The Bakersfield Condors are on a roll lately, 4-2-4 in the last 10 and currently fourth by winning percentage in the Pacific Division. Did you ever wonder how many players from this year’s team will play a significant amount in the NHL over time? Say 100 games? It varies wildly over the years and takes about 20 years to find the answer.
THE ATHLETIC!
- New Lowetide: Revisiting Oilers’ 2021 draft decision to select Xavier Bourgault over goaltending
- Lowetide: What’s the gap for Oilers between now and the 2016-17 playoff team?
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: Will this be another lost season?
- Jonathan Willis: Mikko Koskinen isn’t the Oilers’ biggest summer mistake
- Lowetide: Hard-target search for the Oilers’ next starting goaltender
- Jonathan Willis: Oilers forward lineup isn’t deep or good enough
- DNB: Time for the Oilers to move on from Mikko Koskinen
- Lowetide: If Oilers plan a coaching change, why stop there?
- New DNB: Exploring how the Oilers can get back on track
- Lowetide: Long December has Oilers fans looking for reasons to believe
- 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
- 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: 7 AHL trade targets that could immediately improve Oilers’ NHL forward depth
- DNB: How Stuart Skinner became Oilers’ ‘young goalie on the rise’
- Lowetide: If the losing continues will the Oilers make a coaching change?
- Lowetide: Oilers top 20 prospects, winter 2021
THE FIRST DECADE
Edmonton’s early years saw the team house the top farm club in the Central League. The Oilers minor league affiliate was a new enterprise (the WHA version kinda sucked), but did produce some impressive talent out of the box. Here’s a year-by-year look at the first 10 years of Oilers farm teams.
The first decade for Oilers farm teams produced about one actual NHL player a year, mostly enforcers, big defensemen and checking forwards. The best player? I’ll go Esa Tikkanen. You? Charlie Huddy was a great player for the Oilers. Andy Moog would be my choice for best Oilers goalie all-time who spent time in the minors, so that’s a quality decade for a new team.
THE SECOND DECADE
This decade was crazy because Slats was trading famous players for prospects and the Oilers were drafting brilliant players like Miro Satan. Top flight offensive talents included Satan and Martin Rucinsky, and there are some other very good players in there. The graduates from the mid-90’s Cape Breton team were splendid and there were more than a few players who didn’t make it who had strong offense in their games.
THE THIRD DECADE
Some very talented people emerged in this decade, including Shawn Horcoff, Fernando Pisani, Tom Gilbert and Devan Dubnyk. It’s also true this was the lending decade and impacted the group who emerged in the middle of the decade.
THE FOURTH DECADE
I think we’ll look back on this decade and remember the defenseman and the Finn. You know, Jesse Puljujarvi played well in the AHL, and he didn’t get the cherry minutes and was not gifted the top center on the team. The same thing happened to Kailer Yamamoto, suspect the Oilers want their young skill forwards to concentrate on even strength play and slow play the sugar minutes.
It’s the defensemen I find exceptional in this decade. Petry, Klefbom, you know Brandon Davidson looked like a difference maker for a time. I believe Ethan Bear will have a strong career, and the list of Condors graduating will grow and grow.
Hat tip to Todd Nelson for developing NHL players three at a time.
THE FIFTH DECADE
The Oilers under Jay Woodcroft and Dave Manson are producing NHL talent. We don’t know how many of these names will exceed 100 NHL games but it’s a good group and the 2019-20 club has at least two genuine NHL players on it. The trend of defensemen from last decade continues unabated.
GAMES BY DECADE
I did this in a quick hurry, so a forensic audit might arrive at slightly different numbers. Here are the games played by decade, and we can crown 1994-95 Cape Breton Oilers the forever single-season champion.
- Decade One (1979-80 to 1988-89): 10,419
- Decade Two (1989-90 to 1998-99): 14,930
- Decade Three (1990-00 to 2008-09): 10,040
- Decade Four (2009-10 to 2018-19): 4,884
I think those numbers give us a good idea about where the franchise was sitting in these decades. I think Holland/Wright are trying to build an AHL team overflowing the offensive wingers ala the early 1990’s. The 1992-93 Cape Breton Oilers won the AHL championship with eye-popping numbers. That should be the goal. Find Bill McDougall and Dan Currie, and maybe enough offense will rub off on Shjon Podein and Kirk Maltby to ensure they can move the needle upon NHL arrival.
As you can see from these lists, it isn’t the leading scorer who emerges as a productive NHL player. It’s the guy who can grind away his flaws while still scoring enough to stay in the lineup. In other words, it’s Jujhar Khaira over Rob Schremp when it comes to AHL players.
Same as it ever was. Apply that information to Raphael Lavoie, Ostap Safin, Philip Broberg, Markus Niemelainen, Dmitri Samorukov, Phil Kemp and Mike Kesselring.
Here is a player I have my eye on. He isn’t 5th in AHL scoring, or anything cool like that, but he will have a story to tell in the next couple of years (he is still a teenager until November).
An NCAA RHS Dman to remember is Scott Morrow, he is just over 1 ppg at UMass (same school Makar attended) and already has a massive (especially for NCAA Dmen) 8 goals. I remember reading about his USHS dominance, it was off the charts, but so many Scouts had massive doubts due to the competition. He played in a few USHL playoff games, with middling results (6 GP, 0 pts, -2) hardly fair, but that didn’t help his cause to be a 1st round pick.
He is the same size as Evan Bouchard and was picked 40 OV by Carolina. For me he is the most intriguing prospect of the 2021 Draft.
Just a reminder that Joe Snively is 3rd in AHL scoring with 10 goals and 20 assist.
Joe.
Snively.
The 26 year old?
Sounds like he should be in A Sweeny Todd movie.
Not sure what your obsession with Joe Snively is (or are you making fun of his name or something), he played one NHL game (his 1st) and got 1 assist in a loss.
A few years ago, similarly sized, similarly aged and similar player resume (but superior AHL stats) Gerald Mathew had a more impressive season. This has turned into 20 NHL GP over the past 3 seasons.
Meanwhile, same team has Zach Fucale starting his first NHL game, he who was once very hyped. He has 2 starts, no losses, less than a 0.50 GA Avg and has a .980 save percentage. Hopefully this year is his breakthrough season, he’s certainly paid his dues.
The Fucale story is amazing. I hope he continues it. Craig Button has to be smiling right now.
Mayhew, not Mathew – new phone, switched from Android to iPhone this year, still not catching all the Autocorrect errors…
Skinner finishes off the 21 save shutout. 4-0.
To be honest, this was such a dominating performance by the Condors, I recall maybe one high danger shot.
The official shot clock says 30-21 but that is 100% some home town counting – Condors must have well over 40 shots.
Soderlund sure is quick with very skilled hands – tried one between his own legs sauce pass on a rush that almost converted.
Sammy and Kemp were very good – in particular Sammy. The pair were both plus 6.
Lavoie with 2G and six shot but, frankly, did little in the last half of the game.
Broberg with another so so game – his ice time has been WAY down lately. Tonight I think the coaches were managing ice time given the 4 games in 5 but, overall, I think they are reigning Broberg back a bit and/or he’s banged up.
What a weekend for the Condors.
But……..there should an asterisk for all these wins, because of some weak reason that I can’t come up with right now.
The hard cold truth is that we know they are not a good hockey team. We know this because a self-described reputable and completely unbiased source of hockey knowledge (one could say he thinks himself to be an AHL/NHL hockey expert) said so.
So, this roll this team is on is just a mirage. When they lose, the “in house” contrarian all things hockey expert will tell us so.
Book it.
Nice job Condors!
Just read a piece by NHL_Sid at ON. I think I want to cry.
He’s used xG% stats to demonstrate what many of us have been going on about
Tippet’s system is tanking the bottom 6
Only the 4 players have survived Tippet stat wise, and other than Nuge 3 are hitting their offensive primes so the system could still be hampering them from what they could be doing even with positive numbers
Goaltending isn’t as big a problem as team play
The hardest part for me was the mention that Zito was interviewed for GM
We ended up with the highest paid GM in the league and a whole lotta nothing. He feels Zito had a harder road in Florida than Holland here and look where they are.
That really hurt. Nicholson needs to go asap. That is a career defining screw up. We deserve better than this and so does Connor.
Elk’s style clean out is needed. Top to bottom.
I post about Deharnais’ lack of offence and, of course, just a lovely cross-ice pass (high to low) for a Kambietz one-timer goal.
4-0 Condors with just over seven minutes to go.
Condors continue dominant offensive one pressure and domination.
An amazing o-zone shift by Sammy.
First a high skill keep at the blue off an attempted dump out.
Then a second keep and solid pass across the line to Kemp – gets the return pass, delay, waits for Marody to open up high, feeds him and Cooper walks in to the slot and fires one home.
2nd apple for Marody (Kemp should get the second).
Noice
Score??
3-0 Bako
2 Goals from Lavoie, 1 from Marody
Weird
carolina just signs University of Minnesota goalie in middle of season
This article sheds some light, the Canes are hurting in the goalie department and he is in his 5th year.
https://amp.newsobserver.com/sports/nhl/carolina-hurricanes/article257174777.html
Kesslering continues to show development and an increased comfort level.
Take a pass at the right side offensive blue, a very skilled looking fake to walk around the defender, walked in to the top of the circles and ripped a dangerous low shot.
Great stuff
If Kesselrin chooses to remain as tall as he is he would benefit from some practice being a ruffian. It will be expected if he makes it.
He should take boxing next summer with Yessa
I saw this sort of sortie from him with North Eastern last season and scored and he tried that at least once with the Bake last season.
Lavoie takes a nice little feed from Kaldis on a rush down the left side but stopped on his outside/inside quick hands move (he got the puck too later from Kaldis, no room).
No worries though, Brosseau causes a turnover right by the net and the puck plops out to Lavoie who roofs a backhand shelf from in tight.
Of note, on the 1st play above, Skinner stopped a dump in and fed Kaldis at the blueline which started the rush.
We like forwards associated with the Oilers that can shelf
Rare skill as it stands
Down to 8 oilers who haven’t got this covid
playing and then there were none game
who is last man standing
sceviour Drai Turris Nemo Russell Hyman
smith Koskinen
im going with old man Russell
Gotta keep 3 goalies around cause if injuries don’t get them Covid will.
Only a healthy Smith, Drai and Hyman would be a real problem losing
Strong run to the playoffs!
Assuming no heavy syptoms or lasting effects, I wish the rest would get it in this stretch – won’t have to be tested for 90 days.
Tullio has a goal and an assist thru two periods as Oshawa leads 3-0.
It’s now Two-Two-Tullio as he adds another ES goal in the third.
Tullio finishes with 2+1–and a whopping 10 shots (shooter mentality!)–as Oshawa wins 5-2.
My only hope is that someone taped that shotporn and is now in the process of selling it to Louis DeBrusk & wife for a healthy…sum. He’d be a real–ahem–hero.
Arsenault takes a clean hit by Schaller and then proceeds to try and fight Kesslering – when Kesslering declines, Arsenault jumps him by the Condors’s bench and starts to throw em.
A bit of a bru ha ha ensues and the Condors end up with a 4 min PP (they are a bit lucky, as Deharnais did grab Arsenault from the bench to protect Kesslering).
Oilers could use a few “Arseholes”…..
How is Desharnais looking this season, my impression is that that he is an all-situations go-to option for Woody. I wonder if the big brass would consider signing him to an NHL deal at any point. He has come along quite impressively from his first AHL games where he looked like he was totally in over his head, to potting the OT winner the last game..
Not quite all-situations (as there is no offence there and he doesn’t play on the PP like ever).
He is a very big part of the Condors (plays every night, even when guys like Kemp and Kesselring have been scratched).
He’s similar to Niemelainen but a worse skater and worse with the puck.
He may get a 2-way NHL deal but I don’t think he’ll ever see an NHL game.
Lavoie rips one off the cross-bar from the top of the circles (off a won faceoff) – second game in a row with a cross bar.
Abbotsford with a poor defensive zone play (rimmed around with no pressure and missed on the half-wall) – Sammy rips one from the point and Lavoie buries the rebound.
Watching the replay in the intermission and this was a nice play by Lavoie as the rebound came down hard and the puck was bouncing – good job to get wood on it.
Safin had a good period – essentially two breakaways, one of which was a pick off of an outlet pass and quick strike break – he ripped one but a good save was made.
Per Tom Gazzola, Oilers won’t even hold media availability tomorrow or Tuesday – practice scheduled for Wednesday.
Skinner confirmed as the starter but not Griffth (or McPhee) – Soderlund and Peters in the lineup
Points of contention with Leavins’ 9 things today:
Recognizes Holloway’s potential over older veterans, talks about how he, Bouchard, McLeod, Broberg are all cost-controlled young guys who will be able to play big roles.
Earlier, he implies that Bear/Jones would not play in Edmonton’s top 4 based on their TOI on their new teams. Let’s put aside the fact that Bear is tied for 2nd for RHD EV TOI with DeAngelo, who leads all NHL D in EV points/60, but missing from Leavins’ analysis is that A) both have been excelling for their new teams and B) the cap savings could have been used to improve other parts of the roster.
I think that’s what frustrates me sometimes, is that the MSM will purposefully omit pertinent information that is inconvenient to their own flawed narratives. Sometimes, like Leavins, they contradict themselves in a single article. But there’s never any reckoning, there is never even the slightest acknowledgment of playing fast and loose.
The good news: JW and DNB are fire and have totally eclipsed the old guard.
My second point is Leavins being a proponent of Smith continuing as a #1 with Skinner as the #2. Smith and Koski are both hovering around a .900 save percentage. Smith’s GAA is a woeful 3.76, whilst Koskinen is at 3.19.
Besides Smith being better liked by Tippett (and I guess by Leavins), what evidence is there that Smith can be a #1 at age 40? And how about next year? If you subscribe to the notion that Koskinen can’t play, why are you on a hill proclaiming that Smith can? Completely non-sensical. At least Koskinen can stay healthy.
My position: Skinner + Konovalov as soon as the latter is ready. Go cheap on goalies and acquire at the deadline next season if need be. No high end assets out for goaltending, and particularly not if it’s Holland making the trade.
Smith played 3 games was gone 10 weeks and then played 3 more
Hard to get in a rhythm
his entire career has been elite play followed by injury and then subpar play, rinse and repeat. Can he get back to last years form
who knows but can’t say it’s been disproven
Bears ice time has plummeted lately and is propped up by early season numbers and has been a lot less than Deangelo of late
had 6 less min EV TOI yesterday and and pretty unusual for him to even get 15 min these days
out of last 6 games Bear has only one game of EV TOI more than Deangelo
Puck IQ’s time against elites page isn’t at 200 minutes yet for any defenseman, but does have Bear playing the second most minutes against elites as a percentage of his overall five-on-five time (31.6) but just 112 minutes. Bear is struggling in those minutes, but not as much as Cole and Skjei. Pesce is badly off the pace, don’t know what’s going on there. He hasn’t had a DFF% in the 40 percents since he was a rookie. Must be an injury.
http://www.puckiq.com/woodmoney?season=20212022&tier=Elite&positions=d&team=car&group_by=player_season_team&sort=dff60rc&sort_direction=desc
You think Bear has long covid too?
And you didn’t even mention all the typos and his reference to Jordan Biddington.
Very sloppy work.
Binnington had the major benefit of playing behind a much better defensive group but his NHL resume prior to that recall was much worse than Skinner’s.
Check the spelling.
Unless you’re referring to Skidder 🙂
I’ve learned to live with the typos. It’s a blog, even if an official blog of a major newspaper. They probably scaled back the budget when they merged newsrooms with The Sun.
What I can’t abide is how persistently Leavins inserts hyphens where they don’t belong. As someone who’s reasonably good at the English, it’s an infuriating habit by someone who’s paid to write.
The typos are inexcusable for anyone who takes pride in their work.
It literally would take less than 5 minutes to check.
Can you remember the last time you spotted a typo in LT’s work?
yes
1987?
No offense to LT, but you clearly haven’t been reading closely… there are typos in almost every daily post. Far less frequently than your own, however 😉
As a guy who took pride in being a copy editor, I hear you. Leavins is alright as far as perspective goes, but his writing is painful.
I’ve actually thought about making an inquiry to bring the Cult posts up to CP Style, but never really acted on the notion.
I really loved hyphen’s work when he started doing his 9- Thing-s, I thought hyphen was great, but then again I am not exactly a hyphen-connoisseur, lol.
To be honest – I wasn’t aware of hyphens propensity for the use of the abbreviated dash – but now that I know I will keep an eye out for that – since there are so many hyphens to go around – after all.
But in reflection – not the image-type – I might also be accused of over-using hyphens.
Shit, sorry auto-correct went nuts on me there – I thought the irony might give someone a chuckle, so I didn’t edit this – sorry BIAGJ – I didn’t mean ta bug ya….
But can you use an em dash properly? Then you’ll know you’ve mastered the dark art…
Writing is something I thought I was good at, but I come here and I am humbled. I take heart in that my son can write circles around me.
I also struggle to write well due to ADHD and now with Autocorrect defeating me, as I have more recently discovered, I know that I need to improve my focus when writing. But I cannot defeat squirrel…
I recognize that I would be better with my posts by switching to my laptop, but I prefer the convenience of the phone.
I have mastered none of the dark arts, but perhaps one day I will be better at some of the basic skills.
I appreciate you BWAGJ, and please, by all means feel free to correct my posts, it can only help 😀
To counter, what evidence is there that Konovalov is ready for the NHL?
Also, Leavins isn’t part of the MSM – he doesn’t have access.
I’ll take your point about Bear it’s a hard comparison with ice time considering the depth on Carolina.
Jones has played 13 games and is averaging less than thirteen mins on a team that doesn’t have the same kind of depth imo.
I would have kept Bear but I’m not sure there’s room for Jones going forward.
One bonus of the Oilers game tomorrow night being postponed, no longer a conflict with the Condors. Look forward to Skinner’s last two games in the AHL today (5pm) and tomorrow (8pm). Next game would be Friday but, of course, he’ll need to be in Edmonton for Saturday…….
Also, fewer games played with Nugent-Hopkins on the shelf.
If The Principal shows well in both those outings, Koski needs to start getting very very worried. Of course he should be prettv worried already, but the big Finn often sometimes strikes me as too nonchalant.
*please delete if not allowed, I think I’ve seen similar posts before*
I have a pair of tickets to tomorrow night’s Condors game in Abbotsford. Front row section 102 (at the circles in the Condors attacking end). Sadly for me I tested positive this AM for the dread disease and so am not able to attend. Very bummed about this, especially since this game was already postponed once due to the flood in November. I was really looking forward to seeing Skinner, Broberg & friends.
I’m offering them to friends and family for a sweetheart deal through social media but I know there are LT readers and commenters in the area and it would be a shame for them to go to waste, so I figured I’d make them available here too.
You can contact me at my LT handle at Gmail dot com, first come first served.
Seravelli tweeting more positive tests for the Oilers and the game against the Sens is being re-scheduled for next weekend.
This is probably for the best – lets get all the Covid in and done and move on.
If I’m not mistaken, once a player tests positive and recovers, they don’t need to be tested for like 3 month – per NHL protocols – I think.
and today’s practice has been cancelled (per Rishaug then Nugent Bowman).
@TSNRyanRishaug
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21s
From Oilers
Edmonton Oilers Transactions:
Placed in Covid protocol:
Tyler Benson (F)
Warren Foegele (F)
*Note*: Edmonton Oilers vs. Ottawa Senators originally scheduled for Monday, January 10 will be played on Saturday, January 15 at 8:00 pm.
March 1 to April 29 the Oilers play at least 28 games in 60 days. They are going to need a lot of players to navigate Covid protocols; games every second night, normal injuries, travel, and be rested for the start of grueling play-off run.
I’m willing to bet 95%+ of all Nhlers will have had Covid by then
This strain spreads like wildfire
Good point – teams that haven’t been hit yet will be and it will be much more difficult to reschedule games. However, the rules may change by then and they won’t have to sit out.
These infection waves burn out in probably under two months, so if anybody makes it untagged into March there’s much much less chance of catching it then.
A question, what do you base that on?
Well South Africa covid cases as they are first ones hit by omicron
very steep but narrow spike
For sure about the sharp spike
Seems to me though given the context of NHL conditions and Omi transmission means they will have had Omi or will probably get it still
I wouldn’t rule out that the season may get extended
Not a fan of hockey in July
Sadly I doubt the Oil will still be on the ice come July, even if other teams are still at it
I heard the same (it may have been Chris Johnson on LT’s show this week)
The NHL is going to move heaven and earth to get in 82 games (with as much revenue from attendance as possible)
Playing the regular season into May is absolutely on the table
From accounts, a week extension is almost a certainty.
Looking at the standings and just how 12 or 13 of the leagues top teams are all American franchises, makes me wonder/surmise if the “American Way” in business and in sport is superior to the “Canadian Way”.
When recently asked, what if anything makes America exceptional, without hesitation, Vladimir Putin responded, “Innovation”. The Americans innovate like no other nation on the planet.
Analytics. Front Offices, etc.
Moving on from good ol boys club
fan bases that don’t want to guillotine every player at first sign of trouble
Free agents more likely to sign because less likely to get guillotined
You didn’t go there, did you? Oh man, blaming the fan base! Really?
Maybe in the Ballard Leafs kind of way in that there’s no competition from other sports in Canadian cities or people buy tickets no matter how bad the product is.
its not blaming the fan base it called reality. Hockey is life in Canada
if you’re a hero they build statues to you and you’re a hero for life.
but everything you do is under the microscope
most of the American players can go around town and not even get recognized
In hockey only
The three biggest NA sports it’s the opposite, more recognized in the US
Comes with the territory IMO
Do you think Bobby Orr, Phil Esposito, Stan Jonathan etc has ever paid for a drink in Beantown are how about Bobby Clarke, Bill Barber, Dave Schultz etc in the city of Brotherly Love.
Sure a handful of exceptions
No, hockey has history in the NE USA. Back in the 60s, when most of the televisions (and TV stations) in the US were concentrated in that corner of the country, hockey was the number one watched sport in America.
Not to mention the Howes, Hulls, Gilberts and Ratelles among dozens of others.
I’ll agree that it’s a factor, but it’s far down on the list of other factors.
The narrative that Canadian teams are poor because they can’t get good UFA’s to sign there is a tired one.
Teams get good typically with some lottery luck, drafting well, then making astute trades.
Colorado, Carolina, even Florida and Tampa didn’t get good by signing a bunch of 29 y/o UFAs that wanted sun, low taxes, and low pressure jobs.
Better management is why Carolina, Colorado, and the Florida teams are doing well in the standings.
I think that numerous US jurisdictions having an advantage over Canadian jurisdictions vis-a-vis enticing free agents with off-ice attributes is highly valid.
This could be further propagated this off-season if Canada still has stricter Covid-related restrictions than the US.
I think you’re talking about something different, still how much of a factor are these UFAs?
Where would the AVs be without Darren Helm and Jack Johnson?
The Oilers have signed plenty of the desirable free agents (Sekera, Lucic, and Hyman).
The Oilers problems don’t stem from not being able to sign free agents, but rather from being too reliant on them and the cap problems that ensue.
Who was the last external UFA of substance that signed in Edmonton without receiving the very very top contract structure?
That’s more of a function of GM incompetence than it is location.
Calgary has not had similar problems.
Which external UFA of substance have the flames signed?
James Neal – they paid IN FULL for that.
Coleman, Markstrom, Tanev.
Good grief.
Jacob Markstrom
Chris Tanev
Blake Coleman
And that’s just the past 18 months.
All paid in full with term, cap hit and trade protection.
No different that the lines of the Lucic and Hyman signings.
Who was the last material UFA that Colorado, Carolina, or the Florida teams signed?
Probably D’Angelo, but that was a unique opportunity.
Colorado:
Nichushkin
Helm
Murray
Francouz
Carolina:
Fast
Martinook
Stepan
Cole DeAngelo
Smith
Anderson
Raanta
Do offer sheets count?
Probably.
Carolina (Tulsky) has shown little fear in letting free agents walk and replacing them better (more efficient) players.
Kotkaniemi is going to have a tough time covering his QO, though I guess the speculation is he’s going to re-sign at a discount.
They signed Jake Gardner a couple of years ago too.
And beyond Hamilton, can I’m forgetting what other UFAs they let walk. Presumably there are others.
Not always letting free agents walk but also replacing players with more efficient contracts.
Foegele ($2.75M) replaced by Seth Jarvis ($895K)
Jarvis has 15 points..,Foegele has 12.
So, Carolina saves almost $2 million on the cap and gets DeAngelo and Bear for a total cap hit of $3 million while Dougie Hamilton gets $9 million in NJ.
It’s an efficiency contest,
Ethan Bear ($2M and about to be an RFA with arb rights) replaced by Evan Bouchard ($863K).
Bouchard has 19 points and Bear has 7.
Next year Kyle Turris will be replaced with Dylan Holloway and Mikko Koskinen replaced with Stuart Skinner….
That’s nice.
Bouchard had nothing to do with any of this.
Anthony DeAngelo has 24 points so the Canes replaced Hamilton with DeAngelo and Bear for $3M while foisting overpaid Foegele on the Oilers.
That’s a nice piece of work.
It was a direct comparable example as the one you provided – replacing a mid RFA player with a cheaper and higher pedigree ELC player that has higher production.
Efficiencies!
Didn’t Holland replace Bear’s $2M cap and 8 points with Bouchard $.863M and 19 point (so far) which could mean he got Foegele for $1.5m incremental???
no this only works for the other teams ! you can’t use the same rules / logic to the Oilers 😉
Tulsky is the assistant GM. Don Waddell has the stones
Presented in a less optimistic light.
Carolina clearly lost the trade with Calgary
then
lost Fox and Hamilton only to replace them with Bear and DeAngelo
I should say just overall desirability which free agents is just a lazy term for it
taxes weather sure help a lot
you think Barkov and Huberdeau would have stuck around For 9, 10 years if it wasn’t for location?
Coyotes have been a dumpster fire, how many guys have requested a trade?
Anaheim LA have been poor and guys seem plenty happy to carry on.
don’t think less desirable locations like Winnipeg Edmonton Buffalo are granted that much leeway
Also not having a old boys club of know it alls also helps
Also Canada is not very desirable place to live for most Americans unfortunately
Honestly, it should be a massive advantage. The Panthers should be able to load up and go on a run every year, no?
And yet, it will still never explain the Hall, Reinhart, Spooner, or Keith trades.
Poor management?
Well for the longest time the Panthers have had an internal salary cap
I think saying Edmonton have had poor management would be an understatement
but Oilers alone don’t explain no cup winners in Canada for almost 30 years
Panther have the following players signed long term,
Barkov $5.9
Huberfeau $5.9
Ekblad $7.9M
Top 2 forward and best defenseman for
prime of their careers for under $20M means you can have a lot of depth. Sun, taxes, great city, anonymity. These are a real factors.
check out Sam Bennett’s jabs at his old team.
The Jets have had the following players signed long term.
Scheifele $6.125
Ehlers $6
Morrissey $6.25
Helkeybuyck $6.16
Lowry $3.25
Winnipeg. Sun, great city, taxes, anonymity?
The context was external free agents – on the open market.
I was replying to YYCOil. Barkov, Huberdeau, and Ekbkad were not UFAs. See his comment.
HH already listed all of them—not much to move the needle except Andersen who went from a few poor seasons into Vezina calibre.
Again, I’ll concede it’s a factor, but if you’re making the Reinhart, Hall, Spooner, and Keith trades, there’s no help for you on the UFA market.
Which Florida management is so good?
Dale Tallon 2010-2016
Tom Rowe 2016-2017
Dale Tallon 2017-2020
Zito 2020-2022
I’ve written already about Zito’s wizardry shopping in what I termed, the “disappointment aisle.”
There is the tax difference that would have to be a consideration!
Tampa gets some discounts the California teams did and will do again as they get good again.
All things being equal older married players generally don’t want to come Edmonton for variety of reasons.
https://ingoalmag.com/magazine/2022/01/01/ingoal-radio-episode-151with-stuart-skinner/
I haven’t seen this here, so figured I’d share. Skinner talk starts around the 20:00 minute mark.
Tells some interesting stories about arriving to Bakersfield late during the latest time he was sent down, some work hes done since last year’s game against Ottawa, some glowing reviews for Mike Smith and Dustin Schwartz, pregame rituals and the game against Winnipeg.
Thank you for sharing this!
Skinner looks to be tracking much like Demko, which would be terrific if that’s the outcome.
Demko was much more highly touted as a prospect than Skinner.
doesn’t always end up meaning much in the end but if he becomes Demko that would be a nice outcome
Top 32 goalies – stacked ranked by games played
Played 2894 AHL games and another 555 in the KHL – It looks like it takes at least 108 “non NHL” pro games to be a starting NHL goalie at some point in your career.
Skinner has played 85 AHL games.
Thanks for the number crunch YYCOIL. Puts the discussion of Skinner in perspective.
I sometimes wonder if Hollands willingness to tie up $5.5m in cap space for two years on Keith, is an indicator that he sees “True contention for Stanley” (ie. playing in the Finals) as being 2 years out?
Because, coincidentally, 2 years out is exactly what it looks like to me if all/most things break in our favour.
You can almost see the depth matriculating, with Holloway, Bourgault Petrov, Broberg, Niemelainen etc.
I would feel alot better if they were in the AHL now, obviously
Until they figure out the goaltending there will be no window
After the 2022-23 season Keith’s contract will come off the books (unless he miraculously retires after this season) as will the buyout on Sekera and the retention on Lucic. We should be in a decent position then unless Holland messes things up again.
That doesn’t jive. The players that you acquire with that cap space are unknown quantities and have to adapt to new playing strategies and players.
There’s no excuse for bad cap management. That deal stunk of old school tie back scratching which back fired badly as there’s a regime change in Chicago and we’ll never see the return.
If Kenny truly believed that this team was an old Duncan Keith away from contention, or he believed he was a cap dump, then he should be fired.
Thanks LT, I didn’t see Lagesson on your list…
FWIW I’ve really liked his game this season, I can see him turn into a regular 3rd pairing Dman by next season (if not here, somewhere else). He clearly has been the forgotten man when all the focus has been on Broberg, Samorukov and Niemalainen, yet ole Willy has had the best results…
I could see a good analytics based team paying something reasonable for Lagesson…. except Holland…. sigh.
He should have been playing over Koekkeok the last few games, in my opinion (not including the Leaf game when both were “needed”).
Koekkoek has been playing OK aside from the goal each game he has been responsible for.
Playing Koekkoek over any of the young horses makes about as much sense as playing all the outcast bottom 6 forwards in skilled positions while ignoring Benson sitting right there.
Hooray for Tipps
I think Shore got one game in the top 6 and Perlini one game in the top 6. May I ask when the outcast bottom 6 forwards were played in skill positions?
Anyone willing to have a genuine discussion on the Rags blue line?
I was curious how they could lose D’Angelo with no return asset and be second in the Metro (by WG).
Obviously, getting a Norris caliber d like Adam Fox for free is a good starting point. Gorton also was able to get Trouba.
Three of their top four are 23 y/o or under, though.
How did they manage to acquire Ryan Lindgren?
Having three first round picks in 2018 didn’t hurt either especially hitting on two d.
I sure hope down the road whomever is GM can actually do the ‘get a bunch of high picks and restock’ big boy NHL thingy. Been a while.
Man a team can re-load quickly in the era of parity and all it’s attendant mechanisms ( lottery, revenue sharing, etc)
Many GM’s have loaded up on draft picks, via both finishing position (draft) AND a willingness to part with veterans (in return for picks) while they still hold value.
#OppositeOilers
I’ll take Elite goaltending for 500
Gorten put all the key pieces in Boston as interim GM, they hired Chia for the roll and he was sent packing.
Worked under Slats in NYC and then took over and built what looks to be the team that will rule the East for years.
Things look pretty bad in Montreal right now, but man did they pick the right man for the job.
Yeah, I’ve long been a fan of Gorton. I wish he was our GM. Look at the blue line he created out of thin air in New York.
Gorton turned Rick Nash’s final 23 games into 2/6 of the Rangers current blue line (Lindgren, Lundkvist), and Ryan Strome.
Ryan Lindgren was part of the return for Rick Nash along with Ryan Spooner, Matt Beleskey, a 2018 1st and a 2018 7th rounder.
Last night the Ducks managed 14 shots against the Rags. I know the Rags are a good team but the regression to the meat for Pacific Div teams is going to be real and spectacular.
An interesting analysis of Oiler goaltending.
https://www.coppernblue.com/2022/1/8/22873246/oilers-management-is-to-blame-for-the-issues-in-net-ken-holland
I still think that Jesse Puljujarvi’s rookie season in the AHL was phenomenal and never received the recognition that it should have.
12G and 28 points in 39 games, as an 18 year old (I believe the youngest player in North American pro hockey) is sensational. That’s two years prior to being old enough for the league if drafted out of the CHL.
That’s a better pace than Byfield last year (in a “watered down” AHL).
Too bad the guy he was paying to look out for his best interests was not interested in what was actually best for Jesse.
With Bouchard and Koekkoek in protocol as of yesterday, with Barrie coming out, I think that gives the team 5D for tomorrow. I know Niemelainen is skating but I don’t think he’s ready.
I would think Broberg gets called-up?
I’m looking forward to watching him play this afternoon (5pm) but wouldn’t they want him in Edmonton and not playing the day before and then travelling?
You’d think Sportsnet could show the games in Abbotsford some way/somehow…
AHL TV with Ryan Holt doing the play by play is great for me.
SN can’t just pivot and show games – there are broadcast rights, licensing rights, etc. to deal with.
Skinner is the play here.
He has been the best goalie on the team this year. He could be part of the long term solution as an effective tandem. He costs no assets. If he struggles with a semi-starter roll this year, it will likely help him get better for next year. They are not a contender this year, it is another growth year. I think it is best to grow the team with as many internal solutions as possible…if the Marody’s etc can’t cut it, go back to the Turris’s etc for the remainder.
Especially given there isn’t likely going to be any cap expansion next season now.
After years of crickets on the farm, use it! Save your bullets for later. This year it’s knife to a gunfight.
In 40 years the Oilers have developed two starting goalies.
Skinner is going to have to buck some long odds.
Well Holland elevated guys like Legace, so I like his odds of getting a ful chance at least.
This is the exact kind of thing you want a forensic analysis of your organization.
What makes Nashville special for example?
A LITTLE bit more than two… but not by much.
I can count in my head:
Andy Moog
Grant Fuhr ( and check out his rookie season… he was pretty much ready out of the box)
Bill Ranford (Kinda? he played 41 games for Boston, then sent to the minors the following year. Still only 21 when acquired)
*Crickets*
Devan Dubnyk
Cam Talbot (Kinda? I give less marks than I’d give for Ranford)
Skinner (Hopefully)
I was just using LT charts above as the reference. His lists have identified Moog and Dubnyk
When looking at the standings ( as posted by WG) would you prefer to target a backup from a good team, or a starter from a bad team (as represented by being out of the playoff picture at this time)?
I’d prefer to see Stuart Skinner and Mike Smith share the load. Smith is getting back to full health and Skinner is unproven. Find out what you have in hand, then move forward.
Ditto. Intuition tells me Holland feels this way as well.
So sensible.
This is the plan that makes the most sense, but is Smith really getting back to full health? That is the million dollar question.
That’s the “Find out what you have in hand, then move forward.” part of LT’s post.
That applies to Skinner, doesn’t it?
LTs post also says “Smith is getting back to full health” hence my post.
Also Smith. Seeing if he can stay healthy for a few months is ‘seeing what you have in hand’ IMO.
Smith cannot stay healthy. This has been established. IIRC, he has been injured for a significant portion of time every season he has played with the Oilers. Why would this change as he gets older?
Smith missed 1 game with injury in 19-20, 12 in 20-21 and now a bunch this season.
In 19-20, he couldn’t stop a beachball in November and December. He probably was compromised somehow.
So do we accept he was injured and add it as a strike against his health?
Or do we accept he was injured and wash away those poor results?
Or both? (His 19-20 line reads 16-6-5, .913SV% if you ignore Nov/Dec)
2.2 million dollar question.😉
So the game is still a go tomorrow?
If you have that many people in an org testing positive in one day chances are others will follow. Guessing it gets bumped
Leavins got me.
When he wrote, “The Oilers are also betting that when Duncan Keith retires…”My brain went into overdrive with joy until I kept reading.
That comment got me too but not in a good way.
There isn’t a snowballs chance in hell that Keith will retire. No point even thinking about it much less writing about it as a possibility for part of a solution to this teams problems.
I get the point in relation to the salary cap; But, I’m starting to get excited to see how Keith performs in the playoffs.
Except this one ^.
This one actually passed through my mind as I was posting the word playoffs 🙂
Leavins has completely backed off from his previous suggestion of Holland making a hockey trade for a goalie.
What is Holland going to do with the second year of Smith’s contract? He’s too old and his health too unreliable to even be counted on as a backup.
Holland does not agree. He certainly does not understand this point. I have no doubt Smith will be back next season as the back up.
I agree Smith will still be around next year.
I think he’s at least as good a bet to be healthy as Mrazek or Raanta.
JP, I can’t figure out how?
I presume Skinner will be our backup, Koskinen will be gone, and we’ll have a new starter. I could certainly see Smith added to our massive LTIR pile as LT suggests.
If Smith is sill playing, then our tandem is Smith and Skinner. I think that would be a poor choice.
Yeah I hear you, and I don’t particularly want to see a Smith-Skinner tandem next year either.
Given that Skinner has only played 11 games though I’m not sure you can write him in pen as next years backup. It depends on how both he and Smith play through the rest of the year IMO.
I could see the full range of outcomes possibly happening, including either of the two as backup, or both being the tandem, or even neither of them in the Oilers net next season.
I think Skinner has to clear waivers next year, which is why he should split games with Smith for the rest of this year.
I don’t disagree, but I also think we often worry more than we need to about our waiver eligible prospects being claimed.
Or Francouz
In that scenario, who’s the starter? Skinner?
I think Holland still views Smith as a likely starter for next year. The fact that Smith was/is old and injury-prone was known when Holland signed the contract. I just do not think Holland’s view of Smith has changed this season. Especially if Smith strings together some good numbers for the rest of the season.
Otherwise, Skinner or someone else off the free-agent scrap heap this summer will become the starter.
LTIR
Keith or Smith? Or both?
That’s the real danger with the Keith contract, not just that he’s eating $5.5m in cap while playing, but if he’s on/ off LTIR, he’s clogging up $5.5m in cap that you won’t really be able to use (unless he sails into the sunset on LTIR).
Wait…. Whose on first?!?
Is Smith on first? or Skinner on first? is Keith on 2nd?
Whose watching home plate!?! 🙂
Next year Keith’s actual salary is $1.5 million and over his career he’ll have made $76.4 million. Now in my non-NHL life it does seem crazy to suggest a guy would leave 1.5 million on the table but maybe not.
My point being that Keith has already made his money so that’s one angle that could indeed point to a retirement without too much of a financial penalty, especially if he found a scouting or coaching job in B.C. afterwards.
I think it’s more likely signs a contract after his current deal ends than he retires after this season.
Come on, LT! I was having a good day.
It absolutely behooves the organization to call Skinner up and let him either (a) run with a stretch of games (7 out of 10) or (b) at least split a good stretch of games.
Until/Unless something changes, he gives the team just as good a chance as the other two goalies to win on any given night.
For all we know, he is ready to be 65-35 starter in the NHL or on his way to being relied on for that guy next season.
He’s 100% on the team next season – lets see what type of role it looks like he might be ready for.
There is zero reason not be be playing him over the next stretch of games – if he’s not ready, we’ll know it.
Given he is thirty nine on the expiry of this contract my guess would be that he may stay in the game in some capacity but not as an active player.
Keith is a revered hero in Chicago. Do you really think he would want to tarnish that legacy by retiring early and encumbering the hawks with a crippling Cap recapture penalty?
Exactly
Can you imagine the ceremony when they raise his jersey into the rafters:
Ladies and Gentleman- owner of 3 Stanley Cups, 2 Norris trophies, 1 Conn Smythe, and $7.4 million in cap recapture penalties…Duncan Keith…!!!
Divide by two for taxes agent etc
Divide by two for divorce
Take a big chunk a month for child support
Money spent living the life
He could be down to his last 5-7 million!
He might like another 1.5M US
I suspect he also enjoys playing hockey.
Yeah I think a lot of keyboard warriors forget this part
EC standings Jan 9/22 using points percentage shown as points over/under fake Bettman .500
Metropolitan
CAR 17
NYR 14
WSH 13
Atlantic
FLA 16
TOR 14
TBY 14
Wildcard
PIT 11
BOS 7
Out of playoffs
DET 0
CBJ 0
PHI -2
NYI -2
NJD -3
BUF -8
OTT -9
MTL -16
I’m not sure I’ve ever seen the standings reflect the eye test so much as these do.
Common thread for me….. Goaltending.
Go get MAF??? Price???
I would target someone that could be the man for the next 3-4 years. Trade for a Goalie and fire Tippett get a 2 for 1 on the bounce cat. Has there ever been a expected playoff team with a coach who has lost 11 games in a row without losing his job?
Personally, I’m somewhat neutral on Tippett. I can see the pro’s and con’s on both sides of the debate. It’s really hard to assess when not knowing who the replacement would be.
Either way, I don’t see Holland moving Tippett out without first pulling the one of the levers he has at his disposal; perhaps trading for a goalie
I would replace him with Gully, lets face it Tippett is not getting resigned so why keep him around this team needs a fresh start. Teams that are on the rebuild are starting to lap us this is mostly our team the way happy Holland has spent to the cap for the next 4 years. This is our window to win and Tippett’s not getting it done.
I think the prudent thing to do is let Tippett finish the year or bring up your AHL coach. The team needs to get the hiring of a new coach right! This cannot in my opinion be done quickly as it’s not like changing your underwear. Haste puts us ostensibly right back in the same position. There will also be more candidates after the season.
Common thread for me is “has 4 Actual Top 4 NHL Dmen” on the roster.
Use of analytics is also a common thread.
Exceptions to both, but I see both too.
Good top 4 Dcorps makes for good goalering.
Reasonable example is Talbot’s best year as an Oiler is the last year they had an good top 4 with Klef-Larsson, Sekera-Russell
Sekera-Russell had a PDO heater all year but it worked (1035 PDO, with .954 SV%)
Agreed.
There’s an old adage in the NHL; “Build from the net out”
To which a new adage should be born; “Build from the numbers out” (build based on data)
#BuildtheBackendBetter
IMO, The biggest part of Goalie Voodoo is the team in front of the tender.
Klefbom-Larsson, Nurse-Russell
from 17-18 was suddenly *not* a good top 4?
Even though Sekera was replaced by Nurse and his team leading GA/60 and GF%?
Sekera was hurt, only played 36 games and was not the Sekera of the year before. Remember Getzlaf wrecked his knee in the playoffs. (which is when EDM spun down the toilet hole losing the last 2 games)
Nurse put into the top 4 at 22 years old, not quite ready. Went from playing 3rd pair in 16/17 to top pair with Larsson in 17/18 (over 800 min together)
Klefbom hurt, played 66 games, was wobbly as well.
Here’s EDM’s Dcorps and TOI that season:
Player TOI
Darnell Nurse 1548.9
Kris Russell 1280.6
Adam Larsson 1189.9
Matthew Benning 1129.5
Oscar Klefbom 1118.8
Andrej Sekera 495.3
Yohann Auvitu 422.6
Brandon Davidson 347.9
Ethan Bear 292.4
Eric Gryba 277.1
The Sekera-Russell PDO magic was gone. Russell’s PDO for the year was 988. His on ice SV% went from .954 with Sekera to .916 with all partners.
Russell played with Nurse (420 min), Klefbom (217 min), Sekera (173 min), Bear (140 min), Gryba (102 min) and Benning (100 min).
It wasn’t a good year for the D.
Same list as above this time with GF% and then SA/60, see if you can spot the holes:
Player GF%
Darnell Nurse 55.2
Kris Russell 44.7
Adam Larsson 50.0
Matthew Benning 51.6
Oscar Klefbom 43.6
Andrej Sekera 25.0
Yohann Auvitu 59.1
Brandon Davidson 46.2
Ethan Bear 29.2
Eric Gryba 51.9
Player GA/60
Darnell Nurse 2.17
Kris Russell 2.67
Adam Larsson 2.42
Matthew Benning 2.50
Oscar Klefbom 3.06
Andrej Sekera 3.27
Yohann Auvitu 2.56
Brandon Davidson 2.41
Ethan Bear 3.49
Eric Gryba 2.82
Keegan Lowe 4.71
Larsson was Klef’s 3rd most common partner. Played 538 with Benning, 217 with Russell, and 214 with Larsson.
Wasn’t sudden at all as that wasn’t the top 4.
Yes, I was taking it as Sekera out, Nurse in, vs. the previous year. Nurse’s numbers show him as very strong at age 22 (he was easily the Oilers best D that season by number).
I’d forgotten how many games Benning played in the top 4 so you’re correct it’s not as simple as Nurse in, Sekera out though. I’d also forgotten that Klefbom and Larsson both missed 15+ games.
Agreed that the performance was very different year over year. The question is whether that’s mostly on the D or the goalie since it’s a bit of a chicken egg situation. I’d think the goalie was also partly responsible for the D cratering year over year, but it’s hard know for sure (hence people arguing about it).
Edit: would it be fair to say the Oilers didn’t have 4 ‘actual top 4 defensemen’ in 16-17, but that Russell had a PDO heater and looked like one for that year?
Yeah, that’s exactly why I mentioned the Sekera-Russell heater.
The results were top 4, but not repeatable.
I’m won’t argue you about it, but I’m curious what current Oilers D you see as ‘actual top 4’?
I could see an argument for anywhere between 1 and 5 of them being ‘actual top 4’.
Nurse is the only top 4D. Bouchard is a rookie. I will call Bouchard a top 4D next year.
The Oilers have 1.5 top 4D. With one traded away to Carolina.
Cody Ceci and Ducan Keith are both legit 2nd pairing d-men.
Duncan Keith is getting massive defensive zone starts, is playing 33% of his TOI vs. elites and is 50% in goal share.
What more do you want?
Keith has been very good since he came back from injury.
I’m not going to argue about who is and isn’t a top 4 (today at least). I’m curious about WG’s opinion. And as I said, I think there are good arguments on both sides for all 4 guys behind Nurse.
McLellan played Talbot 80 games and Broissoit 2. Crazy coach more than bad top 4. Plus, Klefbom’s shoulder was becoming an issue (unbenounced to us).
You mean the season before the D numbers fell off?
Also, no need to exaggerate. It was 73GP (and 73 starts) for Talbot, 8GP for Brossoit and 7GP for Gustafsson in 16-17.
In 17-18 when the numbers took a dive it was 67 for Talbot, 14 for Brossoit and 9 for Montoya.
I know, I know. Get a goalie. But at what cost? Where will Skinner play next year? Backup for Oilers or backup for another team?
Skinner. The Oilers are not contending this year. The lost assets are would be too high a price for a goaltender. See what one has in Skinner. Skinner and Smith. Run with it. Don’t compound mistakes.
If Tippett doesn’t like it. Let Gulutzan finish out the season.
It’s amazing that the Eastern Conference playoff teams are pretty much set already
Ya, the gap between those in and those not in is really something this early in the season.
A reflection of the elite teams being clustered in the east.
I count 6 with only Colorado in the West.
YMMV.
Colorado doesn’t have the goalering to contend with them
i could only imagine your comments if a 31 yo Oiler was more than doubling his previous career point highs
Top 10 NHL scorers by P/GP
1) MacKinnon 1.62
2) McDavid 1.61
3) Kadri 1.57
4) Draisaitl 1.56
5) Rantanen 1.43
6) Ovechkin 1.42
7) Landeskog 1.35
8) Rust 1.33
9) Huberdeau 1.31
10) Pacioretty 1.31
Notice anything?
Now, here’s the top 5D
1) Toews 1.15
2) Doughty 1.13
3) Makar 1.11
4) Josi 1.00
5) Fox 1.00
Worth noting that Makar is on pace to score 40+ goals.
Only 2 defensemen in NHL history, Bobby Orr and Paul Coffey have accomplished that feat .
Yes, their goaltending is not elite (thus far) but they outscore their opponent by more than 1GPG and a only Carolina has a better goal differential in the entire league.
Scott Wheeler
@scottcwheeler
cale makar is on pace for 46 goals lmfao
5:44 PM · Jan 8, 2022·Twitter for iPhone
Elite players are elite early
and early now includes 31 year olds
Got it
You seem to have an unhealthy fixation on Kadri.
Colorado has 5 other players on those lists.
Whatever floats your boat I suppose.
Vegas is really good. Once Eichel gets going they are going to be deadly.
They have been a good team without an elite centre.
Yes…Eichel should make huge difference.
WC standings Jan 9/22 using points percentage shown as points over/under fake Bettman .500
Central
COL 13
NSH 12
MIN 11
Pacific
VGK 9
CGY 7
ANA 6
Wildcard
STL 10
DAL 5
Out of playoffs
WPG 4
EDM 4
LAK 4
SJS 3
VAN 1
CHI -6
SEA -9
ARI -16
Again…. Goaltending….or in the case of Vancouver (last 8 gms)… Goaltending and a Cursing Coach.
Not quite. Knights and Avs are both in the bottom 10 in 5v5 sv%.
Agreed. It will be interesting to see how their goaltending fares in the playoffs.
Av’s had a (perceived) problem last year which precipitated a change in goaltending.
Knights Achilles heel may be Lehner. (LVGN rode MAF in last years playoffs)
The Hot Start kept us in it. Edm needs to start winning; as in start Monday
I’m sure they will start winning again. They haven’t been very fortunate at either end of the ice for a while. It won’t change the fact that they currently have a poor system for the players they have. A certain football coach in New England is a master at utilizing the talents of the players he has by putting them in the best position to succeed. The Oilers badly need a coach that can do a reasonable version of that.
It feels counter intuitive watching Tippett up close and personal, but wasn’t this ^ exactly what Tippett was best know for in his time with Dallas and Arizona?
Belichek has a knack for dumping aging players while they are still productive. Holland seems to have a knack for re-signing aging players on the cusp of their best before date.
Yes, I read/hear lots about “pissing way” or “wasting” the great start and I don’t agree with that mind-set.
The great start to the season allowed the team to have not only a slump but a really tough/long stretch like this and remain in playoff contention.
Instead of dropping from bubble team to lottery team in the last month (or so), they dropped from top team to bubble team.
Its up to the them now to snap the eff out of it before it is too late.
No.
Their 5v5 fancies and goal results are “playoff bubble” or “out of playoffs”
Even during the heater.
I think they make the playoffs in 3rd in PAC to beat ANA, but they’re not a top 10 team.
That’s on Holland 100% now.
,,,,,,and that’s fine but not relevant to what I was posting about.
Of course, the great start that is often talked about as being “wasted” or “pissed away” was a 9-1 record and a 16-5 record.
One more day of cold. Tomorrow I’ll have to walk to Calgary to get my dogs’ pent-up energy out. 🐶🐶🐕🐕
Haha. Ditto, although a GSP, so maybe Lethbridge…… and back…. Twice…..a day….for the rest of my life… 🙁
On the bright side, he’s become my personal cardio trainer. 🙂
We’ve been using dog booties. A real chore to put them on our dog, but they allow him to spend some time outside in this cold.
Apologies for the non hockey related post.
Booties are a wise choice if your dog will tolerate them.
But I read recently that (most) dogs have a special system of blood vessels running through their foot pads that allow them to tolerate (within parameters) cold/snow/and ice in a way that humans do not.
Got me thinkin, in very cold weather where exposed skin can freeze in minutes, what else on a male dog is exposed ( and not protected even by a jacket/sweater)?
It’s not something that comes up often, but is perhaps the best reason to limit the amount of time your dog spends in severe cold weather.
Of course – we have special booties for our Greyhound’s long legs.
He’s been getting walked daily, in his booties, a sweater and a jackets but they’ve been like 15-20 minutes and he’s used to getting an hour plus walk at the park with a pack Monday to Friday.
He is insufferable right now.
He thinks we control the weather I’m pretty sure.
He’s going to lose his mind when Helen (the dog walker) shows up tomorrow.