I wrote a story at The Athletic this morning, ranking all of the Oilers coaches down through the years. It was a fun one to write, I hope you get a chance to read it.
In examining the Oilers back pages in terms of coaching, I was struck by the impatience shown by Glen Sather as coach. He absolutely didn’t endure ineffective play for long, and he was merciless in flushing players who were no longer at peak levels. It hurt me when Lee Fogolin went away, I still remember Charlie Huddy’s reaction to being chosen in a 1991 expansion draft by the Minnestoa North Stars (don’t ask, it is a long story).
Now, impatience alone can’t help you, but an intelligent coach who isn’t satisfied with the roster is a friend of mine. Todd McLellan showed some spine (and a swank haircut!) when he held back the water for youngsters like Griffin Reinhart and Jesse Puljujarvi when they weren’t ready to help. That was in the face of general manager Peter Chiarelli telling the media both men were ready to step in and become regulars.
I think the Oilers need that kind of coach. This roster needs some nasty, as an example. So, aside from the current agitators/evildoers like Leon Draisaitl, Vasily Podkolzin, Colton Dach and Trent Frederic, maybe the club needs to sign Connor Murphy and Vincent Desharnais to help out the flatten-60 and the penalty kill.
On the other hand, if Sather were coach (and GM) he’d make time for Jordan Spence of the Ottawa Senators if available (and that is the rumour). His PuckIQ numbers are exceptional and he can move the play forward expertly. I’d love to see him here, second pair. I’m not at all sure Stan Bowman will be creative this summer, but the team needs the best version of him and then a coach to fire back if there’s something not right on the roster.
In the days to come, I’m going to write about Sather in a lather (doesn’t rhyme but it should) after the 1986 loss to the Calgary Flames and the moves made before the 1987 postseason. That’s the kind of coach and GM this team needs right now.
On the Lowdown today, we have two feature guests. Dennis King, once a regular on the show and an absolutely nails guest always, will appear at 12:40. We’ll talk Stanley Cup, Hurricanes, I’ll ask him if he follows the Oilers still and we’ll probably talk some baseball. Kevin McCurdy is our regular Wednesday guest, and we’ll chat about Mike Babcock as coach and what we’ll see in the days to come (Nurse trade, Babcock style, etc). Noon to 2pm, Sports 1440 and You Tube.
Ranking all 18 Edmonton Oilers head coaches since 1979
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7365948/2026/06/17/edmonton-oilers-head-coaches-ranking/
Great article! But George Burnett was the absolute worst.
Very interesting to see Eakins so high and above names like Krueger and Nelson. I agree he may have been very innovative but not very effective. Felt like a coach with all the tools and no toolbox
A while back a reporter (?) mentioned McLelland’s frustration with the young Oilers and how they didn’t want to play defensively. It takes some players a while to understand they can’t dominate enough to win without team and structure. Sometimes a long while
No coach had a hope. Eakins’ system looked a lot like what the panthers and Canes do now
I remember Eakins’ saying at some point after he dropped the swarm that he didn’t realize the players didn’t know how to play defence when he brought in the system and early in coaching. “Innovative but not effective” is a great way to describe him. Having a good system doesn’t make one good at analyzing, understanding and motivating players. That’s what made Sather great. He knew what guys could do and how to make them do it but also knew what they couldn’t do and whether they needed to move on.
I remember that as well with Eakins. I’ve been stumping for a while for a coach with more Sathery vibes, a stronger leader. Babcock fits that mold, except for the bully part
— one of these got “erased”. Don’t think there was going to be that much off-season intrigue activity but now there is a lot …
— Im bringing back my “what will the Oilers do this off-season” poll: most right get a PayPal contribution to the fine blog:
1) who is the head coach next year?
2) what team is Nurse on next year? (Bonus if you name player(s) returned)
3) what is the opening day goalie tandem?
4) who is the biggest new acquisition/ free agent signing as measured by AAV, excluding Nurse return
5) Murphy, Dickinson. Henrique, Roslovic and Kapenen: which ones are re-signed ?
6) Who is the Oilers first draft?
7) Is Coffey behind the bench again?
best to just answer :
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
so I can tabulate. I’ll run a few times until one of them gets answered
Thanks. Saved for afternoon reading.
Request: Do GMs next.
Slats – everyone else (well)below Mendoza line
Really?
Like macT whatever his issue you percieve had that team go to war for him loyal to last man type playing a hard 200 ft battle more often than not outgunned by price tags.
Like that detroit 1st round take down alone was a masterpiece of a team that can play whatever system impressively effective at the snap of a finger if strategically deemed neccessary.
Is that not the complete thesis of “how would you define a well coached team”?
I’ll never forgive too old achool ron low for satan but i do respect how steady a hand he had on the rudder of teams that would have surely felt even more hopeless/dysfunctional.with a more self centered coach. He had those guys generally consistently gamers.
And lastly:
What did john muckler ever do to you or your family?
— we are talking GMs. I don’t believe Muckler was GM. I don’t rate MacT Tambalini Lowe Chia as even remotely competent league average GMs. Neither does the league as they never became GM elsewhere
— Holland very mediocre and Bowman not any better.
— Not an inspiring GM hire amongst them
I’m very happy with many of bowman’s moves. Pods/ Kappy / stashney/ Ros/ Sammy.
Some moves yet to be determined but not looking great.
Some bad like the mang signing.
The players he got for free give me hope for future moves. There are always gonna be misses.
Unfortunately for us Bowman got the small stuff right and whiffed on the big ones.
Perhaps but one “small thing” has turn out to be a “big thing” in my opinion – acquiring Podkolzin for a fourth round pick for 2 years at $1MM and then re-signing him for 3 year at apx $3MM per. He has developed as an Oiler in to a legit top 2-way top 6 winger, an aggressive player who stands up for teammates, is durable, is rising on the PK and steps up his game in the playoffs.
I presume Frederic is included in the “big things” he got wrong and, sure, I can see that but, at the same time, $3.85MM is like less than 4% of the cap and I’m not sure he won’t get to be value for that deal for a portion of that contract.
The Jarry trade as well and, well, if this team can play the structure they need to in order to win (and that the top players have talked about committing to), I think he will be a .900 plus goalie for the next two years – he has a LONG history of being that.
Ah i am misreading everything today. Conment thread seemed like coaching
It was. Then I asked LT to write about GMs next. And here we are: in a history/opinion lesson for a guy who’s new to Oilerville (me).
I give Lowe a lot of credit. He kept the boat afloat, and proved he was capable of building a team that could win Stanley. He made a lot of mistakes though, and so I would rank him as an average NHL GM, and above average at times.
MacT and Tambellini were both below average, but not terrible. MacT was creative, but that had a good and a downside.
Chiarelli was awful, awful, awful here.
Thanks.
And yet no team never tired moving a player positions. Nurse would make an excellent forward. Like sweet baby Jesus. No thinking outside the box in the nhl
Don’t agree Nurse would make an excellent forward.
Don’t see any chance he’s any closer to a $9.25MM value as a forward than as a d-man, likely less valuable, highly likely he’s materially less valuable.
Im confident that that the team to acquire him, even if its one that “thinks outside the box” will play him a a d-man.
I want Klingberg back.
Forgot he was a UFA.
He was awful this past season in San Jose – swapping Murphy for Klingberg, after moving Nurse, would be horrid managing in my opinion. I wouldn’t play him over Emberson either.
Pierre LeBrun: Re Canucks:
I’ve talked to some teams over the last few days that say Elias Pettersson is definitely available, so is Brock Boeser, obviously so is Jake DeBrusk; they wanna tear it all down
– Oilers Now
The Canucks are going to have to retain to move either C Petey or Boeser.
How do you sleep at night knowing you dismantled the Canucks after praising them for years and lauding them as cup contenders lead by Quinn Hughes?
Is Ilya Mikheyev a “better Kasperi Kapanen”?
He’s definitely a more expensive one
Friedman this morning says there is a lot of interest in Nurse and teams are trying to get on his trade list. Says the Oilers don’t think he’ll have to retain much, if at all.
That Allan Mitchell guy was correct again.
I hope so – at this point its just “information”.
One man’s garbage is another man’s treasure.
Maybe in a different environment, Nurse will excel. But after multiple coaches, RHD partners, and systems, its clear that it is time for the player and team to part ways.
Dan Milstein says there is at least one prominent player agency fully supporting Babcock and his return to coaching and he mentions none of his clients have ever had, or have, any issues with Babcock.
Milstein is a top 5 agent in the league.
This was on the Puckpedia podcast dropped this morning.
Sharks acquire Michael Kesselring from Buffalo by switching late furst round draft picks.
https://www.nhl.com/sharks/news/sharks-acquire-michael-kesselring-and-the-27th-overall-selection-from-buffalo
Only 2 or 3 more RD to go.
Significant chatter that the Sharks will also acquire 1RD Filip Hronek from Vancouver.
Buffalo now owns the 20th overall pick that the Sharks acquired from the Oilers in the Jake Walman trade.
If, as expected, the Sharks take RD Chase Reid with the second overall pick as well as acquire Hronek, from Vancouver, their RD issues should be solved for a very long time.
Hronek
Kesselring
Reid
Pohlkamp
Hronek. 28, has 5 years remaining on a $7.25 million contract which will be a bargain and allow for him to mentor the youngsters.
Grier getting it done.
RIP Sharks RD. Cursed before they even had a chance. Just like the LA Kings D were cursed before them. And poor Grier. Someone should give him a heads up he’s about to become Rob Blake.
Kesselring and Pohlkamp = right d solved for a very long time. Wild stuff
Kesselring has played 2RD with considerable success
Eric Pohlkamp is a highly touted, right-handed two-way defenseman known for his heavy, NHL-caliber shot and physical, rugged play style. Drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the fifth round (132nd overall) in 2023, he transitioned to a standout star at the University of Denver before turning pro.
Pohlkamp, 22, led NCAA defensemen with 39 points and 18 goals on the season, helping the Denver Pioneers win the national championship, the first of his collegiate career. He garnered numerous recognitions during his outstanding season, including being one of the final three finalists for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, was named NCHC Offensive Defenseman of the Year and earned a place on the AHCA First All-America Team, NCHC First All-Star Team and conference All-Tournament
Chase Reid, a top defensive prospect for the 2026 NHL Draft, is frequently compared by scouts to NHL stars like Seth Jones, Kris Letang, or a right-handed version of Luke Hughes. He is widely regarded as one of the best—if not the best—skating, play-driving defensemen in his draft class. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Wild stuff indeed.
Imagine getting a 2D by flipping a draft pick while having not one but two stud young on ElCs for the next 3 years.
A question for you…
Would you rather have 26 year old 6’4” 216 Kesselring playing 2RD for the Oilers or 34 year old Connor Murphy?
Bear in mind, as Reid and Pohlkamp develop, Kesselring is likely to move to 3RD while Murphy enters hockey old age.
This has nothing to do with your original post or my response, but it does further concrete what your entire intentions are on this blog.
A question for you…
Over the last week there has been a lot of discussion on here re: Kesselring and whether he’s a 2RD. I don’t recall you piping up with “he’s played RD with considerable success.” Why not, or did your opinion change now that he’s been traded to one of your 23 favourite teams?
I don’t recall those discussions and it would have been a moot point in any event since the tiers don’t have the wherewithal to make a trade like this.
So you’re thinking Murphy is a better bet?
Why?
I brought up Kesselring numerous times over last 2-3 weeks and wondered if he was a legit 2RD or a 3D and we had this exact conversation. There was almost no-one in this community that were comfortable with him a 2RD over Connor Murphy.
San Jose can afford the audition. The Oilers can try Emberson if Murphy breaks down, he’ll have another year’s experience. I like the deal for the Sharks.
Cam Robinson from Elite Prospects.
“San Jose smashed that deal.
Kesselring is a 26yo 6-5 right-shot defender who has a lot more to give than what we saw this past season.
All SJ had to do was slide back 7 spots in a range that is an absolute jigsaw puzzle this year?
Easy money.”
I like the deal for the Sharks as well and, in isolation, would love Kesslering as an Oiler but just didn’t see the fit in Edmonton – well maybe if they locked in Murphy and made the decision to move Emberson while moving in Kesslering (or maybe even having Emberson/Kesslering battle for 6/7D – but that depends on Kesslering’s next AAV and affordability to keep both (and if the org has given up on Regula and even Stastney).
Throwing out last season in Buffalo where it would seem he was a poor fit and missed dozens of games with injury…
In his last full season in Utah…in 82GP he averaged about 17:25 in TOI/GP with
Connor Murphy averaged about 20:00 with the Oilers but a big share of that was 2:37/GP on the PK.
At 5V5 Murphy played 14:32 while Kesselring played 16:01
It would seem Kesselring with a GF share of 56.5% is doing fine.
Kesselring has a career high of 7 goals and 29 points while Murphy has a career high of 19 points (and a very ugly career -65)
As for community…I think its fair to say any players on the Oilers roster gets their lily gilded to a very large degree and if the Oilers had made this trade you would be gushing.
Both players need new deals so it will be interesting to see if the Oilers overpay for another senior citizen because you just know Grier won’t.
The Sharks have 2 D that have played in the playoffs now! Although, Kesselring has played only 1 playoff game.
I’m sure that won’t be a problem for them, right?
The Sharks are still building.
t doesn’t happen all at once but patience, consistency and good mangement will get them there.
Since Kesselring was almost free, they still have more than $40 million in cap space ($48 million if they dispose of Couture’s contract) two first round picks and and a beefy prospect pool.
I like their chances.
MY EFFING GOODNESS – you throw out last season for Kesselring of his TOI number and focus SOLELY on Murphy’s TOI in Chicago last season where he played 4-6 minutes less than every other season in recent history (as the Hawks started to work younger players up the lineup
Easy. Connor Murphy.
I like the deal and Kesslering. But he has not “played 2RD with considerable success”. His career his TOI average is 17:41.
Opportunity…
In Buffalo, the Sabes have 3 studs who all play both sides and Utah has Weeger, Marino, Durzi and Lamoreux on the right side.
He will play much more in San Jose.
Your favourites Valimaki, Ty Smith, Rafferty, etc. had opportunities, too.
Sharks gonna be unstoppable with 2 Defenceman over 500 games (one that isn’t on the team yet), one near 200 and 4 that have about zero. That could be good in 3-4 years.
Great deal by grier
Not too shabby.
Jake Walman trade tree:
Sharks acquire Walman and a 2024 second round pick (Leo Sahlin Wallenius) from Red Wings for future considerations.
Sharks trade Walman to Oilers for conditional 2026 first round pick, which landed at No. 20 overall was used Wednesday to help acquire Michael Kesselring and the 27th overall pick from the Sabres.
From that first trade for nothing, Sharks end up with Sahlin Wallenius, Kesselring and the 27th overall pick this year.
Zero salt in wound sting felt.
Was suprised kesselring was prospect to ship for rental given scarcity and he was looking solid trajectory to at least tween a career together 1 league min at a time.
But like yeah i grasp that it happens to be “edmonton’s first” but like i don’t mind they traded thst 1st for 2 years of walman. Genuinely solid gamble and big reason they were in fimals last year. Solid bet.
So…what exactly was point of extra commentary…oh yeah right. We aren’t actually having a sincere conversation.
I can offer to bring out the doll again and get you to point out where the bad oiler man touched you.
Like we can fix this if we just start honestly working on it….it’s surely time for you to heal.
Direction i was going is like “damn rights grier has a real potential problem on horizon”.
They are caet before the horse getting ready to play with big boys.
Need to take some shots at every level of term type defensive depth or they might be too heavy upfront handcuffed before actually really competitive.
If nurse and his agent are smart they would be willing to waive to san jose. Nice place to play out and be the highest potential really valued and given idealish minutes.
What’s a “furst”?
Vegas announces Ryan Craig as their new head coach. Craig was head coach of their AHL team.
Maybe they will assign Cassidy to Henderson.
I may be wrong but I dont think they can without voiding the contract as it could be viewed as a demotion and equivalent to a dismissal under employment law?
The contract will certainly contain non-assignment provisions, flowing both ways.
Internet is saying Coffey will be coming back as the D coach, imo this is great and Bouchard will break 100pts this upcoming season.
How is it that an assistant coach is basically being hired when no head coach has been hired? Or did I miss something?
Because the owner says he wants him behind the bench
Recipe for success!!!
Bringing back Coffey to keep Babcock in line?
If it happens eyes in the room, and some familiarity for the players. Also may help with Murphy
Per Gary Lawless;
I wonder when he did this – there is only one team left with a vacant coaching position.
Who else hired new head coach this offseason outside of the Pacific and Toronto?
Probably Toronto, and they hired Hiller because of his relationship with Matthews I read. There is a risk for them with Cassidy if he’s too hard for Matthews and Nylander and they want out. They just suffered a year of shackles or attempts at
All sorts of reports out now that it was Toronto and the Oilers remain a no-go for Cassidy. This is really something else and really risks blowing up on the NHL…and other sports.
They might be waiting on the Babcock investigation and will use Cassidy as a last resort.
i wonder what demands Vegas could put on Edmonton to hire him for their HC position, if any? The insanity continues. It seems like Bettman & McCrimmom have the most say on who the Oilers coach will be.
Really, we do know that the Oilers will be able to hire Mike Babcock at some point. Rick Tocchet was involved in an illegal gambling ring while coaching, and is now on his fourth head coaching gig after getting caught. It’s just a question of when. Given that TML’s big hiring was Hiller, and the Oilers are the only team without a HC, I feel like there isn’t a huge cost in waiting to see how things play out. Either Babcock can coach, or he can’t. We get permission for Cassidy, or we don’t. Tortorella is willing to coach in Canada or he’s not. Want a cup winning coach? Darryl Sutter, Bob Hartley, Claude Julien, Dan Bylsma are relatively available. Someone else? Todd Nelson, Gerard Gallant, Dean evason are all available.
Not having a coach on June 17th isn’t a huge issue. I know some people want to think that the coach has a massive impact on player procurement but about 80% of the Oilers roster is already set and the areas we need (2/3C, 2RHD, G) we aren’t going to have endless choice in. It will all get resolved eventually and then it won’t matter how long it took.
Tocchet and Gretzky were ahead of their time. Now you can’t go 10 minutes without a gambling commercial, seeing them on board advertisement or our up to date bet in-between period odds. To think the greatest hitter in baseball is still not in the hall of fame baffles me. Charlie hustle didn’t need no steroids all he needed was a stubborn streak that is the reason they wouldn’t induct him before his passing. MLB missed out on a real opportunity about redemption and 2nd chances that window is now gone forever. Of all the milestones in any sport Pete Rose 4256 career hits will never be matched.
I don’t like the place and profile of gambling in pro sports, but the hypocrisy is mind-numbing.
Gambling will be the new smoking addiction. You know this I know this and of course they know this.
Same disease, different manifestations.
Flip them a conditional 6/7 round pick for their troubles and get them to release Cassidy to interview?
That would not be permitted by the league. Can’t trade a draft pick for a coach.
If they had a good trade for Nurse they would have made it already. Which leads me to believe they have some poor offers on the table, and of those there might not be any from his preferred choices.
I wonder
It was reported that Nurse asked for a trade. If he really wanted to move wouldn’t he expand his list of teams?
Or was it management that asked for a trade by asking Nurse for his list of teams he could be traded to and he did so? Thus significantly limiting his chances of trade.
When mistrust creeps into an organization your mind can easily get here.
If the offers are poor do they still move him just cause?
They may be waiting until Nurse’s bonuses pay out or to get input from the coach on the move if there are options.
Freidman mentioned in his last pod, that Nurse’s bonuses are paid out in instalments during the season, not all at once on July 1.
Unfortunately, Nurse’s bonuses this year are 2m in each of Nov, Dec and Feb. Waiting for that is NOT the issue in a trade right now.
The NHL is like a set of dominos in any trade window. Teams look at their options, talk, talk, talk, and then suddenly at the draft Jordan Staal is in Carolina on Day 1 of the draft. It doesn’t mean the offers are good or bad (though probably not ideal), it means that they’re trying to get the best deal, trying to evaluate offers and waiting on some of the other activity to break open.
Unless one team’s offer is substantially better than everyone else, we wait.
They are probably also receiving interest from teams that are not on Nurse provisional list of approved teams, and are waiting to hear back from his camp whether he would entertain a move to those teams. The more options they can open up, the better the return will be.
Love the Kinks. So many iconic songs.
Even though it was released in 1966, I’m discovering that Face to Face was not Just “Sunny Afternoon”. Not only is “Rainy Day In June” apropos, it’s also a great freaking song! They used it on the closing credits of an episode of DTF St. Louis
I don’t know how many times I listened to “Sunday Afternoon” on a loop when I was a youngster. “Waterloo Sunset” needs to be tucked away safely for future generations to have a listen.
Best pure Rock & Roll band in history.
Vegas Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon says that the team granted permission to one unnamed franchise to interview former head coach Bruce Cassidy, but that the discussion “didn’t come to fruition”. McCrimmon noted that future interview requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
There is a zero percent chance they will let a division rival speak with Cassidy.
Karma is a thing McCrimmon, how did you enjoy losing in the finals. Keep it up.
Bowman got Backgammoned by Holland’s buddy Armstrong now it’s happening again with Vegas. Bowman needs to get his edge back or fire his ass and bring in someone that is all business no nice guy routine. I can talk to my neighbour if I want nice guy.
He literally created the Babcock circus during the finals, Bowman has shown he’s not playing ‘nice guy’ by putting his team in all the headlines during the biggest point of the NHL season.
Holland’s buddy fired off the offer sheets to the Oilers organization, Bowman had been on the job for what? A day?
And all that circus did was make the team look desperate. I remain unimpressed with the Bowman/Jackson era.
I see no desperation in interviewing Babcock, they’ve interview multiple men for the job. Hyman from all accounts has been significant in the pursuit of Babcock, Hyman who is the best FA signing in the history of the club.
The circus distracted from the finals.
Knoblauch wasn’t a Bowman hire.
Bowman got Bouchard signed.
Bowman brought in top 6 forwards in Zaksily Podgoalzman and Savoie.
How do you know it’s Bowman pushing the issue?
I’m not sure not foreseeing something that has never happened in the history of the league (that we know of), being a fired coach being prevented from talking to any team, means that Bowman is losing any edge.
I hope they’re still asking
Did this happen when the team was too busy with the playoffs to grant permission?
There you have it they were never going to let the Oilers have access. The whole focused on the playoffs thing was just a lie to draw this out and further delay the Oilers. One more reason to dislike Vegas. I hope we hammer them every game next season.
Yep – the Cassidy ship has sailed it seems for this season.
I heard Oleksiak being brought up as a replacement for Nurse on the 3rd pairing…
I’m wary of older UFAs but looking into his numbers on a bad Seattle, they’re better than I expected.
I prefer bigger players, but there is too big. The way Bowman seems to be moving toward puck movement is right for the Oilers. They need to play better team D. Any D acquired needs a balance between the two. As Spec was saying about Murphy, he’s not flashy but more than a glass and outer
Bowman teams no matter how big the players were could always make a pass tape to tape. I can see why Bowman wants to replace Nurse who still can’t make passes regularly at high speed. If Nurse was capable of this skill along with a little more bark Bowman isn’t shopping him.
Even if there is risk I get why Bowman wanted this. Too expensive, inconsistent, lots of weak reads, not a physical force anymore, passing not great, own goals, lots of icings. His biggest ability is availability
Bowman isn’t just doing ‘all in, win now’. He’s trying to improve now and also building to keep the team strong over time, Connor or no Connor. It had to happen at some point, get on with it and deal with what happens. If it gets done the cap can be spread around for better depth
I would want Nurse and agent to give it some deep thought on okaying a trade to a team not on their no fly list. If not a landing spot like Philly-San Jose can be replaced with Winnipeg or Columbus next offseason. The Rangers played hardball with Trouba and he eventually blinked. Nurse was signed by the previous G.M.
Nurse doesn’t play 3rd pairing, Oleksiak does. He’s not a replacement. Older, slower, he seems to be a downgrade in every way.
He is a downgrade, but his salary and line-up position will reflect this.
I personally don’t think the Oilers are looking to replace Nurse. It’s not really feasible money wise, unless they get rid of Walman as well.
The Oilers have an internal replacement for 2LD, in Jake Walman – yes, injuries are a concern but, when healthy, he is a legit 2LD in this league. If Nurse is traded, the Oilers need a high end 3LD who can play up the lineup when injuries hit.
Per Gregor:
Oilers announce preseason schedule:
Sept 19th v. WPG
Sept 22nd @ WPG
Sept 24th @ VAN
Sept 26th v. CGY.
A reminder there are only four preseason games now (amazing) and veterans (100GP) can only play two games.
I’m not sure where Vinny D plays in this lineup with Ty Emberson locked as 3RD at a very good number (and likely a very manageable number going forward).
I like Jordan Spence but, if we move Nurse, I think we need to think about PK minutes and Murphy remains a good fit on this team – in my opinion.
I know I just posted about not getting Vinny but he’d be replacing Emberson, Spence would be replacing Murphy.
Vinny D make zero sense in Edmonton.
Spence is too small for me. The Canes used two smaller D but the other guys are big, and Gost was sheltered on 3rd pair
I agree. I think Emberson is difficult to upgrade at 3RD.
If the oilers decide they need a tougher look on the third pair after acquiring a 2RD with less toughness, then Vinny makes sense. But that a lot of ifs and moves.
Unless that 2RD is a sure thing( not Spence) it’s pretty risky to trade Emberson.
— who know if Hiller ends up being the “right coach”. Without a doubt the Leafs however have had the “right approach” and superficially there appears to be merit in his hire : analytics, good guy knowledge of core current head coach etc.
— clearly they conducted a fulsome search and they landed on Hiller who wasn’t leaked
— compare and contrast to the Oil who after getting frustrated that they couldn’t get Cassidy they leak that. Then the pivot to Babs and leak that. No one else mentioned.
— No leaks about a comprehensive search or interview process or names other than the only two they have locked in on. No other candidates.
— I just don’t get how this happens
Edmonton probably provided them cover.
It was widely reported that the Oilers interviewed Bérubé, Laviolette, and, I think, Hiller.
— I wasn’t aware of this. If so that’s great
— It was always Cassidy though. Then Babs.
And I proposed also now Torts…
I guess Edmonton is now the center of the NHL universe and the only team without a head coach. Not only that but it appears they aren’t allowed to pick who that coach might be.
Jim Matheson
@jimmathesonnhl
Best news ever just four exhibition games for all NHL teams now. Oilers have home and home with Jets and singles vs Calg and Vanc. Vets can only play 2 of 4 pre-season games. Shorter exhib season makes it harder on prospects to make nhl rosters
Hopefully we get a coach that doesn’t continue training camp into November. IIRC both Woody and KK did this
I think it was the lack of experience and that both focused more on tactical things. Sort of like the approach was playing chess with the other coach, players the game pieces. The team building side shouldn’t be underestimated. It’s a feature of champ teams, both coaches lacked with that, Woody a little better
Clear roles, TOI, get everyone involved and build identity and cohesiveness
Peobably missed this yesterday but:
Am i alone thinking the preds just took colorado behind a wood shed on that colton trade?
Higher upside potential goalie
2x3rnd picks
Colton who = 1x3rd pick at least at deadline
Like there are goimg to be lots of teams that can easily absorb cap hits…the war of flat cap attrition is over and this deal looks like it must not be.
The picks went to Colorado. Given the Avs cap situation, it seems to me that MacFarland must have felt like he owed Sakic.
Ah…k that makes it make more sense.
The Avalanche acquired Colton from Tampa for a second round pick in 2023 and now traded to Nashville for 2 thirds.
His $4 million cap hit became excess baggage after Colorado acquired several other forwards including Necas, Kadri, Roy, Drury and getting Landeskog back from hiatus.
Colton is a natural centre playing on the wing but should be a much better fit in Nashville who had poor centre depth..
Magnus Chroma – 6’6″ 216 – the goaltender acquired by Colorado has played 9 games in the NHL and 85 in the AHL. He is a former Denver Pioneer so the AVs should have significant intel on him.
The goaltender going the other way, Isak Posch, split his time last season as backup in the AHL and the ECHL.
Colorado likely got the better prospect.
I did not require nor care to even bother reading this.
The quick article i read laying out trade did a bad job of segmenting off who went where. At least for speed readers as i went over it “quickly 3 times just at a loss”.
But i’m glad colorado ar still amazing. I look forward to all those LA prospects doimanting division….or is it the ducks now? Or is it the sharks? Or is it utah? Who knows until next season starts and “who’s in 1st” starts anew!!!
P.s. personally cheering for utah as like i straight up called this like 4 years ago when you were in full “everything about LA is the most bestest things!! Speaking of oiler prospect x did i mention all.these LA prospects yet today? Etc etc
Ah dammit i’m in doctor office waiting.
Okay as per usual garbage narrative machine on full tilt verses anything resembling balance.
I can nob if (Iccanobif) you need me to reverse direction.
But yeah nob if it was oilers:
-> they had to fo this because they are most cap strapped team in league
-> clearly have to bleed middle 6 talent just to ice full roster
-> good they got 3rd round picks here buttt a 2nd rounder has way high odds of a real prospect and they baddly need a boost of tslent in their pipeline like insert lottery team with top 3 prospect ranked system according to whatever source i like best version
-> it’s clear they got back the older likely lower ceiling goslie here. The one they sent mad an AHL allstar team. Time will tell that surely they gave away a grad A prospect goalie for a temp seat filler variety here according to me because that is best feelimg thing to base all my narratives tinted whatever colour rose i like that particular moment in utterly poorly bias logic confidently turdshined.
Sonething like that pretty much all you said again.
Only one team left without a head coach…….
If it’s Babcock, I’ll be excited about adding DJ Smith.
Id be much more excited about adding Kevin Dean along side Bruce Cassidy.
I’d even be excited about a Torts hire at this point.
You’d prefer Torts over Cassidy (and Kevin Dean)?
No but I’d prefer Torts over Babcock. It’s becoming so tiresome.
Torts is not coming to Canada
As new voices wade in around the league, apparently Cassidy was not a player favourite. Which could be good or bad. Earlier I said at least they can fall back on Knoblauch which seems ridiculous yet not out of the question at that time. .
Now again, as more information comes out, it confirms what many felt about Knoblauch. He was okay but fell sharply when it came to accountability, team building and implementing systems.
Leadership saying they “want to be pushed” speaks volumes.
It may or may not mean anything but note that the Avs required their own 3rd round pick in yesterday’s trade. Own picks are needed for offer sheet compensation. I think it’s notable.
Didn’t Knoblauch, albeit passively, fire back about J Skinner, Arvidson, Mangiapane and Jarry?
Implicitly or explicitly he was very clear on how he felt about all of them
Maybe but Arvidsson and Mangiapne were given every opportunity to play and play in the top 6 with this team – they just didn’t perform near required levels (in particular Mang).
Skinner never really got a real chance and seemed to get benched, scratched, etc. while playing well and, seemingly, doing the right things – that one seemed personal (from afar).
Arvidsson has 54pts in 69 games as a Bruin.
Knoblauch couldn’t put a game plan together to score on a wet paper bag unless it involved a top 5 player in the world doing top 5 player things.
Yes this is a big tell our offence was drying up with K.K as the year went on. We should have easily out scored a young Anaheim team with a leaky goalie in Dostal.
I would love to see Walman-Bouchard, sign Kulak and Murphy as second pair and then get Ekholm and Spence or Emberson as third pair.
You would need to move a lot of Nurse’s salary without excess retention or painful return in trade. Not sure that is possible, but you would have puck movers on all three pairings and could let Ekholm rest more during the regular season on third pai
Toronto Maple Leafs
@MapleLeafs
Jim Hiller has been named the 41st Head Coach in franchise history!
JFresh
@JFreshHockey
Some cope for Leafs fans – under Jim Hiller, the Kings were:
– 2nd in 5v5 goal share
– 7th in 5v5 xGoal share
– 7th in 5v5 shot share
Is that cope or hope? I could see TO fans struggling to cope with Hiller.
Jeff Marek
@JeffMarek
Leafs – Hiller had a great relationship with Matthews in Toronto and is an analytic thinker (I believe he met Babcock while pitching an analytics company).
Nylander-Matthew-McKenna-McDavid all they need is a couple puck moving D and a big save goalie. They have 2 years this would definitely be my sell to Mattews.
Looking forward to the show today!
Always great to see old friends talk about success.