The idea is to have a lush farm system that produces a quality crop every season. Of course, after a time that system delivers so much talent the hockey club goes on a series of deep runs, thereby making it difficult to sustain the farm. Late picks, traded picks, a team like the 1980’s Oilers or the current Pittsburgh Penguins mortgaged some or much of the future to keep riding the wave.
Since Connor McDavid arrived in 2015, how many good or great crops has this team produced?
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 Lowetide: Ken Holland’s roster construction options for the Oilers over the next seven months.
- New Lowetide: Kailer Yamamoto has the talent to win a job with the Oilers on merit, if he’s healthy.
- Jonathan Willis: Jesse Puljujarvi still has upside and the Oilers’ patient approach is the right one
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: Q&A: Dave Tippett on rounding out his coaching staff, fixing Oilers’ special teams and using Connor McDavid
- Lowetide: Handicapping the Oilers’ young defencemen and their chances of replacing Andrej Sekera
- Lowetide: Is Kirill Maksimov progressing as the Edmonton Oilers’ next great hope for a true homegrown sniper?
- Jonathan Willis: Oilers ease pressure on crowded defensive pipeline by trading John Marino to the Penguins
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: What the 2021-22 Oilers might look like after their steady build toward contender status
- Lowetide: Joel Persson is ideally situated to win an opening night roster spot with the Oilers
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: What the 2019-20 Oilers might look like without trade missteps.
- Lowetide: Finding the best candidates for the final two spots on the Oilers skill lines in 2019-20.
- Jonathan Willis: Projecting the Oilers’ opening night lineup, line combinations and more.
- Lowetide: Does the James Neal acquisition impact Oilers’ prospects in 2019-20?
- Lowetide: Oilers’ acquisition of James Neal could add badly needed scoring to the top two lines.
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: Ken Holland puts his stamp on the Oilers with first big move in Lucic-Neal trade
- Jonathan Willis: Ken Holland ends an ugly situation for the Oilers by trading Milan Lucic for James Neal
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: Potential free-agent options for the Oilers in 2020
- Jonathan Willis: Which Oilers defencemen can make an outlet pass?
- Lowetide: Looking ahead to Oilers training camp: 35 players for 23 jobs
- Jonathan Willis: Josh Archibald won’t fix the Oilers’ biggest problems, but he’ll help with some key issues.
- Lowetide: Will the 2019-20 Bakersfield Condors be the Oilers’ best minor-league team ever?
- Lowetide: Oilers top 20 prospects summer 2019.
2014-15 Entry Contracts
8 deals, 794 games: Leon Draisaitl (351), Jujhar Khaira (154), Jordan Oesterle (151), Iiro Pakarinen (134), Dillon Simpson (3), Bogdan Yakimov (1), Kellen Jones, Mitchell Moroz. Draisaitl scored 50 goals last season, he has now passed from quality forward to impact player. Khaira and Oesterle seem destined to pass 245 games, that’s three full NHL seasons. I think this was a quality crop.
2015-16 Entry Contracts
9 deals, 668 games: Connor McDavid (287), Darnell Nurse (279), Anton Slepyshev (102), Eetu Laurikainen, Joey Laleggia, Kyle Platzer, Greg Chase, Braden Christoffer, Ben Betker. The motherlode, McDavid is the strongest trump card in the world, leveling entire cities in a single bound. Nurse has emerged as a bona fide NHL player. Both men should clear 1,000 games if injury doesn’t impact them. Impact crop.
2016-17 Entry Contracts
6 deals, 532 games: Matt Benning (205), Drake Caggiula (182), Jesse Puljujarvi (139), Patrick Russell (6), Nick Ellis, Jere Sallinen. Benning, Caggiula and Puljujarvi should have careers of reasonable length (500 games?) and credit to the Oilers for getting two college free agents in what was a down draft season. Puljujarvi’s potential is substantial, the story hasn’t been written either way. I wrote about JP in The Athletic this morning.
2017-18 Entry Contracts
6 deals, 50 games: Ethan Bear (18), Caleb Jones (17), Joe Gambardella (15), Ryan Mantha, Shane Starrett, Ziyat Paigin. It was a quiet year, although Kailer Yamamoto did get into nine games not listed here. I think all three players who are counters here have a chance to become legit NHL players.
2018-19 Entry Contracts
9 deals, 32 games: Kailer Yamamoto (26), Cooper Marody (6), Tyler Benson, William Lagesson, Nolan Vesey, Stuart Skinner, Cameron Hebig, Dylan Wells, Tyler Vesel. This should be a successful crop, with three fine forwards and Lagesson on defense. Might take a couple of years to get rolling, though.
2019-20 Entry Contracts
8 deals, 7 games: Evan Bouchard (7), Joel Persson, Dmitri Samorukov, Kirill Maksimov, Ostap Safin, Ryan McLeod, Gaetan Haas, Logan Day. There’s a chance this becomes the best crop since 2015. Three substantial defensemen, some speed at center and a couple of scoring wingers. Evan some draft pedigree from Bouchard.
JAY WOODCROFT’S CONDORS 2019-20
Goalies: Shane Starrett [.918], Dylan Wells [.909], Stuart Skinner [.879]
Defense: Caleb Jones [23] and Evan Bouchard [31]; Dmitri Samorukov [20] and Joel Persson [30]; William Lagesson [16] and Ethan Bear [24]; Keegan Lowe [12] and Logan Day [24].
Forwards: Tyler Benson [39], Cooper Marody [44], Patrick Russell [31]; Joe Gambardella [38], Josh Currie [31], Kirill Maksimov [29]; Joakim Nygard [33], Ryan McLeod [26], Kailer Yamamoto [27]; Ostap Safin[17], Brad Malone [23], Cam Hebig [18]; Nolan Vesey [7].
This should be the best Oilers AHL team in almost two decades. Woodcroft is about to graduate a large number of Condors to the NHL.
What about bringing him up and playing him on the 3rd pairing?
Lots of players have great AHL success that does not translate to the NHL.
Once he checks the “NHL player” box and shows success on the 3rd pairing, some time in the 2nd pairing before trading the incumbents would be a good idea, no?
and once they prove, not only to be NHL ready but to be legit top 4 NHL players, incumbent top 4 players can be moved.
You don’t buy bitcoin, you have people send you coins. Set up a ransomware platform and away you go. Pseudo currency designed by hackers and cybercriminals for use by hackers and cybercriminals. What could possibly go wrong with that?
Being NHL ready based on AHL results and trading a Klefbom because of AHL results are not quite the same.
Please, if you are going to make personal remarks on me, try and understand the post you are responding to.
It was posited that one of Klef or Nurse could be traded if someone like Samorukov proves to be top 4 NHL ready by his play in the AHL.
There are many players that have great success in the AHL and it doesn’t translate – absolutely great play in the AHL is a good indicator and should lead to the call-up and an NHL spot – likely on the third pairing and, once that box is checked, move up.
Trading one of Nurse/Klef because Samorukov is killing it in the AHL is a bit premature, in my mind.
IIRC, back in November when he was struggling the team had given him permission to “seek out a trade”. I guess its not quite “asking for a trade” but I think at the time he was looking to move on.
Buy Bitcoin
You almost, very nearly, have the essence of it except that OP believes that preseason play means … NOTHING!!!! But don’t give up hope Juice, I have a feeling that you have cracked a tough nut or two if that ever becomes a concern.
Makes no sense to trade cost controlled starters for pennies on the dollar some real strange moves by the Boo Jays
Note I said mentor not babysit!
I keep hearing you say that Nurse will price himself out of what the Oilers can pay. You also say that the team can not promote an AHL player until he has proven himself in the NHL. Please tell me how in blazes you propose this is done with your hardline requirements. What you propose is not possible. You can not have it both ways. With your requirements no player would get promoted. You make broad based statements that are preposterous.
Ugh!!! I believe LT was questioning this trade the other day. That banging sound you hear is my head hitting the wall.
OK so who sits so Samorukov can get the top four minutes to show he is ready, Nurse or Klefbom? At some point the decision would or will have to be made. In replacing a bonafide player with an unproven player is a fact of life.
Kelfbom injured again how many times have we heard that.Oilers have some puck movers chomping at the bit who will be on the cheap and hopefully not made of glass.
But, you say, NHL pre-season does not mean anything in proving NHL readiness. You are one tough nut to crack, dude. Are you saying that plus AHL play must lead to solid NHL pre-season play followed by good real games in the NHL = NHL ready.
Doc was traded in the offseason of 2010 he pitched a perfect game in May then followed it up with a no-hitter in the postseason. This was Sanchez first start after being traded.
what intel do you reference re: Kassian asking for a trade ?
There is the historical problem with this team – “by his play in the AHL” – this must be changed to “by his play in the NHL”. The former is hoping the spot can be filled without knowing and, frankly, one cannot prove to be top 4 NHL ready via AHL play.
This is somewhat avoiding the question but what I think is reasonable does not necessarily equate to what Nurse and his agent think are reasonable.
Horcoff’s wife is going to need a bigger kitchen having all the kids over for dinner….
Didn’t Halliday throw a no hitter in his first playoff game after getting traded by the jays?
Would the Oilers entertain trading Klefbom if they felt that :
A. Nurse could handle first pairing minutes
B. Samorukov has proven he is ready for top four D by his play in the AHL
What do you consider fair for both sides on:
1. a five year deal
2. an eight year deal
The cost of buying UFA years is always high. What do you believe his top level is, a first or second pairing D?
It is my opinion that each drafted player should have a mentor assigned to him. One person could mentor more than one drafted player. The ideal would be 7 mentors with each mentoring one player each year. The mentor would be responsible for all things associated with the newly drafted players adjustment to the pro environment. This would assure that all drafted players have a person from the organization they can communicate their concerns to. Given the value of drafted players, this seems to be a minimum requirement. This individual would be responsible for setting up a training regimen complete with areas to work on and a way to measure results.
The Oilers aren’t going to trade one of their two impact defensemen. The Oilers pretty much have not been able to win a hockey game with Klefbom injured or out of the lineup in the last four seasons.
That has to be a first in MLB history that a traded pitcher throws a combined no- hitter in his first start.
Yes. It makes sense Because Klef has a great contract and Nurse has some unique skills from all the d group that it could be the former if one of the others can complement a top4 with nurse and 2 others
If Nurse comes out of the gate which l think he will l believe Tippett is going to do wonders for him. Extension will happen without drama later this season and I’m guessing 6.5x 5yrs front loaded.
Even when Kass was on the ropes with Todd and the team I would venture that these comments were definitely not directed at Mama Kass
Healthy for whom?
Well, at the time, it was Lucic and Kassian that had asked for trades….
Unfortunaley he was allowed to run the on ice team that got us those high draft picks.
Winning high draft picks is a testament to incompetence, not to being good.
One of nurse, kelfbom or Larsson will be gone by this time next year my guess would be Kelfbom. I think Nurse will sign a healthy 5 year deal after Christmas.
Holland has cut bait on Jesse awhile back and rightfully so. With Lucic and Jesse gone I expect to see a more unified team with everyone buying in to Mr. Tippett game plan. When our Captain and Leon as well said shit are get off the pot which teammates was this directed at?
Broberg has a huge championship winning dmen flaw.
The number of times he was 4th skater back defending the HD area is fucking awful.
I suspect a Holland Run team will coach that out of him.
As Holland, Tippett, Playfair will try to do with Nurse & Klefbom.
“4 and 5 attacking but only when no def risk”
Gives them a couple years to see whether they can learn!
Our best crops:
2014: MacT GM
#3 Draisaitl
#99 Lagesson – our best complete even Dman prospect post 05-06 lockout.
2015: MacT GM
Won the lottery.
#1 Mcdavid – the best player in the game per nhl players 2 do 3 seasons.
#16 Barzal – PC traded MacT pick.
Can you imagine the team IF MacT was allowed to run the draft.
MacT in place for 15-16
We would have.
Slepyshev-Mcdavid- Draisaitl
Pouliot #56 PKF- RNH-Eberle
Hall- Barzal – Purcell
Lander-Hendricks #125 PKF – Pakarinen #80 PKF
Klefbom – Fayne
Nurse- Schultz
Davidson- Hunt
Talbot – trade aranged by MacT for petry & Hemsky trade picks.
MacT/Bucky would later arrange signing of Benning and Caggulia.
Had already established a Col UFA history.
This was a GM that did not Know what he was doing?
Fuck that!
Cup core roster:
1. We needed to exchange the coach.
To a 3-2-1 HD def sys coach like Gallant, Tippett, Deboer
2. Top 10 open HD save% goalie
Talbot
3. 3+ top 60 HD Dman
Fayne 1st comp
Benning 2nd comp
Davidson 3rd comp
Nurse if not chasing 3-1-1-1. The same is true today for Nurse.
4. A top team in 125 fwd depth.
That would have been the kind of off depth that allowed us to out score.
5. +ve goal dif special teams PP/PK
PKF unit 1 and 2 for sure.
PPF 1A
Mcdavid – Draisaitl – RNH – Eberle
PPF 1B
Mcdavid – Draisaitl – Hall – Barzal
This is not revisionist history.
This is what MacT would have acquired.
End of PC’ s reign
We had
Draisaitl – Mcdavid – Chaisson
Lucic – RNH – Kassian
Khaira – Spooner – Reider
– Brodziak –
Puljujarvi would ask for trade. Based on 2.6 seasons under PC
Nurse – Larsson
Sekera – Russell
Klefbom – Benning
Manning – Persson
Koskinen
Top 125 even fwd
16-17
13 evg 53 C 38LW. 37RW
30 Evp 64 C 37LW 34RW
18-19
15 evg 53C 38LW 36RW
33 Evp 62C 29LW 36RW
126/3 =42
18-19
#42c 18 evg Mcdavid 31, RNH 19
#42LW 13 evg Chaisson 13 evg,
#42RW 14 evg, Draisaitl 31, Kassian 14, Archibald 12, Granlund 10 all top 62 RW
17-18
Khaira #59 LW with Pacioretty, Steen, Butakovsky, B. Pouliot.
Right, not happening. #Oilers
Props, bang on.
That can’t be right. Isn’t that what competent teams do? 😉
I see one or both of Klef and Nurse going in the next few years. Not that they aren’t worth keeping, but age, contract values, and that those bubbling under may also be better players. Nurse has the fisticuffs that might give him an edge.
I have sincerely reflected on the matter.
Yes, I am going to go with that.
I’m not so sure – seems like a bit of a stretch:
– for one, management has changed so, what’s been done in the org in the past doesn’t really matter much
– the only real NHL example of this has been Russell and that was kind of out of necessity. I guess not finding a real 2RD year over year could give credence to your theory but I think it was more of a “easier said than done”
– sounds like Broberg has played some right side (as he has the last few games) but I doubt that was a factor in him being drafted – I think Holland wanted the player because he has the potential to be elite and is built for the current NHL game. So far the kid has looked great – he is indeed dominant against his peer group as Godot mentions.
pts2pndr,
I’m not trying to blame anyone.
OP posted that Chia traded Spooner for Gagner.
Chia was fired Jan 23 2019
The Gagner Spooner trade was made Feb 16 2019 so obviously Chia didn’t do that trade.
Keith Gretzky was the Acting GM. Maybe another Oiler manager made the deal.
I have no idea why you are upset, have a great day.
That is the glass half full way of looking at it. There is a nagging felling in me that believes they still haven’t fully bought into the math that shows D are better playing their strong side.
Really! You are going to go with that.
It is unfair and disingenuous to lay this on Gretzky. He got caught in a pissing contest between a coach that refused to play Strome on the wing and a GM who was one the ropes.
Can’t remember exactly but they also lost a couple picks in that time window for the bullshit “talking to Chiarelli” and some other similar nonsense. I think it was for hiring McLellan. How ironic really two not great decisions (Chiarelli & McLellan) with an even greater negative impact (lose two picks). A rule that once the Oilers were screwed out of two draft picks, was immediately erased…
I am rooting for JP, but if you are Holland you do not reward bad behaviour. If you are Holland you have to stay firm in what is right, you can not set a precedence that anyone is more valuable than the team. The JP group should have kept their desire to be moved private. That would have it made it incumbent on the GM to honour the request to maintain team credibility on their treatment of players. Once JP’s camp went public it decreased the managers bargaining position so all bets are off. JP and or his agent went all in on a pair of deuces and I am an Oiler fan that believes at this time you set a president and let him sit. No one wether it be player, coach or manager is more important than the team!
My fantasy of holding on to Jesse signing and being at camp really seems to be, just that, fantasy. Holland being interviewed in Plymouth and asked about Jesse – said nothing has changed. We’ll work the phones alot the next few weeks but, if nothing materializes, Europe is probably his only option.
Wow Broberg has grown another inch in the last month, now over 6’4″ according to Holland.