The Edmonton Oilers have a big game against the Carolina Hurricanes tonight and a big story brewing about young defenseman Philip Broberg. It brings to mind the ancient Chinese proverb: May you live in interesting times.
THE ATHLETIC!
- New DNB: Oilers’ Philip Broberg seeking trade, per source: Why he could be on the move
- DNB: The Oilers penalty kill has finally found its groove. What’s changed?
- Lowetide: What do the Edmonton Oilers still need to be a Stanley Cup contender?
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers top 20 prospects ranking, winter 2023
- Lowetide: Oilers begin rise from the depths during a stunning November
- DNB: Is it time the Edmonton Oilers expected more from Ryan McLeod?
- Lowetide: Oilers’ Darnell Nurse impressive in all areas after coaching change
- Lowetide: Oilers’ Philip Broberg reaches crossroads as NHL defenceman
- DNB: Four reasons why the Oilers are very much in the Western Conference playoff race
- Lowetide: How is the Edmonton Oilers top 20 prospects list shaping up?
- Lowetide: Can the Oilers find roster solutions on the NHL fringes?
- DNB: Oilers must address goaltending situation before it’s too late
- Lowetide: Why the Oilers making a productive goalie trade is an expensive proposition
- DNB: Who is new Edmonton Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch? These 3 traits define his approach
WHAT TO EXPECT IN DECEMBER
- At home to: CAR, MIN, NJD, CHI, TBAY, FLA (Expected 3-3-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- On the road to: NYI, NJD, NYR, SJS, LAK, ANA (Expected 3-3-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- Overall expected result: 6-6-0, 12 points in 12 games
- Actual December results: 0-0-0, 0 points in 0 games
- Oilers in 2023-24: 9-12-1, 19 points in 22 games
I have the Oilers running in place again in December (they were 7-7-0 in November) because the schedule is a tough one. I believe Kris Knoblauch’s 6-3-0 run includes some innovation (PK is better, McDavid and Ekholm are a full force gale now) but the run for the roses will have to wait until January.
One of the things Knoblauch has done is place Connor McDavid with Nuge and Zach Hyman. The trio has played just 39 minutes together at five-on-five this season, going 6-0 goals. McDavid without those two men is 3-8 goals. This trio should stick together.
Leon Draisaitl with Evander Kane and Connor Brown have been together for 49 minutes, going 1-0 goals. It’s a great suppression number (ZERO!) but the team needs more from a 29 line. Since the coaching change, Brown is 3-3 goals in 90 minutes. Here are the five-on-five points-60 totals for the forwards since Knoblauch and company took over:
- Connor McDavid 3.86
- James Hamblin 2.78
- Mattias Janmark 2.59
- Zach Hyman 2.43
- Leon Draisaitl 2.24
- Evander Kane 1.87
- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins 1.61
- Derek Ryan 1.53
- Adam Erne 1.28
- Ryan McLeod 1.21
- Sam Gagner 1.16
- Connor Brown 0.67
- Warren Foegele 0.61
- Raphael Lavoie 0.00
- Dylan Holloway 0.00
If you’re going to trade Philip Broberg too early, then for crying out loud get a winger with enough skill to play on one of the top two wings. The organization doesn’t trust the kids at all, that’s for damn sure. So, trade for someone else’s young struggling prospect.
This phenomenon is also known as the Erma Bombeck Syndrome. She wrote a book (I read it at a young age) called “It’s Always Greener Over The Septic Tank” and that’s how new management views the prospects procured by previous management. Somewhere in the moments after Jeff Jackson began putting his stamp on the Oilers, he asked a person of trust about the young Oilers pushing. Maybe it was Ken Holland, who knows? Could have been Keith Gretzky, or (more likely) Brad Holland or a stealth scout known to Jackson who spent time scouting Broberg, Holloway and the Bakersfield Condors. That person of trust isn’t convinced.
So, you cast about trying to find a player who can help and get full value. You never do. Why? Because the negotiation has you in a place of weakness. We don’t know how the news got out, but it wasn’t from the Oilers because it compromises their trade position. If I’m Ken Holland I don’t trade him, but Holland may not be in charge now. If the new coaching staff has decided that Darnell Nurse, Mattias Ekholm and Brett Kulak are the three LH defenders in which to go to war with, and that Broberg cannot play RH defense, then the die is cast. Since the change at coach, the five-on-five goal share is interesting:
- Darnell Nurse 70 pct (7-3)
- Mattias Ekholm 50 pct (7-7)
- Evan Bouchard 50 pct (9-9)
- Philip Broberg 50 pct (1-1)
- Vincent Desharnais 46 pct (5-6)
- Brett Kulak 44 pct (7-9)
- Cody Ceci 40 pct (2-3)
It’s important to also acknowledge GA-60 at five-on-five because it gives more of the story. Nurse (1.17) leads the way, followed by Ceci (1.26), Ekholm (2.9), Desharnais (3.49), Bouchard (3.57), Kulak (4.56) and Broberg (4.96). So, when inserting Broberg, it’s important to put that 50 percent in context. More than anything it tells you Broberg didn’t play much in these games. I think he gets traded. I don’t think the return will be splendid. The Oilers bleed young talent like it’s a never ending free resource.
At noon today, Sports 1440, we go full perplexed on the Broberg news and discuss tonight’s game. Bruce McCurdy from the Cult of Hockey will join us, we’ll have Jasmine Baird with us to discuss the Snowboard Big Air World Cup in Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium this weekend. She was at 2022 Olympics Slope & big air, won at the Edmonton World Cup big air last December and is looking for more. You can reach me in the comments section, @Lowetide on twitter, or text us 1.833.401.1440 directly.
Our eyes can play tricks on us. It’s amazing what the exact same group of guys sans Soup are capable of. Are they really Cup contenders or was the injury led faceplant out of the gate closer to their true state? Contenders. They’ve always been contenders.
On Hyman’s 2nd that was one ballsy play by Bouchard. That one handed whacked puck to McDavid was sublime, but easily could have been a 2v1 headed full blast the other way. The Kucherov goal against Tampa saw the flip side play out. Hero or Goat, a game of inches.
Janmark the PK Witch. The thing about that PK is that it remains the easiest area to shave GAs from last years numbers. Make it a top 1/3rd and they’ll be flirting with +80 goal differential.
There’s no natural losses for the Good Guys through year end 23. Actually there’s no natural losses until you get to mid-January but let’s not get too far ahead. It’s a busy schedule but not onerous. Rangers and maybe one of the Devils games. 9-1-1 should be achievable if they want it.
Don’t worry about L.A., strength of schedule is a thing.
Skinner is my number 1 star of the game. Bruce McCurdy thinks so also, which makes this opinion valid.
Imagine Harpers Hair if Oilers had been any other team last night.
What would he have been writing?
I predicted the new coaching including Paul Coffey would make a huge difference. And for once in a long while I was 100% correct(so far).
I’m looking forward to seeing the Oilers climb the standings. Teams like Calgary and Vancouver will be looking over their shoulders.
Has anyone heard from Phil Kessel?
Might be a solid signing at a low AAV.
I bet he’d add more than Brown, and probably for much less.
I would insist on a 1st round pick in the top 2.
Munny surrounded it but it should be said expressly that the coaching staff has done an excellent job
PK from bad to excellent. Player morale and confidence restored. 5v5 play excellent. Goaler play good as a result. PP back
All of this in short order. A sublime bit of work. Sublime because the calm man made it look easy
Coffey is so gold standard credible that no one on the team dares not listen to every word he says. And incredibly to us long suffering fans Coffey has an innate understanding on how to be a great hockey team.
When you add the two factors together you end up with a negative Dallas Eakens effect.
Great game by the boys tonight. That used to be the kind of trap game they used to lose all the time. McLeod stopping with authority in front of the net right out of the gates was signs of things to come. Knoblauch has them focused and playing well.
The lines are humming now – McDavid and Hyman needs to be written in permanent marker in the lineup card. The defense looks really sharp … kudos to Coffey … the fanbase panned his hire as an OBC move, but maybe the guy with 1500+ points in his NHL career knows a thing or two about how to play the position.
Skinner was sharp tonight. He needs to start every game in December until they climb back into the playoff picture. That’ll give them time to sort out the backup problem.
Canes are a quality team that might just as well win the next game.
Oilers beat someone in the 1st division of NHL contenders, according to Harpers Hair.
Nobby hopeful Holloway is back beforethe Xmas break but it might take till after.
Holloway might as well be re-named “Holiday Holloway”
…he is so rarely in the lineup.
It might just be me, but he is starting to appear like the kind of young player who is getting injured too often to grow up as a NHLer.
What a difference it makes when the goalie has confidence in the skaters in front of him, and the play and the puck is structured and easy to anticpate and follow. Lots of shots but from distance, with good lanes and vision… How many juicy rebounds has he given up this past stretch?
Like I had pointed out earlier, Nobby now saying they were a little looser tonight than the past few games especially in the 2nd. More giveaways at their blue line in one game than in the past few, but still pretty happy with their play.
“He’s not taking shortcuts on the defensive side to score goals.” Nobby’s talking about Hyman but this clearly an overall philosophy.
Hyman is the best Oilers free agent signing I can think of in this century. And loved his post game interview with Gene!
Technically, Pronger didn’t have a contract. The OIlers traded for his rights (to gain an exclusive negotiation window) before he became unrestricted.
Technically, Pronger was never anything more than a rental.
As much as people like to rag on Holland for the moves that did not work, he really doesn’t get enough credit for the Hyman signing. First line forechecking demon of a winger for 5.5 million per season is one of the best UFA signings for any team ever. He may very well blow past his career high in goals and points again this season. And a genuinely good person in the community as well.
Add Evander Kane to this excellent short list.
Umm…also, Nuge is making $5M/yr, and finally hit 60 last year.
Assists, that is. 67 of them.
And 100 points. More than Hall or Eberle’s ever had.
Well done, lads!
Lowering goals against. Who knew? 😉 Being smart with the puck, protecting the center of the ice, attacking the center of the ice, playing as a unit and not getting too spread, not forcing plays, always rotating a forward high. Keep them unable to rush and to the outside and the offense will be there. Because you can play a game you can be confident in. Woody preached that too and it worked.
They’re doing all of the above. How many cross seam passes have we seen them allow the last 4-5 games? Odd man rushes?
Very good game. Little looser tonight than say against VGK, but they had an dominant lead early and were coming off a long break.
Bouchard looks like he did last year during his best stretches of play. I mean defensively. We all knew the offense was there, but If he can consistently keep defending well like this, we have one hell of a defenseman.
Not sure 97 and 29 saw the ice the last five minutes. That’s the benefit that big leads give you and what you can’t do when you’re losing, (which just begets more losing). So useful these blowout games.
Well said
If they don’t trade Bro he would also blossom under this coaching group. Like Bouch but on the defensive side. They played well as a newbie pairing, just imagine the possibilities
Tell Broberg’s agent to sit down and let Coffey work with him to unlock his potential.
Well, that was a statement game.
Looking forward to the ‘battle of the new coach bounces’ Friday!
I quite enjoy when they beat the most overrated team of the last 3 years so soundly.
Drai is an enigma. Dominance or what the??
December every year babel. He won’t F us over he’s Mr November he’s Mr November he won’t F us over
Isn’t a hockey enigma a player who’s totally streaky?
Draisaitl has been a model of consistency.
I like that when leading they aren’t getting outshot much lately. Score effects normally lead to that, they aren’t letting up. Mucho bueno
McLeod, Foegele and Janmark with 6 points between them. Nice. Very nice.
At first glance: I saw “McDavid, Foegele and Janmark”.
So the Canes play a tight high pressure game, normally
Curlock after KK was hired broke down his coaching style and some things were using the centre ice, moving the puck cross ice and up quickly
It seems that they are doing it and it’s working. So much open ice created and room to make plays compared to the mud to start the season. McLovin it
It also sure looked like they had the book on the Canes well-studied. Early on, relentless gap closure at the opponent blue, taking time away from their Dmen, and giving up low danger shots. Skinner played well = win.
Where’s that Harper’s Hair guy? “Hurricane’s are the team of the future, so much talent, cap management, youth… Oilers can’t beat teams ahead of them in the standings… Yadda yadda.” Probably just scrambles and jumps ship to the other 5 of his favourite teams. At least that way there’s always one to pick that’s better than the Oilers at any given time.
If HH was moistening his jorts over the Kings playing 1/3 periods well after a break against the awful Blue Jackets, he must be even more excited about the Oilers after a long break, dominating the Hurricanes for 3 periods!
Right?!
The most trolley part is the absolute unwillingness to apply any charity to the Oilers when they do the very thing he’s praised in others, on an Oilers site no less. The absurdity of such behaviour is kind of sublime.
Trolling the Stars board.
All these D jumping up has to be Coffey.
That was every shift back in the day.
Except he could still be the first man back
Playing Sweet Caroline is so perfect. That warms my heart.
Oh, Brown!
Imagine Hyman winning the Rocket Richard before Drai.
Um Mr Burns is this your jockstrap? Found in row 10
Sweet baby jeezus. What a tasty dish!!
As pretty a hattrick—when you think of all three goals—that you will ever see Hyman score
Wow. Wows x4 there. The keep in, the edge work, the dek, the pass. Just wow.
That is one of McDavid’s best assists ever. And that’s saying a lot.
I don’t know what to do with my hat!
Cover your boner?
No hands required!
That insanity came out of nowhere. Wow. Just unbelievable.
Pretty sure Hyman said “are you kidding me” to McDavid after the hat trick pass.
more McMagic
Hyman with the hattie!!
Not sure why they’re still making risky neutral zone plays. Knob needs to quash that.
Hat trick Hyman woooo
That was a poor play.
Definitely no need for the O-zone back pass by Nurse there.
That was a brain fart. Kind of thing I’m talking about. Not smart. At least it comes in game where it can do little damage.
Yup, agreed.
What in the world is Brown doing there..?
Oh, Darnell, i was fine with the activation, even in to the offensive zone – I was not fine with that unecssary back pass when you were already deep in the offensive zone.
You owe Stu something.
McD forcing the play there. Still, non-call. Ridiculous.
Solid, solid Stu – very nice.
CAR looks like we did a month back
McDavid’s play on Ekholm’s goal was every midget coach’s wet dream. Head up feet moving drive the net!
Canes should be good and cranky going in to Calgary tomorrow night!
Now that Coffey and Stuart have them playing the zone D properly I prefer it
So many fewer enemy man alones and seams
Also the breakout being supported by short pass options, as it should go
Beauty! Keep it going
Who knew!? Janmark is the straw that stirs the drink…?
Summarizing!
Stonehouse had another multi-point game, this time a pair of assists in a 3-2 OT win.
Prospecting takes a break until Friday.
I was ready to fire Bouch into the sun 3 weeks ago. Where did that guy go? I know his partner wasn’t 100%, but what was Manson/Woody telling him in the first month of the season?
I think he was just fighting the play. The whole team was dealing with adversity in bad ways. He was a turnover and bad pinch machine.
I think most credit should go to what Paul Coffey has done for him.
I’ve posted a summary of the quotes on his advise to the group (one piece of advise) and we can see it in Bouch’s game, big time.
I was also known that he would recover materially defensively, as per history – he’s shown this level of 2-way game before but not this level of offensive impact.
I guess I’m more wondering how an NhL D can be in an unplayable state to begin a season.
I didn’t like that period as much as the 1st, but scoreboard still looks great and they’re playing with confidence. Gotta stay smart and patient in the 3rd, stay tight in formation, keep a man high, wrap our hands around their throats and take this home.
It’s 5 cob my guy what do you want.
I literally point out the score, lol. I want them to play smart and bring that scoreboard home. What do you want?
Not often a team will put together two periods as dominant as the Oilers 1st period against a good team.
So hard too not to let the foot of the gas after being up so big. Our finish has been elite tonight, which with Skinner is the difference in the game. CAR is also showing no desire to hit or contest physically at all.
We have seen this against
No clean air, and their legs motivation and attitude go south
This is what the Canes normally do to others. They probably aren’t that used to it. The Canes blogs are probably saying they are getting goalied, as was said in the Oilogosphere during the troubles, but wasn’t true. No playmaking that breaks down the D structure and goals be hard
Ryan Mcloed scored 2 goals in 48 seconds across 6 days.
please show your work
Efficient!
Canes getting pounded out.
Another good kill! Guessing we don’t get a PP tonight.
The game doesn’t need managing that way!
@JasonGregor
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Canes head coach Rob Brind’Amour on the TNT broadcast is not enjoying the game… “We are on our way to losing 50-0. I’ve never seen a team play this brutal.”
He was far more realistic and only said 15.
Hurricane coach thinks they’re about to lose by 15 lol
That was not a penalty on Desharnais! Kulak probably.
Hyman is just a machine tonight. Why the hell was he ever not on 97’s wing?
The problem with X teams don’t make the playoffs after Y cutoff argument is that X teams aren’t the friggin Edmonton Oilers.
They went into the season intent on dispelling the myth about teams being out of the playoffs at U.S. Thanksgiving
The read the Tortoise and the Hare and said pffft that’s stupid of course the Hare wins.
Well…. The Oilers have had slow starts but they haven’t been steady.