Ken Holland is in about the same spot as Peter Chiarelli found himself in the summer of 2017. It was the worst of times, it was the worst of times. Edmonton won a playoff round and damn near one another, but a devastating and career altering injury to Andrej Sekera meant the Oilers had to spend the last of the free-agent dollars on defense. It was the hockey equivalent of “the money ran out and the engine blew” and took years to recover. Ken Holland is looking under every rock now, why don’t we?
THE ATHLETIC!
- Lowetide: Why Oilers’ Dylan Holloway is in prime position for a major role
- DNB: Five burning Edmonton Oilers questions ahead of the NHL Draft and free agency
- Lowetide: 5 quality Edmonton Oilers trade targets for low-budget offseason
- Lowetide: The Oilers and Russian draft picks haven’t worked — yet
- DNB: How Emily Cave found that ‘joy and grief can coexist’ in writing her book about Colby
- Lowetide: Ken Holland’s Oilers roster construction missing one final piece
- DNB: What I’m hearing about the Oilers 2.0: Evan Bouchard offer sheet? Klim Kostin to KHL?
- Lowetide: Predicting Oilers star Connor McDavid’s 2023-24 stats
- DNB: Oilers GM Ken Holland on salary cap space, Steve Staios, 2023 NHL Draft
- Lowetide: What are Oilers’ best NHL Draft bets for 2023 second-round pick?
- DNB: Oilers’ offseason options: Comparing conservative and aggressive approaches
- Lowetide: What do the Oilers have in defence prospect Max Wanner?
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers targets early and late in NHL free agency.
- DNB: Edmonton Oilers AHL prospect stock watch: Is Raphael Lavoie NHL-ready?
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers position-by-position depth chart entering offseason
- Lowetide: Why Edmonton Oilers’ right wing overhaul is about to hit overdrive
- Lowetide: The Edmonton Oilers guide to saving an NHL Draft on just three picks
- DNB: Why the Oilers are preparing to hold on to Cody Ceci this offseason
- DNB: What I’m hearing about Oilers’ offseason plans: Trade candidates, Erik Karlsson interest, more
- DNB: Oilers offseason priorities: A 10-step plan for ensuring success next season
- DNB: How the Oilers roster could soon look different
- Lowetide: Identifying a 2023 NHL Draft sleeper prospect for the Oilers
- Lowetide: Stock up or down for every Oilers prospect in the system
SEARCHING
If we take the idea of trade, RFA, UFA out of it, just write down a list of right wingers who can play with skill and cost $2 million or less, what does that look like?
- Sean Monahan, Montreal ($1.985M) (0.68 pts-game) (just re-signed)
- Marcus Johansson, Washington ($2M) (0.58 pts-game) (just re-signed)
- Philip Tomasino, Nashville ($863,333) (0.58 pts-game) (RFA after this season)
- Brandon Hagel, Tampa Bay ($1.5M) (0.79 pts-game) (UFA after this season)
- Ryan Hartman, Minnesota ($1.7M) (0.63 pts-game) (UFA after this season)
- Eetu Luostarinen, Florida ($1.5M) (0.52 pts-game) (RFA after this season)
- Sonny Milano, Washington ($1.9M) (0.52 pts-game) (3-year deal kicking in)
- Michael Rasmussen, Detroit ($1.46M) (0.52 pts-game) (RFA after this season)
- Eeli Tolvanen, Seattle ($1.45M) (0.51 pts-game) (RFA after this season)
- Arthur Kaliyev, Los Angeles ($894,167) (0.51 pts-game) (RFA after this season)
- Taylor Raddysh, Chicago ($758,333) (0.47 pts-game) (RFA after this season)
- Stefan Noesen, Carolina ($726,500) (0.46 pts-game) (UFA after this season)
The trick here is to find a team willing to take Kailer Yamamoto in trade for a less expensive player who can fill the same role. Sean Monahan and Marcus Johansson just re-signed with their teams, a bunch of these men are on contending teams, and players like Philip Tomasino are probably heading for feature roles.
That leaves two areas of opportunity for Edmonton. There are players who are on teams that will not contend and have no plans to push for the postseason in 2023-24. That’s good for Edmonton, because if they have cap room, a trade could be made without delay. On this list, I would suggest Taylor Raddysh is the strongest candidate in this category. He has blossomed since moving to the Windy City and will be inexpensive in the season to come. He’s big, strong and has skill. The downbeat is that he’s not a fast train, and despite the scoring totals he posted just 1.18 five-on-five points-60 last season. Kailer Yamamoto (1.53) was far more productive in the category.
The second area of opportunity comes via extreme depth at one position on a rival team.
When a large group of players get together at one position in one organization there is opportunity. I will once again remind you of the Houston Astros of 1971.
In November of that year, the Astros traded 2B Joe Morgan, RHP Jack Billingham and a bunch of other really cool pieces for power-hitting 1B Lee May. May hit 39 homers in 1971, so he was bona fide, but the Reds got Joe Morgan and unleashed the most dominant batting order since the 1927 Yankees.
Houston traded for May when there was no need to do it. Houston had a number of power-hitting 1B-OF’s in their system during 1971. Here they are:
- John Mayberry, who also played for the Astros in 1971, would hit 243 more home runs before retiring in 1982.
- Cliff Johnson, who was in the minors, would hit 196 home runs before retiring in 1986.
- Bob Watson, who played for the Astros in 1971, would hit 161 more home runs before retiring in 1984.
- Mike Easler, who played in the low minors but would hit 118 home runs before retiring in 1987.
I wrote about the Los Angeles Kings and other similar situations for The Athletic this week (it is here). The most attractive one is Arthur Kaliyev, but it’s problematic because the LAK aren’t going to do business with Edmonton. However, if the Winnipeg Jets can acquire Kaliyev in the inevitable PLD trade, then a deal between the two Canadian teams is possible.
Kailer Yamamoto is a productive player. Ordinarily the sentence that follows would be “and there’s no good reason to deal him if the team doesn’t improve because of the trade” but in this case it is all about the cap room.
So, the list has about 10 candidates and for me Kaliyev would be the main target, but not the only one. If Edmonton could acquire him (via Winnipeg?) it might require a secondary trade of Yamamoto (Arizona?) to make everything work. There is a sweet spot for Edmonton, there is an “island of solutions” but it’s a damned small island. A trade for Raddysh is perhaps the easiest route.
Beyond that, everybody’s talking about Connor Brown and that usually means it’s needle in a haystack signing. Sometimes (Justin Schultz) it works. My sense is the Oilers have a real chance. One player not mentioned I would love to see in Edmonton this fall: Alexander Texier.
Funny to see CGY utterly fall apart. They should have started the rebuild last year when Johnny and turtle left. Now they are pooched with boat anchor contracts. Plus watching the MSM fall over themselves in approval of their former GM’s work is just funny as hell right now. Also happy to see someone so mediocre land in Toronto.
i mean, when 97 and 29 don’t resign, its gonna be the same thing here.
Perish the thought
Good thing they aren’t going to resign. It definitely would be bad if they didn’t re-sign.
No need to bother with any of the 3rd tier re-hab projects that LT lists. Maybe 4 years ago when Holland first arrived but that time is gone. We have a single hole at 2RW that needs to be filled with a cheaper contract like Kostin or a guy like Brown (or maybe both in rotation). RNH-Drai-Kostin is a really nice mix of skills. Then we have Hyman and Ryan plus Borg and Lavoie are ripening. Sign Brown and good enough – revisit at the TDL if necessary
Another center is more important and I think we might see Bjugstad return for less money (but more term) than expected. Just a hunch and we won’t know until after the UFA signing window opens since he will look at his options.
Yamo will be gone at the draft for a pick or a 6/7 dman, and while I really like what Kulak brings in the playoffs, he’s blocking Broberg. Kulak’s value is at maximum now and he will easily return the 2nd round pick we used to acquire him.
I’m fine keeping Fog or trading him (Holloway is ready) with CC in a package for a 2RD. If we keep CC then we will evaluate RD until the TDL and upgrade then if necessary.
Holloway has proven that he’s about as worthy of placing too much hope in than Swiss cheese.
Last season he got flattened in pre season and never recovered. And suddenly he’s back to being a blue chip prospect? Why is that?
A trade proposal that makes perfect sense.
Calgary trades Elias Lindholm and Noah Hanifin to Colorado.
Colorado sends its 2023 first round pick, Sam Girard, Ben Myers and Sam Malinski to Calgary which accrues an extra $5 million in cap space.
Perfect sense. Arguably the Flames top Dman and top Center for….
1. A late first rounder.
2. An over priced D the Avs have been trying to get rid of for over a year now.
3. Two college players, unproven in the pros with a potential 2nd/3rd line peak. Two American kids going to an organization that has been burnt numerous times over the years by American players (Fox, Chucky and Gaudreau).
Bro, Flames to Avs trade proposals don’t fly round here. This is an Edmonton Oilers blog. I feel like you pitching this trade on this site is a cry for help. Let’s gets to the core issue. Dog died?
Life gets dire even in paradise.
Leafs reportedly working on a major trade involving inflation if their core four.
https://www.mapleleafsinsider.com/Reporter-suggests-that-the-Leafs-have-a-significant-trade-in-the-works-248537
If there is a team that makes this bitter sad Oilers fan smile its Toronto’s ridiculously made to Lose Maple Leafs.
Tyler Toffoli the latest Flame on the trade block.
https://flamesnation.ca/news/reports-tyler-toffoli-plans-on-not-re-signing-with-the-calgary-flames-on-the-trade-block
Kinda feel bad, what a year they had but if they are selling off …. Weegar would look good as an oiler.
I’d rather have Tanev with 1 year left on his deal than Weegar with 8 years … the latter is on the smaller side for a top 4 D-man … when the wheels go, the contract is going to become an albatross.
All of the Flames players potentially up for sale make more AAV than the Oilers can squeeze under the cap though. Too bad, cause it would be nice to pick the carcass of their juiciest parts.
I’ve mentioned Tanev and Toffoli as trade dealine targets, but the momentum in Calgary the last 48 hours suggests neither will be Flames much longer (never mind trading with Edmonton)
They’ve got some nice pieces coming to market
I’m fascinated to watch this play out.
I don’t recall such a complete exodus of talented players all leaving at the same time.
The Flames should be able to renew their roster with younger players and draft picks but I’m pretty sure they would like a do over on the Huberdeau and Kadri contracts.
With Winnipeg also shedding talent, the tax free state teams should have a pretty good offseason,
They had a opportunity to be juggernaut in 3-4 years if they would of flipped Huberdough and not signed a burnt out Kadri. Brad bailed and I think Conroy is going to be fleeced with the Vultures circling.
We will see.
There are so many high end players available, we could see a seismic shift in the balance of power in the league.
Nylander
DeBrincat
Scheifele
Pierre Luc Dubois
Hellebuyck
Wheeler
Toffoli
Backlund
Lindholm
Hanifin
Its a great time to be a team with cap space.
I’ll be keeping an eye on Seattle.
Calgary could get some nice pieces to work with – if they decide on a strategy and stick with it (ie:keep the goalie and D, rebuild the forward group) they could turn things around relatively quickly, especially with a ton of cap space
Yeah, their D should be fine even without Hanifin (assuming they get one back in trade).
Their goaltending should be fine with Dustin Wolf more than ready or the NHL.
Where they will come up short is at centre if both Lindholm and Backlund depart.
Your whining to the wrong crowd.
Whining? Keep your personal opinions to yourself. As an individual I can feel sympathy for others while still being an oil fan.
Also note my post was more about taking advantage to get a top 4 dman than anything else.
Woodguy has a poll up asking how many first round picks Calgary could get from their fire sale.
https://twitter.com/Woodguy55/status/1645912247913566208?s=20
Friedman did a 7 minute interview with Bettman at the BOG meetings today and, again, the cap is going only to $83.5MM and that is what the BOG were advised.
The 85% of the players who have contracts finally figured out how cap inflation and escrow work. For a big chunk of them it might be their last contract. A cap that doesn’t reflect the actual players share of revenues is bad for players.
GM’s love cap inflation not tied to revenue because it lets them out of their contract mistakes for “free”.
The NHLPA should push for player contracts as a percentage of the cap in the next negotiation.
Blake Wheeler may get bought out by the Jets.
He’s a 6’5″ 220 lb Right Wing who scored last season at a 2nd line rate.
He’s eligible for an over-35 bonus-laden contract.
He’s an American who signed on with a Canadian team because he wants to win first and foremost.
Could be a great target.
If wheeler and brown both sign that would sure tighten up our rw problem. Of course that would cost us a good chunk of next year’s cap unless there are a few injuries this year.
Would align with the Oilers “misfit” contracts that were good adds at certain points..
Kassian, then Kane, now Wheeler?
It appears something in the water went to the C of Red this afternoon, lol
Oilers could do a lot worse than to target Canadian teams like Winnipeg for filling out their forward roster. And other areas which do not come to mind in the hot weather.
Winnipeg Jets could turn out to be like the Oilers were to the LAKings just before they won their cups.
Jets are a solid honest brand of hockey team.
PS: So are the Flames, but that’s not the likeliest of trade partners. Although if Draisaitl and McDavid pick up sticks it’s not going to be looking any much better for Calgary.
When’s the next buy-out window?
As I mentioned to you yesterday, they are currently in the buy-out window and it goes to right near the end of the month.
There is only one buyout window and its now.
There is the potential to open a second buy out window later in the off-season – this happens if any player files for arbitration and, if they do, they is a 2nd buyout window that opens 48 hours after the last team arb case is settled/finalized – with that said, that second buyout window has a dollar threshold and its high, its like $4MM (apx).
The only player the Oilers might buy out is Yamamoto and they will only do that if they can’t trade him. That will likely happen right around the draft – if he’s not traded at the draft, then it become a real possibility.
Thanks for the info.
June 2024.
Who’s on first. What’s on second, I don’t know is on third.
Naturally.
The mass exodus on the horizon from Calgary, coupled with the one bubbling up in Winnipeg, is not a good sign for Canadian teams.
Depends on where said team is on their competitive cycle.
VAN, CGY, WPG, MTL are looking relatively grim for the next season or more. Players want to play for teams that have a legit shot to contend or even win. OTT being the wildcard but they’re on the upswing (not unlike BUF) and I could see quality players willing to bet on the Senators where they wouldn’t on some of the other teams. MTL being the one with the best chance to turn things around relatively quickly. The rest are wandering in the desert.
What are the chances Gracyn Sawchyn is available at 56, and if so, how likely are the Oilers to draft him?
Totally available. Gordie Howe didn’t even play past his early 50’s.
Try the veal folks.
Chelios made it to 48 well off of the 56 year-old landmark.
Calgary is well and truly boned now.
Hanafin not re-signing, Backlund not re-signing. Hoping to keep Lindholm but not looking good.
All because of McDavid and Sutter. One of those isn’t like the other.
I look forward to watching our Phlems brethren take the same horrid approach to a rebuild as the Canuckleheads.
Might be prudent to wait and see how trading Lindholm and Hanifin plays out.
For example, there is speculation that Boston has intense interest in acquiring Lindholm to replace Bergeron.
Boston has an excess of defensemen who could be included in a trade.
Hanifin is a borderline #1D so should fetch a handsome return. Also word this morning that he doesn’t want to play in Canada but that leaves a large number of potential destinations.
Oilers only have to worry about 2 players leaving. No bonus points for knowing who they are.
We need to win and win now! Woody fuked up playing a child in the top 6 against men and not starting Campbell in game 6 when everyone knew on both teams Skinner was done.
Tolvanen was a nice waiver claim.
Who’s the next Tolvanen? Maybe a guy like Jesse Ylönen or Filip Zadina.
Honest question, should we be hopeful or fearful of a guy like Zadina?
Holland sure seems to like his DET retreads. AA didn’t work out here, nor Green, Sheahan, or Jurco. He’s not exactly hitting it out of the park with his nostalgic signings of former players.
For every resurgent Sam Bennett there are scores of whatshisnames that get lost to the cobwebs of history.
Craig Conroy has the opportunity to put his stamp on that hockey team.
Some conflicting reports on Lindholm but it’s looking like he is not willing to re-sign in Calgary this off-season (a year in advance) without it being an overpay to keep him. Not saying he wouldn’t sign in due course but not in advance.
We know Hanifin will be looking to move on – while I think personally think than Hanifin is a bit over-rated, I think that Elias Lindholm is a bit under-rated. In any event, those are two good players on good current cap hits. What could/would/will Conroy get for them. One year to UFA makes deals tough unless there is extension agreements.
but a devastating and career altering injury to Andrej Sekera meant the Oilers had to spend the last of the free-agent dollars on defense.
It was just a massive blow to the org. Sekera was in the middle of that 6 X $5.5MM contract and he was full value for it. He was arguably the Oilers best d-man that season and in the playoffs – a legit low end first pairing/elite 2nd pairing d-man who had chemistry with Kris Russell. He went from a material and core piece locked up in his prime to replacement level and an anchor contract in an instant. What a blow.
Add losing Klef as he was just about to reach his prime (and, again, locked up on a value contract for years)…. damn.
I had written a detailed post yesterday, but didn’t quite finish it. I ended up discarding it before posting. It looked at the assets spent by a Holland to replace Klefbom and the timeline. If you include the need for high end bottom pairing guy like Kulak for cover for Keith, it was quite a lot. Other dates included for interest.
Was Holland not aware Devon Toews was available? Did the Oilers professional scouts not think he was any good? Was he not willing to outbid Sakic? I recall reading about Lou being in cap hell and Toews likely shaking lose (was an RFA with arb rights iirc) about a month before it happened.
Anyway, it is interesting that a player who’s arguably better than any d currently on the Oilers, came available for the incredibly low price of two seconds and a $4.1m cap hit, during a time that the Oilers were absolutely desperate for a top four left d, and they completely missed out.
Colorado had cap space for Toews. The Oilers didn’t (Holland was in cap hell), and had already traded away a bunch of draft picks (the AA trade).
Klefbom’s contract is expiring. Broberg is ready to play. (Only Seider and Byram are fully established D from his draft class). Broberg is right on schedule to replace Klefbom. The problem is that Klefbom fell off the cliff more rapidly than expected.
Broberg can replace losing Larsson.
One would be playing him with Nurse or Ekholm or Kulak. With Kulak it would be the 3rd pairing. Nurse and Ekholm are good enough to break in Broberg in the top 4, and Broberg is good enough to play his off side.
Most good teams didn’t have the cap space nor draft picks available for Toews, which is why Colorado got such a bargain.
Colorado created the cap space by trading Ryan Graves.
Wrong year HH.
All cap moves are inter-related.
Trading Graves a year later to ‘create cap space’ for Toews?
That’s feeble HH.
don’t confuse him with actual facts ;)…
If we remove things from your list were not actually trades to acquire defensemen, we’re left with:
-April 12, 2021. Holland trades a 4rth for Kulikov.
-July 12, 2021. Holland trades a 3rd and Jones for Keith.
-March 21, 2022. Oilers trade a second and 7th plus Lagesson for Kulak.
-Feb 28, 2023. Oilers trade a 1st, Schaefer and Barrie for a nearly 33 y/o Ekholm.
And at the end, Klefbom’s contract has expired and the Oilers have Ekholm and Kulak both signed for 3 more seasons.
Would Holland’s transaction list look a little like Sakic’s in trying to replace Semyon Varlamov after he departed as a UFA?
-June 2019. Sakic decides not to re-sign Varlamov.
-June 30th, 2019. Rutherford trades 6th and Darling for James Reimer.
(Darling was bought out by FLA immediately)
-Feb 24th, 2020. Sakic trades Rosen for Hutchinson.
-Mar 21st, 2021. Sakic trades 6th for Johansson.
-Apr 10th, 2021. Sakic trades 5th and Pateryn for Dubnyk.
-July 28th, 2021. Sakic trades 1st, 3rd, Timmins for Kuemper.
(that 1st was actually Ried Schafer)
-July 7th, 2022. Sakic trades 3rd, 3rd, 5th for Georgiev.
-Feb 25th, 2023. Sakic (McFarland) trades Bowers for Kinkaid.
All that when he could have had James Reimer for only a 6th round pick?
And yes, this is obviously a little absurd, though I’m not sure how different it is from your original exercise.
You make it sound like walking Varlamov was a mistake? I’ve said it before, Sakic doesn’t like dollars and term tied up into goalies over 30. Varly got $5m x 4 years. He played a starter’s workload once out of those four years.
Also, you forgot about walking Grubauer. Sakic dodged a bullet there when he walked Grubauer.Grubauer got 6x $5.9m.
He paid in full outbidding Holland for Kuemper, won a cup and then walked Kuemper. Kuemper subsequently got 5x $5.25.
The Georgiev trade looks like a home run so far. 62 starts with a .919. Georgiev is 27. 3x $3.4 m
I’ve said previously. Sakic pays a premium to avoid risky goalie contracts.
I’m not sure why he would rather have just traded for Reimer?
Holland deals in established vets, paying in full at the deadline or free agency.
Sakic finds younger players at cheaper caps, in trade from other teams.
Yep..plenty of examples.
Toews, Nichushkin, Girard, Lehkkonen.
Then he fills around the edges with vets on cheap contracts for limited term.
It likely was. He had the #6 SV% in the league his 4 years as an Islander, and losing time to Sorokin after 2 years as the starter (you forgot year 2 was Covid shortened) doesn’t really say anything about Varlamov’s level of play.
I assume you understood it wasn’t meant as a critique though, but an exercise in absurdity similar to yours.
You made a laundry list of assets that might tenuously have been linked to Klefbom. Then took Holland to task for spending those assets rather than making a trade that 30 GMs wish they’d made in hindsight.
Ignoring also that the large majority of the assets Holland spent were on two Dmen who are Oilers for 3 more seasons beyond the end of the Klefbom contract.
You’re trying to tie this to procurement practices and Holland’s flaws, but Sakic and the Avalanche have been just shoveling draft picks and prospects out the door to avoid 30-something goalies.
If we’re playing the hindsight game then yeah, it does look like Sakic should have just kept Varlamov in the fold for another 4 years rather than spending all those assets on a goalie carousel.
I had forgotten you were on team Varly. I recall now you had once floated him as a potential trade target, but he wouldn’t waive to come play for the Oilers. Never mind that Russian hockey players seem to gravitate to New York either..
You’re right I had forgotten about the lockout shortened season. He was a started for the first two of those four years.
The year Colorado won the cup, Kuemper had 57 starts x .921 vs Varly 31 x .911. I’m not sure you can make an argument that they win the cup with Varly. There’s no guarantee Varly would have signed the same contract for Colorado either.
Kuemper was also a 500 k lower cap hit.
Last year Georgiev was 62 x .919 vs Varly 23 x .913, with a cap savings of $1.6m over Varly.
They have two more seasons of Georgiev to look forward to at $3.4 m cap.
Jack Campbell says, “hello!”
So you’ve moved entirely onto goalies now. Cool.
You changed the topic to a discussion about Sakic’s goaltender procurement. I follow your lead and now you sound annoyed we’re talking about goalies?
You seem to have missed this point:
I agree EDM would have been far better off having landed DT but this exercise is fraught with unknowns. For instance, how do we know Holland didn’t offer a similar package (or potentially more, a la ChiaPete and Dougie Hamilton) but wasn’t ultimately chosen?
Also, and this is something I brought up last night… obviously that was a fine deal by Sakic. But there’s no way that represents the norm when trading for a #2-3 LD on the open market. Holding the exception to the rule up as the gold standard isn’t viable, from my perspective.
Don’t get me wrong, I want Kenny to fleece a few GMs (still bitter about not claiming Ned from CAR) but expecting larceny as a rule seems like setting oneself up for disappointment more often than not. It’s more likely to happen when shopping in the Kostin aisle than for the Ekblads or Paraykos of the world.
I think a more realistic expectation would be the Ekholm template (1st/A-B prospect/player) or perhaps the Weber-Subban deal would be more typical for quality defensemen.
As it turns out Alex Nedeljkovic has proceeded down the cliff since that waiver placement. Lots of time to recover but its seems he wouldn’t have helped very much in recent years.
It certainly didn’t make the news. It usually does. When Colorado outbid us for Kuemper, we heard about it. Same with Chiarelli getting snubbed on Hamilton.
I agree. Not first class
He seems reactive. He did this in Detroit as well. Datsyuk hooped him. Respect is great but a GM has to demand certain things. Treliving also getting blindsided by Hockey and Turtle probably isn’t making any management textbooks either. And it snowballs
I prefer a strong vision and plan and get after it
A cycle of pain running all the way back to Mac T balking at giving 4M to “every” Oilers defender. #noptionsnocover
I like KY but can he drive the bus himself? I don’t believe so. He got Zoomed playing alongside CM and LD. Raddish played on a bad team. I remember him on the world junior team. I would go after him. Connor Brown will be the featured player alongside CM. But I can see Raddish winning it later.
He is going to retire with 100 + goals for his career.
He “charmed” the wackiest management in NHL history with tales about how he was going to make them sorry for not drafting him…you can’t make this kind of stuff up. No one would believe it.
If your going to be a Cocky Kid you need to back it up are else your just another Schmuck.
Yamamoto was pretty decent out of the gate and as far as his family is concerned the dude is a bona fide NHL star.
Since that Colorado player hammered him, like how Gagner started to get hit, like how RNH was bullied into being an invisible player for 10 season before emerging as a dark horse slayer of asshole Maple Leafs.
I can’t see how any competent G.M is supposedly interested in Yamamoto. I call bullshit and that he’s bought out next buyout window.
Talk to me about these multiple buyout windows and how Yamamoto will be bought out at the “next one” that doesn’t exist for a $3.1MM player……
I once read:
“If your going to be a Cocky Poster you need to actually know what you re talking about or else your just another Schmuck.”
Bob McKenzie’s Draft
https://www.tsn.ca/intrigue-and-excitement-in-the-year-of-connor-bedard-at-the-nhl-draft-1.1976262
Just a note: Hagel is an RFA after this season not a UFA.
Bob McKenzie’s draft ranking show is today. Here are some forward’s I like at #56.
Oscar Fisker Molgaard
Bradly Nadeau
Juraj Pekarcik
Nick Lardis
Aydar Suniev
Easton Cowan
Martin Misiak
Carey Terrance
Alexander Rykov
That’s a great list. Misiak and a couple others would be a stretch at No. 56 but they are all good prospects.
D-men
Dragicevic
Molendyk
Morin
Price
Akey
Bonk
Lindstein
Strbak
Brzustewicz
Hope Oilers get Oscar Fisker Molgaard on this list
I have Rehkopf, Lind and Andrew Gibson as my main realistic targets for 56 even tho all may be gone by then anyway, while in a perfect world trading down for an extra top 100 pick and still nabbing one of these guys.
Lardis would be good too
No love for Koehn Ziemmer?