2023-24 Game 32: Oilers at Sharks

Christmas is about memories, and Todd Kirkpatrick gave me a wonderful moment last night when he sent me this photo of Turtle Lake. It’s about 30 minutes (if I recall) from the Allan Store, which (iirc) was 17 miles north of Maidstone. We lived two miles up the road (turn left at the store coming from Maidstone), and lived in an old school. Up the road was Keith Schwartz, a bunch of Lundquists, Leachmans.

Turn right at the store, it was the Franks farm, and some more Schwartz’s, including my friend Brian who could hit a ball one mile when we were kids. Kevin Jarrett, another friend, lived somewhere around there but I can’t recall the exact location. Charlene Lee was the first stop after Maidstone on the school bus, I had about half an hour of stops before getting to my place. Silver Lake was just before the store coming from Maidstone. That’s where Pop Eidsness taught us all to golf in Grade 9. He was a good man and a fine teacher. I was afraid of his wife, Mrs. Eidsness, and I wasn’t alone among the males in the school population at Maidstone High. Her lecture to me in the office about abuse of the double entendre is still ringing in my ears!

That’s a lot of memories in one photo. Funny how time slips away, but the memories remain. It’s a wonder.

THE ATHLETIC!

• New Lowetide: How the Edmonton Oilers are undergoing a changing of the guard on defence
• Lowetide: How the Oilers measure up to ‘reasonable expectations’ after 31 games
• Lowetide: Ranking the Edmonton Oilers’ top 6 trade assets
• 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: 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

When we last left the Oilers, they were saving their season. If Edmonton can go 2-1-0 in the final three games of December, the club will celebrate New Year’s Day with a record of 17-16-1, 35 points in 34 games. That’s after a 2-9-1 start, meaning this Oilers team is running hot—15-7-0 in their last 22 games. That’s some fine hockey.

NEWS

Sam Gagner won’t play (via Matty) and so that means Adam Erne stays in the lineup. Ben Gleason is the designated sitter and one expects Stuart Skinner to start. There are sometimes lineup tweaks due to illness/late flights, so stay close to the town telegraph office today.

ROSTER CONSTRUCTION

The Oilers are 24 men deep right now and they were procured in the following manner:

• Draft (9): Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Ryan McLeod, Darnell Nurse, Evan Bouchard, Vincent Desharnais, Stuart Skinner, Dylan Holloway (IR).
• NHL free agents (10): Zach Hyman, Evander Kane, Mattias Janmark, Derek Ryan, Connor Brown, Adam Erne, Sam Gagner, Cody Ceci, Ben Gleason, Calvin Pickard.
• Trade (3): Warren Foegele, Mattias Ekholm, Brett Kulak.
• CHL free-agent signings (1): James Hamblin.
• College free-agent signings (1): Ryan Fanti.

The Oilers have eight draft picks and each of them contributes in a significant way. There was some concern not long ago about Stuart Skinner and Ryan McLeod, but both men appear to have turned a corner. Organizations need to develop young players, and have those players emerge as feature players. From Nuge in 2011 to Bouchard in 2018, there are some high-end talents here.

The NHL free agents are the largest population, but in truth a few of those names are marginal NHL players. I’d suggest Gleason and Pickard qualify in this category. Hyman is a monster signing, absolute home run so far, with plenty of contract to come.

The trade route is a small but vital piece of the pie. Ekholm is a foundation piece, with Foegele and Kulak offering depth on wing and defense.

The Oilers under Ken Holland have turned off the tap on European free agents, with college and CHL free-agent signings also rare. The Condors are filled with mid-20’s players who were signed as free agents and can fill in if required in the NHL. The price paid? The potential on the Bakersfield roster is low, unless I’ve missed a gem in there somewhere. Here’s the Bakersfield procurement order.

• Draft (12): Raphael Lavoie, Xavier Bourgault, Carter Savoie, Tyler Tullio, Matvey Petrov, Jake Chiasson, Philip Broberg, Markus Niemelainen, Max Wanner, Phil Kemp, Olivier Rodrigue, Beau Akey (jr).
• NHL free agents (7): Lane Pederson, Drake Caggiula, Seth Griffith, Brad Malone, Greg McKegg, Noel Hoefenmeyer, Jack Campbell.
• Trade (2): Jayden Grubbe, Cam Dineen
• CHL free-agent signings (1): Brady Stonehouse (jr)
• College free-agent signings (1): Carl Berglund.
• AHL contracts (6): Cameron Wright, Dino Kambeitz, Ethan de Jong, Alex Peters, Connor Corcoran, Xaver Bernard.
• Ft. Wayne (ECHL) contracts (8): Jack Dugan, Matthew Wedman, Ture Linden, Darien Kielb, Jake Johnson, Noah Ganske, Tyler Parks, Brett Brochu.

I’m not sure how many Komets can be recalled to Edmonton, but those are the names of note. Holland is running a low-risk scheme with free agents, allowing them to audition on minor-league deals. It has paid off in contracts (Desharnais, Hamblin) and could soon (Wright), but I would prefer the organization aim higher and compete for impact college and junior kids. Perhaps the new general manager will do it.