Oilers fans have had some times over the last decade. This is the team projected depth chart (forwards) in late summer 2016. Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins are still here. Jordan Eberle is still in the NHL but he’s having some troubles scoring this year (four goals in 30 games). Jesse Puljujarvi is working his way back, I hope he has a career. Tyler Pitlick? Still going. It’s funny how things change slowly but surely. I remember all of these names, each has a story. I know we’re all cheering for laundry, but for the people who remain on this roster from summer 2016, I’d like to see Stanley. In 2024.
THE ATHLETIC!
- Lowetide: Did the Oilers solve Leon Draisaitl’s winger issues in New Jersey?
- Lowetide: What can Dylan Holloway bring the Oilers when he returns?
- DNB: Evan Bouchard is unlocking his potential on the Edmonton Oilers blue line
- Lowetide: Do the Edmonton Oilers have enough actual NHL players?
- Lowetide: Winning or development? Assessing Oilers’ AHL team and what it means for the future
- DNB: Add a middle-6 forward or 2 to the long list of Oilers needs
- DNB: Why Paul Coffey’s surprise Edmonton Oilers coaching opportunity is paying off
- Lowetide: How much has Oilers trading prospects and picks actually hurt?
- DNB: Stuart Skinner takes blame as goaltending leads to end of Oilers’ win streak
- Lowetide: Are the Edmonton Oilers able to make a strong trade this season?
- Lowetide: 3 young Edmonton Oilers prospects looking for full-time duty
- DNB: Calvin Pickard’s play and improved defending give Oilers time to make a goalie trade
- Lowetide: The Oilers’ 4 most famous midseason demotions in franchise history
- Lowetide: Oilers’ Evan Bouchard has the points. But is his recent defensive uptick legit?
- Lowetide: Oilers organizational depth chart reveal elite centres, real needs
- 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
WHAT TO EXPECT IN DECEMBER
- At home to: CAR, MIN, NJD, CHI, TBAY, FLA (Expected 3-3-0) (Actual 4-2-0)
- On the road to: NYI, NJD, NYR, SJS, LAK, ANA (Expected 3-3-0) (Actual 2-1-0)
- Overall expected result: 6-6-0, 12 points in 12 games
- Actual December results: 6-3-0, 12 points in 9 games
- Oilers in 2023-24: 15-15-1, 31 points in 31 games
That was a big win, in fact two big wins in two nights for an Oilers team that has seen some hard times and bad rhymes. That was hard nose the highway in Manhattan. The New York Rangers could win the Stanley Cup and that’s for sure.
THE NUMBERS
Stuart Skinner had a fine game, possibly his best of the season. His five-on-five save percentage over the last month is .918 and that’s a rock solid number. I liked his game very much last night, the tension of the play suggested a second New York goal before the Oilers found the mark might have been the end of the chase. Skinner held the team in.
The defense performed well, I thought both top pairings were quality on a night when the Rangers were dangerous most of the time. The Zibanejad pass to Wheeler was exceptional, Nurse-Ceci faced the top unit slightly more than the Ekholm-Bouchard duo but the difference between Nurse and Ekholm was less than one minute. This defensive group is durable and playing well.
The forwards were quality on the night, I picked Hyman to score and he did just that and now has 19. He’s on pace for 50. Ryan McLeod is regressing like a maniac and it’s good to see. More in a minute. Warren Foegele is also making good use of his time with Leon Draisaitl, he seems to have a burr under his saddle when playing with the big man. Although he’s been pushed out of the top-six, I liked Evander Kane’s game last night.
I want to say a few words today about how important it is for McLeod and Skinner to continue developing. Strong early careers can fade, we’ve seen it with these Oilers in recent years. A player who continues to develop through his second contract is worth the money paid in that second or third deal. Edmonton has been stalling out with some players in the McDavid era.
It’s vital that the McDavid, Draisaitl, Nurse, Nuge, Hyman, Kane, Ekholm, Ceci, Kulak group have young players establishing themselves and eventually replacing them in feature roles. We’re seeing it in real time with Evan Bouchard moving ahead of Ceci. Vital stuff, this.
The Skinner and McLeod performances last night are most encouraging. Helluva road trip.
I hope what we just witnessed was a SXF matchup preview…
With the softer schedule through to the All Star break, they HAVE to get Rodrique some time with the big team, no? I would looove it if he popped and we had a solid tandem of homegrown goalers on a budget for the next couple of seasons… Even with a potential Campbell buyout the sum spent on Goalering wouldn’t be onerous at all.
Okay, so the Condors play Rodrigue 3 games in 4 nights (and two of those games went to OT) and he posts a .936 in the 3 games set?!
I’m pretty sure I’ve been his biggest cheerleader on this site, but even I didn’t see this kind of performance coming. Wow!
Rodrigue now has enough starts to ‘qualify’ for The AHL’s stats sheet, and he is #1 in the save percentage column.
https://theahl.com/stats/goalie-stats/all-teams/81?playertype=goalie&qualified=qualified&rookie=no&sort=svpct&statstype=standard&page=1&league=4
Oilers have been desperate for a goalie to seize the moment and a moment has been seized. Who knows where this will lead?
Broberg feeds Griffith in OT for the breakaway and the Condors win.
Rodrigue steals this one!
Awesome!
Last night was the first game this season that Rodrigue had a save % less than .900 as he allowed 4 goals on 31 shots in an OT loss. His save % will go back up with this performance. He was 2-0-1 over the last 4 nights. Methinks it’s time to call the man up.
Also, I listened to the last 5 minutes of the game on the radio. Ryan Holt mentioned that he had put on 15 pounds of muscle over the summer…..I know there were some concerns voiced the other day that he was too skinny.
While calling Rodrigue up would be nice, wouldn’t that mean having to send Picard down? Would he not have to go through waivers? Seeing as he’s been pretty serviceable and is currently the only experienced safety net the Oilers have, risking him to waivers may not be the smartest move.
Raantta just made it through. How does Pickard not?
Capable NHL goalies are in very very short supply around the league at the moment.
Pickard has been playing well enough,
So who knows
Raanta is double the cap hit.
Salary concerns, perhaps? Is Pickard cheaper and thus easier for a troubled team to fit in on a waiver claim than Raanta? I haven’t looked…
Condors outshot 38-19 in regulation but, Rodrigue stops 37 and we are off to OT.
The Chargers show up and play a pride game, proving that there’s quality there if a coach can be found who can harness it.
They still lose, but no one remembers win-loss records. Respect, they do remember. NFL is a lot about “style points.” Kind of like losing gritty in the NHL. If your team loses, always want to see them lose gritty.
Kemp and then Broberg just selling out to block one-time bombs while on the kill. Both saved goals I think, Broberg for sure.
Great stuff.
How is Broberg looking in a game where the team is getting dominated?
The Condors have been down to 5 D for a while (Hoeffenmayer left early and hasn’t returned) and, given the 3 in 4 (with big travel last night), he’s skated miles playing big mintues.
Was on for the GA but it was really on Peters for the giveaway behind the net.
Again a thank-you for the updates. They are very much appreciated.
Whoa, Bourgault rushing down the right wing, takes a high hit, Tulio comes barreling over and hits Melanson and they drop the gloves and have a hell of a scrap – Tulio throwing BOMBS.
Melanson is 6 foot / 206 and leads rookies in majors.
Tulio just got the decision in a scrap with a dude that has 40 pounds on him
Condors give that RIGHT back – give the puck away behind their own net and a jam play in front send the teddy bears flying.
Savoie picks up a loose puck dishes back to Peters at the point who sifts one in from the top of the circles.
1-0 Rogrigue
Condors under siege all first period – just dominated – Rodrigues makes all 16 saves, many of them dangerous!
Coaches jogging off the field with urgency while up at the half… that’s a good team in the NFL.
Took a bit but the Bills began to assert themselves in the 2nd quarter. Mahomes is the best active qb, Purdy the best this year, Lamarr has already been the seasonal best, but Allen has maybe the most raw talent.
14-10 Bills. We’ll see if the Chargers have the fortitude to hang in there and compete hard in the second. Kudos if they can.
Like Cam Newton before him, despite his talents game management is a thing with Allen. Hopefully there are Oilers watching in whatever tropical hideout they’ve shot off to.
Condors take an early penalty and are just under seige to to start the game. Rodrigue with six saves (in 6 minutes) and they were not of the easy variety.
Great start for the goalie, not the rest of the team.
Good for him! Not like this franchise isn’t desperate for help in goal. Having said that it seems the demand for tending is pretty wide spread across the league this year. Skinner’s game last night was encouraging. Lessening his load obviously makes a difference.
Bedard
https://twitter.com/nhl/status/1738730540713271446?s=46&t=y77uNJ4xa7Lqwp0rn92pKw
I’m thinking franchise but not generational. Stamkos, Tavares, Kane, Yzerman, Hawerchuk kind of guy. Very nice player. He might exceed my expectations, but right now I don’t see it.
Same as last night, including Rodrigue starting
Tulio/McKegg/Bourgault
Lavoie/Pederson/Griffith
Savoie/Malone/Wright
Kambeitz/Grubbe/DeJong
Broberg/Kemp
Hoeffenmayer/Wanner
Niemo/Peters
Rodrigue
Whoa, Olivier Rodrigue starts his 3rd game in 4 nights including both ends of back to back that starts less than 24 hours after the prior game and a 4 hour bus ride!
I expected more starts after the organization’s verbal changed. Second start of a B2B is a little surprising, but I imagine it’s a purposeful test. I’m in favour.
2nd of back to back and 3 in 4 (with a huge travel after last night’s game and an early start).
This is a massive message, in my opinion.
Oh, no doubt it’s big. The implication is that if he passes these tests, he’ll get a shot up here.
Some accounts that Jack is out with illness.
Yeah, was about to post that (I saw it mentioned by Oilers Access on Twitter).
That really would make more sense than the org. flipping that abruptly from Campbell to Rodrigue.
Hopefully Rodrigue getting more starts will continue though. Personally, I’d like to see Rodrigue and Campbell split the games roughly 50/50 going forward.
The Steelers’ stadium plays that red-nosed reindeer song as Rudolph drops a sweet 34-11 victory down the chimneys of Steeler fans. He goes 17 of 27 for 290 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Primetime match is between the Buffalo Bills and the LA Chargers. Chargers are a team in disarray, firing Coach Staley on Monday after getting blown out by the Raiders, who themselves had been shutout the week before. Rumours of dissension abound and they are a textbook example of what happens when a team in any sport lacks culture. Like with most teams, in LA the problems start with the owner.
I heard an analyst this morning describe the Rams and the Bills as the secret number 2 teams in their conferences. I think that’s stretching it, but I’d buy no. 3. The Bills come in at 8-6 and in 7th place in the conference in standing points. Stocked with weapons and incredible talent at QB, they’re having a roilercoaster of a season. They win out and they win their division and home field advantage, so despite the weak opponent, there’s plenty of motivation for them..
For the Chargers, all they have left is to show the world they are a real team and not a collection of individuals.They’re playing for pride and respect and sometimes this level of adversity gels something. They’re without their starting QB, Herbert, and without that on-field leadership, I don’t think a person can bet on the Chargers till they see some signs of life. Intelligent life. BUF is favored by 12.5 with 62% of the action picking the Bills. I’d follow the crowd on this one.
I understand that the Oilers are in win now mode but I’m wondering if KH would entertain a Broberg for Dylan Guenther trade? Almost the exact same draft position. I feel like this may answer a weakness of RW scoring plus bringing a hometown kid home.
Probably not in season bcs not vet. To me would be foolish.They have guys in the pipe coming up front and only Bro and Wanner at D
Guenther is a PPG player in the AHL as a 20 year old – he’s two tiers ahead of Broberg as far as prospect value at this point.
LT often says “a Giant walks among us” – referring to McDavid.
Here are some numbers to consider. The following are the leading scorers from each draft year.
2017 – Pettersson 364
2016 – Matthews 580
2015 – McDavid 894
2014 – Draisatl 779
2013 – MacKinnon 812
2012 – Forsberg 549
2011 – Kucherov 786
2010 – Seguin 759
2009 – Tavares 1,004
2008 – Stamkos 1,091
2007 – Kane 1,243
Crosby and Ovie are over 1,500.
McDavid has scored more points than every player drafted in the 2015 draft. Marner is 2nd and is 306 points behind.
McDavid has outscored every player from the 5 drafts that preceded 2015.
Only Tavares (#1), Stamkos (#1), P Kane (#1) have more points going back to the 2007 draft. And they are all 1st ballot hall of famers.
Anyway, I am just Amazed that McDavid has outscored all but 3 players from 2007 – 2015. That’s approximately 1,800 players he has outscored, and most had a 2, 3 or 5 season head start.
A Giant walks among us..
A few thoughts:
I think Stu doesn’t yet have NHL-level goalie fitness. I saw him tired/slow in the VGK series and toward the end of their win streak this season. This is only an observation but it took a few Pickard starts and Stu looks refreshed. That paddle stop on Zibby last night. Good gord. If that went in….
This team needs to build some mental/emotional resiliency. It seems like there’s a bad-break hurdle that they can’t recover from. This is why we all knew that a 2nd NYR goal in the second would have done them in. They get off their game, chase, and then let in 2 more (happened vs TB and Fla). That didn’t happen last night. This is kind of similar to their outplaying a team for 15mins to start and maybe get 1 but then play like they’re up 3-0 only to be surprised when a bouce or missed coverage results in a tie game (that happened against NJ but they did recover, thankfully).
I still look at Yakupov and shed an inner tear. I really liked that kid. I can’t help but imagine that if he had a Woody in the A teaching him and grooming him to be a middle 6 if not top 6 guy, he may have ended up there. We can’t just believe it’s all nature and no nurture. Eakins and Nelson were not the right coaches for Yak. At times it seemed like they were punishing him for not being a Craig MacTavish. And under Krueger, we forget that Yak led rookies in points and goals in 2013. I believe there was a player there and he fell into the wrong org at the wrong time. What would have happened had he dropped into the Detroit system in 2005?
Using the Ringling Brothers scale…
Eakins first made Ference the captain not to help the team but to deflect criticism on Eakins.
Proof: The team hated Ference and mocked his captaincy.
Eakins follows up this “I’m alright Jack” approach to the NHL by singling out Yakupov; the most vulnerable and easy to attack Oiler imaginable – who was from a place even more far out than Edmonton – again to deflect personal criticism.
Proof: The Taylor Hall throwing water on Eakins incident.
Conclusion: Like Monty Python, we needed to see not only Ference sacked but also Eakins for making him captain; and also sacking whoever was the clown who hired Dallas Eakins in the first place.
In other words a 3 ring circus.
I’m not sure I’d suspect sabotage while incompetence is on the table. Eakins is just a bonehead, imho. He was not equipped to raise a Yak.
Ference was a rat fink. MacTavish did make some good moves if only he would of stayed patient instead of hiring slick.
In my opinion, this save by Skinner last night is not getting nearly enough talk, its save of the year type shit:
https://www.nhl.com/video/edm-nyr-skinner-with-a-great-save-6343757910112
Skinner was due for some good fortune that was a Curtis Joseph like fluke save that might very well turn us into bulls instead of bears.
Shades of Patrick Roy.
Bengals go three and out on their first possession but get a perfect punt, pinning the Steel deep on their eight yard line.
The Steelers grow a brain and start Rudolph over Trubisky. Smart move.
Second play of the drive, 2nd and 4, he throws a ten yard skinny post over the middle to Pickens, a missed tackle, and he outruns the entire middle of the Bengal secondary 88 yards into the end zone.
Like I said, the Steelers have some nice pieces, if they can find a QB who can put the ball in their hands. So far, so good with Rudolph.
HH, please take notes. This is how and when you report out-of-town scoreboards on an Oilers blog.
A road to Stanley could run through Chicago.
Kulak for Tinordi
Toews out of retirement for $775,000
Perry out of trouble for $775,000
Run 22 players the balance of the year will give you lots of Capspace to get a goalie or defensive upgrade at the deadline.
93-97-18
71-29-37
91-Toews-28
13-55-10
Perry
25-5
14-2
Tinordi-73
81
74
30/35
We’ve needed a weasel like shit disturber that can score for years.
Not sure I agree. A SD can work against you. Think about the Cgy series 2-yrs ago. Sometimes the SD’ing is a distraction.
I’m not sure they need more LD. Maybe a RD. We need more mobility and puck skills there IMO. Toews wouldn’t hurt, but there is a good chance we see a Brown like meh result from an older guy that has health issues, missed camp and hasn’t played. P Kane is doing ok, but his issues weren’t auto immune
Tinordi is AHL level …. 2 or 3 D in Bakersfield are better than him
Toews is from Winnipeg, so Edmonton will seem like an upgrade lol.
Tinordi had 3 assists tonight 🙂
Well, it looks like LT posters and readers need to pool some $$$ to send danny to every game!
Im very happy for Stu. He won that game for them, been a long time since that has happened for an Oiler goalie!
I remind myself this isn’t likely to be linear. He’s still pretty green and has some technical issues to solidify still I think. He gets in trouble when he lets those creep into his play
Also happy for McLeod. It is highly unlikely that he is suddenly a high end top 6 winger, and will probably regress. This will boost his confidence and I hope he can absorb it. He seems like he’s not one that does, which is why he’s not moving ahead as fast as some players that get it going early. Everyone is different, glad for him right now
If Highlander has a long run, Kane gets healthy and Brown figures his world out, those would suffice as deadline acquisitions, be pretty deep
Not to nitpick but, for me, Stu didn’t win them that game. Yes, 100%, he was very good (to me, he looked as solid and comfortable as he has all year) and a big part of the win but it was a team win and well deserved. The Oilers, as whole, from the goalie out, were the better team.
Stu was the better goalie on the night (even with Quick looking like Vezina form Quick for two periods).
I hear you, but Knobby agrees with me. If Stu didn’t hold the fort for half the game there would be no comeback
So I’m right!!
“If [Insert Goalie X] didn’t hold the fort there would have been no win” – that is pretty much applicable to every game.
Stu was a part of the win but this was not a game where the team was the inferior team and the goalie was the prime reason for the win.
No shade on Stu but, in my opinion, he didn’t steal the game.
seems to me that unless and until Leon has a heater, 8-10 points in 3-4 games can’t really say he’s back
Leon always goes through a slump in December. And he always finishes the season strong.
If that happens and McL stays productive, Kane gets it back that’s a huge second half boost
If Brown gets it together watch out!
He’s top 30(21st) in scoring; which, given the season’s travails so far means he’s hardly regressing.
Happy Festivus!
Fairytale of New York Indeed.
Sitting at the Newark airport after a wonderful few days in NYC. The kids chose having an experience over more stuff for Christmas and boy did we have one. It played out like a bad movie. Couldn’t generate much against the Isles and their special teams let them down. Same story through two in NJ and then wham…a crazy comeback. And honestly, to have the exact same script play out 24 hours later in the Mecca is almost too much.
Mixed in was the Natural History Museum, Chelsea Market, Katz Deli, Central Park, lots of long walks and tons of shopping. My 6’1 dman son picked up a Bouchard jersey at the NHL store. Daughter was more about Aritzia.
Too many drinks last night so thanks to the Rangers fans for not beating me up for my gratuitous cheering. Extra thanks to Phil Housley who I met on the elevator and who didn’t laugh when I met Peter Laviolette and called him Paul Maurice.
Oilers don’t play again till the 28th but fortunately there’s three days of NFL to occupy jonesin’ sports fans.
Two games today. First up is Bengals at the Steelers. These are the two worst teams in the AFC North, which isn’t saying a lot since the poorer team, PIT, still has a .500 record. Strong division, huh? Steelers still have some playoff hopes but they need a win here to make it happen. And lots of help.
There’s real buzz around the NFL that Tomlin and the Steelers will part ways this off-season with the speculation being that Tomlin would be perfect taking over the hapless Chargers. That would make this Tomlin’s final home game as the Pittsburgh coach.
Steelers lead the entire sporting world in coaching stability. Tomlin is only their FOURTH head coach since 1966! Sheesh. That’s the year I was born. The Oilers can go through four coaches in half a decade. It will be the end of an era for The Steel Curtain if it comes to pass.
This game will be a battle of the backup QBs. The Steeler backup, Trubisky, is awful, not even scout team level. Thus Cincy is favoured on the road by 3. On paper they should cover that, but never count out Tomlin’s ability to motivate his troops and extract maximum effort, especially if this is a swan song. Linebacker TJ Watt will also need to have a huge game. The D will need to win the game for them.
Steel have some nice pieces for a new head coach, if they can ever get their QB position figured out. Problem is, with regular starter Pickett being a hometown boy, there’s real resistance within the org to move on. But they should.
I for one really enjoy your nfl insights, thanks for this.
Trouba made a big blunder (Hyman suckered him with a brilliant give and go). and Foreman proceeded to knock out Ali.
Foreman was suckered right from the opening bell. Ali’s right hand leads to his face, combined with Ali’s big mouth telling him what a worthless weakling he was once he had wasted all of his energy chasing Ali around the ropes.
By the time Foreman was KO’d, he went down like a Douglas Fir tree.
Along with Hagler – Hearns, arguably the greatest boxing contest ever.
Totally agree. This MMA stuff nowadays is junk.
Don’t forget Holyfield/Tyson. I did not like him much in the day (better now) but I think he may have been the best fighter ever. Just a ruthless killing machine.
For me Tyson in that brief window was the most devastating fighter ever. The best of all time, in that time. I’m not sure you could call him GOAT bcs he couldn’t sustain, but man he puts fellas down fast, to the sport’s detriment. What a devastating upper cut
I missed a few fights getting to Barry T’s a few minutes late bcs stupid buddies. Over
It’s impossible but I would like to see Ali/Tyson both in their prime get in the ring. That would be something.
Maybe it’s less responsibility or his speed is more of a asset coming off the wing but McLeod has been a Glenn Anderson force the last couple of games. Kudos to Coach Kris for unleashing McLeod.
It’s because of less responsibly….and going to the net.
The name of the game for the Youngins is consistency. Some fine play by McLeod the last few games. Almost wonder if someone read him the RIOT act about going to the net before the Devils game? Maybe upon learning of C. Brown’s fate, McLeod took an introspective look, or perhaps caught a coaches glare?
Either way I’m happy to see it.
I’ve called McLeod the most frustrating Oiler, but perhaps the guy with the highest ceiling as a forward Youngin. He’s got all the ingredients, size, speed, decent innate hands, and his skills aren’t too shabby either – he’s got a hard shot, his timing for stick lifts are very good and his defensive tracking is good. He takes up space on the PK well.
But there are maddening times when he cheats for defense. Perhaps it’s his centre role, but I feel it’s more between the ears. Yea you don’t want to get burnt on an odd man, but you shouldn’t take yourself out of all offensive sorties worrying about that. Cant play to not lose. You have the speed to get back. Trust your skills.
Nice to see him get low. Nice to see him chase to the net and STOP. No big loops. Zach Hyman is his spirit animal.
I think he’s more valuable as a centre but let’s ride this for a bit and see what happens.
I’ve referenced Anderson & McLeod together on the CoH podcast more than once, specifically about McLeod needing to learn to calm down around the net, just as Anderson needed to as a young player. Specifically citing the willingness to hold the puck as he goes across the net front, beat the goalie across with his speed, then go high on the short side. McLeod scored exacty such a goal vs. NJD, the 6-3 clincher. My heart grew 3 sizes that day!
Neat its probably my favourite play in hockey it causes such chaos for the defending squad. I thought McLeod could pan out as a Todd Marchant if he uses his speed probably.
He is like the good guy alter ego of Anderson, but also tall and very fast. If Highlander could get some narsty in his game like a true Highlander, he’d be cooking with gas
Highlanders often start out even and even good tempered; developing their mean side only when forced to do so.
They beat a Stanley caliber NY team on a guaranteed loss night — three games in four nights in the second half of a back to back — without having the goaltender steal the game.
Skinner played well and made some excellent saves to keep them within one but the play was relatively even until the Oilers kept the puck in the Rangers’ end for much of the third.
If they can maintain this level of play through California they should find themselves in a better place in the standings.
1) Without needing their tender to steal the game but just be solid and good.
2) Without McDavid going super nova.
3) Without the PP scoring a goal
4) While being the better team through 60 (in fact, the opposition goalie almost stole the game until they broke him).
With that being said, I think the “scheduled loss” might get a bit mitigated when, while the three games were in different arenas, the team didn’t even change hotels……
My god the travel in the east is an advantage for those teams.
For all NYR’s advantages, exactly 3 cup wins in 100 years.
ps: My math skills are terrible – feel free to correct lol
Condors played at home last night and are in Coachella Valley tonight – 3:30 hour drive and the game starts less than 24 hours after last night’s game started.
Its going to be a slog tonight!
Happy Festivus to all Lowetidians from San Jose del Cabo, Mexico 🇲🇽.
¡Disfrute sus vacaciones!
I like goalies who win.
Credit to Stu Skinner who has only gotten better as the season has gone on. The save% isn’t pretty, but he’s 12-9-1. That boy will have a big second half.
Honourable mentions to Rodrigue and Pickard who are both playing well higher up the batting order.
Acknowledging that Laviollete had them playing against the Rangers’ top two lines most of the night, the fourth line got absolutely caved last night, like to the tune of 0% corsi for Brown and not much higher for the other two.
To their credit, they didn’t get scored on but, still.
Do we think Brown in for Gagner was that much of a deficit to the line? I really don’t think that is the case (although impossible to know), Gagner may have helped but it seems unlikely it would have been much different.
The fourth line had been humming along, playing in the offensive zone, drawing penalties, scoring the odd goal – hopefully this is a one-off but we saw last night an example of a coach at home using match-ups to their advantage.
Holloway’s return (and Gagner) will help create depth down the lineup (presuming the rest of the group stays healthy).
Hard to believe Gagner would have a 0-15 Corsi.
3-15, maybe.
I’ve got to say, Samewise is constantly in the right place at the right time. He’s even slower than his 20y/o self so he’s had to become elite positionally. Yes, he’s a C and Brown is a F but I think Gags is an upgrade on Ryan as 4C and Brown is consistently the opposite of Gags unless we’re talking PK. Also, Kane is slower than Brown and still finds a way to make a difference despite similar own-zone woes.
I have all the time in the world for Gagner on the 4th line.
Anyone that far down the batting order who has a proven scoring touch is worth their weight in gold.
I noticed, but wasn’t really paying attention at the time, that Bouchard-Ekholm appear to have been put out with the Drai line on goal #4. Was that a trend yesterday, maybe to get a defensive pair on match with a particular Rangers line? In games past that pairing had been stapled to the McDavid line.
Bouch played just under 12 minutes with McDavid last night (1-1 goals) and just under 4 minutes with Drai (1-0) goals.
I don’t know how to break NST down by period (or if you can) to see if there was a switch.
Ryan McLeod now has 5 goals and 7 points in his last 10 games.
As with most non-star players, McLeod’s offence is subject to streaks and heaters and he is on one.
Of course, moving up to play with Leon that last two games helps (despite McLeod and Foegele each with multi-point nights and Leon with a bagel).
This is a valuable player despite being a highly frustrating player at times – the ability to move up to play LW in the top 6 and the ability to play 3C – that versatility (along with PK ability and a good 2-way game) is material.
That last part sounds like Ryan Strome, other than Strome was never given a second chance as a top 6 winger after his early experiment playing on McDavid’s flank didn’t go well. He was OK as a 3C playing with the Janmarks & Browns of his day, but didn’t produce so got tossed out like yesterday’s rubbish. For Ryan F. Spooner! Sheesh.
I’m not even sure Strome got an opportunity that didn’t go well.
I recollect him being in McDavid’s wing for one exhibition game and, although the line scored and didn’t give up anything, they were essentially never played together again.
Strome saw 10 second with McDavid in game 1 and 56 minutes with McDavid for the entire season…….
Oilers post-Sather have never placed much truck in common sense.
I always thought Strome looked great.
I also thought Leon Draisaitl made Yakupov, when giving him threading the needle passes look like he had potential as a dangerous in front of the net sniper.
I think you might be misremembering – over the course of three seasons those two played 260 minutes together and were, 6-19 goals – yes, you read that right!
https://www.naturalstattrick.com/linestats.php?fromseason=20142015&thruseason=20162017&stype=2&sit=5v5&score=all&rate=n&team=EDM&vteam=ALL&view=wowy&loc=B&gpfilt=none&fd=2014-10-08&td=2017-04-09&tgp=2000&strict=incl&p1=8477934&p2=8476855&p3=0&p4=0&p5=0
That 2016-17 roster features 8 first round picks in the top 12 forwards, including 3 #1s, a #3 and 2 #4s. At least they made the playoffs and won a round!
Yes, then blew a 2nd round easy lead to end up booted like a drunkard being thrown out on Saturday night from a British seaside ballroom dance.
McLeod seems to play better on the wing
It helps to have someone like Leon Draisaitl as your center.
He’s had very good stretches as 3C as well but its becoming clear that he could provide value as a middle six winger complimenting skill.
Where he has more value going forward is something we are likely about to start to find out.
A factor in that might be Dylan Holloway’s ability to play center at the NHL level.
Draisaitl appears to have a talent for making his linemate’s better.
Unfortunately, management doesn’t share this opinion.
I don’t understand the 2nd sentence – doesn’t see, well, true.?
The boys of the NYPD Choir* still singing Galway Bay, and the bells are ringing out for Christmas Day.
Fare thee well, Shane Macgowan. A true genius and bard who saw the glory in the every day man.
*The NYPD does not have a choir
Parts of this song are no longer PC, but it remains an absolute gem of a carol. One of my Dad’s three-ish contributions to my music education, the man has terrible tastes but comes through on occasion.
Is this the almost PC version of the non-PC part of the song you are referring to:
“You’re a bum, you’re a punk
You’re an old s___ on junk
Lying there almost dead on a drip in that bed
You scumbag, you maggot
You cheap lousy f_____
Happy Christmas your arse
I pray god it’s our last”
Not your typical Christmas song, but a brilliant work of art from the late great Shane MacGowan.
I’ll admit that I’ve been a fair weather fan this year, not watching many games and not visiting this blog very often. It’s been rough. But if you were to tell me at the lowest point of the season (the loss to the Sharks?) that the Oilers would be 15-15-1 at the Christmas break, I would have been very happy with that.
Question: I was looking at the return for Ekholm this morning and saw that Schaefer has only 1 goal in 24 AHL games. Any scouting report on his play?
Note: Maroon is still going, isn’t he?
Merry Christmas to all who celebrate it!
Schaefer was always going to have trouble at the next level. Real time I was glad they dealt him, as I didn’t see an NHL future for him (a good one at least).
A pick like Schaefer, scouts are hoping he really develops in skating, hockey sense and overall play.
This is a Math blog. His draft year numbers suggested he should not have been picked in the 1st round. But he could score and is big – so again the Scouts were hoping for massive development – hasn’t happened and won’t.
Way premature.
I’d argue this is a math & history blog, & that history tells us how a player performs in the first half of his first pro season does a poor job of projecting his future. This is especially true for “late birthdays” like Schaefer who turn pro in their Draft +2 season when they are still 19.
A decent comparable for Schaefer is Tyler Pitlick, drafted by the Oilers at #31 overall (then the second round) in 2010. He too was a late birthday — Oilers always seem to draft a ton of them — who in his Draft +1 year posted almost identical boxcars in the Dub (56 GP, 27-35-62) as did Schaefer as a #32 overall 13 years later (55 GP, 28-33-61).
Come Draft +2, Pitlick was in over his head in his first pro season, scoring just 7 goals in 62 games. Took him nearly 200 AHL games to make the jump, but he became — and remains — a solid NHLer who now has over 400 big league games to his credit.
Not the greatest player, but that isn’t to be expected with a pick in the 30’s. But surely there’s no denying he’s had more of a career than might have been predicted when he was a 20-year-old kid struggling through his first campaign against seasoned pros.
Even with his injury history Pitlick has wheels and wheels will keep you around no matter the hands.
For me the Late Birthdays should be treated different than the regular draft eligible birthdays.
For most kids in their draft year, they play the majority or all of the season as a 17 year old. IE: Bedard didn’t turn 18 until July.
In Schaefer’s draft year, he was 18 the entire season. And still scored under 1 ppg. In Schaefer’s actual 17 year old WHL Season he played 18 games and had 0 Goals and 2 Assists – numbers that would not get anyone drafted.
Not sure about Pitlick’s skating, but Schaefer is a slow boat.
I agree with you that when a team is picking in the 30 – 40 range in the draft, it’s a crapshoot and the odds are against hitting a TOP 6, TOP 4 type of player and even low for hitting an everyday NHL player. BUT that is why IMO a team should take out as many risk factors as possible. Skating is one of the easiest ways to eliminate risk. Benson had skating issues. Schaefer does as well.
Now any player can develop and turn a corner. Just saying for me the math on Schaefer says those odds are very low and that they were on Draft Day.
i always appreciate your diligence I’m talking also about Post Med which doesn’t post my comments. Happy Festivus, and Merry Xmas
Big bodies always take longer.
Too early to tell but it is eery that Mitch Moroz was also taken 32nd overall.
As was Tyler Benson. There are no guarantees that deep into the draft.
Moroz was considered a reach pick right at the time, He was nowhere near a late brithday, though he did have a fine Draft +2 season, winning the Memorial Cup. Even then his production (70 GP, 35-28-63) was light of Pitlick’s & Schaefer’s Draft +1 campaigns, at east on a per-game basis.
He too struggled in his first pro year (5 goals) but it was very much a sign of things to come.
the Oil’s counter-attack was strong last night, even if it took a while for them to cash in. 👍🏼
Thanks for keeping us on an even keel Allan. The winds sure have been blowing strong!
Feliz Navidad from Mexico
¡Igualmente!
Where in Mexico, amigo? I am in Merida!