If the Edmonton Oilers do sign Derick Brassard, it makes the 23-man roster far easier to project. Jujhar Khaira can move back to the wing, Kyle Brodziak and Colby Cave can fight for the No. 4 center job, and Cooper Marody can focus on making the team in multiple positions.
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: Oilers end summer still shy on first-shot scoring wingers
- Lowetide: Connor McDavid and optimal line chemistry: The Oilers need to abandon enforcer fixation and add a skill winger
- Lowetide: Jesse Puljujarvi’s biggest hurdles: Bad timing and the indifference of the Oilers.
- Lowetide: Projecting the Oilers 2019-20 Opening Night Lineup
- Lowetide: Revisiting the Oilers’ 2016 draft and the opportunities missed
- Lowetide: Examining the potential waiver-wire opportunities at hand for the Oilers
- Lowetide: Cooper Marody’s utility gives him an edge for an Oilers roster spot in 2019-20
- Lowetide: Ken Holland’s roster construction options for the Oilers over the next seven months.
- 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
- Jonathan Willis: Projecting the Oilers’ opening night lineup, line combinations and more.
- 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
- 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: Oilers top 20 prospects summer 2019.
PROJECTED ROSTER
Leon Draisaitl—Connor McDavid—Zack Kassian
James Neal—Ryan Nugent-Hopkins—Alex Chiasson
Markus Granlund—Derick Brassard—Josh Archibald
Jujhar Khaira—Kyle Brodziak—Sam Gagner
Colby Cave, Joakim Nygard
Oscar Klefbom—Adam Larsson
Darnell Nurse—Matt Benning
Kris Russell—Joel Persson
Caleb Jones
Mikko Koskinen (Mike Smith)
Brassard is an interesting player, and would definitely give Dave Tippett options. He isn’t a complete player (13:19 a night at evens, 1:35 on the power play but only five seconds on the PK) and his numbers have been eroding. He’s 48.1 percent on the dot.
So Brassard would get third line minutes and maybe second PP work. Could he score 15? Could he saw off the competition at 50 percent possession? That would be the ask, or the expectation. It’s a lot based on his 2018-19 season.
MORE JESSE
It’s on like Donkey Kong now, tweets and takes landing haymakers from the turnbuckle on young JP. I wrote a thread with a theory on twitter yesterday, idea being maybe there’s a deal already out there and this is the way (from the player side) to pressure Ken Holland.
I hope people understand he’s 21, and maybe remember when they were 21. Jesse Puljujarvi is doing what he thinks is best for his career, he is trying to find a better place in the sun. It’s going to be a difficult road for him now. He has no welcome signs should he return to Edmonton, and control over the coming season is in the hands of a manager known to slow play personnel decisions. He’ll get buried in this town, but not by me. I remember 21.
LOWDOWN WITH LOWETIDE
A fun, busy morning on TSN1260 beginning at 10. Bruce McCurdy from the Cult of Hockey at the Edmonton Journal has first lash, and we’ll discuss the Brassard and Puljujarvi stories. Chris Abbott from OddsShark.com will also be by to talk college football, CFL and NFL. 10-1260 text, @Lowetide twitter, all 90 minutes away!
New for The Athletic: Oilers coach Dave Tippett might have to take drastic action in order to find a second outscoring line in 2019-20
https://theathletic.com/1154077/2019/08/22/oilers-coach-dave-tippett-might-have-to-take-drastic-action-in-order-to-find-a-second-outscoring-line-in-2019-20/
I thought the most exciting news of the day was that Haas was at the airport, on his way to Edmonton?
Kassian should easily manage 34 if he stays with McDavid, no? 45 point pace in the 2nd half.
And Gagner always scores in that range (or rate). 50 points in 16-17 (we can ignore that). 74 games/31 points in 17-18. 34P/82. Last season 32 games/13 points. 33P/82. It wouldn’t be a stretch at all.
It will be tough to go from 4 to 6 players with 34, but individually each player could easily do it.
And it’s literally the slowest period of the offseason where the most exciting news is finding out who Derrick Brassard signs with.
Oh well. I guess some would rather have no conversation than some off topic conversations.
George XS:
Top 6 is a reference to even play.
Scoring is diffrent than pointing.
So you are looking at top 6 even goal production.
I looked at Pacific and Central rosters.
As well I presented the evg numbers for #31, #62, #93 C, LW, RW.
So looking at top 6 #62 higher evg forward on our team.
Drai #2 RW
Mcd #2C
RNH #31 C
Neal normally #15 LW
Kassian #37 RW
Chaisson #44 RW
Archibald #51RW
Granlund #60 LW
That is 8.
Jurco 1.02 evg/60 600+ min at this rate is top 60 winger.
Bag of Pucks,
Side,
You guys did, and I, for one, enjoyed reading it.
I thought we had a good adult debate. Respectful, civil and informative.
I guess I didn’t get the memo on how everyone is supposed to agree on everything now. Kum-ba-ya.
Not quite as annoying as self appointed forum police who don’t skip posts.
That one stood out for me.
And I would like to echo Munny’s remark. Excellent work the last few days and much appreciated.
Scungilli Slushy,
I don’t disagree with that. And I don’t mind your Mendoza line of must-be-clearly-better-than-what-we-have. Nice standard, in fact.
But I am concerned with the incumbent players’ reading of breaking TC with Marody at 3C and I think Old Dutch is too. I think Holland has little choice but to find better than a Marody-bet for that slot. At least we both know Brassard ain’t that guy.
I don’t think this is a lost season, it can be a good one.
I’m fine bringing in a player better than Marody and if possible do it .
I was getting at bringing in declining players that actually aren’t more helpful than Marody, and have no upside and won’t contribute more in the now. Use the at bats for future benefit if the short term results are equal . Of course it’s hard to predict if the results will be equal , but if the right things are in place risk is mitigated. Such as killing the AHL, having some bat and skill.
Scungilli Slushy,
I get your point, and think it is a reasonable stance.
What happens will probably somewhat depend on what Holland thinks of this coming season (actually thinks, not publically states). Is it a lost season before leaving the starting blocks? Then yes. invest in the future. (And I think that is precisely what you’re saying).
However I think there is some danger to that strategy, culture-wise.
Personally, I’d try to get a Sheahan or Eakin or Boyle or someone of that ilk onto the roster and debut Marody on the wing in a position with less consequence and responsibility. And hopefully over time, he steals the 3C’s lunch money.
Draisaitl played 82gm 1483 EVTOI
18:05 per game.
He had 888 with Mcd.
As previous yr check on past Nat stat pairs.
And
Some have recently commented.
890 min is a fair limit for range
10:51 of wing play on Mcd line
590 min playing 3C has fair impact
7:12 3C per game
Clearly covers 590/992 59.5% of 3C play.
End up with primary ( greater than 50% of avg position evTOI) play from
Drai #1W
Mcdavid #1C
RNH #2C
Drai #3C almost Every game.
These three should see large EVTOI and PP.
No PK.
How many players are a starting winger & center every game?
Georgexs,
There are four teams on your list who managed to improve the number of top 6 scoring forwards by two players YOY, so it’s not impossible. Neal didn’t manage to be one last year but with different deployment, I don’t think he’s an unreasonable bet. The tough bit is imagining where the 6th player will come from.
Edit:
This analysis you’ve presented over the past few days has been excellent. Thank you for posting it.
True, to me is a top tier AHL skill player who is more than a goal suck going to be less effective than a lower tier NHL player?
To me they are going to do the same thing for the team, one has at least some potential upside.
Being a vet and still not getting things done at a head above water level doesn’t help. This has been the Oilers for years, acquiring players like that and finding they still suck as a team.
I’d invest in youth for a similar outscored player. Same result in the short term.
The caveat is the young player has the jam to do what it takes physically. To not be intimidated. Any player not willing to do that shouldn’t be in the NHL outside of elite skills.
I read an article this summer might have been Matheson or Cult of Hockey that stated that Jesse Puljujarvi was running into his own players during the power play to the point where it was leading to goals against. Was one of the reason some of the players didn’t want him on the PP.
The coaches would spend hours explaining how they wanted him to play, driving to the net for example, and he would go out and do it once or twice and then revert back to his usual playing style.
If a player is not going to follow directions they are going to ride the bench alot.
I think he’s a great kid with skills and size but very stubborn.
I know playing time and which line you are playing versus results can be a chicken and egg thing but I have never believed in the old Mantra that a player has to play with specific other players to get results. If the key to unlocking Jesse is playing 20 minutes a game with McDavid and Draisaitl you can be certain that about 900 other players in the NHL believe that as well.
I hold no ill will for the player or the team in this situation. It’s just sad to see all that potential go to waste.
It wasn’t Laraque who tweeted them was it??
I like them too though (IF THEY’RE REAL!).
I look at our roster and I posted a fair distribution of
Mcdavids 1460 x 2 winger minutes
RNH (900 – 1270) x 2 winger minutes depending if RNH plays any wing this year.
Draisaitl s 590 x 2 3C minutes. 7:12 per game would be intelligent usage.
Drai players 10:51 per game at wing.
When we look at wingers best evg/60 in last 3 years.
Draisaitl 1.25
Neal 1.15
Jurco 1.02
Granlund .98
Gagner .95
Archibald .89
Khaira .80
Kassian .79
Chaisson .78
Their is veteran Winger evg potential with even 1C caliber slotting on
Mcdavids, RNH, Draisaitl 3C minutes wings.
Holland has made JP and all the AHL prospect moot pts.
Winning coaches like to roll veteran forwards who have shown top caliber production
And
Trustable positional Play.
There were some great points in this thread so I’m not going to delete anything. Please please please try to refrain from making a mess, though. Okay? I have been busy all afternoon and evening, just happened by. As I said, some great points and some rage that might have been deleted by authors. That said, great stuff overall.
Reja,
How Sather kept turning nothing into something was amazing. Truly was OC, Opposite Chia.
August 21,1981 Edmonton Oilers trade the rights of Don Murdoch to the Minnesota North Stars for
Don Jackson and a 1982 3rd round pick #59 overall (Wally Chapman)
sucks… on a boat?
😉
(because of the implication)
As an aside, the new jerseys actually look pretty cool.
When they’re official and in full uniform I think there will be a much better reception.
Mike Smith’s new pads are outrageously dangerous. Slick!
Well, we don’t know if Marody is as good as Brassard is today at the NHL level. Or at least I sure don’t. I’d put Brassard at about Gagner’s level. With a chance at being worse.
He’s not strong defensively, not strong in the dot, isn’t a RH shot, declining offense and doesn’t PK. I don’t think he’s a good fit.
I think he was talking about Jesse’s arrogance.
I think it’s just the implication and fuel for the 31 other teams to use to perpetuate “Edmonton Sucks”.
Completely.
At this point is he any better than Marody? Why play vets that get outplayed over your own that will get outplayed but have upside?
Is he a better centre than Gagner?
The only outside players I want, are better than the incumbents and playesr in the system, and aren’t expensive UFAs whom rarely work out, at least for long, because their best days are behind them in hockey.
I believe if players can be evaluated well, teaching and having patience will bring the biggest payoff.
The Oilers haven’t been able to do anything like that in ages and the results speak for themselves. And is reflected in the average fan’s opinions of the players.
Other teams don’t have better as much as they have done better, which makes players look better.
Holland is right in that stability and culture drive almost everything in NHL success to summize his talk so far.The playing field is so level in a capped league. No league is unscouted and all teams use stats, smart teams pay attention to them.
Culture (team attitude) and development are the real advantages. Forming what you have (getting ideal players is not freely available these days) into something helpful is probably the only thing not dependent on other teams, your competitors.
The real cost of Yak and JP is not dollars, it’s the burnt high draft picks that normally pay out in a quality player. Often impact player in the top 5. Yak’s draft year was a weak one for forwards admittedly.
He is responding to you calling him arrogant. Also a personal shot.
Made me smile too,
Thank you. 😀
And with that, I’m stopping before I stumble by typing something regrettable. Good night all!
Wow, personal shots reeking of resentment.
Please tell me how any of that is in any way related to telling another person they are wrong because they have a different opinion?
Feel free to talk about the gifts on you life if you can do so without disparaging others for having differing opinions.
You & jp in bed together.
JP was 1.16 evg/60 in 17-18
Drai got 890 with Mcd.
Another Wing could get 890
570 was what was left for 2 more wingers.
Players who got more EVTOI on Mcdavids wing.
Ranked by evg/60
Drai 888 1.62 evg/60
Caggulia 144.4 1.25 evg/60
——————————- 1.16 JP
Proper usage says play JP a good portion of 590 available.
Kassian 436.4 1.10 evg/60
RNH 418.6 1.00 evg/60
Chaisson 305.2 .79 evg/60
Rattie 247.5 .48 evg/60
Lucic 108 0.00 evg/60
Yamamotto 86.4 0.0 evg/60
Khaira 69 0.00 evg/60
Rolling Drai & Caggulia 850 made a lot of sense
Kassian & JP should see 450 min
RNH plays 2C were he was really needed.
Chiasson gets remaining 320 with Mcdavid
That is the .79+ wingers available to him.
That would have made sense.
It would have elevated Caggulias trade value
Then if you trade Caggulllia he gets you a heck of a lot more than what we got.
With Strome at C for rest jp minutes ends up 15-16 evg RW.
That is proper player mgmt and handling of a Prospect.
Holland and LT: say draft +5
I showed his history is 23 yr 35+ gm season debut.
Showing zholland would not think he is even close to a developed prospect.
He has *no leverage* Kinger, so he isn’t right. Can’t you see this?
Well done you!
Agreed. This is so obvious it’s painful. I feel like we are in bizarro world right now.
OriginalPouzar,
Kinger_Oil.redux,
Gents, you’ve wandered into personal territory.
Yeah, well, that’s just, like, your opinion, man.
😉
I watched him at training camp — he was good. Guess what? That doesn’t mean shit if he can’t carry it over into the regular season. His regular season performance was mediocre at best.
No he isn’t right to want to leave.— that’s a quitter’s mentality and I am strongly opposed to it. I prefer a stubborn ass who wants to prove everyone wrong. Either way, he won’t be a top 6 player on any other team so I don’t know what your point is.
I don’t know about you guys, but I’m pretty okay with Brassard signing elsewhere.
OriginalPouzar,
– oh sorry I got disconnected from my first class pod which is the only way to travel before I land and check into my 5 star hotel and eat the best because that’s the only way to travel
– were you saying something? Arrogance?
defmn,
Thank you for this clarification. Outstanding post.
Walter Gretzkys Neighbour,
This is how we know it’s summer, lol.
Dead mules gonna get beat.
Well, probably would’ve helped if I had prefaced my response, with “I agree…”. So it’s on me too.
Stunningly ironic.
Walter Gretzkys Neighbour,
– I actually don’t know if he great. I’m quite clear on that. I think he could be. But my defence is for Pools actions. Which is totally correct
– and Edmonton they are actually correct in their behaviour based on how they rate pool
– I just object strenuously to the msm treatment of pool however. And in this case I hope when they move him he is deployed properly and becomes elite.
– night night.
My goodness, what arrogance to call other people “wrong” because they don’t think things will go they way you do. My goodness.
How the eff do you know that is wrong – you have no freaking way of knowing how he will be deployed.
As I said, sign, come to camp ready, listen to the coaches and work his ass off. You think if he does that and has success that he won’t be provided with top 6 minutes? Seriously?
Its up to the player to earn the top 6 minutes – if he signs and comes and works, its up to him and his performance. Ya, maybe he starts on the “3rd line” with Marody and Granlund. Work, listen, play and succeed and, ya, he’ll earn his way up.
What a joke that arrogance is.
Unreal.
I am not wrong – I never said anything about his ice time, i spoke about his linemates and opportunities with strong linemates – his most common linemate was Lucic – that was a mix of 1st to 3rd line. His 2nd and 3rd most common linemates were McDavid and Nuge, 1st and 2nd line.
The coaches were too quick to mix lines up during games, however, he started many of his games in the top 6 – didn’t necessarily finish there but lots of ice in the top 6.
I for one am exceptionally tired of every single post here turning into a “Puljujarvi is great-Puljujarvi sucks” debate that devolves into essentially an argument eerily reminiscent of and as informative as the old “I know you are but what am I” format of discourse..
Enough already. It’s all opinions. The guy is not coming back here.
I recall a similar polarized rants about Yakupov.
– your wrong. Another year with the same deployment as last year and he’s signing for league minimum like Magnus. He thinks he’s better than how he’s been deployed. He thinks that. The oil don’t agree. If I’m Pool I want to go somewhere else.
– it’s extremely naive and devoid of reality for pool or you to think he just needs to sign show up and earn his minutes. He has no indication that he won’t be anything other than scratch 4liner because Neal Chiasson Kassian etc. No one has told him he’s part of the future.
– he knows the drill. He’s sunk here. Holland has his guys and the only ears he have tell him he’s sh$t.
– No one is fighting for pool. MSM in Edmonton is Epstein level facilitator for their whims. They get what they want.
OriginalPouzar,
– your actually wrong. Look up the numbers. He has not averaged 16 minutes a game at even strength for any stretch of time with good forwards.
– as ricki amd others have shown over and over if you use dummy stats like per 60 he shows well. But actual minutes with actual elite: the only conclusion is that they don’t rate him. He doesn’t get a fair shake. Never has on absolute minutes. That’s what matters
– I’m totally right on this. The minutes don’t lie. The oilers have shot the bed on pool. He’s also owned that he needs to be better. This is the Oilers. A big time organization makes it work for him. Holland though he only has everyone whose been there to tell him that pool is shit
– so Holland he just says pool will get traded when we say so. He has no intel or perspective or fancy stats to put pause to this. If he did he’d have taken a different tack. It’s clear.
– And maybe they are right amd pool will never be an elite winger. But I’m on team Pool. I say f-you Oilers. He’s right. Holly be grinding out a 3rd vs the 4th being offered for him. Good for him.