The Edmonton Oilers have attended 47 drafts by my count, 1979 through 2025. In that time, the team’s scouting staffs have selected 21 players after the No. 99 overall pick who turned into NHL regulars.
Shaun Van Allen (No. 105 in 1987), Steve Smith (No. 111 in 1981), Miro Satan (No. 111 in 1993), Marc Habscheid (No. 113 in 1981), Tobias Rieder (No. 114 in 2011), Caleb Jones (No. 117 in 2015), Anatoli Semenov (No. 120 in 1989), Jason Chimera (No. 121 in 1997), Ethan Bear (No. 124 in 2015), Andy Moog (No. 132 in 1980), David Oliver (No. 144 in 1991), John Marino (No. 154 in 2015), Brandon Davidson (No. 162 in 2010), Mike Kesselring (No. 164 in 2018), Shjon Podein (No. 166 in 1988), Todd Ewen (No. 168 in 1984), Vincent Desharnais (No. 183 in 2016), Kelly Buchberger (No. 188 in 1985), Fernando Pisani (No. 195 in 1996), Kyle Brodziak (No. 214 in 2003) and Matthew Lombardi (No. 215 in 2000).
In recent days, two young Oilers draft picks have been elevated to the NHL. Connor Clattenburg, No. 160 overall in 2024, has played in two NHL games and scored one goal. Shane Lachane, No. 186 in 2021, has played in one game for the New Jersey Devils.
Clattenburg’s rise is more impressive. He is 20. There were no indications from math that he was going to impress enough to get to the show this quickly.
You can anticipate a deep cut draft pick having an NHL career. I wrote this in the summer of 2007 about Kyle Brodziak. He had already played 16 games in the NHL, had three years in the AHL and scored 56 points in 62 AHL games in his final year in the minors. He was 23 when I wrote this:
Brodziak never set foot in the minors again, and would finish with 917 NHL games. Thing is, he was 23! Clattenburg is 20!
Let’s go back to the list above and find the names of players drafted 100+ by Edmonton who arrived in the NHL, at least for a cup of coffee, at age 20. This is the list: Ethan Bear, Miro Satan, Kelly Buchberger, Todd Ewen, Marc Habscheid, Andy Moog. That’s a solid list. Where will Clattenburg rank at the end of his career? Don’t know.
Before the season begins, I always write about the rookies of interest. It is here. There were 10 rookies of interest this time. I wrote about Clattenburg “Hell, Connor Clattenburg could make the NHL for a game. Opportunities can appear for all manner of players.” It happened just this way.
I think we can reasonably project Clattenburg to a more impressive outer marker now. His neuroplasticity should be firing on all pistons still, and he’s learning now at the highest level. We don’t know what we don’t know. This young man is trending in a very good direction, though. We know that much.
On the Lowdown today, Steve Lansky will be our feature guest and we’ll talk Oilers in Seattle, all these trade rumours (and we’ll break down the trade if it happens). Noon to 2pm, Sports 1440 and You Tube.
If Edmonton Oilers make a coaching change, is there a perfect fit candidate?
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6841499/2025/11/28/edmonton-oilers-kris-knoblauch-coaching-candidates/
PS. Bowman the Elder had three consecutive trips to SCFs without winning, with the Blues.
The 1967 expansion was truly unique. In those three seasons, the new teams all played in the same division. Bowman was already a great coach, but he had no chance against the Habs, Habs and Bruins, respectively.
Give Charlie Huddy or equivalent a phone call and add an experienced veteran assistant coach.
No veteran head coach will come with such a weak inexperienced assistant coach crew mid-season.
Hard to believe Bowman let Knoblauch get away with such a weak bench. What was he thinking?
It would take one phone call to whatever unemployed experienced head coach Stan decides to contact for that coach to come on the first flight.
The Oilers have McDavid and Draisaitl, experienced head coaches that still want to coach will answer the call, take the job, and bring whatever they want with him.
I feel the same
Summarizing!
Lafreniere extended his point streak to 11 with his 17th goal plus an assist. He was named 3rd star for his efforts.
Fischer scored his 4th of the season.
Park, Barnett and Lewandowski each had an apple.
Berry and Wakely were not resoupients.
Found an old trade rumor from the summer:
BREAKING:
https://x.com/billystefnhl/status/1938448263457464405?s=46
You got my heart rate up Ryan
I’ve long been a Nurse fan but he’s the piece on D that needs to be moved
My apologies. It’s an old rumor from the summer. I thought it was interesting because the Jarry to Oilers rumor has resurfaced.
The source is a person who doesn’t post much, but did seem to break the Jeff Skinner signing and Mangiapane too.
Here’s to neuroplasticity!
Reid Schaefer makes his NHL debut today:
https://x.com/maxherztalks/status/1994459261393326494?s=46
Marty asked coach if it was a broken bone in the hand for Roslovic – coach quickly said no and added nothing to do with the hand.
OP was talking about McDavid’s struggles the other day. Much can be attributed to collapsing on ice save percentage, the loss of Hyman, and a huge drop in rush chances that seem to fit with the stretch hockey of McFarland.
McDavid 5v5 three-year comparison (core drivers only):
TOI/GP:
2023–24: 16.23 → 2024–25: 17.22 → 2025–26: 17.42
On-ice SV%:
2023–24: .8988 → 2024–25: .8816 → 2025–26: .8737
(huge multi-year goaltending collapse)
Rush Attempts/60:
2023–24: 0.49 → 2024–25: 0.47 → 2025–26: 0.14
(rush game has completely evaporated)
xGF/60:
2023–24: 3.95 → 2024–25: 3.58 → 2025–26: 3.04
xGA/60:
2023–24: 2.43 → 2024–25: 2.32 → 2025–26: 2.90
(defensive environment collapses this year)
Actual GF/60:
2023–24: 4.38 → 2024–25: 3.54 → 2025–26: 2.75
Actual GA/60:
2023–24: 2.77 → 2024–25: 2.91 → 2025–26: 3.31
GF%:
2023–24: 61.2% → 2024–25: 54.8% → 2025–26: 45.5%
Individual Shots/60:
2023–24: 8.56 → 2024–25: 7.39 → 2025–26: 5.92
Individual Goals/60:
2023–24: 0.92 → 2024–25: 0.78 → 2025–26: 0.69
Individual First Assists/60:
2023–24: 1.56 → 2024–25: 1.20 → 2025–26: 0.69
Individual Points/60:
2023–24: 3.50 → 2024–25: 2.65 → 2025–26: 1.93
Individual Shooting%:
2023–24: 10.8% → 2024–25: 10.6% → 2025–26: 11.6%
(shooting talent intact)
Overall read:
McDavid’s 5v5 collapse in 2025–26 is almost entirely environmental:
• on-ice SV% drops to .873
• xGA/60 spikes to 2.90
• rush attempts die (0.14/60)
• shot volume dips
• linemates/finishing weaken
• far more DZ shift starts
Ryan, awesome job, I love when you pull these stats, and I also love it when you present your thoughts in a summary.
Thanks.
Relationship
Pearson correlation (r)
Interpretation
GA/60 vs. Save % (SV%)
-0.907
Extremely strong negative
GA/60 vs. xGA/60 (expected GA/60)
+0.561
Moderate positive
Basically, actual GA/60 is more strongly correlated with save percentage than expected goals against/60. If we adjust McDavid’s GA/60 for league average save percentage at 5v5 (90.94) his GA/60 would drop to 2,37.
More simply, find league average goaltending and McDavid doesn’t lose his goal share.
Is it possible to find league average goaltending by fixing defensive structure?
For sure, Ryan has been killing it this season with his posts.
Re: Jarry
I like the idea of acquiring Jarry IF the Pens retain at least $2M and IF it’s not costing us a 1st.
Jarry at $3.5M or less for 2.5 seasons is a good price for a 1B with upside. He’s proven to have a higher ceiling than Stu, so the probability that he’s an improvement over the status quo is high.
Stu may develop into a #1 yet, but he’s run out of at-bats in an Oiler uniform to prove it.
I’ll be pretty surprised if we get more than a token amount of retention. Shocked if it’s $2 million.
Bowman is over the barrel and will pay that tax according. GMs have many flaws, but they always smell desperation from a mile away. More likely, Kulak would head out to make the cap work.
Jarry at full cap would be insane. He’s pretty volatile and in decline since his monster 2021-2 season.
I agree that he’s a better bet than Skinner likely, but I don’t see Dubas offering $2m retained.
I don’t appreciate Matty speaking for all of us but he is asking questions and saying things people have been ranting on this blog and many other outlets for years.
Now many are rallying behind Stu cause ‘he’s a person’. So some hate all the MSM softball spinning through Bob and co and some hate the assholes saying things many people have vocalized. A large portion of this fanbase absolutely wants him gone.
You’re welcome to disagree and think he’s classless or senile (rights of this wonderful country). I don’t think journalists should have things off limits like Vegas does.
Why should we not let credentialed people do their jobs, however much we disagree? The players will either keep them in check (Leon) or brush them off (Stu). Not our fight.
When have you ever heard one of these “journalists” ask a tough question to a gm or a coach?
Fair question. Seems like alot of the GM’s don’t face the music, like Mcrimmon. Brooksy (RIP) was well connected while also being an agitator imo at times to management, though I don’t believe to Dolan.
Hockey is getting better with what’s come to light lately but still very much an old boys club.
Some of these “journalists” have run players out of town in the past. All for clicks? Its lame. I’m sure Stu (and others) can handle it. Players might just may not fight to stay when they have these guys acting like they often do.
It is lame, but I’tll take alot before i feel bad for the millionaire run out of town.
Per Madmen, that’s what the money is for.
I would add we are the Oilers expectations are high the OBC set the standards. There’s a old saying if he can’t handle the heat get out of the kitchen. Nobody is stopping Skinner from playing good and stifling folks like Matt myself and others. If you have objective highballs anf look at the numbers the only ones running Skinner and Pickard out of town is their performance.
Agreed. Blaming the media or the fans is a massive copout. Toronto are kings of it.
Hard times create strong men, strong men create good times, good times create weak men, and weak men create hard times,
I think it should at least be acknowledged Skinner faces the heat from the media just about every day and handles it extremely well. So, he’s not looking to get out of the kitchen and keeps trying to improve his play. Whatever happens, I hope even his strongest detractors can at least recognize he does not shy away from these types of questions and fields them well.
Rollie took some nasty heat at the end yet no one compares to the roasting Grant Fuhr took personally and professionally. I love listening to Fuhr talk so candidly about the old days he was never looking for sympathy with his honesty,
Nobody is stopping Skinner from “playing good” other than the team in front of him…..
Im not feeling bad for the millionaire run out of town. Im feeling bad for the team i cheer for because i think it hurts them in the long run.
Not great updates, per Gregor:
Howard should hopefully be called up. Put him in a position to succeed for more than 2 shifts and he will deliver.
Position to succeed? Isn’t the solution obvious…play Mcdrai together for 40 mins a night,
Sadly you may be right.
No cap room to call anyone up unless more go on LTIR.
Howard should continue to work on what he was sent down to work on.
If Howard rips it up like he has for 15-20 games bring him back up. He is close.
For sure but 4 games is aways away from 15-20.
I’d love to see him up and in top 6RW tomorrow afternoon but, at the same time, they sent him down for a reason, to work on certain things, and yo yoing him after 4 games seems counter-productive.
I agree Reja Howard should be called up enough with this nonsense marinating bullshit. Howard had better numbers ( US National Development Team) then at least 8 players flourishing in the NHL as we speak. If I’m Howard agent I’m asking for a trade all he’s doing in the AHL is risking injury from a asshat trying to make a name for himself.
Marinating? Its been 4 games.
Howard was in the NHL. He did fine but there are areas of his game that could use development in the AHL in order for him to hit is ceiling. The Oilers are giving him an opportunity to learns and develop.
Cooley, Nazar, Guatier, McGroarty (who is also in the AHL), etc. all passed Howard on the side of the road in college and are higher tier prospects.
Howard is doing exactly what he needs to in the AHL. He’s working hard on his game, leading, playing away from the puck and learning. He won’t be there all season and, when he returns to the NHL, he’ll be a better player.
ouch. HUGE loss with Roslovic… when it rains it pours
Every team has injuries that’s why it’s vital not to donate points like the Calgary game. The 1st game of the season should of been a red flag for Bowman. Stsn keeps backing himself in a corner with every blowout loss. If Bowman doesn’t have the stomach for the job and the players are running the show then he needs to be fired.
Yes, every team does for sure. Losing a top scorer that is on a heater hurts for whatever team loses them.
For me Roslovic was found money a $50 pink one spotted in a inside pocket of your leather jacket you haven’t had on in 3 years. Mangiapane and Frederic need a frozen boot in the ass I would be ripping on those 2 for starters. Savoie also needs a wakey up call or else he’s going to lose his job to 20 year old 5th rounder.
Matt Savoie is the top used PK forward on the team. His expected goal share was the highest among regular forwards in the last 15 games. His job is not in jeopardy based on play.
Tony B uses different phrasing:
EDM Notes:
• Roslovic will be “a couple of weeks.” Knoblauch is not anticipating his return anytime soon.
• Kapanen “may be several weeks.” Team is waiting for more information on his injury.
• Walman will not play Saturday. Skated again this morning — possibility to return next week.
• Knoblauch did not reveal his starter for Saturday.
So Roslovic out, Nuge in on Saturday. Clatt stays. Tomacek sits?
Probably – Lazar is ready to go as well.
I hope they kerp howard away from all this atm. Chances he gets proper chance versus joins to watch circus mainly from bench is quite likely.
Let him crush it down there and maybe have a player with either trade value or real boost after christmas.
I could see the Coach elevating Mr.Clattenburg in the top 6-9 with his hard forecheck that opens up ice. Savoie needs to produce to my eye he’s accomplished very little. Did Buffalo pull a fast one on us? If Clattenburg gets icetime he will score again Saturday. Booook it……….
The trade proposed for Jarry/Wotherspoon is just awful gm work. I hope it doesn’t happen. As much as Kulak has had a poor start we lose a solid D and replace with what? Wotherspoon? A barely NHL D. Jarry will be hurt after 3-4 weeks and on the shelf. This is a terrible idea.
Is this actually confirmed as a proposal?
Perhaps you should take a look at Wotherspoon’s season as he leads the Pens in 5 on 5 TOI and owns a 60% goal share with massive defensive zone starts and a 1.22 GA/60
He also leads the Pens in PK TOI and his PK GA/60 is barely over 5.
Small sample for a career. I don’t disagree though, I did look at that but still wouldn’t trade him for Kulak straight up. The Oil D problems are a lot of coach/system problems.
Have we returned to the DoD with all the leaks of what the Oilers are working on, including naming players? Infuriating
Or is it being leaked for the purpose of trying to drive down the price (ie. there’s more than 1 team to potentially make a trade with).
Works both ways.
Yes this isn’t Bowman’s 1st rodeo. This could be and rightfully so Skinner’s last start if he continues to not make saves.
Kudos to Clatt – he’s done everything he can within his skill set to get where he’s gotten to and to play two games and score a goal in the NHL at 20.
He is very much trending towards a real career in the NHL – he’s not there, lots to learn about slowing down a bit, picking spots, managing health as well as, of course, puck skills, making responsible plays, etc.
Injuries keep popping up and extending and it looks like he’ll get at least another game, maybe a bunch. Good on him, he’s earned it.
Are you feeling alright this morning?
I was explaining this very issue to my kids this morning after another great thanksgiving. Do we always have to fight the same battles? Can we not move on like adults???
A little spice adds to the flavour. Oilers are never boring there’s always drama.?
Why?
I’ve done nothing but cheer for his success and am thrilled with his performance.
Am I shocked Matheson went down pissy lane with Skinner? No.
Do I feel like I’m being gaslit with the “fix the defense, and the goalies will be good” narrative? Absofartinlutely.
For the past several seasons now the Oilers have had top 10 defensive numbers with goaltending numbers that are buried below the floor of acceptance.
Changes must be made, that require a next man up in the crease. The players don’t feel like they have a fighting chance with Skinner between the pipes, it’s clear and obvious.
Make the change for the team and for Skinner.
The Oilers may have had top 10 defensive numbers over the past several seasons, but those stats don’t account for the egregiousness of the breakdowns when they did occur. The same kind of breakdowns as we’re seeing this season (which doesn’t have top 10 defensive numbers by a long shot) were happening in seasons past, and that is the issue that has resulted in the goalies having poorer numbers than they would in a system that didn’t feature such massive breakdowns.
Skinner is 6’4 and constantly gets beaten high, Skinner is 6’4 and has the lateral movement of a panda bear, Skinner is 6’4 and constantly lands on his face.
None of that matters, what matters is the team infront of Skinner has zero faith left in him.
You hear it every media avail, from the players and the coach.
There’s no confidence in their crease, which leads to the not giving a shit that taking place infront of the crease.
Every team has breakdowns, it’s always been the job of the mostly goalie to deal with it.
It’s like offensive lineman, you can have 59 out of 60 plays, played successfully. All anyone is going to talk about is the 1 play where he gave up a sack, if the QB loses faith for a second in the olineman, he’s cooked.
The Oilers have lost faith, they’re cooked with the current formation.
Changes must be made for the mental of the team to recover.
I don’t disagree that faith is lost and it is huge. I also agree that Stu is not a high end athletic goalie, so his movement lags. He is more of a puck blocker relying on positional play, his tracking is not elite so that hurts him greatly because of the type of goalie he is.
There is def more to it but him not being crazy athletic as a goalie hinders him making types of saves that pickard does when he is on a heater.
I wish there was a way to add a mentor to him as opposed to trade away but the front office really Fd this situation up.
Actual quotes from players taken from Woz’s post on OilersNation (https://oilersnation.com/news/edmonton-oilers-embarrassed-at-home-again-rough-night-for-goalies-connor-clattenburg-first-nhl-goal):
An actual quote from KK taken from Colin Gallant’s post on ClutchPoints (https://clutchpoints.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/oilers-kris-knoblauch-issues-strong-demand-after-8-3-loss-to-stars):
An actual quote from McDavid regarding the team’s confidence taken from Preston Hodgkinson’s post on Daily Hive (https://dailyhive.com/edmonton/what-mcdavid-draisaitl-said-embarrassing-oilers-loss):
Coach do you still have faith in the goaltending… 15 seconds later finally answers.
Can you provide a link to that question and response?
After the Colorado game, KK was asked if he felt the team was “losing some belief” in the goaltending, and his response came after about 4-5s.
In actuality the response was after 1.5 seconds.
There was pause, while coach chose his words, it was awkward but its length has been massively exaggerated.
Do you blame him. It’s time for Pickard to save Skinner’s bacon again and win 5 consecutive games. We really need a clean slate against Seattle
Famously, professional athletes often bag their teammates to the media!
I rarely hear it out of hockey players, but then, hockey players are notorious for speaking with cliches.
That was sad and irritating to see from Matheson. Skinner is/will get run out of town anyway without that crap.
Fixing the D won’t solve the goalie Skinner is, a perfectly capable platoon goalie who needs a little help. We would have a cup if he was a different goalie. This D system is awful to watch. D cannot pass up to the blueline from their own hash marks.The issue now is it is in everyones head and the confidence is gone. There has to be a change, either addition or addition/subtraction. I prefer just an addition and keep Skinner, its unfair what management has done to him really.
The blips this season where the forwards were coming back and doing what they should do we were a tough team to play against (very few blips, philly game for a bit etc.) This system has to go.
Obviously fans have certain favourites and Skinner seems to enjoy being interviewed. I myself say bring back Bryzgalov if the organization doesn’t give a shit about performance or winning.
Skinner grew up in this market and knows things would be far worse for him if he tried hiding in the locker room from the media.
So he goes out there to be verbally abused by the media contingent. Not quite as bad as the abuse Koskinen received, but it is getting close to it.
Goalies can be as quirky as they want and get away with it.
ThSeason 2025/2024/2023/2022/2021/2020
GF/60 3.08/ 3.16/ 3.56/ 3.96/ 3.47/ 3.69
GA/60 3.72/ 2.87/ 2.88/ 3.12/ 3.06/ 3.10
SV% .860/ 894/ 898/ 900/ 905/ 910
Top SV .905/ 906/ 905/ 907/ 909/ 911
Skinner 878-18/896-51/905-59/914-50
*For reference top 16 teams is that average sv%*
You aren’t wrong. 2022 was skinners taking net but he had a 50 gp 0.914 season.above average. But this is thing i’ve always thought about the whole “what about goalie” conversations -> he was relatively unknown. It’s fair to say getting to lord stanley final and all the hyper focus on goalie duels as it gets to finals the book oh him gets written pretty quick and it’s solidly read by nearly everybody. As most of the entire league is sitting around watching every analyst going into detail on you. So improve or die while battling wear and aging can you be one of the best or sink like most of them into middling moment?
Between skinner and goalie coach they’ve been clearly fading by 0.05 per year. So he’ll level out as backup or wash out completely if he doesn’t adapt in all likelyhood. Same as the majority of them. I would never sign a goalie like campbell or skinner or anyone to anything over 3 years on better end of value until i established they truly have shown the hardest part of a learning curve is passed. The part where they sink or swim after becoming the goalie teams prepare to face consistently coming in.
So no, you aren’t he gas lit i don’t think but that drop is far too much that of realistic available options out there it’s hard to argue that’s going to piss enough drops compared to other issues clesrly apparent with how this team is playing.
So fair skinner corrected to team not imploding he’s likely 890-895.
15 ish loss of points of his sv% number is team issues.
Add to that scoring decline “they are where” the lost in the mall edition.
DevilsLettuce is also not right, and I think your argument lacks some context that likely contributes to the numbers you posted.
Just as the goalie gets scouted after seeing success, so does the team in front of him. The team didn’t change much about the way they play between the two SCF years, and that allowed for better scouting of their systems play and adaptation by teams to counter the Oilers. An example: supposedly, LA tried to build a team to beat the Oilers for the 2024-2025 playoffs. Another example: In the 2024-2025 SCF, Florida adapted to Edmonton’s adaptation to Florida’s game from the 2023-2024 SCF.
They should have repeated 2023 team with upgraded goalie. Holland truly might hsve built another cup team for his legacy if he had 1 more season. Last year might have been the cup they may not get because of ever changing too many things top down.
Not clear and obvious to some of us. At least not to me.
Who was the goalie won the Cup in 2025 and 2024? Bob. His SV% currently is 0.882. His Saves Above xGA/60 is -0.110
Who won in 2023 (and was one of three Vezina candidates in 2025)? Adin Hill. His SV% is 0.888, SAxGA/60 is -0.055
Who took his team to the SCFs in 2024, 2025? Stuart Skinner. His SV% is 0.878. His SAxGA/60 is +0.059.
These are “all states.” 5v5 will look different.
What is clear: SV% and SAxGA are trending down in recent years, across the league.
Also clear: Some goalies are having exceptional years. No team will trade them away. Many formerly solid, even Vezina-winning and Vezina-candidate, goalies are struggling to get to the league average SV% (currently hovering around .900).
And, what I think is also clear is that blaming the goalie doesn’t fix a team. I’ve suggested that the almost bi-annual Oiler ritual goalie/coach turnstile dooms a team to dis-ease and disconnection over time. Churn is rarely a recipe for success, in any business, and especially when underlying numbers are, in the context of the league, relatively stable. This, to my mind, may be the only thing that is clear after looking at the Oilers record since 1990. It may be the single most important reason this club has not won a Cup in the McDrai Era.
As our host so often says, “keep your powder dry.” For good reason. Shooting the goalie (or coach) is unlikely to solve the problems this team is facing.
ps. Here’s another thing that’s abundantly clear: When McDrai play “responsibly,” when Draisaitl plays like he means it when he wants Selke consideration, they play like the leadership this team needs. Others follow suit. The awful defensive numbers correct. When these leaders are playing irresponsibly, they are failing the team that looks up to them for how to play the game. To my eye, and to the numbers, Draisaitl’s play this year is the difference over last season. When McD was hurt last fall, Draisaitl stepped up. This year I’m not seeing that level of commitment from him. And I’m not seeing McD doing it either. I hear their empty words. In one game I saw McD “carry the team on his back.” The team, and the fan base need more of that. That’s how a leader inspires his team. Shame on those who blame the goalies for this current leadership fail. For those who’ve already forgotten, both Skinner and Picard have “stolen” games for this club. Are they now supposed to score the goals, eliminate odd-man rushes too?
Yeah, I think on average the goalies are not the problem. The whole team is floundering. Need someone to step up and lead.
I’d say pickard should have been replaced by a bit more sustsinable chance or potential young enough to not be complete as a 1B. But cap space options aren’t great.
Cue drafting wallstedt and timelines of having enough higher end goslie prodpects developing in system need to invest in enough solid bets to hope every 3 -4 years window when lookimg at development group you have at least one option that is matriculating above league average of league playing and improving either league or performance currently.
If in next season you still only have same one as only one -> need to divert a bit more focus to stocking system with new upcoming goslie potential canidates and cut bait from underwhelming options.
On this, I agree.
If I recall correctly, several years ago, when the Oilers signed Campbell, it was a bit of a knee-jerk signing after missing out on Markstrom and maybe Holtby. It was obvious early on that Campbell wasn’t working out, so the Oilers turned to Skinner who had had good success in 13 games the season prior. When it was decided Campbell wasn’t going to bounce back, the Oilers didn’t do anything to replace him other than to hope Pickard could do the job. Thankfully, he was able to step up, but the Oilers should have been trying to acquire a 1B to better support Skinner.
Meanwhile, it’s hard to argue that the Oilers put a serious effort into drafting a top tier goaltender to develop into a #1 in McDavid’s window, especially considering the time it typically takes for a goalie to establish himself. About 2 years ago, Lowetide’s alter ego, Allan Mitchell, wrote a piece for The Athletic that was meant to showcase that the Oilers may have started turning the corner on their goalie drafting and developing starting with Skinner. Part of the article shows the history of the Oilers’ picks since 2010, which reveals the “meh” level effort of the Oilers to draft, or, as Allan Mitchell puts it, “Since 2010, Edmonton’s general managers and scouting directors have entered the goalie marketplace cautiously and with mixed results.”
There were also efforts to sign undrafted goalies or NCAA free agents, but those have also been unsuccessful at unearthing the next #1.
It’s not necessary to use a 1st, or even a 2nd, round pick on a goalie every year, but you do have to try to acquire a high end goalie prospect every few years. Sometimes, you can take advantage of another team’s ability to draft and develop which creates a logjam in their system.
All this to say, Pickard has performed well all things considered, but the Oilers should have found someone, one way or another, to better support Skinner and/or push Skinner to be the one to providing the support.
I don’t have a ton of desire to move out valuable assets for Sherwood. I think he’s off his heater and the buy high will not be worth it.
9 goals in October and 3 in November.
7 points in his last 10 games.
99 hits…second in the league.
Podkholzin…4 points in his last 10 games. 4 goals all season.
73 hits…14th in the league.
A clear upgrade
LOL
Need to stomp Seattle and hopefully they go into a horrific tailspin right out of the playoff picture. Then jump all over Mason Machment. He was a beast 2 years ago in the playoffs. Last year he apparently had a few nagging injuries in the playoffs and you could tell.
He is just what this team needs in the playoffs and down the stretch if you could get him.
An article on the hockey writers today said Van is looking for a younger player or 2nd rounder.
If you can steel that guy for a 2nd rounder. HELL YA . Besides scoring, even if that drys up , the guy can hit like a Mack truck, plays very good defensively and can skate. You don’t turn away from that if you can get him for a 2nd IMO. Especially right now on a team that has 1 guy period showing any emotion, and that guy has 2 games under his belt. They need a guy like this and Clattenburg and Frederic ( If you can get him going ). Imagine those 3 on a line if all playing well. Freaking very scary to play against
For a 2nd rounder, hell yes. If we can fit him in I say yes to that. He is on a heater though pts wise BUT he always hits and is a pain in the arse to play against. Would be a great pick up
Non stop motor and can play with skill.
i need an outlet. This whole Matty thing with Skinner irritates me. “The fans want you gone”. No Jim. Some fans want Skinner gone, not all. “Do you want to be here?” Wow Jim. This guy is a person. Stu’s responses showed immense class and maturity in my books. Trading Stu would be a huge mistake. Fix your defensive system so he’s not getting shelled every night. Next thing you know you’ll have a goaltender with some better stats. The fact that Picks and Stu BOTH have some pretty bad looking stat lines is a tell. Do NOT trade Stu. A lot of us love the guy.
It is time for the coaching staff to earn its keep. The team is back from a ridiculous road trip, and they have had time to work on their systems – something they haven’t had since the season started. Everyone can see there is much work to be done. Perhaps most importantly, they need to coach up their goalies. There are technical issues, and there are issues with the fit between style and tactics. These are things for coaches to address. If the coaches do their jobs and the team is still underperforming, you have to look for different paths forward.
How they perform over the next few games will be very telling for the coaches and players. No more excuses.
There are major breakdowns happening shift after shift and the coaching staff overplaying 29 & 97 as the answer for all shortcomings is making things worse. Time to earn their money.
… Just noting that the Oilers are back on the road tomorrow. My quick glance shows the Oilers at home for more than 1 game 3 times. Two 2 game homestands and one 3 game. Lite time to work things out whike playing lots of games in a short time while racking up travel miles.
No excuses, but the schedule has been rediculous.
Thanks for the reminder!
I was referring more generally to the fact that they have had time, and will have a bit more opportunity to practice at home over the next little while.
Mid-December should be a fair amount of time for the team to “get its act together”. We wait. 🙂
I haven’t read anything on how much time Peter Aubry has had to work with Skinner, but looking at the training camp, preseason, and season schedules, it doesn’t look like there would have been much time especially when considering the number of other goalies he’d have to get familiar with as well. I don’t know what the CBA says about practice time during training camp, but I am aware that during the season, practice days are somewhat limited.
Excellent points. I imagine open lines of communication between Aubry and the goalies, and that they are aware of the limitations imposted by the CBA on their practice time (but frankly, what do I know? 🙂 ).
I also accept that my ear marking of 15 odd days as a fair amount of time is still very hopeful and optimistic. These guys are trying to build something that will be efficient and optimal in April. I suspect they have metrics they use that indicate whether they are making acceptable degrees of improvement. What those metrics are, I can’t say. I have an idea about metrics I would use. :). But, I came up with those as I was walking to the cupboard in not so silent rage to get cheezies after the 7th goal against the other night.
If Matheson said that, it isn’t sports journalism, it’s sociopathy. Tough questions aren’t the same thing as being cruel. We might get a glimpse into things here. One of the top coaches would stand up for the player and to the media. In a measured way, actually maybe not, a nice angry retort, to invigorate the team, pull them together
I want to know if the org is influencing this somehow, putting a muzzle on folks. A bit of fire from Knoblauch would probably not be a bad thing right now, if winning is the top priority. And why wouldn’t it be? It’s not like the team is on shaky ground, who cares if some mild controversy turned off some half hearted fans
See my comment below. The article was not hard on Stu even if the questions were edgy as presented here
This happens to every starting Goalie that is not performing well all across the league. It’s mentally the toughest position the treatment of Campbell was much worse in my opinion probably the salary had a lot to do with it. Being a professional athlete is not all champagne and roses when that athlete is performing badly.
Agreed. This Oilers fan stands by Skinner.
“Trading Stu would be a huge mistake.”
I agree.
A couple of things:
Well said, I thought it was awful, makes me not want to pay attention. Stu’s responses were classy and calm. I almost wish they werent tbo but he had to do it that way or get roasted even more. A change needs to happen though, I prefer an addition as opposed to getting rid of Stu.
The Harry thing does not feel like the kind of move Bowman has been making. I hope there’s more there that we don’t understand or that it is simply part of the smoke from the recent tire fires.
If the Oilers want to trade for Jarry, I would suggest Skinner would also be on their radar were he elsewhere.
Good one! Too true. Thank you – gave me a chuckle.
What is Jack Campbell up to? Can we just bring him back? I mean they are paying him anyway…
Off topic but just wanted to post my displeasure with Jim Matheson’s interview treatment of Stuart Skinner . Abhorrent Jim .You owe him and apology .You also need to have a conversation with yourself about your out of control ego. The Kid is trying as hard as he can and is not getting much help right now..Id love to see you talk to Mcdavid that way .You would be walked out to the street in seconds .
i do not know why some of these people are still allowed in the press pool.
absolutely trash stuff from jim matheson.
In a real media market, every player is expected to get and answer tough questions.
The fact the Oilers players aren’t, and that there are things like a group media chat policing access and directing topics of discussion is pathetic.
I’m not a fan of Matheson at all, but the above is still true.
There’s a difference between tough questions and going “The fans want you gone”, I haven’t heard the interview just read about it and if that’s what he said, that’s over the line.
RAW | Skinner 11.27.25 | Edmonton Oilers
The media scrum is linked above. Matheson was the first to ask his questions. Skinner handled everything with class, as always. Tough questions continued and he responded well like he always does.
The question was personal, “The fan wants, every time you turn around, they want another goalie. They don’t want you. I mean, that must hurt?”
Matheson’s article from the interview is here: Oilers goalie Skinner’s focus is on his own game, not the naysayers | Edmonton Journal
After reading it the article seems pretty supportive, and not very pointed or mean spirited. Perhaps the questions came across that way
It was interesting to listen to last night’s Got Yer Back podcast, where Rishaug addressed it and said he respects Matheson a lot, but it wasn’t the way he would have asked the question and thought it got away from Jim a bit in the way he phrased it, but also pointed out tough questions can be awkward. Matheson may have been fishing and Stu didn’t bite, and I think the quality of Stu’s response is reflected in the article. Perhaps that is Matheson’s way of recognizing he was a bit off base in the phrasing there.
Hear hear
That was a Spector level of dickery from Matheson.
Prospectitious!
It’s a Full House Friday as all seven healthy NAmateurs participate.
Lafreniere is riding a 10-game point streak in which he has 7 + 8. He has been held soupless only once in his last 18 GP. His 16 goals on the season are only two off the league lead.
Despite no crooked numbers his last two games, Lewandowski continues to lead the Blades in scoring with 25 points (7G) in 23 GP.
After starting the season ranked 12th in Div-1, Michigan has ascended to the top spot. They are the highest-scoring team in Div-1, averaging 5.19 GPG. Park has 4 + 4 in 16 GP whilst Barnett has seven apples in that span.
If Fischer can fashion another two-point effort today, he will reach the point/game plateau. With 12 in 13 GP, he is tied for the team lead.
Wakely leads UMass-Lowell with 9 points (2G) in 12 GP. UML is bereft of offense, ranking 52nd among the 63 teams in Div-1.
Berry has 1 + 3 on the season, good for third among St. Thomas d-men in scoring.
Notre Dame (Fischer) @ 11 a.m.
Michigan (Park, Barnett) @ 5 p.m.
St. Thomas (Berry) @ 5 p.m.
UMass-Lowell (Wakely) @ 5:30 p.m.
Saskatoon (Lewandowski) @ 6 p.m.
Kamloops (Lafreniere) @ 8 p.m.
All times, at all times, are Musidora time.
Hey Tatkus, I did not reply in the thread about JJ Hunter in time the other day (work, work…). I’m not from Shaunavon, but spent summers at a camp where Lorne & Norma volunteered & got to know them well. My brother also worked a summer for them, so we have some family ties (very loose). The boys actually did a small concert at my school years before they made it big, so they would remember from that, but I can’t claim to close connections with the area.
Long way to say, no I’m not from there.
While claptrap has played well his promotion feels premature and related to his energy level for our low energy team.
Hope he develops into a young Zach Hyman
I was just thinking Clattenburg might have a career trajectory like Kiefer Sherwood.
Sherwood was undrafted coming out of 3 years in the NCAA before bouncing around the Anaheim, Colorado and Nashville organizations before landing in Vancouver.
At age 30, he’s about to hit the jackpot.
Clattenburg has a chance to have 30 million in the bank by the time he’s 30 playing for the team that’s drafted him.
He’ll be cashing in when Sherwood was leaving the NCAA undrafted.
There’s no similarities here.
Such an odd post as the player type/style may have similarities but their career trajectories have no relation to each other.
Sherwood – undrafted, played his first NHL game at 23
Clattenberg – drafted, played his first NHL at 20.
I was thinking the same on why Clattenburg was promoted. He fits the need of the team right now and comes in at the right cost. His game needs work, for sure, but if he keeps it simple, he could develop on the fly while bringing some much needed elements to this team.
Zach Hyman 2.0 would be fabulous. I’d love for an Ethan Moreau development as an alternative.
— I’m in Chicago for US thanksgiving with some of my wife’s family. We broke it up into stop in Detroit and watched Wings then drove here yesterday. Detroit downtown a surprising city : the sporting complexes just at the end of the Main Street so easy walk from downtown. Downtown has some amazing older beauty buildings a vibrant downtown office complex. It’s really rejuvenated and it’s the best hockey rink I’ve been to: seats comfy lots of space and concessions and great customer service
— US Thanksgiving really is the big time : parades road races everyone flying in from across America to be with families.
— A nice break from day to day and break from these dreadful oilers …
Sounds like a great trip!
At the end of the 1800s and early 1900s Detroit was one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The wealth in the state was pronounced from mining and forestry. It showed in the buildings – both office buildings and residential architecture. Oddly enough, groups of builders from Michigan who worked in Detroit ended up building parts of older neighbourhoods in Edmonton. If you take a stroll in Garneau, East of 109th and North of 87th ave to Saskatchewan Drive, you can see some of the buildings that have survived.
Apologies for the digression, I just wanted to agree with your assessment of Detroit – surprising and beautiful. :).
— as a further aside there is a poignancy to the city and the belief that those we spoke to about how it’s improving
— a friend of mine is currently sending photos from Dubai and Bahrain he’s there on work. Far less than 100 years ago they were barren deserts now incredible wealth and infrastructure and services. The juxtaposition from a world economy changing of guard is stunning: the wealth and Barron’s from that Industrial Revolution that created so much prosperity in places like Detroit vs where all the wealth and growth is today. Who knows what those cities in the Middle East look like when oil as all gone and there is another economic world.
— Middle East doesn’t have the cultural revolution the social changes and music that Motor City has alongside its emergence
I am reminded of something one of my mentors taught me – all of the civilizations he studied (he was an archaeologist) he could only study because they no longer existed, they were in ruins and he studied the ruins. A photographic study of Detroit is available on the Internet based on a book called The Ruins of Detroit. It is striking, sad, and shows us the beauty of the city even in its demise. We are all destined for the dust.
No doubt the great economic tigers of today will reach their demise in the very same way. The societies of Southwest Asia still have time to “open their yawp and roar” as Whitman would have it. Perhaps the new Motown and its innovative social forms will appear there. 🙂
Jarry deal picking up steam on the internet.
https://x.com/oilerslive/status/1994259075438129598?s=46
I saw this earlier this morning. Not certain what move to free up space means re Kulak. I hope they are not trading him, I like him, he has been solid, going to a patch just now.
This team telegraphs moves miles in advance. In the offseason lots of urgency to sign Ekholm and Walman. Absolutely no talk about Kulak. Pretty much tells you what you need to know. I would put chance of Kulak being on our opening day roster next year at 5-10%
Pretty sure there was talks Kulak wanted to wait till the end of the season and potentially check our free agency.
Not sure they would trade both goalies, there would have to be another coming in somehow. There is no one that they can trust at this point in the minors
I initially read “Picks” to mean Pickard as well but on further reflection I think it probably means draft picks.
Maybe we can hoodwink some team with this little “miscommunication”…
VeGAs WoULd hAVe DOnE iT By NoW!
Well, if your going to further reflect….
Good catch, I need more coffee
”Picks” means draft picks here, not Pickard apparently.
Go ahead, rub it in 🙂
I sure hope this deal doesn’t happen.
Jarry is a 30 year old goalie who spent part of last season in the American Hockey league. He has two more years at $5.38 million.
It will be an epic cap dump for Dubas and could be a nail in the coffin for the McDavid era.
We can’t take on the risk of more dead cap.
Next year could be the last McDavid year. We already have $2.6 million for the Campbell buyout plus the $7.45m in dead cap for Fred and Bread. That is already over $10 million. We can’t risk another $5m to salvage a season that’s probably cooked.
I’m getting really strong Chiarelli vibes from Stan Bowman this year. Last year, the Oilers made the finals using essentially the template Holland set up, minus Holloway and Broberg. Props to Stan for beefing up the back end before the playoff run, but lousy job bringing in an injured Frederic to keep up with Florida bringing in Marchand.
This year? Good griief, a lot of Bowman’s bets are not working out and there’s a sense of desperation that Holland never seemed to demonstration. Hopefully Bowman doesn’t sink to the level of a “1 for 1” trade.
This is about the spot where Chiarelli dealt for Petrovic and Manning. Just terrible moves in-season, all in the name of Hitchcock getting guys who could battle along the wall and in front of the net. Meanwhile, foot speed and puck moving took a major hit.
I don’t like a deal for Binnington or Jarry, but keep getting told I’m senile lol. Ah, the Oilers fan is under a lot of pressure for that SC win in the McDavid era. Perhaps civility will return if/when it arrives.
I have heard, but have no actual proof that the Oilers sort of run more like a committee than a true GM in full control.
The Frederic trade and contract doesn’t have the feel of a Stan Bowman type move, but who knows. Certainly baffling both the trade and contract. It had a very on-brand feel for the Oilers though.
Agreed. I think they should just play out the season and save all assets for the next two years. This team is so far away this year (which, to be honest, is expected after two loses in the finals).
I would let Pickard sail on and bring in a lower cost, younger goalie as a 1B, with the plan to have either Ingram as a later option or bringing in another cheaper option if it doesn’t work. Someone posted a list yesterday.
A Depietro type to test drive.
It may not be a Cup season, as most aren’t, but if a rebuild tear down isn’t in order, making the playoffs is still success, no? Barring big injury I think that they will
I believe we have the same amount of points at the 25 game mark as we did the year Woodcroft was fired. That season, it took an historic winning streak to make the playoffs. We have what 4 wins in regulation.
There are too many holes on the roster right now to patch. Never mind that Hyman is now 33 with one arm and Ekholm is aging in real time.
Bowman missed the mark with Mangiapane and Frederic.
No way they buy out “Fred and Bread.” Maybe one, but not both.
Not saying they buy them out, but both are already dead cap space.
If it has any legs, That Wotherspoon D man is actually really good. He is having a strong year . Actually playing #3 D man minutes at 21.03 minutes a night. He would look to be an upgrade on Kulak ( especially the way he is playing this year) and at 28 is 3 years younger and has 1 year after this on a 1 mill contract. Small sample size though as he has only played 130 games in the NHL.
Be interesting to see if this trade and the Kulak trade will go through. Also wonder who is looking to pick up Kulak
As for Skinner I honestly think he needs a trade for his own personal health and that of his family as well at this point in his career. It is getting ugly for him here and it showed how much in his presser yesterday.
Guess we see .
I think it’s a big mistake to let Stu talk to media so much. Bob was saying goalie avails are rare on game day for other teams, I think that’s the right approach. It’s the highest pressure position on the team as it is
Stu struggles with consistency, he should be focusing on being at his best, head in the right space, not ‘facing the music’ or whatever. When it’s not fun anymore, and media are getting the knives out, agreed a change may be good for him, especially to a team that plays the way that would let him use his strengths
Why do the Oilers make everything seem so hard? They should lighten things up, and be real about things – like a lousy start is not unusual for any team that has played as much – and quit worrying, be sullen, and amping up pressure on themselves
As much as I dislike the panthers and their org, I was struck by their interviews in the finals. They seemed far more calm, confident in the big picture, and like they were enjoying things. I didn’t get that impression from the Oilers