The Edmonton Oilers have arrived. That doesn’t mean the Stanley Cup parade comes to the city this summer, but it does mean the opportunity to win is wide open. For the next several seasons fans should plan their summers around August vacations. You want to be in the city for the bedlam, should it pass this way again.
THE ATHLETIC!
- New Lowetide: Oilers transcend reasonable expectations in 2022-23, led by Connor McDavid
- Lowetide: Who could be the Oilers’ playoff Fernando Pisani this year?
- DNB: Oilers ready for a playoff rematch with Avalanche
- DNB: Top seed in West and ‘momentum’ for playoffs
- Lowetide: How a balanced Oilers roster is finally uniting the fan base
- Lowetide: Who’s the Oilers’ best player outside the NHL? It’s a tough call
- Lowetide: Which Oilers’ minor leaguers could help in the playoffs?
- Lowetide: Oilers’ Kailer Yamamoto’s future may hinge on 2023 NHL playoffs
- Lowetide: 5 ways Oilers’ Mattias Ekholm has delivered since trade
- Lowetide: Oilers’ second half spike owes much to Jay Woodcroft’s innovation
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers post an incredible March with playoffs in sight
- DNB: The Oilers ‘found a way’ against the Kings
- Lowetide: How many more college players will the Oilers sign this spring?
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers at 2018 NHL Draft, making the final call
- DNB: Connor McDavid joins the 60-goal club
- Lowetide: Is the Oilers’ defence deep enough to win the Stanley Cup?
- Lowetide: Stock up or down for every Oilers prospect in the system
- DNB: Oilers’ recent play gives 3 reasons to be optimistic about a long playoff run
- DNB: Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl shows he’s more than Connor McDavid’s sidekick
- Lowetide: What to expect from the Oilers’ 2023 NHL Draft after trading first-round pick
- DNB: Connor McDavid’s importance to the Oilers keeps showing no bounds
- Lowetide: Oilers top 20 prospects, winter 2022
WHAT TO EXPECT IN APRIL
- At home to: ANA (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 1-0-0)
- On the road to: LAK, ANA, SJS, COL (Expected 2-2-0) (Actual 4-0-0)
- At home to: SJS (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 1-0-0)
- April prediction: 4-2-0, eight points in six games
- April results: 6-0-0, 12 points in six games
- March results: 12-2-1, 25 points in 15 games
- February results: 4-3-4, 12 points in 11 games
- January results: 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: 50-23-9, 109 points in 82 games
The Oilers ran the table, shot the moon and went 30-7-7 from January 1 to the end of the season. It was one of the most impressive runs in team history, and considering this team’s history, that is notable. What’s next? The Los Angeles Kings.
GOALIE AND DEFENSE
Stuart Skinner broke Grant Fuhr’s rookie record for wins. He also posted a .926 save percentage at five-on-five, tied for No. 11 (with Connor Hellebuyck) among goalies with 1,000 or more minutes in the discipline. His .913 overall save percentage ranked him No. 14 among goalies with 1,500 or more minutes. I believe he earned the Calder trophy. Will he win it? He saved the Edmonton Oilers. Give him credit for it.
Mattias Ekholm, including all stats for the year, went 9-23-32 in 78 games. I’ve seen every trade deadline deal involving the Oilers going back to Ron Low in 1980. I believe this had the most impact. You could say ‘why didn’t Holland make the trade earlier’? but Ekholm wasn’t available until this year, and late at that if we’re honest. In 21 games, at five-on-five, he was 31-10 in goal share (76 percent) while on the ice.
Darnell Nurse finished No. 11 among NHL defensemen in even-strength points (39), it’s a stat he does well in so but it rarely gets mentioned. Puck IQ has Nurse playing 4:52 a night versus elite since March 1, with a 50.5 percent DFF Pct and a 57 percent goal share. Ekholm plays basically the same minutes (4:39) per game with a 53.8 percent FF Pct and a whopping 75 percent goal share. The two men will be key this spring.
Evan Bouchard is 5-14-19 in 21 games since the Barrie trade, the Oilers are finally using him where he belongs. It’s going to be a heavy contract negotiation summer, please see Bear, Ethan negotiations for where this is heading. This young man is the last impact homegrown talent Edmonton will produce 2018-26, so getting him under contract for the next four years is a major job for Holland. His goal last night was brilliant, high-end skill and the defenseman finished it. Fantastic entertainment.
FORWARDS
Connor McDavid is so damn good they should put him into the HHOF today in the player and builder categories. In a season where he’s flattened the competition, he could win the Hart, the Lindsay, the Richard (already won), Art Ross (already won) and the Smythe. You know what? It’s still not enough! His final totals: 82gp, 64-89-153. He’s the best, most exciting hockey player I’ve ever seen.
Leon Draisaitl made a pass last night for the Bouchard goal that was so good I stood up and fist pumped! Poor Ziggy, she somehow stayed on my lap the whole time, hanging on for dear life. The big question after this season: How can a man score 52-76-128 in a season where he has no chance to win an award? Jari Kurri says hi, it wasn’t fair then and it isn’t fair now.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was always good, often great, but this year he went super nova. His numbers (82gp, 37-67-104) tower over Taylor Hall (61gp, 16-20-36) and Jordan Eberle (82gp, 20-43-63). In fact, the Nuge scored more than Hall and Eberle combined this year! Got more points than the two men combined, too. It was a mistake to trade Hall and Eberle, but the Nuge shines on like the moon and the stars and the sun.
Zach Hyman is hockey’s version of the split-finger fastball. He’s darting everywhere, you can’t really catch up to him and all you hear the announcer say is ‘swing and a miss’ before the puck goes in. He scored 36-47-83 in 79 games, and that’s just the goals they allowed him to count! What a free-agent signing.
THE KINGS SERIES
I know there will be much written in these next few days about the Kings, but this version of the Oilers is strong and has good goaltending. LAK can win the series, but I don’t believe it will happen. There’s just too much firepower on this team and the defense looks completely different with Ekholm in the band. I’m picking Edmonton in six games.
Things to worry about? I didn’t like that hit on Vincent Desharnais last night, and those kinds of things are going to happen versus the Kings. Staying healthy ranks right up there with luck as things an NHL team needs to win Stanley. Godspeed, men.
The Athletic: Oilers transcend reasonable expectations in 2022-23, led by Connor McDavid
https://theathletic.com/4406985/2023/04/14/oilers-connor-mcdavid-expectations-2023/
I am still shocked that the line that didn’t outscore was Leon’s line.
I haven’t been seeing their 5v5 play that good lately against proper teams. They have the puck a lot, but Leon with a lot of hail mary’s and turnovers, not a lot of attack in the scoring areas or good clean set ups. And Yama can’t finish
They’ve given up like 6 goals in the last 7 games…….
Draisaitl without McDavid is 6FF-3GA in the last 7 games (1-0 in 7 min with).
Kane-Draisaitl-Yamamoto as a line are 5GF-3GA (62.5%) in the last 7, with strong underlying numbers.
Against which teams?
I guess you know as well as I do who they played.
You might have noticed I was replying to a post saying the line had been scored on a bunch lately. It isn’t true, they have not been.
If you go back 8 games instead of 7 you get a nice symmetry of:
4 wins over junk teams (ANA, ANA, SJ, SJ), and
4 wins over legit teams (VEG, LA, LA, COL).
The line is 6-3 goals (67%) in those 8 games, 63% shots, 61% scoring chances, 58%HD scoring chances.
Looking at Draisaitl as a proxy in the 4 games against legit teams we see:
2-1 goals (67%), 66% shots, 63% scoring chances, 50%HD scoring chances.
Draisaitl and that line have been doing quite alright against all manner of competition.
Schedule for the Oilers-Kings series:
Game 1 @ Rogers Place: Monday, April 17, 8pm MT
Game 2 @ Rogers Place: Wednesday, April 19, 8pm MT
Game 3 @ Crypto.com Arena: Friday, April 21, 7pm MT
Game 4 @ Crypto.com Arena: Sunday, April 23, 6pm MT
Game 5 @ Rogers Place: Tuesday, April 25, TBD (if necessary)
Game 6 @ Crypto.com Arena: Saturday, April 29, TBD (if necessary)
Game 7 @ Rogers Place: Monday, May 1, TBD (if necessary)
All times, at all times, are Warspite time.
It appears the link has been updated since first posted. Games 3+4 start an hour later now.
All possible games in LA played on the weekends, where all possible Oilers home games are played Monday-Thursday.
seriously!?
Crypto.com was already booked for the Clippers on Thursday and Saturday so it was locked in that game 1/2 would be M/W in Edmonton.
Not really much that can be done about that except maybe the break after game 5 but I think that his also to keep building availability for the Clippers and game 6.
Summarizing!
Chiasson scored to pull the Blades within one late in the third, but the Blades fell 3-1 to open the series. His 3rd goal of the playoffs earned him the 3rd star.
Wanner potted his 2nd playoff goal in a losing effort.
Petrov picked up an assist in a loss.
Lachance was held without soup despite a game-high 5 SOG.
Real hard-fought game in Bakersfield with Cochlea Valley – Pickard standing tall.
Benson digs the puck out on the forecheck, back to Kambeitz in the super high slot and a wrister from distance finds its way through Drieger for a 1-0 lead with 4 to go in the 2nd period.
A few things mentioned by Elliotte on the old Marconi today:
–He’s a big believer that to have playoff success, you need both star power and depth, and the Oilers have proven this year they now have both.
–A lot of this year’s success rode on Skinner’s shoulders, and Stu has his top vote for Calder.
–Oilers second in reg wins. Of the 17 Cups we’ve had in the cap era, 10 were won by teams Top 5 in reg wins, 13 by teams top 7. Shows the strength of their 5v5 game. Team is built for playoff success.
–Kings and Oilers hate each other and thinks the series will be a real battle. (Bob too has mentioned a couple of times this week how nasty the verbal was between the players the last two games).
Sounds like no landeskog this year for Colorado.
Strange. I was assured otherwise. “Due back for the playoffs.”
There is a guy from the same draft year, went one pick ahead in fact, who will be available. Was around the whole season too. Played okay… Pffft.
I believe the win and 2 points by Calgary over a tanking San Jose squad cost them 4 spots in the draft, please correct me if I’m wrong.
Flames miss playoffs with 93 points.
Tkachuk’s Panthers in with 92 points.
LOL
Niemo is back – steps up at the blue line aggressively looking for the big hit – a breakaway against almost ensures (the pass was off by a few inches).
Ryan Holt: There was some talk that Holloway was going to take the weekend off – he’s been battling injuries – but he wanted to play and help the team.
The couple of pictures him I’ve seen in the dressing room have bandages and what not still.
He’s going to have learn the health thing
Niemo is indeed back in tonight. Good stuff – he’s been out for quite a while.
He and Murray likely compete for 8D and both are finally playing tonight. Murray paired with Demers.
Wanner see Max score a goal? Sure you do!
He snipes from the right circle to close the gap to 3-2 in the second.
It appears the Avalanche will be Central Division campions.
They lead Nashville 3-1 after one, outshooting thenb18-4 and that flatters the Predators.
MacKinnon is on fire with 2G and 3 PTS…could easily have scored a couple more.
Virtually no one in attendance.
Good. I know it doesn’t speak well of me as a human being but it makes me happy to see Calgary finish the season 9th in the conference.
Just the way I feel about it. 😎
You don’t update when the more current score goes against your narrative? 3-3 halfway thru the second. Kiefer Sherwood is on fire! Colorado could still win and by a decent margin but not now the sure thing you thought it was.
I just saw that. I think I allowed my true feelings about the Flames to rush me to my preferred conclusion.
Avs probably still win.
Maybe i am just spoiled, but my reaction to this is: meh. I guess thats good. Kinda.
Now it’s tied and Gorgiev is rocking a .833 SV%
Avalanche win 4-3.
Nashville blocked dozens of shots.
MacKinnon 3G 1A 8 SOG.
I guess thats ok.
Nhl.com has mckinnon at 77 evp and mcdavid at 75.
Although mcdavid leads shp 7-0.
Petrov continues his apple parade with a primary on the PP to open the scoring. He has 11 helpers in 6+ playoff games.
Now 2-0 in period 2.
Playoff beard ✅
Retired my DOD nick ✅
Ready to go up to 11 ✅
— Нинтендо 64
I’m confused… KnightRain? Or Nit64?
Cool handle, either way.
N64
But I loved the N64!
Super Mario 64, Mario Kart 64, Goldeneye, Zelda: Ocarina of Time, the list goes on!
No more Supernintendent 64?
Aww. Sad day. But a celebratory rebirth is fully justified and I, of course, am now on name 3 so what can I say, lol.
Thanks. Passed on a lot of alternate handles since the Yak years.
Trade day that beard suggested a nice handle to celebrate the D makeover.
You know what should be the biggest story of the NHL regular season? 153 PTS! You know what’s barely being mentioned…?
LT, I’m glad you wrote this:
“He’s the best, most exciting hockey player I’ve ever seen.”
I wholeheartedly agree. I was hoping he’d get to 156, but the Oilers had to go and start playing tight hockey to get ready for the playoffs. 🙂
And that’s our captain leading by sacrifice.
Real leaders eat last. And he’s definitely one now.
Such an under-rated component of the McMagic.
Ryan Murray suits up for the Condors tonight.
Im happy for the person (yet another material injury) and the Condors could sure use him.
Could be important to get some games in as, well, I think he’s more of an NHL option than Demers if injuries hit (Niemo not back yet, still).
Hello Lowetidians!
This has been a fun spring, in spite of getting 5 additional rounds of winter here in Prince George. I was ready to set some 110 Connibear traps for the furry little rodent for the extra six weeks of winter, but I survived by staying busy and training for my final tourney in Vegas last weekend.
Hope all of you are well and hoping for a long playoff run.
And in case you are keeping score, it looks like I’ll be making a return to behind the bench next season as my ten year daughter has decided to be a hockey player. It was something I never thought would happen, but here we are.
Have a great night!
Great to see you around, glad things are going well.
If you have the opportunity, I’d love to catch your take of what changed systems-wise from that early part of the year when the Oilers were throwing the puck away for a ghastly rate of turnovers (and resulting GA), to now where they rarely seem to misplace the puck.
Did the systems change/adapt, or is the execution just that much better?
Good question.
I think the biggest change is not in the system itself, but more in execution. One area I notice is the puck battle within 5 feet of the Blueline. Far fewer turnovers and a greater willingness to clear the zone.
There is also the Ekholm effect. He has been huge. I’ve been highly critical of Nurse and his play, and he has improved so much. I think it’s mainly because the workload against elite players has been spread around and fatigue is less of a factor. Other teams will key in on players they think are tired. I’d love to see the high chance opportunities post and pre Ekholm trade.
Dave Manson also has more options and we have to factor in Barrie’s defensive game as well.
Hi Coach!
Hey there
@Fan960Steinberg
Milan Lucic says he “definitely” wants to continue playing.
Says he’s still healthy and still feels good. Says he hasn’t given thought about where that would be, though.
“I have to weigh out my options and see who’s interested.”
@HabsOnReddit
Dale Weise has miraculously defied all odds & lived for 8 years, 10 months & 28 days since Milan Lucic told him “I’m gonna fucking kill you” in the Habs vs Bruins playoff handshake line in 2014.
To be fair, Looch never gave a timeline.
Looch will play again…only if another team hires Sutter.
Does Rick Tocchet grab him at league minimum?
That would be a tough pill for Luc, after calling his home city out and stuff
Given how he allegedly made every line he played on better, it’s mystifying how good the bottom 6 has been since Holland traded Puljujarvi. Someone should tell these guys they shouldn’t be this good without their fancies darling and his 5Gs.
I thought about that the other day. Is the Oilers stellar record a result of getting Ekholm, or losing JP? Although I do confess, its mostly the former. Although the latter may also have played a small role
I guess playing with other Finns didn’t fix him. Maybe the problem wasn’t Edmonton after all.
Bjugstad is what JP should have become.
As of 2019-2020 there has been 542 hockey players that have played a game for the Edmonton Oilers franchise.
If your being honest has there ever been a Oiler who has recieved as much rope as Jesse Puljujarvi? 334-Games 51-Goals 63-Assists 114-Points and a +5-Rating.
.34 PPG isn’t awful. 4 OVs still young who are also big and fast and defensively capable get a lot of rope from every team. Big players often are late bloomers
Turns out for Jesse he handles the puck like it’s a brick. Should have practiced that a bit
It’s all on him at this point. If he can’t be convinced he might not achieve potential high end player:
Then he will burn out of league in next year or two.
If he commits to doing whatever it takes to stay in league at whatever role. Then he needs to hit the every living daylights out of people on forecheck, maintain solid defensive play and work harder than most willing to improve his shot (not just power/accuracy but selection and timimg). He also would need to grow up and not be so easily discouraged by game to game results to point it so clearly effects his confidence. Hit, play hard, skate like every shift is your last and with bullet proof defensive attention and there’s a career. Watch tape, study personal practice and continue stringent fitness activity and he can easily carve out a respectable career in at least bottom 6.
Sulk and stay convinced you have been ruined by past team and not ever let it go. Leagues better off without him. Man inside the boy decides future IMO.
The league-wide bloodletting continues as MacT is let go by the Bluenotes.
Does he land behind the bench or behind the mic?
I think he’d be great between the benches.
‘Going MacTavish’ between the benches has a naughty ring to it
There are things I like about MacT, there are things I dislike.
He would be a fine analyst and I like the between the benches idea.
What a fantastic season. We’ve waited a loooong time to see the team finally be fully filled out, as much as any team ever is
Im not worried about any opponent. I’m worried about health, and how the Oilers handle their bugaboos, when teams get away with obstructing Connor and Leon, and collapse on their net leaving no room
If Woody has a plan for them to work around it, and they execute it instead of falling to old habits, good luck anyone else
The last one is leaving players open in the high slot. They have tidied that up a lot but it pops up still. Stu has saved bacon there, but if they make teams play through them and force them outside – watch out!
I completely agree that being on task is huge. End things quickly and take no quarter, bank rest and recovery, both physically and mentally
Connor=153 points.
Cap era record!
Connor+Drai+Nuge=153 goal trio
Cap era record?
The first PP last night, Nuge lined up and started on the right half wall – I don’t think I’ve seen him play there on the PP all year long and we was there for a substantial period of time.
Im thinking that way just Woody/Gully starting the chess match and giving McLellan and his staff something else to think about when preparing for the Oilers PP – something it help “distract them”.
Per Salim Valji:
Lindholm, on his future:
#Flames
“We’ll see what happens…one more year, that’s all I can say.”
———————-
The top end players in that org can’t wait to get out.
Lindholm looked miserable all year. Treliving signed him on a value contract he’ll bounce back in his contract year in saying that 85% chance he doesn’t resign with the Flames.
Said below but worth repeating:
If I’m Holland I’m strategically planning #1 deadline target with bullet is lindholm. Right shot, defensively responsible that has had massive success with high end talent would be insane add for a run.
He’s gone. Players must hate playing for Sutter
Or maybe Sutter’s gone. He worked a magical regular season in 21-22, but the magic seems to have worn off. Sutter can get back to the Viking farm.
The Sutters were the most prolific family in hockey history, raised just outside of town. Oddly, I don’t recall any of them having ever been associated with the Oilers.
Duane Sutter was employed by the organization until 2019 in some capacity, though I’m not sure if he actually contributed anything of value other than the ‘Sutter’ name.
Sutter has 2 X $4MM (apx, some accounts of $4.2MM) on that contract – I don’t see flames ownership paying him not to coach.
True and I think it’s more nuanced than they just hate it
The Flames last season were as bad as the Leafs for drinking their own koolaid. Probably reading their own headlines and gloating. No doubt Tkachuk at the forefront. I still get nauseated remembering all that crap out there and the HNIC cheerleaders
Thankfully our Oilers, even with the world’s best player, don’t get like that. After the Oilers destroyed them I think it was more than just the pain of losing to them. It was soul shattering because they had gotten into that funky head space. That their misguided thinking that they were something special turned out to be dead wrong
That was doubled down on because their two best forwards were American. And flakey. And they bolted. Another cosmic rip into the remaining player’s psyche. What about the band of brothers and all that love?
I imagine then the awful season after the alleged big save by Treliving was really hard on Lindholm. Abandoned
Treliving in the end made a big mess. There is no way he should keep his job after getting jumped by his two best players. That can’t happen. Can’t. I hope he stays
Huberdeau was a terrible signing if Sutter is your coach and you’re keeping him. Then add a bunch of Sutter types and it’s going to make a good team? Act like thugs without enough of them?
While I am not surprised, the angst and surprise regarding the 8pm start times doesn’t really make sense to me.
This was 100% known and the Oilers games in the first round will always start at 8pm mountain. Always.
There are two games every night in the first round, and those on national Canadian TV will be 5 and 8, every night.
It was like this last year and it will be like this next year. I hate it but there is zero surprise here and it makes sense.
It’ll be the same if they play Vegas and probably Colorado.
Who here didn’t expect this?? Or are you just talking to the kids on your lawn?
What angst?
As an Oilers fan who has lived in Canucks territory for the past 45 years, the only blessing I ever get out of this arrangement, is that the games start at 7pm PST for me.
Not ideal, but that one hour makes a total difference.
Just because it makes sense doesn’t mean people have to like the late starts.
These 8 and 8:30pm games with puck drop 20 mins (!) later kill me. For those of us who get up at the crack of sparrow, it can be a real challenge to stay awake for the entire game.
Through it all, I’m just happy to have the privilege to watch Connor, Leon and gang lay waste to the opposition in the second season in their prime.
Of course not, I loathe the late starts (well, expect when I’m super busy at work).
I was speaking to the surprise and league/network criticism – which was rampant on social media. I don’t know how anyone would have expected any sort of earlier start time.
Haha, you guys sleep too much! Just go with a few hours less every night for a few weeks, and you’ll probably find that you don’t feel much different as you get used to it. But you’ll love all the extra life you get.
I enjoy the later games especially when it goes into double overtime.
I’m up at 5:03 every day…….
Ha yes, I hear you. I wake between 4 and 5am every day and haven’t gone to bed earlier than 10pm for many years, often later than 11pm. I used to sleep a lot more, like 7-8 hours, but often felt tired on days when it was slightly less for whatever reason. Now I never feel tired. The key is to never let that thought cross your mind. If I think I am tired, then I will be. If I think I will be fine on 3 hours sleep, then I feel great.
Stopped drinking coffee. No stimulants. I fall asleep as my head hits the pillow and wake up 5 hours later. I’ve never had more energy or more time to do all the things I want to do. I just wish I discovered it when I was younger.
Is it okay if we don’t like it, though?
What happened to hockey games starting at their regular start time?
Rogers happened, that’s what.
Is anybody in the East watching the Oilers game?
Not that many.
And if they’re interested in the Oilers games, they can stop watching the leafs game, or watch both at the same time.
Does the NHL know that’s possible?
Bush league bullshit, AKA business as usual in the NHL.
Ugh, had to be the hated Kings.
I know we’ve said it many times, but the Oilers are 2nd for points in the West, and we end up playing the 4th-worst team in the West.
Go back to 1 v 8, 2 v 7, etc. Such a stupid system.
last 2-3 weeks were fun no?
No. Winning the division is supposed to matter. Besides – the opposition shouldn’t matter for this squad.
You are looking at it from the perspective of what would be fair. I believe the league looks at it from the perspective of what produces the best TV ratings.
Yep…and those 7PM starts on the west coast are prefect.
This comment explains a lot of the stupid shit the NHL does.
A tip o’ the hat for this tidbit of wisdom.
The Oilers match up well against any team. Also, I prefer goal differential as the best metric for team analysis. LA is basically a wildcard team. Doesn’t mean you can take them lightly but I think their regular season record was flattering to them.
This is likely to be system moving forward. Cuts down on travel for most of the teams in the playoffs, which is something the players want.
Goal differential but also, regulation wins, given OT in the playoffs is played the same as regulation as far as players on the ice.
Given the nature of the Oilers, and so many teams with elite talent, the horses want to run
An easy first round opponent is probably not the best for them. They will destroy them and could get off task. The Kings will have them going into round two in form. Hopefully healthy, which is my main concern
As it turns out, Bouch’s 0.488 P/G is rounded up and he hits that fourth Schedule A bonus for .49 P/G.
That goal last night got him $425k and he maxed out his $850K
So, heading in to the off-season, with only 15 players signed on the roster, the Oilers will have apx $7.65MM of cap space.
Holland will have some hard decisions to make.
Good on him for not just catching baton when passed from barrie
But then running with it as fast or better than barrie had been.
I thought he was better than Barrie. I was only concerned he’d get the yips at some point but Ekholm gives him mental back up
It looks like easy decisions to me the two 3Mers and Kulak. Its never fun trading players Bear&Barrie it comes down to money and fit. The most important thing should be the logo on the sweater. I was nervous about Holland’s trading ability with him doling out draft picks like a drucken sailor. Kostin was a direct hit and Ekholm was a Carl Yastrzemski home run. Kenny his Son and Keith Gretzky have done a fantastic job this year and I have faith in them for next year and beyond.
I wish I could be happier for him, but all I can think of is the cap space.
Bouch should take Drai out for a banger of an evening* to thank him for not shooting, and instead, with eyes in the back of his head, passing to Bouch for the $425K goal.
*in the off-season, please
Bouch will get a bridge to when Ekholm expires is my bet. I’d prefer long with no trade protection but…
That’s interesting. Good for Bouchard. I’m actually surprised they would do any rounding on these numbers. Seems pretty clear 0.488 isn’t equal to or greater than 0.49.
I was surprised too but, of course, its a “ruling” that hurt the Oilers so of course it was made.
I do post that was a bit of jest – I”m sure this is provided for somewhere (not everything is publicly available in the CBA) – this can”t be near the first time this has happened – seems likely to be a somewhat regular occurrence.
Did the Oilers quibble over 0.002?
Makes letting Ryan Smyth leave town over $100K look reasonable.
Very minor point, but I guess we can include Holloway on that ‘signed players’ (though he isn’t listed there because he’s currently in Bakersfield).
So 16 players signed and about $6.7M in cap space.
One of Kulak, Foegele and Yamamoto has to go, more than one (and adding Ceci to the group) if any upgrades are made.
Valid point – do suspect he’s a full time roster player next season. Potentially the Foegele or Janmark replacement.
Early playoff odds.
Boston -320 Florida +250
Carolina -190 Islanders +160
Devils -120 Rangers +100
Toronto -150 Tampa +150
Vegas -170 Winnipeg +140
Edmonton -220 LA +180
Two series TBD
Boston,Islanders,Rangers, Toronto, Edmonton
Agree on most but I think the Devils may surprise.
Luke Hughes has joined them and already has 2 points in 2 GP.
Their D is scary good…might come down to goaltending.
Love to see how the line moves on Vegas vs jets.
Gamble city vs ecstatic frenzy Northern hub surely spike that line like crazy
Betting against the leafs always decent bet. That fanbase is nuts and heavy betting.
For me, what might be the biggest difference between this year’s team and years past, even last year, is that McDavid and Drai are not relied on to do it all, to do everything.
Up and till this season, those two were required to lead the offence to win games. Those two were run out there, loaded up, double-shifted, the instant the team fell behind because they were the two that had to get the team back in the game.
All offence ran through those two and, it wasn’t just the physical fatigue of playing the minutes they were required too, but the mental and emotional fatigue of knowing it was them or no-one. That led to physical, mental and emotional fatigue but also the “cheating for offence” knowing it was on the.
The depth contribution of this team didn’t just come, it came and it sustained and, even more, its picked up steam through the year.
The McDavid/Drai off is real, and its spectacular (and its got depth to it as well – contributors do not make the every night lineup).
That’s a good observation about the mental fatigue on McDrai. I wonder if it also might have given the supporting cast a bit of an excuse, or lowered their confidence.
One of the best things about this year’s team is that the bottom 6 is outscoring somewhere around 57%*, which is a massive improvement over previous years.
(*McLeod 25-20, Bjugstad 8-5, Derek Ryan 14-11. There’s surely some overlap between them, as well as Nuge, who was 24-21, but it averages out to the high 50s)
I’ve decided to go with the Stu stache instead of the playoff beard this post season, much to the wife’s chagrin.
She’s a Flames fan (spits) and said she’s hoping McDavid and Drai get their cup, bless her. Then added Nuge to that list moments later, but I decided to forgive her oversight.
What likely isn’t talked about enough is how much Darnell Nurse’s injury effected the team last spring. Darnell Nurse is a massive part of this team and his skating and mobility is a major part of his game and his ability to defend effectively. His mobility was hampered in a huge way last spring and it had a material negative effect on the team as a whole.
A healthy Darnell Nurse going in to the playoffs is a big damn deal.
Add Mattias Ekholm in behind him and…wow!
The LA Kings with Doughty, Fiala, and Arvidsson are a much better team than last year’s edition.
However the Oilers with a healthy Nurse, Ekholm, our new bottom-6, and Skinner are a MUCH MUCH MUCH better team than last year’s edition.
Mike Smith, as good as he was at times, cost us game 1 of the LA series last year. Less erratic play from our goaltender makes a massive difference.
Korpisalo and Gavrikov are also significant additions.
Agreed on all counts. I do wonder how Fiala if hey plays (assume he does). Fiala hasnt played since April 1st so might still not be 100%. Havent watched Andersson since he came back but he got in 2 games against bottom feeder ducks and canucks.
Concerning last playoffs I was surprised how slow Kopitar looked. He got some points but play to play he didnt look great and is another year older. Similar with Kempe, watching him play I was surprised how he got 35 goals let alone watching this season see him get 41.
I’m curious as to what the motivation is behind your daily pimping of Darnell Nurse? Is it a reaction to the contract criticism? It’s such an obvious posting pattern, it makes me wonder why.
Btw his sister scored a pretty important goal for Team Canada last night. Go Team Nurse!
It is always important to get ALL your facts correct when denigrating another poster.
Sarah Nurse is Darnel and Kia’s cousin.
Sarah is Darnell’s cousin. Kia is his sister. In any case, that family has amazing athletic genes.
Thanks for the clarification. Donovan McNabb and Richard Nurse on that family tree as well. Amazingly athletic family for sure.
I post about Darnell Nurse because he is one of the best players on my favourite hockey team of which is the primary substance of this blog.
I am not entirely sure you posting about your favourite players is the “primary substance” of this blog but, either way, some sort of EQ is required here. Too often you seem to post every thought that comes into your head, often in a repetitive, whiney “I keep hearing about … “, “will anyone give credit to …?” blah blah blah, tone. You are like the guy at the dinner party who has an opinion on everything and dominates the conversation. Less is More man, Less is More.
I quote the write-up on the player from the blog author and provided some thoughts on the player and his importance going in the playoffs.
Feel free to critique my posting style, doesn’t bother me. I note that your posting style is logging on to talk about my posting style – that’s a large portion of your contributions.
I wonder what teams will be swarming to sign Eakins?
LOL.
To be charitable, Eakins did get the Ducks into the pole position for Berard, so he may have some paradoxical value to an org that commits to rebuilding. The falmes and dy’s should send him a snap
I have no idea how the flames could pivot to tank-a-lanking at this juncture. Eakins might drop them a couple spots but not even his expertise likely enough to really do it.
Be eating dollars hard to send uberdough along.
Lindholm at deadline if they are outside would be my number with an Asterix target for Holland next year.
Whichever one is the most concerned with the fitness levels of their beat reporters
Kings and Oilers – 22/23 regualar season. Oil are better in ALL playoff game states (no 3v3 or SO).
Team: PP% / PK% / 5v5 PDO / 5v5 Goal Differential (Hockey Reference)
Oilers: 32.4 / 77.0 / 100.5 / +23
Kings: 25.3 / 75.8 / 99.1 / +10
Goal differentials from Natural Stat Trick:
Overall/5v5/PP/PK
Oilers: +59/+23/+82/-46
Kings: +20/+10/+59/-58
And in the 2nd half of the season (last 41 games):
Overall/5v5/PP/PK
Oilers: +61/+30/+37/-13
Kings: +28/+7/+31/-19
The 2nd half includes the Oilers 6-3 loss to the Kings on Jan 9th, where they allowed 4 PK goals against. That was game #1 of those last 41 games, so everything would look better if we looked at ‘last 40’ instead of ‘last 41’.
Don’t show this to the team though.
Perfect picture. Thanks, JP.
Ekholm is a stud. If he isn’t playing like a number 1 D man right now I don’t know what one is. I liked how Woody even went with him the other night on 3 on 3 also. I haven’t seen him make one clear mistake yet that wasn’t tipped for a turnover. His decision making is superb. Nurse is playing well also but I notice even last night he is good for 2 turnovers a game and his stretch passes are often in the air and off the mark which often result in icings. Since Ekholm has come onboard I notice the rim around the boards play for a centre ice tip in play has almost disappeared. Not sure if the coaching staff finally came to their senses that the Oilers play better with control of the puck instead of dumping it in from their own end. The passing between Ekholm and Bouchard lately has been excellent. They had a few sequences last night moving the puck up the ice last night that left me giddy.
I see Jacob Chychrun didn’t make it back from injury to end the season which puts his games played at 48 for the 2022-2023 season. Last year he played 47. Considering injury history and level of all around play the Oilers made the right choice with Ekholm and it isn’t even close. Way to go Holland.
The Oilers never looked back after trading Jesse Puljujarvi and filling his cap space with Nick Bjustad and part of Ekholm’s salary. Puljujarvi would go on to post 2 points and -2 in 17 games with the Hurricanes. I give it a 50/50 chance he is in Europe next year. The Oilers now have far superior options in the organization to fill out the bottom of the roster. All of them bring an important dimension to help the team win in their own special way.
Got to believe some team will give JP a league-minimum contract which is a considerable increase over what he can get in Europe (KHL excepted). Cap Friendly has his carrer earnings at $7.5 million so a couple of more years not producing in the NHL should set him up for life at the age of 26.
Sure was hoping he would get it together after Holland worked to get him back with the Oil.
Jesse will get low ball offers to stay in the NHL but I think he lacks confidence and may choose to play back in Finland where he is more comfortable.
He has shown a penchant for that so we shall see. Average salary in the SM-Liiga is 100k USD.
What are the top players making there?
All I could find was for 2019: Corey Locke (9 NHL games) at USD $438k was the highest.
The Oilers are a bad matchup for TMac and crew. They’re a club that will want to play chippy and physical and if they take it over the line, there will be a parade to the penalty box and the Oilers PP will feast.
Avoiding retaliation penalties will be huge for the Oil. They need to be zen especially early on.
All that said. I know myself. The Kings will do something dirty and Kane or Desharnais or Hyman will react like warriors not monks and I will love every minute of it. Playoffs baby!
The player I am most worried about is Kane. As he showed last night he can let his emotions get the better of him and take a retalitory penalty.
You have to take the bad with the good imo. Kane will take some questionable penalties but he owned the Kings last year and players like him prevent these more physical teams from taking too many liberties.
To borrow a phrase from Stauffer, no team is going to be “running the Oilers show” with the likes of Kane, Desharnais, Ekholm, and Bjugstad on the roster.
All true!
Its going to be juicy!
This team can hurt them first.
That is what they should do.
Can’t forget the Klimonator as an option for some added beef and swagger.
Buttons is picking the Jets to upset the Knights who were 3-0 against them this year. I know regular season means squat but that’s a gutsy call by Buttons especially if Ehlers is out. I was hoping we got the Jets I just don’t see them good they lost at home to the Flames the win over a Nashville team with there 4 best players out was expected. I can see the Knights winning in 5 or 6 at the most.
Button just makes statements for ‘clicks’. Remove a top 6 forward due to injury from a wild card team that is playing like trash and choose them over a divsion winner who is getting back their captain – give me a break.
That being said, Go Jets Go for an easier 2nd round opponent for the mighty Oil.
I actually like our chances more vs Vegas then Winnipeg
The problem with Button is he is more interested in being a contrarian than doing an honest evaluation. Heterodox opinions are almost always valuable, but when every opinion is heterodox it loses value.
This. After all his misses, Button’s swinging for the fences to salvage his season. Wasn’t this guy once the GM of a team??? Yeesh
Button was formerly the head scout then GM of the same team he picked to win the Cup this year: the fLames.
LOL
Him and his brother have matching Flames Tattoos on each ass cheek.
I don’t think I want to know how you know that…
Some numbers:
Esposito posted 152 pts in an 78 game season for a ppg avg of 1.94
McDavid posted 153 pts in an 82 game season for a ppg avg of 1.91
Yzerman posted 155 pts in an 80 game season for a ppg avg of 1.93
It’s a shame that all the major leagues have gradually increased their schedules making it more difficult to properly contextualize scoring records. Ironically MLB has held the line at a 162 game schedule since 61/62 but their record book is fraught with steroid allegations.
I fully believe Connor will obliterate both Espo’s and Stevie Y’s marks next season. I also know it pisses off any great athlete when you say someone broke their record without acknowledging it was done with additional games played.
It’s amazing that McDavid has put himself in these conversations. Generational doesn’t cut it anymore. He’s a Legend.
I think there are bigger differences between now and then than 2 or 4 games per season.
That too. Of the 3 marks, Yzerman’s is the least impressive to me because of the scoring era he played in. Espo’s is the most impressive because he exceeded the previous high by such a considerable margin although some argue the league was still watered down by expansion. That meant the league had less skill but it was extremely physical. It took a big physical player with hands like Esposito to set the record then. McDavid’s is impressive to me because of how he is rounding out his game. He is officially a sniper now adding the Rocket to his trophy case.
Yes, but Espo broke those records in a time when the NHL more than doubled in size due to expansion. If I am not mistaken that’s the year buffalo and Vancouver were added, so in a short time NHL went from 6 to 14 teams.
Yup I acknowledged the expansion factor in my post.
Another record of note.
Anze Kopitar has led the Kings in scoring for 14 of the past 15 years.
The last player to do so was Gordie Howe.
Cool stat.
Except Gordie Howe never played for the Kings!
In the entire history of the NHL.
Gordie Howe never played for the Kings.
Imo recency bias factors mightily into human being’s perceptions of records. There’s always a tendency to perceive the most recent record as the most valid because it’s the one our mind is most familiar with at this time. The NHL has always been a highly competitive league. Scoring in it has always been impressive.
When compared to last, the primary differences for me this year are the reduced highs and lows of Smith in net, and better all round d-zone coverage/cycle breaking
Giving up early/soft goals and chasing games was unbearable
Kings are a tough match up. But will get us into structured, disciplined form early on.
Thanks for the great season, LT!
Undoubtedly, this blog is the only thing that kept me watching/interested in the Oilers during the DOD.
I hope you get to see a Boston vs. Edmonton SC final in a couple of months!
Hunter1909’s Famous Post Season Contest:
HUNTER 1909 OFFICIAL PLAYOFF DEATH MARCH 2023
Deadline: 1st puck drop of the Oilers playoffs
Rules:
1 – How many games do the Oilers win during these playoffs?
tie break
2 – How many points do Leon and Connor score combined?
tie break
3 – How many goals does Evander Kane score?
Hunter1909 plays Playoff Death March:
1- 162- 573 -12
1716The purge beginneth in Anaheim as they will not renew Eakins’ contract.
He ‘s the perfect Coach if you want to lose and better your lottery odds.
Hahaha. I was going to say the same thing. Eakins is a ringer if your goal is to win the lottery.
Et tu Verbeek
Great to see Gully wearing the vest last night after the team set the record for all time regular season powerplay efficiency. A lot of pundits were giving up the ghost on that one after the team dealt Barrie and the band just swapped in a new player and played on. It reminds me of VanHalen replacing Roth with Hagar and then hitting their first #1 album in the charts with 5150. Greatness doesn’t make excuses.
I love the fact that our high skill Oilers have taken such a substantial record from the Flying Frenchmen. Somewhere Slats is smiling.
is gulutzan going to be poached from edmonton this summer?
He’s paid his dues and deserves another chance to be a head coach somewhere.
Anaheim says Hi!
These Oilers are starting to make a believer out of even me. They’re finally doing what serious contenders do. Since the start of January, and especially since the start of March, they’ve finally shored up their weaknesses. They’re rolling. The team stats are incredible. And the individual wizardry of McDavid, Draisaitl, and company are a pure pleasure to watch.
Still, I’d like to dial back the expectations a little.
Fanbases are notoriously bipolar. Don’t get me wrong. I’m enjoying the current mania about the Oilers a lot more than the depression of the DoD (or of the playoff losses to the Blackhawks/Jets).
But the playoffs are a fickle mistress. MoneyPuck doesn’t give any team a greater than 14% chance of winning the Cup. That includes the Bruins, who just set an NHL record for wins. I’ve seen some very good, very deserving teams lose in the playoffs. The possibility of agonizing defeat is what makes victory such a thrill. But as they say, 31 of 32 teams go home unhappy.
I’m going to temper my expectations, and enjoy this spectacular ride to the fullest. At long last, it’s a good time to be an Oiler fan.
Florida is a tough match-up for Boston. First round of the playoffs is chaos usually
The Oilers are a legit contender IMO. Their chances of winning the Cup are as good as any in the playoffs. Avs are still probably the favourite, depending on the health of Makar. Having said that, the gap between teams seems narrower this year. Beating the Kings is not a given. They are legit good and a couple bad bounces could determine the series. On the bright side, the Oilers could be even better next year with further development of young players, while teams like Tampa, Boston, and even the Kings to some extent, should fade with their aging core.
I was thinking about this earlier this year. With the way our contracts are structured, and the rookies who will be establishing themselves, it really feels like next year is the year for this Oilers team.
That said, we’re already legit contenders. I can only imagine what next year is going to be like with Broberg looking to establish himself and Lavoie and Bourgault pushing.
At least make it out of first round.
Hopefully make it to conference
Amazing if they make it to final
I was 12 last time they won a cup so life long dream if they take it all.
Pittsburgh cleans house.
Burke, Hextall and the Assistant GM all fired.
Crosby 50% retained as Oilers 3C next year
Not surprising.
I am curious for what comes next. Do they try and reload quickly to win in Crosby’s twilight years or does the new GM start to rebuild?
I think they have no choice but to reload with Crosby, Letang and Malkin all under contract for a bit.
Jonathan Toews signs with the Oilers for 1 million next season to be 4C
They will never move Crosby.
But would it not be smart to explore what they would get for Malkin? He has a full NMC but he may be willing to go somewhere else to win. He has 3 years left at 6.1 mill/year…that’s not terrible. If Pitt held a million or so they could get a pretty good haul…not necessarily full rebuild but give Syd some younger running mates for a few years to see what he can produce….
Crosby might want to move.
I hear the team his best friend plays for could use a #2C.
Paying to pick up the Granlund corpse is a fireable offense
Yeah…what on earth was Hextall thinking?
It is funny that early in the year everyone (including me) was shitting on the Pacific Division.
End of the season, the Pacific boasts the conference winners and is the only division with four one hundred plus point teams.
The LA series should be fun. Some bad blood building since last year. Cannot take LA lightly. That said, they lack the top end talent to hang with the Oilers.
I am going Oilers in five. I don’t think McD is f*cking around this year.
Predicting a short, one-sided series and a triumphant win always puts you at risk of embarrassment…
…but I agree.
*sitting on a rocking chair on the porch in the early evening sun, sipping a whiskey*
Fine season. Damn fine season.
Hey Allan, very long time reader/lurker here. I’ve never posted before, just enjoyed the dialogue since the 2006 cup run. I have to comment though on ‘Northwest passage’. The song by Stan Rogers is a great choice but you got the band name wrong, I think you wanted to reference the version by ‘Unleash the Archers’ (one of my favourite Canadian bands) not ‘release the archers’, a version which hits like a mac truck and very different in style than the original, though both are great!.
This year is the first time I have never felt apprehension going into the playoffs. With this version of the Oilers, things feel right. I want to enjoy watching this team until the end of June!
I live in Calgary and the vitriol and caustic remarks on the radio and amoungst co-workers/friends about the local team is amazing. I feel sorry for them all as I was pulling to see the Flames in the playoffs. It is better when more Canadian teams make it to the extra season.
Go oilers!
Love that band, can’t remember their name. It would have been a better title, too! I can’t change the title because I think that might be one of the issues this blog has, so apologies and rest assured I love the band. That girl can sing. Holy crap!
If we are doing stan Roger’s songs I am surprised it wasn’t “Field behind the plow” all the hard work and heartache add up to another seasons promise.
Prospectunnecessarysuffixingpleasegordmakeitstop!
The quartet of Oilers NA amateur prospects whose seasons continue returns to the ice this night. While the USHL regular season is wrapping up, the CHL begins round 2 of the postseason. Two of the three have home-ice (Chiasson, Petrov) while Wanner’s Warriors head to Winterpeg to face the buzzsaw Ice.
North Bay (Petrov) @ 5 p.m.
Youngstown (Lachance) @ 6 p.m.
Moose Jaw (Wanner) @ 6 p.m.
Saskatoon (Chiasson) @ 7 p.m.
All times, at all times, are Bezanson time.
It’s never going to stop, it is just you. (And we like it like that)
My goodness, look at that TOI for the forwards. It’s almost equal from top to bottom. When’s the last time we saw that kind of distribution? Kind of amazing, no?!
Until we see what happens if Ekholm goes down in game one of the Finals, I got to call Dwayne Roloson the Oilers most impactful deadline acquisition, but I think Ekholm beats all skaters and it isn’t close.
The things we forget as we age.
Rexy also says “hi”.
I also rank Roli higher. So far.
One game at a time of course – but these guys need to be thinking about their own process, not the opposition, and about taking care of business in either 4 or 5 in the first two rounds. This makes a big difference later on. None of this 7 games in round 1 because they don’t show up 2 or 3 times crap.
Agree with this 100%. Push the other team to play your game instead of the other way around. I get all the narrative around having to play lockdown hockey in the playoffs. Yeah, you may need that the odd game, but this team should be able to push for 4 on most nights against most teams. Other teams won’t have an answer for that.