Stan Bowman is still new to us, and we don’t really know what is going to happen at this deadline. Stan keeps saying everything is fine in goal, but he must know the single biggest possible lift for any team with some goalie wobble is a veteran addition to settle things down.
Fans are hopeful Bowman can be the new Glen Sather, extracting impressive talent for less than 100 cents on the dollar. The last two general managers (excluding Keith Gretzky, who did a good, if brief, job at his deadline) have treated deadline assets out like a gigantic bloodletting. In some springs they forgot to turn off the spigot.
What would I like to see? I really want a two-way winger for the Connor McDavid line. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was quality in that role, and the line is over 50 percent this season, so maybe I’m worried about nothing.
However, at five-on-five last season, Nuge-97-Hyman scored 4.37 goals-60 and owned a 63 percent goal share.
This year, again five-on-five, it’s 2.63 goals-60 and 55 percent goal share. It isn’t terrible, but it is of this earth.
The wand, at least temporarily, has gone missing.
Meanwhile, Leon the Lion Draisaitl is leaping buildings in a single bound and flattening opponents with his mixture of speed, smarts, shooting, passing and filth. I wrote about him today at The Athletic and his career progression has been a pure joy to watch. He is already one of my favourite all-time players, and I will thoroughly enjoy watching him win Stanley (when it comes).
I also wrote about the Oilers and signing season, passing along a couple of reasonable (and quality) targets.
LOWDOWN WITH LOWETIDE
We kickstart the week on the Lowdown at noon today, Sports 1440. Rachel Doerrie, CTO of Betalytics and Host of Puck Social will join us to talk about Leon and the deadline. Jason Gregor will drop in to chat about the deadline, the big win against Carolina and what to do about the top line.
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.
I wonder if CHI would accept the STL 3rd rounder for Arvid Soderblom.
I know Bowman said he feels the Oilers goaltending is fine but Soderblom was signed at the end of his tenure at the Blackhawks. Soderblom is 0.906 on the horrible CHI team and I wonder if he might be even better with a much more complete Oilers team.
If we’re looking for a young, up and coming LD… maybe Ethan Del Mastro out of CHI?
What a name.
Who told you to put a balm on?
Hart confirmed to Stauff that the NMCs for Henrique and Arvidsson is for both years – Friedman wasn’t sure if it was just this season or both.
I don’t know about Arvy but Henrique had higher offers that he turned down (and I think Skinner as well).
Was Oprah negotiating those contracts? You get a nmc, you get a nmc…
When players have multiple offers and you are cash strapped/cap strapped….
Weird that Arvy’s NMC was missed until now.
In Friedman’s words, there is “a disagreement” between Kane and the Oilers on timeline and Kane wants to prove he can come back and help the team compete for the cup.
I get where Kane is coming from and can see the benefit in a couple of weeks of games but, come on man, if you are ready for game 1, you’ll be in the lineup with the opportunity to show your stuff.
You can get 2-3 AHL games for some games. I know it’s not NHL games but, come on man, a couple weeks of NHL games, given its implications, is not in the team’s best interests. Do the “right thing” here.
If this is true, and I hate to point fingers at the guy who’s been a good soldier and citizen while here, but wonder if it’s related to the sports hernia last year and not shutting down the season for repair and rehab. Last year I pointed the finger at Kenny, but new boss same issue? Could be a trend.
That $5.125MM would have gone a long way at the TDL last year.
Hope the implications are fully understood this season.
At this point Kane needs to start game 1 of the playoffs, if fit.
Puckpedia is reporting that Cam Dineen has been recalled on an emergency basis from the AHL.
Any clue as to why . . . injury protection or maybe trade replacement?
Has to be a medical reason, or a league suspension for an emergency recall, resulting in them being below 6 D-men. Kulak didn’t practice today because he was sick, my guess is he hasn’t felt better over the course of the day, and perhaps Nurse didn’t get cleared by the medical staff yet. So they would be down to 5: Bouch, Ekholm, Emberson, Klingberg,& Stecher. Best to make the recall now so Dineen can be there for the morning skate.
Makes sense. I saw that Kulak was MIA today, so I thought it an interesting choice to bring up Dineen. IMO Kulak has been our best D the past few games.
Connor Carrick has been the team’s best d-man (along with Phil Kemp) but Dineen is a leftie and I its the 3 lefties that are sick and banged up (that we know of).
I presume this is “just in case” Kulak isn’t better and any other d-man can’t go (coach said Nurse is likely but you never know).
Connor Carick and Phil Kemp have been better this season but Dineen is a leftie….
If I’m his teammates and Evander Kane forces himself back for the last two weeks of the season, and/or necessitates a trade, I’m done with him. Five million dollars fixes a few massive holes and Gregor has reported that a conditioning stint would be completely acceptable based on his length of time off.
For 29/97, This could literally cost them a Cup.
And don’t forget…it was almost the exact same last year when he chose not to fix his issue before the trade deadline and the all of a sudden wasn’t ready for game 1 of the playoffs.
IF this comes to pass it’s atrocious selfish behaviour.
I wish he would, but it’s not selfish behaviour . The guy is beast of an athlete and maybe heals faster. He has a contract, he wants to play hockey, he hasn’t played 8 months. Maybe the guy wants to play. It’s his right with having a contract . I do wish if it is within the 2 weeks he would go down and do a conditioning stint in Bakersfield. Stone at least did that the year they won the cup.
The whole thing sucks and is really weird. Why didn’t he get surgery earlier. This is where Kane wanted to heal this naturally without surgery . I am sure when he finally got to the surgeon that said you need 4 different areas of surgery he realized. He better get it done. But he waited to get that surgeons opinion for 2 months.
The whole thing is screwed up. It’s to bad because he is exactly the guy the Oil needs in the playoffs. Even with him they were apparently looking at another grittier bottom 6 guy as well.
What is really screwed up are the NMC clauses handed out to older guys like Arvidsson, Skinner and Henrique. . Crazy shit.
Gazzola was saying today that 1 player apparently wants to be traded from a source that mentioned that to him. . I wonder who.
If someone wants out I’m sure Bowman knows and is working. If something makes sense
With respect to the players not skating:
Kulak is sick
coach gave the 4 Nation Players the option which Arvy and Ek took. McDavid did not
Savoie was on Drai’s wing at practice but, of course, that could be a placeholder for Arvy. I guess we’ll find out tomorrow.
Coach did not confirm Picks is starting but said they’d decide tomorrow. I would think they know, and he is, and that he’d tell us if Skinner was getting the start.
If they play Skinner against Gibson and Skinner does not out perform Gibson, noise gets to near unbearable levels for all involved.
Does the opposite happen if Skinner pitched a shutout?
Picks has earned the next start on merit but that’s just good tv.
There will be noise either way, but for Skinners sake they should put him in protective custody for the evening lol
Pickard deserves the start, we all deserve the good TV. Skinner does a heel turn and kicks Pickard in the jewels claiming it’s best for business and takes the net.
Well, Gibson just gave up 6 on 24 shots to the Blackhawks last game and, given Dostal is their starter, I don’t expect to see Gibson play, except in relief
Woodley says they share the same weaknesses. Doesn’t make sense
Chat GPT suggested Henrique, Brown, STL 2nd, and a 3rd to buffalo for Peterka and Byram. The machines wont take all our jobs for at least another day.
No way Henrique waives but for 2 pending RFA’s that would still be the steal of the century. Let them walk for whatever compensation the offer sheets give you after you win Stanley.
Buffalo wouldn’t consider that deal for either of those players, never mind both of them.
Buffalo needs to keep their powder dry. Lot of young talent there. If anything, they should try and trade one of their good young lefty dman for a righty with similar potential.
“The machines wont take all our jobs for at least another day.”
It came back with Kulak and Hyman and some draft capita/prospect and honestly that would be amazing in the summer. All respect to Zach, we all figured the late years would be lean. It seems that gradual decline has begun.
If Buffalo can’t sign either, you may be able to make a move for character winners. Then again Hyman, like every player on this team seemingly, has a NTC for a year after this, so another one dead in the water.
I thought these things were supposed to make life easier.
What Buffalo needs to do and what they might actually do (and have done) are not necessarily the same thing
Wait, Chat GPT does trades now!? Curious as to what it would say for a McDavid trade.
Hopefully it can now, I wasted time teaching it that Broberg, Holloway, Mcleod, Kostin, Yamamoto, Samorukov, and Nikita Zadorov all did not play for the Oilers.
It also tried to trade our 2024 2nd round pick so I guess Eemil Vinni pack yer shit.
I lean to the principal of parsimony regarding Kane. Teams and players talk a lot about things, more than we know about
If Kane thinks he will be back reg season when Stan asks, Stan might say we want to be able to use your LTIR to get as deep as possible to compete for the Cup. If Kane says he wants to play, he might be told they prefer to trade him
Still the question comes down to whether they think Kane will be effective enough, because who are they going to get that is better than a healthy Kane, up to speed? Or perhaps they see D as the priority as they have a lot of forwards, so want the LTIR or cap space for that
I doubt there’s much drama going, on other than on the internet
Agreed. Also, Stan, as I have seen him on the Oilers, seems to avoid drama. Holland was the same way. This in turn I think probably reduces drama through the entire organization. Just my outsiders opinion.
Yes, in the scenario above, it’s business not personal. Yes you can play Evander, just not with us
The more I think about it, I wonder if Evander Kane+STL 2nd (and maybe a throw in like a Phil Kemp or a James Hamblin) would entice BOS to trade Brandon Carlo here.
That would address a massive roster need, for both teams actually. Kane still has a reputation for bringing the nasty and scoring goals. He was playing hurt last playoffs and was still effective (looking at you, Thin Hughes).
A good deal maker could probably get that done.
Depending on what Bowman sees as needs, Kane for Carlo is straight up with assets coming back. Holland is gone. Kane is a much higher profile and productive player who fits their deal better perfectly
I sure hope you’re right, but have a tough time seeing it coming a couple major surgeries and no playing time this season to prove he’s back.
If it was one for one I’d be pretty stoked. Gaining ~$1MM in cap space before the TDL, plus Carlo for a non-roster player, would be an epic coup.
Nathan Day has been named OHL Goaltender of the Week.
Third time this year he has been so honoured.
Arvidsson, Ek and Kulak were not on the ice for practice.
I wonder if Ek is still dealing with illness. We need him at 100% down the stretch and into the playoffs.
For what it’s worth, Steve Simmons column yesterday quoted a GM as saying “McDavid looks exhausted”. He also quoted another who had a BS take that’s not worth the time of day.
His numbers lately would support exhaustion (or an injury). Either way, there are days when you need a physical and mental break and I would not mind seeing him taking a few practices off to get his energy level back.
Give him an entire week off already.
Coach stated all 4 nations players were given optional skate today, and that they were unable to keep McDavid from getting on the ice.
Kulak is sick.
Sometimes a coach needs to look bigger picture and discuss what’s in the player’s best interest. I’m not saying this hasn’t happened, but when you’re worn out, you need to listen to someone telling you to take a rest.
Is he worn out? Or is he being blamed unfairly for his teammates short comings? Is his turnover being unfairly amplified because it’s easy and targeting that accumulates attention by those trying to be first on the bus of I told you so’s?
The piling on of McDavid by know it all fans is weirdo behavior imo.
That’s why I made the comment “for what it’s worth”. Everyone right now is speculating. He’s hurt, he’s tired but no one outside the team knows – and rightly so – they’re not going to say.
I’m just saying if he is tired (and he’s played an enormous amount of hockey), getting a break is sometimes the right thing – if for no other reason to just let your body and mind breathe.
Do you serious not think McDavid has been less impactful that, both recently, prior to the Four Nations and on the season, in aggregate, that he normally is?
I don’t know but, for me, 0 points and a 2-13 goal share at 5 on 5 in February (8 games) is underperforming no matter what the rest of his team is doing.
7 points and a -9 at 5 on 5 in 2025 (20 games) is underperforming.
That giveaways is not being unfairly amplified – its being given it due given how unfathomably egregious it was and part of it is the player has been leaking goals against big time.
McDavid’s recent stretch of play, and we are talking months now is a big deal as the Oilers cannot win the cup with this level of McDavid play.
We’ve had years stacked upon years with McDavid have much less help than he has now and performing at levels that absolutely dwarf his current play.
It just is what it is and its a big deal.
This is where a vet coach teaches Connor that the big picture is the deal. The next games are easier by far, Nurse is back (should he be?) and what your body would do 5 years ago given NHL grind is different
If he can’t be his best in playoffs is more important than seeding. The current top teams might not even make it deep. Nobody knows
I also think sitting Savoie and putting him in the sky and practicing with the team is better than relegating him to spot duty on the 4th line. If he hasn’t earned his top 6/9 spot or you think he needs to practice more, don’t play him with the role players if that’s not his role.
I’m not sure where Kalle Larsson is based out of but imagine there’s plenty of communication with the player. Take him out of the losing streak road trip to avoid overwhelming and put him back for a home game against the Ducks who did the same with their prized pick Carlsson.
It’s extremely hard to separate player development at the NHL level with winning when your team is good (see Broberg, Phil) but if there’s a plan for the player, which it looks like there is, that’s a critical change for the org. We wait.
I don’t disagree except for the fact that Savoie is a center by pedigree and career winger Kapanen was playing 4C. There could be a worse situation for Savoie than centering the likes of Corey Perry.
Also, taking that away, I’m not sure that the likes of Kapanen, Janmark, Brown, Henrieque, Arvidsson had earned a top 6/9 spot more than Savoie heading in to that 2-game scratch, right?
Thats the note i was trying to hit. Savoie’s development is significantly more important than any of those players you mentioned imo. The need to win vs the need to develop the player correctly is a very tricky dance at the top level, especially when the players know who deserves to play based on merit.
Coach says Nurse is likely to return to lineup tomorrow night. Great stuff.
Because the trade for Seth Jones fell through (I kid, I kid).
Imagine if Bowman had got him retained, and Nurse got to play with Jones who cost 7M. Telenovela
I’d actually be disappointed, maybe even mad at Bowman if he did that deal.
Considering the cost — a 1st and a future 1a/b goaltender — to take on a forever contract at $7MM (this and FIVE more years, all heavily skewed with signing bonuses), versus the reported ask for Carlo — a 2nd plus a player or prospect — whose contract is $4.1MM for this and two more years in his prime, I’d take Carlo (who can actually defend, not to mention skate, and isn’t puck optional) every day of the week. And twice on Sundays.
$2.9MM gets you a decent roster player. Not to mention the difference in term.
As often as we’ve been provided updates on Landeskog and his staking and how good he looks, to noone’s surprise, McFarland essentially saying he’s not returning this season.
What about Thatcher “Chronic, Rare and Unique, Inoperable Knee Issue” Demko? Will he be back to lead Vancouver to the cup?
Looks like Pickard is indeed going to get the start against Anaheim.
Showcasing him or because he’s playing better than his teammate? Regardless Pickard deserves this start I just watched the Aho breakaway save again it was a beauty Aho had the shot labelled if not for Pickard quick catlike reflexes kicking out his pad. This is a save that gets a team off the snide.
Pickard’s style is like Binnington’s so they don’t have to trade for him!
I thought the goaltending changes would’nt happen until summer. With Skinner lacklustre performance this year I believe Pickard’s getting traded for someone who can and will take over for longer periods then 2-3 games. You watch that team down south and you say how the hell is this team a playoff team? The answer is the same reason we’re not clearly first in our division “Goaltending”
Stop with the “wait for the playoffs” commentary.
First, the goal this year included winning the division and conference. If they do that last year, there’s a banner in the rafters because there’s zero chance they lose game 7 at home.
Second – none of these guys look one bit like Mike Peca. Give it a rest.
Folks come here to discuss what’s on their mind.
If you want to bring them around to your POV, it’s encumbent on you to have a better argument (and some manners go a long way), rather than attempt to censor comments.
They’re both wrong and being ridiculous. I have zero desire to bring them to my view. It simply needed to be said.
Also – that’s not what ‘censor’ing is.
I’m being a bit facetious, to be sure. But, sometimes a bit of decorum goes a long way.
I tend to enjoy reading you posts on a typical day or discussion. Don’t always agree, but generally enjoy your takes. Might be easier to convert others to your line of thinking if they didn’t feel attacked or excluded. That middle ground between praise and derision can host some fascinating conversations. Ones where those of us on the sidelines can learn too. That way you don’t have to read so many unsavoury takes 😉
Maybe it’s just me, but:
Reeks of trying to frame the scope of debate on the blog to your own personal taste. Not even sure where the Mike Peca bit came from, been a while since I’ve seen anyone talk about him (maybe I missed it).
In 2005-06, Mike Peca had a well-below-expectations regular season, but was very rightly stated to be someone who would be great in the playoffs, and he of course delivered.
None of these men have given any indication that they are that, yet a vocal group clings to this line of thinking. It is way overdone and not reflecting reality at this point.
Brown kinda did that last year. Ceci, Janmark, to varying degrees.
This year’s contenders on the roster? Kane. Hyman. Podz. Kulak. Sskinner.
IMO.
Right? How are cement boots Henrique and ass on ice Arvidsson going to improve when competition ramps up? I can’t believe this is controversial.
They both did last season – ramped up and performed in the playoffs.
The comments on Jackson’s off season have gone from manic, to depressive. The only thing that matters is the playoffs, and that is when those moves can be fully judged. I, personally, would rather go into the playoffs with Henrique and Arvidson, than McLeod and Foegle. Both those guys will have something to prove in the playoffs and I’d rather have veterans when the games get really chippy.
Time will tell…
Foegle is 28. McLeod 25. At what age does one become a veteran? I’m not particularly upset with the players moved out last summer (apart from the Bro and Hollaway disaster), but the replacements have not filled the need.
The Oilers did not need both of Ard and Skinner. They needed more tenacity and drive to the net.
This could literally be a scouting report for Arvy.
Used to be. Now it’s fall all over the ice and futile sorties
I think he’s still feeling some lingering effects from that puck to the head, but who knows.
For me the track records are enough to go through the pain of trying different players. There are players that do better in the reg season, there are players that look like NHL players (big fast reasonable skill), but don’t process well enough in full on playoff hockey, or can’t handle it
Playoffs 2022-2024 5v5 GF%
Foegele 35.29, 20th on the team, 13th in TOI
McLeod 32.00, 22nd on the team, 11th in TOI
re: 1987 deadline, honourable mention should go to the trade made the previous Oct 02 (for Don Jackson & others) that landed the rights to Reijo Ruotsalainen. Rexi woukd play the season for SC Bern in the Swiss League, but turned up in Edmonton to play his forst game on March 06, coincidentally (?) the same day Fogolin got traded essentially a deadline add.
Oilers also brought back Jaroslav Pouzar from Europe in that same window of time. As they loaded up for the playoffs they added 3 splendid Euros, 2 of whom (Nilsson, Pouzar) are in the IIHF Hall of Fame & the other (RR) who surely was considered.
Many people including our gracious host consider that 1986-87 squad to be the peak of the dynasty.
Funny memory from that season, in Don Jackson’s return game to Edmonton he took a penalty & proceeded to step into the wrong penalty box, My buddies & I attributed it to years of muscle memory.
Don Jackson did his job defensively and always knew when to step in. I especially loved when he pummelled Peplinski. Don was meat&potatoes and he was rewarded with 2 rings. Sather is my favourite Oiler ever regardless of the fact he never played 1 N.H.L. game with them. Sather knew how vital it was to protect his skill players so he made sure to surround them with some tough hombres.
I used to get a kick when Jackson would smile at guys bleeding during a fight. I saw him and the guys out at a movie I think once and he is a very large human
I meant Jackson bleeding
I want some splendid Euros!!
Feels like alot of the energy that used to be used on championing Cody Franson and trading Linus Omark for Shea Weber has manifested itself into being critical of a team on essentially the same pace as last year AFTER the 5 game losing streak.
Coaches should be fired, every single move hasn’t worked, we have no future, no present, no goalie, no cap space, offer sheets galore, no dcore, and oh did I mention I knew it was gonna happen all along? It’s all coming down and I was the first to know. Don’t worry, I’ll tell you 800 times to make sure.
I’m starting to miss the Nurse whipping boy days, at least those were sensible.
In my Oilers group text, my friend, who is an otherwise highly educated and reasonable person, was wondering if the Oilers were going to miss the playoffs on February 27. The trauma with this fanbase runs DEEP.
Given the team hasn’t won the big prize in 35 years, it sure does.
For me, and I maintain to this day, that Keith Gretzky fumbled big time by not moving out Chiasson and Kassian for assets. Neither was a core player, and it was clear the team was not playoff bound.
Chiasson was having a career year, driven by a sh% heater identified here, in real time, by several astute posters. Most importantly, the former Stanley Cup champion veteran was on a league minimum deal. What GM of a playoff team wouldn’t want him for a 2nd or a 3rd and/or a decent prospect? If they were so enamoured with his leadership, they could have signed him as a UFA in the offseason.
Kassian was on a reasonable contract ($1.95MM with one year to UFA) with no trade protection. Fast, big, physical, he’s an ideal player to move to a contender at the deadline. Especially while in the midst of a good season.
ChiaPete had savaged the pipeline with recent poor trades (Manning, Petrovic, Hawkey) and the system needed more talent. Both vets, having solid years on good to great contracts, would have returned a few decent picks/prospects in total. With the recently improved drafting, that haul would have been a boost that could possibly be paying dividends even today.
Gretzky had his chance to show his chops for deals and team building with his limited time in the chair and ultimately failed. Of course, we don’t know if there was a mandate from above that limited his moves, but he alone wears his record. It’s really too bad Ken Holland didn’t keep Stolarz. That was a solid, albiet under the radar, move that ultimately didn’t survive the pending regime change. If that (aside from Spooner for Samwise) was the only move he made and they kept him, how good would Stolarz look on this team right now?
Wyatt Johnston was a big whiff, at least Coffey was pounding the table for him. Bourgault had better numbers , but is older, was in the Q and is a lot smaller. Who doesn’t take the big RS C when he’s being vouched for internally? Dallas wasn’t worried about the missed season. I guess taking older draftees doesn’t necessarily mean they get to the NHL sooner. Talent and size maybe matter more
Should have had an OHL scout, too.
Talk about an unforced error.
The more I think about it, the more I think that the best move this deadline might just be standing pat with the current roster. The team needs to make sure their cup window doesn’t slam shut and mortgaging the next couple years of the future by trading picks/prospects for a team that doesn’t feel as good as it was last year doesn’t seem wise to me.
I think Bowman is also aware he has a few years to build a contender, and given that the current team was mostly assembled by Holland/Jackson, he might be more inclined to wait until next offseason before getting aggressive.
Absolutely. If there is a Sather-like theft deal out there, you do it, otherwise keep your powder dry
That already happened with Bill Zito.
Do you honestly think that was a steal? If so, curious to know why?
I’d rather have the late 1st and Spencer Knight than Seth Jones.
I think the asset cost was paltry considering the retention.
Magic beans and hopes for big bonafide minute muncher whos overpaid and too high in the order.
He is now not overpaid nor too high in the order. They had a gaping hole and filled it. Sather-esque.
They said the tkachuk trade was fair too and look how that’s turned out.
Is Knight accurately described as magic beans? My understanding is he’s in the same aisle of goaltenders as Askarov/Oettengier/Wallsteadt.
Jones is overpaid at $7MM or $9.25MM? His PuckIQ card this year isn’t a glowing advertisement: underwater in DFFrel, a touch in the black on CFrel, GF% buoyed by torching grits but getting killed by middle and still underwater vs elites. PDO suggests some positive regression is possible, and he gets pretty sheltered zone deployment, with ice time skewed toward middle comp. Bad team, sure. Not sure if the juice is worth the squeeze (saying this not having watched him a ton). Success hasn’t followed him around, has it?
And the Turtle trade was a wash as soon as it was announced, I lauged. And I laugh again at their futility, down south. Seriously, fcuk those guys. Hope it happens again 🙂
Goalies are voodoo but Oettinger is far and away ahead of the other two. Knight has potential but if you’re Zito, a 4.5M B goalie vs a top 4 RHD at 7M in a cup window is a boon.
He’s overpaid at 9.25M. At 7M, in 1 year that will be below market rate for a top 4. Personally, I think the numbers will have singificant regression going from 31/32 to top 5 team in the league and cup contender. He was wildly exposed in Chicago and will be sheltered in Florida (and the forwards backcheck). Jones has been playing awful but at his best he’s a 1 man breakout. He is miscast by some as a bruiser because of his size but he can hold his own. Excellent skater, good puck mover,
The numbers are a worry for him in the same way the numbers for Shea Weber and Alex Pietrangelo were a worry imo.
I’m always careful when people talk about success and ‘winners’ because success has followed Patrick Maroon around, it ain’t because of Patrick Maroon. Good players in bad situations happen. I think Jones in that system cost nothing with tremendous upside on the 2nd pair.
Shout out to Zito for trading from excess and not caring about pick 31 in 26.
Can always add with astute trades. Old Dutch brought in Ekholm when there was no cap space, being in LTIR.
There are some pretty good targets out there on struggling teams that probably wouldn’t break the bank. Guys like Klim Kostin, Brian Dumoulin, Ian Cole, James Reimer, Matt Martin aren’t going to cost much and could have a solid impact on the bottom of the roster.
Per Tony B., Savoie in a top 6 white jersey at practice (along with: McDavid, Drai, Nuge, Hyman and Podz).
Thanks goodness.
Kapanen must be the new RHC for the fourth line. After all he was 4/6 on faceoffs against Carolina.
Oilers are a quick win streak away from regaining the division lead, a team full of veterans waiting for the real season to begin.
Doom and gloom sells I guess.
Nothing sells like panic.
Nothing seems to inflate the sense of panic/FOMO than the trade deadline.
I will be grateful when March 7 comes & goes & the focus returns to Stanley.
If the Oilers don’t win a cup in the McD-Leon years, the blame will lie at the feet of management. Chia was spectacularly bad. Holland did very well in some respects and they were two goals away in game 7 last year, but he made some awful deals too. Jackson’s bets this summer have not paid off (yet). Our GMs have repeatedly overvalued veterans despite repeated evidence that these guys can no longer deliver the goods. Do they not understand that McD and Leon need a better supporting cast?
Kane knows exactly how this game works. Does he want back on the ice now to single handedly save the day?
Or can he wait a couple weeks, allow the team another player, come back for playoffs and help win a cup?
Sounds like an easy decision. If he forces himself back now, right or wrong, it wont be forgiven.
I believe Kane beats to his own drum and especially if he feels scorned.
I post very little but I have a few thoughts that go against the grain of common thoughts that might prove interesting perspective and debate:
Anyways, food for thought!
Arvidsson/ Skinner/ Henrique will have lots to prove come playoff time. Guaranteed, McDavid & Draisaitl will show up and the rest of team too.
Good perspective. The 1st PP unit does soak up a lot of time/offensive opportunities that other players don’t get an opportunity at.
I’m still fine with Foegele leaving, but you can certainly see what increased ice time has allowed him to achieve.
Very good Ryder
I do actually have confidence in Arvidson in playoffs. He will show up, he has some fire, but he may also take an injury, he has no fear going into the corner.
I like Skinner, Kane, Savoie or new high motor, physical player to form a third line.
A big, solid, trustworthy top 4 defenseman would have a huge impact.
Thank you.
The anti-panic bromide that might benefit more than a few Oilers fans.
I loved Jackson’s moves in the summer.
They have aged like 2% milk.
Even if Bowman had assets to make a deal, the cap situation is abysmal.
Honestly, try to reanimate Chris Pronger and sign him to league minimum. Like the Mountain in that HBO doc about medical Europe.
Woodguy’s righthanded phone wrote this message.
This contract mess is why they need to MLB-ify their front offices.
Handing out NMCs like candy is so incredibly idiotic and a total “hockey guy” move.
Idiots.
LOL Henrique has an NMC too. Man, Edmonton will have to pay a steep price to move Kane. But they have to if they want to free up some cap space.
I don’t know, if you can’t sell a repaired Kane for a decent return after years of no problems – because there are a only handful of players like him – maybe GM is the wrong job. Chia Holland and their trouble with deal making are gone, we hope
Think it was Rich Winter on with Gregor the other day, said NMCs are overrated.
Once a player knows they’re not wanted/in the plans, they rarely want to stick around. Just limits the options, like when Hall would only accept a trade from BUF to BOS.
we’re gonna pay dearly for those two weeks of Jeff Jackson
Unreal man. I can’t believe I celebrated the moves he made last summer. I am a fool.
It’s all about the playoffs I’m not judging Arvidsson-Henrique-Skinner until the real season is over.
No man you’re fine. I did the same thing.
There was no way to know about the offer sheets, and how losing Holloway, Macleod and Foegele would tank the chemistry.
I felt at the time matching on Holloway was the right call, even if the money was high. I also celebrated the trade of Ceci, but I now wonder if that impacted the dressing room as well. The team went through a big transformation in the off season, and this year’s turmoil is obviously the result. Hopefully they find a way to right things in the next 6 weeks.
I told you guys about the offer sheet risk in the middle of the Stanley Cup finals. The duel offer sheet scenario has been discussed here forever. And a textbook scenario was beyond obvious in June.
It would be the height of incompetence for the POHO to not appreciate the offer sheet risk.
I think the whole Evander Kane thing is getting really weird. Listening to Rishaug today, no clue really what is going to happen. Dregger said he expects ( or thinks) Kane will be back before the playoffs .
They also said today that Arvidson actually has a NMC AND cannot be traded without his approval. Lots thought he didn’t.
The Oil seem to be in a bit of a tight spot for this deadline and it is really all in Kane’s court. In all honesty Kane has every right to come back if he is healthy, but as a team guy and after missing the entire freaking year really , And waiting to have his surgery and not having it right after the playoffs is just a whole mess you would hope he is thinking of the team.
My thought now ( after listening to Rishaug and Dregger this AM) is the Oilers will trade Kane and probably have to send a 2nd rounder to do it by Friday . After Rishaug explained the Doctor scenario with 2nd and 3rd opinion crap with the NHLPA this seems to be a big mess. If this is all true they are obviously not on the same page. It is all pretty weird, but if Kane is really set on coming back, the Oilers have to trade him if they want that $ for D etc. If they don’t who are they actually going to trade for $ out that it will make them instantly have enough money for a legite #4 D ma, #3 or #4 Cman .
Bowman may have to pull a rabbit out of his arse by Friday
Lets hope this whole Kane thing is possibly a smoke screen and it all works out, but it is really leaning more to it not.
Kane usually has a 3 year arc with the teams he joins. Starts great, begins to wobble, then it goes south. His unwillingness to wait until the playoffs is a sign of a guy who (continues) to put self before team. Also, considering the defensive lapses of the Oilers right now, adding a guy who is only nominally interested in playing defensively does not seem to be a priority.
Remember last year wasn’t he a bit at odds with Drai it seemed at times?
I would assume as well that Bowman isn’t going to air his laundry out in public, but if he is actually calling the 16 teams on Kane’s list ( Which it sounds like are all playoff teams or ones still in the mix ) I am sure one of the so called insiders will start finding out who and once it is revealed , then we know he wants to come back and they are trying to trade him I guess. If this really is the case ( actually trying to trade him) I would think all the trust in this relationship has gone by the way side. Jackson doesn’t strike me as a guy who likes this kind of stuff .
Guess we see. I am one that thinks we need a Kane come playoffs. I don’t see them replacing that tenacity and toughness with anyone available in the trade deadline lists.
I take issue with this reasoning, as I’ve heard it elsewhere. Kane staying out longer than he medically needs to does not make him selfish, a bad teammate etc. He is under no obligation to game the system to save the Oilers some cap space. It would be ideal and convenient if his rehab kept him out until the playoffs so we could add more players at the deadline, but that’s not on Kane, his job is to play hockey. We don’t have any information to suggest his rehab hasn’t been handled correctly.
Kane staying out longer than he needs to, is good for him & his team. He could come back early for a few games during the regular season, then discover he probably should have taken his time, been more patient and waited for the playoffs, or just wait for next season. Why risk it? Because of this uncertainty the best option might be to trade him.
I take it that Kane is a stubborn individual. Something happened I believe to end the season for him to miss the final few games. Him being scratched surprised me because he’s such a intense player.
I don’t disagree with any of that, including that the best option might be trading him. But if Kane’s coming at this from a position of “It was always my dream to play hockey in the NHL. My window to play NHL hockey games is rapidly closing and I’d like to get back to that ASAP”, the Oilers don’t have the right to deny him that and he’s not obligated to feel differently.
Kane needs to play this smart. I don’t believe Kane is stupid. We can only hope it all turns out in the best way possible.
My main point is that Kane seems to have a 3 year arc and departure with many of his former teams. He only lasted 6 years with one team which was the Thrashers/Jets. Everywhere else it is 3 and done. I should not have commented on his selfishness or not in wanting to play before the season is done.
This is all baseless speculation at best, and a driveby character assationation at worst.
Probably best to hold off on judging the guy — who’s been a model Oiler, and pretty decent player, during his time with the team — until things actually unfold.
This is something that has not happened yet.
Kane “wanting to play” is different than Kane “being able to play” which is also different from Kane “forcing activation to play”
Sounds like it’s time to move on from Kane. Get whatever they can for him, won’t be much, if anything at all, but the cap space will be valuable at the TDL.
This is brand new that Arvidsson has an NMC, it came out of nowhere, very mysterious. Might he & Jeff Skinner waive their NMC’s. Wouldn’t that be nice.
Man did Jeff Jackson ever make a mess of things. Good thing Stan Bowman is here for damage control.
Rishaug said they may have to send a 2nd with Kane. Phack lol.
Lunacy.
All for the sake of cap space.
Yeah, Kane and a 2nd for Carlo and a 5th.
Does anyone remember, last summer there was a rumour – repeat a rumour, that Kane had played his last game as an Oiler. IR followed, and he has yet to play a game. Few know his health, personal status, or preference.
Also, readers of this blog know that players returning from serious or long term injury take considerable time before returning to their previous level of hockey proficiency. IMHO Kane would be of minimal help to the team this year.
No.
Interesting take. This may well go back all the way to him announcing his injuries prior to last years playoffs. Something is off.
Dreger was the guy proudly proclaiming Dave Nonis (his uncle) was going to be GM before Holland was hired.
When was the last time he was right about anything related to the Oilers?
Remember Hossa’s skin condition? Bowman knows how to finesse LTIR. My money is on all these conflicting narratives being strategic leaks. Keep feeding the press fodder for stories that will bolster any kind of case, should the NHL come looking to gift Calgary a third round pick. Classic misdirection and obfuscation.
Does Reilly Smith help or has that ship sailed?
His skating has lost a step since last year, not sure if that’s injury/age/malaise playing for a slumping team.
The PuckIQ numbers aren’t great (but not bad, some decent rels), but it’s tough sledding in NYR this year. Sees fairly high deployment against elites.
Could be a decent pick up depending on price, but his contract (M-NTC, pending UFA) at $5MM AAV is not the best place to find a value acquisition. Do I trade him for Arvy or Jinner? I’d be listening depending on the sum of the moving parts, but otherwise probably not. He seems like he’s on the other side of the cliff.
I think a depth d-man (3LD that can play both sides) and a fast PK efficient forward is the deadline priorities.
Cap space aside, there are not a ton of valuable assets to trade for more prominent players.
Moreso, for me, external acquisitions are not the key to this team making a run. The key is for McDavid and Bouchard to get back to expected impact levels. Ekholm as well. Tier below is the Hyman and Nuge underperformance.
The fix for this team is, first and foremost, internal recovery.
This recovery is critical I do agree. But its not enough. The team will be good, but not good enough. They have no balls.
Florida hits #1 over 1700 for the season so far. Edmonton sits dead last in #32 spot with 795 hits
A Stanley Cup team needs more grit. McDavid needs more grit on the ice in order to create offense. Edmonton will not beat Florida as they stand today and this is not acceptable because it was foreseeable and fixable.
Florida might not beat Washington. Who knows?
I hope Florida is out in the first round of course. Right now Id say that Florida is the measuring stick.
When we play some of the better teams such as Hurricanes most recently, I always ask myself “Can Oilers beat them in 7?” Most of the time the answer is yes they can.
The difference being can they beat them best of 7 after beating 3 other very good teams best of 7? Or will players be too banged up to play effective hockey.
My frustration is that no matter how good McDavid and Draisaitl are, other teams manage to be better off the ice, managing contracts, player acquisition, trades, drafting, goalie, anti McDavid strategy, or whatever that just keeps the Oilers a goal away.
Perhaps a team like the Panthers will be more banged up from material extra wear and tear on the body playing that style through the regular season, whereas a team like the Oilers are not engaging in near as much physical contact?
Maybe but I also think the current team can, and will, be much more physical than it currently – its hits/60 is down like half from the last couple of years and I think that’s a concerted effort to reduce aggregate season long wear and tear.
Example: McDavid is generally extremely aggressive in open ice puck retrieval, initiating contact and winning open ice battles, consistently – that is 100% gone from his game and I think its targeted.
We KNOW the likes of McDavid, Hyman, Drai, Janmark and Henrique can be more physical – we’ve seen it in May/June in the past.
Plus Kane.
Alexander RomanovAlec MartinezTJ BrodieIan ColeBrian DumoulinRyan Suter
Vinnie HinistrozaColton SissonsFrank VatranoOskar SundqvistSam LaffertyJordan GreenwayKevin HayesBrock Nelson (apparently not on the market anymore, but a guy can dream)Kyle PalmeriJG PageauMatt Martin
You’ve basically described my MO in assessing realistic TDL targets.
If Bowman was able to swing a bit of a coup de gras and swipe Romanov and JGP that could set up the team nicely, and for a bit of term. Jordan Greenway would also be a nice boost to the bottom six (pending return from injury/surgery).
That was supposed to be a bullet list (and was before I refreshed my page, too late to edit now), not sure why it reformatted the post into a run on sentence with no punctuation.
Friedman on 32 Thought says, while it’s not out there in the public sites, Arvidsson does indeed have a full No Movement Clause.
Also said that the list Kane submitted permitted trades to contenders mainly.
Just listened to it… made me feel sick to my stomach. Looks like we’re most likely stuck with Humpty Dumpty.
This is going to cause a crap-storm among the fanbase but, at the end of the day, I don’t think management would have been looking to move Arvidsson or Henrique or any middle of the roster player in the first instance.
I do think they’ll have the Evander Kane LTIR space and I don’t think they are looking for major acquisitions that would need more. They simply don’t have the tradeable futures with value.
Here’s hoping Bowman can make some sneaky good trades with whatever cap space he can gather.
amen to this
CapWages has recently updated with this news.
Never go three – I use Puckpedia exclusively and will support that site for various reasons (Hart is responsive to questions, Hart is an Oilers fan with roots in Edmonton and, in fact, our parents are friends). His site has been around for years, prior to capfriendly being shut down.
Posted in old thread. Grok has Karl Vejmelka coming to the Oilers for Pickard, a 2nd, and a 3rd 🙂
Who is Grok? 🤔
Guy in Shrek?
Grok is a verb meaning, to understand thoroughly and intuitively.
FYI.
He used to play for the Patriots.
Rob Gronkowski
That would be Gronk.
Hands like Velcro he reminded me of Ozzie Newsome one of my favourite players ever on my Kardiac Kids team. I still cheer for Cleveland to this day the fumble by Pruitt on the goal line against Denver (John Elway) in the early 80’s still haunts me at night.
The AI engine of Twitter/X.
In what universe has Vejmelka proven he’s better than Pickard. I wouldn’t make that trade 1 for 1, let alone adding a 2nd and a 3rd.
Vejmelka has been Utah’s starter this season. He’s played 38 games won 16, 1 shutout 2.45 GAA & .910 SV%. Pickard has been Skinner backup played 23 games, 15 wins, 2.61 GAA & .901 SV%. Skinner has played 40 games, won 20, with 2 shutouts, 2.87 GAA & .898 SV%. I think Vejmelka is better than Pickard and is most likely marginally better than Skinner
I think we see this trade by Friday. Skinner can not be trusted to make it through more than 1 round without a reset. The Coach can not let touchy feelings get in the way of winning a Cup.
Well I guess that’s that, then.
Skinner is a fully developed NHL goalie, at the ripe old age of, wait for it… 26.
Guess there’s no room for improvment here.
Might as well sell at the bottom, then.
Fourth round pick and a C prospect seem about right?
Good grief.
If there’s one deadline addition I want to see, it’s this^. I’m concerned that the acquisition cost is going to be dear, and worry that this player can’t be had for anything less than another 1st round pick. This team needs to find McDavid’s Pascal Dupuis, who was a tremendous fit alongside Crosby and Kunitz in PIT for a long time.