2021-22 Preseason Game 5: Jets at Oilers

by Lowetide
Stuart Skinner photo by Mark Williams

Stuart Skinner had a good night in Everett and a group of NHLers joined much of the Bakersfield Condors for an interesting game against the Seattle Kraken. What did we learn? Among other things, the goaltending situation for this organization seems to be improving. Also, some of those later picks during the Chiarelli era who remain on the roster might have a chance at an NHL career.

THE ATHLETIC!

This is via HockeyProspecting.com and Byron Bader. It’s a brilliant site that allows you to see what a young player looks like in their formative years compared to players of the past. When I began looking through the site, I used the player comparison tool heavily. Now, I use the single player tool, selfishly because there are players I know better than the suggested group. I think Skinner is on track with Laurent Brossoit, that would be a solid result for Edmonton. That isn’t designed to make you angry, it’s a compliment. If he achieves more? Music!

This is a big era stretch, but finding goalies who are smaller and punched at this level is difficult. I’m not saying we’re dealing with an NK career, but Konovalov as a prospect is on higher ground than Skinner. He may not be an NHL goalie, Skinner might be better, but Konovalov’s resume suggests he might have started his NHL career before now, as did Khabibulin. That gives those who believe the young Russian will emerge quickly some ammo. My thanks to Bader, who is also a nice fellow.

This was two weeks ago and I would change a few things, but that was kind of the point of the exercise. Everyone says “the only job open is No. 7D” in Mid-September and it’s never correct. Josh Archibald had some issues, Ryan McLeod and Tyler Benson have been quiet. Things are not quite as settled as most believed. As of now, after the Seattle game, I see things going like this:

  • Smith, Koskinen
  • Nurse, Barrie, Keith, Ceci, Koekkoek, Bouchard, Russell, Lagesson.
  • MciDavid, Draisaitl, Ryan, McLeod, Shore
  • Hyman, Nuge, Foegele, Perlini
  • Puljujarvi, Yamamoto, Kassian, Sceviour

So the changes are Benson and Archibald out among the forwards, replaced by Perlini and Sceviour. I also moved out Kyle Turris and included William Lagesson, an idea I wrote about that idea in The Athletic article yesterday. Maybe they keep Benson and send out McLeod, but this is going to be a difficult process in balancing the talent available versus who to expose/possibly lose via waivers. Jobs remain in the balance and a big performance tonight could change things. These young men are running out of blacktop.

As for the roster, I have been saying since the beginning of summer (actually have been saying it for two years now) the goaltending will get an upgrade. It’s also true a player like Dmitri Samorukov emerging after Christmas could be a key to the season. Evan Bouchard will be the big story early, or at least the big story not named Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Darnell Nurse and Zach Hyman.

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J-Bo

I’m really thinking they may send Macleod out and the bottom of the forward group will be:

Perlini – Shore – Turris
Benson – Sceviour

Kert

I’d keep McLeod over Sceviour if you’re rotating the PB’d guys in regularly. But if he’s just sitting for the first month, then yeah, send him down and sign Sceviour.

OriginalPouzar

This very well could be. McLeod is being out played to this point by a few others and he is any easy re-assign. He may need to be reminded of the work that needs to be put in (in the off-season and daily) in order for the non-elite to keep their jobs in this league.

Of course, any re-assignment isn’t likely for too long.

Gerta Rauss

per DNB at the Athletic a couple hours ago

“He threw a lot of backhand passes – some to our team, some to the other team”

Dave Tippett on Leon Draisaitl

Tippett said those giveaways can’t happen in the playoffs

jp

That’s in Tippett’s post-game on the Oilers site too. Surprisingly pointed.

jp

Slight digression, but OP said earlier “Tip with a poor analysis of Bouchard’s game”

After watching, he was indeed surprisingly pointed on Bouchard too (as with Draisaitl), highlighting what he wasn’t doing and giving zero credit for the good.

In both cases it struck me as harsh, but it seems like he’s holding these guys (star and top prospect) to task for their shortcoming, even in training camp.

Tip isn’t f’ing around. I guess that’s a good thing.

Gerta Rauss

Tip isn’t f’ing around. I guess that’s a good thing.

Yes

It’s go time

OriginalPouzar

In Tip’s defence – both times he was responding to a specific question about the player – he was asked about how Bouch’s game was with the bigger minutes and he was asked specifically about Leon and his pass to Nuge.

He didn’t single these guys out out of the blue but simply didn’t hold back when asked about them specifically.

OriginalPouzar

Tip was not in a good mood during that presser – he was not happy with his team, nor should he have been – as I said near the end, lots of “teaching moments” – the defensive zone structure was abysmal.

jp

Nuge post game:

“There’s probably only one guy in the league.. maybe a couple of guys in the league, who can make that pass”

Caught himself, but it’s true, not even McDavid makes those kinds of passes.

Nuge finished it with a no doubt shot too, great to see.

Reja

I’ve been saying it for years Leon is the best long back handed passers the game has ever seen.

OriginalPouzar

The flames played the Kraken in Washington State tonight and their stream didn’t work.

Perhaps last night’s issue wasn’t actually on the Oilers…..

jp

Did anyone really think it was Oilers incompetence?

Gerta Rauss

Oh, there was some upset folks as the 1st period wore on

There were fingers pointed

Last edited 3 years ago by Gerta Rauss
jp

I was upset, but the nhl.com didn’t even have proper in game updates. They still don’t have TOI for that game. There were very obviously issues well beyond the Oilers ability to stream the game.

I guess upset folks be upset folks though.

Gerta Rauss

It was weird

I’m too lazy to look, was the game in Everett again tonight..?

*edit-nope, it was in Kent, WA

so that kind of rules out an infrastructure problem- different site

Last edited 3 years ago by Gerta Rauss
jp

I planned to be lazy. But it seems tonights game was in Kent, WA rather than Everett. (I can’t vouch for that being a real place).

No TOI on nhl.com for the Flames-Kraken either though.

Should we blame Washington state? Blame Canada? I don’t know…

OriginalPouzar

Yes, I think many too – many of the comments online.

PinkSocks

Fun game.

Perlini getting puck luck at exactly the right time for his career.

Sceviour with 2 major coverage boners resulting in 2 GA.

Ceci was not good again, hopefully that corrects in the regular season.

Kassian is not the same player, unless 2016-17 playoff Zack reappears for 50+ games, this is $3.2m paid for 7 goals, 10 assists, and 2 game costing penalties.

Someone needs to chloroform the coach after the first period next time to prevent Nurse from playing 29:38 in a preseason game.

Mikko looks good, Bouchard is top 4 before US Thanksgiving, and Draisaitl’s backhand passes are prettier than Claudia Schiffer circa 1990.

Harpers Hair

@hockeystatcards

#NHL GameScore Impact Card for Edmonton Oilers on 2021-10-02:

LINK: https://hockeystatcards.com/single-game-impact-card/12070…

OriginalPouzar

Rising Star – Podkolzin
Solid Cup Champ veteran D acquisition – Luke Schenn
Stud Young D-man – Rathborne

https://hockeystatcards.com/single-game-impact-card/12063

Harpers Hair

You forgot to mention Juolevi and Gadjovich who were exceptionally good.

You also forgot to mention that Calgary was playing essentially its NHL lineup while Vancouver was missing Pettersson, Boeser, Horvat, Hughes, OEL, Poolman and Demko.

You know…6 of their best players.

OriginalPouzar

Podkolzin played with Miller and Garland and has the 2nd most PP time on the team. All he managed was to get scored on twice and not even muster a shot on net.

jp

Funny how the Oilers won their game, while the Canucks got trounced.

Demko played the whole game btw.

Also, Tucker Poolman is one of the Canucks best players…

I want to make sure that isn’t forgotten.

Abbeef

I actually felt bad for you after this. So sad and pathetic.

OriginalPouzar

Thomas Mazura with no points but 2 shots on net (4 attempts) and 3 for 5 in the faceoff circle. Plus 1 in a 7-0 win for Providence.

Luca Munzenberger was plus 1 with a shot and a minor penalty in a 4-2 win.

Carter Savoie with a couple 5 on 5 assists and plus 3 with 6 shots in a 9-1 win.

Admiral Ackbar

If Archie doesn’t get his vaccine, will that liberate $1.5USD in cap room? Any cap experts want to weigh in?

OriginalPouzar

It depends on what happens with him.

1) if they just tell him to stay away, waive him and assign him, it will save $1.125M off the cap.

2) if they allow him to participate as the NHL/NHLPA agreed upon protocols – he’ll count against the cap except during the periods where he is unable to participate due to his status (which will probably total about half the year) – while suspended, it alleviates his cap hit but he will only be suspended for periods then reactivated then suspended then reactiveated.

3) If he’s on regular IR due to this seperate medical issue, he’s off the 23 man roster but counts on the cap

3) If he’s on LTIR due to this seperate medical issue, he’s off the roster and on the cap but it’ll provide $1.6M of additional LTIR reserves (it will effectively give them $1.6M in room – provided he stays on LTIR for the entire year).

N64

one more: if there is a team (especially in the metro with no cross border travel or Central with only the Jets games to miss e.g) that will take an unvaxxed player (looking at you Stevie Y, he could be traded there possibly with some cap retained due to the limited market for his services.

jp

OP and others, thanks for the updates. I wasn’t able to watch, but nice to get a decent play by play here in the comments section.

JOFA

I’m afraid Bouchard is going to remind a lot of fans of Poti in terms of defensive ability and level of engagement. Poti had a fantastic career, but wasn’t a fan favorite in Edmonton.

OriginalPouzar

Bouch has struggled in his own zone the last couple of games – playing top pairing minutes – for sure.

At the same time, he is such a smart hockey player, I think he’ll learn the nuances of the defensive game and defensive positioning and awareness fairly quickly.

We are seeing that 3RD is definitely where he should be starting.

Reja

He should of been a 3rd last year but for some unknown reason that I’ll never understand the rational behind leaving your high pedigree core de-man sitting in a hotel room in Ottawa when he should of been playing and learning his craft. For me as much as I like Tippett this is close to a firing offence.

Kert

With Perlini playing so well and Kassian so poorly, I wonder if you could move Hyman to the right wing.
Nuge, Foegele and Perlini as your top 3 LW and Hyman, Puljujarvi and Yamamoto as your top 3 RW.

Benson, Shore, Turris, McLeod and Kassian rotating through the 4th line.

OriginalPouzar

I’m not sure Perlini is ready to be moved up the lineup against legit NHL teams quite yet. He actually did very little tonight.

I think Tip wants to role with his top 3 lines – said he’ll be going back to regular lines next game. Don’t think Hyman is going anywhere except with Jesse and McDavid for a while.

Kert

Yah, I don’t think it’ll happen. I’m just trying to find a way to work Kassian into the press box. 😀

Oilerguy

Correct me if I’m wrong but it looks like in your lineup Hyman is still with Connor and Perlini is still on 3rd line LW. I don’t think OP understood your post at all.

OriginalPouzar

I understood it – I don’t think Tip is going to change what the current idea of the top 3 lines are – as he said after the game tonight, we’re going back to the “normal lines” for next game. I’m quite certain Hyman and Puljujarvi will be with McDavid.

Reja

Perlini is moving on up to the east side to a deluxe apartment in the sky….

OriginalPouzar

At least tonight’s game should put to bed any talk of Kassian moving in to the top 6, as much as Stauff wants it.

Kert

Man, I wish it would. He has been bad for a long time.

Oilerguy

Hyman Connor JP is opening night top line book it. Aside from injuries knock on wood..

Last edited 3 years ago by Oilerguy
OriginalPouzar

Yes, I agree.

leadfarmer

That 3rd GA was some of the worst defending I have ever seen

Admiral Ackbar

Shades of game 3.

Admiral Ackbar

And game 5 against the Ducks (minus the Kesler g-interference).

OriginalPouzar

Tip with a poor analysis of Bouchard’s game but also said the entire group was poor tonight.

Said they will go back to the normal lines for next game.

OriginalPouzar

“Mikko was excellent. We were red-rotten in front of him.” – Coach T.

Admiral Ackbar

That honestly seems to happens a lot (the team being red-rotten in front of the G).

Some coaches regularly get more out of a team than the sum of their individual parts. Barry Trotz with the NYI comes to mind as a recent example. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen Tip get there. He fights the battle of battle of just reaching potential. I’m not convinced he’s the wrong guy for the team… but after the past couple early exits, I think some skepticism of his abilities is warranted.

winchester

I’m a little worried about the defense.

There is risk, we knew (Oilers) there would be risk but they went all in on their choices. Problem is, there is not much of a back up plan. LT is right, Russel is going to get games.

After him there are a lot of helpers, but nobody that can make a difference right now.

Brogan Rafferty's Uncle Steve

My guess: Holland makes a midseason trade.

OriginalPouzar

Nurse/Barrie was excellent in their one game together (albeit a mis-match game) and Barrie was, from accounts, good last night.

Koekkoek/Bouch have been good with some wobble when they were the top pair.

Ceci has only played with Lagesson – not with Keith.

JOFA

Just wait until Keith makes his presence ?

OriginalPouzar

I have full confidence that Keith will be better than Lagesson/Jones/Russell/Koekkoek/Kulikov last year and than Lagesson this exhibition season.

Harpers Hair

Based on what exactly?

Bank Shot

Based on you think he will fail, and you’re wrong about everything hockey related.

Harpers Hair
tsunami

you should rather worry about OEL buddy…

Brogan Rafferty's Uncle Steve

Well, that settles that! OP has full confidence that Keith (at approx. 2-3 times the price) will be better than a bunch of other mediocre LD.

OriginalPouzar

I’m not sure what price has to do with the conversation – I wasn’t defending the trade, the cap hit of the player, the acquisition cost or anything like that – I was talking about value on the ice.

Harpers Hair

In a cap world…price is everything.

OriginalPouzar

It has nothing to do in the context of the conversation – this was not a conversation about the trade or the cap structure but about on ice product with the current team.

who

I think this team is really going to miss Larsson and Bear. I’m having trouble seeing a shutdown guy on that right side, even if I squint.

OriginalPouzar

Truth be told, Codi Ceci was 2.03 GA/60 last year in Pit and led Toronto at 2.27 GA/60.

This past year it was about the same as Larsson, granted Larsson faced elites at 33% and Ceci at 29%. Bear was around 2.5 GA/60. Pit and Edm were right beside each other in goals against on the year.

The year prior, Ceci was MUCH better than both Larsson and Bear in this metric (led Toronto) and played 33% TOI vs elites. This was Bear’s great year and he was around 3.2 GA/60.

Bear wasn’t really a shut down D at evens in either of the last two year (although quite good on the PK if I remember correctly).

Brogan Rafferty's Uncle Steve

The Oilers D is the anti-pee break crew. It should be a fun season.

Kert

Fun, unless you’re Mikko or Mike.

OriginalPouzar

Mikko talking about how lonely he was last year – alone in hotel rooms with his family across the world.

This year, his family is with him in Canada – he seems really happy about it.

OriginalPouzar

First question to Koskinen – from Matty – the guy with the “tough questions” last time.

Koskinen throws shade back at Matty – “I didn’t let in the first one”.

who

From what I’ve seen so far, I’m not especially worried about losing Marody or Benson on waivers. Shore, Perlini and Turris have outplayed both of them so far.
Same goes for Lagesson. He’s doesn’t have the puck skills or skating ability to ever be more than a 7D. Russell and Koekkoek are better.

godot10

Cody Franson…er…Ceci is…you know…is not good.

OriginalPouzar

He was very good last season.

I’ll wait and see him play regular season games with an actual NHL veteran partner (not Willie Lagesson).

Brogan Rafferty's Uncle Steve

“Very good” does not mean what you think it means.

OriginalPouzar

His coach would disagree with you given his increasing role through the year and the playoffs. The Pit fans as well who were disappointed he was not re-signed due to cap reasons.

Oilers fans pine for Marino – Ceci was playing 5 minutes more per game than Marino.

fishman

Yea Ceci/Lagesson pairing not good.

hunter1909

If tonight’s game has you ready to make a prediction:

Go here:

http://www.oilersdeathmarch.com/marches/2021-22

godot10

Any prediction is sort of dependent on how Keith looks. Right now Bouchard is the #2D.

JOFA

Scary!

geowal

So any smart folks here understand why I was able to watch this on the Oilers app on my 4yr old phone but not in my web browser on my <1yr hard-wired tv? Connection seems good and all that, just had the spinning wheel of death.

Gerta Rauss

I had problems with both my Samsung and Phillips TVs(fairly current TVs with updated operating systems, also, both wired)

The built in browsers were crap and simply didn’t want to stream

Casting to the devices didn’t want to work either

I found the only way to get a streamed game onto the big TV was to launch the game on a laptop(or a device with an HDMI out port), and then connect the laptop to the HDMI port on the TV

Or pay for Game Center or similar Sportsnet paid service. I’m assuming they have their own app(which comes with your subscription) and streams to your TV

Good luck- let me know if you solve the problem

Last edited 3 years ago by Gerta Rauss
geowal

Thanks. I have full cable package, so it’s only an issue in preseason usually. But yes, the browser seems useless. I’ve never hooked up a laptop but Inprobably could.

Gerta Rauss

I did a little more googling since I first responded

It’s not a straight answer/solution – and the options available depend on what country you’re in as well re:Canada vs USA

And regional blackouts

At it’s core however, is that you can’t (as far as I know) stream to the browser on your TV

You need to stream to an embedded app on the TV ie:NHL Game Center or NFL Sunday Ticket (and that’s assuming your TV has that app installed)

Or

You stream to an appliance ie: XBox/Playstation/HULU/Apple TV box, and THAT device has the NHL app installed and that device is connected to your TV via an HDMI port

These options are paid subscriptions

I too pay for cable (Shaw cable in BC)…so I get games free when the Oilers play the Canucks, and handful of HNIC games on Tabernac Saturday

When the Oilers are blacked out in BC, I browse to NHL66 – this is NOT a legal stream – on my laptop using Chrome, then output the signal to my big TV using an HDMI cable

I used to add the NHL Center Ice package from Shaw, but I didn’t see the value last year, and I’m not going to buy it this year either

Gerta Rauss

I thought Koskinen was pretty good despite giving up 3

fishman

Agreed he had a hella of game. Left out to dry by his D on last 2 goals. Could have easily been Jets up by 3 after the first. Could have been named one of the 3 stars.

OriginalPouzar

If its notable, top line (Foegele/McDavid/Jesse) and top pairing (Nurse/Bouch) out there killing the last minute with the Jets 6 on 5.

OriginalPouzar

That was Kassian level awful by Pionk on the Nuge goal.

Material Elvis

RNH scores. What a pass by Draisaitl.

Gerta Rauss

Nuge from Drai

wow

OriginalPouzar

Drai with the pass of the year to Nuge for the go-ahead goal.

OriginalPouzar

This will be a good “teaching game” – my goodness the chasing in the defensive zone – reminiscent of years past….. puck chasing, puck chasing, puck chasing – multiple players chasing one puck as well.

winchester

Archibald could play just 50 games and hes still likely to lead the team in hits.

Side

And COVID infections!

dustrock

I talk about Kassian being the worst player on the roster. *Ceci enters the chat*

OriginalPouzar

Lagesson/Ceci with the McLeod line with just a cluster of terrible defensive zone positioning, awareness and structure and the game is tied.

That was awful all around – staring from the last O-zone draw and the weak zone entry allowance.

flyfish1168

That was a tire fire ?. Should keep it simple

Oil2Oilers

My forward lines for opening night;

Hyman McDavid Puljujarvi
Nuge Draisaitl Yamamoto
Benson Ryan Foegele
Perlini McLeod Turris
Sceviour

The two rookies on lines with experienced pro’s and forward lines now boat anchor free.

OriginalPouzar

I agree that, as of now, Kassian is not deserving of a lineup spot – we absolutely know he’ll have one though.

Oil2Oilers

Agreed, it is inevitable

Gerta Rauss

I’ve seen this movie

OriginalPouzar

Ceci/Lagesson getting chasing – Lagesson chases high and the puck goes down low for a tap in – can’t chase high there (although MANY players were culpable on that).

OriginalPouzar

GIven the score and the PP count, I’m surprised the Oilers D are getting away with a couple plays that could easily have been called hooks and holds.

OriginalPouzar

OriginalPouzar

 October 2, 2021 6:38 pm

Savoie can’t bang it in to the empty net but picks up his first assist of the season as Denver is up 3-1 nearing the end of the first. Even strength which I will note as most of his damage last year was on the PP:

https://twitter.com/DU_Hockey/status/1444460487685468160

Savoie to Brink to Benning and Savoie has his second 5 on 5 apple early in the 2nd. I think he’s playing with Brink right now and, if that holds, those two might put up some numbers this season.

dustrock

Oh right remember when we signed Kassian to a 4 year extension? Worst player on the roster. Guess he must be great in the room.

OriginalPouzar

It was a bad contract on the day it was signed – my opinion at the time, best case scenario (which was unlikely) is that he could provide value for the contract for 3 or so of the years – best case. There was no chance he would out-perform it and it was highly likely that he would underperform it.

His performance since it was signed has been far worse than I could have imagined.

With respect to this exhibition season – I thought he was quite good in his first game – one of the better forwards.

Tonight, he has been all kinds of bad – all of his warts mixed in to two periods. Just awful.

I know its just exhibition but, as a guy coming off such a terrible season and talking about being engaged – to throw this up when he gets a chance in a struggling Yamamoto’s spot….. terrible.

winchester

Perlini is this years September Darling thats for sure. No reason he cant keep rollin into the season.

I was not a strong fan of Shore, but oilers said he was the best of the bottom group last year so signed him to 2 years. I have been challenging myself to look at him again and he certainly does a lot of little things right. hes playing with confidence right now.

OriginalPouzar

I think many will look at his horrible 5 on 5 numbers from last year (and maybe past years as well) not allow him (in their minds) a real chance to compete for a spot. I know McLeod is fast, has a higher ceiling and a much longer future with the team but, right now, Shore is outplaying him, nightly.

winchester

Leon is just winking at you

OriginalPouzar

Savoie can’t bang it in to the empty net but picks up his first assist of the season as Denver is up 3-1 nearing the end of the first. Even strength which I will note as most of his damage last year was on the PP:

https://twitter.com/DU_Hockey/status/1444460487685468160

hunter1909

Draisaitl’s looks like he’s had a blowout summer vacation and now is using these games to regain his timing.

OriginalPouzar

Ceci was key on the Puljujarvi goal with the quick up to McDavid (on his stick in stride) – I’m not so sure Larsson makes that pass (yes, Bear would have, likely).

hunter1909

Larsson is going to play great for Seattle, but as an Oiler he was either injured a lot or else ever so slightly detached from the play on ice.

He really didn’t like the Hall trade either lol

Last edited 3 years ago by hunter1909
Reja

Atta boy Shore make those haters of you suck on it.

hunter1909

My new fave Oiler Perlini with an Assist. Further cementing his spot on the team.

Gerta Rauss

Puljujarvi may go ballsitic this season

hunter1909

Puljujarvi is like Gordie Howe with a pleasant temperament.

Material Elvis

Jesse with a laser slap shot. Wow!!

fishman

Wow Koski is playing well tonight!!!!

hunter1909

He’s like a giant squid – sent from Aliens to help lead the vanguard when the invasion comes.

OriginalPouzar

Puljujarvi with a bomb from distance beats Comrie.

Wondeful!

OriginalPouzar

Nice up by Ceci to start the play.

Brogan Rafferty's Uncle Steve

Remember: Kassian has trade value!

OriginalPouzar

I have never believed this to be true – not at full cap hit.

Material Elvis

Oilers score. Shore from Perlini. A reverse of last night’s goal.