At the beginning of the year (back in September), there were 10 rookies of interest. Matt Savoie and Ike Howard were the frontrunners, with Roby Jarventie, Viljami Marjala, Quinn Hutson, Alec Regula, Damien Carfagna and Beau Akey. David Tomasek and Atro Leppänen weren’t technically rookies, but I included them in the count.
My reasonable expectations series had the NHL GP as: Savoie 76, Howard and Tomasek 50, Jarventie 9. It landed like this: Savoie 82, Howard 29, Regula 29, Samanski 24, Tomasek 22, Clattenburg 5, Hutson 4, Jarventie 3. In the September article, I wrote “you never know who spent the summer running up that hill (Kate Bush aside). I had four newcomers playing at least a game in my reasonable expectations, it could be more. Hell, Connor Clattenburg could make the NHL for a game. Opportunities can appear for all manner of players.” It happened just that way. Here is the final review.
FINAL TAKE 2025-26 ROOKIES
Total rookies of interest: I had 10 noted at the beginning of the year, and the answer was nine. The players I listed that did not play: Marjala, Carfagna, Beau Akey and Atro Leppänen. The players who did play (that I did not list) included Samanski, Clattenburg and Colton Dach was acquired in-season. Samanski’s emergence from DEL player to NHL player is a credit to Samanski and to the organization. We shouldn’t look past that accomplishment.
2025 draft notes: The scouts get an A from me. Tommy Lafreniere, David Lewandowski and Asher Barnett all emerged as actual NHL prospects. An impressive haul from an organization that had very little draft capital entering the weekend.
Best player as a rookie: Savoie and it isn’t close. The second half of his season was so impressive it’s impossible to create a scenario where he enters camp without a top-six forward job locked up. Mike Babcock will love him.
Second best player: Josh Samanski played fewer games than Ike Howard, and won’t be the best player over their respective careers, but he impressed with his defensive acumen and awareness. An absolute revelation from hockey’s hinterlands.
Oldest player: David Tomasek. The man had chances, on the power play and via cherry passes from Leon Draisaitl. Making the leap at 29 is basically impossible. I wonder if Eduards Tralmaks has a better chance after a year in the AHL to get acclimated. Different player-type as well. More foot speed.
Most unusual story: Samanski. I thought it might be Leppänen but Samanski blew it out of the water. I think we’ll forget how good he was by training camp, and maybe Mike Babcock will see him bad, but my goodness that was impressive.
Longest career: It was Savoie all down the line. I will say Howard has a chance to push the conversation, but until he can do all the things at the NHL level, this category is a short conversation.
Anything else? Clattenburg’s season can’t be overlooked. He was less impressive in the AHL, but his NHL time was outstanding and he shouldn’t change a thing. He isn’t going to be a puck transporter and won’t make a living via passes, but the man has some nice touch around the net. He can hit hard and if he can stay on the right side of the puck and pay attention to defensive detail, this fellow could have a Zack Stortini career with a few more goals and a solid goal share. That’s something.
On the Lowdown today, it’s Bagged Milk from Oiers Nation to talk offer sheets, how to spend the extra money and training camp battles of interest. Noon to 2pm, Sports 1440 and You Tube.
It’s not even August and I’m excited for next year.
I believe with Bowman’s moves (Shea, Samanski, Dach, Dickenson, Murphy, Levi, Freddy and minus Nurse) and Babpenis, this upcoming season is promising!
Lots of roster turnover so I’m nervous.
But it’s been a very fun 12 days or so.
too hot to get excited but the changes could lead to some inspired hockey.
Especially since everyone in the Pacific is running in place or getting worse.
SJS:
Ivar Stenberg
Mason Marchment
Darnell Norse
Jacob Trouba
Michael Kesselring
Mattias Havelid
Eric Corrie
Not running in place or getting worse.
Is Norse a Nurse winning Norris prediction?
Thats how bad SJS defence was last year that you think adding Trouba Nurse and 5’9 22yo Havelid with 12 points in the AHL as ‘not running in place’
Trouba>>>Klingberg
Nurse>>>Ferraro
Kesselring>>>Liljegrin
While certainly not all star level it is clearly not running in place or worse.
Eric Pohlkamp could surprise.
A top pair of Nurse/Trouba and run with it as the way forward?
San Jose is so lopsided their head is dragging on the ground. That team will get shelled all season long.
Similar to when Nurse, Jones and Werenski signed, I’d debate that these offer sheets and Anaheim’s decisions has 2 to 3 year influence on the league.
Larkin? Get bent. Bedard? Injured. The only contract that could reset the scale is McD, and it’s clear he’s taking the Crosby route.
I do agree with those that have noted that Carlsson’s contract shouldn’t really cause a whole bunch of crazy high RFA deals. It is a clear outlier in a specific situation of an offer sheet. So unless another GM agrees another up and coming, but not fully proven talent is worth another $18M offer sheet, they have plenty of lower, more realistic, comparables to use in negotiations
It’s the true top talents that reset the market. First Leon and then Kiril. It should have been McDavid, but he did us a solid They set the new upper limit and the real top tier of players will, rightfully, compare themselves to them to either match or go slightly higher. No one is going to buy $18M for Carlsson as a persuasive argument in a negotiation. The next star contract will be more than $18M because Kiril gets $17M, not Carlsson
The two offer sheets this year were, I believe a direct result of the lack of quality and quantity in the free agent market. If next year, there are more and better free agents, the clubs will blow their available dollars throwing them at declining vets like they have in past years.
I was able to listen to the Agent Provacateur podcast for a few minutes and Alan Walsh mentioned that the “normal” process is that an interested GM reaches out to a rival club and tells them they’re planning to offer sheet a young player. They then ask if there is an equitable trade that could be made instead, to forestall any hurt feelings between the clubs. Walsh mentioned that a number of RFA players were traded under the threat of a pending offer sheet.
Obviously, due to the bruised egos on the Philly management, they did not follow the “traditional” old boys’ club method and dropped the offer sheet blindsiding the Ducks. I guess they felt revenge is a dish best served two years later, $90 million at a time.
Interesting, although I’m not sure that’s universal GM courtesy
– I hadn’t heard of STL notifying the Oilers before their offer sheets, otherwise maybe coulda ditched Nurse earlier JK
EE go to 4-1 with a resounding 40-17 win over OTT. Team looks good in all three phases. Justin Rankin scores 3 TDs. Blanchard 3-3 with a 50 yarder. EDM D with 4 picks.
Next up, they’ll look to avenge their only loss with a Friday home tilt against the BC Lions.
Keep the spirit going maybe some of us will return.
I’m still in the “is this for real???” Phase but it’s been pleasant to watch.
Killam put some good things in place last year and if you weren’t too cynical you could see the worm turning.
Rankin has been fantastic. 100 yards a game average so far.
Long season though so can’t get carried away. It sure would be nice to see a packed Commonwealth a few times this year.
Killam has been a breath of fresh air for this team.
That Leo Carlsson contract is nuts. $18m for what has so far been unremarkable…
’23/24 (rookie season) 55 games – 29 pts
’24/25 – 76 games – 45 pts
’25/26 – 70 games – 67 pts
We’re gonna have some really rich hockey players in the coming months. Connor at $12.5m is absurd and Leon at $14m is crazy. The rising cap will provide many opportunities… for both mistakes and rewards. But that $18m is just too much for too little.
Good grief…he is only 21 years old and has more than 200 NHL games under his belt ad at that age is just getting started.
While his contract seems extreme, hold on until you see what Bedard and Celebrini sign for.
It’s a brave new world.
Chicago’s going to make such a mistake on an undersized one-trick pony. It’s going to be amusing.
These are Elias Pettersson deals. Stupid for everyone involved.
Celebrini will earn his dough. The other two won’t.
Jeez. I believe Carlson is the real deal.
After only celebrini for a forward that age group in my opinion. Time will tell I suppose.
“Real deal” and $18M player are two different things.
He’s probably quite good. Doesn’t mean anyone should give him that dough. Doesn’t mean it won’t wreck him as it has wrecked other players and teams. That’s what my wager would be on.
Won’t be the first player to struggle after signing a huge contract. How will his teammates view him now that he’s the 18 million dollar man?
This is definitely in the same mould as the Pettersson and PLD. After all superstars show early.
McD became the highest paid player in the league when he averaged 1.22 points per game in his ELC.
Draisaitl got 8.5 after proving himself in a bridge AND it was still thought as an overpay.
Carlsson is gonna need to average over 105/season to make this make any sense.
Procurement last year was really good. What was the staffing change that explains the higher calibre of results?
I think it is mostly to do with Bowman having enough time to re organize things, and that they have been adding more people everywhere
Steve Simmons:
The new Maple Leafs took the axe to 11 longtime employees on Wednesday. Among those let go: longtime scout, Dave Morrison; director of amateur scouting, Mark Leach; assistant GM Darryl Metcalf and many from the analytics department.
The analytics movement has been a blessing a a curse. Took away a lot of good websites and writers.
Darryl Metcalf’s Extra Skater website was a thing of beauty. I still miss that website.
Their scouting seemed good. Hopefully it doesn’t work out like when Holland changed an already good scouting staff to bring in his own guy. Leafs fans dont seem happy about it.
also firing a bunch of analytics staff including developers makes me wonder if they are just going to use Chayka’s company.
I’ve heard arguments for and against, people and claims both credulous and incredulous, and now I just wanna see this Tralmaks feller get a shot.
How can you not 🙂
Pay attention to that one exhibition game he gets lined up with Owen Michaels and Marjala.
His neck looks like a thigh, and his thighs are probably tree trunks. AND he has boots? Lordy (as some might type)!
It’s so important for GMs to grasp where the league is heading. We’ve come out of almost a decade of Covid related flat cap. It was to the point that even the very best in the league had almost “negative value” since trading for one of these guys would flip your cap inside out. We were parting with first round draft picks just to buy a couple million in cap space via retention.
I know it doesn’t feel like it yet but there is, and soon will be, plenty of cap space across the league. It’ll still have value to select teams but nowhere near what it once did.
Now the new mantra will become “get stars no matter the cost”.
Not one but TWO teams were willing to trade four first rounders for the rights to sign Leo Carlsson to 18M per season.
Chicago paid a 4th overall pick to have the right to sign Bowen Byram to the same salary as McDavid.
Seattle wanted to pay 15.5 million for Jason Robertson.
It’s the roaring 20’s and the Oilers have one brief moment where they might be able to target a superstar before the costs reach the stratosphere. The rumored deadline cost of a couple firsts for Robert Thomas is nothing nowadays. If Carlsson at 18.5 is worth four firsts what is Thomas at 8.5 worth?
Go blow the doors off a mediocre team with a true star and see what you can get. Pastrnak, Nylander, Thomas, Scheifele, Forsberg, Kempe, Barzal, Horvat.
Get McDavid applying pressure. Offer three firsts and see who bites.
It will be interesting to see how teams respond. My guess is there are maybe half of the teams that have the resources to follow the cap, ie internal budgets and owners that want the profit that’s there. It’s have and have nots again, thankfully the Oilers are now a have
With how young players are now teams will have to up their organizations which costs money or be more likely to get sheeted. Those that don’t will have to at least be ahead of it and trade guy’s preemptively
The market is definitely wacky. If Thomas is available, he would fetch an absolute haul.
The offer sheet is tailor-made for good teams to get great players. The Flyers are too good to bottom out and too bad to win anything without a star. Those 1st rounders are worth nothing at 28-32 if you’re getting a bonafide star. Those guys are only at the top. UFA market is crickets for the next few years and always paying for what a guy used to do, not what he’s doing.
League has taken a hatchet to tanking. I agree. Offer sheet has become much more attractive in a skyrocketing cap world. It is no longer the efficiency contest as it used to be.
Now to get rid of NTC’s. That’ll never happen but if you want the offseason headlines like the NBA those have to go.
Amen. Dispatch the ninjas and honey traps.
It’s weird to me that we’re extrapolating outrageous offer sheets as the new normal, when this Carlsson one is seen by many pundits as revenge by the Flyers for the Gauthier situation. Seems like an outlier.
The interesting thing imo is that this latest offer sheet is not that dissimilar to KLowe’s motivation on the Dustin Penner offer sheet AND both revenge offers were spurred by intended retribution against the Ducks.
I’m confused as to why Philly would be seeking “revenge” against the Ducks – I mean, they lost the trade but what did the Ducks do wrong except make a good trade. Revenge against Gauthier, sure, for how that went down but against the Ducks.
It doesn’t really matter but I”m not sure if I’m missing something.
There’s been some allegations of back channel tampering by the Ducks.
Elliotte Friedman
@FriedgeHNIC
We also have our first arbitration settlement of the summer:
Xavier Bourgault (OTT)
NHL: $850K
AHL: $265K
That looks reasonable.
Yeah, dude had to file for arbitration so they’d pay him a better AHL salary
As of right now, two forwads out of Jone, Janmark, Joseph, Howard and Samanski need to be removed from the roster unless an IR placement saves one or both.
Its tough to see Tralmaks break through early, however, if he stats the season hot in the AHL and has like 7 goals in 10 games and they need a call up, presuming Howard and Samanski are in the NHL, he could jump the list……
I like Tralmaks chances better that Howards.
Based on what? Howard’s offensive season in the AHL last year, at 21 years old, was vastly superior to that of the 29 year old.
I don’t see it happening but likely if he gets up there its because like you said, started on fire and another reason – he is a freakin tank – the coaches will like that. His chances are slim to none BUT if he gets called and does well, that would be pretty damn impressive and a good problem
A player that size with wheels and some touch… Drai, Podz, Tralmarks…
Tralmaks is a goal scorer also, he has played 151 games at the AHL level scoring 48 goals while adding 35 assists. He is obviously older than Howard, that just means he’s more experienced. He’s also 6’4″ and 218 lbs. and his game could translate to the NHL easier that Howard’s. Simply because he would not be restricted to only being used in the top six as a goal scorer, which he has proven to be at every level he has played, though not at the NHL level . But Howard hasn’t proven he can score at the NHL level either. I see the 29 year old’s size and maturity to be vastly superior to the 21 year old.
So because he’s big and old?
That’s not my point and you know it.
Tralmaks has an interesting resume. 6’4″ & skilled. He lead the Czech league in scoring two seasons ago, played well in the AHL, lead Latvia in goals/points at the Olympics and scored 6 points in 3 games at the World Championships.
I doubt he plays over Howard but I believe they will give Tralmaks a real shot this year.
Bowman has a vested interest in Howard, he gave up a lot for him. Tralmaks can play his way up, Howard has the pole position methinks
Bowman has a knack for rebounding from his error’s of judgement. Not that Howard is an error of judgement, but the jury is still out.
He is entering the 2nd year of pro hockey and the 2nd year of his ELC.
The jury is out on most players of that age.
He still has time to flip him for a better fit.
And he would
Ducks have officially announced that they have matched on Leo Carlsson.
Wonder if this will improve or hurt the supposed wonderful team culture we’ve heard about?
And then there’s this:
“The real reason everything Is falling apart in Anaheim has been exposed”
Chris Gosselin
HockeyFeed
https://apple.news/ALDTOcA3JSda4Qcq9uUCXNQ
The article is Gosselin making stuff up based on a tweet from Frank the Fraud on Oilersnow who just yesterday got roasted by agent Dan Milstein for just making stuff up about Mintyukov. Frank banged the Cronin drum almost as hard as Commodore on Babs.
‘I agree with it because it is exactly what I wanted to hear’
Several stinking canards in that piece.
Suggesting Mintyukov is being paid like a #1D is patent nonsense.
Not only is Mintyukov clearly slotted at LD behind Jackson LaCombe but a $7.2 million cap hit is hardly first pairing money.
In the digital media age one has to know who is writing and their bonafides
How does he say no to that contract, even if he’s 100% happy in Anaheim, with Verbeek was offering in the $12MM upper range?
I mean, he could have taken the deal to Verbeek and said “what can Anahim do before I sign this” – maybe he did?
There are account that Mintyukov had Milstein seek out offer sheets after the Carlsson deal went down so the young player culture on that team seems to be “I want to get paid now”.
Get used to the new reality.
The “young player culture:” has changed and it will not be confined to the Ducks.
You’re only saying this because you have been gushing over Verbeek as a GM and his work until recently where it’s coming out more that Verbeek sucks at negotiating.
It’s easier for you blame the culture than self reflect and possibly admit you were wrong.
He’s say it because it’s true.
If my employer talked about being a team player and team culture and offered me a raise, but another employer offered me a 50% increase on what my current employer is offering me, I don’t think most people across any generation would turn it down.
Culture and respect goes both ways. Too many employers try to take advantage of their employees by making their employees feel like they are not being “team players” by asking for what they are worth.
Verbeek is a shitty negotiator, plain and simple. The gap between what he was offering the player vs what another team offered is enormous.
So is Carlsson worth $18M per season? The Flyers took a shot with an insane offer mostly to use as a weapon to force damage on another operation. They had to be prepared if the Ducks didn’t match, but either way they’re happy with the outcome.
They should be even happier the Ducks matched the offer otherwise they would have to deal with an $18M drain on THEIR salary cap.
Not even close to that.
You’re not in a hard-capped office where taking that cash will make you have to be surrounded by the incompetent and limit your professional legacy.
Leo would need at least 160 points next year to cover the bet…and that ain’t happening. He’s not scoring 75 goals either. You could get those and more for that money spread out on 2 or 3 players.
Very rarely that’s the case
Milstein called out Frank’s report as fake.
of course he did. What else would he say?
This offer sheet nonsense is out of control and needs to be looked at. I guess Bettmans solution is to raise the salary cap which seems to be out of control also.
The cap rises is directly tied to revenues and is mandated in the CBA. Bettman doesn’t raise the cap.
Nonsense. Offer sheets are a great way for RFAs to get paid their actual worth, instead of being exploited by cheap GMs with talk of “team culture”. 90% of players will never win a Stanley Cup, so they should absolutely striveto get paid as much as they can while they can.
Exactly so.
And the GM’s of successful teams will be the ones who recognize enduring talent early and locking it up while moving on from mediocrity before it gets paid.
There would seem to be a lot of criticism of Pat Verbeek’s methods but he is demonstrating that he values the right things although he should have locked up Carlsson and Gauthier a year ago.
It’s a pretty good bet that he won’t make that mistake again.
It’s a great way for RFA’s to get paid way more that they are worth, way before they have even earned it.
Consider them as investments.
The successful investor identifies growth stocks early and locks them up for the long term.
The old approach, which seems may soon pass into history, is to place all your bets on PAST performance in hopes it will persist.
“The old approach, which seems may soon pass into history, is to place all your bets on PAST performance in hopes it will persist.”
This is simply not a true reflection of history.
I think the lesson teams must learn is figure your players out early, and don’t grind ones you don’t want to lose. Drai was too much when he signed his last one, for a season or two
7x15M = 105M
5x18M = 90M
2x22M (or more) = 44M
90+44 = 134M
The owner lost 29M at least, plus fewer seasons of the contract increasing in cap efficiency as the cap jumps as much as it would have. Not good business
That doesn’t even include inflation on the other contracts they will sign
Put yourself in their position one hit like the one on Bouchard at World Championship could end your career. Plus your agent can be very convincing on the pros and cons of excepting an offer sheet.
The nonsense, as I understand it:
-GMs leave their teams vulnerable by hard-balling/grinding/slow-playing/etc young talent instead of getting them signed/trading them
-GMs make their teams vulnerable by making unbalanced offers.
Today’s tempest started with, as I understand it, Verbeek failing his team by being naive as a negotiator. Brière participated by skewering his own current and future negotiations by making an offer that will quite possibly limit his future negotiations by.
All GMs are now on alert:
-if you value a pending RFA talent, sign them or trade them.
-don’t make offer sheets terms and conditions that you would not be able to honour amongst your own upcoming talent.
This is a GM-created tempest. Bettman is best to let GMs fix it with prudent signings, trades, salary negotiations.
The entire compensation chart (offer sheet AAV’s) for offer sheets needs to be revisited given the spike in salary cap. Or was that done already? (don’t think so).
Never in doubt.
I’m an oilers fan all the way. Good or bad.
I also always have a second favourite team based on the way the team is constructed and the way they play.
Was buffalo then Ottawa. But the last two years my second fav was Anaheim. Nearly a perfect roster with lots of options to perhaps improve the D.
It’s a shame that that team will likely find mediocrity as opposed to a decade at the top.
But at least the oilers still come first.
The Ducks ar e far from cooked.
While Briere served them up a curveball, once they get Gauthier resolved, they can move forward.
I expect they will trade Vatrano (might have to attach a pick) and perhaps Killorn while they can exceed the cap by $7 million until Troy Terry returns form injury expected in the new year.
After offseason departures, their D remains unfinished but they are stacked with early 20’s prospects and one or two should emerge.
Next offseason, their cap situation eases up significantly.
“ they are stacked with early 20’s prospects and one or two should emerge.”
This is what the Kraken expected with their young talent and now look at them.
*could
Not should.
Their defence has to be a concern, it should take years to recover.
Nah..
The Ducks top prospect is 2024 first round pick Stian Solberg.
The 6’2” 205 Norwegian Olympian might make the team out of camp after a season in the AHL.
Ian Moore, Tristan Luneau, Tyson Hinds and Drew Helleson are also prospects of note.
They will miss Trouba, Carlsson & Gudas. Inexperience on the backend is challenging.
Yes, Alex Regula and Ty Embeson are also prospects of note…..I guess.
Sad that Peter Pocklington started this practice but Dundon is really taking this to another disgusting level. Granted his kindergarten age daughter is one helluva power forward.
https://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/article/hurricanes-stanley-cup-engraving-features-names-of-owner-tom-dundons-entire-family-160255769.html
Not exactly the best tactic for team building.
What’s next the family Dog-Cat? What about the Monkey they met at Maya beach near Phi-Phi Island?
I am positive that my dog would merit Cup engraving if my team won the Cup. We better make sure there’s room for Doodle McDavid.
What about Cuddles Clattenburg?
The League isn’t unreasonable on this. They’ll draw the line at pet fish.
What if the Fish identifies as a Dog?
Pretty weird the engravers can’t just check that the person was a part of the org. No offence to his kids but that’s a giant middle finger to people who worked their whole lives for that honour.
Just heard they didn’t have room for their long time trainer. Boo
You’ve heard of participation trophies. Dundon is trying to turn the Stanley Cup into a non-participation trophy.
Affiliate yourself with the right DNA. Get your name on the Cup!
Dundon is a flake and fringe billionaire, kind of from the same tree as PP
I 100% disagree that Connor Clattenburg “shouldn’t change a thing”. Of course, his impact in the NHL will be based on truculence and aggression which should include, getting in on d-men retrieving puck and banging hard along with getting the opposition caring about him and trying to fight and taking penalties.
Thing is the org knows he can hunt for hits and fights, that is not something he needs to work on and develop except for picking his spots WAY BETTER.
Clattenburg needs to work on things such as being able to get picks off the defensive boards and out, making the right reads in the neutral zone with puck going either way, taking a pass at speed in the neutral zone and quickly making the next right puck play.
He needs to be able to do those things at the NHL level or he can’t play – Babcock won’t play him, no coach will. He struggles to do those things at the AHl level right now.
The org sent him down to work on those things and he did none of it. Zero. He solely hunted for hits and fights and spent more time in the penalty box than on the ice. He eventually got himself hurt for the fourth time in less than a year of pro after he was moved down the lineup playing 4th line behind ECHL call ups. His coach, many times, said “we are trying to get Connor to play hockey” – he refused.
If he commits to working on a bit is skill and structure, he can play in the NHL and impact. It won’t even take long, half a season. It’s up to him.
I recognize everything you say is correct. Yet
Once he is tamed, he definitely won’t make it.
He won’t make it if he’s not “tamed” a bit – he’s been hurt four times (for term) in less than a year of pro and was in a walk-in boot at Development Camp.
He did “tame himself” in his few games in the NHL, part of the reasons he was somewhat effective in his role.
I’m not saying to take hitting and fighting and aggression and pissing off the opposition out of his game but it can’t be his SOLE focus – he has to develop a certain level of responsible play or no coach will play him in the NHL except for one game a year for a “back-story game”.
The org knows he can hit and fight – he’s not going to lose that by focusing on other this in order to develop his game, right?
The only reason he’s even getting a look is because of his willingness to fight and hit,
once that disappears he has nothing left. He will get tuned in at the NHL level and it won’t be pretty.
The White Coats call this player an energy player. Clattenburg earned his way to the show and he exceeded expectations. Bowman got caught with his pants down hence the call up of a 20 year-old 5th rounder who hasn’t even filled out yet. Bowman has added Joseph-Dach-Murphy who can dish it out if need be. Clattenburg is never going to turn into a Patrice Bergeron just as the Iceman will never turn into an energy 4th liner.
Clatt sure did earn his way up and showed well in his few games – no-one can ever take that away from him.
He also completely regressed in the second half of the season.
It would be ok if he turned into a Mathieu Joseph or a Colton Dach that might be his ceiling.
Seen hundreds of 4th line agitators that dont do the things you’re asking yet keep getting put in the starting line up.
Seen fast skaters unable to take a pass, slow skaters unable to transport the puck.
Clattenburg just needs to stay healthy imo.
His health, it seems, is directly related to his choosing not to “play hockey.” In his short and impressive time in the NHL he seemed much more focused on hockey than shenanigans. I hope, for his sake, he figures it out: you can be a dog without needing to fight.
My concern for this player (and this player type) was underlined by the recent retiring of a young player (name escapes me). He decided that at age 24-25 he was already so damaged (concussions related to fisticuffs, if I remember correctly) he couldn’t risk any more pro hockey. Trading $M(s) for a functioning brain/life seems a small price, until you’ve paid it.
Can you name even a handful in the current NHL?
It seems to me that the Bowman Oilers won’t use guys like that, they brought in Joseph who isn’t a big guy but is assertive and very fast, does a lot of things well according to NHL SID. Being better at hockey won’t ruin Clatt
It’s not an insult to clatt to say that he can play hockey. In fact I think it’s a compliment.
Clatt can play hockey and if he does that he has other assets that will give him an advantage on more vanilla type players.
Including the willingness to engage physically in several ways.
If he doesn’t play hockey and just uses his other assets he will be past by vanilla hockey players.
OP, why do you hate Ladislav Smid?
It may be due to his sense of humour.
Largest pleasant surprise – Damian Carfagna. Maybe the team’s best dman down the stretch give or take Regula. Underrated puck mover. Does a lot well. If he had two more inches, he’d be a top 4 NHL dman.
No chance at camp but he has a chance to play games this season for the Oilers.
All in favour or opposed of giving clattenburg the “lord voldemort experience” (he who must not be named) until he suits up for another NHL game
Like -> in favour
Dislike -> oppposed
Nonbinding clearly. Just questioning if alone in finding a underdog prospect i have ever cared less if he makes it the deeper we get in this circular logical swamp.
Did you see Savoie in the playoffs?
Utterly invisible.
This is not a Gauthier or Sennecke.
He is an asset to used for “trading up”.
That happens. I can remember Nuge and Eberle were invisible in their first playoffs. Joe Thornton too.
Gauthier and Sennecke are not McDavids. They should be used to trade up.
Rookie player underperforming on a ‘invisible’, injured, poorly coached, mentally spent oilers team… go figure… let’s wait and get a larger sample size. Dude can play, he learns quick, played 82 games.
Are we trading him for Ryan Strome and then we can trade Strome for Ryan Spooner and then…..he’ll score 45 points in his next 63 playoff games?
Nuge had 4 assists in 13 games during his first playoffs. Small sample sizes should not be used to make decisions.
Only if you also include some busted overripe new york islander 1st round draft picks. That specific type of long island iron pirite has conisistently higher value in oil country going back decades now.
Won’t need to worry about an offer sheet.
I don’t believe anyone thinks he is an offensive player along the lines of those two.
I would also stop short of assigning playoff failure based off of 6 games – Detroit would have traded Datsyuk three playoffs in if that was the case.
It should be noted that Savoie “does more than score” as en effective PK guy and 2-way players and, of course, is on his ELC for this year.
I’d like to get out ahead of the inevitable comments about Clattenburg. My understanding is he has a big heart and is a fiesty fellow who could, if he put the effort in, become a decent actual hockey player. Not an offensive star or anything but from what I can gather (thanks OP) he has been given an opportunity to learn, improve and hopefully become a positive part of the team. I am not against the idea of fighting, but he’s not a heavyweight and won’t last if that is what he tries to be. Not even sure having a “heavyweight” is viable anyway.
I like the kid, I’m rooting for the kid, love the energy, love that he can make a hit and these are valuable aspects to have. I would just would love to see him listen to what he is being asked to do, figure out how he can fit in and stick around and have a great career. I’d hate to see him get pounded around and waste the potential he does have.
That’s all the Clattenburg fanboy I’ve got!
Great comment. If he’d do what he did when he was called up, avoid fights unless necessary, and learn the “away from puck game” he’d bud himself a decent career. Here’s hoping.
That’s what I’m thinking! He has a great opportunity, hope he takes it!
Not a “heavyweight “?? He was 215 lbs and in his interviews at training camp they mentioned he hit the gym and “filled out”. He’s probably in the 225lb range which makes him one of the biggest in the NHL…
I was thinking in terms of pugilistics! He is definitely large.
Clattenburg is a highly overrated prospect…
For stats environment im unsure how he can be viewed as a real prospect? 16 goals as an overager in the ohl?
This blog has repeated time and again that even the 4th liners pissed a drop.of offence in junior…
He is “fun” to watch. But based on the results it would seem Belanger triangle was superstar offence compared to what he will contribute…
I like the kid. But where does the narrative that he is a realistic prospect come from? Im sure im missing something along the way. Im juat not seeing it. You can sign guys like him for league minimum every year who are tougher and have better pedigree no???
Mike Brown played 9 years and over 400 games in the NHL with a similar game and skillset (Clattenburg is bigger). Not a great player by any means, but managed to carve out a career despite not having any significant production offensively at any level.
Brown retired from hockey a decade ago (at 30-31 years old) – the game has changed and teams don’t employ players that can’t survive a 5 on 5 shift on the 4the line for 8-10 minutes per game any longer
Is the organization saying Clattenburg isnt listening or just someone on the internet?
Won’t speak for him but I have seen comments from OP to the effect that he was given feedback in the AHL but may not have heeded it – but I may be overstepping on that and happy to be corrected.
You’re not going to make the good ol’ boys and the clan leader happy with this kind of free thinking.
Stauff did mention him as an option to play games this year last week – he did expressly say he has things to work on first.
The issue is what he did once re-assigned last season – he wasted it and set himself back. That may be continuing given the walk-in boot he was in last week….
Considering his coach said, about 5 times (to the public) last season: “We are trying to get Connor to play hockey” and he was moved down the lineup to play 4W behind AHL call-ups and couldn’t get in the lineup in the playoffs when Holt said he was ready…….
Clattenburg represents something that the Oilers have been lacking for some time.
Sheer guts, determination and resolve to never back down from anything. That is what he brings.
He should never be a heavyweight with staged fights for whatever reason. His battles come out of competition and desire.
You need these guys and yes they still need talent to skate, think, defend and score. But these are the guys that can inspire.
The moment, the exact moment he forgets what got him there, is the moment he slips out of the league.
I do not know the player well to know if he has everything it takes, but I do know why the organization would like him.
(FYI – not intended to sound like Im coming at you, just diving into the subject)
‘Sheer guts, determination and resolve to never back down from anything. That is what he brings.’
You miss that he punches faces indiscriminately and reminds you of 2004. Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman, Connor Mcdavid, hell Evander Kane. Duncan Keith, Darnell Nurse. Corey Perry,, Mattias Janmark, Connor Brown. All were nasty and are/were dependable or outscorers.
I really don’t understand how many think the Oil are soft. They’re filthy and have had filth through deep runs. The Florida Panthers admitted the 24 series was the nastiest they’ve ever been apart of. And they played Tampa who everyone believes is always tough.
They lacked it last year, that’s fair. If some time is 1 season well I’d point to Florida and say you have to have the skill first. Clatts is not the answer to that, although I’m cheering for him.
Your understanding lines up with my opinion as well.
Well stated (in my opinion).
You couldn’t have said it better yourself.
I think we see Howard have a similar arc as Savoie. He is fast and works hard.
I imagine if he is not playing in the top-6 by the deadline, Bowman will move him for help. This is not a reasonable expectation, of course, but the reality of a contending team with few tradeable assets.
I hope he’s playing top 6 in October.
Savoie was able to work his way up providing value the bottom six as a PK guy and a very solid 2-way player. While I have been very consistent in my opinion that Howard has improved his positioning, his battle level, his puck responsibility, etc., his calling card is offence more that Savoie. Our third line is likely to have Dickinson as the centre, I don’t put Howard with Dickinson on a defence first (only) line and I don’t put him on an “energy fourth line’.
I hope they set the kid up for success but have zero feeling on what Babcock/Bowman are thinking to open camp/start the season.
It’s not up to Babcock & Bowman to set Howard up for success, that’s exclusively up to Howard. A good question might be, what will Ike Howard do when he isn’t scoring?
I 100% disagree that player deployment is not very important.
For crying out loud we talk about potential line combinations months before the season and dissect every deployment decision during the season.
We all want roles for players, well, for me, I think complimentary scorn forward with high end talent is the role they should try with Howard over defensive winger playing tough minutes with Dickinson or energy line with Joseph and Samanski.
They also want Connor & Leon to be more defensively responsible too. It’s not complimentry scorn it’s a reality the league is so good now every player needs to be the total package or one of those Swiss army knives.
Of course Howard has to be responsible defensively and that is part of what he worked his butt off in the AHL doing. There is a difference between “being responsible defensively” and being on a line with Jason Dickinson who’s primary function is to shut down the opposition and play against tough opposition or on a 4th line energy banging type line.
Howard has a primarily offensive skillset that is best serves playing with high skilled forwards.
This should add some fuel to the OP vs. reja war.
Is a dog at war with a car passing by? I suppose the dog might think so.
Not really a war when it is just both sides shouting their opinion over and over and not even pretending to listen.
My buttery popcorn is hot and ready.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=xNU7iIdw7Ss&si=x5sLGeH_EoZX92bi
You could just watch this 3 times a day for higher value humorous
https://youtube.com/watch?v=sYOUFGfK4bU&si=uqXl8wv5mXRMHj4J
I have zero war – I have opinions on Calttenburg based on watching,
I get frustrated when facts are ignore (expressly ignored in the name of repeating a narrative) and strawman responses are provided consistently on a topic.
Don’t worry, I was only joking!
100% – he scored 31 goals in junior … combined over 4 seasons total. he scored 2 goals in the Bake in 32 games. People here are over-rating this kid so hard, confusing Clattenburg with Clutterbuck.
Great story that he got a cup of coffee in the big leagues and scored a goal.
But if he’s anywhere near the NHL roster next season, something has gone horribly off the rails.
By people we mean 1 dude
Yup
And it’s starting to happen with Tralmaks too apparently … people here need to chill out with this over-rating our prospects stuff. He’s a 29 year old career minor leaguer, who’s not close to putting a point-per-game at that level … there is a 0.01% chance that he plays a game in the NHL next year … and if he does, then again, its because things have gone off the rails.