And so it begins. If you are looking for comments on the young players scheduled to play one or more of the three games scheduled in Penticton, yesterday’s article here at Lowetide will fill you in. The names I’ll be watching? Matt Savoie, Sam O’Reilly, Beau Akey, Max Wanner, Jesse Heslop and Connor Ungar. I’m hopeful you will fill the comments section with your takes, this is a village of people who share opinions and it’s been working for over 20 years. This trip to Penticton may not have the marquee moon appeal of the past, but development is vital for this team. Someone has to emerge from this group, perhaps someone will announce his presence over the weekend.
EDMONTON OILERS CERTAIN (18) AND UNCERTAIN (15)
As you can see, injuries and age look to be the major issues facing this roster. I have 18 ‘certain’ Oilers and would run Evander Kane and Corey Perry as certainties if there were no worries about health. I do have Darnell Nurse as making the opening night roster, despite news of a malady he’s dealing with at this time.
A quick note on the list. These are neither depth charts nore suggestions of lines and pairings. They are the names as the occurred to me in my brain. I could have changed them, but every year someone says ‘I don’t agree with the lines you posted’ and there isn’t much I can do about it. So I left the list as is, you may tweak lines and depth charts as you wish.
Some areas that could change in the next few weeks? Vasily Podkolzin could open the season on the third line, fourth line or the bench. Corey Perry should be fourth line, but I want to make sure he’s completely ready before elevating him. I have his name in bold, at the ready, but want to hold back the water for a few hours. That No. 4 center job is wide open, suspect we’ll see plenty of Derek Ryan, Lane Pederson and Noah Philp in preseason. I believe there’s a chance an NHL forward starts the season on IR, in the minors or is waived. Raphael Lavoie and Roby Jarventie are players of great interest on the wings.
On defense, the health of Nurse and the performance of Travis Dermott will be key story lines through the rest of September and into October. We’ll all want to see Ty Emberson perform, and wonder about the defensive pairings that will be employed by the coaching staff in the early days of camp. Among the defensemen outside the roster at this time, Dermott and Josh Brown are the most likely to make the team based on how things currently stand. In goal, we’re uncertain of only the pecking order for Bakersfield. The NHL depth chart is set.
EDMONTON OILERS DISTANT BELLS (11)
There will be additions to this list coming out of rookie camp, and we could see additional PTOs that don’t look promising enough for the uncertain pile. From this list, I do think that Max Wanner is a player to watch. It’s far too early for him to make an opening night roster, I think he’s on the Ethan Bear train and will be ready a year from now. However, a strong camp may change minds.
I’ll add the kids from the Penticton tournament who are invited, but this is the Edmonton Oilers at this time. There are 44 men for 21-23 jobs. It’s always a fun ride to opening night.
A busy Friday show, Lowdown hits noon to 2pm on Sports 1440. We’ll talk to Steve Lansky about the Oilers season to come, Tyler Yaremchuk from Daily Faceoff about roster construction and battles, and Declan Krueger will have Declanations at 12:40. I’m at Lowetide on twitter, in the comments section here and on the Sports 1440 text line at 1.833.401.1440 directly.
New for The Athletic: How the Oilers are procuring amateur talent in an effort to catch up in the prospect race.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5762450/2024/09/13/edmonton-oilers-prospects-stefan-savoie/
oops … wrong article.
Pretty good 1st period, score is even @ 0… some nice passing, guys going to the net, defence is strong so far, no real standouts yet, but no blunderous play either. Day looks solid in our net.
Props to the Canuck broadcast crew, not overly homey and they have pretty good knowledge about our guys.
Will be looking for a more substantial offensive effort tomorrow night against the Flames (spits). Not a bad effort but our group is under-cooked and still needs work. It’s early in this tourney and I’d bet we’ll see marked improvement thru these games, after building some team familiarity. Fingers crossed.
Fun to be watching hockey again, that memorable game 7 feels like it was yesterday, still a bit raw. Wanna thank Canuck (spits again) dot-com for providing the free broadcast. Cheers.
From what I could tell watching on my MacBook Air’s 11″ screen Day, Wanner and Grubbe were the Oilers best players.
Savoie plays much too skilled and fast a game for the guys he was on the ice with. Kept making sneaky smart give and go passes that never got back to him. He needs somebody who thinks the game as fast as he does in order to show his stuff.
Watching on a 75 inch screen, Savoie was hardly engaged and almost invisible.
Day was excellent while Wanner was noticeable throughout the Lekkermaki show.
Cant imagine what the HD scoring chances were but Globetrotters come to mind.
I have only been able to watch in small chunks due to company, but I feel encouraged by moments from Wanner, Lavoie, Wakey and Nichol, as well as Savoie. Day in net is doing well also.
Thoughts from the initial period.
The oilers prospects look overmatched which is not a surprise considering how many are invites.
Wanner skating and mobility is much more solid than I remember. Some nice defensive plays but his passing and puck handling needs work. Reminds me a bit of vinny.
Savoie. His skating is quite good, he does not play small at all and does not shy away from board battles. He definitely looks to make plays which is +++ in my books.
Orielly looks young and inexperienced but is playing responsible.
Burglundy with several nice opportunities.
Petrov is definitely looking for opportunity to get his shot off. Not noticeable otherwise.
Marelli is an intriguing look, needs to improve his skating and he threw several grenades over to wanner.
Lajoie is huge and likes to join the rush and get very deep in zone. More physical than I expected.
Looks like the Oilers haven’t touched a puck all summer.
Heading over to the game right away… just as soon as we’re done taking in the local breweries.
Looking forward to the report, on the game and breweries. Enjoy!
Not much to add. Everyone looked fairly out of sync. Sat next to O’Reilly’s aunt. Chatted a bit but didn’t want be too annoying. Could see Bowman and Knobloch but couldn’t recognize anyone else up there.
Chaulk confirmed earlier today that Akey won’t play in the tournament. He has practiced fully and is taking contact and is scheduled to start the season in full for Barrie.
Here is hoping that he is a full on ice participant during main camp.
Mark Spector
@SportsnetSpec
Will we ever hear what the delay has been about?
Friedman said back in August that the delay (at least the initial delay) was about determining which surgeon they want to perform it and then fitting it in to his “summer schedule”.
Friedman also said all of that was sorted about a month ago.
I wonder if there has been an intentional delay in the name of managing Kane’s load this season.
Remember he signed his first contract with the Oilers in January and was straight fire for the rest of that regular season and playoffs.
Perhaps they are hoping for an early 2025 return giving him enough time to get his game back up to speed and be somewhat fresh (compared to the rest of the league) for the playoffs?
So Kane will be out anywhere from 2 to 5 months. Help me out with this. If they put Kane on LTIR, that shaves his cap off the books, and they could add a player with a similar cap hit. The issue is when Kane gets healthy they would have to move someone out to become cap complient.
With Kane on LTIR they wouldnt be able to acrue cap space over the season.
So do the Oilers put Kane on IR and acrue cap space over the season which allows them to grab a players (s) at the dealine?
Or if they know he will be out for the whole season, put him on LTIR?
Whatever is going on neither Kane or the team have made any effort to clear it up and the media has been strangely uninterested in the subject.
I’ve written on it several times, and the nature of the reporting over the summer suggested this would be a possible result. I don’t remember the name of the podcast Mr. Staples quoted, but that podcast took a lot of heat. So, I think it WAS covered, certainly by me, and there was reporting although not necessarily from traditional sources. That often happens in summer when the hockey world is at the lake.
I guess I wasn’t completely clear. To me there has never been a definitive statement by Kane or the team on the precise nature of of the injury/injuries. And I guess what I was getting at is why Rishaug, Spector etc. who attend press conferences with management have never shown much interest in digging in to explain clearly why this has dragged on for so long.
I do not believe for one minute there was no surgeon more than capable of performing this operation earlier in the summer.
I understand. The story early was Kane wanted to heal and rehab, but I’ve always been suspicious that this thing was going to be extended because the club wanted to have some room to wheel under the cap. As it turns out, the team may not use it, but at least one of the two sides (player or team) wanted to delay. Maybe both. If true, they sure as hell aren’t going to tell the media. Your point is taken of course, the media could have pushed the issue (and perhaps they did away from the public media avails). I’ve felt for some time this was going to the way forward.
Thanks. I guess I was somewhat surprised that when the offer sheets came that there wasn’t more push from the beat writers on Kane’s situation as they worked their way through the options.
Bowman spoke at length about the Kane situation on the day of the presser – maybe it was a nothing answer (talked about Kane still determining what path he was going to take and that it was Kane’s decision, talked about how LTIR would work with no accrual and needing the space when activated, etc.).
The media asked and the GM answered – the answer didn’t have much info but what are they supposed to do?
Bombard him with follow ups, essentially calling out Bowman for knowing more than he was willing to say?
That’s about right (although I don’t think we know anything about timeline – it could be less than 2 months).
Yeah, thanks. I remember what Friedman said but I think we both know that for a high profile professional athlete that sounds awfully suspicious.
And not that I am any kind of medical savant but sports hernia doesn’t really set off any alarm bells concerning a shortage of competent surgeons who could perform such an operation.
As you say there seems to be something else going on but what it is is not clear to me.
We’ll probably just need to wait and see. And even then it’s likely we won’t be told the truth directly.
Yup. 16 team trade list as of February 28, 2025. Not saying he will be moved but it is a date that could offer clarity as to how the team feels about this.
Yes. And LTIR on that date might also offer some clarity.
That would be an awful outcome though – all that accrued cap space prior to LTIR placement wasted….
Regarding Corey Perry and the discussion from earlier today.
I don’t doubt that he’ll miss games and don’t expect him to play every night.
Looking though, I believe he played 54 of 54 regular season games that he was eligible to last season. The time he missed he was without a contract after whatever happened in Chicago.
In those 54 games he scored 12-10-22 (per 82 18-15-33) and was 50% in GF across the two teams (also about 50% in all the fancies).
He was much less productive in the playoffs, and he’s a year older, but I’m not convinced that’s he’s already passed on into the next world. Certainly last regular season he was not yet fully cooked.
Time will tell, obviously.
It’s just he really isn’t a fourth line player and on this team that is where he will be deployed. Although I wouldn’t mind seeing him play some minutes with McDavid & Hyman.
I dunno.
He played 11:41 per game at 5v5 with the Oilers last season. That’s the most 5v5 TOI/game he’s played for any team since 18-19 with the Ducks (that’s before Ken Holland joined the Oilers!).
So he’s been mostly a 4th line player for the last 5 seasons. And his teams have lost in the Cup Finals 4 of those 5 years.
Doesn’t seem like ‘he isn’t a 4th line player’ is accurate or meaningful.
That’s how I see it. I think though you have to deploy him correctly. Which actually has always been the case because he has always been slow. For example he may be better with Drai than Connor because Drai’s is a possession game, if he was in the top 6 for whatever reason
Perry is too slow to play on the top two lines. And I don’t have any stats to back it up, but he seems poor defensively
To pick a nit… you didn’t mention Akey. Shouldn’t he b listed with the distant bells at this time?
No. The only Penticton names who are on my lists are the ones who are guaranteed to make the Condors.
After the Penticton camp, the team will invite several to main camp and I will add them.
Akey probably makes it, with (inj) next to his name on the distant bell list.
Got it. Thanks!
As expected, Akey not playing (nor is Stonehouse who is also recovering from injury):
Clattenburg/O’Riley/Savoie
Petrov/Wakely/Sefan
Nicholl/Grubbe/DeJong
Heslop/Berglund/Beohm
Marrelli/Wanner
Davidson/Lajoie
Cerbet/Pederson
Day
Ungar
Marrelli getting that spot is exciting, I’m hopeful they sign him like Stonehouse.
That top line could be a load in this tournament.
A little disappointed to not see Petrov get that 1LW spot next to O’Reily and Savoie.
They probably told Clattenburg not to let anyone mess with Matthew Savoie.
The Petrov line ought to be a strong one in its own right. Petrov is the one among the trio who put up the least points in a CHL season (Wakely 104, Stefan 101, Petrov 93).
But also the one with the year in the AHL already. I know, it is only one game.
100%. I’m just optimistic that (one game) 2nd line can be a good one as well.
True but I would not that Stefan did that during his 20 year old season. I generally don’t put much in to scoring spikes by overagers in junior.
Can’t wait to get a first look at Connor Clattenburg #64 on the program.
I presume he’ll be extremely physical tonight.
Steven Ellis on the ON pod with Tyler said the other day he was very fun to watch with his physicality last yr at the Sens rookie tourney.
I’m legit expecting WJC Tootoo out there tonight.
That’s good. Right?
This is a massive year for the Oilers prospect pool. One look at puckpedia and next year only has 10 million available. With Bouchard likely to take the lions share of that capspace, there will be room for many cheap contracts to fill spots. The cap will rise as well but not enough to add much I’d think.
Some of the names I’m really curious about:
in leagues I don’t watch. Guys like Berezkin in Russia, and Muzenburger, Lachance and Copponi in College. I mainly rely on this blog for scouting reports/stats. (Thank you)
In bako, the of 21 year olds Wanner, Grubbe, Petrov, and Stefan could really get themselves in the picture with big years.
I’ve left out the top guys but I’m curious to the groups thoughts on the players above.
Who could play NHL minutes in 25-26?
That doesn’t include the projected 5% raise in the salary cap – that’s based off a cap of $88MM.
Philp, Savoie and Wanner are likely options for next season and perhaps Berezkin as well.
If Lavoie doesn’t make the team correct me if I’m wrong but we’re basically down to Akey and Wanner that finds a spot on the big club that has Wrights fingerprints on. As far as I can see Wrighr hit on Larkin and Hronek
I think he hit on Mantha and Betuzzi as well but wholly smokes he passed up a lot of allstars for duds along the way
Funny to hammer Wright for this immediately after Jackson traded/walked Wright’s two highest draft picks (Holloway and Bourgault).
Wright hadn’t joined the organization yet when Lavoie or Broberg were drafted. He was still in Detroit where they drafted Seider.
So yeah, Seider, Hronek and Larkin would be his biggest hits from Detroit.
He also drafted Wennberg, Bjorkstrand, Josh Anderson and Korpisalo in 2 years as head of scouting for Columbus.
There are various players that are peculating.
Berezkin has a real shot.
LaChance has nothing but solid up arrow.
Philp was signed by Holland (twice) and likely plays NHL games this season
Grubbe was acquired by Holland – he has a shot down the road.
Petrov is only going in to his second year pro.
Is there a way or alternative place (for us cheapo’s) to watch the game tonight without paying for Oilers+?
The Canucks and Flames will be streaming their games for free on their websites.
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/watch-canucks-oilers-flames-young-stars
Cheers.
Where and who to watch.
https://canucksarmy.com/news/how-who-watch-canucks-vs-oilers-young-stars-classic
Its been mentioned that its on the regular site of the other teams but I would throw out that Oilers Plus is FANTASTIC – if nothing else, for its “behind the scenes” coverage.
The Canucks have 3 individuals providing “behind the scenes” content but they don’t charge extra for it.
https://www.nhl.com/canucks/news/canucks-hire-new-rinkside-reporter
Ya, that isn’t even close to what Oilers Plus does but you do you.
So, Sports 1440 couldn’t spring for you to do some shows from a pub in Penticton this weekend?
Honestly, i wouldn’t have time if they offered. Between the writing and the radio and the house and the dog and the kids, I barely have time to get everything done day-to-day. I need to mow my back lawn SO much. 🙂
But think how much you would love it! Besides, letting grass grow until it seeds can be good once in a while. (At least, that’s what I tell myself.)
Give is a week or two and it will all turn white until next May anyway.
This kid is indeed coming although I’m starting to get a feeling that Keith Gretzky isn’t his hugest fan. Whenever Wanner is brought up when Keith is on with Stauff or Gregor, while he does start with praising him, he is also very quick to point out that he’s got lots of development to do and isn’t close to ready.
I’ve mentioned a spot earlier this year where he used the word “raw” like 3-5 times when talking about Wanner. Last night, he quickly chose to say “he’s get some deficiencies” to work on – leaning forward, being stronger down low, etc., etc.
Maybe he’s just making sure that the general fan knows that its going to be some time but its starting to sound a bit like he makes a point of bringing up the negative in Wanner’s game.
I might just be making something out of nothing here.
OP, I don’t think you are making something out of nothing. I heard it the same as you and it concerned me. I wonder if it’s more about keeping Wanner himself from thinking he’s already there. The narrative last year was maybe over hyped and hes trying to reel it in a bit.
Thanks for the response.
Gretzky is always a bit more “honest” with his analysis of the prospect in the media (as opposed to Chaulk, or Woody before him or Pracey) but its seems notable every time with Wanner.
I think the 4RW job should be Podz with Lavoie as 3LW and Perry out of the lineup, to start, but fully acknowledge that Perry is almost assuredly in that lineup and Lavoie out.
Agree that it should be wide open but also don’t see them moving off Ryan to start the season unless the next 3 weeks show that he’s, well, done. I don’t like Pederson in that spot. I was VERY happy with Pederson as a Condor last season, he was/is more skilled than I thought and a high end offensive player at the AHL level. At the same time, he’s a tweener in the NHL and I don’t think he fits the 4C position. Yes, he did some depth PK for the Condors but I don’t see that as something he’ll do at the NHL level. He’s OK as a 2-way player at the AHL level but, at the end of the day, he’s an offensive player and I think this team needs a focused defensive or 2-way center – Ryan or, when ready, Philp!
I think that 3LW beside Henrique would be the perfect spot for Lavoie. I think that 3LW is wide open as Janmark should be locked at 4LW (although Knob has talked about “that line”). I don’t see him starting the season there.
Jarventie is one of the players I’m looking to watch the most in exhibition – to get a better sense of his game. If his knee is a non-issue, given his performance over the last two season in the AHL, I can see him impact the middle of this lineup at some point – first things first, watch the guy play!
Podkolzin being freed and wanted by another organization is his new lease. If he shows a heartbeat it’s his job to lose unfortunately Lavoie is stuck in no man’s land and will end up down East.
Is this a new idea of yours Reja?
Sorry, couldn’t resist. 😎
Hey, hockey is back.
It’s a great day.
I believe Lavoie only chance is with another organization by being buried he was sewered the same way Podkolzon was in Vancouver. Vasily and the Canuck organization knew he wasn’t getting a job under Tocchet. It’s beyond me why they would trade him to their main rival he has the pedigree and can still pop at 23. I would like to go a measly $100 to charity that Vasily straight up scores more goals in the next 2 years than Mr.Hollywood in St.Louis.
If Lavoie can’t make the team that has a gaping opening at 3LW with Holloway gone and Kane injured, well, the league will likely let him slide right through waivers as they did a year ago.
Nuge Skinner Janmark Podkolzin are LS. Pod has 137 NHL games to Ralph’s 7. The only guys I see getting bumped in TC are Ryan and Perry because age. If Pod took Perry’s spot there’s a LW open
Nuge and Skinner are the top 6 left wings and Janmark should be a 4LW.
The last LW spot, which should be the 3LW should be an open competition. You think its gifted to Podz (who is a RW) and he likely has a spot in pencil but that is a player that was in the AHL for most of last year.
There is 100% a roster spot available for Lavoie if he earns it with his play.
I think Lavoie has a big hill to climb getting the better of Pod. Because of NHL games played. Actually any of the young forwards at wing. Pod is listed as RW but they would use him where the spot is. He also played a full NHL season draft +2, 10OV pick, the change could revitalize him there’s talent there. We’ll see
I don’t doubt that Podz is ahead of Lavoie on the depth chart right now but that is based on pedigree and fantasy of the fresh start more than merit of play that last few years. Nothing in their AHL seasons from last year would put Podz ahead of Lavoie.
Bowman likes the Russian. Lavoie is on Island. If Vasily is physical and I expect him to be shot out of a cannon with his new team as well as just married my magic ball is telling me he might even be the match for Leon with Arvidsson on the 3rd line with Henrique and Skinner switching places with the Nuge.
What is this based on? I believe you just made this up completely an thoroughly. I don’t think the three Cup winning teams had a single Russian on any of them. Anisimov played a bit during Bowman’s tenure and Panarin (who Bowman traded away).
Did you just make this up for some reason?
Not suggesting that Lavoie doesn’t have a chance at the spot, but ‘gaping opening’ is a bit much.
Janmark had a down offensive season but is12-17-29 per 82 games for his NHL career, and Podkolzin is a top 10 pick who’s already had a 12-14-26 season in the NHL.
Janmark, a player with 12 points last season and is on the backside of his career (a bit) and Podkolzin, a player that spent the better part of the last two seasons in the AHL and was just traded for a 4th round pick because he was not going to make his drafted team again.
In my opinion, there is a absolutely a spot there to win with if earned at camp – those are not insurmountable blocks by any stretch – or shouldn’t be.
I didn’t say the blocks are insurmountable. Not at all.
I agree Lavoie should, and I think will, have a legitimate chance to grab a spot on the 3rd or 4th line.
But what you initially said – ‘gaping opening at 3LW’ – and the present – ‘not insurmountable blocks’ – are not close to the same thing.
I consider it a gaping opening because there neither of the competitors for it have really done anything close to solidifying.
No doubt Janny is an NHLer and on the team and in the lineup but we can likely all agree the team is better if there is a more “dynamic offensive player” that wins the 3LW position ahead of him and the other hasn’t shown to be an NHL player the last couple of seasons.
This isn’t like Holloway trying to beat out Skinner or Arvidsson for a top 6 winger spot, right?
To me a lot of this depends on the progress of Jarventie, Savoie, Philp, Podkolzin & Lavoie.
The team really needs at least two of those five to be positives on this team by the trade deadline in order to be able to survive the rigours of a long playoff run.
I am a broken record on what I think of the hodgepodge we are likely to call a fourth line if Ryan is required to play 4C. It just doesn’t have any coherence to it imo.
On the other hand if the third line with Henrique as 3C has an offensive bias because of a couple of these youngsters progressing all of a sudden a Philp centred 4th line looks more than league average.
And then, of course, there is the Kane situation which hopefully has some clarity sooner rather than later.
I think we will see the Henrique line from last year w Janmark and Brown. They had great chemistry and coach may keep them together as a unit.
I personally hope we see Lavoie get some reps until he’s demoted, replaced by kane or another rookie eats his lunch. After all this time a 20 game run on the 4th line seems like the least that should happen.
Makes me wonder how Philp – Lavoie – Podkolzin would fare for 10 minutes a night plus pk.
I agree that we will see this line together at times and likely even to start and the coach has even alluded to that.
At the same time, I think it would be foolish to think that they will have even close to the same effectiveness in the regular season.
From my eye, the success of that line was based on being dogged on every puck and pressuring up ice on every play – essentially a style that i don’t think is sustainable across a full NHL season.
No doubt they will see time together and no doubt they will spend time apart.
For me, Janmark is a 4th line winger and Henrique is a 3C or middle six forward and Lavoie is more suited to a 3rd line a 2-way line.
Lavoie/Philp/Podz would be a line made up of, as of now, three tweeners who have played a combined 7:14 seconds on the PK in their NHL career (all Podz).
What you’re asking is in that sort of range, is it not?
An about to be 24 year old with a 7-0-0-0 career stat line being the more dynamic offensive player and beating out the career 3rd liner for a spot on the 3rd line?
Anyway, I hope it happens, and I do think Lavoie has quite a decent chance to make the team.
I just don’t think it would be a tremendous failure or gaping opening in the lineup if Janmark or Podkolzin were to end up as 3LW over Lavoie.
If we can’t agree that Lavoie is more of a “3rd line type player” and, at this stage of his career, Janmark is more of a “4th line type player” plus PK then we should probably just more on.
Although the coach may want to keep Janmark/Henrique/Brown together to start or until they lose their playoff momentum, I would consider it a failure by Lavoie or Podz if they can’t show enough skill/offence to push Janny down to the fourth line.
I will not be surprised if Podkolzin stands out at camp. He has the toolbox, and based on what I’ve read and heard, it sounds like he has a strong engine and works his tail off. If his lack of production the last couple of years was largely situational – some combination of coaching, linemates, bad puck luck, etc. – then maybe he can turn things around here. A lot of Canucks fans were unhappy with that trade, that can’t be a bad sign. Then again, none of us like to see our former 1st rounders fail…
I think I 100% agree with your list of certain and uncertain.
I think Perry is likely is “certain” but I’m not sure he should be.
Without further injury, there is room for one of Lavoie and Podz (or Savoie or Jarventie if one of them forces thing) presuming they run 22 player and not run 23 right under the cap (annihilating the amount of accrual).
I don’t imagine they would waive Perry out of camp but I also don’t think that his cap hit being the exact amount that can be fully buried is a coincidence – I think they are live to the idea, or possible need, of waiving him in-season.
Podz won’t be waived as he’s got name value and top 10 pedigree that gets him claimed. Lavoie is at risk of being waived and, hopefully, assigned.
I believe LT already has Pod as a certain Oiler. So, there’s for one or two of (Lavoie, Savoie, Philp or Jarventie)
Perry was waived in Montreal in the 20-21 season. I have been saying he wouldn’t be now, but he was that season and a big part of their run then, it may be ok with him. So it’s possible he plays in the A to keep in shape and is on the taxi squad. I can’t find if waived players are obligated to report, if not maybe he stays in Edmonton but would not be in game shape
So Pod Ryan and Perry are in a battle. We’ll see. But it seems like 12 F and Kane, 7 D is the plan
Played in 49 NHL games
Players that are re-assigned 100% have to report. I believe the rules provides that they need to take prompt steps to move to their re-assigned location.
He 100% would NOT be able to skate with the Oilers or attend any practices, meetings, etc.
Strange. Hockey DB shows Janmark going down for 4 games but not Perry in that year. I remember players being waived short term and not leaving town
The Canada-only division year had the 4 man taxi squad over and above the regular 23 man roster and not counted against the cap. This was due to travel restrictions. Perry would have been waived to go off the 23 man roster and on to the taxi squad but would have stayed in Montreal where he could be recalled. I believe someone waived to this taxi squad could still get claimed by another team. There were special practice provisions in place that season as well so that the taxi squad could still get on the ice.
Janmark’s waiver to the AHL was in 22/23 when the roster rules were back to normal.
Here is an article referencing Perry being waived to the Taxi-Squad and not to the AHL. Apparently it was a 6 man squad and not 4.
https://www.tsn.ca/corey-perry-ryan-poehling-among-five-on-habs-taxi-squad-1.1576172?tsn-amp
Makes sense, I forget about those days
If its just a paper transaction where a recall is imminent, they stretch the rules for sure but the rules specify.
Right
I can easily see them running 23 initially to give some of the 12/13/14 forwards and extended audition under fire before settling to a 22 man roster after 10-20 games or so for cap accrual reasons. Get good back bearings on them as a group before sommitting to an ongoing 22 man roster…. this, with Kane on regular IR….
Perhaps, that’s not out of the realm and reasonable, but I do think they’ll try and cut down right away unless they have some bumps/bruises or waiver concerns.
Yeah, injuries will happen. Can’t count on accruing cap at a later date. They need to get on it immediately and every time they’re able.
The Ethan Bear train arrived in Edmonton for 18 games in his 20-year-old season. Though the larger narrative is he spent all of the next season in the AHL & didn’t make it back to the bigs until his third professional (Draft +5) season. I assume that aligns with your expectation for Wanner?
I think he’ll play some games as early as this year, and then increase that total in the final year of entry. I do think he’ll be third pair right side in 2026-27.
I was a huge Bear fan. His outlet passing was incredible.
Woodguy once had a gif on his Twitter account of Bear threading an outlet pass between an opponent’s legs and hitting McDavid in full stride on the tape.
I mentioned yesterday that physicals are today but that is wrong, they are next Wed.
Gazolla said straight up on Two Guys yesterday that he has been told Kane is getting surgery.
Who is the 13th forward, assuming Kane is injured and Ryan makes it?
Raph Lavoie? James Hamblin? Matt Savoie?
Another injury pushes one of those fellows into the opening night lineup.
Savoie could make the opening day roster because of cap and his bonus. After game 1 I would think Savoie gets pounded with minutes in the A including PP-2 or even PP-1. If he’s knocking it out of the park after 25 to 40 games bring him up while he’s running hot . This could all change of course with injuries it’ll be interesting where they spot Savoie in the AHL to begin with whether it’s centre or wing.
That only applies for Savoie if they use LTIR regarding his bonuses
No, that is not a thing unless they are going to going in to LTIR at the time.
If they are do go in to LTIR, then Savoie needs to be on the roster at that time to set the bonus pool.
They have said straight up that Savoie will play center (at least to start) in the AHL but, at the same time, he’s on the wing tonight with a junior player as the center (O’Riley).
They can’t have 14 forwards if they want to accumulate cap space, because Kane will be IR not LTIR
I imagine given D is more up in the air they run 12 F (Kane counts as 13) and 7 D
They might want to go with 8 defensemen and 12 forwards.
I think it will depend on where the close battles are in camp amongst the bottom of roster forwards and D as individual groups. They could go 8D if they feel a stronger need after getting a read on the battles through camp if they intend to platoon the 6/7/8 D as an extended audition for the first few games to settler pecking order or, if the forward competition is more top of mind after camp, they go 7D (or even 6 for a short number of games) to get a better read on the 12/13/14 Fs.
Overall, it is a refreshing change from recent years that our most intense battles are on the bottom of the roster, rather than the middle or the top. I like this much better haha.
Not feasible if one of the forwards is Kane and he’s not able to play.
Even if he is on regular IR – that doesn’t help cap space.
I think it possible Ryan starts out either on IR or on the farm, if Pederson/Philp show well in camp. Ryan would be likely then used as injury cover from the farm and fill a mentor role in the AHL in his time down there.
Why would Ryan be expected to end up on IR? No indication he is coming to camp with any health issues. Being the 13th forward or being waived to the AHL are more likely outcomes that don’t have him in the game line up at the start of the season.
Among the worst Cap outcomes for the Oilers when camp is over having a player they wouldn’t have had on their opening roster (22 or 23 man) but having them go on IR instead of sending them down.
A player who gets injured at an NHL camp has to stay on the NHL roster until they are cleared to play. Unless the injury is severe enough that they will be unable to play for 10 games and 24 days, they can’t be placed on LTIR. Their salary counts against the cap. The roster can go above 23 for players on IR but all will count against the cap.
This can severely limit a team close to the cap, which I believe hurt the Oilers last season with Niemelainen being in IR and using up cap space.
They have planned for Kane likely being on IR to start the season, but wouldn’t want anyone else there.
Is Ryan hurt? I haven’t heard anything.
Even if he was, putting him on IR does not help add another to the roster via the cap – only if he’s on LTIR which is a min of 24 days AND 10 games missed.
I do think he is vulnerable to waivers but I don’t think that will be right off the bat unless Philp has a great camp as they’ll want a right shot center and I don’t see Pederson being that guy (and it won’t be Grubbe or Savoie).
Podkozin.
If Kane is not playing, but not on LTIR, they will likely carry 22 players with Kane being the 13th forward.
Is there a health issue with Perry I’ve missed? Or is he just so old that we will always be worried about his health?
I think he got a contract. I don’t think he’s provably an NHL player due to speed worries. Hope I’m wrong.
Fair enough. Just thought I might have missed mention of a specific injury.
I guess you’ve never watched Perry play much before he landed in Edmonton LT. He’s always been that slow.
Post-game recovery at his age is the issue. He will need games off.
There was a reason back in 2003 in his draft year that he was taken 28th overall…speed not brains has always been his bain.
I think you mean bane, not bain. But point well taken.
I posit it is reasonable to assume Perry and Ryan are in their last year as NHL players, due to age and skill attrition. They can still be useful in limited roles for limited stretches of games, but they will be parked in the AHL to fulfill mentorship roles (and possibly get some consideration for appropriate post playing days roles as well). If the youth pressing behind them look ready to get their big league at bats, one or both will be on the farm and be used as cover for the youths from there to finish the year.
And so it begins! Although the shortest offseason in Oiler history (I believe), it sure felt long.
Makes me think of the decade of darkness days when the offseason (out of the playoffs to the start of the next season) was from mid-November until the next September.
Lots of drama / excitement this summer. I think that the Oilers are a better team now than the one that lost in Game 7 of the SCF.
Some interesting prospects to watch this year – shoutout to Tarkus for keeping us informed wrt the NA amateurs.
Thank you, kind sir!
With a dozen NAmateurs to follow this year, I’ve had to create an Outlook calendar to aid with tracking. (Mind you, having eight of them clustered within four teams helps.)
That number will grow if Wakely returns for his overage season and / or the Oilers sign Marrelli–or Heslop or other–out of camp a la the House of Stone.
A reminder: tracking officially begins eight days hence as Bauer Berry and the Jacks of Lumber kick off their regular season.
Where would we be without you, good friend? It’s too bad I am no longer in Canada… you would be such a hoot to meet and chat hockey with live. I get such a kick out of your posts, both for great information, great tone and wicked humor. Kudos!
¡Hola, Aceite de Maya! Espero que todo es bien con usted.
Gracias por sus palabras amables.
Estoy muy ocupado estos días pero, algún día, quizás volveré a México.
¡Disfrute su fin de la semana!
Por favor, en Igles mi muy inteligente. En Epanol, mi imbecil! Especially according to my Peruana ex esposa….
How exciting – an Oilers (kind of) game to watch tonight.
listening to Stauff and Gretzky, I don’t expect Akey to play. Gretz said they and going to be very careful and ensure he feels 100% before he plays games.
Interesting that Savoie was in O’Riley’s wing at practice.
LT – what do you think Corry Perry brings to the team at this point in his career? I am curious as I don’t see the fit on the ice. I’d rather groom a rookie in that spot, and feel he would have a bigger impact.
To me it’s because he is a legendary agitator and still fights, and is not a problem for the coaches. This team lacks that outside of Kane and Perry
I think the Oilers signed him because it was part of the original deal to get him here. I’m not confident he’ll play 40 games this season.
Yes Perry will be semi-retired this year his days of a 82 game schedule and all playoff games are done. I myself would go with the under on 40 games.
Interesting. That hadn’t occurred to me but makes sense. I have maintained Ryan got that kind of deal (but in writing) when he signed his two year contract last year.
I don’t think I have ever seen a team with such a strong top nine and basically no coherent fourth line of any description going into camp.
The fourth line will be for the youth movement.
The dreams of a kid line are still intact even with Holloway gone. I believe this new regime view youth and prospects differently. Prospects need to be identified-nurtured-pushed in a good way.The days of throwing your youth in the cellar to age with no hope is why we don’t have 1 of Holland draft picks that he surprisingly didn’t trade on our team at any position.
We’ll see.
Tough to do cap wise – can’t just call up Lavoie or Savoie or Philp or Jarventie without moving someone off the roster or cratering all cap space.
That’s some tinfoil hat thinking.
Or he has heard something. I always think he has more connections than he lets on. 🥸
Because he’s an agitator and our other agitator Kane is gonna miss time.
Perry still has the smarts and hands of yesteryear
Unfortunately, he is among the slowest players in the league. When he played with McCleod, that was not much of an issue, as McCleod’s speed more than covered for that huge deficiency.
I like Henrique, but he too is among the slower players in the league. Im not sure Perry and Henrique together on a line is doable. Not sure who the 4th line center will be, but I dont see Perry playing much unless we run into a bunch of injuries.
Gamesmanship – no one does it better.
Historically – I didn’t see a ton of it last year (that made an impact) and none in the playoffs – no, i don’t consider the weird stick in front of the face “gamesmanship”, at least not effective.