The most powerful word in radio advertising is “free”. When confronted with an opinion like “I’d never advertise with you, your station has no listeners” the correct response is “okay, I’ll run one 30-second ad telling the public everything in your store is free” and the point is made (but you’ve lost the sale, people don’t like being shown up, it’s irritating).
I love the Rule 5 draft, and the long forgotten Intra-League draft. Today, I will bore you by bringing it back. You are so lucky. Like I said, free is a powerful word. A free player, a good one, is a grand idea.
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: Dmitri Samorukov’s KHL impact and what it means to the Oilers
- New Lowetide: How many goals will Tyler Ennis score in 2020-21?
- New Lowetide: Oilers extend Kris Russell, solve expansion issue
- Lowetide: Can Kyle Turris centre an outscoring No. 3 line in Edmonton?
- Lowetide: Tyson Barrie’s skills and how Oilers coach Dave Tippett will deploy him
- Jonathan Willis: Can Oilers unlock James Neal’s scoring potential at five on five?
- 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 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: Jesse Puljujarvi signing overshadows a strong day for Oilers at draft
- Lowetide: Oilers draft Dylan Holloway on Day 1, with trades possible Wednesday
The rules
The Intra-League draft goes back to 1952, although no one claimed a player until 1954 (general manager’s are a special breed). Here are the original rules:-
*Each NHL club would be able to protect 20 skaters and 2 goalies
*The draft would take place just before the beginning of the season; protected lists would have to be filed within seven days of the opening of the regular season and the draft meeting would occur some time within those seven days
*Players selected by draft would have to be kept by the club that chose him (he could not be traded or loaned to another club) for at least one year, except that the player could be placed on unconditional waivers (no right of recall) to be claimed by any club for a price of $7,500
Note: For purposes below, I’m going to use 20 players as the max.
OILERS LIST
Goalies Mikko Koskinen, Mike Smith
Defense Oscar Klefbom, Adam Larsson, Darnell Nurse, Ethan Bear, Caleb Jones, Tyson Barrie, Kris Russell.
Forwards Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Zack Kassian, Alex Chiasson, Kyle Turris, Josh Archibald, Jujhar Khaira, Jesse Puljujarvi, Tyler Ennis, Joakim Nygard. Waiver exempt: Kailer Yamamoto.
Oilers Available list: G Anton Forsberg, D William Lagesson, LW James Neal, C Gaetan Haas, C Alan Quine, RW Patrick Russell.
Flames available list: G Louis Domingue, D Alex Petrovic, RW Buddy Robinson, LW Zac Rinaldo, LW Justin Kirkland.
Ducks available list: G Anthony Stolarz, D Brendan Guhle, D Andy Welinski, C Sam Carrick, C Chase De Leo.
Coyotes list: G Adin Hill, D Kyle Capobianco, C John Hayden, LW Michael Bunting, RC Lane Pederson.
Kings list: G Troy Grosenick, D Mark Alt, F Bokondji Imama.
Sharks list: D Nick DeSimone, LW Jonathan Dahlen
Canucks list: C Brandon Sutter, C Jayce Hawryluk
Golden Knights list: LW Danny O’Regan, RW Patrick Brown
MY LIST
You may say ‘nothing’s there’ but the truth is I can find five players who are worth at least pondering. Here goes.
1 G Adin Hill, Coyotes. He had a .918 save percentage in the AHL and the NHL this past season. He is signed for $800,000, he is 24.
2 LW Jonathan Dahlen, Sharks. Just signed, he can score goals and has some two-way acumen. Tearing up the Allsvenskan. He is 23 in December with a cap hit of $925,000.
3 LD William Lagesson. Two-way defender who is more shutdown than puck mover, Lagesson will cost less than $850,000 and is 24. Defensemen always have value and he can play.
4 RC Lane Pederson. This is why it’s worth spending some time each offseason looking at the AHL numbers. Pederson has one of those oddly forgettable names and until this season he wouldn’t have made this list. He was injured mid-season, but began his 2019-20 AHL season by going 8-3-11 in his first seven games. He had 19 shots in those games. I think he’s worth pursuing.
5 RW Jayce Hawryluk. He went 26, 3-7-10 in 2019-20 with two different teams. He’s an agitator with skill, that has value.
Linus and Teemu
Most of the things I’ve ever written about hockey, team building, the draft or trades have come out right. Or, well enough to get my point across. You may not buy my ideas, but I’m satisfied with the verbal. One area that I can’t quite write down with clarity impacts men like Linus Omark and Teemu Hartikainen.
You see, we, as fans, tend to regard the NHL as not just the ultimate, but the “only” and that’s outrageous. Omark and Hartikainen arrived in Edmonton during a time of great turbulence in the front office and behind the bench. Hartikainen was drafted in 2008, by new scouting director Stu MacGregor. The general manager was still Kevin Lowe, coach remained Craig MacTavish.
Hartikainen had a solid rookie AHL season in 2010, one of the best seasons at age 20 this century by an Oilers forward prospect. He was productive in a recall that season (2010-11) but coach Tom Renney had other fish to fry and the big Finn got lost in the flood. Next season, same thing.
In 2012-13, Hartikainen played half of the year in Edmonton but couldn’t post crooked numbers offensively. His most common linemates were Anton Lander and Magnus Paajarvi, and he played 194 minutes at five on five without scoring a goal.
Hartikainen could see the writing on the wall (it was spelled Joensuu) and signed in the KHL, where he remains to this day. MacT, who was head coach on the day Hartikainen was drafted, dealt away Hartikainen’s rights to Toronto for Mark Fraser on January 31, 2014.
We, as fans, tend to look at that story and place 100 percent of the blame on the player. I don’t think that’s the correct way of viewing the Hartikainen story.
Since leaving the Oilers employ, Hartikainen has been productive in the KHL. That league is considered to be the second best league in the world. Per 82 games during those years, Hartikainen is averaging 24-36-60. His NHLE this season? 82gp, 47-38-85.
I’m not saying Hartikainen would be on his way to an 85-point season in the NHL if Edmonton had handled him better, but I am saying the Oilers did not exhaust all opportunities before moving on from him.
My sincere hope is that Ken Holland and Dave Tippett will show the patience of Holland’s DRW when it comes to the kids in the system. No team is so prospect rich as to turn it’s back on talented prospects just because the new guy has a different valuation. Put them in the lineup, watch them play. Give them 500 at-bats before you make the call. It’s the right thing to do.
LOWDOWN WITH LOWETIDE
A busy show this morning, TSN1260. At 10:20 Geoff Ullrich from Draft Kings will join me to break down the NFL weekend and Bears-Rams tonight. Jason Gregor from TSN1260 will pop in at 11 to discuss the NHL return date, Oilers and more. 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. See you on the radio!
NEW for The Athletic: The 2019-20 Oilers and value contracts: Career opportunities. There are six players with a good chance to deliver extreme value, the same number who managed it in 2005-06.
https://theathletic.com/2161974/2020/10/27/lowetide-the-2019-20-oilers-and-value-contracts-career-opportunities/
Just wanted to throw in my two cents about how sad I am about Joey passing. He was a gem of a person who made our team, our city and our community richer.
Bummer about Joey. The hockey world is united. He was a legend in this town.
Gotcha. Figured it out. Salavat played this morning so u used 14 games at time of writing. I used 15. Your point still stands but i was wondering how I wasnt getting the same results. Been looking at NHLe lately.
Allsvenskan isn’t a junior league, guys.
I’m not sure what the point is here – i don’t think there is one.
Are you implying that Podkholzin playing in the World Juniors this year will be a massive bump for his development?
Its an amazing tournament, for sure, and a boost for development but, in reality, he is going to fly to Canada, likely need to isolate for 14 days before playing in the short tournament and then fly back.
During that time, Bouchard will continue to play 25 minutes per night in the 2nd tier Swedish League while Podkholzin returns to the 2nd tier Russian League (or may can fight his way back up for 8 minutes a night in the KHL while Bouchard will return to Edmonton to compete for the NHL team).
Assuming materially less than 82 games is feasible, the agreement re: full comp being paid (subject to escrow and 10% deferral, of course) no matter how many games are played, even just one, will 100% have to re-negotiated. Its simply not feasible to go ahead with that structure, in particular in light of limited or no fans for large portions, if not all, of the season.
At the same time, not playing at all isn’t really feasible at all for the league either – they really need the last year of the NBC contract to run its course and not slide as they need the revenue influx from the new contract (which would start in 2021/22) – delaying that a year would be hugely material, in a negative way.
The players, of course, want to play as well – its their careers and their income (not to mention elite athletes are generally highly driven and playing their sport is “what they know”).
Thank you for sharing. And RIP Joey Moss.
Screw the workers!
All true.
Time to grow up about how money works players, IMO. No income, no pay. It’s not magic.
The only thing that matters is playoff success and winning Cups.
Your teams and ours haven’t been great lately. I would still take the Oilers fans, roster, and system prospects hands down over any other team in the league, long term.
The Oilers have a fully funding owner, a management group that is proving to be astute, and a coach that tailors to the roster.
But yeah, those Dys, Avalanche, Flames, Leafs, Habs, Jets ………………………….
There’s still a lot of uncertainty. Frank Seravalli was on the Lowdown last week and mentioned that revenues could be as low as $1B but that there is nothing in the latest memorandum of understanding to reflect that degree of revenue loss. Basically, the players might expect their full salaries, which total $2.5B. He mentioned that some of the teams would have trouble with the cash or credit facilities to cover that kind of shortfall. It certainly appears that the players would have to agree to prorated salaries in addition to the escrow payback that they have already agreed to.
You elevated the thread. That was beautiful.
If there was any doubt of the primary purpose for posting being to disparage anything Oilers (and a few posters themselves), that is gone…. This post reminds me of discounting Puljujarvi’s performance in Liiga and then citing Valamaki’s success in Ligga – clear narrative and trolling.
No, AIK is not a junior league, its the second tier pro league in Sweden – similar to the VHL and the KHL. The MHL is the top junior league in Russia and the J20 SuperElit is the top junior league in Sweden.
The VHL is where the Canucks top forward prospect is heading due to performance. Bouchard is only in the 2nd tier league because contracts with out-clauses in the SHL were not provided and its imperative that he can return to North American.
Yup, its a second tier pro league in the country so only so much stock should be put in to the performance, however, being arguably the best player in the league, as a just turned 21 year old second year pro is yet another great arrow.
I don’t think the nhl can afford to not have a season
Even if it’s a short one in a bubble
Don’t you think that on a day when Joey has passed away that you might at least try not to be an ass?
Just asking.
Truly a beautiful and inspiring story to share … thank you.
Podkholzin will be playing in the World Junior Championship in Edmonton in short order.
It’s becoming more and more likely that there will be no NHL or AHL seasons so Bouchard will likely be playing junior for the rest of the season.
Oh, there is no doubt they will do something and it will be something large I’m sure.
I anticpate it will be one of those events that all the “Boy in the Bus” will be back for including the likes of Sather, Muckler and all the greats.
It was a beautiful hijack. Thanks for posting that.
True but to plat in the KHL requires a contract. Bouchard playing on a loan where he can come back when the AHL/NHL season starts. Your guy will be getting demoted to where he should have been playing. Is being an asshole a natural gift or did you havre to get formal training!?
I am in shock over the passing of Joey Moss. In the 90’s I did volunteer work going with people with development disabilites to baseball games or helping them do daily tasks.. It was always a joy. I did that because of Joey and the impression he left on me. When my son was born 17 years ago with Down Syndrome, I remember sitting in my chair watching an Oilers game on TV. Whenever they had a feature on Joey or they would show him on TV I looked at my son and took solace knowing that because of Joey’s work that he and others like him had a better chance of living an inclusive and full life.
My son was working at a bottle depot prior to Covid (just like Joey did) and part of the reason for him being able to do this is because of Joey’s hard work.
Bless you and rest easy Joey Moss. You are a true hero and inspiration to me.
(Thanks LT sorry if I hijacked the thread!)
Except Podkolzin is not just running in place. He’s running backwards
Not too bad for a player in a junior league.
Thanks, OP It sounds about right
Man, that Wheeler breakdown of Bouchard’s game with video really is something – the time to put a piece like that together must be consuming.
Just posting a statistical tidbit from the piece is doing it a dis-service, however, i have posted recently about the amount of ice that Lagesson and Bouch are getting (and how Lavoie seems to be driving Vasby’s offence) but the following from Wheeler really drives home the impact Bouch is having in the league:
The data suggests that Bouchard has immediately become one of the league’s best players — and his team’s No. 1 defenceman. He is playing 23:41 per game, which leads all HockeyAllsvenskan players and is 4:15 more per game than his nearest teammate. He has three goals and two assists (both primary) for five points in nine games. Two of those goals came at even strength, where Södertälje SK are 4-4 with him on the ice. His 35 shots on goal (3.9 per game) lead all defencemen and sit third in the league overall. And though his 34 penalty minutes lead the league in the wrong category, 20 of those minutes were a game-misconduct assessed after the buzzer of his second game.
This version of Ave Maria sends chills down my spine…RIP Mr Cornell
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pd2emzFAqv8
He will be missed. I sure enjoyed Joey singing the national anthem. I hope the Oilers will do something in remembrance.
Yeah, the Swedish second tier is where Bouchard is playing.
Of course he’s 21 and Podkholzin is only 19.
I think the Oilers fan community (and bloggers and MSM) over-use the word “over-ripen” and, in many cases, the word “ripen” is more applicable.
I don’t think Holland has any desire to leave the prospects in the development leagues when they are banging at the door, having done everything to prove they are NHL ready except get the chance to do it in the NHL. That is over-ripen to me.
Ripen, to me, is allowing them to develop in the proper leagues but creating the path forward for getting that opportunity. Yes, Evan Bouchard looks ripe enough but, at the same time, he has played one year of pro hockey and starting his second year of pro hockey as 4RD, one spot out of the NHL lineup is not ripening him. There is a clear path to NHL games in 2021 – if he blows he doors off at camp and/or in the beginning of his AHL season, he will be on the team and, of course, unless his play doesn’t warrant it, he will be in the lineup once a RD injury hits, which will happen.
Just to confirm, you are talking 2021/22, right?
Could very well be the right 7D (although I don’t think there is much chance Seattle actually takes Russell – they will likely have the option of one of Jones or Puljujarvi as I don’t think Klef will be traded) – Lagesson may be a legit option or Benson as well depending on how everyone plays this year.
That’s an inexperienced 3rd pairing (and 7D) but I do presume that Bouchard will get his fair share of games this year so won’t be raw.
I don’t anticipate Broberg plays in the NHL this year – there is a non-zero chance he does stay in North America after the world juniors but I do think its likely he heads back to Skelaftee and, if he does stay, I would presume he’ll be in the AHL.
It all started on January 7 with the death of Neil Ellwood Peart, and just went downhill from there…
Joey Moss has passed away at age 57.
Damn.
Damn 2020…..
Gotta credit Cam Lewis at OilersNation for these but here are McLeod’s goals from the weekend:
https://streamable.com/dwn1l2
I wonder if there is any chance for Alan Quine to make some sort if impact on the NHL roster?
He’s 27 so take recent AHL stats with a grain of salt but he’s a massive point producer in the AHL – over a PPG.
He produced a little in 2018/19 for the flames as well and he was actually over 2P/60 playing with Hathaway, Czarnik and Jankowski.
Is there anything there?
I heard he is briefly stopping in Vancouver to attend Brogan Rafferty’s hockey school for prospects who can’t skate good and wanna learn to do other stuff good too.
Now being used to the acclimated to college hockey for a season, I think Holloway is going to have a big spike in numbers to coincide with a spike in responsibility – from what I’ve watched, heard and read over the last while I think his game and personality leads to leadership and he’s going to be a prominent player. His physical attributes were on display as a teenage rookie and, now, a year older and stronger, I suspect he is going to be a beast power forward in the division.
Brian Posick
@brian_posick
Confirmed by
@TonyGranato
The
@BadgerMHockey
season will start the season on November 13th. Michigan, Minnesota and Norte Dame will start that day too. Matchups and sites could be announced this week.
Im not completely sure to be honest, someone else may have a better answer.
NHL > KHL so
AHL > VHL (KHLs farm system)
Quick Maths at the link Lowetide provided(unless im mistaken) has NHLe at:
KHL: 0.804
AHL: 0.486
VHL: 0.38
ECHL: N/A?
OHL: 0.323
Seems to be be slightly better than Allsvenskan, 2nd tier Swedish.
Of further note, Sammy is 3rd in the entire KHL in plus/minus at plus 13….
Bruce McCurdy,
I really liked this version of Ave Maria….breathtaking…lol.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zNSSN3xkq0
I don’t know about the 1st for Klefbom – a lot depends on his health – but I think you have a very good chance of having named the 7 dmen the Oilers will start the year with. Young enough to make HC nervous but talented enough to justify.
Is VHL like ECHL level of competition?
Only had 4 points in 18 games. Samorukov has 7 points in 19 games… and plays defense.
Sure is a shame.
Thanks, SS.
Here is the major portion of the Trance Planet version of the song (Remix #3) that Won my heart.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XUfHL27B0_k
Alas, it is missing the coda where the echo of Slava’s voice trails off into the distance in a manner that never fails to send chills down my spine. Alas, that full version (about 90 more seconds) doesnt seem to be available anywhere on the Internet.
Of note, top Canuck prospect Podkolzin has been scratched in the last two St. Petersburg games and is heading to the VHL.
Here is Maxim Beryozkin’s assist today.
Nice little intercept off the boards and play back to the point – also like how he released to the upper slot. Looks big out there.
https://twitter.com/khl_eng/status/1320832071070339076
Cassandra,
That is a top notch story. This is the hockey content I require in the off season!
Some good stories about McCormack. Apparently, Conn Smythe didn’t like that he got married during the season, so he sent him down to the minors prior to the 1951 playoffs, so he didn’t get to play in the playoffs or the Stanley Cup final, but he had his named added later.
He was traded to Montreal that offseason. After they won the cup in 1953 he told this story.
“”I played in Montreal for 3 years and in my middle year, I scored one goal,” Johnny said of his season in 1952-53. “And that is a pretty good record if you can stay in the league by scoring one goal.”
“I worked at Blue Bonnets Racetrack in the summer and some guys said everybody (on the Canadiens) was going to get a raise because we won the Stanley Cup in ’53.”
Not wanting to miss out, Johnny made a trip to the Montreal Forum.
“So, I went to see Mr. Selke (Montreal’s GM) and I said, Mr. Selke I’d like a raise. He suppressed a laugh because I only scored one goal all season.”
Sensing that he wasn’t getting anywhere, Johnny tried a different pitch.
“I told him I had a toothache and needed some dental work. He said, ‘smile,’ and looked inside my mouth. Needless to say, I didn’t get the raise, but I did get to play another year with Montreal.”
If anyone is interested in the history of the inter-league draft I found this site.
http://historicalhockey.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-genesis-of-nhl-intra-league-draft.html
Apparently, it was instituted because in a six team league the same two teams (the Rangers and the Black Hawks) almost always missed the playoffs. Then for two straight years the Rangers and the Blackhawks liked their players better than the extras on the other teams.
After finishing in last place in 1954, the Blackhawks took Johnny McCormack, who played 63 games for them. They finished in last place anyway.
Interestingly, McCormack was from Edmonton. That was his last year in the NHL. He played the following year for the Edmonton Flyers. He died three years ago at the age of 91.