The is the 2014-15 OKC Barons forward group, the final edition of the Oklahoma City team. Future NHL players of note include Tyler Pitlick and Jujhar Khaira. The lesson from this group? It doesn’t matter where you were drafted, but it does matter how much you outscore. Exhibit A: Iiro Pakarinen.
THE ATHLETIC!
- New Lowetide: Oilers’ baffling 2016 draft takes another hit
- Lowetide: Oilers’ 2023-24 season has potential for loud noises
- Lowetide: Jay Woodcroft is (still) the right man to coach the Edmonton Oilers
- Lowetide: Should the Oilers sign Filip Zadina?
- Lowetide: Oilers’ roster utility for 2023-24 could use a final tweak
- Lowetide: Ideal roster positions for young Oilers in 2023-24
- Lowetide: Making sense of Oilers’ free-agent haul after initial flurry
- Lowetide: The Edmonton Oilers still have work to do this summer
- DNB: The Oilers roster is improved but evolution must continue into next season
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers top 20 prospects, summer 2023
- DNB: Assessing Edmonton Oilers’ remaining roster needs ahead of NHL free agency
- Lowetide: Realistic draft options for an Edmonton Oilers team low on picks
- DNB: What I’m hearing about the Oilers 3.0
- Lowetide: Why Connor Brown is a fit for the Edmonton Oilers in free agency
- DNB: Connor McDavid’s top-5 moments from another awards-laden season
- Lowetide: Oilers’ Jayden Grubbe and his organizational importance
- Lowetide: 4 impact QMJHL centres for Oilers to target late in 2023 NHL Draft
- DNB: 10 questions with director of amateur scouting Tyler Wright
- Lowetide: Why Oilers’ Dylan Holloway is in prime position for a major role
- Lowetide: 5 quality Edmonton Oilers trade targets for low-budget offseason
FORWARDS EVEN STRENGTH GOAL DIFFERENTIAL
- Iiro Pakarinen 2014-15. 33-16 (+17 on a -5 team)
- Andrew Miller 2014-15. 52-38 (+14 on a -5 team)
- Andrew Miller 2015-16. 37-31 (+6 on a -18 team)
- Mitchell Moroz 2015-16. 18-14 (+4 on a -18 team)
- Jujhar Khaira 2015-16. 28-27 (+1 on a -18 team)
- Josh Currie 2015-16. 32-32 (even on a -18 team)
- Anton Lander 2016-17. 68-35 (+33 on a +9 team)
- Ryan Hamilton 2016-17. 65-43 (+22 on a +9 team)
- Jesse Puljujarvi 2016-17. 45-28 (+17 on a +9 team)
- Josh Currie 2017-18. 43-38 (+5 on a -24 team)
- Dave Gust 2017-18. 23-23 (even on a -24 team)
- Joe Gambardella 2017-18. 27-28 (-1 on a -24 team)
- Cooper Marody 2018-19. 60-26 (+34 on a plus 60 team)
- Tyler Benson 2018-19. 59-33 (+26 on a plus 60 team)
- Patrick Russell 2018-19. 49-24 (+25 on a plus 60 team)
- Josh Currie 2019-20. 39-37 (+2 on a -30 team)
- Ryan McLeod 2019-20. 27-27 (even on a -30 team)
- Ryan McLeod 2020-21. 36-15 (+21 on a +17 team)
- Cooper Marody 2020-21. 39-21 (+18 on a +17 team)
- Tyler Benson 2020-21. 40-27 (+13 on a +17 team)
- Seth Griffith 2021-22. 66-45 (+21 on a +39 team)
- James Hamblin 2021-22. 48-28 (+19 on a +39 team)
- Cooper Marody 2021-22. 54-37 (+17 on a +39 team)
- Raphael Lavoie 2022-23. 46-33 (+13 on a +8 team)
- Xavier Bourgualt 2022-23. 37-25 (+12 on a +8 team)
- Brad Malone 2022-23. 29-22 (+7 on a +8 team)
I highlighted the men who enjoyed significant careers. There aren’t many, and as it turns out all four names were chosen in the top-100 overall in their draft seasons. There are some surprises (Mitchell Moroz, Dave Gust) in there, I imagine they did well in depth minutes but truthfully don’t remember where Gust played in the lineup.
The current group is most encouraging for the Oilers. Raphael Lavoie and Xavier Bourgault show well here. A plus-8 team, as we saw a year ago, would have each line hit at +2 over the season. I know it doesn’t work that way, but when we say Bourgault is +12 or Lavoie is +13 that’s a significant upgrade over the roster average.
One more quick thing because I’m running late. Last year Bourgault was 51-21 (+30) and his team was 42-64 (-14) when he was off the ice (via Pick224). Those are phenomenal numbers.
How does Matvey Petrov compare? This year, he posted 76-42 (+34, 64 pct) on a team that delivered 119-92 (+27, 56 pct). Solid, but not Bourgault solid. Numbers matter.
FARM WORKERS 2018
- Men who are over 30 and come out of the minors to establish (or re-establish) themselves are pretty much a thing of the past.
Condors 2017-18: Bakersfield used Ryan Hamilton (signed to an AHL deal) and the Oilers rode the final year of Mark Fayne’s deal (although they sent him to Springfield mid-season, Fayne’s contract rode all the way home). Eric Gryba is 29, has another year on his contract and Todd McLellan likes his ability to defend. I could see Gryba playing NHL hockey, for the Oilers, next season. Ryan Stanton and Brad Malone are 28 and hold contracts for next season. Both men, especially Malone, may have a pretty nice look at extended NHL employment next season.
The original Conacher thought remains as true as the North Star. Johnny Bower was (reportedly) 32 when he entered the nets for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1958-59. The kind of career he enjoyed from that point forward is no longer available in the modern game. Too many jobs, scouts are too good.
- Pretty much everyone who is in the AHL past (say) 21 has some issues and is going to do some meandering.
Condors 2017-18: Condors fans have seen Leon Draisaitl, Darnell Nurse and Jesse Puljujarvi in the last few seasons, but (mostly) for a brief time. Chances are Bakersfield fans won’t see Kailer Yamamoto for long, either.
This year’s 21+ group encountered so many hurdles the mind boggles. Ryan Mantha suffered an eye injury, and even though it sounds like everything will be fine by the fall, eye injuries are a difficult process. Ziyat Paigin bolted back to Russia in half the time it took to watch Dr. Zhivago (still a very long time) for reasons we know not. Ethan Bear and Caleb Jones, both 20, should be in this group a year from now. They represent the top end (imo) of the available prospects in Bakersfield, but still have some things to figure out.
- If you haven’t established yourself as a prospect of interest by 22 you are in trouble. The players who have graduated to useful NHL careers have at least played some NHL games by the end of their entry level deals.
Condors 2017-18: Greg Chase, Ben Betker, Braden Christoffer and Kyle Platzer couldn’t move the needle in their third and final seasons of entry. The best players in the 21-25 group were Josh Currie (AHL contract) plus Ty Rattie and Keegan Lowe (UFA signings last summer). It isn’t supposed to work that way, and it isn’t on Chiarelli in this instance. We’re supposed to be talking about Yakimov and Marco Roy along with Platzer and the group above. The 2011 draft was very good for Edmonton, the club badly needed 2013 to duplicate (three NHL players). Looks like it might just be Nurse and then crickets.
- Exceptions are college men. Playing 4 NCAA seasons means turning pro at 22, meaning a “late start” for some quality prospects.
Condors 2017-18: Peter Chiarelli has been very aggressive in college procurement, with Matt Benning and Drake Caggiula grabbing NHL jobs basically out of the box after signing. Joe Gambardella had a pedestrian first year in the AHL but he finished well and could emerge as a legit prospect with a strong 2018-19. Dave Gust, an AHL-only contract who signed out of Ohio State University, showed enough skill to score 12 goals in 50 games on an offensively shy club.
Nick Ellis struggled in year two after a strong rookie campaign, Oilers have options so we’ll see if he returns. Patrick Russell had a strong second season in Bakersfield. I’ll be interested to see if the organization sees enough in him to bring Russell back. Shane Starrett spent most of his first pro campaign in the ECHL, sporting a .912 save percentage. Colin Larkin was added late and Cooper Marody was signed just this week, trumpeting another aggressive spring in college procurement. Marody should be among the top new arrivals in camp this fall, along with Yamamoto, Tyler Benson and William Lagesson. Marody is heading to Bakersfield, could play this week.
- A large group of players on the current team could be described in the “tweener” division.
Condors 2017-18: Jujhar Khaira and Anton Slepyshev were in about the same spot a year ago, and maybe they will be again. Right now, Khaira is entering the final year of a real value contract and Slepyshev is an RFA who the Oilers were willing to deal not so many months ago. Their careers have taken unique paths since this time one year ago.
As for this year’s Condors, Ty Rattie, Joey Laleggia and Dillon Simpson would seem to fit the description, plus all of the AHL contracts and men like Patrick Russell and Grayson Downing. There might be some players there, in fact Rattie might get a one-way deal based on a strong late showing. I think Laleggia is going to bust a move to another organization, kind of like Brad Winchester did years ago. He needs a second opinion.
- If we make a list of the minor league RFA’s each summer, we can probably as a group pick the cuts and be fairly close. That 50 man list gets a haircut every summer.
Condors 2017-18: Prospects separate themselves in that three year entry period, sometimes grabbing an extra year just to make sure. Last year, I wrote “as for RFA’s we can be fairly certain about, expect new cities for Anton Lander, Henrik Samuelsson, Bogdan Yakimov, Jere Sallinen, David Musil (who is already gone but still on the 50-man), Zach Pochiro and Eetu Laurikanen. Keepers? Jujhar Khaira, Iiro Pakarinen, Joey Laleggia, Griffin Reinhart, Dillon Simpson. That’s five keepers, and you might see the team cut bait on Pakarinen (but I doubt it).” Prospects really do separate themselves.
Among this year’s RFA’s, I’ll bet Nick Ellis and Patrick Russell get signed. It’s also fairly certain Kyle Platzer, Ben Betker and Braden Christoffer find their way to new cities by the fall. Ellis is a bit of a question mark because Edmonton could sign Stuart Skinner and turn him pro plus have to make a decision on Laurent Brossoit. I think the Oilers bring back Ellis.
- For Rob Schremp fans, there’s exactly ONE pure offensive player who made it: Mike Walton.
Condors 2017-18: The longer a skill player (Rob Schremp) spends in the AHL, the less likely he’s going to be an NHL top 6F of note. The first-round picks go up in mere seconds, meaning they (Kailer Yamamoto) get earlier and more chances than lower picks (Kirill Maksimov, Ostap Safin). It’s always been this way. Mike Walton was disliked by his coach, Punch Imlach, for reasons. He won a Stanley with my Bruins, so he’s alright for me.
I’ve waited years for someone to bring this category to life again. Ty Rattie come on down. He has a chance to prove me wrong, bet there’s a one-way contract at around $800,000 available sometime this spring. Sign it, young man.
- Daniel Cleary, Fernando Pisani and Jason Chimera became productive players in the toughest league on the planet. THEY are the stars in this study.
Condors 2017-18: It’s true every year. I always fall into this trap, call it the Marc Pouliot blind spot. If your favorite AHL player spends more than 100 games in that league during his entry deal, pray he’s Cleary, Pisani or Chimera. He isn’t going to be a top 6F, or rather it’s quite unlikely. What does that mean to this group?
Ethan Bear might have enough skill to spend less than 100 games in the AHL, suspect Caleb Jones might take a little longer based on their rookie seasons. After that, Ty Rattie has received a late opportunity on a skill line and Joe Gambardella has a heartbeat.
This will be a stronger list next season, we’ll have more information on the matriculating defensemen, plus Yamamoto, Benson, Marody and others will make the forward group more substantial.
Sometimes I wonder if Holland were younger or much newer to the game if he would be lauded for his creativity in three recent moves in particular – moving out Puljujarvi’s $3m cap hit for nothing, avoiding a buyout on Yamamoto by packaging a player they weren’t going to sign, and the Brown contract.
Could it be that Holland is getting better?
I think he is getting better advice more than anything else.
Could be.
Would you attribute that to Staios or BHolland’s increased role since the retirement of Henderson? Or others? Those are the two changes I see recently around him.
Holland certainly does seem to be the type to gather a team around him, empower them to do their jobs, then listens to them. It’s what I gather from watching him over the years. Rather than a say, Yzerman type, who takes on a lot of the scouting work, both amateur and pro himself and has a lot of trust in his own eyes.
So if I am right about Hollands methods of operation then he is certainly only as good or as bad as his team around him. What I am saying is you may be right there.
btw does anyone know what Staios’s role IS?
The news releases say Staios is special advisor to the GM with a focus on player development
Before the Senators were sold to Michael Andlauer, Frank Seravalli said this:
“I think change is on the horizon in Edmonton,” said Seravalli. “When you consider what is looming out there in other searches, I expect the Oilers to be very proactive and protective of Steve Staios. He is someone they value, and they have a thin staff as it is. The Oilers see Staios as their next general manager, and how quickly that happens will depend on a few things.
“If Micheal Andlauer is the successful bidder to purchase the Ottawa Senators, formerly the owner of the Hamilton Bulldogs where he found a lot of success with Staios, there will be a real pull to bring Staios with him as the next GM of the Senators. I think the Oilers want to get out in front of that.”
“I won’t be shocked, I’m not reporting this, just this is what the speculation has been behind the scenes, is that there is a possibility Ken Holland will be promoted to President of Hockey Operations and Steve Staios is promoted to general manager,” said Seravalli.
Wait, what? I was assured just yesterday that Oilers budgets were essentially limitless. Why then would they be thinly staffed?
I think they are staffed exactly the way Holland wants.
I remember reading that as well and thinking it makes sense.
Yup. That lines up perfectly with my understanding of his management method as well. He canvases opinions, listens to their reasoning, but reserves the right to make the final decisions. I think it is both his son & Staios that are driving the bus in terms of input at the moment but four years later I think he has the guys he wants in the positions he thinks they are best suited for.
It will be interesting to see who replaces Staios as his eyes on the OHL this fall.
Oilers sign Raphael Lavoie 1 year $874K…$70K in the minors.
Interesting that he took a $50K hair cut.
Far more interesting that he didn’t take a 1-way $775k deal. That extra 100k could work against him.
Is he waiver eligible?
You know the answer to that.
No I don’t.
Of course he knows the answer given it’s been written on here 100 times and he reads every post.
I know others disagree but, if he’s waived, he likely slides right through.
It’s a risk, sure, but more famous names than Raphael Lavoie slide thought at that time of year each and every year. If he gets waived, he’s a 23 year old, former second round pick with zero NHL games that got cut yet again.
All teams have a player like that.
That extra $100K is a real bummer.
Yeah, it seems that he effectively signed his QO now (5% more than his NHL salary from last season, and still base $70k AHL salary). I guess him getting a 2-way deal is a tell – he must not be penciled on the team like most of us have expected.
I agree that if he has a meh camp and fails to make the team he’s likely to slide through waivers though. He’s definitely not helping himself by taking $874 instead of $775 to play for the Oilers though.
I agree he slides throught waivers unless he really lights it up in TC. None of Friedman, Saveralli, or Johnson even bothered to report the signing.
That’s a tell, usually.
Ok, I’ll ask and risk the ridicule lol. Why is the $100K such a big deal exactly
The Oilers have little room. But you’re right, they could send Janmark to the minors and the problem goes away, so it isn’t the end of the world
Yup, Lavoie may have done himself a big disservice not signing for league min.
that $100K could highly likely make a difference and have him waived for a Pederson at $775K.
Odd strategy for Ralph.
Well that just screwed up my spreadsheet prognostications for the opening lineup. I would have bet money he would sign a one way for league minimum.
I don’t think you need to change the numbers on your spreadsheet, just a name or two.
Agree though, I also thought a 1-way league min deal was basically a guarantee.
Have to agree. It does come as a surprise though.
Jason Gregor
Lavoie is betting on himself. Takes $874K and feels he will play well enough to make Oilers, regardless of having an extra $100K in salary than league minimum. If they waive him then he believes he will get claimed.
I wish him luck – that extra $100,000 makes it harder though.
Not a game breaker for a rebuilding team that might pick him up on waivers.
Man I’d hate being you.
Yup, all of a sudden Lavoie is a target for teams to claim.
I’m sure this was an identical player on the Kings or Avs or Krakek the verbal would be different.
Truth be told, if Lavoie is exposed to waivers, teams would be looking at a 23 year old, former 2nd round pick, coming off a good (but not great for his age) AHL season, with zero NHL games who just got cut again.
Almost all teams have a player just like this and they aren’t going to cut that player to take on another team’s project.
Lets not forget all the famous names that slide through on the even of the season each and every season.
I would hate you being him as well. One is enough.
LT, the way to calculate expected +/- is to take the goal differential (+8) divided by all the goals for & against (160+152=312) and you get and “expected +/- per goal for or against” of .0256410256 which multiplied by the total goals on ice per player to get an expected total. Bourgault (62 goals, Expected +1.588) Lavoie (79, Expected +2.023)
I wasn’t trying to express expected plus minus.
Not exactly but it’s more accurate than splitting +8 by four. If you look at Bourgault vs Lavoie and their actual numbers vs team numbers you have Bourgault exceed expectations by 6.56 times to Lavoie’s 5.43 times showing his +12 is actually better than Lavoie’s +13.
I see your point. Thanks. I’ll have a lash and repost at a later date. Appreciate it (honestly).
https://www.nhlpa.com/news/1-22520/kailer-yamamoto-thrilled-with-the-opportunity-to-return-to-his-hockey-roots-in-seattle
Yamamoto on the transition to Seattle
Didn’t Yamamoto say that the Kraken have really good goaltending?
It would never happen, but man would it be nice if the Oilers-Knights-XXXX could do a 3-way trade to flip Lehner to Edmonton and Campbell to Team XXXX.
To EDM:
Lehner
To XXX:
Campbell
Vegas draft picks, prospects
To VGK:
Future considerations (ie, cap space)
Why would the Oilers do that?
I agree, Lehner is the modern day Bryzgalov, a nutbar. Campbell will rebound nicely next season.
Bryzgalov had a offbeat personality that was amusing to say the least. Lehner is just a wierdo.
Lehner’s contract is more manageable, whether the team decides to buy him out, LTIRetire him, or hold onto him for two years, which just so happens to be when Draisaitl will need his extension.
I don’t think the Oilers would want to buy him out or LTIRetire him – both very poor scenarios.
I think the Oilers want to give Jack Cambell the opportunity to perform this coming season – I do too.
Well yeah, I did begin the post with “It would never happen” – was just an idea I thought of.
Vegas would prefer keeping him since they can exceed the cap by his cap hit.
They actually need it or they need to shed salary and change the team
They aren’t winning again so
This isn’t quite true – there is no negative cap implications if they move Lehner without taking cap back – likely impossible to do, mind you.
And how is that of any advantage to Vegas?
Vegas is currently $1.4 million over the cap but with Lehner’s $5 million on LTIR they have $3.6 million to sign Brett Howden.
That is just an illusion. If he wasn’t there they would have the same amount.
So they wouldn’t currently be over the cap?
That’s right. They have about $3.5M as long as Lehner is on LTIR or not on the roster. Same either way.
Yup, they are over the cap with Lehner’s $5MM included but, if they put him on LTIR, will be permitted to go over the cap by a certain amount (depending on the cap situation and the time of placement).
If they traded Lehner without a contract coming back, they’d be under the cap by removing his $5MM.
Did team XXX just hire Mike Milbury?
Evander Kane
@evanderkane
Statement: Regarding my association with the Hockey Diversity Alliance (HDA) moving forward.
https://twitter.com/evanderkane/status/1679927780509913089?s=20
LT, I apologize in advance if this comment causes problems. But…
The “laughable” comments by the HDA sure aren’t helping their cause. They seem bitter the NHL did not give them the $1M instead of forming it’s own committee.
If diversity was truly their end-goal then they should be applauding this decision by the league and offering to work with them, no?
My issue with much of modern-day activism is that it seems so… ego-driven. And this just seems like another example. The HDA wants to be the face of inclusion activism in the NHL, and now that there is competition, they don’t like it. That’s what I took from their statement, anyway.
I dont share quite the same view, although i think i see where you’re coming from. You have an organization, created from members of the nhl (mostly), whom have felt unsupported by the nhl, then the nhl creates their own thing, despite the fact that nhl members are already part of this hda?
I can see where frustration might arise. But it also brings up questions one of these organizations, or both, is probably very difficult to work with. But who knows which.
Well, we can agree on that. The NHL/HDA partnership lasted a little over a month… but at the end of the day, it was the HDA that unilaterally decided to operate independently of the NHL. So do they really have the right to be angry that now the NHL is doing it’s own thing? They lowkey compared it to cultural appropriation in their response to the news (“The NHL’s players coalition’s mission statement does not echo the HDA’s goals so much as cynically attempt to appropriate them.”).
And the fact that one of the co-founders of the organization just publically stated he is dissociating them for being “combative” and “being led and influenced by members with individual agendas” is pretty damning.
And the HDA responded moments ago in yet another passive-aggressive tweet, saying essentially he has not proven himself to be worthy of re-joining the group or proven to be a good role model for young athletes, while lowkey shaming him for his bankruptcy.
Akim Aliu is a very angry young man.
As long as Aliu believes he is not in the NHL because of racism, instead of the fact he has no talent and is a toxic individual, he will continue to be angry. I wish the Player Inclusion Coalition all the best in the world and hope they do what they set out to do…..the HDA, not so much. Sorry if that ruffles any feathers.
So, Galchenyuk is a former 2012 draft pick and now seems to be in a troubled period in his life. He is also a former Leaf.
What are the odds he becomes an Oiler this summer?
Not a former Leaf, but I see De Angelo is about to hit the market. Imagine Bouchard gets dealt and the Oilers sign Tony D to run the powerplay. Barf.
A number of folks have mentioned they expect the Oilers to bring a 1RD by the deadline this season to upgrade on Ceci.
I’m not at all opposed to the idea but wonder who will be available. There may be some candidates, but there are no guarantees on who teams will be willing to trade and for what.
This past season there were 40 RD in addition to Ceci who played 20+ minutes a night (I guess 41 now with Deangelo being bought out). Ceci played 20:08, and I think 20+ minutes a night is a good starting point to look into players who might actually be upgrades.
Who are the 41 RD who played 20+ minutes?
Guys who are NOT coming to Edmonton (won’t be traded, won’t fit under the cap, won’t return):
Makar, Doughty, Fox, Jones, Pietrangelo, Larsson, Carlson, Ekblad, Burns, Seider, McAvoy, Hamilton, Trouba, Dobson
Likely/definitely not an upgrade:
Savard, Gudbranson, Peeke, Mayfield, Dumba, Deangelo, Jokiharju, Myers, Klingberg, Jensen, Zub, Holl
Unlikely:
Letang, Montour, Andersson, Faulk, Parayko, Petry, Spurgeon, Marino, Weegar, Pulock
Possible/conceivable:
Karlsson, Pesce, Pionk, Hronek, Tanev
This is obviously just my take, but there aren’t a lot of upgrades who look likely to be available. Of course, Ekholm didn’t look like he’d be available either.
Any additions to the list, or other input welcomed.
The Flames trio of RHD could be in play by the deadline; if Tanev is healthy, he would be an upgrade over Ceci, and we don’t have to worry about term. Andersson and Weegar also have term, but if the Falmes flame out early this season, we might see a fire sale occur.
There’s been some smoke around Parayko too.
Karlsson became a pipe dream once Ekholm and his cap hit were acquired.
Carlo is not on your list but should be if Bergeron retires, and Krejci goes back to Europe,
Carlo is a good addition, I missed him since he only played 18:50 last year.
Parayko is signed forever and his numbers are no better than Ceci’s (not to say he’s not an upgrade, but reason for pause).
Karlsson could only be an option at about half price. Grier pretty much has to get some assets for him at some point, but no idea how he’d ultimately go on retention.
The Calgary D are interesting for sure. Agree on Tanev. And Andersson is intriguing. At $4.5M he seems like a guy worth playing a premium for with a couple of years left after this one.
Are we sure Tanev is an upgrade on Ceci?
I mean, he’s only been above 50% in goal share vs. elites twice in his career and never in the last 5 seasons…..
Karlsson was a totally unrealistic pipe dream even before Ekholm was acquired.
I would think there is zero interest in 7 years of Parayko and, on that note, very little interest in the acquisition of any long term contract with substantial cap hit.
This team may already be turning in the Sharks in the medium term with so many vets signed to their mid-30s for big money. I’m cool with Nurse/Bouch/Ekholm anchoring the top 4 and Ceci holding the fort until Broberg is ready to fill it out (which could be this season).
Man, Spurgeon would look great on this team. I watched him quite a bit last year as I had him in my pool. A little undersized but a huge brain on the guy, just makes all the right plays and is in all the right places. Very smart player.
Would form a great pair with Nurse.
Yeah Spurgeon would be great, but $7.75M x 4 years left, and he turns 34 in November. Not easy to make that work.
So much of this depends upon how Bouchard & Broberg perform this season. I see a number of posters here slotting them into the top 4 with Ceci sliding down to play with Kulak. If that works there is no need to go after a 1RD. I think Holland has half the season to think about it before making his decision.
I have to admit that I am skeptical but that could just be the result of so many years of disappointment. The potential is there. They still have to prove it.
I’m not 100% sold that an upgrade at top 4RD will be needed.
I would consider Bouch the #1 right side d-man on this team (or will be in short order) but, either way, we know that Bouch and Ceci are the top 2 right side – there is a chance that Broberg works his way in to that conversation but I think the coaching staff will take a bit of time on that.
Ceci/Barrie as the top 2 right D took this team to the conference finals and I would suggest that Nurse/Ceci + Ekholm/Bouchard is MATERIALLY better than the 2nd pair of Keith/Barrie.
I am quite looking forward to seeing what type of bounce-back season Ceci has with, presumed, full groin health to start
Of course, its a definite possibility that that Bouch/Ceci could be upgraded on (along with Broberg not being ready or not given the opportunity).
Will be very interesting to see where they spend their deadline bullets.
Woodcroft and Manson don’t have time. McDraivid’s contracts are tick tocking away. They cannot take their sweet time to run Broberg on the right side in the top 4 to see what they have. You have got to take the bubble wrap off the Ferrari and race the damn thing. There is no downside, because that Ceci beater will still be in the garage. The beater will get the Oilers around the track to the finish line, but not in first. Try the Ferrari.
Start as one hopesto proceed. Start as necessity demands one proceeds.
I don’t imagine that Woodcroft and Manson give the term left on McDavid and Drai’s contracts even a second of thought when deploying their lineup.
Given the last stretch of Oilers’ games had Broberg as a clear #7 deployment wise, it seems highly unlikely he is going straight to 18 minutes of 5 on 5 with 30% plus TOI vs. elites (unless there are injuries pushing him up).
I think realism would have us think that he’d get eased in with the real 3rd line every night deployment – settle in with legit minutes but lower leverage, until the opportunity comes to move up.
Shit, we can’t even be nearly sure that they play Broberg over Vinny on game 1.
They lost to Vegas. Those who fail to learn from history…
The best chance for the cap=strapped Oilers to improve their defence and the team overall for the minimal cost is Broberg-on-the-fast-track. It is draft+5. What do you got kid?
Broberg might be a legit top 4 on an ELC by the trade deadline IF YOU COMMIT TO PLAYING HIM. Broberg is the single most important player that the Oilers have to find out about quickly.
Yes it might fail, but then you have Ceci to fall back on, or a trade. And then you know.
You don’t need to emphasize that sentence for me – I was posting about Broberg needing to play every night last off-season.
I’m also not the one that clearly had more trust in Vincent Deharnais 6-7 weeks ago.
I’m just being reasonable about what the coaching staff is likely to do based on history.
I agree with that.
It was Ceci and Bouchard who were the top 2 RD on the conference finals run, but there’s no question this years version looks to be considerably improved with Ekholm added and Bouchard (by playoff time) 2 years older.
I think that Ceci being better (back to 2022 levels) and the lack of easy options make no 1RD acquisition the most likely outcome.
I still wanted to look at what might reasonably available though, since it’s been a topic of conversation, and in case it’s needed.
Groin health is a very important thing… 🙂
That Hronek trade was a real head scratcher… Does anyone know why Yzerman traded him?
Yzerman wanted the draft picks that fit better with their rebuild.
They got RHD Axel Sandin-Pellika with the first round pick.
Yzerman doesn’t look nearly as clever without Al Murray.
The Wings rebuild looks like a failure. Seider and Larkin aren’t enough pieces.
Their rebuild is all over the map.
DeBrincat is likely an excellent get but then they signed 28 year old JT Compher to a 5 year deal. He’s a very good player but hardly fits the age group.
The most puzzling acquisition is of course Ben Chiariot…who knows what they were thinking there.
I think owners pressure GM’s and then you get weirdness. It’s certainly happened in Edmonton.
perhaps they’d be better off now if they had kept Holland
I was going to agree with you, but his numbers have not been as good as I thought. Time will tell I guess whether Yzerman sold low or sold high on Hronek. A 1st and 2nd seems like a fair return as far as I can tell.
Curious why you think he’s “possible/conceivable?”
Vancouver just paid a fortune for him. Their right d depth chart isn’t great. Why would they trade him?
He only has a year left on his contract, then he’s an RFA with arb rights due for a big raise.
I guess we could Athanasiou him, but I don’t know how he would fit in our cap structure next season.
I think I just asked and answered.
I guess if Vancouver doesn’t like what the first number on his next contract will look like, they could flip him at the deadline for a 1st.
They could do that but remember Tyler Myers $6 million comes off the cap so the cap space will be available.
Yeah I think it was just a mistake putting his name there. Agree he should be on the ‘unlikely’ list.
Though it didn’t take Vancouver long to change their mind on OEL, and eat $23M or whatever in the process.
Hey JP
They have chosen their top 3 D. I don’t agree with how they are proceeding. They are prioritizing keeping mediocre players (should be easily replaced) over attempting to sign Bouchard for maximum future value
It really isn’t that hard to fill out the rest. It’s just the over conservative way Holland proceeds. His son even said he got burnt once or something and won’t take risk as much
I don’t know where the sticking point really lies, but there is a block somewhere in modernizing things
It’s a business, and most try to emulate the best. To maximize success and revenue. Our Oilers seem mired in some sort of malaise despite having the world’s best player on her top talent and top 10 revenue
I don’t know what to say to you honestly. You say it’s not that hard, but I just don’t agree.
There’s no question Bouchard would be cheaper in 3 or 4 years if he signed a long term deal. More expensive now though. At least 1, and probably 2 of Foegele, Kulak and Ceci would have to go. You can’t just ‘easily replace’ them for $1M, it doesn’t work that way.
I’m not sure what you’re referencing with his son. I assume it’s something from the DNB interview? We could go back and find the article but I guess we’d probably still disagree after re-reading it. I recall Brad saying something to the effect that he’s naturally more aggressive than his father but has learned the value of patience and a lot of other things from him.
They have chosen their top 3 D. I don’t agree with how they are proceeding. They are prioritizing keeping mediocre players (should be easily replaced) over attempting to sign Bouchard for maximum future value
Signing Bouchard for maximum future value reduces cap space for next season – end stop.
There current contracts are the current contract and, to sign Bouchard to maximize future value means a “mediocre player” has to go and be replaced be a lesser player – end stop.
Sure, I guess Holland could replace Foegele with Max Comtois but he’s risking “wasting another year of McDavid and Drai” as many like to say by making the 2023/24 team worse no?
Philadelphia Flyers Waive Tony DeAngelo For Purposes Of Buyout
Teams just shedding assholes this week.
Interesting – I thought there was a deal in place with Carolina and the hold up was, essentially, that you can’t trade a player and then re-acquire the player on the same contract with salary being retained for a calendar year which, in DeAngelo’s case would have been mid-July at some point I think.
It appears that deal wasn’t solidified (or the Canes must have “changed their mind”) in the interim.
Will be interesting to see if the Canes sign him.
The title of this article made me think of this classic (well, maybe that’s a stretch) from Black Sabbath’s Born Again. Tipper Gore absolutely hated this song. hahahaha
“The crowd was roaring I was at Brands Hatch in my imagination
At the Canal turn I hit an oily patch – inebriation
I knew I wouldn’t make it the car just couldn’t take it … ”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udsNiFV14qo
New for The Athletic: Oilers’ baffling 2016 draft takes another hit
https://theathletic.com/4686110/2023/07/14/oilers-nhl-draft-tyler-benson/