The captain set his jaw, tilted the ice, and won the day for the Edmonton Oilers. I’m going to write a couple of thousand words now, but that’s the story of last night. The Oilers have a real chance at winning the Pacific Division, courtesy Connor McDavid, quality defensive work and a chaotic night of coverage by the modern Oakland Seals.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN APRIL
- At home to: CHI, VEG (Expected 1-0-1) 1-1-0
- On the road to: UTA, SJS, LAK (Expected 2-1-0) 1-0-1
- At home to: COL, VAN (Expected 1-1-0)
- Expected Record: 4-2-1
- Actual Record: 2-1-1
- Season Record: 40-29-10, 90 points in 79 games
Now that the Oilers have a real shot at the division, I’m wondering if facing the Mammoth is a good idea. If the defending looks like it did last night, it won’t matter.
- Podkolzin-McDavid-Savoie: 10:18, 5-0 shots, 1-0 goals, 52X, 2-2 HDSC
- Frederic-Samanski-Dach 7:25, 3-1 shots, 0-1 goals, 67X, 1-1 HDSC
- Jones-Henrique-Roslovic 4:22, 2-1 shots, 51 X
- Nuge-Dickinson-Kapanen 4:10, 1-1 shots, 29 X
- Frederic-Dickinson-Dach 3:39, 0-1 shots
- Walman-Emberson 15:45, 4-4 shots, 51X, 2-2 HDSC
- Nurse-Murphy 15:31, 7-4 shots, 1-0 goals, 47X, 2-4 HDSC
- Ekholm-Bouchard 13:46, 8-2 shots, 1-0 goals, 79X, 3-1 HDSC
- Connor Ingram 8 of 10, .800 and then injured
- Tristan Jarry stopped four of four shots
Connor McDavid went 3-2-5 and may have done the Zamboni work too, I mean it’s difficult to create a game story that doesn’t spent 95 percent of the words on the captain. Fast as lightning, could have had 10 points and the Sharks had no answer, Connor McDavid is inevitable. His pass to Jack Roslovic from deep in the Oilers end was a controlled rocket, and his three goals showcased, power, speed and anticipation. Music!
I do want to write a few words this morning about the Jekyll and Hyde feel of the defence. Now, the Mammoth are a more difficult team for the Oilers to play against than the Sharks, but then again Edmonton was on the second game of a back to back last night. Just 14 shots against all evening, and it was one forever (second period) before the first five-on-five shot reached Connor Ingram.
I was impressed with Colton Dach (wrote about him here) and do believe we’ll see him in the playoffs. One of the interesting things we can discuss today is the openining night lineup. I haven’t a blased clue what it might look like, even assuming Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman are back in the lineup. Remember, the penalty killers are important. Speaking of, I’m a little worried about Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Looks a little lost in the supermarket, usually it’s illness or injury when the Nuge can’t find his way back home.
The big curio will be news on the Ingram injury. Today on the Lowdown, Bagged Milk will join us from Oilers Nation and we’ll talk Blue Jays, MLB overall, NFL and CFL. Noon to 2pm Sports 1440 and YouTube.
re: a Roslo re-up: Yes to minimal cap and minimal term only. On those terms, sure. Adds to overall skill and maintains competition for roster spots.
You want to leave room in the top nine for all of Ike, Quinn, Max. Don’t block them. No, none are a sure bet. All three together are a reasonable bet, and the Oilers should give themselves that chance. That is NOT however the foremost consideration here.
For The Love of Stan Weir: EDM does not need to determine the whole roster, for the whole of the forthcoming season, in JULY. We’ve talked about this: Play some games; Assess team needs; Then when a move needs to be made, you still have the wiggle to make it. Fewer sweeteners required.
Oil may yet find themselves looking for D and a goalie next December.
ps
No sweeteners left anyway
Maybe next year it’s Edmonton’s turn to sign a Brad Marchand at the deadline.
Summarizing!
A seesaw affair went to OT — actually, 2OT — which Denver won 4-3 to advance to the final vs. upstart Wisconsin.
Park and Barnett were denied soup in their season-ending loss. Barnett finishes with 5-13-18 in 40 GP, while Park had 8-8-16 in 39 GP.
Lewandowski is the only NAmateur left.
Let the TJ Hughes sweepstakes begin!
The shoot first undersized Hobey Baker winner scores his 50th goal. There’s no room for Howard he’ll never see the Powerplay and now they’re trying to pivot and make him into a bottom 6 energy forward that needs to learn how to play the P.K. What a dumb trade they’re trying to turn Howard into the exact role that O’Reilly will be filling in Tampa next year. I see Howard traded at the draft.
Are you the same guy begging for Clattenburg to be moved to the big club? Where in the top 6 does Howard fit? He didn’t get it done in his early season extended look in the NHL. End stop. He is going to get the same extended look next year in a top 6 role. Hopefully his short stint in Bakersfield prepares him well for a long career in the NHL with the Oilers.
Clattenburg was a 160th pick in the 5th round. He’s already covered his bet playing 5 career NHL games to think otherwise is Naive. He did his job when we were shorthanded on the ability to defend ourselves. There’s a reason Dach-Murphy-Dickerson-Jones throw in a coulple of big bodies in Samanski-Lazar. This all adds up to functional toughness which we were lacking the first 60 games.
The Oilers have 12 healthy forwards playing very well in the roles they are being given at the moment. Drai, Hyman and Dickinson are hurt. There may be an opportunity for Howard if something bad happens… but when the 3 injured returns there is no spot for him.
Comparing Caufield and Howard is unfair to the later.
The Oilers don’t need more scoring this year, they need to keep the puck out of their net.
Howard hopefully replaces Roslovic next season in the top 9.
I would be shocked if he was traded at the draft. Savoie took a year. Why can’t you give Howard that same luxury?
Howard with two more years of ELC – he’s going to be huge value for the Oilers.
Issac Howard is not, and has never been, a comparable to Cole Caufield – they have always been 3-4 tier apart – this has been explained to you a dozen times.
Who is trying to to make Howard a bottom 6 energy forward? It certainly isn’t the Oilers. Issac Howard went to the coach a few days ago and asked to play on the PK – its 100% a lie to say the org needs him to learn to play the PK – just dishonest posting on a narrative.
Sam O’Reily will be in Syracuse next season.
If unfortunate the Oilers are developing Howard similar to Savoie (after getting his first 25 games in the NHL) given how that’s worked out.
Taking a cheap flyer on Evander Kane: great
giving Kane a long term deal: terrible
Taking a cheap flyer on Roslovic: great
giving roslovic a long term deal: terrible
Unless you get a cheap short term extension move on.
Exactly. These are the contracts that keep the team in perpetual cap hell. Howard is ready for an opportunity, go find the next Kane/Roslovic.
I mean, a lot happened in that Kane contract, not the least of which was that nasty skate cut. It wasn’t a bad bet on Kane, IMO. I would love a short term extension. Might be in with medium. Agree not to give a long term.
This is the way it should be for a well run organization. We are not that.
I was watching the TNT version last night and other than the Oilers, the Starbucks ad caught my attention. This ones in the same key as Ain’t No Mountain…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubq0CzetGOM
Per Stauff:
Bowman asked about the goaltending by Shannon a few days ago and, essentially, he’s said “it hasn’t been great all year, there are stretches where it’s been really good, Stretchs where it’s struggled and stretches where it’s been fine.”
Yes, he wants it to be better but it’s generally a function of team play – not many games where the goalie has straight up lost the game. It’s been better generally recently.
I haven’t listened yet (as I just found out) but apparently Bowman was on John Shannon’s pod yesterday and, with reference to Drai, he mentioned no set-backs and no change in timeline.
All good.
Leon is scheduled to skate today I believe.
Good to hear.
Any word on what was ailing Ingram last night?
No word – I believe the team has the day off in LA today so no media with the coach.
Connor Murphy had a great game last night. I really like his game, calm veteran presence. I would like to see him back next year. I’m starting to wonder if a team (San jose) will throw a 5×6 like contract at him. Especially if he has a strong playoff.
Re-signing Ingram and then Murphy should be the priorities amongst our internal UFA’s.
Ingram hopefully comes in at $2.5M x 2 or less, while Murphy shouldn’t cost more than $4M x 3.
If Ingram can win a playoff series or two his number might shoot up to 4. Murphy just turned 33 so I doubt any team gives him more than 4 years.
Roslovic at 4×4 will also work nicely.
I would have agreed with this about a month ago but he has slipped in terms of overall play IMO
I have a tough time with that contract for Roslovic when I think Howard can replicated most of the production with similar deployment.
It’s a big maybe that Howard can transition to the NHL in an impact role. I think he will. But I wouldn’t bet the farm on it either.
I’d re-sign Roslovic for up to $3M and 3 years. Would love $2.5 over 2. But unlikely for a solid 0.5 PPG middle six forward who can play wing and centre and plays well with pretty much whoever you saddle him with.
I’m not betting the farm but making a reasonable bet and not signing a $4.5MM X 4 contract for Roslovic. Perhaps Howard can’t match the production in his rookie season but I’m confident he can provide more offensive value for cap hit.
I don’t imagine Roslovic is signing here for $3MM for any term – that’s a different conversation.
There are 2 spots that need to be filled in next years top 9 even including Howard.
Some may want to give Samanski 3C leaving 1 spot
I’m a big Roslovic fan.
No more contracts for secondary players longer than 2 years.
He’s excellent – he’s also replaceable nearly every summer.
2 years.
I like what Roslovic brings offensively.
His defensive game leaves something to be desired on many nights.
Would much rather see Howard given that opportunity. That’s why you went out to get him.
I am not sure he’s replaceable every summer. Or that we are good at identifying the people who can replace him. Too many Skinner’s, arvidsons and mangiapanes recently.
I’m not sure that does if for Murphy – lets not forget that Ceci got something like $4.5MM X 4 (or 5) years.
I also don’t think age matters anymore as shown by the Tanev and Marchand contracts.
He has been good and getting better – he’s playing a ton more than he did in Chicago earlier this year (although he was down this year from prior years) and earning it – he has such a great stick.
He is the “must-sign” from the deadline acquisitions and among the UFAs (give or take Ingram) – for me. I hope he comes in the $4.5MM range but then I remember that Codi Ceci is in that range for many years. I really hope its not over $5MM.
That play last night where he stood up and then hacked the puck off the boards to himself. I’m not describing it well but I’m sure you saw it as well. That was savvy.
It was a great play. I noticed it too.
Murphy is the kind of Dman who plays better on a winning team where he can keep his game simple and reliable.
The choice for Murphy will be to chase a cup for $4M / season, or to max out his income at $5M+.
He’s just over $45M in career earnings and has only played in 9 playoff games, so he could be tempted to take a Henrique-type discount.
Optimal:
Podz-McD-Savoie*
RNH*-Drai-Hyman
Henrique*-Dickinson*-Lazar (Literally, just all D starts and that’s it)
Dach-Samanski-Roslovic (soft parade)
*=main PKers
Jones & Kapanen (I really haven’t liked his game) can switch in and out with Dach and Lazar. Would take a lot to put in Fred who is still almost always the least effective F out there
The good thing is that we may be back to having 14 actual NHL players. The ability to rotate the bottom 6 is good because it keeps them fresh and hungry. Other than Roslo, these are not skill guys, so their performance largely depends on their effort.
(Kapanen is a streaky skill guy who probably needs to be rotated in and out for that very reason. The same might be true of Roslo, to be honest, but he’s probably too skilled to be a healthy scratch unless he were to be at Jeff Skinner levels of performance.)
Bowman likes his bottom six big and skilled he likes stocking up bigger players on the farm and giving these players opportunities. Unlike Holland who would paint himself into a corner with the cap Bowman leaves breathing room so he’s able to rotate the Jones-Samanski-Dach-Lazar of the world. Add in Clattenburg-Jarventie who received time earlier and big Poulin who should also get an opportunity.
Oiler Jinner 13-16-29pts
Roslovic 21-15-36 pts really meshing with skill
you are not going to sit a 20 goal scorer.
Im dressing the latest version of Frederic over Lazar(who I like) all day every day.
I’d prefer Samanski and Jack with 29, and wouldn’t it be amazing to have playoff Hyman on line 3 bringing the physicality like he did in last year’s playoffs.
A fully healthy roster has some tantalizing possibilities!
Solid, solid win last night. Jekyll & Hyde. Ceiling and floor. Frustrating and exciting. Go figure. Place your bets!
Fingers crossed on the injury front.
So sounds like Dickenson was hit in the ankle with the puck. He was in a lot of pain. Hopefully nothing broken. Possible he could be out for some time. We wait.
It looked like it hit him higher than the ankle on the replay. Back of calf? Behind knee?
Yea I also thought he was hit higher up but on 880 am this morning they said he was hit in the ankle???
Maybe it’s a….. high ankle…..
Even if he’s your deadline rental, you gotta keep him out until he’s healthy. No point in making him the next Freddy.
True, but an ankle sprain vs hit with the puck are very dissimilar injuries.
Oil should go 2-1 in their last 3. Maybe 3-0 if the Avs sit their big dawgs.
Does that win the division?
Maybe 3-0 even if the Avs DON’T sit their big dawgs.
Do we WANT the division?
Yes we want all the things!
I don’t think so. Anaheim has poor underlying numbers and is ripe for the picking. Vegas can go win the division and host a good young Utah squad.
Beggars can’t be choosers but this would be the best outcome IMO
Ya’ll are nuts, it would be a fantastic achievement for this group to win the division without Drai and Hyman while sending the Squad into the post season with maximum jazz. Settling for weaker Anahiem is a losers mentality.
Ya i’m just unsure. I just want them playing well and healthy. Im not suggesting “tank for the ducks”, im just suggesting i dont really care where they finish, as long they take care of the two things i mentioned above.
I don’t want the world, I just want your half.
Oh
Oilers can clinch a playoff spot tonight — as long as these three things happen:
What a weird Pacific division this season. Oilers leading with 3 games to go and have yet to even clinch a playoff berth.
Lull the rest to sleep
Pounce when Draisaitl is back
To Stanley we go
Winning the Pacific this year is like being valedictorian at summer school.
Wouldn’t even make the playoffs in the East. Yawn
Or at summer camp, complete with pillow fights.
Awarded . . . Post of the day.
Sharks are going to be hungry for Duck. That’s the only game that really matters.
I think the Sharks take the Ducks tonight, Anaheim has just not looked right for weeks now and I think 97 showed Celebrini what he needs to do to drag his team over the line.
The Ducks losing Cutter-Gudas to injury has them in a tailspin.
Pavel Mintyukov, Ross Johnston and Jansen Harkins too….all at the same time.
Nope.
If the (heavily favoured) Kings beat the Canucks in regulation tonight, they will leapfrog the Predators should they lose to the Mammoth in regulation.
Should all that occur, the Kings/Oilers game on Saturday could have huge implications for the playoff race.
The Predators game on Saturday sees them face the (heavily favoured) Wild.
Should the Kings win and Predators lose, the Kings would be in the final wildcard spot with 87 points, the Predators with 84 and the Kings would still hold a game in hand.
I am hoping the Kings get the final wildcard so that they can have another 1st round exit!
The HH kiss of death (TM) dictates that the Oilers eliminate the Kings on Saturday, making it 5/5 years.
What does this have to do with Tarkus’ post?
See if you can figure it out.
Tarkus posted that the Oilers could clinch a playoff spot tonight and you said “nope”, before talking about the Kings potentially getting a wildcard spot.
See if you can explain how this makes sense in your head.
For the simple minded…
The Oilers cannot clinch a playoff spot until they cannot be passed by the second wildcard team.
If LA beats Vancouver tonight they will have 85 points with a game in hand on the Oilers and, if Nashville loses in regulation as Tarkus posted, the Kings will be in that second wildcard spot.
With 4 games remaining including 1 against the Oilers, the Kings could finish with 91 points if they win out,
Tarkus did NOT mention the Kings in his post.
So you’re calling the TSN staff simple minded?
https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/article/oilers-among-four-teams-who-could-clinch-playoffs-thursday-as-picture-forms/
HH doesn’t seem to realize that if Nashville loses in regulation tonight, they will have 79 games played, which means the maximum number of points they could get is 6 which would put them at 90 points, the same as the Oilers if they lose their remaining games, but the Oilers would win the tiebreaker.
This means that San Jose would be a threat to the 2nd wildcard spot as they have 5 games remaining and if they won all 5 they would be at 91 points (unless they lose tonight as Tarkus and TSN mention).
HH doesn’t realize that if LA bumps Nashville out, it doesn’t matter. The Oilers would tumble to the 2nd wild card spot in a scenario where they lose their remaining games, everyone else wins their remaining games and the Sharks lose tonight and Winnipeg does not beat STL.
For a guy who calls people dumb and simple minded, this is hilarious.
Oh man Side, i love this! Simple Chachi left lost for words!
Then the Oilers worst finish would be the second wildcard.
Hey you must be “simple minded” like me, Tarkus AND TSN!
Lol – HH is going to wear that “simple minded” taunt for the rest of the season.
So henceforth and from now on he shall be referred to as SM.
And he’s NOWHERE to be seen.
It’s right to be optimistic and cautious about this team. And downright curious. I mean how does a team show up and play two different games against teams not considered contenders for the SC?
You can never bet against a team with 97 on it….add 29 and Hyman, and a healthy Nuge, and it increases the optimism. Add further, a more or less focused defensive approach and yes, The Oilers can win a round or two…..and if the wind blows just right, who knows
Huge is just having a downer stretch. He’s not done. Just look at his historical record. I’m sensing some confidence issues, borne out of what LT says is illness or injury or life outside of hockey. He’s human, after all
Box of chocolates – which one will show up….
It’s clear in my mind no one told 97 it’s a “transition year” (add 29 to that as well). He is not going down without a fight, and looks like he wants to make a third consecutive appearance in the SCF. That might be a big ask, and depends on the winds, but for me, I’ll start slow. Make the playoffs (almost assuredly done just positioning in question) and enjoy round 1. From here, my expectation is for consistent play, coaching and effort
A healthy Ingram and Dickenson would be helpful…..on the other hand, is anyone comfortable with the old adage “next man up”? Historical alert: there is no Moog bubbling under to save the day, unless Pickard, with chip on shoulder, says “watch this”….it might be fun
I feel like it’s been a while since Nuge has contributed much at 5v5
I wonder how he would look on wing next to Samanski. It appears Nuge needs young legs on his line at the moment.
Yah Nuge is off. Playing with fresh and younger legs might help. He is an important spoke in the wheel
He looked good with Samanski last night.
Scored at 5v5 goal vs Utah
I agree, he just scored for crying out loud! Some people can never be made happy. Let Nuge play his way out of his recent slump
He’s never been a true first liner at C or W at 5v5 for more than a stretch of 40 games at any given point, even in his prime.
And he’s never been a 5v5 play driver on his own at any point.
But his 5v5 play has been a black hole for much of this year.
I think he’s hitting that offensive wall that Horcoff hit around this age. I hope he transitions as nicely as Horc did into a bottom 6 role.
Connor was amazing from the drop of the puck yesterday for sure.
Reminiscent of the old days when 99 would start a game like that and get a look in his eyes. Sather was the ultimate bench boss/players coach, and when he saw that look, he would give him all the ice time he wanted. PP, PK, shifts with 4th liners, shifts when he refused to change when his line did…he would then end up with 7,8,9 points…the other players looked like they loved those games as well.
Times have changed. Connor had the same look, and the same bounces going for an historic night. But in todays NHL, the Oil went into lockdown in the third period, and did a great job, but one can only dream what Sather would have done with McDavid…
Oh dear PT. I enjoy the historical references. Different eras to be sure and different game, style of play etc. Enjoyed the take. I wonder if Sather would have instilled/insisted on a better defensive game from 97. In that era, a coach could still “influence players” in ways this era doesn’t permit. Oh well, we’re in 2026, and the coaching had to adjust for a new era but 97 is, despite some defensive shortcomings, beauty in action and here’s hoping he remains an Oiler for life
Honest question cause i wasn’t alive for any of it. Watching Gretz, did he actually wow you on the ice? My impression was always that he was just smarter than everyone and next thing you know he’s got 6 points.
Amazing for sure, and 97 has some of those games where you’re like wait he had 3 points? But did he do things that just made you shake your head like what I’ve seen from Lemieux or Bobby or 97?
Cerebral guys tend to not stick out but are always making plays. Loved playing with those guys cause they made you look way better than you are.
I’m sure many on this blog would have insights.
I can safely say that Gretzky had wow factor. He was the greatest of all time without doubt.
Hey CB I love your takes and envy your confidence on this, but for me, every time I go to answer this question, I’m dumbfounded cause they are different in so many ways different and the also the same in other ways. How lucky are we as fans to even have this discussion amongst gentlemen. I bet fans in Toronto which they had this dilemma 🙂
Maybe by the end of McDavid career he surpasses Gretzky it’s a tall order.
But yeah has Edmonton ever been lucky to watch this incredible assortment of some of the greatest talent of all time assembled in one city it doesn’t stop with Wayne & Connor, there’s so many more to mention 😀.
You got that right! Enjoy and cheers! PS: gotta proof read better, my typos hurts the eyes 🙂
Gretz didn’t have the puck handling/dekes of Lemieux, or the stride of Coffey. But he had incredible edge work in tight spaces and emerged from corners with the puck in possession, ready to shoot/pass better than anyone who has ever played IMO. He was relentless on the puck, and generally made the right play (like McD).
McD is a far superior skater and takes d-men on for fun. Whereas Gretz would turn away from the check and make a play.
Both have incredible hockey sense.
So all descriptions of 99 on this thread are accurate IMO. I’d only add, in my mind 99 was a positional genius and could see patterns front and back 10-20 seconds before anyone else. 97 does that too, but not to 99’s level.
The great ones (include Lemieux, Orr etc) just have eyes in the front, back and sides and just see plays unfolding way be for the average player. 99 was also a master of never getting hit, he rolled off attempted hits to follow that “pattern” he had seen seconds before. Brilliant, and the Oilers and their fans are blessed with 97 who is also one of a kind genius player. Semenko was also before your time. 99 put the puck on his stick for a goal very often, sometimes to Semenko’s surprise. He wasn’t known for his goal scoring 🙂 Wish Bruce (RIP) was here to regale us with such stories
PS: I know this is about 99 and a little about 97…..but doesn’t 29 have – like these two – that eyes in the back, side and front thing going too?
Yeah, that’s exactly it. That was his superpower. He didn’t have the physical skills of Mario, or the skating of McDavid, the kinds of things that raise your hair the moment they get the puck. But Gretz was an absolute magician. He would make things happen that you didn’t think could happen on the ice. You didn’t marvel at what he could do until he had already done it, and you wondered how, with your jaw dropped.
Yeah, Gretz was awesome. I once went to a game in Atlanta (against the Flames). This would be maybe 1982. The flames were up 4-2 going into the third. Gretzky took over the third and salvaged a tie (remember those?). He dominated and it was just bad luck they didn’t win.
I remember one play where Gretzky had a 1 on 2. Looked like the two defensemen would cream him. He slipped through and scored.
well worth the price of admission (and driving back to school that night and going to a full slate of classes the next day)
Smarter than 97 and 93 put together.
His style was more like Datsyuk, he could keep the puck and take it, often playing the puck in the defender’s triangle, we don’t see a lot of that now
Denis Potvin said he created total chaos – he could keep the puck deking around guys until someone got open or he put it in
Many have said that the best measure of why he is considered the best is how far he was ahead of the next highest scorer. They all played in the same conditions, and for many seasons he was 70 or 80 plus points ahead, miles ahead of even Lemieux, until his back got damaged by filthy hack Suter, spits
Lemieux did have a few seasons at the top, but wasn’t ahead by nearly as much. One season ML was 19 points ahead but played 13 games more. The only other athlete that dominated his sport like that was Aussie cricketer Don Bradman decades ago
As Brett Hull said, Wayne didn’t break records, he blew them out of the water. The only other hockey player that was so far ahead of his peers was Orr, both of them changed hockey completely, nobody else has done that in the modern era. You could argue Orr was better, but his career was short, so I see it as Wayne
Staying healthy and playing long enough is a part of a legacy that great, and why he has more assists than anyone else has points
Also, he did often wow you, sometimes what he did was so impossible the wow as has been said was after
But every time he touched the puck it was wow, anything could happen and it to the edge of your seat. And as said he rarely had a bad game or even bad shift. I remember watching the game when he got 50 goals in 39 games, breaking the record from the 50’s by 11 games. It was crazy, he scored many ways and it kept going in
He was a machine, and could bare down like no one else when he wanted a goal, it was inevitable and you could see and feel it coming, and it did a lot. Johnson the Flames coach said Wayne was the most competitive person he had ever seen
I remember listening to Rod on the radio for that game. We were heading home from the city to Drayton Valley. Got home to see the last couple of goal on TV. Rod kept going “unbelievable” … he was right. What a game and what a player
The Sabers were in town. Tom Baraso was in net I was sitting right be hind him. Gretz picked up the puck behind Fuhr( I once spilled part of a beer on him in a dingy New Orleans bar) as Gretz took the puck you could see the Sabers go ” o shit”. He went through them like there was no one else on the ice. Put it in the net, I think Baraso is still looking for his jock. It was amazing!!!
His vision of the entire ice was something else.
He could accelerate with the puck but could also stop instantly or change direction instantly seamlessly while in complete control of the puck.
It was like he put the defenders in a trance with his puck control and movement and then he’d slide it to someone standing all alone on the other side of the play with an open net
I remember Gretzky skating down the middle of the ice with the puck with one defenceman between him and the opposition goalie. Without turning his head, he placed a perfect drop pass onto the stick of Kurri (I think) who came flying up out of nowhere and went in to score. In the post-game interview he was asked how he possibly could have known where Kurri was without looking back. Gretzky said he knew where everyone was on the ice by seeing reflections in the end glass.
Plus, he never took a night or even a shift off. Ever.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7181782/2026/04/09/nhl-norris-trophy-race/
really great look at the Norris contenders at The Athletic and a bunch of good praise given to Bouch.
It really hammers home just how much offence he brings, and why you have to forgive the defensive lapses.
His offensive rating is 21.9. The next highest d-man is Quinn Hughes at 18.3. Those 2 also have the only negative defensive rating in the top 15 candidates.
If you want to understand how much offence Bouchard brings, he’s behind only McDavid, Kucherov and Mackinnon in the entire NHL.
Bouchard is no Valimaki, was passed like a house on the side of the road by Ty Smith, and is too old to be considered elite enough for the Norris, because elite D show themselves earlier.
I did think Ty Smith was going to be pretty good, to be honest.
I went back I think 15 years and tracked the d-men selected in the top 10 and wow there are some huge failures.
Maybe it was all that marination time for Bouch. (ducks for cover)
It was all the motels/hotels and Hawkins Cheezies.
Don’t forget the Snapchat.
Thanks. Good overview of this year’s (deep) Norris possibilities.
Of important note.
I don’t believe nurse iced the puck unnecessarily once last nite.
I would suggest that both (1) 3 PP goals (real ones) and (2) the shutdown third period after a solid 2 period defensively are bigger and better deals than McDavid’s supernova niht.
You know what 97 calls a 5 point night with a hattrick?
Wednesday.
I would suggest in the game of entertainment, the entertainment guy entertained.
That’s a big deal.
I like how you refined my line from last night.
I mean it’s all encouraging sure, but 1) the refs put the whistle away in games 5-7 in a playoff series so 5v5 play remains supreme, and 2) playing one shutdown period against a fringe playoff team isn’t as revelatory as if they did this to a cup contender with something to play for down the stretch
But at least it is a step in the right direction!
“it’s all encouraging sure, but“
Yeah, it’s encouraging but it’s not as encouraging as McDavid’s night b/c refs put the whistles away late in series/tight games + it’s the Sharks
“X is not as encouraging as Y” doesn’t mean “X is not encouraging”
It’s all encouraging doesn’t mean it’s all encouraging but either.
It was 3 shut down periods of hockey, Sharks had less shots in the 1st(3) then the 3rd(4)
I was responding to OPs comment, which noted the “shut down third period”. Reading comprehension my dude
Lol you said “playing one shutdown period”
My dude.
Do you have data related to less penalties in games 5-7.
I would note that is data out there that shows there are more PPs in round 1 than in the regular season and round 2 is similar.
I would also note, in addition to the shutdown 3rd period, the Oilers gave up zero shots on net at 5 on 5 in the 1st period and not much dangerous in the second.
They’ve also had quite a few very sound defensive games recently (with a blip over the last couple).
At least for me, I’m encouraged by many things outside of McDavid last night.
I prefer my Hockey in the McDavid going supernova realm til the wheels fall off.
I like it too. But for the full 200. We’ve seen it before. We’ve had glimpses lately. Last night it was full-on, 200. How many scoring chances against when he was on the ice?
When McD leads for 200, the team follows suit.
How much of McDavid playing supernova allowed the brand of hockey the rest of the squad played, I say it was the key to everything.
Agreed. I’m just saying that McD at supernova means McD at 200.
When he leads, the team will follow.
It’s my broken record this year (“Until McD has his Yzerman moment Yadda yadda.” I’m sure I did not make this record, but can’t remember who played it first. Interesting that folks like Chelios are releasing the same song. I like that Chelios added, McD will get there. He’s that smart.
I was waiting for maturity (our men’s brains are still really teenager brains in our 20s), not smarts.
I like Dach in the lineup for game 1 of the playoffs.
Need a hitter to bring the physicality.
Dach or Jones? They provide a similar type game. With that said, both of them on a fourth line, brining full aggression, could be something.
Thing is, with both Hyman and Drai back two players from last night’s game, plus Lazar, are out.
Two of Dach, Jones, Samanski – I know many will think that Rico should be out but I can’t imagine coach shits him, at least to start the playoffs – maybe he’s a sit option if he (and the team) struggles in a series.
I commend Dach, or criticize my lack of knowledge, as I considered him an AHL player upon acquisition.
I like all three of Frédéric, Jones & Dach playing in the bottom six grinding it out during the playoffs. Dickinson’s injury didn’t look good, I wonder if he’s out for the remainder of the season 🤔. Samanski or the Nuge might be pressed into duty at 3c. I guess we’ll see 👀.
Patty Dach Supremacy
Building a line around Fred and dach makes sense to me. Samanski in the middle maybe or…. Nuge?
If Dickinson isnt healthy go full nuclear.
Dach/Frederic/Jones
nah
I think they will go the route of using actual centres ie Nuge, Rico, Lazar
Nuge looks better as a winger, Henrique is centering his own line, Lazar is being scratched after scoring a goal.
They have better options than Freddy at center.
At least in the first game of a series, or anytime you need a physical boost. Those things matter.
I think lots of us underrated Dach when he was traded. But he could be a decent 3rd liner. He was a point per game in junior, over half a point per game in his rookie year JJ the AHL at 20. A pretty nice pickup
I’ve been trying my best to get the crowd to buy into Patty Dach supremacy.
I’m with you on Dach … that kid does not shy away from contact; he finishes checks often and with authority. As long as he’s healthy, he’s going to be in the playoff lineup on the 4th line, helping to establish the forecheck. The Oilers play their best hockey when their wingers are getting right up in the grill of the opposition D-men, taking away their time and space. Podz-Hyman-Frederic-Dach … put one of these guys on every line, and go play some heavy hockey.
McD has the ability to take over any game when laser focused. And playoff McD can be more breathtaking when the refs call the game. Hopefully Drais is ready to go and this is just the warm up for a gorgeous spring!
There’s a clip on TSN titled “have we become numb to McDavid’s greatness?”
A: Speak for your damn self!
I will never take this man for granted.
111 pts and +10 in 67 games (1.66 P/G) pre-Draisaitl
21 pts and +6 in the ~12 games post-injury (removed the pp assist to Drai at beginning of NAS game) for 1.75 P/G
5v5 expected goal differential (Moneypuck) now ranks 9th at 17.4, just behind MacKinnon and Bouchard.
I truly wish for him to win a cup with Draisaitl and co. in Edmonton, but anywhere if it can’t be here, mostly to silence ridiculous narratives. It only took Ovi one, and I hope if and when it happens, that Connor enjoys it just as much as Gr8 did.
I have very reasonable friend Flames fans who have legitimately softened towards Connor after the heartbreak of the Olympics. The whole nation experiencing and cheering for his greatness in a losing cause (accompanied by Tkachuk’s comments) has allowed many to experience and appreciate why McDavid is a deserving winner.
Continuing this conversation over from yesterday’s thread – how would folks rank the post-Sather Oilers GMs? Holland gets a lot of (deserved) criticism but I think it’s a close race between him and Lowe for “best GM since Sather”. I gave it some more thought and I think Lowe edges out Holland. My rankings:
1) Lowe
2) Holland
3) Stan (incomplete grade, still in progress)
4) MacT
5) Chia
6) Tambellini
Chia’s tenure might have been more destructive long term than Tambellini’s, but we can’t forget how for 5 years he was completely unable to surround the Oilers young talent with anything even approaching a league average roster. I think he might be on the short list of worst NHL GMs this century.
Hey! Tambellini was able to get 3 first overalls and set us up for Draisaitl and Mcdavid.
That’s a pretty good tenure if I do say so myself. Imagine, if he was any more successful, we may not have gotten Drai and Mcdavid haha.
Lowe had a chance to get a young Corey Perry for Mike Comrie and blew it with a ridiculous demand to return money on his contract. Lowe had a great first year, then bungled and blundered his way to the beginning of the DOD. The bottom 3 names are all disasters. Remember, it was MacT that brought in the dementor, gave the “If you have to ask the question” speech and led the club to more DOD. However, his bumbling did lead to McDavid, so I guess there were positives.
This is all correct but we’re grading on a curve here and someone has to be ranked first
So you don’t think that the 32 member ownership told Lowe he had to ask for the money back. That group saved the Oilers in Edmonton so they get my thanks. Not all the owners could easily afford cash draws.
I can’t think Lowe would negotiate and all but announce it, with the small matter of asking for an unprecedented, and highly unlikely, request for cash back from the player outstanding.
In this discussion, I think Lowe gets credit for that deal even though it didn’t happen.
When Tambellini was replaced there were a ton of draft picks, some prospects and no NMC’s.
You’re dreaming if you think Chiapet was better.
Chia was an absolute disaster. Did he do anything good?
Anything at all?
He drafted McDavid! 🙂
I mean they were both brutal, the only good thing about Tambellini’s tenure was that he sucked so bad that even when he actively tried to make the Oilers win more games, he couldn’t do that and they continued to suck and accrue draft picks.
Chiarelli (at immense cost through a series of moves that bled assets and hamstrung the team’s ability to stay competitive for years later) got the team within one win of the WCF. Tambellini’s best team (lockout year) finished 12th in the conference, 10 pts out of a playoff spot in a 48 game season.
Again, “worst” has a bit of subjectivity baked into it, and I think you can make a strong case that both of their tenures were some of the worst in modern NHL history.
Hey give Tambo some credit, Smithson got a goal and won some face offs after we had already been eliminated from playoffs while he was caring for his newborn
Maroon, Matt Benning, Sekera, listening to Bob Green and Keith Gretzky and drafting well
thats all I can think of though
and yeah i would have him below Tambellini for sure. Tambellini didnt do anything, which was fine for that era and chia caused harm
Cam Talbot too (but that was mostly Sather doing his old team a solid on his way out as Rangers GM)
— this is an interesting exercise. I’m going to openclaw it and do an analysis
— what did each have GM when they came in? What did they leave for the next GM? What were the expectations? What were the good and bad moves? How did they change the organization?
— Tamballini era for instance : the team sucked and were in draft and development mode and last chance texaco for any free agent: really hard for that organization to get good players
— MacT for instance: thought that the Steve Austin’s were good enough foundation and misevaluated the Oilers closeness
— Lowe : tough time to be a GM and way over his head as he was coach the year before.
Anyway the quality of the GM depends on lot on the stage and expectations of an organization
— will report back with my Claude findings at some point …. AI is so good for framing these discussions…
I think if Lowe had more time as GM, he would drop down and down. He did a very good job of taking advantage of the installment of the salary cap. But was that because he was a very good GM, or because it was a fortuitous time for the Oilers?
Honestly, I think some of Lowe’s best work was keeping the team competitive pre-cap when the Oilers were bleeding talent they couldn’t afford to keep (or wouldn’t pay). Losing Guerin, Weight, etc. and still making the playoffs every other year when you were unable to spend as much as the teams he was trying to beat. Sure he made the most of the implementation of a salary cap, but a lot of the players on the 2005-06 team were on the roster before that year.
Again, I think he was a mediocre GM, but if we’re grading on a curve …
The thing to learn from the Tambellini experience is this – every single “hockey guy” was convinced he was absolutely qualified and among the best possible choices. He very clearly was not.
Hockey leadership needs to start treating their multi-billion-dollar businesses, reliant on sports performance, as such.
— yeah in terms of qualifying them MacT and Lowe had no business being GMs based on their pedigree
— the relative merits and faults and chia bowman and Holland : they certainly were “qualified”.
— Not that any of the qualified ones were best practice hires
— the commonality of all 5 is they weren’t the result of extensive searches rather easy and obvious gets
I think Holland is unquestionably better than Lowe. Lowe had one good trade deadline, and the rest was almost uniformly bad. How many times did we miss the playoffs, even after we had an owner who would spend to the cap?
Holland had a lot more hits than misses. He brought us to within two goals of a Stanley Cup.
I wonder if Roloson had not gone down with injury and the Oilers won the Cup in 2006 (because that’s what I think would have happened) whether Lowe would be given more credit. It was a brilliant deadline
It was that he didn’t handle anything after that one year well. I’d actually say he was given too much sympathy because of Pronger…people forget the sort of players that could have been acquired if that situation was handled properly.
Yep – absolutely Holland was better than Lowe; but it goes beyond acquisitions. Prior to Holland, the Oilers management was a total clown show … which all started with Lowe (the Comrie saga, the Pronger trade, the Hossa CD, the Penner offer sheet), who then presided over the hirings of Tambellini, ChiaPet and MacT as GMs. No one bleeds more copper and blue than Kevin Lowe … but he was far too hot-headed to be the GM of a hockey team.
Holland was far from perfect … but in his time as Oilers GM, he finally brought some professionalism to Oilers management that was sorely lacking. That being said, Holland’s moves were very polarizing, in that they were either very good (Hyman, Ekholm, drafting Broberg and Holloway in consecutive years) or very bad (the Athanasiou trade for two 2nds, Campbell, drafting Bourgault over Wallstedt, the Nurse contract).
I think Tambellini gets a bit of a bum rap. He was hired with a specific mandate to rebuild a team that had hit rock-bottom. I know he was called Mr. Dithers, because he wasn’t super active on the players procurement front. But he was hired to be a steady hand and rebuild the organization. He did that by rebuilding a farm system that was basically dismantled by the previous owners (presumably due to lack of resources). When the Oilers got lucky with back to back to back 1st over-alls, they abandoned the rebuild strategy a and went into win now mode. It didn’t work.
97 being 3rd in Hart trophy odds is such a crock. We talk about the Bouch slander we got something so much worse.
Mcdavid Malaise.
He’s literally dragging this team most nights and Leo isn’t there to make that excuse.
Don’t overthink this.
NHL Awards 2026 for Oilers
Special Shoutout
Hart: Celebrini (I don’t care that SJS do not make the playoffs the kid is just that good)
I agree for the most part but it’s hard to take anything away from MacKinnon or Kucherov honestly.
I said dont overthink it!
You can make a good case for any of those three.
I think Kuch might get it. He’s +44, way ahead of anybody else on his team, on a Tampa team defying the aging curve, and could have won the Hart both of the last two years. MacKinnon has slowed down a lot lately, and voters will figure that Celebrini will have many more years to win it.
Of the top-4 candidates for the Hart, only McDavid plays shorthanded. Kuch and MacK are under 0.04 minutes TOI per game, Celebrini at 0.20 and 97 at 1.07. This SH time shows that he is not just the best offensive player in the game but is utilized in all facets. Playing SH significantly affects + – rating as well as taking away 5v5 time.
Connor is the definition of the Hart!
Playing SH can only help the plus/minus rating as goals against do not effect traditional plus/minus (and goals scored shorthanded do)
Agreed. Such a crock is appropriate here, maybe even a tad corrupt as it’s obvious he should win…but I digress
McDavid was sensational. Words fail.
I do think this is the best Oiler team of the last three seasons.
Agree LT, I do think Nuge is off. It could be illness or it could be adjusting to Dad life mid season.
Jones and Dach look really good. Making plays. Their physicality is infectious — see Roslovic’s hit that led to the McDavid hat trick goal.
have to politely disagree with this being the best team of the last 3 years. I would say 3rd best …
Yeah I have no idea how someone could watch the last 3 years and think this team is better than 23-24 or 24-25. Heck, the 22-23 team (109pts, +65 goal differential) might have been better. We’ll see this Spring I suppose.
Roslovic had a bounce back game. But I still wonder if he’ll disappear in the playoffs.
I do think this is the best Oiler team of the last three seasons
I like it!
GMSB told us we wouldn’t see this season’s team until spring… The best part for me is how much younger and faster and heavier they are now, and they’re just getting started.
Nuge had his first child back in 2023. – yes, they had another, but adjusting to dad life happened year ago.
I don’t think his struggles are illness – he has struggled since his 1000th game, a few months ago now.
At the same time, he was very good before the 1000th game, for a couple of months and was very good in the playoffs last year. He may be slowing down and not as consistent as he used to be but he still has an impactful top level game.
Tell me you’re not a parent, without telling me.
I’m not a parent – thank goodness.
The post said “adjusting to Dad life” – he adjusted to “Dad life” years ago.
He may have been adjusting to “2 child life”.
It has been a very frustrating experience to watch this season. They certainly could win it all, but this feels like a much weaker version than the previous seasons. It has to be all or nothing for KK, otherwise they need a replacement. The only “rookie” I’d give a look to would be to give the job that should have been given to Todd Nelson 10 years ago, otherwise Cassidy or Gallant, or even better, telling Barry Trotz he needs another cup.
I would suggest the system, when actually played, is suffocating. I would also point out the coach doesn’t play the game.
Sharks didn’t do anything all night and that performance somehow gives more credence to replacing the coach?
Thank goodness the regular season is over in three more games. Let the playoffs begin.
Roslovic should get regular time with McDavid.
The rarest teammates for stars are those who, while not “at their level”, can think and react in rhythm. He can and does. Execution can go WAY up in those circumstances.
Nah sit him for Samanski…
Ya to use Ros to his fullest he needs to be with skill. I like Savoie with Mcdavid and think they should be locked. But Ros should get the next best tier although not sure what that looks like without Draisaitl. Ros becomes invisible without skill help.
Hyman comes back soon. It’s tough to know where the pieces ultimately fit. Savoie & Hyman with McDavid and then probably Podz & Roslovic with Leon, as long as Roslovic keeps his top six role during the playoffs. We might see Nuge & Rico with some large bodies playing in the bottom six , like Kapanen, Freddy, Jones & Dach. With Samanski & Lazar ready to roll.
Podz/McDavid/Savoie
Nuge/Drai/Hyman
Dach/Dick/Fred
Roslovic/Henrique or Samanski/Kapanen
The Dach/Frederic bash brothers forecheck will be a weapon.
Running Nuge out there in the Top 6 (when every one is health) hasn’t been a good idea for almost a year and a half.
Let him play 3C/3LW and elevate someone like Roslovic or Kapanen to play with one of 97/29 if both are healthy.
Regarding Nuge not being a top 6 frwd for 1.5 years… forgot last year’s playoffs?
He went 1-9-10 in 22 games at even strength last postseason? He remains an awesome/versatile 5v4 player but at 5v5 he’s not the player he once was.
2.3 P/60 at even-strength last playoffs is a great number for RNH to be at. Virtually identical to Tkachuk’s ES scoring. I will be ecstatic if he scores like that in these playoffs.
1 goal and 5 primary assists @ 5v5 in 22 games is less than I think you’d want in a top 6 winger and I’d hope he has a better year this year.
Tkachuk and RNH are also completely different players, with Tkachuk offering the grit/POS type play that the Oilers have been chasing for years, so he offers a lot of value that doesn’t show up in 5v5 offense. Nuge’s two-way play is also not captured in 5v5 metrics, but it’s really hard to make an apples-to-apples comparison between two very different players.
Tkachuk’s 3 goals and 3 primary assists at 5v5 seem to dwarf RNH’s 6 primary points. He’s also at double RNH’s AAV, so yes tough to compare the two.
Nuge has had short streaks of excellence over the last few years with lots of blah in between. Hopefully he’s got another peak coming shortly.
Yep, I hope you’re right, I just think this team’s better off sliding him down the roster unless/until it happens
I agree for now. I think 3 line wing is probably best.
At the start of the year I felt ekholm was best moved down the roster and was likely at or over the cliff.
Since the middle of the year ek has been as good as ever and clearly the top left d on the team.
I was wrong on ek. Hope I’m wrong on Nuge.
Nah
How’s Dick doing?
Bruised and swollen I imagine.
Prospectigram!
The Frozen Four proper commences today with the #1 Michiganders facing #4 Denver in the late match. (T’other match is #2 North Dakota contra #12 Wisconsin.) The two winners shall square off in the final on Saturday.
Park and Barnett each have just an assist in the Hugh Jackmen’s five playoff games. If they win today, it will mark the fourth time in five years that a NAmateur has played in the title game:
’22: C. Savoie (Denver – won)
’23: Brind’Amour (Quinnipiac – won)
’25: Copponi (Boston University – lost)
If you have the eyes to see, you may enjoy the duration of this televisual feast on TSN+ at 6:30 p.m. Seba Beach time.
McDavid had some fire in him last night, love it when he’s playing angry with a bit of an edge. Even when this team isn’t firing on all cylinders, the memories of the myriad of games like last night remind you that McDavid can almost single-handedly will this team to a win some nights.
An Oilers opponent might not get “goalied”, but there’s a risk they’ll get “Connor’d” like the Sharks did last night.
He’s the best player I’ve seen with my own two eyes and every day he plays for this team is a blessing.
I saw a lot of #99 at the old Coliseum and to me he was the ‘best’. I would suggest that #97 is far and away the most exciting player in NHL history surpassing Orr, Bure et al.
And yes, we are so damn lucky to have him and being able to watch him play.
The only game of Gretz’s I can actually remember watching “live” was his last NHL game against the Pens when I was 5 years old, hence the “with my own two eyes” qualifier.
Ah to be young! Don’t waste it – have fun and enjoy this version of the Oilers.
McDavid is miles back from Gretzky.
Can’t even see Gretz from where McDavid stands.
Never mind Gordie Howe.
— as the season winds down the Oil entering the playoffs as one of the maybe half dozen teams that have a legit chance of winning the cup
— maybe on paper “less” chance that the previous two years but one of the favourites to be sure. Was pretty confident all season of this.
— enjoy : at least a few more years where at the beginning of the season they are one of the bona-fide cup contenders
— surely they have one in next three years?