Department of Youth

by Lowetide
Evan Bouchard photo by Bruce McCurdy

Everyone knew regression was coming, but it was fun to see Evan Bouchard find the net just the same. The fact he did it twice, keying a frantic comeback and a key early season victory, had to be sweet after such a difficult start to the season. The Oilers needed the points, and need more from the final three games of November, but that was a big one against tough odds.

THE ATHLETIC!

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 1-1-0)
  • On the road to: NJD, NYI, NYR (Expected (1-1-1) (Actual 1-2-0)
  • 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: 5-7-0, 10 points in 12 games
  • October results: 6-3-0, 12 points in 9 games
  • Oilers in 2022-23: 11-10-0, 22 points in 21 games

The Oilers can salvage November but would need to sweep the games against Florida and Chicago. It’s a tall order. If Edmonton won the final games of November, the team’s record would be 13-10-0, 26 points in 23 games. That’s a 93-point pace and that should be enough to get the team into the playoffs. Important games ahead, the Oilers need to put some daylight between themselves and several other teams in the Western conference with similar records.

SUMMARY

  • Leon Draisaitl scored the GWG, three shots, three HDSC, took a penalty and drew one. Great and creative pass to Puljujarvi for a 10-bell chance. He was 0-1 goals but 65 percent expected goals at five-on-five. Edmonton’s best players are having a weird month at five-on-five. He is less than 100 percent. Won just two of eight and perhaps that is a clue about his current injury.
  • Connor McDavid picked up an assist, three shots, won 10 of 12 in the faceoff dot. McDavid is due for a large game, week or month of five-on-five scoring. Bet against him. I dare you!
  • Jesse Puljujarvi ignited the comeback with a clever pass to Bouchard for his first goal. He had one shot, two high danger chances and looked effective no matter where he played. If you didn’t see the pass, check it out. Fabulous. He also made a fantastic defensive play late in the game. Unique and misunderstood player.
  • Mattias Janmark took a penalty and has been a little vanilla offensively of later. I wonder if he moves down the depth chart on the next shuffle. Holloway is pushing.
  • Ryan Nugent-Hopkins‘ pass to Draisaitl on the winning goal was a thing of beauty. Three high danger chances, worked hard and smart as always. An underrated player.
  • Zach Hyman had three shots and blocked a shot. That’s the lowest number of checked boxes in a scoring summary since Hyman arrived. Even with the lack of offensive success, he skated miles and made life miserable for the Rangers.
  • Warren Foegele had an assist, four shots, drew a penalty. He’s a rambunctious winger, kind of a throwback type. I could see him scoring 20 on an expansion team in the mid-70s, kind of like Garnet Bailey when he played for the Washington Capitals. He had one hellacois hit early, and another issue late. One hopes he’s fine.
  • Ryan McLeod had three assists and is now on track to finish with 12-19-31 boxcars. He had two shots on goal and seemed to be everywhere. His lines were 2-1 five-on-five goals, but it was actually Foegele-McLeod-Holloway that did all the good damage. That was his second three-point game, the other being 2-1-3 versus Arizona Coyotes on March 28, 2022.
  • Dylan Holloway scored his first NHL goal and it was a beauty. He also contributed to a couple of other goals and may have saved his NHL job with an excellent effort. His defensive acumen was also on display and he makes great decisions with the puck even when the offensive options are limited.
  • Brad Malone had two takeaways, four hits and was solid on the dot.
  • Derek Ryan had two shots, worked hard on the PK and was quiet offensively.
  • Klim Kostin didn’t get much ice time, he had one shot and took a penalty. There are still jobs available, but on this night he wasn’t among the nine best men available.
  • Darnell Nurse had two shots, two blocks, one takeaway and a giveaway. Played a team high 25 minutes, managing the game in his ‘bend, don’t break’ style. He was less passive than in recent games, the result being 2-1 goals at five-on-five when he was on the ice.
  • Cody Ceci made a poor pass intended for Darnell Nurse that began the sequence that led to the Kreider goal. Also had two giveaways. One shot (HDSC).
  • Brett Kulak had a shot on goal, a giveaway and two shot blocks. Played 20 minutes and had an expected goal share of 59.9 percent. That’s a solid outing for the veteran.
  • Tyson Barrie missed the puck along the wall in the Rangers end, and that miscue led directly to the Gauthier goal. Took exactly one forever to get back to the Oilers net, too. He had four shots, one HDSC, drew a penalty (a mugging in New York!) and had a 60 percent expected goal share.
  • Philip Broberg failed to box out Alexis Lafreniere on the first goal, young defensemen will break your heart but you have to stick with them. He settled in afterward, owned a 66 percent expected goal share and made some deft short passes. Had the puck on the left side along the wall in New York’s zone, and didn’t put enough zip on the pass, resulting in a turnover. He’ll get past that quickly, but a small detail that needs to be cleaned up.
  • Evan Bouchard broke out in a big way, and it was predictable. He’s just too good to fail. Bouchard scored the first two Oilers goals, and is now on pace for 8-23-31 this season. I bet he passes that and hits a big number this season. He didn’t have his stick in the lane on the first goal against, the pass was uncontested and could have been. However, 2-1 goals on the night and an 81 percent goal share is very cool. I’m glad for him.

Jack Campbell won the game, now 7-5-0 on the year despite a 4.04 GAA and an .875 save percentage. The only goal you’d like him to stop was the Kreider item, but he had a Grant Fuhr second half of the game (‘don’t let in the goal that makes a comeback impossible’) and that’s a positive.

CONDORS

I watched much of the Condors game last night, and several names impressed. Olivier Rodrigue was terrific and is now emerging as a legit prospect. He owns a .924 save percentage for the season. Mike Kesselring was his usual self, great passes and also authoring his own sorties into the opposition end. He is a disturber of note, drives opponents crazy. He backed it up last night with a fight, and I think we’re watching him force his way to an NHL look later in the year. Stay healthy, young man! Xavier Bourgault didn’t score but had four shots and is electric as a passer in the offensive zone. He needs a Cooper Marody, and when he finds it the points will come in bunches. I liked Raphael Lavoie’s game, he is slightly more consistent this season and that may help him take that next step.

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OriginalPouzar

UGHHHH (McLeod):

Edmonton Oilers

@EdmontonOilers
·
6m

Kailer Yamamoto placed on IR
Ryan McLeod placed on IR
James Hamblin recalled from the @Condors

Tyler Benson recalled from the @Condors
& activated from IR

OriginalPouzar

I wonder if they move Nuge to 3C or maybe give Holloway a shot there….. probably not Holloway.

OriginalPouzar

Hyman/McDavid/Puljujarvi
Holloway/Drai/Foegele
Janmark/Nuge/Ryan
Benson/Hamblin/Kostin

Shore

????

Paulie

Awful news. 97 and 29 are gonna play 27 minutes tomorrow night.

flyfish1168

RM had an awesome game and now to be out. That is so Oilers. Just hope its nothing serious.

OriginalPouzar

Serious enough that they already know he won’t play the next 4 games at least…..

flyfish1168

Hopefully, Warren is 100% healthy, I wouldn’t be surprised if he isn’t. The 2 of them were so instrumental in yesterday’s win. Who is next up after Hamblin? Xavier

OriginalPouzar

If Foegele can’t play then Shore will get in the lineup.

As far as next forward up, no, I don’t think they’d even think about Bourgault – he’s definitely impactful down there but he’s not close – he need to the year to keep developing at the pro level – maybe a cup of coffee later but I’d be surprised if even.

Griffith, McKegg, Bailey – ya, its getting thin…..

meanashell11

Maybe I just don’t get it but why would they put Yamo on IR when he’s skating and supposedly ready to rejoin the team?

OriginalPouzar

If he’s not ready to play today then it doesn’t hurt as he could come off and be activated for Wed. It opens up a roster spot for tonight.

Of course, given Woody said it was a maintenance day for McLeod and then we was put on IR (so will miss 4 games in the week, min), Woody saying Yamo is close now means essentially nothing.

Tarkus

Summarizing!

Schaefer picked up an assist and 4 SOG in a losing cause.

Münzenberger too had 4 SOG but was held pointless. Määttä was also held off the scoresheet and was only 50% (10-for-20) on the dot.

Prospecting takes a break until Tuesday.

Ryan

Nice game the other day with the dept of youth making some material contributions.

It looks like lots of teams (Toronto and Ottawa) are looking hard for a defenseman, but the market’s really tough.

https://thehockeywriters.com/nhl-rumors-november-25-2022/

What about the Ducks?

Shattenkirk is 33 which mean’s he’s a Holland type guy, right.

Is he still any good?

Too bad both Shattenkirk and Klingberg are righties.

jp

I guess this is the list of the expiring contracts who should be available and conceivably worth acquiring. They range from high end to 7/8D kind of depth. Basically all the expiring contracts from the bottom 10 teams in the league currently (ANA, SJ, CBJ, OTT, CHI, ARI, BUF, PHI, VAN, WSH).

I won’t attempt an analysis, but this is a decent starting point for discussion.

LD
Orlov $5.1M
Gustisbehere $4.5M
Gavrikov $2.8M
Kulikov $2,25M
Nutivaara $1.5M
Holden $1.3M
J. Johnson $950k
Tinordi $900k
Beaulieu $850k
Gustafsson $800k

RD
Klingberg $7.0M
Shattenkirk $3.9M
Harmonic $3.0M
Zub $2.5M
Jensen $2.5M
Stetcher $1.25M
Braun $1.0M
van Riemsdyk $950k
Schenn $850k

BornInAGretzkyJersey

I’d be interested in Gavrikov or Zub.

I’ve been keen on Zub since we saw a lot of the Sens playing in the Canadian division.

jp

Yeah, agree those two are good options and not too pricey. I have a hard time seeing a RD add that high on the food chain though. Would require trading one of the incumbent RD, and I don’t think we’re likely to see that (and of course LD is the bigger need).

OriginalPouzar

I agree about Zub playing well during those 9 games. I haven’t looked in to his numbers or play since but he also stood out for me that season. Good thought!

Ryan

Thanks for that list.

yech. lol. We’re really scrapping the barrel for a leftie.

I’ve had a lot of time for the ghost here compared to most.

Is he the cream of the crop?

I’ve never heard of Gavrikov, but he’s 6’3 and 220 lbs. 22:42 min per game on a bad Columbus team. He had 33 points last season.

Who knows anything about Gavrikov?

jp

Agree on Ghost, he can help a team. I think he’s type a type that Holland could add as well (can move the puck, is probably better than his reputation).

I also know little about Gavrikov aside from his boxcars and usage, but those suggest a useful player.

If I was to guess, I think Ghost is the most likely ‘top 4’ LD add this season.

Last edited 1 year ago by jp
OriginalPouzar

I mentioned Orlov last week at some point (Struds and Gregor had brought him up) – if Washington ends up selling (and the player is willing).

jp

He’s clearly the prize of the LD if he becomes available.

Ryan

I skipped over him because I couldn’t imagine Washington selling, but wow they’re losing ground quickly on the last wildcard spot.

Harpers Hair

The answer is Erik Karlsson.

leadfarmer

Lol

Harpers Hair

Jackie Redmond

@Jackie_Redmond

Erik Karlsson with another 2 points tonight now has 32pts on the season.

Only McDavid and Jason Robertson have more and the next closest DMan is Adam Fox with 24.

I told y’all don’t sleeeeep.

Optimism is like heroin

Good morning everyone, I am asking for some suggestions. If we are looking for bottom six help with a desire to add elements for our pk, some level of scoring with a physical element and on a contract that’s affordable. Also from a team that would move them now or soon. Who would you be interested in?

John Chambers

Good morning!

The answer to this question is Max Domi. Perhaps also Andrei Kuzmenko

Crazy Pedestrian

I didn’t think of Domi. Good catch. I guess when he mentioned “affordable bottom 6 player” I was thinking $2M AAV or less and is an actual bottom 6 player (Domi is likely better than bottom 6). Does Domi PK?
Oilers tried to get Kuzmenko and failed likely due to Vancouver promising more playing time in the top 6. Nucks not letting him go me thinks.

Last edited 1 year ago by Crazy Pedestrian
Optimism is like heroin

Good thoughts both, but aren’t they both more top 6 players?

Crazy Pedestrian

Isn’t that what every team wants? The perfect value player? If there is a player out there matching those qualities, I doubt they will be available for trade. Mostly because they are already on playoff caliber teams. Last player we had that was somewhat close to that description was Archibald (who now plays for the Perennial contending Penguins. Likely not available)

Edit: i guess if you we’re grasping at straws, maybe someone from Washington?

Last edited 1 year ago by Crazy Pedestrian
Optimism is like heroin

Those are the boxes to be checked. One player is unlikely to fill them all.

flyfish1168

I like Luke Kunin Center shoots R – G23 G-3, A-7, P-10 PIM – 38 He was a 1st round pick in 2016 of Wild. 2 more yrs at 2.75

Last edited 1 year ago by flyfish1168
Optimism is like heroin

An almost ideal candidate, this year is his first with good pk results and he is not great on the dot but plays heavy and will scrap.

Optimism is like heroin

Names I keep coming up with include N. Deslauries from phi with some good results in limited pk time, heavy player with some scoring and a cheap contract.
Acciari from stL plays hard, pks well is a good rh face off man at 1.25 m.
Silvferberg from Anaheim with salary retention has been a good pk player for years and on a 3rd line could be a steal.

OriginalPouzar

test.

W

Whatcha testing?

dunterpunter

If he hit the 50 post a day limit 🙂

Harpers Hair

So Connor Bedard with a 3 goal 1 assist game last in Victoria and he was only the second star of the game.

Team mate Tanner Howe, who just turned 16, pots 4 goals and 2 assists to get first star. Now up to 15 goals and 33 points in 23 games.

Someone to keep an eye on

Optimism is like heroin

Any clue on ice time with Bedard? Curious on the level of zoom he is receiving.

Reja

I’m still trying to figure out why Hedman got so cocky against the skillful Croatian squad. I’ve worked with (past tense) more than handful of Serbs & Croatians they obviously don’t like each other. Anyhow the moral of the story is don’t trash talk Yugoslavia they will Burn You! Team Canada cost me a brilliant parlay on this fine sunny day. Now I’m going to listen to Chirs Rea This is the Rosd to Hell, I highly recommend this song and Musictian.

Munny 2.0

If you bet on Team Canada this morning and are blaming them and not yourself, you deserve to lose that money. I can’t think of a dumber parlay option.

Brogan Rafferty's Uncle Steve

Bingo!

Reja

Yeah my buddy laughed at me and said never bet on Canada in any sport except Hockey. I felt Canada should of gotten a result against Belgium a tie at the very least. If you want to win big you have to bet on the long shots. When they scored 2 minutes in my betting juices were flowing as well as the Beer.

Last edited 1 year ago by Reja
90s fan

My question: was his comment a slip, or calculated? (I dont know that we can say he got cocky either way)

If it was a slip then we have our answer.

If it was calculated, perhaps he felt timid was the last thing they needed to see from their coach? Perhaps he wanted his team to stand tall, be brazen? Follow up question to this stance: Did it have the desired affect? (I think not).

Either way, I doubt it impacted the game much, but it’s not like we can go back and try it the other way.

Scungilli Slushy

Croatia has a very good attack, at least against a team like ours. High technical skills, deliberate, structured, consistent

Next step for the lads. Oilers and footy

Dee Dee

Calculated to remove the missed PK talk that was dominating the news?

90s fan

Holy crap, if that was the goal, what a move! Noone talked about that missed shot at all in the media! He put all the attention on himself. Brilliant!

Scungilli Slushy

Swedes and Croatians are arch enemies

Scungilli Slushy

Hollywood’s shot was a perfectly placed rocket, off the post, and he was coming in with a lot of speed. It would have beat a lot of keepers

Great to see he could get that much torque on it given everything he went through

If that’s how he will shoot in the NHL he’ll pop a few

OriginalPouzar

For sure, great shot by Holloway, I agree.

At the same time, when the Oilers gets scored against, how often do we say, “great shot but goalie needs to stop that one”?

Great shot by Dylan but the goal was also a result of a poor play by the Ranger defence, I think Trouba, sending the puck to the chaos at their bench (leading to the Oilers re-gaining possession as a result of the Rangers’ not wanting to touch the puck for. too many men) and then a shot, while a great one, that the goalie likely thinks he should have stopped.

If that was reversed, we’d be talking about the d-play and the tending.

———–

Winning goal coming on an egregious penalty take – a no doubter and a terrible play.

Point, as per the original post, is that the opposition is also making mistakes, lots of them, every game. We (including myself) focus on the Oilers’ mistakes but all teams make them and a key is limiting them as much as possible.

Scungilli Slushy

Lots of teams are struggling early this year for sure

For me it’s important to note expectations

Many teams have Cup dreams. No other team has McDavid in prime, so for the org and it’s fans have the highest level expectations

All teams are in a constant state of change and improvement

The weight of expectations for our guys and the bosses comes with the territory. It’s at the sink or swim stage now, they’re past the pushing to contend phase now, they are there

Its a very good team, but that is expected now. We hope all levels of the team can execute what is necessary to go even farther

OriginalPouzar

Woody says maintenance day for McLeod and then says “same scenario as Ryan” when asked about Foegele. “We’ll see where guys are tomorrow”. Also mentioned “we’ll see” when asked if Benson will be back but did mention twice that he didn’t play last night in Bakersfield.

Yamo is “real close”

OriginalPouzar

“It was a good win on the road and we want to put on a good performance for our fans tomorrow” – Woody

Not my favourite quote – just play solid hockey, limiting mistakes and the talent will win the game. What’s a “good performance for our fans”? For me, that’s 2 points in regulation.

Redbird62

Why do you assume that Woody was not referring to a solid 60 minute all around effort to get the win when he said “good performance”?

kgo

Nice to see Heleybuck call out the refs for putting his safety at risk, within 48 hours of nhlpa calling out league for player safety wrt debris thrown by fans….I think the tide is finally turning on this bush league … The pressure put on both gambling seems to be the folcrum, social media the leverage…yesterday there was a high stick called against Carolina that was obviously a shot follow thru, on the same day a blatant high stick vs Col was not called seemingly because no injury resulted…a reckoning is coming

SVR

If Warren is out, wouldn’t mind seeing Yamamoto on thaline with McLeod and Holloway, if he is ready to go

who

I really have a hard time blaming Ceci for that 2nd goal. Yeah he missed Nurse with the pass, but the pass went to where Nurse should have been. And where most d partners would have been.
I think Nurse hung Ceci out to dry on that play.

Scungilli Slushy

The dog whistles are strong for Darnell again at the moment

Scungilli Slushy

Sorry he’s not been as good as established levels

I think it’s that is fair to say

Also getting paid now and will be 28 this season. Not an old person in the greater scheme, but not a young hockey player

We’re past excuses time for the team. If he’s still not 100% it’s not his head that was hurt

kgo

Every 4 years I sincerely try to become a fan of soccer….every single time I get turned off by the diving, flopping, and dramatic pain acting…it’s pathetic. The weird thing is soccer does have brutal injuries, like that knee to the face? Worse than anything I’ve seen in hockey except maybe fedun/foster femurs

BornInAGretzkyJersey

IDK, Taylor and Kane’s skate injuries were pretty brutal too…

Erik Karlsson’s Achilles comes to mind as well.

Last edited 1 year ago by BornInAGretzkyJersey
kgo

I agree, but having your face literally caved in? I would chose almost anything over that

Bruce McCurdy

Players sell the fouls so that the refs call them.

As opposed to hockey where it would be easy to get turned off by the everbrown garbage officiating that will tune out the entire rule book at a whim.

kgo

Well, to be fair, they may tune out most of the rulebook but they’ll always call a puck over glass

fishman

Yea what other sport officiates according to the score in the game???? Happens all the time.

Bruce McCurdy

In short, there are annoying aspects to every sport. If you can’t look past them, that sport isn’t for you.

And I say that as a lifelong fan of hockey AND soccer, not to mention baseball, football, curling, figure skating, etc.

W

Still looking for an answer as to whether the play is automatically whistled down when a goalie loses a glove like we saw in the game Wednesday?

90s fan

No, not when quick lost it in the playoffs, or when Smith lost it a series later. (I think?)

fishman

Hoping yesterday’s come from behind win gives the team a boost. They have to improve their record at home. For what ever reason they seem to have played better on the road. Nice to see Bouchard and Holloway get off the schneid! Wonder if Benson in the line up tomorrow. Any word on Yamo’s return??

Brogan Rafferty's Uncle Steve

How do I look up WOWYs for a players individual numbers? For example, I want to see how many points JP has scored away from Drai and McD over the past two seasons?

BornInAGretzkyJersey

Go to NST and hover over players, and use the Line Tool (second from the bottom). From there you can filter as you like.

Brogan Rafferty's Uncle Steve

Thanks. As far as I understand, the Line Tool only gives you the on-ice numbers but does not show a player’s specific point totals.

Brogan Rafferty's Uncle Steve

For example, w/o McD and Drai, JP has been outscored 9-14 at 5v5. How many individual points does JP have in that time?

jp

You’re correct the line tool does only on ice numbers. Unfortunately there’s no good way to do individual WOWYs (as far as I know).

If it’s WOWY with a single player (Puljujarvi and McDavid for example) then you can look at individual points WITH using the teammates function, but then you need to subtract those points and minutes from the players total points/minutes manually to get the the WITHOUT part.

Once you get to more players (what you’re looking for) then the WITH minutes/points almost always overlap (13 with 97 vs 13 with 29) so it isn’t possible to sort out the WOWYs even using manual calculations.

Brogan Rafferty's Uncle Steve

Thanks for the explanation. Kind of what I figured.

norm2015

Canada scoring a goal in world cup play is a accomplishment btw

fishman

Croatia ranked 12 th in the world. We were always going to be a big underdog in this match.

Brogan Rafferty's Uncle Steve

And in this group.

OriginalPouzar

Jack Campbell won the game, now 7-5-0 on the year despite a 4.04 GAA and an .875 save percentage. The only goal you’d like him to stop was the Kreider item, but he had a Grant Fuhr second half of the game (‘don’t let in the goal that makes a comeback impossible’) and that’s a positive.

If it was me, I’d pen “Jack Campbell was the winning goaltender”.

I guess he wasn’t “bad” but, to me, this write-up is more positive than I am on his performance. Two more pucks went in the net, both of them far from “no-chance shots” and he/we got lucky on both. The first goal was off-side and a good “no goal” but that doesn’t change the fact that shot got by Jack and it didn’t need to. The goalie interference call – well, I’ll just say, if that was reversed, we’d be incenses and, again, I think that was a saveable shot.

For me, it was a less than solid performance that the team fought through.

fishman

Agreed. Campbell simply hasn’t been good enough. Have to hope he can recover and play better. Thankfully Skinner has played pretty well.

cowboy bill

He mustn’t be one of your favorites or else you would be gushing all over him for allowing them to come back and win the game, which was what really happened.

Reja

I thought Campbell played well and the Goaltender interference was legit. The Ranger player ever so slightly blocked Campbell from moving his right foot in the crease. This play was against the rule to believe otherwise is strange.

OriginalPouzar

I don’t have favourites – I evaluate the players based on their performance as I see it.

I’m a big fan of Broberg’s readiness and potential, yet, I “fought against him” on the 1st goal last night in various conversations. Trust me, I did not want Broberg to get beat in a net front battle for a goal in his first shift of the year but he did and I aknowleded it as such.

I wanted nothing more than for Campbell to string solid performances back to back but, to me, he simply didn’t.

jp

LT’s right that the win is ‘a positive’, even if it wasn’t perfect.

Tough take on the goalie interference play as well. The Ranger made contact with both of Campbell’s skate and stick before the puck arrived, and the Rangers crew was very clear in their belief it wasn’t a good goal.

Reja

Campbell will settle down give him a chance. Netminding is probably the hardest position to get instant results when joining a new team. I’ll take Campbell with a heater in the playoffs over Thompson or Markstrom. It might even be Demko who for some reason I fear in a playoff showdown.

OriginalPouzar

I’ve said many times, including today, that Campbell will go on a heater soon enough and balance out his season stats to some extent.

He hasn’t done so yet and my post was on the evaluation of the game last night (and partially the season to this point) – I can’t evaluate likely future performances.

OriginalPouzar

Oh, for sure – I don’t question his battle or commitment level – just didn’t think he was as effective as you think – difference of opinion on his play yesterday aft it seems.

Jack will get the net on Wed or Thurs and I’ll be fully in his court hoping for a solid to plus performance!

Brogan Rafferty's Uncle Steve

Croatia dominating Canada. It is going to take a miracle to come back. Canada does not have the horses to keep up.

Chelios is a Dinosaur

Don’t really care for soccer but in the mid 00s I worked for the parks and playfields division for the City of Edmonton and painted soccer lines all over the city so there’s a super good chance Phonzie played within my line work and that’s why I watch.

Then I go on Twitter and see that now that it’s 2-1 there’s “no way back for Canada” and I remember why I don’t really care for soccer.

Anyway forza phonzie! The Edmontonification of Canadian Soccer means any comeback is possible.

Reja

I myself don’t really care for cold pizza but if I’m super hungry I’ll eat it.

OriginalPouzar

Mattias Janmark took a penalty and has been a little vanilla offensively of later. I wonder if he moves down the depth chart on the next shuffle. Holloway is pushing.

Here is hoping Foegele is healthy and we can run the following when Kailer returns:

Hyman/McDavid/Jesse
Nuge/Drai/Kailer
Holloway/McLeod/Foegele
Janamark/Ryan/Kostin

Benson

Last edited 1 year ago by OriginalPouzar
Chelios is a Dinosaur

Could you swap Jesse and Foegle?
I don’t like 97 and 29 constantly trying to get Jesse “going” and there might not be that pressure with Foegle.

cowboy bill

But Pouzie Loves Puljujarvi .

Chelios is a Dinosaur

I was big time down on JP since his rookie season and was vocal that I didn’t see a player there and got my head bitten off so decided to keep deferring my opinion of him to people with a better read on numbers. Someday I’ll be wrong.

cowboy bill

Keep your head up and your shoulders back.

OriginalPouzar

That’s an aggressive use of the word “loves”. I appreciate the player for the positive impact he can have on the game but also realize his limitations as an offensive producer – at this point, its unlikely he’ll pop in that regard but that doesn’t mean he can’t be a valuable complimentary player.

jp

I like Pujujarvi in the top 6 better than Foegele, myself.

OriginalPouzar

Chelios is a Dinosaur

 Reply to  OriginalPouzar

 November 27, 2022 10:17 am

Could you swap Jesse and Foegle?

I don’t like 97 and 29 constantly trying to get Jesse “going” and there might not be that pressure with Foegle.

For me, that would be a hard no.

Part of the premise of the post was how good the Holloway/McLeod/Foegele trio was in their short time together last night – 4:1 Coris and 2:0 goals in a minute and a half.

Want to see that trio together.

Jesse at 1RW isn’t about “getting Jesse going”. I think he fits much better than Foegele on a true “skill line” and has proven to be able to help on such a line in the past. McDavid has scored very well in the past with Jesse on his wing and has massively outscored the opposition with Jesse on his wing. Jesse’s work as a 2-way presence on that line is important given neither McDavid nor Hyman are plus defensive players consistently

For me, Foegele can be a real impact player on an aggressive 3rd line which is what we saw from that trio yesterday.

OriginalPouzar

Connor McDavid picked up an assist, three shots, won 10 of 12 in the faceoff dot. McDavid is due for a large game, week or month of five-on-five scoring. Bet against him. I dare you!

A bit of an offensive slump overall for McDavid recently – sprinkling in a few point as he’s so good but he hasn’t been dynamic with the puck in recent games even when he’s had open ice.

This happens. I have no doubt he’s going to go supernova sometime in the near future.

This team NEEDS McDavid and Drai producing near top of the league at 5 on 5, no matter who their line mates are. They haven’t been but they certainly will start soon.

This team NEEDS McDavid and Drai outscoring their opposition at 5 on 5, no matter who their line mates are. They haven’t been but they will hopefully start soon.

norm2015

October is always a score fest then Nov and Dec come the offences always go dry but that’s when NHL defenses always take over. Connor and Drai will pick it up against easier competition and tired players . they always rebound .

OriginalPouzar

My goodness, can a rookie impact a game more in 8 minutes of play than Dylan Holloway – hard net front battles the defensive zone, two screens for goals, big game-tying goal. Have a breakout Dylan Holloway!

Parlaying on that, as noted above (and mentioned last night), in the smallest samples of all-time, Holloway/McLeod/Foegele was straight fire. Here is hoping Foegele isn’t out, let alone out long – would be great to give this line a bit of a go.

Reja

We need to regroup it’s still not over.

fishman

Oh boy. Croatia dominating now…..

Reja

They decided to sit back and get their chances on the counter attach Croatia way to skilled for that strategy. Need to go back on the attach. We need a win.

Reja

Wow! thank you that was close.

fishman

Canada wins it’s first ever Davis Cup today! Keep er going Canucks!

Tarkus

Prospectagala!

After a blazing start to the season with 13 goals in his first 10 GP, the Reid Rocket has been running out of fuel since, with only 2 goals–1 an EN–in 8 GP since. He is now 10th in WHL goals, seven off the pace. He’ll have a chance to fill the net once again as Seattle takes on a subpar Tri-City squdron.

Also running in place after a hot start is Luca Münzenberger, who rattled off four helpers in his first three games but has yet to record a point since, being in and out of Vermont’s lineup. He and his matey Joel Määttä return to action this afternoon.

Vermont (Münzenberger, Määttä) @ 2 p.m.
Seattle (Schaefer) @ 5 p.m.

Both times, as always, are Cadotte Lake time.

Last edited 1 year ago by Tarkus
fishman

First GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!

Ice Sage

Davies makes amends! Heck of a start

Reja

Yes Baby..,,

Reja

The players just belting our National Anthem. We need a win “Let’s Go Canada”

dustrock

Question on the game – caught the second half of it but on mute as I’m in Red Deer for daughter’s soccer tournament.

They had a couple of clips of Bouchard I think in the 2nd period – was the point that he was taking the body more against the Rags?

Bruce McCurdy

Here’s a stat that will surprise some: now that Niemelainen has been reassigned, the leading Oilers d-man in Hits per 60 is … Evan Bouchard, at 5.26.

It is a very aphysical crew just now.

dustrock

Ugh that Morocco result makes it more difficult for Canada. Need a win. If we win out, we’re in. If we get 4 points, still a chance.

F Croatia!

Reja

We can still with this Group with 2 wins.

fishman

Go Canada!!!!!!!!