Things will go quickly now, there will be signings, trades, PTO’s, injuries, retired guys expressing interest, a Joe Thornton rumour, a Jaromir Jagr rumour, and finally the sweet moment when opening night arrives. The Bakersfield Condors are going to have plenty of firepower this season no matter who makes the parent team. Here’s a look at the players who could be involved, and what reasonable expectations should be for each man.
New for @TheAthleticNHL Through four offseasons, the Oilers under general manager Ken Holland have developed a unique procurement model. What's he building in there? https://t.co/LbRBrWQulW
Calvin Pickard. He’s a veteran in the AHL, coming off a successful season in which he played 43 games and posted a save percentage of .918. Edmonton will want to see the rest of the group but Pickard is going to play a lot.
Ryan Fanti. His resume is strong (in the last four seasons, his save percentages .922, .917 in the NAHL, and .907, .929 in college) and he’s 22. At 6.02, 190, and with a quality college resume, logic dictates he has a slight edge on the Bakersfield backup job.
Olivier Rodrigue. It was good to see a strong performance in the young stars game. Rodrigue posted a .907 save percentage in the ECHL and it’s probable he will be in the same league for much of the coming year. He was a high pick (No. 62 overall) so the club would love to see him flourish. Stuart Skinner has moved on, so this would be Rodrgiue’s time.
Colton Point. Dallas Stars draft pick from 2016, he has bounced around since turning pro. Last year he posted a .912 SP with Idaho in the ECHL. He is 6.05, 230 and 24. Signed to a Bakersfield contract.
LEFT DEFENSE
Dmitri Samorukov. He’s uncertain to be on the team because of the waivers issue. If he lands in Bakersfield, and healthy, he shouold be the biggest presence among LHD this season. His work under Colin Chaulk last year was quality and he could make the Oilers in the fall.
Markus Niemelainen. Huge defender isn’t waiver eligible, putting him behind Samorukov if both men perform well. It’s possible Niemelainen, with his size and hitting ability, makes the team. AHL work should be top-four at even strength and PK duty. Top-four D in Bakersfield.
Slater Koekkoek. We don’t know if he’s going to make the Oilers, the Condors or training camp, but the word is he’s coming and I don’t see him making the big club. Expect top four minutes and a veteran presence with the Condors.
Darien Kielb, AHL. He’s 23, 6.02 and 183, and impressed during the stretch run in Bakersfield (7, 2-4-6). I think he could play in front of some NHL contracts (he’s AHL), moves well and plays a physical style. Top-six defense in Bakersfield.
Yanni Kaldis, AHL. He’s 26, a little undersized (5.11, 187) and one of the fun players on the Condors one year ago. Broberg’s exit might mean more power-play time, the puck mover finished 7-24-31 in 53 games last season.
Alex Peters, AHL. He’s also 26, and at 6.04, 220 he is a load. Played in the ECHL (29, 7-15-22) and AHL (15, 1-4-5) and was noticeable in a good way when with the Condors.
Adam Brubacher, AHL. Divided his time between AHL and ECHL in the Vancouver organization last season, he’s 6.04, 205 and 26. He did show offensive ability in the BCHL and college, but has settled in to a defensive role since turning pro.
RIGHT DEFENSE
Vincent Desharnais. Huge defenseman could make the NHL team this fall but is more likely to join Samorukov on the top pairing in Bakersfield. His even-strength work and PK acumen could see him recalled to Edmonton during the year.
Mike Kesselring. The awkward skater with the big frame who looked all arms and legs at summer camp a few years back is all grown up. He has size, mobility, can move the puck and defend. I don’t believe he’ll see the NHL this season but is making progress. Top-four defenseman in Bakersfield.
Phil Kemp. Seems to be lagging behind the pack of RHD, things can change quickly with injuries and Kemp is a solid defender. I think he’ll move up the depth chart more often this season, but the role will be similar to one year ago.
CENTER
James Hamblin. He has emerged as a real solution for top AHL center (NHL teams badly need them to play with their young skilled wingers, we saw an example this weekend in Penticton). He could be an NHL option and that represents a big victory for the scouting staff. He scored 21 last season with Bakersfield, and will play a key role helping young wingers this seaosn on the top line.
Noah Philp. Young RHC has a great opportunity with the organization. He is a lock for playing time in all situations and gives the club a strong No. 2 RHC. Always bet on a lower than hoped scoring totals but Philp’s range of skills means he can help in multiple.
Devin Shore. He is vulnerable to being sent down due to the roster crunch. If Shore lands back in the AHL this season, expect a solid two-way center who can help in all areas.
Greg McKegg. He is superfluous if Shore is in the AHL, because the veteran things he brings are similar. He will surprise offensively in the AHL.
Brad Malone. Similar to Shore and McKegg, although more physical and with a little more offensive ability. I’m not sure it’s possible to place these men in the proper order on a depth chart, but Hamblin and Philp are prospects so will play significant amounts.
Filip Engaras, AHL. He has impressed in the Penticton games, you can see why they drafted him. He’s smart, keeps pushing and outplays opponents to extend the play. He’s like that Star Trek TNG episode (“Peak Performance”) where Data loses a game because his opponent is focused only on the game not ending. Angries up the blood, it does. Engaras is a sneaky prospect.
Luke Esposito, AHL. Rugged player who is quality on the PK, I don’t think he’ll play center if this depth chart lands in Bakersfield. He’s a fine utility forward at the AHL level.
LEFT WING
Dylan Holloway. In my ‘reasonable expections’ series (here) I had him playing 48 games in the NHL this season, but if that shot that beat Wolf is real my estimate will be low. He’s dynamic in several areas (speed, passing, aggressiveness, one-on-one) but the shot will get him a free ride to the skill line if it’s true. No. 1 LW or NHL.
Carter Savoie. Pure scorer is ticketed for the AHL no matter what he does (and he was injured in Penticton) during training camp. I’m hoping he can get significant playing time at evens and on the power play. We might see some impressive totals by the end of the year. Top-six forward.
Tyler Benson. He likely starts the season on a feature line, but if Holloway and Savoie adjust quickly he could be a third-line winger getting PK instead of PP time. That would be a good role for him, as those things could be on his jobs list when he gets an NHL recall. Top-nine forward.
Matvey Petrov. We haven’t seen much yet and that may mean another season in the minors. At this point, it’s wise to assume nothing, but the AHL audition is there and attractive if he can show something in camp. If you forced me to answer his immediate future it would be back to junior but one suspects the organization might give him some time in main camp.
RIGHT WING
Seth Griffith. The veteran posted an exceptional year in Bakersfield and I expect he’s going to get just as much power-play time as one year ago. How that impacts the kids I don’t know. Had 46 EV points, 33 PP last year. No. 1 right-winger.
Xavier Bourgault. I think he’ll see the NHL this season, but we’ll be watching him in Bakersfield for most of 2022-23. He’s a smart, skilled player and even though it might take some time to adjust to the difficult AHL game (it’s a tough damn league) I suspect he will post impressive numbers. A 30-goal season is possible. The last Oilers prospect to score 30 in a minor-league season? Colin McDonald, 42, in 2011-12 for the Oklahoma City Barons. There have been few this century and the truth is he’ll be recalled if there is that much production. Top-six forward.
Raphael Lavoie. His injury gums up the works and this is a bad spot for him. There’s 10 miles of new players coming in, two on right-wing and two on left-wing and it’s easy to become yesterday’s papers. Rob Schremp got run over in this exact spot and he was a better prospect. I’ll say he plays some on a skill line and improves his overall performance, no idea if it will be enough. There IS a player here. Up and down the lineup this year, probably gets squeezed out of the power play.
Tyler Tullio. He has a slightly different set of skills than the other newcomers on wing and I do believe it will work to his advantage. I see a third-line winger who gets some special teams opportunities by mid-season and is a player the coach counts on by playoff time. Top-nine forward.
Dino Kambeitz. I’m a fan of this player and he does everything in his power to make good things happen. I would compare him in effort and result to Patrick Russell and Zach Stortini, not in style especially but in being a coach’s dream every shift. Fourth line AHL.
Graham McPhee. He has settled in as an extra man in the AHL. McPhee has two-way skill and there may be another grear, but you’d like him to show it soon. He is 24.
PREDICTED CONDORS OPENING NIGHT LINEUP
Holloway-Hamblin-Bourgault
Savoie-Malone-Griffith
Benson-Philp-Tullio
Esposito-McKegg-Engaras
Samorukov-Desharnais
Niemelainen-Kesselring
Koekkoek-Kemp
Pickard-Fanti
There are too many factors in projecting this roster before camp, injuries alone with turn the entire thing ass over tea kettle. That said, there are more than nine good AHL forwards likely to land in Bakersfield this fall. What does that mean? Very good opportunities for young players to succeed alongside veterans.
LOWETIDE AND JAMIESON
A busy Monday show discussing the Elks and Oilers wins on the weekend, massive explosive NFL results and more. Derek Van Diest and Tom Gazzola are confirmed, more to come. 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. Talk soon!
Subban, Chara and Yandle all announce their retirement today…..
LostBoy
September 19, 2022 10:55 pm
I flounced out of here a while ago, but I checked back in today with news of the “V-word” PTO.
Just wow.
I have been living and dying with this team since their entry to the league in 1979. That first season, I listened to broadcasts after lights out at St. John’s School of Alberta on a contraband radio. Twice I got caught and beaten for it.
I’ve been an obsessive fan ever since.
“V-word”.
Bridge too f-wording far…
Lowetide, I’ve loved and respected your work and best of luck going forward.
This place, and the Edmonton sports commentariat and legacy media, is just nuts.
I don’t think you realize how the rest of the world sees this. I don’t understand how the blinkers could be so massive, from the ownership to the middle aged male fan-base in here, to the legacy media (seriously, I left Edmonton when I finished my PhD at the U of A in 1993, and pretty much all the same dudes are still the “”reporters””).
I just, just wow.
I didn’t think it was possible to break my bond with this team.
I remember the same things being said about Kane, and how it would “break their bond with this team”. One awesome playoff round later, and all is fine now and people are still on the bandwagon.
I’ll say now, what I said when Kane arrived … I cheer for the crest on the front, not the name on the back (well McDavid and Draisaitl aside). It’s a sport, and this is a site to discuss that sport … not a forum to hash out morality or legal matters (unless they pertain to the CBA).
From that perspective, I’ll keep my judgement on the player restricted to whether he can perform well enough to improve our bottom 6 forward group. Personally, I have my doubts, as I think from a pure hockey perspective, Virtanen lacks the hockey sense to be sound defensively. He also doesn’t PK. He brings size, but he has never brought the kind of gritensity that Kassian did.
Aside from being a right shot forward, I don’t see the attraction. I also don’t see the need … we have Hyman, Yamo, Jesse and Ryan with The Bourg very close. People here couldn’t wait to be rid of Kassian, yet the moment he leaves everyone starts fretting about not having enough right-handed forwards, and not having a player who can use his head to stop fists.
Here were the right-handed forwards on last year’s Avs … McKinnon, Compher, O’Connor, Aube-Kubel. 1 star centre, 1 third line forward, and a couple of scrubs. Kurtis MacDermid was the closest thing that they had to an enforcer … tell me how these attributes matter to winning hockey hockey games?
Anyways, I don’t think Virtanen is long for the Oildrop … I think they play something like 5 games in 8 days during the preseason … there are going to be some guys looking to make a name for themselves by fighting during those games. Virtanen is there to stop fists with his face, so that our young players like Holloway don’t have to.
I hope *he* doesn’t make the team. It didn’t need to happen. I guess I need to trust the GM to supply the talent and the coaching staff to filter out negatives. Best case scenario he’s a body at camp and a number of Oilers play better than him and we forget this ever happened.
All the best, LostBoy. I expressed my feeling on the issue on the radio yesterday. People accept things until they don’t, and perhaps this is an event that causes change. As for how things are perceived, well, I will tell you that Alberta has taken some fantastic hits in the last few years, but it would be unfair to paint all of the province with the same brush.
You won’t have anything to do with the team because they invited a guy to training camp who was found not guilty in a criminal trial? That seems like a pretty stark overreaction.
I find myself wondering what might become of a player who killed a woman in a drunk driving accident.
Which is clearly guilty verdict. Because that man has surely done a lot of good after being given a chance.
What is clear though is that a lot of these players developed in an environment that has proven to not be conducive to having a healthy enough respect for the fairer sex. Ordeals such as this one surely will go a long way to ensuring a great deal more caution is leveled in grey areas…which is sad as “there might be consequences is a far cry from don’t be a piece of shit” – but it’s a step in right direction long overdue.
Only he and that woman know exactly what and what didn’t happen that night. And it’s beyond me what more anyone can believe is justifiable to exact once the verdict arrived as it did.
I found nugent bowman’s article a bit bizarre myself as its conclusion was basically “not good enough track record to justify an exception to some moral high ground”….which makes even less sense to me.
Either you agree that no court is clearly infallible but barring a guilty verdict there’s no way to honestly justify lynching or you selectively are okay with lynching when you believe it suits your narrative. Far too many on both ends are cementing towards the latter and absolutism scares the hell out of me.
I definitely don’t have any interest in mob justice in this type of scenario.
Bouchard was much more impactful in the AHL, at a younger age, but was “meandering”, yet this tiny 22 year old who managed to be among the team worst in plus/minus in apx 2/5 of the games played with meh production is now worthy of a 1st round pick in a very deep draft. Got it!
He won the Salming Trophy in 2021 which is “best swedish born defenseman”. HH said Nils won SHL defenseman of the year which is different, since the SHL has players who were not born in Sweden.
It would be like if there were a trophy for “best German born forward in the NHL” which Draisaitl won and then HH went around saying Draisaitl won “best forward in the NHL”.
More overrated than an offensive prospect who doesn’t score, was passed on the depth chart by a younger player, then demanded a trade when he didn’t get unearned minutes gift-wrapped to him?
“Firsts for decent teams are massively overrated.”
Huh? First off, the Wild and Oilers were only teams in the top 12 who kept their first round pick last year.
Secondly, the Oilers are a perfect example of first round picks for a decent team not being overrated, let alone massively. Holloway, Bourgoult and Schaefer are money in the bank and we traded down in some cases. ELCs are gold.
All of this is true but I think it ignores the fact that Lundkvist is a 1st rounder who is on his ELC for two more years.
I have no idea what impact Lundkvist will have in the NHL as I have never seen him play but what Dallas did was trade a conditional 4th and maybe up to 10 spots in the draft order to pick a guy who is 5 years of development ahead of next year’s draft pick.
I still think Dallas paid full retail and a little bit more but who won the trade is not yet decided imo. I’m surprised it took that much to get him but apparently Vancouver was in there pitching as well so he must have something going for him.
Seems fair for both sides since Dallas gets a player likely able to contribute right away (they were short RD) while the Rangers replace a low 1st round pick.
Assuming Dallas would want to draft a RD with a pick in the 20’s, it’s interesting that the last 10 drafts have produced 7 D in that range who have played more than 100 games.
Assuming the Rangers are good at drafting, and the 2023 edition is as deep as reported, the quality of the player should be higher. Remember, this is a player who asked to be traded.
I agree that late firsts (20-32) are hit and miss a lot of the time but it does seem to me that Dallas paid full retail for a guy that refused to sign which is not the way it often works and the pick could be closer to mid round.
I understand Vancouver was in on him as well and maybe drove the price up for Dallas.
HH – that list of Salming trophy winners is a dog’s breakfast. The only player who went on to become a top 4 dman in the past decade was Ekholm. None of the rest made any significant mark in the NHL. Glad it was Dallas that made that overpay. Drury did really well. Dallas replaced Klingberg with a vastly inferior version. Oettinger is going to get pulverized this season.
OriginalPouzar
September 19, 2022 6:08 pm
High level opinion arrows based on 3 prospect tournament games:
Down: Petrov (although I’m not concerned, he’s heading back to junior)
I’m guessing some would give Hamblin and up arrow and, fair enough, but I expected him to shine in this tournament given his age and AHL experience (and had him potentially playing NHL games before the tournament started) – playing with the two studs helps, of course.
I could have put Broberg in the down arrow only because he really should dominate from the back-end – shift to shift – at this level. I’m not sure he was giving 100% out there and maybe was trying to “mentor” or “shelter” Wanner.
Ooops, missed him, sorry – I have him in the straight category – essentially did what I expected him to do – be one of the better players but not quite dominate on the level that Holloway did.
The Stars are giving up a 1st rounder for Lundkvist….. in 2023? Wow – seems very steep, no?
OriginalPouzar
September 19, 2022 5:44 pm
Sure, that was a weird one by Wanner but, of course, there is zero chance of that happening if he doesn’t make a subtle, but slick, move with the puck at the line (in a tight space) to get the puck away and through.
Todd Macallan
September 19, 2022 5:33 pm
Well Engaras has definitely never fought before, but good on him for hanging in there while clearly overmatched.
Those punches that landed clean on Engras’ face (I think I counted 3), you could hear/feel bone contacting bone. He absorbed some serious punishment without going down…rather amazing.
Agreed, he shouldn’t. He was more effective agitating the other team than giving them the satisfaction of taking their aggression out on him. He got worked, and should stick to pest instead of muscle.
OriginalPouzar
September 19, 2022 4:58 pm
1) I’ve been thinking, this is the first NHL training camp for Woody and we really have no idea how he might structure it:
will he want to cut down fairly early or carry a larger group for a while
will he want the vets like McDavid, Drai, Kane, Nurse, Nuge to get more than a few games
will he basically start out with his “opening lines” – will we see Kane/McDavid/Jesse (or Hyman) when they play or will the likes of Holloway, Bourgault or even Savoie or Tulio get some reps with the starts?
Will he run his “opening PK units” or will the likes of Holloway, Jesse, Foegele, etc. get some real reps with legit NHL PK guys?
2) Holy hell Schaefer can shoot.
3) Holy hell Dylan Holloway is too good for this level of comp (and he may be too good for the level of comp in the first 3-4 exhibition games as well).
4) I’m not concerned about the McLeod contract getting done but, come on, its time, camp opens on Wed and they are on the ice on Thursday and he needs to be a part of that.
Just turned on the live stream to see that. Great cut to the net and soft hands to put that one away. He wasn’t shying away from contact cutting to the middle like that. Beautiful goal.
defmn
September 19, 2022 4:46 pm
Rodrigue in net now.
Todd Macallan
September 19, 2022 4:44 pm
After what is becoming an all too common very smart play by Engaras, the Reid Rocket announces himself with authority, going top shelf from distance
Victoria Oil
September 19, 2022 4:39 pm
Holloway needed to be a bit more selfish on that powerplay and shoot.
Hes in on big deals, hes working small deals. Building NHL and AHL team. Hes being creative. I don’t offer an opinion on Virtanen or Demers, only that Ken is still on the hunt to make the team better, or even get through pre-season with numbers, placeholders, and less injury. He has also allowed others (PTO’s) to showcase themselves before, and they are still available to 31 other teams.
If he moves Jessie now, it will be unpopular, however, Holland has shown so much lately that he would have me believe that if Jessie is moved, it is because there was justifiable reason. ( I think he doesn’t move him, runs 21 players) (more creativity displayed)
The goal now is just not to make the playoffs, but to arrive injury free. The more folks carrying the load, the better chance that the difference makers arrive without injury and lots of gas left in the tank.
We’ve been to the conference final the pressures off the core including Woody. As you say the next step is winning the division without 2 of your star players barely able to walk. Leon, Connor and Nurse have been in the trenches for years it’s time for other players to take the plunge.
OriginalPouzar
September 19, 2022 12:59 pm
1) Milano vs. Virtanen – Sure, I get the criticism but (a) for all we know the Oilers tried to get Milano in camp and he didn’t agree and (b) Milano is a LW and, frankly, the Oilers have Kane, Nuge, Hyman, Janmark, Foegoele, Holloway, Benson, Shore……. one of them may move to the right side but LW is stacked deep.
More on Virtanen, I don’t care if he does score 15 goals, if he really is worse without the puck than Kassian. I don’t know if that’s true but I’m reading it and, if that’s true, he’s a net negative even if he pops 15 home.
2) I haven’t seen an update on Savoie except from our very own Todd M. who said he saw him walking with crutches yesterday (but no cast). I don’t imagine he plays tonight and just hope he’s able to participate in camp or, at the very least, start the AHL season.
3) I don’t imagine that D. Ryan is playing 3RW on October 12. Yes, he’s 3rd on the right wing depth chart but, realistically, we are looking at 4RW and Hyman or Foegele moving over to the right side. I guess MAYBE Virtanen can earn a contract and 3RW but, really, I think he would be competing with D. Ryan for 4RW for $400K (apx) cheaper. I’m not sure I like it given Ryan’s right shot faceoff ability and PK acumen. The cap savings is real though. Would Ryan clear waivers?
4) I respect DNB very much, a great journalist and writer but I’m not sure about this “source” and Broberg on the right side. DNB was on with Dusty this morning and cited Broberg playing some right side in the AHL which, frankly, isn’t true. I never saw it but, of course, I didn’t see all the games, however, Broberg did say just yesterday he didn’t play any right side in the AHL. He did play some in the NHL last season (effectively too) but he’s a rookie who has said twice he’s more comfortable on the left side – I wouldn’t think Manson would put him in a less comfortable position as he tries to break in to the league unless there weren’t other options (see Ryan Murray).
5) Demers as a depth RD fill in, sure, maybe, if he performs. Demers as a 3RD replacement for Barrie, my goodness no – severe regression, barely played the last few years and back surgery. I’d have time for Subban if they did move Barrie but Demers isn’t “good enough” to be an every day 3RD on a championship team, right?
6) On a Bourgault call-up for load management (or any reason), presuming he’s not on the opening roster submission, he has $175K in potential performance bonuses, so an in-season call up would have his cap hit at $1.1MM
7) Related to 6 above, lets not forget, unless something changes, the Oilers will have no cap room to call players up. The are looking at a 21 man roster barely cap compliant – they won’t be able to just call players up without a player out (re-assigned to AHL or LTIR).
8) I agree with JP, a big key is trying to reduce McDavid and Drai’s nightly minutes. Of course, there will be plenty of games where they are leaned on but any game where they are below 20 minutes is a huge win, in my opinion.
I stated it long ago that I believe Holland was and is looking to add some physicality after losing Archie,Kassian and going back a bit further Khaira. I don’t know if Sonny fits that profile. I said it weeks ago that if Jake is in shape then Holland after doing some in-depth background check should target him. I also still believe one of Forgele J.P or Yamo will be traded and even the $400000 from Ryan might come into play.
Since upvotes and downvotes are kinda empty, I wanted to take the chance to say something more explicit.
OP, I enjoy the way you summarize things from around the Oilers news-sphere for some of us who don’t have the means to follow it all that closely. Further, I find your posts since the Comment Section Doomsday (retracted) to be more enjoyable given it’s often summarized in one or two posts!
Thanks for the adjustments you’ve made and for your continued contribution! I think this format is when you’re at your best 🙂
Not a day goes by that some media folks wonders out loud why JP hasn’t been traded.
I think Kenny had it right the other day, its a consistency thing with JP. He had a helluva heater to start the year, faded hard for a long while. Nice bump in March but a tough stretch drive in April and playoffs. Bringing it every game on a line with generational skill is tough. Don’t want to trade him cause the fancies sparkle. Having advanced stats that scream “one of the best in the league!” when he hasn’t cracked 100 points yet is a complicated A 3rd line of JP, McLeod and Holloway would be fun. If you throw Nuge at C there you should be a lock defensively. So many permutations and combinations. The man needs to see the forest and not just the super shiny trees.
Competition at every forward spot not earmarked for CmD and Leon is a good thing. Nobody’s job is safe, especially if you’re a vet hugging that cliff edge closely. Incremental cap savings of Ryan/Janmark vs Holloway/Benson will make for some interesting decisions throughout the year. An LTIR stint for a couple of vets starting in February wouldn’t be the worst thing either. Need to make sure they are rested for a long spring tournament.
I like the grinding with McLeod. Needs to keep a perspective and realize there’s a bunch of kids right behind him hunting for work. Bet on yourself young man. Take the $900k and turn it into a full time gig on a feature line and PK duties. Go forth!
Anyone seen Yamo yet? Or is he hitting LTIR to start the year so ManWood can get a feel for all these other forwards?
Starting to get excited. This is going to be a fun year.
How is a top 6 winger, PP2 and PK guys not available for 24 days AND 10 games, minimum, a good thing?
Munny 2.0
September 19, 2022 12:04 pm
I don’t mind our goalie situation. For a change. Looks better on paper than any time since roster depth consisted of Garon, Rollie, Doobs and Double D.
I always thought they moved on from Garon too soon.
OriginalPouzar
September 19, 2022 11:21 am
1) 100% agree on the goalies. I think Rodrigue, if he’s finally in one place playing games nightly (ECHL) can re-establish himself and earn a second contract but Fanti is the clear leader on the depth chart and I hope he gets 50% of the starts. Got to keep Pickard fresh and ready in case of injury but Fanti is a “real prospect” and he’s older and more mature – closer to the NHL.
2) Damn that defensive group for the AHL looks stunning. Its unlikely Demers “makes the Oilers” but there is talk of a 2-way contract (and I’m thinking AHL deal) and an assignment to Bakersfield to start. I see the value in that but without injury, do we want him playing ahead of any of Kesselring, Deharnais or Kemp?
3) On the left side, I don’t think there is any chance Koekkoek makes the Oilers (and his cap hit surely doesn’t help). I’m not sure he reports to Bakersfield and, again, like Demers, do we want him playing there. I like the “veteran mentorship” for each of Koekkoek and Demers but there are ALOT of bodies – real prospect and some under-stated bodies that could push to be “real prospects” – i.e. Kielb.
4) Holy hell that forward group is STACKED at all positions with solid AHL vets (Malone, Hamblin, Griffith, McKegg), high end almost ready NHL prospects (Holloway, Bourgault) and 2nd tier but real prospects (Savoie, Tulio, etc.)
5) Thought Petrov was destined for North Bay even before this tourney (and the man said he was heading there himself) and I think his two games probably solidify that assignment. I expect he’ll play the split/squad type exhibition game and then get assigned. I guess they could get him a couple games in Bakersfield prior thereto but I don’t see it.
———————
1) Seriously, its time now Ken, need to make the McLeod contract official in the next 48 hours before camp opens.
2) McDavid had a long spot on the 32 Thoughts this morning – I’m still working through it but when he was asked about what he worked on this summer he talked about just refining his overall game but also said expressly that there is this narrative out there that he doesn’t care about defence and he doesn’t think that’s true at all and he’s been proving that.
3) He also said that he’s been watching lots of film of great goal scorers to try and figure out new ways to score.
4) The guys mentioned that Drai told them that Drai thinks McDavid is too selfish and he should be scoring 60 goals.
5) I only speak about the hockey and I’m not sure if Virtanen is “good enough” to make this team. With that said, presuming one of Hyman or Foegele moves over to the right side, I was thinking this and then LT mentioned it as well – i could see Virtanen at 4RW at league min and D. Ryan waived/assigned to start the season – that will save apx $400K on the cap. Of course, if Virtanen is (a) in shape and (b) shows that he is worthy of the spot and contract – a huge “if”
I think in item 4 you meant to type “too unselfish”. Only Spec thinks McDavid is too selfish 😉.
flyfish1168
September 19, 2022 11:18 am
Jake is NOT applying for the same job as Jesse.
everyone deserves a 2nd chance. Remember he was found NOT guilty.
I’m hoping he has grown up since the incident. If he has seen the light and becomes a better human being, this is money. If not it is easy to cut bait.
I think Virtanen can succeed in the role of 4th line banger with a bit of pop in his bat. Basically the Kassian role, but the player is younger, not injured, and highly motivated.
Not a fan of the person, but it’s been well-documented that some young men do dumb things and then grow the F up.
We’ll see what the best of JV in his prime looks like. Oilers could use some heavy hockey in the bottom-6.
From MacT to Kassian to E. Kane, the Oilers have a rich history of reclamation.
LT – maybe there’s a second book in there?
AMD
September 19, 2022 11:17 am
I’ve seen Virtanen play well and not good at all. It will depend on what type of player he wants to become. He needs to forget he was a high pick and work hard. He could be a 2nd line player at best or not being in the NHL at worst. We wait
Jake has had a serious black cloud hanging over his head for 5 years. For the first time in a long time he can just go out and play hockey. I expect him to not only make the team but be contributer whether it be with the body or opening up ice as well as scoring 15 Goals.
Munny 2.0
September 19, 2022 11:02 am
Virtanen has something to prove to the Hockey World. This is a low risk opportunity to see if he can. Something that Sather himself would’ve done in the Before Time. And Woody is there to see if he can get a level of commitment and focus from the player that the player hasn’t been able to muster in the past.
I don’t see any down side other than the possibility of mis-evaluating him while he is trying out.
YYCOil
September 19, 2022 10:54 am
At $750,000×1 year Virtanen is a solid 3/4 RW player.
Jake play hockey and then go straight home to prepare to play more hockey. 10 years from now you will be happy you did!
defmn
September 19, 2022 10:24 am
Dylan Holloway. In my ‘reasonable expections’ series (here) I had him playing 48 games in the NHL this season, but if that shot that beat Wolf is real my estimate will be low.
================================
Am I the only one who saw that shot and thought that looked just like a Draisaitl special? First goal in the video.
Is he worse with the puck than Kassian? Kassian never scored 18 goals or 36 points in a season.
Their career points per game are almost identical, and I think Virtanen has played less with the Sedin’s, McDavid’s and Draisaitl’s of the world than Kassian.
He showed flashes of being that ever allusive power forward aka Cam Neely. He just turned 26 he’s exactly what the Oilers need up front. I think he takes this golden opportunity and runs with it.
Virtanen had a 18/18 season followed by a 5/0 season followed by a KHL visit that made Iro Pak look like Gretzky.
Virtanen is absolutely horrendous without the puck, Oilers do not need a 18goal guy from several seasons ago that has absolutely no good road built on it since then.
Virtanen sticky hockey, is not NHL talent on a team serious about winning.
Perhaps optimism is the key word here when it comes to Virtanen. Holland has a positive history when it comes to reclamation projects so hopefully the kid sees this for what it is and comes hungry to play and prove himself.
A PTO doesn’t guarantee a spot at the end of the day and if the kid doesn’t prove himself then he can dumped.
dustrock
September 19, 2022 10:05 am
Was thinking about load management in the NBA, save your players for the playoffs.
Was thinking about teams like Man City and Liverpool having to play so many games through the EPL and various tournaments, and needing depth to rest star players (or to fill injury gaps).
I wonder if you’d see a guy like Bourgault get called up for 1-2 games, three to four times per season, to ease the burden on guys like 97 & 29.
I don’t think we’re going to see McDavid and Draisaitl getting games off, aside from immediately before the playoffs start.
Load management for them (and Nurse) will hopefully come from in-game management of their minutes. Up front at least the teams depth should help make that easier for Woodcroft to accomplish.
Even with the push to get back in a playoff spot last season, Woodcroft was able to reduce McDavid and Draisaitl’s minutes by about 1 min per game vs Tippett, and Nurses by more than 3 min per game. Hopefully that continues this season, with even more of a drop for 97 and 29.
You really don’t want to jerk around a first year pro. If Bourgault is sent down. He should be sent down till January. When he is recalled, it should be for an extended look see. One freebie quick up and down injury recall is fine.
First year pros. Place the player correctly and let them play.
I think he’s got a really good chance of making the team, as well as a good chance of contributing more that the guy he’d replace (McKeeg, Malone, Benson, etc).
I’d say it’s still better than 90% that a trade is coming for compliance.
It could be a larger move, but the simple Foegele/Puljujarvi for pick/ELC player seems like the path of least resistance.
I thought it was interesting DNB mentioned a team source indicating Broberg would move to the RH side of Barrie was traded. Seems like that remains among the options on the table.
And of course the P. Kane stuff (and Klingberg). Seems that Holland is exploring big at least, whether it comes to fruition or not.
Demers is not to be written off either as a 3RD imo. He is 34 and had a weird season last year but I think him coming in on a PTO is not to be overlooked.
The usual suspects to be traded – for all different reasons – of Puljujarvi, Foegele and Barrie are still the most likely to move if Holland can pull off a big trade. I agree that is a long shot but the rumour mill is still churning.
Yes Demers is a possibility too, though no idea what to expect there. Maybe reading between the lines too much, but Holland didn’t sound too enthusiastic about him in the Drance article (haven’t read DNB’s Demers piece yet).
Every time I see a projected roster with Ryan slotted in as the 3RW I think to myself that is not something that is likely to work.
Puljujarvi, Yamamoto, Virtanen as the three top nine RW’ers is still far from a murderer’s row for a contending team but it could work considering that it would allow McDavid, Draisaitl, and Nuge to play centre with Kane, Hyman & Holloway patrolling the LW.
I think that is a pretty strong top nine forward group with McLeod and Janmark both capable of slotting higher as and when.
Janmark-McLeod-Ryan should be a really strong 4th line, with each capable of moving into the top 9 as needed. Agree that Ryan at 4RW, and being spotted up, is better than penciled at 3RW though.
Nice to see such a strong crop in Bakersfield, and I like the reasonable bets on goalies. I had missed the Colton Point signing, but it looks like a guy with decent draft pedigree for a minor league goaler and good physical tools who may have figured things out a bit last year with a big SV% jump. It’s a good pipeline of Pickard, who you’re not terrified about playing NHL games if it came to it, and some young draft (or not draft) and follow guys.
This is looking reminiscent of the pre-decline Detroit teams and Pittsburgh teams from around the same era, where both NHL and AHL teams were title contenders. Love to see it.
LadiesloveSmid
September 19, 2022 9:27 am
Really hope McKegg is not a realistic option at 4C this year. Gives me Will Acton flashbacks.
Subban, Chara and Yandle all announce their retirement today…..
I flounced out of here a while ago, but I checked back in today with news of the “V-word” PTO.
Just wow.
I have been living and dying with this team since their entry to the league in 1979. That first season, I listened to broadcasts after lights out at St. John’s School of Alberta on a contraband radio. Twice I got caught and beaten for it.
I’ve been an obsessive fan ever since.
“V-word”.
Bridge too f-wording far…
Lowetide, I’ve loved and respected your work and best of luck going forward.
This place, and the Edmonton sports commentariat and legacy media, is just nuts.
I don’t think you realize how the rest of the world sees this. I don’t understand how the blinkers could be so massive, from the ownership to the middle aged male fan-base in here, to the legacy media (seriously, I left Edmonton when I finished my PhD at the U of A in 1993, and pretty much all the same dudes are still the “”reporters””).
I just, just wow.
I didn’t think it was possible to break my bond with this team.
Well, I was wrong.
I remember the same things being said about Kane, and how it would “break their bond with this team”. One awesome playoff round later, and all is fine now and people are still on the bandwagon.
I’ll say now, what I said when Kane arrived … I cheer for the crest on the front, not the name on the back (well McDavid and Draisaitl aside). It’s a sport, and this is a site to discuss that sport … not a forum to hash out morality or legal matters (unless they pertain to the CBA).
From that perspective, I’ll keep my judgement on the player restricted to whether he can perform well enough to improve our bottom 6 forward group. Personally, I have my doubts, as I think from a pure hockey perspective, Virtanen lacks the hockey sense to be sound defensively. He also doesn’t PK. He brings size, but he has never brought the kind of gritensity that Kassian did.
Aside from being a right shot forward, I don’t see the attraction. I also don’t see the need … we have Hyman, Yamo, Jesse and Ryan with The Bourg very close. People here couldn’t wait to be rid of Kassian, yet the moment he leaves everyone starts fretting about not having enough right-handed forwards, and not having a player who can use his head to stop fists.
Here were the right-handed forwards on last year’s Avs … McKinnon, Compher, O’Connor, Aube-Kubel. 1 star centre, 1 third line forward, and a couple of scrubs. Kurtis MacDermid was the closest thing that they had to an enforcer … tell me how these attributes matter to winning hockey hockey games?
Anyways, I don’t think Virtanen is long for the Oildrop … I think they play something like 5 games in 8 days during the preseason … there are going to be some guys looking to make a name for themselves by fighting during those games. Virtanen is there to stop fists with his face, so that our young players like Holloway don’t have to.
I hope *he* doesn’t make the team. It didn’t need to happen. I guess I need to trust the GM to supply the talent and the coaching staff to filter out negatives. Best case scenario he’s a body at camp and a number of Oilers play better than him and we forget this ever happened.
All the best, LostBoy. I expressed my feeling on the issue on the radio yesterday. People accept things until they don’t, and perhaps this is an event that causes change. As for how things are perceived, well, I will tell you that Alberta has taken some fantastic hits in the last few years, but it would be unfair to paint all of the province with the same brush.
You won’t have anything to do with the team because they invited a guy to training camp who was found not guilty in a criminal trial? That seems like a pretty stark overreaction.
Worlds changed stark overreaction is the norm.
I find myself wondering what might become of a player who killed a woman in a drunk driving accident.
Which is clearly guilty verdict. Because that man has surely done a lot of good after being given a chance.
What is clear though is that a lot of these players developed in an environment that has proven to not be conducive to having a healthy enough respect for the fairer sex. Ordeals such as this one surely will go a long way to ensuring a great deal more caution is leveled in grey areas…which is sad as “there might be consequences is a far cry from don’t be a piece of shit” – but it’s a step in right direction long overdue.
Only he and that woman know exactly what and what didn’t happen that night. And it’s beyond me what more anyone can believe is justifiable to exact once the verdict arrived as it did.
I found nugent bowman’s article a bit bizarre myself as its conclusion was basically “not good enough track record to justify an exception to some moral high ground”….which makes even less sense to me.
Either you agree that no court is clearly infallible but barring a guilty verdict there’s no way to honestly justify lynching or you selectively are okay with lynching when you believe it suits your narrative. Far too many on both ends are cementing towards the latter and absolutism scares the hell out of me.
I definitely don’t have any interest in mob justice in this type of scenario.
Thank you for this.
We could all use a little more reason and measure in our approach sometimes.
Keith Gretzky was on with Stauff and a couple updated.
I guess Deharnais isn’t fully healthy and may not be ready to start camp.
Lavoie will be skating on his own for a while with the other injured guys. Hopefully at the end of October.
It pains me inside that Edm hasn’t given Ennis a PTO since he is in Edmonton right now training (maybe he left now?).
It’s just a PTO right?
Rangers trade Nils Lundqvist to Dallas for a 1st and a 4th.
That’s a steep price
Both picks top 10 protected.
A future 1st round pick for a former 1st round pick who is a RD and winner of the SHL defenseman of the year doesn’t seem very steep to me.
A 2024 4th round pick is pocket lint.
Are you making stuff up again already?
https://www.eliteprospects.com/awards?name=SHL+Defenseman+of+the+Year
Where is Lundkvist on this list?
Did he make it almost 10 days without making a false statement? Could be a record.
Bouchard was much more impactful in the AHL, at a younger age, but was “meandering”, yet this tiny 22 year old who managed to be among the team worst in plus/minus in apx 2/5 of the games played with meh production is now worthy of a 1st round pick in a very deep draft. Got it!
His own elite prospects page does list him as 20-21 SHL defenseman of the year. Must be a mistake on their site.
He won the Salming Trophy in 2021 which is “best swedish born defenseman”. HH said Nils won SHL defenseman of the year which is different, since the SHL has players who were not born in Sweden.
It would be like if there were a trophy for “best German born forward in the NHL” which Draisaitl won and then HH went around saying Draisaitl won “best forward in the NHL”.
I missed that too!
https://blueseatblogs.com/2021/04/06/nils-lundkvist-wins-salming-trophy-for-best-shl-swedish-born-defenseman/
You have to read carefully.
Salming trophy (best swedish born defenseman) =/= best defenseman in the SHL.
Firsts for decent teams are massively overrated.
Yep.
More overrated than an offensive prospect who doesn’t score, was passed on the depth chart by a younger player, then demanded a trade when he didn’t get unearned minutes gift-wrapped to him?
That’s a very good pick in a very good draft. The likelihood that pick is in 20s is low
“Firsts for decent teams are massively overrated.”
Huh? First off, the Wild and Oilers were only teams in the top 12 who kept their first round pick last year.
Secondly, the Oilers are a perfect example of first round picks for a decent team not being overrated, let alone massively. Holloway, Bourgoult and Schaefer are money in the bank and we traded down in some cases. ELCs are gold.
All of this is true but I think it ignores the fact that Lundkvist is a 1st rounder who is on his ELC for two more years.
I have no idea what impact Lundkvist will have in the NHL as I have never seen him play but what Dallas did was trade a conditional 4th and maybe up to 10 spots in the draft order to pick a guy who is 5 years of development ahead of next year’s draft pick.
I still think Dallas paid full retail and a little bit more but who won the trade is not yet decided imo. I’m surprised it took that much to get him but apparently Vancouver was in there pitching as well so he must have something going for him.
Friedman with the breakdown.
NYR gets a top-10 protected first in 2023 and a 4th in 2025 that becomes a third if Lundkvist has 55 points next two years
Seems fair for both sides since Dallas gets a player likely able to contribute right away (they were short RD) while the Rangers replace a low 1st round pick.
Low? You think that’s a low 1st round pick?
that’s gonna be a pretty darn good pick probably around 15 range
I agree that’s going to be a strong pick, even in the 20’s.
Assuming Dallas would want to draft a RD with a pick in the 20’s, it’s interesting that the last 10 drafts have produced 7 D in that range who have played more than 100 games.
Only one was right shot…Henry Jokiharju.
Assuming the Rangers are good at drafting, and the 2023 edition is as deep as reported, the quality of the player should be higher. Remember, this is a player who asked to be traded.
I agree that late firsts (20-32) are hit and miss a lot of the time but it does seem to me that Dallas paid full retail for a guy that refused to sign which is not the way it often works and the pick could be closer to mid round.
I understand Vancouver was in on him as well and maybe drove the price up for Dallas.
Look on the bright side … Dallas just got easier to play against.
HH – that list of Salming trophy winners is a dog’s breakfast. The only player who went on to become a top 4 dman in the past decade was Ekholm. None of the rest made any significant mark in the NHL. Glad it was Dallas that made that overpay. Drury did really well. Dallas replaced Klingberg with a vastly inferior version. Oettinger is going to get pulverized this season.
High level opinion arrows based on 3 prospect tournament games:
Up: Holloway, Wanner, Fanti, Philp, Kesselring, Engras
Straight: Hamblin, Broberg, Savoie, Chiasson, Schaefer, Rodrigue, Kielb
Down: Petrov (although I’m not concerned, he’s heading back to junior)
I’m guessing some would give Hamblin and up arrow and, fair enough, but I expected him to shine in this tournament given his age and AHL experience (and had him potentially playing NHL games before the tournament started) – playing with the two studs helps, of course.
I could have put Broberg in the down arrow only because he really should dominate from the back-end – shift to shift – at this level. I’m not sure he was giving 100% out there and maybe was trying to “mentor” or “shelter” Wanner.
Bourgault?
Ooops, missed him, sorry – I have him in the straight category – essentially did what I expected him to do – be one of the better players but not quite dominate on the level that Holloway did.
Tu-tu-tulio?
Incomplete due to injury.
The Stars are giving up a 1st rounder for Lundkvist….. in 2023? Wow – seems very steep, no?
Sure, that was a weird one by Wanner but, of course, there is zero chance of that happening if he doesn’t make a subtle, but slick, move with the puck at the line (in a tight space) to get the puck away and through.
Well Engaras has definitely never fought before, but good on him for hanging in there while clearly overmatched.
Those punches that landed clean on Engras’ face (I think I counted 3), you could hear/feel bone contacting bone. He absorbed some serious punishment without going down…rather amazing.
He should probably never do that again.
No ‘probably’ about it. That can end careers.
Agreed, he shouldn’t. He was more effective agitating the other team than giving them the satisfaction of taking their aggression out on him. He got worked, and should stick to pest instead of muscle.
1) I’ve been thinking, this is the first NHL training camp for Woody and we really have no idea how he might structure it:
2) Holy hell Schaefer can shoot.
3) Holy hell Dylan Holloway is too good for this level of comp (and he may be too good for the level of comp in the first 3-4 exhibition games as well).
4) I’m not concerned about the McLeod contract getting done but, come on, its time, camp opens on Wed and they are on the ice on Thursday and he needs to be a part of that.
Great effort by Holloway shorthanded. 2-0.
What a power move, so impressive
Just turned on the live stream to see that. Great cut to the net and soft hands to put that one away. He wasn’t shying away from contact cutting to the middle like that. Beautiful goal.
Rodrigue in net now.
After what is becoming an all too common very smart play by Engaras, the Reid Rocket announces himself with authority, going top shelf from distance
Holloway needed to be a bit more selfish on that powerplay and shoot.
Agreed. He passed up too many opportunities to one-time it and the one he eventually took wasn’t the best choice.
Early observation … Fanti looks very good.
Fanti was probably the best of the bunch that period. Nobody else really stood out in particular from what I saw (in the last 15 minutes).
I hope the rookies don’t beat up on Broberg too badly.
Schaefer with a beauty!!
From the Oilers home page for the game that starts in a few minutes. Looking forward to seeing how Chiasson does on the 2nd line.
Forwards
Dylan Holloway – James Hamblin – Xavier Bourgault
Matvey Petrov – Noah Philp – Jake Chiasson
Reid Schaefer – Filip Engaras – Dino Kambeitz
Ty Nash – Luca Hauf – Cole Dubinsky
Defence
Philip Broberg – Max Wanner
Darien Kielb – Phil Kemp
Noah Dorey – Mike Kesselring
Goalies
Olivier Rodrigue
Ryan Fanti
Great for Chiasson to get a bump up the depth chart tonight. Was hoping for Spunar to get this start but either way stoked for more hockey!
Do you think Rodrigue surprised them with how well he played and they want to take another look before camp.
I don’t think he lasts long in the main camp with Campbell, Skinner, Pickard, Fanti etc ahead of him?
Yeah that’s possible for sure. I also assume Tullio is banged up, can’t be any other reason he would be sitting the last 2 games.
Edit: nm I see Fanti is starting haha
And looking good on that shot.
Looking Fanti-stic (TM) so far indeed.
Im really happy with Holland’s work lately.
Hes in on big deals, hes working small deals. Building NHL and AHL team. Hes being creative. I don’t offer an opinion on Virtanen or Demers, only that Ken is still on the hunt to make the team better, or even get through pre-season with numbers, placeholders, and less injury. He has also allowed others (PTO’s) to showcase themselves before, and they are still available to 31 other teams.
If he moves Jessie now, it will be unpopular, however, Holland has shown so much lately that he would have me believe that if Jessie is moved, it is because there was justifiable reason. ( I think he doesn’t move him, runs 21 players) (more creativity displayed)
The goal now is just not to make the playoffs, but to arrive injury free. The more folks carrying the load, the better chance that the difference makers arrive without injury and lots of gas left in the tank.
We’ve been to the conference final the pressures off the core including Woody. As you say the next step is winning the division without 2 of your star players barely able to walk. Leon, Connor and Nurse have been in the trenches for years it’s time for other players to take the plunge.
1) Milano vs. Virtanen – Sure, I get the criticism but (a) for all we know the Oilers tried to get Milano in camp and he didn’t agree and (b) Milano is a LW and, frankly, the Oilers have Kane, Nuge, Hyman, Janmark, Foegoele, Holloway, Benson, Shore……. one of them may move to the right side but LW is stacked deep.
More on Virtanen, I don’t care if he does score 15 goals, if he really is worse without the puck than Kassian. I don’t know if that’s true but I’m reading it and, if that’s true, he’s a net negative even if he pops 15 home.
2) I haven’t seen an update on Savoie except from our very own Todd M. who said he saw him walking with crutches yesterday (but no cast). I don’t imagine he plays tonight and just hope he’s able to participate in camp or, at the very least, start the AHL season.
3) I don’t imagine that D. Ryan is playing 3RW on October 12. Yes, he’s 3rd on the right wing depth chart but, realistically, we are looking at 4RW and Hyman or Foegele moving over to the right side. I guess MAYBE Virtanen can earn a contract and 3RW but, really, I think he would be competing with D. Ryan for 4RW for $400K (apx) cheaper. I’m not sure I like it given Ryan’s right shot faceoff ability and PK acumen. The cap savings is real though. Would Ryan clear waivers?
4) I respect DNB very much, a great journalist and writer but I’m not sure about this “source” and Broberg on the right side. DNB was on with Dusty this morning and cited Broberg playing some right side in the AHL which, frankly, isn’t true. I never saw it but, of course, I didn’t see all the games, however, Broberg did say just yesterday he didn’t play any right side in the AHL. He did play some in the NHL last season (effectively too) but he’s a rookie who has said twice he’s more comfortable on the left side – I wouldn’t think Manson would put him in a less comfortable position as he tries to break in to the league unless there weren’t other options (see Ryan Murray).
5) Demers as a depth RD fill in, sure, maybe, if he performs. Demers as a 3RD replacement for Barrie, my goodness no – severe regression, barely played the last few years and back surgery. I’d have time for Subban if they did move Barrie but Demers isn’t “good enough” to be an every day 3RD on a championship team, right?
6) On a Bourgault call-up for load management (or any reason), presuming he’s not on the opening roster submission, he has $175K in potential performance bonuses, so an in-season call up would have his cap hit at $1.1MM
7) Related to 6 above, lets not forget, unless something changes, the Oilers will have no cap room to call players up. The are looking at a 21 man roster barely cap compliant – they won’t be able to just call players up without a player out (re-assigned to AHL or LTIR).
8) I agree with JP, a big key is trying to reduce McDavid and Drai’s nightly minutes. Of course, there will be plenty of games where they are leaned on but any game where they are below 20 minutes is a huge win, in my opinion.
I stated it long ago that I believe Holland was and is looking to add some physicality after losing Archie,Kassian and going back a bit further Khaira. I don’t know if Sonny fits that profile. I said it weeks ago that if Jake is in shape then Holland after doing some in-depth background check should target him. I also still believe one of Forgele J.P or Yamo will be traded and even the $400000 from Ryan might come into play.
Since upvotes and downvotes are kinda empty, I wanted to take the chance to say something more explicit.
OP, I enjoy the way you summarize things from around the Oilers news-sphere for some of us who don’t have the means to follow it all that closely. Further, I find your posts since the Comment Section Doomsday (retracted) to be more enjoyable given it’s often summarized in one or two posts!
Thanks for the adjustments you’ve made and for your continued contribution! I think this format is when you’re at your best 🙂
Agreed. Not sure why a few people are sour about this. I like it.
HH, and his multiple login names (probable), can deliver multiple downvotes with ease (if the dial up in his mom’s basement is working).
Short and sweet is the key OP – thanks I appreciate reading your contributions to the blog.
Or downvotes 🙂
Not a day goes by that some media folks wonders out loud why JP hasn’t been traded.
I think Kenny had it right the other day, its a consistency thing with JP. He had a helluva heater to start the year, faded hard for a long while. Nice bump in March but a tough stretch drive in April and playoffs. Bringing it every game on a line with generational skill is tough. Don’t want to trade him cause the fancies sparkle. Having advanced stats that scream “one of the best in the league!” when he hasn’t cracked 100 points yet is a complicated A 3rd line of JP, McLeod and Holloway would be fun. If you throw Nuge at C there you should be a lock defensively. So many permutations and combinations. The man needs to see the forest and not just the super shiny trees.
Competition at every forward spot not earmarked for CmD and Leon is a good thing. Nobody’s job is safe, especially if you’re a vet hugging that cliff edge closely. Incremental cap savings of Ryan/Janmark vs Holloway/Benson will make for some interesting decisions throughout the year. An LTIR stint for a couple of vets starting in February wouldn’t be the worst thing either. Need to make sure they are rested for a long spring tournament.
I like the grinding with McLeod. Needs to keep a perspective and realize there’s a bunch of kids right behind him hunting for work. Bet on yourself young man. Take the $900k and turn it into a full time gig on a feature line and PK duties. Go forth!
Anyone seen Yamo yet? Or is he hitting LTIR to start the year so ManWood can get a feel for all these other forwards?
Starting to get excited. This is going to be a fun year.
No idea where this rumour started. Do you have any links?
Maybe it’s wishful thinking. That would solve everything, if he were to start the season on LTIR .
How is a top 6 winger, PP2 and PK guys not available for 24 days AND 10 games, minimum, a good thing?
I don’t mind our goalie situation. For a change. Looks better on paper than any time since roster depth consisted of Garon, Rollie, Doobs and Double D.
I always thought they moved on from Garon too soon.
1) 100% agree on the goalies. I think Rodrigue, if he’s finally in one place playing games nightly (ECHL) can re-establish himself and earn a second contract but Fanti is the clear leader on the depth chart and I hope he gets 50% of the starts. Got to keep Pickard fresh and ready in case of injury but Fanti is a “real prospect” and he’s older and more mature – closer to the NHL.
2) Damn that defensive group for the AHL looks stunning. Its unlikely Demers “makes the Oilers” but there is talk of a 2-way contract (and I’m thinking AHL deal) and an assignment to Bakersfield to start. I see the value in that but without injury, do we want him playing ahead of any of Kesselring, Deharnais or Kemp?
3) On the left side, I don’t think there is any chance Koekkoek makes the Oilers (and his cap hit surely doesn’t help). I’m not sure he reports to Bakersfield and, again, like Demers, do we want him playing there. I like the “veteran mentorship” for each of Koekkoek and Demers but there are ALOT of bodies – real prospect and some under-stated bodies that could push to be “real prospects” – i.e. Kielb.
4) Holy hell that forward group is STACKED at all positions with solid AHL vets (Malone, Hamblin, Griffith, McKegg), high end almost ready NHL prospects (Holloway, Bourgault) and 2nd tier but real prospects (Savoie, Tulio, etc.)
5) Thought Petrov was destined for North Bay even before this tourney (and the man said he was heading there himself) and I think his two games probably solidify that assignment. I expect he’ll play the split/squad type exhibition game and then get assigned. I guess they could get him a couple games in Bakersfield prior thereto but I don’t see it.
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1) Seriously, its time now Ken, need to make the McLeod contract official in the next 48 hours before camp opens.
2) McDavid had a long spot on the 32 Thoughts this morning – I’m still working through it but when he was asked about what he worked on this summer he talked about just refining his overall game but also said expressly that there is this narrative out there that he doesn’t care about defence and he doesn’t think that’s true at all and he’s been proving that.
3) He also said that he’s been watching lots of film of great goal scorers to try and figure out new ways to score.
4) The guys mentioned that Drai told them that Drai thinks McDavid is too selfish and he should be scoring 60 goals.
5) I only speak about the hockey and I’m not sure if Virtanen is “good enough” to make this team. With that said, presuming one of Hyman or Foegele moves over to the right side, I was thinking this and then LT mentioned it as well – i could see Virtanen at 4RW at league min and D. Ryan waived/assigned to start the season – that will save apx $400K on the cap. Of course, if Virtanen is (a) in shape and (b) shows that he is worthy of the spot and contract – a huge “if”
I think in item 4 you meant to type “too unselfish”. Only Spec thinks McDavid is too selfish 😉.
Jake is NOT applying for the same job as Jesse.
everyone deserves a 2nd chance. Remember he was found NOT guilty.
I’m hoping he has grown up since the incident. If he has seen the light and becomes a better human being, this is money. If not it is easy to cut bait.
I think Virtanen can succeed in the role of 4th line banger with a bit of pop in his bat. Basically the Kassian role, but the player is younger, not injured, and highly motivated.
Not a fan of the person, but it’s been well-documented that some young men do dumb things and then grow the F up.
We’ll see what the best of JV in his prime looks like. Oilers could use some heavy hockey in the bottom-6.
From MacT to Kassian to E. Kane, the Oilers have a rich history of reclamation.
LT – maybe there’s a second book in there?
I’ve seen Virtanen play well and not good at all. It will depend on what type of player he wants to become. He needs to forget he was a high pick and work hard. He could be a 2nd line player at best or not being in the NHL at worst. We wait
Jake has had a serious black cloud hanging over his head for 5 years. For the first time in a long time he can just go out and play hockey. I expect him to not only make the team but be contributer whether it be with the body or opening up ice as well as scoring 15 Goals.
Virtanen has something to prove to the Hockey World. This is a low risk opportunity to see if he can. Something that Sather himself would’ve done in the Before Time. And Woody is there to see if he can get a level of commitment and focus from the player that the player hasn’t been able to muster in the past.
I don’t see any down side other than the possibility of mis-evaluating him while he is trying out.
At $750,000×1 year Virtanen is a solid 3/4 RW player.
Jake play hockey and then go straight home to prepare to play more hockey. 10 years from now you will be happy you did!
Dylan Holloway. In my ‘reasonable expections’ series (here) I had him playing 48 games in the NHL this season, but if that shot that beat Wolf is real my estimate will be low.
================================
Am I the only one who saw that shot and thought that looked just like a Draisaitl special? First goal in the video.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1570836721495048192
Strictly hockey, Virtanen is worse then Kassian with or without the puck.
Kassian would still be on this team if his cap hit was $750,000 though, no?
Probably not, his time was done.
Jake in means a foreword (3 choices) traded for draft pick and more importantly cap compliance.
definitely
His cap hit finally became useful.
😉
Is he worse with the puck than Kassian? Kassian never scored 18 goals or 36 points in a season.
Their career points per game are almost identical, and I think Virtanen has played less with the Sedin’s, McDavid’s and Draisaitl’s of the world than Kassian.
I’m optimistic, at least.
He was often slotted at 2RW with the Canucks but his poor defensive play had him moved down the lineup.
Yeah I looked after posting, Horvat was his most common linemate through his Vancouver career.
He showed flashes of being that ever allusive power forward aka Cam Neely. He just turned 26 he’s exactly what the Oilers need up front. I think he takes this golden opportunity and runs with it.
Virtanen had a 18/18 season followed by a 5/0 season followed by a KHL visit that made Iro Pak look like Gretzky.
Virtanen is absolutely horrendous without the puck, Oilers do not need a 18goal guy from several seasons ago that has absolutely no good road built on it since then.
Virtanen sticky hockey, is not NHL talent on a team serious about winning.
We’re currently looking at 2 of McKegg, Malone and Benson being among the 13 Oilers forwards (if they can carry that many).
Despite any deficiencies, and his last 2 crap seasons, I think Virtanen has a good chance of helping more than those guys.
And if he doesn’t show more in camp, he won’t get a contract. The downside risk here is essentially nil.
Perhaps optimism is the key word here when it comes to Virtanen. Holland has a positive history when it comes to reclamation projects so hopefully the kid sees this for what it is and comes hungry to play and prove himself.
A PTO doesn’t guarantee a spot at the end of the day and if the kid doesn’t prove himself then he can dumped.
Was thinking about load management in the NBA, save your players for the playoffs.
Was thinking about teams like Man City and Liverpool having to play so many games through the EPL and various tournaments, and needing depth to rest star players (or to fill injury gaps).
I wonder if you’d see a guy like Bourgault get called up for 1-2 games, three to four times per season, to ease the burden on guys like 97 & 29.
I don’t think we’re going to see McDavid and Draisaitl getting games off, aside from immediately before the playoffs start.
Load management for them (and Nurse) will hopefully come from in-game management of their minutes. Up front at least the teams depth should help make that easier for Woodcroft to accomplish.
Even with the push to get back in a playoff spot last season, Woodcroft was able to reduce McDavid and Draisaitl’s minutes by about 1 min per game vs Tippett, and Nurses by more than 3 min per game. Hopefully that continues this season, with even more of a drop for 97 and 29.
You really don’t want to jerk around a first year pro. If Bourgault is sent down. He should be sent down till January. When he is recalled, it should be for an extended look see. One freebie quick up and down injury recall is fine.
First year pros. Place the player correctly and let them play.
Le sigh.
duplicate of leadfarmer’s post. Virtanen it is.
Jake Virtanen on a PTO with the Oilers.
All that show prep down the drain!!
Does he make the Oilers? I think he has a better than 50-50 chance.
I think he’s got a really good chance of making the team, as well as a good chance of contributing more that the guy he’d replace (McKeeg, Malone, Benson, etc).
Not sure Holland is finished yet. Too many moving parts and cap compliance still sitting in the corner watching things to see how they unfold.
I’d say it’s still better than 90% that a trade is coming for compliance.
It could be a larger move, but the simple Foegele/Puljujarvi for pick/ELC player seems like the path of least resistance.
I thought it was interesting DNB mentioned a team source indicating Broberg would move to the RH side of Barrie was traded. Seems like that remains among the options on the table.
And of course the P. Kane stuff (and Klingberg). Seems that Holland is exploring big at least, whether it comes to fruition or not.
Demers is not to be written off either as a 3RD imo. He is 34 and had a weird season last year but I think him coming in on a PTO is not to be overlooked.
The usual suspects to be traded – for all different reasons – of Puljujarvi, Foegele and Barrie are still the most likely to move if Holland can pull off a big trade. I agree that is a long shot but the rumour mill is still churning.
Yes Demers is a possibility too, though no idea what to expect there. Maybe reading between the lines too much, but Holland didn’t sound too enthusiastic about him in the Drance article (haven’t read DNB’s Demers piece yet).
That would help with the cap if he’s signed to a league minimum deal and Ryan is sent to Bakersfield.
Every time I see a projected roster with Ryan slotted in as the 3RW I think to myself that is not something that is likely to work.
Puljujarvi, Yamamoto, Virtanen as the three top nine RW’ers is still far from a murderer’s row for a contending team but it could work considering that it would allow McDavid, Draisaitl, and Nuge to play centre with Kane, Hyman & Holloway patrolling the LW.
I think that is a pretty strong top nine forward group with McLeod and Janmark both capable of slotting higher as and when.
Janmark-McLeod-Ryan should be a really strong 4th line, with each capable of moving into the top 9 as needed. Agree that Ryan at 4RW, and being spotted up, is better than penciled at 3RW though.
This is exactly what I am hopeful for, the next move is where we get screwed on the foegle trade
Virtanen to Edmonton PTO time
https://www.nhl.com/oilers/news/release-oilers-sign-demers-virtanen-to-ptos/c-335590120
Nice to see such a strong crop in Bakersfield, and I like the reasonable bets on goalies. I had missed the Colton Point signing, but it looks like a guy with decent draft pedigree for a minor league goaler and good physical tools who may have figured things out a bit last year with a big SV% jump. It’s a good pipeline of Pickard, who you’re not terrified about playing NHL games if it came to it, and some young draft (or not draft) and follow guys.
This is looking reminiscent of the pre-decline Detroit teams and Pittsburgh teams from around the same era, where both NHL and AHL teams were title contenders. Love to see it.
Really hope McKegg is not a realistic option at 4C this year. Gives me Will Acton flashbacks.
Those were the days.
Any updates on Carter Savoie’s injury?
Nice to see that level of depth and skill on the farm.
What do we know about Chaulk as a coach?
Sonny Milano on a PTO in Calgary.
That’s a great pickup for the Flames.
That is unfortunate