I love Edmonton. It’s the city my children were born in, the city we decided to settle and raise our family. The best days of my life have been in this place. I hope to have many more days here, even those cold winter days that involve backing the car out of the driveway and driving to work instead of your preferred destination (the airport to get out of town!). I love this place.
I especially love Edmonton in a Stanley Cup final. As a collective, we lose our minds. We’re kind of like the Borg hive mind in that we are as one. Unlike the Borg, who collect intel and harvest body parts, Oilers fans lose many brain cells to day drinking and expose body parts.
I am not a man given to reckless behaviour, you can usually find me stationary at pretty much every endeavor with a confused look and enough coins for the No. 9 bus. I don’t lay on hands at church, I don’t shout from the highest mountain, I am Canadian so obey all laws and post no bills unless it’s allowed. I enjoy sex, Crazy Horse, ice cream, Crown Royal and ginger ale, a good joke, laughter, being around my children every day and walking. I’m not complicated nor prone to public nudity.
I do revel in the fantastical behaviour of each generation’s Oilers youth, and count myself among those who made the pilgrimage to Jasper Avenue in the 1980’s. I didn’t jump on cars, but did do foolish youthful things during the period right after a Stanley Cup win (both games won and Stanley victories).
That’s my hope for you, especially those who have yet to experience it. You enjoy yourself this month, do it safely but dance and sing and do things you’ll remember for a lifetime. Critics may suggest Oilers fans have a fanaticism that borders on religion, I’d tell you that’s not a strong enough description. Oilers fans devotion is unparalleled even by religious zealots.
For proof, I’ll direct you to attendance figures during the decade of darkness.
We are a northern community, more independent than any in Canada because of the isolation. Greatness has and will walk these streets, in business, sports and entertainment. We’re alive, not just on May or September long, not just on those wonderful 25 degree days when walking the river valley is the best place to be on planet earth. We’re alive even in the coldest morning, we breathe that air that can freeze your lungs in a heartbeat and keep walking.
We drove to that old beautiful Northlands Coliseum to see those hockey heroes play in our name. We reached the outer marker of sports involvement, and did it five times. Perhaps a sixth will join the party later this month.
This morning, a working man or woman will get in their vehicle and drive to their business. THEIR business. It might be awnings or Johnny beds or better homes and gardens, but it is their life. When you live so far north, you come to know independence. You also develop a great appreciation for those you can count on, those who have been with you through the good and bad of a life well lived. You laugh and cry with them, and they with you.
That’s why this experience, this shared experience, is so special. We are one. So, for any Florida Panthers fans, here is a message from Edmonton. Lower your shields and surrender your ships. Resistance is futile.
A big show on the Lowdown today, noon to 2 on Sports 1440. Bruce McCurdy from the Cult of Hockey at the Edmonton Journal will join us to talk about the SCF and about the differences in two great Oilers (Gretzky and McDavid) that made them unique and special. We’ll also pass along your texts, talk a little draft and I’ll focus on that Evan Bouchard piece for The Athletic (link above) because there is great information in there. 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?
It’s almost as if the sole purpose of the Calgary Flames was to bolster the rosters of other teams to try to stop us from winning the cup.
Florida’s top line = Barkov + Rienhart
Floridas #1 PP = Barkov+ Reinhart
Floridas =1 PK = Barkov + Reinhart
While trying to follow the run up to Saturday, was watching TSN’s Overdrive show and the cheek blowing consensus coming from all 3 hosts is that Florida are going to bully Edmonton like they did to the Rangers.
And that Edmonton is going to lose easily to the Big Bad Panthers. Along with 90% of the so-called experts.
My counter argument: haven’t they seen how terrible the Oilers have made every single team they’ve faced look(LAK, Canucks, Dallas Stars) terrible by the end of every series?
And Connor McDavid. Plus the rest of the plugs in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place in the current NHL playoff points race.
Their local team the Leafs are nothing more then a playoff poke checking bunch of weaklings, and the NY Rangers have always been the gentlemen NHL team from the East.
The Oilers meanwhile have to play in the wild west.
Any thoughts on this?
Yes
Anyone that discounts a team sporting an all time great doesn’t understand sports. Having been a pro doesn’t equal knowing much about the game you played
Anyone that thinks Turtle and Bennett are some equivalent to CMD Drai and Bouch, well enough said
Anyone that thinks having a turtling jerk and a cheap shot artist is equivalent to having Kane Perry Nurse and more doesn’t know what tough is
The Oilers still have to win the games. Also the anguish if they do what they can will be, enjoyable
You don’t bully the opposition in Stanley Cop playoffs. The other team is there because they earned it, you won’t bully them away. Stupid narrative.
Florida won a lot of games. They have Reinhart 57 goals, Barkov, Thachuk, and Bennett who rounds out a good top 6 and they have a good top pair. Plus goalie. If they were to argue this I might have time to listen.
As it stands I’m not hearing many talk about this skill, instead it’s “bully” or “depth” or “unstoppable forecheck”
I think the Oil have some weakness. Some. You see it when Vancouver or Dallas went on a blitz.
Florida can be dogged, but I do not know how fast they are, or if they can get the blitz going.
im still of the opinion that the only guy who really understands what’s coming is Maurice. That’s a smart guy.
Happy to see that 3rd line of Janmark Henrique Brown which you can put out against anyone and might provide some offense to boot. You could swap Janmark/Foegle any time. A 4th line of Fogele/Janmark McLeod Carrick/Ryan would also be plenty reliable.
The biggest thing I’ve seen is as much as we spent all year complaining about our defense – we stacked up as well or better than anyone we’ve faced. Broberg made things crystalize at just the right time and Bouchard/Ekholm as an elite top pair sent things to a completely different level.
Janmark has been far and away the most consistent and positive force in the bottom six. Coach said so himself the other day.
I’d posit the odds of him getting sat for anyone at this point sans injury is quite low.
To go a bit off topic..
Dollars asie for the moment – Desharnias to WInnipeg for Nick Ehlers. Yeah or nay? Just a fleeting thought, but interested in your take on this.
considering Desharnais is a free agent might be tough to swing haha. Also Nick Ehlers contract may be tough to fit in.
Not sure, I’d have to take a look at the history of trading bottom pair UFA defenders for first line wingers
I hope we do not see
McLeod – Draisaitl – Perry
That line was awful and I do not see any likelihood of getting any better. Please no. It is a waste of Draisaitl dominance.
31 minutes, 1-0 goals, over 50% in every metric including expected goals.
If you take away the last game, where everyone but Broberg got caved, its apx 20 minutes, 1-0 goals and apx 60% in all underlying metrics.
You have not convinced me in the least. I see Draisaitl pulling around two boat anchors. One won’t go into the corners and the other too slow to put any pressure .
This is the time to let Draisaitl run, not for him to help get some wingers going.
Jack Michaels brings up an interesting point. All season long, the Dallas Stars only lost 3 consecutive games ONCE.
To the Oilers, in the semi-finals.
Depth is good for consistent contribution across the line up and it produces consistent results.
But when it counts, it’s the top end of the roster that wins games.
This is the problem with everyone picking the Panthers (or the Stars). It’s as if they are picking a Super Bowl winner, not a series winner. Over the course of a series McDavid and Leon can adapt and adjust.
Regarding predictions on the Finals from coaches, execs and pundits, I would remind folks of this totally accurate set of predictions from a couple of years ago.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3316468/2022/05/17/lebrun-we-asked-nhl-execs-who-they-think-would-win-between-edmonton-and-calgary-in-their-playoff-series/
My personal favorite quote was “Smith can’t outperform Markstrom”.
lol excellent.
I think it’s reasonable to view Florida as the favourite but most articles talk like Edmonton is terrible except for Mcdraiboosholm.
Edmonton is just McDavid.
Edmonton is just McDavid and Leon
Edmonton is just McDavid and Leon and Hyman and Bouchard and Nuge and Ekholm and Kane and Skinner and Kulak and Nurse and Holloway and a mix of veteran lockdown forwards and big demen but after that no depth!
Actually, most insiders don’t even seem to mention Ekholm. They treat Edmonton’s D like Bouchard and a bunch of plugs. I still kinda think Ekholm is our best defenseman. At the very least, I’m not sure Bouchard is Bouchard without Ekholm.
I think our D can easily hang with Florida’s. Dmitri Kulikov is in their Top 6, and he didn’t do much for us. Their Top 6 also includes Niko Mikkola and OEL. I feel like we can hang with that.
I find a couple elements of the finals discussion really really funny.
First – the Oilers are the better hockey team, and are not discussed as such only because this is Edmonton.
Second – Leon Draisaitl is getting zero attention despite the fact that he is an absolute playoff hero and will likely strike the most important blows.
This works to the Oilers advantage and is best not mentioned, IMO. Let Florida have a swollen head. Makes the popping so much more enjoyable.
But it also gives the Oilers a chip on the shoulder.
I, for one, am very, very glad the insiders are giving us no chance. If they were picking us, then we’d really have no chance. Now that they’re not picking us, we might actually put together the drive and determination to hang with a very good Florida team for a full series.
Gregor had this in the summary of his interview with Holland but Holland also mentioned this on the air with Stauff. A number of years ago, their analytics told them they created a ton off the rush but not much off the cycle and they made a dedicated search for players to help them create cycle chances – that was prominent in the Hyman signing but also the Foegele trade (as his numbers were good in that area).
Holland and analytics? That’s unpossible!
One of the reasons I thought that this 2024 Oilers team might – just maybe – be different from previous failed playoff teams: we were #1 in the league in chances off the cycle.
For a team with as much rush skill as we have, that’s an amazing amount of versatility, something that is pretty useful in the playoffs.
So it doesn’t really matter but
When referring to which way a player shoots, that is different than their ‘handedness’
Being right handed is not the same as being right shot, or the opposite. Usually, we don’t know if players are right or left handed, but we can see which way they shoot
I feel semantics is important.
I am curious tho, hockey seems to have equal numbers of left and right shooting players, why do so many people golf right?
There is a theory that when young children hold mini sticks they hold it with their right hand and whack a ball or puck around. As they age they continue to hold the top of the stick with their right hand and contine to play hockey as a left shot. This is similar in lacrosse. I am not sure the distribution of golfers or the way someone bats, but I’d imagine because they are singular events of power that more people swing right handed because the rotation is very similar to throwing a ball.
Many right handed persons bat right, golf right and play hockey left. The answer in most cases may be training and peer pressure.
Full disclosure I am right handed but bat left, golf left and played hockey left.
I read an article that said there are more hockey players that shoot right in non-Canadian countries. It is hypothesised that, in Canada this is because it is assumed you will shoot left so when you start young you are first given a left stick and kids just say ok and learn from there.
The same may be true of batting, I don’t know. My first organized baseball I was 8 years old on a 12 and under team, not because I was good but the town I’m from in Saskatchewan was so small it had to go down that far to field a team. Great on base percentage because a small for his age 8 year old has a tiny strike zone, a lot of walks.
The coach put a bat in my hand and stood me at the plate as a right handed batter. I walked across the plate because it felt right and the coach just said ok you can bat left.
When I took up golf I was told I had to golf right handed, everyone does. I was told it might feel awkward but I’d learn with practice. There aren’t many left handed sets of golf clubs. Anyway, I was just as stubborn in my 20s as I was at 8 so I golf left handed.
When we are young we are adaptable and go along with what we are taught and not likely to overrule adults. So things like this are perpetuated to the norm.
Kind of like my left handed father getting his knuckles rapped with a ruler for trying to write left handed. He learned to write right handed and couldn’t write when his right side was damaged by a stroke.
As kids we can learn anything.
Who knows?
The left, right shooting differences were around long before mini sticks. Batting preferences in baseball are far more a product of eye dominance than anything else.
Why are right-shot D so rare?
85 to 90% of people are right-handed.
I’m right-handed, I shoot right.
There should be way more right-shot D than left.
It doesn’t compute.
The majority of right-handed people shoot left. The majority left-handed people shoot right. It is not super strong tendency to overcome when starting out.
I agree, it drives me crazy when writers refer to left handed or right handed players. It is sloppy writing. However, the numbers of left shooting players is not close to equal, right shooting centres and defencemen are coveted because of their relative scarcity. Interestingly, the U.S. seems to develop more right shooting players than Canada does.
90% lefties in Canada
The US is less so but still mainly left
Ekholm to Holland:
“Thanks for trading for me”
https://www.reddit.com/r/EdmontonOilers/s/OOdetk8yxb
Yup – that was my favorite part of the Game 6 Playoff pass – funny (and cool) stuff.
Ah shoot. Think the filter dog ate my report I wrote for today
The most comprehensive finals preview I’ve seen:
https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/florida-panthers-vs-edmonton-oilers-2024-stanley-cup-final-preview-and-pick
Fixed that link to expert NARRATORS for you:
https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/dallas-stars-vs-edmonton-oilers-2024-stanley-cup-playoff-series-preview-and-pick
The last line of the euphoric Stars Beast Mode prose before this week’s breathless Panthers prose:
“the Stars might be the best team left in these playoffs, never mind the best team in this series”.
After reading all year about how Calgary, LA,Toronto, Vancouver, Colorado, Dallas et al, were so much better than Edmonton, I would never expect the leopard to change his spots.
Fear not, nothing would change even if the Oil are able to win, all he will do is say they should have won more, or faster.
I do look forward to the day that Mr-31-Favorite-Teams loses with all of them.
Don’t forget Carolina. It’s easy to be right when you never have to pick.
Harper’s Hair must be feeling extra sensitive these days. That deep dark void in his life, the need for attention, the damage he carries, and the need to strike out against other humans he will never meet, see, or face.
If the Oilers lose, that will be his Stanley Cup
Before i read, i will make my own prediction: they state panthers are tougher, have a huge edge in skill and depth, are somehow more rested, have the better goalie, more experienced, and somehow have the best goal scorer. It will go on to say panthers in 5. I will come back after reading to verify my results.
I expected a direct slant to the panthers in this analysis, it wasnt that bad. However their conclusion that Oilers will win 2 games, and both games will have to be “stolen” is telling to how imbalanced they feel this series will actually be.
Bahahahahs.
This is embarrasing even for reason to crawl out from under your bridge.
HH. Come on buddy!
This is like Calgary sun claiming alberta wild rose party going to win thst election a time ago bad bias reporting.
Look at the playoff leaders.
Ryan nugent Hopkins is leading all panthers scoring threats. Mr someday 50 point season himself is ahead of the (insert excessive verbal disherrea complete with complimentary reach around for the unstoppable) scoring force sam reinhart himself!
Bahaha
Don’t crawl out again unless you can do better than this.
Edit* actually please do this was priceless addition to shit HH has poorly thought through.
Comprehensive in what way? Like longest article?
The author seems to have a rocky grasp about some basic stats.
“PDO measures puck luck” — false. It measures the combination of save percentage and shooting percentage.
I agree that Florida are the favourites but this was not a substantively comprehensive series preview.
PDO is largely affected by shooting percentage and there is a great deal of luck involved.
We need a Fenwickian PDO stat, methinks
Thinking of Connor playing in the 80’s or Wayne now (In this era he might even be better)
There was no cap back then. Fitness is also relative, the norms are different between the eras, but they are the norms at each time
What was different is the teams that the Oilers subdued were really deep, because there was no cap. If a GM could afford it and had the chops, he could build a four line three pair outfit that is far deeper than you can do now with a cap
The pre cap uber teams like the Habs, Isles, Oilers, Pens, Wings, Avs, Stars were teams like we don’t see anymore in terms of depth. That a few have won multiple cups since or repeated is quite impressive. The best of those is the Oilers, but they had an internal cap that blew them up
Several other factors at play here.
Players are now bigger, faster and much better conditioned.
Youth hockey players very often are now in elite hockey academies and are getting “pro-style” coaching and development regimes very early on.
Add to that the multiple options young players can take like the NCAA as opposed to riding the bus to Brandon or North Bay.
Along with that, there are far more elite players from Europe now than there were in the Gretzky era and this is particularly true of goaltenders from Russia, Finland and Sweden.
Just looking at the Florida depth chart…
Canada 7
Finland 4
USA 3
Sweden 3
Russia 3
And gone are the days when players tended to be tied to the team that drafted them as GM’s are much more likely to build a competitive team through agressive trades and fee agent signings.
Bill Zito is great example of this…only 3 players on the current Florida roster were drafted by them.
Those things are relative. I haven’t seen a player since Guy LaFleur stand in the faceoff circle and shoot pucks into the bottom of the top of the net repeatedly. I saw someone lob pucks on top of it recently. I don’t think the top players now necessarily have more skill. Maybe more trick shots.
Academies actually limit the depth of talent available. Training is great but now that academies are the feeder to the WHL etc it actually means missing out on a lot of potential. They give some scholarships, but anyone not popping just past puberty probably is too late to have a decent shot
Getting to the NHL is now mainly for the wealthy, with a few exceptions. Before anyone could battle their way up if they were good enough. The two greatest players ever Gretz and Orr weren’t academy guys. Those farm boys got a lot of reps on the pond in, and by the nature of where and how they played had to be resilient mentally. It’s a trade off
The point was even ‘if’ the pool of talent is bigger now, the cap limits depth, the point of the cap is to even out franchise opportunity. You can’t stack teams like some of them could at one time. The Oilers couldn’t afford to keep the greatest team ever together, but it was only money
I agree with your post, and also because i care greatly about equity, to me some of what you wrote represents the ugly side of sports.
Of course cap limits depth though.
just a comment on top end skill: i think guys do have more now, and how it shows up by:
-Doing some of the same stuff at much higher speed, with much less time
-Having “tricks”, aka moves that allow them to find time
– the ability to find angles and lanes when extra time and space are nowhere to be found.
You don’t think todays players have more skill? Have you rewatched an 80’s game?
Those 80’s players with that level
of skill would not make an NHL team today.
Not to nullify your point, but I’m just reacting to that comment.
More beautiful words about this city and its fans may have been spoken, but I surely have not heard them.
I was born and raised in Edmonton, married and had our first child there, then moved to Calgary for work ten years ago.
We are happy in Calgary and have met many amazing Albertans here. But I don’t think they understand what makes Edmonton special. They just think we are Calgary without the mountains or the head offices. When I am in town and go for a run in the river valley, I get more warms greetings along the way than I might get over a couple of months in Calgary. I have grown to love the blue collar attitude and environment that I was exposed to, even though it was admittedly not my family or personal experience. Many of my closest friends are from Edmonton and remain in touch, despite the fact that many of us no longer live in Edmonton.
Many Calgarians understand why I could never cheer for the Flames, and why I detest them. It’s visceral, it’s a part of who I am, and my son, who was born in Calgary, has proudly adopted our home’s ABC motto. More importantly, even our most bitter rivals in Calgary and abroad understand why we are so passionate. No one can deny what this team means to the city and its fan base, both past and present. It transcends beyond religion and culture, and binds anyone with a link to this wonderful city, past, present, or future
It’s been a long time since Diane Lane has been mentioned.
If Broberg just jumped into the line up to steal a position, why did this just happen in the playoffs?
Maybe there was an injury? We just didn’t know about it.
I think the Desharnais vs Broberg will be a tough call for the coaches. Let Desharnais take some oomph out the big bad Panther tough guy forecheck for a game or to, then play your speed?
Or maybe this is about liking the Nurse – Kulak pairing.
Des and Ceci were the weakest links. Taking one out made a difference
The Panthers aren’t a heavy team mostly, they are aggressive and push tempo. I think Bro is better suited against them. He is way quicker to the puck and being so much more talented can handle the pace and do good things with the puck
Say it Ain’t So suggested they also use the glass and out, and I imagine are pretty good at getting it back with how they pressure. Way harder to do against Bro than Des
I’m so glad Kris and his coaching staff didn’t try the gimmicky 11-7 nonsense over the course of the Playoffs. Not only do you burnout Connor and Leon but quite frankly you divide the dressing room. Whoever turn it is it’s taking 4 lines plus 3 sets of D all pulling on the same rope to have gotten this far.
Nothing wrong with 11-7 in the right circumstances, like preseason to sort out battles, and in regular season and somewhat less in the playoffs to mitigate injury/performance crunches for short periods. During a game, it might be necessary for short while, or during a series or string of regular season games when circumstances dictate, may be helpful. As an ongoing day to day choice, I think it has flaws for team building and buy in reasons. But nothing wrong with it as a situational stopgap when warranted, YMMV.
It might come down to which RHD is best suited to play with Broberg. The contest would seem to be between Ceci & Desharnais. Nurse & Kulak are a fine fit. Kulak has been as advertised on his off side, to no surprise. I know Knoblauch isn’t a fan of the 11/7. But I wonder if he would consider it for game one to sort out who to play with Broberg. IMO he should go with something like this for game one.
Nuge-McDavid-Hyman
Holloway-Leon-Kane
Janmark-Henrique-Brown
Foegele & MacLeod
Along with the seven defensemen. Knoblauch could double shift anyone he likes with MacLeod & Foegele from Connor & Leon all the way down to Ceci & Desharnais. Plenty of options to play with. To me that’s innovation. But to most of you it’s insanity. They most likely go with the vet (Ceci) and the conventional four line set up.
Indecisiveness is for losers. At this point all your D will be worse if you dress seven instead of six.
My impression of Vinny during these playoffs has been that his lack of speed impacted “his game”. He had used his stick and reach to separate player from puck. He was generally too slow to get to the puck carrier and paste them to the boards like we would expect from a “big bad” Vinny. Partially that’s good cause he wasn’t out of the play like we saw a lot in the 2023-24 LA series, but I also think that made him less effective in the coaches eyes.
That’s lots of speculation on my part, but I think the logic holds in general.
Why do people keep saying that it is Broberg vs. Desharnais? Since Dallas, game 4, it is far more likely it is Ceci vs. Desharnais. Pretty close in quality, but Desharnais brings physicality that Ceci doesn’t.
Give Ceci a rest after game 2? Or after game 1, and decide from there.
Deharnais was on for 3 goals against at 5 on 5 vs. Dallas.
Ceci was on for 2 goals against at 5 on 5 vs. Dallas, in over twice the minutes.
0-3 goals vs. 3-3 goals
Ya, ya, PDO, etc., etc., etc.
Ceci was good in the Dallas series, better than Deharnais was.
Ceci is 5-2 goals in his past 10 games (all situations). That 0.60 GA/60 is the best mark among all NHL defensemen.
Including 1-0 in 24 PK minutes. Crazy.
That’s astounding for a player that gets zero time on the PP and significant time on the PK.
In the eighties, Edmonton could not be found on the world map.
Gretzky put us there.
Today’s Oilers have us back. Thanks to Connor and company.
When Wayne appeared on The Young and the Restless in 1981 and Wayne during the scene was referred to as being out of the Edmonton operation Baby we were no longer a nobody.
I knew tix were gonna be a hot item but selling out in 10 min was impressive
On a related note:
Elliotte Friedman
@FriedgeHNIC
Neat note from Edmonton’s series-clinching win over Dallas:
Fans set a new merchandise sales record for any Stanley Cup playoff game (first three rounds).
Working on the numbers, but one of Vancouver’s second-round home games was the previous standard — this one came in 13 per cent higher.
Big night.
I was incredibly lucky to get a single ticket for game 3. After about 80 times where I tried to put a ticket in my basket and it had disappeared.
So I will be flying over for London for game 3 and then hoping to get my hands on a game 4 ticket as well.
My first live playoff game in almost 20 years!
Enjoy and report back on experience
LT
Your words today were as spoken to me directly! My love for Edmonton and the people of the area are for always and forever! I lived in Edmonton for aprx three year ( 1976 thru 1979 ) after leaving the Marine Corps. By that time I was married with a beautiful baby girl and transitioning from military life back to civilian life. We were renting exhibition housing a stones throw from Northlands. I got to see Gretzky’s first game. The youngster had more balance on one leg than most men have on two! I worked for Pan Arctic oil two weeks out one week back. I fell in love with Edmonton the people and the Oilers. I will forever have that attachment! As an ex Marine my salute and “Semper Fi “ !
!
Ooh-rah!
Loving all the radio and podcast head nods/references to what can only be described as ‘real and spectacular’.
Has really united us and brought other fanbases to our side. I love Edmonton too Al.
I find the media’s fondness for buzzwords like “depth” and “hunger” fascinating. But what exactly is depth and how do you quantify it? I don’t know the answer, but we can at least look at goals. I sorted the teams into TOI/GP in order to compare top-6, bottom-6 and defense. Here’s what I found.
Top-6
EDM: 41 goals
FLA: 37
Bottom-6
EDM: 8 goals
FLA: 9
Defense
EDM: 14 goals
FLA: 9
Note that both teams have used 14 forwards, so the bottom-6 number is somewhat lineup dependent.
In any case, based on this loose definition of “depth” I’m not seeing an advantage to Florida at all. In fact if you combine the bottom forwards with the bottom 3 defensemen, Edmonton has a 12-11 goal scoring advantage.
Phil Kessel and Dustin Penner had the league’s best Hunger/60.
It reminds me of the Stars narrative. Oilers actually the more worrisome opponent in most ways
Of course the Panthers are a very good team, have to be smart to beat them, but they are smart, have a higher talent level, and the coach gets the plot it seems. Actually I find it amusing when I read Tkachuk and Bennett vs Connor and Leon. Good players yes, but knives to a gun fight
Barkov should draw the McDavid assignment & Bennett the Draisaitl. Sure glad Oilers picked Draisaitl over Bennett.
When Maurice has last change. KK has options!
It’s different because in the media’s eyes and based on a narrative going around, Florida beat the President Trophy Rangers while the Oilers beat Dallas who was tired from beating much superior teams in Vegas and Colorado.
Beating the Pres guys is a forgone conclusion, it should be a demerit. They always lose at some point!
I’m not taking any of this media stuff personally. I believe that they are all doing us the favour of a reverse jinx, and that they secretly want to see Connor and Oilers win the Cup. I love that the Oilers are getting the underdog, nobody believes in us role from the media.
Don’t love that Knobby gave them bulletin board material with the quote about the Bills but it was a cold ass line so just back it up and we vibe.
Anyone taking offence to that line whos not from buffalo is soft. If Panthers have that on their wall it says more about them than it does about the quote or KK
I don’t think it has anything to do with offending. It’s motivation. Teams will take literally anything to get an extra bit.
What does that have to do with the Florida Panthers hockey club?
Listen to the quote. How experience in the final doesn’t matter. Didn’t work for the Bills, implication it won’t work for the Panthers.
Some new lines at practice today.
RNH-McDavid-Hyman
Holloway-Draisaitl-Foegele
Janmark-Henrique-Brown
McLeod-Ryan/Carrick-Perry
Nurse-Kulak
Ekholm-Bouchard
Broberg-Ceci
Skinner
Pickard
Kane is “scheduled” to practice on Friday so the question is who is placeholding for him? Is it Foegele on the 2nd line?
Without saying the words, coach somewhat confirmed the Foegle is the Kane placeholder – this was in the context of being asked about a Holloway/Drai/Kane line and going back to it.
Coach also confirmed, with no uncertainty, that he sees no reason to take Broberg out of the lineup.
Of course, told us that both Vinny and Foegele will play, they are going to need them – he doesn’t know if it will be “game 1 or game 4” but they will play.
Seem unlikely to be game 1……
For me, Kane plays game #1 and see how it goes. However, we need all hands on deck. If he is ineffective due to injury, all egos are set aside and he sits for Foegle in game 2.
I think Carrick comes in to 4C to potentially combat douchebaggery from the Panthers. Perry and Ryan alternate or ride which ever is more effective. That way everyone gets a chance to play.
Sure, of course, but that goes for pretty much every player.
Kane was clearly far from 100% at any time in these playoffs but he’s been somewhat effective in certain areas of the game and, to me, since the LA series, has been fairly good (for him) in the defensive zone.
If he’s able to skate fully tomorrow and then continues upward (no set-backs) for Saturday, I suspect he’s likely just as “healthy” at any other time so far in the playoffs.
I like keeping Broberg in the line up. Des’ size is only an asset against the forecheck if he can make a play with the puck. The ability to take a hit is not useful if you give up the puck. Alternatively, Broberg is fast and can outlet quickly. Much more useful against an aggro forecheck.
That’s an odd fourth line, maybe they run the Henrique line as a shut down group.
Would love to see Gagner at some point, I think he has offensive potential and would be nice for him to be part of this run
Truth be told, if Gagner is in the lineup, the real injuries are piling up.
Lets not forget, Gagner was hurt in Bako down the stretch and, when he did play, was ineffective. He played that one game at the end of the season and was behind big time, in a slow and meaningless game.
When I read this blog, I always wonder why so many posters care who the pundits are picking to win the series? Or why so many posters care if the broadcast crew praises the other team.
It seems like as soon as one series ends, a lot of posters rush on here to rage on about how bad our next opponent is, and how badly the Oilers are going to beat them. I guess we need something to talk about between games, but it comes off as kind of insecure to me.
I think Florida is an excellent team with a good goalie, a very underrated defense, and 3 solid lines. Don’t know who’s going to win, but I am expecting a very good series.
All feelings are valid. I would say that this a blog with posters that put a lot of thought into making these calls with evidence based data. When a talking head just throws out “Florida, obviously” with absolutely no context or proof, then people here get a little vexed.
It’s good to vent at times.
I don’t really care, I am more disappointed that these pundits get paid to provide takes which are as bad as random internet trolls.
It would be nice to see pundits actually have some meaningful or insightful takes on the series. Instead it feels like they skimmed all of the shitty takes off Twitter and just parrot them.
Pundit “A guy named pantshitter69420 said McDavid is overrated so I’m running with it”
Pundit “some guy said Draisaitl is as good as Joe Colborne so the Oilers center depth must be bad”
I bet you many of these so called experts are saying one thing and placing real money on the opposite.
Everyone wants to be seen. But these pundits lack clarity in their vision.
Or maybe it gives us an us against the world mentality, and we secretly love that?
I called Edmonton home for 12 years. It was great being a lifelong Oiler fan growing up in Ontario. No more waiting an extra day for game results in the paper if they didn’t bother to update west coast games on the radio, which was often. Not to mention all day oiler talk on the radio.
At times like these I wish I stayed. Prior to making the final this year the talking heads out here were convinced that Connor and Leon were gone on their next deals because the Oilers couldn’t win being so top heavy. Now they are leaving if they win because they will have accomplished their goals.
I certainly don’t envy whoever inherits the GM job after Holland–figuring out the Draisaitl/McDavid situation is going to be akin to walking through a mine field. Losing one or both of them will be unacceptable to this fan base, even if you manage to finagle one hell of a haul of players/picks/prospects in return. Alas.
If they didn’t turn it around at the start of the season I would have been worried. Now, they are in as good a position as they could be.
I’m a long time reader and today is my first comment (I’m tentative on online forums, so many are toxic, but this blog has always been what seems like a safe haven). When you mentioned “We are one”, I thought it was time.
I didn’t grow up in Edmonton. Calgary is what I consider home but my father was Edmontonian as was his family. I was raised an Oilers fan, and in Calgary that creates a special type of resilience (I never once wavered). I was born in the late 80’s so although I’ve been alive for two cups I don’t remember them. I watched many games with my dad through the 90’s and will forever dislike the Dallas Stars (particularly Hatcher). My dad took me to a bar with him when I had recently turned 18 to watch Edmonton play Detroit in the first round of 2006. My true passion for the team started then and I’ve watched every game and consumed every Oilers article since.
I moved to Edmonton shortly after that for school. There I met an amazing girl that’s now my wife, and we have three amazing young children. We eventually moved back to Calgary but my children wear all of my old Oilers sweaters (30+ years old now) for each game as good luck. I will always love the people of Edmonton, and I will always love what the city and the team have done for my life.
Reading the media right now – it seems as though they watch too many Eastern games. 29 of the 33 executives and coaches on The Athletic (strongly recommend) picked Florida. Their comments reflect the same stuff we heard about Dallas (Oilers are a two man team, need the PP to win, Skinner a question mark etc). I think Florida is an amazing team and expect them to give Edmonton the hardest battle of their careers. But there is also a feeling of destiny to this Oilers team.
Thank you LT for creating this space and for helping us with perspective through these years – I’m sure you’ve helped many of us learn to enjoy the journey. To all those on this blog, for years I have enjoyed reading all of your comments through each game. During the dark times it provided relief and during this year – comradery and hope. Regardless of what happens, I feel thankful to have watched this team, have enjoyed the journey more than anything and look forward to seeing this team try to prove so many wrong!
As someone who lived in Calgary for 4 years while attending university (smack dab in the middle of their ill-fated ’04 run to boot) I understand well your challenge haha. Wearing my Smytty jersey to class was particular fun in ’06.
Beautiful first post, welcome aboard!
Thank you! I spent a mortgage payment taking my wife and I to Game 2 Oilers Vs. Flames in 2022. Oilers were down 2-0 quick and the Flames fans were unbearable, but when they stormed back (Hyman breaking in for the shorty followed by Leon moments later for the dagger) it became one of our greatest memories.
Read LeBrun’s piece. None of the pro Panthers majority really had many reasons other than the tropes we’ve been discussing – big physical relentless been there last year. Some think Barkov can handle Connor and Leon
The pro Oilers 4 actually had reasons like the PK and PP, and of course Connor. They think he won’t be denied
These are some loooooong days.
The waiting is the hardest part
but we take them on faith, we take them to the heart
Stay chill Tom Petty fan!
Before the Oilers won the Cup they took nothing but shit and abuse. Sather was a 4th line plug. Gretzky was a goal suck that would eventually get hurt because of his slight build. Anderson was a flake. Messier was a wild stallion. You could drive a semi between Fuhr’s legs. As for Kurri anyone can score in a empty net. Coffey was nothing but a good forward who played the defence position. Andy Moog seemed to avoid any scrutiny besides being to tiny. The moment the Oilers slayed Billy Smith and the Islanders it all went away from Coast to Coast everyone instantly thought Dynasty
So true!
Good morning all. Question to the group. Does anyone on this blog have an idea of how to watch these games in Europe. I’m leaving tomorrow for Denmark, where I will be for games 1-4 (bad timing I know). Any Dane’s on this blog who might know if the SCF is broadcast over there? I might try putting up the bat signal for SwedishPoster to come to my rescue. Thanks in advice, Go Oilers!!!
NHL.tv site is how you buy games in Europe I think, but not sure if you can buy just one. You can always put on your pirate hat and google nhlwebcast dot com
Thanks I’ll give that a whirl!
Free streams at onhockey.tv and sportshub.stream.
I watch all of the games on NHL.tv
if you watch on a delay you have to be very, very careful to not find out the result part way through the game
I’m in the same boat, however my request to the group yesterday was along the lines of: how can I watch the games the next day. Or rather, several hours after they have occurred. Getting up at 2:00 a.m. seven times in June is not desirable. Apparently with nhl.tv, you can stream the games later without a spoiler. Here’s hoping, no idea if I can subscribe with the Canadian credit card.
Try going to sleep at 8:00 p.m. if possible and grab 6 hours sleep before puck drop. With the adrenaline of us winning you should be good to go for the day. We’ve never lost the Cup on home ice so hopefully the series ends in 6.
Oh, my, I’ve watched many an Oilers game in the middle of the night from various places across the world – regular season. Getting up at 2am to watch is not ideal but its the Stanley Cup Final – I hope to be back next season but we all know it could be next decade, right?
I’ll make the point again about depth in light of the Athletic all picking Florida copy pasted from the Dallas series.
Vegas beat us because Eichel caved Draisaitl last year, not because the 3rd line scored all of their goals. Their top beat ours with some damn good goalying and a stout defence, just like everyone who has won the cup ever except Pittsburgh that one time.
Like Leo said, when on, our best is better than their best. Heiskanen’s ankles can attest.
Will be a very fun series, they are a very good team, I just think the verbal has got out of hand one way.
Travis Yost felt last series that the Oilers having actual star players was unravelling the Stars. The Oilers have had that advantage over every team they’ve met so far, including this one. Just have to take the advantage
I moved away in the ’90s, basically chasing better weather after an extended time in the South Pacific
At first I came back a lot, single guy, basic life, and things were affordable still. Then I met my girl, kids started coming, and the visits went down to every second Christmas type of thing or not even
In the last 3 years or so, my aging family started running into health issues, and I began coming back more. Probably 25 times or so to Calgary (spits) first, then Barrhead, then St Albert
I reconnected with my best pal and his family, my sister and ancient Grandma. It has been sad many times, but lovely at the same time. I love Edmonton and realized how I missed it, and Alberta. I like how life rolls on the prairies, and how a lot of people think, and how they mostly behave (except for whoever goofs bugging Connor – idiots). Like her or not, I like that the Premier gets on the radio and talks to citizens regularly. That doesn’t happen in many places
I think the team can feel the true love the fans have of the team. The true heart and mind of prairie folk. No bandwagoners. A lot of us can’t even like another team. When I run into clear headed hard working people in my working life, far more often than not they are from Alberta or the prairies
The team talks about the energy behind them. I think they sense the desire we have as fans. I hope they channel all of that into their energy and desire, and hammer those guys with no mercy, leave no doubt about what is going on here
Looking at which teams FLA and OIL beat to get to the SCF wrt goal differential per game played.
FLA had a GD/GP of 0.829 (#1 overall) and beat NYR (.646), BOS (.524) and TBL (.281)
OIL had a GD/GP of 0.695 (5th) and beat DAL (.780), VAN (.682) and LAK (.500)
BOS and TBL were pretenders this year and their play showed it during the season and in the playoffs (BOS beating TML is not an accomplishment but a right of passage each spring).
FLA only had to beat the NYR who were 7th in GD/GP this season. The Oilers had to beat two teams that were in the top 6!
Oilers in 4 (will adjust as required).
“They’ll be swingin’ and swayin’, records playin, dancin’ in the streets”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIfotf13gzE
Even up in Edmonton.
Edmonton Opera scores La Bamba
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFv647UxRGc
That’s horrific.
The more people I talk to – including my Habs fan buddy who knows hockey – and the more articles I read, you can see it’s mostly lightweight takes and whatever the Sports desk jocks are peddling. The hoi polloi media jump on wagons with little consideration, they didn’t like the Panthers at first, it was Rangers Canes even the Bolts and Bruins, those two fading former top contenders
Like with the Stars, the Oilers are better in most metrics in every deeper look I’ve seen, and takes like number of players on each teams goals scored or whatever. Goalie is the ‘disadvantage’ (and Corsi a little), but Stu has pretty much the same numbers lately as Bob, who is also prone to speed wobble
I think this is the way. Our guys are more focused when challenged. I hope they are taking the hoopla all in, and come out Saturday with fresh legs and full tanks, steely determination, and a desire to reach the line first that can’t be matched
There is only one team that can beat them, and it’s not Florida. We aren’t talking the dynasty Habs or Isles here, or prime Price or Hasek
The Oilers can only beat themselves.
Although I haven’t lived in Edmonton for decades, after being born at the Royal Alec (during HNIC Oilers Leafs, in which the good guys dominated because it was 1985) and spending my first 3 years in Castle Downs, I am reminded today that my heart has never left. I still visit from time to time and have lots of family all over the area but great to feel connected again today, thank you as always LT.
Yost states he has the Oilers winning and that Florida isn’t one of the two teams that can expose Edmonton’s weaknesses. No data presented in the tweet, but I’ll take it.
It will be interesting what lineup adjustments Knoblauch will come up with for the Panthers.
Game one will no doubt be a game to test the waters. Carrick will probably be the only change and probably the same line up, but different players blended on different lines for experimental purposes.
Nuge-McDavid-Hyman
Holloway-Leon-Kane
MacLeod-Henrique-Perry
Janmark-Carrick-Brown
I don’t see a change on the blueline, and Skinner is an obvious starter. I can see Foegele coming in for Perry if he struggles and Derek Ryan will make his presence felt somewhere during this series. I hope Perry can dig deep and perform at his best and make a difference. That would be special to see. We will see Kane going head-to-head against Tkachuk. I hope he can handle it. Perry may also see some time messing with Tkachuk. The only constants will be the 1st & 4th lines along with the super line of Leo-Connor-Zach when deemed necessary
Fun, Fun, Fun.
Whatever changes he makes, or doesn’t make, are bad.
I don’t know what the numbers say, but now that Henrique has played some reps post injury, I would love to see a second line of Holloway – Drai – Henrique. I think they would be a load for Florida to manage.
Man, is it really only Wednesday? I ripped my shirt off when I read that last line… Now I’m just getting looks. I love Edmonton too!
Another article on The Athletic predicting the final. Not sure why the Oilers would waste there time going. Almost none of the coaches or execs pick the Oilers.
Head Coach #2 actually says Florida has the best centre depth with Barkov Bennett and Lundell. Huh. Do they even watch the Oilers during the year.
I want the haters to continue hating.
That will make the ultimate victory that much sweeter.
One way or another a lot of eyes will be opened Saturday night.
Yeah that C depth response from the coach floored me. I have to assume he meant from a defensive checking perspective?
Dallas’ depth and advantage in goal was heavily overstated two weeks ago.
But don’t tell me what the pundits are doing, in the Himalayas of their minds, don’t tell me that they’re great predictors, when they’re wrong more than half the time, alright.
Brilliant Hip reference, thank you 🙂
This. Is. PURE. Gold.
They’re just trying to steer bets. Oilers have this.
The more I think about your comment, the more I believe it could be true. I see a lifetime ban for a baseball player because of betting, such an evil!
From the Athletic article:
Championship-caliber center depth. Best in the league with Aleksander Barkov, Sam Bennett and Anton Lundell. All heavier-type centers, too, which is made for playoffs.
Bennet and Lundel are the same size as 97 and Henrique. 29 and Barkov are both big men. So, I guess 97 and Henrique are ‘heavier-type’ centers as well!
The three (3) FLA centers noted have a total of 39 points in all situations this playoffs.
97, 29 and Henrique have 35 EVEN STRENGTH points this year (+ another 28 PP points).
Advantage Oilers!
I just seriously believe that media and team guys did not watch much, if any, of the Oilers this playoff season. If they had, they would have seen a McDavid that appeared ‘off’ somehow but who is now looking better and better each game.
If heavy means playoffs
Barkov 6’3 210
Bennett 6’1 195
Lundell 6’1 185
Monsters! Ok then
Who is Barkov?
Great name for a Dog.
I would say that this is from having had their collective shit kicked out of them by us at least once this season.
I can guarantee Maurice isn’t thinking this.
True. Maurice knows the Oilers well
I wonder if he’s thinking he knows the recipe
These Oilers aren’t those ones. I hope he is
IMO, if these playoffs could be rendered into a single piece of music, it would be the version of “Space Truckin'” what appears on (also IMO) the greatest live album ever, Made in Japan.
Here’s the link if you want to follow along–audio only, I’m afraid.
0:00-5:14 (Round 1 vs LA): The band, like the Oilers, finding their groove. Gillan and McDavid both in fine form.
5:14-7:54 (Round 2 vs VAN): The song proper now concluded, now it’s time to get into the jam. And the Oilers get into it with a team with jam. Lord at the keyboards is in control. Skinner post-reset begins to take control too.
7:54-12:30 (Round 3 vs DAL): Things are quiet initially with just Lord and Paice duetting. Maximum chaos begins around 9:54 with the Lord’s work on the ring modulator and peaks around the time McDavid turnstiles Heiskanen. The full band returns to close out this particular section and the Oilers close out the Stars.
12:30-15:58 (…): This is where we are now. The jam, like things in general ATM, is quieter now as Blackmore begins warming up. The calm before the storm. The band reaches a crescendo and the audience thinks the song is over, right?
15:58-19:54 (Round 4 vs FLA): WRONG. DP and the Oilers launch into a furious finale. The former is led by Blackmore, whose guitar may or may not last to the end of the song (depending on which live version). The rhythm section is more urgent, led by Paice’s galloping, er, pace. Just as the audience doesn’t know that the end is actually the end, so too do we not know for certain how this will end for the Oil. But you enjoy the scheisse out if it all the same.
I need a cigarette now. And I don’t even smoke!
For a second I thought LT was going to pivot into the disturbing video of the fans harassing McDavid while he was trying to load his horrific taste in beer into his car. He dealt with it well by not responding at all but nobody should be physically touched without consent.
Social media is destroying our minds. (Do not at all think about your youth and what shenanigans might have been documented if your friends had smartphones)
What could be more hockey playoffs than loading a 24 of Canadians in the trunk along with some Silver Bullets for those who are trying to play it light!
Those fans appeared to be drunk. It looked like the politeness had passed and Connor could see things heading south. He needed to get out of there.
Outstanding intro today LT.
Thanks for that today, I missed you yesterday. But you made me laugh this morning.
I was born in Edmonton when the General Hospital was still a hospital a long while ago.
So naturally I caught the bug, I used to hang out in the Knothole gang at Eskimo games and have been an Oiler fan from the WHA days, right from the beginning. I lived through the glory years. I remember going to a party one night and someone thought I was Glenn Anderson, so I went along with the charade. Those guys from that team owned the city in those days, soon everyone at the party believed they had a distinguished Oiler guest at their party, so I had to behave. I was amazed at what people wanted to believe and I must have put on a fine performance. What a night that turned out to be. Fun times.
What a great write-up. Alas I enjoyed the revelry of those 80s Cups in isolation in the Nation’s Capital. I know a few Oilers fans here, I see more representation since 2015. We’re a small but proud group. I’d love to experience this in my hockey mecca just once.
Absolutely brilliant. Let’s go!
On Florida and the Oilers. Part 1 of the Pre-Scout
Lots of analysis on how Florida will play and how that will impact the Oilers. Less analysis on how the Oilers play and that will impact Florida.
1) No doubt Florida is an aggressive team but as Scungilli noted, less skill more grit. Think L.A. or maybe those Jets teams but with less Tall Tall Trees on the backend and a bit younger up front.
2) Ferraro states that Florida doesn’t defend much, they press. Well that’s how the Oilers play when they are on.
3) Chip and chase, get on the d quickly with physicality, make them move the puck quick under pressure. Sound familiar? That’s how we play!
4) Problems will and do arise with that type of play. If you get frustrated as a physical team you will take penalties. Whether its a sloppy Kane hit here or PLD taking 8 minors in the first round, physicality works until you go too far.
5) The Oilers have been good in the majority of games in pushing shots and control to the outside. The forwards and the tall tall trees on defense sellout hard to block shots coming from the centre. The key is not to panic when they do gain control
6) But since FLA is aggressive, there will be lots of opportunities to get behind their F1 and F2 on a breakout. They come down very deep, very quickly.
7) FLA uses its top two pairs heavily and shelters the 3rd. Ditto with its 4th forward line, sparse indeed. Get physical with Ekblad… he’s taken a lot of punishment over the years and he’s like Pietrangelo that way. Get too him and he’ll get slower.
8) FLA’s top pairing is eerily similar to Dallas. Yes Ekblad is quicker than Tanev but if you watch tape, holy smokes does he chase in the O-zone and very often he’s slow to pickup direction changes or guys down low cause he’s busting his butt from the blueline back down. Forsling is and plays small.
9) FLA like Dallas goes off the glass and out. Their in zone passes under pressure are not that crisp and their skilled guys aren’t really that skilled or that big. if you get pressure on them they will turn the puck over and/or get hemmed inside their side of the redline.
10) Their defense allows cross-seam passes. This is partly cause they chase and put pressure, partly cause they aren’t that big.
Good post – thank you for your word and insight.
1) Is it less skill or is it skilled grit? I mean, the gritty guys like Barkov, Tkachuk, Bennett are also quite skilled (just like Kane, Hyman and Drai) – right?
7) Their 3rd pairing plays about a minute less than the Oilers and the 4th lines are about the same, from a quick look.
I guess its a semantics thing. Kane and Hyman are less skilled players than McD and Drai, they can’t do the things those guys do. Same with Tkachuk, Reinhart and Bennett, they can’t do things that a guy like Panarin or say Pastrnak does. Less skill, more grit, not really to rag them but they are more bull, push and drive, than they are deak you out, or bottom hook deep with a 50ft backhand pass to a trailer.
Barkov is mighty skilled, he’s the exception. But he is so focused on defense.
The 3rd pairing gets PK time but at 5v5 they are sheltered. Oilers as we know have been blending the EV time with the defensive units and PK time doesn’t feature Kulak who’s a stalwart at EV. One game Ceci is sheltered, the next he’s got the 2nd most TOI vs Elites. More traditional deployment with the Cats with defensive pairs, similar to Dallas that way is my read.
4th line for the Cats just isn’t that good. I think this is why we saw Coach K playing with the lineup deployments yesterday. You want so meat and tenacity against the 2nd and 3rd, but you could find yourself some soft underbelly on that 4th line if you can get some skill out against them. More like the L.A. 4th line vs Dallas 4th.
Overall I’d say the Cats play like Dallas but are built more like L.A. minus the size on most of their forwards.