Song of the Orphans

by Lowetide

New general managers, as a group, don’t value previous GM’s prospects at the same level. It’s human nature. It’s like that old George Carlin bit about visiting friends and unpacking your stuff. The punchline is “I had to move your junk out of the way, so I could put my stuff there” and that’s kind of what happens with new GM’s.

What does that mean? Well, in simple terms, Raphael Lavoie has a better inside champion than Kailer Yamamoto, or Jesse Puljujarvi. What will it mean? Let’s have a look at two recent Oilers general managers and what happened to the prospects.

THE ATHLETIC!

The Athletic Edmonton features a fabulous cluster of stories (some linked below, some on the site). Great perspective from a ridiculous group of writers and analysts. Proud to be part of the group, here’s an incredible Offer!

  • New Daniel Nugent-Bowman: What the Oilers’ depth chart looks like now and where they go from here
  • New Jonathan Willis: How often do goalies like the Oilers’ Mike Smith rebound?
  • New Lowetide: Ken Holland’s roster moves clear the way for Oilers top prospects Tyler Benson and Kailer Yamamoto.
  • New Daniel Nugent-Bowman: A deeper look at Mike Smith’s comments after signing with the Oilers
  • New Jonathan Willis: Oilers GM Ken Holland promises long-term rewards for an approach light on short-term improvements
  • New Daniel Nugent-Bowman: Trade market now most likely place for Oilers to find scoring winger
  • New Lowetide: Oilers add free agent Markus Granlund, creating a crowded depth chart at left wing
  • New Jonathan Willis: Tomas Jurco is a nice little reclamation bet by the Oilers.
  • New Daniel Nugent-Bowman: How re-signing winger Alex Chiasson impacts the Oilers
  • New Lowetide: Oilers add Mike Smith to an uneasy goalie depth chart for 2019-20
  • Lowetide: Oilers buy out Andrej Sekera, look to a more dynamic free-agent frenzy.
  • Daniel Nugent-Bowman: ‘He comes as advertised’: Philip Broberg’s skating makes him development camp standout for Oilers
  • Daniel Nugent-Bowman: Oilers plan to skew younger on defence could open the door for Evan Bouchard, Dmitri Samorukov
  • Lowetide: Taking stock of Oilers prospects ready to graduate with a clear shot at an NHL job in 2019-20
  • Lowetide: Oilers top 20 prospects summer 2019.
  • Lowetide: Are these Jesse Puljujarvi’s final days with the Edmonton Oilers?
  • Daniel Nugent-Bowman: Ranking the Oilers’ trade assets from the high-priced diamonds to those needing fresh starts
  • Lowetide: Oilers GM Ken Holland is shopping for 20-goal scorers on a budget. What will he find?

CRAIG MACTAVISH

Here’s what happened to the top 20 prospects on the day MacT took over (I am not counting the 2013 and 2014 drafts, as he was general manager. Also doesn’t count players like Nail Yakupov who had already played a full NHL season). Here are the men who were top 20 prospects spring 2013 and saw a quick exit under MacT:

No. 5 Toni Rajala was punted by MacT almost immediately after taking over, despite a strong AHL campaign. It was shocking at the time.

No. 7 Taylor Fedun was tracking well as a prospect before a costly injury derailed him as an Oilers player. Edmonton walked him, with MacT as manager, in spring 2014.

No. 11 Mark Arcobello was traded by MacT in December of 2014 for Derek Roy. Unfair to suggest he cut bait on Marcobello, who had emerged as an NHL player by the time of the deal.

No. 19 Erik Gustafsson didn’t receive a contract from MacT, and went on to become a solid NHL defenseman. An entry-level contract should be extended to draft picks who progress, this was a mistake.

Among the 20 men who populated Edmonton’s top prospects list on the day MacT took over, he punted four of note. Several would go on to solid NHL careers (Oscar Klefbom, Jujhar Khaira, Brandon Davidson, Tyler Pitlick) but the haul could have been more.

PETER CHIARELLI

No. 7 Laurent Brossoit was sent away, he was a trade acquisition under MacT and the organization invested a lot of time in him. Brossoit emerged as a quality goalie almost immediately upon his exit from Edmonton.

No. 15 Tyler Pitlick finally emerged as a healthy bona fide NHL player under Chiarelli, who promptly let him slip away in free agency.

No. 18 Jordan Oesterle worked his way through the system as the updated version of Taylor Fedun. Like clockwork, Oilers let him go and Oesterle emerged as an NHL option.

No. 20 Brad Hunt. An early MacT signing, Hunt last one year under Chiarelli and then immediately stepped into the NHL where he remains.

In April of 2015, fans were talking Connor McDavid and anticipating the careers of prospects Leon Draisaitl and Darnell Nurse. There were other useful pieces in the system, but the new general manager had his own vision and his own players to sign.

NHL EQUIVALENCY

Players in purple are Ken Holland’s men, the rest are Chiarelli. It doesn’t mean Lavoie>Yamamoto in Holland’s eyes, but bias be bias and two years from now Lavoie will hit pro hockey. In training camp and preason, if the choice for No. 4 center is down to Marody versus Haas, well one can scoot back to Europe and the other one was acquired by Chiarelli. Again, I’m not calling anyone out, just pointing out how things mostly go. How will this play out, if history repeats? Broberg, Lavoie and Konovalov are ensconced as Oilers by summer 2022.

YAMAMOTO

One of the reactions to my latest piece for The Athletic is strong push back re: Kailer Yamamoto and his AHL season. Although he played just 27 games, there’s a story there. Yamamoto scored 10 goals in 27 games (.37 goals per game), better than fellow rookies Cooper Marody (19/58, .328) and Tyler Benson (15/68, .221). He led Condors rookies with six power-play goals and may eventually be able to help in this area with Edmonton in the coming years.

Yamamoto also shoots the puck often. In his final junior season, he took 111 shots in 40 games (2.78 shots per game) and in the AHL last season (45/27) it was down to 1.67 per game. In the NHL, he has 36 shots in 26 games (1.38) and that’s with very little power-play time.

At even strength, in the NHL, Yamamoto’s shots-per-60 is 6.11 over his two partial seasons (323 minutes). I’d like to see him stay healthy and increase that number to equal Ty Rattie’s from a year ago (8.15). The Oilers RW depth chart is currently Zack Kassian, Alex Chiasson, Joakim Nygard and Sam Gagner. This is not Everest. If Yamamoto stays healthy in Bakersfield and cashes goals with the Condors, we’re going to see him in Edmonton next season. Unless Ken Holland trades for another scoring winger.

JESSE FOR ERIKSSON EK?

I ranked Joel Eriksson Ek No. 17 in his draft year (here) and there are things to like about him. He’s a center and his faceoff percentage improves each year. Jim Matheson mentioned him as a trade piece for Jesse Puljujarvi yesterday, it’s an interesting idea but I wouldn’t do it. You’re dealing down for certainty, and in all honesty Eriksson Ek’s offense isn’t certain. I like him as a player, but JP still has all those tools and I wouldn’t make the deal. I would be willing to deal Puljujarvi and other attractive pieces for Jason Zucker.

LOWDOWN WITH LOWETIDE

A busy morning with some things still fluid, but don’t worry we’ll stick the landing at 10 this morning, TSN1260. We’ll have an NBA guest in hour one, the Kawhi story is massive. Daniel Nugent-Bowman from The Athletic stops by at 11 to discuss Ken Holland’s moves so far and what may come. Finally we visit with Frank Seravalli for the last time this summer at 11:20. We’ll discuss stalled free agency and Atlantic City in summer 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. Talk soon!

242 comments
0

You may also like

0 0 votes
Article Rating
242 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Walter Gretzkys Neighbour

ArmchairGM: Thanks for that. He seems like a decent net-front PP guy, not sure he’s better suited to that role than Chiasson is though. Otherwise there’s not really any reason to pay the estimated $2.2M for him. I think I’d rather have Pominville at $1M + Sheahan at $1.3M instead.

I live in southern Ontario and my son who grew up here is sadly a Leafs fan.. so we watched a bit of the Leafs. We didn’t “see” much production from Marleau, but If as was also stated he brings a unifying or stabilizing influence from his experience then he could have value.

I feel the Oilers have long been a rudderless ship when it comes to leadership & cohesiveness.

Jaxon

OriginalPouzar: If Lavoie can add one more small gear to his skating and learn to “think the game” a bit better, he could be a massive steal. From listening to Staples/McCurdy last week, sounds like we saw the great and the bad during Development Camp – lots of skill but made weird plays not understanding the game (3 on 3).

I wouldn’t put much stock in observations of 3on3 play. From the highlights I watched, it was a real dogs breakfast. Nobody looked good. The was a lack of urgency and a lack of any system, which is to be expected with some young players just thrown together and of ice for the month or so prior playing 3on3. In fact, you could argue that a player who plays well in a system would be at a disadvantage as they’d expect their teammates to be in certain places where they weren’t. I’m looking forward to seeing him in a more structured situation come main training camp time.

OriginalPouzar

Crazy Pedestrian: The oilers are already at 48 contracts. (Sliding contracts withstanding)
They probably need to trade away a player to bring one in. Plus they are short on cap space

Its really 46 – both Broberg and Rodrigue will slide – they’ve got room on the 50 – I think going in to the season with 48 non-slides is OK.

OriginalPouzar

Reja: I wanted Zegras hopefully because he’s a Duck he doesn’t torture me tobad in the coming years. I still can’t believe Lavoie fell to us. I’m calling it right now in 5 years on a redraft he goes top 7.

If Lavoie can add one more small gear to his skating and learn to “think the game” a bit better, he could be a massive steal. From listening to Staples/McCurdy last week, sounds like we saw the great and the bad during Development Camp – lots of skill but made weird plays not understanding the game (3 on 3).

Glovjuice

Victoria Oil: I would not shed a tear if it did kill basketball in Canada. I also don’t understand why so many ‘fairweather’ fans outside of Toronto care so much about the Raptors, a team made up of mostly Americans playing a sport that should mean very little compared to hockey. I’d rather put my energy behind one of our national teams in any sport, or a Brooke Henderson or one of our up + coming tennis players.

Agreed. I’d much rather put my energy into Genie Bouchard as well.

Genjutsu

OriginalPouzar:
Responding to the following from KingerOil

– you were clearly buying the bs that was being sold. That’s what they did: sold bags of goods then threw them under the bus and fans like you were screaming for his exit because he wasn’t Norris. he Jultz properly used was bottom pair D and 2nd pp with a muffin. That’s what a fan does: loyalty.

– there was nothing wrong with jultz. He wasn’t Norris nor should have the coach framed it as such. We have many d I. The system that will be better than Shultz

___________________

Yes, he should have been 3rd pairing and PP, as a rookie – defintely had potential to be more than that if properly developed – in fact, he has become more than that despite being throw to the wolves as an Oiler.

We have many D in the system that will be better than Shultz?I wonder who has bought the bag of goods? None of Jones, Bear, Lagesson, Persson, Kemp, Marino or Berglund project to be even what Shultz is (and he didn’t come close to reaching actual potential).

Bouchard is a good bet to surpass.

Broberg has MILES to go – he has the potential to surpass – no sure thing.

Same with Samorukov – no sure bet to even become an every day NHL d-man.

This is a measured and reasonable line of thinking. While it’s encouraging that we have later round pick that are developing nicely and are possible to project as possible options in the future it’s too early to say much on most of them yet.

Justin was a fine player and has proven himself by playing a significant role on championship teams.

He was mishandled by addled coaching and management decisions then, as too often the case, run out of town by toxic media and a damaged fanbase who focused on the players flaws.

Hopefully in the future decisions made by the powers that be and success will allow more positive vibes from fans and media. This will go along way to properly allowing players to develope and placing them in areas where they have the greatest chance to succeed when they arrive.

Coiler

Marleau could contribute to the team in goals but I think his presence would be felt more in the dressing room. Most of the kids in Toronto raved about him and what he brought to the dressing room and to practice every day.

If the ask was in the 1 to 1.5 million range I would take a chance on him.

Crazy Pedestrian

ArmchairGM: Thanks for that. He seems like a decent net-front PP guy, not sure he’s better suited to that role than Chiasson is though. Otherwise there’s not really any reason to pay the estimated $2.2M for him. I think I’d rather have Pominville at $1M + Sheahan at $1.3M instead.

The oilers are already at 48 contracts. (Sliding contracts withstanding)
They probably need to trade away a player to bring one in. Plus they are short on cap space

ArmchairGM

Walter Gretzkys Neighbour: Marleau looked behind the play a lot but could still make things happen at times. I don’t think he’s a good bet. But that’s just based on watching nothing in the was of real analysis.

Thanks for that. He seems like a decent net-front PP guy, not sure he’s better suited to that role than Chiasson is though. Otherwise there’s not really any reason to pay the estimated $2.2M for him. I think I’d rather have Pominville at $1M + Sheahan at $1.3M instead.

ArmchairGM

Looking at some game tape from the past season and Marleau isn’t slow although he isn’t a burner either. And Man! Brett Connolly was slagged for scoring 90% of his goals from within 10 feet if the net – which isn’t true anyhow – Marleau scores 90% of his goals from inside the crease. Great hands.

And most of his goals were scored in the 1st period, something the Oilers could use.

Walter Gretzkys Neighbour

ArmchairGM: Holland can afford both. But Marleau has always been known for his speed, has he lost a few steps recently? I don’t watch the Leafs at all so I really don’t know.

Marleau looked behind the play a lot but could still make things happen at times. I don’t think he’s a good bet. But that’s just based on watching nothing in the was of real analysis.

ArmchairGM

Numenius: Do you think Sheehan would be a better get than Marleau, if he’d come here?

Marleau would likely sign a small, one year contract and put up more points, but I don’t imagine he can pk or skate as fast.

Holland can afford both. But Marleau has always been known for his speed, has he lost a few steps recently? I don’t watch the Leafs at all so I really don’t know.

Spooky Lynx

Victoria Oil: I also don’t understand why so many ‘fairweather’ fans outside of Toronto care so much about the Raptors

Because it’s fun to watch a good team play an exciting sport.

No more, no less.

Victoria Oil

BONE207: I would say something that needs to be killed. I hope this hoopla doesn’t drive Leonard away. It might kill basketball in Canada.

I would not shed a tear if it did kill basketball in Canada. I also don’t understand why so many ‘fairweather’ fans outside of Toronto care so much about the Raptors, a team made up of mostly Americans playing a sport that should mean very little compared to hockey. I’d rather put my energy behind one of our national teams in any sport, or a Brooke Henderson or one of our up + coming tennis players.

BONE207

geowal:
The Kawhi story is just ridiculous, burning away whatever empathy with the Big Smoke was built with the championship. Toronto reminding us why we can never let the leafs win. What’s beyond insufferable?

I would say something that needs to be killed. I hope this hoopla doesn’t drive Leonard away. It might kill basketball in Canada.

flyfish1168: Goalies are a hard position to assess. Our Din the AHL and NHL was $hit and still $hit. I believe there is a correlation between Defence systems and how well our goalie performs. I believe the Phlegms have a better Defense than we do. I think it will be interesting to see who does better Smith versus Talbot. It may come down to Tippett’s system. We wait and see. I’m betting on Talbot having a better year.

It’s the Oiler way. Maybe if they play the vaunted 3-2-1 defensive system, we win the Cup.

BONE207

geowal:
The Kawhi story is just ridiculous, burning away whatever empathy with the Big Smoke was built with the championship. Toronto reminding us why we can never let the leafs win. What’s beyond insufferable?

I would say something that needs to be killed. I hope this hoopla doesn’t drive Leonard away. It might kill basketball in Canada.

Rube Foster

Bulging Twine:
Dzingel still not signed

Nice.

Appreciate your dedication.

Bulging Twine

Dzingel still not signed

Scungilli Slushy

Ryan: Look. We both know how this plays out.

Within the next two years, Zegras will put up 55 points in the NHL in a single season.

When this happens, the crowd will predictably turn on Broberg.

For sure, we’ll see who is winning more. That is all I care about. Cups Cups Cups. Cups Cups Cups.

Donkeys Zombies and Borgs may apply.

Reja

Ryan: Look. We both know how this plays out.

Within the next two years, Zegras will put up 55 points in the NHL in a single season.

When this happens, the crowd will predictably turn on Broberg.

I wanted Zegras hopefully because he’s a Duck he doesn’t torture me to bad in the coming years. I still can’t believe Lavoie fell to us. I’m calling it right now in 5 years on a redraft he goes top 7.

Material Elvis

jp: I’m really curious what HD numbers you have on Lagesson and where they came from.

outofhisass.com

Bulging Twine

Dzingel still isn’t signed, just checked

Bulging Twine

In 16-17 Sheahan had a Rieder like season not scoring until the final game of the season when he scored 2. That memory may be too much for Holland.

Numenius

Bruce McCurdy: A very interesting UFA, especially given the past history with both Holland & Jurco.

Do you think Sheehan would be a better get than Marleau, if he’d come here?

Marleau would likely sign a small, one year contract and put up more points, but I don’t imagine he can pk or skate as fast.

Glovjuice

BlacqueJacque: Quitting is really easy.You just stop.No joke, you just make up your mind one day to stop.

Tally up the costs – whether financial, mental, or the effects on your family – and then you’ll get the reasons you need to stop.

I’m about $15-20k ahead in money saved over the past 5 years.I spend more time with the family, I spend more time active.My wife is happier, my kids are happier, my liver is definitely happier (no joke – without quitting drinking, by not watching hockey I end up drinking a lot less and my blood work came back much better the first year I quit the team).

In every way that matters, quitting the Oilers has been good for me.The only drawback is that I have less to talk about with the guys at work.And after a few years away, I can pop in on this blog for a chat every now and then, or to throw out a trollish comment as I did just now, and not get hooked.I’ll probably disappear for a few years again now that free agency is over.

Hall of fame post.

Ryan

Scungilli Slushy: Good points

To me players like Bra and Sammy aren’t long shots to make the team, what is not known is their NHL potential.

I say this because players with NHL size, that can skate , have a rounded game, and are skilled aren’t the type that bust.

Jultz is a talented player that is fluid skating and is tall but always was defensively suspect, completely non physical in a tough league, and really skinny even for an NHL hockey player. The Pen’s site has him at 6’2” and 193. B B and S are all already there or more and Schultz is 28.

He didn’t or couldn’t address his strength issue (if you are that height and weight as an adult you don’t have NHL man strength (but might still be tough like Simmonds who has injuries now or a good player despite) and so is where he was and is, an offensive D that has to be sheltered.

It’s less an issue for forwards IMO because speed is critical. For D it is hard be because they have to play a more physical game and have to handle big forwards regardless. And that often means boards, where Jultz and Russell who is very small struggle. Forwards can choose to use speed and deception to avoid a big D like Chara for example. A D has to take what he gets.

Look. We both know how this plays out.

Within the next two years, Zegras will put up 55 points in the NHL in a single season.

When this happens, the crowd will predictably turn on Broberg.

Munny

rickithebear: Not that you would understand.
You are one of the 90% unable to coach a winning game.
Same tired uneducated response.
Lets go out and 290 GF.
No you silly boy.

C’mon Ricki. There is no excuse for treating other posters this way, not even Chemo.

Ryan

Bruce McCurdy: Wow, that is impressive.

Sheahan came up thru the Detroit Model, spent 1.5 years in Grand Rapids, then was in the NHL to stay from mid-way in 2013-14 season. Last 5 seasons he has played 79, 81, 80, 81 & 82 games.

Has averaged >2 minutes per game on the PK every year except 2016-17 when he was <1 minute. That same year he was a career worst 2-11-13 with a butt ugly -29. Anybody know what happened to him that year?

Even with the one ugly year, he is a career 149 points in 447 games = 27 points /82, not bad for bottom 6 which memory serves & his ice time confirms. A bit of PP scoring early in his career, since then mostly at evens.

A very interesting UFA, especially given the past history with both Holland & Jurco.

Bruce, I’m convinced.

GordieHoweHatTrick

LadiesloveSmid:
Bruce McCurdy,

Forgot about the Montoya trade.

4th for Montoya
5th for Hawkey
3rd for Petrovic
6th for Wideman

Caggiula for Manning
Letestu for Aberg
Talbot for Stolarz

Nothing to show from those trades. I remember when ‘well he botches the big trades but is solid on small deals, was our consolation for Chiarelli’

A pile of sand would have been a better GM for this team.

Bulging Twine

ArmchairGM: Yes. You should be doing it every 15 minutes.

Okay, thank you

Glovjuice

Kinger_Oil.redux: – Your blind spots are fun to observe…

“I think that Justin has Norris Trophy potential and I don’t think there are too many people who disagree with me in that regard”

– So finishing 10th once?Perhaps you are arguing sematic language.MacT had no clue what he was talking about…Your defense is others are taking his quote out of context:His take on Jultz was out to lunch, as is your defense of it…

All of the following have more “Norris potential” than Jultz, all are younger then he was, and have better pedigrees and skill, and tools then Shultz at none have been labelled as such:

Brah
Bouchard
Samu
Jones
Bear

Ah, um, Bear. No. Not even close. Can’t skate. Not even in the same ballpark as the others you list. Not to mention 2-time cup winner Shultz. This is foot massage vs. tounge in the holiest of holies level stuff.

Bruce McCurdy

Kinger_Oil.redux: – Shultz lite up the AHL on an all star line of nhlers during the strike as an older player.

It was not a strike, it was an owners’ lockout — the third, that cost hockey fans two half seasons & one full one.

There was one players’ strike back in 1992, and it lasted ten days. Unless you want to count the Hamilton Tigers’ strike of 1925.

Kinger_Oil.redux:
– He was drafted 2nd round then played in NHL 5 years later. Nothing in his pedigree was Norris potential not are his skills at anything

Schultz was drafted 43rd overall, with a pick Anaheim originally got from Edmonton in the Dustin Penner compensation package. Oddly that was at a time where there was a remarkable run of players with similar draft pedigree who *did* win the Norris Trophy:

2006, 07, 08: Nick Lidstrom, 53rd overall
2009: Zdeno Chara, 56th overall
2010: Duncan Keith, 54th overall
2011: Lidstrom
2012: Erik Karlsson, (15th overall)
2013: P.K. Subban, 43rd overall
2014: Keith

8 out of 9 after the Lost Season won by a guy (4 different ones) drafted between 43 & 56. A fifth, Shea Weber (49th overall) never won it but was a Norris finalist 3 times in 4 years in that same era.

It was the damnedest thing. Which has nothing to do with Schultz other than to say his draft pedigree was right on target with Norris winners around that time.

Material Elvis

OriginalPouzar:
Just sign and play Jesse.We can get back together:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BzgG2EmBzeS/?igshid=1fqfsbxul2knb

This is exactly what he needs to be practicing. He doesn’t have quick hands. The top stick handlers would do that drill twice as quick and with their eyes up. I’d like him to repost the same video after two months of practicing to assess his improvement.

Scungilli Slushy

OriginalPouzar:
Responding to the following from ScungilliSlushy:

He would be a fantastic addition to the top 6. I’ve always felt his game was under appreciated and I think he would be a fantastic mentor to all of the forward group. But I think he wants to go home.

_________________________

Damn, Calgary is the closest NHL city to Swift Current – not sure they can afford him – he’d be a fine middle 6 player for them.

Ha!

Scungilli Slushy

OriginalPouzar:
Responding to the following from KingerOil

– you were clearly buying the bs that was being sold. That’s what they did: sold bags of goods then threw them under the bus and fans like you were screaming for his exit because he wasn’t Norris. he Jultz properly used was bottom pair D and 2nd pp with a muffin. That’s what a fan does: loyalty.

– there was nothing wrong with jultz. He wasn’t Norris nor should have the coach framed it as such. We have many d I. The system that will be better than Shultz

___________________

Yes, he should have been 3rd pairing and PP, as a rookie – defintely had potential to be more than that if properly developed – in fact, he has become more than that despite being throw to the wolves as an Oiler.

We have many D in the system that will be better than Shultz?I wonder who has bought the bag of goods? None of Jones, Bear, Lagesson, Persson, Kemp, Marino or Berglund project to be even what Shultz is (and he didn’t come close to reaching actual potential).

Bouchard is a good bet to surpass.

Broberg has MILES to go – he has the potential to surpass – no sure thing.

Same with Samorukov – no sure bet to even become an every day NHL d-man.

Good points

To me players like Bra and Sammy aren’t long shots to make the team, what is not known is their NHL potential.

I say this because players with NHL size, that can skate , have a rounded game, and are skilled aren’t the type that bust.

Jultz is a talented player that is fluid skating and is tall but always was defensively suspect, completely non physical in a tough league, and really skinny even for an NHL hockey player. The Pen’s site has him at 6’2” and 193. B B and S are all already there or more and Schultz is 28.

He didn’t or couldn’t address his strength issue (if you are that height and weight as an adult you don’t have NHL man strength (but might still be tough like Simmonds who has injuries now or a good player despite) and so is where he was and is, an offensive D that has to be sheltered.

It’s less an issue for forwards IMO because speed is critical. For D it is hard be because they have to play a more physical game and have to handle big forwards regardless. And that often means boards, where Jultz and Russell who is very small struggle. Forwards can choose to use speed and deception to avoid a big D like Chara for example. A D has to take what he gets.

Reja

BlacqueJacque: Quitting is really easy.You just stop.No joke, you just make up your mind one day to stop.

Tally up the costs – whether financial, mental, or the effects on your family – and then you’ll get the reasons you need to stop.

I’m about $15-20k ahead in money saved over the past 5 years.I spend more time with the family, I spend more time active.My wife is happier, my kids are happier, my liver is definitely happier (no joke – without quitting drinking, by not watching hockey I end up drinking a lot less and my blood work came back much better the first year I quit the team).

In every way that matters, quitting the Oilers has been good for me.The only drawback is that I have less to talk about with the guys at work.And after a few years away, I can pop in on this blog for a chat every now and then, or to throw out a trollish comment as I did just now, and not get hooked.I’ll probably disappear for a few years again now that free agency is over.

If the Oilers make the playoffs and go on a run to the final, will you start watching and become a fan?

Bruce McCurdy

jp:
More to Sheahan and Jurco, just because.

They played 537 minutes together 5on5 from 13-14 to 15-16.

Sheahan P/60 – 2.12
Jurco P/60 – 1.56

CF% – 57.5%
FF% – 58.0%
SF% – 57.8%
GF% – 57.5%
xGF% – 53.7%
SCF% – 54.9%
HDCF% – 52.1%

Those are some beautiful results in a decent sample size.

Wow, that is impressive.

Sheahan came up thru the Detroit Model, spent 1.5 years in Grand Rapids, then was in the NHL to stay from mid-way in 2013-14 season. Last 5 seasons he has played 79, 81, 80, 81 & 82 games.

Has averaged >2 minutes per game on the PK every year except 2016-17 when he was <1 minute. That same year he was a career worst 2-11-13 with a butt ugly -29. Anybody know what happened to him that year?

Even with the one ugly year, he is a career 149 points in 447 games = 27 points /82, not bad for bottom 6 which memory serves & his ice time confirms. A bit of PP scoring early in his career, since then mostly at evens.

A very interesting UFA, especially given the past history with both Holland & Jurco.

ArmchairGM

Bulging Twine:
So is refreshing Capfriendly every 2 hours to see if Dzingel is signed yet a bad way to spend my summer?

Yes. You should be doing it every 15 minutes.

jp

Kinger_Oil.redux:
jp,

– you were clearly buying the bs that was being sold. That’s what they did: sold bags of goods then threw them under the bus and fans like you were screaming for his exit because he wasn’t Norris. he Jultz properly used was bottom pair D and 2nd pp with a muffin. That’s what a fan does: loyalty.

– there was nothing wrong with jultz. He wasn’t Norris nor should have the coach framed it as such. We have many d I. The system that will be better than Shultz

Kinger, you’re assuming a lot about me right now. There were a lot of very tangible things (many of which I’ve listed) that projected Schultz to be an excellent NHL defenseman. Essentially every NHL team pursued him as a FA and the entire hockey world expected him to be high level plug and play. You’re applying revisionist history if you don’t acknowledge that. No bs was being sold, at least not at that point and not by the Oilers.

MacTs Norris comments happened 2 years later and had zero bearing on those original expectations (and he was GM, not coach at the time).

In the NHL Schultz was played over his head and performed very very poorly for the Edmonton Oilers. I’m not sure anyone bought the Norris bs at the time it was delivered.

I wasn’t among those screaming for his exit, but I felt it was time to move on. The criticism of Schultz was due his performance on the ice far far more than it was about anything MacT or other Oiler managers said.

Bringing current Oilers D prospects into this is pointless.

OriginalPouzar

Responding to the following from ScungilliSlushy:

He would be a fantastic addition to the top 6. I’ve always felt his game was under appreciated and I think he would be a fantastic mentor to all of the forward group. But I think he wants to go home.

_________________________

Damn, Calgary is the closest NHL city to Swift Current – not sure they can afford him – he’d be a fine middle 6 player for them.

OriginalPouzar

Responding to the following from KingerOil

– you were clearly buying the bs that was being sold. That’s what they did: sold bags of goods then threw them under the bus and fans like you were screaming for his exit because he wasn’t Norris. he Jultz properly used was bottom pair D and 2nd pp with a muffin. That’s what a fan does: loyalty.

– there was nothing wrong with jultz. He wasn’t Norris nor should have the coach framed it as such. We have many d I. The system that will be better than Shultz

___________________

Yes, he should have been 3rd pairing and PP, as a rookie – defintely had potential to be more than that if properly developed – in fact, he has become more than that despite being throw to the wolves as an Oiler.

We have many D in the system that will be better than Shultz? I wonder who has bought the bag of goods? None of Jones, Bear, Lagesson, Persson, Kemp, Marino or Berglund project to be even what Shultz is (and he didn’t come close to reaching actual potential).

Bouchard is a good bet to surpass.

Broberg has MILES to go – he has the potential to surpass – no sure thing.

Same with Samorukov – no sure bet to even become an every day NHL d-man.

leadfarmer

OriginalPouzar,

I think his tongue spent one frame in his mouth

Scungilli Slushy

Jaxon:
The more I think about it the more I like Marleau at $2.2M for 1 year. He’s still fast, he played 16:20 or game last year and he had 16 goals and 37 points. Sounds like a great fit on a coming home to the prairies at the end of his career kind of deal. The only issue is I’m sure he’d like to go to a contender.

He would be a fantastic addition to the top 6. I’ve always felt his game was under appreciated and I think he would be a fantastic mentor to all of the forward group. But I think he wants to go home.

Pouzar

I like some of the bottom 6 suggestions today with an eye on penalty killing. We couldn’t do worse than last years group of bottom 6 skaters so may as roll the dice with speed and PK competency.

Scungilli Slushy

BlacqueJacque: Quitting is really easy.You just stop.No joke, you just make up your mind one day to stop.

Tally up the costs – whether financial, mental, or the effects on your family – and then you’ll get the reasons you need to stop.

I’m about $15-20k ahead in money saved over the past 5 years.I spend more time with the family, I spend more time active.My wife is happier, my kids are happier, my liver is definitely happier (no joke – without quitting drinking, by not watching hockey I end up drinking a lot less and my blood work came back much better the first year I quit the team).

In every way that matters, quitting the Oilers has been good for me.The only drawback is that I have less to talk about with the guys at work.And after a few years away, I can pop in on this blog for a chat every now and then, or to throw out a trollish comment as I did just now, and not get hooked.I’ll probably disappear for a few years again now that free agency is over.

Being an Oilers fan has given me thrills over the years that are hard to come by legally.

The Cups, Gretzky rewriting the record book, the day Connor McDavid was drafted.

It has given me profound disappointment, when Gretzky was traded, then messier, Steve Smith’s own goal, Roloson getting injured, Sekera getting injured.

The losing has lead to me learning more about hockey and than I didn’t realize I didn’t know. It lead to an explosion of thought by Oiler fans because the team was so frustrating. Where would hockey stats be without that? I think a decade back or possibly in obscurity for even longer.

If you like sports it’s been quite a ride. Imagine being a Canucks, Flames or Leaf fan. That would make me give it all up.

Kinger_Oil.redux

jp,

– you were clearly buying the bs that was being sold. That’s what they did: sold bags of goods then threw them under the bus and fans like you were screaming for his exit because he wasn’t Norris. he Jultz properly used was bottom pair D and 2nd pp with a muffin. That’s what a fan does: loyalty.

– there was nothing wrong with jultz. He wasn’t Norris nor should have the coach framed it as such. We have many d I. The system that will be better than Shultz

Bulging Twine

So is refreshing Capfriendly every 2 hours to see if Dzingel is signed yet a bad way to spend my summer?

Scungilli Slushy

LadiesloveSmid: I’m guessing McLellan switched up KR’s elite tactics.

Went from 1.68 5v5 GA/60 in 2016/17 to 2.67 in 17/18

PDO aside

If you read Playfair’s interview which makes me hopeful, his ask of the players is going to fit Russell and Larsson very well.

He’s about taking good ice and leaving bad ice which is how Russell defends. Take away cross ice seams and limit rebounds. Also short passes out of the zone with forward support. A proper team breakout we haven’t seen in honks.

The previous regime wanted every forward to immediately score more than was realistic and every D to be Karlsson or Scott Stevens and take people’s heads off.

I also see Benning doing better because he can move the puck and if he’s looking to take good ice and not to take heads off, he might be more even defensively and not get caught so much.

Nurse might be asked to use his reach and positioning and perhaps won’t run around too much.

Playfair also said that aren’t going to be punished if playing the system doesn’t always work, other players are good and sometimes they’ll get the better. But he asks the D to keep doing it and try again.

I believe McL and Hitch while being good coaches psyched players, especially developing players, out. We saw so many guys crater it’s no coincidence IMO.

Hard is fine, but there is an art in it especially as players change over time. Be firm and ask and ask, if a guy can’t do it given time them get a different player, but skip the blender, AHL yo-yo, and cutting TOI after 3 shifts.