Where a player lands on a roster matters. The Bakersfield Condors have an issue right now, it involves a larger than usual number of young forwards trying to find their way. The U23 Condors (as of September 1, 2023) this season is a population of seven forwards, almost all of them wingers. It’s hard nose the highway for all involved.
THE ATHLETIC!
- Lowetide: What’s changed for Oilers’ Evan Bouchard in his impact season?
- DNB: Quizzing Oilers All-Star Leon Draisaitl on the top 10 NHL goalies he’s scored against
- Lowetide: Everything that went right for the Oilers in their perfect January
- DNB: Ranking the Oilers’ top 5 trade assets: Which ones could be in play?
- Lowetide: Will the Edmonton Oilers go all-in at the 2024 trade deadline?
- Lowetide: Which Edmonton Oilers prospects spiked in January?
- DNB: Jeff Jackson Q&A
- Lowetide: Why Oilers defenceman Vincent Desharnais’ next contract could be bigger than expected
- DNB: Oilers winning streak lives, but improvement is needed: ‘We got a lot more in our group’
- Lowetide: Why Oilers forward Sam Gagner is having success in his role
- DNB: Stuart Skinner’s superb play should give Oilers more trade deadline flexibility
- DNB: Why Oilers signing Corey Perry isn’t a surprise — even in these circumstances
- Lowetide: How the Oilers winning the Stanley Cup in 2024 could impact future
- Lowetide: Ranking Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland’s 10 biggest moves
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers top 20 prospects ranking, winter 2023
YOUNG FORWARDS
The 2023 -24 Condors employ Dylan Holloway (2-2-4 in four games), Raphael Lavoie (13-10-23 in 31 games), Xavier Bourgault (37, 6-10-16), Carter Savoie (33, 4-8-12), Jayde Grubbe (37, 6-4-10), Tyler Tullio (21, 3-5-8) and Matvey Petrov (28, 5-3-8). That’s seven. Holloway hasn’t played much, so in the interests of a fair measurement, we’ll say the team could safely populate half of the forwards in each game with U23 options.
Bakersfield has eight men (Seth Griffith, Drake Caggiula, Lane Pederson, Greg McKegg, Brad Malone, James Hamblin, Cameron Wright, Dino Kambeitz) who are also looking for playing time.
That’s 14 men for 12 spots. It’s actually worse, because only Jayden Grubbe among the kids is a center. So, in actual fact, there are five wingers for eight jobs. The math doesn’t work.
Veteran wingers who are productive (Griffith, Cagguila, Malone) play every night, with Cameron Wright (physical AHL winger) worthy of a regular job. That’s four of eight, leaving four slots and five wingers. Here are last night’s forwards, by line:
- Caggiula-Pederson-Bourgault
- Lavoie-Hamblin-Griffith
- Savoie-Grubbe-Petrov
- Malone-McKegg-Wright
Holloway didn’t play, Tullio is banged up, and the third line (kid line!) doesn’t have a veteran driver (although they do very well). Last night, the feature prospect forwards were Bourgault and Lavoie. Have the Oilers had this many kids pushing for AHL playing time a once in the past?
The 1988-89 Cape Breton Oilers were the genesis for Edmonton’s only AHL championship team (the 1992-93 Cape Breton Oilers). Here are the top 12 forwards that season, with age and boxcars:
- Mark Lamb (24) 54, 33-49-82
- Shaun Van Allen (21) 76, 32-42-74
- Fabien Joseph (22) 70, 32-34-66
- Dan Currie (20) 77, 29-36-65
- Kim Issel (20) 65, 34-28-62
- Larry Floyd (27) 70, 16-33-49
- Alan May (23) 50, 12-13-25
- Nick Beaulieu (20) 60, 10-13-23
- Doug Smith (25) 24, 11-11-22
- Mike Glover (20) 61, 9-11-20
- David Haas (20) 61, 9-9-18
- Brad MacGregor (24) 31, 8-8-16
The Oilers averaged 3.85 goals-per-game in 1988-89. The top 12 forwards included five men aged 20, one aged 21, another 22, plus a 23-year old. Two men were 24, another 27. Including all names listed, the cumulative total of NHL games played after the summer of 1989 was 1,608. Mark Lamb was a strong contributor to the Oilers Stanley Cup win in 1990. Shaun Van Allen and Alan May had careers of note. Tw
- Seth Griffith (30) 33, 9-22-31
- Drake Caggiula (29) 28, 8-19-27
- Lane Pederson (26) 33, 12-15-27
- Raphael Lavoie (22) 31, 13-10-23
- Greg McKegg (31) 35, 5-13-18
- Xavier Bourgault (20) 37, 6-10-16
- Brad Malone (34) 33, 2-12-14
- Carter Savoie (21) 33, 4-8-12
- Cameron Wright (25) 19, 6-5-11
- Jayden Grubbe (20) 37, 6-4-10
- James Hamblin (24) 11, 4-4-8
- Tyler Tullio (21) 21, 3-5-8
The Condors are averaging 3.19 goals-per-game, so the offense is harder to come by than it was 30 years ago. Two men were age 20 at the start of September, two 21, one 22, one each 24-25-26, them 29 (one), 30 (one), 31 (one) and 33 (one). Six men are 25+.
- Players age 20-22 in 1988-89: 7 of 12; four of top 5 20-22
- Players age 20-22 in 2023-24: 5 of 12; one of top 5 20-22
Condors have too many veterans, I’m hesitant to hammer the coaching staff because there is evidence they have too many wingers. For instance, Max Wanner plays a bunch on RH defense, there’s room and he is playing even through periods of struggle. Matvey Petrov is the only prospect outside the top-12 and he’s actually tied with Tullio in points.
I think, if we’re fair, it’s more accurate to say Colin Chaulk has a difficult road with so many inexperienced wingers arriving at the same time. Defenseman Wanner and center Jayden Grubbe do play every night, Olivier Rodrigue (.920 SP) was faded only when the organization wanted Jack Campbell to see the net often. Raphael Lavoie is the most likely 2024-25 member of the Edmonton Oilers, and the rest have things to work on.
Xavier Bourgault had an excellent game last night. I’m writing a piece now for The Athletic that will be up later today or tomorrow. Safe to say he looked like a first-round pick against the Stars Friday night.
Campbell with 36 saves on 37 shots in a 2-1 win – the no-doubter first star I’m sure.
Some massive saves in there.
I don’t ‘trust’ Campbell now or anything, but he is playing very well.
Up to .909 in Bakersfield overall.
His first three games were rough, he’s been 10-4-0 with a .922 SV% since then (ie – since Nov. 21st).
Even better lately, 6-1-0 in his last 7 with a .935 SV% (that would be post-Christmas).
It definitely doesn’t hurt to have an NHL veteran available who’s playing well in the minors.
Shouldn’t ignore Rodrigue either, who’s still at a .920 SV% on the season despite some less stellar starts recently.
Let’s not forget how well he played in relief in the post-season. Not starting him in Vegas was arguably a killer when Skinner struggled.
What are the recall rules on AHL tenders in the SC playoffs?
Summarizing!
Another night, another apple for Copponi.
Another night, another loss for Day as he allowed three goals on 26 SOG.
Mazura was held without soup, and so shall have to content himself with a half-eaten ice cream cone (without ice cream).
Stonehouse remained out of the lineup.
Broberg, Lavoie, Caggiula, Pederson – open net one timer goal.
Great mid-ice battle by Lavoie to poke it over to Drake who made the wonderful cross seam to Pederson.
Campbell with 14 saves so far, 2 minutes in to the second period – some good reflect saves on deflections as well.
Jinxed it.
Niemo with a bad defensive zone giveaway and the pass to the guy all alone in front who goes bar down.
Leon?
Gleason with a very nice cross seam high to low pass and Kambietz snipes it.
Broberg with nice play and pass across to Gleason will get the second assist.
This came off some nice board battle work by the Wright/Grubbe/Kambeitz trio.
Lost in the thread, would a trade package involving Campbell for Reilly Smith make sense? Smith does have a 10 team no trade list. He’s a left shot, but plays either wing.
Reilly Smith’s reportedly worn out his welcome in Pittsburgh. His contract carries a cap hit of $5m with an additional year to run. There’s some negative value there which makes taking Campbell back a little more palatable for the Pens.
The cap works as it’s dollar in for dollar out.
What would it cost us?
Could you package Ned in the deal? He’s having a season and carries a $1.5m cap hit on an expiring contract.
I like the template in theory, but why would Pittsburgh make that deal?
I don’t see them throwing in the towel (selling) with the old/star team they have. And they have Jarry signed (who’s been good), so I don’t see how this would address a need for them in any way.
Sid wants to see the playoffs, agreed. It would only make sense for the Pens if they’re pulling the chute on the season.
Moneypuck has the Pens at 58.7% chance of making the playoffs. That’s a tough playoff race they’re facing. They’ll have a better idea where they’re at by the deadline.
After that, it would depend on what Dubas could get from Holland in the deal. Smith is a nearly 33 year old player on a bad contract, in decline.
Dubas solves one problem by dumping the Smith contract.
The Pens have an aged out core and one of the worst prospect pools in the league.
If Dubas could get a first, Akey or good prospect, that helps the retool.
The Pens have a bit of bad salary on the books already with the Johnson buyout and Petry retention.
Agreed, I like the template too. Maybe there’s another deal out there that helps us ice a better roster rather than having the buried cap penalty of Campbell.
I just don’t see the Penguins selling unless things go totally off the rails between now and the deadline. Dubas was hired on an ‘all in’ mandate, wasn’t he?
I was looking and I wonder about NJ and Vanecek as a possibility. Maybe there’s a way to flip the goalies, save some money, and also bring Tofolli back?
And possibly, maybe, Montreal wants to get rid of Gallagher or Anderson enough to retain and even up the salary. Not sure that would make sense even then..
Not that easy of a template to fit it seems.
I’ve looked at Anderson’s buyout($5.5M cap) and year 1(this summer) the cap charge is only $200k, so that would save the Oilers just under $900k compared to a Campbell buyout.
That might interest the Oilers although the remaining 5 years the buyout(s) mirror each other (for the most part) with the Anderson buyout a small premium in each year (year 3 is NOT small-they give back they million they save this summer, and then some)
Perhaps there is money retained on both sides and Campbell’s cap is reduced, making him easier to move along further down the line
I’m not sure why Montreal would do that though, and I’m not certain the Oilers should pay for the privilege of a 6 year buyout of Josh Anderson either
You’re right, it’s not an easy template to fit
Good to know Anderson’s buyout is a bit better short term.
I think the template would involve at least maybe not buying out Campbell’s return though.
Tough fit for sure.
The template involved bringing in a slightly distressed asset back.
Let’s put it this way, the Josh Anderson contract is not a slightly distressed asset.
I had contemplated some retention on the Campbell contract in a transaction as well. Campbell with three years left at $4m could be worth risking a season on a rebound for another team including Pittsburgh.
I had a reply roughed out (to you) before jp replied and mentioned Anderson, so I pivoted and mentioned the Anderson buyout due to structure of the buyout and the year 1 savings
A Smith transaction is in a different league, agreed
A 1st and Campbell at 50% retained for Smith at 50% retained
The balance of this year and next are money in/money out for both teams, and PIT has Campbell for 2 additional seasons after that at $2.5M
PIT could retain another 50% and Campbell for 3 years at $1.25M might be attractive to someone
I guess that would depend on how badly they want to move on from Smith
Dubas is a math guy, no?
If the Pens are in a losing position, I don’t imagine that he won’t sell.
Sure, but I don’t think he’s followed the wisdom of math at previous deadlines (huge assets out for rentals time and again).
This is a different situation, but I don’t think he’ll sell unless the Penguins are decisively out of it. I can’t see it if they’re within striking distance at all.
I’d love to see a Smith for Campbell type trade. I see the benefit for the Oilers, it just doesn’t seem at all likely to me.
A 1st or a top organizational prospect to move a terrible anchor contract for a slightly less of an anchor and then needing to move two players off the roster to get the new anchor on seems blah to me.
That’s because you think differently than I do.
This up coming post season is our single best chance of winning the Stanley cup. Depending on what 29 has for plans, it could be our last.
In my mind, it would be a shame to head into these playoffs with nearly $4m in cap space tied behind our back.
Reilly Smith isn’t a slightly less of an anchor contract. If we acquired him, he’d be the 2nd best RW on the team.
Reilly Smith would fit a dire need on this team. 2RW on Draisaitl’s line.
Last season, we saw what a difference Barbashev made for Vegas.
Dom has Smith’s contract value currently at $4.6m.
How would Riley Smith be better than Warren Foegele who has the 2nd most 5 on 5 points in the NHL in the last 16 games (one point behind the sole leader).
If we want to speak to linemates, Smith has played about 80% of his 5 on 5 minutes with Malkin and Foegele about 50% with Drai.
This would be the Lucic for Neal type deal.
An anchor contract plus assets (which was retained salary and a good draft pick) for a lesser anchor.
The Oilers would need to send down two players to fit Smith on to the roster.
Savoie’s offensive confidence is high now – picks off a an outlet pass near the offensive blue and tog drags around the d-man but is pope-checked before he can finish.
Savoie shows some powerful skating (which he has in a straight line) to take advantage of a whiff by the d-man at the offensive blueline and slit the D to go in on a breakaway but he’s stopped as he did have two defenders right on his ass.
“slit the D to go in on a breakaway”
Sounds like a stone cold killer.
I’ve read that his Holiness is hard on the forecheck and a real load along the boards
He also plays the pontiff on the power play.
For anyone interested NHL_SID has a piece up at ON, an in depth look at the Oiler’s D group, including manual stat tracking. Close to a juggernaut, been a while coming
As Oiler fans we are lucky to get the work SID and Curlock give. Informed and deep, not a lot around since the Oilogosphere went on the team payrolls
The game was just on in the background as I was working but I enjoyed the all-star games (the two Pacific games) – really only watched the McDavid, Drai, Pasta shifts mind you.
Pasta is sick.
Friedman has both Nuge and Hyman on his Four Nations Cups team. Along with Skinner.
Skinner a unanimous pick among the four (Fridge, Hrudey, Botterril, McLean).
McLean also had Nuge (but no Hyman).
No Bouch or Nurse on any of the lists (although McLean mentioned Nurse).
Dobson on all 4 I think.
Nurse was on McLean’s. But Bouchard didn’t even get a mention.
Dobson is getting the recognition he deserves.
No one cares
He seems to have caught the attention of those who have influence with those who might inform 4Nations roster construction.
Problem with playing with Mcdavid. Everyone assumes you are just riding his coattails
My trade deadline pickups are
1.Ivan Provorov half retained is $2.4M for Kulkak and a first. He is a UFA a year for now so you can get your first back later and you lower cost vs Kulak and add a legit top 4 defender. He is younger than Ekholm so have choices in 12 months.
2.Jonathan Toews for 20 more games and a Stanley cup
Campbell gets the start tonight.
Malone (a big banged up) will be the vet sit for Kambeitz.
Couple things.
I agree with Staples that unless a spectacular trade presents itself, I wouldn’t partake in dead line deals.
Do you think Foegele would sign for 10M over 4 years.
He’ll be getting 4-5M for a career year at his age
Keeping Foggy means a 5’er has to go – Kane Nuggie or Hyman
A cap means losing some good players. His replacement is already here, he just needs to stay healthy. Ideally a GM knows they are going to lose a player, and trades them for a roster player improvement or asset
Letting guys walk is weak sauce. Yes you gain cap but you are leaving stuff on the table. It’s a competitive league, you have to take every advantage and create them, your competitors are
Top teams lose assets at the deadline often. You have to get them back somehow, or you start to fade away
We don’t like fading away. In the wise words of Kurgan (or something like) ‘Listen up, I’ve got something to say, it’s better to burn out than fade away’
Best C movie ever!
Foggy is here for the cup run so enjoy your weak sauce.
That was in the books keeping him last summer
No one is giving him that. But we’ll see.
Mason Marchment is his upper comparison. No way he gets 5. Guessing 3.5-4.5
I had 4 as the start of the range. The main point is Holloway can do his gig for far less, and that has to be the path if they have any clue regarding the cap
Agreed.
I don’t see any major upgrades that fit under the cap.
And who do they need to upgrade?
Ceci? I don’t see another right shot dman out there at 3.25 million who can handle those minutes.
Foegele? Might be possible. He’s certainly tradeable right now, but he’s playing well, and I’m guessing Holland will keep him for this years run. If he finishes with 15 to 20 goals he probably gets 3 to 4 million on his next contract. That will be too much for Edmonton. They will prioritize Draisaitl, Bouchard, McLeod, maybe even Desharnais, before Foegele.
Would they trade Kulak to create more cap space? Doubtful. Most contenders are looking to add defensive depth at the deadline, not trade it away. The Oilers probably make the decision between Kulak and Broberg this summer.
Others adds like a 4th line center, or depth dman, probably won’t cost more than a mid round pick. And won’t affect the cap much, if any.
Broberg will win that decision as he will eventually replace Ekholm at 2L.
It would be a mistake to re-sign Foegle except on a one or two year deal at the same or less money. Find the next 24-25 year old Foegele. Foegele isn’t a core player. One should never sign them into their thirties. He will never be value for money.
We’ll, I think he’s a core member of the bottom 6 that can move up if and when required.
Not making any player comparisons, but that was the exact rationale that I had read here for re-signing Kassian.
1) I agree. I think the reasonable path forward right now is a depth forward and/or depth d-man.
Its tough to see a trade that would require the likes of 1st round picks and/or Broberg out because that type of trade would require real cap out and, realistically, they likely do not want to move Kulak out and Foegele is really good value for money and important to the team (no untradeable of course).
I guess if there is a trade that sends Foegele out and Jake G. back at half retained – that would be the type of big move. It would probably cost the 1st and Broberg or two 1sts to rent Jake G. with retained money (Foegele as a pending UFA is more of a cap move than an asset a selling team wants.
2) No.
Foegele for Scissons? The hit is almost a match, Scissons is under control for 2 more seasons, and addresses our need for a RHC.
Nashville gets a player that is 3 years younger and can retain because they have the space to pay him what’s he’s earned going forward.
I don’t think that trade makes the team better.
Foegele is currently our 2RW who is tied with McDavid for most 5 on 5 points during the 16 game winning streak and is one point behind the league leader in that time.
And he does that without playing with McDavid.
Its notable that they are starting Campbell in 2 out of 3 this week (well, presuming he starts tonight after Rodrigue started last night).
Truth be told, Campbell is playing better than Rodrigue right now and I think there is zero chance Rodrigue plays Oilers playoff games a a real non-zero chance that Campbell could – it is not the ideal scenario, of course, but I do see a potential path and, truth be told, Jack Campbell COULD go lights out in the NHL playoffs – he’s done it before.
Campbell has improved, yet he is still allowing around 1 softie per game.
I thought he replace that trapper with the hole in it last season?
He will probably be moved at the TDL (hopefully), perhaps to a team like Columbus (not necessarily for EM, but as part of a series of moves on CBJ’s end to move on from that player and bring in what might be seen a much better personality) where there is a much less-intense spotlight.
It is plausible Soup could be seen as a route to bettering a team’s chances for the 1OV pick and as a good mentor to a young ‘tender. Lots of possibilities that could create favourable conditions for a salary dump.
NHL coaches and GM’s are such a risk averse bunch, I can’t see him kept around on any team with Stanley Cup aspirations.
I would be shocked if he’s moved in-season – I think it would be cost-prohibitive.
The only way I see it is with another absolute anchor contract back (a Lucic for Neal type of deal) and I think its unlikely.
Perhaps if Holland is actually moving on he might want to deal with that contract and not leave the mess
Still probably not a good idea unless something miraculous comes up. We’ve seen a few GM’s get pretty creative
It was pre season but Hughes slayed in the Karlsson deal. The year previous he turned Petry and 4th liner Poehling into Matheson his now top D and 2.125M in cap
In Karlsson he unloaded Hoffman (4.5M negative value contract) and sent 4th liner Pitlick, traded Petry again. In the 2 deals he ended up with Matheson, Pearson, a 2nd, 3rd, 2 x 4th, Legare (minors) and 1.18M in cap
It cost him two higher value problem contracts 35 and 33 years old, and two 4th liners. Wow
Maybe, there’s a deal out there for a player that has a bit of a poor value contract, but can still play effectively.
I’m thinking someone with a $5m cap hit.
Not a great example, but maybe a Reilly Smith. He’s a RW. His contract isn’t good and the buyout is a bit noxious too which could make a Campbell deal possible.
You could argue that it would be better to have a Reilly Smith for the playoffs than Campbell’s nearly $4m buried penalty.
That’s the Lucic for Neal type deal – an achnor contract (with retained money and an asset (draft pick)) for a lesser anchor contract.
Oilers would need to send down two players to fit Smith on the roster though….
I would love to have Larsson come back to the Oil, but I assume that wouldn’t be possible because he wanted to leave Edmonton after the passing of his father. Have circumstances changed?
And just to clarify, I’m not trying to sound sarcastic, but am actually curious to know if there have been any indications that Larsson would be interested in coming back.
You’ll have to ask his mother; she can’t bear to come back to the city where her husband died unexpectedly. So unless Larsson is okay with not seeing her (he isn’t) or she’s had a change of heart (she hasn’t), then it’s a lost cause.
Thanks.
He would of came back if Holland upped the money..
Holland offered more money and Larsson said no thanks, that it’s not about the money.
Not to mention “upping the money” is not permitted
That ship is anchored in the Seattle Harbour.
He’d come back to play the exact role he was previously?? that he didn’t want to continue to play because he feels he’s a wizard with the puck?
Larsson wanted the ice time with the elites and not against the elites, bad vibes all around.
Larsson quit, Ekholm is everything Larsson believes he is but isn’t.
Some interesting character assassination going on in this post. Have an article or link to a reputable podcast to back this up?
I have surfed many parts of the web over the years, and I think you are the only person I have evee seen who has this kind of Larsson take. And I don’t get it at all.
That doesn’t seem to line up with what he has stated as his reasons for leaving:
https://edmontonsun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/edmonton-oilers/oiler-notes-adam-larsson-left-oilers-for-family-reasons
Larsson is not coming back.
Think we want to be looking in the right direction. Often fans want players for what they were, not what they are now
The best route is to have an analytics dept that has enough brains and resources to go find the young cost controlled guy to be a better partner for Nurse
And a GM that values doing that to help sustain the future and help improve while managing the cap. This isn’t a one and done type of team
Larsson was kryptonite for McDavid when he was an Oiler and they mostly kept him away from 97.
Larsson found new legs playing with a high end puck mover, Vince Dunn. However, they’re getting caved against elites this year and I’m not sure who’s fault it is.
He mostly played with Kris Russell during his last season here.
I’m not sure where you would slot Larson, since Ekholm Bouch is such an effective pairing.
Nurse and Larsson have played together in the past, but I don’t think they’re an ideal fit stylistically for each other.
Ideally, we’d find a Ceci upgrade that’s a better fit for Nurse. Nurse would look better with a transition d rather than a shutdown d.
Well back to trade musings……. This is a year to be patient at the deadline. Our holes in the lineup are very small and we’ve already filled the big gritty bottom 6 RW vet slot (Perry) for zero assets out.
A big vet RH 4C who can PK would be nice and Dowd is both capable and available. Easy option for me. Send them Janmark and a pick to retain 50% of Dowd if possible. This would actually free up cap and one deal I consider doing early.
Goaltending has gone from weakness to strength with 4 guys playing well. No need to do anything if this holds
Can you find a way to get Tank from OTT? They would have to retain plus take Kulak. Maybe they do it if they trade Chychrun but I can’t see Holland trading away Kulak and that’s the only way you can bring in a salary like Tanks. Nice idea though – reminds me of the Samsonov deal from years back.
Our defense has 6 guys playing well and our AHL team is filled with an over-ripe high draft pick who is dominating (Broberg) a vet tweener having a good year (Gleason) and a big guy with some NHL experience (Niemelainen). If we trade for another NHL 6-7 where will he play? That kind of guy doesn’t provide any more insurance against a top 4 guy getting hurt than Broberg (only Kulak does that). Why waste assets trading for another 6-7. Maybe you make an AHL deal that swaps one or two of our vet LHD for a vet RHD. Something like Niemelainen for Phil Myers in Tampa.
Sure you would like to upgrade Ceci but that is just flat-out impossible for less than $4 million and a ton of assets out the door. Lots of chatter about an upgrade – but who is better than Ceci’s at his price point? You hear crickets when you raise that point. Would Carolina do Ceci plus #1 pick for Pesce? I can’t see why but that’s the scope of an actual upgrade. It’s almost impossible. Would SEA trade Larsson for the same deal? No again in my opinion. The only other option is Tanev for Ceci but you better hope he stays healthy and I’m not sure if that upgrade is worth it (their numbers are almost identical). If you swap Tanev for Ceci you could be left with only Bouchard at RD next year if everyone walks (Desharnais is UFA as well). Trading Kulak is an option to bring in a guy like Tanev but that just weakens LD and it doesn’t sound like Holland to trade a vet dman who is playoff proven at the deadline.
So Dowd and and AHL RHD might be it, although you can never dismiss the idea of Holland trading for a Bogosian whether the team needs him or not. Really warmed to the idea of Tank but can’t see a way unless Campbell comes up lame.
I’m pretty sure it was OilersNow, they were speculating Dowd would cost a 1st if Wash retained and sent back a 4th.
The more I think about it, I’m not sure we even need more than depth at both forward and D anyways.
Maybe add Maroon and Bogosian and call it a day.
Cannot run Kane and Maroon, just like one could not run Lucic and Maroon.
I don’t think the org is throwing in Janmark in that type of deal – he’s valued in the lineup.
This more would not include a roster player in it and would result in Gagner being waived/assigned I would think.
Of note, during the 16 game winning streak, Janmark has been on the ice for zero goals against at 5 on 5 and one goal against on the PK.
Any reason Holloway didnt play? Is he just there for cap reasons?
Solely for cap reasons.
When they re-assigned him, in addition to the cap structuring, I presumed they wanted him to get more games in but it seems they think the injury risk outweigh the benefits (or they just figure he’s an NHL player now, which he is, and he deserves to head to whatever warm place his buddies have travelled to).
I wonder if he’s with the team. I think technically he has to be (can’t stay with the Oilers but the Oilers are on break so I guess, technically, the Condors can let him leave the team)….
Holland is also in with the Condors this weekend taking in the games. He watched one of Bourgault’s best game as a pro last night. He also watched Rodrigue show they he’s simply not an option for the Oilers this season.
Fuhr was terrible when Sather went to see him play before the draft.
Prospectrical!
It’s a quartet of NA amateurs in action today.
Two oppose each other but only if (a) Day is betwixt the pipes and (2) Stonehouse returns to the Ottawa lineup, having missed last night’s match.
Copponi and Mazura round out the sched.
Flint (Day) @ 5 p.m.
Ottawa (Stonehouse) @ 5 p.m.
Merrimack (Copponi) @ 5 p.m.
St. Lawrence (Mazura) @ 5 p.m.
All times are one time and also Bellis time.
He who must not be named.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKdxd718WXg
Bouchard. Check
Holloway. Check
Bourgault. Check
Rodrigue. Check
Wanner. Check.
Lavoie. Check
Miscellaneous young forwards. Check.
The Invisible Man by Queen?
I don’t understand the reference, also never heard or heard of the song before.
The sung portion of the verse reminds me of Ghostbusters which predates it by 5 years. Seems very similar to my ear.
Holloway, got it.
Was much more wrapped up in the song I wasn’t familiar with and the apparent Voldemort reference.
You sure?
It’s your post.
You tell me.
Everyone signed was named, goaltenders, D, forwards, since the 2018 draft, except “he who (apparently) cannot be named”.