We’ve spent much of this summer discussing what we think we know, while acknowledging that things could change at a moment’s notice. No one was talking about Andy Moog saving the Oilers in October of 1980, and no one spoke about Esa Tikkanen’s presence on the playoff roster in fall 1984.
Even great teams need something magical to fall out of the sky. Most often, that’s via draft and development. I think the Oilers have the development part down, and the scouts have been doing fine work without many selections early.
Rick Pracey has the most difficult job in the history of Oilers scouting: Finding the next Moog or Tikkanen in a hockey world that’s so thorough someone is scouting your Grandma’s midnight Sunday hockey league.
Barry Fraser averaged 4.3 NHL players (one game or more) per season, with 29 men playing 500+ games. Incredible success. Scouting was far more competitive by the time Kevin Prendergast took over, so his 4.7 NHL players (one game or more) is impressive. KP drafted nine players who dressed for 500+ games.
Stu MacGregor had a lot of high draft picks, so his 3.6 NHL players (one game or more) rate is a little less impressive. He did produce six names who played 500+ games, and will have at least one HHOF on his resume someday.
Bob Green arrived in time for Connor McDavid and that’s just good business. He averaged 4.2 players per year (one game or more) but only one (McDavid) has more than 500 games. There’s a few more 500+ game players on the way.
Tyler Wright’s time with the team produced one NHL player, and none who have played 500 games yet. Pracey is just getting started but the development staff has their work cut out for them because the kids Pracey is taking come from the later rounds. Here are the latest RE’s for Pracey’s skater picks who have played in leagues where NHL equivalencies are readily available:
- Sam O’Reilly (age 18) 30.0
- Dalyn Wakely (age 20) 28.0
- William Nicholl (age 18) 23.0
- Tommy Lafreniere (age 17) 20.0
- Connor Clattenburg (age 19) 20.0
- David Lewandowski (age 17) 19,9
I like this list because everyone can contribute at least some offense. Tommy Lafreniere and David Lewandowski are the youngest in the group, suspect the two WHL kids will eclipse Nicholl’s age 18 NHLE in the year to come. Oilers need someone on this list (aside from O’Reilly) to pop.
On the Lowdown today, we’ll talk Connor McDavid’s contract and what it means for the Oilers organization. Jason Gregor will be our feature guest at 1:20 and we hit the airwaves at noon, Sports 1440.
New for The Athletic: Why Trent Frederic might be the biggest surprise for Oilers fans this season
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6558764/2025/08/18/oilers-trent-frederic-production-analysis/
The way they excoriate that contract of his, it would be nice.
Haha. I love his style. One of my favourite Bruins.
Having a favourite Bruin is like having a favourite tax audit or root canal procedure, no?
Oh no, Bruins have had some wonderful players since I was a kid. Orr of course, but guys like Gregg Sheppard and Stan Jonathan, plus the superstars too. A grand hockey team for me. I still watch a pile of their games.
I still can’t believe how it was possible the Bruins had Eleven 20 goal scorers 1977-78. Wensink had 16 to boot what a team what a Coach. I can’t remember Matti Hagman being a Bruin for a handful of games that season.
Wensink and J Bob Kelly (the guy in St. Louis) were the most fearsome bigger (200 pounds) guys who could actually play and didn’t throw on a Flyers jersey during those years.
Wensink had a incredible follow-up year with 28. The Bruins were pound for pound the toughest in the league. Stan Jonathan 5’9” 175 then there was Bobby Schmautz who was a tiny 5’8”155. Nobody screwed with Schmautz if he didn’t connect with a few rights he would carve you up like a turkey dinner. This craziness in Schmautz bought him time for his poor man’s Mike Bossy shot. I was so pumped when Sather traded for Schmautz but he was near done by then. Sather still managed to get 8 goals in 29 games out of Bobby.
— Speaking of magic falling from sky that’s the jays now. All these players having “career” years:
Kirk
Straw
Barger
Loperdifo
Clement
Heinemin
Lukes
— Plus Springer and Bo with epic bounce back years
— Oil need a bunch of players to have their best year to win Cup IMO.
— World Series Champ more random than Stanley Cup. Jays have put themselves in a good spot but more randomness in Baseball playoffs.
The Oil are wise to extract value from other’s ‘castoffs’. Savoie was considered redundant to a younger Benson with injury history. Howard wanted opportunity and the Oil have openings.
They really haven’t given up much to get these guys. Mcleod is a fine 3c (though flawed) but Holloway was primed for that role with Henrique as cover/mentor. That it didn’t come to fruition is a different organizational error. At the time it was trading from strength to address weakness. It obviously hasn’t affected this window and they are building the next.
Shows a more proactive approach than the 31 team boat anchor calls the new GM gets trying to exploit the new guy.
Not a draft pick but I would think that Rick Pracey and his team would have been front and center in the Matt Savoie trade and the Issac Howard trade – both acquired while still amateur players.
Stu’s results come out a little less magnificent than they should have given the bullets provided him.
We don’t talk about that too much anymore.
Wright has been milking the Larkin pick for over a decade. I’m glad he’s in L.A as I thought L.A was really coming on. I’m glad they panicked on the organization and replaced them with team Holland. I ultimately believe it was 1 hurried brain dead challenge that sank that boat. Bowman has always employed a better than good draft team. I thought our window was closing fast under Holland. Bowman has given me hope in our draft and development as well as his trades so far. Hopefully Walman and Frederic are going to be a big part of this club in the coming years. Though a 8 year-deal for a 27 year-old grinder was a strange signing.
Holland was brought in to provide maturity and stability to the Oil, and he did that. It wasn’t progressive and anything other than the big club became an after thought.
Which is why it’s so baffling LA hired him. They had a mature team with Hall of Fame players who know (knew) how to win. They didn’t need stability they need to get over the Mcdavid sized hump. If you can’t beat em join em at the cost of the riches you acquired being smart talent evaluators drafting and developing is so short sighted. I love it for us.
Granted, the previous guy made some galling errors on the pro and amateur projection/fit side so the damage was mostly done. They’re still an excellent structure team, just feels like they may have killed a dynasty. Too bad they didn’t give up on Byfield like they did Faber.
We wait.
Holland has a great rep, despite the evidence. Agreed he was hired to normalize operations and he did, but I think his cheque signers also thought he would do a highest paid GM job. For me he didn’t. LA must not have wanted to take a chance and went with a known quantity. Thankfully
From players comments after their first cup, Zito has built a great culture that is liked, especially if you like espresso machines being around. You don’t need a plain Jane older fella, just a decent human with a strong and correct vision
As per your Bowman props, Frederic’s contract is low enough that the term doesn’t matter. Instead of a higher cap hit he gave term to a player with higher pay options from what was said
I think it’s a smart move to secure a player they wanted and had paid for. The buyout is low the contract wasn’t structured to be poisonous. Not that Bowman would have to buy it out, he’d trade it because he can do deals, and fair ones at that
I reeeaaalllly like having a GM again that can operate on all fronts well. Gives me Slats vibes. Been a minute
And isn’t sentimental
I like the little deals that Bowman has papier mache together Jarventie-Regula-Samanaski-Hutson-Tomasek-Leprechaun. Wouldn’t that be Cat’s Ass if Regula ends up being partners with his old bro from London by the end of the year. Stranger things have happened. I just hope the Coach allows things to play themselves out before another run.
FTR, Wright is not Head of Amateur Scouting in LA but Director of Player Personnel.
Mark Yanetti remains in charge of Amateur Scoung and has a fairly significant record of success.
Unfortunately Rob Blake’s trade record was less than stellar.
Is that one of those fictional jobs that us with not enough talent and desire working sloths dream about as we got older.
I expect so.
Coffee detail for the decision makers.
What happened to those long lists of 10-12 “blue chip prospects”?????