On July 12, 2019 the Edmonton Oilers hired Archie Henderson as director of pro scouting. I’ve been watching the pro signings closely since and would describe the work of the pro scouts as traditional and safe. The signings give the team solid backup in several areas and possible NHL replacement options at all positions. Is there more available? Or is that all there is?
THE ATHLETIC!
I’m proud to be writing for The Athletic, and pleased to be part of a great team with Daniel Nugent-Bowman and Jonathan Willis. Here is our recent work.
- New Lowetide: Tyson Barrie’s skills and how Oilers coach Dave Tippett will deploy him
- Lowetide: Why is Ilya Konovalov no longer starting in the KHL?
- Lowetide: Oilers Top 20 prospects, post-draft edition.
- Lowetide: Finding Connor McDavid’s optimal linemates among 2020-21 Oilers
- Jonathan Willis: A cautious free agent period boosts an Oilers team still on the upswing
- Lowetide: Oilers prospects poised to benefit after offseason news.
- Lowetide: Oilers bring back Mike Smith for another year.
- Lowetide: Oilers sign Tyson Barrie to a team-friendly deal.
- Lowetide: Oilers sign Kyle Turris, Tyler Ennis in early hours of free agency.
- Lowetide: Ken Holland will need to be creative in free agency
- Lowetide: Jesse Puljujarvi signing overshadows a strong day for Oilers at draft
- Lowetide: Oilers draft Dylan Holloway on Day 1, with trades possible Wednesday
- Lisa Dillman: Dylan Holloway could be a ‘difference-maker’ for the Oilers
- Jonathan Willis: Oilers could benefit both now and in the future by adding a right-shot defender
- Lowetide: Ken Holland’s work week: Get good players, keep good players
- Lowetide: Oilers’ defence prospects are pushing, and changes are coming
- Lowetide: Potential trades and partners for the Oilers’ offseason
- Lowetide: Dealing a defenceman? Taking stock of Oilers’ blueline assets
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: Q&A: Oilers GM Ken Holland on improving internally, the flat cap and goaltending
ARCHIE HENDERSON
Shortly after Henderson signed, Edmonton added free agent Josh Archibald and then later in the summer of 2019 Riley Sheahan. It’s unknown how much input Henderson would have had on the process, but for me the pro scouting director is the guy looking for the next Jordan Oesterle or Rem Murray. Someone from off-off Broadway, if you know what I mean.
Henderson would have scouted the DRW before the acquisitions of Andreas Athanasiou and Mike Green, plus the Ottawa Senators before Tyler Ennis was added at the deadline.
Theodor Lennstrom was signed April 29, Henderson and the pro scouts would have seen him. We haven’t seen him yet, but definitely part of the Henderson portfolio.
Adam Cracknell was signed September 10. He is 35 and in my opinion a poor bet and ties up a spot on the 50-man list.
Kyle Turris, Mike Smith, Tyler Ennis and Tyson Barrie were signed early in free agency 2020, Henderson would have had involvement and there are some interesting names in there.
Henderson would have been central to the signing of Anton Forsberg, Alan Quine and Seth Griffith.
So let’s have a look at the AHL-Euro guys and see where the Oilers are shopping for fringe pieces. Any inspired additions in there?
There are some nice pieces here. Forsberg was .908 with the Blackhawks two years ago and .919 with the AHL IceHogs in 2018-19. He seems a suitable No. 3 goalie. He signed a $700,000 deal he gets paid that number no matter where he plays.
Quine is a player I’ve noticed for some time, he’s an aggressive center and has offensive ability. I think he might be an under the radar signing who ends up being a bigger story. Quine got a one-way contract too, that might be a tell for a player like Jujhar Khaira.
JAYCE HAWRYLUK
Vancouver Canucks signed Jayce Hawryluk yesterday, the Florida Panthers cut him looks and Van City got him for $800,000 with $200,000 in the minors. Seth Griffith got a two-year deal for $725,000 with $450,000 as his minor-league salary. He is 27, Hawryluk 24, I like the Vancouver bet more.
There are some nice players out there who are in a similar spot to Hawrlyuk.
- LW Anthony Duclair 66 games, 23-17-40. One dimensional but he can score.
- LW Dominik Kahun 56 games, 12-19-29. 36-27 goal differential at five on five.
- LW Andreas Athanasiou 55 games, 11-15-26. A fascinating and flawed player.
- LW Drake Caggiula 40 games, 9-6-15. 22-27 goal differential at five on five.
- LD Slater Koekkoek 42 games, 1-9-10. 27-24 goal differential at five on five.
- RD Madison Bowey 53 games, 3-14-17. 34-48 goal differential at five on five.
There’s quite the range here, Duclair would play a feature role, Kahun, Athanasiou, Caggiula and Koekkoek would be regulars and Bowey would be an NHL recall.
LOWDOWN WITH LOWETIDE
At 10 this morning, we’re live on air TSN1260 with a pile of stories. Mike Zanier, former Oilers goalie and current radio colour commentator, will join us to discuss the progression of Philip Broberg. Will he be ready fall 2021? We’re also working on an MLB guest as we prepare for Game 1 of the 2020 World Series. 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. Talk soon!
Does anyone else have issues accessing the site? I can’t get into the site at all on anything connected to my internet. (Had to use LTE on phone to post this)
I checked my modem/network settings, I don’t have anything blocked or blacklisted. I rebooted my modem, still nothing. Website is saying “the site can’t be reached”. Does this site have New proxy or firewall requirements to access now? Website was working completely fine yesterday. What gives?
Incorrect.
And it’s been clear from the start.
Being stuck with these non-NHL “veteran” types is a special kind of hockey fan hell.
Or the people who did the due diligence were over ruled as per persistent rumours.
Brian Burke’s story about his draft interview with Nail tells you all you need to know about that lad’s journey. Somebody at Mission Control Kingsway didn’t do enough due diligence.
Do my calculations not show that the team could effectively access $3.8 or $3.9M of Klefbom’s LTIR in the off season to sign Bear + Lagesson (+ other?) while still being compliant on day 1?
Not arguing with you.
Just responding to the guy who said Russell has never been one of the 6th best dman in Edmonton. Just pointing out the hyperbole.
I think the math is right but not re-signing Bear (and Lagesson) aren’t realistic options and, no, I don’t see them waiting until day one and the LTIR cushion is accessed. Camp is key and, while insurance is available, I don’t see it.
jp,
These numbers are slightly different from what I posted last night because the Oilers couldn’t access ALL of Klefbom’s potential LTIR if they were to sign Bear + Lagesson + other in the off-season (only about $3.9M of it).
But you didn’t subtract P Russell’s salary when you sent him back down. So $2.6M + $0.7M = $3.3M.
No account for the salary of whoever gets bumped if the Oilers sign Kahun or similar ($0.9M). So there should/could be $4.2M available to sign Bear + Lagesson + other (potentially). I believe. (and leaving some walking around money)
Signing Ben Hutton and Madison Bowey.
jp,
If Holland makes no further moves by day one, the available cap should be ~ $4.17M – $0.732M = $3.438M.
Efficient allocation of capital would necessitate calling up PRusty on the day before the season starts to use the full benefit of his $0.7M cap hit and available roster space. He could then be papered back to the AHL thereafter.
That would put the available cap space during the season — provided Kelf doesn’t return, and no other transactions are made prior to start of season — at $4.138M.
So the loose change would be $4.138M – $1.5M (accounting for Holland’s stated preference for walking around money) = $2.638M.
So Old Dutch has a max of (roughly) $2.6M to spend on the Bear and Lagesson contracts, and/or whomever else.
Gonna be a tight squeeze.
For sure. It’s not something you consider if the player is 50/50 on returning.
Moving Russell may be difficult in-season but Larsson and Barrie are on expiring deals. Maybe you need to move the guy you don’t want to move, but it’s not an impossible situation (other unknowns like someone else ending up on LTIR in the interim could present themselves as well)
Klefbom also has to know he’s putting the team in a difficult situation. Maybe he understands that at some point (soon?) he’s out for the season.
The flip side is that having Klefbom back would be great. That would be a heck of a D. Guess any decisions on how to proceed depend on the likelihood of that, which we can’t know.
who,
5/6 defensemen aren’t worth $4M AAV plus term AND a highly restrictive NTC.
That’s the problem, not the player.
Bruce McCurdy,
Completely agree Chiasson has done well with limited line mates. That he’s able to move up in a pinch is a plus.
If only he were a viable PK option — it’s the optics, I tells ya.
His hands aren’t half bad. And from what I’ve see of him on his off-wing, he’s got a clean release and good nose/timing.
Damnable boots.
AC at Patrick Maroon money more in line with my expectations. Patty has twice the Cup rings, mind.
Not quite.
I did account for Bear and Lagesson getting reasonable deals (I said those deals would put the Oilers $1.5M over the cap, so $2.2M total for the deals, guessing $700k for Lagesson and $1.5M for Bear).
So we’re back up to $1.8M I think, plus $1.5M for in-season moves.
Saving some ‘walking around money’ is absolutely needed, agreed. I was responding to your post where you said:
“Klefbom’s LTIR cushion is simply not available in the off-season. I mean, it technically is, however, if the Oilers are over the cap on day 1 and need to use off-season LTIR in order to become cap compliant it leaves $0 of cap space going in to the season. That is not a manageable situation.”
I was focused on how much could theoretically be available (which I still believe is $3.3M). I’m not sure a full $1.5M is needed for walking around money (did Holland go into last season with that much space? I don’t think so).
If we say Holland sets aside $1M for walking around, do we agree the Oilers could add a player for up to $2.3M, without any other divesting of salary?
Late in the season, perhaps. Remember, though, that Tampa couldn’t give Johnson away for free and Vegas couldn’t get anything for Schmidt.
Not really following you at all here, and I’ve had plenty of experience running a powerplay.
What makes the Oilers powerplay so unique has nothing to do with which way the players shoot. Its driven by the 3 centers spread across the middle of the ozone. The powerplay is most effective when these 3 guys keep moving and swapping positions. It makes it much harder to defend because the passing lanes keep shifting.
It also doesn’t hurt that Mcdavid is pretty much an automatic controlled zone entry.
I get the feeling that most posters would prefer to see 2 guys on their offwings firing one timers from the top of the circles. Like Ovechkin.
The 2 problems with that are:
1) We don’t have an Ovechkin
2) Those kind of powerplays can get stagnant. And very predictable.
I think last years powerplay was miles ahead of the traditional model. And I don’t think it really matters which way Barrie shoots. He’s just got to get the puck to one of the 3 centers.
It does not, as others have mentioned. So with the $1M buffer there should be up to $2.3M to spend on a player, I believe. Could also be wrong.
Yeah, it’s certainly not something you’d want to do if you think Klefbom is likely to come back in season.
100% certain though? It’s not impossible to move the necessary salary in season, even from a position of weakness. What’s the worst case scenario, they need to move Barrie to get compliant? Hopefully they could instead move Russell part way through the year. Not ideal at all but if Holland is 75% or 80% sure Klefbom won’t be back maybe it’s worth risking that scenario?
Leaving space for call-ups is totally fair. I wasn’t really considering all of the $3.3M on a player. Though I still think more than $1M could be available to add a player while still leaving room for in season moves.
Of note, the Oilers look like they’ll already be using Klefbom’s LTIR to get Bear and Lagesson signed. So adding another players doesn’t force them to use LTIR when they wouldn’t otherwise, it just devotes more of Klefbom’s LTIR relief to an actual player vs saving it for a rainy day.
The reason the right shot D should be more efficient is that both the pass made and the shot are on the forehand which is more accurate for the pass and generally a harder more accurate shot.lefty to lefty requires one of the shooter or the passer to be a backhand. Having a right shot offensively skilled D on the power play will add another weapon to an already potent power play.
Dellow said PPs need at least on off handed shot option. The Oilers had a middling 5 left shot PP at the time so it became mantra. This despite Dellow’s article showing that 5 right shot PPs have the best results of all permutations (written off due to small sample size).
Thanks for this.
I have no issue with the player and have argued for him at times (based on his goal differential and strong underlying numbers this season).
I didn’t realize he lead the league/team in PP GFon this year, and the team last year. Huh.
And suppressing offense at evens isn’t a bad thing (that was the criticism when he played with McDavid after all). Curious juxtaposition of suppressing even strength offense and leading the league in PP on ice offense.
So, who plays LW among the Oilers RWs?
I agree with you – the PP was good how it was set up. They’ll have to adapt it to the new right shot at the top.
I guess that means McDavid will be feeding Barrie instead of Nuge feeding Klefbom. Pretty nice tradeoff! McDavid has NEVER had that true RH d man to feed at the point. I’m excited to see it.
Also agree with you that the down low guy is likely better as a left shot now as well. Neal and RNH will have more opportunities to score with that potential point shot coming right to left from the top.
Oh-never mind, I see you addressed this in your original post
?
Barries right shot from the point has nothing to do with Chiassons right shot from the net front. Neither one of them is going to be setting up on their off wing for one timers. One does not replace the other.
I think the powerplay is going to miss the lefty point shot, being fed by Nuge as he curls in from the left half wall.
I don’t know why everyone insists the powerplay needs a right shot. 30 percent efficiency with 5 leftys isn’t good enough?
Ya – I can’t imagine the league playing a shortened season without a subsequent agreement (and paying full comp for 48-60 games – with decreased revenues for each game in addition) – the escrow balance would probably get even bigger.
Wow.
You hate Russell like Godot hates Kassian.
But the truth is, Kris Russell has been one of the Oilers 6 best dmen in every year of his contract.
That will end at some point, but it hasn’t yet.
I’m sure he scored some, but not all of those 10 ENGF – just bring it up to mention how unbelievable his 50 goals in 2018/19 were considering he scored zero empty net goals.
Should make for an interesting discussion next time the league and the PA get together.
He is a surprisingly effective defensvie player. This year Chiasson led all Oilers forwards (min 400 minutes) with just 1.65 GA/60 at 5v5 (only the ever-maligned Kris Russell was better among all skaters at 1.62). Last year was 3rd on team at 2.05 GA/60.
Low event at both ends for the most part, but at least he wasn’t getting caved in goal differential like, say, Sheahan, Khaira & Archibald were.
On the PP, he was #1 in the entire league in GF On/60 at 13.82. This after leading the team in that same category last season. He is extremely effective in that net front role, opens up all kinds of passing lanes behind him and is strong on puck recovery. Very smart player. Not a great athlete, slow boots, suspect hands, but knows what to do when he gets there.
There may be a number of players jettisoning agents and with good cause!
At least on the empty net side of the equation it’s possible to get a plus when you score in that situation, unlike the PP. Leon was on for a goodly number of ENGF as well. Overall NST has him on for 10 for, 14 against with either goaler out.
Cannia
Canabalize? OK, ya right.
Referenced the article and was clear when I was expressing my opinion – even doubled down to make it expressly clear.
Wasn’t on a platform where the link could be posted from.
Funniest part is you talking to others about good form – come on, even you couldn’t post that without laughing.
True, but on a technical point, if the player is out for term and can be placed on LTIR, his cap hit still counts, it’ll just increase the cap overage cushion.
Yes, they can call a player up to replace a player on IR.
The cap hit of the player on IR does not go away and does not increase the cap ceiling of the team.
Teams are often running cap rosters well over 23 because of players on IR.
Yes, teams that lose players to injury in a season are penalized from a cap perspective.
It’s considered good form to link to an article when cannibalizing it to appear informed.
Here’s Lebrun.
https://theathletic.com/2150802/2020/10/20/lebrun-nhl-gms-call-likely-to-focus-on-season-logistics-ahl-start-date/
I believe the issue here is a discrepancy between what was agreed to as between the NHL/NHLPA it the RTP and CBA extension negotiations and a clause in the standard form player contract.
The SPC contains the following:
If because of any condition arising from a state of war or other cause beyond the control
of the League or of the Club, it shall be deemed advisable by the League or the Club to suspend
or cease or reduce operations, then:
(a) in the event of suspension of operations, the Player shall be entitled only to the
proportion of Paragraph 1 Salary due at the date of suspension,
(b) in the event of cessation of operations, the Paragraph 1 Salary shall be
automatically canceled on the date of cessation, and
(c) in the event of reduction of operations, the Paragraph 1 Salary shall be replaced
by that mutually agreed upon between the Club and the Player, or, in the absence of mutual
agreement, by that determined by neutral arbitration.
No offence to BLH but that is not new information – Friedman mentioned it on 31 Thoughts with Marek days ago – the Oilers 100% offered Kahun a contract but the money didn’t work for the player. I mentioned it on here (based on Friedman) and Gregor has also mentioned it.
Doesn’t mean they can’t circle back with each other – Ennis’ contract is fully buryable in the AHL, it doesn’t preclude any other signing (although he’d probably get claimed) – Nygard, Hass each fully buryable. Khaira close.
Yes, Russell has undoubtably been a valuable member of the Oilers for the last four years. He was asked to bat above his place in the order (and to switch hit) more often that not and, while his performance in that regard was uneven over the years, he had some very good stretches (i.e. 2RD with Sekera in 2017) and this team would have been alot worse without him over that period.
I would anticipate that there are a few unsigned d-men, that would cost MUCH less than $4M that could fill in for Rusty this year with minimal, if any, pain to the defensive group – and via an overall benefit with the cap savings used elsewhere.
LeBrun with an article out at The Athletic regarding return to play.
The GMs will be meeting this Friday – their first real meeting on the issue.
Of course, with so much up in the air, I don’t anticipate too much substance can be dealt with but I would expect much of the conversation to deal with what level of fans, and for how many games (at each level), can the owners, individually, and as a group, operate at next season – and how pro rating players comp will be required notwithstanding the current NHL/NHLPA agreement to pay comp in full even if there is a Covid shortened season. To be clear, that is my thoughts on the discussion, not what LeBrun advised.
LeBrun did advise that the NHL/NHLPA RTP committees have not met (the NHLPA will be finalizing a 10 person committee soon)
What did hearten me about the article is that organizations seem adamant on the AHL and there being a place for prospects to play. The AHL task force will be providing their recommendations shortly but there is scuttle about the AHL starting even before the NHL – get those guys playing
Teams that lose players due to injury ARE penalized from a cap perspective untill the injured player is eligible to be put on LTIR in 30 days.
Players out with injury and their replacements both count until LTIR kicks in.
How many not really top 6 players with little ability to skate and drive 5v5 play can one team carry?
Neal is a better player and is going nowhere. With Barrie running PP1 Chiasson’s right shot isn’t as important. Which is why I assume he was used given so few RS D with the right stuff for PP.
AC is a fine 4th line player on the right team, but not for the Oilers above league minimum as it stands.
Same with Russell. Equal or better needed help could be available for a 4M cap hit right now.
Yup. That is also an option. The prudent option imo.
Yup. I can see that but what is Hollland doing for his defence in that scenario?
Definitely see your point. Consider this. You’re an owner whose industry has been hit hard by Covid. You r team needs NHL quality D, but you don’t want to pay NHL quality money. Russell is made available for $750k and you have the cap room for his $2M cap hit. Sure, you could sign Ben Hutton for $1.5M, but you’re saving $750k in real money. Maybe that isn’t insignificant to some owners right now. I don’t know if any of the teams I mentioned are in that situation, but it’s not out of the realm of possibilities. So, yes, squinting, very hard.
I was thinking about this in the post-2nd workout shower.
To the extent the AHL is playing and the team is in Western Canada (or there is no AHL but a taxi squad that travels with the team) it makes it a viable option.
Not to get cap compliant, mind you, but to reduce the daily cap hit allowing the team to accumulate cap space on a daily basis that gets banked.
I would also add Kemp and Kesserling to the developing RD prospects…… Kemp will turn pro after this year and he’s already indicated he thinks the Oilers and Bakersfield would be a great place for him. Of course, that doesn’t mean that he will sign and test options but its a good arrow for a potential signing.
I agree. He had a good junior career and a Memorial cup. Doesn’t guarantee you can transition successfully into the NHL. He is at an age where he may just figure it out.
Fair enough and, as I said, I don’t have an issue necessarily with the player himself but the optics of it would likely lead to great disdain and I, selfishly, don’t want to have to read through the disdain as I sift through all the Oil info, comments, opinions that I enjoy reading.
I don’t disagree with you on Chiasson and his contract being close to value (pre-covid) for performance last year – heard you speak to that many times and you’ve convinced me.
With that said, the issue is broader than just value this past season. Taking away the fact that the market has been turned on its side:
– Chiasson is on of six right wingers including 5 that are legit every day right wingers
– much of Chiasson’s offensive value comes on the PP and its seems likely that the team has cover for him in that regard (not that he doesn’t provide unique value with his puck recovery and PP smarts)
– swapping his $2M for a LW $2M balances the lineup (and, at new market prices, probably acquires a more material player with some potential road ahead with the team).