This is the summary from PS G1 last September. Edmonton defeated the Winnipeg Jets 4-0, one year after doing the same thing to the Calgary Flames. It’s interesting to see the names no longer here (Jesse Puljujarvi, Tyler Benson, Jake Virtanen, Dmitri Samorukov, Ryan Murray, Jason Demers) and contemplate the replacements (Connor Brown, Brandon Sutter, Raphael Lavoie, Ben Gleason, Noel Hoefenmayer).
THE ATHLETIC!
- New Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers’ top recall options for 2023-24
- DNB: 6 observations from the first two days
- Lowetide: Can the Edmonton Oilers ice a balanced roster in 2023-24?
- DNB: Inside the Edmonton Oilers hiring Michael Parkatti to run an analytics department
- Lowetide: Were the Edmonton Oilers’ summer moves supported by analytics?
- DNB: 10 pressing Edmonton Oilers questions entering training camp
- Lowetide: The Oilers’ best prospect is Xavier Bourgault. Will he play in the NHL this year?
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers prospects preseason stock watch
- Lowetide: Previewing the Edmonton Oilers’ roster ahead of 2023 training camp
- Lowetide: How will Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft deploy rookie Raphael Lavoie?
- Lowetide: Why Oilers’ Ryan Nugent-Hopkins remains key to Stanley Cup pursuit
- Lowetide: 5 Oilers assets that could get moved early or late in 2023-24
- Lowetide: What to expect from Oilers rookies, led by Raphael Lavoie
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers 2023-24 complete reasonable expectations
- Lowetide: What should Oilers fans expect from new scouting director Richard Pracey?
- Lowetide: Unpacking Oilers’ decision to hire Rick Pracey, part ways with Tyler Wright
- Lowetide: 9 bold Edmonton Oilers predictions for 2023-24
- 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: Edmonton Oilers top 20 prospects, summer 2023
POSSIBLE LINEUP TONIGHT
- Kane-McDavid-Brown
- RNH-Draisaitl-Hyman
- Foegele-Pederson-Ryan
- Holloway-Sutter-Janmark
- Erne-Malone-Lavoie
- Nurse-Bouchard
- Kulak-Ceci
- Broberg-Desharnais
- Niemelainen-Ben Gleason
- Skinner/Campbell
That’s what practice looked like a couple of days ago, I’ll fix it when the lines come out. Today, I’m going to talk about things that would interest me personally in terms of lineup construction.
I’d like to see Drake Caggiula and Raphael Lavoie on a line together, with (say) Leon Draisaitl at center. I mean, the veterans have to play, this is a home game, and we know damn well that Nuge-29-Hyman could fill the net tonight. So, give some others a chance.
Caggiula doesn’t get a lot of attention, and hell’s bells I suspect he’ll play mostly in the AHL (I have projected him to play 14 NHL games) but let’s see the man in action. He has given his body to Ligue nationale de hockey surely to Christ he can get a showcase in the first preseason game.
I’m not at all worried about Lavoie getting his chance. If you ARE worried, I recommend you go back in time and see the wingers who were pushing for NHL jobs in about 1995. Quality youth on the wing was coming out of the light sockets at Rexall back then. Lavoie will get his shot. Lavoie will get big time minutes in preseason, if only to increase his trade value.
I would also like to see Lane Pederson on the wing with one of 97 or 29. Don’t get me wrong, I think he’s a center and believe the best place for him is as mentor to young wingers in Bakersfield. However, a recall could happen and he’s skilled.
I’d run the living hell out of Brandon Sutter. Say four games, two of them late in preseason against strong competition. I’d play him every penalty kill.
I would like to see Xavier Bourgault get most of the early games and one of the later ones. Unlikely. I think Dylan Holloway is going to get several late games. It’s important he shows some offensive spark.
On defense, I’d like to see Nurse-Bouchard and Ekholm-Broberg but my suspicion is we’ll see the traditional alignment opening night because of Ekholm’s delayed start.
Prospects I would like to see tonight: Lavoie, Bourgault, Hamblin, Hoefenmayer, Kemp, Rodrigue.
A reminder: The stars of last preseason (here) were Dylan Holloway and Devin Shore. It’s okay to get excited if Lavoie scores a bunch tonight, but when it comes to playing the verbal saxaphone loud and proud online, make the rave-up a couple of encouraging sentences. You can thank me later.
PERSONAL NEWS
I wanted to let you know I had a physical and am fine. They don’t give you medicine for a broken heart, but time has given me peace, grace has given me a life I can enjoy and my children keep my two feet on the ground. This will be my first hockey season without Mrs. Lowetide since 1980, so if I get maudlin or sad or even grumpy please forgive me. November and December are going to be hard, so please keep your verbal fastballs in the bullpen if you’re able. I’m not going to be up for a fight and that’s for sure.
The autumn colours are here, hockey is back today, and I confess to being a happy participant in of all the wonder. The human heart is an amazing thing.
Tyson Barrie Confirms Oilers’ Failed Blockbuster Trade Attempt (thehockeywriters.com)
This is a couple days old, apologies if it’s been posted already
Tyson Barries discusses the trade to Nashville
This is the one that caught my eye, but I suppose HH has posted it already:
https://thehockeywriters.com/nhl-teams-worse-offseason-2023/?utm_source=spotim&utm_medium=spotim_recirculation&spot_im_redirect_source=pitc
No guarantees all the real Oilers who didn’t play today play tomorrow, but with Kane-Nuge-Hyman playing today there looks to be a pretty good chance for some prospects to get a spin with McDavid and/or Draisaitl.
This is a total guess at tomorrow’s lineup based on who didn’t play today and what I think would be cool to see tomorrow:
Petrov-McDavid-Brown
Savoie-Draisaitl-Lavoie
Ernie-Malone-Griffith
Hamblin-Grubbe-Tullio
Kulak-Ceci
Niemalainen-Wanner
Hoeffenmayer-Kemp
Skinner/Campbell
McKegg, Dineen, Berglund and Chiasson are the only guys with NHL contracts (who didn’t play today) that aren’t listed above.
Missed that Hamblin played so let’s guess at McKegg as 4LW instead. 🤷
Of that I think seeing if a kulak and ceci pairing has some chemistry could be huge. Notice Bouch played well with Nurse tonight.
I doubt McDavid and Drai are heading to Winnipeg…..
Responding so late ….
“They don’t give Medicine for a Broken Heart” – LT you are so awesome.
Cant imagine the emptiness; but Love that you are embracing the Oilers / Hockey and Fall Season as much or more than ever. That’s all one can do.
Wishing you many more ups than downs as you embark on your 1st season without the Mrs.
Cheers
Editing is currently giving an error message about posting too quickly. Can’t fix names!
Been like that for weeks.
A whole lot of nothing special on display. Pretty weak effort out there.
Borgeault specifically was completely MIA.
Totally agree.
Felt like there was a real weak effort – preseason notwithstanding, almost nothing physical a whole lot of nudging, flybys etc, particularly from those “working” to make the team or impress the coaches with what they can bring. I sincerely hope this years team does not have to rely on call ups like Caggiula, Hamblin, Bourgault. I thought Broberg had some moments, Holloway too.
The Kane/Nuge/Hyman trio remains dominant, at evens and the PP. Should gave 3-4 goals.
Holloway looks like he’s one of the established vets as far as standing out. All over the ice. Trying to make plays but nothing clicking yet. I would really like to see him with more skill.
Well to be fair – those three SHOULD be dominant. Holloway did not look out of place. I got very little “excitement” from any of the other “rookies”, “farm hands”, “hopefuls”. Pederson, Sutter looked more like video game nonplayer characters than guys fighting hard to make an NHL team.
It really felt like this game was played with two lines. The bottom two lines were “time filler” at best.
Not saying this is a disaster – first preseaon game and all that, but no one in the marginal category did anything inspiring.
Could only tune in for 2mins, nearing the middle of the 2nd…. My goodness I love watching Nuge play hockey.
Tonight’s PP1 is dominant.
Akey, Holloway, Nurse and Bourgault with some nice puck movement in PP2 – Akey can make some soft small space passes – it’s not just his feet.
Drake still can’t shoot the puck.
Goaltender bowled over, not a hint of response…
Olivier Rodrigue showed a lotta guts there.
I know it is preseason, but Nurse just stands there?
I wondered about that myself??? Wasn’t real dirty but still!
I would send Pedersen to Bakersfield for missing that tap-in.
Watching the team come out of their dressing room the big logo on the door looks like it spells OILIERS.
Strange design to split the E across both doors.
Have to say, Drake has been very tenacious and physical on the forecheck.
Watching the Jets site broadcast. Reminds me of the feeds I’d watch in Nuge’s rookie year. Pixillated and all, love the first preseason game.
Some hot takes
– Pederson was the fourth guy getting PP time with the big boys. Must be a good sign. He looks capable so far.
– Sutter looks better than I expected because I was expecting him to be skating in molasses. He’ll be given every opportunity to make this team.
– Akey is a heart attack.
– The AHL forward line are giving it their all.
– Gleason looked awful for a guy with the contract they signed him to, he will have to improve.
The Jets announcer keeps saying, “Icing is washed out” instead of waived off.
It’s weird.
Man this Akey kid looks very good…excellent draft pick
Sutter looks worse than Lennart Petrell in his prime
Gleason looks slow, mentally and physically.
Cags looks good, strong, fast and smart, perfect 4th liner.
Akey settling in nicely with an effortless close out and solid hit on Chibrikov to win the puck battle
Caggiula with some good work on the forecheck to cause a turnover and Hamblin with a great chance from the high slot but can’t bury.
Hyman evens the score shoveling home a rebound on the doorstep.
Should have been goaltender interference
Bouch with a great play at the blueline to keep it in at the puck to an open spot. Nuge playing in McDavid’s spot, snaps one to the middle for Kane to re-direct (in the Leon bumper spot) and Hyman buries the rebound for a PPG and a 1-1 tie.
Is this a puck they are using for this PP or a racquet ball?
PP1: Bouch, Nuge, Hyman, Kane, Pederson.
Broberg stationary behind his own net fires a beauty outlet pass to Nuge who goes cross-ice to Kane for a great chance off the rush.
Great passes by Bro and Nuge.
How can i watch the game
Jets website
Thanks just went and joined oilersplus instead haha. Free for a month with the PRESEASON23 code
Broberg shovels it right to a Jet in the slot….
Lots of slow and awkward plays so far.
And now a good outlet pass by Akey and is a material part of a great O-zone shift with a couple of shot attempts.
Unfortunately, at the end of the O-zone shift, the puck hops over Gleason’s stick for a clear breakaway and its 1-0 Jets.
Akey pulling a “Tyson Barrie” on his second shift – pinching at the offensive blue but not getting the puck and not getting the man – a forward was able to get back for support so it was only a 2 on 2 heading back and no damage.
Akey with another “not so good” play – puck with possession in the d-zone and his outlet pass through he middle isn’t on the stick and chaos against ensues.
Bourgault with a good rush up the ice after.
The defensive zone setup is clearly different.
Holloway with a massive hit early.
I am looking forward to getting a look at Lane Pederson today (and I guess Brandon Sutter).
Of course, excited to see Akey as well but he’s not competing for a roster spot – the question will be if he stops in Winnipeg tomorrow on his way to Ontario to join his team.
Bob Stauffer
@Bob_Stauffer
·
4m
The @EdmontonOilers vs Winnipeg
Kane-RNH-Hyman
Foegele-Pederson-Ryan
Holloway-Sutter-Janmark
Caggiula-Hamblin-Bourgault
Nurse-Bouchard
Broberg-Desharnais
Gleason-Akey
Rodrigue
Akey playing.
Bourgault playing with Hamblin.
Caggiula playing (Wilkins says he’ll be in Bako).
Sutter will play tonight.
Sutter centering Holloway and Janmark.
Woody:
– Veterans probably see 2-3 out of 5 games this week.
– After that you’ll see more complete lineups.
– Asked about Erne – today was his best day. Did some PK stuff. He won’t play today but will on the road in Winnipeg tomorrow.
– We’ve outlined the opportunity that is here for him. He’ll get a strong look. The same way that Sutter will get a strong look and the same way Gagner will when he’s healthy
– Different people are competing for different things. Some are competing for contracts. Some are competing for AHL contracts. Some are competing to make an impression for a call-up. Some are competing for the last few spots on our roster.
– The players will show us. Its up to us as coaches and mangers to see it.
Reid Wilkins
@ReidWilkins
·
3h
Nurse and Bouchard expected to play tonight, as are RNH, Hyman, and Kane.
Much ♥️ Al
This is going to be a season for the ages.
Good to hear you are physically fine LT, certainly helps most of us manage our days better.
Looking forward to an exciting hockey season, Lowetide and Lowdown on the daily with warm thoughts for you the person, always.
I predict a massive collective exorcization, if that is a word, mid June, 2024.
This is the team, this is the year.
Let’s go Oilers!
Mr. Tide, I rarely post, but wanted to say that I really appreciate you sharing about your feeling and mental health at this very difficult time for you and your family. I think that men of my generation and older (for reference, I’m in my mid 40s) were not frequently taught to share our feelings.
Your honest sharing shows a great example of a better way. We all, unfortunately, must go through tough times sooner or later. And bottling it up does not bode well for our mental health. I think that your sharing can make others in challenging times to not feel so alone, and hopefully provides the example for us to seek help, if we need it.
Amen
I battle to bring up the courage to drag my ass into the advocacy center everyday, I’m not there yet but reading LT’s remarks has me thinking I’m getting closer to being brave.
My heart is with you Lowetide. May this season find for you many moments of peace, and may you be blessed with memories that bring smiles to the faces of you and your kids.
Anyone know if the game at 4 is streamed anywhere or is it on TV?
Oilers+
Maybe you can find it on Onhockey.tv
I think it will also be on winnipegjets.com
I presume that’s blacked out if out of market. Just a presumption.
Keep on rockin Lowetide.
a question: is Holloway good enough for this team/league?
On a team without Stanley Cup aspirations, the answer would be an easy yes he is good enough to play in the NHL.
The better question is whether the player that he matures into be better than Dawson Mercer, who math had signalled was more likely to post offence in the NHL?
The injuries set Holloway’s timeline back a bit, but it’s way too early to say which one will end up having the better career. This season, he needs to protect the puck better – Woody lost faith in him because of some terrible giveways that ended up in the back of our net. His hot preseason last year created unreasonable expectations, and he went from flying high to crashing down to earth way too fast.
Not just Mercer.
For example:
Braden Schneider 6’3” 210 RHD 124GP 7G 29P playing for a NYR team that has cup aspirations.
Would look pretty good on the Oilers third pair on an ELC.
There are a few others.
Mercer got slid into a situation where they didn’t care if he put up a -25 his first season(which he did). It was a development year. Holloway has to fight for ice time against more competition and higher expectations.
If he doesn’t show progress this season it might be time to worry.
I think it was more than just a few terrible giveaways, I think it was the fact that Holloway was making the same kind of mistake multiple times.
More than once he made a bad line change that was part of a goal against.
Agree with both OP and Bank Shot. Mercer came on to a team with far less pressure to win. With JP and Yamo both ahead of him in the organizational depth chart, I don’t think Mercer would have had the same opportunity to play sheltered minutes that he received in NJ.
Holloway probably would have stayed in the NHL last season if he hadn’t been playing for a contender. He was repeatedly making the same type of mistakes, which less competitive teams might have let him work on in the NHL. But the Oilers had Janmark in the minors, and Kostin showed well, after Kane got injured.
Holloway’s not going to get any PP time for the foreseeable future, unlike Mercer who gets a decent chunk of PPTOI, so it’s going to be hard to compare them in the here and now. When we look back on things in 10 years, we’ll have a better idea.
I have no idea why a RHD was brought up as a point of comparison. The only other winger in that range was Lukas Reichel, who’s had more luck with injuries.
I like Holloway just fine … I just hope he can stay heathy from now on.
RHD have tremendous value while wingers are plentiful and cheap.
Thats why.
“This will be my first hockey season without Mrs. Lowetide since 1980, so if I get maudlin or sad or even grumpy please forgive me.”
Forgiveness granted!! I think your best posts are when you go off the playing surface weaving life with sport.
Jake Sloan isn’t technically an Oilers prospect, but I’m putting his hat-trick performance last night here anyway. (Also had a helper.)
Wondering how much the Oilers brass is considering signing him to an ELC at this point? Might be a diamond in the rough situation here…
If I understood the CBA section on signing undrafted kids correctly that ship sailed when he reported to his junior team.
Now we would have to wait until March 1st to sign any UFA CHLer.
Taken from: http://www.thedrive4five.blog
”For skaters who spent time in the CHL, there are two ways they could be eligible to sign. The first of two ways to be eligible is reaching the age of 20. The second of which is by playing four seasons in the CHL prior to signing. This can be attached to the rules from before, making complications that could result in a player who was drafted, didn’t sign with the team that drafted him, couldn’t re-enter the draft, and stayed in the CHL until he could sign, like former Florida Panthers fifth-round selection in 2019, Henrik Rybinski, who signed with the Washington Capitals.
No matter when players hit either of those marks for the CHL eligibility rules, they cannot sign a contract until March 1 of the hockey calendar, which is the resultant of the increase in NHL contracts for undrafted free agents starting that day.”
For those who recall, Rybinski a RS RW, was part of the Oilers rookie camp in 2021 and scored a couple. He was an unsigned Panthers 2019 5th rounder.
He definitely had my attention in that camp, but he signed with Washington on March 1st, 2022 after putting up: 21-44-65 in 47 games, a huge leap from previous seasons. His first season in the AHL he put up:
5-13-18 in 57 games.
The only CHL UFA that the Oilers have (attempted to) signed in my recent memory was Vlad Tkachev in 2014, but MacT didn’t have a firm grasp of the rules regarding European players.
Tkachev had only played 20 games in the Q, rather than a full season, after coming over from Russia at the tail end of Moncton’s season, so he was not actually eligible to sign the contract that MacT had signed him to. Tkachev tried again a couple of years ago with LA, but only played 4 NHL games.
*Edit* http://www.drive4five.blog
You beat me to posting this 😀.
He a player worth keeping tabs on. I suspect if healthy he will double his goal total from last year and possibly challenge for the WHL goal scoring title.
A reminder: The stars of last preseason (here) were Dylan Holloway and Devin Shore. It’s okay to get excited if Lavoie scores a bunch tonight, but when it comes to playing the verbal saxaphone loud and proud online, make the rave-up a couple of encouraging sentences. You can thank me later.
This is key. Its important for Raphael Lavoie to post some numbers in exhibition games. These games are highly important in order to “make the team” out of camp and get the opportunity to prove to be an NHL player come the second week of October.
Lavoie posting 4 goals and 6 points in 5 exhibition games likely gets him the opportunity to play real NHL games – the next test.
I’d like to see Drake Caggiula and Raphael Lavoie on a line together, with (say) Leon Draisaitl at center. I mean, the veterans have to play, this is a home game, and we know damn well that Nuge-29-Hyman could fill the net tonight. So, give some others a chance.
Normally the first exhibition game (of 8) would have the bare minimum of vets and those vets being the Jamark’s and Foegele’s of the org, however, with there being another game tomorrow and it being the trip to Winnipeg that noone wants to go on, I do suspect there will be a bit more substance than normal for this afternoon’s tilt.
I would love for Lavoie to get a game with the likes of McDavid or Drai or even Nuge but I’m not even sure that he gets ice with lesser established NHLers like Ryan and Janamrk – they might just run him with Erne and Malone as per camp lines.
I keep going back to the impact that he had on the ice prior to being traded. He could help the McDavid line produce but he also helped give everything back and more and, when down the lineup, well, it was giving it away as well. He seems like a good dude, he works hard and he’s well liked but, I don’t think he can be an lineup player on a contending team and I don’t think in the top 14F in this org right now.
Since he left the Oilers he’s become less and less an NHL player, judging by games play in the NHL vs. AHL.
He’s in the tier with Malone and Hamblin fighting for a call-up when the top tier of non-roster players (a mix of Pederson, Sutter, Gagner, Erne, Lavoie) get blown through.
Caggiula’s body has been ravaged by the rigors of NHL wars. He isn’t going to play up, but I’d like to see him take a spin there.
Loyalty is an admirable trait! It is my hope that the organization gives the man a chance. If he doesn’t make the team he will be a valuable asset on the farm mentoring the young guys!
I look forward to watching him in exhibition season and on the AHL TV for the season!
It may be easier for Lavoie to clear waivers if he plays with dregs most of the preseason. No way he gets by Staios are the pip-squeak Habs.
Teams generally aren’t lining up to claim 23 year old, former 2nd round picks, coming off good (not great) AHL season (90th in point, higher in goals) that haven’t been able to play an NHL game are were once again cut from an NHL roster that had a clear forward position available. Being apx $100K over league min doesn’t help.
The risk is not nil, I wouldn’t be shocked if he was claimed but much more famous names slide through waivers over October.
How about the player just plays well enough to make the team?
Unless your a time traveller we don’t know what Lavoie is. He finally got healthy and seemed to have figured it out in the second half of the AHL season. He deserved a call-up last spring, bad asset management by Sri Holland. Potential 22 year-old power forwards do not make it through waivers. Every G.M in the league would give their left nut for a Tage Thompson type panning out.
23 year old, former 2nd round picks, coming off good (not great) AHL season (90th in point, higher in goals) that haven’t been able to play an NHL game are were once again cut from an NHL roster that had a clear forward position available are generally not seen as NHL power forwards.
You keep bringing up 2nd round pick truth be told Lavoie was slated somewhere around 18-25. Usually taller skaters take longer to fill out take Eric Cole for example 3rd 71 overall takes until he’s 23 to pop. Regardless I’m cheering for a long career for 22 year-old Lavoie. Will be lucky to get 15-20 games of your old man Sutter before he gets injured.
He was a 2nd round pick, that is simply a fact.
I am also cheering for Raphael Lavoie and I have no idea why you would use the wording “your old man Sutter” – I’ve never advocated for him to be on the Oilers.
Fact. You can now accurately call Lavoie 23 years-old even though you’ve been doing it for a spell now.
I’ve been doing it in the context of if he is being waived which would happen in October, when he’s 23.
You’ve been beating the drum all Summer that Lavoie would be getting a honest chance of making the team this fall. Now after not even playing 1 Exibition Game you have him on waivers. All Sutter has to do is show a heartbeat and it’s sayonara for Lavoie. Staios is licking his chops.
I will hope that the start of the season is very cathartic for you and yours, LT.
I want to see Lavoie get some serious TOI so we know what we have. If they flush him with no real idea of what he has to offer I will be extremely unhappy!
I think he’ll get lots of ice but my question is, with who? Is it going to be with the likes of Erne and Malone the entire time or will he get a game with, say, McLeod and Foegle, for example?
A pro’s prose as always LT. Now all that is left is to do that hockey!
https://g.co/kgs/XH3dsz