The Oilers have a large group of prospects having breakout seasons, with the 2020 draftees an especially newsworthy group. Carter Savoie had a hat trick last night for the Denver Pioneers, his boxcars (23, 16-17-33) shine like a diamond. He’s not alone. There’s Petrov and Holloway, and don’t sleep on Maxim Berezhkin.
Did the Oilers hit a big fly in 2020?
THE ATHLETIC!
- Lowetide: Do the Oilers finally have three strong outscoring lines?
- 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
TOP PROSPECTS VIA NHL EQUIVALENCIES
These men represent the “Holland” era of draft picks, and it’s probably the last time we can view them as prospects intact (Broberg will graduate soon).
Broberg is available for recall and playing very well in the minors, his even-strength goal differential is best on the team and he leads defensemen in points. I expect he’ll see the NHL in the fall, less certain about any appearances down the stretch and into the playoffs. I’d say he’s on track to play a significant role for the Oilers by the final year of his entry deal. Denezhkin is undersized but has two-way ability and is worth a contract, team history suggests he won’t be signed but I’d love to see him in Bakersfield for a year. Lavoie is on a nice run (6-3-9 in his last 10 games, with 41 shots) currently and is more aware defensively, but doesn’t turn over pucks or draw penalties (Holloway routinely does both). Ilya Konovalov (not listed above) started slowly but found the range and has a .943 save percentage in his last four games. I had Konovalov ahead of Lavoie in my winter top 20 prospects this year, and recent events have cemented the rankings. You can count on Broberg making the NHL and playing 100+ games, too soon to know on Konovalov and Lavoie. We should leave a light on for Denezhkin if he ever decides to come over.
I don’t really know how to project Carter Savoie, because his season is elite level and that doesn’t happen often for a guy selected No. 100 overall in the draft. How high can he fly? Well, this is draft plus two, so he should be spiking but these scoring rates are beyond brilliant. The best college scorer drafted by the Oilers was Glenn Anderson (ironically also from the Denver Pioneers), I’m safe in saying Savoie is unlikely to score 498 NHL goals in his career. Savoie’s NHLE is miles past Mike Comrie (38.6) at the same point in his career, and Comrie averaged 23 goals per 82 games in his career. I think Savoie is going to have an NHL career. Even if you let some air out of the tires for power-play production, he’s the goods. Tyler Tullio is having a fine season and absolutely projects as a player who will get a full NHL shot after some time in the AHL. His skill set and motor mean he’s well suited to the rigors of Bakersfield work, he should be up to that challenge. I don’t know how much he’ll score, but if we call him a legit candidate for middle-six NHL work that’s a defensible position. Dylan Holloway is finishing off his resume in the minors, drawing penalties about as often as he takes a breath. He has a chance to post a point-per-game or better with the Condors, expect him in Edmonton this fall playing a role on one of the top three lines. Maybe sooner. Maxim Berezhkin looks like he’s going to have an NHL career, Oilers drafted a Russian giant with real skill. Now they have to sign him and get him to North America but his impact MHL season (8-17-25 in 15 games) and the fact he’s good enough to play 30 KHL games (1-1-2 in limited minutes) tell us he has a North American career if he wants it. It’s so difficult to project a Russian future, but he’s an exciting prospect.
Matvey Petrov is a signed Russian who set a blistering early pace in his first OHL season and has continued to deliver through 38 games (26-35-61). He’s a sixth-round home run from here, and the only downbeat is he’s too young (19 in March) to project to the NHL next season. Along with Savoie, Petrov represents two absolute draft steals for Tyler Wright and his scouting staff. It’s a long way from declaring victory, but the bell curve is making loud noises. Xavier Bourgault is so hated by many Oilers fans there might be genuine shock if he makes the NHL. Bad news for the haters: He looks real. He has 22 goals and 43 points in 25 QMJHL games, I’d like to see him in the AHL this spring.
Holland’s draft pool, Wright’s draft pool, has five names of high quality (Broberg, Holloway, Bourgault, Savoie and Petrov) and a few more (Tullio, Konovalov, Lavoie) who could have NHL careers. There are more college kids and all-or-nothing type selections on the current lists, but that appears to be a positive based on what we’re looking at today. The Oilers have a strong story to tell, and if one of those late-round snipers (Savoie, Petrov) turns out we’ll be talking about these draft seasons for a long time.
NEW for The Athletic: The Edmonton Oilers have 15 defencemen under contract this season (NHL & AHL). Three are Condors RH blue pushing for their first NHL action, they could be applying for the same job in Edmonton. Who has the inside track? Here’s a look.
https://theathletic.com/3112999/2022/02/05/lowetide-four-oilers-right-handed-defence-prospects-impress-while-pushing-for-nhl/
Xavier Bourgault is so hated by many Oilers fans there might be genuine shock if he makes the NHL. Bad news for the haters: He looks real. He has 22 goals and 43 points in 25 QMJHL games, I’d like to see him in the AHL this spring.
Oiler fans who hate XB are real not Oiler fans
These “fans” don’t hate Bourgault, they hate Ken Holland being the GM and they hate most of his decisions for the Oilers. They effectively root against Bourgault being successful, otherwise their narrative about Holland could be wrong, and for them, that is almost (or in some cases probably) worse than the Oilers being successful.
Steeling a top six player out of Quebec is almost as satisfying as getting Holloway out from under Calgary’s nose! The amateur drafting has in my opinion been excellent since Keith Gretzky. If only our pro scouting could be so good!
# I dare to dreamland
I’m not watching, but it looks like the Condors win on a McPhee goal with just under 4 minutes left in the 3rd. Bit of an unlikely hero.
Skinner now with a 9-0-2 AHL record. Other Condors goalies are 10-9-5.
Question for those watching (tonight and generally): how has Samorukov looked?
A lot was expected from him this year, but the boxcars and +/- don’t look great. Does he look any better by eye than his surface numbers suggest?
And an aside: I’m really curious which defenseman gets called up after the break.
McPhee appears to have had the game of life last night, at least according to the game hilights. Good for him, he definitely got a push, appearing to be playing on the 1st line with Malone & Griffith.
Its too bad Safin hasn’t taken advantage of his opportunities like that.
Sammy has looked very steady over the last while – he’s playing a strong and tough defensive game.
He was out there with Deharnais in the last minute protecting the lead, normally Nielmelainen’s role.
I think Lagesson will be recalled – none of the guys that played last night.
Thanks for the Samorukov update.
Follow up if you don’t mind. How do you feel like he, Broberg and Niemelainen rank for call up order based on their AHL play? (not who would actually get called up, just trying to get a better handle on how they’re playing).
An Eagle makes a mistake at the offensive blue and Malone and McPhee lead a 2 on 1, McPhee takes it across the line, the backchecker catches up but he bulls towards the net and crashes one if for a 4-3 with under 4 to go.
Missed the end of the first and the first 3/4 of the third – came back to the Condors being down 3-2 and some pushing and shoving after a couple clean McPhee hits – the team killed off a Malone protection penalty and then Kesselring sifts one home from the point to tie it at 3.
Now Nimelainen with some aggressive pushing and shoving after the whistle. An exchange of high chest cross-checks.
Things are getting tense.
Brogan Rafferty with his 4th of the season.
True story.
ECHL?
Unfortunately that much dead cap means Fiala is gonna go
So much genius happening here!
Savoie is held off the scoresheet as Denver wins 2-0.
Fun fact: Denver has three players whose first name is Carter. And they all play left wing.
Another fun fact.
The Carter musical family is now into its 4th generation and counts a former US President among its cousins.
Holloway with a weak play on the defensive wall, cheating a bit and not digging in for the puck – its turned over and in the Condors’ net within 3 seconds.
2-1 Condors.
Griffith and Broberg to give and go and give and go high in the Eagles zone and a soft shot by Griffith from the point finds its way in for his second of the period.
Of course, a buyout cap hit can’t be traded………
Weird one.
A full cross-ice pass from Malone on a 3 on 3 hits Griffith on the skate well out, near the faceoff circle, bounced up an in.
Just saw that. What a wacky goal;
https://twitter.com/Condors/status/1490174401605636109
Tullio draws a primary aPPle as Oshawa finally breaks the scoreless deadlock in the third.
He fired a stretch pass to Gagnier at the Barrie blue line, who does the rest:
https://mobile.twitter.com/Oshawa_Generals/status/1490151886317621249?cxt=HHwWgsC41drPiq4pAAAA
Safin started last game with Griffith and Malone – tonight he’s scratched for McPhee.
Otherwise, same lineup including Skinner getting the start – poor Konovalov and Stalock!
Marody still under the weather
McPhee-Malone-Griffith
Brosseau-Esposito-Lavioe
Holloway-Hamblin-Schaller
Kaldis-Gennaro-Kambitz
Broberg-Desharnais
Samorukov-Kemp
Niemelainen-Kesselring
Skinner
Would’ve bet big money on Skinner getting the start. Follows all the verbal we’ve heard.
Woody has never been shy of running his goalie out there on back to backs – heck, I think Starrett got 3 games in 3 nights a few years back.
Of course, there isn’t usually 2 other legit options, both who need to play, for the coach.
I doubt Woody was the decision-maker.
Luca Munzenberger is now on the scoresheet, picking up a primary assist on Vermont’s opening goal.
You gotta see this:
https://twitter.com/PGATOUR/status/1490084195875667969?s=20&t=T2jvCBsWksDHoN0848Qt3w
Caddyshack a time when people actually had a sense of humour.
The all-star game and competitions has been garbage for years. Especially seeing as I hate the fact that divisions rivals are forced to play with each other just for a watered-down or just plain crappy weekend of “entertainment”.
the last time I was at least curious about the all-star events, was when the fan voted captains drafted the rest of their teams. Pretty sure RNH won a car or something for being the “last man chosen” one year.
oh, and I guess the first year McDavid won the fastest skater. That was kinda cool I guess.
Skyler Brind’Amour is still alive and has an assist on Quinnipiac’s opening goal in period 1.
Also, Tullio draws back into the Oshawa lineup for tonight’s match.
Brind’Amour is a very important player on a top NCAA team, (Ranked #2, with only 2 losses in 27 games) takes a lot of key draws and is a top PKer, but no PP time.
Previous 2 seasons he has a combined +/- of zero. This season he is +17.
Quinnipac has only allowed 8 goals against in their last 15 games – 9 shut outs in that span, after giving up 19 in 14 – 5 shut outs in that span (including exhibition games).
FYI, their #1 goaltender is undrafted Yaniv Perets, soon-to-be 22 yr old, who has 10 clean sheets in 19 games (15-1-2) and rocks a 0.956 save percentage.
He is 6’1”.
This is good info.
I admit I haven’t been following NCAA hockey that closely, but now that I’ve been able to find an app that has scores, lineups, etc., it’s become easier to do so.
And Brind’Amour is listed as 4C, so without context like what you provided, it’s easy to assume he’s a fringe player on his own team.
Thanks for posting this.
I don’t recall reading much griping at Bourgault himself, who would have played good minutes on the Canada Juniors team if not injured.
I think people were griping about “Smartest Man in the Room” syndrome with Holland.
Also, if the Oilers goalkeeper situation was better and more stable, there would be less griping. We’ve wanted another Fuhr or Ranford for so long. Salo tried but off-ice stuff happens.
Roli was the man but too old when he got here.
Devan Dubnyk, Jimmy Dean. On the cover of a magazine.
Roli was definitely a late bloomer but he did play very well after leaving Edmonton with the Islanders and then Tampa. I miss Roli and his spunk.
When in comes to drafting and developing, well, Holland is one of the smartest guys in the room, no?
As far as drafting Xavier B. vs the goalie, well, aren’t we in “win now mode”?
The goalie may very well turn out to the the “better” or “more valuable” player, we don’t now, but I think, no matter which player has the better NHL career, its more likely the forward helps the team during the pre-contract expiry (McD/D) window, no?
connor and drai lost the 3 on 3 magic but its ok
Did anyone else notice that the announcer said Marchessault was added to the Pacific roster late, because they thought McDavid might not be able to go due to a knee issue? Of course this was the US broadcasters on ABC/ESPN who mentioned this, so most in Canada would not have heard this. Can’t find anything else on the internet about this.
would make alot of sense i didn’t here much on the sportsnet broadcast
Tom Gazzola tweeted about it.
He has been moving awkwardly after a few heavy hits recently. First three steps haven’t looked quite as dynamic. Perhaps because there’s usually a half turn or pivot required on transition plays. His trademark quickstep acceleration has looked fine though.
Ugghhh
Man they better be proactive on that
Rest him if he needs it, season be damned or they’re damning future seasons
I don’t think Yamo is a deterrent for players that want to plaster McDavid any time they have the urge.
Noone else would be either.
Pat Maroon would of gave him a knuckle sandwich not a love tap cross check
Talbot goal on first shot? Check!
What’s new,
The Bourg is not in the lineup for Shawinigan today.
https://mobile.twitter.com/Cataractes_Shaw/status/1490052607922028548?cxt=HHwWiICy_fi83a0pAAAA
Relevant section translated into English:
The state of health of Xavier Bourgault, William Veillette and Lorenzo Canonica will be reassessed on a daily basis.
This article (in French) suggests all three were injured in last night’s game, but doesn’t go into much detail.
Doesn’t sound like anything serious, though one hopes The Bourg didn’t get concussed again.
Being re-evaluated pre-game. Likely not a concussion then, thank Gord.
All star sweaters insult to anyone that works in graphics.
Unwatchable.
Time for Mario Kart
Things on TV now that are more entertaining than the NHL All-Star game: golf, women’s curling, Seinfeld re-runs, Bonanza re-runs, cooking shows, Bridezilla, Teletubbies…..
Five players over an NHLE of 30 by draft +2 seems impressive. I would love to see a comparison with past Oilers prospect pools or other teams. Anyone have that handy?
https://theathletic.com/author/scott-wheeler/
It will be interesting to see which goalie, among the three, will start for the Condors tonight.
My hope is Konovalov – i think I’ll be disappointed (and we see Stalock).
I’ll say Skinner.
Until Holland (sign as many washed up old guys as possible) and Tippet (play declining vets over young players with potential) are gone it won’t matter what you have in the system.
Get rid of the dinosaurs along with the Guide and Record Book.
All teams are throwing in young fresh want to make their mark on the NHL youngsters and their succeeding. Tippett prefers to have them hang out in Hotel rooms like Bouchard last year. If they don’t bring up Holloway not only to inject some life but also to make our team better then we’re wasting another year playing footsie.
It is without a doubt that if the Oilers played the young guys and they struggle you will complain non-stop that they are being rush and ruined.
Yes I think we complained about that for 10 years straight. Then we were happy with Hollands change in strategy for 3 months and now we want to go back to the way it was.
Puljujarvi and Yamamoto in the top 6 (over Kassian and the other vet RWs) I believe every game they’ve been healthy.
Bouchard with plenty of 1RW over Barrie and starting to cut in to his PP1 time.
Lagesson over Koekkoek recently.
McLeod elevated over Ryan.
This narrative only really rings true at the 4th line level and the likes of Shore over Benson
I did read a report that Beryozkin suffered a lower body injury last game but don’t know how serious it is.
I’ll say it before Jethro does….
He was run into by a player on his own team.
Headline read ‘Beryozkin…hit by a Lokomotiv”
I think you will get more clicks if you bait with “Watch These Two Lokomotivs Collide Head-on.”
Just wait until we’re trying to beat Wallstedt in the playoffs and Bourgault is playing in the A or bottom 6
Then we’ll here the ansgt
Of, of course, wait until Bourgault is providing big value to the Oilers on his ELC in the top 6 or middle 6 while Wallstedt meanders his way with up and down play like Ilya Samsonov……
I was just saying
Also, when you don’t have a top notch goalie, or one apparent, and good forward prospects and two young guys on the roster now, I know how I would go if there is a first round quality G in the draft still available
Why wait? We’re clearly hearing the angst right now.
#nihilism
A great comp for Savoie is another undersized sniper who went the NCAA route just a year before Savoie did – Cole Caufield. Here are how their NHLe’s stack up:
Draft +1
Savoie: 19-11-30
Caufield: 14-13-27
Draft +2
Savoie: 25-27-52
Caufield: 26-20-46
Interesting comparison. Wonder what their numbers look in 5 years!
Maybe Savoie brings the Hobey Baker back to Edmonton…………….. and presents it to it’s rightful 2021 owner Dylan Holloway
Who retires with 498 Goals well that would be no other than Kamikaze Glenn Anderson. He could of easily played another year and reached the 500 Mark. Glenn was a beaut he beat to his own drum and was not only one of the most exciting players but a hell of a man
If by Glenn you mean Sather.
Holy Crap my memory is fading…I had completely forgotten these details:
“Needing just eight goals to join the NHL’s exclusive 500-goal club, Anderson looked to put the finishing touches on his career and wanted dearly to do it in his hometown of Vancouver. He made overtures to Vancouver Canucks GM Pat Quinn, who signed the veteran forward for the remainder of the season. (From ‘Anderson’s Dream Dies’, The Chicago Tribune, 2/4/96).
Anderson was all set to join the Canucks. He would just need to make it through the waiver wire first and Sather wasn’t going to let that happen. The Oilers GM put in a claim just minutes before Anderson was set to clear. This, despite Anderson calling Sather and pleading with his old coach not to do so.”
~ Sather’s revenge for Anderson having run over Ryan Smyths foot in a parking lot? ~
#BanffConnection
Wait…Didn’t Glenn head to Switzerland because he couldn’t easily keep playing in the NHL.
Glenn is a different kind of cat he beats to his own drum he’s a free bird that’s why I respect and like him so much. He could of easily signed with various teams and notched his 500 Goal.
I’d like to take credit for the Savoie pick. 🙂
I pounded my fist on the table and shouted, “we need to draft Carter Savoie!”
Well, not actually, I wasn’t at the table, but I believe that I was the first one to pump his tires here. The second Holloway rumours started leaking, I had used Savoie as an AJHL comp and wrote a bunch of posts comparing the two.
Of course, Lt probably had him listed well in his draft rankings.
I remember someone shouting.
Now I remember who.
I give you credit for the Savoie pick. Good Call.
Kind of like referring to “The Scottish Play”, I think the young Pioneer’s name should never be spoken or written, but only referred to as: “Ryan’s pick”
A Young Pioneers reference?
Respect.
I remember being pissed off when Holland traded that 3rd round pick for a 4th and a 5th – how could you do that with Carter Savoie still available? It blew my mind… and then Holland landed him at #100 anyhow, cool as a cucumber. What a move!
And then Tullio with #126. I wrote on Draft Day that I would have been happy with either pick at #76, to get both was grand. Holland’s best trade
Pretty low bar if a GM’s best trade is for a less than a 15% chance that either player will play at least 200 games in the NHL. Fire the dinosaurs before they cause further damage.
Bourgault hated by some Oilers fans. That’s true and incredibly sad. Some fans each year pick a player and trash him endlessly and others follow suit for whatever reason. Justin Schultz , Kris Russell , Adam Larsson to name a few. Gotta have thick skin to play in Edmonton.
mikko koskinen agrees with you
I like bourgault! I feel like a lot of the negativity comes from people who are just loud. Lots of quietly sit there and hope for the best. I liked petry and Schultz and Larsson when they were here too. I like oilers. I even like Koskinen! Don’t like his contract and will admit to getting down on him from time to time. But lots of us aren’t so negative.
Which of the prospects are they going to identify and trade for help as opposed to allowing them to rot on the vine?
There will be multiple of those on this list. That never changes.
And finally, our prospects are lining up like aircraft waiting to taxi out for takeoff. With a few taking off each year and more in reserve. Unlike the leftorium.
(can’t believe I had to add leftorium to my spell checker dictionary. Surely this is well entrenched as urban slang by now eh.. 🙂 )
“Xavier Bourgault is so hated by many Oilers fans there might be genuine shock if he makes the NHL. ”
Took me a minute to figure this out. But of course……more goalie voodoo bullsh*t.
I can hear Don Henley’s voice barking out a command.
That’s for the haters, not for the people who wanted Wallstedt
AND Savoie is a Local Boy. Right here in our back yard you say?
“Savoie reads defenders like few other players in the draft. He is acutely aware of opposing sticks and actively baits them. Savoie is deceptive; he looks off his targeted play and keeps the same grip on his stick, whether he’s passing, dangling, or shooting. Savoie fires with power, precision, and with some trickery; using screens to his advantage. -EliteProspects 2020 NHL Draft Guide
Not to put undue pressure on the kid, but in terms of size and shooting/scoring style, this reads a lot like Cole Caufield
He outweighs Caufield by 25 lbs. and is 2 inches taller. Not sure he skates as well.
I’ve never seen an ounce of hate for Bourgault so unless you’re getting DMs about him, I expect that’s a red herring.
What I do see regularly in frustration when a team departs from BPA especially when there’s a overwhelming team need.
I thought they should have picked the goalie.
Most (all?) who do prospect evaluation thought the goalie was the better prospect at the time of the draft.
Everything I’ve read since has the goalie well clear of the forward a year later.
A genuine question because you have lots of experts on your show. Have any of them suggested Bourgault is tracking to be better than Wallstedt?
But I am very excited for Bougault. He’s looking great a year later and tracks to be in our top 9.
Wheeler is the only draft person I’ve had on the show this year, maybe Pronman once. The draft isn’t central to Oilers fans currently, so I don’t have many on. Wheeler had Wallsted No. 12, Bourgault No. 21.
Draft analysts are like snowflakes; no two are alike. Which is what makes it interesting.
How long until these guys can line up in the top-6 / 9?
If we project McLeod as the 3C of the future, and have RNH, Hyman, and Holloway as mainstays, it leaves 3-4 roles for Puljujarvi, Yamo, Savoie, Tullio, Lavoie, Petrov, and Bourgault.
Of course they won’t all make it, but based on the surfeit of scoring talent at wing I’d be wary of extending Kane or offering a rich and lengthy contract to the Bison King.
I cannot think of a scenario in which I would extend Kane. He’s a temporary help.
Think harder.
Not saying it’s going to happen or even that I want it to happen.
But there are scenario’s where it does happen.
The Oilers are committed to McDavid, Drai, Nuge, and Hyman. They have Puljujarvi, Yamo, – Holloway, – Bourgault, Savoie, – Petrov, Tulio, Lavoie. Make use of these cheap+flexible contracts rather than locking in a player in his thirties for big money. Spend that money on a goalie.
That ^ is one scenario. And a good one.
So much hinges on just how much (or not) that Kane affects outcomes/results in the next 5 months.
I’m saying Kane could be a point per game player for the duration of the season and playoffs, scoring at a 30+ goal pace and bring good physicality and I wouldn’t sign him to a big contract. The Oilers are committed up front, including two players into their mid thirties. Managing the cap is the game.
When teams have success, they pay players big. But often that big payday comes back to bite you: look at Kassian, or the contracts after the 06 run. Kane could play amazing and signing him would still likely be a mistake unless you want to shake up the roster and trade Nuge or Hyman which I wouldn’t do.
Yes. At face value, you have it down pat.
But for the purposes of illustration, what if,
Kane would agree to $7.5m x 3
and
JP finished the season reasonably well and his Agent was demanding something in the neighborhood of $5.5m x 6
There’s what you would do, and there’s what I would do, but what we really have to ask ourselves is…..What would Conner do?
If JP stays cold he won’t get anything close to that, and if he recovers his scoring touch then it might not be that bad of a contract.
Nuge and Hyman both have full NMC so they aren’t getting traded.
There is room if the Oilers trade Kassian, Foegele, and Barrie.
This
Also Yama, it might come down to a choice, and I’m keeping BK
Yama probably is a higher IQ player, but BK’s ceiling is 24ft
I can envision signing Kane to a big money contract, if other moves are made to free up cap space, but I cannot envisions signing Kane to anything beyond 1-2 years.
They can fit him in for sure by my fiddling by sacrificing a young winger (who Kane brings far more than) and moving out redundant players and ones that can be replaced for less cap (if the pro scouting was any good)
However, that means no fancy goaler. If there’s even one to be had. They would be well advised to really see what the Principal has
I moved Yama Kassian Barrie (you could move Foegele as well and replace at his production for less), signed Sceviour who I like and is versatile and Lags, and am using Holloway Benson Bro and Skinner
Signed BK at 4.5, Kane at 6.5, Braun at 2.25
1.29M left needing a 14th forward
Also no Klef
If he comes back they have to forgo Kane or Keith. The team is better with Kane, because Oilers Keith plays RD or something not ideal
Unless Jesse really lights it up in the second half his contract shouldn’t be too rich. I would definitely get him signed long term though because he will eventually be a decent scorer and is so good at other aspects of his game.
Bison King has 3 years until he’s UFA. I could foresee a scenario where he gets signed for say $4M x 4, and gets dealt with a year remaining on his deal to make room for Bourgault coming off his ELC, or to re-sign Pete Draisaitl’s boy.
The alternative is likely a long-term deal at something like $5.25 x 7, which would probably have been good value, but the emerging prospects may make him an unaffordable and unnecessary luxury.
What a nice crop of later round picks they’ve assembled (on top of the 1st rounders). Hopefully a few turn out as good as the look today.
I wonder if we should strike this ‘team history’ from our expectations?
Holland’s history here would be more let them develop at home until they show they’re close to ready.
I’d guess Denezhkin and Berezkin stay in Russia until they have some success at the KHL level, if that ever get there.
The Matej Blumel strategy?
I should have more properly quoted the part on Berezkin:
Now they have to sign him and get him to North America
since I was meaning to comment on any urgency to get those guys to the AHL.
I was thinking of the Wings back in the day leaving the likes of Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Kronwall, Ericsson and others in their home leagues for 3+ years after being drafted. Admittedly the more recent examples haven’t been as wildly successful.
On Blumel, yes it’s a bit odd he wasn’t signed. A key difference for Denezhkin and Berezkin though is they were drafted out of European leagues rather than the NA junior. So the Oilers hold Denezhkin and Berezkin’s signing rights indefinitely (I think, that’s what’s listed on Capfriendly), whereas the ‘normal’ 2 years applied to Blumel.
If Blumel didn’t want to sign an NHL ELC, the org couldn’t force him too…….
He became an NHL UFA, and remains an NHL UFA.
Well, we know that he:
1) Didn’t sign a deal with the Oilers, and
2) He hasn’t signed with another team.
We don’t know (I don’t think) whether the Oilers never offered him a deal, or whether they did offer him one and he chose not to sign it. (unless I’m forgetting a credible source indicating one of those)
That is correct with respect to what we do know and what we don’t know.
This young player is often talked about as a big miss by the org and, sure, I guess, maybe he was but, to me, if he was such a big-miss, that is a “no-brainer ELC candidate” then why hasn’t he signed with any team?
The only thing I can think of is that he doesn’t want to sign quite yet (and there are valid potential reasons for that).
Yes it’s absolutely possible Blumel chose not to sign with the Oilers.
While I agree with you that framing the non-signing as a miss (or oversight) by the organization is slightly unfair, we should acknowledge it may also be true.
We simply don’t know with any certainty one way or the other.
This is true.
What we do know for certainty is that he is an NHL UFA and has signed with none of the 32 teams.
Even if there was an oversight, or a miss, they could still sign the player any day if he wanted to.
So could 31 other teams.
Perhaps he’s not on anyone’s radar.
This is my point.
He’s either deemed not worth of an ELC by any team or not willing to sign right now.
No points for Holloway last night but he was all over the puck again. Involved in numerous odd man rushes (although tried to force a couple passes), drew a PP on a drag shot attempt – one brilliant backhand pass from the corner for a grade A chance – Leon like.
And all that with one hand tied behind his back?!?
Holland’s regime has had some issues but the drafting has been lights out. I was concerned when Ken brought Wright over from Detroit, as I thought Gretzky had been doing a solid job. So far so good though.
Zegras’s circus shot in the skills yesterday will likely renew the angst among many fans about selecting Broberg over him. No doubt Zegras was the best choice in that spot but it’s water under the bridge now. It’s nice to know that at a position they sorely need help, there is a big Swedish defenceman very close to being ready. In a perfect world, Klefbom will make a full recovery and be around to tutor his young country man.
Can we wait 5 years? I’m still not ready to concede that (though agree the trend is clearly favoring Zegras today).
Sometimes 5 years isn’t enough. At what point did Nurse start impacting the game more than Monahan?
Most Forwards usually hit earlier, than comes Centres, Defenceman and lastly Goaltending. If you had a choice right now who would you pick Broberg or Zegras?
Great comp (nurse vs monahan).
The knock on Zegras has been size. He’s had a hot start to his career but as he moves up the lineup can he handle the rigor of playing in the top 6?
Not uncommon to see smaller players have a hot start then fade. Yamo had a great start too but looks more like a third liner now.
He is listed at 6.00 182. I don’t think that his size will be an issue.
When Monahan required multiple surgeries.
And I would definitely have picked Monahan at the time.
Is it really that some fans hate Bourgault (news to me), or more that they preferred Wallstedt in that spot?
I would think the second choice. Bourgault looks like the real deal. Holland will have to fix the goaltending this summer or hope one of the young guys catches fire.
I think it’s more “Oilers at bad at the draft, I wanted Wallstedt, therefore Bourgault is trash” but it’s real. People have strong reactions to Oilers draft picks.
There are certainly some people who believe that the Oilers can’t do anything right.
People like Dennis King serve a purpose. They act as a counter measure to “group think” and get us to assess our own pre-conceptions.
It’s like the tree huggers; I for one don’t want to be “out there” hugging the trees, but I’m sure glad someone is.
just like how people hate Broberg cause of Zegras pick right . But we dont even know what we have yet vs. any of the others.
NOORRRRM!!
I’ll try and counter balance that force.
I strongly dislike Trevor Zegras…..
BECAUSE HE’S A DUCK!!!!!
This is true. I strongly reacted to our first pick in the 2015 draft.
I see. Those people and I must run in different circles. I thought a goalie pick would have been wiser, but Bourgault looks great. The one and only thing I think the Holland regime will be remembered positively for is their drafting.
Also first i’m hearing.
Yes. Their drafting and that’s it.
Well….Their drafting and getting JP back on board…..but that’s it.
Their drafting, getting JP back on board, and their re-signing Nuge…. but that’s it.
Their drafting, getting JP back on board, re-signing Nuge, and getting Hyman…. but that’s it.
well…Their drafting, getting JP back on board, re-signing Nuge, getting Hyman, and adding Kane for the playoff run of 2022…. but that’s it.
Their drafting, getting JP back on board, re-signing Nuge, getting Hyman, and adding Kane for the playoff run of 2022….Re-signing both McDavid and Draisaitl and the 3 cups that followed? …. BUT THAT’S IT!
Ahh, yes, what have the Romans ever done for us?
HAA HAA HAA!
love it
Savoie was demoted to the 3rd line to start last night’s game. The top line proceeded to go minus 3, Savoie scored 2 PP goals, was moved back to the top line and promptly completed the hatty.
Was he out with them in the 3rd? I tried to watch but the stream was way too pop uppy. Looking at the scoresheet though, I’m not sure that he was.
What’s your guess as to why he was temporarily demoted?
Zero goals in last four games. Only one goal in his last nine (heading into last night).