Glen Sather, fall 1983: “Sammy Pollock used to say all jobs are open in Montreal but who was he kidding? Nobody was going to take Larry Robinson’s job or Guy Lafleur’s. In our camp I refuse to tell the players that. But I’d love it if somebody took a job away from a returning player. If that happened, that would make our team stronger.”
Glen Sather was a smart, aggressive, brazen, arrogant general manager. We all loved him. Why? The quote above is a good example. Sather had a unique ability to increase the available talent pool by fully auditioning young players. It didn’t always work. Donny Murdoch didn’t grab the opportunity, Raimo Summanen played the perimeter and Pat Price could never harness his elite skill set.
But he tried, dammit. Slats made some trades that broke my heart (Lee Fogolin, Vincent Damphousse, Miro Satan) but by the time he made those deals, we were all in. Please read this.
I’m not sure the Oilers gave themselves a chance this season. The summer acquistions (Andrew Mangiapane, Ike Howard) were so unimpressive coach Kris Knoblauch rejected all of them before opening night 2025-26. When the coach decided to put Connor McDavid and Leon Driasiatl together (or was convinced to do it), the team set sail on another campaign of ‘two superstars and 10 cardboard cutouts’ up front. I’m clearly using hyperbole, but you get the point.
The hockey Gods have beaten Knoblauch’s third and fourth line senseless, but the organization hasn’t budged much. The team needed a goalie change, had Connor Ingram in the minors, but delayed any moves out of respect for the struggling veteran. The team still refuses to make a damned decision on the veteran forwards who aren’t able to play at their previous levels.
The hiring of Paul Coffey will serve as either pivot point or one of several moves that landed short of the mark. This organization refuses to do a full on search for any executive or coach, and we are here. Given the choice between interviewing the top candidates and going with ‘I know a guy’ the Oilers choose the easy path every time.
Back to the Sather quote. I’m not absolutely certain what Stan Bowman can do for Kris Knoblauch at this point. The team is bleeding out due to the third and fourth lines, and cannot get anything close to 50 percent in Dangerous Fenwick (expected goals). Here’s Matt Savoie, money against elites but not thriving versus the soft parade:
Not every player card is going to look like Leon Draisaitl’s ridiculous Puck IQ profile. I mean, good lord look at this:
Draisaitl’s results this year are a work of art. We know the depth lines are not going to be able to post tremendous offence, but there’s no reason to be this poor. Here’s a look at each season since Connor McDavid arrived in the NHL, and what the third and fourth lines (all minutes with 97 and 29 off the ice at five-on-five) look like. You tell me how bad this year is:
- 2015-16: 36 pct, 27:40 per game
- 2016-17: 50 pct, 26:45 per game
- 2017-18: 41 pct, 25:25 per game
- 2018-19: 41 pct, 25:36 per game
- 2019-20: 38 pct, 25:19 per game
- 2020-21: 36 pct, 22:00 per game
- 2021-22: 42 pct, 20:17 per game
- 2023-23: 55 pct, 22:22 per game (Woodcroft)
- 2023-24: 49 pct, 24:04 per game
- 2024-25: 43 pct, 26:07 per game
- 2025-26: 35 pct, 22:26 per game
Why should the Oilers find this acceptable? Why would Knoblauch run the same sorry lot out there to get their ass kicked? Glen Sather wouldn’t do it, I’ll tell you that much.
On the Lowdown today, plenty of Olympic and Oilers talk and we’ll have Steve Lansky on to wax poetic about both. Noon to 2pm today, Sports 1440 and You Tube.
What Paul Coffey’s return to Edmonton Oilers’ bench could change on defence
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7058658/2026/02/20/edmonton-oilers-coach-paul-coffey-defence-return/
Summarizing!
The only one of the eight NAmateurs to hit the scoresheet was Lewandowski, who picked up two assists.
Everyone else was denied life-giving soup and shall have to subsist on watermelon rinds instead. (Wakely did win 7 of 11 draws though, a 63.6% clip.)
Hutson and Griffith with some give and go on the PP, Griffith back to Lepanen with a bomb to give the Condors back the lead at 4-3
Keep deflects a D’Amato shot for a 3-1 lead.
4th line’s 4th shift of the game
Bad pinch and a Majala chip starts a 3 on 1 – Savoie over the Poulin who makes a meh pass that is blocked but it pops over the Regula who puts the Condors up 2-1.
Not an Oilers prospect, but Gavin McKenna went off tonight in an 11-4 win with a goal and seven assists.
Just made the 2030 Olympic Team (never too early)!
Giffth and Jones on a 2 on 0 – Griffth’s pass a bit too far – Wranglers come back, a clumsy zone entry leads to a quick 3 on 1 – tick, tack, toe – tie game.
Terrible line change by the dman created the odd-man rush.
Jones with a floater pass on a 2 on 2 to Griffith driving the net, it gets stopped by the tender but he scores on himself – a weird one.
1-0 Condors!
Goal changed to Griffith – guess he got a piece of t.
Jon Cooper has impressed me. He changes game to game on the fly. Everyone seems to get a few shifts and then he just goes with whoever is “going” …
May be in line for 1st Jack Adams.
Sunday will be too early to drink and too stressful to not 🙂
The blender can be a powerful tool. I remember Scotty using it regularly with the 70s Habs. My father hated it. As many Oiler fans hate it when Knoblauch is, as you put it, changing lines game to game on the fly.
Jarventie also getting the night off which is an odd choice for me given he’s been so good recently – maybe they do plan on divesting of two off the current roster and calling all three deserving Condors up – Savoie, Samanski, Jarventie…..
He’s out for “personal reasons”
Savoie will play with Marjala and Poulin.
Samanski with Hutson and Howard.
Pickard not dressing so I presume Ungar starts.
Akey getting a rest – Regula playing with Leppanen and Dineen with Carfagna and Stilman with Brown
I really wish Regula could spend extended time in the AHL. He’s stuck in limbo right now in a time he really needs to be playing
I like helleybuck starting.
Enough ghost stories around his play if they get to him there is s real possibility he gets stuck in head hearing skeltons rattle in closet to degree they slip a few easy quick behind him and they end up panic pulling him in play.
Like it’s at least a thought with real teeth that surely is tangibly out there in the ether.
Any element of uncertainty is an advantage in a 1 off highest pressure cooker game.
Condors adding Dineen, Regula, Samanski and Savoie to the lineup tonight.
Hopefully it’s the only game the two forwards play – we know Savoie will be recalled for the first game back but the front office needs to make a roster move to get Samanski recalled – and they should (in fact, they should make two moves, Mang and Janmark, and call Jarventie up as well).
Anyone know what happened to Tage Thompson?
They sat him in the third period for ‘precautionary’ reasons.
Are the U.S.A peaking are is it a good thing for Canada that the Yanks are coasting? If I’m Cooper I give the U.S.A a heavy dose of the Bennett-Marchand-Wilson also Hagel to start with. Canada has to get in Hellebuyck kitchen early also draw a penalty of some kind preferably a 4 minute high stick call. I like the fact that Winnington is smart-gamer and I’m calling it right now that Jordan will draw a goaltender interference call against one of the Tkachuk brothers. Booook it………
Two quick goals and it’s 4-0 Yanks in the 2nd.
Yeah, it’ll be a Canada-US final.
Satan is responsible for rebuilding the Slovak hockey program. Miroslav, not Lucifer.
Fun fact. In training camp the year he was eventually traded, one of his common linemates was David Pope. Pop and Satan, whoda thunk???
Let’s go ex Oiler Martin Gernat and the Slovaks!
Marincin also.
Sather would’ve turned Gernat into a 1000-game guy.
So many tools in that toolbox.
The Binnington hate is laughable. Saves the game two or three times against the Czech’s, gets a tiny bit of love, people eating crow, “for now”. Allows two goals that probably no goalie on the world stops this morning , gets absolutely trashed. Then saves the game again at least twice, and absolutely no respect. This guy is money. Ice in his veins
I would have preferred 2 runs at the Cup with Winnington over the 3 runs with Jarry who I really haven’t seen much of. No way Armstrong and Bowman make that deal after the offer sheet drama.
I would have taken whichever of Jarry or Binnington you got free with retainment. The Oilers always pay top dollar.
We always seem to be in a position of weakness. The goaltending cleansing should have happened this past summer.
Yeah, it’s the stink of the mid nineties half decade of darkness and the Pronger no one wants to play in Edmonton.
It’s a stigma that seems to make it ok to pay second round picks for fired managers and clauses that might of but didn’t get fulfilled or paying a premium for Duncan Kieth when he had already decided he was going to Edmonton.
Buy high and sell low. The Edmonton Oilers. Same as it ever was.
I think I’d be passed off I was a(n) STL fan.
Here you have a guy who clearly has ability, as exhibited in playoffs and international games.
Yet he can’t get up for team games in the regular season.
His team isn’t worth the effort?
His teammates aren’t worth the effort?
The STL fans aren’t worth the effort?
His ego is so big that …..
If you can do it when it matters to you, why don’t your team, teammates and fans matter to you?
He carried his team on his back to a Stanley Cup just as Randord did in 1991. Ask any active or retired NHLer and it’s always the same response all that matters is winning Cups. Twirling ones moustache while giving cute interviews doesn’t cut it. He made the final save in the 4 Nations Cup. Anyone that doubts this man isn’t clutch is comical.
You have to make the playoffs first.
Questioning an established NHL player for having no heart is really unsupportable. If a guy was really like that would any team want them?
I’m not sure I questioned his heart.
In the hypothetical shoes of a STL fan I questioned his motivation.
Why are you so concerned about St.Louis fans? Being an Oiler fan I’m more concerned about my teams goaltending going all the way back to the Roloson run. Are you even cheering for Canada?
I ate crow and have no issues with Binnington tonight.
I hope he’s got one more game in him – they are going to need him.
Mike Luit was the best goalie in the league in 1981. Mike had many excellent years in the 80’s but he was unable to win a Cup. Yet Mike is most infamously remembered for the 8-1 plummeting in the 81 Canada Cup Final against Tretiak-CCCP. Binnington is chasing history and his legacy. Hellebuyck hasn’t won anything but a few playoff series I’ll take my chances with a proven winner in Binnington. I’ll give Hellebuyck credit as the heavy favorites he did knock of Binnington in game 7 OT last year. Anyhow Hellebuyck is trending towards a Mike Luit kind of career and Binnington is chasing history for a Nation that can sure use a boost.
Fresh off the plane, Josh Samanski will play tonight………..
He needs to play one game before he can be recalled so this is important as the Condors don’t have another game until mid-week next.
McDavid needs five points in the gold medal game to get back to a point-per-period.
If the play the States, go get ten.
Incredible resilience from Canada after serious adversity.
Hope Crosby is OK to go Sunday.
Go Slovakia!
We are all Slovakia today.
That game was tight. If Finland had Barkov it would have been frightful. What a game, Finland. You guys are awesome.
bah – it’s a wash with Crosby gone for Canada.
Great game and the hungrier team won
I was thinking that, but then thought Canada could have brought Bouch which would have meant Makar could play with MacK and Bouch with McD. Would have juiced the team up a bunch 5v5
With a historical nod to the Russian five of the 90’s, this Mc/Mac/Mack/Mak tetrad is the best there ever was, regardless of the 5th. Maybe a McK(enna) in 2030?!?!
I would have brought Schaefer who possibly is already more dynamic than Makar. As a homer I also would have had Bouchard on the club. Anyhow If we win 1 Cup Bouchard makes the team if we would have won back to back Cups Hyman makes the Squad and Nuge gets a look.
Toews Makar
Sanheim Bouch
Schaefer Doughty
Theodore Parayko
Maybe would have juiced up the 3 lines Connor wasn’t on
Yup, Barkov would have made a difference.
Crosby would have made a difference as well and Morrissey and a healthy MacKinnon….. right?
McDavid with 13 pts in Olympics now?
You speak the truth.
and 1 game to go!
That may be the quickest whistle ever.
Your articles are pure gold, I wish the Oilers would hire you as an advisor. Thanks for staying committed to not just posting daily, but posting darn good content!
LT should be President of Hockey Ops.
Stan does all the work and runs all moves through LT. I legitimately think this would work insanely well.
Woodguy as Special Advisor to the GM.
Yes to LT.
Parkatti is already employed by Oilers?
yes he is
Just here to say EFF yeah!!!!!
Whooo!
Coach should’ve called Barkov
Surprised Finland took the risk. Wasn’t worth it. Usually Finland is smarter than this.
it WAS pretty darn close
The drama in this tourney is up to 11
Dangerous challenge from Finland.
i thought it looked offside when they entered and was waiting for this
Wow, what a pass from McDavid.
Canada gets some luck. Hopefully no shorthanded breakaways for Finland in the final minutes!
Rustolainen cleanly stripped the puck from McDavid. Expert.
What now, can plays defence to get to overtime with open ice, they get the higher likelihood of scoring or play 2 way knowing 1 or 2 shots will mean Fin gets a goal?
I think this parity is the new reality of international hockey. Canada’s biggest differentiator through the decades has been their combination of physicality and skill. In big games you could set your watch to Canada using physicality to set the tone and wear teams down.
Now we outskill teams as usual, but systems play can compensate for that in single elimination knockouts.
The game is simply not physical like it used to be. Players train skill at young ages and are educated on / value their health. The days we could rely on double dions to make the other team quit are part of an era gone by.
Canada could probably learn a few lessons from Finland. Such a plucky, strong team from a relatively small country. Think of how good Canada would be if we were as smart as the Finns.
The Finns take no risks and make the most of their opportunities.
Finally some netfront presence. Marchand and Bennett do something.
That’s quite a line Marchant,Bennett & Wilson. I like it.
Woohoo! Tie game.
Canada could sure use more backend skill and more up front Jam against this Finland squad. Bouchard, Schaeffer, Hyman.
Theodore delivers, from Sanheim.
Gotta dance with the ones that brought ya
The old hockeymen men mentality drives me nuts, it took a gambler in Pocklington and an innovator in Sather to take a chance on Gretzky, as one of the besy examples of outside the concrete box thinking.
I would have selected Bedard over Marchand, Hyman over Reinhart, Schaefer over Sanheim & Bouchard over Doughty for this roster.
The youth must be served and offence is a massive differentiator. One of the women’s team players made a comment sometime prior to their gold medal game about young players making mistakes (in a negative context), yup, but that is how players learn. Denying highly skilled players the experience is a form of negligence to future team success, IMO. Vets aren’t exactly perfect themselves.
However, back to the men, I think this group of younger players would have provided far more positives than negatives. For all the thrills of end of game and OT heroics that these Olympics are offering, it does not lend itself to the fable of Canadian hockey superiority.
There are better quality ( more highly skilled) players available, but the old brains take comfort in their knowledge of safe moves during short tournaments. That approach did not work in Nagano in 1998 (4th place) or Turin in 2006 (7th place). They’ve won gold 3 times, sure, but they aren’t making it easy on themselves, or old hearts like mine 😀 .
Personally I would prefer if they incorporated analytics, rather than the gut/NHL Guide & Record Book to make their player personnel decisions.
Macklin Celebrini is 19 and playing a feature role on this team.
In Nagano they lost to the greatest goalie to ever play the game. Who was left off the Nahano team? First time they ever had NHLers so not sure they knew who would be playing in the future.
2014 the youngest player was Duchene at 23. Not a feature player. Chris Kunitz was on that team and they let in 3 goals from a dcore where the youngest guy was 24 (Petro).
You want the younger players in but technically, 90% of this Canadian roster are Olympic rookies. Dubas is part of the hockey executive. There’s analytics.
This team is insanely good and in the final. Theyve controlled every game meaningfully but hockey is a game of bounces (or 6 guys on the ice) sometimes.
It concerns me that McDavid is so heavily relied on for goal generation. With Morrisey out, only 1 dman is a reliable point producer.
This does not give me confidence in this team, because it narrows the focus for the US to stop Canada when game planning. This team has been successful despite it’s flaws.
it is obvious that the US dcorps is superior to Canada’s.This will likely be the difference tomorrow.
Team Canada is like the Oilers – they’ll go as far as McDavid can drag them.
always seems to face better goaltending than they get as well?
Very true.
Turning into pond hockey.
can 22 fin 11 shots yet the score is 1 – 2, are the fins getting better shots? what gives?
the difference is a (short handed) breakaway goal, so… yes!?
(also score effects once Fin went d-mode when they got uo 2-0)
A lot of Canada’s shots have been peripheral with 3 Fins blocking the net. Finland has been given a few scorchingly beautiful chances.
Fin deserves the W then? Not watching but checking the score online
They’re playing great. They almost always do, they’re Finland. I love Finland. Please lose Finland! There’s no shame in losing a nailbiter olympic game to Canada.
That said, the game is close. Canada’s problem is they’re not getting to the net. Too much peripheral stuff. Finland has a fantastic defensive game.
Seems that things began to change in the third, late second even, when Canada started (literally) crashing the net front. The word on Saros is that, as a relatively smaller goalie, he has a harder time with screens, can’t see over them.
Prospecturity!
A Full House Friday beckons.
Notre Dame (Fischer) @ 4 p.m.
London (Nicholl) @ 5 p.m.
UMass-Lowell (Wakely) @ 5 p.m.
Michigan (Park, Barnett) @ 6 p.m.
St. Thomas (Berry) @ 6 p.m.
Saskatoon (Lewandowski) @ 7 p.m.
Kamloops (Lafreniere) @ 8 p.m.
All times, at all times, are Ponoka time.
Ah, nicely done – going to the ‘full house’ in Ponoka once meant something ominous!
“Why should the Oilers find this acceptable? Why would Knoblauch run the same sorry lot out there to get their ass kicked? Glen Sather wouldn’t do it, I’ll tell you that much.”
I’m not sure Knoblauch has a choice, it’s the roster he’s given that has to go on the ice created by an overhyped GM.
Bowman roster is absolutely mud.
Oilers are closing in on a Peter Chiarelli roster, how long before Bowman makes a panic trade
By checking player usage, I’d say that this isn’t an accurate statement.
When you’re replacing players with replacement players that’s not a choice that’s rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
our bottom six isn’t close to being good enough, even the top has significant gaps.
Interesting that Sam Bennett only gets called for goaltender interference when he’s not wearing a Panthers jersey 😏
Haha, I looked at my wife and said he’s used to getting away with murder, not nearly as effective when he actually has the game called fairly against him.
same here, haha
Grr, why is Cooper playing Mcdavid so much? Doesn’t he know he’ll be tired come playoff time?
Coach of the current eastern favourites. Hmmmm
But really, who else is there on that team to play?
Very few people can put away the cheat code once they’ve used it.
McPrecioussssss
Celebrini’s nickname could be Nenya.
Exactly. One of the best coaches of the best team isn’t immune. Preference meet reality for KK haters.
I wish NHL refs called the game like Olympic refs, when the Oilers play the Panthers. I’d prefer it if we had NHL refs today.
Wilson to Bennett there was almost a goal. Solid play.
Another McApple as Canada gets on the board.
Jesus, Reinhart actually did something useful. About time.
Looks like Reinhart from Makar. . . and McDavid.