These are my ‘reasonable expectations’ estimates for the Edmonton Oilers, 2016-17. Cam Talbot blew my GP estimate out of the water, playing in 71 games. It would ultimately lead to his (unwise) trade out of town. Oilers overplayed a fine goalie and then sent him away for less than 100 cents on the dollar. Sheesh. Talbot had a .919SP that year, Laurent Brossoit was .928, and the Oilers gave up 207 goals (19 fewer than projected) while delivering a .914 save percentage (I was in the range) for the season.
What we don’t know about goalies, collectively, is one hell of a lot. We do know that the net is currently held by Tristan Jarry and Connor Ingram, and those two men are extremely likely to be the netminders of record this spring for Edmonton.
The Oilers sent Connor Ungar to the ECHL Fort Wayne Komets yesterday, after an exceptional run by the young goaltender. He has struggled in the three most recent outings for the Bakersfield Condors of the AHL. Ungar was 1.76 GAA and .946 SP through nine games, but fell to 4.33GAA and .862SP in the last three contests. He is a solid prospect, the AHL is a hard league and the Condors defense has had some issues recently. I’m cheering for him.
I wrote about the wisdom of using the ECHL as a development league in 2025 (here) and mentioned Ungar. I don’t think he’s a lock for an NHL audition next season, but he turned some heads and should get a full chance to build his resume in the organization next year. On a team with about eight goalies in the system, Ungar has progressed mightily this season. His career has been embiggened by the performance.
Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl will play for the Oilers again, we just don’t know when. There’s a Wednesday game, there’s a Thursday game, too. McDavid and Draisaitl will want to hit the ice, but the medical staff will need to make sure they have all 10 fingers and toes and those fingers work as they are supposed to after the Olympics.
Connor Ingram’s five-on-five save percentage is .899, while Tristan Jarry’s is .895. Stuart Skinner was .892 in Edmonton this year. I wonder if Ingram gets some playoff starts this spring.
On the Lowdown today, it’s the round table noon to 2pm on Sports 1440 and You Tube. Four young people rain down verbal bloes on an addled old man and no one tries to help. It’s radio’s version of What We Do In The Shadows. Join me, Declan Krueger, Donovan Paulson, Josh Fenwick and Mackenzie McLennan for
Just for S*its and giggles I did an AI trade for McDavid to LA in the summer (ala Gretzky 2.0). This is what AI came up with:
Connor McDavid and Darnell Nurse for:
Adrian Kempe, Quinton Byfield, Alex Laferriere, Brandt Clarke, 1st and 3rd.
Edmonton has moved Maggie this year and is no longer on the books.
Edmonton signs free agents: Bobbie Mcmann, Keifer Sherwood and Logan Stanley and trades for Morgan Barron and Sebastian Cossa.
LA – Trades for Nico Hischier and signs free agents: Alex Tuch, and John Carlson.
Edmonton’s Team:
Pods Drai Hyman
Kempe Byfield Sherwood
McMann Nuge Laferriere
Freddy Barron Sovoie
Ek Bouch
Wall Clarke
Stanley Emberson
Jarry/Cossa
LA’s Team:
Panarin McD Tuch
Fiala Hischier Kuzmenko
Moore Turcotte Foegele
Lee Helenius Armia
Nurse Carlson
Anderson Doughty
Edmonson Moverare
Kuemper/Forsberg
The Verdict:
LA Kings: The “Top-Heavy” Gamble
Elite Concentration: The Kings’ top six is arguably the most talented in NHL history. However, after signing Hischier, Tuch, and Carlson, they have virtually no cap space for depth.Defensive Vulnerability: While the Kings have veteran stars, they lack the youth and transition speed that Brandt Clarke now provides to Edmonton.The Revenue Boost: The “McDavid Premium”
Ticket Sales & Premium Seating: The Crypto.com Arena would instantly become the hottest ticket in Southern California. Expect a 10–20% surge in season ticket renewals and a massive increase in the resale value of luxury suites, which are the lifeblood of Staples Center’s (now Crypto.com) revenue.National & Global Exposure: McDavid is the only hockey player with “crossover” appeal. The Kings would move from being a regional powerhouse to a global brand, leading to higher ratings on ESPN/TNT and increased revenue from the NHL’s revenue-sharing pool.Merchandise & Sponsorships: Jersey sales for a #97 Kings sweater would likely break franchise records. Furthermore, blue-chip brands in the Los Angeles market would pay a premium to be associated with a team featuring the world’s best player, significantly increasing local sponsorship revenue.The Oilers now possess one of the most balanced rosters in the league, capable of playing a heavy playoff style with speed on every line. The Kings remain a high-octane experiment, relying on McDavid and Panarin to outscore defensive deficiencies.
Projected Division Standings (2026–27)
Edmonton Oilers (108–112 Points)
Vegas Golden Knights (102–106 Points)
LA Kings (98–104 Points)
Vancouver Canucks (95–100 Points)
Final Verdict
The Oilers have used the McDavid trade to build a “Bruins-style” regular-season machine. The Kings have built a “Glass Cannon”—extremely dangerous and elite at the top, but fragile if Darnell Nurse or John Carlson misses significant time.
Will never happen and I wouldn’t do it but thought it would be interesting to see some AI perspective as well…. 😉
I don’t think LA makes that trade.
You never know, ol’ Kenny Holland is pretty shifty
Interesting, two GMs sitting at a table with autonomy don’t agree to this but L.A. does this because the owner tells them to and Gary kicks back, puts his feet up and smiles.
I would agree to it in a second.
What I really, really want to see from this is what Vancouver did to end up in the 4 hole in this situation 😀
Anaheim and SJ have passed them. Seattle are definitely still more solid than them.
Please ask it to elaborate on this part.
Marjala leads the 2 on 2, hold up, fakes a pass, rips one from the circles and a juicy rebound and gaping net for Lep to bury the 2-2.
Marjala loses the defensive zone draw but the d-man bobbles it and Poulin uses great speed for a clear breakaway and buries it five hole.
1-1
I was hoping that maybe Samanski would not be in the Condor’s lineup tonight due to being recalled for tomorrow but he’s in. Savoie is not, all but confirming recall. Janmark and Mang should be on waivers and Samanski and Jarventie up.
Gudas drove his Olympic team with unbelievable intensity. Isn’t he a free agent this summer?
I notice that many European players play at a higher intensity wearing their country’s colours than they do for their North American club teams.
Which is to say, these aren’t the Radko’s you’re looking for.
I think its long been reported he doesn’t want to play in Canada.
I’ve wanted Rad for the Oilers. But he said he doesn’t want to play in a high pressure market, and he’s also past the stale date. Who’s the next Radko?
Romanov?
McDavid is flying in to Anaheim tonight.
Had discussion in January about what might happen the first few games after the tourney – it comes down to how he’s feeling energy wise, mentally, healthy wise. Nothing has been ruled out.
Jack asked if coach could imagine Connor just sitting in the press box – coach talked about how playing back to back factors in – sounds like he’ll likely take a night off and play Thursday.
Kap has a chance to play tomorrow but most likely Saturday.
I’ll put my money on McDavid playing tomorrow night.
He might.
Sometimes the best thing to do when something so profoundly disappointing occurs is put on your work boots and get back to it.
I would think so especially watching the USA players become Led Zeppelin rocks stars overnight.
Gregor has an article up at ON and points out that while the US had the puck moving D group, it didn’t help them against Canada. They were heavily outshot and outchanced and only won because Canada blew their open nets and breakaways, and the PP got stage fright or something. Helley kept them in it more than won it to me
I have been concerned about Bowman liking puck movers too much. They already had 3 solid guys in Bouch Ek and Walman. Stastney started strong but now it seems he’s prone to chaos, and that is the opposite to me of what the D group needs
They need some big tough defenders that are hard to play against and still can make a pass. Regula was on track to maybe fill that hole but his season has tailed probably because of injury, which seems like it might be a thing for him
Not every guy has to be an elite passer, they just have to be able to hit the tape. If they go after a more offensive type I would say some who can carry the puck would be the way to go. There aren’t many Oilers that can carry the puck up ice effectively, cue the McLeod mourners
It’s a way to beat heavy forechecks and neutral zone mud. As Scotty B said when asked about the Devils’ trapping he said he’d make Federov a D and he’d skate through it
Feels like pretty simple thinking from Gregor.
US had better puck-moving D. US did not carry the play. Therefore, puck-moving D would not have helped. Canada’s forwards were deeper & more talented. Better outlets to McDavids/MacKinnons could have opened the game up.
It just seemed natural that when you have the two highest scoring forwards you would want them each to play with their elite offensive D they are always with and know how to play with them. Bouch has his warts, but Makar does also, as we saw
I’m now contradicting what Gregor said to a degree, but a little too conservative by TC in approach. Bouch has shown his mettle in big games, has shown he will play tough when called for, and who wouldn’t want that cannon on a PP unit? You could still have the defensive guys paired with him
At least as 7 or 8. When Morrisey got hurt that was a problem. Also counting on Doughty to play well enough. Schaefer is a stud, but he is also very young, that for me would have been a problem
Desharnais type.
Except someone who is better with the puck and skates better. Those two things got Des in trouble in the playoffs. I’m not a fan of gigantic players, so few move very well, and if they can’t obstruct (which can start getting called in playoffs more) they get pyloned or penalized
An exception is a player like Zadorov, he’s so big mean and powerful he can change things. PuckIQ has him with mediocre possession, plays most with McAvoy, and his GF% with his 4 most common partners is really good. Weird player, enormous violent Kris Russell?
Zadorov is under rated. He can be a difference maker.
My wife read an article about corruption with Canadian hockey referees at the Olympics. Apparently they may have been bought off by the good old US of A . Wondering if anyone else has heard about this and if it’s true. Somehow it wouldn’t surprise me.
Scandalous.
I called it before the game and was told I was full of shit.
I don’t know how legit the claim is she saw it on Facebook.
The very definition of “truth social.”
Who knows, but after liking the Olympics all of my life I stopped watching because of the corruption. My wife loves it, fair enough, I can only do hockey. I have no stomach for cheating, at all. Ok curling as well as
Kevin Weekes
@KevinWeekes
Keep an eye on The FlaPanthers
They have not extended 2X Stanley Cup Champ, 2X Vezina Winner, and future Hall Of Fame G Bobrovsky as the NHL Trade Deadline Approaches along with the Playoffs , this is very interesting given that he’s pending UFA .
Kap is also on the ice for practice.
We have a Drai signing – he’s on the ice for practice (McDavid is not).
“What we don’t know about goalies, collectively, is one hell of a lot.”
Here’s something I think we do know, at least with this organization: impatience w goalies leads to churn in the position which, I suggest, leads to missed opportunities.
It’s quite possible that were Hellebuyck in the Oilers crease and “blew it” three consecutive playoff years, he’d be gone before he even had a crack at year three.
Why didn’t they move on from Skinner this Summer? Did Bowman and the Skinner camp talk extension? I assume Bowman saw-heard that Skinner lost weight and worked on his lateral movement. If Skinner played better the first half he would still be here. Obviously Bowman seen enough of Skinner in the first half. Marginal players get traded all the time. Let’s see how the tandem of Jarry-Ingram do for probably the next 3 years before moving on.
Hmmm…. As I recall, the whole team was playing terrible hockey Oct-Nov 25. After Nov 25 team played better (shocked at the shellackings by Stars and AValanche?) and goalie numbers were good to great from No 26-Dec 25. The best of the lot 5v5 was Skinner at .943 SV%
Hardly marginal. And especially his playoff (and regular season) WIN%
But “noise” is a thing. As is impatience. I credit GM SB with considerable insight into what was needed in the crease and standing up to the noise. But as our host has often said, when a team is performing poorly (and especially a Canadian market team, and especially one with high expectations like Oilerville), either coach or goalie get fired. Or both. “Noise management” (the undoing of at least one other contending club in the past year) required a sacrifice.
I will, again, quote MacT about how impatient this team is. The market too. To my mind, it’s probably a factor in not having a Cup since 1990.
I’m still obviously going to cheer like hell for the Oilers. But if for whatever reason this is a Colorado cup year, there are few players I would be more stoked to see lift the cup than Kulak.
These are three huge games for the Oilers coming out of the break. As you recall, last week saw the team they were looking awful and fully deserving of the three game losing streak they are on. Add to that the California teams are basically in a dead heat with the Oilers for last couple playoff spots 25 games remaining, makes winning 2 of the 3 games important. Hoping both Connor and Leon see the importance and decide to play at least a couple of these games. It’s getting to crunch time.
That’s why us leaving so many points in the standing is huge. If we get swept on the 3 game road trip we probably don’t make the playoffs. If we happen to sweep me might win our division and get home ice against LA and then Vegas. Leon-Connor are well aware of this they rest on the plane see a shaman for their fingers because they know the importance of this road trip.
Agree. Sounds like Matthew’s is playing for the Leafs tomorrow and all 4 Colorado guys will be with the team, not sure if they’ll play. We need both of our guys in the lineup.
The USA players including Golden Goal Jack Hughes will be busy tonight.
Jarry was near dead last on my preferred acquire list, still is. Cheer like hell, hoping for the best.
These Calaifornia games could be an oily blood bath.
I’m sure Jarry will be enough —if the team in front of him minds the Ps & Qs of responsible hockey. Otherwise…
I would actually like this team to play a stretch without McDrai. The few games McDrailess at the end of last season seemed to setup some of the depth players to step up in the LA-VGK-Stars series.
The Penguins have acquired defenseman Samuel Girard and a 2028 second-round pick from the Avalanche in exchange for Brett Kulak.
https://x.com/penguins/status/2026352739496690048?s=20
Good job Stan.
Colorado clears $2.25 million in cap space.
Likely another deal in the works.
Considerable speculation that Colorado is looking to upgrade at 3C.
Plenty of chatter about re-aquiring Kadri.
Dubas has turned, Jarry who was on waivers last season for:
Skinner, Girard and two 2nds. That is diabolical work.
Girard has a cap hit of $5M for another season , hence the second rounder.
He might trade Skinner too.
Girard had negative value – famous name, but a liability in the playoffs when the games get more fierce. His 5 million salary was an overpay. Hence the 2nd rounder that had to be added by the Avs to get rid of the contract.
The Oilers did not. have 2.25 million in cap space to make a similar deal (mostly due to signing guys like Mangiapane).
That said, yes Dubas has managed to turn a goalie that they didn’t want anymore into a 2nd round pick, and we’ll see if he does the same with Skinner.
I think it’s interesting the Avs chose to get bigger with a similar style of player. After their blistering start they were cooling off. Similar in that Kulak is also mobile and has some puck skills, as opposed to a defense only and or huge guy
I was wondering how they would fare in playoffs with 4 smaller D, I guess they weren’t convinced either, and Kulak has lots of playoff experience. I see the cap part as two birds with one stone, they will do everything possible to bolster given their season
Nice outcome for Brett other than the family hassles
I wouldn’t even say a famous name.
Kulak is a definite up grade. Colorado is much improved.
Someone needs to frame the Matt Damon line and keep it hanging in the Oilers’ GM office until the end of time.
“Listen. Here’s the thing. If you can’t spot the sucker in your first half hour at the table, then you are the sucker.“
Bowman got destroyed on that trade.
He got Tristan Jarry and got rid of Stuart Skinner. Many fans, including several on this blog, were elated at that trade.
I’m going to give the tandem of Jarry-Ingram at least 1 playoff. I haven’t seen Jarry play enough to comment whether or not he’s the right goalie for the style we play. If we’re to win the Cup it’s going to be goaltending that drags us over the finish line especially with a weaker team this year.
It’s the weaker team – defence and lines 3,4 where the problem lies.
If Frederic can return to form and the coach gives Howard a legit chance in the top 6 knocking a player down to the 3rd line. Coffey will straighten out the D pronto as old school coaching is what the boys need and want.
I was not a fan of the trade at the time. Skinner was not the problem. He was playing very well once the team got their act together after Nov 25. Since then I’ve come to appreciate that it wasn’t just on-ice factors at play.
On the credit site, GM SB muted the interminable “goalie is the problem” noise in Oilerville; he got a cheap probable Kulack replacement; he limited Cap implications of two strong playoff performers (Skinner, Kulack) going into UFA.
On the debit side: Trading away proven playoff winners for unknowns.
What he knows (that so many fans and pundits seem to forget): This team —when it plays “responsible hockey”— is a powerful force and can make goalies look OK to great. Cap related bets on Jarry and Statsney may take a couple of years to show their worth.
Bowman told us early in the season we wouldn’t see this year’s team until February or March.
My question: How much patience is there in Oilerville for medium- to long-play bets? Fireworks are addictive.
I certainly wasn’t one of them.
I have been saying all along the Oilers have to manage the goalie position more like Colorado.
It’s a bit like Daniel Negrano’s small ball poker from back in the day. He played a lot of hands and a lot of cards. He had not problem walking away from a hand.
The Oilers are more like the poker player that sits at the table long enough that the blinds are rising and it’s eating away at their chip stack. They eventually panic and push all in preflop on their pocket Jacks, lose the hand and go home broke.
Still the Avs did the same last season, right?
Not exactly.
The Avs got Blackwood on a test drive first, then locked him in after he fit and performed well.
They preserved optionality. Also his contract isn’t buyout proof.
I thought fans were split. I thought Skinner might need a change of scenery but was repulsed at how much they paid for a guy they could have recently had for nothing.
They could have, but not this season. We have to take current context into account. In the same way Jarry was waived last year, Kulak was having a terrible season this year, and I don’t think Stu has much cred around the league despite to finals
Kulak had been very good in the playoffs for us, but is older and that wasn’t happening now. He wasn’t skating well. A slump, or done? Stu ran among the lowest numbers in the playoffs twice, on the second best team that was playing very well. Most GMs would have noticed
Yes, but just once it would be nice of the GM to get ahead of these things.Maybe a hybrid of the player friendly Oiler way and the cutthroat Vegas way.
I think Bowman was careful to show respect to the existing players that were core veteran and had carried water in the playoffs. That meant he had to work around the edges, until guys played their way into a trade or whatever
I think enough time has passed, and the team still struggles mightily at times, that his style will be like a hybrid Vegas thing. He’s far less sentimental and hand sitting than Holland, and much better at deal making to me, if not as aggressive as McCrimmon and Zito
Many were not.
David Pagnotta
@TheFourthPeriod
The Penguins currently have 20 draft picks in the first three-rounds of the NHL Draft over the next 4 drafts – the most among NHL clubs.
Wow. And Capt Canada is still a factor.
Malkin too.
JFresh
@JFreshHockey
Brett Kulak, acquired by COL, is a smooth-skating top four defensive defenceman who kills penalties. Was playing with Kris Letang and doing pretty well after a difficult start with the Oilers this season. When he’s at his best he calms things down and makes safe plays.
https://x.com/JFreshHockey/status/2026351452982227421?s=20
(click for player card)
Now you’re giving him flowers? You are such a troll.
I am not JFresh nor do I play him on television.
The point is, you only post positive things about Oiler players once they become former Oiler players.
Time to grow up.
Other than he’s played mostly 3rd pair in his career ok
He has and I’m sure that will be his role in Colorado despite what he was doing in Pittsburgh.
Manson and Burns a well established second pairing in Colorado.
I was slagging J Fresh and his complete miss on describing Kulak. He’s a top end 3 pair who isn’t big, and is more a competent multi tool defender than a defensive type. He can step up because of his rounded game – pretty mobile, steady, pretty durable, decent with the puck
He was never strong on the boards or net front, and not physical which defensive types usually have some aspect of. Stastney is more dynamic but not as steady at least yet
I think was staking his claim on Kulak’s performance in Pittsburgh.
Based TOI, he was playing second pairing and surviving quite well.
Kulak should do fine in Colorado one the third pair with Sam Malsinski who has been a revelation since being signed as an undrafted NCAA grad.
Probably, but he is a vet so his career has more bearing than 20 something games. Also the account doesn’t seem to acknowledge that he was playing higher up the pairs with Letang, who for me when healthy is a very under rated fella
Kulak also has a negative goal share at 5v5 with his 2 most common partners
Elliotte Friedman
@FriedgeHNIC
Hearing Brett Kulak is being traded to Colorado
11:31 AM · Feb 24, 2026
I think Connor and Leon missing a few games would be the best thing for the rest of the team. It would take away the safety net and give the other players a little motivation to step up. If they won a few games without them, the confidence would increase drastically. It would also give Connor and Leon some satisfaction knowing that the other guys can provide solid support for them when they’re back.
(The caveat being that if either of those two are out long term it will be an unmitigated disaster.)
I can get behind this take. Better they miss time now than in the postseason, even though a playoff spot is far from secure and the Oilers are going to California with an aching in their hearts.
Give your username, would you be on board with the Oilers bolstering the back end with Roosterlainen?
I don’t think it’s an unmitigated disaster. They’re not winning this year. It might be better to fall out now and not trade all your assets for old, overpriced players.
After McDavid just handed Bowman a bunch of cap space, there is no way Bowman is going to have a “wait till next year” approach.
I think with one exception. Major injury between now and trade deadline.
Its next year where that cap space becomes relevant.
Right now, when Savoie is called up tomorrow, they will have almost exactly $0 of cap space.
If they move Mang clean, they can make one medium cap hit acquisition with 50% retainment.
One has to live in reality with how much can be done.
I know Connor and Leon are just getting older and that we need to push for Stanley every year; however, based on the personnel this year and the continued issues, and cap issues, Im not sure Bowman should use much for future assets unless you’re bringing someone in that’s going to be here for 1 – 2 more years. The next 2 years are the most important and we will want assets to make trades those 2 years more so then this one.
Jarry + 1st to Florida for Bobrovsky (50% retained). 😀
We just sold low and bought high on a goalie. Do this and and you double down and bleed another valuable asset.
Two weeks later everybody is wondering what happened to Bobrovsky? Why can’t he stop the pick anymore? Did Florida know something? Etc.
The goalies are fine if the team decides to play better I think
D-FENCE.
Yeah, I wouldn’t have traded for Jarry unless it was for nothing with retainment. I also would have made the decision on Skinner either before the season or after this on. This team, if it fails to win, can thank the constant buying high and selling low.
Skinner was fine if the team decided to play better.
I think with Stu it was less about on ice than water under the bridge. He played very well at times, and there were also many times when ‘getting a save’ was mentioned. I think Bowman thought the skaters weren’t completely confident in him
Or: Skinner wasn’t confident about the skaters in front of him? The guy kept being sold out. And this season especially. Fugly. Until Nov 26. Between Nov 26 and Dec 12 Skinner was among the best of the best.
ps. He doesn’t make nasty remarks about his ex, but Skinner has made some very appreciative comments about his new team and how they play in front of him.
It was more the skaters in front of him lost confidence in him. Stu is very careful of his words and will always say the right thing.
Yes it’s a two way street. For me there are a lot of things that I don’t like about Stu’s game. He was still struggling with technique, like sliding out of position etc, Woodley who is appreciative of Stu still pointed these things out a couple of times
I suppose growing up watching more athletic goalies affects what I like to see. I always thought the other team’s goalies looked more like NHL goalies in style. Jarry and Ingram do to me
These 3 games are. Huge. If the big guns are not playing they will definitely be in tough.
ypu would hope for a sweep of course but 4 out of 6 points is a must with all 3 teams right on the Oil’s butt and all have games in hand.
Hopefully Coffee has gotten thru to the D already and they offer the goalies more help in our Zone.
Let’s at least hope 1 if not both of the Glimmer twins are back ASAP and only miss 1 max 2 games . But who knows. If they both have injuries, it is probably best they sit and get well before playing again. Not giving them time to heal probably takes away from their games , possibly for the rest of the season?
on the trade front, little chatter this AM about Ristlainen and trading for him to be added into that 3/4 pairing. Risto has a year left on a 5.1 mill contract, so I would assume they would have to retain which will cost more. Risto looked really good in the Olympics against Canada, but Weren’t they trying to give him away last year? He was obviously hurt this season as he has only played in 19 games. No clue if any of those missed games were press box. The guy has 1G 5A in those games.
Risto can play a bit snarly, but he really wouldn’t be my 1st choice. But I have not seen enough of his game to tell how good he is. Is he a good stay at home D? No clue. What will he cost? To me this seems like a bargain basement swing that according to the article it was mentioned in has another team interested that could jack up the price. Also eating part of his contract will as well. Unless they are the team taking Magpie back in a trade?
That’s all the D needs is a good strong cup of coffee.
Well if they were trying to give him away last year then he’s probably worth a 1st and 3rd to Stan.
I think that as Bowman said the goalie situation was at the point that change was necessary. I also think that while the results haven’t changed really, that the two goalies he has brought in have styles that suit the Oilers better – more mobility
Stu is bigger slower and a more positional goalie. That suits a team that is very stable and structured. The Oilers can be, can be more predictable defensively, which would help any goalie. But there is a some run and gun, and probably always will be. Let’s hope that stability happens and the strategy in net pays off
I understand the need for change but the target and acquisition cost were off in my opinion. They took on 3M in cap and a year extra and seemingly havent gotten better. I was thinking the other day how that 3M is a big chunk of the discount McDavid gave us this year and find that unacceptable
I’m pretty sure Stu didn’t have a great rep around the league, one example being when Jamie McLennan said ‘at least Jarry doesn’t fall on his face when he moves’
Perhaps Jarry isn’t ideal, but then who else was available, and if there was someone better what was the ask?
Oilers need a goalie that doesn’t fall on his face.
I’m pretty sure I saw some face plants by every Olympic goalie whose team made the playoffs.
Dubnyk says many things that need salt 🧂- lots of it. He’s media. His job is to stir things up, not understand them.
Jamie McLennan was a goaltender too and goaltenders are voodoo so they understand one another.
When he said that I was thinking that’s not good
I think as a fan base we undervalued him, especially seeing other goalies have similar results here. The reality is he was our goalie for two straight cup finals – that is valuable experience for even an inconsistent goalie.
He had some great games and some bad games. I think the play was keeping him and supplementing him with a stronger partner for when he goes cold. The advantage with him was he was so cheap we could have afforded a stronger partner. Ingram might have even worked.
but I also just didnt see the urgency to trade him. They did it after he had like three excellent games in a row.
His play between Nov 26 – Dec 12 was outstanding. At the same time that the team got woke and started to play responsibly. The trade was about “noise management.” My observation, as a relative newcomer to Oilerville, this place can only tolerate so much noise before the wheels fall off the bus. By Nov 25 there was nothing Skinner could have done that his next poor game wouldn’t have had fans and pundits in the streets with pitchforks and torches. GM SB saved Skinner, the team, and all of Oilerville that ugly scenario. My question now is, How long before the pitchforks come after Jarry, Ingram, whomever else might stand in the crease behind this defensively inconsistent team? And what then?
Both jarry and ingram are more active battler type goalies who aren’r always plauing deep in crease and way wayyy better at interupting dump-ins with a few degrees higher confidence and puck handling ability as far as getting the puck functionally headed quickly the other direction.
I think these style of goalies better suits oilers needs.
They just have to settle the A+ high danger chance machine effects.
A- -> some level shot from money zone
The “+’s” -> time and space.
The difference in zac hyman magically getting his stick on something while battling through or mcdavid defying odds and sonehow managing to keep puck in posession and get off shot with respectable to severe adversity compared to passes by opposing team directly into high danger to guy just standing there often with time to think about aim even or guys skating right into area and ripping shot off with no body contact resistance.
That difference is stark contrast in a lot of games i’ve watched this year.
Miraculous level thread neddle passes by our superstars vs tape to tape you can see it clearly coming from even other teams 3rd line quality players.
We will see what effect coffey has but there was clearly some issue with players playing system or system weaknesses that hasn’t noticably changed.
Mcdavid went nuclear when he was healthy enough to he a real shooting threat is the only real difference in this seasons results by period IMO.
I’m still hoping that sharks are selling (i honestly would if i were grier):
Go back to klingberg at double retained.
Ekholm bouchard
Walman klingberg
Nurse emberson
Or the guy on every pair who can actually outlet option:
Nurse bouchard
Ekholm klingberg
Walman emberson
Before anyone suggests san jose shouldn’t sell:
Any team that wasn’t smart enough to fold tent during the flat cap era missed out on greatest time to rebuild since cap came into being.
This is the last year of “everyone give me picks and prospect at gunpoint”.
It’s also not the offseason to be UFA fishing with too much extraneous cap out there (20 ish million actually free floating on high end of teams open cap for any deal above 1-2 year deals) mistakes are going to be made.
San jose is a nice landing spot for 1 year deals if vets know they are either goimg ro be playing with best up amd coming star in playoffs next year or dealt at deadline.
1 more year of assets before turning corner next year into goal of playoff perenial hopeful is where i see sharks best plotting course.
I’d even rfa offer on ducks players TBH. If grier can either steal or monkeywrench that teams players or cap it
Is smart strategy against the other team in division they have to worry about as the kings likely 1st to start sinking out of top 3 in division.
Under the new 2025-26 NHL/NHLPA CBA, “double retention” on player salaries—where a contract is retained twice to further reduce a cap hit—is effectively banned.
A contract with retained salary cannot be traded again with further retention within 75 regular-season days, eliminating immediate, multi-team “chains” used to lower cap hits to near-minimum levels.
Klingberg would be good. But I’d rather see a more physical defenseman.
Kling has skill, but he is another puck mover who is light, with wandering defensive detail and little physicality. Does that make the D group better. I’ll take an uninjured Chris Tanev type, or someone that wingers avoid in the corner that isn’t puck optional
I believe Connor Murphy is a puck mover that provides defensive detail with an edge.
Offer sheeting the Ducks players is not only highly unlikely but also pointless.
The biggest Ducks re-signing in the offseason will be CENTRE Leo Carlsson.
The Sharks already have Macklin Celebrini and Michael Misa on board at 1C and 2C as well as natural centre Will Smith who has been playing the wing.
The Ducks have almost $41 million in cap space in the offseason so could easily match any offer sheets and would unless San Jose makes stupid offers.
They don’t have 41 million outside temporary “without the various hoard of guys coming off entry deals or 2nd bridge deals who are clearly going to see large jumps in salary next 2 years”.
You pegged the ducks have an internal cap at 8 million or whatever. I will argue “not likely they can afford to hold that in place at those levels”.
Leo carlsson and cutter gauthier are likely going to cost close to half of that this offseason.
If I’m either players agent i would be low key shopping for interest out there.
Yes anaheim will match. But a few million higher than they might want to pay for the next 7-8 years of those contracts might be a wise push bluff on a divisional rival who is quite likely looking to be super competitive in same window as rebuilds rounding corner on similar timeline.
You can bluff until someone calls.
It’s impossible for the Sharks to offer sheet Carlsson and Gauthier at the level it would take to be any more than a trifle.
We don’t yet know the compensation levels for next season but with the existing ones, any offer over $10 million would require 2 first, a second and a third round picks and those picks have to be the Sharks original picks.
In other words, the Sharks would have to give up their 2026 and 2027 firsts, their 2026 second and third round picks for ONE player.
The Sharks do NOT have their 2026 third round pick so cannot do that.
Never mind trying to offer sheet a second player without sufficient picks to compete the transaction.
Or a noticably higher 2 year deal lesving them 1 year from UFA also worth debating.
Like a chance to hard kick the knee cap of direct competition of divsional rival over letting them get their guys signed “too cheaply” seems a thing worth at least debating straegically.
Its a strategy that could backfire tragically.
Anaheim will have more than $70 million in cap space when Macklin Celebrini needs a hew contract.
Can only go with 50% retained (can’t slice the pie more for 75 days) but 2RD is the place to ugrade – the following is fire:
Ekholm/Bouchard
Nurse/Legit 2RD
Walman/Emberson
Stastney
I don’t know if Klingberg is that guy but he may be.
The Sharks are 4 points out of a playoff spot with as many as 3 games in hand.
Not assure why they would consider moving Klingberg.
I’m not sure you are responding to the right person with that comment.
My initial hope was that Pickard would play his one games (which would allow for NHL recall if there is an injury) and then kind of head home to allow the other two to play but it seems they want to get him back in game shape which makes sense.
Ungar heading back to the ECHL is fine. He’s put himself on the map and is under team control as an RFA this off-season – he will be part of a 1A/1B split in Bako next year I would think.
Pick’s provides good depth. Best to keep him in game shape in case he is needed.
Even taking away the finger issue, I doubt we see McDavid Wed or Thur – I mean he must have just got back to Canada on Monday late and the team is already in Cali.
I suspect, injury aside, he joins the team in San Jose on Friday.
Drai hasn’t been seen since last Wed when Germany played their last game. Samanski was in the lineup for the Condors on Friday (so available for recall) but I haven’t seen Drai at practice, he hasn’t had an interview and he wasn’t in the 9 picks of players getting off the plane in LA yesterday. If he doesn’t play, it would be the hand issue from before the Olympics.
Savoie will be called up and Rico activated but, with Kap out, if the two stars are out, what is that, 10 forwards available (or is it 11)?
Zero cap space (literally almost $0 exactly) to call anyone up.
Emergency recall requires playing a game short but I wonder if there will be an exception in the circumstances?
We may know more if Samanski doesn’t play for the Condors tonight.
Drai may be taking advantage of being in Europe and visiting his sick family member, too
While getting sent down to a lesser league is a kick in the groin, I hope Ungar uses his fine stretch of play as motivation to keep climbing the ladder. Its entirely possible neither current starter is a long term solution and spots will open up.
the noblest spirit embiggens the smallest man
I posted what I feel is a relevant comment for today’s discussion, some content from another Connor who is a Canadian goalie playing overseas, but it seems to be caught in the spam filter. I’ll check back and re-post if I don’t see it in a couple hours.
Talbot a very underrated trade by Pistol Pete. This org has to learn to not give up on goalies. They go through ups and downs and this has always been a difficult team to play behind.
For our D, Whitecloud was mentioned by Gregory as potentially an option as he hasn’t played there long enough to prohibit the flames from trading him to us.
I think he is the perfect target. Makes 2.8 through 2028. He has always been successful in what looks like 3rd pairing minutes for VGK, sometimes second pair. In Calgary he is playing their toughest minutes and doing well in a small sample. Probably wouldn’t be insanely expensive.
this Perbix fellow many are talking about I don’t think is the answer. He was very good in soft minutes on Tampa last year. Struggling badly in second pairing minutes on Nashville this year. He seems like the righty my version of Stastney but we already have one of those in Emberson IMO. We need someone who can play tough minutes on the second pairing.
Unfortunately in this case, for Phlegms Admin the hate is real.
probably. From a business perspective though, we wont face them in playoffs during the rest of the Whitecloud contract. If we give them the best offer they should take it.
Conroy is part of the OBC in Calgary. Conroy is NOT making a trade with the despised Oilers unless it’s a huge overpayment.
The Flames won’t be trading Whitecloud unless some offer blows their socks off.
A 2RD signed for another 2 seasons at $2.75 million is found money as the cap spikes.
Please, do not sully Pete Maravich by using his nickname for Chiarelli.
As frustrating and un-analytical as it is to say, we really don’t know how the Oilers will fare until the playoffs. If key people play to their abilities, there is a Stanley Cup squad there with an ability to flip the switch in terms of physicality, cohesive exits, and D-zone play. We just have to see if the key players switch will be turned on come playoff time
Agreed. This year’s Stanley Cup, more than others in the recent past, seems to be just about anyone’s for the taking. Colorado had been dominant all season but they’re falling back to Earth lately. Teams like Carolina, Minnesota, Tampa Bay, and Dallas are not far behind them and playing consistent winning hockey. The Oilers have a team that could go far, including all the way, but due to inconsistency, can also fizzle out quickly. Let’s hope it all comes together for the Oilers starting tomorrow night.
It’s a good point. Some of the vets we have only turn it on in playoffs. In 2025 playoffs:
JANMARK – 62% goals , 58% in 24
Henrique – 58%, 60% in 24
They did also have Brown who was probably the best player of the three though.
Walman was also excellent in playoffs last year.
I think as usual we’ll see the big three, that being Connor, Leon & Bouchard firing on all cylinders. But they can’t do it all on their own. There’s no doubt Bowman has some work to do to get the personel together to give the whole team a jolt. No doubt this team raises it’s level of play in the post season but somehow this year feels different. It’s going to take a huge organizational effort from top to bottom to spark things up.
Here’s a good look at the shot that beat Binnington. He would have made the save if he held his butterfly but I guess he thought the shot was going high.
https://x.com/Brick_Suit/status/2026214286415266302
Do we really need to look at it again?
Only if you want.
I haven’t even seen it, lol
*and refuse to click the link 😤
Good 👍
They call that the Losington.
Quinn had just gone glove side high tens of seconds earlier, and Binnington made a miraculous glove save.
Binnington “cheated” for another high shot to the glove or blocker side.
Both of those chances (unpressured shots from passes across the royal road at the prime sniping distance from elite goal scorers) are uber high danger because the goaltender is moving.
Binnington “guessed” right on the Quinn’s shot. “Guessed” wrong on Jack’s shot. If one counts the big saves in OT in the Four Nations, against Czechia late and in OT, and against Finland late, Binnington’s was using up all of his good fortune.
Binnington gave the big trio of McDavid, MacKinnon, and Makar two chances in overtime and they were brutal.
The big trio were out of gas and the US took advantage.
And Binnington gassed wrong.
I can’t look again because I focus on 97 drifting to the puck carrier while the goal scorer floats quietly in behind him. Eberle level of non head-swivel :).