The Counter-Perry

by Lowetide

The Edmonton Oilers made the first deadline addition of 2024 yesterday, signing Corey Perry to a one-year deal. He is a unique player, the question about him will be about how much motor he has left in him. The Oilers have a need on right wing (evergreen commentary!) and Perry is an interesting option.

THE ATHLETIC!

HELLO, NEWMAN!

Corey Perry? Is this a joke? Perry’s career is a long one with abundant success and mad asshattery. Oilers fans can give you chapter and verse on a series of deeds most foul by the veteran winger. If you have 10 hours, ask an Oilers fans about the 2017 playoff series. You’ll need to pack a lunch and build in a nap, though. It’s a lot.

Perry now is 38, eroding by the minute and not able to do all the things he could do in his peak seasons. There are some positives. He scored 1.92 pts-60 at five-on-five with the Chicago Blackhawks this season. Part of that came via a 21 percent shooting percentage, and he posted 0.94 with the Tampa Bay Lightning one year ago.

I like doing three year averages because Bill James taught me it has value. In the past three seasons, in 1850 minutes, Perry has scored 43 points. That’s 1.39 pts-60. That’s shy. However, the Oilers have some high octane centers and Perry’s agitation skills make him an attractive option at 1.39 pts-60 where another player without an extra gear would be less desirable. He can score on the power play but one doubts he’ll get time with Edmonton. He hasn’t penalty killed for many years, mostly because he’s in the penalty box. Strictly as an offensive contributor, he is an upgrade on Oilers wingers Mattias Janmark, Derek Ryan, Adam Erne, Connor Brown.

Assuming the centers are 97, 29, 71 and 55, the top wingers (in pairs) are Nuge-Hyman, Kane-Foegele, Gagner-Perry, Janmark-Ryan, Brown also in photo. As I see it, your mileage may vary. Here’s the problem with those wingers: Too many slow guys. I’m not sure how you run those final two lines with those four wingers. Ryan McLeod and Dylan Holloway can scoot, but I think you need another burner on the wing.

In terms out outscoring, he rel numbers are a mixed bag but his expected goals is strong in two of the last three seasons. I think he’s worth a test drive and suspect the club finds a way to run him on third line.

Who gets bumped off the roster? I’ll guess Adam Erne.

Who gets the healthy scratch? I think it might be Samwise. Janmark and Ryan PK and so does Brown.

  • Nuge-McDavid-Hyman
  • Kane-Draisaitl-Foegele
  • Janmark-McLeod-Perry
  • Ryan-Holloway-Brown/Gagner

RICK PRACEY’S FIRST DRAFT

  1. It’s about damn time you got around to the draft talk. It’s been a weird year. The Oilers are slightly unpredictable these days, so I’ve been busy with their season.
  2. Well they fired Tyler Wright and you didn’t notice! Actually, I did. Wrote about it here.
  3. He didn’t do a good job. Oilers weren’t getting enough out of the system. I think we can lay partial blame on the lack of picks, but the team is losing ground on the future and that’s a fact.
  4. He had four years! He had 28 draft picks that Ken Holland turned into 19 picks. And 14 of those picks came after the first three rounds were complete.
  5. Man you make excuses for scouting directors. Allow me to repeat. He averaged five picks a year, and almost four of them were after the first three rounds were complete.
  6. How many top 100 picks? Six.
  7. That’s plenty. They all suck! Dylan Holloway, Xavier Bourgault and Reid Schaefer are the first rounders, and Beau Akey, Luca Munzenberger and Carter Savoie are the others chosen No. 100 or earlier.
  8. Not a good player in the bunch. Holloway is on the cusp of being an NHL player, based on Saturday night he’s there. I think Xavier Bourgault is in a little bit of trouble (his second AHL season is not trending as well as the first) and Reid Schaefer isn’t scoring. Still time for all of them. I think Holloway will have an NHL career, he is in his draft +4 season.
  9. Anyone else good? Beau Akey shows promise but is losing a year of development and that’s no good. Luca Munzenberger is developing as a shutdown defender, suspect he’ll sign and it might be this summer. Carter Savoie is in his second AHL season and we’ll see.
  10. Anyone after No. 100? I like two Russians (Maxim Berezkin, Nikita Yevseyev) Condors wingers Tyler Tullio and Matvey Petrov, college man Shane Lachance and this new college fellow Matt Copponi. I also like Max Wanner, and the Oilers really like Wanner.
  11. Murderer’s row! I think the Oilers will probably see four NHL players out of the 19 picks, six of those in the top 100 overall.
  12. Name the four! Holloway, Bourgault, Schaefer and one of Petrov, Wanner or Akey. That’s my guess.
  13. What got Wright fired? New management. It’s so obvious. Jeff Jackson comes in, wants to make his mark. Amateur scouting is an important part of the team, Jackson knows who he wants, and Rick Pracey arrives after the draft. Tale as old as time.
  14. Is Pracey any good? The article I linked to above tells the story. He has a better resume than Wright did when he arrived.
  15. Will Pracey be better? Is he going to get more picks than Wright?
  16. The Oilers ruin everything and it starts at the draft table! The Oilers do things that don’t work out, and many of those are not good bets. No. 16 and No. 33 for Griffin Reinhart, that kind of thing. However, the scouts do a good job with the picks they are able to use.
  17. How do you evaluate talent? Monitor for five years after the draft, counting arrows good and bad.
  18. So you will make the call on the 2019 draft in the offseason? Yes. I did write about it in the fall, kind of a state of the draft crop.
  19. A terrible draft crop! My choices were Arthur Kaliyev and Matthew Robertson and Blake Murray, I don’t think that’s better than Philip Broberg, Raphael Lavoie and Matej Blumel.
  20. They didn’t take Trevor Zegras! True. I think that was a Ken Holland decision, but Zegras would have been a far better selection.
  21. How many picks this year? Good question. Edmonton currently holds its own first, second, fifth and sixth picks, plus the Nashville picks. I suspect the first-round pick will be gone, so expect four picks again.
  22. Who will they draft? Uncertain. So far, all of the good NHLE players are ranked in the top 30, so there aren’t many outliers this year. I am curious about a goaltender named Martin Haronik and a winger called Clarke Caswell.
  23. What kind of player will they draft? I think the Oilers seem to be more enamored with Wanner and Grubbe than the skill guys, so I’ll say big forwards and big defensemen.
  24. What do they need? I have been saying this for decades: Skill. Just draft guys who might end up being difference makers offensively.
  25. You always say drafting for need is a mistake. Yes. It is. However, drafting skill no matter the position or size isn’t drafting for a specific need. I’d be delighted with a LH defenseman who was high-end skill. You can make room when it is time.
  26. With Pracey at the helm, maybe they’ll change their template. When Bob Green was in charge they drafted 67% defensemen. When Tyler Wright was scouting director, it was 68 percent forwards. The Oilers don’t select, they careen. Don’t go grocery shopping with the Oilers, it’s all tomatoes one week and all celery the next.
  27. Any sign of analytics in this draft? I think there have been signs of analytics since 2013, the year Michael Parkatti first had access to Oilers ears. I am not one of those people who is down on the Oilers scouts. I would like to see more picks and I do think that when the general manager makes the call (Broberg) and people crank on the scouts it misses the point.
  28. If you could ask Rick Pracey one thing, what would it be? I would ask him if he insisted on having 5+ draft picks every year. He should have.

At noon, Sports 1440, we have a big show. Oilers win 13 in a row, the AJHL raid, NFL weekend and more! Rachel Doerrie from the Staph & Graph podcast will be by to talk about Corey Perry’s signing by the Oilers and Patrick Roy’s return to the NHL. Jason Gregor will join us to talk Perry, and we’re working on a guest who can shed more light on what the hell happened in the BCHL-AJHL this weekend. You can reach me at Lowetide on twitter, in the comments section or on the Sports 1440 text line at 1.833.401.1440 directly.

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coops

My haiku:

line betterment goal
thrust and parry in the fog
choice difficult now

W

Is it wise to hire someone that is currently abusing alcohol?
“Perry said he’s seeking professional help for substance abuse.
“I have started working with experts in the mental health and substance abuse fields to discuss my struggles with alcohol, and I will take whatever steps necessary to ensure this never happens again.”
Or did he make an incredibly fast recovery? Or was he just blowing smoke?

Scungilli Slushy

If that is the standard, an awful lot of hockey players would be in trouble. Better add drugs in as well, same difference. Some still smoke between periods, if you can believe that

Side

Kings lost to the Sharks.

Dubois – 0 points and +/- -2

Bank Shot

Weird. I thought he was an shining example of the juggernaught that is the Kings franchise. 🤣🤣

SayItAin'tSo, Gretz, SayItAin'tSo!

TMac coaching for his life, got PLD up running with Kopitar and Kempe the last few games.

I remained shocked that Rob Blake still has a job.

Diablo

Any know how Arizona scored an EN PPG 4:10 into the third period?

Our Edmonton Operation

Arizona had a delayed penalty against them. With his net empty, Letang ragged the puck in his own end and threw it back casually to Malkin, who tried to take the pass with one hand on his stick and whiffed on it. Puck in the net, Malkin upset, and Letang feeling bad.

Our Edmonton Operation

Arizona was on a PP too but then took the delayed penalty. Weird EN PPG.

90s fan

Thats kinda funny.

Diablo

Lol – great description of the play. The Pens sound cooked. Someone needs to rescue the last few great seasons of Crosby’s career.

OriginalPouzar

Coach Chaulk mentioned today that in the last 5 games Broberg has been on the ice for zero 5 on 5 scoring chances against.

90s fan

What? That is absolutely insane. This man needs to be in the nhl and needa a long leash to make mistakes and get his footing.

Victoria Oil

Watching him live the last couple games, I can confirm that he was dominant with respect to his skating, his ability to transport the puck and his poise.

Seeing how well he has been playing, I’m a bit surprised that he only has 13 points in 21 games. Gleason – who also impressed me – has outscored Broberg so far this year in terms NHL.

Victoria Oil

…so far this year in the AHL.

jp

Really liked how Perry lit up when asked about playoff hockey. And he has produced better in the post season than regular season in recent years.

Scungilli Slushy

Reminds of one Glenn Anderson

Funnybird

An Oilers record win streak along with a good Monday makes me want to give a couple of props to the best e-community on the internet. Thanks OP for all the positivity and all the Bakersfield insight. Also, thanks to Tarkus for all of your posts, I never skip any of them because they always make me chuckle. HH I can even appreciate your nonsensical goofiness during a 13 game win streak.

MushedPeas

Now there’s a handle.

Nonsensical Goofiness.

winchester

Good job mister Bird

Harpers Hair

The AJHL is cancelling games involving the teams that are defecting to the BCHL.

https://www.mountainviewtoday.ca/olds-news/ajhl-cancels-olds-grizzlys-game-as-leagues-future-uncertain-8141121

jasperavenue

Lowetide, there is a real story behind this new league, and the other local teams the money people support. It is not helping hockey overall. A player has skill, good, now he or parents need significant cash. Investigative journalism for sure. Hockey Canada is not perfect, this group is trying to put them out of minor hockey.

Funnybird

Was there ever an explanation as to why SJ got out of the Kane contract? Any further info on Chi cancelling the Perry contract? Can we learn lessons from either to apply to the Campbell contract?

813.52Ran

Ayfk?

Funnybird

Legit question, thanks to all other responses.

Gerta Rauss

The arbitor eventually ruled on the Kane/San Jose grievance months(and months) after the player split with the team. San Jose didn’t ‘get out’ of the contract (they paid the difference between the original contract and what the Oilers are currently paying him, and paid a cap penalty in one lump sum)

https://edmontonjournal.com/sports/hockey/nhl/cult-of-hockey/evander-kane-settlement-san-jose-will-top-up-kanes-salary-for-next-three-seasons

The NHLPA has until Jan 30 to grieve the Perry situation…maybe something comes of it but don’t hold your breath

Diablo

Perry’s made 92 million already before taxes/fees already. The contract he had with Chicago had a 2 million signing bonus. The terminated portion was for less than 2 million.

I doubt Perry and the NHLPA are going to take the Hawks to court over a 1 million and change, which after taxes, legal fees and agent fees, will likely amount to around 200K in take home for Perry.

Kane’s situation was different given his trouble with the debt courts.

Gerta Rauss

I’ll let OP reply to this, he has more invested in this situation than I do

danny

The 1 million or whatever cash Perry was due might be insignificant, but the legal precedent is something they will take very seriously depending on the details of what happened. There’s no way they ignore it because of the monetary value if they feel it threatens their body of clients rights.

Diablo

Yeah, but Perry already put out a public statement of apology, basically amounting to “my bad.” I really doubt the NHLPA goes after this.

OriginalPouzar

I’d be shocked if the NHLPA didn’t.

Doing something egregious enough to have a guaranteed contract terminated but yet eligible to sign a new contract and play in the league right away – those don’t line up.

If the NHLPA does not grieve, the other 31 teams better be 100% in the know about what the contract was terminated for and what is enough to make a material cap hit vanish.

godot10

Chicago might ask for some of the signing bonus money back if the NHLPA grieves. As of now, Perry has already walked away with most of his money.

Does the NHLPA want to risk a reverse precedent on recovery of signing bonus money by teams?

OriginalPouzar

No, its been officially reported that Perry owes a portion of that signing bonus back to the Hawks.

Gerta Rauss

I doubt Perry and the NHLPA are going to take the Hawks to court over a 1 million and change, which after taxes, legal fees and agent fees, will likely amount to around 200K in take home for Perry.

I thought OP would have commented on this by now (that’s why I got out of the way earlier)

This quote was from the Athletic on Dec 1 (Chris Johnson) I’m posting the quote because not everyone has a subscription

Perry is entitled to keep approximately $1 million of his $4 million salary after spending roughly 25 percent of the season on the Blackhawks roster prior to having his contract terminated, which means he technically owes money back to the organization because he received a $2 million signing bonus over the summer.

It appears there is more money involved in this situation than we realize (approx $3M)

With that said, I actually agree with you – I don’t think Perry or the NHLPA will file a grievance – we’ll find out next week

https://theathletic.com/5104235/2023/12/01/corey-perry-contract-termination-explained/

Last edited 3 months ago by Gerta Rauss
Gerta Rauss

Entireley relevant to today’s thread, this nugget from today’s presser:

Daniel Nugent Bowman: I was wondering if you have any plans to appeal that termination…your previous contract with the Blackhawks..?

Corey Perry: I’m not going to talk about that right now

Draw your own conclusions

OriginalPouzar

Not quite – Perry owes part of the signing bonus back as he earned 16/82 of his total comp for the year.

Even if that wasn’t the case, the NHLPA would greatly encourage Perry to retain them to grieve given the precedent a contract termination would set.

Gerta Rauss

As for Campbell, I’m not sure you can apply anything to his situation

Personally, I’d try to retain some salary and pay the price to move on from him (within reason) but, I think he’ll be bought out in June

Diablo

Jack’s too nice of a guy to do something that would get his contract terminated.

I do think there is something to learn in what happened there … don’t give term to goalies from another organization with a limited track record as a starter. There’s just too much variance in their performance from year to year for a long term deal to work out well in the long run.

Holland’s major blunder as Oiler’s GM was caving into the pressure from the fanbase and the media to make a splashy goaltending signing.

OriginalPouzar

Kane’s contract was terminated due to Kane violating Covid protocol but the termination was grieved by the NHLPA on Kane’s behalf and, ultimately, it was likely determined that was not grounds for termination as a hefty settlement was negotiated which included a substantial payout to Kane and a retroactive cap hit to the Sharks.

The Perry termination will almost assuredly be challenged as well – deadline is a week away.

EDIT: Kane was suspended for 21 games for breaking Covid protocol but his contract was terminated for failure to report after the holiday break. I just ready DNB’s article which refreshed me of these circumstances.

Last edited 3 months ago by OriginalPouzar
Diablo

In the presser today, it was revealed that Holland tried hard to get Perry to sign in Edmonton when he was bought out in 2019 by Anaheim.

I never saw this reported anywhere at the time, by any of the so-called “insiders” or any online bloggers.

They didn’t get him … they moved on. It’s just business. No drama. No mea culpas. No headlines. No hard feelings.

I don’t think Holland’s management group has been perfect … but they sure are a lot more mature about how they go about their business than Lowe, Tambellini or MacTavish ever were.

Next time some internet “insider” reports some juicy rumour about the Oilers (Broberg wants out and is going to be traded as a sweetener to move Jack Campbell comes to mind as a recent example) … ignore it.

It’s click bait.

Stuff doesn’t leak out from Holland’s office until it’s a done deal.

OriginalPouzar

He also said he tried to keep the Perry signing a secret until he announced it but couldn’t.

Lots of BS gets put out there but also lots of verifiable info – the Hyman and Campbell signings were out there days before official. Tim Peel broke the Evander Kane initial signing for crying out loud.

Diablo

The Hyman, Kane, Campbell and Brown signings were telegraphed by everyone and their grandma and no one was surprised when they happened. We were debating the merits of these guys signing long before ink hit the paper, as if it were fait accompli.

But think about the Ekholm deal last year – that came so far out of left field that everyone was checking their phone to see if “Chychrun” was being misspelled.

And the stuff that doesn’t go down does not get leaked anymore.

BornInAGretzkyJersey

I see where you’re going with this and agree with your general premise. Yet information still permeates out of the Oilers head office, albeit slower than before, under Holland’s tenure.

Stuff doesn’t leak out from Holland’s office until it’s a done deal.

Broberg was all the buzz as soon as Holland took the helm.

And the stuff that doesn’t go down does not get leaked anymore.

That the Oilers were all-in on Erik Karlsson until Ekholm became available at the last minute was made public after the playoffs.

Diablo

The whole Erik Karlsson thing was so out there – people were talking about 50% retention, when in reality Grier would only agree to retain 1.5 million. The Oilogosphere was “all-in” on Karlsson, but SJ was never to going to retain enough salary to make that possible.

Drafting Broberg and Holloway was telegraphed prior to the draft. I would counter that the Oilers draft board has been less transparent since, but their drafting in the first round has left something to be desired, as well.

BornInAGretzkyJersey

Barrie confirmed on Spittin’ Chicklets that he was expecting from Holland to only be heading to SJS (if traded), until the very last minute.

Fuhrious

The signing of Holland himself was also broken early.

Diablo

I like listening to Friedman and Marek – not because they have inside information about potential deals and signings before they happen …. they don’t. But because they don’t pretend to either.

They have better than average access to players which provides some insight into their psyche … and one thing that keeps repeatedly coming up in their podcasts lately is how players really don’t like stuff leaking to media when it comes to trades or contract negotiations.

This Perry thing from 2019 that we heard about was something I found interesting. In bygone years, the previous regimes would have leaked it to the media that Perry spurned their offers. We know this, because it happened famously with Hossa and Nylander.

At the time, that bit of fan-service was considered cathartic … but how much did those embarrassing episodes tarnish the organization’s reputation with the players? Then it’s the old thing about good reputation, and how long it takes to rebuild it once you’ve lost it. One of Holland’s first moves as GM was to try and sign Perry. He failed. And we heard nothing about it.

It took 5 years before Perry would give serious consideration to signing with the Oilers over a warm weather, low tax team in the US.

Scungilli Slushy

Montreal?

Ryan

Random thoughts on goalies.

Swayman’s only 25. I was surprised that he’s that young. Played a cup of coffee in NHL in his draft plus 4.

So far, Georgiev and Samsonov have both turned into pumpkins. Both are under .900 this season after impressive campaigns last year. Gustavsson has too.

Matt Murray is an interesting player to watch. No, not that Matt Murray. The other one.

US college hockey seems to be the new place to shop for goalies.

Last edited 3 months ago by Ryan
Harpers Hair

Judging goaltenders by raw numbers without reference to team style of play can be very misleading.

Colorado plays fire wagon hockey because they know their high octane offense can outscore defensive issues.

You know which goaltender leads the league in wins?

Pumpkin Georgiev.

Ryan

What style of play did Colorado exhibit last season when Georgiev had a .919 SV%?

Last year, Georgiev was in the top 10 along with Samsonov and Gustavsson in GSAX/60 for goalies playing more than 20 games.

This season, he’s outside of the top 30 for either a 10 or 15 gp cutoff.

Last edited 3 months ago by Ryan
Harpers Hair

And Colorado is 4th in the league in win percentage and leads the league with 179 GF

This despite missing 3 top 6 forwards and with extended absences of 2 top 4 D.

Thinking Bednar has not adjusted tactics would be folly.

Ryan

They appear to be compensating for the poor goaltending by having a good 5v5 shooting percentage along with good possession numbers and special teams.

I don’t think poor goaltending is some kind of new tactic. Certainly public data doesn’t have him taking a disproportionate amount of rush chances against or rebound or high danger shots against.

As a positive, you can argue that they only spend a little over $4m on their goaltending tandem, so they have more money to allocate to the rest of their roster. That’s just a little over the Jack Campbell buried penalty.

In other words, their goalies aren’t great, but at least are cheap.

Last edited 3 months ago by Ryan
SayItAin'tSo, Gretz, SayItAin'tSo!

Hehe no friend, this is what happens when you have Zero depth. We’ve seen it ourselves very recently. Avs gonna get pumped by playoff teams.

Side

I love how much you change your stance on Colorado without batting an eye.

A couple of years ago according to you, they had 4 Norris Candidates, a Vezina goalie and the most well rounded game with no bad or long term contracts. “It’s just a matter of how many cups they win”.

Now?

“They play a high octane offense to make up for all of their defensive issues!”

What happened to all of the Norris D? Were they sacrificed for all of the long and rich contracts handed out recently to aged players?

Admiral Ackbar

If the Oilers won the Stanley cup, HH would contrive some ridiculous claim that they’re the least dominant team to ever win it.

Diablo

Samsonov, Vanacek, Géorgiev, Gustavsson all got moved in the same season, as did Adin Hill, who was the least heralded, and has turned out to be best of the lot (so far).

Husso, Campbell, and Kuemper have all looked like bad signings in hindsight.

Draft and develop is the way – Skinner and then Rodrigue.

Use stopgaps like Pickard to fill the gap until then.

Short term deals only, and if you luck out and strike gold, then sell while the commodity is still up, cause goalies have a lot of variance in their performance from year to year.

OriginalPouzar

Oilers tops on the TSN Power Rankings.

Oilers 4th on The Athletic Power Rankings (Vancouver 5th) and Dom’s model with the Oilers having the top SC odds, with a bullet too:

https://theathletic.com/5217300/2024/01/22/nhl-weekend-rankings-patrick-roy-canucks-bruins/

https://theathletic.com/4938709/2024/01/22/nhl-playoffs-chances-projected-standings-chart/

Optimism is like heroin

This Perry signing is great for the team.
I am a little different here in thinking mcleods ceiling is higher as Draisaitls winger than 3c. So I would run
McDavid-RNH-Hyman
Draisaitl-McLeod-Foegle (76% gf in 90 min)
Holloway-Kane-Perry (shenanigans aplenty)
Ryan-Janmark-Brown (pk ownership)

Run this till the deadline and then add a bottom 6 rhc if needed

Brantford Boy

That 3rd line is scary for me, never mind an opposing team… interesting!

Optimism is like heroin

Just showed my daughter a youtube video of Perry’s lowlights. She has named him Jerky mcjerkface and can’t wait to watch the fireworks.

Last edited 3 months ago by Optimism is like heroin
Scungilli Slushy

There will be blood

Hopefully not Holloway’s again!

Benign Bone

Give me Dowd @ 50% retained at the deadline and I think the bottom-6 is looking brilliant, both this year and next!

Optimism is like heroin

Dowd is an interesting choice. He is having a wierd year where his analytical numbers show him as very bad but his goal % shines like a diamond as LT would say.

Benign Bone

I trust his track record as a difference-making bottom-6 C, but I can understand concern about aging curves.

Scungilli Slushy

I think he was playing toughs with not great players. The last two seasons pretty good results. Daily faceoff has him 2C between Ovie and Wilson at the moment

jp

Dowd is an interesting choice. He is having a wierd year where his analytical numbers show him as very bad but his goal % shines like a diamond as LT would say.

Agreed.

In previous seasons his underlying numbers were very strong to go with his excellent real results.

This season there’s a huge gap between real and expected.

I think his underlying numbers went in the tank the moment his long time line mate Garnet Hathaway was traded last deadline, and I’m really skeptical he’ll be able to keep outscoring.

Gollum

I’d be afraid that the third line would account for more goals against than for.

Optimism is like heroin

As a coach I would attempt to deploy that line for on the fly shift changes with control. Also Holloway with his speed has to know he is first man back to support the D.

rich tm

Very interesting deployment, but not sure I trust that 3rd line defensively.

nelson88

Still holding to “long” on the Brown acquisition as well. He has struggled offensively but the contract is a sunk cost and what really matters is if he can deliver late in the season/playoffs. Might deliver squat but recall lots of similar pitch forks for McLeod, Foegle and others over the years. Remember when we traded offensively challenged Ryan Strome for Ryan Spooner. Personally I’d rather we don’t go back to the panicked “Brandon Manning is the answer” decision making.

Scungilli Slushy

He’s not playing terribly, isn’t getting outscored anymore, and is contributing. He still may lose a regular spot, but he’s heading in the right direction. I think he needs to play with some skill, if he stays with DH it might help him get off the schneid

Has the feel of a playoff story in the making

Diablo

Brown was playing with skill to start the season … that’s one of the things that got Woodcroft fired.

He can’t shoot, and he doesn’t go to the dirty areas where the greasy goals are scored.

He has the look of a black ace in the press box, now that someone with better mitts was signed to take his place.

Last edited 3 months ago by Diablo
MushedPeas

I think just needs to pot one. somehow. anyhow.

Diablo

You guys were saying this about Yama and Jesse last season.

Completely ignoring the obvious … none of those guys can shoot. Jesse was big, and Yamo was fearless and went to the hard areas and had stuff bounce off his a$$ into the net. Brown is neither of those things. I never paid much attention to him prior to the knee injury, but he must have lost a step, cause he has no separation speed either.

He’s only on the roster cause he’s part of the PK unit and they’ve been running hot. But that’s due for some regression soon, and when that happens Brown is going to fall out of the everyday roster.

jp

I never paid much attention to him prior to the knee injury

What are you even on about with the ‘can’t shoot/won’t go to the hard areas’ stuff if you never paid much attention to him before he was on Oiler?

He’s on the team because he was a 20-30-50 per 82 games player (over 3 season in Ottawa) before he got injured.

Puljujarvi and Yamamoto didn’t post those kinds of numbers with McDavid and/or Draisaitl as their centers. Brown did it with far inferior linemates.

He’s had a brutal run, and maybe it never comes back, but there was every reason to think Brown would eventually be an upgrade on Puljujarvi and Yamamoto when he was signed.

Diablo

No one’s debating the original premise of signing him … we all thought that the loophole used by Holland was genius, and that after he’d had over half a year to recover, he’d go back to being a 20-30-50 per 82 games player.

But the truth of his game right now is this – he can’t shoot hard or straight, he’s not fast, he’s not heavy, and he doesn’t crash the net hard. He’s sound defensively, cause he cheats for defence, and has enough veteran know-how to be in good position.

But he was such an offensive black hole that the effect it had in suppressing McDavid and Draisaitl’s offence when he was on their lines was a big reason for their slow starts this season.

He breaks even on the fourth line, which is fine. He’s vanilla … no different than Yama or Jesse. I’m not counting on him for offence, but if he can keep killing penalties at this rate, then that’s a valuable skill to have on your fourth line.

jp

You’ve been saying ‘he can’t shoot’ but he was a 20 goal scorer (save Covid) with Tkachuk, Paul, Tierney, Pageau as his most common linemates.

And you’re performing a mini character assassination in saying he won’t go to the hard areas, but I haven’t seen that from Brown. Snakebit for sure, but a perimeter player avoiding the hard areas? No.

If you (apparently) thought the signing was genius 3 months ago, I’m having a hard time seeing how you’ve lost all hope for the player now (ie – out of the lineup as soon as the PK regresses).

Hockey Project

I was curious about this this, too, and looked up his NHL Edge numbers:

2022
Top speed: 22.47 mph
Speed bursts > 20 mph: 166 (7.76/60 min)

2024
Top speed: 22.38 mph
Speed bursts > 20 mph: 74 (9.15/60 min)

His top speed is still same and, if anything, he using bursts of speed more often than he did that year. I wish some sort of data was available which allows us to see their speed in the first five/ten/whatever strides.

That might be the difference with him now.

——

I forgot to note something: in 2022, his top speed put him in the 89th percentile. This year, he’s in the 81st, so even if he’s held fairly steady, the league seems to be getting quicker in even that short amount of time.

Last edited 3 months ago by Hockey Project
Admiral Ackbar

Brown hasn’t exactly shown much glimmer of offensive hope. The outlook on Brown isn’t good.

OriginalPouzar

Holland was asked if Pickard playing well changes his deadline plans and he did a great job of not answering it even a little bit.

He’s talked to lots of GMs and their meetings are about to happen.

Trades generally will happen closer to the deadline and intimated that what’s happening right now with Pick and Stu both playing well, doesn’t mean that will be the case at the deadline (me paraphrasing).

Also mentioned Jack Campbell playing well (but it was an “oh ya, Jack is playing well too” after the fact.

godot10

From Holland’s comments, Rodrique is on Lavoie Island.

Scungilli Slushy

Kenny wasn’t around when Dryden won the Habs a Cup. Or in 06 when a young guy won, so he just can’t trust a young goalie to do well in the bigs!

godot10

You have one of the best goaltenders in the AHL, and his name doesn’t cross the mind of the GM asked a direct question about goaltending and the trade deadline.

Rodrique arguably is the #2 goaltender in the organization RIGHT NOW.

Scungilli Slushy

He is far too risk averse, his son even said so

Holland doesn’t use stats or many stats, he doesn’t ‘marinate’ players. He said this when he came on board. He said he did it in Detroit because the team was stacked, the youth couldn’t displace anyone. He drafted Euros only because the good Canadians were gone by when he drafted

I would say he won’t bring players up too early, but it takes a lot for him to trust his youth. That’s just missing the boat as you said. I was saying Bouch was already a better player than Barrie when he dealt him, it was obvious. Both had defensive issues so that was a wash, Bouch way better at everything else. He just needed his at bats and a proper partner

Bro is now leaps better than Des, Kulak and Ceci. Bruce Curlock has a glowing analysis about him, thinks he a stud all round. You may agree!

I said recently Holloway is already better than Foegele. WF is scoring recently with the push, I hope it continues but… Holloway by next season or sooner would get more in the same usage as WF if he can keep playing. Because he’s far smarter, as fast, has more skill, I think a better shot, and is more assertive. Also better on the boards and defensively

OriginalPouzar

Are you willing to risk the current 2G on waiver to find out if the youngster who has been an AHL starting tender for 8 games (half in a tandem) is?

With the goalie gong show in the NHL, Pickard might very well get claimed.

godot10

Nobody was suggesting recall. The presser was about goaltender options at the trade deadline. Rodrique was not even in Holland’s consciousness, even though he is one of the best goaltenders in the AHL. Pickard waiver’s would also be applicable in Campbell’s case, and Holland mentioned Campbell.

OriginalPouzar

Did you listen to it?

It was a question about Pickard playing well and if that is changing the deadline plans – Holland spoke about how great its been to have both Skinner and Pickard play well and when he was done and they were about to move on, he was like “oh ya, and Jack is playing well too” – Jack was barely in Holland’s consciousness.

MushedPeas

Ha! TOO old school.

Shane

13 game winning streak Godot.. you’re starting to sound like one of those ‘broken forever fans’ Lowetide talked about after the Hall trade..

godot10

Nah…it is just that I took the red pill.

I post more “negative” takes than “positive” ones, because most people post the most optimistic take. If everyone was posting “negative” takes, I would probably be posting positive ones.

When people were dumping on McLeod and Skinner in October and early November, I was one of the handful of people defending them.

I don’t think my “negative” takes are negative. I think they are REALIST.

Last year I identified a top four left D as the most critical deficiency.

This year, the right D spot beside Nurse is the most significant weakness that imperils playoff results

Diablo

No one disagrees that upgrading Ceci at 2RD would make the Oilers a juggernaut. But at this time last year, people were speculating about Ekholm being a fit. This year its a lot tougher to see who that target is clearly – contract, trade fit both for the teams involved and the player (and his family) involved – which RHD on a middling team lines up in way that it makes sense to trade Ceci + 1st round + top prospect to get?

Also, this year’s healthy version of Ceci is a lot better player than the injured version from last year.

So who’s your realistic target?

OriginalPouzar

Godot cited Ceci’s playoff performance the last two seasons as evidence that Ceci can’t be in top 4 of a cup winner. He was presented with evidence that Ceci had a very good 2022 playoffs, while playing 1RD to a Nurse at 50% but choose not to retort.

With all due respect to very good poster, I don’t think realistic is what you will get when talking to Godot about Nurse’s partner.

OriginalPouzar

The game threads and morning after threads get FAR more posts when the Oilers are playing bad or losing than the other way around.

Side

I don’t think my “negative” takes are negative. I think they are REALIST.”

You also have your favourites and your whipping boys though. If your previous takes were as realistic as you say, Woodcroft would have never gotten a head coaching job, McLellan would be coaching in the AHL, Barrie and Bouchard would be in the AHL, Lander would be playing in the NHL still, Puljujarvi would be playing on the first line still, and Ralph Krueger and Taylor Hall would have won a cup in Buffalo.

Admiral Ackbar

Bruh….

….it is just that I took the red pill.

Zing! 🤭😂 Funniest thing you’ve ever written. I hope the humour was intended.

And don’t most nihilists secretly believe they’re actually realists?

Last edited 3 months ago by Admiral Ackbar
OriginalPouzar

Rodrigue has been an AHL staring tender for a grand total of about 8 starts and half of those in a tandem.

godot10

I think you have been posting that he has been lights out since last New Years 2023.

Were you lying to us?

OriginalPouzar

Yes, that is true – and he NEVER got even half the starts until about 8 games in to Campbell’s AHL tenure.

He’s never been an AHL starter, even 50%, until the past month.

nelson88

Admittedly I’m likely too bullish on Broberg but won’t be at all surprised if he has a “better career”, not just points, then Zegras does when all is said and done.

One of the aspects of the Holland approach to marinating prospects is it further amplifies the recency bias that is already inherent in flashy forwards over D and G prospects.

I’m as big a booster as any for the younger prospects and would love to see them play but Old Dutch’s patience usually turns out to be correct

OriginalPouzar

Its impossible to argue that, as of now, there is a massive delta between the two players but, truth to be told, from everything that’s happened with Zegras over the last 6 months (including his contract stuff and then his on ice play), I don’t want that Person on my team.

He seems like a very immature on-ice hockey player that may not grow out of that.

godot10

Holland’s patience cost the Oilers last year in the playoffs because neither Holloway nor Lavoie were given the opportunities during the season to be options for Woodcroft when the forwards began being banged up in the playoffs against Vegas.

Diablo

Woodcroft wouldn’t start Campbell, even when Skinner looked completely burnt out. What makes you think that he would have started Holloway or Lavoie in a playoff game. The coach decides who plays, not the GM.

OriginalPouzar

Meh, Lavoie cost himself that opportunity because he didn’t start playing like a potential NHL player until 3 months in to the season. By the time he had any traction as a potential call-up, the team was in the middle of an 18-0-1 stretch and chasing down first in the division while getting ready for the playoffs

Admiral Ackbar

Zegras is very much on a S. Samsonov trajectory…

Scungilli Slushy

Perry is a bandwagoner. He’s chosen, jumped on and been a significant contributor to 3 teams that made it to the final in the last 4 seasons. He must be something he sees, I like it

godot10

All the teams lost in the finals.

Scungilli Slushy

Still a pretty impressive run there

Lewis Grant

If these Oilers merely lose in the SC final I am confident that Drai (and McDavid) re-sign. I’ll take that.

BornInAGretzkyJersey

Could have said the same about Hossa, before he jumped on the CHI bandwagon.

Admiral Ackbar

Compared to 30 or the other 31 outcomes out there, wouldn’t that be desirable?

OriginalPouzar

Holland mentioned they are aiming for Saturday for Perry in the lineup – they do want to get him in one game prior to the 9-day break.

OriginalPouzar

Perry did a great job in the media avail and so did Ken Holland.

Reja

Both are true Professionals in my opinion.

Foege Foegele Torpe

Is it a coincidence that our new signing arrives in E-town 4 days prior to his first game with the club?
I mean you’re trying to tell me he’s not fully aware of the team schedule?
He will slot in on Thursday against the team that expelled him (likely deserved).
Classic Corey Perry move if you ask me

Lutefisk

No intell when Perry arrived?
Oilers must have a couple of safe houses for just this kind of thing.

ArmchairGM

It’s been a weird year. The Oilers are slightly unpredictable these days, so I’ve been busy with their season.

Well, they’ve been pretty predictable lately (W,W,W,W,W,W,W, etc.), but it certainly has been a weird year. The incredible thing about the win streak is that they’re doing it WITHOUT McDavid going supernova or the PP running at historic levels.

Who are these Oilers?

OriginalPouzar

11 games giving up 2 or less goals is stunningly remarkable.

Scungilli Slushy

Another aspect to Perry is he does engage younger players

I have said they should have brought in Smitty to teach board and net front play

Having Perry to example how to be a net front nightmare, and the nuances of how to play a tough game, can’t hurt McLeod and Holloway. Too bad Ralph isn’t around

Elgin R

The Oilers are rolling, and have been since the coaching change. I wanted to look at how the cup winners from the last few years stood out in terms of regular season ROW – no shootout wins.

Current Season:

  • Full Season: OIL in 8th place with 24 / VAN in 1st with 31
  • Nov 11 – Now: OIL in 2nd place with 22 / WPG in 1st with 23

Further comparison is of ROW for the conference finalists:

  • 2022 – 2023
  • Winner VGK in 6th place (CAR in 5th place)
  • 2021 – 2022
  • Winner COL highest of the 4 at 3rd overall
  • 2020-2021
  • Winner TBL in 4th place (VGK in 1st)
  • 2019 – 2020
  • Winner TBL was highest of the 4 at 2nd overall

If the Oilers can just keep piling up the wins it certainly bodes well for the playoff picture.

OriginalPouzar

May i ask why ROW and not simply regulation wins?

Of note, the Oilers were also near league lead in ROW and RW last season – they barely got any bonus points.

Elgin R

Used ROW as QuantHockey was able to let me set by date but they do not have just RW.

Here are the RW for the conference finalists along with the Oilers, season leader and Stanley Cup champ.

2023 – 2024

  • VAN – 29 (1ST)
  • EDM – 21 (7th)

2022-2023

  • Finalists: FLA – 36 / CAR – 39 / VGK – 38 / DAL – 39
  • Oilers: 45 (2nd place)
  • Leader: BOS – 54
  • Stanley Cup Winner: VGK

2021 – 2022

  • Finalists: TBL – 39 / NYR – 44 / COL – 46 / EDM – 38
  • Oilers: 38 (10th place)
  • Leader: CAR – 47
  • Stanley Cup Winner: COL

2020 – 2021

  • Finalists: TBL – 29 / NYI – 24 / VGK – 30 / MTL – 20
  • Oilers: 31 (2nd place)
  • Leader: COL – 35
  • Stanley Cup Winner: TBL

Still shows that the winner was at or very near the top in RWs and the Oilers are moving up the list fast!

OriginalPouzar

Thank you!

Wasn’t asking for you to do more work, was just curious, but I appreciate it.

ArmchairGM

3v3 regular season OT doesn’t necessarily project to 5v5 playoff OT.

fishman

TSN NHL Power Ranking has Oilers in #1 spot! Wow didn’t see that coming! Jets drop to #2 and Canucks #3. Canadian sweep!

ArmchairGM

Nice! Well deserved by the good guys.

Pretty funny how they highlight Vancouver’s “lotto line” and the fact they’re 10-3 goals at 5v5 (actually 11-4 now, according to naturalstattrick.com). It’s funny because that line is also 42 SF%, 40 xGF% and 35 (!!) HDCF% running a 1.169 PDO. Paper tigers, and a microcosm of the Canuck’s season so far.

Edmonton has two better lines.

Harpers Hair

Results matter.

Diablo

But the President’s Trophy does not. So have fun playing for that (maybe the Dys should start hanging up banners for all the President’s trophies that they’ve won). When the games start getting dirty and physical in the playoffs, the PDO pony is going to hit a wall, just like it did for the Flames a few years ago.

Pretendergast

For acquisition cost, I don’t see a clear and present upgrade on Ceci that moves the needle ala Ekholm. Parayko is the only one I see and that’s not a contract you can likely stomach.

According to Seravalli, the cost to get rid of Campbell shouldn’t be too much more than a 1st. While not exactly the same, he referenced Peterson costing a 2nd and a cap throw in (Walker, who turned out but was not the intention). If that’s true, I do it.

Campbell’s contract is moving one way or another this summer at latest by reading the tea leaves (trade, buyout, whatever), might as well help your team this year if that’s the cost.

Then I still like the idea of moving Kulak and whatever (24 1st+) to make room for Bro and a scoring winger.

I would have bit the bullet on Saros or Markstrom earlier but now I don’t. How the turntables. Goalie depth would certainly be priority insurance.

Gonna be a very interesting deadline for the Oil this year.

godot10

Some of us wanted to explore internal optionality to provide competition for the spot beside Nurse.

That exploration would have also prepared the team for the extremely heavy schedule in the last week and the last month of the season, and for the playoffs, and better revealed the extent of the need at the trade deadline.at RD.

OriginalPouzar

They did explore that in the exhibition season and very early in the season – it didn’t go great with Bouchard.

Yes, I know, Broberg, but its simply not reasonable for them to have put Broberg with Nurse and those high leverage minutes.

Scungilli Slushy

I bet if anything only depth guys, no major additions

Really only Tanev and Pesce are upgrades that are said to be available. But I can’t see the Canes dealing Pesce unless it was for a top goalie or forward. Walker might be because of better pucks skills, but again the Flyers are still in it

So a steep price

Diablo

I’ve been saying this for a while – the cost to move Campbell to a bottom feeder is going to cost a 1st, not multiple 1sts … looking at Chicago, SJ, and the other bottom feeders … these teams stripped off all their tradable assets over the past few years. All they have left is cap space to weaponize.

Giving up a first for Campbell is reasonable, cause he could rehab his game and his image in less stressful environment, and then be flipped for a return in a year or two, while being a good presence in the locker room. He works on his game constantly, he doesn’t pout, he takes ownership for his failings (to a fault), he’s very supportive of the younger goalies that he platoons with … he’s the kind of vet goalie that can help a bottom feeder team, and his cap hit helps some of those teams reach the cap floor (which is going up next season).

I could see a team like Buffalo having interest as well, as Devon Levi was clearly not ready to be an NHL goalie. If Chicago or SJ moves one of their goalies, then that could be a landing spot for Campbell, as could Anaheim if they move Gibson.

Last edited 3 months ago by Diablo
leadfarmer

I dont see anyone spending 15 mil plus whatever is left of this years salary for a late first round pick. Gonna get to buy him out in the offseason

OriginalPouzar

I put a lock of stock in to Seravelli and his inside information but I think this one is opinion based and I don’t agree with him and he didn’t have his facts correct with the Pederson example.

Firstly, when he threw it out, he only mentioned it costing a 2nd and didn’t mention the $2MM they had to retain (technically on Proporov) and, when it was noted to him, he said it was only for one year when its for two.

If the 20-32nd overall pick is what’s required to move Campbell, he’d be gone, long gone.

I think its at least double that and maybe even more.

Diablo

Every situation is different. But if it costs more than this year’s first, then you just buy him out in the summer.

Also what’s stopping Edmonton from retaining 1.5 million for the remaining 3 years on his deal to reduce the asset cost to offload his deal?

Saves you 3.5 million per season for years 1-3, with no dead cap space carrying over into years 4-6 (in the case of a buyout)

Opens enough cap space to the add the Flower.

OriginalPouzar

I agree, the cost of moving Campbell is cost-prohibitive right now – I’d prefer the buyout and that’s a terrible option.

Yes, retaining and trading him is an option but its just bad as the other two – it probably still costs a first (in my opinion) and you still have a decent dead cap hit for three years.

There is no not terrible disposition of that contract.

OriginalPouzar

Jason Gregor

@JasonGregor
·
14m

RNH-McDavid-Hyman
Kane-Draisaitl-Foegele
Janmark-McLeod-Ryan
Gagner-Holloway-Brown

Perry rotating in on bottom six. Based on line rushes I don’t expect him to play tomorrow. He might, but I’d be surprised.

————————

Makes sense to me – I’d be shocked if Perry played tomorrow.

OriginalPouzar

Erne on waivers as per DNB.

I was going to say “officially on waivers” but, well, I don’t think that’s true until noon.

Anyways, the surprise would have been if this didn’t happen.

frjohnk

Our bottom 6 wingers as of now
Janmark,Ganger, Brown, Ryan.

good defensively, decent offensively except Brown.
but not physical, are not hard to play against.

A 6,7 game series you want to be able to wear down the opposing D, and or throw them off their game.

Perry gives the Oilers this look on the bottom 6 wing.

But he also might be the slowest player in the league. Hopefully Holloway and McLeods speed cancels this out.

also interested to see a burr in his saddle Drai centring Kane and Perry maybe a couple times against teams I’m not fans of.

Scungilli Slushy

Someone mentioned Perry has always been slow, it’s not that he’s lost his boots, so he knows how to make it work

McSorley33

Perry will need some time to get back up to speed here…..no question.

But, how many games will he need to tie the Brown / Erne / Janmark production?

Great signing. Zero acquisition cost.

Wily, dirty, playoff veteran – will pay dividends in post season in a bottom 6 role.

90s fan

With this signing, Perry has just matched Browns goal production for the Oilers this season!

MushedPeas

So long as he can keep up I look forward to seeing him annoy the hell outta the opposition. Always good to spread that role around. Can’t all be on Kane.

Last edited 3 months ago by MushedPeas
Scungilli Slushy

Perry was playing 3rd line minutes with the Hawks, ~14 minutes

northerndancer

With Perry now an Oiler is this the playoff year the NHL clamps down on muggings and holdings and old timey playoff ‘whistles in pockets’? How much bonus time in the penalty box does the team need for it to be tough? At least Kane hits hard and has been seen back checking lately.

Chelios is a Dinosaur
Bring it on what you describe here sounds like Perry as Decoy because even if he plays 15 minutes a night the Oilers would feast during the remaining 45 if there were no playoff whistles.
Last edited 3 months ago by Chelios is a Dinosaur
dustrock

https://theathletic.com/5207245/2024/01/22/nhl-goaltending-unicorns/

Interesting article. Are young goalies getting overcoached?

What a different world:

In 2000, 10 of the top 50 salaries in the NHL were paid to goalies. Roy, Brodeur, Curtis Joseph, Fuhr, Tom Barrasso and Vernon were all among the highest-paid players. This season, there are only three goalies in the top-50 salaries. Carey Price — who hasn’t played in over two years — is one of them, so there are only two active goalies (Sergei Bobrovsky and Andrei Vasilevskiy) with top-50 salaries in 2023-24.

They’re also the only two inside the top-100 salaries. As recently as 2015-16, there were 16 goalies in the top 100 league-wide. As the position has become more difficult to predict due to parity, many general managers have shied away from giving goalies mega contracts.

Munny 2.0

With this signing, Dutch Jackson conserves a draft pick for the scouting staff that otherwise would’ve been burned on acquiring a depth forward at the deadline. Today is a good day for the org.

MushedPeas

Agreed.

Reja

Its good to have at least 1 rat on your team the substainable ones have a knack of throwing opposition players off their game as well as timely goals. Hopefully Perry hasn’t aged with all the drama and he still has tank in the gas.

Munny 2.0

In my head, when I heard the signing, my first thought was we just acquired Rat 2.0. Obviously not at the same level of O or same stage of life as Linseman, but same under-the-skin grease. Janmark has some of that in him too…

Last edited 3 months ago by Munny 2.0
Reja

First off l loved Risto Slitinan he definitely had the Bouch Bomb before Evans Dad even had a twinkle in his eye. I think Risto I could be wrong was also the main connection that paved the way for the jackpot Finnish invasion in Edmonton. In saying that Sather skillfully managed to get the Rat for Risto than received Mike Krushelnyski for the Rat. Sather always valued a 3rd line Centre that could easily play up in the batting order

McSorley33

Agreed.

And highly likely Perry will clear Erne / Brown / Janmark production

Bobbyoiler

Not only does he conserve a draft pick, Perry has time to become a part of the team which sometimes doesn’t happen with trade deadline pickups.

MushedPeas

Also a good point

OriginalPouzar

Per Capfriendly:

P. BONUS DETAILS: $225,000 earned for 10 games played | $50,000 if EDM wins the 2nd RD of the playoffs and Perry: a) plays in 50% of RD 2 games, or b) 50% of the total of RD 1 & 2 games | $50,000 if EDM wins the 3rd RD of the playoffs and Perry: a) plays in 50% of RD 3 games, or b) 50% of the total RD 1, 2 & 3 games

So, it basically a $1MM contract with $225K of “cap deferal” which will further decrease next year’s cap.

I’m not enthused about that $225K but, at the end of the day, oh well, it is what it is and I’m not going to take the opportunity to just lay in to Holland like I’m sure some will (not this community).

Scungilli Slushy

It’s just frustrating. Now that we have a coach that surprises in a good way, it seems worse

It’s only 325K, but it’s far from clear Perry was looking to squeeze what would be for him chump change out of one of his best opportunities for a deep run

And the 10 games played. So predictable. It should have all been depth of run and goal share – proper incentive

JOFA

Let’s hope he hits all of his bonuses🙂

Diablo

I mean Brown got 3.25 million for playing 10 games … so this is an improvement ;-p

OriginalPouzar

Meh – I’m not overly concerned with the $225K – not enthused but certainly not going to give it too much power. I presume the player had offers of $1MM plus.

Diablo

He was being courted by Dallas and Tampa Bay – both were teams that he went to the Finals with before … and both play in states without income tax.

Honestly, I’m surprised he picked Edmonton over those two destinations – it’s colder, the travel is worse, and he doesn’t have any significant ties to the organization. I think the 13 game winning streak had a big part in his decision to sign with us.

Those bonuses are chump change for Perry – just there to provide a little extra motivation for him.

Scungilli Slushy

Except those two teams aren’t as good as us this season, and they don’t have Connor. That does count for something, the Oilers do get players now

It’s not the end game of the world, just Holland never gets a good deal. I think it’s fair to say at this point

Diablo

Yeah, but he does get his target. That’s a big change from years gone by we were getting repeatedly left by altar.

Scungilli Slushy

Yes but I think and Kane said, it’s about Connor and the team. Great winning teams are what players want. To play with the best. Always has been, and if it’s about money for the player, I don’t want them

OriginalPouzar

The Oilers get players by paying for them.

External UFAs have not come to Edmonton for less than they’d receive elsewhere – not Barrie, not Hyman….

Scungilli Slushy

It was that way, Hyman is in his 3rd season. Some players might be like that still, I think it’s changing. As the team changes. They have dominated the reg season since around when Ek came, other than the hiccup

Currently the best Oilers since the 80s. No big holes currently. People know what they are doing, other than PK Subban

Diablo

Yeah, but they weren’t coming before no matter how much you paid them, unless it was for their retirement contract.

McDavid and Draisaitl are the main reason for that, but Holland hasn’t embarrassed himself begging the UFAs to come to Edmonton the way Lowe, Tambellini and MacTavish did.

Or have you forgotten about the infamous recruitment video/DVD? Nylander’s wife? Pronger’s wife? Hossa taking a 1 year deal and rejecting a massive deal for years of guaranteed money? Markstrom picking Calgary over Edmonton? Peca, Spacek and Samsonov all bolting immediately after the Cup run as UFAs?

The Oilers were the butt end of a very bad joke for decades … I’ve had Connery’s iconic quote rattling in my head for the past few days “losers alway whine about their best. Winners go home and @#$% the prom queen.” For years, the Oilers were losers. Now we get whoever our GM sets his sights on. It’s fair to debate whether Holland’s picked the right targets and the process going into those decisions. But Holland delivers, where other GMs whined about “doing their best”.

Do you think that other teams don’t have to pay market value? Go talk to a Leaf’s fan right now. Only Texas and Florida state teams get a discount due to the difference in state income tax.

Diablo

Players want to get paid as much as they can for as long as they can. Look at Nick Foligno .. 36 years old with over 53 million in career earnings. And he still took the bag to stay with that mess in Chicago instead of trying to win Stanley. You guys are getting all twisted about a few hundred K in bonus $ to Perry that amounts to money on the board?

OriginalPouzar

Oh, I don’t disagree with any of that.

I was just making sure it was clear that, while McDavid and Drai are “a pull”, noone has been taking discounts to come play with them.

They simply make Edmonton a potential destination if they are offering market, or a slight over pay.

Diablo

You’ve got to win a Cup to get guys to sign for less than market – win a Cup and McDavid, Draisaitl, maybe even Bouchard start thinking about their “legacy”.

Until then it’s all hypothetical and guys will take the biggest bag they can get.

OriginalPouzar

Anyone after No. 100? I like two Russians (Maxim Berezkin, Nikita Yevseyev) Condors wingers Tyler Tullio and Matvey Petrov, college man Shane Lachance and this new college fellow Matt Copponi. I also like Max Wanner, and the Oilers really like Wanner.

This Shane LaChance is a very intriguing draft and follow propsect.

I’ve never seen him play but he’s scoring goals as a rookie at BU and that’s a big deal. Colby Cohen, BU alumni, mentioned apx 3 weeks ago that he thinks the Oilers have a hidden gem in LaChance (based off of watching him like 12-15 times this season, he said).

Matt Copponi just keeps producing points as a young NCAA player and I don’t know what it means – is this kid a “real propsect”

Just of note: Deharnais, Kemp, Wanner – all 7th round picks.

Wanner is almost a lock to be an NHL player – unless he takes a massive turn, what he’s doing as a 20 year old rookie in the AHL career almost cements him as a future NHL player – in my opinion.

frjohnk

Had a look at Scott Lachance hockey db.

and usually I get distracted by looking at other players and waste time.

noticed there is a Jack Hughes on the team. Drafted in second round by LA in 21.

too bad the Devils didn’t draft him to give them 2 Jack Hughes.

they would have to put on the name bars

Jack Hughes 1.0
Jack Hughes 2.0

PokeCheck

@CapFriendly

Corey Perry can earn up to $325,000 in performance bonuses:
1. $225k for 10 games played [ugh]
2. $50k if EDM wins the 2nd RD of the playoffs and Perry: a) plays in 50% of RD 2 games, or b) 50% of the total of RD 1 & 2 games
3. $50k if EDM wins the 3rd RD of the playoffs and Perry: a) plays in 50% of RD 3 games, or b) 50% of the total RD 1, 2 & 3 games

Last edited 3 months ago by PokeCheck
Darth Tu

$325k in performance bonus is a-ok with me.

Whaler Slamamoto

Gotta motivate those old bastards!

OriginalPouzar

Who gets bumped off the roster? I’ll guess Adam Erne.

Who gets the healthy scratch? I think it might be Samwise. Janmark and Ryan PK and so does Brown.

I think question one is a no-brainer answer in Erne, like no-brainer.

The answer to question 2 is, of course, tougher:

Only reasonable options are: Gagner, Ryan, Janmark, Brown.

Truth be told, only one of those guys doesn’t PK – Gagner.

Janmark and Brown can’t piss a drop but they are a vital PK pair and the word “pair” is meaningful as coach has talked about about the PK pairs and rolling pairs.

Gagner and Ryan are both a bit older. Gagner doesn’t PK and is coming off a concussion (and, of course, the recent hip surgery). Ryan is older, a bit more of depth on the PK and takes a beating nightly.

I see Gagner/Ryan as the likely choices, probably some rotation.

Of course, injuries will happen between now and in to June.

Darth Tu

I think we see no change for tomorrow’s lineup. Give Perry a few days to train with the team and integrate and start him later in the week. Gagner is just back and scored a sweet banked goal, I’d not take him back out immediately.

Agreed that Erne is likely the guy sent down and that Gagner is the most vulnerable due to not being a regular PK player for us.

OriginalPouzar

I don’t imagine he plays tomorrow either.

Diablo

lol – I love Samwise, but that goal was the very essence of puck luck. Ryan is a superior player with a bigger role on the team, as he is an excellent PKer and the only RH face-off man that we have. Ryan is an everyday player still, Gagner is not. Brown is black hole on offence, Ryan goes to the dirty areas to score that Brown consistently avoids.

Gagner is going to be an awesome black ace – hopefully he gets a ring to close out his career, as he transitions into either a management role or becoming a player agent like his dad.

Brown is a shell of the player that he was … I would not be surprised if he is out of the league a year from now.

Scungilli Slushy

325K performance bonus

Scungilli Slushy

What the targets are not yet out that I can see

kinger_OIL

— Imagine checking up on standing gas today with no context: Oil ready to blow up Drai no resigning end it all then longest winning streak which equals seeded team in playoffs

— I early in season there out my mantra of “it’s oilers time enjoy the ride”. Turns out the ride too hard.

THE OILERS WILL NEVER LOSE AGAIN!

OriginalPouzar

Perry presser will be apx 12:30 mountain (per Nugent-Bowman).

On the performance bonuses, as per my earlier comment, I won’t provide an opinion until I see what they are.

I mean, if its 10 games and $1MM, I’ll be pissed.

If its 10G for $500K, I’ll be “OK with it” – that will be earned money (20 goal pace) but, truth be told, I think he should be a near league min player given where he is in his career and the situation.

Shamus23

Practise at 11. And Holland and Perry will talk to media after ( Gazzola)

slopitch

Can we just call our scouting director Rick Prastley. Prospect depth isnt there, need more than a one hit wonder…

Cape Breton Oilers 4EVR

Perry will be a nice element added to the lineup in the playoffs. There’s no question of that. They could’ve passed, and then have him in a Knights or Kings jersey facewashing MacLeod and Gagner every whistle.

Brantford Boy

This is a good and subtle point, which makes me mad and happy at the same time… #mappy?

Scungilli Slushy

This

MushedPeas

Yup. Taken that way, it’s a victory even to pressbox him.

Harpers Hair

Perry: $775K plus performance bonuses.

Shamus23

Oilers saying Perry will wear #90

Tarkus

Looks like he will become the first Oiler to wear that number in the regular season.

Also cool that we now have on the roster an 89, 90, 91 and 93.

JOFA

And that 97 guy

Scungilli Slushy

It’s kind of funny, I wouldn’t be surprised if he did it because Kane is 91

OriginalPouzar

Spec saying Perry expected on ice for practice the morning.

Shamus23

Spector reporting he expects Perry on the ice for practise this AM. That is interesting.

Scungilli Slushy

I imagine once he decided he got on a plane. I’m sure he’s raring to go

who

Hard to pass judgement on the Perry signing until we know what the bonuses are.
I don’t see the player making much of a difference, good or bad. At this point in his career he’s just another depth forward.
LT is correct. The bottom six wingers look a little slow, although Brown and Janmark can skate. If only they had hands. The flip side is, there are 2 very fast trains in the middle of lines 3 and 4.

Scungilli Slushy

I think they wanted more snarl in the bottom 6. It was the best it’s been in a while, but not exactly hard to play against. If Perry can hold his own he adds

Now there are two forwards that will have the opponent thinking about them as much as the play they are trying to make

who

Maybe.
I don’t think other players view Perry as an intimidating presence. He’s more of a pain in the ass, shit disturber type.

Darth Tu

If all he does is pot the odd goal and cause Pieterangelo to lose his crap and take a game misconduct in a playoff game then I think he’s worth the money. It’ll be nice to have a the shit disturber on our team for once.

Scungilli Slushy

Agreed, but he is also a big fella and not one to back down. 18 fights in the last 3 seasons before this one, one against Nurse

Kane has had 3 including this season. Nurse 8, none so far

McSorley33

Adam Erne and Connor Brown.( who is literally not scoring)

Perry is a big upgrade on the bottom 6

Perry has 4 goals and has not played in a long time.

Very easy, I would think, for Perry to clear the 0 bar

Scungilli Slushy

Morning LT

I agree with drafting BPA, but you have to be able to make deals to make that work, and you can’t bleed out talent and depth very often (or ever) in doing it. That has not been a strong point for the org since Lowe had his 06 out of body experience

Which is also why I truly hope we get a new GM that can make deals like MacCrimmon, Hughes/Gorton, Zito and now Allvin. It is completely possible, we just rarely see it in important things

Ekholm is great yes, the price given age not great – I think other GMs like the ones mentioned would have done better

Diablo

The Oilers fleeced the Preds on the Ekholm deal. Barrie is a spare part that they are trying to get rid of, Schaeffer is not setting the world on fire since turning pro and the pick yielded an OK defense prospect. Ekholm has been better than advertised.

Those other GMs might have traded the same assets for butter soft Jeff Chychrun instead, but I doubt they would’ve made a better deal for Ekholm.

Holland tends to be a bit inflexible once he zeroes in on a target, giving up too much value in the process. Athansiou, Keith, Campbell, Brown. But he always seems to get the player he’s targeting … and sometimes that works out great for us … Hyman, Ekholm, Kane, Ceci, Kulak.

Scungilli Slushy

You have to look at the deal in that time frame, not now, to assess the pieces involved

Chychrun was younger and a similar player type to Barrie but not a right shot (rare), a little bigger but still non physical, had 3 knee injuries, the most games he had played was 63. His highest points 41. He brought a 1st and two 2nds, also a deadline deal

Barrie was playing the best hockey of his career, 30 YO, one of the top offensive D, running the PP, playing more physical, on a lower salary. Offense is what costs. Barrie at the time of the trade was 12th in D scoring in the league. Chychrun was 38th because he was hurt, again. Barrie had 55 points that season, even moving to a lower offensive team

The Oilers paid for Ek a 32 YO defensive D, on a 1.5 higher contract, not considered an offensive player:

-A player that was worth a 1st round pick at the time in Barrie

-The player just chosen with a 1st round pick, that had some offense and is big and tough (which is why they probably wanted him), that made Team Canada

-A 1st

-A 4th

-Got a 6th back, Ek and 250K retention

I like Ekholm a lot. It’s not about how good he is for the team right now. The NHL is capped and is a cap efficiency contest as much as anything. Retaining value is key to current and long term success

I think Ek is their best D when healthy, for now. But that cost is what you pay for a young high end two way or offensive D, or other top end young player. It was three first round picks in value, 4 and 6 are a wash. Eichel, a 24 YO top end right shot centre cost two 1st round drafted players, a 1st and a 2nd

Holland paid what Vegas did for Eichel other than the 2nd. Yes it was the shortened season and pre season, but I think it shows how dearly Holland paid, way too much. Organization draining, unless it’s for an elite young player. When you have a generational player and a decent team, you can win any year. It makes no sense to gut yourself thinking you might win one Cup, but put a big dent in future chances. And it still didn’t happen

Get the player yes, but don’t get worked doing it

OriginalPouzar

Wait, do I read this post as equating Tyson Barrie and Reid Schaefer to Alex Tuch and Peyton Krebs?

MushedPeas

More or less with you, hearing you out, until the Ekholm trade eval. Oil had been looking for that guy for a decade and though price was dear it was not imo unreasonable or above market.