Many years ago, the Oilers drafted three young blue who were headed to (or drafted from) college hockey. They were about equal offensively, and there was a time when it was uncertain which player (if any) would win an NHL job. Things change in a hurry.
THE ATHLETIC!
- New Lowetide: Is Oilers’ Connor McDavid facing Hart Trophy voter fatigue?
- New DNB: Ryan Murray, Dmitri Samorukov try to make up for lost time in fight to crack Oilers
- DNB: Dylan Holloway’s emergence for Oilers puts Jesse Puljujarvi’s future into focus
- Lowetide: Is this the year an Edmonton Oilers player wins the Calder Trophy?
- 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
NOTES FROM SUMMER 2008
- RHD Jeff Petry: This is Dan’s son. He does not have first round pedigree but if they re-drafted that season one suspects Petry would go in the first 30 picks. Has a wide range of skills and keeps picking up awards and honors as he rolls through his amateur career. A little shy of Chorney as a skater.
- LHD Taylor Chorney: He moves the puck very well and has plus speed. That’s a wonderful combination for a defender and makes up for a lack of size. I think we’ll see Chorney play in the NHL a little in 08-09.
- LHD Cody Wild: Oilers signed Wild on the strength of his NCAA season for Providence (32gp, 4-18-22) and he arrived in time to play a little in Springfield (13gp, 1-2-3). One of three recently drafted college defenders (Chorney, Petry, Wild) who have a nice combination of skills that are similar to each other. There doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of separation.
Narrator: There was, in fact, a great degree of separation. Petry hit pro hockey late in the 2009-10 season. He showed he was offensively capable and had some issues in outscoring at even strength. He would clean that up in a hurry, and spend just 51 regular-season games in the minors. Taylor Chorney, fast as lightning, had difficulty adjusting to the structure of pro hockey, spending 196 games in the AHL with Edmonton’s minor league affiliate (Oklahoma City Barons) and landed shy of 200 NHL games (166). In all, he would spend 400 games in the AHL. Cody Wild didn’t play in the NHL, and divided his minor league time between AHL (201) and ECHL (123). Separation indeed.
What does that mean for the young Oilers blue currently pushing for roster spots? All of Philip Broberg, Dmitri Samorukov and Markus Niemelainen were well regarded on draft day, so there is no Cody Wild outlier crashing the party (yet). We don’t know what we don’t know about these men, and all have enough talent to play in 200 NHL games or more if things break right.
History tells us the waiver issue holds enormous importance in these moments and I expect it’s possible Samorukov wins the day and a roster spot. Edmonton would be betting on an injury to a defenseman and that’s a solid bet beginning shortly after the puck drops. Oilers would have to trade one of Warren Foegele or Jesse Puljujarvi to get it done. Trust me. If the team doesn’t make a trade, expect this roster or similar.
Samorukov and Mattias Janmark are waived, weakening defense future and two-way/PF forward now in the process. It is an unattractive option but the tight fit of this roster makes it necessary. Here’s what I would do.
You can place Benson on IR, keep Samorukov on the roster and the cap room ($12,667) is razor thin. The price? Warren Foegele traded. The Oilers have depth on the wing, Holloway is a flat out rookie and we’re not absolutely certain about McLeod’s offense, but it’s a reasonable bet on both men. The defense is protected with Murray as the veteran extra and the trade deadline should have a piece on defense (Niemalainen, Samorukov) to deal.
TOP 20 PROSPECTS
I think the top-20 this winter will look much different. Philip Broberg, Dylan Holloway and Stuart Skinner are all poised to graduate, resulting in massive change at the top. Here’s my summer top 20. Who is your No. 1?
LOWETIDE AND JAMIESON
A busy day, 10-2 on TSN1260. Scheduled to appear are Chris Johnston (at noon), Tom Gazzola, Bruce McCurdy from the Cult of Hockey at the Edmonton Journal, Christian Saulsberry (Elks returner) at 1:40 and we’re still reaching out. Waivers at noon! 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. Talk soon!
Let the truth out, cretin
The PP looked poor as whenever Nurse had the puck it was so obvious that it was going to be put back to 97 that it got picked several times.
I forgot what a clapper Petterson has.
Local boy Virtanan is not welcomed back with open arms.
Poolparty still seems out of place.
lots of players on both teams falling all over the place. A hilarious fall by a Canuck with an open shot.
well done truth and reconciliation presentation before the game. But the Oilers have the best land acknowledgment of any pro sport I have seen.
if I ever get a chance to shoot a t shirt cannon, I’d like that.
don’t think the stadium was prepared for 7000 people. Odd the game wasn’t advertised earlier. Guessing thar they wanted Canuck fans as I only saw the email that oilers in town 2 days ago. Maybe wanted to have a McDavid confirmed first.
$56 for a local game with near full rosters was a good deal. Woulda like to see Drai tho.
there are my laid back saw them good/bad notes for the game! Any questions, fire sway!
“Local boy Virtanan is not welcomed back with open arms.”
could you expand on this?
Hometown fans were booing him anytime he touched the luck.
Broberg, Samorukov or Niemo?
I thought Neimo looked the best of the 3. This is the 4th time I’ve seen Broburg and find him very unremarkable.
Invisable is not such a bad thing for a 6-7 D-man but it’s kinda depressing when it’s the 8th pick 3 years ago that is vanilla.
Tough to get in a flow too as oilers were short handed I think 8 times.
Thanks mang
Game was a total blast. Lots of mistakes. Some brutal giveaways by the Oil.
25 was brutal.
80 looked good for the most part. Blocked a lot of shots.
97 sometimes trying too much pond hockey, but that’s fine in preseason. His goal seeing it live was sweet.
a few of those penalties were suspect. but they don’t replay the questionable ones on the screen.
glad no one got injured.
game was louder than any of the games in Vancouver. But that place is a library of corporate folks. Almost happy I recently had Covid as the concourse was so packed a lot of folks are gonna be sick soon.
saw two Canuck fans smoking a hash pipe while their baby played on the grass while we’re waiting to get out of the UFV parking lot. Classy.
beautiful play by Nuge and Hyman. Especially Zac to get behind the D but can’t get it by Knight
that looked like an intentional draw loss by Hamblin
Jason Robertson signs 4X$7.75 million in Dallas.
Holloway’s motor never stops tickin. Good work in the Oiler end
I’m already more interested in Woody’s reaction than the rest of this period.
3 for 10 on the PP – 10, lol. Most of them deserved but hilarious.
And really 4 for 10
That’s right, I forgot that the Hoglander goal was like one second after the PP expired. So basically 4/10.
Petterson scores another. Canucks are 3 for 10(!) on the PP tonight.
That Nuggy goal was about as ugly as his earlier giveaway…
And Nuuuuge ties it back up at 4. Good forecheck by Holloway on that shift to get it started.
They spend two minutes or so of playing actual structured hockey and the Nuge scores on a fanned shot and second attempt
Pettersson scores and Skinner doesn’t look very happy that he let that one beat him.
Ummmm, if Niemo is suspended, that is going to totally off up the opening night cap structuring, isn’t it?
There’s no chance that he gets suspended for that hit. It was a penalty but that’s it.
Niemo crushes Petterson into the boards. The Canucks announcers are freaking out.
and now Nemo stirring it up. buries pettersson into the boards after a penalty already called on the play and a man in the box
Stauffer thinks that might earn Nemo a hearing
Hamblin gets it right back.
Weird game.
Nemo’s pass. didn’t give up on the play
How many breakaways are the Oilers going to give up tonight. McLeod with a bad turnover there.
I jinxed him. Apologies.
LOL, wow, not sure they can play worse….
Jeff skins another Canuck breakaway
Oilers PP is an offensive odd man rush clinic for Vancouver.
They do a light show for the players coming on between periods? I hope this is just a floofy Vancouver thing.
Time for 18 min of the canucks symbol! I turned the game on in the first intermission and though the feed was frozen.
I’m curious why the Oilers wouldn’t sell the preseason TV rights. Is there nothing in it for them? What’s the advantage of self producing the games? Internal skill development?
I would think Sportsnet would pay at least a little for the games. Maybe the ad space is a net negative for them compared to production costs?
anyway the feeds have been alright, I haven’t watched every minute but caught a little
of most of the preseason. This one’s the worst, IMO.
One more period to go for a bunch of these guys. I expect some transactions early tomorrow, before or at the start of practice possibly? Get the remainder focused on the last preseason game .
little keystone action. thank Gord for Skinner
Skinner.
I’m with the Canucks crew. I wouldn’t be happy if the Oilers had that penalty called against them.
stauffer didn’t like it either, but Michaels said the League will be blowing the whistle any time the helmet comes off
Canucks tie. Broberg in photo; I’d like to see him harder on the stick in that situation.
It’s still a penalty kill, he’s positioned back by the net.
For me, tip shots are a bit of a random goal, no one’s really to blame. It’s skill but also some luck and it doesn’t always end up in the net.
Sixth powerplay they score
Aw fiddlesticks. Just when I finished complementing the PK…
Hyman juggled that one into the net. Loose play on the Vancouver pp.
Hyman.
two shorties in two games! PK is doing OK, which is good as the refs are out for Oiler blood tonight.
Shine on you crazy Hyman!
There can only be one!
Seeing as we open the season against these guys in a week, could this be a rope-a-dope game? Hmmmmm?
Darnell Nurse looking like Kyle Mclaren with the clothesline
bit unusual by Skinner but it worked
The Canucks are targetting Holloway?
I don’t think so – I think its a function that Holloway is pretty reckless out there – like an early career Taylor Hall….
Yes, that was Quinn Hughes who just got walked by McDavid. What a goal.
Connor McDavid: still good.
And then there’s always King Connor
McDavid.
hahah beauty!
Ooh baby. That was NICE
McFilth.