The Edmonton Oilers long-standing affair with Finland’s hockey pipeline appears to be running out of steam, or at least taking a break. You cannot make a list of great Oilers players in any decade without including at least one Finnish name. The 2020’s might be the first decade to omit our friends from Finland. This year is a down year for the nation that punches above its weight all the time.
RW Lenni Hameenaho, Assat (Liiga). Throwback winger wins battles, has some skill.
LW Emil Jarventie, Ilves (Liiga). Explosive winger, high skill. Undersized.
LC Rasmus Kumpulainen, Pelians (Fin Jr). Big center with skill, some range.
LD Emil Pieniniemi, Karpat (Fin Jr). Big shutdown blue, mobile.
There are even fewer names this season on my list than last, that usually means a monster crop for the following year. Finnish players tend to be extremely useful, and this year’s group are mostly middle six forwards with a depth defenseman. If there’s a hidden gem in the group, my guess is it’s Nurmi.
LOWETIDE FINLAND LIST 2022
RW Joakim Kemell (Liiga). High skill, great shot, 15 goals in Liiga.
LW Juraj Slafkovsky (Liiga). Big skill winger who spiked during the season.
LW Brad Lambert (Liiga). Outstanding speed, range of skills, where are the goals?
G Topias Leinonen, (Finn U20). He’s 6.05, 216, great numbers and consistency.
LW Jani Nyman (Liiga). Big winger can score goals.
RD Otto Salin (Liiga). Emerging offensive defenseman.
LC Aleksanteri Kaskimäki (Finn U20). Strong offensive forward, strong skater.
LC Topi Rönni (Liiga). Good size and speed, solid offensively.
LD Tomas Hamara (Liiga). Resposible defender.
I missed one name from the top 125, and I still think Kemell is going to be a star.
TRANS EUROPE EXPRESS 2023
RW Eduard Sale, Brno (Czechia). Eye-popping stats in junior give his resume a Miro Satan feel.
RD David Reinbacher, Kloten (Swiss). He has size and defensive strengths.
LD Jakub Dvorak, Liberc (Czechia). Big shutdown defender. A load.
LW Juraj Pekarcik, Nitra MHC (Slovak). Solid offensive player, nice passer. Boots a bit of a question.
LOWETIDE TRANS EUROPE EXPRESS 2022
RD Simon Nemec (Slovak). A complete skill set, impressive WHC’s.
RD David Jiricek (Czech). Solid two-way D, knee problem interrupted season.
LW Adam Sykora (Slovak). Impressive skill, one of the youngest players in the draft.
RW Filip Mesar (Slovak). Speed demon, undersized and dynamic.
LC Julian Lutz (DEL). High end skill, injured much of the season.
G Jan Spunar (Czech). Gigantic goalie with great numbers.
RUSSIA 2023
RW Matvey Michkov, St. Petersburg (KHL). Undersized skill winger, best shooter in the draft.
LW Arvid Sundin (J20 Swe). Undersized burner spiked in junior age 18.
LD Emil Pieniniemi, Karpat (Fin Jr). Big shutdown blue, mobile.
LD Luke Middlestadt, Minnesota (NCAA). Two-way player, undersized, 20.
LC Zeb Forsfjall, Skelleftea (SHL). Undersized, smart center whose speed is average.
LC Justin Cote, Drummondville (QMJHL). Under the radar, but he has skill. July 2004.
RW James Stefan, Portland Winterhawks (WHL). OA, creative winger.
LC Cole Burbidge, St. John’s Sea Dogs (QMJHL). Slick center turned a corner.
RW Zach Nehring, Shattuck-St. Mary’s (USHS). Huge winger with skill.
2023 MOCK DRAFT
No. 25 overall (traded to Nashville in the Mattias Ekholm deal)
No. 57 overall: LD Etienne Morin, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL). Smart puck mover, impressive outscoring. I’ve checked with Adam Sherren (my QMJHL source) just to make sure I’m not overrating him. Morin looks rock solid by eye and number. Sherren: “Morin really grew as a offensive threat on a decent team. That’s fantastic production for him for a 17 y/o d-man.” He finished 61 percent five-on-five goal share on a team that ran 53 percent.
No. 89 overall (traded to Arizona in the Nick Bjugstad deal)
No. 121 overall (traded to Philadelphia in the Derick Brassard transaction)
No. 153 overall: LD Justin Kipkie, Victoria Royals (WHL). The last player left off my list, he’s a two-way defender whose offense is coming on.
No. 185 overall: RD Hunter Mayo, Red Deer Rebels (WHL). Very little hype on him, he is 20 and spiked offensively only this season. Thing is, he’s been good for two years now. Two-way blue. He’s good.
No. 217 overall: LC Sammy Bau, Ilves (Liiga). Huge center, plays in Finland’s best league.
Maurice has a system that the players can execute without being Bergerons. Even old spent guys like Staal
The year they won the P Trophy they weren’t this tight at D. Which is why they lost. Bob playing awesome has something to do with this change in execution
Yeah I guess. They weren’t there most/all of the regular season either.
I haven’t been watching much but the Panthers seem to be giving up 33+ shots per 60, and a shade more than 3.50 xGA per 60 (the Oilers were 30.5 and 3.05).
Maybe the difference is Bob? Maybe the difference is something that doesn’t show up in the numbers? I dunno.
35 y/o Ron Hainsey
33 y/o Trevor Daley
22 y/o Oli Mata
25 y/o Brian Dumolin
26 y/o Justin Jultz
27 y/o Ian Cole
Hainsey and Dumoulin played big minutes
Remember Jultz is a “puck mover” sort of like Nurse. He doesn’t actually make good outlets, but he can skate the puck.
What I recall was the Pens had this system where the d didn’t really make crisp outlet passes, but they chipped the puck out really fast to just outside of the blueline and the wingers won races to these pucks.
Based on data pulled by Jason Gregor from Sportslogiq, a bonafide professional NHL analytics firm, Nurse was actually the second best outlet passer on the team behind Barrie in terms of accuracy and was the most prolific.
And Justin Schultz, filling in for Letang as the number one offensive D threat on the Penguins, finished 10th in Norris voting that season with 10 total votes (and was 6th in the league among defenseman in scoring). His injuries over the next several seasons played a part in his overall subsequent results/totals but Oiler fans are far too quick to underrate what Schultz has accomplished in his post Oilers career.
During the 2017 Stanley cup win, odd that Schultz was 5th lowest toi at 5v5. He played 3 seconds per 60 more than Trevor Daley In other words, bottom pairing at 5v5. He did play 3:22 on the power play per game.
Someone should have told Sullivan he had a Norris calibre d that he was wasting on the bottom pairing.
I’ve seen that article before. I find the data messy to look at. It would be better if it included per 60 rates on pass attempts, for example.
They have a pretty loose definition for outlet passing. Nurse is second in outlet passes, but 5th in stretch passes.
Matthews with the better career so far but Chucky may have matched him these past two years. Fascinating to see how they do over the next several years.
Been watching FLA games for awhile and as much as it pains me to admit it, Chucky is having a monster run. 4 GWG in absolute clutch situations and 100% commitment to playing a physical 200 foot game.
What a shame the Oilers couldn’t have put it together versus Vegas. The Knights are a great team and that second round series was the real western final, now watching Dallas implode against them.
Florida versus Edmonton would have been a final the Oilers could have won, and the Tkachuk storylines would have been fantastic.
I’ve been all over the Panthers since the Oilers were eliminated.
Tkachuk leading a non-flames team to the cup would to the ultimately kick in the junk to the flames.
jp
May 24, 2023 7:23 pm
Kicking around potential ways to improve the roster over the summer. This is just one set of possibilities, more will be kicked around as we move along.
-Ceci struggled. I think he’s likely to improve with health, but no question some cover would be good.
-DNB reminded in his article today that the Oilers were thinking about Jonathan Toews earlier in the year. He would need to be healthy obviously.
-And Connor Brown, former McDavid teammate, who’s a buy low candidate with top 6 upside. Would also need to be healthy.
-I sent out all of Yamamoto, Foegele and Kulak to make cap space.
-I’m guessing like LT the other day at an $85.0M salary cap, so slightly more to work with.
Possible 23-23 Oilers lineup (22 players and $200k in cap space to spare):
Salaries for new signings:
Bouchard $4.0M
Klingberg $3.5M
Towes $2.0M
Brown $1.5M with modest bonuses
McLeod $1.5M
Janmark $1.25M
Kostin $1.1M
Ryan $1.0M
Lavoie $800k
I’m not married to this at all, but it has some appeal.
Not sure the Klingberg or Toews contracts are reasonable.
There should be other decent D available for ~$3.5M if Klingberg isn’t your cup of tea. The idea was basically to shift Kulak’s salary to right side cover, and at the same time open a clear path for Broberg at 3LD.
Hey Toews, how’d you like to come to Edmonton and centre a line with a rookie who scored 3 goals in 51 games last year and a truculent guy who plays 10 minutes a night?
OK, how about, hey Jonny, wanna come home to the prairies and win another cup as that redemption guy? (also, you are yesterday’s hockey news in Chi Town)
Yes, I thought I’d qualified Toews’ health sufficiently. DNB seems to still think he’s a legitimate possibility for what that’s worth (and also mentioned the $2M number).
My apologies on Klingberg. I thought he’d had a strong recovery after the trade deadline (he did by boxcars and goal differential), but his TOI and underlying numbers were not the least bit encouraging. Weird how he’s fallen so hard in a few years from being a good 1RD, but yeah he should not be a target for the Oilers this summer.
Yamamoto’s money (assuming he’s #1 in line to be moved, as 99% of fans and pundits seem to agree) goes to Bouchard.
After that, cap space for any replacements or improvements has to come from Kulak, Foegele or Ceci.
I like Kulak lots, but he’s at least somewhat redundant with Broberg. If they’re committed to making Broberg a RD then keeping Kulak makes more sense.
Regardless, in order to replace Yamamoto, or in any way improve the D corps, one or more of those guys need to be moved along (on top of Yamamoto departing).
Scungilli Slushy
May 24, 2023 6:09 pm
I think the big changes are small. Same D, same goalies, one or two UFAs back depending on who wants to stay ($$$), and one or two signed forwards out for cap reasons, Holloway and maybe Lavoie up if he shows well in camp to replace the forwards going out
So for me the hope is the internal growth solves the D issues. In a new workable defensive scheme. And Campbell gets himself sorted. I think Skinner will grow, but he needs to work hard this summer and improve his soft areas. Every player needs to if Connor does – the bar is set
hunter1909
May 24, 2023 5:44 pm
One more time…
By the time Vegas were pounding them out of the series both Draisaitl and especially McDavid were’nt really in it to any of the degree needed for this two man team.
That’s what you get for chasing regular season records. Next year try to stay loose and healthy for the playoffs.
For the love of all that’s good and holy, the Oilers need to stay away from Finns named Jesse. (In fact, run away until you can run no more, then run some more.) They’ve whiffed not once, not twice but thrice–Niinimaki, Joensuu, and now Puljujarvi.
Maybe someone named Bill or George, anything but Jesse. 😀
You’re Johnny on the spot “Cash”ing in on that joke!
OriginalPouzar
May 24, 2023 4:07 pm
Its mind-boggling to me that Benn got two games when compared to Petierangelo.
For me, the Pieterangelo play was MUCH more vicious than the Benn cross-check (which was somewhat of a puck with the stick while falling – intentional but not the vicious.
Not to mention, Pieternangelo was kicked out of a game at the end when it was over and Benn kicked out of a game early.
No kidding. All the rhetoric being said about the suspension being essentially 3 games is around it not being a “hockey play”…and Petro’s was?
Not to mention that Domi gets nothing for instigating a fight that Hague wasn’t a willing combatant in, while Nurse gets a game for a fight that Hague was begging for? Just because of the time on the clock?
NHL honestly couldn’t look like more of a joke if they were doing it intentionally
Who knows…it’s a reasonable guess though. That being said, here is where the standard should be “intent to injure”. Doesn’t matter what body part he intends to injure, anymore than it should matter whether he achieved the desired result or not.
As it has been in the long-established rules that govern society when it comes to assaulting another human being, intention needs to be the over-riding consideration.
In fact I think their should be 2 separate suspensions. One for the actual act, the other for the outcome.
With the injustices comes the sweetest satisfaction when they win and shove it down Battman’s gullet
Like the good old days. Talk about easy to sell the team in the heat of the battle ‘it’s us against the world!’. If that doesn’t give you the motivation you need nothing will
Benn getting his monies worth unlike Nurse and other Oiler love taps on Stone where it’s immediately shown by the panel for a whole segment making the little luv taps redundant the rest of the series with the eagle eye Refs looking for it.
You forgot the biggest reason starting Skinner in game 6 and not Campbell. We do arguably have the 2 best players. Are you saying we lost because of the Refs, was it maybe Vegas had a better team, how about Vegas wanted it more, Oilers had no heart. There’s a reason we lost I gave my honest opinions not what Oiler Trolls Kelly Hrudey and Craig Button spiel out. It’s okay to form your own thoughts be honest why did we lose?
It’s hard to watch the games now, that feeling that we blew a big opportunity is strong.
The NHL just suspended Benn for 2,essentially 3 games considering he missed most of the last game. History likely came into play, but it really throws salt into the Pietrangelo suspension wound. Still can’t believe they only gave that attack 1 game, and didn’t rescind Nurse obliging Hagues fight requests. Woodcroft said the organization doesn’t lobby, but I question the effectiveness of that approach.
Nurse basically skewered the series when he took it upon himself to suddenly appear like Batman to fight a plug(who incidentally was left free to attack Oilers skill players the next game), when all season long he has not fought for shite.
I would note the two fights Nurse had in the regular season and the two fights in exhibition season. One might consider playing 6 weeks of playoff hockey with a torn hip flexor fighting for his team but your mileage may vary.
I would also note the calling the instigator in that situation and upholding the suspension goes 100% against recent history and was an assessed consequence that should not have been reasonably foreseen.
I would further note that, in the subsequent game, the Oilers had the lead in the 2nd period.
I always find it hard if they’ve made the playoffs. It’s Oilers or nothing for me, no side action team for this fanatic. To the point I wish they’d stop it all and do a mulligan next season
Oilers went bye-bye without a whimper the last game. Skinner should never have started and Woody’s love affair with Yamo cost us the series. Woody talks a good game yet folded like a cheap suitcase the last 2 games.
Yamo no hands Moto experiment is over. Holland is not bringing him back. Connor’s buddy Debrincat was the little guy pick the year before Yamo’s draft but homeboy Benson was too tempting to pass on.
The only way for Holland to stop Woody from incorrectly slotting Yamo in the top 6 is by firing him or buying Yamo out. I hate buyouts Sekera made no sense. I thought we could and should have buried Neal for 1 more year he probably would of gladly ended up on the LTIR for 2 years anyhow. Maybe Holland hadn’t figured out the LTIR game out until Smith showed him with big lettered cue cards how it’s done. Yamo will be the first buyout I cheerfully endorse. The 2nd line played shorthanded the whole series. We gifted Vegas a team a team on their 5th Goalie. Vegas never won the series it was the Oilers that lost the series.
Whenever I hear “The Best”, I think of Glenn Anderson singing it after the 1990 Stanley Cup.
SayItAin'tSo, Gretz, SayItAin'tSo!
May 24, 2023 11:12 am
What is with this place trying to rush and jam defensemen?
If I was Holland and saw what I saw in the playoffs the last thing I’d be doing is trading one of my defensemen. You need redundancy at that position and if you trade away Kulak or Ceci you’re one injury away from AHL men playing way too high.
If Vinny didn’t get turnstiled on the regular and Broberg wasn’t injured twice this season I’d considering thing differently. Both need to play but they can battle for position and ice time.
The playoffs demonstrated the team has a need for upgrades in certain positions. Good teams continually look to improve and add pieces that complement the core.
Given our cap situation, the only way to add is to move a player out.
If we need a top 4, RHD (which many think we do), one of the existing RHD has to go. It doesn’t reduce the number of defensemen in the system.
Sierra
May 24, 2023 10:59 am
Lots of wild comments on the D roster for next season – Broberg at 1RD, Ceci at 3RD or traded….
I suspect the only significant change we see is on the 3rd pairing where Broberg will either be 3LD to replace a traded Kulak (cap casualty) or 3RD replacing Desharnais…unless Ceci’s injury is a significant long term injury.
One is getting three more equivalent pairs. Nurse has carried physically challenged partners for the last four years. Broberg is not challenged physically in anyway. Broberg has as much experience as Bear and Bouchard when they played with Nurse.
Broberg has clearly shown he can handle 3rd pairing already (true small sample, but his is a high end prospect who has been slow played). Time to try him in the top four.
I like this approach. I don’t think there is any easy solution out there. UFAs too pricey and no good fits really. NHL SID has a thing up at ON looking at options but no clear upgrades on Ceci. He has done evaluations before and Mayfield was a good option but not for Nurse because he struggles with breaking out and Nurse needs help with that. He’s solid at everything else
He sees Nurse needing a partner good at defending entries and able to pass. Ceci is limited in both and it hurts Nurse. Ceci is/was pretty good defending in zone but not last year, hopefully rebounds
So Bro should fit stylistically with Nurse but can he handle top 4? I would think by Holland’s and Woody’s MO Ceci starts with Nurse and hopefully Bro takes his spot by playoffs
Ceci should be a good fit with Kulak who is good defending entries and at 3 pair both should be good enough breaking out. Maybe with time they would settle as a good pair
Nah…you go with Broberg there to start the season. If he succeeds, full speed ahead. If he flops, one has Ceci as cover till the trade deadline, where one looks for the next Ekholm.
Evan Bouchard is good at defending zone entires and can pass.
He has had much success playing on a pairing with Nurse here and there over the last 3 seasons.
If we are moving on from Ceci in the top 4 to start (which is probably unlikely but, for the purposes of this discussion), presuming Nurse continues to see the opposition’s toughest then I pair him with Bouchard pending more development from Broberg (which is happening in real time).
It doesn’t seem likely to me that the coaching staff will move from Broberg as the 7D and not being trusted for full-game 3RD minutes to 1RD.
Broberg can play second pairing minutes and comp with the steadiest partner on the team, Ekholm.
Even further, Bouchard should absolutely get the McDavid minutes and we know Nurse is good in that role, so:
Broberg showed that he was able to handle second pair duties (SSS) before Ekholm came over. He has an entire off-season to take the requisite half step.
Another possibility is using Nurse Bouchard as your top pair and having Ekholm bring Broberg along in a slightly more sheltered role. Second half of the season, if Ekholm Bouchard is what you want to do, Broberg can slide up with Nurse.
My concern is handedness, but maybe it’ll encourage Broberg to rush the puck more.
Broberg showed that he was able to handle second pair duties (SSS) before Ekholm came over.
Curious what you’re referring to here.
Broberg-Bouchard together were heavy sheltered as the 3rd pair (though the results were wonderful). I can’t think what else you could be referring to.
I like Broberg lots, I just think he should be given the chance to be an NHL regular on the 3rd pair instead of being thrust into the top 6 immediately.
McSorley33
May 24, 2023 10:31 am
LT does a great job as always on the draft…..but
With no 1st rounder.
No 3rd rounder
No 4th rounder
I am having a tough time getting excited about the draft this year.
Personally, I would take lots of shots at Russian kids with our later picks. Have to assume some of these kids may fall for non hockey related reasons ( again could be wrong but would keep a close eye on this)
This board seems to think the sharp shooter Yamamoto will bring back a draft choice. I know Foegele will bring a return as his 2.75 million x1 year is a positive commodity on the other hand Yamamoto smells like “Buyout”
—. I’ll eat my hat if he’s bought out. No bonafide established NHL player under 27 that has played multiple seasons has ever been bought out with 1 year remaining. It doesn’t happen because doing so is such a poor cap decision.
— As much disdain as I have for the overall acumen of the average NHL GM, they just aren’t that dumb.
1) Oscar Lindblom, Anthony DeAngelo, Valerin Nichushkin, etc.
With the said, while I don’t think Yamamoto is bought out, the cap implications are not harsh and t could be very reasonable with $1.03MM split over two years.
Last edited 1 year ago by OriginalPouzar
Cape Breton Oilers 4EVR
May 24, 2023 10:01 am
One guy we haven’t mentioned as a trade candidate to upgrade RHD is Desharnais. He probably has some value right now, but he’s still a bit of a project. Maybe packaged with Kulak to get a good 2RD? Broberg could then play 3rd pair with Ceci. And Holland can probably take another stab at a #7 veteran D in free agency for league minimum or maybe Niemalainen wins the job.
Or maybe I might be crazy to even suggest this, but Kulak might be too much of a luxure at 3LD.
That’s one way to go about it and I wouldn’t have a problem with that approach. In the absence of a clear upgrade on a Ceci deal that is money in and money out, I think another option would be to run the exact same 7 you have until the deadline. Then pick up a top 4 RD rental for the playoffs if Ceci isn’t back to his play from a few years ago and Desharnais or Broberg haven’t taken a big step forward.
Oilers weakness is defending. Oilers worst defending D man is Bouchard.
Can he hold his own and still be able to play to his strengths?
Yes he can, but not at #1D position, and not without Ekholm.
Or another way, a better way, to help both Evan and goalies, change up the defensive zone structure. Drop wingers lower. Tie up a man instead of stick checks only. And commit to lowering goals against. Easy Peasy
Keep the current seven D (eight if on includes Neimelainen, and reevaluate at the trade deadline. This is much more cap efficient.
Ekholm was not available till a week before the deadline. Holland delayed and delayed till the right defenseman showed up on the market.
It is the same thing this year.
The Oilers can safely get to the trade deadline with the 8D they have. If one trades Kulak and Nurse or Ekholm get hurt, one can skewer the season.
I am all for an upgrade, but the upgrade doesn’t have to be forced. Find out if Broberg is the upgrade at right D first, with Ceci as cover. Waiting for the right right D to come on the market.
knighttown
May 24, 2023 9:59 am
Hard to say Mitchkov has the best shot in the draft when he’s with the best shooter on the planet. That’s like saying Marner is the best skater in the 2015 draft.
His ranking in the draft has been dropping because of certain world events, combined with him being signed to a KHL deal through, I believe, 2026. Prior to him not being able to compete in international tournaments due to circumstances beyond his control, he was lighting it up. At the IIHF 2021 U-18 tournament, as a 16 year old, he led in scoring with 12 goals and 16 points (5 goals and 2 points ahead of 16 year old Bedard and 17 year old Wright). In early rankings he was thought by many to be a close second to Bedard. This past season, he scored 9 goals and 20 points in the KHL as an 18 year old. He projects to have a great hockey future, but if and when he can get to the NHL is uncertain.
jp
May 24, 2023 9:13 am
They need Niemalainen (Fin) to grab that 7D job in a bad way.
And mostly unrelated, I wonder if Gustav Nyquist should be on the list of summer FA possibilities. A middle 6 winger who touches a lot of parts of the game and should be able to complement skill.
Would hope it’s Bakersfield and not a trade (at least to start the season). You never know what kind of injuries you’ll be facing and he’s depth insurance.
Hire Joel Quenneville for head coach
How much of a gut punch is it for Calgary fans to watch Turtlechuk and Bennett playing huge roles for a Cup finalist?
The most consistently overrated team in the NHL blown out the door in 4.
Carolina – just plain not that great.
Remember when all the talking heads and bloggers kept saying they were under-rated … to the point that they became over-rated.
They lost every game by a goal…
One goal…
Pure hot mess shit right there yup you nailed it bud.
Oilers need a young player or two to step up
Yes we are looking at you Dylan……..and Philip
Quite something that 36 year old Marc Staal is playing top 4 D for the Panthers on this playoff run. For league min no less.
Pretty sure there’d be lots and lots of “can’t win a Cup with Staal as your 2LD” if he was an Oiler. But they’ve got a real good chance at this point.
There are no set rules about exactly what’s needed to win.
There is ONE rule.
You need an elite #1D to anchor the back end.
Ekblad is that.
Maurice has a system that the players can execute without being Bergerons. Even old spent guys like Staal
The year they won the P Trophy they weren’t this tight at D. Which is why they lost. Bob playing awesome has something to do with this change in execution
Yeah I guess. They weren’t there most/all of the regular season either.
I haven’t been watching much but the Panthers seem to be giving up 33+ shots per 60, and a shade more than 3.50 xGA per 60 (the Oilers were 30.5 and 3.05).
Maybe the difference is Bob? Maybe the difference is something that doesn’t show up in the numbers? I dunno.
I watched every game the Pens played when they won the cup in 2017.
It was fascinating to watch. Letang was out.
The Pens had what looked like a very meh defense.
35 y/o Ron Hainsey
33 y/o Trevor Daley
22 y/o Oli Mata
25 y/o Brian Dumolin
26 y/o Justin Jultz
27 y/o Ian Cole
Hainsey and Dumoulin played big minutes
Remember Jultz is a “puck mover” sort of like Nurse. He doesn’t actually make good outlets, but he can skate the puck.
What I recall was the Pens had this system where the d didn’t really make crisp outlet passes, but they chipped the puck out really fast to just outside of the blueline and the wingers won races to these pucks.
Matt Murray.
7-3-0
SV% .937
GAA 1.70
QS% .700
GSAA 5.1
Based on data pulled by Jason Gregor from Sportslogiq, a bonafide professional NHL analytics firm, Nurse was actually the second best outlet passer on the team behind Barrie in terms of accuracy and was the most prolific.
https://oilersnation.com/news/amp/edmonton-oilers-d-men-passing-and-shooting
And Justin Schultz, filling in for Letang as the number one offensive D threat on the Penguins, finished 10th in Norris voting that season with 10 total votes (and was 6th in the league among defenseman in scoring). His injuries over the next several seasons played a part in his overall subsequent results/totals but Oiler fans are far too quick to underrate what Schultz has accomplished in his post Oilers career.
During the 2016 playoffs, Sullivan went to great lengths to shelter Schultz with Letang.
Pensburg detailed it pretty good, here.
During the 2017 Stanley cup win, odd that Schultz was 5th lowest toi at 5v5. He played 3 seconds per 60 more than Trevor Daley In other words, bottom pairing at 5v5. He did play 3:22 on the power play per game.
Someone should have told Sullivan he had a Norris calibre d that he was wasting on the bottom pairing.
I’ve seen that article before. I find the data messy to look at. It would be better if it included per 60 rates on pass attempts, for example.
They have a pretty loose definition for outlet passing. Nurse is second in outlet passes, but 5th in stretch passes.
Yeah that’s an extreme example without their #1D, but there’s a lot of different possible paths to success.
Bill Zito a finalist for GM of the year.
Since these votes are after the second round of the playoffs, he might be a slam dunk.
https://floridahockeynow.com/bill-zito-of-florida-panthers-named-gm-of-the-year-finalist/
Radko Gudas’s beard has it own cap hit
What’s the AAV though?
Congrats to FLA – their second pennant.
Tkachuk winning the Conn Smythe might be a tough sight in Cow Town.
Might be even tougher for the 5 teams who passed on him in the 2016 draft.
He might go #1 in a re-draft.
Matthews with the better career so far but Chucky may have matched him these past two years. Fascinating to see how they do over the next several years.
Chunky seems to have another gear that Matthews doesn’t.
It’s drive and assertiveness. Except against Kane
Timid players who don’t like physical hockey are easy to play against at this time of year, where there isn’t room to get your skill on
Been watching FLA games for awhile and as much as it pains me to admit it, Chucky is having a monster run. 4 GWG in absolute clutch situations and 100% commitment to playing a physical 200 foot game.
He’s got moves like Jagr.
What a shame the Oilers couldn’t have put it together versus Vegas. The Knights are a great team and that second round series was the real western final, now watching Dallas implode against them.
Florida versus Edmonton would have been a final the Oilers could have won, and the Tkachuk storylines would have been fantastic.
I’ve been all over the Panthers since the Oilers were eliminated.
Tkachuk leading a non-flames team to the cup would to the ultimately kick in the junk to the flames.
Kicking around potential ways to improve the roster over the summer. This is just one set of possibilities, more will be kicked around as we move along.
-Ceci struggled. I think he’s likely to improve with health, but no question some cover would be good.
-DNB reminded in his article today that the Oilers were thinking about Jonathan Toews earlier in the year. He would need to be healthy obviously.
-And Connor Brown, former McDavid teammate, who’s a buy low candidate with top 6 upside. Would also need to be healthy.
-I sent out all of Yamamoto, Foegele and Kulak to make cap space.
-I’m guessing like LT the other day at an $85.0M salary cap, so slightly more to work with.
Possible 23-23 Oilers lineup (22 players and $200k in cap space to spare):
Nuge-McDavid-Hyman
Kane-Draisaitl-C. Brown
Holloway-Toews-Kostin
Janmark-McLeod-Ryan
Lavoie
/
Nurse-Ceci
Ekholm-Bouchard
Broberg-Klingberg
Desharnais
/
Skinner-Campbell
Salaries for new signings:
Bouchard $4.0M
Klingberg $3.5M
Towes $2.0M
Brown $1.5M with modest bonuses
McLeod $1.5M
Janmark $1.25M
Kostin $1.1M
Ryan $1.0M
Lavoie $800k
I’m not married to this at all, but it has some appeal.
Not sure the Klingberg or Toews contracts are reasonable.
There should be other decent D available for ~$3.5M if Klingberg isn’t your cup of tea. The idea was basically to shift Kulak’s salary to right side cover, and at the same time open a clear path for Broberg at 3LD.
Toews?! Don’t get me this excited!
JONAS SIEGENTHALER
Oh sure, that’d be great. But why on God’s green earth would Jersey trade him?
Also, isn’t he a left D?
Hey Toews, how’d you like to come to Edmonton and centre a line with a rookie who scored 3 goals in 51 games last year and a truculent guy who plays 10 minutes a night?
OK, how about, hey Jonny, wanna come home to the prairies and win another cup as that redemption guy? (also, you are yesterday’s hockey news in Chi Town)
Well Janmark and Ryan would probably be more likely, with 2C also a real possibility if he can still hack it.
But I’ll accept this as a vote for ‘not reasonable’.
There’s a good chance that Toews retires.
Klingberg lost all interest in defending last year. He used to be player I really liked for his puck moving ability though.
Edit:. I see you got the Toews idea from DNB. That certainly adds some credence to the possibility. I still think he retires.
Yes, I thought I’d qualified Toews’ health sufficiently. DNB seems to still think he’s a legitimate possibility for what that’s worth (and also mentioned the $2M number).
My apologies on Klingberg. I thought he’d had a strong recovery after the trade deadline (he did by boxcars and goal differential), but his TOI and underlying numbers were not the least bit encouraging. Weird how he’s fallen so hard in a few years from being a good 1RD, but yeah he should not be a target for the Oilers this summer.
I think this $85MM is a pipe dream.
Even Seravelli, the one that was pushing it the hardest for a week or so, seems to have back off on it.
Thanks for posting the hard work on the team.
I don’t think Klingberg is the defender this team needs.
I’d prefer to keep the existing 7 and asses in-season.
Good to know on the cap.
Yeah agree on Klingberg. I mistakenly thought he had a really strong recovery after the deadline in Minnesota, but he did not.
I’m pretty happy with the existing 7 too, but if you could turn Kulak into an equivalent RD that would be pretty nice.
Moving Kulak doesn’t make any sense. He’s finally being given a chance to play full minutes and he managed fine numbers running rookies and Barrie.
He’s a value contract, one of the best on the team, leave him out of the sideways moves.
If the Oilers need a grizzled vet go and give O’Reilly Yamo’s money for two years.
Yamamoto’s money (assuming he’s #1 in line to be moved, as 99% of fans and pundits seem to agree) goes to Bouchard.
After that, cap space for any replacements or improvements has to come from Kulak, Foegele or Ceci.
I like Kulak lots, but he’s at least somewhat redundant with Broberg. If they’re committed to making Broberg a RD then keeping Kulak makes more sense.
Regardless, in order to replace Yamamoto, or in any way improve the D corps, one or more of those guys need to be moved along (on top of Yamamoto departing).
I think the big changes are small. Same D, same goalies, one or two UFAs back depending on who wants to stay ($$$), and one or two signed forwards out for cap reasons, Holloway and maybe Lavoie up if he shows well in camp to replace the forwards going out
So for me the hope is the internal growth solves the D issues. In a new workable defensive scheme. And Campbell gets himself sorted. I think Skinner will grow, but he needs to work hard this summer and improve his soft areas. Every player needs to if Connor does – the bar is set
One more time…
By the time Vegas were pounding them out of the series both Draisaitl and especially McDavid were’nt really in it to any of the degree needed for this two man team.
That’s what you get for chasing regular season records. Next year try to stay loose and healthy for the playoffs.
Hunter that’s mean and one shouldn’t be micro (or macro) aggressive in today’s NHL
Unless you’re playing the Oilers
During the last 10 games of the regular season, both McDavid and Drai averaged over 2 minutes less per game than their season average.
Through 8 playoff games, Drai was putting up the greatest playoffs in history.
Not sure how McDavid getting kneed in the LAK series is related to chasing records during the regular season.
Is there anyone in Oilers management who has any balls?
Lol, what do you mean?
For the love of all that’s good and holy, the Oilers need to stay away from Finns named Jesse. (In fact, run away until you can run no more, then run some more.) They’ve whiffed not once, not twice but thrice–Niinimaki, Joensuu, and now Puljujarvi.
Maybe someone named Bill or George, anything but Jesse. 😀
The Hockey Gods getting even for Jari and Esa.
Oilers can only draft perfect English speakers; unless Russian then they need to be over 6 feet tall and 190+ pounds.
Or Sue?
You’re Johnny on the spot “Cash”ing in on that joke!
Its mind-boggling to me that Benn got two games when compared to Petierangelo.
For me, the Pieterangelo play was MUCH more vicious than the Benn cross-check (which was somewhat of a puck with the stick while falling – intentional but not the vicious.
Not to mention, Pieternangelo was kicked out of a game at the end when it was over and Benn kicked out of a game early.
Its really 3 games to 1 game.
Terrible.
No kidding. All the rhetoric being said about the suspension being essentially 3 games is around it not being a “hockey play”…and Petro’s was?
Not to mention that Domi gets nothing for instigating a fight that Hague wasn’t a willing combatant in, while Nurse gets a game for a fight that Hague was begging for? Just because of the time on the clock?
NHL honestly couldn’t look like more of a joke if they were doing it intentionally
Not arguing, but my guess is “where the infraction occured – body part” had a major impact on the suspension.
in one case, Petro tried to lumberjack Drai’s arm off.
in this case, Benn went for the neck / head.
Who knows…it’s a reasonable guess though. That being said, here is where the standard should be “intent to injure”. Doesn’t matter what body part he intends to injure, anymore than it should matter whether he achieved the desired result or not.
As it has been in the long-established rules that govern society when it comes to assaulting another human being, intention needs to be the over-riding consideration.
In fact I think their should be 2 separate suspensions. One for the actual act, the other for the outcome.
With the injustices comes the sweetest satisfaction when they win and shove it down Battman’s gullet
Like the good old days. Talk about easy to sell the team in the heat of the battle ‘it’s us against the world!’. If that doesn’t give you the motivation you need nothing will
Benn getting his monies worth unlike Nurse and other Oiler love taps on Stone where it’s immediately shown by the panel for a whole segment making the little luv taps redundant the rest of the series with the eagle eye Refs looking for it.
Yes, the Oilers lost the series because (A) woody played Yamamoto and (B) the SN/CBC panel.
You forgot the biggest reason starting Skinner in game 6 and not Campbell. We do arguably have the 2 best players. Are you saying we lost because of the Refs, was it maybe Vegas had a better team, how about Vegas wanted it more, Oilers had no heart. There’s a reason we lost I gave my honest opinions not what Oiler Trolls Kelly Hrudey and Craig Button spiel out. It’s okay to form your own thoughts be honest why did we lose?
I came here to rage post this suspension .
No justice for the oilers.
It’s a slap! (on the wrist)
It’s hard to watch the games now, that feeling that we blew a big opportunity is strong.
The NHL just suspended Benn for 2,essentially 3 games considering he missed most of the last game. History likely came into play, but it really throws salt into the Pietrangelo suspension wound. Still can’t believe they only gave that attack 1 game, and didn’t rescind Nurse obliging Hagues fight requests. Woodcroft said the organization doesn’t lobby, but I question the effectiveness of that approach.
Yeah that was a very unfortunate travesty of justice.
Nurse basically skewered the series when he took it upon himself to suddenly appear like Batman to fight a plug(who incidentally was left free to attack Oilers skill players the next game), when all season long he has not fought for shite.
This team.
I would note the two fights Nurse had in the regular season and the two fights in exhibition season. One might consider playing 6 weeks of playoff hockey with a torn hip flexor fighting for his team but your mileage may vary.
I would also note the calling the instigator in that situation and upholding the suspension goes 100% against recent history and was an assessed consequence that should not have been reasonably foreseen.
I would further note that, in the subsequent game, the Oilers had the lead in the 2nd period.
I always find it hard if they’ve made the playoffs. It’s Oilers or nothing for me, no side action team for this fanatic. To the point I wish they’d stop it all and do a mulligan next season
Oilers went bye-bye without a whimper the last game. Skinner should never have started and Woody’s love affair with Yamo cost us the series. Woody talks a good game yet folded like a cheap suitcase the last 2 games.
Can you recap again how Woody’s love affair with Yamo cost us the series?
Yamo no hands Moto experiment is over. Holland is not bringing him back. Connor’s buddy Debrincat was the little guy pick the year before Yamo’s draft but homeboy Benson was too tempting to pass on.
The only way for Holland to stop Woody from incorrectly slotting Yamo in the top 6 is by firing him or buying Yamo out. I hate buyouts Sekera made no sense. I thought we could and should have buried Neal for 1 more year he probably would of gladly ended up on the LTIR for 2 years anyhow. Maybe Holland hadn’t figured out the LTIR game out until Smith showed him with big lettered cue cards how it’s done. Yamo will be the first buyout I cheerfully endorse. The 2nd line played shorthanded the whole series. We gifted Vegas a team a team on their 5th Goalie. Vegas never won the series it was the Oilers that lost the series.
Tina Turner gone at 83.
Whenever I hear “The Best”, I think of Glenn Anderson singing it after the 1990 Stanley Cup.
What is with this place trying to rush and jam defensemen?
If I was Holland and saw what I saw in the playoffs the last thing I’d be doing is trading one of my defensemen. You need redundancy at that position and if you trade away Kulak or Ceci you’re one injury away from AHL men playing way too high.
If Vinny didn’t get turnstiled on the regular and Broberg wasn’t injured twice this season I’d considering thing differently. Both need to play but they can battle for position and ice time.
Keep them all for now.
The playoffs demonstrated the team has a need for upgrades in certain positions. Good teams continually look to improve and add pieces that complement the core.
Given our cap situation, the only way to add is to move a player out.
If we need a top 4, RHD (which many think we do), one of the existing RHD has to go. It doesn’t reduce the number of defensemen in the system.
Lots of wild comments on the D roster for next season – Broberg at 1RD, Ceci at 3RD or traded….
I suspect the only significant change we see is on the 3rd pairing where Broberg will either be 3LD to replace a traded Kulak (cap casualty) or 3RD replacing Desharnais…unless Ceci’s injury is a significant long term injury.
Ekholm Bouchard
Nurse Broberg
Kulak Desharnais/Ceci
One is getting three more equivalent pairs. Nurse has carried physically challenged partners for the last four years. Broberg is not challenged physically in anyway. Broberg has as much experience as Bear and Bouchard when they played with Nurse.
Broberg has clearly shown he can handle 3rd pairing already (true small sample, but his is a high end prospect who has been slow played). Time to try him in the top four.
I like this approach. I don’t think there is any easy solution out there. UFAs too pricey and no good fits really. NHL SID has a thing up at ON looking at options but no clear upgrades on Ceci. He has done evaluations before and Mayfield was a good option but not for Nurse because he struggles with breaking out and Nurse needs help with that. He’s solid at everything else
He sees Nurse needing a partner good at defending entries and able to pass. Ceci is limited in both and it hurts Nurse. Ceci is/was pretty good defending in zone but not last year, hopefully rebounds
So Bro should fit stylistically with Nurse but can he handle top 4? I would think by Holland’s and Woody’s MO Ceci starts with Nurse and hopefully Bro takes his spot by playoffs
Ceci should be a good fit with Kulak who is good defending entries and at 3 pair both should be good enough breaking out. Maybe with time they would settle as a good pair
Nah…you go with Broberg there to start the season. If he succeeds, full speed ahead. If he flops, one has Ceci as cover till the trade deadline, where one looks for the next Ekholm.
Evan Bouchard is good at defending zone entires and can pass.
He has had much success playing on a pairing with Nurse here and there over the last 3 seasons.
If we are moving on from Ceci in the top 4 to start (which is probably unlikely but, for the purposes of this discussion), presuming Nurse continues to see the opposition’s toughest then I pair him with Bouchard pending more development from Broberg (which is happening in real time).
It doesn’t seem likely to me that the coaching staff will move from Broberg as the 7D and not being trusted for full-game 3RD minutes to 1RD.
Broberg can play second pairing minutes and comp with the steadiest partner on the team, Ekholm.
Even further, Bouchard should absolutely get the McDavid minutes and we know Nurse is good in that role, so:
Nurse/Bouch – McDavid minutes
Ekholm/Broberg – Drai minutes
Broberg showed that he was able to handle second pair duties (SSS) before Ekholm came over. He has an entire off-season to take the requisite half step.
Another possibility is using Nurse Bouchard as your top pair and having Ekholm bring Broberg along in a slightly more sheltered role. Second half of the season, if Ekholm Bouchard is what you want to do, Broberg can slide up with Nurse.
My concern is handedness, but maybe it’ll encourage Broberg to rush the puck more.
Curious what you’re referring to here.
Broberg-Bouchard together were heavy sheltered as the 3rd pair (though the results were wonderful). I can’t think what else you could be referring to.
I like Broberg lots, I just think he should be given the chance to be an NHL regular on the 3rd pair instead of being thrust into the top 6 immediately.
LT does a great job as always on the draft…..but
With no 1st rounder.
No 3rd rounder
No 4th rounder
I am having a tough time getting excited about the draft this year.
Personally, I would take lots of shots at Russian kids with our later picks. Have to assume some of these kids may fall for non hockey related reasons ( again could be wrong but would keep a close eye on this)
This board seems to think the sharp shooter Yamamoto will bring back a draft choice. I know Foegele will bring a return as his 2.75 million x1 year is a positive commodity on the other hand Yamamoto smells like “Buyout”
—. I’ll eat my hat if he’s bought out. No bonafide established NHL player under 27 that has played multiple seasons has ever been bought out with 1 year remaining. It doesn’t happen because doing so is such a poor cap decision.
— As much disdain as I have for the overall acumen of the average NHL GM, they just aren’t that dumb.
1) Oscar Lindblom, Anthony DeAngelo, Valerin Nichushkin, etc.
With the said, while I don’t think Yamamoto is bought out, the cap implications are not harsh and t could be very reasonable with $1.03MM split over two years.
One guy we haven’t mentioned as a trade candidate to upgrade RHD is Desharnais. He probably has some value right now, but he’s still a bit of a project. Maybe packaged with Kulak to get a good 2RD? Broberg could then play 3rd pair with Ceci. And Holland can probably take another stab at a #7 veteran D in free agency for league minimum or maybe Niemalainen wins the job.
Or maybe I might be crazy to even suggest this, but Kulak might be too much of a luxure at 3LD.
Ekholm – Bouchard
Nurse – ?
Broberg – Ceci
Niemalainen (or cheap UFA)
That’s one way to go about it and I wouldn’t have a problem with that approach. In the absence of a clear upgrade on a Ceci deal that is money in and money out, I think another option would be to run the exact same 7 you have until the deadline. Then pick up a top 4 RD rental for the playoffs if Ceci isn’t back to his play from a few years ago and Desharnais or Broberg haven’t taken a big step forward.
Just need to find the lucky GM willing to take 2 – 3rd pairing D ( Kulak and Desh) and give up a top 4 D.
Oilers weakness is defending. Oilers worst defending D man is Bouchard.
Can he hold his own and still be able to play to his strengths?
Yes he can, but not at #1D position, and not without Ekholm.
Or another way, a better way, to help both Evan and goalies, change up the defensive zone structure. Drop wingers lower. Tie up a man instead of stick checks only. And commit to lowering goals against. Easy Peasy
Keep the current seven D (eight if on includes Neimelainen, and reevaluate at the trade deadline. This is much more cap efficient.
Ekholm was not available till a week before the deadline. Holland delayed and delayed till the right defenseman showed up on the market.
It is the same thing this year.
The Oilers can safely get to the trade deadline with the 8D they have. If one trades Kulak and Nurse or Ekholm get hurt, one can skewer the season.
I am all for an upgrade, but the upgrade doesn’t have to be forced. Find out if Broberg is the upgrade at right D first, with Ceci as cover. Waiting for the right right D to come on the market.
Hard to say Mitchkov has the best shot in the draft when he’s with the best shooter on the planet. That’s like saying Marner is the best skater in the 2015 draft.
I had a similar reaction, “isn’t Bedard in this draft?”
I have seen almost nothing of Michkov, but if he’s a better shooter than Bedard, well, wow.
His ranking in the draft has been dropping because of certain world events, combined with him being signed to a KHL deal through, I believe, 2026. Prior to him not being able to compete in international tournaments due to circumstances beyond his control, he was lighting it up. At the IIHF 2021 U-18 tournament, as a 16 year old, he led in scoring with 12 goals and 16 points (5 goals and 2 points ahead of 16 year old Bedard and 17 year old Wright). In early rankings he was thought by many to be a close second to Bedard. This past season, he scored 9 goals and 20 points in the KHL as an 18 year old. He projects to have a great hockey future, but if and when he can get to the NHL is uncertain.
They need Niemalainen (Fin) to grab that 7D job in a bad way.
And mostly unrelated, I wonder if Gustav Nyquist should be on the list of summer FA possibilities. A middle 6 winger who touches a lot of parts of the game and should be able to complement skill.
I don’t think Niemelainen is on the team next year. Bakersfield or traded is my guess, once Desharnais passed him that was it for the Finn.
Goal share would likely be poor, but the on-ice nastiness of a Niemelainen-Desharnais pairing would be a sight to behold.
No question Desharnais has passed him. I still think there’s a decent chance Kulak is traded though (cap/Broberg).
That would be Niemalainen’s main opening, with injury another possibility. I was also making an effort to shoehorn a Fin onto the roster.
Would hope it’s Bakersfield and not a trade (at least to start the season). You never know what kind of injuries you’ll be facing and he’s depth insurance.
Same. System blue is thiiiiiin.
I would suggest that if Niemo is #7 on the Oilers opening night depth chart, the Oilers very likely have issues on the back-end.
Even if the team played 6D nightly, let alone in a 11/7 set-up.