I called the loss on the Lowdown yesterday (first segment) and predicted it in my ‘what to expect’ segment on the blog (it is updated below). Why? The Minnesota Wild are playing so well, and the Oilers are just starting to find their game.
Old Craig MacTavish is a pretty smart fellow, and he used to say you lose games you should win at the end of a losing streak (and vice versa). Last night, the Oilers played well but did not get a result. It happens.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN DECEMBER
- At home to: Wild, Kraken, Jets (Expected 2-1-0) 1-0-1
- At home to: Sabres, Red Wings (Expected 1-0-1)
- On the road to: TML, Canadiens, Penguins (Expected 2-1-0)
- On the road to: Bruins, Wild (Expected 1-1-0)
- At home to: VEG, Flames (Expected 1-0-1)
- On the road to: Flames, Jets (Expected 1-0-1)
- At home to: Bruins (Expected 1-0-0)
- Expected Record: 9-3-3, 21 points in 15 games
- Actual Record: 0-1-0
- Season Record: 11-11-5, 27 points in 27 games
This blog will be rife with comments that blame Stuart Skinner, Connor McDavid’s hockey stick, Matt Savoie, covering the defenseman on the shot and other sins, but the big story here is the overall improvement in the team’s play. Sometimes we identify an area of worry and focus on that one thing. I was encouraged by many things from last night’s game, and would like to share that with you.
- Mangiapane-29-Podkolzin: 7:09, 4-1 shots, 86 x,
- Savoie-McDavid-Hyman: 6:13, 5-2 shots, 83 x, 3-0 HDSC
- Henrique-Nuge-Janmark: 5:52, 4-1 shots, 85 x
- Mangiapane-Henrique-Janmark 4:18, 4-1 shots, 75 x, 3-1 HDSC
- 29-97-Hyman: 3:39, 2-1 shots, 89 x
- Clattenburg-Lazar-Frederic: 3:30, 2-2 shots, 60 x
Kris Knoblauch held the tines (mostly) and the numbers were strong against a fine Minnesota club. This is without Jack Roslovic mind, and I do acknowledge at least one of Mangiapane, Savoie or one of the elders on the third line is going to have to score at five-on-five. Last night wasn’t the night, but given time someone should cash. I thought sure as hell Knoblauch would move Nuge up, good that he didn’t do it. The checkdown line with Henrique in the middle of Mangiapane and Janmark did very well in just a few minutes.
- Ekholm-Bouchard 17:25, 10-4 shots, 0-1 goals, 74 x, 2-1 HDSC
- Nurse-Regula 13:30, 10-4 shots, 71 x, 3-2 HDSC
- Kulak-Emberson 13:24, 4-8 shots, 17 x
Ekholm-Bouchard did some nice things, but were on the ice for the only GA all game. Nurse-Regula played well, Regula seems to be coming out of the concussion funk. The third pair struggled by shots, but no real harm was done. Stuart Skinner stopped 23 of 24, .958SP and 7 of 7 HDSC’s.
I’m encouraged by last night’s game, and believe the Oilers organization has things going in a better direction. Stuart Skinner owns a .980 save percentage in the past two games, unsustainable but an indication that regression is happening. Jesper Wallstedt was the better goalie on the night, and I think he might win the Calder. I’m glad for the Minnesota Wild, who haven’t gotten out of second gear since Marian Gaborik was a kid. For me, bottom line on this game: When your goalie gets one, you need at least a Bettman. Better days ahead. Pretty sure.
On the Lowdown today, Kevin McCurdy will be our feature guest and we’ll talk Oilers, NFL, World Cup draw (Friday) and more. Sports 1440 and You Tube, noon to 2pm today.
Why Ryan Nugent-Hopkins remains so important to the Edmonton Oilers
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6853869/2025/12/03/ryan-nugent-hopkins-edmonton-oilers-stats/
What a difference he makes!
See Connor. All you have to do is SHOOT!
Condors get a late PP – a fantastic zone entry by Leppanen and great look to Hutson in the slot but Hutson doesn’t shoot, he dangles, changes the angle and rips home is second of the night for the 5-1.
A great rush D play by Leppanen, Prokop with the high flip out, Petrov wins the open ice battle to cause the 2 on 0 with the empty net and passes to Jarventie to bang it home.
Petrov killed the 3rd period and Jarventie was all over this game and finally got one.
Petrov having a great third period – a phenomenal set up of Jarventie (who was stoned from the slot), a couple good chances on net plus his goal.
He’ll stay in for next game on merit (and Max Jones is hurt, again).
Here’s a thought off the top of my head. Evander kane 50% retained for Trent frederick or Mangiapane. Yea or Nay? I could see the Oilers going for it, would the Canucks? IN Frederick’s case it would be a difficult one to swaoolow the 8 year committment for qa player who is also not producing but is younger than Kane, I would think…
The Canucks would love to move Kane but I don’t see them taking on that 8-year contract.
Would Frederic go for it?
Jarvenite just missed his second clean breakaway of the night – that may not be a strength of his….
Jarventie with a big neutral zone body check and than a massive forecheck to cause a turnover, puck is rimmed around and Petrov buries a weak one fro the side boards.
Petrov’s first of the year and Jarventie being an absolute bully to cause it.
Hutson and Samanski finish off the PK, Hutson wins a mid-ice defensive zone battle, gets the puck to Samanski for a quick strike 2 on 1 – very little room but great transition and pass by Samanski and Hutson buries if to re-take the lead.
Wonderful goal.
Summarizing!
Lewandowski did not incur soup despite a team-high 5 SOG.
Prospecting takes a break until Freya’s Day.
Condors force the turnover on the zone exit and Marjala with great vision to go fully cross-ice to wide open Jones who rips one home from the top of the circles.
1-0
Right now we have the 5th best odds at 8.5% of landing McKenna. If we had 2 Cups I wouldn’t care that we are so bad and we could rest Mc.David-Leon for the playoffs like the Panthers do with Tkachuk-Barkov etc. This would be a excellent year to tank as the top 3-4 picks look really-really special. Watch the Panthers land McKenna unless they traded that pick away. How big was keeping the Walman trade lottery protected. If we’re going to tank keep the dynamic duo of Skinner and Pickard together.
I agree, I know many won’t.
But we’re a 1/3 of the way there already. Just get a lotto pick and re-tool for next year.
Yep give McDavid and Leon a month off let them prepare for the Olympics. Let them relax on a beach like Tkachuk is doing and if anybody gives Tkachuk a hard time he just waves his 2 Cup rings in their face. Connor and Leon are not only physically tired but more mentally. Do not upgrade on a Goalie with no Connor and Leon in the line-up the tank will come naturally.
Chicago has the Panthers first round pick.
this is the worst post of the year.
Petrov back in the lineup tonight – hasn’t played in a WHILE (healthy scratch).
Tomkins gets the start which likely means 2 of 3 with the back to backs on the weekend.
Ingram was practicing earlier in the week after leaving last game (head) – I presume he’s good to go.
While it seems like the line shuffling should stop when the team is outplaying the opposition, if there was any change I would make, it would be reunion of Nuge Hyman and McDavid and moving Savoie down to take Mangiapane’s spot on Draisaitl’s line, as they’ve made in practice.
The top 6 has not outscored its opposition for the better part of the season, so until that happens, worrying about balance and the bottom 6 seems important but of lesser concern. I also worry about trying to bring in any more rookies into the top 6. If Savoie can get going with Drai, then when Roslovic returns that would be a nice problem to decide who plays on the 3rd line.
I also think that Frederic’s spot in the lineup should be earned, and that an AHL call up from the top line to the 3rd line makes the most sense if the top 6 in practice today sticks.
I see Reid Schaefer scored his 1st NHL Goal also in a scrap. At 6’4” 230 pounds this kid may become somewhat of a power forward with his nice mitts. Between Holloway-Schaefer Mr.Wright might not be Mr.Wrong as I thought.
Five years is a reasonable time to wait on a player like Schaefer. He was value when selected. Wright and Holland picked wrong on Bourgault, but every NHL team has a story like that one. Oilers fans are entitled to be upset, but the truth is first-round picks later in the round often don’t turn out.
Sure. But if you’re shopping in the Q, you are just begging to miss
It is the third of the three Canadian junior leagues, but Zachary Bolduc was in that draft and looks like a winner. That was a weird draft, Oilers didn’t get it right and that’s for sure.
Clattenburg got benched over a neutral zone turnover apparently?
https://x.com/tsnryanrishaug/status/1996292392069234862?s=46
Coach Blauchhead at it again…
Savoie-Howard-Tomasek all have skill yet we haven’t seen it displayed. Remember Eberle 1st goal I think K.K is coaching the skill out of them as defence comes first with our weakass goaltending.
Knob has had Savoie with McDavid for a long stretch now – I’m fairly confident he’s not telling Savoie to not try and make offensive plays in that position.
It was worse than a neutral zone turnover, it was turnover exiting the zone with possession – a relaxed back-pass to the middle that was way off and turned in to a quick strike against and then 30 seconds of chasing.
I think his lack of playing time had more to do with the fact they were in need of a goal, he’s unlikely to help in that area, he was injecting anything the 5 minutes he did have and his line was getting caved (while the rest of the team was caving) – add that to the really bad turnover – a standard shortening of the bench.
You just love shitting on Clattenburg a 20 year-old 5th round pick playing in the NHL. How about you giving the same detail summary like this for his 1st goal.
I don’t love shitting on any Oiler – I hope for only good things.
I post on what I see and the play was highly noticeable.
He’s a 20 year old 5th round pick and he made a junior mistake – to be expected.
Mike Heika
@MikeHeika
Tyler Seguin has an ACL injury and is out long term.
Chris Johnston
@reporterchris
While the Stars know Tyler Seguin’s ACL injury will sideline him long term, more consultation with doctors is needed to determine the exact recovery/return-to-play timeline.
They can only use his full $9.85M cap hit on a replacement if Seguin is out for the season and playoffs
In the meantime, Dallas can get $3.82M in cap relief by placing Seguin on LTI
There’s no consultation needed. It’s December. Barkov was 10 weeks earlier and he’s a huge question mark.
If Dallas does put Seguin on season ending LTIR, they would have sufficient deadline cap space which they could use to acquire an impact player or two.
Why not 3?
All to lose to Colorado.
Likely true but you have to try.
This is rather astounding.
Corey Masisak
@cmasisak22
The #Avs are outscoing the other team 37-9 when Nathan MacKinnon is on the ice at 5v5 this season.
Thirty. Seven. To. Nine.
Sakic want’s Cups and not 2nd place ribbons. The Av’s have no weaknesses. They remind me of the Habs in the late 70’s with there domination. The Av’s are a special team this year.
I don’t get the pounding of minutes onto Connor-Leon, it’s like a panic move by the Coach. How does a team build unity with 2 ice-hogs. Same thing applies on the PP1 give the 2nd unit 45 seconds of a different look towards the opponent.
I agree, it is not right move for this team. Boys on the bus this team will never be.
He seen it come off his stick because he reacted to it. Skinner reflexes did not kick in until it almost touched the netting. I would say a 1/3 of second was the difference between goal and a save.
lol – Walman has gone from close and likely to play this week to not practicing and “going to be a while” – at least a week or so.
Oilers have given up 33 breakaways with 14 hitting the back of the net, league average goaltending would reduce that to 6 fewer goals against.
The math, math’s.
Bahahaha!
If only we had Average Joe Goaltending we would definitely be in a playoff spot. Bowman refusal to upgrade the Goaltending will probably result in a trade of McDavid if we miss the playoffs this year. This is our D for at least the next 3 years with the top 4 signed there’s no magic savior coming in. The only thing that can be changed is a better Goalie.
I heard Steve Valiquette say this on Tuesday on Real Kyper & Bourne. I’m curious where the Oilers stand on number of breakaways given up compared to the rest of the league, and if the reference to league average sv% is specific to breakaways only, or if it’s on all shots (currently .897 per NHL.com stats).
I highly doubt that, considering there is no data on comparing number of saves per number of break aways.
Just taking the % of league average and x it by break aways is not a reasonable way to compare.
Nick Shaver….what a fabulous post….however, by my surgically improved eyesight watching a very expensive new TV, ( fed by fiber !) I saw the smallest of puck tick off the screener…had to replay 4 or 5 times…I think Skinner had the shot but missed the newer angle
90 mph slap shot with a moving screen, not his fault.
Some time ago, MacT, someone of whom I am a huge fan, said that the Oilers are the most impatient team he has ever seen. In the face of adversity, they quickly diverge from their game plan.
I thought he meant the players, but last night when Knoblauch seemed to stop playing the fourth line save for Frederic (by my eye the least effective of the three fourth liners) and started double shifting McDrai I wondered, was MacT referring to Knoblach?
With the way Hutson, Jarventie and Howard are playing, and the Oilers short a top 6 forward (when Nuge is 3C with Jack out), Knob/Bowman must be having conversations about them (easy swap with Tomasek – if they ever decided).
Samanski too but Olympics first for him.
Howard likely should stay and continue to develop and work on what they’ve asked him to – Hutson and Jarventie are older and have done enough to earn the shot.
I’m sure it does not happen.
I’ve wondered that a lot too. How long can you keep players scoring two points a game in the AHL but who goes out so you can give them a spin in the NHL? I’d like to see them rotate all the rookies (Savoie, Tomasek, and Clattenburg included) if they’re that worried about losing a player. Henrique, Janmark and Lazar wouldn’t be huge losses but the team is super risk averse right now and the team doesn’t want to see their friends sent away.
I guess we wait and see.
Farily easy for me – move Nuge back to 3C, put the call-up in the top 6, move Mang down to the fourth line and move Lazar out and Fred to 4C – or simply move Fred out.
Impossible for me to imagine Knob paying either Hutson or Jarventie in the top 6 to start though.
I’d have time for them on a Nuge centred 3rd line but then the lack of a top 6 winger remains until Jack is back.
All things considered I don’t mind what they’ve done with the new line combos at practise. One thing IMO, might be to put Tomasek in for Frederic on the fourth line, but that would be about it. Nuge might be the better option at 3c though Rico is OK there also. They might be interchangeable in that role. Hopefully Roslovic & Kapanen will be back soon in the mean time their depth has it covered.
I have to say that obviously scoring in the AHL is different from scoring at the NHL level. Bringing up the young players who are developing confidence scoring in the AHL
might be subject to some harsh realities in the NHL.
Of course its harder to score in the NHL but Hutson (and Howard) is producing at 2 P/G for a real stretch and Jarventie is an elite AHL player who’s earned the shot.
Lets not forget, Jarventie is 22 and Hutson turning 24.
Since there was debate earlier today about the worst Oilers move of the McD era:
1) Not hiring Zito.
2) The Reinhart trade.
This team continues to hire such mediocre managers. It always starts at the top.
Bowman’s moves, as predicted by many, have been a dog’s breakfast.
It was Nill they should have hired. Very suited to this gig. And water bottle hating rageaholics need the sun and sand to survive.
Pretty sure the 3 time Jack Adams Award winner is firmly entrenched in Dallas.
What the f8$k does this post mean lmao.
The only three time Jack Adams winner died 15 years ago as far as I know.
Good comment though! Value added!
Oops….Jim Gregory GM of the Year.
Guys get your head out of the sand Edmonton played horrible they need to finish every check. This non checking isn’t working. Wear the team down. Imo
Oilers were the more physical team by the numbers.
MIN outshot them 24-19, however, the Oilers had over double offensive zone possession time.
Per Tony B:
EDM lines & pairings — Wednesday’s practice:
• Walman is not on the ice
RNH – McDavid – Hyman
Podkolzin – Draisaitl – Savoie
Janmark – Henrique – Mangiapane
Clattenburg – Lazar – Frederic
Tomasek
Ekholm – Bouchard
Nurse – Regula
Kulak – Emberson
——————
Love Savoie at right wing with Drai.
I like Nuge at 3C but Mang needs to be out of the top 6 so, until Jack is back, I’m good with this.
This is good. IMO they should place Henrique with Connor & Zach. But Nuge is probably the better choice with Savoie moving in with Leon & Podz..
Two games is solid and structure hockey limiting mistakes. Play similar going forward, execute better (more traffic), win most of the time.
If this ends up being a duplicated post, I apologize. I apparently attempted too many edits as I tweaked the post, so it was deemed spam and awaiting approval.
For anyone blaming Skinner for the goal against, consider the following:
An NHL goalie whiffed an 81MPH slapper with and extremely partial screen, not shot from an odd or angle or at a particularly difficult part of the net to make a save.
He’s not why they lost…but don’t dying on the hill of thinking that puck had any business going in is folly.
It’s not dying on a hill at all. It’s showing the math behind the situation, something this site is all about from my understanding. It’s about providing a differing perspective, also something this site is about from my understanding.
It’s also about relativity… if the Oilers score that goal, the commentary isn’t about how weak of a goal it is; it is about how well-timed the screen is, how it was a set play, how quickly it all happened, how well-placed the shot was, etc.
Occasionally, it’s about balancing the comments damning Skinner.
Well said Nick
But apparently goaltending is Voodoo. So does math apply?
Thanks for taking the time to calculate all this and post. Logic doesn’t always dictate what we post to support our side of the debate regarding goaltending but I’d say the simple math of Skinners save percentage near 1.00 when the team is playing this brand of more committed checking hockey is another math argument in support of Skinner. But we are more emotional about our version of things.
He usually makes those kind of saves on a regular basis and during the course of the game he managed to make some far more difficult saves. It was just one goal but the team in front of him didn’t score any. Normally that’s enough to allow only one goal against.
Great detailed stats.
From 45 years of watching hockey, a very saveable puck to my eye and one NHL goalies stop a very high amount of time.
Skinner was very solid last night but he leaked one bad goal. That performance wins most night but not last night v
Tiny factors can change the outcome of an event. If Skinner is 1/10 of a second faster in reacting, maybe he makes the save. If he is 1″ to his left, maybe he makes the save. If the Wild player is a slight bit slower or faster in going through the slot, maybe the shot doesn’t go through or Skinner gets at least a piece of it. If the shot is placed 1″ higher/lower/left/right/anywhere else, maybe it’s a save. If Brodin hits the ice on his shot just slightly closer or farther away from the puck, maybe he doesn’t get as much on it and the save is made. Etc, etc, etc.
The point is that to say the exact same conditions have been repeated often enough to know that is a saveable puck depends on a lot of things going just right. 40 years of watching and playing hockey tells me sometimes that puck goes in, and it isn’t the goalie’s fault.
I agree that a small adjustment could have made a difference. What I did not see in the play is why the winger was so easily able to move through the slot. The Oilers have been victimized a few times by set plays from draws when the other team can set up without anyone taking them. For instance, could the D on the goal side have held up the winger (??) coming through the slot to ensure Skinner is not blocked? Should the winger have pushed up to the D to force the shot wider?
Mistakes happen, as do missed assignments, but I feel like there was a couple of players at fault, including the goalie (who if he was standing and less ReverseVH has it).
I disagree with the latter 6 six words but that’s OK – no requirement to agree.
I think he was to deep in his net if he was a couple of feet out further he makes the save.
I wouldn’t call it a bad goal. It was a bang bang play and went in. Despite that, who was on the face off? Why didn’t he win the draw? I thought that was one of the cleanest face off wins I’ve ever seen
Oilers actually won more than 60% of faceoffs. I guess you can’t win them all.
I don’t consider that a “bang bang play” – it was as shot from the point that was not deflected – that’s not “bang bang” to me.
Leon lost the face-off and he’s partially culpable on the goal for that but, at least fro me, that doesn’t take away the fact (well, my opinion) that I expect my goalie to make that save pretty damn close to 10 times out of 10 (maybe 98 out of a hundred) and Stu likely makes it a high majority of the time – missed it last night.
A couple media reports as well as Knoblauch said there was a slight deflection, in addition to the moving screen. At the end of the day, the Oilers had more than 2 periods of hockey after that goal went in to get an equalizer, which is also something we should expect from the rest of the team.
I’m taking as positives, the GA didn’t deflate the team like we’ve too often, Stu shut the door afterwards to give them a chance to win, timing wise it wasn’t a backbreaker, and they continue to look better and sticking with a system compared to how they were playing earlier. Minny was rocking that defensive game where the 5-man skater unit all seem to grow an extra stick or limb to clog things up in their zone, and kudos to Wallstedt.
Again, I’m not blaming Skinner for any losses and have opined that he played well except for, in my opinion, one weak goal – on 95% of nights, that will get the team two points, last night was not one of them.
So, maybe, if we it slow it down, frame by frame, and look at each angle, there may have been the slightest of all tips and trajectory changes out high – I remain opined that that puck gets saved the vast majority of times by NHL goalies, including Stu himself.
Oh, I know there’s no blame being placed, I just wanted to point out it was reported to have been deflected/redirected so a bit trickier than it appeared. I didn’t slow it down and analyze either, because you’re right, when your goalie gives up only 1 goal, most of the time it ends up with a win. There were lots of positives to take away instead, and we move onto tomorrow’s game.
OK, sure, I can concede that it might be tricker than it appeared – that is certainly reasonable. I still maintain, that it’s a shot I expect the goalie to stop the vast majority of the time, that goalies themselves expect to stop all the time and that is generally stopped. Goalies make saves on “tricky shots” routinely – part of the job!
Draisailt lost the draw. McDavid stood still looking bewildered about what to do on a lost defensive zone draw. Hyman did not stick with his check and intentionally skated out of the way of the puck instead of blocking the shot.
Maybe Connor should have thrown his body in front of the shot LOL. Hyman didn’t want to screen his goaltender from making the save. As Nick illustrated, these things happen quickly. And Leon won 10 of 18 draws 55.5555555% not bad.
Interesting. There is another factor to add to your analysis.
I was at the Hockey Hall of Fame with a fairly high level goalie. He tried the goalie booth where the screen on front of you shows an NHL player taking a shot. The puck is then fired from a point where the stick would be on release.
His comment was that the pick did not follow the trajectory that the players stick indicated it should.
He explained that a goalie reacts to the stick path and speed on release, long before they have a chance to see the pucks trajectory. This helps explain why some goals seem to be soft.
1. When the shot is flubbed or tipped, even to a small degree, the goalie started his reaction to the stick path (intended shot) and has to adjust. Adjusting once a reaction motion is started is difficult.
2. When the shot is screened at the point of release the goalie can’t start his reaction until he sees the puck when it passes the screen, or in the case of a moving screen, the screen is gone. This makes his reaction look slow and is perceived by many as a soft goal.
This also helps explain how goalies make what appear to be miraculous saves in catching pucks that looked totally screened, if they saw the point of release.
Another instance I just read about was a goalie saying Ovid’s shot is hard to stop because it seems to drop slightly in flight. A slight drop would result in goals because the puck does not go where the stick said it would.
It’s not easy being a goalie.
S. Cossa should be oilers target. Skinner and Cossa wouldn’t be too bad of a tandem.
I’m feeling pretty optimistic after the game last night. We lost 1-0 to one of the best teams in the league over the past month. We outplayed them. We played back to back excellent defensive games for, if memory serves, the first time this year. We’ve given up one goal in the last two games. That’s…… pretty….. pretty good! We have three lines that can play at a high level. Should be a good December. I’m looking forward to another deep playoff run with a battle tested team that has proven year after year they can crank it up when the chips are down. LFG!!!!
What should one think of Connor Ungar? Any chance he gets AHL games? I know he’s small (6″1″) and older for an Oilers prospect, but posting 8-2-2, 94.3% SVP and 1.43 GAA in the ECHL. Seems like last year’s SVP leaders (minimum 18 games played) got into AHL games (Garin Bjorklund, Ty Young, Gabriel Carriere), with a couple getting into NHL games (Thomas Milic, Sergei Murashov – both smaller 6″0″ and 6″2″). There are also a lot of smaller goalies that move onto other leagues despite ECHL success (Brett Brochu, Mark Sinclair, Alexis Gravel is a bigger goalie that moved to DEL then EIHL) and then several staying put (Justin Close, Taylor Gauthier, Luke Cavallin). Is there a way to know if these smaller guys have any real chance? It is interesting to see that a significant number of ECHL SVP leaders are in the range of 6″0 – 6″2″.
The Oilers are committed to the NHL contracts. Ungar is smaller and unlikely to receive an NHL deal. He MIGHT be a better goalie than some signed goalies but he’s listed at 6.00. I cheer for him, though.
I think he’s in the second year of an NHL pact.
Last night I was only half-watching. It was one of those nights where you could feel it didn’t matter what the Oilers did, there was no way they were going to win.
We’ve been Minnesota’d many, many times over the years.
I was fully watching and I really believed they were going to sneak one past Wallstedt with the way they were playing. But unfortunately it wasn’t just the goalie, the whole Wild team played just slightly better and not by much I will add. OT didn’t happen, though I’m positive it would have been something special.
Billy Guerin is going to win a Cup before the decade is done. Unlike the Oilers Billy knows the importance of Goaltending. If we had the Wild goaltending tandem we easily have a ring or two on our fingers.
It’s amazing how well the Oil have done with one of the worst goaltending tandems in the league.
How well have they done?
Please regale us, we have no idea . . . . or at least Reja doesn’t.
Did they go far in the playoffs for the last couple of years, Reja needs to know.
As you know knowledge is power.
A lot of negativity for a team that got goalied, but continued their 3 zone play and otherwise dominated their opponent. I get wanting to see more goals, but Wallstedt made some great saves and sometimes you’ve got to give the other guy his due. I remember three shots that would have gone in during the game against Seattle.
And to me, it feels like the same people banging on against Savoie are all for Clattenburg, who last night was invisible and benched a lot in tight situations. Yes, Savoie is not putting pucks in the net, but he is retrieving, passing and providing excellent defensive play. Much like the guy he was traded for, who as I recall was often the target of people who were disappointed with his point production too.
I am not telling anyone how to be a fan, or what opinions to hold, but I think it is ok to ask people to be consistent. If you feel points are the watermark for a player, then you can’t be on the Clattenburg train, but if you want young players to succeed and find a role contributing to the team, then Savoie deserves a little (lot?) more rope.
Jmo
Solid comment. Savoie needs some games to see if he can adjust like he did last year, I am actually impressed the coaching staff is doing that.
Oil did play well and the Wall is a solid tender. I would like to see a little less passing off and more shots from those and crash at the same time… more chance of getting ugly ones past hot tenders.
There was one play where 29 tried to bank it in off 18’s foot/stick – would have liked to see a few more of those rather than point shots that Wallstedt could react to. Mucky goals off a foot, shin pad or butt count the same as a crossbar-in.
It’s not shocking to see the Oilers lose a game of mostly goalie.
Skinner made some great saves too. I guess it doesn’t matter if it’s 1-0 or 9-0 a loss is a loss. But it was still just 1-0 in my mind. Too much is put on the goaltending, the goalie is just part of the team, you win as a team and they lose as a team.
Minnesota won the game of mostly goalie, Skinner was the 2nd best at his position. Saying that isn’t an attack on Skinner, it’s just factual.
If you say so.
Too much is put on goaltending… I completely disagree and say not enough in Oilers land has been put on goaltending.
90% of McDavid’s Oilers tenure, the Oilers roll out a weaker crease then the opposition. It’s often countered due to Generational puck play, yet it’s always been eventually derailed by the other team having the better mostly goalie.
Handing out NMC’s, over paying seniors, never bringing in legitimate crease competition.
The Oilers just lost to a top tier scouted mostly goalie that fell into their lap and they walked away from it.
Goalies are voodoo, for some reason the Oilers are determined to constantly be the puppet instead of the puppet maker.
I’m just saying it’s a team sport.. and you disagree. Then you vent about everything you believe to be wrong but offer no solutions.
I’m w you Cowboy. And I’ve said it elsewhere and often: don’t make a fetish of the goalie (and don’t blame the goalie when your team can’t win).
As for “voodoo,” I suggest McDavid’s lack of goals last night, or Bouchard’s early-season bobbles, or the Oilers pattern of early season malaise are also “voodoo.” Goalies, like all skaters, go up and down in how we perceive their play. Hot/cold, it can change week to week or season to season. The only antidote to this voodoo is to resist the impulse to press the panic button, aka “keep your powder dry.” Something the Oilers org hasn’t had a history of doing, with its turnstile of goalies/coaches since the Golden Age.
Maybe with Stan this changes?
“We wait.”
You said that wrong.
It’s not shocking to see the Oilers lose a game when they DON’T SCORE A GOAL”
There all fixed.
They played well enough to win and didn’t. That’s hockey sometimes.
After Seattle we got a brief-ish reprieve but man it’s a great day to be in a bad mood in this comment section. This team is night and day from what we saw early season. Keep that up the wins will come.
Wild really hunkered down, usually 97 does something to crack it. He’s trying to do too much imo but I get it when nobody else seems to want to score.
Leon fought the puck alot to my eye but he also had it a tonne so it could be Taylor Hall effect.
Am encouraged by the effort last night, Stu was quite good. He does that with no run support, guy can’t catch a break.
1 GA in 2 games is fantastic, but they also have to score. There’s not enough goal scorers in the forward group.
The Trent Frederic contract is currently tracking as one of the worst moves the org has made.
That cap space is desperately needed.
They can’t trade him.
A league minimum rookie who wasn’t supposed to play this year and has only a handful of games has already accomplished more. Distinctly possible he’s doing everything Frederic is supposed to do by his next deal, and therefore should demand more money.
This is why scouts that fixate on a specific player that isn’t a complete and total superstar in their prime must be ignored. And fired if the continue.
Reinhart all over again. And the same thing leads to the less harmful but still wrong things like the Toby Petersen experience. FFS.
Not sure who Stan thought he was bidding against. Absolutely ghastly.
The Kassian effect. Do not sign bottom 6 players to long term contracts. They need to keep fighting for their jobs. I doubt anyone was going to give him more than 5 years
If Kassian doesn’t hurt his back he covers the bet easily.
I don’t think this is Reinhart all over again so much as Maroon. We had Maroon for cheap, who did everything Lucic was supposed to do but better, younger, cheaper. But we still signed Lucic (for too much for too long), ultimately forcing us to walk away from Maroon.
We had an opportunity to bring in Klim Kostin, who liked Edmonton, who was (from some accounts) willing to sign for league minimum. And Klim had a rough season last year but still out-produced and out-played what we’ve seen from Frederic so far this season.
I don’t know about anyone else here, but it seems like a no-brainer that it would have been far better to have Kostin on a 1 year deal at league minimum compared to whatever the hell Bowman did with Frederic. Ugh.
Klim Kostin has zero points, two minor penalties and is -5 in 9 games in the KHL.
I’m not defending Frederic or his contract but Klim Kostin is not going to make the team better.
One of the most baffling contracts in NHL history
But when it comes to this org and worst moves, there is always plenty of competition.
Frederic isn’t in the top 10 of worse moves for the Oilers.
There’s plenty of time for Freddy to prove you wrong.
I asked in the other thread: could Oilers acquire another $3M winger at the deadline and sit 10 for the playoffs?
Might be a good guy but it’s just hard to watch. Boots and hands are shy, doesn’t finish a lot of checks. Hopefully he comes out for Kap, even with Kap’s propensity for bad turnovers. It’ll still be addition by subtraction.
What can coaching/management possibly be saying/thinking behind closed doors that they keep trotting this out? If he’s really still not 100%, put him on LTIR. For the season.
At this point, no, they don’t have cap room to add that player in the regular season.
No doctor is going to sign off on LTIR for Frederic based on current circumstances.
True 8 years (-:
So Litke 94 posted last night about the Oilers being a listless vanilla team. That comment drew a fair bit of negative response. Personally I agree with most of what he said. The team shows very little emotion or passion. Way too many passengers on this team who do very little. If you aren’t scoring at least make a difference by finishing your checks and be hard to play against. The only bright spot this year has been Jack and now he is out of the line up. I guess team still has a chance to make the playoffs but hard to see them going very far if they do.
If you haven’t noticed the improved play over the last few games you must be a blind man.
If I was GM I’d offer Savoie up for Cossa. He probably isn’t too thrilled about being burried behind two meh to very meh vets while the guy drafted after him is in the show. Detroit fans seem to be hire on Trey Augustine anyway and he’s only a year or so behind
They show interest in Jarry. So why not Cossa? They’ve both played in Edmonton for the Oil Kings. Cossa would probably be an up grade on Picks and give Skinner a run for his money. A tremendous opportunity for Cossa in Edmonton.
I’m certainly not against acquiring Cossa, and would love do so but its a completely separate type of deal premise as Jarry would be.
Jarry is a consistent .900-.915 goalie in the NHL – pretty much every season since last season, and a two-time all-star. He’s an established plus NHL goalie.
Cossa is a prospect that has played 1 NHL game.
Cossa could very well become a legit NHL starter, maybe even in short order, but its a different trade premise than one for an established guy like Jarry (who makes real money).
Matt Savoie is struggling.
While there are upsides to his game (and the eye test is there) I can’t help but think he might be better suited to less of a feature role than the one he’s currently playing.
Knob put both Frederic and I think even Janmark for a shift in the 3rd on McDavid’s wing (a spot ideal for Roslovic).
But man, Savoie (who I’m cheering for) is just not pushing the river 5v5.
In hindsight, the McLeod for Savoie trade looks really really bad.
Just another stain on Jeff Jackson’s “summer of Jeff” that could have potentially set back this franchise much further than expected in pursuit of Stanley.
Play Savoie in the NHL.
But honeslty, at this stage, that winger spot beside McDavid (with Zach Hyman healthy) might be better suited for Ike Howard (who’s in Bako).
Easy to say in hindsight, but they should’ve kept Broberg, Holloway, McLeod and ignored Skinner and Henrique.
Sure seems like those decisions have basically closed the McDrai window early. Man.
I’m still not sure the window is closed, but there are going to have to be some tough decisions made.
The Oilers absolutely needed one of Ike Howard or Matt Savoie to pop in the NHL this season.
Neither have (or by the looks of it, will).
I’ve preached this elsewhere, but I’d bet my left nut that the Oilers would have won the cup last season if they kept 2 of Holloway/McLeod/Foegele over Henrique/J Skinner/Arvidsson.
Just brutal asset management from the Oilers on that front.
Like almost fireable.
I get the bet and why it was made. But you had to win if you sold youth for veterans.
They didn’t.
Could the Oilers afforded this given their Cap constraints?
A voice of reason. Nice.
Yes, my lord, yes.
J Skinner was 3 million. Arvidsson was 4 million. Henrique was 3 million.
Foegele signed for 3 million. McLeod was on a team-friendly 2.5-ish bridge deal. And Holloway’s offer sheet was 2.15 or something absurdly low.
The Oilers could have, in theory, kept all of McLeod/Holloway and Foegele (7.5 million combined in 2024-5) for just Jeff Skinner and Arvidsson’s salaries. But that wasn’t Jeff Jackson’s thinking.
Rico was already signed. I would admit only one of J Skinner & Arvidsson should have been signed and possibly Holloway could have been offered something better. But Broberg was gone. Macleod wasn’t going to fit under the salary cap and neither would Foegele. The cap was a delicate situation at that time and still is.
This is just entirely incorrect.
Warren Foegele is currently in the 2nd year of a 3 year deal and he’s making about 750K less than Trent Frederic.
Last offseason, the Oilers brought back Henrique (3 million), signed Skinner (3 million), Arvidsson (4 million). That’s 11 million-ish right there.
McLeod was signed last season for a shade of 2-million (his extension kicked in this year).
Holloway’s offer sheet was a hair over 2-million.
As discussed, Foegele was 3-million.
Broberg was expensive.
But if we’re looking at forwards, the Oilers signed via free agency 11 million dollars worth of contracts. And traded (McLeod, 2 million), got offer-sheeted (Holloway, 2.15 million) and let walk (Foegele, 3-million) 7.5ish million.
You could have even extended McLeod for 4.5 million and still be under the 11 million allocated to those players this season.
Of course, other cap savings would have needed to be made. But it was entirely plausible.
And McDavid could have signed for $20M x8. that’s entirely plausible too.
He may well need to be on the 3rd line but it is too early to say where he goes. Give him 40 games to see where he lands with his point production, he has always scored so hopefully it adjusts for him. He adjusted well to the A last year and the second half is where he shined. He is just getting his feet wet.
Of note, Foegele has 4 points in 18 games (all goal but 4 total points).
We have too many players that have almost 0% chance of potting a goal. Savoie, Janmark, Rico, Frederick, Podkolzin, Lazar, Mangiapane, Tomasek. Need to find an infusion of skill in this lineup.
One thing that really hurts our offense is complete lack of zone entry D. Causing a turnover at the blue line leads to fast breaks and odd man rushes the other way. Our d is so worried about being burned that they freely give up the blue line even when they have numbers back. When we finally get the puck back our offense always starts deep in our own zone
QFT
McDavid only has 3-3 point games, and nothing beyond that.
In games like last night, he’s completely capable of dragging them to OT, and/or a win on his own.
Nothing.
ONE shot.
He can’t score. He’s pulling up on rushes and making horrible passes. He refuses to drive the net.
97 is a large part of the current problem.
I’m largely baffled as to how we could be here.
And he visibly isn’t tired – so drop that one.
I have theories based on what he’s doing out there, but who knows…
Whatever it is, this is not good. Not at all.
He was signed to be traded?
A buddy of mine suggested that he’s playing cautious because he wants to stay healthy for the Olympics. I’m not that disappointed in that theory, but hopefully there’s still time to drag this team into the playoffs afterwards.
If this is true in any way, shape, or form – let him walk after the extension.
The team needs to come first at all times.
I must admit it takes a lot of balls for you guys to crap on one of the best players to ever play the game ..Must be because you are all retired Hall of Fame NHL players who comment from a place of great knowledge.
The requirements to evaluate hockey players involve eye balls, a brain, and the willingness to study and learn.
Nothing to do with playing beyond their level.
If he’s got self-awareness, he’s got to be his own harshest critic right now.
I also said something is deeply wrong – I didn’t “crap on him”.
Not knowing the difference between those two things is a prominent theme around here. It’s too bad.
He just needs to shoot more.
There is a difference between “crap on” and acknowledging that he’s been far below expectations and established norms.
Your post kind of says it all “one of the bets players to ever play the game” – yes, I agree he is that but, at the same time, he hasn’t been the best player in the league for a while – he wasn’t the best player in the league (or on his team) last season and he isn’t this season.
I’m not “crapping on him” as he’s still “one of the best players in the league” but the expectations are for him to be THE best player and for their to be a gap from him to the Drai/Kuch/MacKinnon.
For crying out loud he can barely produce at 5 on 5 and he’s being out-pointed on the season by teenagers – and its not that he’s sacrificing offence to play lock down defence, he’s regressed defensively from his peak.
He is one of the best players of all time but he hasn’t been near his peak level for two seasons now.
Maybe all the injuries are starting to catch up to him
I sure hope that’s not the case – my expectation is Sidney Crosby like longevity – that man was not far from having his career over at Connor’s age (apx).
I was also encouraged by last night’s game. The Oilers have given up 1 goal over their last 2 games.
That being said, I don’t see this team anywhere near contender status right now. There’s just too much that’s not in sync.
Wallstedt was good but that defence of theirs was playing like their lives depended on it .They were throwing their bodies in front of everything and literality laying on the ice in front of their goalie to stop shots. Very impressive but not sure you can employ that collapse in front of your goalie defensive system all season with out suffering a few injuries
The wild blocked 20 shot’s and Oilers had 13. Considering the difference in shot totals both teams were laying it on the line.
Minny won’t win those games when their tender’s hot streaks fade, which it will. They deserved to lose that game. It was big saves at the right moment and too many fancy plays by the oil in good shooting positions, an unwillingness to crash the net more, get in the tenders head, face… bounce one in off someones arse.
Prospectiprocity!
Just like on Sunday, David Lewandowski gets the spotlight to himself today. (This will be a recurring theme the next few weeks.)
His 1 + 1 line last time out gives him a team-leading 20 apples and 28 points in 25 GP. With 1.12 points/games this season, he is poised to shatter his 39 points from last season (in 52 GP) barring injury.
Later this month, he will represent Deutschland again at the WJHC.
Puck drops at 6 p.m. Namao time.