Craig MacTavish was general manager for exactly two NHL drafts, and helped deliver two key pieces to the roster. In 2013, Darnell Nurse was the choice, and he has patrolled an NHL blue line for almost a decade. Leon Draisaitl came along the following year, and the big man exceeded expectations and then kept going. In the life of an NHL roster, it takes a village to reach the top.
CREDIT WHERE DUE
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was the first overall selection in 2011, that’s coming up on a baker’s dozen years ago. He averages 23-42-65 per 82 regular season games, and has scored 50 career playoff points. He’s a splendid two-way player and a power-play witch, but it’s hard to get noticed when your teammates are the glimmer twins. No matter, Nuge has a chance to be the first impact Oilers player to spend his entire career with the team. All of this before he shaves and without ever reaching 50 points in a season. He’s a marvel.
Stu MacGregor was the scouting director in those years, his name barely gets mentioned anymore. His first selection as scouting director was Jordan Eberle, his final one Leon Draisaitl. In between, there was much good (Taylor Hall, Oscar Klefbom, Tobias Rieder, Erik Gustafsson, Brandon Davidson, Jujhar Khaira, Tyler Pitlick) and some not so good (Nail Yakupov had injury issues, Magnus Paajarvi’s offense stalled) and of course he drafted early and so less credit is given for the top end of the list.
The MacGregor draft record is pretty much in the books, but he and the scouts from that era have partial credits for the team that will play on Vancouver ice this evening.
The same can be said for Bob Green, Keith Gretzky, Tyler Wright and all of the scouts who travelled the highways of Canada, USA, and Europe in big, heavy cars built low to the ground and puffing out huge plumes of blue and orange smoke (I made that last part up).
At the heart of my fandom is how teams are built. The current Oilers house a pile of draft picks going way back and I do believe the heart and soul of a team grows from amateur procurement.
The draft is the place for procuring Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard. The Aces and Kings of an NHL team. A smart club can add in some sixes and sevens and nines in later rounds and keep them until their cap hit becomes a burden. The draft also helps stock the AHL team that serves as insurance against injury and keeps good players ready for the NHL leap. A good example is Vincent Desharnais.
I don’t think we’ll see much in the way of lineup changes tonight, unless there’s an injury. Things I’ll be looking for; Calvin Pickard’s calm feet and his ability to make goaltending a non-issue (he certainly did that in Game 4); the Dylan Holloway experience on the second line (looked good from here); and the tweak on defense continuing to have success.
This is such an interesting series. The Lowdown will hit the air at noon today, Sports 1440. Bagged Milk from Oilers Nation will appear, and Mark Spector from Sportsnet is tentatively available (things change with scrums, practice and various life events when covering a team on the road). We’ll chat about the other series, plus the NBA and a little CFL talk, too. 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. Question: Would you like to see an updated 2024 Lowetide draft list later this week?
That was such a poor game from so many players I buy that they are team sick and I’m sure banged up
Those that seemed to have energy gave 150%. Most of those players played pretty well overall. Pick had a solid SV% and only one goal was a coulda saved, but wasn’t a bad goal
I hope they recover enough to win 6 and recover more to give a full team effort in 7. If that happens I favour them to win it
Connor McDavid, 0 0 0 -2, Zach Hyman 0 0 0 -2. When are these two going to show up in this series. I have been in London during this series, games start at 3am. Pretty disappointing when I close the laptop at 6am with another loss.
Keep calm and Oiler on?
A tip o’ the hat to a fan willing to wake up in the wee hours to watch the Oilers oil.
A lot more positive vibes here than I was expecting. I guess there’s no choice. Was that the worst game of Mcdavid’s career? Probably. I will be ignoring hockey until game 6. They can do this. No idea if they will.
Breath oilers just breath we got this. Remember beating the kings in 7. The team has been here before. Vancouver hasn’t.
In the morning just remember what happened in the 1st round in 2022.
After crushing the Kings 8-2 the oilers went and got themselves shutout 4-0 in LA and then lost a backbreaker in Edmonton 5-4 in OT. 3-2 series for LA Went back to LA and they won 4-2, then came home and knocked them out 2-0.
Adversity builds character. Time for the men to show what the last few years have taught them.
And what did putting themselves in that position that year get them?
Nothing. They suck. They are losers top to bottom. Losers, losers, the biggest losers you ever did see. Holland is a loser, Coach K is a loser who’s been outcoached by a winner, and more importantly all the players are losers who are being beaten by winners.
That more like it? 😉
I know catastrophizing is the fave passtime of many an Oiler fan and I’m sure if it comes to pass I’ll get to read 1,000,000 articles on how Draisiatl is out because he can’t stand all of this and we deserve to lose him. We are nothing but a loser city, with a loser team and nobody likes to be a loser, so they will all leave to go be winners elsewhere. Just like all the players in Toronto, Florida, Carolina, Dallas and New York. None have won, all losers, nobody wants to play for losers.
I get it, I gotcha.
Anyways the game was tied until 30 seconds to go. The world hasn’t ended. Vancouver actually showed up for a game and our guys played like Vancouver has the whole series for about 30 minutes.
Sucks when that happens.
Calm your tits, there’s two games left.
Tis a test. Boys need to step it up. Its why we play the games.
who starts Game 6?
Jean-Luc of course.
He’s been great
I’m with OP, let’s not lose it here. Oilers got this!
First, Canucks played a fantastic game. Good for them.
McDavid and Drai looked tired, which, as pointed out by other commentators below, may have something to do with playing 1.5 games worth of minutes in two different games. That said, those two guys have done so much for this team. They are superhuman, but they are still also human. I think it’s fair to spare some compassion for two guys whom I think have shown that they want it as much or more than anyone. It’s not just the minutes, it’s the injuries they are playing with, and the brutal punishment they are taking.
You wonder too if fatigue is catching up to Bouchard and Ekholm. There is a lot of pressure on those guys to make good-to-great plays on every shift, because it just ain’t happening with the second and third pairs when it comes to transporting the puck. When does the fatigue hit and crater your decision making? When you least expect it, and I think that’s what happened on the Bouchard GA.
Tocchet had a great line about how it was on him as well to help EP succeed.
Well. It’s Knoblauch’s turn to help those four aforementioned guys.
One adjustment I would like to see is a change to the D. Inject Broberg. At least then you have Kulak and Broberg on separate pairs who can maybe jump up and create something. Broberg showed great poise walking the line in the A and jumping up to great effect. I know it’s playoffs and the circumstances aren’t ideal, but you gotta look at it hard and just do it. And just to be clear, I would scratch Ceci to make it happen.
Ahh, we’ve reached the “Broberg will save us” segment of this show.
I remember when Rob Schremp was going to save us!
Who has been the better coach this series?
Up for Knoblauch, Down thumb for Tocchet…
At this point three people actually think Knoblauch has out-coached Tocchet so far this series with the Oilers on the brink of elimination against a team that finished SIXTH in the DIVISION last season.
Apparently the less-talented Canucks had to sweep the Oil for Tocchet to get any credit with these three dreamers.
Yeah, LAST season. Tocchet is a great coach who made this team the division winners THIS season. It’s a 3-2 series decided solely on one goal games each. Coaching has been pretty even overall.
One Positive…..Ceci was out shot of course….but I thought he played reasonably well…
He faired much, much better than I anticipated on the road.
GF 1 / GA 0
Henrique is hopefully able to go. If he can play with McDavid and Hyman, Nuge can play with Drai and that can push one of Kane or Holloway to the 3rd line to add punch through the top 9
The PR crew can’t blame Skinner…..can they?
Like last year, the even strength play matters.
Someone called a Carson Soucy scored tonight….
Draisaitl
CF% 41%
SF% 35%
GF 1/ GA 3
It’s not just the tired Oilers, with too much garlic leaving a bad taste in their mouths that makes me feel uneasy.
It’s Pettersson starting to wake up.
Epic futility on the PP….
What about evens?
McDavid:
CF 43%
SF 27%
GF 0 / GA 2
Not good enough in a critical Game 5.
Not to mention 0 0 0 -2
I am still dumbfounded by the effort of 97 tonight. I understand he’s human and likely tired, but to play one of the worst games in one.of the biggest games, when you haven’t won damn thing as the best player in a generation? It’s a bed look.
I’m.guessing he has AT LEAST 3 points in game 6.
But make no mistake, if they lose this.series, it’s a legacy stainer on Holland AND McDavid
The irony of McDrai being roasted for the GWG.
It just worked out for Vancouver tonight . The puck bounced off the post staight to Miller. They got lucky. That’s hockey.
It wasn’t luck.
McDavid
SF 3 / SA 8
Playing in your own end a lot does have its disadvantages…..
Series altering goal against ( 2nd goal by Vancouver……
A true Gift
Of Game 1?
KK looks stressed during his post game. Admits his team got out-hustled and out-worked and were too passive
He should be a bit stressed. This is high stakes stuff and they laid an egg in the 2nd.
I thought a few lines turned the tide in the 3rd but it was clear the 1st line just didn’t have the jam tonight and he went back to the well. Bit him in the keister. Just like when he didn’t pull Stu in game 1
It’s ok though, rest, reflect and get back to it on Saturday.
Nothing is over yet despite the Doomsday crowd this evening.
Nothing is over, but the hill just got that much tougher to climb.
Canucks have beat the Oilers SEVEN times this season, we’ve beat them twice and now have to beat them twice in a row after having a chance to take control of this series tonight and failing to show up.
These are not good arrows.
Imagine if Demko returns…..
The best players should want to elevate no?
Backs are against the wall. 3rd year in a row. Do they fold again? Nah I don’t think so. I think they dig deep. No more excuses.
Connor can’t go out without some fireworks. Not before his Wedding day, that just wouldn’t be right 😎
But now an untoward loss against the grain of play comes into the picture. Getting out-goalied for eg. Bad bounces. Bad reffing. A “Steve Smith” loss. Whether they dig deep or not.
Only showing up when their backs are against the wall is a tell. And not a good tell at that.
The problem is, this team just can’t seem to put together back-to-back dominant efforts. I wouldn’t be surprised if they cruised to victory in Game 6 and then laid an egg in Game 7.
The 30 minutes games catching up on McDavid. That’s on the coach. And he drained their tanks on the 5 power plays in the first two periods.
I didn’t like him loading up McDrai in the last 10 minutes. One ends up with the extended shifts, and Kane, Holloway, and Nugent-Hopkins on ineffective lines.
Especially when it was abundantly clear that the big boys didn’t have it going AT ALL
Yes. 1000 percent this.
And Bouchard & Ekholm…
I thought he coached a good series versus the Kings, but has left us wanting more this series.
The 3rd line can’t contribute, you can’t keep running the same thing out there repeatedly & get nothings in return.
McLeod & Foegele are complete turds.
KK is forced to distribute his minutes between two lines.
also, why in gods name would anyone 45% power play is beyond me.
Reminds of that Colorado game at the end of March.
Skinner stood on his head. A rando line of Nuge-Foegele-McLeod tied it up.
But the Big Guns were having an off night and just wouldn’t or couldn’t play tight defense on the MacKinnon line.
Every now and then it’s good to be reminded that you are mortal.
McDavid has been owned by Miller at 5v5 this series. Totally, completely, owned. Miller is living rent free in his head and beat him to a puck with 30 seconds left.
Two games to change that. Or another year of being known as the best scorer in Rounds 1 and 2.
Saturday is gonna be a gooder!
Truth bomb alert.
Driving up to Edmonton for game 6 and taking my 10 year old son. I took him last year to game 6 against Vegas and he told me he didn’t want to go through that heartbreak again. I made him a deal that we are going to cheer like hell this time, win or lose.
I was fortunate enough to be in the building for the game 3 comeback against the Stars in 97, and the triple OT win against the Sharks in 06. It’s what made me a fan. Hopefully McDavid and co. can give my son a similar experience
canucks had fresh legs in line up, Oilers look tired. Losing game one is why they are facing elimination. All the hard hockey Canucks playing is meant to take a toll over a series…
Oilers best players were full value for that loss.
The catastrophizing is multiples worse that expected, and it was expected.
Yup. Buck up little campers,
Maybe get a little vent out tomorrow and then reset for the next game.
I’m with you. But you are going to need to ignore the statistics about losing game 5 to go down 3-2, then, because they’re depressing.
The Public relations crew in here will have to wok
OT…
Even with the team playing like dog shit, Pickard rocked .914! He kept the team in it. He did his part.
And yet, you know they’re going to play Skinner next game. Because hockey-logic.
UGH.
I actually don’t know that.
He played extremely well. Gave his team a chance. All you can ask of your goalie.
There is nothing to do but hang in there.
Rally, don’t whine.
They win or don’t win but the sun will come up. Things pass.
Until then they have every opportunity to win two games. Been doing it all year.
First game Vancouver was actually the better team. This series is not over by a long shot. Connor is going to bring it in game 6
Remember the pre-season? When all the pundits said the Oilers were for real this year, because McDavid had “set his jaw” and simply would not put up with losing anymore?
Well, that was quite a Game 5 performance by McDavid.
We played probably our worst game in maybe three months and still coulda won if we got a bounce.
Guys looked dead legged to me and could get it going all night.
We’ll get rested up and give the nuckles a damn hard test the next two.
As a serial procrastinator, my dad would always tell me, when I waited til the last minute, “You’ll do it cuz now you have to”
Now we have to.
Cant Friggin wait till Saturday!!! Breaking out the Scotch for that game!!
We’re still looking for a coach that can get them over their mental issues. Instead we have the coach still learning about those issues.
Canucks beating Oilers to pucks in the final two periods. Oilers spending too much time in their D zone and eventually they just get scored on. Canucks better team tonight. No passengers.
Watching McDavid and Draisaitl stay out for extended shifts when they are exhausted is really getting old
Nothing for me tops Drai coasting most of the way from the far side when changing
It honestly childish at this point and kills all momentum for the oncoming line. Can’t imagine what its like watching it from the bench…
If you have to ask the question….
Ya, that Cody Ceci guy.
That was unpleasant.
I am fully confidant that Saturday night will be much more pleasant!
You actually have to be confidant BOTH the next two games will be better… after getting dominated tonight. Saturday night is no longer good enough.
Vancouver has been doing that all year. Lucky …but then it has continued.
Then there was the announcers tonight. Every single time they were on about Vancouver
regardless of what Oiler was getting mugged in the corner. Infuriating. Get lost Cuthbert.
I think the game was lost in the second period. Why can’t the Oil just outwork the other team and get some separation.
Dissapointing.
I think It was lost in the 1st when the Top Guys did nothing with three power plays.
Set the tone going forward and none of them elevated.
Leon peaked on his 2nd shift
They did not get results, which is different than did nothing.
Hyman has not been able to do his thing.
One lesson they should take from other teams, get some shots into traffic. It’s how Bancouver has many of their goals.
I don’t watch Toronto games very often, but Cuthbert and Simpson have gotten noticeably worse than I remember them when they were doing mostly Western games.
Both on their retirement contracts and Rogers writ large has drug everyone down a peg in the intelligence department with how they’ve run the broadcast the last decade.
Ron MacLean is apparently the only commentator in Canada who knows leaving your feet on a hit is a charge…
I thought the panel may have over focused on Vancouver, reviews every penalty they recieved, without any balance.
But okay, I thought perhaps they lean towards the home team. But the other two acted like there was only one team on the ice.
“McDavid falls down”. When was the last time this skater just fell down?
It was the top players all around that looked terrible tonight.
The second goal was on Bouchard. McDavid puckwatching on the third, and Ekholm/Nurse both had critical errors. Draisatl didn’t have much all game. The powerplays looked anemic.
Our best forwards in the last 40 minutes were Holloway and Perry. Good for them, but they can’t be our best players.
Ryan was been good in his role, and Janmark contributed tonight.
Perry okay tonight but has been quiet. Holloway you can see how the line up benefits from some youth, and man that guy can skate.
Miller is a McDavid killer
This has been a back and forth series. Oil will respond next game but even so will need to win 2 straight and Van is a tough team. McDavid and Dari still need to carry this team too much and run out of energy later in series. Seen in this game. Cannot win with shitty goaltending losing one or two games as it ripple effects.. also ‘top 4’ d have to be reliable. Only 2 of 4 are reliable and they are now burned out too.
Oilers done. Apparently they can’t beat this team twice in a row.
They’re going to have to now.
This awfully dramatic. Where’s the fandom? This oilers team is pretty good. So is Vancouver. All the top eight are pretty good. Let’s calm some tits.
Vancouver’s set a record for least shots and is playing their 3rd string rando.
They are not good – the Oilers are trying to be something they are not, and are failing because of it.
Why do you repeatedly say the Canucks are no good. All the evidence points to the contrary.
This series probably ends them – either now or in a later series. That is so brutal to even contemplate, but they’ve walked themselves right into it.
I wouldn’t hang that on the players. They give their all
Canucks deserved that one. Connor needs to step up for the last two games or the Oilers are done. He has had one good game vs Vancouver.
The wrong oilers showed up tonight. Jekyll and Hyde.
The Canucks brought their game of speed and intensity. The Oilers did not match it. Pickard did his part but it wasn’t enough.
Coach KK needs to figure some shit out.
Would have taken balls, but 97 needed to be dropped down the lineup once KK saw he had nothing. Was a bottom 3 player tonight.
He did. I think that’s why he was playing with the 4th liners.
By far the worst game I have ever seen 97 play.
Wasn’t just him, the entire team was awful outside of the 4th line and Pickard. But man, 97 was awful.
For a brief period, our D were focused on making a play. Now we are being pressured and it’s a weak rim to a winger with a D on him already, or a flip to the neutral zone. Just painful.
This is beyond silly . You really think it’s because he needs to be motivated? It can’t be that the other team plays him harder than everyone else. Mcdavid at 30 % is still a good bet and better than most. Money on the line…play the man…always.
Matthias Ekholm had the worst game of his Oiler career and had no business changing on that final play.
What a terrible decision.
He totally hung Bouchard and Nurse out to dry.
Quit making excuses for Nurse!
You’re too emotional.
Have a glass of milk. Sleep it off and watch the replay tomorrow.
You’ll understand then.
Really,so you think Nurse played it well. Obviously we see the game differently. Maybe you need a glass of warm milk as every comment is about Ekholm who wasn’t on the ice but seems to be the total reason for the goal because of his change. To me Nurse had plenty of time to make a better decision rather then just standing in the middle doing nothing. Jmo.Now don’t get to emotional because I have a different opinion. Plenty of sleep helps with that!
I do think Nurse played well. Thought it was easily his best game of the series. I think Vinny is struggling a tad but not too bad. Thought today was Ekholm and Bouchard’s worst game of the series.
I think Perry was most at fault for goal 1 with a bad turnover and I think the Elholm change was brutal with 30 seconds left.
Lots of people fixate on Nurse. Every mistake is the worst thing they’ve ever seen and anything good isn’t seen at all. Comes with the contract so it is what it is.
I don’t think he was at fault for the last goal.
I didn’t say Nurse had a bad game. I said he made a bad play on the goal by not pressing Lindholm.I think Nurse needs a better partner who moves the puck.I am not a Nurse fan but do recognize that he does do a lot of things well. I think he struggles with his decision making. He is still a key member of this team and we need him going forward.
Yea I just put a lot more weight on Ekholm surprising everyone by coming for a change 20 seconds into a shift when coach puts him out for the last 50 seconds.
Im still baffled by it frankly. It clearly caught everyone by surprise and he left his teammates in a very sticky spot.
As the deep guy back Bouchard went at Lindholm first and then let him go. He’s over by the boards and sure maybe Nurse could have went after him but when he started in on the play Bouchard had him.
Tough read, I put way more of that play on Ekholm who mucked everyone with the change. He should have stayed off in the first place if he was going to jump
off after 20 seconds at the end of the game.
These bums really don’t want a Cup. Wtaf was that hockey game??? Connor picks now to play an absolute stinker?
Powerplay-powerplay-powerplay and they do nothing.
Can’t even beat the Canucks in less than 7. Just awful.
And now Knoblauch probably starts Skinner, who is playing objectively worse than Pickard, and will be feeling so much pressure he probably won’t be able to eat or stand still during the game on Saturday.
Just awful.
Bums…..lol
Sadly tonight they were!
Canucks are full credit for that win. Just like Oilers were full credit for thier game four win.
100%
These bums? Really? How do you not love this edition of the Edmonton Oilers? Win or lose these guys are so much fun to get behind. This is the good stuff. The Canucks were the division leaders…they might be a pretty good team also. We’re not guaranteed a championship. Calm down
Pickard was excellent. No way they start Skinner now
As hard as it is to say, we did not deserve to win tonight. Pickard did but overall the team choked under the pressure. Disconnected most of the night, passes to nowhere, last to the puck and too many giveaways. Let’s not forget, the best PP in NHL history when 0 – 5. Very disheartening. We were up 2- 0. Bah.
^^^^ this
Hard to say but it’s true.
They were up 2-0?
My apologies, I stand behind the rest lol
Of course not, but the Oil did have the lead twice.
Anyone watch the Carolina New York game tonight? Who deserves that win? Both pretty good teams, It’s the playoffs, all sorts of shit happens . Vancouver was good tonight. Oilers are a good team. Let’s see what what we got next game.
Nurse’s processor just isn’t fast enough and so he reads plays and does things like that. A 2 on what…4 and he backs off Lindholm giving him time to create something.
What did Nurse do wrong? Ekholm with a bad change. Nurse gets on and immediately picks up Petersson. Bouchard has Lindholm, but then releases him and doesn’t follow him into the corner, so Nurse is forced to switch off of Petersson, and neither Hymon nor McDavid pick up Miller.
Nurse is the LD. That was his corner. He didn’t pressure Lindholm,full stop.Bad change by Ekholm but Nurse still had time to recognize and make a decision to do something rather then just stand in the middle.
So, I hear Canucks won? I stopped watching after the 2nd – the loss was inevitable.
I said after the San Jose loss in Game 12 that I wasn’t going to expect anything from this team, just enjoy the ride. The 50% playoff PP was pretty awesome until it inevitably wasn’t.
You must be a loyal fan
I really hate the ‘like I’ve been saying all along’ but really?? Since game 12, you said ‘ nothing to expect from this team?’. Why does this seem disingenuous?
It means I enjoy it when things are going well. It doesn’t mean I expect them to lose every game. It does mean that I don’t get my hopes up that this team is a serious playoff contender.
We might be like the Thornton-Marleau era Sharks – a consistently good (not great) team that didn’t have what it took to go all the way in the playoffs. That’s better than the DoD Oilers.
At the end of the day, it’s just a game.
Just no jump. Nothing left in the tank.
Get some rest, fellas.
Can’t wait to see how we play with our backs to the wall.
Wonder what the broken tvs/60 is after that one
Oilers didn’t look prepared for tonight. Vancouver was putting more pressure on McDavid and Draisaitl, and Edmonton had no response.
Agreed.