This is the very first edition of the Bakersfield Condors, way back in the fall of 2015. There are future NHL players (Leon Draisaitl, Darnell Nurse, Jujhar Khaira, Tyler Pitlick, Iiro Pakarinen, Brad Hunt, Jordan Oesterle, Laurent Brossoit) and a few men who were on their way back down from the world’s best league. Please read this.
If you’re going to select a ‘best Condors team’ you should go with this one. Leon Draisaitl’s presence in the AHL was brief and noteworthy, and he alone carries the day against all other editions of Bakersfield’s hockey team. However, there have been some exceptional rookies along the way, and this year’s team is a monster for first-year forwards. Let’s make a list of the best freshman forwards and rank them by points-per-game as rookies:
- Ike Howard 2025-26 (1.40)
- Cooper Marody 2018-19 (1.10)
- Quinn Hutson 2025-26 (1.08)
- Tyler Benson 2018-19 (1.00)
- Viljami Marjala 2025-26 (0.91)
- Matt Savoie 2024-25 (0.82)
- Jesse Puljujarvi 2016-17 (0.72)
- Josh Samanski 2025-26 (0.72)
- Dylan Holloway 2021-22 (0.67)
- Kailer Yamamoto 2018-19 (0.67)
Ike Howard is too good for the AHL, and his position at the top of this list confirms it. He is pushing the river for the best Condors team ever (in my opinion) when on the ice. Howard won’t have an NHL career close to Leon Draisaitl’s, but the Oilers (or another NHL team) will find a roster spot for him. My guess is he has success when the opportunity arrives.
The fact he has not been able to establish himself yet, with all of this talent, suggests his time on an NHL skill line may not last a decade. He’s going to have a larger ‘journeyman’ portion to his career than the Oilers hoped on the day Stan Bowman traded for him.
That is the case for almost all of the men who play a season or more in the AHL. It’s a thing. How long did Kailer Yamamoto get? Three years? Fewer, maybe 2.5 if we’re honest.
We’ve talked about it forever on Farm Workers. I’m going to write the 2026 edition of Farm Workers in the next few days, and rule 2 is “pretty much everyone who is in the AHL past 21 is having some issues and may spend time meandering,” Howard turns 22 in March. He’ll spend years on a skill line, but not as many as you’d want him to.
Cooper Marody and Tyler Benson serve as cautionary tales about overrating AHL offense. Benson’s foot speed (tracked at 33.78 kph, average is 35.45) meant he couldn’t do damage because he couldn’t get to plays and taking ’em wide wasn’t going to work. Cooper Marody was tracked at 33.44 kph, even more daunting in spite of the skill. You have to have the boots.
Matt Savoie has a chance to be the success story in this group. He’s coming on now, has an NHL bottom-six job and enough offense to spend some years on a skill line. I’m not sure his potential as a top-six forward exceeds Howard, but am absolutely certain Savoie is going to have more NHL games in his career due to range of skills. The AHL teaches you important things, Savoie learned enough of those lessons to make a go of it. I don’t believe Howard has that gear.
Dylan Holloway didn’t set the world on fire offensively as a rookie, and he had some things to learn. As a fantastic athlete, what was needed from him was the ability to score goals at a rate that could thrust him into the top-six. He found that gear. He’ll play a long time, barring injury.
People mock or down play Kailer Yamamoto as an NHL player, but man he did some grand things on a line with Leon Draisaitl. He has a good season going now with the Utah Mammoth and I do believe he’ll find a way to play in 500 NHL games. I’ll guess Holloway, Savoie and Howard exceed that total from this group. Respect Yamamoto. He’s small but has the heart of a lion.
That brings us to Quinn Hutson, Josh Samanski and Viljami Marjala. This is a fascinating trio. I know we might think we know their future, but we do not. We can’t overrate Hutson’s AHL offense, because his college career didn’t imply it. We can say he’s a terrific player at that level out of the box, and that his range of skills makes him an easy winger to elevate to the NHL as a third- or fourth-line winger. I like his future plenty, and will guess he gets a long look as soon as there’s an opportunity.
Viljami Marjala has some magic on his stick, and is more than the numbers from Europe implied. He can play. I don’t know if there’s ever going to be room on a skill line with the Oilers, and I think others will be chosen for depth roles in the future. We’re going to have to let him tell us what he is, and that’s not yet in clear view.
Josh Samanski reminds me of a Glen Sather acquisition. Back in the olden days some guy would show up from Europe and he’d be Jaroslav Pouzar. I’d never seen the like. He was a steamroller on skates. Not fast, but opponents would get caught in his tracks and he’d run right over them like a steamroller. Delightful addition! I think that’s what Samanski is, and will be. I don’t know where he’ll play, I don’t know if he’ll score 5 or 15 goals a year. I do know that Josh bleeding Samanski is a real center, has good size and owns below average foot speed (34.36 kph via NHL Edge but it’s only 5 games) but looks plenty fast to me. We need to let him show us who he is. I think he’s quite something.
On the Lowdown today, it’s the return of Steve Lansky and we’ll talk Olympics and the Oilers with Steve. The Super Bowl is coming up this weekend and the Oilers haven’t fired a coach yet. We’ll talk all about it noon to 2pm today on the Lowdown, Sports 1440 and You Tube.
Is Edmonton Oilers forward Jack Roslovic worthy of a long-term contract?
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7022530/2026/02/06/edmonton-oilers-jack-roslovic-stats-contract-projection/
Depends on the cap… but if the GM is going to insist on bidding against himself, I’d rather cut bait in the offseason and try to find the next low-cost low risk Roslovic for 2026-2027.
I think most free agents will play the market better than Roslovic did in 2025.
Yes, but caution as you suggest.
In my opinion, the best thing Jack can do is continue to play his game. By that I mean, do not become too Oilerized, deferring to the big guns, playing perimiter hockey. The team needs more flavour, different skills, pieces, so stick with his game.
He is not a hitter, but loads of speed, can transport the puck, can fill in all over the line up.
Can Nuge and Jack become a solid pair for the third line and get over 50% goal share? I think they can.
I remain concerned about Jack’s goal share. The Canes needed offense and still let their leading 5v5 scorer go. The Oilers need more Podzses not more that won’t defend often enough
If Bowman sees him as a stopgap because they need some forwards that can transport, fine, until someone better arrives
2yrs 3million, otherwise put him in a trade package.
He has a No Movement Clause, so unless he approves a trade out, he’s on the NHL roster.
4 team trade list actually
Ok, if he raises a stink not getting what he wants, scratch him and tank his earning ability further.
It’s not difficult to sort these things out.
Or, of course, one could simply play the man who, despite these inconsistencies, is scoring at a near 30 goal per 82 game pace this season and is likely to go on another goal scoring heater before the season is over.
3 of his 15 goals on the PP.
Yes, Oilers can definitely play him, they could trade him, they could sign him. I’ve never talked down what he’s been doing on the ice, I leave that in your capable hands lol
Your suggestion was, if he didn’t sign the contract you would be comfortable with they should trade him and if he causes an issue they should tank his value.
Not quite the same as playing him and hoping he contributes to a solid stretch drive and playoff run….
I’m very curious about the numbers you posted, Roslovic and Savoie (and especially these two w Samanski). Very small sample, but one of the few things shining brightly in recent games, to my eyes.
Anything else you can tell us about R&S, and RSS, viz the numbers? Or have your analytics pal Rachel dig into “Roslovic with youth/rookies?”
It’s too small a sample to drill down on at this point.
Thanks.
Those clowns at NHL are up to their usual biased ways.
Article about hockey being back after 12 years, flag bearers from the NHL, interviews… one picture out of three for hockey players carrying the flag.
I can maybe understand Finland, the only non NHL player.
Back at the Olympics and still a Betman show. Watch the refs not call IIHF rules to benefit America. Why else would they leave their top 3 scorers off the team?
A double deflection on a point shot makes it 2-1 Reign in the 2nd.
That’s 4 straight goals against the Condors on deflections, 3 of them off Condors.
Summarizing! (Part Uno)
Fischer picked up two assists.
Nicholl scored the OT winner for his 5th goal of the season.
Barnett notched his 3rd of the year. Park drew an assist on it.
Berry, Wakely and Lewandowski were not resoupients.
Lafreniere’s match is in progress.
Summarizing! (Part the Second)
Lafreniere connected on the PP for his 30th and added a helper.
A shot from the sideboards is tipped on its way to the net and beats Tomkins – the Reign are on the board half way through the second.
1-1
Condors with a hard forecheck at the blueline and the Reign turn it over and Prokop’s absolute sifter from the blueline makes it 1-0 on the game’s first shot.
No hockey?
Thunderstruck
https://x.com/DudespostingWs/status/2019819330930897210?s=20
(Concert for Banjo Mandolin, Spoons and Anvil)
Johnathan Goldsmith needs to pass the torch to Leon Draisaitl as the new most interesting man alive.
What is going to become of Trent Frederic and his infinity contract? A Stanley Cup contender can’t afford a 4th line player making his cap hit. I doubt Frederic walks away from the contract. What options do the Oilers have? Who would want Frederic for that long at that cap hit? It’s a major anchor to this team becoming a contender for the next few years. He hasn’t shown any ability to play in the top 9. The injury has impacted his performance long term and possibly permanently. What say you?
Trent has shown improvement in skating since November. He’s likely to continue improvement and hopefully add some confidence and puck luck. He’s had several very good chances on net the last ten or so games after maybe 2 all year.
Time will tell but if he can become a two way 12-15 goal third line winger and penalty killer then he’s probably worth the contract. Plus he adds toughness and he seems very well liked by his teammates. He’s not 30 + year old vet with only more cliff ahead ( Janmark Henrique )
If not he’s a forth line winger overpaid by 2 million. All teams have that useless money.
I think we have to assume that Frederic will be better next year. I think this is still an injury thing.
How much better? That remains to be seen.
I agree with you that it’s “still an injury thing.” But I’m pessimistic that it’ll improve.What were they thinking with that contract? Due diligence was not done.
I’m more concerned with the Walman contract than I am with the Frederic contract.
Akey returns to the lineup.
Tomkins starts (presumably Ungar tomorrow).
Seems like burying the lede. Not encouraging. Still, the prediction is that he plays 500+ NHL games?
The problem with the McDavid Oilers is that the President, GM, coach, and the player leadership group are acting at cross purposes.
They are all rowing hard, well-intentioned, but in different directions, and as a result, going nowhere fast.
This is why they end up making personnel and roster blunders.
It will be next to impossible to win a Stanley Cup without organizational alignment.
The problem with the McDavid Oilers is that the President, GM, coach, and the player leadership group are acting at cross purposes.
Are they?
Does your hypothesis come with detail on what these version purposes are?
6 News
@WJACTV
BREAKING UPDATE | Prosecutors in Centre County say they will be withdrawing the felony aggravated assault charge against Penn State’s star hockey player Gavin McKenna.
You don’t know the whole story until you know the whole story.
NHL News
@PuckReportNHL
Gavin McKenna’s felony aggravated assault charge has been dropped by prosecutors.
Upon further review of video evidence, prosecutors believe that McKenna “did not act with the intent to cause serious bodily harm nor did he recklessly act with extreme indifference to the value of human life.”
Perhaps Henrique’s value on the PK is under-stated?
Good question. Do you have the numbers, PK w and w/out Henrique, at hand?
I got skewered on here for suggesting this possibility when Rico went down. I was most concerned at the faceoffs. I’d love to see some numbers on this also.
VERY high level, Oilers give up 6.82GA/60 with Henrique on the 4X5 and 9.27 GA/60 with him not on the ice.
This does NOT take in to account PP1 vs PP2 but I do believe Henrique starts most PKs so likely lots of PK1 in there.
Thanks
It’s not the personnel it’s our formation. Allowing an unimpeded shot from the Huberdeau goal is dumb and has cost us on many occasions.
I would consider the possibility that the personnel not executing is an issue over a structure that allows open shots from the flank.
Not see the forest for the trees.
Thr PK structure for all of last season and this season has been a disaster, Stuart runs a shit PK.
Last season the Oilers ran a much different pk. It was also used the year before with stellar results but teams adjusted. This year is a more standard structure but most teams are more aggressive.
The oil players seem caught in the middle of being passive and aggressive being close to cutting off seems but not quite. Allowing players behind them while also not pressuring the puck. Maybe that’s why Henry seemed good because he can’t be aggressive?
The flames are excellent on the pk. Same structure but super aggressive.
Stuart has to figure it out!
Was Stuart running a shit PK when it was over 90% during a run to game 7 of the SCF?
That’s a dumb take.
You’re welcome to have your own opinion that still allowed. Tell me why our PK cost us a cup last year? Why is our PK costing us 1st place in our division by sucking hind tit at no 27 in the league?
Considering there has been at least 1 pk goal in 43% (25) of their games and 18 (72% of 25) of those games they lost by more than the pp goals against or win, the pk is the the reason why they are where they are.
To be a top 10 team in the league in pk, they would have had to stop 4.6 more goals all season.
There has been 19 games where they face scored 2 goals or less.
That is just as likely if not more to be the reason they are where they are.
I use the recent Minny game as an example of how those 2PP goals by Minny in the 1st sucked the life out of an Oiler team that was looking really good. It’s all about momentum we win that Minny game we probably roll over Toronto instead of giving up 2 timely PK goals as well as 2 PK goals against Calgary in the 1st. All it takes is a goal here and there to snowball and derail a winning streak and turn into a losing streak.
Howard is an interesting debate. You have a player who has been a top 6 winger and PP regular his whole life, and then when he gets to the hardest league in the world, you ask him to play 10 minutes a night with risk averse, dump and chase players*. So it is incredibly hard to evaluate if he is going to be a successful NHL player unless you play him in the role he has succeeded at in all the other leagues he has played.
*I would say his time with Roslovic and Savoie was a soft attempt at this as they are both offensive players but Roslovic isn’t really a center and Savoie is still growing his NHL offensive chops
All comes back again to the coach’s deployment strategy. While I can understand wanting to put 97 in the best possible circumstance (w/93) there was a price to pay. You now only had 2 lines that you trusted and you consciously decided you were only going to develop 1 rookie, not 2 this year.
I also think that Nuge’s numbers the last few games show he can’t sustain playing 18-20 minutes a night anymore (age). If you moved him to 3C, you could have developed 2 rookies, managed Nuge’s minutes (give him some PP and some PK minutes) and had more to show for it by having 4 lines with an identity.
Howard should have been inserted in the Leon spot on the PP instead of Walman. This offensive dynamo is asked to play basically the same role as Clattenburg which is a 8-10 minute energy player with low event play ( no mistakes or your benched) I do hope he’s traded and he lands on a team that gives him a honest chance unlike here where his Coach is killing his career before it even starts.
Yeah i don’t mind the savoie trade in a vacumn but hate it on a “what happened last season and what are slight tweaks we might need?” level building for sucess.
1. Broberg may or may not be solution -> metrics not great with nurse but how might that be after a full season -> sign that man pronto and find out if you developed answer 3 millionx2 years with clear promise if startimg season in planned top 6D that would sureky be done.
.
2. Holloway 2×2 top 9 winger, with some goal scoring ability, speed to burn and hits like crazy (i would be okay letting foegle walk and starting plan this is 3LW top 9 early season auditioning.
3. Mcleod just had his breakthrough season as journeyman 3C. Like playing it for real style starting more defensively, outchancing/outscoring, pk solidly established, speed to burn, the mcdavid lite zone entry. Small sample size eberle’d knee jerk reaction over wisely grasping he is still year over year improving he’s ideal solid cheap bet to cover need possibly not yet at actual ceiling even.
4. Sign henrique? Maybe on a 1 year under market rate as surely he’s thirsty and this seems like a decent fit/best chance to lift stanley before career ends.
What did they actually need?
1. If you could get it a 2nd pairing actual shutdown rock solid hard nosed defensive D (gudas was my wish list but he gad no interest signing here unfortunately) -> likely a deadline add might be best fit need
2. A better 1A/1B goalie bet -> preferably one who plays puck better and is more aggressive on shooters, ideally with some size, more athletic with potential of higher ceiling than pickard.
3. A Mcdavid winger in suitable style protype of what you know works. 2 options
I) Good at cycling and getting to dirty areas with stick on ice quick release or rebound pouncing
II) a kurri lite type of some variety (ideally defensive reaponsible guy who is good at sniping…like sneaky good at getting open in dangerous areas with a +shot and be amazing if solid 200 ft…but that likely aaking too much even if it can just be deadly offensive end to degree Drai frees up more utility type time)
2024 offseason targets
Shiney biggest signing targets
Wing/center addition
1.mantha
2. tarasenko
3. Terovainen (over henrique)
4. Toffoli (likely woukdn’t sign here)
Deadline…likely not biggest need
Defenseman
-> pass give broberg his chance stetcher good 7D bet. Klingberg was great gamble that worked. Walman at deadline might have been enough if team left more intact to repeat.
Goalies….the lists are insane 2024/2025 offseason cheap signings. No offense to picard but just clearly at price or less of jarry it should have been skinner and someone (i’m pissed they missed jumping on Lyon before sabres turned it around. He was my target and they were kicking tires just hesitated and lost chance…because they are in such an embarrasing mess capwise.
Ugh anyway i think they severely handicapped their potential longer teem competitiveness 2024/2025 in ways it might not be recoverable easy or in time. What waw needed was out there and out there pretty cheap if they woukdn’t have chosen to toss so many cards in hand hoping to draw wild cards in bad bets.
Like mantha just makes so much sense and he signed cheap 1 yr calgary….we went with older, slow, small skinner and coming off injury ardvisson for more money and longer. Just insane.
Draisaitl is right.
This is not the same team that went to the finals last year. And it’s certainly not the same team that lost by 1 goal in game 7 in 2024.
That team was primed to contend for the next 5 years. And then somebody (Jackson) panicked. He decided the Oilers had the wrong mix. Needed more veteran grit. So out went McLeod, Holloway and Broberg. And in came Henrique, Arvidson and Skinner. And Bingo, the Oilers became smaller, slower and more expensive! Bowman has been trying to correct those mistakes since he became GM, but it’s a tall task.
Everytime I see a poster defending the McLeod trade, or ragging on Broberg or Holloway for accepting those offer sheets, I just shake my head and think what could have been.
And now I doubt it’s ever going to happen.
Broberg was working on his exit for years, Holloway thought the Oilers would bite, Savoie is ahead of the pace with what McLeod was producing as a 22yr old.
The Oilers have a gaping hole at 3C. It was a bad ill-conceived trade.
We thought we had filled that hole with Rico. Remember, a year and a half ago he re-signed with us for a discount. (The Jets offered him $1M more per year.)
It was a good bet that didn’t turn out.
Replacing McLeod with Henrique was never a good bet, McLeod was already better. And that’s before you even consider aging curves
The coach runs his 3C for about 8 to maybe 10mins a game, Savoie is covering his end. The coach should consider covering his.
Broberg was an RFA. It was the Oilers choice whether to keep him or not. All they had to do is match the offer sheet , pay him and play him and we now would have a 1st pairing shut down dman to play with Bouchard for the next 10 years. Instead we have a 7 million dollar Walman, who seems to be a bit of an airhead. At times his awareness and urgency level seems to make Bouchard look panicky by comparison.
There is no plausible reason why the Oilers didn’t match the Holloway offer sheet. That still boggles my mind.
Comparing McLeod to Savoie is apples and oranges. One had established himself as an NHL center with tons of skill and upside, the other is an undersized winger with some offensive potential. If we agree the McDavid window had truly opened with that first Finals appearance, why would you trade the young guy who is already contributing in a substantial way?
This.
Exactly.
Why trade McLeod? Because McLeod was a perimeter guy whose game largely disappeared in the playoffs. IIRC, that was the consensus here at Lowetide.
The only thing that matters on this team is whether you’re a playoff guy. I don’t think McLeod was. Savoie plays the right way, and looks like he might be a playoff guy.
Sure he’s a perimeter guy. So is Nuge, if we are being honest.
But he’s a perimeter guy who’s effective in all game states, and he plays 82 games a year.
Probably somewhat due to him being a perimeter guy.
You don’t need 20 blood and guts guys to be a good team. The Oilers should have valued McLeod for what he was, and should not have got so worked up about what he wasn’t.
Do you really think Savoie is going to be a physical grinder for the next 10 years in the NHL?
Nuge is not a perimeter guy lol
The point of not matching was because they had no room for Bouchard at 10M the next year with that. They believed (rightfully) that Bouch would get an offer sheet which Carolina had geared up to do, hence the 4 year deal for #2. Kane gave them no clue as to his status which didn’t help things.
They had handcuffed themselves enough that losing Bro was preferable to losing Bouch. I agree with that assessment, while also condemning the org for getting caught with their pants down.
Even after the offersheet milk had spilt, they could have traded Kulak. They knew they had time because Kane was going to be gone till at least the new year.
Broberg had been crying for multiple years, the Oilers didn’t match.
Holloway took a short term bump over another Stanley cup run with which would of brought an even higher pay day.
Savoie is out skilling McLeod at his current pace, he has tons of upside, he already is a very good PKer aswell, with much more offensive upside to his game.
It was a hockey trade, a player heading towards a significant salary bump for a desperately needed entry level contract, who adds all sorts of benefits for the Oilers. It’s a wash.
It might not. There is a lot to the McLeod trade. I can’t remember if it was Stauff or where I heard it, but Ryan was having some off ice stuff, emotional iirc, but it was public if not widely known
He also got owned in goal share 5v5 his last Oiler playoffs. When I heard the off ice thing, I thought with the two things he was gone, and he was. This season McLeod and Savoie each have 5 5v5 goals, Savoie in less TOI, McLeod playing 2C
I do miss McLeod’s skating though
Of course he was having some off ice issues. His brothers legal situation had to be weighing on him.
Bottom line is that he was the perfect 3C for this team moving forward, and his usage there would have kept his counting numbers down and his next contract cheaper.
Jeff Jackson decided Adam Henrique was better, and the Oilers have been trying to replace McLeods skill set ever since.
I think that was definitely a factor, but it wasn’t all about that. NHL teams are pretty touchy about certain things. I recall when Hall said he wanted to get the stench of the season off him or whatever and I also thought he was gone
He needed a fresh start and I would say his agent made this known to the Oilers management.
Draisaitl says, with attitude to those who weren’t paying attention last summer, the obvious. Who imagined this was the same team as the 2025 SCFinalists when, at one time early this season, there were up to 11 (?) new faces on the roster?
As you say, Bowman has been working double-time to get this team younger/faster/cheaper. This new team is going through growing pains. It’s fugly. But praise the Hockey Gords— they’re competitive in a weak division (16/32 overall).
On the other hand, the Panthers (who’ve had a fine run of three SCFs and two Cups) have pretty much the same team as last year, not so different from the 2024 Cup winner. This season they’re older/slower/more expensive. They’re ranked 8th in a very competitive Atlantic division (22/32 overall).
To our host’s question in The Athletic, Where does a Jack Roslovic fit in this new team? He’s faster. He’s currently cheap. He’s not yet too old. My interest lies in the hint of chemistry he’s showing with Savoie, and especially w Savoie and Samanski. Is that trio a significant part of the identity of this new team? If so, what is the $ budget for that third line, with pieces (Roslovic, Savoie, RNH) that can move up-down to first line? If Roslovic’s early numbers with Savoie and Samanski remain consistent (through whatever postseason this Oilers team has), he has value beyond the obvious.
You’re missing the obvious:
“The Panthers’ season has been marred by injury.
Coach Paul Maurice recently pointed out that Florida has more man-games lost due to injury in the first 55 games this season than they did the last two seasons combined.
This week they completed a game without eight regulars from their Cup-winning lineup, including all four centers absent.”
https://www.hockey247.com/2026/02/06/florida-panthers-2026-first-round-pick-is-protected
Or, you’re missing the obvious.
Barkov, 30 – 53 games missed
Nosek, 33 – 53 games missed
Kulikov, 35 – 51 games missed
Jones, 31 – 13 games missed
Gadjovich, 27– 43 games missed
Sebrango, 24– 7 games missed
Lundell, 24 – 1 game missed
Age leads to injuries
Age, combined with physical play?
We, fans, love rambunctious play. But is it sustainable? What happens when a player who’s made a name as a rambunctious player realizes they need to dial it back in the regular season, so they have something to offer in the post season? In some markets there will not be much patience for this. (I’m wondering if Frederic fits this description?)
Also guaranteed contracts.
Agreed. Big injury woes. But these are across the league, not just Florida.
On the Oilers side, maybe not so many, but certainly significant.
Hyman out showed how valuable he is to team success. His return didn’t turn things around, but it was a start.
The real kicker was RNH (for some of the same time that Hyman was out). His return did mark the turn in the team’s fortunes, coming at the “after Nov 25” point leading to a strong Nov 26-Dec 25 run.
But perhaps an unnoticed injury-effect has been Henrique. We may just now be realizing how important he is to the fortunes of this club. PK woes have been a significant story of the team’s floundering of late.
Florida hit far worse than any other teams since so many injuries were simultaneous but Vegas has actually lost more man games.
Oilers on the lower end of the scale.
https://nhlinjuryviz.blogspot.com/2025/10/202526-team-injury-breakdowns.html
It takes a lot of blood sweat and tears to make 3 Finals in a row
Yeah it does but their injury situation goes beyond that this season.
Losing all 4 centres at the same time is just pure bad luck.
At the time there was plenty of discussion on the cap implications of the next contract for all 3. Would be an interesting exercise to look at the Oilers salary cap with those 3 in and their replacements out. How real were those concerns?
I’d love to see that breakout! I’m also interested in how teams budget for lines, not just individual players. I looked at four clubs last week and their bottom six budgets. I’m curious if anyone has done the accounting for top six, for top four D pairings, etc?
Of course, Jackson never decided that Broberg and Holloway were out – the plan was always to get them signed even after adding what many thought was solid additions to the top 6 wing.
Everyone’s reasonable projection for the RFA contract for Hollway and Borberg were closer to $1MM than $2MM.
I’m fairly certain that McLeod for Savoie was not in the name of getting a veteran but, yes, part of it was b/c they thought the veteran they had (and re-signed) could full 3C for a couple of years.
By signing Henrique, Arvidson and Skinner, Jackson left himself open to the offer sheets. That should have been a fireball offense.
The Oilers have never recovered from Jacksons brief career as GM
Sure, he “left himself open” but that is not the same as saying he decided to replace young players with vets which the original post implied and all but expressed.
Not everyone.
Most could see the bigger amounts coming for months.
Not everyone’s reasonable projection. I first mention the offersheet problem in the middle of the Stanley Cup finals.
Hutson-Savoie-Howard these players do not really fit the Bowman MO. Samanski definitely looks like a bottom 6 player from the Hawks days. I can see 2 of the above mentioned traded especially when our Coach has no use for Hutson-Howard.
Bowman loves skilled players, they most likely don’t all stick but the more tickets in the raffle the better.
If the GM keeps bringing in talent, it’s the coach that’s going to run out of tickets.
Go back and look at the Hawk roster from Bowman’s heyday. Bottom 6 consisted of over 200 pound 6 foot plus forwards that had skill-speed with a threat to score.Two of Hutson-Savoie-Howard will be traded by the deadline next year.
Bowman shopped in the opportunity isle, and picked up some good players. I agree he would have picked up some more beef but nothing was available. Still, adding to your organization is very important, not all make it, and some will end up traded but that is a good thing. Found money.
Good point. Bowman is getting what he sees as better players, even if not exactly what he wants. I like that he won’t do deals that he doesn’t like, have to make sense
Bowman is always on the hunt from Sea to Sea almost the opposite of Holland who liked players he was familiar with just ask Mikey Green-A-A-Erne etc
Exactly so saying skilled players don’t fit Bowmans MO is just wrong. He flips every rock for a skilled hockey player that can contribute, big,small,slow,fast,heady,heavy,doesn’t matter.
Either Howard gets slotted in the right role or he needs to be traded while the shine of his Hobey Baker is still bright. I do think it’ll be cement hands Savoie that’s traded. Hutson and Howard can score. As for Savoie he could be the sweetener in a dumped contract or fetch a sandpaper gamer.
There is another option, develop the player and help him create a fulsome skill-set that will have NHL coaches trust him with more minutes against tougher competition.
One might think this is a good opportunity to remind you that winning the Hobey Baker, in a players’ third full year in college has not been indicative if immediate NHL success in the past.
Howard should be a big part of this team’s secondary scoring for a long time – he’s on his way to getting there.
Just think how much better that little forward known as Mr.Saturday Night in Montreal would be if he played 4th line 8-10 minutes a night as an energy player.
In his actual rookie season, Caulfield averaged 16:41 TOI/G and scored 23 goals and 43 points.
Talent meet opportunity.
Cole Caufield s NOT a comparable for Issac Howard – he was 2 tiers ahead as a prospect – Caufield’s 19 year old season was better than Howard’s 20 year old season.
geezus.
Exactly my point.
Last dozen Hobey Baker winners:
2025 – Issac Howard
2024 – Macklin Celebrini
2023 – Adam Fantilli
2022 – Dryden Mackay (G)
2021 – Cole Caulfield
2020 – Scott Perunovich (D)
2019 – Cale Makar (D)
2018 – Adam Gaudette
2017 – Will Butcher (D)
2016 – Jimmy Vesey
2015 – Jack Eichel
2014 – Johnny Gaudreau
It would seem a significant majority of these winners have an immediate impact in the NHL and many have played hundreds of NHL games.
Perhaps the closest comparable at the moment might be Adam Gaudette who scored 30 goals and 60 points in his third and final season at Northeastern while Howard scored 26 goals and 52 at Michigan State although Gaudette is a couple of inches taller and bit heavier.
Howard is miscast it’ll all come out in the wash once he’s traded or K.K is fired and the new Coach deploys him in the proper batting order.
Sigh, read the post again and note the qualifier of third year in college.
Take a look at those that won it as teenagers versus 20 year old seasons.
There are some who won it after 1 year, 2 years, 3 years and 4 years.
Selecting for that specific condition is nonsense.
Yes, there are and check out the splits of NHL impact and timing of NHL impact with those ages.
My god, you know VERY well age of prospects s very important – you it all the time – intentionally dense.
Okay.
Player – OP Mandate – Rookie NHL season
Johnny Gaudreau – 3 years NCAA – 80GP 24G 40A 64P
Jack Eichel – 1 year NCAA – 81GP 24G 32 A 56P
Adam Gaudette – 3 years NCAA – 56GP 5G 7A 12P
Cale Makar – 2 years NCAA – 57GP 12G 38A 50P
Cole Caulfield – 2 years NCAA – 67GP 23G 20A 43P
Adam Fantilli – 1 year NCAA – 49GP – 12G 15A 27P
Macklin Celebrini – 1 year NCAA – 70GP – 28G 53A 63P
Issac Howard – 3 years NCAA – 28GP 2G 3A 5P
All of the above players were the same age/experience or younger than Howard in their rookie seasons.
As I said, Howard is most closely tracking with Adam Gaudette who has carved out an NHL career spanning 346 GP and is currently 4LW with the San Jose Sharks while now being on his 5th NHL team.
Of course development is often not linear and perhaps Howard pops but suggesting it’s only age holding him back defies logic.
I was watching the Pens-Sabres game yesterday and only posting this because this blog is one of the few I know that really appreciates prospects and feel-good stories about prospects. There is a former Oiler connection though.
The Pens had a few players out of the lineup for various reasons and made an emergency call-up of Avery Hayes. He’s 23-years old, undrafted and was originally signed to an AHL contract in ’23/24 and then the Pens signed him to an NHL 2-way contract at the beginning of this season. He does his rookie lap in warmups, then proceeds to get his first NHL goal on his first shot in the first period. He scores his second goal later in the period. The Pens end up winning 5-2, with their other rookie Ben Kindel scoring 2 of those goals. They were named 1st & 2nd stars respectively, in Buffalo.
Hayes is the third Pen to score multiple times in their NHL debut with former Oiler Rob Brown being the first to do it back in 1987. He also becomes the 7th NHLer to score multiple goals in the first periods of their debuts (4th since 1917), and the 12th undrafted player to score multiple goals in their NHL debut since the draft began. The kid and his family must be over the moon right now.
I just thought this was a cool story about a young guy keeping the faith after being undrafted and trying to make his way through all the leagues to get to the show, then having an amazing debut as a reward.
A-Very Good NHL Debut | Pittsburgh Penguins
We always cheer for the underdog success story. I had missed that last night, thank you for the background LNOF.
Nice.
There are a few other feel good stories this season.
20 year old Emmitt Finnie drafted in the 7th round by Detroit made the Wings out of camp and has played all 58 games this season.
Another 7th round pick, Zakhar Bardakov thriving in Colorado.
Undrafted Braeden Bowman a regular in Vegas
I wear 44 in honour of Rob Brown but unfortunately he never played for the Oilers. He did play for the Kamloops Junior Oilers, according to hockey db.
Avery Hayes is a great story and I was left wondering why we never seem to have stories like that. I remember David Oliver getting two points in his debut in 94-95 and Rem the Gem won Rookie of the month for October the following season (or maybe 96-97). Maybe it’s just confirmation bias on my part.
I don’t know why I was thinking Rob played for the Oilers haha! Thanks for clarifying. I guess because he’s been around the team for so long on the analyst side I was thinking he played with the Oilers also. I listen to GYB and enjoy his insights.
44 is a great number, my son wore it. 🙂
“Avery Hayes is a great story and I was left wondering why we never seem to have stories like that.”
Josh Samanski made his debut literally this year. Pure chance stopped him from scoring on that first shot.
Is the key undrafted? Vinny Desharnais didn’t speak english and debuted 7 years after drafting. Brandon Davidson took 6. Quinn Hutson debuted last year undrafted and scored his first goal this year on his first real callup.
Charlie Huddy, CuJo, and Adam Oates were all undrafted.
I’ll lend you the rose coloured glasses and it’ll even everything out for ya.
I agree that being undrafted is a factor because it affects our reasonable expectations of the player and to what extent they seem to “come out of nowhere.”
I think there’s a difference between almost scoring like Samanaski did and then scoring twice like Hayes did, but I take your point: I could use some rose-coloured glasses.
FYI, Brown never played for Oilers, but grew up in Edmonton
Yup, in my mind I thought he had played for them later in his career, probably because of the connection he has to the city and to the Oilers as an analyst. Thanks for clarifying.
We always here it with Oilers prospects over the last number of years: they need to learn to change their games and find the ability to help in a 2-way role or the PK as they won’t see top 6 time or PP time as an Oiler.
I ask, why?
The Oilers are not so deep that players should be able to play in their top 6.
Of course, McDavid and Drai are locked and Hyman as well. That’s three spots in the top 6 that should be up for grabs. I mean, Kap and Podz are doing well in the top 6 but can they also not do well on the 3rd line if a younger player with skill shows he can play in the top 6?
Do other organizations develop their skilled offensive players to find roles outside their top 6?
Why do the Oilers need a top 6 (other than McD and Drai on lines 1 and 2). They have enough talent to have a real top 9, if they move a couple of top 6 players in the third line. Then add in Howard, Savoie, Samanski, Hutson as needed. Give line 3 more minutes than now, cut back lines 1 and 2 marginally, and then the Oilers will be cooking.
I’d love to see Nuge between Podz and Kap on the third line.
Henrique-McDavid-Hyman
Savioe-Drai-Roslovic
Podz-Nuge-Kapanen
Janmark-Lazar-Samanski
I’m sure I’ll be ducking thrown tomatoes for suggesting Henrique on the top line, but he’s a decent winger and we need depth. Howard or Hutson could also fit in somewhere.
Henrique scores at Janmark rates, and Janmark is a useless sack of roster waste.
He’s been mostly bottom 6 with minimal minutes for quite some time. We’ve been over this a bunch of times on this site. Do these guys get no minutes because they don’t outscore, or do they not outscore because they get no minutes? Pretty hard to get into a rythym when you sit for 10-15 minutes between shifts. Henrique has utility and I’m trying to spread things around.
There’s no way someone can look at Henrique and think top line player anymore. Running his dead legs on a McDavid line seems like cruel and unusual punishment for all.
He’s late to the play, he passes to no one with any amount of pressure applied, Henrique was suppose to center a skilled 3rd line, everyone’s offense dies alongside him. Slotting him beside McDavid is not the answer. He’s producing the same offense as Janmark, Janmark is as much as an answer as Henrique is. They’re both 4th line PK specialists at best and I’m a Janmark fan.
I’m not sure 29 & 28 work long-term on the same line because they both want the puck on their stick (although 28 will fire it). Part of what makes Podz effective on that line is he can bang and retrieve pucks and is defensively responsible.
Would rather move 28 down w/Nuge, bring up Howard to run with 97 & 18. Bench Janmark, move Rico down to line 4 w/Lazar and Samanski.
Now on the PK, you have 22, 92, 93, 42, 20 and 19. And 81 can also help.
That’s part of it – why do young offensive minded skilled players NEED to play in the bottom six. Why can’t they have an opportunity to establish themselves as top 6 players when their primary skillsets related to offensive production?
If they do establish themselves in the top 6, than means it bumps players like Nuge, Podz, Kap down to the third line creating that depth.
Do most other orgs not allow their 20-22 year olds opportunities in the top 6.
is there this narrative that their players need to develop PK and 2-way attributes in the AHL because they won’t play top 6 or get PP time in the NHL?
He had a bt of a lull but let’s not forget, he’s now played more games this year, as a pro, than in any college season. He was brilliant on Saturday.
He works his butt off away from the puck but still struggles in battle a bit – that will come.
its now incumbent on the NHL coach to play him in a scoring position once re-called.
If they would play Nuge at 3C it would open up a golden opportunity for Howard at 1LW.
Hell, Howard as Nuges LW would open up NHL opportunities he hasn’t been afforded yet let alone 1st line.
Jesse Puljujarvi’s AHL rookie season has always been under-talked about – he was 18 and the youngest player in the league.
Tyler Benson and Matt Savoie also shine here as they were 20 year old rookies (Howard 21 and Hutson 24).
AHL point totals don’t guarantee NHL success. AHL players tend to be mddle-six (the forwards) when arriving in the NHL. The top six fellows tend to play fewer than 50 AHL games. Puljujarvi playing in the NHL was a mistake, and I do think he would have been better off with a full seaosn in the Liiga or AHL. Badly handled by the oganization.
I agree that they should have handled him differently, but at the end of the day he’s not that good at what NHL coaches want. Neither was Yak. Chiarelli blew it, my take is that they did little due diligence on Jesse not expecting him to fall. Tambellini, who probably had lots of ‘help’, blew it on Yak – Oilers and Russians
I will always wonder how much his bad hips factored in to this.
It must have made it pretty hard for him. I recall they were asking him to skate NHL style which is more stop start than Europe, that wouldn’t have been as easy as staying in motion for him
Lets not forget, not having that full season in the AHL was a requirement of Jesse’s agent – the assigned to the AHL the day after he was on the roster for 40 games (vesting an “accrued season” towards UFA status was not a coincidence.
Jesse is not the victim. His draft spot and his greedy agent probably deserve most of the blame for his failed career.
I guess I am firmly biased against smaller players, unless they have some very significant trait or traits
The Oilers have three of the world’s best offensive players on their team that get better in the playoffs. They should be the unquestioned favourite at this point every season until the Duo fade
But they aren’t. They need more players that do something to advance the fight in some way, and don’t bleed or get pushed out of hard games. Leon nailed it, too many guys going for a skate, not doing anything
I like the players they have brought in more than what they had before, I wish all the young guys could realize their dream. But they can’t, and I am far more interested in the team realizing it’s potential and dream
The only undersized player that intrigues me is Howard, because he has brass and he wants to score bad. They really need that, more than him. They need more players with drive that doesn’t stop and hunger to beat the other guys, which a drive to score is. Of course it has to be backed by also wanting to keep the puck out their own net
What they don’t need are more smaller guys that have nice rounded games, are nice people on the ice and in the room, that very often don’t have much impact on games in some way. Especially hard games. Be it hitting, forechecking, backtracking like their hair is on fire, energy, being irritating, constantly pushing the opponent, if they aren’t scoring, even if they are
At least Savoie and Emberson have positive 5v5 goal shares so far. Bowman might like the D he said, I think that they would be better playing Walman left side if they could find a RD and even out TOI, sit Stastney who is getting outscored. Find that 3C. Then they would have the depth to get somewhere
Prospectality!
It’s a Full House Friday with all eight NAmateurs on the go.
Lewandowski’s goal streak may be over but his point streak continues, now at five GP. He also has points in 10 of his last 11, with 4 + 10 in that span.
Lafreniere has three goals his last three GP. Fun fact: he has recorded at least one SOG every game he’s played this season.
Fischer has slipped to fifth in Notre Dame scoring with 5-11-16 in 22 GP. Having missed four games in January did not help.
London (Nicholl) @ 5 p.m.
Michigan (Park, Barnett) @ 5 p.m.
St. Thomas (Berry) @ 5 p.m.
UMass-Lowell (Wakely) @ 5:15 p.m.
Notre Dame (Fischer) @ 6 p.m.
Saskatoon (Lewandowski) @ 6 p.m.
Kamloops (Lafreniere) @ 8 p.m.
All times, at all times, are Mossleigh time.
All aboard the Aspen Crossing train experience!
Still permitted to post after your racist comments the other night Tarkus?
Maybe it’s time you offered an apology?
There is no way that Savoie Hutson and Howard all play on this team in the future. I’m just worried about what our desperate GM has in store for us.
All three are on the small side. How many smallish players can you have on a roster??
ONE maybe??
I think it depends on what they are like. The Bolts (of the players that are regulars) are a smaller forward group, but they look for driven players that play hard and don’t back down
If they aren’t like that (the traits I mentioned in my comment above) why have any if they aren’t high offense? Use a normal sized player so they can at least add physicality and defend themselves if they have to
The Avs are also on the smaller side, defense included. I am interested to see how that goes in the playoffs this time
Yep. Bowman needs too convince the Coach to pump and then he can dump 2 of the 3 in a trade.
I assume Jarventie is excluded from this group due to age, however, what is his potential?
And Clattenberg was a call up ahead of the other talent simply because he brought an element the Oilers were missing. They know they need some bite and have been looking, but unable to find it in a meaningful player.
While this youthful group discussed has had difficulty sticking on the big roster, I do like the multiple call ups to at least provide encouragement.
Jarventie wasn’t an AHL rookie in the Oilers system. That’s why he was excluded. He’ll be in Farm Workers 2026, though.
Hutson should be playing a regular NHL shift on this squad. He’s quite simply better than several players they have going on a nightly basis. He’s also shown the NHL game doesn’t intimidate him and he’s not behind the play (unlike Tomasek, where you could see this struggle very early and nothing changed).
I suspect the size issue is keeping Hutson off the roster. He could slide in to Savoie’s job but Savoie is already there. Samanski is establishing himself now, that means further delay. Mattias Janmark is done like dinner, but the coaching staff is hanging on to him for dear life. A Mangiapane trade probably gets Hutson on the roster.
The only reason I don’t have a bigger problem with it is that one great thing to have in the playoffs is younger, fresher players to pop into the lineup.
Agreed, but do we really believe Coach KK would do this?
Didn’t Holloway & Broberg play regular shifts in the playoffs when they were Oilers and wasn’t KK the coach at the time?
However they are both big fast players
Why would you have Hutson up over Howard? Just curious… from reports it seems lke Howard is the play driver at the AHL level, between the two of them.
What “reports”?
In the NHL, Hutson is positionally smart (which Howard isn’t), faster both on and with the puck, and a better shooter.
Always take the goal scorer, all things being equal.
Hutson also appears to be more useful in different situations.
I like Howard, but Hutson is better right now. He might be better long term too, based on reading the player at the highest level.