This is the Oilers possible opening night roster from mid-September 2016. How accurate are these things anyway? Are these the men who began the season for Edmonton? Well, no. Tyler Pitlick, Jesse Puljujarvi, Kris Russell and Anton Slepyshev made it. Eric Gryba, Iiro Pakarinen, Nail Yakupov and Kris Versteeg did not make the team. That’s why training camp counts.
THE ATHLETIC!
- New Lowetide: Why Edmonton Oilers fans should be worried about waivers
- New DNB: What I’m hearing on Oilers’ looming roster crunch, Ryan McLeod contract and more
- Lowetide: How will Oilers deploy free-agent addition Ryan Murray?
- Lowetide: Making the early call on Edmonton Oilers’ 2018 draft haul
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers’ most likely recalls from AHL Bakersfield in 2022-23
- Lowetide: Is the Edmonton Oilers’ 2022-23 lineup balanced?
- Lowetide: Oilers prospect Reid Schaefer and what math tells us about his future
- Lowetide: Oilers’ opening night roster will be influenced by salary cap, waivers
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers’ European, college and junior prospects for 2022-23
- Jonathan Willis: The Edmonton Oilers are rapidly approaching their “all-in” moment
- 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: Oilers math shows 41 candidates for 23 (or fewer) jobs. Who could play where?
- Lowetide: Who will the Oilers trade for cap purposes?
- Lowetide: 5 Edmonton Oilers training camp surprises
- 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
POSSIBLE ROOKIE CAMP ROSTER
- Goaltenders: Ryan Fanti, Olivier Rodrigue, Jan Spunar
- Left Defense: Dmitri Samorukov, Markus Niemelainen, Darien Kielb, Noah Dorey, Jeremy Hanzel, Charlie Wright
- Right Defense: Mike Kesselring, Phil Kemp, Max Wanner
- Center: Dylan Holloway, Noah Philp, Filip Engaras, Drake Rymsha, Luca Hauf
- Left Wing: Carter Savoie, Reid Schaefer, Matvey Petrov, Cole Dubinsky
- Right Wing: Xavier Bourgault, Tyler Tullio, Dino Kambeitz, Jake Chiasson, Ty Nash
Camp is one week away, so we’ll probably get the list soon. This is me sleuthing various sources as the names are published, I’m usually wrong on some of the older names (Niemelainen, Rodrigue). I expect we’ll see some WHL kids added to the group in the days to come.
UH-OH
I didn’t think much about it when the summer’s main transactions rolled in, knew Jesse Puljujarvi was among those who could be dealt. It was JP, Warren Foegele, Kailer Yamamoto and Tyson Barrie as the main options if I recall. So, when Daniel Nugent-Bowman’s latest piece (link above) hit yesterday, and three right-shot forwards (Zach Aston-Reese, Riley Nash and Jake Virtanen) were mentioned as possible acquisitions, it occurred to me that the Oilers might be considering a move involving the Finn. Daniel also mentions a 21-man roster (I wrote about it here) and that is one way to keep Puljujarvi:
Oilers could send out Greg McKegg and Ryan Murray before openining night to get Dylan Holloway on the roster, and then send the rookie down and bring back both veterans. This is less than ideal because you’re running razor thin and injuries will impact the roster sooner than later. I think Puljujarvi has trade value, but as mentioned yesterday if that we true, maybe we’d have seen action already. Foegele makes more sense, like this:
Edmonton has three strong right wingers, and two young left wingers on the second and third lines. If they don’t grab the job, all of Hyman, Nuge and Janmark can replace them. We’ll see, maybe Puljujarvi has more value than Foegele, but if it’s a wash, based purely on what each man brings, I do think Foegele is the player to move on from at this time.
This is the alternative JP dealt for nothing in return (beyond a draft pick). Edmonton is under the cap with 23 men, has room to keep Dmitri Samorukov (and that is a consideration), Holloway gets his audition opportunity, and there are all kinds of mix and match options. Warren Foegele is on his off wing but he can do it and his style is effective on either side. I don’t think trading Puljujarvi is the wise move here, ladies and men. However, if that’s the play, signing Acton-Reese would give the team a strong defensive option (who plays lower in the lineup but is also less expensive) in return.
LOWETIDE AND JAMIESON
A busy Friday show, 10-2 on TSN1260. Steve Lansky pops in to talk about great moments of the past involving on-screen hockey presenters outside the rink (stay tuned!), plus Marshall Ferguson at 1040, Tyler Yaremchuk and Jon Price. 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. See you on the radio!
Former Jets defenseman Nathan Beaulieu signs a PTO either Ducks.
If you trade Foegele… you are giving up something else for a team to take the whole cap hit, but you are leaving the roster with a smaller hole to fill (LW depth is good).
If you trade Puljujarvi… you are getting something else for a team to take the whole cap hit, but you are leaving the roster with a bigger hole to fill (RW depth is not so good).
Foegele is closer to the team, I think that’s pretty much undeniable right now. He’s also locked in for another year at a known cap hit. Puljujarvi is a RFA next summer and his cap hit will be unknown but probably much more than $3M. In terms of team strengths, Foegele makes the most sense to trade for cap room. In terms of asset management, I think it is Puljujarvi. He will net a better return, free up more marginally more space, and the asset received in the trade can be flipped for something better later in the season.
Then what do you do for RW?
Hyman
Yamamoto
Sprong/Virtanen @ league minimum or close to it
Ryan
Not the best RW depth in the league but the centre depth more than makes up for it.
Kane – McDavid – Yamamoto/Hyman
Nuge – Draisaitl – Hyman/Yamamoto
Foegele – McLeod – Sprong
Janmark – Ryan – Virtanen OR Janmark – Shore – Ryan
I think you’re forgetting about Brad Malone at center…..
The fourth line is interchangable with a handful of players in each position IMO, I didn’t want to post a dozen different line combinations.
I was kidding anyway. Just trying to make OP’s head explode.
In that case, I’d try a right side of:
Yamamoto
Hyman
Foegele
With either Janmark or Holloway taking Foegele’s spot on LW (unless of cyVirtanen or an external add actually claims the 3RW job).
Also an option, but who is your 4RW? Or do the Oilers roll with 11F-7D? It’s also an option, but I’m not sure how sustainable that is for a significant part of the 82 game season.
If Pujo is much more than $3M next contract then he has had a pretty good season. Why would you trade that instead of Foegle?
Because a lot of players will have good seasons playing with McDrai.
I’m trying to remove any biases I have towards the players. With Puljujarvi you get a better return in a trade and you avoid one extra arbitration situation next summer. That return can be flipped for let’s say, PKane down the line.
With Foegele, you’re trading him when his value is at it’s lowest. So you are paying to get rid of him. Foegele can also have a pretty good season, too.
1) I would have thought that (a) reading the blog and making one post with thoughts on the various points therein and (b) reading the first 50-60 comments and making one post with thoughts on 8-9 of the posts, as opposed to one post on each though, is a conscious and express effort to NOT over-run the blog but if one has a personal issue and wants to log on solely to take a personal shot and not post anything of substance (AGAIN), so be it.
2) Per Friedman, ZAR wanted (wants) to stay out east.
3) Jesse was in Europe for the summer (generally) and Leon was recently there – they are skating in Edmonton, where is Yamo? This is light-hearted given the yearly barrage at this time talking about how great a sign is when the players show up early. I have ZERO doubt Yamo is as 100% engaged as the others.
3) Gazolla (Tom) talking about 2-3 PTOs likely to come, all at forward. I would not be surprised to see Virtanen at camp – I’m FAR from convinced he should be signed, however, IF he’s in shape and fully engaged, he can bring alot of positives on the ice (but there will always be Kassian-like negatives vis-a-vis poor defensive game, etc.
4) I’m increasingly annoyed that, not only can I not make it to Penticton (and have to go to Regina instead), I will miss the Friday game completely (have to “entertain” at the damn RR/Elks at at Taylor Field (or whatever its called now) – blah.
Its not the Oilers nor hockey, but there is probably no place better in Canada to watch a live CFL game that at Mosaic field in Regina. It is a 5 year old stadium with a way better fan experience than Commonwealth Stadium. The Rider fans are probably the most passionate CFL fans in the country as well.
My mom is from Regina and growing up, our yearly summer vacation was gassing up the Wagon and heading east. I saw many games at Taylor Field and totally understand what you are saying.
At the same time, I would rather watch any Oilers-related on-ice event – then spend my Friday night schmoozing with a bunch of bankers and executives from our borrower – we are there for a lenders’ meeting (8 banks) and site visit at the canola farm and the game.
Heck, it the first “Oilers game” of the season and I’m a big prospects guy. I would have gone to Penticton for sure. The wife is off to Morocco for close to three weeks in October, I think I could pull of 4 days in BC without her.
I was a Game Day Host in the stands at both Taylor Field and the new Mosaic for nigh on 15 years before retiring to Mexico. I have also attended many games in Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto and BC over the years. There is nothing like a Saskie home crowd, though these days Bomber fans (spit) are getting close!
My ears are still ringing from the Grey Cup game vs the Ticats a few year ago at Mosaic. That place gets loud and proud!
Don’t take the bait on personal attacks. Just brush the dirt off shoulder over potentially wetting the ground and stirring up more nonconstructive mud. I like your effort to more concisely comment.
Well buy a couple of watermelons and you and your clients can carve helmets. Mosaic filed is fun. American players say it is like a college atmosphere.
Probably the most fun I’ve had at football games was at Taylor Field. Great atmosphere.
My grandparents lived three blocks from Taylor Field and I went to many games there in the 70’s. What a great time!
Will be at Notre Dame tomorrow. The college football experience down here is fantastic.
Nice! I love college football anything can happen and it usually does.
What’s the word on the street is Virtanen going to get a look see?
It seems possible
We need one more player besides Kane that can hurt the opposition if they start getting stupid. Virtanen had a real bull in a China shop look to him when he was on with the Canucks, basically unstoppable. I don’t think it was talent that derailed this kid but personal problems. If he’s in shape he makes our team.
McDavid, Nuge, and Hyman now among the players participating in the Oilers informal skating sessions:
https://www.nhl.com/oilers/video/informal-skate-090822/t-277437406/c-12679318
Great to see so many Oilers showing up early eager to get going. Hard to say how prevalent that is on other teams, but none of the Flames, Avalanche or Leafs sites have any info on any of their players being on the ice together thus far. Doesn’t mean they aren’t.
Not sure about those but the Canucks have been skating together for quite awhile.
Kuzmenko has been in town for two weeks.
Their season ended 3 months before the Oilers were done.
Gotta say, LT. I am a huge fan of your music references in your headlines! One I don’t think I have seen you use that I have always wanted to see… Jethro Tull – Skating Away (On the Thin Ice Of A New Day). Too on the nose, or did you already use it and I missed it?
I’ll call Jethro Tull and raise you Uriah Heep.
Ooooh Heep! What title did you have in mind?
Definitely July Morning and Lady in Black.
Easy…”Draimare”.
No, but that’s a good one. I have used “Bungle in the Jungle” “Lokomotive Breath” “Aqualung” and “Living in the Past” but none for some time. Tull is one of the truly unique bands of any era.
Cold Wind to Valhalla just doesn’t get enough love.
Frozen flaking fish raw nerve
In a cup of silver liquid fire
The judges would have also accepted “A Kassian Play” or for when you’re attending a presser, “Mitchell in the Gallery”.
Oh. That is too good! Love your humour, Tarkus. On a similar note, when we first acquired Kassian and he was having an immediate, if abbreviated impact, I envisioned a Jersey with Kassassian as a nameplate to see if anyone got the joke… (blend of Kassian and assassin)…
Man I love your taste in music! Can I humbly suggest the Tull title for the opening of training camp article? 🙂
Sure, what song?
If we’re talking the Coyotes, that’s easy. ‘Cap in Hand’. For the oil I’m guessing ‘Nursie’.
1) 100% agree that, what we layman generally have access to as far as analytics is not the same data teams have access to. Even the Sportligiq data, which is awesome (and I’m sure all teams have) is likely a drop in the bucket.
2) I think Foegele is going to have a better year (boxcar and goal share) in his 2nd season with the org, and I know he’s buddies with the core, but I still can’t get on board with moving Jesse over Foegele – based on current effectiveness alone, let alone room for development, etc., and that’s not even taking in to account the clear easy replacement options on the left wing and the actually need to ADD to the right wing.
3) Someone texted in to Stauff yesterday wondering if the Oilers could get Bouch signed fo $6M X 8. Stauff initially thought that was CRAZY but after thinking about it wondered if it would take that much. Yes, Bob, the man is going to approach 60 points this year, without full time PP1 duties. The Dobson contract helps for now but, if this goes on for 6 months, Bouch might blow that comparable out of the water.
4) ZAR (now unlikely to sign here with the PTO), Nash, Virtanen, etc. – these should be replacements on the RW for a player out but simply potential additions to the bottom 6 RW. None of those are even close to enough of a replacement for Jesse. The only free agent that comes close is Rodrigues and he’s also not that, not a replacement (but would be a great finishing piece to the right side).
5) Interesting on the rumoured players of interest: (a) ZAR, now shunned the Oilers twice (Oilers tried to sign him as a college UFA from accounts (Matty), (b) Nash, refused to sign after drafted and (c) Virtanen, well, he wasn’t very nice to McDavid in Penticton year ago…..
6) (a) yes, Jesse has an NHL shot, (b) yes, his NHL IQ is just fine, in particular on the defensive side of the game (knows where to be high man in offensive zone, almost always between the puck and the defensive net, good positioning in the defensive zone and knows when to leave and help down low, (c) when this yea is up the plan would be to re-sign him to another market contract if the season goes well.
The guy has posted 2 comments in 9 hours. Get lost.
The day the music almost died.
I think Jesse should be moved.
couple things:
1 Does he have an NHL shot of any kind
2 how is his hockey IQ
3 what do we do with him next off season … again
I think it’s a mistake to move him, especially now when RW is a bit slim.
1. Yes, he has shown a very heavy shot
2. His fancies suggest his IQ is above average
3. Depends on this season
Sooner are later we need to make room on the roster for cheap ELC forward contracts.
Again. Just 9 short months ago this blog was full of “Can we sign JP for 8X$5M, would he sign that. If he would we need to do that now.”
Now it’s trade him for a 2nd!
exactly!!
Nobody ever suggested Drasaitl money for JP that I can recall. The theory was that the advantage of going long term would be to get him at a cheaper rate before his boxcars started to catch up to his fancies.
Folks were at the very beginning of the Season when he went on a Heater.
When did Drai sign for $5M!
JP is good as gone next season, but it has less to do with how much he is worth in the open market versus how much Edmonton can pay him.
Rather, since his come-back from oversea he got front row seats to wstch Kassian raking in 3.2M on the 4th line playing 6 min a game, while himself bust his butt (playing through injury, etc) for only 1.2M.
I call this the Petry-Nikitin dynamics.
1- Yes, the shoulder injury last year May have had something to do with his scoring issues in the 2nd half of his season.
Before Christmas he had 10 goals in 28 games. This is a 29 goal/82 game pace. He was scoring at 13.3%. He was a volume shooter in Liiga and during these 28 NHL games he averaged 2.68 shots per game.
In the last 37 games he scored 4 goals. This is a 9 goal/82 game rate. He was shooting at a 2.30 shot per game rate during this stretch of games.
In the 1st 28 games he had 15 games of 3 shots or more per game (54% of the time) and in the last 37 he did this only 13 times (35% of the time).
The first half Jesse is more like the real JP and I would not give up on this player.
2 – If he had a low hockey IQ he wouldn’t be in the NHL. The problem is, he plays with 2 of the highest IQ players in the world, as a bigger player he doesn’t have the agility to get out of the way. He is still young and he is still learning. He has the potential to still be a 30 goal scorer and he is a decent defensive player.
3 – That is next years’ problem
If he had a low hockey IQ he wouldn’t be in the NHL. The problem is, he plays with 2 of the highest IQ players in the world, as a bigger player he doesn’t have the agility to get out of the way.
================
It seems to me that the solution to that is to play him with Nuge at centre and let him establish himself as the dominant player on the line, no?
Toronto Maple Leafs
@MapleLeafs
· 1h
We have signed forward Zach Aston-Reese to a professional tryout
Aston-Reese signed in Toronto…OP beat me in his post.oops
I’m going to take it as a positive that Holland is apparently (according to various rumours) not having much luck with his PTO offers.
If I am a guy accepting a PTO I want to go where it looks like I have the best chance of getting a contract. In other words, where I see a weakness in the lineup.
That guys are choosing other teams means to me that they think it is harder to get that contract in Edmonton because the guys already there aren’t that easy to replace.
Toronto has a very deep forward group.
They should of kept Campbell. I wonder why they dumped him? They’ve gone from. Bernier>Andersen>Campbell>Murray
1) Max Wanner – there is a name that we don’t talk about much but that I am definitely keeping my eye on. Really liked his in-season development (from accounts) and the splits, culminating in an offensive spike late and in the playoffs. I think he’ll be a material piece for Moose Jaw this season and a player we’ll be talking about in a year when he turns pro and heads to camp and then the AHL. I look for him to stand-out a bit next weekend
2) For me, the talk about adding a RW SHOULD not mean a RW out is more likely but you very well could be right. For me, this team needs to ADD a RW to the incumbent as there is a hole – there are two top 9 RWs and a 4RW. Bourgault is developing but we cannot count on him this season. On the other hand, even if Foegele was moved and Hyman was moved over to the right side, there is still a solid LW depth chart (Kane, Nuge, Janamark, Holloway, Benson, Shore). Adding a meh in Riley or Virtanen should not mean Jesse is expendable.
3) ZAR with a PTO for the Leafs – too bad as he seems to be high end defensive bottom six guy. WG has the chart last night – high defensive zone starts with a low GA/60 – among the best in the league. Of course, there is always a chance that the Oilers could scoop in and sign him – a PTO doesn’t guarantee the place of signing.
4) I understand that it may HAVE to be a 21 player roster but damn that comes with “playing short risk”. Here is hoping they can find a way for at least 22 as I want 8D and Samorukov on that roster (s/t to a terrible camp from him). I’m even fine with 8D/12F given the comfort and ability to go 11/7 and they can do that for a game or two while they make re-assignments down and up to back-fill a forward injury.
5) Don’t see them waiving Murray for cap structuring reasons – he would likely get claimed I would think.
6) This is indeed starting to become a story to watch as Nikita Yevseyev’s minutes, have climbed from 3 to 7 to over 10 in his three KHL games – AS AN 18 YEAR OLD
https://twitter.com/mathewjdp/status/1568291750061690881
7) Jesse is on the ice in Edmonton with the guys. Looks good, big/quick and driving the net with his stick on the ice. Then, boom, he misses a goal mouth stuff – nothing has changed, no skill or finish, confidence about to crater, trade him:
https://twitter.com/GenePrincipe/status/1568274859117146112
I’m a fan of Maximus too, especially later last season and his playoffs. I really Wanner believe he is our next Kesselring.
I wanner believe!
What’s the deal with KHL guy? Drafted?
Defenseman selected 190th (6th round) by the Oilers in this summer’s draft.
Puljujarvi on the ice with the rest of the guys this morning according to Principe.
Patrik Petrin
Scouts from the Vancouver Canucks & Edmonton Oilers are in Orebro Sweden scouting Swedish Center Leo Carlsson.
Paging SwedishPoster!
He is easily a top 10 pick, likely top 5 and possibly a top 3 pick in a very strong draft. Off the top of my head he is one of 3 top forward prospects with great size (6’3).
He’ll have scouts at every game, but highly improbable that Edmonton has a shot at him.
I’ll put it out here now, extremely premature, I know, but Koehn Ziemmer is my current “in the range” Oilers target. Another local boy (Mayerthorpe-Whitecourt).
Early days but I like the sound of RD Lukas Dragicevic out of Tri-City. BC boy, mid 1st to early 2nd projections generally. Good size, excellent skater and offensive game, loves to blow guys up. Sounds like all tools but the tool box has yet to develop. High upside for what will hopefully be a pick at the end of the 1st Rd in 2023.
https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/529817/lukas-dragicevic
Hard no to Riley Nash. We wasted a high draft pick on him and he spurned us. Bridge = burned.
We are in agreement about the hard no, but my issue isn’t that he wouldn’t sign when the inn was full a million years ago. My issue is he isn’t good enough right now.
(Also, where a player is chosen in the draft is not their fault. Similar to a player being overpaid, I hold that against the GM and their staff.)
He did refuse to sign and forced a trade though.
…The part you didn’t quote mentions that?
Yeah sorry, didn’t read carefully enough.
Haha, no worries. 🙂
Pretty sure the hold up is deciding between not getting enough back for Jesse and have to pay for Foegele. Something’s got to give.
Let’s say the cost to trade Foegele is a 3rd (could be more, but I’ll keep it within reason) and the asset gained by trading Jesse is a 2nd; is Jesse worth a 2nd and a 3rd (or the players those picks could be used to acquire) more than Foegele? Personally, I don’t think so and am therefore in the camp that leans towards trading Jesse.
However, I’m also a big fan of Foegele so I’m probably biased.
A 2nd + a 3rd add up to what, like a 12% chance of getting an NHL player? That doesn’t tip the scales in favour of Foegele for me.
Hence the mention of “(or the players those picks could be used to acquire)”. A 2nd got the team Kulak last year and perhaps the additional 2nd round pick softens Holland’s stance on trading 1sts to go all-in.
That’s fair, but with the amount of cap juggling that is going to have to take place to bring in anyone at the deadline, finding the assets out isn’t the primary concern. I don’t think a 2024 2nd has significantly less value to a selling team than a 2023 2nd.
But the point is to have an extra 2nd and 3rd round pick to work with to facilitate either an extra trade or a larger trade. Unless I’m misunderstanding you, the point you’re making regarding 2023 Vs 2024 picks isn’t relevant to that.
That’s not the way they should be looking at it though. With the team in Win Now mode, the question becomes: which player does more to help us achieve our goal of winning the Stanley Cup this season? The answer, of course, is Puljujarvi.
And I think Foegele has a LOT more value than most Oilers fans seem to. He’s solidly in the Coleman, Hagel, Goodrow group for me.
I’ll chime in that I am also not a Foegele Hater, he just has the least value to the Oilers at the moment. It’s a reasonable bet that Holloway can step in and be a like-for-like replacement at a lot less money.
Disagree. Value in Vs. value out is exactly how they should be looking at it.
My point is about then using that difference in assets to further improve the team. If you view it as Foegele & the players added at the deadline using those assets Vs Puljujarvi, then I think that changes the calculus. For example:
Foegele + a Kulak level player + another depth player Vs Jesse
OR
Foegele + a player added using the 1st (having the extra 2nd might make Holland comfortable trading the 1st)
It isn’t as simple as Puljujarvi > Foegele.
There isn’t the cap space to add several more players just by trading Jesse though, it’s only just going to get them complaint. They’ll be in the same position at the deadline too, barring season-ending injuries.
And they won’t be able to get a Jesse-level player for just a 2nd.
Aston-Reese shoots left, 33 year old Nash scored just 49, 0-4-4 and isn’t a threat to Jesse while Virtanen’s fitness is a complete unknown. None of those names should make you concerned about a Puljujarvi trade.
Calvin De Haan on a PTO in Carolina and Danny Dekeyser on another with Vancouver.
I was wondering where dekeyser might pop up at. Only thing I’ve seen in reference was guessing either new york squad might be a good fit.
I like murray over him as far as vet depth insurance goes…but even if one can bury either of them in the minors that’s probably a handy piece to have.
Something that consistently troubles me with these Cap Friendly charts…
Bouchard, Evan RFA-1
Don’t worry about a thing, ‘Cause every little thing gonna be all right
As long as Bouchard keeps being Bouchard (ie no crazy injury) there are ways to make room, it’ll be fine.
Forget Auston-Reece , either of Virtanen or Rodrigues would fit the bill . Austin- Reese is a LW . Logic would dictate the Oilers are looking to add more depth at RW .
aston reese provides physicality, defensive acumen, and PK work
he is a much better fit for the 4th line than either of the other 2.
@SportsnetSpec
·
1h
Oilers interest in signing Zach Aston-Reese to a PTO remains high. Hearing Aston-Reese also considering Toronto Maple Leafs as a destination.
While it’s possible I’m wrong, I recall ZAR spending most of his time in PIT on Bleuger’s right flank while either Tanev or McGinn was on the left flank. As such, I believe he constitutes an improvement to the RW depth.
A rookie line of;
Savoie – Holloway – Bourgault
Is pretty legendary.
I can’t see the Oilers moving on from Yamamoto or Jesse until they know what they have got in these players. Right now IMO they are both strong 3RW that have not scored enough to be shoe-in top 6 RW despite they are playing with either 29 or 97.
But where there is smoke….
Sometimes when then is smoke there is just a bored guy vaping.
Or, to put it another way… sometimes where there’s smoke, there’s a toke?
Losing JP over Foeg makes me cry just a little bit
Especially since the Oil apparently invented analytics…
One implication would be that the analytics the team uses may not be as high on the player as the publicly available analytics.
Bang on! What bugs me is when people use publically available analytic measures as gospel. Not only are the internal measures likely significantly more fulsome, as with all analytics everything is subject to interpretation of the individual reading the statistics.
In addition to this piece of the argument, there is inside knowledge regarding the people involved which factors into decisions as well. We’re talking about humans here and not robots.
The wisdom of signing young players to long second contracts.
https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/the-ottawa-senators-symbolize-everything-that-has-changed-about-nhl-contracts/
I find it odd the author makes it seem as if teams locking up young players to long second contracts based on projections is a new thing.
Hall, Nuge, Eberle and Draisaitl say hi.
So HH is saying the Oilers are so far ahead of the curve they forgot there was one.
Hall, Eberle, Nuge, McDavid, Leon?
Sometimes it works, sometimes not so much.
EDIT: Side beat me to it while I was reading.
You used to get paid for what you did in the past. Now you are paid for your futures and pedigree. Being drafted in the first round is literally like winning the Lottery.
Klefbom…
Ah, yes, of course.
And Nurse would be the counter argument.
Ottawa has bet big one way – it will be worth monitoring to see how it all turns out.
Is Klefbom an example of the risk or reward though? Both really.
The Oilers have paid him almost $6M more than Nurse for basically 100 fewer NHL games at this point.
I took it as the risk for the team.
“We have always been at war with Eastasia”
-the ministry