Sooner or later, the veterans are going to play a preseason game and at that point we’ll be able to drill down on what opening night Oilers might look like. Until then, the checkers and the kids and the Euros will push for the support jobs, few though they be at this point.
While you’re thinking about the opening night group, keep this in mind: Injuries have had an impact early and that could continue.
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 this week. To mark the occasion, you can get 40% off subscriptions until Sept. 19 here.
- New Lowetide: Why Kailer Yamamoto’s delayed training camp may benefit his Oilers career
- New Daniel Nugent-Bowman: Q&A: Brandon Manning on how his contract is hurting him, proving his worth at camp and being a mentor
- Jonathan Willis: Four players who helped, three who hurt their Oilers hopes in Edmonton’s second preseason game
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: How an offseason adding more pop in his stick and skates has James Neal primed for first Oilers season
- Lowetide: A big night for Oilers defencemen Joel Persson, William Lagesson and Evan Bouchard
- Lowetide: Preseason 2019-20: The Oilers’ journey to respectability begins
- Lowetide: Handicapping Oilers prospect progress: The development of Ethan Bear, Caleb Jones and William Lagesson
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: Eight key questions for the Oilers to solve at training camp
- Jonathan Willis: Predicting the winners of the Oilers’ top-six and top-nine forward jobs out of camp
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: In, out or on the bubble: Breaking down positional battles at Oilers camp
- New Lowetide: Evan Bouchard and the Calder Trophy: The Oilers’ pursuit of the elusive rookie award
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: Alex Chiasson prepares to return to scoring form for Edmonton Oilers
- Jonathan Willis: Kyle Brodziak defied the odds, and then the Oilers, to carve out a significant NHL career
- Lowetide: Can Mikko Koskinen and Mike Smith stop enough pucks for the Oilers?
- Lowetide: Shutdown success by Darnell Nurse and Adam Larsson is a key for the Oilers in 2019-20.
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: Even if he’s unsure about his return, Oilers’ Connor McDavid looks and sounds like his old self
- Lowetide: RE 19-20: How can the Oilers’ bottom six close the gap in goal differential?
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: Kailer Yamamoto and Tyler Benson address respective highs and lows as Oilers rookie camp begins
- Jonathan Willis: Riley Sheahan is a prudent signing by the Oilers in more ways than one
- Jonathan Willis: Oilers’ defensive hopes will rest on the new shutdown pair of Darnell Nurse and Adam Larsson
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: With Evan Bouchard as the headliner, here are the players to watch at Oilers rookie camp
- 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?
- Corey Pronman: Oilers No. 9 farm system.
- Lowetide: Oilers coach Dave Tippett might have to take drastic action in order to find a second outscoring line in 2019-20
- Lowetide: Oilers top 20 prospects summer 2019.
CERTAIN OILERS [18]
One thing that should be mentioned (and I noted in the ‘reasonable expectations’ series) is that we could see someone from this list traded before or during the season. The impressive showing by several young blue may force a deal, especially if the one of the young skill forwards doesn’t step up.
UNCERTAIN OILERS [15]
I’m not sure anyone on this list is out of the race, although Yamamoto’s inactivity probably means he’ll start in Bakersfield. Good early camps by these men has resulted in this training camp holding our interest more than in the past.
DISTANT BELLS [12]
Burdasov just arrived, I don’t believe he’ll make the team (there’s no time). McLeod, Manning and Samorukov are all doing well, Malone and Hebig are showing flashes. Interestin group this year, most have played well.
How many of these men do we see tonight? I’ll suggest the Nuge and Haas lines, maybe the Sheahan line with a different right winger. The McDavid line? Talk to the doctors.
OILERS LEADING SCORERS
- Tomas Jurco 1, 1-1-2
- Cooper Marody 1, 0-2-2
- Patrick Russell 2, 1-1-2
- James Neal 1, 1-0-1
- RNH 1, 1-0-1
TOI LEADERS (DEFENSE) (FIVE-ON-FIVE)
- Oscar Klefbom 21:25
- Darnell Nurse 20:06
- Joel Persson 19:42
- Evan Bouchard 18:52
- Adam Larsson 18:46
- William Lagesson 18:46
SAM GAGNER
Lots of talk about Sam Gagner and his spot on the roster, I think he’s a lock but some are questioning the idea. For me, the Oilers as a group are painfully shy of proven NHL offense, and Gagner has been a productive player in this area. Mad holes without the puck, but even last year in Edmonton he delivered 1.74 points per 60 at five-on-five after coming over from the Canucks. The Oilers will replace him but the wise move is to wait until a suitable winger has proven himself worthy. Edmonton’s wingers aren’t a quality group, Gagner is the best offensive option past Leon Draisaitl and James Neal. In fact, Gagner was more productive in Edmonton than Neal a year ago. The Oilers will find someone more efficient but until then Gagner should get a regular shift. In my opinion.
LOWDOWN WITH LOWETIDE
At 10 this morning, TSN1260, we truly have a universal show today. Frank Seravalli from TSN will talk CBA, preseason, Jets are a mess and some Oilers nuggets. Paul Sir, basketball legend, will discuss the FIBA 3 x 3 WOMEN’s event this weekend at West Edmonton Mall Ice Palace. Plus, and this is going to be fabulous, I’ll be joined by Andre Costopoulos, Dean of Students at the U of A, and anthropologist. He will be doing a lecture called “The Evolution of the Baseball Fight”. Costopoulos using evolutionary theory to discuss how and why the baseball fight has become a ritualized and formalized part of the sport. The lecture will take place on Sept. 21, 11:30 – 12:30. 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. Talk soon!
Yamamoto is still not cleared re: wrist
Klefbom was the best of the D last night – not mentioned because he did what was expected.
On the PK faceoff question:
Malone – 3 for 8
Haas – 0 for 1
McLeod 0 for 1
3 for 11…..
I have time for Jurco but Tipp will probably go with the vets that get nothing done 5v5.
Marody is making a case as well.
Guess I’ll just have to save it for the post mortem stuff when my relatives are trying to squeeze money out of my tragic death.
SwedishPoster,
thanks for this
SwedishPoster,
Missed the game and this is exactly what I was looking for. Much appreciated!
I enjoyed reading the essay, but I’m not sure it’s going to make it into The Collected Works of SwedishPoster.
One of my sportchannels showed the game so I’m sorry to say I watched the rerun this morning.
As usual with early preseason games a lot of sloppiness so evaluations are iffy and you can’t really look at performance as much as details. But some notes.
Goaltenders during early preseason is absolutely pointless to evaluate, not even specific details hold much value, they both looked bad but meh.
Samo didn’t have an awful fame per se but still looks very much like a junior player, needs a full AHL season.
Benning was covered in rust, needs to show it was just a veteran preseason slowstart as his spot in the lineup is far from certain.
Jones is playing himself out of the NHL conversation so far, he can clearly skate but showed no poise, no smarts and no positioning.
Lowe will probably have to battle for his spot in the AHL top 6 tbh.
Klefbom went through the motions, had moments when it became quite obvious he was the most talented Oiler on the ice by a lot and others where his give crap was at the bottom.
Persson wasn’t great, on the positive side he seems to have adapted to the ice size fairly well as he was in the right spots but he needs a bit more urgency out there. His smartness is evident.
Nygård’s speed can clearly create offense at this level of comp, the big question for me before he came over was whether he could finish and be efficient offensively in the NHL. Despite being one of the top scorers in the SHL the last few years he’s never been super sharp around the net instead he’s been able to create enough chances that some are bound to end up in net. The question surrounding his efficiency remains. I’s like to see win a few more puck battles as well. I do think his speed and ability to dart through openings will let him make the starting lineup but if he can’t figure out how to put some actual numbers on the board he’ll end up watching s lot if games from the pb.
Neal looks pretty good to me, sloppy pass for the Horvat goal, but moves surprisingly well, had some nice backchecks and his hands around the net are still there, We’ll what happens at higher pace but I can see him scoring at a solid clip.
McLeod looks a lot like an NHLer at first glance, he can clearly skate like one but imo the results are pretty meh at both ends of the ice. His positioning looked surprisingly bad for a guy lauded for his defense, takes really wide turns, his whole game actually looks like someone who grew up playing on european ice size. Needs at least one full AHL season, probably two, it’s easy to get blown away by the powerful skating but imo the rest of his game needs a lot of work. I would probably cut him pre-Kelowna.
Benson has high NHL level vision but not much else seems NHL ready to me, just not involved a lot, I could see him do well in a call up when he’s at midseason form and full of confidence but can’t see him playing opening night.
Marody looks closer to be able to contribute, offensively he’s got the chops, finds himself around the puck a lot, creative and a skilled passer. Defensively he’s not NHL quality atm, at least if he’s to play center. Question is if he can learn the defensive game in the AHL, from what I understand he push the play north so much that he rarely had to play D in the minors. 3rd/4th line winger might be the ideal spot for him to learn but is he a fit there with the style Tippett wants? Tip seemed pretty unimpressed by his defensive work last night. He might get the last center spot by default if noone else steps up but Tip sounded impressed by Cave earlier in camp. Gagner and Marody are also fairly similar and I think they will go with the vet as the bottom six skill injection unless Marody heats up as preseason rolls on. As things stand I think he’s sent down and is told to work on D and strength on the puck.
Chiasson didn’t look great but like Benning gets a vet out of jail free card, but like Benning needs to show something later on unless he wants to risk pb-time. Overall he likely improved his chances due to the contenders playing poorly.
Russell is a tactically smart player, keeps up with the pace but won’t add a lot in the good end of the ice. Perfect pb/AHL call up option. Won’t hurt you, will always work hard, good enough shot to score at times and if he finds some offensive confidence he could probably hold down a 4th line spot for a while.
Haas can skate but overall pretty bland player. Based on this game I don’t see him starting in the NHL, still early and once he adapts he could find a niche. Might have to start in the A though. No real stand out skill.
Granlund looked very meh and not at all like an established NHLer. But again a vet pass.
Malone and Peluso will be useful in the AHL.
Jurco looks pretty good, faded during the second half but skates better than I thought. I get sort of a less physical more skilled and better skating Pat Maroon from him. Can shield the puck, good hands in tight, vision not great but keeps the cycle alive, bursts of creativity here and there. Could surprise if he finds the right spot.
So that’s my ”you can’t really draw much from preseason but here’s an essay on the third preseason game” take on the game.
I heard or read here they are going to start the transition out of D zone more up the middle. I hope the final roster to open the season can give and take passes or we will see a lot o turnovers end up in the net like tonight.
Woke up at 2:30 checked score,lineup on TSN. OUCH! The n read the comments here.
What I got was that Lowe,Koskinen and Benning had bad nights. Jurco had another good night along with Cooper. Yamamto was not in the lineup? Haas and Nygard are on the next flight to Dusselldorf.
Klefbom and Samurkov both played but no comments so invisible.These are not the score we want in November.
Oil2Oilers,
It’s a strange love, we have for our Oil… especially after having Peter Seller as our GM,
When the arena’s hyping every freaking thing constantly with flashing lights and scoreboard games then flashing the crowd to get them to kiss and all of the other nonsense like mascots clowning around it more or less defeats the purpose of going to the game…add rock music between stoppages.
Audiences are reduced to the status of lab rats being given electric shocks to control them.
Also, the quality of pre-season hockey is mind blowingly terrible. It’s like taking the family out to enjoy a Stan Brakhage movie.
How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.
Any concerns I have about any other deficiencies in the Oilers line up are eased by knowing it doesn’t matter anyway, they don’t have the goal tending.
Did tipett say down to 29 – 31 in his interview.
The 14 cap friendly roster
+ Haas, Maroody, Russel
The 7 cap friendly roster Dmen
+ Lagesson, Bouchard
Smith, Koskinen, Starett
What are the other 2 if that is what he meant?
Goaltending concerns me far more than any other position.
One of the problems with the lineup is the oilers didn’t dress any drivers
Basically dressed the fourth , fifth, six and seventh line with Neal playing with two guys who are almost certainly going to the ahl, against 12 canucks regulars .
Too bad none of the kids stood out but that makes it easy
It would be nice to know if Nygard can be a complementary player with Nuge and Neal
I think the fourth line of Marody Jurco and chiasson is a decent bet
Granlund is invisible and didn’t help the PK much
Did we win any face offs on the PK?
Looking forward to sheahan playing tomorrow
Sounds like wife has been away too long. Maybe you need to find a hobby? ?
Jurco is definitely making a case. He’s the one player I see dislodging Nygard from the 2L hole.
Totally agree with this although some cycle presence would help too.
Nobody had flash tonight. No Guy Lafleur.
I’m afraid I had higher hopes for Benson. I think he can make those in tight passes but if other players are not driving and dashing, ..he just didn’t have that extra gear.
Maybe Jurco was the best oiler? (aside from Neal, who was the best and also the worst oiler)
What were our face off numbers tonight?
Ha – I just read the part of your post where you said you didn’t watch the game.
I’m 100% confident I can better analyze the game and how players played by watching it that you can by looking at numbers.
My god, didn’t watch the game but looked at some numbers and arrogantly tell those that watched the game they are wrong.
Wow.
I’m a Benning fan and he was down right awful tonight. One of the worst games I’ve ever seen him play.
I don’t care that he was “even” – he was awful on the PK and culpable on 3 goals against overall.
I think the hardest position to evaluate in the pre-season is netminder.
Think of yourself on the driving range tryin shit… Or your first week of the season.
I think it’s a different story when evaluating prospect skaters and starting goalies.
I don’t think Koski will be happy with his performance, but it’s an indicator of readiness, not skill.
I think the is happy from an evaluation standpoint. Lots of players showed their cards tonight. Putting Mikko back in is a clever move too.
6-1 WTF!
4 evga
2 ppga
1 evgf
Benning EV
Samakourov EV
Klefbom 1A -1
Persson -1
Jones -2
Lowe -2
Chaisson 1A +1
Jurco +1
Maroody 1G EV
Haas EV
Benson EV
Malone EV
Peluso EV
Granlund -1
Russell -1
Mcleod -2
Nygard -3
Neal -3
Benning should go down?
WTF!
Explain his defence.
Do not want to hear about offence from anyone who should be defending the true DZ.
Do not give a F…….. about PB and AHL offence from rovers stealing pocession from top 9 off forwards.
Just stupid player usage!
Last game Marody looked good playing Off Jurco’s Entry and player occupation in HD area in front of the net.
Reading scouting reports during FA
Gallant did say Jurco generates off his speed and skill is second to none.
Did not watch this game.
Was he a Zone entry driver again.
Cause if he was, that is what RNH – Neal pair needs.
Remember 1 evg every 10 games makes a player a top 62 winger ( LW or RW) for position.
Holland stated he wanted speed, and double digit scoring.
Looking at scouting reports of these players,
they were described as “skates well” or “top speed.”
Jurco
Archibald top 20 pkGA
Granlund
Sheahan top 80 pkga
Haas
Nygard
Holland went out and got top depth evg production wingers given off FO ZS.
IMO, this is the post of the day. So true to life.
Tippet not happy. He’s got the axe out.
Tippett says Mikko is playing again tomorrow.
I assume Smith is still sick but, really?
Rob giving it to Koskinen. Nothing matters unless the goalie can stop the puck, and he didn’t.
Fantastic evaluation night.
That was last year’s PK on display tonight.
A few players played themselves off the team.
Kosk showing he never worked on his glove side in the off season much.
Goaltending is the only way we have a chance this season and it ain’t looking good. Skinner looked the best so far. Could see us with a three headed monster with that NMC Koskinen has.
so.
Caleb Jones going down
Benning should be a 7 or 8
marody faded at the end.
I actually thought Jurco was solid
McLeod going to go down
Chaisson .. 4th line or press box.
I thought Nyygaard came on at the end.
Haas showed some toughness at the end
Benson.. did not move the needle I’m afraid.
Nobody on the ice could drive the play. Neal was the best oiler imho.
What an incredibly low bar.
Gaudette was the second best Centre on the ice and he’ll probably be sent to Utica tomorrow.
Lead:
Trolling?
From HF boards:
/// Morissey is a Rover not a dmen.
We know goals generate offence.
Players recieve points from assists.
But are dependent on another player finishing and generating the points.
Morrisey:
Defence:
compared to other top 6 (186) ev min Rovers and dmen.
He is Bottom 55 – 2.91 evga/60.
That is as a pair. Not to his side were we see 4.00 – 5.00 to their abandoned side.
Offence: compared to 492 ev min skaters (372) top 12 fwds and (210) top 7 rover/ dmen.
His .11evg/60 is #513 of 582 skaters.
He is not driving winning play by scoring goals.
His 1.08 Evp/60 is #387 of 582 skaters.
He is not a critical driver of scoring thru his passing.
Holland said it best this summer
“some of the dmen (Rovers) have to learn to attack as 4th and 5 th options being aware to maintain def.” ///
Lead:
Why the f…… would I compare a rover hybrid forward/dmen (by % of occupation of forward space/dman def of HD area) just to a dman..
When they attack
-they abandon def of HD area.
– they occupy a lot of top 9 forward pocession.
– keep the puck from superior goal scoring skaters.
– often 4th or 5 th skater back on defence often failing to reestablish 2 dman presence in true DZ (HD area)
– worse they go to the bench as 5 th skater back and the new dman requires time to reestablish 2 dman presence in HD area. Not the new Dmans fault but the Rover.
During that whole time (his or the new d) they are in forward zone structure.
It should be charged to Rovers zone%
You guys want to call him a dman.
That is just silly by Zone structure occupation %.
True DZ ( HD area)
And
Not true DZ.
Dmen
in DZ
Rover
in DZ with partner = dman
Not in DZ with partner = forward
Forward:
In DZ covering for rover = forward
Not in DZ = forward
3-1-1-1 is the rovers fault.
I presented this position years ago.
It is supported by simple video watching.
Well that was x seconds of the shift in forward zone occupation.
Such a high % of forward structure.
Over and over and over again.
Morrisey is shite at skater even Goal scoring and points.
He sucks when it comes to def of True DZ.
It is not his dpartner or Goalie abandoning the HD area (homeplate) the high% of the time.
Morrisey:
In true Dzone Role:
Bottom 55 evga/60
In forward attacking role:
#513 evg/60 (513/31 = 16.55) (#17 forward attacker)
#387 evp/60 (387/31 = 12.48) (#13 forward attacker)
True DZ play:
Bottom 55 defender (likely worse if we break down to shot density to side)
Forward Zone play:
Evg/60 ( AHL level of skater)
Evp/60 (PB level of skater)
What the f…… does he do that is good to justify his contract.
Sweet f……. all!
Now to go look at the score in the Game.
Can someone get Matt Benning to clean himself up.
Wow.
ugh…
Benning better get his head out of his ass or he’s going to cost Bouchard some much needed AHL seasoning.
put out peluso
Man, if this is what fighting for jobs looks like, I’m very concerned about this season.
ugh
Tough games for Persson and Benning (so far) and Jones was not really great.
Paging Ethan Bear and Willie Lagesson tomorrow night.
What’s the buyout on Koskinen again?
Benning has been terrible
Lowe is so far out of his element here I wonder if his father is embarassed
Ok, so this new “breakout to the middle” thing is causing some issues tonight….
Tippett said he’ll get 2 maybe 2.5 games so, yup, two full games next week
NOt a great pass by Neal but that isn’t going to look good on Persson’s chances.
Joell Perrson… aw.. um… not looking good at all.
samarukov just boarded the plane
I don’t understand how McLeod didn’t score more in junior.
Granlund looks poor at 5v5 or me, I don’t really like his game anywhere other than the PK.
Persson is pretty quiet tonight, Nygard is a ghost.
I keep thinking Haas is having a good game then I realize its Jurco.
Lowe is having a night to forget, woof.
Ditto Koskinen.
Hass with a little more grit to end the period.
Neal looked to be the best oiler to me. I’m not sure that’s a good thing. Benning not having a good night. Are Caleb Jones and Persson even in this game?
Russel Steady. Marody good. But his reminds me of last years oilers where the play is basically over before the it’s even in the O Zone, because of lack of clean breakouts with speed. Vancouvers got good checkers but lets see some jump from the D. It will be an interesting third period. Who’s going to step up.
Keegan Lowe cost one goal even strength and got beat then took a penalty against that led to the first Canuck PP goal
Koskinen should have blocked the pass and Benning should have taken his man
Then Koskinen should have had the fourth goal
The line of Marody Jurco Chiasson could be our fourth line though and I bet they would outscore
This tandem has a distinct Shtalenkov/Essensa kind of sheen to it.