It is perhaps fitting that the Oilers lacked enough depth to win last night’s game against the Calgary Flames rookies. All of the players expected to make an impact in Edmonton and Bakersfield showed some jam, while the invites and the ECHL-AHL shuttle cast were not able to make plays.
I’ll start with Matt Savoie, who looked brilliant and is clearly ready to reach for higher ground. He scored two pretty goals, and was on Flames defenders like a stoat all night long. What he lacks in size, he makes up in determination. Injuries will be a worry.
Ike Howard impacted the game at a lesser level, but showed good speed and passing ability. He’s a little bigger than Savoie, and he looked good to me. Good speed, made plays. It’ll be a tougher road for him, because he has no pro experience, but I don’t think nerves or uncertainty are going to catch him.
Viljami Marjala had a fine night, scoring the first goal on a breakaway and touching the puck often. You should expect that from a player who is 22 and has pro experience in the Liiga. What I didn’t expect is the number of touches Marjala had on the night. It’s a thing. Good players touch the puck a lot. Marjala is a good player.
Quinn Hutson delivered as expected, scoring a late goal and playing a strong two-way game. He scored late, had a couple of nice chances before the goal, and served as both power play quarterback and net-front screen. He has a lot of utility, we saw that in his game last night.
Connor Clattenburg also showed range in his game last night. The goal showed good instincts (he slid into the high slot and waited patiently for the pass) and nice finish on his goal. He was also noticeable with the puck in other moments of the game, and had two fights plus some other pims along the way. I hadn’t seen him, and was impressed by his game. The key for Clattenburg will be moving the needle offensively. He may surprise the math this fall based on what I saw and the push he’s likely to get from the coaches.
Josh Samanski impressed me with his size, and I think it’ll be interesting to see where he lands on the Condors depth chart this winter. Like pretty much all of these young players, it’ll be scoring and outscoring and we’ll see. With his size, the Oilers will give him every chance to succeed.
Damien Carfagna and Beau Akey were the only two defenders of note, and I’ll express disappointment that the organization didn’t have more capable blue backing up the top pair. I thought both Carfagna and Akey showed well, and believe those two young players will show promise this season in Bakersfield.
I don’t hold the other defensemen or Colin Chaulk accountable for the rest of the blue, that was an organizational misfire.
Samuel Jonsson made some big stops and didn’t get much help from his skaters on many plays. It was a tough game to judge a goalie, because the Oilers looked fine or rancid depending on what lines/pairings were on the ice. I like his chances to shine this winter with the Condors, and do believe he has NHL promise.
The rest of the roster was (imo) pretty meh. I might have missed some things and welcome all verbal in the comments about the game. I hope we see the players noted above on Sunday, Oilers will need all of them, and quite frankly more defensemen, to make it a real game.
I found myself watching Samanski the most. Incredible skater for such a big body. Decent hands and was elevating the puck in warm-up like nobody’s business. He is a very smart player. But extremely conservative and defensive. Reminds me of the German World Cup teams that took pride in their defence. Not certain if he will produce enough scoring to transition to the NHL: not his nature. But he has all of the God given skill to be an NHL player.
Wonder how much of that depends on coaching vs being able to see the gaps in coverage worth exploiting.
After watching this game I have been led to the conclusion that Marjala might be a middle to top 6 forward that Edmonton can rely on. This is strictly because of one strength of his: he thinks the game faster than he plays it. He makes reads on play and personel faster than everyone on the ice with the possible exemption of Matt Savoie. I don’t typically become bullish on prospects but I believe that Marjala will rise as high as his deployment allows. His vision and skating will be enhanced by structure and coaching meaning that as the game gets faster his play will translate better. It may be best to allow him to physically adjust to the north American game for a year but he seems to understand the game at a higher level than our other prospects.
I commented earlier that most of these fine young lads are long shots for the NHL. That having been said, I thought I’d check out some of the good smaller forwards. Bowman first signed Panarin, looks like he’s barking up that tree again. Marjala does look like a player that might be a find. He’s a bit light but he’s tall and 22 so he can gain some weight which will help him a lot. Definitely needs some NA pro seasoning
A big key here for me is that Stan is signing level top players from other leagues. This is a change for the Oilers. Rich Winter says that as soon as the Oilers got Connor they were not a team on most player’s no go lists. Stan has the chops to leverage the players and facilities he has, where for these Euros they would probably have a straighter path on worse teams. This is great news for Oiler fans, and players
You never know with Finns sometimes they just pop. At least Bowman is trying to find a gem in a haystack he’s willing to give prospects a opportunity If they deliver in other leagues. Holland had no interest in prospects and he even said so. Remember when Holland brought in a farmer and played him before a developing Lavoie who must of been devastated after doing everything the organization asked of him. I don’t care what anyone says if Lavoie gets developed by Bowman’s team he’s probably better than Janmark is.
He definitely put himself in the “real prospect” category but I’m going to wait to see him in the AHL dealing with men and the slog of the North American schedule – can’t wait to watch him all year though.
Not to be contradictory but I think that the Liiga is comprised of men and he produced at a more than adequate level. My main contention originally was not to bring him to the big league immediately but rather that he should be advanced as quickly as he is ready. He has the one tool that 90 percent of hockey players don’t and that alone should fast track him.
There was a familiarity to the game: Oilers having ho-hum start, blazing finish. Practicing, even in rookie games, to fit into the “comeback kings” playbook that was so frustrating (& exciting)?
Watching the Bluejays become the “comeback club” with their league-leading 45th win today made me wonder if what I’ve fallen in love with, with the Oilers (& now the Jays) is the “never-say-die” confidence (& the adrenaline rush). I was getting that hit with last year’s Habs too.
Bring it on!
Difference is the Jays are a 22 player team, Oilers, not so much.
Thank goodness we have a crumb of hockey to talk about to distract us from 97. He’s clearly unbothered walking out with Morgan Wallen so we shouldn’t be either imo.
Everyone played as predicted. Sloppy for a first game back but enough skill to show off good sound hockey.
Honestly, cheering for the guy but the hype on Jonsson is too much imo. He’s somewhere between Nagelvoort and Konovalov for me. Closer to the former than the latter. If he did what he did in the SHL, I’d understand the hype. Glove hand needs work.
Day man is more interesting. He faced a tonne of rubber and heavy workload in Flint. Move him to a competent team and see if he thrives.
The fact that you can remember Nagelvoort and Konovalov, *and* parse the differences between them, shows that you are a true prospect aficionado. No pretender here.
Chris Johnston
@reporterchris
Spencer Knight signs a three-year extension with Blackhawks carrying a $5.83M AAV.
Chris Johnston at the Athletic says that Carter Hart will sign with an American team: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6624342/2025/09/12/carter-hart-oilers-flyers-free-agency/
Bad news for those hoping he might solve our unsteady crease. The problem continues. I’m not going to blame goaltending for our SCF losses – Florida knows how to shut us down – but with someone like Bob, we might have a Cup or two.
I can’t blame Hart for wanting to be in the US. WAY less coverage of the case there.
Him signing on a USA team will free up a good goaltender that should start a domino effect that will shake a competent backstopper loose.
Like Juuse Saros and his contract?
Darcy Kuemper at his age?
John Gibson or Cam Talbot? (And Hart may not want to sign in Detroit – too close to London).
Elvis Merzlikins in the most likely, and who wants his contract?
I’m not sure help is on the way.
The key as Bowman has said isn’t to act until something comes up that works both ways and is what seems a clear improvement. The big mitigating factor here is that Bowman has no problem with the cap. Yes they are close to it, but if that deal is there, he will make it – he can make trades and fair deals no problem, we have seen it. This is a big difference from before
I now think they have identified a goalie that they think will hit the waiver wire and will test drive him as the year goes on. I think they’ll chance Pickard on the waiver wire. I think there’s a 97 percent chance Skinner doesn’t get resigned no matter how he plays.
Sweet Carolina…bah, bah, bah. Good times never seemed so good.
Carolina seems like the perfect landing spot.
The nightmare scenario is that Hart signs a one year deal in Florida for the league minimum, in anticipation of Bobrovsky retiring next summer.
Speculation is Hart will get a bit of term and $2MM plus
You have to wonder if Tulsky kept all that cap space in anticipation of this opportunity.
Couldn’t watch the game, but did see the highlights. Many have said Clatt would be a fan favourite if he can progress enough, it’s pretty hard to argue with that. Nice hands in tight for his goal
It’s a shame for so many young talented players that we pull for, that the NHL is very hard to make even for players with pretty significant talent. We know that while they can look good in rookie camp games, each step gets harder, and the real deal is a couple of jumps up from main camp and pre season games
A lot of the youth don’t have NHL size, and some NHL boots. Savoie and Howard aren’t big but are first round picks. There’s always a chance, if things break right, they work their butts off, and they have enough crust. Mangiapane 5’10 183 was a 6th round pick, but had strong OHL numbers and honours, and ended up playing internationally for Canada
His ability is much higher than his draft number, and he has the skating, puck protection and assertiveness to over come his size. We might see a few guys make it, but it’s a long road for most of them
Clattenburg has the skill to make it plus he’s a leader. Very rarely do you see a player like Clattenburg as a Captain in the OHL. He’s a smart kid develop him properly and he might make it to the show sooner and stay longer then most people think.
I think he has a pretty clear path to the Oilers 4th line as soon as he can develop a bit more. That he has also played C doesn’t hurt
I wish we had a couple more players like him in the system. Bowman likes his bottom six forwards big, skilled and somewhat prickly. All he has to do is stay healthy it wouldn’t surprise If he doesn’t have a letter on his jersey by this time next year. They’ll be chanting his name by Christmas in Bakersfield. Of course they’ll be folks hoping this good kid flops to them I say go suck a lemon.
I kinda figure he’s going to have to still get bigger & stronger to play the type of game he tries to play at the NHL level.
It still boggles my mind that the org didn’t think Munzenburger was worthy of an ELC (only offered him an AHL deal). Of course, the organization knows much more than me but this really surprised me.
We should note that a couple of the organization’s higher rated d-prospects are in college (Fischer and, I guess Asher Barnett but don’t know where to rate him) and the KHL (Yevseyev).
The two main “stock risers” for me were Marjala and Carfagna.
Marjala seemed to be all over the puck all night long – his breakaway goal was pretty and his back-hand touch pass to Savoie for his 2nd goal was the nicest play of the night.
Carfagna was way more dynamic that I anticipated – there is real offensive skill there.
Hutson played a mature game and his goal was a beauty – he was expected to stand-out as an older player (23).
Adding those three, plus Leppanen (and perhaps Regula) along with Samanski (big/skilled dude) to the Condors – holy hell!!!! Plus Hamblin and Jones and Griffith and Petrov and Grube.
Stonehouse and Stefan were terrible last night and its hard to imagine they can make the AHL team….
Based on your praise for Marjala and Carfagna, and your framing Hutson as an older player, it sound like the gap from 22 to 23 is the Grand Canyon. I would respecfully disagree. I would suggest Marjala’s substantial pro experience in Liiga is more of an advantage than a small difference in age. jmo.
That’s fair, and a good point. Hutson does have 4 NHL games on his resume. Yes, its only four but I think that is very meaningful in that regard.
In any event, both players increased my personal opinion of them last night.
Those two, along with Carfagna and Leppanen, are going to tear up the AHL this year.
Hutson played in two NHL games, 27 total minutes. I believe that’s a sample that we can toss in the waste basket.
https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/h/hutsoqu01.html
Thanks (for the Corey Perry link; commented on wrong thread, obviously)
I completely disagree – he prepared for and played in 4 NHL games – there was not a ton of ice time but I would never discount that experience – he’s experience, and played in, NHL games with the best players in the world, dealing with the pace and skill and structure and everything that goes with that.
I think it counts for alot.
All of the sites I visit say 2 NHL games, but you’re saying four NHL games. Perhaps we can start there.
Sorry, I misstated the number of games.
I stand by the premise of that not being discounted – its the NHL and knows exactly what its like to play in the NHL.
I think you’re getting confused.
Savoie played 4 games.
Hutson played 2.
He played in just 2 NHL games, the last 2 of the season including a 5-0 pasting by the LA Kings and a 3-0 win over the Sharks. Among his 26 minutes of NHL ice time, almost half was with Max Jones and Henrique. He got one minute with McDavid in the San Jose game and 2 minutes with Nuge overall and both Leon and Zach were out of the line up. The D he was primarily on the ice with were Brown, Kulak, Dineen and Emberson. He didn’t get much ice time against either opponents better players either.
Great experience for young Hutson, but I am not sure he can get that much out of those two games. Getting to practice with the club and getting advice from NHL coaches would probably be a benefit. However, I doubt any of that would give him a meaningful advantage playing in a game that was well below AHL level. I am not sure the either rookie team from last night could beat the London Knights Memorial cup team after a week of being together.
What a shame for Corey Perry. No malice for his choices, just bad luck for him. He’s out 6 – 8 weeks after surgery. Would’ve loved to keep him, just not at that price point. I wish him a speedy recovery.
Leaving the ice in a wheelchair at 40 can’t be easy…
💯
What happened? I had not heard anything about this. I liked Perry as well. A true warrior!
Our 4-8 weeks.
https://www.nhl.com/news/los-angeles-kings-corey-perry-injury-status-knee-surgery-out-6-to-8-weeks
thank you. this is too bad. knees at 40, wow, i hope he recovers.
Agree, 100%, on Savoie and Howard.
Savoie was the best player on the ice, which was to be expected.
Howard was good but not at the same level as Savoie – lets not forget, Howard hasn’t never even attended a pro-camp and this is his first game against pro-level players (not everyone on the ice, but some). This “narrative” about Savoie being more ready due to having a year in pro isn’t a fake narrative. That isn’t saying that Howard isn’t ready but everything is brand new to him right now.
For me the 3 stars were…
Savoie
Marjala
Carfagna
and I didn’t see Jonsson as bad as the score indicated. On the first four goals, I had him saving one.
I will add that Carfagna was my first star after 2 periods. We don’t know what we don’t know, but you can’t teach what he already knows. I felt he was sound all over the ice holding the puck in at the blue line, net front position, and great offensive instincts.
I had zero idea what to expect out of either Majala or Cafagana and was equally impressed by both of them – both far exceeded my reasonable expections.
Add Samanski, Leppanen and Regula to them and my excitement for the Condors’ season has increased for the Condors’ season
I viewed the mainstays in the game very similar to yourself, it sure was fun to watch Oiler hockey again.
Specifically on Jonsson I echo your impression which appears to differ from many online who think he showed poorly. I viewed him as quite strong overall despite the 4 GA, making several 5 bell stops and think the 4th goal was maybe the only one he might be somewhat upset with but that was still an open one timer inside the circles. 4 of his 6 D were zero help all night and this was his first game on NA ice. Excited to watch him develop in Bako.
For the newly drafted I saw definite positives in Lafreniere’s motor and forecheck ability with some deft passes thrown in there, and Lewandoski showed some strong physical elements and better than expected speed with his albeit somewhat awkward stride.