Every fall, there’s a dozen or so new hockey players to observe and ponder. Some get a number in the summer, so we can project them as an actual NHL player. Others get a number at orientation camp and a different number at training camp.
Among the ‘established’ NHL players who arrived here mid- or late-career, I was most engaged with Milan Lucic. Having watched the big man play with skill and boss the NHL for fun, I genuinely thought he had enough left to make a difference. I looked forward to what he brought in Boston, including some impressive passing ability. One of the toughest things I’ve ever written was about the Lucic fade and it hurt to watch it happen. He was a favourite of mine.
My “Lucic” this fall is Andrew Mangiapane. I always liked his game and I do believe he’ll find a home with one of Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl at five-on-five. He’s a smart, aggressive player with skill, although those hands seem to be losing some touch. I’m very much looking forward to how he plays and where he slots. There are similarities in terms of age and arrival between AM and ML, but they are not similar players. I’m cheering like hell for a guy I liked even behind enemy lines.
Tony Hand arrived seemingly out of nowhere and left the scene just as quickly. If you were listening to Rod Phillips during preseason 39 years ago, Hand was actual fire. Back then, the radio held sway for preseason and many regular season games, and Phillips filled my brain with the idea Hand was going to be something. He wasn’t alone, as Glen Sather tried to get him to stay and play for a WHL team. In the end, he got homesick (so the story ends, we’re told) and never returned. Every year, one of these kids comes out of the sky and lands a little south of Moline.
My candidate this season is Samuel Jonsson. He might last five minutes or maybe 14 days (like Hand) and I’m here for it. The Oilers need a gift from the hockey Gods, maybe it’s Jonsson. Hey, who are your new favourites?
On the Lowdown today, we’ll talk to Steve Lansky about Tony Hand and the Sather 80’s, and about training camp and the magic of possibilities. Tyler Yaremchuk will talk to us about his hole-in-one extravaganza and we’ll have Declanations too. Noon to 2pm, Sports 1440.
How the Oilers can beat the salary cap despite their top-heavy roster
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6567560/2025/08/22/oilers-value-contracts-salary-cap/
VERY in-depth interview with Berezkin.
https://www.vseprosport.ru/lenta/2025/08/22/hochu-proverit-sebja-na-urovne-makdevida-berezkin-o-chempionstve-loko-i-nhl?utm_source=sports.yahoo.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=sports.yahoo.com&utm_referrer=sports.yahoo.com
Coles notes, we very much wants to play in the NHL that’s his hopes and dreams.
He decided to stay one more year in the KHL as he doesn’t think he’s quite ready and, when he comes over, he wants to be ready (and not be an AHL guy). If he isn’t good enough we will 100% work on his game to make it.
He thinks he has to work on his English and will be working with a tutor this year.
He does communicate at bit with Podz – they aren’t close though.
Nothing quite as touching than reading about a Russian’s hopes and dreams.
Having having just returned from Latvia.
I was reading about an Oilers’s prospect’s hopes and dreams.
A player I think will be able to slid in to the middle six on an ELC next year.
You can take this some place it doesn’t need to go (nor is permitted to go on this blog) – your choice.
Cut back on the sass, OP. Russia is a clear sore spot. Read the room
English tutor? Staying in mother Russia until he feels he’s fully developed? Who does this guy think he his? That’s not the Oilers way.
In all honesty, he excites me more than Ike. Pro league experience, a 200ft game and maturity. I’d place money on Savoie settling this year, Berezkin next year, Ike year three. In all honesty, I hate that nickname… Ike? First thing comes to mind is Ike Turner….
Replaces a few aging top 6 players from years ’25-’28. What’s McDavid waiting for to resign? Walman’s contract?
In my opinion, depending on his decisions on defense, Bowman has officially extended the Oilers window. Crazy.
I think McDavid is “waiting for” being back in Edmonton which, presumably, happens after this Olympic camp that is coming up.
I posted something similar to this on an article about redrafting 2016–2022, but I also included #32+ picks (Moroz, Benson) and went back to 2011. My rule: replacement pick must be within 16 spots (half a round) and same position (F, D, or G).
It’d be more interesting with those constraints since picks are sometimes about position, draft balance, or impressions of F/D groups. No picking Hutson or Faber way earlier.
2016 – No-brainer: Tkachuk is best within 16 and a forward. Sergachev (D) was also in play. Benson at #32 counts as a 1st now → Debrincat is obvious, though Kyrou/Girard would’ve been excellent.
2017 – Oettinger is best overall. For forwards within 16: Tolvanen, Frost, Poehling, Boqvist. I leaned Tolvanen (scorer), but Poehling is big, fast, and just had more PPG.
2018 – Bouchard stays.
2019 – I’d take Harley even without the rule. Impressive at best-on-best. Might even pick him over Boldy/Caufield. Broberg could still end up being the best D in range.
2020 – Harder with young players. Faber’s out (too far + wrong position). D options: Guhle, Schneider, Barron → Guhle best (most TOI, ex-Oil King). For F: Mercer, Foerster, Neighbours, Zary. All similar goal rates (19–24/82). Mercer wins on speed + experience.
2021 – Slam dunk: Wyatt Johnston.
2022 – Too early, esp. at #32. Hutson not realistic. Within 16: Casey or Minton. I like Minton’s energy.
Looking backward:
2015 – Instead of trading #16 for Reinhart, could’ve drafted Barzal, Connor, Eriksson Ek, Boeser, or Konecny. Kyle-Connor-McDavid would’ve been wild.
2014 – Easy: Draisaitl.
2013 – Nurse at #7 ahead of Ristolainen, Morrissey, Wennberg. Morrissey is best. Horvat if not drafting for need.
2012 – Yakupov’s draft: top 17 included Reilly, Lindholm, Trouba, Forsberg, Wilson, Hertl. BPA = Forsberg, but Wilson, Hertl, or Reilly arguable.
2012 – Moroz at #32: BPA = McCabe. If F, then McGinn. Not a game changer.
2011 – With Nuge at #1, top 17 eligible. Kucherov not (picked #58). Candidates: Landeskog even with injuries, Hamilton, Scheifele, Huberdeau, J.T. Miller, Couturier if not for injuries. Best choice = Scheifele, though I could be convinced to keep Nuge.
Summary redraft:
2011 – Nuge > Scheifele
2012 – Yakupov > Forsberg
2012 – Moroz > McGinn
2013 – Nurse > Morrissey
2014 – Draisaitl > Draisaitl
2015 – McDavid > McDavid
2015 – G. Reinhart > Connor
2016 – Puljujärvi > Tkachuk
2016 – Benson > Debrincat
2017 – Yamamoto > Poehling
2018 – Bouchard > Bouchard
2019 – Broberg > Harley
2020 – Holloway > Mercer
2021 – Bourgault > Johnston
2022 – Schaefer > Minton
Nothing pre-2014 should change, or the Oilers might not get Draisaitl or McDavid. In fact, let’s just say in this alternate timeline nothing in the history of the world can change until the draft lottery balls drop in 2015.
Thoughts?
An interesting exercise, but I think it needs more nuanced constraints. Hindsight is always 20/20, and we need to consider consensus draft expectations in the years the players were taken. For example, reaching half a round for an alternate choice for a player in the top 3 (usually the most likely candidates to go #1) seems a bit far. For players taken in the top three, I would suggest a maximum reach of 5 picks. For those selected in the top half of the first round, I would suggest 7? and for those in the top 50 of the draft half a round as a possible tweak. Beyond that, the rest of the top 100 below #50, go one round. Outside of that, it is a crap shoot… does this sound more reasonable? I am trying to avoid egregious reaches in the alternate selections vis a vis the player expectations at the time they were selected. Does this seem a viable or reasonable tweak? What are your thoughts?
Oilers could get a huge boost from the likes of, Philp, Savoie, Howard, Regula, Lazar, Tomasek, Leppanen, Jarventie, Tomkins & last but not least Jonsson. They look to be a promising group of players. I hope they all can impact the team ASAP, the sooner the better.
I wonder how much money, fame, and legendary status being homesick cost Tony Hand. His crazy run in Britain suggests a lot.
Too bad “home” wasn’t a great woman who would have followed him to Alberta for cups, glory, and a hell of a ride. That could really have worked out.
I’m not sure. I was just clicking through the league leaders and Hand didn’t lead the league in points most years. And when he did it was close. The guys who didn’t have HoF trajectories either. Crazy stats, a guy has 319 points in 56 games 1 year. Would have been fun to see some of those games, more points than leaders in our local beer leagues.
I take the perspective that these things aren’t built primarily in isolation, especially when it comes to elite level athletes. I don’t believe, as some posters (not saying you) seem to, that people will rise no matter what if they’re actually “that good”.
Every Oilers player from the 80s teams talks about how the best hockey and hardest work was in their practices. Take a clearly exceptional hockey player (even his incredibly limited NA stop shows that, and Sather loved the guy), and put him in that crucible. Everything suggests to me he would have been a damn good player, if not a star.
Good points, but I guess what I’m wondering about is if Hand had the drive to become that player. Those practises were intense because the players were driven to be the very best. Being homesick is certainly understandable, but it might also be that he didn’t have the drive to stay and see if he could succeed, And chose the path of lease resistance.
A Jonsson break-out and playing strong 2-G in the Bake would have the biggest impact.
Philp, Regula and Tomasek breaking camp with the big club…..with course with both Savoie and Howard are my hopefuls…..yes 5 rookies, although 3 have some NHL games played.
meaning both Henrique and Janmark are either moved or in the pressbox.
“Among the ‘established’ NHL players who arrived here mid- or late-career…” I’d say Mangiapane and Lazar are the only established mid-career joining the Oilers to choose from and agree, given his salary and expected placement in the lineup, that Mangiapane having a great year would be the highest impact.
On another note, I am wondering how Savoie and Howard will compare to Arvidsson and J. Skinner. To me, these players may not be that dissimilar and could play similar roles. If the two rookies can outshine the outgoing players that would be significant. But, that may be asking a lot, especially for their first year in the league (if they make it).
I know that Mangiapane doesn’t have the goal scoring history that Arvidsson does (but for his one 35 goal season) but he’s been a consistent 15-18 goal scorer his entire career, including last season in Washington and, for me, the “other elements” he brings will be more consistent than was Arvidsson brought as Arvy was all over the place, up and down and hurt.
It seems we never knew what we were going to get from Arvidsson on any shift, let alone any game or stretch of games.
I think Mangiapane will provide consistency in a strong 2-way game that can play in all situations and up and down the lineup.
Seeing as he’s essentially a 15-18 goal scorer, I do think that, ultimately, he is a great 3rd line fit – he’ll start in the top six but here is hoping, as the year goes on, some of the younger talent push him out of there – not because Mangiapane is struggling per se but on merit.
I couldn’t stand Mangiapane when he was a flame. I guess I can tolerate him as an Oiler.
Hopefully he catches fire in Edmonton.
Jarventie
Matt Savoie is my favourite with honourable mentions to Ike Howard, Jonsson, and Tomasek.
Here’s hoping Matt crushes it in camp and gets a long hard look on a skill line to start the year. If he gets that chance then I fancy him to be a massive success story this season.
Here is hoping that, not only does Jonsson stick in the AHL last year but steals starts from the AHL vet – maybe even the injury call up.
Just imagine if he pops in North America.
London has announced that William Nicholl has had upper body surgery and timeline is 4-6 months recovery.
Sounds like the typical Oiler prospect shoulder surgery.
Sigh.
Major surgery and missing a full year (essentially) in prime development years is often devastating for a mid tier prospect.
At this point in the franchise’s accrued experience and expertise, a shoulder injury might be the safest ailment he could have.
Way back when it was Mariusz Czerkawski, I bet the farm he was going to be the goal scorer we were lacking. In the words of Waylon Jennings; “Wrong”
This season:
Alex Regula
Matt Savoie
12G/29P and a +7 in 39 games is pretty good…. no?
Ike Howard is my new favourite. Just hoping for 10 yrs and around 25 goals a year. Piece of cake really.
Im betting he will need half a year in the AHL to learn how to play against men
Maybe – maybe not.
Here is hoping he starts like Jimmy Snugerud and not Ryan Leonard.
Bowman has always had a good eye in the past for young talent. Bowman didn’t trade our best prospect so he could waste his 3 ELC years playing patty-cake in the vicious AHL. I don’t think there’s 1 person in the Oilers organization that believe’s he’s not NHL ready this is why they made the trade. This kid will get a early push if he shows a heartbeat he’ll be top 6 if he needs some adjustment time it’ll be bottom 6.
This continued post frustrates me as it completely discounts the fact that, no matter what Bowman’s intent is, the path forward will be dictated by the play of the player.
The player may very well need some AHL time, its completely reasonable although far from a lock.
At the same time, I HIGHLY disagree with the opinion (which you have stated many times) that if the player doesn’t score 20 plus this year, let alone if he needs some development time, then people need to be fired for egregious mistakes.
I don’t think he’ll need AHL time but he very well might and, if he does, nothing would make less sense than playing him in the NHL when he would benefit from AHL time – as MOST players do.
If we’re going to win the Cup several times we need a major hit and mini hits from Savoie-Frederic-Howard-Mangiapane-Tomasek-Regula-Jarventie. Moving on it would be sweet if the rest were competent NHLers. We also need some luck that one of these turn into a good NHLer Hutson-Samanaski-Leppernen-Nicholl-Clattenburg. I don’t understand when you say You don’t think he’ll play in the AHL but it’s taboo to think he’ll score 20. Are you what we used to call a fence sitter? If it’s alright with the Boss I have $200 towards a charity of his choosing if Howard doesn’t score 20. I’m trusting team Bowman got this one right. If a sap like me is putting $200 on Howard then real shit is going to hit the fan if he isn’t ready and needs a year of development. If that’s the case then what was the purpose of trading O’Reilly? Sam may be ready sooner than you think? I watched the Gretzky-Messier-Anderson-Kurri-Coffey-Fuhr-Moog-Ranford window get slammed faster then you can say where’s Waldo.
Maybe its because I NEVER said that?
Its not taboo to think he’ll score 20 and I think that’s probably more likely than him spending material time in the AHL.
What I push back on is this crazy premise that he’s absolutely locked in to score 20 and there is no chance he’ll need some development time (and even moreso that because Bowman thinks he’s ready, they won’t make decision going forward in real time if he’s not).
I also push back on this crazy opinion that if he does need AHL time he’s an absolute bust and people should get fired.
Both opinions you have expressed.
Ask yourself why did the Oilers trade for Howard and it’s not because Shania sent him. First off I don’t want to put you on the spot. A fine respectable Gentleman like you should join me in the Howard Challenge. I know others will follow if you yourself picks either way. I won’t bother you again you have until puck drop of game 1 if you choose to be in on it. Either 20 or above for Howard or below 20. I know I set the bar high for Howard’s rookie season but WTF it’s another tidbit for a diehard Oiler fan to cheer for. Also I don’t consider this gambling as either way I’ll be happy with the result.
Holy hell, I don’t understand why you don’t understand the straight forward concepts.
Its not that I’m not cheering for Howard to hit the ground running or that I think he can’t or won’t score 20 goals. I actually think he has a better chance of scoring 15-20 than playing spending material time in the NHL.
Its about discounting him needing some development as a potential and the reasons Bowman trading for him somehow being relevant to how he actually performs.
I’m rooting like hell for Jarventie and Regula. If they can ahow that they’re passed their injuries, then we’ve got a couple legit NHL players, both of whom could end up playing many years in Edmonton if they do make it. The question marks around them are real though, so it’ll be interesting to watch how it all plays out.
I very much agree although, truth be told, my thoughts on Regula aren’t based on actually watching him play – I’ve got eyes on two games of Jarventie in the AHL (coming in mid-season) which were electric.
I have these two as first call-ups – of course, to the extent both are, and stay, healthy – that is really the only question mark I think (well, maybe not quite but they are right there).
I really hope Philp can emerge, and my hope is he has the goods to be a solid 3C. The third line needs to have a bigger impact for the team 200 ft and in outscoring. Maybe Nuge can do that, but I am not sure KK will actually keep him there, and Henrique despite always liking the player doesn’t work for me at this point
I would love that. I was a huge fan of him during the UofA years – his potential looked huge even to my untrained eye. I’ll take him emerging as the 4C though, that’s the first target out of camp.
Philp is definitely a favourite. I liked him every time he was with the Oilers last season.
Then it’s Jonsson, who I’ve been rooting for since I first heard about him (& because I’m always looking for young goalies to enjoy, ever since I watched Dryden come out of nowhere to beat that powerful 71 Bruins team).
Philip missed the boat ride last year this coming from my Intel which is me, myself and I. He didn’t impress the boss enough on his audition last year hence the Lazar and to lesser extent the Tomasek signings. Philip is going to need a couple of injuries to get a call from the big guy.
Competition can only make him stronger.
Competition will get you waking up in a Swiss hotel where you can’t use the pisser because Mikko Koskinen is taking a shower.
This is genuinely hilarious.
Frederic has the more likely chance to be that guy at 3C this season, in my opinion.
So if Mangiapane is this years Lucic then game 1 of the season I fully expect him to drop the gloves with some hulking defenceman and pound him, just to send a message around the league to beware.
Ain’t never seen much land 90s onward, but I’m hopeful about the new euro pros. Hoping one or both can break in and complement a joint Matt/Ike breakout.
Then we’ll be talking third trip to the final.
Made a comment on another platform about the prospect pool and, while the Oilers don’t have many “high end prospects” or “can’t miss prospects” – really only Savoie as can’t miss (at this point, based on his rookie pro season in the AHL, he’s an NHL player) but what they do have is quite a few “decent bets” to be able to impact the NHL team at some point, in some way, over the next few years.
I don’t know if any of Tomasek, Lappanen, Marjala, Samanski, Berezkin, etc. will “make it” but, really, if one becomes an every day NHL player in the next few years, that’s a win.
Truth be told, with the superstars on the team (McDavid, Drai, Bouchard) and good base in behind (Walman, Hyman, etc.) that’s all they really need.
There are two young players that, if healthy, are good bets to be NHL players this season – Regula and Jarventie.
Berezkin is a GREAT bet to be an NHL player and intel is he plans to sign for next season.
Akey, is now fully healthy, and turning pro, he’ll need time but he could very well be an NHL player in a year or two – he may bust but he’s get high end skating and that can go a long ways.
Agreed! A stand out skill like high end skating will ALWAYS get you extra looks. You can often anchor a role and usage around the standout strengths and work to mitigate the less stellar skills with coaching.