Since the arrival of Connor McDavid, general managers have been taking big swings at young players thought to have a chance to impact the roster.
Peter Chiarelli gave up draft picks that became Mathew Barzal and Mitchell Stephens for 30 games of Griffin Reinhart.
Ken Holland surrendered Sam Gagner, plus the draft picks that fetched Brock Faber and Aatu Raty in exchange for 13 games of Andreas Athanasiou.
Stan Bowman dealt Sam O’Reilly’s future for Isaac Howard. Is this deal like the other two? Time will tell. Today I’d like to talk about the reasons behind making such a deal.
Bowman has a problem on the wing. The men assigned to Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl’s wing didn’t score enough to remain there, so may have to play lesser roles next season.
The organization now has two young wingers who could land on a skill line. Kris Knoblauch and his coaching staff will choose one (or both) for a feature role this season.
Which brings us to human nature. Bowman’s solution on the wing is Ike Howard. Does anyone seriously believe the organization is going to slow-play Howard this fall? He’s going to get a push. I don’t think there’s any doubt at all. That doesn’t mean he’ll keep the job, Reinhart failed and so did Athanasiou.
When training camp arrives, Howard will have to fight for playing time on the skill lines with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Adam Henrique, Trent Frederic, Andrew Mangiapane and Vasily Podkolzin.
Savoie’s competition will include Zach Hyman (if healthy), Frederic, Mangiapane, Podkolzin, Kapanen and David Tomasek.
The decision could turn on skill set. Howard the goal-scorer, Savoie owning the wider range of skills. I’m hoping both men get a look. Why? Did you see the scoring rates of some of those wingers a year ago?
I like the swing. This is better than another $5 million NMC for a 30-year old winger. Oilers had a pile of those guys who didn’t score enough last year. Time for a new approach.
The question is this: did Bowman choose wisely? Strong opinions in the comments section. My answer? Too soon to know.
We’ll have Scott Wheeler on the Lowdown today at 12:40, Bagged Milk at 1. I’ll ask the question: who gets the push? Sports 1440, noon to 2pm.
I really like the off season moves. Only one issue, Howard is soft. Which is fine, he’s skilled, that’s his game, but we still need to beef up the intensity.
Keep grinding Stan. Likely Hyman is out till November. Try to find another forward who likes to play on the inside.
Reading more about him, I kind of get Eberle vibes, except maybe with a bit more speed and swagger. But like Everle, he’s not so much a sniper as a player with great skill, ability to play in tight, and get off a quick shot when it’s not expected. At least one report I read mentioned good ability to get to the inside and make plays, but I don’t know how that’ll translate to the NHL from college.
Hyman is a bit of a unicorn, not too many players like him coming available every year. Probably the reason Fred got the contract he did.
An Eberle player would be an excellent result!
Scott Wheeler tweeting that there is traction in moving the AHL age eligibility for players drafted out of the CHL to 19 – all players (some prior chatter that it would apply to 1st rounders).
CHL clubs generally on board as the early AHL option likely keeps some from bolting to NCAA.
Per Seravelli:
Sources say a new provision in the CBA will allow each #NHL team to place one 19-year-old CHL player in the #AHL per season.
One per organization per season and 18-year-olds are ineligible.
Begins in 2026-27 season.
Any idea what the cut off date for the age will be? Will it work the same as the draft and how they use September 15th?
I believe the current rules have it that players selected that turn 18 prior to September 15 in the calendar year they are drafted have 2 seasons in the CHL if they don’t stay in the NHL in either season. Players selected who turn 18 after September 15 in the calendar year before they are eligible for the draft only have to do one more season in the CHL before they can be loaned to the AH. If the usage of the date in those rules hold, players in the future with situations like Bouchard and Draisaitl could be put in the AHL right after they are drafted.
So an 18 year old can be drafted for military service (or join voluntarily), buy cigarettes, gamble, get a tattoo, or make any number of other permanent life altering decisions — but can’t play in a professional men’s league.
Got it.
There is a difference between governmental law and privately negotiated arrangements. There are many professional leagues these players can play in.
I love the trade.
Get the more ripened prospect.
That said, I assume it will blow up against the Oilers because every time they trade a prospect or pick they turn into a star on another team.
— I’m in the camp that I like the trade but a tempered outlook on what it means for next year
— There’s a difference between a good trade and what appears to be the hope : non NHL players rarely turn into top6 wingers in their 1st year
— would be sweet if it works though. Better than spending 5mm on 30 year olds (not that this is an option with current roster room).
I don’t think its that rare Snuggerud fit right in and produced late last year, Caufield was top 6 from his rookie season, etc., etc.
I’m not saying I’m expecting a 55 point season but it wouldn’t be a massive surprise.
BTW, Skating on Thin Ice is the title of one of the most powerful (& disturbing) hockey books I’ve ever read. 2023. By Walter S. Dekeseredy, Martin D Schwartz, and Stu Cowan.
It is also the name of a Spider Man comic book with a Todd McFarlane cover that includes an Oilers jersey.
https://www.mycomicshop.com/search?TID=274561
It is obviously still too early to tell but I watched some you tubes of Howard ..Great skill in the offensive zone BUT not very competitive on the boards and poor on the back check .The comparable that came to mind was hmm this looks like a young Jeff Skinner and then I just read that the team has given Howard number 53. Please prove me wrong Isaac Chuckle !!
Prove you wrong?
Young Jeff Skinner was a perennial 30-40 goal Calder trophy winner…if Ike can produce the same during his 3 year ELC, I would be ecstatic!
Last time I checked the NHL was not Shinny .There are other skills required to play at this level .Like checking and winning puck battles and staying on your feet most of the time. Especially if you are going to be on a contending team .. I think my point has been made by the 32 teams who have not offered Jeff a contract so far this off season.
Is your scouting report saying Howard is a bust?
Nope just saying he is young and has a lot to learn .Too Bad Jeff didn’t get better training when he first came into the league but they seemed to let him play his offensive only junior game .
Numerous posters are talking like Howard is nearly a well rounded seasoned NHL vet just because he won the Hobey Baker award .Nope, he is going to be a rookie on a very talented seasoned team that went to the finals in the best league in the world..He is not going to all of a sudden have all the skills or strength necessary to play against men just because he gets some shifts with either of the top two players in the world .
Heck just think back to all the skills that McDavid and Dri have learnt in the last 7-8 years .How they had to change their games to win in this league . They Im sure thought they pretty much had it all figured out when they first arrived after being “the ” stars in junior .
But Howard will Im sure learn quickly especially if he has the work ethic of say a Podkolzin or a McDavid and will grow into the player we all hope he is going to be . We as fans are the ones that are going to have to be patient and not put to much pressure on him .
At the very least this kid has legit mentors, which is more than the other guys had. 🤞
First off Savoie and Howard are 21 and they’re skill wingers. Centres and D takes years to develop same applies for big men . As H.H used to say skilled smaller stature wingers show early or they’re a bust. Howard and Savoie need to be turned loose as they have the hands to both Score 20 plus this year.
1) Skinner not having signed does not necessarily equate to him not having been offered a contract; and
2) If either rookie approach 31 goals and 63 points (as a plus player), I would suggest that is very good not matter how much they fall down during the season.
I’ve heard comparisons to Caulfield but I don’t see it. Caulfield is sneaky finds a soft area and rifles it home. Howard seems to be more of a driver. I trust you have way more knowledge on this player. What is the scuttlebut on Howard does he drive to the net coming off the wing and does he think the game at a fast pace? (Hockey IQ)
I am far from an expert on Issac Howard but, from what I’ve seen, he definitely plays with pace.
Just a reminder that Jimmy Vesey won his Hobey Baker when he was 2 years older than Howard. At the same age, Vesey turned out a 31GP-13G-9A-21PTS, a far cry from Howards 20yo season of 37GP-26G26A-52PTS. My betting money is on a far superior career for our new #53 than Vesey.
On the other side of the coin, Howard is far from a sure thing as well. My only viewings of him were at the world juniors where he looked terrific. So I fully admit, I can’t have a strong opinion on the player. Looking at past Hobey Baker winners, Howard compares closer to Gaudette and Vesey than he does Cellibrini and Fantilli based on age and box cars. He is closer to Caufield on both but still shy. Hopefully he can continue his assent as he is trending up. Skating is also a strength according to scouting reports so I’m optimistic he can translate his game to the NHL
Two things to keep in mind re: Vesey and Gaudette – they were significantly older at each step.
Vesey was an overager and started his freshman campaign at 19.
Gaudette was a very early birthday (Oct ’96) and was 19 by game 3. He was less than a month from being a 2014 draftee.
Howard turned 19 after his Freshman season ended.
Another way to look at this trade is that realistically, O’Reilly will be a bottom six player if he makes it at all. These players are available fairly cheap on the free agent market every year. 3 C is a bit more expensive but even if SOR becomes a legit 3C, it won’t be for at least 5 years from now. Howard has a higher chance of playing in the top 6 where players are harder to find on the free agent market and are more expensive
Is Ryan McLeod a good comparable for O’Reilly? He was drafted in 2018 and wasn’t a full time impactful centerman until he was traded to a poor team last year. I think McLeod’s trajectory could be the ceiling for O’Reilly.
This is who I keep thinking about when thinking of Ryan McLeod. Not impossible to replace when we do need a legit 3C.
Frederic
O’Reilly is a more physical player
I think I like the trade and the offseason overall. I think the biggest concern with the team was the age of our secondary scoring. We don’t have too many years left of Nuge and Hyman being top 6 players, so having some youth learning on the job to take over when the veterans move out of a feature role is important. A couple of high potential prospects on ELCs could also give us a lot of bang for their buck.
My only real reservation is our scouting. The team has made lots of failed bets recently (Skinner, Arvi etc.), and there’s worry that none of the current bets (Howard, Savoie, frederic etc) pan out either. Maybe klingberg and Walman are signs of things being better?
If it makes you feel better, Bowman wasn’t in the org when they signed Skinner, Arvi and even drafted O’Reilly.
His acquisitions of kapanen, Klingberg, Walman, and Frederic look pretty good overall. Jury is out on Frederic but make no mistake, acquiring them signing a player outside of FA is a win for the org at the moment. Let’s hope Frederic bounces back.
He also signed Bouchard and let’s hope he gets McDavid get pen to paper soon.
Don’t get me wrong I’m optimistic, I just don’t see enough track record to feel comfortable yet. I’m also not sure how much the personnel have changed that are doing the actual talent evaluation when Bowman took over.
I like the most of the bets Bowman has made, just too many times have we seen everything blow up in our face.
The Skinner/Arvidsson decisions were likely supported by the Pro Scouting department that was headed by Brad Holland until September last season. He was replaced as director of pro scouting by Warren Rychel. Warren was promoted from within so it is unclear whether he, Brad Holland or someone else on the staff that would have provided any in depth analysis or recommendations on pursuing these 2 players.
For the Sam O’Reilly/Howard swap, player evaluation would have been handled by the Amateur scouting group, headed by Rick Pracey since August 2023. The first draft pick made by the Oilers based on his recommendation was Sam O’Reilly. I believe he was the one who pushed the team to trade to get the O’Reilly pick, and he likely would have provided his and his team’s assessment of the relative merits of both players. .
For the Skinner/Arvidsson decisions, Parkatti and the analytics team were likely in the mix as well.
The analytics team would not have much useful additional info on O’Reilly or Howard yet since the cost of gathering detailed advanced analytic data for the thousands of amateur hockey players around the world is not yet economic enough. A.I. may help with that soon.
I guess I can turn the page on too old ,too slow and in some cases too soft that was my mantra after JJs moves a year ago..After being the oldest team in the league does any one know what age range we will come in at with this roster .
Im waiting with anticipation to see what kind of coaching team Stan and Chris are going to put together . This will be the first chance they have had to build their own coaching group. And then there is the condor coaches and the scouts . Lots to be interested in this summer .
Yes Stan keeps the hits coming. Ken definitely took summers off, so boring
I’m happy with this trade. Different skillset, and further along in his development. But I think we may need to gird our loins in preparation for the season O’Reilly is going to have in London this year. Tea leaves point to a very strong season for him, but we need to remember that he’s still in London for his Draft+2 year.
I’d rather Howard now (or soon), than waiting 2-3 more years for O’Reilly.
He will probably have a great season, but he should at his age and opportunity. The Oilers liked SO made their move and I liked the RS 200 ft aspect, but in thinking about it, it’s not really clear what his potential is in the NHL as far as production. He will play hard yes, but get enough points? Ike might be a better bet to meet the projection
I agree 100% But I just saw Dale Hunter is coaching the World Junior team now. Can you imagine if we’re watching O’Reilley there in a prominent role?
Again, I’m totally on board with the trade though.
It’s too bad it was Sam in the deal. I would have preferred Akey
The gap between Oreilly and Akey is very large. Akey is more suspect than prospect at this point
For sure
Akey + 2nd is how I saw it going down.
Akey wasn’t even close to being a key.
That would have been nice
My projection for SOR is a good season in the OHL, invite to WJC, great playoff run and then an NHL job in fall of 2026. Tampa will have the best center depth in the league soon.
SOR is in for a wake up call when he goes from bullying 16 year olds in his d + 2 season in the CHL to immediately jump to the NHL. Not impossible but feels bold.
The only forward on Tampa without material AHL team was Point – even Kucherov spent time in the AHL.
He could skip the AHL but I doubt it (and I doubted it when he was in the Oilers org).
Issac Howard is generally a higher ranked prospect than SOR, and, from all accounts, NHL ready right now as he’s two years older (he’s been developed against older players in the NCAA).
The Oilers traded a future assets that will help in 3 years for an asset that is just as good or better, that will start to help this season – with 3 years of ELC.
We don’t know which player between the two will have the “better career” – arguments can be made for each.
Lets just say they are “equal prospects” (and Howard is ranked ahead everywhere so that’s a give for SOR), this remains a no-brainer mover for this team in the here and now right now.
The Oilers are better now.
That’s an excellent point, I mean it’s been made elsewhere, but we cannot underestimate the value of a prospect’s development better aligning with the Oilers’ potential championship window.
The potential value of a scoring winger now is far more valuable to the Oilers than a potential middle six centre three or four years from now — even if SOR has the better career over the span of ten years.
One would think but, at the same time, what type of rope will the head coach give?
I have been saying for months now that Matt Savoie is the perfect long-term fit on Drai’s line and that he should get a long look there complete with the opportunity to work through inconsistencies and to make mistakes without demotion (as long as he is learning from them). He may need some development time as 3RW, and that’s OK, but there should be an opportunity and a rope.
I would suggest the same should apply to Issac Howard.
At the same time, the coach has a history, albeit a short one, of relying on veterans and not giving a ton of rope to youngsters – not that he’s had that many to work with.
Also, the coach his a history, albeit a short one, of requiring players to play a certain way, even “offence first skilled players” – I mean, look at Jeff Skinner – he didn’t play the right way early and could barely work his way back in the lineup.
Issac Howard will likely be required to develop 2-way responsibility in a hurry.
I think development time for Howard might be playing on a third line with Nuge & Frederic.
Then when the time is right the next step will be the top line with McDavid & Hyman. He’ll need to prove himself first.
That’s what I was thinking trying to make a F roster with current players
19 97 88
92 29 22
53 93 10
13 20 Tomasek
IR Hyman
PB Kap Stecher
There must be changes coming there are too many forwards to fit in the top 9
20 must be Lazar. Tomasek is going to be a player to watch. He was really good at faceoffs in the Swedish league and a top scorer. Hope his skating isn’t too much of a drag. I’ve already traded Janmark though.
Henrique getting top line duties is absolutely awful and downright ridiculous.
Maybe. The numbers say give it a whirl
Perhaps or, even with my opinion on Savoie being a 2RW for Drai, perhaps development time for Savoie on a 3rd line – he has more of a 3rd line skillset than Howard.
They can certainly switch those two sets of wingers around as LT suggested.
53-29-10
92-93-22
I might even prefer.
53-29-92
10-93-22
I will second my concern for Howard being a square peg for Knoblauch. I really expected him to give Jeff Skinner more leash, and I’m not sure how Howard’s ego will go down. Let’s hope it works out.
Skinner is a 32-year-old veteran of 12 seasons, he should know better. As far as Howard’s ego is concerned, I wouldn’t know. I would assume it would be in check considering he’s joining a team with two of the top players in the world.
Skinner had a rough start with the 2-way play but, truth be told, he listened, learned, worked hard and got better – in 2025, he was the top goal share player on the team and 4th in 5 on 5 points but still got zero rope.
To my eye, he earned MUCH more than was given. Of course, Knob sees and knows more but, from the outside view, it really did seem to be a coach’s blind spot.
I think the new #53 on the team is a better bet.
Also, it is interesting the old #53 remains a free agent.
I’ve listened to a TBL insider (on with .EST), Howard’s coach in Michigan (on with Gregor) and a couple prospect experts and, while he has had deficiencies in his 2-way game (as is normal for kids), he is not without a high work ethic and a drive to get better. From accounts, he has come along ways in the last couple years away from puck but, of course, work to do.
I’m sure there is some ego there but its a fine line between confidence and ego. The kid has personality, for sure, but, from what I’m gleaning, he just loves playing hockey and being at the rink. His coach says he’s never seen him have a bad day in the 4 years he coached him (2 at Michigan and 2 in the USNTD program).
Sounds like the kid has nothing but positive energy to go along with a strong work ethic. I’m excited to see this kid crashing the net as either Connor or Leon will provide him with open ice.
I’m sure you’re right, and I hope he really takes on the challenge of playing in two directions. My concern is mostly that, despite often being the top scorer on his teams, he has sometimes trailed in plus/minus. It’s not much, but it’s all I can draw on, and Knoblauch runs a tight ship.
I’m hoping K.K relaxes a bit during the regular seasons and lets Savoie and Howard learn from their mistakes. We need these two fiesty hungry wingers to hit paydirt. It’s easier to replace the coach then two top 6 forwards.
Knoblauch may run a tight ship but (a) perhaps he’s grown as a coach and understands the important of developing young players in-season to pay dividends when it matters and (b) its also his job to teach these young players.
First of all, may I say I quite enjoy seeing the blog update by 8 a.m. local time (holidaying in Victoria and environs).
O’Reilly’s departure means two things: (a) Lafreniere becomes the highest-drafted NAmateur (Rd 3/83rd) this season and (2) it will be safe to have peanuts in the locker room for the foreseeable future. (Recall that SOR’s nickname is “Peanut” for his allergy to said thing.)
Welcome to the Island. Back east starts at the ferry (but skips Alberta).
when I am in the eastern time zone the day doesn’t seem right having to wait for LT all morning
LT hates the eastern time zone – as he should 🙂
Seconding the “Welcome to the Island.” Though I will say, the Island gets very interesting north of the Malahat. I won’t say “better.” But no trip to the Island is complete without seeing the Cowichan and Comox Valleys. I also recommend at least a day trip on Nootka Sound.
Tarkus – enjoy the land of the nearly dead and the newly wed.
Stauff mentioned last night that the Oilers were the only team Howard talked to.
Its one thing for a prominent player to want to play in Edmonton, it’s another for Edmonton to be the only team they were willing to go to at this time.
Either he goes to the highest bidder and best fit next year or play on McDavid or Leon wing and score 20 plus the next 3 years. Howard was not playing for Tampa next year.
He signed his 3 year ELC so I’m assuming you mean if the Oilers decide to trade him to the highest bidder after this coming season? I hope that’s not the case because if we’re trading him he’s absolutely bombed pretty hard for us to give up on him with 2 years still to go and the ability to move him up and down to Bake without waivers.
Howard was never signing a ELC with Tampa so he would of went back to Collage and become a free agent like Justin Schultz did. Tampa would of recieved a 2nd round draft pick. This is a perfect fit for Howard as he instantly becomes a top 6-9 forward with Leon and Connor. The McDavid-Leon bump is finally paying off.
I think Reja is looking at it from Howard’s perspective. It would appear Ike has landed exactly where he wanted to assuming he was going to play in Michigan and not Tampa, then be a free agent.
Ah – got you. I read it as what we would do with him moving forward. That makes infinitely more sense now.
I know I had to reread it a few times to get the gist.
Howard is a good risk albeit with some risk, but the reason I’m pretty happy about the trade is that O’Reilly arguably presents more risk since he’s further away from the NHL and I don’t think we can just assume he has the floor of an NHL player. Maybe he’s prime David Bolland (even though Bolland put up way better production in junior), or maybe he’s Tyler Pitlick.
This moves makes the Oilers better today without mortgaging the future in any material way, addresses a key area of need (scoring winger on a skill line), and the player type (first shot scorer who seems pretty good at finding open ice/good angles, doesn’t need to be the primary puck-handler to be successful) should (in-theory) mesh well with 97 and/or 29. Maybe he’s a left-handed/better skating Jordan Eberle, or maybe he’s Kailer Yamamoto.
If we’re buying lottery tickets, the latter seems like a higher-upside bet than the former, and doesn’t seem appreciably more risky than the former.
1000x agreed. As soon as O Reilly was traded everyone started talking about him as a sure thing, even saw some people pencilling him in as a Horvat comparison because of D+1 numbers and I guess both being London Knights players.
Also O Reilly has signed his ELC meaning he cant go play college so he has to do another year in the OHL. At least Cowan and Barkey will age out and can play AHL so O Reilly can be the guy on London(well Dickinson is the guy but hes on defense) but theres almost no chance he jumps from CHL to NHL in 2026, at least 1 AHL season is the most likely option meaning he *might* be playing NHL games in 2027.
If O Reilly wasnt traded the verbal about him would be very different. Wed think hes trending well and hopes he turns into a good 3C instead now its a god given fact hes going to be at least an amazing 3C. Smh
I mean I think you can say the same thing about “verbal being different” with Howard as well. If the Oilers didn’t trade for him and he instead didn’t want to play here and got himself traded to Philly the verbal would be pretty negative about him in the Oilogosphere.
I think Oilers fans (and sports fans generally, but Oilers fans to a greater extent) are prone to optimistic homer-ism and tend to have a less objective/more favorable outlook on the potential of the Oilers’ prospects/developing players than those of other teams
Sure, but everyone is talking like Howard is a sure thing. We got a very different prospect that is further ahead in development and I understand why we did it. But this is not a sure thing
Howard isn’t a sure thing but neither is O’Reily but both are very good bets to make it as NHL players.
Howard probably a better bet as he is having progression and development 3 years post-draft and we only have 1 year of SOR having the same (it was a great D+1 but lets see D+2 and 3 before we go further).
I think many think there is more risk with Howard given he’s a more “offensive player” without the 2-way pedigree. I think too much is being put in to the “away from the puck” attributes of SOR – they are great and he is very hockey mature for his age but high end defensive play in junior is the “sure bet for NHL success” that has been the new narrative. 2-way hockey can be coached and developed to a great extent that goal high end goal scoring.
Tampa likes O’Reilly’s defensive play, while Edmonton likes Howard’s offensive play and that he’s apparently NHL ready. Let’s hope he is.
Tampa likes O Reilly more than they like 63rd overall next year. His ability to goes to UFA, no guarantee Tampa likes O Reillys skill set more than they like Howards.
They clearly have different skill sets and I guarantee you Tampa would not have taken Sam O’Reilly if they didn’t appreciate his skill set.
When we have proven vets the tendency is to complain about how we’re old and slow and should get younger. Now we have a couple of young options and I can’t help wonder about whether they’ll make it or how many mistakes they’ll make. I suppose I’m greedy and just won’t be happy until we win another cup…
Fair comment. I think last season should have soured the organization on veterans. Signing Jeff Skinner, Viktor Arvidsson and Adam Henrique came at a high cost in dollars, cap, nmc and offer sheets.
Surely there’s room for a deal like this one. Could it be worse?
Shane Corson called, reminded us all things can always be worse.
God I hated that guy.
Respecting this blog, its fine author/community and its mathiness – I used to think the formula was success = what advanced stats can predict + what advanced stats can’t predict (and as a side note where in hockey the proportion of what advanced stats can’t tell us is larger than in say baseball). Now I wonder if the formula isn’t more like predicted success = what advanced can predict + what advanced stats can’t predict + NHL playoff f@ckery where skilled players get hacked, held and injured to the point of ineffectiveness and to the benefit of dirty rat b@stards. The point being, I agree with more youth, I’m just not sure after the last two years in the playoffs how to use math to get over the hump?
Bowman knows there’s enough cover to throw in a couple of young wingers in Howard and Savoie. They are not 18-19 year-olds they are 21 and as skilled wingers go this is the time to make hay.
The problem with playing it too safe is that those vet players also make mistakes. The Oilers struggled as a team defensively when there was significant opposition. I think it was you who mentioned they weren’t that far off getting taken out by LA
Getting young fast players that can score was needed .The youth was needed because of the energy they bring. A lot of older players not named Marchant seem to me to start to sit back, I think because they are trying to play smart, conserve energy etc, but it takes the push down a level. A couple of balls out young guys bringing it takes the push level up. It can help with tempo as well, the Oilers had trouble matching the Panthers
There was a difference between the two playoffs losing the consistent energy Foegele, McLeod and Holloway brought. I don’t think they would have necessarily made the last outcome different – Holloway was hurt again – but you could see getting smaller and less energetic on the ice
I also have my concerns with young players, as vets do tend to deliver in the playoffs. But I looked back and most of the last cup winners had one or two solid contributors under 24. Lundell and Luostarinen each played in the top nine and had six points in the final.