2021-22 Preseason Game 2: Kraken at Oilers

by Lowetide

The first expansion draft I remember was 1970. I was worried about the three Boston Bruins who would be lost (Tom Webster, Gary Doak and Barry Wilkins) and wondering if the Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks could find four California Seals worth drafting (Brian Perry, Howie Menard, Bob Dillabough, Charlie Hodge). Final tally: Bruins drafted would play 1,112 future NHL games and the Seals would play 36 NHL games. Man the NHL of my youth was out of balance.

THE ATHLETIC!

OILERS TRAINING CAMP ROSTER-CERTAIN OILERS

We’re 16 days from opening night. There are four more games this week. Coach Tippett mentioned the players were itching to play and practice lines (via Reid Wilkins) for the morning session looked very much like a possible opening night roster (with William Lagesson sitting in for Duncan Keith):

  • Hyman-McDavid-Puljujarvi
  • Nuge-Draisaitl-Yamamoto
  • Foegele-Ryan-Kassian
  • Shore-McLeod-Turris
  • Nurse-Barrie
  • Russell-Ceci
  • Koekkoek-Bouchard
  • Lagesson
  • Smith (Koskinen)

If you add Duncan Keith and Colton Sceviour, that’s your 23-man roster. I don’t think it breaks that way, but it could, meaning Benson, Perlini, Archibald and Marody would hit the waiver wire. More on the bubble players in a minute.

OILERS TRAINING CAMP ROSTER-UNCERTAIN OILERS

I think McLeod and Koekkoek are the closest to joining the certain list, Shore isn’t far either. Turris is in the grop with Benson and Marody, wingers who will need to show consistently well between now and cutdown day.

OILERS TRAINING CAMP ROSTER-DISTANT BELLS

If I’m doing my job right, none of these men will make the opening night lineup.

That goes for Maximus Wanner, who has played in the preseason games for the Moose Jaw Warriors (1-3-4) but hasn’t played since September 18. I don’t see him as likely to play, so we should get an announcement soon. Probably when Xavier Bourgault gets sent out.

From this list, I’d say Konovalov, Kemp, Broberg, Lavoie, Bourgault and Hamblin have earned another game, but not all will get one.

Things are going to get late early by the end of this week. When will we see Kirill Maksimov?

THE BUBBLE PLAYERS

Here’s my estimation on making the team, from most to least likely.

  1. LC Ryan McLeod. There is a path to filling five center spots without McLeod, but reason suggests that is extremely unlikely. If the Oilers run 97-29-93-Derek Ryan, then McLeod could be sent to Bakersfield with Devin Shore serving as 5C. The club could also run 97-29-Derek Ryan-Devin Shore, but wouldn’t have a capable fifth center on hand, and McLeod>Shore at five on five.
  2. LC Devin Shore. Shore is not a strong five on five player, but has a strong resume as a penalty killer. Coach Dave Tippett has a larger arsenal of potential PK men after Zach Hyman, Derek Ryan and Warren Foegele arrived this summer. However, the coaching staff puts such a focus on this area it’s my belief Shore makes the team, if only as the No. 14 forward. He’s good at the 4 v 5.
  3. LHD Slater Koekkoek. I have him at a near lock level, the first game paired with Evan Bouchard was solid and the absence of alternatives clears the mind. A strong showing by either Russell or Lagesson could see him slide to No. 7D or even off the roster, but that’s increasingly unlikely. He’s close to a lock.
  4. LW Brendan Perlini. He was impressive in the Calgary game, if Perlini does that two more times I expect the race is over. Big, strong, fast gives Edmonton all kinds of options for the fourth line and allows some real depth on LW. I expect it’s Perlini or Benson for the 4LW job now.
  5. LW Tyler Benson. He looks faster and can pass the puck well, plus had four shots the other night. I think he has a chance, a better one if we see Perlini line up at RW at any time over the next week. Benson has done everything asked to this point, his making the team would send a ripple down the pipeline. I don’t know if that will be enough.
  6. RW Kyle Turris. He has a better than 50 percent chance of making the team, but it will be threading a needle. Turris has the same issue as Benson and Cooper Marody: There are things to like about him, but more dynamic options in the way. I do not believe he’s in the Archibald-Sceviour race. He might get a job as No. 13 forward, but there is a small cap consideration that might see him waived no matter.
  7. RW Colton Sceviour. He has a real shot but it all depends on Josh Archibald. Sceviour is not the same player as Archibald but they serve the same roles and would bat in the same spot in the order. Kind of a utility infielder. Oilers were lucky to get him.
  8. RW Josh Archibald. As each day goes down, the question will get louder. Coach Dave Tippett clearly wants his jack of all trades Arch on the roster, and who can blame him? On the other hand, if he doesn’t get the vaccination the situation likely becomes untenable.
  9. LHD William Lagesson. I believe he has a chance to make the roster, Lagesson as a No. 7D has appeal because of his age and the large number of young blue who were sent away over the summer. Keeping Russell on the roster over Lagesson makes sense, but for how long? If the organization loses Lagesson on waivers, and Russell gets hurt, Samorukov isn’t available, then the organization is looking at Markus Niemelainen as the next man up on the LH side. Lagesson has value, as defensemen always do.
  10. RW Cooper Marody. He’s in a spot of bother, as the British say. Marody ranks (by my count) as the No. 7 right wing at training camp and needs badly to jump over Turris. If he can do that, Marody will be No. 5 after the organization makes a decision on Archibald-Sceviour. I don’t see him jumping over Turris unless cap dollars are an issue. I expected Marody to be around where Benson is now, but things have conspired against him this fall.

Six spots for 10 players. Adding to the drama, only one of Archibald and Sceviour, and only one of Perlini or Benson makes it. So, your six players who are on the opening night roster could be McLeod, Shore, Koekkoek, Perlini, Archibald and Turris. Wild times. Don’t discount a trade or waiver pickup.

LOWDOWN WITH LOWETIDE

At 10 this morning, TSN1260, we have a big show that will tee up the Oilers and Elks games! Mike Wilner from the Toronto Star will talk Jays and an amazing race in the AL East, and Andy Eide from NHL.com will help us preview the Kraken-Oilers tilt, while Matthew Iwanyk breaks down the Elks-Redblacks game. 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. See you on the radio!

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OriginalPouzar

Benson/Seviour/Bourgault with a solid offensive zone shift – nothing dangerous at the net though.

TL1977

We are suddenly in a spot where we have too many options for forwards. What the heck. Good problem to have.

€√¥£€^$

Perlini has 3 goals in 2 games, who ever saw that coming*?

*sarcasm font

? ?

€√¥£€^$

Perlini-CMD-Hyman
RNH-Drai-Kassian
Foegele-Ryan-Jesse
Benson-McLeod-Yamo

C’mon Tipp, you know you want to, just for gits and shiggles…..

Oilerguy

I myself love to see that for a game not sure with the downvotes

Oilerguy

Correction I see where it is I think. I still like JP top line too

€√¥£€^$

Like I said weeks ago, this is the line-up I’d like to see in a couple of exhibition games.

The trouble with this team, as we all know, is 5v5 scoring differential in the bottom 6. This line-up addresses that problem.

As a fan I want to see how this looks, I don’t know why other Oilers fans do not. Where Ty Rattie got games with 97 in exhibition games and led the league in preseason scoring, Perlini has 3 goals and 0 seconds on the ice without anyone considered to be even a top 9 player on this roster. In this line-up Hyman and CMD provide cover for Perlini’s shortcomings.

Kassian on the 2nd line simply allows Yamo to play against lesser competition and therefore provides him more opportunity for success. At the same time it conceivably results in less of a beating/wear and tear. Plus his familiarity with Benson & McLeod from Bakersfield would be a benefit. I think they would destroy other 4th lines.

The smallish Ryan with two large, fast aggressive, skilled players who excel at 5v5 play (as does he) is an exciting concept. Plus it gives each line (97, 29, 13, 71) a line-driver/zone entry machine.

Last edited 3 years ago by €√¥£€^$
Shane

You mention that this teams problem is scoring in the bottom six. Then go on to say Perlini has 3 goals and 0 time in the top 9 and advocate for him to be moved up.

An argument can be made that he’s doing exactly what he needs to do in the bottom six to help this team.

Now, outscoring in the bottom six against actually NHL competition is the next step before moving up the lineup.

Ty Rattie didn’t play with McDavid because they were trying to spread out the depth. He played there because there was no one else at the time.

We actually have 6(or more) top six players now so no need to shoe horn a lesser player up there unless they earn it over the course of the season.

Zach Hyman will be Connors LW now through the end of camp and on opening night.

Fuhr and Lowething in Vegreville

Perlini-CMD-Pulju
Perlini-Drai-Yamo
Foegele-Nuge-Turris
Benson-McLeod-Kassian

Kert

That’s a lot of ice time for Mr. Perlini. And it might be a little early to bench Hyman.

€√¥£€^$

What?

BornInAGretzkyJersey

Well, at least we know the goal horn works at Rogers Place.

Our Edmonton Operation

I didn’t know they were doing bonus shootouts for exhibition games, regardless of the score during regulation. Nice for Mikko’s confidence to not only get the half game shutout but also to stop all 5 shootout attempts.

OriginalPouzar

The teams have the option to do so if they both agree before the game.

Leroy Drysdale

Perhaps it’s because they are Young and Restless……

I’ll show myself out 🙂

Randle McMurphy

Mikko shuts the door!

OriginalPouzar

I do look forward to seeing the likes of Ceci, Foegele, Kassian tomorrow (and, presumably, the last games for the likes of Bourgault, Hamlin and Lavoie).

OriginalPouzar

Through two exhibition games, I don’t think Filip Berglund has made a single mistake and he has made a dozen or more plus defensive/outlet plays. A great early camp so far and he’s putting himself in the conversation for NHL games this year.

Reja

Quietly this might bring the biggest smile to the Oilers organization.

BornInAGretzkyJersey

He’s invisible in all the right ways.

Randle McMurphy

Another double shutout!

Leroy Drysdale

vallankumous

jp

Goaltending concerns? What goaltending concerns?

SVR

Hyman McDavid Jesse
RNH Draisaitl Yamamoto
Foegle.Ryan Kassian
Perlini McLeod Turris
Benson Shore

Thats how I see it so far. Benson may need to wait for an injury to get in the line up. If Archibald gets the shot, Benson may be waived. He needs to do more IMO

David

Very strong shift defensively for Bouchard.

OriginalPouzar

2nd line decides to show up – Yamamoto with some actual effort in the neutral zone and helps set up a 2 on 1 – Leon sets up Nuge but postage.

OriginalPouzar

Solid, solid defensive play by Berglund after Broberg fell.

OriginalPouzar

and another play by Berglund – defensive stop, puck retrieval and nice outlet…..

OriginalPouzar

PP3 getting some 5 on 3 time.

Leroy Drysdale

Hyman is constantly in front of the net. Should work out well, especially with Bouchards little half snapper seeing eye shots.

Randle McMurphy

Given they are Kraken, I expected a lot more holding.

godot10

Seattle Krackin’.

Kert

When was the last time an Oiler forward beat a goalie clean from that far out? Kotalik?

Reja

Billy Guerin.

Strapping Jocks

I loved Billy G when he wore the Oil Drop. Him and Dougie Weight. Tough years

JimmyV1965

Draisatle. But from the side of the net.

godot10

In my fortune cookie tonight:

In the bottom six, one sniper shot is worth one thousand pretty passes.

Randle McMurphy

David Letterman….

Perlini…. Pisani

Pisani…. Perlini

Perlini is LTs long awaited for Pisani !

OriginalPouzar

Wow, that was a hell of a play:

1) great faceoff winger win by Perlini
2) great pass from Turris
3) great bomb from Perlini

Great goal.

I’m telling you – Turris is going to be on this team and he is going to do well on a skilled fourth line – he may move up the lineup when/if injuries hit.

David

Perlini has made the team I think.

OriginalPouzar

He is certainly making a strong case.

At the same time, his prior deficiencies are not things that will be evident or analyzable in these types of games.

One cannot deny the production but I’ll still be keeping a close eye on his overall game as the games get more competitive.

Reja

He seems like a player that scores in bunches than disappears. Tippett knows what makes this big kid tick and he owes Tippett for the opportunity to begin with.

OriginalPouzar

I’m more concerned about his ability to play in tight games, his defensive awareness/positioning and his ability to battle for pucks.

who

Do you have some sort of intimate knowledge of Perlinis deficiencies? Have you been scouting him exclusively for the last few years?
If he was a perfect player he probably wouldn’t have been bouncing around the league the last few years, but how about we see what he can do right now?

OriginalPouzar

Intimate knowledge? Nope.

I have, on the other hand, put in the work to get as up to speed on the player as much as I can – including listening to spots by CHI and DET hockey writers on podcasts, etc.

who

So basically you’ve put in the work to parrot what somebody else wrote. Again and again and again.
Some of us prefer to watch the player ourselves and form our own opinions.

OriginalPouzar

LOL – Go head – noone is stoping you.

I’ll continue to formulate my own opinions from watching but also put in the work to be informed re: past events and history – even if it includes the thoughts and advice from those closer to the situation than I.

I look forward to you critisizing out host and his opinions on Broberg as parroting what Mike Zanier has told him.

Last edited 3 years ago by OriginalPouzar
who

Why would I criticize our host? It’s his blog.
Our host is very good at making his point……… and moving on.
You should try it sometime.
Or maybe start your own blog.

OriginalPouzar

OK – so its confirmed – your requirement of not “parroting the opinion of others” only applies to some and not others – got it.

Oilerguy

What work is this OP? All the work all of us has seen which is, he was a pretty effective player but was a little slight on the defensive side and then left for a season to another league. You don’t know if he has made his deficiencies any better then anyone else on here.

OriginalPouzar

His game prior to he left was more than “pretty effective but slight on the defensive side” – that is what I learned, the info I gained by doing a bit of work and spending a bit of tie.

100%, I don’t know if he has made his deficiencies better – that’s exactly my point and what I posted. Its tough to analyze those parts of his game given the level of comp and how the games went against the flames and Kraken.

I’m happy he’s producing and generally playing well but there are posts about him being on the team and a lock, etc. and we’ve seen countless early camp performances that don’t equate to NHL success.

I don’t know how his game has matured – I’ve been saying for a month now that he’s got a good shot if he has matured his game in certain areas – we haven’t found out yet. We will.

Reja

He has the pedigree he’s big fast has a above average shot and has a decent one timer if he can find the soft spots. So why was Perlini with his pedigree washed out of the NHL. Was it physicality in Chi-Town could it have been they were trying to make him a power forward and it’s not in his DNA. I’m pretty sure the only reason he got the one-year show me contract was because of Tippett. This has the ear marks of a fantastic comeback story and we just may of hit gold with this big hungry kid.

who

Maybe.
He’s got a lot of tools. He’s big, he can skate, and he can shoot it. His hands might be a little stiff when it comes to making plays, but this team has been looking for shooters.

Oilerguy

I hear you sometimes OP talks as if he is the be all end all on every player I find.

Oilerguy

I as well but so far he’s passing the sniff test fairly well enough for a fourth line job at least.

OriginalPouzar

I guess Perlin scored when the feed gave us some old footage.

OriginalPouzar

What is the Oilers G/60 on the PP…..?

Tarkus

How long did it take for all five Oilers to get a touch on the 5-0 goal? Three seconds?

Reja

They sure don’t build announcers like Ernie anymore his voice was meant for CFL and the Olympic Games.

dessert1111

Hyman fitting in well so far, a bit of a sigh of relief for me

OriginalPouzar

You thought he may not?

His skill-set is perfect for this club (and there are other options for him other than 1LW and PP1).

For me, the ONLY issue for the next 3-4 years is health – those knees.

dessert1111

I thought he would but you never know what it’s going to look like. Sometimes people just don’t mesh. I thought Lucic would fit in a lot better than be did. So seeing how smooth they’re playing together already is absolutely comforting for me, even this early

Oilerguy

Can’t get on board with Lucic working out but I was being pessimistic in same way as well but was always heartened with the thought that Hyman was a way better player the Looch the season before joining the team.

BornInAGretzkyJersey

Having been a fan of this franchise for decades, I’ve seen scores of players who seemed to be a good fit on paper that didn’t pan out when they got to the team.

I, too, shared dessert1111’s apprehension about the Hyman signing and hoped it would be a home run. Clearly there will be more required in the way of competition to declare the acquisition a success, but early results are promising.

Bank Shot

He’s a very strong skater.

Strong skaters generally tend to age a little better than those who aren’t so that gives me hope for the contract.

He also does all the things that you want hockey players to do so even if he loses a step/hands he still should be useful lower in the lineup unlike Lucic/Neal.

Last edited 3 years ago by Bank Shot
Oilerguy

Bingo!

Reja

Captain Canada was pretty effective as he aged Ryan never had a ego that was detrimental to the team Hyman seems like he’s cut from the same cloth.

OriginalPouzar

PP takes about 9 seconds to make it 5-0.

Nuge down to Hyman for the jam play, Drai cleans up the garbage by directing it to Connor for the empty netter.

Randle McMurphy

Could you imagine Perlini scoring 20.

OriginalPouzar

I await his play against a team that doesn’t have Riley Sheahan as their 1C or Eric Gurbrandson as a top pairing D……

Last edited 3 years ago by OriginalPouzar
Ryan

Funny you mention that. I was thinking the very same thing this afternoon.

In 2018, Perlini had 12 goals in 46 games which prorates to 21 / 82.

Joe Sakic approves of having a 20-goal scorer on the fourth line.

Last edited 3 years ago by Ryan
jp

This makes me wonder whether Neal, Turris, Ennis, Chiasson fit that description from last years team 😉

Boil-in-the-Oil

Sometimes youth has its advantages. Perlini is only 25. Tonight he’s showing he wants the job.

jp

Oh yeah, there are also differences.

It just struck me how damn many former 20 goal scorers (not even ‘projected’ ones) the Oilers actually had. In theory that should have gone a little better than it did.

Oilerguy

Youth and Maturity

Oilerguy

Imagine? I can almost see it.

OriginalPouzar

Perlini and Shore with a beautiful give and go one-timer 2 on 1 goal.

Fairly easy with so much ice for them but credit to them for making the play.

I was going to type, a few minutes before, of the “bubble players” fighting, Shore has actually looked the best tonight for me.

David

Shore’s skill is underrated. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a fourth liner and not irreplaceable, but he has game.

OriginalPouzar

I think he has a 30 point season on his resume, doesn’t he?

Then again, so does Sheahan (I think).

jp

Shore’s boxcars have been:
82 13-20-33
82 11-21-32
76 10-19-29
46 5-7-12
38 4-5-9

First 3 years he looked pretty like a 3C.

Sheahan topped 30 twice in his 8 year career.

OriginalPouzar

Neither are great skaters so I wonder if their transition from serviceable offensive players in the bottom 6 to pure role/PK players is due to the speed of the game increasing?

jp

I mean, Shore is just 2 seasons removed from 29 points. I don’t guess the speed of the game has passed him by that quickly. Probably more opportunity; if he were given 3C minutes and linemates again (not that one should) he’d probably post some modest offense again.

OriginalPouzar

Fair enough.

David

33, 32, and 29 in 16/17-18/19. So in HH’s world he still is a 30 point guy right?

Reja

Shore’s a good glue player and for a forth liner making bare bones he sure takes a lot of shit and abuse that I find quite funny. Me and you might be the only 2 shore fans in these parts if you exclude the core players on my beloved team.

jp

Great pass by Shore.

Nice snipe too, great goal.

OriginalPouzar

Even prior to that play, I was thinking Shore had been the best of the bubble players tonight (Perlini, Benson, Turris, Seviour).

jp

Hadn’t occurred to me that Shore was the best of the bunch. I had noticed that group hadn’t done a lot tonight though.

dessert1111

I got time for him at 4LW, but I’m hoping he’s getting all these reps at C to see what they have and not because he’s their first option for that role. Still early I suppose.

Has anyone run his fancies comparing his time at LW to his time at C last year?

Randle McMurphy

Did Ron Francis and the Seattle ownership consider the fact that the Kraken is a creature that spends 99% of its time at the bottom of the ocean?

Perhaps they did. Would explain their roster choices.

OriginalPouzar

Great PK shift by Niemelainen – steps up on a zone entry and forces the dump and then a great stick block on a potential dangerous shot.

Randle McMurphy

Tippett and Holland getting a good look at our penalty killers.

Randle McMurphy

I like Holland’s master plan.

The Oilers single handedly drop Dreiger’s SV% below 900….then we trade for him. 🙂

Brilliant!

OriginalPouzar

Smith stops all 18 and Mikko coming in!

Randle McMurphy

Zach Hyman! The new Ryan Smyth!

OriginalPouzar

Tough sequence by Yamamoto – 30% effort on a puck retrieval (which battle he loses on effort) and then rocked getting on the backcheck – put in effort to start with and that wouldn’t have happened young man.

OriginalPouzar

First line continues to toy with the opposition including McDavid setting up Hyman for a hard post job.

OriginalPouzar

Hyman forecheck causes a turnover, McDavid picks it up and makes a wonderful pass to Jesse in front for a grade A chance – that’s how they draw it up.

Kert

Yamamoto was about a full Yamamoto offside on the Nurse goal. Aside from that, everything is looking from good.

OriginalPouzar

Aside from McDavid being McDavid, Jesse P. was the player of note that period for me. Looks confident and ready for another step or two.

Of course, this is a total mis-match tonight.

Oil2Oilers

He is one of the few players that can line up against Penny’s brother and not look small. Puljujarvi entering the season with confidence could be a beautiful thing.

dessert1111

The Hyman goal was a 3 second masterpiece and the other two were really nice too, looking smooth

OriginalPouzar

Carsen Twarynski, Alexander True, Connor Carick and Ryker Evans had no chance.

Randle McMurphy

Zach Hyman where Ryan Smyth used to be.

Oil2Oilers

Hyman and Puljujarvi forechecking on the same line will drive the whole league to distraction. Being distracted when the other guy is the best player in the world…

hunter1909

Hyman looks and plays like a clean cut version of Ryan Smyth.

godot10

#PutAMulletOnIt

hunter1909

I know this is only an exhibition game but…

jp

I feel like large parts of the season may be like this too…

Kert

Large parts, like all the divisional games against non-Vegas teams? Those parts?

jp

Yeah, those ones.

Largely because I don’t think this team is taking it’s foot off the gas any time soon.

leadfarmer

Oilers 3 Weaponized capspace 0

Side

Just you wait, Francis stocked up on D, Goalies and Centers so he could make blockbuster trades and take advantage of teams in need.

It’ll happen any minute now!

Annnnyy minute now!

(Or so I heard)

OriginalPouzar

Combine the above weaponizing, with LAK having the best prospect group of all time, a rejuvenated OEL with Rising Star Podkholzin and Daryl Sutter and I’m not sure why the Oilers’ organization is even continuing to operate.

OriginalPouzar

McDavid is ready.

He only needs 7 more minutes of ice in the exhibition season.

Oil2Oilers

Bouchard’s ability to hold the line 5v5 might be his most impressive skill. It will lead to many more goals for the Oilers, even if he does not get the points.

OriginalPouzar

Top line with Bouchard just toying with the Kraken, toying with them.

3-way passing play and Hyman scores – McDavid and Jesse with the apples.

That was elite players vs. non-NHLers on that shift.

OriginalPouzar

Solid PK work by Shore/Benson/Neimelainen/Bouch – really strong wide side clear by Benson.