This is Kailer Yamamoto as he looked in August of 2017 laid against the glorious past of recent Oilers draft picks. All of the men listed (aside from KY) were hi hi hi draft picks. Yamamoto was a pure ‘skill’ pick and enjoyed a strong three-year run with Edmonton 2019-22 before falling off and getting traded. I’m reading many comments implying his career is over. Is it?
YAMAMOTO’S FUTURE
Kailer Yamamoto spent last season with the Seattle Kraken, scoring 8-8-16 in 59 games. Those boxcars don’t resemble Yamamoto’s peak with the Oilers (79, 19-28-47) during his prime run in Edmonton. How far has he fallen off?
In terms of five-on-five offense, his points-60 peaked early and then went bust after the Draisaitl-Nuge scoring cloud. He was 3.16 in 2019-20 (27 games), and then finished his Oilers career going 1.28, 1.48 and 1.53 in the following seasons. Last year with Seattle he was down to 1.08-60.
In five-on-five goal share, beginning in 2019-20 his percentages were 68, 57, 49, 57 and (Seattle) 46.
During his peak seasons, his most common linemates were Leon Draisaitl (1571 minutes), RNH (934) and Connor McDavid (544).
During his final Oilers season, his most common linemates were Draisaitl (346 minutes) and Evander Kane (285).
Last year, with the Kraken, his most common linemates were Ty Kartye (189 minutes) and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare (169).
He scored 2.12-60 with Bellemare and 0.95 with Kartye.
Yamamoto is 25, was on the good side of Dangerous Fenwick and DFF%Rel a year ago (via Puck IQ) and he can help on the five-on-five offense.
I don’t think the Oilers should or will sign him to a PTO (suspect defensemen will get those opportunities) and don’t believe he can help a fourth-line offense the way (say) Sam Gagner still can.
I do think he has earned an invite and if he plays with someone other than Ty Kartye there might be some offense in him. Seems too soon for this player to sail on from the NHL. I just wanted to put that in writing. As always, I’ll cheer like hell for him. He was an important piece in a big moment in Oilers history. That remains forever.
Noon today on the Lowdown, there’s miles and miles of sports to talk about today! CFL Labor Day weekend, NFL final rosters and the season to come and we’ll continue our Pacific Division preview. Of course, plenty of Oilers talk. I’m at Lowetide on twitter, in the comments section here and on the Sports 1440 text line at 1.833.401.1440 directly.
What to expect from Oilers rookies in 2024-25.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5725601/2024/08/28/edmonton-oilers-rookies-2024-25/
Lots of rumors that Johnny Gaudreau and his brother were killed in an accident hours ago. Locals have apparently been tweeting about it before news stations posted articles about the accident (where they did not disclose names). Tim Peele is tweeting about it. It’s one of those things where, it’s been so long now that if it were not true, it should have been debunked already.
Been following it for the last few hours. It definitely has the feeling that it happened. Surely, as you said, someone would have debunked it. Very unfortunate
Regrettably confirmed.
Tragic. RIP Johnny Hockey. A small, skilled forward that truly made it.
Would ya look at that. The small market Northern outpost has managed to land in a three way tie for the most nationally televised games in the U.S. this season.
https://x.com/puckreportnhl/status/1829240948112470048?s=46&t=eJhhNPA4I32vVTDvo2_ETA
and another year of zero for the flames and Jets…
Retirees from the media industry are scratching their heads. How can this be?
One less than last season.
https://x.com/puckreportnhl/status/1696967596053065915?s=61
Punishment for the slow start last year 😉
Seems like the fans want to watch the best players – CMD Leon Bouch, McKinnon and Makar and Sid and Erik
Good thing the league protects it’s stars!
Agreed there’s not really a fit for him here anymore, but i’ll always be rooting for Yamo.
Whenever I think of him it’s the 2022 playoff run. The broadcast would cut away to the obligatory shot of the team lined up in the tunnel ready to take the ice and there would be Yamo, just a live wire of energy, hopping up and down, bouncing off the guys, getting himself and the whole team fired up for battle. Then he’d be out on the ice charging full-tilt into guys twice his size, battling for pucks and risking concussion in the process.
What he lacked in size he made up for in heart. Our own Rudy Ruettiger.
Blue Bullet Brad’s posting some interesting stuff on Twitter folks.
Blue Bullet Brad
@BlueBullet1981
https://x.com/BlueBullet1981/status/1828825185811918849
Thankfully Savoie has only 6 AHL games and basically missed last season
And last season was Savoie’s 19 year old season.
Well, he played 53 WHL games, 6 in the AHL and 1 in the NHL. So he didn’t “basically miss the season”.
And the NHL/AHL games were played as a 19-year-old. This will be his first training camp as a 20-year-old and he’s trying to break into the deepest forward roster the league has seen in a decade or more.
It’s not over yet.
So you’re saying there’s hope yet.
How about Steph Curry. Why would anyone need to make that much money?
Nobody “needs” more than $10M. Some are worth more, apparently.
For some people, money is a resource.
For other people, it’s a way of keeping score, or a measuring stick.
Based on your question, I assume you aren’t very familiar with people in the second group. It is not at all about “need.”
I like Yamo quite a bit…but what not many in the Oilogosphere have seen is that in addition to the Oilers losing speed with the departures of Foegele, Mcleod and Holloway, they have also lost size…all of Arvidsson, Skinner and Henrique are smaller than the 3 who left…with Skinner, Arvy and Nuge in the top 6, it is quite a small group. No room for Yamo there, and with the Oilers likely to only carry 12 forwards I don’t see how he fits in anywhere.
Does height mean anything when you are as soft as McLeod? I’ll give you Holloway as far as size but he’s not even top 6 on the Oilers. Did you see Arvidsson against the Oilers in the playoffs? That guy played bigger than Kopitar. I’ll take him anyday over those three departed.
It’s about being mean. Marchand isn’t big big his psycho is
Not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog. As long as they have the ability to withstand the punishment, they can certainly thrive.
Reminds of am incident in high school. All boys school. If you are familiar with Regina at that time you are aware of the reputation of Campion High School, and how tough it could be in the halls. My friend Artie and I were froshes in the early 70’s (I’m old, I know). Artie is about 5’3″ or 5’4″ at the time and a quiet unassuming sort – nicest guy you will ever meet. 3 seniors – all part of the football team and total goons, tried to tie Artie to a post in the basement of the school during frosh week as a prank. The whole incident took about 20 seconds, tops.
Artie walked away. One goon was on the ground tending to a bloody nose, another on the ground in agony clutching his soft fleshy bits with what we now call a severe lower body injury. The third one just ran. Never have I seen anyone with as quick hands as Artie. He sorted them out and shyly made his exit to thunderous applause from the rest of the freshmen clustered nearby. A reluctant hero was born, and no one EVER bothered Artie in high school again.
He would never relate this story himself. A very humble and quiet man that he is. But it is still one of the most unexpected and amazing altercations ever to (dis)grace our hallowed halls.
Arvidsson and Henrique are definitely more physical than McLeod. And none are as small as Yamamoto.
Oilers lost physicality with Desharnais, Kane, Holloway and to some extent Foegele.
McLeod, Ceci, Broberg pretty soft tbh.
Wonder how HH is going to spin the fact that both Demko and Silovs are not healthy enough to play right now. Probably according to HH, one of the Canuck’s AHL goalies is the second coming of P.Roy.
Both players are expected to be ready for the season opener.
https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/report-canucks-silovs-pulled-out-latvias-olympic-qualifier-with-minor-knee-injury/
I think you mispelled your name… isn’t it supposed to be the Grate One?
Oh, come on. He keeps in touch with what’s going on in the league more so than most Oiler fans that only concern themselves with Oiler news.
HH only posts news from other teams if he feels it can be spun to make the Oilers look bad in some way.
Other people follow other teams and news but don’t post about them on an Oilers blog unless there is something related to the Oilers.
Fantastic, incredible. Can’t a guy have a little fun around here?
I mean, I don’t think I would call HH intentionally being antagonistic and misleading for over a decade on a hockey blog a little fun. Miserable is probably a more accurate descriptor and one that won’t cause LT to delete the post. lol
Sure. But there’s a line. He crossed it so long ago I fell off my dinosaur.
Judge Judy can straighten all this out in 9 minutes.
I will agree that he has some value in the sense of posting things you alluded to above, and trust me, I’ve tried to give him the benefit of the doubt many many times because I truly believe there should be healthy discourse from the opposite side in order for balance and clarity, however, he has proven time, and time and time again, over many years and pseudonyms to be inherently incitetful and purposefully trolling for the sake of getting reactions to the point of I actually have worried for his mental wellbeing. It doesn’t border on obsessive trolling, it IS obsessive trolling. And honestly it makes me sad because he can and does offer insight and information that can be important, he just can’t ever get out of his own way without having behaviors that ultimately outweigh by far any goodness he might otherwise bring to this forum.
*wasteofskin
Perfect for the Oilers push for 1st in the Pacific. Opposing goalies with knee / grain issues. It is not like the Oilers PP moves the puck side-to-side a lot.
lmfao. i love that “the great one” responds to mockery of HH
I’ve never seen them in the same room together… just sayin’. 😜
I think Demko is pretty good, but I’m glad he’s not the Oilers goalie. I think he’s broken
I get how important it was that Yamamoto worked because it would give those dopes who kept drafting fridges evidence that pure skill and scoring is the better play when drafting, regardless of perceived physical slights.
Relative to his draft position, he has worked great. Injuries are the ultimate equilizer and the NHL can be a brutal league at times.
Bringing in Tyler Wright meant a switch to drafting ‘athletes’ not high end offensive hockey players. For our NFL fans it’s like drafting Justin Fields instead of Drew Brees. Scouts get blinded by pure genetic marvels.
I think Buffalo utilized the end goal of LT’s preferred drafting strategy. Trade the excess of higher skill for what you need (Big fast bottom six centre). It bleeds skill value but we saw the Oil hoard smaller kids and it resulted in California beating the wheels off us for a decade.
The league is more accomodating to small skill than ever before and we still saw a big tough skilled Panthers team beat a big tough skilled Oiler team. Vegas the year before. This is the league they want.
The only way that there ends up being a lot of smaller players in the league is if it becomes non contact. I looked into the top 100 players a while back and put the results up – 6% of players are under 5’10 180 lbs, still the majority of players are taller and heavier than that
There is always room for the true high skill guys however big. But the playoffs are a different animal, and if players can’t hack the physical play they end up on the outside like Gaudreau, and Panarin these last playoffs
It’s more than just the refs not calling penalties, it’s that teams can game plan, and every player is giving their all every shift, where in reg season there is more room and easier games and less specific strategy
Fleury played in a way tougher league and is a sure fire hall of famer. As much I hate to secretly say it he’s one of the few Flames players I liked. The phrase highly skilled sure gets thrown around easy. If Yamamoto had average hands he would be a regular in the N.H.L instead of looking for a PTO at 25.
It is strange. Early on Yamo had decent hands. I think the physical toll of the NHL game made him play a little scared. He also had a concussion along the way. His style of game and his size was not a great combo in the NHL.
Fluery was a unicorn. Quite small but very very strong.
Early on he was really good with the quick give and goes with RNH and Leon. He was also excellent at drawing penalties then the Refs caught on and wouldn’t call a beheading of him. From what I remember most of his goals were in tight scramble plays very view were 2-1 or 3-2 where real skilled places shine. The Stone Age for Leon as finally ended with the departure of Holland no more Kahun-Jurco-Reider types or a hobbled Kane. I think Leon gets a bushel full of assists and dukes it out with Connor for points leader.
Agreed. Drai finally has some quality wingers. I think the combination of better linemates and Drai’s disappointment in his finals performance will result in one of his best years ever.
Over a guaranteed 100 million might put a little perk in your step. I envision Arvidsson having his best career season ever he has a underrated shot from what I’ve seen. If you give this man room which Leon’s beautiful passes do I foresee a explosion of Goals by Viktor.
This Is all wishful thinking that Arvidsson back holds up against the Mikey Anderson’s of the league
I hope his great season is based on significant outscoring. I want two lines doing that, as it should be with those two guys
I’m genuinely a bit confused.
I remember hearing tons about Draisaitl needing to do a better job carrying his own line last season. I also remember (I think) agreeing with it to an extent.
Yet looking at last seasons numbers:
McDavid with Draisaitl– 466min 64.4%GF
McDavid w/out Draisiatl 767min 59.1%GF
Draisiatl w/out McDavid 790min 57.6%GF
McDavid+Draisaitl OFF 1974min 48.9%GF
The Oilers did have two exceptional outscoring lines last season.
I’m not sure what the narrative (and my memory) was all about. Maybe just based on Draisaitl not outscoring in the playoffs?
He seems to be banking on himself to have a terrific season and price himself out of the teams pay structure. So much for taking a discount to win a Stanley cup in Edmonton.
I suppose he could do both.
Based on……?
Fleury was ‘super powered’ and also very tough. I thought Yama had the same issue as many Oiler forwards, his shot wasn’t great and he didn’t get into position to shoot enough or get a good enough shot off. Despite that he was supposed to be a strong skater, I didn’t think he was fast enough for his size, great edges but not great first steps to get away from guys, to me a necessity when the other small forwards have 25 or more pounds on him
I watched highlights of Yama when they drafted him. I didn’t think he would make a good top 6 NHL forward and he isn’t built for bottom 6. A lot of his goals were into mostly open nets that the other forwards set up
I was young and dumb and threw a quater at him during his infamous slide down the ice.
That just made for more drama when Semenov in game 7 scored to make it 4-3 with our 4th straight goal had me jacked right up like no other. Then thankfully Esa scores to our relief and satisfaction.
I can remember this team trying to pretend that Cogliano, Nilsson and Gagner could all play in the top six.
The thing about drafting just for skill without reference to size because you can always trade skill later on is that there are 9 spots for skill forwards on a team but only one spot for an undersized skill forward on a team. That tends to limit trade partners and affect the return.
A lot gets written about how a historically effective PP cuts down on buffoonery from opposing teams but being able to give as good as you get is the more effective strategy imo and as long as hockey is a physical sport that requires strength and spirit.
I have been advocating that the Oilers get a lot meaner for a while. Holland made a very vanilla team, outside of a few players
I like how Sather built his league changing skill team. It was at least as mean, tough and dirty as any other. Stuff happened, but there were no freebies, like what happened to Connor against Florida
I remain convinced that while you can’t stop everything and players will still get hurt, when a player like Kane is on the ice there is a whole lot less running around. I have heard many former players say the same. What Tkachuk was doing to Connor after whistles etc wouldn’t have been happening if Matt had to chat with Evander, as we saw against the Flames years ago. I hope he comes back 100% and good through playoffs
Do you know the reason why other teams beat Leon&Connor to bat shit? Because they could and I’m not talking about fighting. McLeod&Foegele 2 big guys that played small both were scared of their own shadows, Briberg same thing you can only be a punching bag for so long. I’ll take small and feisty over a couple of Barbara Ann Scott wannabe anyday.
I expect Arvi won’t take any crap, can back Leon up some. I wish Hyman was a dink at his size. I think Connor needs his Tikkanen. Distract, and play as dirty as you want to play
I can’t recall anyone giving Skinner a hard time and he’s a pure goal scorer. I don’t think it’s beneath Skinner to stick someone aka Leon style.
He did add all of Kane, Perry, Keith, Ekholm, Desharnais and Kostin to the team in the last 3 seasons.
Departing players included Yamamoto, Barrie, Bear and Puljujarvi.
I like Kailer Yamamoto but I don’t think he is a player that this current roster needs.
If anything the “bigger bodies” of a Lavoie, Podkolzin and even Jarventie would be preferred, right?
In particular, if he project Matt Savoie on this team at some point this year, I wouldn’t think Yamo could be in the same lineup.
At some point, I think we look to replace Ryan and Perry off the projected opening night roster but I think we look to the likes of Philp (for Ryan) along with Lavoie, Podz, Savoie, Jarventie to push for those lineup spots.
You got that right.
Funny story: I was in Toronto this week as a member of a committee that’s working on something for my church’s denomination. Some of us were talking about hockey, and one of the guys said, “My brother is actually the president of the AHL.” The guy’s last name was Howson. He was actually surprised that I knew who his brother was.
I know that Dr. Howson! I took a few classes with him.
I learned he played a little hockey himself.
Yama was a good player at times but I think injuries and his lack of size did him in. The Oilers are a better team without him.
I’m just glad the team is moving away from players that aren’t well rounded or well suited enough to get things done, all of the time
For smaller players, and especially really small players, if they aren’t elite skaters and elite skill I don’t see the point, because they are always limited in effectiveness overall. Every player good enough to be considered for the NHL makes a great play at times, it’s the body of work I’m interested in
Why not have a typical sized player that can handle the physical game when it’s on to do average things? The Stecher Yamamoto dilemma. Like the person, not my player type. I have been positive about Stecher, I think he might turn out to be more helpful than who was there, but he isn’t ideal
It’s got to be tough for Stecher, with his size, being an NHL defenseman. I wonder why he didn’t play as a forward, at 5″10 & 184 lbs. he might be an effective checker/ defensive/ PK type player with lots of jam. Hey, maybe the Oilers should check him out as a forward.
He’s a warrior.
I was thinking that as well. How about a new 4th line – the D that shouldn’t be line – Schultz Stecher Barrie
Well, I wouldn’t go that far. But Stecher might be more effective in a fourth line role than Corey Perry. Then again, we wouldn’t want to block a youngster because Troy Stecher is now a forward.
Was joking. Perry is still an effective player. I’m not sure the Oilers will figure out how to deploy him. He is way smarter than the guys he had to play with
As he told one of the departed kids keep the puck in the zone. He could never skate, doesn’t want to back check too much, keep it in and around the net and he’s still money. Before Skinner and Arvi were hired one of the best the Oilers had at actually getting the puck in the net. And being hard to play against
Huh? By eye and by almost every number available, Perry was very mediocre in the playoffs.
This is the age old Oiler problem. They like players but don’t always set them up to succeed, although I think KK is much better with how he uses players
Perry is old and even more limited for sure. He can be effective, but it has to be with the right players. I saw him still trying to make plays, but often his linemates weren’t picking up on what he was trying to do, especially McLeod at times. Holloway was better at reading the play
He knows how to play around the net at a high level. I like having him for the other things he brings, but if they don’t figure out a role he can be useful in they shouldn’t have signed him
In 16 games in Chicago he was 10th inTOI/GP for forwards and got 3 G and 5 pts at 5v5. All strengths he was second to Bedard in PTS/60 and highest in G/60 other than Nazar in 3 GP
Not so sure he gets to those places to put the puck in the net anymore. Connor fed him that beauty playoff goal. He was as amazed as everyone else on the planet. I’d bet if you were standing there you could have scored that one too.
Play him with Connor & Zach on the top line.
Interesting though, Edmonton is interested in Tony DeAngelo, who is the same size but more of an offensive type, while not as good defensively, like Troy the warrior. I’d rather see Troy the warrior beside Nurse than Tony the bologna.
We can only hope that Emberson or Bouchard is the answer.
Have there been any reports that the Oilers are actually interested in Tony DeAngelo or just speculation by Frank that they should be?
I keep reading that he wants to play for the Oilers for one year at league minimum to boost his chances of a big payday in free agency next season. He’s banking on himself.
I hope the Oilers aren’t interested.
The player being interested in the Oilers (reportably) does not equate to the Oilers being interested in the player, right?
Sure hope so.
Remember the high point of our good old days when we PTO Sutter off the farm. We had the pleasure of listening for 3 weeks how he’s the exact fit as our 4-C and higher
Indeed a high point as the Oilers made it to game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals in that season…….
It’s a good thing Woody was replaced so quickly are else we’re talking one hell of a different conversation right now.
It takes all kinds Edmonton has drafted a lot of good but passive natured players. You need a few characters some loud mouths to take the heat off of Connor&Leon. Why do you think Perry still around. Bowman had a wonderful team in Chicago talent up and down the line-up they weren’t a physically aggressive team but they could play any style if need be.
Duncan Keith was vicious. Seabrook was tough. He had Byfuglien for a bit. Bickell, Eager. I think Bowman likes talent but gets the need for some push back and assertiveness
Ask yourself why no one ever fuked with Kane who in my opinion was underrated and the key to beating them.