The Edmonton Oilers played a motivated Winnipeg Jets team on a moody Manitoba evening on Monday, winning 3-1. The Jet had 42 shots, 18 high-danger chances and scored once. Calvin Pickard stopped 41, and 11 of the 12 HDSC’s that hit the net. Take a bow, Calvin Pickard!
WHAT TO EXPECT IN DECEMBER
- At home to: Wild, Kraken, Jets (Expected 2-1-0) 2-1-0
- At home to: Sabres, Red Wings (Expected 1-0-1) 1-0-1
- On the road to: TML, Canadiens, Penguins (Expected 2-1-0) 2-1-0
- On the road to: Bruins, Wild (Expected 1-1-0) 1-1-0
- At home to: VEG, Flames (Expected 1-0-1) 2-0-0
- On the road to: Flames, Jets (Expected 1-0-1) 1-1-0
- At home to: Bruins (Expected 1-0-0)
- Expected Record: 9-3-3, 21 points in 15 games
- Actual Record: 9-4-1, 19 points in 14 games
- Season Record: 20-14-6, 46 points in 40 games
Edmonton is close to halfway through the season now, and some of the numbers are mind boggling. Led by Connor McDavid (24-45-69), Leon Draisiatl (20-36-56) and Evan Bouchard (7-30-37), these Oilers are a wagon on the first two lines. The hard work of finding the correct sixes and sevens and nines to run with the kings and aces is burning daylight and needs some answers. The top players are doing their jobs and then some.
- Nuge-McDavid-Hyman 11:30, 4-9 shots, 45X, 3-3 HDSC
- Podkolzin-Draisaitl-Savoie 5:58, 3-3 shots, 6X, 0-2 HDSC
- Jones-Henrique-Lazar 5:52, 2-4 shots, 1-1 goals, 57X, 1-2 HDSC
- Podkolzin-Draisaitl-Janmark 4:51, 3-3 shots, 37X, 1-1 HDSC
- Frederic-Roslovic-Janmark 4:34, 1-1 shots, 30X
The Oilers were 1-1 goals at five-on-five, with Max Jones responsible for both goals. A suddenly loose puck was deposited by the big man on a lucky play, but credit where due he was around the net at the same time as the puck. On the GA, he needs to get that puck out and not get caught in the defensive zone. Oilers in their own end can be an adventure, and Jones was the zebra with two hyenas in the vicinity. There’s way too much defensive Wild Kingdom on this team. I have liked Jones game recently.
Jack Roslovic scored, he’s one of the four best wingers on the team (Hyman, Nuge, Podkolzin, Roslovic) and a real find for Stan Bowman. I don’t believe he’s a center, but he won three of five on the dot. Connor McDavid had some looks, but the Lowry line and Samberg pair were golden against him.
The Nuge fought, he always does better than expected in tilts. I figure he imagines his opponent just slapped his horse or some such, but my memory of Nuge’s fights is that he hangs in there and shows up. I suspect every player on the Oilers sees the longest-serving member of the team engage, and gets motivated. If the Nuge can drop them, with his skill set and size, what’s stopping the big fellows?
- Ekholm-Bouchard 18:34, 7-10 shots, 54X, 4-3 HDSC
- Nurse-Stastney 16:04, 6-12 shots, 0-1 goals, 19X, 1-5 HDSC
- Stillman-Emberson 10:03, 3-5 shots, 1-0 goals, 36X, 2-3 HDSC
The top pairing looked good to me, the puck was heading in a good direction when the duo was on the ice. Nurse-Stastney had their troubles, bur Stastney impressed me on the second pairing. There’s a non-zero chance we see a Walman-Stastney second pairing down the stretch this season.
Calvin Pickard was the story in this game, He could have had a shutout and for me this creates a fascinating situation moving forward. Pickard, as the backup, entered last night badly in need of a solid performance to hold serve. Connor Ingram looks real to me, I mean he could be a starter in this league (and has been before). Calm feet, quick lateral movement. I really like his style. Meanwhile, Tristan Jarry came at significant cost and won all three games before leaving the lineup due to injury. Stan Bowman has a problem, but it’s a good one.
I’m tempted to say keep all three, like Sam Pollock did in 1973-74. Scotty Bowman had Michel Larocque, Wayne Thomas and Michel Plasse at his disposal that year. Thomas played 42, Larocque 27, Plasse 15. Ken Dryden was winning a contract argument with Sam Pollock (and won!) so the Habs ran three 7’s instead of their 10. The following season, Thomas was on the roster all year but didn’t play a game! OH, SAM POLLOCK! I think Stan Bowman should do what Pollock did, the position is such a pain in the ass when things go sideways.
The Andrew Mangiapane healthy scratch, and the news he’s willing to move, signals the next big event in Oil country. I don’t know about you, but I’ve tired of watching July 1 free agents sign, fall flat and then become a flaccid extra part of the roster. If I’m Daryl Katz, I’m firing the next general manager who signs a guy on July 1 that the coach doesn’t use. It’s wasteful. I’d much rather see Bowman sign the next Quinn Hutson than the next Andrew Mangiapane. The Ken Holland plan is no plan at all.
On the Lowdown today, it’s the round table with Declan Krueger, Donovan Paulson and Josh Fenwick. It’s like watching RocknRolla and I’m Lenny Cole being dropped into the Thames. Good fun! We begin at noon, and run through 2pm, but they start lowering me right from the start. Noon to 2pm, Sports 1440 and You Tube.
New Year, new profile name etc. Formerly Turning Tikkanese and Mayan Oil now Tim N8R. Old work nickname! Also made for a great vanity plate for my last car….
Summarizing!
Lafreniere procured an apple.
Lewandowski–along with the other Germans–was shut out. With the loss, they will face Denmark in the relegation round. Lew had 18:23 TOI, 3rd among German forwards.
For the people that think we overpaid for Jarry, how much you think Carolina would pay for him now. They are so desperate they would even take skinner if he was to hit waivers. Kotchetkov is injured, Andersen is beyond done, bussi has been good but I wouldn’t guarantee this level of play
Man, they must be desperate in that case. They’d take Skinner if he were available for free? 😉
You mean if Jarry were still a Penguin and not currently on IR?
I don’t think they would take the contract without retention.
It totally sucks that the Oilers now have 3 goalies at least viable
Terrible
Skinner is currently pitching a shutout against the Canes, 4-0, 2nd period nearly over.
Mark Jankowski reportedly centering Canes 4th line. Noah Philip is yet to play.
Skinner, sorry for the jinx.
Wow, Jankowski scores. I feel like I have Harper’s Hair level of jinx power.
Devan Dubnyk got two games and posted an .850SP with the Preds before they sent him to the AHL.I’ll be interested to see if Skinner gets a few more games before they flush him. Kyle Dubas is a smart fellow, hope he’s patient. Any road, hope Skinner finds his way, in Pittsburgh or elsewhere.
Skinner would look great on a team like Minnesota Wild that doesn’t give up odd man rushes and breakaways or allow east west passes across the royal road.
At the risk of jinxing him again, he’s at a .962 tonight.
I too wish Skinner well.
So say we all.
You have analytics that say this? Mine do not say this about the Wild
In my opinion Dubas is a corporate climber. Trading for Karlsson was the height of that
All risk and splash very low chance of return at his age off that season EK had. Didn’t repeat, shocking?
KD is not about hockey first at aIl IMHO
I also hope Skinner finds his net. I differ on Dubas being smart. Lots of people are smart, outcomes are what matter. To me he’s the last young guy stats climber that has clinged to his position. He hooped two teams in a row with a status bums in seat look at me trades that hurt his team – all for his status
Tavares in TO, Karlsson in Pitts. Another guy that gets respect is Treliving. He has lost 3 key players on two teams in a few seasons. That’s good?
Tree was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, I wonder about Dubas. Can play the networking game, but what about the game on the ice?
I mentioned that I was invited to go to New Jersey for a feedback meeting (Canadian dealers) with the mucky mucks of a major corporation. Most of us were like family businesses and small. A few were 2nd generation from a family that had opened multiple stores in big cities mainly
The fellow I travelled with from the same province was a silver spoon type from a family that owns a large equipment supplier. I have no idea why he is engaging with our industry which is lower ticket retail/ wholesale
A nice fella as I travelled with him, in meetings he was very polished and was happy to tell us all that is doing high tech things in a low tech business, basically copying our large corporate soulless competitors
The rest of us were talking about culture, service, quality. He was talking about why low performing stores are allowed to remain. These are family businesses. He wants to take over everything it seems to me, being an elder statesman now, past my wonder boy status in their eyes. At anyone’s expense. Climber
And it would not work what the climber wants in the long run, because what makes us different is culture, service and quality. Like Sports 1440. This is why Dubas and Treliving don’t get it. They don’t get the rest, the numbers aren’t the way, they are an information point. You have to build a team, not acquire fancy pieces that enhance your status, whatever that looks like. The results on the ice speak the truth
Treliving bleeds talent for gritensity, Dubas likes fancy names no matter the cost
I hope Bowman does get the deal, the sweet spot between many converging things that make a championship team. That does not include movement clauses, although it’s becoming clear Stan will give them and ask out
London Knights have confirmed that William Nicholl will be in the lineup tomorrow!
He’s been gone all year and made great strides last year. Hopefully doesn’t take too long to get back to form.
They asked that of Connor McDavid in his draft year. So he went out and fought and broke his hand. Then everybody said, WTF was Connor McDavid doing with his gloves off?
So on the good side, we know Connor doesn’t have weak bones, so he must have hit that fella perty hard. 👊🏻
Actually, if my memory is correct, he missed the guy and hit the top edge of the boards, which caused the break.
Ouch. Saving the guy what was coming 😀
The Mangiapane experience is mostly at the feet of the player imo, he’s been tried everywhere.
Early season, felt like he was being wasted in the bottom 6..scored in his half minute with 97. Lots of us clamoring for his elevation, got crushed when elevated. Leaving us to clamor for his demotion to a more suitable role.
When put in a more suitable role, got crushed some more. Part of that being at the feet of Henrique, as no one posts offense with him.
The coach has tried with the player, he’s just not what he once was. Should Bowman be swayed by McDavid on who to sign.. I’d say you give generational players some input but you don’t give out NMC or NTC for the input. You hope everyone learns a thing or two and continues to develop.
Does Mangiapane get brought in if Bowman is originally successful with Roslovic?
Bowman is bringing in talent from all sorts of avenues, he’s not making one or two bets from only one angle, he’s hammering every view with every dollar. He’s had success with the waiver wire, reclamation projects, overseas, college, if there’s talent out there he has a shot on.. He seems to be getting it done.
I’m not upset with a miss on Mangiapane, it hasn’t aligned.
Arvidsson got injured every single time he was starting to find his stride, fates never let it mesh, Bowman was able to move on, Arvidsson continues to get injured.
Jinner, he was better for Knoblauch then what’s happening in San Jose.
Frederic, looks ugly on Bowman. The bet has lots of road to be salvaged.
The farm is flushed with legit talent, Kapanen/Regula success on the waivers, Roslovic successful woo, Podkolzin success, Ingram success, Stastney success. Bowman is a great rock hound, he’s more then made up for any of the misses.
Do the Oilers flush out Mangiapane, and make a play for Eberle?
Roslovic/McDavid/Hyman
Podkolzin/Draisaitl/Savoie
Frederic/Nuge/Eberle
(Jones/Clatt)/(Lazar/Henrique)/(Janmark/Kapanen)
Given his AAV and age (the cliff appears to have arrived for Ebs, unfortunately), I think that’s a no.
No Oilers retreads please n thx. Not unless it’s for some of the young talent we’ve cooked and given away recently.
How often does getting back with your ex work out? 20% ?
He’s Seattle’s leading scorer.
The SEAmen aren’t in a playoff spot at this point. That’s hardly a resounding endorsement, leading scorer (37gm/14g/11a/25p/+3) on an underperforming lagging team.
I love the guy, he was traded too soon, but acquiring Ebs at this stage of his career and his AAV is more likely to disappoint than not.
There are better targets.
I think the Oilers need to flush out Mang to get cap compliant to activate Kap and Walman and not gut the rest of the roster and give a bit of cap flexibility.
I like Eberle and would love to have him back but would hold off on spending the cap savings if they can get them.
Give a kid or two an opportunity for a bit of traction – the kids should received the earned opportunities at some point.
I’d like the kids to get an opportunity as well, but how likely is that with Knoblauch?
The deadline is a long way away still, Eberle isn’t on the top of my list but a Nuge/Eberle soft line minutes combo could spell success for a run.
The coach is developing a history with the kids, yes, but his “trusted veterans” are not getting the job done. The Oilers can have a great 4th line but they have no 3rd line – Knob has tried every combination of bottom 6 guys for a third line without success – maybe he’d be willing to give Jarventie or Samanski or Hutson or Howard some legit reps.
It may take Hutson-Akey to get rid of Mangiapane-Henrique
Bang. It’s cap and 340 YO complimentary Ebs is not what they need. Find 25 YO Tom Wilson
It should have been evident on what Mangi was (or wasn’t). Played 4 th line minutes in Washington and they obviously weren’t interested in resigning him. Bowman gives him a 2 yr 3.8 mil NTC deal???? I am far from a hockey smartypants but no part of that deal made sense……
I believed in my heart Magpie was the victim of a misfit with WSH and would again thrive in Wild Rose Country. Nope. But then again I really didn’t look into it.
Roslovic was healthy scratched in Carolina, respectfully no one has any idea how chemistry will match on ice until on ice.
One down year in Washington doesn’t 100% dictate what the future brings, Mangiapane could flourish in his next destination making both Edmonton and Washington look awful.
Roslo did lead the high-octane Canes with 19 goals scored at 5v5 (6 more than Seth Jarvis) playing 11th most toi/game at 5v5.
Might have been issues, but he can shoot the pill.
He’s a goal scorer.
The rarest of things.
Likely yes, Bowman mentioned when he signed Roslovic that both players were hard targets and he was pleased to have eventually acquired both.
Does he get brought in on the cheap? He wouldn’t be able to give both Mangiapane and Roslovic the contract, it’s good to have multiple hard targets, you’re not going to get them all.
Every team misses on players the organization has to trade Mangiapane for a misfit on another squad that’ll hopefully will be a good fit here. It’s possible both teams can win on a trade.
It’s a valid point. If (for argument’s sake) they both signed July 1st and split their current combined AAVs, Mangi is 100% easier to trade at $2.55M instead of $3.6M.
The best is as soon as he thinks a move needs to be made he will approach any player with any contact- ie it doesn’t work let’s move on in the here and now
Takes a real world perspective, and the right managing skills
In the end the players write their tickets. But why do so many fail with the Oilers?
LT, quoted your excerpt re: DK (GM).
Does his name have an approval filter?
*Went through approval – post below. Thanks LT.
This all day – how are Oilers supposed to get net positive returns if the Oilers coaches / management are not in harmony? This runs back to PC with JP when we got rid of Hall (different but similar – a GM shouldn’t be forcing a coach to run a player, based on handshake agreements -or- clauses in the contract which means they can’t be waived).
“If I’m Daryzl Kat, I’m firing the next general manager who signs a guy on July 1 that the coach doesn’t use. It’s wasteful. I’d much rather see Bowman sign the next Quinn Hutson than the next Andrew Mangiapane. The Ken Holland plan is no plan at all.”
Do you think Edmonton is the only team in the league with this issue?
Not at all.
I’m sure there is fat on most of the teams – but if you are going to tell me Edmonton is on the the “winning” side of the equation – I digress.
Of the true contenders, I would be curious how many are on the plus side of the line rather then negative. For the teams on the negative, are the contracts signed worth the window?
Edmonton seems to be on the plus side compared to most teams in the league.
I think both Stan and KK can be forgiven for thinking there was still a player in Mangiapane. I know I did. Seems a separate category from the Jinner debacle or the poor luck around the Arvi signing.
Still galls to think no Jinner maybe no offer sheets maybe no roster crisis maybe this year they’re peaking (again). Sigh.
I would suggest the luck was earned on a HARD forecheck by Lazar on a mobility and puck-moving challenged giant.
Another night of offensive zone starts that are following the same trend.
3 penalty kills on the night and a mutual major.
1 power play and a mutual major.
Mcdavid 53.8%
Hyman 53.8%
Nuge 46.2%
Savoie 42.9%
Bouchard 33.3%
Nurse 31.3%
Stastney 28.6%
Podkolzin 28.6%
Draisaitl 28.6%
Ekholm 25%
Jones 16.7%
Frederic 14.3%
Stillman 12.5%
Lazar 11.1%
Emberson 11.1%
Roslovic 11.1%
Henrique 9.1%
Janmark 8.3%
A night where Draisaitl wasn’t gifted the offensive zone starts, it aligns with his results.
Can you remind me how these numbers are calculated?
Moving this forward as it could be an important point and Hart (PuckPedia) and J. Francois C. still have differing opinions:
The above was posted early this morning which is true but its not quite the situation – the above says the games played while on regular recall will not count against the energency recall games.
Our situation is the opposite and the question is if the emergency recall games played by Ingram now will count against the regular recall 10 game limit once Ingram is transitioned to regular recall.
Puckpedia says no. JFC says yes (and JFC has provided additional evidence for his opinion, including actual useage, Cory Perry with Montreal).
Thanks for bringing my comment forward. The actual wording of Article 13.5 is below.
I am interpreting item (ii) as stating Ingram is “safe” (his waiver status does not expire after he cleared regular waivers earlier in the season), so long as he doesn’t play 10 or more NHL games while on emergency recall. Then item (ii) comments that any regular recall games do not count towards those 10 or more emergency recall games. The regular recall games are then covered in item (i).
I could be wrong, but the article does appear to be treating the number of games separately depending on the type of recall, which is good for the Oilers. I am sure if we get closer to the 10 games on emergency recall, the Oilers will clarify, but right now for them to do so will cause more questions to them on Jarry’s status.
I would be careful comparing to Perry’s situation with Montreal as there were special rules for taxi squads due to Covid. Also, my caveat is I’m not sure if this article was amended with the last 2 revisions to that CBA. I couldn’t find it referenced in those MOU’s.
13.5 Waiver Expiration. The rights granted under this Article to Loan a Player(s) who is otherwise required to clear Regular Waivers to a minor league club expire for any Player(s) who, after clearing Regular Waivers:
(i) is not Loaned to a minor league club, or is Recalled from a minor league club (except on emergency Recall) and remains on an NHL roster for 74 ARTICLE 13 13.6-13.9 thirty (30) days (cumulative) or plays ten (10) NHL Games (cumulative), or
(ii) is Recalled from a minor league club on emergency Recall and plays in ten (10) NHL Games (cumulative) while on emergency Recall. For purposes of clarity, games played while on regular Recall shall not count towards the ten (10) NHL Games in this subsection (ii).
Thank you for the response, I would, again, note that (ii) clarifies that games on regular recall do not count towards the games while on emergency recall but it does not specify the other way around (i.e games on emergency recall not counting towards regular recall) which is our current situation.
https://x.com/JeanFrancoisCBA/status/2005879612438437937
I hear you and agree it is not specific enough to know for sure. I’m not on X so all I can see is his response with the highlighted provisions. I believe the NHL roster requirement in part (i) is 30 days or 10 NHL games, whichever comes first, so the phrase in brackets “(except on emergency recall)” applies to both the number of days or the number of games. So, part (i) deals with regular recalls and part (ii) deals with emergency recalls, and it doesn’t really matter which order they are in.
My logic is why have 2 separate provisions for each type of recall if they weren’t treated separately, and also, the point of emergency recalls is to not penalize the team or players by doubling up. I’m going to assume the Oilers already know the answer.
Guys, please be aware that respectful, informed disagreement is unacceptable. Please revert to name-calling and character-bashing before posting again.
If Bennett is a lock for the Olympics (per Friedman), it’s based 100% off prior playoffs and Bouchard should be lock as a historic performer and best playoff d-man in the league (for 3 years) – not to mention Bouch is 2nd in d-men points and 60% in 5 on 5 goal share since Nov 1.
Hagel, Wilson, Bennett…. I want them all on there, I know there isnt room. Wilson especially. Wilson has the skill and no one likes to mess with him, the tayclucks will have their heads up with Wilson and Bennet
If this were the Stanley cup playoffs where refs put their whistles where the sun don’t shine, I’d agree with you but the Olympics is different reffing and Bennett and Wilson are much more likely to not get away with their shenanigans, putting their team at a disadvantage.
Their presence might be enough. Wilson is the nuclear deterent.
And he can play good hockey.
What does he need to deter? The Tkachuk brothers running around taking penalties?
Exactly. How many fights do we see at the O’s? Of course you want the most skill, but if those guys won’t play two ways there are too many good teams that will make you pay. And if you’re built for NHL playoffs as said, you will pay in not bringing higher skill; especially if those players don’t have pace
Best to be prepared. You never know what the Tkachuck’s will try to pull off.
The decision making for the Olympics certainly has a lot of vibe to it and not a lot of “who are the best players” to it.
I can understand people being leery of Bouchard based on early season performance, but as you pointed out it ignores his clutch time ability.
Something similar can be said about the lack of buzz for Hyman and what he did in the last 3 years plus playoffs. I don’t think Wilson is better than him by any measure (including physical play, when you subtract bone headed penalties).
Wilson is currently ranked 13th in PIM this season.
His 54 minutes includes 2 fighting majors.
Darnell Nurse has 59
— as an oiler fan and an Olympics “denier” (nhl hockey players improving the prestige of the Olympics and the economics that flow to the gangster cartel IOC and takes away from the sports whose athletic pinnacle is the Olympics. It’s a vanity project for the NHL league to associate themselves with it and a cherry on top for elite wealthy hockey players to play an exhibition tourney and party for a month). I want as small a group of oilers as possible.
— don’t get the fuss that some of “our guys” aren’t being picked. Nothing other than injuries impact our chances of winning Cup by going to Olympics.
Hear, hear. IOC is a horrible organization.
Snowboarding and Skiing (from a freestyle aspect) don’t need Olympics. X Games should be setting the standard. Olympics have wrecked that aspect IMO for these sports.
NHL should just be having their 4 nations tourney every 2 years, world cup of hockey every 4. Hockey doesn’t need the Olympics – lets keep hockey in house.
I can support this take. If it didn’t mean anything to the players (which it really seems to do) I’d be ok if no Oilers went too.
— yeah they get full salary and get to experience the Olympics which dwarfs the sport of hockey and play a half dozen games in 3 weeks and party hard and the adrenaline intensity and playing for an all star team with buddies awesome.
— Most athletes would be all over that
— it’s a vanity thing no down side an easy schedule and they get to hang with other elite athletes which would be cool and capture the glamour if they win for their country.
— I just wish they understood the enrichment that flows from this over the years there have been players who didn’t want to go but they got shamed and silenced.
Is the Cup “our” (fans’) vanity project? Apparently it’s a national pride/athletic prowess project for the players, from what I can tell.
I held a similar view to yours re Four Nations. To me it looked like a too-risky affair, w no significance for what mattered (to me), winning the Cup. Players felt otherwise. After watching, I did too.
I’ll be rooting for Team Canada in a few weeks. My fingers will be crossed that no players I love to watch get hurt.
ps. As for the likes of Bennett, Wilson – while they not always be penalized for what they do, they hurt other players and do not pay a price. Some day, in another galaxy perhaps, hockey players who concuss other hockey players will sit out at least as long as the players they’ve injured. Wilson concussed Chytil months ago and he hasn’t played since. Bennett concussed Stolarz in the playoffs, removing him from further play. Bennett went on to win the Conn Smythe. As a Canadian hockey fan, I do not want these players representing me or my country.
The most questionable forward that keeps appearing on lists is Horvat. He’s having a good season, but he doesn’t move the needle for me. There is nothing that he is vastly better than others at.
Broberg and Parayko are 3rd in the NHL for lowest GAA for D-pairs with over 400 minutes 5v5 together, on a team with essentially the worst GAA in the league, with Binnington having been lousy all year, and Hofer with a catastrophic October (but excellent since then).
The Blues are one team with Broberg and Parayko on the ice (facing the toughest opposition most of the time) and another with them off the ice.
So Parayko’s spot is probably secure, since Canada needs at least one pure shutdown D.
Doubt that they are leaving Doughty at home as he is Crosby on the blue. And Sanheim has a great all around skill set.
Makar.
It becomes basically, Bouchard vs Sanheim or Parayko.
Should we discount the fact the Parayko leaked chances against at the Four Nations.
If you want to talk about with or without, the Oilers were about 60% with Bouch on the ice in November and 35% without…..
I think there is all but zero chance that Bouchard makes this team but it’s also a mistake. He’s been a top 5 d-man in the league since November 1 and has been THE top d-man in the playoffs two years running.
Bouchard is no more likely to make a mistake on a goal against the Harley, Sanehim, Parayko and probably even Doughty and Toews.
xGA/60
Broberg- Parayko 2.13
Ekholm – Bouchard 2.95
Parayko, playing with a much more inexperienced partner, is producing superior results in a shutdown role on a poor team.
Toews – Makar 2.88 (xGF/60 3.61)
Anderson – Doughty 2.22
Sanheim – York 2.19
It’s very likely Toews/Makar play 25+ minutes in primarily offensive roles while the other two pairs will be deployed in more defensive situations.
Based on this seasons results, Parayko and Doughty are more suited to those roles.
https://moneypuck.com/lines.htm
Jets out-Oilered the Oilers last night:
1.D + G brainfarts to gift a weak goal
2.ex-Jet player scoring the winner
3.out-goalered by the backup’s backup
4.gave up an ENG
and I loved every odd streamed minute.
Prospectury!
The heat goes on for Tommy Lafreniere as he is tied for 4th in Dub goals. With 24 goals, he has matched last year’s output in exactly half the GP.
David Lewandowski is neither a tumbler nor a government man, but he is in action for Deutschland at the WJHC once again. With 3 losses, the Germans are at risk of going to the relegation round. A win over the also-winless Swiss would be helpful.
Germany (Lewandowski) @ 11 a.m.
Kamloops (Lafreniere) @ 8 p.m.
Both times, as usual, are Gift Lake time.
As a goalie myself, and the father of two goalies – I think you risk angering the ones you have by keeping too many, plus you’re hindering the development of at least one.
Obviously, since NHL spots are limited – the teams have leverage but unless injuries are a recurring problem – you send one to the minors and risk them getting an nhl opportunity elsewhere
I think that they should make it so teams can carry 3 established NHL level goalies. The position is too important to restrict it. Do this by making a cap consideration for a paid goalie in the AHL above the regular cutoff for burying contracts
They could enhance the goalie pipeline for developing goalies by fixing the league below the A. IE pay them better so it’s worthwhile to take the chance, and train them better, leaving one main goalie spot in the A for a developing goalie and one for an NHL established depth. Essentially a more structured tier system like Euro soccer
Teams losing seasons bcs their two get hurt and there is not enough depth is silly. NFL teams might not win with their third string QB, but at least they don’t have to use a guy with no or little experience at all or is clearly not good enough for the league
There is a shortage of jobs for NHL goalies guys will be #3 if it pays well enough
i grant that I am biased for goalies for personal reasons. I see many double standards they are subjected to despite being the most important position regardless of the sport.
we would not be cool with a legit D or F sitting in the press box for a lengthy time. Thus, let’s not apply a different standard for goalies
Issue being that from the get go, goalies knew there was 1 goalie playing a night. While forwards and D knew there were 12 or 6. To be shocked a goalie is sitting in the press box and when if they were not the clear number 1 then at best it was a 50/50 chance of playing is silly.
The only thing silly is how you framed it. The issue is ensuring your goalies are getting max development whether they’re a starter or not. They already realized that the specific nature of their position is limiting.
one thing I’ve noticed in non professional sports? Lots of teams looking for a goalie. There’s numerous reasons for that
There is not enough practice icetime to carry three goalies. The NHLPA does not want competent goalies sitting in the pressbox when they should be playing in the NHL somewhere.
There are not enough actual NHL goaltenders for competent ones to be sitting in the press box.
My thought was that #3 is in the A but getting paid NHL money, an exception from skaters
A more structured and mature approach as other leagues do. The second and third spots in the A are for development. It’s silly to not allow teams to carry enough quality depth based on the cap, its detrimental to the league
Offside, what is it like being the parent of 2 goalies?
I was a goalie SW Edmonton growing up, my parents “rented” equipment from the organization for me to use (chest protector, pads, glove/blocker) until I was about 14-15, then we had to go and buy (see you later summer job money!).
This was back in 2005 era, where costs were more palatable. Did I ever have supportive parents growing up to support myself and my brothers endeavors (lucky) – we were definitely a middle class family.
Do organizations in Edmonton still support? I can only assume equipment and registration costs for rec hockey (or club) are astronomical these days.
Both kids played goal in hockey and soccer but quickly chose soccer as main sport (thankfully!). In both cases, for both sports – the club covered goalie specific expenses. In hockey, the club provided pads, gloves, chest protectors while soccer gave a set amount per year to buy your own. For hockey I can’t definitely say if it continues for all youth years but anecdotally I heard it does.
my oldest plays university and when he was u15 there were maybe 15 teams in a division. My youngest (u13) has about 45 teams per age group. I can tell you that the explosion of soccer has not led to explosion in goalies. Many teams are desperate.
I can also tell you that university coaches lack of understanding the goalie position is shockingly bad in terms of understanding development. A lot of university teams just reach out overseas to Canadians in their 20’s or 30’s playing lower level pro in Europe who aren’t really interested in education – just getting on the usports or league 1 radar
Interesting info on the soccer side and university side for hockey.
Happy to see organizations still support young goalies with hockey equipment.
Either way, sounds like you are a supportive parent. You are a good parent and I’ll give credit where it is due!
Thanks. Being a goalie dad is more work cuz you have team practices plus goalie specific training. Both hockey and soccer provided extra GK training of some sort but it’s still more time and work. It’s also stressful cuz if there is just one kid out there who is better and joins the team then you’re no longer a starter. You can’t just switch from C to W for example.
Hockey clubs really need to find ways to lower costs for all cuz it’s pricing itself out of the market for vast youth. I’m middle class too so $$ was a reason I’m glad they picked soccer. But also for opportunity. I know this is a hockey blog but there’s tons more opportunities world wide to play lower level pro and make a small living in other countries with soccer than hockey.
that being said, I’d say soccer politics – even amongst youth is worse than hockey politics 🙂
It’s pretty troubling that our national sport is out of reach for most Canadians. So much for the days of most kids (including future NHLers) learning to play on the town outdoor rink.
“…and the heat goes on…”
Great song. Great album.
ps. I remember that 3-goalie Habs season. Three decent goalies some Habs fans loved to hate, because they weren’t “stealing games” (the Habs had no business winning). The Skinner-hate here triggers those memories. The upside then was Dryden won his battle w Pollock and returned to help a much tighter Habs win many more Cups. The upside now is… maybe Stastney does more than fill Kulack’s skates in the playoffs? Still boggled that SB didn’t “keep his powder dry” until the team got its sh*t together in front of whomever was in net.
The eye test in Stastney do not line up with recent on-ice numbers, likely complete opposites.
I do not think it’s Nurse cratering numbers, Nurse is playing well as is Stastney, by eye.
What is happening?
It’s the forwards.
Leon’s line is cold at 5v5 since the Toronto game and the 3rd line is where offense goes to die.
Leon has started cheating to jump start things. Backpasses at the blueline turning in chances and shots against. Rico’s line has been getting its head kicked in since well forever.
Leon’s suffering from another Decemberist episode.
Happens to the best of us.
Inexcusable for a man that goes home to the balanced photo every night lol
I worry about how Nuge will do in his fight in 3 years and 35 years of age. Every three years:
2011
2014
2017
2020
2023
2026 (almost)
He will of course continue his dominance to get to 7 – 0!
He will choose his combatant wisely.
I thought Curtis Lazar was excellent in his role last night. He caused the first goal and brought energy and solid minutes all night long (in his 8 minutes).
Yes, he was very noticeable every shift – in good ways. Ate some crow last night as I was reminded that I had said at the signing that he was not even fit for the Condors. Looks like a good playoff 4th liner to me now.
Me too. I was critical of it and he’s filled the role nicely. I would have preferred Philp, but injuries are a thing and am happy old Mudcrutch picked him up. Hopefully he gets a few more NHL reps.
He may have had a bounce cat after the Oilers seemingly picking him over Philip. Lazar upped his game and he sill has a job. Philp wasn’t given the greatest opportunity but when it comes to players on the fence usually coaches go with the veteran over a tweener.
Goes to show how much can get done in a short amount of time.
No I haven’t minded him at all
Nice to see Picard bring out his inner Dominic Haasek .
The Jets played a let’s keep the Oilers to the outside game. When teams play that against Edmonton it is exactly when you need the banger go to the net guys like a Jones who scored ( Jones has been the best we have seen from him in this last stint here. )
The Nuginator. Great tilt.
The Mangiapanne situation will see him leaving for sure. Will it be a fast exit or prolong.
The ball seems to be in his agents court to bring ( hopefully) a team or a few to the table to make a deal. Ideally they could ship him out for a draft pick period to free up that $, or in a package of some sort that brings back a legite 3rd line Cman, tougher stay at home D , or a bottom six tougher forward. If I had to bet, I would think the other team may want to send a struggling forward back as well. As an example Toronto sends Macelli back for him .
But if he doesn’t want to be here, don’t play him anymore and get this done ASAP.
Should be interesting to see what happens here. Hope something is done in the next few days
When a team tells a player’s agent go trade yourself, that kind of says there’s no market for you so I’m not gonna waste my time. As great as a speedy resolution with complete removal of his cap hit would be I dont think we’re gonna see that
You could be right
Lucic traded himself. Mangiapane agent is trying to sell his player before this gets messy. I wonder what happened it’s escalated too quickly? I would say there was a disagreement that Andrew has and by the sounds of it lost or had enough himself.
That’s kind of my point. Lucic traded himself for a cap dump. There was no market for him, and there’s no market for Mangi. We gonna have to take cap dump back
I though Holland took credit for that transaction..
Trading one bad contract for another.
Are you really that naive to think holland had anything to do with Lucic trade besides okaying it.
The mangy team wants out badly it’s up to his agent sell his player because teams aren’t lining up for a entitled 10 goal scorer. K.K gave him plenty of opportunities he pissed them away either he’s lost more than a step or it’s effort and if it’s number 2 than I can see why this has become instant drama. Maybe that Saturday Night tribute to him where they made him out to be this typical extra hard working Maritimer that fought his way to the top went to his head.
Does McDavid come in exactly in line or does he have something a bit special in Game 41 to push beyond?
https://lowetide.ca/2025/12/10/thats-entertainment/#comment-1391837
“Does 68-70 total points before we ring in the new year sound about right? He’s got 11 games left so this would be 2.18 – 2.32 ppg. 7 of those teams on the lower end of league average in GA. 8 if you count Winnipeg, they are falling fast with Helly out.
Will MacKinnon keep pace with that or does McDavid slowly reel him in? MacKinnon’s got 9 games left and McDavid has been running just a bit hotter in the last 30 days. Colorado plays some stingy teams but also some laughers.
Should be a fun race.”
I don’t know if replacing your goalering tandem for a 2nd round pick far off into the future and dumping two expiring cap hits that are having bad years should be considered a high cost
I agree 100%. I am not sure where this narrative came from that Bowman spent a high cost to get Jarry. Kulak was a salary dump as he was proving to be no longer effective. Yes, there was no retention on Jarry, but his AAV is the going rate for a league-average starter. Jarry wasn’t a distressed asset, yes he had a down year last year but it was a muIti-year decline. If anything, Bowman is perhaps due some credit in identifying a decaying asset and moving while there was/is still some perceived value.
There is a decent chance that this trade is subject to some revisionist history this summer, once time has produced more clarity (and results) for everyone.
Depends how you look at it.
Many outside observers were surprised by the lack of retention on the Jarry contract as well as the return of the second round pick.
Forget about the players for a minute. Just think about the contracts themselves.
Pittsburgh placed Jarry on waivers last year and there were no takers. He has a buyout-proof contract with two years left running at $5.38 m cap. Goalie performance is highly volatile and unpredictable.
If Jarry falters, there is no escape hatch, just dead cap space. He has signing bonuses on contract and a buyout cap hit is over $4m.
Kulak is having a down year and has lost a step. Still he has an expiring contract and playoff experience. He likely gets flipped at deadline for a pick, possibly with retention.
Skinner also has an expiring contract. He could foreseeable get moved for a pick at deadline too.
In other words, Dubas traded a risky contract (the over 30 years) on an injury prone goalie with high variance performance, for two expired contracts that can be sold at the deadline.
The Oilers gave up optionality in the trade. Jarry could be the best player in the trade, but the Oilers took on all of the risk.
Smart teams pay a premium in assets to avoid contract risk at goalie position.
Blackwood has a fair bit more term than you usually see on an Avalanche goalie, but his contract has a $1.75m buyout cap hit next year.
There is some potential for the Oilers to be spending close to $7 million on goaltending next season without having one under an NHL contract.
This is made up bullshit as there is zero chance that Tristan Jarry is being bought out this offseason.
Good Grief.
If the Jarry contract is a “risky contract” then half the contracts in the league are.
You speak of waivers and him clearing last year. That is correct but that was then and this is now. In the here and now, Jarry has proven that his poor season last year was a one-off. He was a top 10-12 goalie for the 5 years before and the year after (this year) that off-year.
He is 100% worth his cap hit and it provides cost certainty for a 1A goalie for 2 years beyond this one.
Gustav Forsling was on waivers.
Before moving to Florida, it was universally accepted that Bobrovsky had the worst contract in the league.
Things change and things are not the same with Jarry as they were a year ago.
Goalie contracts are uniquely risky — most teams can only carry two goalies, you can’t shelter them or move them down to the 4th line. You have to have two who can play.
This isn’t about whether Tristan Jarry is “good” or whether he can rebound. It’s about how teams price variance at the goalie position.
When a goalie contract is buyout-proof, essentially all of the downside risk is concentrated with the acquiring team.
Jarry may very well outperform the deal. The point is that Edmonton assumed almost all of the contract risk, while Pittsburgh regained deadline optionality. That’s why some people were surprised by both the return and the lack of retention.
On the performance history: calling him a “top-10–12 goalie for five years” is generous. He was clearly above league average in 2019–20 (.921 vs .910 league) and 2021–22 (.919 vs .907). Since then it’s been roughly league average, then below average, followed by waiver exposure.
Those strong seasons weren’t imaginary — but they were also a while ago. Recent performance distribution is what drives contract risk, not peak outcomes further back.
Out with a groin injury after only playing 17 games this season.
Only 36 NHL games last season.
.887/3.08 GAA with the Oilers this season.
.893/3.09 GAA with Pittsburgh last season.
Looks pretty much the same to me.
Superb, balanced post Ryan.
I’m really baffled how Bowman can find four or five kids out of nowhere who have instantly become legit prospects, while also signing boat anchors like Mangiapane and Frederic. Mangiapane was playing on the fourth line in Washington. There was lots of information out there. It literally took me five minutes to discover he was playing about 11 minutes a game in the playoffs, amongst the lowest TOI on the team
Different types of minds needed to scout different player types and stages of careers.
You also need the Coach to get on board or get him out too.
If you can screw up your GM gifting you Jeff Skinner and have no idea/refuse to use him…I don’t want you coaching a hockey team.
Jeff Skinner has 4 goals and 3 assists in 26 games playing 12:28 a night, San Jose is wasting this sublime talent.
They’re wasting Vinnie Desharnais too, 2 apples in 20 games playing 16 minutes.
OMG wasting such subline talent in San Jose.
Wasn’t Carolina scratching Roslovic altogether?
If Roslovic can find open ice he will score with one of the best shots on the team. The problem with Roslovic is when he disappears it’s for long periods. I do like Roslovic but I would not back-up the brinks truck. In fact he’s the perfect pump and dump player. I miss the days of a wheeling and dealing bossman. All I know is it’s a disgrace Leon-Connor-Bouchard or fed to the Wolves with zero push back.
No one wants a 3 headed goalie monster but with Jarry having a wonky groin this year and Carolina having the least durable goalies in history, Hart falling apart in Vegas I sure don’t expose any goaler to waivers. I know cap space might make it prohibitive but unless Jarry is ready to go soon might as well give him until after the Olympic break to heal up
Still lots of chatter about Fleury as well. They definitely don’t have to rush Jarry back with these 2 guys playing well. So don’t and if this has anything to do his earlier injury this year (Some have speculated a groin) definitely do not rush him back
Pickard is just as good as whatever Fleury would bring. At least we know what Pickard brings.
Oilers first in the Pacific – amazing accomplishment from the depths of early November.
VGK
ANA
LAK
Winning the division is in the hands (on the sticks?) of the Oilers, which is all that a sports team can ask. Oilers with no eastern-conference travel left and a lighter schedule left. Win the head-to-head games and the division most likely is theirs!
GOG
Who and where you play also makes a difference.
For example, from now to the end if January:
EDM
Home 12
Road 4
VGK
Home 8
Road 9
LAK
Home 8
Road 7
ANA
Home 5
Road 10
The Oilers will now reap the benefit of playing an eastern/road heavy schedule early.
In fact, they have a 2 week stretch in late January/early February where they play 8 straight games at home.
On the flip side, Vegas has a January schedule that sees them play 13 games against teams who are currently not in the playoffs and only 4 against playoff teams.
Anaheim has a particularly tough schedule with 10 games against playoff teams and a ton of games on the road where they have been mediocre. They will likely fade.
So now Anaheim will fade. Glad you came around.
My theory on the July 1st series of failures is twofold.
First, the iteration of management still suffers (as have all management teams in Edmonton) from “smartest guys in the room” syndrome. It’s a stench, or a curse, left from the 80s.
Second, this iteration of management still suffers (as have all management teams in Edmonton) from “no one wants to play in Edmonton without incentives” syndrome. Despite going to two consecutive finals, and being a perennial playoff team, management gives out NTCs, NMCs, term, and money that simply aren’t necessary.
I have been proved wrong by many of the signings. I panned the Hyman signing, was fine with taking flyers on Arvidsson and Skinner, and didn’t mind Mangiapane despite not liking the contract. Those poor takes I own.
I don’t think anyone liked the Frederic contract, and certainly no one will defend it. It just seems like so many of the moves smell of desperation when they shouldn’t. The Oilers are known as a good organization, with good perks, and a in a great hockey market.
Why can’t management leverage that?
This is an excellent post. You always bring intelligent views, but this is top drawer.
Not a word out of place.
if I might add, the Oilers also have a habit of paying for intangibles like leadership or grit. In particular, they pay for past physicality at the exact point the aging curve turns hostile—and then end up locking in the downside.
When you see a guy like Adam Klapka running your show, take a look at his age and contract status.
Kostin was a smart addition. Physically with no downside.
— to be fair McD seemingly had a foot out the door July 1. So not as slam dunk. If McD wasn’t ready to sign a premium could be warranted IM
— that long huddle was a problem this off season in terms of roster construction and was selfish imo. Obviously the contract wasn’t but imagine he announced that July 1 how the free agency might have been a lot better
— This team without McD goes nowhere fast cellar dweller
Great win last night, though I missed all of it due to family being here.
There are times like now where I miss the people who posted here regularly ten years ago. What I wouldn’t give to have some of them dig into why the top lines thrive but the bottom ones crater. I’m sure it goes beyond personnel too. My question is if 97 & 29 actually suppress effectiveness on the other lines in two ways. First, the coaching is built around them, meaning coaches only want the bottom lines not to give up anything until the big dogs can come back & score again, or the PP can do its thing. This means PP1 plays 1:30 min of each PP, while the second unit never goes out, and the bottom lines are playing a conservative, button down style at odds with what happens in the ret of the game. Basically, they provide momentum to the opponent which the top line has to claw back.
Secondly, for the players I wonder how much of their play is hampered by waiting for the top lines to score, consciously or unconsciously, which me tally takes them off the hook for their minutes. Basically, thinking “well, that shift wasn’t great, but then Connor came on & lit them up on the next shift. I’ll do better next time, I’m sure.”
This is me spit balling, with no numbers to back it up, but there’s some weird psychology that has run through several coaching regimes & player combinations the last 10 years. I don’t know that it is enough to always blame it on personnel, though the early years it certainly was more prevalent.
I’m not a top mind from decades past, nor even a top mind from the here and now.
But to riff on a thought you already posted about secondary psyche:
Our team has, more than any other perhaps, 2 classes of player. We have the top dogs that are generational talents, and the few that have figured out how to compliment them (nuge, hyman, Podkolzin, maybe Roslovic), and we have the bottom 6. We obviously cannot afford to get a super charged bottom 6.
Now our top 6 have skills far beyond our top 6. It’s almost like we require 2 different identities. I don’t think our Bottom six can play the same way as our top 6. Bottom 6 needs a separate identity and separate game plan. It’s like we need to coach 2 different teams, due to the vast differences in skills.
Anyway I wondered if this differential in skill makes it difficult to coach for those reasons.
Certainly makes teaching in a classroom more difficult when the skill differential is very high
Just my thoughts.
Just your thoughts are pretty good thoughts
Jarry was not high cost in the least.
An NHL goaltender for an AHL goaltender is a win eight days a week.
And kulak’s wheels fell off this year.
I don’t think Stu will be in the NHL next year. He’s not a good goalie.
I do expect to keep reading that the Oilers were one of the most uniquely inept teams defensively and that’s what torpedoed Stu’s career.
Stu will be battling it out with koskinen for the starters net in 2 years.
Stu needs to sign in a non hockey market, where he can enjoy life and hockey.
Connor Ingram better than Carter Hart in the AHL and Connor Ingram better than Carter Hart in the NHL this season to this point.
January 22, 1973, “The Sunshine Showdown”.
“Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier!”
December 29, 2025, “The Blizzard Battle”
“Down goes Pionk! Down goes Pionk! Down goes Pionk!”
Long live the Nuge! He’s a beauty!
Nuge (the most interesting man in the world) probably: ‘I may not fight very often, but when I do, I always win – stay thirsty my friends!
Chuck Norris quit playing hockey as a child, for he knew that path would one day lead him to the Nuge.
Chuck Norris is 85 years old.
And you don’t think he would still be playing in the NHL??????
C’mon man!
He probably decided he was going to be a martial artist and actor at a young age. Hockey was never in the picture, so NO.
Lt. Not sure if your comment on the top two lines is in reference to the season or last night? If the former fair enough perhaps (Connor is still not a consistent 200 foot player) if the latter I can’t agree. It pains me greatly but this edition of the oilers is looking more like the 2010’s sharks than the early 1980 oilers. I hope to be proven wrong
What evidence do you have to support this other than vibes?
Support what? The sharks analogy? Two lost cup finals and two other deep runs where they couldn’t get over the hump. No one would like to see them get to the promised land more than me (other than perhaps my 15 year old son who has been heartbroken by the close calls) but at some point you develop a history. Star players and coaches should not be beyond criticism if your truly committed to winning.
As you have said in the past
Can’t run 3 goalies LowTide, for reason that may differ from the norm
As you say Tristan Jarry came at significant cost. There is little in the cupboard, so getting something for I would assume Pickard when Jarry gets back is Paramount. There is this city in Ontario that is without their starter at the moment.
I wonder. There are a lot of goalie injuries this year, to my mind. Compressed schedule etc may be the reason. The Oilers have added to that probability by trading for two goalies with histories of hurt. Might be best to play it safe. Unless the AHL guys are pushing hard.
— first game in awhile (this season?) where we won and had no business doing so but goalie bailed us out.
— watched a bit on Amazon prime while on vacay: they did a good job IMO
— the distribution, consumption and economics of sports going forward is fascinating. The Global tech firms vs the old school tv stations is an opportunity to really disrupt sport (and 10x the valuations and salaries)
I would say the 2-0 win vs the Rangers early this season was a goalie steal but it’s always ‘what have you done for me lately’ when it comes to goalies.
Edit – that’s not a comment at you for wondering if it happened this season, just a general comment around the volatility and recency of the position.
How could we forget the Rangers hitting 4 posts and the great Sam Carrick stymied on a couple of breakaways. I’ll never forget the parade down Jasper Ave the following day for the heroics displayed by Skinner that night.
Similar to a Saturday night against the flames….
My goodness, you are really going to bash others for getting excited about a performance? In that last two weeks you have flipped from (1) Pickard going on a run and signing him to a 2-year deal, to (2) Ingram needing a 2-year deal and Jarry/Ingram going to win us 2-3 cups to (3) back to being on the Pickard train.
I admit to nothing beyond an attaboy.
— no worries : so one goalie “steal game” every 20 for oil.
— It’s not a stat but I wonder what the “goalie steal rate” would be in a season on average : 8-10 games? And similar “goalie lost the game”
There is a site that tracks stolen wins & lost games for goalies based on being out-shot, out-chanced, etc. (and vice versa for the lost games). I used it last season and haven’t been able to find it again this season. I’ll post it if/when I find it.
The site I was thinking of is Dobber Hockey Home – Frozen Tools. Their Clutch report gives steals per goalie. Per their metrics (goals saved above expected > margin of victory), Oilers goalies have stolen 3 games this season: Picks last night and Stu on Oct 14 vs NYR and on Nov 14 vs PHI. So every 13 games on average. Taking all goalie steals over GP results in league average of 7.7. I’d be careful comparing to that average given some teams need more games stolen than others.
Also, for what they call Preventable Losses (goals saved below expected exceeds the margin of deficit), each of Stu and Picks have 2 (Oct 25 vs SEA & Dec 9 vs BUF for Stu and Oct 26 vs VAN & Nov 13 vs CBJ for Picks). So 1 for every 10 on average. Taking all goalie preventable losses over GP results in league average of 13.4.
There’s also comparisons of QS (quality starts) & RBB (really bad starts). Picks this season has a QS% of 21.4% (3 games) and RBS% of 35.7% (5 games). Stu with the Oilers had a QS% of 43.5% (10 games) and RBS% of 21.7% (5 games).
It’s kind of a fascinating site, lots of reports to pull for teams, skaters & goalies.
I think Skinner has one true steal earlier this year – can’t remember which game but I think there was a legit steal.
I caught the AM broadcast while on the road, and the Amazon play by play on the NHL highlights package.
The CHED broadcast resembles a transistor radio’s complexity compared to a cloud computing server farm when stacked up beside Amazon’s production quality.
Amazon is a new disruptor in the market, and so far I’ve liked their product. Hope it kicks the legacy broadcasters (TV and radio alike) into high gear, because their work has been stale for longer than a decade.
Just spit balling here but if Unger keeps up his progress in the AHL could we see SB trade Jarry and maybe get another AHL eligible back up in return ? And of course save some cap space.
No.
Jarry is their locked in, top 10-12 NHL starter, at a solid cap price for the next two years which should still be prime years.
Based on its title, I was sure today’s blog was going to be about Kelly Buchberger.
Agreed on the J 1 fellas. Whatever the big brains have dialed in on in their room full of screens needs some tweaking. Either that or the coaches need a tweak in their system and usage that gets the whole squad into fray
They aren’t signing players with too little on the ability side as they once did. Arvi shows that it’s not that they are done as players in every case, they get back closer to norms. Perhaps they misread Mangi and he’s not able to recover his game with another chance
Or it’s that they aren’t always doing due diligence about where the player is at off the ice. They have with Ingram and Stastney, but outside of obvious known issues what about if a player is struggling but not yet dealt with it, or has had a kid or kids are old enough to watch games and a formerly edgy player doesn’t want to play like that anymore?
The stakes are big in Oil Country, have to know about everything possible