Goalies come in all shapes and sizes, as shown here by the outlaw gang of Clifford and Ziggy. They are pretending to know nothing about the ‘big spill of 2025’ that sent cat treats all the way from here to the Pecos.
The Oilers have turned over the goalie room in Edmonton this season. Stuart Skinner is down the line in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Calvin Pickard is a bird on the waiver wire this morning. Nothing personal, just business.
There is a truth about Edmonton’s goaltenders that we don’t like to discuss. They are, as a group, wildly misunderstood by fans and (at times) the organization. Why can’t they stop the puck, dammit?
The Oilers are like the French in World War II. All of their cannons are pointed in one direction. The defense is designed, not to actually play defense, but rather to get the puck out of the zone, under control. Playing defense means surrendering goals, taking penalties or relying on your goalie to make a fantastic save (I’m using an old Darryl Sutter quote here without crediting him, but do thank the birlliant coach).
The Oilers have always been built around high-octane offence and just enough defense to get by without worrying the elite talent with the trivial. Sometimes it becomes farce.
Do you know about Al Jolson? Hr was a wildly famous singer, actor, comedian who reached the height of his fame 100 years ago. He is best remembered for the 1927 film The Jazz Singer and is often credited with helping create musicals as they currently exist on Broadway and in tours across the world.
Jolson was such a massive star at his peak, he could do literally anything he wanted to do. So, and I’ve never seen another example presented as evidence, Jolson would often derail an evening of live musical theatre by trashing the actual play and just singing the songs he was famous for at the time. Imagine the indulgence! Imagine being the leading lady, or the adversary in a play that you’ve worked countless hours on, only to be thrown overboard in Boston by Al freaking Jolson.
The Oilers are a little like that. Playing winning hockey is way harder than playing the hits, and sometimes the team simply checks down to the magnificent happy hour when brilliance becomes the story. Wow the fans, lose the game.
Most NHL teams are too serious, but the Oilers crime is often not taking the game seriously enough. Now, please read this.
My guess is Pickard is lost on the waiver wire today, and we’ll cover that story on the Lowdown. Rachel Kryshak will be our guest at 12:40 and Jason Gregor will pop in at 1:20. We’ll talk Super Bowl food choices, CFL signings and of course the Oilers. Noon to 2pm, Sports 1440 and You Tube. See you on the radio!
Will Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch alter his forward deployment? The numbers are stark.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7013797/2026/02/02/edmonton-oilers-roster-depth-charts-deployment-stats/
Bowman has shown remarkable patience or just painted himself into a corner with the bottom six?
I’ve reiterated this several times, but if you’re going to spend money on the bottom six, the first place to start is 3c.
Modern thinking GMs like Dubas or Zeto, go out and sign six or seven guys for a million dollars for three or four jobs and let things sort themselves out.
The Oilers traditionally, spend too much on bottom six wingers looking for perceived grit, leadership, or guys that they project to have imaginary top-six slide up ability. They usually target guys that are also too old.
Modern GMs like Dubas or Zito sign a cadre of cheap, interchangeable, younger players. Bottom-six players are signed for hockey IQ and forecheck reads. They angle correctly, support layers, make quick puck decisions, and keep structure. Traits like speed or grit amplify reads rather than replace them.
Sort of how the Oilers bottom six didn’t play like the Yotes when Tippet was hired, I’m inclined to believe the culprit is personnel.
Kapanen, Hutson, Marjala, Samanski, Lazar, Jarventie, Poulin.. I’m not sure but Bowman sure appears to be signing and bringing in all sorts of young cheap options for the coach to use as he sees fit.
Coach doesn’t start using them, failing them all, imo Bowman will look for one that aligns with his procurements.
Bowman’s Hawks had scoring up and down the line up.
Kapanen & Lazar young cheap options?
Bowman has brought in players to build up the farm team , which was a dire need considering the lack of draft picks.
The smartest thing Zeto did was to mark Treliving.
Plundering the Flames and saddling them with Hubby was brilliant.
The only thing better was watching Shanahan hire Treliving immediately after that behind the barn whoopin.
This is a great post and shows excellent understanding of the game and bottom 6 tools needed.
I do think Bowman has done some of that but is now in a bit of limbo with 3c.
Samanski probably not completely ready for prime time. Nuge hasn’t been tried and probably won’t be. Tomesek didn’t work there. Fredrick still a maybe although probably unlikely.
A similar comment (comparing GMs Zito, McCrimmon, Bowman) prompted me to look up the salaries paid. I included Montreal with FLA, LV, EDM because I like how the Habs play.
Bottom Six Rosters, January 28, 2026
Florida: $15.78M with one NMC
Las Vegas: $16.63M with one modified No Trade, one modified NMC
Montreal: $24.57M
Edmonton: $9.43M one NMC, one modified NT
Would love if Stan cashed in a cpl of the kids to get both McMann AND Roy from Tronna, but even if they don’t grab a single forward they still have the makings of a very decent & fairly balanced offense as they sit. Knoblauch clearly doesn’t see it, but I’d personally run:
Podkolzin-McD-Hyman
Samanski-Draisaitl-Roslovic
Jarventie-RNH-Kapanen
Jones-Savoie-Lazar
Running Nuge at 3C forces Knob to play that line and even though Savoie is supposedly a top six talent, maybe it would add some speed and a bit of skill to that 4th line, and he certainly won’t hurt you defensively. I’d rather play smaller, skilled guys at C where they can freewheel instead of being ground up along the boards.
If taking this route, it frees them up to spend a smaller skilled asset or two (Howard/Hutson) to get a legit 2RD, somewhere somehow if available lol.
Florida going to need really really good March and April’s to make the dance this year.
In the last 14 games played, beginning witn the Toews injury, MacKinnon and Makar have gone full Ricky Bobby.
Nate has gone 7 of his last 14 games without a point, -13 in those 7, even though he scored a ton in the other 7games to keep the productivity up. Going -7 total during the entire stretch is notable in a bad way for someone who was +51 prior.
Makar has gone 8 of his last 14 games without a point, and is -6 during that time
Toews was back tonight, but should he be their real Hart contender? 😉
Do you trust a bunch of >34 year olds having career years to sustain another month while the Top Guns rest up and then be ready for a playoff run?
Brock Nelson is a -8 to start the New Year.
Colorado is not the juggernaut they appear to be.
Connor McDavid:
https://www.theplayerstribune.com/connor-mcdavid-nhl-hockey-canada-edmonton-oilers
Just read this. It puts much of the gnashing of teeth in Oilerville, mine included, into perspective.
Just read it. It’s beautiful and heartfelt. Dude couldn’t even enjoy the damn bachelor party. I hope he can achieve what he wants.
It’s time for Stan for some tough love. Rico, Mangiapane, Janmark. You’re not playing another game so go find a place that might want to play you. And do whatever you have to do to get Breadman on this team and put Nuge at 3c
Here’s a wild stat for you: 40-year-old Alex Ovechkin has scored 1669 points for the Washington Capitals, the same number of points that Wayne Gretzky scored for the Oilers!
It took The Great Eight a total of 1547 games to reach that mark, while The Great One did it in just 696 games.
Gretzky went on to score 918 points for the LA Kings, 21 for the St. Louis Blues and 249 for the New York Ranger before retiring at the ripe old age of 39. I doubt Ovi has another 1100 points in him, but you never know.
The highest number of points any player has scored with a single organization:
Howe, Detroit: 1809
Yzerman, Detroit: 1,755
Crosby, Pittsburgh: 1745
Lemieux, Pittsburgh: 1723
Ovechkin, Washington: 1669
Gretzky, Edmonton: 1669
Sakic, Quebec/Colorabo: 1641
Bourque, Boston: 1506
Crosby is likely the #1 player on this list by the end of his current contract.
Haven’t seen much pickup on this yet, but our Captain just opened up:
https://x.com/PlayersTribune/status/2018459123185336420
What a fantastic article, can’t believe he was so transparent.
Anytime someone talks about Connor not wanting to be in Edmonton, just link this article.
He loves playing hockey in Canada and wants to win with a Canadian market. Let’s hope it’s the oilers.
Go Canada go! Have a feeling there might be some Canada / US fireworks again at the olympics this year.
If he gets a cup he’s not leaving Edmonton
That was awesome! Thanks for sharing.
There are rumors that Artemi Panarin may ask to be dealt as a pure rental to a cup contender because no trade partner can fit in his rumored $15M AAV extension request. The teams that he’ll apparently waive his NMC to join are EDM, COL and DAL. Normally as a rental, it’d just be a 1st rounder and a prospect for someone like Artemi.
But… just 2 days ago, RHD Vincent Iorio was claimed by the Rangers prompting other rumors that NYR is looking to move off RHD Brayden Schneider ($2.2M AAV) or LHD Matthew Robertson ($0.775M AAV born in Edmonton). Schneider is looking for an extension for 1 year @ $4M to take him to UFA or a longer deal @ $5.5-6M AAV and the Rangers are treating him like we treated Broberg. Both Schneider and Robertson are 6’3″ defensive defencemen and around 200lbs.
To make the cap hits work to get Panarin ($11.6 m AAV) and one of those younger D, Ekholm ($6M AAV) is the only one without trade protection. The Oilers would also need to throw in Mangiapane, a prospect or two and/or a draft pick or two to balance the deal.
Is Panarin worth it for a one year rental, cup or bust?
If the Rangers eat half, 5.821 is left, acquiring team would only need cap space for the $5.821 million portion to stay compliant for playoff roster purposes.
Mangiapane 3.6
Henrique 3.0
Pickard 1.0
Janmark 1.45
Those 4 contracts combined are 9.05mil.
Yes, Henrique has to agree to waive. Even still that 6.05mil with the other 3 players.
There’s a path, Bowman did bring Panarin to the NHL.
Mangiapane, Pickard, Akey, 2 2nd rounders.
Janmark shipped to someone on his list or demoted.
Get Henrique to bite on a waive, Bowman can use his hit on a another defender, one from the Rangers or elsewhere.
To add to that, no way do I try to acquire Schneider for the likely high price. Ppl fall in love with the size but Ranger fans know he’s been very poor (but Edmonton’s defensive gurus can fix him, right?)
Trying to extract value before the word really gets out imo.
Would love Panarin for a run
Coach says they do need to change things defensively. Nothing drastic now with two games left but something they need to look at over the break.
Not sure if he’s talking deployment or structure or a combo.
Coach on with Stauff saying the PK goal against was 100% NOT on Bouch and he was exactly where he was supposed to be. He said it was a scouted play they knew was coming with two guys coming off the wall and one was not identified properly but it wasn’t Bouch.
Coach is fibbing. The Oilers had three guys lined up just outside the blueline, with Ekholm in the middle, and McDavid up ice as the tip of the defense.
Eriksson Ek was on the wall on Bouchard’s side. No way that is anybody’s guy but Bouchard’s.
Coach should not insult our intelligence.
On a double break the defense should be checking the opposite sides.
Ekholm needs to do a shoulder check before he pinches up and/or the bench needs to be yelling to Bouchard to pull back hard.
Once Ekholm pinches up Ek has three routes and Bouchard is in no man’s land. He can cut in front, cut behind or stay on the wall. Bouchard has to shade middle because 2/3 of the ice is open with Ekholm left handed.
Yeah, but look at what he did say. He was careful not to blame anyone. Bouch, Ek or McDavid.
I get it, he’s protecting his players, but this answer stretches our credibility. If Bouch is on the same side as the forward – but they “ran the play differently”, it means it was a complete breakdown.
@SportsnetSpec
“I think I speak for everyone in here. He’s one of the greatest teammates all of us have had.” — Leon Draisaitl on goalie Calvin Pickard, who cleared waivers on Monday.
Video :
https://x.com/BleedOilBlue/status/2018412721340035581?s=20
Love the guy. I also loved Ryan but everyone’s time must come
Would Bowman entertain Trotz for coach??
Let’s assume Trotz wanted to coach and would come to Edm, would he be the right guy?
No to the 2nd bit.
Trotz is very firm that he is retiring.
https://www.nhl.com/news/barry-trotz-to-retire-as-predators-gm-after-3-seasons
Friedman suggesting Brendan Shanahan is a leading candidate to replace him.
No. Pass. He’s done as a coach and is horrible as a manager
I presume that, if he’s assigned to the AHL (and he hasn’t been yet and he doesn’t have to be just because he cleared waivers), they don’t make him report any time soon (or at all).
Perhaps they get him down there at some point for a game as he’ll need to play an AHL game before playing another NHL game (again, after he is officially assigned to the AHL).
They have two goalies at the top of the AHL right now and the Condors don’t need Picks.
They may not assign him right away unless they have a use for the cap space or they can get out of using LTIR reserves so they can accrue our the break – sending Pickard and Samanski down over the break (which they can) doesn’t get them out of LTIR, I don’t think – would need a third.
They SHOULD get him assigned to Bako as there is no harm – he still makes his $1MM but and he’s off the roster so we aren’t wasting 20 of the 30 days on the roster he has until he’d need to clear waivers again.
Oilers re-sign Leppanen to a one year 2-way deal. Fantastic news as he was going to be a UFA.
The improvement in his game over two months may be something I’ve never seen before at that level. He went from the worst defensive dman I’d ever seen to a legit top pairing guy who was solid enough defensively.
He’s been out for a month with injury but about to return soon
https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/edmonton-oilers-sign-atro-leppanen-one-year-two-way-contract-extension-nhl-ahl-bakersfield
Quite the AHL pay raise. It makes sense, though, as he would otherwise go back to Europe where he is likely guaranteed more money. Good on him for seeing this through longer, and hopefully this is the kind of depth we can work with.
This is one of the ways that our current owner has always been great – he is fully willing to pay huge AHL salaries (on AHL contracts and on 2-way NHL contracts) as well as bury one-way players in the AHL.
Quinn Hutson’s extension is an example.
Pickard clears waivers – ah, OP already posted, my bad
Bowman et al timed this perfectly. Nobody needs to make a claim on depth goaltending with 2 games remaining before the break.
Looking at the goalie market:
Anaheim wanted an upgrade over Husso or Mzraek behind Dostal but Pickard isn’t definitely better than the 2 vets even though he’s much cheaper.
Carolina has Bussi stealing the #1 job over Andersen and Kotchetkov so now they’re another team running a 3 headed monster too. They’d need to offload one or both of Andersen/Kotchetkov to bring in Pickard.
Ottawa’s situation is stabilized with the return of Ullmark to the #1 slot, Reimer as the newly signed backup and Merilainen back on the farm safe from Jake Sanderson’s bus.
Montreal’s Dobes is tending better, Montembeault is playing two bad games followed by one good game and Fowler is having two good games followed by two bad games so they’re rotating in the rookie and vet since December. They’re yo-yoing the rookie up and down from the AHL but by performance, they really should leave Montembeault in the AHL to work out his issues.
There’s not many other teams in need of a backup goalie right now. Bowman successfully timed the waivers to sneak Pickard down to the AHL. Everyone else either stabilized their golatending or found other patchwork solutions for now. Once the Olympics are over Feb 22, there’ll be a chance to trade Pickard to a playoff bound team.
That may be what the eye test says about the style the Oil play, but as pointed out, until this season, the label of “porous defensively” was unwarranted. It is an unfair label to have applied to previous iterations of this core roster.
As I have said, you can blame the core players, the new players, or the coaching system/structure. Or you can say that shit happens and its a little bit of everything.
Injuries have always been a thing, so that’s not a new issue.
I personally see the coaching changes as being the most significant issue, as we have all seen this team be completely unable to compete against the class of the Central Division.
The Flames have a record of 1-2 against MIN and 1-0 against DAL (yet to play COL), no blowouts. Don’t tell me that the rookies or the bottom 6 are the problem when teams icing rosters with AHL players are having far more success.
Pickard clears!
Not surprised – have been saying for a month he likely clears (although wavered a bit recently).
I presume they assign him to Bako (if they want a call up, otherwise need the cap or get out of LTIR) but think he likely is not forced to go given the goalie situation down there.
He could stay with his family but wouldn’t be able to practice with the team or participate in meetings or anything. Also wouldn’t be able to be recalled until he plays an AHL game.
If they need to call up a goalie it might as well be Ungar not Picks. The best thing still might be to trade him to another NHL team because there really is no need for his services. Could he be a goalie coach for the Condors?
Now that he has cleared, the likelihood of him being traded increases. Another team with AHL needs or wanting playoff insurance could trade for him and assign him immediately to the AHL, like the Oilers did with Ingram.
He’s more valuable to the Oilers than to most other teams. We NEED a #3 who can step up in the event of injury or poor performance.
Not saying I agree with trading him. I am just not sure Bowman thinks the same.
As much as I like Pickard the person, he may be our #5 goaltender at the moment.
I kind of like having Pickard in the org so we maintain some playoff experience. Who knows, it might be Ingram starting and Picks backing up in playoffs. I would rather move Tomkins and run Picks/Ungar in the AHL if they can.
IMO Ungar is a better option.
Taking Pickard aside, its likely to be Tomkins over Ungar – Tomkins has been every good as Ungar in January and with a larger sample size – Tomkins is getting more starts than Ungar right now and that’s directed from the big club.
This team confuses. They seem like they’re treating the regular season as a ‘try things out’ sprinkling in rookies and giving plenty of callups and trying to hone a tactic they failed at in the finals last year despite the tactic not fitting most teams they play. These all look like things that will pay off later.
On the other hand, they refuse to even try some things like Nuge 3c (we say nobody has a role but damned if the Nuge being with 97 isn’t a role in stone).
I personally don’t think it would work, but as Kanye said ‘I guess we’ll never know’.
Half measures all around. Seems like they can’t commit to a direction. It’s not easy during a compact season like this but they’re paid very handsomly to figure it out anyway.
No changes at practice today:
EDM lines — Monday’s practice:
RNH – McDavid – Hyman
Podkolzin – Draisaitl – Kapanen
Savoie – Samanski – Roslovic
Janmark – Lazar – Frederic
Mangiapane
Ekholm – Bouchard
Nurse – Walman
Stastney – Emberson
Regula
Nurse – Walman must be one of the most expensive second pairings in the league no? AI (which is horribly flawed) is telling me that the highest cap hit for a second pairing in the league is shared with Utah and New Jersey, at $14.50M.
Having two lefties seems tough.
It’s really too bad the GM committed to Walman long-term before finding out whether Nurse would waive his NMC to be traded… I’m saying this because I thought it was reported during the summer that the GM had asked Nurse to waive it. Apologies if I’m mistaken.
If Nurse doesn’t waive his NMC, should Bowman try to trade Walman at the trade deadline in the hopes of building a better balance on the back end?
I don’t think there is anything to find out there – they know Nurse is not willing to move.
Friedman reported in the summer that management went to all of the guys with clauses to see where their heads are at but there was some push-back on that reporting that it was too aggressive and Nurse was never approached.
Either way, I think management knows that Nurse will be here through his NMC.
With Ekholm aging, I am not looking to move Walman.
Walman will be worth his cap hit for the next 3-4-5 years.
Not only has the bottom 6 been brutal in the goal share department, even as the 4th line has almost reached saw-off stage they bring next to no impact on the game. Lazar’s line has been better at keeping play in the other teams end in Jan. but that’s it. If we call Lazar, Janny, Fredric the 4th line they have a combined 6 goals. They don’t bruise defensemen, crash the net, drop the mitts on the regular or tilt the momentum.
Clattenburg was noticeable when he was up because that element is missing on the roster. They have no bite. It’s not just Perry’s goals the team misses, he dragged them into a fight. Yes the game has shifted and analytics drive decisions, but it’s still hockey and you need at least one mu<**%ing as*%*€ on your team to tip the emotional scales when needed. Come playoffs they’ll need more than one. Just ask Bill Zito.
Other teams 4 th lines are often very effective against the Oilers. Ours rarely is. Oilers really lack size and bite. It’s why Clattenburg was so noticeable. Oh for a Gudas type 3RD……..
I take sawing off 4th line all day every day. At bare minimum, if the bottom 6 can not be a liability, the top end will win the day most games. Our top is better than almost anyone else’s top.
It’s all moot unless someone can get into Colorado’s ballpark tho.
Colorado dead last in hits btw. They must lack bite.
I’d like to think sawing off the 4th is the floor for a contender. Col is last in hits reflects that they are top in possession %. Their bottom 6 has combined for 6 goals and 15 assists in the last 10 games. Their “bite” I suppose then is they are at least a threat to score.
Apart from Roslovic how does Edm’s bottom 6 positively impact the game? When was the last game the big dogs got to coast?
“Their “bite” I suppose then is they are at least a threat to score.”
I don’t see any of them motherf’ing and tipping any emotional scales like you said.
So you agree, bite doesn’t matter if they are outscoring?
“Col is last in hits reflects that they are top in possession %.”
Over the last 20 games, these are the expected goals%.
1. Corsi god Carolina
2 Edmonton Oilers
3. TBL
4 Colorado
They positively impact the game by playing in the other end. The floor for a contender is to win with 1 line that outscores while the rest don’t lose the game for you. By this basic, they’d win every game. The Oil have 2 outscoring lines, a caved line, and recently a saw off line.
I agree they need a bottom 6 boost to fix the 3rd line only, and if they have snarl, great. Why do the big dogs have to coast exactly? They are not paid to coast.
I would suggest the salary structure of the team does not allow for the depth you ask for but it certainly should be the aspiration.
The blues, often in twelve bar form, are one of the foundational languages of jazz. This is the jazz the Florida Panthers, and most historically good NHL teams. There is an underlying structure to the jazz overlay.
The McDavid Oilers are free jazz, foundationless and unstructured. When it is great, it is mindblowing. When it misfires or goes astray, they have no structure to fall back on.
Well put. I think and have said many times that they need to have a fall back for when the riffs aren’t working
Especially for the normal players. The system they are playing lacks the structure most players need. They have to be able to play two ways, and probably the structured way for the bottom 6 or 9 if Leon is with Connor
I don’t think the system that lacks structure, it’s the players that have to execute the structure within the system. Same goes for abby normal players.
What an excellent write up today LT, including your Athletic piece. I think you captured the heart of the problem.
And because of the (lack of)defensive style of play, the over dependency of top talent, the team will continue to have the highs and lows it has displayed. Is there a way out? Some would say what are you talking about, we are in first place! Or twice to the finals! There is no real problem!
It has been said that some folks care more about the way the team plays over the fact that they win or not. Im in that camp. If a team plays the right way, the right system, as a team, you get consistency and you get the Minnesota Wild. The highs and lows iron out and you get a dependable, repeatable game.
I don’t think the Oilers should change from their offence first game, they are built for this game, but while this game will take them a long way, I propose it wont be enough for the ultimate prize. Observations and backed by numbers presented by LT
The most obvious point of weakness is the poor defensive play, particularly by defensemen who have been considered good defencemen but do not play good defence. (and called out by a #1 goaltender – Jarry)
NHL teams know the key to the Oilers is fast forecheck/turnovers and to own the front of the Oilers net. The Oilers are known as a soft team. They prefer not engage physically, and leak high danger chances.
To my eye, adding another good defenceman is a waste of resources. Within a month he will adapt to the Oilers soft, disengaged style. The Oilers need to change or add a defensive coach that will get back to good defensive habits. Until this change is made, change in systems, change in behaviour, change back to reducing goals against, any further resources spent will be inadequate. There is no single player they can add, at any position that will make up for this coaching deficiency.
I love the high octane play, keep it up, but they must balance this with at least average defending.
Agreed. But not with the Wild being consistent. From my tracking they are erratic, and in a series I think the Oilers prevail. The Oilers are in the place because of winning the west twice and the stars they have that teams are motivated to play them
The best teams play a sound game and that leads to great offense very often, not less. Knoblauch and other coaches have said this. The problem to me is there hasn’t been a Sather, a coach with a big enough personality that isn’t a dink who can lead the stars to play the game that they are going to have to for a Cup
There is being innovative and then there is trying to play in a way that the current players can’t do, which is where I think they are at. All offense isn’t going to work in a capped league because you can’t stack the team enough to do it, like the 80’s Oilers were like
The game really isn’t that different than it has been in a long time. Going back to Bowman convincing Yzerman to play a better two way game, or Trotz convincing Ovi after years of being a Cup favourite and crapping out
Leon gets it often, Connor and Bouch are still wildcards to me. They still don’t seem to get that they can’t always outscore their mistakes, especially the deeper it gets. They set the tone
They do set the tone dont they? Lots of fancy dan sometimes, that others try to emulate but can’t follow. However, everyone can pick their man, everyone can follow that example.
I didn’t hear Jarry single out the D. I heard him say there were a lot of high dangers coming at him.
As has been pointed out here and elsewhere, time & time again, when the Oilers version of Al Jolson wants to sing the hits… it looks bad on the D and the goalies.
There is a disconnect here: McD’s words about making the same mistakes, expecting different results, his defensiveness last year when questioned about the team’s defensive responsibilities, Drai saying he wants Selke consideration.
But McD keeps playing exciting (but defensively irresponsible) offence!
But Drai & Selke haven’t been on anyone’s lips.
But until well into his amazing points scoring streak McD was under or near the waterline +/- (Drai was better. But not Selke better.)
LT’s article today talks about deployment. The focus is on bottom six, but it also serves as a mirror to top six.
Because McDrai play such big minutes, and against elites, they are in large part responsible for where this team —not just the D, not just the goalies— is at 50+ games into the season. They keep doing the same things —often wonderfully, always entertainingly— with the same results.
I may wait forever for these two to have their Yzerman moments, when they recognize that their greatest role as on ice leaders is to compete for Selke. Lead by playing responsibly. Maybe then they will lead this team to a Cup or three. Otherwise, I fear it’s same-old same-old.
I feel for McDavid and Draisaitl in that they have stated “we get paid to score” And they do.
As you point out here, they say they will be better defensively but don’t follow through; and they are on the ice so much they must be better.
Are we asking them to do to much? At what point is someone going to help them out? Either offence or defence?
And then, who can help much if your not getting ice or getting into the flow of that game?
And this comes full circle back to the coach in my opinion. He has to get this sorted out, get his entire team into solid contributors.
As I recall Mark Stuart was a very solid NHL defenseman, who was no stranger to strong defensive play. How his coaching doesn’t reflect this is unusual. Also the cup winning teams had a balance between high octane play and stingy defense, not to mention terrific goaltending. What it comes down to is a consistent collective effort which doesn’t seem to show up until the second season. It is up to Stanley Bowman to get the proper mix of players together and I believe it nessecary for him to help the team acheive it’s lofty goals by using any means at his disposal.
The only way to do that is to find the right mix of players. How can it be a waste of resources to add another defenseman to solidify the blueline, or to add another forward to tweak the forward group in a positive way making it easier for the coach to do his job, because his players are executing the game plan as required. Nobody said it’s going to be easy but it’s all part of the process.
I believe that this team and this pair of on ice leaders knows how to do this. But as much smarter hockey people have said, many times, it’s harder to play responsibly than it is to play offensively.
Last year many worried about “physicality.” In the post-season, physicality showed up.
This year, many —including me— are worried about defensive responsibility. Maybe that’s in the post-season back pocket too, and we’re worrying for nothing as GM, coach, team work through the awkwardness of significant roster churn and getting younger, faster, cheaper?
I’m not wanting to see more churn (trades etc). I’d like to see things settle.
In the meantime, I’m keeping my powder Drai
I don’t think they want to settle on not winning the cup for another season. If they need to improve their personel defensively then do it. “Defense” wins championships, is something smart hockey people have also said. But then again it’s believed a great offense is a strong defense. So finding the right mix of players is paramount.
I knew Savoie was pretty quick but was surprised he won fastest skater yesterday. You can never have enough team speed.
Steve Kelly was very very fast.
Steve Kelly, woof! There’s a bad memory. Obviously skill without talent doesn’t work. I think Savoie’s offence will improve and he is already a good pk guy. I think patience with him his warranted.
He also won the AHL fastest skater at their ASG last year.
Really excited to see how he develops, I’ve enjoyed his well rounded game, hockey IQ along with his speed so far this season for sure.
I honestly think the Goaltenders get left out to dry way too many nights in Edmonton.
Sure they let in some stinkers ( all of them from Skinner to Jarry this year) . So how do they fix the enormous amounts of grade A-B chances this team gives up .
1). Change your breakout system. The short pass to the middle of the ice in front of out goalie is horrifying. Teams coming in are coached on this and are taking advantage. This team rarely goes up the boards. Too many nights they give up 2-3 great chances screwing up that breakout.
2). They have to dump and chase a lot more. If McDvid isn’t carrying it in at Mach 1 ( which is fun to watch), too many of the zone entries are very shallow over the blueline with a quick drop pass or turnaround that a lot of times the other team breaks up causing too many 2-1’, Breakaways etc.
3) The defence overall isn’t very good at defending and are terrible in front of the net way too much. I have no idea what Stuart is coaching them on how to play in front, but it is not working. Way to often rebounds come out front and the D just do not battle hard enough to clear guys out front.
Remedies.
Coaching needs to really be better in all the above aspects. As Well as rebound control of the goalies.
They do need to add physicality on the D core that can help in front and in the corner
Ideally this team goes out and gets a R handed big and physical D man that can play #4 minutes. But Until the coaching fixes some of the above, it will always be the same here.
Oh yes, the stretch pass does not work a lot. Of the time with pickoffs, icing etc
We must have been writing at the same time. Totally agree, particularly with #3 and your remedies.
We used to talk about balance and the balance photo when all positions and roles were not adequately filled.
Now we do have players for roles and positions. So, so much talent they can beat anyone with top of the roster. Balance now has be defending the fort by all means necessary when top of the roster is resting.
I really don’t know what will happen with Picks today – he could get claimed given a few teams have goalie injuries/issues but, at the same time, he very well could clear. Pickard hasn’t had a great season and the injured goalies will return and, with a three week break coming up, teams may not want to add the $1MM of payroll for nothing.
It just takes one, of course.
For me, I hope he clears mainly because the massively exaggerated amounts of vitriol regarding asset management will be insufferable.
Everything negative is exaggerated and catastrophized this season and this would be no execption.
I presume, if he does clear, he’ll be assigned to Bako for cap reasons but they won’t make him report – he’s not “needed” in Bako right now given the term heaters both goalies down there are on – its not like the Derek Ryan situation where the team was decimated and in a playoff spot push and really could have used him.
Capitals? Sens? I suppose those two would be ones most ‘desperate’ for an extra tender.
Ullmark is back and the Sens have Reimer now.
I don’t know what’s going on with Lindgren but Logan Thompson seems fine. If Linderen is going to be out more than a month, sure, maybe, but if he’ll be back after the break, probably not.
Again, there are some teams that MAY put in a claim but he could slide through. I dunno.
Like earlier this season when we had to listen to how McDavid was no longer McDavid, everyone has a piece of the exaggerated negativity pie.
LT, the Oilers were one of the best teams in limiting HD scoring chances against a couple of years ago, and I think top 15 last year? Any idea what’s causing recession? Coaching? Roster turnover?
I think the coach has had a tougher time finding roles for younger forwards, and injuries/erosion of defenseman has arrived after several years of fabulous health. I also think Knoblauch’s Moby Dick is the 2025 final and he keeps moving away from the outlets that work, and has a love affair with the stretch pass that (may) eventually get him fired.
Agreed. Especially regarding the outlets.
This doesn’t really answer your question, but not all HD scoring chances are created equal, so it may also be the types of HD chances that are being created. I’m interested in digging into it a bit further but won’t have time until later tonight.
how long do we think it would take of noone interacting with fibbernaccis posts before he would lost interest.
Not long. But people be people. Me included.
i am just tired of his non oiler related discourse. alas. he has not gone gently into the night as of yet!
Just scroll on past. I used to ‘react’ and also try to correct the couple of way out there’s. The old saying never wrestle with a pig, you both get dirty but the pig enjoys it. Not calling those folks pigs
You literally are the first person to comment since his comment so it probably starts with you. There is a bit of self-mythologizing in the comments about how smart and amazing the community is yet people just can’t seem to resist taking the bait. The bait isn’t even that juicy.
Frank Seravalli
@frank_seravalli
Predators franchise icon and GM Barry Trotz is addressing his team this morning to inform them of his decision to retire.
Thankfully, Trotz’s decision is not health related. Trotz will remain in the post until his successor is found.
Ownership, led by Bill Haslam, has been examining all aspects of team operations in recent months. Haslam and team CEO Sean Henry will answer questions alongside Trotz in a 12pm CT press conference.
I find it interesting that many (myself included) are advocating for call ups of young talent but then complain about ice time and not playing with high end talent.
Yet collectively we acknowledge that the bottom 6 needs help.
Not all bottom 6 answers will come via trade.
Jarventie and Samanski seem like good future bottom 6 guys. I think part of the problem is they call up offensive guys and don’t play them with skill. Jarventie makes more sense playing on the third line than Howard.
just feels like they don’t really know what the 3 line should be still – soft minutes scoring line that doesn’t really score? Shutdown grinding line? Energy?
Jarventie and Samanski could be good bottom 6 guys right now. And they need to not load their top 6 forwards over the top two lines. There’s plenty of talent to have 3 good lines and a fouth ‘no-event’ line.
Im down with that too. Maybe Nuge and Jarventie can be a pair on the third line. The other thing I like about Nuge at center is it forces Knob to play the third line. Until he abandons and loads up the top 6 in the second period
Bowman’s situation is complicated. I’m pretty sure he knows what direction he wants to go in, and asked some players if they would waive. I will not be surprised when roster spots open up he uses players like Samanski and gives them the season to prove they can do it and not be a liability
Goals for are less important than not getting smoked in goal share. I think they would use the rookies but need to balance that with contending. The contracts in place make the pace slower than it might be
I think Samanski is rightly getting notice for his play since his call up, and he may help with the centre position in the bottom 6. The challenge is there are a couple of extra bodies in the bottom 6 blocking young guys from getting a chance. Jarventie is one who is making a lot of noise and could certainly help there.
Not many of the potential call ups are suited for the bottom six, Max Jones is probably the best option. Savoie has made the team and plays a two way game also kills penalties. Samanski fills a need at 3c, has the size to do so, has actually shown he can win draws, is reasonably solid defensively, has some offensive abilities and could eventually take on PK minutes, might be an answer as he can also play wing. Many complain about ice time for the call ups, honestly they get much more TOI in Bako than they should be expected to get in Edmo, so let them play in Bako. No not all bottom six answers will come via trade, it’s more than likely a quicker fix for a team with cup asperations though.
I think that Jarventie could ft in well with Frederic and Lazar and the way they have been playing. Jarventie is a strong puck retrieval and cycle player in the AHL.
He might be an option but there’s potentially many different options to consider.