The Edmonton Oilers announced this morning that Jeff Jackson has been named the new Oilers CEO of Hockey Operations. Tweet is here. Coverage will be heavy at The Athletic today, I will post links as the stories roll in. The key takeaway, and there are many angles to this story, is the fact Daryl Katz has hired an individual well versed across the hockey spectrum.
I’ve been calling for an analytics hire for years, and Brad Holland represented a big step forward. Jeff Jackson is key not because he’ll spend days and nights counting zone starts and entries, but because he will listen to what the anayltics people are saying.
I still think this club needs one or two communicators to make this work. I’ve mentioned hiring the Puck IQ guys (all are very articulate and intelligent) and have also mentioned Bob Stauffer as an option. All would be sensational additions.
The key is always the top. Daryl Katz has always spent to the cap, and this hire has the feel a new dawn, a new day, a new life. Helluva day.
Jackson's title suggests Bob Nicholson may not be in the same role and with Ken Holland in his final year, Jackson well versed in all aspects of the game, we may see true innovation at the GM level. Hold back your water on parade plans, but this hire has an analytics wrinkle.
DNB: 10 questions with director of amateur scouting Tyler Wright
POTENTIALPTO’S
People don’t remember PTO’s, only hockey players. Alex Chiasson was a PTO, Devin Shore too. There are some useful players available in free agency as August appears. Will the Oilers invite some veterans? I bet there will be more than one.
The best RHD available at an inexpensive price is Ethan Bear. You’d have to wait for his injury to heal, and someone will offer him a more substantial contract than Edmonton (it would be $775,000). Bear could help in the playoffs next spring. That’s what matters.
RHD Cal Foote is still out there, his underlying numbers aren’t great and I think the Oilers are committed to Vincent Desharnais in the 6-7 role. He would be a great PTO, I don’t think he’s better than the Oilers top 7.
LD Alex Edler is a player I’ve always like, wonder if Holland considers him, or if there’s a contract out there from another team.
LD Caleb Jones is still out there. Surprising. He has wheels and can play. I bet he gets an NHL contract here soon.
LD Max Gildon signed in Germany. I liked him in Bakersfield, he was an impact player in 2020-21, less so this past season. The signings of Gleason, Hoefenmayer and Dineen shut the door on the LH side.
Zack Kassian is out there and is known to the Oilers management and players.
Jesse Puljujarvi is a player I would sign.
Anders Bjork is a two-way winger who has value.
I’m assuming Tyler Motte, Colin White, Derek Grant, Danton Heinen, Noah Gregor, Zach Acton-Reese, Mason Shaw and others sign NHL deals.
Alex Chiasson, Kris Versteeg, Devin Shore, Jason Demers, Jake Virtanen, Colton Sceviour, Chris Kelly, Scottie Upshall, Jason Garrison, Ryan Stanton, Blair Riley (AHL). A quick look through my back pages on this blog produced this list. I’m not claiming it is all-encompassing, but over (say) 14 years that’s almost a dozen names.
I remember Esa Tikkanen signed one September 3, 1999, one of my favourite all-time Oilers I wanted him to make the team. That would have been fab. Here is the 1999 training camp roster and some notes.
#1-Kristian Antila: Finn didn’t have much of a pro career in North America.
#5-Tom Poti: He had marvelous skill but holes in his game.
#7-Esa Tikkanen: Finishing up his wonderful NHL career, the Oilers gave an invite to the legendary Finn. He’d be in Finland for 99-00 playing a final season for Jokerit in the SM-LIIGA, but did play in the World Championships.
#8-Frank Musil: He missed entire 1999-2000 season recovering from spinal cord injury in training camp, October 2, 1999.
#9-Bill Guerin: 99-00 was his final full season with the Oilers. Guerin has played very well this decade for numerous clubs, and this season passed the 1,000 NHL games mark.
#10-Pat Falloon: The Oilers signed him as a free agent the previous summer (1998) and he scored 17 goals. In 99-00, he played 33 regular season games before Pittsburgh claimed him on waivers. This was his final season in the NHL, a disappointing career for the 2nd overall pick in 1991 (575 career NHL games).
#12-Eric Houde: He had a decent pre-season in 99-00 (1-2-3), but was sent down to the AHL and never played in the NHL for the Oilers (or anyone else. He played 30 games for the Habs 96-99).
#14-Vladimir Vorobiev: On March 23, 1999 the Oilers dealt RW Kevin Brown to NYR for Vorobiev who had a nice season for the Rangers AHL club. He scored two goals in two games for the Oilers after coming over. He was sent to the AHL in fall 1999 and was playing in the IHL by the end of the 99-00 season.
#15-Chad Kilger: He was coming off a solid season in 98-99, but struggled badly and would end up being dealt in 2000. Kilger had a pretty good career as a role player.
#17-Rem Murray: In August 1999 Rem avoided arbitration by signing a 1-year, $825,000 deal. It would be a tough year for him, as on November 4th the Oilers placed him on the injured reserve list with a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee. Raymond Joseph would be good as new the following season, and had a nice NHL career.
#18-Ethan Moreau: Ethan wore numbers 40 and 19 with the Hawks, but settled in with #18 as an Oiler.
#19-Boyd Devereaux: He scored 3 goals in pre-season and then went out and had his best season in terms of points (27), a number he has not surpassed during the ensuing 8 years.
#20-Josef Beranek: The Oilers had high hopes for Beranek on his second tour of duty with them, but he had a poor season and was dealt at the deadline for German Titov. He finished his NHL career with 531 career games.
#21-Jason Smith: On March 23, 1999, the Oilers made a terrific hockey trade. Giving up only a 4th rder and a 2nd rder, they got a quality NHL defender spring 1999-spring 2007.
#22-Roman Hamrlik: This would be the final season with EDM for Hamrlik, who paired with Poti in 99-00 to form a solid combination. He had a fine offensive season.
#23-Sean Brown: Just 23 years old, Brown was still finding his way as an NHL player in 99-00. He never did get that top 4D role on the Oilers and was sent away at the deadline in 2002.
#24-Christian Laflamme: I always have a good feeling about this player because he got the Oilers Igor Ulanov on March 9, 2000.
#25-Mike Grier: The big man spent much of his Oiler career following 20-goal seasons with 9-goal seasons, and in 99-00 it was time for 9 goals. One of the players I miss the most from that late 90s/early 00’s teams.
#26-Todd Marchant: Future Stanley Cup winner was already a young veteran who could be counted on by 99-00 (which was his 5th full NHL season).
#27-Georges Laraque: This would be his first full NHL season, as BG had been on the EDM-HAM flight the two previous seasons. Had a nice NHL career as an enforcer.
#28-Alexei Selivanov: He would score 27 goals for the Oilers in 99-00, but in June 2000 the Oilers would not qualify him because they didn’t feel he was consistent enough to have earned a 10% pay increase from the 1.7M he earned in 99-00. He spent a season with Columbus and then passed out of the NHL with 459 career games (121 goals).
#29-Bert Robertsson: I believe he was the last forward/defenseman the Oilers employed (I’m not counting Staios) before the beloved Toby Petersen.
#30-Bill Ranford: On August 4th, 1999, the Oilers signed Ranford as a free agent with the idea that he’d backup Tommy Gun. He played in 16 games, had a SP of .885 and went 4-6-3. He had a very long NHL career, 647 games and of course backstopped the Oilers to their 1990 Stanley. He officially retired April 24, 2000.
#31-Eric Heffler: He had a nice season in the AHL in 99-00 as a first year pro, outplaying Mike Minard (Heffler played in 47 games and had a SP of .910. However, he didn’t build on it and was coaching for Princeton(NCAA) by 2002-03.
#32-Mike Minard: He was drafted by the Oilers in 1995 and made his NHL debut in 99-00, playing in his only game and winning it. From there he signed as a minor league free agent with the Leafs and had a couple of nice seasons in the minors and this past season he played for the Belfast Giants.
#33-Dan Lacouture: He scored a goal in pre-season 99-00 and scored 23 goals in the minors. He also got a 5 game cup of coffee with the Oilers near the end of the season because of injuries to Mike Grier (torn triceps muscle), German Titov (biceps), Todd Marchant (ankle), Bill Guerin (hip) and Georges Laraque (knee).
#34-Jim Dowd: Lordy I miss Jim Dowd. One of the reasons I’m doing this is a discussion we had the other day about that 4th line on this team. Dowd was the center and a beauty, the Oilers lost him the same day they lost Robertsson in the expansion draft.
#35-Tommy Salo: Tommy Gun played in 70 games, going 27-28-13 with the Oilers. He boasted a .914SP that season, the best of his career. He played 526 NHL games.
#36-Sean Selmser: Right winger was a Red Deer Rebel in the early 90s, but came to the Oilers out of the IHL. He had over 200pims in a season 4 times in his minor league career, and played 1 NHL game for Columbus in 00-01.
#37-Brian Swanson: On August 20, 1999, the Oilers would sign him to a pro contract. Swanson would go to Hamilton after training camp and have a terrific season centering the top scoring line with Daniel Cleary on RW and Michel Riesen on LW. Two rarities: Both wingers played the off-wing, and all three came to the NHL as a line in fall 2000. The line lasted one dozen games. Swanson played 70 NHL games, all but two with the Oilers.
#38-Michael Henrich: The Oilers would send him to junior after taking a fairly long look at him (he was sent out a few days after the first big round of cuts, after he was cut the roster stood at 36 and they would send out only 2 more RWs), but that probably represented the high water mark of his pro career.
#39-Doug Weight: He was coming off an injury plagued season and was on his way to a 90-point season (second best of his career). Weight won a Stanley after leaving in summer 2001.
#40-Daniel Cleary: Considering how often he was called up and sent down in 99-00, his AHL season (74 points in 58 games) is even more impressive.
#41-Jason Chimera: Chimera was sent out on September 15, 1999. He scored a goal in pre-season and then began his pro career in Hamilton, scoring 15 goals for the Bulldogs. It was his first of three full seasons in the AHL before grabbing a job at age 23. Long, long NHL career.
#42-Peter Sarno: He didn’t get a long look, as he was among 33 players cut on September 12, 1999. Sarno would spend three seasons in the AHL before heading to Finland for a year. When he came back to North America, at age 24, he got a cup of coffee in the NHL.
#44-Janne Niinimaa: He was about to begin his second full season as an Oiler. A fine player.
#45-Chad Hinz: Hinz was sent out the same day as Sarno, but didn’t stick in the AHL. He was forced down the depth chart all the way to the ECHL in 99-00. He did play for 4 full seasons in the AHL and was called up due to injury but never played in the NHL. Hinz played a few games in the Central League this past season.
#46-Alexei Semenov: He was sent back to junior on September 12, 1999 and had a big year. When it was over, he made his pro debut in the playoffs for Hamilton. Semenov made the big club during 02-03 but never established himself as a physcial presence in the NHL. He was traded and then sent down to the AHL, eventually landing in the RSL.
#47-Mathieu Descoteaux: One of the last defenders cut in fall 1999, he was sent to Montreal in the Ulanov deal. He played in 5 NHL games, all with Montreal.
#48-Mike Gaffney: He was assigned to Hamilton on September 12, but the big defender ended up in Finland in 99-00 (Both Tikkanen and Antila met the same fate).
#49-Chris Hajt: He had played one AHL season by the summer of 1999 and was pretty well thought of in the organization. Hajt was a later cut (September 20) and there were only two D cuts after him (Todd Reirden was claimed by St. Louis September 30 and they sent Brad Norton down early October) that fall and would end up playing 6 NHL games (1 with Edmonton).
#50-Brent Bilodeau: Big defenseman was a 1st rder for Montreal in 1991 but never made the NHL. The Oilers actually released him on September 12, 1999 and he ended up playing in the ECHL that season.
#51-Ian Perkins: Huge goalie from Wainwright was fresh out of college (U of Alaska-Fairbanks) in fall 1999 and was sent to Hamilton on September 12. He played in the AHL, ECHL and Central League that season.
#52-Curtis Sanford: The Oilers sent him back to junior on September 12, 1999 and he signed as a free agent with St. Louis October 9, 2000. Sanford eventually found his way to the NHL.
#53-Brandon Lafrance: Oilers 7th rd pick in 1996, he was assigned to Hamilton September 12th and really never played in pro hockey (52 ECHL games, 3 in the Central League, all in 99-00).
#54-Alexander Zhurik: A 7th rd pick in 1993 for the Oilers, this defender was born in Minsk (you do know the Bobby Hull Minsk joke, right?). He played three full AHL seasons in the mid-90s and then went back to Russia for a season before the 1999 camp. He was sent down on September 12 and returned to Russia. Zhurik played for Belarus in the 1998 and 2002 Olympics.
#55-Tamas Groschl: Born in Budapest, he was a 1999 draft who was taken June 26, 1999 and went to camp a few weeks later. Apparently. Because although he is listed on the training camp roster, I can’t find what they did with him. Or to him.
#56-Brad Norton: A 1993 draft, he was so close to making the Oilers two seasons in a row. He was sent to Hamilton on October 1, 1999 and then the following year he actually made the roster but didn’t play because he was serving a suspension picked up in pre-season. Finally, he was signed as a free agent by Florida in the summer of 2001.
#57-Sergei Yerkovich: Big defender was a pretty high pick (3rd rd, 1997) for the Oilers and actually was around until September 13, 1999. After they cut him the Oilers roster was down to 33. Yerkovich played the 99-00 season in the AHL and then returned to Russia.
#58-Jonathan Fauteux: Drafted in the 5th rd in 1999, he was in camp a few weeks later. He was returned to junior September 12 and ended up having an extremely short pro career.
#59-Trevor Ettinger: 6th rd pick by the Oilers in 1998, he was sent back to junior September 12. Like Fauteux, he had a very short pro career.
60-Christian Chartier: A somewhat famous prospect because the Oilers couldn’t get him signed and so ended up signing Marc Andre Bergeron instead. Chartier was a 1999 pick (7th rd) who was sent to junior September 12, 1999. On June 6, 2001 the Toronto Maple Leafs signed Chartier and he has yet to play a game for them. A few days earlier, the Oilers had signed the undrafted Bergeron to an entry level deal.
he also won gold for Canada at the World Jrs in 1985
their 3rd leading scorer behind Brian Bradley and big Adam Creighton
Bag of Pucks
August 3, 2023 4:46 pm
Listening to the Jays’ postgame today and it sounds like TO’s hitting coach is every bit the lightning rod that the Oilers’ goalie coach is.
Bag of Pucks
August 3, 2023 4:25 pm
Blue Jays this season are a fascinating case from an analytics perspective.
On paper they are one of the most talented teams in baseball with depth at every position. But they have numerous players hitting below their career average and are one of the worst teams in baseball with the ‘clutch’ metric, RISP.
Math says this team should regress to the meat and contend for the division lead. But the eyes say this team lacks plate discipline and their pitch selection is a glaring weakness. Will be interesting to see how this plays out down the stretch. I’m hoping math wins the day!
You should be pitching hard for being part of that team. LT likes to talk about balance regarding the Oilers and I’m a big believer in that regarding life in general. I think you would bring that in spades to an analytics department.
OriginalPouzar
August 3, 2023 2:17 pm
Holland opened with a joke (remember the “I made a joke”?) – talking about his relationship with Jeff Jackson and mentioned that a few years ago Jackson was trying to get Bouch more ice time – Holland mentions “you were right, we should have sped that up”.
Tippett deserved to get fired he stunted Bouchard growth by a year and half. I know your going to say but Bear was just to dynamic to platoon him with Bouchard
OriginalPouzar
August 3, 2023 2:15 pm
Holland says that they aren’t that far apart on Bouch but Gagner is at the Hlinka so they’ll talk next week.
winchester
August 3, 2023 1:53 pm
I wonder how Kassian would perform on a 1 year deal? The old Kassian returns? Full effort, very likable in the room, defensive specialist? Or the new Kassian trying to milk another 785k out of his hockey career?
Id like to add a physical player who can keep some miles off our core players. Usually this is a younger, out to prove himself type.
Maybe Katz wouldn’t mind spending a few dollars on Kassian if we could get at least one good beating in on Petriangelo?
Maybe not crazier. But not my task, just for fun. I always liked Kassian and what he did when he was engaged. (Oilers needed some respect, they were being run out of buildings) Plus he could skate and contribute at one point before substantially fading.
truthfully, I doubt Kassian could help Oilers this coming season.
However, I do think they could use a large physical winger, a Kostin for example. They don’t have much for bangers, and this role on the team could be bolstered. Not by a fighter, but by a tough as nails two way winger.
Kassian is not a defensive specialist though. He got worked on the wall in his own zone and turned the puck over when there was no pressure repeatedly.
I wonder how Kassian would perform on a 1 year deal? The old Kassian returns? Full effort, very likable in the room, defensive specialist? Or the new Kassian trying to milk another 785k out of his hockey career?
Kassian had 2 goals and 0 assists in his last 51 games for Arizona. -18.
0.26 points per hour. #413/413 forwards who played over 400 minutes at 5v5 last season.
Bag of Pucks
August 3, 2023 11:38 am
“Jesse Puljujarvi is a player I would sign.”
The problem with this of course is the message this sends to your roster and the impact it has on culture.
Puljujarvi’s performance and production trended downward to the point where his trade value was nil. Culturally, the player was an ongoing distraction with fluency issues that inhibited his ability to improve and integrate within the organization. Through it all, he remained convinced he was an Aho linemate away from being a legit 1W. How did that turn out?
Bring JP back and you’re basically telling your culture that familiarity trumps production.
If I ask myself the question, “What would VGK do?” I don’t see that performance centric franchise embracing sentimental reunions to add dead cap offering minimal ROI.
Have to agree with this. For different reasons I would say the same about Bear. He played a lot of 1st pair minutes when he was here and that ship has sailed. And there was baggage around his departure that was none of his fault but baggage nonetheless.
More intriguing to me is the information Jackson arrives with concerning relations between players and other teams that might offer opportunity.
$3M is a tradeable cap hit. Puljujarvi’s trade value was nil because his production relative to his cap hit was poor. If Jesse played better last season, there would have been plenty of suitors at the deadline. Instead Holland had to call in a favour from Waddell.
Yeah obviously it was his play relative to the cap hit. I disagree that it sends a bad message to bring him back at league minimum, because it’s not like he was so horrible as to be unplayable. I wouldn’t do it, for the record, but it’s not a team-culture destroying move.
Holland’s Oilers are in the finishing moves phase of the build now. Improvement will be incremental and largely internal now. Small mistakes are costly at this stage because of how tight they are to the cap. Puljujarvi at league minimum would be a small mistake but a mistake nonetheless. Both parties have the clean slate they wanted.
I also firmy believe the core doesn’t want this player back. He was frustrating to play with.
Just for shits & gigs, the Oilers should run out a line of lottery pick busts at their next alumni event: Bonsignore, Yakupov, Puljujarvi. A line that puts fear into the hearts of absolutely nobody.
We were all screaming Halkirk finest Doan Doan Doan. The Kelly pick hurt bad if you’ve ever been to the Hamlet of Halkirk and the surrounding area you’ll understand how working and playing hard is in their DNA.
There’s baggage but I’d call Bear a different case and a hell of a depth piece at league minimum.
Last edited 1 year ago by MushedPeas
Chelios is a Dinosaur
August 3, 2023 11:31 am
With respect to the new hire, sort of, in a roundabout way, I have been really impressed with 97s maturation. Talking to the press recently, he described how growth will come internally, and compared his team by using detail and nuance about how Vegas is structured. Discussing opposing teams’ fringe players with respect and knowledge. This doesn’t happen in public often. I’m dumbfounded by people who think he has “no personality”, and suspect this comes from people who equate hooting and hollering with having a one. These people are probably not much fun themselves. Loud is not a personality. He has a subtle, observant nature to him.
For many years I have said that 97 will stay because he understands himself in the longe dureé of hockey lore. He doesn’t want to hang out with Justin Bieber* (or if he does, he isn’t defined by that impulse, unlike the Pop Stars in Toronto) he wants to hang out with Maurice Richard, in eternity. You do that, and he knows it, by winning with a legacy franchise and bringing the cup to Canada after 30+ years. He knows he would be catapulted to Mt Rushmore in ways that winning one or two in Florida or Dallas couldn’t.
Amazingly, he had to resurrect the franchise first. He had to pull the Oilers out of bed, slap them in the face and say, “Pull yourself together, man! You’re a legacy franchise!“ This was the first Herculean task. That look on iOS face on draft day wasn’t saying, “oh god how am I going to get out of this” as much as Yonge Street wanted that to be the case. increasingly I suspect that was him coming to terms of the enormity of the task.
Now having avenged the rival squad in humiliating and perhaps irreversible fashion, the Oilers, resurrected, can follow him to glory.
I thought so long as McDavid was left to write this story, he would be going nowhere. Kudos to management for handing him the narrative.
* Alphonso Davies is a way cooler celeb fan anyway.
The choke penalty kick cost them the tournament just like fossil Sinclair miss.
Jaxon
August 3, 2023 11:18 am
I know Hall was considered the draft lottery good luck charm, but he’s also possibly played with the most #1 overall picks, including himself:
Hall, Nugent-Hopkins, Yakupov, McDavid, Hischier, Hughes, Dahlin, and now Bedard.
Eight. That’s pretty incredible, no? I don’t think many players (besides the Oilers 4) have played with 4 including themselves.
In Taylor Hall’s 13 seasons playing his team has drafted 1st overall 5 times, made the playoffs 5 times and drafted 7th, 3rd and 4th in the other three. This season he made the playoffs and ended up on the team with the number one pick anyways. Yeah, it’s pretty incredible.
He just missed being a Sabre when they won the lottery when Powers was picked. Although you could consider him a part of what got them the record to win the lottery. If Patrick Kane goes back to Chicago (highly unlikely) it would add another he plays with.
maudite
August 3, 2023 11:08 am
Alex turcotte
LHC/LW – 22 yrs – 5’11″/185 lbs – NA
**Nolan Patrick
RHC/RW – 24 yrs -6’2″/201 lbs – FO%51
Noah Gregor
LW/”LHC”- 25 yrs – 6’0″/190 lbs -FO%30
If they can swing any of these, near league min, I’d hope they jump on it. PTO – even better. I’m way higher on Patrick than Puj return type gamble.
I don’t think Turcotte is available, is he? If he was, I’d definitely try to sign him, but I think he’s still an RFA. But I’d give Patrick a league minimum or a PTO. I’d also look at making Serron Noel into a reclamation project with a league min. contract or PTO. His upside could be huge.
Thanks for that. I updated for unsigned on query he still showed…for some reason.
Yeah, I couldn’t find anything definitive on Patrick wasn’t sure. But if he happened to still be considering another go that’s at least a pto worth try IMO.
Not sure why Gregor floating about but he sure did seem like he noticably enjoyed playing at rexall…home tour attempting to solidify career probably decent option to consider. Worse places to be in the AHL than California, (even if the rest of California thinks Bakersfield is worst place in california)
Danton Heinen almost included but imagine he’ll get a million somewhere and LW isn’t overly worth much more investment of all positions.
Main gist I was going for was if aiming no higher than kassian or retread of puj (i cant possibly see him signing here over even 2nd tier finnish league) I’m okay standing pat.
Last edited 1 year ago by maudite
Jaxon
August 3, 2023 11:03 am
Blue skying, but I’d like to hear opinions on this. If there were 2 prairie-born players who wanted to come to Edmonton for 1 year to take a run at a Cup, what would you do to get them here?
Matt Dumba – Saskatchewan-born, Alberta-raised, has made $40 million already. Could use a change of scenery. Played for Red Deer in junior. Would know Nurse and Kulak from junior. With the stagnant cap going up next year, a year on a Cup contender and then going back to free agency next summer might be the best bet. Would he sign for $2M?
Jonathan Toews – similarly, he’s a prairie kid who’s won 3 Cups, a Conn Smythe, and a Selke. He’d be a perfect 3C/PK specialist. Great on the dot. One of the greatest leaders of all time. He’s made $125M in his career so not really in need of money. Edmonton would be a great spot for him to take a last run for a Cup and possibly revive his career after a tough couple of years with health issues on a bottom feeder. Would he sign for $1M?
If they’d sign for $3M, and Bouchard comes in at $3,933,375 or less, what would you be willing to give up to get them?
Kulak’s $2.75M? Would you have to sweeten that deal to unload his contract? Like send a 3rd and get back a 5th?
Foegele’s $2.75M? Would you have to sweeten that deal to unload his contract? Like send a 3rd and get back a 5th?
Possible roster with Foegele traded away, and Toews and Dumba signed:
Kane / McDavid / Brown
Nugent-Hopkins / Draisaitl / Hyman
Janmark / Toews / Ryan
Holloway / McLeod / Lavoie
I would prefer to lose Foegele over Kulak, but if they really believe in Broberg, maybe Kulak is the one to go. Foegele and Kulak both played well in the playoffs, yet I think the addition of Dumba on the blueline puts Edmonton’s D over the top.
Thoughts?
Of note, the Oilers have really gone back to the 2012 draft well for players. 5 of the top 15 picks have been Oilers at some point: 1. Yakupov (pick), 2. Murray, 4. Reinhart, 7. Dumba (hopefully), 10. Koekkoek, 15. Ceci, 37. Aberg, 61. Shore, 63. Khaira (pick), 91. Zharkov (pick), 93. Gustafsson (pick), 105. Kulak, 123. LaLeggia (pick), 131. Griffith, 153. McCarron (pick), 156. Brown, 175. Benning.
You’d have to pretty confident in Toews health IMO, his stats were pretty poor last season with the exception of faceoffs. Of course, they can probably fit Toews in at $1M without making any other trades.
The Dumba idea is interesting, but it does effectively block Broberg from getting the ice time he needs and deserves. And it comes at a cost of Foegele + 3rd, Foegele was a key part of Edmonton’s outscoring bottom-6 last year and will be counted on to do the same again this year. So you’re giving up forward depth for defensive depth.
Also I think Dumba is a 2nd pairing guy at this point, not sure he’d be an improvement over Ceci on the first pairing.
Chelios is a Dinosaur
August 3, 2023 10:58 am
Oilers looking good for next year but also the next 10.
Harpers Hair
August 3, 2023 10:48 am
The Jackson hire is very reminiscent of the Mike Gillis situation in Vancouver.
Both former NHL players, both getting law degrees and both former player agents who then moved into management.
Gillis was a very player-focused, innovative manager and quite likely Jackson has a similar mindset.
Good point. I’d suggest that’s a positive sign for the club in that it reflects a cohesive group. There’s also no way this happens without 97’s knowledge/sign off, so very reasonable to think this improves resigning chances in Edm.
Wow great idea, the Oilers should hire a strong commutator to champion analytics in the organization. Someone like a a radio host with strong communication skills, someone who has long believed in the value of analytics, someone who knows the best minds in the market and what their work means. Someone, unlike Bob, who is need of a new gig? Anyone come to mind?
I think it will help with Bouchard’s current and future negotiations as well, given he worked at the same agency as Dave Gagner.
OriginalPouzar
August 3, 2023 10:00 am
I could see the Oilers bringing Kassian in on a PTO but not really as legit competition for 12F or a contract but (a) as they will need bodies to fill the “veteran min” in the 8 exhibition games (remember how many games Virtanen played last year) and (b) to give the guy a place to skate in order to show he has value to another NHL org.
Right or wrong, there’s too many “too minutes for just having kassian on jersey” memories. I think that play-in loss series against Chicago was almost straw that broke camels back as far as playing hi style went.
End of Kate’s contract might be similar record if he doesn’t recover goal scoring touch….
To be clear, I have absolutely zero desire to sign Kassian to a contract or have him anywhere near the team roster for the season.
This is clearly an exhibition season thought:
1) The team is playing like 8 exhibition games again and they have to have a certain amount of “vets and 1st round picks” in the lineup – this would be a player to play 4-5-6 games and help those numbers as we know McDavid/Drai/Ekholm/Nurse will play like 2 each.
2) Gives the player a place to skate to try and prove he’s worth a contract to another org – simply a favor to a guy that gave some years to the org and was a good pro as an Oiler (even though he was not a good hockey player, in my opinion, for the last number of years).
I don’t see it happening and I don’t even really want it to but its something that popped in that I could see happening.
I personally don’t think the Oilers are in the market for a d-man to join the NHL roster – I mean, unless they want to bump Vinny back to the AHL (Borberg is not going to the AHL), right?
I could definitely see a league min (or so) signing or PTO at forward to compete with Lavoie and Pederson as 12F.
I would think the org is planning on Lavoie at that spot but Stauffer has had Lavoie in the AHL all summer long and continues to think so.
The way I see it depth throughout the roster would be valuable. So, adding another D man, especially if he’s a RHD and an RHC would prove invaluable. Depth being the operative word. Unfortunately, injuries commonly occur.
Sure, if the plan is for this depth d-man to be waived and assigned, right?
There isn’t room for additional depth at D on the active roster.
cowboy bill
August 3, 2023 9:55 am
I know very little about Jeff Jackson except he is a player’s agent. So, I trust this is a good move. As far as the PTO’s coming to camp, I would say NO to any ex-Oilers, the left side of the D is solid, so NO to Alex Edler. Cal Foote & Anders Bjork would be intriguing, along with any of those players you are assuming will sign an NHL deal elsewhere. That’s my take anyway, whether you want it or not.
Last edited 1 year ago by cowboy bill
judgedrude
August 3, 2023 9:55 am
Weight won a Stanley after leaving in summer 2001.
I have to say, it still hurts and I look to McDrai hoisting the Cup to ease the pain.
LMHF#1
August 3, 2023 9:53 am
Oh Jim Dowd…that takes me back to HF battles. I’m not sure our takes have ever diverged so much on one player LT.
I couldn’t stand that guy on the ice.
Chimera was a member at the same golf course as I was. Nice guy and a good player. The team really wasn’t good to him. He’d finally settled in up here and then they traded him.
They could likely do better. A lot of recent moves in Carolina have not impressed, but not sure how much input he has. Also hard to suss out how much impact Rod B has on their ability to consistently be one of the better puck possession teams and how much is based on procuring the right players. I’d rather they find someone less experienced in hockey but with a stronger technical resume. Then bring in someone like Stauffer or Woodguy to be the bridge between the analytics staff and management.
It has to be someone who is self confident enough, enough gravitas, and a good enough communicator without being academic in demeanour. Probably not seeming like they have never been involved with sports
It’s still a league run by folks that rode buses and/or were serious jocks. Woodguy and Bob meet the criteria
Holland was a pro goalie in his career, before hanging up the skates and eventually going down the Management path, so I don’t know what you are saying with your comment.
If somebody tells you that what they know is too complicated for you to understand what it really means is that they don’t really understand it themselves.
Curious which moves Carolina has made that you find questionable?
As for Tulsky, in a recent interview he revealed he is in charge of pro scouting and procurement while others have responsibility for amateur scouting and the draft.
Considering the Hurricanes are very competitive and have a pristine cap with ZERO dead cap, no bad contracts and never overpay anyone, I would think he’s doing a great job,
A little too early to be laying down the units because not all the shoes have dropped but if I was forced to lay a bet today I would wager on a Dallas-Carolina final with goaltending likely deciding the outcome. Dallas overplayed Oettinger last season and he ran out of gas in the playoffs. I don’t think they’ll make that mistake again,
Dallas is running under the radar but adding Duchene and the potential of Wyatt Johnson and Logan Stankhoven exploding is significant.
Carolina is just a team built without any flaws. Bunting should be an offensive difference maker and they actually improved on one if the leagues best defensive corps.
I think the Brendan Lemieux signing took people by surprise as well as the Puljujarvi acquisition. Lemieux is hardly anything to get excited about – if it doesn’t work so what. The Puljujarvi signing took $3M of cap space out of the team’s TD capital on what could only be thought of as a long shot.
Deangelo seems a little ‘off base’ as well although a lot of that is just gossip and speculation.
I think those would be the recent moves that have raised eyebrows a bit.
They didn’t have a good goalie for a while, still shy on offense. Injuries yes, but they have been a close team for years that can’t get over. Also, the coach plays a huge role in it. Defensively sound can be offensively too bland
Despite decent regular seasons, they haven’t been able to address scoring issues or goaltending. I don’t think the Orlov deal is very good given his age and the D composition they already had. Burns is still making a pretty good penny for a 38 year old. They’ve bridged multiple players that they could have maybe gotten a little better value on (e.g. Necas) and may lose Pesce following a shorter term deal than they should have pursued. Also didn’t think the Foegele for Bear deal was great or that they targeted the right player when they went after Kotkaniemi. Although some of these moves are yet to play out.
I don’t think he’s done a bad job, I just think the Oilers should aim higher. I also get the sense that some on this blog overvalue what he’s done based on familiarity (which is also something that a lot of people question the Oilers for doing over and over again).
Hard to make money when you’re betting on 31 teams 🙂
Bad Seed
August 3, 2023 9:45 am
Probably a more measured approach for the next gm hire too instead of just anointing Staios automatically.
fishman
August 3, 2023 9:13 am
It would be interesting to know how a deal like this takes place. Whose idea was it? Holland, Nicholson or Katz himself??? Obviously Bobby Nicks on the way out. Has it been in the works for some time? Likely details we never find out but interesting none the less. I like the move!
They spoke a bit about the process at the beginning of the presser – Holland and Co. approached Jackson at the draft to start. No work on if it came from Katz or whoever (but, of course, Katz would have been on board before they approached).
I think Jackson said it was Coffey and Katz who first reached out to him shortly before the draft. He said he needed to wait till past the key free agency period before he could really discuss things since the draft and free agency are the busiest time of his year. It was then lengthy discussions with Coffey that really moved things forward.
Durag
August 3, 2023 9:08 am
This seems like a good move, but all the same I don’t think I will be trying the Jeffy Jax burger.
Melman
August 3, 2023 8:58 am
This is a huge step by Katz and the club, and indicative (again) of Katz spending whatever it takes to ride a float in the parade as presumably Jackson has a hefty salary. Best of all it’s hard to imagine Leon and Connor going anywhere with 97’s agent in such a pivotal role. Let the tears from the “McDavid wants to return to TO” writers begin to flow.
@SportsnetSpec
McDavid will now be rep’ed by Judd Moldaver – Auston Matthews’ agent – while the release states Paul Coffey will be joining Jackson, perhaps taking on a bigger role in EDM’s front office.
He has been special advisor reporting directly to Darryl Katz for a good chunk of the last 2 seasons. He has been on the road with the team a number of times. Not sure his role will change that much other than he’ll do it reporting to Jackson.
New for The Athletic: What Oilers’ Jeff Jackson hire could mean for front-office’s future
https://theathletic.com/4746378/2023/08/03/oilers-jeff-jackson-hire-ceo/
Bobby Hull / Minsk?
Yes
Kyle Dubas postpones hiring a GM,
https://www.nhl.com/news/kyle-dubas-to-assume-role-as-pittsburgh-penguins-gm-this-season/c-345514184
Amanda Kessel on his staff.
Jeff Jackson played 18 games with Jay Woodcroft’s older brother Craig in 91-92 for the Indianapolis Ice of the IHL
Also on that team:
Seattle coach Dave Hakstol
Former Oiler D coach Jim Playfair
Maple Leafs GM Bradt Treliving
Former Oiler D coach Trent Yawney
(also Dominik Hasek)
He also played with Colorado Prez Joe Sakic for the Quebec Nordiques
and GUY LAFLEUR! I wonder if he has any Guy Lafleur stories
played with Flames prez Don Maloney
on the stories front – may have played with Marcel Dionne
had the legendary John Brophy as a coach
played Jr with Bob Probert
and Keith Gretzky
he also won gold for Canada at the World Jrs in 1985
their 3rd leading scorer behind Brian Bradley and big Adam Creighton
Listening to the Jays’ postgame today and it sounds like TO’s hitting coach is every bit the lightning rod that the Oilers’ goalie coach is.
Blue Jays this season are a fascinating case from an analytics perspective.
On paper they are one of the most talented teams in baseball with depth at every position. But they have numerous players hitting below their career average and are one of the worst teams in baseball with the ‘clutch’ metric, RISP.
Math says this team should regress to the meat and contend for the division lead. But the eyes say this team lacks plate discipline and their pitch selection is a glaring weakness. Will be interesting to see how this plays out down the stretch. I’m hoping math wins the day!
Me too. The bats haven’t been consistent this year. If the offense can start swinging together at the same time the team should take off.
Losing Bichette for any length of time hurts though.
They’re saying inflammation only with BB so i think he’ll be back after the 10 day IL stint.
I’m curious why Jeff Jackson is a hire that is seen as friendly to analytics?
He was AGM in Toronto with Cliff Fletcher and John Ferguson Jr, two very non-analytics based GMs.
Is this based on internal leaks, or something he has said in the media in the past?
In his presser today he mentioned using analytics as an agent and talked about using EDM’s analytics dept ik his job
Just waiting until he finds out they don’t really have an analytics department.
I bet he builds one quickly.
He probably knows but smartly played nice in his first presser.
You should be pitching hard for being part of that team. LT likes to talk about balance regarding the Oilers and I’m a big believer in that regarding life in general. I think you would bring that in spades to an analytics department.
Holland opened with a joke (remember the “I made a joke”?) – talking about his relationship with Jeff Jackson and mentioned that a few years ago Jackson was trying to get Bouch more ice time – Holland mentions “you were right, we should have sped that up”.
Tippett deserved to get fired he stunted Bouchard growth by a year and half. I know your going to say but Bear was just to dynamic to platoon him with Bouchard
Holland says that they aren’t that far apart on Bouch but Gagner is at the Hlinka so they’ll talk next week.
I wonder how Kassian would perform on a 1 year deal? The old Kassian returns? Full effort, very likable in the room, defensive specialist? Or the new Kassian trying to milk another 785k out of his hockey career?
Id like to add a physical player who can keep some miles off our core players. Usually this is a younger, out to prove himself type.
Maybe Katz wouldn’t mind spending a few dollars on Kassian if we could get at least one good beating in on Petriangelo?
and a side order of Tkachuk rag doll impression
There are bigger, meaner, crazier knuckle-throwers if that’s your task.
Maybe not crazier. But not my task, just for fun. I always liked Kassian and what he did when he was engaged. (Oilers needed some respect, they were being run out of buildings) Plus he could skate and contribute at one point before substantially fading.
truthfully, I doubt Kassian could help Oilers this coming season.
However, I do think they could use a large physical winger, a Kostin for example. They don’t have much for bangers, and this role on the team could be bolstered. Not by a fighter, but by a tough as nails two way winger.
Kassian is not a defensive specialist though. He got worked on the wall in his own zone and turned the puck over when there was no pressure repeatedly.
Kassian basically mailed it in this year. Not sure why we would want to add him.
Agreed, he is toast. Why do people here fascinate with bringing old Oilers we finally got rid of but people want them back. I don’t get it.
Toast and toasted and an instant amplification of the shortcomings of last year’s roster. hells no.
Don’t forget the lack of shot blocking.
Kassian had 2 goals and 0 assists in his last 51 games for Arizona. -18.
0.26 points per hour. #413/413 forwards who played over 400 minutes at 5v5 last season.
“Jesse Puljujarvi is a player I would sign.”
The problem with this of course is the message this sends to your roster and the impact it has on culture.
Puljujarvi’s performance and production trended downward to the point where his trade value was nil. Culturally, the player was an ongoing distraction with fluency issues that inhibited his ability to improve and integrate within the organization. Through it all, he remained convinced he was an Aho linemate away from being a legit 1W. How did that turn out?
Bring JP back and you’re basically telling your culture that familiarity trumps production.
If I ask myself the question, “What would VGK do?” I don’t see that performance centric franchise embracing sentimental reunions to add dead cap offering minimal ROI.
Have to agree with this. For different reasons I would say the same about Bear. He played a lot of 1st pair minutes when he was here and that ship has sailed. And there was baggage around his departure that was none of his fault but baggage nonetheless.
More intriguing to me is the information Jackson arrives with concerning relations between players and other teams that might offer opportunity.
Bear wants to return to Vancouver.
https://canucksarmy.com/news/ethan-bear-love-come-back-vancouver-canucks
This could happen when he is ready to play if the Canucks trade Myers.
His trade value was nil because he had a $3M cap hit.
$3M is a tradeable cap hit. Puljujarvi’s trade value was nil because his production relative to his cap hit was poor. If Jesse played better last season, there would have been plenty of suitors at the deadline. Instead Holland had to call in a favour from Waddell.
Yeah obviously it was his play relative to the cap hit. I disagree that it sends a bad message to bring him back at league minimum, because it’s not like he was so horrible as to be unplayable. I wouldn’t do it, for the record, but it’s not a team-culture destroying move.
Holland’s Oilers are in the finishing moves phase of the build now. Improvement will be incremental and largely internal now. Small mistakes are costly at this stage because of how tight they are to the cap. Puljujarvi at league minimum would be a small mistake but a mistake nonetheless. Both parties have the clean slate they wanted.
I also firmy believe the core doesn’t want this player back. He was frustrating to play with.
He’ll be playing back home within 2 years which is still better than having to get a real job.
I’m not sure anyone even signs him this year tbh.
Just for shits & gigs, the Oilers should run out a line of lottery pick busts at their next alumni event: Bonsignore, Yakupov, Puljujarvi. A line that puts fear into the hearts of absolutely nobody.
We were all screaming Halkirk finest Doan Doan Doan. The Kelly pick hurt bad if you’ve ever been to the Hamlet of Halkirk and the surrounding area you’ll understand how working and playing hard is in their DNA.
Agreed. Would’ve included Kelly but at #6OV he fell just outside the lottery cluster.
There’s baggage but I’d call Bear a different case and a hell of a depth piece at league minimum.
With respect to the new hire, sort of, in a roundabout way, I have been really impressed with 97s maturation. Talking to the press recently, he described how growth will come internally, and compared his team by using detail and nuance about how Vegas is structured. Discussing opposing teams’ fringe players with respect and knowledge. This doesn’t happen in public often. I’m dumbfounded by people who think he has “no personality”, and suspect this comes from people who equate hooting and hollering with having a one. These people are probably not much fun themselves. Loud is not a personality. He has a subtle, observant nature to him.
For many years I have said that 97 will stay because he understands himself in the longe dureé of hockey lore. He doesn’t want to hang out with Justin Bieber* (or if he does, he isn’t defined by that impulse, unlike the Pop Stars in Toronto) he wants to hang out with Maurice Richard, in eternity. You do that, and he knows it, by winning with a legacy franchise and bringing the cup to Canada after 30+ years. He knows he would be catapulted to Mt Rushmore in ways that winning one or two in Florida or Dallas couldn’t.
Amazingly, he had to resurrect the franchise first. He had to pull the Oilers out of bed, slap them in the face and say, “Pull yourself together, man! You’re a legacy franchise!“ This was the first Herculean task. That look on iOS face on draft day wasn’t saying, “oh god how am I going to get out of this” as much as Yonge Street wanted that to be the case. increasingly I suspect that was him coming to terms of the enormity of the task.
Now having avenged the rival squad in humiliating and perhaps irreversible fashion, the Oilers, resurrected, can follow him to glory.
I thought so long as McDavid was left to write this story, he would be going nowhere. Kudos to management for handing him the narrative.
* Alphonso Davies is a way cooler celeb fan anyway.
This is such a fantastic post. Love it.
Thanks, I don’t have much to offer this forum other than my love for Oilers and Oilers history. It’s a good time to be a fan.
Hey! Me too! 😉
Let the good times roll.
The choke penalty kick cost them the tournament just like fossil Sinclair miss.
I know Hall was considered the draft lottery good luck charm, but he’s also possibly played with the most #1 overall picks, including himself:
Hall, Nugent-Hopkins, Yakupov, McDavid, Hischier, Hughes, Dahlin, and now Bedard.
Eight. That’s pretty incredible, no? I don’t think many players (besides the Oilers 4) have played with 4 including themselves.
In Taylor Hall’s 13 seasons playing his team has drafted 1st overall 5 times, made the playoffs 5 times and drafted 7th, 3rd and 4th in the other three. This season he made the playoffs and ended up on the team with the number one pick anyways. Yeah, it’s pretty incredible.
He just missed being a Sabre when they won the lottery when Powers was picked. Although you could consider him a part of what got them the record to win the lottery. If Patrick Kane goes back to Chicago (highly unlikely) it would add another he plays with.
Alex turcotte
LHC/LW – 22 yrs – 5’11″/185 lbs – NA
**Nolan Patrick
RHC/RW – 24 yrs -6’2″/201 lbs – FO%51
Noah Gregor
LW/”LHC”- 25 yrs – 6’0″/190 lbs -FO%30
If they can swing any of these, near league min, I’d hope they jump on it. PTO – even better. I’m way higher on Patrick than Puj return type gamble.
Turcotte is under contract with LAK.
It appears Patrick’s career is over as he continues to suffer from severe migraines after multiple concussions.
Gregor might be worth a look but you have to wonder why a very poor team like SJS don’t want him back.
I don’t think Turcotte is available, is he? If he was, I’d definitely try to sign him, but I think he’s still an RFA. But I’d give Patrick a league minimum or a PTO. I’d also look at making Serron Noel into a reclamation project with a league min. contract or PTO. His upside could be huge.
Turcotte is signed to a $894K contract with LAK.
Thanks for that. I updated for unsigned on query he still showed…for some reason.
Yeah, I couldn’t find anything definitive on Patrick wasn’t sure. But if he happened to still be considering another go that’s at least a pto worth try IMO.
Not sure why Gregor floating about but he sure did seem like he noticably enjoyed playing at rexall…home tour attempting to solidify career probably decent option to consider. Worse places to be in the AHL than California, (even if the rest of California thinks Bakersfield is worst place in california)
Danton Heinen almost included but imagine he’ll get a million somewhere and LW isn’t overly worth much more investment of all positions.
Main gist I was going for was if aiming no higher than kassian or retread of puj (i cant possibly see him signing here over even 2nd tier finnish league) I’m okay standing pat.
Blue skying, but I’d like to hear opinions on this. If there were 2 prairie-born players who wanted to come to Edmonton for 1 year to take a run at a Cup, what would you do to get them here?
Possible roster with Foegele traded away, and Toews and Dumba signed:
Kane / McDavid / Brown
Nugent-Hopkins / Draisaitl / Hyman
Janmark / Toews / Ryan
Holloway / McLeod / Lavoie
Nurse / Dumba
Ekholm / Bouchard
Kulak / Ceci
Broberg / Desharnais
Skinner
Campbell
That’s a really solid Cup contender.
I would prefer to lose Foegele over Kulak, but if they really believe in Broberg, maybe Kulak is the one to go. Foegele and Kulak both played well in the playoffs, yet I think the addition of Dumba on the blueline puts Edmonton’s D over the top.
Thoughts?
Of note, the Oilers have really gone back to the 2012 draft well for players. 5 of the top 15 picks have been Oilers at some point: 1. Yakupov (pick), 2. Murray, 4. Reinhart, 7. Dumba (hopefully), 10. Koekkoek, 15. Ceci, 37. Aberg, 61. Shore, 63. Khaira (pick), 91. Zharkov (pick), 93. Gustafsson (pick), 105. Kulak, 123. LaLeggia (pick), 131. Griffith, 153. McCarron (pick), 156. Brown, 175. Benning.
You’d have to pretty confident in Toews health IMO, his stats were pretty poor last season with the exception of faceoffs. Of course, they can probably fit Toews in at $1M without making any other trades.
The Dumba idea is interesting, but it does effectively block Broberg from getting the ice time he needs and deserves. And it comes at a cost of Foegele + 3rd, Foegele was a key part of Edmonton’s outscoring bottom-6 last year and will be counted on to do the same again this year. So you’re giving up forward depth for defensive depth.
Also I think Dumba is a 2nd pairing guy at this point, not sure he’d be an improvement over Ceci on the first pairing.
Oilers looking good for next year but also the next 10.
The Jackson hire is very reminiscent of the Mike Gillis situation in Vancouver.
Both former NHL players, both getting law degrees and both former player agents who then moved into management.
Gillis was a very player-focused, innovative manager and quite likely Jackson has a similar mindset.
Maybe I missed earlier rumours of this happening but I find it very surprising that an announcement of this magnitude had no leaks.
Good point. I’d suggest that’s a positive sign for the club in that it reflects a cohesive group. There’s also no way this happens without 97’s knowledge/sign off, so very reasonable to think this improves resigning chances in Edm.
It is very unusual.
Yeah agreed and something that immediately came to mind for me. He did a good job in Vancouver, not as much after he left though.
I’ve listened to several Gillis interviews since he left and he seemed to have tepid interest in anything other than a POHO job.
hockey and law make a good marriage
Wow great idea, the Oilers should hire a strong commutator to champion analytics in the organization. Someone like a a radio host with strong communication skills, someone who has long believed in the value of analytics, someone who knows the best minds in the market and what their work means. Someone, unlike Bob, who is need of a new gig? Anyone come to mind?
Of course, Bob likes fight statistics more than performance statistics, so we would be winning at something.
You’d have to think that with Jackson’s relationship with McDavid this makes the chances of 97 re-signing very very high.
I think it will help with Bouchard’s current and future negotiations as well, given he worked at the same agency as Dave Gagner.
I could see the Oilers bringing Kassian in on a PTO but not really as legit competition for 12F or a contract but (a) as they will need bodies to fill the “veteran min” in the 8 exhibition games (remember how many games Virtanen played last year) and (b) to give the guy a place to skate in order to show he has value to another NHL org.
Doesn’t seem likely but I could see it happening.
yeah, no I have poor memories of Zack
Right or wrong, there’s too many “too minutes for just having kassian on jersey” memories. I think that play-in loss series against Chicago was almost straw that broke camels back as far as playing hi style went.
End of Kate’s contract might be similar record if he doesn’t recover goal scoring touch….
To be clear, I have absolutely zero desire to sign Kassian to a contract or have him anywhere near the team roster for the season.
This is clearly an exhibition season thought:
1) The team is playing like 8 exhibition games again and they have to have a certain amount of “vets and 1st round picks” in the lineup – this would be a player to play 4-5-6 games and help those numbers as we know McDavid/Drai/Ekholm/Nurse will play like 2 each.
2) Gives the player a place to skate to try and prove he’s worth a contract to another org – simply a favor to a guy that gave some years to the org and was a good pro as an Oiler (even though he was not a good hockey player, in my opinion, for the last number of years).
I don’t see it happening and I don’t even really want it to but its something that popped in that I could see happening.
We should do just for the love of Godot.
I personally don’t think the Oilers are in the market for a d-man to join the NHL roster – I mean, unless they want to bump Vinny back to the AHL (Borberg is not going to the AHL), right?
I could definitely see a league min (or so) signing or PTO at forward to compete with Lavoie and Pederson as 12F.
I would think the org is planning on Lavoie at that spot but Stauffer has had Lavoie in the AHL all summer long and continues to think so.
The way I see it depth throughout the roster would be valuable. So, adding another D man, especially if he’s a RHD and an RHC would prove invaluable. Depth being the operative word. Unfortunately, injuries commonly occur.
Sure, if the plan is for this depth d-man to be waived and assigned, right?
There isn’t room for additional depth at D on the active roster.
I know very little about Jeff Jackson except he is a player’s agent. So, I trust this is a good move. As far as the PTO’s coming to camp, I would say NO to any ex-Oilers, the left side of the D is solid, so NO to Alex Edler. Cal Foote & Anders Bjork would be intriguing, along with any of those players you are assuming will sign an NHL deal elsewhere. That’s my take anyway, whether you want it or not.
Do you write in euphemisms much, LT?
I like to pick my spots, as that even triggers people and if I overuse it then the impact is less powerful.
I have to say, it still hurts and I look to McDrai hoisting the Cup to ease the pain.
Oh Jim Dowd…that takes me back to HF battles. I’m not sure our takes have ever diverged so much on one player LT.
I couldn’t stand that guy on the ice.
Chimera was a member at the same golf course as I was. Nice guy and a good player. The team really wasn’t good to him. He’d finally settled in up here and then they traded him.
EVERY training camp GM Lowe would say “Chimera will make the team” and every year MacT sent him down. Clockwork.
So what you’re saying is they’re hiring Tulsky next year.
They could likely do better. A lot of recent moves in Carolina have not impressed, but not sure how much input he has. Also hard to suss out how much impact Rod B has on their ability to consistently be one of the better puck possession teams and how much is based on procuring the right players. I’d rather they find someone less experienced in hockey but with a stronger technical resume. Then bring in someone like Stauffer or Woodguy to be the bridge between the analytics staff and management.
Then bring in someone like
Staufferor Woodguy to be the bridge between the analytics staff and management.It has to be someone who is self confident enough, enough gravitas, and a good enough communicator without being academic in demeanour. Probably not seeming like they have never been involved with sports
It’s still a league run by folks that rode buses and/or were serious jocks. Woodguy and Bob meet the criteria
Serious jocks like Ken Holland? 😉
Pro player and bus rider!!
Holland was a pro goalie in his career, before hanging up the skates and eventually going down the Management path, so I don’t know what you are saying with your comment.
Exactly that.
Scungilli said the league is run by former players and/or serious jocks.
Holland is a former player who doesn’t come off like a serious jock.
If somebody tells you that what they know is too complicated for you to understand what it really means is that they don’t really understand it themselves.
It is a very common phenomenon.
Truth
Curious which moves Carolina has made that you find questionable?
As for Tulsky, in a recent interview he revealed he is in charge of pro scouting and procurement while others have responsibility for amateur scouting and the draft.
Considering the Hurricanes are very competitive and have a pristine cap with ZERO dead cap, no bad contracts and never overpay anyone, I would think he’s doing a great job,
They have had the same couple of issues issues torpedoing them when it counts for a few years. To me that leaves something to be desired
Which issues? I don’t see them.
They we’re shy in scoring last season but Svechnikov was injured and they’ve added Michael Bunting.
They also acquired Brent Burns, Dimitri Orlov and Anthony DeAngelo on D and have 3 NHL quality goaltenders.
Current cup winning odds:
COL +300
TML +550
VGK +800
CAR +900
EDM +1100
Where are you putting your money with those odds?
A little too early to be laying down the units because not all the shoes have dropped but if I was forced to lay a bet today I would wager on a Dallas-Carolina final with goaltending likely deciding the outcome. Dallas overplayed Oettinger last season and he ran out of gas in the playoffs. I don’t think they’ll make that mistake again,
Dallas is running under the radar but adding Duchene and the potential of Wyatt Johnson and Logan Stankhoven exploding is significant.
Carolina is just a team built without any flaws. Bunting should be an offensive difference maker and they actually improved on one if the leagues best defensive corps.
Thanks. I have no idea what oddsmaker’s fascination with Toronto is about. Slow learners imo.
They’re always ranked a bit too high as the bookies look to draw action.
But on paper they should be a top 5-6 team.
Where did you find those odds?
None of the 5 sites listed here (https://www.vegasinsider.com/nhl/odds/futures/) seem to match, though Carolina is certainly still one of the favorites.
Different sites have different odds.
Here’s an aggregation.
https://www.sportsbettingdime.com/nhl/stanley-cup-odds/
You can’t point me to the site that has the odds you posted?
This one is not what you posted either.
Do any of the sites have the odds you posted?
I’ll I’ve gotten so far is a downvote.
Leafs have been busy making their team progressively worse with each transaction. Not sure why they would be so highly ranked.
Well, lots of homer fans to bet on them, I suppose.
I think the Brendan Lemieux signing took people by surprise as well as the Puljujarvi acquisition. Lemieux is hardly anything to get excited about – if it doesn’t work so what. The Puljujarvi signing took $3M of cap space out of the team’s TD capital on what could only be thought of as a long shot.
Deangelo seems a little ‘off base’ as well although a lot of that is just gossip and speculation.
I think those would be the recent moves that have raised eyebrows a bit.
They are not shy about taking players for a test drive but they tend not to double down if it’s not working.
As I’ve mentioned before the DeAngelo situation is a great example of asset management.
Carolina got three draft picks for him when they traded him to Philly and then re-signed him for peanuts.
If paired with a defensive stalwart of which Carolina has more than a few, he should provide excellent puck moving on the 3rd pairing,
They didn’t have a good goalie for a while, still shy on offense. Injuries yes, but they have been a close team for years that can’t get over. Also, the coach plays a huge role in it. Defensively sound can be offensively too bland
Despite decent regular seasons, they haven’t been able to address scoring issues or goaltending. I don’t think the Orlov deal is very good given his age and the D composition they already had. Burns is still making a pretty good penny for a 38 year old. They’ve bridged multiple players that they could have maybe gotten a little better value on (e.g. Necas) and may lose Pesce following a shorter term deal than they should have pursued. Also didn’t think the Foegele for Bear deal was great or that they targeted the right player when they went after Kotkaniemi. Although some of these moves are yet to play out.
I don’t think he’s done a bad job, I just think the Oilers should aim higher. I also get the sense that some on this blog overvalue what he’s done based on familiarity (which is also something that a lot of people question the Oilers for doing over and over again).
This is a better answer than mine above.
LD:
Orlov
Skei
Slavin
Can you imagine having the luxury of Slavin on your third pairing.
RD:
Burns
Pesce
D’Angelo
Perfect pairings.
Burns scored over 60 points last season and you think he is overpaid?
Slavin is not on their 3rd pair genius
And their goaltending is average
As we’ve seen in Vegas and Colorado, average goaltending is enough and investing too much in the position is dangerous.
https://www.capfriendly.com/depth-charts/hurricanes
Its all about pairs.
Orlov and Slavin may switch places but it hardly matters.
You need a good player to carry D’Angelo
Yes.
Thats my point.
They addressed scoring and grit when they added Bunting,
The Foegele-Bear trade was a salary dump…nothing more.
Kotkaniemi is just 23 so still has upside but already has more than 300 NHL GP and has a cap hit of only $4.8 million…a bargain for a 2C.
Pesce is likely going to price himself out of Carolina and they never overpay.
It should also be noted they are still pursuing Eric Karlsson so Pesce would likely be part of that deal.
I was a bit worried about Carolina. Im much happier now that you have put the curse on them.
I also put the curse on Vegas and Colorado the last two seasons and my scotch budget thanks me.
Hard to make money when you’re betting on 31 teams 🙂
Probably a more measured approach for the next gm hire too instead of just anointing Staios automatically.
It would be interesting to know how a deal like this takes place. Whose idea was it? Holland, Nicholson or Katz himself??? Obviously Bobby Nicks on the way out. Has it been in the works for some time? Likely details we never find out but interesting none the less. I like the move!
Could it have something to do with a Hockey Canada dodge?
They spoke a bit about the process at the beginning of the presser – Holland and Co. approached Jackson at the draft to start. No work on if it came from Katz or whoever (but, of course, Katz would have been on board before they approached).
I think Jackson said it was Coffey and Katz who first reached out to him shortly before the draft. He said he needed to wait till past the key free agency period before he could really discuss things since the draft and free agency are the busiest time of his year. It was then lengthy discussions with Coffey that really moved things forward.
This seems like a good move, but all the same I don’t think I will be trying the Jeffy Jax burger.
This is a huge step by Katz and the club, and indicative (again) of Katz spending whatever it takes to ride a float in the parade as presumably Jackson has a hefty salary. Best of all it’s hard to imagine Leon and Connor going anywhere with 97’s agent in such a pivotal role. Let the tears from the “McDavid wants to return to TO” writers begin to flow.
He was also the agent for Connor Brown.
https://puckpedia.com/Jeff-Jackson
The official Jeff Jackson announcement.
https://www.nhl.com/oilers/news/release-daryl-katz-names-jeff-jackson-oilers-ceo-of-hockey-operations/c-345510072
@SportsnetSpec
McDavid will now be rep’ed by Judd Moldaver – Auston Matthews’ agent – while the release states Paul Coffey will be joining Jackson, perhaps taking on a bigger role in EDM’s front office.
Its nice to see Paul Coffey come Home.
He’s been back a while, hasn’t he? in one mysterious capacity or other?
He has been special advisor reporting directly to Darryl Katz for a good chunk of the last 2 seasons. He has been on the road with the team a number of times. Not sure his role will change that much other than he’ll do it reporting to Jackson.
Whenever I want to disappear from work, I just call myself a special advisor and go home. 😉