The Oilers have come a long way baby since Ken Holland’s first day on the job as general manager. At some point this spring we have to spend time discussing his five years with the team. He did a better job than Peter Chiarelli, but that’s not really a high bar. For the record, I was all-in on Chiarelli, felt he was perfect based on the Boston Bruins experience. As it turned out, Chiarelli’s strength in Boston (sacrificing the future for the now) didn’t work because the Oilers didn’t have enough future to send away after the 2015 draft was laid waste and the cap dollars went out the door.
Holland was more measured, good or bad that’s for you to decide for yourself. We can talk about it, though.
THE ATHLETIC!
- Lowetide: Why Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner is a key to the postseason
- DNB: Oilers’ Connor Brown finally scores first of the season: ‘I never was just OK with not scoring’
- Lowetide: What to expect from Oilers’ 2024 NHL Draft without a first-round pick
- DNB: Edmonton Oilers notebook: Adam Henrique’s family adjustment, Connor McDavid’s motivation
- Lowetide: What will Adam Henrique bring to the Oilers down the stretch?
- 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 1-0-0)
- 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: 5-1-1, 11 points in seven games
- Oilers in 2023-24: 40-21-3, 83 points in 64 games
One thing I’ll be watching for tonight is matchups. The Oilers have three lines they like, maybe four, and the goaltending is set. The pairings will be key and I wonder how the coaching staff will line match if at all.
There are several players stretching their roles currently, and that includes Vincent Desharnais, Ryan McLeod and Warren Foegele. These men will be key tonight. Watch for the ice time totals at five-on-five, tonight is a blues riff in B. We need to watch for the changes, and try to keep up.
A CONVERSATION
- Once again, you’ve got it all wrong. Good morning.
- Holland was worse than Chiarelli!!!! How so.
- He was here five years instead of 3.5 years. Kind of harsh.
- Tell me I’m wrong. You’re wrong. I don’t know what “level” is in regard to asset management in the NHL but do know that even “smart” teams have things go awry. It happens. You can’t just criticize the old GM’s without acknowledging that some of the innovators have also had difficulties.
- The analytics general managers are superior. I would tend to agree, but the Oilers have been trending in that way and I think there’s evidence that a player like Zach Hyman, or Mattias Ekholm, were guided at least partly by analytics. That and old school scouting and gut feel.
- What do you mean? Well, Brad Holland was given some of the credit for Zach Hyman, and I think the increased size of the analytics department, and the presence of exceptional people in it, represents progress no matter who becomes the next general manager. There is evidence of progress, and it has only gotten louder since the arrival of Jeff Jackson.
- Why can’t they hire Bill Zito-types? I’d love it. I’d love to see Eric Tulsky here. I would do cartwheels. However, that doesn’t diminish the improved work of the pro scouts under Brad Holland, and frankly the amateur scouts have been doing very well for over a decade in draft seasons where there is quality.
- You have zero rage on Holland’s time as GM? I have things I questioned at the time, like the Duncan Keith trade and the Foegele-Bear trade, but I was wrong about the Foegele trade and the Keith trade lives daily in the contract of Darnell Nurse so it seems full punishment has been applied to Holland.
- You can criticize it, though. I do, and I have. I don’t make it my life force and I don’t set myself on fire verbally every 11 minutes online, because that’s immature.
- What mistakes did Holland make? I think the Athanasiou trade was costly, although the pandemic was part of that issue. Zack Kassian contract, the Duncan Keith trade was the biggest one for me, and of course signing Jack Campbell.
- What were his best moves? Hyman and Ekholm, but also Evander Kane, Cody Ceci, Brett Kulak, Mike Smith, a large number really of strong moves.
- So everything is sunshine and roses? No, but there has to be a balanced discussion and somehow we have to be able to agree on what is an “allowable loss” in order for the train to keep rolling. There’s a cost in bringing in a new general manager, that person will see the world differently. Oilers fans have been having black and white conversations since the McDavid lottery, and I think we’re at a point where talking past each other is the official sport of the fan base.
- Yeah, and what are you gonna do about it? Exactly.
- What? When swagger, attitude and framing issues in order to build up your personal reputation replaces simply looking for the truth, we all lose.
I agree with this assessment.
That said, it’s McD that went for a very low % chance at the end of last game that resulted in the GA. It’s a single moment, but they’re all guilty of not taking care of the puck, 97 included.
Ya but we beat Washington.
G’morning Richard
I may be hearing what I want to hear but I think, Coach K admitted in the post game he screwed up his own game plan by running McLeon too heavily… he got enchanted by the first period offense and just left them together and he knows they stumbled in the 3rd.
We’ll see what he does in the games to come but man that’s exciting if he’s serious about this reflection.
The way forward is patching them Ad Hoc and running them separately. This is the way Chris, this is the way.
Man a lot of crybaby fans looking to blast any and every Oiler after such a game.
Oilers are fantastic. They have proven this. No team will win every game.
Try not to run away and pout. Buck up campers and march on.
Truth. Mostly has to due with how that goal was scored. In light of the fact the the PK was great, Skinner stopped a penalty shot, Hyman had a goal called back, Nuge missed a break-away in OT and our 4th line contributed.
Big take-aways: COL is mostly a one line unit and don’t have the mustard down the line-up like they did with their cup team. No Landy or Kadri doesn’t give them that same onslaught of offence.
Clouder had a great game and played with some timely poise in our own zone, basically took the role of true responsible centering so Drai could do his whole, ready to burst, adventurous passing, high risk thing.
Ceci is a liability and hopefully Stetch and Broberg can get some serious reps in before playoffs because I don’t know how much value Ceci is going to bring in a series against COL. He is an adventure when handling the puck. If I’m Bednar, I’m trying to get the Mackinnon matchup against Ceci/Kulak whenever possible.
Some teams just have other teams number. The Oilers keep finding new and ever more humbling ways to lose to the Avs.
Awesome game by Skinner tonight, he has a reason to snarl at some of his teammates
It’s been a long time since the Oil had a true #1 goalie, did we draft this one?
I don’t miss Smith’s snarl…
Knoblauch wins games with McLeon apart. After the first period is 0-0 he chickens out and loads up.
It cost them tonight. Coach K needs to trust his own process. Split them up. Your team
is better that way.
Leon does seem to coast a lot more looking for the pass when playing with Mcdavid.
They don’t have the same
urgency defensively together is my take.
If I had a stats to track it would be lost side wall and 5 foot to blue battles.
Just need to bear down a bit better. Cant cheat for offense. Need to channel their inner Ryan. McLeod
Will this team ever realize they can’t let Colorado or Vegas dictate the style of play? Ever?
This team is not designed to muck out a 2-1 victory. Don’t attempt it! Open up the play FFS. You’re more talented than they are!
They’re more talented? Lol
The Oilers are more talented than the Avalanche. Yes.
^ very true yes.
They won an awful lot of one or two goal games during their 16-game win streak.
That sucked. Had our chances but didn’t finish the job. Good learning experience, though.
I felt like we started trying to play defensive once we got the lead. Don’t do that. Don’t change how we play, regardless of the score.
Don’t ever stop skating. Even if you think the game is over. Whistle to whistle.
I thought Eks had a bad game. Maybe due to recovering from illness? But he’s had a few stinkers now and it concerns me…
They paid the equivalent of 3 first round picks for a 32 year old, not a 27 year old
So guess what? The old gray mare. This little tiddly tum was lost of course on most
And that d-man they paid for has been a top 10-15 d-man in the NHL for a calendar year now.
And, no, they didn’t pay the equivalent of 3 1st round picks.
There were two, Tyson Barrie was not worth a 1st round pick. Reid Schaefer was a former 32nd overall with down arrows.
What is a top end producing right shot defenseman worth in season playing well both ways worth, in your estimation?
Tyson Barrie was not going to return a first round pick – come on, we know this, right?
This is such a bizarre take.
Your negativity lately has been surprising.
How is that bizarre? I think Ek is great
But the reality is he is old and has been becoming less consistent since his great run at the end of the reg season. He’s had a fair few off games which is why Knigtrain mentions it
He’s got like the top six best defensive best numbers in hockey this season and hes on the pair with the best expected numbers. And you’re calling him washed up. My god he’s 33 not 50 holy and he may or may not have been yacking his guys out laid up on the couch for the last four days.
Your take is extremely harsh. and runs counter to all available evidence.
Any break the wrong way it’s not discussing the break it’s that the player is broken and the Oilers are shit cause they don’t have someone else.
So negative.
You’re ignoring the points made and just criticizing. You seem drunk
What numbers show Ek is less consistent? Which numbers show him declining in any material way year over year?
Im pretty sure most numbers have him as part of one of the best pairings in hockey no? What more do you want or expect?
I’ll try to stop commenting as much
But Oiler apologists are so off base I feel compelled. I’m not sure what games they are watching sometimes
Neither you or OP will come back to say you were dead wrong when they can’t get past the 2nd round again. And that’s how it’s shaping up. They’ve got too many players that can’t finish and just aren’t very smart. Not to mention slow
You’re free to post as much as you want. Please don’t stop. You’ve been quite even keel and I’ve enjoyed your posts most of the year. But you seem quite negative since the deadline-ish.
I’ll push back when I feel it’s warranted and Ekholm is one who’s played very well all year. He’s not the problem IMO.
Two goals against tonight attributed to Leon taking short cuts. Its fun to watch Connor and Leon play together but they don’t do defense when they are on the same line
I’m tired of his selfish play. How f:&$@‘n stubborn can a guy be to cost his team so many times and still not learn the lesson
Really high hopes when leon came up and claimed to want to be another datsyuk. Not sure what has happened in the last few years but his long shifts, selfish penalties and piss poor back checking is getting old. The avalanche top players continually out play the oiler top players.
Still needs some growing up. Not entitled to win. Not entitled to play with Mcdavid. Not entitled to pp1 time. Need to earn all these things. Short shifts. Skate hard. Don’t coast. Simple but Drai keeps not learning same hard lessons.
I’ll add continuous turn overs from risky play
Connor was forcing 1% opportunities and getting no quality shots off, couldn’t cash on multiple chances, meanwhile MacKinnon has the patience to set up the winner from the deep corner
Nuge with a muffin attempt on a clean breakaway. Telegraphed the whole way says hockey optional Ms Scungilli it was so obvious
Soft play by Bouchard,just finish your check. Ceci with an atrocious play at the blue line on the second goal. I thought the team played pretty well overall but again soft dumb mistakes cost us two points. Hard to believe that Walker wouldn’t have been an upgrade on Ceci or Dez. Very disappointed to lose the way we did.
Bouchard let a guy walk right in and get a shot earlier in OT then a pathetic effort to block a pass into the slot with 3 seconds left. Draisaitl not picking up his man.
If I were to predict two players with lackadaisical efforts leading to the winning goal against, it would be those two.
Disapointing but nothing to be upset about. Or look for blame
Heck of a game.
Well, Oilers deserved that, Colorado showing that there’s still a gap between these two teams.
Lack of depth exposed
Lack of depth?
Maybe some of that (after all Foegele and Carrick scored) but Colorado just look more in sync with each other, benefit of 4 years of core elites, all with quickness and selflessness. Av’s D is quicker, too. Ah well.
And lack of speed on lines 3 and 4
And lack of hockey smarts
Hahaha oh honey you learned the wrong lessons.
Colorado sucks.
Oh, I do hate them, believe me… but they’re the better team by any measure right now.
Our depth came through tonight with two goals. It was the top players who choked.
No they aren’t. They’re top heavy and will get ground down in a series. It’s clear the Oilers are deeper and have more options both offensively and defensively.
It’s too bad McLeon mailed in the 3rd and OT but that’s fine they’ll win more than they lose but it was a sad sack effort from those two.
No your irrational confidence sucks… especially when the facts don’t support it. The Oilers lost and their best players got schooled again by the Avs best players.
Irrational? Hardly. Try not to get too excited about a final skills comp result.
The Oiler depth won the goal battle 2-1 and had the better play for the 2nd and 3rd. Coach had CB/Kane sawing off MacKinnon + Makar/Toews. The Nuge-Fog-Cloud line won their minutes. Too bad McLeon face planted with the easier matchup. I’ll take the over on the being better next game. Coach should split them up.
The Avs have been beating the Oilers like this for years. The depth showed up tonight. The stars did not. Yes the Avs are top heavy … but those star players bring it every time they the play the Oilers and have owned McDavid and Leon for years.
The Avs stars didn’t own anything. They were largely non-factors, they were held back by CB/Kane and sawed off at best their 5v5 time against everyone else. Their top didn’t really do anything until 2.3 seconds left and it’s too bad Draisaitl decided not to play defense on a very easily defendable play. I bet he feels shame.
They didn’t keep the details together on the tying goal. That’s too bad, but alas I don’t lose my sheets over half a shift. They’ll learn, I trust them to learn and if they don’t they’ll retire Cupless and that’ll really suck for them won’t it?
Sorry I don’t bank on McLeom being crap and incapable of rising. Way too negative but if that’s your jam all the power to ya.
I prefer facts over hyperbole. The McLeon Oilers have lost 3 of their last 4 regular season games to the Avs and got blown out in their last playoff series, despite the Avs having to play their backup against us.
The Avs have owned the McLeon Oilers. That doesn’t mean that I don’t believe that this team can’t turn that narrative around, but right now the head to head record speaks for itself:
You’ll miss what you don’t want to see.
Colorado is no better than L.A. last season and they’re getting worse. Don’t worry, you’ll come around soon enough.
Nice effort by Drai, way to go.
Another good view of Avs goal by Drai. Got to play to the last second. Shitty way to lose it
McDavid not even attempting to shoot is the most ridiculous thing I’ve seen in a long time.
And Bouchard with an atrocious defensive play at the end.
No that’s not on Bouch – he did his job containing mcKinnon, heck of a pass to an open guy
Draisaitl and McDavid sucked in the 3rd period and OT.
That’s correct and the difference tonight
I’d be correcting my U11s for that play. Totally incorrect.
In what way did he contain Mackinnon?
You could see Desharnais with the rest of the guys as the game ended so we know he was on the bench to finish the game
Balls!
Brutal. Shoulda stapled mcinnon to the boards… also, can’t stop skating, ever, in a game, Connor and Leon…
That GWG was like the 4th or 5th time Leon’s check ended up wide open for a 5 star chance in the game. Bad, bad Leon tonight.
Drai not playing until the buzzer…..
Leon had a horrible game.
what a game
That was a bit sloppy in the last second of play.
The top line lost that game.
Too bad
w00f
Lol
Henrique not Foegele is interesting.
Henrique can’t skate
Fernando would’ve went 5 hole along the ice
Yep. Spilled my drink.,,damn, Nuge…bury the next one!!!
McLeod/Foegele should be third over the boards.
No points so far by any of the gunners on either team (except Bouch)
I guess some teams are so good they can suppress opposition without taking a lot of penalties. I think that Ekholm fall was just a battle but they ignored a too many men earlier.
What. A. Game!
There can be only One!!!
Mcleod on deck.
These two teams always seem to go to OT when they play each other.
Ugly end to the period.
Ugly game in general. Thank god for Skinner! 41 shots against.
You are so anti oilers tonight.
Your “Colorado owns Edmonton” statement appears to be shown to be conclusively false.
6 regulation ties between the teams in 7 games.
Were you watching the same game? Lol
Oilers have 3 lines going – the third line has been getting killed all night….
The 3rd line is sawing off MacKinnon the last two periods
Sure, but how many more shifts of getting caved to the tune of 2-15 shot attempts and 2% expected goal share would that last?
I tried to tell you this was happening the last three games and you told me your eyes said different. You said you didn’t trust small sample sizes when I tried to tell you they’d get their heads kicked in.
Now you’re going pretend it’s a shock it happened against the Avalanche?
Buuuut they didn’t give up much in the way of high danger. And once they got it out they were pretty good about keeping it out of their own zone.
There is $19.4 million and theoretically sixty goals a year scoring power on that line. I’m really hoping they figure out something offensively but I’m not sure it’ll happen with Connor Brown on the line.
Coach K is being thick with the McDrai line.
Split them Chris… split them.
We are at the trips are not penalties part of the game. Cool!
That’s a penalty, regardless of game state, Louie…
Drais had a nice view of the last goal out in the neutral zone
McDavid was also puck watching in the middle of the ice.
Jack Campbell with the 29 save shutout in a 4-0 win!
Ekholm turning the puck over way too much
Is Deharnais playing?
I don’t think he has played since the fight.
I noticed that also. Ceci with Nurse??
Ugh. Running around. Had chances to get it out, too. Gotta learn to just chip it out instead of trying to make a play..,
That one was on Ceci! Lame ass clearing attempt.
Phil Kemp with his 1st of the year in to the empty net and its 4-0 for the Condors.
Top line shits the bed
anyone who said walker wasnt better then ceci come on
Shit, Walker might be better than any Oilers Dman not named Bouchard or Ekholm.
i just thought a guy who hits and scores a few might be ok on the right side over fefi(ceci)