For some reason, don’t know why, the Oilers always draft two players inside my top 50 (or so) ‘Here Comes the Sun’ every year. Will it happen again?
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: 5 AHL forwards who offer the Oilers a chance to buy low on real talent
- New Daniel Nugent-Bowman: ‘Agape’: Why Oilers prospect Cooper Marody wrote a song about Colby Cave
- New Jonathan Willis: Connor McDavid’s recovery is just one of 2020’s incredible Masterton stories
- Lowetide: Every prospect in the Oilers system and what’s next for each player
- Lowetide: Oilers minor leaguers over 40 years, and Jay Woodcroft’s current role
- Lowetide: Charting Theodor Lennstrom’s future with the Oilers
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: Projecting the Oilers’ black aces and how much they’ll play
- Jonathan Willis: Projecting the Oilers’ lineup for their play-in series versus the Blackhawks
- Lowetide: Could the Oilers draft a defenceman in the first round?
- Lowetide: Why the Oilers should extend Ryan Nugent-Hopkins as soon as possible
- Lowetide: Oilers farmhand Josh Currie’s small window of opportunity
- Jonathan Willis: Misguided priorities helped turn the Oilers’ 2010 rebuild into a debacle
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: ‘It’s what’s best for the league’: Oilers accept challenge of play-in series
- Lowetide: Oilers greatest areas of need for the 2020 draft
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: Six bold (and not so bold) predictions as the Oilers prepare for the Blackhawks
- Jonathan Willis: Oilers facing a bonus penalty for 2020-21 but the news isn’t all bad
- Jonathan Willis: Multiple choice: What might an Oilers trade at the 2020 NHL Draft look like?
- Jonathan Willis: Oilers return to play guide: How the NHL’s 24-team format impacts Edmonton
- Lowetide: Mike Green’s playoff role and possible future with the Oilers
- Lowetide: Oilers’ most likely recalls from Bakersfield for the playoff run
THE 2015 DRAFT
- 1. C Connor McDavid, Erie Otters (OHL) All our trials, lord, soon be over.
- 38. D Ethan Bear, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) Mobile defender, very good shot.
The Oilers grabbed Bear at No. 124 and although it took awhile the 2015 draft looks like a winner five years later. My list is based on skill and offensive ability (Bear’s bio talked about great passing ability and a plus shot) so I had him mid-second round despite having only a 13.6 NHLE (which is on par with Justin Barron’s number this season).
THE 2016 DRAFT
- 3. R Jesse Puljujarvi, Karpat (Sm-Liiga): Big, fast, rambunctious.
- 34. L Tyler Benson, Vancouver Giants (WHL). Physical two-way forward. Injured a lot.
Oilers had their second round pick in this draft so no surprises. Filip Berglund, who I ranked No. 61, was drafted No. 91 by Edmonton. I’m going to be writing on this draft in the coming days, this next season is No. 5 post-draft and the organization badly needs closure on several levels.
THE 2017 DRAFT
- 11. R Kailer Yamamoto, Spokane Chiefs (WHL). Smart, elusive, offensive. NHLE (36.2).
- 52. L Ostap Safin, Sparta Praha (Cze). Big forward, good skater, has plus skills. Nice range.
Safin is the subject of today’s conversation (below) but it’s interesting that the Oilers took Stuart Skinner and Dmitri Samorukov before taking Safin at No. 115. He’s a talented player, getting him there was a terrific result.
THE 2018 DRAFT
- 8. RD Evan Bouchard, London Knights (OHL). Big numbers, intelligent two-way D.
- 25. LC Ryan McLeod, Mississauga Steelheads (OHL). Size, speed, skill. One of the oldest players in draft.
Similar to the 2016 draft, Oilers choose once in each of the first and second rounds and select players who were ranked in the range. Both of these men are on track for NHL careers.
THE 2019 DRAFT
- 16. LD Philip Broberg, AIK (Allsvenskan). He’s big and can skate like the wind, while also displaying puck moving ability. Offense may be shy, but Swedish blue can fool you.
- 26. RC Raphael Lavoie, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL). Adam Sherren: “Lavoie is a big physical force who is that old fashioned power forward.” He is a strong skater and has a goal-scorer’s touch. Aggressive, a force.
I honestly don’t remember hearing Broberg as a strong option for the first round pick before Ken Holland’s arrival, but the fleet Swedish defenseman got plenty of mention in sports coverage after Holland landed in the Capital. I think fans would have been far angrier about the Broberg selection if not for Lavoie arriving in the second round. After that, Holland’s reputation grew and remains on the upswing at this time.
OSTAP SAFIN
I’ve been spending extra time this spring on wingers who can skate and also find themselves in the Oilers organization. If you play the wing and have 10 fingers and toes, you have a gigantic opportunity with Edmonton.
Safin can skate but even on draft day there were some things that teams didn’t like. Red Line Report: “He’s huge and has a super heavy wrister that overpowers goalies but isn’t tough and shows no intensity.”
Safin is 6.05, 205 and shoots left while being listed most often on right wing (common for Czech forwards). His big career moment came in 2018-19 when he couldn’t get on the ice much due to injury. The saddest damn thing was watching him play deep into 2019 spring with the Halifax Mooseheads (23 games) as a shadow of his former self offensively (two assists).
The Oilers sent him to the ECHL for 2019-20 and he performed well (54, 16-19-35, .648 points per game) and got some power-play time (4-7-11) with the Wichita Thunder.
Clearly he’ll need to spend next season in the AHL and perhaps that isn’t a mountain he can climb. I look at the current minor-league depth chart and sincerely believe he should be able to make the Condors as a top-nine forward. The big man can skate, has a shot good enough to beat goaltenders and a depth chart crying for someone to step forward.
LOWDOWN WITH LOWETIDE
A busy morning with plenty to chat about starting at 10, TSN 1260. Daniel Nugent-Bowman from The Athletic joins us at 10:20 to discuss Cooper Marody’s song for Colby Cave, plus Edmonton as a hub city. Reid Fowler from Draft Kings is in at 11 to talk PGA Tour and Jonah Birenbaum from The Score talks about the mlb draft and how the Blue Jays landed another enormous bat. 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. Talk soon!
Valid point but then the player acquired himself would be exposed in that scenario – he’s either bumping a protected player to the exposed list or being exposes himself. If he is exposed and taken, well, that is a bad trade. If he is exposed and not taken, well, that’s probably a bad trade.
But doesn’t that mean we have acquired a player better than Nuge or Yama? I’m not seeing the problem? I doubt we could get a player better than Nuge.
The idea that Jesse would have to clear waivers to be loaned to Karpat had not occurred to me so my apologies for muddying the waters with that suggestion.
My idea was that Jesse’s HC in Karpat has indicated on a couple of occasions that I have read that he thinks Jesse would benefit from another year there and Jesse has indicated he is considering it. So it was just as a gesture of good will that the Oilers would offer to pay him to play there as a fence mending exercise for whatever the problem of the past was about.
Since waivers would be necessary – I think, although I could never find an exact, on point, reference in the CBA – that wouldn’t work, of course.
In what scenario, sign and come to camp?
No waivers.
Any sort of loan to another league, I believe, waivers – I’m also lost at why Jesse and the Oilers would agree on a contract and then burn it in a loan to a European league, even if waivers wasn’t an issue.
You may not think of them as left and right, and that is fine, however in reality that is very much the case and very much how the Oilers coach deploys his d-men and he has stated its very important to him.
There are exceptions and there are exception in acute circumstances, of course, but LD playing the left side and RD playing the right side is reality.
Its not a pre-occupation but its a real factor and something that needs to be included in the decision-making and our GM has expresses as such (which I’m glad for).
Yes, we are going to lose a good player but – we are already set up to have to leave either Jones or the likes of AA unprotected. If we take away another protected slot (the acquisition for the 1st rounder), then we are looking at leaving the likes of Nuge or Yamamoto or Nurse exposed potentially.
It’s being reported that Samorukov has a deal to play for CSKA in the KHL next year that has been approved by Holland.
If true, I wonder if this is because the KHL is planning to start in Sept?
Not sure the legalities here but, with no transfer agreement and an NHL contract, I would think this needs more than Holland’s approval and league approval.
Wouldn’t he have to clear waivers in that scenario?
Jesse won’t come play for the defending Stanley Cup Champions when asked to next season? Good luck finding another NHL team to play on! lol
Never say never!
I dont think of defencemen as right of left side I just look at them all together since thats more or less normal in some circles, like the ones I happen to travel in.
In a league where defencemen become forwards(McSorely, Clark, Dustin B) and vice versa occasionally it just doesn’t scream out to me that the Oilers need a this or that side defenceman.
Oilers have been crying out about a bad defence since over 10 years ago. Having Bear and Jones semi emerge into good players hardly fixes the basic problem of Oilers needing better talents on the blueline. Broberg(who I assume we’re discussing) has been given nothing but scorn for some reason since draft day, probably because in his draft+1 year he’s not tearing up his league(which happens to be a mens league).
What interests me is the fact that I have always been happy to have Ken Holland+Tippett while others have been less than charitable, citing dubious reasons which “prove’ their point. You know, typical sports fans.
One thing I don’t understand is the pre-occupation with the expansion draft. We will lose a good player. That’s the reality of the situation. Good teams will have to expose good players. Bad teams won’t have anyone worth taking. We’ve been there and it sucks. If we’re lucky, we will have a few good players that need to be exposed. IMO, the expansion draft should have a very limited role in Holland’s decision making.
JP resigning with the Oil would be the best result we can hope for. Not sure why we would lend him back to Karpat though. If he still refuses to sign, the next best option is trading for another high end prospect who is treading water. Getting a first rounder in the top 25 won’t happen IMO. If all else fails, I would take a second rounder. Spending another year in Europe is a waste of time for the player and the team.
We know that 1 or 2 positive tests won’t “shut the whole thing down” as the league as said so.
Can’t say about 3 or 4 but I’m sure it’ll be laid out for all of us in the phase 3 and 4 return to play guidelines which I’m sure will be hundreds of pages
What about two players? Three? 4 ?
KHL contract and SHL contracts are different vis-a-vis the NHL given the transfer agreement.
Konovalov cannot join the Oilers. Broberg can.
Absolutely if the SHL season starts as planned I doubt they will bring Broberg over – that factor still applies.
The late start to the 2020/21 NHL season sucks in that regard as both the player and the team wanted him to come for camp before joining Skelfeeta – that would cause him to miss part of the season but it would be a bit different in December.
—————
As an aside, are you finally willing to admit that you were simply wrong when you said a non-signed player cannot be taken in the expansion draft? You’ve had 24 hours away to work up the nerve.
Would this not also apply to Broberg?
You’ve been insisting he could come over for training camp which I assume will also be a bubble of limited size.
Happy to have a chat about it on given, you know, we are in the comments section.
I’ve explained my position – you’ve countered it with no substance and simply stating, I’m wrong and don’t know anything.
I am open to your thoughts on how Ethan Bear’s emergence effects the LD depth chart.
That is for players playing in Europe that come to North America during the season.
Not for players heading to Europe with NHL contracts on loan.
The provisions of the CBA do expressly talk about waivers when loaning to another professional league and Jesse is no longer exempt so I believe he would have to clear.
Either way, I still don’t understand what the benefit would be to the player or team to sign and loan back to Karpat? Unless you think an extra year of European development is needed?
You’re entitled to your (wrong) opinion.
defmn,
You are looking at the Routsalanen rule.
I think the answer is in the regular waiver rules. Wherever they can be found.
I still don’t know the answer to your question. The closest I could find was this and it doesn’t really answer your question.
==================================
13.23 In the event a professional or former professional Player plays in a league outside North
America after the start of the NHL Regular Season, other than on Loan from his Club, he may
thereafter play in the NHL during that Playing Season (including Playoffs) only if he has first
either cleared or been obtained via Waivers. For the balance of the Playing Season, any such
Player who has been obtained via Waivers may be Traded or Loaned only after again clearing
Waivers or through Waiver claim. This section shall not apply to a Player on the Reserve List or
Restricted Free Agent List of an NHL Club with whom the Player is signing an NHL SPC or is
party to an existing SPC with such NHL Club.
I don’t know for sure if he’d be subject to waivers but, no, its not the same as Berglund (or Persson before him) – they were loaned on their ELCs and waiver exempt.
Given Jesse played 10 NHL games as an 18 year old, his waiver exempt years reduce to 3 and they’ve all vested so he is generally subject to waivers. Berglund is not.
You get that from my opinion that Ethan Bear’s emergency doesn’t effect the LD depth chart going forward?
Alrighty then.
Seems like one of those “no substantive retort to the subject so I’ll switch to personal insult”.
There are going to be strict parameters on who can be in these bubbles limited to 28 skaters plus goalie and team staff taking it up to 50. He can’t be one of the players and I’m pretty sure he can’t be one of the organzional coaches, management, trainers, staff, etc.
Not to mention, his KHL season is slated to start at the beginning of September.
Not that I know of. Would it be different than signing Berglund and loaning him to a team in Sweden for next year?
LOL
Sorry but your verbiage masks nothing less than someone with a limited understanding of what he’s constantly trying to tell everyone about.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cnbc.com/amp/2020/06/11/arizona-coronavirus-cases-nearly-double-since-memorial-day-as-state-nears-hospital-capacity.html
If June Arizona sun and heat can’t kill the virus maybe July sun and heat can right?? Right??
Wouldn’t he have to clear waivers before being loaned out after signing
1st rounder or similar quality prospect that is expansion exempt.
Otherwise I keep him.
Someone thought they did.
He could still come and meet the boys, watch a few games and get a taste of Canadian and American pie. No way Putin denies him that, but seriously bring him over to study the goaltenders in the Chicago series let him meet the goaltending coach. I have a good feeling about this kid we could have a Khabibulin sitting in our laps where were set in net for the next half-dozen years on the cheap. We are more than over due on a Russian hit geez I can’t even remember the last Russian that played above expectations maybe Mironov.
I don’t understand that at all.
You are going to laugh at Matt Benning who has reservations about leaving his wife essentially right after she is scheduled to give birth?
You are going to laugh at Devan Dubnyk who has reservations about leaving his wife with major medical issues?
Have capital does not make one not human.
Not to mention, Tyler Benson, Evan Bouchard, Stuart Skinner, Willie Lagesson – far from millionaires and made less this year than many people that post in this forum
Which you are apt to do, however, Broberg and Bear play different positions within that position and Bear’s solidifying of a top 4 position on the right side is materially irrelevant when discussing Broberg, in my opinion.
Too complicated from the player standpoint. If one of the hubs is in Canada with fed approval I still wonder whether Canadian teams heading for a US hub will train in the US.
There is really no comparison to Yakupov in my opinion except for a high draft prospect that hasn’t made it in the NHL.
Yakupov failed to make it in the NHL, end stop – he got tries over many years and with various organizations and left the league because, well, he couldn’t succeed in the league.
Puljujarvi had his troubles adapting to the league, no doubt, but he left at 20, not because he ultimately couldn’t make it in the league but because of a refusal to play for a franchise. Teams are willing to give him NHL contracts and give up assets to acquire him.
He had failed to make it by 20 years old and then had a massive season in Europe – yes, a lesser league, but he was arguably the league’s best player.
Pulujarvi’s 18 year old season in the AHL needs to be given more print in my opinion – that was a very good AHL season for the youngest person in the North American pro hockey.
Great tandem for the future. If things go wrong we can stare at Skinner or skin Starret.
The league has been clear for a while now that one player getting sick will absolutely not shut down the entire thing. That player will need to isolate and recover and the games will continue – of course, likely some sort of increased protocols for those in contact with that player – don’t know what those would be.
I would much rather sign him and bring him to camp then to trade straight for a 2nd rounder.
If he continues to refuse to sign, well, then I’m OK with Holland moving him but not straight up for a 2nd – I don’t think Holland would move off his perceived value that much either.
I must ask though, what would be the point for the team or the player of signing him an loaning him back to Karpat (which burns that year of the contract)? Do you think he needs move development time overseas?
Please enough of the slogans. We’ll all sort out what comes next without American politics. You told us all that this was less than the swine flu and that people were only making a fuss about covid because their guy wasn’t in the White House. Yet the US death count is now 8X swine flu. We can and will get along fine without the ax grinding. AB has less restrictions than Sweden (as of tomorrow) and 1/10 the death rate of the US. That isn’t meant to criticize Sweden or the US. Every region has to try what they think works best in their circumstances.
Lowe got a solid haul for Pronger:
1st round pick
1st round pick
2nd round pick
20 year old who just scored almost 30 goals
Very recently drafted top 10 pick d-man
Lupul and Smid becoming, well, Lupul and Smid, cratered the deal in time but those were two very good prospects, well, one very good prospect and one young, rising NHL goal scoring winger.
End Note: One of the picks was Jordan Eberle and another was Travis Hamonic
I feel that I must disagree.
I would prefer to scream at a 3rd string goalie named Skinner.
Under contract for another year in the KHL – prohibited.
Don’t get skeemy and fuck with Putin…..
I think Skinner is brought for sure and Starrett maybe as well.
There is no cap on the number of goalies (although I believe 50 toal organizational members including coaches, managers, trainers, etc.).
Frankly, if Starrett is healthy and the horrid happens that they need to put the 3rd stringer in – I think it should be Starrett.
You have to laugh at how precious these millionaire’s “family time” gets.
I’m just fine with the Broberg pick – it very well could turn out to be “the wrong pick” or it very well could turn out to be “the right pick” – years to go but Broberg’s draft plus 1 as an 18 year old d-man in a tough league for teenage d-men is encouraging.
With that said, knowing that the forward is highly likely to impact that roster and the lineup and help win games a few years earlier is value – not even getting in to team need.
Again, fine with Broberg – Holland and his staff must have viewed him as BPA and BPA to help the team contend for cups yearly down the road.
Balderdash!
Hold on to him, or trade him for a 1st rounder. He’ll be a bona fide NHLer. Don’t be surprised when he comes back.
His favorite color is orange by the way?
I don’t understand how that is too complicated?
There isn’t an issue going across the border from Canada to the US either way – all the athletes are allowed as they are crossing for their jobs.
There is no issue going from training camp in Canada to a US hub for stage 4.
The issue is the 14-days upon coming to Canada and players returning for training camp. If the federal government allows for that 14-day to include heading to the Oilers facilities in full compliance with NHL State 2 protocols, there is no issue to having camp in Canada.
I don’t disagree that it may be easier to hold camp in the US but that’s taking players away from their families for yet another 2-3 weeks.
Rondo,
Think about it as:
Every infected person infects two people when no changes are made. Rn=2
This leads to large amount of population being infected.
Now if masks reduce spread by 25%. M=0.25
And isolation lowers spread by 50%. I=0.5
Rn1 = Rn * (1-M) * (1-I)
Rn1 = 2.00 * 0.75 * 0.5 = 0.75. >>> A downward trend of infection.
*All numbers made up for example
One man’s panic is another man’s rational behavior. Turns out you can’t always make people spend money. When the pols say let ‘er rip and we’ll take care of granny for some odd reason people don’t always believe them. Sweden not based on hindsight (not hysteria) says they should have aimed for lower levels than they did.