Glen Sather had this amazing ability to improve his roster by trading players of great value for less famous types who were perfect fits. A great example is the Mike Krushelnyski trade tree.
When the Oilers entered the NHL, a man named Risto Siltanen was dearly loved by the fan base. Risto was a Finnish blue, undersized with some chaos defensively. Risto did this thing that thrilled fans, and if you’re of a certain age I guarantee you are smiling by now.
In the entire history of time, no defensemen missed the net with a point shot more often than Siltanen. People didn’t mind. Why? The sound of the puck hitting the boards behind the net was unique and I don’t mean maybe. Ask anyone 55+ in your life if they remember the sound. If they watched the Oilers, they will smile and tell you about it.
When Siltanen was traded, to the Hartford Whalers in August of 1982, I had mixed emotions. Loved Risto, had hopes for prospect Brent Loney, but Ken Linseman was a famous player and he could slide in at No. 2 or No. 3 center and deliver top quality offense, two-way play and agitation. Linseman’s nickname was The Rat, and he was a strong Oilers forward in 1982-83 and 1983-84. He scored 10 goals in 19 playoff games in 1984 to help the Oilers win the Stanley for the first time.
One month later, Slats traded him for Mike Krushelnyski. I knew who he was, the big man could play center or wing and was building an NHL career with the Boston Bruins. He spiked in 1982-83 (23-42-65) and played a rugged game that included 6.02, 200 and he was a load. The following year, he took a small step back and Sather grabbed him for Linesman. Here’s an excerpt from the Hockey News October 13, 1983:
The left wing situation is crowded with Mike Krushelnyski, Craig MacTavish, Brad Palmer, Mike Gillis, Luc Dufour and rookies Nevin Markwart, Geoff Courtnall and Dave Reid all in the race. Krushelnyski, a reformed center, was the only one assured of a job at left wing. MacTavish (10 goals), Mike Gillis (goalless in 5 games), Dufour (14 goals) and and Palmer (6 goals) fighting for their jobs.
“When you score 10 goals, as I did last year, you’re expendable,” said MacTavish. “I did a lot of skating in the summer. When your job is on the line, you have to come to camp in good shape. You can’t afford to get yourself in good shape once you get here.”
“The only reason they got me in the first place was for my scoring,” said Palmer. “But last year it got to the point where I couldn’t even score in practice. Hopefully they still believe I can do it.”
One left winger who showed up at camp by surprise was Stan Jonathan, 28. He provided the Bruins with a certain toughness and fisticuffs during six years in Boston. Markwart, who was drafted by the Bruins in the first round, 21st overall, in the 1983 draft. “My major strength is I play really aggressive. I’m not afraid to use my body. I’d like to be bigger, but I’m not.”
The Bruins ended up breaking camp with MacTavish, Dufour, Markwart and Krushelnyski on the roster, and here’s how each of their careers progressed: Mike Krushelnyski became a pretty famous player. Among his 801 NHL games from fall 1983 to the end of his career were a ton with Gretzky, in Edmonton and then Los Angeles. He was a very good hockey player into the 90s, and scored 25 goals in 83-84. Craig MacTavish had a very fine NHL career, playing in 946 NHL games from fall 1983 onward. He popped 20 goals in 83-84 which was his final year with the Bruins. Brad Palmer’s NHL career was over. He spent 83-84 in the AHL and then to Finland and Austria, and was done by summer 1990. Mike Gillis played the 83-84 season with the Bruins as an extra man, scoring only 6 goals. He would be heard from again by the NHL, but not as a player. Luc Dufour split the 83-84 season between the AHL and the NHL. He would be dealt the following October to Quebec but didn’t play much there either. Nevin Markwart did make the NHL at age 19, but it probably hurt his long term development. He had 30 points in 83-84 as a rookie, but that was his career high. Geoff Courtnall played 5 games with the big club at the end of the 83-84 season, but wouldn’t make the grade for real until 84-85 (at 22). He had a fine NHL career, but not in Boston (which is pretty much a theme here). Dave Reid played 8 games for the Bruins and then made the NHL midway through the following season. He had a long career as an effective role player and was on the 1999 Dallas team. Is there anything we can learn from this Boston training camp? Yes. Choose the right damn people, and the right damn people aren’t always the guys who make the team out of camp. And sometimes when your 19-year old boy wonder makes the team it hurts his long term development.
I’m not saying Edmonton will trade Matt Savoie, but I am saying the Oilers are a more interesting team now, today, than they’ve been. Sather was a good judge of talent and liked to make trades. He made good ones. It was fun. It’s been so long, an older fellow like myself can’t help but smile about the Savoie deal. Maybe the Oilers traded for Geoff Courtnall last week! Music!
I see two hole to address before the season or at least by the trade deadline.
1) 2RD – Broberg is coming as a top 4 dman, Ekholm is the man, and Kulak is great backup – so moving Nurse for a 2RD costing $3 or $4 million less is a short to medium term necessity. Not an easy move but a necessary one. Ristoleinen is my target if his health and play are back.
2) 4C – need a RH 4C with size and PK ability. Too bad NYR offered Carrick 3 years and I don’t blame him for taking it. He would have been fine. I can’t see Ryan playing this role much more at his age. He probably spends time in Bako unless injuries hit (great mentor for Savoie). Need some size and nastiness at 4C. Dowd would be good, and only 1 year to go on his contract, so maybe at the deadline if WAS is out.
I understand why you want to move Nurse but why do you think it is possible?
There is a market for Nurse given his skating, offense and physicality. That combination is rare. Philly is a place that would appreciate his skill set and Risto is player going back that fits our need. We can also eat Peterson’s contract (ship him to AHL or second cap dump trade) which helps Philly with Nurse’s contract this year. So that is a double mulligan for them and they get the best player in the deal. Would Nurse accept….who knows. Maybe if he knew the on-ice leadership group has lost faith in him.
Do you think that the on-ice leadership group has lost faith in him?
Thanks for the response. I just don’t see any path to Nurse agreeing to a trade this summer and I don’t really see any appetite in Oiler management to pursue one at this time. They have the ability to create cap space in other ways imo.
A contedning team doesn’t trade the one left D in the organization that is in his prime, the can munch minutes, that if the most physical D on the team, etc. etc. etc.
One adds to Nurse, Ekholm, Kulak, Bouchard, Broberg and prospects.
If a legit top 4RD becomes available, then one may switch out Kulak as part of the deal to get enough cap space.
The problem with Nurse has mostly been Ceci.
I do appreciate your level approach to things.
As do I.
That said, someone has yet to explain to me how Nurse’s failures (difficulties, rather) can be pinned on Ceci.
when your teaam is winning, you hold a trump card. All players appear valued better than they are.
let’s call this the McD effect. In the 80’s it was the dynasty effect.
So now it creates opportunity and a problem.
Opportunity is that you can maximize a players value ; IE: Mcleod and trade for what you hope is a better player (Savoie).
The slip side is guys get over valued cause they are on a Great team. and you have to try not to overpay.
After 2004 Flames run: they overpaid a bunch of guys based on their Cup run. I believe EDM did the same after 2006 (but didn’t pay the right guys).
Jackson seems to have a handle on this so far.
NEXT GM UP!
LT’s colleague on the radio mentioned a trade idea from a caller
Jackets RD Jirichek for Akey and Savoie
I’d do it. A bit young but huuuuge upside
I would get Roman Hamrlik or Smid on the phone and find out if this big kid is the real deal. The Jackets need a skilled shooter and are ready to be parlayed.
Timeline isn’t great as he hasn’t made full time NHL, but he’s exactly what they need – big, skates well, physical, has a big shot and some puck skills. Perfect for Nurse or Bro down the road
In 2023 Columbus drafted right shot C Gavin Brindley from the University of Michigan where he scored 25 goals and 53 points in 40 games last season.
He’s 5’9″ 165.
Remind you of anyone?
Brindley played in the USHL as a 17 year old. So did Savoie.
Brindley
0.27 goals per game
0.55 assists per game
0.83 points per game
14 pounds lighter
Older compared to his draft year
2nd round pick
Savoie
0.62 goals per game
0.5 assists per game
1.1 points per game
14 pounds heavier
Younger compared to his draft year
9th overall pick
So, no. He does not remind me of who you think it will.
Not my point.
Do you think Columbus wants or needs two 5’9″ prospects?
Even if one is 14 pounds heavier and scored at a slightly higher rate in one USHL season?
Brindley has been playing and thriving with much older players in the NCAA and actually led the University of Michigan in scoring over highly touted first round picks Rutger McGroarty and Frank Nazar.
A reminder that development rarely runs in straight lines.
Is this the part where you act like teams don’t currently have more than 1 player who is 5’9 or shorter?
Do you think Columbus is in a position to be picky about how tall their players are?
Pretty sure Columbus would gladly take both of them if they felt they could contribute towards winning more games.
Yet you are acting like Columbus got eliminated from the playoffs because they lacked size or something.
How many teams have more than 1 player who is 5’9″ or shorter?
Dallas
Minnesota
Tampa Bay
Columbus
Montreal
Pittsburgh
St. Louis
(With a number of 5’9″ and under UFAs yet to sign)
You can add these teams who also had at least two last season:
Seattle
Chicago
Detroit
Right, why would Columbus ever want more then one talented prospect.
They should hire you to ensure their height and skill coffers are properly kept.
Most recent rankings:
Savoie – 20
Brindly – 52
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5303482/2024/03/04/top-nhl-prospects-2024-matvei-michkov/
As an aside:
Nazar – 35
McGroatry – 18
Is it Valeri Kharlamov.
😎
Brindley’s closest comparable at this point is Cole Caulfield.
Both played two years at Big 10 NCAA schools.
Caulfield scored 38 and 52 points.
Brindley scored 38 and 53.
Both played twice at the WJHC.
Caulfield scored 2 and 5 points.
Brindley scored 4 and 10
Of note…Brindley was tied for 4th in tournament scoring with Canucks prospect Jonathan Lekkerimaki who was named tournament MVP.
Brindley’s American team won gold.
Matthew Savoie also played in the 2024 tournament but was limited to 4 games and scored 1 assist.
It appears Columbus scored a potential steal when they grabbed Brindley #34 overall but you just never know how their game will translate to the NHL.
See unsigned Kailer Yamamoto for reference.
Different handle, same idiot.
Next handle should be DHSI.
Yamamoto?
maybe you missed the point. When you bring in high end potential (Savioe), you don’t trade him 4 weeks later
I’m old enough to remember trades and players from the 80s and early 90s, but not old enough to remember the exact trade circumstances all the time.
Case in point, why and how did the OIlers lose Geoff Courtnall. He played on the team at the end of the 89(?) season and then was gone. Does anyone remember the circumstances around his departure?
Courtnall was sent to Boston along with Andy Moog for a hotshot young goaltender named Bill Ranford. Moog wanted the starters job somewhere else if he couldn’t get it in Edmonton and If I recall correctly, Courtnall wanted more ice time than he was getting while Sather didn’t think Courtnall was willing or able to furnish the physical presence that the team wanted out of him. Getting Ranford turned out to be a steal of course.
Oh, wow. I remember the Moog for Ranford trade of course, I had no idea Courtnall was in that trade too. Thanks.
The last few months I’ve been working on collecting rookie cards for anyone that has played one game for the Oilers. I’m finding guys I forgot about, or forgot why they left. A fun ride down memory lane.
Fun side note, and Bruce will definitely correct me because I conflate things…but I believe that the Sather admitted that when they traded for Geoff Courtnall, that he actually thought they were getting Russ Courtnall. Both good players. Similar thing with Todd Marchant vs Terry Marchant if memory serves. Memory rarely serves.
I came to doubt my memory on this and went back to check it out. Moog went to Boston and both Ranford AND Courtnall came back to the Oilers. That was around the trade deadline I think, Courtnall didn’t play many games. He was an impending free agent and wanted to get paid and Sather wasn’t having any of that. He traded Courtnall’s rights to Washington for Greg Adams. Should have asked for some pucks as well. I have a hard time believing that Sather would have mixed up Geoff and Russ Courtnall, Russ played for the leafs then and was always on Hockey Night in Canada. He was a pretty famous guy then.
That makes way more sense. And the rumor I always heard was that Sather got the Greg Adams mixed up as there were two in the league and we ended up with the bad one.
Pretty sure he knew he difference, but the Oilers definitely got the less famous of the two…
Yup, for both the Courtnall and Adamses! I can well imagine Sather throwing shade however, intimating that he was fine with letting the one go as it wasn’t the one he wanted. Have to admit, the Oilers were so so rich in talent right then that losing Courtnall caused very little pain in the short term, if any. The longer term was another story.
I have no idea who he was playing with or his ice time, but he only picked up 3 assists in 19 playoff games after scoring 36 goals in the regular season. (although only 4 in 12 games to close out the season with the Oilers.) He may have gotten the ‘Eberle’ treatment before it was a thing…
He did get his name on the cup though!
I have a vague memory of Courtnall getting some games with Gretzky in regular season games, but Gretz already had Kurri and Tikk (!) and Courtnall didn’t catch fire. I goggled some game reports from the playoffs, he only scored a few assists. Most or all were in a couple of games in the Winnipeg 2nd round series and the names of Normand Lacombe, Mike Krushelnyski, Craig Mactavish and Glenn Anderson were the other point getters. So, he was grinding on the third line and not getting much scoring done. Which might have made Sather reluctant to pay much for him,
For my entire minor hockey career, I wore #8 in tribute, but even I knew that getting Linseman was a coup.
If my memory serves me correct, there was more to the Linseman to Boston trade than just on ice performance. Kenny had a “nose” for fun and a very young and impressionable Oiler team were beginning to make headlines for all the wrong reasons
Messier cousin Bob Murdoch didn’t last long either.
Neither did Don. #47 in your program, # 1 in your heart.
Oops I meant to say Don and I somehow typed Bob.
Not to dive in to the swamp, but you remember correctly, if I recall the rumours at the time. They were worried about his influence on some of the younger guys on the roster wearing numbers like…errr…11. No inuendo here, there was no internet back then, so it was “hinted at” somewhere publicly for it to reach my very young ears. It’s worth noting that the Oilers did eventually bring Linseman back briefly, which sort of dismisses the rumour.
Here is the 1986 Sports Illustrated article that rocked my young and naive world: okay, won’t let me paste in the link, apparently it looks like spam….
If anyone is looking for it, here is the title:
the-joyless-end-of-a-joyride
I remember that article well. Lots of unnamed sources from what I recall.
Always felt it was piling on by SI to put that out right after they were upset by the Flames. Always wondered if the boys knew that expose was coming and it affected their focus.
The Oilers were a truly dominant team back then and that kind of dominance creates hatred and jealousy and a desire to knock the team off their pedestal. The same bad press used to happen to Jordan’s Bulls, Jeter’s Yankees, and Brady’s Patriots. In a way, the attempted character assassination is a compliment.
Pro athletes in the 80s doing coke? Shocker!!!
The dynasty Oilers didn’t win Stanley Cups. They collected them. The 1986 cup went right up their noses. That’s not a character assassination. It’s writing what nobody else had the journalistic integrity to write. Matty and Jones weren’t going to write it. They did rails, and so they went off them.
The Oilers were not a dominant club. They were the most talented team in the history of the NHL. And they wasted some of that talent. They should have collected six consecutive cups from 1983 to 1988.
That loss to Calgary was shameful. And it broke our hearts. We never should have forgiven them for it.
Fascinating that that season was MacT’s first. Maybe he helped clean up that culture a bit, and that’s part of why Sather took him.
Thanks for this LT. I always enjoy the look back at the work of ‘The Architect.’
The traits we often deride today like “saw him good” and the “old boys club” were used to full advantage by Slats.
With Linseman, he definitely saw the rat good when the Flyers swept his young Oilers in their first ever playoff series. With Krushelnyski, he probably worked out that deal in the back of a fishing boat or a hunting lodge with his old trading partner in crime, Harry Sinden.
There was a window of opportunity for Sather to horse trade early on when those grizzled NHL GMs were still kidding themselves they were the fleecer instead of the fleecee. Once Glen had taken them behind the woodshed enough, that window wasn’t as easily opened and the focus shifted to Fraser’s lengthy dry spell at the draft.
I remember reading once where Sather said the role of the GM was to look at a rink full of young prospects and recognize the one skater that was truly legit. Slats could always do that. Nobody did ‘saw him good’ at a higher level in the 80s with the possible exception of Hugh Hefner.
My favorite Linesman moment was when he got cross checked into the penalty box during a game and proceeded to throw his stick at the offender, literally as a spear.
Rod Phillips nearly died laughing that moment and the ref simply skated over and told Kenny to sit down, he wasn’t going anywhere.
I recall him being the best player on the ice during the Alumni game at the first outdoor game at Commonwealth as well.
I recall a game after Linseman was traded to Boston, Linseman was up to some things during that game (don’t remember what exactly but his ex-team mates were getting mad) and at one point Fogolin went right at him as if by radar, a cross check or two and then Fogolin grabbed him and tied him up. Then he starts throwing without waiting for an invitation. Linseman tried to twirl away but Fogolin had him by the jersey front and I think by where the shoulder pads lace up on the chest. Fogolin was so strong, Linseman wasn’t getting away. He had to eat quite a few until he fell and then Fogolin (still losing the pads I think) when down on top of him, throwing quite a few more. At the time I wondered what sparked that degree of malice from Fogolin, that guy had a long fuse. I found out years later that Linseman had bit Fogolin (on the cheek I think?) doing a fight in junior. Old grudges with goodness knows what else piled on top.
Risto, boy was he a beauty. A shout out to another Oiler who could really hammer the biscuit, Dennis Sobchuck. The boards thundered when he let er go!
Absolutely hilarious that player Craig McTavish at ~25 sounds exactly the same as coach McTavish at 40 and GM McTavish at 55.
He still sounds the same. I went to one of his autograph sessions last year during the playoffs. He asked me if I could read the score from one of the games on TV for him because he was too old to see
it. 😅
One of my favourite quotes from him was after then 2006 finals hit from Laraque on Cheechoo: “Sometimes your the bug, sometimes the windshield.” And I will always love him for ripping out Harvey’s tongue.
MacT belongs on the ring of honour. So much given to the Oilers. A good story of redemption.
If memory serves, the Siltannen – Linsman trade was acutally a 3 team trade with Siltanen going to Hartford, Linsman coming to Edmonton and Mark Howe going to Philadelphia. Edmonton did fine, but I think the Flyers win that trade. Of course, at my age my memory might have that wrong.
You are correct and good memory. August 19, 1982 – Linseman, Greg Adams and a 1st from Philadelphia to Hartford for Mark Howe and a 3rd, then Linseman to the Oilers for Siltanen and Loney.
Oilers won the Cup, Oilers won the trade
That was Bruce McCurdylike recollection; deep, deep pull!
OK, I need someone who is an expert on the 1982 draft to answer a question…..How did Brent Loney a 6′ 180lbs Left winger who scored 25 points in 65 games for the Cornwall Royals of the OHL get drafted by the Oilers at #62 but Doug Gilmour a 5′ 11″ 175lbs Centre who scored 119 points in 67 games for those same Cornwall Royals get drafted at #134 by St. Louis in the exact same draft? I mean………how? What? How?
Looking hockey DB. Gilmour was 19 that year. He had 35 points in 51 games in draft year.
he was one of those diamonds in the rough. His progression from draft to draft +1 was incredible
That makes sense. Looking at the top 10 OHL scorers that year there were guys who didn’t even come close to playing in the NHL.
Doug Gilmour was slow, relatively. And he was a couple of inches shorter and 10 lbs lighter than listed. He was also in his 2nd year of draft eligibility vs. the first year for Loney.
But they did not give intellignence tests to prospects back then, and there is no way to measure will and desire.
The “slow” part was probably relevant to Fraser.
The Oilers trade record was so abysmal for so long there were people upset and opposed over the Ekholm acquisition when it happened just because they no long believed that the Oilers were allowed to win trades. 🥸
According to an interview with the Buffalo News beat reporter I saw Savoie was going to start the season with Buffalo last year until he got injured. Buffalo and Edmonton are in two different cycles in terms of competing but he has to be close to NHL ready.
We could see him by January even with this current forward group.
I was playing around with PuckPedia thinking about the roster. This is what I prefer for lines, I would move Ceci for the needed cap, and fit. Serevalli says there will be buyers:
91 97 Skinner
18 29 Arvi
93 19 28
13 55 10/90
14 2
25 86
27 51/Brown
22/23 495K in cap. Bro and Holloway at 1.2M each
curious why you are breaking up 18 & 97 after Hyman just popped 50+ goals
Let’s see what happened 22/23 and 23/24
22/23 5v5
CMD 32G 27A
Hyman 15G 33A
Nuge 16G 23A
63 G
23/24 5v5
CMD 19G 53A
Hyman 36G 16A
Nuge 11G 19A
66 G
I have a different take than a lot of people. Zach is great at playing with Connor and had a fantastic season. Zach to me and my pals who were good players see him as having tunnel vision somewhat, head down. I’m not criticising him, just an observation
What happened in his great season was they just traded goals between the three of them, almost the same total. That might have been necessary because Connor wasn’t shooting and possibly hurt all season
In the playoffs in elimination series both years Zach and Nuge each had total 1 goal, Connor 3. I would try something else, see what happens. I think a different mix and Connor might go even higher in points. I think he can get over 160, maybe 170, if healthy
But he needs someone who can score but also make plays better to buoy the whole line, not just trade points around. Raise the line’s production. Skinner might be that player. While Nuge is a fine player, he can struggle in games 5v5 to me. He also isn’t a distraction 5v5 like on the PP
Skinner is fast and should be a good at getting in on forecheck. He scores as well as Hyman normally does. He’s a more skilled rounded player. Kane is a better scorer than Nuge, not as good a playmaker, but adding Skinner it shouldn’t matter. Kane will also take eyes off Connor because the D have to be aware of where he is, either for safety or because he’s a bigger threat to score than Nuge, the Tikkanen role
Kane will also ‘make things real’ if people want to take liberties. It won’t stop it or protect Connor, but there will be a forceful response, and to me that is non negotiable. For every player, and we saw in playoffs times with no response. I would also use Perry for that if a game was calling for it, Perry actually fights more than Kane by a bit
Of course Kane has to be healthy and on the team, we will see. I think Nuge would also benefit from some lesser comp so he could produce more, still do special teams. I’d give it a try. I doubt it happens
I’ll also add I read Skinner is good at making plays from behind the goal line, something I think needs to be improved on all lines. Kane will go to scoring spots, and I’d rather have him shooting than Nuge
Again the other team will have to do something when Kane is bearing down on the net, it will open things up more to make plays .Kane is also far more likely to crash the net with malice, another distraction. Hyman goes there, but he plays a pretty clean game, it’s more for a set up than to create havoc. We need more havoc
I don’t think Kane going to the net opens things up more than Hyman going to the net.
I’m not meaning to diss Hyman, but other than accidentally sitting on the goalie once in a while to me there’s a big difference. Zach isn’t mean, and often stands beside the post rather than in front
The Oilers aren’t consistent with good net front presence for deflections. It’s necessary to beat hot goalies – get in their eyes and bother them. I think Kane will do that and be a problem for the D as well
As I said I doubt it happens. Maybe Arvidsson can play the agitator role if he plays LW with Hyman RW. But I think they need more distraction to help Connor, he gets 100% focus with Hyman and Nuge, they are too gentlemanly
To my recollection Evander Kane has not been a strong net front presence during his time as an Oiler – not really his game.
I’m still waiting to hear a little bit more about Kane’s health before investing too much time in putting the lines together.
I know you would prefer a little more snarl with McDavid but that requires the healthy, motivated Kane in order for it to work imo.
In theory I have no objection to splitting McDavid & Hyman in TC to take a look – there is a lot of talent in that top 9 that could be deployed successfully in a number of permutations but are Arvidsson & Hyman not similar in style? I tend to prefer lines that have a range of skills rather than duplication.
I do share the concern of a few posters here that think another big body in the top six wouldn’t hurt but I don’t see Holloway beating out that level of skill for a spot this season. My hope is that TC and pre-season will be full of different combinations.
I agree on the defence. If you are playing Bouchard and Broberg in the top 4 you cannot afford to play Ceci on the third pairing given the cap situation. Personally I think Stetcher is a little underrated by some on this board. I’m definitely not trading Ceci until Broberg is signed though.
I always find setting lines during the summer interesting. We don’t know who is healthy, who will make the team, who will have good/bad years. I do think we’ll see a lot of different combinations but I’m curious to see who is the 2-line when 97 & 29 are together and if they roll 3 skill lines and one “grind” line (Janmark-Henrique-Brown) or if that is their checking line and the 4-Line (whomever that is) is seen as more of the extras and plays 8 mins a night.
For sure sign Bro first. I think Stecher is a better puck mover and that is what was missing on two pairs until Bro was used. It’s a risk, but we know Nurse Ceci doesn’t work, huge sample size now, and as you said 3.5M on third pair isn’t smart
Perhaps what matters are the on ice results?
McDavid’s 5v5 GF% has been better than 60% when playing with Hyman each of the last 2 seasons, and less than 45% without him both seasons.
Overall:
McDavid with Hyman 1694min 64.4%GF
McDavid w/out Hyman 848min 40.8%GF
Not sure why anyone would set out to separate those two players.
For $1.2MM, those contract should be for two year terms – 1 year terms should be less – in my opinion.
Stecher/Brown as the 6/7 is quite the risk, in my opinion.
I don’t see it as “quite the risk” for the first half of the season. I wouldn’t want to head into the playoffs with them as 6/7 though.
Siltanen and Reijo Ruotsalainen were two shorter Finns with bombs for slappers back in the eighties for the Oil. Reijo was money in the playoffs.
Reijo will always be one of my favourite Oilers…almost a part time Oiler, lol. I love the oddballs like the Frycer brothers, Omark, Ruotsalienen…Byakin was a blast. Guys like Rexi and Petr Klima (my favourite hockey player of all time) had a bigger impact on the team in big moments…but I have a soft spot for a guy like Byakin who scored a goal with a goalie’s stick, and Omark who was a one man highlight reel. Fun to colour outside the lines once in awhile.
Ruotsalainen was so good the NHL had to make a rule against him. The Ruotsalainen Rule.
Wow. Krushelnyski 3 Cups, MacTavish 4, Courtnall 1, Reid 1. None of them as a Bruin, 3 of the 4 with the Oilers. Slats took his old pal Harry to the cleaners,
The Linseman for Krushelnyski trade was a byproduct of Mark Messier moving from LW to C in Feb of 1984. Just like that Linseman went from centring a top 6 line with Messier and Anderson to a bottom 6 line between Pouzar & Lumley, Still effective — the Rat scored 3 series-winning goals that spring — but not a long term solution for Linseman. Trading him out for a big talented LW/C (Krusher won Cups playing both positions) was a master stroke.
Throw in Billy Ranford and we really should have engraved Sinden’s name on at least one of the Cups! Even beat the Bruins twice during the run…talk about signing your own death wish…
Ranford was brilliant for Edmonton. But he was really struggling when he was flipped for Moog. Moog was the more steady of the goalies between himself, Ranford and Fuhr at the time of the trade. Moog deserved to start somewhere. He had better stats than Fuhr, and ironically he played against Ranford when Ranford won the Smythe and the Oilers the cup. Moog was a good Oiler and Bruin. All around that trade made sense, but Oilers won in getting the best player.
It almost seems like Slats was fishing for more than just trout back in the 80’s, when the media would report on Slats and Sinden’s regularly scheduled fishing excursions. 😀 I will never, ever not love Sather…I had a weird dream that he was coming out of retirement to GM for Jackson, and in my dream I was like…does Jackson know he’s out of a job now?
Lets presume that Savoie does what is expected and, come mid-February he has 48 points in 43 AHL games.
Does that player have more value in a deadline trade or does he have more value as a player on the Oilers on his ELC for two more seasons (and with the reasonable ability to fill in to the lineup down the stretch and in the playoffs)?
For me, bringing that player up is a deadline acquisition, cheap and will be a massive value deal for the next two seasons.
I understand the idea of a trade chip and “win now” but I also value the short and medium term value contract.
I’m loathe to trade the player unless its just an Ekholm like must-do trade – of course, presuming that Savoie is healthy this season and progressing as projected/anticipated/expected.
Let’s say the 2022 draft class is re-drafted today. Does Savoie slip lower then the 9 hole? If Savoie hasn’t slipped that’s excellent value for the flawed speedy McLeod.
Don’t really care about a re-draft and where he’d go.
I was posting about his value in a trade vs. his value to the team come February.
I would note that Yamamoto likely goes higher in a re-draft than 22 (or at least moving ahead of quite a few drafted before him).
I would suspect that if Savoie is traded, that the return would be outstanding such as a 2RHD with term
Yamamoto is long gone and he’s not coming back. All I care about is if Savoie is tracking above or below his hockey pedigree.
That’s a really hard question to answer because the players in that draft are all over the place in terms of their development and what league they are in. I do think he has progressed well for where he was drafted and hasn’t lost value. The risk in the trade is on the Oilers but the Reward is also heavily slanted towards the Oilers as well.
It’s interesting that Bako is planning on playing him as a center, because the first thing I thought of reading about him is that he could be a very cheap replacement for Skinner in that Skilled Top 6 Winger role. Every cup contender needs those value contracts to be able to maintain the depth needed to get to the SCF year after year. If he looks like he is able to cover that bet by the 2025-26 season, then I think it would be foolish to trade him. Unless, as you say, it is for an Ekholm-type player who will provide a high level of play on a long-term deal.
Flipping him at the deadline might help us this year, but the window for contending will just keep shrinking.
I absolutely agree on the value of Savoie over the next three years on an ELC cap hit. For this org, with its current and future cap structure, that has insane value.
It seems likely that he’ll play wing at the NHL level (at least in the near future) but I think developing him as a pro with the extra responsibility of a center is a solid way to go. From everything we read/hear, transitioning from center to wing is fairly seamless (of course, some work to do on the defensive half-boards).
I think Savoie starts on the NHL club, likely instead of Derek Ryan. He’s going to make Ryan and Perry look really old.
Perhaps but I have Holloway on the club over Derek Ryan – the are looking at running a 21 player roster as of now (i.e. getting cap compliant without a disposition or LTIR – which is possible).
Risto could really wire the puck, although the only goal of his that I clearly remember was a weird one.
It was Eddie Mio’s first game playing against the Oilers after being traded to the Rangers. Risto flips the puck in from center and goes off on a change. The puck is so high in the air that Eddie loses it against the ceiling—I think it might have hit him on the back on the way into the net.
If I’m remembering this all correctly I think Risto was already on the bench by then.
Just googled this to see how accurate my memory was. Mostly correct, although the being on the bench part seems like a bit of an exaggeration.
Unfortunately the spam filter doesn’t seem to want to allow me to paste a link.
I once scored a goal that didn’t cross the line until my feet were on the bench.
Out there PKing, I decided that rather than dump it in the corner I would send a slapper at the net from inside my own blue line as I’m headed off. It would have simply drifted over the net, but the goalie awkwardly stuck his glove up, knocking the puck onto his back, then into the net.
No plus, but a slapshot goal from my own zone. GWG to boot. Hahaha.
So it can be done.
If Lavoie comes to training camp modelling his game after Cal Clutterbuck vs Patrick Laine he has a chance to make the team or at least platoon with Perry.
I’ve been posting for days that, replacing Perry with Lavoie, for a $375K cap savings, allows the current team to be cap compliant with a 21-player roster (when they replace J. Brown and D. Ryan with Holloway and Broberg – just over $1.9MM to get that done).
$1.9MM to get Broberg and Holloway done seems a bit light, even on one year deals but, well, one or both may need to settle just like McLeod and Yamamoto before them.
With all that said, notwithstanding that I don’t believe Perry exactly at the fully buryable amount is a coincidence, I don’t anticipate them waiving him out of camp.
I’m only 47 and, for me, reading about Risto Siltanen is akin to reading about Janne Niinimaa.
Two absolute legends.
Draisaitl contract sequence of events:
I’m sure by now that Drai’s agent Mike Liut has supplied the Oilers with Leon’s contract asks. The Oilers are likely investigating how it affects their long term plans.
Either Drai wants 8x$15M,
or he wants 4x$15M, and have the ability to sign one last contract taking him to age 40.
Jackson will hire a new GM in the next week or two, and nothing will be done until the new man gets to weigh in on the situation and take ownership of the plan going forward.
I’ll bet they explore a few angles throughout the summer, and get a contact done with Draisaitl at the start of camp in September.
Thats how I imagine it playing out. Zero chance Drai is not an Oiler in a year’s time.
Or maybe he is just fine with 5 X $13.5MM?
We don’t know what his “ask” might be. I presume its a premium over the Matthews AAV and, given cap inflation and what not he could truly demand $15MM and get it – I doubt that happens though.
In any event, today, I think he is likely thinking more about his engagement and congrats to Leon and Celeste!
P.S. I can’t say zero chance, as I have real information, but I’d be very surprised if Leon is not an Oiler a year from now.
Your idea is the “third way” where Drai and McDavid take less than market value in order to maximize the competitiveness of the team over the next 4 or 5 seasons.
I don’t know how plausible that is, but I do know that Jeff Jackson is awfully persuasive.
I’m not sure that $13.5MM is much below “market value” in particular if he gets full term on that.
Anything longer than 4-5 years should reduce the AAV given those will be 35+ years.
Maybe Jackson will waive his percentage on Connor’s contract which would be considerable and bring the cap hit down. A little rope-a-dope by the top dog.
That would be Judd Moldaver.
A tax free state might have some appeal.
I don’t think Huberdough minds paying Alberta and Federal income tax on his tidy 10.5 U.S he makes a year. That’s twice as much as Sir Holland used to make for us.
Don’t feed the troll.
So, what happens when they announce Mike Liut as Oilers GM? (I joke, sort of…).
Risto = a real “blast from the past”!
Risto shot was so hard that’s what fellow G.M’s would salivate over. God bless Kenny Linseman-Craig McTavish~Mike Kushelnyski at 3-C and God bless Adam Henrique because real 3-C’s win you Championships
What was Savoie the younger’s draft NHLe?
Using his 2021 – 2022 season with the Winnipeg Ice of 90 pts in 65 games.
Frozen Tools: 34 pts per 82 NHL games
However, there has been growth from this player. Using his 2023 – 2024 WHL numbers (71 pts in 34 games). Frozen Tools has a equivalency of 52 pts.
Risto was classic. Short choppy strides, quick and fast. Sonic Boom when the backboards met his shot. Loved the player.
Rang a few off the glass as well, & the odd one right on over the top. Low glass in those days, & no netting.
I was standing at the concession stand getting a pop and got hit in the foot with a slapper from Bill “Cowboy” Flett. Low glass was right!
Sounds like Souray precision.
Good memories. Always remember Risto circling from the point on the PP to come back in the zone and blast one ‘just a little outside’.
The other thing I remember about Risto was he would cough the puck up and skate around like a madman until he got it back, most likely out of position
Sounds a lot like Niinimaa to me. Loved Janne, was devastated when he was traded (even if Raffi Torres and Brad Isbister weren’t exactly chopped liver).
Risto was lucky if he was 5’9” but he had tree truck legs. Holy smokes could he blast it hard and wild much to the dismay of anyone in the vicinity.
He was a body builder, didn’t look like a hockey player off ice
Before the season just past, Risto Siltanen was the only Oilers D not named Paul Coffey to score 60 points in a season,, 63 points in 63 games in 1981-82, but Oilers had young Charlie Huddy in te pipeline so off Risto went (with freshly drafted Brent Loney) to Hartford for Linseman.
A very popular player traded for a highly disliked one, but none of the Oilers fans in my circles was disappointed with that exchange.