My goodness the current edition of the Edmonton Oilers could use a rocknrolla prospect like Miro Satan 30 years ago. The man flattened the AHL in a way Oilers fans will not see again.
The current Oilers have used most of their young assets (players and picks) in pursuit of older players. The ‘fringe’ roster spots usually passed along to youths are now occupied by men 30+ willing to sign a low contract in exchange for Stanley.
Soon, this management group is going to have to make a decision that impacts the department of youth. Here’s why.
The Athletic article today is all about Darnell Nurse’s passing gear and why he’s having such a fine season. It is here.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN FEBRUARY
- At home to: TOR (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-1-0)
- On the road to: STL, CHI (Expected 2-0-0) (Actual 2-0-0)
- At home to: COL (Expected 0-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- On the road to: PHI, WAS, TBY, FLA (Expected 2-2-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- Overall expected results: 5-3-0, 10 points in 8 games
- January result: 2-1-0
- Oilers in 2024-25: 34-15-4, 70 points in 52 games
I have tonight as a loss for Edmonton, mostly because teams have a hard time going 4-0-0 in the NHL, especially at this time of year. The Avalanche have a strange roster, with future Hall of Famers marbled into the roster alongside men you’ve never ever heard of, or barely know. What is notable is that everyone who plays for the Avs has a role and is useful in that role. It’s a smart hockey club, top to bottom.
MATTHEW SAVOIE
Edmonton does not possess its 2025 first-round selection, and NHL general managers for bottom feeders have less interest in the first rounder for 2026. Why? These GM’s are selling hope, and a 2026 first-round pick doesn’t come with a photo op and several sketches about the new hire’s skills and ETA for NHL action. The lesser picks (second and third) have some value, but if the Oilers are looking for a feature player (starting goalie, top 4D, top three centers and top four wingers—12 men in all) then Matthew Savoie is going to be the ask. Every time. Why?
The Oilers top-20 prospect list has some nice pieces, but Sam O’Reilly isn’t close to the NHL and Maxim Berezkin isn’t a lock to sign an NHL deal with the Oilers or any other team. Beau Akey is an intriguing name, but his profile (mobile puck-moving defenseman who is 6.0, 183) doesn’t fit every NHL team in terms of attractive target.
I think Savoie is the ask. So, if that’s the case, does Bowman make that trade? I’m a believer in a strong prospect pool and actively dislike the state of the Oilers prospect list currently. I think Bowman makes the trade if the return gives the team a strong chance for Stanley. Bowman owes it to the team, the fans, the owner. That’s the job.
A big day on the Lowdown, as we preview the Colorado Avalanche-Oilers game tonight, discuss the Super Bowl (what DO you consume during the game) and celebrate pitchers and catchers reporting one week (or less) away! I’m at Lowetide on twitter, in the comments section here and on the Sports 1440 text line at 1.833.401.1440 directly. We can be heard at sports1440.ca; iHeartRadio, Radioplayer Canada, it’s available post-show on apple and spotify, and we tweet it out on X.
Im not saying the refs decided the game at all.
But the avs always get favourable officiating (most pps most years someone showed). Blatant trip on conner not called then a 5 on 3 followed by too many men no call?
I fear a playoff round against them because of this. Unlike an LAK that pps dont mean as much because their unit is not as good.. gifted pps to avs is huge…
I mean they call their own pps half the time (legit they call for the 5 on 3 before the refs arm went up) and then the refs arm goes up. They are the KC of the nhl. Im not saying its rigged. But im saying some teams get more calls (maybe they know how to draw them and others dont?)… of all the teams i dont know we can beat them and the strips in 7 games…
Not to mention Mackinnon loved his slew foots on drai in 2022…
Savoie wins the dump in battle on the PP, back to the point, Dineen gets it on net and Hamblin buries the rebound.
Tied at 2 in the 3rd.
Check that, giving the 2nd assist to Griffith who rimmed it – guess Savoie didn’t touch it in the corner battle on the way to the point.
Skinner needs to figure out these starts to games. I saw Gregor’s article today showing Skinner near the top of the list of goalies giving up early goals. I usually agree with a lot of what Gregor says, but can’t agree with him that it’s OK for Skinner to give up these early goals because some of the other leaders in this category are good goalies.
Being behind off the bat just isn’t a winning strategy. The team can come back sometimes, but it’s taxing on the top players. Is McDavid starting to wear down from all of the extra minutes?
Two big games against Toronto and Colorado in the last bit here and Skinner isn’t ready to start either of them. Frustrating
McDavid -5 in the last two games. Maybe still weakened by the flu bug? Or just in a funk. Coach played him more minutes than anyone but Nurse so can’t be a health issue you wouldn’t think
Really wish Mcdavid would bow out of the 4 nations. He needs a rest and reset as much as anyone.
100%. We don’t need to see him contribute to a meaningless tournament. If he needs a rest he owes us nothing and certainly owes Bettman nothing
I agree with this too. It’s a mystery what’s going on with him lately. He just had a week off due to suspension and hasn’t been any better since his return
He doesn’t owe Bettman anything but he wants to play in the tournament – his desire to play for Canada in this tournament is express and real.
I’d like him to rest as well but its not going to happen.
Knob honest in the post-game saying the thinks Skinner could have had the first two.
Skinner is not the goalie that we will win a Cup with. At least not as a starter. Love him as a person but not strong enough between the ears.
Jack and Louie pumping a “great game” and MacKinnon.
Not a word against #97s disaster of a game or Stuart refusing to stop a puck.
Do I ever wish they’d get shuffled off to some other market.
That was winnable game that they threw away. The break will hopefully do them good as it’s been a grind the past few weeks
Hyman awful tonight. Nuge non-existent. McDavid as meh as can be.
Here is hoping they are more engaged down the stretch.
Their depth has been keeping them in far too many games because the top line is not winning their matchups
4 MacPoints and 0 McPoints. Nathan absolutely ate his lunch this evening. Earth to Connor???
Skinner, Perry, and Klingberg need to be out to end that one – the coach can’t pivot. He sticks with the PP1, 6v5, PK, Shootouts and other things to a fault.
The #1 attribute of the best coaches and solo athletes is the ability to realize when things aren’t working and go another way quickly and decisively.
There were some things in there that weren’t ideal. But I was absolutely entertained start to finish. I wish we played them more times in a season. So much fun when these teams meet.
They are on a collision course to meet in the first round this year. Not ideal
I think I would much rather play LAK in the first round than the 4th team in Central Division. Let VGK beat on COL for 4-7 games
That’s totally fair, but LA does always take it’s pound of flesh. And they added players like Jeannot and Edmundson in the offseason. Not intimidated players scoring-wise, but there’s plenty of injury risk against the Kings. I’m not sure there’s a soft first round matchup for anyone except whichever team gets first in the conference. Canucks, Flames, or Hockey Club is all you can really hope for for an easy first round match.
I genuinely believe this team and Knoblauch can do it against any team in the league. And Avs/Oilers just features so much talent and speed. It would be a spectacle!
The Avs played last night and we still look gassed and too many mental errors. Just a bad night. Break couldn’t come fast enough…
Hyman and McDavid were full value for the -3. I said that the first line is the biggest problem that needs addressing and I stand by that. They are going to be upset by the Avalanche in the 1st round of the playoffs if McDavid’s line is not ready to play.
Also, unfortunate that Pickard gets the loss. Hopefully Skinner learns a lesson that he needs to be ready from the puck drop
Sure but I don’t think a game on February 7, their 3rd in 4 nights, with the team dealing with illness, in the last game before a 2 week break is indicative of how they will play in the playoffs.
This team has gone through he motions to a top 3-4 team in the league – they are essentially waiting for the playoffs, in my opinion.
I’m with you. Nevertheless, a highly entertaining game played by two highly talented and entertaining clubs. This is what I watch hockey for.
Too many Oil seem to lose situational awareness and make poor plays. Tonight was Skinner, Bouch, Hyman with terrible moments. Will hurt in the playoffs
Best possible thing for this team is a break.
Skinner stinker and two bad passes by Bouch and Hyman and there’s your game. 2-week break should help everyone
Gotta agree with Louie at the end there, weak minded play by Bouchard trying to keep the puck in the offensive zone.
I’m a Bouchard fan, but he has a real rough night.
Again.
Recognize that play from the end of playoff games?
How these guys don’t know to bulldoze the corner in that situation I have no idea.
Terrible loss. Zero excuses for not winning that hockey game.
That’s a frozen puck. Pure nonsense that it’s not blown dead. You can just huddle around a puck for 20 seconds now. That’s nonsense. This isn’t rugby.
It’s been that way since the 80s, unfortunately.
One of the six damn Oilers on the ice needs to come in along the boards with a head of steam. It isn’t rocket science just basic physics.
Is that not charging?
Nope. Not if done the way I’m envisioning.
Plus you’ve got end of game effects working for you.
Maybe if you’re the Avs or VGK… Oilers would get 2 + 10, a suspension, and a 3rd round pick sent to the Flames.
Oilers 12 forwards combined for 1 (one) hit tonight & they sure werent going to get one in the final 25 seconds while Colorado froze the puck Florida style in the corner. Players unable or unwilling to give the sort of physical effort needed to win a key battle like that. Gave me PTSD flashbacks to the end of Game 7
That just defines Mcdavids night and season to this point
I know people won’t want to hear it – and it isn’t often true – but if they lose, this L is on the coach.
Pulled Skinner too late.
Deployed his forwards badly.
Kept going to Bouchard even though he’s way off.
This sucker should have been put to bed long ago – the Oilers are better than Colorado tonight and they’re being knee-capped.
I do not disagree with most this, but there were a lot of other factors here. Including, poor officiating, Mcdavid not scoring on breakaway, poor PP, Poor PK, and Bouchard mistake after mistake for a fairly long stretch of games in a row….the list is long, but the team has not been very good for the entire month and even the later part of Jan.despite grinding out some wins.
Other than the 326 glaring errors, Oilers were “better”. They just didn’t have it,
You talk an awful lot about how Knob doesn’t do this or that, doesn’t play this guy or that guy, doesn’t know how to adjust or manage a roster and yet he’s the 3rd fastest coach ever to 80 wins while constantly shuffling the lineup and playing (usually correct) hunches… I’ll trust his 80 wins over your goose egg 24/7/365.
This isn’t a Louie thing, it’s common, but I hate it when commentators say “the fans think so” when a clear call is missed.
You’re literally being paid to be an expert, so was it a missed call or not?
Kling and Hyman looked a little lost there, but MacKinnon/necas can really discombobulate a team with their speed
Zach with the super stupid play – Pickard makes a huge save and they all stand around doing nothing.
What a joke.
97 zero interest in backchecking there too, with his speed he should have easily been back to at least try and foil Necas there.
Something just doesn’t seem right with him.
Hyman’s terrible game continues – just a horrible pass.
Doubt these refs give the Oilers another PP.
Typical game management by the refs would dictate an Oilers PP soon.
Yet typical refs seems to “put away the whistle” late in the 3rd.
Which ridiculous taboo, non rule will these NHL refs follow tonight? Sad thing is, no one knows.
NHL refs don’t act as officials — they’re game managers. So yeah, we’re in the “let them play” phase of the game.
Perry showing Bouchard the ropes on how to dump Toews behind the play and not get called.
53-29-90 is a good choice.
97 seems to be forcing the play a lot more than I remember from previous years. He’s made that drive up the right wall lots of times only to lose the puck, for example.
wat way too many hope passes and not getting it to the net. At least, not at his usuall pace we are used to. Nurse having a nice game.
peak McD doesn’t throw backhand passes to no one three times in five seconds.
I noticed as well. Gets himself stuck along the wall with 2-3 opposing players around him.
bigly PK
You know it’s bad when KK’s cool demeanor starts to break
Adding an AC who is big, mean and loud could help this team.
Shut up DeBrusk…im sick of your support of the officials bad calls. That play by Nuge happens 50 times a game. But this time its penalized? I mean what the friggen hell?
Well that was bad
Perry doesn’t even have 7 minutes tonight.
Coach playing his odd favorites and it is costing them.
Man offence is simply non existent with Janmark this year…Cant even get a lucky one. The play simply dies in the i zone when hes got it.
It seems McDavid has decided to play in third periods during the dog days…..
Massive to finish off that kill.
Whoa, how do we trade or come up with assets for blackwood again?
Would be a shame to be stuck with Skinner.
/s
Blackwood allowed a couple of terrible goals as well.
Well it’s tied heading into the 4th, about as well as you could hope for given how this game started. Here’s hoping the Oilers get a timely save or two when they need it and tighten things up to stop giving COL grade A chances.
Starts with a successful PK to open the period.
Stauffer the only commentator with the willingness to address the weak goaltending in the first period.
JG also…Said Skinner shouldve had that.
Just an unbelievable season for Draisaitl. Gotta ask the question, what’s going on with McDavid? Gotta be an injury of some sort.
It’s quite crazy. 4 goals and no McPoints
I suspect it may be flu, it would make more sense because McDavid has still been flying when he wants.
Admittedly the last 2 games against COL MacKinnon has been the beneficiary of poor Oilers goaltending, but McDavid hasn’t even been in the conversation
Embarrassing for the stripes on that sequence.
Draisaitl better get Selke votes this year.
A pass first 50 goal scorer who plays Selke level defense
Maybe Drais contract is the new Oiler high water mark and Mcdavid has to squeeze under.
🤣🤣🤣
This…I have always felt Drai is the best Power forward the league has seen and in many ways is better than Connor. I am not sure why McDavid gets 4 Mill more…
A suggestion that Connor could get 20 million is ridiculous. I sure hope it’s not a blank cheque
Think we can all agree that Leon is just glorious!
Drai’s team this year.
Leon!
40!
Drai doing his best Perry impression.
Blackwood has a worse save percentage than the Oielrs goalie on the night.
Avs can’t go in to the playoffs with this guy – wasting prime MacKinnon and Makar!
Well crafted sir!
The coach loves Arvidsson and I really, really don’t get it.
40!