The Edmonton Oilers announced the roster for the Young Stars tournament in Penticton this weekend, and for Oilers fans there are several impressive talents scheduled to appear. As we discussed yesterday, pick the ones you like (Dylan Holloway, Philip Broberg, Xavier Bourgault, Tyler Tullio, Reid Schaefer), divide by two, and then subtract one. You’ll be close. (Answer: 2).
THE ATHLETIC!
- New Lowetide: Excerpts from “On The Clock: Behind the Scenes with the Edmonton Oilers at the NHL Draft”
- DNB: How the Oilers plan to work around the salary cap barring a trade
- Lowetide: The truth about Jesse Puljujarvi and the Edmonton Oilers
- Lowetide: Why Edmonton Oilers fans should be worried about waivers
- DNB: Jack Campbell is determined to win in Edmonton: ‘I’m ready for this’
- 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
June 10, 1971
On June 10, 1971, the NHL drafted 117 players. A total of 50 would make the NHL, and I was most familiar with Guy Lafleur (No. 1 overall), Marcel Dionne (No. 2) and the most outrageous Memorial Cup in history. Gregg Drinnan’s summary (here) is exceptional, but there are many others worthy of reading if you have the time.
That was the summer I paid attention to the NHL draft the first time, and by 1973, when the Montreal Canadiens chose a checking winger in the first round (Bob Gainey, No. 8 overall), I found a lifelong hobby. I was introduced to the practices of Sam Pollock during these years, so many “hobbies” arrived because of the events that brought politics, violence and hockey to the front pages of Canadian newspapers.
In my piece for The Athletic today, there are four vignettes from my book On The Clock that focus on various moments in Oilers draft history. It was a pleasure to write, and like this blog, it’s something I value highly. Who knows if there will be a chance to write a second book, but this one was a 50+ year build, and I’m proud of it. I hope you read it, and enjoy it, when the book is released later this month.
FIRST GUESS ON TRAINING CAMP ROSTER
This is an estimate, and as invites come in I expect the AHL names listed here will be reduced. There are 30 forwards, 15 defensemen and five goaltenders, for a total of 50 players. Edmonton will likely have enough for a split squad evening, that would be 24 forwards, 12 blue and four goalies. Take into account injuries, like Raphael Lavoie, and the uncertainty of the situation should land the team somewhere in this range. I haven’t listed Ryan McLeod as an RFA but he isn’t signed as of this moment.
LOWETIDE AND JAMIESON
A busy day anticipated on TSN1260, 10-2 today. Bruce McCurdy from the Cult of Hockey will pop in to talk about the rookie roster, and what may come over the next few days. We’ll talk Jays, CFL, NFL and more. 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. Talk soon!
Serious question: is Virtanen any better than Bourgault right now?
Not sure.
But my serious questions on the other side would be:
1) Is Bourgault equal or better than Virtanen right now?
2) Is it better to have Virtanen as competition/cover for Bourgault vs. not having that competition/cover at all?
The rumor of Jesse out to Anaheim for Colorado’s 2nd rounder and Virtanen signing is getting hot and heavy. Wouldn’t be surprised if it happened this week.
Lots of Oiler fans won’t like it but remember that Jesse has wanted out for awhile. Gazzola also said earlier this summer that both sides seem to be ready to move on and that includes his teammates.
I could care less as Jesse was a huge disappointment in the playoffs last year and was almost a healthy scratch. Oiler fans remember this also. There is a good chance Jesse will not be qualified after this season unless he has a great year. This sort of thing is happening more and more under the flat cap and not playing with McDavid may result in a poor season. We shall see.
I believe the intel, including from Gazolla, is that Jesse wouldn’t be against a “fresh start” – that’s not the same as wanting out and I don’t recall anyone ever saying anything about his teammates wanting him gone.
Sure, Jesse did have a disappointing playoffs. You know who actually was a healthy scratch? Warren Foegele, who was 3-7 goals in the playoffs (Jesse was 8-8).
May I ask why Jesse was the playoff disappointment?
When does a player that is under team control have a choice whether he’s traded are not?
If they are going to pull the trigger on this deal, I would expect Holland to get Anaheim’s 2023 2nd and another prospect (Noah Warren, my target this year would be that player).
Thinking about Anaheim, Jesse would be right at home with Ryan Strome as his center on the 2nd line and perhaps (the currently injured) Silfverberg on the LW (or they could switch sides). That could be a great line for him.
It pains me to think about, but it does seem inevitable and obvious.
@CapFriendly
Arizona #Coyotes have signed UFA forward Alex Chiasson to a Professional Tryout (PTO).
Chiasson played for the Canucks last season.
Chaisson and Gagner both scored 13 Goals last year at league minimum which incidentally was 1 less Goal than J.P. bagged last year.
And one more than Foegele.
I like both players but the Oilers aren’t adding slow boots any more. Chiasson had six PP goals, don’t think he’d get those minutes in Edmonton this season. I wish they had signed Samwise but understand why they passed on him (if they had a shot, and I believe they did).
Chiasson got those goals mainly on the second PP unit as a net front presence.
If he could skate better, I’d love to have seen him back here. As it is, the power play isn’t a big concern in Edmonton.
No it isn’t.
But…
Chiasson
5V5
GF 27
GA 22
GF% 55.10
Foegele
5V5
GF 37
GA 43
GF% 46.25
And Vancouver is hardly a paragon of team D.
And then there are the cap hits.
Foegele struggled early while playing on Derek Ryan’s line, but went 20-14 five-on-five scoring after Woodcroft took over. In fact, Foegele-Nuge-Ryan won the shot and goal share five-on-five after Woodcroft took over.
It would be helpful if you looked at other metrics and/or other years for a comparison like this.
Alex Chiasson wasn’t on the ice for a PP goal when Hughes and Petterson were both off the ice…… Petterson and Hughes were mainstays on PP1, not PP2.
I’m not sure why you’re pointing out to me that Chiasson scored those goals on the second PP, I didn’t dispute it at any time.
Still, the Oilers don’t need that thing. Chiasson’s power-play prowess resulted in 19 goals when he was in Edmonton, we know he can do it. I’ve written many times about Chiasson, like him a lot. Oilers have moved on from slow boots. That’s the deal here.
Chiasson didn’t score any of the goal on the 2nd PP unit – he scored all his PPG with at least Hughes and/or Petterson on the ice. Fact checks, that’s all.
I’m not sure it was meant for me, but carry on. My point was about Chiasson and foot speed.
Is it possible that OP thinks we haven’t figured out his work-around strategy yet?
Yep he played with a lot of top 6 mins at 5×5 too.
1) Really great to listen to Holloway – such a well-spoken young man and just always with a huge smile. I do feel a bit bad for him, they must have asked him questions about the wrist 3-4 times and he had to give the same answer multiple times (and the same thing he said publicly last week) – feels 100% on the ice, doesn’t have to tape it, doesn’t affect his play with the puck or his ability to shoot, etc.
2) Bourgault has a good 8 minutes as well. He does seem to realize he’s a long shot for the NHL but was clear he’s 100% from his injuries. Again with the questions though – asked about if he prefers center or wing and he said he hasn’t played center in years, full time wing the past two years – this is known information and those with credential and access should know.
3) To Diablo’s post – I understand your point about the 11th/12th forwards not playing much, McDavid/Drai routinely taking extra shifts and them really going with 10 forwards in close games. I get that and, as I’ve been opining all off-season, that is one thing I really hope they can change. I’m not one that wants extra shifts for McDavid/Drai and hope that the bottom six, including the 4th line, can be legit NHL lines that can make an impact and can be played in tight games. The less “extra shifts” for McDavid/Drai, the better. A great game is when they win and McDavid/Drai have like 18 minutes of ice.
4) My goodness, subtracting Jesse and adding Virtanen would make this team worse – gross. I don’t think the org is of the mind-set of “trading Jesse to make room for Virtanen” – that’s silly. The premise would be trading Jesse for cap purposes and backfilling RW with a league min player. Not ideal, of course, but I guess possible. Noone in the org possibly things that switching Jesse for Virtanen makes the team better.
I don’t really want to bring Jake in at all, even on a PTO – I mean, that’s a toxic situation, isn’t it? With that said, there is a hole at 3RW on this team and, while it seems a big stretch that Jake V. can fill that hole on merit, I guess he has that upside and filling that hole at $750K would go along ways, right?
I understand your argument on point 3, but this past season and playoffs were a perfect example of McDavid/Drai being able to handle those minutes.
They definitely didn’t slow down come playoff time. I also loved to see their minutes under 20 when the Oilers coasted to a win, but it didn’t seem to matter much at the end of the day.
The closer we get to the season starting, the more I see Holland running a short roster. Additionally, other prominent forwards are fully capable of taking some of those minutes, such as RNH, Kane and Hyman.
My point wasn’t that they would plan to go all season with Leon and Connor playing big minutes, but rather that if they had to do so for 1 game here or there due to the cap squeeze, during the early part of the season, the Oilers are well suited to handle playing 11 forwards.
Holland has to eventually move out a contract … but that doesn’t need to happen under duress at the start of the season, in a manner where Jesse is sent out for quarters on the dollar.
I’m not sure moving that contract out is going to get any easier during the season when the team is forced in to 11F situations due to cap space issues, right?
It would be very difficult to stomach a Puljujarvi trade & Virtanen signing. Namely on the merit of humanity, but also Jesse is the far better player. I am crossing my fingers.
We’d also be replacing a real Finn with a fake one.
Hmm… interestingly, neither guy was born in Finland.
Given where we are, I think it might make sense for a high level refresher on the CBA emergency call-up rules:
Essentially, if due to incapacitating injury and/or illness, a team falls below the ability to ice 2G/6D/12F they can call a player up on an emergency basis (and they can be returned within a certain time without waivers being an issue, etc.).
With that said, they don’t get cap relief right away. If the Oilers have a 20-21 player roster due to cap issues, they won’t have cap room to make an emergency recall.
After the team has played short of 18 skaters for a game, they can make an emergency recall to fill their lineup and get cap relief – that player called up has to have a cap hit of not more than league min plus $100K, so, for this year, $850K.
So, if the Oilers carry 21 players that is just cap compliant and just one extra skater and two guys go down short term (i.e. not enough to go on LTIR, which is a min of 10 games AND 24 days), they will need to play a game short, only 17 skaters, and then could call up an $850K or less player to fill.
Lots of $850K or less players: Samorukov, Niemelainen, Shore, Benson, Malone, Griffith, McKegg, etc.
Note: Holloway and Bourgault are NOT $850K or less.
If Virtanen is in shape I hope the Oilers sign him to a one year league minimum. Opportunity for a huge return on your money, if he doesn’t workout the only loss is a contract spot. Plus the Flames now want him.
In the early season, this probably matters less than we think to the forward group. McDavid and Draisaitl routinely take extra shifts. The 11 and 12th forwards in the lineup are lucky to get more than 5-6 minutes a game on most nights. In essence, they often play just 10 forwards meaningful minutes, depending on the score.
Injuries to the defence on the OTH are a different story. If they have to run with a 21-22 man roster, then the extras should be defensemen.
I’m less concerned about this than OP is. I don’t think Holland is so concerned that things won’t sort themselves out in time, that he’s going to panic trade Jesse for pennies on the dollar to be cap compliant with a 23 man roster on Game 1. He’ll get something of commensurate value for Jesse, or else he’ll find a way to move another salary (e.g. Foegele) out before minor injuries become a significant concern.
Congrats on the book!. I haven’t pre-ordered, does anyone foresee a reason why a procrastinating sort can’t wait until well after release to pick up, such as after Christmas? (In case I am gifted it?)
Just wondering if I messed up anybody’s Wordle yesterday. I apologize if I did, but I was just trying to play on LT’s potential frustration with the game. Though, I cannot believe that our local wordsmith would ever be hard-pressed to find the appropriate word.
Most recent Wordle words that made up my Borscht of a post:
Alpha
Booze
Tibia
Lofty
Theme
Class
Leery
Taunt
Whoop
I wanted to use Gully too, but couldn’t get past Inter.
1) Great to see that Ceci joined the main skate today (along with Pickard) – he hadn’t skated yet and I read some “intel” about him being on LTIR to start the season – didn’t post about it as it was FAR from a solid source and glad to see it was made up twitter BS.
2) Bourgault says he is 100% – great to see given he didn’t skate at development camp and skipped the World Juniors, partially due to ensuring he was healthy.
3) There was a pick a month or so ago of Broberg and he looked “beefy” – confirmed – he says he worked hard this off-season to get stronger and says he gained 12 pounds. Not nearly as “shredded” but I think a bit of bulk may help him “survive the grind”.
4) Broberg also says that he “can play both sides” but is more comfortable on his natural left side. While I do think he’ll get plenty of right side reps in camp and exhibition, Ryan Murray, with lots of NHL right side experience, is likely the top option if/when an injury occurs to one of the only three established right shot guys in the org.
5) Bourgault likely shines offensively this weekend and Holloway will impact shift to shift. Broberg should dominate and look great with his speed and 2-way play. Looking forward to seeing Schaefer – he’s young but, with his size, should stand out. Noah Philp, as a 23-year old, SHOULD be noticeable – if not, bad arrow. Kesselring and Max Wanner – looking for these guys to stand out as well.
6) Condors signed a goalie to a 2-way AHL deal. Not sure exactly what that means. Presuming no injuries:
NHL: Campbell/Skinner
AHL: Pickard/Fanti
ECHL: Rodrigue/Colton Point
7) This Virtanen stuff is weird – I’ve never heard of a “bidding war” for a PTO – is this player taking this long to decide where to go for his tryout or are the OIlers/Flames actually offering a contract?
Is Koekkoek on the ice in Edmonton?
The MSM is just bored … the big news of the past few days is Evan Rodriguez and Tyler Motte signings, and will he or won’t Virtanen sign a PTO. So they drum up this “bidding war” narrative. I doubt Virtanen is even good enough to make the Oilers anyways – guy hasn’t played much hockey the past year, and he was just barely hanging on to a job in the NHL prior to that.
I have no inside knowledge, but my guess would be that Virtanen is waiting to see if the Oilers move a player (PJ) as that would open a spot for him. As of right now and he would be hard pressed to make the team out of camp.
1) I don’t believe Koekkoek has been skating in Edmonton – could be wrong but haven’t seen him or seen him listed. From accounts, he’s ready and will be at camp (that was either Holland or Woody about a month ago) but I don’t see him impacting the NHL roster (and therefore the cap) at all. I anticipate he’s waived and assigned and the question will be if he reports. If he has ongoing personal issues (as he was on leave for much of last season) then perhaps he’s on LTIR or similar.
2) Unless we are talking actual NHL contract, and a one-way, its still weird to me – he can come to Edmonton on a PTO, for example, and sign a contract with the flames – we have seen it happen.
The traitor Kris Versteeg.
Emily Kaplan
@emilymkaplan
News: Seattle Kraken promoted Alexandra Mandrycky to assistant general manager.
She is the SIXTH woman elevated to that position this offseason, and the first to specialize in analytics.
Prior to this year, only one woman had ever been an NHL AGM.
Tyler Motte…1X$1.3 million in Ottawa.
50 years in the making is no joke!
Thanks for the new reading material on top of the daily reading material LT.
Congrats on the book!!! 📕 📚 📖
Curious LT as to why you have koekkoek above samorukov in the roster?
Koekkoek has not played a game since last feb from what i can ascertain, not likely in game day form having not been practicing with a squad in 8 months.
Samorukov on the other hand was playing big mins and playing them well at the AHL level.
Completely random placement based on the uncertainty you mentioned.
thank you for the response good sir!
You bet.
Does someone come here promptly at 8:30 every morning to give one star reviews? Is it a bot? Did someone built a bot to come here at 8:31 and downvote Al’s writing??
im not even mad, that is amazing dedication to something that you don’t enjoy. 🙂
I would take it as a compliment LT.
and know that for every one star vote in the morning, there are people who pre ordered multiple copies of your book (like me). I know what the oilers fans in my life are getting for Christmas.
Speaking of bots: nobody has told me how I can make 88 dollars an hour doing work from home in a while…
thanks go to whoever sorted that out. Ryan?
or maybe they just finally hired someone… position is full.
88 is so specific, it just has to be true.
I always assumed it was someone who didn’t like the thumb’s up/down rating who doesn’t know it isn’t my fault. 🙂