The Edmonton Oilers looked indifferent at times through the first 30 minutes Tuesday, before two late second-period goals put the home side up 5-2. The third period was a little wilder than you’d like but the two points went to the better team and the Oilers wake up in third place Pacific.
THE ATHLETIC!
- New Lowetide: Is Oilers AGM Brad Holland having an impact on trade success?
- Lowetide: Are the Oilers carrying too much youth to win the Stanley Cup?
- Lowetide: What to expect from the Oilers’ 2023 NHL Draft after trading first-round pick
- DNB: Blunders hurt Oilers in loss to Maple Leafs
- Lowetide: Making the call on the Edmonton Oilers’ 2023 RFAs
- DNB: The Oilers and Stuart Skinner can use their comeback over the Bruins as a springboard
- DNB: For new Oilers Mattias Ekholm and Nick Bjugstad, family matters most after a trade
- Lowetide: How unique is Oilers’ Ryan Nugent-Hopkins career season?
- DNB: Connor McDavid’s importance to the Oilers keeps showing no bounds
- Lowetide: Oilers finally commit to Evan Bouchard. How much will it cost?
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers prospect Tyler Tullio is outplaying the high picks
- DNB: Why more vintage Kailer Yamamoto outings could solve Oilers’ right wing woes
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers spring signing season preview
- DNB: Why Mattias Ekholm is a big addition for an Oilers team that needs to win now
- Lowetide: Oilers’ mediocre February shows importance of protecting the puck
- DNB: Inside Brad Holland’s scouting process
- Lowetide: Oilers prospect Raphael Lavoie turns a corner, now NHL-ready
- Lowetide: Oilers top 20 prospects, winter 2022
WHAT TO EXPECT IN MARCH
- At home to: TOR, WPG (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 2-0-0)
- On the road to: WPG, BUF, BOS, TOR (Expected 2-2-0) (Actual 2-2-0)
- At home to: OTT, DAL (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 1-0-0)
- On the road to: SEA (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- At home to: SJS, ARI, VGK (Expected 2-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- On the road to: ARI, VGK (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- At home to: LAK (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- March expected result: 9-6-0, 18 points in 15 games
- March actual result: 5-2-0, 10 points in seven games
- February actual result: 4-3-4, 12 points in 11 games
- January actual result: 8-2-2, 18 points in 12 games
- December results: 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: 37-23-8, 82 points in 68 games
The month is setting up a little better than my projection (had the Oilers going 4-3-0, team is 5-2-0) and if the club can grab a win in one of the next two games it could be a 20-point month. Dizzying heights but it’s there for the taking. Team is in third place Pacific but Seattle has a game in hand and is one point behind.
GOALTENDING AND DEFENSE
Cody Ceci and Darnell Nurse played the most five-on-five and were up against the top trio (Stützle line) versus the Senators. I thought Nurse made some fine passes in the game (he did pick up an assist) and Ceci had a point blank look on a setup from 97. Brady Tkachuk is a helluva player.
Evan Bouchard and Mattias Ekholm had another great night, playing most often versus the Giroux line. Bouchard was loose on the PP, felling McDavid with a shot and delivering a boomerang that led to Ottawa’s shorthanded goal. Also hit pipe. Ekholm was 3-0 at even strength while he was on the ice, including a cherry pass to Bjugstad for a late second-period beauty. Ekholm might be my favourite Oilers defenseman since the Rake. Bouchard made a grievous pass into the middle that was intercepted for a fantastic chance in the third period.
Brett Kulak and Vincent Desharnais played depth minutes five-on-five but Desharnais played 5:13 on the PK (going 0-1). Five minutes on the PK is a long time for any defender, especially noticeable when the man doing it is in his 23rd NHL game.
Stuart Skinner made several outstanding saves late, he was one of the best Oilers again.
FORWARDS
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored a nice goal and was part of a dominant line (29, Foegele) that delivered 6-1 shots and 1-0 goals (96 percent x-goal share). Connor McDavid had some looks (and an ENG) but looked most impressive when passing to Draisaitl. That combination is so damned good.
Leon Draisaitl had his best game of the year, skating well and throwing his weight around. Woodcroft said “I think he played like he was a man on the mission” and that matched what I saw. Splendid player. Kailer Yamamoto had the most icetime among forwards at five-on-five, and did have one HDSC but he didn’t get much done with the puck on his stick. Evander Kane is turning the wheels better now, he’s going to have a big night soon.
Warren Foegele had one of his best nights for Edmonton. Passing was quality, he got two assists because he moved the puck quickly and with pace. His numbers as a right-winger were impressive, I wonder if we’ll see Yamamoto moved down the depth chart when Zach Hyman returns. Three HDSC for Foegele. His feet were moving all night. This season, in 132 five-on-five minutes with Draisaitl, Foegele’s five-on-five goal share is 69 percent (11-5). Boy howdy.
Derek Ryan scored early, played an effective game and delayed progress often. Nick Bjugstad scored a fine goal and I liked him on the PK. He was clipped during the game, hate to see big men fall like that (long way down). Ryan McLeod had a fine assist and was strong and smart on the PK. He took a hit later on, did not return. Klim Kostin did his thing and grabbed an assist, good to see him back in action.
Woodcroft told the media (Morgan asked the tough questions) Hyman is uncertain versus Dallas on Thursday.
CENTERS FIVE-ON-FIVE GOAL SHARE
- Connor McDavid 32-30 (52 pct)
- Leon Draisaitl 29-36 (45 pct)
- 97 and 29 29-24 (55 pct)
- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins 23-21 (52 pct)
- Ryan McLeod 24-20 (55 pct)
- Derek Ryan 14-9 (61 pct)
- Nick Bjugstafdt 2-1 (67 pct)
- The rest 3-3 (50 pct)
The encouraging thing here is Draisaitl’s numbers are climbing, with and without 97. I remain impressed with the work of the depth centers (and wingers). Long a sore sport, it has turned around and is a welcome sign of team growth.
OILERS TOP 20 PROSPECTS
I’m probably going to write about this in the next week or so, but my goodness Edmonton’s top-20 prospects have been on a wild ride this winter. Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg were at the top of the rankings, both men have now graduated after passing the 50-game mark in the NHL. Reid Schaefer got traded, Mike Kesselring got traded, Markus Niemelainen and Vincent Desharnais have played in 20+ NHL games and could graduate early next season. Who on earth is left? By NHLE, here is the group that remains.
- Matvey Petrov 38.0
- Maxim Berezkin 33.0
- Raphael Lavoie 31.2
- Patrik Puistola 24.7
- Tyler Benson 24.4
- James Hamblin 22.6
- Xavier Bourgault 22.1
- Jake Chiasson 20.6
- Tyler Tullio 20.3
- Skyler Brind’Amour 20.0
- Shane Lachance 19.9
- Noah Philp 18.5
- Maxim Denezkin 17.7
- RHD Max Wanner 16.9
- Joel Maatta 12.5
- RHD Phil Kemp 12.1
- Carter Savoie 11.8
- LHD Markus Niemelainen 11.2
- Tomas Mazura 9.8
- LHD Nikita Yevseyev 9.6
- RHD Vincent Desharnais 6.1
- LHD Luca Munzenberger 5.8
- Jeremias Lindewall 5.1
Among this group, there are very few sure things, and not many who can make the NHL more than one way. By that I mean (as an example) it appears Xavier Bourgault could make the NHL as a top-six skill winger or a third-line player with utility. He’s much better at the aspects of the game we associate with suppressing offense than we thought before he turned pro. I would place Tyler Tullio in the same spot.
The Oilers need defensemen at the top end but I do think there’s some quality on this list. Luca Munzenberger is just 20 now and finishing up his sophomore season. The NCAA is a league for older players, men of 25 or more play in the league. Munzenberger, like Dillon Simpson a decade ago, is having a difficult time separating himself from the pack at Vermont. We’ll get a better look at him when he’s in Bakersfield, the assessment will be more clear at that time.
The Oilers need offensive difference makers. I count Raphael Lavoie as the most promising based on his fine AHL season, but you have to respect Matvey Petrov and Maxim Berezkin, too. I would count Bourgault as the team’s top prospect at this time, your mileage may vary.
LOWETIDE AND JAMIESON
A fun show today, 10-2 on TSN 1260. We’ll be joined by Bruce McCurdy from the Cult of Hockey at the Edmonton Journal, we’ll talk about the Oilers win and the importance of finishing top 3 in the Pacific. Adam Burke from VSIN will talk March Madness. TSN Insider Chris Johnston also joins the fun. 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. See you on the radio!
Playoffs may change the situation – but right now – the changes in the off-season are pretty straight forward.
3LD: out Kulak – in Broberg
3RD: in Gudas or similar for about $2.5 million (Desharnais and Niemo can be #7/8)
2RW: out Yamomoto – in David Perron (I deal Yamo and Kulak for Perron plus pick at draft)
4RW: in Lavoie (+$800,000)
Kane McDavid Hyman
RNH Drai Perron
Foegle McLeod Kostin
Janmark/Holloway Bjugstad Lavoie/Ryan
Ek Bouch
Nurse Ceci
Broberg/Niemo Gudas/Desharnais
Skinner/Campbell
The Oilers need to lose a $~3M player to otherwise maintain status quo.
Yamamoto and Kulak out for Perron and Gudas increases rather decreases the payroll.
Buyout Campbell and sign Reimer 2x$2M saves $1.5M, but I know that’s not going to actually happen.
No, and I don’t think it should happen.
Reimer just turned 35 and is sporting a .894 SV% this season.
Campbell is highly likely to be better, even if he doesn’t end up covering the bet on his deal. And you neglected to mention the other 6 years of cap hits for a Campbell buyout at $1.5 and $2.6M.
And it wouldn’t come close to clearing enough space for the proposed roster anyway. It might be enough for a 22-man roster with Perron but not Gudas on it. Definitely not enough for a roster with a new $2.5M D added.
Campbell to the Flyers for Carter Hart
If you want serious changes to the roster the name Nurse has to be involved.
You can lose Yamamoto and Kulak but nothing tells me a player isn’t ready then not playing that player now.
I’m not sure playing Broberg, Bouchard and Desharnais is a winning formula.
I’d like the Oilers to add Dumba in UFA but he will be big dollars.
Oilers have to move Kulack – Nurse – Yamamoto and replace them with cheaper better versions to seriously run at the cup.
Nope
The East out of playoff teams appear a lot stronger than the patsies in the West.
The East playoff teams are in for a bloodbath with the winner likely to be battered unlike the Western team that’s going to have an easier way to the Finals. That’s good for the Oilers.
Oh, Cal – give up a shot from low on the side-boards wth 4 seconds left.
Condors win 2-1.
He’s probably kicking himself pretty good tonight.
It’s too bad for the scoring race we have no more games remaining against St Loo. 6 goals against in 11 shots before pulling their goalie? Woof woof! How embarassing!
Jordan Binnington is an embarrassment. He’s that kid from high school always shooting off. Everyone knows someone is going to kick his ass its just a matter of when.
Almost got his ass kicked by Fleury last night.
Binnington is a spazz.
Texas finally gets their second shot of the 3rd period and think, with the momentum, they should pull the tender – Lavoie intercepts a pass in the defensive zone and feeds Hamblin for the easy empty net goal.
2-0 Condors with 2 to go
Shots 17-12 Condors (Condor came alive in the 3rd, they had 8 shots through 2).
Prospecting!
Chiasson did not gather three points tonight. Not two. Not even one. So no, soup was not to be his tonight. He shall have to content himself with cold raisins and a warm Fresca.
Lavoie decides not to rip it from his spot on the PP but try a shot pass which he executed with perfection and Bailey buries the gift for the 1-0 lead.
Condors see their parent team can do it and go with 11/6 tonight:
Lavoie-Hamblin-Griffith
Esposito-McKegg-0Bailey
Benson-Philp-Kambeitz
Savoie-x-Dove-McFalls
Kaldis-Kemp
Niemelainen-Demers
Peters-Bernard
Pickard
Gildon and Dineen sick. Bourgault, Malone, and Tullio injured.
At least Savoie is back from his illness…
When is the rubber hitting the road for the Flames again?
When you are behind the Preds the road has already ran you over
It’s more of a used rubber hits the trash can situation
it was a typo – HH meant ‘sutter hits the road’
The Oilers have a lot of trouble keeping the puck out of the net, even with Ekholm.
High scoring games are exciting, but I’m not sure how this will translate to playoff success.
We haven’t had a shutout yet this season.
The Oilers are 11th in GA/60 all states. The Kings are the only other playoff team in the top 15 of GA/60 all states.
Good thing, we’re first in GF/60 all states!
The top 3 ranked teams in the league currently Boston, Carolina, and New Jersey are currently 1,2, and 4rth in lowest GA/60.
Since the Ekholm trade, we’ve allowed: 2,3,7,2,2,7, and 3 GA/game (average of 3.82 ga/g).
That’s a small sample, but still higher than our season average 3.3 ga/game.
I think this is the reason that I don’t want to play Dallas and Colorado or the Wild. These teams are 3rd, 5th, and 10th lowest in GA/60 all states.
Our xGA/60 are somewhat better at 19th highest vs 11th, so goaltending is part of the problem.
Not quite how they wrote it up, I’m sure.
One mitigator in the 7 games with Ekholm is that they came against the # 6, 17, 17, 1, 2, 6, 16 offenses in the NHL (rankings are excluding the actual #1 offense Oilers).
Anyway, definitely not a sampling of average opponents they’ve played.
Should have traded for Shayne Gostisbehere,,,…. joke
It’s piss or get off the lot time. For players and coaches
Everybody focuses on proper play, or roll the dice. The system has a lot in it that seems to push for offense, but is also risky for a lot of the roster
I don’t want full Sutter, but commitment to safe play, 60 minutes, and allowing the talent to be the difference is the right way. The Cup way
LAK GA/G last 6 games:
2
2
2
2
1
2
The goalie change and acquisition of a a 2LD have had a significant impact.
Why stop there HH? Oh – the two games before your sample the kings gave up 5 goals in each.
It might have something to do with when Gavrikov and Korpisalo joined the team….you know like 6 games ago.
http://images.pearsonclinical.com/images/assets/basc-3/basc3resources/DSM5_DiagnosticCriteria_OppositionalDefiantDisorder.pdf
Goaltending isn’t part of the problem – it’s the whole problem.
The Oilers are not built to be a defensive team, so I don’t expect them to always suppress goals. I enjoy they are an offence first team. Go try to watch Calgary a few games for the other side of the coin.
I agree – they could be better. But they are also so prolific offensively it also doesn’t matter as much. I also wonder if there are some score effects at play, since their games are higher scoring.
Goaltending is my primary concern with this team, and if they don’t advance out of round 1 I’m going to guess it’ll be on the goalies not being good enough, or not outplaying the opposition
Since January the oilers are a top 3 team in limiting xGA against at 5v5. Second in scoring chances against. It’s the goaltending that’s sunk them. 5v5 sv% ranking is 23rd
Oilers are a work in progress. So were The Sex Pistols.
A statement from Slater Koekkoek on what he’s been going through and why he’s stepped away from the game:
https://twitter.com/JannerOnPxP/status/1636127194132135938
Props to Slater for taking care of himself first and for sharing his anxiety
So many have it
All the best Slater!!
Good on him for having the courage to publicly announce what he was going through.
Glad to see he seems to be on the road to recovery.
I have to say I enjoyed what the NHL tried with ESPN and this animated game. I wish it was a more well-known brand, but very cool. If they can get it to move at-speed, this would be a hell of a thing.
https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-big-city-greens-classic-adds-new-dimension-to-rangers-capitals-game/c-342182936
Prospectolinium!
Jake Chiasson has been flirting with the point-pre-game mark as a Blade, but hasn’t quite gotten there. He could do it though with a three-point night (as opposed to Three Dog Night).
The puck, it drops @ 7 p.m. Atikameg time.
Too bad the game isn’t On the Road to Shambala. He’d be a lock!
Why? Because he’d be Chaisson the dragon?
Just because it’s not getting enough press…
McDavid is on pace to score 68 goals and 88 assist. Only 2 players ever have exceeded those numbers in the same season, The Great One and Le Magnifique. Each of them did it 4 times in their careers. Two of Super Mario’s super seasons are within spitting distance of McDavid’s pace, ’92-93 when he scored 69+91 and ’95-96 when he scored 69+92. A few bounces and even Lemieux’s ’87-88 campaign (70+98) is within reach.
Already the best season this century with 14 games to go, we’re witnessing history in the making. Savor it. It may never happen again.
What I am watching for ( and dreaming of) is a 2x 150 finish. 150 pts for McDavid, and a combined 150 goals for McDavid, Leon and Nuge. Be still my heart!
It is unbelievable.
My prediction: McDavid ends with 63-98-161
When he makes this mark we need to seriously consider that he takes a run at 200 next year.
Too many injuries, too many different linemates. Give him stability and it’s on.
That’s a great point, the season has not gone perfectly by any means. Kane hasn’t been healthy and McDavid hasn’t had stable linemates as a result. He’s had Hyman about 60% of the time, Draisaitl about 40% and Nuge 20%. All other forwards are less than that.
Stability and health will certainly increase his output. Incredible.
Baby Nuge soon going to be Papa Nuge. Thus passing the Baby Nuge title down 1 more generation.
This seems more like a Baby Nuge and Baby Nuge Jr situation to me.
I love it when the Nuge scores.
I find it incredible that the NHL website doesn’t have a whisper of McDavid passing Kucherov’s point total from a few years back.
Isn’t this the largest production in the last 20+ years? Isn’t he supposed to be the face of the NHL?
If you haven’t yet noticed, the NHL is marketing like they are in 1966. Waaaaaaay behind the other big leagues. As long as Gary is at the helm, that won’t change.
This is the league that awards losing teams a single point for tying a game. They have neither a conscience nor public awareness, Bettman is the laughing stock of professional sport leagues… positive promotion be damned.
Gary Bettman took over as comish in 1992 with the league having a revenue of something like 250 million. Over 30 years later he’s still at the helm owing mostly to him growing the revenue to Im pretty sure over 4 billion a year now.
I would say that he’s far from being a laughing stock. The board of governors love him.
Furthermore a huge part of that revenue increase comes from the expansion teams he’s brought in over his term. And I’d say a big part of the success of some of these new franchises owes in part to the optics of faux parody. Which the loser point provides for lesser talented clubs.
Gary Bettman is all about expansion. And I would posit that as long as the league is expanding they’ll keep the loser point going to provide new fanbases with the false hope of competition.
Bettman’s main job is to increase the value of franchises on behalf of the owners.
Anyone who disses him isn’t paying attention,
It’s all about TV which is about valuation
They need every market covered and supported to take a step up in revenue
I thought his main job was keeping the Stanley Cup in the USofA.
That would actually be a great way to increase franchise values.
From an owners point of view, you nailed it… he’s the boss that does the owners’ bidding. He is certainly not the fans’ nor players’ friend.
Another bothersome fact… his department of player safety ignores far too many infractions and issues penalties/fines that are seemingly nothing… protecting players’ safety is not his concern.
Helped the league, maybe. Helped the game, doubtful.
It is quite odd, but not particularly surprising.
Yeah but have you heard that Matthews is not scoring as much because he is focusing on being a complete player and/or may still be injured?
Or that teams have a funny way of seeing how you hurt them and adjust
The most amazing thing about Connor is he adjusts hard against them and does it so hard it makes it worse for them
Utter brilliance
Nothing on the website, but the NHL did tweet out last night how McDavid holds the single season point total among active players.
https://twitter.com/NHL/status/1635847895940308994?s=20
The Oilers of course have their own website and it features a story on Draisaitl not McDavid.
https://www.nhl.com/oilers/news/post-game-leons-legend-grows-with-fourth-100-point-season/c-342264120
But in the states Mcdavid is not being marketed anywhere near what Crosby and OV was
Of course not…they play there.
What is the logical reason for the NHL not to market McDavid in the states?
You are aware McDavid plays in the states, yes?
And.. now this may blow your mind, but McDavid has even played both Crosby and Ovi in the states as well!
The more the NHL hypes McDavid in the states, the more likely Americans will want to tune in to see what he is all about or even buy tickets to attend a game in person.
Hyping up the top stars in your league no matter what team they play for, just makes sense.
It’s no wonder you think Bettman is doing his job so well, you both share equally antiquated thinking.
How many extra tickets does McDavid sell in the US?
A fan in, say, the Metropolitan Division would only see their team play the Oilers once or perhaps twice if they decide to stay up very late to watch on television.
You have a point in games within the Pacific but chances are fans of those teams are already very aware of McDavid.
Good marketing is based on ROI and it would be very limited in Eastern and Southern markets.
With proper marketing, probably quite a few. As an example, look no further than the “Bedard Tour 2023” in the WHL. All the hype surrounding the probable first overall pick has led to sellouts in virtually every arena the Pats play in. I believe the crazy even extended to BC when Regina did their western road swing.
Nah…the WHL is a totally different animal where most games are far from sold out.
25 of the NHL teams are well over 90% capacity attendance and those that aren’t have really shitty teams.
You say “proper marketing” but don’t say what that would entail.
Would you focus that marketing on markets with low attendance since there is zero ROI on markets that already are sold out or close to it?
Kind of agree, but not totally on the ROI in sold out markets. Part of the marketing goal is to keep the demand high so that higher prices can be had for the tickets they do sell, even if they can’t sell more tickets.
That can easily be done by single game promotions when McDavid is due in town.
But it hardly warrants an extensive league wide marketing campaign as some here seem to be suggesting.
You’re not going to get any return on investment in markets where McDavid appears only once a season unless there are plenty of casual seats available.
How about on TV db.
Gretz n Co. filled rinks no?
They did…but in a different time.
Most NHL rinks are already full.
Ticket sales? Probably not much.
But with internet, streaming services, online merchandise, ad revenue, social media, etc., there are many ways the NHL and NHL teams could benefit from hyping up ALL of their talented players.
They also have the tools to build better rivalries between teams which would increase interest in the sport.
You would think that the NHL would have tried to learn something from Gretzky going to the states and blowing up the hockey market there. It’s so crazy how 1 generationally talented player made such an impact in the States and the NHL is gifted another generational talent in McDavid, but yet the NHL, with all of the modern tools at their disposal that they could use to promote McDavid’s talents in a far more efficient, effective and effortless way than they could with Gretzky, don’t
Not only do they have the talent of McDavid, but they have significantly more players who are talented across many teams. And scoring is blowing up across the league – seemingly gone are the 2-1 clutch and grab games. And yet, earlier this year I saw the league hyping up SID VS OVI as if that’s still supposed to be a huge rivalry, and it was still given more attention than Crosby vs McDavid, or McDavid vs Ovechkin.
ROI? What kind of high cost ROI are you worried about? Anyone with a computer could put together some graphics, stats, clips, audio, and post it on social media for thousands or millions of people to see. Many people even do it for free. The NHL apparently can’t afford marketing or social media interns, it seems.
Would you be surprised that the NHL has hundreds of very talented employees doing just that?
Of course, they will hype Crosby vs Ovi more…they play each other several times a season and their teams have a natural and long standing rivalry while McDavid vs Ovi is two games a season and one of those games is when most people in Washington are fast asleep.
You know there is a lot of criticism here..much from you..about how much attention Matthews gets but of course the Toronto fan base is many magnitudes larger than Edmonton’s and so marketing efforts will obviously be aimed at them.
For example, focusing McDavid marketing on Raleigh is almost pointless since Hurricanes games are already sold out and McDavid only visits once a season.
You can go through most American markets and come up with similar stories.
You seem to be suggesting any diehard hockey fan cannot witness the greatness of McDavid online but, in fact, they easily can if they wish to do so…but most don’t because their fandom tends to focus on their home team.
I am a Canadian, hearing about Sid vs Ovi in Canada. You have already suggested that the NHL wouldn’t be targetting me, as I am a Canadian and these are American teams. Yet, here we are. Pick a lane on this one.
You are saying that the NHL is focusing on the Toronto market because their fanbase is larger. I am saying that the NHL should try to focus on increasing all of their teams fan markets through very simple things like, promoting the talented players that play on all teams. McDavid is a Ontario boy is he not? You would think he would be getting a boost in that regard at least.
McDavid marketing is pointless in North Carolina because they only play eachother in Raleigh once a season?
Better hope Carolina and Edmonton don’t meet up in the playoffs or the marketing teams will have to do a lot of catch up in the hype department.
Again, it’s very interesting that you are so rigid in your belief that it seems pointless to market other teams and players to markets outside of their own.
As if you have never paid attention to the numerous posters across the globe who post on this forum, walk through Vancouver and seemingly not acknowledge any jerseys, hats or whatever being worn by fans of American teams and American players, or even wearing jerseys of other Canadian teams. I bet if you talked to them they would even tell you they weren’t born in the town of the team they are supporting.
Does an Ovi-Crosby story make you watch the game?
The NHL does promote all its teams and players..they have hundreds of people doing just that. You seem to be saying McDavid is not getting enough attention but it’s a pretty good bet that fans of other teams would disagree or, at best, not care.
If Carolina and the Oilers meet in the Stanley Cup final no amount of promotion will be required and no amount of hyping McDavid during the regular season will have any impact on that.
Of course there is some value in promoting players outside their home markets but it’s already being done and what I’m saying is ramping it up in a massive way would be a waste of time and resources since it is very unlikely to increase league or team revenue.
It seems to me what you are saying is that McDavid is not getting the attention he deserves but you’re making that assertion based on your fandom rather than what the market is interested in. Given the tribal nature of fan bases, it may have the opposite effect of what you’re hoping for.
For example, Matthews gets a lot on ink based on the market where he plays and I see resentment here over and over…as recently as from you today when you took a shot at his diminished goal output despite there being a new Jonas Segal article up on the Athletic today dealing with the hand injury he’s been nursing all season.
Folks have been saying for a long time that the league doesn’t do enough to promote its stars and there is some merit in that argument
but when it happens and involves players other than Oilers you get your knickers in a bunch.
“Does an Ovi-Crosby story make you watch the game?”
The Ovi-Crosby rivalry does not specifically drive me to watch the game because the rivalry is non-existent
“The NHL does promote all its teams and players..they have hundreds of people doing just that. You seem to be saying McDavid is not getting enough attention but it’s a pretty good bet that fans of other teams would disagree or, at best, not care.”
Hockey must be the only sport in the world where fans of said sport are not interested in the leagues best players in your eyes.
Kn reality, the more McDavid and other superstars get promoted, the more fans get invested in the outcome of the game their team is playing. They want to see their team beat the big names on the team they are facing.
Don’t believe me or want to question it? I bet you can rattle off quite a few names of players from opposing teams who played the Oilers in the 80s and you were interested in seeing how the Oilers would perform against them. It creates engagement. It makes people want to attend or watch games.
“Of course there is some value in promoting players outside their home markets but it’s already being done and what I’m saying is ramping it up in a massive way would be a waste of time and resources since it is very unlikely to increase league or team revenue.”
Would it be a waste of time? How massively would they have to ramp up?
Additionally, why hasn’t Bettman been ramping it up gradually during his long tenure?
“For example, Matthews gets a lot on ink based on the market where he plays and I see resentment here over and over…as recently as from you today when you took a shot at his diminished goal output despite there being a new Jonas Segal article up on the Athletic today dealing with the hand injury he’s been nursing all season.”
I would argue it was Toronto media who has the resentment, since the media are the ones spinning narratives around Matthews being better than McDavid. No one in their right mind would make that claim, and yet, people are having to defend McDavid as being the best player in the world when it’s a defense that should not have to be made. The Oilers got the better player, Toronto media got mad because their team didn’t and they felt robbed of writing countless pieces about hometown boy living some childhood dream of playing for the Leafs, so let the bullshit begin. But this is all happening in Gary’s league.
“but when it happens and involves players other than Oilers you get your knickers in a bunch.”
This is such a comedically bad take because it’s not even about McDavid vs Matthews. It’s Matthews getting more time of day than nearly anyone else in the league.
The number of players performing ahead of Matthews this season is funny, and yet you are telling me about how someone wrote a piece about an injury he is nursing. As if, well, there aren’t tons of other players also nursing injuries. I would even guess that there are players ahead of Matthews this season also nursing injuries.
This is so stupid.
Wasn’t it Gretzky that got the ball rolling down there? Well now there’s another
Yes he did…when he was moved to LA.
No one’s mentioned the time difference most of the 3/4 of the country doesn’t stay up until past midnight watching Oiler games
I did mention it in passing but it bears repeating.
Many devoted fans will watch the highlights the following day but convincing non-Oiler fans to stay up half the night to watch McDavid is a fool’s errand,
And yet, a lot Canadians know who Tom Brady, Steph Curry, Lebron James and Michael Jordan are without them ever having moved to Canada.
It’s almost like some leagues are significantly better at marketing their sport and players better than others.
You say Bettman is doing a great job, but compared to other sports, he is still lagging behind significantly, despite having a significant roster of talented players who are not evem just from the States and Canada, but from all over the world.
How much do you think the NHL is marketing Draisaitl and Stutzle over in Germany?
Or do Germans not care about them because they play for Canadian teams?
https://www.digitaltveurope.com/2021/11/16/nhl-goes-free-to-air-in-germany-with-prosieben-maxx-deal/
“With the NHL, we’re bringing the next big US sports league to us”
“After the Super Bowl and before the Stanley Cup: We’ll swap football for the puck and start #everydamnSunday with ‘ran NHL’ on ProSieben MAXX, when the NFL goes on a well-deserved break.”
It’s kinda funny you posted this, considering it mentions already being involved with the NFL.
How long has Bettman been running the show again? Again, he seems to be lagging behind the other big sports in how he markets his league.
How long has there been a significant number of German players in the game?
How many NFL games start in the middle of the night in Germany?
Apples and oranges.
Are you suggesting that the NHL, a league with a lot of European players who also play for their country on the international stage, or transition from local league teams to the NHL, shouldn’t market in European countries until they have a Draisaitl in the NHL?
Again, sounds like another case of Bettman lagging behind.
It’s not an apples to oranges comparison when other North American leagues are moving into Europe before the NHL, which, again, has a lot of European representation and you would think would be leading the way.
Really…how is MLB doing in Europe?
On the one hand you’re arguing it shouldn’t take stars like Draisaitl to promote the game in Germany and on the other hand you’re arguing if only the league promoted its stars like Draisaitl it would grow the game.
Thing is the NHL already does market the game in Europe….you may have heard of the NHL regular season games it has played there.
“The NHL began playing games around the globe, with 30 teams traveling to 15 countries across Europe and Asia since the Montreal Canadiens and Detroit Red Wings first went to Europe for a postseason exhibition tour in 1938”
The NHL has played regular season games in China, Japan, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany, Czech Republic, England, Latvia and even Puerto Rico.
I’m pretty sure none of the NFL, MLB or NBA can match that record.
Did you read far enough down the Wiki to see that the NHL started playing less and less games abroad?
NHL – 6 games in 2022-2023
In 1959 there was a Bruins/Rangers tour where they did a 23 game Euro tour.
NFL did 5 games abroad in 2022.
MLB has done 4 games abroad in 2023 and 8 in 2019.
So while the NHL had a huge push for Euro games early on, they are not doing anything special now.
Oh and NHL players weren’t allowed to play in the 2018 Olympics. Gary must have spent too much of his budget on his hundreds of marketing staff working around the clock.
“On the one hand you’re arguing it shouldn’t take stars like Draisaitl to promote the game in Germany and on the other hand you’re arguing if only the league promoted its stars like Draisaitl it would grow the game.”
This is not really a 2 hand scenario.
Grow the game in Europe and if you have a star who would boost a demographic then promote them.
Not “oh no we have a German star – we have to do something in Germany now!”
Gary is running this league with the confidence of someone who thinks the NHL can only run in place.
Bettman is a typical cold blooded US corporate exec
All about money and his bonus and couldn’t give a tinker’s cuss about the work of a struggling artist
From a human standpoint I’ll take a pass on the N.H.L getting in bed with the Country of China.
The first time McD played Crosby this year it was like a Monday night game and not carried on ESPN. The NHL flagship in the US.
What the hell would ESPN know about getting large TV audiences?
Shameful behaviour.
http://images.pearsonclinical.com/images/assets/basc-3/basc3resources/DSM5_DiagnosticCriteria_OppositionalDefiantDisorder.pdf
And, of course we have you to feature stories on everyone else except Draisaitl and McDavid
I really liked the Oil Home page back when the team ran it. was quality.
Stop feeding the troll.
Looking at the prospects list and thinking about Lavoie – while I hope both Hyman and McLeod are good and ready to go for Thursday, if they are both unable to play, there is the possibility of sending down Broberg and calling up Lavoie.
That would be the 3rd of 4 post-deadline call-ups.
I’m also definitely against sending Broberg to the AHL for a “real stint” (although I acknowledge that it may happen if the coach isn’t going to play the kid) but this would be a short-term injury structuring scenario.
While I would be excited for Ralph to get a debut, here is hoping Zack and Ryan are good to go for Thursday.
They would use an emergency recall in such a case.
I may be misinformed on this but doesn’t the team have to run shorthanded for a game before an emergency recall can happen??
That’s an emergency exception to the cap.
but they need the cap exception in order to recall Lavoie – they can’t even swap Shore for him in the normal course.
You can’t swap a forward to call one up under the emergency rules. Clearly they would be sending down a defenseman to get cap compliant. Nor would there be any guarantee that it would be Lavoie coming up.
The emergency exception doesn’t solve the problem for the next game, and the emergency recall is available and it would defer a call-up.
I don’t get what they’re doing with Broberg either start rotating him in the line-up are send him down and let him get some game action. As I say this it didn’t work out for Holloway as he was injured first game in the Minors.
Call up Lavoie, send Yamamoto down. He could be an emergency call down. LOL
Time for the Yamamoto in the top 6 experiment to end. Lavoie’s big body with the goal scorers touch might be just what the Doctor ordered for the Leon line.
They’ve already replaced Yamamoto with Foegele in the top six with great success.
I still can’t believe that goal share with McDavid and Drai off – its just stunning.
The “final piece of the puzzle” was to saw off or better with McDavid and Drai off and they are killing it. Unreal that Drai under water (for the year) and McDavid only normally above 50% has been “the issue”. I presume that is a TON of Jack Campbell in those GA numbers.
The other issue has been the PK.
The McDavid and Drai solo goal shares is not an issue that needs to be fixed, it will fix itself, and already has started.
The PK – the damn PK – that’s the issue.
Tending looms in the back of both the McDavid/Drai goal share and the PK issues.
Little bit of oish% dragging McDavid down as well.
From the decade of darkness there’s gonna be more wobble into dynasty than most scenarios, the team continues to oscillate but at lower register with each wave. It will stabilize, and then run hard. May have burnt off more years in the yo-yo than ideal but when it gets cooking it will be hot.
“If McDavid doesn’t have a cup he’ll leave Edmonton” ok to where? From now until he decides, Edmonton has as good a chance as anyone, each year.
You can’t blame everything on Campbell regardless of what you think of him. Jack is sporting a record of 17-9-4 record some of the blame why Leon’s 5 on 5 is down is because his winger has 8 Goals instead of 20 Goals. I would throw Foegele in there as well between him and especially Yamo have missed at least 20 open nets that Leon had spoonfed the two stone handed right wingers.
Campbell’s allowed about 20 goals more than an average NHL goalie (Skinner has saved 7 more). That does impact all skater’s plus/minus. In addition, McDavid has lost a lot of points because his team mates have failed to cash his passes.
Also impacting his plus/minus (and Draisatl’s) is that short handed goals against are a minus plus empty net goals against.
I didn’t blame everything on Campbell but I think it seems quite odd to simply refuse to acknowledge his role in goals against when he’s in the net and to acknowledge the delta in play as between him and the other goaltender on the Oilers.
Somehow bringing Yamamoto and Foegele’s lack of finish in to a GA issue and the PK issue is, well, a bit odd.
Alex Chaisson has 3 Goals in 6 games
Yamamoto has 8 Goals in 44 games.
I do miss Alex front net presence on the PP. When they sent Alex packing I do think they had visions of J.P big body taking over.
Tbf, we lead the league in SHG. I wonder whether the horrendous start to the year has dragged the numbers down and the additions of Bjugstad and Ekholm might steady the waters.
The Oilers are a top 10ish team in shorthanded goal differential actually (last I checked, anyways)
Anybody have any idea what Campbell’s and Skinner’s PK save percentages are?
My gut reaction is to blame the goalies for PK success/failures.
Campbell .827
Skinner .855
But:
Campbell 3.07GF/60 9.54GA/60
Skinner 0.88GF/60 9.43GA/60
Wow, that clip of Carson Briere is appalling. Don’t know how the Flyers can ignore the optics on that one. The son may have cost the father his shot at the GM post.
I would say he was drinking and pulled a nasty nasty. Some people do wierd crap on booze. The kid needs to own up to this and maybe some good will come out of it.
It’s the ugly side of fratboy behaviour. I’m not of the opinion that a father owns all the sins of the son. But the argument will be made in some corners that the Flyers are putting their house in the hands of a man who clearly doesn’t have his own house in order. This isn’t the younger Briere’s first behavioural issue.
Bad timing for the old man but bad optics will probably cost him his dream job.
Yup. He’s on the interim tag now so easy for the Flyers brass to walk away.
He needs to do damage control immediately maybe his son can do some community service around people that are paralyzed and thus gain some empathy towards them. As is how can the Director of Operations excitedly announce the new G.M is Briere when the video of his idiot son is going viral
I’m stunned this is a topic of conversation.The sensible strategy is to ignore people who cast stones.
Being appalled by a young man who throws someone’s wheelchair down a stairwell is considered ‘casting stones?’ Interesting. I wasn’t aware we were living on a planet devoid of a moral compass.
Look, I know nothing about this situation but do we know if the chair belonged to someone? If it’s a frat house it could just be a prop they have hanging around? I have no idea. But unless it belonged to someone at that party who needs to use it, it means very little to me. You should have seen some of the props at my fraternity. They were just props. And in any event, kids do stupid things that the parent is not responsible for. Off the top of my head, Jean Chretien, George Bush, Jeb Bush, Jimmy Carter. etc etc etc.
Chair belonged to a disabled, young lady. Briere’s kid needs a few hours with a bar of soap in a sock.
It looks like instant karma’s gonna get him.
from the Hockey News:
“… The user of the wheelchair had reportedly been carried down the inaccessible stairs to a washroom when Carson Briere pushed the unattended chair down the stairs before re-entering the nightclub.”
It was a woman’s wheelchair and police were involved. I don’t think police would go out to the scene if the wheelchair didn’t belong to anyone.
Well there you go. I still do not think it reflects on his family but the kid needs an adjustment. Bar of soap in a sock was recommended, sounds good!
Since it’s Hockey you missed Guy Lafleur Saintly Son who cost him more than a job but his legacy
Never heard of his son and I believe his legacy is solid. What does anyone’s son have to do with their legacy? I don’t get it. Except of course HH. His family name will always be mudd here!
Read up on the story it may surprise you.
Y’all thought you wouldn’t like Ekholm, huh?
Holland could not have targeted a more useful Dman. I said back when the deal was made I prefer him over Karlsson and not just based on acquisition cost. I think people are starting to see why. See the player that is there. I’d never thought he’d become available. there was a bunch of us on this board wanted hima couple of years ago when he was allegedly available but when nothing came of it, I thought it was not to be.
Yet here we are now. Thank the Gords. Hopefully the shine never wears off this player. He’s like Moses out there. Stretches that long staff out before him and the seas calm and separate.
Now he just needs to turn Evan into Aaron. Gonna take some games wandering the desert as we are seeing, but already his young acolyte has taken steps forward so one day we hope he gets there.
I still can’t quite believe they got him.
Me neither. Especially after failing to get him in 2020 or 2021, can’t remember the exact year the Preds were taking calls on him.
They really screwed up going after McDonagh. That was a colossal error by Poile, who rarely makes them when it comes to Dmen.
This seems like an uncharitable description of the trade reaction (you might just be joking, in which case, carry on).
Iirc, most folks were excited about the player. Less excited about the contract and the cost.
That said, I agree about Ekholm. He is a perfect fit for this team (and Evan).
The “Y’all” is just a figure of speech. There were many though who preferred other players to Ekholm (Meier, Karlsson, Chychrun) and others who hated the cost. I loved Barrie, and was still over the moon with the trade.
He musta thought you meant “all y’all”
Thank God for the son of Ken, Brad, the Pro Scout / Assistant GM.
Why?
Yeah – it sounds like Kenny was doing the heavy lifting at this deadline … he was simultaneously working both Arizona and Nashville, while talking to San Jose about Meier, when we all thought that they were just discussing Karlsson. Then he went and got the giant RHD centre that we all wanted too. Not sure why we wouldn’t give the old man his due.
I am not one to give props to people simply doing their job, especially at the top of the food chain. Appreciate people, yes, kudos not for doing your day to day
The issue is he always pays top. This is not the case with many other GMs. Ekholm is perfect though at least right now
For doing a fine job.
And helping his Dad.
IMO we need to build some depth for a playoff run.
Broberg – need to get into more games – I would play Seeweed two games then play Broberg two games. When Broberg plays I would have Kulak slide to the right side.
Holloway – When he is healthy he needs some reps, he is going to be the 13/14 forward.
Lavoie – has earned a few games in the NHL, I would like to see him against an ANA or SJS on skilled line.
Kostin – He needs more than 5 minutes a night – he feels like the type of guy that is effective in the playoffs against heavier teams.
I dont think it’s that easy to get Holloway up onto roster currently.
I also hope they don’t worry much at all to level of seasoning lavoie until it’s clear they are securely in 3 pacific division spots not risking crossover. That’s likely not going to happen very far from season end.
1) Agree – Broberg should be playing, almost nightly in my opinion. Woody has to plan for some right side injury issues and needs to give some reps on the right to left shot guys
2) I think the timeline is for a return with only a handful of games left in the season and Holland pretty much stated he’ll play for the Condors upon return (unless injuries, etc. require it). Of course, we’ll see him for the playoffs.
3) Not even sending down Shore creates enough cap room for Lavoie. If Hyman and McLeod are both going to miss a few games, they could send down Broberg for him but that would have to be ultra short term. Broberg is an NHL player
4) He did end up over 7 minutes with some increase in the 3rd period but I do agree. With that said, he did look a bit behind last night – product of being healthy scratched for too long.
I sure enjoyed Warren’s game last evening. I’m happy he is finding his footing. I feel he can be an important part of the next couple of seasons until Dylan gets up to speed. Evan’s play is real and it is spectacular, Good and bad. I’m not convinced at times he can handle more minutes I the D zone. He would be the cause of late games having a Vinny start with Ekholm to close out close games. Go with 11-7 to help Evan succeed with less Dzone and late game leads
Definitely nice to see the fanbase jumping back on the Foegele bandwagon.
By my eye, he presents as the prototypical Ken Holland middle six F.
Draper, Maltby, Devereaux, Abdelkader, Cleary. The Dutchman has always had room on his roster for fast wingers who forecheck like demons and play with a bit of an edge. McLovin plays a 200ft game and it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if he scores a clutch goal when it’s most needed in the playoffs. Foot soldiers, gotta have em!
I find it interesting how some players can take a while to really find their footing after being traded to a new team. Foegele now looks like the player we all thought was coming over from Carolina. He also looks more confident playing on the right wing.
This is why I’m not (yet) worried about Campbell. There’s a lot more to being on a new team than just changing jerseys
Anecdotally, I think this is even more prominent with goaltenders – there is a solid history of goalie’s struggling in their first year with a new team and then finding their game in year 2.
No matter how Jack C. plays the rest of this season and playoffs, I’ll be expecting him to be a good NHL goalie from day 1 next season.
Listen to Heaven nor Hell Volbeat and just imagine their signing about the Oilers lol
First game back from the roads always tough for these Oilers
Didn’t like how the Oilers started the game but can’t complain about how it ended. It should be a wild ride to the start of the playoffs. Bugjstad and Ekholm have been great so far. If I had to pick 2 things I’m concerned about with the Oilers it would be the razor thin depth on the right D side and goaltending. If Vinny and Bouchard have an off game the Oilers have few options to go to for relief. I love Skinner but he is giving the Oilers average goaltending at best. One good game, one ok game. He shouldn’t have the season on his shoulders yet but here we are. Campbell I have no confidence in especially after hearing Kevin Woodley on Gregor’s show give his evaluation of him. The good news is that the team has far less holes than it did before the deadline.
Considering St Louis and a plethora of NHL Stanley Cup winners have ran rookie goalies I feel a lot less concern than the consensus around here.
Binnington, Murray, and Ward in the last twenty years. Maybe I am missing some.
Ken Dryden only played 6 regular season games before hitting paydirt in the Playoffs back in 1971. Dryden played in 397 regular season games and 73 Playoff games. Just over every 5.4 games played 1 was a Playoff game for Ken. I can’t think of another Goalie who played significant time with a better ratio.
Didn’t Carolina run a rookie to the Cup one year? For some reason I have a mental block on that year and my eyes go twitchy when I tried to read the results from the internet.
Yeah I’m not exactly worried about that if running at current level carrying starter type GP.
“Ekholm might be my favourite Oilers defenseman since the Rake.”
Amen. I almost get giddy watching him play hockey. I’ve always been a big fan of good defence, so his arrival has been especially spectacular. It’s almost like someone took some of the best aspects of Klefbom, and some of the best aspects of Larsson, and combined them into one player. He’s the man.
A couple of gaffes Bouchard had last night looked like he was staring right at Ekholm when they happened. I wonder if Bouchard has been mesmerized by Ekholm’s beard at times.
Judging by that old man face, I have a feeling Bouchard could grow one like it in about three days….
the Ekholm trade boo birds have really quieted down. I only wish the player was 27 years old
I wanted Chychrun over Ekholm. I’m very glad I didn’t get my way.
Reminds me.. someone was saying when the trade happened how people would change their tune and regret it in 2 weeks.
I think we’re at the 2 week mark, and I can say that Ekholm has been better than I expected.
I don’t think there would have been any boo-birds if he was just entering his prime…. right?
Kenny in the months leading to the deadline.
“Our true target has yet to reveal itself.”
Barrie understood his role on the pp and did it very efficiently.
It took Barrie a little bit of time when he first started QB-ing the PP. Teams would give him the shot and he would force the pass to McDavid or Nuge. Barrie became so smart at the pace and the quickness of his passes. Barrie took a lot of flak but his PP prowess will take time to replace or may never be duplicated.
bouchard also has a far more dangerous shot imo. Both is clapped and his wrister can be lethal when he’s not trying to SCUD McDavid. His game is a confidence one. When he’s feeling it he’s an absolute song with sublime passing. He’ll get there. Think going to war in the playoffs will give him a lot of growth.
Bouchard has looked like a poor man’s Larry Murphy since London Knight days. If he can learn to walk that blueline on D and get that puck through traffic from different spots, angles nevermind his bomb of a shot. I see him at multiple 20 Goal Seasons.
To be fair to Bouchard, that shot ricocheted off a Sens player into McDavid.
There was little doubt puck was going to end up.out of zone more often whoever took over from barrie.
This intrinsically meant, to me, it’s likely going to be a good idea to not have 2 min pp shifts if it starts happening as its a bit more taxing on the super group covering and rentering zones.
Question is where the hell do you play Campbell? Maybe some of the Arizona San Jose Anaheim matchups.
Don’t like the idea of running Skinner too hard before playoffs
I would start Campbell:
vs. S.J. MONDAY 20TH
@ VEGAS TUES 28TH, 2nd of B2B (schedules loss anyway)
@ ANA WED APR 5TH, 2nd of B2B
The “schedule loss” isn’t so much the second Vegas game, although that’s 3 in 4 and tough… it’s the LA game right after. Fourth game in six nights with the last two games being against important divisional opponents and travel on either side of the B2B middle games. Just ridiculous.
The schedule makers royally effed us. Winning both the remaining LA games is critical to catching them, and critical for setting a tone for the first round.
It appears the Kings will be a tougher opponent than their season record indicates.
Up until the trade deadline, leaky goaltending often let them down.
Since the deadline…Korpisalo is .923, .933, .929.
Gavrikov has also balanced their D nicely and has picked up 4 points in 5 games.
Korpisalo always could get hot for short stretches, but he’s never had any sustain. I don’t think the Oilers should be overly concerned.
He’s on a 30 game run of about .920.
LA is a better defensive team than Columbus.
By “a 30 game run of about .920” I take it you mean a 31 game run of .914.
And this on the heels of a 150 game (6 season) run of .897.
“It appears the Oilers will be a tougher opponent than their season record indicates.
Up until the trade deadline, leaky goaltending often let them down.
Since the deadline…Skinner is .926, .909, .949.
Ekholm has also balanced their D nicely and has picked up 3 points in 5 games.”
4 points in 7 games now. But who’s counting?
Well we know “someone” who is, but chooses to ignore it.
Yes…both of these things can be true.
However, the Kings moved on from both of their season starting goaltenders while the Oilers, to the best of my knowledge, still count Jack Campbell as a roster player.
Wasn’t thrilled with Bouchard last night, didn’t like his PP work. Definitely didn’t enjoy his 3rd period performance. Barrie was great at not being determined to force his shot through while also being on high alert to cover his ass if he did, Bouchard just doesn’t cover those bases yet.
Watched the game with interest last night (albeit on TV not in-person so not as good). Especially wanted to see what, if anything, Yamamoto got done. He got 70% oZS% and did just not impact the game.
Maybe worth moving him down when Hyman returns and go 11-7.
Ryan could probably use a break (he is 36 after all) and Shore is the teams tweener.
Foegele – Drai – Nuge
Kane – McDavid – Hyman
Kostin – McLeod – Yamamoto
Bjugstad – Janmark
Nurse – Ceci
Ekholm – Bouchard
Kulak – Desharnais
Broberg
Yama just isn’t getting anything done right now. His value has always been as a forechecking demon. He did that for a couple games when he returned from injury, but I don’t see it now. Maybe he’s playing hurt.
it might make sense to move him into the bottom six until Hyman returns. At this point, he would be my vote to sit when Hyman does return.
Get Yamamoto right out of there for his own safety.
Kane-McDavid-Hyman
Foegele-Leon-Bjugstad
Janmark-Nuge-Kostin
Shore-Macleod-Ryan
It’s really hard to insist that Yamamoto remain top 6 with this level of performance and a $3M price tag. And I agree with having him sit when Hyman is back as JimmyV1965 says.
Really not sure what sort of future he really has overall. For that price can he really be kept?
For that price the Oilers will have to keep him for one more year. Can’t see anyone trading for him this summer without a sweetner.
2017 is not a very good draft class from RD1 – #22 and beyond for RW. The only RW drafted after KY that is better is Batherson who went RD4 – #121.
Whether he is a legit 2RW or more of a middle 6 floater, its quite evident that Yamamoto hasn’t played near his historical level.
He’s clearly still dealing with that neck issue and its effecting his play. He’s always been able to impact the play with his motor and tenacity, etc. even when not scoring – that’s all but gone.
No doubt the Oiler need an “better finisher” upgrade for the top 6 generally but, if he’s on the roster next season, I do expect Yamamoto to be a better and more consistent player (presuming he’s 100% to start the season).
If they can afford it, they probably keep him for the last year of his contract and perhaps forsee Bourgault replacing him in 2024/25.
Yamamoto is a 1/3rd buyout. $550K cap hit for two years. The Oilers get $2.6 million in cap space. Approximately.
Its actually even better, cap hit:
Yr 1: $433K
Yr 2: $533K
I don’ think they’ll do it but its definitely reasonable to suggest it could make some sense.
Maybe that hit by Holl affected him more than anyone is letting on. He’s been off ever since that hit.
The Hunter1909 Season in a Season Final 16 games:
Oilers now 1-1-0 with 14 games left to play.
Call us crazy but we predict 9-5 ahead for the Oilers team final record.
Do you agree, the Oilers will get 9 or more wins press: Thumbs Up.
If you disagree, Oilers to get less than 9 wins press: Thumbs Down.
Derek Ryan – when I think of the often-seen term in hockey talk – “chip in offensively” – I think of him – just seems to do it consistently.;
Evan Bouchard – can someone smarter than me comment on his approach to the PK goal against – I didn’t like it . Ken be very careful with his cap it next contract – he is STILL learning his own zone.
I’m not smarter than anyone when it comes to hockey tactics, but my read is that Bouchard is tentative with shooting on the PP. I guess that shouldn’t be surprising given who is on the ice with him.
He recognized he had time and space and it was the right play to take that shot, but it seemed like he felt that if he took the shot he better make damn sure he scored, so he moved down 10-15 feet and tried to put it bar down. The result was that he missed to the only spot that was going to get that big bounce to the point that he had partially vacated.
He needs some time and confidence to realize that he is not the main weapon on the PP, but he is a weapon. Too bad that shot on the 3rd period PP hit the post, that would have been good for him to get that one.
It’s been 170 games, just over 2 seasons. I know he looks 35 but he still is relatively green considering his calling card has never been defence. The skills he provides are valuable enough to give him some grace while he learns from Keith, not Murray, and now Ekholm.
Single moments, Petry had em too and he worked out. Agreed it may save us those sweet cap dollars but if I can I go long on the player and go as high as 8×7. That’s not to say he’s earned that, jmo.
Bouchard takes more shot attempts than Barrie did – Barrie only shot when there clearly was an open lane, and usually after a give-and-go with one of the forwards, after he worked his way into an open shooting position. He didn’t have the the same heat on his shot that Bouchard does, but he got it on net, whereas Bouchard has been a shinpad assassin so far, just blasting away from the point.
Lots of raw skill, but he’s not at the same level when it comes anticipating the passing and shooting lanes the way Barrie did.
I hope no one is expecting him to be at the same level as Barrie considering the 581 games played difference between the 2. Bouchard through the same aged seasons as Barrie actually has a 3% better shots on net % versus total shots. Barrie did have a shooting % of 8.3% while Bouchards is 4.9% thus far in his career.
I don’t expect Bouch to be better than Barrie on the Oilers PP right now but I do think he has the potential to get there.
Bouch has high end PP pedigree and high end offensive instincts and skill. His shot is “better than” Barrie’s and, in due course, he’ll figure out how to, once again, get it through with regularity (formerly a huge asset of his – struggling this season). He’s get great vision and whip passes in to lanes others don’t see.
As Bouch gets comfortable on the PP, he’ll excell and be a material add. Lets not forget that Barrie took quite a while in his first season to get gong. The first month plus was not good.
As for his shooting last night, he wasn’t shooting to that volume in previous games since he took over the PP1 role – I think that was a coached structure last night – Ottawa has a good PK and I think they were trying to exploit, or open up something.
FWIW:
Barrie PP on ice with the Oilers this season:
15.45 GF/60 0.93 GA/60
Bouchard PP on ice last 7 games:
15.62 GF/60 2.23 GA/60
(the 2.23 GA/60 is due to 1 GA in 26:52)
So basically, the Oilers are playing against Seattle for 3rd in the division or 1st wildcard?
Kings are 5 points ahead, and Vegas are 8 points ahead. Maybe the Oil can catch the Kings. Doubtful.
It is close, but I would rather face Vegas.
NHL playoff history suggests opening at home in the 1st round is fairly essential for later playoff success.
For this reason, whether realistic or not am cheering for this result.
Several recent Stanley Cup winners had little or no home-ice advantage.
Five lower seeds have won the Stanley Cup in the last ten years. Lower seed is defined as a 3rd/4th seed for each bracket.
2021 Tampa finished 3rd in the Discover Central division.
2019 St. Louis finished 3rd in the Central division.
2015 Chicago finished 3rd in the Central division.
2014 LA finished 3rd in the Pacific division.
2012 LA finished 8th in the West.
A hearty middle finger to the schedule maker for that Seattle game, which is now very important. A one game road trip matinee that starts roughly 40 hours after the home game against the Stars ends.
The oilers play LA twice and Vegas twice – the results of those games likely decide the seeding.
Its unlikely they come back and win the pacific but if they beat Vegas 2x in reg they still have a shot.
It going to take 7or 8 game winning streak which includes beating L.A twice and the reborn Quick led Knights.
That LA-Columbus-LV trade could have had the unfortunately effect of making both LA and LV better in net. Of course, both Korpisalo and Quick are streaky goalies, so there’s just a good a chance that their heaters end just before the playoffs start.
It appears the Gremanator was highly motivated last night. A large group of German Oiler fans in the house along with young Stutzle.
Leon was showing everyone who’s the boss (especially Chychrun)!
McDavid vs. Crosby, a la kraut.
Since January 1, Warren Foegele has, in 26 games:
14 point at 5 on 5 including 7 goals – tied for fourth with Nuge (2 more goals) in 4 less games
P/60 of 2.82 (4th on team)
55% goal share and 58% expected goals
Most of the above in the “middle six” with some moonlighting in the top 6.
Warren Foegle is outperforming his contract in 2023 and, in aggregate for the season, I would argue is value for his cap hit even with his really tough start (leading to healthy scratches).
The Oilers will need to move some players for some cap space this off-season. I think Kulak is high on the list (given Nurse/Ek/Broberg) but, if they are going to move a $3MM winger, I’m not sure that Foegele is the one right now.
The improved play of Foegele is one of my favorite things this season.
I have a soft spot for guys like him and its nice to see him find a role and a groove after a tough first year on the team.
Foegele is playing very well the last few months, and it’s great to see.
We should try not to forget though, that for the year prior, Foegele was pretty consistently the ‘$3M man’ the majority would have preferred to move for cap reasons.
That is, we should try to guard against recency bias.
That said, it does look like a choice (or choices) will need to be made this summer.
At least one of the $3M men (Foegele, Yamamoto, Kulak, Ceci) will almost certainly need to be traded to keep the rest of the band together. And more than one if any ‘upgrades’ are going to be made.
Are you suggesting they move Yamamoto how will they replace his 8 Goals in the top six. As of today no G.M is taking on Yamo 3.1 million contract for next year. Foegele will be the one traded a smart team will pick up Foegele on the cheap knowing Holland needs to shed Cap just like 20 other teams in the league.
Yamamoto will look good on LTIR eventually. Maybe sooner than later.
Should of traded him last year after Leon spoonfed him for 20 Goals.
Foegele is outplaying his contract as we speak.
Great numbers for Bouch last night – shot share, expected goals, actual goals (2-0 at 5 on 5 and 3-1 overall) as posted by LT.
At the same time, the play(s) by Bouch with, what was it, 3 minutes left, were every bit as bad as the pass by McLeod in the prior game. In fact, I could definitely argue that, protecting a 2-goal lead with 3 minutes left, the pass in front of the net for the breakaway was even worse than McLeod’s pass. Not to mention he left the lane clear and the man in front wide open for a second 5-alarm chance seconds later.
The only real difference is Skinner made the saves last night and didn’t the prior night.
I’m a big Bouchard fan, I think he has offensive skills that could have him top 5 in scoring, year after year, for a decade. That pass and series of plays was awful and Bouchard has to learn from that one – game management is a real thing.
Its just so notable that a goalie save or non save can make such a difference on how a game or a play or a player is viewed after the fact.
That pass by Bouch won’t be talked out nearly as much as the one two night’s ago by McLeod.
I noticed McD being fairly demonstrative towards Bouch once the play stopped.
Perhaps this is a good sign ie letting players know in real time that those plays are unacceptable.
Both McLeod and then Bouch the next night made the same sin (from approximately the same spot on the ice coincidentally) … they stopped moving their feet on the play. From there, they telegraphed the pass across the ice.
Young players are going to do things like this from time to time. Experience will make them both more savvy. I think both have bright futures, but I would temper expectations, as both players sometimes have difficulty processing what’s in front of them at high speed.
If one or both can be signed long term to value deals that will look good in a few years, then do it. If their agents come asking for deals pro-rated on what they may become, instead of what they are right now, then bridge them.
I saw Bouch not quite with the yips last night but perhaps a bit too cocky at times?
I think its worth it, means he’s feeling it and is trying to make plays. But I saw a few too many look-offs and then blasts from the point (including the McD hit and jailbreak goal). I saw him holding for too long on the PP looking to be the Star vs distributing. And I thought he got a bit lax at times in his own zone as OP mentioned above.
Still its all worth it. This is the most confident he’s looked all year. Coaches and teammates need to funnel that youthful exuberance properly but overall I think its a good sign.
It would be unwise to bridge Bouchard again. I’m not sure they can fit him in but these double bridges are risky. Even if Bouchard has a so so next couple of seasons he’d be staring at UFA and some team would overpay him.
Sign him to a 4-6 year contract at 4-5M if you can. He becomes a tradeable asset as well.
Doesn’t help that he has all the leverage this summer being their only offensive D man on the right side. It would not shock me to see him moved for another more established RHD (not a pure PP guy like Barrie, someone more well rounded)
Surely nothing can go wrong with bridging our young defencemen. What’s he going to do, have a huge offensive breakout in his contract year? 😅
Bouchard has never been bridged before. I know he looks 40 and it feels like he’s been around forever, but he’s still on his ELC. There are risks to both bridging him and going long but given the oilers cap next year, not sure they have much choice but to bridge.
This would be the first bridge though – Bouch is still on his ELC right now.
I think 4 years would take him right to UFA status – maybe eats one year.
$5M for term is definitely a reasonable structure to discuss but, damn, if that will be tough to fit in next season, even if Kulak is moved for futures.
He may have some leverage but, at the same time, he’s an RFA with no arb rights coming off his ELC – that type of situation that gets McLeod under $800k, right?
I thought I saw Bouchard go up to another Oiler player and say “my bad” which is a good sign that this young man acknowledges his mistakes.
Sure – pretty tough to not acknowledge that one though, right?
It was so identical to the McLeod play I was almost wondering if this is a set play and the opposition is just reading it now?
It’s always an option. Therre’s a time and a place. Usually when an opposition player is nowhere near the front of the net. I guess it’s common sense.