This is Ziggy, not using her pineapple bed. When she’s asleep, the world’s most spoiled dog is at rest, cute as a button, and easy to love. Awake, she prowls the house in search of any dropped morsel of food. If she’s in a mood to, Ziggy will go into the bathroom, tear off some toilet paper, and eat it. We have cats now, she eats their food (and they eat her food) in what has become a modern Jumanji at this house. Absolute madness every day. It’s Stampede Wrestling with dogs and cats. All good. It’s fine. It’s fine.
Oilers general manager Stan Bowman needs to be like Ziggy. A constant craving for talent is needed because the Oilers wasted so much talent on trades for older players who are now gone or, well, old and still here. Bowman needs to work double time before the money runs out and the engine blows. What does that look like?
I wrote today about what Bill Zito was doing in Sunrise while Rome burned in Edmonton. Those three former Calgary Flames were key to the Panthers during their two runs to the Stanley Cup. Edmonton had some real success in procurement during those two summers (2021 and 2022) but mostly with older players.
The Panthers and Oilers have shallow prospect pools, and that’s to be expected for teams that have been pushing for a championship over several years. The Panthers roster last season housed Anton Lundell and Mackie Samoskevich in the ’23 and under’ category a year ago, the Oilers just Vasily Podkolzin.
The Oilers will add Matt Savoie and Ike Howard (probably) this fall, and that’s a start. Bowman needs to be mindful about Podkolzin, who had a solid year but showed inconsistency while a member of the Vancouver Canucks. The range of possibilities for Podkolzin are sunrise-to-sunset in my opinion. He could flourish with Draisaitl, stall out, or be used as a deadline trade piece. Glen Sather traded Risto Siltanen, Laurie Boschman, Walt Poddubny and others on the way to Stanley. Bowman needs to be ready for all outcomes.
On the Lowdown, noon to 2pm today, we kickstart the weekend with some sports talk about Elks, Riverhawks, Oilers, Jays and more. Steve Lansky and Tyler Yaremchuk are the feature guests, we’ll have Declanations with Declan Krueger and talk about whatever is on your mind. Sports 1440, noon to 2pm.
New for The Athletic: Do the Edmonton Oilers need more of a rugged edge next season?
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6540430/2025/08/08/oilers-2025-season-rugged-edge/
Ziggy for GM!
Sorry LT this is my comment from really late last night in yesterday awesome post. Not sure if you seen it already I know your busy guy so. Hope all is well…
Loved the picture and back story of Billy the goat LT and zero. You’re poor mother and made me reminisce of back in 2000 and living on Quater section, 2km south of lac la biche.
We had neighbour’s that had cattle and a lone warrior alpac that was mean and spit you. I learned the hard way trying to feed it.
So one evening mom was cutting the grass. The alpaca was near the fence, so I decided to feed it some grass. Mom came over and I asked if she wanted to feed it but she was disinterested. ” oh come on mom I pleaded” and mom finally replied fine. Everything was going well so she told me to fetch it a pale of water.
So I go running to out well. Fill up the 5 gal pal and as im walking back getting close to mom. I hear her upset and cussing and she grabs that pale and whips the water at that alpaca.
I looked at mom and she has spit in her face and hair with a green hinge. Next it was me getting a tuning in. You little brat you knew it was going to do that she replied has i was running away. 🏃♂️
On a side note this.
This alpaca doesn’t fair much longer. He was put down 3 weeks later and the weirdest part is its journey passed through both sides of family and ends after ending up and my great uncle tonys place. The alpaca head butts Tony in the face and Tony had these thick 1980s style glasses on and they break just under his eyes ans around his nose.
Tony went back in that house and grab the gun and its lights out for Mr alpaca.
Haha! Alpacas have that rep for sure. Your Mom getting mad at you was so 1960’s/1970’s. We got blamed for damn neer everything! 🙂
Yes you tell mom is late 60s baby where she got it from but honestly looking back on it all uncle Tony was the real mean guy in the story for the alpaca sake. 😅🤣😂
Condors sign Mason Millman to a one-year, one-way AHL contract for the 2025-26 season.
I think that is now 6LD (9 total D) for Bako.
After last season, the more the merrier.
Fort Wayne take note!
Led the Providence Bruins with a +20.
Yet another undersized LHD. The count in Bako is 3 RHD to 5 LHD, plus Lindgren, who will primarily be an ECHLer.
Great article LT
For me rugged isn’t all hitting or fighting, it’s about controlled aggression as well, a mindset. Marchand is a pain, and he’s small. And he’s a unicorn yes. The Oilers need younger players who have bigger gas tanks than the oldies, and who like playing with edge and a refusal to be beat. That will play dirty and know how to if that’s what the other team wants. That don’t mind hurting the other team, as other teams do to us, the oldest remedy against superior talent
I heard Bob talking to Tikkanen. In the 40% that I could understand, he mentioned things about the Cup teams. For the Skaters it was basically skill and battle level. He mentioned having great goalies. It’s always been the same, the rule changes that impact how the game is played don’t change it’s essence
Then I listened to MacT talking, saying the glory Oilers thought there were a couple of other teams that were very close to them, especially the Flames, that having Messier and Gretzky etc. put them over. He said they tried to take away belief from the other team. Peplinski said once later that he was playing hockey games, and Messier was on a mission – a different level
He also mentioned the depth the Flames had at C which made them hard to play. It’s said the Oilers have it, but who are they? Henrique is a winger at this point, Nuge hasn’t been a full time C or even been used much there in years, even if he likes it, many different coaches don’t. Janmark isn’t a C, Philp is untested and Lazar is no world beater. Players always think they can be better, think they are more effective than they are, they need that confidence to play in the NHL, but that doesn’t make it true. Centre is unsettled business at this point
MacT says once belief is shaken it’s really hard to get back. I think that has happened twice to the Oilers. The Panthers are a mental hurdle for them, regardless of what the players say. This is where coaching comes in. Knoblauch has to get them to fully buy into to believing preventing goals is the main priority, and find a way to do that without killing too much offense, which has been happening. Some evidence:
https://oilersnation.com/news/where-edmonton-oilers-need-improve-offensively
No more of veteran players blowing coverage, or any player doing that, making crappy line changes leading to odd man rushes too much. Leaving players and lanes wide open. A lot of this is on the forwards, leaving defensemen with no good options that makes them and the goalie look bad, and like it’s their fault. He needs to find a way to counter high pressure and keep his team rolling
I think it’s by the Oilers playing that way as well, so their superior players can get them over. That’s how the 80’s Oilers played, and if teams wanted filth they could dish as much back as they got, at least. And there were many players willing to do that, MacT mentioning Craig Simpson having a lot more battle than he’s given credit for
Against the Panthers and teams that play like that, you have to focus on winning battles, giving up little, and matching their intensity until a chance appears, which they did, and then you have to finish them. If the Lightning get by the Panthers and are healthy it will be the same, the Panthers were built to contend with the Lightning I think. There can’t be any mental passengers or guys not willing to engage and give everything, to be willing to do anything, and I don’t mean being stupid.
Playing nice hockey and getting a few points isn’t enough, which is why Skinner is gone I think. The playoffs against good teams is a war, there is no room for many pacifists, or any, especially if they aren’t game breakers. These thoughts may sound harsh, but it’s the reality of NHL playoffs as it is and has been for a long time. If you want a Cup that’s the deal
It’s possible, the Panthers can do these things, as well as other teams. You need the right tactics and mind set. I sure hope Knoblauch has enough jam for what is required and has realized it. There is no room for meek coaches on top teams, just like being a bully doesn’t work either
You need a leader that has no fear and is certain and in charge fully. KK has to put his foot down and insist the top players follow the plan, because Connor and Leon are so driven they will want to do things that are counter productive, like practising or skates late in playoffs when what they need is rest
If you don’t have it down by playoffs it’s too late anyway, the team has to be in it’s groove and fully bought in during the regular season, the tactics for playoffs executed without thinking, just doing. Rest is so important, especially given the age of Connor and Leo and other top players
Or try to do it too much themselves, and make key mistakes as a result, lose patience and that affects team play, they are the leaders on the ice. This is why I felt the Oilers needed a coach with the gravitas that the players will follow fully. It’s hard to coach elite players. I thought it should be coach Q, or Cassidy when he was available, but those ships have sailed
Connor was very frustrated post finals, I think Knoblauch has to move the team forward, and soon, or he’ll get the pipe when a solid option appears, extension or not. They have the horses, have purged deadwood, they have to find a better plan
That is something that concerns me about Howard & Savoie is the ability to stand up physically, because there’s no doubt teams will be taking runs at Edmonton’s up and coming young guns. Which is why trading Evander Kane might not have been such a great idea, unless of course he’s replaced with another evil mean & nasty type that can actually be a decent fellow, Dave Semenko comes to mind.
I do think Bowman will add some turbulence at the trade deadline. As for the regular season reffing is a different ball of wax then the playoff officiating. Savoie and Howard are not 18 year-old boys both are filling out men at 21 who have been already facing other men. It’s going to be exciting season watching these 2 get their opportunity to make some big moolah down the line.
Howard is a pretty stout guy already, I think he’ll be fine, and he has the ‘tude. Savoie is also pretty stout being listed at 180 being 5’9, that’s the same as Marchand. I don’t think Matt is intimidated easily either from what I’ve read
To me it comes down to how the learn to play in the NHL. The best smaller forwards use their brains and quickness, aren’t afraid of contact, but realize that it isn’t to their advantage. Point is lighter than both, he’s pretty good
As for Kane, Frederic is an upgrade. Not because he will score as much, but because he is a far better two way player, he gives up less which is the Oilers main problem a lot of the time still, and just as mean. He also doesn’t get called for looking at guys the wrong way
Can’t speak about Howard but, while small in height, Savoie is not a Yamamoto sized player – he’s got some girth and he survived a season just fine in the trenches of the AHL – dirtier than the NHL.
I would also suggest that Evander Kane doesn’t deter any player from taking any runs – I’ve long believed that deterence is no longer a thing in the NHL – not Kane, not Reaves, not Rempe.
It doesn’t stop single events, but players current and former say those players do calm things down. There are some teams/players that will start ‘running around’, we saw plenty of that in the DoD
If you know there can be push back that means something, it changes things. It’s not as fun to bully weaker players when you have to answer the bell, and would look like a coward saying no to a challenge after playing like an ass hat
It helps even having players like healthy Ekholm. He is so big players don’t want a piece. He doesn’t fight much so most don’t want to find out what he can do. He doesn’t challenge guys often, but I’ve noticed many heads turned away when there’s a tangle of guys in front of the net and he’s in it. I think he’s more feared than Nurse
Thank you for taking the time but, with respect, meh.
s feared in fights and he doesn’t fight because, well, he sucks at it – beat up by Ryan Strome, Gabe Landeskog, etc.
I don’t think Ekhol s feared in fights and he doesn’t fight because, well, he sucks at it – beat up by Ryan Strome, Gabe Landeskog, etc.
I’m positive Nurse is more feared in a fight (and he does it more often) and it doesn’t deter anything.
Bennett ?
What about Bennett – he’s not changing what he does out there based on a “deterrent” – we know that.
If you don’t think the hit Reeves laid on Nurse would not of made Bennett think twice especially in a contract year. How much money does Bennett lose if he gets hurt were not talking millions were talking tens of millions. Frederic was starting to come on who was also in his contract year and I know he was hurt but he wasn’t the same after the Roy crosscheck . How is that not a lengthy suspension? Campbell set the bar and Frederic actually had a free pass to get nasty yet he faded away which was disappointing. I think our Coach is to nice of a guy maybe he doesn’t relize getting a chance to win a Cup is special and nice guys do usually finish last.
No, I don’t think Bennett taking a dirty hit would change the way he played at all.
Hard to play when your injured. Coach K.K should of turned Kane loose the refs can only call one 5 minute major. Kane was given Mickey Mouse penalties all playoff our coach needed to stand up for him and call out the refs. Same with the Frederic non suspension the only reason I give K.K a pass is he’s a young coach and he’s playing the long game. U tube Mark Messier elbows that man won 6 cups and very rarely do you hear anyone bad mouth all you hear is how intense he was.
Messier? He would have been suspended every game if today’s rules applied – very little from the 80s remains applicable.
Kane was getting his stick in the face of the opposition game after game. Kane’s inability to control his stick neutered himself.
Sather wouldn’t stand for lack of compete didn’t matter who you were. I could name a half-dozen players that mailed it in for game 5-6
Yeah. it was literally the first time I’d ever seen an Oilers teams shrug off those kind of stakes. Literally unthinkable to either the Gretz-Mess or Smyth-Horc Oilers. Bummed me out more than any other playoff shortcoming or failing in the history of the franchise.
The 05-06 team played an utterly dogshit game 7.
We try to forget it, but it is true.
And Smyth STUNK the entire finals.
I find it interesting how you’ve been saying variations of the same thing along the lines of this post, since the early days of Connor (probably even prior), and usually get ratio’d or very few positive replies.
People are finally hopping aboard the mollusc beverage train.
I think Bowman has pretty much doing exactly this. He’s done a few things:
1) made the SOR for Howard trade which added the potential for a young, high pedigree, talent, energetic, skilled, dynamic player to impact the lineup now (as oppossed to two years from now) with 3 years of ELC ahead.
2) while acquiring some established NHL vets (Mangiapane and Lazar), he also let a number walk in the name of (a) not overpaying and (b) providing a path forward for the likes of Savoie, Howard and any other players that could surprise and pop.
3) acquired some zero risk mid-career players out of Europe that are wild cards but have a reasonable chance to impact the lineup positively at some point this season – Tomasek and Leppanen and Samanski (likely not this season for Samanski).
4) acquired some college UFA players that, while unlikely to be impactful NHL players, do have skill and a chance – Hutson and Carfagan.
5) plucked a “just on the verge if he can stay healthy” d-man off the Bruins in Regula that has a real chance. This was a crafty move. I think the Bruins must have thought he was going to play in the AHL or there was no reason to waive him. The Oilers stashed him all season long on non-roster IR with no cap hit. If they waived him, Boston could have re-claimed and stashed in the AHL. Boston cannot stash in the AHL off the waiver wire this season – huge difference.
We were aging out with Holland I’m super impressed with Bowman going young on this mini rebuild season. Does Savoie-Howard-Frederic-Podkolzin-Tomasek-Mangiapane have more goals in them then oldtimers Perry-Brown-Skinner-Arvidsson-Ryan-Janmark-Kane. We are definitely going to be a faster team on the forecheck which will lead to more goals than you think in my opinion. Pressure creates turnover which results in a abundance of 5 on 5 goals
Works for the Panthers pretty well
Everything you said is true. However to balance out the track record, we need to add:
6) Let Dylan Holloway walk (only partially his fault) and
7) Overpaid Trent Frederic to a contract that Dom at the Athletic just said has more negative value than Darnell Nurse’s contract.
Some sticker shock on Frederic for sure, mostly due to term, but I think management thinks he’s going to be a big part of the middle of this lineup (middle six, some center, some PK work, some hard defensive minutes work) for a good 4-5-6 years through his prime.
At least I think that’s the plan – we’ll see if they bet on the right buy but I think Bowman really loves Frederic’s skill-set.
I actually don’t hate the term – provides cost certainty as a small percentage of the cap for a long time. If he has a couple of 20 goal seasons (which is reasonable given better centers than he’s had a he’s about to enter his prime) a re-sign would be higher give what we are seeing.
Wait, is the title a k.d. lang reference? I saw during her cowpunk era (buzz-cut, skirt, cowboy boots) at Klondike Days opening for the Brian Wilson-less Beach Boys in…1984? She got booed off the stage, which is no way to treat a local talent. I think people in the crowd came for SoCal harmonies and just couldn’t deal with an odd looking, country singing figure with a voice like an angel.
KD Lang played in the now non-existent but still famous Marmot Cabaret in Jasper, Alberta, where I bartended around that time in 1984. She was dreadful, I was very surprised when she made it big. I also remember watching Dave Semenko defend himself handily against some want to be toughguy in that very trendy spot.
I saw her in that era too, here performance didn’t accentuate her greatest gift. KD Lang’s voice is incredible. It took her some time to find her way, but I love her voice so much.
Seen her at the Railwayclub in Vancouver. when a person says unbelievable pipes she’s the definition. Also seen Blue Rodeo and The Hip at the Rail what a venue what a time to be in my prime.
Did somebody say pipes? Two words, Grace Slick.
I love Grace Slick and I prefer her music over what ever K.D Lamg music is.
https://americansongwriter.com/the-story-behind-anybody-seen-my-baby-by-the-rolling-stones-and-why-k-d-lang-felt-as-if-she-had-won-the-lottery/
The Stones released a single in 1997 and just before the release of Bridges to Babylon Keith’s daughter pointed out that the new single ‘Anybody seen my Baby ‘ sounded a lot like Constant Craving
Lawyers were contacted and ultimately kd Lang was given songwriting credit for the Stones song