I wrote this on May 14, 2022 and focused on AHL recalls after the Bakersfield Condors season ended spring 2017. This was just before the Oilers won Game 7 against the LAK with the usual suspects starring (Cody Ceci, Mike Smith, Connor McDavid) in an epic shutout by Edmonton. What about this year? Who do you see getting the call?
THE ATHLETIC!
- Lowetide: Why Dylan Holloway should be recalled by the Oilers
- DNB: How should the Oilers deploy Cody Ceci? Here are their 4 options
- Lowetide: Who’s the Edmonton Oilers’ best player outside the NHL?
- Lowetide: How have the Oilers’ deadline acquisitions worked out so far?
- DNB: Why Oilers’ Zach Hyman might be the NHL’s most unlikely 50-goal scorer ever
- Lowetide: The Oilers face a looming cap crunch. How bad will it be this summer?
- Lowetide: If Oilers’ Philip Broberg is next man up, he needs NHL games soon
- 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 3-0-1)
- On the road to: TOR, OTT, WPG (Expected 1-2-0) (Actual 1-2-0)
- 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: 8-3-2, 18 points in 13 games
- Oilers in 2023-24: 43-23-4, 90 points in 70 games
This is a bigger game for Los Angeles than it is for Edmonton. If the Vachon family tree can beat the Oilers tonight, the team would be one point back with Edmonton having one extra game on the schedule. A loss? Oilers would still have the game in hand, along with a five-point lead and with LAK looking at just 10 games left in the schedule. If the Kings score first, expect them to play defense with five skaters for the rest of the night. There is potential for great frustration across the land if the Californians get a lead.
A CONVERSATION
- From what I can tell the Oilers recalled a bunch of 2017 failures from the AHL and not one damn one of them turned into anything? Right? Some of those names (Hendricks, Gryba) underlined didn’t play in the minors, but men like Jujhar Khaira and Jordan Oesterle did play for Bakersfield and then graduated to real NHL careers.
- These are not major pieces of a roster! Sure, the AHL recalls don’t necessarily move the needle, but filling out the roster efficiently and inexpensively is important.
- Why don’t you give us a fresh view of the Cody Ceci situation? Write about that! Lazy. There is no new view of the Cody Ceci situation.
- What about Evander Kane’s drought? He’s playing better, coming around. He has definitely been impacted by those injuries but the Oilers need him. Ceci too, for that matter. So playing these men in positions they can succeed is important.
- Why should anyone care about recalls this year? Ken Holland’s template for team building includes several useful players in the AHL waiting for recall. This year, there are two who are good enough to slide in and help right now.
- Is this about Dylan Holloway? And Philip Broberg, yes.
- They aren’t going to play! If the Oilers don’t play them, and lose, that’ll be a great story. Look, you have two young talents who are NHL-ready and certainly are no longer prospects. The handling of Broberg’s season especially is beyond ridiculous. You now have a head coach searching for answers, but only in his own area code. What kind of thinking gets us here?
- Five years in to pushing for Stanley and you’re still a prospects guy? Both men have graduated, both men were chosen during Holland’s time here, both men are dominating the AHL which is a fine league.
- They don’t want to risk waivers! They’re running a man short!
- They don’t have the money!! Current projections have the Oilers with $1.9 in room. Make. it. so.
- They won’t play anyway! Look, get real. The bottom-six can be as slow as my Aunt Mabel and she’s been dead for 20 years. Get Holloway in there. As for Broberg, he is going to get playoff time if this season is anything like every other one.
- You’re mean. I’m honest.
- You’re supposed to be level-headed. You’re supposed to be edgy.
- How many blue did they use last year? Seven.
- So that means Broberg won’t play, because Stecher is No. 7. It depends on who is hurt. Oilers should put Broberg in at last three of four times down the stretch here. Both men should be in the lineup versus Anaheim. It’s a no-brainer.
- Would you play Broberg on the RH side? Yes.
- Would you play him with Nurse? Yes, although that would need to be the third pairing until they’re comfortable.
- I’m here to tell you Broberg will never play a shift RH side with the Oilers. Ever! Okay.
- Why are you so stubborn? I think the Oilers are falling into a trap, an avoidable and baffling trap. Play Holloway, play Broberg, give the veterans a rest. Otherwise, you’re going to play Broberg cold as ice, he’s going to make a mistake and guys like me are going to write about it because it’s an obvious mistake.
- Who cares what you write about? No one, probably. However, one of the jobs of anyone who writes about a team is to chronicle, good and bad. I think I’ve been mostly fair to Mr. Holland, but in this case I believe the team is being careless.
- Who are they going to recall when the Condors are out of the playoffs? Jack Campbell, Philip Broberg, Phil Kemp, Adam Erne, Sam Gagner, Dylan Holloway, Raphael Lavoie, James Hamblin and Olivier Rodrigue.
At noon today, Sports 1440, we kickstart an amazing sports weekend. The Oilers play the Kings tonight, mlb gets underway, March madness continues and we’ll cover them all like a blanket. 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 western conference is completely stacked this year. There’s really no team you’d love to face in the 1st round for an easy series. With Nashville’s resurgence, you can’t count them out. The Jets are floundering but they have pedigree this season and they have Helleybuck. LA seems a little offensively shy but Kempe is usually a beast in the playoffs.
It’s gonna be a gauntlet, the only positive is the other teams will do the most of your dirty work playing and eliminating each other, you just have to beat who’s in front of you. it’s gonna be a wild first round in the west.
The Playoff odds site finally got the Star-Canucks game on the books and it made a big difference.
Prior to tonight’s games, Oil had a ~9% chance of finishing first in the Div. of which 3% represented finishing first in the conference. That jumped to 12% with the Oiler win. Now it is up to 20%, 5% of which is finishing first in the conference.
An 8-3-0 finish by the Oil would work, but would still need the Canucks to finish 4-4-1. If the Canucks do any better than 4-4-1, the Oil have to be better than 8-3-0. So if Canucks go 5-3-1, Oil have to go 9-2-0, etc.
Not much point in worrying about it.
Particularly when they’d be better served prepping for the actual shock and awe of attempting to win 16 games in the playoffs.
Oilers are closing in on a potential 1st round meeting with Vegas.
Better to meet them early.
Down to play Vegas so long as Stone isn’t back for game 1. I just honestly expect that though.
Not sure winning the division and playing the red hot Preds is desirable either. Still, the division suddenly looks within reach again.
Woof I take it back on the Preds. Yikes tonight.
They just took the day off I think. I was thinking of placing a bet on the Yotes tonight. Preds were due to take a night off against a weakling.
Preds might be ahead of the Jets when all is said and done.
Also there’s probably no other playoff team we’re more in the heads of than the Preds.
Do you bet on all of the games? Do you bet the same amount on all of the games?
I rarely bet on hockey. Usually I talk myself out of it when I have a good idea like earlier today. And no, when I do bet, it isn’t always the same amount. If I have more than 2-3 games in a parlay I’m probably going to make the min bet, because the odds are so low and the payout so strong.
I don’t really care who plays for Vegas.
If Oilers can’t beat them now they’re suddenly looking like they might never recover.
Ever since 2016 when up 3-1 they got themselves bounced like fools. Not a particularly impressive playoff record.
Benn from Pavelski on the PP with three to play in the third breaks the 1-1 tie in Van City
Robertson into the empty net with two to play and it looks like the Stars will take the Canucks.
Kane had a mature game.
McD right back in the Art Ross race … 16 pts in last 6 …
A Giant walks among us …..
On form, McDavid is as good as the winner. Against 2 of the best players in the NHL.
With that loss, Vegas becomes the first round matchup for the Oil.
Hmmm – canucks lose, so maybe not!
As per my post this afternoon, the odds are still not great for finishing first. But they certainly improved tonight
Think Stone comes back for the playoffs? If not, that’s not a bad matchup.
Was pleased to see how well the team contained Kempe. Seems like that guy always gives us fits.
Kings were stuffed. And they know it.
Give you something to think about, LA. You were never in this game. If we meet up, you’re just gonna be paste on the highway to Stanley.
No more messing around. We’re gearing up for the playoffs. Gonna make the teams we play hope they don’t have to play us again.
Aggressive. Hard working both ways. No cheating.
Template game.
Great analysis.
Strong game.
I’m sure some will find fault though.
My feed was spotty and a few minutes slow, but my vote for strong under the radar game goes to The Nuge.
I think Kulak for me.
I really like that strength battle Nuge won, though, late in the 3rd in his own zone when the puck squirted out of the goalmouth scramble.
Yeah, I won’t argue about Nuge > Kulak. My Nuge impression was based mostly on him being in and winning a lot of battles tonight though. Old man strength is a real thing.
I’m not too happy about the possession battle–shots and corskis–but I liked a lot of other things tonight.
Didn’t end up being a “statement game” in the end, really, but a solid win nonetheless.
Looked like one of their better games defensively since the All-star break.
Yeah, fair enough. Those things were pretty even until score effects though. And the Oilers did hold the lead for 55 minutes. Agree it was not in the ‘statement game’ category even though they maintained control throughout.
Sure it was a statement game. They just stuffed what is positively likely to be their 1st round opponent.
He is really effective.
Impressive game for Edmonton. They must have wanted it more than LA.
No Drai goals tonight. That’s going to make the drive for fifty tougher.
Are you his agent?? The last thing anyone wants is too many more points for the German, before he resigns for another 3-4 years to the Oilers.
Excellent game not just the win, but Oilers demonstrated they have what it takes and they know how to beat them. That game is repeatable. Inspires confidence.
I enjoyed the physical pushback by the team. They weren’t going to allow Kings to bully them.
Ceci finally scores.
Oilers win the season series 3-1. Hmm, maybe we do wanna face these guys in April
Harper said we were LAs first choice… The thing that worries me is
1. Kings are dirty
2. I feel like they play a different game that doesn’t prepare us well for the next round.
11-3-2 in last 15 against playoff teams per Jack.
This is fantastic…
That’s a feel good win! Hate the kings.
BOOM!!! Ceci with the gravy!!! Eat shot, LA!!!
Lol Ceci with the important goal..
Seemed like it had been a long time since the previous Oiler shot on goal.
Ceci closing-out the game.
Tsetse with a flier shot!!!
African Sleeping Sickness Cody?
Every other star in the league shoots for an empty net goal from anywhere up by 2. Not McDavid.
He actually looked like he was deliberately deferring and it nearly cost a goal against.
It looks like Byfield, has decided that since he’ll be in LA for a while, he might as well turn into an a**hole as well.
I imagine it would be difficult to avoid turning into one, if living in LA. I spent a summer in Santa Barbara and I could feel the pit opening-up in front of me.
Well we like you anyway…
Awe.
Crowd sounds drunk. I suppose quite a few people have tomorrow off.
Seems like we’re trying to shut this down and ride it to the end. We’re not built that way. Take It To Em!!! Don’t let off the gas!!!
Ah nutz…mental mistake ends the so. Feel bad for Stu. He’s been brilliant when called upon.
Ekholm and Bouchard owe Skinner a beer.
I came for this. That was all Ekholm. Bouchard and the rest of the D had been preventing lines all game long and it had been working beautifully.
And there goes the shutout. Boosh up at centre ice and Ekholm fans on the board clear and it’s in the net
Ekholm owes Skinner a steak dinner for that gaff.
Stu. Solid.
Not sure why Vinnie sold out at the King’s blue line to give up that odd man rush
Ya, he has had some tough shifts. One brainfart is all it takes.
The back checking has been excellent tonight.
Statement being made!
Yep a bold one!
Drai faked out all five King skaters with that pass
I really like the lines right now.
This might be bigger mismatch in the playoffs than the last two years. LA has no answer for us tonight at all. Love a PK where we spend most of it in the offensive zone and outshoot the other team .. makes life easier!!
Tonights game is one that shows why Kane is valuable even if his offence has been shy.
Agreed. Offense is coming too. He’s had some good chances these past few games.
Up 3. Train is coming, Loozot. You’re on the tracks, loser. Keep ur head up!!!
BOOM!!! BouchBomb!!! No defence for that!!!
The killer third goal from the Boosh Bomber
PP gold!!
Great Pk again! Way more aggressive and effective!
great kill
Another very solid PK!
Hyman. Accidentally on purpose.
Anderson faking that one hard.
Held my breath there on Lizotte skating into Stu. He’s had a good game.
Actually Talbot has as well. Kind of surprised he is still playing at a pretty high level. Having said that hope we pump another 2 or 3 past him this period!
Almost got another with 1.7 secs left.
Well, bit of an up and down period. Kings owned the first 7 minutes and then it was all us till the flurry Skins stopped with a minute to go.
Looking at the match-up earlier in the day, Kings’ best period this season has been the second, both offensively, and defensively, and it has been our worst, both offensively and defensively.
The third period of course has been our best. Bring it on.
Kings looked pissed on a missed icing call there…? I thought it was icing. Nonetheless I do appreciate anything bad happening to the Kings.
RICO!!!!