As strong as the Oilers were in Finland during the 1980’s, the club was very slow to draw talent from Sweden. In fact, the most successful Swedish Oil picks in team history (GP) are Magnus Paajarvi (467), Oscar Klefbom (378), Erik Gustafsson (245) and Anton Lander (215).
All four men were chosen after 2008, meaning Edmonton was very slow to register Sweden on their draft map (Nick Lidstrom was chosen in 1989, Tomas Sandstrom 1982). In 1980, 106 spots after the Oilers drafted Jari Kurri, the Vancouver Canucks took Patrick Sundstrom. The Oilers don’t have a long history of success in Sweden, but it’s mostly because they only recently joined the race.
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: A look at the best value contracts on the 2021 Oilers, from Jesse Puljujarvi to Mike Smith
- Lowetide: Dominik Kahun’s season of struggle with the Oilers has a silver lining
- Lowetide: An early look at ideal Oilers’ free-agent targets for the offseason
- DNB: McDavid’s latest goal shows why he’s in a class of his own
- Lowetide: Why Oilers fans shouldn’t worry about Philip Broberg’s SHL season
- Lowetide: Let’s make a final call on the Oilers’ 2016 draft class
- DNB: Re-sign Ryan Nugent-Hopkins? Free-agency targets? Oilers mailbag
- DNB: Oilers sign Dylan Holloway to ELC
- Jonathan Willis: Should the Oilers re-sign pending unrestricted free agent Tyson Barrie?
- Lowetide: Five Oilers prospects who deserve NHL tryouts now that the trade deadline has passed
- Lowetide: What are the Oilers’ ideal defensive pairings after picking up Dmitry Kulikov at the trade deadline
- DNB: Ken Holland’s quiet NHL trade deadline sets up Oilers for big moves later
- Jonathan Willis: What the Oilers are getting in trade deadline pickup Dmitry Kulikov: A cheap solution to a nagging problem
- Lowetide: What would the Oilers sacrifice if they traded their 2021 first-round pick?
- DNB: To play them together or not? 97 and 29
- Lowetide: Are the 2020-21 Oilers better than the 2016-17 team?
- Lowetide: Oilers’ top 20 prospects, trade deadline edition
SWEDEN’S BEST, 2021
- LW William Eklund, Djurgardens. Exceptional offensive talent already in SHL.
- LD Simon Edvinsson, Vasteras IK (Allsvenskan). Huge (6.05, 207) two-way blue with great mobility.
- RW Fabian Lysell, Lulea. Breathtaking skill winger, great release.
- G Jesper Wallstedt, Lulea. 6.03, 214, 22 games and a .908 SP in the SHL.
- RW Isak Rosen, Leksands. Speedy playmaker, March 2013. Sixth sense offensively.
- LW Oskar Olausson, HV 71. Skill winger, great hands and 6.02, 181.
- RW Simon Robertsson, Skelleftea. Bert’s boy, has a powerful shot. Feb. 2003.
- LW William Stromgren, MoDo. Big skill winger with good wheels.
- RD Logan Mailloux, Lejon. Big offensive defenseman with a hammer shot.
- LC Victor Stjernborg, Vaxjo. Two-way forward, aggressive forechecker, great passer.
LOWETIDE TOP 35 FOR 2021
- RW Dylan Guenther, Edmonton Oil Kings.
- LW William Eklund, Djurgardens.
- LC Mason McTavish Peterborough Petes.
- RD Brandt Clarke Barrie Colts.
- LW Matthew Beniers, Michigan Wolverines.
- LW Kent Johnson, Michigan Wolverines
- LD Owen Power, Michigan Wolverines.
- LD Simon Edvinsson, Vasteras IK
- LC Zachary Bolduc, Rimouski Oceanic.
- LD Luke Hughes, U.S. National Development Team
- RC Ryder Korczak, Moose Jaw Warriors.
- LW Zachary L’Heureux, Halifax Mooseheads
- RW Fabian Lysell, Lulea.
- RW Chaz Lucius, U.S. National Development Team
- G Sebastian Cossa, Edmonton Oil Kings.
- LW Fedor Svechkov, Ladia Togliatti.
- LC Francesco Pinelli, Kitchener Rangers
- RC Xavier Bourgault, Shawinigan Cataractes
- G Jesper Wallstedt, Lulea.
- LW Brennan Othmann, Flint Firebirds
- LW Eric Alarie, Moose Jaw Warriors
- RW Isak Rosen, Leksands.
- LW Matt Coronato, Chicago Steel
- RC Logan Stankoven, Kamloops Blazers
- LC Brett Harrison, Oshawa Generals
- LW Oskar Olausson, HV 71.
- LW Ayrton Martino, Omaha Lancers
- LW Conner Roulette, Seattle Thunderbirds
- LD Carson Lambos, Winnipeg Ice
- RW Oliver Nadeau, Shawinigan Cataractes
- RW Chase Stillman, Sudbury Wolves
- RW Simon Robertsson, Skelleftea.
- LC Cole Sillinger, Sioux Falls Stampede
- LD Evan Nause, Quebec Remparts
- RC Connor Lockhart, Erie Otters.
The Oilers pick No. 20, the players in that range include a pretty good goaltender. Edmonton’s two pick under Holland have been ‘up the middle’ and I think a goalie might be a possible target.
CONDORS
Bakersfield plays tonight, one of the things to monitor is who gets the shot at wing alongside Cooper Marody and Tyler Benson. I was pleased and mildly surprised to see Ostap Safin get an early look and am intrigued by the possibility of Raphael Lavoie as an option. We’ll find out more tonight.
Fred Brathwaite was the backup goaltender for the Vegas Golden Knights tonight.
Think about that for a second.
I hate to tell you this, but your information is incorrect.
Brathwaite is the goaltending coach for VGK’s AHL team. He was the emergency backup for the Henderson Silver Knights tonight.
HH being incorrect about something ? Shocker ;)…
Easiest thing in the world to check but why bother when the truth means nothing to you!
Maybe you needed to think about that for more than a second…
LMAO
I have seen few comments in the couple of days about the intensity in the Calgary/Montreal game last night. While I am sure Calgary and Montreal were both really intense and played hard to try to win both the of the games they played, neither game comes close to the physicality and nastiness displayed in the 2 Edmonton/Montreal games. Edmonton/Montreal combined for 67 officially recorded hits Monday and followed that up with 87 hits Wednesday.The Oilers had a slight lead in hits in their victory and Montreal had a slight edge in hits in theirs. Yesterday’s hotly contested game had a measly 36 hits, and that ramped all the way up to 38 in tonight’s game with Montreal having the edge in both games. The less aggressive strategy against the Flames didn’t work for the Habs though.
I have time for a lot of your stuff HH, especially your material from outside the Northern Division.
But did you really just suggest there’s a single person in Oilerdom that would reverse the Lucic/Neal trade?
The thought of him being in this lineup makes me sick. Then add the ego and locker room culture. Then add the NMC stuff…ugh.
I still have sadness over Petry. Hall a bit too although Larsson is a key piece. Barzal for sure. I’m furious they didn’t steal Nedeljkovic because of some stupid handshake agreement. I even kind of wish they’d given Tyler Pitlick a longer look.
But Lucic. Nah…
I wept tears of joy the day it happened and he could score 25 in Calgary and I wouldn’t bat an eyelash.
Of note, the Petry trade wasn’t a complete bust:
One of the picks was further flipped in the Cam Talbot acquisition which was a good trade and paid dividends for a few years.
The other pick was used on Caleb Jones, who is a current piece.
Agreed.
Thought it ( trading of Looch) could not be done.
This the defining trade of the Holland era -so far.
The next step by the Flames will be the defining moment.
If the Flames can move Lucic in the expansion draft and the Oilers have to buy out Neal…the die is cast.
You’re making a number of significant assumptions about what the Oilers could or could not have done had Lucic stayed with the Oilers. First off the Oilers have been a considerably better team since Lucic left (and Calgary significantly worse) with Neal helping in that regard for the first season and not hurting them this season. Lucic would be taking up a 23 man roster spot and probably not helping the Oilers win. And even if Calgary can make an arrangement to get Lucic moved in the expansion draft, it will likely cost them assets greater than Kylington to do so. I doubt Seattle will consider Lucic a serviceable 3rd liner as you suggested. He is only that now on a Sutter coached team playing below .500 hockey. Plus, we know the buyout of Lucic’s contract would have been horrendous and stays horrendous until 2023. Just like with Calgary, we also don’t know what it would have cost Edmonton to have Seattle to take Lucic would have waived. At least if the Oilers want to get rid of Neal, they have complete control and know exactly what the outcome is.
The Oilers are not better.
Based on what other than your inconsequential subjective opinion? I guess actual wins and losses are unimportant when it comes to assessing the Oilers’ performance.
And who knows, If Sutter ends up being GM, he’d probably be happy to protect Lucic anyway. That’ll show those Oilers and their fans.
I seen Gretzky traded so there is no player good are bad that’s not tradeable.
And here I thought I was the only one PO’d about not claiming Ned. He was right there for the taking.
Why do you think they had a handshake agreement when Carolina just claimed Edmonton’s 3rd stringer with the expectation that Ned would get claimed?
Holland said he got a call from Waddell. Waddell explained why he had to claim Forsberg but promised to waive him if Ned fell through waivers.
Should have been a very clear answer. We’re claiming Ned and we’ll sort it out from there. Instead…a few months of pain and a missed long term goalie solution.
The other 5 on the ice were actively trying to set up Lavoie in the final minute.
Lavoie hits the post in the last 30 seconds. What a shot. I think he had at least 7 shots tonight. Benson can rag that puck and wait for a pass to open up. The only time they were on the ice together was in the final minutes with the net empty. I hope they put them together next game. With McLeod up and Marody possibly out, I think it makes sense. Not sure who would play C. Cracknell? Malone?
Furious pressure by the Condors with the goalie pulled – trying to set up Lavoie and finally do and he rips one from the hashmarks off the iron – just ripped it.
Lavoie out for the extra man in the last 2 minutes.
Apologies for deviating a bit from Oilers/Condors conversation. As much as I despise the Leafs and the coverage that is constantly shoved down our throats I am a Blue Jay/ Raptors fan! (Both lost today) One thing that really impress’s me is the broadcast teams for both. Rautins, Devlin and Jack Armstrong are great to listen to. The Blue Jays duos with Buck Martinez doing colour are awesome. Hockey has a LONG way to go in this regards. This year especially the hockey broadcasts (other than Jack and Louie) are at times brutal!!!! NHL should really up it’s game night broadcasts! Don”t even get me started on the between periods shit show!
.
That’s interesting – I also like Buck but I think we are in the minority of BlueJays fans in that regard – sick flow is undeniable though.
I like Dan Shulman as well.
Yea he has a great voice!
Sam Bennett with another point tonight – an assist to go along with 6 shots on net and 4 hits in 22 minutes of ice (4:50 on the PP and 3:46 on the PK).
I think Bennett may, all of a sudden, be my favorite player to cheer for success not on the Oilers.
I like James Hamblin’s game. The Edmonton kid has some speed, skill, and grit. Made some smart plays on the PK too.
I do notice that Lavoie floats around a bit trying to avoid coverage in the O-zone, which is good, except that he misses some chances at some of the more dirty goals. Can seem a bit uninvolved. But if he gets linemates that can dig out pucks and feed him (like Benson?) then he’ll probably score a lot from outside the coverage. The coaches might beat that out of him, though. Teams can lose pressure if everyone isn’t pressing and checking when he’s floating a bit too high.
Lavoie with some great work again in the offensive zone this time… kept a puck in at the blue and then stickhandled around a couple players to get a shot off and joined the scrum at the net. A few shoves and gloves in a Reign’s face. Good stuff. 3 shots so far for Lavoie.
Marody came out in the middle of a shift to test it out for about 15 seconds and when right back off the ice and down the tunnel. That might not be a great sign.
Marody driving the net, loses an edge and slides in to the boards back first – he was done for a minute or so but did skate off on his own.
Hope he’s OK.
Really liked Lavoie’s last shift some good defensive work and checking.
Marody taking a while to get up after hitting the end boards after a shot. Up now, hope he’s okay.
Byfield wins an offensive zone faceoff, d-man carries down to the circles and feeds a pass to the net front – its somewhat stopped by Malone but Byfield scoops up the loose puck and buries it.
1-0 Reign.
I was procrastinating on my income taxes and thought I would finally make a (possibly) meaningful contribution to the LT numbers view. For some reason some of the discussion about the value of THE NUGE has been sticking in my craw. He seems a bit out of sorts on the scoring end of things but it seems to me that when playing with McDavid he has been tasked with the job of being responsible enough to allow the 2 defenders, usually Nurse and Barrie, to activate at will. Thus, combined with his work in the defensive zone (digging puck out of scrums and quick outlet passes) he is acting as a THIRD ROVER. Contrary to Ricki box thinking, this fits well with a 5 player group, which is what tippet wants the top six to play. For shits and giggles (not well combined it seems), I looked at the Time on Ice of the top 100 players in the game this year. Here they are. It seems that coach Tip values Nuge more than many of the posters on this site. I’m not sure how this TOI fits along side of the $$$$ but I suspect some managers value his role as well as points etc. And now I am going to drink a decent Nasty Habit Pale Ale from my fav brewery in Revelstoke. Do not expect me to comment on your comments. Thanks for the indulgence.
As per NHL.com
15/100 forwards listed in top 100 toi/gp in 2020-21
35 McDavid 22.47
43 Marner 22.32
47 Draisatl 22.28
55 Kane (chi) 22.15
63 Matthews22.00
70 Kopitar 21.35
75 Barkov Fla 21.18
76 Miller Van 21.17
82 Nuge EO 21.05
84 Schiefle 21.04
85 ORielly STL 21.03
94 Eichel Buff 20.30
95 Debrincat Chi 20.29
96 Sid the kid Pitts 20.28
98 Larkin Det 20.24
100 Guenzel Pits 20.21
He’s like an all-situations, 24 minute a night defender.
The even strength offense will return.
Fairly low event period and, with a few minutes left, coach starts the blender – Cracknell moves up to center Benson and Marody – interesting as Safin has been fine but the line really only had one dominant possession shift so far.
Milan Lucic now with 9 goals and 19 points.
James Neal with 3 goals and 6 points.
Because of Neal’s start last season I think a lot of people have forgotten that the reason for the trade from Edmonton’s perspective was that Neal’s contract allowed for a buyout – which I expect this summer.
Neal is a waste of cap space at this point. But Calgary probably thinks they could do better with that $5.25 as well had they not made the initial mistake with Neal.
Neither team is winning this one although you are correct that Lucic is the guy ahead this year. Not to mention that 3rd rounder he cost us last year.
Lucic has already indicated he will waive his NMC for the expansion draft.
This sets up a scenario where Calgary could retain half and trade him to Seattle with a
sweetener (Kylington?…maybe more.).
This would reduce his Calgary cap hit to $2.5 million and Seattle gets a serviceable third liner for $2.5 million as well as a defensive asset.
From Calgary’s point of view…this would provide an additional $2.5 million in cap space and satisfy their expansion issues.
That leaves the Oilers, if they buy out Neal, with a residual cap hit of almost $2 million for four years while the Flames retention is done in two years.
Perhaps, the Oilers should consider moving their 1st round pick to dispose of Neal?
But none of that is possible unless the trade was made because Lucic & Neal were both so unhappy where they were they were poisoning their team’s locker rooms.
It was not a trade made to improve either team so much as to lessen the impact of the original mistakes.
And, no, I don’t move the first to get rid of Neal.
Lucic is contributing..Neal isn’t.
Given the pick the Flames acquired and the chance to move him, it appears the Flames made out like bandits.
Meh, Edmonton won last year, Calgary this year. Still can’t tell long term who “benefits” more. The ultimate win will be to see who gets more cap relief in the long run.
I think Abbeef pretty much covered it. Nobody made out like bandits. Both teams made big mistakes & have recovered to different degrees.
More importantly, in the year prior to the trade, Calgary had 107 points in 82 games, while Edmonton had 79 points in 82 games. In the relatively short time since, Edmonton has 139 points in 116 games, and Calgary has 124 points in 117 games. I don’t think the Oiler now care what Lucic does in Calgary. They are a better team trending upwards. Calgary is onto their 3rd coach and getting worse. They were .500 when Sutter was hired, (11-11-2) and even after the 2 victories over Montreal, they are 10-12-1 with Sutter as a coach. This despite his genius move to elevate Lucic’s time on ice by 2 minutes per game. He personally plays better with a coach like Sutter, but the team results aren’t better.
Don’t believe you without some proof about Lucic. He loves calgary
Points per GP a wash.
.31 / .39
Healthy vs unhealthy.
Weak work Mr Hair.
Neal has not been unhealthy for 30 games.
He’s been scratched because he doesn’t contribute to winning.
It appears the flames are not a winning team.
This is simply wrong.
He had Covid pre-season and it hit him hard.
He’s been dealing with post-Covid issues all year and has never been 100%.
Further, he recently got sick again (not Covid) and was out for another 10 days and he’s recovering from that illness plus continuing post-Covid issues.
Why are we answering this troll? Again, why? Can we not ever learn. He is shit, adds nothing to the conversation….. Why Ignore the loser.
I thought it was important that the misinformation was corrected and Neal’s health issues were noted.
The same crowd will never learn
in addition to OP’s point about Neal still having COVID conditioning issues and subsequent illness, his contract also allowed the Oilers to put him on waivers and to the taxi-squad. Lucic, whatever he is contributing to Calgary’s stellar sub .500 season thus far, would not have been helpful to the Oilers much more successful performance given his issues here. Good riddance.
Is this another “meme” of yours?
On the other hand, Safin can really show some plus skating for a big man – just beat the defender to a loose puck off a dump and put himself in all alone – couldn’t finish but a visually pleasing play.
Half way throught the DAL/DET game.
Score: 1-0 DET
Shots: 36-3 DAL
And yet it took OT for the Stars to finally prevail. Final shots were 52-17 Stars.
Unsurprisingly, Jonathan Bernier named 1st star.
Its becoming more and more evident as he settled in to his pro career that Lavoie is going to need to improve a few notches in his skating in order to take his game to the next level. I think big part of that will be strength and conditioning but he’s noticeably lumbering out there on many shifts.
Safin starts on the top line with Marody and Benson.
Kaldis in for the injured Stanton and Christensen in for Brosseau.
Skinner starts as the Condors look to move in to first place.
Hope there is not let down after the sweep of Henderson….. the Reign have some firepower and, as stingy as the Condors have been in recent weeks….
With the injury to Hanfin I bet Sutter wished he went with 7D like last night instead of dressing Buddy Ebsen.
Some interesting stats as we head to the home stretch of a truncated, Covid riddled season.
P/GP is the only way to normalize given the significant disparities in numbers of games played.
1) McDavid 1.71
Just ridiculous
2) Panarin 1.49
In stealth mode
3) MacKinnon 1.44
19 points in his last 10 games. Leads the league in plus/minus
4) Draisaitl 1.42
Fading a bit and now shooting his career percentage.
5) Matthews 1.35
Should hit 40 goals
6) Marchand 1.30
Some Country for Old Men
7) Marner 1.23
Would be 100 points in a normal season.
8) Rantanen 1.21
In Covid protocol but 2nd in the league in goals scored with 26.
9) Kane 1.21
Has slowed down considerably after a torrid start.
10) Stone 1.18
Remains a two way beast
Panarin is criminally under-rated.
Isn’t he (Panarin) the second highest paid player in the NHL?
Panarin was getting lots of Hart love last year. Not sure how you conclude he is criminally under rated. If anyone is underrated I think it’s Stone. Guy should be a lock for the Selke but for some reason that award never goes to wingers
He should have won it last season.
Agree on Stone.
I don’t follow the Rangers at all, but I hear nothing but acclaim for Panarin out of anybody. He might not be in the limelight as much, but I’m sure it will come.
He’s likely the second best player in the league but haven’t heard him get those kinds of accolades.
Last season, with very little help from his team mates, he was on fire.
This season, he had to take a break to fend off an extortion attempt from Russia but is still the second leading scorer in the league.
It’s remarkable.
There is a Vlad who apparently isn’t a fan! -).
Should he have won the Lindsay as well?
Stupid question.
and your answer?
Stupid question.
LT, you made a very astute point regarding Tippett’s willingness to adjust in your Athletic piece today.
Lot’s of Tippett hate on Twitter, and I’m a little puzzled as to why that is.
In his tenure, he has successfully incorporated the following players into his lineup:
1) JP
2) KY
3) Bear
4) Jones
5) Lagesson
6) Khaira (bigger role)
None of those guys are “can’t miss” prospects. All guys were entrusted with fairly substantial roles quite early. JP, KY, and Bear in particular were elevated way quicker than even the most optimistic voices on this blog were calling for.
I think Tipp has also been right to stick with Kahun for so long, despite a seeming lack of production (LT did a good breakdown of this).
Even with Jones, Tipp looks to be sticking with him. Maybe he should have been sticking with him more, but Tipp also can’t ignore real life results whilst worshipping exclusively at the altar of xGF%.
This picture of Tipp being an old-timey, stubborn coach is completely removed from reality.
I’m not sure I really care who wins either of these games starting now (or the Sens/Nucks games tonight) – I guess I go to default and boo flames/nucks.
Good morning from Starbucks Manila. Great thread today; HH posting about the Oilers on an Oilers blog (much appreciated); no one lobbing abuse or suggesting wolverines be circumcised; respectful disagreement bursting out all over; I think I even caught a ray of sunshine on a Godot post. It’s like being back in 2016 (except for the social distancing).
I believe that weeks ago Tippet identifies what he has and in particular what he doesn’t have in his bottom six.
He is sitting on at least 4 players he has no intention of playing.
There was time for another try-out or a deadline pick up.
Im really happy Mcleod arrived, he may not help but at least they are looking.
It just may be that Holland underestimates his team similar to Peter C in 2017.
Seeing the look of utter moral outrage on Josh Anderson’s face when the refs failed to ‘see’ an elbow to his head was….well if irony isn’t dead, it is bleeding in the ditch. It seems the last 11 games are not only for coaches and GMs to tweak their lineups. The Zebra Corps uses the last run of games to hone their game management skills, who deserves to win, who needs to battle through, who doesn’t. Seeing other sports allow their superstars to write the script for championship runs, the NHL seems content to leave it to Frick and Frack(McCurdy et al 2021) to help determine outcomes.
Too funny. Did you see his Edmonton post game presser?
I’m still confused why we didn’t pick up Ned on waivers.
looks like he won the starting job in Carolina
It is a good question…..
30 GMs passed on him.
It would have been a reasonable claim though.
Part of his recent start streak is likely due to contract. I think he needs 3 more starts and he will be an RFA as opposed to UFA.
His play is the reason for recent start streak
his all situation GSAA is 12.41 good for 6th in the league
In fairness, we would have claimed him and then left him on the taxi squad all season and had no idea of his capabilities.
The OIlers would have lost him if they had tried to put him on the taxi squad.
Ned Flanders?
heard he was a leftie.
Hens love Roosters,
Geese love Ganders,
Everyone else, loves Ned Flanders!
Wow, I thought for sure there would be a game today, but looking at the schedule, nothing until Monday?
What happened to this crazy compressed schedule I heard about? A week off already this month and now another long break. Some worry about fatigue which I can’t imagine happening with this schedule. A greater risk is not playing frequently enough to maintain focus and rhythm.
The probability of a dud on Monday is high.
There are only 11 game left. We need to play regularly and get the rhythm going if we are going get tuned up for playoffs.
The Vancouver Covid outbreak scrambled the schedule and actually it worked out very well for the Oilers since they got a break from the onerous schedule they would otherwise have faced.
It also has them playing Vancouver 5 of the last 7 games of the season and you have to think that massively favours the Oilers because the Canucks are likely to be gassed since they’re playing 16 games in 23 days with 4 back to backs.
I don’t know if this is a positive or a negative for Edmonton. It should help their record which may give them homeice advantage but they look from here that the games will be relatively low intensity. If you can avoid picking up bad habits that should be okay but a couple games like the last 2 Montreal games would have them coming in with the right mindset.
Saying all that I think that only matters due game 1 of the playoffs.
The other 2 games in the last 7 (2 of the last 3) are against Montreal which I would guess will be playoff-like in intensity.
Unless seeding has been set & both sides are resting guys.
Possible.
Also, the Canucks aren’t very good which also massively favours the Oilers.
The schedule changed a few times – see Habs and Covid and see Nucks and Covid.
Oilers play 4 in 6 this week and the Oilers play 4 in 6 next week.
All 4 in the second week are against what should be an exhausted Canucks team.
The Oilers and Canucks both play next Monday, Wed, Thurs and Saturday before they face each other those 4 times and are both traveling back from the east during that week.
Magnus Pajarvi’s GP, nearly spat out my coffee.
I would love to see some young blood get a few games here. The games are ramping up, but if Mcleod or Bouch (benson, marody even) can step into these tough games and contribute, I feel that grows the teams swagger going in to the big show. Not a lot of bottom 6 swagger at the moment.
Tippet says Smith is fine – he tweaked something but they checked him out and he’s fine.
Kassian is “week to week”.
Per Nugent Bowman:
“Tippett says there will be more lineup tinkering over the last 11 games. No guarantees/commitment to play Stalock or Bouchard.”
So at 5 o’clock we have Calgary at Montreal as well as Winnipeg at Toronto. What game are you planning to watch, at least to start.
+ for the Toronto game or – for the Calgary game.
Gene Principe
@GenePrincipe
·
3m
From @EdmontonOilers
Dave Tippett on Mike Smith potential practice injury “he just tweaked something. I went in and saw him and he’s fine but it scared him a little”
Yeah that sounds like a shot to the nuts
feels like you might die for about 5 minutes
Of note: Derek Van Diest wrote that McLeod won’t go on the trip to Winnipeg.
Not sure where he got that info as coach T. did say yesterday they want to get him in the lineup as soon as possible.
Tip expressly mentioned that they will see where McLeod is after practice tomorrow.
He’s definitely not ruled out for the trip.
Odd note by Van Diest.
Smith left practice today:
https://twitter.com/tsnryanrishaug/status/1386009489149612032?s=21
That doesn’t look good at all.
Yes. Yes quite. Gack!
So what happened to him?
Twit people are speculating it is just a puck in the genitalia region and nothing to be worried about.
If he left under his own . I hope he just needed to run to the bathroom 😉
Now we get a chance to see what we have for $4.5 mil. Unless Tippet passes over Koski and runs with Stalock (he says with tonque in cheek)
Three games in two weeks.
I’ve drifted off.
Lots of news and notes and events (Condors’ games) even with few Oilers game. Always easy for me to stay engaged.
In any event, team now has two straight weeks of 4 games in 6 days.
Year in, year out, so many good – proven – goalies are available in free agency.
Not a fan of Betting on an 18 year old goalie in the first round.
McDavid and Drai need a steady supply of cheap, skilled,wingers.
It will be interesting to see if Holland still feels the same way as he did when they were questioning him sticking with Osgood in Detroit.
It is fun to imaging having elite talent in every position and TB seems to have that at the moment but it is very difficult to hold a team like that together from season to season in a cap league. Draisaitl & McDavid’s contracts make that virtually impossible in a stalled cap like we have now.
With all the young dmen coming I think they need above average goaltending for the next few years because young dmen make mistakes but any goalie drafted this summer isn’t likely to be ready in time to help them.
I still think you draft best player in the first round. For later rounds (not that we have that many this year) I can see picking for position because certainty is less in a cluster of about ten guys by the time you get to the middle of the 2nd round. But for the 1st round I still think you pick for skill and trade for need.
Interesting that Joe Sakic has built a powerhouse in just 4 years but has never invested heavily in goaltending.
While it cost him in the playoffs last year, and he has hedged his bet with Dubnyk this season, it appears that he’s content to go with league average goaltending while focusing on other aspects of his roster.
Worth noting,,,,the Avalanche are third best in GA/GP at 2.32 just behind the Islanders (and their D first approach) and the VGK who have invested $12 million in goaltending.
Yeah, I am not a big Koskinen fan for various reasons but a middle of the pack goalie works for me if the money is spent wisely on the forwards & dmen.
We’re both old enough to have seen Stanley won with many different configurations but I think the rule you can’t break is that you have to build the team to suit the strengths of your core players. For the foreseeable future that is two high end offensive centres.
That is what you build from. It is why I think there will be a Barrie extension this summer if the money isn’t stupid. But then, I’d trade the first this summer if the right LW with term was available so what do I know.
As would I…and would have done so last season as well since the clock is ticking so loudly.
I wasn’t ready last summer. I am fairly conservative so that would be part of it. Having spent my working life building companies & selling them I have a lot of respect for timing.
If you move a little late you risk a little less success. If you move too quickly you can lose it all.
But, yes, you cannot know for sure if you are too soon or too late any other way than going for it.
When experience & judgement tell you it is time you hold your nose, close your eyes and jump.
I think this summer is the time to jump.
As it turns out…this offseason is likely better in any event given the massive uncertainty of the draft.
Unfortunately this may also lead to a reduction in value of the draft pick.
However, one would think a team with expansion draft issues would find 1st round pick to be a very viable option.
I agree. The time starts next season. Can Bear and the 1st get a cost controlled scoring winger? Sign Barrie and Larsson. This team starts to be real Cup contenders.
This year KH has the deadweight of the Pouliot, Sekera, Lucic buyouts + Neal’s salary. Total around $10m …. sigh. This drops to around $4m next season (assuming Neal is bought out) and I believe about $1m of the Turris contract can be buried in the minors. I think this summer will see the trigger pulled on the 1LW and next year’s team will be quite a bit different.
I agree. This is the summer to announce that the Oilers are ready.
The problem is not McDavid’s and Draisaitl’s contracts. They are worth every penny. The problem is Neal(really Lucic), Kassian, Russell, Pouliot’s buyout. Sekera’s buyout was 50-50. It really wasn’t necessary.
The Oilers have over $15 million is wasted cap space.
I didn’t say that McDavid & Draisaitl weren’t worth their contracts so please don’t say that I did.
The problem is that the Oilers cannot run a balanced line up because over 25% of the cap money goes to two players. That means value contracts have to be a perennial feature of the team.
As it is and has been in Pittsburgh since Crosby & Malkin.
It leaves no room for error or injury or bad luck.
And error, injury or bad luck are part of the equation.
Holland will have plenty of cap space and assets to make meaningful improvements this summer. He needs to get it right.
Agreed this is a big summer for Holland. He needs to get it right.
Agreed.
I agree that Holland has lots of cap space and needs to get it right but, with that cap space, there are a number of holes to fill. He doesn’t have “excess cap space” where he can overpay in cap hit to get term down, for example.
Lots of cap space but needs to fill:
1LW (Nuge or replacement)
2LW (black hole currently)
2RW (Yamo at $2M or so)
3C (possibly McLeod)
1RD (possibly Bear gets moved up and this is really Bouch for 3RD)
2RD (Larsson at apx $3.5M-$4M or replacement)
1BG
Lots of cap space, lots of places to spend it on.
I never thought I would ever post disagreeing with you but, to me, the big ticket item on your list is Nuge. To me his contract is pretty much neutral – he resigns for about his current $6m or this money gets us a very good replacement. (Thanks for all your updates btw.)
You arent disagreeing with me. I believe that the re-sign of Nuge and Larsson are co-#1s on the off-season to do list – both impreative.
Agreed
Since McLeod has been recalled, in both games, Safin got the start at 1RW (Marody shifted to center). Its interesting, Safin went from healthy scratch to start the season, to spot started, to an every day player on a heater, back to a healthy scratch and then to 1RW.
I will note that, in both games, the first line was kind of “meh” to start the game and Woody did some blending – Safin was switched with Lavoie for parts of last game and Griffith, who has been lights out recently, was also shifted up.
At the same time, those two games were against Henderson, a very very good team who doesn’t give up a lot.
Tonight is against the Reign and, while they have enormous talent, their talent is very young and they aren’t a great team.
I look for Lavoie to have a night!
The hockey across the league is tighten up. Montreal and Calgary last night was a close proximity to the heavy Edmonton v. Montreal games earlier in the week. Lots to like about the Oiler’s game, but Kassian and Khaira’s size and forecheck can not be replaced with the current roster.
I don’t disagree, but would sure be nice if Kassian regularly played up to his size.
How so? Since coming back from injury, he is near the top of the league in hits/60 and overall hits. What more do you want him to do? He missed several games busting his hand in a fight and now he is out after a hit on Shea Weber, who outweighs Kassian by almost 20 lbs.
But narratives sir!
What’s my narrative?
I haven’t seen it discussed here, but Broberg’s Skellefteå has made it to the second round of the SHL playoffs. Unfortunately, he only played around 5 mins per game (second least on the team) in the first round, though I see he played just over ten minutes, had three shots and was even last night in a 2-1 loss.
Wow his ice time has really come down from the beginning of the year then. Is this a recent occurrence?
Well at least he’s getting 5 minutes a game look at Bouchard who must be bored to tears since he’s been benched weeks ago because he had a bad game on his off-side.
He’s not benched because he had a bad game, he’s just not one of the top 3 RD on the team.
Saying that I wish they would rotate him in every 4 games or so.
That’s what they used to call someone that was a healthy scratch for weeks on end. Now they have all these fuzzy wuzzy explanations. Bouchard has a pedigree of a top 10 pick he’s not some flyer taken in the 6th round this is not the way to develop him. He should of got in to a few games last year and he should be playing this year as you say at least rotating. He’s not a Holland pick and will see if Holland’s golden boy Broberg gets the same treatment or if they play him and call it growing pains.
“Fuzzy wuzzy explanations” lol. Yes there is no running the risk of offending anyone nowadays?
Come on brother be part of the team say something nice and sweet about Benson and Marody then all will be well with you.
Haha I actually don’t mind Marody. I think he’s a better player than Benson. I don’t think the organization sees it that way. I can’t get on board with Benson. I think the only reason he may get a chance to play will be due to Covid and the flat cap. If he plays 100 games in the league, I’ll be completely surprised.
The reason Benson didn’t get a chance to play this year was because of Covid and the lack of a camp and exhibition games.
I didn’t realize that was the reason. LW hasn’t been very strong for the Oilers. I would guess there is more to it than that. Do you have insider information? Or is this just your opinion?
Its my opinion, based off the reality of January and then, until recently, two week quarantine (3 weeks from call-up to lineup).
There was zero reasonable chance to make the team – the player didn’t even get a single line rush with an NHL player as the GM had added Nygard, Shore, Kahun and Ennis on the left side so the coach had established NHL options as there was no time to see if a prospect was ready or to figure out where he’d fit.
Yeah he’s only in the taxi squad because of Larsson’s back. Holland flat out said they wanted to get him in to a few games and that was a week or two ago I believe.
Fully expect them to sign Barrie and trade Bouchard in the offseason.
I fully expect them not to sign Barrie, while Bouchard may be traded regardless.
If they sign Barrie and Larsson it’s bye-bye Bear or Bouchard. There’s Tonnes of scrubs with experience you can sign as your 6-7-8-9 D man for cheap and they’ll be happy warming the bench.
Management doesn’t seem super sold on Barrie. He has been demoted to the 3rd pairing the last 2 games. Holland has said numerous times that Bouchard is a big part of the future.
I would love to know the last time a top 5 scoring defenseman was healthy scratched so a rookie can get some reps. It seems like management is content to ride the hot hand but I don’t see it as a sign that they are sold on him long term.
I never argued whether he was benched or not, I just gave my opinion on WHY he was benched which you didn’t respond to.
Nothing I said was fuzzy-wuzzy. Do you disagree that Bear, Barrie and Larsson are better players right now? If you do disagree that’s you are prerogative. If you agree that the other three are better right now why would he be in full time before the others?
Is it because he is a high draft pick and benching him would not be nice and hurt his fuzzy-wuzzy feelings? (Notice how easy and completely useless this response is.)
I believe you said he’s not benched because of his play there’s just no room for him right now. If he’s your future I say you make room for him dress 7 on the odd night, rotate he’s done nothing but played above par in every league he’s been part of. If you play him 5-6 Evan is not going to cost us games anymore than Barrie Bear or Larsson has.
I can agree with this except dressing 7 dman effects the forwards ice times as well. For this reason I’d be fine with it every once in awhile but not every game.
It actually seems like our preferred usage for Bouchard is about the same.
His ice time dropped after the world juniors, though he was still well over ten minutes in the regular season. I was disappointed to see him down so low last series, but hope it was specific to the opponent.
Thanks.
I do agree that it would have been nice to get Bouchard in the odd game over the last little while but its not quite as easy as it seems not the surface.
Even taking away the fact that there are three established NHL right shot d-men playing, each of whom has legit NHL top 4 experience/success, and Tippett is in the business of winning hockey games, there are logistics.
Logistics including roster space to activate Bouchard from the taxi squad – this was made tougher with the Stalock activation and 3 goalies on the active roster – the Oilers are running with 8D and 12F and 3G on the active roster. Tough to get that extra d-man on.
Of course, now we are in to the max 4 call-ups – one used on Nygard and a 2nd to soon be used on McLeod.
These are real hurdles.
Other teams deal with them as well – the Habs can’t get Caufield on the active roster due to cap reasons.
With respect to the verbal re: Bouchard is not a Holland draft pick and Broberg it he golden boy – that’s just narrative pushing. Holland continues to expressly mention how important a player Bouchard will be for the team going forward and he didn’t even bring Broberg to training camp – he was in the damn city and he still didn’t bring him in.
Welcome aboard the Cossa train, LT, I wonder if the Oil follow my master plan 2 years in a row with their 1st round selection… It’s only taken 10 years for Management to hear me. Those subliminal billboards I placed on Kenny’s street last year are really paying off ? ?
It is interesting that Cossa has passed Wallstedt as the best goalie in the Draft on your list, are you driving past those billboards on the regular?
FN did a consensus list that has Wallstedt at 9 and Cossa 24. I don’t know where we end up picking, but hopefully if one is gone, the other will still be there. The draft prospect situation might be muddled, but these players are clearly in view.
They are both quality, but I still would pick SC if given the choice. .
I don’t know enough about everyone’s opinion on this draft to be influenced to be honest. I have Cossa where he is because the two-year trend in the WHL (.921 and then .944 this year) and Wallstedt where he is because the last two seasons have also been strong. I’m not sure who will be ranked ahead on my final list, still sussing out the order.
Do either of you think we can safely assume that Mr Holland has had the greatest opportunity of all NHL GM’s to view Cossa, since he is in the same city?
That ease of viewing players because they’re in the same city hasn’t always been a good thing for us.
Example, the Reinhardt debacle.
Holland has a bird’s eye view of Zegras, Caufield, and Boldy in Detroit, and picked Broberg.
He also watched Quinn Hughes for years in his back yard.
Trevor Zegras is Quinn Hughes.
Detroit made the call on Kenny.
The Cancuks signed Hughes in March of 2019 and proceeded to immediately burn a year of his ELC for only 5 games. He had an immediate impact upon signing..
The Ducks are flip flopping Zegras between the AHL, NHL, AHL. He may very well be a legit top line forward in the next few years but he’s not having the immediate impact as a 20 year old
Honorable mention to Linus Omark as a draft pick from Sweden. That was a decent use of a 4th round pick. He had the enough talent to carve out a longer NHL career, but not enough that it would overcome his unwillingness to do the other things the coaches asked of him. He decided he’d rather be a star in the KHL than a 2nd or 3rd line player in the NHL. Not that he didn’t work hard, but he wanted to take risks too often in the wrong situation and the risk reward just wasn’t there.
I’m cheering for Lavoie, based on a couple of his highlight videos he looks the part of a pure goal scorer. With his size and shoot first mentality he would be a perfect fit for the top six.
He also has a nice edge to his game.
The kind that wouldn’t think twice about responding to a patented Tkachuk slew foot with a free spear to the ribs or maybe some chin music with the ol accidental elbow.