Dylan Holloway is a fast winger and has boundless energy. For an Edmonton Oilers organization that hopes to spend many weeks pushing for Stanley, having that kind of talent available is an extreme luxury. What does the current recall list tell us about the Oilers organization’s opinions on some of its top prospects?
THE ATHLETIC!
- New Lowetide: What’s Oilers prospect Dylan Holloway’s future NHL role?
- Lowetide: Is Oilers’ Kailer Yamamoto playing his final games for Edmonton?
- DNB: Oilers’ Game 5 win had Jay Woodcroft’s coaching instincts all over it
- Lowetide: Oilers should stay the course no matter what happens against Kings
- DNB: How Zach Hyman capped Oilers’ season-saving comeback
- Lowetide: Oilers’ forward-heavy pipeline suggests defence-driven 2023 NHL Draft
- DNB: Oilers need secondary scoring to get back into series
- Lowetide: Key early Oilers vs. Kings matchups that are impacting the series
- DNB: Oilers’ playoff excitement, expectations have already given way to Game 1 pain again
- Lowetide: How winning the Stanley Cup would change the Oilers organization
- DNB: Connor McDavid, the NHL’s best player, has ‘freed his mind’: Will an Oilers Stanley Cup follow?
- Lowetide: Stock up or down for every Oilers prospect in the system
- Lowetide: Oilers top 20 prospects, winter 2022
THE PROCESS
This is the 2018 draft, and the players chosen are writing a helluva script. On the night of round 1, I was on the air at TSN1260 with Dean Millard. Both of us were convinced that Oliver Wahlstrom (a winger) would be chosen, and the Oilers also had a clear lane to Noah Dobson, whose size, speed and toolkit suggest he will be a complete player in the NHL.
Evan Bouchard was more one dimensional, but that one dimension was offense. Peter Chiarelli, Keith Gretzky and Bob Green (along with the scouting staff) stepped up to take the offensive defenseman. It was a bold move and I believe it has paid off.
Ryan McLeod was much the same in terms of risk. He had speed to burn, but his offense wasn’t overwhelming and there were detractors who suggested he would not go to the tough areas. McLeod is a legit NHL player and should have a long and productive career.
Olivier Rodrigue was one of the recalls this week, and I’d like to take a moment and point out that it’s a big damn deal. Mike Kesselring has already played in the NHL.
In the graph above, I show my picks versus the Oilers actual picks from 2018. There are times (Alex Debrincat) when my mousetrap looks better, but the 2018 draft wasn’t one of those times. Oilers nailed it.
THE RECALLS
Dylan Holloway has the best chance to see action among the recalls. He has such a strong set of skills, including speed, aggressiveness, a power forward’s mentality and an ability to get touches of the puck even at the NHL level. The downbeat is inexperience and that may keep him out of action. He played 51 games with Edmonton this season.
Markus Niemelainen played in 23 games with the Oilers, but lost his spot (if not his position) to Vincent Desharnais. Niemelainen is a big man, and a little more mobile (to my eye) than Desharnais, I could see him playing in the postseason if injuries hit.
Brad Malone played in 10 games with the Oilers this season, but recalls like Mattias Janmark and Klim Kostin were more effective, so stayed with the big club. It would take a couple of injuries to get him into the lineup.
Rodrigue, Calvin Pickard and Cam Dineen are unlikely to play, the recalls a reward for hard work done. I do believe that the Dineen recall indicates he is in the mix for playing time next season. Think Jordan Oesterle or Brad Hunt as a comparable. Dineen has talent. As for Pickard, the No. 3 goalie is never far from the action.
CURRENT ROSTER
The positions will change for the next series should the Oilers advance, but this is the current state of the roster. The Mattias Ekholm addition was a sea change moment. I have to say that Holland made the right deal, despite my preference for Erik Karlsson or Jakob Chychrun as the target.
As for future recalls, I know many of you want Raphael Lavoie in the lineup but it’s Holloway and that is what the Oilers are telling you. Noah Philp and Xavier Bourgault are candidates for recall, and I think Jason Demers could be recalled, doubt any of them play. Ryan Murray is listed as being on LTIR, but it’s possible he plays as well.
LOWETIDE AND JAMIESON
We’re on 10-2 today and will talk Oilers, Jets ousted, TML can’t close and of course the NFL draft. Guests include Steve Lansky, Tyler Yaremchuk and more!! Your texts are welcome at 10-1260 and we’ll be steady talking at 10 this morning!
I bring the entire defense and goalies from this year back next season intact. So much change since the TDL last year:
2021-22
Nurse CC
Keith Bouchard
Lagasson Niemaleinen Russell Barrie
Koskinen/Smith
2022-23
Nurse CC
Ekholm Bouchard
Kulak Broberg Desharnais
Skinner/Campbell
Yamo will go due to the cap, Foegle may have to as well to keep Bjugstad, but guys like Lavoie and Holloway are ready to step up. Maybe sign a UFA RW like Brown to round things out. You do your best to keep the centers (Bjugstad and Ryan).
according to Bettman re Financial Post march 13 : We wereprojected to be about 100 million away from retiring the escrow debt at that point in time. He also stated that reenues were braking the 6 Billion level. Perhaps the most palatable solution for all parties is a modest and temporary ( 1 year) increase in escrow so that cap can resume an upward trajectory. Estimates are currently it would rise to 87.5 million cap next year if Escrow debt retired. I am sure players would love to get that monkey off their back, owners would like to ease the cap pressures a lot of teams are facing as fast as possible. If HRR is 6 Billion, players share is 3 billion. 100 million divided by 3 billion is a three percent increase in escrow for one season to get back to normal. Could that work?
I also would like to see a change in Cap that curtails amount of Cap increases when players owe net escrow after a season, and mandates minimum increases when the owners owe escrow at the end of the year. Right now Cap consistently rises just enough over actual future performance that the players constantly are paying into escrow, should be more neutral in my mind.
Problem here is Players are willing to get the cap raised but not if escrow has to be raised. This was from just before the playoffs.
Raising the cap and maintaining escrow is bad for the majority of players.with existing contracts. It means players with long contracts have their salaries inflated away relative to the cap. It means superstars will demand AAV’s near the max salary to protect themselves from cap inflation and escrow. Be careful what you wish for.
Argually, an inflationary cap and escrow is also bad for owners.
An inflationary cap and escrow protects bad operators.
The cap in any year should be as close to as possible reflect expect league revenues.
The best model for setting the cap is to minimize escrow.losses, so the nominal value of a contract reflects the actual dollars a player receives.
The best system would actually be contracts inked as a percentage of the cap.
Why does the NHL not have a check from behind penalty?
Some of these hits against the boards on the numbers are really dangerous.
Eberle on Cogs could be career ending
Cogliano turned into the boards. Eberle didn’t have an opportunitiy to let up. Cogliano chose not to protect himself with that turn into the boards.
Potential game 7s for Boston, Toronto and Seattle has to be very positive for HRR, no? Bettman is on record as saying we are close to retiring the Escrow debt, will depend on the playoffs exceeding expectations. I would LOVE if we got a boost for next year, possibly sign Bouchard to something with term.
I am hoping a 4 year minimum for Bouchard. Draisatl to re-up in 2025 offseason, McDavid in 2026 and Bouchard in 2027… MUCH easier to manage. Alternative is one year for Bouchard and tehn aim for 3+ years after taht to avoid two starrs in same offseason causing cap pressure.
The pickle in all this is, if I am not mistaken, a 1 year makes him Arbitration eligible next year, and a 4 year takes him right to Free Agency, neither one ideal. Darn this will be interesting.
4 years for Bouchard is ill-conceived. Bouchard would become a UFA at expiry. One would be paying for no UFA seasons.
Oh wow. Just wow. Florida is taking Boston to Game 7, I smell an upset. Colorado and Seattle tied early in the second, I think the Kraken will end up advancng as well. That;s The President’s Cup winner AND the defending champs potentially out in the frst round. The whole playoff is wide open in that case. After over thirty years since the last Canadian team won the Cup, wouldn’t it be wild if we had two Canadian teams playing for the chalise? Whoda thunk?
Oilers over Leafs in 6?
pssst that’s LT’s fantasy Oil > TML G7 OT
I think the whole country would shut down for a week and a half to watch. It would be one for the ages.I’ve lived in both Edmonton and Toronto and would love to send Toronto home empty handed. We get to the cup I think it is Draisatl for the Conn Smythe, closest competitor would be McDavid. Stu gets them there I think he might finally get the team a Calder.
Calder voting is already done.
Could we see second round of Toronto-Florida, Carolina-New Jersey, Edmonton-Vegas, and Seattle-Dallas? Conference finals Toronto-New Jersey, Edmonton-Seattle, Cup Edmonton over Toronto…. Could happen. Bookies could lose their stuff on this round.
Colorado turned a switch and have absolutely owned Seattle in the 2nd – 3-1 now. Never know but it looks the Kraken’s magical ride is turning into a pumpkin. Great season, regardless – they’ve won over a few fans.
Looks like the Avs are rolling
I was hoping for the upset but I can’t see it happening now
Stars need to beat the daylights out of them
Colorado has their backs to the wall, Seattle playing with house money. If the Avs win tonight, it’s another game 7 and anything can happen. GO Kraken!
Boston LMAO
I don’t know which I like better… Boston being taken to the brink on their 30+ year old playoff lives; or…
Calgary Flames trading all of their star players away to Florida, where they now can be followed avidly by Oilers fans.
Tonight it’s Boston, but Matthew Tkachuk is a superstar, leaving Florida as the gift that’s going to be giving for years to come..
Summarizing!
Petrov picked up an apple but NB’s comeback just fell short as they lost the series opener 3-2.
Chiasson was held without soup as the Blades were skunked 3-0 in the ‘Peg.
Lachance too was held off the scoresheet as Youngstown blew a 2-0 lead but won in double OT.
Release the Kraken! 1-0 Seattle.
They’ve scored first in 6 of 6 games so far, apparently.
Byram gets a goal called back. Poor kid, he never saw HH’s curse coming.
That was one of those calls that is kinda ruining the game (and I’m rooting for Kraken) – the ‘offside’ was microscopic and part of a hard check into the boards. I say ‘play the advantage’ and reward a skill play.
A lack of enforcement leads to excess
Like Makar against us. Like Tampa gaming LTIR
Make rules and call them hard. If it’s not working change it
If it was against the Oilers I have no doubt the Slew-footing Av’s get the call
Bring back Shepelev or Yakapov they would be better choices than this childish love affair with Yamo. Woody it’s going to cost you your job. Ice the best team possible how about I start a go fund me for little Yamo hurt feelings if he gets rightfully benched because he didn’t get the memo that this is the Real Season.
Are you feeling alright tonight?
I want a Cup. What does Yamamoto do that Benson, Lavoie, Holloway and the guy playing Guitar in front of the liquor store that looks like a 2nd Cousin can’t do?
Your comment has so much hyperbole in it that no matter what I or others say, I don’t think it will change your mind.
I know you don’t like KY on a good day, but tonight your dislike seems to be extra intense. Which seems bizarre to me since the Oilers haven’t even played tonight.
I’m just a hardcore fan since the Alberta Oilers but more so since Kevin Lowe scored our first Goal in Chi-Town. I seen how fast a window can close we are in our 3-4 year window to win. No doubt in my mind Leon and Connor will both resign if we win 2 Cups. We are not winning a Cup with a top 6 forward that doesn’t contribute Jack spit. You need all hands on deck Yamo trying to check Kopitar looked comical and sad at the same time.
This is the type of online conversation that is sucking the joy out of being a sports fan in recent years. Maybe you need to step away from hockey for a bit.
Boston-Florida going to game 7 it looks like.
Carolina finished the Islanders off, avoiding game 7 in that series.
Boston is learning (or reminded), the playoffs are not anything like regular season games. Certainly not a goalie battle, but Ullmark showing he’s only human.
Sure amusing to see Turtle rack up points over in Florida
Fun fact:
No Tkachuk has gotten more than 15 games deep into the Stanley Cup playoffs.
(and that was dad Keith in 2001 – he’s the only one to play in a conference final, and his Blues bowed out in 5 games that year)
(Brady has never played a playoff game, Matt’s only time past the 1st round was vs. the Oilers last year)
It would be worth seeing him have some success if it meant Leafs fans tying themselves in knots over his antics.
Boston Florida going to game 7
What a horrendous goal Sorokin gives up to lose the series. No quite Smith from opponents zone but close
Jesse had great view of Carolina’s OT series winner. He didn’t get a point on Stasny’s winner from the corner, but maybe Sorokin thought Stasny would pass to Jesse in the high slot? L
Panthers were up 3-2 after 2. Now up 6-5 with 5 min to go. Crazy.
Reverse engineer you Insert Yamamoto 10 Goals for Tkachuk 55-65 Goals. Why did it take so long to drop Yamo in the batting order? These comfortable reporters are what ever the handle they call themselves why don’t they ask this simple question to Woody. It’s not that hard Woody why in the Fuk in a physical series are you playing Yamo in the top 6.
Jesus man.
1) Yamamoto was not playing top 6 the last time the Oilers played a game.
2) What on earth does Tkachuk have to do with Yamamoto. Puljujarvi was the guy drafted the same year as Tkachuk, but he’s gone now (Yamamoto a year later, with a whole other set of players you’d rather have).
So in terms of guys the Oilers could have had instead of Yamamoto, he was drafted #22 in 2017. He’s scored 118 NHL points at this stage.
There are only 2 players drafted after him who’ve got more points (J. Robertson #39 and D. Batherson #121). And while they didn’t play with the same linemates as Yamamoto, no player other than those two who was drafted after Yamamoto has more than 86 points.
And Robertson would easily be a first rounder, (top 10?) in a redraft
For sure, Robertson and Batherson are both in the top 10 scorers from that draft. Yamamoto #12.
I don’t care what hole he was drafted he boldly like a lot of Yankee doodles stated that any team passing on me will regret it. Sometimes in the cruel real world you have to call someone’s bullshit. Dave Lumley scored 32 Goals playing as a scrub with Kurri and Wayne. 10 Goals that’s all we get with Yamo playing top 6 minutes with Leon and Connor all year and now a disappearing act for the first 5 games of this hard fought series.
Take it easy, snappy.
You’re not the coach.
This isn’t your decision.
Woody thinks Yamo is the best guy to play; you should probably sit quietly and enjoy the game.
Boston looking quite mortal in this series vs Panthers.
I like the winner of TBL / TML to take the Atlantic.
Agree with this part. Florida was the Presidents’ Trophy winner last year though.
Yeah, they’re refinding that level with Tkachuk as their catalyst.
Still think Boston wins G7 but, maybe after playing lights-out all year, they don’t have another level?
No clue who wins game 7, but Boston sure doesn’t look invincible.
I definitely wouldn’t want to anoint TOR or TB as winner of the next series though, whoever advances on either side.
Reg season too easy
Why PT winners have so much trouble
The other teams bring a lot more in playoffs than they did. I think it’s really hard for the teams that had it easy to amp it up, in small sample size time. 4 games to lose isn’t much
Bruins Panthers game is insane.
Hoping this isn’t the future of hockey.
really – quite entertaining!
rather this than that carolina-islanders snoozer
Holy mother of God did Treliving Fuk up he had Bennett, Tkachuk and Johnny plus Lomberg who I would gladly take. He gave away 5-7 years of the franchise for Huberdough, magician Kadri who disappears for 30 games a year. Lindholm their best player will bolt after stringing along the nameless G.M
he had adam fox too. it’s really a shame but hey! new arena! squirrel!
Valimaki being put on waivers was such a lazy I can’t be bothered I’m going to Banff for the weekend to party with the rich folk move ever.
Perfect
A secondary apple is Petrov’s as NB pulls within one in the third.
How many game sevens will be forced tonight?
Prospectardiness!
Hi! All work and no play makes Tarkus something something. Haven’t been able to do this preview until now. Game 1 for Lachance in these playoffs, whilst Petrov and Chiasson begin their conference finals.
North Bay (Petrov) @ 5 p.m.
Saskatoon (Chiasson) @ 5 p.m.
Youngstown (Lachance) @ 5 p.m.
All times are Hilliard time, okay? Okay.
Go crazy?
Oilers should ban Rishaug and TSN from any team availability for a week.
“Just doing my job” is entirely why everything has 98% tax on it.
I do not need such coverage as a sports fan. Rishaug, you’re not the show.
Woot! Two legged Leon Draisaitl.
If he doesn’t report it, then he isn’t doing his job. The idea that no one else noticed and the video exposed all is a bit much.
The first angle definitely shows a distinct kicking motion. Doughty was definitely targeting that knee.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6o-pwYurKU
I was refering to the tweet from Rishaug at Thursday’s practice.
That tweet was McDavid screwing with the Kings. If he was truly hurt he wouldn’t have been on the ice. And if he got hurt during practice Rishaug would never post it. He would lose all the trust from the organization he’s earned.
Yes, I am aware of that.
I apologize as I wasn’t clear. I was just connecting the dots between McDavid’s apparent injury and the likely cause. I wasn’t disagree or debating with you.
I feel Holloway would have a bigger impact than Yamo at this point. Holl has 51 games under his belt, knows the system, has played up the lineup etc.
The mistakes made in the first few weeks of the season are long gone.
I wonder if Woody stays the course for this round and then considers different options next week
Yamo/Shore out, Holl/Janmark in
I feel Holloway will look like an undersize, speedy, nothing happens winger in this series.
Imo I don’t feel Holloway at this current point in time is an upgrade on any current regular forward.
Yamo is struggling no doubt about it, yet I highly doubt Holloway can step in and provide anything more substantial then what he’s already put on paper.. Which isn’t much imo.
Holloway … Height = 6.01 — Weight = 203
That is not huge, but far from undersized.
Hilarious… you’re worried Holloway will look undersized when replacing Yamomoto?
Check your eyeglass scrip.
Yamo looks like I mistakenly wandered onto the ice.
I wanted Karlsson too (and still do), but in hindsight I realize it was far too complicated for a trade deadline trade, and was probably more hype than anything else.
As for Chychrun, I don’t think he would have survived this series. He didn’t even survive the rest of the season in Ottawa before getting injured again. The Oilers dodged a massive bullet there, IMO.
Ekholm was the Goldilocks D man we didn’t even know about until the final act.
That’s just not true, some were talking about Ekholm last late November.
I think most people didn’t consider Ekholm as a possibility, certainly back in November, because Nashville was in a playoff spot and Ekholm was 2 months into his 4 year contract. He really only became available as the deadline approached, and good on Holland for being on top of it and making it work.
I understand the appeal with the player, but I feel we dodged a massive bullet with Karlsson.
Yes I know this year has been incredible, but it doesn’t make me forget about the past few years and the overall trend vs age.
And the supposed price for Karlsson was massive. Comparably, Ekholm was a bargain. And valuable bargain.
Erik Karlsson and Ekholm are almost identical in age (both born May 1990). And many were in favor of getting Karlsson if San Jose (plus maybe a 3rd team) retained enough salary to get Karlsson down to a similar salary to Ekholm. That would have likely meant more assets going the other way.
Without debating who is the better fit for the Oilers needs, Karlsson is the better player. He is almost certain to win his 3rd Norris Trophy this season tying him with Chelios, Coffey, Potvin and Pilote. Only 4 other defenseman have more than that: Orr, Harvey, Lidstrom and Bourque. Lidstrom won at 40, Bourque at 33 (but always in the top 2-7 thereafter including 2nd at 40) and Harvey was 37 for his last Norris.
It baffles me that anyone wanted Karlsson on this team. But gm I am not.
Ekholm was a beautiful dream back in November. Then we woke up in March and realized it wasn’t a dream!
We need a Kid Line if we are going to have any legitimate chance at long playoff run….everyone knows that!
Gelinas-Graves-Murphy were 19, 22 and 22 in 1990.
The youngest line the Oilers could ice is Holloway-McLeod-Yamamoto at 21, 23 and 23.
Seeing them as a line looks plausible at least.
They played 5:07 as a line this season.
5-0 shots, 8-1 scoring chances, 1-0 goals (11.7 GF/60).
This needs to happen 😉
My mistake on the youngest line. Yamamoto turned 24 in Sept. Kostin is still 23, turns 24 next Friday. (hockeyDB got me by listing Yamamoto as 23 to start the season)
So Holloway-McLeod-Kostin is the youngest line the Oilers can currently ice.
They’ve only played 2:40 as a trio, going 0-1 shots and no goals.
Holloway-McLeod and McLeod-Kostin have played a reasonable amount together though, with decent results.
Holloway-McLeod-Lavoie 21,23,22.
It won’t happen yet it’s hard to make it through 1 round of hockey never mind 4 rounds without injuries. When do they sit Yamamoto the only place he’s contributing is on the PK. Woody finally pulled him out of the top 6 the result a game in which we finally had some breathing.
Yeah, we don’t even know if Lavoie will join the team. And if he does it would take multiple injuries before he got a sniff of the lineup.
I think it’s more likely Yamamoto rebounds than gets scratched. It could happen if he continues to struggle though.
Lavoie in his past has been a streaky player he finished the season on a nice run. Raphael has also played overseas besides the AHL (different system) playing on the wing is the easiest job in hockey. 6’ 4” 200 going hard to the net is very tempting. Look at Brandt Clarke a D-man who just turned 20 a couple of months ago and the Kings might let him make his playoff debut on Saturday.
I’m looking forward to seeing Lavoie next season, but he cooled off down towards the end of the season (16GP 4-4-8 down the stretch and in the playoffs). It’s very unlikely we see him in an Oilers playoff game this spring.
And Brandt Clarke. HH would certainly like to make that a story, but he’s barely more likely to be in the lineup tomorrow than Lavoie is.
I doubt he would appear in a potential deciding game but if the Kings make the second round he might well be an option,
And Lavoie is not anywhere near Clarke’s level.
This should be an effective line
speed
forecheck
good D coverage / responsibility
the only question is “finish”
The way Foegele always looks like he’s pouting, McLeod being 8, and Ryan playing like a man half his age. We’re set.
Interesting to see Bowness throwing his core under the bus last night in his postgame presser. Given the FAs they have, that would seem a clear signal that they’re going to trade most of these guys.
I wonder if they’ll go full rebuild ala Ottawa and Edmonton or on the fly like Calgary and Vancouver. The latter seems like a sure path to perpetual mediocrity.
It doesn’t help Chevyldayoff’s job dragging player value down with bad press. I wonder if the HC and GM are aligned or is Bowness getting in front of his head potentially being on the chopping block?
Or do they just hire a new HC?
Jets my 2nd favourite team.
in 18 they had a team I thought could go all the way. A top 6 that could match any team. Good depth bottom 6. 3 RHD trio that was best in the league along with Morrisey. And a number 1 goalie in Hellybuck. They lost to Vegas in 3rd round, I felt Fleury stole the series. That core should have won more than 2 series since 2016.
imagine they try to retool but I’m scared they end up like Vancouver or Calgary do a face plant
That presser signalled some organizational dysfunction imo. It makes me think ownership is going to clean house on the GM and HC and Bowness wanted to make it clear going out the door that the Jets’ best players are the problem.
injuries killed them against VGK imo.
With how long they have been dysfunctional, the problem is likely above the GM. Things have been plenty weird in the Peg for years. Like the Oilers were.
Same issue with top players not wanting to do the dirty work and fight back, until a new GM, owner fingers out, and Connor and Leon more mature and hungrier. I don’t think Scheifele is made of the same stuff as our two
There’s going to be a mass exodus out of Winnipeg something is broken in the Slurpee Capital of the World. How can Cheveldayoff keep his job after 12 years of a high mark of only advancing through a couple of rounds. Kevin had multiple tries where he retooled yet no real results. He got dealt a bad hand on the Byfuglien fiasco but every team has a sad story of their own.
I don’t think Bowness threw his core under the bus so much as stating the obvious: the Jets simply weren’t good enough for much of the year.
Bowness may very well have coached his final game with the Jets but the changes in Winnipeg should be more dramatic than just another coaching change.
Murat Ates’ has an excellent article in the Athletic today outlining that if the Jets ever did have a Stanley Cup quality team with their current core, then that time has passed.
Both Chevyldayoff and ownership have been supremely patient and methodical, but another year making changes at the fringes of the team won’t result in any sustained success — Jets’ fans deserve better.
They should seek out a new GM to rebuild the front office while taking a hard, honest look at the team. They may not have to tear things down to stud, but if anyone won’t be in a position to help the team win in two years they need to be moved for the best possible value.
Safe is death, and the Jets have been playing it safe for far too long.
When you’re saying your best players lack pushback, you’re insinuating they lack competitiveness at best or they lack heart at worst. That’s a significant criticism for a professional athlete. And Bowness painted them all with that broad brush. He’s probably not wrong but it looks to me like a guy trashing his office before they escort him out of the building.
Fair. Although pushing someone under the bus implies a shove done in order to save yourself — and I don’t think that’s the case here. Bowness is stating that the organization isn’t where it needs to be, himself included.
“and the Jets have been playing it safe for far too long.”
That theme goes back to the prior Jets franchise in 1978. They had been bold grabbing Bobby Hull from the NHL and bringing in all the Swedes. But Gretzky’s plane was on its way to Winnipeg from Indianapolis, when team management decided to pass, as they thought he was too small for the pros, and let Pocklington get the Great One. Sure they won that last Avco Cup, but the city’s NHL history has been pretty dismal since first joining in 1979 and then getting back in with the Thrashers moving. One trip to the Conference Finals since 1979.
We were so very lucky that Gretzky ended up in Edmonton. When I think of the Jets Franchise it’s Dale Hawerchuk 1st then Andes Hedberg-Ulf Nilsson-Bobby Hull line 2nd. This was one of the greatest hockey lines ever. Number 3. would be Teemu Selanne rookie season where he scored 76 and he had some awesome celebrations after scoring. That’s it I can’t think of anything else the Jets are the most vanilla Tesm and G.M in Hockey.
Columbus gets the vanilla award for me. A 1st round upset of Tampa, Rick Nash, and 25 years of meh hockey.
Buffalo and Vancouver entered the league 53 years ago and not a Cup in sight. That can’t be fun as a fan.
It’s quietly well known the Jets need to make Scheifele the highest paid player in the league to retain his services. He wants out.
https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/kraken/police-report-sheds-light-on-avalanche-star-nichushkins-early-departure-from-seattle/
Don’t think he’s back even if they get to next round.
I’m sure his teammates are impressed.
Always more to the story
I’m guessing it gets even more sordid.
True, it has the makings of a sordid story, but…
As its a slow Lowetide day let me share a small event in my life. Im watching my kids cross country running and I like to get away from the crowd, probably 200 meters from a big group of parents, kids and chaos.
As we are waiting for next start a little boy pops out of the crowd running across the field. He has escaped his mom’s eyes and running like hes Andy Desfresne. Hes small, maybe 3 years old, 4 at the oldest. Nobody sees him.
Hes getting further and further away. Still no sign of Mom and Im getting a little annoyed. How can nobody see this little boy get further and further away in a wide open park?
Hes about 300meters away and rounding a corner, going down a trail in the park. Still nobody looking – at all. I start to jog his way to cut him off and get him turned around. I catch up with him, grab his little hand and lead him out of the forest trail and right into a screaming mom. You can just imagine the shock to her – and the shock to me!
The looks she gave me and the things her friend said I can assure you it was not “my lord thank you for catching him” “We should have been paying more attention” As i went back to my spot I truly wonder what she was saying but I felt eyes on me and I felt like shit. Right thing to do but that could of went really bad.
So, I share it as a funny story but potentially not funny at all.
Nothing to do with Nichushkins, and not directed at you defmn, but just sharing,
winchester – you got Karen’d big time there. You did the right thing though.
Oh, that’s not a great situation.
Hopefully worst case it’s just do not pass go directly to rehab situation.
Backing up unimaginable dump trucks of money on athletes I’m suprised this line of chaos seems more an exception than more prevalent.
Without the right support network around any of them, gotta be like swarm of trouble moths surging towards light.
You’d expect Murray as part of the group too (no formal recall needed since he was on conditioning loan).
You wonder whether he’s healthy though. He only played 2 of the 3 AHL games he was eligible to play, and did not play in either playoff game. Do I also recall someone mentioning he left that 2nd Bakersfield game early, suggesting injury?
Murray could establish his own glass factory across the street from Klefbom’s place.
lol
So that’s 15 forwards including the injured Janmark, and 9 defensemen currently.
I’d have expected calls also for Lavoie, Hamblin, Demers and likely Bourgault (the latter mostly for experience).
We’ll see who else gets added, if anyone.
Janmark was on the ice today.
Yesterday? I don’t see anything about today’s practice yet, though it would be cool if he’s joined the main group.
Sounds like he will be back for next week at least though.
So the NHL bigwigs must be pleased. Seven elimination games to be played tonight and tomorrow. I wonder how many wrap up and how many go to game seven? I don’t expect the home teams to win them all, but if they do there will be six game sevens. Fun times!
1 of 5 home teams have won elimination games to this point. All were series favoruites with a 3-1 lead. Only dysfunctional Winnipeg was unable to spoil the party.
Still can’t believe Bouchard fell to us that year… sign the man for as long as possible now!
Don’t bridge… do not pass Go!
Yup. Clear out whoever you have to to find the cap to do it.
Where’s Broberg?
Good catch.
in the lineup
Being processed for power forward conversion.
Getting a rock chip repair at Kelfbom & Sons glass factory.