I remember the 1974 expansion draft like it was yesterday. The Washington Capitals drafted the best goalie available (Ron Low) and then tried to grab as many young players as possible (Yvon Labre, Denis Dupere, Mike Bloom, Gord Smith, Dave Kryskow). The NHL wasn’t giving up anything, and the WHA would raid the Capitals and Kansas City Scouts after the draft, but they did their best. Washington would win 8 games that first season. Eight games.
The first game between the Capitals and Oilers took place five years later, in late October 1979. Bill Flett would score his third goal of the season, he would get two more before his career came to a close one month later. Ironically, his final goal would come in late November in a win over the Capitals in Landover, Maryland. Bill Flett, from Ron Chipperfield and Mark Messier. He died July 1999, in Edmonton. Helene Elliott wrote an article for the Los Angeles Times.
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, there is a Puck Drop Special offer here.
- New Lowetide: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and James Neal are leading a quality Oilers second line
- Lowetide: Assessing the early season progress of Oilers’ defence and goaltending
- Jonathan Willis: A rare success during Edmonton’s long rebuild, why Oscar Klefbom is the model for finishing Oilers’ blue line
- Lowetide: Jesse Puljujarvi’s impressive Liiga performance headlines Oilers prospects this week
- Lowetide: Oilers recall Sam Gagner to bolster offensive depth, option Gaetan Haas
- Jonathan Willis: Can the Oilers afford to pursue Taylor Hall in free agency?
- Lowetide: There are many similarities between this year’s Oilers team after seven and the 2016-17 team that made the playoffs. Similarities, differences and the work that needs to be done.
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: ‘That was pretty sick’: What teammates and opponents are saying about Connor McDavid’s latest goal
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: ‘I’m gonna bring a bigger bag with me’: Oilers rookies learn about life on the road in the NHL
- Jonathan Willis: A deep dive on the Oilers’ bottom six, which needs to produce more offence
- Lowetide: Ethan Bear’s early success with the Oilers and what it might mean at the trade deadline
- Jonathan Willis: How well are the solutions to key Oilers weaknesses working?
- Lowetide: Oilers’ Oscar Klefbom playing tough minutes with inexperienced partners — and looking good doing it
- Corey Pronman: Oilers No. 9 farm system.
- Lowetide: Oilers top 20 prospects summer 2019.
OILERS IN OCTOBER
- Oilers in October 2015: 4-7-0, eight points; goal differential -6
- Oilers in October 2016: 7-3-1, 15 points; goal differential +7
- Oilers in October 2017: 3-7-1, seven points; goal differential -12
- Oilers in October 2018: 6-4-1, 13 points; goal differential -2
- Oilers in October 2019: 7-2-1, 15 points, goal differential +7
The key to making playoffs is to shorten those losing streaks and lengthen the good times. Even a Bettman point tonight would help the Oilers edge closer to the goal. I expect we’ll see a far better effort, but the opponent is also more formidable.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM OCTOBER
- At home to: Vancouver, Los Angeles (Expected: 1-1-0) (Actual 2-0-0)
- On the road to: NYI, NJD, NYR, CHI (Expected 2-1-1) Actual (3-1-0)
- At home to: Philadelphia, Detroit (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 2-0-0)
- On the road to: Winnipeg, Minnesota (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 0-1-1)
- At home to: Washington, Florida (Expected 1-1-0)
- On the road to: Detroit, Columbus (Expected 1-1-0)
- Overall expected result: 7-6-1, 15 points in 14 games
- Current results: 7-2-1, 15 points after 10 games
Washington has four forwards over 2.00 per 60 at five-on-five (Alex Ovechkin, Lars Eller, Garnet Hathaway and TJ Oshie) plus a couple more hovering (Evgeny Kuznetsov, Nic Dowd). They’re a weird team in that the possession numbers are all over 50 percent, but they’re 21-23 goal differential after 11 games. In 10 games, Edmonton has a possession number of 46.9 but an 18-17 goal differential (this is all five-on-five).
OILERS 2019-20
I would like to see Lagesson inserted into the lineup, but Manning is playing well and it seems unlikely. Joel Persson should be getting close; they said 7-10 days on October 16, that puts us in the window now. For those who really really want to know, here are the lines and pairings after the Tippett shuffle on Tuesday night:
- James Neal-Connor McDavid-Patrick Russell
- Nuge-Leon Draisaitl-Josh Archibald
- Tomas Jurco-Markus Granlund-Alex Chiasson
- Jujhar Khaira-Riley Sheahan-Zack Kassian
- Oscar Klefbom-Ethan Bear
- Darnell Nurse-Kris Russell
- Brandon Manning-Matt Benning
If the lack of goals bleeds into this game (say it’s 2-0 Washington after two) expect MacT level spin cycles on the lines and pairings. I am generally not in favor of it.
CONDORS 2019-20
Kailer Yamamoto is moving past some prominent prospects from a year ago (Cooper Marody, Tyler Benson) in terms of recall buzz. I would encourage you to pay attention, absorb, and then disregard. If the Condors reach 25 games and Yamamoto is setting the woods on fire, then a recall is possible. That said, there’s a long way to go. Bakersfield plays a lot in the coming days, we’ll spend extra time there over the next two weeks. There’s basically nothing you can take from the boxcars and performances early in the season and bank it, beyond health good (Yamamoto) and bad (Starrett).
LOWDOWN WITH LOWETIDE
At 10 this morning, TSN1260, we have a cool show with lots of great chatter. Jason Rogers from NBC Sports Washington and Japers Rink will pop in at 10:20, while Frank Seravalli from TSN joins the party a little later on to talk Oilers funk and John Carlson. 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. Talk soon!
Both Manning and Russell played 2:40 in the third period.
I don’t think I’d do that. Once again, I like what Kassian brings and think he has the assets to play up there for a while. However, I’m convinced the difference in results between him and an 800k isn’t enough to justify the 2.2mil that could be used elsewhere. The extra 2.2mil we might spend on a compliment to what’ll still be the world’s best scoring duo could be the difference between a Zucker/Kreider and a Coyle or a Pageau and a Girgensons.
What a great game and start to the season!
What’s been happening?
1) the bottom 6 is no better at 5v5 (worse even). But the PK is much better.
2) we have a real 2nd line
3) the PP is all world
4) the McDavid line is actually outscoring again (only +2 at 5v5 last year)
5) goaltending has been excellent
6) Bear. Wow. Persson seems useful too.
I don’t think they’ll finish top of the league, but the PDO has corrected to almost reasonable and the team is 8-2-1. Good times, and it seems like there’s more to come.
Did everyone notice Klefbom-Benning was a thing all 3rd period?
Finally Tip listened!
So, I take it you didn’t watch the actual game?
Oilers are 1st in the NHL which is the statement you responded to.
Oilers were the better team last night for almost the entire game – for half the second they weren’t – other than that they were better in all metrics, possession metrics, scoring changes, high danger scoring changes, expected goal differential, etc.
Not sure what your issue is but you “lol” response indicates that you’ve actually got nothing of substance.
We definitely don’t. But at always it depends on the price point. I wouldn’t pay him like a 60 point UFA, but if he wants to stick around for $3M x 3 I’d definitely do that.
I did as well. Several years ago Lowetide was talking about the need for the Oilers to find a right-shot Pat Maroon, and I suggested – on several occasions – that Zack could be that guy.
I agree. Maroon scored 27 next to McDavid, and the next year was on pace for 20. He got a 1 x $1.75M deal from St. Louis.
I like Kassian, but I wouldn’t give him a large contract. Will Holland? I don’t know. Maybe he sees Kassian as a placeholder for Yamamoto or Lavoie.
I think the ideal scenario is finding two decent complementary players to play with McDavid and run a second line of Drai-Nuge-Neal/KY.
That’s probably our best bet at two outscoring lines.
By January I wouldn’t be surprised to see
Drai-McD-Kassian/KY
Nygard-RNH-Neal
Benson-Sheahan-KY/Kassian/Chiasson
Khaira-Marody-Chiasson.
Maybe run the kids on a soft minutes line, put Sheahan with the two vets. I wouldn’t be against trying Gambardell in Khaira’s spot, I thought he looked good last year. Adds a bit more speed.
It’s imperative for Tippett to construct a bottom six than can ease some of the burden off McDavid and Drai’s shoulders
Agreed. That’s not to say he doesn’t have value and wouldn’t be a boon to a playoff run but paying him for his “fit” on that top line isn’t something that brings value. Use Maroon and Kassian as a framework for identifying the kinds of players that could be found for cheaper in the bargain bin. Heavy players with the hands to keep up a bit and the mind that knows where to go. Maybe it’s a guy like Curtis McKenzie or Peter Cehlarik or Zack MacEwen; I don’t know, but that’s the path I think they ought to go down.
Unless Kassian is willing to take around the same as he’s getting now at which point I could be amenable to that.
I did. Just saying.
Having said that it’s important not to fall in love with this guy and overpay him as a UFA.
He’s a nice complimentary player and can play with skill. A year ago everyone here had him pegged as a 4th liner. Now they want to pay him 3 million per year?
Goodness that was a character building win. Caps have incredible structure and familiarity in their lineup and really took it to the Oil in the 2nd. Thought the 3rd would be more of the same but the top line found that extra gear (the other lines, not so much). They played and beat a solid team. For that, we can be happy.
Still, aside from Gags’ chance in the 1st, bottom 6 was nowhere to be heard. Secondary scoring is nonexistent.
Clearly, that’s not a fair stat with the others scoring their goals at 5×5.
We really, really don’t have to pay Kassian. I would recommend against it
Sportsnet StatsVerified account @SNstats · 3h3 hours ago
Most OT Goals in #Oilers History
Leon Draisaitl 8
Connor McDavid 7
Jari Kurri 7
Taylor Hall 5
Ryan Smyth 5
And in two games CMD joins Gretzky, Bossy, Crosby, Selanne. Nieuwie, Lindros as players with max three game scoring droughts through 300 games.
That’s the main Komani code. There are slight varients with various titles. I never would have beat Contra without it.
Jason GregorVerified account @JasonGregor · 2h2 hours ago
Don’t look now but Mikko Koskinen is 5-0. He is the first Oilers goalie in franchise history to win his first five starts of a season. He has a .927sv%. He has been very steady all five games. Big reason Oilers are 8-2-1. #NHL
There has been plenty of talk that this team needed a 1RD to push Larsson to 2RD.
Have we found him?
Well, that was super entertaining. I wondered how this Oilers team would perform against a top tier team… not wondering anymore, these guys look good, for real! This is a different group, playing in a different way. Speed all over the ice, an actual NHL defence, rapid puck movement, on ice confidence, solid (enough) goaltending, creative coaching… the list goes on. Still early days, but all indications are… this team certainly looking better than the previous 11 or 12.
This has been fun to watch. Cautiously beginning to believe. Cautiously regaining hope. Cautiously optimistic.
A team can’t go forward without a 3C. And whatever the org’s intent is for the season, you don’t let the players know that by pulling the rug out from under the line-up. Players will quit on the team and then the fans will… and then you will not just be losing money, but hemorrhaging it.
If they have somebody ready to takeover that role, then maybe, but still not likely till near the TD.
So… anyone still want to throw Bear in as a sweetener to trade Jesse?
What a player.
At this point I don’t think I’d trade Bear for a reasonably signed Taylor Hall.
Great team celebration it’s Leon’s,Connor’s etc team now. The black cloud has shifted 3 hours south.
According to Bob McKenzie on Insider Trading, Brendan Perlini is available from the Hawks. Has only played one game though and skated less than eight minutes.
What if their not interested in winning this year?
Someone like Ottawa would be very interested in a high end prospect wouldn’t they?
JP for JP, great time for a sign & trade
Munny,
Ottawa is losing money and will likely trade Pageaut if they are still in last around Christmas
Not sure how the oilers can fit him in under the cap. What will be the cost?
For real. Bouchard has even better vision. Pronman said nice things about Broberg. Imagine watching an Oilers team with a top tier D corps. Never in my lifetime have I seen that.
May’s a true edmontonian and more importantly West-ender unlike Sellout Hrudey who will suck a golf ball through a garden hose for the Flamers . Back in the day what part of the city you lived in actually mattered it was very territorial (Watch the Warriors 70’s movie for a laugh or two) it was actually like that to some small extent.
There’s actually a name for this, linear crossovers. Here’s a neat little article on it by TSN from 2016 https://www.tsn.ca/crossovers-set-crosby-mcdavid-apart-from-peers-1.602173
That was amaze balls hockey. Best game I’ve seen in years. Listening to the radio, the hosts said “if the oil can just be competitive tonight, it will show they are a serious team”. And I was thinking ThAt same thing when it looked like it was going to be one of those nights where the puck luck just wasn’t there.
Did anyone else notice the huge team celebration on the ice afterwards? It was like they had won a playoff game. This, ladies and gents, if what a TEAM looks like. Even when the bottom 6 aren’t scoring.
Great game by both teams. Great result for the heroes.
He’s literally transformed our defence. Once Larsson returns, I think it’s fair to say that our defence is in the upper half of the league. I’m lovin Nurse. I’m lovin Klef. It just so weird to think that defence will actually be a strength for this team. So bad for so many many years. And it’s only getting better.
Draisaitl’s OT goal is so fast you still don’t quite get it even in slow motion.
Have to pay nurse
Have to pay Kassian
Have to pay Bear
Where will we find the money for Pageaut?
Especially when the leafs miss the playoffs and HRR goes down 10%!!
Problem with that deal is, you need a dance partner who has two 3Cs and is willing to give one up.
No one is going to give their only one up and sabotage their team this early.
Got it. Thought I was missing something. Thanks
Oilers tie the score 3-3
Tippett looks up at the scoreboard clock.
Real coaching!
Kass had a most excellent third period.
Didn’t look of out of place alongside the Living Gords.
Added to plays.
Gouda is the hero,
The rest of the burger is at or below replacement level/60
Lol!
Wtf R U laughing at?
Agreed. His style is very efficient. Makes it look smooth and easy.
Gouda buddy burger,,, outstanding for 3.49 or whatever it was. Forget about the KEG man., Gouda buddy burger you are king of the world.
I also don’t think his style of play is as hard on the body as other Dman. He isn’t skating miles and miles, in fact he almost never tries to go end-to-end or try and out skate a back-checker in order to make a breakout pass.
His big major skill is quickly gaining puck possession down low and making a tape-to-tape break out pass. Usually one that requires him to actually take his time.
Ethan Bear is one of the many reasons why you shouldn’t give Nurse anywhere near $7M per year.
You can’t give that much to someone who could very well be your 4th best defender within 3 years.
Interesting!
+1 on the too PC thing…. on Stauffers show the only interesting expert is John Shannon imo. Louis is getting a little too generic for my taste. bit to ‘corporate’. The worst for that was actually Craig Simpson.
Hope the Caps saved some energy for tomorrow night. Hate to see them lose two in a row. Who are they playing, again?
Alan May was one tough cookie in the west-end back in the day.
If he starts Benning with Klefbom next game, I will be impressed (coaches can be very stubborn).
Al May does a weekly spot on Stauffer’s show in the summer. He’s an entertaining guy….when Stauffer isn’t talking over him.
I concur it is so painful to listen to Remaida Cassie Hrudey with colour commentary Debrusk l like but he’s becoming to PC in the last little while.
Mentioned it above. Brown made a point of it during the post-game on CHED.