The addition of Zach Hyman to the Edmonton Oilers roster was obvious early, and his boxcars (6-2-8 in eight games) early in 2021-22 are outstanding. Hyman’s five on five totals are less impressive, but it’s a small sample size and things change. How far out are Hyman’s numbers compared to last season? What areas should we expect to regress?
THE ATHLETIC!
- New DNB: Oilers’ Tyson Barrie says what needs to be said as NHL faces reckoning
- Lowetide: Did Oilers general manager Ken Holland win the offseason?
- DNB: The Duncan Keith-Cody Ceci pair have helped to overcome a notable loss
- Jonathan Willis: Seven Oilers surprises so far in 2021-22
- Lowetide: Will Xavier Bourgault be the best Oilers’ QMJHL pick this century?
- Lowetide: What Evan Bouchard’s move up the depth chart means for the Oilers’ defensive pairings
- Lowetide: How hot streaks, shuffles and slumps will determine the fate of the Oilers’ second line in 2021-22
- Jonathan Willis: Evan Bouchard’s evolution, in context
- Lowetide: Zach Hyman’s buzzsaw style makes him an instant Oilers fan favourite
- DNB: Comparing the Oilers’ 5-0-0 start this season to their 5-0-0 start in 2019-20
- Lowetide: Oilers prospect Philip Broberg showing his potential
- Lowetide: Should Jesse Puljujarvi drive his own line for the Oilers in 2021-22?
- New DNB: He’s a one-shot scorer’: Oilers prospect Carter Savoie thriving at DU
- Lowetide: The Oilers finally have an effective third line — so how should they deploy it?
- Jonathan Willis: Success or failure for the Oilers could depend on their Duncan Keith-Cody Ceci tandem
- DNB: Evan Bouchard subscriber Q&A
- Lowetide: First impressions of 2021-22 Oilers — is this strong start sustainable?
- Lowetide: Which Oilers AHL players are most likely to be called up in 2021-22?
WHAT TO EXPECT IN NOVEMBER
- At home to: SEA, NAS, NYR (Expected 2-1-0) (Actual 1-0-0)
- On the road to: DET, BOS, BUF, STL, WPG (Expected 3-2-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- At home to: WPG, CHI (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- On the road to: DAL, ARI, VEG (Expected 2-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- Overall expected result: 8-5-0, 16 points in 13 games
- Actual November results: 1-0-0, two points in one game
- Oilers in 2021-22: 7-1-0, 14 points in eight games
I had a couple of comments on my prediction for November from posters over the last couple of days, thinking my prediction came in on the low side. I’m intrigued by this team, and we’ll have a far better idea about them by the end of this month. My prediction would land Edmonton with a record of 14-6-0, 28 points in 20 games and on a trajectory for 115 points. I have no problem with projecting it, because there are tougher months ahead. Predicting 15-5-0 or 16-4-0? That’s a bridge too far for me, but you are welcome to make your own projections. For me, I’m comfortably uncomfortable with 14-6-0.
ZACH HYMAN OVER THREE YEARS
There’s no reason to be concerned and there’s no reason to believe Hyman will score about 10 goals per hour on the power play. An increase in five on five points-60, and a little better shot share might be expected. This is a fine player, and an excellent player card.
WARREN FOEGELE OVER THREE YEARS
Foegele is right on track offensively, actually a little ahead with the power-play goal. Shot and expected goals percentage right in the range. Like Hyman, he is delivering on expectations.
DEREK RYAN OVER THREE YEARS
Ryan is behind by a couple of assists five on five but that’s not a big deal. The shot and expected goal numbers are fine and there isn’t much power-play time coming his way this season. After 20 games, we’ll look at goal differential at five on five.
DUNCAN KEITH OVER THREE YEARS
Keith has delivered expected results, with the exception of five on five goals (60 percent) and expected goals (52 percent). Regression seems likely in both cases, although Keith’s early performances in Edmonton have a Kris Russell ‘outscoring his Corsi’ vibe.
CODY CECI OVER THREE YEARS
Offensively, Ceci is what was expected, the 2020-21 season being an outlier. His actual five on five goal differential is running out of time with the possession stats, so that might sag as time goes on. It’s worth mentioned he had the same statistical disconnect last season, so maybe he’s a member of the Russell family too.
LOWDOWN WITH LOWETIDE
A busy morning as we tee up the Predators-Oilers game tonight. At 10:20, Bruce McCurdy from the Cult of Hockey at the Edmonton Journal will join us for the Oilers side. At 10:40, Paul Skrbina from The Tennessean will tell us how the Preds can be as loose as Crazy Horse at the Fillmore in 1970 and still win a hockey game last night in Calgary. At 11, Joe Osborne from OddsShark will discuss the 2022 World Series favourites after the Braves win. We’ll also have an Oilers Crossfire! at 11:20. 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. Talk soon!
Before anyone gets excited, I’m sure last nights win doesnt actually count following a long line of deceiving and unsatisfactory wins.
And finally last nights Predators team. They made the playoffs last year! But they do have a single skater injured and played the night before. Sorry guys, doesnt count, HH was right.
None of the Oilers wins actually count so I will petition the leage to have their record adjusted to 0-1-0.
I’m just here to see how this win somehow means the Oilers are actually a bad team.
Or why this win doesn’t count as a full 2 points.
Ryan/LT, FYI the issue with the ‘load more comments’ button re-loading the same set of comments repeatedly has NOT been fixed.
Oilers used to get played by star players if in case anyone remembers.
Flames were played by Eichel who was never serious abut Calgary who now feel like total losers lmao
Pending a trade call, looks like Eichel is off to Sin City:
https://www.tsn.ca/buffalo-sabres-jack-eichel-vegas-golden-knights-1.1716133
If the deal is as reported, that doesn’t seem like much of a return for Buffalo.
One would think, with both Eichel and Tuch being gimped, there would be some conditions tacked on too…
Only time will tell on that if Buffalo didn’t get the return they should have. You’re absolutely right in that there should be some conditions attached to all this but what could they be? Conditional picks?
I dont like this trade. Knights have had everything except a true #1 center, now they picked up an elite one (as long as the surgery goes well). Heres hoping father time catches up to Patches, Pietrangelo, Stone.
No idea how the cap logistics work next season, they have 4 players combined for 35.3 million, Smith is gone but theres gotta be another casualty.
Oilers are first in goals per game. The 80s are back baby! 😛
Koskinen has been exceptional this season. Good to see the bounce back, and glad Holland didn’t panic and blow a bunch of assets in the offseason on a goalie of equal calibre.
Kings win their 3rd straight with a 3-2 shootout victory over the STL Blues who were previously 6-1.
Man. You really don’t care if the oilers are winning do you? Still as anti-oiler as ever. I bet that even if the Oilers won the cup you would still say that it doesn’t count because they “won against an inferior opponent”.
Just give the man some of the attention he so desperately craves…
The Kings after a 3 game winning streak are still 4-5-1. No one cares.
Here’s the bison sighting… Check out the fan in the first row right behind Shore, wearing an Oilers scarf, a Suomi jersey and a Bison head. Would’ve had a good view of Pujo’s EN’er too…
.
.
Apparently Jesse liked the bison king so much he coughed up a pair of sweetass seats so the king could attend a game…
Man in a buffalo head is the best part of this game. haha
What happens to Jesse when we play Buffalo??
While not necessarily a “skill”, durability is an attribute that contributes to the value of a player. Not only do guys like Darnell Nurse and Leon Draisaitl play big big minutes nightly they do so every damn game
Think Yessa will end up being very durable too
Hip injury aside
Not sure that classifies as an injury, didn’t he have both hips repaired? sounds like a congenital issue
I thought the game was forgettable right up until the 3-1 goal then when it was 4-1 the Oilers just looked infinitely superior to the Nashville NHL team… and then it was party time
Yea Nashville was on the end of a back-to-back so might have been a bit gassed in the 3rd.
Mentioned to my Father tonight that they sure are easy to watch this season so far. They got the Tampa and top 3 team feel to them during games.
Exactly the way I saw it. The Oilers actually looked pretty bad for the first 2 periods.
The team is 1st in the Western Conference.
Enjoy complaining lol
Trying to get an image of the guy wearing the Suomi jersey and the bison head in the stands but YouTube isn’t giving up the video very quickly, the bastards…
That game felt a lot closer than the score suggests. This team still has trouble against hard-nose grinding disciplined teams. Love the win. Keep improving.
With 31 opponents it’s pretty safe to assume some of them will be able to stymie the Oilers on any given night.
Some but not many haha
Jason Gregor
@JasonGregor
·
8m
Two scoring changes…
Barrie assist removed on Shore goal so Barrie remains at 399 career points.
Puljujarvi assist on Draisaitl’s second goal has been awarded to Nurse.
Nuge on pace for 118 points this season and the post-game presser was pretty much about him slumping….. haha.
0-118 : )
I can’t see them bringing up Tkachuk name unless this deal was darn tooting close.
Eichel vs McPrecious 6-7x/yr would be glorious.
Jack is a really good player and will make VGK a better team when he returns. However, both 97 and 29 are better players and the Oilers are a better team and younger at the skill positions. VGK have maybe 3 years to win a cup then it is rebuild time. Their problem is that the Oilers are better right now. Love watching Jack play but he will not win a cup in Vegas.
Ryan Rishaug
@TSNRyanRishaug
·
6m
“I love watching other guys score, it’s my favourite thing… …I thought he had a better angle.”
Draisaitl on passing off to Puljujarvi for the open net as opposed to putting it in for the hat trick.
awesome
Did they take away Puljujarvi’s assist?
It was up on the nhl website but it’s gone now..
Avs with two Empty netters to tie up CBJ
Under rated Bowen Byram with 2G 1A.
CBJ win 5-4 in OT.
Both teams are in a lose-lose situation. If the Avalanche would have won it wouldn’t have mattered since Columbus didn’t make the playoffs last year.
And since the Avalanche are a western team which is weaker compared to the East, Columbus’ win means nothing.
Nobody won that game tonight.
You forgot Colorado was playing without their best 2D…Makar and Toews.
Ha ha Oilers running away with the Conference in November.
Excuses from 15 other Conference team’s bullshit walks.
One negative: I’m not sure Kris Russell is really playable at 5 on 5.
How is Sammy doing since coming back? is he getting close to being up to speed and ready for a call up?
First game was meh but he was very good this past weekend in both games.
I don’t imagine management calls him up after 3 games – i think he’ll be down there for at least a month, if not three, before Holland thinks about it (unless injuries pile up).
Truth be told, it would probably be Niemelainen that would get the call (which is INSANE considering where we were with him like 10 months ago).
Wonder if they’ll tell the Vish Throttler story at the ceremony? Maybe they should invite Dennis King…
I hope he’s happy.
The team is currently approaching 1970 Boston Bruins level and the old Vish Throttler/MacT partnership might yet turn out to be told around the hockey campfires for years to come.
I hope he’s hoisted up…inside his jersey.
lol why? You usually portray yourself as a fair minded fan of no team in particular.
Ryan 8/11 on the dot, Shore 6/10. Mikko 93.8%. Screwed up 2 on 1s – lots. Hyman snakebit. Keith surprisingly risky in his distribution around the net. Good performance over the three periods after a slow start against a disappointing Predator team. Drai in Beast mode – monster performance. Louie DeBrusk – man, can that guy waffle.
In the end I turned on the radio feed and enjoyed not having to listen
After Remenda, I can’t complain about Louie.
The Reverse Engineer he’s washing the San Jose Jerseys by hand as we speak.
Kudos to Mikko – very solid tonight – out to challenge shooters, gobbling up pucks without rebounds, etc.
He seems like when he gets 5 minutes of the game without too much drama he settles down well.
Nice to see Devon get off the schneid
Jason Gregor
@JasonGregor
·
1m
Draisaitl with his 20th point…In the 9th game of season.
Last players to do that were Lemieux and Jagr in 1996. #NHL
Drai has a little bit of Jagr about him, hey. A few years back the lazy comparison was Crosby and Malkin but the longer this duo continue the closer they resemble Lemieux and Jagr. Long way off those two, no doubt, but I can’t help but feel we’re watching two of the best in many years. Perhaps McDavid is floating the tide a little idk. Either way, feel very lucky and privileged to watch.
Jean Beliveau.
They both are big, hold the puck at will and are ethically superior players next to the rest of their team mates
: p
Has Brian Burke received his invitation to Friday night’s ceremony yet?
i believe it’s in the sewer?
Behind the barn door…
I would put my house on the line that Lowe would drop him in 2 punches.
Oh man, I’m paying the scalpers whatever they’re asking if there’s a barn fight in lieu of speeches.
Yeah, I would too.
Given the circumstances, with Nashville playing last night and their back-up in net, the Oilers probably only deserve, what, 0.75 of a one point for this win…… slightly less than the flames got for their loss last night.
Is there an official website so we can look up what every team deserves for their points? Apparently there needs to be an official points exchange.
http://www.HHnarratives.com
OP funny!!
Oh man I was hoping you actually had a website devoted to this….
That would be some Carolina Hurricane level shit…
Worth noting…
It’s 0.72 of one point, hidden fees.
Nice.
It’s funny – he doesn’t spout off so much anymore about Dallas, and (more recently) Los Angeles.
Believe it or not he was on the Coyotes wagon a few years ago.
See the KIngs 3rd straight win above.
Hyman is a much better player than I was expecting.
Imagine if he could finish.
If he keeps going to the net he will score 30-33 Goals.
I know people are happy about the Oilers win but remember.. Nashville’s loss puts them at 0.500. I know Nashville made it into the playoffs last year but, they play in the West. And they played last night. And the Oilers scored on the PP. Therefore, this win shouldn’t be counted.
So whats the weather like in Calgary???
Forecast is cloudy with a chance of Flames tears once they trade their pics and a third of their team for Eichel.
Ha Ha! Actually love to see Turtle out of our division. Hate that guy.
I can’t remember the last player waiting for a trade so he can have a Surgery. It’s Bizarre!
Totally. Would be very weird if Calgary gave up a kings ransom for Eichel, potentially throwing away their season while they are 2nd in the division in hopes of Eichel having a full and speedy recovery.
If we’re discounting wins against inferior opposition, at this point, how many teams actually count anymore?
I suspect the rubber may hit the road soon.
It’s hard to say. I am still trying to process all of the logic around determining who is a good team. Nashville was considered a good team prior to tonight because they were over 0.500 and made the playoffs last year.. but now that they lost and are 0.500, I guess they are terrible.
But, if Nashville had won then the Oilers would be terrible because Nashville plays in the West, you see. But Nashville would be even more over 0.500 AND they made the playoffs last year so they become basically the best team in the conference.. I think..
I follow, it really is simple once the goalposts get a little wider. It’s always good to have someone around to explain these things when the Oilers win.
Ah, but did the win? Did they really?
Thank you for the insight.
Drai trying to stave off his team mate for Art Ross
Draisaitl is such a beauty. When he’s playing his A game, he’s the most complete player in the NHL.
Tonight he was better than McD.
There. I said it.
That was a dangerous hit on Connor
Incredibly dangerous. He basically piled into his knee and you could see it bend weirdly. I really hope he’s not hurt.
He is becoming a master at avoiding this type of stuff.
Already he has modified his lightning attack on net rookie game for something slightly less dangerous. From my experience in physical contact activities it looked like nothing happened because he twisted himself out of the check …I think
And it was his left knee… I can’t lie, my heart was in my throat watching the replay.
Leon is a class act. Or maybe he wanted to be the NHL leader in points
He runs his line like he’s their Daddy. He’s practically the Daddy of the entire NHL
No one gets left behind with big Neon Leon
29 would rather get 13 going. What a team
Need to get the empty netter, settle this. Don’t want to risk anything.
My feed is definitely behind the rest of you, haha.
Jesse with his second point of the night.
Drai with an apple as well as McDavid.
You sure it’s his second of the night? NHL.com’s boxscore still doesn’t have him with an assist on Drai’s second goal.
Nugent-Bowman said they added it – NHL.com is probably just behind.
They just added it, so yeah, two points for Jesse. Which he needed after a couple games without a point. No one in the top six is currently struggling. Rare we get to say that. Won’t last (it rarely does, regardless of team), but nice to be able to say it.
Think Bouch got the 2nd a
Yup, I originally thought it went from McDavid, on his stomach, to Drai but Bouch was in there.
Puljujarvi with the dagger!
Jesse!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Team got a bit too cute with their chances on net I think. Tip needs to have a chat about putting a team to boot.
Just imagine the firepower once Jesse, Zach and Ryan get going
Aint over yet, Oil gotta bear down
Yep its over.
Brings the empty netter by Leon back into play
Well Leon had somethig to say about that thought, lol
Bouch and Nurse leading the rush, just like in beer league. ‘Defense’ just means where you should stand for face-offs.
Off-topic but, how many games will Oilers get more than 4 PPs this year?
I couldn’t tell you, but I bet 90 percent of them will come in games where they are also behind on the scoreboard.
Only talented teams like Calgary and Vancouver are rewarded with 6PP games.
Is this like 6 or maybe even 7 of the 9 games we have recieved scoring support from the 3rd and 4th lines. Still early in the season but I hope that’s a trend that continues.
Hyman could easily have a hat trick tonight. What is beyond high danger scoring chances.
Hy-man danger scoring chances.
Truth be told, Hyman effed that shot up – shot towards the middle of the net.
Needs to hang around Yamo!!!!!
Hyman is going to end this year wondering how he didn’t score 50
That is the 2nd highlight of the year type save by Ingram – both on Hyman.
think they would have learned to shoot against this team by now
I’m highly confident that McDavid would have scored if he would have shot there, and I think he knows that as well…. trying to get Jesse a goal.