When your favourite team drafts a home run in a later round, it is truly a time to celebrate. If that home run pick is recognized by management and coaching, that’s an organizational lift that can help a team soar for ages. That second item has been a problem for the Oilers in the past. Example: Miro Satan.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN MARCH
- On the road to: CAR (Expected 0-0-1) (Actual 1-0-0)
- At home to: ANA, MTL, DAL (Expected 2-1-0) (Actual 2-1-0)
- On the road to: BUF, NJD, NYI, NYR (Expected 2-2-0) (Actual 0-1-0)
- At home to: UTA, WPG, SEA, DAL (Expected 2-2-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- On the road to: SEA (Expected 0-0-1) (Actual 0-0-0)
- At home to: CGY (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- Overall expected results: 7-5-2, 16 points in 14 games
- March result: 3-2-0
- Oilers in 2024-25: 37-23-4, 78 points in 64 games
All bets are off on this team. If you say the Oilers will win and guarantee it, I’m going to assume you are being a fan and are high on hope. I’ve been there. I am not there with this team. They look like a tire going flat on the freeway, car in the middle lane and driver unaware of danger. Good luck!
HOME RUN?
The Oilers selection of Satan in the fifth round of the 1993 draft saw the media give him far more attention than normal for a player chosen so late. Why? The name. However, there were some interesting items on Satan after the draft. Quoting The Hockey News and Dan Barnes from July 1993: “No wonder the Oilers think they had a helluva day. They picked Satan. A Slovak from Dukla Trencin, (he was) one of the players they found during four free-agent camps in Belarus, Riga, Prague and Moscow this past season.”
Satan was a home run, he started scoring in North America when he arrived at the airport. Edmonton didn’t see him as the player he was, and that happens.
I’m writing this because the Oilers appear to have “found one” in goaltender Samuel Jonsson. He was named Allsvenskan ‘Goalie of the Year’ earlier this week and you better believe prospect trackers are aware of his fine work.
Jonsson offers hope to an organization that simply doesn’t have many prospects tracking as possible feature NHL players in the years to come.
There’s almost zero downbeat on this story. The Allsvenskan is an excellent league. I’ve written about him many times, including a November article at The Athletic discussing the organization’s improved goaltender procurement.
Quoting the article: “Samuel Jonsson is a giant Swedish goalie, playing in the substantial Allsvenskan (Sweden’s second league) this year. He’s playing as a backup, but getting plenty of playing time (eight games) so far this season. His .918 save percentage ranks No. 2 among goaltenders in the league with eight or more games. He’s 6-foot-5 and 200 pounds, a classic modern NHL size. Edmonton may have a real one here.”
Why did they stop the free-agent camps? Are they verboten?
Jonsson isn’t Miro Satan, but he’s sure as hell a sliver of hope for an Oilers organization that is currently Matt Savoie, Sam O’Reilly, Beau Akey and a bunch of guys hoping to become Gaetan Haas someday.
I don’t have much to say about the Oilers who will play in New Jersey tonight. How a team with this much talent can be so dull is beyond me. Have they stopped listening to the coach?
There have been times when this team, coached by Kris Knoblauch, were so precise, so aware, so committed, that an old-timey phrase from my youth (‘all-in but the shoe laces’) would come back to me. Where is that team? Where did the awareness go? The head-on-a-swivel defending? These Edmonton Oilers are porridge. There is no sizzle, and there sure as hell is no steak.
It’s Thursday and that means Bagged Milk from Oilers Nation will join us, and we’ll have someone from the Jersey side to discuss tonight’s game, too. The Blue Jays will come up a time or two, and Declan loves to talk NBA so we’ll have some roundball chatter as well.
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.
Posted this yesterday.
The tape indicates poor finishing, saving and details like sticks in lanes and closing the gap.
None of that suggests age or roster construction as major factors. And expected goals suggest the basic pieces are there. Skinner can and should be average although he’s not right now.
Can Coffey convince the D to give a sh*t? How about getting in lanes and closing the gap once in a while. One can only presume that Coffey the coach cares about things that Coffey the player never did.
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John Goyens & Daily Faceoff with a review of EDM’s ugly play since 4 nations (starts 19:15).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBBx2Ql6hM8&t=1155s
Who are the past winners of this goalie award?
If the coach doesn’t build his game plan around hitting posts and crossbars 8-3 Oilers lol
Everyone is giving the Oilers their best shot while the Oilers are finding it hard to view their opponents worthy of receiving their best shot.
https://www.eliteprospects.com/awards/hockeyallsvenskan?name=HockeyAllsvenskan+Goalie+of+the+Year
Last two winners at least are in the AHL, one doing pretty good, one struggling while everyone else is retired or life long overseas tending.
Is there some reason why Oilers management have deemed fit to ice the oldest team in the NHL?
Wrong department. That was Oilers CEO-ment that made that decision.
We need a player not named Leon-Connor to step up and do something besides goung through the motions. When your biggest shit disturber is collecting old age pension then Houston we have a problem. I foresee Federic signing for 3 years as this team desperately lacks grumpiness. How soon before Clattenburg makes his debut?
Yes not much life in our group of “Zombie Apocalypse ” forwards!
If Frederic comes in and plays really really well ( which f course we hope), I am not sure the Oil will be able to afford him. Plus he is an American from the St Louis hockey factory. He may want to go play in St Louis who would probably welcome him
Tonight things turn around. Oilers win 4-1. Book it.
I’m here for it. But willing to provide counseling afterwards if needed
Bless you. We may need that and some of Hbomb’s drink recipes (for those who remember when he used to post regularly).
That’s a new wrinkle for Lowetide. Sports Music Booze Therapy
Kasperi Kapanen has the worst GA/60 in the league among forward. Almost 4 GA/60.
PDO 94.1 OISV% 85.8
Agggh, yes, Kapanen has been solid, just can’t get a save.
3.97 GA/60
On ice expected goal against per 60
2.47
Second lowest on the team, maybe some saves would help.
On ice high danger shots against per 60
2.57
Second lowest on the team, again maybe some saves would help.
He’s the one in the lineup to replace.
Kane and Frederic in for Kapanen and Janmark and we’ll be 👌
A miracle the Oilers need is for Frederic to be able to centre a 3rd line that does something. They don’t have any bottom 6 centres that are very good at the moment. Don’t seem to think Philp is there. Henri probably does better at wing at this point
Frederic isn’t a center though.
Glad he’s getting called out more lately. He’s been bad.
CF% 51.0 FF% 50.5 he’s winning his ice time.
McDavid CF%64.5 tied highest of career
FF%63.2 2nd highest of career
OISV%86.6 lowest of career
PDO 98.7 lowest of career
Forwards would look much better with a 1A mostly goalie.
Need to add in the # of high percent shots allowed. Posted yesterday, the # of these given up as gone up steadily the last 2 months – to where in Feb, Oilers gave up the most in the league.
Bad puck management sewers OISV% and PDO.
Soft goals deflate teams give o shit meter
He is who we thought he was.….except there were many on here who liked the acquisition.
Waiver wire pick up for 1 million, can fill in on a skilled line.
Let’s bury him for not being a 4C and having turnovers like every other player? Lol
Keith Gretzky shredding the Condors’ goaltending in Oilers Now yesterday.
I’m not sure I understand how goaltending coaches in this org have continued unscathed. Goalies haven’t exactly been improving year over year in either Bako or Edmonton. Skinners avg has gotten worse each year in Edm, for example.
Kelly Guard was just hired this off-season.
We could see 4 new goaltenders in this organization next year.
Bad GM’s blame the goaltenders. Gretzky is responsible for the roster and probably the coach-with-the-weak-resume-and-no-results-in-three-years.
Keith Gretzky is also the guy who as interim GM traded for Anthony Stolarz in 2019, only to have Ken Hitchcock nail his ass to the bench & start Mikko Koskinen in 24 of 25 games (he was sick for the other) & for the Oilers to learn nothing about the new guy. Then a new GM was hired — an old goalie, no less — & Stolarz was allowed to walk without much of a thought given.
That one is bad, Stolarz has been good since
.
Living in Saudi Arabia, I haven’t been able to watch many games this year. The last I watched was the first two periods of the Dallas game. Seems I didn’t miss much since then. I hope our host is wrong and the team returns to a form they haven’t really found yet this year. Remember we are missing the Viking, Frederic and Kane. Any of whom could make a not insignificant difference to another long run.
The first two periods against Dallas were the best hockey they’ve played in some time.
Watch the damn games man!
I’m a woman, but point taken! Will do my best.
Vermont’s season is done.
I look for Munzenburger to be under contract and in his way to Bako within a week.
Make this happen.
PS Maatta in the convo as well.
Please and thank you.
Looks like Mercer has fallen off or settled into a mid 30 point player. Unless he can recapture his sophomore breakout, perhaps Holloway was the better pick?
Where is your math god now muahaha.
DH is a much bigger fella and fast. It’s a thing in a full contact sport, the exception being elite skating and skill. Not many small players without have much impact, especially the litany of small D that got drafted a while back when it was in vogue: Fox won a Norris but eastern bias his PuckIQ is meh. Hughes and Makar? Can’t think of any others that are truly impact players
Watch Lane Huston. Another small D who changes things when he’s on the ice.
Very talented as is his bro. I’ll reserve opinion until Lane can do that in the playoffs. He’s pretty small for an NHL player let alone a D. The Oilers banged up Hughes pretty good
At both ends of the ice though. Hutson is terrible defensively.
Nooooooooooooo. Lowetide. No. Anybody else but you. Part of what I love about you has been your eternal optimism with this team that brings me hope when I can’t see it myself. I feel truly heartbroken reading your words today.
He’s probably got the flu, or whatever it is that has turned the club to “porridge” these past weeks. I hear there’s a nasty one out there. It eats your resolve and puck-luck for breakfast, turns your writing offside whenever & wherever.
LT spends part of each day with school-age kids he’s teaching to be radio stars. They’ve been hacking & coughing & sneezing for weeks now. I’m guessing the old dog has it now too.
Get well soon LT! & Oilers!
We’re counting on you!
There are plenty of theories being floated now and I certainly hope it’s not that the team has stopped listening to the coach. My sense is that you played with a short roster for more than half the season – a roster that was older, and slower and they’re sick, beat up and under-performing. The mental mistakes and poor puck management just keep piling up.
It reminds me of the 2000 NY Yankees. They were pursuing a 3rd straight WS title (and 4th in 5 years). Grabbed the lead in the AL East, were challenged but never gave it up. Late in the season – whether it was just fatigue or a veteran group looking ahead to the playoffs they completely took the foot off the gas and went 3-15 to finish the season. They turned it back on in the playoffs, eventually beating the crosstown Mets in the series.
If you think Edmonton fans/media are difficult, try being in NY where there were 6 newspapers, 7 TV networks, 24/7 sports radio and millions of fans in an absolute panic. The headlines were apocalyptic but in the end, it was the vets who pulled it out when it counted most.
The teams leaders need to lead now more than ever.
Sorry but you lost me at “4th in 5 years”. That was the 1988 Oilers. The 2025 edition has a long way to go.
I’m sure I lost LT at the mention of “Yankees”.
Not a perfect analogy, but I’m trying to convince myself this is not the coach. as much as an imperfect, aging roster that’s reached the dog days of the season.
This team has nothing even resembling the mental fortitude and confidence of that group.
Those Yankees knew that if they lost it was a fluke and they’d come out the next day and blow you away. They didn’t think it – they knew it. The best example of the right attitude for a great team is that 1996-2000 Yankees squad.
The other weird thing about them – no true superstar. As a kid it annoyed me – I wanted someone to bash 50 homers a year for them and knew Steinbrenner could make it happen – but being built as even and deep as they were made it completely unnecessary.
Disgusting that this team has fallen from such high expectations to pinning their future on a Goalie in the Swedish Second League.
Now that’s funny HH.
Ha!…maybe his newest “persona non grata” should be Carney’s Crack…
Yeah, where is that team. “ Hopefully they show up tonight,” he said, not confidently.
They’re going to be all in but the shoe laces for the remainder of the season & playoffs.
yippy-eyeo- ca-yea… mother trucker.