Ken Holland had a very good day on Wednesday, taking advantage of a buyer’s market to reset the center position on a strong NHL team. The headlines landed in Vegas, and for good reason, but the Oilers are much stronger today. I don’t know if you remember, but I suggested a few weeks ago a center would be a fine idea. Then on February 2 on this blog, I wrote:
- LC Adam Henrique. He’s always on the Oilers acquisition list whenever reaching free agency (if Edmonton is a contender). Henrique is a center, and maybe the Oilers grab a winger. However, he has great utility (PP, PK, faceoffs) and a wealth of experience. Rachel Doerrie mentioned him as a strong candidate for the Oilers on her Monday Lowdown hit on Sports 1440.
The cost, considering the retention and the fact two players were coming in and none were going out, was lower than I thought it might be. Holland and the management team improved a strong club in this deal and the asset cost was not severe considering the return. That’s a very good day.
THE ATHLETIC
- New DNB: Oilers’ Cody Ceci can’t ignore NHL trade deadline reality: ‘It’s always stressful’
- Lowetide: Oilers’ trade deadline plan on defence is coming into view
- DNB: How Oilers’ trade for Adam Henrique, Sam Carrick improves forward depth
- Lowetide: Which under-the-radar Oilers prospect could be traded before the NHL deadline?
- DNB: How Calvin Pickard has affirmed his spot on the Oilers
- Lowetide: Is Edmonton Oilers prospect Raphael Lavoie a tweener?
- Lowetide: What’s the ideal deployment for Edmonton Oilers’ Evander Kane?
- Lowetide and DNB: Who says no? Evaluating 20 of your Edmonton Oilers trade proposals
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers enter spring signing season under pressure
- DNB: Goals aren’t coming for Connor McDavid. He’s helping the Oilers more than ever
- Lowetide: How can Brad Holland and Oilers pro scouts impact trade deadline?
- New DNB: Why the Oilers shouldn’t trade Warren Foegele before the NHL trade deadline
- Lowetide: Where can the Edmonton Oilers improve their draft strategy in 2024?
- Lowetide: What are the Edmonton Oilers’ 5 biggest trade deadlines ever?
- Lowetide: Breaking down the Oilers’ 50-man list at the trade deadline
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers top 20 prospects ranking, winter 2023
WHAT TO EXPECT IN MARCH
- On the road to: SEA (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 1-0-0)
- At home to: PIT (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 1-0-0)
- On the road to: BOS, CBJ, BUF, PIT (Expected 2-1-1) (Actual 1-0-0)
- At home to: WAS, COL, MON, BUF (Expected 2-1-1) (Actual 0-0-0)
- On the road to: TOR, OTT, WPG (Expected 1-2-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- At home to: LAK, ANA (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- Overall expected result: 8-5-2, 18 points in 15 games
- Actual March results: 3-0-0, 6 points in three games
- Oilers in 2023-24: 38-20-2, 78 points in 60 games
The Boston game in the distance, this month’s schedule has just four more hurdles (Colorado, Toronto, Winnipeg, Los Angeles) and losses in all of those games (and wins elsewhere) would put the record at 8-4-0. That would give Edmonton a 72 game total of 46-24-2, 94 points in 72 games.
WHAT THE HELL HANIFAN?
The return does seem a bit shy, doesn’t it? My guess is that Noah Hanifin had a big say in where he was headed and Vegas was one of the spots he would be willing to extend. It’s a sweet deal for the Golden Knights, and I give full credit to Kelly McCrimmon. You can get angry and stomp your feet, but the VGK are aggressive, were willing to give up a first and found the most attractive asset available on a day when prices were historically low. If you ever wanted to know how Sam Pollock did business, here you go. The Golden Knights have built a better mousetrap and they’re going to hammer in the morning, hammer in the evening, all over this land. Good for them.
NOT REPLACING CECI
I read a lot about Ceci as the guy who will cost the Stanley, but for me his resume in Edmonton is far richer and more varied than is being suggested online currently. Yes, he did struggle (and was not alone) against Vegas, but you may recall he had a “core injury” down the stretch and in the post season. Since November 24, when yet another Oilers coach sacrificed his career in the name of some new defensive scheme, the Oilers have deployed their blue versus elites five-on-five in this way (with DFF pct results). Notice the gap closing between Cody Ceci and Vincent Desharnais. This is PuckIQ:
- Evan Bouchard 249 mins, 68 pct
- Mattias Ekholm 242 mins, 68 pct
- Darnell Nurse 232 mins, 51 pct
- Cody Ceci 220 mins, 49 pct
- Vincent Desharnais 161 mins, 52 pct
- Brett Kulak 159 mins, 62 pct
A couple of notes: In 2022-23, Vincent Desharnais played just 58 minutes versus elites, Ceci played 493 minutes. The times they are a changin’. Second, Ceci has played 63 minutes with McDavid versus elites in 2023-24, when a year ago that total was 205 minutes. By the way, according to Puck IQ, Ceci away from McDavid this season holds a 50.5 percent DFF percentage versus elites in 231 minutes. This new coaching staff is finding solutions and changing deployment. They are enamored with Mr. Desharnais. I think he might be the deadline edition at No. 2 RHD.
HOW DO THINGS LOOK NOW?
With Dylan Holloway and Sam Gagner in the minors, and moves to be made in the next 24 hours, here’s how the club might look in the days to come.
I know many of you will have different ideas (my idea is below) but I do think the Henrique deal was made with the idea of keeping the glimmer twins together. The roster here allows it. Now, here’s what I would like to see.
Acquiring Carrier doesn’t mean that Desharnais or Ceci won’t play second pair but it does mean the coaching staff has options. If one player rises to the occasion, music! If someone gets hurt, then that’s covered too. The Holloway demotion is a bat signal, we all know it. The player acquired now can be a little higher on the cap tree. I also want to mention I love the McLeod-Draisaitl-Foegele line. In 89 five-on-five minutes, they are 10-3 goals, with a 60 percent expected goal share. I know you have to wait until the 200-minute level, but I’d like to see how those final 111 minutes play out.
Can the Oilers acquire Alex Carrier, or was I just smoking the drapes all night? We’ll talk about it today on the Lowdown, noon to 2pm on Sports 1440. Bagged Milk from Oilers Nation will join us to talk Oilers tonight and yesterday’s trade. We’ll also chat about Vegas Golden Knights and their Sam Pollockian general manager. 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.
The mighty Casey has struck out tonight.
I guess I just don’t understand why there is so many problems to start games.
It will never happen because its a poor idea, in my opinion.
I would like to keep both McDavid and Drai on PP1.
I only watched highlights: did Nurse play with Dez all night?
I believe so. All 6 had a rough go tonight. Didn’t seem to be reading each other after a shift or two. I’m not a fan of the Nurse/Dez combo
Agreed. I like Dez… on the third pair.
13 minutes with Deharnais, 1 minute with Ceci (5 on 5).
I think Janmark – Holloway – Carrick would be a preferable 4th line.
I love Ryan but he is slowing down in real time.
Ryan’s ability to get the puck out of his zone and out of high danger spots supersedes people’s wishes that Holloway will somehow flip a switch and immediately be an upgrade to Ryan.
Yet, this isn’t the case with 90% of most players to start their careers.
Holloway will get there but now isn’t the time, he’s better off in the AHL making mistakes & learning.
Is that true? Derek Ryan is 8-16 GF/GA this season. Holloway is 7-10. I am not sure how big of difference Ryan’s defensive awareness is making on results this season.
Ryan has the worst GF/GA out of any regular this season.
Ryan is one of the best players on the Oilers of getting the puck across the blue line.
Bob Stauffer mentions this and the Golden Bears literally every time he talks about Ryan.
He actually might be one of the best in the NHL at it IIRC
Generally, yes.
Tonight, he was 0-2 goals in 6 minutes and the Oilers didn’t have a shot on net while he was on the ice.
I think pretty much all the skaters can flush that game, from McDavid to Drai, to Ryan to Deharnais.
Janmark Holloway Ryan.
Don’t see what Carrick adds except injury insurance.
Also a good add in for any series we are getting pushed around. Other than that I agree with you godot
The Bolts land Duclair from the Sharts.
This just in. Jordan Eberle to Edmonton for a first round pick in 2038.
It’s about what LT said and Tocchet. You don’t have it every game. So play smarter
Drai was again a monstrous play killer, momentum killer. Connor as well. Forcing 0 % passes. Cheap cute plays. How bad do they want it? This isn’t enough to get it
Draisaitl has a real bad habit of stopping up short at the blue line & making terrible passes along the blue line, that shit has to stop before the playoffs.
So much so it’s been scouted to death & the opposition players are waiting for it.
sometimes you have to make the simple play.
I only watched the third and it was entertaining. I saw the same team out there but didn’t see Carrick – not sure if he got hurt or just wasn’t playing.
The ice looked awful, players were falling all over the place. Oilers absolutely controlled all the play in the third, Columbus would get the odd break off turnovers because of the Oilers pressure.
got to be a bit of an emotional release during this TD for these guys. KH kept the team together, hopefully they can gel and peak in the playoffs.
OP quit downvoting my comments!
Ha ha!!
not a big excuse, but that ice was sh!te – bobbling pucks everywhere, guys falling easy.
glad Oilers don’t play there again
Funny cause who would have sat?
Actually sitting Bouch next game would be good after that garbage
There was a comment today about anyone from this forum coaching the team vs a 15 year coaching pro like Knob. Not a single professional coach would sit Bouchard after a poor game like the one he just played. It is a coaches job to build relationships with his players and ice the best team possible. Sitting Bouch would not fulfill either of these things.
Or you could say like Knoblauch did, the only way to discipline players in the NHL is TOI
If they want to the Cup they can’t, he shouldn’t, play like that
John Tortorella absolutely would.
They could go 11 & 7. Pick a forward to sit.
Yes those are options. But sitting him for a game is not an option. I imagine KK or Coffey will have a conversation, probably like they have many times before, and will point out mistakes and strong plays. They probably won’t lay out a punishment plan but will give Bouch 1-2 focal points and some words of encouragement. Bouch will probably acknowledge his mistakes, believe it or not he knows them, and he will continue to make plays that most Dmen in the lesgue can’t. Most of them will be successful and some won’t… maybe because he made a poor decision or his execution failed or the other man just made a good play.
I wonder what the new guys are thinking now after that shit show. And what they want to say but surely won’t
Seriously
That it was a letdown game after the Bruins.
That they are fatigued after the Bruins game.
That they are distracted by the TD happenings.
They sky isn’t falling here.
Playoffs baby. Give Stecher and Broberg a few games down the stretch. Same with the forwards have a fresh group for the real season.
They’re used to that sort of thing in Anaheim.
Summarizing!
Elgin R was almost right with that prophecy of everyone incurring soup tonight.
Lachance was on the top line tonight and potted the GWG–his 12th tally of the campaign–plus two helpers in a win.
Stonehouse similarly dented twine with his 18th of the season along with a game-high 5 SOG.
Määttä’s Redemption Tour continued with an assist.
Münzenberger was held soupless and shall have to content himself with flat ginger ale instead.
Sometimes when you play a top team and a league top goalie it’s just not possible to win
Maybe next game
Bad turn over by RNH with the goalie pulled. Just tossed away in the corner, behind the net.
When you’re being forechecked hard you make bad plays. Seems like the story tonight.
You seem to forget how he saved the last game with a terrific back check with the empty net. ( and the back check in the previous game to that with a play on a break away that was a one of the top 10 play’s of this year).
If he messed up it was not because he wanted to.
The Oilers are playing pretty bad tonight. Disjointed and a step too slow in all areas. They can barely complete a 10ft pass. Forecheck nonexistent.
Completely outplayed, credit to the Jackets they are holding up their end of the bargain at least.
Yeah, they looked pretty lethargic tonight. BJs were all over them all game long.
Leon was awful tonight. KK needs to start trying other players with McDavid when Leon’s having an off night.
Blue Jackets had a good game plan and executed. Oilers seemed half a steep slow and nothing was rhyming. Perhaps fatigue from the Bruins game.
5 and 1 in last 6. Nothing wrong with that.
If you had to pick which 1 of the 6 to lose, I’d have picked the most meaningless (ie – the eastern conference team with the worst record of anyone they faced).
Noticing Columbus doesn’t give McDavid-Draisaitl as much respect as most other teams. Often their passes will be largely uncontested, but Columbus pours on the pressure.
Totally on purpose by Kane and Perry. Thing of beauty. That’s a playoff goal.
Oil always play like crap around the TD it seems. Anxious time for contending teams, who, otherwise, would be on cruise control.
97 and 29 sometimes forget there are other people to pass to
Totally
Kinda sad they don’t use that tendency to trick
Wonderful shot and tip. Let’s get another for at least a point tonight.
5-0 and it was great while it lasted.
Oilers are about to …powerplay goal!!
F*cking A!!!
Corey ** Perry!
Perry Power Play!!!!!
corey power potter plays are the best
Corey Power Perry Play!!!
With that marker, perhaps The Worm has turned.
That was a GORGEIOUS tip.
Oilers will be short handed soon.
Oh McDavid. So close on the wrister off the bar and then into the catcher.
Columbus sure has a lot of players skilled at anticipating and intercepting Oilers passes.
Like they know what they’re going to do!
I would never count this team out with a period left to play but their first two periods have been pretty crappy. Would adding two new players affect chemistry? On the plus side team has been money in the third.
I don’t see this as being on the new players.
Oilers are having trouble transitioning from playing against a fun team like Pittsburgh to a no-fun team that can forecheck.
While we’re at it, there appears to be someone on the forum downvoting everything a select list of people post.
Yep.
Correlates with a certain feisty poster showing up from a long absence.
I don’t think removing Holloway and Brown from the lineup has effected team chemistry.
As of right now, one of those games that this team (and, really, all teams) tend to have over the course of the season – its not indicative of anything but it sure sucks to watch.
Agreed, just one of those games…and it’s terrible to watch.
Holloway brings the juice. He is an energizer bunny.
The team for old men couldn’t get anything up.
It comes down to when they have possession easier they look great, and when they don’t they break down pretty easily
The neutral zone is wide open for Columbus, and that is a bad thing
They do seem a bit off in addition to making lots of straight out bad plays.
I’d say they might be a little out of sync more than the chemistry being off. But who knows.
Yea well what ever it is here’s hoping it’s a one game thing!
Yup.
Great news!
I literally jumped off of the wagon and am now drinking my 3rd, and unless I’m really insane final drink of the evening. 90 dollars a bottle whisky; yikes its a good thing I bought these when I had money to spend.
Semi pissed – Oilers are undergoing “growing pains” with their new players lol
Oh boy. This might be Bouchard worst game of season. Reverting back to his lackadaisical approach. Coughing up pucks and poor decisions over and over. Young dman making young dman mistakes. I get a bit angry at his urgency levels sometimes.
50-50 he gets the OT winner though.
lol. Always possible. Gotta get there first. Would like to see Kane get one. Foegle also having a bit of a rough night.
You must have liked Carrick’s tilt though.
Holloway driving the 4th line forward would be more useful though.
When has Holloway even driven the fourth line?
Who Doesn’t love a good fight? Pretty even match up. Both got in one good punch. Always loved a player who can fight and play. Can change momentum quickly.
How many fights are there in the Stanley Cup final?
I’d rather have a 4th line centre that can transport the puck.
How bout one that can win a faceoff too?
Hopefully Henrique helps but there are a lot of guys with tunnel vision
Making the obvious choice
I’ll add not necessarily a lot of support to make a play
On going
McDavid having a really tough time handling the puck – as bad as any other game this year and there were some doozies (for him) earlier in the season.
If the ice is crap you have to adjust
Connor has lost the “handle” several times tonight????
Thanks Coff
That was an insane stop by Pickard on seeing the replay. Man.
Bouch having a rough game
Love the second effort by Pickard.
Be nice if everyone else followed suit.
Holy crap Bouch with a brain cramp, lazy ass give away! Picard makes the save.
Yikes Bouch – that isn’t “bad defensively” – that just a sloppy and lazy play.
Jackets ring one off the post on a 2 on 1. Lucky not to be 4-1
I don’t think nets are designed for shots that hard. I think I heard the net cry.
Wild backhand pass by Drai, broken play – goal.
Game on!
That was a very bad period of giveaways and brain farts and bad coverage . Jeeez
Better come out on fire
Anyone know how the NHL counts “giveaways” and “takeaways”?
According to the NHL the Oilers have 1 giveaway tonight, but Columbus has 4 takeaways.
It’s like a takeaway is something you earn, but a giveaway is pure sloth and depravity?
I think your last sentence gets it
No Holloway to bring youthful energy.
Lol, I’d say ‘you can’t be serious’, but I know you are.
Sure, no Holloway is affecting McDavid and Drai, and Bouchard.
If the Oilers made a highlight reel of Top 10 Horrendous Giveaways of the Season, they could pull a good 5 or 6 from the first 15 minutes of that period.
It’s like the Oilers learned the wrong lesson from the Pittsburgh game: all passes will complete.
What did they learn from their last game, which they won against the formidable Bruins?
The was a very poor period – unexpected for sure.
Tarasov was very good but that was only part of the reason for the big deficit.
What I like about the Oilers is that no man gets left behind. When they play loose it’s a full team effort haha. Yeesh, looser than loose in their own end.
I think I saw four pucks through/under Tarasov glove from the left hand side. Someone should park themselves by the far post and there will be a tap in.
Well one team got a spark from that good scrap…..
That wasn’t a good scrap and served no point
Well it sure didn’t fire up the Oilers…
Who boy ….. still time to get a Goalie Kenny
The problem isn’t the goaltending…
The Oilers should play a little team defense, and not make passes to Blue Devils’ players.