Edmonton is a great city in the summer. It’s warm and the river valley is available for cycling, running or walking. There are festivals galore, concerts, museums, restaurants, patios, lakes, backyards, football, baseball, and general tomfoolery.
The main activity of a summer in Edmonton is rumours about the Oilers. It’s endless. I had a guy tell me he knew a guy who did some work on Katz’ house years ago, and he was told that Mike Babcock was going to be the new head coach of the Oilers soon. That was 15 years ago.
Here’s the thing. Sometimes those rumours come true. I was told that Todd McLellan would be head coach of the team months before it happened, and that Milan Lucic was a strong possibility, too.
THE ATHLETIC!
- New Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers’ Tyler Benson is at a career crossroads
- Lowetide: What does Oilers’ optimal roster for Jay Woodcroft look like?
- DNB: Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl’s playoffs for the ages: What’s the legacy?
- DNB & Scott Powers: What it means for Blackhawks, Oilers’ cap situations if Duncan Keith retires
- Lowetide: Oilers pro scouts have to get it right in free agency this summer
- DNB: Edmonton Oilers offseason priorities: A 10-step plan for success
- Lowetide: What will Edmonton Oilers do in first round of 2022 NHL Draft?
- Lowetide: Can the ‘Connor McDavid will ask Oilers to be traded?’ group please sit down?
- DNB: Oilers end-of-season takeaways
- Lowetide: Young Oilers players poised for bigger roles after playoff run
- DNB: What Oilers goalie Mike Smith’s unclear future could mean for offseason plans
- DNB: Oilers’ season ends, and critical roster decisions will define what comes next
- Lowetide: In defence of Edmonton Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse
- Lowetide: Oilers’ Warren Foegele may be victim of cap crunch this summer
- Lowetide: WHL’s 2022 defence crop attractive target for Oilers at NHL Draft
- DNB and Dan Robson: Connor McDavid is the best skater NHL’s skating greats have ever seen
- Lowetide: Why Jordan Dumais could be NHL Draft steal for Edmonton Oilers
NAMES THIS SUMMER
We have Andrei Kuzmenko making up his mind next week and the Oilers have a shot. Probably better than average since Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl could make the Russian skill winger rich by next summer. He’s not going to be expensive this summer and that has to be of great interest to Ken Holland.
Tyson Barrie is a player I can see being dealt, his skill set is mostly duplicated by Evan Bouchard. Barrie is more experienced, and played well in 2021-22, but one suspsects he could be dealt this summer. He has value and the contract isn’t impossible for his next team to take on.
Josh Anderson gets mentioned a little by many, or maybe it’s a lot by few. Either way, Anderson’s cap hit ($5.5 million AAV) and contract length (five years) mean he is a significant investment. Since Edmonton is tight to the cap before turning a wheel in procurement this summer, a trade for Anderson would have to include someone making around $5.5 million. Candidates in the range include Zach Hyman (no), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (no), Tyson Barrie (Habs already have Jeff Petry and David Savard on RHD, plus young Justin Barron and veteran Chris Wideman) Zack Kassian (yes, but Montreal wouldn’t make that deal). If the Oilers are pursuing Anderson, that’s a tell imo on the Evander Kane negotiations.
TRADING PICKS AND PROSPECTS
One of the interesting pieces of conversation from yesterday’s comments surrounded prospects who are safe from trade consideration. It appears many believe Philip Broberg, Dylan Holloway and Xavier Bourgault are off limits for several folks on the board. I agree with that idea almost always, as GM Ken Holland will value his own selections more than the previous regime’s picks. That is human nature and has been proven time and again.
In this specific situation, I think Holland could make some of these names available. It would seem Broberg is part of the future (Duncan Keith is a year away, or less, from leaving, and Broberg is the most obvious internal replacement) and I can believe Holloway is also off limits, but after that I can’t see anyone who is likely to emerge as a major contributor before the fall of 2024.
Leon Draisaitl is a free agent in the summer of 2025. The next three seasons have extreme importance. The only young players who (imo) are off limits are Broberg, Evan Bouchard, Ryan McLeod and Stuart Skinner. I don’t think Holland would actively shop Bourgault or Holloway, but if that’s part of the ask, and the return is an upgrade on the current roster (and can help over the next three seasons), I can see management pulling the trigger.
The final point I would like to make and it’s about Jesse Puljujarvi. I’m not sure the Oilers will trade him this summer, for two reasons. First, his second half had a negative impact on his value. He may not fetch enough to justify a trade due to the downbeat after Covid.
Second, a Kuzmenko signing would add another skill winger to the group and likely mean the Russian or Zach Hyman move over to right wing. A top three RW depth chart of (say) Yamamoto-Puljujarvi-Kuzmenko gives the team an opportunity to run the two men with a hot hand on the top two lines. I don’t see anyone in that group of three who is so dynamic we can be assured of their spot on the skill lines.
I think Puljujarvi might be staying. The second half was the key.
LOWETIDE AND JAMIESON
Friday and we have tons to discuss, 10-2 on TSN1260. Steve Lansky will discuss next season’s national broadcasts on all of the networks, we’re going to give him complete say on the perfect hockey broadcast and see where he goes. Connor Halley will check in from Elks walk through at 11, James Duthie at noon, Tyler Yaremchuk at 12:20, Adam Scully from Golf Talk Canada at 1 this afternoon and we’re tracking more guests as well. 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. Talk soon!
Just a thought for people down on Nurse – either he is head and shoulders the Oilers best overall defenseman, or both Woodcroft and Tippet have been making addled decisions about ice time. His coaches deploy him like they think he’s a horse and like they think he is Edmonton’s best bet to shut down the other team’s best players.
Oh, there is little doubt that Nurse is the team’s top d-man. There can be arguments and discussion about $9.25MM kicking in next season but, in my opinion, if anyone posits that he’s not the team’s top d-man, not a legit top pairing d-man (top 60, give or take) or even that “he’s useless or terrible defenisvely, well, that is not an objective or reasonable position.
Before Jay and Dave showed up, he was playing like 25 plus minutes per night and still playing close to 40% of his TOI vs elites. Winning those minutes as well.
After Jay and Dave showed up, his overall minutes decreased by a few per game but he was tasked with playing apx 50% TOI vs. elites. Objectively the toughest minutes in the league as far as QoC.
He killed those minutes as well – massive goal share.
Yes, of course, playing with McDavid helps, it helps ALOT, but Nurse killed those minutes and also did well in tough minutes away from McDavid.
Sure, he misses the odd breakout pass and causes an unforced icing. Yes, the odd muffin in the o-zone. Well, at the same time, he gets beat off the rush like once per season (against top comp), except when massively injured). He is top 10-15 in ES production over the course of 4 years now – yes, McDavid but all top scoring d-man play with stars.
His partners over the last few years: Bear, Barrie, Bouchard, Ceci.
Until he tore his core, extremely durable, barely missing a game with injury since his rookie season.
I did see some regression this past season in the defensive zone half court structure game – back to puck chasing and walkabout but I think that was “trying to do too much” due to having signed a new contract. Manson and training camp and a full season will reign that in.
Fine, $9.25MM is likely a millinion high but he’s a legit top pairig guy and likely around 15 in the league.
I wonder how long until his salary falls down to #15 and below. I’d guess before he turns 30.
Remember when Torts said McDavid should change his game for the playoffs? And then McDavid dunked on his face, posting 2 PPG in the playoffs, one of the most dominant playoff performances of all time?
The Flyers just hired that posterized man-child to coach their team. For 4.5 mil / year.
I’m confident that this will end poorly.
I would note that McDavid did indeed change his game in the playoffs…… he did ALOT of what Torts was getting at (plus being “otherworldly” offensively, and overall)…..
John has won a Cup, winners have a longer shelf life and get paid very well. (see Holland photo) this isn’t something new or surprising.
Reframing Jesse Puljujarvi’s disappointing season:
PPG (all situations)
2022 0.55
2021 0.45
% improvement = 21.8 %
Let’s project a “bear” scenario of 0% improvement, “neutral” scenario of 10% improvement, and “bull” scenario of 20%, and “ultra-bull” scenario of 30% for 2023. I suppose there is an ultra-bear scenario of 10% regression.
Ultra Bear – 0.50 (41 points / 82 GP)
Bear – 0.55 (45 points / 82 GP)
Neutral – 0.61 (50 points / 82 GP)
Bull – 0.66 (54 points / 82 GP)
Ultra Bull – 0.72 (59 points / 82 GP)
I want to look at JP’s shooting percentage. He shot 8.8% this past season versus 13.0% last season. If JP shot 13 percent this year, he would have finished with 21 goals. That would make his year 21 goals + 22 A for 43 points / 65 games.
That’s 54 points / 82 GP.
So, in theory, Jesse could hit the bull scenario by just being luckier.
I think the upside to this player over the next couple of years is enormous. If he improves at the same rate from 2022 to 2023 as he did from 2021 to 2022 (I mean seasons), you have a 54 point / 82 game player. If he improves more and/or gets luckier? Easy first liner, particularly given his defensive game.
How about TOI?
20-21: ~15 min / game
21-22: ~16 min / game
If JP’s ice time goes to ~ 17 min, that’s a 6% increase. Assuming a linear relationship (and that the new ice time isn’t PK, which may be a stretch), his production would go from 0.55 PPG to 0.58 PPG.
I’m amazed he improved his point production so much whilst his shooting percentage tanked. This is quite impressive, even though he is “disappointed.” I think a combination of intrinsic improvement + better luck + more ice time makes the ultra bull scenario (or beyond) scenario in fact the most likely.
TLDR: Sign the man for as many years as possible! Personally, I wouldn’t be afraid of doing 4 per year, or even 5 with him if it buys term.
12 points in 10 games and 24 in 28…. then (a) Covid, (b) LBI that kept him out over a month and effected his skating upon return, (c) out a week with another illness.
Good post, but you lost me at the end with $5 mln/yr. Otherwise I agree with you.
@ChrisFaber39
Getting a good vibe from the Andrei Kuzmenko crew about Vancouver…
4:34 PM · Jun 17, 2022·Twitter for iPhone
Just in time to get devastated
Who? You?
Stauffer had Gerry Johanson (Keith’s new agent) and asked him about the Oilers request for his plans, etc. and if there has been anything to report on Keith’s head space.
GJ said, first, Edmonton was BY FAR his first choice of places to come to and that he absolutely loved it in Edmonton, he really did.
As with any older player, he wants to give his body some time while understanding the pressure and timelines the Oilers are under.
“I really don’t know what he’s going to do but I will say that he’s a smart guy and he understands his body and, as a 39 year old he wants to make sure he has the juice if he wants to come back. I think we’ll have an understanding pretty soon.”
“He’s going to give it some real thought and, if he thinks he can play, he will”.
Stauffer also asked about Kulak (who GJ represents) and he said he loved it in Edmonton and will be giving serious consideration to coming back (whether Keith decides to come back or not).
GJ has chatted with Holland a few times – talked about how great Holland is and used the word “charming”.
They did talk about Brett and Edmonton definitely wants him back.
There are some challenges there but the Oilers are on it and it will just take a bit of time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJRP3LRcUFg
This Charming Man
Good, I really want to keep Kulak
At some point it just becomes too much despite the player wanting to play forever which Smith and Keith would do if able
Sure, the question is if its at that point.
Still doesn’t seem likely for Keith but that’s what Keith is in the process of deciding (from accounts).
Good info above, OP, thank you.
I expect him back. I don’t expect him to provide value for his cap hit but he loves hockey, has lived it his whole life, and is in a good place on a good team. Only reason to leave is if his body craps out on him. I do give him some credit for providing “indirect value” as far as leadership, setting an example, helping Bouch learn the ropes, etc, but sure is hard to know what kind of dollar value to put on that.
Haven’t seen it mentioned directly, but is anyone changing their mind on the Nurse extension given the recent announcement on increasing hockey related revenues?
The cap is going to rise in a couple of years; that contract IMO will be just fine.
Of course these contracts always have to viewed in relation to the value other teams are garnering from their high end signings.
I’m more concerned about the change in his deployment under Woodcroft. I like the way they used Nurse in a shutdown role, but he’s basically done with PP now. It’s gonna be hard to keep the critics at bay in that role at that price. It works for me though. And of course he could be back on PP1 in October.
Nurse has been a top 10-15 producer at 5 on 5 for like 4 years now….. sure, McDavid floats but still.
The cap will likely hit $100M not long after the escrow balance is paid off.
Doesn’t change my thought though – an overpay at the time by a million or so – but one that was likely unavoidable given the circumstances at the time and the “right place” to make an overpay – the clear top 3 leadership core – he’s right there with Connor and Leon in that regard (obviously not quite at the same level of on-ice play).
No. It was a ridiculous contract the day it was signed. But at least it’s a overpay at the top of depth chart and not the bottom.
But I do have a suspicion that a promise was made when he signed his previous low cost bridge contract
It’s an overpay for sure. Especially, right now at the beginning of the contract before any potential future inflationary effects devalue the cost.
“Ridiculous” seems a little out there though.
LT, the problem with dealing guys like Holloway, Broberg, and Bourgeault is you need guys to substantially outperform their cap hit to win. All three of those guys will do it. The high end trade options requiring those assets to be put in play are unappetizing from a risk perspective (i.e. Gibson). Further, I believe Bourgeault is *much* closer than we think.
I haven’t watched him as much as others here, but I came away very impressed by his training camp, particularly with his ability to handle the puck in tight and make smart plays along the boards. He clearly took a step this season. Unlike Holloway, who was battling significant injuries (plus another injury late in his AHL season), Bourgeault has been relatively healthy.
Initially, I preferred bringing Kane back. However, Kuzmenko makes a lot of sense in the context of how Bourgeault and Holloway develop. Both those guys will be playing top 9 roles in 23-24, making Kuzmenko the perfect stop gap. Fortunately, a lot of the cap mess will be sorted/improved after this season.
Personally, I don’t believe in managing the team as if 29 will be gone in 3 years.
If 29/97 see Holloway/Broberg/Bourgeault taking off, plus Yamo and Puljujarvi taking strides, they won’t leave, because there will only be 3-4 teams in the league at the Oilers’ level, if that.
I hear you, and did mention that Broberg is unlikely to be traded. He projects as a top-four defenseman over the next decade, Edmonton needs a replacement for Duncan Keith and that makes complete sense.
I’m not sure that Holloway and Bourgault can be placed in the same category. What’s more, I think their emergence as solutions who can truly help might be one year away.
Leon Draisaitl has three more seasons before free agency. If trading Bourgault this summer brings in an established player under control for the next three years, and who can play in one of the prominent roster spots (starting G, top four defense, top two lines and No. 3 center) then I think Holland will consider it.
For me, we have three “can’t miss prospects” and by “can’t miss” I mean almost assuredly every day NHLers and more than likely in semi-prominent roles (top 4 and top 9). Plus Skinner I guess, I’m talking about skaters.
Two of them should be on the NHL roster the majority of this season and improving (Holloway and Broberg) and the other probably a season away (could be less) (Bourgault).
After those three there are not more sure things (Niemo and Sammy are likely serviceable tweeners at least but they may not be more) and no forward is even close to ready (Savoie, Petrov, Tulio likely the best part of 2 seasons from being in the conversation).
I don’t like to call prospects ready early on–as you know, lol–but having watched Bourgault play a few full games, I don’t know. I think he might be down for only about half a year, assuming good health. He’s pretty friggin smart out there. And his shot looks NHL quality. And he has an off-season to improve… Nice though that we have a Mem Cup to gather more info and get a broader opinion from all of Lowetidia, with the bigger stage.
I saw Holloway play a fair amount of college and while I was bullish on the kid, I don’t recall being as bullish draft+1 as Bourgault has me. I do believe, though, that if Holloway had been healthy, he would’ve been taking regular shifts with the varsity squad by the end of the season. It’s his motor. Guys like that can play anywhere in the line-up.
Bourgault missed a couple of stretches, didn’t he?
There is injury concern with each of our top 3 prospects – Broberg, Holloway and Bourgault have each missed time multiple times since drafted.
Add Sammy in to that list and even Niemelainen both of the last two years.
I would greatly prefer to keep JP this year, I suspect there is not going to be a deal available that we don’t end up regretting.
I’d love to know how his hips are doing. If he’s not having issues with them, he is exactly the type of player you need to win deep
Yes he wasn’t great this round but agreed with Swedish he’s a late bloomer type
For example he’s far more effective than Foegele. You can’t have too many guys with a lack of hands, but he’ll be affordable and as he matures as I think he’ll be one of the best two way forwards going
He may even get a bit meaner, watch out!
I don’t think there was any real indication that he was having new issues with his hips (since the surgery).
I think some on here (and maybe elsewhere) speculated given his skating didn’t seem the same, or as powerful, in the 2nd half. Jay W. did say that his LBI did effect his skating. I guess it could have been the hip issues coming back but my thought was ankle/leg areas.
Would love to see JP signed for 2-3 years. The player is not going to go long based on the season he had.
2 years walks him right to UFA – either 1 or 3 plus for me.
If it is 2-years then it best be a big AAV value to account for that.
I wonder if to reduce minutes for the top guys the kids see the ice a lot in PK.
McLeod. Yamamoto. Holloway. Puljujarvi. That’s a lot of speed and talent and would give them some dynamic PKers to go with Nuge and a bottom 6 guy like Ryan. Especially if they go 11-7 a bunch this year gives the kids the ice more since none of them will see PP1 anytime soon.
Great take! Success is proportional to the correct utilization of resources.
Someone better learn to win a face off besides Leon.
McDavid was 52.6% in the playoffs and 53.7% during the regular season.
I had a real good laugh at this:
https://www.msn.com/en-ca/money/topstories/coyotes-taking-next-steps-toward-building-new-arena/ar-AAYAzfT?ocid=entnewsntp&cvid=b9ef0c6e63304fefaad2a175aa5f757f
Nobody fails upwards like the Coyotes. How the heck did they fundraise two billion dollars? Are we ready to rename them the Arizona Bridge Salesmen? No no wait, the Arizona Lemons! Haha their mascot can be named ‘Grifty’! On the bright side, you gotta think it’s gonna be tougher to threaten to move the Flames unless the taxpayer buys them another arena (friendly rivalry is all in good fun, but if the taxpayer gets screwed into building another arena and then giving away all the revenue, it is going to affect everyone in Alberta). If the NHL is fine with Arizona playing in front of 5,000 people in an arena where they can’t even put their own ads on the ice, they’ve kind of admitted that all their “mandatory requirements” that they “couldn’t do without” were more like “optional guidelines” that they “hoped to upsell us on.”
There is not much to sell in Arizona except warm winters and great people. They are Canada in reverse!
Lots of sun-kissed natural beauty to rest one’s gaze upon. The foothills and mountains ain’t bad either.
I rest my case and I agree re the natural beauty!
S&P set to pose its tenth losing week in the last eleven.
Only time that has ever happened before was 1970.
It’s got Poor right in the name, what do people expect?
That the punch bowl will get refilled and the party to continue is my guess. 😉
Creepy Joe.
— Pool is an interesting case for this org.
— One of Holllands strengths: grinding when he’s got control of young player was evident when they “re-signed” Pool. The overwhelming belief here was that they ought to trade him : none of the trades made sense
— the first half Pool this year had many opining it was a 5 handle to get him to sign long term.
— not sure what they will do but Holland has control so harder for him to screw it up. The worst would be trade based on 2nd half value and he goes off.
— I hope they value pool and give him an opportunity next year. The last Fin got out of dodge because they didn’t give him a fair chance IMO. Surely noted by Pool.
— resigning Pool because there aren’t really great options would be another one of the
“Things Holland did that he never would have done if he wasn’t forced to and/or had done a better job in the first place, but thankfully he did anyways”
1) firing Tippet
2) getting Kane
3) less marinating of AHLers who were ready
4) hiring Woodcroft
Biggest concern with JP in my opinion is are his problems with his hips actually in the past? Healthy he will get better for a few years before he tops out! Oiler management should have the requisite knowledge and proceed accordingly!
Holland doesn’t have all that much control given the player is arb eligible and, from accounts, will have a fairly solid arb case – probably get awarded in the $3MM range unless they settle first (which they should).
Knowledge IS power particularly when it concerns the players medical!
Suspect you’re right, OP. I could see JP only wanting a 1 year deal, but it would be great to sign him for 2-3. I don’t think the player would have any appetite to go longer than that.
Holland resurrected the dead in bringing JP back. It says a lot about his people skills! Hollands success is, in my opinion due in large part to his people skills. He reflects values that are much valued but unfortunately disappearing! Somewhat like the dinosaur but in a good way!
— while I am probably too harsh of some aspects of Hollands tenure one of his legacies is for sure that he always treats other how he would want to be treated. He’s for sure a class guy. Highly respectful of the hockey hierarchy and by all accounts a top notch people person. That’s important in life a lot.
Confirmed that Dylan Guenther won’t participate in the Memorial Cup – too bad for the kid, his junior career is over!
Hi, trying to find this on anything official or unofficial, coming up blank.
It’s confirmed, saw a quote/tweet from Stauffer. Quote was from the Oil Kings GM. Poor kid.
I feel for Tyler Benson. Good article today at Athletic today LT.
For me, he still has a chance and it is completely obvious. His skating is the worst I have seen on the Oilers team in years. Obviously his other skills make up for skating at the AHL level but skating lets him down at the NHL level.
Short choppy stride, crossovers no power, poor side to side edges. One poster commented that perhaps this style developed due to his injuries. Good point, and shame if it did.
Woody knew this issue with Tyler.
BUT, if he could fix his skating he becomes an NHL player. That would be a pleasant surprise.
He would still need to be able to hit a net every now and then.
I assume he has no trade value at all, Oilers seem to have given up on the player. I hope he gets a second chance somewhere.
Some people have mentioned that Jesse as a big body will keep getting better and mature later. One example is Blake Wheeler.
BW 38 pts in 82 games at age 23
JP 36 pts in 65 games at age 23
Wheeler was traded at age 24 to ATL for Rich Peverly and went on to play 12 and counting seasons for ATL / WPG. Bet Boston wants that one back.
No reason to trade JP as he is getting better and is cheap.
Well fingers crossed
But such different characters. Wheeler was not playing with Mcdavid and went on to be captain
Jessie has unique personality that sent him back to Finland once already
Having said this, Jessie will find his mojo.
He was high draft pick that wouldn’t sign and became a UFA.
There was lots of talk of him being too soft for Boston when the traded him.
Big forwards often take longer. The league is full of Can Neely stories.
Be patient with big men.
I don’t think a trade is in Edmonton’s interest, but it might be in JP’s. This could be a tough player to keep going forward.
Given its really Stauff, and he brings it up daily, I think its the latter and as Friedman retorted to him, in different words, an awful target with that contract.
The Habs disagree but, for me, that contract, with his highly inconsistent performance and injury history, has negative value. No thank you.
Hearing the Habs would want a Bourgault and maybe even a 1st is one of the worst trade transaction rumours in decades – plain awful
While Bouch certainly does duplicate certain of Barrie’s skills, to me, Bouch does not make Barrie redundant and they bring different offensive attributes, both at 5 on 5 and on the PP.
With that said, while Barrie is value at $4.5MM for two more years, the team needs that cap and could probably get a decent return.
I have Barrie ear-marked for the Islanders – Lou has expressed the need for more offence from his back-end. I’m sure, with Sorokin, Lou would love to divest of Varlamov and his $5MM. I’d love that goalie for the one year stop-gap to be the 1A to Skinner. His NTC is a factor but, then again, going to a good team, as the legit 1A in his UFA year may be something he believes is good for his future.
Scott Mayfield for more “defensive group balance” is another acquisition target from that team.
Barrie struggles in the defensive zone! He is small and is unable to clear and or move anyone from in front of the net. His skating has not kept up as he has gotten older. He is to put it bluntly a diminishing asset! Move him while he still has value!
Barrie didn’t struggle in the defensive zone very much after Manson took over and he got a steady legit NHL partner. Nor did he struggle defensively in the playoffs.
The Oilers will feel the loss of Barrie, I’m sure – it needs to be done for overall improvement but he is a positive player on the ice and, from accounts, a MAJOR positive in the room.
I thought Barrie added another dimension to his game last year and became more well rounded. He’ll never be Jason Smith, but he found himself a bit of cowbell and sandpaper and I think it looks great on him.
We will agree to disagree and I will add the Barrie I saw in the playoffs is not the player I saw during the season. His skating and lack of size are what I find worrisome especially at his cap moving forward.
Well, Barrie was 12-7 goals at 5 on 5 and an spectacular 1.82 GA/60 at 5 on 5……
He might be of interest to the Canucks too.
They could play him with Hughes as the purrfect second pairing. Hughes being a number one D should make it ideal! Should get the HH seal of approval! 😉
The ideal partner for Hughes is a bigger, two way D.
Barrie ain’t that.
But but Hughes is a number one D! We’re you hoping for a growth spurt?
Why yes he is and only an inch shorter than Cale Makar.
I’d deploy them on different pairing for sure. Barrie’s really good at a lot of the same things Hughes is great at. Could be useful to reduce minutes/exposure to injury risk/run the 2PP. I don’t think he’s their perfect solution, but they might decide he is the best they can afford, who knows?
Flyers’ John Tortorella hiring causes stir in NHL community (msn.com)
This coach and franchise share a lot of values, should be interesting. This is worth reading for the gif at the end if nothing else. Gritty throws two cakes at some dude in a Canucks jersey, and it makes me absurdly happy. I think you’re wonderful too, Grit.
When a team hires someone like Torts, it’s because the management haven’t bothered doing a proper team evaluation.
You bring Torts in because you believe you have enough talent, if only they played “the right way”.
Easier to think like this than actually do some hard work, like identify gaps, make targets, develop a plan to hit those targets, etc.
Yeah I think so too. Best reason to get Torts is you couldn’t get Burkiesaurus Rex.
“What if every person in our band plays the cowbell?”
I have a feeling he’ll be headed to the west coast but am sure hoping the Oilers get him on the one-year ELC – presumably the $925K plus apx $850K in Sched A performance bonuses.
If signed, I would pencil him in to “compete for a middle six winger job” with the hope to fill in top 6. The range is “not an NHL player” to legit top 6 winger with skill.
The Russian is probably looking for PP time but if he’s smart he’ll sign with us and I think he will. Throw in Holloway and possibly Bourgault and we have some cheap employment. Package Barrie, Yamo, JP and kassain for a Goalie and a big D. Wait for the dust to settle in San Jose no way San Jose takes him back or Kane doesn’t ask for trade. Somewhere in there is us getting Kane for a bargain for the next 3 years.
The goal tender valued at what you are willing to move better be VERY special or you have an overpay of epic proportions.
I see Josh Anderson and then I see James Neal Milan Lucic Kyle Okposo Andrew Ladd and numerous other warnings provided by GMs. I was shocked at the trade and sign by Montreal from Cbus
i don’t think we have an untouchable prospect. While I don’t think Holland is looking at moving Holloway broberg Bourgeault if Jets come calling about Hellebyuck he’s gonna pull the trigger
I would like Anderson on this team, no lie, but I just don’t see us as being in a good spot to give a chunk of cap and term to a player unless they are on a value contract, and I don’t think Anderson is high enough value to justify the acquisition. JMO
Too mnay FAs at that talent level or better this summer, who can be had without acquisition cost and might even be cheaper in terms of AAV, if a GM is patient during FA frenzy.
So I have seen LT reference both Crouse and Chytil here as trade targets. I gotta say I would be very on board with these 2. Crouse is a direct and cheaper version of Kane and Chytil is another good young c/w with some size and speed. Now what would it take to bring in these 2?
My suggestion would be Yamamoto w a sweetener for Chytil and then foegle plus the first and a sweetener for Crouse.
Question is what size would those sweeteners need to be?
I think what Jesse lacks most is mental/emotional maturity. He looked great in pre-season, ok in regular season, meh in playoffs. His game didnt change from pre-season, regular season and playoffs. His intensity seemed to be the same throughout. To me, that says lack of maturity. Once he gets over the maturity hump, i think he will really take off. Question is, can the Oilers wait for that to happen? There is no guarantee it ever will. Of course i could be completely wrong too.
Jesse looked fantastic for the first couple of months of the regular season. He had like 12 points in the first 10 games and 24 in the first 28.
He struggled in the second half of the season after (a) coming back from Covid, (b) missing 6 weeks with an injury that hampered his skating and (c) missing another week with a non-Covid illness.
I’m not sure that “emotional maturity” was the reason for the drop-off in his play. Injury and illness seems like the more logical conclusion for me.
Does the Weber trade effectively give Vegas an extra $10m cap limit over the rest of the league?
I think all it did is get rid of the Dadonov contract. LTIR just means that players cap hit is not included.
That’s not true on the LTIR and the cap hit. The cap hit is ALWAYS included but placing a player on LTIR creates the ability to go over the cap (often by the amount of the cap hit but not always depending on the circumstance at the time).
Weber’s cap hit is $7.8M
It gives Vegas an upper cap limit of $90.3M,($82.5 + $7.8) of which, $7.8M will be Weber on LTIR
The transaction moves Dadanov’s $5M off the active roster, and now Vegas can build their 23 man active roster with a cap limit of $82.5M
The above is a simplification of the situation – Vegas is still very tight to the cap and have a lot of work to do
*edit- and it means Vegas will be an LTIR team for this year, and 3 more years after that (unless they trade the Weber contract)
I believe they must be cap compliant (i.e. no greater than $82.5) on the first day of the season. LTIR becomes active beyond that point.
So there is no advantage during the summer months and/or free agency
Vegas can go over the cap by 10% in the offseason so effectively almost $91 million.
They currently sit just a shade over $85 million so have $6 million in walking around money until the start of next season.
They currently have both Lehner and Brossoit and 6D locked up.
However, they only have 11 forwards on at the active roster and will need to add to get up to standard.
They have several young players who were on IR to end the season who will likely come back at decent prices:
Nolan Patrick $1.2 million
Nic Hague (RFA…was $832K)
Brett Howden (RFA with arbitration rights…was $832K
Assuming they bring those three back at similar prices, they will have a roster of 19 with about $3 million left over to fill out the roster.
I expect one of those spots will be taken by Brendan Brisson, the University of Michigan star who scored 8 points in 7 games with Henderson of the AHL at the tail end of the season. He has a cap hit of $925K.
They still likely need to make one more roster move to clear some space before the season starts but will be in good shape once Weber’s LTIR kicks in.
This is the saddest attempt at a hype job I have seen for Vegas yet.
Don’t worry, Vegas, a 8 points in 7 games AHL player will save you.
Seravelli picked Vegas to miss the playoffs today – a bit premature given, well, its June, but still.
haha, so funny… and he even called him a star lol
No – it gives them the ability to go an additional $10MM over the cap (if they manage it right) than before but it also adds $10MM to their overall cap hit.
Acquiring Weber is a net-zero on the cap.
They were able to shed $5MM in Dadanov but, of course, lost a player that was essentially value for that $5MM – they got worse due to cap reasons.
Also, for now, acquiring Weber means they will be in LTIR in perpetuity which is an awful way to manage the cap and extremely limiting. I would presume they will be looking to move the Weber contract after this season – the actual cash outlay on it is small so a team like Arizona may be amenable to taking it on – for a cost of course – more assets out for Vegas to shed it when they do.
Maybe I am wrong about this but Holloway looks to me to be a younger Puljujarvi. Incredible motor on the fore check, defensively responsible and shy on his shot – at least since his injury.
Bourgault, on the other hand, sounds like a shooter – and all my viewings are just from highlights so I have no idea about other parts of his game.
My question is why would you trade a shooter when you have 3 centres who are amongst the best in the league at passing?
To me Bourgault is the guy you are least likely to trade out of the youngsters unless there is something else about his game that is of concern. And scoring wingers tend to arrive in the NHL sooner than any other position imo.
What am I missing in this discussion?
Holloway upped his shots per game average to 5/game during his 5 playoff games, I shared this info on a post about 2 weeks ago that broke down his results during segments of the season. He was definitely getting stronger and more confident as the season went on.
I think Bourgault can best be described as an opportunistic playmaker. He is not a shy shooter and he has excellent play making abilities.
Trading Bourgault is the dumbest idea out of all the trade ideas. I would trade Holloway before Bourgault, possibly even Broberg.
Oilers desperately need someone right-handed and cheap, who can shoot, to play on Drai’s left side (his back hand).
There is no one else in the entire org with the skill to qualify. Expecting Tullio or Petrov to get there is awfully optimistic both in terms of their talent and in terms of the timeline.
I get that we’re in Win Now mode, but we will be next year too, and the year after that, bare minimum. For me, none of our legit forward prospects are available unless at an overpay. If a prospect must be moved I think we are deepest on D.
On first point:
Maybe you see the two as similar on ice (Pooly and Holloway) but they are night and day different to me. As we get to know Holloway well see hes different in the room, in the corners, battle effort, he will be more of the North American good ol boy style.
I see that. I was thinking more similar in terms of puck pursuit vs. putting the puck in the net.
If Holloway’s wrist fully recovers that may change but for the moment I don’t see Holloway with 30 goals a year potential while I think Bourgault can be projected as that kind of player if he reaches his potential.
Both valuable but in different ways just as I see Puljujarvi as valuable but not for his shot.
Bourg vs Pooly
Jessie game covers a lot of ice, he swoops and loops. Hes hard to predict and thus finds himself running into his own players, switching wings, well up the ice for breakouts, etc…
Why I think Bourg will do well is only based on small sample. He runs his own wing and his corners. He doesn’t try to do to much. He seems constant and predictable. Leon and Connor excel with predictable wingers. It would be early to pencil him in of course but he may emerge as the best option.
Thus I like Jessie on the third line. He has more space to play his style, he can add more value there. He should be coached to hanle the puck more. On Connors wing he gives it to Connor (whether hes open or not) then goes to the front of the net. Hes not reaching his potential doing that.
Completely agree on this. Jesse will be best utilized on a line where he is comfortable transporting the puck. He did a great deal of this when he was younger and in Finland, but he defers to Connor and Leon when he plays with them. There is plenty of evidence to show that a line of him and McLeod and someone like Holloway will he a handful for anybody.
The speed and size of them would be something
Holloway is a much, much better stickhandler than JP
With respect, I don’t think the Holloway to Puljujarvi comparison is accurate in the least – and that is from watching most of his games on the Condors (after watching most of his games in his last season at Wisconsin).
He skates like Hall and his motor is more likely Yamamoto/McLeod, to my eye.
His shot, historically, has actually been quite good – its not a bomb but he’s got a quick release.
I would posit that he was a MUCH different offensive player after he came back from the month off with the thigh injury. For the first few months of the season, he was massively hesitant to shoot – he barely shot and looked to pass consistently. He spoke about continued pain, etc. in his thumb/wrist.
After he came back from his mid-season injury, he was a volume shooter – looking to shoot every time he had the puck (it seems) and his shot looked as good as ever.
Straight from the KHL, Sergei Frederov to be named head coach of the Wings.
Will Frederov’s assistant be Barney Ruble? 😀
That’s Barney Rublev.
Leon Draisaitl is a free agent in the summer of 2025. The next three seasons have extreme importance.
Which imo is why Holland must find a way to keep Kane.
Josh Anderson is such a ridiculously putrid idea.
Several years of underperformance. Poor playmaker. Full-cost contract for what is likely to be a declining player.
Would rather bet on Puljujarvi improving, or signing a player like Max Domi to a 1-year value deal to rehabilitate his value alongside 97 & 29.
Paying assets to acquire Anderson would be insanity. The only way it makes sense is if MTL took back Kassian (which they won’t) AND retained salary (which they won’t).
I wouldn’t take his contract for free. It’s a terrible idea. Good thing is it’s just Stauff’s desire and not based in actual org information.
I’d take it for Kassian and Barrie.
Anderson and Kulak >> Kassian and Barrie for near the same money.
That would be an awful awful trade for the Oilers (and I explained my reasoning in the other thread today).
Kassian and Barrie cost $7.7 million for the next two years.
Anderson and Kulak will probably cost $8 million for the next two years.
Which two would you rather have. Which two would contribute to winning more in the short term.
The Oilers wouldn’t be spending any new money on Anderson. I only approve of Anderson if they are using dead money.
If one is using dead money for Anderson for the next two years, I am willing to take the duration risk.
2 years of Kassian’s dead money is not even close to acceptable to take on the 5 years of massive negative value in Anderson.
Barrie is not dead money – he has positive value.
Even if he did, having Anderson on the books for that contract during the re-sign McDavid/Leon years would be as egregious as it comes.
1000%
The time to acquire Anderson was 4 years ago.
John or Glenn.
When Jesse was drafted I mentioned that I thought he’d be one of those guys who really blooms in their late twenties and would start having his peak years in the 26-32 age bracket. And at that peak he’d be one of those guys you just can’t trade for. I still maintain that to be true and from that perspective I would love to see Holland signing him long term when his value is a little lower since I think that would be one hell of a value deal diwn the road.
I obviously recognize that it’s highly unlikely to happen. Doubt either side is all that interested in such a deal, Holland is uncertain what he has in Jesse and Jesse’s camp thinks Jesse hasn’t shown all that he can be yet and will bet on him being able to get a much better deal 1-2 years down the road.
So at this point I just hope they keep him around since he’s underrated for what he already brings and I think we’ll be kicking ourselves in five years if he’s dealt.
Completely agree:)
OT: What’s your option of Noah Ostlund? I think if by some chance he is available at 29# Oilers should jump on it.
I think he’s got high potential, behind physically but skating, hands and playmaking is top notch. Entertaining player. Pretty decent defensively as well but I’m not convinced he’ll play center in the NHL, he might but there’s a good chance he ends up at wing. He’s a little too peripheral and his shot needs work but a lot to like and his potential upside is high though he also comes with the risk of not being able to handle the NHL physically and instead end up a euro star. I personally think he’s a good bet to be an NHL player but one has to recognize the risk. Wouldn’t mind him at 29, I see him as a first round talent with a shot at being a great NHL player, I’m certainly higher on Lekkerimäki as far as upside goes but wouldn’t be overly surprised if he’s the best swedish player out of this draft in five years. I definitely like Östlund over Öhgren as a prospect.
I agree, and Shayna Goldman does too: https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/the-data-behind-why-valeri-nichushkin-is-one-of-the-avalanches-most-valuable-players/
You mean like this guy.
https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=162486
“The final point I would like to make and it’s about Jesse Puljujarvi. I’m not sure the Oilers will trade him this summer, for two reasons. First, his second half had a negative impact on his value. He may not fetch enough to justify a trade due to the downbeat after Covid.”
You mean the Analytics Savvy teams won’t be hot and heavy after him?
I concur. He’s an Oiler in September.
Forget Benson, Puljujarvi is a young man at a crossroads….imo
In large part his agent might decide his fate.
Does he sign an offer sheet elsewhere?
Not if he files for arbitration…….
“check in from Elks walk through at 11”
I thought the Elks walk through was this past Saturday in BC Place.
They got walked on, they got walked over, and then they were through.
Chris Jones can keep the damn sun glasses.
They caved in and now they’re cursed.
Hard to picture a lion being afraid of an elk.
I haven’t watched a single CFL game since the Edmonton “organization” chose the bottom of the food chain…
I like the CFL. I think the Esks made a bad decision for even worse reasons.
I do too, but I cannot support their present decision-making.
They let a few human beings that don’t watch football or care diddly squat about the value of a sports franchise call the shots. The Edmonton Football Management decision to be weak and bullied cost them a substantial amount of life long fans.
If we sign Kuzmenko to an entry level deal do we retain his rights at the end of the one year contract? as in RFA……or does he become UFA?
Good question!
2022-23;2023-24;2024-25
WINDOW 2022-25
Lots of work to be done NOW. It may sound callous, it may sound counter-intuitive; There are NO prospects in the system (that didn’t play 40+ games in the NHL this year) that are untouchable this offseason….imo
100%. If you can trade a prospect and materially improve your chances of winning the cup in the next 2 years, you do it without hesitation.
I understand the reluctance on Broberg and Holloway, because ideally they are playing 82 games this year and contributing, but I was surprised to see so many people considering Bourgault untouchable.
Bourgault is ready by Jan 1 if not October. Broberg and Holloway are ready now. They are ready and cheap for contending in the next three years.
I agree with you, but if we trade our good prospects this year, who’s going to give us value contracts the next two years?
I agree with you too 🙂
I’m not advocating trading all the prospects. I’m simply saying that the right trade could involve any one of them. No one is untouchable.
“If the Oilers are pursuing Anderson, that’s a tell imo on the Evander Kane negotiations.”
They had better be perusing someone simultaneously.
#WalkANDChewBubbleGum
There is nothing out there to indicate the Oilers are actually pursuing Anderson.
I would love to see Kane back, but only on the right price and term. Has not shown he can be a positive part of a team over a period of years. Was spectacular in playoffs but theres still a history there that should play in to his value. The positive is making it to the conference finals and having two of the best forwards in the league means we should continue to be a premier destination for forwards looking for a short term deal to bolster their value. Holland has show himself to be fairly conservative most the time but has found some good value. I’ll take that over past managers who seemed to be willing to send away value players or picks for players who may or may not turn out.
Why is Edmonton on Kuzmenko’s short list?
It’s warm and the river valley is available for cycling, running or walking. There are festivals galore, concerts, museums, restaurants, patios, lakes, backyards, football, baseball, and general tomfoolery……..oh……. and McDrai.
Of note, the day that Kuzmenko was in Edmonton was the all day rain…..
and if he liked that weather, he’d definitely choose Vancouver
“Edmonton is a great city in the summer. “
Yeah….but what about the other eleven months?
One month of bad skating
There is a ton to do in Edmonton year round. The climate sucks donkey balls, no lie, but there is a very vibrant cultural life available. I was very pleasantly surprised by the entertainment scene in general when I lived in Edmonton. When I hear some smug know-nothing run their mouth about “Deadmonton” it is very obvious to me they have never actually been to the city, and if they did, they never left their hotel room.
“I had a guy tell me he knew a guy who did some work on Katz’ house years ago,”
Man, Katz’s and Pocklington’s houses sure needed alot of work over the years.
There should be a blog devoted soley to Trade Union Workers Rumours.
“You must be the plumber. Yeah the toilets not flushing but let me first tell you all about the inner workings of my multi million dollar business”.
When billionaires have nightmares, they see the scene from Children of the Corn (“We know all your secrets”) except instead of a child, it’s someone they don’t recognize wearing coveralls carrying a clipboard.
I really hope someone higher up with the Oilers is looking at Josh Anderson’s 26-28 year old seasons and Zack Kassian’s 27-29 year old seasons and throwing up a stop sign the size of the Whitemud balls.
This!
If Kassian and Barrie are in the Anderson deal,(and NONE of Broberg, Holloway, and Bourgault are), there might be an acceptable deal to be made.
Kassian and Barrie are sunk costs. I am willing to take on a bit of duration risk if I can get an actual useful player for the next two years from existing wasted cap space.
Not even close.
Firstly, Barrie has positive value and can be used to obtain a positive asset (not a negative asset like Anderson and his contract).
Sure, Kassian would be great to dispose of but not for the massive extra anchor years on Anderson – my goodness, no.