The Edmonton Oilers moved out several players yesterday, in anticipation of the Bakersfield Condors training camp getting underway today. The current roster sits at three goalies, 10 defensemen and 17 forwards. It’s impossible to know what the final roster will look like, because the club could run with 21, 22 or 23 men to start the year.
Based on logic and reason, one would expect Calvin Pickard, Jason Demers, Tyler Benson, Brad Malone, James Hamblin and Jake Virtanen to be cut. That puts the roster at 24, and then things get difficult.
THE ATHLETIC!
- New Lowetide: Is this the year an Edmonton Oilers player wins the Calder Trophy?
- New Jonathan Willis: Jakob Chychrun would look good on the Oilers, but is there a deal to be had?
- Lowetide: Oilers cuts headed to AHL Bakersfield. What will it look like?
- DNB: 10 observations from the first week of games
- DNB: Oilers’ Connor McDavid may have 50 goals in his reach, but a bigger goal remains
- Lowetide: How Jay Woodcroft’s Oilers training camp differs from previous coaches
- Lowetide: Are Edmonton Oilers’ recent trades supported by analytics?
- DNB: How Edmonton Oilers’ salary cap and training camp impacts roster decisions
- DNB: Darnell Nurse’s big-money contract with Oilers isn’t going to change who he is or how he plays
- DNB: 10 questions to address in training camp
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers’ right wing options on skill lines may be shifting
- Lowetide: The truth about Jesse Puljujarvi and the Edmonton Oilers
- DNB: Jack Campbell is determined to win in Edmonton: ‘I’m ready for this’
- Lowetide: Making the early call on Edmonton Oilers’ 2018 draft haul
- Lowetide: 9 Bold Predictions for the 2022-23 Edmonton Oilers
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers reasonable expectations for every player in 2022-23
- Lowetide: Who will the Oilers trade for cap purposes?
- Lowetide: Oilers top-20 prospects, summer 2022
CERTAIN OILERS
Still 14 names and none added for some time. It’s a solid group, and it’s clear to me how this should go. However, there could be a trade or a surprise waiver name in the days to come. This being a game night, and with just three games left, I expect the group who doesn’t play tonight will play the next one. My guess is we see about seven of these men tonight on the ice against Vancouver.
UNCERTAIN OILERS
There was movement on this list, with Greg McKegg being placed on waivers. He’ll clear at noon, and the Condors will have another veteran forward. Now that we’re over halfway through this year’s camp, I think we can surround the roster just by reviewing this uncertain list and picking out the lesser lights. We won’t, because one never knows. However, I think there has been separation.
THE DISTANT BELLS
Just two names left now, both centers and both have a chance to play this season with Edmonton. I don’t see this as being a miscast of these two, they entered as distant bells and there are no guarantees. Rather, I see this as both men playing well and getting extended time on merit.
POSSIBLE OPENING NIGHT LIINEUP
This is compliant ($12,667) and places Mike Smith and Oscar Klefbom on LTIR. I replaced Mattias Janmark with Tyler Benson, and it’s 21 deep. I do NOT believe this is the way Edmonton will enter the season, but it does show the fix is easy when using one of Janmark or Derek Ryan. These two men are NHL players, sending them down is not a great option, but the absense of alternatives clears the mind.
I HAVE 50 BOOKS
The publisher allowed me a small number of books to purchase in order to pass along to readers of this blog. The cost is $28, that does NOT include shipping which you’ll have to pay for when the book arrives. I will sign the book any way you wish (unless it’s in poor taste), and if you’re within driving distance I’ll bring it to you or we can work out a dropoff place. It’s conventient for me to use E-transfer, but since there’s no idea how many will want to purchase a book, I’d like to start with you emailing me. You can click on “contact” at the top of the page, or email me @jbabcook@shaw.ca and make your request. The first 50 in will be contacted, I’ll save the others in case something doesn’t work out. If 50 are sold quickly, I’ll reach out to the publisher for 50 more. I hope you understand these terms and you can send your message at any time.
LOWETIDE AND JAMIESON
Plenty to discuss today, 10-2 on TSN 1260. We’ll chat Oilers v. Canucks, Oilers cuts, Hockey Canada breaking news, Elks loss (dammit!) NFL and more. The show will be loaded with guests. 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. Talk soon!
Easy question who’s the last Oiler rookie to score a hatty in pre-season?
That one kid that was traded for Perron, then Barzal, then Griffin Reinhart.
Anyone know who this Hollywood kid is? He might be alright.
Pretty sure Holloway has nailed down the 2nd line LW spot now.
Kane-McDavid-Yamo
Hollywood-Leon-Hyman
McLeod-RNH-Jesse
Benson-Ryan-Foegele
Extras: Shore, Janmark, Malone, Hamblin
Couple of thoughts:
1) Foegele is too good to be on a 4th line. Either him or Jesse is gone … but neither will be moved before the season starts. The Oilers clearly signalled their intention to max out LTIR space on a 21 man roster to start the season with the McLeod signing.
But I also fully expect to see a trade done shortly thereafter – there are already some teams who have got injured wingers who could use a guy like Foegele right now … I wonder if Boston might be interested with Hall and Marchand injured.
2) Verboten never had a chance to make this team. They will give him a “fair shot” in training camp (to maintain the optics of an organization that treats PTOs fairly) … but I can’t see them signing him unless he can actually help the NHL team. I don’t think a 2-way deal is in the cards either, as he would be taking up valuable minutes on the AHL team that should go the likes of Lavoie, Tullio, Bourgault and Savoie.
How do you mean?
He played 5 of 6 games so far. He’s gotten the 3rd most TOI of any forward in camp. The most PP time.
Yet in 5 make or break games he has 4 shots and 4 hits.
Jake is going to get signed because it is a smart move.
He has no hockey options so $750,000 NHL and maybe $100,000 AHL salary is as good as it gets for him this year. He then should get his life and game in order for the next chance in Bakersfield.
Zero risk for the Oilers and maybe a bigger payoff than Lovoie, Tullio?
Like the players but not the lines.
They will be more fluid than this. Holloway’s offense is fine, defensively it’ll be a slightly different tale where one should expect rookie growing pains. The good thing is that aside from McLeon and Ryan everyone can player everywhere else so the coaches will get to have fun and develop cross-asset chemistries. This is the Big Deal that the forward core has been waiting for since the 2015 draft. There is outscoring and depth at each slot. So damn close to yelling “music,” but not quite yet.
Temper expectations, establish biteable goals and there will be no need to blow the top.
Dom’s model has the Leafs and Flames as the best teams in the NHL this season. Fascinating call on the Leafs with that goalering package. Some good motivation there.
I’m convinced amateur analytics (and potentially Dubas’ ‘real’ analytics) has outsmarted itself with the Murray>Campbell GSVA stuff. We will see.
I see similar with the Flames. It’s possible they tread water vs. last year, but I can’t see them being better. Even if all the moving parts add up to similar wins in Dom’s model, it’s almost impossible to fathom Huberdeau-Tofolli replicating that +54 at 5v5 trick that Gaudreau-Tkachuk pulled last year. Again, we will see.
Holloway has had a very good training camp against junior/AHL players. Let see him for 25 real NHL games before he has to face the best forwards on the NHL night after night on the 2nd line of win now team.
Just arrived so haven’t checked the comments but: Anyone else think Stauffer was indirectly pushing a PJ trade with his endless HOLLOWAY TOP SIX HOLLOWAY TOP SIX? I mean relax. Annoyed by the accompanying narrative that anything less was wasting Holloway’s development. Like you can’t play a talented rook on the 3-line? Or stack the third to feast on the opposition’s soft underbelly? HOLLOWAY TOP SIX.
Sure that would be great. And if it allows you to waste PJ (move for cents), I guess that’s a kind of solution for the cap.
Anyways.
Shore has made this team
Hyman is the best PK player I’ve seen since Mike Grier
To me he’s a combination of Ryan Smyth and Glenn Anderson.
Well, based on what happened tonight, and Rob Brown’s analysis, the Jesse Puljujarvi exit plans are on overdrive…..
I just took a look at Holloway’s 2020 draft….TML picked a skinny 167lb russian at 15th, one pick after Holloway, named Rodion Amirov….can’t figure out what Dubas was thinking on this one….I think they outsmarted themselves on that one…
Amirov has been battling cancer (brain tumor) since last February. Looks like the Chemo has been effective, because reports are that he could come over this fall to start working with the Leafs. Hopefully he is able to stay in full remission for a long long time and can embark on an NHL career.
And how did Toronto outsmart themselves? Holloway was already off the board. Edmonton drafted 5’8″ 153 Yamamoto in the first round in 2017. Amirov is apparently highly skilled. For his sake, I hope he can regain th2017at.
Thanks for the info, that explains why his stat lines haven’t impressed…I obviously didn’t dig deep enough.
I thought Samorukov was excellent tonight, very good.
Then again, damn level of comp makes it tough to evaluate.
No…. he wasn’t, and I watched him closer than anyone else.
His coverage was good, defensively strong, good gaps, good stick, used his body well….disrupted the cycle…all good signs. But it wasn’t until the 59th minute that he made a tape to tape pass with anyone other than his D-partner…every time he had the puck it was panic, thrown off the glass, up the ice, across the zone etc…looked like Theo Peckham…he needs to upgrade his processor in the AHL…
He will sail thru waivers tomorrow no worries and will provide excellent depth as the #9-#10 Dman this year.
Unfortunately his reaction with the puck is to stand still – needs to get rid of that to play in the flow of an NHL game. Especially with this team.
I guess I looking at the game wrong. I saw several tape-to-tape-passes and several smart plays and a good stick.
He did seem unbalanced a couple times skating backwards and having to quickly change direction, but overall I found him to be pretty solid.
Tape to tape to his D partner only…nothing up ice until the last minute to Foegele before the Shore give-n-go
As I said earlier, he was +4 with a 100% GF/GA and over 70% corsi and fenwick plus an apple. You take those results from a 3LD any day of the year.
This “I watched him closer than anyone else” is some kind of brag. In running this blog for 20 years, haven’t seen that kind of claim. Well done!
That was my reaction when I first read it too, but I then thought it was possible that Kgo meant that he watched Samorukov more closely than he watched any other Oiler in the game. Ambiguity: “What happens in vagueness, stays in vagueness!”
Lol, that’s a new saying for me.
His decision-making isn’t fast enough. He missed making a couple of obvious plays tonight. He’s not ready yet.
As crazy as it sounds Holloway might be better than Podzholkin!
Pretty soon you’re going to say Bouchard is better than Rafferty!
Nice little pass by Verboten on the 1st Foegele goal…not sure that’s enough though
Two-way to Bakersfield good enough?
Some shooting confidence for Foggy could go a long way
I don’t think foegele wants to go anywhere! Nice
If he’s still the guy/salary we need to trade, I suggest we no longer would have to add any kind of sweetener… quite the opposite, he has increased his value now. I’d prefer (wishful) we find a way to keep him.
All signs point to him as the rationally movable piece, but yeah – I wanna see what he does in Royal Blue this season
Warren is the Foegele point of the offence!
A punster after me own heart…
McLovin
Nice work by Shore in his own end to turn over the puck and outlet
And they do it again for funsies
Fellas. Holloways wrist might be just fine.
Triple H(olloway)
Holloway. Hat Trick.
the hattie. Wow
Get that man a real number and a locker.
I thought he chose #55 after he gave Soup #36.
I like the 55, looks good flying around out there. He’s a very noticeable player on the ice, kind of like McDavid he seems around the puck constantly.
Holloway hat trick. Looked like McDavid on that play.
Happy Holloween!
Ok NOW he’s made the team
DeKeyser needs to be DeStroyed for that.
that could have turned out way worse for Yams
Did Yamamoto get his bell ring there? That didn’t look good.
15,700 for a pre-season game on a Monday night
Well that shift looked like men against boys
I am a Jack Campbell fan.
Holy what a save by Campbell!
CHED reporting Benson will not return due to an LBI.
Too bad. Hopefully nothing serious for him. I actually thought he had a chance to make the team with his cheap contract and improved foot speed.
Niners. Huh.
The running game tonight was impressive. The O-line put on a blocking clinic. Plus Stafford wasn’t very sharp for the enemy.
the one thing I love most about our team is that it has Kyle Shanahan
Dang, he was playing so well. Kid can’t catch a break.
Yamo’s learning.
Realtors in Edmonton will be calling Holloway tomorrow.
Maybe he can change on the fly with the forward who’s being traded.
After Two:
4-2 Edmonton (3-2 Edmonton in the second)
27-24 Edmonton shots (17-12 Edmonton in the second)
31-27 Edmonton Corsi five-on-five (17-15 Edmonton in the second)
==
Holloway looks fabulous in this game, impossible to see a way to send him out. Samorukov looks tentative, one shift was spent mostly in Edmonton’s zone because the young blue didn’t make good puck decisions. Pressure is on. Virtanen and Benson have played the least tonight, a guess has Samorukov, Virtanen and Benson on waivers tomorrow.
Samorukov has played the same 5 on 5 as Barrie and more than Kulak. The lack of overall ice time is the 5 Oiler penalties.
I thought Samorukov played exactly the kind of game I want from a 3LD. And that he has played better every game he has been in.
Expect much better than this HH level analysis from you LT. First there is zero reasons to put any of these guys on waivers (if indeed they do this) until the last possible moment. Unless you want to lose assets for nothing. Sammy ended up +4 with a 100% GF/GA and over 70% corsi and fenwick plus an apple. What exactly do you want from a 3rd pair dman?
man, you are going to feel silly if any of those three happen to hit the waver wire today.
especially after being less than 100% respectful of our host.
Since a pile of assists isn’t what Samorukov needs to do, I’d suggest a little more clarity coming out of his zone.
Verboten on waivers? Can you even do that to a PTO? Pretty sure he’ll just be released.
It may be a lesser Canuck roster tonight, but I’m seeing good structure and process, which is a very good sign. Too easy against a weaker roster to get fast and loose with structure and process and end up playing pond hockey. Go oilers go!
Holloway has to be a lock to make this team. He makes the 2nd line downright scary.
All it takes is one player in the top 6 to change the whole dynamics of the top 9.
I agree 100% an Oiler breakthrough (Holloway) as an Impact player would make our Top 9 best in nhl
The evidence is becoming overwhelming.
Without injuries he makes the team last year, can’t have 2 stone handers in your top 6 if you want to win the cup.
Barrie.
Pretty play. holloway drives the net, Hyman outwaits the D and hits Barrie the trailer for a sweet goal.
Benson not on the bench
hurt?
Probably just picking out his space in the locker room.
I wish there was a real Canuck lineup to know if this performance is real.
This is a “first week of camp” lineup for the Canucks – lets not forget that.
The tip was nice, the shot was nice – the net drives were nice – its all nice but its not against a real team, not even close.
Stupid Canucks and your stupid lineup.
On the flip side, there is value to Holloway and others boosting their confidence against a weaker lineup.
How is Vancouver any different than just about every road team in exhibition season including the Oilers?
because we are now in to the last few games which should be more NHL lineups.
I have been very consistent that I don’t think the first week of preseason can tell us much but generally the last few can.
After tonight’s game, most of the Oilers key players have played the same number of exhibition games as the Oilers key players (2). Why should Vancouver play their key players in pre season more than the Oilers? Both teams have 2 games left. Vancouver is doing what is best for their team just like the Oilers.
Sigh – AHL lineups are usually gone by the time we get to the last few exhibition games. I was hopeful for a better Canuck lineup.
Unlike Bakersfield who started camp today the Abbotsford Canucks don’t start their training camp till Wednesday so they can send their players down tomorrow. Handy having the farm team only an hour away. I see that both Columbus and Boston also didn’t start many of their likely regulars in their road exhibition games tonight.
Everything that Holloway is doing is translatable to full NHL competition. His skating, decision-making and hands aren’t going to get slower. He fits in seamlessly with Leon and ZH.
True, but his opponents’ skating, decision-making and hands are going to get a lot faster.
So maybe he doesn’t get 2 goals, 1 assist after 2 periods against *all* the teams…😏
What makes you think Holloway doesn’t have another gear?
Holloway is on fire tonight.
That Campbell buddy tap to Ceci is a nice change from the Smith death stare. Think that defence will play their a^%^s off for him? I do.
They played their asses off with Smith too, despite the death stare.
Lordy, I think Holloway just punched his ticket to the show tonight! Love this kid.
It’s just preseason, it’s just preseason, I’m so excited for him, it’s just preaseason….
Nurse’s responsibility on the 2 GAs.
He better just be shaking things out…
How was that on Nurse?
Completely unnecessary giveaway up the boards.
Pace yourself. We’re going to get 82 regular season games plus multiple playoff games of this.
If he’s on for every GA somehow – you’d better believe it.
Holloway. Again.
now if he can do that on a regular basis…
55 is better right now than 13.
He knows what to do.
Holloway’s wrist seems okay.
What a snipe by Holloway!!!!