The Edmonton Oilers drafted Ryan McLeod in the second round of the 2018 entry draft. His draft day scouting report mentioned tremendous speed, but as Red Line reported “too careful about going into heavy traffic and taking the puck to the net.” He was projected as a solid third-line player who would chip in offensively. He appears to be on his way to filling that role at the NHL level, but there’s a chance he’ll land higher. McLeod’s main weapon, speed, becomes more valuable every year.
THE ATHLETIC!
- New Lowetide: Jay Woodcroft is the right man at the right time in Edmonton
- Lowetide: Oilers’ expectations of Jack Campbell in his first Edmonton season
- Lowetide: Who will the Oilers trade for cap purposes?
- Lowetide: 5 Edmonton Oilers training camp surprises
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid and his Art Ross dominance
- Lowetide: Can Oilers’ Darnell Nurse live up to new contract?
- DNB: With Oilers roster intact, stars readying for next step
- Lowetide: 10 unsigned free agents who could help the Oilers in 2022-23
- Lowetide: What are reasonable expectations for the Oilers in 2022-23?
- Lowetide: Oilers’ Evan Bouchard is on the edge of stardom
- Lowetide: How many goals will Oilers winger Evander Kane score next season?
- Lowetide: Four Oilers defence prospects applying for one job. Who wins?
- DNB: Oilers depth chart: Where did they improve and where can they make more moves?
- Lowetide: For Oilers forward Dylan Holloway, the future may come early
- DNB: Oilers’ Brad Holland on AGM role, analytics, working with his dad: Q&A
- Lowetide: Oilers top-20 prospects, summer 2022
- DNB: First-round pick Reid Schaefer can bring ‘big-boy hockey’ to his hometown team
- DNB: What if Edmonton Oilers trade Jesse Puljujarvi? The case for and against
ACHILLES HEEL
After the 1986 major league baseball season, the great writer Bill James looked at the American League rookie crop (a fantastic group of bats) and announced with authority what would prove their undoing. Jose Canseco, Ruben Sierra, Cecil Fielder, Pete Incaviliga, Cory Snyder and others would become famous ‘all wood, no leather’ ballplayers.
This year’s Edmonton prospects destined to be AHL rookies may have a similar issue. Let’s take the 2020 Oilers draft as an example, since two of the team’s rookie pro forwards will come from that draft. Top pick Dylan Holloway (2021-22 was his rookie year in Bakersfield) is a fantastic passer and has plus speed, the only question surrounds his ability to shoot the puck effectively. Part of that is recovering from injury and honestly he’ll have a career even if the shot doesn’t come back all the way. He has a nice range of skills and should be considered a strong candidate to play several years in the NHL.
The team’s next three selections, Carter Savoie, Tyler Tullio and Maxim Berezkin, are also skilled with goal-scoring ability. There’s a nice range of ability beyond that for these men. As an example, Savoie is a great passer. What’s the issue? Corey Pronman wrote on Savoie’s draft day that “Savoie is a fine skater but lacks true NHL level quickness for his size.” He’s improved since and his conditioning is off the charts due to real commitment in college, but is he fast/quick enough? That’s the question that needs answering this winter.
Tullio is also a fine passer to go along with goal scoring ability, but his speed is part of why he fell to the fifth round. Don’t get me wrong, we don’t know if skating will be an issue, but we do know that scouts noticed it and found reasons to pass on him. A strong skill center will help. Maxim Berezkin, who will be spending another season in Russia this year, is a decent skater without a separation gear (via Pronman).
As fans and observers, it’s difficult to know who among the prospects will actually succeed. I remember posters who were adamant that Evan Bouchard didn’t have the speed to play NHL defense, and yet he posted an impressive season for the team in 2021-22. Philip Broberg is among the finest skaters I’ve seen from an Oilers defense prospect, but I’ve read fans conclusions that he isn’t going to make it. Well, which is it?
I hate to tell you, but in most cases we’re just going to have to find out from watching progress. Some players find a way to hang around the league a long time (David Perron at 34) because they’re so smart and skilled.
Edmonton’s mobile prospects: Jesse Puljujarvi, Kailer Yamamoto, Ryan McLeod, Philip Broberg, Dylan Holloway, Xavier Bourgault, Dmitri Samorukov, Carter Savoie.
Edmonton’s young skilled men not considered fast: Evan Bouchard, Tyler Benson, Markus Niemelainen, Tyler Tullio, Maxim Berezkin, Reid Schaefer.
I know there will be violent reaction (“I saw Savoie slow getting out of the corner in Bakersfield”) and anger (“Reid Schaefer is fast, you knob!”) but I’m using outside sources on all of these players. And it isn’t all bad. Schaefer, as a for instance, got this review from Red Line Report: “Stride is powerful, but he lacks first step quickness and lateral agility.”
Why do I write this today? I think everyone, and I do mean everyone, tends to project things other than knowledge on to these young men. Bouchard would be an example of a player who was constantly criticized for lack of speed, and he has found a way to negotiate the rapids.
I saw Tom Reid and Pierre Bouchard skate, all of these kids have good boots, some better than others. What I’m hoping is that we can replace “I’ve seen him eight times in junior and now 12 times in Bakersfield and can make the call” with something like “one of the things the credible scouting reports flagged was some issues in regard to mobility” and we’ll all live more intelligent lives.
We don’t know what we don’t know. Perhaps we should let these kids tell us who they are with their play on the ice. Novel idea, I know, we’re a world that can’t possibly read the book but desperately wants a 20-second video describing the outcome. These prospects have earned their three seasons to show the world what they can do, and I think it’s important to avoid sweeping statements while the process is underway.
NEW for The Athletic: Why did Oilers select Nikita Yevseyev at the 2022 NHL Draft?
https://theathletic.com/3482093/2022/08/06/lowetide-oilers-nikita-yevseyev-2022-draft/
Nathan Rourke is going to save the CFL.
Benson: Trying the same old thing expecting a different result, sounds somewhat familiar.
Maybe its not “trying the same thing” with a different coach, one that has coached the player, and relied on him, for a number of years?
Also, expectations are pretty much nil – noone has Benson in the starting lineup or even on the roster.
Last year expectations were generally to make the team, play daily and maybe even show some top 6 acumen. I think expectations now are to be a good vet in the AHL playing a mentor role and, of course, earning his shot as a depth injury call-up, right?
Wanted to mention something else related to Benson and his timeline so far.
And I’ll qualify first. I’m not one of those who thinks Benson just needs some time on McDavid or Draisaitl’s wing to show himself as a top 6 forward. I think it’s very unlikely he becomes that. I do however think he still has a chance to be a useful bottom 6 forward (while also believing him remaining a tweener is the most likely outcome).
Anyway, we know that Holland has a long history of slow playing prospects, and that many of them have eventually become contributing NHLers.
I was wondering if there were any from Holland’s Detroit history that were good matches for Benson to this point (and who eventually made it as legitimate NHLers).
There’s a number of examples of guys who spent 2, 3, 4 years in the AHL before becoming top 6 forwards. Guys like Tatar and Hudler were in the AHL at 18 or 19 (due to being drafted from Europe), so it’s not quite the same.
Lots of other examples of guys who spent 2-3 years in Europe or College after being drafted, then 2-3 years in the AHL before graduating as NHLers (Kronwall, Filppula, Abdelkader, Nyquist, Jarnkrok, Brandon Smith, among others).
But I did find one player who was an almost exact match for Benson to this point in his career (and this is just a progression/timeline comparable, not a style comp).
Tomas Kopecky. He was drafted at #38 out of Slovakia. He came to NA and played in the WHL for his draft +1 and +2 seasons. Very similar WHL boxcars to Benson as well (Kopecky 1.16 points/game, Benson 1.22 points/game).
Kopecky then spent 4 full seasons in the AHL. He struggled more than Benson on his ELC before approaching a point/game for the first time in his 4th pro season. Benson has been a strong AHL player all 4 of his pro seasons to this point, and is entering his 5th this year.
Kopecky got into 1 NHL game in his 4th pro season (1 0-0-0) before spending his 5th fully with the Red Wings. His boxcars in that 5th season were 26 1-0-1 (pretty nice match for Benson’s 29 1-1-2 in his 4th pro season). Then Kopecky went on to play the next 8 years as a regular with Detroit, Chicago and Florida before heading back to Slovakia. He had a couple of 0.5 point/game seasons in there but his career boxcars were 578 68-106-174 (an 82 10-15-25 career rate).
For me, this is Benson’s upside. A legitimate 400 game NHLer, but not a feature player. More likely than not he doesn’t get there, but IMO he still has a chance, whether with the Oilers and/or another team.
Nice work. I am with you that Benson’s most likely career path sees him shy of an NHL career but I really didn’t get LMHF#1’s objection to the signing earlier today.
Yes, agreed.
I think some era adjustment is required here.
Kopecy was drafted almost 20 years ago and since then NHL players are bigger, faster, more skilled and generally arrive much earlier.
And the salary cap has accelerated that trend.
Pretty good chance Kopecy would have seen little to no NHL action in the modern era.
Feel free to adjust as you see fit.
Please also let Logan O’Connor (25 years old this year in his first full season, Cup champion) and Ben Myers (24 in November, highly touted by you) know this sort of thing doesn’t happen any more.
Interesting comparables.
Both O’Connor and Myers are NCAA grads and I’m sure you’re aware their development path is different.
Thing is, O’Connor has shown a pulse in the NHL.
O’Connor missed considerable time in the 20/21 season with a lower body injury but still managed 3 goals and 5 points in 22 games playing 4th line minutes.
That’s more than Benson has scored (1 goal and 3 points in 36 NHL games)
He followed that up with 8 goals and 34 points in his first full NHL season while adding another goal and 4 points in 17 playoff games.
Worth noting, O’Connor was an undrafted UFA signed out of Denver U. not a high second round draft pick.
Ben Myers was the most sought after NCAA free agent this offseason after posting 41 points in 34 games and, while hardly a sure thing, he is far better bet to have an NHL career than Benson at this point in the time.
Colorado is playing chess…Oilers not so much.
24 points HH. And he’s a year and a half older than Benson (turns 26 next week).
Anyway, you keep playing your anti-Oilers checkers, while the Oilers play whatever it is they’re playing.
I worry for your ankles with all this bandwagon jumping.
Acquiring the most sought after NCAA free agent is playing chess? You do realize that chess isn’t a game involving multiple players who are all trying to grab the same piece first, right?
Or are you in the midst of having another Lou moment right now?
If only the Oilers could re-sign guys like 25 year old, minor league forward Callahan Burke to a league min 2-way contract like the Avs did in July.
Instead they are wasting their time in re-signing 24 year old Tyler Benson to a league min 2-way contract….
Don’t worry HH, I’ll do the adjustment for you in a way you will understand.
Kopecky is 40 years old
Benson is 24 years old.
Kopecky is 40 – 16 = 24 which is Bensons age
Benson at 24 played 29 games and got 2 points
Kopecky at 24 played 26 games and got 1 point.
If we do the era adjustment calculation then what we get is:
Bratt signing with Jersey means Lou Lamiorello might have to sacrifice him through a trade in order for Lou to sign Kadri with the Islanders.
I hope that clears things up.
“Pretty good chance Kopecy would have seen little to no NHL action in the modern era.”
You make up anything to fit your narrative. How can you legitimately know that? The truth is you can’t, and your comment is complete speculation.
Role players, like Kopecky, will be part of the NHL forever. I’m not sure why you’re picking on the guy, but he won a Stanley and that’s pretty cool.
Yeah…not picking on him but anyone who doesn’t realize the game has changed is whistling past the graveyard.
JP is valiantly trying to rescue the careers of old times Red Wings but he has to rely on history rather than reality to make his case.
Isn’t the reason very obvious?
JP had a theory and did a bunch of research regarding Holland drafted players that didn’t “make it” until they were apx 24.
There was one particular example that is fairly encouraging and could make an Oilers fan think that the door isn’t absolutely closed on a player like Tyler Benson.
Its really hard to find a way to discount the real research so, if one is only here to try and find an Oiler-negative on any topic, in this case, one would only be left with “that was years ago, the game has changed and that player would never make it”.
Geez.
The NHL has averaged around 6’1″ since 1999. The average weight has actually been declining since 2005. It was 198 lbs last season and was 205 lbs in 2005.
And as for arriving earlier, in Kopecky’s rookie season, he was one of 22 rookies, who were aged 23 or older by New Years day and played more than 25 games (the primary criteria for them completing their rookie season). This past season, 33 rookies, including Benson, aged 23 or older by New Years played 25 games or more. There is only 2 additional teams so that does not account for the difference.
Both of these contradict 50% of your reasoning for making era adjustments.
Adding a little more to this, in looking for more relaxed development path comps for Benson.
This is players drafted by Holland’s Detroit teams who took until at least 24 years old (Benson’s age this coming season) to reach the NHL as regulars, irrespective of the path they took.
We get the following list:
Tomas Kopecky (full time NHLer at age 24/25; 578 career games)
Niklas Kronwall (age 25; 953 games)
Jonathan Eriksson (age 25; 680 games)
Jimmy Howard (age 25; 543 games)
Brendan Smith (age 24; 571 games and counting)
Gustav Nyquist (age 24; 652 games and counting)
Nick Jensen (age 26; 407 games and counting)
Evgeny Svechnikov (age 24/25; 113 games and counting)
Not exactly a common occurrence, but this is 8 guys across 16 draft years (Kopecky and Kronawall were drafted in 2000, Svechnikov in 2015).
A 400 game career remains an unlikely outcome for Benson, but totally ruling it out at this stage also seems unfair.
I think the caveat here would be that Benson was not a Holland/Wright draft pick. The development under the Chia/Woodcroft regime seems to be much closer than we’ve been privy to prior, but it remains an interesting question if Holland and Co. would have opted for his services in the first place. Or if Benson would have developed any differently under their guidance.
And I say that not to detract from your retrospective look, some very fine work and informative.
While their pick in DET was 14 spots later, they picked Givani Smith who has produced boxcars to date of: (Games-Goals-Assists-Points-PIMs) 83-7-7-14-138. With this selection, they opted to pass on the oft mentioned Boris Katchouk, and were rewarded with double the output in points. They did however miss outright on their selection, with the next three players drafted being none other than Samuel Girard, Carter Hart, and Ryan Lindgren.
Drafting is hard. And so is development. I feel much more confident in the ability of the current regime than I have in what feels like an aeon.
No question drafting is hard. And development is hard.
It’s true that Benson isn’t a Holland pick, but 3 of his 4 pro seasons have been under the new regime. Holland re-signed Benson last off season then kept him on the roster (avoided subjecting him to waivers) until the trade deadline. Then he qualified him and re-signed him again this off season. Sure looks to me like he’s treating Benson like anyone else he would have drafted.
Agree thought that the patience in developing players under Holland has been a welcome change from every draft pick being put in the NHL lineup at the first possible chance.
Benson has everything he needs, almost- he’s a smart player, skilled, has enough size, decided to be gritty
All that remains is quickness. If he can’t skate with NHL players it’s not going to happen
Sure, but Benson did skate with NHL players for 29 games this year.
He didn’t move the needle at all offensively, but he didn’t get killed either. His on ice numbers (51%SF, 48%xGF) were a little better than the Oilers as a whole with Connor and Leon off the ice.
The way I look at it is, if he can improve 5 or 10% from where he was this year, he’s got a decent chance of being an NHL regular (and that could be quickness, or any other parts of his game).
Not sure I saw it mentioned but Nurse is getting marries this week – congrats to a huge part of the organization and, from all accounts, a great person.
Here is hoping the boys have a great time celebrating!
Jesse’s playing hockey today:
Mari Lönnberg
@LonnbergMari
Wish I was there. Some guaranteed entertainment at Kalajoki today – Jussi Jokinen all stars. Laine-Aho-Puljujärvi playing for the same team.
https://twitter.com/LonnbergMari/status/1555888519830183936
https://twitter.com/Freyja1987/status/1556017546180153345/photo/1
Good for Benson.
Likes the new (old) coach, keeps the dream alive and gets more cash if he gets sent down.
Sleeper pick for the player to “pop” this year.
🆙
Clan McLeod looks like a Marchant with more finesse and less jam in his own end. He might have a ceiling at tad bit higher given the velocity of his emergence.
Sign him forever please. I’ll get a jersey. He also has a million dollar hockey smile. Love that mug.
I like Ryan McLeod, he is an excellent skater and seems to have good hockey sense. He may become a Todd Marchant type, but I think you might be misremembering how good an overall hockey player Marchant was, by suggesting McLeod’s ceiling could be higher. He may exceed Marchant, but its a fairly high bar. Almost 1200 games and 500 points along with some decent Selke votes. While we all seem to recall his low goals to breakaways ratio, he did manage to put up 20 goals and 60 points in a season when scoring was at a very low point in the NHL. I hope McLeod achieves Marchant’s quality of career or better.
I think what you’re saying about Marchant is definitely fair in terms of McLeod being not so likely to exceed that.
I think a career similar to Marchant’s is a pretty reasonable hope though. That 20 goal, 60 point season was a real outlier. The other 9 seasons around that one were all between 33 to 40 points. Including the 60 point season, those were Marchant’s age 22 to 32 seasons.
I guess this coming season is McLeod’s age 23 year (turns 23 on Sept 21st), but it’s not at all hard to see him getting over 30 points and staying there for the next decade.
No guarantee obviously, but I feel like that would be well within the range of reasonable for McLeod.
On that 60point season Marchant was playing first line center (and all the PP time) because Weight was traded away. Marchant was good all along (he and whoever stone hands he played with always came in 4th ~7th in team scoringn each at 30~40 points a year) but never got the opportunity to shine until late. They named the MGM line checking line but by production level in the team they were more like a 2 way 2nd line.
Big troublen for the team if McLeod ever got put into the first line center spot. Realistically maybe he can take over the 2 way 2nd line spot from RNH (while playing alongside RNH and Hyman).
I remember well. Moreau-Marchant-Grier were my favourite line.
One of my dominant memories from that era was that the Oilers always lacked a 2nd line. Smith-Weight-Guerin/Carter were always good, that 3rd line with Marchant was a great 3rd, but Pat Falloon and the like were always badly lacking as 2nd line players.
Marchant and his wingers generally were the team’s 2nd best line, but IMO they really were a 3rd line, Marchant included.
Marchant was 29 that year he scored 60 points. The teams other centres were 21 year old Mike Comrie, 23 year old Shawn Horcoff, and 25 year old Marty Reasoner. Comparing to McLeod at 22 (and him potentially playing 1C instead of McDavid, Draisaitl, Nuge) isn’t really fair. The Oilers right now are also a far better team than the 02-03 Oilers were.
I don’t think Marchant was miscast as a 3C, though he really was an elite one. In that sense, maybe I’ve gone too far in saying McLeod has a reasonable chance of being Marchant’s equal. I was speaking in terms McLeod being a ‘good’ 3C who can score 30+ points like Marchant did. But it’s true Marchant was more than that. And while it would be a tall ask of McLeod, it’s also true that he’s just getting started and we don’t know what he’ll be in 3 or 6 years.
The narrative was that the Oilers had no second line but looking back it actually never made sense.
If the MGM line guys each scored 30~40 points but the “2nd line” guys only 20~30, it mean either the MGM line either had more TOI (which makes them the “real 2nd line”) or the MGM guys were scoring at some crazy P/TOI rates (for many years the line was in existence).
I blame the discrepancy on lack of ice time data back in the days.
The NHL.com has TOI data going back to 97-98, which captures most of Marchant’s career.
I meant that the Oilers of that era generally didn’t have an effective 2nd scoring line. I agree that the MGM line was probably 2nd in TOI, importance to the team, and often scoring. So technically they were the 2nd line.
But Marchant never scored more than 40 points aside from that one year. I think Grier’s career high was 44. Moreau never scored 40 IIRC. They didn’t score enough to be a good 2nd line, which is why they were regarded as a really good 3rd line.
In terms of total production, Todd’s ppg in his peak years with Edmonton (97-02), not including, the spike in 02/03 (his last with the team), was .47. That was very high 3rd line production. In fairness to Todd though, he got very little power play time. So almost all his points came from even strength or shorthanded (he was 3rd in the NHL over that time span in shorthanded points behind only Modano and Peca). His 5 on 5 scoring was at 2nd line levels most seasons in that era.
Of course, Todd’s production could have been better if he could shoot the puck better. He had a career 8.3 shooting % which is solidly bottom quartile. There could have been 3 positive impacts if he was a better shooter. More goals from the shots he takes. More power play time if he was a better shooter. And possibly more assists, because when he had the puck, the other team probably played more to let him shoot and limited his other options.
A couple of other Toddbits: He currently sits 12th all time in games played for the Oilers at 678 (only 18 games less than Wayne). And he is 18th in total points at 343.
Who knows, maybe someday soon, McLeod can give the Oilers fans a memory comparable to Todd’s game 7 OT winner over Moog’s shoulder after he sped down the wing past Grant Ledyard.
If he comes close to the player that Marchant was, that would be a great win for the org.
I think we may be looking at more of a Cogs type player, but one that plays center – less jam that Marchant, as you say.
The other notable nspeedy Oilers draftee were Steve Kelly, Jason Chimera and Tony Salmelanien. One of them was not like the other, snd they went way back.
His gap toothed grin always reminds me of Ryan Smyth. To me they look very similar, right down to their body language/facial expression when doing a celly… almost eerie!
Well reasoned piece LT. You and your reasonable expectations and patience. Crazy talk.
Different note. Haven’t paid attention but do we have any Oil prospects playing world Juniors this year?
Assuming you mean this month’s tourney:
Luca Munzenberger – Germany
Joel Maatta – Finland
Totally different but worth noting.
Mari Lönnberg
Wish I was there. Some guaranteed entertainment at Kalajoki today – Jussi Jokinen all stars. Laine-Aho-Puljujärvi playing for the same team.
The greatest thing about Holland’s summer is Kane essentially gave him a partial do-over on the Nurse contract by signing for less than market value.
Like Draisaitl outplaying the Chiarelli contract, you’ve got to love it when the players bail out the GM.
Huh….
thats a weird way to say, “boy, even though I thought Holland was an incompetent old fool, he’s had a really good off-season…maybe he’s not useless, and the record he’s gathered over the last thirty years or so is more indicative of his abilities than the preconceived notions I’ve gained about GM’s as a traumatized Oiler fan.”
Bottom line is these kids are still learning, growing, progressing all their range of skills. Constant improvement is the key. And we know development is not a straight line. LT is right, just have to wait and see, though it is fun to project and we all have high hopes for our personal favs.
Rick Westhead
New: Hockey Canada says Michael Brind’Amour is stepping down as chair of its board of directors, effective immediately.
“These prospects have earned their three seasons to show the world what they can do, and I think it’s important to avoid sweeping statements while the process is underway.”
Well, what the heck are we going to talk about for three years now??
Why, we will endlessly be entertained by reports about how everything the Avs/Canucks/Flames/Blues/Kings (who did I forget?) do is far smarter, far thriftier, far more insightful and always inescapably sure bets than ANYTHING the Oilers do. Forever. Always without exception.
2014 Minnesota Wild is one you’ve forgotten, their near decade of dominance has been sublime.
Absolutely love their jerseys, but as for sublime dominance? I hope you are being sarcastic…
More Benson. Obviously he and the team are still viewing his future with Oilers as positive and possible. Otherwise he should have and would have moved on.
Are they being fair?
The stronger the team gets, the stronger depth options and prospects become.
It seems more like a reward for a good soldier and helping the Condors than actual NHL player. From Benson’s perspective he may regret not trying to make it via a different rebuilding NHL organization.
It tells us one thing for sure, he is not a quitter.
Benson doesn’t have the option to “move on” to another NHL franchise.
He could cross the pond if the wanted…. and there were teams willing.
Tyler Benson signed, two-way deal (that had been rumoured) for $750,000 when he’s in the NHL. Via Daniel Nugent-Bowman.
Nice deal for the team.
And I still think he’s got a chance with the big club (in a smaller role).
Was really hoping this was over. Ugh. Wasted contract on a low ceiling.
It’s a 2-way contract. He is league minimum salary in the NHL, and will probably spend most or all of the year in the minors.
Who would you prefer to waste a league minimum, 2-way contract, on other than Benson?
Anyone with a higher ceiling.
A random bounce back possibility.
An old guy who comes in on a PTO.
A random euro.
A crazed enforcer you could call up for 2 games to beat on someone.
A giant struggling to make his frame work.
A small scorer from the ECHL who might pop.
In short – I see no point in signing Benson aside from having a body and a contract. I don’t agree with spending any of the 50 spots that way.
I have to wonder why Benson and his agent aren’t seeking a second opinion in another organization.
I’m still surprised he isn’t off to Europe for tax-free cash and enjoying himself. Maybe travel uncertainty is still a bit much.
It surprises you that a 24 year old who grew up playing hockey in North America, who has gotten to play 36 NHL games over the last 2 seasons, for his childhood team no less, doesn’t want to give up his life long dream of playing in the NHL yet? I guess you don’t understand ambition.
We’ve seen this movie before, have we not?
Plus he’s had to deal with falling backward since he was top of the world in Bantam, so I imagine this is getting old.
Ambition is easy. Working for it is the thing.
Also – when did being a star in Europe become a crappy thing? It isn’t.
First of all its his movie, not yours.
Second, are you implying he is not working for it? If so, that is a ridiculous take.
Third, Your last sentence is a red herring. No one said or even implied playing in Europe was a crappy thing. It’s just not his dream. And he can still go there in the future, if he chooses to discontinue his pursuit of an NHL career.
I think you’re upset that Benson still believes in himself, and the Oilers still have some belief in him as well so you think you’ll have to wait maybe one more season before you can say “I told you so” about Benson.
You really don’t understand my perspective. That’s fine – but this is wasted.
I understand your perspective that you don’t think Benson is an NHL caliber player and that the Oilers should place their bets elsewhere. Holland and you can agree to disagree on that one, but he’s the one that has improved the team year over year since he got here, despite doing many things with which you disagree, and this is a very low risk bet on his part.
What is hard to understand is your perspective is that that Benson should just give up his NHL dream, particularly when at least one NHL GM is willing to sign him to a contract.
I used the word surprised.
And you consistently speak as though all player analysis and commentary is a weird, personal thing motivated by random BS.
”upset Benson still believes in himself”?
Worrying about “I told you so”s in that sort of way?
What is that about?
There are people here who consistently react and speak that way. I’ve never been one of them.
If someone actually takes this stuff personally to the point of having attitudes about players that way, it’s rather sad.
Why? He’s known in the organization and they value him. Starting over in a new town likely means at least one full year in the minors. He’s playing for his former AHL coach in the NHL, so he knows him. Seems an astute decision to me.
Perhaps…but it would seem the signing of Janmark complicates further his chances of an NHL job.
For me, Benson had a shot last year and didn’t take advantage. He’l need to earn his way back and this contract is designed to do it. I don’t think there’s much to see here.
Since when is competition a bad thing? If he can’t clear that small of a hurdle, he’s not ready. It’s not like he’s competing with a roster spot with Hyman or Kane.
Weren’t you the same one who used to complain in seasons past about our youths being gifted roster spots? When did the goalposts move???
Its important to note that Benson doesn’t have the option of seeking employment in another NHL city. Yes, he could not sign with the Oilers and “demand a trade” but that, more than likely, has him sitting at home and wondering how to get a paycheque.
The Oilers help his rights pursuant to the collectively bargained arrangements between the league and players. Every single team in the NHL passed on claiming him on waivers last year (again, with a league min salary) – no offer sheet was coming.
Isn’t that what waivers accomplishes?
Yes…but being claimed on waivers takes control of the path away from the player as opposed to a more proactive step.
You have to assume his agent made calls to other teams though and there was no interest in a one way. Look at all the guys still waiting for contracts.
Entirely possible.
Because hes collecting a good paycheck from a team that has stuck with him all this time. Not everyone hates the Oilers like you
I have to wonder why you think they haven’t already.
The Oilers are only at 42 contracts with McLeod yet to come. Benson is still only 24 and is a top player in the AHL. I don’t see him having much of an NHL career either, but he’s a better bet than a “random euro/bounce back candidate”.
I disagree with signing anyone whose ceiling is a 13/14 NHL forward to the 50-man, but I know this is also not a widely shared perspective.
A risk or a specialist is always a better choice for me than these players.
Every year NHL GM’s sign veteran AHL’ers who have little or no chance to make the NHL team to act as mentors for their young rookies. Benson is now one of those players or close to it.
Do you think a team is better off with no leadership group of veterans because that is what it sounds like.
And I disagree with what they’re doing. Have for a very long time.
I don’t believe a strong leadership group is made of the same people these GMs do.
Well that would be a different argument than the one you originally put forth.
So what do you see as the ingredients of a strong leadership group?
This approach just sounds like the way to generate a never ending second guessing approach. There are potentially several contract spots available after Benson. What makes you so sure that “any random other unnamed person” is in fact a “better bet” than Benson?
Never ending second guessing would be rather pointless.
I have a method. I use it.
One of the elements within it is not committing to players below a certain level that don’t have significant upside or a needed speciality.
Every year these players are available and we see them succeed.
It’s not a terribly complicated thing.
Ok and fair. I am curious to know if your method generated prospective less wasted contracts and higher ceiling players who provide implied better value at league minimum, with a two way option and the ability to assist in prospect development at the AHL level? Honestly not trying to be a dick here – if I am wrong, sincerely let me know – but what I hear you saying is “just not Benson” (which in itself is fine – you see him as minimal/no value). I guess, it sort of reminds me of the classic Monty Python “Argument Sketch” just contradiction isn’t argument! This is a low risk contract and has been said several times – there are several other available contracts still on the 50 man list. While it is not likely to “tip the scales” in a positive way, it doesn’t limit the team options. Players are needed for AHL and NHL teams, Benson is just one such player.
Well, once Holland inks MacLeod, the Oilers will have 42 signed contracts. That still leaves room for each of the seven you list with one to spare, so no problem. I doubt Holland, Gretzky and Woodcroft share your views on Benson.
And even if the Oiler’s expectations are not high for Benson, for injury cover, they have a young AHL veteran player the coach trusts, who understands the various team systems, and helps the AHL team be competitive which is good for the development of the other prospects.
I would rather have Benson in the org than almost all of those players described but, in any event, the Benson re-sign, as a normal course of business and proper asset management, does not preclude any of those, not be a single iota.
They could sign five of your preferred players and still have a nice buffer under the 50.
Yeah your take makes sense if you rate Benson that lowly (upside of a 13/14F, you said elsewhere).
While I’m not one of those who holds out hope that Benson can still be a top 6 forward, I think he’s got more upside than 13/14F.
For me, his likely role in Bakersfield, plus the possibility he could be useful in the Oilers bottom 6, makes the contract he got worthwhile.
Jake Virtanen among others might have been a better bet.
You see someone not liking a Oiler decision so you just gotta jump in and pile on.
Maybe Benson loves being in the Oilers org, maybe he told his agent to keep him in the Oilers org, maybe he’ll move on in 2 years, maybe he’ll have more of a career in the NHL then Brabra Raggolin.
What we do know is, no one would ever ask you.
All teams have tweeners and dreamers, Benson is playing out his dream for his hometown hockey team. Nothing wrong with keeping the dream alive in his position.
This is funny
But also, I do think Virtanen is capable once his head is on straight, he had to learn things the hard way.
Right bring a player into the organization that made a deliberate attempt to take out McDavids knee out at the young stars tournament to make a name for himself!
He’s still available to all 32 teams last I checked.
Aside from whether he’d be a good fit, I’d say it’s unlikely he’s going to sign a 2-way, $750k contract with any team in the league.
For league min on a two way contract?
Signing Benson was what a class organization does! You build a reputation as an organization with how you treat people. It will have long term benefits and simply put the right thing to do!
Of course he was going to sign this deal – they qualified him (which was, of course, the right and standard move).
Why wouldn’t they re-sign him to the most risk-free contract possible?
If nothing else, he’s a big help to the AHL team and a serviceable depth player once injuries pile up.
The team now has 42 contracts, 8 left on the list – I’m not sure there is any issue here.
100% as expected. I mentioned earlier in the week that it will come shortly and will be 100% at league min. Posited the player was hoping for a one-way but ultimately it would likely be a two way with a higher guaranteed min.
He’ll play NHL games this season- maybe even in October. If he can provide some real value on the ice at league min that’s, well, valuable.
Not bad money imo.
PuckPedia
The #LetsGoOilers re-signed 24 y/o RFA Tyler Benson to 1 year deal:
NHL 750K
Minors 275K
Guaranteed 350K
Likely at least as much as he makes in Europe, even in the tax free leagues, with the upside of more.
Yup. Holland gets slagged around here from time to time for not squeezing guys enough in contract negotiations but there is a lot of value in business, imo, for having a reputation for treating people fairly.
LT, you are the voice of reason in a mad, mad Oilers world. Thank you.
LT, I seem to recall that Draisaitl’s skating was a minus during his draft year and his first NHL year. I also seem to recall that he devoted serious energy to improving it during the following off-season. It’s not a problem now, to put it mildly.
Are there any lessons here for other prospects? How improvable (or unchangeable) is skating?
Yes, agreed. It was slow pace and long shifts iirc, but he certainly dug in and worked hard to make himself what he is today. I don’t recall a structural issue, so there was no need to adjust his approach (Schremp was a wide body skater, as an example).
I met Leon when we has 18, he was around 6 foot 1 but his waist was around his nipples….he was all legs….not surprised his skating improved drastically at age 19-20
Grew into his frame, added leg strength and made some slight tweaks to his skating.
Will never forget him dusting Toews and Kane in OT early on. His skating had arrived at that point.
This is so, so true. I used to stare at his awkward skating. He bent at the waist with very shallow bend in his knees. That was quickly assessed and corrected. I don’t know who gets credit for this.
Also agree on Savoie’s skating – I watched alot of his games in Denver. He’s a fine skater, its not really an issue but, yes, at the same time, he’s not “quick” – doesn’t have great edges, etc.
Its going to be an uneven year for him in Bakersfield I think – I think he’ll have some nice stretches but it may take some real commitment to adapt to the bigger, fasters, skilled pro hockey players that are laying it on the line for their livelihoods!
He’s already shown real commitment in dedicating himself more to training and fitness and adjusting to bigger, faster college hockey players.
Agree it may not be a totally smooth transition to pro hockey for him, but hopefully he can adjust to this next step like he did the last.
Yup, hopefully.
That scouting report on McLeod is 100% bang on – nailed it and, coming off his ELC, he’s developing just as the team could have hoped, looking like that 3C for the next decade, and, as LT notes, there could be a bit more.
The zone exit/transition/zone entry game is high end – I’m not alone in often mistaken him for McDavid on the entry.
I do think his offence will always be a little shy (which is just fine, its keeps his contract manageable, for an important lineup player) but I did see him make some skilled and smart offensive zone plays (passes) with a bit more regularity in the the last few months of the season.
Of note, he was second on PK TOI/G in the playoffs (and just by a few seconds) – that’s massive. Woody trusts him in that role and he looks like he’ll be a PP1/2 regular for years to come.
Of note, his PP P/60 were the highest among non PP1 forwards….. is there something there?
He was also 2nd in SH TOI /GP (behind RNH) during the Woodcroft portion of the season, & #1 in raw minutes. His average soared from 0:09 per game under Tippett to 1:58 under Woody.
You are correct he had some good moments on PP2. Small sample obv.
This is completely based on leaky memory, but I seem to recall a lot of McLeod’s PP success coming on the rush/from broken plays outside the offensive zone, rather than from a traditional PP setup. I’m not sure how this factors in as a predictor of future PP success.
Zone entries are very important for the power play and it’s an area in which he excels!
With the additions of Janmark and Holloway to the ranks. It’s a crowded deep group
Kane, McD, Hyman
Nuge, Drai, Yams
Foegele, McLeod, Jp
Holloway, Janmark, Ryan.
With all these pieces that can be moved around, Woodcroft will never be bored.
Imo keep McLeod focused on a 3rd line center role with ample PK time.
Yup, that’s a possibility – I would not that it would have Janmark playing RW, which I’m not sure he’s ever done. He’s not a center option at the NHL level, essentially stating that himself after the signing (that he’s never played center in the NHL, they transitioned him to wing as soon as he came over).
“Novel idea, I know, we’re a world that can’t possibly read the book but desperately wants a 20-second video describing the outcome. “
Speaking of which, when’s the 20 second video coming out for your book? 📕
I jest, I jest. Pre-Ordered and can’t wait.
Congrats on that and your interview with Holland, LT.
Good Summer So Far!