This is the 2015 rookie camp roster. One could reasonably have hoped several names would spend years with the North Star cluster (Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Darnell Nurse). I believed Anton Slepyshev had a chance, Griffin Reinhart and Ethan Bear too, and Laurent Brossoit already had a great resume.
As it turned out, Peter Chiarelli and then Ken Holland weren’t believers in Oilers draft picks. Chiarelli traded Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle and others long before the Steve Tambellini rebuild (Eberle, Hall, Nuge) could join the Craig MacTavish rebuild (Draisaitl, Nurse) in hammering opponents senseless and having lovely visits with Stanley.
Instead, both Chiarelli and Holland pursued veterans, established names, complete with higher salaries and onset erosion. Both men remained true to their styles, Chiarelli in clouds with icy altitude and Holland with an aw shucks delivery.
Stan Bowman’s approach to what was left for him has been unique so far. He is still trading draft picks, but also retaining enough to give his scouts and development department a fighting chance. He added a piece that could help immediately (Ike Howard) for Sam O’Reilly, but Howard can grow with the group and is the owner of an affordable contract for the next three seasons.
Bowman also added European and college bets. Ahead of the final game of the preseason, let’s look at those players in the context of certain, uncertain and distant bells.
CERTAIN OILERS
Bowman’s impact on the certain group consists of a young winger (Vasily Podkolzin), two veteran wingers (Trent Frederic, Andrew Mangiapane) and a veteran defenseman (Jake Walman). Just over one year from his hiring, Bowman’s impact on the certain group (four of 13) is within expectations. I would note it has more youth than Chiarelli and Holland averaged in their early days.
UNCERTAIN OILERS
Bowman once again has added youth in procurement among the uncertain group. Ike Howard is the prime example, but Ty Emberson and Alec Regula also qualify. His veteran pickups often come at little cost, as reflected here by the pickups of Kasperi Kapanen and David Tomasek. By the way, there are 26 names listed among the certain and uncertain group. That includes two goalies, eight defenders and 16 forwards. If Connor Ingram had been part of camp, he would have been on this list.
DISTANT BELLS
All of the distant bells are gone now, save the injured Damien Carfagna. Most likely recall? It might be Josh Samanski. That’s a feather in the cap for Bowman and his European scouting group. Also from Bowman’s summer are Carfagna, Riley Stillman, Viljami Marjala, Quinn Hutson, Matt Tomkins. Bowman has eschewed signing fringe NHLers (Stillman and Tomkins exceptions) in favor of European and college players. Are these names better than the previous administrations choices? We’ll see. Preseason indications were very positive, I don’t recall anyone in the last decade having the impact of Josh Samanski among the youth procured from outside the organization.
Finally, David Tomasek and Atro Leppanen. They look good to me. I don’t know if either spends a long time in the NHL feature role, but do believe they are most talented than Gaetan Haas, Joakim Nygard or Joel Persson.
On the Lowdown today, we will talk about Kris Knoblauch’s new contract, and we have two feature guests (Steve Lansky and Tyler Yaremchuk) and Declan Krueger will have his 12:40 Top Five list. We love your texts and you tube comments, keep them coming. Noon to 2pm today, Sports 1440 and You Tube.
Summarizing!
Soup for all!
Wakely picked up two apples in his NCAA debut.
Park had a garbage-time PP goal in a Michigan rout.
Lewandowski, Lafreniere, Fischer and Barnett each had an assist.
Are they really playing 97 with 29 as part of the contract negotiations?
Without Hyman this deployment is just silly. Won’t be enough consistent offense from 2 through 4.
There’s some useful Wingers there they all just need a line driver down the middle
I agree – I don’t think Draisaitl and McDavid should regularly be playing together on the same line.
That being said, the three other lines were far from being the problem tonight.
Disinterested play from Draisailt and McDavid was a much bigger problem.
That’s been my theory throughout. It can’t make sense any other way.
I have to trust KK given his record as a coach thus far but I really don’t agree with McDavid and Drai together other than the odd time after a pk and on pp. I think they get way too predictable together fancy passing to each other. I think it also diminishes other lines. Agree with OP that Savoie needs to be higher up lineup with fellow skill players. He’s been better than Mangiapane by a mile.
IMHO.
The good – Savoie, Mangiapane, RNH, Howard, Kulak,
The bad – McDavid, Draisaitl, Podkolzin
The ugly – that entire overtime.
I’d add in 2 for the latter half of that game.
Its so obvious that 29 and 97 need to have the responsibility to drive their own lines. Get a straight line net drive winger on each line and the other winger has to have a shot and hands
They gotta update the OT rules for an over and back or something.
Nobody wants to see the team that won the faceoff rag the puck for 3 minutes then walk in.
Randy Carlyle showed how coaches ruin it years ago.
I’ve always hated that and wish they’d get rid of it.
I get why coaches encourage it, but it’s taken a lot of the excitement out of three on three overtime..
I know who I’d start in gm 1, but it won’t happen
Wow…90 seconds of OT and the Oilers don’t touch the puck once.
Not worth the effort. And I mean that.
Leon loses the draw in OT and Canucks have the puck for 90 seconds before scorin. Oilers never touched the puck.
Lots of 2 feet gliding around. 29 just got beat
Solid exhibition extended stick poking defence by McDavid/Drai.
That’s how you beat the Oilers in OT. Don’t let McDavid get the puck. The Oilers wear themselves out, they have nobody that can retrieve the puck, game over, eventually.
Anaheim played keepaway like that against the Oilers a couple years back.
That was 90 seconds of disinterested play from McDavid, Draisaitl and Bouchard.
It’s like they were just waiting around for the Canucks to hand them the puck. They should know the NHL, even in exhibition games, doesn’t work that way.
Oof.
A goal would be nice – I mean, its an 8pm start for an exhibition game – not sure OT is really necessary….
there you go
McDavid is terrible tonight – pure exhibition 65% effort and decision making.
Can’t wait to see him staring Wed – I continue to anticipate his second best offensive season.
Well, that’s the Kane I remember.
Thankfully, Kane is just as undisciplined at times as Draisaitl can be.
Guess Leon figured Oilers needed some 5 on 3 pk work….
Kane says not so fast!
Elias Pettersson rockin’ that Mats Sundin hairline. Drai just wanted the world to see.
Lekkermakin’ us look bad…
Same position and shot as last game
93 is looking good. I’d love it if he could be a strong 2C for a whole season.
Can’t see a 93 centered line scoring enough for a 2nd line
Would have loved to see Savoie bury that one.
Refs in midseason form with a made-up call on Ekholm.
Great transition play by Savoie.
At some point the coach will realize that the turnovers he creates and transition plays he makes will be best served with the skill players that can take advantage of the quick strike space he creates.
I have more confidence in Savoie than I do in Knoblauch playing him. Savoie does a lot of little things right.
He can take Frederic’s spot anytime. Classic Oilers going to fumble around with misfit lines based on how the GM had it on the white board in July. While going 4-5-1
Did Shorthouse really say that POD’s shoulder ran up into D.Petterson’s head on the hit that took him out?
looked like POD hit him right in the chest. Didn’t see any part of POD touch the head. Did I miss it?
They just showed it again, but still don’t see a shoulder to the head
Fantastic anticipation and reaction by Ekholm to prevent a Canucks breakaway to close out the second.
Frederic really Horcoff’d that Hemsky-esq dish from Draisaitl to end the period.
Exactly why he can’t be allowed to play on that line. The gifts must go in at a very high rate.
Have a feeling I’m going to line the Drai line vs. Kane match-up when we get it this season….
Oilers looking like Oilers late in P2.
You know, ten minutes into the second I said to myself, “There is no way this team is making the playoffs. Start the rebuild now!”
Then, a few minutes later, I said to myself, “OMG. Is this the 2026 Stanley Cup Champions I’m watching? Sign everyone to long term contracts! The Oilers are going to be great forever!”
But, I could be overreacting….
BTW, wasn’t trying to make fun of delooper with this comment. This was just an exaggerated description of where my mind kinda went watching that period.
Nice new wrinkle by 97 and 2 at the top to create that prime chance.
Canucks were passive for a few seconds and thats all they needed.
I forsee aggressive PK vs this unit in reg season
Draisaitl doing Draisaitl things.
Philp has looked good tonight
Good net drive by 2 to create that space for Kapanen
Slapitin!
Kapanen with the Clappernan.
Tomasek with the primary on a little delay/drop pass and Kappy buried it
My first look at Tomasek – I’ve been impressed. He looked good on the PP earlier, I thought he filled in for Hyman admirably
He’s really smart with the puck. Could be a good addition to the powerplay because he’s got size and skill.
Not convinced by his skating, sometimes seems to be slow but I think that’s a first step problem, looks better once he gets going.
Hopefully they’ve learned from past experience and have both a technical skating coach and a strength/explosiveness fitness regime to deploy.
I mean, I’m a fan not an expert so I could be getting this completely wrong. But you’re right, a good skating coach and a good strength coach can improve any players skating.
You are correct. Especially so when it isn’t a strength of the player.
Tomasek is good with the puck on his stick.
I don’t see him struggling with the pace.
Did Frederic spend the summer studying old JFJ tapes? I’m underwhelmed to say the least.
JFJ skated better and hit more…
Definitely underwhelmed but it remains exhibition season when vets are not giving near full effort and battle – a guy like Frederic needs to be fully engaged, aggressive, etc. to play near his top – something we won’t see in exhibition.
I start to evaluate him (and all vets) on Wed next.
Unrelated; remember that time someone passed the puck up to JFJ along the boards and he dumped it in without bobbling it? For a brief 1.5 seconds he looked like he could take a pass and make a play? Good times.
LOL, I’ve said for years that I remember one time, 40 games in, JFJ took a pass at center, turned, dumped it deep – it was the best play he ever made in the NHL.
Frederic certainly has a role to play on this team. I just don’t think that is on the first line. Hopefully a place holder for Zach.
I hope he’s a place holder for Savoie once he has some confidence at this level. I hope the unbroken Hyman returns and pairs up with 93 and 92 to make a strong second line.
I’m of the opinion 97 and 29 can play together if there’s a strong second line. I’d be happy with: (C-L-R for old times sake)
97 – 29 – 22
93 – 92 – 18
That leaves Hendrique, Frederic and Mangiapane for a third line. and no shortage of options for the 4th line
Yah I don’t see the need to have him up there other than a placeholder. Puck skills lacking.
I get the thought, but he’s no Kevin Stevens
At least officials in mid season form …..
Savoie with a weak backhanded clearing attempt that gets intercepted at the line.
Can this team get that scheiße out of their system for once and for all? Please?
Preceded by a great stick by Savoie to break up a long cycle against.
Podkholzin’s line had a lovely shift.
Hronek’s starfish is more effective than Nurse’s.
Shoot the puck, McDavid!
Ekholm and Bouchard have been awful in the preseason.
Key is “preseason” – the vets aren’t playing their full effort games – none of them.
Bouchard has not shown up till November three years in a row. Will he make it four?
2 in mid season form there
LOL – you mean Ekholm who lost the battle? If anyone, the goal scorer was the forward’s man being that high out.
Has to recognize the open man earlier and have a tighter gap there to at least front the shot ot make the pass more difficult. Instead he’s backing in covering no one when the puck carrier is clearly taken.
Also wandered way high over to the blue o zone corner just before that with a casual stick swing.
He’s staying in his zone, playing his position – that man is so high, that’s the forward’s line – Bouchard can’t gap up that high and leave the entire net front completely open.
Ekholm was bad. Bouchard was just lost, as he often is.
He was in his position, in their zone defence – he can’t gap up that high and leave the slot completely open.
There was lots of blame to hand out on that play – from the forward in the wrong position, Ekholm bobbling the puck and losing the battle, and Bouchard failing to close the gap and get his stick on the shot.
Think the only one you don’t blame is Pickard.
Most goals are the result of a series of missed assignments. The last defender in the chain usually has a chance to bail out his team mates. Unless he’s a spectator
Savoie/Philp with a PK1 shift.
Great pass from Howard to send Savoie in alone for a great chance if not for his stick being held. Philp the centre there, now that’s a fun kid line.
Knob has flipped the bottom six centers – Philp with Savoie and Howard.
Both new lines have had successful shifts.
I really don’t like Draisaitl and McDavid together, most of the time.
When they’re both “on” they’re great together. But right now they’re not so hot.
Not really liking Fredrick’s on that line either.
Frederic is going to need to be able to take passes in stride and make plays – he isn’t handling clean and, if he can’t, he can’t play there.
Agree with this. Not sure Frederic has the hands to play on the top line. Still struggling to handle passes coming his way.
I don’t think anything the vets do in these game really gives any indication of what we’ll see starting next Wed.
I mean, this is Drai and McDavid giving 65% care, right?
Was hoping we would see more of a prime time effort as it is last preseason game. Guess not!
You’re right, but my mind is already racing ahead to the season.
The failed low percentage plays are off the charts. Get some straight line guys on their wings retrieving pucks, going to the net and creating space
less Globetrotters, more simple, fast hockey.
Tomasek tries to beat two Canucks in the neutral zone and turns it over – puck quickly goes the other way. Best not do that again…..
Looked like some ex-teammates came up and gave Podz a bit of a hug…..
Pickard starts as Skinner is sick and did not make the trip.
Somewhere Lennart Petrell sheds a single tear
Jesse Joensuu (spelling) is down right inconsolable.
My best headline: Oilers sign Petrell, confuse thousands! 🙂
I had high hopes for Petrell. Didn’t he play in Finland for this team with the crazy training Regimen?
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=raKGf6U6rbQ
Prospectysis!
The NCAA regular season begins tonight, with only one of the healthy NAmateurs not in action.
Michigan’s the only squad with multiple NAmateurs, neither of whom were either Oiler property or Michiganders last season.
Wakely is the first NAmateur to jump from the CHL to NCAA under the new agreement, beginning his college career with UMass-Lowell.
In the Dub, Lew and Laf (a long-forgotten Icelandic folk duo) are in action. Each of them scored a goal last weekend upon their return from Oilers camp.
Notre Dame (Fischer) @ 5 p.m.
Michigan (Park, Barnett) @ 5 p.m.
UMass-Lowell (Wakely) @ 5:15 p.m.
Saskatoon (Lewandowski) @ 7 p.m.
Kamloops (Lafreniere) @ 8 p.m.
All times, at all times, are Venice (AB) time.
My Mom grew up in the hamlet of Venice. Checked Wiki and there are less than 2 dozen people living there now. Keep up the good work Tarkus!
Are there canals?
Perhaps if they built some more people would live there?
Looking for a fresh bridge to inhabit?
The pendulum has swung so far.
We don’t like to see multiple 18-20 year olds thrown on the first line (although if they are good enough they can take it).
But isn’t placing one 21 year old who on the second line with two vets actually a soft spot in the line up for the skill player to step into the NHL?
For me there has been a lack of players who have the hunger, to score goals no matter what. Connor and Leon have it, Bouch does and a couple of others. They all want to score, but there is a difference
Defensive play is always the issue with younger guys and often scorers. But we have seen the vets they chose for safety often make costly mistakes. I think you have to go with upside, and spend a season training and growing those players, and the whole group to always play like a group. They have had trouble in important games being able to score, there is only one solution to that
It’s not a soft spot for the team unless the player is good defensively
He’ll play a lot vs the other team’s best in that spot and the other team will target his side of the ice.
If he can’t deal with that then the other 4 skaters have to compensate and if they have to do that, it’s gonna be tough to outscore the opposition
By most reports I trust, 22 could probably handle that spot but 53 would be a stretch
You gotta outscore your minutes and the higher in the lineup a player is, the harder it is accomplish
I do not know when you came back, but I’m glad you are posting here again WG.
Janmark out a week.
That’s not insignificant as it means they can’t waive him for opening night.
I think they are going to have to put Hyman on LTIR to create cap space to keep all of Savoie, Howard, Tomasek, Philp and Regula – Lazar and Jones and maybe Stech hit the waiver wire (i haven’t crunched the numbers to see if they can keep Stech).