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?
Stu’s results come out a little less magnificent than they should have given the bullets provided him.
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.