Do you remember the 200 times I mentioned that young AHL players often spike after Christmas? Well, we’re seeing some of that this season from Bakersfield Condors hopefuls, but we’re also seeing some downbeat performances by feature players on the roster. Blame it on the rain, blame it on Josh Samanski getting an NHL shot, but some of these post-Christmas totals are one sad trombone.
IKE HOWARD
- Oct-Dec 27: 15, 9-11-20 (8-7-15 EV); 20-8 (71 pct) EV goal share
- Dec 28-now: 10, 4-7-11 (2-7-9 EV); 12-13 (48 pct) EV goal share
- Total: 25. 13-18-31 (10-14-24 EV); 32-21 (60 pct) EV goal share
Ike Howard’s offense remains impressive, if a little less historic since the break. His goal-scoring is down, but this is a substantial offensive producer who is clearly one of the top rookies in the AHL this season. The EV goal share has suffered, the down arrow coinciding with Josh Samanski’s absence. I expect Howard’s goal percentage will correct, and wonder if a veteran center like James Hamblin might be more effective on the top line.
QUINN HUTSON
- Oct-Dec 27: 25, 17-13-30 (8-6-14 EV); 19-12 (61 pct) EV goal share
- Dec 28-now: 19, 7-7-14 (5-4-9 EV); 14-12 (54 pct) EV goal share
- Total: 44, 24-20-44 (13-10-23 EV); 33-24 (58 pct) EV goal share
Hutson is down offensively since December 27, but is still productive. His line is over 50 percent, and that’s also a positive. He is an older prospect, so his time is now. I would suggest Hutson is making the most of his opportunity.
JOSH SAMANSKI
- Oct-Dec 27: 28, 5-18-23 (5-14-19 EV); 25-22 (53 pct) EV goal share
- Dec 28-now: 11, 2-3-5 (2-3-5 EV); 7-3 (70 pct) EV goal share
- Total: 39, 7-21-28 (7-17-24 EV); 32-25 (56 pct) EV goal share
Samanski had ludicrous even-strength scoring numbers before the break, and cooled off in a short period before his recall. His goal share spiked, and there’s zero doubt he had a positive impact on the No. 1 line once elevated. I don’t know if he’ll be back in Bakersfield this season, but he’s a quality 200-foot player at the AHL level. Oilers haven’t had many of those in recent years, pretty much shutout since the days of Horcoff and Pisani.
ROBY JARVENTIE
- Oct-Dec 27: 24, 10-9-19 (7-8-15 EV); 18-18 (50 pct) EV goal share
- Dec 28-now: 19, 5-7-12 (3-5-8 EV); 13-5 (72 pct) EV goal share
- Total: 43. 15-16-31 (10-13-23 EV); 31-23 (57 pct) EV goal share
As is the case with the other forwards, offense has fallen off for Jarventie since Christmas. A long scoring slump had an impact, but his line has been money in the last two months at even strength. I don’t know if he’ll get recalled to Edmonton but he has earned it. One of the few Condors skill wingers who is a prospect with size.
DAMIEN CARFAGNA
- Oct-Dec 27: 22, 2-5-7 (2-3-5 EV); 14-15 (48 pct) EV goal share
- Dec 28-now: 21, 5-4-9 (3-4-7 EV); 20-10 (67 pct) EV goal share
- Total: 43, 7-9-16 (5-7-12 EV); 34-25 (58 pct) EV goal share
Damien Carfagna has shown well this season as an AHL rookie. I think he’s going to play in the NHL, and my comparable is Jordan Oesterle. Those wheels are going to get him a look sooner or later, and Carfagna has skills across 200 feet.
ATRO LEPPANEN
- Oct-Dec 27: 28. 3-17-20 (2-6-8 EV); 22-27 (45 pct) EV goal share
- Dec 28-now: 2, 1-0-1 ( EV 1-0-1); 1-2 (33 pct) EV goal share
- Total: 30. 4-17-21 (3-6-9 EV); 23-29 (44 pct) EV goal share
Leppanen made up a large amount of ground in EV scoring percentage before Christmas, and missed a ton of time since. His biggest value would be on the power play, not sure he’d get any at all in Edmonton. The contract has to be encouraging but he doesn’t move the needle offensively at even strengh enough to justify the chaos. He’ll need to play a much better two-way game to get a look. He is 19-18 goals after a 4-11 EV GF-GA start through nine games.
On the Lowdown today, Bagged Milk from Oilers Nation will join us to talk Oilers and Olympics. We’ll drill down on Paul Coffey’s hiring, new Condors Matt Savoie and Alec Regula and more. Noon to 2pm, Sports 1440 and You Tube.
MacKinnon, Makar, Maklin, McDavid. They need one more mak.
Not a bad first period. Both teams playing a little conservatively, it felt. Bennett and Rantanen were the difference in P1. Olympic refs won’t let Bennett get away with his usual.
McDavid is having fun playing with Celebrini.
God bless Gretzky.
Until we play the U.S. , then his true MAGA colours will show. Great historically wit. hockey, not so much anymore as a person.
Don’t you have a new video your missing of Katy Perry and her boyfriend eating pizza.
Crosby will not play today. 97 will take over as cap’n.
Summarizing!
Fischer garnered an aPPle in a 4-2 loss.
Tough. Get em next time! I could watch this matchup a lot, that was an excellent game.
A really good game by the Canadian women. I never imagined the game would be this close.
Dammit. Gotta cash those 2 on 1s.
Hell of a game.
3v3 shouldn’t decide anything important in hockey.
It’s better than a shootout. But yeah IMO any major competition should have OT in the regular 5v5 format.
5v5 until it is over is the only way. Play hockey to decide hockey. I just can’t imagine for instance, tying in a major championship golf tournament, then being put in a chip-off…
I hate what’s happened to extra innings in baseball, but at least the playoffs are still normal.
All Medal games should have at least one period of 5 on 5. The 3 on 3 is so gimmicky to win a Gold Medal. I’m a traditionalist I hate when they fiddle with MLB rule changes. The NFL new Football kickoff rule change idea must of been hatched up by a CEO 8 year-old video game playing child. Even the Marner goal felt dirty as it’s not the way a team should be going home.
Traditionalist like no forward passes? Or like no two line passes? All sports evolve. Rules are changed to improve game play and/or player safety.
Leads to a terrible defensive overplay and a weak 5-hole goal. Ouch.
They worked their asses off. That not paying off will be hard to take.
Yeah, it was a good lead pass, and a really nice move to get onto the breakaway, but a weak shot that trickled through. (I’m still not sure how.)
The trap almost worked. Canada needed a insurance marker in regulation when USA were over pressing
I get it that they need the games to be over by a certain time. And in a short tournament, you can’t force one team to have gone through a bunch of extra periods. And 3v3 is WAY better than carnival time (i.e. shootouts).
But I agree that in a gold medal game, it should be 5v5 until a winner is decided. At that point, you don’t have to worry about fatiguing one team into a future competitive disadvantage.
At most, maybe I’d permit a 2OT to be 4v4, and a 3OT to be 3v3. (5v5 hockey in multiple OT periods tends to drag down, and games end up being decided on weak goals rather than individual skill.)
I like that descending personnel plan – by period 6 OT, it’s G vs G
I would also accept an ascending personnel plan. Start as G vs. G and see how it goes. At least it would be funny.
Can you pull your goalie in G vs G?
Get a forward out there with an empty net.
They never should have made it 4 on 4 never mind 3 on 3. Opened the door to shootouts as well. Bastardization. Ties are better. Why not play extra innings with a pitcher, catcher and a fielder? Because it’s not baseball.
My guess is the goal will come from a possessing team fumbling a pass, and a breakaway goal going the other way. Lots of fumbled passess in this game.
Canada’s womens’ team is doing surprisingly well. I was expecting a blowout. It looks like Canada is both good at being pummelled without breaking, and has a dangerous counter-attack. Kind of like the Hemsky-Weight Oilers.
It was almost in the bag! so many games tied up late.
Just setting the stage for more Poulin heroics.
if i’m not mistaken, we’ve yet to see women’s 3 on 3 – should be great
Do they do 3 on 3 as well?
Yes, same as the guys – what a world! 😉
The last time I watched much womens’ hockey it was the 1990’s and the rules in the two sports were pretty different.
Yeah, apparently they’ll do it. Canada has some strong skaters. . . hopefully they’ll be alright!
What a save.
That save by Desbiens was très bien.
She’s keeping our gals in it as US press their advantage.
Canada need to do better at exiting their zone (easy for me to say)!
I rarely comment on player performance as I can hardly stand on skates. However, I concur: US in the O-zone is intense. Canada on the rush, exciting.
Desbien is, as @Tarukus says, tres bien. I would add: tres tres bien! But the US goalie is also keeping US in the game. Exciting game (that I almost passed on, given their first game).
Running through your numbers it looks like most of the guys have largely maintained their ES scoring post-Christmas, so the question forming in my brain was “what happened the the Condors’ PP?”
Then I came to Atro Leppanen and saw that he’s only played 2 games post-Christmas. There’s my answer.
pretty sure atro has been missing in action for a while.
And the PP results show.
I’d say this is pretty much it. EV scoring is the big indicator of NHL success because young guys don’t get a lot of PP time in general and the Oilers use the same 5 guys for basically all of their PP time. Jeff Skinner had 24G the season before he came here with 16EVG and 8PPG and was a “bargain” at $3M per. Then he scored 16EVG and 0PPG and he’s a “bum” at $3M per. His 16EVG were 4th on the team, 1 less than McDavid and 5 more than RNH. What a bum.
He missed about 6 weeks or so and has been back for 3 games (played 2).
Have the Canadian women been playing rope-a-dope for a year?
Gorgeous SHG has the US of A rattled!
Awesome goal!
What a beauty!
Gold Canada Gold! 🇨🇦🏒🥅🥇
With these guys, I think it’s interesting to step away from the math, and look at the toolboxes of the players.
Quinn Hutson is small and slow. That is normally a fatal combo unless you’re either super smart with reads or have an elite shot… or both.
The lack of size and speed limits the player’s ability to forecheck, win puck battles, and provide back pressure.
I like the player, but upside is a big question mark.
Ike Howard possesses some of the best offensive tools of the group. Top speed is 88 th. Percentile. He’s good at finding soft ice. To my eye, he has a fairly hard shot with a quick release, but his sights are off and doesn’t shoot very accurately. He has defensive warts.
He has the most potential of this group to be a top six player.
Matt Savoie is the coach’s favourite. He has his top speed up to the 79th percentile. Most reliable of the group with defensive reads. To my eye, his shot is below NHL calibre, but he finds ways to score with tips, poking in rebounds, breakaway, getting open back door. For a playmaker type, he’s struggled with first assists, tied with Roslo at 0.18 per sixty. Offensive upside is a real concern.
With the benefit of hindsight, there’s no way you’d trade Savoie for McLeod today. Still not a bust. He could be a guy that moves between the second and third lines.
Samanski is interesting. I don’t have a great read on him yet. He has size and a bit more speed than Hutson. Being under Leon’s wing could really help.
I think the McLeod trade has to be considered in the light of resigning Henrique – they opted to go with Rico as 3C, instead of McLeod, needed the cap space to make it work, and traded the latter for a young prospect.
Forget about hindsight … lot of us were concerned that the Henrique contract was not going to age well, and that the decision to prioritize Henrique over McLeod was the wrong one.
That six weeks where Jeff Jackson played GM remain some of the strangest in the history of a very strange franchise.
McLeod got Eberle’d. He had a poor playoffs and they moved on. You’re right, they essentially gave McLeod’s money to Rico.
It also tied into the summer of Jeff. Once Skinner and Arvidsson were signed, the Oilers were over the cap. To solve the cap problem, they dealt from the top of the deck and moved the easiest piece in McLeod at $2m cap.
McLeod like Strome was traded before he ever had a chance to play with skill.
The Oilers did the opposite of what Sam Pollock would have done.
If he wanted to trade Strome or McLeod, he would have played them in the top six to boost their value first.
You are bang on with the Eberle comparison. I looked up McLeod’s 23-24 season and he was 55% GF on the season. Then had a poor playoffs at ES and was gone. Even though he was a huge part of that PK in the playoffs that was the main reason they got to the finals (he was not on for a single PK goal against in 36 minutes).
And the sad thing is he was not a bad contract at all – he was legitimately a value contract in 23-24 and 24-25.
Summer of Jeff, IMO massively damaged this team. This team with Broberg, Holloway and McLeod (even if Broberg/Holloway were traded for equal value after the offer sheets were signed) are legit contenders every year and probably would have won it last year.
McLeod had two poor playoffs. I don’t think he’ll ever be a playoffs guy.
I actually disagree. I think it was a very good move at the time. McLeod was weak in the playoffs, Henrique was battle-tested (and re-signed at less than market value), Holloway could take over at 3C in a couple of years, and Savoie had real Top 6 potential.
I think that’s why the McLeod-Savoie trade was almost universally loved on this blog.
Nobody could have predicted, in descending order of unlikelihood:
1) Holloway would be offer-sheeted by the Blues and turn into a 0.8 PPG guy.
2) Henrique would fall off a cliff
3) McLeod would turn into a 0.7 PPG guy
4) Savoie would not (at least yet) be a Top 6 guy
If we even get 2/4 on those, the trade looks fine.
1 If they were really banking on Holloway being 3C they could have just matched the offer sheet. His especially they could have matched easily.
2 Henrique had 16 points in 39 games with us that year and was like 33. The cliff was predictable.
3 this one’s fair – he was a 30 point excellent defensive center at 23. They basically decided to trade a good 6’3 23 year old 3C for a potential small top 6 forward. McLeod was also excellent at carrying the puck through the neutral zone which many pointed out at the time. I think we all overrated Savoie at the time because we are used to junior production automatically turning into NHL production. and i still like Savoie – it was just a reactive trade by JJ based on one playoffs
Holloway turned in to a 0.8 PPG guy, for one season, then regressed to a 0.5 PPG guy the next year before getting injured.
We’ll see where he gets to next season (or maybe later this season if he gets back in the lineup).
Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to have Holloway on the Oilers.
It’s the dearth of quality on the bottom 6 more than the upside of Hutson, Howard and co.
The converstaion is more ‘Why not try them and see if they’re better’ more than ‘they will be better’ imo.
True, but the idea is to foresee and project what you have in these players.
Talking about them reminds me of the days here discussing Robert Nilsson, Gagner, Omark, Cogliano and Brodiak.
In those days, we vastly overestimated what we had. Guys like Omark and Nilsson were out of the league before you could blink while Cogliano and Brodziak were traded for peanuts.
Gagner was signed to a contract he could never live up to and that was that.
The idea being not to make the same mistakes.
Omark and Nilsson had flashy skill which enamoured fans, but they were small and not adept defensively. They certainly weren’t bangers or guys that were winning puck battles or getting in on the forecheck.
Gagner had more skill than any of the current crop, but his lack of defensive awareness, speed, size and general two-way play limited his value. He was ultimately paid for his offensive ability, but he gave it all back and then some the other way, which made his contract negative value for its cap hit.
See any pattern or parallels here mate?
So because Gagner was small skilled that means Hutson can’t play in the NHL. Interesting thesis.
Martin St. Louis would like a word mate.
Martin St.Louis was a very different beast.
“Elite Speed & Agility: He was often described as having incredible speed, low center of gravity, and “silky-smooth skills,” making him one of the top skaters of his era.”
Whoosh
You introduced St.Louis into a conversation about a below average skater.
I’m guessing you never saw him play.in his prime.
The point wasn’t St.Louis but thanks for playing.
Wasn’t my point at all. Not sure if you’re trying to create a straw man here.
My point was we spend a lot of time fretting over these players and it’s worthwhile to consider that their ceiling and floor will be.
My sense is that many overrate the ceilings of these prospects.
What I actually said is that Gagner had more skill than any of the current crop.
Hutson is small and slow and that would be the reason he potentially can’t play in the NHL. It’s a bad combo unless you can rifle pucks like Caufield or Debrincat.
My point was how do you know for sure until you play him?
You’re probably right, but the bottom 6 is not so good and the standings situation isn’t so dire that it isn’t worth even trying to answer that question during the season.
Gagner wasn’t relevant, i was being a dink because I didn’t agree with the connection that these 3 small players from a different generation of hockey on a bad team didn’t work out therefore this guy 20 odd years younger can’t ball.
Okay, fair enough. We’re talking about different things here.
I am not saying not to play him.
I am saying you want to suss out which two guys are the Brodziak and Coglianos, so you keep them rather than trade them for peanuts, which guys are the Nilsson and Omarks—so you can trade them before they fall out of the league if possible, and which guy might be the Gagner who puts up points, but gives it all back, so you don’t sign them to an inflated contracts.
Basically like you’re looking back at their careers in ten years time, but trying to see that now instead of waiting.
It’s funny that given everything you have mentioned we still go down the path with undersized players. They rarely work out if they don’t have some extra thing in their game to compensate
The NHL is a rough league, amp that up for playoffs. Smaller players can be like Bennett and Marchand, and be so aggressive and skilled that their size is not a factor. Although they still can get worn down via injuries, battling bigger players, or when one of them dirty hits there other 🙂
They can be as talented and quick as Kucherov and Marner – no issue. Although at times even those high skilled guys can get pushed out of games and series against teams that play them hard
They can be like Cogliano and be so fast and sturdy enough that they can find a role. But if are just nice well rounded players, it’s a tough road to establish as a full time strong contributor for a team, especially in playoffs. There are thousands of very skilled good hockey players in the world. There are 672 jobs for NHL skaters
For me Howard can get there because he is fast enough and a scorer. Savoie also because he has a rounded game, and I think will produce more as he matures. Maybe Akey or Carfagna can progress enough
Bowman likes skill, I’m not sure how many undersized players a team should have, especially D, unless the pairs are perfectly constructed
The thing is, neither was McLeod. He was fast and good defensively, but he was definitely not winning puck battles or getting in on the forecheck.
Ryan McLeod is an aggregate +42 in his careering since his rookie season, his GF percentage has never been below 50%.
I’m pretty sure there were a few puck battles and forechecks along the way.
Emphasis on “few”.
Exactly, but that’s why McLeod was an absolute beauty. I said at the time of the trade he was a pure money ball player.
Clouder shied away from contact, didn’t win or engage puck battles, had a mediocre shot and didn’t create much on the attack, but…
He could skate like the wind. He was elite at transitioning the puck and zone entries, as well as elite back pressure. Those qualities don’t traditionally get paid or look like a player, which is why he could have been kept here at a low cap hit.
Sort of like a guy with a high on base percentage and low batting average. Qualities they are overlooked, undervalued, but lead to winning and don’t cost much.
They’re all flawed, the question is can they fill a specific role. If we’re honest, Gagner played feature minutes because there was no one else. He was a poor positional center, and he didn’t find his niche until the CBJ put him on the power play.
On the other hand, that 2007-08 Oilers team with all the rookies did have some solid performances. Top five-on-five expected goals among forwards: Glencross, Stortini, Nilsson, Brodziak, Penner, all did pretty well on a ghastly hockey club.
https://www.naturalstattrick.com/playerteams.php?fromseason=20072008&thruseason=20072008&stype=2&sit=5v5&score=all&stdoi=oi&rate=y&team=EDM&pos=F&loc=B&toi=200&gpfilt=none&fd=&td=&tgp=410&lines=single&draftteam=ALL
Canada’s power play looked a bit like the Decade of Darkness Oilers PP. I’m seeing why the USA is labelled as favourites for this match.
Good luck women!
I like the fact that Poulin is shooting on most every occasion hoping for a fluke bounce that usually decides Canada-USA matches.
Nice patience by O’Niell.
That was Janmark like from little used O’Niel. What a beauty.
Wanted to wait 24 hours, but am curious what people think of what Servalli said yesterday on ON w/Stauffer re: Coffey coming back. Specifically, “a bunch of people had to swallow their pride, but down their swords and do what’s best for the Edmonton Oilers”.
Is that really directed at KK specifically? I found it interesting in his comments yesterday (and the players) about how Coffey has been available all along. It’s almost (to me) like a backhanded slap at him (he might not be on the bench but his influence is still there – so he may not be the savior you think).
If anything, it does feel like there is some dysfuntion.
I’m glad you brought this up, as I just read what I consider a measured take on this in today’s CoH article. My thought is summarized as, “achieving organizational alignment by making in-season adjustments rather than defaulting to churn (ie fire-the-coach.”
Rather than dysfunction, maybe, just maybe, we’re seeing organizational maturity evolving place in real time?
Another summary might be: keeping the powder dry vs blowing everything up.
Egos have historically been a driver of success, and at the same time a significant obstacle to success. Our host makes frequent (200?) references to the “coach’s stubbornness.” He may be right. But I also see evidence of this coach’s flexibility and willingness to change, for the benefit of team success. I like how the Coffey move has taken place. I like that ego has, publicly, been removed from the equation. This is what leadership looks like.
Dysfunction in Oilers management!?!? Inconceivable!
It’s too bad the article couldn’t be more specific on the nature of the conflict. I imagine if not Coach Garlic the problem would be at the GM level or maybe other nearby management.
According to Gazzola it isn’t just coaches that are pissed at Coffey coming back.
To them I say, look at what your team was doing and you expected nobody to do anything?
Maybe they could use a little F-U cause it’s been a sleepwalk most of the year. Definitely at the start of games. That homestand couldn’t stand.
Who else is pissed?
Wild.
https://x.com/CBCOlympics/status/2024212008246399070?s=20
It looks to me like the Czech defense were changing behind the play. Two going off and two coming on. The two coming are allowed to come on before the other two go off and non of the four were even remotely involved in the play.
Nothing to see here. The correct call was made
You need to count again!
2 going off, 2 coming on accounts for 2 extra skaters from the line change.
8 – 2 still leaves 6(!!) skaters.
I believe that 6 men is too many men.
Aw, math is hard.
There are three types of people in this world: those that are good at math and those that aren’t
Yeah. There’s also a Sportsnet post about it:
https://www.sportsnet.ca/olympic-men-hockey/article/czechia-had-six-men-on-ice-during-ondrej-palat-goal-vs-canada/
There’s a picture taken from behind Binnington circulating and before the shot is released, there are 8 Czech players on the ice.
That is a beautiful garden, LT!
Photographic evidence to support our host’s on air assertions of recent weeks that winter is indeed over in Edmonton! Very impressive.
Here on the easternmost of the Hawaiian Islands the gardens are still brown, the tulips etc just beginning to poke their way through a rare millimetre of frost….
I’m an American guy cheering for Canada. Thanks for letting me be part of your world …
Welcome! 🇨🇦
Same. Can’t root for either Tkachuk…unless they were on my team (a la Corry Perry).
Both Howard and Hutson came from College and the grind and travel with playing in the NHL and AHL and up and down as well can take a toll on College kids the 1st year in the pros. So maybe a bit of fatigue for both.
As well your point of Samanski not being the C man between them could also play a part in the reduction of points.
As for Samanski I think the Oil would be nuts not to have him back up here and trying him on Drai’s wing for a few.
Quite a few.
I remember when Draisaitl was sent down in 2015 I believe. He was pissed. Upset, disappointed. It could have been the somewhat more chaotic AHL games, but seemed like it was a psychological thing. I think he was only about 1 point in 7 games. Maybe its similar with Howard.
https://oilersnation.com/news/what-s-up-with-leon
More Olympic OT chaos. Love it.
Prospectre!
A rare midweek NCAA match means Paul Fischer and His Cantankerous Celts (a pub band of bygone days) get the spotlight.
After a hot start to his junior campaign, his numbers have tailed off with only three points–all apples–his last 10 GP. He has 5-13-18 in 26 GP this year.
Notre Dame, which is not a good team (6-20-4), faces a stiff test versus Div-1 leaders Michigan State. Puck drops @ 5:30 Champion time.
Woohoo! My little school is in Champion!
We set the time today my hearties!
My wife lived in Champion for a few years as a child. Her Dad was a bank manager and they lived in a suite over top the bank.
I’ve awaited my village taking the daily spotlight all these years only to suffer seeing our neighbors in Champion get mentioned first.
I went to a house party in Champion in the late 90s where a young man with affectionate nickname “Ball” would wear a helmet and roll down the stairs.
What a time to be alive.
If you’re referring to Kirkcaldy, it will be early next season or late this one (if S’toon, Kamloops and/or London go deep this season).
If it’s Carmangay, it will be at least two more seasons.
No sir, my hometown is not on the 23. Its East a jaunt and the only place in the County that still has/had a highschool.
I’m sure you’ll get to it eventually.
I might have done that already?
Holy shit you did! Haha, my apologies good sir.
Unfortunately over the years I’ve become a bit negligent in my daily reading, especially in the early months of the season when the team looks less than inspired.
I’m sorry for ever doubting you.
Looks like the Champion resident even commented on it at the time, I feel shame.
Thanks for doing your thing all these years.
No worries.. I don’t expect anyone to religiously follow the blog (much less what I’ve written here).
Besides, this was a fun bit of sleuthing.
Just don’t hold your breath until the next mention, which probably won’t be this decade.
Jarvente has been given quite a bit of 3rd line/middle six linemates recently and, overall for the last month, I think he’s been their best forward – since Samanski was recalled.
He scored a goal of the year candidate last night that was called back on a phantom goalie interference call and has scored some legit NHL power forward goals recently.
Jarventie should get opportunities in the NHL right now – he should play over Janmark to start.
Each of Samanski and Jarventie should be in the lineup over Mang and Janmark.
Maybe leave Savoie down in Bakersfield and call up Jarventie.
How do you replace his PK minutes? He has been a big part of Oilers PK. Even though PK struggling who else would play those minutes?
It’s not like there aren’t other options available.
I would not do that – Savoie is an important part of the Oilers roster, has earned his stay and is needed on the PK, if nothing else.
There are two players on the roster that are at or below replacement level that can be waived and moved to the AHL – Janmark and Mang.
You were the one raving about Samanski. They could have called up Howard but opted for Samanski. Now you’re raving about Jarventie. I wouldn’t say the Oiler PK lives and dies with Savoie , the PK hasn’t even been that great to begin with. Let’s just say there’re different options to look at.
Yes, I raved about Samanski and, I would suggest, he’s come as I advertised, no?
I have been on record that he must be called back up for the first game back and I think that should be in addition to Savoie, not in replacement of Savoie.
I also think that Jarventie has earned the opportunity and, in fact, I said that Pickard should have been sent to Bako right after he cleared waivers and Jarventie should be up – them keeping Pickard up until the break and not giving Jarventie a few games was a mistake in my opinion.
There is room on the roster for each of Savoie, Samanski and Jarventie if they waive and assign Janmark and Mangiapane.
Absolutely you were bang on with Samanski and you could be correct about Jarventie. He might make Savoie expendable.
At 6’3 & 209 he might be worth a look.
Savoie could use some more marination time on his 5 on 5 board work which is a little underwhelming. Call-up Jarventie-Samanski for a bigger line-up or finally give Howard or Hutson a legit audition.
I’d love to see Jarventie up here in the bottom six. Do you think he could be a Podz lite type player? Seems versatile, has skill, speed, physically and forechecking. Does he kill penalties?
Give this team 3 Podz and they’re set
More Podz!
I’m not sure about being a Podz type player stylistically as he’s not much of a banger/hitter. He uses his size in puck retrieval battle.
No, he doesn’t kill much in Bako but he could be a reliable 2-way middle six player that can help play in the offensive zone and provides some young skill in the middle six.
Hamblin did center Hutson and Howard for a good stretch, its been a flip flop between Hamblin and Majala since Samanski left,
The wingers were up and down with Hamblin as well.
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I think Hutson and Howard are going through a bit of a wall with the grind of the professional season and the amount games played? They’ve both played materially more than in any college season.
When called up, it was Samanski that led the team in 5 on 5 scoring – that was an understated fact and its highly notable.
I think that the one downside of playing college hockey when transitioning to the pros is the lack of games they play each season.
While I think it’s likely better for them health wise, holistically speaking, to play less and practice/train more, it seems as though many making the transition from European professional teams or the NCAA hit that wall.
I truly don’t believe that the CHL season length is healthy for young bodies, but it does make the players more prepared for an 80ish game season in the AHL/NHL.
Consider a 70ish game season for CHLers versus 40ish for NCAA players. With the verbal around the latter being “playing against men”, it’s still a long ways from 80 games against bigger, stronger men.
Soon to be 84 … ugh.
Emotional letdown knowing they are better than some of the guys in Edmonton, and being better means eff all in the dysfunctional OIlers organization.
Don’t imagine that’s it at all – both were highly productive upon re-assignment and both seem to be working just has hard as before, just not as productive.
I would suggest that the games played seems like a more reasonable contributor in the context and on the facts we have – and given, well, it happens all the time with college players.