Do you remember Kirill Tulupov? On September 15, 2011, I introduced to you him, like this: The Edmonton Oilers have invited defender Kirill Tulopov to training camp. This has been out there for a couple of weeks but you never know and I waited to post it until seeing it in two places online. Tulupov is a big defender (6.04, 230) and he was a 3rd rd pick for NJD in 2006. The Oilers selected D Theo Peckham in the same round, 8 spots later. He played junior in the QMJHL and played some in the KHL once turning pro.
Tulupov would impress everyone at training camp, but not in the way he hoped.
THE ATHLETIC!
- New Lowetide: Why Oilers trading for Patrick Kane makes more sense at the deadline
- Lowetide: 9 Bold Predictions for the 2022-23 Edmonton Oilers
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers reasonable expectations for every player in 2022-23
- Lowetide: Why Oilers prospect Raphael Lavoie is in for a make or break season
- Lowetide: Finding Edmonton Oilers’ ideal skill lines for 2022-23
- Lowetide: Oilers have room for UFA contract or PTO. Is there a match?
- Lowetide: Oilers question marks as training camp nears
- Lowetide: Xavier Bourgault leads strong group of Oilers prospects graduating to pro hockey this fall
- Lowetide: Oilers math shows 41 candidates for 23 (or fewer) jobs. Who could play where?
- Lowetide: Why did Oilers select Nikita Yevseyev at the 2022 NHL Draft?
- 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
- DNB: With Oilers roster intact, stars readying for next step
- Lowetide: What are reasonable expectations for the Oilers in 2022-23?
- Lowetide: Four Oilers defence prospects applying for one job. Who wins?
- 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
THE 2011 JOEY MOSS
In my note for Tulupov following the Joey Moss game in 2011 I wrote “Kirill Tulupov: I noticed the Eager belt, and the Hall mauling. Fear and a sense of the moment don’t appear to be in the vocabulary. I’ll bet money they give him a contract.” He would play the 2011-12 season with the Oklahoma City Barons, Edmonton’s minor league affiliate at that time.
THE RUGGED OILERS FOR 2022-23
During his time in Bakersfield, Jay Woodcroft did employ some tough hockey players. I’m not certain any of them ever had an NHL chance, but some of the names coming to camp this year (who played for him) might see the NHL in 2022-23. Vincent Desharnais, Brad Malone, Dmitri Samorukov and Markus Niemelainen. If healthy, Samorukov has the kind of mobility and edge that could get him an NHL job for several years.
The NHL players who bring a physical element are Evander Kane, who brings real intimidation to the game. I know this is a math blog, but players past and present have expressed support for that kind of player on the roster. The trick is to find a player of this type who has real skill, and Kane is such a player. Darnell Nurse is a strong option in this area too, but he doesn’t have another player of his type in Edmonton’s top-four defense. Is that a need? Should Zack Kassian be replaced?
I’ll tell you that for me the nature of the group in Edmonton is aggressive across the roster. Connor McDavid, now a mature player, is often the first to engage a collision, and he has some nasty in him. Leon Draisaitl is capable of brute behaviour along with brute strength. Zach Hyman is the personification of Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down” and on it goes. Jesse Puljujarvi gets ripped for not being physical, but he is and uses his position well. He isn’t Al Secord, I get it, but JP has infuriated opponents with his size and strength in a battle.
The Oilers site is beginning to place the names of rookie or training camp players who are non-roster. So far, we have:
- LD Noah Dorey from the Kelowna Rockets. He’s 6.03, 192. Pension Plan Puppets: He is a very strong two-way defenseman, who may not ever put up a lot of points but helps drive offense through transitions and moving the puck up the ice. His biggest strength will be his defense. (Source)
- LC Luca Hauf from Krefelder (Germman Juniors). He’s described by The Hockey Writers as “a smart, defensively-minded forward that can play either center or on the wing. This season, he worked his way up from the Germany3 division all the way up to the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL), which is the top league in Germany.” (Source)
- LC Ty Nash, Lethbridge Hurricanes. This is the son of Tyson Nash. He attended Edmonton’s summer prospect camp and played in the Billy Moores Cup. Amoliva said about Nash at the game “Ty Nash did a great job off the wall sending LaChance into a breakup, but the goal could have been prevented.” (Source)
A FEW NOTES
We’re almost through the long haul of summer, although the pace has been brisk for Oilers fans. The playoffs went deep, the business of the offseason was electric and we are here. The early names on the invite list (these haven’t been published yet, but can be found on the Oilers site) tells us all the songs titled “The Boys are Back in Town” will be played on Edmonton radio in the next three weeks. I’m looking forward to seeing Ryan Fanti, Dmitri Samorukov, Reid Schaefer, Jake Chiasson, Dylan Holloway, Xavier Bourgault.
It’s also a time when NHL players sign PTO’s and I believe Sam Gagner is going to be here on one of them. There are powerful forces suggesting that Patrick Kane is coming to Edmonton via trade, my piece in The Athletic gives reasons why waiting is a good idea. I hope you read it without jumping to conclusions, my reasons are sound and I do frame the player accurately (he would be a fantastic get). We’ve seen slow news days this summer but not many really. I expect things get exciting and right soon.
LOWETIDE AND JAMIESON
At 10, through 2, we celebrate the weekend! US Open Tennis will be discussed, Steve Lansky will tell us why it’s so damn fun to watch. Plus CFL review of last night’s classic and this weekend’s games and another NFL stop. Plus the Oilers and any NHL news breaking. We aren’t far from waivers, ladies and men! 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. Friday!!!
Of note, one Philip Broberg was posting pics of (presumably from) Commonwealth last name. I believe the young stud is in town!
Being a numbers-based blog, here’s an interesting possession stat:
At the moment, this blog is 100% possessed. 😛
Seems today’s post has disappeared – not sure if that’s intentional by the host or technical issues.
Post disappeared, not sure how. If you sign out of the blog, then go to my twitter link from this morning, it should show up. NO idea how it happened or if it will happen again.
https://lowetide.ca/2022/08/27/start-3/
Gives me a 404 “page doesn’t exist” screen LT
Well, it was there I swear! Apologies, ladies and men.
I did similar earlier (if you google lowetide.ca you get a link to today’s post nested under the link to the main site). That got me in a time or two but then got the 404 screen intermittently, then permanently. Definitely odd since the rest of the site appears to be working fine (and it doesn’t appear to be a logging in issue as in the past).
Its been off most of the day for me.
Doesn’t work for me.
Freidman says Kane isn’t interested in moving asap
But if he gets talked into it, MacKinnon Drai and CMD are no brainers
The Oilers are a final 4 team that did not lose anything key and have a very high chance of being better with maturation, health, and I think better players coming aboard
The Avs are similar, if the goalies are decent, Kadri is a loss
I don’t know what he would have to see to decide to join Edmonton in particular. The Oilers are very good and finally have a great coach too boot meaning the disorganization of olden times be gone. Proof in pudding
That’s right – as we’ve discussed, Seravelli said earlier this week that he believes his intel remains accurate, Kane has no desire to be traded prior to the season but he MIGHT be amenable to a trade closer to the deadline and will decide at the time.
Friedman said yesterday that management will NOT go to Kane to discuss a trade – any trade discussion will only happen AFTER Kane comes to management, if he does.
Also: Avs lost Kadri, Burakovsky and, on its face, down-graded their tending big time – there is potential in Georgiev but he’d been trending the wrong way for a while now and has not been even close to the same tier as Kuemper has.
Leon and Connor
65 points in 16 playoff games
OMG
The same day LT writes a blog about the Ben Eager injury….the Oilers announce Dylan Holloway will wear #55 this year. Someone wrap that boy in bubble wrap for training camp.
I was looking at the number situation and noticed the Soup scooped his 36. Not sure how much say the young players have in these number choices, but I’ve been think that DH has his sites on #10 and this is why he has this number.
That must have been on Twitter? I noticed this morning that Holloway and Bourgault are not lost on the roster on the Oilers website, but unnumbered players like Hamblin & Philp are.
I wonder if Bourgault will be rocking #98 with Jim Matheson no longer influencing number decisions, lol.
Honestly, I have to agree with Matheson on this one. It’s not just that I dislike numbers above 30 for non-elite skaters. When you’re playing in Edmonton, you have to know that Connor is #97 and Gretz was #99. To take #98 is too close to suggesting that you’re in their company.
IMO, if we draft Connor Bedard and he wants to stick with his current #98 number, it would be perfectly fitting. But anybody of lesser pedigree (even Bourgault) should think twice before wearing that number for this franchise in particular. With Kyle Turris’s departure, #8 is free for the taking.
Then he will simply wear a “1” followed by a picture of a sophisticated mask-like apparatus which covers half a person’s face and over one eye. To even look at this number is to be swiftly assimilated.
And thus the number will be known as…Bourgteen.
Disagree.
If that were true than nobody ever wear 88 or 66. Because reasons.
If the number isn’t retired, it’s fair game to choose. Anything else is just creating drama for the sake of doing so.
As an example, remember when Yakupov waited a full season before asking Horcoff if he was okay with Nail choosing #10? Yet Yak was always labeled the disrespectful upstart. Can’t win in this town, seemingly.
Hell, I remember a disproportionate amount of discussion about Hall taking #4. *Yawn
I vaguely remember Eager getting clocked I believe in the first game of the year it was year 2 of his contract and he was never the same after. I think it was against the Canucks but I’m drawing a blank on who his dancing partner was.
Kassian
Hollway was #4 in Okotoks and Wisconsin. Seeing as how that’s now off the table for an Oiler, I would have thought he would take #44.
He also wore #19 in midget, #20 at the Hlinka-Gretzky and #10 at the WJC, but for some reason I’ve I always thought #10 would be his eventual Oilers number. No real good reason, but it just seems to be “the right” number for him. 44 would also make sense, I suppose.
Does P. Kane to the LA Kings, as a near deadline deal, not sound like something that could very well happen? Should be in the battle for the playoffs, have the prospect currency, could likely use a bump in top 6 offence, a big-US city destination where one could see him playing the next few years…..?
Surely a possibility especially if he has no interest in winning anything more soon.
I see the LA Kings as being very playoff competitive this season and very much on the upswing of the NHL.
I don’t disagree they’ll be competitive and remain so. But do you think “on the upswing“?
They have two main pieces who are on the aging slope (that’s not including the guy who ended up being their playoff starter). There are young players coming but the prospect depth we heard about turned out to be good, not great.
I feel like they should be able to tread water going forward, but more growth isn’t all that likely.
You’re ignoring the addition of Fiala who will supercharge their 1st line and PP.
Suggesting their prospect pool has stalled is just not accurate,
They have already graduated 3 NHL defensemen and have another 3 on the cusp.
Kaliyev is already an everyday top 6 winger and will improve with maturity.
Quinton Byfield just turned 20 last month (how old is Holloway?) and had last season derailed by a broken ankle. In his latest rankings, Wheeler says he has no doubt Byfield will be a #1C.
And, of course they have about half a dozen other forward prospects who’re are expected to play in the league in various roles.
Rome is almost finished.
The chances LA gets by the Oilers and Avs are not great on an ongoing basis for years to come
Kane’s out of highway soon. If he wants to win LA isn’t the answer. Oilers, Avs, Rangers, maybe Panthers. Maybe flames or Bolts for a while
If Holland keeps progressing the team as he has the Oilers are going to be a juggernaut. The Avs as well, but the cap is going to hit them harder than the Oilers in the next few years
The Kings took the Oilers to 7 games while missing two top 4 D and a top 6 forward.
Imagine the outcome if the Oilers had been missing Nurse, Kulak and Nuge for the entire series.
Thing is, the Kings still have a very strong prospect pool that they can either incorporate into the lineup or use as trade capital.
For example, they have too many RHD and, at some point, are likely to use that position of strength to shore up their forward ranks.
I stand by my post re: LAK a team on the rise and I think they can be players in the Pacific for years to come but, my good, Kevin Fiala doesn’t supercharge anything and, while I think Kaliyev will see some top 6 time in the NHL, a player that was 18th among forwards on his team in 5 on 5 TOI/game is NOT a legit every day top 6 forward.
Its too bad that the community can’t have an honest and fun reasoned conversation about the Kings due to this bull – made up statements with no basis in reality.
If it does happen I bet that Byfield is going the other way.
I could see LAK surprising a lot of people and wind up 2nd in the division. They had major injury issues last season and have a lot of young players improving. Fiala was a good add.
Kane to the Avalanche wouldn’t surprise me.
Makes me wonder if that might be a factor in not bringing Statsny back.
If they acquired Kane to play on the top line, they could move Rantanen to #2C permanently which would more than make up for the loss of Kadri.
It’ll be interesting to see where he ends up going and/or is willing to waive for.
If he’s looking for another big payday there aren’t many better places to pad his stats then Edmonton. Likewise the Oilers are a legit contender if he’s motivated by another Cup.
Obviously other teams offer varying degrees of A and B as well, in addition to other things he may be looking for.
LA doesn’t actually have a ton of cap opening up next season, though obviously there are ways to make things work if there’s a will.
Barrie and Kane padded their stats in Edmonton, but they weren’t getting much of a pay day (relative to their stats).
Maybe the market correct itself against the McDavid-Draisatl stat pads.
Yes, perhaps.
Didn’t both Barrie and Kane (reportedly) take less from the Oilers to stay than they were offered from other teams though?
Kulak did the same in free agency.
Were there actually any accounts that any of the three were offered more money elsewhere? Its an honest question as I don’t think there were (just some speculation re: Kane) but I could be wrong
LA has a total of about $9 million coming off the cap next season.
Guys making under $2M don’t really open up any cap space, though, since you need to spend that much to replace them.
Quick’s $5.8M is really the only contract that should open up space depending on if they sign him to back up money or let him walk.
They have at least 3 players in the $2-$2.5 million range who can be replaced by players on ELC’s.
As well as losing the Quick cap hit (yeah I know he will need to be replaced) another $1 million comes off the cap due to the end of the Phaneuf buyout.
Incremental stuff but all that and a trade and they could easily absorb Kane.
For example.
Viktor Arvidsson will be on an expiring $4.5 million contract.
Pretty sure Chicago or many other teams would bite on that and Kane would be a direct replacement for him on RW.
I’d rather see him in Edmonton ASAP .
Is H.H not feeling well today?
Just back from fishing up Island…caught a big fat 27 pound Chinook.
Thanks for asking.
3 pounds light😞
I think Friedman had it right. Kane will likely wait to see who is any good before agreeing to a move. If he waits until the deadline he will choose a contender he feels he can win with. It does him no good if he moves now to a team that ends up with unforeseen issues, including a rash of injuries.
His plans for next year will not really factor into this
Maybe but it’s tough with the sell-off you see everyone leaving the kids you were mentoring. It’s also rough with the questions that I’m sure he feels uncomfortable answering with the standard no comment. I have a feeling Kane asked Davidson to make a deal as soon as possible. Make it happen team Holland.
All of the actual intel, from people with access to Davidson and Kane and his agency, etc. is that Kane has absolutely NOT done what you posit, in fact, the opposite.
Will see how it plays out. Why would a newbie G.M try to sewer his value in a asset?
Sewering value in an asset? How so?
While LA will be good, they’re a step below someone he’d seriously consider a cup contender. Their ceiling is probably below the TMac/Thornton Sharks, I think Kane will take a shot at the cup before signing a nice contract somewhere, which may end up being LA.. After his shot on a legitimate team for a quick run.
Maybe – we’ll see how the season goes. The Rangers sure came back to top team faster than almost anyone thought.
We also don’t know what Kane may value the most, now, in February and in July.
Maybe he wants his deadline team (if there is one) be his next contract team and may see a team on the rise that he can help take to another level – I don’t know.
I wouldn’t be surprised if all four of these players see NHL games and would be somewhat shocked if any of the latter 3 didn’t.
Samorukov – In conversation to make the team out of camp last fall until injury, once again, ended that idea. A very good prospect with a broad range of skills that is also very aggressive and fits the “tough to play against” mantra. I believe he’s 7D on merit (and one injury from the lineup).
Niemelainen – His open ice hitting is real and its spectacular and it does make the opposition keep their head up and take an extra split second through the neutral zone, coming around the net, etc. At the same time, the big Fin must be able to defend speed and skill and get the puck up and out if he’s to earn an NHL job – he had issues in that area as his NHL games went on. With that said, he’s likely 8th on the depth chart and the team will undoubtably need more than 8 d-men for the season. Kris Russell (or similar) may knock him one ring down but he’s proven to be at least serviceable in the NHL and likely still on the up swing. He’ll play games.
Malone – I think his greatest value to the org is captaining the Bakersfield Condors. With that said, its clear that Woody has trust in this guy, even at the NHL level and he’s now signed to a new 2-year deal. I’d be surprised if he doesn’t play games and, to be honest, I wouldn’t be shocked if he was 4C in game 1…..
Dehearnais – He’s got real attributes and has come so far in 2 AHL seasons (part of one in the ECHL). I fear lateral mobility and issues with moving the puck (the game will be even faster at the NHL level) may preclude him but, as of right now, he’s 4th on the right shot depth chart. I think a Kris Russell PTO then signing may impact that and the likes of Broberg, Samourkov or even Kulak on the right side if there is an RD injury are options but he could see a game.
Re: Klingberg and Friedman, what I found particularly interesting (and heartening) was Kenny’s reported attempt to work out a possible sign and trade with retention with the Habs, who would have signed Klingberg and then immediately dealt him to the Oilers.
Friedman noted a trade like this has never been done before, which strikes me as quite innovative for how we all seem to view our old school GM. Is this a case of an old dog learning a new trick, or further evidence of possible positive impact of the younger Holland on the mgmt team’s way of thinking and doing business?
No way of knowing since it ultimately fell thru, but interesting to consider.
Source: 32 Thoughts and summarized in print here, https://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/oilers_habs_discussed_sign_trade_involving_klingberg/s1_16454_37811151
Yes, I agree – for me, what shouldn’t be lost in the intel from Friedman was that Holland was trying to work a fairly innovative cap structuring transaction – it didn’t go through but it seems that Ken Holland isn’t stuck in 90s GM mode. Perhaps Brad Holland (and other in the org) are involved in this type of strategy but, in any event, its very heartening, isn’t it?
When Draisaitl told everyone the injury has brought him to the next level, I’m putting him down for a dozen Gordie Howe tricks this upcoming season. The aggression will come from inside the house.
Was just thinking how Draisaitl always made me think of Jean Beliveau who surprisingly was a mean hombre on the ice that no one wanted to bother.
Was wondering if Leon ever started scowling. How much more awesome he might become, since he’s already a bona fide NHL star.
I thought that was seen when he “slashed” Tierney in the playoffs back in 2017 and got a game misconduct for his troubles. Hehe
The skilled guys always have a bit of crazy.
McDavid busted his hand, preventing an OHL record season, punching the dasherboard in a fight his draft year.
Shrinking violets they are not.
Just fluff from me today, but the TC invite list will grow, as these players will primarily be filling the Young Stars tournament roster. Dorey was as a standout in the Billy Moores Cup, he was often up there with the forwards attacking the zone.
Based on my viewing of him during the same tournament,Ty Nash can absolutely fly and his backhand pass to set-up LaChance for his breakaway goal was a lot more impressive than the seemingly whiffed shot that went in on Rodrigue. It seems to me though that Nash has hands like feet and is not a pro prospect, but he skates really good.
I hope to see Noah Ganske at camp, not sure if he is returning to school though. this fellow showed very well by my eye.
A note on Luca Hauf, he will be playing for the Oil Kings this season.
https://whl.ca/article/oil-kings-sign-luca-hauf-to-whl-standard-player-agreement
“I know this is a math blog, but players past and present have expressed support for that kind of player on the roster.”
I read this blog more than your Athletic articles because they are too mathy, if that’s a word. Please keep this blog the way it is.
“Todd, trust math. As in Matics, Math E. First-order predicate logic. Never fail you. Quantities and their relation. Rates of change. The vital statistics of God or equivalent. When all else fails. When the boulder’s slid all the way back to the bottom. When the headless are blaming. When you do not know your way about. You can fall back and regroup around math. Whose truth is deductive truth. Independent of sense or emotionality. The syllogism. The identity. Modus Tollens. Transitivity. Heaven’s theme song. The night light on life’s dark wall, late at night. Heaven’s recipe book. The hydrogen spiral. The methane, ammonia, H2O. Nucleic acids. A and G, T and C. The creeping inevitability. Caius is mortal. Math is not mortal. What it is is: listen: it’s true…”-David Foster Wallace, Infinite Jest, from footnote 324
Awesome. Infinite Jest is one of my desert island books. Only book I’ve ever read that needed a separate bookmark for endnotes.
Thanks for posting this.
Ok, what is this book, sounds interesting?!
This book has so much going on, I have to provide this link:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infinite_Jest
David Foster Wallace was just a phenomenal writer, and this book was his magnum opus. I generally recommend reading some of his essays first before diving into his novels just to get a sense of how he wrote. (“A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again” is especially hilarious.)
Ok thx for the recommendation. I will start there.
Just read a synopsis by Emma Lee moss. I fear this book may consume me.
Sorry, I couldn’t resist. 😉
A tweet from a math prof I follow.
====================
Mathematicians: Math is everywhere! Physics is just math! Biology is just math! Rocket ships and cell phones? Yup, just applied math!
Also mathematicians: Statistics is NOT real math.
I wonder if the attraction for a guy like Kane is the Oilers being an old school organization. Keith and Kane were part of the mistreatment of Kyle Beach, in my opinion, as they were part of the leadership of the team.
The Oilers employ EKane successfully despite his issues, and he re ups here.
Maybe the Oilers are viewed as an org that still protects their players and privacy and won’t throw them under the bus as part of a woke agenda.
Old school GM, an owner who recently got dragged through the mud- these are guys that understand the ups and downs of being a public figure. As much as we hear in the media, I’m sure there is still a ton that happens behind closed doors.
It might be an attractor to a guy like PKane – the org will protect him. He gets to play with McDavid too and that might mean a 100pt season and another big ticket contract.
Not commenting that this is right or wrong, just an observation. It’s interesting they are collecting Blackhawks and guys like EKane, and those players are excelling here.
No idea what P Kane does aside from stiffing taxi drivers in late night escapades, but the sight of watching Evander coming to Edmonton and now perhaps is going to go on to some kind of rebirth as a human being/hockey player might have some bearing on his decision.
I can’t bear the idea of betting on a Cup winner at the start of a season because it would drive me nuts. If I could stand the tension I’d happily stick a few dollars on Oilers to win the cup next season now that they have steady goaltending. The East sans Tampa has a lot of strong teams but they all beat the shit out of each other before the Finals – leaving Colorado as the real challenge ahead and Oilers could well return next year and stuff Colorado if they’re healthy.
Kane is from Buffalo so snow and miserable winters are nothing new to him. No idea about him other than he’s a sensational older NHLer who has a lot to add to a playoff contender. McDavid/Draisaitl are unmatched in the NHL. Have just watched some of the playoff highlights and am left in left in awe by the level of sheer ability to score when behind. I have never seen a team with that ability at NHL level.
The Dynasty Oilers were often up 6-1 after 1 period… the McDavid Oilers start games down 5-1 then roar back.
Kane is a smart dude. To quote Jim Carrey: “There’s a chance”.
Woke; I do not think this word means what you think it means
I find it rather disturbing that professional athletes find it difficult to have a normal life outside their sport! To the best of my recollection and observation of the dynasty years in Edmonton it was not uncommon to have one the team show up at a restaurant you were at and they were treated by the other patrons as just another patron. The hero worship/idolization of today wasn’t there at least not to my observation.
If the Oilers do a Intel on Jake Virtanen and it comes up clean would you PTO him are possibly sign him to a 1 year contract on league minimum?
I’d bring in a whole damn additional roster on PTOs. The Oilers play 8 preseason games and I don’t want 97, 29, 25, 91, 93, 5, 18 etc. playing more than like 2 of them lol.
Kassian is a effing genius compared to Virtanen. You cannot win with dumb hockey players.
You don’t know this, not sure that’s fair at all.
I would look into it though. Virtanen had NHL caliber skills at one point, but lacked something. If its the brain ok. More likely attitude or immaturity.
Oilers of a few years ago, absolutely take a chance. Today I don’t think they require the project.
If it was two way contract, sure, I would look at it. Fast, tough, defensive minded 4th liner with some scoring would be welcome. Is that Jake the second time around?
I do think some NHL team will find out.
I’m not sure why it being a 2-way would be a factor – as long as its league min, one way vs. two-way has essentially no impact on the team and the cap.
The thing about rugged players is, they have to have boots and be able to take/make a pass. Gone are the days of hoping for the likes of Hordichuck, or MacIntyre or Stortini to save the day. Even Lucic was a bad move when it was being telegraphed, guys like Craig Simpson called it a bad deal beyond year four – look at how optimistic that prediction turned out.
I don’t think we need a bruiser on every line or pairing. Just someone who isn’t puck optional who’s not afraid to mix things up and knows how and when to pick the right moments for ill intent.
I think we’re largely there, with some quality potential players coming in the pipeline.
Ladies and gentlemen…let me introduce…The Great Stortini!
Help me if I’m senile but didn’t Stortini get his ass kicked in amazing fashion most every time he fought?
My nickname for him was Huggy-bear because instead of chucking them, he’d hold on for deal life and try to get off a pot shot once in a while.
I remember that!
I think the forward group is fine. Holland has added size which was missing for years, and speed
E Kane is perfect for McDavid because he’s a distraction and he backs himself up. He doesn’t tolerate fools on the ice messing with his set up man
I am less convinced about the D group. Holland again has been adding size and speed. Skating is everything now for D because they can’t hold and forwards can pretty much all skate these days
I agree they don’t necessarily need a bruiser, but adding a guy that is more physically demanding on the opponent would be an improvement. Ceci Bouch Bro Barrie aren’t, Kulak isn’t big enough
In zone defending with some malice and defending entries could be better, and it would add a lot. That’s Samu’s game, but he can’t stay healthy and is aways from being a mature player
Maybe after Lou’s summer he has the cap space to give up Mayfield for some O
Current 7D and 8D (in my opinion) are Samorukov and Niemelainen – both rugged defenders.
We know 7D and 8D will play MANY games in the NHL these days (unless you are the flames during horseshoe seasons).
Yes they are but very green. Years before they are solid likely
The D probably doesn’t get added until the Oilers see what Broberg, Samorukov, and Desharnais can do.
Desharnais might fill the role. All the left side D can “fly”. Vincent has a massive wingspan.
Yeah I don’t disagree.
Mayfield is who I see as this point in time’s comparable to a younger Radko Gudas.
Not sure what the acquisition cost would be but he’s someone I’d be very interested in bringing onboard.
Same goes for Artem Zub.
Thing is, I don’t think we /need/ those guys to win. More consistent goalering, maturation from depth players, and a more cohesive team game a la WoodMan could very well get us to the promised land.
Still, I would not pass up a realistic opportunity to add a puck skilled pugilist with boots. At the right cost.
Mayfield may be a deadline target – he’s a pending UFA so, if the Isles aren’t in the playoff picture….. of course, he could be re-signed before then and, of course, the Isles could very well be in the playoff picture.
Draisaitl finds a way to get better by becoming even lazier!
https://twitter.com/jonrmcleod/status/1563158882267983872
Talk about a sky-high hockey IQ.
I look forward to seeing the next evolution of Draisaitl – getting 100 points by standing by the bench doors after realizing he can do even less by simply stepping on and then off the ice.
He’ll become Hockey Yoda; he’ll meditate on the bench while his stick floats about the arena amassing hundreds of points.
And when he is old and weak, we just need the Oilers to bring in a Skywalker to carry Draisaitl around on his back.
Leon is very interested in that part of the game!
I was thinking to myself who does Leon remind me of at his age and Peter Stastny pops into my head. The way both of them could shield the puck and could score just as easily as set one up on a tee for their linemates. Plus Peter was so underrated just as Leon is.
Art Ross trophy winner Leon is underrated?
Yes he is very much so. If Leon played on the Rangers they would have street named after him already. Leon is special I don’t think he’s peaked yet and I believe he has 10 years before the decline happens.
You just proved it by not mentioning the Hart and the Pearson. Look the the BS coming out of eastern media. They hardly ever mention Draisaitl.
Guess you’ve never heard the term “less is more”? Learning not to try to do everything is something that every player has to learn. Staying in position instead of chasing the puck. Passing to “let the puck do the work” instead of skating it everywhere. It’s working “smarter not harder”. If you skate your balls off by only chasing the puck, you will never make it in hockey.
Zoom
One of Sather’s true gifts was that he had the ability to not only find a guy like Tulupov, but identify his high end skills and either turn him into something useful, or convince another team they could and trade him for something.
Even in just a viewing or two you could see this guy had something unique. Wasn’t good timing in terms of the NHL and AHL coaching and development sadly.
Not sure what is the connection between Tulupov & Sather? The Russian wild card was a Steve Tambellini hire.
He’s an example of the sort of player Sather would have made into something.
Well he was no Marty McSorely . If that’s what you’re trying to say . Wouldn’t a McSorely type be ideal for the Oil ?
McSorely was very talented he could do it all plus he was Loco. What he did to Mike Bullard was one of the nastier things I’ve witnessed and to pile it on the Oilers scored a Goal a couple of seconds after the incident.
Marty McSorely came to the Oilers as a RW , who appeared to have no chance of making the team , let alone have any kind of NHL career . He worked incredibly hard to have an NHL career despite the odds . Sather saw that in him . He rose up from nothing to become a solid NHL defenseman .
I was so sick of the Oilers getting punked constantly back then I called for Tulipov and to play wing create havoc and some room, and destroy a few hack artists
They didn’t hear me, and unfortunately nobody told Tuli to only destroy the opponents in other organizations
The guy was barely an ECHL caliber player during his career. He was never capable of playing in the NHL.
All those years of getting punked I wonder how much better Hall and Eberle numbers would have been if they weren’t on a island by themselves.