It was a good year for the Oilers amateur scouts, with the 2018 entry draft crop delivering two players who helped the team reach the playoffs and then make the second round. How much draft talent does Edmonton have on the current roster? Does Calgary have more? Are they playing significant roles?
THE ATHLETIC!
- New Lowetide: Inside Oilers’ stats from wild first-round series win over Kings
- Lowetide: Oilers defence prospects, who’s staying and who’s going?
- DNB: Connor McDavid is turning playoff dreams into reality
- DNB: For Edmonton Oilers, Game 7 stakes vs. Kings are simply enormous
- Lowetide: What’s Oilers prospect Dylan Holloway’s future fit on depth chart?
- Lowetide: How Oilers can finally fix salary cap nightmare
- Lowetide: Reasonable expectations for Oilers could not see chaos ahead
- Lowetide: Early look at Oilers’ options for 2022 NHL Draft
- DNB: How Dave Manson is making the Oilers blue line better
- Lowetide: Oilers regular season report card for 2021-22
- Lowetide: Stock up or down for every prospect in the Oilers system
OILERS VIA THE DRAFT
There are 12 feature spots on a roster (top two lines, No. 3 center, top two pairings and starting goalie). Until Puljujarvi was moved down the depth chart recently, seven names listed here occupied one of those 11 important spots. Impressive.
FLAMES VIA THE DRAFT
Calgary has five, and those five men will have a big impact on the game. The forwards on the feature lines are an especially strong group with plenty of utility.
Both teams have invested heavily in expensive free agents. Edmonton has Zach Hyman, Evander Kane, Tyson Barrie, Cody Ceci, Mike Smith, Mikko Koskinen and others. Calgary has Jacob Markstrom, Chris Tanev, Erik Gudbranson and Blake Coleman.
Calgary has more to show for their trades. Noah Hanifan, Elias Lindholm, Tyler Toffoli are big players on this Flames team. Of course, much was surrendered in those deals. Edmonton has Zack Kassian, Warren Foegele, Duncan Keith and much was surrendered there, too.
SINCE WOODCROFT
I think this series is going to be far closer than many believe, partly due to the sea change that occurred after Jay Woodcroft and Dave Manson took over beginning February 11.
This looks like a fairly even team to me (all numbers five-on-five unless indicated) and the Flames were mostly healthy through the season. That has changed, with Tanev, Kylington and Zadorov all suffering various maladies in recent days. I suspect this will be a close series, far closer than most believe, and much of the change for Edmonton has come via coaching strategy. Woodcroft vs. Sutter involves some impressive brain power, both men are worthy of respect. It’s going to be a great series!
HEROES
For some reason, the playoffs create heroes and those men become legends never to be forgotten. Lee Fogolin was such a warrior, but when he played in February his exceptional defense wasn’t as flashy as the forwards and Paul Coffey. I will tell you that Fogolin’s trade was among the biggest heartbreaks I experienced as a young(er) hockey fan, and to this day when someone talks about how Fogolin is doing I lean in and pay special attention. Build all the monuments you want, Lee Fogolin bled and suffered legit wounds on the way to Stanley. I will never forget him, and his presence was never stronger than in the playoffs. Who will be this generation’s Lee Fogolin?
LOWDOWN WITH LOWETIDE
We’re going to blow your mind with coverage of the Oilers-Flames, with up to the minute reports from practice, and media avails. On the spot reporting from Tom Gazzola today and Tyler Yaremchuk from Daily Faceoff will give us the latest from his end. We’ll know much more about injuries on both sides this morning, stay tuned!
Filip Berglund returning to the SHL is a done deal. Seems like the fear that his feet wouldn’t be quick enough came to frution, still think he has enough talent to make it work but didn’t really show it this year. Typically I think swedes coming over, and the org bringing them over, need to give it at least two ideally three seasons before making the call but the sense with Berglund is that he didn’t love the NA experience, there was talk about him looking at a return already in January. More and more getting the feeling that he’s not the most adventerous type and prefer to stay in his comfort zone. Which is fine but doesn’t lend itself very well to pursuing an NHL career as a small town kid from Sweden. He’ll have a good SHL career and I could see him breaking out big as an SHLer at 27-28, getting international games and maybe he’s ready for another NA adventure by then. But likely for another org.
To stay on Filips, it sounds like Minnesota won’t sign 2018 1st rounder Filip Johansson, RHD like Berglund, he had a nice upwards trajectory this season after some slow years and I think it would be a smart depth move to sign him, loan him back to the SHL next season and bring him over 23/24. There’s a talented player in there, he just hit a bit of a wall in his development before things started to move upwards again the second half of this season.
Thanks for this.
Disappointing but not surprising.
I think Konovalov may be following suit (back to the KHL) – that’s mainly speculation based on his KHL rights being moves recently.
Some truth bombs from Woody yesterday, lifted from the Gregor show.
…I think both teams play the game fairly similarly and in the end it will come down to who wants to play harder and who wants to do it for longer.
(I don’t think it gets truthier than that)
Q. Does he study the tendencies of opposing coaches?
Said that he does and he is familiar with Darryl from many past experiences on the bench against him, but the focus has to be on us and our game.
Q. Is there a point where fatigue becomes a factor with Mike Smith?
He didn’t play a lot till the end of January and we did a pretty good job of our rotation [through the season].
Gregor goes on to point out that Smith also had two straight days off the ice.
And then makes an even better point…
There is no travel fatigue to this series. Doesn’t really have to be managed and the winner will be better off going into the next series.
And then these from Wyshinski, I think on Monday off Nielson’s show…
–Markstrom set a Flames record for save percentage in a series, breaking Mikka Kiprusoff’s record. This, of course, was completely overshadowed by Oettinger’s performance. (I mentally thanked Oettinger)
–McDavid is the first Art Ross Trophy winner to score 14 points in a series since Lemieux and Gretzky.
An unstoppable force and an immovable object are about to meet.
Pat Steinberg
@Fan960Steinberg
#Flame
at practice today:
Gaudreau-Lindholm-Tkachuk
Mangiapane-Backlund-Coleman
Dube-Jarnkrok-Toffoli
Lucic-Lewis-Ritchie
Ruzicka-Carpenter
Hanifin-Andersson
Kylington-Tanev
Zadorov-Gudbranson
Mackey-Stone
Markstrom
Vladar
10:33 AM · May 17, 2022·Twitter for Mac
I’ll take Schenn to score the winner in OT.
I hope the Oilers have the same passion as Brayden Schenn.
If it was Kassian he would have gotten a game misconduct before he went to the box. Let alone the tantrum inside.
Passionate as Schenn was, he was not in control of his stick and that high sticking penalty was full value.
At the very most, the zebras could have called offsetting minors with one for interference against Manson who was arguably impeding Schenn’s forward progression from behind.
Loosing one’s composure is NOT passion. It is breaking down under the pressure of the situation.
Kyrou knots it up late, after a deft zone entry with a nice toe drag, fumble, and recovery to shoot five hole.
Landeskog doing yeoman’s work, feeds Manson at the point for the second time and he rips one past Binnington to win it in OT.
goal post #5 for COL and then Binnington with a huge save to keep it 2-1 COL with 10 min left in the 3rd
I feel very nervous for this series. Oil finally make the second round and two (Nurse + Drai) of their top players are less than 100%.
Dear McJesus,
save us!
Rope-a-dope by the Oilers.
Yup, it does make me more guarded and not quite as confident as I otherwise would be.
I was heartened that, I believe, Nurse skated today (he wasn’t mentioned as not skating) which I presume means his issue is improving.
Just read this in Leavins’ 9 Things:
Source: https://edmontonjournal.com/sports/hockey/nhl/cult-of-hockey/the-edmonton-oilers-finally-break-out-of-the-peter-chiarelli-induced-mire-9-things
I cannot wait for the votes to be released and see how Wayner voted.
I think he’s already called him the best player in the world on the TBS broadcast.
Regarding my earlier question about strength of schedule on Woody’s watch, I went through the respective teams’ schedules and are here are the results, for those interested.
Note that this is over 38 games.
Edm:
Away Games: 19 (50%)
12 of 19 vs playoff teams
Competition:
20 games vs Playoff Teams,
including 5 vs Wild Card Teams
********************
Cal:
Away Games: 14 (37%)
7 of 14 vs playoff teams
Competition:
16 games vs Playoff Teams,
including 4 vs Wild Card Teams
I started to look at back to back games and 3 in 4 and 4 in 6 and 5 in 7, but they were both similar, so I didn’t see the point.
FWIW, Ultimately, as we all thought, it looks like Edmonton faced more difficult competition.
Thanks for this Bruce. You’re the only reason I still read Cult:
https://edmontonjournal.com/sports/hockey/nhl/cult-of-hockey/jay-woodcrofts-innovative-donut-line-deployment-paying-dividends-for-oilers
I bit the bullet and bought tickets for tomorrow night. First ever playoff game! Wish it was in Edmonton but I’ll take it, super stoked!
Thanks again, what time and where are we meeting before the game?
I’m obliged to take the wife, she may be the only one there in a Puljujarvi jersey so we’ll be easy to spot!
See you down there!! Good thing about the ‘dome’ is it’s small enough that there’s no bad seats haha.
I had read (or heard) that Benson was on his way, driving to Edmonton first but he’s not on the current official list.
Edmonton Oilers
@EdmontonOilers
·
2h
The #Oilers have recalled the following players from the
@Condors
:
• Stuart Skinner
• Philip Broberg
• Markus Niemelainen
• Dmitri Samorukov
• Dylan Holloway
• Seth Griffith
• Brad Malone
McLeod’s skating would make him a good choice to shadow Little John everywhere he goes.
I think Archie would do a much better job of getting under his skin end into his head.
I’m fairly neutral on the outcome of this series, will enjoy watching all the players on a demanding stage. The coaching and strategies introduced in real time are fascinating will provide many opportunities for varying analysis. Players excelling under pressure will produce new stories to be revisited in the years ahead. The focus for many Canadians will be on Alberta for at least the next 2 rounds. The puck drop is much anticipated.
So why are you neutral? It’s Like kissing a slimy frog.
Flames and Oilers line up pretty equal. But then we have McDavid. Who wouldn’t take that?
Apparently every pundit and (anonymous) executive and coach interviewed in the athletic, TSN, sportsnet, ESPN?
In fact, the only authority I’ve seen who has publicly picked the Oilers is our beloved host.
Does Ryan Whitney count? I’ll see myself out.
Playing underdog is the way to go. I’m happy we are starting on the road. Reminds of 1988 Playoffs
Leon and Nurse are not 100% and the refs won’t call much which hurts the Oilers more.
Archie Kassian and Kane aren’t shrinking Violets. It’s too bad we don’t have a nasty prick on the D end.
Play 80 in the 7 spot and send him out first shift on the wing.
Seek and destroy.
Yikes, the rookie that leaked scoring chances and goals against?
I think Niemo will be a solid call-up option next season.
Niemelainen?
Bouchard came on strong last series. Had some struggles but came on, and I think he’s even better this series.
Im on record saying im hard on him and the rooks as they are key to the future. They absolutely must succeed.
And it does look like, or sounds like, Broberg and Holloway may take up two more spots (next year) on that top 12 roster spots LT has posted. With potentially 2 more support positions taken by recent draftees, that’s very strong.
The Flames have been very consistent. Steady, repeatable. But no surprises, they are what they are and you know what you face. same lines.
The Oilers have been very inconsistent, wildly unpredictable, potential nitrous offense on a switch, no way to know what you are getting and difficult to plan for.
A regular season weakness could turn into a strength.
I don’t think any team but Tampa can handle Good Woody Oilers
Sounds bad, smirk
Tampa has the discipline to
Health is a factor but if it’s a wash no team has the level Connor can drive
It may not be this season but it’s sitting there. Woody has to continue his willingness to do what is necessary with creativity and forge a new path
That is what made them what they were in the way backs
Some people might think draft talk is premature.
I am not one of those people.
To that end, here’s Pronman’s mock draft, wherein he has the Oilers taking a LD.
Finally!
Presuming the Oilers draft 22nd is a bit premature….
The second 2 is in the right place.
Spector has the Flames in 7.
Stauffer the Oil in 6. Although he did mention that he is employed by the team…
I’m not quite sure yet but I’m leaning Oilers in 5 based on:
Healthier Nurse
Superior offense and offensive ability in tight series.
More physical top 6 forward against smaller top 6 defense.
Faster bottom 6 forwards vs older and slower Calgary bottom six.
I saw Calgary’s forwards get rattled in a way against Dallas they didn’t get rattled all year. If the Oilers can keep up ManWood defense I think the Flames will get flustered. Of course that is dependent on the Oilers not getting flustered haha.
I’m saying Oilers in six, but I’ll own it as a homer pick.
I actually think it’s quite correct that the Flames come in as the favourites; I just don’t think they should be the overwhelming favourites they seem to be.
Perfect number for me
Convincing for their confidence, but not so much to fool themselves
Edmonton is Canada’s team
15 Canadian starters vs 7 for the other guys. Only 2 in their top 6 and top 4
When the Oilers win he has earned the title “Flames in 6 Spector”!
Seems like some folks are in a huff that the Oilers are underdogs in the series. I’ll bet Woody and the rest of the gang prefer the underdog label with all the pressure being on Sutter and running downhill. Oilers will be looking for the split and regaining home ice advantage in the BOA round 6.
Heap the pressure on the Flames and let’er cook. And adding some Oil with a Game 1 victory would add more fuel to the fire.
No team in the history of sports has ever factually preferred being an underdog.
It’s a talking point.
You want to be the 27 Yankees.
You want to be the 80s Oilers.
You want to be the heavyweight champ.
Every time.
The Flames aren’t any of those either. This series based on the past 3 months is closer to a pick’em with the Flames edge probably having home ice advantage earned over the 82 game schedule over which they were almost completely healthy.
Yeah this is more like ’22 Leafs favourite
Did you know that the payoff on David beating Goliath broke the house and they’re still paying it off over 3000 years later.
This book by Malcolm Gladwell discusses “underdogs” and David vs Goliath in particular:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_and_Goliath_(book)
Interesting take on the perception of who really is an underdog and who isn’t. There could be some parallels between this account and the Oilers/Flames.
Everyone’s an underdog till they become the champ. That’s how you get there. By climbing the ladder.
Winning one round doesn’t sound like much but there are only 8 teams left, EIGHT.
24 teams have been eliminated.
The Oilers still stand!
I agree. Winning any playoff series in this era of parity has to be considered a successful season; if you win 2 series, that’s very successful. Anything after that is just gravy.
So you’re saying Montreal and Dallas had spectacular seasons in the past two years.
What happened next?
Last year during their Cinderella run, you called Montreal a great team lol.
From reading Lebrun’s article at the Athletic, it seems that “hockey men” view Sutter-Woodcroft as a huge coaching mismatch. If the Oilers can win this series I think it would have the legend of Jay grow large outside of Edmonton.
That’s the lazy hockey narrative that is heard so often. That and heavy hockey wins in the playoffs. Well heavy hockey is code for a bunch of slugs who can’t skate and make a play and the Flames have their share of those guys (Lucic and whoever is on the 4th line with him, the bottom D pair). The Flames vaunted depth is an illusion. An injury or two, especially to a key D and they are in trouble.
The key from an Oiler perspective is how healthy Draisatl is and whether the Oilers can shut down the Flames top line. The Flames are as much top heavy as the Oilers.
I’m all for lots of icetime of the Lucic/Moore/Ritchie line….
Canada is the only Country where LEAFS fall in the spring!
An older gentleman at my local golf club in Summerland remarked when seeing my Oiler Hat on Monday, it was the first time in his lifetime that in the Calgary Edmonton second round series he wished both teams could lose. I smiled and replied so you’re a Laughs fan! Total silence with smiles from his playing partners at the table!
People have been knocking the Oilers since the Flames stole Gustafsson from us in the expansion draft.
Gretzky was too small and too slow. Here’s the Great One in a 100m dash against the Borg, Sugar Ray, and Pele…
That is one of the greatest things I’ve ever seen. No pun intended.
It was Washington.
That’s right it was. I just like to blame the Flames for everything bad.
#rewritinghistory
Well I can’t argue with that.
It’s also almost certainly not a 100m dash, despite that being on the title of the video I giffed…
Fitness Canada!
Bob asked Holland about “saying anything” if the officiating seems off.
Holland talked about the series supervisor that will meet with the teams before the game and sometimes the manager will sit in. He then said, after that, the series starts and games and “the refs will do what they gotta do” – then he went off on a tangent about how they want to play.
This is an under discussed aspect of the playoffs.
The GM has a direct line to the series supervisor, who’s basically the foreman of the refs and linesmen. If I understand correctly, the GMs have a meeting with the officials’ supervisor and basically air their grievances. This is then taken into account going forward, if only on a superficial basis.
What I’d like to know is a) how much impact a GM can have on setting the tone of the refereeing, and b) what kind of influence Old Dutch has (and the extent to which he wields it, if at all) in this regard.
That’s not quite how Holland described it.
He said that the series supervisor will speak with the coaches and that sometimes that managers will sit in.
I stand corrected on the principal characters involved.
I stand by my assertion that this interaction is underrepresented in playoff discussions.
“Hopefully there is an opportunity to keep him” – Holland on Kulak.
No surprise I don’t think but its now official that management will be looking to bring him back.
Dom and Shayna break down the Battle of Alberta.
https://theathletic.com/3317178/2022/05/17/2022-nhl-playoff-preview-flames-vs-oilers/
Serious question. If they had picked the Oilers, would you have posted this?
No. He would not have,
We all know he wouldn’t have.
Of note, in Dom’s personal bracket/predictions, he has the Oilers moving on….
https://twitter.com/domluszczyszyn/status/1526592297244274691
Sure…why not?
Worth noting…Dom had the Leafs making the cup final.
Worth noting, Dom’s vaunted model has an abysmal track record.
my prediction
1st game: Oilers 3 – Flamers 0
2nd game: Oilers 4 – Flamers 2
3rd game: Oilers 1 – Flamers 3
4th game: Oilers 2 – Flamers 1
5th game: Oilers 5 – Flamers 2
This is what I envisioned in my dreams last night, so it must be true 🙂
A best of 9?
best of 9? please see GM3
Senility is a bitch.
Stupidly is its own reward
Trolls don’t read so good
Reading comprehension?
Woody will be on Tim and Friends at 3 (mountain).
I enjoy his interviews with Tim since they went to HS together and even played hockey on the same team for awhile (Woody the grade below I believe).
Per Gazolla:
Oilers black aces will be Dylan Holloway, Philip Broberg, Marcus Niemelainen, Brad Malone & Seth Griffith.
Also per Gazolla:
Add Stuart Skinner and Dmitri Samorukov. Kyle Turris was recently recalled as well. The list will continue to grow. There are a few Condors players who are a little banged up after the series against Stockton.
—————-
Holland confirmed all this on Oilers Now.
Even mentioned Hamblin and Benson coming up (Hamblin is not signed for this season).
Mentioned that some are “depth” but some are just there for the experience (obviously).
Excellent, one step closer to getting a Hamblin, Hamblin & McGill line…
I’m not sure framing it in terms of “Calgary has a good forecheck,” is what we’re after. Zone entry, and entry with possession or a good chance to win possession, is what leads to extended zone time not forechecking per say.
Here I put the onus on the Oilers playing their five man style vs “we need to score” style. When they play the five man the backchecking is tighter, the defense are more willing to stand up at the line and offensive zone pressure leads to less clean breakouts. It forces turnovers, aimless dump-ins and line change breakouts instead of jailbreaks and odd-mans. Being committed to that defensive structure is what will tip things for the Oilers.
The Jekyll and Hyde effort levels in Round 1 re: the above is where fan faith comes in that they bleed that commitment.
Gotta hope they show up ready to play it tighter than a fiddle string.
working in calgary this week (if one good thing had to come from the pandemic it was freedom of location) and staying near the red mile. Ive found the locals are more excited than anything. Not throwing jabs or anything just eager to talk about the BOA and excited for the experience. Specifically older folks who were young people 30+ years ago. Im sure there’ll be some sticks in the mud but nothing could be worse than twitter so this honestly just feels like its going to be a tonne of fun.
heck the Flames tho.
I have lived in Calgary for the last 22 years after moving here for school. I gotta say this is the least amount I have been chirped in public for wearing oil gear in years. When it was game 7 it was 90% good luck, hopefully we get the next round etc. As of tomorrow: friends off haha.
Yeah I agree with this.
Had a couple of people come up to me in Round 1 saying “oh how are they doing?” And “hopefully BoA”.
I haven’t been chirped at all. See if that changes come tomorrow…
I think it’ll change. They really wanted the BoA, in part because they believe their own KoolAid that they’re a sure thing. Once it is “on” the chirping will resume. Although I do think people are more chill about it than they were 10 years ago.
I missed it live so will have to wait until it’s up on the pod but Holland was on OilersNow and confirmed that each of Drai, Kane and Nuge will play tomorrow.
Daniel Nugent-Bowman
@DNBsports
·
6m
“Everyone who didn’t skate is available.” — Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft on Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Evander Kane. He decided to borrow a line from Flames counterpart Darryl Sutter.
Hahaha that Woody is some cheeky.
Im glad to hear he actually listens to what his opponent says. He was quoting Todd all series long too.
That’s gold. Here’s to a few farm references, maybe something about taking rancher darryl to the ‘Woodshed’
Samorukov is close to being cleared to play. Holland confirms he will be one of the Black Aces. Players will be “here for the experience” according to Old Dutch.
Where’s this from? I’d like to read/listen later.
Edit: OPs comment indicates OilersNow.
I’m not sure if this is the Lowetide JP but I’m pasting a comment from the Athletic article. I’m not saying the Smith is better than, or even equal to, Markstrom but just that the flames may just not have the edge in the tending – we’ll have to see how it plays out:
https://theathletic.com/3316468/2022/05/17/lebrun-we-asked-nhl-execs-who-they-think-would-win-between-edmonton-and-calgary-in-their-playoff-series/
Jay P.
I’ve got no problem with Calgary being the unanimous pick to win round 2. But the quote from Exec #4 irked me (“Smith can’t outperform Markstrom”).
I generally hate when people use absolutes like that, since they are clearly never absolute.
Beyond that:
1) Smith and Markstrom had almost identical SV%’s I’m round 1.
2) Since Woodcroft took over (last 38 regular season games) Smith had a .926 SV% to Markstrom’s .915.
3) Whole season favors Markstrom .922 to .915.
4) Last 2 seasons have Smith ahead .919 to .915.
5) Markstrom vs Edmonton this season was 2-2, 3.54GAA, .884SV%.
6) Smith vs Calgary this season was 1-1, 3.81, .918.
7) Markstrom vs Edmonton last season he was 4-5, 3.34, .884.
8) Smith vs Calgary last season he was 5-3, 2.65, .911.
So yeah, there’s a chance.
Scroll down bud! I appreciate JP = Jay P., much like Homer J. Simpson finally learning his middle name is Jay.
My first thought was no way that’s our JP, there’s no 3 season average listed.
Markstrom .916
Smith .913
lol
Do you actually read what other people post?
Geezus – is the implication that I need to read each and every comment in the the thread prior to posting?
I read the article at the Athletic prior to going through the comments.
Sorry if this had negatively impacted your day.
I find it amusing that all of the media ‘experts’ almost to a person is picking the Flames to win. That’s a very positive indicator for the Oilers, given how often the experts are wrong.
Looking at the Flames, they are running Zadorov, Stone and Gudbranson of D and guys like Lucic and Ritchie. Seems like a lot of exploitable players out there.
Gudbranson was pretty much even on the season in most metrics but Zadarov was very good.
http://www.naturalstattrick.com/playerreport.php?fromseason=20212022&thruseason=20212022&stype=2&sit=all&stdoi=oi&rate=n&v=p&playerid=8477507
Stone only played 11 games and is essentially their #7D but he has been excellent in 4 playoff games…xG% 68.16
If Drai was healthy, head said Flames, heart said Oilers.
If Drai is at his Game 7 level, I just don’t see it happening.
Woodcroft should make the Oilers read the Athletic coaches/GM poll unanimously giving it to Calgary though.
Being the underdog now is different from the last 3 playoff series where they had the weight of expectation against the Hawks, Jets and Kings. Maybe they loosen up a bit.
Flames in 6.
You mean 22 minutes and two points?
Come on, Drai was valiantly trying, but it was McDavid who willed the team to victory there.
He’s going to get targeted by the thugs all series long.
Also a beautiful assist on the winning goal in game 6?
Maybe he is. Maybe he keeps working through it. Drai’s… a little competitive. If he can keep performing like this in spite of his injuries… That’s got to be demoralizing for the other side, no? He out-scored all the LA kings on one leg. While being targeted. I appreciate the alternative take, and your courage in posting it. I also disagree, and look forward to Leon continuing to out=perform the competition while working through his injuries. I also look forward to the flames trying to play him tough. I think he’ll be okay, and I think the Oilers will rally around him.
Picking on the injured guy never turns out badly for anyone right?
He played 22 minutes.
what if Connor is now the thug…I think he has had enough and decided its better to be the hammer
I don’t disagree with the premise.
Yes, Drai played 22 minutes. Yes, Drai impacted the game with positive offensive plays in both games 6 and 7.
No, Drai isn’t impacting the game nearly as positively as he generally does.
Recall the 2 on 1 goal he scored in, I believe, game 3, where he out-skated Kempe the length of the ice – zero chance he could do that now.
He can’t battle like normal, he can’t use his power as normal, he can’t defend as normal, he may not even be able to play center.
He will still be a main piece but just because he can play 22 minutes and get a couple points does not mean he can impact the game like a top 2-3 player in the world.
If Drai isn’t “healthier” than we saw on Saturday then the task gets harder.
It will be just that much sweeter when the Oilers eliminate the flames!
I have no idea why you are getting downvoted?
Wait, if Draisaitl is at his game seven level, your heart no longer says Oilers?
The Flames only have one ex Oiler where by the Oilers have four ex Flames Ryan Smith, Kulak and Russell. Players usually play with a little more motivation playing the team that dumped them. When Ryan is on he’s sneaky good I have a good feeling about Ryan this series if he’s healthy.
Had to give my head a shake and start reading again from the beginning when I read ‘Ryan Smith’
He meant to write Dylan Holloway but it came out as Ryan Smith.
both southern AB boys, converted to glory
Nurse not on the absence list for today’s skate (Drai, Nuge, Kane) which I would think to mean he’s getting healthier. Maybe not 100% but, if he’s skating….
I would expect “official call-ups” today from the Condors, no?
I think the Oilers are going to win the Stanley Cup.
I think the Oilers are in the process of exercising every demon they’ve had through the last 40+ years. And they’re doing it in one play-off run.
LA – 1982.
Calgary – 1989
Colorado – the late 90s/early 2000s
Carolina – 2006
This team… could this really be the road we’re walking?
I would enjoy that ride but I wouldn’t bet the house.
I think the Oilers are in the process of exercising every demon they’ve had through the last 40+ years.
I hope they have a strong leash.
That’s why I use a demon walking service
Both Tanev and Kylington were at practice today.
The flames faced essentially zero lineup adversity during their year. They essentially lost no real man games to Covid or injury. Seriously, look at all the difference objective measures and they were 32nd, with a bullet, like a real gap between them and the 31st.
The flames full healthy lineup is formidable but, guess what, so is the Oilers fully healthy lineup.
The points gap (wins, losses) between EDM and CGY during the season wasn’t much, and was essentially gone during the Woody era. At the same time the goal differential gap was real and substantial.
Given the zero lineup adversity and now, the new regime in Edmonton, how much of a gap is there?
The flames are starting to have some health adversity but, of course, so are the Oilers.
The biggest one is Drai, of that there is no doubt.
Does anybody here agree with me that the Oilers should use a designated winger to follow Gaudreau around the ice and check/harass him even when he doesnt have the puck, the way Tikkanen and Steve Kasper did to Gretzky? Maybe Archibald or Ryan? The offence all flows through Gaudreau and if he could be prevented from winding up in his own zone or setting up plays in ours it could make a huge difference.
As for the 9-5 loss late March, the Oilers played a home afternoon game to New Jersey, flew the next day to Colorado where they played the Avs to OT Monday night, flew into Dallas, got to the hotel at 3am according to Stauffer, blew a late lead to Dallas (fatigue was a big part i am sure), flew home that night and got home at 3 am again Tuesday night. Played San Jose Thursday night in Edmonton then Calgary Saturday at 8pm. 5 games in 5 cities in 8 days with travel and sleep from hell for a week. The same week Calgary played Vancouver on Saturday night, flew home, had Sunday off, practiced Monday afternoon, played Tuesday night at home against San Jose (lost 4-3), practiced Wednesday and Thursday, played Phoenix Friday night (won 4-2), then played the Oilers. 4 games in 2 cities, 3 in a row on a homestand. Yes they played back to back but it was a blowout over Phoenix (flames were up 4-0 at one point) and rolled 4 lines equally. I think the Oilers were exhausted and it showed, especially with mental errors and lost battles, especially in the second half of the game. Brassard had just arrived a few days ago and made a positional error on the first goal against, and we all remember Nurse going to the wrong spot a few times, Bouchard wandering back to a puck, and the entire team quitting in the third period. i don’t expect a repeat of that at all. It will be interesting to see how well the Oilers can get the puck out of their zone against a tough forecheck, and how they can prevent odd man rushes. Most of the time with Woodcroft they have done well at it but i am sure Sutter will be pressuring the Oilers’ D and it will be fascinating to see how well the forwards present passing options and are able to get puck possession back before the Flames can establish an offensive zone presence. In 1991 Beukeboom played against Fleury and absolutely wore him down over the series, smashing him every time he could. I suggest Archibald would be a good player to attempt to check JG, hitting him all he can when he has the puck to wear him down and checking him the entire time, faceguarding him like in basketball or football even when he doesn’t have the puck, so he doesn’t get it. this is what teams do to Connor and what i would like to see the Oilers do to JG.
Just let him and Yamamoto go at it . Yamo could probably take him .
oh yeah he could.
yamamoto could stop, twist, turn, skate with him as well. that kid is lightning
I would shadow Hockey and then Makar or Tarasenko after that
But especially the smaller freewheelers
Just because I was curious…
The last year the Toronto Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup they iced 6 players who were born in the 1920s (!) and Tim Horton was born just 12 days into the 1930s.
I live for this shit.
Maple Leafs and their fans having meltdowns is one of my favourite forms of entertainment.
The fact they have a “professional fan” who gives lectures after losing game 7s about how proud he is of his team and how the loss has impacted him emotionally but will persevere as if he has overcome some great hardship, is the cherry on the top.
I’ve lived in Toronto for several years of my life and have heavy feelings about the city itself: Its people, its geography, its institutions, have all impacted me greatly for good and bad. I love it and hate it. So my relationship with Toronto is, to say the least, very complicated.
But the Leafs? Just as I was raised, are dead to me. I mean, they were never alive to me in order to die to me but you get it.
Another exit and another reminder of Sid Sixiero’s stupid and ignorant tweet asking when McDavid would want out of Edmonton with zero degree of self-awareness.
I think the problem with their fanbase and media is actually that they simply don’t know how hard it is to win. You would think it is counterintuitive because they never win, and therefore they *should* think it is super hard.
But they think it’s easier than it as a factor of having no sense or experience with the challenge. This is a fanbase who haven’t even had the chance to see what getting close looks like. So they do a very poor job of assessing and anticipating. It’s all raw emotion (hello Steve Dangle!) combined with inexperience and the overbearing weight of incongruity between their sense of heritage and obvious lack of success. Look at me! Don’t look at me! They seem to shout at once.
Enter Matthews. Breaking all these team records this year was evidence of two things: Matthews is great, sure, but it really revealed the dearth of superpower in Toronto over the past half century. So they get a legit superstar and they think they are *owed* a championship because of it.
And of course it’s all projection: They think the Oilers are wasting a superstar because in their Original 6 minds, a superstar is all one needs, the rest should fall into place. They’ve waited 55 years, but it just gets harder and harder and harder each year. This could easily go a century and the sooner Leafs Nation understands they are owed nothing, the sooner they will again be able to assess and enjoy the game.
(BTW I actually think that the 55 years of no Cups is less pathetic than their inability to win anything against more than 5 opponents.)
I too lived in Toronto for a long time and their “Center-of-the-Universe” shtick just gets on my nerves. They are the greatest at everything but in the back of their minds they know they really wish they were New York. So jealous. A bit of humility would go a long way.
If you made a mockumentary about Toronto, the Leafs and their fans, I would watch it on loop and would recommend it to all of my family and friends.
Let me create some sockpuppets to upvote this a few more times.
Evan Bouchard was already yelling at clouds.
Matt Fenwick surfaces.
http://battleofalberta.blogspot.com/2022/05/like-donkey-kong.html
I’m conflicted by this post. On the one hand, I’m overjoyed to see BOA back up and running and the comments section is already a murderers row of old-guard highly opinionated smart men and also Pat McLean. On the other hand, I’m praying that it doesn’t change a bit from my memories of Jarmoe and being Stempniak’d, due to extra traffic.
Practice underway.
No Drai or Kane.
Also, no Nuge.
— going to be a lot of fun next few weeks. Presumably lots of emotional highs and lows for fans. Drai’s level of play is the X factor IMO. Who might be the one to step up in his absence?
— There isn’t a scenario that I’d rule out or be surprised of, except a sweep for either team.
— Can’t believe I’m saying this but please stay healthy Mike! I will gladly eat my hat if Smith backstops another 12Ws.
— will hang up the Oiler Flag in the heart of Leafs Nation (and get heckled by former Leaf player who walks by with his dog daily and trashed talked me last year when I had to take it down so quickly in the middle of the night!). Will be sweet to see his reaction when I put it up on Wednesday!
Do you have any good recipes for hats! Asking for a friend.😉