Long ago, the NHL was run from Canada and the Original 6 ruled the day. When the Detroit Red Wings wanted to send Peter Mahovlich to the minors, but not lose him to waivers, the NHL changed the rules on a random Tuesday. Please read this.
Fast forward to today, and the NHL’s power base belongs to expansion teams and their owners. The empire builders who sail the ocean blue as owners of the Carolina Hurricanes, Vegas Golden Knights, Florida Panthers, Dallas Stars, Utah Mammoth and Tampa Bay Lightning lead the charge in today’s NHL.
So, when Gary Bettman talks about the Vegas Golden Knights decision to decline permission to other NHL teams in talking to/hiring Bruce Cassidy, it recalls the olden days of the NHL when the Original 6 ran the show. Look, this is a ridiculous situation, borne of ego and pettiness and the NHL’s penchant for having ‘understandings’ as opposed to ‘rules’ in thousands of areas of the game.
The NHL evaluates as things pop up, makes a decision or not (often not) based on the direction of the wind at that time, and on we go. Glen Sather did mountains of things that were outside the law, including trades, waiver shenanigans, and naming basically the entire Oilers roster to the all-star game one season.
It makes the NHL look crummy. I giggled when Bettman talked about long contracts in the league and this being one of the consequences. It’s hilarious! Do you want to know a future consequence? One day soon, an NHL team that has the power will make such a big noise about not being allowed to speak to an available coach, the NHL will make a rule about it. The rule will guarantee coaches who have been fired the right to interview for employment. Maybe they’ll make the Oilers send another third-round pick to the Calgary Flames, for the good times. What a way to run a railroad.
On the Lowdown today, Kevin McCurdy will be our feature guest at 1pm. We’ll review last night’s brilliant Game1 SCF and preview the NBA Final which gets underway tonight. Noon to 2pm, Sports 1440 and You Tube.
Edmonton Oilers roster projection for 2026-27, including a big trade on defence
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7326738/2026/06/03/edmonton-oilers-roster-2026-darnell-nurse-trade/
I support the adjustment to the D-corps.
I believe Nurse has more trade value than people realize and based on the rumour that he was asked to waive his NMC last summer I think there’s a window to trade him for value this offseason.
Some commentators got pissy with me for suggesting it, but I see a world where teams like:
1) Philadelphia – need another anchor on D besides Sanheim. Is a Nurse & Tippett swap a possibility?
2) Detroit – Again, after Seider and Edvinsson they’re a bit of a mess. Nurse goes and Cossa comes back?
3) Toronto – Nurse goes East / Reilly comes West
I believe Stan & co are exploring options such as these.
https://oilersnation.com/news/edmonton-oilers-reportedly-tried-trade-darnell-nurse-toronto-maple-leafs-nic-roy-nhl-trade-deadline
Nurse isn’t going anywhere while McDavid & Draisaitl are Oilers.
Nurse for Tippett would be all kinds of awesome. The question though, are we happy with the D afterward or do we need to add? It seems silly to speculate given the odds.
Why would the Flyer trade a 27 yrs old 30 goal scorer at 6M for a 31 yrs old 2nd pairing Dman at 9.25M?
It doesn’t make sense from a Flyers standpoint.
Remember the leftorium we had a few years ago, the flyers have that for RW:
Tippett, Konecny, Martone (6th overall 2025), Michkov, Luchanko (13th overall 2024). They could also use a top4 LD, Nurse would be a significant upgrade for them.
Maybe they have better options, but maybe something is possible.
I think Nurse ‘have value” as a player to team but not at his cap hit. He’s a negative value contract (hence the potential trade for another negative value contract in Riley). If they retain down a few million, he has slight positive value – if they retain $3MM plus he has value in return.
Tippett likely requires Howard (if they even want him, the want a center or d-man with value), 1st round pick equivalent asset and another a lower end roster play.
Nurse for Tippett isn’t even remotely reasonably, in my opinion.
Value is relative. If you’re D corps is sub-standard you may HAVE to trade from a position of surplus in order to get a difference maker. Eg, Hall for Larson.
My main point is that Nurse has cachet to certain teams around the league, and with a rising cap he once again becomes an affordable luxury to some.
It’s of course contingent on Nurse being willing to waive his NMC, but as LT’s Athletic article postulates there are landing spots for the player and his contract. I’m merely speculating on a list of possibilities based on teams who NEED to upgrade their D.
I don’t agree – I don’t think there is any team taking on his full $9.25MM (currently for 4 more years) without getting something for it (which could be unloading bad cap themselves).
Lets also not forget, if he does waiver, its likely to a couple of teams, shit, maybe even just one.
Its a very tough trade to make unless the Oilers are retaining a substantial amount.
I am curious, if the Oilers are trying to trade Nurse, how would they sell the trade to him? Lots of scenarios are getting batted around talking about how such a trade would benefit the Oilers, but until we get to the 2027 off-season, Darnell Nurse is in control. He needs to feel a trade will benefit him and his family, which likely includes putting him in a better position to win a Cup compared to his chances while staying on the team with McDavid, Draisaitl, Bouchard, RNH, Hyman, etc. It’s a hard sell I think, to ask him to leave a team that has made it so close 2 of the 3 past playoffs.
The sell this summer is that he is down to a 10-team no-trade list on June 1, 2027. He can pick his spot this summer OR he can spend the last 3 years of his career knowing they want to trade him and waiting for the when.
Personally, I have some doubts it will happen this year but I’d be pretty surprised if he stays an Oiler for the next 4 years without a big external push from McD/Drai to keep him.
Fair enough, makes sense. I am with you on doubting it happens this year, but I believe the 10-team no-trade list begins July 1, 2027 (the league & contract years end every June 30). Could see a scenario where he is traded right after the playoffs end but just before July 1/27. However, the other thing at play here for a trading partner is his $6m annual signing bonus due July 1 2026, 27, 28, 29.
When you say he can “pick his spot” this summer that presumes there would be teams lined up to acquire his contract.
Since most contenders are already bumping up against the cap, I would suggest that the number of spots would be small and mainly limited to teams which he would likely not waive to go to.
Perhaps if the Oilers were willing to retain a large portion of his contract someone might bite, but even then I don’t think it would be a very long list.
This surely goes without saying.
What a waste of any energy in the no shat sherlock category.
Next handle reccomendation: “captain obvious negatives”
“Conceptually nurse has way better comtrol this season where he goes in trade given conditions in contract”
Capatain obvious negatives “yeah well a team still would have to want to trade for him with contract!!”
So are you insisting he can “pick his spot” even his spot has no interest in him?
I’m suggesting you have been beyond even a tolerable level of asinine/annoying lately it warrants bother to mockingly interact with you.
Not to mention, if the Oilers retained like $4MM, making Nurse a $5.25MM d-man, most teams in the league would want that – or at least many. He would have considerable positive vale.
Yeah like many ways to screw a pig sort of conceptually. Besides poimt made of he has less say in where any type of deal that might be made next season.
Which even ricky’s grade 9 education woukd have surely grasped nuanced point of what you stated.
If Nurse agrees to waive, its likely only to a handful of teams, maybe even 1 or 2.
The chances that team (1) wants him, (2) doesn’t attach too much negative value to him (let alone positive value and (3) an actual deal can be worked out – seems unlikely.
I think the Oilers must have an idea about his willingness to move on, or they wouldn’t have discussed his possible exit. If the two sides haven’t spoken, then it might be a quick conversation.
I’ve said it many times before. If I’m Darnell Nurse, I won’t waive until I have to waive.
It would be pretty easy for Nurse to make his 10 teaM NMC that begins next summer basically a full NMC right?
by just listing teams that are up to the cap or would not want him because they heavily value analytics? Eg:
COL
FLA
VGK
MIN
DAL
BUF
NJ
CAR
TB
NJD
and any team on this list woukd know our options are severely limited and would require retention and the return would probably be awful.
Not really, if the Oilers retained a material amount, he’d be valued by most teams in the league. Not that they necessarily would be, retain, $4MM and, at $5.25MM, most teams would want him I would suggest.
Yeah I just assume we would retain a max of ~3M. If we retain 4M and have to sign another top 4 defenseman for 5-6M we are basically in the same situation or worse
Even if they retained $3MM, at $6.25MM he’s likely tradable for some value to quite a few teams. I believe managers and coaches across the league value his on ice-play more than the Oilers’ fanbase (generally) – of course, noone is blind to the over-cap.
LT or any other knowledgeable person, can you explain the opening re: Peter Mahovlich? I can’t find info about it anywhere and I’m not dedicated enough to track down a Detroit newspaper from 1968. Stats site say he played for Detroit and their minor league team, and the following season played for Montreal and their minor league team. Haven’t seen a word about waivers anywhere.
There’s been talk of needing a right shot center. It seems odd to bring someone in just for faceoffs, though I understand the need.
My long shot would be Savoie. He’s usually out with skill, is on the PK… big guys have the strength but shorter guys get to the puck quicker on face offs.
They recently traded away a right shot centre who is good at face-offs.
I could care less what you have to say
You mean the junior who has never played a game against men?
Oh my goodness, at first read, I didn’t know who he was talking about. Lazar? Just nonsense either way.
He was talking about O’Reilly??
If this blog was a sitcom, this clown would show up for comic relief and to make everyone else feel better about themselves.
The court jester strikes again.
Gerard Gallant has expressed interest in getting back into coaching, he’d be someone I’d be interested in and possibly Alain Vigneault.
In a July 2023 interview with Le Journal de Montreal, Vigneault revealed that he has retired from professional hockey
He’d be second on my list after Cassidy
Gallant would make a lot of sense if his health is up to it.
Good call. Not sure if this team would be good for his health.
He wants to so presume Hes healthy. He was on some show today saying how no team has called him yet but he wants to coach
I’ve been the blog’s resident GG train conductor for some time now… not so sure I agree about AV.
What makes him stand out to you?
His history in the NHL, previous coach of our greatest foes, let go for dubious reasons (been reading my dad’s old blue cover Hardy Boys, great classic adjectives).
Jumped in my japoly and heard he’s been in the KHL. I can appreciate the journey and should say every NA coach that goes the KHL route comes back a bit wiser.
There’s been a few successful NHL coaches that spent time in the KHL.
And lastly, his look. A good scowl goes a long way when telling McD and Drai what to do.
Color me amused that the Oilers super awesome plan that they leaked despite having zero control over is backfiring.
Oiler fans can be mad at Gary or ask why this is the 3rd or 4th time since Jackson was hired we’re standing around looking like idiots as other GMs play a fast one?
Like that time JJ played GM and got McDavid’s old OHL coach hired out of the blue? Or that time JJ had to play GM because he sorta but not really fired Holland but Gary hadn’t reinstated Bowman yet? Or that time JJ spent all of Bowman’s money so he couldn’t resign the two 1st draftees who he then lost for magic beans? JJ then blamed Holland for all that.
Maybe other GMs thought the oilers looked goofy hiring all of McDavid’s ex’s into
positions they had no business being in and decided to have a laugh at that over a few seasons?
Last thing you want to do when your competition is making goofy mistakes is to interrupt them.
Makes more sense to moi than a giant cabal out meant to do us harm.
There are a surprising amount of things on that list that you’re blaming on Jackson that Bowman was the GM for…….
Sure about that?
Fair points. Can’t remember a President/GM that didn’t end up embarrassing this organization.
Holland made some big blunders (some of which we are still paying for, directly and indirectly) but he did not embarrass the org.
Apparently there are mostly Sonny’s in LT’s blog commenters, and no Michael’s.
Jon Cooper wins the Jack Adam’s Trophy.
https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/lightning-head-coach-jon-cooper-wins-jack-adams-award/
Locked in moderation.
BURN. IT. DOWN.
Daly and Batman’s responses are as embarrassing as they are predictable. We know how this ends. Cassidy sits for a year or gets released to go east and then the rule changes. As always we’re the whipping boy.
And as I said a few weeks ago and got called dramatic, this is designed for one reason. To get Connor McDavid out of the Pacific Division. And for Darryl Cats (sic), that’s someone targeting his billion dollar asset.
Oh and by the way, Seravalli said exactly that on Bob’s show last night.
But in a way it’s liberating. The Oilers are a Top-3 most profitable team in international professional sports. We’re the Dodgers, the Cowboys, Real Madrid and Man City. The Arena deal is so damned lucrative it can take a small market club and make it a giant. It’s time to start acting like it. You poke the sleeping tiger enough times maybe he wakes up and roars.
Half the teams are already on thin ice. Sink them and put 6-7 on the rocks.
This is absolutely the right path.
I love it.
I would also consider adding the most sophisticated sensors at Roger’s place so that the Oilers can argue every gray-area call.
Also, I believe the NHL would arbitrarily punish the Oilers for bullets 2, 3, and 5, and take away some draft picks.
If the owner decides to up the ante and do actions like those above listed, he’ll also have to be ready to swing an aggressive legal team, willing to engage with the NHL when they arbitrarily try punish the Oilers. Taking the league to court would be interesting.
I’ve been saying this since last Summer that I hoped a conversation has already happened where Leon-Connor will be our future GM-Head Coach after they retire as Oilers.
Article 26.2 says a Club or Club Actor cannot enter into undisclosed agreements, promises, undertakings, representations, commitments, inducements, assurances, or understandings involving consideration to be paid or made available to a Player or Player Actor before, during, or after the player’s SPC.
Article 26.3(a) says no Club or Club Actor may enter into any agreement, promise, undertaking, commitment, inducement, assurance, understanding, transaction, or take/fail to take action if it is intended to, or has the effect of, defeating or circumventing the CBA, including the Team Payroll Range. It also says a Club Actor’s circumvention is imputed to the Club.
Article 26.3(d) says no Club, Club Actor, Player, or Player Actor may do through a third party what would be circumvention if done directly.
Article 26.3(e) says a Club or Club Actor may not provide a Player or Player Actor “anything of value” other than salary, bonuses, benefits, government-mandated programs, or other things expressly permitted by the CBA. It also says no one may engage in conduct intended to provide, or having the effect of providing, value outside what the player can properly receive through his SPC/CBA benefits.
Article 26.3(e)(ii) allows a player to have local sponsorships with entities the club does business with, but only if the sponsor is not a Club Affiliated Entity and the value is “fair market value” for the player’s actual services. For national sponsorships, the arrangement must not be made “at the behest of the Player’s Club.”
BURN. IT. DOWN.
Daly and Bettman’s responses are as embarrassing as they are predictable. We know how this ends. Cassidy sits for a year or gets released to go east and then the rule changes. As always we’re the whipping boy.
And as I said a few weeks ago and got called dramatic, this is designed for one reason. To get Connor McDavid out of the Pacific Division. And for Darryl Cats (sic), that’s someone targeting his billion dollar asset.
Oh and by the way, Seravalli said exactly that on Bob’s show last night.
But in a way it’s liberating. The Oilers are a Top-3 most profitable team in international professional sports. We’re the Dodgers, the Cowboys, Real Madrid and Man City. The Arena deal is so damned lucrative it can take a small market club and make it a giant. It’s time to start acting like it. You poke the sleeping tiger enough times maybe he wakes up and roars.
Half the teams are already on thin ice. Sink them and put 6-7 on the rocks.
Let it be known the next head coach of the Oilers will make 10 million. Put it out there and see what happens. Assistants will be making 3-5 millionCreate a business liasion department. Partner with local business to ensure your stars can double their salary by coming to Edmonton. Connor McDavid makes 12.5 on the Cap but signs an advertising deal with Suncor worth 5 million x 20 years and Lauren signs with the Cats old group of pharmacies, McKesson for another 2.5 x 10 yearsCreate an equivalent of the Aspire Academy from Qatar, here in Edmonton. All students of Oiler players are given scholarships so that they get world class academic and athletic training for their kids as long as they spend in Edmonton; or for life if they stay for a certain amount of timeFind out the best programs from across the sports globe for analytics departments, scouting departments, development departments, spousal and family support, injury/rest/recovery optimizationCreate “Oilers Way” a housing combine for Oiler families. Multi-million dollar homes with 24/7 security and every amenity you can imagine, leasable by the players and their teams for $1000/month.
That could lead to a war between billionaire owners in which the Oilers owner and his assets would be dwarfed.
Colorado, Anaheim, San Jose, Los Angeles, Buffalo and Toronto are among teams whose owners’ wealth makes the Oilers’ look like pocket change.
Hell, the wealthiest owner is actually David Thompson of the Jets with his net worth estimated at over $60 billion.
MSG Sports (NYR) , MLSE (TOR), Comcast (PHA), Fenway Sports (PIT)
are all owned by corporate interests whose wealth is multiples.
Even the Hollywood group that owns Seattle just had Bill Gates ex wife buy a stake in the franchise. She has a few dollars in her purse.
There is no “rule” to change.
I don’t think we know how this ends and, in fact, if the Knights don’t make him available to the Oilers, there could be legal action initiated as there MAY be an argument the non-compete clause is unenforceable.
There is a high standard for the enforceability of these clauses – contained compensation is certainly required but the enforceability of the clause becomes more subject to question if it is keeping the employee from increased comp and, given the Oilers would likely offer a higher yearly salary plus term, well…..
Caveat: I”m not an employment lawyer nor licensed in the State of Nevada.
This was one of my thoughts. I’ve not read the contract, and lawyer that he is, Bettman is not going to venture into a grey area, but it would not surprise me if Cassidy threatens a lawsuit to get the right to work again.
Living in a state (not Nevada) where non-compete clauses are common, but difficult to enforce, it might be a route to force a settlement.
I think Pagnotta is the one that started the potential of Owen Tippet to the Oilers. Pagnotta is adamant that that is the snack bracket the Oilers are looking at – legit skilled and established top six winger.
Snack bracket?
Between the new terms and the analytics, it’s like I don’t understand the sport anymore.
Hawkins Cheezies FTW!
Did he say why Philly is trading is 1LW who is signed to a very team friendly deal?
Every trade rumour is either “overpriced bum” or “why does St. Louis want to trade Kyrou and Thomas” Why? He didn’t shave his side burns? He owes money to the mob? Drinking problem?
Every rumour is weird and most of them don’t happen. Either have fun discussing them or leave it alone and let other people have fun. Being this miserable is bad for your health.
Its par for the course that a guy that cites all these depth chart of prospects in efforts to post negative about the Oilers, suddenly is not able to cite the Flyers LW depth chart of Konecny, Martone, Michkov, Luckanko and Tippet….
A quick check of the Flyers depth chart shows Konecy, Martone and Michkov all slotted at RW.
Given the Flyers abundant cap space, are they thinning the herd to upgrade their D?
Oh, I enjoy them which is why I asked why Philly would trade him.
He seems like a real bargain at his cap hit.
Maybe he likes going to the Art Gallery and Library too much Dougie Hamilton-style.
https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/dougie-hamiltons-love-museums-get-traded-031726391.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAANNuz5Z9AeO4qvsK6srjmo-1B-43VFPQ4FAkjgAPb54E5mmVWfim3ij2H0AQM5zfe8hIX-nNWSYfnaQ7MFJFIiHBZNO4–bnssw2_-lhQd7fdstODvDTEs9znAO-aarcm0zNfX4L3ISXJDb2FOp6MC5W9DW5JPZM7qhDxR_Ep0DS
He is suffering from two injuries, which fits the profile of player Stan trades for. Sports hernia plus unexplained (to the public) internal bleeding.
Ideal trade candidate for Bowman.
Sounds like quite a catch 🙂
No surgery is planned for the sports hernia. They intend to let it heal naturally over the summer.
Tippett would be unlikely to pass a physical this summer if that were a requirement of the trade. We see how well that worked with Frederic.
LOL I know it’s only one game but VGK continues to find a way to win OMG.
Most frustrating thing ever. Ugh.
Torts is rolling the lines and is familiar with Hart going back to his Philly days. Torts and Hart winning a Cup together. Who would have ever have said that in the same sentence? This Cup Vegas is winning should be ours.
How do you figure the Oilers lost in the first round? And they haven’t won anything .
If you take away the injuries down the middle I do believe Bowman gave K.K the roster to win the Cup. I don’t think many people had Vegas on one’s bingo card at the Olympic break.
Last night’s game was the first time all season that Vegas had a full lineup.
William Karlsson missing almost the entire season was a big damn deal and marls Stone out for 22 didn’t help either.
If they had Marl Boro as well, wouldn’t that team be smoking?
Time to take off the homer goggles.
Colorado would’ve pasted the Oilers. Vegas for that matter would have too. The Canes and their forecheck would’ve made mincemeat of our poor D-zone coverage.
I don’t like any of these teams, their organization or their fans … but I’m not so foolish as to think that this year’s Oilers could beat any of them in a 7 game series.
Sorry to keep riding this horse. Have the Oilers brass acknowledged “why” they have fired Knoblauch?
If not, do you think they have recognized why he did not work out? And by not working out, I mean to say he took the team to the finals x 2, then had an early exit. That 2025 team was never expected to go deep.
I’m not saying KK needed to stay, but I am hoping Bowman and company are not treating this as just another spin at the coaching roulette table.
Lastly, to what degree does coaching have an influence on success outside all the various factors: skill, luck, etc. My theory is that once you get to the coaching upper crust: 40-100 upper echelon coaches in the world, there is limited variance between them.
This is probably the best you’ll get directly from the team https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/a-different-voice-oilers-stan-bowman-explains-decision-to-fire-kris-knoblauch/
I feel like Dellow or someone of that ilk, many years ago, did a deep dive on the impact that coaches have. The take away was that they don’t impact that much and, if they do, it’s lrobably mostly negative because they have their roster playing in a suboptimal way.
That can go right alongside “faceoffs don’t matter” and “shot attempts tell the whole story”.
Go tell a room full of players at any level that their coaches have had no impact.
Exactly
I remember reading a statistical analysis of how “shot quality doesn’t matter” to goalie save percentages and their analysis ended up being that shot quality averages out across all goalies. Which is to say on average, things are average but for an individual it does actually matter. It’s the same with teams. Good coach, bad team and bad coach, good team skew numbers while results are often luck, injury or goaltender based. BUT there are easy ways to show a coach does matter. One coach rolls four lines mindlessly, the other puts Connor McDavid out against the 4-Line every time. Coaching matters.
How much? I don’t really know but I do know it’s one area a team can outspend/outperform their opponents in the cap era.
That doesn’t fit what happens in the league though. The teams that stay at the top have the best coaches and enough help from the GM. The last 6 finals: Florida Oilers, Florida Oilers, Vegas Florida, Colorado Tampa, Tampa Montreal, Tampa Dallas
The Oilers have more top players and that drove them to 2 finals, but not enough coaching it seems to me, which hopefully happens now
I think sometimes we view the team like it’s a couple of guys sitting around playing Wordle that occasionally have to make a hockey decision, and shoot the shit for a few minutes and decide. ‘I don’t think Connor likes Kris’s haircut, and he seems unhappy. Sounds right lets can him and leak that we want Cassidy’
It’s a billion dollar business. Bowman said they use analytics on decisions, meaning they are looking deeply into what they are thinking. They are expanding everything off ice. The owner cares about what is happening and results, he’s put a lot into the venture. That doesn’t mean they will be right, or even if decisions are well taken that it will work out, but things aren’t off the cuff I don’t think
Yes. I think we nailed the “haircut data point” as the critical one yesterday
He kept reheating fish in the microwave.
Because the team, and many individuals, underperformed.
At least this past season Knob was unable to install a structure and ensure the players committed to play that structure – with accountability.
I’m not saying that Knob didn’t have a structure he wanted the team to play with but this past season, except for short stretches here and there, he was not able to get his roster to commit to playing that structure with any sort of effectivness.
The Oilers were terrible managing the puck most of the season, in all zones. The Oilers were terrible at helping the opposition create rush chances and then terrible defending the rush. The Oilers were generally terrible on breakouts. The Oilers were terrible at allowing the low to high play (with a wide open attacker in the mid slot) for 5-alarm chances.
Agree with this completely.
Fault lies with both the coaching staff and the players … the players came into this season with the attitude that they could turn it on when the playoffs started. Connor and Leon were more focused on winning at the Olympics, then winning a Cup. This led to lackadaisical play all season. The coaching staff couldn’t shake them free of this attitude for more than a game or two.
But KK also gave too many players, too much rope. The likes of Frederic, Nurse and even early season Bouchard should’ve been benched for poor defensive play. Frederic should’ve been banished to the pressbox right away until he got himself sorted. Skinner should’ve been pulled quickly when he let in soft goals.
There has to be accountability. When the coaches can no longer get players to be accountable, then its time for the next set to come in repeat the message.
Look at Vegas … Torts is running Cassidy’s systems and playbooks. The message didn’t change, just the messenger.
Daley also spoke about seeing where we are when the playoffs end. I remain confident that the league does not want Cassidy prohibited and they will strongly encourage the Knights to release him in due course if this does not happen promptly after the end of the playoffs.
Laviolette is a legit 2nd option for what I think this team needs. I think he’s a real candidate for the Leafs – Friedman said on his pod this morning that next steps are being taken with Laviolette and Roy this week.
Laviolette seems to have the most public PR campaign for another job. Beware of coaching candidates with public PR campaigns.
I think (my opinion) Laviolette would be a disaster.
Berube would be the ultimate disaster. In the end the Oilers are just going to wait out Vegas and get Cassidy,
So, who should be on the Oilers list for head coach?
Cassidy
Laviolette
Torts
Knoblauch?
Woodcroft?
I wonder if there are any sleepers, assistant coaches with Cup winning pedigree (besides Godot’s guy)?
Bob Hartley would really blow some people’s minds 😂
Friedman saying this morning Woodcroft is a finalist in LA.
Meaning what, that the Oilers shouldn’t be interested because he’s on someone’s short list?
🙄
Have the Oilers interviewed him?
LA has.
The question posed was who should be on the Oilers list and not who have they interviewed or who’s on the list of other teams.
One would assume the Oilers would interview candidates on their list before they sign elsewhere.
Otherwise they could be left with scraps.
Gerard Gallant
Alain Vigneault
would be 2 I would be looking at.
Vigneault? That’s an interesting name I haven’t heard in a while. I thought he retired from coaching a few years ago and the internet confirms it.
If the Oilers really want Cassidy, make him a handshake deal. Have him quit Vegas and breach any remaining non-compete obligations.
Force Vegas to bring legal action against Cassidy and the Oilers.
It’s not the worst plan, actually. In contract law, you generally have to show some type of loss during a breach of contract. I doubt the NHL and the Coaches Union would allow it though.
That is for damages – injunctive relief would be granted in short order I would suspect.
It is probably pretty black and white in favor of Vegas legally. Daly said as much yesterday. And would likely cost Cassidy and the Oilers a pretty penny in damages. And Cassidy would be disallowed from coaching the Oilers. Tort damages can be pretty excessive in US courts. Cassidy might face bankruptcy.
The best the Oilers can hope for is Bettman and NHL owners leaning on Vegas after Vegas’s season is over.
They also mentioned that there are some coaches that this wouldn’t happen to and Cassidy isn’t one of them. So there must be a clause that’s written into a coaches contract that protects them from this sort of thing. No doubt Cassidy will be looking into it.
That is my point. Vegas would never sue Cassidy or the Oilers. It would be a PR nightmare. They would reach some sort of settlement.
Cassidy has said that he would forgo the pay to let out of his non-compete but he cannot initiate this, that he cannot legally terminate the non-compete. Only Vegas can.
Why? Foley would likely be able to get a $100 million dollar damage settlement against the Oilers if the contract language is as clear as Daly seems to suggest it is. Punitive tort damages in US courts tend to be astronomical.
Cassidy would be bankrupted.
Also—what tort would be applicable? Genuinely asking because I am not familiar with US torts.
May as well if they haven’t already, as everyone and their dog knows these handshake deals happen all the time for players and no one bats an eye.
To quote Pirates of the Caribbean: “the code is more what you’d call guidelines, than actual rules.”
What I heard is there is a non-compete clause which means if he quits, he cannot work anywhere else. This is why VGK holds the hammer, and why Daley alluded to coaches not putting themselves in this position by signing contracts with that in them.
TL/DR – Cassidy can’t quit, or he forfeits coaching until his contract run is over.
Cassidy discusses this in his Athletic interview. There is a non-compete as well. The only thing resigning does is cost him $5 million.
I understand there is a non-compete. Read my post again. A non-compete is a contract/contractual provision. Breach the contract.
There is zero chance that Bettman lets the Oilers hire a coach that is otherwise under contract. No way, no how.
breach the contract and the court will order injunctive relief in short order.
I would suggest that injunctive relief for breach of the non-compete (or whatever clause is in the contract) would be granted in short order.
Yep, what a way to run a railroad. The NHL occasionally reminds me of Stampede wrestling.
The Oilers would be wise to consult with the Hart family to plan retribution against the not so Golden Knights
Archie Gouldie would be a great addition to any Oilers contingent facing off against the Knights.
I’d be interested in the team talking to Patrick Roy as a coach. One of the greatest to ever do it (my personal favourite goaltender of all time that isn’t named Devon Dubnyk), multiple Cups and Conn Smythes, as a coach seems to be able to extract a decent amount from sub par rosters.
I’m still more in the Woodcroft/Cassidy camp, but if neither are allowed to talk to the team then I’d rather see Roy in charge than Berube.
I love Patrick Roy and would be very entertained by him as a coach. He’s the one coach that knows pulling your goalie 4 minutes early is the optimal time to do it AND has the balls to actually do it.
I’m with you on the early goalie pulling. There was a fantastic piece written on this a few years back, I should go look that up today.
I have lots of time for Patrick Roy – he’d be on his 3rd NHL stop, and he’s had success in both Colorado and NYI … the Islanders in particular became a far more button-down team on defense under his tutelage. He knows more about goaltending than anyone the Oilers have currently employed.
I think they could talk to Woody if they wanted – the Leafs are permitted and I don’t think the Ducks would get in the way.
Cassidy will come in due course here.
The Oilers are that team with power, have the face of the game and another superstar and the highest revenue by far. It’s odd that they don’t use it more, or perhaps at all. When the refs are deciding who wins bets someone should be making a call. Or when Vegans are up to no good harming the game. The owner has done a lot for the team and the city, but his oddness does have a downside or two
For whatever reason the Oilers remain outside the inner circle of power. Despite all the assets listed above, they always get the short end of the stick. That this happened repeatedly after taking Bob Nicholson on only reconfirms the unwillingness of the league to consider their perspective.
Time to get a lot more difficult and make other teams have a poor experience when arriving here, on and off the ice. Ownership has been willing to throw money around at other things, now they need to do that to enhance their own players and place obstacles to other teams. I loved the suggestion someone made about setting up “foundations” and business loans to players’ wives to get more money to the players. Booking all the hotels up near the rink when Vegas comes to town so they have to stay on the west end in a Hilton is another.
Just be a dink to the other teams who screw with them & send a message.
The Oilers are a Canadian team and that so called circle of power is south of Canada.
Agreed. I’m saying, be a dink to the teams that are trying to screw you and send a not-so-subtle message to cut it out.
Edmonton will have the privilege of hosting the World Cup of Hockey in 2028, while also hosting the CoVid Stanley Cup.
There’s also the golden lottery win.
Hard to say that Edmonton isn’t well-regarded and well-rewarded for Katz’ building of hockey Xanadu.
Edmonton is well regarded, we started the outdoor classic as well. But the league has a clear history of doing things against the Oilers and not other teams, while letting other teams get away with a lot, or certain people like Lou L
Not everyone has the ability to do it, but I’m sure other teams and/or owners raise hell when they don’t like what’s going on
They kindly let the Oilers host the Stanley Cup when no fans were allowed.
Haven’t hosted an All-Star game since 1989 when there were 21 teams – 37 years.
Haven’t hosted an NHL Draft since the Steve Kelly/Shane Doan draft in 1995 when there were 26 teams – 31years.
Doesn’t seem like a fair distribution of events.
Fair, but I’ll contend that hosting the playoff bubble and hosting the ‘28 World Championships are of much greater significance than an all-star game, much less a draft.
I have a problem with the Kesler non-call in 2017, the Pietrangelo 1-game suspension, and the bad reffing at points in the ‘24 & ‘25 finals.
Other than those I think the OEG has earned a lot of trust from NHL leadership as a model franchise and one that has been rewarded for being so.
Of course, the lottery win has zero to do with the league – that has to do with distributed codes and the balls and not any decision by any person or group of persons, right?
I won’t get in to on-ice official corruption but, as far as league decisions go, the Oilers owner has never been in the inner circle like Jacobs and, well, Bill Foley.