In Edmonton and in Bakersfield, young players showed the Oilers organization what they can bring. For Oilers and Condors fans, it was a night to enjoy great skill and victory, while never straying far from the defibrillator.
What’s next? Edmonton won the game but remain a team with many flaws. After two, the underlying numbers suggested the Flames could win at five-on-five, and a power play would likely seal it. As it turned out, the team dominated five-on-five but couldn’t cash, with the penalty going uncalled (Oh, Jesse!) on Draisaitl’s gorgeous goal.
Next stop? The coast.
THE ATHLETIC
- New Lowetide: Three first-shot scorers in Oilers system in a race to make NHL
- New DNB: Dylan Holloway resumes road to Oilers after frustrating injury interruption
- Jonathan Willis: Loss underlines how over-reliant Oilers are on offence from the defence
- Lowetide: Making the waiver call on young Oilers players as the deadline approaches
- New DNB: Oilers’ flaws can’t be ignored as losing skid goes from bad to worse
- Lowetide: Can Oilers identify cost efficient solutions at problem positions?
- Lowetide: Why can’t the Oilers win a trade in the Connor McDavid era?
- DNB: ‘We’re finding ways to lose’
- Lowetide: Midseason review of Oilers reasonable predictions for 2021-22
- DNB: The Oilers aren’t getting a dominant Leon Draisaitl right now
- Lowetide: What to expect from Dylan Holloway in Bakersfield and Edmonton this season
- DNB: Connor McDavid supports Oilers’ pursuit of Evander Kane.
- DNB: Ken Holland speaks
- Lowetide: Forget the Connor McDavid bump, Jesse Puljujarvi is the real deal after all
- Lowetide: Should the Oilers sign Evander Kane and what would it look like?
- 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: 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: 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: 7 AHL trade targets that could immediately improve Oilers’ NHL forward depth
- Lowetide: Oilers top 20 prospects, winter 2021
WHAT TO EXPECT IN JANUARY
- On the road to: NYI, NYR, TOR (Expected 1-2-0) (Actual 0-2-1)
- At home to: OTT, FLA, CGY (Expected 1-2-0) (Actual 1-2-0)
- 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: 4-5-1, 9 points in 10 games
- Actual January results: 1-4-1, 3 points in 6 games
- Oilers in 2021-22: 19-16-2, 40 points in 37 games
After all of this sorrow, the Oilers are two points behind Calgary and a cleanup on aisle January could turn this rig around. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, the goaltending is a worry and holy lord almighty that defense is real real loose like a long-necked goose, but the power play appears to be back and the team was 2-2 at five-on-five. The next four games are huge. Can the Oilers win three? It seems such a distant bell.
THE GOALS AGAINST
- Keith-Ceci don’t hold the line, Ceci gets beaten to the net by Tkachuk, Koskinen stops puck but leaves a Kevlar rebound.
- Puck should have been out several times. For crying out loud. Nuge needs to get back soon.
- Hanifan goal might have been partially screened but you’d like the goalie to have that one.
THE GOALIE
I think Mikko Koskinen might have played his best game on a night when the entire franchise was praying to the Hockey Gods. My goodness he stoned Dillon Dube and Matt Tkachuk, just stunning saves. I don’t know what the future looks like, but not many of us will stare that kind of ridicule from the masses in the face and stand strong and able on a night when professional extinction is on the line. Impressive.
THE LINES
- Jesse Puljujarvi had a great early chance, didn’t cash, but that pick play on the winner was huge. Oilers need to put him in front of the net on the power play.
- Leon Draisaitl went 2-2-4, what a night! Kept checking his hand. Killed a post instantly.
- Warren Foegele worked hard but the top skill job is just out of reach.
- Ryan McLeod took a little trip up the depth chart, his speed is a real weapon.
- Connor McDavid had two PP assists, but misses his linemates.
- Kailer Yamamoto gets knocked down but gets up again, you are never going to keep him down.
- Tyler Benson had a good night. A strong shot, good passing, hit people.
- Devin Shore needed to get the puck out on the PP goal against. Have to get it out.
- Kyle Turris had one of his better nights, made some passes, backchecked.
- Brendan Perlini scored a wonderful goal, rocked the Scott Oake show. A good night.
- Derek Ryan picked up an assist! Huzzah!
- Colton Sceviour led forwards in PK time, had a nice early look.
DEFENSE
- Evan Bouchard was born for the power play. He was drafted in 2018. Dave Tippett has been slow to recognize what he brings. Hopefully that has changed. The game flipped with his two power-play goals, that’s the lead story morning glory.
- Darnell Nurse can’t take that cross checking penalty. He had four shots, one HDSC, Oilers got caved by the Lindholm line (12-4 shots, 1-0 goals for Calgary with 25 on the ice) over 11 minutes.
- Duncan Keith made a lovely pass to Draisaitl on the game winner, backed up on the opener and gave up too good an initial shot.
- Cody Ceci’s coverage on the opening goal is exactly what he couldn’t do, and it cost the Oilers. He did pick up an assist on the Perlini goal and I like him more with Keith as a partner.
- Kris Russell continues to troll the world with a 2-0 goal differential at five-on-five, he’s now 13-10 (56 percent) and leads the team.
- Slater Koekkoek didn’t get noticed much, that’s a good thing.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I think the Oilers met the right opponent last night, the team has had success against the Flames and the Pacific Division. That’s not going to be enough, the team badly needs Nugent-Hopkins and Hyman back soon. If Edmonton does win a playoff spot in the spring, this game might be viewed as a key point in the regular season.
Stuart Skinner backed up and I think the organization is best served by assuming a Koskinen-Skinner rotation is the way forward. Mike Smith’s ability to play NHL hockey is in doubt. A fine career, a long career. There’s no sin in turning 40.
DYLAN HOLLOWAY
The young man was impressive in his pro debut, two assists and some great looks throughout the game. His shot, one of the key questions after two surgeries, looked fine to me, one of them glanced wide but had some torque. He had four shots on goal, one assist came on the power play, the other at evens.
He wears No. 4, and for these old eyes it was easy to see similarities to Taylor Hall (driving wide, holding opponent at bay with one hand and controlling the puck with the other) visually but we’re miles from knowing about Holloway as a pro player. He does have dynamic qualities, that’s clear day one.
I will tell you that in my experience watching AHL rookies, the truly gifted offensive kids don’t spend much time in the minors. I understand Ken Holland recalls based on sundial, and I understand this player is coming off injury and I understand the AHL isn’t the NHL.
He’s going to be very good. He’s not going to be in the AHL long.
SCOTT WHEELER’S OILERS PROSPECTS
The new list for The Athletic is here. I’ll have Scott as a guest on the Lowdown tomorrow morning at 10:20 to discuss.
NEW for The Athletic: Leon Draisaitl’s history of long Decembers and what came after.
https://theathletic.com/3087108/2022/01/24/lowetide-leon-draisaitls-history-of-long-decembers-and-what-came-after/
Whoa, I’m away from the game for 5 minutes and the Baracuda score twice.
Going to take a couple of games for Stalock to find his legs I expect.
Holloway with another zone entry, this time on the left wall and a forehand cross-ice pass to Schaller for a dangerous shot from the top of the circles.
Shift, after shift, after shift.
Buffalo is cursed
Allen is one hell of a QB. They will be back next year. Mahomes is just incredible. Has ice water in his veins!
Somewhere, Scott Norwood is giggling
If you are not watching football you’ve missed one of the best hour of sports ever
That was totally amazing as was the Rams game earlier. The NFL playoffs has been incredible so far!
Yeah – that was one for the ages! – the Bills are almost as cursed as the Oilers.
You do realize the Oilers have won the Cup 5 times and were voted the greatest team ever unlike the Bills who have won Jack-Shit. I’ll never forget the Norwood miss in 1991 as I took some substantial Yankee cash on a quick make or miss bet with a American. I was feeling no pain as the announcer screamed wide right while I was over consuming in a cosy bar in Bali.
I do realize that, my hyperbole quotient was running a little high.
Just the same kinda feeling for the last 30 years – why can’t we have nice things? Why we gotta get our hearts broken again and again…
I was a Bills fan in the AFC when they had OJ Simpson and a Vikings fan in the NFC when they had Fran Tarkenton. I switched to the Kardiac Kids in 1980 with Brian Sipe as QB I’ve been a Browns fan since then. Talk about backing up some loser franchises. I can remember that first Oilers Cup win like yesterday. I also remember how rowdy we used to get in the Knothole Gang at old Clarke Stadium. We were free back then and its sad that the younger generation will never feel that sensation.
Those are all good choices, though. I’ve been Eagles since Roman Gabriel.
6 ft 5 in and 225 pounds was huge as a QB back then. I can’t believe he’s 81 years old.
They taunted the Gords and Mahomes, celebrating like it was done with 13 or whatever seconds left
I don’t watch NFL much, and I’m like you can’t kill this time what gives? Even I know that’s a lot of time for Mahomes.
It’s not. That was unbelievable from a guy who makes the impossible seem routine.
Mahomes is special.
The magic man.
Best weekend of playoff football in history.
And yet ANOTHER great back-hand pass to the slot by Holloway – that’s like 5 of them through 5 periods – he could have more than just the three points.
He takes the post-goal faceoff draw win, cuts across the middle, zone entry and backhand pass for danger.
He is a neutral zone transition and zone entry savant at this level – just like college.
Give him 6 games and get him up here stat!
Basically a grittier more skilled McLeod? I like the sounds of that.
I think more skilled is an understatement
Probably had better hands in his cast than McLeod does
Behind Enemy Lines
I have bad news…and more bad news.
The Winnipeg Jets picked up a point in a shootout loss to Pittsburgh to move ahead of the Oilers in the standings.
In other news…the LAK defeated the NJD 3-2 to move to 7 points ahead of the Oilers in the Pacific Division race.
In potential good news…the Canucks are missing 3 top 6 forwards, 2 top 4 D and are playing their 4th string goaltender (thanks to Covid) as they face the Blues.
Also, if you think the Oilers have a 5 game win streak in them to close the gap, good on ya.
I don’t.
Then stop posting on an Oilers blog….
Thank you agent HH – can we deploy you behind enemy lines permanently?
Win 3 of 5, a very reasonable .600 points percentage and they are down 1 point.
Aggghhh, now straight points and not points percentage is cited – different than the other day.
Yup 7 points with 5 more games played – points percentage is .541 vs .560 – doesn’t sound quite as bad as 7 points.
But it is as bad unless the Oilers go on a 6 game win streak.
Sigh, not at all.
6 points in those 5 games, 3 wins, a very reasonable .600 points percentage puts them one point back.
Wasn’t dipietro supposed to be the greatest thing since sliced bread
He’s hanging in their tonight but he’s still #4.
So top prospect gets a start in the NHL?
*there
Worth noting, Skinner is the Oilers’ #4 goaltender and has superior stats & number of starts despite having been drafted half a round after than DiPietro.
Nonsense.
Skinner is clearly #3 and based on play is likely #2.
When Stalock gets up to speed after his injury recovery, he will see NHL games over Skinner (should Smith’s injury woes continue).
Are you enemy lines?
Or is this lifted from somewhere without being credited?
This is looking like one of those “puck luck games” where the Condors have had all sorts of chances in an around the net but the puck keeps bouncing the wrong way.
They are value for their 27-20 shot clock advantage.
Oppp, check that – Esposito wins a draw and its off Lavoie’s stick with an absolutely sick release and lazered home.
3-2 with a minute left in the second.
What a shot!
That was an incredible release
I highly recommend you take a look:
https://twitter.com/bcurlock/status/1485443703342727169
This game has been penalty after penalty after penalty and Holloway now getting a bit of PK time – he just helped down low and was able to get a nice clear.
This is turning out to be quite the weekend in the NFL.
My Cheifs are in trouble!
Wow Mahomes!!!!!!!!
lol. Still a minute to go.
Yea nervous! Seems like no one can get a stop
Crap I can’t believe it! Grrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Unbelievable
All 4 visiting, lower ranked teams win this weekend. All the favourites are gone. Has to be a record no?????
Holy moly they have a shot at a FG for the tie?????
OT can’t believe it!!!!!!!!!!
I liked both the Rams and the Bills, especially the Rams, but after yesterday I was thinking no way both road dogs win on Sunday. Should’ve went with my gut lol.
OT.
No NFL game has ever ended like this.
The finish in the Rams game was nuts and this one completely over the top! Talk about exciting!
Oh Cheifs win in OT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Holy crap!!!!!! What a great game!
Thanks for the spoiler. I had no interest in NFL until you ruined it!
Poor Tyler……
Great day of 4 down ball.
Looking like Rams – Chiefs SB, which should be excellent.
Amazing football this weekend!
Whao, Kemp crunches a Baracuda trying to enter the zone – Baraduda take issue, as they should as the player never did touch the puck and Kemp and the opponent with a very spirited fight – lots of punches thrown both ways.
Thankfully Kemp is all good – his last fight led to him missing over a month with a concussion.
What is the AHL NHLE deflator for 20 year olds? Because Holloway is having a dream start and I am sure it will continue forever!
Holloway is a bull down the right side…… a neutral zone carry and zone entry, tripped as he goes wide (no call, McDavid style), he gets up, good stick to recover the loose puck and two passes later a good shot on net by Kemp.
Geez!
My goodness, Holloway negates a Barracuda transition and causes the turnover in the neutral zone, bulls his way down the right side, looks like he going to cut in but then a deft back-hand pass to Schaller (who was driving the net) for a gimme goal
Jeez, another beauty backhand pass for the primary assist for Holloway.
Holloway draws another PP with offensive zone bull-like skating.
As an aside, Kesselring is going to be a player…. a great defensive zone battle, a spin to escape danger, a couple strides and a perfect cross-ice pass to Holloway in stride to start the play that led to the PP.
Holloway on this PP.
Great news on Holloway. Assuming it continues to go well I wonder how long it will take for him to be called up? Hard to believe they would leave him in the A for balance of season based on reports of his level of play.
Video Evidence:
https://twitter.com/bcurlock/status/1485436022896803842
Holloway draws his 2nd penalty tonight. Now there’s a skill the big club could use.
Stalock a little rusty – poor rebound control on a weakish PP shot and the reound is buried. Well, the shot may have been a bit tougher than first though but not great.
Whoa, SJ scores their 3rd just seconds later…… a faceoff win, point to point, shot, deflection, goal.
Hollway takes his first minus.
Be still my beating heart, by my calculations Holloway will hit the Tippett target of 10 games on Valentine’s Day. Holland and Tippett may have wildly different timelines envisioned for this young man.
Broberg sighting, he’s back. Exhale.
Broberg is back to start the 2nd period!!!!
See I’m always behind, maybe it’s my NL wifi here haha
But the comments are reversed so we read yours first 🙂
May sound a bit cold but I don’t care for the players any more than I do for anyone else in society. They do well overall in their lives. But MK had an answer for a huge ask last night on national television. I was quite happy for him as a person. He probably slept better than most nights last weeks. But the team allowed 47 shots and can’t score reliably at evens. I fear more heartache to come. I can count maybe 3 games I really liked from them during the first 21 games.
Broberg just got, what Holt is describing as a “high clip”.
Puck was flipped out of the Baracuda zone – Broberg kind of jumped a bit to try and glove it and collided with a Baracuda as he landed – think he got the head – awkward looking and Broberg stayed down.
Brosseau immeidatly dropped the gloves with the guy.
Broberg did leave the ice on his own power.
Dude got an elbowing major and a game misconduct…..
Hopefully Broberg does come back….
Here it is:
https://twitter.com/bcurlock/status/1485425250028322816
He didn’t come back in the first – will keep an eye for him after the intermission.
Holloway with a great neutral zone transition rush and zone entry, cuts across the top of the circles powering through a few defenders laterally and draws a PP.
Holloway doesn’t see the PP.
I think they might be managing his minutes tonight given he did express “being tired” after the game last night.
Re A. Pleasant DB have their career “yrs”
I am finally doing an above average test of players under a coach.
Example Many DB in NFL have their career under New detroit Lion DB coach A. Pleasant.
A. look at our collection of career bottom 10-40 def Dmen that Holland brought in.
Plus Caleb Jones who I stated flashed excellence last season
open shot Dmen rank (240 ev min)
(best simple stat capture rate +/-6% 2.4 Dmen of top & bottom 40)
#16 C. Jones 1.75 Fu……………………..
#131 Nurse career bott 5 to 40 2.75 Bott 75 a clear improvement
#137 Barrie career bott 40 2.79 Bott 70 a clear improvement
#154 Keith Bott 5 last 3 season Bott 50 massive improvement
#171 Bouchard zero NHL def training in junior, bottom 35
#176 Ceci Can be top 20 def dman with good partner bottom 30
is not the elite def dman to drag a rovers into a strong def output.
Then I find everyone talking about Holloway the star.
might be a start to rebuild when Mcdavid & Draisaitl ask for trades to competative teams with good tax rates.
When I look at how Seattle have built their defense so far I can’t help but think they partially aline with your way of thinking. Especially on their Right Side.
So far it has not worked out for them as it is hard to overcome bad goal keeping. If they stick with it, and I hope they do, it will be interesting to see how it works out over a period of time
I have to say again, I’m so happy for Stalock.
I’m thinking Marody is likely symptomatic as he missed Wed and still isn’t playing.
Berglund is behind both Kemp and Kesselring (who are both really starting to show progress). He’s an RFA at year’s end but I wonder if he heads back to Sweden??!
Per Ryan Holt:
For the first time in 535 days, Alex Stalock gets a start.
Gennaro in for McLeod. Kaldis for Berglund.
Condors go for their 7th straight win and points in 12 straight
Wanner has an ES apple as Moose Jaw leads 3-1 thru two periods.
Pretty low-scoring affair in Oshawa.
In today’s pre-game, when Holt asked about Holloway and adversity and coming back from injury, Woody shifted fairly quickly to talk about Stalock – they have a relationship dating back 12 years to their San Jose days and, honestly, Jay’s words are inspiring and I’m cheering hard for Stalock tonight and am super happy for him.
My Oilers angst has grown. Messing up the team, the Cap and the prospects still hold sway but I am increasingly worried about the coaching.
Not in the ‘fire Tippett’ sense but in the holy smokes do they know how good Woodcroft and Manson are! sense.
I don’t disagree but will remain guarded as head coaching in the AHL and NHL are not directly equatable I don’t think. Obviously certain direct translatable skills (structure type stuff) are equatable but there are differences in primary objectives (winning vs. developing), schedule (lots and lots of practice time in the AHL with big breaks), differences in managing personalities (I’m sure the NHL egos are a different beast), etc.
I’m not saying that Woody and Manson won’t crush it at the NHL level but its not guaranteed.
Is Dryden McKay a reasonable target – 4 year starter a Minnesota State – 124 games
Year Sv Pct. GAA
2018 .927 1.76
2019 .942 1.31
2020 .924 1.54
2021 .930 1.24
Spencer Knight’s numbers after starting 2 years and 54 games
2019 .931 1.97
2020 .932 2.18
Holy crap the Rams are dominating the Bucs in every aspect of the game.
I am watching tape delayed, hope I didn’t jinx them.
This is almost Bills …. Patriots ish
Much more of this and Brady is going to disrobe and run off the field.
(Brady exhibiting pouty lip)
Hahahahaha
Edmonton is still a good team. No doubt so much to work on but they have as much talent as anyone in the league. They must take action; but they can win.
Coaching – the fact they have repeat mistakes over and over suggests the coaches do not see these mistakes; or they are continuing to coach a system that allows these mistakes. (This where Todd McLellan lost his job with his inability to adapt and adjust to his roster.)
–continuous perimeter cycling with low danger shots from the point. forwards position themselves along the boards for a cycle pass, very few outlet passes to the slot
–in D zone wingers stop up at hash marks, priority is on covering point, allowing more high danger shots from slot. Many teams will now drop the wingers back into the slot and leave perimeter shots and shots from defenseman, prioritizing low danger shots and clearing front of the net
If opposing team takes 30 infractions they will get 4 penalties. Oilers play soft but will still take 2-3 penalties in the name of game management. Its a thing. Get your players involved physically.
Roster – Coach needs to recognize who he needs and who is helping. This is a perhaps a plus as Perlini is in and Nemo would likely be in if available. They bring required skills. RNH and Hyman would bump Turris and Ryan out.
–Lots of talent up front and more to come
–This defence inspires confidence – for the other team. Nurse needs more help. I think coach recognizes his defence is easily overwhelmed and is asking for the flip pass as any opportunity to clear
–Need a goalie. Adjust your defence to compensate for poor goalie. High danger shots must come down. And you’ll have to limp along until a trade becomes available.
I think some adjustment is happening as this is having an affect on Connor and Leon’s presence on the scoresheet. But a team should play its strength’s, and a GM should see this. If you have the leagues two top scorers, you will also need the leagues best goalie. Its a strategy and you missed it.
I like to save up my posts and get em all out on a Sunday. 🙂
Given ONLY the following three choices which would you choose?
Barrie’s contract is/was $4.5m x 3 with no trade protection.
OR,
Barrie’s contract is/was $3.5m x 3 with a Limited Trade Clause ( Barrie submits a 15 team no trade list)
OR,
Barrie’s contract is/was $2.5m x 3 with Full NMC
The second. That way you can still barrie him in the minors and save a million, pressbox him, or trade him.
Nice and NICE! 😉
The answer and the pun.
None of the above. He should NOT have been signed at all.
Thanks for being so predictable and boring Godont
You’re back on my naughty list.
#Obtuse
This is the correct answer.
I would prefer Ethan Bear, no Barrie or Foegele, and 5 million in cap space.
Tampa Bay Florida. Population 391,746
Stanley Cups 2020, 2021.
Super Bowl 2021
What’s in the water? and can we get us some?
Alligators. They’re not expensive. Although, those are little ones.
Ha 🙂 Gotta start somewhere
#Hatch&Develop
Tampa-St Pete-Clearwater population is over 3 million.
They get a lot of visitors too.
Weeks ago I mentioned Bensons skating as atrocious. Now I want to mention how his continuous work ethic has been a steady component and value in the bottom six. Last night he faced Gudbranson a lot, and Benson finished his checks on big Gudbranson numerous times. To the point the Gudbranson new he was coming and while I doubt he feared Benson, he started to rush his passes and take evasive action.
The hits were having an effect. Benson was not blowing him up, but he was also not skating past his check, he was affecting the game. Oilers as a whole are entirely passive at hitting.
In the past 3 games you can watch an opposing winger fly down the ice. He goes past our forward uninterrupted. Then he blows by our defence unmolested. (Suddenly, as with Ceci) that opposing winger is on top of the play, open for a pass, or on top of a rebound. This happens over and over.
You dont see this near as often watching other teams. They will get in the way, slow that player down, and physically engage them on the way to the net.
The Jessi P play where he is trying to hit open ice and is engaged by opposition back at the red line? This is normal and so normal that interference is rarely called.
Is this the player type Edmonton has? Somewhat. System? maybe. Or a lack of coaching that requires some physicality and defensive engagement?
Benson is a league average skater.
I too enjoy the grit in his game. More from others go a long way.
League average 🤣🤣
Yamamoto is League average height
Benson gets to the play fine. I remember posters bemoaning Leon’s skating because of optics, yet he had Hall-like numbers at the team skills competition.
Kinda Opposite George (in a bad way) from the Weight/Smyth Oilers.
Joe Snively pots another one for the Hershey Bears…now tied for 3rd in AHL scoring.
Snively Robotnik? I guess he had to get his gold rings a different way
*yawn
Seth Griffith with a MUCH higher P/G that Snively.
Dylan Holloway leading the AHL in P/G.
Bouchard plays better in the other parts of the game with the energy he gets from playing the power play. The PP time wakes him up.
So playing Barrie is actually a net negative now. Just like playing Kassian is.
Barrie and any D prospect except Broberg (toss in Turris to balance the money for this year) for Petry ASAP.
If the Oilers get Petry, then the Oilers can break in Broberg later this year.
Nurse Bouchard
Keith Petry
Broberg Ceci
Petry has a $6.2M cap hit…how do you propose to make that work?
In your scenario…if they were interested in Barrie, throwing the corpse of Turris into the deal is likely a deal breaker.
If Gorton wants get rid of the 3 remaining years on Petry’s contract at the deadline he will likely get a 1st round pick and a good prospect in return which makes far more sense than acquiring another 30+ flawed D with 2 years remaining on his contract.
Petry also has a 15 team NTC and there’s a pretty good chance Edmonton is on it.
Last thing we need is an ageing expensive defenseman
and I’m sure Petry isn’t infatuated with the town of Edmonton like Edmonton fans are with him
Agree completely.
I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t be happy to be running into Lowe and MacT in the hallway on a regular basis.
Maybe so, however he left before McDavid.
I’d imagine the chance to play on a contender and a chance at a cup vs enduring a rebuild has appeal.
That being said Montreal is a magical place to live and the travel is way easier on the body.
I’m sure he remembers the negative press very fondly
Anyways we need to shed cap on D not add to it
$6.25M for three years until he’s 37 and he’s already started down the other side of the cliff.
His drop off in performance cannot be attributed solely to a shitty team at his age.
Sounds like what the maths-based crowd said about Keith in the off season.
Yes, but 3 more years instead of 1. And also a higher AAV.
I agree that Barrie is surplus to requirements and has some trade value. I would package him with Marody (who the Oilers have written off) for Penny’s brother in Seattle. Seattle will need a PP specialist if they ship out Giordano, they have a shut down righty in Larson.
Penny’s brother can play both sides and brings some grunt. As a 3d pair mentor for youngsters or safety blanket for the ancient he would likely thrive.
Oleksiak has a full NTC which could kybosh that deal.
I have Barrie going for Drieger and Soucey (or Fleury – need a right shot).
Seattle has an analytics department.
When are they planning to start using it?
I expect they are.
It would seem Francis miscalculated the expansion draft (and other GM’s wised up)
but should Francis be selling at the deadline, I can assure you he won’t go looking for an offensive defenceman in his 30’s who is 48th in the league in scoring among defensemen tied with such luminaries as Neil Pionk and Vladislav Gavrikov…whoever the hell that is.
Suggesting, as OP did, that Seattle would give up Dreiger and Soucy to acquire him is laughable.
Thank you for the assurances.
You might recall that Barrie led NHL dmen in scoring last season, even ahead of all those ‘modern’ D on the juggernaut Avalanche.
Are Dreidger and Soucy having good seasons?
Go back and check PPG…Barrie did not lead the league in scoring last season.
Cale Makar did…and it wasn’t close.
So, Joe Snively isn’t 3rd in AHL scoring then?
We are back to you needing to let us know which metric you have chosen to use for every discussion.
Sigh.
I was not aware of the no movement clause. A Barrie for a shut down right D should be a manageable deal. I just wish I had more faith in the Oilers realizing this and the magic 8 ball the pro scouts use.
Remember when the main complaint was that the Oilers needed more puck moving defensemen.
I do a fair bit of coaching. The flip pass has become the modern day glass and out so I guess we have to live with it.
But it’s important to note that it should mostly be used in a “dynamic” situations where the game is in motion and where players are in random places.
A dzone faceoff is a static situation with players lined up like pieces on a chess board. A won faceoff MUST result in a set play, and there are dozens of cool ones. I like to use the centre releasing to the corner to receive a “reverse” from the defenseman who “takes the back of the net”.
Regardless, the result should be clear possession and a zone exit…gosh, at this level? Like 90% of the time.
I’ve never seen a team use the flip pass as a set play off a defensive zone faceoff win because, like the pieces on a chess board, the opposition defense will always sag together once the draw is lost.
I’d love to see someone ask Tippett about it because it’s bizarre.
Something to lift our spirits on a warm January day.
Last night The Hersey Bears claimed the world record by tossing 45,650 stuffed toys in a single game.
The concept originated with the Kamloops Blazers in 1993, thanks to marketing director Don Larson. The first recorded teddy bear toss occurred on December 5, 1993, when a goal by Brad Lukowich prompted fans to throw over 2,400 bears onto the ice. The tradition spread quickly through the Canadian Hockey League and around the world.
#NotOnlyInCanadaYouSay
#WithGlowingHearts
@LT and community –
Curious about your interpretation of this –
https://www.reddit.com/r/EdmontonOilers/comments/sapwdz/did_jp_interfere_on_drais_gwg_the_zapruder_film/
It was incidental contact. No call was the correct decision. Two players skated into each other.
I was more curious about Kylingtons stick, seems no one else caught that part.
Matty reporting that Stalock is indeed starting tonight.
Petrov is not in the lineup for North Bay this afternoon.
Can’t find anything to suggest it’s injury-related.
Jackson was placed in Covid protocol earlier in the week. Could be that.
“Can the Oilers win three?”
WIN 3?!? Don’t talk about WIN3! You kidding me? WIN3?! I just hope we can win a game!
You love wine?
I love wine too.
Francis should weaponize his cap space and grab Barrie and Kassian
I still say Yama will be involved in a deal (Goalie) with the Kraken as soon as Holloway and Kane are slotted in the top 6.
Losing Yamo would be tough. That goalie better be worth it.
Good goalie > Yam.
Hollaway and hopefully Kane will make a lot of folks forget about stone hands Yamo pretty quickly. Leon goes on a major ripper with 2 line mates that have hands and go to the net effectively.
Holloway’s hands are not a strong-point of his game. He’s got a good shot due to its release but his puck skills aren’t great.
His ability to battle for pucks and his brain (i.e. knows what to do with the puck when he gets it) should prove very valuable and I can see him clicking on Leon’s wing but its not really because of his hands (except for good release shot).
Holloway is a fine passer, don’t know if you include that as “hands” but it’s a skill he owns.
Yes, Holloway is a fine passer and that is included – my general point is that his “puck skills” from my viewings, aren’t higher end that the guys Leon has been playing with (Nuge, Yamamoto) – he’s not “all of a sudden” going to have a player with hands.
You also said no way Holloway is ready for the NHL as you seem to implied that you were the only one that watched him in Collage. Now after 1 game in Bakersfield you flip flopped that he’ll be here by Feb 25. A healthy Holloway is exactly what we need in the top 6 hopefully Yamo picks up his game and Holland can sell high.
I never ever said there was no way he is ready – never once.
It must of been your Twin.
I never ever said that he was not ready for the NHL – I never said he was ready for the NHL. I said we didn’t know (and we didn’t and we don’t) and stated facts about general development timelines and readiness.
You never seem to understand my position when I disagree with your blanket statements of opinion dressed up as fact and/or intentionally misstate my position – constantly.
You don’t have to get all defensive. On many occasions I’ve stated my opinion that I thought Holloway had the type of game that could translate straight to the NHL. You disagreed saying Holloway is not the same as Caulfield time wise. Could it be that Holloway was propping up Caulfield and not the other way around.
That, again, is a complete misrepresentation of my position. In fact, I spoke directly to some of his assets that could lead to quick transition – mature body, high end skating, great battle level.
I never said he could’t go straight to the NHL or would need a ton of time in the AHL – I simply stated we didn’t know and it was far from a certainty that he would benefit from AHL time.
That is a change in your position as well – you didn’t state he had the type of game that “could translate”, you stated a hard position that he was a top 6 winger in the NHL making an impact from day 1.
I called for him playing the last half-dozen games in Edmonton then being our ace in the hole in the playoffs against the more physical Jets you laughed me off. This is of course before we knew how serious his injury was and he still played with one arm in his final game with Wisconsin. Anyways I say tomato you say tomahto we shall see if Holloway’s eating a certain somebodies lunch in the top 6 sooner rather than later.
You’ve said the Oilers would have won the series against Winnipeg if Holloway was healthy – lets be honest about your position and how certain he was to make an impact in the NHL last spring.
I said if they had Holloway and Bouchard they win the series. They lost 3 games in OT what makes you think these 2 wouldn’t have changed the series. Look at Caulfield from the Habs they go from being punted early in round 1 too making the cup finals. There was no playbook on Holloway look how dangerous Kirby Dach was against us the previous year in the play-ins as a rookie.
They said the same thing about Messier early on. Some later on draft picks just POP once they hit the NHL, Jamie Benn, Luc Robitaille etc. We deserve a hit and him being from Bragg Creek you just know he’s going to burn the Flames for years to come.
The basic building blocks of a deal are there.
We would all like to see the Oilers upgrade their goaltending but Holland put them in a pickle with giving Smith a second year. Since Smith is over 35, I don’t think he can be bought out. I also believe that Skinner will no longer be waiver exempt next year. So our upgrading options are paying potentially significant assets for a rental for a team that may or may not be a playoff team or getting a longer team solution that risks losing Skinner for nothing. Unless maybe if we know in advance that Smith will be on LTIR next year or we go with 3 keepers next year or find a trade partner in the offseason.
The NHL changed the 35 plus rules with respect to contracts that aren’t front loaded (i.e. same or increasing salary) which would apply to Smith.
There is normal cap relief if he is assigned to the minors (save $1.125MM) and full cap relief if he retires.
I’m uncertain if the new rules apply to buyouts.
As usual with the NHL, the actual answer regarding 35+ buyouts is clear as mud
The changes in the MOU appear to apply to the Smith contract as you stated (mulit year contract with NO front loading)
Capfriendly states that buying him out saves the owner about $800k, but his cap hit is unaffected (this was true under the old CBA)
Puckpedia also states that buying him out saves the owner about $800k, but his cap hit drops accordingly, and is spread out over 2 years
https://puckpedia.com/player/mike-smith/buyout?s=2022-2023
I trust Puckpedia more than I trust Capfriendly
Either way, if push came to shove, I’d thank Smith for his services, tell him he can play out his final year in the AHL and collect his $2.5M from Bakersfield
Where he can work with/on Konovalov.
And he just might go for it…no escrow.
Actually it is relatively not bad on this matter. Low bar, I know.
The CBA under 50.5 (d) (i) (B) (5) states the hit counts regardless of where or who the over-35 signer is playing with (other than minor affiliate).
The MOU simply removes that rule. In other words such a buyout would have the salary calculated as per the Ordinary Course Buyout schedule.
Yes, thank you. So in this case, the PuckPedia buyout numbers are correct
For shits and giggles however – the structure of the Smith contract makes it eligible to be considered under the MOU ie:
2 years $1.9M/$2.5M = $2.2M AAV(cap hit) – a back loaded contract with no bonuses
If the Oilers had constructed the contract in this manner, again no bonuses:
2 years $2.5M/$1.9M = $2.2M AAV(cap hit)…this contract would not have been eligible to be considered under the MOU because it’s front loaded – so the old buyout rules/retirement rules would have applied
Fun stuff
I believe the MOU only removes the rule for listed circumstances and it wasn’t clear to me a buyout fit in.
https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/2020/7/15/21312974/nhl-cba-35year-old-contracts-nhl-contracts-nhl-free-agency
PPP goes into detail here
It appears a buyout or retirement does apply if the contract is eligible to be considered under the MOU
*to my layman’s understanding of the MOU
Item 64 of the MOU: 35+ Year Old Rule for Cap Counting
CBA §50.5(d)(i)(B)(5) shall have no application to a multi-year
SPC that has: (1) total compensation (Player Salary and Bonuses)
that is either the same as or increases from one League Year to
the immediately subsequent League Year, and (2) a Signing
Bonus, if any, that is payable in the first year of the SPC only.
That cited clause being the one that states any contract signed by a 35+ yo counts against the cap in full during its term unless the player is on the minor affiliate roster.
The women that the Canucks just hired for analytics Dept had a famous Twitter post a while back:
“Sakic and Yzerman are out here playing 5d chess and Jim Benning is sitting there glueing macaroni to the paper.”
What game is KH playing?
X’s & O’s .
Monkeys In A Barrell
I meant “Barrell O’ Monkeys”
(Monkeys In A Barrell is the Dollar Store version)
pick up sticks
Wordle.
Hope his next word is W-O-O-D-Y.
Do you have a link?
I checked her timeline and couldn’t find it but did find it interesting that she was praising Bruce Boudreau long before Rutherford was hired.
I expect she knew what was coming well in advance.
Good to see mikko play well. No Oiler player has suffered more during this losing streak. Now it’s up to Holland to find his replacement – yesterday.
The real danger is that he will follow through on his mantra that the solution has to come from within the room and decides to stand pat.
Holland will and should be fired if he doesn’t address the goaltending issue. My biggest fear is that he gets bamboozled in the deal.
The worst part of all of this isn’t that there are problems, there are always problems.
It’s that the people in charge of the solution can’t be trusted to make a decent decision.
Their success completely lies in luck. When other options are available.
Holland chased Markstrom and failed. He chased Kuemper and failed. We supposedly have the most experienced and highest paid GM who can’t close a deal without severe over pay (Keith, like the player hate the deal) Don’t hold your breath waiting for Holland to sign a keeper without selling the farm.
Markstrom didn’t want to sign here
Holland correctly didn’t want to beat Colorados offer for Kuemper who are now looking to spend more futures to address goalering
How can anyone trust Holland to make a trade. He gifted his son Yzerman 2 seconds and a 3rd and for old time sake took on his buddies mess with Keith and gifted him Seths brother and either a 3rd or a 2nd. I’ll take Keith Gretzky’s judgement over Holland’s at this point in time to make a trade we win on.
IIRC all the way back at the start of the season when we were still good looking I seem to recall Kostco bailing us out with some high danger over expected but that’s just my meat brain memory.
The gaps in DZ coverage have been there all year, I just think we had hot goaltending and hot PP to cover it up
Koskinen has been poor and the first goal allowed surely must break a record but the Oilers could have Final Form Hasek in net and it wouldn’t be enough most nights.
I disagree. Hasek was career .922SV%. On a few poor teams, too.
Final form Hasek wasn’t called the Dominator for no reason.
People remember the spectacular saves, but forget he was fundamentally a solid goalie.
A good way to keep your SV% is not to let easy ones in. As Koskinen himself points out, he can’t score goals, so he can’t cancel out GA.
I think your downplaying how dominant Hasek was in his prime. Last nights game would of been considered a average performance by Hasek.
Dubnyk
Talbot
Dubnyk lost 2 inches of pad that off season and I believe had a new kid. The wolves came out fast for him and he couldn’t get his confidence/form back. Without thst pitstop in (arizona) with Burke as goalie coach – I doubt he resurrects his career he needed out of this shit pit where reporters and mob call for goalies heads on the regular.
We should start a “shit pit” hall of fame.
Your comments on Mikko ring true, but Hasek isn’t even remotely close to the same conversation.
Ha ha I knew saying Hasek would get a reaction. He’s the greatest goalie of all time by an order of magnitude
So, Kassian is out and the team wins. Coincidence?
A Leopard does not change it’s spots – Tippet will play Barrie on PP1 and have Kassian bring down the third line as soon as he is able.
#firetippetnow
I believe the technical term is correlation.
But we know in this case that it is causation.
Correlation does not necessarily mean causation, but in this case it does.
Yes, clearly Kassian was the reason for awful shooting percentage, shaky goaltending and a flummoxed powerplay. Because Kassian.
So now speculation equals causation? My goodness.
I certainly hope Tippett is learning on the fly. His future is wholly dependent on doing so.
Tippet has shown no inclination for advances thinking
Only his immediate future
Wasn’t Ottawa supposed to be the right opponent for the Oilers to break out of their losing streak . Both games were ierilly similar. Against the Flames , Oilers got a strong performance from their goalie and scored 2 of three on the PP. Otherwise the Flames would have had the same result as the Sens did .
The OILERS used their 1st rounders in 2016 & 2017 on RW picks. They were patient and now have both in the NHL.
But here is the kicker. BOTH may not be Top 6 NHL RW. in Edm they are, but are they on deeper teams?
My Point is KH can wait for the prospects, but there is always the risk the prospects don’t become impact players.
He doesnt need to trade all the prospects (obviously); but I think KH needs to move something with FUTURE value for immediate, quality help TODAY (IE: Chycryun)
At the core of this is the question, “Which do you prefer, trading out assets before we know what they are ( ex//Broberg in a Chychrun deal); Or, trading out assets once we know what they are (Yamamoto in a Dreiger deal )?”
Of course it is situational. Where are you at in terms of the Contending Cycle of the team. At what position do you have a derth of assets vs a surplus of assets.
I’ve always preferred a process/org that does things “straight up”. Don’t give out long term deals on speculation. Pay players what they are worth in real time and generally speaking keep assets until you have a pretty good idea of what they are.
Stop trying to game the system and just work with what you have “earned” through draft and develop and strategic trades.
And Applied Analytics of course.
I have been posting since before the season and, even moreso, during the season that Jesse >>> Hyman as the net front on PP1.
I am heartened by Tip expressly bringing up Jesse when asked about Bouch on the PP.
To be fair, I think that Tippett has followed a time tested path. Both JP and Bouchard are being given opportunity at the intersection of Personal Development and Situational Circumstance.
Mired in an over a month long skid with nothing rhyming and last game won when coach not behind bench and lines were more evenly rolled – situational circumstances have been ringing for a lot longer than “no choice at this point” for some real changes aside from just adding more icetime to mcdraivid and never bothering to use timeouts
Holland has made a Hockey Hall of Fame career out of his tag line “over-ripen”
#whydidn’tIthinkofthat