That was a fantastic hockey game. The Oilers rose to the occasion and delivered what I believe was the best effort of the season. Connor Ingram was quality, Tristan Jarry came in late in the second and delivered a solid performance. The team worked hard and smart, with a few missteps that were matched by the other side. If the Oilers can repeat that style of game, they might surprise in the postseason. A welcome complete performance by Edmonton. Please read this.
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) 2-0-0
- 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: 3-1-0
- Season Record: 32-25-8, 72 points in 65 games
Suddenly things are looking up for the Oilers. The Anaheim Ducks have a three point lead with a game in hand, but Edmonton caught Vegas last night and have some daylight over Seattle and Los Angeles. Miles to go, but a most encouraging March through four games.
- Nuge-McDavid-Hyman 8:25, 2-2 shots, 1-0 goals, 56X, 3-2 HDSC
- Podkolzin-Draisaitl-Roslovic 7:45, 5-5 shots, 1-2 goals, 75X, 2-1 HDSC
- Savoie-Dickinson-Kapanen 7:27, 1-2 shots, 88X
I liked all three lines last night, everyone worked hard and the expected goals for the three lines are quality. Colorado is a strong team, also filthy, but the road team got their licks in, too. The fourth line was damaged when Colton Dach got hurt just 1:34 of playing time into the game. Trent Frederic and Josh Samanski played well to my eye, your mileage may vary. Frederic is finally getting to plays while they are still happening. So happy he’s having some success, loved him with the Bruins and knew Oilers fans would appreciate what he brings once he got healthy.
- Walman-Murphy 11:40, 1-10 shots, 0-1 goals, 11X, 0-5 HDSC
- Ekholm-Bouchard 8:55, 2-1 shots, 87X, 2-0 HDSC
- Nurse-Murphy 7:10, 3-1 shots, 61X, 2-0 HDSC
- Nurse-Emberson 4:31, 2-2 shots, 0-1 goals, 68X
- Nurse-Bouchard 3:46, 3-2 shots, 2-0 goals, 87X, 3-0 HDSC
- Ekholm-Walman 3:22, 2-1 shots, 96X, 2-0 HDSX
- Connor Ingram 15 of 17, .882
- Tristan Jarry 11 of 12, .917
It was a mess due to the Ty Emberson injury, but I like all of the pairings save Walman-Murphy. I think we might see Nurse-Murphy tomorrow night but would love to see Ekholm-Walman a little more. The Oilers have an elite defender in Bouchard, I’m tempted to split Ekholm away from him. Nurse this season with Bouchard is 10-3, 77 percent this season at five-on-five (98 minutes). Whenever I throw that number out, the response is “he’s making $9.25 million why does he need Bouchard?” and that’s fair. However, winning games is optimal, and Ekholm has utility that can be used on other pairings.
As for the goalies, liked them both. I think Ingram is grabbing the starter’s job in real time, but an injury would hurt his chances of being the top man into the playoffs. We’ll see. Jarry was badly needed and showed up. Recall? I’ll guess Calvin Pickard, your mileage may vary.
One final item today: it seems to me that Connor McDavid is the best player on planet earth. He was key to victory in an important game last night. Yet, if you read the comments section, some believe the captain can barely walk and chew gum at the same time. Every player makes mistakes, reads a play incorrectly, has a puck go in off his ass. However, when you’re being critical of someone like McDavid on a play or a single game, it’s important to keep in mind the enormous contributions of this player leading up to the event or game.
We can say “McDavid took only three faceoffs last night and zero in the Vegas game, is something up?” and that moves the conversation forward. When you write “McDavid is not working hard” or “McDavid is the reason they’re losing” it says more about you than it does about Connor McDavid. I just thought you should know.
On the Lowdown today, Kevin McCurdy will be our feature guest and we’ll talk about a terrific game and the road trip that might just save the season. TML losing streak, NFL free ageny and World Baseball Classic will also be topics of conversation. Noon to 2pm, Sports 1440 and YouTube.
What’s the right way for Oilers to deploy Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl?
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7104688/2026/03/11/oilers-connor-mcdavid-leon-draisaitl-stats-lines/
Hoping at least Emberson can play tonight.
Hoping that Ingram is the back up.
Hoping at least one of Henrique or Dach can play tonight.
They don’t have cap space for a recall unless they put someone new on LTIR (hope not), they would have to play short before accessing an emergency recall with the cap relief.
I presume there is an exception for goalies.
Condors are in Texas tomorrow (but I assume they aren’t there yet and travel today so any recall (Pickard) probably went on his way yesterday)
Summarizing!
Lafreniere scored his 38th, the eventual game-winner in a 6-1 victory. He went an ungodly 11-for-12 (91.7%) on the dot and was named 1st star.
Park and Barnett each picked up an assist as Michigan also won 6-1, advancing them to a Big Ten semi vs. the Penn State McKennas on Saturday…
…Which also means Notre Dame’s season is done. Fischer incurred no soup.
Wakely also did not garner soup as UMass-Lowell lost to end their season too.
The NAmateurs whose season continues now number six.
Prospecting takes a break until Freya’s Day.
He’s got another year of college eligibility but I would not be shocked with a Paul Fischer signing….
It’s a bizarro penguins duo the way i see it.
Our malkin and crosby are reversed.
Crosby similar effect with malkin talent level decrease differential -> Drai
Like winger after winger toss on crosby lie they are better. Comtinual development into 200 ft dynamo type center.
Malkin effect with crosby talent level increase differentisl -> Mcdavid.
I don’t remember seeing that in the comments yesterday, Lowetide. There were some criticisms of his Power Play work over the past few games, and it’s probably warranted, truth be told. Has been careless with the puck, it’s true.
I may have missed what you’re referring to, though.
But I really do think something is ailing him. His line usually blows the doors off. It’s routinely running 55x when he’s normal, 60+ when he’s really on. They’ve basically been treading water on chances and expected goals since the Olympics.
And when you look at his individual numbers, it’s actually even more concerning.
He was the only Oilers forward with negative high danger chance differential last night, for example.
Might be injury, it’s more likely fatigue, but he’s not peak McDavid right now.
If I’m in Knoblauch’s shoes, I start guarding his and Leon’s time. Fatigued players get injured. They’re definitely less effective. And the only hope Edmonton has in this year’s playoffs is with a healthy and rested “glimmer twin” duo.
We have to see how injuries shake out, especially after last night’s game. But the Oilers look like they have a roster which can handle regular line changes again. Give both McDavid and Drai 1-2 fewer minutes at 5v5, one or two fewer PK shifts, and roll the PK2 with a bit more regularity. They’ve shown really well in limited minutes since the break (and just as I was about to press post, I see that your article in the Athletic is on the topic, so I’ll check it out now)
I think its a given that something physical is going on with McDavid, I mean, taking zero and then three face-offs in the last two games is somewhat conclusive, no?
That’s funny. I re-read what LT wrote because the first time I read it, I thought he was giving a hypothetical, not an actual situation.
Yes, if those are Davo’s faceoff stats the past 2 games, it is pretty obvious. 😂
I’m curious LT. What does it say about me that I think it’s an issue that among the 950+ minute/50 GF+ forwards Connor McDavid is ranked last in goals against at evens with 55.
He was 90/57 two years ago.
Here’s what I think it means. He’s tired and unfocussed defensively during the regular season and can flip a switch in the playoffs.
But I think it’s dishonest to say his inability outscore at his usual levels is part of the reason why the Oilers aren’t running away with the division.
The best player on earth, The best offensive player, and most complete player are different conversations when talking about team success
Scoring at evens is the toughest thing to do in hockey.
MacKinnon is on pace to exceed 100 EVP (105P pace) on the season becoming the first player in the salary cap era to do so.
If he keeps up the pace he will pass Mario and Lafleur with only Gretzky having more …7 times.
I strongly encourage you to look at McDavid’s WOWYs and time splits.
I heard a couple sound bytes today about ‘if Nurse hadn’t hit him’, or ‘if Nurse hadn’t pushed him’. This is either moronic or gaslighting. Nurse pivoted and reached for the puck. Nate barrelled through both Nurse and Ingram.
It was a weird play. I just re-watched it and Nurse extended his stick and was down low, he caught MacKinnon so his head was on the forward side of Mac’s leg, meaning he ‘couldn’t’ turn away from the crease. A bit surprised and glad Nurse didn’t get taken out as well by the spotter, thigh to head contact pretty hard as well
Did he try that hard to not hit Ingram? Probably not. I can see why the Avs weren’t happy, if it was the other way I don’t think we would be, but he hit the goalie hard. Do that and you probably get called, right or wrong
Also, the Oilers didn’t score on the PP, so it didn’t heavily affect the score, they should let it go and unravel their knickers
MacKinnon needs to zoom Glenn Anderson on how to run a goalie properly.
Nobody gives you emotions, they’re yours, right?
If they want to throw a hissy fit after 3 runs at Ingram and they lose a regular season game, that’s on them. The experienced team is taking the important 2 pts and moving on.
If it was boarding or a high stick under the same circumstances (slight contact from another player), it should also be called.
McKinnon was out of control before Nurse even touched him and I still highly doubt he would have missed Ingram sans Nurse.
Players need to be in control of their sticks, their hits and where they’re skating. Even McDavid has been ejected and suspended. You ride that fine line like McD or McKinnon does, you’re gonna get called once in a while. Doesn’t matter if he meant to contact Ingram or not.
Nates initial point of contact was two players heads. He shoulda been double majored.
A couple of great games for the team. Also not favourites against the Stars. Lots of angles to the game, past playoffs and Gully. I hope they are healthy enough and ready to stamp their will on this game as well
They need Jarry on this one. I could see the smile from ear to ear on his face even with his mask on postgame celebration. I don’t think Jarry used to all the cameras-interviews and the heat of playing in a hockey crazed Canadian market. I also think Jarry has been given extra heat by the Skinner cult members especially around these parts. At least give Jarry 1 playoff before throwing him in the Campbell dumpster.
I have hardly said anything about Jarry. The Skinner fan club held their meeting in a phone booth.
Unfortunately the pressure to get Mcdavid his cup is very likely to have cost him a cup. Started with need to compete on day 1 with Reinhart trade and continued with the outflow of talent with Holloway Broberg and McLeod. If they just showed some patience they could have been a perennial favorite.
Losing to the cup champ the last 4 years not perennial enough for ya?
Umm yeah. No one other than the diehard fans of a team remembers the losers
And yet we often talk about the Thornton led Sharks.
Only a few do
Only as perpetual losers.
That’s not quite how I remember them. But perhaps how we remember them tells us something about ourselves.
Perennial favourite doesn’t mean perennial champion. Fair enough tho i wont assume goalposts are getting moved.
Or, ya know, competence?
You don’t have to be slow to be correct.
I don’t consider McLeod for Savoie a net outflow of talent (and I’m a fan of McLeod, and always was).
3C is one of the critical elements of successful team building.
Savoie is not, and never will be, a 3C.
Since moving on from McLeod, the Oilers have expended 2 first round picks to replace him.
The first round pick the Oilers sent to Anaheim to acquire Adam Henrique was used to draft 20 year old Stian Solberg, a 6’2′ 205 LD who is considered their top defensive prospect.
And, of course, last week, they traded another first round pick to Chicago for Jason Dickinson.
So, in effect, 3C Ryan McLeod, (32G 69P +42 in 114 games played) in Buffalo and two first round picks for Matt Savoie (10G 26P -4 in 69 games played) in Edmonton and 4-5 months of Dickinson a tweener and the remains of Henrique.
With Henrique and possibly Dickinson leaving the organization after the season, the Oilers would be left with Savoie and RFA Colton Dach.
McLeod and two first round picks for that is pretty pricy.
They resigned the wrong player in the Duck deal they should have kept Centre-PKer Sam Carrick for 1 mil times 3 years instead of Henrique 3 mil times 2 years. When in doubt always keep the cheap speed this is how players like journeyman Cleary-Chimera-Cogliano had such long careers.
Yup..in hindsight… a much better strategy.
Of course, in reality, they traded Ryan McLeod for Matt Savoie which is not an outflow of talent
An outflow of on-ice value.
Well, I was responding to a post about an out-flow of talent, not value.
With that said, value relative to cap hit, perhaps not so much and that will flip very shortly if it hasn’t already.
Even in such ridiculous isolation it’s still a massive outflow of talent.
Savoie has now settled in as a marginally productive 3rd line winger who is under water in most metrics and is scoring only 1.34 P/60 despite significant time played with McDavid and Draisaitl.
McLeod is scoring 2.08 P/60, is an elite penalty killer with 5 short-handed goals which is more than most NHL TEAMS and sports a GF percentage of 58.7%
Suggesting these players are somehow equal or Savoie is better is patently false.
Ryan mcleod was 22.5 yrs old after his first full season. 9 goals, 12 assists, -12. Savoie will be 22.5 years old after his first full season. 10g, 15a, currently and even player…….thats somewhat equal minus the win now mentality. “Need to get younger…..but not in this case.”
McLeod does not have more talent that Savoie and Savoie is currently well ahead of where McLeod was at his age.
Things on the management side seem very different currently, hopefully there is enough time left and things break right for them and him. What they did previously was obviously not good enough or right enough
I know it won’t happen this year but I think they should try Savoie on the left half wall on PP#1.
Left shooting McDrai could have one timers on the right half wall with rotating Bouch and Savoie rotating high to low and setting up for one timers on the left side.
Further to that, he should be on the line instead of Hyman when they have a 5v5 defensive zone start. It might help them break out of the zone a little more often when they lose the draw. I haven’t looked at the numbers, but they sure seem to struggle when they start in their own zone.
The PP is like 50% over the last 10 games.
Yes, they’ve had individual power plays that were ineffective and not good but the power play continues to produce at historic levels.
Hyman rarely touches the puck on the PP. It’s all 29,97,93 and 2. Why not put, say, Frederic there? Big body, screen the goalie, and less of a loss if he takes a Bouch bomb in the face, like Hyman did. Keeps Hyman fresh and gives Freddy a chance to bang one in or have it deflect in from the spot beside the post, where Hyman often stands. Put Zach on the 2nd unit, where his skill might be more utilized.
I have thought this as well. I really wonder how much Hyman’s wrist has limited his puck handling. His role seems to be stand on the far side of the net for pulling a defenceman away from Connor and Drai, and hope for a garbage goal if it comes to that space. It is somewhat effective when the team has control but not effective when fighting to get control in the offensive zone.
If not Freddy, we have someone with lots of experience screening goalies: Darnell Nurse!
Honestly, the goal is creating a succession plan. We can’t assume Nuge and Hyman will be this productive on the powerplay next season or in two or three years from now.
I like the Fredric net front option because he’s cost controlled for 7 more seasons so any excess production that he can generate will be a huge bonus relative to his cap hit. If we sign Savoie to a ~$4Mx 5 or 6 year extension and then put him on a high scoring powerplay with McDavid and Drai, he would also be able to outscore compared to his cap number.
If you project what Savoie could do on PP#1, then the player development staff should be dropping strong hints to Matt to work on his one-timers all summer long for an audition next year.
Dude has nearly 30 goals in his last 40 games, many have required a good wrist.
Hyman is better at puck retrieval than Frederic. Puck retrieval is the another secret sauce of the Oilers first unit.
This is 100% correct. Without numbers to back me up I’d say the oilers are the top team in puck recovery on the pp. It’s directly responsible for the pp success and all the players are completely bought in.
Best powerplay in the history of the sport does not need to change what its doing.
Let’s keep Savoie off of the PP at least until after he’s into his next contract and isnt costing a fortune due to inflated pp numbers.
Nugent-Hopkins is the secret sauce of the Oilers PP. He is close to irreplaceable.
As two times Stanley Cup finalists, and even more so because Oilers have McDavid and Draisaitl, they always face the best game their opponents can throw at them.
Oilers show up, its a measurement game whether you are Carolina or Chicago.
This is real and it has an effect on the Oilers, they seldom face a team who are disinterested. Its fatiguing. When I watch some teams play their energy and give a darn are much less than against the Oilers. They study, make game plan for McDavid and are ready.
Avalanche are the next closest team in having to deal with this effect. (Makar, McKinnon, Necas) True, they are not struggling, they are winning. However;
Where I want to go here is Avalanche are not adjusting their game for anyone. Why on earth would they change because its McDavid? “They (Oilers) should be worried about us, not the other way around”
Avalanche are fast and creative, but they are also chaos. The Oilers had all kinds of open ice. All kinds of room. Avalanche were hitting, but Oilers are used to smothering defence in offensive zone. Last night they had space and opportunity.
It will be a tough 7 game series to win, but I suggest that the indifference they show to the Oilers come playoffs, might be an advantage.
This is true, but it’s true for all good or great teams, always as been. The question is are you going to do what is necessary to deal with that when it happens?
Every team will have a bad game, or not be at their best. You might remember Fuhr back in the day, he had some comically bad reg season games. The only guy that didn’t very often was Gretz. Which is why his career is what it is. But they finished at the top or near in those times, even won a President’s and the Cup, although lost as well one time
The Oilers haven’t yet got to where they will play how they should to minimize things, at least not consistently. Maybe they are getting there. Bowman has been improving the depth I think, but some of the top guys can be leaky
All to be expected having so many deep runs. But as I said earlier, the best teams over time have had the same challenges
Good point about the Avs. Being smoking hot early, and running through the season hasn’t turned out to be helpful later, I’m sure partly from what you said, perhaps being more confident than you should be and things going along without enough challenges
When someone gets 5 and a game does that trigger a league safety hearing? I didn’t see anything about it in the news I read, so maybe not?
The league reviews these penalties & game misconducts to decide if there is going to be any supplemental discipline, then they will notify the team/player if they decide to proceed further with a hearing. It’s not an automatic hearing or suspension. Likely nothing further will happen and Nate will be able to pick up the pieces of his shattered career and move forward.
Excellent article, as always, and strong ‘food for thought’ about criticisms of McDavid (and Draisaitl). McDavid carries the weight of the world on his shoulders and often carries this team to whatever success they have achieved. We are most certainly spoiled watching him nightly and perhaps taking for granted some of the magic he brings regularly.
One criticism of McDavid and most of the leadership on this team (including and especially Nurse) is the ‘less is more’ approach is rarely utiized. There are times when the top players on this team need to recognize the play that allows them to live to fight another day, so to speak. Making a backhanded pass (Drai) through 4 opposing players when you are up one in the third, for example, is not a smart play. Same as trying to beat 4 opposing players while the rest of your team is rushing up ice to catch up and support, then suddenly having to deal with the puck coming back the other way. Or staying out too long on a pp (when you are not down in the game), when you are then too exhausted to fight for the puck and defend as necessary. Perhaps this is a product of coaching that gives these top players so much free rein.
The bigger problem this presents is the example it sets. These are ‘hero plays’ over team-oriented play, where you instead trust your teammates rather than trying to do it all yourself. This is often the issue when Leon and Connor spend too much time playing together: they resort to passing to each other and ignore other linemates, making them much easier to defend. I feel these are fair criticisms in a team game. McDavid has come as close as you can come to winning the big game, but the fact he hasn’t shows its a team game, and even the brilliance of McDavid is no guarantee. You NEED the entire team to win it all. Florida (spits) and Tampa have proven that strong teams with depth (and goaltending that can steal games- that’s a topic for another day) win over a couple of superstars that carry the team almost all the way.
The superstars and coaches have to find a way to build up all team members so they feel important to the team and are trusted in their roles to contribute.
I know 21 million is a lot for a first pair.
But if they can rock 78% against the toughs with heavy mins and all the rest they bring individually I’m ok with it.
Elliotte Friedman
@FriedgeHNIC
Mammoth confirm much-rumoured Nick Schmaltz extension at 8 x $8M
Longer term than I expected, but Utah compromises on term, as player compromises on dollars. In the end, both get what they want — as Schmaltz stays put
8 years is very long for a 30 year old but it is front loaded with zero bonuses and the final 4 seasons have only partial trade protection.
It’s funny watching you unabashedly kiss the feet of other teams.
You were far more critical of the Oilers signing 29 year old Zach Hyman to a 7 x $5.5 million contract.
Here you are gushing over a 8 x $8mil for a 30 year old.
But but but…. it’s front loaded and the cap is going up. Mammoth have tons of cap space and incredible prospects.
Am I doing it right?
“The Mammoth wouldn’t trade for McDavid when they have just committed to 30 year old superstar Nick Schnaltz for 8 x $8m. There’s just no need for McDavid.”
The final 3 years of the deal see his salary drop to $6 million and the final 2 years have only an 8 team no trade list so, given the rising cap, it should be reasonable to assume he would be moveable if needed.
The Utah prospect pool is indeed quite strong:
C Caleb Desnoyers – 4th overall 2025
C Tij Iginla – 6th overall 2024
C – Cole Beaudoin – 24th overall 2024
C – Daniil But – 12th overall 2023
All project as top 6 forwards
D Dimitri Simashev – 6th overall 2023 – 6’5″ 205
D Maverick Lamoureux – 29th overall 2022 – 6’6″ 200
Both project as top 4 D but, as you know, they can take a little longer to pop.
The Mammoth have just over 28 million in cap space in the offseason and with the Schmaltz extension done, they have no significant other free agents signings to consider so should have good flexibility to improve their roster.
Yes, you did it right!
BTW, Scott Wheeler started unveiling his prospect pool rankings this week and today is #30.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6826376/2026/03/11/edmonton-oilers-nhl-prospect-rankings-2026/
Don’t worry, if Utah is signing 30 year olds to 8x8m contracts, they will run out of cap real quick after signing a handful of their super prospects while trying to also sign the Panarins of the world.
It’s amazing how every contract signed by every other team always magically has no downside or risk! An incredible coincidence.
Every contract has a risk.
Cool, describe the Schmaltz “risk”.
We wait . . . .
Goaltender interference debate is all the rage today in NHL circles. The 5min major was the correct call. Breaking it down Nate took a hard line directly to the crease to receive a cross ice pass. Nurse made a defensive play to prevent the pass. Nurse had every right to that ice, same with Nate. Nurse made contact with Nurse while also preventing the pass. The contact Nurse made did not propel Nate into Ingram. The contact did prevent Nate from getting back up ice to avoid Ingram. This is the difference between the traditional Dman pushes forward into goalie for reversing goalie interference. Nate chose his line and as a result he absolutely steam rolled Ingram and is full value for the 5 and the game. In the past we’ve seen 97 get called for the same thing. Just not 5 and a game because 97 did manage to get mostly out of the way and not make direct contact with the goaltenders head.
Bednar’s comments are him trying to defend his player but he is wrong.
I am not a Jack and Louie hater but my god could they be a bit of a homer at some point in time. I am not sure I have ever heard either them say the refs have made a poor call against the Oilers.
And wow are the Colorado fans out to lunch with their booing on every little play. It was embarassing.
You mean MacKinnon made contact with Nurse first, who was trying to prevent the pass, then he pinballed into Ingram second, who was moving forward to the top of the crease to attempt a save. At the same time Mac had way too much speed to avoid the collision with Ingram. If it was Connor McDavid crashing into Blackwood in the same fashion , Bednar would have had a different take on the play. It’s easy to say he’s a world class skater that knows what he’s doing and would have avoided contact. It’s a dangerous proposition.
minor tweak
I seen McKinnon elbow Nurse in the head, absolute head shot. Not “make contact” with Nurse.
When I watch it Nate moves into nurse. And makes contact with nurses head mostly which then slightly alters his route hitting Ingram more severely than he maybe would have….. I agree the right call was made.
Louis and Jack after initially thinking nurse initiated contact did backtrack to say that it was all on Nate.
Louie….come on Nurse struck Nate’s elbow with his face – oh I see
I was critical of their takes on the MacKinnon penalty last night (particularly Louie) but I do think they call out the officiating for hurting Edmonton far more than people acknowledge. Just off the top of my head, Louie had a fairly lengthy rant about the calls going against Edmonton in the Vegas game the other night.
But even with the takes yesterday, I’d take them 10 times out of 10 over the garbage that the TNT crew was spewing.
This is a good point.
I find Louie sometime attempts to be beyond neutral when they land major broadcasts. National or otherwise.
There was a game against the Kings in the playoffs a few years back when they went headhunting after a game was out of reach. There was one headshot where Louie just quadrupled down on it being old time playoff hockey. Jack tried to talk him down and Bieksa tossed out the rationale during the break but he was a dog on a bone about it.
It happens, if you want to broadcast national you shouldn’t be a homer.
Unless of course it’s the Leafs, Flames or Nucks playing (notice how the blue collar towns never get any love?)
If you hear US broadcasts they are homers, but still able to call what they see fairly. They compliment the other team when playing well, but it’s still all about the good guys
Thing is there is a lot of competition for those jobs. You have to be good. You can’t be boring, even Wayne can be pretty spicy on US TV. One night I saw Messier disagreeing with someone and he was getting hot, I was like other dude are you reading the room? You better get an escort out, pretty funny
In Canada it’s almost like jobs go by family lineage or something
Mark had the eyes going
Neither K.K or our Commentators will back our team in this fashion. Bedar has won a Cup this is gamesmanship he’s lobbying by making his voice heard for a crucial call going his way down the line. As for our Commentators they are trying to stay below neutral on the Oilers as they are suck-holing for the National gig. If it was Connor who ran the Av’s goalie that anti Oiler hating asshole Parros would give Connor 2 games as Connor already has a history on that bunk suspension he recieved years ago.
The best coaches are active on their team’s behalf, and know what to do when. I’m sure he’s angling so Mac doesn’t get a hearing
What Jack and Louie say on a regional sportsnet broadcast has exactly zero effect on the officiating – zero.
Yup. In my opinion, one of Knoblauch’s biggest weaknesses is that he doesn’t construct a narrative that advantages his team.
In the 2024 playoffs against Vancouver, before the series started, Tocchet was talking about the refs needing to pay attention to Edmonton diving. Knoblauch provided no counter-narrative.
Against Dallas in the 2025 playoffs, there was a ton of media coverage about Nurse slashing Hintz and DeBoer complaining in the media about the lack of a major penalty being called. Knoblauch again had no response. He should’ve talked about how Bischel was taking liberties without any calls, and that Petrovic took out Brown with a headshot.
In both the 2024 and 2025 finals, Maurice had the officials and media wrapped around his thumb, and Knoblauch had no response.
Yesterday, Bednar complained about how there shouldn’t have been a penalty called against MacKinnon and that he doesn’t care that Ingram got hurt because Nurse’s head knocked MacKinnon into Ingram. Knoblauch had no response. He should have mentioned in his media availability after the game that Ingram had taken contact two times before MacKinnon ran over him (Kadri ran over him, and someone else (Number 11?) bumped him in the crease) and that it’s ridiculous that it took until the 3rd time for a penalty to be called.
I really think it’s an important skill for Knoblauch to learn in the regular season and an absolutely vital skill in the playoffs.
It’s not too dissimilar to the Hertl play during playoffs in which Pickard got injured.
It’s something the NHL has to figure out. If you choose a line directed through the blue paint at a high rate of speed, at some point you have to be responsible for that and can’t shrug your shoulders and blame it on contact from another player when a goalie gets smoked as a consequence.
Nurse didn’t see him or intentionally push him.
McDavid is incredible and by far the most talented player IMO.
But he is also kind of like a kid with an IQ of 200 who always gets everything right in Math but keeps losing marks for not rounding to the right decimal or showing his work. On ice, this a player who is SO smart and gifted making mistakes on defence that are attributed to lack of focus or sticking to fundamentals.
Yes, he is still the best by a long shot but other kids/players are getting similar marks despite getting more wrong because they are not “giving away marks”. At some point, you get more frustrated with the uber talented kid because it really is wasting some of their talent.
Honestly, I don’t think it’s being under-appreciative. Holding him to the elite standard he has is showing a respect for how good he should be.
Okay, maybe put a different less abstract way:
McDavid is like Aaron Judge at the plate, has the capability to be a Bobby Witt Jr. at SS, but plays more like a Bo Bichette there, while an Ernie Clement type player is posting much better defence metrics
He’s still insanely valuable, amazing, superlative, but do you accept average in one aspect because he is so good somewhere else? Like I said, getting after him for D is a compliment to how much better he could be which is even insane to say b/c is value is off the charts
Ernie clement is awesome!!
Great game.
Both goalies played very well
Walman is a huge mystery. He did block some shots tho. The D as a whole blocked a lot of shots.
Freddy is playing very good hockey of late and Samanski fits better on that 4th dot than Henrique does.
Any word on any of the injuries?
In the olden days ( I am a bit surprised no one reacted to that hit) someone would have gone after MacKinnon. That was a brutal hard hit. He was 1/2 way in the paint and even if Nurse wouldn’t have ran into him at that speed and the way Ingram was coming out a bit and bent over ( completely in his area ( THE BLUE PAUNT), he would have hit him.
Walman seems to be playing a gingerly kind of game. He must be playing through something.
He over-handles the puck way too often. There were a handful of times last night where he has maybe 10 feet to make a quick pass to a supporting forward and he pauses and turns back only to have the forecheck overwhelm him and then he fails to get it out. It’s happening a lot this season. Just be simple and move the damn puck when you can
Easy for you to say.
I believe it was fairly obvious that MacKinnon wasn’t trying to injure Ingram.
When you’re leading by one against the best team in the league, you don’t shoot your self in the foot together “payback” for something that wasn’t extremely intentional.
I sure hope Nate is alright after Ingram recklessly used his Coconut on golden boy MacKinnon.
I literally had a conversation yesterday about this yesterday. My take was that the coach is utilizing Dickinson as the hard matchup faceoff guy (as he should) and is now using McDavid in a way that optimizing McD. Have the Nuge-McD-Hyman line come in on the fly rather than bogging them down with faceoffs. I get people immediately jumping to injury concerns, but what if this is actually smart coaching?
I’m willing to entertain it being a coaching decision over a potential injury issue.
Many people, myself included, have been quite hard on KK the last few months. I had not looked at it the way you have laid it out. IF this is a KK innovation and not injury, then my hopes for a long run to Stanley are higher today!
If KK can rediscover his fastball and start making all the right decisions again that would be huge.
He’s got some better personnel. He doesn’t have to throw as many screwballs.
The appropriate way to build this team’s bottom-6 is with defensive aces and physical wingers.
The Oilers bottom-6 shouldn’t be necessarily trying to outscore their 5v5 minutes so much as suppress the other teams’ offence while playing physical.
Less Adam Henrique and Andrew Mangiapane on lines 3 and 4, and more Dickinson, Dach, and the new Freddie, please and thank you.
Vegas made the blueprint.
Their 2021 playoff series against Colorado is worth watching for anyone wondering how to build a bottom six.
The forecheck was absolutely crippling for Colorado. The physicality and violence. They had no one who could push back and they couldn’t survive that forecheck.
Third line
Alex Tuch – Nicolas Roy – Keegan Kolesar
Fourth line
William Carrier – Tomas Nosek – Ryan Reaves/Janmark
Why not give Dickerson and his line a bone and have them on the ice with the Av’s goalie pulled.
Dickonson his poor on his weak side face-offs – Drai was taking them for him all night long and needed to be out there for the draws. McDavid is the Oilers best forward defending leads late when primary is getting a clear – his speed, anticipation and skill break up plays, cause bobbles, etc.
As you already mentioned with the net empty Connor made an ill-advised bone headed pass in the Av’s zone instead of eating it which resulted in the Av’s coming back with numbers. No way Dickerson attempts that pass hell no way Clattenburg would even consider it. On occasion I would rather have shutdown players on the ice especially if they are having a good game it doesn’t always have to be minute munching and possibly tired Leon-Connor.
Again, Drai was on the ice to take the face-off and McDavid is the best on the team at getting the puck back and clearing the zone.
I’m if they put Dickinson out for Hyman in that situation but I 100% want both McDavid and Drai out there.
Dickinson led the forwards in 5 on 5 TOI and played over 17 minutes overall (which is more than he’s averaged in any season of his career and a minute and a half more than he’s averaged this season – perhaps he was low on energy as well).
McDavid is so good folks twist themselves into negatives instead of simply enjoying the most entertaining player in the game.
Scores the game winning goal on a completely filthy series of plays, folks dont even realize theyre still in the sick bay with what they’ve witnessed.
Really like what I was seeing from Samanski/Frederic when the coach was able to get them shifts.
Jarry was thrown into the fire and stood on his head, well done.
Since Jan 1, 2026, Connor is second in pts to Kucherov who is on an absolute tear at 2.21 pts/gm. So, the Oilers have the second highest scoring player in the league as the games get tighter – I will take that. Please note that the next two players on the list are Bouchard and Leon.
As the 3rd and 4th lines increase contributions (out-scoring or at least even), this team will become a load to play against – as shown the last two games.
Yes, totally and who got dummied on the winner? The pylon Devon Toews.
All players make mistakes.
The oil are oiling again. Cue the winning streak! lol this team is insane.
Devon looked an awful lot like Darnell on that play. Chasing to the outside then scrambling back too late. Horrible play by him. Also many horrible plays by burns in the game. Burns used to be a fantastic player… not at all anymore. Likely kulak will have to play second pair at some point.
McDavid is the best player in the world.
McDavid made a few wonderful plays last night to contribute to the win (his play on the winning goal was likely something only he can do).
At the same time, McDavid wasn’t near his best last night and, for me, wasn’t even at his average last night – the bar is so high, unfairly high, but one can note that he’s not at the top of his game but is still the best player in the game and still a massive part of a win.
A similar thing with Drai – I thought he had an awful game last night and made many very poor puck play decisions – he was also key to the win including some big face-offs and plays. Leon had a 5 point night recently where I didnt’ think he played well.
These two player can be massive contributors even when they aren’t near their best – I’ve never seen players be able to produce points while struggling like these two.
That’s an interesting take, because I thought Edmonton’s best players were better than Colorado’s. Imagine if they were at their very best OMG.
Bochard was the only superstar lats night that was close to his best game – he outplayed Makar objectively.
I didn’t think any of MacKinnon, Necas, McDavid nor Drai were near the top of their games.
A big difference is that Edmonton’s superstars are at a level where they often produce when they don’t play near their best. Im sure Nate is like that too but not last night.
This is completely random, but has anyone else noticed how the highlight packages for NHL games on youtube have declined in such an incredible fashion? They must be using some sort of AI algorithm with very little human oversight.
Sportsnet’s package for last night’s game decided to skip the entirety of MacKinnon’s 5 min major, goalie change, and Jarry’s subsequent big saves. Odd and incomplete.
NHL’s package also missed the MacKinnon situation AND ends with about 8 minutes left in the game. No highlight of the final buzzer, winning team celebrating. Even more odd and incomplete.
I work with AI as part of my job every day, and it is an incredible tool – but I see some companies use it now and decide they can just skip the human part of the equation who performs quality checks. We, the consumer, suffer.
Perhaps it is their target demographic. Sports Betters aren’t concerned with anything you mentioned.
My wife likes to get a couple of scratch tickets for her birthday and she takes an hour to scratch them in the anticipation of winning and playing along with the little events on the card. While I was standing in line this year the guy in front of me bought 20 scratch tickets, immediately scratching the little number at the bottom of the ticket and running it through a phone app and complaining about his bad luck. Cashed in his 40% winnings immediately then walked off grumbling.
One of the things I have learned to appreciate from Mr Lowetide is that it’s about the journey not the destination as most of them lead to heartbreak.
If you have Oilers+ they do a 20 min condensed game and I’ve really enjoyed these when I can’t watch.
I often check the score but not the details so it’s still a surprise to watch it later.
i got Oilers+ for next to nothing for the season during the preseason, I think $10 for the year.
Bouchard floats all boats.
The “Bouchard needs Ekholm” flipped a good 2 years ago and was proven full stop in the playoffs last season. If anything, Ekholm needs Bouchard but, really, I think Ekholm could be used to solidly a second pairing?
Bouchard tuned Kulak in to a top pairing d-man in the playoffs for 150 minutes last year – whether its Walman or Nurse, or maybe even Stastney, Bouchard can carry a tough minutes 1st pairing.
Unless you have some proof I am unaware of the numbers do not support your position that “Ekholm needs Bouchard”
I haven’t heard anyone suggest Bouchard needs Ekholm
Both fantastic players imo
Have we heard anything about Ingram yet?
Spec wrote a great article on Dickinson and the bottom 6 a couple of days ago. Check it out if you haven’t. I love the Dickinson quotes:
“what I want to do is give [McDavid and Draisaitl] better matchups. Take a little bit off their plate.”
“I know Connor was killing penalties every now and then. (Dickinson wants to) take that off his plate, so he’s not wasting his energy out there on the kill. Better having him play five-on-five and on the power play with full energy, and (with Dickinson) being able to take some of the match-ups off his plate.”
What a great addition – And giving the coach some good ideas it looks like haha.
Dickinson is interesting. I think he’ll be appreciated here more than even Chicago. There he was a reliable vet who didn’t score much on a rebuilding team. Here fans have had long appreciation for the player type—Mctavish, Marchant, Jared Stoll…
He has a good active stick and positioning. Positionally, he reads the play well. Has been good with back pressure too as he is decent skating. Very smart defensively.
Possession numbers are maybe a bit of a worry.
But good to reduce the PK minutes of 29 and 97 anyway. Nice to see their overall minutes down to more reasonable numbers.
Coach doesn’t seem to mind him.
He should definitely be extended. In fact I think all three ex Hawks should be extended.
Bowman paid a price which covered resigning all three.
Dach is easy as he’s an RFA with no arb rights – he’ll be qualified but, if he’s smart, he’ll sign a deal for league min (below his qualifying offer) with a big AHL minimum (or guaranteed min comp) which will help him solidify a NHL roster spot.
Definitely interested in re-signing both Dickonson and Murphy but contract terms need to be reasonable – Murphy potentially at a similar to his apx $4MM but Dickonson, at his age, would need a cut on his $4MM – in my opinion.
Dickerson still has wheels in saying that unless he goes on a huge heater he would be wise to sign the sure contract in Edmonton. Murphy is a stay at home big body that PK’s I guess will see what that’s worth.
In my head:
Nurse bouchard isn’t the most outlandish concept as it puts nurse closer to the usage that he was signed to that contract for. Offensive leaning attacking with enough speed to be effective in counter rush style defending and it gives him a partner who is elite at ome of his lowest proficiency level skills -> breakout transition passing.
Like the transmutation of his usage into defacto “shut down defenseman” simply never has nor will ever make sense.
It’s like using a muscle car to compete in pro off road racing circuits or something.
Buried in defensive end, saddled with make sure last man back and don’t try skating the puck out in transition or really ever pinch…Defensive net front presence that’s hard to play against?
Wrong match in most ways.
What he is elite at:
A. ATHLETICISM
-> skates fast (speed)
-> minute muncher (endurance)
-> injury resistant (durability)
-> board battles and behind net (strength)
-> recovering/catching up on odd man rushes and pressuring puck handler in very effective physical ways that are rarely infraction level interference. Sick wheels and long reach he uses well (size)
B. Offensive instinct
-> really really good at stealth timing pinches in for goal mouth scoring chances (gets there fast, everything in front of him no real reliance on awareness/periphal vision type mental chess board level perception)
-> maintaining controlled puck posession when carrying it out of defensive end and in neutral zone transition
-> 50/50 type board battles keeping puck in zone
What his weaknesses are:
A. Awareness in general is below average
-> he sees what is in front of him, generally reacts insanely fast to it in a physically aggressive manner that is generally pretty effective….but he loses his man, he can be dog whistled out of position and his body position is often not strategically set in way to effectively block shots on net or restrict passing lanes. Thus a lot of the also in photo or starfishing moments.
B. Passing
-> speed on passes of any distance generally not fast crisp enough
->,when coupled with not the type of mind to do physics vector mapping future predictive style that means lanes chosen aren’t actually open and at at risk of imterceptions and even passes of that variety successfully reaching targetted player quite often aren’t of the variety of perfectly leading reciever in way they are capable of seemlessly continue skating full speed ahead.
Player type: big nasty rover
A hard nosed physical defensemen “100 dollar arm 10 cent head” (smarter than that. Like i like him a lot just expression that fits here jokingly)
*Best suited for more offensive minded icetime and defending counter rush style chances more than anything.*
*NOT YOUR SHUTDOWN DEFENSEMAN BURIED IN DEFENSIVE END PROTECTING FRONT OF NET HOPING TO GET PUCK GOING RIGHT DIRECTION AND SHIFTING OFF WHEN THAT HAPPENS*
If that is the role they primarily want to use him in -> murphy likely the best option to pair with. Murphy is your last man back better net front protect. Nurse is given a bit more greenlight to skate puck out of defensive end with LW’s or centers in bottom 6 understanding they need to mindfully remember to cover that position if he goes full steam ahead. A guy like dickenson is perfect fit for this. Nurse is either going to gain offensive zone carrying it in or wingers are going to need to be going full speed north south ahead in case he has to dump the puck in.
Problem with this pairing likely is:
-> no strong transition outlet passer (thus why they keep hoping walman pairing works because of the designed systems they are too rigidly trying to run that have clearly been ill-suited for the majority of the bottom 6 lines THE ENTIRE SEASON with the personnel they had.)
I’ve said this before you in my way of seeing things you have 3 player types
1. Uniques -> you need to understand their strengths and weaknesses as a coach and either design strategies around them that incorporate their exceptional strengths and either pair them with high hockey IQ adaptable linemates or spefic effectively dimensional role players with skillsets that compliment unique players strengths or offest unique player weaknesses.
Mcdavid clearly doesn’t make everyone better. When put with right players and in right gameplan and usage other players can make mcdavid even better in ways that are unimaginable.
Nurse while he may not be Mcdavid level otherworldly could likely be a lot closer to the value of that contract if they stopped trying to smash him like a square peg into a round hole while given a lot less thought of type of partner required to optimize results since they completely changed his usage.
Adam larsson has been playing in seattle for 5 years now. Haven’t tried overly hard to replace other top 4 slot with kind of player that ensures success.
Bear
Ceci
Des/kulak off hand
Rotating cast but primary plan was a decent quality #3/4 LHD with grest outlet passing, some grit but s bit more offensive strength playing on his off hand that kind of makes him more of a #5/6 option…who they signed up long term while injured at beginning of season to a contract that also has no trade clauses.
Been ongoing achilles heel and nurse gets to be fall guy for it. So yeah…nurse bouchard is reasonably sensible option for offensive minded pairing that makes sense or nurse murphy if burying pair in dzone minutes.
Will nurse ever be your 200 ft complete cornerstone defenseman you can throw into any usage and he adelts to fill need?
No
Is the contract too high?
Sure but that’s on a lack of cap management strategy up to even extending him early in that season just like they did with walman as the cap hit early that sesson was 7.5 millionish range to extend. They walked right to last minute up to gun at the head moment a staring down barrel of a market either glitch or adjustment not in their favour. Get over it. Figure out how to reclaim increasingly distressed asset over continuing to paint into a corner and lose value and assets because of lacking ingenuity to better optimize usage.
If anything a Nurse/Bouchard pairing should show Nurse that his offensive abilities are nowhere near Bouchard’s so he should keep it simple , give the puck to Bouch, play defense to the very best of his ability and be a physical presence. They could be a very good pair. But Nurse can’t help himself.
I’d be ok with this if Emberson can’t play.
Stastney-Bouchard
Ekholm-Walman
Nurse-Murphy
Nurse sliding down from point on left side with drai or mcdavid feather pass over would be likel +10 GF to good with nurse on ice.
Yes bouchard is better point shot and QB passer.
I’d say nurse is better than ekholm at pinch in style defense scoring.
It’s more offensive favouring minutes.as an effective pairing with different skillsets. Their offensive strengths don’t overlap overly much worth pointing out obvious.
As far as calling up Jarventie (although the org will probably call up Hamblin), they do not have cap space for any recall. Unless there is an LTIR placement, they’d need to play short first.
Why would they call Hamblin they need a physical type player to play on the fourth line.
Jarventie has the size but I’m not sure he uses it effectively, if he doesn’t, then call up Clatt of Jones IMO. Could they put Rico on LTIR?
Hamblin has been the Condors best player over the course of the last two months.
I don’t necessarily agree that they “need” a physical player just because they are replacing Dach.
Jones is not physical at the AHL level – he thinks he’s a top line player at the AHL level – he has spurts but is inconsistent.
Clattenburg is scheduled to play his first game in a couple of months on Friday.
Since he got re-assigned he hasn’t actually developed any of the “non hitting/fighting” skills he needs to work on in order to play in the NHL and that includes in his two games where he didn’t play any hockey but simply hunted for hits and fights and inevitably got himself hurt, again.
Here is hoping that Chaulk can get him, in Chaulk’s words, to “play hockey”.
Clattenbrug CAN play in the NHL and can be an impactful 8-10 minutes per night guy IF he develops some puck skills and ability to make plays at pace – he has the hands and feet but he needs to commit to developing those areas.
He doesn’t need to hit everything and fight everything at the AHL level, we know he can do those things – he needs to be taking shifts and not in the penalty box and IR all the time.
Hamblin probably makes sense he’s an all around type of player.
Hamblin is lightweight this team needs soldiers hopefully Clattenburg gets the call if not him Jones or Poulin for his size. Clattenburg lost his line-up spot due to what could have been a Brett Callighen ugly injury and not because he didn’t get a puck in deep on a meaningless play. I like Frederic and I think he’s most effective on the fore-check and he does have a knack for the net when he’s in the groove. In saying that Frederic is a passive player it took Roy dropping the gloves before he did Fred is not a hunter. With the Dach injury the 4th line needs an alpha crasher and banger not a pocketknife.
Truth be told Matt Tomkins has been better than Pickard in the AHL and is coming off a 30 save shutout. No doubt if the need a recall it’s Picks but there is a real argument it should be Tomkins.
Earlier this season. I had mentioned that Tomkins was a sneaky good player to have in the system.
It would be Picks all day long. Could you imagine if they were to snub Picks from being the first recall option? LOL.
As I said, no doubt it will be Picks but, if its being based on level of play, calling up Pickard would be the real snob, to Tomkins, who has been the better goalie.
Pickard is probably still adjusting to playing at the AHL level.
If it’s based on play and not because Pickard is a good vet that the team went to bat for then Unger should get the call on his performance this year.
No, it should not – Ungar’s last 3 games in the AHL were bad, increasingly bad – then he had 3 bad starts in the ECHL before starting to recover.
Ungar is not an NHL option at this point in time.
Unless Pickard is hurt or out of game shape why would they call up a 31 year-old at best career AHLer over Pickard who’s played in pressure packed playoff games? Yes I do know Tompkins was drafted by Bowman and is from Edmonton.
Feel free to read the post again about which goaltender is playing better (while fully acknowledging that Pickard will be the one called up).
Feel free to throw shade on Pickard in a backhanded way even though everyone knows it’ll be him getting the call even after Tompkins had a Ben Scrivens out of body shutout last game. Nurse is not the only one with Kids Pickard has them as well and the waivers-demotion to Bakersfield can’t be easy on Pickard and his family.
WTF man? I’ve said 3 times, no doubt that Pickard will be the one to get the call, if in fact there is a call.
I’ve never ever argued against that but simply pointed out the fact that Tomkins has been better.
I didn’t say Pickard has been bad but simply noting some information based on watching the damn games.
I simply said Unger numbers were better than both of them. Sometimes numbers don’t tell the whole story.
Exactly numbers don’t tell the whole story and that’s all you have as I am certain you’ve never seen Ungar play.
You do know that the Condors games and Hi-Lights are available to the general population as for ECHL not so much.
I’m confident you have watched zero Condors games.
“However, when you’re being critical of someone like McDavid on a play or a single game, it’s important to keep in mind the enormous contributions of this player leading up to the event or game.”
This reminds me of the discussions pre McDavid and those saying the best players aren’t the problem. As in trading Hall probably doesn’t make your team better
This is true I think, but the discussion of ‘most talented’ and ‘best’ is not the same. Certainly all players make mistakes. Those who have the puck more will have more errors
The best players are the ones who get things done at the most important times, help their teams win key games, whether they score or not. There is a lot that needs to be done to win any game, but especially in high stakes high pressure games
Mistakes happen yes. But to me the ‘when’ question is critical. Not so much in regular season games, although a pattern of making mistakes isn’t good, for many reasons
In the most important games, to win them, you have to be the one that doesn’t crack, that can make the plays that count regardless of what’s in your way. This is what makes Messier a great, one of the greatest, because he executed and won over the opponent in the hardest moments, repeatedly. He was never the most skilled player, but he used his tools and his will to dominate
Gretzky, Lemieux. More recently Crosby, Kopitar, Doughty, J Toews, Keith, Point, Hedman, there are others. Connor is unique among the top players in that probably no other player has had his combination of IQ, speed, size, skill and the ability to play at a tempo I don’t think we have ever seen before
Is Connor the best player right now? I’m not sure, I do think he is the most talented player, all time talented. One player can’t win hockey games, at least over a series. But he has had great teams with him, especially team Canada. The Oilers teams not perfect, but no team is in a capped era, as we saw last night with the Avs that have weaknesses
Team Canada outplayed the US even by US commentators opinions in the Gold game. But in the most key of moments, during the game and OT, it didn’t get done. They outshot the US 42-28, and none of Canada’s forwards, who were supposed to be the best in the tournament and maybe deepest ever, could score when it counted most
The one goal they got was a D assisted by a D. Hellebuyck was great, but for me they didn’t lose because of him, they didn’t do what they had to do score on him. That’s what greats can do. It’s not like it’s a secret how to given his playoff collapses
‘Best’ and ‘greatest’ will come if Connor can start to come out on top of those key moments, as the most talented player now, and at the top end of ever. All of the greats of all time won Cups, most multiple. Connor has not got to where he wants to in 3 consecutive championships in 3 years. I feel for him, I think the wear of that is showing on him, hopefully these recent wins give him something else to think about
I’m not criticizing him, I’m not saying it’s all his fault, he’s my favourite player, but I think it’s fair to say. The highest reputation is usually based on ultimate success
McDavid didn’t crack in the Olympics.
MacKinnon did.
As I said I am not blaming him, he was the best Canadian on that OT play, a bigger picture take
Actually Binnington was. The winning goal was the 2nd time the big three effed up in OT. Binnington made a miraculous save to give them a 2nd chance, and the big three promptly effed it up again (primarily by playing as individuals rather than as a unit).
MacKinnon didn’t crack, he had some minor ailment going on, but there wasn’t a single player on the Canadian team that cracked.
As far as McDavid’s play, he scored the game winning goal last night, and that’s what he’s paid to do. And wasn’t he the 1st star?
Sure and Colorado was a better team when they won the cup than any Oiler team that made the finals.
One player can’t win championships.
Canada was unlucky to lose really, all this 97 critique is offside.
Goaltenders are part of a team.
Last night Connor scored the crucial goal at the crucial time. I think that’s the kind of thing you are talking about. Earlier in the game we were yelling at the TV when he passed instead of shooting on the PP. It drives me a little crazy how they seem to want to dipsy doodle around on the PP especially when the obvious shot is there. Still, if he (and the other stars) can get the crucial goals at the crucial times, all of that will be forgiven. Mostly.
Yes. I was more getting at doing it when it counts the most. The full story isn’t written yet of course
I’ve been thinking about this, doing it when it counts most.
Of course fans will remember someone for winning, and will herald people on winning teams as winners etc. that’s why we are here.
But… How do you measure ones big game performance levels? We can’t measure McDavid differently based on whether or not McKinnon scores on an open net in the gold medal match. (I mean we can and will, but….).
McDavids played enough big games we could probably put together a stats package to see how he produces as one measure….
It’s literally the best powerplay of all time so not sure the ‘obvious thing’ means what you think it means.
McDavid did every dang thing he could at Olympics and Playoffs. He has the most impact, the most affect on play when hes on the ice. He is human, and others get to play as well.
You cannot then judge him only by a final result.
It gives all credit to goal scorer and nothing to 90% of the work that goes into pre goal play.
Not fair.
This is not Tennis, it takes a team.
Over and over and over he produces. Yet its not enough.
I did mention it’s not just scoring, or to expand scoring’the goal’, it’s leading to winning it all. The players thought of as the greats won championships. Messier had some epic games, but he didn’t score all of the key goals. He lead his group to the win. He won with the greatest player, without him, and on another team. In the latter two cases he put the team and his back and won critical games
Connor hasn’t got to that point yet. No points in the gold medal game, and in the finals wasn’t a factor in close out games. Not like one would expect. It isn’t all on him, or any player, but there is a mentality that the greats have, and it leads to championships going by the greats win them
Teams that win also will counter the other good team. Coaches play into that, but still how I see things we haven’t seen the Oilers be good enough at that. I think it’s fair to say the best players have to lead the way, this is what we have to do guys. What I have seen is resorting to the same plays, trying to force that, and it not working in the end, at the end
Who is Michael Jordan without his championships? Messier, Crosby, Lemieux? Some of the hurdles for Connor are that there have been stacked teams bcs of the way the rules worked, and were worked
Those are gone now, hopefully he and they can take advantage. I want to see him cement his legacy
I should have said that what a person might think frames the topic. Connor and Leon are great players, Bouch, some of the best ever. So under that view what they have done to now is good enough
If the view is Connor in the pantheon of greatest, then there are still questions. I doubt many people see Lemieux as greater than Gretzky, but many would think he was more offensively talented, based on some of his seasons if looked at by rates. Wayne did more for longer so the greatest
They both scored like we won’t see again, but they were also head and shoulders above their peers. Way more points in season. That’s another measure of separation
Connor is the best player in the world.
Connor’s defensive play and at times ice awareness have not been the best in the world this year.
Both of these things are true and even the best can frustrate fans.
Back to back games taking their foot off the gas on what should be knock out PPs is worth commenting on IMO. Thank goodness Bouch and Jarry bailed he and Drai out. Also what the hell was that backhand into central ice with five Av/ blowing the zone after missing the empty net about?
Even the best can play loose. Even the best can be reminded that defensive details matter.
Man Nurse sparkles away from rookies and Walman. Who woulda think it?
Bowman’s job to find the right guy for Nurse, and he is active as a GM. He seems like he is aware of these things
And it’s coaches job to eliminate the possibility that we don’t already have that right guy. LT thinks Bouchard is a good fit. Has KK considered?
I wouldn’t questions McDavids ability or effort. If anything he tries to do too much.
However, I do question his commitment to the Oilers. He should have signed an 8 year deal at similar money ala Eichel. I believe he wants to win here but he is also hedging his bets. An 8 year deal allows a deeper team in his later years.
I don’t really blame him for this because he’s had the deck stacked against him. Would be nice for him to be more transparent. That said he can do what he likes as it involves his career but I don’t have to like it and it in no way involves judging him as a person.
I would ideally trade him now and sell as high as you possibly could.
Is this satire…?
No, what is funny to you? The Oilers missed their best chance and I’d rather see a deeper team led by Drai be able to compete instead of running into a wall and having a sequel to the dod. Not everybody has to kiss his ass.
It’s funny you would trade the best player in the league in the prime of his career for hope of a better tomorrow. These magic beans could be anything, they could even be Mcdavid! No wait, they can’t, cause there isn’t another one, that’s sorta the point.
I have a strong feeling he’s leaving for nothing, or next to nothing. Otherwise my preference is he retire an Oiler.
I wouldn’t be asking for magic beans in a trade either. Well, maybe some magic beans.
Taking off the Oiler coloured glasses, do you really believe they’re winning it in the near future?
I’d love to be wrong but the makeup of this team has really been sewered, in my opinion.
Yea I do think they’re winning in the future.
I think the Pacific sucks and will continue to suck for a decade. And I think all our competition is older and slower. Every year they have an open path to the WCF.
Betting on the Oilers is very rational actually.
I don’t know about that. There’s a lot of rising teams right now.
Three playoff spots go to the Pacific each year no matter what.
Tell me which three will make it ahead of the Oilers and how?
Anaheim and San Jose worry me. Explaining the how’s is a job for dsf. You’re right though, looks easier than it has in a while. These things change quickly.
Won’t matter because they won’t win with three great players and some of the worst depth in the league. They have their hands tied due to atrocious management. Whom, by the way, I blame or will blame for all of this. Thanks DK.
San Jose I don’t see. They have no actual Dcore pieces. It’s all on Dickinson to be a 1 which I don’t really think he has. They have a really good young forward group for sure, but Macklin is floating them in an epic way. Reminds me of the Hall build Oilers, while recognizing MC is a much stronger core piece.
Anaheim has a window here. I think they’ll be like the Habs and give someone hell in the first round but ultimately come up short. They have core vets rounding out the depth but need the youts to take over. Once Carlsson’s ELC is up they’ll have some big decisions to make. Navigating that will decide how open their window will be.
They have the core pieces San Jose doesn’t (Big 1C, 1G, 1D). They could be a problem in a very weak Pacific. If they can thread the needle on getting the non-Lacombe young dmen up to speed before the vets age out, they could sustain something strong. Hopefully they trade some of it away chasing beating the Oil like LAK and mortgage a bright future.
Doubt Verbeek does that because he drafted skilled mountains. Thank god he won’t add Belchetz.
I think San Jose brings in Mathews in the summer. They should be able to add on D. They have a lot to work with.
I think the key is the oilers no movement clauses and how much decline there is. If a high percentage of the young guys don’t pop they may be in trouble sooner than later.
Not sure I agree. Should be able to add on D how? The Oil had to chop their head off and suck for a decade to end up with 4 quality defenders for anything more than a season. One’s shoulder gave out, one cost us Hall, one was stolen through incompetence, and one is still hated by many cause he makes boneheaded errors.
You could rightfull argue Grier is more competent, but imo stealing Devon Toews and quality dmen is the exception, not the rule. And it ain’t Toews stirring that drink on his pairing. You usually have to draft the difference-makers, and often you have to get a bit lucky (Lacombe).
I don’t see that on the Sharks right now.
They have a lot of assets. I would think they’ll get Parayko or someone like that who comes available. Unlike the Oilers they will be dealing from a position of strength. Who knows though, they could spend a decade missing a piece or two like they did in the Thornton years.
I really don’t think the Sharks would have much interest in Matthews with their centre depth headline by Celebrini, Misa and Wennberg,
I would keep an eye on LAK as Kopitar retires.
Misa goes to Toronto.
San Jose:
Yes their D corp needs work and they know it.
Dickinson is not their only young D asset though.
Shakir Mukhamadullin, a former fist round pick in New Jersey is starting to emerge at 24.
He’s a very mobile 6’4″ 180 who projects as a second pairing D at minimum.
You may recall the Sharks drafted the first ever prospect born in China at 33rd overall.
Haoxi Wang is a 6’5″ 225 D playing for the Niagara Icedogs.
Your assessment of their forwards ignores:
Michael Misa – Drafted 2nd overall in 2025 – playing 2C in the NHL @ 19. After an offseason injury he’s coming around with 13 points in 25 games.
Will Smith – 4th overall in 2023 – 20 – 19 goals and 45 points in 49GP. Almost a PPG at his age points to a very productive first line RW where he is already playing.
William Eklund – 7th overall 2021 – 11goals and 38 points in 58GP.
Colin Graf – undrafted 23 year old NCAA grad…1st line LW with 16 goals and 35 points.
Just a matter of time and the Sharks possess 2 first round picks in 2026 as well as almost $46 million in cap space to improve in the offseason.
Whoosh.
“They have a really good young forward group for sure”
So what you’re saying with this list of forwards is you don’t believe Macklin is a transcendent talent. But if you believe Collin Graf is in the same category as him then that’s your prerogative. Apt analysis.
Shakir does not project as a 2nd pairing dman at 24 years old. He has been caved in the miniscule time against elites, caved against the middle, and is even against the dregs.
It’s all on Dickinson. It’ll be such a shame for Macklin to get no help. How long until he asks for a trade? Maybe they can trade for Nick Schmaltz i heard that’s a great deal for a 30 year old.
Anaheim:
Young C Depth
Carlsson – 6’3″ 207 – 21
McTavish – 6’1″ – 220 -23
Washe – 6’3″ – 215 (undrafted NCAA)
———————————————–
Roger McQueen – 6’5″ 200 – 19 – drafted 10th overall 2025 – leads Providence College in scoring as a freshman.
The Ducks had acquired Ryan Strome and Mikael Granlund as centres to provide cover for their young guys but with their emergence of the youth they have become excess and the Ducks traded Strome at the deadline. Granland has 2 years left on his contract
and may be moved in the offseason since the Ducks just extended 3C Ryan Poehling for 4 years.
You’ve switched the centre depth since the last 65 times you’ve replied to me complimenting the Ducks. List is alot shorter now. Uh oh.
I specified YOUNG.
They recently re-signed Poehling is 27 and 6″2″ 205
Granlund is 34.
If 6 NHL centres aren’t enough for you…
Nathan Gaucher – 6’3″ 230 – 22nd overall pick 2022 – AHL
Nikita Nesterenko – 6’2″ 203 – 24 – 29 NHL games this season
Pretty sure they have the position covered for the foreseeable future and they cast very long shadows.
You’ve listed 2 young nhl centres, 1 guy who wont be around for the good times, and Ryan frickin Poehling.
1 of them is gonna get mega paid, the other is tracking as an Okay 2C.
The rest are magic beans and considering your record…..uh oh.
And this is coming from a guy who likes their build so idk why you keep throwing peoples height and weight all the time. Im worried about their Dcore, i dont care about their future 3rd line centres.
Luneau, Zellweger, Mintyukov. None of those 3 have taken the step that stopped the need to trade a high pick for Carlson Sr.
That Dcore is old, but the hardest find is done.
LOL. What do you have against Connor McDavid?
He signed a team friendly contract for short term to pursue a Stanley cup.
Nothing, my loyalty is to the Oilers.
It should have been an 8 year deal. That had the best chance to deliver a cup.
So he “should have” given up tens of millions of dollars because any reasonable 8-year deal would have been in the $6MM per year higher and prohibitive of winning.
Is that right?
I don’t question his commitment to the Oilers. Not one drop.
Over the weekend the NHL dripped that the cap is likely to hit $125 million come 28/29.
Post ELC contracts have been 15.72% and 12.02% of the cap. Last one might be an even 10% me thinks.
His accountant probably noted that last summer and the Oilers cap guy/GM probably mentioned it during the deal talks.
We’ve outlasted every Canadian market now. Hell it’s more likely that Matthews lands in YEG than McDavid in YYZ if winning is what matters.
Thats exactly the reason to sign an 8 year deal. So the team is deep when he’s 35. We are running into a wall and McDavid will Indiana Jones his way under it. I would rather part ways now and sell high for once.
Did Eichels’ agent not tell him the same thing?
That he signed a shorter deal meant they didn’t have to pay him a higher cap hit, and he took the low side of that as well. That’s a lot of money in his mouth, I’m surprised he can talk
Exactly, short term thinking. Hedging his bets.
I would want to be anonymous too if I traded McDavid.
Let’s see in a couple years. Hope im wrong but the best move would be to sell now.
He wants to win the Stanley cup as an Edmonton Oiler before he goes anywhere. I think this is very real. Selling off the undisputed best player on the planet will without a doubt bring in a bus load of useful players.
I don’t think he would leave Edmonton behind as a free agent.
I believe that’s true but the recycling of failed gms has screwed this team and that may not be an option. I believe he leaves when it becomes clear it won’t happen.
What is the equivalent of Roy for Marner when it comes to McDavid? I don’t even want to contemplate that.
He will stay. They are winning a cup in the next 3 years. Book it.
I’d like to but in my experience when a post ends in “book it”. It never seems to get booked.
It’s possible something like that happens, but we’re looking at a half decade of darkness after McDrai leave anyway. May as well keep them as long as they’ll stay instead of cutting bait early.
I’m thinking with McDavid we’re in the short term.
I guess I just live in the moment and don’t get too worked up about the future or the past for that matter.
Nothing wrong with that. I don’t take these things home with me. It’s just a game.
Unless you also think that McDavid should gladly give up tens of millions of dollars (more than he has already) then the two year deal at a massive discount to market shows a clear commitment to trying to win in Edmonton – an 8-year deal, without giving up 10s of millions of dollars, would be $6MM plus per season above his AAV for the next two years.
Its all but impossible to honestly argue the lack of commitment in his contract signing.
McDavid has witnessed for a decade first-hand, management bungle the roster time and time again. Why WOULD he sign an 8 year deal?
He signed a 2 year deal(a criminally low salary for him) to put management on notice that he’s not sure the guys in charge are capable of doing what needs to be done to seal the deal.
There is NO world you trade McDavid now. ZERO chance. 2 years from now, if the team is still less than adequate around him, THEN you trade him.
It’s all going to come down to this coming off-season: More cap space, Cap rising, the ability to move guys a bit more easily. Hopefully someone in management has finally figured out that passing out NMC’s to every Tom, Dick and aging 35-year-old-vet Harry, isn’t a particularly good idea. I remain skeptical as they haven’t shown they’ve learned anything at all at this point. Unnecessary 8 year deals with bottom sixers, multiple year contracts with 4th liners, wasting assets to get rid of the problems they themselves created.
McDavid has put them on blast and essentially told them to stop F*&^ing up or he WILL use his leverage to leave. Then and only then do even fathom the thought of trading him
Signing an 8 year deal doesn’t mean he’s here for 8 no matter what. He can still get out and control his destination. He becomes more valuable to his new team. The point was he’s not all in.
So if Drai or Podz ran over Blackwood like Nate did to Ingram, Bednar would have gone apeshit. Bednar’s comments that it was Nurse’s fault total BS. Was the right call. Hopefully Ingram is OK.
Let Bednar disrespect the Oilers.
Let the Avs disrespect the Oilers.
Let the rest of the NHL disrespect the Oilers.
Fuel for the fire.
The view from the other side of the net (which wasn’t shown on the SN broadcast, I don’t believe) shows Nurse not contacting MacKinnon til #29 is nearly at the edge of the crease. “His toes were pointed blah blah blah!” or whatever nonsense Bedhead Jamjar was on about last night is simply clown noises.
https://x.com/NHL_On_TNT/status/2031584290518016175?s=20
McKinnon actuality ran over Nurse as well and hit him in the head as well
Yes exactly that!
Went right through the crease, made no attempt to stop, and injured the goalie. I don’t need to know the NHL rule book to know that that will get you tossed from the game.
If it was anyone other then “good guy Nate”, this wouldn’t have even been debatable.
Honestly it’s the players job to make sure they are in control of their body. I don’t think there was any Sam Bennett intention of falling on Ingram from him, he was following through on the puck, he was going fast and he should have gotten a major for it like he did.
I don’t know the rules for why he got a game misconduct for it, I don’t think he needed to be removed from the game in regard to the hitting of Ingram but it was a rough hit.
My basic math on head hits, no matter the “intention:” if the injured player leaves the game and/or is out for games, offending player is removed from play/games at least as long as injured player.
MacKinnon went through Nurse like he wasn’t even there.
Where’s that HH at?
Under the bridge until there is something negative on the Oilers to report. Was a tough night for him.
Scouring the internet for stats that show that the Oilers are inferior. Of course.
Writing an angry letter to moneypuck for making him look silly again.
Is HH = Harper’s Hair = DSF = Fibonacci?
Yes.
Good grief
Good morning to you too.
McDavid’s hand (finger?) seems like it’s giving him problems, more so than in the first couple games post Olympics. Walman looks like he needs to spend about 8 weeks in the infirmary, his body language is that of someone who is hurting from head to toe…
Darnell Nurse is a forward poorly disguised as an inconsistent defender … a lesser Dustin Byfuglien
Possibly a power forward waiting “in the wings”
Makes too much sense for anyone to accept it, apparently.
There is some merit to this idea, but how would a player that most would agree has a low hockey IQ transition to a completely different position? He’s never the guy that switches to the right side when they dress 4 lefties, despite his 12 years of experience, so if he can’t handle that change, how would he manage playing as a forward? He’s more instinctual than cerebral, so throwing that at him would surely result in much pining for his days as a defenseman.
Mistakes compound from the forward position thru defence and ultimately goalkeeping … team’s capacity for mitigating the impact of errors in judgement diminish accordingly … “Doc” is prone to gaffes however has skating ability to assist in the recovery
JMO
Ul still a substantial overpay by Old Dutch
Ul still a substantial overpay by Old DutchUltimately
Understood, and I agree, but moving him just to create more layers of safety between him and our net isn’t the right solution either, IMO. I don’t think he’s a better LW than anyone else we have, so you might just be creating even more need for layers of safety by having someone in a position he hasn’t played. I’d like it if they could trade him without getting hosed in the deal, considering his level of play, contract, age, and health. It looks to me like he never regained the core strength he had before his injury a few years back. He’s not the physical force he once was. He loses a lot of board battles for a veteran of his size.
Having said all that, he continues to be trusted to log big minutes, so maybe the coaches know more than we do about this…….
I keep saying that he could be our hybrid forward and dman
He looks extremely clumsy in the Ozone but he’s actually not terrible at generating offence. Maybe it’s just that he throws muffins where goals are scored and good things happen.
If you aint doing D, mize well do O.
Prospectasy!
Potentially one quarter of the NAmateurs could see their seasons end today as the NCAA reaches full playoff mode.
It’s prospect-vs.-prospects as Park & Barnett & the Michiganders (who remain #1 in Div-1) entertain Paul Fischer and His Cantankerous Celts in Big Ten QF action. A Michigan loss wouldn’t necessarily end their season — their record alone would still get them selected for the Frozen Four — but Notre Dame doesn’t have that luxury. Michigan swept all four of their reg season matchups.
Similarly, Dalyn Wakely’s season could also end tonight as UML (the #9 seed in Hockey East) takes on the 8th-seeded Merrimack Merrimackians. UML won one of their three meetings in the regular season.
Rounding out the sched is Tommy Lafreniere coming off back-to-back 2+1 outings yesterweekend. His 37 goals are 7th most in the Dub, seven off the lead.
UMass-Lowell (Wakely) @ 4 p.m.
Michigan (Park, Barnett) @ 5 p.m.
Notre Dame (Fischer) @ 5 p.m.
Kamloops (Lafreniere) @ 8 p.m.
All times, at all times, are Whitecourt time.
3 incredible saves by Blackwood, great right? All 3 of Podz, Ros, and Hyms failed to lift the puck into the upper 3rd. All 4 Oiler goals were scored elevating in tight.
Better put Wedgewood in for the playoffs. The book is roof it on Blackwood. Worked literally every time.
This is the way
Yes, and it works on most goalies as you’ve pointed out. Wish the Oilers would do it more
With how goaltending has evolved, a lot are hard to beat low, big guys with butterfly or hybrid styles. There aren’t too many Binnington’s these days
I found it painful watching them try to beat Bob low, Woodley said pre series he was best in the league there
Could it be that it takes (seemingly) more manual dexterity and precision to shoot high than low, and after the rigors of a regular and postseason, it becomes more difficult to shoot high?
Would certainly explain the Floridas of the world hacking opposition hands /wrists / forearms.
That’s part of it … some of it is confidence … wanting to at least hit the net in a tight checking playoff series, instead of missing high. I think that some players who process the game at a faster speed understand that the more low percentage shot are the down low ones. That being said a lot of goalies can still be beaten down low if you get them moving east-west.
Florida’s non-negotiable was exactly where the Oilers scored all their goals yesterday. They knew Bob was unbeatable down low, so built their identity around it. The Oilers got in tight alot against them, but too tight. Saw Hyman fruitlessly whack away all 2024 because he had 3 inches to roof a puck.
I don’t know the easy way to beat that but they pert-near cracked it regardless.
I think it takes more time to lift the puck. If the pressure is on to shoot quickly often the shot is along the ice. But also there are times when players have more time than they think.
I don’t think so. Different if a player has an injury, it might be that shooting for many so a bit of a lost art. Years of watching hockey, it wasn’t a problem before. Even Gretz was hammering (for him) slappers over shoulders. Mike Vernon and the game where he got 5 to get to 50 in 39 come to mind. A lot of the current better scorers go top. Whenever I see a Caufield highlight it’s a laser up high, goalie no chance
Good point about the panthers. Protecting Bob where he was weaker. Bums
The Oilers had some glorious chances in the second period they needed to convert on. It easily could have been 5-2 into the third period. But Colorado is the top team for a reason, their team defence is quite strong as well as their offense.
Great article and point of view as always. I watched some of the 2nd and all of the 3rd. Best I’ve seen the Oilers play in what seems forever. Both teams made mistakes, but effort and smart plays were being made. Is Ingram ok? Brutal hit by Mac, don’t think is was intentional but I think the refs were smart to eject him or the the game would have gotten bloody.
Appreciate the message concerning McDavid. Even last night, I was frustrated by some of his play. Important to take a step back and look at the big picture.
15 points in his current 8 game point streak. One could see that as him not being up to his usual standards. The other could see it as a productive run, helping his team push for top spot in the Pacific.
Wow, to even consider berating a player who is on the cusp of a 2 pts per game avg over 8 games – gross entitlement