This is the boxcar from the September 2015 “Young Stars” game that included most of the Edmonton Oilers future. Connor McDavid (1-1-2), Leon Draisaitl (1-1-2) and Darnell Nurse (1-0-1) were destined to form the foundation of Oilers teams over the next seven years. Ethan Bear and Anton Slepyshev were also in the game. What will this year’s young stars roster look like?
THE ATHLETIC!
- New Lowetide: 10 free agents for Edmonton Oilers to target this summer
- Lowetide: What Oilers assets should Ken Holland trade this summer?
- DNB: Oilers commit to coach Jay Woodcroft
- DNB: Which Oilers are most likely to return next season? Who goes?
- Lowetide: Are Oilers prospects Philip Broberg, Dylan Holloway NHL-ready?
- Lowetide: How Edmonton Oilers would benefit from signing Andrei Kuzmenko
- DNB: What if Edmonton Oilers trade Jesse Puljujarvi? The case for and against
- 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: 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: What Oilers goalie Mike Smith’s unclear future could mean for offseason plans
- Lowetide: Why Jordan Dumais could be NHL Draft steal for Edmonton Oilers
POSSIBLE PENTICTION ROSTER
I included Philip Broberg because it’s crickets on defense, and we might even see Mike Kesselring back for another rookie camp due to lack of options. There will be camp invites, and of course all the draft picks. I would suggest at least a couple of those will be defensemen. If they’re European or heading to college, they might not attend, but NA kids who are playing junior will be locks. Expect to read about many undrafted types being invited both before and after the draft.
THE NEXT STEP
For Oilers fans, next week should involve word from Mike Smith and Duncan Keith about their plans, and it’s possible we see more certainty on the Evander Kane and Brett Kulak free-agent scenarios. There will be plenty of chatter about Xavier Bourgault’s ETA for NHL entry, and I think mid-season 2022-23 is the earliest possibility. Now, that doesn’t mean I hate Bourgault, and it doesn’t mean he can’t break camp and score 25 NHL goals this season. It does mean those things would be a surprise, and represent something special from this young player.
We’ll be talking goaltender, I had a look at Jack Campbell in my article for The Athletic today, he’s a compelling option. I do wonder if a trade is a better plan, either in goal (Tristan Jarry?) or as a replacement for Evander Kane (Sam Bennett?). I will tell you a Jesse Puljujarvi trade seems inevitable and that I do not endorse it.
I do believe there’s a chance Evander Kane is signed by Edmonton. Why? Ken Holland has expressed interest all down the line, and his resume reflects a high rate of success when he’s determined to sign a target in free agency.
LOWETIDE AND JAMIESON
At 10 this morning, TSN 1260, four hours of great guests. Steve Lansky, Chris Johnston from TSN, James Duthie, Kamar Jordan and Tyler Yaremchuk will all pop by, and your comments are welcome. 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. Talk soon!
Hedman sure looks like Pronger.
Yup. Best dman in the league imo.
Karma.
Given the title I thought this might include a retell if the camping box story.
I LOVE the camping box story. Many years ago I built a camping box that fit in the trunk of my 76 Monte Carlo. Had to put the box in empty and then load it. Seemed like a good idea at the time!
Horrible goal let in by Kuemper and Bolts have the easy lead.
Early
Kuemper gives up a horrible early goal and a horrible late goal. He cost them the game.
A point blank shot in the slot is not letting in a bad goal.
The winning goal was a one-time from the slot from a wide-open playoff sniper – I know it went 5-hole but, that wasn’t horrible on the goalie, at least I don’t think so.
Disturbing face plant in progress for the Oil Kings. Yikes.
I take it their possession style wasn’t like that all season. That was ugly.
Refs trying hard to help lightening win this game.
Poor Av’s aren’t getting their usual 6 PP.
“Ken Holland has expressed interest all down the line, and his resume reflects a high rate of success when he’s determined to sign a target in free agency.”
My first reaction to that statement was “and at any cost!”, but when I thought about, Holland’s external FA signings have actually worked quite well, with the only major negative being Turris (and ‘major’ might be an overstatement).
The more questionable ones have been reupping internal FAs, particularly Kassian, and more arguably Archibald and Chiasson.
For last year’s big ticket items, Hyman and Ceci, so far his work looks quite good.
Barry Trotz announces he is not ready to return to coaching leaving the Jets blowing in the wind.
Along with other teams according to reports. Not surprising with the news out of Winnipeg that a rebuild may be the plan.
That happens to mediocre franchises. See: Oilers post Sather-Connor McDavid
Yeah I would not touch the Jets with a 10 foot pole
The Jets window was closed the day Buff screwed them.
Spector’s latest mailbag:
If he thinks JP’s current level of production doesn’t justify 3.5 million, wait until he sees Kassian’s contract, or Foegele’s.
Spec does bring those two up, but as is frequently the case he comes close to making a logical conclusion before abruptly jumping off the cliff of reason.
Holland has really mismanaged the cap. It’s astonishing, really, how little planning has been done in this organization.
A well organized ninth grader with a basic knowledge of Excel would have done better.
The way things are sussing out, you can draw a line from some very questionable deals to the shipping out of very useful players. This was predicted by many and it appears it will come to pass.
The things that come out of Spector’s mouth are unbelievable……
Being controversial is for the less talented the great equalizer for listener numbers to their more talented contemporaries!
JP has little leverage after his not particularly elite season. And as good as he was, he’s got nothing that can’t be replaced.
I would think when Jesse came back in good faith that his agent didn’t have some sort of handshake deal that if he increased his value Holland would accommodate Jesse if he wants out.
Arbitration is leverage.
True. It is also the trigger that precipitates a trade.
I wonder what the Habs would pay for Bourgault?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSs6DcA6dFI
Habs don’t really go for France-like players or they would have Perron playing for them right now.
Three things surprised me about Frank Seravalli’s Trade Target List.
1) Arizona Cap Space is on the list 🙂
2) TWO LTIR contracts are on the list.
3) Filip Zadina is on the list.
Which raises the “do-over” question:
in the 2018 Draft Do-Over do you select
A) Zadina
B) Bouchard
C) Whalstrom
D) Dobson
#HindSightIsFun
I’ll be exited to see Warner and Chiasson in Penticton. Chiasson did well after coming back from injury and Warner seemed to pop in the 2nd half of the season.
I do think there is a chance and, as we’ve seen with Duncan Keith, for example, Holland can get hard-focussed on a particular target.
With that said, Gazzola did say on the OilStream with Dusty that his intel is that the team had a hard cap on term and he believes its 3 years.
I think that’s reasonable, the 3 year term.
My argument for Kane is that it’s always so hard to find the very high end players. A guy with 40+ goal upside who brings the physical element for around 7 mil is a unicorn.
I like Holloway, but does he have that upside? Even if he does, what are the chances of seeing it in year one or two?Same goes for Nuge and Hyman.
Holland can keep the important guys (Kane, JP, Yamo) if he can creatively jettison the flotsam.
Kane is elite, playoff tested, everything.
Holloway imo is nothing more than another hyped up JF Jacques(until proved otherwise). Sure he played 1st line for OTC but…
I think the team has a hard cap on term and I believe it is 5 yrs.
It looks like KH is on top of it. Him holding a line in the sand is important. Three years means cap space is opened up to extend Drai.
I would hope that they would extend Draisaitl….
Lol
“Sorry Leon, but when he gave Kane that 5 year extension …well m8 no worries! Sure Kane fell off the wagon hard and has been MIA for the last month! Vegas is ready to trade for him, to get that Buffalo player who hasn’t been lighting it up.”
lol
Apropos of nothing, I have a degree of confidence that Woodcroft will save JP.
It will help when the Avs win a Cup and Nichushkin gets further praise.
JP below doubted personality conflicts with regard to Puljujarvi. Reading between the lines, we know Woodcroft said Yamo is a frequently requested linemate.
Who do you think is doing the requesting?
Kane loved playing with Yamo. Draisaitl has said the same many times.
Yamomoto is just a better linemate and finisher *right now* than JP.
That being said, I don’t want the Oil to relinquish #98 just yet.
I hope you are right but would note that Jay W. was part of the coaching staff that Jesse eventually escaped back to Finland for a season and it was Woody that moved Jesse down the lineup, not Tip (who played Jesse almost exclusively in the top 6).
That’s a good point and I wonder if that history with JW will influence what JP decides.
It seems as though he’s more disappointed in himself than anything. And why not? A continuation of his first 30 games would have meant a big time contract.
I will be very sad if Jesse is traded. For Christmas this past year I received his jersey in the new colors. Come on! They’ve got to keep the Bison King!!
The player is simply not valued enough.
Maybe. Maybe Puljujarvi had an agreement with Holland that if he signed and came back for 2 years Holland would trade him if he still wanted out.
It is possible that Jesse would prefer a new start somewhere else.
I’ll wait for the trade details to get upset but if my suspicion is correct that Jesse will be used to offload cap (Kassian?) the return will not make people happy.
I can say that Woodcroft and the core have the power to have him come back. If he’s dealt for a satisfactory return where you come out at the very least even, great. If not, I would be quite worried. This is a team that could easily have him, Yamo, and Bourgault as their top 3 wingers next year and be set for a while. Simply put, let’s hope management reflect long and hard on things…
LT serving hot soup on the show today.
HUZZAH!
#GoatsHeadSoup
With a hint of #MapleSyrup
Should Jack happen to become a Rolling Stone because the Maple Buds choose to make him wear the Goat Horns for the first round exit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqUiWpGGCmI
Billy Preston on the clavinet – one of my favorite songs by the Stones
AHH Yes…..Billy Preston….A Beatle and A Stone.
Oops, tripped the moderation filter somehow. And this was after I removed Maggie’s surname.
From accounts, a week ago or so, there had been no substantial settlement talks as both Kane/NHLPA and the Sharks think they have strong cases.
With that said, I do presume that sometime between now and July 12, we’ll hear world of a settlement. Both sides will want some certainty heading in to free agency.
Agreed. Nothing like a deadline to bring clarity to an issue.
It may not be in the cards for the coming year, but a line of Holloway McLeod Bourgault excites the @#$% out of me.
I hope we get a chance to see it sometime. (Late March 2023?)
Hyman, Draisaitl, Bourgault excites me more.
I bet a buck Bourgault gets a 9 game look see in 2022-23
Not sure if you based this on the rule that a junior player can play 9 games, then be sent back down, but because Bourgault has an October birthday, he is eligible to play in the AHL. If that’s where the Oiler assign him, the 9 game number has no special meaning. It may still be a marker if the Oilers want to send him back to juniors, but I highly doubt that is where he’d be sent if he is not on the Oilers.
I believe his junior eligibility is over so it can be more than nine games and not effect when his contract kicks in.
Thank You Both!
He could go back for an over-age season but, you are right in that he will be turning pro.
Of note, a player can be playing pro post-junior and still have his contract slide – Bourgault, given his current age and “signing age” is no eligible for slide any longer.
You missed a “7” before the “9”
7 of 9 (= 64 on the season) looks great as well.
You think he breaks camp with the team? Is the defensive part of his game good enough? I was thinking 20-30 games in Bakersfield to work on that and playing against man strength.
All he has got in front of him is Puljujarvi, Yamamoto, Kassian, and Ryan. None of them are remotely productive enough because of various limitatioins to maximize Draisaitl.
I think Bourgault makes the team out of camp.
My only question is his defensive play. Watching him play in the Memorial he has been the most dynamic offensive player on the ice.
I think he has a chance but I’m guessing 20-30 games down in California.
Its almost impossible to get a real sense of where his defensive game may be at. I mean the Bourque/Bourgault duo is so dominant, they don’t see much of the defensive zone in the Memorial Cup and I presume it wasn’t any different during the regular season, right?
Which is why I think it is prudent to send him to Bakersfield for seasoning. That and learning to play against man strength. It will depend on what the coaching staff thinks they see in TC of course but that is what they are paid to figure out. I know you have skepticism about what TC shows but that might have more to do with team need or mistakes made by previous coaching staffs than it being a rule.
I agree with you 100% – there aren’t many that are projecting him in the opening night NHL roster. Many say the gap from CHL to AHL is bigger and harder then the gap between the AHL and the NHL – playing against men who’s year to year livelihood depend on their performance.
He very well may to the org’s best RW at a few skills right now but that doesn’t mean he’s the org’s best RW right now and, the best way to ensure he becomes the org’s best RW is to allow him the privilege of proper development.
Maybe that is in the NHL come Oct but that would be a huge exception and not reasonable to project heading in to camp.
Are you assuming all 4 are coming back? He would be my 3rd line right wing to start..
I match skillsets. I don’t care about line numbers. Bourgault has a complete offensive toolkit. Draisaitl has never had a that in a winger in Edmonton.
Yamamoto’s offensive toolkit was just as complete in the WHL….
At the NHL level, Yamamoto is pretty much reduced to being an opportunist offensively only when playing in the top six. Ideally, one wants more than that. If Kane and McDavid are the other two guys on the line, his limitations won’t matter much during the regular season. He can be a really effective 3rd wheel with two drivers.
This is correct.
Ok, so you agree that “having a complete offensive toolkit” in the CHL does not necessarily equate to NHL top six production, in particular at 20 years old. Glad we are now on the same page.
Drai had 50G/50A/110P – I fully acknowledge he feasted on the PP but, still.
Of note: Oilers scored at 4.27 G/60 with Jesse and Leon together and 2.72 G/60 with Leon on and Jesse off…..
If you remove Connor so go with Jesse/Leon and no Connor, its 4.04 G/60.
Are we sure that Jesse doesn’t help Leon?
9 games is an irrelevant number – his ELC is not subject to slide and the first year will vest next season no matter if he plays 0, 10 or 82 NHL games.
Given Evander Kane’s current contract complexity, I wonder if Kane’s Agent and Ken Holland have a one year deal worked out that gives Evander a plan B if San Jose tries to drag things out so as to make life difficult for Kane.
Another one year deal for Kane would also open up more options to re-sign him to a longer term deal a year from now.
The mix of uppercase and lowercase and all uppercase in those boxcars drives me absolutely nuts.
wHy?
Also they spelled Evan Bouchard’s name wrong. KEVEN Bouchard? I don’t think so…
(Yes I’m kidding, just yanking LT’s chain)
Hey Lowetide,
i noticed Luca Munzenberger is not on your list? is he not a candidate for the rookie tournament this year?
I believe you lose your NCAA eligibility even for just thinking about attending a rookie camp.
Not if he’s still playing NCAA next season
NCCA drafted players can attend that weird development camp they hold after the draft but ca’t attend rookie camp or main camp.
Here is hoping that Vermont is a MUCH more competitive team this year. Maybe Woody can help his brother out…..
Related Note: Dylan Holloway still hasn’t participated in an on-ice camp session with the Oilers…..
It would be a surprise if Holland got good value for a JP trade. I do believe, however, that this decision is being driven by the obvious personality conflict (even obvious from outside the room) between JP and 97. Regardless, squandered assets are squandered assets.
I know this is a thing that many people believe, but I don’t buy it at all.
Puljujarvi has played 70% of his TOI over the last 2 seasons with McDavid. I don’t think any two Oilers have spent more time playing together.
I just don’t see any reasonable basis for a ‘personality conflict’ being the reason Puljujarvi might be traded.
I agree and I would like to see what wkorkie is seeing/reading that would suggest this? I hope it isn’t just that single video of McD supposedly ragging at Puji after a poor pass in the skates as I could just as easily provide the video of McD stating how happy he was for JP when he scored that goal.
It is problematic if 97 and 29 don’t want to play with him going forward.
97 has been tough on 13 way more than he has KY, as an example. KY is a frequently requested linemate — who is doing the requesting? Probably the only guys in a position to are 97 and 29.
JP also may not want to be back in a third line role. That could severely hamper his earning potential.
Working backwards, the other side of this is, why wouldn’t you sign him unless something else is going on? The Oilers aren’t advanced with analytics but they can access NST. Woodcroft knows and talks about JP’s contributions in other areas. Why did Holland hesitate so much when asked about JP?
Something funny is up. If history is any indication, the MSM will leak it once the player is traded.
So far no Oiler RFA or UFA has been signed either, so there is no concrete evidence that something is up. Just a bunch of media/fan speculation. I think people are over reaching on what Holland said at his end of season press conference. Holland has spoken to Jesse’s agent just like he has spoken to Kane’s, Kulak’s and other’s agents. Maybe some of what Holland said, talking about his decline in play/confidence was a little bit of negotiation, but it wasn’t anything that probably hadn’t been discussed with Jesse by Woodcroft or Holland already.
Maybe Jesse is not a good fit, or maybe the Oilers/Holland would be glad to have him back at one salary level and Jesse and his agent want substantially more. If the Oilers don’t want to contemplate paying him what he could be awarded in arbitration, they’ll probably trade him before it gets there.
Pretty much this.
There is something going on obviously behind the scenes. I found it quite strange that Holland would state that he had to figure out if JP was part of the solution. By saying that he basically declared that he wasn’t convinced that the player fits. I will be shocked if he trades him and gets value back.
Sure, but if you’re bringing Draisaitl into it, Puljujarvi’s played 82% of his TOI over the two seasons with one or both of them.
Do you seriously think they’re asking not to play with him?
McDavid has also played more than twice as many minutes with Puljujarvi than Yamamoto, there been a lot more chances for stuff to happen.
I wonder as well if it’s possible the couple of instances of McDavid showing frustration with Puljujarvi have been focused on more by media/fans/Twitter than similar instances with Yamamoto.
I think that, and contract demands, are more likely reasons for a possible departure than 97/29 not wanting to play with him.
I do agree it’s fair to wonder what’s up based on Holland’s hesitation. We have basically no idea what the answer is though, and team ‘leadership’ not wanting to play with him seems among the least likely from what I’ve seen and read.
Luke Richardson the new head coach in Chicago.
Good choice for Chicago.
Interesting….
Should the narrative come out that The Bourg can’t produce without The Bourque:
This season, The Bourg played 12 games (small sample size alert!) without Bourque in the lineup and put up 18 points. Good for 1.5 PPG.
The Bourg with Bourque had 57 points in 31 games, 1.84 PPG.
It would seem that while the two play well together, The Bourg is capable of generating offense sans Bourque too.
Great info….
last time Oilers had a right shot forward drafted #22 overall out of the Q, some wondered if his linemate Sidney Crosby was boosting his numbers…
Mavrik Bourque is no Sidney Crosby though.
Bourque is almost a year older than Bourgault as well (relevant only to their respective development curves).
Its important to point out the Oilers drafted Pouliot in 2003 based off his 73 points in 65 games that season. Crosby wasn’t even on the team yet. MAP played his draft +1 and draft +2 with Crosby, and it sure helped his point totals especially his last season with 114 in 70 games. As JP said, Bourque is no Crosby – first round draft pick, but still playing in the Q in his draft +2. Very fine player, but in my small sample size viewing, Bourgault and Bourque seem to feed off each other, as opposed to one clearly being the driver.
The Oilers drafted Pouliot before he ever played a game with Crosby. Bruce has got to know this, so this seems like intentional misinformation or tomfoolery on his part.
It goes without saying one never knows about how prospects will turn out.
However, I keep seeing off the charts hockey IQ any time I watch Bourgault.
Its just hard to imagine he could not find his way – especially if he finds himself with high level players sometime in the future.
I hardly ever watch a Major Jr. hockey game to see one Oilers prospect.
But Bourgault at the Memorial Cup is an exception.
Looking at the number of players drafted the year before Bourgault who managed to play NHL games in their draft + 2 season gives some indication on whether people should be expecting Bourgault to make the team out of camp in his draft +2 season.
Of the players drafted in 2020, only 3 played any meaningful games in their draft +1, Lafreniere (1st), Stultzle (3rd) and Drysdale (6th). This past season, while a total of 26 players drafted in 2020 played in the NHL in their draft +2 season, only 5 played a full season, with Raymond (4) and Mercer (18) joining the first 3. Byfield (2nd) likely would have played most of the season had he not been injured. Jarvis (13th) joined Carolina in late October and played 63 games.
Overall of the 31 players taken in the first round of the 2020 draft, 7 played more than 60 games last season 10 played more than 40 games, 1 played 18 games, and 8 more played a handful of games. 12 players drafted in the first round in 2020 did not play a game.
Every player needs to be evaluated based on their own merit and each team situation is different. Bourgault could exceed normal expectations and better fit a need the Oilers have. But if Bourgault doesn’t play a significant number of games for the Oilers next season, it should not be considered a significant concern that the Oilers drafted wrong. Not many taken below the top 15 play much in the NHL through their draft+2. It should be noted that when a player is drafted in the bottom half of the first round, it is more often by a team in the prior year’s playoff and their line ups are typically deeper.
We should also look at Kenny’s M.O.
He won’t rush Bourgault.
Hey, that rhymes! Keep it going…
But should he become a go,
then the team will surely flow.
Bourgault as a pro
Needs to grow his flow
There is kind of a fit between my last sentence and Kenny’s MO. The first time in his tenure as GM that he got to draft in the top 15 was 2013, drafting Dylan Larkin. Larkin played in his draft +1. He’d traded away many of his first round picks over the years or they were at the bottom 5-10 of the first round. He also drafted Rasmussen 9th overall in 2017 and he played 62 games in his draft +1. Kenny for the most part has drafted lower, where the players are usually not as ready and until his last 3 seasons in Detroit, he was always in the playoffs so his roster didn’t have as many holes.
Bourgault was drafted 22nd. So he fits your model of his usual bottom 5-10, which I agree with.
I think he may get the proverbial “cup of coffee”.
Holloway was drafted 14th, but was a College draftee, so slightly different scenario – university isn’t just about Hockey, but he’s only just made his debut.
I may rip on Kenny for a lot of things, but I believe he would rather trade for an aging veteran before he will play a prospect before he believes they are ready.
Holloway’ injuries in both College and in the AHL combined with pandemic shortened seasons also have significantly impacted his development timeline. Both Holland and Woodcroft said the plan was to be up with the Oilers down the stretch in the regular season if not for the injury in early April.
Larkin and Rasmussen both played in the NHL in their draft +2 seasons (both returned to College/Junior for 1 season after they were drafted). Denis Cholowski also (mostly) played in the NHL without much AHL time (he returned to Jr for draft +1 and +2, then played 52 NHL/26 AHL games in his 1st pro season).
Both Rasmussen and Cholowski were in 18-19, when the Red Wings were a 74 point non-playoff team. Larkin was in 15-16, when the Red Wings were decent at least (93 points and made the playoffs), so he seems to be the only clear comparable to the current Oilers.
And barely related to Bourgault, but I looked at Holland trading down in the draft a while back. 3 of the missing 1st round picks were trade-downs out of the late 1st to get an extra draft pick. He’s only traded one 1st round pick since 2004 aside from the trade downs:
1999 and 2001 1sts for Chris Chelios
2002 1st for Dominik Hasek
2003 1st for Mathieu Schneider
2004 1st for Robert Lang
2006 1st (29) and 5th (152) for two 2006 2nds (41 and 47)
2009 1st (29) for 2009 2nd (32) and 3rd (75)
2011 1st (24) for two 2011 2nds (35 and 48)
2012 1st for Kyle Quincey
And I don’t believe Holland has ever traded a 1st for a rental (all of the players listed below played at least 2 seasons for the Red Wings after the trades).
Brad Stuart is a famous Red Wings deadline acquisition, helping them win the 2008 Cup, but he only cost a 2nd and a 4th and was re-signed as a pending UFA.
Thanks for the correction of the Larkin and Rasmussen time lines. That is what I intended, but wasn’t thinking clearly when I typed it. The rest of the info is very helpful as well.
Well put.
The clock is ticking on McDraivid’s current contracts.
As a late birthday Bourgault belongs in that 30% subset of drafted juniors who turn pro in their Draft +2 season.
Yes, I knew that, but based on the averages, he is more likely to play the majority of his pro games in draft + 2 in the AHL. Maybe he is different, but in that 2020 draft season, there were 7 late birthday players drafted in the first round who have yet to play a game or played less than 5 games in the NHL in their draft +2. That he is likely to be in the AHL improves his odds of getting into NHL games from the mere fact that once a player is sent back to junior, they become unavailable whereas the Oilers could recall him from the AHL at any time. That combines with the Oilers getting full control over what he is learning, so they are more comfortable with his development.
As I said, I won’t be shocked or even surprised if he has what it takes to stick or fills a need. I am just pointing out, if he doesn’t it is far from unusual.
The Oilers are not deep at right wing. And all their current right wings have flaws.
And you know that Bourgault has no flaws at 19 coming from the QMJHL? Lavoie’s box cars from his draft + 1 in the Q were 38-44-82 in 55 games played, not far behind Bourgault’s pace of 36-39-75 in 43 games. He clearly wasn’t ready to make the jump. I am not saying they’re the same, but none of us know enough to determine if he is ready now. We’ll see in camp.
I am going to manifest my vision! -)
So happy to see the Young Stars tournament back.
Just love it.
That D does look a little depleted.
Booked my hotel in Penticton for Friday and Saturday of the tournament to see the Calgary & Vancouver games.
If anybody is interested I suggest they do so quickly as the quality of the hotels in that town drops off quickly.
It is a great event in a fun town and not a bad seat in the arena. If you go here
https://canucks.formstack.com/forms/young_stars_2022
you can sign up to get an email to let you know when the tickets go on sale.
Do you take some time out of your day to float the canal?
No, but it looks like fun. 😉
One of the first things Holland wanted to do was revive this tournament and it was about to happen a few years back but, then, Covid….
If Eberle could come over from junior, why can’t Bourgault?
He played 2 full seasons of junior and 11 games in the AHL after his second season ended and did not play for the Oilers until draft +3. Plus he joined a team that finished dead last in the NHL, not a team that got to the Conference finals.
He played 9 games in the AHL after his Draft +1 year (3-6-9) and 11 more after Draft +2 (6-8-14), followed by 4 games at the World Championships (1-3-4). He was ready.
Also HOPE sounded a lot more promising than HOP.
Those additions just widens that gap between his situation and Bourgault’s.
Though I like what Kane brought to the team in terms of scoring, physicality, etc.. I hope Holland isn’t hedging this summer’s plans simply based on signing him at the expense of addressing the team’s other needs. As we know, the San Jose situation could take awhile to sort out.
I would grab Jack Campbell before committing serious assets to a trade. I believe him and Skinner could form a seriously competitive tandem.
LT, should your prediction on JP come true, what sort of return do you believe Edmonton will get?
I think they’ll package him with another player and get two pieces in return.
Would I be wrong if I guessed you have heard things?
Has to be.
One doesn’t make statements like “seemingly inevitable” casually, or even out of one’s neuroses about a player.
LT has obviously heard something.
I’m guessing the trade will involve moving somebody else for cap relief and return a lesser player.
If a Pulji trade is inevitable, I will hold out until I see the return before making too strong a judgment. Holland has given him an opportunity to increase his value since coming over which is to his credit. But at this point, I still don’t like the chances of getting good long term value for him. Maybe it has been too long since I have seen what “win now mode” looks like though
A look at the Young Stars tournament.
https://theprovince.com/sports/hockey/nhl/vancouver-canucks/canucks-leaning-on-the-familiar-in-2022-revival-of-young-stars-classic/wcm/3b5a0d61-23ed-42c2-af81-441c9713f395/amp/
You going?
McLeod, Holloway, Bourgault, that’s my 4th line. 12 minutes a night, let’s see what we got come Xmas.
Looks better than our 3rd line…
That’s one mighty cheap line, save some money for other things.
they sure would kill any 4th line matchups against another teams plugs.
Means there is no room at the inn for Kassian, bye bye.
Less playing time for 97 and 29, that’s a good thing early in the season.
Might have to train a few others to kill penalties though, Warren, I’m looking at you.
I love a Kid Line approach but it begs the question of does the PK suffer as a result?
I think Woodcroft is a talented enough HC that he could make it work and he wouldn’t limit the 4th line minutes so much that their development is stifled.
Honestly I’m surprised the Oil under Holland haven’t done this sooner. The Wings were always marinating their youth prospects this way.
One underappreciated benefit of the Kid Line approach is how it glues your top prospects together into the ‘next core.’ Who can forget Murphy, Graves and Gelinas and what those players became? Joe Murphy may be the most underrated skill player in Oilers history although Kent Nilsson would certainly garner some votes too.
Bourgault is probably the best right wing in the organization already.
Highest production potential, sure, I can buy that.
I’m all for signing Evander. But at what cost on our depth and future. I don’t believe we are deep enough. We wait and see.
LT, why do you hate Bourgault?
He’s too righthanded.
maybe Bourg’s face reminds him of Smid?
😉
Sideburns and the young fella has no clue what a “camping box” is.
he looks and sounds like a Momtreal Canadien .
Because Bourgault is going to take Yamamoto’s spot beside Draisaitl in October! -).
Burgault filling a top 6 RW spot on merit permitting Yamo to be the full-time 3RW, PP2 and PK guy – well, that’s the way forward and championship level depth.
Of course, its not reasonable to think its attainable in October 2022…..
So who will be the 1st line RW?
Depends what happens to Kane and Puljujarvi and who is here if they are not.
Kane McDavid Yamamoto
Hyman Draisaitl Bourgault
Nugent-Hopkins McLeod Puljujarvi
XXX Holloway Ryan
Shore ZZZ
Nurse Ceci
Kulak Bouchard
Keith Broberg
Samorukov
Allen or Jarry or Varlamov
Skinner
(Since I have Kane in the roster, Barrie, Foegele and Kassian have to be gone).
I like what you have pieced together here Godot!!