Making decisions on young hockey players is easier when the men being discussed are in their 20s. No way on earth a teenager was going to see this roster in 2023 fall, and I was beginning to wonder if we’d see a rookie at all. Today’s the day we (reportedly) see cuts. Credit to the Oilers, their prospects and pro signings made for some difficult decisions.
THE ATHLETIC!
- New DNB: Jack Campbell has earned the right to start opening night for the Oilers
- Lowetide: Why Mattias Ekholm’s injury situation is a worry for the Oilers
- Lowetide: With Oilers rookies in short supply, expect more from sophomores
- DNB: Five intriguing Edmonton Oilers developments from the preseason
- Lowetide: Do the Edmonton Oilers have a blockbuster trade in their future?
- DNB: Oilers release Brandon Sutter from tryout offer
- Lowetide: Oilers reaching critical pressure point with prospect Raphael Lavoie
- DNB: A third Edmonton Oilers tenure, no matter the odds, is Sam Gagner’s goal
- Lowetide: Should the Edmonton Oilers alter how Connor McDavid is deployed?
- DNB: Oilers, Flames unveil Heritage Classic jerseys: How do we rate them?
- DNB: Vincent Desharnais Q&A
THE NUMBERS
There isn’t much to say, the Oilers won a game they way they’d like to during the regular season. Smart goaltending, impact players scoring. You’d like to do a little better on the shot clock in the final two periods (31-13 Seattle) but Jack Campbell had another great game and now we wait for the cuts.
Those demotions could come today, this morning. I think Raphael Lavoie grabs the final roster spot or gets traded (have been saying this from the start). I think Adam Erne didn’t make it close and Lane Pederson will serve the organization more as No. 1 center in Bakersfield.
The defense is a different story because of injury. Mattias Ekholm and Brett Kulak are hurt, meaning that Ben Gleason and Markus Niemelainen are hanging around.
Gleason earned a spot, more than any of the forwards who were competing for the No. 12 spot. I don’t believe he makes the team, but he had the best showing.
Uncertain what opening night will look like because of the defense situation. I’ll update this post when the transactions come in.
BAKERSFIELD CONDORS
Xavier Bourgault scored twice last night in the Condors first exhibition game. That’s exactly what the organization needs to see. Bourgault showed tremendous range last season as a rookie pro but the offense was a little disappointing.
New for The Athletic: Why the Oilers’ veteran-laden AHL team offers better depth
https://theathletic.com/4939302/2023/10/07/oilers-ahl-team-gleason-pederson/
Summarizing!
Many crooked numbers put up by the Oilers NA prospects, particularly by the NCAA contingent.
Leading the way was Mazura with a goal and two assists.
Määttä scored twice and went 9-of-13 (69.2%) on the dot.
Lachance rung up two assists in his collegiate debut.
Copponi scored a power play goal.
Münzenberger and Akey each had an assist, the latter with 5 SOG.
Day was lit up again, allowing 7 goals on 27 shots in another loss. The funny part? His GAA actually improved after tonight.
Stonehouse was held without soup despite 6 SOG.
Fun fact: Four of the prospect points came in OT: Copponi’s GWG and assists from Lachance, Akey and Mazura.
I believe I read (I think from Curlock) that LaChance was playing 2nd line – which is a pretty big deal for a true rookie at Boston U.
Lachance was indeed listed as 2LW. Whether he was there the whole game, I know not.
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Re: Day. Very early days (haha), but holy cow, that is looking like a waste of a pick.
21 GA on just 86 shots.
8.70 GAA
75.6 SV%
Just what did the scouts see in him, anyway? Or is Flint’s entire D corps(e) comprised solely of turnstiles?
Tarkus, I also thought Day was a wasted pick. I can’t quite comprehend that one. I kind of look at the Stonehouse signing as a pseudo make-up pick for Day.
Non sequitur, I saw your Riders nation did a nice tribute for George Reed. Great player and a great man.
Highlights of Vermont’s game in which Määttä scores the first two goals then almost gets the hatty on the PK:
https://youtu.be/m–jErmybCA?si=vxhrDN24Qnwn5-Sm
Mazura opening the highlight reel with a goal and finishing it with a secondary helper on the OT winner:
https://youtu.be/b6GktTb2ieM?feature=shared
Since April 1st, including regular season, playoff and preseason games:
Stew is10-7-1 0.898 2.78
(1100 minutes played)
Soup is 5-0-1 0.972 0.86
(419 minutes played)
For me a successful season would see Campbell start in about 47 and Skinner about 35. Something like that.
Skinner got over worked last season imo and it doesn’t take much to lower results in a position that relies as heavily on reflexes and concentration as playing goal.
Looks like Jack Eichel is ready for a new season.
2 goals and 5 points in a Vegas win over the Kings this afternoon.
And Talbot is in mid season form already
Did you watch the game?
Talbot wasn’t the problem.
Im sure the goalering was fantastic with his 828 save percentage
Strange that Vegas won 7-4 given the Kings have Phenom Defenseman and Calder Candidate, Brandt Clarke, in the lineup.
Waitaminute..
Don’t you EVER get tired of embarrassing yourself? 🤣🤣🤣
How about Carolina-Dallas Stanley Cup Final Book it!!!
Do we have a bet or will you ghost for another two days.
I’m sure you will duck duck goose.
Mazura opens the scoring with an ES goal less than two minutes into the match.
Copponi scores the OT winner on the power play in a 3-2 Merrimack win.
Just noticed, if Kulak got moved before day 1 in a trade then the Oilers could run a full roster with 700k left over using the players still in edmonton.
I think that might be a stretch to happen to be charitable… but you never know! Stranger things have happened.
Just an option. I think running 23 players is more important than a small upgrade at 3ld.
Would also allow space at the deadline as right now we will have none.
I really like Gleason
I don’t think they would move him for non roster assets at this time. If he moved at all this early, I would expect one of a solid 3 RD or 4C, plus draft picks or prospects to replenish the cupboards. Then they would likely be running a 22 or 23 man roster depending on actual dollars in and out.
I suspect it is too early to anoint one of Gleason or Neimalainen as his immediate replacement – but it might become clearer later in the year to do so.
As well as Gleason has played, its quite tough to see him being “as good as” Kulak and this is likely a case of putting too much value in to exhibition, as we are often apt to do.
At the same time, hey, you never know, right? Maybe he’s one of those guys that do “put it together” in his mid-20s and maybe the gap between them isn’t worth $2MM?
Seems a long shot but we don’t know what we don’t know.
Jason Gregor
@JasonGregor
Oilers make four moves. Still need to move out two forwards and two D-men. Sounds like Kulak injury isn’t serious. So no LTIR for any Oilers to start season.
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Of course, we know not to fully trust verbal re: injuries not being serious.
Geez, OCD much.
It’s hockey. Everyone here is potentially OCD when it comes to hockey. Jaja. It IS a hockey blog…
Knowing that citing “bumps and bruises” and “trending well” doesn’t necessarily mean close to playing is important when analyzing roster moves and possible future decisions. I’d like to think Kulak is a solid option for Wednesday night’s game, or, if not, shortly thereafter, but he could be out until November for all we know.
Sure but he may also see multiple specialists in that time before making a decision of how to proceed and rather coach not play doctor
A player needing to see multiple specialists would not line up with him having “bumps and bruises” now would it?
Kind of my point – he very well could be needing to see multiple specialists notwithstanding the official verbal the implies no real worry.
Given that they pretty much MRI everything for athletes and many findings don’t have a standardized across the board treatment I would very much disagree.
Sometimes even a very mild injury can linger much longer than expected
Of course, we know not to fully trust verbal re: injuries not being serious.
======================
That is because all of us here are over the age of 12 and know that people who are in charge have the responsibility of managing information to the public for the good of the organization they work for.
Not to mention HIPAA.
I’m pretty sure everyone has to send their medical records to OP
As a Coach I would scale back on the fibbing and be like Sgt Schultz. You don’t want to get a visit at 3 in the morning by Carmine and Anthony.
Or Major Hochsteter.
and the Vegas bookies!
Jesus, let it go.
Why, not being able to take the coach at face value in these matters is an important factor when discussing roster and lineups.
I hope Kulak plays the season opener – one wouldn’t think bumps and bruises would keep him out.
If Kulak and Ekholm are both not quite ready I think Kulak will have to take one for the team and go on LTIR.
If they are just going to both need a couple of more days, I don’t think try and play the system and have a player they value out for 7-8 games longer than needed – they’ll play short unless the injury truly is one for term.
As we have seen with Tampa, Vegas and previous teams before maybe not to the same extent perfect bending the grey area rules. Something needs to give there has been way to much hush hush on Kulak and Ekholm availability plus all the Gleason pimping.
Still to lose 2 F and 2 D, barring possible LTIR on D for either of Ekholm/Kulak.
I expect Erne will be signed to some kind of deal and sent down and with Janmark’s performance at C, that Pederson will join him. If no LTIR, then Neimalainen and GLeason are going down. If there is a LTIR issue, then one or both of Gleason and Neimalainen could stick to start the season.
Yea I think we are looking at Ryan/Janmark splitting 4 th line centre duty when they go 12 + 6. One of the 4 th line (Janmark,Ryan,Lavoie) comes out when going 11+7. Of course a trade in season may change that.
Of course if Neimalainen or Gleason gets an extended audition due to someone on LTIR and does well, it might precipitate a move at or around the deadline… hmmm. Could end up being very impactful, Capwise, in a good way. Ceci or Kulak are then vulnerable due to salary vs role.
Edmonton Oilers@EdmontonOilers·1m
Calvin Pickard, Phil Kemp, Cam Dineen & Brad Malone have been placed on waivers for the purpose of assignment to the @Condors
.#LetsGoOilers
So Lavoie remains. Not a surprise there.
But that would leave all of Pederson, Gleason and Niemalainen also still with the team. So someone is going on LTIR I guess.
Or they might stagger the cuts. IIRC they’ve done that in the past.
The Gleason and Lavoie vs. Pederson cans have been kicked down the road. Likley need more time to determine possible LTIR placement of a d-man.
Edmonton Oilers
@EdmontonOilers
·
24s
#Oilers roster moves
Calvin Pickard, Phil Kemp, Cam Dineen & Brad Malone have been placed on waivers for the purpose of assignment to the @Condors
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The Gleason and Lavoie vs. Pederson cans have been kicked down the road. Likley need more time to determine possible LTIR placement of a d-man.
10 minutes until the waiver wire placements are due for the day.
Woody did say there would be cuts today.
I presume Malone and Kemp are waived today (and Erne likely officially released from his PTO.
If Gleason is not on waivers, it could signal the potential for one of Kulak or Ekholm to be on LTIR – the only way they can keep Gleason (and both Vinny/Broberg).
Will Pederson (or Lavoie) be waived today?
The one that would be on the outside looking in could have their roster spot saved if there is going to be an LTIR placement (i.e. the Gleason situation).
For what it’s worth, goaltending from the preseason
Georgiev in Colorado with a .880 save%
Markstrom in Calgary with .885
Vladar with a .918
Talbot in LA with a .909
Grubauer in Seatle with .828
Thompson in Vegas at a nice .958
Hill also at .912
Oettenger in Dallas at a nice .933%
Yes I know it’s pretty season and small sample size. That said, Colorado best hope Georgiev does better. Seatle as well could be in a world of trouble. In Calgary Vladar might be the better goalie. LA is a wtf in goal with Talbot and Rittich. Nstattrick has LA only playing 3 preseason games so even smaller sample.
Vegas, Dallas and Edmonton are all starting with goalies fully in the groove. These 3 teams are also who I think will top the West by season end.
One thing I noted in Woody’s post-game was when he was asked about the 21 man roster and he went straight to it leading to 11/7 more often.
He talked about only having 12 forwards does not allow them to shuffle in the 13th (or 14th) forward for “accountability” and “accountability”, which he said is very important, will lead to 11/7.
He’s already setting up for games with 3-4 minutes for the likes of Lavoie and pretty much no rope for a guy like Lavoie to make a mistake.
I’m certain there’ll be an injury or two within the first 10-20 games that’ll allow Lavoie a consistent spot in the lineup.
In Colombia they’d say to you: Fresco, hermano. Ie, chill out dude.
First you had a bird all summer about Lavoie taking his Qualifying Offer, and now you’re all worked up about Woody planning to lean on a veteran lineup.
RL will get his games. I predict 40-60 of them, and he could very well be trade bait at the deadline.
It would appear that with the 21 man roster it’s clear they can go either way, with 11 forwards or 12 forwards, 7 defensemen or 6 defensemen. That’s how they deal with the reduced roster.
I don’t think Woodcroft wants to give anything away at this time. It’s difficult to jump to any conclusions. They have a unique roster. Who knows what new wrinkles he might have instore for the roster this season?
Lots of talk, including among some with platforms (like Rob Brown, etc.) about Gleason sticking with the team if Ekholm or Kulak can’t play game 1.
Lets not forget, unless they are waiving and trying to assign Deharnais (or assigning Broberg), each of which are highly unlikely, they cannot keep Gleason unless one of Ekholm or Kulak are placed on LTIR and missing at least 10 games AND 24 days.
Regular IR does not help.
On that note, Woody was asked about Kulak after the game last night and he said he was in the “bumps and bruises” group but he’s trending the right way and has been skating.
Of course, Woody doesn’t have a ton of credibility with respect to injury timelines and, if Kulak is hurt for a longer term than is being implied, and he is an LTIR placement candidate, they could keep Gleason and BOTH of Lavoie and Pederson to start the season.
They would not accrue cap space daily at that point and, of course, Kulak is good at hockey and that would be a loss.
Normal course (i.e. no LTIR placements) and I see both Gleason and Pederson on waivers, both clearing and both playing top minutes in Bako and call-up options.
It smells like either Ekholm or Kulak are going on LTIR with all this gushing over Gleason. Ekholm is the front runner but I’m still picking Kulak as hitting the LTIR list
Unless I am wrong he can be retroactively placed on ltir.
Not to start the season, no.
Shame but your right. So would it be better to start in ltir from the off-season or keep a salary cap compliant team for day 1 and then place someone on ltir?
Prospectamanaz!
With the NCAA season starting this day–albeit with exhibition/non-conference games–every Oilers NA amateur prospect is in action. And with the House of Stone recently joining the House of Oil, that makes the group an octet.
All of last year’s NCAA prospects return except for Brind’Amour who graduated and became a free agent. He has been replaced by Shane Lachance who begins his freshman year with BU, and also by recent draftee Matt Copponi of Merrimack.
Lachance’s Terriers are ranked the #1 team in the country heading into the weekend (the defending champs of Quinnipiac #2).
Vermont (Münzenberger, Määttä) @ noon
Merrimack (Copponi) @ noon
Ottawa (Stonehouse) @ 1 p.m.
St. Lawrence (Mazura) @ 4 p.m.
Boston University (Lachance) @ 5 p.m.
Flint (Day) @ 5 p.m.
Barrie (Akey) @ 5:30 p.m.
All times, at all times, are Gadsby time.
A Sporadic Update Warning is in effect as I’m on the road most of the day.
Woohoo! I miss your prospect coverage almost as much as I miss LT during the offseason doldrums. Have you ever thought about doing a prospect oriented blog – perhaps a title could be Prof. Tarkus’ Prospectorium? I would follow it avidly! You have some talent as a writer, I would say… could cover just the Oil, or even just the Pacific if the whole league is too big of an apple to bite…
SIde note… it appears post editing is back up and functional! Yupi, as they say in Mexico…
¡Gracias! ¡Usted es muy amable!
If I ever do blog, it’d be mainly about music rather than sport. I wouldn’t be able to blog daily like our host and friend–it’s incredible how he does it.
COuld be an omnibus blog… Music m-w-f, football Tues, Hockey thursday etc for example? Scotch saturday, steak sunday? The possibilities are endless!
Maatta with 2 goals at evens, 4 shots and 9-4 in the faceoff circle in a 4-0 win.
Munzenburger with an assist.
Great start for the program which has been a tire-fire the last few years/
Rishaug and DNB both reporting on the Oilers having brought in performance coach George Mumford to work with the team and that he has been seen around the rink recently. I suspect a likely Jeff Jackson influence based on his verbage on best in class goal for performance and sport science moving forward.
He has worked with MJ and Kobe in the past and I think this is a great example of leaving no stone untirned to improve the team. More of a focus on sport psychology can only be a great thing.
Anyone happen to watch Cal Van last night? It was replayed this am so I watched a bit while having a coffee.
I strongly dislike Van and absolutely despise Cal. But wanted to see them in a different way.
Anyone else feel Cal is in for a tough year ? They basically were on their opening night lineup and I think it was late in the third before I realized Huberdeau was even playing. Very little from Kadri, Mangiapane, Andersson etc. And Markstrom very iffy and looking pissed off already.
Van has some good players and I feel like they could end up ahead of Cal in the standings.
would love both to suck though.
I think they both go as far as their goaltending will take them–and recent history isn’t reassuring. Canucks D is quite a bit better this year…
I think Seattle will continue to be the suprisingly tough out in the division.
I live in the Lower Mainland and listen to the talk radio here. The Canucks have some good pieces but most of the local media/commentators have them sitting around 93 points.
Most of the chatter is that IF everything breaks right, they’ll be a playoff team. I think Petterson and Hughes are studs, but overall the team lacks depth at every position. They don’t have a real D partner for Hughes at the moment and a lot of 4/5/6 guys. They were planning on re-signing Ethan Bear prior to his injury.
They’re in tough having to face the Oilers in the first two games. Which, is a stupid scheduling quirk that I hate.
The Canucks play them again in there 12th game. The N.H.L must of purchased the knockoff A-1 to come up with this idiotic schedule making.
Dhaliwal reporting the Canucks are very actively trying to engineer a trade for a RD.
Not sure why you believe they lack depth elsewhere. They shored up their C depth with Blueger. Also made a nice deal for an adequate backup goaltender and have more wingers than they know what to do with.
I have the Canucks finishing ahead of the Flames. They have more game breakers, better F depth and Demko will likely be better than Markstrom. However, even with Hughes, I take the Flames D all day long.
I’m with you on Calgary. They were over rated last year and are again this year. The only player that underperformed last year were Huberdeau, Markstrom and Mangiapane. I don’t think the improvement of those three to career averages is enough to do more than make up for the loss of Toffoli. They are likely around a 90 point team. Sure if everything goes right they could make it, but it’s unlikely.
Granted it’s preseason but I’ve seen some nice stretch passes by the D.
McDavid looks even more ready than usual, if that’s possible.
Campbell should get the start.
I miss twitter but it’s been better for my mental health. Although it seems all the changes Musk is making is turning it worthless anyway.
I only miss Twitter because it’s now nigh impossible to get prospect highlights in a timely manner (if at all).
On a personal level, I miss social media like a fish misses a bicycle.
Yea that Musk fellow isn’t very bright.
Betting against the guy who made electric vehicles and space travel profitable is a bit like betting that McDavid will forget how to play hockey.
Amen.
Not to mention the great job he did with X! I know people who are $100MM on the cap table. They are not too happy.
Tesla and SpaceX were predicted to go bankrupt by virtually the entire financial/investment pundit class. Over and over for years. Its a long game when you are playing with billions.
Elon’s certainly showing he can’t make social media profitable though. $44 billion purchase down to about $4 billion.
Would be like McDavid leaving the NHL because he thought he could become a star in another sport.
Musk has made money in every industry he has played in – and it is a long list.
Mostly all tech industries though which he receives tons of government funding for (which is ironic, given his open criticsms of Zelenskyy who asks the US government for money to support Ukraine..). Tech industries where, according to insiders, are staying successful in spite of Musk’s meddling. I mean, Musk didn’t even found Tesla.
The one industry that has been pretty disastrous for him though is Twitter. So disastrous that people don’t even call it it’s current name, and still call it Twitter.
Sometimes the goal isn’t monetary.
Musks goal with Twitter is, as he is constantly talking about ways to make it more profitable. There are rumblings that in the future, anyone who uses Twitter will have to pay.
He certainly didn’t buy Twitter to be a “free speech” platform, as he has demonstrated he bans any opinions he disagrees with.
I remember Twitter. It was almost useful once, but now is being turned into an echo chamber.
Ah yes, Elon… the modern Timothy Dexter.
I ditched Twitter about a year ago and have only gone to it a couple times since via links or specific look ups (Friedman on July 1).
it was annoying not to have it for about a week – so glad to get the toxicity and time drain out of my life tho
There is a fairly active – and intelligent – group of philosophy professors and former philosophy professors on twitter even though a number left after Musk took over. A couple of them are very bright.
I only use it for hockey at the TD, draft and TC.
Absolutely invaluable on days like today as a source of breaking news.
Agree. The world is a much better place when we only get the point of view of whoever is in power.
What position does this Musk fellow play and which team does he play for?
Team: X-men
Position: Sh!t disturber
😎 😇
Hilarious and very clever.
Some folks were were either day dreaming during there history class that is if they even teach that anymore but it’s more likely they take their marching orders from a Kardashian type.