2021-22 Game 70: Oilers at Ducks

by Lowetide

The Edmonton Oilers and Anaheim Ducks are connected by more than the 2017 second-round playoff series that keeps running around in the brains of Oilers fans to this day.

Trades, ladies and men. These two teams have made some trades that changed the course of each organization. Now, I know you’re going to remember the Chris Pronger trade immediately, but do you remember all the other parts of that deal? Do you remember the Maroon trade? Other deals between the two teams?

THE ATHLETIC!

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM APRIL

  • At home to: STL (Expected 0-0-1) (Actual 1-0-0)
  • On the road to: ANA, SJS, LAK (Expected 2-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
  • At home to: COL (Expected 0-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
  • On the road to: MIN, NAS (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
  • At home to: VEG, DAL, COL (Expected 1-2-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
  • On the road to: CBJ, PIT (Expected 1-1-0) Actual 0-0-0)
  • At home to: SJS, VAN (Expected 2-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
  • Overall expected result: 7-6-1, 15 points in 14 games
  • Actual April results: 1-0-0, 2 points in one game
  • Oilers in 2021-22: 39-25-5, 83 points in 69 games

This is a key trip for Edmonton. The club has established home ice as a strength as this season wore along, but the away games (16-13-5) have been a coin flip in 2021-22. Edmonton will need to win two of three on this trip to keep pace with Vegas (Canucks twice, Arizona once). Now if the Oilers swept the road trip, Edmonton would have 89 points in 72 games—and we’d be talking about second in the Pacific Division. This week is going to be heaven and hell in the NHL.

OILERS-DUCKS TRADES

  • January 9, 1998: Oilers deal RD Drew Bannister (he would play 52 more NHL games, 27 with Anaheim) for LD Bobby Dollas (171 more NHL games to go, 30 with Edmonton along with 11 in the 1998 playoffs). Advantage Edmonton because they acquired a veteran for the playoffs and he came through.
  • July 3, 2006: Oilers trade LD Chris Pronger (367 games remaining, 220 with Anaheim, along with a Stanley Cup and 38 playoff games) for Joffrey Lupul (545 more NHL games, 81 with Edmonton), Ladislav Smid (583 more NHL games, 474 with Edmonton), Jordan Eberle (845 more NHL games, 507 with the Oilers), Travis Hamonic (703 NHL games, none with Edmonton) and Nick Ross. Advantage Anaheim, they won Stanley.
  • March 3, 2010: Oilers traded Lubomir Visnovsky (277 more games in the NHL, 165 with Anaheim) to the Anaheim Ducks for Ryan Whitney (146 more NHL games, 139 with Edmonton and Brandon Davidson (180 in the NHL, 114 with the Oilers). Advantage Anaheim, although both men were closer to the end than expected at the time.
  • July 1, 2011: Oilers trade RD Kurtis Foster (74 more NHL games, nine with the Ducks to Anaheim for Andy Sutton (52 more NHL games, all with Edmonton). Advantage Edmonton, Sutton was a solid player.
  • July 12, 2011: Oilers trade Andrew Cogliano (718 more NHL games, 502 with Anaheim) to the Ducks for Marco Roy (no NHL games). Advantage Anaheim, Steve Tambellini made a poor trade.
  • February 16, 2012: Oilers trade RC Ryan O’Marra (2 games with the Ducks) to Anaheim for LD Brian Rodney (one game with the Oilers). No advantage.
  • March 4, 2014: Edmonton trades LD Matthew Berkovitz (no NHL games) and LW Dennis Yan (no NHL games) to Anaheim for G Viktor Fasth (33 more NHL games, all with Edmonton). Advantage Edmonton, although the draft value was substantial.
  • January 21, 2016: Edmonton trades LD Martin Gernat (no NHL games) and LW Jack Kopacka (no NHL games) to Anaheim for Patrick Maroon (431 more NHL games, 154 with the Oilers). Advantage Edmonton, a nice trade by Peter Chiarelli.
  • February 24, 2020: Edmonton trades RD Joel Persson to Anaheim for G Angus Redmond. No NHL games for either player.

The Ducks benefitted heavily in these trades overall, led by the Pronger and Cogliano deals. The Patrick Maroon trade was an astute one by Chiarelli. Edmonton received a lot of assets for Pronger, but left themselves without any reasonable replacement for him. The result was a major plummet in the standings (24 points lost year-over-year) and effectively turned a young team ready to push into a infinite-build that is just now crawling from the wreckage (and you can debate that assertion). Edmonton would have been better off making no trades with Anaheim, or anyone, since Glen Sather left.

TONIGHT

Edmonton plays an important game tonight, it’s a major moment in the season. I have this team going 7-6-0 from here to the finish, that lands as 82 games, 46-31-5, 97 points. In order for Vegas to pass the Oilers, the Golden Knights would have to go 12gp, 9-3-0. It’s possible, but I like Edmonton’s chances.

THE CONDORS

The Bakersfield Condors won last night and have now secured a playoff position. There might be a window for recall, now that the postseason is no longer in doubt, for some recalls. I think Markus Niemelainen and Dmitri Samorukov (who was banged up last night) are worthy candidates, and of course Dylan Holloway and Stuart Skinner are knocking on the door. Es ahora o nunca.

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LMHF#1

Wrong post

Last edited 2 years ago by LMHF#1
Munny 2.0

The latest headline from SN’s Eric Francis?

With Flames injuries beginning to mount, so are the losses

Gerta Rauss

That’s groundbreaking stuff

I noticed a moment ago that LA has crept within 3 points of Calgary, the Oilers just 4 back

There’s games in hand of course, but still, I had all but conceded 1st in the division to the Flames a couple weeks ago, and yet, here we are

Last edited 2 years ago by Gerta Rauss
dangilitis

I haven’t been watching them lately. They have been lucky all year with health, and they still haven’t lost anyone remotely valuable outside of Kylington.

They only have one game left against a team in the top 10 for point % (Minnesota), 9 against current non-playoff teams (includes Vegas x 1), with the other 4 against LA/Dallas/Nashville.

To lose 1st, they would have to have a tremendous collapse against really weak teams (6 against Chicago, Seattle, Arizona, SJ, Ana), and even with the loss of depth Fs and 1 strong D, I just don’t realistically see that happening.

So, and it pains me to say it, we should be rooting for Flames regulation win against LA. Or if you refuse to speak their name, for LA to not gain a point tomorrow

Bank Shot

Did Spector ask if the team was capable of winning 6-1 in the post game presser?

Victoria Oil

Watched the Ducks broadcast tonight. Overall, I thought they are one of the better broadcast crews. No fancy catch-phrases but they are knowledgeable, they do their homework and are not major homers like most regional crews (although it would be challenging to be a homer when your team is getting pounded 6-1).

Redbird62

I agree, Brian Hayward has always been a very fair color commentator. He speaks well and knowledgably too without a lot of cliches or repetition. Not always the calling card of former NHLers.

Ozoil

I only watch out of town broadcasts unless none are offered. I’m blown away by how bad our broadcasters have been since as far back as I can remember. Just cliche machines. No knowledge or info of the other team in the game, most of the time it seems they don’t even have knowledge of our team. Except for Gene, Gene has my respect.

Munny 2.0

Kraken score! 3-1 with two to go

OriginalPouzar

It appears that Woodcroft isn’t speaking tonight. I can’t remember the last time the head coach didn’t speak post-game.

Very odd…..

Munny 2.0

What? I heard him.

OriginalPouzar

Really? Just a tweet from Zack Laing stating it – guess he was wrong.

Sorry.

jp

Draisaitl the only player to go 50/50 in the last decade (since Malkin in 11-12), and he’s done it twice now.

Also, the full list of players to score 50 goals in a season in the last decade:
Ovechkin (4)
Draisaitl (2)
Matthews (1)

OriginalPouzar

What a force – just a generational player.

Krieder likely to get 50 but will it “really count” if he doesn’t hit 25 assists with it?

Genjutsu

Yes, it does. 50 is something special and his game has really evolved and good on him for it.

He’s still not the same caliber of player and the point totals reflect that.

Munny 2.0

Dammit, Klingberg scores

Munny 2.0

Krak lead the Stars 2-0 with about 12 to play

leadfarmer

These free bingo spots are fighting back

jp

There must be a gif of that.

jp

“Dallas has 7 games remaining against the absolute dregs of the league and should be favoured to take a wildcard spot, if not 3rd in the Central.”

All I can say is it’s a damn shame these powers aren’t being used for good.

OriginalPouzar

Its wild – of course, strength of schedule likely matters but after using it as a determinative factor in standings prediction incorrectly a dozen times over three season, one would think a person would back off it……

tsunami

that’s the funny part… he keeps digging haha 🙂

Side

And to think MacTavish could have picked Bennett instead..

Chief Inspector

MacT made the right call.

Genjutsu

Did he use Skype?

SayItAin'tSo, Gretz, SayItAin'tSo!

Hey OP remember that time that selfish goof Leon potted 50/100 instead of not high tailing to the showers like Louie and Jack were demanding?

Remember that time you called out him and Woody for not doing the right thing and sitting Leon for the rest of the game?

Yea those were good times.

DevilsLettuce

I memba

OriginalPouzar

I’m not sure how scoring the 6th goal late in a 6-1 win changes anything.

I stated an opinion based on the evidence provided – it hasn’t changed.

It seem fairly obvious that he was playing injured – I’m not sure he needed to be playing, especially so much, after being injured in a game that was never in question.

Feel free to continue to call me out – this is far from a hot take.

Redbird62

What evidence? There is a difference between playing hurt and playing injured. I am sure Draisaitl, Woodcroft, and the trainers all had the actual evidence upon which they all based their collective decision to have him still playing.

OriginalPouzar

If you think Drai was 100% in the 2nd and 3rd periods, well, I don’t see that being the case.

There is a general consensus that it would be beneficial if McDavid and Drai had their overall minutes reduced generally and, when they do go under 20 minutes, its usually a topic of conversation as a very positive thing.

One would think, in a game that is WELL in hand, their minutes would be reduced – McDavid played 3:30 in the first and Drai over 6. Drai’s minutes were not reduced after he was not 100% and the game was well in hand. He led the forwards with over 12 minutes through two and was the sole PP1 guy staying on the PP (which isn’t really ever the case). This continued in the 3rd in a blow out win.

To think that Leon would have played MUCH less if he had scored his 50th goal last game seems a highly reasonable conclusion.

I have no doubt he was looked at closely by the trainers. I think he should have been playing less even if he wasn’t less than 100%.

He did end up with only 17:30 which is nice – McDavid was just over 15 min.

Redbird62

What’s 100%? They have played 70 games so far. Every last one of those guys is banged up to some degree. Oh and I did not imply, state or indicate that I thought he was 100% either. Draisaitl still looked like he was skating fine when he had the breakaway.

It is your accusation that the only reason he was playing at all was to get 50 that is the most suspect. That goes to motive and you have no basis in fact for that at all.

jp

That was the 2nd lowest TOI for Leon this season, and his 5th lowest in the last 3 seasons.

Prairie_Sentinel

Pepperidge Farms remembers

Shane

And yet when some of us are concerned about concussions OP calls us out for not listening to the medical staff..

OriginalPouzar

Not even a little bit – I question the need to make medical assessments from couches and project careers being over, etc.

I made no medical assessment of what Leon could have and only opined that he was less than 100% after a specific incident and that his continuing to play top minutes (lead the forwards in minutes with zero PK time, staying out on PP2 even after McDavid had changed, etc.) is something unnecessary in a blowout win even if he was’t acutely labouring and it likely wouldn’t have been the case if he didn’t have 49 goals at the time.

Professor Q

You did say at one point that he if he wouldn’t be playing some of the final 12 games, he shouldn’t play the remainder of the game, which seemed to imply that you knew something that the others here did not.

Bling

I know people have mixed feelings about Kane, but he undeniably provides an additional elite dimension to the top line.

The rust is falling off and him and JP are keeping tons of pucks alive for 97 to work his magic.

Really fun to see that trio developing chemistry in real-time.

Reja

Looks like Smith’s the de facto starter does he get the L.A start after he backstops us to a win against San Jose.

OriginalPouzar

Mikko starts Friday if he’s ready – 100%.

Reja

Who exactly are they playing on Friday?

jp

That’s terrible news, the Oilers don’t play on a Friday until the 22nd!

Seriously though, was there any indication that Mikko was likely to miss more than one game?

OriginalPouzar

Ooops, Thursday vs. the Kings, obviously.

All I think they’ve said is “non-covid illness”.

geowal

Leon postgame: “there was never a question of me coming out. Happens to guys every game”

Diablo

Leon downplaying the injury leaves me hopeful that he’ll be fine.

rich tm

Yup – coaching saying it was a bruise.

Munny 2.0

But what about the hot taekz?

godot10

Leon: “It was just a flesh wound.” -).

jp

There’s no question Smith looked awkward a time or three tonight.

But I’m going to wager Lowetide blog set some sort of internet record tonight with most ‘goaltender X is done’ calls for a goalie posting a never in doubt .969SV% win.

N64

blog had a chance for that record, but got too distracted by Drai’s knee.

DevilsLettuce

2 time 50 goal scorer Leon Draisaitl.

Chief Inspector

Warrior Leon Draisaitl

Tarkus

In Kelowna, he was Rocket Leon Draisaitl.

Fitting then that he’s competing for a Rocket Richard Trophy.

Munny 2.0

DevilsLettuce

Reply to  Munny 2.0

April 3, 2022 6:43 pm

They’ll never be able to win 6-1

Some reverse hexes are perfectly played…

Elgin R

Nothing changes. 97 & 29 are superstars and Smith is not a competent NHL goalie.

hunter1909

Where the 6-1 Oilers is Harpers Hair?

fishman

Busy posting Drai has 50 on Leafs website!!!

hunter1909

ffs I never even thought of that lol

Think of it: Harpers Hair with multiple accounts posing as a fake fair minded fan across a dozen NHL franchises. A full time occupation, in other words.

Last edited 2 years ago by hunter1909
Genjutsu

If we could figure out how to weaponize his bullshit we could achieve world Peace.

Whaler Slamamoto

Comment of the month on April 2nd!

Bling

Kulak with tons of smart plays, the highlight being that cross ice pass to Drai.

Drai limping with a 10/10 effort. Unbelievable.

hunter1909

Leon taking that goal no matter what sets him apart from 99.7% of the NHLers I have seen in my life.

Last edited 2 years ago by hunter1909
Bling

Hunter, are you coming around to this being the best Oilers forward depth of all time?

Come aboard, there’s plenty of space, the food is good, and Holloway isn’t even here yet 🙂

hunter1909

Gretzky, Messier, Kurri, Anderson + Semenko, McLellan, Simpson, Coffey(basically a 4th forward…compared to Gretzky seriously in his prime … nah not with 5 that could have been 10 cups

But they’re(the team) playing great super hockey right now. Top 3 in the NHL easily imo.

Last edited 2 years ago by hunter1909
Bling

Well I’ll confess I wasn’t around for that time. But just let the idea marinate, I really think it has some legs 🙂

DevilsLettuce

35% arena capacity, 94% Oiler fans lol

David

Crazy flopping aside, Smith had a strong game.

hunter1909

To be fair, the defence made it easy for him : )

Paulie

Kulak 1 2 +5

Barrie 1 2 + 4

Bling

Nobody is like McDavid, and nobody is like Leon, either.

We are unbelievably lucky to watch these two on the same team, our team.

Jethro Tull

Shooter mentality!

David

Nuge out with second line

jp

Ducks announcer:

A couple of late ones make this one look worse than it was.

Ahhh, no. It was bad bad for the Ducks all night except for the 1st 10 minutes of the 3rd.

hunter1909

Ducks play by play singing the praises of Kulak – say he’s big and is a great pick up.

rich tm

Way to go Leon!

Ice Sage

that’s a nice touch to this game

Diablo

Boom! Leon gets 50 from his office.

hunter1909

Best game of the season.

Congrats Neon Leon!

David

Vintage Drai for 50

jp

Is that Drai goal EVER off a pass from someone other than McDavid or Nuge though??

Definitely a nice/different look from the far point.

KnightRain

BOOM!!! Wicked Shot!!! 50 big ones!!! Now sit him, ffs…

jp

50 for Draisaitl!!!

Nice pass by Kulak (3 points for him!)

Munny 2.0

Five-Oh BABYYYY!

DevilsLettuce

Wooooooooot 50/50 club!

Material Elvis

Wow! What a way to get 50 goals. Congratulations Leon!

N64

and 6-1 just for spector

Last edited 2 years ago by N64
Tarkus

L50N!!

GarbanzoHumanBean

You rascal, how long have you had that one loaded and ready? Love it.

Tarkus

Someone on Twitter coined that when Drai had his MVP season.

However, I do have a song already cued up if we sign Husso in the offseason 😀

Munny 2.0

dear Gord Ceci. Don’t hurt yourself. You’re almost irreplaceable

fishman

Yea that was almost a disaster

Admiral Ackbar

Saw a few spills from unexpected players. Bad ice?

hunter1909

To be fair at least 5 Oilers did pratfalls on ice tonight.

OriginalPouzar

What a pass by Kulak for Drai’s 50th.

Diablo

Lol at Yamo trying to cheer up Leon on the bench.

jp

Glad Ceci didn’t break himself there.

Tye

That was awkward… rewound it 5x, funny as all get out, (but only because he wasn’t hurt)

DevilsLettuce

Oilers are nearing the can’t win 6-1 score yet again, Specs going to somehow spin it for the credit.

OriginalPouzar

It would be great if they won by the exact score that Spec questioned Hyman the team could win via.

Munny 2.0

DL did some yeoman work in that regard early in the game.

DevilsLettuce

It will be the second outing in the last 4 games, the level of stupid the next question that Specs may ask could shut down the central banking system.

Munny 2.0

the dear lord he needs to ask it

jp

2nd in 4 and also 3rd in 10 (6-1 wins obv), lol.

MushedPeas

I do Not know goaleuring, but pretty obvious Smith no longer nimble enough to move smartly post to post. Starting to get exposed every game by the wrap-around play and you know that’s getting scouted. Oil cannot hang their postseason on this guy. 

MushedPeas

Ah already commented on by the Admiral.

David

Hasn’t been mentioned on the broadcast. Drai with 100 points.

fishman

Smith needs one of those medical alert devices. “Help I have fallen and can’t get up!”

Diablo

Kulak has had some good looks since joining the team. Nice to see him cash.

Tye

I’d much rather see him here next year than someone like Soucy (wh’s been pushed here) especially considering Soucy basically misses 30 games every season.

prefonmich

What sort of photos or dirt does Mike Smith have on this organization. It is clear to every person watching the games that Smith can no longer move across the crease. Yet he continues to play, AND continues to be praised by the announcers when he makes a save that should be a very standard play by any other goalie in the league that isn’t flopping around the crease rather than staying upright. I’m so tired of watching this team continue to send him out there rather than play Skinner. If he plays any games in the playoffs, he is going to cost this team wins, to be sure.

Diablo

Smith has outplayed Binnington the other night and Gibson tonight. The saves aren’t always pretty though.

Last edited 2 years ago by Diablo
JimmyV1965

That was pretty surreal. The broadcasters are gushing. Hmm. Don’t you know we’re watching the game as well? We could see exactly what happened there.

Munny 2.0

Ryan’s legs really do seem fresher tonight