The Stanley Cup will spend the summer rocky mountain high. The Edmonton Oilers can be secure in the knowledge that the buzzsaw they ran into almost a month ago is in fact the best team in the world. The business of hockey is going to light up the night sky for the next four weeks, and then it’s August. That means six weeks of missing the NHL before it returns (in Penticton for Oilers fans) mid-September. One good thing about hanging around late into the season? Short summer.
THE ATHLETIC!
- New Lowetide: Oilers’ pivotal summer and what fans want to see from Ken Holland
- Lowetide: Is this Oilers’ year to find a world-class agitator in NHL Draft?
- 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
OILERS PAIRINGS DURING WOODCROFT-MANSON REGULAR SEASON GAMES
These are the top pairings after February 10 through the end of the regular season. Darnell Nurse and Cody Ceci were playing difficult opposition, while playing a lot, and the possession and goal share are quality. Duncan Keith and Evan Bouchard also did good work, albeit against lesser opposition. If the Oilers get a 63 percent goal share next season from the second pair, no one should complain. Brett Kulak and Tyson Barrie also did good work, and we can see how strong Barrie’s five-on-five performance can be away from the elites.
These are good numbers for all three pairings. Only Nurse-Barrie, and that’s not an ideal combination, were below 50 percent in two categories. Here are the Oilers defensemen during the Woodcroft-Manson regular season games. Notice how possession, goals and expected goal shares are so strong compared to previous coaching staffs.
There are strong performances here, led by Darnell Nurse. He has been a value contract in each season of his career. That will change next season when the big deal kicks in, but he eats minutes and recovers in a short period and both of those things are important. I would count Nurse, Ceci, Keith, Kulak, Bouchard and Barrie as delivering successful totals under Woodcroft. Russell is UFA, Lagesson was traded and Broberg>Niemelainen based on these totals.
Edmonton could use an upgrade, but if the team retains everyone under contract there is a solid group of six men at the top of the depth chart. Barrie had a good season. The only reasons to trade him (contract, blocking Bouchard) could be addressed next summer if required. Suppressing Bouchard’s point totals for another season would make him easier to sign to another deal. I don’t think the Oilers can MacGyver the cap without dealing Barrie.
PLAYERS LIKELY HEADING OUT OF TOWN
I think the cap problems put several productive players in play. If Mike Smith and Duncan Keith retire, that represents a savings of almost $8 million and would ease the pain.
If the Oilers can’t get relief there, a large group of veterans will be vulnerable to trade. This list includes Zack Kassian, Tyson Barrie and Warren Foegele. I think the club will also deal one of Jesse Puljujarvi or Kailer Yamamoto, hints everywhere it will be the Finn but we’ll see how it shakes out. If both men are open to signing one-year deals, perhaps it won’t come to that, but my spider senses tell me the die is cast on JP. It’ll be perhaps my least favourite ‘sail on’ post in the history of the blog. I think Dmitri Samorukov or another LH blue in the prospect pool not named Broberg could also be leaving.
PLAYERS MOST LIKELY TO RETURN
Holland will pursue Evander Kane and Brett Kulak, based on verbal in the ether there’s a chance the club gets both. We’ll see. I’m not sure of the goaltender, but the best free agent by my estimate is Jack Campbell. I don’t know if the Oilers value any free-agent goalie beyond Ville Husso.
LOWETIDE AND JAMIESON
It’s the beginning of the real offseason and we could get loud noises at any minute. We have you covered 10-2 today on TSN1260. Guests include Justin Dunk from 3DownNation, John Horn on tennis, Darren Dreger from TSN on the new Stanley Cup champions. Many of you will want to tune in at 12:20, as Corey Pronman from The Athletic will pop in to talk about the 2022 draft, surprises we might see and where the Oilers might go. PLUS, Ricky Ray! It’s going to be a great show, text 10-1260 or reach me @Lowetide or in the comments section. Here comes the loud noises!
On Oilers Now last week, Brain Lawton did mention he is in talks with an NHL club about joining their management team. Now rumblings that he may be joining the Oilers pro scouting. I believe he is an “analytically advanced” presence.
I like the idea of using Toronto as our farm team. Barrie, Hyman, Ceci, seem to be working out well so far. It’s almost like getting an analytics department for free. Campbell sounds pretty good.
A couple of thoughts regarding jersey numbers:
If/when the Oilers jettison Kassian, that’ll free up #44 for Holloway.
If/when Keith rides off into the sunset, the logical recipient of #2 will be Bouchard.
I am wondering if Holloway might be interested in #19, his pre-AJHL number. It was not available at Okotoks when he got there and this was K’Andre Miller’s number at Madison when he arrived and then Cole Caufield’s older brother switched from 29 to 19 in Holloway’s second season.
I had thought Holloway would target #10, his WJC jersey number. But who knows what will be available when he is able to make a number change from 36.
Gazolla on the OilStream with Dusty says the org has zero appetite to buyout Kassian but plan on trading him. Didn’t mention anything about retention but sweetening the deal to a team that is near the cap floor.
He intimated that the sweetener could be a pick or even Jesse Puljuarvi.
I don’t imagine that its Puljuarvi – I think that one is in Tommy’s head (and I don’t believe he’s a bit Jesse guy) and there is a big difference between “a pick” and Jesse.
Also, I’m not sure the premise of a “cap floor” team taking him is sound – I mean, this coming year, he makes more than his $3.2MM cap hit and that’s not the type of contract “poor cash outlay” teams want. With that said, without looking, I think year 4 of his contract is down near $2MM cash outlay.
My predictions- Jesse to Carolina after doing Holland a solid where he can hook up with his Bro Aho. Kassian and Barrie to Phoenix where we end up with Crouse. Last but not least Yamo to Seattle for picks where he gets PP 1 time and becomes a cult hero in the Pacific Northwest.
Summarizing!
The Bourg’s season ended one game sooner than he would have liked, as Shawinigan lost a 4-3 OT heartbreaker. It will be Saint John and Hamilton in the Memorial Cup final.
The Bourg finishes his tournament–and likely his junior career–with 2+5 in four games, and 14+15 in 20 total postseason games.
Prospecting takes a summer off and will return in a couple months for the ’22-’23 season. Who will the Oilers add to the system before then? We wait.
Awesome season of updates, thanks!
Couple months off eh? Does this mean you won’t be following Borg and Munzenberger at the WJC starting Aug. 9 (Tofield time)?
Ah, the rescheduled WJHC had slipped my mind. However, my summer will be dominated by the theatre festival in which I’m participating. I may be able to pop in from time to time while the tourney is on.
Fair enough, you’ve more than earned some time off!
Instead we will seek to follow and update on the Borg as a Collective, hoping to serve as a temporary replacement.
A much appreciated thank you Tarkus for keeping the prospects info flowing all the past season. 👍🏽👌🏽
Totally agree with everyone thanking you my friend. This has been great!
Speaking from the Peanut Gallery I really enjoy your updates and comments.
Break a leg or two Tarkus. Thanks so much for all your enthusiastic and informative reporting. As they say at the fringe. any time is Edinburgh time.
Tarkus, thanks so much for this, your posts have been a welcome sight for the entire season.
Big board battle win and dish by Bourgault for the second assist on the go-ahead goal.
Possible picks at F first rd Oilers
Perevalov
Beck
Gaucher
Schaefer
Lutz
Howard
Kulich
Miroshnichenko
Ohgren
Ostlund
Trikozov
McGroarty
Snuggerud
Possible picks at D first rd Oilers
Pickering
Bichsel
Chesley
Rinzel
Mason Marchment – Mason MacTavish – who can keep it all straight?
Big fan of the Finn but if he does sail on it will not come close to Hemmer’s imo.
I agree, not even close. My first true heartbreak was when Weight left hah!
Or Ryan Smyth’s departure? Sail on Moose Jaw Warrior >>> Sail on Oulun Nose Licker (seriously, that guy can scratch the back of his eyeballs with that tongue).
Paul Coffey, Lee fogolin and especially Dave Semenko all these in 1987.
Daniel, Henrik, Luongo and Alfredsson inducted into the HHOF.
https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/daniel-and-henrik-sedin-daniel-alfredsson-headline-hockey-hall-of-fame-class-of-2022/
Which is a shame, because as much as I liked them as star players, there’s a strong case to be made that others are more deserving.
To say nothing of: Roenick, Tkachuk, Zetterberg, Lehtinen, Gonchar, CuJo.
Be nice to see them all inducted at some point in the coming years.
I think everyone is overvaluing how much the UFA forwards are going to get paid. There is a lot of top end UFA forward talent this season, plus guys like Fiala, Debrincat, Pacioretty, Miller/Boeser. If the Jets decide to blow things up, then there will be even more top end forward talent available. There is just not enough cap space to go around, and some of the UFA forwards will have to settle for fewer dollars in favour of better team/location “fit”.
It’s even worse for Kane – he’s not going to be able to sign a contract until later in July … by then, all the GMs will have blown up their cap space. At that point, I think he can be signed for 5-6 million by the Oilers. Holland has use to the next few weeks to move out Foegele and Barrie, and try to find a taker for Kassian … if all else fails, they can buy him out once Kane signs (they can let Jesse go to arbitration to open up another buyout window).
BTW, the 2023 crop of forwards could include MacKinnon, Huberdeau, Pastarnak, Horvat, Larkin, JT Miller, and old but still good Patrick Kane, O’Reilly, Tarasenko. These players current teams are going to have pony up this summer to get some of these guys resigned.
The UFA defensemen on the other hand are going to fetch top dollar … that includes Kulak … everyone is vastly underestimating how much he’s going to get with respect to cap hit and term on the open market. Next year’s UFA crop of defensemen is even less inspiring … Dumba, Orlov, Sanheim, Severson, Dumoulin, Weegar, Mayfield are the only legitimate top 4 guys. Some of these guys will be signed before they hit the market.
While it would be nice if Keith retired this season, it might force the Oilers to also overpay for Kulak. No way we can go into next season without at least one of Keith or Kulak. Keith returning may actually be the better outcome … allows Broberg a season to transition to the NHL, after which Keith is gone, and Broberg will (hopefully) be ready to handle his top 4 minutes. If Keith retires, then we are likely stuck with Kulak on an inflated contract that no one is going to be happy about.
Also really highlights how much hyperbole “The Leftorium” became after the Klebom injury … only Broberg looks like he has the potential to graduate to the NHL as a top 4 defenseman … for all the crap that Oilers management took this season for not taking Zegras instead, I’m really glad they didn’t over-value their D prospects in the system and took Broberg.
Holland should prioritize two items above all else this off-season … (1) locking up Bouchard long-term – that’s a more important priority than signing Jesse, and (2) fixing the goaltending – no team is getting past Colorado without their goalie stealing at least 1-2 games in a best of 7.
Whatever money is left over can be divided up between Jesse, Yamamoto and Kane.
Last thought of the day – Edmonton should take as many defensemen and goalies as they can in this year’s draft, cause the cupboard is going to be empty of substantial prospects once Broberg and Skinner matriculate next season.
Looking at this year’s and next year’s crop of UFA defensemen was really eye-opening … I am as guilty as anybody about getting on Nurse’s case … but he would be paid in excess of 10 million if he hit the open market.
Oilers are a playoff team still with Skinner in net. Start the year with him, and pick up Roloson at the deadline.
This MAY be true but it is unknown and the risk of being wrong is likely too large, right?
Nope. It is a reasonable bet for a cap strapped team as long as they have a Reimer type vet as well.
I’m not sure that going in to the season with a starting goaltender with less than 20 NHL games of experience is a reasonable bet for a team with SC aspirations.
It seems our mileage varies.
Did you have the same opinion when it looked like it was going to be Smith & Skinner?
Because if you were OK with that I don’t see why you would feel differently about Reimer & Skinner. You can load up the offence or you can spend the money on a goalie. I don’t see how you can do both and either strategy should be enough to get this team to the trade deadline in the top 8 of the WC.
Daniel Nugent-Bowman
Is there a potential fit for the Oilers? Colleague
@cmasisak22 thinks so.
Corey Masisak
@cmasisak22
· 5h
The Sharks have three NHL goalies under team control for next season, and needs elsewhere on the roster. Which teams might be looking for help in net? https://theathletic.com/3384417/2022/0
I’m fine with Reimer/Skinner. In fact, I’ve promoted it as an option (one year stop gap option: Varlamov, Allen, Talbot, Reimer).
I’m not fine with Skinner/XXX.
The original post spoke about Skinner as a starter and did not speak about an established veteran with him – in particular one that would 100% be pencilled in as the opening night starter over Skinner.
I have mentioned a veteran to pair with Skinner constantly for the last few weeks. I have also indicated on numerous occasions that I expect Skinner to be the #1 by the half way mark or Holland needs to go shopping at the TD.
I have made these points repeatedly over the last few weeks.
I missed the part of your post that spoke to Reimer being paired with Skinner.
For me, that’s not the same premise of the original post, that I was responding to, which has Skinner as the starter.
If Reimer is acquired, Skinner is not the starter.
You really need to read people’s posts and follow their conversations before responding.
This is why people get annoyed at you. I have posted about this over a dozen times.
That’s nice: Yes, there seems to be at least one peoples annoyed – can’t please everyone.
This made me think of. “Boy, I say boy, pay close attention to me, ‘cause you’re a burrito short of a combination plate” – Foghorn Leghorn
Let the Evander Kane sightings begin!
Can you still smoke a Cigar at the Enoch Casino
“It’ll be perhaps my least favourite ‘sail on’ post in the history of the blog.”
In the history of the blog? More than Taylor Hall???
Does the return for JP at all figure in on the depth of your projected melancholy?
What if he’s part of a deal for an Elite tender?
I hope he sticks around .
My sixth sense tells me JP’s Agent will be a huge factor. I wonder if he’s been given permission to talk to anyone?
I think if he’s willing to sign for 2 x $2.25m he probably stays……but then again, I see dead people.
Man I hope they see the value that JP is. He makes every line better when he is on the ice. He still has tons of room for growth and learning to use his size and strength. Sign him long term. I know they have to bridge but man they need guys like him.
Hard to know what’s going on behind the scene. JP might still be asking for a trade and they haven’t made it public. Or perhaps his agent is asking for a number that doesn’t make sense for the team. Either way, he has value in a trade and they a) better not trade him for a draft pick or cap dump, and b) better have a good plan for replacing him.
The sneaky value goalie pickup this off-season will be Scott Wedgewood.
All the pundits sure think so … but let me ask you this … would you be comfortable running Wedgewood-Skinner as a tandem in the NHL next year? And who would be the starter? … Based on the numbers, Skinner had the better NHL season last year.
Wedgewood is likely a career NHL backup at this point … he’d be a good signing for a team with a bonafide starter, that needs a capable backup. He’s not a fit in Edmonton.
Wedgewood is unproven as a starter. He’s fine bet for backup, we already have that slot filled.
I’d prefer Blackwood instead – cap hit will be low next season, after which he’s an RFA. He’s been a starting goalie in the NHL for 3-4 seasons now. Still young and has major bounce back potential … technically solid, but plagued by a nagging heel injury … also nagged by the lack of confidence shown in him by his current team (NJ went out and signed Crawford, then Bernier in subsequent off-seasons) … reminds my how Dubnyk lost his way in Edmonton.
I have time for Samsonov as well, though he seems like he’ll top out as more of a Varlamov than a Vasilevskiy.
Also Blackwood is the name of the street I live on … would be awesome to have an Oiler’s jersey with Blackwood on the back!
White Rock?
Yep
We’re neighbours.
Lol – small world!
1400 block.
I’m considering buying there in the next year or two.
I strongly prefer it to Victoria where we used to live.
$9.25MM is alot of cap and Nurse will almost assuredly be somewhat overpaid in the near term but, at the same time, what a player.
What a season he had given the role he was asked to play. Massive minutes, and tough minutes, under Tippet. Then, when the coaches changes, the overall minutes were reduced but they were still big minutes and the toughest minutes in the entire NHL – 50% TOI vs. elites. I don’t care if there are McDavid minutes in there – 50% TOI vs. elites is insane and he won those minutes.
This guy is a horse and he produces at 5 on 5.
His partners on the top pairing the last few years have been: Ethan Bear, Tyson Barrie, Evan Bouchard, Codi Ceci.
He will be a massive part of any success this team will have in the near future.
Dear Holland,
Trade for Helly, you coward!
Also:
Thanks LT for another great season! After a very satisfying Oilers season I am pumped for the draft and harvest moon.
I think everyone is waiting to see what the Jets will do … problem is Chevy … he moves at a glacial pace. I don’t think its realistic to expect him to put Hellybuyck on the market until the trade deadline or next off-season at the earliest.
It seems logical that the Oilers trade Barrie. Not because he doesn’t help the team or isn’t value for his contract but due to the fact that the Oilers do need to open up cap space and, not only can Barrie moved open up $4.5MM but the Oilers can receive value back in the trade and some of Barrie’s role can be handled by internal development.
Barrie may be able to be moved:
1) for solid picks to open up $4.5MM
2) for a player to fill another hold at cost (i.e. Varlamov at $5MM)
3) for a “lesser cost player” plus an asset or just the cap (i.e. Mayfield)
Losing Barrie will hurt, he is a good player and, from accounts, extremely well liked in the room.
It would behoove Holland and his staff to try and get Bouchard inked to his extension in advance. A Klefbom-type contract could be something both sides would be amendable to. Bouch would be capping some upside, of course, but, on the other hand early 20s and a guaranteed $25MM (give or take) is not something to sneeze at.
Congrats on the book, LT!
What did I miss?
The last time I was in East Africa, as I waited on the tarmak for my flight out of Nairobi, the Oilers traded Hall, the Preds and Habs swapped Hall of Fame d-men (well, at least one), and Stamkos didn’t sign with the Leafs and re-signed 8 years….. all within a few minutes.
The off-season starts this year as I pack for Uganda/Rwanda and I will be there for the draft and free agency – will history repeat itself?
I have been toying with the idea of a Rwanda/Uganda/Lake district trip for 2023. Let me know how it goes.
A list of projects the Oilers analytics team is currently working on:
1 – Converting Draisaitl’s height in feet and inches to cm.
2 – Calculating number of penalties from PIM for a player with no majors.
3 – Use player tracking data to calculate McDavid’s UberEats Deliveries/60.
4 – Calculating JP’s goal share with GF% = GA/(GF+GA)
5 – Building a Lego model of the Oilers’ cap.
6 – Oiler themed crossword puzzle.
7 – What weighs more, a pound of feathers or a pound of bricks?
8 – Volcano; awaiting vinager.
9 – Who is hotter? Foegele or Hyman?
10 – Optimal ratio of avocado to tomato in guac.
Tough crowd.
It’s not easy being Bling.
I think I’m more downvoted than HH!
It’s like you two are the Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Reed of the Lowetide PGA.
(PGA: People who Get Analytics)
Ha…not a chance.
Cale Makar is the best hockey player in the world.
Lol here’s a man who won’t give up his crown.
At least you’re not giving up without putting in the effort.
Poor Cale. What did he ever do to you to deserve that?!
I suspect you were downvoted because that post is a little too close to reality.
My first ever downvotes on the blog. Talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Sheesh.
First times are hard to come by at our age. 😉
The sea was angry that day, my friends.
I find bling has a great sense of humour! HH is is more like hmeroids!😉
It’s okay Buddy. Guy and Pal get downvoted all the time, too. I think it’s your offensive names to be honest.
LOL come on folks, this is funny.
Hyman and it is not even close.
Be serious already,
The analytics team has to get final draft travel arrangements together, not time for silly nonsense!
Bakersfield Condors
OFFICIAL Colin Chaulk has been named the ninth head coach in #Condorstown history.
I heard he’s good with X’s and O’s on the board.
I wasn’t overly enthused with Caulk and his forward deployment but I am definitely not a coach-expert.
I was wondering of Brad Lauer might get a job with the Condors and start his pro coaching career. Again, I’m far from a goalie expert but I hear good things about hi
It is definitely sticky and prone to making a mess if you don’t use a proper finishing tool to make it smooth.
He has such a dry sense of humour and when he gets bored, his nails…..
Forget analytics.
Could we start a go fund me to buy the Oilers front office a licence to Office 365? Pay Ryan to set up a spreadsheet and some script to show them their own cap? Replace Holland’s abacus, roladex, and rotary phone with a computer and cell? Have Ryan bookmark NST? Baby steps.
This org is so ancient I wouldn’t be surprised if they cure meats and sacrifice goats for rainfall.
There’s really no other way to explain the utter lack of foresight. You have 2 promising RFA top 6 options, no goalie, and no cap?
This is like a Mr. Bean skit, maybe sillier.
Or you know … they could just open up CapFriendly where all your fancy spreadsheets are already publicly available on the interwebs.
Well the cats out of the bag now. Soup has been spilled.
Jack Campbell is going to be expensive. But at least he won’t be a Maple Leaf.
Define expensive…
How do you know when you’re in an elite restaurant?
It’s when you open the menu and there are no prices listed.
#Scary
I have been in those restaurants.
‘Pretentious’ was the word that came to my mind rather than ‘elite’.
But then some of the best food I have ever eaten in a restaurant was served to me while perched on a three leg stool not five feet from mangy dogs scavenging off of a pile of garbage in Bangkok.
I guess this is one of the reasons why my wife says I’m cheap.
Agree with all your sentiments.
I chose “elite” because NO ONE likes a pretentious goalie. 🙂
And maybe for the first time in recorded history your wife is WRONG!
You’re not “cheap”….You’re “frugal” 😉
Lived for year in Thailand back in the Eighties what a wonderful time to be alive.
I lived there for 3 years in the late 70’s – early 80’s. We really did get the best of times.
Patpong street just a stones throw away from the Rose Hotel. Did some time also on Khao San Road.
It was an ‘educational’ experience.
My Gucci watch lasted me 18 years lol
Travelled all through Indonesia mostly by Train found my spirituality side at Lake Toba. For me the most beautiful striking place to be alive.
Some of the best food you’ll ever eat can also be affordable take for instance Tran Tran aka Oriental Noodle House back in the Eighties for $20 you could pig out for 2 days, 6 Imperial Rolls, Chicken with Lemongrass and Coconut Sauce, White Steamed Rice, and the star Beef with Noodle and Satay, the best soup in the history of mankind when hungover. All this for under $20 the idea is to find the next Tran Tran before they become a favourite of the preppy crowd and the prices double or triple.
Agree 100% on their Beef with noodle and Satay…sublime broth and flavor. Everytime I go back to Edmonton, this soup is a must.
Do you mean Thanh Thanh??
Yes sorry about that I haven’t been to Edmonton in years but I believe it’s on 107th and a 101 Ave. There also used to be a good Thai place on Whyte Ave the Rolling Stones ate there and loved it. I can’t believe I can’t remember the name. Maybe somebody out there can ease my pain it had a real funky name.
” I would count Nurse, Ceci, Keith, Kulak, Bouchard and Barrie as delivering successful totals under Woodcroft.”
Successful totals is one thing: A championship level defense is quite another.
What could elevate this roster to “championship level”.
A) Exceptionally good goaltending
B) Bouchard and Broberg developing into top pair options.’
C) A commitment to team defnse the likes of which we have never seen from the current roster.
D) All fo the above.
My prediction, the Oilers win Lord Stanley’s Cup when D) comes into effect.
I am not convinced that you need all three but you definitely need two out of the three.
Marvin Lee Aday agrees with you. 😉
Re: Yammo/JP; I still don’t see why keeping both isn’t an option, but there’s enough talk that it seems the decision has already been made that one has to go.
I also keep thinking about Ottawa back in ‘06 I believe realizing that they couldn’t keep their big 2 defensemen and somehow deciding Redden was the keeper and letting Chara walk.
Yup. If I had to trade one it would be Yamo. Higher return this summer and probably lower potential going forward. I think the Puljujarvi rumours have to be driven by something other than on ice reasoning.
The “experts” in the media lead the charge.
You give the media too much credit. They are mostly whisper amplifiers.
And quite good at that:)
Could it be J.P agent is leaking it so teams will be interested in acquiring him. I still think he ends up in Carolina with his buddy AHO and we do have recent history of trading with the Hurricanes.
Carolina is awash in Finns.
Aho
Teravainen
Kotkaniemi
Rantta
No no that was Holland with the leak. He is still figuring out if he is part of the solution….
Jessie’s on ice reasoning is what kept him out of the playoffs. Its just not there.
There is still a place for him to be valuable in my opinion, but we still need a #1RW.
And where did that get them?
That is not how it went down. Chara refused to give Muckler a number. Muckler offered as much as Boston. Chara never gave Muckler a number he could say yes to. When time ran out, Muckler gave Redden the money.
Chara was going to Boston.
After the Avs’ win, I’m betting there are 31 GMs seriously reconsidering their relationships with chickpea pasta.
I don’t get this one, and I don’t think I am alone in that. Explain?
https://coloradohockeynow.com/2021/08/03/former-avalanche-reveals-intense-details-about-what-its-like-being-teammates-with-nathan-mackinnon/
Mackinnon and his chickpea pasta became a meme for a time following this report.
If Holland is indeed going upstairs after next season, could they please do a thorough review of both internal and external candidates?
This idea that Holland Jr. should be in line for GM on the basis of the Hyman signing is bizarre to me. It’s a good signing, but one signing does not a record make, and further Hyman was highly sought after. Not exactly a diamond in the rough.
Keith Gretzky has done a good job drafting. That means much more to me.
So many talented people out there, but do the Oilers care? Probably not.
I think Keith Gretzky will take over for Holland and Jr will take Keith’s job. Gretzky has done his time in the trenches and derserves a shot at the best job in Hockey and for me the World.
I like Blackwood as a sneaky pickup if Jersey is willing to move him. not sure if they would, unless they sign someone or make a move for a salary retained Brobovsky type.
But Blackwood acquisition and salary cost would be reasonable.
Blackwood for Jesse (this would make me sad but is the kind of deal i expect from Holland)
Add him to Connor Brown (i will not let this thought die) – acquired for Barrie
Move Klefbom and Keith to Arizona with a sweetener then resign Keith (after buyout) and Kulak
Even without Kane this is a solid lineup. then you have money for a UFA, especially if you move Kassian
Reports this morning the Devils are interested in Jack Campbell after having lost faith in Blackwood.
So they may move on without wanting salary back, so could be a prospect move instead. Which would fit for sure. don’t want to move Jesse, but i accept Holland seems inclined to do it
With the end of PK Subban’s contract the Devils have about $25 million in cap space they likely aren’t too worried about that.
I expect they will be major players this offseason so may be willing to flip Blackwood for a pick just to add to their cap flexibility.
Sneaky perhaps, but he’s had two really tough seasons (.902 and .892).
Even for cheap it would be betting on a major rebound.
Blackwood for Jesse? lol
I’d be interested in Blackwood … his numbers are down, but he was playing behind a poor team, and is a prime bounce back candidate. His contract doesn’t require a bunch of cap gymnastics. He’s had some injuries … though on a cursory review of his injury history, none of them standout as major ones.
Summer of wingers
Blake Wheeler up for grabs. Fiala, De Brincat, JT Miller, and Connor Brown all available via trade. Forsberg, Nichushkin, Gaudreau, Giroux, Palat, Marchment, Perron, Domi, Rackell, and of course Kane via UFA.
Yamo and Jesse RFA.
No shortage of players – who are the best fit for 97 & 29?
According to Stauffer, Ken Holland’s priority is to clear cap space. You can see why.
Clearing cap space is probably the priority for 2/3 of the league’s GM’s.
DeBrincat has a salary of $9 million for the year to come, & that also is the value of his qualifying offer. Love the player, but that is a hard pass afaic.
I like to call it buying cap space.
I’d like to see the “cost chart”. How much does it cost to purchase a unit of cap space ( where a unit is defined as $100k)
Kyle Dubas pegged the amount in the conversations surrounding the price to purchase the negotiation rights for Zach Hyman. ( the negotiation rights could save yo $500k x the term or some such thing; 2 or 3 million dollars)
Wherein Dubas associated the value in dollars to draft picks. Holland was thinking a 6th or 7th,Dubas said the value was approx. XX dollars and wanted a 2nd or 3rd round pick.
The two stalemated over it and the talks stalled out.
Point being, there have been a lot of transactions, contract moves etc, that would allow one to peg the price of buying cap space.
Yup. It was never clear to me how Dubas arrived at his answer but I always assumed there was a surcharge involved because it was his player.
I just thought it was worth reminding ourselves that cap space is a buyer’s market this summer.
How much less would Hyman have taken for 8 years with the sign and trade? He’d probably sign something like the Nuge deal: $375,000 per season savings for 7 seasons but then the team would have $5.125 million cap hit to deal with in year 8 for Hyman. So there would be 2 costs, the draft choice plus the extra year on the term. I think Holland had a better read on the value than Dubas did in part because he probably discussed the two terms with Hyman and Dubas wouldn’t actually know what spread was discussed.
What’s that got to do with how many bulldozers are buried under the Alaska highway?
OOPS…sorry…wrong thread.
Good clarity on the Hyman deal. Thank You.
Yeah, I think those were the numbers being thrown around at the time. I think Dubas just decided to be a jerk about the whole thing and played to the fans.
The fact that the guy the Oilers chose with that draft pick Dubas turned down has up arrows these days is just frosting on the cake.
Wingers are going to be plentiful this summer. I wonder if some of them don’t get cheaper when the money runs out.
Here’s a thought exercise for everyone. If you could take 1 winger, on a 4 year contract, out of this group, who would it be?
Kane at 4×7
Nichushkin at 4×5
Burakosky at 4×4
Michaeiv at 4×3
I like Burakosky. He’s the youngest, and already has a history of scoring decently. Nice combination of size, speed and puck skills. I think he may be undervalued this summer.
I expect the Avs will go hard to sign Nichushkin, I think Kane is going to be overpriced, and I’m not sure Michaeiv has the hands to ever be a big scorer. Love the rest of his game though.
Kane.
Burakovsky and Nichushkin at those prices for sure
Nichushkin at that price for me, followed by Kane probably.
Burakovsky seemingly checks a lot of boxes, but he was scratched a couple of times these playoffs, which is never a good arrow.
I like Palat and Mamin for the bottom 6
Isn’t Mamin gone back to KHL or I am I having a senior moment?
Oilers will likely get some clarity on Smith and Keith and the front office this week. – Friedman on the pod this morning.
Front office?
Brad Holland (on merit)?
Perhaps Randle can provide a little clarity.
Keith is returning.
Mike Smith isn’t 100% sure and won’t be 100% sure until late in the summer.
Stick that in your pipe and smoke it Mr. Holland.
So does Corey Perry sign with the Avs next year?
I doubt the Avs would want his curse. His filthy play has not helped three Stanley Cup finalists win the grand prize (Dallas, Montreal, and now Tampa) so my guess is that Sakic wouldn’t want him.
He signed a 2-year deal with the Bolts, still has a year to run. Cap hit = $1 million. Outperformed it by some distance.
HHAAA! HAA! HA! haaa haaa ha.
That’s a gooder!
#ChasingTheDragon
Young goalies. I wonder which younger goalies (if any) people would be happy with. Options:
Current age:
27
Ville Husso
Tristan Jarry
26
Eric Comrie
Ilya Sorokin
Alex Nedeljkovic
Vitek Vanecek
Alexandar Georgiev
Aidin Hill
25
MacKenzie Blackwood
Logan Thompson
Connor Ingram
24
Daniel Vladar
Filip Gustavsson
23
Carter Hart
Jeremy Swayman
22
Lukas Dostal
21
Nico Daws
Hart and Swayman would be awesome but they aren’t going anywhere. Dostal and Daws are too young.
I really like Jarry, but I don’t think he is going anywhere.
I’m not sure about Husso. He seems to have had one great season and doesn’t have much track beyond that. And I think he’s at peak cost right now.
Comrie is interesting. He’s got decent numbers but hasn’t had great opportunities yet and he has ties to Edmonton.
I think the sweet spot is the Ingram to Hill group. Ingram, Thompson, Blackwood and Hill. They won’t cost much and could quite possibly breakout this season and provide them with solid goaltending for years to come.
Thoughts?
Reimer as part of the Kane trade with SJ to provide veteran support for Skinner if Smith retires.
Include Smith going the other way & take the “if” right out of that equation.
That would be a big win for Holland imo.
I understand the line of thinking but Stuart Skinner is 12-18 months younger than ingram/Blackwood/Thompson, with an equivalent track record (except for Blackwood).
I think Blackwood is due for a rebound year so could be a good buy low candidate, but I would be looking more at the stable, 1B consistent veteran than the gamble on a younger goalie. Provide skinner some support and see what you have. No point giving up assets when you have an equivalent risk for free right now.
pick up an Allen, Reimer, Elliot type of goalie that could provide support and cover as needed.ideally someone who could play 10 games in a row if Skinner needs a break and reset, but otherwise give him a chance!
“people”? or the Hollands’s?
Probably not, but there are lots of articles out of Pittsburg wondering if he’s the guy going forward.
Like Hellobuyck, he’s not likely available, but there is a chance. And he should be near the front of any dream acquisition list IMO.
His numbers over multiple years are great, he’s young, and a bonus is his cap hit is only $3.5M this coming season.
Based on Randalytics, I’ll take the two 27’s and the two 23’s
Randel’s favorite roulette numbers.
I’m serious. Jarry, Husso, Hart, Swayman
Prospectagon!
The Bourg and his Shawinigan Cataractes have won every elimination game so far this postseason, and they’ll need to win another in order to advance to the Memorial Cup final two days hence. Standing in the way are the Bulldogs of Hamilton, with revenge on their minds after losing 3-2 to the Cats last Thursday.
Puck drop @ 4 p.m. Mirror time.
Hey LT, just wanted to get your thoughts on Casey Desmith as a potential goalie add? His numbers are pretty similar to Husso’s, but he has a longer track record. He’s always intrigued me – we could have claimed him on waivers a few years ago for free
I have been posting about DeSmith for a few years now……
Not sure how he might fit with Skinner – he was more of a 1B in my mind than a 1A but now we need a 1A….
Lots of interesting questions this summer, but if I’m king for a season it starts with: Who’s the best goalie I can reasonably procure?
The Avs won with the second best goalie last night, and Holland went to war with Osgood, Legace and the last ounce of Joseph and Hasek’s cartilage.
But playoffs are still “mostly goalie”, and there’s no single move management can make to improve the team’s cup chances than bringing in a top flight goaltender.
I don’t pretend to know who best fits the bill. Bobrovsky at $5M? A seemingly-stagnated Gibson? Would Merzlikins be worth a trade ransom? Are those insane Carter Hart rumours still alive?
I don’t have the answer, but that’s the question.
Go for Hellebuyck. Get good Connors, keep good Connors.
Hellebuyck would be awesome but will cost too much, 2 firsts, one of Jesse or Yams, one of Bro or Holloway, maybe more and then we need more for cap relief.
That’s a vezina level goalie though. There’s like 3 in the league as good as hellebuyck, and he’d cover a lot of sins from a leaky defense. I do 2 1sts, Broberg and Yamamoto for him
Barrie has positive value. Could it be done for Barrie, JP, Holloway, 1st (or sub Holloway for 2 firsts)
The package out is mostly composed of guys moving anyways, but I think that’d be a hell of a haul for Winnipeg. It is painful for the Oilers, but solving goaltending while keeping Broberg seems like a great starting place to get to the next level.
I don’t think the cost would be quite that much.
I’m not aware of any precedence for a goalie ever getting that big of a return (even a true top one).
(If anyone’s aware of a trade I’m missing, please pass it on!)
In 2001, Hašek got traded again, with the Sabres dealing him to the Detroit Red Wings for Vyacheslav Kozlov and a draft pick in Jim Slater.
1995 the Montreal Canadiens traded Roy midseason to the Colorado Avalanche for Jocelyn Thibault, Martin Ručinský and Andrei Kovalenko.
Rask, though, never suited up for the Maple Leafs, which saw Justin Pogge as their goalie of choice. In exchange for Rask, Toronto received goalie Andrew Raycroft.
Bruins in 1988 traded Bill Ranford and Geoff Courtnall to the Edmonton Oilers for Andy Moog
1989 the Capitals shipped Malarchuk, Grant Ledyard, and a 1991 sixth-round pick (Brian Holzinger) to the Sabres for Calle Johansson and a 1989 second-round pick that turned out to be goalie Byron Dafoe.
Roberto Luongo was one of the NHL’s better goalies this decade. He was sometimes peculiar, but he was often steady. That’s why it was surprising that Florida Panthers coach Mike Keenan dealt him to the Vancouver Canucks for bit pieces in Alex Auld and Bryan Allen and a way-past-his-prime Todd Bertuzzi. None of those players excelled in Florida.
Excerpts from an article in The Draft Analyst https://www.thedraftanalyst.com/nhl-news/6-famous-goalie-trades-in-the-nhl/
After Hellebuyck, pick up Brown from Ottawa?
Now you’re thinking!
Hey – if the Oilers can get Kyle Connors in the deal as well and fit his $7.1 MM in under the cap, that would be the Connor trifecta. I’ve heard rumours that Kyle is a decent scoring LW. One can dream that the Jets don’t want him as part of the rebuild.
if the Oilers crash and burn after hitting this year’s high note, a la Canadiens or Islanders…
… why not draft another Connor?!?
Morning all
We’re off today on a cross Canada trip, minivan, 4 teens. ‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times’
Very excited
I think Palat might be a nice add if Kane is too much. Same age, not big but not small, and from what Cooper says a really smart good any game state player. Should be a couple mill cheaper and Tampa has serious cap issues so somebody is shaking loose
It seems he is a bit injury prone though looking at typical games played
Enjoy!
Cheers we’ll be by around 5
You Sir, are a brave, brave man. Kudos and happy and safe travels.
Thank you!
My wife and I drove across Canada August ‘19. It was fantastic! Safe travels!
Cheers
It is a trip every Canadian should take their kids on and they will never forget it.
And, yes, eventually northern Ontario will end and you will come out the other side.
My family made 3 such cross-country trips as a youngster.
St. John’s to Edmonton when I was 6.
Edmonton to St. John’s at 8.
St. John’s to Edmonton at 15.
…with 2 trips to BC during our first 2-year stay in AB (my dad was getting his PhD at UAlberta). So before I turned 8 I had already been in all 10 Canadian provinces. A huge eye opener, really changed my perspective on the world.
That’s awesome!
A big reason why we wanted to. Nothing opens the eyes and mind like experiencing the wide world
Can’t wait. Number 3’s bucket is to swim in all 5 Great Lakes
Not sure that’ll work out…
Sounds great! Hope it is a tremendous experience for you and your family. My wife and I are on a similar odyssey sans our adult progeny. We recently dipped our toes into the Pacific south of Tofino (water was pretty chilly and we didn’t have wetsuits like the surfers) and will eventually touch the Atlantic near St. John’s Newfoundland.
Cape Spear is the destination of choice. The most eastern spit of land in North America, an easy driuve from St. John’s & an interesting historical site.
Thanks, I’ll add it to the list. Been to 9 of the 10 provinces before (plus the Yukon), but it’ll be the first trip to Newfoundland. Looking forward to it.
We are off to Tuktoyatuk in a class c come September. Not sure if we are are going to break our investment on the Dempster or have an adventure of a lifetime. Any comments about driving there greatly appreciated.
We only went as far as Dawson Yukon. It was a long time ago and the highway that far I understand is in better shape now. When we went in 93, they were still paving the last 20% of the Alaska Highway, so that portion was still gravel then. Stop at the Liard Hot Springs along the way.
Spare Tires, Spare Gas, and Flares (intermittent cell service) .
Beware the Bear. (less scared of humans up there)
Never been THAT far north. Are you sure one can drive to Tuktoyatuk???
In Dawson City if they are still performing the Live Theatre show “The Shooting of Dan McGrew” give it a go.
I did this drive a month ago – well, part of it, because the highway was closed at Peel River (ferry runs in the summer but wasn’t operating yet and the ice road was no longer a road as much as shards of ice).
It’s a breathtaking drive – the Olgivie mountain range is a beautiful view – and you can stop in a place called Eagle Plains (population: 9) for gas a few hours from Tombstone if it’s during the day, but I’d recommend a Jerry can to be safe.
The only place that would rent to us to drive on there was Driving Force out of Whitehorse. Got a mid sized SUV and would recommend similar. Also got insurance for the windshield and tires.
Check highway closures and conditions ahead of time, particularly for the two river crossings. Drive careful and enjoy!! Dawson is such an interesting town so hope you take a couple days to check it out too. I watched game 1 of the Battle of Alberta in a bar there with 5 screens that only sat about 15 people. I was surrounded by Flames jerseys and they felt so bad for me after the start I had a shot on the house.
I’ll let the cruise director know, we’re there for a few days
I’ll race ya!
Been there; Done.(something similar)
It was Freakin Awesome!
One of those things that makes you feel ALIVE!
Like Class VI Rapids
Or Black Diamond ski runs on mushrooms;
You might survive it, but you’ll never forget it.
Safe travels “Clarke”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsYqIJqlPNc
Also weird to be away from the business for so long
An adventure for sure