It’s the Kings at Leon tonight, as Ken Holland’s west coast retirees arrive in the land of the ice and snow to play the Oilers. Leon Draisiatl will receive loud ovations and various gifts before the game, in honour of his 1,000 NHL points. He told the media he was grateful when it happened, Draisaitl is bright, articulate and has a rugged edge when required.
My favourite off ice moment came when legendary writer Jim Matheson asked Leon (Janiary 18, 2022) ‘why are you being so pissy?’ and Leon handled it with the calmness one would expect from a hockey hero. Leon could not be more popular in this city if he tried. I think that’s the key to being Leon. He doesn’t try. He is a genuinely unique human and an amazing player.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN JANUARY
- At home to: Flyers, Preds (Expected 1-0-1) 1-1-0
- On the road to: Jets (Expected 1-0-0) 1-0-0
- At home to: Kings (Expected 1-0-0)
- On the road to: Blackhawks, Preds (Expected 1-1-0)
- At home to: NYI (Expected 0-0-1)
- On the road to: Canucks (Expected 1-0-0)
- At home to: Blues, Devils, Penguins, Caps (Expected 2-1-1)
- At home to: Ducks, Sharks, Wild (Expected 1-1-1)
- Expected Record: 8-3-4, 20 points in 15 games
- Actual Record: 2-1-0, four points in three games
- Season Record: 22-16-6, 50 points in 44 games
The Oilers are 6-4-0 in the last 10 and have won twice in a row. A victory tonight would mean winning thrice in a row for the first time this season. I wouldn’t sweat it, that’s a rando fact that doesn’t really tell us much because the team is in contention. If anything, it’s a reflection of coach Kris Knoblauch’s unusual struggles to find the riff that carries this year’s song to greatness. The Kings are 4-5-1 in their last nine, are a little out of sorts and as with all Ken Holland’s teams most can take the senior’s bus back to the hotel after the game.
KING THAT IS LEON (re 16-17, published July 2016)
Any major concerns aside from Hall exit? Well, he faded badly. Leon had a strong run before the AS break (40, 12-25-37) but the post AS break (32, 7-7-14) was not good at all. Leon and Hall faded (Hall was 32, 8-9-17 in the second half).
Who else did he play well with? All the skill forwards. Nuge (4.2), Purcell (2.71), all but Eberle and they played together when 14 came back iirc (it took awhile for the RW). Played well with Maroon and Kassian, not so with Nail but they only played 79 minutes together.
Who are his current comparables? Using his first two seasons and a tightened age range, the most comparable players are Nathan Horton, David Pastrnak, Jakub Voracek, Brendan Gallagher and Michael Frolik.
Very good list. I think he will be an excellent player, would have loved to see him run with Hall and Nuge again in 2016-17.
Is he going to be a center? I think so, yes.
Will McDavid, Nuge and Leon spend a decade together? Tough to say. That is an impressive trio—you would have a difficult time naming many who will be better in the next 10 years—but there will come a time when they are all getting paid and the drag on the cap will be massive.
What kind of player will he be? Leon is going to be a load, on offense (so very skilled, insane passes) and physically (he already wins battles and has some strength to add as he matures), plus he is a determined back checker. Absolutely thrilled with his growth as a player this season.
Does McLellan like him? Yes, but he is aware of growing pains. McLellan: ”Leon was tremendous at times at centre and other times he got worn out. That was part of being 21 years old in a men’s league.”
Is Leon a lock to stay for a long time? I think he is—if he continues to develop. This will be a difficult year, because there will be expectations and he doesn’t have Hall port side.
Can Leon hit 60 points? I think he could have with Hall driving the line. The last Oilers center to score 60 points (Horcoff and Stoll, 2005-06) came over a decade ago, and the next one is Connor McDavid. Can Leon (or Nuge) join him? That is probably one of the keys to making the playoffs.
What is best about Leon? His passing is incredible, just fabulous. He is a creative player, and one who can be effective on the forehand and backhand. Smart, great at puck protection. He is also an aggressive player, and has good size.
Why this song? As always with the Oilers, there is no time left for him to develop—he will be a stone alone many nights this season. Ideally, he centers a third line with Pouliot or Maroon, and an offensive option on RW. He could also fill the 2R role as needed. When injuries hit, he will be forced up the depth chart and that will be a challenge for the young center. No time, no time, no time, no time.
RE AFTER THE SEASON (APRIL 2017)
Is McDavid better with Leon and Eberle? At 5×5, 97 was 3.04/60 scoring this season with Leon on his line. McDavid was 2.08/60. So there is a spike in performance by McDavid when he is with Leon, and we are talking 670 (Leon) and 404 (Eberle) minutes at 5×5 during 2016-17.
How has Leon performed in the playoffs? He was central to the team’s success in Games 5 and 6, drove the Sharks crazy. He is a unique combination of speed, strength and skill, even though it’s uncertain his man strength has arrived. There is an air of Paul Bunyan about him already.
Who are his comparables? Another strong list, Draisaitl is in good company. The current list includes Nuge, Jamie Benn, Rick Nash, David Pastrnak.
Can the Oilers win a Stanley Cup with Draisaitl in a prominent role? Yes. His 2016-17 season was fantastic and he remains a young man learning the league. San Jose couldn’t contain him in their two biggest games this season. He’s a bear on skates.
Why this song? Radiohead songs often mean different things to different people, so I’m not going to get too heavy into the actual lyrics. I chose this song because Leon has surprised us in several areas. In his rookie season, he was unready. In his second season, he didn’t make the NHL team, but when he arrived it was instant success (with Taylor Hall). For the 2016-17 season, I bet on him playing center and he was on the wing (although taking lots of faceoffs). No one thought he would finish top 10 in NHL scoring, at least no one I know.
Is Leon part of the McDavid cluster? Inner circle.
Can we talk about the contract? Please.
What is your outer marker? Eight years and probably $8.25 million per year. Something like that, otherwise you really are negatively impacting the ability to put a contending team on the ice.
What do you think happens? I think he signs late August, a deal that hurts both sides but can be lived with. I don’t think either side will want a Johnny Gaudreau here, this team is in the window to win the Stanley Cup. Some urgency by August, I bet.
Can we begin to put Leon into historical perspective? It’s a little difficult because LD has had three very different seasons. His current comparables are excellent but if he has a season like I’m projecting, the comps become something else again.
Who would his comps be? Ryan Getlzaf, Eric Staal, that level of center. Leon is not far from emerging as an elite talent and if he makes it this season, we can rest assured the Oilers have their twin towers.
But he won’t push the river as a center? I don’t see it, not yet. More to do with the roster than Leon, but there are lessons to learn, and the organization has really put themselves in a spot on RW.
I thought the OT goal should have counted, by all objective measures.
The Kings go-abead goal came off a faceoff after a Hyman 2 line offside. This wasn’t looked at closely on the broadcast, but I took a close look. Hyman was very onside.
When do the robot refs come online?
Not soon enough
Any coach who has ever coached any sport that has a lethal weapon will use that weapon when it is needed. Coaches play to win. And every commenter here knows that. 97+29 are going over the boards every single chance KK can get when the game is on the line. He did it on the PP and they tied the game. Those two were buzzing all night. If you were coaching and didn’t chose to play them you’d be finding yourself out of job real fast.
Ya it’s a tough balance. The bottom six have to feel part of the team too. Can’t do that playing ten or less minutes a night.
Any team needs the lower half to contribute to wins at least sometimes.
I thought there should have been one shift in OT for roslovic/ Savoie possibly Howard.
The Kings definitely had some money on the board or something tonight. They played like it was a playoff game. Honestly kudos to them on the back to back.
Still, it took everything and probably a little luck to beat this oilers team. McDavid scores a borderline disallowed goal plus two partial breaks in OT and can’t cash. Playing with fire.
Fun game nonetheless and some good entertainment for the Saturday night crowd. Save the win for G5 in R1 of the Stanley cup playoffs to advance.
Demko injured… again.
https://sportsforecaster.com/nhl/p/19619/Thatcher_Demko/transactions
~120 games injured for over past 3.5 seasons, and likely counting.
This is a real example of a player who is not durable.
This team really has a knack for helping out teams down on their luck…
San Jose Rhinos v. Condors 4-3 OT
The Condors were a two line team tonight with Marjala, Samanski, Akey and Hutson looking like future NHLers.
Forward lines
Hamblin-Marjala-Griffith
Marjala impresses all over the ice save for puck battles. He must’ve had a dozen shooting attempts. By playing him with Griffith and Hamblin, Chaulk has Marjala as the top line’s designated shooter. I don’t recall him shooting once in October during the season opener.
D’Amato-Samanski-Hutson
D’Amato’s quick bursts and wheels enables him to play with Samanski and Hutson. Samanski impressed with his all around game. His scoring, passing, checking and attempts at making open ice hits make him strong ‘26-27 third line center material. Hutson was making use of the extra time at the AHL level by consistently winning every puck battle – along the boards, off of draws and being a threat to score nearly every shift.
Pitlick-Poulin-Copponi
This line was a proverbial dog’s breakfast. Poulin can’t make a pass. On rushes his linemates would rather dump it in or make hope passes between each other. The puck dies with him. His quickness is non-existent.
The most Stefan skated/played was during the timeouts. He’s not strong enough to win puck battles.
Defense
Stillman-Brown first pairing was solid with 6’5” #44 Brown looking at times like Prongs in his own end. Stillman was still reacting with NHL pace.
Second pairing Carfagna-Akey were dynamic as they can both skate and make passes at pace. Not sure why Carfagna is QB’ing the first unit PP and Akey PP2? Akey is the team’s best passer and it’s not close.
The AHL is a big step-up for the Condors third pairing of Feist- Inamoto. They’re slow to recognize danger and were challenged to make plays under pressure.
Millman was the seventh D until the third period when substituted for Feist who was out of his depth.
Goaler: Tompkins effectively uses his size and positioning but lacks quickness, puck handling and the ability to read the game at an NHL level.
Thank you!
Several players (Samanski & Brown were mentioned)” played while ill, Jarventie was too sick to play.
Are Brandt Clarke parents auctioneers?
edit: Clarke’s
This team is so frustrating
Coaching loss.
Terrible last 5+OT+SO when the coach has the most chance to make a difference.
Leon should not be on the shootout if he’s going to take such a low percentage shot.
He’s the only one who came close to scoring. He hit the shaft of the stick.
lol – moral victory.
He scored on a shootout slapshot last year.
Right now the coach trust’s 6 people on this team. He has to run Nurse more than he likes.
So when it comes to a shootout, he only goes with those he trusts and is not willing to consider anyone else.
Shows up in the usage time on ice.
Watching this team do the same thing is SOs every time when it doesn’t work is painful.
Byfield committed several flagrant fouls prior to actually getting penalized. Brutal.
He forgot how many free ones he had.
Knoblauch can’t coach.
Leaving these guys out there this whole time is criminal.
You mean the players that almost scored, drew the penalty, and dominated OT? There were a lot of delays, replays, and he did what any rational coach would do.
Is Louie ever going to say that Doughty pushed him?
I just reviewed this frame-by-frame again, and Louie should also have said that Forsberg made contact with McDavid before McDavid touched him. He tripped him with his blocker first.
Yep – the NHL screwed the Oilers on the video review again.
it will never change. Hockey will succeed in the sun belt for all time so says game management.
That’s a goal
That’s a goal. Ugh.
Jungle rules OT
How does Knoblauch not understand to use Roslovic in OT?
Because he doesn’t trust him. Coach overuses 97-29-93-18-4-14. Has to use 25 because he has no choice.
The rest of the roster is filler to this coach. SB needs to go and get a 3C for the next 1.5 seasons til Samanski is ready so the coach can find a 3rd line.
Two shifts for Frederic in the last 230. Yuck.
Hyman has been fighting the puck all game. Throw Roslovic up on the top line for a shift or two.
Kempe tries to be a shit disturber and pays for it. Love it
…and wins the game
He gifted them the 5 on 3. So a two point gain over a rival for a RW becomes 1 point gain and a SO win. That’s quite the difference
That McDavid fellow
I’m sure I’m not the first to say it, but I suspect he’ll be an NHL player some day.
I mean they were in danger of winning three in a row…
and continue to be….
Frightning!
Looks like Jarry back this week. Does putting Picks on waivers disrupt team chemistry? Does he get picked up????
Since Stillman was called up and the various injuries to regular D over that period, Akey has stepped up nicely (2g,5a and +9 in 12 games)! Carfagna has also played well in an expanded role 🙂
Hockey gods owe Rosli and the Chipmunks a goal.
I’m not sure roslovic trusts the hockey gods anymore.
Kapanen has some fire in his belly tonight.
Summarizing!
Park scored the first two goals for Michigan and added an assist along with 5 SOG. Now 8 goals on the year.
Nicholl had a shorty for his 2nd of the year plus a helper. He also went 8-of-13 (61.5%) on draws and was named 1st star.
Barnett, Berry, Wakely, and Lafreniere each had a helper.
Fischer was denied soup and so shall have to subsist on carrot tops instead.
Prospecting takes a break until Mittwoch.
Marjala with the forcheck behind the opposition net causes the turnover, out to Hamblin in the slot and he buries it.
3-2 Condors heading to the third.
Pretty impressive for a short handed line up!
Thank the universe for our hero German. Now to pot one on the pp.. certainly not a clean game defensively. Ay yaay yaay
Of note, Bouchard called out on a PK goal he, arguably, doesn’t have any culpability on (structure often calls to front) and not a mention of the GF that he primarily set up put the puck on a tee for Drai.
Not quality tending.
Why are Jack and Louie nattering on about Jonathan Quick?
Bc it has nothing to do with the game
Because neither can tell you whether a team is running a high pressure forecheck, a 1-3-1, a 2-1-2. It’s amateurish analysis and wrestling play by play.
To be fair, the entire SN network does not like to do analysis & substitutes vibes for breakdowns.
Except when Ray Ferraro works a few games.
Leon is going to need at least a hat trick tonight…
These helmets are a crime.
Somehow worse than their tinfoil numbers from a few years back
Wallman can’t come back soon enough.
Two goals again brought to you by Skinner Derangement Syndrome
Emberson’s passing game has come a long way since he first landed in Edmonton.
Nice calm save. No unnecessary movement in his game.
Dari’s dad is hilarious, and he has one expression.
This Drai kid is pretty good.
That’s a 2 point goal for Draisaitl.
Doppelt Drai!!
Awesome play off the faceoff.
Just like they drew it up. Beauty.
Das ist wunderbar!
Marjala to Akey on the breakout, transition and zone entry by Akey, dishes to the streaking Marjala who skillfully splits the D, goes in alone and ties the game – great goal.
Riddle me this. Drai line with a goal and some seriously dominant shifts. Then coach goes back to Drai and McDavid. Anyone have a guess why he does this? I get when the team is behind or after a pk but why out of the blue when Drai is so clearly connecting with his linemates. It messes with two lines. For what reason? I am genuinely curious if anyone thinks they understand..
Offensive zone face-off late in the period – nothing wrong with a load up for a shift here of there situationally.
Yes I get it but time and place and awareness of game state is still necessary. When Drai line has already been dominant why not put them out then follow with McDavid line immediately then you have back to back shifts potentially.
Wrister from the point needs to be caught. I wish Jack and Louie could be honest.
This blog would be all over Skinner/Picks for same play.
That’s cause we watched them cost us two Cups.
Ingram doesn’t have that baggage.
cost us two cups yeah ok.
Stu is literally the second worst goalie in the last three playoffs and he had seven more rounds than Hellybuck to get there.
Well they made that hard on Corey
Nurse with terrible timing on usual lack of stick control. Bouch and Ekholm leaving Corey fecking Perry wide open in front.
wrong thread.
Please don’t return to apologist OP. Shit play is just that. This team should be far better than it is. Because they have all time elite players. That’s what NHL history says. Multiple Cups. They need to adopt that identity and stop playing like it’s their first rodeo
Wow, I’m analyzing the play on the ice and you are taking this to a complete other place……
Not sure I understand