At some point in my life as a sports fan, the leagues I followed decided to expand at a rapid rate. Some decided two new teams every two years was a good idea, and I learned over about a 10-year span specific team building templates worked way better than others. The Kansas City Royals and the Philadelphia Flyers went with young players who were ready and left the famous names for others. The St. Louis Blues went with veterans and the Seattle Pilots went with inspiring great literature.
In the last decade or so, Edmonton has employed several general managers, three of whom had a significant impact on the current roster. The salary cap makes procurement a different deal now, but the idea is to get good players and keep good players. Are the Oilers making progress?
THE ATHLETIC!
- New Lowetide: The Oilers’ emerging NHL Draft selection destination
- DNB: Oilers’ biggest worry after Game 1? Darnell Nurse and Leon Draisaitl’s health
- DNB and Hailey Salvian: Flames beat the Oilers in a wild, high-scoring Game 1
- Lowetide: What should Oilers do on right wing this summer?
- DNB and Hailey Salvian: Flames vs. Oilers: Key matchups, injury updates and storylines
- 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
TEAM BUILDING
I’ve been reflecting on Craig MacTavish lately, just reviewing in my mind the things he did (good and bad) while general manager of the team. On the good side, he and the scouts got the first-round picks right (I believe) when grabbing Darnell Nurse and Leon Draisaitl.
He acquired David Perron in the first big trade, picked up Laurent Brossoit in the Ladislav Smid deal. On the other hand, he dealt Devan Dubynk away as the young goalie struggled with the implementation of new coach Dallas Eakins’ system. Also traded were Jeff Petry, Ales Hemsky and Perron. MacT’s moves, especially at the 2015 deadline, told us where he was heading (more rebuilding). I think there’s a good chance Edmonton is in a better spot if MacT remains GM.
The last time Edmonton had at least one pick in every round was 2013, under MacT’s watch. He also made ‘that crazy trade’ that returned five picks for one selection. I think that was a strong idea and also believe a team needs one pick a round to keep pace with their division. Edmonton will be stockpiling picks by the end of the decade, but the next several years will see rentals at deadlines. MacT inherited some fine pieces (Hall, Eberle, Nuge, Klefbom, Justin Schultz) while adding Draisaitl and Nurse. He sent away Dubnyk and Petry, so had his own foibles, but generally speaking I think he had his heart in the right place.
Peter Chiarelli, who I thought would be a good GM in Edmonton, was less concerned with value and more concerned with getting better in a hurry. He made changes and addressed needs, but they payment for Cam Talbot, Griffin Reinhart and Adam Larsson was so devastating the entire roof caved in. Here is PC’s 50-man list from March 2017:
There are improvements here, including Patrick Maroon, Benoit Pouliot, Zack Kassian, Andrej Sekera, Cam Talbot, Adam Larsson, but trading for Larsson while giving up Taylor Hall is not good management.
Ken Holland’s Oilers are unique to MacT’s and Chiarelli’s, and I do think the idea of “get good players, keep good players” can be identified. Names like Zach Hyman, Cody Ceci, Evander Kane,
CURRENT 50-MAN (51)
- Goalies (6): Mike Smith, Mikko Koskinen, Stuart Skinner, Ilya Konovalov, Olivier Rodrigue, Ryan Fanti
- Left Defense (9): Darnell Nurse, Duncan Keith, Brett Kulak, Kris Russell, Philip Broberg, Markus Niemelainen, Slater Koekkoek (ir), Dmitri Samorukov (ir), Oscar Klefbom (ir)
- Right Defense (7): Tyson Barrie, Cody Ceci, Evan Bouchard, Filip Berglund, Phil Kemp, Mike Kesselring, Vincent Desharnais
- Center (8): Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hoplins, Ryan McLeod, Devin Shore, Derick Brassard, James Hamblin, Noah Philp
- Left Wing (11): Evander Kane, Zach Hyman, Josh Archibald, Warren Foegele, Dylan Holloway, Tyler Benson, Brendan Perlini, Raphael Lavoie, Ostap Safin, Matvey Petrov, Carter Savoie
- Right Wing (10): Jesse Puljujarvi, Kailer Yamamoto, Derek Ryan, Zack Kassian, Seth Griffith, Kyle Turris, Colton Sceviour, Cooper Marody, Tyler Tullio, Xavier Bourgault
Several of these players have contracts that start next season, and several more are UFA. This is designed to get the lay of the land as opposed to being an official document.
I think this team has more quality and depth than the previous two GM’s, but is he getting enough value for what has been given? I believe the answer is no, but it’s better. I also think there’s a temptation (or tendency) to credit Holland for the good works of Jay Woodcroft and Dave Manson. Fair? My question is ‘imagine a truly balanced roster and what these coaches could do? I also think it’s worth fretting over what this management group will get from Jesse Puljujarvi this summer if he is dealt. Thoughts?
LOWDOWN WITH LOWETIDE
It’s Friday and May long is just ahead! Sure it’s cold but it’s Friday and May long is just ahead. We’ll talk to Steve Lansky about Flames-Oilers Game 2, Chris Johnston (TSN Insider) about Draisaitl and Nurse (injuries) and chat Oilers and PGA Championship with Matthew Iwanyk. 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. See you on the radio!
Could 8-830pm start time contribute to Oilers slow start?….Hoping next couple of games being an early start change that narrative.
Best worst sleep ever.
Living in Ottawa, these late games are killing me. But worth every second
Great game last nigh….. and they may be able to make the team better with Holloway in over Archibald (who barely played).
Oilers turned this series on its head!
You wonder if they can keep pulling this until they defeat the Bolts in the Finals.
“That’s one Nuggy!” Wooo:
https://twitter.com/loiloilfan/status/1528001627302416385?s=20&t=LofzPUQ0glNwXOON9Oc5Iw
One of the most heartening parts of last night’s games is that my eyes saw Leon looking closer to 85% in periods 2 and 3. It started with him actually making some plays with the puck – his classic puck protection and some tight turns. He then seemed to make a couple of plays with power and that top line turned unstoppable.
If Leon is, somehow, able to play THAT game most of the time, then this team has a legit chance nightly.
Now, Nurse (although he was a warrior in the 3rd)…..
Missed the game at 1-0 then 2-0 – Oilers win game and found out long after the game.
Shocked!
“Oilers are making believers out of me” Don King
Infractions on star players should be called for other protection. With all his brilliance last evening, Connor drew at least 6 penalties and yet not one was called. zaradov on one play could have had 3 calls against him. NHL needs to protect their stars.
Yep but they never do.
Watch tape of Bobby Orr skating circles around everyone. They can’t get near him so it’s two handers to the side of his knees constantly.
And for some reason his career ended early with problems with, you guessed it, his knees.
Same as it ever was.
Mike Bossy
Two disallowed goals and obvious referee and media bias against your team?
Win anyways and still be the underdog underrated by media and fans.
What an effort. They need to continue this next game, minus the disallowed goals, hopefully.
I thought we were getting decent calls for, when behind, excluding unfortunate quick whistle and the least Kessler like goalie interference you could get lol…up to the point game management 3rd period.
I thought the refs were equally inept for both teams, except the classic “game management” calls on Nuge and Foegle.
No way. That phantom goalie interference call (that took astoundingly little time), the super weak call with 3mins to go, the headshot on Kulak. This game was not ‘evenly called’. Calgary didn’t deal with those hardships.
Man, this team…
As someone who said very early that Holloway won’t or shouldn’t see NHL ice this season, after watching his last game, which was yet another dominant showing, plus goals and points. There is zero doubt that he is ready and that he is the 3rd best LW in the organization.
I loved the McLeod-Yamo combo, but add #36 to that mix and that would be a really fun line to see.
Drop McLovin to the 4th line and PB Archie and then this team will be cookin.
Lets do it Woodmeister!
Kane played a lot of tough minutes with that duo against Lindholm, Gaudreau and Tkachuk. In fact that looked like Woody’s preferred match. I’d rather see that continue.
This has nothing to do with Kane. And who did Foegele play with?
And how impactful was Archibald?
Oilers really upped the physicality after going down early. When they play like this they are a top 5 team all day. Forechecking and finishing hits. Seems to always result in goals.
Also, shout out to JP. He showed me what it looks like when goes a little nuts and starts smashing guys. It’s exactly how I envisioned, and it was amazing. Just manhandling people. I talk a lot of crap about him and his lack of hitting, but I’m sold as long as he can bring that to his daily game.
In a million years I never thought I would love Mike Smith. I hated playing him in Arizona and Calgary. Here we are. I can’t imagine his drive for glory right now, seeing the generational players in front of him. He is an emotional leader out there. Nobody is more into the game than him. Add in his age and the weight of knowing this could be his final kick at the Stanley can. Everytime people bury him/write him off, his hand blasts out of the dirt and grabs the narrative by the throat and tosses it aside. Is there a more mentally tough guy on the team? Does Markstrom have that in him after giving up 6 and now basically 7? I think that will be the story of the series.
The best part of this game; CGY had no response. Sure they tried to score and had some pressure, but they did not make it ugly and nasty late, and their goons weren’t nearly as effective.
I really disliked the Tkachuk elbow on Kulak, that’s a nasty one.
I liked the part of the story where Zadorov tried to hit McDavid, and Connor shrugged him off like he was a gnat, and then preceded to bury one past Markstrom.
He came close around a minute and a half left to trying too hard to go for his own empty netter…almost had the patented out of net panic scramble likely goal – did not like that.
Yup saw that. Kinda froze back there!
Flames allow 5 goals in back to back games for the first time all season
-Sportsnet stats
and three in a row versus the Oilers…..
Unofficially 6.
If this is an entire series of Oiler shooters exposing Markstrom’s glove side, I will be a very happy camper. Hope the whole League is watching.
3 of the 5 goals weren’t glove side, and I’m not sure Keith’s goal should be considered glove side. Were the majority in game 1 glove side?
It’s more of Markstrom hugging the post tight and deep on the goal line when the Oilers come out from behind the net. (3 goals).
“I’m always hungry to make a play” Connor McDavid.
Hyman 3 Blocks
Yam’s and Ryan with 2
on D
Barrie and Nurse with 2 each
Thank you boys!
Playoff leaderboard:
FW
Nuge 7
Yam, Puljujarvi, McLeod 6
Archie, Hyman 5
D
Nurse 21
Ceci, Keith 15
And one from 97 at the end.
Stupid reporter: “How do you make sure you stay out of the box?”
Sutter: “Stay out of the box.”
I’d like to credit Warren Foegle for the win. Without that weak penalty call, Hyman never would have scored the winner!
The calls were 6-2 you knew we were getting the next 2 calls no matter what. That’s why the Hyman Goal felt so good. Fuk you Lee and the horse you rode in on.
That late slashing call on Nuge was shocking. Minutes left in the game, bodies are flying, and they called a tap on the pack carrier’s gloves. Unbelievable
After it happens to McDavid, reliably, 5 times a game.
Not overly-enthused with the “Mike is with the training staff….”
https://twitter.com/GenePrincipe/status/1527892991339163648
Hand?
That shot to the wrist looked like it hurt the most but he was also bowled over a couple of times.
He’s 40 and playing every game (mostly)… I’d be worried if he wasn’t with the training staff.
ESPN crew mentioned they thought he might have been cramping during the break near the end of the game. And Koskinen went into the tunnel, presumably to limber up just in case.
Cramping still isn’t ideal, but better than a real injury (if that’s in fact what it was).
Weird the problems goalies have sometimes. Who was it, I think Khabibulin, who sweat so much that he had to drill little holes in his skates to let the sweat escape? I used to play ball hockey in a tiny gym in Edmonton (highest skill level players I ever played against, very good times). The other team was a threat to score if they had the ball beside their own net. In goal, you couldn’t ever relax for more than a few seconds at a time, and I would literally lose several pounds of weight sweating, and sometimes felt like I was going to get heatstroke. I developed a routine where I’d pre-hydrate, drink like 3L of water over the course of the day, make sure my urine was clear, make sure to bring some sports drink, and I really really noticed the difference it made. Your brain and body work better when they are hydrated. I talked to a guy who was a sports psychologist to e-players (who knew that’s a thing?) and he said the first thing he always stresses is hydration. Crazy to think something so simple could be so profound.
We talk about McDavid and Draisaitl (rightly so), but the work Hyman is putting in is just outstanding. He’s been a monster along the boards, cycling and finishing. Can’t say enough good things about his play in the first 2 games.
His contract will end up hurting at the end, but the earlt comparisons to Lucic don’t fit. He’s played better for us this year than Lucic ever did.
Really glad the Oilers were able to get him out of the 1st round for the first time in his career!
I loved that he wanted to play in Edmonton. Love love love that good players, who are in demand and could choose to play elsewhere, look at the Oilers and think, “I want to be a part of that.”
He’s sort of like if Michael Peca and Glen Anderson were combined into one player.
Woodcroft needles DNB for asking about Holloway and Broberg taking the warmup after *that* game lol.
Did anyone else notice how Woodcroft repeatedly referenced in both post games how the Oilers:
– “hung 6 goals on Markstrom” (end of game 1); and
-“We found a way to score seven” on Markstrom?
My speculation is that this is a form of psychological coaching from Woodcroft – both as a boost to remind his players that the Flames starting goalie is very beatable, and also perhaps an attempt to get in the head of the Flames/Markstrom to remind them how many goals he is allowing.
Maybe its nothing, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Woody is thinking like this – he seems rather clever after all.
Very noticeable, and it has to be a deliberate ploy to get into Markstrom’s head.
Markström is a little fragile from what I’ve gathered over the years. I’m sure he’s gotten better with age but was a real issue when he was younger. His dad is one of those screamy, shouty types.
Either way he isn’t playing well. He’s deep in his net, seems stiff and on his heels so he ends up on his back often. Still made some strong saves from his great lateral mobility and he’s very tight in his butterfly so doesn’t leave a lot of holes near his body but overall he ain’t looking good. Hope it continues.
By not allowing 9 goals, I think we really give ourselves a good chance to win
LOL. Thanks for this.
That made me laugh. lol
Woody: “We found a way to score seven…”
“…one of the reasons we were able to get seven past their goalie…”
lol he goes there again.
He wouldn’t let that go…love it.
I don’t think he can get fined for that.
He found a way to make the point without being fined.
Man, that was fun to watch. Connor, oh Connor… you’re wealth of talent is indescribable. Bouchard has one hell of a shot. Drai looked about 70%… even at 70% he commands respect. Hyman was a possession monster, and scored that beauty breakaway goal. Smith had another rough start, then essentially nailed the doors. Kailer was his persistent, hard hitting, energetic, bothersome self… little-but-deadly… I love his game.
Btw, if JohnnyH played with the heart and willingness to go to the tough places, as Kailer does, he’d be scary. He doesn’t like getting hit… that’s not his game.
Huge congrats to the coaching staff for preparing this team to win. Further congrats for instilling that comeback mentality… they stood tall, stuck with their game, and outscored the bad guys.
Sunday baby. LET’S GO OILERS, LET’S GO!!!
Connor and Leon now both with 42 points in 30 career playoff games.
Does player safety meet with the Turtle on the Kulak cheap shot?
Definitely malicious.
He is a smart cheap shot. He preys on guys when they are engaged with another player. He also turns last minute to hit with his backside. This seemingly protects him from repercussions.
His old man was worse.
The shit apple doesn’t fall far from the shit tree.
Took a second look this am. Upchuck targeted the head. The league has to crack down on hits to the head and or get rid of the instigator rule. The referees and league are not protecting the players!
Duncan Keith….
Keith-Bouchard and Smith … they really redeemed themselves after starting the game off with a lot of wobble.
Major credit to McDavid though … he started pushing and the team woke up and started to follow.
Definitely, in particular Nurse….. I thought Drai looked MUCH more like himself in the last two periods.
Draisaitl even saw PK time on the 6 on 4.
Amazing how a team can looked banged up and defeated one game….
Our Captain leads. Where did that comeback come from? From Connor. he dragged their sorry asses back nito the game and gave the team the opportunity to get the win.
Nine playoff games. Eight of them multi-point games.
Led the team in hits again tonight.
Kass didn’t see the ice in the 3rd. Archie one shift.
I would go 7-11 next game and play Holloway. Kass and Arch were absolute cringe tonight.
I’d definitely go 7-11. I don’t know if I would go Holloway. I wouldn’t mind seeing Shore for a game. Another face off guy. Can hit as much as Kass if asked to.
Holloway seems like the most dynamic/highest upside option.
Shore for Kassian could be a good move. Fresh legs & body and have Kassian watch a game thinking about how he can have a positive impact.
that’s what I’m thinkin too.
It’s Holloway time. Archibald helped against LA, because his speed and agression were required. The Flames are too good for Archibald to help. An all-around forward who can transport the puck would help more. Holloway in for Archibald. And if it is 11-7, then Broberg for Kassian.
11-7 with Holloway, Derek Ryan and the two extra forwards, and Broberg.
Less likely to take a dumb penalty, too.
First Oilers game in the playoffs where the team scoring the first goal lost.
Glad it worked out this way
First Oiler game in the playoffs where the lead changed hands at any point.
Got the win. Smith played very well after the poor start.
Great to see Keith especially, and Bouchard, make positive contributions on the scoresheet.
Monster game from Drai, again.
From five goals in twelve minutes to one in the last 54. Series changing.
Draisaitl having more points then anyone but McDavid is ridiculous.
All while being held together with duct tape and Gorilla Glue — the guy must be part machine.
The best part of this game was the Leon goal being called back and McDavid setting his jaw and getting to work.
He is as strong willed as he is otherworldly skilled.
When he goes super saiyan he can do whatever he wants.
Haha I was joking to my buddy in real time that he was gonne spend the entire commercial break yelling like Goku.
That team came a long way after the bad start.Hyman’s short handed goal was divine intervention, and the poetic justice on the quick whistle… 3-1 comeback to 5-3. I am so satisfied and fulfilled.
I’m so pumped up after that, there’s no way I’ll be sleeping before 1am.
You said it. I didn’t like our disallowed goal at all, but watching the same standard applied to theirs made me feel better about it. Now if only we can have one standard for goaltender interference…
Split split split!!!! The godless phlegms can eat shit!!!
Shakespeare could not have said it better.
Home ice advantage baby!!!!
Huge win!
Both coaches getting fined by the league tomorrow? Wonder if that has ever happened.
Brutal reffing. Why am I surprised?
That was absolute character tonight. 2 legit goals called back, come back from 3-1 to win 5-3. Wow what a game. Flames got some bounces that ended up in the Oilers net. Broken sticks, rebounds. They outplayed them for stretches.
I credit ManWood, saw some excellent adjustments tonight.
WOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Dominating game!!!
We had our usual start but Mike found his game and so did we!!!
McDavid is Amazing! Drai is figuring out how to play with his injury! Same with Nurse.
Top to bottom, after the halfway in the first our guys decided to battle and it was a sight to behold!
This is our game! THiS is Oilers Hockey!!!
I can’t Wait to see how bananas our barn Is gonna be on Sunday!!!
GO OILERS!!!
Not to say that nobody else played well, but I thought that Nugent-Hopkins had a whale of a 3rd period.
He was much more physically assertive tonight compared to Game one. Was skating hard, was decisive with the puck and had a strong stick.
I thought that whole line looked good.
Hyman-Nuge-PJ
Hyman was a beast, Nuge and JP were very good. Archibald and Kassian look done.
I have no idea what this hockey team is going to look like from one minute to the next and I’ve spent an unhealthy amount of my time watching them play, watching them in press conferences and speculating about their play on internet message boards.
Calgary sucks.
tied 1-1, gf 12-11 calgary… oilers +9 goal differential for the playoffs… McLovin’ it!
And McDavid’s +/- is +12
Crazy to combine that stat with his ice time. Hard to play that many minutes without finding yourself too gassed to backcheck sometimes. McJesus #skatesonwater
And just like that, the Oilers have home-ice advantage.
Oh, and they’ve pumped 11 goals on Markstrom in two games.
Twelve really.
Actually, 13….
13 even.
Markstrom is a paper tiger.
Connor & Drai have only shot on the guy for their entire CAREERS!
They aren’t intimidated by Markstrom at all.
Oilers now have home ice advantage.
Bet 365 is going to take a beating tonight.
Actually, research shows that gamblers, in general, lose more than they win, and people who do win often spend their winnings on more gambling in particular, and with less care in general. Research also shows that people talk about successful bets much more often than unsuccessful ones, which can give the appearance that the odds are higher than they actually are. In reality, it’s even harder to lose money as a bookie than it is as a realtor. I understand that illegal gambling was happening anyway, but on a meta level this basically amounts to a huge transfer of wealth away from hockey fans who enjoy gambling and towards gambling companies. JMO, no disrespect intended to those who enjoy gambling, I hope all of you win all the money… if you bet on the Oilers 🙂
Nice win. Overcame adversity. Took it to the Flames. Fuck the Flames.
This. All. Night. Long.
Fuck the Flames. And fuck the refs. Hyman says hi.
Split. That’s all we needed. First game matters not now. And mo’ coming home
GG boys
The split is huge.
Big time rebound from that mess of a game 1 too.
Man, that empty netter would been sweet.