WHAT TO EXPECT IN MARCH
- At home to: OTT, CAR (Expected 1-1-0) 1-1-0
- On the road to: VEG, COL, DAL, STL (Expected 2-2-0) 1-0-0
- At home to: NAS, SJS, FLA, TBAY (Expected 2-1-1)
- On the road to: UTA, VEG (Expected 1-1-0)
- At home to: ANA, SEA (Expected 1-1-0)
- Expected Record: 7-6-1, 15 points in 14 games
- Actual Record: 2-1-0
- Season Record: 31-25-8, 70 points in 64 games
The Oilers are on a pace that will see the team complete the schedule with 90 points. That’s not close to good enough, but the Pacific is poor this season and Edmonton is right in the chase for the No. 1 spot. I think 20 points this month could get them there. This road trip should end with a win versus St. Louis Blues, so getting a result in Denver or Dallas will be key.
- Podkolzin-Draisaitl-Roslovic 10.55, 4-4 shots, 1-0 goals, 57X 4-2 HDSC
- Nuge McDavid Hyman 9:04, 2-5 shots, 20X, 2-4 HDSC
- Kapanen-Dickinson-Savoie 6:55, 2-3 shots, 56X
- Frederic-Samanski-Dach 4:48, 3-1 shots, 1-0 goals, 89X
I have some things to say. Vasily Podkolzin is a real contributor and he is beginning to have a substantial impact on some games. I think he’s going to be here for the rest of the decade and beyond. I can’t say the same thing about Matt Savoie, but he’s getting there.
I also want to say Trent Frederic is coming around. I knew he could play better and we’re seeing it now. His high ankle sprain was just over one year ago, and Frederic took a long time to get back to something close to normal. I believe he is there now, not certain fans will forgive the first two-thirds of the season but it’s good to see him getting some looks. I’ve always been a fan.
Kris Knoblauch has 12 forwards he can use now, and Jason Dickinson is a big part of the third and fourth lines. In the last six games, the Oilers are 6-5 goals with 97 and 29 at rest. Music! Now, let’s get Curtis Lazar healthy.
- Nurse-Emberson 14:33, 1-6 shots, 0-1 goals, 11X, 0-3 HDSC
- Walman-Murphy 13:10, 4-5 shots, 1-0 goals, 48X, 4-2 HDSC
- Ekholm-Bouchard 10:58, 6-3 shots, 1-0 goals, 56X, 5-2 HDSC
- Connor Ingram 24 of 26, .923
I’m a little surprised Knoblauch ran Nurse-Emberson so heavily, but when considering both Mattias Ekholm and Jake Walman are hurt, maybe that was the best path for the evening. I thought Connor Ingram played well, and the Oilers needed some spine between the pipes. Good evening for the goaler.
This game was a real positive, but there are two tough games ahead on this road trip. This team bled opportunities in February and will need to push for every point because of it. The Oilers never do it the easy way. Last night was encouraging.
On the Lowdown today, I’ll be joined by Rachel Kryshak and Jason Gregor and we’ll chat March Madness and the NFL offseason heating up. Noon to 2pm, Sporrs 1440 and You Tube.
Are the Edmonton Oilers headed toward a possibly tumultuous summer?
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7096917/2026/03/09/edmonton-oilers-roster-salary-cap-standings-trades/
Im not sure how popular this will be, but Id rather have Nurse at 9m than Walman at 7m. If Nurse won’t waive, Walman should be next on this list. If Walman has some undisclosed injury going on I might change opinion.
Even with an injury he should be traded. Wallman should never have been extended. He has a history of injury.
Like Jarry, good assets should never have been spent on Wallman. The Wings paid for him to go away.
Bowman should be the first one gone. Stop thinking you’re smarter than everyone else. Pathetic management. Taking flyers on guys that pan out and signing college and European free agents doesn’t make up for the horrible job he’s done.
I can’t imagine there is a market for him right now, especially at 7M until Hes 37. But if there is i would get out of that contract.
Im sure there isn’t and definitely would have rathered they used the first to correct that mistake than mangiapane. If they felt they had to do it.
The Red Wings trading him away is irrelevant – that was seen as a terrible move the day of the trade (no-one understood it) and moreso as the years went on and he established himself as a legit top 4 d-man in San Jose.
This is like saying that adding Forsling would be a bad move because he was waived by a prior org or a team not wanting Podkolzin because the Canucks basically gave him away to a rival.
Yes, Walman has struggled this season with injury but he has a history of success since leaving the Red Wings and Yzerman being making a dumb move is irrelevant.
Walman was in San Jose for 50 games. Grier got paid acquiring him and Grier got paid selling him. Mikey had apparently seen enough in 50 games.
Walman “established” himself as an NHL player in Detroit, but Yzerman paid to get rid of him.
Yeah, it was seen as a genius move by Grier for obvious reasons.
Without the extension and a second or third instead of the first it isn’t as bad. Good old Stan had to double down. The only move he knows…
One of Walman’s strengths as a player is his mobility which is hampered by a knee injury (plus coming from behind the 8 ball, trying to get up to speed after a concussion which can be…tricky sometimes).
I still think he’s better than Stastney
Sure, but a bad bet at 7×7 and no obvious match for a partner.
“Mikey had apparently seen enough in 50 games”. Mikey refused to trade him any for 5 months. He was traded for value.
There were “other factors” involved in Detroit regarding Walman which when pressed about Yzerman said he’s not going to divulge and he’s okay leaving it at that.
If Walman has injury contributing to his poor play then he should not be playing so he can get healthy. Play Stastney instead!
We have 4LHD. Walman does not need to play hurt. For me this falls into the same category as over playing the top two lines. We need to develop trust in the personnel. In this case now that we have Murphy it shouldn’t be too hard. Walman isn’t exactly ripping it up.
Walman has struggled hard this season but has more recent play of value for his $7MM than Nurse does for $9MM.
I think Walman has not been fully healthy since training camp.
They have also been playing him off hand while he’s struggling for whatever reason. My only concern with him is staying healthy. 220 lb mobile two way D don’t grow on trees, which defines Bowman’s interest in him
The contract term doesn’t matter, full protection comes off in 3 seasons at 34 YO, players waive, lots of D are still effective at that age or older anyway. 7M in 4 years isn’t going to be a heavy contract to move. In fact it isn’t now, we’re into 8 figure salaries these days
Walman is definitely hurt and likely has multiple issues.
I would be patient with him. I am not worried about him not being worth the contract. He’s too young to fall of a cliff like this.
I agree. Be patient. But sit him and let him heal.
Agreed, Walman can have the benefit of doubt, but he needs to be removed from the line up and get him healthy. His play is costing the team.
I’ve advocated for trading Nurse in the past for cap reasons but I think your article doesn’t go far enough. If we have to be honest then all options should be on the table.
That means the org should consider trading Walman before his NMC and $7M extension kicks in and they should investigate trading Tristan Jarry’s $5.375M too.
Framing it as “trade Nurse as the only option” leaves you no options if he holds firm on his NMC.
Walman already has a NMC that expires just as the new one kicks in.
It seems to me that trading Nurse with, say, $2 million retained doesn’t solve much.
The remaining left D would be a 36 year old Ekholm with a 4 year extension that carries a NMC, a 30 year old injury-prone Walman on a 7 year contract with a NMC and an unsigned Statsney who is very unlikely to step up to a higher pair.
As age takes it toll on Ekholm and Walman remains an iffy bet, there would be a need to acquire a substantial LD to replace Nurse.
How much would that cost when an elevating cap is raising prices and accounting for the Nurse premium?
I guess you could gamble that Ekholm, who also has a NMC, will remain effective until age 40 but that is an unlikely outcome.
So what’s your solution?
I’m not sure there is one in the short term but other events may change that.
I expect that, if the Oilers have an early playoff exit, the entire nexus around the team could change.
While McDavid has apparently given the Oilers a two year extension on their cup quest, things could accelerate this offseason.
Pierre LeBrun discusses this in a new column up on the Athletic this morning:
“Having said all that, let me just say this: If the Oilers flame out in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs this spring, I can’t discount how No. 97 will feel about that, about the team’s ability to win, and about his place in it.
The most likely scenario is waiting until the summer of ’27 to revisit his future. But I can’t dismiss what the disappointment of a first-round elimination might change.
So file that away.”
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7099395/2026/03/09/nhl-trades-josi-mcdavid-tkachuk-matthews/?campaign=17200547&source=athletic_targeted_email&userId=28662
While that is certainly only one man’s opinion, it bears a listen..LeBrun is a smart guy.
I don’t think mcdavid forces amy issue guy is legit about everythimg he does. You get that sense from him.
He wants to win it here playing with his friends. He is the type of guy to see things through to end of that contract honouring his word type of guy -> i’m pretty comfortable eith that assumption over “find clickiest clickbait level article that is anti-oiler narrative” angle level of certain regarding contents of actual article cobtaining any substance.
That said he very well might be willing to waive his clause if right seeming opportunity comes to light.
I have no problem with that conceptually. He might be open to a trade of a ammicable parting variety.
So where does thst leave things?
-> good management would not completely disregard exploring options to some degree starting this off season.
Not actively trading.
None of the standard oilers go to market desperately seeking partner standard operating procedure garbage.
The hot girl that isn’t just playijg hard to get she is very picky.
They blew up the calvary they had developed 2 offseasons ago. Gutted in house solutions and are trying to correct ever since. The empty prospect cabinet it took to build it to cup contender and plugging extraordinarily key holes with costly name brand replacements often on wrong end of aging and injury curves.
Death by 1000 paper cuts. They needed a top 4 RHD they traded for walman. That worked out but the reaaon it worked out surely had a lot to do with bonus klingberg for free addition as well.
Instead of maybe keeping kilngberg as well the gave most of their money to frederic and magniapane…then extended walman not even waiting until stsrt of new year in a hot rush style while injured to atart season…
Which might not be terrible except they caved on NMC on that contract.
Nurse 9.5
Walman 7
Ekholm 4
20.5 on LHD which maybe okay except it doesn’t address the problem of due to bouchard being what he is the contract thry signed nurse to is no longer align to his usage or at least not without a similar partner like larsson was since.
Walman off handed is not the answer to problem they clearly had.
So plan likely that 2027 nurse’s trade clause becomes limited at that time, with walman locked in they can actually look at trading him….
Bad logic for a win now mode team punting balls you can’t afford time it may take to regain control.
Walman and klingberg back
At least d is stacked with vet options can spread minutes around.
What they did in offseason was effectively nothing but ensure nlt just running in place almost surely worse unless everything breaks magicalky right again.
LeBrun is NOT a clickbait artist.
He’s been a serious hockey journalist for a very long time.
If the Oilers are on a downbeat I expect McDavid will consider what is best for himself AND the team.
That would, as LeBrun suggests, consider a trade with one year left on his deal.
And his NMC won’t come into play since the move would be at his request.
I expect the same scenario to play out in Toronto with Matthews and Nylander.
His NMC wouldn’t come in to play? He’d waive for all 31 other teams, no matter who the team worked out a deal with?
HE will pick his next destination…read more closely.
So his NMC would 100% come in to play!
Theyre all clickbait artists pal
Thanks for your response. I agree with you in that if the Oilers don’t make the playoffs or make and don’t perform well the nexus could change.
I don’t agree with anyone making claim that McDavid asks out. He signed for 2 years for a reason. Instead, I would expect big changes to the D corp and goaltending.
It must be hard on the body and hard on the mind to sustain these deep trips in the playoffs. Just look at Florida, Colorado, (was gonna say leafs, but…), Oilers. I think it’s wearing. Having one early exit is not the sign to blow it up.
But I know you sometimes look for the drama..
Colorado hasn’t had many deep playoff trips.
Despite the fawning by Oiler fans they’re actually sorta busts most of the time.
It’s nice to see you being complimentary of an Oilers player by implying Nurse is value at $7M. Wouldn’t be my first choice of player to be high on but kind of neat to see from you
$7 million is the new $5 million as the cap inflates.
$7M in cap room could easily get us a player better than Nurse.
I think one of Nurse or Walman should be traded this summer, but it’s going to take an Oilers sweetener to get it done.
Right now, Nurse is probably easier to move because his term is shorter and he’s better than Walman.
We better hope like hell that Walman is hurt because he is awful right now. He looks slow and timid. Never was a big fan of his decision making (I think he’s a bit of an airhead), but you could see he had some skill and played with some jam. I don’t see anything positive with him right now.
7 years at 7 million, and we gave up a first rounder for him. And yet there are still posters on here twisting themselves into pretzels trying to justify not keeping Broberg? Wow!
We’ve seen that Walman can play like a $7M D-man. (Even this year, when he looks horrible, he’s scoring at a 40-point pace with no PP time!)
We’ve seen that Nurse cannot play like a $9.25M D-man. Or a $7M D-man. Maybe not even a $5M D-man.
Hey Reja!
Clattenburg is back practicing tomorrow and is scheduled to play Friday for the Condors
I hope they put him with Hamblin and Griffith and those pros help with showing him how to play hockey – get your bangs in but don’t hunt for them as your sole purpose.
It was a finger/hand injury that he sustained in a fight. Chaulk says it can be a learning moment for him as the game was out of hand, they were ahead, he maybe now realizes that he can say no to an invitation to fight.
Invitation to fight? Clattenbrug aggressively initiated everything.
All he did upon re-assignment was hunt for big hits and fights – its not about him “saying no”, its about him realizing he doesn’t need to show he can impact the game physically, or develop in that area, that is known – he needs to stay on the ice, learning to take passes and make plays at pace, be able to defend in structure, etc. – he needs to pay hockey.
Chaulk has done a great job the last few years but him not reigning in Clattenburg and getting caught up in his fan favouritism, is one negative for me.
Not in this case. Chaulk says he accepted an invitation to fight in a game that was already won and got injured in said fight
Sure but I can say what I saw upon his arrival and I said after his first game back, if he keeps it up he’s just going to get hurt again and he’s not committing to working on what he needs to. I’m pulling for the kid, he can play in the NHL, but he needs to work on the right things.
Awesome Clattenburg has the speed-hands-talent and most importantly heart. He was the Captain of Flint in Junior. They don’t choose knuckle-draggers in Junior as Captains. The beauty of Clattenburg is that he’s a middle weight that can cause havoc with the Bennett’s-Lomberg all the way down to the Garlands of the league. Godot was bang on when he said Clattenburg is suited for the NHL and not so much for the AHL as every Hanson brother in the AHL will be trying to make a name by jumping Clattenburg.
Then they shall go to the box and feel shame.
Clattenburg was the “every Hanson brother” hunting for hits and fights every game upon re-assignment. Godot doesn’t watch the AHL games. You don’t watch the AHL games and flat out refuse to acknowledge any information provided by those that do.
You flat refuse to say you were incorrect.
“Invitation to fight? Clattenbrug aggressively initiated everything.”
I stand by my assessment of Clattenburg in his return to the AHL.
I also note that, once again, yesterday, Chaulk mentioned that Clattenburg will have a good NHL career if he learns to play hockey.
A couple non-Oilers notes from the CHL:
– Chicoutimi, who has been one of the top teams in the QMJHL this year, has won their last five games by a combined score of 54-6.
– The only other CHL team with 300+ GF is the Medicine Hat Tigers. How scary would that offense be if McKenna was still there?
The crazy thing is that Medicine Hat lost their three best players to the NCAA! How can they be tearing up the entire CHL?! What a story – and yet I can’t find any stories on it.
They have a D-man, Bryce Pickford, who, despite missing 10 games, is only two goals away from leading the entire WHL in GOALS. (A couple months ago, he was leading the league.) When has a D-man ever led any league in goals?! Even Bobby Orr never finished higher than 6th.
Bob Stauffer:
“The only way they are going to have success, they are going to have to involve more players. Stan Bowman basically outlined the plan with his media availability Thursday of this past week when he said after the acquisition of Connor Murphy and Colton Dach that he’s trying to build a team and the only way the Oilers are going to have success, in lieu of the fact that they do have 3 superstar players…I think that you have to have more guys going, more guys involved”
Friedman definitely correct, there is an internal push
I commented that they need to lighten up and focus. Rumours of tensions in practice etc. Time to drop grievances, love hockey, and bare down on what they have to do. This is a talented pretty balanced team, play like it. Yesterday was a good start. Everyone will be very happy if they just start doing what they want to do as a team
The bottom 6 needs an identity it’s up to the Coach to have them playing like a pack of Wolves no more feeding Frederic to the Olivier’s. The path to the Cup Final will be quite easy if we finish 1st or 2nd as we have Hill-Oettinger number the Av’s will get upset by Minny or Dallas.
Yes. And, as you just said their identity needs to be different than the top sixes identity.
They need a completely different set of X’s and O’s.
Three superstars – McDavid, Draisaitl, Podkolzin
Some good comments on the Oilers from Friedman on his pod. Definitely worth a listen to. Starts talking Oilers around the 31 minute mark (ish)
He says he believes that there is an internal push to play the depth players more! Hallelujah
Combine that with Stauffer saying last night in intermission that to have a close knit team you have to even out the ice time
Friedman compared it to when the Devils were struggling Kovalchuk felt responsible and took it on himself to dig the team out and took on more. In his own words he became more selfish, in retrospect, he told Friedman. The coach had to tell him that if we are going to be a good team we need more than just you going.
Well, we even heard that from Draisaitl. “We need more than 5 players going” (the Powerplay 5)
We’ve heard it from Ryan. Apparently Stetcher said some things. Mangiapane too.
Here’s hoping. Because I really believe it takes a team to win a Stanley Cup. Even in the glory days there were wonderful depth players with roles who we all would say were a big part of things. 4 Rounds of playoff hockey is an absolute gauntlet with massive highs and lows. You need more than the big guys going. And you need to feel like a team. Like everyone is important.
Jarri Kurri still talks about that to this day, just how everyone felt a part of the thing. How you need every single player. Messier does as well. They know.
Florida’s teams too. And pretty much every team that wins has some depth pieces that are a big part of things.
I’m not sure that the coach believes this though and if it’s not in his dna, when things get tight does he just go back to what he believes in which is McDrai
The Finals last year were a joke
If Stauffer has the release to say these things then I would agree with Friedman that there is in fact an “internal push”
He needed to trust the veteran Kane to take care of business the old fashioned way. Maurice had the refs wrapped around his finger before K.K knew what hit him.
As you’ve previously been advised, Kane played top 3-4 forward minutes at 5 on 5 the last couple of games of that series – you narrative on this does not line up with fact.
Amen
It’s funny. Everyone sees it. Everyone except every coach since 2016. There needs to be discipline to follow a plan, even when you are down.
Yup we were yelling at Tippett to roll the lines.
I have really enjoyed watching all three of Dickenson, Murphy, and Dach.
Excellent additions, all three.
I wasn’t a fan of the trade though I have to acknowledge the cost of moving Mangiapane’s dead cap hit, but Dickinson looked good by the eye test at least last game. Possession wise. I believe he was crushed though. Overall minutes for 29 and 97 were reasonable.
As Lenny pointed out above, through two games, Dickonson has played 65% of TOI vs. elites and, last night:Dickinson line – 2 ozone, 7 neutral, 8 dzone (20% O).
While he was negative, I wouldn’t say he was “crushed”.
The amount of people who complain without the acknowledgment that teams aren’t just giving the Oilers great players for nothing is wild to me.
You don’t like Jarry? Were you complaining about Skinner? The Oilers weren’t getting Shesterkin for Skinner or any of their other assets.
You don’t like Walman? Were you complaining about Ceci or every other player on the defence? No one was giving the Oilers Hedman, Toews, Hughes for nothing or at all.
The inability to be objective while also cheering for the Oilers is ridiculous.
Players are hard to acquire. Look at the prices at this trade deadline.
With the cap rising and projecting to continue to rise over the foreseeable future teams are resigning their players.
Bowman’s ability to make fair deals is very important given that. He is getting players of a higher calibre for less than we’ve seen in a while
Podkolzin and Kapanen have been real finds at low cost
Holland left Bowman scraps. I can’t believe how fast Bowman replenished the system. Holland had zero interest in developing he would find a burnt out veteran on the cheap instead of trying the youths. Bowman speciality is churning out big skilled players that can score when the going gets tough goals. Bowman recycled Bickell-Brouwer-Byfuglien-Eager-Ladd-Havlat-Bourque-Lang-Ruutu-Richards and the list continues of 200 pound plus bottom 6ers. Samanski-Clattenburg fit the Bowman profile munchkins Savoie-Hutson-Howard not so much.
Back to back cup final losses has affected the psyche of this team. It broke something in them.
I imagine watching the Panthers fade back and watching that monkey climb off their back is providing some motivation.
The regular season means nothing. They’ll get it together and play the way they are capable of over the next 18 games and take another run at it. This is a veteran team that knows how to get the job done.
I think the Olympics also deeply disappointed Connor, he’s probably not over it
Seems a little strong (losing back-to-back years in the finals broke something in them). But yes, it makes staying motivated in a very long regular season that much harder. Human nature says we can turn it on when we need to…but the next thing you know, you’re out of games.
They’ve played 2 complete games since the Olympic break (LA, VGK). They managed to get a win against OTT playing 1 good period but lost other games they should’ve won (ANA, SJ) and we’re manhandled by CAR. I’m not sold on this group and until I see them stack a few good games on top of each and they’re running out of track. Hopefully the urgency – especially with the coach realizing he needs to play more than 4 guys – carries over.
This is actually a possibility.
This team knows that only the playoffs matter. They save their energy for it.
And this team only plays well when their backs are against the wall. And they’re pretty close to that right now.
All of the games are hard. Still to my way of thinking, there are only 4 games left I would expect them to lose. I expect that they can win any of the others, of course they likely won’t, but they are teams that aren’t any better than the Oilers really
They play:
Avs – 2
Stars – 1
Lightning – 1
They know how to beat the Stars. Avs will be tough, the Lightning are the type they have trouble with. 8 games against the Pacific. Make some hay
Darnell Nurse (without Walman or Regula) 5v5
539 minutes GF/GA 19/19 GF% 50% xGF% 49.62
Jake Walman (without Nurse or Regula) 5v5
224 minutes GF/GA 9/17 GF% 34.6 xGF% 44.51
Why is Nurse being blamed primarily?
The deadweights this year are Walman and Regula. Nurse is fine when he is not playing with either.
(from natural stat trick).
When paired with Nurse, Walman stats improve more than Nurse stats decline.
371 minutes GF/GA 19/21 GF% 47.5% xGF% 47.20
i.e. Walman should be moved before Nurse. Longer contract, worse D.
Good info. Another way to look at it is Walman’s ceiling is far higher. When he was right he was really good. Nurse has his moments, and also well known weaknesses
The question is whether Walman can stay healthy. If he can I would keep him for his wider range of skills, lower cap hit, but it is probably a gamble. Nurse has also not stayed healthy in playoffs, so there is that as well
Healthy Walman allows a more cap efficient defense if they move Nurse down the road. As has been said many times around here, a capped league is a contract efficiency contest – depth. Sometimes wanted players move because of that
Because people just love to hate Nurse. It is similar to how it was with Skinner – confirmation bias and looking for and pouncing on the negatives. I would personally worry about who will take on his minutes if he is traded. this is his first minus season since 2019-20. Averaging 20+ minutes in each season
These stats don’t tell the whole story, do they. How about expanding WOWY, both forwards and other dmen.
Is the majority of Nurse’s time w/o Walman & Regula played with Bouchard (and McDavid)? How about Walman?
And of course we cannot simply ignore the expectation of $9M players vs $3.4M or 775K. Aren’t you always preaching about cap efficiency?
I want to give walman some time to readjust to his strong side. He’s never been as good on the right. I think our defense fell flat in the playoffs when Ek came back and walman pushed Stecher out.
Also loved Kapanen’s game. I know the future is Savoie et al but a free player who has worked out well despite injuries this year is not that common.
He had some great stick work in the dzone last night. There’s gotta be a better way to phrase that.
As long as his stick work is not like Malkin’s!
Great stick work in the dzone is underappreciated
Did you see Carolina the other night? Sheesh Tough to skate with the puck in there when you have all these sticks and arms to skate through. Even Connor had trouble entering the zone!
Didn’t get to watch the game last night, I got to participate in an event at Roger’s place after the Oil Kings game. Got to skate on the ice, and even after a game and the heat in that arena, the ice was pretty great! It’s slower than ice in your regular neighbourhood arena- we saw multiple icing pucks die 5-10ft short and get waved off. Kids were playing sledge hockey FYI and I was a pusher. Tons of fun!
I only watched Oilers in 20 on Oilers+ (which is an awesome option to catch up on games you missed) and what I’m seeing missing here is Ingrams play last night. He was so solid, made some big saves but also just smothered a lot of pucks. Not seeing much about him
here today so I think his performance is overlooked.
This game has played out differently for the Oil throughout this season, but last night they got bottom 6 contributions, and solid goaltending. Leads to winning instead of a loss. McDavid / Drai / Bouch are going to find a way in a lot of games, but if the bottom 6 can chip in a win every 5 games or so this team is going to look a lot better. But I don’t think it was radically different last night, some luck and outside contributions. I think they can be even better.
Does Conroy deserve a swift kick in the nuts for trading flames players to division rivals or within the same conference. All this to make it harder for Oilers of course !
The Bolts are doing well and good chance to win the cup. Again, So is it too early to start the controversial Floridian ultra low tax free advantage. All part of the Bettman plan 🙂
While we’re at it, if the Oil don’t win then the Canadian drought will be extended forever…MTL won it when gas prices were 40 cents ?! They’re on a good trajectory to win it all soon. Just like Buffalo.
Given the players are taxed based on where they play the games, I think this is generally overstated.
Do SEA/DAL/TBY/FLA/NSH/VGK have some kind of comparative advantage compared to the likes of NYR or LAK? Perhaps, but I think it’s… marginal.
I know he got an assist last night but I’m just fine with the Avs acquiring a regressing 36 (by the time next season starts) year old dude signed for 3 more years.
Andresson has been a disaster for Vegas this season.
You were also just fine” when Colorado acquired soon to be 35 year old Brock Nelson.
Since joining the AVs, Nelson has scored 36 goals and 66 points in 81 games with a GF percentage of 59.3% improving dramatically from his final games with NYI.
It’s almost as if Joe Sakic, Chris McFarlane and Dawson Sprigings are better talent evaluators than you.
I recall Brock Nelson helping the Avs lose in the first round last year.
Since Chris McFarland was named GM, the Avs have been out of the playoffs before the Oilers every year – with Makar on a value contract.
I recall Conor McDavid helping the Oilers lose in the playoffs last year and many years before that .
Yeo know only 1 team wins the cup, right?
day after day, after week after week, after month after month, after year after year – all we hear is how 28 other organizations, mainly the Avs, are doing things so much better than the Oilers and are set up for success for than the Oilers – on repeat.
Yet 3 year in a row, the Oilers last rounds longer in the playoffs than the superior managed Avs.
Lasting longer doesn’t mean much if you don’t win a cup…just ask the players….there is no silver medal.
Most regular season points in the past 5 years:
1) COL – 586
2) CAR – 570
3) DAL – 554
4) BOS – 547
5) TOR – 540
10) EDM – 528
Last 5 Stanley Cup winners:
1) FLA
2) FLA
3) VGK
4) COL
5) TBL
There is only 1 team out of 32 that appears on both lists which seems to me indicates a very well managed team that is very competitive year in and year out although the Stanley Cup remains very difficult to win .
YMMV
Regular season points also dont matter if you dont win a cup.
Spinning stats like the best of them, neither the avs nor the oilers have won a cup in the last three years. One of these two teams came within a goal (or two) one of those years and a game (or two) in another.
so what?
The Oilers haven’t won a cup in 36 years.
The Avalanche have won 3 since then,
who cares? Its ok if you live in the past if its the recent past? Wut?
Competitive year after year but can’t even match the poorly run Oilers when it matters the most. Disappointing in the playoffs ever year of McFarland’s tenure.
Holy phack, the irony is dripping and you are oblivious to your own words. If only you were a fraction of…..
Vegas losing Petro has changed their team drastically. They’re still strong but with Stone out too it’s just not the same.
Maybe the Oilers solved them, maybe they’re waiting for the playoffs like the Oil.
Kadri was a ‘win now Nate isn’t getting younger’ move and it was excellent for this, and potentially next year. There will be pain like you said but the spine of that team can hold up to anyone for at least this run. Banners are forever.
I expect Colorado management looks at MacKinnon’s 5 remaining years as the window and they will make moves to fill out depth for that time frame.
After 2 more seasons, Brock Nelson, Kadri and Josh Manson drop off, Landeskog has only 1 left, Lehkonen, Colton and Roy all expired and while they have limited cap space next season, it takes a big jump after that.
The Makar extension which we will likely see in the upcoming offseason should be a fascinating indication of future plans.
Almost nothing left in the prospect or draft pick pile so more shrewd trades will be required to remain competitive.
Andersson may be costing himself a lot of money
Lightning seem to want to rumble every game.
Oilers are not equipped to beat them at that game. A pest sure might be needed to draw penalties though.
A series with the Lightning might be real good for this team to awaken the inner (?) and bond the team like crazy.
It was for the Panthers
I don’t think the Panthers are the Panthers without being hardened and gelled by the battles with the Lightning. Did you see those series a few years ago? whew! Wars on ice
But the only way we can face them is in the finals soooo the point is a little moot cause the finals are a little different than the first couple rounds (the first round especially)
3 recent additions. Dach, Murphy and Dickinson. then Nurse, Pods and Frederic. That’s plenty enough to stir or calm things.
Let’s talk summer time moves. Oilers really have to have a hard look at the D.
Haven’t paid enough attention to Stastney or Regula. At this point neither look like locks for third pair but who knows.
In summary you have one super star, two aging veterans, two high paid players with red flags all over them and a pretty solid 3 rd pair guy with potential. Stan ( or his replacement) has work to do this summer.
If Vancouver is tearing it back to the studs, will Hronek be available in the summer? Would the acquisition cost be similar to Ekholm, or closer to Walman? Do we need to trade one of Walman or Nurse to make such a move? Both have NMC’s and Nurse likely requires ~$2M retention.
Alternatively, if we can move one of Nurse or Walman we could look at a UFA signing like Carlson. He’s older and doesn’t have as much tread left, but 2 years on the 2nd pairing should be workable.
IMO if the top-4 is solid you don’t need to budget much for the 3rd pairing. However I could see some value in creating a defensive 3rd pairing that would also take on much of the PK work. How much would Oleksiak-Murphy cost? Probably too much.
There’s a lot of road between here and July.
Chatter surrounding the Canucks is that they will hang on to Hronek as the next captain and to mentor the group of wet behind the ears passel of D they’ve accumulated in the past couple of years.
Zeev Buium, Tom Willander, D-Petey and Victor Mancini are all on the current roster and need veteran help in the worst way.
Maybe they’d be interested in a lightly used Darnell then. 😉
I expect they would want a first round pick attached.
Done.
A few positive comments on the fourth line last nite. Fred sammi dach.
To me this is how to build a fourth line. Big fast young. At some point sammi and Fred could probably kill penalties.
I like being excited to see what a fourth line can do. I think it’s important for third and fourth line to be able to create momentum not just hope they survive till the top players to get on the ice.
Now if the coach will play them more than 6 minutes a night…
My favourite stat from last night:
McDavid and Drai together : 22 seconds
Shout out to Jason Gregor for bringing up the McDrai stats after the Canes game. I reckon Knoblauch had a meeting with Parkatti after that one.
Also interesting To look at Knoblauch’s usage last night
Samanski line – 4 ozone, 1 neutral, 1 dzone (80% O)
Dickinson line – 2 ozone, 7 neutral, 8 dzone (20% O)
Drai – 1 ozone, 2 neutral, 3 dzone (25% O)
McD- 3 ozone, 0 neutral, 2 dzone (60%O)
I like that he gave the Samanski line some offensive zone face offs. And they did well and scored a goal.
Jason Dickinson time vs each comp through 2 games:
Elite – 14.5 mins (65%, holy shit). 11% offensive zone starts against elites
Middle – 5.3
Gritensity – 2.6
And he is +1 overall. I can’t overstate how much I prefer this player type to Adam Henrique.
I’ll also add Murphy
elites – 21 mins (60%)
middle – 11 mins (31%)
gritensity – 3 mins (9%)
29% ozone starts. Also even.
Great post
I’ve been tough on Holland, especially for re-signing Nurse for too much and signing Campbell for too much for too long.
Bowman however has already done just as bad by trading for Jarry (his Campbell) and Walman (his Nurse), but hasn’t brought the benefits that Holland such as bringing in an Ekholm or signing a Hyman (YMMV – Podz has been really great).
I’m really hoping the deadline deals this year work out in a huge way or else that’s a helluva hill to climb for our beleaguered GM next year.
Obligatory optimistic post when the Oilers win 😉
Obligatory thumbs up.
This is an unabashed Podkolzin appreciation post on account of the number of times I’ve seen EDM fans on X saying “thank god they’re finally moving Podz out of the top-6”.
Podkolzin by the numbers (ranks among 391 Fs w/ > 350mins):
15G and 13A at 5-on-5 (t-36th and 108th) in 891mins
-cohort for goals incl. Forsberg, Rantanen, Marchenko, Bertuzzi, and Tuch
-cohort for total points incl. Kempe, Wilson, Forsberg, Svechnikov, and Crouse
That’s an 1.88 pts-60 (t-119th) alongside 12.51 hits-60 (40th)
-cohort for pts incl. Hyman, Zegras, McCann, Ehlers, Neighbours, and Landeskog
-cohort for hits incl. Tkachuk, Cozens, Kelly, Carrier, Laferriere and Trocheck
He’s 48-35 (58.33%) for on-ice goals at 5-on-5
-in his minutes alongside Leon, he’s 34-21 (61.8%)
-Leon on-ice w/o Podkolzin this year is 25-27 (48.1%)
-also, Pod-Drai-Savoie are 7-2 together with an 55.9% xGF
All this to go along with his relentless work ethic, hard forechecking, willingness to get in fights for his teammates and an offensive game that’s clearly progressing- both in playmaking and especially shooting. I think about his goal against CAR and his time spent developing his one-timer from the Draisaitl spot. This is a valuable piece of the future and I hope we’re all taking the time to appreciate this player for all that he is! 🙂
👏
Hockey Gords were much kinder to Patty Dach supremacy last night, 85.85% expected goals for, 3 hits, 1 assist with his 5 minutes of ice time. Knoblauch is allergic to role players injecting emotion and must do everything he can to stop it, which is a shame.
Watching Dach bark at McNabb really warmed the heart.
Need to figure out how to insert that Elmo with Flames GIF on phone to pledge allegiance to PDS.
Erik Johnson, on the Vegas broadcast, put Podkolzin over several times, talking about his hard skating, tireless forechecking and terrific even-strength output.
Johnson was glazing Podkolzin and Savoie like they’re his son’s, great stuff.
Podkolzin, Savoie, and Samanski just play the game the right way and are effective at it. On a team full of players who refuse to do the fundamentals and/or are ineffective, these three are my favourite forwards right now.
I’m with you. All of a sudden the third and fourth lines are my favourite lines.
You mean better than Henrique Janmark and mangipaine?….. I like the new look much better. Much better!
Yes. I like this new look better. Hard to imagine. But true.
Me as well. The new fourth line is bigger faster cheaper younger to me this is how to build a fourth line.
Hard to believe it took a Janmark and Henrique injury as well as a mang trade to make it happen.
I do like that bowman was not afraid to move on from the mang mistake.
We are finally seeing Ivan Hlinka tournament Podkolzin…
His offense is not from elite talent, but from elite will.
Still don’t like the coach but pretty clear they’re not going to make a Devils Change at this point.
Next year we’re either going to have a $9m or $7m d-man on the bottom pairing. Incredible.
Gotta say wondering why we aren’t trying Nuge at 3C again. The 5v5 impact just isn’t there for me.
ive been thinking about this. Knoblauch was JJ’s hire. They had a relationship before this. I imagine it is not up to Stan to make a coaching change at this point.
2 huge games this week the StLouis ( on a bit of a run) . Colorado is a wagon and curb stomped us bad last game. Their goaltending is great and now they have even shored up the middle and D a bit. So it is really going to be a test for all our new guys, goalies and D overall. I honestly think if we can walk away with 3 of 6 points ( 4 and yes 6 would be great) it will be a success. Just hope if Colorado beats us it is a closer game.
The 1st game against Minny the Oilers dominated them but Minny got unreal goaltending for the 1-0 win. I think the Oilers have just as good of team and the top six is better. So hopefully a win or loser point in that one.
Definitely need at least 3 of these points for sure
Colorado is banged up something fierce and their depth scoring is normalizing hard.
Bednar needs to be careful how he uses MacKinnon and Makar. He burns them out as per tradition and they’ll be golfing by May 1
They played Nate and co 25+ last night while 97, 29 played 21.
Good teams rely on their stars, this isn’t unique to the Oil contrary to popular belief.
MacKinnon played 22:29 last night.
2C Brock Nelson played 24:06
Makar Necas Toews all over 25.
Nate took an OT penalty hence Nelson.
To your point, for all the criticism Knoblauch (and his predecessors) gets for rolling out McDrai when things get rocky, it’s certainly not something unique to the Oilers.
Jon Cooper for example did the exact same thing with McDavid/Celebrini/MacKinnon multiple times during the Olympics.
Some light at the end of the tunnel.
Oilers played a smart, winning, repeatable game. They have the ability, they have the roster.
Execution has been the problem. But with recognition, focus, encouragement, they can and should have better results. Still an adventure as a bad pass can return at any moment.
Rolovich in his interview stated its just determination. This plus puck management is within their control.
He played for Rod, I’m sure he understands what that type of play is all about
On Podz goal. Roz out battled the second Vegas d man to get in front of him about the hash marks. If he didn’t the dman would have had a clear opportunity to swipe the puck before the goal line….. that determination has been mostly missing from most players this year.
The details matter! Great to see it finally happening.
— not directed at you but just a good thread to observe that there is a disconnect in the post mortem of games by sports fans.
— when the oilers have lost it’s because the coach is garbage, the systems suck, management built a bad team, players have checked out, the coach is on notice so and so sucks hard
— but when they win it’s not “coaching made adjustments, there is a fine line between wing and losing, I guess so and so isn’t as bad as his worst moments when they lost etc”
— it’s as if when the oilers win it’s “despite everything else”.
— sure this team has some warts and they have played a lot of games amd maybe this isn’t their year but they can’t suck so bad then win good games and all the vitriol for the allegations of what ails them and no acknowledging when they won that they know stuff.
— This world baseball classic is so great best in best. Olympics not the right venue for hockey best in best.
Misery loves company. Happy with a solid win, a bounce, and an honest to goodness quality start.
— don’t get me wrong I didn’t think Bowman was an inspirational hire and didn’t think he was worth the additional shrapnel given Blackhawks HR issues.
— They kind of are what I expected: nothing really forward looking some very meh uninspiring hires, seemingly not casting wide enough nets (hey who else did I like on my old team) and a meh coaching staff with a weird Coffey “comeback”.
— this just isn’t an elite organization that is leaning into the fortunes of drafting McDrai.
I agree with most of what you’ve said. I don’t like everything they’ve done either.
This is still a competitive hockey team.
The hyperbole here has reached fever pitch and imo you’re not allowed to feel good about them without someone whining to fire the coach and complain about draft picks in 2028 or Nurse or Bouch. I couldn’t actually tell last night from the comments that they won.
Some provide nuance but very few look at anything outside the Oil to compare. The Leafs lost Marner and are a trainwreck losing a top pick. Florida isn’t making the playoffs (Reinhart Ekblad Marchy Bob Chucky cant will them?). Devils gave a defenceman 9M a year cause his brothers are good and will miss playoffs. Could do this for every single team.
After wins are the days I come hoping for some sunshine on the blog but i don’t see it lately. It’s sports not clinical depression.
There’s a community aspect to this I’ve enjoyed since high school that matters more to me than hating Kris Knoblauch, whom I’ve never met.
Took that in a different direction than your post so apologies.
Not only do they have to win. They have to win the exact right way or else people lose their minds.
Tough crowd, tough crowd.
Well put. I haven’t seen anything that Bowman has done that doesn’t seem reasoned out. He has a clear vision of what he wants, and I like it better than before
Not everything will work out, and as someone said this year is a tough one cap wise. Would it have been nice to get higher profile players? Sure, but given the situation I really like the deadline. Will it be enough? Nobody knows, but only one team gets a Cup, so if they are short they aren’t alone
At least the panthers won’t win it. If things roll right for them (health mainly) they have enough to get somewhere. To me they are more balanced now than last season, younger and faster, just as team tough
I think there are people here that would say they are die hard fans, that would be mad if the Oil won a cup with players they didn’t like. I cheer for the Oilers, if someone I don’t like becomes an Oiler I cheer for them!!! All the negativity here makes it hard to take some people seriously.
The G.M and Coach fell on a sword for the Owner.
“… but when they win it’s not “coaching made adjustments, there is a fine line between wing and losing, I guess so and so isn’t as bad as his worst moments when they lost etc”“
👏
This team is just such a whack-a-mole of inconsistency.
But first of all, I actually really like the roster construction for the playoffs, if they could bring a similar effort each night and stick to some semblance of structure.
I have a bunch of thoughts that I’ve been stewing on for a couple of weeks now, updated with the new acquisitions:
They don’t have as much talent as last season, but I do think they have better fits for roles. There was always an element of “well I guess we’ll stick Jeff Skinner (or whomever) on a checking line”. This team’s forward group makes more sense than last year’s, despite less talent. Their D is not as good as last year, for sure, but watching Murphy calm Salman’s happy feet last night brought me some joy.
Anyway, for the forward group:
McDavid’s line is nuclear, and it seems like Draisaitl and Podkolzin consistently push the river. A heavy 4th line (it’s early days with Dach, but Frederic and Kapanen/Janmark/Henrique was already starting to move in the right direction) and with enough speed to not be a liability.
The only thing they had to figure out was that 3rd line. I’m not convinced they’ve found the right mix just yet, but every time Dickinson’s on the ice, the team seems to be able to exhale a bit and the puck doesn’t stay in the d zone too long. I don’t think Savoie can play on that line if you’re going to use it with any frequency against elites (and that’s kind of the point). At least not without 2 defensively sound players on the line. Would seriously look at moving Nuge down to 3W and Savoie up to the top line. Henrique could be an option there too, if either Frederic or Samanski take 4C.
On D, I just don’t know what you can do with Nurse. His WOWY improved some when paired with certain players. But pretty much invariably, other players’ drops off a cliff when paired with him. Last night was a great example because Emberson has good instincts but isn’t a veteran yet. I counted 4 times where Nurse called an audible when the puck was in the Oil end last night. He abandoned the front of the net and Emberson froze while trying to decide who to cover. Hertl had a great rebound chance because Nurse floated to the hashmarks and Emberson just watched him before the shot came through from his side. Or he overpursued Nurse’s man and left his wide open.
Nurse, Walman, and even Stastney have a penchant for floating out of position. With Nurse, it’s often more of an aggressive pursuit out of position. This is where things break down. If their partner pursues the out of position dman’s cover, it opens up a hole. That could be adjusted if you had the C deeper in the zone. Almost like a zone coverage.
But I think teams are actually structuring their cycle against the Oilers to capitalize on this. That’s why we’ve seen an uptick in goals against lately. Seems like they are funneling the puck down behind the net or to the corner. And they have wingers playing slightly higher than the front of the net, closed to the hashmarks.
So when the puck goes to the corner or behind the net while Nurse is out there, he either pursues the puck behind the net and leaves the net front vulnerable. Or he stays in front but drifts out to the attacking winger by the hashmarks or low in the faceoff circles and leaves the net front open for the high forward to swing down.
Anyway, TLDR:
– Defensive zone issues are related to structure and adaptation. If the Oilers D are consistently going to pursue away from the net front, then they have to change the structure for the forwards to play deeper zone defense. I suspect Coffey is working on something like this, because the biggest issue previously was breakout structure and that’s massively improved. He’s also got his work cut out on stopping Nurse and Walman, in particular, from going on these unpredictable walkabouts.
– Offensive units are really frustrating. But I think it’s also a major function of coaching. Loading up the top line isn’t working this year. And it neuters 2 of your 4 lines in the process.
The other thing is that he’s changing the lines too much from game to game. So the identity and momentum of a good game together is never maintained outside of the top line and 4th line (usually). If Knoblauch feels the need to do this, then at least staple staple McD and Human, Podkolzin and Draisaitl, Dickinson and Kapanen, and Frederic and Samanski/Henrique together. Shuffle one player, not multiple ones. Go with pairs that you know consistently make things happen and neither are as good separately as they are together.
I really think that coaching is causing most of the problems currently, not effort or talent or anything else.
Good thoughts and well laid out. Given the players available now, Henrique is only an option to get Stauffer more popcorn. Team will be even better when Lazar gets back.
Last night showed that if you play smart, tough and win puck battles the team stands a good chance of winning. Henrique is a smart player but does not seem to accomplish much of anything.
It feels like Walman has about 12 different injuries and adds another one every shift. No idea how they get this guy healthy down the stretch here…
perhaps if he didn’t skate himself literally into the end boards, fall, and then get hit he might reduce his injuries.
Sit Walman and play Stastney
Dallas lost Hintz for a few weeks
Top line of Robertson-Johnston-Bourque should strike fear into the hearts of nobody in the Oilers top three lines. It’ll be off the rush or they’ll be hemmed in their own zone the whole game.
Duchene over 15 min/game is too many min for someone his age. His effectiveness takes a nose dive. He won’t be able to get out of his own zone against one of those three.
Dallas is very thin upfront right now.
9-0-1
Just took Colorado to OT.
Jason Robertson has 8 points in his last 5 games.
Wyatt Johnson 3 goals and 6 points in his last 5 games.
Mavrik Bourque also on a heater with 6 points in his last 4 games.
Old man Duchene with 7 points in his last 4 games
Deep, deep team.
19-7-4 on home ice.
Both Hintz and Rantanen expected to return for the playoffs.
All that and they are absolutely afraid of the Oilers
How did you determine that?
The “Star Killer’ Stu Skinner is gone. Why would they be afraid?
Duchene’s four points came against the Canucks. One of the last teams you tried to convince me playing popgun would sustain haha. Too many minutes he has to play now. Too many minutes.
Brock Nelson too. MacFarland knew he’d fade hard needing to pickup the MacKinnon slack. So he went out and spent an idiotic amount of money on a much older Kadri. Won’t matter much though. Too many old creaking bodies, too much “meh” all over the lineup and too many guys who can’t stay healthy.
When their goalies come back down to earth people will be shocked at how hard the regression will bite.
You heard the dog whistle and came running.
I remember being told how deep they were heading in to the WCF this past spring…..
I believe Ekholm was questionable with illness, not injury.
Good news if true
it’s true
I would welcome news that Walman was (slightly) hurt or even better, is sick and under the weather. Then they could look after him and he could get back to useful. Right now, he just isn’t playing up to his previous established competency.
Limited minutes but that fourth line looked much better with Samanski than it did with Henrique. Don’t know about the emergency call up rules. Does Samanski have to go back down when Lazar is ready?
I agree, Henrique is done it would appear and isn’t able to impact the game in a positive manner anymore. He might do better on the wing in the playoffs on the 4th line, but as it is right now, those minutes should be going to Samanski to get ready for the playoffs.
Would really like to see Henrique as 4LW so you can keep his PKing, faceoff ability, and emergency C depth in the game
Would really like to see Henrique on LTIR.
Lazar won’t be ready until, potentially, the season is over but, yes, he does when they have 12 available forwards. They have the cap room to transition him to regular recall though.
Podkolzin has 15 goals at 5 on 5 this season, one fewer than each of McDavid and Drai (and he’s a smidge behind Hyman leading the team in G/60).
Podz is the one player that provides full effort each and every game (even moreso than Hyman in my opinon), he’s one of the best defensively responsible forwards on the team, he provides depth PK, he is at the top in hits, he battles, he can play up and down the lineup with impact, he is out early for every practice and stays late taking shots on goalie, he never complains.
He is $1MM on the cap this season and, IIRC, up to $3MM next year which will remain a value contract.
What. A. Player!
——————-
The only thing holding Savoie back right now is he is too good of a 2-way player that the coaching staff needs him driving a third line. He has earned top 6 time and even as shot with McDavid but he may be too valuable in the middle six.
I’ve said it before, at every level hit takes him half a season to settle in and then he pops – we are seeing it in real time in the NHL.
He’s going to be on his ELC still next season and is going to be a massive value – 2-way, PK, creating chances, turning pucks over.
What. A. Player.
“What. A. Player.” — No exclamation mark for Savoie?! Why are you so down on him? 😉
LT says he’s not there. Once LT says he’s there – exclamation mark!
Hopefully he can turn into a Todd Marchant while taking the abuse of the NHL better than Yamamoto.
Agree, winning one of the next two would set them up well. I would say they COULD win in St Louis. Who knows what team shows up that night. 😁
Trent Fredric came over recovering from a high ankle sprain and at the time the org acknowledged there was a best case and a worst case scenario as far as timeline for recovery. He came back too early, re-aggravated it on one shift, was out for the rest of the season and then clearly came back still injured in the playoffs and played on it ever second night for two months.
It’s widely acknowledged that high ankle sprains are tricky and often it can take months and months, even after being able to play, to truly recover to 100% – not always but not uncommon at all.
Frederic had a brutal start to the season and it just snowballed in to a horrible first 50+ games.
Some said early in the season that perhaps he is still in the process of recovering and would hopefully find his game later in the season (or to start next season as we got further in to it).
Others said he’s washed and should never play again and the team should take the 14 year dead cap hit for a buyout.
I can’t say for certain that his continued recovery was a primary reason for his early season play but I can say that, coming out of the Olympic break, he is playing much better and moving much better on the ice.
Yes, he’s on a 4th line but he’s trending towards being the player the acquired from Boston – not quite there but, the arrows are up and at some point, maybe later this season, maybe next, that impact third liner is what we’ll get.
Frederic sucks. Bowman sucks for giving him that contract.
Cool post!
Am I wrong?
That Frederic sucks? Yes, I believe so. He’s sucked for most of this year, does not mean he sucks.
Many projected a much better finish to the season than start given the injury.
To me, the Frederic goal was what has been mostly absent this season.
Dach fighting for position at the side of the crease
Frederic fighting for position at the front (in?) the crease
Samanski coming in after the goal when the VGKs were going after Dach
Been waiting for this team to ‘get tough’. The Oilers have; Nurse, Murphy, Dach, Podz, Frederic and now it looks like Samanski. Players who are not going to take s**t from other teams. It is about time.
Go Oilers, now impose YOUR will on other teams!
Loved that sequence too. It’s funny how Dach seems to bring out the pest side of Freddi more. Same thing when Clattenburg was up earlier in the year.
I think it helps when you have some help, not just him and Podz
I agree. The whole “team toughness” thing
Definitely! helps when you know you will have some backup and Dach seems like an animal, he knows what he is there for.
“Dach” is German for badger, by the way.
Dach may be a tweener or not but damn he is a chatterbox and a pain right in the opponents backside. He isn’t afraid, will fight and pester. We have definitely needed this for a while now with Perry, Kane gone.
If the can get him playing reliable hockey perfect
He definitly has the Will to be the pest and defender of his team mates.
I watched some of his fights on Youtube, He could surely use some classroom time with George Laroque. Then look out he,d be the real deal.
Those are the type of goals that are frequently scored in the playoffs