A year ago around this time, the TSN trade board had two Oilers as possible exit options (Cam Talbot No. 8, Jesse Puljujarvi No. 34) along with three completed deals (the trifecta: trading Chris Wideman, acquiring Brandon Manning and Alex Petrovic). Vancouver’s Sam Gagner was on the list at No. 44, he would eventually find his way back to Edmonton.
This year’s list is just 20 deep, but there’s more interest among Oilers fans than a year ago. Why? Edmonton could be buyers. Hallelujah! Amen.
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, less than two coffees a month offer here.
- New Lowetide: ‘Connor McDavid: Whatever It Takes’ works as breaking news, drama and personality profile
- New Lowetide: Oilers prospects Evan Bouchard and Tyler Benson deliver best minor league performances in 20 years
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: ‘Hey, Sparky, can you do that?’: How the Oilers’ AHL video coach got his start as the Islanders’ mascot.
- Eric Duhatschek: ‘He’s special’: The people who know him best tell the story of how Leon Draisaitl took the NHL by storm
- Pierre Lebrun: Where all 31 teams stand one month before the trade deadline
- Lowetide: What do Connor McDavid’s best lines tell us about his optimal linemates?
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: I was an AHL coach for a day: Here’s what I learned
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman and Jonathan Willis: Oilers player poll: From the serious to the silly, the players weigh in on best dressed, most superstitious and more
- Thomas Drance: Inside how ‘Okanagan boy’ Ken Holland helped bring back the Penticton Young Stars tournament
- Jonathan Willis: Oilers minor-league defenceman Brandon Manning suspended five games for racial slur
- Jonathan Willis: An updated list of which Oilers are most likely to be traded in 2019-20
- Lowetide: Kailer Yamamoto gives Oilers a midseason spark, one of the best in team history
- Lowetide: With the Oilers’ minor-league goaltending not good enough, Ilya Konovalov might be the answer
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: Josh Archibald, Riley Sheahan show the upward trend of Ken Holland’s offseason moves for the Oilers
- Lowetide: Post-Christmas performance spike has Evan Bouchard pushing for an NHL job with the Oilers
- Lowetide: Central Scouting’s midseason list offers Oilers some strong draft options
- Jonathan Willis: The Oilers’ road forward — and perhaps to a Stanley Cup — requires trusting the kids on defence
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: Deciding what to do with Darnell Nurse, Mike Smith, Tyler Benson and Evan Bouchard
- Lowetide: Ken Holland’s targets for his first trade deadline with the Oilers.
- Lowetide: Ken Holland’s trade deadline options for the Oilers
- Jonathan Willis: Zack Kassian’s breakout performance presents Oilers GM Ken Holland with a familiar dilemma
- Lowetide: Complete Oilers top 20 prospects list, winter 2019
KEITH GRETZKY’S DEADLINE LIST LAST YEAR
I suggested at the deadline last year the interim general manager Keith Gretzky should try to offload as many veterans as possible. That list included Cam Talbot, Alex Petrovic, Brandon Manning, Matt Benning, Alex Chiasson, Ryan Spooner and Tobias Rieder. Gretzky did in fact deal Talbot and Spooner, with Petrovic and Rieder leaving over the summer.
I also suggested Gretzky acquire a scoring forward with term, and he grabbed Sam Gagner. My idea was to aim higher but teams aren’t selling players they need at the deadline.
I further suggested Gretzky find a righty defenceman (with term) who could play between Larsson on the top pair and Benning, Bear, Bouchard or Persson on the third pair. The answer was Bear.
Finally, I recommended a backup goalie who could push Koskinen. He was playing for Calgary at the time, and Mike Smith has had two solid runs this season for Edmonton.
OILERS CURRENT 50-MAN
KEN HOLLAND’S DEADLINE LIST
It looks like the Oilers will arrive at the deadline as a buyer. The TSN list has several quality options that would be ideal for Edmonton. I think the Oilers would do well to pursue a player under control. That would include Detroit Red Wings winger Andreas Athanasiou, or Columbus RW Josh Anderson. The price point on either man would be dear, not sure there’s a match there for Holland.
The top end of the rental (UFA) side will also be dear. The idea of having Chris Kreider on McDavid’s wing is a dream, but it’s going to cost the moon. I think Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Tyler Toffoli will also come in at prices the club will consider too expensive.
At the lower end of the Chiarelli list there are names like Ryan Donato (has a year left) and Craig Smith that might offer Holland an upgrade for the current roster while also working on a budget. I’ll throw NJD Miles Wood in here too, although he’s not on the TSN list, and Jason Zucker because he may be on the TSN list again if the Wild slide down the standings in the West.
REMNANTS AND ROLL ENDS
Jesse Puljujarvi is having a solid year and would have value, I always thought he would fit with the Rangers, Hurricanes or Blues. We’ll see and it’s probably a summer trade.
William Lagesson has to be traded before fall and waivers at the start of the 2020 season. It’s him or Caleb Jones and Jones has the contract. I think the deadline might be the place to make the trade, although Holland moves by sundial.
Jujhar Khaira gets mentioned as a player who could be heading out of Edmonton, but his poor play over the last while (month?) have him outside the lineup. If value is going to be built between now and the deadline, Khaira will need to play and play well. He is a strong PKer.
I will guess that Holland has decided to offer his second-round pick at the deadline, in hopes he can give the team a push into the playoffs. He might be able to get it back on the draft floor (Puljujarvi) this summer.
CONDORS 2019-20
Stuart Skinner is making all the stops in January and the Condors are back in the playoff race after winning three in a row. Noticeable are Stuart Skinner, Evan Bouchard, William Lagesson, Matt Benning and Dmitri Samorukov. Adding Benning has given the team’s defense real structure, there’s a lesson there.
Up front, Josh Currie has been scoring at an impressive clip, Tyler Benson went 1-2-3 on the weekend and Markus Granlund is a top flight player at this level. Will we see a recall in the coming days?
NHL Guide and Record book. 🙂
I also liked the part of the discussion where they pretty much wrote off Vancouver in the playoffs. The Canucks regular success is dependant on generating lots of PP chances and when the refs put away their whistles, the Canucks may not be able to win the games with less PP opportunities.
On the other hand, that bodes well for Edmonton as we don’t generate near as many PPs but the ones we get, we’re more efficient at scoring goals. In playoff games, that could easily tilt the balance on a close series.
Must be something missing from his game.
No idea what that might be.
That line about how Chayka used the CSA data to glean that one of Keumper’s goaltending attributes was a strong “fit” for their defensive tendencies is exactly how I’d want the Oilers to identify the next goalie they acquire.
Sadly, I believe you’re right and the Oilers are just opening NHL.com and looking at the top save percentages
A lot of the goalie opinions that I respect (Woodley and Cat SIlverman at the top of that list) all rave about Clear Sight Analytics and how they measure expected goals.
That’s the company that ex-NHL goalie Steve Valiquette started.
Its not *way* for off what the public stuff has as far as I have been able to tell (which isn’t too much…), but it is different enough that one will be superior to the other and I’d bet on CSA.
There is no doubt that teams are using this data to make better goalie hiring decisions.
I highly doubt EDM is among those teams.
He certainly doesn’t seem to be a Peluso type face puncher.
That said, he’s 28, a monster, and not in the NHL. He’d be there if he could be there.
That said, his AHL salary is $350K so he’s valued by the CGY org.
Me too.
No fucking kidding
They are playing Jones because he helps the team as well
You were speculating why Lagesso. Wasn’t playing. I was suggesting a possible reason.
Golden! I love the insight on defensive environment affecting goalie performance and cross slot plays affecting goalie styles. It makes total sense.
I really liked their suggestion of Lehner to Edmonton…
I don’t think they need Elite talent to play with McDavid.
They just need higher end “middle” players, which is very doable in a cap system, especially if you draft well.
EDM is playing lower end “middle” players or “gritensity” players (using the puckiq data) in that spot now.
Even McDavid gets help from higher end help.
It seems highly unlikely because we don’t have access to Russell’s 10-team trade list. If we did, picking targets would be much easier. But my point is that, in the absence of that information, there are hockey trades out there that make sense.
I think the nature of the cap is that we will never, except for brief periods, have elite talent all over the top 6. It’s just too expensive when you are paying 2 guys $21 million. Having high picks pan out helps a lot though for those brief windows at the end of ELC where they can really out-play their contract. Benson and Yamo both paid peanuts next year, and if they can play top 6 minutes. that will be wicked good.
I think Benson has elite passing, not as good as Drai, but really skilled. His boardwork is also plus and those 2 traits could make him a nice fit with McDavid. Shifting him and Neal between L1 and L4 for the rest of this year might work out well for both guys.
3C is where I try make a splash. If Nashville is out then you push hard for Bonino.
If they call up Benson, likely not for a game or two, what are your thoughts on these lines….Unicorns
Neal-McD-Kass
Nygard-Draisaitl-Yamo
Benson-Nuge-Archie
JJ/Haas-She-Chiass/Gags
Never really played with lines before however this could give us some depth and allow Benson to break in on the third line with skill…
Let me hear your thoughts…..no need to hear your thoughts Godot….Kassian plays way too high up here and he is being zoomed by 97…
Got it!
It would be nice to see unicorns but I think the team is shy on top 6 W to make this happen. Maybe next year???
If I were to get all Unic- horny with the current line up + Benson.and I were coach I would try this…After seeing if Benson can contribute and be effective @ NHL level…
Benson-McDavid-Kass
Nyg-Drai-Yamo
Arch-Nuge-Neal
Shea-Haas-Chia (Shea taming most faceoffs, but bigger body for the boards and Haas is faster and a better play maker)
Nurse-Bear
Klef-Lars
Jones-Benning
If Neal still blows goats at 5-5 then L3 becomes
JJ-Nuge-Arch
I don’t disagree with anything you’ve said (though Broberg *could* be a top 4 D sooner than that).
But trading a potential 10 year solution for 4 years of a top 6 winger isn’t always a good decision.
Any more you can give us on this? (sorry if you elaborated at some point and I missed it).
A somewhat reputable source? Or true speculation/theory?
Fascinating, and a ton of implications if there’s any truth to the theory.
Just a theory/speculation that I didn’t come up with.
No source.
Thanks. Interesting idea regardless.
I agree that
xx-McDavid-xx
Nuge-Draisaitl-Yamamoto
Should be able to keep winning their minutes.
I posted similar stuff this week on the bottom 6 holding their own since Nov 1. The question is can they keep it up? Is this real?
I still find it difficult to believe/accept after 2.5 months. What’s your take? Do you think it’s real?
Why do you figure it took him 1.5+ yrs in the Flames system to get a call to the bigs?
Of course it would but, of course, its not going to happen.
Holland said straight up we aren’t selling – we may not be buying but we won’t be selling.
Anything short of a collapse and we won’t be selling.
We actually have lots to sell if we were out of it – not high end but Kass would get a solid return, Archie and Sheahan would have a bit of value for middling picks. Not sure Haas or Nygard would get much but the other three.
Really?
Leivo’s PP TOI/game is 228th in the league at 1:51
But carry on.
https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_2020_skaters-time-on-ice.html
+1000
Yawn
Top top pp TOI per game guys get 4 min and they eat up all the pp min
Canucks guys get 4 min plus
And Leivo gets 2 min
The amount of pp time they get is absurd
Leivos pp time a game is 30 seconds or less than guys like Seguin and Barzal
If we trade roster players for picks, it’s like we’re giving up on the season. Imagine the reaction from players if Kassian is traded for a late second round pick. Geez, that would be ugly.
I was talking about the Bouchard call-up.
Leivo was on pace for more than 40 points when injured.
Opportunity is a thing.
I think Holland and Tippett are focussed on winning games as opposed to showcasing depth d-men for trades.
If only age mattered when discussing prospects….
Many say no but what does that have to do with your post.
You used the player as an example of the team’s great pro scouting finding these top 6 players for cheap.
Whether Kassian is a legit top 6 winger has nothing to do with your incorrectly used example.
Tough night for Rafferty at the skills………
Rafferty missed the last four Comets games with an injury.
Understandable.
I’m surprised he showed up.
There’s more to Buddy Robinson than meets the eye.
He’s described as a good skater and is a childhood friend of Gaudreau who was instrumental in getting Robinson into the Calgary system.
https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/flames-robinson-hopes-achieve-dream-playing-bff-gaudreau/
That type of trade seems highly unlikely to me. In that particular proposal, I don’t see Rusty waiving his clause.
So much for behave yourselves boys the league will be watching.
Expecting a lot of Gladiator are you not entertained memes.
The world record for penalty minutes in a game is 871. In NHL its 419. How close will we get?
https://www.sbnation.com/2016/12/5/13845436/sweden-junior-hockey-teams-871-penalty-minutes-in-one-game-nhl-record
A few notes before the Stretch Sprint ® gets underway.
As OP has noted, Parayko is returning from injury for St. Louis.
Stephen Johns will be back with Dallas after scoring 4 points in a two game conditioning stint in the AHL. This makes their D even more formidable.
Darcy Kuemper and Antti Raanta are now healthy for the stretch drive for Arizona.
Michael Ferland has been practising with the Canucks. No idea how effective he will be.
Brian Little expected back shortly for the Jets.
William Karlsson and Cody Glass expected to play after the break.
Dont be silly
Antti Raanta is never healthy
Are you expecting points from Johns?
Preventing goals is not an issue. Doesnt help them scoring goals
St. Louis is in their own league so it doesnt concern us.
Arizona made the mistake of thinking 935 sp was the team and bought on Hall who is their only first line player. If they dont get 935 sp back they will be selling him
Ferland is a walking concussion and a near future buyout.
Jets only go as far as they one goaler takes them
Taking off your helmet is 2min unsportsmanlike penalty.
Doesn’t mean I would surprised if Kassian did it though………
It wouldn’t surprise me if they move Larsson and keep Russell this summer.
They cost near the same and Larsson can bring back a decent player.
They’d keep Russell around for “top 4 RD” insurance if Bouchard couldn’t do it (I’m assuming they plug Bouchard in there, but its a reasonable assumption)
You’re welcome. Glad those posts get read.
I am of the opinon that if McDavid plays with An Actual NHL Top 6 Talent he might crack 60% GF on a regular basis and that covers a lot of team sins.
He and Drai fell apart and I think it was because they tried to pass to each other too often and seemed to be confused on who F1 was (they both did flybys the slot a little too often, and didn’t seem to worry about picking up their check, but Drai was much worse)
It seems that both Drai and McDavid have been coached up by Tippett in this respect and are both doing better.
I don’t necessarily want them back together, but McDavid really needs some skill on his line.
The amount of scoring opportunities he creates that get missed and plays that die with his wingers is soul crushing when they lose.
Weakest spot today (as LT showed) is Neal at LW so I agree Benson should get some time there before Holland decides to spend on that spot.
Upgrading both RW and LW would be great.
73pts in his last 105 AHL games for 0.70/gm which is nothing to sneeze at.
High-ish PIMs, but not “fighter high”, although he probably does fight occasionally.
With that size and those point totals my guess is that he can’t skate at the NHL level.
If he could he’d be there.
With body checks or his fists??
I am liking the dark navy/orange Condors jerseys the boys are rocking at the Ahl skills comp tonight
I was joking and mostly agree. If some goon wants to fight Kass (or even Looch wants to go) I would have Kass just point to the bench, or where ever Tkachuk is, and say only him. Nobody else gets that dance card. Even if Tkachuk wants to go, if I’m Kass I pop my lid, then dare him to do it. If he doesn’t then skate to the bench. Tkachuk is going to try weasel out of this and you drag it out as much as possible to effect his game and shrink his already pea-sized balls.
Parayko has missed the last 7 games but he’ll be back for the Blues tomorrow (and Edmonton later in the week).
I love Larsson but if I can grab the dynamic Ehlers I do it.
Woodguy v2.0,
Thanks for that. The bottom 6 holding their own since Nov 1 was my impression but nice to have it backed up by numbers. If McDavid can continue to score with Neal and Kass, Drai can make hay with RNH and Yamo, and Shea/Ny/Arch keep going, all we have to do is tinker with L3.
I’d call up Benson, and play him with Haas and Chase to start. If he does well, then I’d experiment with him on McDavid line. Really want Bonino for 3C though (since he has another year on his contract) and wonder if Nashville does JP and Russell.
Showcasing /advertising) Jones for trade
Letting Lags get paid a bit more to keep him happy and get him familiar with nhl routine
If only slap shots from the point were an important part of the game.
That would be a poor decision, in my opinion, on the GMs part. Of course, would go 100% against his track record so I’m not overly concerned.
Fair enough in premise – rental for rental.
Don’t think that particular trade makes the Oilers better heading in to crunch time – even with the higher “skill”.
I’m quite happy the flames are calling up career AHLer in their late 20s in the name of toughness.
Peluso doesn’t even have an NHL contract and, even if he did, leave him right where he is, in the AHL.
Efff “settling the score” – let the flames “run around” and take PIMs – get the 2 points, in regulation.
Previous record was Chara at 108.8.
Whoa, after almost every player in the low 90s, sometimes mid-90s, Ferk goes 104 and then 109.
Geezus…… record.
i’m sure if Nurse felt it was a cheap shot like you do he would have stood up for his captain.
The clean disposition of K. Russell is primary this off-season but I think it may me MUCH harder than you think. Sure, $1.5M of real cash to be paid is a plus but, at the end of the day, the $4M cap hit is the $4M cap hit and, as we’ve seen this year, cap space is a huge asset for most teams – most teams are up or over the cap.
I’m sure owners will always want to spend less real cash but there are very few teams actively looking for big cap hits relative to cash outlay for cap reasons.