Game Nine: Oilers at Flames

“Well,” said Pooh, “what I like best,” and then he had to stop and think. Because although eating honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn’t know what it was called.” A. A. Milne

THE ATHLETIC!

• Lowetide: Early season trade unlikely for the Oilers.
• Lowetide: How the Oilers are working to solve second-pairing issues
• Lowetide: Are the Oilers finding chemistry with their skill lines?
• Lowetide: 5 Oilers prospects delivering exceptional early performances
• DNB: 5 takeaways from the Oilers’ first 5 games
• Lowetide: Oilers’ defence depth impacted by Philip Broberg’s early woes
• DNB: Warren Foegele Q&A
• Lowetide: Did the Oilers find the right fit for winger Zach Hyman?
• DNB: Another Oilers loss isn’t ideal, but it shows why they have little to be worried about
• DNB: How the Oilers can manage Connor McDavid and star players’ workloads
• Lowetide: 6 Edmonton Oilers positives from an uneven start
• Lowetide: Can the Oilers’ AHL affiliate sustain a productive prospect pipeline?
• DNB: Oilers need Jakob Chychrun or another top-4 defender, as loss to Flames shows
• Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers early impressions from season-opening win
• DNB: Oilers must adapt to short-handed lineup because it’s coming again
• DNB: Oilers goalie Jack Campbell enters season intent on exceeding expectations
• Lowetide: Why Oilers’ Evan Bouchard will be a key to 2022-23 season
• New DNB: 11 bold predictions for 2022-23 season
• Jonathan Willis: Jakob Chychrun would look good on the Oilers, but is there a deal to be had?
• Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers reasonable expectations for every player in 2022-23
• Lowetide: Oilers top-20 prospects, summer 2022

WHAT TO EXPECT IN OCTOBER

• At home to: VAN, CGY, BUF, CAR, STL, PIT (Expected 4-1-1) (Actual 3-3-0)
• On the road to: STL, CHI, CGY (Expected 1-1-1) (Actual 2-0-0)
• Overall expected result: 5-2-2, 12 points in 9 games
• Actual October results: 5-3-0, 10 points in 8 games
• Oilers in 2022-23: 5-3-0, 10 points in 8 games

Edmonton’s last three games have been the best of the month, and if the team wins this evening my prediction will have been close enough for jazz.

OILERS 2022-23 SCORING

The top two lines look interchangeable and the third line is your basic nightmare for opponents. Using the centers three as proxy for goal differential at even strength, we get McDavid (6-5, 55 percent), Draisaitl (7-6, 54 percent), McLeod (3-2, 60 percent) and 97-29 together (3-2, 60 percent). This is early, a small sample, but positive.

DEFENSE EVEN-STRENGTH GOAL DIFFERENTIALS

1. Brett Kulak 6-1 (86 percent)
2. Tyson Barrie 7-3 (70 percent)
3. Darnell Nurse 8-5 (62 percent)
4. Cody Ceci 7-5 (58 percent)
5. Markus Niemelainen 2-2 (50 percent)
6. Evan Bouchard 5-8 (38 percent|)
7. Ryan Murray 2-6 (25 percent)

Murray was an inexpensive add in September, he looked to be a reasonable option as a 6-7D based on recent seasons. I suggested he might land on the third pairing with Tyson Barrie, but instead he played with Evan Bouchard in the early days of the season. The duo was 0-5 goals at even strength in 39 minutes. Note, these are even strength numbers so include empty-net totals. Murray was scratched in the last game and I wonder what happens next. Philip Broberg is scheduled to play tonight.

HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA

It was always the build toward HNIC game. I’d get up, have breakfast (Mom breakfasts were puffed wheat or toast, if I was at Grandma’s house it was bacon, fresh bread and homemade jam) and re-read The Hockey News. The TV promoted the Saturday games, I always hoped for expansion teams (they were new and had colorful uniforms), but it was often Leafs-Habs or Habs-Rangers. If the Bruins were on, there was special anticipation, because Bobby Orr and the big, bad Bruins were a joy to behold. Sometimes it would be the Minnesota North Stars and they had some fun players. Sometimes the game scheduled for the Forum would be canceled due to a blizzard and we’d get Toronto-Pittsburgh or something.

The rookies back then came in two types. You had your rookie at 20 with long hair and a modern look (Rick Martin) and you’d have your older vet who finally made the grade and looked like one of my Dad’s friends (Marv Edwards). For me, as a kid, the more obscure the better, one of the reasons I migrated to the California Seals so early. They were so obscure many of the players who were top line didn’t get a hockey card until the following year. I liked the Seals because Bill Hicke played for them, and then Ernie, and I knew them from reading The Hockey News. Bob Baun, too. Later, Gilles Meloche, Ivan Boldirev, Carol Vadnais and others became favourites. Edmonton’s rookies the season number just three: Stuart Skinner, Markus Niemelainen and Dylan Holloway. I expect we’ll see Philip Broberg soon enough. Your question for the day: What rookie crop was the best for Edmonton?

• 1980-81: Jari Kurri, Glenn Anderson, Paul Coffey, Charlie Huddy, Andy Moog

THE 2022-23 ROOKIE CROP

• Total Rookies of Interest: 3 so far, more to come
• 2023 Draft Notes: No one from the most recent draft turned pro, let alone made the NHL. The days of ‘draft to NHL in one summer’ is long gone.
• Best Player as a Rookie: Stuart Skinner. He’s exceptional so far this year, to the point it’s legit to wonder if he starts tonight. I don’t believe he will.
• Second Best Player as a Rookie: Markus Niemelainen. He has been a pleasant surprise since coming over to play in Bakersfield back in February of 2021.
• Oldest Rookie: Niemelainen, although Skinner was born later the same year.
• Oldest Rookie Who Played a Lot: Too soon to know.
• Most Unusual Story: Philip Broberg. He played an uneven young stars, preseason and then headed for Bakersfield where he has yet to play. It sounds like he was dealing with some malady and that could mean reports of his inconsistent play were injury aided this fall. We’ll see, but if he’s right in Bakersfield I can see a recall. No one has been so impressive Broberg’s path is blocked.
• Longest NHL careers. Too soon to know.
• Anything Else? I believe the Oilers will see Broberg, James Hamblin, Xavier Bourgault and possibly Mike Kesselring this winter.
• Will any of these men win the Calder? Too soon to know. If Holloway gets a push on one of the top lines, even for a couple of months, he could emerge as a contender.