In the history of a sports franchise, there are relatively few major shifts in course. The Oilers were a fine example of that statement from 1979-2000. That’s a 20-year run of Glen Sather, Peter Pocklington (through 1998) and Barry Fraser in important roles.
Once Slats split for Manhattan, and Pocklington sold, things changed. Kevin Lowe made an immediate trade and it was a surprise. He dealt Roman Hamrlik to the Islanders for Eric Brewer, Josh Green and the second-round pick that the team used to grab Brad Winchester’s playing rights.
The period from Lowe’s arrival as general manager to Daryl Katz purchasing the club was one of the most interesting times in the organization’s history. It was the second chapter in team history, the EIG known for pausing the NHL-AHL affiliation for a time, cash calls and some uncertainty. They are also known (correctly) as the individuals who saved the team.
The Daryl Katz era will be remembered, I believe, in two distinct movements.
From 2008 through 2015, it was much about Katz learning on the job, and about the high cost of interference. I’ve always expected there was pressure brought to bear from the league/agents to get a ‘real’ general manager and that was Peter Chiarelli. I thought he would be a blessing, but it was a misfire.
However, by 2015 the Oilers had upgraded the Hall-Nuge-Eberle draft trifecta with McDavid-Draisaitl-Nurse and the handoff to Ken Holland improved the team’s fortunes.
The most recent verse began in the spring of 2020. Holland guided the ship until last spring, and now Stan Bowman is at the helm.
These Oilers may not win the Stanley, but each season sees the team push deep and one of these springs will bring the power and the glory.
What’s that? Five changes in 46 years? I think it is. All of the Stanley Cups came in stage one (1979-2000), one SCF appearance in stage two (2000-2008), none in stage 3 (2008-2015), none in stage 4 (2015-2020) and one in the most recent stage. The team is looking for the second SCF and Stanley No. 6. Tonight is a big game.
In the Dallas games, McDavid faced Miro Heisksnen 19:12, winning the shot share 11-3 but 1-1 goals. Expected goals? 83 percent. The Heiskanen-Harley tandem is one Kris Knoblauch may want to avoid for the No. 1 line, but he doesn’t line match as much as run his team with the idea that opposition needs to adjust. When you have McDavid-Draisaitl, it’s not the worst plan in the world.
Knoblauch might want to see what the captain can do against Lindell-Ceci in Edmonton. He has last change, and 97 could blow the series wide open if he gets clean air. McDavid versus Ceci in Dallas at five-on-five? 10:07, 2-0 goals, 8-6 shots, 66 percent expected goals.
On the other hand, Knoblauch should consider Kulak-Bouchard versus the Rantanen line based on the Dallas minutes. Rantanen was 10-0 shots with a 73 percent expected goal share versis Darnell Nurse. It was 15 minutes of hellfire.
Bouchard spent 12:19 versus the Rantanen line. Edmonton scored the only goal and Rantanen’s expected goal share was 48 percent.
I don’t have a feel for the game today. I’m uncertain what version of the Oilers we’ll see. If the home team plays at anything close to its best, Edmonton will celebrate a 2-1 lead in the WC finals later in the day.
Overall, great period. Couple wobbles Oilers need to iron out but sure hard to complain about out scoring, out shooting, and out hitting the Stars.
Henrique 2-13 Corsi events in the first. Matches the eye test.
I think Knobber is going to have to blend the third line a bit.
Solid period all around. Stu with a few big saves early and Oil with the finish late. Now an important kill coming up. Henrique line getting killed but also his line seems to be the one tasked with most dzone draws, freeing top two lines with the ozone starts. Neither Henrique or Janmark are defensive centres so this is the one thing the Oil are missing..
I thought Dallas outplayed us we need to step it up and get the next goal.
we def went to sleep there
keep rolling, Stars won’t roll over
Great, mature period. Oilers are playing smart and not cheating. Stu is looking awkward and making all the saves. Guys are working their butts off and paying attention to details, especially in the dzone.
Change Nothing! Kill off this bs penalty and keep hounding them!
Stay away from giving Dallas any emotional connection
JOKE OFFICIATING
Pretty good first period, but oh my very sloppy play by the Oilers the last few minutes.
Henrique line getting killed out there.
Terrible call. How do all 4 refs miss that.
That should 100% be turned over but nope because they missed the over the glass they just leave that bullshit call.
The stripes just make themselves look bad.
Agreed. Most of the Dallas pressure is coming when they’re on the ice.
Now DeBoer cannot cry
Lines 1,2 and 4 are cooking.
Henrique line is getting shelled.
I know line 1 is having a great game but I would consider swapping Henrique and RNH.
Henrique has no business being anywhere near the top line.
There was a brief blip where Henrique seemed to be coming on, that seems to be over and the Oilers are getting caved when he’s on ice now.
Stu starting to look less uncomfortable in the net. His movements are becoming more economical
I thought that could have hit a skate going out. Even if you’d have reviewed it, I wouldn’t say there was conclusive evidence. Yes, the stick face was turned but the moment of release saw that foot rise in front of the puck.
Yea but Simpson has referred to it as a missed call and huge break for Edmonton.
Evan Bouchard is the best playoff d-man in the NHL – end stop.
Huge game for Nuge so far!!
Oilers may have 4 of the top 5 playoff scorers by the end of this game.
BOOM!!!! Connor buries!!! Great patience!!’!!!
McCAPTAIN🚨🚨!!
ANOTHER 2 point game for Nuge.
The Nuge continues to be huge.
B💣💣CH! 🚨
Break this game open boys!!
Boooouucchhhh….
Nuge is playing some decent hockey
Textbook how to score on a good tender like OTT
More than decent – 3 straight 2 point games.
BOOM!!! Bouch Bomb!!!
Got lucky on that
they look loose and out of sync
And then…. what a turn of events
Geebuz that was a big save. He looked awkward but he got there
Mason Marchment is as cheap as his dad. I know his pops was briefly an Oiler but he was filthy.
Good start
Watching the game at the cabin. What could be better!
Expecting a mature, measured and energetic game!
Hay ✅
Jersey ✅
Iced Tea in a Fancy Glass ✅
Let’s Do This!
GO OILERS!!
👊🏽👊🏽👊🏽
100th hit for Hyman.
Ron Low is a happy man!
Home ice, hammer time!
LFGOilers!!
Emily Kaplan reporting Hintz arrived in Edmonton without a walking boot.
Is anyone surprised?
………………………….
Remember the the Panthers acting success in the Finals last season. Foegele got a match penalty for “first degree murder” and Luostarinen was out for his next shift.
And when Pietrangelo “Paul Bunyan’d” Drai and got a 1 game suspension cancelled out by the bs Nurse suspension.
The hit last night on Blake by the aforementioned Finn looked very bad. I wonder what comes it, despite Blake coming back with just a scratch, that seems AT LEAST 2 games to me.
…………………………….
The Mikkola attempted throat grab on Svechnikov last night really pissed me off. I did not feel sorry for the player at all when he left the game with an apparent shoulder injury.
There is a massive difference between playing tough and playing to injure.
It’s a Festivus miracle!
Hintz is out for game 3 reportedly
There is no feeling out process they must immediately impose their will and stick a fork in them by the end of the first. Edmonton knows they are s superior team when they involve everyone and move the puck upstream channelling to the net. If we’re gong to beat Florida we can’t can’t get into a life and death tug of war with Dallas.
Game day excitement. If you didn’t do it yesterday, get those lawns mowed early today!!
Looking for the Oil to keep doing what they’ve been doing, with the exception of the Henrique line who needs to be much better. Watch for McDrai to go supernova today!
Can’t wait!
Oilers need to win the next 3 and get the WCF done in 5. Canes putting up no resistance in the ECF so FLA will get lots of rest.
Oilers come out flying and win a close one 4 to 3.
Friedman has confirmed that Hintz is in Edmonton.
Elliotte Friedman
@FriedgeHNIC
Game-time decision, per Pete DeBoer
No changes for Oilers
It’s all theatre for Dallas, remember Chris Tanev?
— Oiler at at home in the Stanley Cup Semi Finals
— Split the first two. Games of the semis and have home ice.
— I just like saying it’s the semi-finals. No kid growing up has imagine playing in the Eastern conference finals or whatever they call it
— They are in the semi finals. Hoping to advance to the Stanley Cup. Dreaming about it like any kid
LFGOILERS!!!
I think it was Game 3 against the Kings, you asked who thought the Oilers would make it to the SCF. I think I said “zero percent chance”. Surreal to be thinking cup finals potential now. These Oilers look GOOD.
It used to be, and still should be, the Campbell Conference finals.
RE: Harley and Heiskanen vs McDavid
They haven’t played with each other exclusively so far vs EDM. Here is how their time vs McDavid breaks down: (all are DAL’s results 5v5 with McDavid on the ice)
Game 1
Together 5:51min – 2.25 xGF% (not a typo); 0-0 actual goals
Harley apart 1:15min (sample not big enough to matter, its one shift)
Heiskanen apart 4:10 – 79.1 xGF%
Neither on with McDavid on 6:33min – 18.8% xGF
So game one McDavid shitcanned them together and when neither was on the ice, but Heiskanen did a good job away from Harley.
Game 2
Together 2:22 min – 65.9 xGF% (not a typo); 0-0 actual goals
Harley apart 2:52min 100 xGF% (not a typo)
Heiskanen apart 6:49 -0.00 xGF% (not a typo)
Neither on with McDavid on 2:02min – 100% (not a typo)xGF
Not big samples but its totally flipped script from game one.
Game one Heiskanen played 14:01 with Harley, 3:37 with Lindell and 2:13 with Bichsel
Game two Heskanen played 8:52 with Lindell and 8:04 with Harley
Nothing to conclude with this info, but thought it was add to the DAL Dpair and match ups conversation.
So the answer is… roles the lines and hold on for more bags of numbers?
Small sample sizes here, we are talking about single-digit minutes. You recognize this, but thought I would underscore the point for other readers.
I’m expecting a big game from Kane-Henrique-Brown we are also due for a shortie it’s Janmark time.
I hope so.
Those 3 have been getting pounded so far this series.
91-19-28 vs DAL
13 min together – 23.7% xGF – luckily 0-0 in Actual Goals
Visually their minutes together are mostly spend the dzone with much butt clenching going on amongst the fans
I love Henrique, and he still has utility and value, but sometimes I don’t think he’s physically equipped to play C any longer. Looks slow, tired and overworked at times, especially when they’re buried for 60 seconds in the D zone.
I think they move on from him after this season.
Word is ANA would be happy to have him back and he, and especially his wife, would be happy to go back.
Beautiful
I don’t think there has been a real shift in the K atz era. The owner likes being surrounded by famous hockey men.
McDraichard brilliance is largely the only reason this team has been able to overcome owner/management incompetence.
I remember the verbal when McDavid ws drafted and Draisaitl was percolating ten years ago: you’d have to beat free agents away, expand the rafters to support all the SC banners. A decade later, and wasted RFA years, and it’s been the brilliance of that duo dragging up a marginal team for the most part.
Yep.
Holland was an improvement on Chia (a very very low bar) but at best he was a league average GM.
Stan’s track record pre-Edmonton was exceedingly mediocre. His work in Edmonton has been quite good. We shall see.
How about Bobbie Nicks transitioning to JJ, whose big July 1 signings are eating popcorn every game.
What about Jackson’s:
Re-siging of Connor Brown for $1MM
Re-signing of Troy Stecher for $787,500 (X2)
Re-signing of Cal Pickard for $1MM (X2)
Going with my son today. I expect a start like games 3 and 4 against Vegas, firing on all cylinders and hitting everything that moves to the crowd’s delight. After that, all bets are off but I am hoping for more of game 2.
Still no news about Hintz or Ekholm?
I heard Hintz is having an amputation and transplant this morning and expects to be in the lineup
My hope is that he feels obliged to play, but is not at full capacity.
I hope the foot donor is Jiri Dopita
Given the travel day yesterday (so no skate) and early game today (so no pre-game skate), well, we won’t have any information on either until warm-ups probably.
I know. I imagine Hintz made the trip but considering that was listed as possible, I thought someone would have at least reported on this
New for The Athletic: You might be anxious about the game later today Oilers-Stars. In this article: Complete look at the Oilers prospects, including Sam O’Reilly at the Mem Cup and Maxim Berezkin knocking on the door.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6379710/2025/05/25/edmonton-oilers-prospects-spring-2025/
Reports are Berezkin is re-signing in Loco for one season. Player’s decision.
Oilers will keep his rights.
Disappointing but not surprising
I don’t know anything about the player, but it seems odd to me that he wouldn’t want to come over and try to crack the Oil lineup.
If DeBoer and Dallas are focused on retribution, Oilers in a landslide.
I cant see them playing as dumb as they’ve talked, but I’m hopefull. I think Kane and Perry could really impact today’s game if they’re out there early, often, running at the mouth and playing on the edge.
Any views on the reffing today? I could see a game with very few calls hopefully the Refs don’t make it about them.
One thing I will note: been watching a lot of NHL highlights from the 00s and 10s, regular season and playoffs. Holy hell, the game seriously has substantially increased in speed in just the past decade. And it’s not just in basic north-south skating speed, but it’s in the overall pace of play. Every single motion feels faster in today’s game.
For that, I’m trying to give the stripes a bit more grace, at least for certain calls/miscalls. How the hell they’re expected to do what they do at this point is critically unfair, and I don’t think help is coming from the league as far as making a major structural change in how officiating is conducted.
Today’s refs are Kelly Sutherland and Eric Furlatt.
We are spared Sideshow Wes, so that’s good.
Further down that link:
[Rubs hands together while maniacally grinning]
Prospectulous!
The Knights are going back-to-back to open their tourney as they battle the Rimouski Crosbys, who dropped the tourney opener to the Hat on Friday.
O’Reilly was the Player of the Game last night, providing the alpha and omega goals in London’s 3-2 overtime win.
Should the Knights win today, it would guarantee them at least a semi-final appearance.
You are empowered to view this game on TSN (Canada) and Victory+ (elsewhere).
Puck drops @ 4 p.m. Waseca (SK) time.
Interestingly, perhaps only to me, Moncton has both a Crosby (Logan, not related and not a scoring threat) and a McKinnon (Dylan, not related and a defensive defenseman) on their roster.
They both have good size, 20 YO DM is a Nashville pick, but 19 YO LC is not an NHL prospect.
I’d like to say the Oilers have the Stars number but hope is a dangerous thing Andy. I also suspect with all the verbal, this could get nasty real quick. We have the men to answer the call if needed. If ceiling Oilers and Skinner post another shutout, this series could be over by dinner.
Maybe it’s mostly luck but Nurse leads the team in 5 on 5 time on ice in the series, playing the most against Rantanen and is 1-0 goals.
I note the shots, and that’s real, but do we recall many dangerous shots at 5 on 5 though the two games? I’m sure there were some but I don’t recall many.
I’ve been saying how great the Oilers played in their own zone last game – defending in zone will never be good for the numbers but is important and Nurse was part of high end in-zone defending through 2 games – at 5 on 5.
Getting Bouch out there very well may be a strong choice and what coach does with last change. Bouch is an elite top 3 dman in the league in the playoffs.
Actually, no, Bouch is THE best dman in the playoffs, yearly.
I’ve been thinking along the same lines regarding Bouchard recently. I know he has his warts in the regular season I Do think eventually those will fade with even more time in the league, but in playoffs for the last 4 years he really is consistent. In my mind in isn’t a coincidence anymore. You bite the bullet and pay the man his money and lock him up
There is a difference that gets blurred together and that is defending vs. giveaways. Because of Bouch’s glaring giveaways that lead to golden opportunities against people say Bouchard is poor at defending but that is a different thing. He seems to be quite good at defending but prone to a big oopsie with the puck (when he’s not doing something magical with it).
Evan Bouchard is literally the best defenseman in the NHL in the playoffs – this is two years running of elite high end 2-way play and lets not forget he led all d-men in scoring in the playoffs the year before that by 5 points and he only played two rounds.
His playoff production is literally all-time historic – only behind Orr in P/G and the sample is large and real.
His 2-way player, two years in a row – high end.
This is 100% correct and what I’ve been saying for years.
Bouchard is actually high end at playing defence – he is elite at zone entry denial and puck retrieval and transition and his defensive structure game is good. He does have issues net front but, other than that, his D game is quite good.
Of course, during the regular season he does make poor puck decisions for giveaways and, when he’s slumping those occur too often but that goes away in the playoffs – yearly.
Bouch is a monster in the playoffs in all aspects. All the comments on here saying Nurse is the one to take out when Ekholm gets back need to give their head a shake.
Inquiring minds want to know,
Is Hintz in the lineup?
I would think it’ll be a game time decision.
It’s not even clear if he traveled to Dallas
If you believe the narrative coming out of Dallas, I was expecting a “unfortunately, Hintz succumbed to his injuries. He fought until the end” press release from the Stars.
Enjoyed the prospect read at the Athletic today LT, especially coming off such a strong showing by young O’Reilly last night.
Your timing is fortuitous unfortunately, as word out of Russia today has Beryozkin signing a 1 yr extension to stay in the KHL:
https://x.com/HockeyNewsHub/status/1926602199473295862?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1926602199473295862%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=
Glass half full; only a 1 yr deal makes me think he is considering coming over soon, maybe believing there is more room at the inn 2 yrs from now.
Or he could be trade bait. I know I’m a broken record, but Bowman has no attachment to the player. He does have value. Maybe a deadline deal.
To your point LT, with only 3 picks in this Draft, I wouldn’t be surprised if Bowman trades a couple of players on the reserve list.
Berezkin and Muzenberger come immediately to mind.
Not sure Munzenburger is tradeable – he’s a UFA as of August 15 (I believe that is the date).
Berezkin likely is as the Oilers retain his rights.
This would be no different than the Marino trade.
Sometimes we simply don’t know the entire story, if we even get any info.