I couldn’t decide between Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Sean Couturier at the 2011 draft, and these years later we come to find the Oilers made a fine choice. Of course, in the following seasons the team would draft Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid, so Nuge has spent much of the last decade playing on the wing. Please read this.
Many folks, and I believe team management, believe he is more effective on the wing. I do too, matter of fact. However, it’s a tough argument to make either way, since RNH plays with one of the Glimmer Twins when on the wing. That’s a cherry spot, folks. For the record, Nuge’s best run was on the wing in 2019-20 with Draisaitl and Kailer Yamamoto.
In the last three NHL regular seasons the numbers are fascinating.
- Nuge w/97&29: 20 minutes, 8.89GF-60, 75 Goal Pct (71X)
- Nuge solo (C): 1317 minutes, 2 GF-60, 44 Goal Pct (51X)
- Nuge with 97: 1500 minutes, 3.36 GF-60, 55 Goal Pct (59X)
- Nuge with 29: 216 minutes, 2.78 GF-60, 50 Goal Pct (55X)
Nuge solo in the last three seasons has delivered just a 44 percent goal share, although 51 expected. One can blame his wingers and RNH too, the ability to finish at an elite rate belongs to McDavid and Draisaitl. Still, the GA-60 (2.55) solo is stronger than when 93 played with either center. He needs a driver on the wing if he’s a center.
I believe Nuge on a No. 3 line, facing softer minutes, and playing with one truly talented veteran winger, could be a key piece to the Edmonton Oilers. He is 33. For a player to make a significant difference at that age is rare indeed.
I understand the appeal of running McDavid-RNH. Over the last three regular seasons, 97-93 own a 2.76 GA-60, while McDavid without 93 and 29 is at 3.15 GA-60.
Meanwhile, McDavid with Matt Savoie and Zach Hyman were 2.02 GA-60 in 89 minutes. GF-60: 3:36. Goal Share: 63 percent. Savoie may give the new coach an opportunity to put Nuge in a position to deliver the best outscoring number of his career at five-on-five. Savoie with McDavid scored 2.14 points-60 in 2025-26, Nuge was at 1.86 points-60 with the captain. It’s time to have the talk.
The Edmonton Oilers’ best approach to the 2026 NHL Draft
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7284571/2026/05/17/edmonton-oilers-2026-nhl-draft-preview/
Great draft read. I hadn’t followed Di Orio as closely but the more I look he really could be a great undervalued target at 52 due to his early season injury (elbow NOT shoulder, music!) and poor team suppressing his offensive boxcars.
He seems to profile similar to SOR in size and as a d conscious RHC, perhaps not as elite on that side, but a better skater with more offensive potential.
2 other names I would be excited about at that spot:
Thomas Vandenberg – LHC with Ottawa, one of the youngest in the draft and rated in our pick range. Average size, tho Pronman notes him as “one of the better skaters in the draft” (high praise from who I think is the hardest marker on skating around), also known for pro habits, motor and some offensive skill in addition to d awareness.
Chase Harrington – more likely to be gone by 52, but a strong agitator with legit top 6 potential, with 28 goals in the dub with Spokane this year. “Rat” is thrown around in his scouting reports but he plays top six wing, PP and PK in junior. Could be a shorter but much more skilled, versatile Clattenburg.
Thanks. “Prepare now.” A better approach, IMO, than “win now.”
Whatever they did in the 2025 draft, Bowman’s first as an Oiler, has worked (so far) – that draft is trending VERY well given their picks!
The top three picks were impressive. I think the scouting team has the USHL and feeders dialed in.
Kalle Larsson – soon to be promoted.
Given how low Holland set the drafting bar Maggie the Monkey would have been a definite improvement.
One thing in Nuge’s favour is his extreme versatility: Centre, Wing, First Line, Third Line, PP, PK.
As a 3C who covers the bet on special teams you don’t need him to be an outscorer 5×5, just a low-event player who provides his offensive witchery on the power play.
A 45-55 point Swiss Army Knife who bleeds Oiler blue is a fine player indeed. It would be helpful to give him a pair of reliable wingers. We could use a Podkolzin on every line.
Laing at On has a not good news piece about Cassidy and Frederic. Should probably trade him if BC is hired:
https://oilersnation.com/news/edmonton-oilers-trent-frederic-bruce-cassidy
Probably should (try to) trade him even if Cassidy isn’t hired.
Great cause the contract is so great that buyout doesn’t actually save us that much cap because of 1.5 mil signing bonus every year.
Without a significant sweetener, that contract will be untradeable until some term is burned.
Just wait til Cassidy unlocks Freddi and he scores 30 next year
I’ll take 18.
i Think we would all be ecstatic with 15-15-30
That’s what he was signed to be. Hopefully Cassidy can unlock it.
I don’t think a 15-15-30 is out of the question.
Last season, Frederic went in the the 3 month off-season just having played on a high ankle sprain for 2-months. I presume his summer was recovery and rehab, not hockey training.
He will have 5.5 months to rest and then properly hockey train and come in to camp at 100% and likely not be put in a wierd position (with McDavid/Drai) to start the season. Hopefully a decent start so his confidence isn’t cratered and we see the “real Frederic”.
Here is hoping.
You’re still going to be blaming that high ankle sprain when he’s eating popcorn in the pressbox next season. The guy he was replacing in our lineup also had a high ankle sprain, suffered later into last season.
Holloway – 22G, 51 pts in 59 games
Frederic – 4G, 7 pts in 74 games
It was a a bad bet .. plain and simple. Frederic had two decent seasons under Montgomery, and parlayed that into a retirement contract from Bowman.
The real Trent Frederic is a 4th line plug under any other coach who never should’ve been given an 8 year deal.
The guy who signed him to that should’ve been fired along side KK this week.
Everything I stated about Frederic is factual – feel free to discount it, as you have.
Dylan Holloway has zero to do with anything – as we know, there are many many different severities of high ankle sprains and it seems likely that Hollway didn’t not come back prior to being 100% to play in garbage time which is vastly different than playing on a badly injured sprain for a 2-month playoff run.
Good post:
https://x.com/SportsnetSpec/status/2056025500913652069?s=20
https://x.com/JonathanWillis/status/2056041404363903117?s=20
In a nutshell right there
Media sure is out for Stan
Either or both could/should have been fired, so it makes sense that the unfairness of it all is bare in the days after KK was let go. I think the owner should fire himself, if we’re being fair.
The constant in an otherwise inconsistent era.
If you like horror movies, the recently released Obsession is great. What’s the point of that comment? The movie is a tale of be really careful what you wish for. Some wanted a very wealthy owner who would/could spend to the cap and whatever else needed buying for the team. They now have that owner, is it all you hoped for? I also recall he kinda threatened to move the team if he didn’t get his way about a building….
— I’d love for you to double click on this…
— do you mean he should sell the team?
— There isn’t a “filter” between him and the day to day operations and there have been some awful management hires under his tenure. From the OBC to today not a single person in management that has gone on to achieve better things elsewhere.
— This is a fascinating comment LT. I don’t mean to single you out. But speak more on this
What more is there to say? This owner, like every owner, should hire the best experts available to build a sustainable winning organization and let them do their job.
I don’t think my comment was especially provocative. We’ve been observing Katz since 2008. We know what the future will bring because we have a very large past.
I agree The owner of a company sets a vision and management standards of how he wants business conducted in his organization especially on how you treat people you work with and who work for you. if you want people treated with respect and empathy you as the owner have to show your employees what that standard is by setting an example
Hey LT, the memory fades, but my recollection was that you had Couturier?
But I get your point. Couldn’t have gone wrong with either player.
I had Nuge 1, Couturier 2, but the top 4 were close in my mind.
https://lowetide.ca/2011/06/18/draft-week-post-4-final-top-30/
I know there were technical issues, but it just kills me the comments from archival posts like that are lost to the ether.
Raphael Lavoie called up as a black ace by Vegas after a 30 goal season in Henderson.
https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/2026/05/golden-knights-make-black-ace-recalls.html
For full disclosure (given the implication that the is a player the Oilers “let get away”), he was called up a long with:
Tanner Laczynsk, Jonas Rondbjerg Kai Uchacz, and with defensemen Jeremy Davies and Jaycob Megna.
Laczynski was the leading point getter.
Of note, the 21-22 year old Howard had 24 goals in 47 games and the rookie pro, 23-24 year old Quinn Hutson also had 30 goals like the, now, 25 year old Lavoie (who remains pointless in 17 NHL games).
Lavoie – 30G/45GP
Hutson – 30G/67GP
Howard – 24G/47GP
All three were among the top scorers with their AHL teams.
Lavoie – 1.24 P/GP (Laczynski 1.03)
Howard – 1.06 P/GP
Hutson – .940 P/GP
At the age of only 22 Howard would seem to have the inside track on future development.
Lavoie is 25…26 in September, while Hutson turns 25 in January.
Bigger bodies have a longer development curve.
Generally true but Lavoie is getting pretty long in the tooth.
Howard is miles and tiers above of where Lavoie was at his age.
Hutson is a tweener, I ‘ve been very clear in my opinion on that.
Point is, referecin the “30 goal scoring” Lavoie as a call-up is not the flex you wanted it to be when you decided to post the non-relevant information.
At Howard’s age, Lavoie scored 25 goals and 45 points +10 in the AHL.
Please explain how 24 goals and 50 points and -3 is “miles and tiers” above.
Given a 29 game audition in the NHL under the same circumstances as Howard, there’s a non-zero chance Lavoie might have exceeded the 2 goals and 5 points Howard managed.
When Lavoie was 21 for the season (as Howard was this past season until March), Lavoie had 13G and 13A in 56 games – that’s the season at equatable age.
The following season Lavoie had 45 points in 61 games which is still dwarfed by 50 points in 46 games.
Its not even close.
I said at the end of the season that one of the most pressing issues is determining what happens to Nuge’s game this season? Was he hurt, exhausted, etc? Or did he fall off the cliff? It’s a big roster, and cap, problem if Nuge can’t bounce back.
Even if he feels 5 years younger in Sep where will his level of play be at in Apr?
Too many players on the roster in this same situation. Tough choices, but I think they have to get more durable, which usually means younger with less miles
I foresee the new coach acting as a fresh set of eyes to help construct the roster in the proper fashion. Someone like Cassidy or Laviolette might have solid input to contribute as for which UFA’s & RFA’s remain with the team, as well which UFA’s to target in free agency. Separate the wheat from the chaff.
Just at the gym this morning I was thinking to myself “wonder if we’ll hear about a Murphy or Kap re-sign sometime soon” and then I realized that management probably wants the coach in place prior to making any move of substance.
I think it’s going to be lots of fun.
I would definitely be trying to get Connor Brown back this summer. Not wanting to pay him 3 per year seems pretty stupid. A Nuge Dickinson Brown 3rd line against the toughs and 3/4 of all F Pkers sound good
Brown is under contract with the Devils until the end of 2029.
Based on World Championship performances, lets get Puljujarvi as well.
This would be awesome
Jesse is fine where he is … good international player, who is just not cut out for life in the NHL; his body can’t hold up to the rigors of an NHL season, and he never acclimated to life in North America.
There’s no shame in that, but the Oilers scouts should have had a better read of the player before they drafted him.
Haha, no kidding! After 2 games he’s the leading scorer of the WC’s @ 3-goals and 5-pts total. Who actually holds his NHL rights?
No-one holds his rights. He’s 28 and has been UFA age for a number of years.
Remember, he required the Oilers to keep him on the roster for 40 games in his 1st season which vested a year towards UFA status – he was assigned the day after that 40th game.
I don’t know if we made him an offer or not. We should have been able to beat 3×4 but maybe he wanted a change. Management keeps trying to get younger but lets good vets go and signs young guys who are more washed than the vets.
There were articles stating they did negotiate, but the Oilers weren’t in a position to give him a long term deal at the AAV he got from NJD. DNB wrote a nice article in Oct/25 here: Oilers takeaways: Offensive struggles, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins’ touch, Connor Brown reflects – The Athletic
If they can give Mangiapane 2×3.6 and Freddi 8×3.8 Im sure they could have found 3.5M x 3 or 3M x 4 for Brown… crazy given how good he is in playoffs, his speed/PK and his rep as a leader
Oh I agree, he is greatly missed. I wish he was still an Oiler, he talked about not really wanting to go. Were you able to read the article? If not I can copy & paste that section.
Oh really? No, I wasn’t able to read it. Please post
This was after the Oilers 5-3 loss to the Devils on Oct 18/25. Brown scored short-handed. Credit to Daniel Nugent-Bowman who was with The Athletic.
“Brown’s retribution after his departureBrown’s goal was massive in the game — and massive for him personally. The reaction said it all.
“He lit up like a Christmas tree,” Devils defenceman Brett Pesce said.
Brown has wrapped his head around no longer playing for the Oilers and Saturday’s game provided a clear reminder. Still, it wasn’t easy moving on, nor is thinking about it.
“I didn’t necessarily want to go,” Brown told The Athletic on Friday. “Obviously, I’ve got to do what’s best for me and my family and my own personal situation as much as I would love to keep knocking on the door with that team. It was heavy.
“I was up at McDavid’s cottage the week after we left (Edmonton for the summer). I was with a bunch of those guys. It was difficult. You go through so much with a certain group.”
Brown was on a one-year, $1 million contract after his incentive-laden deal from the previous year following a knee injury. He was in line for a raise and a longer-term deal based on the way he played in the back half of the 2024 playoffs, through much of last season and for most of the 2025 postseason.
“A new general manager comes in. It’s a new situation,” Brown said. “With the role that I was provided, I thought I excelled in that. Before I broke my foot in the playoffs, I thought I was a big contributor to those first two rounds. It’s difficult. It’s heavy. It’s loaded. But I don’t take anything personal. It’s a business. They’re trying to be cap compliant. There’s a lot of moving parts.”
The Oilers considered bringing back Brown, but the four-year, $3 million AAV contract he got with the Devils was too rich for their blood. The cap situation was tight heading into the offseason, and things got more restrictive when Trent Frederic and Evan Bouchard signed long-term pacts.
“I’ve been in that situation where I was the one who had to go. I did that in Toronto, and now in Edmonton again,” Brown said. “Whether I agree with that is besides the point, but I don’t make those decisions. It was a challenge. But I have a lot of life coming here to a team that I think has a shot to get over a hump and get into some big games.”
Brown’s departure was one of many in the summertime. Other forwards who left either via free agency or trade were Corey Perry (LAK), Jeff Skinner (SJS), Evander Kane (VAN) and Viktor Arvidsson (BOS). The salary component factored in greatly. But their departures also paved the way for room on the roster for the likes of David Tomasek, Matt Savoie, Ike Howard, Noah Philp and Roslovic after he was signed last week.
“There were a lot of guys we had to say goodbye to, a lot of established veterans,” said Knoblauch, who previously coached Brown with the Ontario Hockey League’s Erie Otters. “We wanted to give the opportunity to the younger guys to develop. If you bring those guys back, and you’d like to, but their salaries are higher, and it blocks those younger guys (from) getting an opportunity to make your team and develop.”
Brown has settled into New Jersey with his family, wife, Madison, and 2-year-old son, Nolan. He’ll never forget being an Oiler. How he’d walk down the street, see a fan roll down his window and yell out a compliment that would make him smile or laugh. And then, of course, there are his former teammates.
“I’m still in touch with so many of the guys,” he said. “We’re still sending stupid stuff to each other (in group chats or via messages). We were so close to winning.”
That makes me so mad. I had just assumed he wanted to move on.
He was coming off a 30 point season, 9 points in 20 playoff games, great in playoffs two years ina row, and had taken a huge discount the year before. Most importantly we knew he worked in our systems and room. To choose Mangiapane over him?? Good bottom 6 players are not easy to find.. guy had 43 points and 18 goals this year
His contract was front loaded coming off a major surgery.
Thanks
Is he really any better than Roslovic?
here’s a question for the ones in the know here…what if and when Cassidy were to sign in edmonton if he signed for 2.5 m for three years…would vegass have to pay the balance of his original contract?…that would be sweet revenge for him and also the oil!
Friedman speculated that the reason why Vegas didn’t give permission was for exactly what you just suggested … they don’t want to be on the hook for his contract if he gets hired to another team.
Cassidy is reportedly at 4.5M now. He will be well over 5M
We have an owner that has made it very clear through his actions that the GM is to do what ever it takes to win NOW so is any one safe even the young talent ?
We will see but I am less confident about the young talent we will have left by October then I was a month a go .
Young talent help winning by performing on value contracts.
I agree but let’s see what the Mr bowman’s new marching orders are
More goals for Mattias Ekholm at the World Championships
Ooooh Nuuuuge
You’ll always be a baby to me
The main thing i’m hoping is not to start season completely reinventimg wheel mode. Have at least a blueprint of center and best forward who pairs with them and sort of build linesout from there.
Mcdavid hyman are undeniably dangerous together offensively. Use that.
Drai and podkolzin have clear potential outscoring 200ft game chemistry. Also podkolzin seems like he still has some real individual growth he was making on ways he can be an offensive threat. The one timers he started shooting, a couple of drai office goals, carrying puck and cutting in on net all this kimd of offensive threat became muted when he was trying to defer and fit however it seemed best complimented mcdavid when they put him up there.
What was lost in his effectiveness what parts of his offensive game seemed to stall out didn’t seem worth just making mcdavid line better IMO.
Putting him into a role there is a waste compared to the much more impactful dynamic he likely provides elsewhere in lineup.
With mcdavid it felt like shrinkimg him to benefit line.
With drai it felt like he just was still growing into larger impact.
Xxx mcdavid hyman
Podz drai xxxx
The problem with this is the pieces to fill in then what’s left if trying to make a 3rd line are what exactly?
savoie RH (F/C)
Rnh LH (F/C)
Howard LH (F)
Dach LH (F/C)
Frederic LH (F/C)
Samanski LH (F/C)
Janmark LH (F)
I hope they do manage to sign kapanen to a 2 yr x XXX and run him with drai and podz.
I think savoie is better suited for success if he plays RW. Like think of his one big steal in playoffs that led to goal. It was on the right side. I think a guy his size playing offhand wing in playoffs was a hige disadvantage. So if i was going to line him up on that first line then i put hyman on the left wing and him on the right.
So for 3rd you have….what exactly?
Howard rnh xxx
And truthfully i do not like a 3rd line center who is not strong on the dot.
A quakity bottom 6 RHC would be huge.
There just isn’t many ufa options.
Colton scissons 2.8 mill
Teddy blueger
Curtis lazar
Noel acciari 2 mill
If it were me: i’d probably try to sign scissons and acciari over similar money that dickinson/lazar would cost.
Retain 50% on Jarry, and offer to trade him to St. Louis for Jonathan Drouin.
Or see if St. Louis would bite on Janmark for Drouin straight up.
Perhaps the Blues might even bite on something like Ike Howard, Janmark, and Jarry (no retention) for Pavel Buchnevich.
20G/48P in 81 games last season, 31 years old and signed for $8MM for 4 more years.
I’m not sure Issac Howard can’t put up 20G/40P this coming season on the 2nd year of his ELC – Matt Savoie almost did and Howard was a more material producer in his AHL season than Savoie (who was the same age as Howard in the AHL).
I am just continuing to brainstorm ideas to get rid of Jarry in a non-catastrophic way. I am not saying definitely do this or definitely do that. I am just putting out ideas, usuallly beginning with how can I reverse the Jarry mistake and get better at the same time.
Buchnevich is a solid all round NHL player. Like most of the Blues he got off to a poor start last year, and was forced to play a lot of centre when Thomas and Suter were out due to injury.
He is a relatively strong two-way player. He can PK.
One could put him on left wing with McDavid and Hyman, and move Savoie to RW with Draisaitl.
If Cassidy is going to be the coach, and if the Oilers only have two years…
At least 20 goals per season for seven of the last eight years, and a 20 goal per season pace in the other.
I foresee Jarry as an Oiler in October and I project a much stronger season – will that season be good enough? I don’t know but I suspect he’ll be better to start with and better behind a stronger team structure.
What does St.Louis do with Binnington and Hofer? Oilers should have traded for 2 runs of Binnington. No way Binnington loses to Dostal the way he was playing.
Binnington is not a good NHL goalie.
He’s better than Jarry or Skinner. Some Goalies thrive under pressure Craig is one of them. You may blame him for the Olympic Gold Medal loss I would say it has more to do with Hellebuych getting lucky.
I don’t think he’s necessarily better than either of those goalies.
I don’t blame him for the Olympic loss – I blame management and MacKinnon.
STL has Binnington and Hofer under contract next season.
Why would they have any interest in Jarry?
They might get an offer too good to refuse for Binnington. They lost their #3 Colton Ellis on waivers to Buffalo last year.
Utah or Buffalo or Florida or San Jose might come calling for Binnington.
Drouin really is surplus for them. He was only in the Schenn deal to make the money work for the Islanders. So if one adds to a position of need for the Blues, and makes the dollars roughly equal, maybe they bite. 50% retention gets close to that.
Binnington is a UFA after next season, they would have a year to work with Jarry (they have a full organizational goaltender coaching department) and have a veteran backup in place for the year after next, till their young goaltenders can improve enough to make up for the loss of Ellis on waivers last year.
I would think everyone likes the players, except maybe a few. And not any goalie. But fondness isn’t a strategy for a winning pro sports team. I’ve been of the opinion for a while these movement clauses are in the problem phase, as most expected would happen at some point
Hyman has outperformed his contract which was too high and long when it was signed. Nuge took a lower cap hit than he could have made elsewhere, offset by term and protection
To me it seemed that when the decline started the cap hits would be low enough so the two could slide down the line up. It looks like the flat cap over a few years threw a hitch into that, 5M is still too much for a bottom 6 except maybe a 3C
Is Nuge a Swiss Army knife, or a player delivering more periods of not enough contribution that the coach has to work to find a spot for? A team that wants to win a Cup needs every player to contribute, there isn’t room to hide a higher cap player, sometimes even a lower cap player
Is Hyman at the broken phase now? Can’t have players that can’t hit the playoffs in good enough shape to help. The right thing to do would be sell players heading into this phase while they have rep, and replenish. Or you age out. Nuge has full protection but when Hyman’s eases will he still have any significant value? Nurse might not be the only guy who gets the hard conversation
Hyman scored at a 45-goal pace this year. I don’t think he’s broken.
Hyman had 31 goals in 56 games.
He’s likely to keep getting injured but he’s still goal scoring at first line levels.
Exactly what I’m getting at. Availability is the most important ability. It’s not about not liking players or thinking they aren’t good, it’s about team first. What could they get for Hyman, or any older player? It has to be considered, unless they want to age out and be missing key players a lot, or have them perform below norms because hurt, moving forward
Before he became an Oiler, the knock on Hyman was that he was ‘injury-prone’. After watching him all these years, it’s more accurate to say that Hyman goes to hard areas of the ice, and that can lead to injuries. That said, the only major injury he’s had during his time as Oiler, was from a seemingly random nothing-burger of a play. He’s came back from and went on to rock another 30 goal season.
Awesome player.
Hyman figured it out watching Maroon.
I dunno – I don’t find Maroon a stylistic comparable for Hyman.
Don’t disagree with any of that.
When the contract was signed, I was happy Dubas wouldn’t give the pick so the Oilers could get the 8th year and I thought he would be at his peak for 2 years. I’ve been waiting for Hyman to be injured and decline year after year but it really hasn’t happened – still little decline vis-a-vis on-ice play but the injuries have started.
The injury last playoffs was indeed a fluke but he was hurt again late this year and in to the playoffs and was one of many that wasn’t near his peak form.
I anticipate this likely to keep happening.
I believe it was Danny who provided the magic troll buster button and I just wanted to give a shout out. Such a pleasure now!
Perhaps the biggest quality of life improvement ever done for this blog.
I feel the same way I read this blog on the way to work everyday and sometimes come away feeling annoyed because of a troll but I have to read this blog because of all the knowledge and insight there is to learn here with this troll button I know longer feel a lil angry sometimes all happiness and sunshine hahaha quality of life….check
Sometimes I like to use it on HH just to guess what he is saying based on the replies he is getting.
We need big steps forward by our young players this year and a flawless free agency
Agreed. I hope they can just sign the Hawk guys and skip the rest of free agency. A coach that can run the team better will hopefully float all boats if they do have to bring in a new guy. I think the way KK runs things was a big part of so few working out and so many players struggling
And another Podkolzin trade
Must have been one hell of a 1000th game celebration – hangover lasted 3 months
Years ago I envisioned Nuge and Hyman being on a tough third line, seems Nuge ended up there faster than Hyman. Still hard to believe Zack’s scoring pace with McD when healthy.
I believe Nuge still has a large role to play on the team, but not in the top 6. Need one more winger for Drai, hopefully Howard/Berezkin can step up and Savoie/Podz continue their development. It would be much less risky bringing an established top 6 winger, but that involves a Bowman trade or UFA signing. Not sure I trust him with either. We wait.
No knock on RNH, but if he is still playing significant minutes in the top six at 5 on 5, the team has not improved and could be yet another lost year. He is getting older now. Prospects need to start passing him or better players need to be brought in.
Savoie McD Hyman
Howard Drai Kyrou
Podz RNH Kap
Frederic Samanski Dach
You need to swap Podz and Howard.
And Fred and Dach, Fred prefers RW and Dach shoots left. Nuge at 3C is popular, I don’t think he has the wheels for it, he’s never been fast. He’s not reliable defensively anymore, has his runs of being good and then fades. No coach leaves him at C and it’s been years of that, this while his production didn’t warrant top 6 and there was a hole at 3C
I’d prefer Dickinson at center with Nuge on his LW to form a duo on the third line. Would love to see what Berezkin might look like on the RW. He might just swoop in and take Kapanen’s roster spot.
I don’t think you need to at all.
Certainly an option but Podz does not have to play with Drai (or top 6) – he seems to play well with Kap and that could be a STRONG 3rd line and Howard could very well excel with Drai.
Nuge was 6th in 5 on 5 TOI/game this season, only 10 seconds more than Kap.
Nuge was 8th in 5 on 5 TOI/game this past playoffs……
I think you are right and he should be on the 3rd line permanently now. Whether that be on the dot or wing if they sign Dickenson or another 3rd line C man option. Haula could be a possibility (older), Scissons, Jenner, Laughton. Lots of possibilities at the 3rd line dot. They just have to make a deal that the $$$$ works on. But Nuge on the 3rd line wing is where he should be.
I envision an RNH still being the ultimate swiss army knife. 1PP, 1/2 PK, option for a softer outscoring line as W or C, and the back up matchup C that can saw off elites. But agree the McDavid winger role should go to someone who gets boosted more than RNH has shown
i think it is RNH being a Swiss Army knife that keeps him on McDavid’s wing. All coaches go back to 97-29 when they are down in the 3rd period. I believe this means that the winger being switched with Leon has to be able to play centre. I think the only top nine winger that plays centre on the oilers is RNH, and until there is another winger/centre hybrid in the team, RNH will spend more time on McDavid’s wing then the folks on this site (including me) will like.
I wonder if any of the Oiler players decide to ask to be traded or if any UFA’s decide that they want to go to the open market instead of wanting to stay here..Some players could see this organization as one starting to decline.There are a lot of young teams on the assent .It could be an interesting summer.
Kap, Dickinson, Murphy and Ingram all expressed large interest in staying at their post-season media avails – that’s just talk but I think guys generally want to stay and I think the group likely feels they performed below their expectations as individuals and as a group (re: are better than they played).
That was before the last weeks Gong show .Some of them folks may want to see who the next coach is going to be
I don’t consider last week a gong show in the least – so exaggerated.
I expect the coach to be in place within a few weeks – mid June at the latest.
I also think the GM will wait for re-signs until that new coach is in place as well.
The lack of a coach should be a non-factor as that won’t last long.
Issac Howard with two goals today for Team USA.
Could be time to add Howard to our PP1 group (maybe the Nuge spot). He was outstanding in that game this morning… 1 of those 2 goals was on the PP.
Lets not forget, the Oilers PP, which struggled hard when Drai was out (and Drai/Hyman were out) finished first in the league by a large margin, over 30% and I think I heard 5th best of all time) – it was 33% prior to the late season struggle.
Numbers continue to show the PP scores at higher rates with Nuge on it – year after year after year after year.
I think the play is PP2 getting more time – first zone exit after 1:20 and they change. Maybe start PP2 if the top two lines drew the penalty near the end of a shift.
PP2 could also include McDavid/Drai stayin and two forward changing.
Howard could/should be a part of it.
I’m already getting excited for next season . If Howard can line up with McDavid & Hyman that might solve some problems. I’m not holding my breath though.
I think Howard would work wonderfully with Drai (same with Savoie – shit, anyone let alone highly skilled players).
Absolutely agree – Howard should be with Leon for the first 20 games and get a proper audition. McDavid draws all the defensive zone attention, so he gets to keep Podz; that line with Savoie was fire … KK lost me when he decided to break them up for game 1, just because he got a hobbled Leon back in the lineup. Hyman will need to stay with McDavid in order for him to stay on PP1.
The thing you guys are all ignoring … if RNH is the third line centre, and on PP1, then you have to canabalize the centres from three lines for PP1. After a PP, it’s the forth line that comes over the boards.
This just doesn’t work in the real world.
RNH is either the third line centre or on PP1 … not both.
I’ve heard that and I don’t agree its not workable:
1) If they don’t have a fourth line they can trust, even against top 6 opponents……
2) 70% of the time, PP1 will be on the bench of 40 seconds (or at least should be) and after a PP shift which shouldn’t take overly long to recover from.
We have a 4th line that can be trusted against top 6 opposition? That’s news to me. Where were they all season long?
We should and we could.
That was directly from KK … even though he was just fired, I’m going to wager he knows more about running an NHL bench than you do.
I’m sure he does.
There are lots of things he thinks that I disagree with.
There are lots of things he thinks that everyone on here disagrees with, given we discuss them every day – same with every coach the Oilers have ever had and every manager the Oilers have ever had.
That doesn’t mean that’s he’s wrong and you’re right about it being a problem to rotate a 3rd line player on PP1 … especially if that player is the 3rd line’s centre.
Of course it doesn’t but I can state my opinion and I’ve provided my reasoning for it.
His value is going up.
Nuge had a stron 2025 playoffs and a strong start to 2025/26.
His season regression started essentially mid-way though his 1000th game and he never recovered. I’ve heard rumblings of another appendage bust but just rumblings.
I expect a better Nuge in 2026/27 but role is changing here…..
I expect RNH, Hyman, and McDavid to all have more even seasons. Considering the brilliance all 3 produced, one would have to consider that something was off for at least Hyman after the break, and Nuge after December.
I personally believe that 33+ year olds can still produce elite seasons, but I also think that they are more prone to wear and tear and recovery.
The 97 trio was still having elite possession time, which continues a 3-4 year trend. This is the first year that the goals didn’t follow the expected goals. Was it injury or aging or bad luck? I know they most likely won’t be playing together next year and that is probably the right call, but it is still a very reasonable option should they all be healthy.
Zach Hyman is ironically a year older than Nuge, so it is interesting that many pencil him in as a 1st line winger but RNH as an “over the hill” bottom 6 forward.
Also, btw, last night I was commenting on how you bring the receipts when asked, nor the troll…
Nuge and Hyman both shoot well but don’t shoot enough. Possession is great but you have to turn it into something. I think Connor needs more finishing with him in that way
If this could be reality it might work out. Maybe?
Howard-McDavid-Hyman
Podz-Leon-Savoie
Nuge-Dickinson-Berezkin
Dach-Samanski-Frederic
Breakout seasons for Howard & Savoie would be something ,not to mention Samanski & Berezkin. They’re going to need fresh blood stepping up in a big way and we can’t forget Colton Dach.. But of course it will come down to how the defense shapes up and goaltending. I still think there might be something brewing here.
Hyman scored something like 31 goals in 56 games – his goal scoring remained elite last season
Hyman is also the only one on the team willing to go to the net on a consistent basis. His spot on McDavid’s wing is secure until that changes