In the summer of 1969, Rejean Houle was chosen No. 1 overall in the NHL draft by the Montreal Canadiens. He led the OHA in points, scored 53 goals and appeared destined for a storied NHL career as an impact offensive winger.
In 1971 spring, Houle began taking more of the load away from linemate John Ferguson on the Habs’ checking line. That spring cemented Houle’s reputation as a checker, partly because he was very good at it and partly because he was unable to dominate the NHL offensively. He was an effective two-way winger, scored 30 goals once, but his one regret came from not bringing all of his junior offense with him to the show. Welcome to the club, Mr. Houle.
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: Mike Green’s playoff role and possible future with the Oilers
- New Lowetide: Oilers’ most likely recalls from Bakersfield for the playoff run
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: ‘We rallied and regrouped’: How the Oilers won the 1990 Stanley Cup
- Lowetide: Why Kailer Yamamoto represents ‘Money Puck’ value for NHL teams
- Lowetide: Exploring hidden-gem draft options for the Edmonton Oilers
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: ‘He set his place in history’: On Bill Ranford’s Conn Smythe run, 30 years later
- Jonathan Willis: Why NHL teams should gamble on defencemen over forwards later in the draft
- Jonathan Willis: Oilers’ offseason decisions will be influenced by 2021 Seattle expansion draft
- Jonathan Willis: Ken Holland’s likely approach to the Oilers’ offseason goalie question
- Lowetide: Oilers GM Ken Holland should shop for picks at the draft
- Lowetide: Exploring Oilers prospect Ryan McLeod’s possible NHL path
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: Ales Hemsky on his health, alumni games, tough opponents and the Oilers’ stars
- Lowetide: Swedish export Noel Gunler offers Oilers a worthy draft target
Ryan Kuffner
I haven’t written on Kuffner because his story, like that of Gaetan Haas, has some things that are difficult to explain. Let’s start with the Red Wings glowing release on him back on his signing day (March 12, 2019).
Kuffner, 22, has spent the last four seasons at Princeton University, where he totaled 75 goals in 132 games to become the university’s all-time leading goal scorer. During his senior campaign in 2018-19, Kuffner’s 22 goals led the ECAC and was fourth in the nation. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound forward also led the nation this season in points-per-game (1.419). During his junior year, Kuffner paced Princeton with 29 goals and was second on the team in scoring with 52 points en route to being named a Second-Team All-American and helping the Tigers to an ECAC Tournament Championship and an automatic berth into the NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament. In all, Kuffner recorded 152 points (75-77-152) in 132 games with Princeton. He was also a member of the ECAC All-Academic Team in each of his first three seasons (2015-18), with awards for this season to be announced in the coming weeks.
By year, Kuffner’s NHLE’s in college were 14.8, 24.3, 33.2, 32.6. He had 75 goals on 485 shots in 132 games. That’s a 15.5 shooting percentage and 3.67 shots per game. One never knows but, turning pro at age 22 (when he signed), with that kind of resume, expectations of pro success were real.
His pro career has seen Kuffner in chase mode. His NHL shots per game (eight shots in 10 games) and points per game (no points in 10 games) suggest he is not getting to the play. In 100 five on five minutes, DRW were 0-3 goals, 33-69 shots. His on-ice save percentage was .957, otherwise the goal share would have been a blood bath.
Kuffner’s AHL numbers are interesting. In 32 games with Grand Rapids, he scored 6-3-9 on 44 shots. He posted 1-1-2 on the power play, 5-2-7 at even strength. His shooting percentage was 13.6 and he averaged 1.38 shots per game.
His four Bakersfield games are even more interesting, partly because Eric Rodgers rocks and supplies us with great information. Two assists, one on the power play and one at evens, seven shots, 2-1 goal differential at even strength. Rodgers estimated Kuffner 13:53 a night, just shy of 13 at even strength. So, Kuffner posted one even strength point in just shy of 52 minutes (1.16 points per 60).
What about Ryan?
I have Kuffner behind Nuge, Athanasiou, Neal, Nygard, Benson, Gambardella on the depth chart, close to Ostap Safin and ahead of Nolan Vesey. Is he worth signing? He’s a shooter with two-way acumen and the Oilers need those player-types. His pro career so far is not strong.
Grant McCagg’s Recrutes 2020 NHL Draft Guide is out, featuring a mock from Simon Boisvert and contributions from Brock Otten. There’s so much talent there, I could see Holland trading down in the first round to grab a pick inside the top 100 overall.
LOWDOWN WITH LOWETIDE
A fun show this morning, we get started at 10, TSN1260. Jonathan Willis from The Athletic will help me compile the ideal Oilers roster for the opening night of the playoffs and talk draft seeding. Ryan Rishaug from TSN joins us at 11 to talk about the NHL’s timeline for return. 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. Talk soon!
Either way it is risky to engage them in this way. I’ve seen the Hawks suck other teams into it as well. They get everyone running around and the turnover ratio skyrockets!
So listening to Daly from last night, there is no problem getting player to the US or Canada – professional athletes have now been deemed essential in the US and, in Canada, the federal government allows travel in for work purposes.
The issue with Canada, and potentially have a hub city (or both) in Canada is the 14-day mandatory quarantine.
They are dealing with the federal government on that and have been in discussions.
In other words, Edmonton will add a pretty nice player to the 50-man this summer; and if not, it means they went all the way to the Cup finals. I’m happy with these options.
They could do a Roman-style decimation style situation whereby all lawyers and bankers enter a lottery and every 10th one of them is immediately liquidated.
ADD: Every so-called democratic legislative body from state/provincial level to federal lol
I always thought it was the Oilers who turned up always to play the Hawks ready for a 60 minute shootout, and it was the Blackhawks politeness that always had them obliging.
The least McDavid + Draisaitl + Nurse + Bear + Yamamoto + Larsson can do is repay the compliment.
Consolation Prize: Lottery chances for the loser which makes it basically a total win-win for each team…brilliancy prize to whoever thought of it.
– Can we still sign Ty Rattie for preseason/playoffs?
– A Chicago series could be tricky. They try to slip you into a track meet game, and in many years now, the Oilers have usually obliged. Tippett will have to rein in his checkers for this to go our way.
– Not playing home teams at home is silly. If their city is chosen, good for them.
– I really hope no one gets sick.
No wonder Shakespeare wanted to kill all the lawyers
oilersfan,
I think the league/PA are doing the best they can with a situation that is going to leave several constituents unhappy with whatever format they choose
If the Oilers lose to Chicago and get a pick no worse than 15 overall, I’d enjoy my summer a little more, and take a small positive out of this shit sandwich of a situation
Gerta Rauss,
Thanks for doing thAt work
There is something really messed up with how well Chicago is doing in this…
Seems to me if they lose the oilers should get the 8th pick that Chicago would get
From Scott Burnside’s piece over at the Athletic
The remaining top 15 draft picks will go to the remaining bottom seven teams and the eight teams that lose in the play-in round in inverse order of their points percentage at the time of the pause.
It’s tough to say exactly where the Oilers would pick based on your criteria, but it would be no worse than 15th..I guess it depends who else loses in the play in round and if they have a better regular season points percentage than the Oilers
*edit- I did the legwork…below are the PP% of the teams that would apply to the above scenario
PIT .623%
CAR .596%
NYI .588%
EDM .585%
So if the OIlers lose to CHI, and do NOT get a lottery win, the worst they would pick is 15th, and they could pick as high as 12th, provided that PIT, CAR, and NYI also get bounced in the play in round
Can anybody explain where do the oilers draft if they lose to Chicago then lose the draft lottery?
Is it 8th where Chicago would have picked?
16th because they are the highest ranked team of the non playoff teams?
Or 23 because that’s where they are now?
Ok, so?
Back to Ryan Kuffner, I wonder if our astute GM makes a deal involving Benning with the Leafs and as part of the package we see Max Veronneau coming back. If you look at both of Kuffner and Veronneau’s careers, as teammates in the OJHL and at Princeton they appeared to have quite the chemistry and they clearly stirred the drink in New Jersey during their 4 yrs in the NCAA.
It would be very interesting how they would do with Ryan McCleod or if Benson* is in Edmonton, Cooper Marody as their Centerman.
Lets see if either TO or Edm makes a play for either player, my money is on Holland via Benning…..
*fixed
Well it is like an offseason
Except you are coming back for 2 exhibition games and 8/24 teams for at best 5 games before going back to an offseason
AB Premier already on record at a press conference that the bubble could count and that the feds are agreeable in principle with the Ab/Oiler approach.
As you say no guarantee that feds will sign off on a concrete proposal.
Expecting the NHL wants 2 US sites even if this is not an issue
or fill the seats with 10,000 cardboard cut-outs of Brogan Rafferty!
Either that or my other, more profitable idea and the the hotel staff can sit in luxury boxes…..
I have felt all season that Tippett’s blind spot has been Smith. And Smith the rover really scares me; for a wizened vet, he sure takes a lot of pretty crazy risks that seem to have limited rewards IMO.
Crawford scares me, but Smith scares me more, lol.
Even though the regular season is technically over, the Lucic pick is not necessarily safe.
As I’ve been saying, the strict wording of the condition won’t necessarily be the end all and be all of the regular season isn’t completed.
TBD.
Agree that Koskinen should be the starter. Also agree Tippet goes with Smith.
Need McDavid to take things over. He should be ready to hit yet another gear as he’ll be jacked to get into a playoff series again
I got the Oilers in 4!
Per Friedman:
Couple of other notes from Return-to-Play protocol: Two exhibition games per team; 28 skaters and as many goalies as you wish to carry
Roster size could change but that’s the current discussion.
Yup, DeHaan is a solid addition. Oilers get Mike Green back as well.
I’ll take the Oilers defence overall over the Hawks – not even to mention the Oilers depth – the will have two legit plus NHL d-men as healthy scratches, plus Lagesson.
Nugent-Hopkins and Yamamoto have the potential to be game changers every bit as much as DeBrincat and Kubalik – two of the top offensive players in the league in the last 30 games played.
Koskinen has started both his NHL regular seasons on a hot streak – once might think that a fully rested Koski might get off to a hot start again?
Koskinen is my game 1 guy – he earned it with a better regular season.
With that said, Coach T has clearly shown his preference for Smith given he played just as much and I think he goes with “his guy” who has NHL playoff experience – could be fatal in a short series…..
Chicago will be getting DeHaan back for the playoffs so their D matches up pretty well.
DeBrincat and Kubalik also have the potential to be game changers.
So what’s the thoughts on an Oilers/Hawks series? Should be great hockey to watch. Chicago was coming on a bit at the end if I recall correctly. I’ll take McDavid and Draisaitl over Kane and Toews. Also Like our defense better. Just the goaltending where Chicago makes me nervous. I know Koskinen has similar stats to Crawford, but the Chicago tender has the experience. Either guy could get hot at the right time.
What if Tippet goes with Smith as the starter though? This is a possibility based on regular season useage. Smith seemed to get more than his fair share of starts in the big game situations. Goaltending is often the difference in a series and becomes even more important in a short best of five
There’s a very good chance the two hub cities will be in the US unless either BC or Alberta waives the 14 day quarantines currently required.
Bill Daly is trying to get those jurisdictions to allow those quarantines to be served in the bubbles but I’m not sure that’s going to happen.
Exactly.
It’s all about the money and honoring TV contracts.
If this was not done, the league would be financially devastated next season.
The draft is a bit goofy but chances are overwhelming that the first three spots will go to the seven teams out of the play in and, if not, it just generates more interest in the league at a time when it is sorely needed.
24 teams is a bit much – 20 would be better in my opinion, as it involved “fair play” but, 100% I’m on board with “stretching” to get NYR, CHI, MTL in to help fulfill very important regional TV deals – that will go a ways towards hopefully getting that flat cap next year.
Without “stretching” to increase revenues (including receiving TV revenue on these contracts int he future as oppossed to them rolling over), it makes it tougher to agree on that “flat cap” – the Oilers need that if they want to keep their team together, let alone try and improve.
Only 8 teams are “in the playoffs” – 16 teams are playing series for the right to get in – or at least that’s how its being socialized – its just words and context but I’m fine with it.
Players returning in June is simply voluntary and if they want to use team facilities to skate etc. Training camp will start in early July – this would be like coming back to Edmonton in mid-August to start skating – there are no coaches for those skates prior to camp.
3 months off with some skating near the end and then a training camp – pretty much like a regular off-season, no?
————–
Sure, its all weird and wonky but, whatever, I’d rather have hockey than no hockey and it has zero effect on next season which I’ve been saying for a month plus won’t start until December in any event.
Being able to do this will be massive for the economics of the league in the short term. If they can’t do this, and they may not be able to, I’m not sure they’ll be able to go with the artificially inflated flat cap.
It depends on your perspective. I can see how a doctor or an engineer may view it that way. I would venture the majority of NHL players see it that way as well. To a lawyer, however, it probably seems eminently reasonable.
Start at teams that had no chance of making the playoffs to having a chance of making the playoffs. But not only are they in the playoffs but they still get to keep lotto tickets For when they get knocked out. And then instead of having just one lottery after the first round it makes so much more sense to have two lotteries. Can’t wait for the excitement in the sporting community when team G wins the draft lottery followed by team B and E.
Players get to return in June but only a few at a time and no coaching staff even though it’s been 3 months so really it’s like an offseason workout regimen.
And then while being off for more than 3 months with very little practice time they have to be ready for playoff hockey immediately
How so?
That is still TBD (if teams will be allowed to play in their hub) but it is an issue being discussed and I imagine that it won’t be allowed in the end.
I think there may be some minor advantages (dressing room) but, really, they are nominal and I won’t be fussed.
This is just a fun exercise because not all of these rankings are from exactly the same time frame. They are all from at least March, however, and since that was the last time there was any on ice data the lists should be pretty close to final.
What I did was take six different rankings for the first round and I am going to post them in three groups as I get time. Here are the first 10.
Lowetide’s list will be the 1 to 31 ‘anchor’ for the lists. His is from May and is designated as LT.
Elite Prospects is their April ranking and is designated as EP.
ISS is their March ranking and is designated as ISS.
Future Considerations is their March ranking and is designated as FC.
McKeens is their Final ranking and is designated as MK.
Draft Analyst by Steve Kournianos is their March ranking and is designated as DA.
As can be seen there is not a lot of consensus after #1 even for the first 10.
Somebody mentioned a few days ago that it would be fun to see a bunch of rankings side by side so I put this together. I’ll probably do 11-20 tomorrow and the final 11 the day after.
————————————-
Alexis Lafreniere – LT 1: EP 1; ISS 1; FC 1; MK 1; DA 1.
Quinton Byfield – LT 2; EP 2; ISS 4; FC 2; MK 3; DA 2.
Tim Stuetzle – LT 3; EP 8; ISS 2; FC 3; MK 2; DA 3.
Marco Rossi – LT 4; EP 3; ISS 7; FC 8; MK 9; DA 5.
Jamie Drysdale – LT 5; EP 5; ISS 3; FC 7; MK 6; DA 8.
Cole Perfetti – LT 6; EP 7; ISS 6; FC 9; MK 8; DA 4.
Alexander Holtz – LT 7; EP 6; ISS 9; FC 5; MK 7; DA 6.
Lukas Raymond – LT 8; EP 4; ISS 5; FC 4; MK 4; DA 9.
Jack Quinn – LT 9; EP 15; ISS 10; FC 23; MK 10; DA 21.
Dawson Mercer – LT 10; EP 14; ISS 12; FC 12; MK 13; DA 24.
Yes sir – 3% chance of first over-all (all 8 teams bounced in the play-in will have those odds).
The league specifically mentioned they aren’t concerned about an east and a west hub.
I don’t think they’ll allow the Oilers to play in Edmonton, if they are a hub:
Ryan Rishaug
@TSNRyanRishaug
·
51m
Daly on whether host teams can play in their own market
“We certainly see some merit to moving the club to a different market so that any perceived advantages associated with being in a home market are eliminated”
Adds that it’s not yet decided on.
—————
Daly did go on to say that, even if a team was in its own city, players wouldn’t be going home – of course.
Good post – thank you.
We know what Holland thinks of developing prospects and he probably values development, not only for 18-20 year old but for the older prospects as well.
Last year was the player’s first year pro (cup of coffee the year before) and he struggled, clearly.
Holland knows not to give up on a player after one year of pro – a very astute acquisition – pretty much free and zero risk.
Staples did a very solid job of summarizing most key points on the Cult yesterday afternoon – i thought.
Also, Scott Burnside at The Athletic with a great summary yesterday as well.
“They” say the jump from the CHL to the AHL is often bigger and harder than the AHL to the NHL.
Although older players, so it mitigates it a bit, I think the same likely applies for the NCAA to pro hockey jump.
The real money is in printing Team F NHL Lottery Golden Ticket T-Shirts.
Totally. We should be betting on TEAM F right now. Woodguy has to be into this bet already….
Per Rishaug
Daly re-states that based on their experts information, a single positive test, or multiple isolated tests would not have to shut the whole tournament down
I’d expect that. And with one big bubble and a secure connection why not off-shift hotel staff?
Rishaug re-iterating the agreeable in principle comment from the Premier’s press conference about requiring workable quarantine (like BC does):
Ryan Rishaug
@TSNRyanRishaug
·
1h
This 14 days could potentially occur within the “bubble” created by the league, and could include the hotel, the arena and other isolated areas. Alberta Govt has been working with the Feds on this and say they have an agreement in principle – so it may not have to hold up games.
If Arizona loses in the playin round, we know who is winning the lottery. Taylor Hall never fails. New Jersey will be happy.
A-H is hilarious. Its just 7 teams and the field and whatever the field wins in phase 1 is equally available to all teams in phase 2. They did the letters thing just so they could have a Team F card to show.
Lottery win has to be team Team F.
Well that entire proposal is one giant mess
Will the players on teams not currently playing be able to watch the other games in the stands?
I.e. if Calgary and Winnipeg are playing in Edmonton, will the Oilers be able to watch?
I love it. It’s so bizarre.
I posted yesterday about players maybe making their way back to Edmotnon to get ready for phase 2 – i was speaking specifically about the over-seas players but:
Jim Matheson
@NHLbyMatty
·
32m
Not many Oiler players are in Edm for phase 2. Nugent-Hopkins is back in Vanc. Draisaitl not in town. Connor and Nurse back east as far as we know. Chiasson, Benning, Kris Russell in area. Benson and Skinner too
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The out of town guys can make arrangeents to skate in NHL facilities where they are located but I wonder who/how many will start to make their way back to Edmonton?
Official training camp won’t be until July at the earliest.