Craig Button is a valuable resource for fans of the draft. Why? He’s a scout, former scouting director and gives his opinion on each year’s draft.
It’s a unique perspective and I believe he is underrated by many hockey fans. Memories of his time as general manager in Calgary, or draft misses from yesteryear (every team misses every year) get mentioned often. What doesn’t get mentioned? A strong, informed opinion based on many years of doing the job, available several times a year.
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, check it out here.
- New Lowetide: The most potent lines in Oilers history
- New Daniel Nugent-Bowman: On the time Dave Semenko fought Muhammad Ali
- Lowetide: Why Jan Mysak could be a value pick for the Oilers at the 2020 Draft
- Jonathan Willis: The Oilers overcame malice in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver to join the NHL
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: Remembering Jacques Plante’s brief tenure with the Oilers at age 45
- Lowetide: Oilers need to find (or get) real value in William Lagesson
- Jonathan Willis: Flashback: When ‘Oil Change’ revealed key details of Oilers’ 1979, 2010 drafts
- Lowetide: Edmonton’s Sports Hall of Fame should have 3 founding members
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: Oilers forward Colby Cave dies at age 25
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: ‘The world needs more Colbys’: Teammates and coaches mourn Colby Cave
- Jonathan Willis: What does the Oilers best possible playoff lineup look like?
- Lowetide: Why Jack Quinn is a perfect 2020 draft fit for the Oilers
- Jonathan Willis: For one glorious fall, Alexander Selivanov was the NHL’s most dangerous scorer
- Lowetide: Oilers’ five-on-five with and without Connor McDavid is improving
- Lowetide: Bakersfield Condors forward prospects might need a history lesson
- Lowetide: Craig MacTavish’s most important Oilers moment? Picking Leon Draisaitl
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: If play does not resume, 5 notable questions that will go unanswered in Edmonton
- Lowetide: Making the call on RFA and UFA players on the Oilers’ 50-man roster
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: Q&A: Scott Howson on new AHL job, Oilers’ unsung prospect and development updates
- Lowetide: A look back at reasonable expectations and the Oilers fantastic special teams in 20
THE 2015 DRAFT
I’m using Button’s January list because the June one is nowhere to be found. Notice his ranking both Jones and Bear. That’s impressive. Red Line Report, another quality service, had Bear No. 81 but Jones No. 214. Button’s scouting ability had both men in the top 80. Bottom line: Oilers drafted well and Button did a good job in his ranking. By the way, 45.5 percent of the men chosen in 2015 have played in the NHL. That’s a fantastic number, 2015 should eventually pass 2011 (59.2).
THE 2016 DRAFT
Button’s ranking of Edmonton’s picks in 2016 was a little all over and that’s kind of how the draft has turned out. Plenty of track for this draft, Button liked five of Edmonton’s selections. None of them is bona fide at this time. Oilers badly need one of the players from the second round on to pop. Button didn’t have any of those players in his top 40.
THE 2017 DRAFT
Button liked five men the Oilers drafted in 2017, all of them inside the top three rounds. Yamamoto and Samorukov are tracking well. Notice the ranking on Yamamoto, many Oilers fans have commented on this blog over the years about Yamamoto’s lack of this, that or the other. Button had him top 20 overall.
THE 2018 DRAFT
Bouchard was basically a universal top 10 but Button is the one prominent scout who doesn’t care about consensus. I still read about Bouchard not being able to defend, or lacking enough speed. I don’t think those things will hold him back, and his passing and power-play finesse will both become major advantages.
THE 2019 DRAFT
One of the first things I look at Saturday of draft night is the McKenzie and Button lists. The 2019 draft saw Edmonton grab two of the 20 best players available according to Button. Broberg’s position and style have people discounting his future, I think it unwise to make a decision so soon. At the same time, Lavoie is considered a major piece by some. Again, let’s see how this plays out.
BUTTON’S 2020 TOP 30 (LT)
Fascinating. Button is very strong on Jack Quinn and is remaining true on the Russian goalie. He has a bit of a stubborn streak with the guardiens in my opinion, but Askarov has a lot of fans in the scouting community.
He also likes Lapierre, I faded him a little due to injuries. He likes Foerster too, he’ll be moving up my list but not this far. Near the end of the first round things get wild, Button’s choices are way down my list. That suggests a wild time after about No. 25 overall.
Ran into a problem with The Athletic a few months ago, and solved it today. Apologies to LT, but The Athletic tech support is BRUTAL. Content is great though!
Issue was: Trying to re-subscribe, I was being directed to the European site. Odd, being in Edmonton and on TELUS internet. I tried a couple of things, no luck getting it to resolve to C$ rather than pounds. Actually, fucking annoying. I emailed support a couple of times, didn’t get any response, and finally threatened a charge back on my card…they eventually refunded me, with no solution.
It appears, that since I have UK English as one of 2 languages on my android phone, (it being in the second slot, not the first) with Canadian English being the first slot, their wacky code decided that I was definitely in Good Ol’ Blighty.
I added American English to my phone this morning, set it to the first language slot, resolved the subscription offer again, and suddenly I’m American, with the option of being Canadian!
Then I set it back to Canadian English on my phone, clicked on the offer in my email again on my laptop, and now I’m apparently Canadian again.
Kind of ridiculous. I’m still pissed off that I couldn’t get a damn response from support…very grating. Please, take my money, but take it at the price you promised and not in a foreign currency, if you please. Very frustrating.
Hope this helps anyone else that has seen this issue.
It also adds added responsibilities and can decrease offensive opportunities (plays lower in defensive zone, can’t fly the zone as early) and just adds another layer for him to worry about while trying to transition to the toughest league in the world.
Just think about it – he’s working has ass off trying to “make it” and now, all of a sudden, he’s playing a position he hasn’t since, well, ever (or at least since he was in community hockey)? Seems like a lot.
I guess I came off sounding pretty negative last night but if Puljujarvi himself actually said “Never say never, there is still hope” (or anything closely resembling it), that’s a real softening of his position.
If so, I’d say there’s a solid chance he comes back this fall if no trade happens over the summer.
defmn,
No one smokes crack anymore?
I’m sure you’re right, but given that he’s primarily a setup man with the sensibilities of a center (responsible 2-way player with a high hockey IQ, and great vision), maybe that is what really unlocks his potential.
My guess is that Puljujarvi spends one more season in Europe. After that he will be ready to try the NHL again. I think he will be ready by then and if Holland remains patient he will be at Oilers training camp.
Would love to see Puljujarvi in training camp competing for a roster spot – there are important spots available. There seems to be zero indication that he has an inclination to do that though.
Given Benson spent four years at wing in the WHL and 2 years at wing in the AHL, I don’t see him switching to the “tougher” position to make it to the NHL.
Yeah…heaven forbid a Canadian who has become an international star singing the classics shouldn’t be recognized because she didn’t tick all the bureaucratic boxes.
No wonder you were pissed.
If Benson and Puljujarvi can arrive this year it would be a phenomenal little cluster of 22-year-olds. Yamamoto, Puljujarvi, and Benson are all born within 6 months and 2 weeks of each other.
I think Benson arriving a bit later is understandable and expected with his injuries and not just injuries, but real structural problems for more than 2 years. I’m hoping he blows the doors off this year. I know it’s not a popular idea, but I still think Woodcroft should try Benson at C this year between two scorers like Lavoie and Maximov and see what he can do as a responsible, playmaking, 2-way pivot with some grit in his game. He’s got a bit of Peter Forsberg in his game. I’d like to see Woodcroft capitalize on it.
Lavoie will be in his first AHL season after a great final season in the Q and a Team Canada Gold, but he may not have a lot of help surrounding him. There will be McLeod, Marody, Maximov, and a few decent vets, but nothing to help him continue scoring.
Looking for Maximov to take a big step forward this year. He should get more opportunity. Hopefully he can make it happen.
I don’t have a lot of faith in McLeod getting to the next level. He hasn’t really shown that much offense at any level. But he does have speed and size so maybe he makes it as a bottom 6 checker.
Maybe we’ll be seeing something like this
2021-22
Athanasiou / McDavid / Puljujarvi
Nugent-Hopkins / Draisaitl / Yamamoto
Maximov / Benson / Lavoie
McLeod / Khaira / Kassian
oh yours sounds great, too. I love ribeye, probably my favourite cut of beef. Bone in or no bone?
Smoking a pipe? actually there is a prof at Ryerson I used to see with a tobacco pipe puffing away once in a while, but that’s about the only person I’ve seen in years smoking something that isn’t weed or weed adjacent
They may consider the songs she’s written and recorded here Cancon, I’m not sure. Not that first one though, which imo took away from the spirit of Cancon.
Downtown Calgary joke. 😉
Had many personal interactions with Tommy over the years particularly when we worked to save CKUA .
Can’t imagine a classier individual who was dedicated to music in Canada.
Just mortified that the CanCon bureau would not consider Diana Krall’s work as Canadian.
To this day, she and Elvis spend a ton of time on Vancouver Island.
He arranged an album of standards for Kennedy Jenson (she was in Jenson Interceptor, Tiny Thing and other songs) a couple of decades ago. I saw him multiple times over a two year period at various events, the station played big band and standards at the time.
Anyway, our station played the hell out of Jenson’s record, probably hurt her album sales we played it so much.
I was desperate for Canadian music, added a Diana Krall album to the station, two or three cuts from her first album. I couldn’t count it as Cancon. Drove me nuts. So, I’m looking at the record to find a way to get to two parts MAPL but couldn’t find one damn track.
So I call the CRTC and beg them. I say “she’s perfect, her voice is a gift, she records standards, can’t we make an exception?”
CRTC guy says “it doesn’t qualify, I’m sorry. If you had one of the songs arranged by a Canadian, we could count that”
I say (angrily) “WHO in Canada is qualified to arrange a classic from the 40s, a standard known for decades, for Diana Krall?”
CRTC guy: “Tommy Banks.”
and scene.
Tommy Banks smoked a pipe.
God, we’re so old.?
Hmm. Either Perry Como or Andy Williams.
Tobacco…doesn’t seem to be a thing anymore.
Meth, hashish or tobacco?
Will try that this week.
Am planning to do rib eyes with Garlic Parmesan sauce tomorrow.
Will let you know how that turns out.
Speaking of dudes in tweed jackets with elbow patches…when is the last time you saw someone smoking a pipe?
I agree as well.
And it seems like you’ve been heard.
I don’t imagine Hall will be an Oiler again unless he’s willing to take that massive discount, including on term. With McDavid and Drai, the Oilers’ cap structure can’ sustain another 7-8 X $9M plus contact.
I mean, if Hall would sign 3-5 X $7M and Holland believes he could still re-sign Nuge then, sure, lets do it. Neal would have to be bought out (regular course and maybe even Larsson moved without a significant add to the right D to mitigate).
Don’t see it happening.
+1
I will continue not to use it because I don’t go back and read comments I have already read, that is, I don’t like the button either.
I apologize if you, or anyone else, doesn’t like the conversations that I sometimes have with HH – at least they are related to hockey and the Oilers.
I don’t enjoy the conversations about Covid, music, booze, etc. but I don’t complain about them, i just skim and move to the next post.
Yama, a 22nd year old draft pick, showed up for good in his draft plus 3 season.
Eberle, a 22nd year old draft pick, showed up for good in his draft plus 3 season.
I’m not sure why people were not happy with Kailer’s progress – in particular after watching or reading/hearing reports of his play in the AHL at the end of last year (prior to injury) and, importantly, this year.
As LT has been saying for a while, the only issue with Yamamoto is injury risk – that was the case months ago and remains the case now, in my opinion.
I agree with this for sure which is why I wonder why he’s so low on Button’s current drafted prospects list.
I don’t imagine he’s not at least a 2RD, that is, I see his floor a bit higher than you but I could be wrong on that – not a sure thing but I think a damn good bet to play top 4 minutes most of his career.
Not that he’s a Braggart Rofl or anything.
Who is?
I reckon so.
We are lucky that Tkachuk isn’t patrolling Drai’s wing……
but, wait, Bennett could be that 3C we’ve been chasing for years……..
Fair point. Everything is open to interpretation!! 🙂
I took it the other way. That it was a compliment that Connor plays for the team rather than as an individual.
As did I.
“Near the end of the first round things get wild, Button’s choices are way down my list. That suggests a wild time after about No. 25 overall.”
Does this fit in with the narrative OP has mentioned a few times that he heard somewhere that there is a noticeable drop off after the top 23?
Lapierre’s current shortcomings are considered fixable. Some team is going to get a great kid.
Brennan Klak
@nhlupdate
·
1h
Liiga players with PPG of 0.90-1.00 since 2000 under 22 yrs:
Antti Miettinen
Sebastian Aho
Teemu Pulkkinen
Mikael Granlund
Jarkko Immonen
Aleksi Heponiemi
Alex Barkov
Tuomo Ruutu
Teuvo Teravainen
Jesse Puljujarvi.
Puljujarvi leads all of the above in U22 goals in a season.
So your saying there is a chance????
Pirjo Tepsa
@Tusen_bitar
·
4h
Latest Jesse ”news”:
About Oilers: Never say never, there is still hope.
Wants to play with Aho in Carolina.
His best friends in Oilers
Åberg, Spooner&Lucic!
McD: teamplayer or star. Answer Teamplayer.
Ananas belongs to pizza
If not hockey player, he would be a Personal Trainer
https://twitter.com/Tusen_bitar/status/1251925857549115395
But also…
All his friends are gone.
And is that a little shade being thrown on McDavid?
https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/oilers-mailbag-taylor-hall-jesse-puljujarvi-pizza-toppings/
Much appreciated.
Just a note for aficionados.
Nando’s Piri Piri sauce which is the original produced in South Africa, is sold in most supermarkets in tiny bottles for around $7.
Picked some up in Costco last week for $7.89…for a LITRE.
Spector suggesting that Gagner will sign with the Oilers in the off-season.
Prior to the “speculation” on Slepy coming back, I was on-board with Sammy coming back in that “utility role” – ability to play all over the lineup and fill in for short stints in the top 6 when injuries (or suspensions) occur.
I have dropped the idea thinking Slepy would fill that role and, of course, that isn’t happening next season.
I’d have time for a Gagner re-sign at an amount under 7 figures (or at least under the amount that can be buried in the AHL).
Spector also saying there is zero chance Taylor Hall ever plays for the Oilers again.
And that the Oilers want Puljujarvi to come back and play for them.
BTW – Spector’s take on Hall never playing for the Oilers does not mention Hall not wanting to – he simply points out that there is no cap room.
Yes, the full quote reads a little differently: “Only Holland knows for sure, but I predict a zero percent chance Taylor Hall ever pulls on an Oilers uniform again.”
(Hope that’s not too much quote too soon LT, please inform/delete if it is)
Was this from the radio? If there are tweets or an article the link(s) would be much appreciated.
I’m cool with Gagner returning. He’s useful enough AND it would be doing the player a solid.
Yes, please…do contribute.
well then I suppose I will
I’ve been spending a lot of time tinkering with recipes now that I have more time to cook than I normally do. Worked in the industry for a decade, so I’m no slouch in the kitchen, but since trading in my chef’s jacket for a tweed jacket with elbow patches (not that I ever really dress up to lecture – I’m more of a black t-shirt, jeans and chuck taylors kind of prof), cooking has become much more of a hobby/relaxation method. With the benefit of this extra time, I’m starting to focus a bit more on technique again.
Anyhoo, the thing I’ve been focused on perfecting lately has been carne asada. nearly 5 years ago, I was in arizona for my brother’s bachelor party (his inlaws snowbird there and were kind enough to loan us their house). We planned it around an NFL game since the tailgate party is always a good time. After having traded 100 beers for friendship with a very friendly Mexican-American family and their friends, we joined their crew and were treated to some of the finest tailgate BBQ Mexican food I’ve ever had, including a carne asada made from scratch. I’ve been chasing that dragon ever since.
Below is my current recipe for the marinade – it’s not the same as what I had in the desert, but it’s pretty damn good.
Marinade:
4 limes, freshly squeezed
1/2 blood orange, freshly squeezed
1/4 cup olive oil
1 fresh jalapeno pepper, diced fine
3 cloves garlic diced fine
1 tbsp ancho chili powder (or dried whole ancho, chopped fine)
1 tbsp chipotle powder
1/2 bunch cilantro, chopped fine
salt and pepper to taste
(optional – 2 to 3oz mezcal; I think it really adds depth to the marinade but it isn’t necessary)
Mix well and refrigerate for 6-24 hours to let the elements come together
Carne Asada prep:
place 1 flank steak (1.5-2.5 lbs) into a large freezer bag
add 3/4 of the marinade to the bag
seal and toss until the steak is fully coated
Let the steak sit in the bag for 4-24 hours (longer is better, but it’s still quite flavourful even with a short marinade time)
Cook time:
preheat BBQ to 450
Cook 6-8 minutes per side depending on how you like your steak and how thick it is
let rest for 10 minutes
cut against the grain and serve
(I’ve been using the remainder of the marinade to use as a base to sauté peppers mushrooms and onions and make carne asada fajitas)
enjoy
New for The Athletic: Comparison of Oilers, Flames drafts 2010-19 closer than it should be
https://theathletic.com/1757726/2020/04/19/lowetide-comparison-of-oilers-flames-drafts-2010-19-closer-than-it-should-be/
Once I came home and someone had put a bullet through my apartment front door. Shit happens lol and people are crazy and thats never going to change.
If you walked/swam about 3.5 km a bit northeast from where that shooter in NS was taken out, you would be on Sid Crosby’s dock at his summer lake house. What a mess.
Thats the funny thing about small markets. They rarely show much aside from hoping to copy their “betters”, which has incidentally been how Canada’s been run since the days of the Family Compact.
I always thought someone bright in the UK could establish a 4 team league based more or less on ethnicity. Plenty of Canadians and Americans and Russians to get things kicked off. And the rivalries would truly be epic.
So, on tonight’s menu is Tequila Shrimp Bisque.
Whenever (often) we eat shrimp we always save the shells and freeze them in a zip lock bag so we always have the ability to make seafood stock…and that’s where to start.
You will need about a pound of shrimp to make this so the shells from those will do the trick.
Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add shrimp shells, salt and pepper and cook, stirring frequently, until they begin to brown, about 5 minutes. Add 8 cups water. Simmer uncovered for 25 minutes. Strain, discarding solids. Voila…seafood stock!
Saute one pound (or more) shrimp or prawns in butter until opaque. Set aside.
In the same pan, sauté diced carrots, celery, onion and preferred herbs over medium heat until soft.
Remove pan from the heat and add 1/2 cup tequila. Return to heat and set the mixture on fire…then stir until almost evaporated.
Add your shrimp stock, season to taste and depending on your tolerance…add some hot sauce (I always use Nando’s Piri Piri sauce) and a couple of tablespoons of tomato paste.
Set aside a few whole shrimp for garnish and chop the remaining shrimp into pieces and add to the stock.
Now puree the mixture in a blender…strain again and then return to a clean pot and add 1/2 cup of whipping cream and a lash of lemon juice (optional) and heat over a medium burner.
Adjust seasonings to taste and then serve in a large bowl garnished with remaining shrimp and some chives in the centre. (you can also add croutons if you like).
Sounds more difficult than it really is.
Enjoy!
are we turning this into a cooking blog now?
If so, count me in!
This sounds tasty, I look forward to procuring the ingredients next time I go to the store.
Have you ever watched Kenji Lopez-Alt? If not you should check him out on youtube or go to seriouseats.com. Tons of great recipes and he has really great cooking techniques/explanations.
Will do…thanks.
Thanks again for these.
Heh. I feel like Notts could’ve done a better job here, naming their franchise.
Panthere? What Panthers?
They couldn’t go with the Notthingham Sheriffs, Nottingham Merry Men, Nottingham Hoods… something, anything more relevant lol.
Unless you are Al Murray, Tampa Bay’s Director of Amateur Scouting who has been knocking it out of the park for a very, very long time.
https://www.nhl.com/lightning/team/hockey-staff/al-murray
So what do we think he’s got? A sixth sense? Proprietary metrics? Expert jawline measurements?
That’s the tough thing about drafting–you get so few kicks at the can, and so many variables are well beyond your control (injury, development, opportunity, the goddam weather).
Even someone with a *relatively* long and successful track record may have found 25 players in 10 drafts out of 60 picks and a few thousand eligibles. So even if he’s marginally better than most it’s still tough to say “that guy always hits it out of the park”.
I guess my point is that it’s more of a lottery than we tend to make it out to be.
+1
He had Jon Cooper developing his pick in the AHL for the first half of his tenure in Tampa. And Jon Cooper as the NHL coach monitoring the development of prospects for the 2nd half of his tenure.
Is it Murray, Cooper, or both together?
Considering that TB has drafted generally in the middle to late in most recent drafts, their ability to extract players from later rounds is remarkable.
Here are some numbers I dug up:
NHL GP 2014-17 (rounds 3-7)
1. TB 399
2. NSH 282
3. VAN 271
4. SJS 263
5. FLA 233
6. NJD 217
7. BOS 212
8. CAR 206
9. ANA 200
10. OTT 180
Add to that they haven’t whiffed on a first round pick since 2006, I would think there is more going on here than luck.
I wasn’t intending to quibble about anything but about 30 seconds of looking at 2014 draft results has me questioning the numbers above.
I assume the totals are GP by players drafted in rounds 3-7 from 2014-2017… Seems clear.
But Nashville drafted Arvidsson in the 4th rd 2014. He’s played 335 games, more than their total above.
And Carolina drafted Foegele in the 3rd and Wallmark in the 4th in 2014. They’ve played 314 games between them, again more than above.
Figured I’d stop there and figure out where the confusion is.
The numbers I quoted are more than a year old.
Am too lazy to adjust them but I imagine TB I still out in front.
That explains it. Yes, I expect TB is still in front.
That would be a super early snapshot though, basically just players from 2014 and 2015 who made it to the NHL quickly. Likely holds going forward but not necessarily.
Lol.
That made me go looking for Chris Dilks’s bio…
All that’s out there is he’s the Managing Editor for College Hockey at SBN.
A Chris Dilks played for the Nottingham Panthers in the early 90s, dunno if it’s the same one. SBN writers tend to be in their 20s, however Dilks has been a contributor there for 10 years already.
P.S. – Still dislike the multiple reply buttons. Harder to follow a thread IMO.
I know it was created so we didnt have to read the HH / OP bickering but I used to just gloss by those …..
Agree.
Definitely agree
And both of those souls rarely use it.
It’s great for keeping OT convos tight though.
What,
And risk the chance that people might not scroll up to read one of their brilliant retorts?
Perish the thought
It’s a “sticky function” though… once you have it activated you have to remember to cancel it if you’re not going to use it, or have decided to reply elsewhere first. That’s bit me in the ass a couple of times.
Thank you for this. Sincerely.
For what?
For using agglomeration…. a far more accurate representation of Bob’s work than the more usual term here: consensus list.
Found this piece on Cooper Marody from his draft year that has quite a bit to say about his ‘blazing speed’.
https://www.sbncollegehockey.com/2015/6/19/8812973/cooper-marody-scouting-report-nhl-draft-prospect-profile
oilersjo:
Good to see Ozzy Wiesblatt the Crazy Train is moving up.Some hockey players are just straight out fun to watch.
—————
Crazy Train has a cool story. He has 3 brothers (& 1 sis); all unique names and all Junior Hockey Players. Ocean, Orca and Oasiz . Both parents are deaf. SO i cheer like heck for the kids to do well OZzy has the highest pedigree.
Go Weisblatt’s Go
I think there is a fair amount of truth to this. There has been studies showing that people with 4 or 5 pieces of key information make just as good or better decisions than people with 10X more information, even though those with more info are more confident about their decisions. Everybody thinks they are above average in their decision-making, but that ain’t true.
UNLESS you are Tampa Bay, and you have 9 above average drafts in a row.
LT: Notice the ranking on Yamamoto, many Oilers fans have commented on this blog over the years about Yamamoto’s lack of this, that or the other. Button had him top 20 overall.
I loved Yamamoto’s game last night. If he can play mostly injury free for 10 years, that would be fantastic. It only took a couple of years to get there. If only the conveyor belt moved the same for all drafted players.