One of the things that writing ‘On the Clock’ reminded me is just how many goalie draft picks don’t work out. Edmonton picked (over 44 years) 44 goalies, and in all honesty three (Grant Fuhr, Andy Moog, Devan Dubnyk) were home runs. Some helped along the way, I have fond memories of Jussi Markkanen as an example. Stuart Skinner has a chance to be the most unusual happening in Oilers lore: A homegrown starting goaltender who holds the job on merit for 5+ seasons. He’s just getting started but it’s a promising first act.
THE ATHLETIC!
- New Lowetide: What’s Xavier Bourgault’s NHL ETA? Does he get a look this season?
- New DNB: Stuart Skinner’s 40 saves lift Oilers over Panthers
- Lowetide: What should the Edmonton Oilers expect from Klim Kostin?
- DNB: Oilers must learn how to cope without Evander Kane
- Lowetide: How close to balanced are the 2022-23 Edmonton Oilers?
- DNB: Oilers’ Evander Kane hospitalized after skate blade cuts his arm
- Lowetide: Oilers top prospect is unclear for the first time in a dozen years
- Lowetide: Oilers prospects crowding AHL roster, ice time at a premium
- DNB: Why Oilers’ latest ‘pathetic’ performance from Jack Campbell is a growing issue
- Lowetide: Oilers rookie Stuart Skinner is chasing history
- DNB: Devils stun Oilers in Edmonton: How 7 seconds changed the game
- DNB: Ryan Smyth on Oilers memories, keepsakes and the current team: Q&A
- Lowetide: Making room for Dylan Holloway
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers start October slow but finish month strong
- Lowetide: Oilers prospect Tyler Tullio adjusting quickly to AHL
- DNB: Oilers’ Skinner, an Edmonton native, closes door on Flames
- DNB: The Oilers have a third line that’s settling in
- Lowetide: Early season trade unlikely for the Oilers
- DNB: How the Oilers can manage Connor McDavid and star players’ workloads
- 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 NOVEMBER
- At home to: NAS, NJD, DAL (Expected 2-1-0) (Actual 1-2-0)
- On the road to: WAS, TBY, CAR, FLA (Expected 1-2-1) (Actual 2-2-0)
- At home to: LAK, VEG (Expected 1-0-1) (Actual 0-0-0)
- On the road to: NJD, NYI, NYR (Expected (1-1-1) (Actual 0-0-0)
- At home to: FLA (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- On the road to: CHI (Expected (1-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- November expected result: 7-4-3, 17 points in 14 games
- Actual November results: 3-4-0, 6 points in 7 games
- October results: 6-3-0, 12 points in 9 games
- Oilers in 2022-23: 9-7-0, 18 points in 16 games
That was a big win in a young season for these Oilers. The team’s 9-7-0 record projects to 92 points and keeps Edmonton in a wildcard spot. Doesn’t sound like a huge deal in November, but there are teams who are behind the Oilers (like Calgary) and two points can mean the difference at the end of the year. A big win. My RE was 3-3-1 through these games, Edmonton is 3-4-0. Close enough for jazz. If 97 points is required (it was last year), Edmonton needs to go 37-24-5, 79 points the rest of the way. That’s a big ask, but the team should be able to do it and clearance from Calgary, Vancouver and others is key.
SUMMARY
- Stuart Skinner had a great game, especially in the first period where he appeared to be stone alone many times. His .950 SP at five-on-five ranks No. 2 among starting goalies in the entire NHL and his overal SP (.932) is No. 5 overall. Music! Whoever drafted Skinner deserves some kind of medal, or at least a good steak.
- Darnell Nurse had two shots, blocked a shot, GV and TK, took a penalty. Played a calm game, he was 1-0 goals on-ice at five-on-five, after going 1-8 in the discipline in the previous four games. A nice recovery, over 21 minutes five-on-five and over 26 minutes overall.
- Cody Ceci had one shot and drew two penalties on the afternoon. He was 1-0 goals five-on-five, and like Nurse, needed a good game. Ceci was 0-3 goals in the previous four games before the Florida contest.
- Brett Kulak had three shots, one HDSC, a blocked shot and laid some lumber on a prone Matthew Tkachuk. He was 0-1 five-on-five goals.
- Evan Bouchard was 0-6 in the four previous games at five-on-five, so a clean slate was welcome. Three shots, GV and TK, he’s so much better with Kulak.
- Markus Niemelainen had a giveaway, blocked a shot and hit a couple of people. Took a hit from behind and stayed down for a time, that’s something to monitor in the next couple of days.
- Tyson Barrie had a big game, scoring twice with bomb shots from the point. He is 13-12 goals at five-on-five this season for Edmonton, and owns the highest percentage among Edmonton’s blue.
- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored the EN goal, payment for the post he hit on a backhand shot earlier in the game. Three shots, two HDSC.
- Connor McDavid had an assist, two shots, drew a penalty on what was a dangerous play that could have resulted in injury. He could have scored a couple of times, but has 15 goals in 16 games so I guess it’s okay.
- Jesse Puljujarvi had an effective evening derailing sorties with his giant reach. He’s also more physical this season. He picked up an assist, shot, HDSC and a giveaway. The only real criticism that can be leveled is offensive output, and he’s 0.00 in 60 minutes five-on-five with 97. We know that will change.
- Warren Foegele scored a huge goal after being elevated up to the Draisaitl line. Three shots, drew a penalty, three takeaways. I might be misremembering, but believe that’s Foegele’s best game as an Oiler.
- Leon Draisaitl had an assist, five shots, took a penalty, takeaway. He was a giant in the big part of the game, his deft pass to Foegele was ballgame. Robbed by Spencer Knight on a patented power-play missile that was labeled.
- Zach Hyman had two shots, took a penalty, drew a penalty. My favourite part of his game was the shift after the PP goal, he was playing guilty and doing everything possible to make amends. Fantastic player.
- Mattias Janmark had a solid game, including an assist. One shot, one HDSC and a takeaway. Good player.
- Ryan McLeod had an assist, won six of nine on the dot and skated miles. He’s making better offensive plays now, the game is slowing down and he’s gaining confidence. So fast.
- Klim Kostin had a strong game to my eye, astute passes. Two shots, two HDSC and a giveaway. He made good decisions and gave his line some strong passes. First blush was a success.
- Dylan Holloway had one shot on goal, a HDSC and a takeaway. He would move down the depth chart in-game, and could see Bakersfield soon. He has seven HDSC in 12 games, and a couple of five-on-five assists, but is 2-8 goals at five-on-five while on the ice. He’s young but getting chances. I’d keep him up. Unlikely.
- Devin Shore didn’t play much but did have a HDSC and a blocked shot. Still not getting PK time, for me that means he’s on the highway to the danger zone.
- Derek Ryan played one minute on the PK, had a takeaway, hit and a blocked shot. I always thought he and Janmark were inevitable on the fourth line, they were 2-3 shots (no danger and no goals) in 4:09 together.
CONDORS LAST NIGHT
Filip Engaras is a player I noticed in preseason as a Lou Angotti type. By that I mean a player who doesn’t carry play, doesn’t do the spectacular, but shows up in good places at good times to do good things. Engaras had a Lou Angotti night last night, scoring twice. One was on a deflection, the other (10 seconds later) a terrific shot coming down the right side (an old timey goal for sure).
Philip Broberg is back in action, good speed and passing is good (maybe a little off). He’s 1-1 in even strength goal differential for the three games, it’s going to take some time to get him NHL-ready based on these early days. He was more dynamic a year ago, not sure if this current approach is by design.
Olivier Rodrigue is playing the best hockey of his pro career right now. For the season, he has played in four games, owns a 3-1 record, 2.02 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage. I don’t know that this will be a Jeff Deslauriers-Steve Passmore situation (good young goalie blocked by the arrival of Tommy Salo in trade or Devan Dubnyk in a head-to-head prospect battle) but it’s a nice problem to have it this comes to pass.
Just some bookkeeping (I haven’t seen this mentioned so apologies if has)… Kostin and Janmark were actually assigned to the Oilers by emergency recall.
This delays the start of their count for waivers eligibility. Oilers can reassign them to the AHL after nine games, and then immediately ressign them back to the main team by standard loan and the counter would start again. Thus they can get in 18 games before being eligible for waivers once returned to Bako.
(Teams are allowed three emergency loans and then the rules change and they can recall a player from Junior for nine games. Lol… stop dreaming!)
18 games doesn’t seem like enough considering the length of time Kane is supposed to be out. At some point, one or both of Janmark or Kostin might face waivers.
I thought emerg recall only applies to guys making less than $850k
That’s in connection with cap relief.
I think that’s for cap purposes.
Boston Bruins have 20 players who have scored at least a goal in the first 16 games. Don’t ever remember that happening.
I think with Holloway the problem is mostly habitual.
I mean, has to be. Because if you’re the coach you’re telling him 1) If you don’t have time and space, you make your pass coming over your blue line or take the puck to the wall. If you do have some clean air, but it’s not an odd man break, you’re driving across the center line where you’re either going to dump it in, or continue to drive and make your pass once you’re over the blue line. 2) Watch Zach Hyman. Hall too had more success getting zone entries when he drove the opposition’s blue line. Especially down the boards for both of them. (The triple H attack)
He knows that, I’m sure. But his eye is seeing more space than there is due to a speed of play unfamiliar to what it is trained to habitually recognize, and his brain risks plays in habitual reaction.
Question is… do they want him to break that habit in Bako or the Bigs?
I don’t think there’s any shame or detriment in playing up and down the line up with reduced minutes while he figures it out. We have the cap space. Maybe when Benson returns back you have him sit for a couple games and put in some extra practice, then bring him back. Depends on how he is doing. And in that vein, I think there is pretty much zero chance he regresses in any way.
It’s just a matter of time… Time on ice. Time that hasn’t been kind to Jay or Dylan. If the Oilers could, Gord forbid, put together a comfortable lead every now and then, Woodcroft could’ve fed him cherry minutes alongside Drai all the way to the whistle. But no… We hoped for the best and it turned out like always.
Holloway doesn’t have to be a Calder contender to be a great player. Everyone can see his boots. He has quality hands: the problem isn’t the inability to make a good pass or shot, lol. Just a matter of time till the eyes and head catch up to the rest of him.
We need Bouch to be more than Schultz or Marino
They are one way D that bounce like Barrie because they can’t defend and are a-physical
These Oilers don’t need O. Unless it’s the new Coffey it’s all about a full game D
32 year- old Martin Jones at 2 Million with the Kraken is paying off. He has a 2.32 average and a 910 save percentage 7-4-1 record. I suggested him last year and was mocked and told to look at the numbers… look at the numbers.. he’s a bum a loser. Look at the numbers the B.C boy is putting up with a duct tape defence that the Kraken employ, look at the numbers.
Now make sure to remember to make a post when his numbers drop
I’m just trying to have a little bit of fun don’t go running to Dad. I got in enough trouble last time I had a difference of opinion with the 1%ers.
oh you poor boy, you’re so hard done by. . .
Hockey men were big on Jones despite his numbers. that made me curious too, and that is a great price tag. Lots of asphalt ahead, but he’s looking like the best bet right now.
Jones was a low risk signing he’s only 32 has time to redefine himself as a solid 1B a A in a pinch. Anyhow I was surprised at the length of Campbell’s contract given his track record. I’m still bullish on Campbell he has the pedigree that’s for sure, not many Goalies get picked 11th overall. Campbell shouldn’t have much wear and tear on his body kinda reminds me of Roloson with not peaking until his mid 30’s, knock’s on wood rapidly
Another solid game tonight (just lost in OT).
I’m looking at the numbers and they say:
.896
.896
.896
.900
.910 (a shade less after the OTL, I guess)
I dunno Reja.
He wasn’t playing for a Sutter led team in San Jose and Philly is a graveyard for Goaltenders. Regardless he was a buy-low candidate who I’m sure doesn’t want his career to end at 32.
Carter Hart 2.18/.937 this season….
Jones was 6 seconds away from having the same lifetime save percentage as Carter who sits at 908 compared to Jones at 907 after tonight’s game.
How is this downvoted? Those are Jones’ numbers since 18/19. And in 18/19, Sharks made the conference finals.
Yeah, was going to add that the Sharks were a good to average team despite Jones not being able to stop pucks. I’m glad the Oilers didn’t take a flyer on him (last January or this past summer).
The only reason the Oilers have Holloway is that it took him half a season to figure out how to impact college hockey, and then he dominated. Coming off of a serious hand injury and not playing much for a year, it only took him a few games to figure out the AHL. He aced training camp against AHL quality rosters.
The question with Holloway is do you want him to be an impact player in this season’s playoffs or next season’s playoffs.
Delaying till next year is fine, but that ticks a year off of McDraivid’s contracts.
I would play him and endure the growing pains now, so he can help in this years playoffs.
Dominating the AHL to the tune of .65 points per game.
Holloway was way better in his second year of AJHL, & again in his second year of NCAA. Expecting him to hop skip & jump his way through the AHL in half a season & right on into an impact NHLer was always a pipe dream IMO.
He’s going to be good, but will need some time, is my take.
My only question about him is how much will he score? I’d like to find out during the season, but fourth line isn’t the place. If he’s there, send him down.
I think the coach is far more worried about how much he will be scored on. I don’t think anyone in the org is as concerned as you about how much he will score. That will unfold in due time. The important thing right now is to get is eyes and head to adjust to NHL speed while protecting his confidence from the errors he is sure to make. Pretty sure Jay is playing this hand well.
And, as I said above, in any game where the Oilers have built some breathing room and the outcome of the game is less at risk, the coach can and will feed him more time.
When it comes to kids, you have to let the river run. Mistakes will be made in October-December, but it’s an investment in the spring. Like planting seeds, only at the other end of the year.
There are currently 76 players in the AHL at 1.00 PTS /G or more.
How many of those players are tweeners and journeymen?
If you’re being outscored by tweeners and journeymen, you’re doing it wrong.
You need to have a chat with Quinton Byfield then
Byfield scored .63 PPG in the AHL as an 18 year old.
Since then he’s suffered a broken ankle, Covid and recently an illness that cost him 6 NHL games and 20 pounds.
As it is, he is a year younger than Holloway.
He will be back in the NHL once his conditioning returns.
And none of that equals in severity to a non healing scaphoid fracture
So one player dealing with severe injuries forcing him to play in Ahl is toiling in the Ahl if they are an Oilers player but another player dealing with injuries forcing him to play in Ahl is completely acceptable
got it!!!
Should of taken the German Byfield has cement hands.
We love you anyway, HH.
This man suffers from a bad heart.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=duVLf48NIUw
Leon D,
2015-16 Condors, 6GP, 2Pts. -5
what a bust.
You really need to revisit your post history from last years can’t miss 0.5 ppg in Ahl kings prospects posts
Ah yes, your mythical aging curves; where some meander and others merely marinate.
Many of them in two WHOLE games!
Looks like you didn’t watch him play.
But hard to put up points without a working wrist
But he completely dominated play
Or I watched roughly 15 or so games and I’ve followed the AHL and our prospects long enough to know .65 points per game isn’t exactly the kind of offence that screams bonafide top 6 producer straight out of the box.
That 4th quarter and OT of vikes bills was some of the best footballing out there
Don’t get the negatives but watch the highlights. It’s like a weekly top 10 list in one game. Diggs catch would be contender for play of the year if Jefferson didn’t out do him 20 min later
Summarizing!
Petrov finished with the singular helper and 4 SOG as North Bay’s rally fell short in losing 4-3.
Prospecting takes a break until Tuesday.
It took until the third period for it to happen, but Petrov draws a (secondary) helper to extend his point streak to 14 games:
https://twitter.com/OHLBattalion/status/1591900966617772032?cxt=HHwWgMDTjdbfyJcsAAAA
“Olivier Rodrigue is playing the best hockey of his pro career right now.”
Now ONE Oilers goalie pick turning into an NHL competent tender is amazing, but TWO?
Cheering for Rodrigue to keep having a great season.
I’ve been down on Rodrigue recently but am seeing him him real good this season. Watched one game vs. Henderson last Friday where the Condors were up 3-1 in the third, took a penalty & then a double minor 4 seconds apart, & he slammed the door for the entire 1:56 + 2:00 that followed. Final score, 3-1 & in the end a comfortable win, but Rodrigue put out the fire before it got started. He was first star & deserved it.
Saw Kostin good in that game as well.
PS: Lowetide mentions the 44 draft picks Oilers have spent on goalies over their 44 years of NHL drafts. I’ll point out that just 12 of the 44 were taken in the top 100 of their draft. Hey lookit! Guys like Stu Skinner (#84) & Ollie Rodrigue (#62) seem to be better prospects than the likes of Tyler Bunz (#121) Dylan Wells (#123), Olivier Roy (#133) or old Lowetide favourite Keven Bouchard (#183).
Whether that’s true talent shining through or some truly lame scouting in the lower rounds is a matter of conjecture. I’ll default to “a bit of both”.
In 2004 NHL draft Pekka Rinne was taken 258th. In a redraft, he would have easily gone in the 1st round. Maybe the secret is late picks go overseas to find gems.
There is no secret. Late draft picks are lottery tickets.
Yikes! 0-6 I guess my eyes weren’t lying. Time to be concerned about Bouchard. All arrows down this year with the exception of 1 or two nice outlet passes. Oilers need him and Broberg to turn to be top 4 guys and right now one is in the minors and the other is a goal leaking machine who looks lost in his end.
The Oilers sure aren’t blessed with any two way studs after drafting so many D
Bouch and Bro will probably be pretty good, but not top level. Both are passive, Bouch doesn’t have the ‘defending gene’ or top level mobility, Bro doesn’t have the natural hockey IQ, not sure about Bouch with that yet
They will both get better
No Sieder or Guhle in our bunch though, they’re already miles ahead of of our two
He definitely could use a strong veteran defensive presence
Bouchard had a strong veteran presence last season in first-ballot hall of famer Duncan Keith … but no one in Oiler land could appreciate it. Bouchard has had enough time to figure out – his mobility is fine, it’s his pace that’s slow both in the defensive end and in the offensive one. This has been the knock on him since juniors.
They really need a RD like that, but given KH’s MO we can hope for a solid LD for playoffs hopefully to push Kulak to 3rd where he’s a really strong option, and Murray and the rooks to injury back ups
In the interest of going as far as possible. I don’t see anyone below Kulak good enough or getting far enough this season to be strong enough in the final 4 should they be so forutnate
Bro is in the minors from injury which involved slicing his own hand and a rib injury in preseason.
Bouch needs to contribute more but has 118 games to his name. Still very much a sophomore. Lots of players slump when asked to take on more and the other side has film to pick apart (and you lose your HOF partner). He’ll adapt, very smart player. Shutdown d will never be his calling card imo. Good, that’s what the Rusty’s are for.
This is not a 2-1 team. There will be goals.
Is it time to be concerned about Bouchard?
Bouchard is 0-5 playing with Murray and 0-1 playing with Ceci. Otherwise, he is 50% GF on the year. Me thinks the issue is not Bouchard but rather the lack of depth at LHD.
He is also getting trampled by the pdo pony. Brutal ONSV% and S%.
Sometimes you get trampled by the PDO pony because you gave it free rein to buck away.
We know that skaters own some of their SH% and some of their on ice SV% but we don’t know how much and likely it is a moving target regardless.
Edit: I suspect that with a large enough sample and when the numbers are outside of one sigma, the player needs to be looked at.
No, no it is not.
That is all.
Bouch was absolutely brutal in Carolina. I gave him a player grade commensurate with his new sweater #.
We had him 0-6 in contributions to Grade A shots in that game alone.
Matej Blumel scores his first NHL goal with the Dallas Stars.
I would like to know the real reason he’s not in the Oilers organization as he vaults past Yamamoto in the Goals scored race.
On pace for 40😀
All kidding aside, Dallas is doing an amazing job of incorporating young players.
In today’s lineup.
Wyatt Johnson 19
Ty Dellandrea 22
Matej Blumel 22
Nils Lundqvist 22
Jason Robertson 23
Miro Heiskanen 23
Jake Oettinger 23
still can’t believe they burried Otter behind 3 veterans last season. They are Lucky he didn’t demand a trade
And they still have a cap charge of more than $2 million buried penalty for Khudobin.
Nill must have been concerned Oettinger wasn’t ready.
They draft who they want at the specific position then play their youth. The league has become much younger by the time these players are 18 they have been playing systematic hockey for at least 10 years.
Might have wanted out, or somebody did a stupid
If I had to hazard a quess someone forgot which year it was where he would become free to sign with any club. If he lights it up and scores 20-25 does Holland still get his statue beside Wayne’s?
Brad Holland forgot what year it was? Not a damn chance, no sir.
someone somewhere fucked up on that one.
It’s possible someone fucked up.
It’s possible the player decided he didn’t want to sign at that point.
It’s possible the team chose not to sign the player.
We don’t know which one occurred. Relevant information we have is that:
-the player did not sign with the Oilers
-the player didn’t sign with another team until a year later
-he looked like a player who would be offered an ELC
-But he did not look like an obvious European UFA signing until his 2022 World Championship performance (after which he did sign with Dallas).
Yup, thank you for reiterating this – I’ve received vitriol for over-posting it.
Blumel didn’t sign anywhere for a year after he became an NHL UFA.
If the Oilers’ “forgot” then it seems 31 other teams were also in the dark.
This is a ridiculous assumption.
That is a ridiculous assumption but the presumption that Holland and his team just forgot about a looming deadline is reasonable?
JP posted the relevant facts – if the Oilers just “forgot”, why didn’t another one of the 31 teams sign the guy when he became a UFA.
If he wanted to sign in the NHL, well, 31 other teams dropped the ball just as much as the Oilers did.
Judging by Holland and not giving into Jesse’s agent for a trade a few years back why would he just let Blumel who was tracking well overseas walk for nothing. It just doesn’t add up everyone makes mistakes and I think this is what happened.
It’s possible, but Holland couldn’t have control over the Blumel situation.
Puljujarvi was an RFA and could not sign with another NHL team for 5(?) more season at that point. He chose to play in Finland for one year, then chose to return to the Oilers rather than continue to play in Finland.
With Blumel, all the team can do is offer him a contract (we don’t know whether that was done or not). He can chose to sign it, or chose not to sign it. If he chooses not to sign it (or if no contract offer is extended) he becomes a UFA, which is what happened.
The only leverage Holland had in the Blumel situation was to offer him a better entry level contract (ie – bonuses like a 1st rounder usually gets). Not at all comparable to the Puljujarvi situation.
There could have been a mistake, but we simply don’t know (and to my knowledge neither the player or the organization has stated whether an offer was extended or not).
Don’t they make it public if a player is offered a ELC. This is a unique situation this isn’t a College kid playing the loophole game like Schultz and Fox. You would think Blumel would jump over the moon if he was offered a ELC by Edmonton. This makes me think he was offered diddly squat by the Oilers which then makes the $164 question is why not??
The other 31 teams decided not to offer him a contract either?
There are various potential reasons why the player may not have wanted to sign an NHL contract at the time his initial rights were expiring – which I’ve expressed before.
We’ve been down this road before, but the reasons for Edmonton not signing him are no longer the point. They blew it. THAT’S the point.
We have been down this road before and we disagree. I really don’t understand why you only provide this counter when I bring up a differing view but not others. Others brought up that differing view (that lines up with mine) in this thread but its only me that gets the response.
It doesn’t matter – of any day to not go any further on some thing, today is that day.
It’s because you remind me of me, OP. I used to say the same things, but after a time realized teams do make mistakes and not recognizing it is a mistake.
I’ve looked long and hard into Blumel, and can say with authority he was playing well enough to land a contract before Edmonton lost his rights. The only curio in his development time line was a commitment to University of Connecticut that didn’t happen. The overwhelming evidence suggests the Oilers either misread the due date on a contract offer or the scouts/GM didn’t believe in him. Neither is a good look. His 2020-21 season was a good one. Should have signed him in 2021 spring or earlier.
Ok, but I don’t agree with your opinion on what the evidence suggests (and various others don’t agree with it other, I”m not on an island here).
The evidential facts are:
1) his play was worth of an NHL contract (although that is subjective I guess, not quite a “fact”
2) the Oilers didn’t sign him prior to them losing his exclusive rights.
3) he became an NHL UFA
4) none of the the 32 teams signed him for the following season.
Given 1, 4 seems odd and, for me, the evidence suggests the player wanted another year of control of his development back at home likely making more money than riding buses in Bakersfield (or similar).
If he wanted an NHL contract, well, 32 teams dropped the ball then, I guess.
Yes. If only the Oilers hadn’t drafted him, this entire problem would go away.
Pretty certain they don’t make ELC offers public.
Tons of players don’t sign ELCs. What we don’t know is which ones were offered and declined to sign vs. which ones weren’t offered ELCs (presumably most weren’t offered a deal, but we do know that some players chose not to sign).
Another thing is that an ELC isn’t a ton of guaranteed money unless a player is expected to play in the NHL (which wouldn’t have been the case for Blumel). Pretty sure he’d be able to make similar money back home (~$150k/yr) as he would playing in the AHL. Signing an ELC in that situation wouldn’t be a shoe-in.
I don’t think there’s a smoking gun here.
He also would have been making far less than $150K in the AHL on his ELC. Unless I’m mistaken, there are limits on the AHL portion of an ELC.
I was including signing bonus plus AHL salary in the ~$150k number.
Time to run with Skinner.
campbell needs a reset
4 games in 6 days through the giants of the southeast and coming out 2-2 is a good result for any team let alone for a team that is clearly working through some issues
I would send Holloway down. He needs to put some pucks in a net. I want to develop a top 6 player and not a Podkolzin type
Skinner had a great game yesterday. He was square to the puck gobbled up the rebounds and had the post & crossbar as his ally. I’m still bullish on Campbell he’ll find his game, in the meantime I think Woody will go with the hot-handed Skinner the next 2 home games against our divisional foes. Give Skinner the next 2 than start Campbell in Jersey this is what I would do anyhow.
Each goalie went 1-1-0 with an outstanding game in the state of Florida & a tough time further up the coast.
While true. But one goalie is -10 GSAA the other is +6.6 for the season.
I lean this way. Wins are nice, but it’s obvious Campbell is struggling hard by eye, and his own words. I’m all about the playoffs these days, need two solid goalers, we have one at the moment
Yeah I know. But sometimes the narrative is at odds with small number statistics & that’s when I can have a little fun.
e.g. Before yesterday’s game I said to my wife, “Egads! Campbell has given up 9 goals in his last 2 games! Skinner on the other hand has limited his opponents to just 9 goals in *his* last 2 games!! Clearly Stu is the undisputed #1 !!!”
Takeaway: team defence is a concern.
It’s nice to have the discussion of whether a young player needs some more seasoning. I’m not worried about the confidence of a Holloway, he’s too fast and skilled to not have an NHL career.
What is best is that during the dark years I’d guess:
Holloway – would never get sent down because who’s better on the roster? No fun Belanger? Lennart Petrell? That, or Pat Quinn would have stapled him to the bench forever and he’d end up in another city and playing 1000 games. A demotion could be justified based on there being more effective players right now. That used to never be the case. (Imagine sending down Yakupov to learn a 200 foot game when the alternative is Will Acton).
Skinner – would have been handed the starters role not on merit but because he was better than the fossil they trotted out (eg.Khabibulin) and there was no other option. If Campbell ends up the backup you don’t like the contract but that’s a problem of success not failure imo. Also goalie depth is essential in this league. Ask the Habs without Price.
Broberg – would be considered a bust. He’s gotten some flack but if an 8th overall wasnt in the NHL regularly by now in the past, we’d be calling for Kevin Lowe’s head. Zegras was the pick and it was a reach but giant lightning D don’t grow on trees. NHL D is really hard.
We have depth, we can slow play guys as per Holland’s MO and not cost us standings points. I know this is a huge apologist post but credit where it’s due. If the young guys aren’t ready, that doesn’t mean the season is a wrap. Less HOPE, more growth.
To me that’s immense progress.
Engaras was the pleasant surprise of the preseason for me.
I didn’t expect much from him but he sure does a lot of things right. Dogged. Smart. Engaged. It’s like the play is never quite dead when he’s near the puck. His penchant for takeaways when you don’t expect it was a treat. Solid on the dot. Otherwise fairly vanilla.
Could be a solid Marty Reasoner or Rem “the Gem” Murray fourth line centre type in a few years. Which would be a home run for a 6th round pick (#169, 2020).
It’s possible, but you might want to go check out Murray and Reasoner’s college and early pro numbers to temper expectations slightly.
Totally fair, and I’m not making any bold predictions. But the similarity I see is the expectation of steady play with a touch of opportunism.
Oh yeah I see the similarity, and hopefully it turns out. Just noting there’s a gap in where the players are at age 23.
ChiaPete gets his share of scorn and derision, deservedly so. But he was also instrumental in turning around the drafting and development of this organization.
I was telling Ma Kettle the tale of the consecutive drafts where they traded up for goalies they liked. And how it’s showing dividends now, with up arrows for both prospects.
Perhaps the most underrated thing Pistol Pete did was reorganizing the Oil Kings, which went from a team in the WHL to a solid, perennial contender. I can recall Jason Gregor railing against Chiarelli “wasting his time,” conducting the interviews himself. Glad to see that wasn’t the case after all.
And how does the Oil Kings situation benefit the NHL team?
If the Jr team is rotten it’s a symptom of dysfunction within the organization in general.
Having a solid network of scouts, coaches, and staff to draw upon for intel or promotion is a boon for the big club. I don’t know for sure, but I wouldn’t be surprised if that wasn’t a factor in the progress made at drafting and development for EDM. The timelines sure do overlap.
Happy to see it didn’t result in the kind of fixation that produced the Mitch Moroz pick and Reinhart trade (Chia’s error, but someone sold him on it).
Maybe being ‘in the room’ mitigated those kind of tunnel vision, fanboy moves. maybe the people Chia had in charge of procurement were just better.
Meanashell, on an unrelated note, and sorry if I missed this, anything interesting to report from being in the arena last night and are you going to tell us how little you paid for the tickets? Thanks dude.
I actually was side swiped and went down hard on my vespa last Thursday and am very beat up. From my toes to my head (yes I know, wear a helmet!) it is one large bruise and road rash! Never even got out of bed yesterday, today is slightly better! WRT tickies, I bought two tickets in the lower bowl, end the Oilers shoot twice at, row 21 Sec 114, $34 each. Gave them to friends!
BTW, original face value was $59!
Hope you’re on the mend.
Look forward to your game report next year. Or in June 😉
Yikes, feel better soon mate.
Thanks everyone. The first day I did not think it was that bad but by Friday afternoon I may as well have been hit by a train. Each day whatever hurt the most the day before felt better but something new felt bad. My hip is just now starting to get feeling and I know it will be horrible tomorrow. I did do some shopping for a helmet this afternoon!
Get well soon!
I was hit from behind at work in September and I tried to keep working, but I was not 100%. I had whiplash and thought I just had a sore neck. On Thanksgiving I went to Emergency and and was diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome. I recall another poster went through something like this about a year ago. It is not a fun journey.
I hope you don’t have any concussion concerns, it doesn’t take much to rattle the noggin, especially if you’ve had a few knocks to the cranium in the past. For me this would be number twelve.
The Oil Kings turned around when they took the responsbility for the team away from Chiarelli. The Oil Kings won a MemCup, and then became shambles after Chiarelli arrived.
Is that accurate, godot? Petey hired Kirt Hill as POHO and GM in 2018. Since then the team has enjoyed a turnaround that Oilers fans could only dream of.
Source: https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/kirt-hill-named-oil-kings-president-of-hockey-operations-and-general-manager/n-5357897
Source: https://oilkings.ca/presidentofhockeyoperationsandgeneralmanager/
That is when they took the job of managing the Oil Kings away from Chiarelli. Hill replaced Chiarelli as POHO of the Oil Kings, I believe.
When Chiarelli was POHO of the OIl Kings from 2015 to 2018, they were freaking awful.
An important omission on your part. The Oil Kings won the Memorial Cup 2 seasons before Chiarelli was hired. Most of their championship roster left after the 2014 title, but the team squeaked into the playoffs in 2015 in large part because Jarry was still there but gone when Chiarelli took over. He inherited an already bad team at the start of 15 so no, he did not run a championship team into the ground since they were already headed there when he arrived.
And who is the “they” that took away Chiarelli’s job with the Oil Kings. Chiarelli interviewed Hill, hired him and led the press conference introducing him. Any suggestion on your part that Chiarelli wasn’t the primary decision maker on the move is pure speculation on your part.
Not having any luck finding who was POHO of the EOK during 2015-2018 right now, but I will note that they added the following players (who would turn out quite well) during that tenure:
What I can find via the team’s website is that during the 2015 to 2017 period the GM was Randy Hansch.
My original point was that it was Pete himself who hired Hill, and thus turned around the organization. Like I stated first thing, he has earned his share of scorn and derision. But the things he did well should also be acknowledged, and this is the one (in my opinion) that gets the least overall acknowledgement. I’d also imagine he had his hands full during the first three years with the parent club, and the AHL team too, so it’s not surprising that the Jr club didn’t get the attention it deserved until later.
The Oil Kings got Jake Neighbours, Dylan Guenther, and Sebastian Cossa because they were a raging tire fire in 2016-17 and 2017-18, and ended up with superhigh picks in the midget draft. And the attendence collapsed.
Hill got a decent coach and got overagers and imports who could actually play contribute, or Guenther and Neighbours would have been Hall and Eberle. Hill actually acquired goaltenders who could stop the puck somewhat until Cossa was ready.
The overagers, the vets who were traded for, and the imports were awful during the Chiarelli era as POHO of the Oil Kings.
What is going on with the Oilers depth forwards? the 3~ million dollar men have combined for 2 goals and 9 points so far. Brutal.
Yamo has looked less than 100%. Maybe an excuse.
I remember my high school basketball coach telling me “you have to at least be a threat to score sometimes”. Need to start putting up missing person posters for JP and Foegele.
Foegele? The guy who scored the GWG last night?
I’d like to see if he can parlay that into some momentum before ordering milk cartons with his photo. He’s definitely been getting chances prior, unlike the other two.
Yes, Foegele. The guy is on pace for 16 points…
That’s why they play the games.
Guys get hot and cold, and projections fall by the wayside.
Foegele Will outscore Yamo this year who up until recently recieved more minutes then Warren. When’s the last time we seen a Goal from the 2nd line as nice as the one Leon and Warren mustered up for the winner yesterday. Should of traded Yamo when he had value, right? Warren stock at least is going up 20 more games like the 2 in Florida and he becomes a positive stock player.
3 goals*
Maybe a legitimate shot playing with Draisaitl will up the pace to 40 points, Those other 2 have had plenty of opportunity.
In the last <checks> one game..
A 6 goal pace with Draisaitl prior to that one game *
(*Rough estimate based on Foegele’s 1 goal in 150 minutes with Draisaitl before yesterday afternoon.)
I’m in the keep Holloway up camp. We have the cap room, he’s going to gain experience working on his game with and around NHL players.
Feels like the floodgates will come crashing open when it all clicks for him.
Would rather have him up a bit longer than yoyo him up and down. Let’s see how Benson looks before making a decision on Holloway.
Ryan Smyth had 2 Goals in 48 games in his 1st season. He didnt play great but got used to rhe NHL pace. The following season he got 39 Goals.
I keep Holloway up and he keeps learning the NHL game. It should pay dividends after Xmas.
Also Janmark will help lines 3 or 4. He is a good NHL player
V interesting. There is something to be said for surviving as a pro. I personally think 20 min as a 1st line player in the A is better than 6 min on the 4th line. But maybe he just needs 30 at bats playing pro pace. I dont think there is a clear answer here.
Holloway will get away with everything he is not getting away with if he is sent to the AHL. What Holloway has to learn and overcome can only be done at the NHL level. Sending him to the AHL will not hurt him, but will not change the fact that the growing pains of an impact player at the NHL level can only be delayed, not avoided.
I would keep Holloway up and play him and live with through the growing pains so he is ready for the playoffs.
Sending him down, one is putting him in the next year’s man camp, where Broberg now is.
Holloway will dominate at the AHL level, but it won’t eliminate the growing pains he is experiencing now when he is brought back.
This is far too black and white an outlook for my tastes.
Ryan Smyth played 48 games for a team that had 66 points and finished 21st in a 26 team league. That was after finishing 22nd the season before. Unlike with those Oilers, Holland is trying to win now. He needs to have the best players on the roster to secure a playoff spot.
As others have mentioned, McLeod, Yamamoto, Nurse and Draisaitl went back to the AHL for short periods and returned to the Oilers as better players.
Well if Yamamoto is the bar set, may as well keep Hollaway up!
I kid, I kid!!!!
Since you brought Yamamoto up…
At the same age as Holloway he was playing his 2nd partial season in the AHL (0.67 p/g in his first; Holloway was 0.67 p/g last season).
After Xmas of that season Yamamoto was called up and had an immediate impact (scoring 26 points in 27 games) and helping Draisaitl to Hart and Art Ross Trophies.
There’s good arguments on both sides of this debate.
Yamamoto is not a impact player like Holloway. Holloway is high event at the NHL level, because he is attempting to drive the play. Yamamoto doesn’t drive the play. Holloway has to learn what is possible at the NHL level. He cannot learn that in the AHL.
I agree that some of the things Holloway needs to learn are best done in the NHL.
I don’t agree Holloway has nothing else that can be learned in the AHL.
I also don’t agree that Holloway (and Broberg) playing in the AHL this fall necessary sets their timelines back to next year.
For making an impact in the playoffs it does.
We’ll have to agree to disagree on that one.
A Stanley Cup winning team does not employ a fulltime top sixer that has a Yamo in it. He just doesn’t bring enough to the table. He used to draw a lot of penalties because of his weakness but the Refs or onto that strategy and now he just takes a beating with no results. Play him down in the batting order where he belongs with more fresh air.
Nuge stats:
16GP 8G 9A 17P
Barely passable stats for a 3rd line centre right Mr.Hrudey?
PS: whoever said he was on pace for 49 points last night made me snort in my coffee.
I would rather see crusty the clown on that panel than hrudey…might be slightly less biased
I can’t believe he hasn’t been replaced McLean and Hrudey are untouchables.
That was Victoria Oil!
Yes that was me. I was worried that that joke is getting old, but I guess not.
never!
It ages like a fine wine, from Joe Colborne’s vineyard.
Who called Hrudey out on that again?
Engaras is a gamer, a heart and soul player, just simply a solid teammate. I’ve watched him closely the past 3 seasons, he’s had a very odd path just to get to the AHL. He is extremely responsible (he plays the game the right way) and he is an ace in the dot. A 2-goal game may be the only of his pro career.
Long way to go for him and clearly is seen as a “D” prospect in the organization, but I can see him scratch and claw his way to an NHL contract in 2 years, but offense will never be his calling card.
Let me put it this way, if Greg McKegg can play his way to multiple NHL contracts, there is a path for Engaras, a RHS face off man who has played in all situations. He will be a fascinating follow and this is the type of player I cheer like hell for.
R.I.P. Keith Levene; of Public Image ltd and The Clash.
Well that sucks.
Double sucks….
I recall you said that you were an early PIL fan. How exactly did that happen?
Amazing how Public Image had so much of a longer career than the Pistols. Hats off to John Lydon and RIP Keith.
Thank you for that great response.
I started watching the Akbars match just past the halfway point of the game. They had a 3-2 lead and through the period and a half I watched had most of the zone possession, but they give up two goals in the 3rd off horrible giveaways.
Watching the highlight package at the game’s end, it appears Yevseyev got an assist on Voynov’s goal. A simple pass along the blue line to his partner, who took two steps towards the top of the circle and blew a slapshot past the Avangard goalie.
On the game winner for Avangard, off a giveaway at the Avangard blue line, his partner was caught deep, as was the rest of the Ak Bars unit, leaving Yeseyev on an island. He took the middle of the ice as a two on one was developing, but Broadhurts, the puck carrier and goal scorer, hung onto it and drove the zone. Yeseyev valiantly tried to get over and make a sliding block but it was a second too late, Broadhurst elevated a wrister well, beating the Ak Bars goalie.
I was mostly watching to see what kind of player he is and what kind of TOI he is getting up at the KHL level. This, btw, is extremely fast hockey. Much faster than Junior and a little faster than the AHL I’d say. He did look young out there but poised. Needs to assert himself a little more though. He is very mobile in all four directions, pivots well, has good size but needs his man strength.
Coach had him out for the last minute of the second period which resulted in him getting turnstiled on the play I mentioned in the prior day’s thread. He was getting third pairing minutes to my eye, which got nicked a little once the game was tied with half a period to play, but he did still see the ice after that.
Yup, scorer has Yevseyev with the assist on the goal. He now has his first apple along with his four goals on the season.
KHL is the second best league in the world, has been for some time.
Yes we all know, but that doesn’t tell us much. I can say after watching this morning, that one of the reasons is sheer speed of play. There’s more physicality in the A, but man these Russkie teams are lightning.
Appreciate the updates, he will be fun to continue to follow and is way ahead of schedule based on his regular KHL time at his age.
Yevseyev’s season is a MASSIVE up arrow – just being in the KHL as an 18 year old, let alone getting some legit minutes and then producing, as a d-man….. this is epic.
It truly is. I was really surprised he wasn’t completely overwhelmed out there. He’s at the edge of his ability and his minutes were managed, but I suspect if he had been a N. American boy, he likely would’ve went no lower than the 3rd round.
Whoever’s responsible for that pick also deserves a good steak!
I wasn’t able to watch, but that’s an important win to even up a tough road trip.
I like Warren Foegele, I cheer for Foggy more than I do for Jesse. He is only 26 years old and has a history of 10-15 goals a year, so there is not as much cement in his hands as others make it out to believe. He has the same motor that Hyman has, and perhaps a little tougher outer. I truly believe this could be his breakout year and can and can put up 20 and 20 if he keeps playing with Drai. He will never have a better chance to prove himself than right now with the Kane injury.
Agree on the motor. Hyman lite for sure but 15 goals a year is absolutely acceptable 3rd line play.
Definitely, and if they move him up they have a good plug and play option in Janmark, who’s hit 15 or more from that spot in the lineup on a couple occasions.
I don’t disagree generally but, if we are talking about goal-scoring history, I did want to point out that Foegele has maxed out at 13 goals (and 12 once and 10 twice) while Jesse has 14 and 15 goals the last two years.
Yes, Jesse has probably played “higher in the lineup” in that time than Foegele but Jesse has that 20 goal ability, based on NHL history, every bit as much as Foegele. Of course, Foegele seems to do it “more traditionally” in his style that Jesse.
Jesse and Yams for that matter have had plenty at bats in the top six with less than stellar results, let’s give Foggy 20 games.
Lets not forget that Foegele DID get plenty of at bats in the top 6 mid-season last year and it did not go well.
He had 128 minutes with McDavid and they scored a grand total of one goal (only 1 against s well).
In just her 130 minutes with Drai, they scored 5 and gave up 6.
Foegele can fill in OK for a few games here or there but I don’t think he’ll be any more effective over time in the top 6 than the other $3MM men….
Before everyone kills Campbell and annoints Skinner. Look to Boston for the Swayman and ullmark tandem. Good example of having a higher priced vet who can be the 1A/B if needed. Last year Swayman outdated Ullmark. This year it’s Ullmark carrying the load. This is a two goalie league. And when the season settles by the new year I expect both goalies to playing equally and then run the hot one into playoffs. That’s ideal and having Skinner at a cheap deal means our goalies combined cost less then $6 million. Which is ideal compared to most teams.
As long as one is hot at any given time, all good! Have to take salary out of the equation. Gretz is right, the effects of changing teams and all that comes with that, it can take a while to adjust. Some players are quicker to adjust than others, lets be supportive here and put the axes away (a general comment to all those looking to burn Campbell).
I felt that Kostin played the body a couple of times and wrt Holloway, just keep him up. He will learn nothing in the AHL and keeping him in the NHL line up will pay dividends later in the season. By the way, who is better that you can bring up to replace him?
I am a huge Holloway fan, but he has been playing pro games for less than a calendar year. Holland stated that he wasn’t going to be on the roster to be a benchwarmer, but he is.
Benson is about to be reactivated, so I can see Holloway getting sent down as a result. I’d like to see him get more time on ice, but that won’t be happening with the Oil at this time, unless the game is out of hand.
He’s now lived and learned, so if he gets 20 AHL games, when he comes back he will be better prepared to contribute. I think his presence in Bakersfield might also help Broberg, given Holloway’s positive energy and work ethic. It seems that the two of them are good friends and so it might help him to turn things around.
I don’t see this as anything but a benefit for his development. The Condors are also on a roll, so that is an even better situation.
I don’t disagree with most of this.
They are trying to give him some good minutes, i.e. starting him on the 2nd line, but he’s been “earning” his demotions down the lineup (and, others, i.e. Foegele, have been earning the move up the lineup).
From accounts, yes, Benson will be activated this coming week but they can do so without a corresponding move. They’ve got 22 on the roster right now with like $4MM of current space. They can activate Benson and keep Holloway.
I think he’s better than Benson.
I think there may be a few players on the farm better than Benson.
I have never doubted the raw talent or skill that Holloway has shown on NHL ice. Tyler Benson’s ability has little impact on Holloway.
The question is, is Holloway benefiting more sitting on an NHL bench for more than 50 minutes per night and playing sheltered minutes with lesser skilled linemates. Or is his development better served playing ~20 minutes per night on AHL ice in all situations with the top linemates on the roster?
To me it is not about today (2022-23), it is about tomorrow (later in the season and beyond)….
I’d keep Holloway up for a while longer, personally, but agree that what best for his development is essentially the only relevant question at this stage in the season.
If playing Benson means sending Holloway down, I keep Holloway.
It doesn’t though – the Oilers have 22 on the current roster and apx $4MM of (temporary) cap space. They could activate Benson and keep Holloway.
To be fair to Benson, he looked quicker and looked like a more effective player in pre-season games. He could surprise, that ship has not sailed quite yet…
He did a nice job creating chaos in front of the net on the first Barrie goal. Some size on the flanks is going to be useful against Vegas and others. Replacing Kane’s offence is going to have to come by committee, but I’m sure Kostin knows that he’ll get some runway and his time is now.
I really liked his game and he was not shy out there. It was a quiet game but I saw some smart little things that were positive.
There isn’t anyone that is necessarily “better” than Holloway but, its also about what’s better for the long term development of the player.
I don’t disagree that he may be at the stage where he’s best served learning in the NHL but, at the same time, if he continues to make multiple mistakes per game leading to high danger chances (and goals) against, there comes a point where he does need to go down.
So far, he’s not really learning the lessons about taking care of the puck between the blue lines – he’s making the same type of mistakes nightly.
Some more rope, for sure, but it can’t be indefinite if he continues to do the same things.
Ryan McLeod got sent down for a 2-week re-set early last season, right?
It doesn’t matter but can’t help but wonder had the Oilers given Skinner enough of a look last year to feel confident he could be a starter this year, would Kiskinen have taken 1.5 million or so to play every 4tth game? I somehow think that would have been a potentially workable duo for ~2 million. Risky, but the remainder coud have paid for a Keith replacement and we’d be humming. But they never wanted to play Skinner once Smith returned…
Koskinen? There were better UFAs out there last year that signed for cheap.
Most wanted to find a way to get Skinner more starts but, at the same time, when Smith returned, he was literally the best goalie in the league for 6-8 weeks and the team was trying to win a Stanley Cup – hard to not play the goalie on the league’s best heater, right?
And it almost worked.
Prospectrola!
The spotlight shines upon Matvey Petrov, he who leads his Battalion in goals (9) and assists (13) and has points in 13 straight games entering today. Can he run it to 14 against a sub-.500 opponent in Kitchener? We wait.
Puck drop is at high noon St. Vincent time (the hamlet, not the musician).
I have seen the sign to St. Vincent coming into St. Paul many times… never once did I take that turn, lol.
My Aunt was born there, but grew up in BC. Regardless, I’ve heard about the place all my life (she’s a prodigious talker, lol).
It was on the route of the old Dayliner trip from Cold Lake to Edmonton.