This is Ziggy a decade ago. Oh my God she was so cute. I love her so much, she’s my pal. My friend Dean will hang up on me if I’m walking into the house because he knows I’m going to make a fuss (in a ridiculous voice) for Ziggy. She wags her tail, barks, chases after me and pulls my socks off in what is basically a life-and-death battle with various materials.
She still has the hedgehog in photo, I’ve sewn it up hundreds of times. She got it on the first day we had her. On that day, we bought her the hedgehog, a collar, leash, food, a food and water dish, a mountain of treats, and a luxurious kennel.
On her first night in the house, we kissed her good night, put her in the kennel and went upstairs to bed. Our little doggo cried and cried, then howled, and then someone (not me) said “I can’t stand this anymore!” and brought Ziggy up to the bed, where she sleeps nightly and growls if I move a pinky toe.
Ziggy has no natural enemies, can’t see a rabbit two feet in front of her, expects a treat whenever I go to the kitchen, barks constantly at my neighbour John (who is a great guy!) and generally walks around the house like a queen.
She’s older now, still has boundless energy but for shorter periods. She stole my coyote blanket miles ago, she has the best spot on the bed and looks at me with disdain when the dog dish isn’t filled. When I’m at home, we’re inseparable. I am committed to Ziggy enjoying the rest of her life in the same manner she’s always known: the world is hers, she is free as a bird, love flows freely from all who know her. She’s given me more than I could possibly give her.
She makes me laugh with her disdainful look, and she never ever fails to follow me to make sure I do okay in the bathroom, while barbecuing and when giving out treats. Such a helper.
I didn’t have much to say about the Oilers this morning, I think we’re kind of assessing in our own minds the path forward. I did write a piece at The Athletic about needs and possible available solutions and of course there will be more to come in the days ahead. I’ll have Bagged Milk from Oilers Nation on the Lowdown at noon today, and will read your comments about the Trent Frederic signing. You already know how I feel. Enjoy the day, say hello to your dog for me.
My Nikki has two hedgehogs. They are her most favourite toys in the world. A gray one named Henry II(V2.0) and his wife a brown one named Henrietta. She is so rough on these stuffies that they are war amps. They always say you hurt the ones you love. Well Nikki must really love them.
In any other sport, having the best player in the world is a huge leg up over the rest of the field and almost a guarantee to make the finals.
This team has the two best players in the world on the roster, additional final appearances are in our future and there will more than one.
As far the conspiracy talk goes, here’s why I can’t get on board with it. After 4 games this series what tied at two, with two potential home games out of the next three yet this team proceeded to shyte the bed bigly in the next two remaining games. I simply can’t “conspiracy theory” my way into justifying this.
Whose suggesting conspiracy?
I think the critique has been of a sort of broad cultural favouritism.
What you describe is a team that ran into a wall before another team ran into a wall. Why? How?
Did PEDs contribute to this? I would like to know so long as we’re investigating the Oilers’ supposed advantage.
This is over and above what we all could see: pims called against Edmonton early in games, make ups when out of reach. The oilers had to chase too often.And a fully missed objective cant miss no grey area penalty in 2OT. over and above all the motivation: Southern market expansion.
The NHL invites raised eyebrows – labelling it as conspiratorial is not necessary to advance the question.
LT, I can truly appreciate your bond with Ziggy. There is something very special about a good pet.My late brown Sealpoint Siamese AKA Nutbar, would ay a big hello to Ziggy were he still on this side of the rainbow bridge…
Some people are cat people, some are dog people. I was lucky to have Nutbar who was a cat who THOUGHT he was a dog. Best of both worlds. He would greet me at the door when I came home, he would chase his own tale around table legs for hours until he fell over dizzy, bring me a cat toy when he came to sit on my lap on the sofa, and when he jumped off a chair he would NEVER land on his feet (usually on his head). Definitely a dog in cat form. Miss him terribly sometimes.
Cherish this time. Pets give us so much and ask nothing in return than a meal, an occasional belly rub, and a toy to play with. They are furry little angels.
Don’t play Hopkins if he has a broken hand. You have fresh, extra players.
FFS are these “hockey people” ever stupid.
I thought Hopkins was fine. Maybe could have taken him off PP1 and put Skinner in his spot if he couldn’t shoot, but he did have one PP goal.
Yeh, Florida probably shouldn’t have played Barkov, Tkachuk or Reinhart either.
Not going to be a popular opinion.., how about we try to sign Marner and trade McDavid? We can add pieces from the trade to fill the need
O/U 2 hours before this gets the HH boot. I’m taking over but I’m almost always bullish.
Confirmed that Nuge had a broken hand – confirmed by McDavid – that’s what I heard a few weeks back.
”He’s incredibly important to the group and definitely a deal that needs to get done”.
McDavid on Bouchard.
This McDavid kid knows hockey.
“If I feel there is a window to win here, over and over again, then signing is no problem-
Connor McDavid.
Does he feel that way? Recent history suggests the answer is “yes.” Does he feel the window is closing?
Is there a chance that all of the LTIR usage has been “investigated” but only the one involving the Oilers has been leaked?
I have so much trouble understanding how it could be the guy who had 5 surgical repairs being scrutinized.
The league could have just changed the rules. Instead, they are deciding in hindsight to scrutinize the player. Brilliant, they can make up a random judgement call instead of doling out fair, clear guidelines.
The league, like the world, (not to be dramatic) is not fair. No sense crying foul, from 0 penalties in Game 6 from the 2 cleanest hockey teams ever to 32 years of history, if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s a damn duck.
Build better hockey teams with smart people.
Game management
Series management
Franchise management
these scales are nested and connected
Thank you.
I consider our two, Furry Angels.
I’ve had these angelic creatures & their kin with me all of my life, except for the years either side of raising teenagers. I’m not sure that was a good idea, parenting teens without dog love and wisdom to nourish me.
The Oilers have no reason to hang their heads low after being the underdogs in three consecutive series, and being victorious, especially against Dallas, where NHL analysts 90% of them predicted a Dallas, short series and a Dallas victory. It was short, but in favour of the Oilers looking at the team, I think the signing of Fredrick is excellent. It now puts Kane in a precarious situation, probably being traded to free up some money if Fredrick plays centre as he wishes, then Henrique is expendable and we have a solid third line Center. Here’s one for others to chime in on what do you think about letting Waldman become the pointman on the power-play? He has an excellent shot, and seems very Clever, this would allow Oilers to trade Bouchard, which would fetch them a couple of excellent young players just like Carolina got Stankoven that type of young dynamic player could really bode well for the oilers. It’s just a thought, but it’s one worth considering.
The Oilers need Bouchard, end of story. The team gets caved when he leaves the ice, especially in the playoffs. His numbers away from McDrai are also incredible. He’s a unicorn.
No way you trade Bouchard.
Looking at puckpedia today
Viljami Marjala age 22 signed ELC deal for 872,500, 2 yrs.
Drafted by the Sabres in the 5th round
Daniel Nugent-Bowman
@DNBsports
·
16m
From the beat in Boston, Frederic is a more material center than winger.
I think they see this guy as the 3C going forward – perhaps some ability to move up and play wing in the top 6 (I know we didn’t see that player in the playoffs but high ankle sprains are what they are).
I don’t mind that idea of him being the 3C until OR comes along but man 8 years is way too much. 4yr or max 5 would be ok. Problem is he will get 8 yrs somewhere else for the 3 mill.
8 years for a largely unproven centre? I don’t like it, but I hope I’m wrong.
Bouch says he loves being here and wants to be here and they’ll see where talks will go shortly.
We have to sign him, crazy player. This summer he needs to go to ‘how not to give the puck away’ camp and practice, practice, practice.
Perry says today he’d love to stay but will let the higher ups do the talking.
I’m fine having Perry back but not at the price point that he’s likely to receive on the open market – Oilers can’t afford to pay him $2MM which he likely gets.
I don’t think we should expect 19G again.
We got the best of Corey Perry, but it’s foolish to count on a player in his 40’s to help us win a Stanley Cup in 2026.
What Perry did in 2025 is absolutely sensational.
I’m not always a fan of doing it but a “reward contract” for Perry at the same money or close to what he was paid this year for next year goes a long way to the perception of Edmonton being a good place to play.
Signing Frederic now leaves the Oilers much more exposed to a potential Bouchard offer sheet. That would be a colossal mistake.
Bouchard has to be willing to sign an offer sheet.
Nobody else can offer him the opportunity to play with Connor McDavid.
That and if he does sign an offer sheet, the Oilers can go out and get an Ekblad plus with their picks
Not likely. Ekblad will be a July 1 signing, meaning he’ll likely be off the market by the time any offer sheet comes through (and then the Oilers have 7 days to respond).
We don’t know that he isn’t willing, though. Especially if he gets a huge AAV offer from Carolina or similar.
Signing with the Blues didn’t give Broberg and Holloway the opportunity to play with McDavid either, but they took the money and ran. Oilers management put themselves in a similar situation last summer by signing less important pieces first, leaving them with few options when the offer sheets came through.
Bro and Holloway were blocked while Bouch is their most played D who usually is with two of the best players in the game
Buchard signing an offer sheet would be what, 4 firsts?
I don’t any reasonable avenue to Bouchard leaving by way of offer sheet, not with his arb case, not with the “5-year max” for offer sheet compensation tier purposes, etc.
I’m sure if a team really wanted Bouchard they could offer something less prohibitive to their own future than going via offer sheet.
Sun came up two days in a row. This one hurt less than last year. Last year they deserved that Cup, outplayed them 5 out of 7 games. This year, not so much.
The question to ask is why? Coaching, age, roster construction, injury, goaltending and reffing, all played their part. Where in there are the easiest fixes. For me I’m having a long look at this coaching staff (not just Knoblauch) and I’m looking to get a little younger this year and a little quicker. Play the hell out of Savoie, if he can hang. It may mean an earlier exit in next years playoffs but may win you a cup the year after.
Fitzy (small munsterlander) says Hello.
I’d like to see a change w/ the special teams coach.
This team has been scouted and scouted again; It’s time for some fresh ideas.
Definitely time for new ST coaches.
Because adding future HOF Brad Marchand to your 3rd line utilizing the LTIR for a drug cheater who missed no playoff games (for said cheating) that’s why.
And Seth Jones for a sandwich because Stan Bowman gave him a full NMC and forced his way out with Hawk retention (but you can’t trade Nurse don’t even try).
Kudos to the Jones move making your place attractive to players, what the hell NHL for the first one.
Sun comes up but man the NHL is dumb. Make it a little bit harder on the smart people.
Thankfully there’s literally always next year.
Your first sentence is a stinger. What a frickin league.
A top line guy on the 3rd line doesn’t help does it??
If the Oilers organization should be running Florida “Blacksock” Panthers narratives all summer.
Reading through/listening to the post mortem across Oil Country yesterday and one would think that the team lost in the first round in 5 games.
This team just made it to the SCF for the second season in row and managed to beat what many are calling the best team of the cap era twice in the finals.
This team is good – actually, this team is great.
Yes, this team needs to get a little younger and more “energetic”. Yes, this team needs to make some changes to the middle of the roster that will require cap maneuvering but this team is also starting from a wonderful place heading in to the off-season.
— McDrai are entering their 29/30 years
— Going forward they are both being paid value : at peak performance, age curve stuff
— The team needs to get better and will no longer have Cap advantage of their relative underpaid.
— 2 SCF has been fun. They don’t owe fans anything. They aren’t getting a cup just because
— It’s reasonable to be less enthusiastic about the or chances the next many years.
— They have lost to the eventual Cup Champs what 4 years on a row now : wonder if that’s happened since expansion.
SJS were in the mix for many years.
So was Washington. Then, they won, yes Ovie won. So we will see, They will get at least one imo.
So agreed OP, this team is/was a DAMN good team the past 2 years, if we can fill in some spots we still will be a damn good team.
Lordy as I have posted a few times lately, this league makes me feel ill at this point BUT I love the game, stats, reading, listening, learning and most of all watching magic when the best players find a God moment. I remember it from being a kid and along the way and I think that is why I partly still watch, to a point, I barely watch the regular season anymore. I probably wouldn’t watch if we didn’t have 97 and Drai.
I would watch Olympic hockey though. Best on best, it is rare.
— No doubt Oil will be in the mix for many more years : next year will be the 5th year of “in mix”
— I do believe in terms of actual Cups won: McDrai @ 29/30 =nil is sub-optimal.
Of course it is sub optimal when it is your team not winning them!
StevieY was 32 when he won his first Cup.
Unless a right D becomes available opportunistically, I think the Oilers can just run back the same defense, less Klingberg, and signing only Bouchard.
I would wait till January or even next summer to decide which of the D on expiring contracts (Ekholm, Kulak, Walman, Stecher) to re-sign, since they will all be over 30 next summer. A team should not be afraid of letting 30 plus players get to UFA status. One cannot get them on reasonable deals unless one knows the market price. If any of their agents come offering unequivocably team friendly contracts this summer, then I would be willing to sign them this summer.
I think the Oilers can wait till the trade deadline to make a move for a goaltender. I have changed my opinion based on the playoffs that the Oilers have to either trade or extend Skinner this summer. If a goaltender becomes available this summer opportunistically, then sure, making a goaltending change is fine. If someone makes a good trade offer for Skinner, okay.
This summer, the priority should be to try to fix the forward group, which with all the NMC’s and NTC’s, make it a challenging endeavor.
Agreed.
The Defense is fine for now, subtracting Klingberg. Likely a depth add later in the season for the right-handed Walman.
Goalies aren’t perfect, but they’ve made the SCF twice. It’s a very difficult position to upgrade. I wouldn’t be trading Skinner for Gibson at this time, maybe that’s a February decision.
Need Need Need to jettison Henrique, Kane, and Arvidsson. I would consider keeping Kane amongst those three, but my bet is they’ve played their last meaningful hockey.
According to Woodley Gibson’s weakness is the same as Stu’s. Gibson will be 32, that is danger territory for most goalies. If there isn’t a clear upgrade in play that isn’t also trading younger players for older there isn’t a point. Most goalies have up and down seasons
The cap is also so tight. I think Pick is a great guy, but maybe an upgrade there would make sense. He won those playoff games but his SV% was a little lower than Stu’s. I think that the team scored so much is more why the won. Having someone that can push to keep the net
Self-inflicted damage last summer trading McLeod and losing Holloway. Yes, McLeod has flaws, but he also has significant strengths. He is a centre who is an elite bottom six transporter.
McLeod and Frederic probably have the same impact as 3C. McLeod the better skater, Frederic more physical. Both will cost in the $3-$4M range this summer. YMMV on who is the better player during the Oilers cup window.
I think you can put speedy wingers next to Frederic, but you can also make the argument of putting a crash-n-bang winger next to McLeod. They’d probably make for very good linemates, really. You need both physicality and speed to have playoff success.
Neither of them are elite 3C’s, and the musical chairs from the past 12 months equals us having Savoie for a 2nd and Max Wanner. If Savoie pans out then it’s all a net win.
I’m not positive they will have Ekholm to start the season (or for much of the season).
Just my pure speculation, but I think there is surgery in his near future – again, pure speculation.
I agree, I think he is def getting surgery and prob wouldnt have played if they did the actual proper procedures
Initially, I was shocked at the rumoured terms of the Trent Frederic contract. I didn’t mind him in the playoffs personally, as I knew he was quite injured. I can accept that the Oilers are making a bet that he will return to his trajectory before this season and be an effective player.
The term was the most surprising thing for me. I wondered if a team like Florida would ever do something like that.
I looked at their roster and found that Evan Rodrigues was signed just before his 30th birthday to a 4 x 3 million dollar contract. He’ll finish that contract when he’s 34, and Frederic will finish his when he’s 36. Just looking at point totals, they don’t seem too far apart, but please correct me if I’m missing a big difference there.
That helped me frame my thinking a bit. Perhaps the Oilers are betting that they will be getting more of Frederic’s prime years by signing him at 27 rather than by signing a 30 year old player to a 4 year deal, and are perhaps going two years longer than seems to make sense in order to have a lower cap hit, given that the cap is going to rise.
I understand taking a gamble, I don’t understand the 8 years, but it’s somehow not as crazy to me now after this exercise. I hope we don’t see any no movement clauses or no trade clauses, or else I’m going to have to find a way to rationalize it all over again.
I’m not so concerned about the cap hit. Player salaries will skyrocket this year because of the increased cap. Nelson just got $7.5 mill. Guys like Hyman and Nuge would get closer to $8 mill today than $5.5 mill. Eight years is a bit mystifying though.
Actually, according to Bettman, the cap will skyrocket for the NEXT THREE YEARS, lessing the risk substantially. 95.5M this year, 104M next, then 113.5M in 2027/28. I really like this setting the Cap for three years ahead idea as it impacts roster planning in a very positive way.
Zetterlund just got paid north of 4 million on a deal that will make him a UFA again at age 28.
I wouldn’t trade Frederic for Zetterlund straight up.
I think Bowman knows what the market is for this player, and it’s higher than we all believe it to be.
There is seriously something magical about sleeping with pets.
Thanks LT for your from the heartness !!
Frederic will be 28 next year
Uber long term deal for a bottom 6 player ?
But we couldn’t afford Holloway?
Smart Hockey Men always making the right decision. Nothing to see here!
Like all of the teams had to try to do in the 80’s against the Oilers, the challenge for Bowman is to identify what has to be different to beat the teams at the top right now, starting with how they are playing, and then begin populating the roster with players that play the desired way
It seems like a simplistic thought, but it’s how you get to the final goal. Many teams don’t seem to do this in a calculated enough manner. Tampa does it, Florida does it. Zito was very direct in what he wanted and went about re building them quickly and aggresively
Washington was very active last summer and made that team much better than it was, still not quite right. Bowman’s job is much easier than teams trying to get above the 80’s Oilers
For me the first thing would be talking a lot to the coaches and decide a plan moving forward. What they are doing isn’t effective. Or these players can’t do it. Until they can cover their D zone and rarely break down, play a consistent defensive game, always have pressure on the other team not allowing so many clean looks and breaks, they won’t win, it’s just too easy for the other team and is the reason they haven’t so far
If the coaches aren’t in change them now. There is no more time to waste even if there have been too many changes before. Then go get the players needed and clear cap that isn’t efficient as much as possible
I’m up for bigger changes. If Zito can try to move his number one D and alternate captain all last summer, which became public, let his offensive puck mover walk, and still win the cup, I don’t think Bowman has to be too precious about how he sees things
On the Frederic signing, the talk seems to be that it’s a done deal, but I can’t find any confirmation. The only thing I saw was Staples reporting something someone in St Louis said. Is that all there is? I’m a little confused about it
We are in the ‘where there is smoke’ portion of the story. I have enough information to suggest it is extremely likely, but felt the same about the Michael Nylander deal years ago and it fell apart.
thanks, LT. If it is just smoke at this point I wonder if it is worth panicking over. And if the terms of the possible deal will be so bad
This just in: Mrs. Nylander nixes Frederic deal!
Can we just flat out say long term contracts are a horrible idea?
The fact that most conversations about these deals start with “he might justify it in 3 years” means you’re already doing it wrong.
Struggling to see beyond maybe a dozen total circumstances across the league why you’d ever commit beyond four years. As a manager or a player frankly.
McDavid’s smartest move, as a for instance, would be nothing but short term deals.
Agreed on going long on players in a rising cap world.
“McDavid’s smartest move, as a for instance, would be nothing but short term deals.”
And then Giordano takes out his knee and he misses out on $100M
Long term deals are fine if you’re signing a player that’s 25 and a relatively proven commodity. You think Colorado is mad they signed Makar? Hell no.
Signing a player 28-29 long term, the end of that contract may very well look like an albatross. Even McDavid may not be(in fact likely) the player he is now in 8 years(which is why most players hitting free-agency WANT long term deals, even they know there will likely be regression).
And you should NEVER be giving out long term deals for bottom 6 players Most of them are replaceable in no time at all.
The Oilers just love smashing their heads against the wall. The ineptitude is astounding
Between the Oilers once again being targeted by the league for doing things every other team does, and the management having an idiotic overreaction to the forwards being slightly too old, this is set up to be an even more sour week than previously forecast.
What gets me is not the actual signing, it is the pre-positioned defending of it in the MSM, and the fact that no one will stand up and say “not only did you pay too much, you negotiated against nobody for someone passing their statistical prime who has topped out at 18 goals, what the hell are you doing?” In nicer words, sure, but the lack of accountability questions compared to other major markets is absolutely embarrassing.
Kasperi Kapanen is better, and will be cheaper, while not demanding an absurd term. As will others.
Hockey might be the most badly run pro sport at the team level.
All The best of summer to you and Ziggy and family, LT.
“Happiness is being owned by a dog”
Bill, Frankie(American Bulldog/Cane Corso) & Tank(Staffordshire Terrier/American Bulldog)
Its days like today where I wonder if there is really any point in debating the minutia of roster and organisational construction. I feel there may be bigger, harder, nastier truths to address.
Would love to see the Oilers as a franchise come out fighting against the NHL and this cruel and unusual investigation.
I am having a hard time not connecting dots. The Oilers lost to a South Florida hockey team. The Oilers lost to a social movement.
Meanwhile I think someone should launch an investigation into the rampant usage of PEDs in the Florida locker room, seeing as they have played so much more than anyone and still find a way to beat a very fast team to every puck in the finals.
You know, so long as were doing investigations.
That feeling of losing to a social movement, losing to a bigger cultural shift, one that is ugly, cruel and mendacious – that’s what sticks with me. Yes, it’s just a sport, but it feels like the state of the world too.
I sure got LA 2012 vibes for the same reasons. I remember wondering how LA could be as energetic in the third as the first skating like maniacs the whole time, the other team fading. The league did nothing of course about that but the players who got into trouble lifted the lid up
I hope for a day when new management takes over and values appearing to be above reproach as an important thing
I also hope the Oilers push back hard, after all of the monkey business that has gone on for years, that went without much concern from Gary
Their top dman got a multi week vacation leading up to the playoffs as a slap on the wrist but if anyone thinks he’s the only panther to be dabbling that’s just a naive. That team isn’t young and has played more hockey than anyone. Why were the so quick to the puck when Edmonton, a notoriously fast team, couldn’t keep up? It’s worth asking the question.
2019 Blues too. It wasn’t Gloria that powered them up at that infamous party.
Ever since barkov suspended last year I deeply question this and started thinking last year. Did he use PED in last final.and this final. The whole team needs to be drug tested IMO
Olympic style. Drug test all players in the final.
Except, if they know it’s coming, there are ways to flush the body quick so as to not get caught. It would need to be a spontaneous testing without any notice
Perhaps I will come back later in the day and consider this stories metaphorical value. But in this moment, I am happy to just read a story about the value Ziggy has in your life. Good way to start the day. Thx LT.
Ziggy is Connor McDavid. LT is the Oilers. Except LT did it mostly right, and the Oilers, so far, have done it wrong.
What on earth is this supposed to mean
“consider this stories metaphorical value”
Bold of you to think i can read let alone understand metaphors.
You can’t teach an old dog new tricks?
Regardless… dogs are awesome! You can forget your car keys and come back in 30 seconds later and they’re ecstatic to see you.