In his first 78 AHL games, Ryan McLeod has scored 13-30-43. That compares well to names like Jujhar Khaira (78, 8-13-21), Tyler Pitlick (78, 9-23-32) and Bogdan Yakimov (78, 15-21-36) in their first 78 games.
Of course, history shows that points-per-game in the AHL isn’t an accurate predictor of NHL success. The scorers fly over the AHL, the checkers and working men grind their skills in the minors and then make the grade. I think McLeod will make it in the NHL, and he will bring a little more offense than the normal AHL grad.
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 Jonathan Willis: Five questions the Oilers need to answer by the NHL trade deadline
- Lowetide: Carter Savoie’s college season suggests Oilers could have a real goal scoring prospect
- Lowetide: Has Oilers goalie prospect Stuart Skinner turned a corner?
- Lowetide: Where does Zack Kassian fit on the Oilers, now and in the future?
- Lowetide: Oilers’ midseason depth chart informs their needs for trade deadline and beyond
- Jonathan Willis: A position-by-position look at the Oilers after 30 games
- Lowetide: How will Oilers GM Ken Holland make room in the lineup for Evan Bouchard?
- Lowetide: Are the Oilers and Elvis Merzlikins a trade match?
- Lowetide: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Dominik Kahun, Dylan Holloway and a perfect storm on the Oilers’ left side
- Lowetide: Why Oilers GM Ken Holland shouldn’t wait for the deadline to make a trade
- Lowetide: Three Oilers prospects form hottest line in the AHL
- Lowetide: Oilers’ top 20 prospects, trade deadline edition
- Lowetide: Why are some Oilers fans hesitant to give Darnell Nurse his due?
- Jonathan Willis: Can Oilers improve enough to beat TML it in May?
- Lowetide: Top trade targets for the Oilers at the 2021 deadline
- Jonathan Willis: Oilers 2021 trade value rankings
- Lowetide: Is this peak Connor McDavid?
OILERS 50-MAN ROSTER (50)
There are 50 names here, and 13 unrestricted plus 9 restricted. So, and this is a larger group than normal, 44 percent of the 50-man is reaching some sort of free agency this summer.
- UFA Renewed: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Gaetan Haas, Tyson Barrie, Adam Larsson
- UFA Walked: Alex Chiasson, Tyler Ennis, Joakim Nygard, Mike Smith, Slater Koekkoek, Alan Quine, Joe Gambardella, Adam Cracknell
- RFA Renewed: Jujhar Khaira, Dominik Kahun, Kailer Yamamoto, Theodor Lennstrom, Cooper Marody, Tyler Benson, Stuart Skinner
- RFA Walked: Devin Shore, Patrick Russell, Dylan Wells
That’s 11 men returning on new contracts, added to the 28 established contracts, means 39 in total protected. Plenty of room.
POTENTIAL 2021-22 ROSTER
This is the roster with James Neal bought out and a quick look at available free agents. I think Holland is likely to trade Koskinen, sign Mike Smith and add an older goalie to tandem with him. This isn’t my ideal lineup but I like most of the options at least a little. We’ll see. Thoughts?
LOWDOWN WITH LOWETIDE
A busy morning, TSN 1260, we’ll talk about the canceled game, the change in the standings (all basically benefit the Oilers) and what tomorrow night’s game might look like. Guests include Salim Nadim Valji from TSN Calgary to talk Flames, Brian Hedger from the Columbus Dispatch will chat Blue Jackets surge and Cam Lewis from Blue Jays Nation will talk about MLB and the Jays chances this season. 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. Talk soon!
A lot of talk about rescheduling games. But what if more outbreaks happen, how many reschedules could a division do? This is not in my mind an easy decision.
Mike Smith .922
Balance Photo 0.000
NEW for The Athletic: Every major transaction Ken Holland has made as Oilers GM ranked–from Puljujarvi to Athanasiou.
https://theathletic.com/2469638/2021/03/24/lowetide-every-major-transaction-ken-holland-has-made-as-oilers-gm-ranked-from-puljujarvi-to-athanasiou/
HH is just like a guerilla soldier. Sneak attacks when the odds appear to be in his favour. Runs and hides as soon as things don’t go his way.
He’s been under his bridge since Game 5 of the 2011 Finals waiting for word that his Dys won Stanley in Game 6.#FreeHirooOnoda
Also The Avs could be getting wrong headed ideas such as they might think that they are the up and coming team in the western part of the continent.
They must be corrected for their own well being. ASAP.
If Tippet sees Larsson as part of the leadership group and Drai says the Oilers play faster with Barrie it seems the choice is clear.
The Oilers have struggled with tempo for a while IMO. Other than Connor of course, but playing too slowly was a part of getting hemmed in defensively so often and offensive 5v5 issues as a team.
So it would seem to be Bear or Bouchard. Given Bouchard has more upside and is younger and cheaper, and would be ready for consistent top 4 likely in a couple of years when one of the vets could be moved or walked, I’d say it’s Bear for a goalie or whatever hole Holland doesn’t want to fill from the system.
They will need a 7 D that can play right side well enough in case of injury.
It makes sense with cap space opening and a core in or entering prime, to push for the balance picture and go for it. Finally.
Had this very sentence to a friend earlier it seems Bear is odd man out unfortunately cause I always liked him.
https://mobile.twitter.com/bestofmatt/status/1374533125406097408
Burn down the referee association! They stink!
I just realized that all 5 Div 1 NCAA Hockey Programs from Minnesota are in the playoffs this year. There is a least one team in each bracket… that is pretty amazing.
state of hockey, they’ll tell ya
Went for a 90 min walk. Listen to 960 the fan the whole time. It sure was enjoyable listening to the yahoos slagging their team. Nobody was off-limits. It was bad. They don’t believe sutter would like the idea of a rebuild versus retooling.
Bakersfield Condors vs. Ontario Reign; March 21st, 2021; first run
Brosseau – Esposito – Gambardella
Benson – McLeod – Marody
Griffith – Cracknell – Christensen
Stukel – Folkes – Hamblin
Stanton – Kaldis
Niemelainen – Gravel
Gildon – Jaks
Team 5-on-5 On-Ice Counts:
46CF-41CA (+5)
31FF-24FA (+7)
4GF-2GA (+2)
Top F: Benson (1.52 Game Score)
3 shot attempts, 3 shot assists
1 primary assist
13CF-6CA (+7)
11FF-3FA (+8)
2GF-0GA (+2)
Top D: Gildon (1.63 Game Score)
5 shot attempts, 2 shot assists
1 primary assist
18CF-10CA (+8)
12FF-6FA (+6)
2GF-1GA (+1)
Gildon is going to be an NHLer by as soon as next season. Fantastic results as a newly-minted pro.
I would like to know how Niemelainen and McLeod are doing.
Thank you for this.
Gildon will probably head back to Syracuse when Kesselring and Kemp are ready for games. He’ll be a big loss.
I’ve watched lots and lots of Condors this year so can speak to Niemelainen and McLeod and their games but I do a lot so presumably you are looking for numbers from the likes of Wilde (and @bcurlock).
You’re welcome.
I’m afraid I can’t speak to either, as not only has this been the only full Condors game that time and internet have permitted me to track, but the rest of Niemalainen’s pro career has been away from my eyes over in Finland, and McLeod’s recent offensive explosion has me completely out of the loop intellectually on his development and potential.
I’ve never been high on him (for different reasons than those who critiqued him as a “perimeter player”), so after I investigate whether or not this scoresheet success has been well-earned in individual and on-ice numbers at 5-on-5 or not I will have to re-theorise some things before I’m comfortable doing anything other than sharing stuff on the quantitative side because my eye test is/was clearly biased against him.
It’s feels good to read another Wilde GD breakdown.
Harkens me back to when things were normal in the world.
Thanks hombre
You’re welcome Mr. Pescador
Love these. Thanks, Wilde.
Thanks for this Wilde. How is the Game Score calculated?
Is it possible, this Covid break comes right at the perfect time for us?
This will be a full 6 days off – giving some guys plenty of rest.
Or we will have only played 1 game in 8 days.
Frustrating as a fan ….but I think I see a huge silver lining here.
We should head into April very well rested.
Idk, I find breaks like this just make you realise how tired you are.
I’d rather they had kept playing till the playoffs
They have 6 weeks left filled with games
Some of the guys are banged up
Havent had practice time in a while
this is not like the 10 week break they had last year that they looked like they spent drinking
Will be nice to get Yamamoto back
Presumably…
A full week break is a bit more than preferred – the team was rolling hot.
April/May was when the schedule lightens up for the Oiler and, now, presumably there will be some extra games and travel added in on the eve of the playoffs which is less than ideal.
bear vs bouchard playing.. bear is the better all around atm and you hurt his value by him sitting vs vice versa..turning top 4 potential trade value to 7D value
nothing is stagnating spotting Bouchard the odd game…isn’t depth and working guys into the lineup especially D the goal of a good organization? He’s not Hughes or Makar rushing to try and make him that isn’t the best option
How do you know he’s not Hughes or Makar? His 1.56 p/60 isn’t anything to sneeze at. Small sample size and all.
What about the “play your best lineup” statement I keep hearing about?
Sure, one could argue that the best lineup includes Bouchard over Bear or Barrie or even Bouchard on the left side over Russell but I think the coaching staff believe the “best lineup” has the three established, legit NHL d-men in the game and I don’t disagree with them.
Its hard to make an argument to sit any of Barrie, Larsson or Bear if winning that night is the primary goal.
Yeah agreed. I was just positing it’s not a negative we have depth and can work a guy in. Speaks no ill of his value.
Bouch did have more than an NCAA season worth of games this year.
while it would be nice to get him a few games in case he was needed in the playoffs having 3 top 4 RHD makes it tough
Ty Smith..drafted 17th overall in 2018 played 23:30 tonight (2nd among Devils D) in a 4-3 win over the Flyers.
He now has 17 points in 30 games which pro-rates to 45 points in an 82 game season.
He’s 6 months younger than Bouchard.
Do you think the Devils are screwing up his development?
So this is essentially the official kiss of death for Ty Smith then.
I noticed a series of posts last night that were either directed right at you or at least challenged a lot of the predictions that you’ve made here.
How come you didn’t respond to any of them?
Lowetide wanted Ty Smith at 5th overall that draft.
Where did you have him?
Ty Smith’s total time was 19:17 4th most. Subban, Severson and Kulikov were all over 20 minutes. Subban over 24. LD is weak on the Devils. RD in Edmonton is very strong.
Wow, hughes your norris candidate is -17. That is NHL record territory.
Smith played 19:17 at evens and 4:13 on the PP.
That’s 23:30 in my books.
https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/njd-vs-phi/2021/03/23/2020020504#game=2020020504,game_state=final,game_tab=stats
The time on ice report says your books are wrong.
15:04 EV and 4:13 PP.
Wow!
So good to see you comment again.
your books is wrong… as usual 🙂
Back to giving him the kiss of death
10 of those points where in his first like 8 games.
just so you know depth is a good thing
Really?
Ethan Bear missed 12 games.
How many of those games did Bouchard get?
Congratulations on finding a new strawman candidate now that babar playinpeewee is such an ongoing running gag.
I like how you are so desperate that you are now going after the Oilers for having too much depth.
Ahahahahahaha
Ty Smith has always been a good, steady player but didn’t have the CHL draft year performance Bouchard did. Oilers d depth >> Devils and that’s why he’s playing! This is not even low hanging fruit anymore HH, it’s rotting on the ground covered in worms.
11
Oilers flying home as per Spector at sportsnet
Ya, in a “normal season”, I suspect they would stay out east but given the massive restrictions, its very taxing to be on the road, mentally more than anything – can’t leave the hotel except to go to the rink – can barely leave the hotel room (and can’t have others in the hotel room with you).
it ain’t that long of a flight anyhow
4 hrs 45 mins.
Thats almost 9 hrs
Long flights
I could fly to PVR & back.
VCR & WPG are shorts flights
7 hours (total – plus other “travel time”) but its also changing time zones, twice.
I’m sure the coaching staff spoke with the leadership group on this to get a sense of what’s best for the players, etc.
https://www.travelmath.com/flying-time/from/Edmonton,+Canada/to/Montreal,+Canada
Why does Google lie to me?
I fly it regularly for work, besides airline BS it’s about 3.5. Was just stating a quick night flight for these guys to sleep @ home and see family + practice isn’t really that unfair..suppose an extra 45 as I forgot they are in montreal. They can sit on their ipads in their hotel or on a plane on their ipads figure it’s all the same to them.
I think the league can reschedule the North Division between April 21 and May 3 and get in most of the games without extending the season more than a day or two for stray games.
That would work for the Oilers schedule, since they are currently scheduled with 5 open days and 2 open days in that stretch, but Montreal already is scheduled to play every other night that whole time, so no place to add Edmonton to it, as that would have them play 3 nights in a row. They would have to start re doing the entire schedule of all the teams to try and make this work. Montreal even before this had a jammed schedule for the rest of the year.
Godot can correct me if I’m wrong, but I think he was getting at restructuring the entire division’s schedule for May – not just the Oiler and Habs?????
Absolutely impossible for Habs without playing 3 in a row or 4 out of 5 to reschedule to be done before May 12.
but this isn’t going to be the last Covid postponement and I hope the league just cuts off the season instead of making teams sit for a week or two
I said reschedule the ENTIRE North Division from April 21 to May 3 or to the end of the season. It shouldn’t be difficult to do with only seven teams. They are playing in empty arenas.
But the games missing from the Schedule are 3 between Montreal and Edmonton and one between Montreal and Ottawa. Between April 19 and May 8 (The last day of the original schedule). Montreal has 11 games in 20 days currently scheduled. Changing everyone’s schedule doesn’t change how many games Montreal would have to play. To have Montreal play 4 extra games in that stretch would be 15 games in 20 days. Even if you add 2 days to the schedule and finish when the other extra games are now scheduled for Dallas, New Jersey etc., that would still be 15 in 22 days which is completely unreasonable no matter how you arrange them.
The problem is Montreal already had their big break in their schedule and have 3 more games to play compared to Edmonton over the rest of the season. Once they’re past the quarantine, for the remainder of the season, Montreal has only two 2-day breaks (but go right into a back to backs after both of them) and one 3 day break in the last week (with another back to back at the end of that break). It is only 40 days from March 30, when Montreal can start playing again until May 10 and the Habs will have to get in 25 games. Unless they can redo the entire North Division Schedule starting the first week of April, I think at least some of these games end up after May 10. Dallas is set to play 24 in that time frame so maybe Montreal could play that many, but you can’t wait until the 3rd week of April for a changed schedule to start.
Expos, best team in baseball second half, season cancelled.
Oilers best second half team, season cancelled.
my glass is half empty.
Season is not canceled,
but now that you mention it, my glass is almost empty.
Time to dip into the mini fridge stash
The weird thing is that while they miss three games between the Saturday games, Leafs only had one game scheduled during the same days. Two very rested teams Saturday.
I’m not sure I call it weird but just a function of timing.
If this was to happen to the Leafs in April, it could be similar the other way – Oilers’ schedule in April is light (relatively speaking).
What would inform the decision to cancel these games rather than have the Habs play without a couple guys? Some teams have been forced to play missing more than Armia and Kotkaniemi.
Concern around potential exposure to more teammates would be my guess.
Wouldn’t surprise me if additional players tested positive in the next couple of days
Id rather cancel the games then have a outbreak in our locker room.
I don’t believe its about having jut missing a few gusy but, if there are verified positives (which there are from yesterday), there needs to be a period of time to ensure that their “close contacts” are not positive and that takes time – in the interim, those close contact also have to quarantine – it essentially shuts the team down during that period.
Yes this – there’s a +ve on the Habs and there then needs to be a +3 days -ve in the contacts before they’re cleared.
I’m sure their close contacts will be tested daily for next 3 days and NHL wants to avoid further exposure
Rescheduled 3 games over blowing a tire in one or two teams season is a no brainer for sure. Particularly easy with all 3 being same 2 teams
not going to happen but they could move the March 29th game vs Toronto to tomorrow. Put in a Montreal game on the 29th
So with this huge delay in our schedule, wouldn’t now be the time to pull the trigger on a cross border trade/acquisition? Would provide a near week of free quarantine time.
Its Tuesday evening now, they play on Saturday, its not really that long of a stretch and I don’t think Holland can just snap his fingers on a deal.
Also, from listening to Holland from this morning he wasn’t to assess the team and their place in the standings closer to the deadline.
So do they fly home?
I was wondering that myself. My initial instinct is, no, given they are “right there”, they’ll probably set up in Toronto.
With that said, given the protocols, being on the road must be very taxing (mentally) given they can barely leave their hotel rooms.
Maybe they do come home for a few days.
Pierre LeBrun
@PierreVLeBrun
·
2m
One of the impacts, I believe, will be the NHL having to schedule games past Monday, May 10, which it had been able to avoid so far. But the schedule is so jammed in the second half, I think it’s unavoidable for Montreal and Edmonton. Which will delay the start of the playoffs.
I hope they don’t. I’m sure this isn’t the last covid postponement and I wish they use that Monday as a line in the sand for end of regular season
There is a line in the sand for the latest the playoffs can go but they can start a bit later – this is some wiggle room and I hope they play all games to the extent possible.
I’d rather have them keep flexibility to push games back during playoffs if one of the teams have an outbreak than playing a couple of what will likely be meaningless games.
The central is the only division where the 5th place team has more than 25% chance of making it and that’s Chicago with 28%.
The playoff teams are pretty much set already
All Montreal games scheduled for this week have been postponed
NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) Tweeted:
The @CanadiensMTL’s games have been postponed through Sunday, March 28. https://t.co/zerM5CgqBf https://t.co/rkH8qw83RN
https://twitter.com/PR_NHL/status/1374481268893609989?s=20
Damn. Was looking forward to pushing them down further towards 4th place death match between 3 teams
OP already posted this, keep up!
Well, there you go – Habs shut down through Sunday.
Guess the Oilers will get some good practice time in to get ready for the Leafs.
The leafs have had a lot of time off so now they will both be rested and raring to go. Should be a good series.
Would like to see Tip lean into some vet coach tactics against TML. Love him as builder and motivator and blueprint guy, but don’t know if I’ve seen Tip outcoach a squad yet.
Throwing McDavid, Drai and Jesse together in the 3rd against the Jets was a pretty good coaching move.
Vasby lost game 5 in double overtime – damn, that is going to hurt for the players that will be on a relegated team – that is their earnings.
In any event, Kemp and Lavoie have fulfilled their obligations with Vasby. Presumably they will be recalled by the Oilers and assigned to Bakersfield (and on a plane) shortly.
I kinda like that Lavoie has a little edge in his game. He’s the dark horse that gets little fan far. Lavoie and Hollaway will both make the team next year cheap fast and hungry wingers just like Malkin and Sidney had except these boys are big.
I don’t imagine that Lavoie will be on the team out of camp in October and anticipate he will need a full AHL season.
I do think Reja is right in that we’ll see Lavoie in the NHL eventually, but most likely not until he’s had one more full year in the AHL.
I don’t disagree that he’s likely to be an NHL player – I just don’t think he makes the team out of camp next season as Reja suggests (strongly).
Methinks, Lavoie is a guy who will do whatever it takes, unlike a player who seems content making pretty passes in Bakersfield.
He is smarter, meaner, and better offensively and defensively than Kassian. Plus, he has a shot, something no RW’er signed for next year has, except Puljujarvi.
I’m not sure about smarter, he has a history of taking some fairly egregious and selfish penalties which has carried over to his pro career in Sweden.
He has a shot – that’s his best asset.
He is also very inconsistent, both in game and from game to game and has been known to show qualities of laziness on the ice.
I’m not “picking on Lavoie” – i like him as a prospect. His shot is intoxicating and his size to go with decent skating and skill is great – I just think he’s going to need to show some material maturity in his game to make it at the NHL level and its going to take some time.
He needs the AHL, not Allsvenskan.
He will likely take 3 years to play in the NHL. Nice shot, size, and skating. His effort level in his Dzone needs to be cleaned up, if he can do that, he will get opportunies. Same as it ever was.
I’m thrilled that he’ll be finishing the season in the AHL (presumably) – I think a month or two in the AHL will teach him some lessons – I know Woody and his staff will likely have some lessons to teach. This will be important for him going in to the off-season – with knowledge on the North American pro game and what he needs to do to be successful at the AHL level – yes, the AHL level, before the NHL level.
Test results were supposed to be in a couple of hours ago and the medical meeting re: plan around 230 (mountain) this aft.
Would think we should heat very soon on the status of Wed and Fri games.
Khaira says that it looked worse than it was or than it felt.
Mentioned that he didn’t have any concussion symptoms but was simply going though the protocol and testing during the time he missed a few games.
Precautionary but for his safety.
Good to hear
https://youtu.be/9aNBrxzvae0
Holland on with McCowan and Shannon today.
Still working my way through and nothing riveting so far.
Spoke about the trade deadline plan a bit and nothing Holland hasn’t already expressed – its highly subject to where they are in the standings and, for him, if they are looking to acquire a player to help get the team into the playoffs or if they are pretty much a playoff lock and looking for playoff help.
Without saying it, from my ears, with quarantine and a player from the US being 3-weeks away from playing, he won’t be acquiring any rental unless the Oilers are assured of a playoff spot.
The Oilers are darn close to the playoff assurance point (in my mind).
Appreciate the cole’s notes.
All 4 teams currently in a playoff spot are 84% or more likely to keep the playoff spot with the Oilers at 90%. Probably just a few days away from the 95% confidence interval
Per athletic model
Holland brings up Nurse many times and all three gush over him.
As he should. Nurse has been tremendous this year.
Bouchard is not being ruined. He is learning how hard it is to get into an NHL lineup and how hard he has to compete every single day just to call yourself an NHLer. There is plenty of value in that.
The Oilers are winning and they have been very fortunate with injuries so far. Bouchard will be needed at some point. Either one of our RD will go down, need a maintenance day or lay egg. And I expect him to come in motivated and a little desperate to show what he can do.
Lets not forget that our 1RD last year is playing 3RD right now and not because of poor play. This is an ideal situation. The handling of Bouchard is not going to make him a worse defencemen.
Agree 100%.
Bouchard looks ready to be an every day NHL d-man and make a positive impact on many nights. At the same time, the Oilers have 3 established right shot d-men, each under 30 years old, and each of which have played top 4 minutes in the NHL (actually, all of them have played top pairing minutes in the NHL).
He is simply #4 on the right shot depth chart because, for the first time in a LONG time, the Oilers have actual depth on the right side. This is a good thing.
Bear got hurt and Bouchard got some real games. He was up and down but played quite well in aggregate, well enough that the coaches tried to find ways to get him in the healthy lineup (7D one night, playing left side one night) but none of those ways are conducive to winning games.
This is a good think – Bouchard is being protected and brought along slowly instead of rushed in to the lineup and, importantly, up the lineup. Evan Bouchard is ready to step in to the lineup if there is an injury – that is amazing.
If the 1RD gets hurt, well, the current 3RD, who played 1RD last year can fill in and Evan Fricking Bouchard can slip in to 3RD. That is championship level depth at the position.
It is unfortunate the experiment with Bouch on the LHD position didn’t go well
I find the narrative hilarious as it is tiring. If end result is he is turning into the kind of player that will be damaged and sulk over watch, practice hard and take time to develop or enforce good preparation habits
Then he’s already bound to be a fringe player or 1 injury away from wiping years off what could be an extremely blessed career.
Unlike a lot of other teams prospects Holland went above and beyond tapping connections to get his prospect on ice before anyone on nhl level already. Collecting checks, living the pro lifestyle and bonding with teammates shouldn’t hurt a damn thing if he’s worth a damn.
Harper hair campfire poorly told ghost story narratives should go sit down in smokey region of seating and suck on a raw hot dog until they have something of value worth offering – if they don’t choke themselves out first.
Or what OP said below sans my continued current past time of trolling the troll.
Pass time.
I am a plus on this comment (fun fact i am a plus on a great deal of your non cancerous comments)
He was wrong but so were you – the proper spelling in this context is pastime.
You get to the point in a players development that playing NHL games is the only task left.
Playing in secondary league in Sweden is better than nothing but to follow that up with weeks in the press box can only lead to stagnation.
Stagnation maybe.
Ruin? Only in a masosicist closet fan’s wettest dreams.
To add: Stagnation could also be phrased as slight stall in progression curve relative to optimal circumstances for the player given no regard for teams current at or above highest level expectation type season.
Keep chomping on raw dogs as long as you like though.
soooo does that mean ol Boner Ratface’s career is toast? I imagine he has been in pressbox all year
Bohemian Rhapsody is currently sporting approximately 3.75 p/60 in NHL action this season.
Stuff of legends not factoring its only 14 min of ice time. Thats a non starter issue if it suits narrative though.
Bouchard’s peer group – Dobson, Boqvist are establishing themselves as developing pros with good arrows. He needs to be playing to grow as a hockey player.
Is Bear that much better than Bouchard than Bear would not watch a game or two to create some competition? Jones and Lagesson are off setting each other – but on the right side our best prospect watch’s because Bear starts every game.
Bouchard should be playing, pisses me off. Ice the best possible team and let’s get this party started.
Yup, Bouchard needs to play but, of course, primary right now is wins and the coaches think that Bear in the lineup gives the team the best chance to win most nights – I love Bouchard and think he’s going to be a high end producing d-man but I can’t disagree with the coaching staff.
Bear struggled a bit early and a bit when he came back from injury (I don’t care if the “numbers” state otherwise, I watched him play every game). Many, including myself, thought that a night off hear and there to (a) give Bouchard a game and (b) help Bear get up to speed wouldn’t be a bad thing.
At the end of the day, the coaching staff realized (and realize) this was a player that played top pairing minutes all season long last season and faired quite well – he is a good hockey player and he makes the team better. They gave him some rope to get up to speed and, now that he has, he has been VERY good for three games in a row – three wins that he was a big part of.
Bouch needs to play and he will – this is not ideal but its the situation we are in. Thankfully he did play apx 30 pro games earlier in the season and has played, what 12 NHL games this season.
Bouch will be fine and Bouch will get his games.
What’s the Oilers record with Bouchard in the line-up?
I’m sure you can figure that out on your own.
I’m also sure you know that the answer doesn’t actually mean what you are getting at.
Bear is fine and continuing to develop, but he has 3 assists and 0 goals. Those results should not be holding a 21 year old Bouchard our of the 3RHD slot EVERY night. Jones and Lagesson are platooning out of necessity but they have a healthy competition on the left side. Bouchard would benefit from the same treatment Lagesson is receiving?
I don’t think citing Bear’s box-cars is the best way to evaluate.
I don’t think he got a point in the last 3 games but he was VERY good in those games and a solid part of the three victories.
Bear can play tougher minutes than Bouchard and in more situations than Bouchard.
No offence to Lagesson or Jones (and I’m a big fan of Lagesson) but neither are as accomplished or established as Bear – Bear played 1RD almost all season long last season.
Who should he replace, in your opinion?
Bear is the Oilers best right D currently. He can play in all situations. None of the other three right D can. Bouchard will eventually. Going forward, Bear, Bouchard, and Larsson is the way to go. Two all around D who can play in all situations, and a defensive stalwart in Larsson.
Thats about where I’m at. Barrie is a luxury capwise that next year for term might not be affordable given roster make up.
I’m just going to enjoy how we somehow managed to be 4 STRONG on right hand side without me even considering it possible for this year.
We have every bet on RD firing on full cylinders…since when did catching a top gear become a point where people are screaming the sky is falling?
Just how good is Connor McDavid?
https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/31-thoughts-nashville-move-ryan-ellis-instead-mattias-ekholm/
16. Connor McDavid leads teammate Leon Draisaitl by seven assists and has now tied Auston Matthews for number one in goals. The last player to outright lead the NHL in both goals and assists was Wayne Gretzky (62-121 in 1986–87). Gretzky actually did it five times in six seasons. Mario Lemieux came agonizingly close twice. He led in goals in 1988–89 (85) and 1995–96 (69), but was tied both times in assists (Gretzky 114 the first time, Ron Francis 92 the second). Prior to Gretzky, the last to do it was Phil Esposito in 1972–73 (55-75).
25. Is worth the read too… Dustin Schwartz vs. Wade Flaherty, sounds like getting “better every day” tips the scale to Flaherty.
Draisaitl was pretty close last year. Since he finishes strong, he might have done it last year. But Toronto media forgot about Drai again.
I looked back, and it’s crazy for a player to lead the league outright in both goals and assists in the same year. Only 4 players have done it, in the history of the NHL. Gretzky 5 times(81-82,82-83,83-84,84-85,86-87), Esposito (72-73), Howe (52-53), and Morenz (27-28)
If you re-sign Barrie you pretty much have to re-sign Larsson to balance out the skill sets
I thought you were worried about Larsson’s boots heading into his declining years? Dollars/term?
I am. I would absolutely not give more than 3 years.
also this is more reading the tea leaves of what I think Holland will do and not what I would personally do
Larsson is only 28. He is not entering declining years, he is entering the prime years for a Dman.
Not for slow footed defensive defensemen.
Vlasic is pretty much done and has been on a steep decline for at least 2 years.
and between the ages of 28-31, he was an elite defensive d-man.
Larsson doesn’t turn 29 until in to next season.
Adam will sign the same deal as Tanev except he’ll give a home town discount 4×4. Book It
Tippet named his leadership group earlier this week and it consisted of:
McDavid, Drai, Nuge, Nurse and Larsson
I fully expect Larsson to be re-signed this offseason (or earlier), Nuge as well and Darnell re-signed during next season.
This is the core!
Agree, I would be absolutely shocked if they didnt re-sign Larsson and if they dont it would not be for a lack of trying
+2.
I think the Barrie/Larsson/Bouchard situation will be a big test for Holland.
As great as Barrie has been this year I don’t think there is any way you can resign him. Even if he takes a big discount, Bouchard is ready to be in the line-up every night.
Larsson, at a reasonable salary, has the most unique skill-set among Oiler D. It has got to be Larsson, Bear, and Bouchard next year. Keep the young, cost-controlled players. Spend the Barrie money on a goalie/winger.
If Edmonton plans on competing next year and into the future, resigning Barrie over Larsson and considering moving on from Bear would be a mistake.
I hope Holland is looking at the big picture here. Bouchard is the internal replacement on a value contract. Larsson kills penalties and has been an elite defender this season.
For the most part, I agree with the renewed and walked free agents.
Interesting roster, a few things for me:
1) Leon will be a center (nuclear option at times but generally a center)
2 Give 1 above, Nuge will be a winger
3) I agree with both Khaira and Haas back but I think Ryan McLeod could impact the lineup and money does not need to be spent on Wenberg with Khaira/Haas/McLeod at bottom 6 center options
4) I prefer Larsson at $3.5M to Barrie at $5.5M given organizational skill-set
5) Klefbom is in Cleveland as we speak. There is a chance he is ready for training camp. Even if he’s not ready to start the season, there is a reasonable chance he will be ready to join the team prior to the turn of the calendar. We don’t know but he is in the picutre
6) Lennstrom and Samorukov with chances at 4LD/7D. The damn shoulder injury robbing Sammy of finishing the season in the AHL likely takes away a reasonable chance to make the team out of camp though.
McLeod’s game in the AHL in his second year pro is miles ahead of where it was in his first year in the AHL.
Of course, he was playing in the bottom six last year (mostly wing with some center) with some PK time and now he is 1C with Benson/Marody (two elite AHL players), PP1 and PK. He is a much different player and not just a complementary piece on that line. He is confident with the puck and carrying it through the neutral zone and in to the offensive zone and making skilled plays with the puck. More than anything, he is driving to the net and getting to the net without the puck as well – that is key – getting to the dirty areas.
Of course, he will never be a high-end offensive producer at the NHL level, however, ths spike in offence and show of skill in the AHL is key as very few forwards that can’t produce a bit in the AHL make it to the NHL.
I look for McLeod to continue this for the rest of the season and he’ll be a legit option come Sept/October.
What’s more likely: the Flames catching the Oilers (9 points behind) or the Sens catching the Flames (8 points behind)?
Edit: It’s not a serious question, I just wanted to point out that the Sens are closer to the Flames than the Flames are to the Oilers.
The flames play the Sens 3 more times so that’s 6 points they will make up right there
I assume you mean the Sens will pick up 6?
There appears to be much consternation with respect to Oiler dmen and the expansion draft with the fan base. Looking back at the VGK draft indicates an interesting point.
Vegas had no trouble picking dmen as many good ones were exposed.
If the Kraken draft falls the same way, does an Oiler forward make more sense? Do they take Benson or Kassian instead of Jones or Lagesson?
They have made a significant investment in analytics so I’m going to guess they will rate Jones highly and will be low on Kassian and his contract.
I believe Holland signs both Barrie & Larsson . Barrie has just fit it so well with Nurse on the top pair . With the flat cap for the next couple seasons Barrie would be nuts not to sign back with the Oil for another couple seasons , then go from there as a 31 year old UFA .
Larsson likes the team too , he may also get his regular partner back next season . I see both Larsson & Barrie signing on for a couple more years , Larsson for his defense & Barrie for his offense . And as for Nuge give him $7M x 4 he’s worth it . Those three will be a large part of the veteran leadership group along with Mcdavid , Leon , Nurse and maybe Klefbom if he’s able . That’s a solid group .
http://naturalstattrick.com/pairings.php?fromseason=20202021&thruseason=20202021&stype=2&sit=5v5&score=all&rate=n&team=EDM&loc=B&toi=175&gpfilt=none&fd=&td=&tgp=410
http://puckiq.com/woodmoney?season=20202021&tier=Elite&positions=d&team=edm&group_by=player_season_team
“Solid” isn’t the word for Barrie.
How’s this for wacky:
The leading point-getter for the Red Wings is a D-man…who has only one goal.
That’s good, but for me the craziest thing this season still has to be Buffalo.
30 games in (team games, obviously Eichel is now injured):
Eichel – $10 million – 2 goals
Skinner – $9 million – 3 goals (and 4 points)
Hall – $8 million – 2 goals
$27 million of cap for 7 goals.
Poor Sabres. 97+29+93 also @ 27M
So glad that game was canceled yesterday. Just the idea around what is at risk is scary.
After long layoff just far enough into shortened season that players starting to round off edges and be in top form, entire team racked.
Rest of hockey teams keep on tightening game while they are riding stationary bikes in solitude. Come back with probably some players still recovering from respiratory infections to a more bullet proof level of competitions while your squad could use a conditioning stint…
Death sentence for nearly any teams season right there.
Apparently the Flyers are frustrated with their defence and their lack of progress. They expected Provorov, Sandheim, Myers and Ghost to have taken a step and they just haven’t. They might consider a substantial move to get Ekholm but as they are falling out of the race perhaps a roster shake up? Konecny has been mentioned.
Does Bear + 1st for Konecny work?
Would they prefer Bouchard?
Bear AND a 1st? No thanks
So, are we officially glad we didn’t spend 5*7 on Markstrom?
.903sv% 2.87 GAA.
I haven’t actually watched any of their games outside our own.
Is he having a bad year or is it because Calgary is bad?
Lots of talk of blowing it up and rebuilding from flames fans.
On another note, who would have thought Mike Smith would be as good as he is? Maybe we just keep bringing him back every year. See if he can play till he’s 50
Markstrom is a replacement-level goalie (32nd in SV% at 0.914) and the team in front of him is bad.
Yes to the annual one-year Mike Smith contract until 2030!
I hope they make him a coach when all is said and done, I’ve really enjoyed Mike Smith both the good and the bad.
He really does seem to add some vet leadership inspiration that people are clammering to acquire the likes of an underperforming old staal for…
In my personal opinion, I think they are running him a bit too hard. He was their MVP to start the season, but they fed him a ton of games, similar to how we deployed Koskinen. He got tired, fatigued and then injured. Then, after injury, Calgary has started him in like 8/9 games or something like that.
He has started something like 23/27 games he has been healthy for. That is 85%, or in an 82 game season, 70 games. Markstrom’s career high has been 60.
85% of starts in a condensed schedule, even with less travel, is still insane. They are running their 30 million dollar investment into the ground.
Since Kassian has returned he’s looked refreshed and is playing his best hockey since signing the contract. Could watching from the overhead cheap seats aided in his game since he’s returned I can’t recall him being in the wrong lane or spot on the ice.
I wonder if the time spent with his wife and newborn child is the difference. He did not get any time after the birth due to the start of the season. First child is a wonder in the first few months and I hope he enjoyed this opportunity.
The Kassinator is refocused and back!
I agree that Kass has been a positive in his three games.
He has generally been alright on the defensive boards and selectively aggressive – he has some skill, as we know, and can help the bottom six when he’s playing well.
You aren’t concerned about Driedger’s miniscule track record? That seems like a lot of weight on just 28 games of NHL experience – and average results in every other league up to now.
Anyone screaming bloody murder over Bouchard or Benson should look at holland’s handling of Mantha.
Prospect patience is new to oiler Fandom but I for one welcome it. They aren’t going anywhere and they will have a chance to grab a spot with the motivation to stay hungry in order to keep it.
Speaking of Johnny Hockey rumours, the wildest one I’ve seen on twitter so far was a suggestion of Mantha for Johnny – straight up.
Damn…I haven’t paid enough attention to where mantha is at last year or so.
I was just very interested in him at that draft and followed along loosely in development plus years…but find myself unwilling to sit through any amount of Redwing games to have a good read last year or this one. I have seen enough exciting last place hockey to last a lifetime lol.
First sniff I’d say good deal for flames…they could use the extra space to qualify turtle above what he is worth.
I’d say so as well, I don’t actually think Yzerman would do it for that reason. From what I’ve seen of Mantha (I’ve not watched a lot of Red Wings games this year tbh) he’s a useful as heck player. -13 on the year, but winning the corsi battle, 8G 7A 15 in 31 games. Not amazing, but also not terrible. Like I say, I’d rather have him than Johnny H.
I’m clearly a glutton for punishment, I’ve seen more Red Wings and Ottawa games the last couple of years than I probably should have.
Ah Turtle. The 9 mill a year player.
Wouldn’t wish an an overpriced douchebag, who probably sucks at being a mentor to developing talent, more on any other team.
Here i am now relishing a free spirited giraffe filled with enthusiasm and wonderment on longer development track but showing signs of matching bet for 1/8 th of the cap cost…what a difference a year can make.
So nice to see even a phlegm writer calling out andersson and krychuck.
Matthew Tkachuk & Rasmus Andersson: Grow Up – Matchsticks and Gasoline
They’re getting ripped on by their own fans too.
Watch how Flames Cassie, Hrudey and fanboy Stewart try to spin how great the Flames organization is and this is just a hiccup come Saturday. Also add in Burke and Buttons continuously praising a mediocre team at best for 25 years while shitting on the Oilers with there biased cheap shots.
Burke I can handle as he is at least fun to watch and listen to most of the time. Button on the other hand is just plain bad with his analysis, delivery of same and apparent lack of knowledge of the current NHL.
I encourage you to listen to Button’s piece on the Nielson Show from this morning re: the flames.
I think the Oilers should pull a ‘Tampa Bay’ and have Klefbom declared as unfit to play next year. They don’t have to protect him and then if all goes well he can begin practicing with the team midway through the season and play come playoff time.
I believe the league has to approve that and from what I hear that is not necessarily likely to happen unless the surgery goes poorly and he is finished. This is Oil country and we know how much the league likes to help us out.
If Bettman could find a way to reduce McDavid’s (and Leon’s) point totals so that a player in a ‘major’ market could win – he would do that. Bettman always, and I mean ALWAYS, rules against the Oilers. Well screw you Bettman, McDavid wins all the individual hardware and the Oilers win the cup this year (Leon wins the Conn Smythe)!
The count must have been asleep during that 2015 draft lottery
Looking at LTs roster, I’m stunned how close we are to having a Stanley Cup contending roster. All it takes is a top six winger, a 3C and consistent goaltending. Maybe this is harder than I realize.
LD is not quite there yet either but on its way internally. The big question for me is in goal. Koskinen is OK & Smith is playing above expectations but I expect Holland to try for a longer fix again this off season.
I think they re-sign Barrie and Larsson
Which makes me wonder what the heck do they do with Bear and Bouch?
Make Bouch knock someone off and then trade that player?
If I have to choose between Bear and Bouchard it is Old-Man Bouchard all day long.
Why?
Much bigger (6-3 vs 5-11), better shot, better offensive instincts and production at lower levels. Don’t get me wrong I like Bear, but if I have to chose one player and the two are fairly evenly matched in skills and upside, I will always take the bigger player.
The correct answer is sign Larsson. Don’t sign Barrie.
The choice is between Bear and Barrie IMO. They’re competing for 1RD for the next 4+ years.
And all the numbers I look at tell me that Bear is the hands-down choice, even before accounting for the aging curve and contract differences.
http://naturalstattrick.com/pairings.php?fromseason=20202021&thruseason=20202021&stype=2&sit=5v5&score=all&rate=n&team=EDM&loc=B&toi=175&gpfilt=none&fd=&td=&tgp=410
http://puckiq.com/woodmoney?season=20202021&tier=Elite&positions=d&team=edm&group_by=player_season_team
Nobody likes trading young top 4 right shot dmen but crunch time is coming for Holland this off season.
For me the thought process goes as follows.
If you sign Barrie & Larsson for a combined $10 M and keep Bouchard as your 3rd guy you can make the cap work.
That lets you look for a trade partner for a cost controlled scoring left winger to complete your top six & still have a contending RD threesome. A cost controlled starting goalie is also an option Holland might look at as a return for Bear.
None of Bouchard, Bear, Larsson or Barrie fit as a 7th dman so keeping them all is not an option for me when there are still holes elsewhere on the team.
The downside on this scenario is that Larsson & Barrie have expiry dates that arrive sooner than Bear’s who could play for another 10 years rather than the 4 years that probably mark the end for Larsson & Barrie. Four years in professional sports is a lifetime, of course.
So you let Barrie walk & you lose a lot of pace in your attack or you let Larsson walk & you lose a lot of the nasty but can use that money in free agency – or you keep them & look for a trade for a cost controlled long term top six or goalie filling a hole for less money.
To me the decision comes down to whether or not Holland can find a trade partner that makes moving Bear an obviously better choice as McDavid & Draisaitl are now in their prime & it is time to push the chips in & go for it.
What am I missing on Kleff? is this a career ending injury or are we assuming he is left unprotected and claimed by Seattle? Fill me in
it’s simple – hoping for the best while planning for the worst.
what information does anyone have on his status, pure speculation or informed opinions?
Never mind did not realize he was going for surgery…gone til 2022 got it now…I will go back to sleep
He is having surgery in the next day or two.
He could be gone until 2022 but that is far from a certainty.
He could be ready for training camp as well.
We don’t know what we don’t know at this point. There will be a much more concrete timeline come the expansion draft in late July.
Best things to do on an Oiler game night
So last night, as the first 3 were not available, had to settle for #4. Oh well, still a pretty good night!
I’m in a chat group with buddies who used to try and go catch games over hot wings when everyone was in town on days off. Without any nudging we all instinctively had the flames game qued up once we heard oilers canceled.
Still quite an enjoyable isolated communal event last night, for sure.