The Edmonton Oilers made a change yesterday, saying goodbye to Tyler Wright and hello to Rick Pracey. Wright had the shortest term among scouting directors in Edmonton, and now holds the prestigious “Charles Tupper” award.
Edmonton’s scouting directors all brought something unique. Barry Fraser is one of the greatest in the game’s history and his three-year run 1979-81 is the best draft cluster in the time of the universal draft. Kevin Prendergast brought more of a team approach to the draft, and found some gems in later rounds. The 2007 draft was his demise, a team must get more from three first-round picks.
Stu MacGregor was the king of first-round home runs, often aided by winning the lottery. That obscures some truly inspired work (Jordan Eberle) but the later rounds were off target too often. His firing just before the 2015 draft (when Peter Chiarelli arrived) is somewhat similar to Wright’s situation in feel if not in timing.
Bob Green is my modern favourite in the group. Why? He drafted the most skilled player available every year but the Holland tunnel on Broberg. He and his scouts found gems everywhere, and he (I believe) was the force behind Stuart Skinner’s selection. Now about Tyler Wright…
THE ATHLETIC!
- New Lowetide: Is trading Philip Broberg in the Oilers’ future?
- New Lowetide: Unpacking Oilers’ decision to hire Rick Pracey, part ways with Tyler Wright
- Lowetide: 9 bold Edmonton Oilers predictions for 2023-24
- Lowetide: The NHL offseason’s 5 most risky moves and what they mean for 2023-24
- Lowetide: USHL has produced some of NHL’s top talent. Is it hockey’s best junior league?
- Lowetide: The Edmonton Oilers and their dilemma at centre
- Lowetide: NHL teams that are best positioned to take advantage of the 2024 free-agent watershed
- Lowetide: New Oilers CEO Jeff Jackson promises innovation. What will it look like?
- Lowetide: For Oilers in 2023-24, a more aggressive in-season approach is likely
- Lowetide: Why skating ability has such an impact on NHL Draft scouting and success
- Lowetide: What Oilers’ Jeff Jackson hire could mean for front-office’s future
- Lowetide: Oilers sign forward Ryan McLeod to 2-year extension: What it means for Edmonton
- Lowetide: Connor McDavid, the Art Ross and challenging Wayne Gretzky’s record
- Lowetide: How Oilers’ pro scouting upgrade helped elevate team in 2022-23
- Lowetide: Projecting Oilers defenceman Evan Bouchard’s points for 2023-24
- Lowetide: Oilers’ graduate a strong group of prospects to pro this fall
- Lowetide: How Oilers’ veteran roster, cap issues could impact Raphael Lavoie
- Lowetide: What the Oilers are getting in 2023 NHL Draft pick Beau Akey
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers top 20 prospects, summer 2023
- DNB: 10 questions with director of amateur scouting Tyler Wright
WRIGHT
I wrote about Tyler Wright earlier in the week, focusing on his first-round selections. Despite being a shoot the moon scouting director with later picks, Wright’s three first rounders lack anything close to elite offense. Now, that’s not completely fair, as he was drafting later in the first round and most of the elite talent is gone in the top 10. Still, something as elementary as my annual ‘Here Comes the Sun’ list, which ranks mostly on math, would have netted a better return with the first round selection in 2020.
- 2020 Oilers choose Dylan Holloway, my list preferred Dawson Mercer.
- 2021 Oilers choose Xavier Bourgault, my list preferred Nikita Chibrikov.
- 2022 Oilers choose Reid Schaefer, my list preferred Jagger Furkus.
My list identified Mercer, who is a strong young NHL player now. I think Chibrikov is a good bet, but have no quarrel with Bourgault. Schaeffer was a solid pick at No. 32.
I’m on record as saying the selections after the first round are exactly what Oilers fans should want from their scouting director. Loud offense is the only way to go, everything else can be back filled via trade and free agency.
Is the Holloway over Mercer pick, and for me that’s the great sin if there is one, enough to get Wright fired? I don’t think it is.
Why then, did he get fired? I think it’s more likely that someone like Steve Staios came in and won over ownership with new ideas. Staios’ impact on the Oilers 2023 draft is undeniable. Wright took only Tyler Tullio from the OHL between 2020 and 2022, and the team used two of three on OHL kids (Beau Akey, Nathaniel Day) in 2023.
I believe it’s possible Staios was coming in as general manager and had already decided Wright was gone. Pracey is from Hamilton, so is Staios, they are two years apart. It isn’t a stretch to suggest they would have crossed paths.
Or it could be Jackson, who came in with the belief the amateur side needed adjustment.
I think Pracey has inherited a solid scouting staff, a group that has been finding gems outside the first round since 2015. If there are going to be more changes on the amateur side, then they have to happen soon. As I mentioned in The Athletic article on Pracey, more math based drafting (similar to mine, but these teams have far more information) would be helpful.
I think Wright’s biggest problem is the Oilers are in a period of management transition. There’s a new sheriff in town and Jeff Jackson didn’t come here to invent fancy hamburgers. Ken Holland has no extension, Paul Coffey is circling, hell Jackson may do some of the GM work himself.
I feel badly for Wright. I work in a different industry but have had this happen to me. The worst thing is waking up one day to find out you are yesterday’s papers in a tomorrow world.
The job is to find the Mercer. Every pick.
Does anyone know who is the director of Amature scouting for the Senators?
Some of their past drafts are absolutely filthy. Can we steal some of their scouts, please?
2008 – Grab Erik Karlsson 15th OV along with 3 other players who play over 400 NHL games.
2009 – Missed on Jared Cowen at #9 OV, but draft Jakob Silfverberg in the 2nd, Robin Lehner with an extra 2nd, Chris Wideman with a 4rth, and Mike Hoffman in the 5th.
2010 – No 1st or 2nd round pick? No problem. Mark Stone in the 6th round.
2011 – Zbandejad at #6 ov. Pageau in the 4rth, and Dzingle in the 7th round.
2012 – Ceci at 15th.
2013 – Lazzar at 17th.
2014 – No 1st round pick. No good players
2015 – Chabot at 18. Colin White at 21.
2016 – Only 5 picks, nothing found.
2017 – Only 4 picks, find Drake Batherson in the 4rth round.
2018 – Tkachuck at #4.
2019 – Thompson at 19. Shane Pinto at 32.
2020 – Stutzle at 3. Sanderson at 5. Greig at 28.
It was Trent Mann for years, Ottawa fired him in July
Mcdavids contract to performance looks better and better.
Normalized to 97 with Matthews last contract and this new one comes out to 12.24 per for 8 years, 12.35 with the 9th year.
I would say unequivocally, 97 has provided >$2M extra value in comparison.
Contract efficiency, and dont even get me started on Leon.
I’m putting it down now that both Connor and Leon take $14M contracts. 97 will take less than deserved so 29 can take more. Kane and Toews with hopefully a more graceful ending.
Matthews at $13.25MM X 4 really makes the Drai $13MM X 8 deal tougher to see.
I had a feeling that Treliving was going to eff up the plan, which is:
Drai at 8 X $13MM
McDavid at 8 X $15.5MM.
Truth be told, I would kind of prefer a 5-6 year term on Drai.
Leon will always be a better player than most, but when he slows he’ll be limited a lot, like Jagr
Connor will age like Gretzky. His worst will be really good
Huh?
Jagr had a 123 point season at age 33.
Had a couple of 65 point seasons after 40.
We should all be ecstatic if Draisaitl is ‘limited’ like that.
I read that as dry humour?
Hehe, took me a while, glad I didn’t reply immediately.
Drai humour.
Context matters.
Brilliant!
My thoughts exactly sir.
We already saw in the 2022 playoffs that Drai doesn’t need to be able to skate in order to produce elite offence.
Is Kopitar slowing down? He singlehandedly has almost upset the Oilers twice.
He hasn’t slowed down much at all.
His career high is 81 points and he just scored 74 +20
Kopitar has been getting owned in the playoffs by the Oilers.
8-16 at 5v5 last two series. Certainly looks like he could use an extra step.
Doughty got ran over as well.
That LA youth better hurry up and be superstars.
Elliotte Friedman
@FriedgeHNIC
Auston Matthews 4x$13.25 extension in Toronto
2:10 PM · Aug 23, 2023
Auston Matthews
@AM34
I feel fortunate to continue this journey as a Maple Leaf in front of the best fans in hockey! I will do everything I can to help get us to the top of the mountain. GLG!
Frank Seravalli
@frank_seravalli
Auston Matthews career earnings will be $114 million before his 31st birthday.
Matthews camp was not willing to go beyond 4 years. Leafs pushed for longer.
Smart move by AM and his advisors, he should still have something in the tank to win a cup with a contender
… and set himself up for one last big payday in a cap-expanded landscape
4 years is interesting. AM locks in another $53m while setting himself to cash in on the rising cap. These are challenging decisions for NHL players to make with the risk of injury/decline set against a rapidly rising salary cap.
Players and their agents may be saving General Mangers from themselves by insisting on shorter terms.
The injury risk works both ways.
His agent is shrewd he knows the intense pressure to resign Matthews in Hockey mad Toronto and he’s milking them for every dime.
Bouch is in a weird spot. After 2 years he will put up $11 million numbers but there isn’t a team out there looking at their PP and thinking Bouch would put up more than (let’s say) $7 million numbers on their team, so he’ll have a decision to make again. The hometown discount may be a factor of the best power play of all time.
Of course, Bouchard is much more than a PP d-man – he is an elite producer at 5 on 5.
Yes, playing with the likes of McDavid at evens helps as well but when he’s talked about as solely a PP merchant, it does him a massive disservice and disregards his pedigree and his production.
Bouchard was 1.19 P/60 with McDavid last season, 1.23 without him.
.49 P/GP…tied for 53rd among league defensemen…tied with Rasmus Sandin and John Klingberg among others.
Pretty obvious to everyone, that was a function of him getting little meaningful PP time until after Barrie’s departure at the trade deadline. Bouchard was 8th in p/GP after the trade deadline (excluding players who played only 1 or 2 games, something you chose not to do for your season long comparison) when he took over PP1 duties and got 2nd pair minutes with Ekholm. Bouchard was number 1 in the playoffs. Not likely sustainable at that level, but a healthy Bouchard has a shot at 80 points this season.
Generally speaking players are judged on full seasons not slivers.
Bouchard was tied for 38th in the league with 26 EVP…the same as Rasmus Sandin and rookie Owen Power.
Noah Dobson had 30 and he too is far from elite.
I have a question. Where are you getting these stats? I use Quanthockey usually – and a quick scan has Bouchard with 26 EVP as you say, but Sandin is only at 24.
I will admit that Bouchard comes in at 42nd there rather than 38th and is indeed tied with Owen Power. Also tied on 26 EVP with Andersson, Slavin and Grzelcyk.
One thing to note as well is TOI. Bouchard was playing 15:42 average at even strength last season. Power = 20:43, Sandin 19:15, Andersson 18:52, Slavin 19:08, Grzelcyk at 16:36.
Looking at ESP/60 Grzelcyk is the only one of those players that beats him out and was an historic Bruins team.
38-42nd in the league for defenders also means he’s performing at a top pair rate. 32 teams, 64 dudes playing on pairing one and all that. He’s doing it with less minutes than the other cats.
I am not saying this to be a dink, but HH often makes things up. When he gets called out on it, he usually doesn’t reply. And then he goes on to make up more stuff to push a narrative. It’s just how he is.
https://www.nhl.com/stats/skaters?reportType=season&seasonFrom=20222023&seasonTo=20222023&gameType=2&position=D&filter=gamesPlayed,gte,1&sort=evPoints&page=0&pageSize=50
Should have written Rasmus Andersson not Sandin.
In any event, the claim was Bouchard was performing at an “elite” level at 5X5 which is demonstrably false.
That others were playing more minutes likely indicates they are trusted more not that Bouchard is superior.
And, once again, the contention was Bouchard is elite and trying to support that by saying he was playing as a top pairing level assumes that all teams have two élite defenders is specious since more than a few teams, including the Oilers don’t even have one.
Thank you for responding – and apologies for not getting back on the blog till now!
I see what you’re saying, but I think you’re also doing a bit of a job of leaving out the players round about the same level that many people would consider to be at least “good” top pair options. Bouchard is putting up the same numbers in less ice time. Or close to the guys above him in less ice time. Then also beating out players regarded as excellent NHL options how scored less points than him.
Looking at the overall scoring charts, the Oilers have Nurse and Bouchard comfortably in the top pairing ranking category for points scoring.
I would posit, that as usual it is you who is being specious. You love your goal post moving and cherry picking. Have a nice day.
imagine thinking that “context matters” is somehow reductionist
What was he without Ekholm or Broberg?
Over the course of the last two seasons, Bouchard is 18th in 5 on 5 points, ahead of the likes of Morgan Riley, Weegar, Dougie Hamilton, Noah Hannifin, Kris Letang,Charlie M., Miro Hieskanen, Pieterangelo.
trade him after this bridge contract and find another PP D man; even the return of Tyson Barrie lol
I think that might be the play. Hope he gets a cup with this crew.
Bouchard is a legit threat 5v5. He’s only entering his third season. Apparently that is the season the the rubber hits the road or something. Wouldn’t be surprised to see Bouchard improve in all facets of the game this season.
He’s a smart cookie and knows there is more to the game than just scoring points.
Absolutely agree. But the points he puts up will be inflated by the pp. Nor would I suggest those are lesser points. But he won’t be able to put those points up on any other team. His stat line will read closer to Karlsson but he won’t get paid like him, anywhere.
This a time succession in the Oiler Management group.
I see the following logically flowing from Jackson hire.
1.Jackson CEO, is a business guy that is in the prime of his career – watch for more of Katz money to spent on things not cap related. Predictive and real time Analytic, Science of Sport stuff improve the next shift.
2.Brad Holland, GM and President, will lead the Analytics and Science stuff. Law background is an edge for him.
3.New AGM from agency side of the business, watch for a female to join the management group.
4.Ken Holland move to an advisor role for one year at a time.
5.Nicholson and Coffey move on
6.Gretzky stays if he is onboard
I feel like Coffey’s manœuvred himself back into the heart of the conversation, non?
I hope not. I’ve been to his eponymous dealership and it’s very poorly managed. H
Maybe he can be a great OHL scout, but I don’t want him in management.
I think Coffey is moving up, not out.
If Coffey was in the org a few years ago, the Oilers likely draft Wyatt J. and not Bourgualt….
Johnston was ranked 40th by Bob MacKenzie IIRC and is the only player picked after #12 that year who’s played more than 15 NHL games.
The ‘Oilers should have picked Johnston’ stuff really irks me, and suggesting they would have if Coffey were involved isn’t at all reasonable IMO.
Edit that I can’t make: Moser has also played more than 15 games but he was 21 when drafted so not really the same thing.
I think a few people in the organization were pissed they didn’t choose Jesper Wallstedt who was sitting on the tee for them. You only get so many cracks at a Goalie with his pedigree. We took Dubnyk 14th overall back 2004 he played 15 years in the NHL. I was so excited when we drafted Devan he played the angles so well with size. The swarm fuked up his head for years pretty boy Eakins fuked up more than a few careers.
In fact, there were plenty of top notch goalies available for EDM to draft since 2015. Some that come to mind off the top of my head include:
2015: 1/22 – Samsonov
2016: 2/48 – Hart
2017: 1/26 – Oettinger
2019: 1/13 – Knight
In that time, they moved up to draft two goalies under Pistol Pete:
2017: 3/78 – Skinner
2018: 2/62 – Rodrigue
Listed above are goalies with pedigree that you could say were solid bets.
I do wonder if Cossa was their target in 2021 and Yz got there first, so they shifted gears on the fly. If that’s the case, Munzenberger might not be the worst ever consolation prize.
I would say 75% on the Cossa pick and they definitely switched gears on Bourgault no way was he their no 1 pick at 20.
Cossa may have been their guy, but they might also have had 3 or 4 players (including Bourgault) ranked equally at that point, prompting the trade down.
MacKenzie had Bourgault ranked 20th, and IIRC LT had him 12th, so even if you prefer Wallstadt, getting Bourgault plus a 3rd for pick #20 was solid value.
I don’t think it’s a track record thing at all. It’s Jackson setting the table with his guys for what he and the next GM want. Everyone wants their people, nature of any business.
Sometimes it even works
As LT points out, the first round picks can all be debated at this point but there is still miles to go on those.
Of course, miles to go on the “2nd day picks” as well but there are some massive up arrows in: Petrov and Wanner and some real good traction with the likes of Tulio and Berezkin and Yeseyev.
There is some thought that the 1st round pick is on the GM and the 2nd-day picks are on the scouts.
Watching the The Drop on Oilers Plus from the draft and I think that does dove-tail with the Oilers – Holland asking his scouts to “give him a name” with the later picks, etc.
So, miles to go, but I won’t crap on Tyler Wright at this point, even if the 1st round picks turn out not to be the “rights picks”. If a couple of the later round picks hit, Tyler Wright did his job well.
Just a massive value deal for 2 years.
Yup, would have loved to sign him long term but it would cost $7MM plus and I’m not even sure Bouch would sign that.
For the next two years, this will be a massive value deal as the Oilers press for a cup or two.
He isn’t just a PP merchant, he’s shown to be an elite producer of offence at evens and, of course, has years of improvement ahead of him.
His defensive issues are there but vastly over-stated. He improved greatly through last season – in particular in urgency on puck retrievals and in commitment on the boards.
He has developed in to a strong rush defender as it relates to defending zone entry. He continues to struggle recognizing danger but has years of continued growth.
The next contract will hurt but a couple of cups will soften that blow.
I will take your word on Bouchard’s improvements in the defensive zone.
Having said that, a huge portion of his future pay will be for the amount of points he accumulates on the PP.
Not sure I’m ready to pay $9m per season for that.
If you poke around Bouch’s fancies you can see the improvement over time.
Yes the Oilers will pay for PP points, but they’re also going to pay for a very large chunk of EV points and about 24min a night in TOI, now that Bouch is matriculating up the ladder.
By the end of this season nobody will be worrying about an extra million or two. The Pop is going to be spectacular.
What a way to finish out for Ken. The first time bomb he leaves for his successor, like Sneaky Pete signing Koski. I wonder if Jackson has looked into this situation. The second will be the gutting of the system when he makes his deadline ‘deals’
Unless they don’t like Bouch this would guarantee he’s gone. Or someone else with a bigger ticket. They will end up with two D making top dollar and not having top games – Nurse and Bouch
Both are good, both are limited. A team should only pay top for D like Makar and Hedman – dominant all states players who dominate all states. Because D like Nurse and Bouch come with extra expenses. They can’t carry pairs, they need help and usually not league minimum help
The correct play is long term unless you don’t want him – then trade him. So he can be affordable over the heart of Connor and Leon’s careers. He’ll get paid again when he’s 30 or whatever
The call here by Holland is that a mediocre winger you can replace for less than half, and a third pairing D who does not play consistently over the season and makes 2.75M and who’s replacement is on the roster, mean more to success than a top end offensive D that you can actually afford to keep, but need to support so can’t make 10M
I think he’s really wrong and it will cost team quality later and of for a long time
There’s a new sheriff in town and Jeff Jackson didn’t come here to invent fancy hamburgers
I almost choked on me coffee while reading this awesome wit by LT
The interview for the next Oilers’ GM should just consist of their plan to move Nurse and give his cap hit to Bouchard in 2 years.
The Bouchard and Draisaitl contracts expiring at the same time should be entertaining.
Draisaitl I don’t think will be a big issue. If he wants to stay, they will do whatever it takes to make that work. Bouchard may be a very different story.
Who else is Colorado going to shed to pickup Toews $5 million retirement raise coming this off-season? Gotta think about Rantannen getting another $2 million on top of his deal the year after too.
Maybe than can have the Mackinnon play two lines and Makar can slide up to 2C once RyJo gets laughed off the ice? Mackinnon is quickly aging though so he probably won’t be able to handle those duties. Man what a pickle.
They’re probably going to have to trade one of Rantannen or Toews, which leaves them even more hollowed out.
Its amazing how quickly Colorado totally botched their team and cap situation. They’ll probably be a bubble team in the next two years.
Totally shocking.
If Toews is the #8 Dman in the league (per the nhl.com article that was posted) then $5M for the raise is probably quite light.
I think there’s a reason he hasn’t signed an extension heading into his walk season.
They’ll still have Girard, Manson and Byram (~half of the time) holding down top 4 spots though, so I have no idea why you think they’ll see a big drop off.
Josh Manson has been playing on his reputation and not his on ice stats for two seasons in Colorado. He’s been getting fed everywhere save for Grittensity and its been getting worse even as the coaching staff has backed off his Elite TOI. Cliff edge is waiting at 31.
Girard has underperformed his deal and gets fed by Elites. A Tyson Barrie type. Which is good! But you’re asking for a lot if you’re suggesting he picks up Toews defensive slack.
Byram is the best of the bunch but concussions.
A factor here is the hollowing outof what was once the deepest forward corps in the league which is set to get worse when they have to re-up Mikko. For the defensemen you named you’re asking them to pick up a Toews sized hole as two of the three when there is very little to suggest they are capable of that for any length of time. Byram is a wildcard but defensemen with several concussions who already once sat out for a good long time for health reasons…
Same basic argument I have with Dallas.
I know, I was meaning to be obviously tongue in cheek, but it seems I missed the mark.
Colorado has lost a ton of quality through their lineup and is poised to lose some more next summer.
Haha yup that flew over my head.
My bad. As a note I’ve truly enjoyed the work you’ve been putting into your posts the last few months. Top notch stuff.
Colorado has a very well deserved reputation for elevating the play of players who were miscast elsewhere with Toews Nichushkin and Lehkkonen being prime examples.
Of course, losing Landeskog to injury is a big blow but they’ve made a series of relatively low risk bets with Johansen, Drouin and Colton that may pay off.
There is also some chatter they might be in on Elias Lindholm if Calgary can’t get him re-signed.
I almost missed your sarcasm too until I got to “Byram (~half of the time).”
Colorado has been very careful about signing older players to long term extensions. See the protracted Landeskog negotiations for reference.
There has been speculation they will trade Toews rather than sign him to a retirement contract but of course they could also move Girard and his $5 million cap hit instead since they have a ready made replacement in Byram…depending on continuing good health.
Lots of options available.
The PuckIQ numbers have all of Manson, Girard and Byram getting worse over time not better. Lookup the numbers and you can see for yourself.
You’re asking lesser players to fill a very good players hole.
Setting guys up to fail is Bad GMing and just like all your other favorites by the time it sinks in how terrible of an idea this is you’ll be on to Chicago and how their drafting and GMing has been just so perfect this whole time.
Girard and Manson aren’t impact players, possible even top 4 players by what I see
Replacing UFAs Foegele and Ceci with players making a million will save $4 million. James Neal’s $2 million per year buyout cost will be gone. The cap should go up at least $2 million a year. There will be at least $10 million extra to work with to fit in raises for Draisaitl and Bouchard.
Brown, McLeod and Broberg also need to accounted for.
Agreed. Can’t have Nurse making $9 and Bouch making $9.
Unless the person’s strategy is to employ a time machine and go back to 2021 and not give Nurse a full NMC, there is probably nothing any candidate can say to current Oiler’s management (Jackson included) that would convince them of the plausibility of a plan that has Nurse agreeing to be moved in the next 4 seasons (he switches to a m-NTC in July 2027).
If I understand correctly Pracey has been with Philadelphia for the last 10 years. Can anybody tell me what he has done there in that time that makes this a good hire?
Because change is always good 😉
My thoughts exactly. Konecny? This most recent draft was strong I’ll give him that. Although taking the next great Russian superstar in the political climate and the player being on record saying he wouldn’t go to Arizona, SJ, or Anaheim is more than a few horseshoes in his favour. Everything before has been alot of mediocre to bad.
He was just a scout in Philadelphia though, not the scouting director.
He was scouting director in Colorado for the 2009 through 2014 drafts.
In the 6 drafts he was in charge for the Avalanche hit on their three top 3 picks (MacKinnon, Landeskog and Duchene), but the only other players they drafted worth mentioning were ROR (2nd round) and Barrie (3rd round). Will Butcher was the only other player who’s played 200+ games, no one else even topped 120. The Avalanche were not a good team during that period (hence the top 3 picks).
I’m surprised that folks who’ve been so critical of Wright’s draft record appear to be all positive about Jeff Jackson’s new hire.
Pretty much what I was thinking and even as a scout in Philly I am left wondering who has been selected there that has exceeded expectations that you could perhaps attribute to his input. I guess we will get the team’s perspective eventually but I don’t see what the reasoning was as of now.
No, the reasoning certainly isn’t immediately obvious from Proacy’s resume.
Richard and I were of the few who had questioned Wright’s draft record. I haven’t seen him post anything about the new hire, so I presume you’re referring to me?
Cognisant of the fact that I’m one of the more pessimistic posters here, I was simply trying to be positive. I applauded Jeff Jackson’s voiced endeavor to strive for ‘best in class’ in all areas of the operation.
However, I do not have an informed opinion on Rick Pracey. While Pracey was the director of amature scouting for the Avs previously, it was a long time ago.
If I were in charge, I’d be looking for the person who pounded their fist on the table when the Senators picked Drake Batherson in the fourth round.
It was a more general comment. It’s true you’ve been one of the more critical (of Wright) but I feel like the negative opinion was pretty widespread.
We likely should be open minded about Pracey since there must be reasons for the hire that aren’t obvious from the outside. And we really have so little idea about almost all of these scouts who end up getting promoted to scouting directors anyway.
Pracey’s resume doesn’t speak for itself as far as I can see though, so I was surprised at the goodwill he was met with (which I found in clear contrast how Wright was being judged).
We’ll see how it goes. Jackson has certainly talked a good talk so far. And yeah, Ottawa has been drafting well for sure.
My sense was the exact opposite. I thought Wright was reasonably popular here. Richard got throttled with downvotes when he questioned how long it would take Jeff Jackson to realize that he needed to upgrade the head of amature scouting.
I do not recall my original comment being met with much fanfare either when I had questioned whether or not Wright was a downgrade from the amature scouting we already had with Green/Gretzky in place.
I’m not sure I recall Richard Roma ever saying anything positive on here so that may have been part of the response he got.
It’s weird much how perspectives differ though, I feel like tons of posters think Wright et al. drafted poorly, with most of the rest (myself included honestly) thinking he was good, not great.
It’s funny you bring up your Wright vs. Green/Gretzky comparison. I hadn’t remembered it was you who suggested it, but I was thinking of it and that we could (ironically) be seeing that happen with Wright vs. Pracey.
We’re years from being able to make any kind of conclusion like that though. LT talks about 5 years to make a call on a draft pick or class, Wright’s first Oiler picks are only through year 3, and of course we know almost nothing at all about Pracey or what his picks will look like.
Michkov wouldn’t go to California? Very interesting if true. Source?
Does anybody find it surprising that Jackson was hired? It seemed Staios was destined to be the next GM. Not saying Jackson is a bad hire, he just seemed to come out of no where. Why did they change their mind on Staios?
I think someone looked at the team and saw drafting has been below average for a long time and decided to make a change of course .
Jackson is the CEO of hockey operations, the GMs boss. Jackson will decide whether Holland remains GM, and if not who will replace him.
I think the decision to hire Jackson was totally separate (and smart!) from an organizational point of view, and the (rumoured) loss of Staois is secondary fall out.
Tom Gazzola was reporting that his sources said there was a “meeting” of the brass that didn’t really go well for Staois and he has been MIA/removed from website ever since. My guess would be that Jackson was laying out his vision of the way the club would be run in the future and it didn’t really fit with Staois’ managerial style. He may have left voluntarily given the projected new team philosophy, especially given a possible cozy fit with new owner in Ottawa. Or Jackson, rightly, told him that he is now in charge and despite any previous promises, he was going to do things a different way.
Either way, I’m excited for what Jackson will hopefully do for the organization. He seems like a much more likeable Mike Gillis (same career path) who did a lot of good for the Canucks organizing (but his downfall was he was a bit of a jerk….reportedly!)
Gillis’ downfall was that he wanted the Canucks to rebuild the team after the Sedins retired but ownership disagreed.
Trevor Linden agreed with him and lost a power struggle after ownership hired Jim Benning against his wishes.
Ownership meddling in hockey decisions has long been an issue with the latest example being Acquilini directly hiring Bruce Boudreau before Jim Rutherford came on board causing a major disconnect.
I definitely recall him being at least interested in analytics. As well, he championed player well being with proper sleep etiquette and travel schedules to keep them rested which definitely benefitted. Pretty progressive.
His problem was the permanent sneer on his face only a mother could love…
He was prickly for sure.
Spot on. They’re going the wrong way.
There are some signs that things are stabilizing since some speculate that Rutherford read the riot act to Acqulini before accepting the POHO job.
We’ll see how that works out.
And to think, it wasn’t that long ago you were praising Vancouver for hiring the Sedins to front office roles and bringing in OEL to shore up their defense. I guess the Sedins didn’t improve things like you were hoping they would.
The Jackson hire doesn’t really have anything to do with Staios.
Jackson is the CEO of hockey operations, he’s essentially replacing Bob Nicholson.
Jackson is not going to be the next GM – he’ll be hiring the next GM. It could be Staios or it could not be Staios.
My sense is that the organization knows that Kenny is going to hang it up after this year and they are simply implementing a transition plan going forward. It makes sense and it bodes well for the organization going forward. I think Kenny brought stability and righted the ship and has moved the organization forward, created a better culture, a more competitive team and built bridges with players and across the league. Now, the eye is on the future and how further improvements can be made and ensure that this is a winning organization and well regarded by players and other members of the NHL going forward. Argue what you will on the new hire to replace Wright but there is a belief someone else can do the job better. I wouldn’t be surprised if Jackson, given his role as an agent, has a short list of potential candidates he would like to speak to regarding replacing Kenny. It all seems very measured, calculated and designed to meet the long term goals Jackson spoke of in his presser. I think there is reason for more optimism beyond this year and it also protects Katz’s franchise valuation which has sky rocketed the past few years. Smart business.
HH is going to get very excited when he sees that expectation card for the Bouch.
Its going to be so weird to see a Generational Talent like (checks notes) umm Brandt Clarke (anyone else feel like its Brogan 2.0?) look so sad next to a true offensive superstar for the next decade.
Man even Colorado and all the concussion prone defensemen are going to look positively pedestrian.
This is going to be so much fun.
https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-top-players-top-20-defensemen/c-335376574
Notice anything?
Yup. That this is the kind of deliberately dickish comment that makes it difficult to interact with you on this board.
That this article is a year old?
Forward not backward, upward not downward.
https://twitter.com/domluszczyszyn/status/1694362130663743809?s=20
Here’s the latest.
https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-current-players-ranked-top-20-defensemen/c-345580664?tid=290583266
You will note that Colorado still has two of the top 20 defensemen in the league.
What part of forward not backward did I stutter on?
Cale and Beau with an awful lot of concussions for such young men. Hopefully they are thinking about their long term health this season and stop putting their heads down when they come around the net.
Just wondering… have they done the top centers yet?
Yep.
No real surprises.
https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-current-players-ranked-top-20-centers/c-345506390
Nah, I think that Brandt Clarke will be a very good NHL player and there is indeed star potential
Of course, being inundated with posts essentially locking him in as the next Cale Makar……
Play Broberg with Nurse. Don’t effin’ trade him.
If Bear could play there as a rookie, Broberg certainly can, and do better.
Who do you play with Ekholm in this scenario?
Bouchard.
And one is left with a strong 3rd pair in Kulak with either Ceci or Desharnais.
If Holland thought that was how the season would play – a $6 M third pair – he should’ve/would’ve traded both of them in June.
Nurse/Bouchard
Ekholm/Broberg
Kulak/Ceci
Couldn’t care less how much cap hit is on any particular pair – Woody deploys his cap compliant roster in a manner that he thinks will help with the hockey game and I think the above could work best.
When one has a $900K top four D (and a $4million dollar one), one can afford $6 million on the 3rd pair.
It is only for one year. Broberg allows then to have a solid veteran 3rd pair that is almost a 2nd pair….which is what a contending team needs.
Not the point. You can get a ‘solid veteran 3rd pair’ for considerably less than $6M which would allow about $3M more to be spent somewhere else. It isn’t about who can do the job it is about who can do the job for the least amount of cap space so that you can spend elsewhere and so I say again.
If Holland thought Broberg was ready to partner with Nurse he should have/would have traded Ceci in June when there was a market for him. At the very least that would have given money to sign Brown without the bonus. At the very least.
Seven defensemen is not too many. Look at what Ekholm costed at the deadline. Defensemen get injured.
Again, not the point. The point is distributing cap dollars efficiently based upon what position the money is meant to cover. You can cover the third pair with ability to move up short term in case of injury for far less than $6M.
That is a viewpoint with merit but there are other positions with merit as well.
Yes, you can find cheaper vets for the 3rd pair that “can do the job” but they won’t do the job to the same level. Maybe its more important to be
“best in class” at the 3rd pairing level than to be serviceable and upgrade elsewhere – in particular given its a position that will likely require 10 deep through the season.
Not to mention, we don’t know that Broberg can handle top 4 off-side at this point – trading away cover on the premise that he can, before we know, is risky.
I believe Wright will eventually be vindicated with the Holloway pick in that the overall body of work will rival Mercers. That said, when an organization in a cutthroat business decides to make a change, they’ll find a reason, and no amount of talking will change their mind.
Obviously this it a tell that it’s Holland last year. This will give pracey a full season to scout for the Oilers which is a good thing is it not? As for Holloway everyone is rooting for the kid injuries may have set him back a bit but he looked so pedestrian last year. Could it be that Woody is asking him to play a methodical up and down the wing game that is making him look invisible.
I watched him really closely last year, and he was quite literally off-balance for the first 10-20 games. It happens when you jump up a level and engaging in puck battles against strength and technique you’re not used to. He made great improvements before he got hurt. 13 years ago he would have been on the first or second line. Thankfully we’re in a different era and they used him sparingly. Easy to look invisibly at 8 minutes per game.
He was playing loosey goosey in preseason and looking good. As soon as the real started I remember him getting rocked a couple times. I don’t know if this effected his psyche are he just needs time to get more comfortable. I wanna see the Junior, U.W and the Condor Holloway not a 4th line plug.
Doesn’t sound like Woody and doesn’t match the eye test (i.e. how he played).
He simply struggled in his first year at the NHL level. Plays he was able to make in college and the AHL didn’t work in the NHL. Lessons were learned and, unfortunately, a few of them took some extra time to learn which doesn’t generally lead to more minutes.
The Oilers aren’t coaching the skill and creativity out of the player – he’s simply taking some time as most non-elite prospects do. I expect he’ll be much more impactful this coming season.
— The consensus seems to be that Staois is going to be GM. Wouldn’t Jackson cast a wider net?
— Head of Scouting for a NHL team is such a crapshoot position: years of marinating. Depends on what draft picks they have, where they are drafting etc. Probably not great pay. Tough gig.
I haven’t been around the blog lately to see what has been discussed, however, wasn’t the scuttlebutt that Staois is already out of the organization? He is no longer on the website in any admin position (Coffey is though). Wide speculation is he ends up in Ottawa as previously thought…
Either Jackson is planning to cast the wider net, or he already has someone specific in mind to replace Holland.
If I’m not mistaken (and I might be) there is some scuttlebutt around Staois and Pracey having a relationship back in Hamilton or something like that and its led to some speculation.
Once thing that I think we are learning, with the Jackson hire itself and then the Wright/Pracey swap is that this type of information is not leaking out of the org.
We probably won’t have any real idea on the new GM until he’s (or she’s) announced.
Elliotte Friedman
@FriedgeHNIC
·
56m
Sounds like EDM and Evan Bouchard closing in on 2x$3.9M
Viva la 21-man roster!
Does this mean Pederson is a lock at 4C? If no, it’s kinda got to be Holloway, no?
Does Lavoie fit with only 382,500$ to spare?
Could slide Ryan over, or Sutter if his PTO is an unbridled success.
Didn’t Seravalli say exactly the same thing yesterday?
This was reported over a month ago.
There is room for Lavoie on the 21 man roster.
Its up to him to make the team.