This is the Bakersfield Condors NHLE in April 2017. I don’t use the system much anymore because the Oilers don’t have many prospects. There are exactly three future NHL players on this list. They are ranked 1-3. Huh. They all had clearance (28+ NHLE) on the pack. Double huh.
THE ATHLETIC!
- New Lowetide: What will Adam Henrique bring to the Oilers down the stretch?
- New DNB: Why the Oilers’ old-turned-new second line should be here to stay
- Lowetide: What’s next for Edmonton Oilers prospect Dylan Holloway?
- DNB: Why the Edmonton Oilers look done adding before NHL trade deadline
- DNB: How Oilers’ trade for Adam Henrique, Sam Carrick improves forward depth
- DNB: Oilers defense secures third-period comeback and OT win vs. Bruins
- 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: 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: Where can the Edmonton Oilers improve their draft strategy in 2024?
- 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 2-1-1)
- 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: 4-1-1, 9 points in six games
- Oilers in 2023-24: 39-21-3, 81 points in 63 games
The Oilers are on pace for 105 points and are in a nice little area alone in second place Pacific. The Vancouver Canucks are dismantling very good teams on national television just for fun, so I’m not sure the top of the division is realistic. Home-ice advantage versus VEG seems most likely.
THE NUMBERS
The Pittsburgh Penguins are quite awful and it makes me sad. I’m not a Penguins fan per se, but in my life the team has always been at least interesting . From Les Binkley to Greg Polis to Rick Kehoe to Mario to Jagr to Sid, Pittsburgh hockey has always been worth watching. Yesterday afternoon, it was not good. The first gift pass by the Penguins was to Connor McDavid, who scored about half a second later. Calvin Pickard played well, it’s funny the Oilers went from having zero goalies who were effective in November to having five who are locked in now. The world is a funny place.
Darnell Nurse scored twice and had a great chance at a hat trick, that would have been amazing. I don’t like the pairing he’s on, not sure what Kris Knoblauch can do about it but I’d try Troy Stecher with him in the game against Washington. The Ekhom-Bouchard pairing is 46-24, 66 percent in five-on-five goal share since November 24. Man.
The grumpy old man line looks good to me, I know the Connor Brown rage continues but he’s having kind of a ridiculous suppression season no one is talking about right now. Since January 1, at five-on-five, opponents are scoring just 1.2 GA-60 when he’s on the ice. Only Ryan McLeod is better among forwards in that time.
I don’t have much more to say about yesterday beyond I’m happy Leon stayed with Foegele and McLeod. I’d like to see that unit run for a time. I’m also curious about McLeod with Adam Henrique but there’s lot of time.
CURRENT NHLE’S
Back in April 2017, 25+ NHLE got you an NHL career. Anyone in that zone currently?
- Dylan Holloway 40
- Raphael Lavoie 32
- Philip Broberg 27
- James Hamblin 27
- Ben Gleason 23
- Cam Dineen 22
- Cameron Wright 22
- Tyler Tullio 19
- Noel Hoefenmayer 18
- Xavier Bourgault 13
- Carter Savoie 13
- Carl Berglund 12
- Jayden Grubbe 10
- Matvey Petrov 9
- Max Wanner 9
- Phil Kemp 9
- Markus Niemelainen 5
You would have to be criminally biased to suggest Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg will miss on an NHL career, and I’m going to make a point in a moment on them. I’m honestly not sure about the rest in the group, but Jujhar Khaira has enjoyed an NHL career and his minor league NHLE’s were 8, 22 and 29 before hitting the NHL. That’s more an encouraging word for Jayden Grubbe than the skill guys who aren’t delivering on promise.
Now, about Holloway and Broberg. They aren’t prospects really, but the Ken Holland era has been about slow-playing talent. Hey, when Evan Bouchard doesn’t get a full lash at a job when he’s damn near 22 then you better hold on to your ass because this could take some time.
It’s also true the skill wingers above, like Xavier Bourgault, Tyler Tullio, Carter Savoie and Matvey Petrov are waiting in line. It’s not a good idea, and much of it has to do with the fact the Oilers have too many wingers as prospects currently, but moving out some veteran forwards in the AHL this summer is a must. These young players are still developing, or should be, but spend much of their time picking slivers out of their ass on the bench.
A busy Monday with much to discuss on the Lowdown starting at noon on Sports 1440. Rachel Doerrie will talk about Adam Henrique, the deadline and the Minnesota Wild going wild in overtime. Jason Gregor will pop in to talk about the Oilers weekend, NFL free agency and more. I will also have a special announcement around 10:15. 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.
Dumba was the only RHD who logged more SH TOI per game up to the trade deadline, according to QuantHockey.