The Oilers have much up in the air as we approach what could be the final game of the 2025-26 season. We know the next head coach is Mike Babcock, we just don’t know if he can coach until the investigation is complete. Some of the verbal coming out of the insiders over the last 24 hours (Crhis Johnston) suggests Babcock will in fact get the go-ahead to coach the Oilers. Please read this.
Now, Babcock is going to be an excellent coach in his first season with the Oilers. The leadership group has bought in, and the support players can be shuffled and moved out as required. I’ve said this before, but believe Tristan Jarry, Jake Walman and Jack Roslovic (should he sign) would have a more diffiuclt road than the rest of the group.
Babcock arrives in a way that reminds me of Billy Martin when he landed with the Oakland Athletics. Martin was mercurial and impatient, and a hardass’ hardass. You could bounce a quarter off that thing. Legend has it that Martin gathered his gifted starting staff, all fireballers, around him on the first day of spring training. Mike Norris, Steve McCatty, Rick Langford and Matt Keough were informed that the first job of the starting staff was to throw strikes.
The entire staff stood on the mount and threw to a “box” made of string that represented the strike zone. Martin was relentless. On the first day of the exhibition season, McCatty (I think it was McCatty) threw a ball on the first pitch of the game. Martin called time. He rain out to the mound and said “I thought we agreed we were going to throw strikes?”
A team that won 54 games in 1979 won 83 with Martin in 1980. Billy Martin could manage 26 Huskies to a pennant, but there would be a mountain of swearing along the way.
Babcock will receive buy-in or there will be trades. In fact, I’ll just say there will be trades. I think Vincent Deshanais, a name I’ve mentioned previously this spring, might be signed and I’ll guess Connor Murphy and Jason Dickinson are back, too. The second goalie? NO idea. I don’t think it’s going to be a rookie, though.
That brings me to Paul Coffey. Suspect Babcock will want (and be granted) the opportunity to name his own staff, and I further expect Coffey won’t be part of the coaching group this year. I do think we’re going to see a shuffle of AGM’s behine Stan Bowman and Coffey could land high on the staff depth chart. I don’t see any possible way Daryl Katz will avoid rewarding a loyal Coffey for the good works done over the last three seasons.
So, until further notice we talk about the Oilers in the framework of Babcock as head coach, Coffey in a high position hockey ops, and the summer spent on acquiring complementary players for the impact stars already on the roster.
The biggest question I have surrounding Babcock’s vision? Where will he play the Nuge? I would go No. 3 center, heavy PP and PK work. We’ll see.
Very happy for Hall, after all these years and the changes he’s seen during his career, I’m so glad he gets his name on the Cup. Really happy for former Moosehead Nik Ehlers also. Happy for Jordan Staal and good on him to earn the Conn Smythe. I’m happy for Seth Jarvis and his entourage, and I’m happy for the goalies. Amazing for Bussi to come in and close it out, and I hope Andersen will be able to work through what he’s been dealing with. Rod Brind’amour has come full circle. I still think about 2006 and wish it turned out differently, but I can’t take anything from the Canes this season and this SC run. 16-3 is a pretty convincing way to win the toughest trophy in pro sports.
Congrats to Taylor Hall and the Canes
“But general manager Eric Tulsky liked what he saw in Hall.
“”He brings a blend of speed, skill and heaviness that really fits for us,” Tulsy said. “He has the ability to get pucks into the zone, win pucks along the way and he has the vision and creativity and skill to get pucks to the middle and create scoring chances off it. We spend a lot of time in the offensive zone, and we need players like him who can not just win the battle along the wall but get it to premium ice and create those top-tier chances and he’s been able to do that for us.””
Sounds like someone the Oilers could use…
12 mil under the cap, their G was snapped off waivers, Rod had never won a cup, nor a SCF game before this. Oilers ownership/management should be taking notes.
Great seeing Taytay lift that cup. Double kiss. Man it’s been a long road Hallsy….
Rod? As in Brind’Amour? If that’s who you mean, he was the captain in 2006.
Wasn’t he the 3rd wheel on the Legion of Doom line in Philly.
Legion of Doom was Lindros-LeClair-Renberg.
Lindros was the reason Brind-Amour ended up in Carolina
I didn’t know that I would actually care but it’s really nice to see Taylor Hall win and lift the cup – got a little emotional there watching him. He seems like such a nice and mature young man!
I knew they would give the Conn Smythe to Staal. It’s remarkable that he had only 2 more points than Leon.
70% faceoff win rate in the finals…tied the record for connective goals in a final series, 8 goals in the playoffs all for a cap hit of $2.975 million.
Not too shabby for a 3C.
3-C’s good on the dot and a threat to score wins you Cups especially if they are good PKers.
Congrats Hallsy!
It’s been a long time since I’ve posted here. I needed a break with the first round exit. I’m just here to enjoy watching Hall lift the Cup.
My family moved us from Val D’Or, QC, to Thunder Bay in 1993. I lived in Edmonton in from 2004-2006, and I eventually made my way back to Thunder Bay in 2011. The Staal brothers were special guests at the Thunder Bay Comic Con one year. I shook Eric’s hand and told him that as an Oilers fan, I’m still salty about 2006 lol.
But I enjoyed watching Crosby’s early years and I followed Jordan Staal’s rookie year pretty closely. His first career hat trick as a rookie was in the Leafs home barn on Saturday night, Hockey Night in Canada. I loved watching him back then. And I enjoyed shaking his hand that year in Thunder Bay.
Hurricanes win! Congratulations to Eric Tulsky, Tyler Dellow, Dennis King and Cody Nickolet!! Woot!!!
I never interacted with Tulsky, but did enjoy reading his blogs.
Dellow and King win the cup. It’s a small world. congrats to them and Hall!
Yay, Hallsey!
Someone better call an uber for Torts’ clothes to bring them back to Vegas 😂
Taylor Hall has a Stanley Cup winning goal and his name is going on the Cup.
Blake right in the lane as it should be
Gotta love that the Vegans are going to lose the Cup at home.
And their going to get beat by a goalie that the Canes got off waivers.
Funny enough, the Canes only shop for goalies off the waiver wire. Seriously how many goalies have they claimed off waivers? Definitely lead the league.
Torts-Hart-Eichel-Stone and crybaby Marner this result couldn’t happen to a nicer bunch.
Crossbars posts and low blocker sinks the Vegans as it did the Oilers
F**k**g bar down
People still giving Marner odds to win the Conn Smythe should be shaking their heads. 29 pts is nothing special and invisible in the last 3 games.
Staal or Hall for me
I’ve scoured the league 5 times over and the secret to a successful season is finding the right mix on the bottom line.
I can say with certainty, beyond a doubt that I landed on the ultimate solution. You’ve got youth, you’ve untapped potential, size, hitting, scoring, brothers, local flavour, a Swedish wizard (when he played with Ekholm his stats exploded!) and a steady veteran presence familiar with the next HC to shield the yutes from Badcock’s assholism..
i give you the ultimate solution for the Oiler’s 4th line next season:
1 – Sign RFA LW Colton Dach
2 – Sign RFA RSC Kirby Dach
3 – Sign UFA RW Gustav Nyquist
Dach
Dach
Goose
This is the way!
If the Habs don’t qualify Dach, the Oilers should be all over that.
Rather have him than Dickinson. I do think the Habs move on from Kirby.
This is the way.
The World Cup is awesome. What great run by Ivory Coast to finally crack the stingy Ecuador defense I like the new rule if you flop in withering pain you leave your team shorthanded for a couple of minutes while you recover on the sidelines.
Friedman talking up Hall for potential Conn Smythe.
Remember when Chia traded him straight up for a 2nd pairing D?
Chiarelli had convinced himself that he was getting the upper hand by simultaneously signing Lucic.
Trade a 1OV potential captain for a defensive defenceman and then acquire an albatross of a contract. That’s a piece of work.
Peter Pinhead picked a pack of pickled players.
OBC had been chasing a Lucic for years. I think they hired Chia for that reason and then interfered plenty
What a great move by whoever was the instrumental voice in his signing in Carolina. First time he’s been on a team where the pressure was off to live up to the number 1 pick overall. Sequin probably had a bit of a lead career wise until recently being a centre. This is no longer a debate Hall for MVP couldn’t happen to a nicer kid. Speed keeps you in the league Ehlers-Hall well into your mid-30’s
Tulsky
Probably Dellow would deserve a lot of credit as well. He would have known him extremely well from writing about him for years and working for the Oilers.
the original trade to CAR for a third seemed to be ridiculous value at the time even
Yeah likely but pretty sure Tulsky continues to track potential additions.
He did it for years before his GM appointment.
This might not be a one off they have all their picks tons of cap room. Never liked Caroline after 2006 but it kinda feels like a bit of justice has been served by beating the evil Knights.
How many years were Tulsky, Brind’Amour, etc working on this? (And why didn’t the owner/GM fire the coach for taking so long?) They look like they’re going to be in the final four for a while… Is this what a “10-year solution” looks like?
I’ve mentioned before that Tulsky has been quietly drafting literally dozens of Russians who are developing in the KHL and would seem to be an inexhaustible supply of young talent over the next few years.
The first one to pop was Nikishkin.
He was drafted 6th overall in the third round of the 2020 draft and spent 3 seasons starring with SKA St. Petersburg.
More on the way when they’re ready.
Accurate. I get the sarcasm even if some others don’t
Eichel getting stripped of the puck on every zone entry. McDavid-esque.
He was the first of four: Taylor Hall. Ryan Nugent Hopkins. Nail Yakupov. And of course, Connor McDavid.
So many in fact that we forget the impact of the first, how much hope this Windsor Spitfire gave our hockey bewitched city that better days were finally ahead.
As an Oiler, he endured much losing, a skate across the face, a memorable goodbye to Ryan Smyth, and through it all he never wavered in his wish to be an Oiler for life.
I once watched him drive the net so hard that he ate the crossbar in a meaningless midseason game in another lost season. I knew then that I liked the cut of this lad’s jib and I would cheer for him wherever his skates took him.
Tonight is his first opportunity to carve his name into Stanley’s silver and hockey immortality. Good luck and godspeed Taylor Hall. You are, were, and always will be, an absolute gamer.
2006 stings. This Carolina team deserves its cup. They’re a good squad full of decent, honourable people. They have an honourable management team.
Hall deserves a cup.
Go Carolina.
Agreed, one of my favorite Oilers. Hope he gets his name on the cup. Good start!
Done!
I want to thank whoever downvoted this post. The vote totals spelling out Hall’s number feels like a good omen!
Let’s get this series over tonight. As always, and has been for years, eff Vegas but, also, I don’t think Cassidy is completely off the table yet – lets just get to the fulsome off-season and see what happens.
Eichel needs to have an impact or she gone
Hellebuyck is 33. The Oilers need to be finding young players with talent and lots of track and ease out the cap tightness. Old obvious players are Holland, who is unthinking big picture
Oilers don’t have time to wait on players who cannot contribute now.
If you think like Holland
I don’t.
But it seems McDavid might.
Have you already forgotten his season ending screed?
The championship window won’t be open for long and the infusion of a couple B/C prospects won’t change that as the Barbarians are at the gates armed with young, big, fast. talented, high pedigree young players already in the NHL.
You mention “cap easing” but these other teams have twice as much cap space and that won’t change.
Maclean: ‘ roofies will get you every time’. Can we please move on from the dinosaurs? Does anyone care about Ron or Gary? They are both minted, bugger off and free the game
That was gross.
Maclean backstabbed the Man that made his career. I can’t stand listening to his spiel they need to move on from him and Hrudrey whose virtual signalling asses are no longer in vogue
He made his apology but he’s late 60’s so had no idea what he said. How is that appealing to younger viewers? The future 🤮
I really liked Coaches Corner it was good for a laugh and insight if you took it with a grain of salt. Cherry was a small kid when WW2 was in full throttle. That too many men call in game 7 was brutal.
Coffey as head coach with McTavish as assistant? Back to Woody? Keep the bench warm for Bruce?
Backwards
NHL Rumour Report
David Pagnotta: Teams had been calling the Jets about… Connor Hellebuyck…after his…remarks sparked speculation; he wants to chase a Stanley Cup. He wanted to do so with the Jets, but after a rough season…his tune started to change
The trade is one for one?
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Almost no price is too high for Hellebuyck.
After one down year, I seriously doubt that he’s actually available. But if he is, then I don’t really care what the acquisition cost is.
Oilers are going to look so stupid if the NHLPA has damning evidence on Babcock and the Oilers have to walk away from Babcock.
To quibble, that walking away outcome should be seized right now as a rare second chance / fig leaf. I expect they will double down and be forced to walk away with egg on their face only after details come out. And expect further that Bruce wants little to do with the flaming mess after watching the fiasco.
What, exactly, have the Oilers actually done?
Ask Betty Lou.
— is it fait accompli that Babs is the coach?
— have a good friend pretty senior at the NHLPA. Let’s just say their view is “yes Babcock is a _______). “. Let you fill in the blank
— I don’t the advocacy for former coaches who have not been head coaches i many years.
— That Babs has been away so long is in itself a disqualifier.
— I find it rich the advocacy for a MacT who’s been away longer, as a “better” choice
— Must be a local bias because his almost 20 year non hiring by any organization in an old boys club has to inform the view on his coaching acumen
Something to consider is how the game has changed since Babcock last coached an NHL game in 2019.
I think it’s fair to say players have much more control/input into how their careers unfold and the NHLPA has much more influence than it did as evidence by the “inquiry” now underway in Columbus.
With the seemingly extensive influence wielded by McDavid, Draisaitl, Hyman and perhaps others in lineup decisions and style of play, Babcock may be reluctant to play along and that could create friction.
Bob Stauffer:
“When the decision was made to remove Jay Woodcroft, I do not believe the Oilers top players were consulted on the change to bring in Kris Knoblauch”
He also said he thought the leaders would have suggested Gulutzan get the job if Woody was out
That would have made more sense.
Perhaps the recent consultative approach is the result of the hurried KK signing.
— you mean 2009. Not 2019. It’s crazy talk to even consider bringing on a head coach in professional sport with an almost 20 years hiatus since been head coach. Only Oilers, always doing weird stuff would consider this
Craig MacTavish last coached in the NHL for the St. Louis Blues, 2022-23.
— sure he also sat on the bench for 5 games with the oilers in 2015.
— while I meant being hired as a head coach if one wants to hang their hat on that tenure where they failed to make the playoffs for the first time in what 7 years and the second in almost 20 years then was dismissed after by all accounts being totally ineffective: I need some comfort that he’s a good solution for an aspiring cup contender
— I’m fairly objective : I just look at his track record as a head coach almost two decades years ago) or sure the one year as an assistant more recently) and all I see is failure save one glorious Cup run. How does he get buy in? What has he learned that makes him better now ? What skills developed ? How has he honed his craft? Does he even want to be a coach?
— I just don’t believe anyone outside of Edmonton that doesn’t have a glory day recollection of the Oil would rate MacTavish as a legitimate head coach for a team that wants to win the Cup. Even less so than Babs IMO.
— I just don’t get it but that’s what makes a market. Just seems so random to be advocating for MacT to return especially now.
I would prefer Woodcroft, but want a strong five-on-five coach. MacT was exceptional. Todd Nelson would also be a good hire.
Love that Billy Martin story, LT. Billy was an absolute throwback. A hard drinking, cantankerous baseball lifer. Clint Eastwood would play him in the biopic.
You could fill three volumes with amazing stories of his tempestuous relationship with George Steinbrenner. It was a time when men could only acknowledge their affection for each other by giving them a nickname or punching them on the shoulder. George showed his love by hiring Billy 5 times and firing him 4 times!!
Man I miss the old school skippers like Martin-Weaver-Sparky-La Russa-Buck Rogers etc. I would be lucky to name 7 skippers in the entire MLB league today they have become so blah. Same goes for the NHL as the Coaches have become so technical. Most NHLers have been playing system hockey since 8 they know what they have to do no matter the coach. Winning can come down to buying into what the coach is selling them. I do want to see the Oilers healthy and able to flip a switch defensively by tightening up in the playoffs. Yet in saying that I don’t want see them in snooze fest 2-1 or 3-1 results all regular season. I hope Bowman goes with plan D instead of hiring Babcock.
I could see Vinny D. signed but does that presume they move Emberson out?
I mean, we can discuss who would be a better option at 3RD (both are strong goal preventers) but can they both be on the roster?
It would be solid depth to have one as 7D but is it affordable with Vinny D. likely in the $2MM range.
Are we done with Regula?
Are we done with Stastney, who I presume signs in the $1MM range, slightly over his QO? I think they need an upgrade on Stastney as 3LD if they move Nurse with Stastney/Regula battling for 7D – Vinny adds a player and a cap hit.
————————–
Intel is Murphy is interested – as per Spec:
I think Murphy is back
————-
I just can’t get on board with Dickinson anywhere near $5MM
He was a glorified hard 4C in his time as an Oiler and it lines up with his last little while in Chicago – the PK is a thing though.
Sorry there’s no roster spot for Vinny period. I didn’t see Dickinson play on the fourth line ever. Plus both of Murphy & Dickinson are probably the Cock’s type of player.
I didn’t see Dickinson play 4C either but I saw him play like a 4C in the regular season.
He may have been adjusting to a different team. Did you see him play injured during the playoffs?
Perhaps but, of course, it looks like he was performing as a 4C in Chicago prior to trade this past season (10 points) and the prior season (16 points in 59 games).
He was very good in his 4 playoff games – there were 4 games. Lets not forget small playoff samples fooling us in the past, ,
I don’t see how this player can be a $5MM player – a fairly large black hole offensively and, to my eye, while he can take on hard minutes and that’s valuable, he’s a good, not elite, defensive player – he’s not locked down or mistake free. I’m find with Dickinson in the $3MM range.
$3M x 3 would be great .
but its a long way from $5MM – I can’t see him getting that mind you.
What makes you think other teams would give him $5M considering he’s only good defensively and a black hole offensively.
I just said I can’t see I’m getting that.
I hope Bowman isn’t trading Nurse just to spend the money on Dickinson. Bowman has done a nice job in collecting a few cheap big-skilled-fast wingers. We need a coach to give roles to bottom 6 we also need a coach to build a line around Frederic. Frederic is only 27 he was a game changing player 3 years ago in Boston. If the new coach can get Frederic confidence and speed back in his game our bottom 6 may surprise people.
Knoblauch already did that with Dach, Samanski & Freddy. That’s a good place to start.
I don’t know why we seem to always circle back on former players. There’s a reason he’s gone and the others. He couldn’t handle the playoffs and his sub par skating was exposed
Dickinson is a Janmark level player. I like Janmark but he’s not above a fourth liner and potentially blocks spots of guys like Dach. I don’t want Dickinson blocking Samanski. Especially not at above Janmark money.
I don’t see Dickinson blocking Samanski. They would be in direct competion for bottom six centers. Janmark is a solid veteran that may surprise next season I can see all three players with regular roster spots in the bottom six.
I wouldn’t spend more than 1.95M on Dickinson, Jenner is a 3rd line centre, Dickinson is a 4th line PK guy.
anything over 2M a year is a terrible signing.
You’re talking about Vinny D.
Mainly
I think RNH is mostly done as a full time top 6F, and $5M+ is too much on the wing and C for your 3rd line. I’m with LT – RNH should be the 3C next season
lol, RNH is a career 50 point player, he’s exactly what a top 6 player is on any team in the NHL and at a team friendly 5M.
To play where, 7D?
Vinny isn’t better than Emberson so he shouldn’t displace him for 3RD.
Emberson isn’t good enough for 2RD. A line-up of Bouch-Emberson-Vinny would be a disaster.
This!
If Nuge is 3C why would Oilers bother with a Dickinson signing?
Let Dickinson walk and wait to see if Kirby Brother of Patty Dach ends up on the open market.
Because they aren’t seriously considering Nuge at 3c and Dickinson would be better. I still see Nuge on the third line but not at center.
I also question nuges ability to succeed at 3c and see him more as a third line winger.
However the nuge from the first 25 games last year looked very capable of running his own line. The truth is probably somewhere in between.
A strong plan b will be important. Maybe that’s Samanski.
I do think Nuge will be better than he was in the second half of last season.
I prefer Dickinson at 3C. Add Podz on RW and I like that line a lot.
If Nurse is traded with $2 million retained for Nick Seeler, that equals $4.7 million for 2 years (perhaps somehow Philly is convinced to send Seeler over with some kind of retention, but I won’t use that here).
Line 1: Marchment 97 Savoie – a physical presence with size & good hands + a good set up man with a defensive conscience is ideal for McDavid. Marchment would be a better Maroon and Savoie is just getting started. Marchment @ $5.25 x 3.
Line 2: McMann 29 Hyman – McMann is superior in almost every facet to Kapanen, Hyman is an upgrade on Podz. McMann @ $5 x 5. Who thinks this is a bad idea?
Line 3: RNH Dickinson Podz
Dickinson @ $3.75 x 4
Line 4: Dach Samanski Frederic
Dach @ $875 x 1
Xxxxx
D: Ekholm – Bouch
Walman – Murphy $3.75 x 4
Seeler – Emberson
Xxxx
G: Jarry – Ingram – I haven’t figured this out yet, but something needs to be done here, ideally Jarry out, Ingram + a cheap solution in.
Bottom line for me, this is what a successful offseason looks like. Probably unrealistic to include Dickinson.
Realistically, if these are the transactions, Nuge goes to Center and Howard to LW. And Lazar is brought in as the 13th forward/Center depth.
I don’t see Dickinson as better than Henrique. Similar in they have high compete levels, good at faceoffs, good to great defensively. But also poor skaters and next to no offence. Henrique at least had offense at a one time.
Im maybe too hard in my evaluation of Dickinson but I’d be really concerned that any contract above 2×2 would be worse than Henriques hometown discount deal was.
IMO you underestimate Podz and over estimate Marchment. I do like Bobby McMann though.
Going back to last season and start of this season I really liked Mcmann.
However I’d come to believe he became too famous mid season on and would get too much pay. Therefore was against signing him
I’ve now flipped again and think that even at 5×5 he may be worth the risk.
He’s a near perfect fit in multiple spots on the team similar to pods. It’s nice to have that type of player/ players.
I doubt there is much interest in Kirby Dach. He’s never played a full season.
I sure hope they sign his brother Colton.
Colton will get his QO and either accept it or take a 2-year deal in the $1MM range.
He’ll be signed, I’m highly confident.
Dach is also not good at FO’s and needs good wingers to float his boat.
He isn’t the depth Centreman we are looking for.
Bowman drafted both brothers bring Kirby back home form a Dach-Dach-Frederic line. These 3 would open up so much ice for each other while being defensively conscious. I would also love to see a road line of the Dach-Dach-Clattenburg. I would fly to any American City purchase behind the net seats and watch the hammering those boards would receive with glee.
I don’t think Kirby Dach is the player you think he is these days.
Injuries seem to have greatly reduced his ceiling and, while he can likely still be a solid bottom six forward if he can find health, I don’t think he’s this heavy banging/battling forward you remember from Chicago. Also, not sure, but I think Habs fans got frustrated with his 2-way play.
Presuming the Habs don’t qualify him, he could be worth a $1MM base plus performance bonus contract (he is eligible as he spent 100 days on IR last season).
Clattenburg could play that role – lets see if he decides to allow himself to develop or crater his own career.
OP. You’ve been pushing for Clattenburg to play all season. Lay off already….. kidding.
Ha – I just want the kid to bear down, put in a good summer and 3-4 months of working on the right things and he could be the player that Reja thinks he is.
I was just so disappointed in the way he played the game in upon re-assignment.
Would love to see Kirby Dach added! And I agree, Nuge as 3C and don’t pursue Dickinson. A better winger in the top 6 might be an idea (to complement Hyman, Savoie, and Podkolzin. Would like that to be Howard, but that may be asking too much of the young man).
well, nobody can say the Oilers Org is a boring one.
Buckle up, sounds like this year will be quite the ride!
It might be fascinating seeing a Babcock coached Oiler team, especially if they don’t buy in.
As per Gregor’s article and the rumours, there will be plenty of motivation to buy in. For the honeymoon season. If there’s a Cup, the honeymoon may be extended. If not, next post season will likely beat this one for melodrama…
These players are well played professionals they all know the stories floating around. I’m sure they’ll judge him themselves. These players have to much to lose to hate a man they haven’t even dealt with yet.
I for one, am VERY excited about the upcoming season, because 1. the leaders seem primed to do be coached, and to do whatever it takes to win, and I hope that means finally playing a simple game to maximum efficiency. No more 1 on 3’s and for heaven’s sake, no lazy or backhand (well, Leon can fire all the backhand passes he wants) or drop passes at the blue line. 2. No more Nurse contract. Use the cap savings wisely Mr. Bowman!
I agree – for now its just words from the leaders and we’ve head them talks about “the details” after dozens and dozens of games with no change in on-ice play but I do think they’ve realized “its time” and it truly needs to be done. Their sign off on a Mike Babcock signals they are serious – again, still have to be able to do it.
Let’s not forget to add in the true rest and recharge, mentally as much as physically.
5.5 full months between games. I sill watching McDavid chill with a glass of wine on the water in Utah and then full luxury in Turks & Caicos, then some time at his cottage. Watching him have a beer at a bar before Team Canada’s first game and then at the game having a glass of wine and just cheering – enjoy your summer Connor! See you in September fully ready.
My gut feeling is that the Oilers are unfixable at the moment. “I find my lack of faith comforting.”
The end of the beginning.
Entropy.
I am not convinced that Babcock is hired, I’ll believe when I see it. I suspect that there is pressure being applied on Vegas behind the scenes and that Cassidy will be announced as HC within the month.
What is the best case scenario with Darnell Nurse? $2.5 million retained for Seeler and a 3rd? Going back 2 years, I’ve always thought Philly would be his landing spot.
What do y’all think the best outcome out of each of the Draft & Silly Season will be?
It honestly doesnt seem worth it even just for the issues they may have recruiting. They need good bottom 6/bottom 4 role players. These are the players that Babcock seems to bully… why would they want to come here
If Seeler is the return there should be no need for retention. Nurse has a lot more value and they have a ton of cap. Bowman’s moves have been such it’s hard to predict what the return might be. Complete opposite to Holland, and he usually gets extra players
I don’t think the Oilers can move Nurse without retaining any or taking back negative cap.
I would suspect Philly values Nurse the player but not at an underperformance to his cap hit. They “have the cap” but this is a four year commitment.
Would Philly sign Nurse for $9.25MM X 4 this off-season? I would think not so I don’t think they give up a positive asset, even if a lesser player, to acquire that contract.
Many pundits don’t think they have to retain. There is a lot of interest. Somebody can’t remember who said teams not on the list contacted and said they would do a hockey trade with retention. Unless it’s a significant return no retention is the best plan
Nurse plays a lot, up and down results. I don’t think his hockey contribution is that significant in terms of quality, so not getting a significant player to me isn’t that big a deal, it would be nice but isn’t a deal breaker. They just need competent, and with cap space can add the depth that they lack which is a bigger issue, and have more cap flexibility
I haven’t heard that from any pundits.
Dreger thinks they will have to take a bad contract back.
The person I trust the most, Friedman, said there is lots of interest but the contract is the issue and talked about getting it down to a $7MM deal and a hockey deal will be out there.
The org has been very reluctant over the years to move Nuge down the the third line. Has he ever been given a stretch as 3C? I don’t recall.
I think his placement is impossible to know as we just don’t know how much cap is available after the Nurse trade to obtain a 3C with the need to updgrade 3LD. I mean, if somehow Noah Cates comes back in the trade, great, but it seems unlikely. Maybe it’s Sean C. but I hope for a smaller bad cap contract.
I don’t think they fade Nuge on PP1 – all the numbers, year after year after year show the PP struggles when he’s out. If anyone gets faded I think it’s Hyman.
Knob had this weird thing about Nuge not being able to play 3rd line as they needed that line after power plays – bullocks!
In any event, I heard rumblings of another hand/wrist injury for Nuge mid-season. That does line up as he a had a very strong first third and then fell off a cliff.
I expect a better 5 on 5 season from Nuge, no matter where he plays.
I think the concern with Nuge at 3C is he isn’t the strongest skater, solid edges but not great with speed and first steps. Which is probably why he’s so much better on the PP than 5v5 throughout his career outside of one season. Babcock it seems has the C come down low to support the breakout, suits strong skating
You’re probably correct in respect to the pp and Nuge on it. I’ll throw in a different pov.
The oilers had the best or one of the best pk s in the league till the Florida panthers picked it apart.
Now no team uses that pk system exclusively. Some teams switch in and out of that system but never a full pk.
The oilers had the best pk and with all the same personnel it got destroyed by a good counter plan.
Its hard to imagine switching from the best pp over several years but I think it should be at least explored.
Draisaitl didn’t score many of his typical goals this year on the pp. Trying him at times in the Nuge spot and perhaps Howard in the drai spot or something like that and have a Nuge 2nd pp unit take some reps would give at least a plan b then could always switch back.
Anyways you’re probably right OP but I think to switch it up would be wise.
That does sound very logical and everything should be explored if it improves their ability to win games.
I guess the first question is if they are looking to commit to a “real PP2” that comes on the first clear after 60-70 seconds (generally)? Perhaps and, if they do, Nuge leading that PP2 makes some sense. I don’t believe that will be the case though and PP2 will be a changeout of Hyman/Nuge/Bouchard with McDavid and Drai staying – for the most past.
Also, back to PP1, it may have looked less dynamic this past season and maybe that’s because there were not as many Drai in his office one-timers but the PP remained incredibly effective. Prior to the Drai injury, it was at 33%, literally the best of all time. It finished at 31%, tops in the league by 2% and one of the best percentages in history.
I still go back to the numbers and they are without exception and its not immaterial how much the G/60 on the PP go down when Nuge is out – every time and materially.
Two balanced PP units worked very well for the Ducks. Might be a new twist for Edmonton. The question would be, do they have the personnel to run two balanced PP units?
PP1 is so effective, why have two balanced PP units, as it will weaken PP1?
But, injuries happen. PP1 without Draisaitl became almost ineffective. PP1 without RNH earlier in the season suffered.
Perhaps PP1a and PP1b? Start grooming the players who can shuffle in when injuries happen?
I think others have suggested the PP1a/b idea. My interest comes from a) injuries, and b) giving other offensive players a more regular taste.
I think a second pp is important even to just get more players involved in the offense. However when you have 3 of the best players in the world I think you need to operate differently.
A second pp for 45 seconds or even a second pp switching two or three out is more realistic for the oil.
Or perhaps a 40 seconds ish first pp then a pp 2. Then at the first clear/ or faceoff back to pp 1. Colorado did this a bit last year. ( although not successful)
This last plan allows extra zone time at the end of the 2 minutes with a fresh pushing pp1 against a tired pk plus potentially a third d man coming out of the box creating confusion. Potentially extending the pp pressure past the 2 minutes.
It’s well proven that after the first 45 seconds power play success drops significantly.
LT writes: “Babcock is going to be an excellent coach in his first season with the Oilers.”
How do we know this? I do hope you are correct, but the man has not coached in the NHL for six years. He has not coached a team past the second round since 2009. I suspect that his most familiar tools of persuasion will be under close scrutiny and won’t have the same impact as in prior decades. Is this Pat Quinn redux? Again, I hope not, but I lack confidence in the process that led the Oilers to Babcock.
Gregor wrote a good article a while back outlining how any coach in their first year will have a good year because every coach that has taken over the Oilers in recent years has had a good first year
My take on Gregor’s article is that, for a number of the reasons he outlines, ANY coach (including last year’s coach), has a high probability of success this coming season.
The key difference for me is that in one scenario, the one ownership and mgt have chosen, it’s the “honeymoon season.” In the scenario not chosen, it could have been the deepening of the relationship that happens by going through difficult times together.
My question: Whatever happens in this next season, how will the organization use it to build a “10-year solution,” beyond the honeymoon?
Babcock will show up with a sense of urgency no coach has been able to manage since MacT. The coach is always lollygagging through October. Babcock, by his nature, will not allow that kind of prep. I think we see a trade in preseason, too. This is going to be an unusual season.
That’s a reasonable prediction, and do hope you are right. I fully agree that it will be an unusual season.
It will be entertaining without doubt.
I hope it’s more entertaining than the off season.
I have been operating that it’s a foregone conclusion that Coffey is not back as a coach.
I suspect that, presuming it’s Babcock, DJ Smith will join him (and, if it’s Cassidy, Kevin Dean).
Gregor has said he sees Coffey as the next PoHO. I dont see him as an AGM grinding away with the younger guys.
This implies Jackson is out. I don’t see that happening. The truth is out there.
I agree with that too. Not sure where he fits, it is crowded
Truth be told Jackson should be gone.
Katz plans surround 97 staying for his career. I have zero idea what flushing Jackson might do to the plan, but will guess Jackson stays.
Maybe keep him on as a Special advisor with instructions to keep his opinions to himself.
Special advisor is a better gig than POHO. He will get paid well and isn’t tied to specific things to do or a chain of command. Just his opinions and the fun stuff
Where can I sign up ?
I’m first in line!
Also doesn’t have to do media
JJ hasnt done media since he hired Bowman anyways. And still lives in Toronto Im pretty sure
WOO-HOO.
Ponder this paradox:
Lots of questionable moves over the years, including allegations that the Big Dogs (McDavid and Drai) have been making management-type calls or approvals including on coaching, player usage, and possibly even acquisitions. The inmates are running the asylum, so to speak. They need a shakeup and a real hard ass coach to come in to disrupt and boss the bench.
On the other hand, retaining McDavid is priority #1. He has all the cards on whether or not he will be here in a year or two. To kill his confidence or make large shifts without consulting him is folly. Some rumours have 97+ in the camp of “bring Babcock in.”
How do we reconcile this?
I think it’s just wait and see. I thought it was more likely that Babcock got derailed but it seems that he might not. My guess is that if nobody hires Cassidy Babcock lasts the season at most and Cassidy ends up with the Oilers at some stage
There is nothing to indicate Babcock has changed, and it remains to be seen if he can coach a team like this and not stifle it’s strengths. Connor and Leon aren’t Datsyuk and Zetterberg and there is no Lidstrom and it’s 20 years later
There’s a Bouchard it will be interesting to see how Babcock and Bouchard relate.
It’s sounding like it’s going to be Babcock after all. I wonder if it will only be one year to start. I sure hope Cassidy is in the picture at some point.
Man that concerns me. I don’t know if Babcock will see the value Bouch brings even with his lapses. Hopefully he watched the Worlds and saw that
It occurs to me that Bouch may have been the biggest factor in the two finals. He was apparently pretty banged up these playoffs. Makar was also and the Avs were not the same team, even before MacKinnon got hurt
So then we are concerned that Babcock doesn’t believe in analytics?
I’m not. I don’t think coaches use analytics that much. Good coaches know what works without numbers. It’s more if they are right in what they think will work for their roster, and if they value systems that create better HDSC. Some coaches are too defensive oriented (conservative) and don’t value that, and they don’t last long in the NHL
Cassidy spoke about stats. He uses them to look at trends over time and assess what was changing, I think it was about the Vegans not getting as many slot shots and scoring dropping, but I bet he probably already knew that and was given a package from the stats dept, that’s their job
To me stats are more helpful with finding players and cap efficiency. They would help with systems, but as I said coaches either do the things that they would point to (more HDSC for and fewer against), or they aren’t interested in that type of play. Which would look like too much offense or too much defense
We’ll see how smart Babcock really is because this team will put him through his paces.
Babcock is apparently a very smart person. He stayed involved in hockey over the years and I presume gained a ton of knowledge on newer styles/ concepts/ tactics. If he can mix some of his previous knowledge with hopefully new concepts he may be successful.
Hopefully.
If he relies solely on his past there won’t be much success.
It’s starting to look like we’re going to be finding out, buckle up.
Maybe he forces Bouch to be even better.
Forwards committed to backtracking/ getting above pucks will make a huge difference on the Bouch 10 bell giveaways. He’d still be giving pucks away at a similar rate as other top dman but with some cover they would be much less noticeable.
Then voila… Norris.
I doubt that a career coach will have any issues identifying elite play driving and outscoring.
1) I don’t think McDavid was involved in any prior coaching decisions at all. Obviously he is involved in this one but I think that likely started with them having to go to Connor and Leon to float the Babcock thing and it led to direct contact.
Knoblauch was Jackson’s hire, through and through. History shows Jackson had lots of players go through teams coached by Knob in junior and there are years of snippets from Jackson citing Knob as a future head coach. Accounts are McDavid had only a handful of conversations with Knob since leaving Eerie and I believe it.
2) I don’t think McDavid was involved in management team building in the realm of telling the managers who he wanted them to recruit but, certainly, they floated names by him to get his thought and, of course, would get him to put in a phone call or a meet or whatever if a candidate was being procured.
Five Edmonton Oilers defenders who could step up after a Darnell Nurse trade
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7355864/2026/06/14/edmonton-oilers-defence-darnell-nurse-trade/
Nice article LT. I don’t follow how pairing Walman with Bouch is spreading the wealth. It seems like doubling up on players with the same skill sets and possibly deficiencies. To me Walman adds much better puck moving to 2 pair than Nurse, and at this point Ekholm still works on 1 pair and is a better defender than Walman to back up Bouch
Ekholm can move the puck well. He could slide in on a pair with Conor Murphy and do well. Walman is the weak link in the top four, should move the best defenseman on the team (Bouchard) to that pairing.
It could work very well. My concern would be that Walman and Bouch have a similar game (JW being more physical and meaner) and their defensive lapses might coincide, same issue as with Nurse
I’ve felt from the start Walman will be under pressure from Babcock, but he has good wheels and can transport. Positioning is always a key for defensemen, and ideally the Oilers will be able to keep Ekholm-Bouchard together. My piece at The Athletic today shows Walman vs elites is a mixed bag.
I think Murphy could be a strong partner for Walman, similar to how he was for Nurse.
A healthy Walman is a very good 2nd pairing d-man – I just hope we see that healthy player for 70 games.
And Kulak was a good partner for Emberson. Kulak & Murphy might not be too bad either. Good heavens he might actually be good with Bouch. I guess you’ve figured out I’d like to see Kulak sign back in Edmonton.
I like kulak as well but his contract will be too much for a third pair dman. His last contract was about right but still at times got criticized for being too much.
Kulak would be a safe bet but if the oil can figure out a solid second pair I think Brett is expensive insurance to have on the third pair.
Stashney to me appears to be similar to Brett and hopefully with a bit of improvement can handle full time third pair minutes at 1/4 the price. Leaving more money for other areas like 3c. Or second pair d.
I think Stastney is only a great skater and he & Emberson played together on the same pair in college, so there’s that. But that’s about it.
I think Bowman sees Stastney as Kulak light, and a lighter cap. BK has never been able to stay in a top 4 but can spot. BK will also turn 33 nest season. They need to start grooming younger D on 3rd pair. I don’t like a 3rd pair being so small, or any pair
I think if Emby stays he needs a bigger partner. I didn’t see Stast as being that good at anything as well. Smaller players need a super power or use a regular sized guy
Ekholm & Emberson would be nice too, the good old double E.
This is as I see it as well. It’s just difficult to find a biggish 3 pair d that’s not useless in certain areas like skating or puck moving. And at a million bucks.
This is part of the reason Emberson is so valuable. He can skate can move a puck can defend is able to breakup cycles surprisingly well for an average sized d.
Him and stash are probably not ideal size wise for a third pair but are cheap leaving room to upgrade other areas.
All other options currently in the pipeline other than regula are smallish as well.
I’m not sure what Stan is after with all of the smallish D. I don’t think 3LD has to be a coke machine, but taller and over 200lbs. I said a while back if the Avs don’t win the Cup how will other teams view having such a small D core, outside of 2 guys
I think that was the plan with Stastney, and it started off well, but it/he faded quite had and Stastney showed be the 6/7D by year’s end. He’s young and improving and can skate so I am hopeful that he can show to be a more solid 3LD this season but the premise of a Kulak is a 3LD with a proven track record for being able to play up the lineup when needed – given Ekholm/Walman and age/injury risk, they like need to upgrade on 3LD from Stastney, of course, presuming Nurse is indeed moved.
Kulak/Bouch played over 150 minutes together in the 2025 playoffs and crushed it….
What? Kulak as 2LD or 1LD? Not-a-chance.
My point is he plays well with everyone and when injuries occur it’s valuable having players like that.
Thanks.
Q: If Babcock, how do project Carfagna or Leppanen faring? If Cassidy?
I think both will like Carfagna’s mobility. I think both would fade Leppanen.