The Edmonton Oilers won Saturday, and then all hell broke loose in the NHL playoffs. The two teams generally regarded as favourites to make it to the final, Colorado and Boston, lost Sunday games and will spend the summer wondering what happened. For the Oilers, this represents a big opportunity. The Vegas Golden Knights are going to be a tough out, and the Dallas Stars or Seattle Kraken await the winner of that series. Whatever words you want to put on those teams, there’s a slow easy about contemplating the rest of the west if the Oilers can beat the Vegas odds.
THE ATHLETIC!
- New Lowetide: Why the Oilers beat the Kings — and can beat the Golden Knights
- Lowetide: 6 biggest AHL Bakersfield Condors stories from 2022-23 season
- DNB: Oilers move on to Round 2 after Kailer Yamamoto’s goal rescues them from Stuart Skinner’s blooper
- 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
OILERS V GOLDEN KNIGHTS
It will be a tough, physical series and at some point the goaltending is going to play a major factor (it always does). I don’t think either team should assume the better goalie, suspect the VGK will prove to have the better defense, and am secure in saying Edmonton’s forwards are ahead of the Nevada 12. Here’s the tale of the tape for the 2022-23 season.
Based purely on the numbers presented here, I like the Oilers chances. The Golden Knights allow about .6 shots per game less, and have a better GA-60 at five-on-five. However, Edmonton is more substantial offensively at five-on-five, and beyond the blue horizon on the power play. I do think Vegas has great depth and the fourth lines are going to have an impact. It may indeed come down to goaltending. I like Stuart Skinner in a matchup against Laurent Brossoit, even knowing the Vegas blue are tight as a drum. I’m calling the Oilers in seven excruciating games.
THE 2023 DRAFT
The Edmonton Oilers have shopped the OHL just once in the four most recent drafts, after grabbing Evan Bouchard and Ryan McLeod in the 2018 selection. Ontario has blessed the franchise with its most gifted sons, bookends (99, 97) for greatness at the beginning and the most recent seasons. What will this year’s draft bring?
THE OHL PLAYERS, 2023
- RW Colby Barlow, Owen Sound Attack (OHL). 6.01, 195. Speed, great shot, throwback type.
- LW Quentin Musty, Subdury Wolves (OHL). PF with great numbers, playmaker, plus speed.
- RC Calum Ritchie, Oshawa Generals (OHL). Good skater with size and skill.
- RD Oliver Bonk, London Knights (OHL). Smart two-way D who counts defending as a strength.
- RD Cam Allen, Kitchener Rangers (OHL). He’s a RH defenseman who can move the puck well.
- RD Hunter Brzustewicz, Kitchener Rangers (OHL). Modern player-type, has size.
- LW Nick Lardis, Hamilton Bulldogs (OHL). Pure scorer, plus skater, spiked late.
- LC Carson Rehkopf, Kitchener Rangers (OHL). Pure scorer, he’s also a fine skater.
- RD Beau Akey, Barrie Colts (OHL). Two-way D with plus speed.
- RW Coulson Pitre, Flint Firebirds (OHL). PF prospect, impressive offense, good skater.
- RD Andrew Gibson, Soo Greyhounds (OHL). Big (6.03, 197) two-way D brings toughness, some skill.
- LC Carey Terrance, Erie Otters (OHL). Great skater, two-way F, 30 goals.
- RD Matthew Mania, Sudbury Wolves (OHL). RHD, great speed, skill.
- LC Luca Pinelli, Ottawa 67’s (OHL). Undersized, average speed, skilled, determined.
- LD Rodwin Dionicio, Windsor Spitfires (OHL). Overager, 6.02, 205, big offense. Hire this man!
- RW Easton Cowan, London Knights (OHL). Small, fast skilled.
- LD Tristan Bertucci, Flint Firebirds (OHL). Good size, mobile, two-way type.
- LW Brady Stonehouse, Ottawa 67’s (OHL). Smaller forechecking demon with skill. 2004.
- LD Spencer Sova, Erie Otters (OHL). Big, can skate, skilled, developing defense. Overager.
- LD Quinton Burns, Kingston Frontenacs (OHL). Big, heavy hitter. Can skate. Oiler?
- LC Denver Barkey, London Knights (OHL). Highly skilled, small, foot speed average or lower.
I listed 20 one year ago and the NHL drafted 35. Expect about 10 names that aren’t here to be drafted and another 10 who will be chosen next year. The OHL is a factory like Motown was a music factory. The product is good, has a good beat and you can dance to it.
LOWETIDE 2022 DRAFT LIST FROM OHL
RC Shane Wright (OHL). Peter Harling (Dobber) compares to Patrice Bergeron.LD Pavel Mintyukov (OHL). Top-end skater, puck mover. Some chaos defensively.LC David Goyette (OHL). Speedy center with skill and two-way ability.LC Servac Petrovsky (OHL). Aug. 2004, slick, skilled, does everything at high speed.LW Luca DelBelBelluz (OHL). Size, two-way ability, and an offensive spike.RD Ty Nelson (OHL). Impressive offensive defensman.LC Daniil Zhilkin (OHL). Good wheels, two-way C. Safe pick.RC Owen Beck (OHL). Speed demon with skill.RC Tucker Robertson (OHL). Is strong and skilled, could be a steal.LC Cedrick Guindon (OHL). Undersized skill center.- RC Pano Fimis (OHL). Responsible center with skill.
RW Vinzenz Rohrer (OHL). Small F with great utility. Oilers might like him.LW Matyas Sapovaliv (OHL). Scoring winger with great passing ability.- LD Samuel Mayer (OHL). Overage, brings solid play in all areas.
RC Matthew Poitras (OHL). Solid two-way pivot.LC Bryce Mcconnell-Barker (OHL). Lots of talent, numbers lagging.RD Christian Kyrou (OHL). Impressive numbers, has a chance.LW Gavin Hayes (OHL). Offensive winger with size.- LW Stuart Rolofs (OHL). Pure scorer with size.
- RW Evan Konyen (OHL). Good skater, pure scorer.
HOLLAND TUNNEL
Since Ken Holland arrived as Oilers general manager previous to the 2019 entry draft, Edmonton has made 22 selections. Just one, Tyler Tullio, came from the Ontario league. I’m not sure how the Oilers avoided the OHL over that period but would guess we’ll see someone from the OHL named by the Oildrop at the draft. I wanted to post a touch list of players who have good to great numbers that might make sense. Here they are, just numbers I don’t know much about them.
- RW Braeden Bowman, Guelph Storm. 54 games, 33-39-72. He’s 19.
- RC Anthony Romani, North Bay Battalion. 66 games, 23-20-43.
- RW Alex Christopoulos, Windsor Spitfires. 68 games, 49-25-74. He’s 20.
PROJECTED PICKS
- No. 26 overall (traded to Nashville in the Mattias Ekholm deal)
- No. 58 overall
- No. 90 overall (traded to Arizona in the Nick Bjugstad deal)
- No. 122 overall (traded to Philadelphia in the Derick Brassard transaction)
- No. 154 overall
- No. 186 overall
- No. 218 overall
MOCK DRAFT
- No. 58 overall: LC Carson Rehkopf, Kitchener Rangers (OHL). Pure scorer, he’s also a fine skater. He might go earlier, but the rankings aren’t as high as they should be. Brock Otten: “Rehkopf is a very powerful skater and his quickness is a real problem for OHL defenders considering his length and puck protection ability. Rehkopf also has a deceptive and quick release, perhaps among the best of any forward in this OHL class. His potential as a goal scorer is huge.“
- No. 154 overall: RD Victor Sjoholm, HV 71 (SHL). He’s 20, small, played in the SHL last season (37, 2-8-10) and would fill a need. Great skater, great passer. The bonus is he can defend. Downbeat? 5.09, 179.
- No. 186 overall: LD Justin Kipkie, Victoria Royals (WHL). Good size and defensive ability, he came on offensively during the season and has a fairly complete skill set. The downbeat is average speed but he represents value here.
- No. 218 overall: LD Hugo Fransson, HV71 (Swe Jr). Undersized puck mover below the radar but the numbers don’t lie. He has already played in the Allsvenskan and SHL. No one mentions him.
LOWETIDE AND JAMIESON
The entire band is back together, 10-2 today, TSN1260. Heavy heavy Oilers, the shocking Game 7’s of Sunday and of course the NFL draft. I will be steady talking about the CFL draft, too! 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. See you on the radio!
Pretty funny presser from Mclellan. Right at the end, he mentions that his team could use a couple of 6’8” defensemen. Was that a nod to Desharnais?
https://lakingsinsider.com/2023/05/01/2023-exit-interviews-rob-blake-todd-mclellan/
I figure tomorrow’s post title will be Gordon Lightfoot themed. RIP.
Staples is killing it with his CoH articles lately, here is a link to the latest:
https://edmontonjournal.com/sports/hockey/nhl/cult-of-hockey/behind-enemy-lines-what-vegas-golden-knights-insider-say-about-series-against-edmonton-oilers
Thing is the Vegas Insiders are ignoring the fact that the Oilers lost the first 2 of 3 games in OT while short-handed.
As Stauffer pointed out, since Stu let in those 3 goals in the 1st period of game 4, the Oilers have scored 16 goals and given up 8, over their last 8 periods.
For a 3-2 league, or more like a 4-3 this year, that prorates to 6-3 and those are formidable results…
Thanks for posting that as i had missed it. Good to see another fan base’s bloggers disrespecting the Oilers.
Take Aways: So the VGK had great numbers against a depleted Jets team and that makes them the overwhelming favorite over the Oilers! I think not and by the way you look stupid in the golden helmets.
I will never assume that the Oilers will lose a game – so Oil in 4 (probably not but that is the hope and goal).
MSM’s continuous coverage of the leafs is insufferable…hope they get swept.
Alexis Lafreniere – 0 points, 9 SOG in the playoffs playing 3rd line minutes.
If he played in Edmonton there would be a nation-wide BOLO for him, and he already be written off by the MSM as a bust.
Most everyone already does consider him a bust. Because he is, relative to expectations for 1st overall. He is a 3rd line grinder without the mindset of a grinder.
And he was a ‘can’t miss prospect’ if my memory serves me correctly.
Kakko hasn’t really lit it up either.
Makes you wonder if the environment around them is hurting their development or if the team itself rushed them through too quickly.
The Rags completely and utterly screwed up the development of both.
They are actually a terrible organization for non-goalie prospects to rise up through. Have a habit of rushing and can then use the Broadway tractor beam to bring in FAs to cover their mistakes.
Running on fumes now though. Calling it the Last Gasp of the Flames on Broadway.
Expect cellar dweller in the next two-three seasons.
Oilers have seen this before with Yak – at least Lafreniere gets some playoff experience? Of course Oilers would have drafted Stutzle, on Drai’s advice.
His lack of poowerplay production in regular season definitely raises some caution flags.
1 G 3A in 111 min in 80 GP
The thing that always got me about Sutter was that he watched his Cup teams go off the rails and didn’t notice. I remember his comments about that
I also remember wondering while watching those playoffs why the Kings could be showing no effects of hard fought games in the third period. They were running rings around the opposition. I was buying into the ‘effort’ and grit etc. Turns out it was probably BS
So if Sutter had memories of that, and had his head in the sand still, and was playing rancher with no internet while all of his tough guy coach peers were ‘flaming’ out, and still thought he could do that thing again, well
Very true.
The flames have no one to blame but themselves over this fiasco. They knew who they were hiring when they got Sutter. He never changed who he was and made no apologies for it. Calgary wanted that and now they’re on the hook for some serious coin.
IMO, he’s a good coach when he has total buy in…usually from a veteran heavy team. I think they’re able to deal with the mind games and tune in and out as required.
Thing is that they did have a veteran heavy team this year … the verbal at the start of the season was their window to compete for the Cup was now, so Treliving eschewed futures and took a package of Huberdeau and Weegar instead, and signed Kadri.
^ THIS!
There were many many many posters on this here board, but also intelligent and thoughtful analysts, who were convinced the Flames were one of the best teams in the NHL coming into this season. Treliving was getting all sorts of love on this here blog for his work.
Hahahaha
I can’t believe he’s only 64 years old.
McLeod parents must be proud. Series winning goal and series winning primary assist a few days apart
Picked wrong kane
Our Kane didn’t cost us an asset, is signed for several more seasons, and actually wanted to be an Edmonton Oiler.
That being said, the Subway Series was bizarre … Akira Schmid (who?) saved their season and outplayed Shesterkin. Lafreniere had zero points and Panarin just 2 measly assists. Krieder scored 6 goals on 13 shots, but then went ice cold and was -4 tonight. Meier didn’t get a single point before getting knocked out cold by Trouba.
Betting on hockey is a fool’s game.
I was surprised by this:
https://twitter.com/ScoutingTheRefs/status/1653222174864424960?cxt=HHwWgIC-ueKztvEtAAAA
I wasn’t watching the game, but replays of the hit are outrageous. I haven’t seen a head shot like that in years, absolutely terrible.
Reminds me of Scott Stevens on Eric Lindros.
Wow, similar part of the ice and everything. You’ve got a great memory. It almost looks worse than the Stevens hit to be honest. Stevens gets Lindros in a similar play with his elbow. Trouba unloads his shoulder and full momentum right into Meier’s head.
Scott Stevens hit
Trouba hit
That stevens hit is etched clear in probably every person that watched hockey in those days.
So go all-in on the season, or at least the deadline, and go out in the first round…
…and Nashville is laughing all the way to the draft table.
Way to go NJ. Flush that crap NYR team out of the league.
I was slightly pulling for the Rangers before the Trouba hit. That should have been 5 and a game on the spot. He elevated his shoulder up and directly onto Meier’s head. It was the initial and principal point of contact the rule book definition of a headshot.
The Devils winning puts Trouba out of the playoffs, something the league doesn’t have enough guts to do. Trouba will get suspended to start next season, but they wouldn’t have done enough if the Rangers had advanced.
The refs don’t get the benefit of getting to watch the replay during the game so if no one of the four saw the head hit first they can’t call it then go for an in game review.
Of course no on ice official noticed anything untoward, they were too busy being high-level attentive unbiased ethical professionals at the top of their field.
Also Trouba has always kept his nose clean, and is a perennial Lady Byng candidate, so there’s that.
A booboo would be bootiful
… and Otomoto gets the no-no
3-0 and it’s all but over now
Big breakout party for Sioux City musketeer Akira Schmidt
Rags load up with Tarasenko, Kane on top of Zibanejad, Kreider and Panarin. “kid line” “Adam Fox” “best goalie in the world” – don’t matter, NJD played a fast team game and are moving on, not unlike Seattle. Love it, there is justice.
Good! NYR have no business coming close to winning, despite the best efforts by the stripes to give them that chance.
The NJD fan in the stands will go home happy, at least.
The reason it was this close is Jersey played Vanacek first 3 games to give rangers a head start
he had a 827 sp
Congratulations Tyler D!!! I won’t cheer against your Devils until the Stanley Cup Final.
Why do you like the Stars better.
Yes, of course he does.
Every single one of us on the blog are huge Stars fans, so it goes without saying, are you new?
is that all you got lol ?
What a load of shitty officiating.
1-That was a goal, Hischier had nowhere to go, because Miller was pushing him towards his goalie. So they will count goals where the Dman shoves a player into his tender in the crease, but this one is whistled. Why?
2- That was a headshot. Spare me the center of the body bullshit ref mouthpiece. That was a clear-cut shoulder to the head, Meier’s head did not change position over the 10-20 feet he travelled before the hit. The head was the primary point of contact, that should not even be debatable. That is totally Scott Stevens’ headshot technique on full display in HDTV.
3- The NHL referee fraternity doesn’t care about it’s Leagues best players. However, when it no longer matters, mark my words, Trouba will receive a retroactive suspension. That does squat for the team in the lead. Pure horseshit.
4-The NHL loves the Rangers. No integrity on display tonight.
Not one devil should shake the hand of Trouba in the handshake line
So, Ranger fan, sorry for your loss 😀
Team I will be most excited to see out of playoffs is Blueshirts. With their big deadline additions at a fraction of the cost of what Canadian teams would have to pay, so happy to see all those big name additions working on their golf game.
Also, NHL has got to do something about predatory hits. Not much more dangerous than a predator like Trouba searching for an opportunity to make a ‘clean’ shoulder directly to head hit to an unsuspecting player. Total predator.
He’s a goof
You can’t pretend to care about concussions and say that is an acceptable hit
I don’t understand what the nhl is thinking. They have to hold players accountable for predatory hits. When a player is in a vulnerable position only the stone cold predators like Trouba take advantage to that level of disregard for another players health.
That hit is almost a guaranteed concussion
He also seemed to be holding his left arm, shoulder, or wrist?
Meier just slammed by Trouba. Yikes
That was one if the hardest nicest clean open ice hits I’ve ever seen
Most other levels of hockey, that 5+GM for a headshot
Minus all the head contact on a player in a vulnerable position
The announcers were calling it a clean hit, with the principle point of contact being the chest. But the replay clearly showed they were wrong. I wonder if Trouba has some “plot armour” with east-coast media.
Head-first hit. I don’t understand why Trouba wasn’t ejected from the game.
Devils have come a long way from the Fire Lindy chants at the beginning of the season.
Gene P was on between periods and was still in LA – the team had an off day Sunday, and had a full practice today in advance of the game on Wed
Not sure if they’re travelling to Vegas tomorrow or Wed, but that’s a nice little break prior to the next series – a little sun, a little surf. Nice.
Game Wed is 8pm MT
Tomorrow morning
Lol and its 13C in LaLa and something like 27 in Edmonton today
I thought the Rangers would be coming out of the East was I ever wrong. The Rangers are loaded up front but yet they can’t score.
Haven’t really paid attention but has P. Kane added much in the playoffs? Wondering if he has anything left in the tank
Kane and Kreider were about the only 2 to do much of anything offensively in the series
Rangers look pretty content with themselves.
If NJ hangs on, the opportunity presented to the remaining 8 teams is unprecedented imo
I can’t think of a year when the path remaining has been so uncertain – any 1 of the 8 teams could win it all
Shades of 06 where every low seed won in the west and the east was a dogs breakfast.
How many injured defenseman did the Sabres have to their loss to the Canes?
6
Is there any reason the game 3 and 4 schedule haven’t dropped? Impossible to make plans on such a tight timeline if you live in another city.
Devils look a little like those Doug Weight Oilers teams. Hungry and enthusiastic.
I can’t believe Tatar only 32 years old. I thought he would be at least 36-37.
Devils draw first blood
Highlander’s older brother with finish. Parents are going to lose their minds if both teams get to the SCF.
Sail on, Gordon Lightfoot.
Sun down. What a life, though!
https://twitter.com/amandelic/status/1653210076520275971?s=61&t=WWzo5XOO0SDsOISFpfGKMg
Lightfoot being interviewed by Alex Trebec.
https://twitter.com/mikebeauvais/status/1653206405438922752?s=61&t=WWzo5XOO0SDsOISFpfGKMg
Sad day but thankful I was able to see him live many times from the 70s all the way to a few years ago. Met him once in a hotel nice guy.
Glad to have been able to see him this past year at a small venue in Oakville. Still a character and great presence. He was such a huge influence in the music field. Sad to see you go Orillia’s proud son.
Rick Beato with a glowing tribute.
https://youtu.be/X33YyowZZxQ
Kind of sad to see Sutter go … the dysfunction in the Flames organization with that black cloud hanging over it was delicious. No decent manager would have taken a job with them with Sutter still entrenched as coach, and their players and by extension their fans would have gone through another miserable season.
I think they should hire someone with experience … maybe we should send them Chia’s CV with a few things redacted out.
Would have been kind of nice to have him stick around a few more years wreaking havoc in the Flames dressing room though. Sowing discontent, reaping disgruntled players and creating a free agent Chernobyl… Ah, what could have been!
0-0 after one but an entertaining period. Fast and furious play, but the game could use a little Vin Diesel physicality.
This is wonderful hockey to watch – high octane, skill in every zone, great goaltending… everything a G7 should be, despite no goals yet. Hughes getting the CMcD treatment, having to fight thru interference and hooks.
It would not surprise me to see NJD win the cup in a few years (after the Oilers, naturally)
The Rock is just rockin tonight
“That’s all I’m going to think about. The Edmonton Oilers and getting a chance to beat them next year.”
“That’s all I’m going to think about. The Edmonton Oilers and getting a chance to beat them next year.”
I watched every game of the Avs vs Knights series 2 years ago.
Two things turned the series for the Knights…
First, the Knights have a big / fast bottom six that can really forecheck hard. They don’t create a ton, but they shift the flow of play and don’t give up much.
After the first game blowout, the Knights were able to shut down the then top heavy Avs team.
Unless McDavid’s really injured, I don’t like the idea of loading up the top line against the Knights.
The Knights don’t make a lot of mistakes.
You could also argue that the Avs wilted under physical intimidation led by Ryan Reeves. They had no push back or answer for that. Reeves is no longer a Knight…
Unfortunate, because he and Kane get along so well.
A couple of my take aways from the first round. Our PK needs some work. Refs trying to call the game the same in the playoffs is susceptible to dives. Seems like the Kings were doing some of that and I didn’t hear much about it in the regular season.
Hate him all you want, Matthew Tkachuk is someone you want on your roster.
Good for him and the Panthers.
Also – hate YYC all you want, good for them getting rid of the dinosaur in Sutter. Coach did not adapt to his roster, and has officially become a fossil in Drumheller. Maybe he can join Babcock and coach a university team.
Speak for yourself. I wouldn’t want that slew-footing POS on my team.
If we drafted 19 instead of Puji the fanbase would have a completely different outlook.
In the past 5 years, we’ve taken on Kane and Kassian, one of which literally chopped Gagners jaw off; the other which no fanbase wanted to take a stab at. Both were accepted by the fan base – and don’t get me wrong, I’m happy they’ve both turned the corner.
And yea, I hate he destroyed Davidsons career, that man had a mission which was derailed.
Also – Sutter getting 4mil a year for next year and next to vacation and farm. That’s actually unreal lol.
Imo Matthew Tkachuk is one of the most underrated players right now. Easily in my top 10 offensive players in the league.
He’s not underrated at all, lots of buzz about him this year, big contract, 6th in scoring and even whispers of ‘Conn Smythe’ now. And he’s about to bring his sly brand of play to the centre of the hockey universe.
I do hate the guy. a lot. Still amazing to think he was still on the board tho…
He is a great rat. I’m glad the attempting career ending blindside hits has been tuned out of his game, however that managed to occur.
Rats are annoying but alright. POS career enders are POS career enders. It’s good he seems to have matured.
Agree.
Was just lamenting to myself the other day over the “what if” we had chosen him instead of Pujo…
Don’t get me wrong, at the time, when Pujo *fell* to us, I was ecstatic, we had to take him.
But in an alternate reality where salary cap be damned and our centers are Connor, Leon and Nuge with our top 3 wingers being Tkachuk, Kane and Hymen….oh my. 😱😱😱
That 2016 4th overall pick for me is the greatest ‘what if’ (with the disastrous Reinhart trade a close 2nd) for this current iteration of our team.
What if we’d picked Tkatchuk? … that kid is a gamer. I only disliked him cause he played for Calgary … now that he’s in the East, I have no problem acknowledging that he’s one of the top 20 players in the league, who is just the total package. He’s going to put up way more points than his old man, while being one of the most abrasive players in the league … Huberdeau isn’t half the player that he is, is older and has a bigger cap hit. No wonder, Sutter wouldn’t talk to Treliving.
What if we’d stuck to what the scouts wanted and picked Sergachev? We wouldn’t have had to trade assets for Ekholm … and would’ve been in a better bargaining position when Nurse’s contract was due.
The window for contention would’ve opened earlier in either scenario.
That being said, Jesse wasn’t the only bust – both Vancouver (Juolevi), and Buffalo (Nylander) would’ve liked a do-over. Picks #10 to the end of the first round produced little in the way of impact players, aside from McAvoy (14), Chychrun (16) and Tage Thompson at 26. The rest of the draft produced Matthews (1), Laine (2), Dubois (3), Keller (7), Debrincat (39), Bratt (162), Fox (66), Kyrou (35), Girard (47), Hronek (53), Hagel (159) and Dube (56). For goalies – Hart (48), Gustavsson (55) are the only two goalies to have started more than 50 games, now 7 years after their draft year.
So out of 211 picks, there was 2 franchise players, 1 Norris-winning D-man, 3 1st pairing D-men, 6 first line forwards, 2 2nd pairing D-men, 2 2nd line forwards, 2 starting goalies and then a whole bunch of ‘meh’. Less than 10% of the draft produced an impact player.
The Oilers most impactful player from that draft still on the current playoff roster … Vinny Desharnais (183)!
Man the Chia years were a gong show.
My recollection was that the concerns regarding chucky were related to his skating speed pre-draft. Hindsight being 20-20, sure we’d rather have selected him.
Jesse dropping in the draft created a problem that maybe the Oilers weren’t ready for or expecting.
Still, nothing compares to the Reinhart trade. While Jesse may not have panned out, Reinhart was already a bust when we traded to acquire him. It was contemporaneously a terrible trade.
I remember going to Lighthouse hockey after the Reinhart trade. Everyone was chortling at the stupidity of Chiarelli for making that trade.
But Chiarelli is a SC winning GM so he must be good, right?!
I’d rather have Kane. Matt is talented but he showed his true stripes last playoffs. He tried to punk Kane and got showed up so bad it’s funny. I wouldn’t want to have a guy like that in the room if I were an Oiler. Or any dirty player, win with class
Right now … sure I’d rather have Kane, who is 4 million cheaper. But we had to wait until he became available. Taking Tkachuk would have pushed up the Oilers window of contention, and given them a third superstar forward.
It’s the NHL … if you’re not cheating then someone else will be earning your millions.
Kane is every bit as filthy on the ice as Tkachuk and won’t hesitate to hammer some guy into oblivion if presented with the opportunity. The Cup is engraved with the names of some of the most intensely despised players to ever skate in the NHL. The vast majority are complete gentleman off the ice (e.g. Claude Lemieux) and beloved by their teammates. The Oilers have employed many of these types (e.g. Mark Messier, Ken Linesman, Raffi Torres, to name a few of the most infamous) … their competitiveness was integral to those team’s playoff success.
If Tkachuk had been drafted by the Oilers, I would have embraced him. But he was drafted by the Falmes, so I despised him while he wore the falming C. Now he’s with Florida, and I’d love to see him knock off the Laffs.
He’s a very talented turtle, but still a turtle nonetheless.
There isn’t one team in the league who wouldn’t want him.
The BCJHL has pulled out of Hockey Canada in an effort to allow its teams to recruit players from a wider geographical area.
https://theprovince.com/sports/hockey/junior-hockey/bchl-pulls-out-of-hockey-canada-becomes-independent-league?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1682968210
Worth noting that the league had more than 400 former players in NCAA
Division 1 this past season and this move will likely increase that number substantially in the future.
I mean, the only thing good with hockey Canada the past year is that fact that “Canada” is in its name. That’s it.
This move is a real game changer for junior hockey in Canada.
The BC league can now recruit anywhere without restriction and with its pipeline to the NCAA offers young prospects a very viable alternative to the major junior leagues.
The top team in the league is the Penticton Vees who just finished a 50-3-0-1 season and virtually every player on the team is committed to the NCAA.
Today’s move should allow many more teams in the league to load up.
Wonder what the implications to the WHL will be on this;
BCJHL will have a larger pool of talent to pull from to attract fans.
Honestly, good for them.
If I was the parent of a top young hockey player, I would certainly take a look at this route instead of the WHL or other major junior leagues.
Rather than committing to one team at the age of 16, the BCHL offers the potential of a scholarship to an NCAA college with the benefit of an education if hockey doesn’t work out.
The CHL may not be the gold standard but they are active in this area.
The CHL teams provide scholarships for each year played. They cover off a years worth of post-secondary costs. Not sure if that is limited to Canadian schools.
Yes..but that education is only available after the player is out of hockey while the NCAA route combines an education while the player is active.
The CHL takes away the scholarship money if a player signs any type of pro contract. It is a conditional scholarship. So suppose an undrafted CHL player signs an AHL deal, he has to give up the scholarship money. That is bogus BS from the CHL.
For bigger kids who are eventually going to be NHL drafted, this won’t make a difference – the best players will mostly go to the CHL. Some Americans and Europeans will be tempted / heavily recruited but there are leagues of comparable quality in their homelands.
My nephew plays for the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. They are two more wins away from playing the Vees in the BCHL final. He’s a defenseman and has to go up against the Nadeau brothers every shift. Needless to say, it’s going to be an incredible challenge for him.
Yeah…that’s a huge challenge.
Where is your nephew’s hometown.
He’s from Saskatoon.
One thing you may be overlooking is that pipeline is the result of the two-faced NCAA not allowing scholarships to players who have played in a professional league (CHL if you can believe it). At the same time they have football recruits driving around in Porches and their parent’s mortgages suddenly disappearing. Remember when the olympics were for amateurs…..
Why is that a good thing?
The BCHL has always been a feeder / development league for the NCAA, so all that’s gonna change is that more imports will be allowed and the winners won’t play in the Centennial cup. The NAHL and USHL have been slowly siphoning off talent, so it’s a good business move. There are always about 3-5 teams in financial trouble so hopefully this injects some renewed enthusiasm but places like Trail, Powell River and Merritt aren’t the ‘hockey mill towns’ they once were.
I’d like to know if the Ref who gave Drai the weak ass slashing penalty after the whistle is moving on to the next round…anyone know where to find this?
So it was Kevin Pollock and Garrett Rank for that Game 3 on April 21, not sure which one made the call….we’ll see if they progress to Round 2
Just watched the Replay again, Garrett Rank Ref #7 called the unsportsmanlike penalty on Drai after the whistle.
Just ran a quick analysis, there are 24 active NHL refs with playoff games on their resume. I divided playoff games by total career games to see where Mr. Rank ranks lol…21st out of 24..
However this looks largely seniority based, only 2 refs with fewer career games than Rank have reffed any playoff games.
So Rank appears to be a middle of the pack mediocre NHL ref.
The standout shit refs I noticed:
Gishlain Hebert with 700 games and zero playoff games
and Justin St. Pierre with over 1100 career games and only 8 post season appearances.
https://twitter.com/frank_seravalli/status/1653092575388000275?s=61&t=WWzo5XOO0SDsOISFpfGKMg
Don Maloney says Oliver Kylington plans to return to #Flames next season.
Coincidence?
Nope.
There was complete silence on his status so this makes complete sense
Right right right
I would imagine there will be loads of Flames fans jumping on the Oilers bandwagon this spring.
On the downside, their team does not appear to have a bright future. On the upside, Danny S has offered them a hefty bribe for a new arena. Maybe the C on the jersey stands for Compromised?
As an Edmontonian, if Smith gives the Flames money for their arena then I look forward to reminding Calgarians that I own their arena as an Albertan taxpayer.
Connor could something like this too. https://youtu.be/u1dFr4V_RIA
ANUSTART in Calgary
Tobias!
There are rumours (nothing official) that Murray Edwards is stepping down and may be looking to sell his controlling interest of the Tirefires.
Sutter out? This is a dam shame fir the Oilers. He had his day certainly. But this latest stint he was pure poison.
The Flames were eliminated as a threat due to that coach. Word spread quickly through agents and Calgary finally realizes what the rest of the league already knew.
There was no path forward with that coach.
Maybe the province of Alberta is paying for half of the 8 million owed to Sutter.
Travis Yost has an interesting article up on TSN about the Oilers and Knights. Would recommend people head over for a read.
My one takeaway is that Travis highlights that the Stone/Stephenson/Theodore trifecta had a goal/60 beyond McDavid/Draisaitl/Nurse in both the regular season and playoffs thus far, but the xgoal/60 trails actual results substantially which (small sample size alert) maybe more a reflection of playing Winnipeg.
Don’t get me wrong, I think the Knights will be a hard out, but I think stylistically Vegas matches up better than LA did.
I don’t take anything Yost says at face, he’s been wrong and used poor math more times than I can count.
Haha, you better not look at Jfresh or Dom Luzndsjfdnskjfhakjjfkajjawkwjdkajfkayn’s posts then.
I never want to see a 1-3-1 again. Bring on a team that forechecks. The Oilers have enough puck movers to turn that into opportunities.
If the Oilers play tidy the Leafs are the biggest threat. Boston is a better version of LA, the Avs play us well and we have trouble with them. The Leafs have a forward group that can run with us if it becomes a track meet. They have O Reilly, who I see as a guy that excels post season, their D get it done somehow
I don’t think Dallas or Knights are better even if very good. Carolina lacks depth of forwards. Rangers are similar to us but not as good. Panthers are dangerous but I don’t think have as good a D group and Turtle will have to face Kane again
I love that the plucky Champs Killers Seattle Kraken boasts 3 former Oilers in Eberle, Larsson, and Schultz.
It’s fun cheering for Team Cinderella as my second favourite squad in the dance.
My favourite comment from yesterday’s blog.
Durag:
“Haper’s Hair just annhiliating some Bruins blog right now.”
Colorado’s probably as well, I can imagine HH on their blog now:
“MacKinnon isn’t wearing the C because he shrieks at his coach and makes a fool of himself on the bench infront of his team. Unlike McDavid who mentors and leads his teammates. Colorado’s cup was an outlier. The Oilers path to the cup is clear. It’s not a matter of whether they will win a cup but how many with their core locked up and Ekholm solidifying their defense for 2 more years.”
“Markus Niemelinen is basically Nik Lidstrom. His career was just derailed by injuries. He would be a top 2 on any team”
Oilers were 9-18 on the PP
Kings were 7-22 on the PP
Jets were 5-12 on the PP
Knights were 3-16 on the PP
Kings and Knights both recieved + 4 PP for the Series.
The Jets went 5-12 against VGK?
meeeeow.
I thought Sakic was so incredible? The Manson contract is bad. The Nichushkin contract is looking very questionable now. Their forward depth is garbage. Their defense is one star, one decent guy, a young guy with potential, and a bunch of crap. Some people were ready to build this guy a shrine last year.
looks poor when you question a GM who just won the Cup last year? I think Sakic did a hell of a job building the Avs into a contender AND what he did at the deadline last year.
I agree.
Nature of the league. It’s costly to put yourself in position to win. It’s not guaranteed even within this window you even make a final even with adept management.
Sakic constructed a viable threat around the years he had some of the leagues best players on value contracts.
He has Cale makar for 4 more years (24-28) on a bargain contract to boot.
He made a pretty great gamble on goalie adjustment. 62 GP 0.919 sv% @3.5 million for like 2 more years is pretty stellar.
If not for some insane unforeseeable mess with nicushkin that series might have went other way…even with injury issues.
If they would have known landeskog who was expected to be ready 2/3 through season to not even be playoff capable…
It’s way too myopic an opinion not to give him credit.
And no one..including Landeskog himself…knew he wouldn’t return.
That and losing another top 6 forward, a send pairing D and a#3 C in the playoffs sealed their fate.
And anyone calling Devon Toews “decent” needs a thorough re-examination.
I’m pretty sure I covered landeskog off there.
As for injuries it’d be almost as incredible as their overwhelming 2nd best forward playing on one leg and their number 1 D being severely injured as well. Just imagine if they made it to conference but lost to edmonton how repetitive a point you would have made of it!
Yeah…an injured forward and defenseman playing is EXACTLY like missing TWO top 6 forwards a second pairing D, a 3C and a proficient penalty killer out with a broken neck.
The proficient penalty killer only missed game 7. And guess what, the Avalanche were called for no penalties in the game, so they had no need for a penalty killer in the game. What, did the Avalanche play timid in the game, for fear if they got a penalty they didn’t have any other good PK’ers on the team?
Don’t you hate it when people needlessly troll other people?
Ps I’m cheering for kraken edmonton conference almost exclusively for your sake.
When the “who’s in first” comedy routine swapped from “all things krak” to “avalanche fun facts” I offered you endless opportunities to not phantom away from them. You opted for shrinking violet everytime.
This is not forgotten nor will be unspoken if you try to go back to “all things krak” again
You are right, Colorados injuries were not quite as bad as losing a Draisaitl leg.
Oh, don’t forget the injured goalie as well.
Anyone calling him a legit #1D, better than Darnell Nurse needs a thorough re-examination.
Any one who calls either Josh Manson or Jack Johnson a second pairing defensemen and Darren Helm a 3rd line center at this point in their careers also needs a thorough re-examination.
I don’t care that he won last year. He won nothing for ten years leading up to that and had as many top draft picks as the Oilers did during the decade of darkness. HH was already planning the parade for them at the start of the season.
Darryl Sutter won the Jack Adams award last year and was canned today. Does it look poor if I say that he was a shitty coach?
No doubt. Reactionary post from Elvis.
I’d take Sakic as a GM everyday. Don’t hate the GM, hate the game.
There are much worse GM’s out there – by a substantial margin.
I think it might be a bit unfair to pin the Nichushkin contract on Sakic. The whole story isn’t really out there but what a player does outside the arena (especially with no prior history) should not be used against the GM.
He had one good year then was re-upped for an eight year contract. Very risky signing. I wasn’t referring to his off ice BS.
The Av’s missing Nichushkin Cogiliano Landeskog throw in Kadri as well as facing your Ex Goalie Grabauer who was a big part of them winning the Cup last year. “Hell hath no fury like a Goalie scorned” Grabauer stole game 7 and eliminated the Champs.
I think you’ve mistaken Grubauer for Kuemper.
Yes your correct l’m thinking of Francouz who came in against us and played really well for a couple of games.
His biggest mistake is he probably could have sold Girard two-three years ago for a small ransom. Now he can’t give him away
Yup: Roster turnover nature of the league. I’d say the years where Sakic shine brightest were those leading up to the championship – he got sick value on a number of signings and trades and it all came together last season. And then a bunch of it unraveled. COL hasn’t yet pulled the trick of CHI somehow replacing all those irreplaceable roster players from the first cup.
He drank the koolaid on ‘modern defenseman’
So he had to get size and toughness and chose Manson. His high point was running on Mackinnons contract and some value pick ups. But usually other teams figure it out too and the pool of undervalued players or untapped leagues dries up
Holland saw what Tampa had to do to win Cups and sized up the D and team toughness. He also put a priority on being able to skate outside of Vinny. The Avs didn’t well enough
If, like the Kings, the Kniggits play an agressive forecheck, we can tire them out with fast puckmovement. Wear out their legs from the get go and feast on their fatigue and mistakes as the game wears on. Concentrate on getting the puck out of our zone quickly to the forwards, move the puck aound fast but be wary of risky passes across the middle (reduce odd man rushes please) and we can do this!
I didn’t think the kings had a particularly aggressive forecheck. I think Vegas will be much more of a handful.
Agree with this – Kings didn’t forecheck at all, just 1-3-1’d it from the neutral zone on in.
VGK’s speedy forwards will pressure Oilers D more but, if they can make that first breakout pass, Oilers F will have more daylight than they’ve been used to and will make hay.
That’s the thing. Danger but also opportunity.
Yeah, the Kings are known for NOT having much of a forecheck regardless of context. They weren’t even going in hard at the end of game six when they needed to score to extend their season.
As much as I’d like for Oilers v Hurricanes 2, I think I prefer Oilers v Leafs.
The energy in that series would be unreal. Probably nothing like the NHL has ever seen before.
But it would be bad for US ratings. Meanwhile, the NHL has a chance for a Vegas v Seattle WCF. I am sure the Game Management Department has taken note of that. What better way to grow the game in two expansion markets, right?
Is it a conspiracy theory? Of course. But the NHL isn’t a [just] sports league, it’s a billion dollar corporation and last time I checked billion dollar corporations aren’t the most ethical entities in the world, especially when it comes to making money. Hence why gambling is so heavily promoted now.
*isn’t [just] a sports league -_-
I’m not sure how EDM v TOR would be worse for ratings than EDM v CAR.
Carolina isn’t a big draw even regionally. Pretty sure the national US ratings would be better with EDM v TOR.
Gambling being connected to the NHL makes it less likely the NHL would be influencing the outcomes of games not more. Major wide reaching conspiracies are almost impossible to keep a lid on for any length of time. If it ever got revealed, that the league was influencing the outcome of games to achieve desired ends, with or without encouragement from gambling houses, it would be catastrophic for the league and for the gambling houses. In the long run, both the league and the gambling industry make the most money by leaving the outcomes of games to chance.
Sorry, no I meant the promotion of gambling is an unethical act, not that the gambling industry has any effect on whether or not the NHL influences game outcomes.
Counting neither chickens nor conference championships, I’m actually a little wary of the Buds. Would be epic, no question, but I feel like if there’s any team that could tear through the Oilers’ blue…
Anyone claiming Colorado’s injury woes with Landeskog out, and Nichushkin MIA, needs to also remember, Seattle won missing McCann, their top scorer on the season, for the last 3.75 games, and Burakovsky, who was their top scorer up to his injury in February for the whole series as well.
I watched the last two games. The Avs had nothing going on when the McKinnon line wasn’t on the ice. Nothing.
Here is their bottom nine.
Rodrigues-Eller-Compher
Nieto-Newhook-O’Connor
Hunt-Meyers-Malgin
This group of forwards scored two goals in the series. Even with having just Nichushkin, they could assemble something resembling two lines.
The strength of Seattle is their depth. They miss McCann, but he’s not a superstar by any stretch, even though he scored 40 goals..
I was hoping Colorado managed to survive to conference.
By then McKinnon would’ve been run like a dog so hard they’d be done.
Pietra, Hague, Martinez, Hutton, Pachal, Whitecloud. That’s the last 6 defenders dressed against Winnipeg.
If McNabb gets healthy, out goes Pachal.
Ekholm and Ceci are both over 700 games played, Nurse is nearing 600, Kulak is over 400 and has been to the finals as well.
Bouchard is as much a threat from the backend as anyone Vegas can run out.
Vinny is as big as anyone Vegas can run out.
Imo, Vegas D is a big scary shadow of nothing.
You’re missing Shea Theodore…he’s elite.
The last 6 defenders dressed..
Is he better from his “illness” yet?
Bouchard is more elite with the puck.
I think this is where the youngins’ would say “owned”!
I’m pretty sure Theodore will be back. He was sick last game, not injured. At least that’s what the team said. Even if they get Theodore back, I don’t think the gap between their defence and ours is overly worrying.
Uhh… Pietrangelo is one of the best two-way dmen in the league. Theodore will be back and is likely better than any Oilers dman.
I know everyone is pumped up about the series win but at least have some degree od impartiality when assessing Vegas. Their D core is very good.
Um, no, Pietrangelo is not one of the best 2-way defensemen in the league. By NST’s metrics, I’d put Darnell Nurse ahead of him defensively. Puckiq.com’s “v Elites” tells a similar story.
For fun: here’s the “narrative “. Respectfully very few teams fit. Sure rarely one of the rest might win though.
— 2023: Oilers : McD + Drai deep.
— Go back further. It’s likely the team that wins has greatness and great players. Not a team that had a great season. I’m surprised by push back. Sure Carolina can win. Sometimes one off teams do. But generally go for the teams that have great all time players and or years of knocking on door.
—. I put Leafs and Oil as having all time greats that fit the list and Vegas as having been really good for a number of years.
2011* if they would have called penalties on bruins Canucks likeky take it.
It is an amazing anomaly how few goals Vancouver scored not just that series but to get there. The deadly pisscutter powerplay was robbed of a cup IMO.
I’ll never forget Daniel getting speedbagged in the face and no call. Nothing. I agree that officiating did kind of hand it to the Bruins, but on the other hand officiating definitely played a part in the 2006 Oilers run. No calls on stuff that even then could get a guy suspended for a series.
Buffalo says hello as well.
There’s a quite clear deviation towards what would bettman choose as better profit marketing choice on enough key incidents that I am fine strapping on tinfoil hat and non-jokimgly referring to sky eye as
The manipulation room
Snivel mcbitchinnon just felt the scorn of going from golden child to up against recent billion dollar expansion baby and back to reality on calls.
Too bad cogliano paid unnecessarily for it.
The Riot /Tail Gate party fiasko was an accident waiting to happen. My fan experience at Oiler home games in our new arena has been a huge disappointment…..so much so that I have chosen the home TV option.
Rogers Place has become an alcohol pushing establishment…
I have seen its staff literally holding patrons up with one arm while passing another drink into the patrons other hand….running booze tabs far too long and way past the point of inebriation…
my and many others game enjoyment, after paying huge $$ has been compromised to the benefit of what or who ? Surely the bottom line of this isnt stabbing and Police involvement in a moss pit….
We are better than this….
Oilers management, lets get a handle on this, restrict the booze sales to a reasonable level, start caring for the overall patrons and families, their concerns must come first before booze profits.
I attend a quite a few Oiler games and have not seen the type of behaviour you describe – ever. You gotta be an ‘in town for the game’ oil worker or overpaid lawyer to afford more that one beer at Rogers Place.
Over priced drinks and food for sure.
For those attending playoff games – just trying to get into the rink from 103 st is a irritating significant challenge. Access for attendees is a problem.
Every city everywhere has over excited fans after major wins. No new news there.
I don’t enjoy Oiler fans at the game because they’re too stuffy and too intense in a bad way. Every fan in Boston was standing for the OT. Try doing that in Edmonton and see what happens. The game is supposed to be fun, not life and death.
It is disappointing that you have not been able to enjoy games within Rogers Place.
I have been to many games, watch parties and have not witnessed moments where staff hold back patrons with one hand while handing out drinks with the other? From my account I have seen very little of the heavy drinking and have actually seen staff refuse service.
The unfortunate stabbing incident happened along 101st just north of 104ave, not in the Moss pit. I know because it was right behind where I had parked.
Can staff be better at what they do, sure they could but we as fans carry that burden as well, tough to pin everything on them…
Just my take on things..
Wait you’re saying alcohol sales has caused / is causing what? A stabbing outside of the Moss Pit? (It didn’t occur in the policed area, rather at 101 Street and 103A Ave). Negative social impacts during the game? People running tab during a game?
If you think you’ve seen a violation of ProServe alcohol serving standards (including serving to drunk people) at Rogers there is a complaint mechanism you can voice that to via the AGLC which monitors alcohol sales at all events in Alberta. It has nothing to do with “Oilers managment” whatsoever.
And if you’re suggesting that with the insanely expensive alcohol prices at Rogers that it’s reasonable to get inebriated there, I’d suggest strongly you haven’t been to a game recently.
This really is old man yells at cloud territory.
I’ve never had alcohol pushed on me at Rogers and been to a lot of games. It’s a great place to watch a game compared to the majority of arenas in the league. The stabbing incident has no relation to the team or venue.
Exactly one half of that arena is a good place to watch a game. If you’re not in the lower bowl, spend your money watching the game with fine drinks and eats and a big screen TV.