The Edmonton Oilers delivered and then some on a quick road trip to end November. Four points in the standings, strong performances from the usual suspects and several players who were under the gun performing well. Music!
The Athletic article today identifies a couple of defencemen who may be worth acquiring before the deadline. Article is here.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN NOVEMBER
- On the road to: CAL (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 1-0-0)
- At home to: NJD, VEG (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 0-2-0)
- On the road to: VAN (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 1-0-0)
- At home to: NYI, NAS (Expected 2-0-0) (Actual 2-0-0)
- On the road to: TOR, MTL, OTT (Expected 1-2-0) (Actual 1-1-1)
- At home to: MIN, NYR (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 1-1-0)
- On the road to: UTA, COL (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 2-0-0)
- Overall expected result: 8-5-0, 16 points in 13 games
- November results: 8-4-1, 17 points in 13 games
- Oilers in 2024-25: 13-9-2, 28 points in 24 games
The Oilers slightly overperformed their projections this month and have an easier (famous last words) schedule on the horizon. I’m not sure all of the answers needed arrived on this road trip, but it’s my opinion fans have reason to believe on this Sunday morning. It is now a 96-point pace.
THE NUMBERS
Stuart Skinner had a fine game and is the owner of a .959 save percentage at five-on-five in his last two starts. Small, small sample size but this is a player who has saved Edmonton’s season two years in a row, and I’m hopeful management will stay the course with the young goalie. The Oilers have invested three dozen (or so) playoff games in this keeper, it would be a shame to cut bait and let another team enjoy the fruits of that labor (in my opinion).
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had four HDSC’s and four shots, plus a goal and an assist and a takeaway. It’s fabulous to see him returning to form after an uncharacteristically slow start that seemed to involve lack of attention to detail. Very un-Nuge like.
Vasily Podkolzin scored again, this is beginning to be a thing. Did Stan Bowman rob the Canucks? I think he’s getting closer to a nickname, I’m hoping for Fusilli Jerry (after the classic Seinfeld episode) or Vasily Jerry.
Resident Finn Kasper Kapanen is doing what all Finns do, thrive in an Oilers uniform. Wildly encourgaging, and we may start to discuss where he goes on the depth chart when the injured fellows return.
Connor McDavid’s five-on-five point totals in November (2.61) are back to the normal range, Leon Draisaitl (2.45) also on fire during the month. Evan Bouchard (1.48) led defensemen and Brett Kulak (1.18) also had an impressive run. Vasily Podkolzin (1.67) is also worthy of mention. Four defensemen (Mattias Ekholm, Evan Bouchard, Darnell Nurse and Brett Kulak) are at 50 percent or above at five-on-five during November. Stuart Skinner has a .908 save percentage at five-on-five during the month. Good arrows.
New for The Athletic: Which defencemen should the Edmonton Oilers target in a trade?
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5957782/2024/12/01/oilers-defence-trade-targets-2024/
You wonder if Buffalo would consider moving Byram if they fall in the standings.
Can Byram play both sides?
He is a very good skater and puck mover.
It seems very difficult to find a way to make this work.
Firstly, the assets, not sure if we have them (they won’t want Savoie and not sure the 2026 has THAT much value and they’d probably want a legit impactful roster player on a good contract).
$3.85MM for this year but he’ll be, what, $7MM (or more) starting next season.
Yes, it would definitely be a tough trade to make, especially because the Oilers do not have many trade chips. Very unlikely the Oilers would have the requisite assets.
No way do I understand exactly how to do this but Sather would be on the dog and bone to currently struggling Boston; hopefully in a 2-3 player aside super swap.
Victor Soderstrom is a 2019 right shot defensemen drafted by Utah in the first round a couple of picks after Broberg and right after Podkolzin, who is back in Sweden.
He will be a RFA this summer. He really doesn’t seem to fit in Utah’s plans. I wonder if he has an escape clause in his two year deal with Brynas.
He is an offensive D more than a defensive one, and on the smallish side, and on a team with Bouchard, one should of would prefer a bigger stronger defensive option.
The Oilers have the established left D to play him with.
One figures a team like St. Louis would take a look (Alex Steen is the named heir to Armstrong.) The price to get his rights from Utah would probably not be extreme.
Maybe Swedish Poster can give a scouting report.
He is playing on the same Brynas team as St. Louis’s 1st round draft D in 2023, Theo LIndstein.
Vancouver took a flyer on another smaller Swedish D who was drafted by Vegas in the first round in 2017.
Alvin traded a 4th and Tucker Poolman’s LTIR cap hit to Colorado to acquire him
Erik Brannstrom is holding his own on their third pair. (3G and 7P)
Cool story.
vegas will be a huge test on tuesday
Handedness is not the same as how a player holds the tool. What we do know is if they shoot right or left. Like baseball batters, or hockey goalies catching right or left
Saying they are ‘right handed’ or ‘left handed’ as opposed to ‘right shot’ or ‘left shot’ is really bugging me lately. It’s lazy use of the language. Mostly by professional writers. End rant
As someone who is paid to write about the sport, handedness is a newer way to say an old thing. I suspect it’ll pass over time, but that’s the main reason I use it.
I agree, it is a bit out of hand (har har)
Every left shot holds the stick in their right hand when skating 1 handed. It’s the principle!
Nice to see the Oilers doing what contenders do – taking talented guys off the scape heap and giving them a chance with quality support. Part is management identifying the right guys – part is having a deep team to surround the new guys with quality. It wasn’t all Sather in the 80s – he did the first part – the team was deep enough to cover the 2nd part of the equation.
Kaps throws the target acquisitions into a new light. He’s pretty big and fast so there is less need for a functional tough up front. The Oiler’s forwards will come at you in waves when everyone is healthy. Got to fix the 4th line though as it’s slow (Ryan) old (Perry) and not terribly skilled (Cags). That changes when you get Kane, Hyman and Arvy back. One of Ryan and Perry need to be the extra forward – not both playing every night.
I’m now more inclined to add functional toughness on defense. Having a big Bobby Clobber (Nurse lite) at 3LD would be good. Difficult to do a big tough dmen who can skate and pass are rare guys. They tried with Brown but need to keep trying. Romanov on NYI could be an interesting target (low cap, RFA next year, lots of hits). Not sure we have what it takes to get him with no #1 pick this year.
I like this post
He might be slow but Perry makes up for everything with cup, scoring goals experience and MVP calibre experience – plus he can still get around the attacking zone like a ghost.
If I were the coach I’d consider sticking him up on a top two line occasionally. And the power play. Even if only very occasionally.
I’ve got a lot of time for Romanov. Was disappointed we didn’t land him when MTL traded him. He has good results against elites, that are (importantly) improving over the last few years with more and more deployment.
Obviously so do I but NYI is deep at RHD (Pulock, Dobson, Mayfield) and pretty slim at LHD with Pelech and Riley hurt. Can’t see them moving him to be honest. Mayfield kind of fits out RHD needs but his contract is awful and he hasn’t been good since signing it.
Summarizing!
O’Reilly’s resurgent play continues as he put up 2 goals (8, 9) and an assist in a 10-3 rout that pushed London’s win streak to 18. He was also named 1st star and had a game-high 5 SOG.
Nicholl and Määttä each had a helper.
Stonehouse and Münzenberger did not have soup on the menu.
Prospecting takes a break until Wodin’s Day.
Isn’t it wild what the Columbus Blue Jackets ended up getting for David Jiricek ?
The Wild get Jiricek & a 5th round pick for Daemon Hunt, a conditional 2025 1st round pick, a 3rd & 4th in 2026 and a 2nd in 2027.
If the Wild’s 1st rounder next year is in the top 5, Minnesota will keep the pick and instead send one from the same round in 2026.
Good for Columbus.
The 2024 pick is most likely going to be in the bottom 10.
(Wild Scouting Director) “Judd Brackett feels Guerin is building the Wild the right way.
“Right now, if you look at the Wild, under 22 on the back end, you’re looking at (Brock) Faber, Jiricek, (Zeev) Buium and (goalie Jesper) Wallstedt on that goal line,” Brackett said.
“That’s a pretty strong way to build not just for current success but long-term, too.
“In my eyes from a scouting director’s standpoint, we have four top-10 picks outside the NHL right now between Wallstedt, Buium — I think Buium is a top-10 pick all day long — Yurov and Jiricek. If you do redrafts, we believe they carry top-10 value from their draft years.”
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5959204/2024/11/30/wild-david-jiricek-trade-blue-jackets/
So what you are saying is Judd Brackett likes how his BOSS Bill Guerin does his (Guerin’s). Wow! You have me convinced.
columbus aint a bad team
Good for no team but the Oilers, 100% homer
Bill must like that guy a lot. Fine for a building team not for us unfortunately
Guerin seems to be doing both contending and building.
If Dallas beats Winnipeg in a game currently underway, Minnesota will be #1 in NHL standings while being flooded with cap space in the coming offseason.
Easy, champ. It’s still only the end of November.
In a 6 month season. Then playoffs.
Wild currently lead the freaking NHL.
I don’t get the 1-7 up/down vote here.
We’re going to have to console ourselves with Draisaitl.
Aren’t The Wild an up and coming young team; basically the Winnipeg Jets but potentially scarier?
I write this with Winnipeg up or close to the NHL lead. Playoffs, playoffs…
O’Reilly has struck on the PP not once, but twice.
Per NHL Fantasy Edge:
#LetsGoOilers forward Mattias Janmark reached the top skating speed (24.36 mph) of this season Saturday & the 2nd-fastest mark in the player tracking era ⤵️
—————
Janny did look fast last night.
Finally a relatively recent new Oiler making news instead of former Oilers turned stars.
Podkolzin = Pottin-goalz-in
Hey Gene.
Put goals in?
Puts goals in
This is good.
Until you have to say it 3X quickly.
I think we have winner!
A few players have been the heat recently. I saw the Sinners and Nurse good last night. Just goes to show if the support is there, and the Glimmer twins do glimmer twin things, the Oilers win.
Oilers so far this season remind me of a hibernating Polar Bear – waking up after a long winter.
In my current role of having watched less than 45 minutes of the team playing live so far this season – they’ll be just fine.
A scheduled loss night for the Avs, but the Oilers get full marks for taking care of business. Skinner was solid and Nurse continues his fine play. The PK continues to rock it.
Nice to pass the Flames in the standings.
I hate the notion of a schedule loss and surely it shouldn’t be a schedule loss if the other team is also on a schedule loss.
Oilers took the Avs by the throat.
Avs fans agree that following the start of the game the Avs simply got smoked.
I find it odd because the way I see Jeff Skinner and the way people talk about Jeff Skinner does not totally align for me.
Skinner is far from perfect on defence and has definitely had some lapses, but I have consistently seen a guy who has forechecked extremely hard for a smaller guy, he’s not shy about laying or taking a hit, I tend to see a lot of effort (most) of the time to be better defensively.
IMO, he’s had an uncharacteristically low shooting percentage and by far the lowest ice time of his career with minimal PP time. The idea that trading him to just get rid of him seems ridiculous to me. We as fans need to stop turning on players 20 games into their Oilers tenure if they are not lighting it up, like that is what they will always be.
Can and should we expect more from Skinner? Yes, definitely, but acting like he is a boat anchor on the team is ridiculous.
Very, very few players make consistent immediate impacts on their new team, and players that do, usually have dry spells fairly often.
If us Oilers fans had Timo Meier last season, we would have wanted to run him out of town for the beginning of the season and he ended up with 28 goals and 52 points for a down season, or if we have Ovi the year he had 32 goals, we would have been saying he is washed. It’s unreal to me how fast some fans make a snap decision and will not look at the big picture. So many fans are the kings of “Saw him good” or “Saw him
bad” with no nuance to it.
I’ve been a huge fan as long as I can remember but I am more frustrated with the Oilers over the price of going to a game and the gouging on every little thing they can, a pop being $9, a beer being $18 with a tip etc.
I tend to think Skinner is having a Connor Brown type adjustment to Oilers silks. Definitely a player there – the guy is not an unknown. It’s up to the team to use that player appropriately or trade him to fill other gaps. On that contract other teams will see the value, and maybe that’s the road to shoring up our D or finding a second option in net.
Or maybe later, when the Glimmers are firing blanks, it’s Skinner’s contribution that allows the Oil to carry the day. Coulda used that option in game seven, when mighty Kane was kaput and McDrai et al were running on fumes.
I guess we’ll see.
Sometimes flawed players can find room to shine on terrible Buffalo style teams.
For a moment I was starting to think that we suddenly had one heck of a goalie.
I always had a hate on for Jeff Skinner. Because this is sports, I’m allowed to be as irrational as I like.
Unlike my thoughts re for Yamamoto; who imo was never going to win a cup for the Oilers or anyone else for that matter, but who was a True Blue feel good story of sorts.
Ditto Jujar Khaira, who’s done really amazingly for himself.
I tweeted the following late night:
OriginalPouzar
@coopsie39
Remember when the Canucks gave Podkolzin away for essentially nothing (and signed to $1MM X 2) because they didn’t have room for him and chose to keep the likes of Nils Aman on the opening roster?
Great PK work by Podz there.
—————————–
Nucks management made the decision in the off-season they didn’t have roster room for this guy but yet their opening night roster included the likes of Aatu Raty and Nils Aman.
Don’t get me wrong, 8 days ago Podz had zero goals after playing with Drai for many games, we didn’t steal a budding all-star here, but he’s on a cheap contract (with some term), highly defensively responsible, carving out a PK role, a hard worker, a liked guy, an aggressive and physical player and he’s got some offensive upside.
He was drafted 10th overall (2019 draft), so he would definitely have some higher than normal expectations. So very nice that we could take advantage of a team who has lost patience with a high draft pick… too often it’s us who have lost patience. Super happy Podz is getting rewarded for his hard work.
I immediately thought why would Allvin trade Podkolzin to your rival for table scraps. The trade made no sense when it happened and it’s starting to look like a blunder if Podkolzin can continue to develop.
Kind of similar to Oilers trading Pulu. Pulu was drafted higher but was never able to live up to his draft position and it eventually became a distraction and apparent he never would do it with the Oilers and needed a chance with another organization. Nice that we might be the beneficiary if that kind of situation this time.
If Podz was still in Vancouver, he would still be the guy that they drafted in the top 10 that showed promise and the regressed.
In Edmonton, he’s the dude we traded for a 4th round pick on a cheap 2-year deal.
They thought that Nils Aman and Aatu Raty means there was no room for Podz….
No they didn’t.
Podkhlozin would have been sent to the AHL with Aman and Raty after they acquired DeBrusk, Heinen and Sherwood.
Podkholzin was not producing in the bottom 6.
Why hand him off to the Oilers if your giving up on him why wouldn’t you send him out East?
I don’t think they believe he will be an impact player.
They certainly gave him every opportunity to show it.
If it turns out for him, that’s great…he’s a good kid.
Not every European can come over to the NHL and immediately turn it on like they’re in Juniors.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had four HDSC’s and four shots, plus a goal and an assist and a takeaway. It’s fabulous to see him returning to form after an uncharacteristically slow start that seemed to involve lack of attention to detail. Very un-Nuge like.
I thought it was his best game of the season, with a bullet.
He won some physical battles early which I thought was a good sign.
He has been summoning his inner Davy Keon.
What years were Keon’s absolute peak NHL seasons?
RNH imo has earned the right to be left alone to find his inner neutral space.
Ditto Hyman, who I’d also give a shorter lead before trading him to Boston. In a blockbuster trade that pushes Oilers right over the top.
This is about the 6th post today/tonight that show you are telling the truth that you’ve only watched a few minutes of this team this season.
That’s astute thinking. Particularly as my last post was more or less entirely philosophical.
I honestly don’t think moving Skinner in the name of a goaltending upgrade has ever been more than a passing thought by management, if that.
While I don’t see it happening, I could see them discussing, or kicking tires, on acquiring Blackwood to pair with Skinner – a goalie that has the potential to “run with the net” for a good stretch is Skinner gets hurt or has a struggle period.
Just don’t see them moving on or looking to materially upgrade on Skinner.
Just my personal thought.
I for one would prefer them going with more of a 1a/1b type of goalie tandem, rather than a #1/ backup type tandem.
Sure.
Me, I’d like Mark Messier back.
Everytime Skinner it’s a rough period Pickard settles things down. The last 2 games we have seen some fabulous goaltending.
I think with every mention of Blackwood, his career stats move further from barely mediocre and towards coveted 1B.
I agree OP, I just don’t see a Skinner for “X” happening. I just don’t see a goaltender out there that is better / more reliable than Skinner and IS available. Then there’s also the cap situation.
Trading Skinner, even talking about it gives me the creeps.
This team was 1 game away from making the greatest comeback in the history of the NHL. It’s like a Formula 1 car that needs a tire change, not an engine replacement.
The Skinner I watched against Colorado looks like a Stanley Cup winning calibre goalie.
What Oilers need is a hungry talented young backup in case anything happens.
Kapanen replaces some of McLeods lost speed on the pk. They need to find some room for him when they get healthy
When we get healthy It would be nice to just replace the 4th line. Need a line that can take some minutes and the old guys Perry Ryan should not play b2b games
It’s great that they already have the depth to replace the older guys on the roster. Ryan will eventually be replaced internally by Philp and Perry has been impressive so far, but he can easily be replaced with multiple different options internally also. I just wish they had the same depth on the blueline and in goal.
Agree. Hopefully Philp is ready soon.
I like Cags but is not an everyday NHLer. Perry has been pretty decent so far. Ryan is great in the faceoff circle but otherwise he has been quite mediocre.
RNH McD Hyman
Podz Drai Arvi
Skinner Henrique Brown
Kane/Janmark Philp Kap/Perry
LOL. Is that the best you can do?
Durability is an attribute. Call it bad luck or whatever but there are players that are hurt more often than others. There are some teams in the league that always seems to have a ton of injuries, year after year after year.
The Avs and Nucks come to mind.
Knock on wood, although banged up a bit right now with 3 forwards out, this team has players that tend to play games.
I started this post as a shout out to Brett Kulak who, as noted by Jack Michaels, has missed zero games since the Oilers acquired him in 2022.
Is this like saying “shutout” before the game is over? Have we jinxed poor Kulak?
Resiliency is a trait, Nurse before the head hunter shot has fully completed every season except for missing 11 games in 21-22.
Some claim it’s size, but Cogliano made it 830 consecutive games and Arvidsson is lucky to make 30 even though they are same size.
Outside of bad luck a lot of it is how they play. Arvi is reckless and he gets hurt. Lots of awkward hits
To me some players look a lot more in control, some have a lot of off balance not in control contact. It’s why I don’t like Connor hitting much, he’s not very good at it, probably because he didn’t do it much ever until recently. No need to have the extra wear and tear on him
Cogliano got lucky. First he starts off on a ferociously bad team that hides all of his shortcomings; followed by a trade to about-to-win-everything Colorado who don’t need to worry about him one bit thanks to superstars Makar and McKinnon
Another good reason to keep him and move on from Broberg.
Only saw a few moments of last night’s game. Skinner looks capable of winning a cup, so long as Oilers have a seriously outstanding backup goalie in case he needs to get the hook…
That new Russian player via Vancouver looks like making people forget about some of the plugs they jettisoned after last years playoff no shows…
Oilers play a lazy style of hockey, because they feel they are now above their opposition. Funny as heck how people forget they are the cup finalists from last season which automatically elevates their status to top quality NHL level.
Nothing to worry about!
I think they’re discovering that when they play that lazy style they usually lose.
Insert the word “still”.
The Oilers October struggles can be explained in part by percentages. Namely shooting and save, especially in the early going. Since those have been corrected, they’re back on track. Their Expected Goals have been fine throughout and today sit 7th in the league. They’re second in corsi. And they’re doing this despite having missed games from key top 6 contributors (including McDavid) and top 4 defencemen.
The issues on this team are the same as what we knew before the season started. Their game plan seemed like it was to skate along for as long as they could before making an addition near the deadline and so far that plan is holding water.
People are down on Skinner but I maintain he did very well in a small sample with Draisaitl early in the year. However, their line was snake-bitten, they got PDO-ed, and now he’s down the lineup in a spot where it’s hard to be a regular offensive contributor for a guy whose main calling card is offensive contributions. By eye I still think he makes sneaky smart offensive plays and think he’s an ace in the hole having him on the roster to pull up into the top 6 at some point. We’ll see if Knoblauch trusts him at some point but I don’t think he’s hurting the Oilers in the bottom 6 either at this point, when you consider it’s definitely not a position for him to succeed.
Given that the regular season is a marathon; followed by the playoffs which in themselves are another kind of a grind; it’s interesting which set of fans feels more optimistic about the 2025 playoffs : Oilers or the Winnipeg Jets?
Given Winnipeg playoff history?
Wait, obviously I meant Jeff Skinner, though people have been questioning both Skinners this year.
Skinner is playing with Henrique (arguably a 2nd line centre on most NHL teams) against 3rd line competition. He should be killing it.
Like how the 3rd line in Winnipeg or Florida kill it. Florida had Tarasenko on the 3rd line after the trade deadline last year.
Contenders are three scoring lines deep. Skinner is arguably right where he should be on the Oilers team…not reliable enough defensively in the top six, so positioned to kill it on the 3rd line.
Good analysis. I might add that Podkolzin is right where he should be too.
I’m not as high on Henrique. He’s fine and is a good vet. But I’m not convinced he’s a 2C. Think he’s moving into his Derek Ryan days.
Adam Henrique is not a 2C on most NHL teams, and certainly not on any of the serious SC contenders.
I thought you were down on the “old men” signed by the Oilers?
A stat just came across my feed that Skinner is the 3rd fastest Oilers goalie to get to 80 wins.
His regular season record is 80-42-12. I had no idea how impressive it was. That does put things into perspective.
Whose #1 and 2?
Gotta be Fuhr & Moog, back in the day that ties were ties & not shootout wins.
All wins records for goalies, coaches & teams have become badly corrupted by the modern rules. It’s how you see weird stuff like Jay Woodcroft having a better Oilers coaching record by percentage than Glen Sather. All such marks must be taken with a grain elevator of salt.
Glad we’re finally agreed that records from the ’80s aren’t comparable to records today! (Hence my preference for using adjusted points for era-based comparisons.)
Leon Draisaitl is playing the best prolonged regular season hockey of his career. A 2-way beast right now. He truly is playing Selke worthy hockey. Gregor wrote on it the other day at OilersNation.
Can he sustain all year long?
December is not kinda to Drai, historically.
Has anyone ever won the Selke and Rocket in the same year?
Truth be told, Selke is somewhat a “reputation award” in my opinion so Drai won’t have a real chance.
I am hoping Drai can hold off on his usual SAD December because he’s killing it
Draisaitl’s played like a top 5 NHL forward for years without hardly the slightest letup.
What exactly are you talking about?
He has played like a top 5 forward for years.
He has also had prolonged defensive / 2-way slumps.
He has also had slumps producing at 5 on 5 away from McDavid.
That is what I am talking about.
Draisaitl plays as well as he wants to.
He played terribly that season last year when Woodcroft was screwing everything up. Don Cherry would have lambasted him as a “coach killer” lol
Ah, Drai’s had seasonal or mid-season dips. Not by counting numbers but by general quality of play and commitment to a two-way game. By eye he’s pretty consistently caught the doldrums Decemberish or thereabouts.
One of the most jaw-dropping stats in my collection is the -24 Draisaitl recorded in December of 2019, Worst single month in that category in my memory bank, that said I have never done a forensic analysis of the Bill Mikkelson era Capitals on a month by month basis.
Drai kept scoring on the powerplay, but every mistake he made wound up in the net & quite a few he didn’t make also. Both of his goalies were sieves on his watch. Plus shorties, empty-netters… the whole thing went sideways.
Here’s the kicker: Leon won the Hart Trophy that very season!
In light of my own comment I felt compelled to follow up on the named player, & learned that Bill Mikkelson posted -27 in (wait for it) December of 1974. He finished that season at -82 in just 59 GP, still the record.
Mikkelson was a d-man on 2 of the worst first-year expansion teams of all time, the 1972-73 Islanders & the 1974-75 Capitals. Poor bastard finished his career at -146 in 147 GP.
There’s a joke in there somewhere about Bill Mikkelson and Phil Mickelson and the green jacket.
But what we want to know is, did Bill Mikkelson also win the Hart trophy that season?
Drai’s stat is indeed mind-boggling.
I recall him being point per game in that month to go along with that huge minus – almost impossible.
Draisaitl has a Hart Trophy season under his belt. I think that requires being the best player in the league over a prolonged period of time.
and, in that season, well, Bruce laid out the defensive slump for a month.
Prospecticious!
A quintet of NAmateurs toil this day.
The Knights of London are hotter than a three-dollar pistol, riding a 17-game winning streak. During that stretch, Nicholl has put up 6+11 whilst O’Reilly has 5+7.
They battle the House of Stone and the Barber Poles. In his 8 GP with Ottawa, Stonehouse has 3+1.
Vermont’s meagre offense (37th among 64 Div-1 teams) means no one on the team is over a point per game: their leading scorer has 9 points in 10 GP. Määttä has 3+4 in 12 GP, while Münzenberger has a respectable 2+3 in 10 GP.
London (O’Reilly, Nicholl) @ noon
Ottawa (Stonehouse) @ noon
Vermont (Määttä, Münzenberger) @ 2 p.m.
Both times, as usual, are Bliss time.
I do think management will trim the roster back when players are healthy. Running 21 vs 22 players is a massive difference at the deadline, the difference between the ability to acquire $1MM of AAV vs $4MM.
Of course, Drake goes down but one other needs to go.
Is Kapanen earning the roster spot? He likely gets plucked on waivers given his play. Ryan makes clear sense except for that whole right shot face off guy. He was 8-1 last night.
What about Dermott? Carrying 6D is VERY risky but he, well, is replacement level at best and brings less than Ryan.
Probably too much risk there.
The only player I am concerned with is Evander Kane. I hope they only bring him into the lineup right before the playoffs, just to keep him fresh for them. He’s one of the rarest players in that he never needs time to get up to speed.
I think he’ll play when he’s ready. Who on earth is going to tell kane to just wait it out for another 20 games.
His doctor.
It’s going to be very interesting how management will handle the roster when players are healthy. Kapanen looks to be a nice fit at a very affordable $1M cap hit. Especially when you see J Skinner on the roster @ $3M and V Arvidsson @ $4M. Skinner has NMC, while Arvidsson does not. I’m not sure Derek Ryan clears waivers, though I hope he does. So, it’s a good thing Noah Philp is nearly ready for prime time. Dermott can be waived without worry and definitely needs to be upgraded on. Stecher has been good and makes an immediate trade less urgent. So, there’s no need to panic and make some silly knee jerk trade anytime soon. Oh, and there’s always Evander Kane to spice things up.
I’ve liked Kapanen on Connor’s wing so I think I’d leave him there for a bit and see where it goes. I’d ease Hyman back in on the third line when he’s ready.
RNH McD Kapanen
Podz Draisaitl Brown
Skinner Henrique Hyman
Janmark Ryan Perry
concern would be the defensive play of the third line wingers. Might have to swap Hyman and Brown if that’s an issue
Kapanen looks infinitely better than Jeff Skinner after only a couple of games. If they can turn Kapanen into another top-six winger, they should do so. Fast and young (and competent) is better than older, slow, and lethargic. Jeff Skinner should be a trade chip if they can get anything for him.
Kapanen was on the PK also. He’s been a great addition. Edmonton’s bottom six will be much improved with the return of Hyman, Arvidsson & Kane. It will be fun to see where all the pieces fit.
If Hyman is ready, he goes back with McDavid. Unlocking that line again, with Draisaitl’s line humming, is what is needed. The stats were suggesting the floodgates were ready to open (McDavid and Hyman were top 5 in expected goals at even strength before his injury)
Further, to really gauge Kapanen’s roster worth here, we need to see how he will play away from McDavid.
Hyman won’t be playing on the third line. When he returns expect to see him back with Connor & Kapanen to slide down to Leon’s RW. Kapanen has done a nice job replacing Arvidsson in the top six so far. It will be interesting to see what happens when Arvidsson returns, they may want to ease him back in on the third line. The Oilers depth is really good right now in the forwards.
When coach was asked about Kulak Poad-game, he expressly started with taking about the work of Jeff Skinner on that goal.
I also saw Skinner make a couple solid d-zone plays with impact.
I could see Skinner moving up in due course. Not yet, while they are winning, but I could see him replace Brown on the second line (Podz can play the right side I believe).
Of course Arvy getting healthy is in that mix.
For the same money, I’d rather have Broberg and Holloway than Skinner and Arveddson.
I love the acquisition of Podkolzin, though. He has turned into a home run for Bowman. Podkolzin is “found gold”, and he is a great fit for Draisaitl. And I like the addition of Kapanen. McDavid plays well with speedy wingers who can process the game quickly.
Keep Stuart Skinner.
I like Arvidsson. But playing 70 games was never in the equation and probably won’t any season during his contract. Most guys (unless you’re Chris Tanev). Don’t get healthier as they age
Podkolzin is infinitely more interesting than Holloway.
Holloway tantalizes you as having potential yet never delivers much to remember him by.
Podkolzin from the miniature sample size might turn out to be a star player.
I’m starting to see Kapanen in the same light.
Podz makes a bigger contribution to the team than what Holloway did. And I’m hoping Kapanen is more durable than Arvidsson, which shouldn’t be too tall a task.
I keep reading how Podzolkin is better than Holloway from a lot of posters here. I have 2 questions for you.
1. Has anyone really watched the Blues games, or even their highlights, this year. Holloway has been a pretty prominent player for them most nights. He is also producing. 7 goals already. Is he just teasing the Blues as well?
2. Instead of comparing Holloway to Podzolkin (I like both players), how about comparing him to Jeff Skinner? Because that is the signing that cost us Holloway.
The Oilers made some decisions based on players past instead of trying to gauge their future. Why can’t posters just admit that Jackson overplayed his hand on Day 1 of free agency?
Fans are thrilled to see Podzolkin developing quickly into a possible impact player.
Holloway was hyped endlessly to the fans re how great he was going to be for the Oilers. Then he wasn’t all that much as what they said.
Wasn’t is the key word here.
My point is it’s not about what he was or wasn’t. It’s about what he is and what he will be going forward. Projecting that is one of the main jobs of a GM. Jackson made some bad decisions in his short tenure as acting GM.
Holloway so far this year looks pretty decent on the palooka Blues. A team going nowhere.
Oilers on the other hand are seeking redemption next time the finals roll around, if not the following season. Holloway gets injured constantly and so therefore a new GM can be excused for not wanting to hold onto him as hard as revisionist fans, etc.
Isn’t it somewhat early to write off Jeff Skinner?
I haven’t watched too may Blues games. I hear he’s doing well in St. Louis, good for him. IMO Podz has become a prominent player for Edmonton, he has displayed an all-around game that better suits the Oilers than what Holloway did. If Holloway had that kind of game, they probably would have met the offer sheet. I like both players. But I like Podz better because he’s an Oiler, that is where my loyalties are. If you want to believe Jeff Skinner is the reason they didn’t want to sign Holloway, that’s fine. If you want to believe Jackson overplayed his hand, that’s fine. Holloway priced himself out of Edmonton’s pay structure with help from an offer sheet. Jackson did well to sign both of Podkolzin and J Skinner. We all have our opinions.
I don’t think that Jackson overplayed his hand on day 1 so why would I admit that?
The plan was to have the summer additions along with Broberg and Holloway at a combined cap hit of apx $2.5MM max and that was 100% a reasonable plan.
Signing each of those RFAs in the dog days of summer to contracts in the $1MM to $1.25MM range was a perfectly logical path forward given, well, the long and established history of players that have accomplished what Broberg and Holloway had on their ELCs taking 1-2 year low cap hit contracts – more established players.
The offer sheets completely changed the landscape.
If Bowman thought the players were value for new cap hit, with Kane on LTIR for 4-5-6 months, there was cap space to match if he wanted to and figure out how to get compliant to activate Kane in due course (months to figure that out).
In my opinon.
Jackson was new at his job, and the canny St Louis Blues GM knew it.
“When you eliminate the other options, this pretty well nails it” Jack Torrance
Holloway is 3rd on the Blues in scoring with seven goals and six assists in 25 games tied on the team for top plus/minus with Broberg with +5. And he isn’t playing with Leon Draisaitl.
The Oilers could have had both.
Lots of home games in December but they haven’t been as good at home so far this year. Hopefully they can turn that around. Also facing some pretty good teams the first half of the month, so I don’t think it will be easy.
Going to the Ottawa game on the 22nd and looking forward to a good old fashioned ass whooping by the good guys in that one.
Great game and great response after the refs screwed them on the only GA.
Very important to bank these 4 points with 3 top 6 forwards missing.
I know there’s going to be more posts about Podkolzin >> Holloway but I do wish we had both. This team could use more sandpaper
The goaltending was better than I expected on both sides. The funny thing is the Oilers now have Podkolzin & Kapanen instead of Holloway. Two for the price of one.
less than the price of one:
Holloway $2.29 M
Podkolzin $1.0 M
Kapanen $1.0 M
It was nice to see them pluck Kapanen from the Blues.
“Fusilli Jerry, because you’re silly, get it?” That’s gold. Gold!