This is a list of 1990 rookies who played for the Oilers during the 1989-90 regular season. By this time in the 1980’s Oilers run, many of the best rookies were acquired by trading off star players. Martin Gelinas arrived that way.
Yesterday, we saw Matthew Savoie’s Oilers debut and it was one of the most impressive things about the game. Fans shouldn’t expect another Savoie from the AHL recall this spring, but even one impact recall can make a big difference. Savoie’s performance yesterday suggested he might have a say in the rest of this season, and beyond.
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 0-1-0)
- On the road to: PHI, WAS, TBY, FLA (Expected 2-2-0) (Actual 0-1-0)
- Overall expected results: 5-3-0, 10 points in 8 games
- February result: 2-3-0
- Oilers in 2024-25: 34-18-4, 72 points in 56 games
The Oilers have not played well lately, the Colorado game and yesterday’s tilt versus Philadelphia both suffering from rancid defensive play. Kris Knoblauch has shown great acuity in getting things back on track in a quick hurry and that would mean a far better effort today.
THE NUMBERS
I ‘saw him good’ players for me yesterday included Savoie (he is a smart player who can get the puck along the wall and send it to a good place, proved it on the Draisaitl goal); John Klingberg who followed up his goal with a smashing pass to Draisaitl on the next shift; Draisaitl, who is going to win the Hart Trophy; Ty Emberson, who is a smart player really settling in to his role.
Several veterans were poor. Evan Bouchard had an awful game with the puck, and is having a difficult season. I remain convinced of his brilliance and I know that drives people crazy at some level. Rest assured, I’m not being stubborn for the fun of it, but when I see a five-on-five goal share of 58 percent for the season, that’s my guy. He has a 55 percent without McDavid if that’s your next retort. The Oilers have a 49 percent goal share with Bouchard at rest, so you are damn right I’m going to defend this player.
Stuart Skinner didn’t play well enough to win, but the GA included at least three screaming errors that left the goalie stone alone. Skinner also made some huge stops on a night when the entire defense at times seemed to let off the gas because the other guy was going to get back in time. Putrid display, and I’ll not hang this loss on Skinner.
I’m of the opinion the Oilers should stay the course. I am also increasinly of the belief we will see a trade for a replacement starter before the deadline.
Why? Stan Bowman may look at this team and decide the strongest move he can make at the deadline is to acquire a veteran goaltender to support or supplant Skinner.
I wouldn’t trade him, he’s an inexpensive starter who owns a .917SP since November 23 (ranks No. 16) and backstopped the Oilers to Game 7 of the SCF one year ago.
Bowman may have only one pricey arrow in his quiver this spring. He may believe getting a veteran goaltender is the play here. I think that’s important to acknowledge.
New for The Athletic: Oilers’ recall possibilities lack strong prospect option with Matt Savoie in the NHL
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6152965/2025/02/23/oilers-matt-savoie-nhl-recall/
Yea the cupboard looks pretty bare….. Pretty hard to stockpile talent when you trade all your draft picks. Scouting needs to start looking under rocks to find some undrafted prospects.
Closed door meeting [clap clap clapclapclap]
5 goals on 20 shots
2 days in a row
Woof
The Oiler 8 wingers are invisible. Getting very little done. Our offence has been reduced to 29 + 97 and some contributions from the D. 97 has looked a bit off all season. Combine that with less than average goaltending and here we are. Obviously we are still a top 5 team but showing very little last 5 games or so.
Frickin oilers. Man they suck right now.
no way their winning a cup this year.
Pretty good chance we’re watching the cup winner in this game.
They’re wearing red.
Oilers aren’t just losing they’re propelling all their opponents to new heights.
Ugh that was bad Klingberg on that shift. Ugly
They’re laughing at us.
Just getting crushed all over the ice.
That was VERY VERY VERY poor by John Klingberg…..
Looked like a bad pass to me.
That idiotic PK system doesn’t work.
This road trip could get really ugly really fast
Could??
Imperative to get this kill to give themselves a chance…
Nope!
Might be really good for this team to get shit kicked 6 or 7 – 1 today. This is a sad performance. Lol 5-1. This team needs a whole lot more than 2-3 additions
So now the Nuclear option. Lol. With 30 minutes left. Which leaves no other lines that look doom at all today
Well back to McD with Podz and Kappanen
This team looks slow and old. They have pretty much looked that way for a month
They are playing such a disjointed terrible brand of hockey. They look like more of a last place team aside from Drai
I really hate to say this but they look old and slow.
Old and slow and they only get hit, they don’t give hits. I honestly don’t know what Jackson was thinking in terms of roster construction with the signings he made. I’ve stayed quiet to now about it to give it some time but this team is skill without will and too many guys on the downside of their career peak.
Its Ovi but that is a stoppable shot for sure.
Did you mean blockable. Dmen just parted the seas and let Ovie just snap it from right in the centre of the ice. No attempt to get in the way whatsoever.
What a steal by Drai in the neutral zone and then holds the puck to set up Ekholm for a solid chance. Drai is so good.
Rip that puck Connor.
Clock management to end both those PPs. Have to be aware of when the penalized player is coming out of the box.
Big save by Pickard on Chychrun there.
Matt Savoie should be on PP2 – even if they have to go with 1D on it.
The Oilers did as much to kill that penalty as the Caps did.
Well 2nd pp in a row. 1st one was stationary. Score here boys
Oilers not generating many chances at 5v5. Washington taking penalties is keeping EDM in the game.
I must be in the minority but I’m not one bit surprised the oilers are playing putrid hockey out of the break and will piss 3 games down their legs.
It’s the Oilers way.
Ekholm turnover. More terrible hockey today.
Failed clear by Ekholm and an AWFUL goal on Pickard – AWFUL!
Yup and a boneheaded penalty on Arvidsson
The Oilers stand 4th in the conference, with the Jets and Stars smoking hot. The Knights and Wild are also on winning streaks. I don’t see playoffs in doubt, but seeding sure is, not a lot of wiggle room to close out the season
The team has had it’s challenges, and there may be injuries as well. Mature teams can still win through that and often do, the caveat being goaltending, that is what usually causes the best teams to struggle, they know how to play through it, and that is based on discipline, managing the puck and playing the system
They were winning games at a high enough clip, but there are a lot of indicators saying they needed to play better, the last stretch Lady Luck wasn’t helping. In the conference:
Goal Diff 4th (standings follow this closely most seasons)
Regulation Wins (team strength) 7th
PTS% 4th
Losses 5th least
GF 5th
GA 5th
5v5 GF 3rd
5v5 GA 9th
5v5 SV% 10th
5v5 HDSV% 9th
5v5 xGF% 1st
5v5 FF% 1st
5v5 HDCF% 1st
5v5 HDGF% 3rd
5v5 HDCF 1st
5v5 HDCA 2nd
5v5 SCF 1st
5c5 SCA 5th
5v5 SCF% 2nd
5v5 SF% 1st
Not great, not bad. But this team should be great. Something isn’t jiving, given the scoring results lag the opportunities as they do. Could be a combination of a lot of things, but I remain concerned it has a lot to do with how they are being asked to play. When so many players are off, normally that regresses if it’s just the players slumping. Or it’s coaching, as a lot of analysts I’ve heard say. Hopefully we see them get it together starting today
The other thing I see here is that scoring is following chances at 5v5 but could be better, and GA is following the save percentages. Given the defending numbers overall are strong that points at the goalies. Of course major breakdowns is an Oiler feature, sadly, and that isn’t shown in aggregate numbers
LT may be onto something, that Bowman might see that better goaltending corrects the biggest weakness the most directly, if he can find it. Goaltending is lagging everything else, and it’s well down the list of 16 conference foes
In baseball the difference between high hitting averages and mediocre is a small number of hits, that’s how close it is with the world’s best. Goaltending is no different – you can play mostly well, but it’s that one save you don’t make, and when it is, that is all the difference, and what divides the top from the middle
Spotting a goal a game is significant to overcome, that extra save can mean closing out games more easily (less taxing) and avoiding extra time. The margins at the top are very thin, as we are seeing
I see a number of 1st in 5v5 stats you provide. What exactly do you think is the problem with the way they play on the OZone? It’s not on your list, I believe it isn’t publicly available, but they bring it up on the broadcast the Oilers are one of the best if not the best at OZone possession. This team keeps the puck better than anyone else and attacks when they believe they have a high percentage shot. Finishing, as you’ve noted, is likely their biggest weakness (not a weakness relative the rest of the league).
Arvidsson with a very dumb penalty. I am not in the least bit impressed by him.
Signing 53 and 33 and letting Holloway and Broberg walk looks like a bigger mistake the longer this season goes
I hope Bowman can pull something out of the fire but it could be that the Jeff Jackson signings are the absolute downfall of this team for this year. Sure seems like nothing rhyming with any of the new guys.
Not just this year – holloway and broberg were slated to be big pieces for the next few years…
Connor with the abandoned coverage.
Taking the regular season completely off at this point?
I’m not sure what he needs, but it’s something. This is where those not on the ice show their merit, or if they aren’t up to the task of coaching/managing a generational player
I’m starting to think KK might be heading into trouble, probably not in season, but there is guy with a stellar record the manager knows pretty well, not up to much
Lucky bounce (off a lost draw) – damn.
Bouchard’s man scores.
McDavid.
Factually incorrect.
Troll post.
Caps can zip the puck around the offensive zone.
Hell of a give and go by McDavid and Drai there.
Also, Bouch with a couple very dangerous shots so far – getting them through with traffic. He’s got a goal coming soon.
Matt Savoie’s first bad turnover as an Oiler – bad pass on the 3 on 2 and the puck went back quickly the other way – not egregious but it was there.
Knob will note that to him and put him right back out there I’m sure.
Team is playing like a veteran team that is low on energy. It seems they lack enthusiasm to get through regular season.
Almost predictable when viewing the youth that went out, and how bottom 6 was assembled.
Savoie will help, unless he gets traded. More likely he takes the need away from the forward group and thus Bowman goes looking for goalies or dmen
I remain convinced deadline targets must be high motor physical types of players that bring energy to every shift.
Every goalie in the league knows the pass is going to Draisaitl on the powerplay. The question is can they get over fast enough to stop it. Did I just see the Oilers screen the goalie – not for the shot – but for the pass to Draisaitl. That split second delay in seeing the pass (that everyone know is coming) is brilliant, if that’s what they are doing. And if they aren’t on purpose, they should be.
Emberson looking off McDavid to shoot that puck (McDavid was asking for it).
After 4 shots on net, I wonder if Coffey is telling him to fire the puck more.
Matt Savoie is so good on the boards – this is continuation of what he did in the AHL and I’m so happy to see it translating so far.
Hopefully his strong play continues and he is here to stay.
Anyone on the broadcast going to point out the obvious fact that when Skinner pulled the puck to his backhand it leapt almost foot in the air? No?
They just don’t pay attention. It wasn’t that he got caught – he made his move and the puck bounced. Sucks but it happens. Only criticism I’d have is he should’ve gone forehand.
Hell of a play by McDavid – nice to have him impact the game nice and early.
Hyman down the lineup on absolute merit.
I likely more mad at him than any other forward as his ineffectiveness has been a severe lack of effort and this started before the break.
I mean, Arvy suck and so does Janmark recently but their terribleness has not been lack of effort like Hyman (yes, I know Bouchard is in the picture on this as well).
I think a goalie acquisition is looking increasingly more likely. Stu is having a down year, but I hope they don’t move on from him and instead find a veteran who can push him for starts like Gibson, but I really, REALLY don’t want them to move out a 1st or a top prospect to do so. The cupboard is bare and the Oilers can’t keep mortgaging the future to fill holes/needs on the current roster.
daniel had a good post after last night’s game re: 97’s wingers, suggesting that if Kane can return to form he might be a good fit. I don’t know if that’s a wise/safe bet to make, but man would it be great. I still think a deadline acquisition makes sense.
Donato and Vemelka without giving up a 1st/O’Reilly/Akey/etc. would be the perfect deadline.
Bouchard better be here for the next 5 years. If Bowman trades him for Seth Jones that will set the franchise back years
I smell 2 goals for a rested Leon. A tired unhealthy looking Connor will be lucky to hold water
Re Bouchard – I will say it again, while he has always attracted commentary on inconsistency, fans & pundit complaints spiked after he suffered the “head-to-goal-post” late hit against the Leafs a couple of months ago. While he “seemed to be OK” his subsequent play says he is experiencing the after-effects of a Minor Traumatic Brain Injury. Lapses and errors in judgement, high level play mixed with glaring errors – this is what happens to intelligent humans who operate at high-levels after they’ve had a bonk to the noggin. Less minutes. A little protection will go a long way to getting the B we love back.
He’s had brain farts even before the knock to the noggin. At this point, he is who he is. Some o-zone touch but too soft and inattentive in the d-zone.
This continues to be wild speculation, every time you post it.
The Oilers have trained and expert medical staff.
Lousy Flyers …say when’s the next game?
: p
Before the break, wasn’t Jeff Skinner playing his best hockey of the season on a line with Draisaitl?
Yes. He looked great ina few in a row
He was terrible yesterday though (and I’ve been supporting Jeff Skinner all season) – multiple poor puck plays and lost battles. Of course, many were terrible but Skinner played the type of game that led to the dog house. Hopefully a one off.
I mean, why did they take him off that line?
The coach immediately decided he doesn’t like his play (the same dumb mistake he made with Holloway at the start of last year), and doesn’t give him any space to make a difference.
He elaborated on this in an interview earlier in the year, basically grumbling about Skinner being a square peg in his view.
He basically has to light it up playing with Connor Brown if he wants a hope. That doesn’t work.
Skinner-Draisaitl-Savoie probably would, but I can almost guarantee we won’t see it.
Meanwhile Arvidsson is consistently brought back to top lines, and the next option is Connor Brown. Terrible.
Same coach thinks benching Kapanen, then playing him with McDavid, somehow makes sense.
I like Kapanen – but there’s no such thing as a guy who is either 1RW or HS.
80-36-9, I’m sure you’d have a better coaching record.
I like the coach giving McDavid Podz/Kapanen. The duo has looked good together regardless of center. That and everyone burying McDavid’s wingers it’s nice to see the coach take a new look at something.
This coach wasn’t with the team at the start of last season, and when he came in the priority wasn’t getting the rookie sorted out, it was the team as a whole.
Knoblauch is a damn good coach.
This team should be running away with the division and conference. They’re better than this skill wise. By a fair bit.
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@TonyBrarOTV
EDM lineup v. WSH:
Podkolzin – McDavid – Kapanen
Perry – Draisaitl – Savoie
Arvidsson – RNH – Hyman
Skinner – Henrique – Brown
Ekholm – Bouchard
Nurse – Emberson
Kulak – Klingberg
Pickard
Interesting deployment. I like the 4 centre set up, but not sure about McDavids wingers. He needs more help I think.
Lines three and four need to get something done today
Hopefully the d pairs stay like this for most of the game. Everyone on their strong side
Mcdavid gets the Drai treatment.
He should be so lucky how would you like Reider-Kahun-Jurco-Yamamoto. Leon’s been carrying his line for years.
Given Nuge has been terrible at 1LW this season and there is not other center for the fourth line, I agree with Nuge at center.
Not sure about the choice of the top 6 wingers but we are where we are.
It’s early, but Klingberg looks good and I believe Savoie is already a top 9 forward (at minimum).
That makes Bowman’s job a little easier at the deadline.
The biggest problem may be a winger for 97’s line.
I wonder why Coffey and Knoblauch continue to shuffle the second two d pairs so much? I know yesterday was a shit show of a game, but this is something to keep an eye on. If Klingberg is auditioning for second pair RD, why not stick him with Nurse and see what he can do. Kulak hasn’t been great lately so leave him on his strong side with Emberson the third pair. Let’s see what we got for a few games.
Having two lefties on the second pair and then the two righties together on the third isn’t settling these guys up for success imo
https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/edm-vs-phi/2025/02/22/2024020892/boxscore
They’re trying to manage Klingberg’s minutes. Makes sense. Will be interesting to see if his minutes ramp up over the next couple weeks.
I’ve lost confidence in Bouchard and I am very concerned about Connor. I think the team needs a seismic shake-up.
I would trade Bouchard, RNH, the Skinners++ for Dobson, Pulock, Pageau & Sorokin. Would Lou do it?
I’d also trade Hyman for Rantanen, amongst other moves.
I am also not liking Arvidsson or Janmark’s games, I would move on from them and bring in Donato and Frederic.
Savoie fit in well, can’t wait to see what he can do on an engaged roster.