This is the Oilers 2016-17 defense, idling in the driveway via Puck IQ (Woodmoney is what I was calling it then) in July 2017. We were learning the dance steps of Puck IQ, a site I have come to love more than anything but my family (including dog), the game of hockey, sex, love and the Montreal Expos, Heineken and a good steak. And peanut butter. Oh, and laughter. Anyway, you get the point.
Back in 2016-17, the Oilers ran Adam Larsson, Oscar Klefbom, Kris Russell and Andrej Sekera against eites, with Matt Benning kind of middling. Eric Gryba and a young Darnell Nurse brought up the rear. What can we learn from this flashback photo from 2017?
THE OILERS NEED TO FIND AN INEXPENSIVE DEFENSEMAN!
The heart of that 2016-17 team was a veteran group, Klefbom and Larsson were young but established, Sekera and Russell were trusted veterans. Kris Russell was wildly unpopular with fans each season while also delivering imressive five-on-five GA-60 results (1.68-60, just ahead of Sekera’s 1.69).
Vincent Desharnais was 1.71 GA-60 five-on-five last season, but he played just 303 minutes (and 29 percent) versus elites. That made him the “Matt Benning” in the graph above, and I’m confident Tyler Emberson can meet or exceed those minutes and deliver quality.
Troy Stecher spent 26.4 percent of his time with the Arizona Coyotes versus elites, with an impressive 48.9 percent DFF percentage (he was above average relative to Coyotes mates) and I do think he is going to get a bigger challenge this season in Edmonton. I don’t know if he’s up to it, but do believe he is the best available option.
After that, we have Josh Brown, Phil Kemp and several miles of possible PTO’s or $1 million contracts. Kevin Shattenkirk, Mark Giordano, Justin Schultz, Pierre Bouchard, Ted Harris and Larry Mavety are all possible. It’s also possible we see a pre-TC trade, and Stan Bowman can endear himself to the fan base by finding a substantial RH upgrade who can play with Nurse on the second pairing.
I think it might be Evan Bouchard. I know you don’t like that, I don’t either. However, if you play Nurse-Bouchard you can run that pairing (and Ekholm-Emberson/Stecher) with either of the Glimmer Twins at five-on-five and expect good to great results.
I have faith in this organization. I haven’t always felt this way. I know Michael Parkatti will delve into those numbers and I believe he will find people who will listen to him when he brings ideas to the forefront. I so wish this had happened a decade ago, but I’m not going to turn a blind eye to progress when it stands in front of me.
GET YOURSELF A FRIEND LIKE SUNIL AGNIHOTRI
I have always been an outsider. I grew up Jehovah’s Witness, had a father who was older (you can read about sons of older dads, but the bottom line is ‘all good, you’re destined to be a nerd’) when I was born and I had unique tastes in all things at a young age. I was also too stubborn to go with the flow, so often stood alone in the hallway at school.
One of the things you notice when you never feel like you belong when you walk into a room? People who come to your aid when they have nothing to gain.
Such is the case with my friend Sunil Agnihotri. He read my piece yesterday about Giordano, he was curious, and took the time to do his magic in making the numbers come alive here. Of course he wrote it because he believes Giordano is worth a PTO, but the decision to do the work required to reach that conclusion required an ignition. My item yesterday brought him to my aid. I’m grateful, it was both a kindness and an education. I encourage you to read Sunil’s article right after your read my piece on Leon Draisaitl at The Athletic linked above. 🙂
Just say no to Gio – that is an epic bad idea – the guy is trash for almost ending McDavid’s career in a meaningless game at the end of the year. Can’t believe anyone even considers this.
Time to give some of the young guys a chance at the start of the year. You never know what you have unless they get some at bats. We know what Ryan and Rerry can do – but you have to give Philp, Emberson, Kemp, Lavoie and Pod a run. If we can develop Philp as our 4C then that saves you from getting one at the deadline. I run Ryan and Perry 40 games each MAX and give the rest of the time to the kids.
Then we need to be a dog on a bone for a 2RD all season long and maybe get some extra 4th line muscle. If we get this we are set for the playoffs:
Kane McDavid Hyman
Skinner Drai Arvidsson
RNH Henrique Brown
Janmark Philp Kostin
Ryan/Perry/Pod
Nurse Bouchard
Ekholm Larsson
Kulak Emberson
Skinner/Pickard
Kostin is at $2MM and SJ has no retained salary spots left – third team involved costs more assets out – is it/he worth it?
Apropos of nothing really (some discussion of Bouchard/Ekholm below). And this must have been mentioned a number of times.
But we hear lots about McDavid and Draisaitl being #3 and #4 in all time playoff points/game.
I did not realize before now that Bouchard is also currently #3 all time in playoff points/game among defensemen (and tied for #18 among all skaters).
(this is all for player with >50 games).
Those numbers will carry a lot more weight with one or more Cups behind them, but they are pretty remarkable regardless.
Bouchard is a remarkable player!
He broke a Paul Coffey assist record this past spring….
The offense continues as Clattenburg opens the scoring for the Birds of Fire.
Day-man is in goal.
Giordano is 40; can he move the dial?
Probably not but he did with the Norris at 37…..
Cory Perry being part of Smackdown action yesterday is, well, something!
O’Riley builds on his 2 assist pre-season game yesterday with assists on all three Knights’ goals today (so far, as they are early in the third).
Hat Tip to Bruce for pointing this out to me.
Exhibition but, better than not producing.
Add a goal to those three assists.
He is -2 though, lol.
And also scored in the shootout in another 5-4 win.
Now that is one high event game haha
I suspect he was on the PP when the Kniggits allowed two shorties on the same penalty.
Speaking of the PP, here’s video evidence of his snipe on the man advantage.
Bonus material–video evidence of one of his two apples from last night.
From what I gather Jackson and Hunter are buddies Jackson traded next years 1st in a stronger draft supposedly to scoop up O’Reilly. OReilly is going to receive a huge push from Hunter this could turn into a steal if he pops this year. I’ve asked this before but what kind of numbers do we need to see to get excited about? Could he be our possible 3-C Centre behind Connor and Leon in 3 years
Early days, but I recall either Pronman or Wheeler saying the 2025 draft is weaker than this past one.
But yes, a post-draft year or two in the O and a year in the A seems like a reasonable timeline.
As you’ve asked several times before, answers have come in consistently at 1 p/gm or better.
I agree that O’Riley will get a push but not because of any Jackson/Hunter relationship, but because that’s the natural progression for this player as the players that blocked him previously have turned pro.
I would like to see him approach 1.5 P/G while play in all situations.
Sam O’Reilly with 3 assists so far midway thru his preseason game tonight, making 5 assists so far in 1.5 games. As up an arrow as can exist in a preseason.
Interesting: Connor Carick has played one NHL game in the last two seasons and he had an assist and was +3…..
Sounds like he’s getting minutes and playing the opposition top line.
5-3 win over Philly on April 9, 2023.
Played 16 minutes at evens (third most on the team, all players).
60% metrics across the board (62% expected goals) at 5 on 5 and 3-0 real goals.
Played with Matt Grzelcyk and did get apx 5 minutes with the Pasta line.
Played 6 minutes against the Konecny line.
Looking a little more at Carrick.
30 years old. 242 NHL games.
Like many, I guess he fell out of the league once he was no longer the shiny new thing.
He’s a very good AHL defenseman though, and he’s high quality depth.
He led the AHL playoffs in scoring (all players, not just defensemen) back in 2016, for whatever that’s worth.
Anyway, Carrick was a very nice depth addition back on July 2.
Always liked Russell. Then again, yesterday my comment supporting Harper gained 4 thumbs down. So something’s clearly wrong with me.
BTW, if you ever get a thumbs down, it’s not from me because I don’t give them. We’re mostly a bunch of middle-aged to late middle-aged white guys here. We get thumbs down from pretty much everyone. We don’t need to give them to ourselves. Let’s be honest, our demo isn’t doing great and nobody GAF. No, no down votes, but I will express some annoyance here and I’m not a beam of sunshine.
Giordando has posted very positive GF%REL most of his career. Last three seasons included. Sunil didn’t use goals and I didn’t see any individual stats. That’s annoying to me. Because on-ice goals and individual measures are more salient than anything else in a decent enough sample.
Here’s the thing with Gio Balboa: the dude couldn’t even get in a single playoff game. Knowing what the Oilers played through, what does that say about his body? Why are you bringing him in? Is he a 7D an 8D? Or are you trading Kulak for a goalie pending his roof top audition? I’m out on this player if the latter.
I commented below given the huge drop in TOI and defensive usage 22/23 – 23/24, not playing post season, I think he’s done, on a top team at least. The Leafs run great reg season numbers, and I think that has floated his good possession and goal shares past their due date. He is a very smart player for sure, but, the coaches don’t trust him anymore
100%.
He’s 41 years old even Calgary doesn’t want to gift him a a million. Let him finish his career in Russia where he started his claim to fame career.
Hey kitty with the downvote.Got something to say? Say it the comments.
Let’s not turn this into the Nixon White House…
Whoa, settle down there bud, if ya can’t handle the heat just don’t post.
Pro tip, it ain’t personal, so don’t make it so, you’re just adding fuel to the fire.
Think of it this way, it’s only a stranger’s opinion, it’s nothing at like getting a testicle crushed by a thick piece of plastic that takes the nut in a vice-like grip and with every single movement and every single breath it only gets worse. Getting up off the ice and walking down the tunnel was brutal, I saw other dimensions….including Hell (all hail Miro! 🤘🤘🤘🤘).
At least you can shake this off, bud and walk away from it without a limp.
It continues to boggle my mind when any community member puts any stock in to any thumbs up or down.
I don’t think you’re off the ice.
-daniel
Just in case anyone else missed out on enjoying this one in the middle of that post.
It looks to me that for a balanced photo defensively they need another LHD. At least for the time being. Someone that can sit in the press box until he’s needed then step in and do an admiral job. In my mind that guy is Travis Dermott.
Nurse-Bouchard
Ekholm-Emberson
Kulak-Brown
Dermott-Stecher
Gleason-Carrick
Dineen-Kemp
Hoefenmayer-Wanner
His Puck IQ is tres mal, I hope they can find a bit better
C’est vrai ?
Relative numbers bad, DFF% bad, the one positive is 34% Elites and a GF% 50, but the other GF% are bad. He’s also smaller, they have lost enough size. I would be looking for a decent bigger guy, preferably quite nasty. To me limited players do better when they are mean
People stay away from them. They aren’t going to target them ‘for sure’ on dump ins like they would a smaller not that good player, and if it is the plan some players aren’t going to do it. They have no problems net front. Look at Zadorov – who isn’t ‘bad’ but isn’t ‘good’ either. Or Soucy – he’s just a meaner Des who can skate at an NHL level, but not a great player to me, gets by pretty well
I think you may have forgotten pepper LT. Need it for the steak too
Montreal Steak spice is all that’s needed to season a good steak.
LT jokes about the price of pepper at times on The Lowdown
Sacrilege.
Salt. Sear. Butter baste with some garlic cloves and thyme. Fresh cracked pep and rest before serving.
Perfection.
Only cheap cuts of roast. Never MSS on Ribeye or NY or Porterhouse or anything of the sort.
Pat dry
Course ground salt to remove moisture
Bring to room temperature
Season with dehydrated garlic, pepper, smoked paprika and red pepper flakes
Cook each side on a sear burner until charred flipping only once
Let rest for 10 minutes
Flipping every 30-45 seconds gets a better sear and cooks more evenly. At least in a pan or on a BBQ. Not sure about a “sear burner,” I’m not that fancy. Yet.
If you want to try fancy(ish), you should try reverse searing a steak.
Pat dry, salt, and add a bit of msg and leave in the fridge on a rack until you are ready to cook it (up to 24 hours ahead). When ready to cook, take out the steak and leave it at room temperature while you pre-heat the oven to 275 degrees (with a cast iron pan in the oven).
Once pre-heated, put the steak in the oven for about 15 minutes (if your steak is 1 and 1/2 inches or so and want medium rare). Take out your steak and take your pan out, then heat the pan on the stove on medium high until oil starts to ripple and just about to smoke, lay the steak flat, sear for 2 minutes, flip, 2 minutes and then 30 seconds on the other sides.
You will get a very crusty and tender medium rare steak.
I like a reverse sear for thicker cuts of steak. Or after a sous-vide.
We raise our own pork, so our bone out chops are 2.25 inches thick. They get a brine overnight and a reverse sear for a perfect medium.
MSG is underrated. Fuiyoh!
That’s awesome.
Dry brining meat is also very underrated. I am not sure why people don’t do it more.
And if I could, I would make it my life goal to dispel the myth and fear around MSG. It should be a season in everyone’s pantry.
700 on a grill accomplishes the same and in less time.
I don’t mind taking my time on a steak as the extra time feels well worth it. I also stopped doing my steaks on the grill after I started reverse searing. That’s also partly because I use a charcoal grill which doesn’t seem worth firing up for a small amount of steaks.
The sear burner on my BBQ is magic…very high heat ceramic.
Flipping to promote a sear dries out the meat.
“Flipping to promote a sear dries out the meat.”
That’s a bit of a myth:
https://www.seriouseats.com/the-food-lab-flip-your-steaks-and-burgers-multiple-times-for-better-results
Yes this is a good method many chefs say only flipping once is a myth. Also try seasoning at the end with only real salt.
Totally agree, although if you like pepper a dash while it rests is the best time since pepper will burn while cooking.
Add Kosher salt to a duck’s egg and beat until foamy. Dip the cut, and coat with Crunchy Pretzel Shake and Bake, apply pepper
Yevseyev, after being deployment for over 3 minutes in game 1, sees 2:16 of ice in his second game.
Wild that this player was given so much ice as an 18 year old and then the next season, and early this season, the opposite.
Here is hoping he comes over in May when his KHL deal is done. I’m not sure about an ELC but maybe an AHL deal or at least an ATO to finish the season?
They needed him then, don’t need him now. Euro kids who stay with their club teams sometimes play so little they stop devloping. Jani Rita didn’t play much for his team in Finland iirc in the post-draft seasons. It does impact development for sure.
I’d like to see Giordano as an Oiler.
I also like kitchen fires.
You’ll be excited for our defensive zone play this season then!
This Gio thing is the troll of the summer, kudos lol
Give any and all time that is being considered to Gio to Kemp and Wanner.
Gio will be available in March if this troll illness still craves.
Hey take your shots, it’s a free forum. However, know that I’m sincere. I believe Giordano is worth a PTO. That’s not trolling, that’s an opinion backed up by math.
I’m hesitant about a PTO for Giordano. On the play that he injured McDavid, I remember McDavid saying he believed it was an accident and he didn’t hold it against him. However, I think it was the first game they played against each other the next season that Gio stuck his leg out and did a knee on knee hit. McDavid didn’t get injured, but i remember him being pretty upset at Gio and I think I remember an interview after where he kind of backed off sticking up for Gio’s original hit that injured him. If my memory is correct here, then I’m not sure it’s a good idea to put McDavid in this situation again.
All true. All ancient history. The Oilers are trying to win. Giordano MAY be able to help. That’s the goal.
One of the things I have always appreciated about your writing is your take on the importance of balance in team building.
To me it is a central part of being the GM. After all the narrower focused opinions have been given by the scouts and the stats guys which, of course, tell a story about what has been done it is the GM’s job to look at all that information and decide how it will translate into the future.
In other words does it balance what is already on the team as opposed to does it improve the skill or the toughness or the speed etc. Sometimes it means moving guys because they disrupt the chemistry in the dressing room or there is a duplication of skills. How do the parts fit together to become more than the sum of the parts rather than less.
It may be a minor point but for me the age thing on this team is out of balance.
I wonder if Bouchard, Skinner & now Emberson think they are visiting a senior’s home sitting in the dressing room or listening to conversations over dinner on the road. And even the first two are now veterans in the league so I ask where is the youthful enthusiasm on this team? Is it an essential element of balance or just an incidental attribute?
I don’t dislike the idea of Giordano on this team because of history but because I think the group is out of balance measured by age group and if all we are talking about is a 6th or 7th dman I would prefer to see what is in camp or scan the waiver wire in early October.
Just my opinion but I don’t think this team needs more experience as much as it needs youthful enthusiasm.
If the Oilers were to use Giordano in front of Emberson or Stecher, i’d agree. The roster spot he’d take (only if he earned it) would be Josh Brown’s spot. I don’t think that’s a massive difference in speed but do think the experience might help.
Gio didn’t help the Leafs at all, and his experience wasn’t seen in the playoffs. Let him go back to Calgary, they can pair him up with Tyson Barrie.
^^^
We’ll see how it plays out but my objection to Giordano has nothing to do with speed. It has to do with age.
When they let Holloway go the biggest loss for me was that big kid grin & personality reminding the vets what it was like to love the game for the sake of the game. I think you need that in the dressing room, on the road and on the ice. It’s a long season and enthusiasm during the grind is a component imo.
I’m with OP on Brown. Most of the season in Bakersfield is where he should be. Brought up strategically when they are playing goon teams like the one down the road.
I think we have evidence of this now. The most recent episode of The Drop has Parkatti in the meetings, being asked his thoughts and given his thoughts. I don’t think that was performative and his opinion is taken in to account.
I appreciate you mentioning this a few days ago. I really enjoyed the draft episode. I had been ignoring the playoff episodes due to the heart break of the final.
It was so cool to see Parkatti doing his thing at the draft. Then getting an inside look at free agency.
My favorite part was when they all cheered about the Janmark signing.
My favorite part was when they all cheered about the Janmark signing.
Loved the Keith Gretzky fist in the air.
One thing I wanted to note about that episode as that is seemed to mean alot to Janny that Henrique was coming back – that seemed like in mattered.
Henrique is a perfect 3-C this should of been Nuge job but it just doesn’t fit. For me his signing was a surprise and tells me how much this player wants playoffs and 2-Cups
That was very interesting! The type of inside baseball we rarely know.
It also makes me wonder where Kane will play when healthy. Janmark slide down? Or Kane on the 4th line? Good problems to have.
My lineup has Janmark at 4LW even without Kane – that job is there for Lavoie to win (or Podz, although he prefers RW I think).
I think Henrique is a perfect center for one those two skilled tweeners.
If Podkolzin has a revival and comes out hitting the twine he could end up with Leon. Arvidsson would absolutely feast with Henrique and possibly a fresh Brown or playoff hero Janmark. Lavoie ship has sailed his window was 2>1 years ago. Bowman has identified and slotted Podkolzin and Emberson as the front runners for a up the later job. They both will get a huge push while Lavoie needs to get in a couple of scraps as well as score 4-5 preseason goals. This will garner enough attention to get him traded or picked off the waiver wire by Staios or the Habs.
I’m not of the opinion that they SHOULD split up Ekholm/Bouchard necessarily but I’m certainly not one that thinks that is a silly suggestion.
Some think it needs to be done to see Bouchard away from Ekholm before he gets paid. Fact is, we already saw Bouchard away from Ekholm for, IIRC, 183 minutes and the results were absolutely splending.
Bouchard’s on-ice numbers hold when away from BOTH McDavid and Ekholm – he dropped to 50% goal share away from both of those guys but was near 60% across the board in the underlying numbers.
We need to see more to be sure but it sure seems that Bouchard does not NEED Ekholm.
In fact, I think we should start talking about part of Ekholm’s great play since the trade is that fact that he gets to play with an elite talent like Bouchard. I’m not saying that Bouchard isn’t helped by Ekholm, he is, but I think that 100% goes both way.
I have time for Nurse/Bouchard but I also have time for each of Nurse, Bouchard and Ekholm to anchor three separate pairings – that might be a reach though.
Obviously both players compliment each other no way I split these two up. We are seeing in real time Bouchard learning the tricks of the trade from his mentor Ekholm. I believe Nurse needs a rock as a partner let Nurse freewheel with the most talented group of forwards since the mid eighties his confidence will bounce back. I believe they have targeted this rock in Emberson with stecher as back-up if Ty isn’t up to it. We have enough stop gaps and cap for now if all else fails we trade for him.
If Bouchard hasn’t learned the tricks of the trade playing with Ekholm by now he is a slow learner. 🥸
For me the argument goes differently.
Ekholm’s ability to teach young dmen how to play the game properly and to their strengths is one of his most important assets for a team.
Now that Bouchard has finished grad school it is time for him to be on his own and let Ekholm take on his next protege. I expect that to be Emberson fairly early into the season if not immediately. If he is not up to the task they make a move in the new year.
Just for the sake of trying to rehab Nurse’s game. Even if it’s just trying to prop up his value in case they can move him. Even if the cap goes up and makes the pain less, it’s still not a good cap contract per performance
Its tough to imagine any scenario where Nurse gets traded in-season. Fincing a team that wants/needs him and is able to take his cap hit (or most thereof) that Nurse is willing to go to in-season.
And then, of course, the gaping hole at LD given the next up is Ben Gleason.
For sure and it won’t be this season. But one should plan ahead!
agreed, however the stars may align in such a way that it’s beneficial to trade him for a 7 million forward, and trading said forward for a 6 million LD; not likely but I’m bored this pm
Sure, maybe, but I will keep coming back to Nurse raising a young family in Edmonton and has put up roots in the community with his wife and kids.
Maybe, MAYBE, there is one or two teams he’d be willing to waive for at some point – seems a long shot that the Oilers would be able to structure a deal with that team (or teams).
I was thinking about Gleason earlier.
You watch the Condors lots.
You want to see Kemp get a legitimate chance at 6/7D, and you think that he might be able to actually take/hold the job if given the chance (I believe that’s a fair assessment – correct me if I’m wrong).
But you’ve also mentioned the chasm between Kulak and Gleason on LD, and that a LHD PTO would make sense. Which leads me to believe you rate Kemp > Gleason.
My question is where and why do you see a gap between Kemp and Gleason? Gleason is less than a year older than Kemp. He can play both sides (played RD with Broberg most of the season IIRC). He had a very solid Oilers camp last year. He also got a call-up by the Oilers last year, though he played 2 minutes less than Kemp.
Do you think Kemp is a better AHL player than Gleason? Or that his game would translate to the NHL better?
Fair question and point.
What Kemp has, that Gleason doesn’t, is a “definable skill”.
Gleason is a very solid 2-way d-man at the AHL level but he doesn’t excel in any area. He could possibly fill in at 3LD for a few games here and there and not hurt the team in 7-9 minutes.
Kemp has a high end skill – positional defending and angles and defending in general – he is a very smart defensive player and, if he can skate well enough to provide that skill at the NHL level, he could be a very solid and valuable defensive d-man that helps teams win – not just a tweener.
Could.
Cool, thanks for the reply and opinion.
Bouchard was a lost puppy and the mob was restless when we were 2-7-1. It wasn’t until Coffey settled things down and Ekholm game back from injury before Bouchard stock went magnificent. I now see Bouchard on the proper side of his man in front as well as learning how to tie up the man without a penalty. Bouchard still has a lot to learn defensively and if he adds some bark which I believe he has it in him we are talking Norris. You don’t split up Huddy and Coffey or Bouchard and Ekholm. We could get 4 more tasty years out of this pairing.
Time to let him find his own way Reja. It’s a long season and they can always re-unite them later on if it isn’t working. If Bouchard can’t play without Ekholm as you are intimating he isn’t the $10M contract that is being talked about.
Huddy and Coffey weren’t grizzled veteran and raw rookie. They were complementary more so than mentor/student. The analogy doesn’t hold.
Time to leave the nest.
Not to mention that Bouchard has already shown that he can play without Ekholm – the sample needs to grow but its not tiny.
They’re 2 years apart. I think it’s more about playing the best players. Slats started them out with some vet help, but as soon as the youth played better, that’s who played
It’s different if it’s a raw rookie, but if a guy has played in the A, the lack of experience is offset by having the potential to impact the game more in a positive way. The coaches eventually thought Broberg’s wobbles were more helpful than the more experienced Ceci and Des
Coffey will not pair Nurse with Bouchard. The 5 man unit with McDavid is like no other reminds me of the CCCP 5-man unit that Tikhonov deployed. Tikhonov didn’t split them up and neither will Coffey.
Bouchard is an above average talent, but he’s no Paul Coffey
Ekholm came back from injury after one game.
I should of said up to speed.
At the time of the coaching change Bouchard:
1) Had 12 points in 13 games.
2) Had a goal share of over 56% to lead the d-group (second was Nurse at 40%)
3) His team leading goal share was bad luck as his expected goal share was 69%.
Bouchard had a couple of those highly visible turnovers that led to goals against in the first month last season but was elite and play driving from the start.
Bouchard made a couple of huge gaffes he looked like a Doe in the headlights. Whatever style Woody deployed made Bouchard look like a scared 18 year-old. As painful as it is if you go back and watch the first 10 games you’ll see Bouchard as a mess. The growth of this player in the next 70 games was extraordinary I still don’t think he has hit his ceiling. 20-23 goals by Bouchard is on this years menu.
As I said, he made a couple highly visible mistakes that ended up in goals but they quantity was not high and, overall, he was a dominant d-man dwarfing the rest of the group.
He was far from a mess – a couple visible mistakes, that leave lasting memories, mixed in to otherwise elite play.
Results matter.
I’d like to see Nurse & Bouchard paired because I think it could help Nurse get going. In my mind Nurse has something to prove. That would leave Ekholm to mentor Emberson, there’s the top four. Kulak would anchor the third pair with multiple options on the right side
Nurse is easily a 20 goal scorer if you count own goals
This is a very important paragraph. Matt Benning was an excellent 3RD that always had great on-ice analytics, however, he has never able to even tread water when moved up to 2RD.
We saw some of that with Vinny last season, simply not as effective when moved up the lineup with increased icetime and quality of comp.
The sample size on Emberson is very small but I do believe there was quite a bit of top 4 time judging by his TOI vs. elites and TOI with Ferarro.
That’s totally untrue.
Benning played a bit more than 700 minutes with Klefbom as his partner in his first 3 seasons. That would be the majority of Benning’s minutes as 2RD.
With the Klefbom-Benning pair on ice the Oilers had 53%SF, 51%GF and 52%xGF. The team was under 50% in all cases with that pair off the ice those 3 seasons.
Ethan Bear is probably a significant reason that Benning wasn’t qualified by the Oilers for 20/21. Benning’s QO was $2 million, the amount they ended up paying to Bear who had played most of 19/20 with Nurse. Plus Benning had had a lot of concussion issues.
Benning has been more consistent than Bear since. When healthy, he has been San Jose’s second pair right d for during the last 2 seasons. In 2022/23 he played the second most amount of time against elites on the Sharks D behind only Karlsson and had a 18/16 GF/GA.
It’s surprising how some vanilla D mature and carve out a career while other D who looked to have upside hit a plateau at a young age then go downhill and are washed out of the league by 28
True and I’ll add injuries as factors for players like Benning and Bear.
We don’t know until they enter the NHLPA program, but many players still have off ice issue that are pretty hard to get away with nowadays given how fit players need to be
Back in the day they even drank beer during intermissions
Some of the accounts from players of what they went through on a nightly basis to play are hard to think about.
Slater Koekkoek comes to mind – his interview with Gazdick on his pod was an all-timer (and noone can have anything but full respect for Colin Chaulk, and the way Slater talks about him, after having listened to it).
Most players grow up with hockey being in their system 100% of the time with the fame and fortune. He can be a hard transition leaving the game they love.
Sure, but I’m talking about players dealing with various daemons and ailments while playing the game, not transitioning out.
The Souray stories were revealing how nasty and at times bizarre the hockey world can be.
The masses often talk about the circumstances around losing Klefbom and Larsson within a few years of each other but I think its important to note the loss of Sekera in the group.
Sekera went from being a low end 1LD / elite 2LD, who was arguably the Oilers’ best d-man in the playoffs, full value for his $5.5MM (I think) contract, to a replacement level player (after an injury recovery) in an instant.
Sekera was never the same player after the Getzlaf hit. He turned from a important top 4 d-man on a good contract to an anchor contract that needed to be bought out.
That loss is right up there with the Swedes, to me.
I agree with Sunil’s and your assessment on Giordano. By the numbers, it is a good bet in a sheltered situation for a cheap veteran PK D-man who can help.
Emotionally, I can understand that some fans can’t forgive Giordano for injuring McDavid. Some might liken offering Gio a PTO similar to the trade for Brandon Manning. I feel the difference would be, if you asked McDavid if he would be okay with Gio joining the team, he would say yes, because he knows that Gio can help the team win the Cup and he respects the old warrior from past battles. This isn’t a given that Gio makes the team via PTO. He has to win the spot in camp by proving he can still help. McDavid “accepted” the fait accompli trade for Manning but the idiotic management decision made the team worse and caused unnecessary bad karma in the McDavid camp.
I disliked Corey Perry and Evander Kane for their reputations and actions before they got to the Oilers. I didn’t mind giving them the opportunity to redeem themselves and contribute to helping the team win. I would have been lightning fast to call for their removals if they stepped one inch out of line. SO far, both have done everything they were asked of, to be positive contributing members of the team and to the community.
As LT says, it’s still a dirty league with dirty players. I want us to win and I’ll take Gio if he can help by walking that fine line between filthy and illegal at a dirt cheap price. As Sunil concluded, cap implications mean we need to squeeze out every bit of value from anywhere on the roster that we can.
So many strong opinions on Gio and his character, mostly based off of the premise of intentionally trying to hurt McDavid which I don’t buy at all.
What I do know is that I’ve heard MSM (one who works with LT), who do know the person off the ice and have dealt with him for years, talk about him as being one of the best characters players in the game and a top notch teammate.
What do you think is the reason he didn’t even play a playoff game last year? His speed and abilities can’t have gotten better since then.
We are still talking about Gio? Since there is commentary on the Oilers needing Gio for the PK then those same commentators must be thinking that Gio will be an every day player for the Oilers. So, where are these proponents talking about playing Gio. 3RD? 2RD? He certainly won’t supplant Nurse or Ceci on LD. If those commentators are actually meaning 7/8D for Gio then I don’t see the relevance of his PK ability. No player can help the PK while sitting in the press box for 70 games.
As someone previously said, if Gio is required, if his PK ability is required then the D is in worse shape than previously thought. I fail to see how Gio is a solution to anything, but if it is then the planning that led us here needs to be questioned.
I think you meant Nurse and Kulak, no? Ceci found his way to San Jose…
Yes, Nurse & Kulak. Thanks
I don’t buy the Gio rumours. His agent was upset that Calgary didn’t want him back(to be traded at the deadline) and I think he just used the Oilers to put some more pressure on the Flames.
I’m actually a little surprised the Flames didn’t sign him – he could be a decent deadline piece for a contending team for some depth. But maybe Conroy just doesn’t want to go through trading him off the team.
if it’s not the Flames in Alberta I don’t see Gio playing for the Oilers.
I honestly could care less about the numbers. That rat bastard does not deserve to be anywhere near a Stanley Cup, never mind McDavid. You can keep throwing the numbers, it is moot.
So you care a little bit?
https://youtu.be/8Gv0H-vPoDc?si=sjI8r4kJrcndusIv
Haha, hilarious. Also often guilty of word crimes
Would it surprise me if the Oilers gave Giordano a PTO? No.
Do I think they should? A qualified no. He has really slowed down (a lot of good numbers posted here yesterday) and I have visions of Ryan Suter in last year’s playoff’s being passed like a pylon in a windstorm. Yes, he can PK, but when the season matters most, I think he’ll be useless.
Giordano is a lefty, it doesn’t impact Kemp (who play’s on the right hand side) so my hope is that he would not impact him during camp/pre-season – and that’s who the Oilers need to see a lot of this fall in addition to Emberson, Brown and Stetcher.
I would REALLY be upset with a Schultz or Shattenkirk signing. Both are well past their good thru dates and we need to see what we have behind Bouchard unless you see someone who is a clear upgrade – of which none of those names (or Tyson Barrie) was.
It’s about asset management.
Oh, I think it will impact Kemp as I would think, a Gio PTO would be on the premise of seeing if he could fill some RD minutes, 2RD and PK minutes.
Kemp needs a real shot or he’s gone. He’ll be a group VI UFA after this season and would imagine he moves on.
I realize they lost size and presence in Vinny (although not real toughness, he wasn’t that “tough”, except the double headlock) and Brown was the response to that but damn, Brown’s ceiling is known, and its low, Kemp’s ceiling is not known.
I want a Gio or Shattenkirk invite because if they win a spot that means we need a trade stat.
LT there’s too many round letters in ‘Giordano’ to mash into square holes. Brown can handle the Gryba role until something better becomes available. Now go stand in the hallway by yourself. Will I be surprised if you’re right and he’s signed this weekend, not at all.
At least they use analytics now. maybe MP finds a way out for us who can’t stomach the idea. We have had to stomach enough for one season. I also don’t think Gio will be that good, he’s in steep decline and is a year older
The Leafs run funny numbers, look great reg season, score lots, lose in playoffs, where Gio didn’t see a game. I think his stats are floated by the Leafs forwards. 22/23 he was 2nd in reg season TOI, great stats. 23/24 he was 6th in TOI and his usage dropped heavily in D zone starts. Stick a fork in him
I immediately lost all respect for Getzlaf after what he did to Sekera. Hockey is rough, still no room for dirty, the replays to me looked like he was going after Sekera’s leg. Actually I hope Ovi can’t get to Wayne’s record for the same reason. He should have been suspended multiple times as a younger player. He was the worst head hunter in the league for at least a few years, very late dirty blindside hits his specialty. Blatant attempts to destroy players that isn’t the same thing as landing a clean hard hit
I think the team is looking for a player that could potentially play some 2RD minutes, not the Gryba role. I guess Gio (based on last year’s deployment) and Deangelo (based on being able to push offence) are they only real legit options at this point. Shattenkirk has never played tough enough minutes to think he could handle that role at this stage.
Right now its Emberson and Stecher competing for 2RD – no sure things.
I’m not sure Deangelo gets a PTO anywhere; he’s not apparently a team guy
From many accounts, he was very much liked in the Carolina room – apparently.
Agreed