This is the 2015 NHL equivalency table for the Oilers prospect group at the time. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are miles ahead of the rest, and it has happened just that way. Darnell Nurse is also on the list, he has delivered an interesting career since the fall of 2015. The rest? Cheered like hell for them, but you could get any in a trade without giving up anything dear.
What about this year’s prospects? Ike Howard is running at 48 points NHLE, that’s a fine number. Draisaitl was younger, and a center, but there’s skill there and it can’t be denied. We should not expect 15 years on a skill line, but an Anson Carter career seems reasonable.
Quinn Hutson is 40 NHLE, he is 24. That’s one year younger than Andrew Miller in the season noted above. I like Fernando Pisani (smaller version) as a comparable, but Hutson is behind some people on the depth chart. I think Viljami Marjala is going to have an Andrew Miller career because there are a lot of players like him.
Josh Samanski has an NHLE of 28. I can’t find a comp for him on the list, and that’s a good thing.
SILVER
Canada lost a wonderful hockey game to the USA today. Absolute dagger and in the days to come we will discuss what could have been done to make the margin larger. I’ve felt, for some time, the Canadian management (no matter what year) is too married to the Mike Babcock theory of hockey. It elevates the importance of coaching and reduces the importance of skill. That’s not a good idea, in my opinion. Please read this.
Edmonton Oilers trade targets: A second pair right-handed defenceman
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7062330/2026/02/22/edmonton-oilers-trade-targets-defencemen-right-side/
Throwing this stat out there in light of McDavid getting a lot of heat today for not producing in big games:
all time, in games 6 and 7 he is 5-8-13, +7, 31 shots in 10 games. Includes series’ against SJ, ANA, LA, VAN, DAL, FLA. These ones matter too
They might not matter. I think most are referring to his legacy when compared to the greats of all time. In that sense they don’t matter and won’t matter to Connor either. No one will ever mention this once his time is done if he doesn’t win.
I think he also gets an Asterix if he parachutes onto a team that was going to win anyway. Ala Ray Bourque.
Admittedly I’ve soured on Connor since last years post cup comments but I don’t see how this isn’t true. This would likely be mentioned whenever his name comes up. I think anyone who can put their bias aside would agree.
It also isn’t bashing him by saying it out loud as some seem to think.
Wed and Thursday are 830 starts.
Id prefer 6am.
I’m convinced that if Doughty, Parayko, Bennett, Binnington etc were watching from Canada there is no way MacKinnon misses a wide open net!
I think the idea is that they wouldn’t have needed overtime to win it…
I know. Different teamates and MacKinnon buries that.
That’s pretty obtuse. Sarcasm aside.
Apparently both Connor and Leon have broken fingers/hands. This is not a positive development.
https://nhltradetalk.com/nhl-weekend-rumors-blues-shakeup-bobrovsky-mcdavid-injury/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=nhl-weekend-rumors-blues-shakeup-bobrovsky-mcdavid-injury
Especially since slashes to the hands are permitted if you play for the Oilers, or anywhere outside of the sunbelt.
Yeah, he took a lot of those in the tournament.
No doubt they are both dealing with hand/finger issues. Leon hurt his a few games before the break and was seen icing his hand on bench through the tournament and McDavid 100% had two fingers taped together shaking hands.
With that said, to say they are broken is complete speculation and the context of Knob saying he’d talk to McDavid about his timeline was in relation to him coming off the big tournament and flying home from Europe on Monday and the team heading on the road for 3 games in 4 days on Wed – not to do with his hand.
Knob asked about how it is having this camp without a few important player (Drai and McDavid) and he talked about it being tough with part of the team not there and mentioned Savoie and Samanski.
Here is hoping Samanski joining Savoie on recall Tuesday/Wed.
Gregor also tweeted wondering if they move out someone to make room for Samanski 👀
Although I disagreed with a couple of our team’s “draftees”, this was not a bad Canadian team by any means . . . today we got beat by a goaltender. Period.
Canada had all the momentum going … then Bennett took an idiotic penalty. I didn’t realize it the time, but Bennett put the lumbar so hard into Jack Hughes face that he lost teeth.
I am guessing half of Canada is napping now. or really drunk.
I was up at 3:30 this morning to get the workout in before the game – no naps today either, too much work and various other life shit going on. Will be an early night though.
Kapanen has “an ailment” and will miss the first few games of the trip.
Henrique is good to do.
Coaching saying Rico back, will talk w/McDavid when he arrives and see when he’s ready to play. Also, (sound was muffled) but Kappanen likely to miss the first 2 games of the trip (something different than what had previously ailed him).
Who knows what kind of lineup they’ll be able to ice Weds. Jet lag is a real thing (9 hour time difference) plus all the games played.
Summarizing!
Nicholl scored his 9th of the year–the eventual GWG–and added an assist in a 4-2 victory. He was +3 and went 9-for-16 (56.3%) on draws. He was named 2nd star for his efforts.
Prospecting takes a break until Wodin’s Day.
I’d like to see a Canadian roster built with maximum skill, one time.
It felt similar to the Oilers, once the top group was on the bench, you were just waiting for them to be back out to threaten.
Yes Bennet, Marner etc had some moments but…
Makar AND Bouchard!!!!
All skill marner is probably still there no? Barzel Bédard probably could be swapped in. After MacKinnon got hurt and Crosby went down it’s pretty hard to build a skilled line with the goon line taking that spot.
Sorry I think you’re not saying marner is not on a pure skill team.
This years team reminded me of the one that lost in Nagano. Down to getting beat by an all-world goaltending performance. Too much emphasis on bringing gritensity instead of just assembling the very best players the country has.
2002?
That team would’ve beaten this one to a pulp.
Canada had the best team but couldn’t score. Maybe an idea is to bring our best roster. If you know you are going into a low scoring environment, which any game against a competent team (USA, Sweden, FInland, Czechia) will be, you need to bring your offensively talented players. So Bedard, Scheifele, Wyatt Johnson would help you a lot more than Marchand, Wilson and Bennett. At least they can score from distance. Add in Bouchard and Schaefer in place of Doughty and Parayko and while you are at it play your best goalie.
In a high scoring environment, like the 70s, you can have Lafleur and Shutt, but Bob Gainey becomes one of your most valuable players and a key to winning. Right now it’s the opposite, you need your scorers to break open a low scoring game.
Yeah, if you need to bring a pest, just bring 1…. Probably Bennett for me
I’m sure it’s been said but yet again the refs trying not to put their finger on the pulse absolutely put the finger on the pulse.
They won’t learn, cause they aren’t taught to fix it.
There must be a rule that says too many men only applies to Canada.
From 32 thoughts podcast: Helleybuck 4.63 GSAA
Feels about right
People can editorialize about it and dismiss it all they want, but the simple facts are, in game 7 2024, game 6 2025, and this Olympic final, McDavid has gone 0G 0A 2 shots in each of them.
And that’s terrible for a player of his abilities.
He has to figure out how to not seize up when it is all on the line. He stops shooting, and paradoxically, tries to go 1-on-3 and 1-on-4 a whole bunch.
A series of long talks with Wayne is in order and way past due.
This is an uncomfortable truth. You can even add Game 6 in 2024.
I’m not to worried there, what bothers me is they didn’t take the Qback of the best powerplay in history and have him play special teams with 7 D men. I can’t blame binington but in the same breath he was outplayed by other goalies in last two games. Not clutch or whatever the hockey Canada BS line is.
With Canada’s best players on the ice. Hellebuyck had zero scoring chances against, and Binnington made 1 all world stop out of 2 all world chances against.
McDavid, MacKinnon, and Makar laid a egg in OT.
Those three could not even trade chances with the Americans. They allowed two big ones without getting any.
Binnington gave them a second chance, and they effed it up twice.
Maybe try this exorcise again with mcdavid in elimination games.
The fact they’ve been down big time in multiple series to win it now is not a redeeming quality…
If this were tennis I’d agree, but what people always forget is hockey is a team sport. I can’t believe we’re still drawing it up to we’ve lost because mcdavid.
That’s not what’s happening. The facts are just being laid out and McDavid hasn’t got it done when it really mattered.
I agree.
By all accounts he’s been unlucky and playing with significant injuries during all of that. He’ll tell you its not good enough but he had taped up hands when they were handing out medals.
Crap luck and debatable health. Toews or Nate hit either of those and its gold.
Coulda woulda shoulda. You want to be the best you gotta do something when the chips are down.
This one really was ‘The one that got away’
It was unreal how they stepped up and took control of that game. I was pretty surprised that they took that control, they were winning all the puck races, they just didnt score when they had SO many opportunities including empty nets. Hellboy played great but he is beatable and they had tons of chances, its on them. Mack had the winner on his stick, when does he miss that? oh ya today! lol. They were clearly the better team after the goal and first. Even Parayko was flying.
You know that 97, Mack and Makar will go full boar offense so that gives the risk of odd man chances the other way and yup it happened.Binnington saved their aces with that glove save once, and yup it happened again, 97 was trying too much on his lone rush… you have the puck be chill, wait and attack
Binnington was fine. Canada played a great game.
3 on 3 can go fly a kite, just an awful way to end these games… I would prefer 4 on 4 if they are going to do anything.
He has something going on with the fingers on his right hand – his ring and middle finger were tapped together for today’s game.
what I’ve noticed in every elimination game, at least in the NHL:
we go down by a goal, and then Knoblauch loads up McDrai early and stops rolling lines. McDrai are already gassed from the first 3 rounds. Florida shuts them down because they’re elite defensively and are not trying to score. The rest of the lines have nothing going. Knoblauch plays McDrai every second shift and they get more gassed and can’t create anything. They get frustrated and start forcing plays. The other lines can’t either because they can’t get in rhythm and they don’t have McDrai. Pray for a PP. doesnt happen.
admittedly McDavid or Drai havent had their best games in the biggest ones, but it’s also tough to produce in a low scoring game when the other team is solely focused on shutting your line down.
The answer? Another star I guess? Two elite lines and a third line that can cycle and hit and wear down the D. Panarin would have been nice haha
Cooper basically did the same thing with the team Canada roster – it was McD, MacK and Celebrini loaded up on one line, and all through the tourney, Canada was being described as a one line team.
They didnt play like a one line team today, they all were flying out there. Unfortunate loss, it happens.
He double shifted McD, MacK and Makar in the OT … they were gassed. There was no reason to shorten the bench so quickly into the OT. But coaches no matter how good just can’t resist.
I don’t disagree with the second shift, they could of waited one more, live by the sword, die by the sword.
This is how it has been. Not only in the playoffs but in the regular season too. Probably in pre season too, but I can’t recall for sure.
It kind of goes to what I said in another comment. Stars like him will try to get it done themselves when things are hard. MacT says these Oilers are the most impatient offensive team he has ever seen
Other teams can focus on him, they know his tendencies, and it has happened to other top level players. The ones that can overcome that do it by outsmarting the other team more than out willing them
There is an advantage to having a solid deep team with no real elite players, because the team will be more likely to play as a group and has to stick to a more basic, planned, and consistent routine. They are unlikely to get an insane individual play, at least very often
Connor has to start using the other 4 players more, especially in tight games. Doing it more strategically, like Wayne who you said he should have a chat with. If he does that more, at least on the Oilers, the other players will get better at getting open, going to the right places to break a stifling D down
I think right now it’s hard for them because he often goes solo when it’s tight, and they aren’t supporting him enough. He can do it, we’ve seen him circle the O zone because he can skate away turn and control the puck so well. So many times when he does that there is no play to make, not enough or the right support off the puck
I think they have to work on that. You have to purposefully break what the other guys are doing. Like when Marssechault spoke about how the Knights purposefully took apart the Oilers D zone system, not just playing hard and seeing what happens
“The ones that can over come that do so by outsmarting the other team more than out willing them”
This is exactly the way. Head before feet
That’s why MacT should be a consultant for us. What you say makes a lot of sense. and sounds like Florida’s strategy against us, and, less successfully, Dallas’ strategy as well.
Canada in the six Olympics with NHL involvement (using gold as a W and anything else as an L because, let’s face it, it’s gold or bust):
Outside of Italy: 3-1
Inside Italy: 0-2
I think there’s a certain irony to Hellebuyck finally turning into a big game goalie in a year the Jets collapse and miss the playoffs.
Why can’t Hellebuyck play like that for my fantasy hockey team? I’d probably be winning my league if he hadn’t played like shite so far in the NHL.
I am curious whether Team Canada supporters will attribute a curse to McDavid, suggesting he is incapable of achieving significant victories. I do not consider four national championships to be substantial achievements when compared to Stanley Cup runs and Olympic gold medals. Furthermore, the officiating during the games was, in my opinion, garbage garbage garbage.
He’s won the mvp of the memorial cup, Stanley cup and the olympics and lost them all.
I don’t know about a curse but if he doesn’t correct this he will never be in the Gretzky/Lemieux tier and will be more of a rich man’s Joe Thornton. Sigh.
“If he doesn’t correct this”
What a rediculous thing to say.
He isnt wrong though. It hasn’t been corrected. No significancnt wins only heart breaks.
4 nations cup doesn’t count I suppose.
No it doesn’t – every single player who played today would trade the 4 Nations for a Cup ring or an Olympic gold medal
They would but they would also vote for 5 on 5 OT (Four Nations) over 3 on 3 (Olympics) and they would suggest its a material difference.
It does not.
Okay, if this isn’t corrected. Happy? I’m not celebrating it. Just stating it.
I pray this is hyperbole. A “rich man’s Joe Thornton”?
A good to very good hall of famer versus one of the best to ever play.
Parameters. Winning is the biggest one. Joe Thornton was a great player. I don’t think this is as big a sleight as you think it is.
If Nate hits the open net, would that count as McDavid “correcting” it? If Celebrini pots a goal off a pass from McD does it count as “correcting” it? Canada played a great game. Great players/teams lose sometimes. USA was fortunate.
100%
Yes, or winning any of the other championships/medals he’s competed for.
Also, what’s your point? I laid mine out pretty clear and yours doesn’t disprove mine.
My point is only that one’s view of McDavid would change considerably based on only changes from other players, without a single change from McDavid.
I find it funny is all. Don’t think I need to fit into some sort of he’s right or he’s wrong pattern do I?
No, I guess not. You’re right, if things were different, things would be different.
Many say Josh Samanski isn’t a 3C on a contending team. Maybe that’s right. Maybe, not.
What I know is that Samanski was a better 3C than the options tried over the last few months and this team has limited (right now zero) cap space for upgrades.
They may not be able to acquire any material player but almost assuredly not two. I choose a 2RD over a 3C (run Ek, Nurse and Walman as an elite left side and have Stastney as 7D).
Get Samanski back on this roster and play him 15 minutes for the last 4 games before the deadline.
I’d bet on the upside of Samanski over the recent history of Henrique all day. The chance of Josh getting better is a given. The chance of Henri getting back to 2024 level is unlikely.
I’d also bet on javarntie being overall better by playoffs than Janmark. The pk hasn’t been great so to me what’s Janmark needed for? Heck I’d try Fredrick on the pk.
I agree with all of this, I would have Samanski and Jarventie on the roster over Mang and Janmark right now.
Henrique would still be on the roster (can’t get him off) and I would play him and see where his game gets too coming back – the PK GA/60 are materially higher without Janmark on the ice than with and he can play 4C to see where his game gets to:
Nuge/McDavid/Hyman
Podz/Leon/Kap
Roslovic/Samanski/Savoie
Fred/Henrique/Jarventie
Lazar
Shit, I could swap the 2nd and 3rd line wingers and still be happy.
I’m usually against the call-ups going on the 4th line if they are skilled players but I think that line could a fit for Jarventie’s offensive zone game.
Lazar is better then Henrique, no one should have any time for Henrique. HIs play has collapsed since he signed the contract, his replacement level PK abilities should not be saving him in any way.
Holy Hell, replacement level PK – did you just decide that for your narrative or do you have a reason for saying that.
The Oiler 4 on 5 PG gives up 2.5 more GA/60 with Henrique off the ice than with him on it – and he’s PK1 so he sees PP1.
You favourite, Mattias Janmarks, helps the Oilers give up an extra half a GA/60 when he’s on the ice.
Lazar isn’t better than Rico. Yup, Rico has been a black hole offensively for much of the the season – we’ll see how he does on a re-set. I want him 4C and PK1 – I’m sure they try him at 3C and forget Samanski exists.
I’m on board, but 15 minutes a night for samanski with this coach ain’t happening. Maybe if he changes his name to McSamanski the coach may get confused and throw him out there a couple extra shifts.
You are true, its unlikely but, hey, maybe the coach is having a re-set during the break and make he can develop in his deployment – unlikely but I can hope.
Hear hear.
Time to find out what they have with this player, and there appears to some real upside.
They have a great 3C, they just play him on the wing with Connor
Canada was the better team but Hellebuyck and the hockey gods decided otherwise. Expected goals were probably something like 6-3.
An unbiased observer would have rated this as one of the best games ever.
Hold your heads high Canada!
They played a great game. Its on them they didn’t score and Hellboy was very solid. Canada dominated most of that game but doesn’t always mean a win. Unfortunate for all who cheer for the red and white.
I started noticing as a kid that when teams blow too many chances they most often lose. I suppose it’s just the pattern of sticks being squeezed, not their night, that eroding their confidence, whatever
Hellebuyck is part of the US team.
McDavid has his ring and middle fingers on his right hand tapped together.
So, both McDavid and Drai come home with hand issues (Drai suffered his before though) – not great.
I’m crushed. Just getting exhausting watching my teams lose in the finals.
I’d rather them go straight to a shootout as compared to going 3-3, especially once you’re in the playoff bracket. At least there’s no pretense you’re still playing hockey with the shootout.
But really there’s no need to change it from 5-5, even if timing requires a maximum 20 minutes of overtime. Give them one shot in a real OT to decide the game, especially once you hit the playoff bracket.
4-4 would also be far preferable to 3-3 if you’re committed to making the hockey less hockeyish — at least it’s still a normal game state.
Absolutely dreadful way to end a tournament that comes along every 4 years at most.
Owners aren’t going to be keen on the possibility of 3 or 4 OT games.
My point is if you have X time allotted for OT, just let them do 5-5 for the time allotted — if unresolved, got to shootout. If not 5-5, 4-4.
Nothing is gained, and quite a bit is lost, by having them resolve it via 3-3 during the alloted time. It’s basically a gimmick akin to a shootout.
The NHL owners don’t make the rule for this tournament and I don’t think they are going to dig in and not approve player participation if the medal games follow NHL OT rules.
I’m sorry, I cannot stand the BS about McDavid falling short when the chips are down.
McDavid scored the OT winning goal in the first best-on-best tournament in nine years at at time of massive geopolitical implications.
IMO, that was the third- or fourth-biggest goal in all of Canadian hockey history (after Henderson in 1972 and Crosby in 2010, and maybe Lemieux in 1987).
4 Nations was a glorified all star tournament. Only Cups and Olympic gold matters. McDavid is 0-3. The US players would 100% rather win the the Olympic gold over the 4 Nations
McDavid coughed the puck up in OT going 1-3, then dogged it back and didn’t pick up his check. He’s pointless in three of the biggest games of his life.
He’s probably my favorite player ever … but but he frustrates me because he gives 120% on offence and 80% on defence. Those times when his commitment to preventing goals wavers have led to some heartbreaking moments.
That said, Team Canada’s roster was dog sh$t … so many passengers on this team; the gold medal game reminded me of watching the Oilers. Cooper had like 6-10 guys that he really trusted, and the rest were benchwarmers
Guerin said it well. In a tournament like this all of the guys will play two ways and accept roles. So bring the best talent that have a rounded enough game
Yeah, it’s his fault.
rediculous
The roster was dogshit? Crazy comment. They made the states look silly that game. They win that game 9/10 times if they play like that. Its on them for not scoring. I do agree that 97 tried a bit too much on that lone rush, not sure why he didnt slow the play down and regroup….those 3 97, mack and makar will go full boar for offense, its risky 3 on 3.
80%?
I wish.
When is McDavid going to grow up?
When it’s too late to matter.
Perhaps but that gold medal game was as intensely contested and had as much emotional investment of the players as today did and there is one big difference – it finished in 5 on 5 OT, not 3 on 3 OT, right?
Big goal in a pretend, made up, nothing tournament.
Who cares?
Troll comment, nice, get your ma to leave the meatloaf outside your basement bedroom door.
Call me when he wins something.
I’ll be eating my meatloaf.
Everyone who was playing?
Bouchard would have to go into the Witness Protection Program if he played like Makar on both goals against.
Mackinnon was dogshit too.
Ya. Several goals against in the tournament were at least in part on Makar. At the same time he’s the best d man in the world.
Meaning Bouch will have to settle for second best. I’ll take either on my team in game 7 of overtime or a gold metal game any day!
Mackinnon was dogshit today but he’s fighting something or multiple things. Canada definitely had bad luck with the injuries.
With Crosby out there on the 5-3 I bet they cash.
People saying that Canada should have won by 3 or 4 goals or had grinders on the team etc, there wasn’t a player in the forwards that isn’t over a 20 goal scorer easily, could you have upgraded the defencemen? Possibly.
I would have chosen Bouchard but I also would have had Ekholm on Sweden.
Sometimes you have to give the other side their due, Hellebuyck played like the 3x Vézina winning goalie he is, the puck ended up on a #1 draft picks stick from one of the top 5 defencemen in the league.
The Canadians were the better team 95% of the time, that doesn’t mean the US team isn’t the following
2x 1st overall picks (1 having scored 69 goals)
3x Vézina Winner goalie
1x Norris D man (with Werekski and Hughes as runners up for more than once)
10x top ten picks
Acting like the US team wasn’t a team of all stars is ridiculous.
Yes and trying to retcon the entire make up of the Canadian team after watching them dominate for 75% of regulation time is also ridiculous in my mind.
I’ll re-state my position. If you aren’t sending your best players, then you aren’t trying to win. The difference-makers that did not get selected were Bedard (over Marchand), Hyman (over Reinhart), Bouchard (over Doughty) and Schaefer (over Sanheim).
These players would have increased the offensive opportunities, when Canada’s last 3 games were determine by last minute goals and OT. They absolutely showed dominance, but dominance does not always = goals, otherwise they would have won each of these games by 3-4 goals.
Goals are what determine wins and scoring goals is the hardest thing to do. The Management of team Canada, so stuck in their mindset about the value of veterans, are culpable for this result.
This could be true and I like your substitutes but they dominated that game and missed open nets to win. The states weren’t really in the same class for 75-80% of that game. They were lucky to get to the idiotic 3 on 3.
I would have liked
Toews Makar
Sanheim Bouch
Schaefer Parayko
Elite skill on each pair and some trees for the coaches and PK
I agree that Schaefer should have been there
And they can even have Doughty as 7D and swap him for BOUCH to defend the lead if they really feel they need to.
Did you watch Doughty play?? Bouch is way better all around dman than Doughty and he kills penalties! We have to stop look at players how they were 10 years ago.
Haha I know I agree but obviously the staff value him being there. Im just saying the 7D gives a massive advantage if they want to have an “offensive” player and a “defensive” player
If you don’t take the best players but win, everyone says: see i told you so. But when you lose, you deserve to be criticized as well. Make these type of decisions you are settling yourself up for hero or zero repercussions
No one is saying that the US team isn’t a very strong team. Their D and goalies are way better than Canada’s. But they also have guys like Keller, Miller, Nelson and Trocheck that would not be anywhere near making Canada’s roster. Granted they didn’t bring their best team either. And the Canadians dominated them today, but got goalied.
When you have superstar forwards they like puck moving dmen. Funny I have not watched a ton of Makar but conceded he was the best dman in the NHL. Watching him he makes tons of mistakes as well but net difference is still a huge positive, just like Bouch. Also we seemed to be happy taking a goalie who had bad stats for three years but is known to play good in big games. Bouch has been the best dman period in the entire NHL the past 3 playoffs. That’s backed up with both stats and eye test but somehow Bouch was not good enough for this team even though he leads the entire NHL in scoring. Maybe a Bouch bomb would have come in handy on the 5 on 3??
No doubt that in October Bouchard was awful and was making egregious turnovers at wildly high rates. Unfortunately that happens every year and then he finds his game in November/December and gets better as the season goes on.
After that early seaon malaise he makes no more poor defensive plays or bad turnovers than any other high end d-man that has the puck a ton.
Makar, Toews, Theodore all made multiple horrible defensive plays/turnovers and, of course, so did Parayko and Doughty.
My uninspired take: Canada had their chances and couldn’t cash. They were the better team today, by a fair margin, and still came up short. 3 on 3 is always a crapshoot and an ugly way to win/lose a game.
Gods, I feel bad for McDavid. I hate seeing him lose. Even if he leaves the Oilers in the future, I will always want him to win Stanley. The man deserves it.
Best on best hockey is so much fun, but I don’t need that kind of stress so early in the morning. It felt like exam season in uni. Hopefully things are more settled internationally in four years so Russia can take part in the tourney, it’s not truly best on best without them.
Good comment.
Hear that! lol 10 am rage walk! haha
Lol. That would have done me good.
Prospectahedron!
The spotlight shines solely on Will Nicholl.
His Knights have punched their playoff ticket and they are now jockeying for postseason position. A win today means London is guaranteed at least 5th in their conference. They seek to track down Soo for 4th and home ice in Round 1, likely versus those same ‘Hounds. The Knights are five points back with a game in hand.
Nicholl has slowed of late with just 1 + 1 his last five GP. For the season, he has 8-7-15 in 20 games.
Puck drops @ noon Kipp time.
Roster freeze ends at 10 tonight.
Hopeful for a Mang trade but don’t expect it to
if not, hoping for a Mang and/or Janmark waive and assignment. Samanski outplayed both in his short stint and deserves to continue with the team. Jarventie has also earned an opportunity (although I think he might miss a bit with his personal matter – he’ll be fine though, from what I was told confidentially).
Bowman is waitting for the thaw to announce a block buster trade. Fingers crossed.
Definitely
Bobby McMann and Luke Schenn, welcome to the Oilers
Those flaccid man advantages are going to haunt their minds.
all five guys got overwhelmed in the moment on that 5v3. So stationary, so defernitial. 90 second 5v3 and they had 3 shots. No bueno, no bueno.
Maybe they could have had the guy who quarterbacks the best PP in the league on the backend? Give Makar a rest so he can drag Toews around on the shift right after the PP?
Would have been good for them to have two elite PP options. That PP where it tied with 2 minutes left….that is Bouch’s bread and butter
It’s funny how this blog talked at length about how Bouchard should have been on the roster, even if it was just for the PP. But the likes of posters like HH insisted the hockey minds knew better, and that playing Makar +24 minutes is better.
Insert a wet fart noise here.
Canada management can’t quite get past leaning to building a team for NHL playoffs as opposed to 1 game elimination tournaments:
Hagel- 6GP 1pt
Marchand- 4GP 1pt
Bennett- 5GP 1pt
Jarvis- 5GP 1pt
Sanheim 5GP 1pt
Doughty 6GP 1pt
Parayko 6GP 0pt
3 of MacKinnon’s 4 goals were PP. They all count, but this is the same issue the Oilers have. If you aren’t producing enough 5v5 based on shot totals and chances, the PP doesn’t always come through in these types of games, and it didn’t for Team Canada in this game. Guys are wound up and the flow isn’t there
On 42 shots they should have had 2-4 goals say. The US had 28 shots, so they should have had another goal, but given how much of the play Canada controlled it’s not surprising they fell short as well
So the same thing happens and they play the crap out of the top guys that are creating anything
Yep. This exactly. Tkachucks can’t risk taking stupid penalties in a one game do or die like players like that can in a seven game series. Canada chose to counter them by adding grit! And more grit.
I’m curious how the Oilers handle McDavid’s load management when he returns. He played a lot of minutes this past week and likely is a bit banged up. Smart play is to give him a couple games off.
They will play him about 26 minutes a game for the first few and the rest of the games this year.
coaches strategy, if down by a goal or two, overplay him.
if up a goal or two, overplay him.
They should have a dedicated gm and coach for international play. Pick the best players without built in bias.
I think they had the best team in the tournament.
Far from it. Too much age, not enough puck moving D, too many grinders instead of skill. The should have won the gold by 3-4 goals if they could finish, but OTOH lucky to come back in the previous two games.
I think the US can thank Connor Hellybuck for winning them the gold, it had nothing to do with age or not enough puck moving D or too many grinders. And it was skill that allowed them to come back in the previous two games to be in the Gold medal game against the US. They deserved to be there and they also deserved to win. Luck was with Hellybuck. Or whatever his name is?
Good grief.
Makar, Toews, Sanheim and Theodore are all puck moving D and not one of them is a “grinder”.
Sweden and Finland hated their dedicated coaches.
The best coaches are going to be employed somewhere coaching. Same with management.
If you pay them enough it is a pretty sweet gig with the potential for glory. I think that solves the problem.
I felt cooper was excellent. Like many I don’t agree with Bouch being left off. I also didn’t like that the second line was was three grit guys. I liked Wilson and think he was useful.
I’d have hyman Bouch and scheafer there. Maybe berdard as well. Building a legit skill second line. Certainly a healthy Nate and Sid would have done that.
If I could have changed out a guy, I might have switched Marchand for someone…. Maybe Bedard. I dunno. This team was very good. I think the best team in the tourney.
Hellebuyck finally has a signature victory. Goalies are part of the team.
There are a lot of nitpicky things.
Hate three on three deciding these things. The Americans have more complete players to manage the three on three.
Bummer that Brayden Point was not healthy. I think he was the player most missed by Canada (especially when Crosby got hurt). Canada needed one of them.
i.e more 3v3’s are lost rather than won. Canada lost the 3v3 today.
Wouldn’t the 3v3 win/loss record be dead even… ?
While this sucks I am legitimately happy for Hellebuyck. And Matthews, for some reason. He takes a lot of shit.
Matthew’s was excellent defensively today as is his reputation. But he just fits in with the 40 best players. No where near as good as Draisaitl.
I say the loss of Josh Morrissey was more impactful, especially given the guys they left off the team on the back-end.
The Canadian D were not really a problem.
Forwards who could make an impact were the precious scarce commodity on all the teams in this tournament.
Marner and Stone became much less effective without Crosby.
Point was an impact forward in the Four Nations. I think he would have also been in the Olympics.
McDavid, MacKinnon, Crosby, Celebrini, Point.
Eichel, Matthews, Larkin, Hughes.
The Americans were up one with both Crosby and Point out.
I think the reason the QF and SF were so close were due to the Canadian back-end not being able to move the puck and help transition.
Less of an issue today but, overall, an issue.
There were some Canadian forwards that were simply ineffective, I mean, Sam Reinhart, did he play?
Reinhart got the one big goal but he was a ghost at 4 nations too. Great player though but truth.
The team was fine (yes I would of brought others as well), I was kinda shocked they dominated them today, they were winning all the puck races, the states could do f all for a lonnng time in that game.
Canadian players were all skating their guts out. Health as a factor but even so, that was a win most times. Even if it wasn’t 3 on 3 Canada wins that game.
Remember when people were saying Team Canada would be better with Hyman and Bouchard, and that maybe “Winnington” wasn’t the answer?
Binnington played better than I thought he would but still he seems to let in at least 2 goals every game. Hellebuyck ate his lunch.
Hopefully Team Canada for the next Olympics won’t bring in the likes of Doughty, Parayko, Binnington and Wilson just because they won a cup +7 years ago.
Also, isn’t it funny all of the angst about the Tkachuk brothers and why we needed a bunch of “pests” or “agitators” or “enforcers” to deal with them?
Turns out the best way to make them go away in a short tournament is just to play hockey. The Tkachuks were invisible but so were Bennett, Marchand and Wilson, except when they were knocking out someone’s teeth and getting 4 minute penalties. Even then, the toothless Jack Hughes scored the winner.
Seeing Doughty play out there, all because of his “leadership” reminded me of when the Oilers brought in Ference.
Lessons learned for the next Olympics:
-don’t pick your goalie just because he played in a tournament a year prior and ignore his performance since then
-stop rolling out the geriatrics just because they are a “gamer” or have “leadership” or whatever other intangible nonsense more so than skill. We just watched a team with “never made it past the 2nd round of the playoffs” Matthews win gold. Hellebuyck didn’t buckle, but Binnington did.
-bring skill so you can give your top lines a break. McDavid, Celebrini, MacKinnon, Toews and Makar were played wayyy too much.
In spite of the above, Canada still dominated but they lacked what Hyman and Bouchard bring and that could have put them over the top.
Maybe , maybe not.
Great points. Someone mentioned Kent Hughes as next GM. I concur.
Nobody ever said that enforcers were needed for the Olympics. Nor pests. Mostly due to different reffing and one goal games. never heard that stated.
This was recognized.
Why you do you think “ grit” is such a lesser player ?
Every single player needs to bring grit.
It’s not figure skating. It’s hockey. And all the things you want to diminish are actually important. They just are.
It’s all important to a build a team.
Czechia almost knocked Canada out will skilled players who brought high level of physicality and grit. Finland too.
Bringing the best skills – yes, but define the skill. Are board battles skills? Incredible intensity on defensive coverage, is that skill.
A team that just milks the top point getters usually comes up short.
I knew they would key on MacKinnion and Connor leaving chances for Celebrini who had 6 or 7 excellent looks. Macklin needed to cash in on one.
This is the issue with bringing such a young player regardless of how talented. I thought MC was forcing it the last couple of games. Taking really low percentage shots, trying to shoot through a couple of defenders often, or muffins low and easy to save
Looking for a pass when a good shot wasn’t there and keeping the play alive or getting it to someone in a better spot would have helped a lot
McDavid tried to go 1 on 3 on OT. It’s not just the rookie who was guilty of trying to force something.
For sure, but Celebrini was doing it a lot as I saw it. Great player, but to me his inexperience showed. He’s not the reason they lost, and not alone in what I am talking about
I thought Macklin was Canadas third best player after Mcdavid and makar. Certainly shot a lot and sometimes maybe passed up better plays. I was betting on him in OT. Great player.
Glad we get to see him in the west. I wish Schaefer was in the west as well.
McDavid probably scored half his 64 goals that one season shooting through defenders – using the defender as a screen works.
If you get it through
For a team that was heralded as having such a great forward group, they sure had trouble putting it in the net
Helley played well, but they played right into his best game. Trying to beat him shooting low and with no pass first is a pretty tough way to beat any goalie like him
If you take 10 shots you should score a goal. They outshot most teams handily and after the round robin couldn’t cash their shot advantage
Americans like the big moments, for me the longer you let them hang around the lower your chances get of beating them
I don’t know if it was coaching, but they should have been more dynamic. Much more. They really could have used Bouch and his passing to boost another line when Makar was off. And his booming shots to the top of the net
Canada looked so much like the Oilers to me it’s weird
And USA looked similar to the Panthers. Some how the good guys finish second.
They could’ve used Hyman and his scoring touch around the net.
They could’ve used Bédard and his wicked shot.
They could’ve use Schaefer, as Makar had to play way too much, but they didn’t have anyone else dynamic on the blue line.
They could’ve used a better management team, but instead gave the job to the guy who screwed the Oilers with a double offer sheet.
“They could’ve used a better management team, but instead gave the job to the guy who screwed the Oilers with a double offer sheet.”
The big Canadian hockey brains showed their hand and need to adapt. They can’t just fill out their team with whoever won a cup or a tournament in the last decade and call it a day.
Doughty played 8 minutes. Why did they even bring him? What role was he supposed to be playing besides “veteran presence”.
The fact that people were applauding Cooper for picking Binnington all because he won a glorified All Star tournament last year was insane.
Maybe next time Canada can load up on skill, not grit. Bouchard and Schaefer would have both been in their top 4 D. Marchand, Bennett and Wilson were useless.
Hard work often beats skill.
The minor leagues are full of hard working players with little skill. Also skill players that don’t work or have low hockey IQ.
Work beats skill if skill doesn’t work.
Yes, sometimes skill doesn’t work no matter how much they try. How about that save McAvoy made behind Helebuyk? Now wasn’t that hard work? Or did you miss that?
I agree. Mcavoy is both skilled and a hard worker. That’s why he deserves to be on the ice in the gold metal game.
They scored on a low shot. They missed a couple of wide open nets and two breakaways. It’s hard to score when 5 guys pack in front of the net. 5 guys who are mostly 6 feet tall and over 200 lbs with long sticks. This is how Vegas won their cup. Illegal defence like in basketball may be the only way to stop this strategy that absolutely kills offense
Yes it’s hard to score against that, but you can if you do the right things. Like the Oilers I didn’t see it happening consistently, I think it has to be consistent, and if something opens up the skill guys can do their thing
When it’s not there and the skill keeps trying to beat it with low percentage plays it seems to compound and they start playing solo too much. That doesn’t seem to work very well
What is the high percentage play? It was not possible to make plays to the slot. The interchanges at the top opened downhill shooting lanes. The cycle around the net with the Dman crashing the alleys for a lo to high feed were very good looks. Set plays off draws are good bets too. There was no rush play available the US didn’t forecheck, they sat 5 back. Have to cash on PPs. All 3 goals in the game were low shots.
I don’t like just shooting low percentage shots but when the d collapse so much getting the puck to the net and creating scrambles and chasing leads to skilled plays. Hopefully.
Often when the oil skilled pp goes stale a Bouch shot even a wrister on net creates skill opportunities.
Someone has to also get position early in front, it’s too late once they collapse. Get in the goalie’s eyes. Steve Valiquette layed out the things that increase scoring (among others)
Pre shot puck movement to get the goalie moving is a big one, even short passes. Low to high plays and ones across the lengthwise centre line of the ice. Shots to the top third of the net have higher odds of scoring, especially against guys that are positional and are good at playing the bottom of the net. The age old screening and deflections
Hellebuyck has been taken down in many playoffs when teams do the right things against him. If you let him get square and see the puck, try to shoot straight at him with no pre shot puck movement, and also don’t elevate the shot he’s very hard to beat. Bobrovsky is the same
They did it at times, my point is that you do it all game long, all of the players are doing it and are aware to support the puck carrier with it in mind. Eventually they will break it, and if chances for individual plays come the skill guys will still do their thing. You just can’t rely on them doing that to win 9we know as Oiler fans), and not be doing the other
I am sure the panthers used that offensive strategy against us, and it was coached because it was so consistent
It’s not easy to create better chances against that style of defense, but there are a few things that increase odds
The reason teams play that style of D against higher skill is that it makes it hard for the skill players, and I find it frustrates them, and they tend to start going solo to make something happen
I get why, they are used to being game breakers. After watching two series against the panthers, the loss against the Knights, and this game, I’ve come to that a more directed effort has to be used to break it
Hoping that someone can make a great play leaves a lot to chance, it often doesn’t happen. Connor could have won it with a fortunate bounce in OT, to me it shouldn’t even get to OT, if the coaches had a more tactical approach to breaking the collapsing defense they were seeing
I’ve commented many times I see the Oilers as having the same problem, and resort to over playing the top 3 guys or whatever, like Cooper did
The D in this game make it challenging to complete a pass.
One needs to shoot for rebounds more and/or shoot high.
Sometimes the best team doesn’t win. The game never should have gone to OT. Helebuck
kept them in the game without doubt. I was surprised it was 3 on 3 in OT. Should have been advantage Canada but the US made good on their only chance. As long as they show some class in victory, but I can’t see it.
Yes, Hellebuyck, who finally gets to win something important. Kudos to him. He kept that game close for the US.
And, Canada’s bad puck luck facing open nets.
C’est la guerre.
Oui.
Connor named tournament MVP – I’m sure he cares as much about it as his Conn Smyth.
Connor was so good maybe not as much in the last game but still the best player on the ice. He deserves to win golds and championships. And will. He’s so much better than any other player in the world.
I do wonder what MacKinnons apparent injury was. He seemed to move well. Took draws. Didnt seem to get on the wall much? Was shooting although his accuracy seemed off?
I was glad to see MacKinnon take the draw in OT against Matthews and win it. Canada dominated possession in OT too. Goes to show 3 on 3 OT is like a coin flip.
Especially if backchecking becomes optional. Sometimes one has to defend as hard as one attacks. Particularly 3v3.
Might as well just flipped a coin. It’s a joke playing three on three for a gold metal.
Ya. Although I think it was the winger mcdavid that actually had to strip the puck for possession off the draw.
Good old fashioned hard work.
Should have been Hellebuyck.
and, now, GO OILERS!
Stretch drive going up – starting Wed!
The Avalance duo of Marty Necas and Nate MacKinnon – both going to be thinking about their misses for a long long time!
Not to mention Devon Toews on his open net (but that was a historic save).
And Makar missing the puck at the defensive blue line on the GWG.
And Toews and Makar being beat like a rented mule in the 1st GA.
MacKinnon had the game on his stick.
Overtime is always going to be a crap shoot 3 on 3.
Canada was the better team today and they lost.
Yikes. I get he wants it bad but McDavid looked selfish in that ot. Didn’t expect anything but this outcome but to go out like that is tough. We keep our heads up and show class in this country no matter the outcome. I expect a lot of the opposite from the other side.
Marner scored on a 1-on-3 in OT.
McDavid wasn’t selfish.
Ike Howard is three tiers above Quinn Hutson as a prospect – Hutson is likely a tweeter at best whereas Howard is developing well for a top 6 scoring winger.
Samanski’s points are almost exclusive at 5 on 5 – and he’s a solid 2-way center that can PK and I think he is the second best Oilers’ prospect in pro hockey.
If Hutson is a tweeter, does that make Howard the Monkey Man?
So far Howard hasn’t been a shining light at the NHL level. I wouldn’t hand anything to him just yet.
He’s a rookie pro in the first year of his ECL and I didn’t hand him anything – I said he’s developing well to become a top 6 winger.
He’s 12th in the AHL in P/G and first for rookies (I don’t count the two guys that have played 4 games).
Tough to show all that well playing in the Oilers bottom six – he hadn’t made enough tough plays on the buck and won enough board battles to get top 6.
I’m highly confident he’s going to be a massive value contract in the 2nd and 3rd years of his ELC.
I hope you’re right, otherwise you’ll be dissappointed.
Of questionable picks for team Canada I’d say sanheim was excellent. Wilson was effective binnington was very good. Theodore was also good although probably not a questionable pick.
Paryanko was not great nor Harley or Drew. Marchand was a bit slow to process the game.
Sanheim Bouch would have been a killer pair
Thats what I see as well. I was really impressed with sanheim. Kinda flys under the radar a bit.
Any one out there really think Hyman would have missed those open net opportunities .
Coincidentally, the “best” coaches almost always have the most “best” skilled players on their team. I can’t speak to other countries, but in Canada – in most sports – we over value the impact of coaching and under value the impact of skill.
Canada wasn’t out coached or out played and were clearly the better team. Shit happens.
True, but perhaps out constructed.
It breaks my heart that Connor McDavid is getting the rep as a brides maid and Matthew Tkachuck is a winner and future HOF’er.
McDavid will go to the Hall, but not winning the big series/game does become a thing. Hopefully 97 wins a Stanley soon.
Without the Stanley’s and Olympic gold medal then Tkachuck is a role player. But facts are facts.
No argument in McD HOF but the “next one” hero role continues to go unfulfilled.
Yup. Over the last 2+ years it is now a thing unfortunately. And the other side will use it as is the custom. There’s only one way to quash that narrative. We wait.
There’s a reason why. Take emotion out of it and it’ll make sense. It’s frustrating and I despise the Tkachuks, but they play greasy, dirty and win. Connor’s legacy is no points in the biggest games of his career that last 3 years. He’ll have to get greasy and mean if he ever wants to win on the biggest stages. Crosby found a way and just had the IT factor.
For me he’s going to have to decide to use himself as a decoy more, like Wayne. All great players have to adapt because the league adapts to them
In OT Connor had a bit of room but they closed him off and he skated the puck right into Helley (it became a low percentage play and he forced it) the slot was wide open because the D were trying to take his angle away. A Canadian needed to see and support that, and Connor has to get the puck there
That’s how the US scored moments later
At the start of the year Connor was continually skating into one on three situations especially entering the ozone. He seemed to correct that and then went supernova for two months.
I think that ot goal was on Connor not jumping to the backtrack. Just delayed then coasted. It’s his usual OT habit.
He does lapse into forcing things, usually corrects, then does it again
When he decides to change things up he becomes very hard to stop, because he has more options and creates doubt for defenders
His first season he was hesitant to shoot, I commented that if he developed a good shot he’d be very hard to stop. He did that and was. It comes and goes these days. To me he needs to be more patient and look to set guys up in certain situations
Not that he doesn’t, I suppose that I mean when things are really tight and it’s not flowing. More deceptive. I think right now D know he’ll try to beat them solo in tight games and it makes it easier to team defend him
On his OT rush if he sees his lane is closing and pulls up and looks for the trailer game over
“On his OT rush if he sees his lane is closing and pulls up and looks for the trailer game over”
this x1000%
Ya. I agree with this exactly. At the same time I don’t have a problem with him driving the net there even though the stop up was maybe a better option.
Doug Armstrong should be nowhere near the next Olympics. This one will resonate for a while.
Thanks for the little reminder, that while we get caught up in the lack of our current team reaching their potential, there were far darker periods than this relative level of success.
Kale Kessy & Mitch Moore, yeeeesh!
Epic game, USA had the playing out of his mind career game goalie, hard to beat that. Feel bad for Connor, but this will drive him in the postseason.
Moroz lol dumb autocorrect
Becoming a yearly theme seeing Connor in tears as he watches the ‘other’ team win the biggest game. Heck of a game, goaltending always makes the difference and the other Connor came up huge when it mattered most. I agree, Canadian management could have chosen more skill. I doubt they’ll ever make any adjustments. Best hockey game I’ve ever seen, skill and speed off the charts. Will always wonder what could have been.
Canada was easily the most skilled hockey team in the Olympics.
I hate to say it but McD was way too aggressive in OT. Turned the puck over on consecutive 1 v 3s.
That said, 3v3 OT for Olympics is a joke. Way too aggressive gimmicky to decide a championship game.
I feel bad for McD. He has now lost two SC Finals and Gold medal game in three years. Yikes.
Bouchard being left off the team was a joke. Doughty and Parayko barely played and were very underwhelming.
But don’t you know that Doughty and Parayko (and Wilson and Bennett and Marchand and Hagel) have GRIT practically oozing out of their ears?!?
GRIT. It’s the Canadian way. GRIIIIIIIT!
But did you see Doughty talking during the intermission?! Just oozing leadership!
…aaaaaand GRIT!
If only everyone on TC had Doughty’s GRIT, they would rule the world. The world! GRIT!
You don’t need skill if you have enough GRIT, because you can just glare at the puck with a stare full of GRIT until the puck goes in of its own accord.
GRRRRRIT FOREVER
Well there needs to be a happy balance.
I had grit coming out of my ears once, but the doctor gave me an ointment and it cleared right up!
Connor was also in the photo when Hughes waked in wide open.
That’s the problem. I have no problem with him driving the puck to the net. The problem came when he delayed his back track then coasted. Makar also.
MacKinnon was in a difficult position defending a 1 on 3. Probably could have smacked the puck but would have likely been retrieved uncontested by the US
They thought MacKinnion would get it and it would have easily been 2-1 going the other way. For some reason MacKinnion let up.
Ya. That’s the read. In the regular season probably worth the gamble.
US read that even if MacKinnon got a whack on the puck they were likely to recover.
The problem is that driving to the net usually turns over the puck, unless of course he scores then it’s terrific. It’s just too risky.
I agree it’s likely a goal or loss of possession. I don’t agree with Connor’s decision to not backtrack in the OT of this game hoping that Nate would win a 50-50 race.
Regular season sure. Bouch often makes the play that Nate couldn’t. But not always.
Was Makar not there also?
They probably needed a line change.
Ya makar took a swipe at a 50/50 puck just inside the ozone blue. Missed. Then kinda sorta tried to get back like Mcdavid.
Makar did stumble but both had time to get back. The two best skaters in the world.