Old Days

by Lowetide

I hold in my hand the 2000-01 Oilers official media guide. It is 240 pages. There are lots of people I’ve met in this guide, some I consider friends. From Bill Tuele to Brent Saik, from Allan Watt and Bryn Griffiths to Melanie Harysh to Joaquin Gage to Rod Phillips, who told me the single funniest joke I’ve ever heard (I can’t tell it anymore). It also contains the ‘in the system’ prospects and that portion of the guide is our subject this morning.

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 Athletic, we are celebrating our 2-year anniversary today. To mark the occasion, you can get 40% off subscriptions until Sept. 19 here.

  • New Jonathan Willis: Oilers’ defensive hopes will rest on the new shutdown pair of Darnell Nurse and Adam Larsson
  • New Daniel Nugent-Bowman: With Evan Bouchard as the headliner, here are the players to watch at Oilers rookie camp
  • New Lowetide: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and the configuration of the Oilers second line
  • Lowetide: Connor McDavid’s 2019-20: Pushing for 50 goals while Dave Tippett loads up the Oilers’ top line
  • Lowetide: Estimating reasonable expectations for the 2019-20 Edmonton Oilers: A difficult journey
  • Jonathan Willis: How much money will Darnell Nurse make on his next NHL contract?
  • Lowetide: Ken Holland’s measured summer leaves Oilers outside playoffs.
  • Jonathan Willis: Can Mikko Koskinen be a quality starter for Oilers in 2019-20?
  • Lowetide: The 2019-20 Oilers and value contracts: A period of transition
  • Corey Pronman: Oilers No. 9 farm system.
  • Jonathan Willis: Jesse Puljujarvi signs one-year deal in Finland, dashing hopes he would return to the Oilers
  • Lowetide: Jay Woodcroft joins Claude Julien and Todd Nelson as key coaches in Oilers prospect development
  • Lowetide: Is Riley Sheahan an ideal fit for the Oilers as their No. 3 centre?
  • Lowetide: Oilers coach Dave Tippett might have to take drastic action in order to find a second outscoring line in 2019-20
  • 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
  • Daniel Nugent-Bowman: Q&A: Dave Tippett on rounding out his coaching staff, fixing Oilers’ special teams and using Connor McDavid
  • 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
  • Lowetide: Oilers top 20 prospects summer 2019.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

To celebrate two years (!!!) The Athletic will have a special Q&A today at noon, featuring Daniel Nugent-Bowman, Jonathan Willis and me. Looking forward to it, lots to discuss, please chime in! Here is the link.

THE 2000-01 PROSPECTS

Through this spring and summer, we’ve discussed the Oilers prospects and as a group have decided who should receive our collective seal of approval (Tyler Benson, William Lagesson, Caleb Jones) and who we should view with a jaundiced eye (you know the list).

I’ve been saying for weeks that none of our verbal matters and it’s true. I have no doubt that the players on the upswing had terrific seasons, but we don’t know if they’re going to build on it. History says one in three or thereabouts.

Jeff Petry made it, Taylor Chorney got down the road apiece and Cody Wild didn’t make it. What about the 2000-01 group?

THE 2000 FALL PROSPECT GROUP

Kristian Antilla was a fourth-round pick in 1998, a goalie out of Finland. In 1999-00, he was a regular in the Sm-Liiga, and except for a couple of AHL games in 2002-03, that’s all she wrote.

Christian Chartier was an eighth-round pick in 1999, a LHD. He had a solid pro career, playing three AHL seasons before settling in with German league DEL’s Augsburg Panthers. NHLE: 12

Jason Chimera was a fifth-round pick in 1997, an absolute burner from the Medicine Hat Tigers. Kevin Lowe would tell the media every summer this was Chimera’s year with the big club, every fall MacT would send him out. He would play 130 games with the Oilers over four years before blossoming with Columbus. NHLE: 14.4

Mike Comrie was a third-round pick in 1999, and in the fall of 2000 there was some question about his being Oilers property (he would eventually sign). Comrie was a helluva player, but it never seemed to work out. Injuries shortened a solid career. NHLE: 39.9

Lou Dickenson was a tall center drafted out of the OHL in the fourth round in 2000. He stood out as a promising pivot compared to what was in the system at the time. NHLE: 17.1

Jonathan Fauteaux was a giant RHD chosen in sixth round of the 1999 draft. He played just three AHL games.

Scott Ferguson was an older LHD prospect, Edmonton signed him in 1994, and then dealt him to Anaheim for Frank Musil in 1998. Ferguson was back as a minor league free agent July 5, 2000. He played parts of four seasons with Edmonton in his second stint, including a game on the wing as MacT gave Jani Rita an NHL chance.

Paul Flache was a big RHD, fifth-round choice in the 2000 draft. He played parts of three seasons in the AHL.

Alex Fomitchev was a small goalie chosen in the tenth round of the 1997 draft. He played for the St. Albert Saints at the time, bet the Oilers saw him good (he was good at that level). He had a solid career in Russia (RSL and then KHL).

Chris Hajt was a favourite of mine, Oilers talked about him a lot in the years after he was drafted in the third round of the 1996 draft. He played in six NHL games.

Brett Hauer was a RHD Edmonton acquired from Vancouver in 1995, he was still hanging around five years later. He could move the puck and played in Europe for some time.

Eric Heffler was a free agent signing by Edmonton in May 1999. He was quality in Hamilton (AHL) in 1999-00 and there was some curiosity about him around this time. He did not have much hockey left.

Michael Henrich was a first-round selection in 1998 who had posted two 38-goal seasons in the OHL after he was drafted. He disappointed as a rookie pro and did not play in the NHL. NHLE: 32

Alex Henry was a true giant defenseman, drafted in the third round of the 1998 draft. He had an NHL career, 177 games, as a depth player.

Chad Hinz was an eighth-round pick in 1997. A righty center/wing, he had a big final junior season in 1998-99 and then struggled in pro in 1999-00. He would go on to play four AHL seasons in the Oilers system.

Shawn Horcoff is the star of this little exercise, and the reason why hope springs eternal for some of us. Chosen in the fourth round of the 1998 draft, he would waste little time in the AHL (24 games) before finding his way to the NHL. He played 1,008 career regular season games and played brilliant hockey in 2005-06. NHLE: 41.9

Matthew Lombardi was a skill forward who Edmonton drafted in the eighth-round of the 2000 draft. He was a brilliant pick, and would go on to play over 500 NHL games. Alas he did not sign with Edmonton. NHLE: 15.5

Alexei Mikhnov was a giant LW who the Oilers drafted in the first round in 2000. He was big, skilled, didn’t have a passport and was basically blind. However, he did post a long KHL career, playing as late as 2018-19.

Alain Nasreddine was a rangy defenseman acquired in a trade with the Montreal Canadiens at the 2000 deadline (along with Igor Ulanov). He would play well for Hamilton (AHL) while in the Oilers system and eventually find some NHL work in the middle of the decade with Pittsburgh.

Shaun Norrie was a right winger and a sixth round pick in the 2000 draft. He did not have a pro career.

Fernando Pisani was an eighth-round selection in 1996, and an inspired one for sure. He had a short but brilliant career with the Oilers and by 2000 fall he was ready to turn pro. NHLE: 27

Michel Riesen was a first-round pick in the 1997 draft, a highly skilled Swiss winger who spent 1999-00 on a ‘Bulldog’ line in Hamilton with Dan Cleary and Brian Swanson. He didn’t grab an NHL career but he had talent. NHLE 31

Jani Rita was a first-round pick in 1999, he scored a goal at the WJ’s that year that was unforgettable. In 1999-00 he played sparingly in the Sm-Liiga and never got untracked, although he had a solid career in Europe. NHLE: 8

Terran Sandwith was a LHD with NHL experience with the Oilers (97-98) when Edmonton signed him on July 19, 2000. He played in the minors.

Peter Sarno was a small highly skilled center chosen in the sixth round in 1997. His rookie season in the AHL was strong, and he would play seven NHL games. NHLE: 28

Alexei Semenov was a gigantic defenseman chosen in the second round of the 1999 draft. Big, big defender with slow boots he would play 211 games and qualifies as a success ala Alex Henry.

Maxim Spiridonov was a small skill forward who was chosen in the ninth round of the 1998 draft. In 1999-00 he played 10 AHL and 57 ECHL games. He would have a long career in Russia.

Brian Swanson was a solid center prospect signed out of Colorado College in the summer of 1999. He adapted quickly to the AHL posting 59 points in 69 games in 1999-00. He would play 70 NHL games. NHLE: 29

Brian Urick was a right wing drafted out of Notre Dame (NCAA) in 1996 (fifth round). He would played parts of two AHL seasons.

Alexandre Volkov was acquired from the Washington Capitals in February 2000. He would rocket to Russia for 2000-01.

Brad Winchester was the second round pick in 2000 and ended up being a good selection. The big man made it to the NHL for 390 games. NHLE: 15

Total Players: 31

Total Successes: 8 (26 percent)

Major successes (450+ NHL games) Jason Chimera (1,107); Shawn Horcoff (1,008); Mike Comrie (589); Matt Lombardi (536); Fernando Pisani (462).

Total NHL GP by five major successes: 3702

Total EDM NHL GP by five major successes: 1563 (42 percent)

Shawn Horcoff was my guy in fall 2000 he was demonstrably better as a two-way center than the other young upstarts. He is the ultimate success story for Edmonton in this group because he not only delivered in a prominent role, he did it as an Oilers player for many years. To a lesser degree (because of illness and a shortened career) Fernando Pisani also qualifies.

That’s kind of the point when I talk about not getting your hopes up on a specific player. I can tell you defensemen break your heart, they just do. Years ago the Oilers had a defender named Mathieu Roy, who, while never proven, appeared damn determined to hurt himself on the ice during every shift. Shot blocks to the hand, concussions, leg injuries, oh God the knee, it goes on.

So please don’t be angry at Uncle Lowetide when he says it, but some of these bright shiny faces aren’t going to play 100 games in the NHL. Some will play 450+ and many/most will be for another team. You can say “because Oilers” but this happens for all NHL clubs to a greater or lesser degree.

Mark my words: One day this winter, one or more of you will be fretting over the future of your favourite Oilers prospect. You’ll be exactly where Mrs. Pouliot and I were the day MAP got mono.

I’m not saying stop cheering. I’m saying a little distance from specific attachments is wise when it comes to prospects. Especially defensemen. Not a one of them from 2000 fall played 450 NHL games.

One final thing: Check the first-round picks. My goodness MacT was not impressed with draft pedigree.

Ilya Konovalov

By my count Ilya Konovalov was the first Oilers prospect to play in a regular season league game, and the results were disappointing. He allowed five goals while stopping 30 in a loss, his SP is .857 to start the season. Lokomotiv plays again tomorrow.

LOWDOWN WITH LOWETIDE

A busy morning gets started at 10, TSN1260. Frank Seravalli from TSN is back and we’ll chat McDavid return time line, CBA negotiations and more. Anthony Wood from Touchdown NFL will chat Texans and we’ll talk CFL and Oilers rookie camp. 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. Talk soon!

201 comments
0

You may also like

0 0 votes
Article Rating
201 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
jp

ArmchairGM: Haha, numbers can be deceiving! Do you happen to know who the 3rd man on that line was? No? None other than TOMAS TATAR.

Our 2 guys had a 70.83 GF% when with Tatar and a 43.48 GF% without him.

Not looking so rosy now, is it?

Nice catch, Tatar was indeed the catalyst. Glad you enjoyed that!

ArmchairGM

jp:
That was me I think.

They played together for 537 minutes from 2013-14 to 2015-16 with numbers approaching what Pouzar posted (CF% and GF% were both 57.5).

Also, in those 537 minutes together Sheahan scored at 2.12P/60, Jurco at 1.56P/60 (the two were 1.50 and 1.38 overall).

One caveat I noticed tonight is that they got favourable zone starts (62% OZ, though the Wings were good and most of the team was over 55%). Pretty impressive regardless.

Most aren’t penciling Jurco into the lineup but you never know. Those numbers above sure would be a welcome addition.

Haha, numbers can be deceiving! Do you happen to know who the 3rd man on that line was? No? None other than TOMAS TATAR.

Our 2 guys had a 70.83 GF% when with Tatar and a 43.48 GF% without him.

Not looking so rosy now, is it?

Pouzar

BONE207: At least they wash your hands for you.

and more…

At least I am mere minutes from the new home of the new WHL franchise.
Looking forward to that.

BONE207

Pouzar: If I was any closer I’d have to pass security every time I went to the bathroom.

At least they wash your hands for you.

Pouzar

BONE207: I bet you’re moving closer to the airport…oh, wait. You’re in Winnipeg…never mind…

If I was any closer I’d have to pass security every time I went to the bathroom.

Woodguy v2.0

Pouzar:
Woodguy v2.0,

They are sooooo signing Hall aren’t they?

Garfield’s status as an insider depends on it!

Bookie it!

BONE207

Pouzar:
That Andresscu kid…what a comeback in that 2nd set…got me watchin Tennis again.

Shame I can’t watch the match Saturday as I am moving tomorrow.

Oh…moving sucks. Moving while doing renos sucks even worser.
At least it’s a short haul move only to a different neighborhood.

I bet you’re moving closer to the airport…oh, wait. You’re in Winnipeg…never mind…

Pouzar

Woodguy v2.0,

They are sooooo signing Hall aren’t they?

Garfield’s status as an insider depends on it!

Pouzar

That Andresscu kid…what a comeback in that 2nd set…got me watchin Tennis again.

Shame I can’t watch the match Saturday as I am moving tomorrow.

Oh…moving sucks. Moving while doing renos sucks even worser.
At least it’s a short haul move only to a different neighborhood.

Woodguy v2.0

ArmchairGM: Ha!

But you of all people know that they didn’t exactly light the world on fire together. RNH’s scoring rates were no better with Hall than without,and over the last 3 years together Hall’s scoring rates were lower with Nugent-Hopkins than without.

They had a +50% goal share vs the best on the other team’s in their early 20’s.

They probably torch team’s 2nd line for ~58% these days while 97 -29 did the same to the other team’s first lines.

Don’t confuse scoring rates with winning the goal share.

Scoring more generally can help with the goal share, but often it doesn’t so greater GF/60 is not equal to greater GF%.

Winning the GF% is the important part.

ArmchairGM

Woodguy v2.0: Getting RNH more higher end help is important too, but Holland won’t be able to really address that until next summer. (When he signs Hall)

Ha!

But you of all people know that they didn’t exactly light the world on fire together. Over the last 3 years together Hall’s scoring rates were lower with Nugent-Hopkins than without.

Woodguy v2.0

Professor Q:
Why are people so down on these moves by Holland?

I love them all. They’re also cheap and short term. Good bets. Good competition. Some might be able to improve and move up the lineup, and help some prospects stay in Bakersfield.

Better than Tambellini (Nothing) or Chiarelli (Enough Said).

I wouldn’t say I’m down on Holland’s moves at all.

He’s doing what he can but his hands are pretty tied.

Players like Sheehan, Archibald and Granlund are available cheap om one year contracts for a reason though so it’s not like you break out the pom poms.

I like that most of the could/are Actual NHL bottom 6 players.

Keeping the bottom 6 from bleeding away what McDavid gets is key to any hope for success.

Getting RNH more higher end help is important too, but Holland won’t be able to really address that until next summer. (When he signs Hall)

Jethro Tull

BONE207: I thought of you the other day…

Sitting on a park bench, eying little OPs with bad intent…

The winter snows build deep of the rooftops of Moscow.

ArmchairGM

Lowetide: The Neal trade changed a lot of minds.

Well, it eased the fretting, anyway.

BornInAGretzkyJersey

BONE207,

Tell me about it. A real come down, a mood killer as it were.

gimme shelter

The reason the Oilers signed Mr.Sheahan is not to be a 3C or 4C but to replace McJesus in the line-up.
You see management fibbed about his McJesus readiness for the opening day and got Mr.Sheahan’s 38 pts to replace him. Ha Ha!
I read all the comments but I am wondering now about the waiver wire. If we can scrape enough CAP space together by sending players down or releasing them to attain a top 6 winger if one becomes available.
Was Holland conservative in his acquisitions? That statement I concur.

defmn

jp: Agreed, it’s not possible with the current roster. Which is why I floated the idea that maybe just maybe a surprisingly substantial trade is coming.

With all the uncertainty regarding unsigned players around the league I think it is just prudent to expect the unexpected the next few weeks.

BONE207

BornInAGretzkyJersey:
BONE207,

Pretty sure he’s calling the 2006 Western Conference ‘Pennant’ (as LT refers to it) a championship.

Well, I took no joy from that championship, damn it.

jp

OriginalPouzar: Not possible.

They currently have a 24 man roster on Capfriendly, including Manning, and over $1.5M of room.

They have to get rid of one player, even if its Cave, they have $2.2M of room.

They cant make any moves that get them within $1.15M of the cap with currently signed players.

Agreed, it’s not possible with the current roster. Which is why I floated the idea that maybe just maybe a surprisingly substantial trade or signing(s) are coming.

jp

Jethro Tull:
Any reason Ken didn’t offer She-Ra a PTO?

Jethro Tull: No, I asked a question, the opposite of an assumption.

And the irony of your post is quite astounding. You assume Sheahan was the only player available and would only accept 900K. Now that’s pretty blinkered. Another kind of weird signing. As WG points out, he a PKer and FO guy. Boyd Gordon for the now. Would have preferred Marody got his shot.

A PTO would have been a better offer. You know it. And we’d have heard through media if one was offered and turned down.

The most likely answer for me is that Sheahan is worth a $900k contract.

Holland waited until the price came down*, then said hell yeah I’ll give you a number that’s fully interchangeable with anyone else that may or may not make my team (even though you’re most likely going to be my 3C and top 7 in overall TOI).

*my speculation

Foege Foegele Torpe

Victoria Oil: If Bianca wins, then it is the Cdn sports story of the year (I don’t care about the Raptors because basketball is boring and the team is full of Americans), but if she doesn’t win, I’d say Brooke Henderson is the story of the year in Canadian sports – more wins than any other Canadian PGA or LPGA player.

Basketball is boring,
There was nothing boring about the Raptors championship run
Shame you didn’t get to watch any of it.
Also, go Bianca!
It chokes me up watching her win & be so humble.
What a brilliant personality, not a bad tennis player either

BornInAGretzkyJersey

BONE207,

Pretty sure he’s calling the 2006 Western Conference ‘Pennant’ (as LT refers to it) a championship.

jp

Ryan: ?

Just pointing out that Kassian struggled horribly last season to produce playing in the bottom six.

Hopefully with all the depth options that we have, we can create a third line that can contribute offensively.

I joke about all of our potential fourth liners, but I don’t mind having the depth and the Sheahan signing is a good bet.

I got your meaning, but the flip side is that Kassian produced like a legit top 6 in the 2nd half.

It was a bit of a dink reply (sorry) but I think the point stands that Kassian and Chiasson, based on their careers pre-McDavid, deserve to be included on George’s list in the 8-10F range.

Agreed on the other points. The depth can’t hurt. If nothing else I think the group has great potential to be “not terrible” which would be a big win vs last season.

BONE207

Jethro Tull: No, I asked a question, the opposite of an assumption.

And the irony of your post is quite astounding. You assume Sheahan was the only player available and would only accept 900K. Now that’s pretty blinkered. Another kind of weird signing. As WG points out, he a PKer and FO guy. Boyd Gordon for the now. Would have preferred Marody got his shot.

A PTO would have been a better offer. You know it. And we’d have heard through media if one was offered and turned down.

I thought of you the other day…

Sitting on a park bench, eying little OPs with bad intent…

BONE207

Scungilli Slushy:
Youse systems guys can verify, but it seems the Oilers have been opposite George on team systems. The results have been bad.

So what if a coach does what’s easier to understand and enact, and tailors it to the roster?

I say all boats float.

Do you mean try something we’ve suggested here since 2015/16?
Preposterous!!! College guys as rookie 3rd line centres are all the rage. All boats will float as long as the bilge pump keeps up with the incoming rush through the torpedoed hull.

BONE207

Lowetide: 1998 NCAA, 2002 and 2003 Gold at WHC’s.

As the #1 centre? 2006 would have been great but just short.
As long as I’m not short…just rather obscure…

Jethro Tull

OriginalPouzar: Any reason to think he didn’t?

Perhaps he had a few small contract offers.

Perhaps he was not willing to come to Edmonton on a PTO.

This is a shining example of assuming a different transaction could have been consummated to deride what the GM did (or didn’t) do with any idea some transaction was possible.

No, I asked a question, the opposite of an assumption.

And the irony of your post is quite astounding. You assume Sheahan was the only player available and would only accept 900K. Now that’s pretty blinkered. Another kind of weird signing. As WG points out, he a PKer and FO guy. Boyd Gordon for the now. Would have preferred Marody got his shot.

A PTO would have been a better offer. You know it. And we’d have heard through media if one was offered and turned down.

Munny

Victoria Oil,

It’s a tough call, and I have Henderson ahead of the Rap too—because Canadian too—but accomplishing what Bianca has already accomplished as a 18/19 yo is unheard of for any country.

jp

OriginalPouzar:
I can’t remember who it was but, back in July someone showed previous numbers for Sheehan and Jurco together and they were quite sparkling – and the sample size wasn’t overly tiny….

Pouzar: 2014/15

Jurco with Sheahan (200 min)

https://www.naturalstattrick.com/playerreport.php?fromseason=20142015&thruseason=20142015&stype=2&sit=5v5&stdoi=oi&rate=n&v=t&playerid=8476430

CF% 59.39
GF% 62.50

That was me I think.

They played together for 537 minutes from 2013-14 to 2015-16 with numbers approaching what Pouzar posted (CF% and GF% were both 57.5).

Also, in those 537 minutes together Sheahan scored at 2.12P/60, Jurco at 1.56P/60 (the two were 1.50 and 1.38 overall).

One caveat I noticed tonight is that they got favourable zone starts (62% OZ, though the Wings were good and most of the team was over 55%). Pretty impressive regardless.

Most aren’t penciling Jurco into the lineup but you never know. Those numbers above sure would be a welcome addition.

Victoria Oil

OriginalPouzar:
Not to mention, a PTO doesn’t stop a player from signing with any other team so, if they wanted the player under contract, this provides certainty and the only risk is a contract on the 50 – zero risk to the cap.

See ‘Versteeg, Kris’

Victoria Oil

Munny:
YKOil,

I’m pretty happy with it too.I’m a little less happy that the way the media is reporting, it was only going to happen if Brodz was done.

______

But right now I’m happiest with Andreescu, who now has to be the Canadian Sports Story of 2019.

If Bianca wins, then it is the Cdn sports story of the year (I don’t care about the Raptors because basketball is boring and the team is full of Americans), but if she doesn’t win, I’d say Brooke Henderson is the story of the year in Canadian sports – more wins than any other Canadian PGA or LPGA player.

Munny

Woogie63: Kurt Leavins lives on Penner Island and is senior executive for the Jim Pattison Group, and he is scooping the local media guys.

He called Sheahan a week ago.

Munny

godot10:
If the Oilers do not sign another salary cap significant player before day 1, Manning will be on the roster for a few hours on Day 1 to get the Oilers as close to the cap as possible to maximize Brodziak’s available LTIR.

Pretty sure they’ll go with Yamamoto over Manning.

OriginalPouzar

godot:
If the Oilers do not sign another salary cap significant player before day 1, Manning will be on the roster for a few hours on Day 1 to get the Oilers as close to the cap as possible to maximize Brodziak’s available LTIR.

Not possible.

They currently have a 24 man roster on Capfriendly, including Manning, and over $1.5M of room.

They have to get rid of one player, even if its Cave, they have $2.2M of room.

They cant make any moves that get them within $1.15M of the cap with currently signed players.

Woogie63

OriginalPouzar: Kurt Leavins has been all over the Brodziak issue for months – saying to expect LTIR.

Its a bad result.

AHL is a MUCH better result (even without actual reporting).

Also, not a soul connected to McDavid or the team have indicated McDavid won’t be ready for opening night (that I’ve heard at least)

Schedule was always 6 months, right up and till camp and the season and, all accounts advise no setbacks and on schedule.

Kurt Leavins lives on Penner Island and is senior executive for the Jim Pattison Group, and he is scooping the local media guys.

Scungilli Slushy

Kirk out, OP you’ve got the bridge.

Scungilli Slushy

Youse systems guys can verify, but it seems the Oilers have been opposite George on team systems. The results have been bad.

So what if a coach does what’s easier to understand and enact, and tailors it to the roster?

I say all boats float.

Scungilli Slushy

Munny: Coming back from 5-2 down to win the US Open Semis in straight sets and become only the 4th woman to make it to a US Open Final in her first try.Last one was Serena 1997.

Brilliant returns, maybe the best drop shot in the game, and a gutsy comeback mentality.

She’s a corker!

godot10

If the Oilers do not sign another salary cap significant player before day 1, Manning will be on the roster for a few hours on Day 1 to get the Oilers as close to the cap as possible to maximize Brodziak’s available LTIR.

Ryan

jp: So… we should move him to the top of the list?

?

Just pointing out that Kassian struggled horribly last season to produce playing in the bottom six.

Hopefully with all the depth options that we have, we can create a third line that can contribute offensively.

I joke about all of our potential fourth liners, but I don’t mind having the depth and the Sheahan signing is a good bet.

BONE207

Scungilli Slushy: What is?

Ricki’s post above. That’s 30 minutes you’d never get back.
Also, what championship did Horcoff win?

Munny

Scungilli Slushy: What is?

Coming back from 5-2 down to win the US Open Semis in straight sets and become only the 4th woman to make it to a US Open Final in her first try. Last one was Venus 1997.

Brilliant returns, maybe the best drop shot in the game, and a gutsy comeback mentality.

jp

RonnieB:
Durag,

According to theScore article, Sheahan is expected to compete for 4th line center, not 3rd. He played primarily 4th line last season.

I didn’t read the article, but I assume the author isn’t familiar with the Oilers roster.

In any case, Sheahan has played 3rd line (by total TOI and TOI vs elites) for essentially his whole career before his 33 games with Florida last year. He’s also gotten tough zone starts in recent years.

As far as I can tell he’s very likely an improvement on whoever was going to play 3C for the Oilers. And if Sheahan does end up as 4C it probably a pleasant surprise has occurred.

pts2pndr

Lowetide: The Neal trade changed a lot of minds.

Yes, yes it did.

YKOil

Munny:
YKOil,
But right now I’m happiest with Andreescu, who now has to be the Canadian Sports Story of 2019.

Agreed. Fantastic stuff.

OriginalPouzar

Not to mention, a PTO doesn’t stop a player from signing with any other team so, if they wanted the player under contract, this provides certainty and the only risk is a contract on the 50 – zero risk to the cap.

OriginalPouzar

JethroTull:
Any reason Ken didn’t offer She-Ra a PTO?

Any reason to think he didn’t?

Perhaps he had a few small contract offers.

Perhaps he was not willing to come to Edmonton on a PTO.

This is a shining example of assuming a different transaction could have been consummated to deride what the GM did (or didn’t) do with any idea some transaction was possible.

Scungilli Slushy

Jethro Tull:
Any reason Ken didn’t offer She-Ra a PTO?

Other offers?