  • The “We’ll never lose the caphit so lets eat half the salary and add a significant sweetener to roll the dice on a lower hit replacement and try and catch lightning in a bottle” angle

(Allen, Vladar, Blackwood, Velmejka)
None of these scenarios are very palatable

Last edited 4 months ago by Primetime
danny

The most Oilers thing ever would be SJ claiming Campbell and he gets a shutout Friday night 🤡

innercitysmytty

Who does San Jose play on Friday night? Oilers play them Thursday 🙂

danny

Ah yes. I’m on NL time, and websites sometimes mess up showing games later than 10.30 est, as Friday instead of Thursday when they adjust for my timezone 👍

Harpers Hair

Minnesota beats the Islanders 4-2.

The second wildcard now at 12 points pending the outcome of Kraken -Coyotes currently tied 2-2.

danny

Everyone’s well aware of the situation, and everyone is aware it’s early in the season. Why do you find so much pleasure antagonizing Oilers fans on an Oilers blog?

Harpers Hair

Why does a dig lick its balls?

Diablo

There are lots of different reasons why dogs lick their balls.

For hygiene. Because they’re bored. Because it feels good. Out of boredom, anxiety or as a form of self-soothing. But when they’re constantly licking there may be an underlying medical reason, and you should consult with your veterinarian.

For example, my dog starts licking constantly down there when his anal glands get filled up and need to be expressed.

I think you may need some help HH.

meanashell11

More chemo

danny

That’s a natural thing for a dog to do, as opposed to what you do. I just don’t understand how you can get enjoyment from antagonizing people in their own barn for the past 15+ years. I don’t know why it bothers me, and many others, but it does. I feel like acknowledging that, would be an impetus for you to stop, but I know it won’t.

Last edited 4 months ago by danny
Reja

Because it can,

Harpers Hair

Flames beat Nashville 4-2

Likely good news for the Oilers.

Harpers Hair

Coyotes beat the Kraken 4-3 in a shootout.

The second wildcard now 13 points.

John Chambers

This is probably a bad time to mention that Jesper Wallstedt is off to a fine start this season with the Iowa Wild.

OriginalPouzar

Olivier Rodrigue is off to a fine start with the Bakersfield Condors.

Lewis Grant

In fact, Wallstedt was just named AHL player of the week.

Imagine this team with Zegras, Mercer, and Wallstedt, instead of Broberg, Bourgault, and Holloway.

Then imagine this team with Eriksson Ek and Carlo instead of Reinhart.

It hurts to think about, doesn’t it?

(And that doesn’t even include a team with DeBrincat instead of Benson.)

thehappyrabbi

I keep reading trade proposals for Juuse Saros in exchange for the equivalent of 10 first round picks. This seems like a terrible idea, the asset cost explained by having to rid ourselves of Campbell’s contract.

What if you could get a goalie with way less miles on them, without having to pay to trade Jack. For example, our first round pick in this year’s draft (unprotected), which has way more value right now than people are giving it credit, to the Flames for the best goalie in the AHL, Dustin Wolf?

Yes there is risk associated with Wolf. But at least we aren’t completely gutting our system to get him. If he does work, we have a starting goalie for the next 10 years.

Last edited 4 months ago by thehappyrabbi
Diablo

Even Holland isn’t dumb enough to trade Calgary our 1st overall pick unprotected for a goalie that they don’t even have time for the NHL.

Broberg for Spencer Knight on the other hand might have merit, depending on how they view Knight. On the other hand, this is a goalie who needed help with mental health issues. Seems like Jack Campbell redux.

Honestly, the Oilers should just keep trying goalies until they find one that works they way Vegas did last season. if any goalie wits waivers, the Oilers should put in a claim, assuming they can fit that goalies cap hit.

eastcoastoilfan

You could get Dominik Hasek in his prime in here and he’ll look terrible behind this team. Look at the games man, yeah, the goalies haven’t been awesome, but the chance they are giving up are of the A++++ variety.

If they want to fix it, they have to rever to what they know. This new system is fine, its just they cannot and will not execute it properly. They are failing HORRIBLY at it.

On top of that, this system requires your offence to be more opportunisitic….but since they can’t do the system, this has killed their offence as well.

Funny Bissonness

Stick taps for local guy Matt Tomkins. Getting his first nhl W right now for the Lightning. He was my buddy’s goalie when he played for the Crusaders. Made his debut with the Lightning this season and this is his 3rd try.

Last edited 4 months ago by Funny Bissonness
TravisTDK

I haven’t seen Nurse mentioned in these comments yet which is incredible and this is a joke but imagine if the Oilers had actually traded the Nurse pick for Cory Schneider, to the real Nurse haters out there, we wouldn’t have both at this point.

LMHF#1

Everyone suggesting trading Leon for a goalie is repeating the Hall mistake. But even worse.

When you out-Chiarelli Chiarelli.

innercitysmytty

Yeah it’s batshit because there aren’t many ways you win that trade. If he’s made it clear he’s not re-signing and you have to trade him I can understand if the trade is built around a stud D and a goalie is included. Something like McAvoy, Swayman + for Leon.

Intranuovo

Boston wouldn’t trade McAvoy for Draisaitl one for one. Outside of missing 10-20 games most seasons, you can make a strong argument that McAvoy is the best defenseman in the league. He’s never been a minus player in his career.

Realistically in a Draisaitl trade you’re probably getting one strong roster player player (ie. Swayman), a strong prospect (ie. Poitras), a 1st round and possibly a 2nd round pick in. Draisaitl trade. Maybe some tinkering of two roster players swapping to make the money work.

As Oilers fans I think we really have to temper our expectations on the return of a trade for Draisaitl, as he as a NMC and may only want to sign a 1 year deal with the team who acquires him, so him and Connor become UFAs the following summer together

Harpers Hair

A trade for Draisaitl on an expiring contract would likely fetch a first round pick and a prospect.

Most teams won’t want to give him an outrageous retirement contract that takes him into his late 30s.

Diablo

Except that Leon is not on an expiring contract. Even if he was, he fetch more than what the Canucks got for Horvat or the Jets got for Dubois.

If the Oilers traded Leon for a pick and a prospect, you’d be on here telling us how the Oilers should have gotten so much more.

Your schtick is old and predictable.

jp

You’re missing the big picture here.

If you combine this Draisaitl return with the earlier Saros proposal it all makes sense:

Draisaitl
Campbell
Holloway
2024 1st
2025 1st

for

Saros

(ie – Draisaitl removes Broberg and the 3rd 1st round pick needed for Saros).

Onwards and upwards.

leadfarmer

Dream pickup (ignoring costs)
Saros

2nd tier
Hart

likely range
Gibson
Varlamov

Likely available but too risky
Knight
Wolf

OriginalPouzar

I would think that Vladar would be available, not Wolf,

W

I mentioned this Sunday, but,
Linus Ullmark, come on down. It’s going to cost us #29 though.

innercitysmytty

No chance Ullmark on his own costs anywhere near Leon. When has a goalie ever cost that much in trade?

jp

I thought you meant pick #29 for Ullmark, which I was going to say is pretty optimistic for the rest of season Oilers at this point.

Leon for Ullmark, that would be quite something else.

W

As I mentioned Sundayboston will also have to throw in deBrusk to make the money work as well as a first round pick.

jp

Waiving Campbell in favour of Pickard opens up the possibility of a 22-man roster when players are healthy (apologies if that’s already been mentioned).

They wouldn’t have complete flexibility with the more expensive ELC/Bakersfield contracts (ie Broberg, Lavoie and Holloway), but there are many different ways they could get to 22 (healthy) bodies on the roster.

innercitysmytty

What’s more important – running 22 man roster or banking for the deadline? I know given our current position the deadline may not matter, but I’m still confident they’ll be in range of a playoff spot by that point.

jp

Well step 1 of any plan has to be getting the ship turned around.

A little more roster flexibility could potentially help with that, but 🤷

innercitysmytty

This is still a good team. I’d focus on accruing for the deadline.

Admiral Ackbar

Imagine if Olivier Rodrigue married Olivia Rodrigo….

What makes me laugh is weird….

DevilsLettuce

I’m laughing about their children’s names 🤣

Harpers Hair

And Daddy is Sylvain who is the Condors goaltending coach.

Scungilli Slushy

We can all see what being a nice guy and good in the room and trains with ‘X’ contributes to winning

Any mention of these things from now on should be taken as an alarm bell in your ear

At least with Brown it was about his play, and he was delivering it even if pointless. He may yet be helpful in a bigger way

Harpers Hair

The obvious offseason needs were a credible goaltender and a strong RD.

Spending that cap space on a soon to be 30, oft injured winger with a career average of 30 something points is a big miss by GM McDavid.

jp

The obvious offseason needs were a credible goaltender and a strong RD.

Major fail not to address those needs with the $750k they’re paying Brown?

Harpers Hair

Kulak and Foegele out.

Certainly much better than an overpaid, underwhelming winger.

jp

Kulak and Foegele out.

But that isn’t what you said. At all.

Harpers Hair

Checkers/chess

Android

Maybe I’m crazy, but I wonder if Woody’s complete refusal to pivot from Skinner hasn’t ended up helping doing in Campbell’s confidence/performance right now?

Campbell outperformed Skinner at the end of last season through the playoffs, outperformed him in the pre-season, and as of last night is outperforming him this season too.

Despite all of that, Woodcroft has clearly still preferred Skinner from the word go this season (Game 1 pull anyone?) and the difference in his comments regarding the two goaltenders has been stark at times.

I can’t imagine it’s very easy to play goal knowing that your coach doesn’t seem to have your back in any way and every mistake could cost you your job.

To me something just doesn’t square when comparing the way pre-season Campbell performed (backstopping some near AHL quality teams against real opposition) with what we’re seeing now.

This isn’t a defence of Campbell’s play this season, we all know how bad it’s been and I’m not pretending otherwise. But Woodcroft refusing to switch from starting Skinner cost us in the playoffs last season, and I think there’s a real chance that immediately going back to that status quo halfway through the defensive atrocity that was the opener may be costing us now.

End of the day, we can try and swap Campbell out for Pickard, but if Woodcroft goes back to riding Skinner if/when Pickard has a bad game, the point is moot.

JJS

Neither goalie has been good and, if the Oil had any options, wouldn’t be starting.

But you are attempting to develop Skinner’s game as he is just a kid and was in the Calder conversation. Campbell is 31. He is beyond the development stage.

The coaches are a team of professionals who view the athletes everyday and judge readiness. We are just guessing what actually happens behind the scenes when it comes to choosing the starter.

Funny Bissonness

and as of last night is outperforming him this season too.

For what it’s worth, the cult of hockey at the Edmonton Journal had counted 6 major mistakes on goals against by Campbell, and only 1 major mistake by Skinner. Save percentage may not tell the full story here. I believe those numbers were from their running total of the first 10 games.

innercitysmytty

As a player when you have zero confidence in your goalie you grip your stick tighter because you’re afraid to make mistakes. And guess what, because of that you’re more likely to make mistakes. The players knew from day one they were handicapped by their goaltending and it’s bled into the rest of their game.

Diablo

Does “gripping the stick tighter” explain why Bouchard didn’t keep skating back hard on the back check after his bone headed pinch which led to a goal against last night.

It’s not just the goalies – they’ve been bad, the defense has been bad and the forwards have been bad. At some point, maybe the coach should be wearing this debacle.

Send Woody back to the AHL with Campbell and hire a real NHL coach.

innercitysmytty

Bouchard was already prone to those mistakes. I’m talking about the degradation of play at both ends of the ice from the majority of players on this team. Playing free, confident and reacting to the play makes a big difference. I know that doesn’t explain all of this team’s issues, but I also think a lot of people underestimate how much impact the poor goaltending can have beyond the goalie’s save percentage and GAA.

Shane

Im going to go out on a limb here and say that Pickard is here to save the day with a goalie heater. Based on absolutely nothing other than a gut feeling and stupid hopes and dreams.

Ribs

He’s about to Richard Bachman the joint.

kinger_OIL

— Bruce Boudreau?

John Chambers

The Oilers fortunes can now begin to change. There is accountability, even for veterans with lengthy contracts.

Brace yourselves for $1.65M worth of dead cap thru 2030. Sigh.

fishman

So not real knowledgable on buyout workings. Assuming Jack stays in Bakersfield all season and then gets bought out what does that look like?

fishman

Thanks!

Shane

The silver lining of not buying him out in the off season is that we knock off two seasons of dead cap.

PokeCheck

Carolina always seems to be a step ahead of Edmonton on goalies. They snagged Halak on a PTO two days ago, that’s probably as close to a Hitchmas miracle as there was floating out there.

Shane

I found that move interested as I thought Kochetkov was the future there and Raanta is serviceable

GB&Q

Athletic article (might have been Lebrun?) suggested they were looking at him even before Andersen’s health news

Lewis Grant

I cannot understand why nobody signed Halak until now. That guy might be the most underrated goalie in hockey history. He has a career 76 goals saved above average. That’s higher than JS Giguere, Mike Liut, Cory Schneider, Marc-Andre Fleury, Sergei Bobrobsky, Miikka Kiprusoff, as well as a host of older goalies who were always overrated.

leadfarmer

isnt it weird they haven’t called up a goalie?

OriginalPouzar

No, Jack won’t be off the roster until tomorrow.

Scungilli Slushy

What are the chances Jack gets claimed and Pickard goes full Hill?

I thought so

OriginalPouzar

0.00001% chance Jack gets claimed.

ArmchairGM

So… you’re saying there’s a chance!

McSorley33

Campbell turns 32 shortly here….just not sure how likely it is we ever see him in the NHL again.

Never say never…I guess.

I just hope Pickard can cover the high slot…

Melman

Pickard is slightly cheaper than Rodrigues, and it seems they are pennies away from an additional roster player. If only Raph had taken just a pinch less… Janmark going down would also do the trick

dessert1111

I was expecting Campbell to get one more shot vs the Sharks but I think the debaucle last night sealed that something had to be done.

I like the move not because Pickard will be a saviour, but it’s the least significant move they could have made that will still cause a shake up. And Pickard is a good #3, meaning he’s the best option in the organization right now.

The next move is either a goalie trade or a coach firing unless they can go on a run starting now.

Hell of an opportunity for Pickard – hope he doesn’t get too in his head about it.

With the cap savings, the Oilers must be getting close to being able to squeeze together a 22 man roster, although it won’t matter while they have multiple injuries.

PokeCheck

This isn’t Pickard’s first rodeo in the NHL… and is he ever coming into a situation where the expectations for goaltending performance are low.

Kurri17

Pickard is a vet who has played in the NHL before.

YYCOil

I was following X last night there are quite a few Edmonton media types losing their objectivity.

Our best forward apparently is playing hurt, our best defensemen is playing hurt and our goalies are beyond struggling.

Do we all think Woodcroft suddenly got dumb, do we all think Driasaitl and McDavid are suddenly third line scorers? Do we all think that suddenly Kulak isn’t an elite skater, Do we all think suddenly Bouchard doesn’t care about his defensive game. Do all think suddenly Hyman is not a puck retriever.

This team needs a few more saves and to work through what ever this is.

McSorley33

Seems like an easy fix.

1952barry

however, they are very close to missing the dance; need to get 65% of points over next 71 games

thelongdark

They are running out of runway.

OriginalPouzar

I believe Jack was well-liked at a person in the dressing room and this SHOULD help light a fire under the team to dig in to their effort and execution (not that they should need it).

Pickard is not going to “save the season” with high end goaltending but messages are being sent.

For me, I hope that Rodrigue gets the bulk of the starts in the AHL as his development needs to be prioritized, however, given Pickard was the clear 1A, I imagine the premise will be to “get Jack up and running” and Rodrigue will continue to get less than half the starts despite starting to pop as a real prospect.

Pretendergast

I was almost hoping they’d bring up Rodrigue so the team would have the directive to get back to protect the kid. Or at least get humiliated if he’s getting shelled. Embarrassment from a teammate is more powerful than anything the media or fans can throw at them.

Not sure this team is motivated that way so Pickard it is.

fishman

“Get Jack up and running” ?? Pretty sure that ship has sailed and ain’t coming back….

OriginalPouzar

I don’t think this is a foregone conclusion.

fishman

Guess you are a bit more optimistic than I am! Hey and that’s OK!

jp

Not that I disagree at all, but slightly funny that they waived the goalie who did not lose last night, and who has the better SV% of the two.

godot10

Skinner would get claimed.

1952barry

and retrieved by the Oilers

jp

For sure, I’m not suggesting they should have waived Skinner instead.

You would typically see the guy with the worse numbers and who got blown out the night before getting waived is all.

Harpers Hair

PDOKing

To Edmonton: Saros
To Nashville: Campbell, Broberg, Holloway, 3 1sts

https://x.com/kinger999/status/1721988475644473471?s=61

Harpers Hair

An interesting suggestion.

jp

And three firsts? Lol.

Harpers Hair

Trade elite goaltender on a value contract

Eat Campbell contract.

Take on two failing prospects

What is that worth?

The first two items are definitely worth 2 firsts so the debate revolves around whether or not Broberg and Holloway have positive or negative value.

jp

whether or not Broberg and Holloway have positive or negative value

Honestly? (no, I know it’s not)

Harpers Hair

Would be interested to see what you think would be required for Nashville to trade Saros and eat Campbell’s contract.

OriginalPouzar

I’ve never heard of a first round pick on an entry level contract having negative value.

Of course, you rarely see trolls posting tweets from other trolls…..

TheMoops

What a strange take. Why would you pay someone to take cheap prospects like Holloway and Broberg?

Why are you the way you are?

Harpers Hair

The most pertinent question is why are Holloway and Broberg the way THEY are.

On any truly contending team both would be in the AHL (as Broberg already is) bearing in mind LT’s advice that any prospect who is in the minor leagues at age 22 has some issues.

Considering the draft pedigree of both I don’t think it’s a leap to question their value at this point.

leadfarmer

because dumping Campbell is gonna be cheap?

Oddspell

Why is Nashville doing this when they are 1 point out of a playoff spot?

The problem with fixing the position through trade is that there are only two teams in the league rapidly losing ground on the playoff pack: San Jose, and Edmonton.

I doubt anyone else is looking to get rid of a good, contributing player let alone their starting goalie.

The Oilers need to survive a few months before they can make a “big splash” trade. If we can stop the bleeding then maybe we can look at this trade in January.

Last edited 4 months ago by Oddspell
Harpers Hair

Good points but I’m not sure making the playoffs is a high priority for Trotz considering how many high end pieces he’s moved out.

Obviously, and offer for Saros would have to knock his socks off and three firsts might just do it,

teamblue

Funny, an offer for a goalie only signed until next season, needs an offer to blow his socks off. When has any goalie been traded for more than 1 1st round pick included? Ever?
Sorry, but this proposal, yours or not, is one of the very worst I’ve ever seen.

Harpers Hair

Also worth noting, Nashville has Jaroslav Askarov playing in the AHL.

11th overall 2020 draft.

.935

Oddspell

I’m not really sure it impacts anything; there’s no chance that a Preds team that’s one point out of the playoffs in a weak division is going to jettison their all-star goalie to run Lankinen and a rookie.

More likely that they are looking to run Saros and Askarov next season.

leadfarmer

Nashville is trying to retool on the fly and not start a rebuild as I doubt Josi at 33 wants to go through all that. Askarov needs another couple seasons before being a starter.

Shane

Do we know what Browns injury is??
He just pushed off at the faceoff and went straight to the bench. Looked like the left leg to me if I recall correctly.

Did he re injure the knee he had surgery on??

If so, that’s some stroke of luck for that to happen in game #9

Shane

Sorry if this has been covered lately here already.
Ive been busy with work this fall and haven’t been able to read all the comments sections

barry.moore23

god dammit Shane don’t you realize the magnitude of the situation we are facing ??

F work !!!

🙂 🙂 🙂

Shane

Hahaha I find myself thinking the same thing more and more these days Barry!😆😆

MushedPeas

I wonder if by making the game sheet he’s already fulfilled his terms? be super annoying to learn he was done and everyone knew he was done and they still let him vest.

Pretendergast

It’s the Oilers, they’ll count it and send a 3rd to Calgary.

OriginalPouzar

By making what game sheet?

He’s been on the game sheet for 9 games so, as of now, his bonus has not vested.

With that said, he’s on the trip and not even on LTIR – he will almost assuredly be playing game 10 at some point.

Shane

OP have you heard anything about the injury though?? Or have thoughts via what your eyes saw. Which knee did he have surgery.?

If he’s on the trip, you’re right that’s a tell and probably means my musings are wasted thought.

MushedPeas

Sorry i was jumping ahead a game.

Dicky94

If it is just Pickard coming back then I really don’t see what this move will do. Especially if it’s just to backup Skinner. Hopefully something else is coming down the pipe. Can’t see it though.

Shane

I don’t think Pickard is coming up to be the backup..

Diablo

Will Woody even play whichever goalie is called up? Or will he just ride Skinner like a rented mule?

Kurri17

Oilers definitely need to do more. However, Pickard should come in to be the starter at this point; he can’t be worse than Skinner.

Oddspell

I can’t imagine they’re bringing up Pickard to play backup.

If they’re making a change, it’s because Pickard is playing the Sharks. Otherwise, they’d have no impetus to make the change at all.

OriginalPouzar

I’d be shocked if Skinner doesn’t get the start on Thursday.

Shane

Prepare to be shocked OP. Pickard is here to play.

Dustylegnd

ask yourself, if you are Drai and McDavid, do you have any desire to sign up for 8 additional years of dysfunction and losing?

Do they enjoy the intense media and fan scrutiny or would they prefer playing on a team with depth and a better tax rate in a city where they can be relatively anonymous?

Something has got to change in a meaningful way, band aides do not win Cups

Grades

Top 6 (B)
Bottom 6 (F)
Defence (D)
Keepers (F)

This is reality and it is Dark

Last edited 4 months ago by Dustylegnd
€√¥£€^$

Is it so easy to forget the past five years of success after a horrible 1st 10-11 games that this franchise is now instantly garbage?

Last edited 4 months ago by €√¥£€^$
Harpers Hair

Second round exits are now success?

Diablo

We have low standards here.

Shane

The playoffs aren’t structured as a best on best tournament. The Oilers lost to the Stanley Cup champions in each of the last two seasons. So essentially we were second place both years(just gonna leave this goalpost right here).

But you know that already😉.

Oh hey, how did the best defense ever assembled Colorado do in the playoffs last year??

Last edited 4 months ago by Shane
Harpers Hair

So you’re suggesting Winnipeg also had a successful season because they lost to the Stanley Cup champions too.

Pretzel logic.

Tarkus

Fun fact: “Éxito” is the Spanish word for success.

jtblack

not for the Canucks. They can’t make it that far 🙂

Domino J

Won more than they lost, within view of a championship last year of peiteranglo got a fair suspension for that nasty slash

Harpers Hair

Half the league makes the playoffs.

8 make the second round.

Is that success?

JJS

It was third round two years ago. And yes, these are successful milestones. The issue is we didn’t improve this summer to take the next step.

Harpers Hair

He said 5 years of success p.

What would you consider the other 4?

McSorley33

Only 6 games no less of the 2nd round.

Distance from Oiler PR machine – really helps have a bigger picture.

Harpers Hair

Yes.

ArmchairGM

McDavid had direct involvement in the signing of Brown last summer and Campbell the summer before. Others, too – Hyman and Lucic come to mind.

He doesn’t have to re-sign because of that but he certainly can’t just blame management for the position the team is in.

Scungilli Slushy

Somebody should make him stop. 25% success won’t cut it

MADOIL

This. You can’t have it both ways. You bring in ‘your’ guys, get them sweeheart deals, bring in your agent and also tell the Manager not to trade ‘your’ guy and when things don’t work out, you blame the Manager / team and bail? That doesn’t say much about his character does it?

OriginalPouzar

I’ve got to think its Pickard that gets the call – having NHL experience and all.

Both Pickard and Rodrigue have been very good in the AHL this season (and were both very good last season) but Rodrigue only has apx 50 games.

This SHOULD be an opportunity for Rodrigue to get some more starts in the AHL but I expect they start to run Campbell out there nightly.

GordieHoweHatTrick

It would be completely negligent to throw a 23 yr old with no NHL experience into this gong show. Pickard played for the Leafs. He can take some of this heat.

geowal

What will Campbell’s cap hit be while he’s in the minors?

Gerta Rauss

We covered this below around the 11am mark

geowal

Thanks

winchester

Jessie Puljujarvi available at Christmas

Ok, sorry, bad joke…

flyfish1168

I highly doubt he would want to come here. He is more likely having a bit of a laugh.

Bruce McCurdy

Great song choice, Allan. Roxy Music Album #1, Side #1, Track #1.

I remember it when it came out, 1972. Just a breath of fresh air, something entirely new & different.

DBO

On. Positive note. I liked the 4 lined last night. Upgrade Desharnais and hopenthe Pickard call up gets them moving. It’s kinda like shuffling the deck chairs on the Titanic, but waiving a popular guy in Campbell better wake them the F up. Shouldn’t have gotten his far. But here we are. A must win against the Sharks. Wow.

PinkSocks

Great, they waived a goalie. Get Rodrigue up and run him against the Sharks.

DBO

CAMPBELL waived

fishman

Well it’s a start! Holland should have to drive him to the airport.

1952barry

not popular but trade Leon for a goalie and another piece

PinkSocks

So we can lose 3-0 instead of 5-2?

1952barry

i don’r like the idea that on Nov 7 I’m waiting ror 24/25

Sierra

I can’t stop wondering what this team does in practice. When I watch the games I keep asking if these guys actually have practices.

McSorley33

In an Allen Iverson voice…

Practice.

Practice.

Practice

McSorley33

Agreed.

Makes you wonder about the really, really long training camp as well…

who

I would like to discuss the Canucks 2nd goal last night.
Because it’s something that’s been bugging me for a long time, and I think it’s something that the Oilers coaches(and most NHL coaches) are demanding of their forwards.
Everyone seems to want back pressure from the forwards. So the dmen can kill plays at the blueline, I guess.
But whatever happened to picking up the trailer? If you are the 1st forward back, and you look up and it’s a 2 on 2 with both your dmen in position, shouldn’t you at least do a shoulder check to see who’s coming late?
Yes I know Skinner should have made the save, but why are we asking that first forward to chase the puck carrier to the goal line? Can’t an NHL dman handle a 1 on 1 rush?
Maybe I’m lazy, but I would be peeling off inside the blueline and picking up the trailer coming through the high slot. Its a pretty easy read if you can count the guys in front of you.
I can’t even blame the players, because I think it’s almost universally coached. It just seems strange, to leave the slot wide open, to chase a guy to the outside who is already marked by your dman.

Pretendergast

Agreed. The d backed way too far in. It was odd they were side by side, usually there’s a bit of staggering so players have to go through multiple levels to get to the net. The seas parted. I do blame Bouch for the backcheck on his goal. The forward checking back shouldn’t have to go to the goalline when you have numbers advantage in front.

As you said, a save would’ve been nice but a shot point blank down main street isn’t exactly as easy as people seem to think it is.

winchester

common scenario. that high slot doesn’t open up unless dmen give up the blue line and back in too far. this is a big deal

who

Fair enough. But the dmen had already given up the blueline.
My question is why does that backchecking forward keep chasing the puck carrier below the hashmarks? Because that was the reason the high slot was so wide open.

flea

The Pius Sutter goal too, they stand around in the defensive zone. They seem to think this is what defending is. Stay close, watch the play, all the way into their net. They are just so passive in the defensive zone.

Right at the blue line both oilers players could have contested the puck. But neither did, they just let Vancouver pick it up with speed and blow right past them.

Definitely some confidence, hesitation issues in their defensive game right now.

who

I was talking about the Pius Suter goal.

Scungilli Slushy

What’s bugging me more is the Oilers give up these plays but rarely create them. Bigger worry that all this talent plays pretty boring uncreative hockey and easily gets boxed out of the scoring areas

SoCaloil

Agree 100%
everyone in blaming the G but if you let you opponents run down Main Street unimpeeded then they’ll find the openings

McSorley33

Elephant in the room in here.

Pickard or any other goalie is not going to pick up the trailer in the slot.

We are such outliers ( for that vast majority of the NHL right now) for how hockey is being played from the red line into the Dzone.

Melman

They gave up an identical play just before the Suter goal with Gagner chasing down low & he and the D covering the attacking F and leaving the trailer open. At first I thought “Gagner just got here, so just a mixup” but it was the same play on the Suter goal. So either:

a) they are coaching the F to come down & double teaming the attacking F leaving the trailer open = coaching error
b) the F dropping low is making the error; or
c) the D not switching off and taking the trailer is the error.

crazy Coach can you provide some insight on this?

Woodguy v2.0

Frank Seravalli

@frank_seravalli
·
1m

Sources: #Oilers have waived G Jack Campbell.

@DailyFaceoff

GordieHoweHatTrick

Now Brown

Admiral Ackbar

Finally!!!!!

Gerta Rauss

This simply can’t be true – this transaction is before LT’s show starts LoL

Tarkus

Soup has been canned.

flyfish1168

No soup for you

OriginalPouzar

One positive I will take from last night was that Dylan Holloway looked as good as he has all season as far as impact in the offensive zone – paired with Drai.

Here is hoping that is something that could have some traction going forward and maybe they can form some real chemistry.

Holloway should have some increased confidence after last night and here is hoping the current head coach runs with this duo – a game against the Sharks should be a good opportunity to post some crooked numbers and the duo to gain the trust of the coach.

Scungilli Slushy

He was a difference maker. His hands will get better if never great

You shouldn’t not use one of your most assertive fast forwards because of the odd misread etc. Teach them and let them play through it. This team needs what he brings

McSorley33

Agreed.

Holloway
Foegele
Gagner ( shocking me, quite frankly)
Even Kane as of late

Effort level for the above stands out.

Kurri17

Connor McDavid will be turning 27 this season. And this will be another wasted year of McDavid’s prime years.

The Oilers can show they are changing their ways and are going to commit to winning by immediately sending Connor Brown and Jack Campbell to the AHL. If Brown is played the 10th game, it absolutely shows a total disregard for any shred of accountability whatsoever. Which is why I expect Brown to play the San Jose game.

winchester

It is a critical point isnt it? Holland has a reputation for looking after players. If he makes a promise he keeps it. If he promised Brown the contract terms were just a technicality and his bonus was guaranteed then he will keep it, and I can’t disagree.

Will Jackson step in? Former agent he’ll likely support any promises if they were made. Things we’ll never know.

But I absolutely agree that the message will come out “we need Browns help as soon as possible” “We need to get him up and running”

GordieHoweHatTrick

At some point the GM has to put the team ahead of any player.

winchester

i would think always. will it happen here?

OriginalPouzar

This wasn’t a true performance bonus contract – this was a cap deferral structure.

From MANY accounts, Brown had numerous offers of guaranteed money over $3MM and even some for term.

The contract was structured the way it was in order to fit in to the Oilers cap structure this season but get the player fully paid.

There is zero chance they are burying this player in the minors in order to avoid the bonus payment.

RT26

This reminds me of when Tippett got fired. When Tippett first arrived, he oversaw better defensive responsibility and better ice time distribution. But as time went on and a key playoff loss, the Oilers tuned him out, played our stars too much and returned to run and gun hockey with negative results.

Enter Woodcroft. At first, he re-balances line time and oversees significant increases in puck possession and systems play. Now, after some time, play-off losses and negative results, the team is tuning Woodcroft out, playing the stars too much and are at the bottom of the league.

My question is this – are the organization & coaching staff worried about upsetting McDavid, Draisaitl and Nurse to the point if self-destruction? I have no anger towards our stars, and this is pure conjecture – But we are actively pursuing strategies and playing time distribution that we know has not worked in the past

Admiral Ackbar

Uncanny how the end of Woody mirrors the end of Tip.

On the org, McD must be thinking, “no way I let them fool me thrice…”

“To a dark place this line of thought will carry us.” – Yoda

Diablo

I don’t think either the coaches or players are doing this on purpose.

But once the coaches start double-shifting McDavid and Draisaitl and overplaying Nurse, the losses start piling up and they get further boxed in and keeping telling themselves … “just need to win the next game a get out of this tailspin, then we’ll roll the lines more evenly afterwards.” Even if they win, then they’ll tell themselves … “we need to go on a bit of run to make up the ground that we lost, then we’ll roll the lines more evenly afterwards.”

Once the coaches lose discipline in how they’re managing the lineup, how can you expect the players to have any discipline in how they’re playing?

RT26

Agreed, I think the coaches just want to find clean air and then re-balance their approach. Oddly, McDavid and Draisaitl remind me of the character Boxer from Animal Farm. When things get tough, I will work harder…. But that approach eventually led to ruin for Boxer and the team that relied upon him.

The organization has made enormous strides in Holland’s time at the helm. While yes, our cap situation is a mess – he brought in Hyman, Kane, Ekholm and made the right coaching hire. I can picture our team leaders telling Woodcroft that they can get this done if they get the playing time.

I worry that we will do something dramatic and unproductive that has long term implications we can’t yet see.

Scungilli Slushy

Good points and I think it’s compounded by what Holland does and doesn’t do

Some of the players are not good enough or consistent enough at the heart of the game and he keeps them and terms them. He can’t go out and find and make the value deals, does the obvious

Sentimentality and being too player leaning or making too many handshake promises you shouldn’t handcuff yourself with

Holland is from Detroit and it reminds me of how business is done in a union car town, and which side Holland leans to

Allvin picked up a bunch of useful bottom 6 for cheap and Kenny starts short handed with no options he can see