The Oilers lost 6-2 to the Boston Bruins last night, with a 5-2 run at five-on-five. You never like to see a loss on a night when Connor McDavid is flying, but luck was in Edmonton’s corner in Game 40. The problem is another strong month like December is unlikely because the Oilers are inconsistent. Ceiling to floor is a wonder of the world.
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) 0-1-0
- Expected Record: 9-3-3, 21 points in 15 games
- Actual Record: 9-5-1, 19 points in 15 games
- Season Record: 20-15-6, 46 points in 41 games
The coaching staff has some decisions to make about the third and fourth lines. That’s the message from last night, suspect all will agree. I’m not going to do the lines and pairings today, they are here.
I want to talk about the Oilers problem that needs to be fixed as soon as possible. The issue is five-on-five outscoring. Here is December (with overall in brackets) five-on-five, per line:
- 97 and 29 5-6, 46 pct (14-14, 50 pct)
- Connor McDavid 11-6, 65 pct (23-22, 51 pct)
- Leon Draisaitl 9-7, 56 pct (25-16, 61 pct)
- Adam Henrique 3-7, 30 pct (10-21, 32 pct)
- The rest 3-3, 50 pct (9-22, 29 pct)
The Henrique line might have success as a fourth line, but the third trio is a mess. Coach Kris Knoblauch doesn’t want to mess with the top two line, and those December numbers are quality for the McDavid and Draisaitl units. However, the hard work of the kings and aces are being surrendered when the 6’s and 7’s and 9’s arrive.
The Andrew Mangiapane trade value wasn’t helped by his efforts last night. He did deliver a HDSC but played just 7:31 at five-on-five; 4:28 of those minutes with Leon. Matt Savoie played just 8:10 at five-on-five, you always worry when that happens.
Connor Ingram had some tough moments but I don’t believe the Oilers were ever really close at five-on-five.
The Matt Savoie worry is reaching new heights in this house. Very much like the player, but he’s currently at .75 points-60 at five-on-five. No small sample either, this is 480 minutes of hockey. Among the goup who have played 480+ minutes this season, Savoie ranks No. 238 of 246. The reak kick in the ass? Henrique is 243rd and Frederic 245th! Maybe recall Quinn Hutson.
Ladies and Gentlemen your starting Goalie for team Canada Jordan Binnington.
2025-26 Goalie Stats:
Goalie #1
GP: 24, 7W/10L/6OT
SV%: 0.869
GAA: 3.56
GSAA: -16.71
GSAx: -16.07
Goalie #2
GP: 23, 11W/8L/4OT
SV%: 0.891
GAA: 2.83
GSAA: -4.98
GSAx: 7.69
Goalie #3
GP: 29, 15W/11L/3OT
SV%: 0.913
GAA: 2.39
GSAA: 12.31
GSAx: 29.8
Goalie #4
GP: 24, 10W/7L/6OT
SV%: 0.913
GAA: 2.27
GSAA: 11.72
GSAx: 15.78
Who do you choose as starter for Team Canada?
Thompson
I’ll go for Door #3, because I’m a sucker for the GSAx and WIN stats.
I can’t choose any.
MAF hasn’t played yet this year, is this some sort of trick?
Don’t you understand he’s showing up off the top ropes for Olympic gold and SCF cup game?
Man, 2026 is coming up the winter of George!!!
Not joking aside, Blackwood #4?
I would go with Binnington he seems to be able to turn it on when it matters. In a short tournament I would go with him until he has a stinker game then it’s a toss up who to go with. I was hoping for 2 Playoff runs with Jordan over the 3 we’re going to give Jarry who I always thought was alright but nothing special. There has to be bad blood with Armstrong so I never took the Binnington rumours very serious. I wonder how close they were to Fleury and why the Jarry deal took so long after the rumours the previous fortnight.
If this thinking was prevalent Bouchard would be on the team!
Goalie #1: Binnington
Goalie #2: Skinner
Goalie #3: Thompson
Goalie #4: Kuemper
just watched Corey Perry get his third point of the night against the Lightning, second coming of Gordie Howe?
He’s big and he goes to the net the D don’t know what to do as you can barely touch a player without getting a penalty nowadays. This is easy money for Perry who still has the drive and the hands. He won’t make it to 500 but he’s going to come damn close.
Yesterday, Bowman did say to Stauff on-air that they will be looking in to getting the Stastney contract done soon.
I anticipate a similar deal to Emberson’s?
Went to the Victoria-Calgary game this afternoon. I went in maybe cheering a bit more for Victoria. But Calgary carried the majority of the game. Neither team had any really dramatically stand-out players. In the end Victoria won in overtime.
Dach, Ng, Maze and Aura caught my eye on the Calgary team.
The oilers fun/ 60 has to be among tge lowest in the league. We definitely have the serious focused leaders but no fun guys.
When Kostin came in he was a leader in that kassian too. We’ve lost a lot of that in the past 2 years.
This is a good point. A little more emotion would lift all the players up and get the comraderie going. Mcda it and Draisaitl rarely celebrate when they score. Ovie has scored more goals than anyone ever and I’m pretty sure he celebrated every damn one!
Give me one good reason that’s Max Jones going to Bako and not Mangi?
Cap hit. Can only bury $1.15M. The rest counts against the cap whether he is up or down. Need to trade Mangi.
But by sending down jones you’re only clearing 1m. So by sending Mangi down, yes some money would still count towards the cap, but you’re clearing 1.15m.
Or am I not understanding cap implications correctly?
You are correct.
Waiving Mangiapane and sending him down will make it impossible to divest of the contract clean. The Oilers need the cap space but the transaction may take a while – the hope has to be that he can find some on-ice positive impact to help the team and the team’s ability to move him.
Thanks OP, that’s fair I guess.
I just think that there are other players in th AHL who would provide more than what Mangi does. And who knows, maybe he lights up the A and returns with some confidence.
I like Savoie but maintain he looked before off the start of the year where he was more of a buzzsaw compared to now when he looks tentative, not moving his feet enough, and with lots of plays dying with him. Along with Frederic, needs a reset so I’d swap him for Hutson or Howard
Yeah that’s my take too. Just a little reset to get his confidence back.
Long term I don’t think the oil can have savoie/ Hudson/ Howard / mang all on the roster.
Just two. Mang will be gone then one of the other two. I don’t think Howard or Hudson like Savoie will have much success playing with Henrique.
If one of those two come up I hope Samanski comes with them. Then give them Podz as well on a line.
If they play with Henrique I think we know the outcome.
I know roster spots won’t allow it, but I agree bringing up the whole line would be fun to watch and a better bet than our current bottom 6
https://www.espn.com/nhl/player/gamelog/_/id/5080153/matt-savoie
Savoie splits by month.
2 points in Oct
5 points in Nov
6 points in Dec
I will take the contrarian view. Savoie is getting better.
He needs to play with a C who can create some offence at EV. That person is not Henrique, who at this point is not a bonafide 3C.
Good point. Thanks for posting it.
Savoie is not putting up numbers but is playing the right way to contribute. The 3rd line has been a black hole & needs a centre who can contribute offensively, plus wingers who play the right way.
Also, I’m with the others here who think Hutson could come and help more than a few others on the team.
He is also tied for the forward lead in PK TOI/G (well, one second less than Rico) – 4 on 5 PK.
Matt Savoie’s production with the players who contributed on the goals by jersey number:
Oct. PPG 19/29, OT 4v3 PPA 96/14
Nov. 5v5A 97/2, 3v3A 28, 5v5G 2/97, ENG with 14/13, 5v5A with 97/28.
Dec. SHG 2/19, PPG 14/19, 5v5G 14/92, 5v5A 92/29, 5v5G 75/13, PPA 28/19
I know that’s a block of hard to read text but there’s 4 second unit PP goals(including one in OT), 1 shorthanded goal and 1 OT assist. Savoie is contributing on special teams and the rare OT opportunities.
Savoie produced with 97, 29, 28, 2, 14, 92, 13 and 19. Matt only produces with Henrique on special teams and no other bottom 6 forwards have contributed to Savoie’s production.
My opinion is that Savoie is given a limited amount of rope by the coach and he’s done okay. I feel he’s being treated like Holloway and not trusted enough to fully establish himself in a top 6 scoring role.
Here’s Mangiapne’s production for comparison:
Oct: 5v5G 97/93, 5v5G, ENA 19,97, 5v5G 25/97 (4 pts)
Nov: 5v5G 93/97, 5v5A 97/93, 5v5A 28/29, 5v5A 86/13, 5v5A 29/49 (5 pts)
Dec: 5v5A 13, 5v5G 29/2 (2 pts)
Mangi has 11pts and Savoie has 13 pts but my feeling is Mangiapane has had more TOI with 29/97. Can someone confirm?
Savoie is playing the right way to stay in the lineup. Now just give him two exciting , preferably young big fast cheap linemates.
For a under sized forward Savoie better start scoring or he’s going to be wandering the desert like Podkolzin was. The only thing keeping Savoie in the line-up is his penalty killing. Buffalo might of pulled a fast one on us.
Random aside finally looked at clear sights analytic site. While they obviously don’t have much in way of publically available data.
One anamoly i noticed as interesting is how bottom feeding level their “team for +/- scoring chances” and “team +/- shooting percentage” are for both pacific division “up & coming” teams of san jose and anaheim.
They are right at the very bottom of league.
Team +/- scoring chances
1. COL @3.06
2. VGK @ 2.71
3.EDM @ 2 52
30. ANH@ -2.39
31st tie CHI & SJS @ -2.95
Team +/- shooting %
1. WPG @ 5.3%
4. LAK @ 2.7%
28. ANH @ -2.0%
30. SJS@-2.6%
-> oilers have 6 left vs “weaker than someone might wish to ignore w/ 2 remaining vs ducks and 4 vs sharks(1 GP and 2 points earned)
-> vegas have 1 remaining vs each (5 GP and 8 points earned presently)
-> kings have 3 remaining (4 gp and 6 points earned)
Objects in the pacific mirror may be further than they seem
Last night is a perfect encapsulation of why Evan Bouchard is evaluated so wildly differently. Elgin below posts that he had “just a terrible night”. I’ve seen and heard lots of downbeats about his game and I too felt he wasn’t his sharpest.
But he ended up 11-1 in high danger scoring chances for/against at evens.
https://youtu.be/zj3IZU_OWz0?si=GFbiK9iAXak1hkrp
Internal dj tossed this on instantly when i read your comment. I’ve been making an effort to just embrace this gift of eternal on que on point topically theme music and share it more.
Reminds me of the sage observation:
— LT
Thing about stats is while they are typically empirically true, they fail to convey the context of the moment in which they occur.
Evan’s blunders often have an outsized imprint on people’s minds and all the fine work he does in the aggregate gets overlooked.
Hard to shake first impressions, even for seasoned hockey men.
Evan had just spent a day dealing with not getting picked to the olympic team and having some old slow grey beards like Doughty picked ahead of hime . I would also have trouble getting up for the game.
I would have the opposite reaction — a chip on my shoulder, and fire in my belly.
And he may in week or so ,Each person handles set backs differently .I would probably be like you .
Positive note:
2022-2023 season skinner had his only 2 assists in goal for oilers.
Ingram’s apple last night made me grin. While it still will be rare to hace any goalie get them, no matter how good their puckhandling -> i’m near certain if 3rd assists were tracked the falloff since smith and koskinen haa been significant.
Anyone know how much over the cap we’ll be when Walman comes back?
Does dumping Mangiapane’s contract fully cover the overage?
This was posted yesterday over at ON- there are a lot of moving parts including if/when Mangiapane is traded and how much cap goes out the door, and if/when they put Jarry on LTIR (although Jarry to LTIR is just kicking the can down the road)
https://oilersnation.com/news/wwydw-how-do-edmonton-oilers-get-cap-complaint-fully-healthy
Being the start of a new year–roughly the halfway mark of the hockey season–this seems like a good time to track how the NAmateurs are faring so far. Players listed alphabetically by surname:
Asher Barnett, Michigan:
20 GP, 0-8-8 (also +18, T-6th in Div-1)
4 GP, 0-0-0 at WJHC (even)
Bauer Berry, St. Thomas:
18 GP, 1-3-4 (4th in scoring among d-men on team, 2LD)
Paul Fischer, Notre Dame:
16 GP, 5-10-15 (T-1st in team scoring)
Tommy Lafreniere, Kamloops:
35 GP, 24-21-45 (5th in WHL goals, T-9th in WHL points)
David Lewandowski, Saskatoon:
28 GP, 8-24-32 (T-1st in team scoring)
4 GP, 0-1-1 at WJHC
William Nicholl, London:
1 GP, 0-0-0 (just returning from offseason surgery; filling in at 1C for London in O’Reilly’s absence)
Aidan Park, Michigan:
20 GP, 6-4-10 (mosly playing 3/4 RW on team)
Dalyn Wakely, UMass-Lowell:
17 GP, 5-7-12 (1st in team scoring)
Retired and living in Mexico but back in Edmonton to celebrate Christmas with family. (Sheesh it’s cold in the great white north) Went to game last night and was like everyone else disappointed. This team has talent but lacks intensity grit and urgency.IMHO this version is lesser than last year but never bet against Connor McDavid. Watching him fly is worth the price of admission (and holy hannaberries the price of admission is steep!)
On 5th pp’s with not a lot of jazz public play worthy in previous sorties the pp2 had a whole 30 seconds gifted to it at end of like just shitty go around again.
Roslovic scored despite having dimimshed minutes due to being miscast as a center.
Like this team is being given no option but to be saved by the hero squad to a degree that they surely are going to regret come post season.
The weak bottom 6 impact i truly believe has been greviously aggrivated by how icetime has and line juggling has lead to no real positive momentum building for bottom of roster.
And it shows. There is magpie out there getting involved pest like eith passion why? Because he cares enough to try to get off the team.
So you are playing in Bottom 6 role: Punish and constantly prevent any chance of gaining some traction positively since nearly 1st week of season. Despite results continue seemimg to make odd pregame roster and line decisions that instantly end up garbaged the minute team is trailing.
ignore any logical team building, be stubborn about new signings needing to be boosted for too long to justify them despite results, only punish certain parts of roster for game errors clearly leading to goals against is a big part of what is “missing”. Half the team hasn’t really been in it from beginning of season.
Like thank gord mcdavid scores most points in a month since lemeiux but there surely has been more lost than gained with how uneven the entire roster has been coached with a consistent approach for all players equally to some sensible degree.
this is an absolute honest constructive accurate assessment of the team, great post, sad but true. why cant Knoblauch see this and change/adjust his methods…..I just cannot see the Oil getting out of first round this year. No way they’re beating Vegas, Dallas, or Colorado in a 7 game series, not this version of the team anyway.
Have to agree with many here who have been saying, I believe, in several different ways, that this team is not a team but an amalgam of elite talent and lose parts, and suffering from a dearth of ideas or courage. Very little of that is on the players.
Maybe this year there are no answers to be found, and Oil burn yet another season of McDrai, but there would be roster solutions out there, here and now and today, if the Frederick and Mangiapane signings had never happened. And if my aunt had wheels she would be a bicycle (to paraphrase the Cherry quote).
There’s room in the season for Oil to go on another tear, and the postseason I’m sure is calling, but the most recent wins were textbook for being Ws the team didn’t deserve falling right at the end of a heater. They do little to inspire dreams of playoff glory.
Max Jones to Bako. https://x.com/EdmontonOilers/status/2006798132680733038?s=20
Must mean Kapanen is ready?
Likely – coach said he’s ready but they might keep him out until next week as he’s only had one practice.
Or Lazar comes back in Saturday. Kap next week and either Mangi or Freddy to the PB.
Maybe they’re bringing up Howard, Hutson and Samanski.
not a bad play at all me thinks, when is Clattenburg ready? Maybe KK could play Savoie with L1 or L2 to get him going or send him down to get confidence and efficiency back, so much not good about the team last 3 games.
We sure could of used Clattenburg in the loss to Calgary as well as last night.
Clattenburg played last night in Coachella Valley!
with what cap space?
They have room for one now but that room is gone when Kap is activated (and coach said he could play Sat but they likely wait until the game after to get him some more practice)?
Would work for me. Young University US guys in the Spengler did pretty well against older and ex NHLers – similar to our 3rd and 4th lines.
Please and thank you.
Many people are providing commentary on the Bennett snub for team Canada but I have yet to see the obvious answer: Jon Cooper, Brayden Point, Brandon Hagel, and Anthony Cirelli hate him (and I’m assuming McDavid and others are not fond of him as well).
Yes, Bennett played for Cooper with those Lightning players at the four nations, but the bad blood between the two teams erupted after that in the playoff matchup, the preseason game, and their recent regular season game.
This is the obvious answer to why Bennett wasn’t included when from a purely on ice perspective he should be a lock.
It’s a very good “point” with regards to the Lightning players … though, you’d expect these guys to be professionals. Bennett is childhood friends with McDavid, IIRC, and Reinhart is also on the team.
Brayden Point should not have been named to the team so early on … it should have been Marner instead, as there was no chance that he wasn’t going to make the team. That screwed a lot of guys out of a spot on Team Canada. This season, Point’s performance does not warrant a spot on the team … but that ship had already sailed.
I have no problem with the defensemen named to the team … and no Bouchard did not do enough to make it. Everyone knows he’s all-world on the offensive end … what he needed to show was a commitment to getting the defensive lapses out of his game … and he resoundingly has failed to do so. I’m hoping that Evan will use this as a motivation to improve in this regard, and that it will be the Oilers who reap the rewards.
Hyman deserves to be there … but again, that spot is being taken up by Point. I’m not unhappy that Hyman gets some rest in instead.
I’m also hoping that Sweden leaves Ekholm off their roster for the same reasons; him getting injured in the 4 Nations really screwed us.
No kidding. Why would they have named anyone to the team early other than the absolute locks – McDavid, McKinnon, Makar, Crosby? No way Poibt is in the same tier as these guys.
and excellent point on Bennett/Cooper, David. I was wondering why nobody was talking about that too. He would have been basically a lock to me based on the obvious things – performance at four nations, conn smythe, two cups, playing style. And Armstrong literally said a lot of their picks were based on reputation and not performance this year…it has to be a pretty egregious decision for Oilers fans to be saying it lol. And BS to me that Cirelli, Point and Hagel who would probably all be considered bubble players on this team ALL made it.
i don’t mind the Binnington decision as much as most. He has shown that he can be lights out when the pressure is on and they get to bring two other goalies who are maybe steadier but not able to elevate like Binner can.
Sweden has the players to leave Ekholm at home if they so choose. (i.e. one of Edvinsson and/or Broberg, or Lindholm or Ekman-Larsson).
I tend to agree with others who’ve pointed out that Bennett’s role is occupied by a better hockey player in Tom Wilson. There is less leeway for shitbirds to do greasy things in an IIHF tournament.
One goon is enough, and Wilson’s really learned to pick his spots and focus on hockey. Lest we forget, Marchand is who he is. Doughty is also filthy on the back end. Plenty of guys know how to mix it up as a counter to any shenanigans.
I would say that instead of Bennett getting snubbed, any of Scheifele, Nuge, Hyman, Konecny, Jarvis, Johnston, and Bedard are more deserving. To me, who would come out for any of them is the more interesting debate.
Team Canada added three centres, two clearly superior. Celebrini, Suzuki, and Horvat.
Celebrini and Suzuki are the future, and flat out better than Bennett.
Horvat has a brought range of skills, and can win faceoff. And has had a better season. Horvat and Wilson can also excel inside the dots in front of the net. The four nations team was a bit perimeter.
Wilson is there because of the Tkachuks and Boldy.
Cirelli is there to make sure they have somebody to kill penalties if the elite offensive talent cannot. One might argue that such insurance is not necessary, and I might agree with you, but the coach usually gets his one guy.
Bennett and Jarvis have good reason to feel bad. I would have taken Jarvis over Stone.
Horvat was injured in today’s Isles game vs Utah. Hopefully not serious but they won’t know until tomorrow. It looks like the left leg, possibly knee. Video is in this clip. Islanders’ Bo Horvat suffers apparent injury vs. Mammoth – Sportsnet.ca
Celebrini and Suzuki are the future and also the now.
We know what Celebrini has done this season….. as a 19 year old.
Suzuki had the 3rd most points among Canadian players in the 2025 calendar year – plus he’s a high end 2-way player (to my knowledge – I don’t see him a ton).
I understand Wilson on the team as a goal scoring power forward but I don’t think he is needed at all because of the likes of the Tkachuks – he’s not going to deter anything and, with international officiating, I want those Americans running around and hope Wilson doesn’t.
There are tons of players to kill penalties – Cirelli was the worst pick of them all, objectively – the coach took his guy, end stop.
Given the dour mood here and the panic-selling of young assets and the readiness to blame yesterday’s (last week’s) saviour-in-the-crease (and the strange elevation of the backup folks were hating now that Skinner’s gone and the “goalie problem” is “fixed”)… did anyone notice that our team leads the division?
Yesterday sucked. But that was almost a scheduled “suck.” These guys tend to stumble & fumble after Xmas (or any break, it seems). And LT’s bears were hungry bears.
BTW, speaking of goalies… last year Swayman sucked. This year, not so much. Patience w goalies and young talent.
And: what is the regular season for? With a team like this that’s retooling on the fly (7+ new faces I believe, many younger & less experienced, plus some injuries, etc) the regular season is about experiments. Does anyone think playoffs are in danger? Well then, experiment the h-e-double-🏒🏒s out of everything you’ve got.
A few days ago fans and pundits had solved the goalie problem. I don’t think the Jarry trade solved anything, but I’m willing to give the new kids time and space to find their place.
It’s 2026. I sure hope Oilerville residents find it in themselves to enjoy this moment at the top of the division. It may not last. But, given the Oct-Nov we experienced, it could feel like a minor miracle.
Next step for this team, IMO: get the festive season malaise out of their system; keep up with the experiments! The real season is now 41 games away.
When the Oilers eventually win the Cup, fans will find something to complain about.
I agree with some of these sentiments. No sense to ne in gettjng lathered up over one game or one period even. However theyre not REALLY in first place in the division. Games played matters.
I’m worried about Savoie. It’s one thing if it’s a rookie struggling with inconsistency but you see flashes. Picture Holloway early on. But I’m not sure I’m even seeing flashes of a top 6 player. Top 6 forward types that are tiny…
He’s quick but not straight line fast enough. Brayden Point as the alpha example of a pint-sized burner. There was a play last night where he had full head of steam on a NZ rush and got overtaken and had to try a backhand sauce fully across the ice. It got turned over and nearly ended up as a goal against.
He’s got good edgework but isn’t near elite. You watch Roslovic simply dance on his edges even getting clear separation from McAvoy last night, putting him in the spin cycle.
He doesn’t have near the skill or elite hockey IQ of Caufield in fact I can remember more sort of “ooh” skill moments from Hutson in his few games vs Savoie in his last 20. Pictures the subtle plays Nuge makes to keep plays alive for 97. Plays are dying on Savoie’s stick.
It’s certainly not going to be his shot that does it.
I guess he has a pretty good motor but gosh, the only guy I can think of that’s tiny and had to get by on “motor” as his elite skill was Yamamoto.
Help me out here. What piece of his tool kit leads you to believe that, let’s say he’s hyper-confident again, he can be a true top 6 player?
He’s got the look of a journeyman 3rd liner
Well said. The uncomfortable discussion is about which skills he has that stands out a the NHL level.
Scouting reports about elite skating, edge work, and playmaking aren’t translating to this level.
Yamamoto created problems for NHL defenders on the fiorecheck.
With Howard, he needs to adjust his sights, but you can see he has a plus NHL calibre release and shot. He also has plus speed and can find the soft ice. Howard could be a Roslovic type player.
Quinn Hutson has shown some skilled puck handling and deception in the offensive zone.
Savoie has shown some off-puck timing and anticipation around the net.
At age 21:
Holloway: 9 points in 51 games, 0.18 PPG
McLeod: 1 assist in 10 games, 0.10 PPG
Savoie: 13 points in 41 games, 0.32 PPG
Savoie is doing just fine. He is having some ups and downs. A lot of his downs seem to correlate with playing with Henrique.
Regarding the comp with Hutson. I really liked Hutson’s game as well. He is also 24 versus Savoie’s 21. Hutson absolutely should be up with the team, but I don’t think pitting the two players against each other is fruitful.
Those breaks are a bit misleading.
Savoie also had one assist in his first ten games, or 11 actually. It was a second assist.
Clouder played with Larsson, Kulikov, Neal, and Chiasson—basically where 5v5 offense goes to die.
Savoie’s most common forward is Draisaitl this season, then Henrique then Podkolzin. His most common d are Nurse, Ekholm, and Bouchard. He’s also had over a hundred minutes with 97.
I think the beginning of the season indicates very little of potential. Wasted minutes in blender on the disjointed end of priorities.
Consistency likely helps a lot. They slid him on drai’s line for that segment and je sppeared to be building some positive steam. Now bouncing around not only game to game but in game.
Like pick a lineup and hold it long enough for lines to build some chemistry.
Give all lines some leash. Let them try to win a few battles as a team rather than panic button immediately go tilte ice for special forces and just don’t die out there holding line for every other body.
There’s some light in tunnel now where they are in standings. I hope used wisely.
Win or lose:
1. make some lines and stick with them outside slight tweaks
2. Keep those lines.
3. Stop with even the in game too cute line juggling shit off well special forces are rested let’s toss them out together in middle of period in 1st 2 periods and disjointed bench again just having guys left watching in regret over any possible growth of buy-in
Objective: win as a team.
-> roll lines a bit more consistent
-> don’t instanty shorten bench when not leading
-> a strategic strike likely just as effective if those players don’t just continuously get thrown out there immediately.
-> pp1 needs to have a bit more of a logical leash to it. Lose zone past 1 minute in and not really looking that dangerous -> 2pp go. Maybe we slip 1 back in again with fresher legs against a hemmed in pk unit snd things like the drai sweet spot probably magically might open more frequently again.
I’ll stop rambling on this post. Sorry LT. Just i can understand how hard it would be to play on amy team that has such a “chosen few” feel to it. This year especially i feel has been the worst version of feeling whole team can be a positive part of winning on any given night. Derek ryan said something that truly was important this entire year so far they are winning despite lacking any feel of being a team
Let’s be fair on the comparisons
Savoie
22 year old season (1st season)
2026-26 Season 41 Games
TOI 14:15 per game
PP TOI 0:36 per game
PK TOI 1:39 per game
Even Points 4g 4a 8p
PP Points 2g 2a 4p
PK Points 1g 1p
Blocks 20
Take Aways 16
Give Aways 31
Even Zone Starts 56.2%
Total Zone Starts 45.7%
Even Corsi 48.6%
Even On Ice Goals For 22
Even On Ice Goals Against 22
Max Speed 22.27 mph
22+ MPH Bursts 3
Cole Caufield
22 year old season (2nd season)
2022-23 Season 46 Games
TOI 18:03 per game
PP TOI 3:16 per game
PK TOI 0:01 per game
Even Points 19g 7a 26p
PP Points 7g 3a 10p
PK Points 0p
Blocks 12
Take Aways 19
Give Aways 23
Even Zone Starts 57.9%
Total Zone Starts 69.3%
Even Corsi 49.4%
Even On Ice Goals For 40
Even On Ice Goals Against 50
Max Speed 22.31 mph
22+ MPH Bursts 1
Brayden Point
22 year old season (3rd season)
2018-19 Season 79 Games
TOI 18:55 per game
PP TOI 3:22 per game
PK TOI 0:04 per game
Even Points 21g 35a 56p
PP Points 20g 15a 35p
PK Points 0p
Blocks 43
Take Aways 35
Give Aways 25
Even Zone Starts 53.2%
Total Zone Starts 63.6%
Even Corsi 51.9%
Even On Ice Goals For 80
Even On Ice Goals Against 52
(Dont have stats for 2018-19 so this is for 2021-22)
Max Speed 23.46 mph
22+ MPH Bursts 23
Is Savoie having a lesser year than Point and Caufield? You could say that, but you also need to take in context that he is playing 4-5 minutes less a game, roughly 2:45 less on the pp per game, and 1:39 more on the PK and neither of the other 2 played at all.
You’d also need to use the context of his total zone starts is less than his even zone starts, the only one of the 3 to drop, rather than increase. 24% less than Caufield and roughly 19% less than Point.
For speed, he is in the range of both. Point is a little bit faster.
Point is definitely the superior player at 22, he was the centre for Kucherov most of the time though and that was the year Kucherov lead the league in points with 128.
I don’t think Savoie is going to be Brayden Point or Caufield but if he had been stapled to Mcdavid or Draisaitl for the season, gifted 3 more minutes of PP time and 0 PK time, I think it might be looked at differently.
I might be a stone alone on this, but based on his stint in EDM this season I think he should not have returned to BAK.
sit 9M in salaries and call up a kid line. you cowards.
Once Kap is activates (with the Jones cap space) they won’t have cap room to call up a kid.
Its not necessarily about sitting a vet its about needing to move the cap off the books.
Walman looks to be at least a few more weeks so, in that period, getting Mang off the books or putting Jarry on LTIR (he’ll be a few more weeks at least, as well) would give them the flexibility.
He was better than at least 4 of the forwards playing last night. Never should have been sent down.
It feels like computer models are too involved in the coaches jobs on the Oilers.
We have a really young staff of coaches. I know the analytics have figured out the optimal ice team for the top players. For me the bottom players are the equivalent of being ignored and their contributions are supporting my theory.
The last two years, McDavid, Draisaitl, Nurse and Bouchard have run out of gas in the finals.
why can’t Rico and Nuge flip assignments in December/January?
why can’t PP2 play the first 90 seconds more often?
why can’t the 4 line play more offensive zone face off minutes.
The computer TOI modelling is getting the assignments right for the moment and wrong for the year….
Yeah this is not a team. First line was on the ice for an extended zone shift and got a pp. why are they left out for the pp. give them a break. Yes I know it’s top pp in the league but it’s probably not tops when they start tired. They need to make a point to give 2nd pp some more ice time
It was just after the PP expired, but Roslovic’s goal was basically in that sliver of PP2 time. Again.
Time to trot out PP2 a bit more often to get the rest of the crew engaged.
Looks like we are gonna have our own version of Bobby Bonilla day
Please explain.
Frederic buyout. I don’t think they do it this offseason but probably the next. Gonna be paying for it for 13 more years
Reference to July 1 that Mets celebrate the buyout of Bobby Bonilla whose 25 year buyout ends in 2035
— the bobby bonilla payout is fascinating on so many levels. FUN FACT: the payouts were “protected” by Bernie Madoff’s fund
Savoie will take time. When one makes a trade for a player like Savoie, it will take three or four years, on average, for the player to meaningfully contribute. And one has to take the pain of playing the player while he is developing. The Oilers really have no choice but to play Savoie to create the value of the potential in the player.
High first round picks who are traded early are likely not early bloomers. Savoie is likely a player, but he is not tracking his drafting pedigree.
Which is why one should not trade actual NHL players entering their prime years for prospects, because one becomes overly obsessed with what they cannot do instead of what they can do.
Yeah I kind of miss Ryan MacLeod too. He could easily be the third line center on this Oiler team.
Luckily the Oilers have depth at RW and can run Hyman, Roslo, and Kap ahead of Savoie.
We may elect to trade for Sherwood or similar to bolster the 3rd line.
Both Howard and Savoie likely have more prominent roles with the Oilers in ‘26-‘27, both still on ELC’s and more advanced in age, strength, and experience.
At this point, players like Savoie who are fairly recently drafted, but also lack established NHL ability; their trade value is very low.
In terms of exploiting inefficiencies, it’s actually a great market to shop in. I had previously called Gabe Villardi as a great buy low target when he was languishing in this phase. He was circling trade rumors in 2021-2.
On average NHL players see peak offense at age 23, with a range of 22-25.
Savoie will continue to improve, but the question is what his ceiling looks like.
Agree with your point. Trading a player entering his prime for a prospect was the mistake. This trade would have made more sense if McLeod was a lot older.
To me Savoie looked ok with Draisaitl not great but ok. Roslavic is better.
Impossible for any player to be impressive playing with the oil bottom 6.
That will change. It has to.
I strongly agree with shopping in the valardi aisle. Podz was in that aisle. I think mistakes are made when we shop in the Henrique aisle. Just 0 upside.
A big factor in the trade was cap space.
Kane, Foegele, McLeod, Holloway, Broberg, Brown, Perry. They all had their warts. But there was untapped potential (within some of them).
The primary replacements the past two years have been staggeringly poor. We have become a fair bit smaller, less aggressive, and less skilled – particularly in the bottom 6.
There doesn’t seem to be a cogent plan around the roster composition. The players who have worked out have been complete fliers (e.g. Podz, Roso) versus hard targets.
It seems so random.
Look at the people you mentioned, all bigger guys and some with an attitude. Replaced by smaller, not physical players.
how about mang for foegle trade the cap hits are close
I wouldn’t mind that trade but why would the Kings do it?
The GM has stated Roslovic was indeed a hard target and not a flyer.
Podz was his first player brought in, GM definitely had a target on him.
Yes. Those two acquisitions along with stashney give me hope that Bowman is capable of finding the right players.
Mistakes like mang seem so opposite and odd to me.
Podz looks a little overwhelmed right now … Just my thoughts
Trying to get too fancy a few too many times. Needs to shoot
i think the opposition is playing him tough and he always is looking to get Leon the puck.
I haven’t been to a game this year and so my choice of last night’s game was not a good one. I was excited to watch the players from a view not shown on the broadcasts. Takeaways as follows:
The bottom 6 players try to emulate 97 / 29 with fancy passes that don’t work for them – just get someone net-front and then shoot the damn puck!
41 games is enough time – if the bottom-six vets aren’t getting it done (and they are not) then pressbox it is. I would immediately call up Hutson and Howard (as mentioned below) and get Curtis Lazar back in the lineup.
How does Ingram’s emergency 9 game call up work? Can he play 8 games, get sent down and replaced by Tom Tomkins for 1 game and Ingram’s call up duration is reset?
He’s an integral part of the Group of Seven.
Not referring to the bygone collective of Canadian painters, but the actual number of goalies who will probably man the Oilers crease this season.
I have had lots of discussion on this with JFC and Hart and we don’t have a clear cut answer.
The CBA is very clear that games on regular recall do not count towards the 10 game threshold for games on emergency recall but it is NOT clear the other way around.
Hart at PuckPedia opined that it works the other way as well and, after 9 games on emergency recall, they can transition Ingram to regular recall and re-start the clock.
Jean Francois C. is adamant that is not the case, cited various sections of the CBA and past practice. Hart never followed up.
I trust JFC as much as Hart – those are the best 2 on twitter.
I am proceeding thinking there is no re-set and, once he plays his 10th game, he’d need to clear again.
I mentioned yesterday, the main reason you staple Roslovic inside the top 6 (besides that he deserves it) is that he’s in the wrong ice time bucket. He’s down with Rico and Jani at 13.xx/night. He, at the very least needs to be in the Podz bucket at 16 minutes.
Can do that by any of;
1. Give him Nuges slot on L1 since Nuge already gets PP1 and PK2.
2. Give him Hymans slot with 97-29 after a PP since Hyman is near 20/night
3. At the very least give him Savoie spot so their ice time flips
I meant to comment on your post yesterday and got distracted, but that was a masterclass of insight into what goes on behind the benches for us non-coaching types. Much appreciated.
And wholeheartedly agree, Roslovic is effective. The only question I had about potential deployment was around his return from injury and if the coaches were easing him in. By last night, looks like he’s ready.
I’m so excited just think if they continue to slow cook Howard or as the cool kids around here call it Marinating he could become the youngest AHL scoring winner ever. That along with his Hobey Baker title will sure be nice. As the mob says make this player earn it kinda like Broberg and Holloway it’s all part of the development in Edmonton. We have Connor and Leon we don’t need anyone else.
I think we see Howard called up in 2026 … once Mangiapane is off the roster.
I’m on record saying Howard’s probably fine where he is but it’s hard not to imagine one of him or Hutson outperforming Savoie currently. or Frederick Rico Janmark.
Janmark at least is a pest. and cheapest of the bunch.
Why can’t people see the distinction between Savoie and Howard. Savoie will be a alright smaller sized 2 way player with less than average hands. This will take his entire ELC before we reap the benefits. Howard on the otherhand should be tapped in now. He has the offensive chops now as we speak this globally gaga that he needs to learn how to play away from the puck is nonsense. He’s almost 22 we are sacking ourselves of goals and points in the standings and it’s pissing me off. What part does Bowman not get? Howard at his age is too good for the AHL. he’s learning jackshit you think turning him into a 9 minute 4th liner energy player is the path. I think not it’s only a matter of time before the Iceman gets the fuk out of dodge like Holloway did.
No-one has ever suggested turning him in a 4th line energy player and I only know of one person that equates standard rookie development with that.
Spector?
Who said “make him earn it”?
I believe “the mob” say, let him develop the skills he will need in order to reach his ceiling.
Until the Oilers get out of LTIR, Howards’ NHL cap hit is $1.5MM which is a big factor.
Well your finally being honest. There’s just no room for him as a energy player as he doesn’t fit the bill. There’s also no room for him to play with skill so why make the trade in the 1st place if your going to bury him in the AHL. This he needs to learn to play without the puck
is a cop-out the same thing could be said about McDavid 10 years later. You don’t neuter offence so you can turn every skilled forward into a Bob Gainey.
You keep asking “why make the trade” based off of the exact current situation.
I do hope you can understand that the trade was not made just for the hear and now – its was not made for the 2025/26 regular season, in particular the first half of it.
Issac Howard is 21 years old and exactly half a season in to a 3-year ELC and then an RFA with no arb rights. They are working with the player in order to give him the best chance to reach his ceiling which will include being a goal scoring winger in the Oilers’ top 6.
Its reasonably likely he’s back up on the team this season, maybe never to be re-assigned again.
The only Hobey Baker forward winners to play in the AHL as long as Howard the last 25 years have been complete busts and Gaudette who’s a alright bottom 6 guy. So either Edmonton is mismanaging a asset or he’s a bust. You don’t trade your future O’Reilly for a skilled forward only to bury him in the minors because your Coach is already stressed out with youngsters Savoie and Podkolzin.
Howard has been a professional hockey player for all of three months and you’re ready to write him off. The man is tearing it up in the AHL and is developing nicely. I think he’s back in the NHL soon and will be a much more effective player than the one that was sent down.
I kinda think you misunderstand me Howard should be getting the Savoie good ole boy treatment in the NHL. Why is he in the minors 21 year-old that are this good in the AHL don’t fuking exsist! So why the fuk is he there? We are losing points in the standings because K.K is playing chicken ball. Also he’s not going to do jack shit if he’s used the same way as a 4th line 7 minute a night energy player that is what Clattenburg is for and not a skilled Hobey Baker winner.
You really put a lot of stock in to the Hobey Baker which is odd given its far from a guarantee of stardom, let alone instance success, when won at the age that Howard did. Needing some development time is non surprising or an indicator of bust and not providing it would be a mistake.
Lots of great comparables that spend time in the AHL – shit, look at Jake Guentzel who spent significant time in the AHL in his 22 years old season.
Ooh look another Hobey Baker winner scores 20 goals tonight. The Hobey Baker award is given to the best Collegiate player in the country and you saying the award doesn’t mean much is rather sad. The argument that Howard needs to earn his way on the team like good ole boy Savoie doesn’t hold water with me. I hope Savoie turns it around he isn’t exactly ripping the cover off the ball.Truth be told I think he’s the one that needs more seasoning-marinating-adjusting but in his case on the offensive side of the game maybe in can come back with a NHL shot.
How old was Dawson Mercer when he scored 17 goals? How old was Dawson Mercer when he scored 27 goals. Mercer was picked 18 overall just think how many more more goals he would have if he was seasoned until he was 21.5 years old. You seem to have blind spot for draft pedigree if Howard was drafted in the same hole as Savoie I have a feeling you would be singing a different tune.
Lats night turned in to a very blah night as the game went on and on the scoreboard but lets make no mistake, the biggest difference in that game was goaltending and that happens (similar to the prior game in the Oilers’ favour).
The Oilers crushed the Bruins in scoring changes and 5-alarm scoring chances and it wasn’t score effects. Swayman was awesome and the Oilers top players lacked finish – combined with Ingram’s first poor game in the NHL this season and the score is what the score is.
This isn’t to say the team doesn’t have big issues – it’s clear that everything offensively, and there is a lot, is being driven by the top 6 and PP. Coach said post-game he’s done trying to have Roslovic drive a 3rd line, he’s too good in the top 6.
On any given night each of Savoie, Janmark, Henrique, Mang and Fred can make all but no impact aside from a good PK or similar here or there.
Coach says Kap is ready but probably won’t play until next week – sure, he’ll help, I guess, but not materially. One cut needs to be made for Kap to be activated (unless they put Jarry on LTIR which they may.
If they don’t go with LTIR on Jarry then the roster is stuck where it is until Mang can be moved.
If they put Jarry on LTIR (as it sounds like back half of the month for his return), well, that gives them tons of cap to bring up a couple of Howard/Hutson/Samanski/Jarventie.
Shit, put Jarry on LTIR (if there isn’t a chance he’d be activated prior to 10 games and 24 days from injury) and call up 2 or even 3 and healthy scratch Fred and Mang (and maybe one other) for a night.
It won’t happen but its warranted.
Have no idea how you do it but team needs to get Rico, Freddy and Mangi out of the line up to make room for a couple of Condors. Those 3 have accomplished nothing.
Out of the lineup is easy, you just scratch them but its “off the roster” as they can’t call up players right now – no cap space.
They could send Mang to the AHL to open up room for one player (not Howard as he’s at $1.5MM on the cap while they are in LTIR) but I don’t see it.
Jarry on LTIR provides short term flexibility……
They need a 3rd line C man yesterday! Of that bottom 6 ( excluding Roslovic who should be on Drai’s wing full time) Not one of them is a legite 3rd liner. NONE .
Savoie , I think could be a good 3rd liner I think with a legite C man where he could hopefully gel with.. So who would be the other winger ? Magpie needs to go and if you can’t find a trade partner put him on waivers sooner than later. He is hurting this team taking up a spot in the bottom 6. He doesn’t have a NMC so set him free. Not sure if anyone would take that contract. But burry him. Is Kappanen a 3rd line guy when he returns ? Not sure and if not bring up a kid out of Howard or Hutson.
But of Henrique, Jones, Janmark, probably Kappanen, Frederic, Lazar, make a 4th line and 1 extra.
Regula has been very bad the last several games. They need to find one more D man if possible at the deadline. When Walman returns they need a better 7th than Regula. Too bad we lost Stetcher as he is playing very good in Toronto.
Picard should have got the start after last game just to see if he could have put 2 great games together. Ingram was not good last night as he let in 2 Skinner’s. . The D sucked but there were 2 Stinkers.
Enough of the “We want to see Ingram’s game”. They should be playing the Hot goalie. You win you play, you lose next man up.
But the 1st order of business is getting rid of Magpie. He doesn’t want to be here so get rid of him ASAP.
3rd line C man should be on the docket Today.!
Last but not least is Drai ate way too much Strudle over the last few weeks. It shows.
When you need points I’ve always believed in going with the hot hand in Goal. The keep playing if you win also breeds healthy competition.
Roslovic look really good, on and off the Drai line.
That’s what happens when you play balls out.
I think the best player in the world can’t be hogging the two best wingers on the team. He needs to be able to help develop a younger player so there is room for a more skilled third line. I don’t think the team can win with just two lines. Mcdavid has been unbelievable the past month, but I’m still concerned that the heavy minutes, condensed schedule, plus Olympics, are going to catch up with him if they don’t fix that third line soon.
Savoie McDavid Hyman
Podz Drai Roslovic
Howard RNH Hutson
Janmark Henrique Jones/Fred/Kap
first two lines have an established winger with proven chemistry for our star centres along with an up and coming winger with skill and tenacity. Third line becomes two skilled wingers that have proven to be way to good for the AHL with an established centre that is solid offensively and defensively. Coach needs to find this line some easier minutes. Let the top two lines and veteran fourth line take on the top competition. Fourth line can penalty kill, and forecheck. They won’t score but won’t be expected to.
That works too
The best player in the world (fight me) has two wingers who are also going to the Olympics along with the Olympic top pair D.
Do you think it will catch up to them?
MacKinnon
Necas
Lehkonen
Nelson
Landeskog
Makar
Toews
Wedgewood and/or Blackwood should also be there and perhaps one draws in if there is a pre-games injury.
As it is, their entire top 6 and top pair is going with the exception of Nichushkin who would certainly be there if Russia was playing.
Who knows. Splitting hairs on who’s the best, but my point stands. McDavid should be able to carry one skilled young player on his wing to free up RNH to lead the third line. And McDavids minutes should be cut back a bit so he doesn’t gas out in the final.
As for the Avs, they definitely look unbeatable right now. Reminds me of the Bruins a few years back. How’d that end up? Lots of hockey to be played yet.
“The best player in the world (fight me)”
Reminder, readers: he lost a bet over this topic and refused to pay. Him fighting over the topic is incredibly unlikely.
Coach says:
At least a week and half for Walkman.
Jarry expected mid month at the earliest
Kap could play Sat but they likely want to get him another practice.
Stauff asked Bowman if first two will play in January and he anticipates yes.
I think only one “cut” necessary to activate Kap.
OP since you are all over the coaches track record of erroneous injury “reports” , what are your predictions for actual timelines?
I have no idea – I think Walman will be closer to the end of January than and Jarry could leak in to February but who knows?
Hope they just give Jarry until after Olympic break
Be careful what you hope for😉
— that was my take right from get go. I said Olympics It’s just weird how some dutifully say “no they said a week to week” (hi OP!:lol!)
— common sense. On a nothing lateral move he was done. Groins need time to heal.
— Maybe one game before the Olympics to test it but when they say week to week that’s a tell.
— I don’t get regurgitation of what management says and treating it as gospel.
Dead cat bounce is a term I would apply to Ingram. Oilers need to know what they have there, hence I would start him next game. If he ships the bed again, holding on to Pickard is a must.
Time to surgerize the roster
Roslovic Mcdavid Hyman
Podkolzin Drai Savoie
Hutson Nuge Howard
4th line
and upgrade Savoie if you can
Posted my similar lineup above before seeing yours. Agree, this is the way
I’m with you. I’m at the point where the whole third line needs to be replaced wholesale.
Roslovic to 3C is a last desperate effort by the coach as far as I’m concerned.
No cap to trade for third line upgrades so… bring up the Bakersfield kids and give them a shot. Play them and see what happens. Can’t be worse.
If Henrique, Mangie, or Frederic wake up and start showing they can handle more, move them up, but not until they prove they are more capable then the Bakersfield kids.
Yes I have a feeling Nuge may be dropped to the 3rd dot rather than go out and getting one.
If I am any team that the Oilers go to looking for that 3rd line C man and they are asking me to eat $ and take a contract back I am definitely asking for 1 of Hutson or Howard
Like these guys
O’Reilly Nashville
Nick Schmaltz Utah
Charlie Coyle Columbus
Wennberg SJS
Boone Jenner Columbus
there are a few more and those are just examples
I love that third line. Give it the rest of the season to gel. And a Nuge shall lead them.
As much as McD has been humming, need to spread out the offense (and ice time!).
Don’t see it with Savoie. He’s got no finish. If he’s got any trade value I would cash it in
I apologize in advance. Can we trade him for Ryan McLeod?
Great skater, good pk guy and plays a good 2 way game, but is definitely having problems scoring and adding points.
had a nice chat at the Condor’s game with a team executive. He spoke very highly of Savoie, especially as a penalty killer. IMO, the offence will come. Our host often talks of first half and second haly performance growth, the coach has talked about having him ready by the end of the season.lets see where he is in April.
Savoie is truly a hot-button, polarizing topic.
My read of the consensus here seems to be that he’s doing great.
The offense is definitely a worry for me. I don’t think he currently has an NHL caliber shot.
He has found a way to score with a mix of a breakaway deke, deflection, jamming in rebounds, and hammering in back door passes. It’s hard to score around the net when you don’t have the frame for it.
Many laude his skating, but he’s only at the 59th percentile for top speed.
He also has zero first assists in almost 500 minutes at 5v5.
He’s only 22 and he’ll continue to get better, but I agree, I’d trade him if he has any value.
Agreed. Too many undersized “skilled” forwards. Not built for the playoffs.
Yep. ‘Tis the time. He has value. You’re not “selling”. Make a hockey deal.
1.5 years left on an ELC is valuable to the Oilers.
Will his offence come? Maybe not but I do think it does to some extent as a complimentary winger in the top 6 over the next few years and he will have value for cap hit for a number of years.
Am I saying he’s “untraceable”? Of course not but, in the here and now, the team does not have cap space to activate Jake Walman and its tough to trade out the ELC cap hit.