This is one of the most successful drafts in Oilers history. The club gathered three men who would eventually emerge as legit NHL talents, including one impact player (Evan Bouchard). As of this writing, the three players have dressed for over 850 NHL games, with Bouchard and McLeod over 300 games already.
Oilers general manager Stan Bowman arrived in the city with few draft picks, the knowledge he’d be trading more of them, and a prospect pool that resembled desolation row. Bowman signed a pile of free agents, from Europe (Josh Samanski, Viljarmi Marjala, Atro Leppanen) and US Colleges (Quinn Hutson, Damien Carfagna) and they are having a massive impact at the AHL level. Will these men play in the NHL? I believe some will, and Quinn Hutson might land in Edmonton soon based on performance.
Condors forwards
I have this sorted by goal share at even strength, which obscures the offensive output for some of the players who have struggled to outscore in the biggest game state. A player like Seth Griffith is enjoying a strong offensive season, but is scoring most of his points on the power play and is below 50 percent even-strength goal share.
Meanwhile, Quinn Hutson is bossing the AHL at even strength as a rookie. He’s a college man, so older (23), but his two-way play is evident. His offensive ability is exceptional. In the summer, I compared him to Fernando Pisani (here) but let’s look at the offense from each player in his rookie AHL season:
- Pisani 2000-01: 52, 12-13-25 (.48 points per game)
- Hutson 2025-26: 21, 13-11-24 (1.14 points per game)
A different era to be sure, but Hutson’s emergence (he is on a fierce hot streak currently) over the last 11 games (11-10-21) screams recall. We’ll see. It’s going to be difficult for the organization to avoid recalling Hutson this season if he continues to flatten the AHL.
Josh Brown is playing so well right now (he was all over the Saturday game) there’s no doubt in my mind he would be the recall from Bakersfield. I’m liking both of the young blue (Beau Akey and Damien Carfagna) but am not certain how many games each will play. Injury is an issue for both this season.
I would recall Ingram and have him start the next game Pickard is scheduled to start. I doubt that happens, but the organization has to find out about Ingram before doing something on a bigger scale.
On the Lowdown today, Rachel Kryshak from Betalytics and ESPN will join us at 12:40, and Jason Gregor pops in at 1:20. Declanations will have Momma MMA, plenty of Oilers and football chat. Noon to 2pm, Sports 1440 and You Tube.
New for The Athletic: Five reasons to believe in the Edmonton Oilers’ turnaround
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6870151/2025/12/08/edmonton-oilers-stats-scores-standings-2025/
Unlike so many, you haven’t given the new jerseys’ voodoo any flowers here, LT. Not convinced?
I like the new jerseys, but I think there are other reasons for the team’s success. 🙂
Holy crap if you look at shot map pages in tsn scores that is ugly ugly ugly
Tommy Lafrenière commits to Western Michigan for next season.
Lots of good Canadian CFL players come out of Western Michigan
Auston Matthews scores just his 12th goal of the season tonight, into an empty net.
Guy is on pace for a 35G 60 point season. Is he even a top-20 player anymore?
Might be missing Marner.
It’s weird. The guy scored 69 goals three years ago.
He’s pretty elite defensively. Maybe he’s reached the McDavid stage of his career where he only really cares about team success?
Or maybe injuries have caught up to him.
Or maybe, as yeraslob suggests, he misses Marner.
Berezkin with 1G/2A today – maybe he’s starting to find his game this year.
Why is 97 always wearing his hat like a teenage punk when i see him being interviewed?
Probably because he wants to, but that’s just a guess.
This, and it I’m guessing it keeps the sweat from going in his eyes after practice & games. I’m thinking media obligations come before showers.
I was unaware there was an age limitation on wearing a hat in a “no f’s given to your rules and authority” fashion.
Guys, guys, guys….i understand your frustration with the question. My tongue was fully in cheek with the “teenage punk” comment…. I should have added an “lol” or “lmfao”!
i’m totally with you, he can do whatever he wants. However it IS something that has struck me this year more than any other. I am actually curious if this is some kind of superstition thing or something.
Anyway, my apologies, i should have been much more clear of tone. You guys hit me hard with THREE down votes. I feel shame…
No worries. I know sometimes guys wear hats because they are losing hair, but I think McDavid has plenty of hair (I don’t honestly know).
All good! The sweat in the eyes comment is a thing though, at least per my athlete son who is about a year older than Connor. RNH & Skinner also seem fans of that style.
The NHL relaxed the dress code this year. Maybe that has something to do with it?
I seen many walking wounded Oilers at the Tegler Center Dinner
Philp looks pretty good; clattenburg and maingapani delivered our family dinner. Jack roslovich with desert haha
Per Gregor at ON:
The work ethic on this kid……
Full credit to Podz.
But we’re talking a free skills coach available to you at any time and 30 minutes is enough that it’s remarked on. Doesn’t that seem odd if the “prize” is millions of dollars instead of riding busses? I’ll tell you if I’m Frederic or Tomacek or any of these legit AHL prospects I’d be doing that daily.
Maybe they are but if so, I haven’t seen it reported.
I’ve always thought the same thing about prospects especially. You have a couple of things not quite up to snuff, the pay off is set for life at a young age, realizing your dreams and the focus of your life up to that point
So many don’t seem to get after it, some can’t or can’t do it I suppose. I’d be killing myself to get there if I had got that far along
I think that level of drive is what separates the cream of the crop.
Kucherov installed a synthetic ice surface in his garage leading up to the 2017 season, and reportedly still uses it nearly every day. Including after games, where he apparently likes to shoot weighted pucks and work on his technique as a way to unwind.
Not everyone has the work ethic or passion level to match their talent (see: Yakupov, Nail, Schremp, Rob, etc. etc. etc.), but for those who want to get better there’s always a pathway available.
I think there is only so much the players should be doing to to optimized – this is in addition to practice and meetings and morning skates and off-ice workouts/maintennce and treatment and film, etc., etc.
We know that sometimes they have very short practices, like 25 minutes. Energy levels are important and, while, just skating around after practice on your own doing some drills doesn’t see overly taxing, it all adds up, right?
This.
What #92 is doing should be the base if you’re motivated.
Recent pictures of Clatt look like all but no damage but coach says he won’t be allowed back on the ice for 3-4 more days. I wonder if there is a concussion issue here.
Gregor says he’s having some vision issues that popped up
he was wearing a toque last night probably had a bad looking gash above his eye
Walman starting to become “always hurt” and slow on recovery (always a set-back). Per Tony B:
The Oilers should call up Hutson, he’s earned it. Send down Tomesek to make room. Failing to reward prospects for earning a promotion cost them Broberg and possibly Holloway. Have they learned?
Bowman is not Holland take a look at his track record in Chicago where he had no problem calling up players when they earned it.
I think the problem with the young guys is more whether Knoblauch will put them in roles that suit their skill set. I would love to have Hutson come up and play consistently in an offensive top 9 role but I don’t think Knoblauch will do it. Though maybe he has learned from Savoie!
I’ve heard this yet Hutson hasn’t gotten the call. What is he waiting for. Sure Tomesek scored a goal in garbage time the other night, but he ob is not part of the plan
Hutson is two months into his professional career. I highly doubt he is frustrated at the current situation.
Its really only been about 10 games for Hutson – he started the season very slow and almost his entire season production has been in the 2 P/G heater he is on.
Per Gregor:
RNH-McDavid-Hyman
Podkolzin-Draisaitl-Savoie
Janmark-Henrique-Mangiapane
Frederic-Lazar-Tomasek
Philp joins group in non-contact jersey. Eligible to come of LTIR on Saturday.
Ekholm-Bouchard
Nurse-Regula
Kulak-Emberson
Skinner in starter net.
No Walman, Kapanen or Clattenburg.
not to harp on but you have to think philp makes his way to bako upon coming off of ltir.
Lazar ate his lunch. I would say that this is an area we could improve at the deadline with someone who could take a few more mins on a nightly basis. It is important to remember that Philp is not a young player. Lazar is only 3 yrs older.
Player 1.
TOI 9.05 per game
GF% 42
XGF% 56
HDCF% 61
Faceoff 59%
Hits/60 11.6
points/60 1.08
PDO 0.999
NHL EDGE SPEED 21.93 mph
Player 2.
TOI 9.23 per game
GF% 24
XGF% 36
HDCF% 37
Faceoff 58%
HIts/60 10.2
points/60 1.28
PDO 0.906
NHL EDGE SPEED 21.77 mph
The Oilers have a Calvin Pickard problem.
Blue Bullet Brad
@BlueBullet1981
HDSV%. Goalies over 450 minutes played.
| Goalie | HDSV% | Rank (of 48) |
|——–|——–|—————|
| Tristan Jarry | 0.873 | 6 |
| Jordan Binnington | 0.793 | 37 |
| Stuart Skinner | 0.784 | 38 |
| Calvin Pickard | 0.654 | 48 |
Pickard is last in group.
Mean = 0.811
Median = 0.829
We’re sure we don’t want Jarry?
Hockey is mostly goalie. This guy could be our Dwayne Roloson.
Little doubt, Pickard has taken a major step back from last season and has not been good enough in a back-up role. He’s had one plus game and a bunch of negative games.
The Ingram-Pickard swap in fairly short order makes sense. I could see them waiting until after the holiday break (whether one agrees with management or not that that should matter).
Ingram has not been lights out in Bako but, since his re-set, his play is better than his numbers would indicate (to my eye), he leaks some meh goals but then locks it down.
There is a reasonable possitivliy that, as a vet with ample legit NHL experience, he will perform better in the NHL than AHL with better structure, predictability, etc. Look at Carter Hart who was below .840 in three AHL starts and has since had 2 good NHL stars, as an example.
Jarry in to tandem with Picard at near $2.8MM would be absolutely exceptional but it appears PIT refuses to retain so the Oilers would need a third team, making the acquisition cost more expensive, plus still needing to move out $1.5MM or so.
…and waiting the 75 days before the 3rd team could trade him to you per the new CBA rules agreed to this summer
Worst decision of the summer imo- the NHL should have just allowed the 75% retention in a single transaction and allow for more free flow of players. The salaries of the NHL are a closed loop- no new money is introduced during a double retention, no advantage given to any team (other than having a rich owner – they’re all rich – that’s willing to spend a little more within the cap)
Nope, no need to wait 75 days.
It’s 75 days between retained salary transactions on the same player. This would be a 3-way trade with one retained salary transaction. Essentially Pit trading Jarry (full) to Team B and Team B retaining 50% and trading to the Oilers – can happen at once.
Yes, my bad- I misunderstood the original proposal
Jerry / Skinner is how they saw it , in the past tense , unless something changes .
For those who like who like HDSV%, which I do.
To illustrate how big, Ingram’s 2023 season was, he was second (out of 25) in HDSV% for over 2000 minutes played. (.858)
Just a monster ceiling for this guy if can get back on track.
Even in 2024-5, he was at .826, which was better than both Skinner (.791) and Pickard (.802).
For those who’ve forgotten, Campbell’s fatal flaw was a garbage level HDSV% (.787)—25/26th for goalies who played over 2000 minutes.
If only Holland read Natural Stat Trick instead of the Guide and Record Book.
HDSV% is a very narrow stat with a corresponding small sample size.
A question here: are all high danger chances created equal. I assume not. So i guess the real question is this: what constitutes a high danger chance? And then….could some hd chances be more dangerous than others?
Pickard is 5 goals below expected 5v5, and on the PK ABOVE expected. In all situations he’s only a few goals below expected. Using Moneypuck expected goals.
Woodley has shown his environment has gone from the most favourable last season, to the least favourable to start the season.
I think Pickard requires replacement, but his environment has been terrible.
Using HDSV% as above to show his overall performance is silly. It’s especially silly as MDSV% and SCSV% are basically as important as HDSV% with the war-on-ice Scoring Chances model.
i think the move is to extend ingram on the cheap for an additional year at the same money and then bring him up and send pickard down.
Why do they have to extend him?
The Oilers do not have to decide on Ingram this year, because Skinner is a UFA. The best way to look at Ingram is the NHL backup next year for the Oilers.
We have seen enough of Ingram this year that Bowman is not going to bet the season on him.
Bowman will make a trade for someone in the NHL.
I believe Bowman acquired Ingram with the intention of seeing his game on the Oilers once he was up to speed whether he knocks it our of the park in the AHL or not. Bowman needs 2 goalies next year at value village prices Skinner has priced himself out of Edmonton for what he brings. If Ingram shows he still has it Bowman should be able to get a 2 year deal on the cheap.
I don’t know if Ingram will perform at the NHL level or not this season but, nope, I don’t agree that management has disregarded him as a potential opinion for this season.
There really is no help coming on the blue line this season which is a main reason that trading Kulak for cap space likely should not be an option (even if Walman wasn’t turning in to a bandaid and could be relied upon).
LT is right that Josh Brown has 100% been the Condors’ best d-man and it hasn’t been close. Cam Dineen has regressed this year. He was AWFUL for two weeks to start the season – he’s recovered but he’s not as good as prior years.
Carfagna has a really solid 2-way game. I recall being surprised by his offensive skill at camp and, after a slow start to the season in Bako (he started late with injury), he’s really settled in. He left the game on Friday night with an UBI after taking a high hit and didn’t play Saturday – I I don’t know status.
Leppanen has developed leaps and bounds in 5 weeks. He was so bad for the first 3 weeks, like one of the worst defensive players I have seen in the AHL. No structure, no hard plays, lost, getting beat, terrible pinches, etc. He was also not impacting offensively. He has come a LONG ways with his defensive game, he now plays in structure, commits to making hard play, etc. He’s not close but he’s back as a real name to watch and he’s impacting the game offensively nightly.
Walman coming back is help of he’s healthy enough
I mean help coming for Bakersfield given the post, and my response, spoke to Bakersfield prospects.
A full article dedicated to the Condors, I would post a million times……
I believe Hutson, Howard, Jarventie and maybe Samanski could all play in the NHL today and would make an argument for each of them over Clattenburg right now presuming Knob would at least play them in the top 9 (preferably the top 6 for Howard and maybe Hutson).
Clatt has been amazing for a rookie pro at 20 that has played like 15 pro games – he earned the call-up based on what he can bring and he changed his game to play within the structure needed (not running around) and earned more games. His impact has fallen off and puck mistakes have crept it – he needs time to develop, we all know this.
its time to swap him with Hutson or Jarventie, two older prospects that have truly earned the call-up. Howard could play in the NHL as well, of course, but I would like them to keep him in the AHL for a good stretch – they sent him there to work on certain things and a few months to do so should reap benefit.
Samanski is developing a solid 2-way center game in real time and I love his range of skill and everything about his game, from his neutral zone transition to the his smarts in the offensive zone to his personality to everything. I leave him in the AHL until after he returns from the Olympics.
I just posted below. What do you think of Matt Tomkins?
He’s been fine – very good last game.
There is no upside there and I would call up Ingram over him.
Think fast.
That’s what the Oilers need to do. Skinner has started 21/29 games during a compressed schedule—72.4%.
For comparison, last season was 51/82, which was 62%. Pickard’s struggles are causing workload issues for Skinner.
If we test drive Ingram too soon, there’s definite waivers risk if you send him back down, given his contract and experience.
Here’s where I am at. The Oilers have underrated depth in Matt Tomkins. He’s currently playing better than Ingram statistically. He’s 32, low kilometres. He’s kind is a low ceiling, decent floor technical style goalie.
If Pickard struggles, why not give Tomkins a go at least to buy time for Ingram’s game to pick up and assess trade market for another 1B? It’s the lowest risk play.
Numbers from Grok:
• Oct 11 vs. Henderson: 28 saves, .933 SV%
• Oct 12 vs. Henderson: 23 saves, .885 SV%
• Oct 19 vs. San Jose: 25 saves, .926 SV%
• Oct 25 at Tucson: 31 saves, .939 SV%
• Nov 1 at Calgary: 27 saves, .931 SV%
• Nov 15 at San Diego: 32 saves, .941 SV%
• Nov 16 vs. San Diego: 24 saves, .889 SV%
• Nov 23 at Ontario: 29 saves, .906 SV%
• Nov 30 vs. Henderson: 11 saves, 1.000 SV% (relief)
• Dec 3 vs. Coachella Valley: 33 saves, .917 SV%
• Dec 6 at Henderson: 28 saves, 1.0 SV%
• (Two additional starts: details not specified in reports, but contribute to his 13 GP and overall .898 SV%)
Vs Ingram:
• Oct 18 vs. San Jose: 21 saves, .955 SV%
• Oct 24 at Tucson: 24 saves, .828 SV%
• Oct 28 at Colorado: 29 saves, .853 SV%
• Nov 2 at Calgary: 15 saves, .750 SV%
• Nov 14 at San Diego: 34 saves, .895 SV%
• Nov 18 vs. Calgary: 25 saves, .926 SV%
• Nov 21 at Ontario: 21 saves, .875 SV%
• Nov 29 vs. Henderson: 16 saves, .889 SV%
• Dec 5 at Henderson: 26 saves, .867
Thanks for pointing out the 72.4%… that’s wild and not good. Bring up Tomkins for a few games please!
No waivers risk on Ingram until he plays 10 NHL games or is on the NHL roster for 30 days.
An interesting thought to try Ingram in the NHL now (versus waiting till he pops in the AHL). I hadn’t considered that option. I like it.
Although some of the prospects in the aHL are ripping it up offensively Im not sure that there is room on the top two Oiler lines for any of them. What KK is doing now seems to be tweaking the bottom two lines to get a great checking line and maybe a physical line .Im not sure Howard ,Hutson et el fit that job description .I bet they will be up if the top two lines run into injury problems BUT only if they have developed the other areas of there game to include better defensive play .
Hutson’s defensive play is a strength. In college and in the AHL. No one should expect him to get PP time when he gets here, but his even strength scoring (as shown above) should be enough to keep him in the lineup. Put another way, he would replace Frederic or Tomasek in the lineup, not Savoie or Podkolzin.
Frederick has a NMC but I could see Tomasek if he can handle the heavy going on the bottom lines as they are going up against the other teams top lines and top D when on the road . But Savoie who as a smaller player learned last year in the AHL how to be very effective against bigger players. So maybe?
Frederic can go to the pressbox without impacting the NMC.
They may have to move Frederic to the pressbox permanently for the next ~ 3.5 years, until the full NMC goes away. At least with the new playoff cap rules, they don’t have to play Frederic or count his cap against the per-game cap rules.
Frederic can easily waive his NMC if he ends up being a never used 13th forward, the desire to play anywhere will become Frederic’s main focus.
The Oilers will hope one of the tanking bottom feeders take a swing.
I’m still hopeful he can recover and turn into the wild menace he was the last time the Oilers played the Bruins, he was all over the ice causing chaos.
The Oilers made an 8-year investment in the player based on a belief of the player he is.
No doubt he’s been highly disappointing but they aren’t flushing on him 29 games in. I do think he’s in healthy scratch territory (although he was better on Saturday) but that would be a game or two for now and they aren’t going to flush on this player yet.
Or incase of injury!!!!!
I would definitely have time for Jarventie or Hutson on a Nuge centred 3rd line, maybe even a Henrique centred 3rd line.
Howard as well but I want him to get a few months in the AHL prior to call-up.
Similar Samanski but I want him to continue to play center and maybe we can think about the call-up after he’s back from Milan.
Of course, what I have time for or what I want means zero.
Not as big a camp for the juniors 3 goalies, 9 D, and 15 forwards
Its not actually a camp this year, I don’t think – they aren’t meeting and skating prior to finalizing the team (I don’t think).
It’s too soon for an update from my tracking project, but I had a look at how a few things are going since Nov 20, the Bolts game – The Turn. They’ve gone 4/3. 29GF 20 GA = 59.2%:
5v5
GF% 57.6 7th
GF 19 11th
GA 14 8th
NHL Team SV% .909 15th
Evolving Hockey
Skinner
Goals Saved Above Average -.72 40th
GSAx 2.18 22nd
Pickard
Goals Saved Above Average .14 33rd
GSAx 2.09 26th
All
GF% 59.2 5th
GF 29 8th
GA 20 8th
NHL Team SV% .903 14th
Evolving Hockey
Skinner
Goals Saved Above Average .71 24th
GSAx 5.35 15th
Pickard
Goals Saved Above Average -1.97 48th
GSAx 1.21 38th
PP% 41.2 1st
PK% 78.3 23rd
GF GA is much better, 5v5 GF still the weak link. With goalies things are better, not surprisingly as team play improved, but it looks like Pick is not doing well on the PK, which is much weaker than the smokin’ PP
His GSAx ranking is much lower than his 5v5 and Skinner’s. This is likely a major thing sewering the PK, and I imagine what the goalie chatter is largely about, Stu isn’t doing that bad right now
Given you need around 30 games from your back up, or you burn out most starters, an upgrade who could take the net by play or necessity, and at least improve the stats in those games, is a priority, if you can’t get Sorokin
— The Turn coincides with a week where they played only 2 games and currently on a long homestead playing against well travelled teams on mostly road trips akin to what the Oil had
— The oil October and November : 3 week run with b2B 3 in 4 on the road three weeks in a row and a 11 games in 22 days with something g like 8 flights
— not directed at you or a criticism but nary a word was really part of the analysis which thankfully has shown to be correct : by far the single variable effecting results has been the relative schedule of the Oil vs their opponents
— fortunately this has shown to be the right take : their current stretch of good play comes at the same time their schedule has been favourable and their opponents more games leading up to their games at home vs Oil.
— you had to wait to see this stretch of games before concluding that it was doom and gloom.
— It’s not doom and gloom. Baring injuries come playoff time the Oil will remain one of the few teams with a reasonable chance of winning the cup IMO
Thanks. I am very interested in the GSAx numbers. My reading of them (on other sites) is that from a per 60 minutes and/or % basis, Skinner is near/around the middle of the goalies listed (79 or 80). For clarification: is your GSAx a raw number or a per 60 number?
You can get both here:
https://moneypuck.com/goalies.htm
They are from Evolving Hockey, I think raw based on the math used, don’t have time to double check
Sam O’Reily has made the World Junior roster.
I apologize, the intel that I posted yesterday was incomplete.
Training camp roster, that is.
Based on the season he’s having, one could argue he wouldn’t be there if it wasn’t his junior coach that’s coaching Team Canada.
They are still cutting 1 fwd and 1 dman before the start of the tourney, potentially more pending NHL player availability (Im looking at you Seattle and Berkley Catton), so possible he still does not make the cut.
I agree based on his season his inclusion would appear to be at the behest of the Hunter bros specifically.
Every Coach and every team love 2 way players O’Reilly is one such player. He’s a Centre thst can play in all situations these players always have more value then most people think.
That 2-way center is -12 this season, second worst on his team to an 18-year old d-man…..
So now we’re using the plus-minus again that’s good to know for future use.
You’ve cited his high plus-minus last year so…..
You’ve never seen him play (and I’ve only a few times) but you cite him as this locked down can’t miss defensive phenom with offensive upside so, without watching him play, how do you determine that other than numbers. If he can’t outscore in junior as a near 20 year old when his team isn’t as good, how can he be so locked in?
you have him as Tampa’s 3C by this time next year.
No doubt there is a Hunter factor!
He seems to have run in place this year.
Similar offensive totals to last season but not nearly the outscoring force he was last year – from top goal share in the OHL to a negative.
Shows how much depth of talent on the team can mean.
LT’s least favorite thing…the quest to be right long before the evidence comes in. But sometimes it’s fun to test your amateur scouting skills.
I didn’t think I saw an above replacement level NHLer in Hutson the elder when I saw him last year. Ive watched all of zero of his AHL games so there’s educated guesses and whatever is 10 notches below that which I’m doing here.
I saw the same thing last year KT and, given his age, didn’t expect him to prove to be an NHL option.
I have watched essentially all his AHL games and, after a slow start, yup, he’s full value for his current offensive heater. I still don’t know if it will translate at the NHL level and if it will in a Knoblauch deployed forward group but he’s certainly earned the chance.
His shot is indeed legit – not a bomb (Jarventie has a bomb) but a great release and accurate.
Thanks OP. Love your updates on these kids.
The one thing the stat lines don’t show is that Fernando is 2 inches taller and 30 lbs heavier. I hope Hutson can bring some two way play with offense, I will remain neutral until he shows what he can do in the best league. Of course hoping he can help
Can’t do much about the height, but can certainly add some muscle to close that gap.
I’m hoping there’s a shift in direction to working on power and upper body strength again in the game. Leg strength is never going away, but having a strong upper body should also be a must.
The trend toward “quick” at the expense of everything else isn’t going to end well for a ton of players.
Especially when things get tight in playoffs. Even if an underweight guy can hang, it’s a lot more wear and tear that adds up. He’s not that far off, but should definitely try to get over 180 at his height if he can put on muscle
Underweight guy yanni gourde who has 43 points in 88 games in the playoffs is 5 ft 9 and 173 lbs. Wouyld seem like skill and talent is more important than size.
noting that 6 ft 6 and 210 lbs oilers legend nick bjugstad is significantly less effective in the playoffs. Would the oilers have been better off trading for a gourde type or a bjugstad type who would sustain the “wear and tear of playoffs”
One of the problems with Bjugstad is that he plays at 210. Far too lean. Leon is 6’2″ and the same weight…
Hutson is 5’11”. Get to a strong 190 and you have zero problems if your drive is high.
Stay at 175 and he may be too lean for the grind, regardless of effort.
Gourde is both 1) an exception and 2) 2 inches shorter, meaning he’s probably more muscle at this stage than Hutson.
I’d say he makes it based on his record and progress right now – the question though is how far and how effectively. Becoming very strong top to bottom would really assist.
This is how I see it
Makes me think of 5’6 Gizmo. An absolute tank if you have seen him
To me you need context. If your 5’11 and 176 lbs, you’re slim for an NHL player. If you’re 5’9 173 your more stout. Marchand is a few pounds heavier than Gourde. Savoie is stout as well. To me plus skating really helps the smaller players who can’t just use strength to win battles
Anyone can play if they figure out how they have to. I have found over the years the guys who have a lighter build have a harder time than shorter guys who are still strong. Like Elias Petterson. Crazy talent but has trouble executing it other than the one season
Ha! This made me laugh out loud.
….until I remembered that we traded Mike Kesselring for him.