I found a great site yesterday that estimates contracts for the coming NHL season. For my purposes, it’s brilliant because all of the unsigned UFA’s are on one (long) page and there’s an estimated cap hit just to make the site perfect. What a find! Now we can argue about something new!
3 FOR THE OILERS
I mentioned on the Lowdown yesterday that Mark Giordano (a lefty who can play right side) was an intriguing name and blows were rained down upon me. Don’t care. He’s an intriguing option. Remember we are talking about PTO invites here. Puck IQ tells us he was not effective versus elites but did well in other areas.
Gustav Lindstrom remains available, and Puck IQ has him performing well versus elites when with the Anaheim Ducks one year ago. I know the sample (51.1 percent versus elites five-on-five in 128 minutes with Anaheim) isn’t a large one, but we’re talking about a PTO here.
Kevin Shattenkirk had excellent numbers with the Boston Bruins one year ago, exceeding 50 percent DFF in all three categories. He was fab when playing with Hampus Lindholm, not sure if the zooms are available to him in Edmonton.
A busy day on the Lowdown, we start at noon and by the time we are done it’ll be the long weekend! Sports 1440 on your radio and we’re also on everywhere else. Steve Lansky, Tyler Yaremchuk and Declanations with Declan Krueger are featured and we’ll talk Labor Day Classic, Oilers moves and more. I’m at Lowetide on twitter, in the comments section here and on the Sports 1440 text line at 1.833.401.1440 directly.
Giordano’s play would have Godot on his knees begging for the return of Cody Ceci.
And the winning post of the day goes to….Sierra!
No way does Ceci get back his damage deposit for renting a room in Godot head.
He will as he will sublet to one of Emberson, Stetcher, Brown, Nurse or New Guy.
Ceci might even be able to make money if can sublet to more than one at a time!
Well, it won’t be Nurse….do you not know Godot at all?
I do. He used to take my lunch money in pre school. Still living rent free in my head
I’m devastated hearing about Johnny Gaudreau’s passing. Nothing more to say.
You’ve got me sold on Lindstrom. If we are platooning Lindstrom, Emberson, and Stetcher until the deadline, it might not be a whole lot less quality than last year.
only if that puts Brown on the Bake. Barring a surprising trade, the team has set things up to start the season assessing the D on hand, and create max. cap space prior to the deadline. Any potential PTO signings only make sense if they are neutral or improve cap space accrual leading up to the deadline.
My guess is 2RD gets filled via trade after the 4 Nations
Seriously? Giordano?
come on
I fart in his general direction.
His mother was hamster
Should have said kneester
If I’m not mistake, this is one where the goal share vastly outshines all the underlying metrics indicated some real luck involved?
Again, I agree, a PTO is a PTO.
He was 4-5 goals versus elites in Anaheim. I think ‘vastly outshines’ is a bit over the top and 4-5 against elites is a little better than Ceci a year ago (14-19) at a much lower cost.
If I’m not mistaken, his underlying metrics were much more poor, no?
Elite Mid Grit
27/36.1/36.8
DFF% 51.1/48.1/45.4
DFF%RC 10.5/8.3/-4.7
GF% 44.4/83.3/69.2
On a team that poor not bad. There is some piece of info missing. Odd that 25YO RS D with decent size isn’t finding work. Hasn’t really been in the A for a few years
I listened to this spot yesterday and, while I was never truly on board, I was lost when LT mentioned a contract at $1.5MM out of the PTO.
That would be a wild, wild (and terrible) thing, right?
Its tough for me to see him invited to camp but, at you mention, a PTO is just that. IF, and that’s a big IF, a contract is offered, I can’t see any reason why it would be a cent over league min and, no, I would NOT be on board for a silly games played bonus.
Don’t think the Oilers need another 40 year old; not to mention bringing in another defenseman who deliberately injured McDavid.
I say PTO Gary Lariviere.
Not really relevant to a Giordano PTO or signing, but I don’t believe the Oilers currently have any 40 year old players.
Perry will turn 40 during the season.
Yes, during the conference finals, if he’s still on the team.
The Oilers do not employ any players who are 40 years old.
39.5 makes all the difference in the world.
Perry will certainly NOT turn 40 during the regular season but good job looking for something “Oilers’ Negative” to post. Can’t even take today, of all days, off.
39.8 during the regular season.
Pretty sure that won’t affect his performance at all.
That was the estimate by the website, not my suggestion.
True, but you endorsed it to my memory!
No sir. I did endorse the PTO, but he would need to sign at around $1M (if he played well enough).
With full respect, you endorsed the $1.5MM:
“They have Girodano on the list coming in at $1.5MM – so, he’d come here on a PTO, sign for $1.5MM – that’s giddy up time” –
Lowetide, August 29, 2024
There’s no way that makes sense, so if I said it, that was wrong. He has to come in at $1M so they can send him down (just like all the others). Sorry to put you through that (going back), I honestly don’t recall saying it.
Agreed, it doesn’t make sense which is why is stuck with me when you mentioned it. No worries.
The Hockey Writers has an article up wrt Oiler milestones. One of which is 97 closing in on 1000 pts. Did a quick scan to compare McDavid to his peers (over 1 pt per game and 550 – 800 games played with one exception: Johnny Hockey: 743 / 0.97).
McDavid: 982 pts / 1.52 per game (leader of all Active Players – 3rd behind 99 and 66)
Nathan: 899 / 1.14
Kuch: 873 / 1.20
Leon: 850 / 1.18
Breadman: 781 / 1.16
Pasta: 727 / 1,08
Mika Z: 848 / 1.25
Nostrils: 649 / 1.15
Mitch: 639 / 1.11
McDavid is over 20% clear of the field which is an amazing stat!
Unless I’m mistaken, I don’t think Mika Z has 1.25 pts/gm.
Your correct – I flipped the numbers. He is in fact 0.80 pts / gm.
Wow. Thinking of the Gaudreaus today. Just devastating. Suspected drunk driver. Awful news.
https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/johnny-gaudreau-brother-dead-nhl-1.7308408
Tragic loss for all
I cannot begin to imagine how heartbreaking that is for the Gaudreau family. To lose the two brothers the day before their sister’s wedding is just tragic.
Another PTO worth a flyer is Cal Clutterbuck.
We need some sandpaper, we need some hands, reasonable boots, and PK ability from someone who doesn’t have to be a regular roster player to keep sharp.
I’m all ears if someone wants to make a case against a PTO for Clutterbuck.
He’s younger than Perry, faster skater, his shooting % is higher than you might expect, willing to stick up for teammates, and is good on the PK.
Our 4RW spot isn’t exactly ideal (or even settled), either.
I’d bring him in if the goal is to have several players cross check him in the neck in practice to avoid suspension… sure.
Honorable physicality and playing on the edge is fine. His brand of garbage hockey can go straight down the crapper.
In the 80s when players were allowed to properly protect themselves he would’ve eaten elbows every night.
He very nearly ended Brock Boeser’s career with a filthy check into the open bench door.
Snapped one of his vertebrae and ended his season.
And Z basically eviscerated Pacioretty the same way. What’s your point?
Players that maliciously try to injure others have no place in the game us my point.
I feel like this is a classic overreaction.
Sure, there are villains in the league. Heck, EDM has employed many of them and often at the same time. If our host is advocating Kneeordano, there’s no way Clutterbuck isn’t on the table. We literally signed “What are we going to tell Corey” Perry after a lacklustre playoffs.
Cal has a better shot, is faster, can PK, and is just as ornery as Perry.
What’s not to like for a 4RW?
The versatility of Kneeordano could be a wild card worth considering, when looking at the left (and right) side of the depth chart.
Every fibre of my being screams no thanks.
Still think Lindstrom is a smart option worth a look.
Other than the Connor thing, he’s turning 41. I highly doubt he can play RD anymore if he was ever any good at it
Absolutely NOT! NEVER, NEVER, NEVER! Dirty player who is waaaayyyyy over the hill.
And he hurt 97 once and tried to do it again the next season.
Agreed, no f$@king thank you. Unless the plan is to win the cup and not pass it to him…that I could watch.
I don’t go to the gym. But on vacation recently, I went to the free gym regularly. I saw so many big strong guys there, who obviously put in time and effort to have impressive muscles. Now I think of Johnny Hockey competing against these men and how he not only carved out a hockey career but even excelled at it. RIP. And to his brother, Matthew.
Always respected Johnny as a player, and seemed to be a good person. He had that Gretzky like ability to avoid contact, and make those trying to intimidate him look silly. Devastating for his family. As a parent and spouse I can’t imagine the hurt.
I think it was Lowetide who recounted a story of an NHL ref talking about NHL players, with the punch line being “They are all tough from where you’re standing”. These small NHL players have been literally hunted by bigger, stronger, often faster players their entire playing lives. The concept that any one of them (or anyone in the NHL) is soft always makes me laugh. Incredibly character and skill from someone like Johnny to make it to these heights in the sport.
I was at the local barbershop in Marda Loop in Calgary some years ago, and as I’m waiting I see this scrawny kid in one of the chairs, and I think, jeez, that kid looks just like Johnny Gaudreau. I look around, and see Sam Bennett in another one of the chairs and realize, oh, that scrawny kid IS Gaudreau.
Absolutely astonishing that he was able with that frame not just to survive in a world of brawny giants coming at him with ill intent, but to excel. What a hockey player.
RIP Johnny.
It really is astonishing. Height is one thing, but with that frame he had to think the game at such a high level. So smooth. Always enjoyed watching him play, and as much as I enjoyed the “Oilers broke the Flames” story after 2022, I was very disappointed for Flames fans that they lost Gaudreau and Tkachuk.
I think it would be beyond tone deaf by the team to put Giordano on the team. I am quite certain Connor would like to kick his sociopathic butt. He has injured many players with dirty play, time to hang up the skates and be forgotten
They already did it to him with Manning. Connor took the high road after the ‘incident’ with Kneeordano, but was it the first game they played him again he tried to knee Connor? Connor was not a happy camper, smashed his stick, no go for me
Dirty players need to be managed out of the league, like any other major contact sport would do and does
The worst are the knee hunters from ulf Samuelsson-Matt Cooke to Bryan Marchment. Gio perfected the art of it but just as intentional
Although Marchment was a fan favorite around these parts. Messier, Maltby, Torres, Grier, Peca, Pronger were all devastating hitters who injured a lot of players over the years. My point being we love to hate when players are on other teams…
I’m not convinced Gio is intentionally dirty. He’s just slow. But we don’t need him at this point.
When you have kneed 3 or more players and hurt them, it’s intentional. Getting waled doesn’t mean you knee the player. 99.9% of D don’t
Walked
True enough. I guess it goes back to Bobby Orr having his knees targeted that makes the knee predator the worst for me.
No.
He wasn’t a fan favourite at all.
Revisionist history.
Marchment was an embarrassment to the Oilers and not many fans were not on board with having him on the team.
RIP Johnny Gaudreau.
Its a sad day for hockey
Heartbreaking.
So many layers to this and how devastating it is for the Gaudreau family.
Yeah. I’m under the impression Johnny chose cbj to be closer to his family and hes out biking in the off season with his brother, so obviously this is a family that cares about each other. Absolutely devastating.
I cant imagine losing two children at once.
Yeah seem like a tight family. Apparently out biking the day before their sister’s wedding (today).
It’s so tragic there aren’t words
Such an avoidable tragedy. My heart goes out to his family. Prayers for all impacted by their passing.
RIP Johnny – we Oilers fans gave him a rough ride but we all appreciated how talented he was. Such a tragedy for the family to lose both sons in the same instant.
I love cycling but I strictly keep it on trails or local roads that are not busy. I was contemplating getting a road bike for longer rides, but I’ve always been leery of trusting other drivers on a fast moving busy motorway.
I ride the streets and highways and byways all the time, and the amount of sheer recklessness it would take to mow down not one but two cyclists from behind has me absolutely seething. Yeah it’s Johnny hockey, and that’s a shock, but it’s two brothers, two sons. What can you do but weep.
Brutal, brutal news. Sad day for hockey indeed.
This is so sad I feel for the entire family.
There’s not much more selfish and stupid behaviour than drunk driving. RIP Johnny Hockey.
True. I use the phrase intoxicated driving because there are people who drive who haven’t drank, but still shouldn’t be driving
Pot, drugs, doctor’s drugs, etc. So many people are on something these days
One of my sons is very close to the Atkinson family and apparently Cam is taking this very hard today. He has not spoken since he heard about this late yesterday. Speaking with his brothers, Johnny was absolutely loved by pretty much everyone in hockey. This is such a tragedy. My absolute sympathy to his family. May his memory be a blessing.