Young Stars Tournament Game 2: Oilers v. Flames

by Lowetide

This is a look at a Young Stars 2014 September faceoff, I imagine some of you will track down the names to match the numbers. It’s 7:57am Saturday morning as I begin writing this blog, let’s see how many words I can write before 8:30.

THE ATHLETIC!

QUICK NOTES ON YESTERDAY’S GAME

  • Carter Savoie: I saw him good. Involved physically, drew a penalty to create a five-on-three and then made a nice pass on the Akey goal. He is a pain in the ass for opponents and becomes a target. Landed on his ass and kept on ticking, that will be key for a man who need a full season of hockey.
  • Max Wanner: A big man who played big minutes in this game. He kept things simple and moved the puck quickly and mostly well. Good in coverage and intercepted a couple of passes. I like his calm feet and his edgy play.
  • Matvey Petrov: Impressed me with his backchecking during one sequence, securing the puck and then sending it north. Nice touch on his passes and real creativity, too. Colin Chaulk’s graduates to pro hockey a year ago didn’t score as much as hoped, perhaps Petrov will also deliver low numbers in 2023-24. He’s talented enough to hang a high total given the opportunity, and he showed it last night.
  • Xavier Bourgault: He reminds me of a Montreal Canadiens prospect from days of yore but I can’t find the name yet. Bourgault is most interesting it seems when the puck is away. He is a wonderful forechecker and a high thinker. In this game he had chances and didn’t cash. One game, big whoop, but look for an increase in offense this season. It’s important for him to spike.
  • Beau Akey: He was the player I was most interested in seeing and Akey was money. Fantastic shot on his goal and a fine assist that involved transporting and getting the puck to the net. Made another nice play (deke, then goalmouth pass to Carl Berglund) that almost clicked. He’s fast, elusive, recovers well. Impressive player.
  • Jayden Grubbe: Shy as a skater, everything else works. One of my favourite plays in the contest came when he backtracked and interrupted a sortie by making sure a pass wasn’t completed in the danger zone. It was reminiscent of a play Shawn Horcoff made fall 2000. I love that play. It’s an intelligent, mindful act.
  • Tyler Tullio: Effective overall but didn’t get the kind of offensive chances you hope for in a player entering his second pro season. One game, and he did some good things, but he had a couple of looks with the puck on his stick and nothing rhymed.
  • Nathan Day: Rebounds. If he can learn to control them, he’ll have a pro career. He’s got work to do.
  • Jake Sloan: One of two men at camp the Oilers should consider signing, Sloan had an impact physically (flattened a man like an Acme Anvil) and scored two of Edmonton’s three goals. Big, strong, determined, with a penchant for going to the net.
  • Brady Stonehouse: Another man who should be signed, he shows up a lot in good places. Skilled winger, he is also a hard worker based on last night’s game.

I’ll post the lineups when they become public for today’s game versus the Flames.

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OriginalPouzar

Had to go to bed before the end of the 3rd (there will be enough 8/8:30 starts between the Oilers and Condors coming up to devastate my schedule) but its nice to wake up and see that the Oilers still haven’t lost in regulation in this tournament in a decade.

BornInAGretzkyJersey

I know Petrov has a decent tally of assists to his name, but with the fanfare about his shot, seeing his playmaking has been a nice +1.

iHockeyWpg

Back bar and down by Petrov!

BornInAGretzkyJersey

Calgary’s goalie was Petrov’ied by that one timer.

Harpers Hair

Elliotte Friedman
@FriedgeHNIC
This was Adam Fantilli’s first tonight…he also had a hat trick (and five points)

https://x.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1703216821841613262?s=20

(Click for video)



Tye

Literally who? (sorry, this sir, I think you took a wrong turn, this, is an Oilers blog)
Also, the question is of the rhetorical variety.
Cheers.

meanashell11

You’ll get used to it Tye. He’s an asshat who comes here to annoy. Sort of the hemorrhoid of the internet.

OriginalPouzar

Petrov shoots one in off Berglund and the game is tied.

BornInAGretzkyJersey

More of a Picasso than a Rembrandt but I’ll take it.

iHockeyWpg

Beauty snipe by Petrov!

BornInAGretzkyJersey

Five years from now if you had Bouch, Akey, and Wanner, I think you’re pretty happy.

Tyler Wright, to Ken Holland on the draft floor after selecting Beau Akey.

OriginalPouzar

As I’ve been saying for a year now, Oilers Plus has amazing behind the scenes content – tons of quotes like that on the various episodes of The Drop.

Todd Macallan

Have been binging it after finally signing up with the rookie camp deal and you are correct, terrific behind the scenes content.

BornInAGretzkyJersey

Does anyone know the jersey numbers, even just the more prominent prospects?

OriginalPouzar

Akey 82
Wanner 88
Bourgault 54
Petrov 43
Grubbe 42
Tulio 68
Savoie 48

BornInAGretzkyJersey

Thanks OP.

OriginalPouzar

I hope Carter Savoie can maintain some confidence heading to main camp. He’s had a ton of great looks though 4.5 periods but hasn’t been able to cash.

He’s also taken quite a bit of punishment as he’s playing in the hard areas on the boards.

iHockeyWpg

And he’s getting up after each hit, needs an injury free season.

Looks a bit slow out there.

iHockeyWpg

Another quick release by Petrov.

OriginalPouzar

There is Stonehouse, snipes one from distance on the PP – quite the shot to tie the game.

iHockeyWpg

Nice long range snipe by Stonehouse!

iHockeyWpg

Quick toe drag release by Petrov off the left wing.

iHockeyWpg

Watching live here in Penticton. Great pace to start. Mostly Oiler fans in the crowd.

OriginalPouzar

Wow, what a play by Savoie on the second shift of the game. Picks off a pass while defending, shocking acceleration, powers downs the left side, cuts in alone on the goalie. Doesn’t cash but great play.

Victoria Oil

His speed has been a pleasant surprise.

MrEd

What am I missing?

Harpers Hair

The plot?

MrEd

Dammit. Knew I could count on you.

meanashell11

and some place a village is missing its idiot. guess they forgot to look under the bridge.

Harpers Hair

In Florida I hear.

OriginalPouzar

I think we all (or maybe just me) assumed that his entering in the players assistance program was related to substance abuse but, as it turns out, Spencer Knight has been dealing with OCD issues that was cratering his ability to function:

https://twitter.com/TheHockeyNews/status/1703100739076133147

Darth Tu

I’m impressed that the NHLPA is offering assistance beyond the booze and drug programs. Good for Spencer seeking out help, and good for the PA for helping him out. I liked him a lot in his draft year and kept waiting on him blossoming – hopefully he gets there now.

Todd Macallan

That is good to hear that support is there for him and he was open to engaging in it.

If memory serves Corey Hirsch also struggled with OCD. With goalies generally being so routine based I wonder if that can exacerbate OCD tendencies or also if ppl with those tendencies gravitate towards goaltending due to the focus on rigid routine, structure and minute details.

rich tm

Correct. As did Connor Ingram (now in Arizona).

jp

Jayden Grubbe: Shy as a skater, everything else works.

How shy? I wasn’t able to watch but didn’t see any mentions of his skating (good or bad) in the notes folks made from last night.

Pretendergast

Easy internal reference, far less refined Philp. Very similar games. Will have to hone defensive side as his side to side movement especially can leave him really flat. Will need to play very smart to survive with his current toolkit. As many young players show, he doesn’t have great situational physicality. He was strong down low but can wander to the top of the circles (and crunch someone) but get exposed. Will learn at the pro level. Strong, heavy shot from this observer. Obvious small sample size but saw him with Red Deer too.

I think his best case scenario is a Bjugstad clone or Dollarama Jamie Benn type player (physical, imposing, reliable 2 way but not a driver). 4th line. Always rooting for more. Doesn’t hurt the total contracts to find out.

defmn

Not to pretend to answer for Lowetide but below in the comments is the link to a post pasted by €√¥£€^$ which I have copied here as well. If you go down to the third video in that story from ON it features Grubbe breaking up a sortie by the young Jets. Watch his stride after he makes the turn to head back up ice compared to his teammates.

It looks a bit ‘lumbering’ to me if that is the right word.

What do you think?

https://oilersnation.com/news/young-stars-gdb-1-0-wrap-up-beau-akey-scores-first-goal-with-edmonton-oilers-in-3-1-win-over-winnipeg-jets

Victoria Oil

Defmn, you mentioned Penticton the other day. Any restaurants you would recommend or bars to mingle with media riffraff? Thanks.

defmn

It’s been a few years for me now and restaurants change but the bar to mingle was always whichever hotel the players were booked into.

jp

The 5th one where he breaks up the centering pass?

I guess you could describe his stride that way, but he got up the ice more than fine. Draisaitl looks quite lumbering at times too. On that play Grubbe kept pace with Akey carrying the puck and Tullio on the other wing, and those guys ‘should’ be quicker than the bigger man Grubbe.

I guess I would say that clip doesn’t raise a red flag for me, though I don’t doubt he has work to do on his quickness and agility (and potentially other areas of his skating).

€√¥£€^$

Riffing off of JP, he looks good enough to me as far as speed and mobility. And compared to Berglund, he is a burner.

If it is a liability, it will be obvious when he faces NHLers in exhibition games. Hopefully he gets lots of shifts at at least a couple of games, but he clearly is a high IQ/high effort player who uses his size to his advantage and plays in the guts of the game.

Lots of intelligence on this roster, IMO.

jp

Thanks for the replies everyone.

defmn

That seems right to me. Once he gets going he is moving but the first few steps look like they could use some work. Not that uncommon in bigger, younger men. No idea if this is what LT saw or it was something completely different as this is just a few seconds of video.

pts2pndr

By my view last night I would 100% agree with LT’s assessment. Skating could be a problem.

Darth Tu

I likely missed this over the last few weeks – but where is Munzenberger?

€√¥£€^$

Intelligible – NCAA, but he was AWOL at Development Camp and missing lots of games in his past season.

Lots of mystery, no info at all, could be injury.

Lots to like with the player still:

https://oilersnation.com/news/edmonton-oilers-prospect-countdown-11-luca-munzenberger

€√¥£€^$

*edit* “Inelligible”

$&@@!?&

defmn

I think you got it right the first time. 😇

€√¥£€^$

Lol

Darth Tu

Thanks for the info – and I did chuckle at Intelligible 😀

€√¥£€^$

This is a look at a Young Stars 2014 September faceoff, I imagine some of you will track down the names to match the numbers.

55 – Leon
58 – Khaira
72 – Greg Chase
74 – Nurse

€√¥£€^$

*edit* 54 – Khaira

OriginalPouzar

As an aside, looks like JJ may be heading to the Wild camp (Friedman).

€√¥£€^$

Bruce Curlock at ON with an excellent video breakdown of the standouts from last night, also shows Jake Sloan some love:

https://oilersnation.com/news/young-stars-gdb-1-0-wrap-up-beau-akey-scores-first-goal-with-edmonton-oilers-in-3-1-win-over-winnipeg-jets

OriginalPouzar

Mentioned at The Athletic as a guy that could be traded in-season (and it makes sense) is Adam Henrique.

If the Oilers don’t need to make a material upgrade on D, perhaps Henrique would be an addition to contemplate.

I’m not sure he’s a full time center any more but, as a depth center on the Oilers, I’m sure he could handle the role, still a high minute PK guy and he did have 15 goals at 5 on 5 last season in 62 games.

Would need double retainment even if the Oilers stay out of LTIR and accrue.

jp

He was 2nd on the Ducks in FO/game last season (narrowly behind Strome). Thought they had 6 guys who took ~500 faceoffs. He and Grant were the only two over 50%.

So yes, he does still play C, and I agree he could be a really nice add.

OriginalPouzar

Jake Sloan: One of two men at camp the Oilers should consider signing, Sloan had an impact physically (flattened a man like an Acme Anvil) and scored two of Edmonton’s three goals. Big, strong, determined, with a penchant for going to the net.

€√¥£€^$ showed me on here and at The Athletic that signing a player like this is indeed an option (as other teams have done so) but I still don’t understand how an NHL team can sign a player that is still at a draft eligible age and has been playing in the CHL.

€√¥£€^$

As an example off the top of my head, Phillips Myers was signed as an 18 year old during the Flyers training Camp in 2015.

Essentially any CHL player is eligible to be signed after they are undrafted, the only stipulation is that they have to be signed before they return to their CHL team. So Sloan & Stonehouse are definitely eligible.

I haven’t found the actual rules on this, but it is supposedly in the CBA.

OriginalPouzar

OK, thank you – so, because they were past in the draft once, they can be signed to the NHL prior to joining their CHL teams – like CHL training camps are already on-going but I guess they just haven’t reported yet?

defmn

Sec. 8.9 (b) of the CBA covers this.

Eligibility for Play in the League. No Player shall be eligible for play in the League
unless he:
(a) had been claimed in the last Entry Draft, or was ineligible for claim under Section
8.4; or
(b) had been eligible for claim in the last Entry Draft, but was unclaimed, and:
(i) had played hockey in North America the prior season and was age 20 or
older at the time of the last Entry Draft, and signed an SPC which was
signed and registered with the League between the conclusion of the Entry
Draft and commencement of the next NHL Season.
(ii) had played hockey in North America the prior season and was under age
20 at the time of the last Entry Draft, and signed an SPC which was signed
and registered with the League between the conclusion of the Entry Draft
and commencement of the Major Juniors season (except that if such
Player had signed an NHL try-out form, which was signed and registered
with the League during the aforesaid time period, then the deadline for
signing and registering with the League an SPC with such try-out Club
shall be the commencement of the NHL Season).
(iii) had played hockey outside of North America in the prior season and was
age 22 or older at the time of the last Entry Draft and signed an SPC which
was signed and registered with the League between the conclusion of the
Entry Draft and the commencement of the next NHL Season.
(iv) The words “eligible for claim in the last Entry Draft” in subparagraph (b)
above mean “eligible for claim in all rounds of the last Entry Draft.” The
words “the prior season” in subparagraph (i), (ii) and (iii) above mean “a
full season prior to the last Entry Draft.”

€√¥£€^$

Good stuff!

Thank you

OriginalPouzar

Thank you for that.

€√¥£€^$

For those who missed the Young Stars games vs the Jets and would like to watch, link is here:

https://www.youtube.com/live/GaZ1Lbvfd_Y?si=PUl5SggrlXH9p4ZP

€√¥£€^$

I was curious about the roster, so I competed 2022 vs 2023.

There were 7 non-affiliated players (NHL, AHL, ECHL contracts, Ganske the lone East Coaster this season) on the Oilers last season, 3 forwards, 3 D and 1 G.

This years’ roster has 11, 5 forwards, 3 D and 2 G. Unlike previous years where there were injuries (Lavoie in 2022 comes to mind).

Although the Oilers have the highest number of NCAA prospects (5) they’ve had in my recent memory and only 2 of the 13 (a very small number) players on their reserve list in attendance, this still speaks to the diminishing size of the Oilers prospect pool.

€√¥£€^$

$&@&!! edit feature

Reja

Wow I didn’t relize how young that Akey kid is. Very impressive game he looks like he’s in grade 9 he still has time to grow and obviously fill out. Could this be our 2nd round Jeff Petry hit we are long overdue for.

OriginalPouzar

I agree with LTs evaluation of most players.

My quick notes were:

Akey was the best player on the ice for either team – he must have had 10 shot attempts and what a shot for his goal.

Jayden Grubbe really impressed me – VERY tenacious and relentless – make plays at both ends of the night all night.

Savoie showed some nice jam and a nice pass on Akey’s goal – he’s going to score 20 in Bako if healthy.

Bourgault and Berglund were very good as PK1.

Bourgault showed nice skill all night and Berglund looked 10X better than in any of his AHL games last year (I guess this is lower quality play than the AHL though).

Wanner was great on PK1 and solid defensively all night long.

Tulio did his thing all night long – touched the puck alot.

Petrov did not stand out.

Chiasson did not stand out.

———————

Here is hoping all the “real prospects” are in the lineup tonight as I do think they have two extra D and two extra forwards they will want to work in.

———————-

Is it too early to start complaining about 8:15 start times?

cowboy bill

Didn’t watch the game, watched the ELKS instead. They have all of a sudden become worthy enough to jump the Stampeders for the last but not least playoff spot in the west.

Just from what I’m hearing Jake Sloan & Brady Stonehouse are a couple names to keep an eye on along with Beau Akey to no surprise.

OriginalPouzar

I watched both given the Elks game didn’t start until it was over – both fun viewings!

I didn’t notice Stonehouse much but Sloan was impossible to not notice.

meanashell11

I missed the game as my father-in-law passed away last night. I thank everyone for posting updates. I really want to try and catch the game tonight!

Todd Macallan

Sorry to hear. Hopefully you can catch the game tonight and have one of yours or his favourite beverages in his honour.

meanashell11

He was a wine guy so that is on the menu tonight!

He had a good life, 91 years old. He was a lad from Chicoutimi who made a fortune, traveled the world, but still lives in the same house he bought in the 50’s.

Little Johnny Frostbite

Condolences as well. I’d love to point out, that one day when I pass, if a SIL or significant other pops on to a hockey blog, and makes me sound like an amazing guy; I’m looking down (or up) (or not at all) and loving the sentiment…what a lovely way to celebrate someone. Hat tip, sir. Sounds like you had an amazing person in your world. 🙂

meanashell11

Thank you. I will definitely be looking up! Good news, all my friends will be there!

Mayan Oil

Many condolences, mi amigo. If I might suggest, one of my faves is a nice Pinot Grigio. If you have never tried one, they are especially nice.

meanashell11

I recently completed the Camino de Santiago and have come back with a huge crush on Spanish and Portuguese wines!

Todd Macallan

Thats great to hear, what a great run we should all be so fortunate.

If Beau if playing tonight you can have a sip everytime he does something smooth and effortless. I dare say your head would be Akey the next morning.

€√¥£€^$

My sincere condolences.

meanashell11

Thank you.

meanashell11

Thank you

meanashell11

Thank you LT.

Victoria Oil

Sorry to hear about your loss, bud. Enjoy a nice bottle or three tonight.

meanashell11

I’m all alone holding down the fort here in CT while the rest of the family headed to Chicoutimi on Wednesday. I think (hope!) one will be enough and I’ll watch the game tonight! I am jealous you are in Penticton!

OriginalPouzar

Heartfelt condolences on your loss.

fishman

Nice to hear some positive reports from last nights Penticton game. Go Elks!!!! Impressive win last night over the Riders.