Zach Hyman didn’t get any power-play time, and got one assist (shorthanded) but his hard work was all over the Oilers win in Washington last night. On a night when only the truly famous scored goals, it was Hyman who ragged the puck on the PK for 30 seconds to give the boys a rest, it was Hyman who beat the goalie by a split second to get the puck to Nuge. It was a big night for the organization.
Edmonton began the season 15-5-0, then followed with a 3-11-2 run and are now 5-0-1 in the last six. The break comes at a bad time (Jason Strudwick mentioned on the Lowdown earlier this week every player would want to play every two nights when things are going well) but there are no doubt bruises and ailments that could use a rest. A fine recovery from the winter blues by the team in orange and blue.
THE ATHLETIC!
- Lowetide: Oilers’ bizarre January ended on a high note
- DNB: Oilers’ Zach Hyman is compelled to speak up about antisemitism when he sees it
- Lowetide: Revisiting Oilers’ choice to take Kailer Yamamoto in 2017 NHL Draft
- DNB: Evander Kane’s presence was felt in his Oilers debut
- Lowetide: Why prospects stall in the AHL
- DNB: Oilers leaders believe Evander Kane will buy in
- Lowetide: Have Oilers trade assets changed in light of the Evander Kane signing?
- Lowetide: Grading the first 3 years of Ken Holland’s Oilers trades
- DNB: Adam Cracknell is now a Canadian Olympian.
- Lowetide: Leon Draisaitl’s history of long Decembers and what came after
- Lowetide: Three first-shot scorers in Oilers system in a race to make NHL
- DNB: Dylan Holloway resumes road to Oilers after frustrating injury interruption
- New DNB: Oilers’ flaws can’t be ignored as losing skid goes from bad to worse
- 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
- Lowetide: Forget the Connor McDavid bump, Jesse Puljujarvi is the real deal after all
- Lowetide: Oilers top 20 prospects, winter 2021
WHAT TO EXPECT IN FEBRUARY
- On the road to: WAS (Expected 0-1-0) (Actual 1-0-0)
- At home to: VEG, CHI, NYI (Expected 2-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- On the road to: SJS, LAK (Expected 1-0-1) (Actual 0-0-0)
- At home to: ANA (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- On the road to: WPG (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- At home to: MIN (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- On the road to: TBY, FLA, CAR (Expected 0-2-1) (Actual 0-0-0)
- Overall expected result: 6-4-2, 14 points in 12 games
- Actual January results: 1-0-0, 2 points in one game
- Oilers in 2021-22: 23-16-3, 49 points in 42 games
A pivotal month begins with a victory over a strong club in the Capitals, and suddenly there’s a chance for a strong start to February. The Oilers play the Golden Knights strong, and Chicago plus the Islanders offer the team a chance to come out of the all-star break with an impressive home stand. This is a 96-point pace and I think the most likely outcome is a third-place finish in the Pacific division and a first-round series against the Calgary Flames. Music!
Mikko Koskinen stopped 24 of 27, .889, the first goal was the result of a poor pass by Evan Bouchard through the middle in his own end, young defensemen will break your heart but this one is going to give you more to cheer for than he’ll ever cost you. The second goal against was a little loose, Duncan Keith secured the puck and cleared, but right to the Caps defenseman at the blue line. Koskinen stopped the first shot, Keith was a hair late to the rebound and that’s all she wrote. Third goal Tyson Barrie was trying to secure the puck and deflected it past his goaltender. I think Koskinen was fine, rebound control on the second was a little loose but that entire sequence was keystone cops.
Evander Kane went 1-1-2, seven hits, two takeaways, created havoc and grabbed some intel at the Caps bench (and IN the bench, as it turned out). He took a hit and looked hurt but came back in the third. The line is on fire. Connor McDavid scored a goal, skated miles and had a couple of takeaways. Ran head on into Garnet Hathaway, a solid hit from both men to my eye (lots of angry fans and a few mad Oilers, but I’m not sure either man could have avoided the collision). Kailer Yamamoto retrieved pucks (one TK), passed it well and had one 10-bell chance but didn’t cash. Took a penalty seeking justice on the McDavid hit, these damnable enforcers are always parading to the penalty box! The line is a success, scoring 4.25 goals-per-60 through 42 minutes with a 3-0 edge in goals (all numbers five-on-five via Natural Stat Trick).
Ryan McLeod was partly responsible for the first goal of the game with a nifty pass to begin the sequence that would end with Ceci-to-Draisaitl for the game’s opening tally. Leon Draisiatl made a great little play on that goal, altering the trajectory of the puck just enough to elude the Washington goalie in close. Ridiculous skill, he finished 1-1-2. Played 17:53, was very effective. Jesse Puljujarvi had one shot, drew a penalty, some nice passing sequences and used that gigantic reach to play effective defense. This line needs a tweak.
Zach Hyman is going to be a favourite, hell he already is one. His 30-second skate around on the PK was pure Bobby Orr at his peak, the assist on the winner a combination of hard work, diligence, speed and skill. What a player! Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will never look his age but his on-ice presence reflects a wise and experienced NHL player. He finished 2-1-3, had two HDSC at five-on-five, played in all three disciplines and was a pain for Washington puck carriers with his hard work and astute positioning. Derek Ryan was quiet but useful on the PK.
Warren Foegele-Devin Shore-Zack Kassian didn’t have a lot of magic, Kassian ran around after McDavid got hit but was otherwise quiet. Foegele is now 17-29 five-on-five goal differential for the season. Shore was on the PK, also quiet five-on-five.
Darnell Nurse-Evan Bouchard had good numbers across the board save for the 0-1 goals at five-on-five. Nurse skated miles, was physical and his biggest play came from being in the crease and blocking sure goal with his back to the play. Gotta be lucky to be good. Bouchard’s most prominent moment was the errant pass into the middle that was intercepted and quickly deposited in the back of Edmonton’s net.
Duncan Keith-Cody Ceci lost the Corsi and expected goals battle, but Keith picked up two assists along with his unsuccessful clearing attempt mentioned above. Ceci made a real skill pass to Draisaitl for the first goal, and picked up a second assist on the Oilers second marker as well. Had some chaos defensively but he makes plays and this pairing is now 20-22 at five-on-five (Nurse-Bouchard are 15-18).
William Lagesson-Tyson Barrie got caved by the numbers five-on-five but Lagesson was low event while Barrie was the opposite. He had the third goal skip off his skate and behind Koskinen and took a penalty at the Caps blue line made necessary by skating over a pass intended to give Barrie a good angle to shoot. I think it’s possible Lagesson is being showcased, even with Russell’s injury I would say the club is going to pursue a big, physical defenseman between now and the deadline. If Holland strikes out, Markus Niemelainen may be a recall, but I don’t see Lagesson as the third-pairing LH option opening night of the playoffs, and I don’t see Russell as being ideal in that role either.
ROSTER MOVES
The Oilers made some roster moves after the game, as the taxi squads are gone. I think some of these men will be back soon, but it’s an interesting group of transactions:
- Stuart Skinner, William Lagesson loaned to the Condors. I think both will be back, Skinner because Smith’s health is uncertain and Lagesson because he was playing in front of Koekkoek. Non-zero chance we see a trade at No. 3 LHD in the days to come. Someone with hair on his ass who can skate is my guess.
- Olivier Rodrigue recalled from taxi squad. He’ll he to the minors when Mike Smith is activated after the break.
- Kyle Turris recalled from taxi squad, Colton Sceviour sent to the Condors. Mild surprise here, I thought Sceviour might remain but Ryan playing right wing.
LOWDOWN WITH LOWETIDE
At 10 this morning, TSN 1260, we’ll talk Oilers-Caps, CFL free agency and one of the greatest breaking stories in Canadian sports history, the Canadian men’s soccer team. TSN Insider Chris Johnston will drop by at 10:20 and we’ll have a chat about Edmonton’s goaltending situation and the value of waiting as long as possible to make the big deadline move. We’ll have a CFL-Elks guest to help us power through moves already made and the ones to come. 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. 90 minutes away!
NEW for The Athletic: Do the Oilers finally have three outscoring lines?
https://theathletic.com/3108130/2022/02/04/lowetide-do-the-oilers-finally-have-three-strong-outscoring-lines/
I hope they keep Lagesson, I’m a fan. I’d prefer flipping 4K and a pick for Nick Ritchie salary retained. Then swapping out Kassian for Ristolainen so we don’t have to keep playing Russell on 3RD. Then Barrie for a top 6 FWD we’re good to go.
Because there have been no actual waiver wire offerings that stood a reasonable chance of giving better tending at an affordable price.
Since Jan 1. at which point an Oiler GM might get desperate enough in his search to employ such a tactic, three goalies have been on waivers… One of them an Oiler.
The other two were Aaron Dell and career ECHLer Michael Houser. And Dell is toxic.
Two legit goalies were waived in December… Murray and Khudobin. Neither of which can be fit into our cap structure and both playing far worse than Koski at the time. Dallas almost certainly called Holland when they were shopping Khudobin but were likely unwilling to take salary back and had no need take on Koski, considering nothing came of it.
The only other goalie waived in December was Jonas Johansson who FLA picked up for Covid protection and possibly so they could work on Spencer Knight’s game in the minors. He has struggled mightily at the NHL level (.880 in COL). The good news is he’s very likely to be waived again.
I still haven’t forgiven him for Nedjelkovic.
Age, pedigree, stats
26, early second rounder, .918 career NHL save percentage
The most underrated dumb move of Hollands tenure.
Agree 100%. That was an unforced error and I called it out at the time.
Not taking one of the best goalies outside the NHL because of a handshake agreement with a peer who’d just robbed your own cupboard was unforgivable.
While there’s no question Holland missed on claiming Ned, I’m convinced there’s more to the story than that.
A ‘smart’ organization decided to trade Ned and instead go with two injury prone 30-something’s. And he was only able to return a 3rd round pick after that very strong season.
It seems like he was/is not very highly regarded by a lot of GMs, Holland included.
Speaking of Calgary. They have been having a fairy tale season.
Gaudreau and Tkachuk are on pace for career years.
Markstrom on pace to break the single season shutout record.
Mangiapane their only secondary scoring is shooting 20% and has 20 goals and 7 assists. (sustainable!)
Klyington has crawled off waivers and given them the defence scoring they so desperately need.
The Flames sit 32nd in man games lost to injury\illness with like 50ish games lost. I think Minny is next with 90 games lost. Essentially perfect health.
All that and the Flames sit 16th in the league in points %.
They probably make the playoffs but it’s doubtful they go far. They will face some adversity at some point.
Next season they have maybe 22 million to sign Johnny, Matt, Mangiapane and Klyington. Tough break.
Sutter is a smart Coach he gives everyone a role depending on what he thinks would be the most successful for the team and also for the player. Tippett just wings it, half the team doesn’t know exactly what their role is. It would be interesting to see how many more points Connor and Leon would have in my opinion with Sutter as Coach.
Jonathan Willis
@JonathanWillis
Chiarelli – if hired – would have a chance to build on the strong work he’s already done for the Blackhawks, like clearing Brandon Manning’s poor contract off their books.
=====================
Good one by J-Dub.
The situation in Chicago must be seen as radioactive or toxic or something by real GMs, if Chia can credibly interview for this job.
If Pete’s looking for cosmic redemption, he’d take Barrie w/ no salary retained and send the Oil Kubalik.
As for Chiarelli getting the interview, he can thank Bettman. Read awhile back that Bettman was trying to get him back into a GM position. Maybe Gary just wants to see the world burn.
That would be nice.
As for Chia… Did ANA, MTL, VAN interview him? I don’t actually know for sure, but think that if he had, we would’ve heard about it.
If CHI had a choice of decent options for the position, I can’t see Chia getting a call, regardless of The Count’s support.
Thats a fair point, can’t for the life of me remember where the piece I had read was. It was right around the time Chia went to work for STL.
Barrie for Debrincat 1 for 1
Chicago needs to hire Pete yesterday.
Agreed.
I for one would welcome Chiapet’s move to Chicago. Let his reign there be long and fruitful. I hope he trades picks and player’s on pennies to the dollar and he sets that franchise back at least a decade as he did in Edmonton.
Your trade proposal sounds like a very astute move and one that Chia would make in a heartbeat.
Maybe he can trade Dylan Strome for today’s version of Ryan Spooner? Can we interest them in Kyle Turris?
Petrov returns to the lineup and scores his 23rd goal of the season as North Bay ties the game at 2-2 late in the third.
And has just scored again two minutes later to give the Battalion a 3-2 lead with 3 minutes left in regulation.
Petrov finishes a triumphant return from injury with an assist on an empty-netter as North Bay wins 5-2, scoring 4 times in the last 5 minutes.
Petrov was named the game’s 1st star with 2+1 (the GT and GW goals) and a game-high 7 SOG.
Video evidence of said marksmanship:
https://mobile.twitter.com/OHLHockey/status/1489424317993656322?cxt=HHwWhIC5ndThv6spAAAA
I was hoping the local article reporting the game would give us more on the injury, but all they had was the usual: “an upper body injury”.
Only missed five games, so likely no bones broken or shoulders separated.
So, just taking a close look at Anaheim’s cap situation.
They have the lowest payroll in the league.
Verbeek must be thrilled to have more than $27 million in current cap space and even more in the offseason….cap flexibility is a huge asset.
It strikes me that given they are an analytics team, they likely won’t want to resign 30 year old Josh Manson long term.
To my eye, Manson is EXACTLY what the Oilers currently need so that raises the question…what should they give up to get him?
Please don’t suggest Kassian or Koskinen…the Ducks don’t need either of them.
Manson, Rakell, Gibson.
Don’t think Holland has the imagination to figure out a move for that trio.
That’s $19.2 in cap hit..not sure anyone has the smarts to figure that out.
Given the heat you normally take for your contributions, I just wanted to say thank you for this post. A great way to generate discussion and I’m genuinely interested in the responses.
As for your question, I’m not smart enough to know.
Thanks.
I think that your question proves the fault of its own premise. Manson is an excellent target and if the Ducks are willing to give him up, then he’d be a perfect target .. but it would need to be equal cap going back… And I’m.not sure they’re interested in Barrie, Koskinen, Kassian or foegele… So in that case the return needs to be much higher to make it worth the ducks while… And I’m not willing to give up an A+ prospect or multiple picks for a rental this year
I would assume the ask starts with a 1st round pick and a significant D prospect.
Asking Anaheim to take back cap would raise that price.
A first and a significant d prospect sounds absurdly high for Manson.
He certainly could get a 1st, but I don’t see both.
Puck IQ has Manson playing elites 35.7 percent of his overall five-on-five minutes, his DFF% is 47.3 and that’s a little shy relative to linemates. A big chunk of his playing time though, about six minutes a night.
http://www.puckiq.com/woodmoney?season=20212022&tier=Elite&positions=d&team=ana&group_by=player_season_team&sort=evtoi&sort_direction=desc
He looks better against other levels of comp and overall. He’s a free agent this summer, I wouldn’t make an offer. Oilers aren’t in a spot to bet a first-round pick on a guy who might play less than 40 games.
Mason also seems to have regressed from the force he was a few years ago and is hurt for another month plus.
GF% against elites…62.5%
103.1 PDO. We could do this all day. I’m not buying. He’s a terrific player, please send him to Boston. PLEASE.
Brandon Montour was acquired at last year’s deadline for a 3rd. I don’t think Josh Manson is that much better than Montour. Tampa gave up a 1st an 2nd and a 3rd to get Savard, but that got his net cap hit to Tampa down to $1 million. If they could have taken on his full $4 million, they wouldn’t have given up nearly as much. Taylor Hall was acquired by the Bruins along with Curtis Lazar for Anders Bjork and a 2nd and Buffalo retained 50% of Hall’s salary.
If Anaheim is looking to make a run, they won’t likely shed Manson for picks or prospects and make their team worse. If they think he’s replaceable for a run, why would the Oilers want him? If they aren’t going to go for it, it seems more than possible they get less than a first to sell him as a rental.
Someone will pay it.
Based on the replies here it won’t be the Oilers.
Is that because all trades go though us?
I can say on good authority Manson’s Cali wife would not be long for an Edmonton resign, Dave in the org be damned.
If they are unwilling to take back some expiring dead cap like Koskinen then they are shooting themselves in the foot
https://www.tsn.ca/insider-trading-chiarelli-to-interview-for-blackhawks-gm-position-1.1754651
Dear eight pound, six ounce, newborn baby Jesus…
Oh my…cue the Patrick Kane for Kris Russell trade.
“It’s one for one.”
Great reference.
Also, do it Chicago, you cowards!
Here’s the thing about Koskinen.
Kosikinen is 30th in save percentage out of 33 goalies that have played 20+ games.
His career save percentage is .906. That’s in the ballpark of guys like Aaron Dell (.905), Dustin Tokarski (.904), Calvin Pickard (.904) etc.
He’s been bad for two seasons running. Replacement level bad.
The Oilers aren’t a Lemaire team defensively but they aren’t terrible.
Expected goals against per 60 is 15th in the NHL(5 on 5). High danger chances against is 17th in the NHL.
Save % is 26th in the NHL and goals against per 60 is 25th in the NHL. The goaltending is lagging the defensive play.
Sure Kosiken makes good saves every game, but that is expected of an NHL calibre goalie. Every weak goal nullifies the efforts of a handful of difficult saves and Koskinen gives up a weak goal essentially every game, and never has a completely stand out game from start to finish.
Ben Scrivens for example (.905% career btw), had a 59 save shutout for the Oilers when they were a much worse team.
If I were Holland I’d be picking up guys like Pickard off waivers, running them out there and hoping for an Andrew Hammond like hot streak that will hold them over for the next 20 games until they can secure a better replacement for Koskinen.
The acquisition cost would be nothing and its not like they really have anything to lose when you are already getting bottom five calibre netminding.
With even average goaltending the OIlers would be challenging for first in the division right now. .
Koskinen is the backup goaltender. For a backup goaltender, often being overplayed by poor load management from the coach (even though there is a competent 3rd string goaltender), he has been fine.
It is not Koskinen’s fault that the starter, Mike Smith, keeps getting hurt. It was the coach who played Smith 3 straight games to start the season, even though his first injury had shown up in training camp.
And Holland made the obviously bad choice of Barrie over Bear, which left the right side of the OIlers blue with no veteran top 4 quality right side defensemen.
Nobody has argued that Koskinen is a first string goaltender.
Not many teams would be in a playoff spot with their starting goaltender out for over 80% of the season.
If back-ups make 4.5 million what do Starters make .
He’s been not good. Holland should be looking for solutions to help.
Waiver wire pickups have a chance of giving better tending. Why not utilize them?
LAK get 11 straight days off to rest, heal any injuries and practise.
Of their 7 remaining games in February, only 3 are against teams currently in a playoff position.
Oops..should be below.
Of note, Canucks went on their Boudreau heater, took a big break, and have now returned to their expected 3-8 since. The breaks aren’t always good. Unless you were stuck in a covid/injury related slide like the Oilers were in which case, the break and all the postponements slowed to bleeding. Could go either way!
Are you aware that the Canucks played their 4th string goaltender in 2 of those games due to Covid and at one point had 3 top 6 forwards stuck south of the border due to Covid restrictions?
Are you aware that the Oilers had to play their 8th LHD on their depth chart and you didn’t seem to care
I care deeply…keeps me up at night.
Weird using a 4th string goalie with a .950 as an excuse….
Yet Dom has them likely missing playoffs
Me too.
So why you keep bringing them up nightly?
The schedule is very difficult for the 6 teams in the Pacific. All these team will be into their farm teams to get through this stretch and maintain a +575% winning percentage.
Actually this is not true.
Calgary, for example, has 8 games remaining in February…7 at home and 1 on the road as a quick trip to Vancouver.
Only 3 of those games are against teams currently in the playoffs.
Vegas has only 7 games remaining in February and while they play somewhat stiffer competition and 2 back to backs, their games are otherwise well spaced with limited travel.
Its odd that you continue to use more home games as a positive for the flames when its clear they struggle at home and are a superior road team.
They’ve lost more games than they’ve won at home on the year.
I was waiting for you to weigh in with that tired trope.
The Flames have played 15 home games…a possible 30 points.
In fact they have taken 18 points from those games.
That results in .633.
Also of note, in January the Flames won 3 of 4 at home.
.750.
Their record is 7 wins and 8 losses (regulation + OTL). Not impressive.
You may not be aware that the NHL standings are based on points and points percentage.
.633 is really good.
Of course, that isn’t heir actual points percentage and is made up.
Their points percentage is higher on the road than at home. Fact.
Hence the position that stating more home games going forward as a positive may not quite be accurate.
No, its made up.
18 points out of 30 is not .633.
Now that you’ve double down on your overt mistake – will you go for a third?
You might want to check your math again. 18 Points in 30 games is a .600 points percentage not .633. That’s an incredibly easy calculation. And considering their overall point % is .619, that mistake should have been doubly obvious.
Last time i checked 18/30=0.600
After posting constantly for a few hours, after I pointed out his fake stats, twice, he has disappeared.
Got distracted while typing my reply so hadn’t seen your post also noting the obvious error. Its the new math maybe, but HH is frequently wrong with his numbers (not that he cares).
Speaking of tired trope.
Self awareness, it’s a thing.
Its amazing that the doubled down on his clear mistake, even included a classic “good grief” and is now simply ignoring it and refusing to acknowledge his fake stats.
Purely based on the NHL’s ‘leading hitters list’ for this season – wouldn’t Rasmus Ristolainen some sense on the Oilers right side D (in place of Tyson Barrie)? Would he bring balance to the backend? What would Montreal ask for in return?
He is a UFA and comes in at 6’4, 220 lbs. But, to be honest, I haven’t watched him play in a long time.
Rasmus is playing for Philly. As he is a UFA, Philly could make him available for solid futures at the deadline. Ideally if the Oilers were targeting him, they’d want to send out Barrie to mostly cover the cap hit, but they’d still be short a million. If they trade for him and give up prospects instead, the Oilers would still need to move Barrie somewhere else.
My apologies, I meant Philly. Typed ‘Montreal’ as I was also reading about Romanov at the time.
I don’t think Philly would be the destination for Barrie. May need a 3rd team involved to take Barrie. Rasmus to Oilers, Barrie to Team X, and Philly gets a draft pick or a prospect?
Ristolainen sucks and plays in Philly
It looks as though he might have actually become non-terrible finally.
“Kane goes over the boards into the bench with his skates flailing around dangerously”
Here’s what happened there. Once Kane hits the tipping point and start to go over it is an oh-oh moment. But the true disturbing moment arrives as his face reaches the floor. You see, this is the moment he can see the vast pool of saliva, goobers, spit and filth that his face is about to contact. And that’s’ when the feet start a-flailing. Never want to go down there, gives me the geebies
I agree with you there. I’ve turfed water bottles that have fallen down thereinto that toxic mess.
Josh Manson and Hampus Lindholm both UFA at year end.
Daniel Day Lewis as Lincoln, “NOW! NOW! NOW!”
Or Peter Gabriel near the end of “The Musical Box”.
Need a few more ‘NOW’s though.
Koskinen has definitely been very inconsistent this season and it would be high risk for the Oilers to enter the playoffs with him as the starter. Having said that, Koskinen is far from the culprit on any of last night’s goals. Goal’s 1 and 3 are pretty straight forward, Goal 2 is more nuanced.
Goal 1: bang bang play after the terrible Bouchard giveaway, with Schultz quickly hitting a wide open Eller coming quickly across the net. A successful pokecheck was his only chance, but he can’t be blamed for that not succeeding.
Goal 3: A lucky deflection off of Barrie’s skate of a blind cross ice pass with Koskinen opening his legs to track to his right with the pass.
Goals 2: Far more complicated. I am guessing if Tippett were to comment specifically on this one, the blame would be on the Oilers defensive structure effectively breaking down. When Washington first brings the puck in and goes around behind the net, both Draisaitl and McLeod, (the left winger) end up deep in the corner to the right of Mikko. When the puck comes out in front and start bouncing around, Keith quickly clears the puck towards the right point, where the Backstrom is the only player in the vicinity at all. He has an uncontested shot towards the net (Jesse tried to cover coming across from his right wing position but too late to have any impact.
Keith blocks Backstrom’s shot (so Koskinen did not in fact stop the first shot), but it falls to his feet and Fehervary gets away a quick low shot headed for the right side of the net and Koskinen makes an excellent pad save but he had no chance/time to try and control the rebound which bound over to Sheary. Keith, who was having to cover 2 players on the left side of the net because Draisaitl and McLeod were still coming from the right corner, almost got his stick on Sheary’s shot, but was too late.
People want to blame Keith or Koskinen for this goal, but much more of the fault lies with McLeod or Draisaitl (I lean towards McLeod since as the left winger, he should not be chasing a player into the right corner being as far away as possible from the point he is supposed to cover and still be in the zone – Tippett may have a different view on that). A young player will make mistakes not playing his natural position and also he and Leon have now played a total of 18 minutes together so familiarity is an issue. He was obviously very much in the right spot on the wall when he passed to Leon leading to the opening goal.
Overall, Koskinen played a very good game in net. Yes, he needs to be more consistent with not letting in goals he really shouldn’t, but that didn’t happen at all in this game. But the team in front of him also needs to stop shooting itself in the foot with so many mental mistakes with many that end up in the back of their net. Koskinen had his team’s back on a number of those in this game, but you make too many and he can’t get them all.
He committed too early on the first goal and couldn’t get back into position.
From the time Bouchard had the puck in the corner to the puck being in back of the net was 3 seconds. Schultz sold a shot pass to Eller, and Koskinen was in place for a tip/deflection and really couldn’t know that Eller was going to get to waltz all the way across the slot from one side to the other completely unchallenged. Did he play it perfectly – no, but not a coach in the NHL would hold Koskinen accountable for that goal. That’s what happens when players make ghastly mental errors and everyone else goes into scramble mode. It is possible that had he done things differently, Eller might not have scored, but to say there is no way that should have gone in like was posted elsewhere on the thread is not a fair assessment of that play.
Great post.
Just want to say I appreciate your nuanced points of view, and it was noticeable when you weren’t around to offer balance to the discussion.
Thanks.
Agreed with your assessment of the second goal. Only thing I’d say is that teams now use an F1,2 and 3 concept in 5th defensive zone so McLeod may not have been “left wing” in that moment. If he was F1 he stays there and Leon covers him.
I completely agree if that is how the coaching staff wants them to cover, in which case it would be Leon overdoing things in that situation and, as I noted, Tippett may have seen the play a little differently. That can often be the problem when external observers try to assess what they see on the ice. The external observer can see what happened, but they don’t know what the coaching staff has instructed them to do in each scenario. But either way, I doubt the coaches would have wanted both McLeod and Leon deep in the corner chasing one Capital player in that situation. Ceci was close enough to have provided secondary support had it been needed without collapsing the whole structure.
I agree it’s hard to assess blame when we don’t know the ask
Playfair mentioned on a podcast that which was mentioned here that they play an overload system
Which is what Eakins tried. Given the number of breakdowns it seems to still be more than they can manage
Getting the puck back quickly is great but protecting the slot and cross seams is more important and I wish they would focus on that more
…
EC standings Feb 3/22 (All Star Break) using points percentage shown as points over/under fake Bettman .500
Metropolitan
CAR 22
NYR 17
PIT 16
Atlantic
FLA 22
TOR 19
TBY 20
Wildcard
BOS 12
WSH 12
Out of playoffs
DET -1
NYI -1
CBJ -2
PHI -7
OTT -8
BUF -10
NJD -10
MTL -21
WC standings Feb 3/22 (All star break) using points percentage shown as points over/under fake Bettman .500
Central
COL 24
MIN 18
NSH 14
Pacific
VGK 11
CGY 10
LAK 8
Wildcard
STL 13
EDM 7
Out of playoffs
ANA 7
DAL 5
SJS 2
WPG 1
VAN 0
CHI -7
SEA -12
ARI-19
Makes me wonder if Verbeek will take advantage of a buyer’s market and add pieces for a playoff run this season.
The Ducks will have $57 million in deadline cap space.
I highly doubt Ducks think this is the year to burn futures to go for it. Lot of youths that need reps
They don’t need to burn futures in what is going to be a massive seller’s market.
For example Vegas needs to dump cap to fit Eichel on the oyster.
You May recall they flushed MAF for nothing and traded Nate Schmidt for a 3rd round pick.
With so much cap space Anaheim can take advantage.
You must be getting very concerned about the Oilers making the playoffs
Not really…I thought from the outset the Oilers would be scrambling for a wild card spot…still do.
Pacific wide open.
EDM Goal Diff 42 gp(23-16-3)
EV (5v5,4v4,3v3)
97 w/o 29(23-20) 53%
29 w/o 97(24-23) 51%
97&29 On(14-10) 58%
93 w/o either(8-7) 53%
71(8-11) 42%
10(10-22) 31%
Other(4-7) 36%
Net EV -9
Special Teams: 38-30
Net ST +8
Empty Net: 10-8
Net EN +2
SO/PS 3-0
Net SO/PS +3
Goal Diff +4
As you have been tracking these, have Nuge’s w/o numbers gotten any sort of bump since centering the Unicorn Line?
Yes. IIRC, Nuge w/o went from ~44% GF pre-Montreal to ~50% GF post-Montreal.
I think the Nuge line went 3-0 at 5v5 in the Montreal game.
Note: these numbers are all from my bad memory.
Yeah, I thought I had seen the same, but my memories were even vaguer than yours.
Hyman-Nuge are 4-0 in 3 unicorn games.
I thought Michael’s comment last night that we were “watching McLeod’s progression as a player in real time” was dead on.
There were a couple of shifts last night where he reminded me of Shawn Horcoff. Skated miles making smart plays. IMO McLeod has been a lock to make the Bigs since being drafted, the only question being… on what line? He didn’t demonstrate a lot of offence as a yute. And here he is the top 6 and not looking out of place.
Really enjoyed seeing the team stick up for their superstar. Don’t know if they respond as strongly without Kane on the roster.
Tippett coming out of the shortie PK with 97-29-18 turned out to be a brilliant move as they killed the clock as good as you could ask, then the goalie pull and Nuge’s ENer. The PK prior (Yam’s) the first shift was 97-29-56 and 56 nearly went straight back in the box.
McLeod should be getting as many at bats at center as he can, coach could roll four lines and we’d still all be watching McLeod properly develop down the middle with great team success. Imo there are wingers being slotted below him better suited for the team to be playing top 6 wing with McLeod patrolling the middle of the ice as 4C.
Never seen a coach with the possibility of rolling out 4 effective lines decide nah, not today.
You mean like how Drai, Nuge, Ryan–all who can play C–never play W?
You mean like how a young Horcoff earned his “wings” as winger before being given the C responsibility? There are countless examples of Cs breaking into the NHL as wingers. It’s common practice.
More reps like playing 6-7 minutes a night on the 4th… instead of 16 mins on the 2nd?
Four effective lines… exactly like what we’ve been seeing since the Kane addition?
Team success like 5-0-1 in the the last six games?
I’ll take the way Tippett is handling 71 every day of the week.
I’m much happier seeing McLeod get bigger minutes with skill. He can certainly make the fourth line better but helping to make the second line very dangerous is a better utilization for him. He knows how to play centre when he is needed there.
I agree. Unless you are playing McLeod 3C between Nuge and Hyman I like him up with Leon getting those minutes vs. 5-7 minutes on the 4th line with Shore and Ryan.
Nuge and Hyman is a thing and keeping those 2 together is a real positive. I prefer JP with 97 over 56, but although they are opposite in stature 13 and 56 aren’t wildly different players in terms of outcome. Both good defensively, turn over lots of pucks and neither is taking much advantage of their chances to put the puck in the net. In a perfect world 91-97, 18-93 stay together as pairs and Leon gets going with someone who can finish with him. It’s not Foegele (too bad but he doesn’t have the hands for top 6), we know it’s not 44, 42 seems to need the softer parade, and unfortunately it looks like we’ll never get to see what Benson can do with skill – to be fair to the coaches though he hasn’t forced the issue.
So Mr. McLeod step on up to the plate! Keep it warm for your friend Dylan until he’s ready. Breaking Holloway in with Hyman and Nuge when he first arrives seems like a no-brainer.
Why a LHD?
The clear biggest need is for a solid pk, RHD….
It’s simply hubris if Holland goes spending prospects or draft picks on the left side – over correctly balancing things.
i think they need both. Marc Staal should be cheap and available for the left side and while he isnt a bruiser, Pysyk is a stellar Right side option shot option that should be cheap and available. Add Nick Paul as the third or fourth line center with Ryan on his wing for the right side faceoffs and this team should be much better defensively. Not sure how Foegele ended up -12 but he sure hasnt played well lately.
PP rankings
—–
32 Arizona 12.5%
31 Montreal
30 Columbus
29 Philly
28 Washington
27 Seattle
26 Detroit
25 new jersey 16%
Do any of these teams have a solid RHD on expiring contract that might be attainable in return for a elite PP defender on reasonable contract with term?
If this isn’t 1st or 2nd task on shopping list – fire management to the sun.
Barrie for Hathaway.
PK Subban is on an expiring contract. Minimal actual money involved. Devils would have to retain 50% and a 3rd team would be usefull to get the AAV down to 25% for the Oilers.
IMO what we need most is a big, physical, punishing dman. The right side would be the preferable option, but maybe it’s more doable on the left side.
Holland is unlikely to move Barrie now so a mean babysitter LD would be helpful short term
Always who can move, and and isn’t puck optional
I’m not sure Niems is ready or that Playfair would use him
Really it could be done but they would have to allow him to defer to the front of the net if he lost the plot. It doesn’t seem they coach that way
I’ve always been a fan of David Poile and Jim Rutherford for the reason that they are both pro-active in identifying team needs and possible solutions well ahead of the crowd, and ahead of the “trigger events” like the trade deadline or the draft.
Rocky Wirtz at his rocky worst.
That was BRUTAL.
Talk about an on classy act period. That guy should never get in front of a camera again
It becomes clear the issue is not a “communication problem”; It’s a cancer.
You do not recover from that.
#Terminal
#MoneyCan’tSaveYou
It’s not hard to understand now why players did not want to speak out even after an investigation was underway.
Exactly what I was thinking.
The whole thing makes more sense now.
He’s a disgrace to himself and his family and to the league. One wonders how they were only fined 2 million for their inactions on the Kyle Beech situation.
Imagine working for that guy?
What a disgrace.
Geez, I wonder why the organization has a problem with cover-ups, abuse, and accountability…
And lots more trouble ahead for Rocky and the Hawks.
https://www.tsn.ca/brad-aldrich-used-nhl-names-memorabilia-to-build-trust-alleged-victim-says-1.1754411
I’m guessing you are the authority on what’s classy.
In just 3 games, Kane has shown Puljujarvi and Yamamoto what the difference is between a Top 6 contender and a Top 6 pretender, production.
At this point, it feels like LT could just template the game capsules on Jesse and Kailer as they’re always variations on the same theme. Showed up. Tried hard. Did. Not. Piss. A. Drop.
Puljujarvi outscored Kane during his first three games.
3 games, 2 goals 4 assists for 6 points
What are your expectations of these players?
JP is on pace for 20~ goals and 50~ points. Cheap contract. Seems pretty decent to me.
Yamo is on pace for 16~ goals and 32~ points with little PP time. Cheap contract. Seems decent.
Bold prediction: Kane gets Puljujarvi’s money and Puljujarvi is traded in the summer
Late to the game. LT raised the specter of this a while ago.
And was met with shock and distain.
#OriginalThoughtIsOftenContentious
Well…maybe not distain…..but disbelief.
That would be something. But with the way Jesse is playing ( not producing offensively) , and if that keeps up he can be signed for a way cheaper contract. I would not give up on him just yet. Some ( when he was producing) were talking 5-6 mill per and his agent would wait till the summer as he had all the leverage. Don’t think he does anymore .
Not sure what this kid can really do. But he has had more good chances than any player of late and is not getting the job done.
That’s working under the assumption that he wants to stay in Edmonton. He’s an RFA at season’s end and nothing would surprise me anymore.
He hasn’t produced anything in a long time and being bumped off the 1st line so that Yamamoto could play there with McDavid could be viewed poorly from his camp.
As I said, I wouldn’t be surprised if he was traded at the trade deadline.
Yamo goes before J.P. Leon couldn’t pump stone hands Yamo’s tires maybe Connor will.
The Yamamoto that has more 5 on 5 goals than Jesse?
Jesse opens up a lot more ice for his line mates which is a real thing that numbers will never show.
While I do absolutely agree with that statement, I’m not sure what that has to do with the post about Yamo’s stone hands vis-a-vis Jesse.
I
You seem to be fixated on size and I’m giving you a example of a effective small statue player that is flourishing under a smart Coach like Sutter. I have nothing against Yamo but he would be more effective lower in the batting order unless injuries hit.
Fixated on size?
I’m merely speaking to your post about Yamamoto having stone hands and Jesse not.
How many goals does Magpie get playing on Leon’s wing. As far as l can see he’s the steal of the 2015 as well as arguably being the best Flames player. Mr. Lowtide nailed him in his draft year. I wish the Oilers would have plucked before he went in the 6th round.
Yes, he has been bumped off McDavid’s line…….. to play with Leon Draisaitl questing for an Art Ross and/or a Richard – while maintaining material PP1 time.
Jesse has played a grand total of 69 minutes at 5 on 5 this season without McDavid or Drai.
McDavid has played 400 minutes more with Jesse than any other forward over the course of last season and this.
Jesse should have zero complaints about his deployment since he came back from Finland.
Sure, maybe he isn’t happy here and will want to leave. I doubt it though but I’m not in his head.
Can’t imagine he’s traded during the course of this season.
Is his not getting “the job” done? Sure, he’s not producing but “the job” for Jesse isn’t all production.
For example, last night he drew a penalty for a PP, retrieved the puck on the PP and then caused chaos in front of the net helping McDavid score a goal.
For sure, he’s got to start producing a bit more but he does lots out there that helps the team, nightly.
Disney wondering how to turn The Little Ball of Hate into a lovable character in time for next hockey season.
(Yes, I know the Samuelis own the Ducks now)
#TAZ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPlx62IK9kg
Copyright protected.
Anyone here have Evan Bouchard’s phone number?
I’m hungry for a large Ham & Pineapple.
Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) Tweeted:
The Anaheim Ducks have named former NHL player and Detroit Red Wings executive Pat Verbeek as their next general manager, the team announced on Thursday.
https://t.co/yrKpBoPCVB
https://twitter.com/Sportsnet/status/1489279075059441664?s=20&t=Ys2liXF6CYJpFG5HkpLaQw
Félix Sicard (@Felix_Sicard) Tweeted:
Pat Verbeek represents a true shift for the Anaheim Ducks organization. Complete outsider, history of success in two separate organizations, and a belief in analytics. This looks good.
https://twitter.com/Felix_Sicard/status/1489047620878168066?s=20&t=DlW5zx4YPQIPzv51QRDvgg
Really analytics are the easy part
Deal making and contracts in concert, as well as building brand image to be a place players want to be and stay, to manage the cap, and continue building, is the hard part
Only a few are able. Everyone but the Oilers have analytics, many have good amateur departments which the Oilers are pretty goodish at lately
He’s learned everything from Steve Yzerman. I think the Ducks are in good hands.
I expect you’re right.
I don’t get the love for Koskinnen. He was thrashing around in his net all night long. He commits way too early and is consistently out of position. The first goal should not go in. The other two you can’t pin on the goalie, but I cross my fingers every time the puck is in the dzone. You just never know where he will be when things get scrambly.
We don’t win this game if it wasn’t for the other-worldly PK performance of RNH and Hyman. Not only do they score the winner on a shortie, but they were a big reason the Caps had zero shots in three PP attempts.
I don’t see “love” for Koskinen as much as “not criticizing every little thing” about him. He’s our goalie for the foreseeable future, unless Skinner/Smith grab the job or Holland makes a trade, but I don’t see anyone who wouldn’t trade him straight across for a different goalie if the trade were available.
The PK was phenomenal and Koskinen was not the reason we won, but he was adequate, and did his thing. Makes fantastic saves, and then lets in goals that shouldn’t make it past him… He is what he is, but he is also ours and will be until we can find his replacement through health, growth or trade.
You’re right. Most people here don’t think Koskinnen is the solution. Stated better, my concern is that people even think he’s adequate. He’s not. And he’s a real and spectacular threat to even making the playoffs.
I’ll repeat something I’ve stated numerous times; Mikko has been put in an untenable position. It’s not his fault he’s still on the team and he doesn’t deserve the criticism he gets from people like me.
The Oilers are still the team of odd ducks, unusual or atypical players
All players make mistakes, that’s why all teams score and get scored on
I look to the day when the team might have normal functioning NHL players
Koskinen doesn’t have NHL technique and isn’t quick enough
Kassian has all the tools and can’t use them effectively
Barrie can’t defend and doesn’t provide enough O to balance that
Yama is a game rooster but is fighting 5 weight classes too high and can’t finish enough to balance
Smith is a maniac but injury prone and worn out
Shore is a likeable guy who looks busy and game, has decent skills but still gets crushed
Yada yada
People rag on Koskinen, and he’s certainly not a true number 1 stud goalie, but I don’t think most of the names mentioned as possible replacements are much (or any) better. Most aren’t enough of an upgrade to justify their acquisition cost.
I think this team is going to have to figure out a way to win with average goaltending over the next few years. I don’t see the cap space to pay a stud goalie.
Mikko outperformed the opposition goalie. When he doesn’t he gets slammed, so he deserves credit when he does. Far too many want to do one but not the other, and then claim to be rational and unbiased.
Yes, the Oilers did not get out-goaltended last night!
We’re not going anywhere with him you can’t afford to leak 1-2 Goals a game come playoff time.
There is love for love?
talk about using a hyperbole to the max to feed your narrative.
Use the No Star…. uh I mean All Star Break to get caught up with your lives people, because NEXT WEEK, the weather is warm and there are games o’ plenty!
In the voice of Jack Michaels, “ANNNND DOWN the stretch we go”
I usually agree with almost everything LT says on here, I’ve watched That Kuznetsov goal 5 times and I still have zero idea why Koskinen doesn’t react to it at all.
You would think he would have taken the lower net away and still been in position for the deflection. I still think it’s an awful goal to give up.
Did anybody notice Kane kicking his feet when upside down in the Caps bench. He got some awfully dirty looks from the players trying to protect themselves.
And yet not one guy on that bench touched him.
I think he may be the most feared player on our team now.
The physique of Darnell with the mystique of Kassian.
Kane and Keith have the mean thing cornered now
Kass is papa stabilized, Nurse has never been on the edge
You don’t see it a lot but Keith can be pretty vicious
Drai unleashed the most vicious attack last night – my legs are still crossed in sympathy
Another thing to add to his Arsenal. He already gets space, but being seen as mean, yikes for the opponents
#EvanderScissorFeet
The feet kicking was also Kane trying to protect himself.
Hard to say what any of our bodies would do in that situation. Upside down and exposed, in enemy territory, in a heightened state. I’m not sure he was intentionally kicking – it could have been an involuntary muscle response to an awkward position.
Exactly. Mark Messier had a shoulder cramp that caused his elbow to come to rest squarely on the jaw of the Russian player.
Could be when your standing on your head one may kick there feet to right themselves
My conclusion, some kind of spastic twitch influenced by a nasty gene in his dna.
you just spawned the hashtag
#NastyGene
I noticed your comment on it last night and subsequently watched the replay – didn’t see that at all.
What i would like to see
Kane-mcdavid-yamo
Benson-drai-pulju
Foegle-nuge-hyman
Mcleoud-ryan-kassian
Also this team is worse with barrie in the lineup
McLeod is a center not a winger in the top 6 or bottom 6, he’s a center.
Yesssss….But……Draisaitl played much of his 1st season as a winger…many would be centers start their careers on the wing
I like Benson more than most, and think he can have a career higher in the lineup than 4th line. But as long as all of Hyman, Kane, Yamamoto, Puljujarvi, Foegele and Nuge/McLeod (whichever isn’t 3c) are healthy, there isn’t room for Benson in the top 9.
Agreed on Barrie. He still has the hands to have some success with the puck, but he doesn’t have the strength or speed to have success without it. The good isn’t outweighing the bad. At 30, I’d bet against him improving away from the puck.
Kane McDavid JP
Benson Drai Hyman
Holloway RNH Yamo/Kass (trade 1)
Foegle McLeod Perlini
The Foegele Bear trade is fascinating.
In the one corner you have Guide and Record Book, Holland. In the other corner you have Tulsky, the analytics mastermind.
Initial returns was a top-pairing or at least top four, inexpensive, right shot defender for a third-line winger.
Then it turned into a “useful winger” for a healthy scratch defenseman.
Now, it’s Foegele wearing the green jacket winger for a bottom-pairing defender.
What’s next?
Why is Foegele so leaky defensively?
Is he another Kassian? A guy who only gets points when bumped up to the top six and doesn’t produce playing bottom six minutes while also leaking goals against?
At 5v5, Foegele is rocking a .955 PDO and an ONSV% of .893.
Tipps lost Foegele last night, player and coach do not see eye to eye.
It’s the Coaches job to find the levers that motivate the player.
I’m sure there are aspects of Foegele’s game that Tipp likes and some that he does not.
Tipp is trying to make Foegele a better, more useful player imo.
I think he see’s something in Foegele that could be very useful to this team and he’s trying hard to pull it out of him by whatever means is necessary.
I’d bet a buck Tippett is even going as far as to look at some old Carolina game tape.
You have every right to be wrong! Are you related to Tippett?😉
0-2 goals and caved in his 6 minutes.
Foegele lost himself last night.
Up and till a few games ago, Foegele was in the top 6 for the better part of a few weeks.
Any sort of issues as between coach and player seem highly speculative to me.
Tippett hinted at it before when he said the players were in the right place but not being effective. He was talking defensively when someone “thinks” they are covering their man but really they are not. The opposition rolls right by them when required, they are not tied up or covered in the least. Just because you are standing in the right spot doesn’t mean you have your man.
Humorous Tipps talking about players being in right places when his amazing systems have been scouted and broke down years ago and still haven’t changed.
Do you have a link or any evidence of this?
Because what’s really humorous is people talking out their ass.
Yeah, this was my take on the Bouchard errant pass. It was a poor pass, but was intercepted at the blue line. Weird read by Nurse, and can’t remember who the winger was but “also in picture”.
The first goal doesn’t happen without Bouchard but it shouldn’t be in the net after 3 seconds.
I don’t but this at all.
Sure not all d-zone intercepted passes end up in the net, but that’s not the same as “it shouldn’t be in the net”. That was a shitty shitty pass by EB that hung his teammates and goalie out to dry. Can’t blame anyone else.
On the Leon goal, JP is skating backwards through center ice looking for a pass as Leon flies right by him. Leon should fly by him there, as he’s not really an option for a pass at that point. I might be making too much of it, but JP looked completely lost on that play. I think he’s a bit lost in general lately to be honest. Still love him net-front on the PP, but he’s not running in step with his linemates anywhere else right now.
I’ve been worried about Jesse for a few weeks now
Jesse is an odd player. But you do everything to unlock that kid
I don’t know if there is another player like him. If he gets better with things like you mentioned and gets more organized around the net, he will be Hossa level effective, championship building block good
Not that he isn’t ‘good’ now
JP has too much potential at his age and limited NHL games played to make an accurate assessment on his upward potential. He absolutely has all the tools! He is fun to watch and easy to cheer for!
Right now the only thing separating Evan Bouchard and Tyson Barrie is age. And every day, Evan pulls a little bit further ahead.
Man, if we could move Barrie + for a legit bottom 4RD (with some hair on his ass, coughJoshcoughMansoncoughcough) that would be EPIC!
This is the way…
Bouchard is ok with Nurse imo. Nurse has the get back speed to cover up his screwups.
Ceci is very solid as a 3/4 pairing rightey.
So I agree in trading Barrie for a mean, big Rightey . Manson would be a great pickup for sure.
But we need 1 more big mean lefty. For that bottom pair as well.
Maybe Holland should be calling Verbeek NOW and saying hey old buddy, dobI have a pp QB for you.
But for sure if we could swap those 2 we could also save 1 mill.
Open question, what (truly) separates Bouchard from Justin Schultz, now and (hypothetically) in the future?
~ Bouchard not “Norris material” in his first year?~ 🙂
But seriously, it’s an interesting question. I see more in Bouch than I ever did in Schultz. But, at this point the comparison and the question is a valid one.
Will be interesting to see the answers.
You ever see Schultz play pk?
Shultz has been in the league longer and Bouchard has a better shot and is already better at defending than Shultz was at the same age!
Bouchard has a very good slap shot and wrist shot. Jultz has a muffin shot.
Bouchard is a great passer. Jultz is an average passer.
Bouchard plays both special teams.
Bouch as said below has more to his game, is heavier and will use his size even if not a hitter.
Schultz is a good offensive D but one dimensional as I see him
Bouchard uses his body to defend more than Schultz ever did.
He’s also basically on pace to match Schultz’ career high points in his 1st full season (and with very little PP time).
Bouchard is younger, better and cheaper than Barrie. All of that was obvious before the season started. There was no reason to sign Barrie, other than Holland was panicked when Larsson left and Barrie was available. Now you have Barrie playing third pair where is in unsuited to play.
Yes Eh. With NO trade protection.
I once bought a Refrigerator from the Brick. It came with an “optional” FULL warranty for 5 years (including labor and travel). It cost like $200. But, and here’s the kicker, If you didn’t exercise the warranty in the first 5 years, you could apply it as a $200 credit towards another purchase. (in our case a mattress)
I wouldn’t say that Barrie is exceptionally easy to trade with a 3 year contract at a $4.5 annual cap hit.
To be honest, I’m really not sure, but I’m VERY pleased that Holland didn’t include trade protection when signing Barrie.
Well, yeah, cause Barrie’s not worth $4.5m/year. If he was someone besides a desperate Holland would have signed him earlier.
You mean while he was still under contract with the Oilers?
Dam facts getting in the way of yet another angry bandwagon.
You missed the fact Bouchard has three inches and thirty pounds plus can actually grow a playoff beard!😉
Nuge is such a gem. I always have a soft spot in my heart for sound, defensive players. Watching him and Hyman on the PK brings my heart joy.
We always talk about how this team needs to win a Stanley for Connor and Leon. Yes. But equally deserving of this city bearing fruit is Nuge, who has been as loyal and hard-working an Oiler as anyone. Life will be good when he hoists Stanley in an Oilers jersey.
Nuge certainly could have made more on the open market but chose to stay. He has seen much more Oiler tomfoolery than anyone. Low maintenance and respected. When the Oilers ultimately win the Cup I will be happy for everyone but no doubt will have a special toast for Nuge.
Nuge reminds me of Sakic and Yzerman in that respect. Quiet, unassuming, hard working, responsible, respectful, smart. He just doesn’t have quite the skill level they had. Maybe he’ll be the future GM like they became. That’s way in the future. They retired around 40, 41 not sure Nuge will last that long in the NHL. They were execs at 41, 42, then GMs at 44, 45. If Nuge followed a similar timeline, he’d be retired in 2033 or ’34, exec in 2034 or ’35, GM in summer of 2037 or ’38. Haha, sorry for the strange tangent on your post.
Nuge for GM!
I always say the GM needs to be a horse trader, Nuge has that covered already!
Stretches like this last 5 games increases the chances we see the 1st rounder and a legit prospect (or 2) heading out the door.
With a roster player?
I have a gut feeling if a roster player is going out it’s Yamo. He’s being zoomed with McDavid and there’s a ready made replacement top 6 winger in Holloway.
Maybe but we’ll need to ship out another roster player with bigger cap. Yamo is damn near league min for pay
I was thinking in the context of a goalie trade where it’s likely that Koskinen’s cap hit is going out.
Yes he definitely could.
Be nice to suck someone in to take Kass.
That’s the Oiler way. Draft a player, develop them in the minors, give them a season or two in the NHL and then trade them for older players who are being paid full freight. (Like Bear for Foegele). Instead you need to plug the younger guys into the lineup and trade the established players (Barrie, Foegele, Kassian, etc.)
Is that really the Oilers way or is it just a narrative?
Its wild to me when a contract is used to criticize the Bear-Foegele trade – the narrative of trading a “cost-controlled top 4 d-man”.
Taking away the fact that two coach’s have not trusted him in the top 4 in the last two year, Foegele is actually cost controlled signed for 3 years whereas Bear is up for a new contract. If Bear performed anywhere near the level of those that criticize the trade in that regard, he’d be MUCH more expensive than Foegele starting next season.
“TSN Insider Chris Johnston will drop by at 10:20 and we’ll have a chat about Edmonton’s goaltending situation”
Situation? …. What situation?……. haha
Can’t wait to see what Zach Hyman and 29 year old RNH can do in the playoffs.
With Dylan Holloway feeding them!!!
That is going to be a dandy line
Just a few thoughts on the game…
Nuge hit someone in the corner, and I believe the player looked stunned it was Nuge with some hair on his ass that made the hit. I love the Nuge!
JP should be watching KY eat his lunch on the top line, and understand what is required to stay there, but he isn’t. I look forward to the day when JP crushes someone behind the net, because he can.
Lastly, Connor… I’ve seldom posted negative comments here, and for 97 it’s even harder. With 10 seconds in the game after the short handed goal, McDavid swats at the puck for a breakaway to get the for sure empty net goal, it doesn’t work and costs us more time defending. It was not a smart play. Championship teams/players make the defensive play. They need to unlearn that in a real hurry. They’ve talked about it for two off seasons. It didn’t cost us the game, so I’ll enjoy the ride with everyone else.
I think JP should be taking notes on how Kane finishes his checks. JP needs to try to punish more, but I don’t really think it is in his nature.
JP just seems lost and has been for quite some time. Big kid , and yes needs to use the body a bit more. When he actually hits someone it is a good hit.
I think the team still values things that are helpful in the wrong way
Finishing a check doesn’t mean destroying the other guy, it’s a bump out if the play, it tires them and makes them rush passes
Blocking shots is good, but that shouldn’t mean for the most part trying to make a goalie save
Get in the lane (in front of the puck) so they pass off or shin pads
I see a lot of guys getting in front of the player but not the puck, screening the goalie, and they pick the far side. A lot
Our goalies can’t see around that
Nuge avoided the Tom Wilson hit, and Tom Wilson hit the boards hard and awkward… Touched for the very first time.
Yes JPs lack of physicality drives me bonkers. He could destroy if he dabbled in the dark side.
The PK clinic by ZH and RNH was nice to watch.
Also nice to see more balance throughout the lines and playing time. Keep it up! Just needs a bit of tweaking, but so much more effective than loading 1 or 2 lines.
Warren Foegele-Devin Shore-Zack Kassian
These guys are not going to impress in every game. Just not.
But if they chip in occasionally on the score sheet, create energy, chip and chase, and generally saw-off against the other teams 4th line, that’s mission accomplished.
The way Zack plays these days isn’t a help to any line. If Holloway gets a call up then that frees up Derek Ryan for the fourth line with Shore and Foegele. Or do something crazy and call up a Marody or Griffith.
Still think they need to grab a bottom 6 4th liner, aggressive and mean type of player. Cal Clutterbuck is a UFA and would be a perfect grab for the playoff run
He’d do the trick but that would be the first going out with Kenny
Hard to do that when the coach staples your butt to the pine.
It’s become an almost impossible challenge to hide Kassian on any line.
It’s not going to happen, but as things sit today, he is the closest thing we have to a Buyout candidate on this roster.
No buyouts
Let Gretzky try trading them first
The worst type of dead cap
Must be why he was promoted to the 3rd for a spell last night. To “hide” him better.
Kassian is 19GF-21GA on the year.
Of the 15 forwards who’ve played 100 minutes Kassian is 7th in GF%, 5th in SF%, 8th in xGF%.
I would note that he’s only played 20% of his TOI vs elites where his GF% is 14.3%. 46% against the Grits.
20% is 3rd line for this years Oilers (really all of the 3rd/4th line Oilers are at the same %).
I also wouldn’t go searching for answers in an 82 minute sample of hockey.
If you look back through his career his DFF%rel and GF% vs elites has been surprisingly good (please have a look).
He’s also played lots vs elites, 6 of 7 seasons before this one he was over 28%, and he was over 30% the 3 years before this one.
I would posit that those higher percentage vs. elites were with McDavid……
In any event, while i have to acknowledge his solid possession numbers, I will go with my eye test on this one and my opinion, that at the end of many (most) nights, one could reasonably suggest that, if he wasn’t in the lineup that night, it wouldn’t have negatively effected team performance.
You went to PuckIQ to find his 82 minute numbers this year, if you’d gone back you’d see that yes 2/4 of his 30%TOI seasons were the McDavid years, the other 2 were not (15-16 and 20-21).
His other 2 seasons over 28% were 14-15 and 16-17, no McDavid time there. The only 2 seasons (of 8) he’s played less than 28% vs elites were 18-19 and this 21-22.
Anyway, you’re welcome to ignore Kassian’s on ice results and go with the eye test. I’ll continue to point out that the eye test on Kassian does not match the results.
Yes, sometimes I will indeed trust the eye test over the numbers:
Bruce McCurdy
@BruceMcCurdy
·
10h
Oilers leaders in 5v5 on-ice goals per 60 (min 200 minutes):
Best GA: Connor McDavid 2.21
Best GF: Kris Russell 3.64
He’s skilled but clearly a defensive liability
That is the biggest thing that needs to change to move forward
The numbers just don’t show him as a liability though.
But this shouldn’t be surprising considering that Kassian is in no way a top flight forward. Imagine his cost if his GF% against elites matched that of against the lesser likes.
Foegele is the only one with a clue, he will overcompensate and end up looking bad, book it
I like the idea of Kass, I like Shore’s drive, but the results speak
“Evander Kane went 1-1-2, seven hits, two takeaways, created havoc and grabbed some intel at the Caps bench (and IN the bench, as it turned out). He took a hit and looked hurt but came back in the third.”
” The line is on fire.”….yeah…I wouldn’t have paid a penny more than $2.1m.
Names of realistic 3rd pair options? Anybody?
We aren’t moving a 1st so Chariot is out. Not taking a guy with term because we have Broberg others coming next year and beyond. Who’s out there?
Connor Murphy out of Chicago would be a nice fit.
Not really realistic though, because Tyson Barrie would have to be going the other way.
Kk/russel/lags/neim/broberg/Sam
If a RD is hurt russel/lags are playing it….
Are you not answering the question wrong if the answer is – we need another bottom pair LHD?
Chariot also is not very good.
Jeff Petry
Subban is on an expiring contract. New Jersey would retain 50% of the AAV and it would have to still probably go through a 3rd team. It would be doable, since there are minimal actual dollars involved.
Bouchard, Ceci, and Subban.
A regressing 34 year old Jeff Petry at a cap hit of $6.25M for three more years until he’s 37 would be crippling in my opinion.
He’s at the age where is very reasonably possible (likely probable) that the poor season is real age-related regression more than poor team.
Is Subban really going to change the dynamic how we need?
Is he mean anymore with his back?
Foegele number is not good. Either
1 – he is having a poor year
2 – is playing with bad players
3 – was being zoomed in CAR
I’ll take Oilers mediocre bottom 6 for 200, Alex!
Our third line won us the game last night!
Yes I think it’s time to stop talking about the bottom six and concentrate on the fourth line. The third line, with the current roster construction, will make a big impact.
Sure, but that 3rd has been the 3rd line for a couple of games so not really a rebuttal at all to AA’s post.
He’s exactly the player he was in Carolina.
He’s now playing on the Oilers
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has 33 points in 35 games (and is a clear important cog on BOTH special teams).
Not only is Evander Kane with 2G/3P in 3 games but he’s 4-0 goals at evens (5-0 overall).
“This line needs a tweak.”…yes… it needs JP to find the range; Get the monkey off his back.
“this line is on fire”…and they’re carrying Kailer…Music!
Load up the 3rd line and let the 2 best players in the world drive the other two lines.
There’s an obvious spot open with Nuge and Hyman. I think Holloway’s name is written there with pencil if not pen.
I wouldn’t mind seeing Benson there and flip Hyman to RW.
Benson will certainly bring more grit and energy to the lineup than Kassian. Zack seems like a great teammate but he hasn’t been much involved in games for a long time.
Id love to see Benson there. Benson skillet would complement these too a ton. Smart player, good on the cycle and good defensively
Benson seems the logical choice for the 4th line when Kass eventually sees the press box.
I think the Benson train has left the station as far as he is concerned with this coaching group. I like the young man and hope he gets an opportunity higher up in the lineup before they move the young man!
This
Kids got game and jam. Not every player can rise out of the quagmire of weak teammates
Yama can’t score enough with the best, imagine 4th line
Yes when you are on a role , it is always a bad time for a little holiday.
Kane is certainly good with deflections. Washington is a team built big for the playoffs, beating a team like that is huge.
“And grabbed some intel at the Caps bench”
HAA HAA!
I saw a lot of concerned faces on the Caps bench, but NO ONE tried to mug Evander like they sometimes do with other players.
I think Kane may be the most feared player on this team now.
#NurseWithAnEdge