I wrote those comments about Drake Caggiula in ranking him as the No. 5 prospect on the Oilers top-20 list summer 2016. He is back in the organization, we’ve looked at him as a training camp option before. Today we ask a big question: If Caggiula can stay healthy, could he regain a foothold on an NHL career?
New for @TheAthleticNHL For Oilers 2023-24, a more aggressive in-season approach is vital. Losing Evander Kane & Kailer Yamamoto in the same game required more than recalls. Playing Kane (and others) who were not 100% in the playoffs can't happen again. https://t.co/BB2DHFpKBw
DNB: 10 questions with director of amateur scouting Tyler Wright
THE ORIGINAL CAGGIULA “TRAINING CAMP HOPEFUL”
I wrote the following about Caggiula in the summer of 2016. He was a training camp hopeful who would make the team.
What will his role be in Bakersfield? He has to be regarded as the top scoring option in Bakersfield right away. Bakersfield’s feature wingers a year ago were Matt Ford, Andrew Miller, Ryan Hamilton and Josh Winquist—this young man should be a better player than any of them.
Where do you project him on the depth chart? I have him slotted at LW and he (imo) is the most talented offensive prospect among Condors. Jujhar Khaira, Tyler Pitlick, Patrick Russell, Anton Slepyshev all have talent, but Caggiula should emerge as the top scorer. Patrick Russell is a wildcard and Greg Chase had some promising numbers in junior.
What has changed since his draft day? He was ranked No. 185 NA skater in 2012, and of course no one took him. He was scoring at a very rapid clip in the OJHL that season, plus a cup of coffee in the USHL. Since then, Caggiula has emerged as a fast, skilled and famous college scorer.
What is he?Flyers GM Ron Hextall: “He’s got speed, he plays hard, he has a lot of good attributes. He’s got a shot at being a top six (player) based on his ability. He’s not the biggest player, but he plays hard.”
What does Caggiula need to work on? Smaller men must post big boxcars to get noticed, so that is probably the real answer to this question.
What one thing will get Caggiula to the NHL? Goals. This young man is going to get to the NHL quickly if he can contribute to offense—he is not expensive and the depth chart at forward is not Mount Everest. Injuries happen, and a look at the potential Condors list offers few more attractive scoring options.
Anything else? Thomas Drance wrote a dandy item on Caggiula in the hours both Edmonton and Vancouver were in the running—well worth the read. One of the names he mentions—Rich Peverley—would be a terrific outcome (no guarantees, mind).
What will keep him out of the NHL? Small forwards come in boxes of 12. Caggiula will need to prove himself now and forever. He is on the Cliff Ronning program, and incredibly tough route. That said, he is in a very good era for his player type and the Oilers lack of success at the draft table allows him a very large opportunity if he can score in pro.
What does former UND (and now Philadelphia Flyers) Coach Dave Hakstol say? “He’ll play a game in the NHL, there’s no doubt of that in my mind. When it happens or what he does with it once he gets there, that will be up to him. He’ll have to prove he can handle the step up in pace. NHL players are so big but they’re also so fast. I think he can do it. Drake is not big but he’s hockey strong. He competes hard, too hard sometimes. He hits with a purpose, loves to really hit people, but he’s a veteran and we need him to be scoring goals. He plays the game hard. He plays the 200-foot game. You can tell he’s a coach’s son, he gets it.”
THIS YEAR’S CAGGIULA TRAINING CAMP HOPEFUL
Where has he been? Until last season, he was either playing in the NHL or on the injured list. Caggiula spent all of last season in the AHL (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins), scoring 22-31-53 in 65 games. Those 65 games represent his first time in the AHL after turning pro in 2016-17 with Edmonton.
What kind of scorer is he in the NHL? Per 82 NHL games in his career, Caggiula is averaging 13-13-26. Connor Brown, another free-agent addition, is averaging 16-24-40 per 82 in his NHL career.
Is there an Oilers forward with similar career numbers to Cagguila? Per 82 games, Warren Foegele sits at 14-15-29, Ryan McLeod is 12-15-27.
Is Caggiula similar to these players in terms of expectation? No. Caggiula is 29, peaked as a role player offensively age 23, and he hasn’t played more than 40 NHL games in a season since the year he left the Oilers.
So he’s a lollygagger? No, it’s injuries. That has been his career. It isn’t a huge surprise. Caggiula is a rambunctious player in a smaller body (5.10, 176) so he’s having a Gilbert Brule experience.
What kind of injuries has he endured? Concussions, herniated disc, Covid, hand, visa issues, mouth, foot, hip, horrors, croup.
He did NOT have croup! Okay, but the other ones are true.
Where is he on the depth chart? Caggiula can play either wing, so that gives him extra utility. He can PK, and he did spend some time on an NHL power play but that was years ago.
Where is he on the depth chart? On left wing, I think it goes Evander Kane, Nuge, Dylan Holloway, Mattias Janmark, Raphael Lavoie, then Caggiula would battle with Carter Savoie and Matvey Petrov for AHL time. So, you could say he is a first recall LW option if Lavoie makes the team. Guys lke James Hamblin could be in there, too.
And on right wing? Depth chart is Zach Hyman, Connor Brown, Warren Foegele, Derek Ryan at the NHL level. After that, I do think Xavier Bourgault gets a push in Bakersfield, Seth Griffith the other skill job. Tyler Tullio will play on one of the top three lines. Caggiula could play anywhere in the AHL (lines 1-4) and he could be an early recall at this position as well.
How much do you think he’ll play? I haven’t completed the RE yet, but the range will be 1-20 games in the NHL. Probably seven, somewhere in there.
He’s first recall! Yeah, well, the Oilers have lots of options for first recall this coming season. Caggiula is in the mix with Lavoie (if he gets sent out), Hamblin, Brad Malone, Greg McKegg and we might see Xavier Bourgault by season’s end. Plus Lane Pederson, who could also make the Oilers out of camp.
So, who are your recalls? Haven’t made the list yet. Caggiula is on it.
What does pick224 say about his 2022-23 AHL season? He had 3 short-handed goals, posted .81 pts-game (that’s similar to Seth Griffith, who led the Condors a year ago). He owned a 49 percent goal share at even strength, the Penguins were 39 percent without him.
So that’s good? It’s excellent. I think the Oilers like his speed and utility, and if he can kill penalties a little and help outscore on the fourth line there’s a chance he plays in 40+ games for the first time since the pandemic.
What do you see as a possible AHL role? Caggiula may land the important job of helping develop RH rookie centre Jayden Grubbe. That’s a very important job for this organization to award.
Who are the other candidates? Brad Malone is the team leader, perhaps they run both centers on a line in an effort to develop Grubbe. Greg McKegg could be used in a similar way. In terms of style, and despite his youth, I like Tullio for the Grubbe line.
Kind of a modern Bulldog line? Well, that line had a quality prospect in Daniel Cleary who took some time to find his way but possessed true NHL talent. I’m not sure the current Condors have that player.
What about Bourgault? You’re always trumpeting him. I would love to see Caggiula-Grubbe-Bourgault at some point in the 2023-24 AHL season.
Cagguila 1-20 games? Really? I don’t think his resume warrants more. Opportunity may force him into more games, but the Oilers may make a trade if there’s a need. I don’t see him as a player who could deliver over 50 games at his point in his career. We’ll see.
CAGGIULA UPDATE
Why are we doing this again? Well, I predicted between 1-20 games for Caggiula, and I think there’s a slight chance he’ll get more.
Why? If you build the roster with him (or another $775,000 winger) you can shoehorn 22 players. It’s the depth chart below. There’s $7,500 in cap room left on that roster.
Why the change of heart? I looked available options, and they’re either centermen who are slower, wingers who are younger, or James Hamblin. I like Hamblin, but believe Caggiula is more dynamic offensively at the NHL level.
What evidence do you have of that? Hamblin has played 80 NHL minutes at five-on-five, with zero points. His expected goal share was 51 percent and that’s good, but I didn’t see many touches. I don’t think he’s going to hold back the team’s other young forwards.
What evidence do you have that favours Caggiula over Hamblin? Caggiula has been in the NHL a long time. His yearly five-on-five numbers are below (graph) and they suggest some offensive talent.
He didn’t score much in his first two seasons. Caggiula played a lot with players like Zack Kassian and Anton Slepyshev. He did play quite a bit with Connor McDavid (2.25 pts-60 in 214 minutes) in those first two seasons, and showed pretty well. Less impressive with Leon Draisaitl in those first two seasons (1.18 pts-60, 254 minutes).
Why is he playing more in your RE model? The competition isn’t fantastic. If Raphael Lavoie gets sent out, I don’t see an impressive replacement. Caggiula can play in the NHL, hell he’s barely ever played in the minors truth to tell.
How many games in your RE for Caggiula? I have him at 24 games.
Who are your recalls in the RE? Among forwards, it’s Caggiula, Hamblin and Brad Malone among the veteran forwards, and I do have Xavier Bourgault making a late-season appearance.
Defense and goal? I have Olivier Rodrigue as the recall goalie, and defensemen who will see the NHL are Markus Niemelainen, Phil Kemp and Ben Gleason.
Don Cherry @CoachsCornerDC
Sad to hear the passing of Gilles Gilbert, my goalie in Boston for 5 seasons. Gillie and I didn’t always see eye to eye. He still set an NHL record for most consecutive wins by a goalie with 17. He was fantastic in ’79 vs the Habs. Godspeed Gilles.
BornInAGretzkyJersey
August 7, 2023 4:00 pm
Now, I full well admit this could be the result of an aging memory, but as much as I liked Petry (and boy, did I) he sticks in my brain for ill-timed turnovers and giveaways.
Not quite as bad as being the best player on the other team like Gilbert, but memorable for that tendency… and in a bad way.
What are the chances he’s ironed that out after all these years?
My intuition tells me we’re better off with Ceci for another year than taking on salary and/or divesting assets for a short lived reunion tour with Petry.
Petry is a giveaway machine. Since 11/12, his first full season, Petry leads all players in recorded giveaways with 1,003 in 829 games. Most of the top giveaway players over that time are high end offense puck carrying D-men. His lead over Burn is this category is slight, but when you add in he has a huge lead in giveaways per 60 of 20% over any regular player and his overall offense is about half of what guys like Karlsson and Burns have put up, his giveaway totals are horrendous.
And it is not like he is getting better. In total giveaways the last 3 season among defenseman, he trails only Provorov by 7, despite playing 33 less games and he sits 3rd in giveaways per 60 at pretty much his career average of -3.2 per 60. This all again with the top offensive D scoring twice as much as him. Nurse has actually put up more points overall than Petry since the start of the 18/19 seasons with less total giveaways and way lower giveaways per 60 (-2.4).
Even after he left Edmonton, I watched a lot of Montreal and Pittsburgh games (not to watch him specifically) and he still had a habit of making the over the top bone-headed giveaway at the worst time.
Petry is one of the last guys you want if, as Draisaitl said after the playoff loss, “we have to stop beating ourselves”.
As an aside Petry and Leon would be a bad match since Leon leads all players the last 3 seasons in giveaways, but at least his offense backs it up. Leon still needs to clean that up somewhat.
Last edited 8 months ago by Redbird62
GordieHoweHatTrick
August 7, 2023 1:09 pm
Minor discussion point on Bro
Kulak and Ekholm have both played on their offside at RD
why not ease Bro in by having him play mostly 3 LD and then spot him in at RD mid season and move up from there…?
Broberg has better mobility than aging veterans. Mobility is the key to playing the offside, if one has experience, and Broberg has lots. And in a small sample size in the NHL, he has fared well.
To Godot’s point, from what I’ve read (and there have been some detailed pieces out there), its not just “mobility” but very nuanced abilities around skate positioning and whatnot, that allow for a d-man to be succeful on their off side.
Just what I’ve read, I can’t profess to provide any personal insight.
Broberg has good numbers, over 2 years, with both Nurse and Kulak:
At 5 on 5 Naturalstattrick has them at an xGF/GA of 45%. That’s not good, but not that poor, it was only -100 minutes so not much of a sample and their actual GF/GA were 5 to 4. In approximately 30 minutes of PK work, they gave up only 2 goals which is a very good PK rate of -4.0 GA/60.
€√¥£€^$
August 7, 2023 12:36 pm
Kurt Leavins mentioned Nolan Patrick as being a potential PTO candidate, that would be interesting. However, I cannot see how he continues his career with the migraines he is dealing with.
I was looking at the current UFA list and I wonder if we see any long-shots in camp. The following players offer some things, but this is just a lazy long weekend effort to fill the time:
Centers
1 – 24 year old Nathan Schnarr 6’3″ RHC, former 3rd rounder. Not much AHL offense, but plays on the PK and is a very good passer.
2 – Stelio Mattheos, another 24 year old RHC, who was a good all-around player in the WHL and can skate and is good on the faceoff dot. He is a very aggressive player and skates well. His offense has not translated to the AHL and on top of having to deal with testicular cancer in 2019, he has missed quite a bit of time due to injury. I wonder what the gap between him and Lane Pederson is…
Wingers
Austin Wagner, LW, 26, he is an absolute ice cheetah. My jaw dropped when I first saw him skate in the Dub. He has played in 178 NHL games, but with minimal offense in the AHL and in the NHL, Drake Caggiula likely eats his lunch.
I also wonder about the Ritchie brothers and the lack of power forwards on this roster and there are others like Zach Ashton-Reese, who had attended Development Camp in Edmonton and the following year as a coveted NCAA UFA, he signed with Pittsburgh, Noah Gregor, from Beaumont and Jason’s nephew, and other players like Adam Erne, Tyler Motte, Anders Bjork and Josh Leivo.
Defensemen
Nick Holden and Mark Pysyk are locals married to same. I wonder if one of them shows up at camp.
1- Desharnais is not necessarily a square peg, but he is not a typical NHL dman in style or path, yet despite not being able to compete in training camp he was a mainstay in the playoffs.
2- Hamblin was given 10 games. Again, not a square peg, but it does show Woody’s willingness to give players he knows an opportunity. He could have called up a handful of others instead of Hamblin.
3 – Both of these players were given more opportunity than many others and this is because he knows the players, he did not get to witness the growth in Lavoie, but he is close to Chaulk and undoubtedly he would know what is going on. Lavoie is big, has pedigree, is cheap and is under team control. If there is opportunity, Lavoie will receive it.
JP could possibly out of the league this year. That is not Woodcrofts doing.
Silver Streak
August 7, 2023 11:12 am
I’m thinking Lavoie dumps his agent shortly….regretful and possible career damaging decision that opens the door for a “Caggiula type” and shuts it for him here….possibly Montreal but not here…maybe that was the plan from the beginning.
Caggiulla was a big part of that North Dakota Souix line I really liked…NCAA Champs…
but never lit it up in the bigs
In speaking with Hart at Puckpedia, Lavoie was offered league min with an AHL salary in the $200K-$300K range.
He didn’t outwardly confirm what Lavoie’s agent advised but did note that many agent’s insist their client’s in this stage take below their QO to give themselves a better chance.
I’m thinking Lavoie didn’t take his agent’s advise but that is speculation based on some intel.
cowboy bill
August 7, 2023 11:02 am
It’s interesting how Raphael Lavoie already seems to be in the doghouse.
If the succession plan works out – and they don’t always – this is probably Ceci’s last year as an Oiler.
It could go a lot of different ways but 1LD & 2LD look to me to be occupied for the next couple of years and there is no way that Broberg was drafted at #8 to be a 3rd pairing dman into his prime so we are either going to see him on the right side or traded imo.
Bouchard has one of those top 4 RD spots claimed and Ceci is currently in the other one so that once again leaves Broberg as a 3rd pairing dman.
That may well be his role for most of this season but it is not ideal for all sorts of reasons that Godot has been happy to explain on numerous occasions. Petry is probably available ] to whoever is willing to pay the price Montreal wants but imo the only way that Edmonton would be interested is if both Ceci & Broberg disappoint through the first 25 games or so forcing a move.
Just as a question since I don’t know anything about Braden Schneider other than his basic #’s and that he is blocked in NYR by Trouba and Fox. Is he roughly an equivalent level of player to Broberg who is a RS?
It’s highly likely that Petry has the Oilers on his no trade list since he wanted out of Canada. Apparently he never entertained being traded back to Montreal so didn’t amend his 15 team list.
He’s from Michigan so wouldn’t be surprised if he ended up in Detroit.
I did a little digging yesterday on Habs related boards and the consensus with Petry’s departure is that it was due to Covid and the restrictions on travel in Canada (and Quebec). So it wasn’t really a Montreal thing (or a Canada thing for that matter) but the restrictions on his immediate family being able to see his extended family in the US
The other scuttlebutt was that his NTC (probably) has a lot of teams in the West, again, due to travel for his immediate family. So yes, Edmonton is probably on his no trade list for this reason
The above is just fans (like me) speculating on his decision making, so take that for what it’s worth
With that said, I think Petry(and his family) can see the writing on the wall – he is going to be traded at least 1 more time before his contract expires – maybe that changes his thoughts on the teams on his no trade list, maybe it doesn’t
Yeah, I am not claiming the Rangers are looking to move him. Just that they look far more formidable on the right side than the left which is the opposite of how the Olers look.
Schneider saw much more time against elites and fared reasonably well considering his age. Broberg looks far better against lesser comp.
I don’t know anything about Braden Schneider other than his basic #’s and that he is blocked in NYR by Trouba and Fox. Is he roughly an equivalent level of player to Broberg who is a RS?
It’s an interesting question, I presume it’s a hypothetical trade scenario to address a position of need for each team?
Yeah, a hypothetical for sure. I just went looking for a RD that was more or less at the same point as Broberg but a RS just to see what was out there.
Schneider saw much more time against elites and fared reasonably well considering his age. Broberg looks far better against lesser comp.
I really don’t know about Schneider.
He did play more vs. elites than Broberg, but he was still very sheltered (5th or 6th in %TOI on the Rangers in his 2 years).
And he kind of got killed. Moreso than Broberg even. His DFF% vs elites was in the 30s both seasons. He was -12% and -13% relative to team. He had a GF% of 44 over the two years.
Broberg’s DFF% vs elites was over 40% both seasons at least. -12% and -6% relative to team, and his GF% was 50%.
If you look at Schneider’s overall numbers he’s had a nice +/- and GF%, but the underlying numbers have been terrible. His two seasons have been quite similar – altogether his GF% was 55, but SF% was 44 and his xGF% was 43. Maybe he owns some of that, but no one in the league can post a 10 or 12% swing regularly.
For comparison, Broberg’s two season show 48% GF, 55% SF, 55% xGF.
And I assumed Schneider was a shutdown D, but he doesn’t PK much, nor get tough zone starts. To my surprise Broberg has actually PK’d more per game than Schneider (53 seconds/game to 38).
FWIW, both players also started 21-22 in the AHL, and Broberg looks to have been far superior at that level.
I don’t know. It’s tough to say I think Broberg is better since Schneider has been a regular on a good team for the last year and a half.
I think he might be though, and I will definitely say that I’m very wary of Schneider despite the solid looking surface numbers.
Yes I came to pretty much the same conclusion about Schneider. The GF% looks good but the underlying numbers don’t support it. I guess it would be a decent trade but nothing that would make any real difference the next 2 years.
Play Broberg full time at 3LD this year. Kulak can play 3rd pair RHD and we can be super careful with all dmen and especially Nurse/Ekholm season. Sit them whenever they pick up any bumps and bruises that need a few games rest. We need everyone at 100% on G1 of the playoffs this year.
We need a decent top 4 RHD dman with a reasonable contract who is actually available. Tough ask and Carlo might be the only guy that fits. Broberg to BOS for Carlo who need cap relief and then trade Ceci for a pick in a side deal to fit Carlo’s salary?
Who knows. BOS has McAvoy and Lindholm who can handle top pair duty, then Carlo and Grzelcyk (UFA next year) below. Third pair guys are pretty uninspiring (Forbert, Zboril, Shattenkirk) and all are UFA next year. The team is running on fumes and could certainly use a young guy like Broberg, but would they give up a decent 2RD like Carlo to get him? Questionable but Carlo is trade-able since his M-NTC doesn’t kick in until next year. Maybe Ceci plus Broberg for Carlo and their #1. I might do it but would BOS? That would give them a 2nd pair next year for about the same price as Carlo.
No easy answers at 2RD. Only other established guy available is Parayko but he has a wonky back, increasingly terrible results and is signed forever.
Yeah Carlo would be nice. I don’t imagine Boston is looking to move him for young players/picks, though Broberg + 1st might be enough to tempt them. I wouldn’t pay that high a price myself.
Kulak-Broberg as the regular 3rd pair makes the most sense IMO (whichever side they play). Then look for a D at the deadline if needed. I certainly prefer that to Broberg + 1st for Carlo.
Stu Cowan @StuCowan1
The fact Canadiens sent out these two tweets yesterday but still haven’t sent out a tweet welcoming Jeff Petry back to the #Habs – plus the fact GM Kent Hughes still hasn’t spoken to media – means there’s a very good chance another trade involving Petry is coming soon.
Do you trust Woodmoney? Petry had horrible results v Elites last year in a 2nd pairing role, I don’t think we can consider him an upgrade on Ceci. He would definitely be an upgrade at 3RD though and I’d move Kulak of Montreal was willing to retain 50% on Petry.
cowboy bill
August 7, 2023 10:54 am
That extra forward would need to play center or wing. I don’t believe Caggiula would be able to contribute as a fourth line center. Leavins was considering possible PTO and mentioned two names Nolan Patrick & Colin White. I’m not sure either of them would be any better than Caggiula. But they can play center and are both right shots, if signed at league minimum would fit as a 13th forward. They already have Lane Pederson. I still would like to see Paul Stasny if they can sign him for the minimum. Between Stasny & Pederson they could fit in with Janmark & Ryan to form a useful fourth line. IMO.
Last edited 8 months ago by cowboy bill
Victoria Oil
August 7, 2023 10:46 am
Today is a slow hockey news day, but 40 years ago today, myself and almost 60,000 others swayed through the crowd to an empty space at Commonwealth Stadium to watch, what was IMO, the greatest concert in Edmonton’s history – David Bowie’s Serious Moonlight tour along with Peter Gabriel and The Tubes.
I’m sure that there must be a fair number of other Lowetidians with memories of that day.
Best outdoor concert I’ve been to. Bowie and Gabriel put on an amazing show for 60,000 sweltering fans. It was a great day with great weather, great music and great scenery.
Clarkenstein
August 7, 2023 10:19 am
Slightly bigger than Yamo… similar injury history. Somebody did somebody a favour signing him. This won’t end well for him.
I was going to opine that its notable that Pederson got a one-way deal (both years) and Drake got a 2-way deal (both years) but hot damn, Drake’s AHL salary is $500K/$750K.
Go Katz!
OriginalPouzar
August 7, 2023 10:08 am
Stauffer was on the Two Mutts podcast a few days ago:
1) He’s big on a couple of PTOs being brought in to compete with Pederson for 4C and 12F. He things that ideally the organization wants Pederson to start in the Bake and as first call-up. In the 45 minutes, not a single mention of Raphael Lavoie. I wonder if the coaching staff and GM discounts Lavoie as an opening night option as much as Stauff has?
2) Adamant that Bouch will get done by August 15 and that it will be two years between $3.8MM and $3.95MM – I think this lines up with everything we’ve seen, read and heard and, for me, that’s going to be such a massive value contract over the next few years.
3) Stauffer has been reading these forums but isn’t a Godot fan. I remember at the beginning of the off-season, he suggested the possibility of Broberg starting in the AHL to get lots of ice. A month ago or so he did pivot and suggested Broberg could push up an see some RD in the top 4 and now he’s suggesting we might see that to start the season: Nurse/Bouch, Ekholm/Broberg, Kulak/Ceci.
He even referenced a material change in giving Broberg more minutes and Vinny expressly less. Of course, that is the way but that wasn’t the coaching staff’s way the last time the Oilers played a game – we’ll see what happens in October.
The lack enthusiasm of any kind by the organization when it comes to Lavoie makes me think he’s gone. It sure starting to sound like it’s more than just Hockey (personal) when it comes to the handling of Lavoie.
Perhaps but I would note that, when talking about next year’s roster, Holland himself has expressly mentioned Lavoie and that he’s going to get a ton of games in exhibition.
I know I’ve been bringing up Stauffer discounting him alot as I think its notable but its not necessarily what the org thinks. I don’t know what it means, if anything.
The last part of your post doesn’t even warrant a response – my goodness – but to the treatment part (not the reasons for it), his treatment has been just fine. He never earned himself the possibility of a call-up until well in to calendar year 2023 and, by then, the roster was set and absolutely rolling and he was playing high leverage minutes in a playoff chase in the Bake.
It is possible that he had some things to tend to before joining the team rather than the team not extending the invite right away. Recall Malone (I think, possibly it was a different Condor) was delayed in joining the Oilers because he had some family-related things to take care of first. (all that said though, you are probably correct)
He was called up the exact same time as Kemp and Hamblin and in the next set of player call-ups after Malone and Niemo.
They staggered the call-ups for whatever reason and he was called up at the same time as Hamblin, a player with NHL experience and likely would play over him.
I don’t read anything in to that at all. Other apparently do – to each their own.
Something is up Lavoie is getting the subtle cold shoulder. Everything is tight lipped of course Holland is going to say nice things and not sewer his value. yet there’s a bit of smoke coming off Lavoie and I believe it’s not Hockey related. Could Lavoie and say Ceci be headed to Montreal for Petry salary retained plus a later pick.
There is no subtle cold shoulder – his “treatment” by the Oilers is 100% in line with, well, a prospect of his nature who has performed as he has over the course of his post-draft career.
Holland didn’t say nice things in response to questions, he brought Lavoie up in to a conversation and included him in a group of young players they are hoping press up.
What is this smoke coming off Lavoie you speak of. All he’s done is accept his QO. Some of us (me included, obviously) think it was a poor decision and are making a story about it but Lavoie has done nothing “smokey” and the org has done nothing weird.
All of that is based off of Stauff not talking about him?
So if my feeble mind remembers correctly, when Broberg was drafted he was compared to Nurse because he was a puck transporter. He still seems like a puck transporter to me, so I would say two likes by definition are not complementary.
Nurse with Bouchard would give you a great passer and a great transporter. Complementary no?
Ekholm, being the gord that we’ve made him, would complement anyone so mentoring Bromberg cannot go far wrong.
I’m not as down on Ceci as most so IMHO we have a defender who can play on any pair and not crater the team.
If Broberg can handle top 4 We’ve got a pretty solid right D.
Pairing your top shutdown D, with a D-challenged offensive wonderkind is not a wise decision.
Broberg’s defensive fundamentals are pretty sound. Like Klefbom, he was the top defensive defender of his class in Sweden.
Bouchard loses his mark too often or is late in defending, which means Nurse would over compensate, like he has with all the D-challenged or mobility challenged partners the Oilers have given him.
Broberg is not D-chanllenged, nor mobility challenged, only inexperienced. If Nurse Bear worked, Nurse Broberg should be fine. Bear was mobility challenged..
I doubt that Nurse & partner spend much more time against the other team’s top offensive players than Ekholm & partner do. I prefer pairs with complementary skills.
Down the stretch and in the playoffs, Nurse still had more “tough minutes” than Ekholm – I believe there was maybe one playoff game where that was reversed (not 100% sure on that fact though).
You ignore the fact that Nurse/Bouchard have had success together, over the course of each of the last two seasons.
You seem to ignore the clear improvements/development in Bouchard’s defensive game over the course last season and he is, in fact, one of the better defenders of zone entry which should pair well with Nurse (and has).
You laud Broberg’s defence and, while we all saw a good shift against Eichel, and I personally due believe he can defend against good comp, he has been as extremely sheltered as any d-man in the league to this point. We don’t know what he can do with 20 minutes against toughs, on his off-side.
Nurse Bouchard mostly played together when the OIlers were trying to come from behind late in games. Score effects.
You don’t know what Broberg can do until you play him. What is the effing point in waiting. It is draft plus 5. He has taken a step each year. The glaring hole at right D is there. Play the guy who might fix it. What do you have to lose?
Nurse Bouchard mostly played together when the OIlers were trying to come from behind late in games. Score effects.
This statement would be true if it had merit. The 8-6 goal differential and 55% expected goals during their 175 minutes together while leading shows otherwise.
You don’t know what Broberg can do until you play him. What is the effing point in waiting. It is draft plus 5. He has taken a step each year. The glaring hole at right D is there. Play the guy who might fix it. What do you have to lose?
I don’t disagree. I think he’s best set up for success playing with Ekholm and he fits better with Ekholm and Nurse/Bouchard fit (its been proven to this point) and they both fit with McDavid.
Playing him with Ekholm fits right in to the above.
OriginalPouzar
August 7, 2023 10:03 am
Today we ask a big question: If Caggiula can stay healthy, could he regain a foothold on an NHL career?
Meh: I could see him getting some games as a deep injury fill-in but has he improved as a 2-way player?
My recollection is that, yes, he could put up some points when put on McDavid’s line but he was very poor on the boards and as a 2-way player that the line with him on it gave everything back. When down the lineup, it was skating around fast and accomplishing little positive?
Has he improved as a player? Given injuries and full AHL time last year, it seems doubtful.
He should be a valued and impactful player for the Condors and, as I mentioned, solid deep injury depth.
New for The Athletic: For Oilers in 2023-24, a more aggressive in-season approach is likely
https://theathletic.com/4752312/2023/08/07/oilers-jeff-jackson-2023-24-season/
The 1983 Bowie concert in video.
https://twitter.com/OilersDayByDay/status/1688739305068572672?s=20
Don Cherry
@CoachsCornerDC
Sad to hear the passing of Gilles Gilbert, my goalie in Boston for 5 seasons. Gillie and I didn’t always see eye to eye. He still set an NHL record for most consecutive wins by a goalie with 17. He was fantastic in ’79 vs the Habs. Godspeed Gilles.
Now, I full well admit this could be the result of an aging memory, but as much as I liked Petry (and boy, did I) he sticks in my brain for ill-timed turnovers and giveaways.
Not quite as bad as being the best player on the other team like Gilbert, but memorable for that tendency… and in a bad way.
What are the chances he’s ironed that out after all these years?
My intuition tells me we’re better off with Ceci for another year than taking on salary and/or divesting assets for a short lived reunion tour with Petry.
Your memory does not fail you.
Petry is a giveaway machine. Since 11/12, his first full season, Petry leads all players in recorded giveaways with 1,003 in 829 games. Most of the top giveaway players over that time are high end offense puck carrying D-men. His lead over Burn is this category is slight, but when you add in he has a huge lead in giveaways per 60 of 20% over any regular player and his overall offense is about half of what guys like Karlsson and Burns have put up, his giveaway totals are horrendous.
And it is not like he is getting better. In total giveaways the last 3 season among defenseman, he trails only Provorov by 7, despite playing 33 less games and he sits 3rd in giveaways per 60 at pretty much his career average of -3.2 per 60. This all again with the top offensive D scoring twice as much as him. Nurse has actually put up more points overall than Petry since the start of the 18/19 seasons with less total giveaways and way lower giveaways per 60 (-2.4).
Even after he left Edmonton, I watched a lot of Montreal and Pittsburgh games (not to watch him specifically) and he still had a habit of making the over the top bone-headed giveaway at the worst time.
Petry is one of the last guys you want if, as Draisaitl said after the playoff loss, “we have to stop beating ourselves”.
As an aside Petry and Leon would be a bad match since Leon leads all players the last 3 seasons in giveaways, but at least his offense backs it up. Leon still needs to clean that up somewhat.
Minor discussion point on Bro
Kulak and Ekholm have both played on their offside at RD
why not ease Bro in by having him play mostly 3 LD and then spot him in at RD mid season and move up from there…?
Broberg has better mobility than aging veterans. Mobility is the key to playing the offside, if one has experience, and Broberg has lots. And in a small sample size in the NHL, he has fared well.
Iirc Broberg has significantly worse numbers/play on his offside in the NHL and Sweden. But go off!
To Godot’s point, from what I’ve read (and there have been some detailed pieces out there), its not just “mobility” but very nuanced abilities around skate positioning and whatnot, that allow for a d-man to be succeful on their off side.
Just what I’ve read, I can’t profess to provide any personal insight.
Broberg has good numbers, over 2 years, with both Nurse and Kulak:
https://www.naturalstattrick.com/playerreport.php?fromseason=20212022&thruseason=20222023&stype=2&sit=5v5&stdoi=oi&rate=n&v=t&playerid=8481598
Kulak perhaps but my recollection is that the numbers show Ekholm poor on the right side.
The Oilers have a high end 1/2 LD and I wouldn’t mess with the 1-2 punch of Nurse and Ekholm.
100%
Correct. He struggled mightily on the right side last year in Nashville with an experienced (but slowing) McDonough. The analytics were very poor.
At 5 on 5 Naturalstattrick has them at an xGF/GA of 45%. That’s not good, but not that poor, it was only -100 minutes so not much of a sample and their actual GF/GA were 5 to 4. In approximately 30 minutes of PK work, they gave up only 2 goals which is a very good PK rate of -4.0 GA/60.
Kurt Leavins mentioned Nolan Patrick as being a potential PTO candidate, that would be interesting. However, I cannot see how he continues his career with the migraines he is dealing with.
I was looking at the current UFA list and I wonder if we see any long-shots in camp. The following players offer some things, but this is just a lazy long weekend effort to fill the time:
Centers
1 – 24 year old Nathan Schnarr 6’3″ RHC, former 3rd rounder. Not much AHL offense, but plays on the PK and is a very good passer.
2 – Stelio Mattheos, another 24 year old RHC, who was a good all-around player in the WHL and can skate and is good on the faceoff dot. He is a very aggressive player and skates well. His offense has not translated to the AHL and on top of having to deal with testicular cancer in 2019, he has missed quite a bit of time due to injury. I wonder what the gap between him and Lane Pederson is…
Wingers
Austin Wagner, LW, 26, he is an absolute ice cheetah. My jaw dropped when I first saw him skate in the Dub. He has played in 178 NHL games, but with minimal offense in the AHL and in the NHL, Drake Caggiula likely eats his lunch.
I also wonder about the Ritchie brothers and the lack of power forwards on this roster and there are others like Zach Ashton-Reese, who had attended Development Camp in Edmonton and the following year as a coveted NCAA UFA, he signed with Pittsburgh, Noah Gregor, from Beaumont and Jason’s nephew, and other players like Adam Erne, Tyler Motte, Anders Bjork and Josh Leivo.
Defensemen
Nick Holden and Mark Pysyk are locals married to same. I wonder if one of them shows up at camp.
What do you think of Noah Gregor?
I like the player.
Good speed, lots of smarts and skill and he gets into the guts of the game.
He is a better bet than Caggiula, IMO. I think there is more than he has shown, he would be a decent bet as a 5LW.
However, his Utility is questionable, given his lack of time and success short-handed and lack of FO opportunity and success.
I’d rather sign players like Danton Heinen or Aston-Reese
Woodcroft may be too much like his main mentor ThoroughlyMediocreCoach when it comes to players who are squarish pegs.
Sather could make the square pegs fit it..
Lavoie has a prickly personality. It is likely why he slid in the draft.
We saw this with Puljujarvi. The rebound that has happened under Tippett, withered away under Woodcroft.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fTEGag00og&t=3s
So much speculation here.
1- Desharnais is not necessarily a square peg, but he is not a typical NHL dman in style or path, yet despite not being able to compete in training camp he was a mainstay in the playoffs.
2- Hamblin was given 10 games. Again, not a square peg, but it does show Woody’s willingness to give players he knows an opportunity. He could have called up a handful of others instead of Hamblin.
3 – Both of these players were given more opportunity than many others and this is because he knows the players, he did not get to witness the growth in Lavoie, but he is close to Chaulk and undoubtedly he would know what is going on. Lavoie is big, has pedigree, is cheap and is under team control. If there is opportunity, Lavoie will receive it.
4 – How do you know what Lavoie’s personality is?
JP could possibly out of the league this year. That is not Woodcrofts doing.
I’m thinking Lavoie dumps his agent shortly….regretful and possible career damaging decision that opens the door for a “Caggiula type” and shuts it for him here….possibly Montreal but not here…maybe that was the plan from the beginning.
Caggiulla was a big part of that North Dakota Souix line I really liked…NCAA Champs…
but never lit it up in the bigs
Not sure he was taking his agent’s advise though.
In speaking with Hart at Puckpedia, Lavoie was offered league min with an AHL salary in the $200K-$300K range.
He didn’t outwardly confirm what Lavoie’s agent advised but did note that many agent’s insist their client’s in this stage take below their QO to give themselves a better chance.
I’m thinking Lavoie didn’t take his agent’s advise but that is speculation based on some intel.
It’s interesting how Raphael Lavoie already seems to be in the doghouse.
Only Stauffer’s though – haven’t heard from Woody but Holland has specifically mentioned Lavoie in competition for the roster.
as I look at the Oiler group of 20 skaters I wonder if getting another dman is in any way possible. Is Petry an upgrade over Ceci?
No.
Yes, but I cannot see it happening.
The “yes” is highly arguable and it shouldn’t happen.
Petry is turning 36 this calendar year and is almost $1.5MM more than Ceci and for next season as well (where he’ll be 37 for most of it).
Also: 15 team no trade clause.
If the succession plan works out – and they don’t always – this is probably Ceci’s last year as an Oiler.
It could go a lot of different ways but 1LD & 2LD look to me to be occupied for the next couple of years and there is no way that Broberg was drafted at #8 to be a 3rd pairing dman into his prime so we are either going to see him on the right side or traded imo.
Bouchard has one of those top 4 RD spots claimed and Ceci is currently in the other one so that once again leaves Broberg as a 3rd pairing dman.
That may well be his role for most of this season but it is not ideal for all sorts of reasons that Godot has been happy to explain on numerous occasions. Petry is probably available ] to whoever is willing to pay the price Montreal wants but imo the only way that Edmonton would be interested is if both Ceci & Broberg disappoint through the first 25 games or so forcing a move.
Just as a question since I don’t know anything about Braden Schneider other than his basic #’s and that he is blocked in NYR by Trouba and Fox. Is he roughly an equivalent level of player to Broberg who is a RS?
It’s highly likely that Petry has the Oilers on his no trade list since he wanted out of Canada. Apparently he never entertained being traded back to Montreal so didn’t amend his 15 team list.
He’s from Michigan so wouldn’t be surprised if he ended up in Detroit.
I did a little digging yesterday on Habs related boards and the consensus with Petry’s departure is that it was due to Covid and the restrictions on travel in Canada (and Quebec). So it wasn’t really a Montreal thing (or a Canada thing for that matter) but the restrictions on his immediate family being able to see his extended family in the US
The other scuttlebutt was that his NTC (probably) has a lot of teams in the West, again, due to travel for his immediate family. So yes, Edmonton is probably on his no trade list for this reason
The above is just fans (like me) speculating on his decision making, so take that for what it’s worth
With that said, I think Petry(and his family) can see the writing on the wall – he is going to be traded at least 1 more time before his contract expires – maybe that changes his thoughts on the teams on his no trade list, maybe it doesn’t
All good points.
Re: Schneider, you are correct, but he is a part of the future in NY, he won’t be going anywhere.
I think Edmonton would say exactly the same thing about Broberg, no?
The Rangers actually had two promising RHD and chose Schneider over Nils Lundqvist who they traded to Dallas.
Yeah, I am not claiming the Rangers are looking to move him. Just that they look far more formidable on the right side than the left which is the opposite of how the Olers look.
Braden Schneider
http://puckiq.com/players/8482073
Philip Broberg
http://puckiq.com/players/8481598
Schneider saw much more time against elites and fared reasonably well considering his age. Broberg looks far better against lesser comp.
It’s an interesting question, I presume it’s a hypothetical trade scenario to address a position of need for each team?
Yeah, a hypothetical for sure. I just went looking for a RD that was more or less at the same point as Broberg but a RS just to see what was out there.
I really don’t know about Schneider.
He did play more vs. elites than Broberg, but he was still very sheltered (5th or 6th in %TOI on the Rangers in his 2 years).
And he kind of got killed. Moreso than Broberg even. His DFF% vs elites was in the 30s both seasons. He was -12% and -13% relative to team. He had a GF% of 44 over the two years.
Broberg’s DFF% vs elites was over 40% both seasons at least. -12% and -6% relative to team, and his GF% was 50%.
If you look at Schneider’s overall numbers he’s had a nice +/- and GF%, but the underlying numbers have been terrible. His two seasons have been quite similar – altogether his GF% was 55, but SF% was 44 and his xGF% was 43. Maybe he owns some of that, but no one in the league can post a 10 or 12% swing regularly.
For comparison, Broberg’s two season show 48% GF, 55% SF, 55% xGF.
And I assumed Schneider was a shutdown D, but he doesn’t PK much, nor get tough zone starts. To my surprise Broberg has actually PK’d more per game than Schneider (53 seconds/game to 38).
FWIW, both players also started 21-22 in the AHL, and Broberg looks to have been far superior at that level.
I don’t know. It’s tough to say I think Broberg is better since Schneider has been a regular on a good team for the last year and a half.
I think he might be though, and I will definitely say that I’m very wary of Schneider despite the solid looking surface numbers.
Thanks for doing that work jp.
Yes I came to pretty much the same conclusion about Schneider. The GF% looks good but the underlying numbers don’t support it. I guess it would be a decent trade but nothing that would make any real difference the next 2 years.
Play Broberg full time at 3LD this year. Kulak can play 3rd pair RHD and we can be super careful with all dmen and especially Nurse/Ekholm season. Sit them whenever they pick up any bumps and bruises that need a few games rest. We need everyone at 100% on G1 of the playoffs this year.
We need a decent top 4 RHD dman with a reasonable contract who is actually available. Tough ask and Carlo might be the only guy that fits. Broberg to BOS for Carlo who need cap relief and then trade Ceci for a pick in a side deal to fit Carlo’s salary?
I like that idea a lot more than mine. Is it feasible?
Who knows. BOS has McAvoy and Lindholm who can handle top pair duty, then Carlo and Grzelcyk (UFA next year) below. Third pair guys are pretty uninspiring (Forbert, Zboril, Shattenkirk) and all are UFA next year. The team is running on fumes and could certainly use a young guy like Broberg, but would they give up a decent 2RD like Carlo to get him? Questionable but Carlo is trade-able since his M-NTC doesn’t kick in until next year. Maybe Ceci plus Broberg for Carlo and their #1. I might do it but would BOS? That would give them a 2nd pair next year for about the same price as Carlo.
No easy answers at 2RD. Only other established guy available is Parayko but he has a wonky back, increasingly terrible results and is signed forever.
Yeah Carlo would be nice. I don’t imagine Boston is looking to move him for young players/picks, though Broberg + 1st might be enough to tempt them. I wouldn’t pay that high a price myself.
Kulak-Broberg as the regular 3rd pair makes the most sense IMO (whichever side they play). Then look for a D at the deadline if needed. I certainly prefer that to Broberg + 1st for Carlo.
Stu Cowan
@StuCowan1
The fact Canadiens sent out these two tweets yesterday but still haven’t sent out a tweet welcoming Jeff Petry back to the #Habs – plus the fact GM Kent Hughes still hasn’t spoken to media – means there’s a very good chance another trade involving Petry is coming soon.
https://twitter.com/StuCowan1/status/1688621369511014401?s=20
Do you trust Woodmoney? Petry had horrible results v Elites last year in a 2nd pairing role, I don’t think we can consider him an upgrade on Ceci. He would definitely be an upgrade at 3RD though and I’d move Kulak of Montreal was willing to retain 50% on Petry.
That extra forward would need to play center or wing. I don’t believe Caggiula would be able to contribute as a fourth line center. Leavins was considering possible PTO and mentioned two names Nolan Patrick & Colin White. I’m not sure either of them would be any better than Caggiula. But they can play center and are both right shots, if signed at league minimum would fit as a 13th forward. They already have Lane Pederson. I still would like to see Paul Stasny if they can sign him for the minimum. Between Stasny & Pederson they could fit in with Janmark & Ryan to form a useful fourth line. IMO.
Today is a slow hockey news day, but 40 years ago today, myself and almost 60,000 others swayed through the crowd to an empty space at Commonwealth Stadium to watch, what was IMO, the greatest concert in Edmonton’s history – David Bowie’s Serious Moonlight tour along with Peter Gabriel and The Tubes.
I’m sure that there must be a fair number of other Lowetidians with memories of that day.
I was there. Do not remember it!
Well that sure sounds like a story in and of itself haha.
Without question the greatest concert I ever went to.
40 years ago today was it? Hmm, then that would make me…
Best outdoor concert I’ve been to. Bowie and Gabriel put on an amazing show for 60,000 sweltering fans. It was a great day with great weather, great music and great scenery.
Slightly bigger than Yamo… similar injury history. Somebody did somebody a favour signing him. This won’t end well for him.
Huh? Why? He is going to play most of the year in the AHL. He will be fine.
I was going to opine that its notable that Pederson got a one-way deal (both years) and Drake got a 2-way deal (both years) but hot damn, Drake’s AHL salary is $500K/$750K.
Go Katz!
Stauffer was on the Two Mutts podcast a few days ago:
1) He’s big on a couple of PTOs being brought in to compete with Pederson for 4C and 12F. He things that ideally the organization wants Pederson to start in the Bake and as first call-up. In the 45 minutes, not a single mention of Raphael Lavoie. I wonder if the coaching staff and GM discounts Lavoie as an opening night option as much as Stauff has?
2) Adamant that Bouch will get done by August 15 and that it will be two years between $3.8MM and $3.95MM – I think this lines up with everything we’ve seen, read and heard and, for me, that’s going to be such a massive value contract over the next few years.
3) Stauffer has been reading these forums but isn’t a Godot fan. I remember at the beginning of the off-season, he suggested the possibility of Broberg starting in the AHL to get lots of ice. A month ago or so he did pivot and suggested Broberg could push up an see some RD in the top 4 and now he’s suggesting we might see that to start the season: Nurse/Bouch, Ekholm/Broberg, Kulak/Ceci.
He even referenced a material change in giving Broberg more minutes and Vinny expressly less. Of course, that is the way but that wasn’t the coaching staff’s way the last time the Oilers played a game – we’ll see what happens in October.
The lack enthusiasm of any kind by the organization when it comes to Lavoie makes me think he’s gone. It sure starting to sound like it’s more than just Hockey (personal) when it comes to the handling of Lavoie.
Perhaps but I would note that, when talking about next year’s roster, Holland himself has expressly mentioned Lavoie and that he’s going to get a ton of games in exhibition.
I know I’ve been bringing up Stauffer discounting him alot as I think its notable but its not necessarily what the org thinks. I don’t know what it means, if anything.
The last part of your post doesn’t even warrant a response – my goodness – but to the treatment part (not the reasons for it), his treatment has been just fine. He never earned himself the possibility of a call-up until well in to calendar year 2023 and, by then, the roster was set and absolutely rolling and he was playing high leverage minutes in a playoff chase in the Bake.
How do you explain that he was the last guy invited to join the team for the playoffs? I don’t think things like that happen by accident.
It is possible that he had some things to tend to before joining the team rather than the team not extending the invite right away. Recall Malone (I think, possibly it was a different Condor) was delayed in joining the Oilers because he had some family-related things to take care of first. (all that said though, you are probably correct)
He was called up the exact same time as Kemp and Hamblin and in the next set of player call-ups after Malone and Niemo.
They staggered the call-ups for whatever reason and he was called up at the same time as Hamblin, a player with NHL experience and likely would play over him.
I don’t read anything in to that at all. Other apparently do – to each their own.
I tend to agree that there is something going on there more than is apparent to the general public.
Something is up Lavoie is getting the subtle cold shoulder. Everything is tight lipped of course Holland is going to say nice things and not sewer his value. yet there’s a bit of smoke coming off Lavoie and I believe it’s not Hockey related. Could Lavoie and say Ceci be headed to Montreal for Petry salary retained plus a later pick.
There is no subtle cold shoulder – his “treatment” by the Oilers is 100% in line with, well, a prospect of his nature who has performed as he has over the course of his post-draft career.
Holland didn’t say nice things in response to questions, he brought Lavoie up in to a conversation and included him in a group of young players they are hoping press up.
What is this smoke coming off Lavoie you speak of. All he’s done is accept his QO. Some of us (me included, obviously) think it was a poor decision and are making a story about it but Lavoie has done nothing “smokey” and the org has done nothing weird.
All of that is based off of Stauff not talking about him?
Stauffer is the voice of the Oilers he’s a messenger for the organization.
Sometimes he is. Sometimes he’s just providing his opinion with organizational intel.
How is he not a fan if he is coming around to my POV?
He’s not – he’s got Nurse/Bouchard not Nurse/Broberg.
Give him time.
No need – he’s already got it right……
First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win.
So if my feeble mind remembers correctly, when Broberg was drafted he was compared to Nurse because he was a puck transporter. He still seems like a puck transporter to me, so I would say two likes by definition are not complementary.
Nurse with Bouchard would give you a great passer and a great transporter. Complementary no?
Ekholm, being the gord that we’ve made him, would complement anyone so mentoring Bromberg cannot go far wrong.
I’m not as down on Ceci as most so IMHO we have a defender who can play on any pair and not crater the team.
If Broberg can handle top 4 We’ve got a pretty solid right D.
Pairing your top shutdown D, with a D-challenged offensive wonderkind is not a wise decision.
Broberg’s defensive fundamentals are pretty sound. Like Klefbom, he was the top defensive defender of his class in Sweden.
Bouchard loses his mark too often or is late in defending, which means Nurse would over compensate, like he has with all the D-challenged or mobility challenged partners the Oilers have given him.
Broberg is not D-chanllenged, nor mobility challenged, only inexperienced. If Nurse Bear worked, Nurse Broberg should be fine. Bear was mobility challenged..
I doubt that Nurse & partner spend much more time against the other team’s top offensive players than Ekholm & partner do. I prefer pairs with complementary skills.
I’m not so sure.
Down the stretch and in the playoffs, Nurse still had more “tough minutes” than Ekholm – I believe there was maybe one playoff game where that was reversed (not 100% sure on that fact though).
You ignore the fact that Nurse/Bouchard have had success together, over the course of each of the last two seasons.
You seem to ignore the clear improvements/development in Bouchard’s defensive game over the course last season and he is, in fact, one of the better defenders of zone entry which should pair well with Nurse (and has).
You laud Broberg’s defence and, while we all saw a good shift against Eichel, and I personally due believe he can defend against good comp, he has been as extremely sheltered as any d-man in the league to this point. We don’t know what he can do with 20 minutes against toughs, on his off-side.
Nurse Bouchard mostly played together when the OIlers were trying to come from behind late in games. Score effects.
You don’t know what Broberg can do until you play him. What is the effing point in waiting. It is draft plus 5. He has taken a step each year. The glaring hole at right D is there. Play the guy who might fix it. What do you have to lose?
This statement would be true if it had merit. The 8-6 goal differential and 55% expected goals during their 175 minutes together while leading shows otherwise.
I don’t disagree. I think he’s best set up for success playing with Ekholm and he fits better with Ekholm and Nurse/Bouchard fit (its been proven to this point) and they both fit with McDavid.
Playing him with Ekholm fits right in to the above.
Meh: I could see him getting some games as a deep injury fill-in but has he improved as a 2-way player?
My recollection is that, yes, he could put up some points when put on McDavid’s line but he was very poor on the boards and as a 2-way player that the line with him on it gave everything back. When down the lineup, it was skating around fast and accomplishing little positive?
Has he improved as a player? Given injuries and full AHL time last year, it seems doubtful.
He should be a valued and impactful player for the Condors and, as I mentioned, solid deep injury depth.
Check in, looks around. Happy Long Weekend Folks.