The Edmonton Oilers bagged the first Bettman of the season against the New Jersey Devils in a fitting December finale in the month from hell. The final record shows (3-7-1) plenty of frustration and represents a step into the elevator shaft in the Pacific Division standings.
Edmonton should have won the game, a one goal lead with a few seconds left results in a one- or two-goal win for successful teams. It didn’t happen. Maybe that’s the “lose games you should win at the end of a bad streak” Craig MacTavish used to talk about back in the day.
Either way, I don’t think giving up on this team is the way forward. On November 18, the team’s five-on-five goal differential was 35-37 and the team had employed seven defensemen through 16 games. Five of the defensemen had played every game.
Since then, Edmonton’s five-on-five goal differential is 28-37 in 15 games, and the team has deployed 11 defensemen in those contests. I wonder if general manager Ken Holland waits to see 15 more games, with the team’s defensemen healthy, before making any big moves.
THE ATHLETIC!
- Lowetide: Can the Oilers fix their defence with the current personnel?
- DNB: Why getting Mike Smith back now is important to the Oilers’ present and future plans
- Lowetide: The five most effective Oilers mid-season recalls since 1979-80
- Lowetide: A complete review of the Bakersfield Condors’ 2021-22 season to date
- DNB: For Oilers’ Kailer Yamamoto, the goal has always been to belong with the best
- Lowetide: Oilers prospects have a long history of world juniors excellence
- DNB: Jesse Puljujarvi’s next contract? Expectations for Dylan Holloway? Oilers mailbag
- Lowetide: If the Oilers add a big deadline asset, Philip Broberg will be the ask
- Lowetide: How Jesse Puljujarvi has earned role as Oilers’ top right winger next to Connor McDavid
- Lowetide: 7 AHL trade targets that could immediately improve Oilers’ NHL forward depth
- DNB: How Stuart Skinner became Oilers’ ‘young goalie on the rise’
- Lowetide: Oilers still haven’t replaced Adam Larsson’s nasty edge and goal suppression ability
- DNB: Oilers’ 5-game losing streak highlights 5 glaring issues that need to be fixed
- Lowetide: If the losing continues will the Oilers make a coaching change?
- Lowetide: Oilers top 20 prospects, winter 2021
WHAT TO EXPECT IN JANUARY
- On the road to: NYI, NYR, TOR (Expected 1-2-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- At home to: OTT, CHI, FLA, CGY (Expected 2-2-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- On the road to: VAN (Expected 0-0-1) (Actual 0-0-0)
- At home to: NAS (Expected 0-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- On the road to: MTL, OTT (Expected 2-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- Overall expected result: 5-5-1, 11 points in 11 games
- Actual January results: 0-0-0, 0 points in 0 games
- Oilers in 2021-22: 18-12-1, 37 points in 31 games
A slight recovery can be expected, partly because the strength of schedule eases a little and partly because the left side of the defense is unlikely to disappear in a heartbeat. This team needs to pull itself out of the doldrums, I think they need five points from this road trip. Two games in, the point gained means Edmonton has to win two of the next three. I think it’s a long shot based on how the team is playing.
Edmonton began December 1-5-0, finished it 2-2-1, and for me that’s what January is going to look like unless the team finds some five-on-five answers. Of course, McDavid’s flights to immortality begin with every shift and Leon the Lion may return, so a “97 and 29 plus the goalie” plan may also save the team as it has so many times since 2016-17.
Mike Smith stopped 35 of 41, .854 and now owns an .897 SP and a 3.91 goals-against average. I don’t think we’ll see any wild moves by management, but the team badly needs solid goaltending from someone and can’t afford to wait for Smith to play himself into mid-season form. I don’t have answers, just plenty of questions like everyone else. If I were Holland, I’d trade for a goaltender now. It’s the quickest way to improve the team. He has to pick the right goalie, though, and the price will be dear.
Darnell Nurse played over 29 minutes, he was on the ice for the Hughes PP goal and the Hischier goal (reaction play, Smith should have been able to corral it, in my opinion) and was uneven overall. Too many minutes, the coaching staff relied too heavily on him (although they chopped off two minutes work in the third period). Had nine shot attempts, takeaway, made several good plays but he played so much and was involved in too many photos that contained the puck in the back of Edmonton’s net.
Tyson Barrie moved up to the top pairing for most of the game, passing the puck well and staying in his lane. He was the defender on the Dawson Mercer goal, which featured a nice pass from Jonsson and then a tremendous shot from Mercer. Barrie isn’t a natural defender, I don’t think he makes that play next time either. He was also on the for overtime goal, but Smith needs to keep that from going in the net.
Cody Ceci had an assist, four shots, two blocks and a takeaway. He moved the puck a lot in the game, lots of shot attempts (10) and jumping into the play. Ideally you’d like to give Ceci and Keith lesser opponents (third pair) but I can’t see it happening. He was on for the Sharangovich goal, I thought Smith saw that all the way.
Duncan Keith was splendid in this game, perhaps his best of the year. Two assists, five shots, two takeaways, aggressive in the neutral zone, plenty of great passing. His stretch to McDavid was ridiculous, and his goal differential at five-on-five has him at 19-20 for the season. An encouraging game.
Evan Bouchard didn’t play enough for the second game in a row but did fine work when given an opportunity. Outlets were strong, he had a shift where there were some lost battles but mostly in good position and answering the challenge. I prefer Nurse-Bouchard and the numbers favour him over Barrie.
Slater Koekkoek played 8:09 and grabbed another assist, it’s been a productive offensive week for him. He was on the ice for the Kuokkanen goal, but 100 feet from the play having crash landed in the New Jersey end. He isn’t a pure defender is all, and I don’t think his skill set is a good match for the role he’s been given in Edmonton. William Lagesson had an assist in less than three minutes work, he was on the ice but not effective on the Mercer goal.
I don’t like dressing 7 defensemen because you end up with results like this. Nurse played too much and both of his pairings were ineffective. The Keith-Ceci pairing on the other hand was money. If the veteran duo can do that most nights things will get better. Bouchard’s numbers looked lost in the supermarket but the man had four defensive partners (one minute plus) in one afternoon for crying out loud. I think Smith was the major issue yesterday, but the dizzying shuffle on defense was man made and ridiculous.
Connor McDavid was close to airborne for most of Friday in New Jersey, simply stunning talent who scored twice, five shots on goal, two takeaways, three HDSC at five-on-five and played with urgency. He filled in every offensive category but penalty minutes and now leads the league in points.
Leon Draisaitl picked up an assist on the second Yamamaoto goal, had a shot, HDSC and a takeaway all at five-on-five. Had a great PP chance when Edmonton was up 5-4 and missed the net. Splendid player.
Jesse Puljujarvi had four shots, two HDSC, took an early penalty, had a takeaway. The McDavid line had a strong December when they were together, and JP appears to be on his way to a 20-goal season. Sign the man! He was even with Mercer in the neutral zone but pulled the chute, and that, added to Lagesson being slow to recognize, spelled trouble.
Zach Hyman had two shots, a couple of reasonable looks and a pair of takeaways. Like JP he’s on track for 20+ goals this season, he’s a streaky offensive player and the Oilers could use a run about now.
Kailer Yamamoto went 2-1-3, badly needed this game and delivered in fine fashion. His seven goals through 31 games has him on the fringes of a 20-goal season. Most Oilers fans are at the end of their ropes with Tippett, I’ll give him credit with staying the course with young Yamamoto.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had an assist, two shots and left midway through the third period of the game. Half the city was placed in stasis with strict instructions to wake up only when the problem is known. Nuge is like family, so the news, likely to come out today, will be much anticipated.
Warren Foegele had a shot on goal, a reasonable look, but did not show up as often around the puck as he has in recent games. Of course, he was on a depth line and not playing with McDavid in the game means a completely different world. He was close to one tally, missing on the pass from McLeod that eventually found Devin Shore for the goal.
Devin Shore scored a goal, had a HDSC, two shots and a block. He’s played in about half of Edmonton’s games and owns a 1.62 five-on-five points-per-60 total. His possession numbers remain poor, but Tippett likes him for the penalty kill.
Colton Sceviour got some time on skill lines in the third period with Nuge down, it didn’t result in any offense. He was interfered (uncalled) with on the late tying goal, those plays sometimes earn a penalty.
Derek Ryan’s line received a minus one on the Kuokkanen rocket, he played his man and I’d credit the quality of shot more than any specific defensive issue. He didn’t move the needle offensively.
Ryan McLeod had an exceptional game, he was easily the best forward on the depth lines. Two grand assists and he looks so dangerous out there with McDavid. He is 7-6 for the season at five-on-five goal differential, he is the only bottom-six forward on the team clear of 50 percent. It’s a start.
The McDavid line broke even on shots, a little better on expected goals but went 0-1 in the real world. The Draisaitl line had a most encouraging run, but Nuge’s injury casts a pall on things until we find out the news. The other lines with good numbers contained Ryan McLeod, a very good sign.
The Oilers aren’t in must win territory but playing better is a must. If Nuge can’t play, it’s uncertain what the Draisaitl line might look like but Warren Foegele would be the likely replacement in my opinion.
Tippett played the living hell out of his best players, you’d love to see McLeod and Ryan make a difference this afternoon on the island. I have no feel for this team currently, they’re adrift and badly need safe haven. Perhaps it’s at Belmont.
RAPHAEL LAVOIE
The big winger is 3-3-6 in his last two games with 11 shots on goal, all of his scoring at even strength. He had a miserable start to the year (0-3-3 in 20 games) but looks confident and dangerous in these last few games. There’s a window here between now and when Dylan Holloway lands in Bakersfield, and Lavoie has a chance to raise his stock in the organization. Don’t expect a recall this season, but the last two games have been wildly encouraging.
New for The Athletic: Long December has Oilers fans looking for reasons to believe
https://theathletic.com/3043436/2022/01/01/lowetide-long-december-has-oilers-fans-looking-for-reasons-to-believe/
I appreciate the article, but “reason” and my Oilers fandom divorced years ago. The Oilers best hope for January so far appears that most of the games are cancelled.
The Barbarians are at the gates.
LAK with a 6-3 win over the Flyers…Arvidsson with 4P.
Kings now 1P behind the Oilers for the final wildcard spot.
The Oilers still have a game in hand … but yeah, the Oilers are barely hanging on now.
There is a huge elephant in the room…the Colorado Avalanche.
They have 5-6 games in hand on almost everyone and have spent the last 2 weeks getting healthy.
Their first game in 2 weeks is tomorrow and they will quickly move up the standings dropping one of STL, NAS or MIN down to the 1st wildcard spot.
So, then the race will be on for the 2nd wildcard spot.
LA has 4 consecutive home games coming up while the Oilers have NYR and TOR on their dance card.
It’s a pretty good bet the Kings will be in the 2nd wildcard spot shortly.
Get a life. Only the lowest of people feast on the misery of others.
TSN (@TSN_Sports) Tweeted:
Brian “Red” Hamilton was able to meet his hero, Nadia Popovici, and thank her for saving his life ahead of tonight’s game in Seattle.
(https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/13.1.0/svg/1f3a5.svg: @Canucks)
https://t.co/enXNNmXjxc
https://twitter.com/TSN_Sports/status/1477482526973349892?s=20
Connor Bedard had 4 Goals again tonight. 13 shots.
#SuckHardForBedard
Not suggesting the Oilers do so. Just thought it would make a good hashtag. 😀
Tracy Lane
@TreenasOil
·
1h
Oilers trying to move Lageson who through @walsha
has requested a trade…..as per Garfield
Whats Condors score?
They lost 3-2 in OT.
3-2 OT loss
Philip Broberg is good. Very good.
He should be on the “do NOT trade” list.
These losses are not good losses. They aren’t the “we played well and they just played better” or the bounces went the other way. The Oilers have looked like they’ve deserved to lose most of these games.
With each passing loss, I fear a McDavid trade request.
Gross
With each passing game I fear NHL officiating
This certainly doesn’t feel like ‘entertainment’ to me. This is all really hard to watch.
Spec defending Tip.
https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/despite-latest-loss-oilers-need-stability-another-coaching-change/
This likely means LT’s prognosis below is correct. Tip is safe. Holland is flipping through his hockey card binder looking for a goalie with a fun mask.
My view is that Tippett was a Holland hire and Holland made his big move last summer, so we’re seeing the results of the master plan. It doesn’t look great so far. In the summer, when the sun is shining, the owner should make his decision based on the entire record. That’s Nicholson, with his second hire (Holland), Holland with his first (Tippett) and Tippett with one full season working with the Holland envisioned roster.
jmo. I don’t change coaches now because I’m not certain who will be choosing the next coach.
We’ll know soon enough … if Holland either directly or through the media issues a “vote of confidence” and the Oiler’s lose the next couple of games … that usually signals the end.
Makes sense. Would think that Holland has a roster move to make before he gets to the point that he considers changing the coach.
One would think Holland also had a coaching change to make before it gets to the point where someone else is making the coaching change.
I think you are probably surrounding this closest to how it plays out, especially given all the verbal around things when Holland came in
I really like Tippett honestly … I give him credit for guiding this team back to respectability. Special teams are important and he’s done a great job with both the PP and PK. But the Oilers are just don’t play filthy enough to win in Bettman’s NHL at 5v5.
The Islanders played just dirty enough to shut down our boys for 15 mins without taking a penalty.
We need some of that …
Holland isnt going anywhere….
Condors dominating in the first.
Lavoie skating well and taking the puck to the net with some slick moves.
Esposito just laid out a Silver Knight coming across the defensive zone – Scott Stevens style but clean. Massive hit.
Griffith finds Broberg coming across the offensive line, not much space but somehow he managed to get to the net on a 1 on 2 and backhand one in for a 1-0 lead.
Defender stepped up as the pass arrived and Broberg kind of tipped it by him.
Nice play.
Looking forward to seeing Broberg back – game is at 6 (mountain):
Ryan Holt
@CondorsHolty
· 18m
Stuart Skinner, who was here well before warmups tonight, leads the Condors out. Broberg & Samorukov come in for Berglund & Peters. No Malone or Soderlund up front. Safin and Gennaro draw in. Talk to ya in 15 #Condorstown!
Is Berglund injured?
Tippet is a good coach for a team that has little elite talent
He plays a safe defensive minded system, good for players that have no choice but to be steady and defend or be in Europe
From comments made here about Playfair’s description of his system, they are playing an overload style
That is what Eakins tried but we called it the swarm. Same results with constant open players with clean looks and breakdowns, goalies looking bad
Tipp is also calm, to the point of stoic. Given the Oilers best are all calm, they have a quiet room mentioned a lot over the years, it’s why they are too relaxed
Boudreau would probably be a far better fit. Energetic, simpler systems, and offense oriented. I think he would keep them more enthusiastic and aggressive, make it fun instead of a slog
The type of players the Oilers have need a more straight forward structure. I see teams that beat us doing basic net front protection and closing lanes and it works
Tipp said when he came in his deal was protect the good ice and give them the bad ice, but that isn’t happening
Holland gave him basically all puck moving D. They aren’t suited for fancy reads and switches in the D zone.
To me they need to play high tempo, move the puck quickly in the O zone with a mind to keeping the time there up and possession, and skate to take away time defensively
They have a good skating team now and can do that.
I think the way they are being asked to play is stifling their team play, they are thinking too much and lose tempo. They are getting frustrated. And so are at the point they are playing more poorly in the heart of the game than before
Maybe Maurice would be a better fit. As said I think Boudreau would have been. Gallant. The guy I mention that is dead to us
I used to worry about losing Woody, but unless he has a way he wants to play that is different than flattop, meh
Babcock? I’d rather wait for the dead to us guy
This is an exceptional post.
The contrast between Tippet and Boudreau that you identified is the same contrast that exists between Travis Green and Boudreau.
Green had the Canucks trying to play a very safe style mostly due to the deficiencies that Vancouvers D presented in playing Ricki Box hockey and abandoned the agressive forecheck and speed game now employed again by Boudreau.
The results speak for themselves and, in many ways, the Oilers and Canucks are constructed in similar fashions although one team has an elite goaltender while the other does not.
One of them is definition of dead cat bounce
And the other is the definition of a dead cat.
Thanks
One team also has 2 elite players and the other maybe one at D
Yes, that’s true but they have become fixated on those 2 elite players at the expense of team play.
It’s interesting that Boudreau immediately deployed both Pettersson and Hughes on the PK when he took over.
And, in tonights game…the top line was Podkholzin – Miller- Hoglander and they scored 2 goals.
He has them all pulling on the same rope and it’s paying off.
I don’t know if I would call Skinner Elite????
I think Tippett is doing a fine job and is one of the better NHL coaches. The problem is not the coaching, but the defense which many here identified going into the season. I doubt he gets canned. But if he does, Maurice is an exceptional option currently without a team. Nobody since Jacques Lemaire gets more from a team than Paul Maurice.
I doubt he remains unemployed long enough to be an option for the Oilers though.
Tippett needs help from Holland. A trade for an actual NHL Dman. Something like Foegele for Bear one-for-one would be ideal, but Carolina would NEVER do that deal.
To me it’s not players
No team has all good players. Good coaches get all players playing well
They had good coaches at times but weak GMs so the coaches had more than one non NHL players they had to play. That is not the case now
Holland is a competent GM, but the Oilers need more than that and the fan base won’t settle for a ‘decent’ team.
Elite players mean the management and coaching has to match and be elite or the gift of the talent is wasted at least to a degree
The Oilers have cycled players through for years with little change. After Holland came the GM role was better filled, but they still turned to a grinder style coach. Same results
The grinder coaches have good regular seasons but can’t win against more progressive coaching and systems in playoffs, often even with skill and goaltending
Tippet, Trotz, Flattop, even Babcock since a long time don’t get through when it counts. To me that is because at the final 4 defense is no longer an advantage, they all can do that.
Maybe Trotz only had enough horses the one time and I’m being too hard on him
What wins is who can also score. And of course stays healthy and gets enough goalie
The Hawks, Pens and Bolts all had more sizzle in their game, have won the majority of cups over the last while
The Pens did it with suspect D even. And not all of those cups between them were goalie driven
The last grinder team that won as I remember was LA right?
TROTZ has a Cup, RD 2 and 2 Conferemce Finals in the last 4 years?
#RecencyBias
I think the roster is a big part of the problem. Specifically D and goalie though Smith rounding into form would help the latter. YMMV.
As far as winning coaching styles, I don’t see it as binary as you have described. The coaches that win all have a grinding, defensive element to their style. TB plays loose during the season and even early in the playoffs but got burned doing that against CBUS in round 1 one year. So now they play tight in the playoffs and very tight in the later rounds. They take no chances and then put their firepower on display on the power plays only. So in a way, the refs decide the games.
Tippett is like these coaches. He is a defense-first coach, but not 100%. I’m not sure there is much available on the market that could improve the position except for Maurice. He would be an upgrade, but not as much as some might think as Tippett is already one of the NHL’s better coaches.
Too bad the reality doesn’t match your narrative … Ethan Bear is 6th among D-men on Carolina in playing time … that’s less than journeyman Ian Cole and only a few seconds more than undrafted RHD Jalen Chatfield.
Ethan Bear was also a 3rd pairing RHD last season for the Oilers, and this season he would be playing behind any of Ceci, Barrie and Bouchard.
He’s a good story, but he’s too small and too slow to be anything other than a 3rd pairing D-man in the NHL.
His qualifying offer in 2.4 million next season … given his place on Carolina’s depth chart, they may not even qualify him next season.
Second-third pairing on CAR. He would slot in the same on the Oilers. They could badly use an experienced Dman like Bear right now. No doubt about it.
3rd pairing RHD by playing time and it’s not even close.
Both Skjei and DeAngelo are playing ahead of Bear. He’s 6th in playing time.
It depends on the game. Some games he is second pairing minutes. So second sometimes, third others. Skjei and DeAngelo are better than all of our RD options, so third fiddle to those two suggests he might play first fiddle on the Oilers.
Whoa, lets hold our horses here on DeAngelo, He has 1 more 5 on 5 point than Bouchard and, yes, his GA/60 is actually very good but he’s playing HIGHLY sheltered minutes with 18% his his time against elites and almost 50% against Grits.
I take Bouchard over him each and every day.
Who are you replacing with Bear, CC, TB or EB?
Barrie.
Do you honestly believe we would be winning if we had Bear instead of Barrie?
You’re asking the wrong question.
Would the Oilers be better with Bear or Ceci.
Why doesn’t he have the Oilers playing a safe defensive minded system?
Per Nugent-Bowman, Nuge flew home to get tests done – that’s not a good sign as, presumably, it means he’s out for at least the last two games of the trip.
Smith suffered an upper body injury – I’m surprised it was a re-aggravation of what was already bothering him (presumed ankle – not confirmed).
I wonder when people will start blaming McDavid and Drai for this debacle? The blame the star phase of the implosion cycle is usually the beginning of the end.
I’d like McDrai to shoot more rather than trying to telegraph passes, especially on 2-on-1’s … but that is coaching. I don’t doubt that Tippett does go over these things with them, but the message is not resonating.
It’s time for a new voice.
Wanner has a goal, his 2nd of the season, in a 5-5 tie against Regina in period three.
Finishes with the singular apple in a 7-6 OT loss to Regina.
Also in that game:
Connor Bedard, in his first game back with Regina after putting up a 4-goal game at the WJHC, put up another 4-goal game, including the OT winner. Also had a whopping 13 shots on goal.
He might be good.
Thanks for all the junior updates, Tarkus!
You are an LTMVP!
So Smith comes back from injury early, plays like crap and gets hurt again. I’m shocked I tell ya. Grossly incompetent player mngt. But it’s an upper body injury this time. Completely unrelated. Ugh.
He is just resting up for next season when we will really be contenders!
Folks, here we are.
We saw this coming when Holland went full galaxy brain trading for Duncan Keith at full cap hit this summer.
Then re-signing Mike Smyth for two more years and acquiring a spent force in Derek Ryan.
While I agree that Tippett needs to be fired, Holland is the root cause of the problems.
This is I can agree with, at least partly. Smith was a risk, I don’t see Derek Ryan as a bad bet at all, but the Keith trade was a major error. Big mistake. I like the player, but the trade was ghastly..
How was the keith trade a mistake?
Overpay by many miles. Chicago needed to retain.
A conundrum
I don’t trust Holland anymore, and he’s hiring the next coach and has not built the roster up well
The plucky wingers with size and speed is nice, but a lot of non finishers, non finishers at bottom 6 centres, not enough goalie, cap tied up again
Also a lot of nice guys, the team is bigger and faster, but is still vanilla
Maybe he thinks Holloway is the answer at 3C, maybe he’s right
I haven’t been that angry at Oiler mngt since the Koskinnen signing. Total boondoggle. And I like the player.
That overtime was a disgrace to hockey.
If it wasn’t already what happened today could break a room. How do those two look their teammates in the eye after that?
How could anyone look at a coach who treats the team with such distain with anything less than contempt?
This team is broken. I am not blaming McDavid and Draisatl at all, I am blaming the coach, but they need to take shorter shifts and play less.
Great post. The overplaying of McD, Drai, and Nurse is bad for the McD, Drai, and Nurse, and it is even worse for the team.
It is weird that the past three Oilers coaches have all resorted to this tactic though.
+10000. It was a disgraceful message to the team…. and embarrassing to watch
You know what? Fuck Gary Bettman. Can you imagine sitting in your office being in charge of the league, watching that game featuring three of the best players on the planet and saying “yup, we nailed it. The sport of hockey, played at its absolute best is on display”.
Strike a committee of progressive thinkers, watch Florida Tampa from last years first round together and don’t quit until that’s the product on display 75% of the time.
All the ratios of this sport are wrong.
Nets are too small
Too many blocked shots
Rules, and enforcement of them, stifle offense
Taking risks is punished while playing safe is rewarded
The ratios are broken.
Its like the pitching mound being at 45 feet. Or defensive pass interference being considered good defending. Or illegal defense or basketball goaltending being praised as courageous.
With this much talent the league couldn’t put out a worse product if they actively tried to.
Did not watch the game, I see same ol’ same ol’….. Tipp is out of ideas. Next man up. If you cannot win with this team, it’s coaching. Square peg, round hole. He just does not get it.
MoneyPuck.com
@MoneyPuckdotcom
· 7h
Playoff odds going into the new year
https://moneypuck.com/predictions.htm
(CLICK FOR CHART)
Oilers now a coin flip to make the playoffs.
Tell us something we don’t know.
Savoie not in the lineup again for Denver – not sure if he’s hurt or sick.
Looking at Cap Friendly.
Not lot of flexibility this year and next.
There are ways to make room, though.
Convince Keith to retire next season ;-p
There’s just no chance of that happening. Even if he’s hurt they’ll LTIR him. However, once the management and coaching establish the foundation of the team, I assume that’s 97, 29, 93, Hyman, JP, Yamamoto, Nurse, Bouchard, Barrie, Keith, Smith, then anyone not on the list making $2M plus is a candidate for trade or buyout. Who is that? Kassian, Foegele, Ceci, etc.
When you put it that way the situation is so bleak. You can buy out Kassian, but how does the team get better while shedding Foegele and Ceci’s salaries? There is no way.
Changing the coach is the only thing this team can do this year. It is also the only thing the team can do next year.
That, and hope Holloway, Bourgault, and Broberg arrive with a bang. Both are necessary, because this is the last coach in the world who is willing to bring in and trust young players.
Here’s how I look at it currently. I don’t think the team is far away but they can’t go backwards in retaining the players who make a difference. So that’s signing Puljujarvi and maybe Yamamoto.
Foegele is a good player, you should be able to get some value there, and Holloway slides in next fall. You can’t lose Puljujarvi, and if it means moving out Foegele for a less expensive piece, then that’s a way to make this happen.
Tippett doesn’t “bring in and trust young players?”
Okay then.
Yes I am sure there is.
All D men have at least 1 more year.
JP & KY need new contracts.
Nurse goes up $4 mil.
Koski gone saves $4.5.
Have to move Kassian contract.
They still have $3.4 Mil in buyout $$ tied up nxt yr.
Anyway I’m sure they will figure something out and I hope they can make the team better
I think the plan is to promote from within and add less via free agency. For instance, Broberg or Samorukov, McLeod, Skinner, they may allow some movement too.
The next GM will be charged with moving a bigger contract or two, but we’re a year or two away from anything there imo.
That can’t be the plan while keeping this coach. This coach doesn’t trust young players at all.
Until the playing time is more even and the coach trusts the bottom half of the roster, especially the young players, this team will never win.
Overtime today was a disgrace to hockey.
He trusted McLeod for a shift in overtime, he is a young player. Yamamoto got an extremely brief shift in overtime. I don’t know why Puljujarvi or Bouchard didn’t play, can’t tell you, but I thought McLeod’s speed was in fact noticeable in OT.
The Coach CANNOT let McD & Drai labor around for 90 second shifts; when they were gassed! Even when they get the puck they are exhausted.
And to no surprise they got scored on as they were dog tired.
Not running 6 or 8 F’s in OT is on Tippett.
I agreee 100% with Cass on this. It was embarrassing and they have quality YOUNG players on the bench.
I don’t think Tippett “let” them as much as “tasked” them with those minutes. Suspect he will spend time looking at options if Nuge is replaced, and today he went with his best players. Didn’t work out. I’d suggest the bigger crime was playing those two and Nurse so much yesterday.
That’s part of the story too. 28 min for McD the 1st of B2B. 29 for Nurse. 24 for Leon..
Anyway. Just frustrated.
I would play JP. Hyman. Mcleod and Yam fry on reg OT shifts with Mcd and Drai. 45 second shifts
Next GM? Holland will get an extension. lol
You are way out of touch on what is going to happen. You think Foegele is getting traded and Holland is going to lose his job.
Whats going to happen is, they will trade for a goalie and lose the trade or bring in Babcock to try and save the season and the mcdavid rebuild.
I don’t think Foegele is going to get traded, mentioned him as a trade option. I’ve said since the beginning of the year a trade for a goalie is the next natural step.
Finally, respect is required to post here. Respect for all. Please and thanks.
I really hope they stop buying players out
There is no room for truly dead cap
Other GMs can avoid it. It takes creativity and active work
Other GMs move pieces around but can recoup draft picks etc
The Oilers don’t know how to get equity back and constantly lose what I call equity, be it roster players or in getting something for the resources put into development
Sure it’s not easy, but should that be expected at the pinnacle of a job, that being one in the NHL?
Jzed, I’ve got to ask, who is Butch?
Butch Goring.
Hi all. I’ve been struggling with sportsnet now app for a couple months. I think some of you have mentioned streaming games and I’m wondering what sites you use. Any help is appreciated
Should mention I am in the Alberta viewing area
What kind of issues are you having?
Buffering can be an issue for sure. But for ease of use, it’s hard to beat. NHL centre Ice would black out some Oiler’s game, whereas Sportsnet Now does not.
Most of the problems I had with buffering improved with a faster connection, and installing wifi nodes throughout my house to improve my home network.
The app just freezes and I get the spinning wheel for several minutes. Usually ends up with getting kicked out of the app and have to restart. This happens several times each game. This only seems to happen with this app. Netflix, Amazon Prime have no issues. Also streaming the preseason games from the Oilers website, I had no issues so I’m hoping finding another place to stream the games will work better
Yep – I had the same problems. Also had difficulty streaming live workouts on my Peloton. The live streams seem to be more prone to buffering.
Thanks for the help, Diablo. For the very not tech savvy like myself, can you explain WiFi nodes?
Odd.
I have the Sportsnet+ package and have had very few issues other than a bit of buffering as the feed gets up and running.
This happens most often during Oiler home games so I’m thinking there must be some video issues coming out of Rogers.
On very rare occasions, the feed has frozen and I just re-set my Apple TV and it’s fine.
What device(s) are you using?
I just got a new Samsung 4K smart TV. Previously used a Fire stick on my old TV with similar issues. I tried my IPad today as the game was unwatchable and it seemed better in the last two periods but glitched in OT.
I watched the game via the Sportsnet app on my Apple TV today and it was flawless except for buffering at the start that I mentioned.
It appears something in your system is likely the cause or perhaps an issue with your ISP?
Plot twist. So you DO watch the games???
Yep – there are so many points of failure that can affect streaming quality … Wifi router, Wifi nodes, streaming device … each and everyone one of these things have affect how much buffering occurs. While I often blame the source (Sportsnet Now app), the problem is usually a bug in my home network.
As someone who cut the cord nearly a decade ago, there are a few sites you can use if you want to (ahem) borrow a stream in your web browser without too much hassle.
nhl66 dot ir (my go to)
onhockey dot tv
sportsurge dot net
There are others, but those are rather reliable.
Q. Tippett to Oilers PR. “What’s that you’re working on?”
A. “It’s a survey for our top tier season ticket holders soliciting their vote on potential Head Coach hires.”
Tippett. “Well that can’t be good.”
Holland needs someone to fall on the axe
should be him but will sacrifice Tippett instead
i don’t think Barrie has much time left either
way too much chaos with him and Bouch
I suspect Babcock will be the hire because in his rare media avails, Holland cites the GAs as his greatest concern.
For me, that feels a tad like Kenny letting himself off the hook for not building a more functional Top 6 or a G tandem with a higher ceiling.
To be fair, this team did show defensive improvement under Tippett off the hop but nothing has changed the fact that this is still an unbalanced roster thoroughly dependent on special teams to outscore. And Tippett’s historic playoff record is still lurking as a massive red flag.
The silver linings imo are A) If Holland picks the right guy, he’s got enough lead time to get this squad playoff ready, & B) If He picks the wrong guy, that’s strike 2 for Kenny and Katz likely starts thinking along the lines of Vancouver ownership.
Kenny is a big ticket at $5 mil per. Katz has to be getting gun shy about all the wasted $ getting rid of people.
Kenny is also a dude who just entered the HoF. The play is to let go of burgers, move Holland up to a more executive role, and I don’t know, use a time machine to hire Gorton before Montreal did.
What’s the opportunity cost on wasting McDavid & Draisaitl’s prime chasing playoff irrelevance?
Apologies to everyone. This loss is my fault. I picked up Dobson for my fantasy team a couple minutes before puck drop as a covid-replacement for one of my regulars. I should have known it would bite me in the ass.
You are a monster.
Indeed I am, good sir.
Not only that…but you omitted the Robert Plant/Alison Krause album from your annual list.
Considering your time in Tennessee, I would have thought you would appreciate the understated brilliance of the album.
For shame 🙂
Not gonna lie, I completely slept on that album. Can’t put it on the list if I didn’t remember it existed. I’ll give it a spin in the next day or two and report back! Thanks for the suggestion 🙂
what are the thoughts on Benson?
To me he seems to be trying hard but he’s just largely ineffective
Not much you can do. He isn’t worth much in a trade. Bad draft pick 5 years later. Getting past by more of his draft class. But that is hindsight
He’ll make a couple nice plays a game and goes hard but I’ve noticed he doesn’t always seem to be on the same page with his linemates in terms of the cycle game. Like sometimes he’ll go in front of the net when it seems like better anticipation for the play would have had him go behind it for the cycle. Not sure if that’s just him still getting used to playing more like a grinder or not.
I would absolutely play him with skill for a stretch to see what it looks like. In any event he likes “fine” as a bottom of the roster guy.
Anton Lander comes to mind
If Tipps isn’t being resigned then axe him now, you can’t sacrifice January to find out what you already know.
I think once Mike Smith’s titanium exoskeletal gets installed this team will be cooking with gas!
I heard it is vibranium. 🙂
We need Bobby Burgers to engage in a forensic audit of this team!
It’s Toby Rieder’s fault.
Hard to believe it is not Kassian or Barrie’s fault no????
Ty Rattie’s fault
These guys always look so nonchalant when answering questions as to what is going wrong. They never look upset or pissed, same ol’ cliches. It always seems like we have an indifference problem.
The banality of hockey interviews is boring
But l have never liked it when players start musing too much about themselves and the team. Leo likes being in front of the camera, and after a lot of media attention with the hot start etc he’s been less effective
Its part of the job but it just seems to me it leads to issues with performance
Don’t talk about it, do it.
If you’re up to bat for avails just say we are playing poorly overall, I didn’t have a great game, are struggling to find consistency and leave
Some bold moves need to be made.
LT:
Do you think Edm should consider a coaching change?
What do you think Holland thinks?
I wouldn’t fire the coach, no. I’d see how this team does through January. IF the club goes 0-5-1 to start January you have to consider it, but I don’t know what Holland will do. I suspect trade for a goalie would be first.
I think you are right.
Holland is going to trade Mikko + 1st + Sammy for Fleury.
Or Carey Price or the guy in Seattle. Someone.
I do think Holland is under significant pressure too. He cannot afford to miss the playoffs. Oilers need playoff revenue/they need to actually start winning with McD and Drai.
If they go 0-5-1 you have to make a move. Because at that point the Playoffs are a long shot.
Don’t know who’s at fault. Holland? Tippett? Covid? Injuries? But the direction of the club this year is not good
I don’t think the playoffs are a long shot if Edmonton goes 0-5-1, but I would think you’d have to make a move of a fairly drastic nature.
I’ll answer for you: Yes and immediately. Also need a GM change and Nicholson needs to go as well. This team will never win anything with these old timers at the helm.
Coaching change first … let someone else from outside the organization provide Holland with a second opinion on the roster. Make the change now, so the new coach has time to evaluate what fits and what doesn’t. Then make deals at the deadline.
This is team is not a contender … in fact they are a bubble playoff team at this point, losing to Eastern conference teams who will not make the playoffs.
The most ridiculous thing about Drai and Mcdavid playing this much last two games is it’s not like those minutes were pp minutes
need to cap them at 20, Nurse at 24, Bouch at 22
you don’t have the bodies to do that that’s on Holland
Tippett has a good C he doesnt like – McLeod.
McLeod played 8 mins yesterday and 10 today. You telling me he can’t play 14 or 15 mins? Tippett won’t play him
This is Tipp telling all that Holland didn’t provide enough support players for the wonder boys
This may not be far from the truth. You play who you trust.
9-11-2 since the Hot Start???
Thats not good
2-6-2 in the last 10. Yuck.
You spelled “PP Regression” wrong.
I would be more enthusiastic about a coaching change but do we really trust Holland to bring in someone who is an improvement over Tip?
Babs and Maurice both have meh track records in recent years. I like Woodcroft in Bakersfield but I have heard his style is very similar to Tmac. Bleh.
Maurice would be a huge improvement. very capable coach. Strong everywhere Tipp is weak. Babcock would be … interesting. Not sure how it would work out but it would worth the price of a ticket just for entertainment value. Like Suter in Calgary? Don’t know. I like Woody a lot but you’re really throwing him into the deep end of the pool with this team in its current state..
I feel the same way. Holland will grab whatever old timey coach is available. Ugh
The needles placed in Kook’s voodoo doll by LT too much to overcome
When Torts said McD needs to change his game a while back, it made me think how others might coach and teach McDavid. I wonder what torts would do, though hope to never find out…
Almost certain that Babcock is waiting in the bullpen now. Unless of course Torts wants to put his money where his mouth is.
The last 15 games have been DOD hockey. Mirror image.
Congrats to the NYI for apparently playing the cleanest game in NHL history
The last two losses were deserved. No blaming the reff here. You play like trash, then you don’t deserve PPs. Oilers are not putting enough effort in to draw a penalty. In fact, I think the refs missed a ton of calls against the Oilers…
A Lady Bing for each and all!
Tippett likes McLeod over Puljujarvi in OT.
That is a defensive coach playing not to lose, not an offensive coach playing to win with a point already banked.
Babcock though? Not sure a taskmaster with that reputation is the best fit for the psyche of this team.
Don’t like it either
but that’s where Holland is looking I’m sure
Oilers in freefall.
They just look like they don’t know what to do out there, like they’re playing pickup hockey against well coached systems . Fack it’s so frustrating to watch.
The Devils and Islanders are not very good teams this year.
Woulda been nice to be 1-0-1, but 2 points better than none. Did the Isles play that disciplined that the stripes couldn’t make a call? Not saying they had to, just seems like could have.
Expected goal king and forchecking demon Jesse Puljujarvi might be a guy to try during OT
What’s been this teams record since LT gave them the Magnificent Basterd kiss of death?
9-11-2.
https://theathletic.com/2940640/2021/11/08/lowetide-how-close-to-balanced-are-the-2021-22-oilers/
Butch thinks McD stayed out too long, that’s why he couldn’t help prevent the Dobson goal.
Just taking a shot at McD. Nurse has been a victim of a couple of goals that get shot through him whilst playing 1 v 1 over the last couple of games.
Both are true