I write a story every January 1 (unless there’s a game) and most often there’s a draft feel to it. This season, and every season since Ken Holland arrived, the discussion is playoffs. The Oilers as an organization don’t get a tremendous amount of credit, after all winning with Connor McDavid should be easy.
I think it’s fair to say the dreams that were born in the moments after the 2015 draft lottery have been put down with great force. Like Rutger Hauer’s The Hitcher, the visuals have been graphic and thorough.
It’s also fair to say this is a good team, went to the final four last spring and has a chance to do damage this spring. I’m reminded of the Chicago Blackhawks of my youth. Featuring Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita and Tony Esposito, that team had enormous top-end talent but couldn’t beat the Montreal Canadiens in Game 7 of the 1971 finals.
Does that kind of destiny await these Oilers? Or will they break on through to the other side?
THE ATHLETIC!
- New Lowetide: Bakersfield Condors’ 2022-23 season review to date
- Lowetide: Oilers’ Philip Broberg, Markus Niemelainen pursue final defence spot
- Lowetide: Oilers’ Darnell Nurse remains the top defenceman despite struggles
- Lowetide: Oilers organizational depth chart reveal elite centres, quality prospects
- DNB: How Oilers are different yet similar to last season through 35 games
- Lowetide: Oilers’ Evan Bouchard’s difficult season disguises elite talent
- New DNB: Why the Oilers should, but probably won’t, acquire Jakob Chychrun
- Lowetide: What’s wrong with the Edmonton Oilers?
- Lowetide: Can Oilers prospect Reid Schaefer make the NHL leap next season?
- New DNB: Oilers throwing away points as defencemen continue to make crucial mistakes
- DNB: Why the Oilers need to make a trade to give Darnell Nurse more help on defence
- Lowetide: Ranking Oilers GM Ken Holland’s 5 best trades in Edmonton
- DNB: Oilers’ Klim Kostin much happier in Edmonton than he was with Blues
- Lowetide: Oilers top 20 prospects, winter 2022
- Lowetide: Will Oilers pro scouts help identify quality at the deadline?
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers avert disaster with strong finish to November
- DNB: Oilers GM Ken Holland Q&A: Can the team be improved? If so, how?
- Jonathan Willis: Oilers’ Jack Campbell will be better, but can he be a true No. 1?
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers reasonable expectations for every player in 2022-23
WHAT TO EXPECT IN DECEMBER
- On the road to: MIN (Expected 0-1-0) (Actual 0-1-0)
- At home to: MTL, WAS, ARI, MIN (Expected 3-1-0) (Actual 3-1-0)
- On the road to: MIN, NAS (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 1-1-0)
- At home to: STL, ANA (Expected 1-0-1) (Actual 0-1-1)
- On the road to: NAS, DAL (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 1-0-1)
- At home to: VAN (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-1-0)
- On the road to: CAL, SEA (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 2-0-0)
- At home to: WPG (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-1-0)
- December expected result: 9-5-1, 19 points in 15 games
- December actual result: 7-6-2, 16 points in 15 games
- November results: 7-7-0, 14 points in 14 games
- October results: 6-3-0, 12 points in 9 games
- Oilers in 2022-23: 20-16-2, 42 points in 38 games
A win last night would have placed a bow on a fairly unusual month, but the Winnipeg Jets have a helluva goaltender. Missing Leon Draisaitl and Evander Kane is massive, and two games in a short time is also less than ideal. Still, the Oilers put themselves in a tough spot with dreary play earlier in the month and now we are here. It is not pleasant on the shore line on the first day of 2023.
SUMMARY
| Hyman-McDavid-Puljujarvi | 10:25 | 90 | 0-1 | 91 |
| Janmark-Nuge-Kostin | 9:22 | 83 | 1-0 | 87 |
| Foegele-McLeod-Yamamoto | 5:40 | 71 | 0-0 | 76 |
| Holloway-Hamblin-Ryan | 5:19 | 33 | 0-0 | 29 |
| Hyman-McDavid-Yamamoto | 1:54 | 50 | 0-0 | 32 |
| Nurse-Ceci | 12:58 | 43 | 0-0 | 49 |
| Kulak-Barrie | 16:22 | 60 | 0-1 | 66 |
| Broberg-Bouchard | 9:07 | 100 (4-0) | 1-0 | 87 |
| Nurse-Bouchard | 3:07 | 1-0 | 0-0 | 70 |
| Jack Campbell | 15-17 | .882 |
The fancies danced New Year’s Eve but the Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck was just too much for Edmonton. I can’t blame anyone specifically (I imagine Jesse Puljujarvi takes some hits because of the turnover at center that started the puck rolling on the second goal, or Jack Campbell not making big stops) but that’s a game the home team played well enough to win. Even tertiary criticisms (I would have started Stuart Skinner) seem a little empty based on how well the team played.
Klim Kostin was just winning an NHL top-nine F job when injury hit, right at the end of the game and it looked bad. In his most recent two games, he scored three goals. The hockey Gods are a cruel bunch and for Kostin this is a most bitter pill.
Evan Bouchard’s offensive touch is completely gone now. One shot in his last four games and he can’t pass the puck for love nor money. I swear to you this player is going to have a great career, but I’m wondering if it’s in Edmonton. Ken Holland didn’t draft him, he’s struggling, his skill set is duplicated and the team needs a reset. I got the same feeling about Jeff Petry in the months before he left Edmonton.
Darnell Nurse is playing well, I think Nurse-Ceci will have a great run through Jan-March as they did one year ago. Holland needs to add another blue, but I like the top pairing. I have an article up today at The Athletic (will post in comments when it’s live) that discusses the defense and the way forward.
TRACERS: SHORELINE, FIRST DAY OF 2015
I wrote this back on January 1, 2015. MacT was GM, the team was about to get silly at the deadline and there was no sign of winning lottery numbers.
It’s January 1, which means we’re in the sprint to the trade deadline. I think we’ll see David Perron and Jeff Petry moved in the next few weeks (deadline is March 2) and although the return is vague, I expect ‘up the middle’ will be the major item. Perron is attractive to other teams because he’s skilled, rugged, an agitator and even in a season when he’s not delivering optimum offense his projected point total (41) tells you he can help offensively. Pittsburgh lost Patric Hornqvist to injury again, I can see Perron as a Penguin by the deadline. (Note: Perron was traded to Pittsburgh the next day).
There are many who feel Edmonton will sign Jeff Petry, I’m not one of them. Despite impressive (compared to the rest) numbers my guess is the Oilers want a more physical player playing RH side along with Justin Schultz and Mark Fayne. Think Jason Smith, that’s the kind of player one suspects Edmonton is looking for to fill out the position. The Oilers can sign Petry today, so maybe his agent will hear from the team this afternoon. I wouldn’t count on it. (Note: He was traded to Montreal March 2, 2015).
JAKE MCCABE
Elliotte Friedman mentioned Edmonton’s interest in Jake McCabe during HNIC this weekend. If you know Holland’s history, McCabe checks all the boxes and I can see this trade happening any time. His GA-60 at five-on-five (2.07) leads the ‘Hawks and he’s been in the NHL for a decade. I mentioned his name the other day, it makes too much sense.
As LT and others have mentioned, looking at d on really bad teams is an imposing task.
The Chicago Blackhawks are a ship built to sink.
All of their transactions this summer were to guarantee disaster on the standings.
They didn’t trade McCabe this summer.
I’m worried about Jack Johnson. The Pens signed him to that silly contract that they later bought out. Jack played on the Avs bottom pairing last year.
What’s Jack doing this year at 35? He’s playing a minute and change more per game than McCabe. Both are left shots.
On the PK, McCabe is getting torched at 11.3 GA/60.
At 5v5, he’s playing #4 minutes on the Hawks, a minute behind Jack.
Am I crazy to wonder about a #4 on a
lotteryworst team (in the league) being brought into fill our 2LD hole?Last year, his possession metrics were poor. He played with a mix but mostly Connor Murphy.
This year, he’s riding a 1.012 PDO. He’s now playing with Seth Jones.
Jake McCabe has never played in the NHL playoffs. Trading our first this year for him is pure folly. He may not even be an upgrade over Kulak. I’d only trade for McCabe, if the Hawks were willing to take Campbell’s contract off our hands.
If we’re trading for anyone on the Hawks, then give me Captain Serious.
Aside from Chyrchrun, there really isn’t much out there that’s going to move the needle on LD.
Yeah, it’s a sobering reality. Jack Johnson is 35. He’s being paid $950k and he plays a minute more per game at 5v5 and even more than that overall than McCabe. Then you look at that $4m x 2 more years.
I agree, I don’t think he moves the needle.
I would hate to see the Oilers waste a first on a player that doesn’t help let alone one on a bad contract.
If only the Oilers had stuck to their guns and drafted Sergachev like they wanted to before Kekalainen passed on Jesse. We’d have a true 1LD and we wouldn’t have Nail Yakupov-type drama on our team again.
Some highly touted players simply can’t connect with the team that drafted them. Maybe it’s the pressure from high expectations. Bennet in Calgary is a good example. JP has to be traded, if only because he can’t be qualified next year. We have to accept that he may turn his career around with his next team.
Alexis lafreniere
Wow. Kenny Pickett looked like Joe Montana on that drive.
Steelers v Ravens is always a good old fashioned slobberknocker.
Was thinking about the biggest 2 games for this fan of the season coming up it’s the Boston game when Taylor Hall who now has got everything in life he ever dreamed of hockey wise vs the McDraisaitl Oilers.
Just win in Boston.
You guys see the photo used for LT’s Athletic article today?
I’ve noticed Jesse really pining for the Captain lately, especially after his goal,
This picture captures it perfectly.
I know it’s just a moment, but it’s really telling.Heck, even Ceci is like, dude, show some joy for the guy.
Am I just reading too much into it?
https://theathletic.com/4046850/2023/01/01/edmonton-oilers-stats-standings-december-2022/
I noticed it too…Connor completely ignored Jesse.
Then he turned away and congratulated Hyman who got the second assist.
Sad.
Ceci is ‘lupin for lub’ as well
Take that pic away!
Being a leader has it’s drawbacks. In hockey you can’t win alone, or just with you faves
You have to build a team. Everyone needs to feel a part of things. We’ve read enough about the glory team lately along those lines, it’s the only way
I don’t choose the photos but I thought it was a cool one.
I just don’t think it is a fun gang, no beers after the game, just get dressed and get out.
Adam Larsson extends a 5 game point streak with his 4th goal of the season…now 15 points.
Kraken Lead NYI 1-0
Kraken lead 3-1 after 2.
The 2 games coming up in Jan with the Kraken are huge. 4! games in hand and 2 points behind. Let’s hope the blowout doesn’t mess with heads
3 with LA, 1 with the Dys, none with fLames as we know
There are 8 games in January that they need to win: Krak, LA, Ducks, Sharks, Krak, Dys, Jackets, Hawks. Because they can and should
And a few of the others, if they are for real. NYI, Avs, Kniggets, Bolts. Have to be able to beat good teams if you consider yourself a contender
Time for a heater
And beat the Bruins in Feb for confidence sake
I knew that kick wasn’t going to go through. Just been that kind of game. (Raiders v Niners)
Felt a lot like that Atlanta game with Mariotta. Purdy looked a little Jimmyesque too. Hopefully greenlaw injury isn’t serious.
Ovi with 13G and 22P named first stat of December. 15 games.
McDavid had 14G and 31P in the month. 15 games.
What did LT call it when talking about Hart trophy voting, Connor-fatigue?
Who votes for/appoints the NHL monthly stars, anyway?
Le sigh… we should prepare for no Calder votes for Skinner immediately
Rookie Goaltenders:
Akira Schmid – .932 1.96 GAA
Pyotr Kochetkcov – .928. 1.94
Stuart Skinner – .917 2.78
Logan Thompson .915 2.64
It would seem Skinner would be in tough in any event.
Schmid is back in Utica, played 398 minutes
Kochetkov last played on Dec 20th. Great stats, but he’s played 865 minutes
Skinner: 1,360 minutes
Thompson: 1,616 minutes
A lot can change in a season, but Thompson and Skinner are #1 goaltenders this season, the others are 3rd stringers.
None of them would get serious consideration with those numbers unless they go on an absolute tear.
Schmid Devils 22Yo season 8 GP .932 1.96 GAA TEAM 2.59 GA/GM 27.2 SA/GP
Koch Canes 23YO season 15 GP .928. 1.94 GAA TEAM 2.54 GA/GM 26.3 SA/GP
Principal Us 24YO season 23 GP .917 2.78 GAA TEAM 3.32 GA/GM 32.6 SA/GP
Thompson LV 26YO season 27 GP .915 2.64 GAA TEAM 2.82 GA/GM 30.1 SA/GP
To me that Skinner is on the ‘worst’ team of the 4, has a higher SV% than Thompson, the other with the most games played, and with a team worst GA/GM, and is younger than the Knigget……
Skinner is climbing the biggest mountain as I see it
Perhaps but by the smallest of margins and still in the foothills.
It is not the fault of Schmid or Koch that they play in a system with actual #1 goaltenders. When called upon they have been excellent.
15GP less than halfway through the season ain’t nothing.
I’d say by €√¥£€^$ post they are about to be traded or never play in the NHL again
Boring, tedious, constantly negative trolling
I think the likes of Berniers make it fairly unlikely that Skinner wins this but I could see him getting a couple 4th/5th place votes – certainly more consideration over a tender that has played eight games!
I think breaking Howe’s goal total might have had something to do with the selection.
Sort of like the overtime goal scorer gets first star traditionally
This is what it is. Since first star of the month means nothing it’s a harmless tribute to an incredible milestone.
Ovechkin did pass Gordie Howe in December as well. I’m okay with him getting first star for the month.
This exactly.
“Evan Bouchard’s offensive touch is completely gone now.”
This is the opposite of the Zach Kassian signing (which led to a salary dump, added cost on an already inflated salary):
This is the correct way to use the current situation.
I’m surprised at the level he’s slumped with the puck but I agree as well, 100%.
I think its more likely that he sees the Petry deal (2 X $1.75MM) than the Klefbom deal but I would have no issue signing him to the Klef deal. Many will riot but I’m confidant in this player’s career. Its not like he’s come in and struggled to gain traction. We’ve seen him succeed in this league and, given his pedigree and skill-set…..
A dose of realism with respect to Kostin:
He has never been a scorer at any level. Pedestrian AHL stats. I agree he has looked very good, but he is also riding a hot shooting percentage.
Someone below said it would be unusual for Jesse to break out at 25. It would be extremely unusual, much more unusual, for a player like Kostin to become a top 6 player, or even to continue producing at his current trajectory.
If he does, great! But for Kostin to have two years like Jesse’s last two is a huge Hail Mary.
this Jesse shit is frustrating, I wonder if it is for his teammates as well?
If that’s the worst thing they have to deal with that’s some charmed life.
I think you might be making a strawman argument here, no?
I mean, I don’t think people are realistically thinking Kostin will be popping 30G/60P on Drai’s wing but I think what he’s done through 22 games can be extrapolated going forward.
He’s got 5G and 9P in 22 games, a couple scraps, he’s aggressive and physical and makes plays with the puck. He also makes turnovers and takes penalties.
Is it not reasonable for him to score 17-18 goals and 34 points with a handful of scraps on the third line over the course of 82 games?
17-18 goals, 34 points, all at EV, shooting 18.5%? Yes, I think that’s unrealistic based on his AHL scoring record. The shooting percentage will fall.
I think he’s a fine player and he has played well. I’ve been impressed with his vision, passing, and ability to hold onto the puck.
That said, just last season, he was on pace for the kind of season statistically that Jesse is on pace for this season.
Most were hoping that Kostin could be a Patty Maroon type player.
Oilers were playing “prevent” defence all night knowing full well that there was a sieve in net.
Despite the fact that they couldn’t come away with a W against a reasonable Winnipeg team is nothing to despair over.
Campbell starting a game is something to worry over.
Yes a “reasonable” team missing 7 regulars….
$24 million in cap space was not in the lineup.
Give it a break. We had Drai and Kane out, it’s not like we are 100% healthy. You know, your shit is just so old. We never see you when the Oilers win. Just here to bait and rub salt when things are tough.
7 regulars is a little different than 2 regulars.
No team is 100% healthy halfway through the season.
Good teams play through it.
Good to see you still suck in the new year
New year, same shit bag.
So Vegas was not a good team last year? Shall we look up,some of the comments you had to say about them?
There is injury and then there is injury.
Vegas had multiple stars out at the same time.
Colorado is going through the same this this season but is hanging around and some are starting to return.
The Oilers didn’t have multiple stars out the last 2 nights?
The Oilers didn’t play poorly, they just didn’t play the right way to win offensively
No they didn’t.
But they sure missed Leon on the PP which is how the would normally win a game like that.
You have to go to the paint Ryan Smyth style if your going to beat Hellebuych when he’s in the Zone.
Yes or do the other things like screens and tips etc, working to set up cross seam shots. It has to be deliberate and all game long, not ocassional and lucky
They get frustrated and make low percentage plays, force things etc. It’s normal for teams with skill. But if you don’t learn patience and strategy you pay. Like the Leafs, repeatedly
Constant negativity and constant trolling. Yawn
Mr. Unlimited loses again and Daniel Snyder’s Commanders knocked out of a playoff seed. That’s a good start to the day. Now, time to send Rodgers to the golf course.
I brought up the Jake McCabe idea a couple of weeks ago along with attempting to get Taylor Raddysh as he has 10 goals this season and is signed for $758,333 for another season before being an RFA. Raddysh has shown the ability to score as well as being right handed and being another decently big body. Would replace puljujarvi for less than a third of the price.
Something like
Puljujarvi
Bourgault
2023 Oilers 1st
Ryan Murray or Janmark or Ryan all contracts done at the end of the season.
for
Jake McCabe 1.5 retained
Raddysh
2023 Tampa 2nd rounder
Would make the money work
Forwards
Hyman Mcdavid Raddysh
Kane Draisaitl Yamamoto
Kostin Nuge Foegle
Holloway McLeod Ryan or Janmark
Defence
Nurse Ceci
McCabe Barrie
Broberg/Niemo Bouchard
Murray Broberg or Neimo as rotating #7
Stuart
Campbell
Campbell in goal?
For that is too much to pay for a soon 25 YO 2nd rounder not doing anything special, and a 29 YO ok-ish D
In my world a 1st or equivalent only goes for a significant player that has a high chance of being retained, or that deal is done pre-trade
Jake McCabe. At 29, he certainly seems like Holland type. Holland prefers to trade for established player types.
Kyle Davidson is probably faxing screenshots of McCabe’s PuckIQ Elite Sledgehammer to the Oilers HQ as we speak.
I was shocked at the Evolving Wild rating this year. Their model factors on QOT and QOC though not as much as you may expect.
77th percentile is pretty rarified air for a player I assumed was fairly pedestrian. (65th percentile three year).
Nurse is 66th percentile this year (80th three year).
I’ll look more later.
The Evolving Wild numbers like Barrie. These single value player ratings have always overvalued offense from dmen. Barrie is 85 1 year. 82 3 year.
Kulak has a 24/ 1 year, 64 3-year.
Gavrikov will cost as much as McCabe and is headed to the Panthers in the summer.
McCabe will come cheaper than Chychrun, and the 2013 1st round pick plus Puljujarvi plus picks and prospects not named Broberg, Holloway, or Bourgault will be enough to get him.
EW’s Player Rating has a 20th percentile for Gavrikov 1 year, and a 38 percentile 3-year average.
McCabe is having a good season, it seems for sure though I have never really noticed this player, so I don’t have a seen him good or bad read.
McCabe will cost less than Chychrun, for sure except you’re also only getting a solution for this year.
With Chychrun, you get a solution for this year plus the next two all cost-controlled.
If you rent every year for this year and the next two you’re either going to pay 3 x 1st rounders or you’re going to have to tie up cap to sign a 29-year-old McCabe this summer.
McCabe seems interesting, but I don’t know enough.
Gavirkov is a UFA, Chychrun and McCabe both have two years left.
Oh yeah that’s right, I conveniently forgot that.
Do you like McCabe at two more years at $4m?
Technically, I’m not watching enough hockey to have a really strong opinion, but a D is coming regardless of what we think about it. McCabe in means Holland hs to find a way to rid himself of one or two of Puljujarvi, Foegele, Yamamoto, or Barrie by next summer. But McCabe means Holland doesn’t have the same problem next year.
McCabe means he gets to keep both Broberg and Bouchard, if he wants to, I think.
McCabe is probably the best value for asset cost and duration between Chychrun, McCabe, and Gavrikov.
Zito knows Gavrikov, and Russian ex-pats all over South Beach and the Panthers have a need, so the Oilers would have no chance in re-signing Gavrikov.
Why so much for an average defensive D? If he was better he’d be getting paid more, regardless of public or paywall stats
Adam Larsson is not being paid much more than McCabe is.
How bout those Lions!
In Dan Campbell they believe!
Jared Goff gets my vote for comeback player of the year.
Campbell is the lion whisperer.
So why is this team so bad at home? Anyone have an idea? I just don’t understand the discrepancy between the two.
Did you think they were bad last night? I didn’t.
The question was not about last night. It is about them having a better record on the road than at home.
“Historic” stop on 4th and a half yard.
So….. Kostin just posted on IG a pic with McDavid from last night, with the captain “ready for Tuesday” and a muscle emoji.
I take it at face value!
Captain or caption?
caption
Well I hope the captain will be ready for Tuesday as well.
Please and thank you.
Right now he’d probably go full 1960’s and play missing a leg. Probably hasn’t had this much fun playing hockey in yonks
With the start of a New Year, I was thinking that it might be a fun project to name your all time Oilers roster!
Some ground rules:
Players must be slotted in the position they’ve played the majority of their games with the Oilers. In other words, Messier must be played at C not LW.
Players should be slotted reasonably on the depth chart. No Doug Weight on the 4th line or Paul Coffey on the third pairing. This is a functional all time Oilers roster not an all star team.
Handedness does not matter as much for Dman as depth chart awareness. For instance, two lefties like Coffey and Pronger could form the top pairing but Nurse can’t start on the third pairing.
Sound like fun? I for one would LOVE to see LT’s and Mcurdy’s rosters.
I’ve got a roster in mind but where do I find GP splits on Draisaitl at RW vs C?
Draisaitl as “Utility Forward” & Coffey as “Rover”? I am so all over that
They definitely own those hybrid roles!
I like the debates that fixed positions facilitate. Gretzky vs McDavid for 1C, Messier vs Draisaitl for 2C, Kurri vs Draisaitl for 1RW, etc.
The one player that’s a lock imo is Moog for 2G. The Oil have never had a better backup and likely never will, although a little creative license probably gets Ranford on the roster there.
So not this… correct?
https://www.tsn.ca/the-all-time-7-edmonton-oilers-all-time-team-1.1471818
Just asking because this is pretty complete for me aside from a couple tweaks on 3RD and 4RW and I’d swap 2LD and 3LD.
That’s got some of the elements but imo it’s too loose on the depth chart adherence. McDavid, Draisaitl and Hemsky were never 3rd liners but that’s where they live on this team. Ranford did play as a backup at the start of his Oiler career but the bulk of his time on the Oilers was as 1G. For this all time team, he has to compete against his fellow 1Gs.
There is some challenges with this. For example Nuge who has played all over the depth chart in his career. For me, Linseman vs RNH is a good debate for all time 3C but has the Nuge played enough there to qualify?
Gotcha… it would be hard to imagine not having McDavid on the roster at all, I for one would not be removing The Moose at 2C and McDavid hasn’t played that position unless Leon’s line started the game, like twice. Not sure how anyone can realistically remove anyone from the previous link from the top 6, perhaps Draisaitl in for Simpson?
Hell Mike Smith might be the 2nd best “backup” which is crazy, but Moog makes this a mute point.
It’s really the bottom 6 and 3rd defense pairing that makes my head spin and McTavish is in there for sure.
I’m a post-dynasty Oil fan.
If Drai can be at W:
Smyth-McDavid-Draisaitl
Hall-Weight-Hemsky
The good Ethan Moreau-Nuge (according to Hrudey)-Grier
Hartikainen-Reasoner-Buchberger
13th forward: Ryan Jones
Wish I could find room for Horcoff and Omark
Souray-Petry
Nurse-J. Smith (best of all time)
Russell-Gilbert
7th D: Sutton
Wish I could find room for Hamrlik, Smid, and Benning
Joseph
Markkanen
Mind blown.
Just to clarify, this is Dave’s all time favourite roster as opposed to trying to select who is the best at each position.
I love the Hall/Weight/Hemsky line. That would be one entertaining line to watch.
Petry over Pronger?
Ok here’s a first cut with Drai at 2C:
Smyth / Gretzky / Kurri
Simpson / Draisaitl /Andersen
Graves / Linseman / Klima
Moreau / MacTavish / Buchberger
Coffey / Pronger
Lowe / Gator
Muni / Niinimaa
Fuhr
Moog
Pressbox: McDavid, Messier. I could see these two playing in a pinch!
You absolutely nailed the 4th line… I can’t take out Huddy or Gregg, sorry. 3rd line and 3rd pairing for me is still a work in progress.
Pisani was a tough omission for me. Couldn’t make a legit case for him predominantly as a third liner. Klima is a wild card. They played him up and down the depth chart depending on how mad at him that Muckler was. Graves, Linseman and Klima. That is three top six caliber players on the third line. Sather was a master.
If memory serves, both Muni and Niinimmaa took some time to develop into top 4 D so I’ve slotted them on the third pairing here in the belief that they played enough bottom pairing mins to qualify.
I also strongly considered CuJo over Fuhr. Grant has the better resume but played on far better teams. Joseph was the undisputed team MVP on those overachieving Oiler squads of the 90s. They would’ve done squat without him imo.
Yep to both posts… completely!
Is it fair to say that Kostin has shown much better offensive instincts in a couple of months than Jesse has …. ever? Recency bias acknowledged, but as several posters have noted recently Klim makes a number of heady touch and forward passes that seem to elude Jesse. Klim plays a bruising straight line game that is effective. Now, if Klim could develop some of Jesses defensive chops that would be a very good player. Klim may get there in time.
Disagree on the “heady touch” passes, JP is excellent at those.
Kostin has a WAY better shot, is mayb e the biggest difference.
He is afraid to make any other play but to get it to 97 as fast as he can.
Agreed. If Jesse could sort his shot out, in every way, the rest of his game is at acceptable levels, or better
I think the biggest difference is that, right now, Klim “hangs on to pucks” – he waits for passing lanes to open and plays to develop and has the skill and instincts to make the play that opens up. Jesse is looking to get the puck off his stick the instant it arrives on. At least to my eye.
Song suggestion for a future title… “It was an old day yesterday(but it’s a new day now)”? Perhaps after the start of a winning streak?
The song I stole the title of today’s blog from is White Hot by Red Rider. Perhaps that works?
Great track. Always loved Cochrane’s lyrics on that one.
There’s a song by Swedish band Broder Daniel called Shoreline, where the line is sung. I was a bit surprised first, because I wouldn’t assume you’d heard of it. So turned out it was another song!
Well, this particular line isn’t actually sung by Red Rider. The actual lyric is “Waiting by the shoreline.”
Feist is awesome on this BSS track “Shoreline”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uev2J_cBHjQ
There’s an acoustic album Cochrane does of a bunch of his classics. It’s ridiculously good. Honestly better than original releases.
White hot is so good on that album.
https://youtu.be/au8hjkYu6Gk
I defer to the expert, as always! Jut love the song title game, leeps me on my toes.
I remember it the opposite, “It was a new day yesterday, but it’s an old day now.”
https://youtu.be/Kq5zTznlSJI
A tremendous opening track on an underrated if not fogotten Jethro Tull albumn, “Stand Up”. Loved that band, they were soooo good live. Saw them in concert 6 times over the years. .
Really poor by Jay last night imo with respect to Jesse. You have to know how shaky his confidence is. You have to know this last stretch is the best we’ve seen from JP. He was been tapping his stick demanding the puck. He had Helly beat with that move that hit Morrisseys stick. You have to know that his line was 80% expected goals and that the turnover was a) kind of a weird one not like Shores b) well in advance of the goal.
And boom…all that wasted.
Jesse Puljujarvi is a veteran NHL player with 297 NHL games under his belt. When do people stop babying him.
I don’t think I understand. Are you saying that Jesse should have stayed on the first line rather than Kostin, who had already scored and appeared to be emerging offensively in real time (or going on a heater)?
Kostin didn’t get elevated it was Yamo. Kostin just played the 6-on-4 when Yamo got hurt.
Ok fine it was Yamo. He is scoring at a higher rate than Jesse. So is Kostin, Janmark, and Foegele. Not sure why you would necessarily prefer Jesse, other than expected goals.
It was actually the 5 on 4 that Kostin played when Yamo was getting attended to. They were both on for the 6 on 4.
Poor Jesse – his confidence is so low and no one on the team likes him.
LT, you state declaratively that you would not trade Puljujarvi. That assumes Holland getting unsatisfactory assets in return. What is that assumption based on? Surely there must be players or draft capital you covet that would make a trade palatable?
It just doesn’t seem very ‘math’ to me to essentially characterize this player as untouchable. Nor does it seem fair to Holland to assume any trade he might make would be a guaranteed loss. If JP can be moved in return for assets that improve the hockey club, that is the narrative that should prevail.
Well Bag of Pucks, I meant what I meant. I wouldn’t trade him. He is a player who can help the Oilers, he’s familiar with the various players on the team, and he is 1-1-2 in his last three games with seven shots and four HDSC. I would not trade him. It has nothing to do with what Holland could or could not get for him.
I applaud the loyalty. I’m not sure it’s the position Sam Pollock would take, or Slats for that matter.
A breakout season 5 years in? Stranger things have happened I suppose.
Sam Pollock would have traded him long ago and taken the next guy from the Nova Scotia Voyageurs. Of course he had more talent in the AHL than some NHL teams had on their rosters. I think Kostin might steal JP’s job, he’s sure stealing someone’s job. However, Puljujarvi is a little bit unique on this team, he can create havoc. I think the team offloads him in summer, that’s my guess. I’d keep him. I am stubborn, though.
Pollock would treat him like Mickey Redmond & trade him plus parts for Frank Mahovlich.
Not trading Jesse will make it harder getting McCabe on the roster.
The question is no longer “Are you going to trade him?”. It is “Are you going to qualify him?”
With Woodcroft as coach, for Jesse’s sake, I hope Holland doesn’t qualify him.
I think he is going to be used to match salary in the McCabe trade. Puljujarvi, Foegele, or Yamamoto have to go in that trade.
Yes. Agreed.
In a year or two JP will be making us bemoan having Yama or Foegele around. Neither has better hands in the end. Yama is busy but just as ineffective, and a bell ringing away from trouble, he does PK. Foggy has no hands either and can’t play top 6
Is it that hard to find a PKer?
Puljujarvi is always going to wonder how things might be different on another team. Sometimes you need a second opinion and that time has come for Jesse. He might actually blossom on a team like Columbus or San Jose in a lower pressure market with more power play opportunities.
This is true
I wonder if he’ll wonder how things would have turned out if his agent hadn’t forced agreements from the team in order for him to sign and come over – how he would have developed if permitted to play in the AHL prior to spending half the season (40 games) on the NHL roster.
Lots of mistakes made by lots of people/parties since draft day.
It could be argued that if you troubleshoot this problem back to its source, the fault is Puljujarvi’s camp for hiring the wrong agent.
The one thing Jesse can’t complain about is a lack of opportunity. He was given big mins with elite players and simply didn’t produce to expectations.
Imo, his biggest issues were his difficulties learning English and adapting his game to a North American system, two items that are quite likely highly interrelated.
Professional sports history is littered with draft busts that had the physical gifts for the job but not the mental ones. Organizations ignore a prospect’s intellectual and emotional toolset at their own peril.
I wonder how things would have turned out if the OIlers did not make promises that they did not keep in spirit at a naive Finnish teenager from the hinterlands who didn’t understand a word of English, whose first instinct was to stay in Europe.
I think it was important to get him over to North America – adapting to the North American game, the language, etc. was clearly the most important thing. Coming over, attending rookie camp, main camp and the right to Bakersfield, with the support of the org for what he needed off the ice, that would have been ideal.
A couple of observations. This focus on defensive structure has helped to give up less but we’re really struggling to generate high danger scoring chances (with the exception of the Seattle game). It reminds me of the Hitchcock era, early on. We won a bunch of low scoring games in a row but I noted then that the coin tosses would start going the other way.
So now we’ve had 2 “coin toss” 2-1 games in the last 3. One win and one loss.
The question I have is whether we should be content “being in every game”.
I don’t believe Colorado last year thought like that.
Hellebuyck stole that game, that’s what I observed. Connor Hellebuyck made 31 saves on 32 shots by the Oilers. Jack Campbell made 15 saves on 17 shots by the jets. There’s the game in a nutshell. Oilers generated more high danger scoring chances and probably should have won the game. IMO
I disagree with the people that are giving all the credit to Helly for stealing them a win. I counted more than 6 shots on net in the 1st period that just hit him. He didn’t make a save, the puck luckily bounced off of him. He actually looked unaware the puck even had got to him on 3 out of those 6 shots. He was lucky, not good yesterday (2 posts from Yams & McD too).
But I think I heard Louie say they were missing 7 starters to injury…that’s a lot of bodies. We should have controlled that game, and we did, but we still didn’t get the win. I think that means last night should be seen as a disappointment. That’s a game we should be winning everytime with little to no effort with the best player in the world on our roster.
Turn the tables here…take away 7 of our starters and the Jets would have crushed us without a doubt. We always seem to fail when things should be easy…its damn frustrating.
And no, Campbell can’t let in 2 goals on 11 shots. Not in the situation he is in this year. Doesn’t matter how they went in, he needs to stop 25 shots/goal at a minimum to regain his starter status. However, I can’t be mad at him at all for his terrible season. Without his awful play…I honestly don’t think Skinner would have been given the chance to show just how good he can be. And damn…he’s good.
It’s the NHL. There’s no such thing as winning games with little to no effort.
Stopping 25 shots per 1 goal against is a .962 save percentage. That’s a lofty expectation.
I’ll bet other team’s thought they were getting some great players when they handed the farm away to The Canadiens, time after time after time.
That’s what good goaltenders do , they allow the puck to hit them because of their positioning. The Oil are missing a couple top six forwards also. Plus Campbell made 15 saves on 17 shots. You’re right though, it wasn’t just goaltending , they played solid defense infront of their goalie and their PK was terrific.
JP
GF 12 / GA 22
I wanna believe. I do
Klim has 9 points in 22 GP.
Jesse has 9 points in 38 GP.
One plays bottom-6, the other plays top-6 (with the 2 best players in the game).
I’ve said it before and I’ll keep saying it… Kostin > Pool.
Man I hope his injury is days or weeks…why does this always happen to us!?
Question, why don’t they give him away for peanuts, or simply put him on waivers?
Just curious, how many Oilers players are plus players at this point?
12 plus skaters, topped by Nurse +13 & Ceci +10.
11 minus skaters, bottomed by Bouchard -12 & Puljujarvi -11.
All others in a tight group between +6 and -5.
So the roster is indicative more or less of the team’s record. Half in the plus and half in the minus. Thus, if Nurse is a +13 and Ceci +10 and the cry is to improve the defence, then that stat’s validity has to be questioned.
2 more years at $4MM.
I think this would require Kulak out, right?
Can we “lock in” Kulak at 3LD for the next two years at his cap hit?
To the extent this player is a legit upgrade on Kulak and a legit every day 2LD that can help win tough minutes, well, I think I am just fine with Niemo/Broberg at 3LD going forward.
There needs to be ELC and 2nd contracts in this lineup.
Sure Broberg is one. Broberg can play both sides. Eventually, they’ll deal Barrie. I don’t think McCabe is an ideal target but he has Holland written all over him.
I agree with all of this (although Broberg on his off-side isn’t quite proven yet at the NHL level – he has had a couple good games there though). I’m just trying to think of how that contract fits in practically.
It doesn’t but it fits Holland like a glove.
Remember Sekera and Lucic cap hits come off next season. So 2.25 million freed up just from that before making any other decisions. Plus the likeliness you could get Chicago to retain is probably pretty high for an extra draft pick or prospect.
I think the “better way” to look at is the Oilers have $73.3MM committed to 16 players so, well, apx $9MM of cap space for 7 players (to fill a 23 man roster) until the cap does go up materially which is currently not looking good. They will need to re-sign both Bouch and McLeod in there, a replacement for Jesse plus…..
Cap will need to go out to even keep the current team together, essentially.
To retain for 2.5 yers, that won’t be a nominal pick or prospect – that will cost. We aren’t talking about retaining for a half a season on a pending UFA.
If the Saints can make this lead stick through 60, NFC is going to get dang interesting…
Its just so demoralizing to think about right now. I mean, the offensive confidance had popped for this player last night – he was making skilled plays with the puck all over the ice – long transition passes, smart offensive zone plays, retrievals, goals, etc. He is very high event, both ways, but he earned that 3rd period ice, the PP1 time, the goalie pulled time.
What hurts even more is they set him up for the Dari-shot 5 second before and, to me, it looked like he got all of it and it may have been labelled for the far side but that d-man made a “hero block” in a very awkward way and we’ll never know – Klim may have tied the game and stayed healthy if it wasn’t for the block.
Here is hoping its one of those “looks worse that it is”.
Wish come true.
Happy Free Agent Signing Day!
Dallas signs Joe Pavelski to a one year extension at $3.5 million plus up to $2 million in performance bonuses.
So one-year, $5.5 million is my take. All that old so-and-so has ever done is “perform”. What a great player.
They would only need to include $3.5M in their daily cap calculations for the 2023/24 season, however, if the bonuses vesting put them over the cap at season’s end, they’ll receive a cap penalty for the following season (similar to the Oilers dealing with the Bouchard/McLeod bonus overage penalty this season….. and likely next).
Given the bonuses are essentially a certainty ($1MM for 10 games and another $1MM for 20 games), they are really just kicking the extra $2MM down the road to the following season (unless they have a crap ton of cap space through next season).
Similar to the Bruins with Bergeron and Krejci.
I don’t disagree with the magnitude of his current struggles. We know his defensive game is going to a work in progress and develop over the next 3-4-5 years but I never thought his offensive transition game (and offensive zone game) could struggle to this extent. Maybe part of that is also deployment (last night’s most common forwards: Ryan, Shore, Kostin, Nuge, Janmark – not quite the group a d-man looks to hit in stride).
At the same time, the rest of the thought doesn’t really jive with the “d-men don’t develop in straight lines”, right? Of course, Bouchard could be an asset in a trade but, at the same time, Holland is known to be patient and he knows d-men take time. I’m not so sure we are near Jeff Petry land but it is wild how the fan-base has largely turned on this man.
One thing Bouchard is doing, is locking himself in to a bridge deal off his ELC – maybe even ground down as Holland often does to players coming off their ELCs (see McLeod). At the same time he 5 on 5 production last year happened and its a factor. We could see this player at 2 X $1.75MM and that will almost certainly be a massive value deal, no?
General managers have less of a connection to players they didn’t draft. Brothers become cousins. I like Bouchard a ton. He may not spend the heart of his career here. It has less to do with developing in an imperfect line, and more to do with winning now. I’d keep him Love the Bouchard.
2 x $1.75 is *exactly* the bridge deaal Jeff Petry got afteer his ELC expired. Led to him having the club over a barrel in his UFA -1 season, & ultimately, the trade. On the bright side a 2-year extension for Bouch would still leave 2 controlled years.
Wouldn’t the steep rise in the cap since Petry’s extension affect the value of that deal?
Exactly Bruce, big deal from expiring in UFA-1 year with arb rights (i.e. able to force UFA) and 2 years to UFA expiry.
As a college boy Petry was older when he started, so had fewer years under control. That made a big difference at decision time.
So, you think that deal would be OK for Bouch’s next contract. Holy hell the AAV would be ALOT lower than projected even 2 months ago (at any term) and I think it would almost certainly be a MASSIVE value deal.
I anticipate that Bouch will regress up over the next few months.
Would like to note I am pleased to see Bouchard getting some time with Nurse. When together they have some very nice stats. With an xgf% of 64%. Small sample but encouraging.
This won’t be popular in here ….but I am losing confidence in JP here.
I love this kid. I do.
His next birthday will be his 25th, though. It’s the hockey sense.
I dunno. I do feel he can be a 20 goal scorer, but he might need a change of scenery.
The hockey IQ is getting frustrating and I am not so sure anymore that it is going to improve at this point.
His constant falling down is also driving me to distraction.
Who likes JP and wants him on the team no matter what press thumbs up
Who thinks JP has worn out his welcome press thumbs down
I am a firm believer that he along with the likes of Broberg, Bouchard, Holloway, McLeod, feel the constant pressure playing in Edmonton. You’re expected to deliver at a high level. However, not everyone is Connor or Leon. Even if he is not scoring, my belief is he is usually making other positive contributions. People blaming the loss solely on him, is mind boggling and unjust in my opinion. You cannot play with fear or lack of confidence, and when you know that your mistakes will be punished you are less likely to play freely on the ice. Yes, a change of scenery is the solution.
i agree – it’s is a confidence thing.( I think)
And the pressure to play with Connor is immense. Other players have talked about this.
Bouchard (see him walk the line last night) and Holloway have hockey IQ. Certainly both have their weaknesses though.
I think I am more inclined to have JP be a 3RW
I agree 100%. This team, with the players it has, should not be struggling to earn a playoff berth. That is largely due to a lack of structure/defence. I am not against JP on third line.What I am against, is narrowing losses down to a select few individuals. For example, the loss night for me comes down to special teams. The Jets were down 7 regulars. No excuses.
There’s a lot of pressure to perform at a high level no matter what city you are playing in. Do you think it would be less in Boston, New York, Denver, or Toronto? Even non-traditional markets like Phoenix, Nashville or Raleigh, the coaching staff will only give you so many chances before you get demoted.
Poor Jesse … from the moment he entered the NHL he’s had to deal with the pressure of playing on the same line with two of the top five players in the world. Now his ‘confidence’ is down. Poor Jesse.
Yes, there is pressure and there is pressure. In Edmonton, the only game in town is hockey. In the U.S., you have the NFL, NBA, etc…why do you think players don’t want to play here??
Happy New Year!
Yes, it should be easy. Making the playoffs in the Pacific is a very, very low bar to clear.
San Jose, LA, & Anaheim ( maybe even Vancouver) are all rebuilding in one form or another. Plus, Seattle.
Kenny walked into a team with:
McDavid
Drai
RNH
And 1LD in Nurse
Has Kenny improved the team?
Yes
Its 2023 and we are fighting for a wild card spot today.
People need to aim higher.
Yes, how many points have they thrown away against rebuilding teams? How many regulars did the Jets have out last night? 7?
People get really impressed, like when we lost to Hersey in December, when we play “well” against injury decimated teams.
December was littered with back ups in goal against us.
,,, or #3s.
He’s made some strange moves 1st one was buying out Sekera. This was not needed for at least a year. Maybe he thought he was back in Detroit where there was no cap and he had the inside straight pipeline of Russian Superstars. When the Oilers record was 7-3 this blog was ready to put up Kenny’s statue next to Gretzky’s. We’ve needed a D with sandpaper since Larsson departure. He should of traded Yamo this off season he’s not a full time Top 6 the 3M could of been spent on the back-end
Yes, trading Yamo off for some sand paper would of made a world of difference.
Hope Larsson and his sand paper enjoy the consistently free of doing anything hockey related rainy springs in Seattle.
Happy New Year to you all!!!
May this year beat last year like an angry mad Gretzky on a heater!!
Although for me we’ll see – I typed ‘ass’ instead of ‘all’ and almost didn’t notice. Not even hungover.
The lack of an offence threat from so many is a Scooby Do Mystery…
Puljajatvi
Yamamoto
McLeod
Holloway
Bouchard
Broberg
Not to me. Most players have to have solid structure and teammates doing their jobs, in order for them to do theirs
When I watch Boston or teams that have been long organized, you can see the pattern of play (at evens) and what they are trying to do. They do it over and over until they score. The better players score more. Because they are better players and get PP as well
I don’t see the Oilers doing anything consistently this year except the PP. Break outs are all over the place, lots of glass and outs, entries are inconsistent, dump ins aren’t supported well or consistent
I also see line changes are getting better, but disrupt a lot of attacks. I don’t notice it as much with other teams. I feel the Oilers have long been awful at changes for years and have been burnt a lot with sloppiness and too long
At the end of the day this means a lot of players won’t produce. Having one 1st pair D, no true clear 2nd, and the rest varying degrees of 3rd pair also really hurts IMO. Having to use what are really AHL forwards on a good team hurts. Too many are playing with weak, challenged players and the whole lot go down
The Oilers have plenty of offense. Offense is not the issue, it’s commitment to defence and structure which has and continues to be lacking. It would not shock me in the least bit if 90% of the players above were to perform better elsewhere.
There’s 6 players listed, all young and on uneven developing roads.
Yams has had a bunch of success, McLeod is a success, Bouch is having his terrible 2’s, Broberg is 2inches into his career, Holloway is 1inch, Pulj is a 3rd liner.
All these fellas would be the same else where currently.
Really? Yet all of the above mentioned players are either currently being mentioned in trade rumours, or being classified as underperforming.
5 first round picks 2016-20 & a high 2nd. Not a one of them living up to (lofty) expectations, especially at the offensive end of the sheet.
Wrote about the lack of scoring from the young ‘uns at CoH a couple days back. Not a single Oiler under age 25 with more than 3 goals at the time. Since then Kostin scored 3 in 2 games, & the hockey gords had to respond quickly. ????
I agree on the commitment to defence and structure but don’t really agree that they have plenty of offence. To this point, they are 19th in the NHL in goals scored at 5 on 5 (18th at G/60). Yes, PP goals count but, then again, they give many of those back on the PK….. Scoring is an issue.
5v5 scoring from a narrow band of players is also an issue
They score enough goals if they would commit to playing defence/defending which is the PK. Special teams were the difference against the Jets.
Happy New Year LT/Folks!
I was pissed when the Petry trade went down. I’d be seething livid pissed if Bouchard got sent away. He’s got 12 years in the league minimum without injuries.
I was pissed when they traded Petry for nothing but magic beans. If they trade Bouchard in a package for a better defenseman, then I’ll wish Bouchard well in his career (except when he plays against the Oilers), but I won’t lose sleep over it.
Bouchard reminds me more of Justin Schultz than he does of Jeff Petry. Like Schultz, he brings no urgency or aggression on defense, along with brilliant offensive tools married to a lack of pace. He’s not keeping up with play in either zone.
Like Schultz, he’s going to have a long NHL career, but as a bit of a journey man, because teams are going to get tired of passive play.
The Oilers have always held on to their young players too long, until their value has eroded, then traded them away for crappy magic beans.
I hear you, but Schultz was 26 when he scored over 33 points in a season and Bouch was 22, his first NHL season when he exceeded that mark. Bouchard is also more physical than Schultz and Petry was not a physical player until he was in his 30’s.
As fans we are unreasonably impatient, that is a fact. There is that phenomenon called a sophomore slump and that is happening to Bouchard in real time. This has been a weird season, but I think he is worth it to keep around . He may not rebound this season, but next year he will be a 60 point player.
I keep Bouchard unless the piece coming back is a immediately long term impact defender.
I trade Broberg for something that lines up better with the core of the group. A Broberg in year 4 or 5 instead of rookie Broberg.
Need one of those Slats trades for a Roman Hams.
This is what I’m saying exactly … if you can get the modern day equivalent of Roman Hamrlik for a package that includes Bouchard, then you make that deal. I’d rather be the one trading the magic beans than receiving them.
Edmonton Oilers’ December sleep walk a touch of deja vu
https://theathletic.com/4046850/2023/01/01/edmonton-oilers-stats-standings-december-2022/
Heard on the telecast last night if the goalie touches the puck he should make the save. ???? if you believe that, ???? if you don’t.
Sometimes the shooters just get lucky.
Context is important. How many saves have goalies made with the knob of their stick? I think of the improbable (impossible?) Gryba goal where he shot the puck over the blade of Giordano’s skate and under the boot through that space that a puck barely fits.
For me that “Death Star” shot is a prime example of the impact of luck in hockey. It is very real and often spectacularly aggravating multiple times per game.
As good as he was, Hellybucyk was as much luck as he was good. We see this phenomenon repeating itself in the close games.
We can look at things like the Ref’s decision not to consult his crew mates on the Ceci over the glass penalty and the RNH one timer that hit the side of the net, if it was on target, would it have been a goal?
This team would have been better served last night by JP scoring his monthly goal vs the Jets rather than vs the Kracked, but that IS the game.
A thought the Oilers played quite well and weren’t good enough to beat Hellebuyck.
I don’t understand the hate for Campbell last night.
2 goals on 3 HD chances is not good.
If the first goal was weak then we all need remind ourselves of how weak these goals are when we are celebrating the similar ones Drai pots, and there are lots of them.
Drai gets a lot more on virtually every shot than Pionk got on that slider. Pass was slow too, a lot of goalies would have been there & set, is my take.
2 goals in 11 shots in nearly 2 periods of hockey.
I agree with Elliott Friedman – I did not like the first goal allowed.
He is certainly not the reason we lost though.
I agree, we lost because of Hellybuck.
He is running away with the Vezina…
I’d trade Skinner, Broberg, Bouchard, JP, Holloway, Yams, and 5 1sts for Hellinabuick. But that’s just me. He’s too damn good.
lol
The first goal was one that Campbell should’ve had if he’s going to earn that 5 million dollar AAV. The second was just an incredible individual play by Kyle Connor – that deflection would’ve beaten Skinner too.
I agree….the question is who should have had Connor covered?
Sometimes
One of the better games this year despite the loss. Campbell however is still a problem. This was a game that reminded me of the play before last seasons playoffs. Shake it off and put the same effort in next time please.
McCabe, Gavrikov, Elliot is a busy bee .
The Oil need a better option than Shore and quite badly.
Drai was missed on the PP last night and it showed
McD was pretty much dbl teamed all night
Feel so bad for Klim the Him. Was just finding his stride and if out for a long time as well as with Kane gone the team is scary soft
In a Gavrikov trade,Jesse could be reunited with Laine,his old line mate and fellow Finn.This would be great for him.Happy New Year LT,and many more!
There are 42 games left. Does Campbell really have to start any more than 10 max? Another 32 starts would put Skinner at a total of 56 for the season, which isn’t unreasonable.
I don’t think Campbell was the problem yesterday, but the team has to make a run at some point.
Agreed on Campbell last night.
But I also agree with Friedman – I did not like Pionks PP goal either
If Campbell allows only 2 goals per game and the team fails to win, that’s on the team, not on Campbell.
A lot of guys who are underproducing (i.e. JP, Bouchard, Holloway) are shown the bench whenever they make a mistake. Bold strategy that is so far not paying off.
I think they have killed Bouchard’s confidence . When he came out of junior he was a gifted puck carrier and had an amazing 1st pass. He never goes with the puck on rushes anymore and his passing is terrible His other big attribute was he always got his shots thru. His D was where he needed work and still does. His skating was also an issue but he definitely got better. LT I agree with you that he may be moved. Barrie has one more year and I think Holland loves that player and he is very good on the PP and his D has been a lot better in the last 4-5 weeks and has been one of our best D on most nights. So if Holland is entertaining moving Bouchard maybe bring in Chychrun and make Bouchard part of that package. Lefty for a Rightey , but then pick up a RH 3rd pairing tougher D man . Luke Schenn would be a solid pickup. For the bottom pairing. He has been playing well.
How have they killed his confidence. And who is “they”?
Coaching staff. And if you can’t see the kid has absolutely no confidence,,, Then ?…
Confidence is generally a product of doing things successfully.
Not usually granted or destroyed by the actions of others.
A Coach can end a players career or cost him lots of money.
Good thing you qualified that with “generally” and “not usually”. Validation from others can be very effective to build confidence and some people need more outside validation than others.
The knock on Bouchard coming out of Junior was always that he lacked pace to his game. That has been magnified in the NHL where the game is played at a frenetic pace. Fans are seduced by the tools, and ignore the fact that he’s not processing the game fast enough to be a step ahead of the play, instead of a step behind.
What about the fact that he dealt with the pace just fine last season and in the playoffs. No, he wasn’t a lock down defensive guy – as rookies on the 2nd year of their ELC rarely are, however, he was a plus offensive guy, making plays at pace with consistency.
He clearly has the ability to play offensively at the NHL level, and even produce high end offence. He’s having a terrible season, he’s slumped, his confidence has plummeted and its snow-balled.
The thing with confidence, it can be found in an instinct, at any time. Almost all players have ups and down with confidence every single season.
You must be an expert to quantify a notion like that.
You answered on of the 2 questions.
So, how has the coaching staff killed his confidence?
He misses Duncan Keith. He needs to be paired with a veteran player at this stage of his career to settle him down. Keith was that guy, and they no longer have that guy on the current roster. Maybe Jake McCabe is that guy, if the Oilers are able to attain his services. Who knows it Holland is entertaining thoughts of moving Bouchard, certainly nobody from the media or anybody posting comments here.
In pushing the defense part of his game,they are changing the offensive side.Just let him go,and maybe like Conner,he will score more than he gives up.A race horse cannot pull a wagon!
The primary job of a defenseman is to prevent goals. If they can add some offense, that’s a bonus. Bouchard is not so dynamic offensively that he’s going to outscore his defensive mistakes.
Exactly – his offence is over rated by our fan base. If he can’t stop bleeding goals against, then ship him out in a package for a defenseman who can actually play defense.
Nurse/Bouchard have only played about 80 minutes together this season but they’ve killed it.
They played over 500 minutes last season and were quite good but had some bad luck. their .960 PDO led to a negative goal differential but their expected goals were close to 60%.
I know it seems like a bad idea to place a slumping Bouchard on the top pairing with tougher and higher leverage minutes but he’s done well there before and, well, he should be paired with the top 2 lines given his skill-set.
I think Ceci/Bouchard should split the Nurse minutes.
Looks like an off day for the team so probably no info on Kostin (here is hoping we don’t get news if a call up).
Happy New Year all. New Year. New optimism.
Wonder if the package you could use for Chychrun (or less then what Arizona wants) could land you multiple pieces. i think last night showed our need for scoring. Yes we score more then anyone. but that’s very PP dependant. 5v5 we need another driver to help us build depth.
And yep Mccabe makes too much sense. Wonder if you could also make Kane work. Yes I know the cap gymnastics needed. But could Holland swing for the fences and go all in?
Yes it’ll be Puljujarvi or someone at that cap hit (that’s enough to make McCabe work with the LTIR space).
Kane would need to be sent somewhere else with 50%, then another 50% retained.
New Year. Freakin go for it.
Kane-McDavid-Yamamoto
Hyman-Draisatl-Kane
Foegele-Nuge-Janmark
Holloway-McLeod-Ryan (assuming Kostin is out long term, looked bad)
Puljujarvi and a mid prospect like Lavoie for McCabe and 25% retained (cap hit $3 million like Puljujarvi)
a 1st and Benson, Petrov + Niemelainen for Kane 50% retained. Add a 4th to the Coyotes for taking Kane and retaining 50% (cap hit $2.65 mill).
Yep it’s a lot to give up. But go for it Holland. A guy can dream to start 2023!
Patrick Kane has 26 points this season, with 15 coming on the PP. Is his game starting to fall off a cliff? I’d prefer Toews – the Oilers have plenty of offence. It’s in the defensive zone and the PK where we are losing games. I see that Toews is still a demon in the face off circle, but wonder if he is still as hard to play against?
Domi would be the perfect fit on this team.A pest like his father,but he can score!Would solve our weak right side.On our team he would be a top six player.Go for it!
I have alot of time for renting Domi and potentially even re-signing him.
From accounts, he loves where he is, in particular the coach. Of course, he has no trade protection so no say on if he’s traded to Edmonton – don’t see him wanting to re-sign and he would likely re-sign with the Hawks if he loves it there so much.
I just want to hear what’s up with Kostin. He is becoming a favorite and it would be a most Oilers thing for him to miss three months now…….