This is the August 2022 50-man roster for the Edmonton Oilers. There are five goalies, 16 defencemen, 10 centers and 19 wingers. That’s 50. Except there are three junior players, and an additional six men who are on AHL only deals. So, it’s 41. This was typical of the Ken Holland era, meaning the team’s depth was poor. The Oilers played right at the cao and often with fewer than 23 roster players, so most of the impact landed with the Bakersfield Condors. That hurts the AHL team and the prospects trying to grow. Let’s take a quick look at the current 50 man:
50-man roster (46)
- Goalies (7): Frederik Andersen, Tristan Jarry, Devon Levi, Connor Ungar, Samuel Jonsson, Matt Tomkins, Nathan Day
- Left Defense (9): Mattias Ekholm, Jake Walman, Ryan Shea, Shakir Mukhamadullin, Spencer Stastney, Damien Carfagna, Riley Stillman, Atro Leppanen, Tomas Cibulka
- Right Defense (6): Evan Bouchard, Connor Murphy, Ty Emberson, Alec Regula, Josh Brown, Beau Akey
- Center (8): Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Jason DIckinson, Josh Samanski, Viljami Marjala, Owen Michaels, William Nicholl,
- Left Wing (8): Matthew Savoie, Vasily Podkolzin, Colton Dach, Mattias Janmark, Max Jones, Eduards Tralmaks, Connor Clattenburg, Brady Stonehouse
- Right Wing (8): Zach Hyman, Ike Howard, Kasperi Kapanen, Trent Frederic, Mathieu Joseph, Quinn Hutson, Atu Raty, James Stefan,
Stan Bowman has two additional goaltenders, three more left defensemen, the same number of right defensemen, one fewer center (and that’s with me moving Nuge to the middle), the same number of left wingers and one more right winger. The positives? The Condors will have more depth, including a bunch of goalies and a damn good defense. The downbeat? Oilers need centers, one as an NHL option and another to replace the two-way ability of James Hamblin. Best news of all: Bowman has cap room and four slots on the 50 man. Waive babies, man. Waive babies.
On the Lowdown today, it’s the round table plus our feature guest is Shawn Belle. I’m going to ask Shawn about versatile players (wingers who can play center, and defensemen who can play their off side) and about how much players worry about the waiver wire. Plus World Cup, Home Run Derby, CFL and more. Noon to 2pm on Sports 1440 and You Tube.
With the news that Seattle have agreed to find Shane Wright a new home he’d have been a nice option for that additional centre the Oilers need. I doubt a deal could be done seeing as we’re kind of low on draft picks for 2027, unless there’s some way to cobble together a package of a prospect and the second rounder?
For what it’s worth he rocked a 55.6 GF% and a 53.0 XGF% last year, but only put up 12-15-27 in 74 games played. Still he’s young, in the last year of his ELC with a $886k cap hit. Somebody is going to get a good prospect. Good luck to the young man wherever he lands (hopefully not another division rival).
Patrick Kane would be an incredible add to this group…
And people are getting the problem wrong with Frederic. It is that he can’t shoot and is positionally bad. Good hitters are strong positionally. They don’t have to whip around the ice because they’re already there. And he can’t play with any kind of talent because he misses too much. Ankles don’t have much to do with your brain or your shooting.
Kane would be a great add. I was shocked to see he put up 57 in 67 last year. He still drives offence 5v5.
Podz Drai Kane would be hot.
They do if your reaction time is based on being faster but your body isn’t getting you there in time.
The way he moves and reacts is based on 15 years of playing hockey and how fast he should get to places or be in certain positions, if his body is injured and not allowing him the speed to get there that he should have, he will be out of position.
When i read LT’s article and see he was playing with coyle at center in his “breakout” year….just yeah.. charlie coyle is the best 3rd line center in game past 3-5 years at least essentially.
Patrick Kane is merely a PP specialist at this point in his career. The Oilers have the PP covered.
Huh? I assume you just said this without looking at Kane’s stats last season.
Kane had 31 points 5v5 last season. That would have ranked him 5th on the Oilers. He scored 2.01 p/60 5v5, which would have ranked 4th on the Oilers.
How much of that even strength production is predicated on Kane receiving significant power play time?
Jeff Skinner all over again. The argument for Skinner was identical.
Many scoring forwards’ even strength production is predicated on the scoring forward receiving significant power play time.
How many forwards who cannot PK and/or who do not check can the Oilers have on their roster?
I am not sure what you mean when you say even strength scoring is predicated on power play time? How does one’s power play time impact even strength scoring?
We don’t need anymore blasts from the past. Kane, Tarasenko. This was well covered by Ken Holland previously and I’m not sure it worked out that well. The only Kane I’d entertain is Evander, the younger version. No more famous names please
Ankles have an incredible amount to do with shooting and mobility affects positioning.
“Shot Stability and Power Generation
A powerful shot requires transferring energy from your legs through your core and into your arms and stick. Any instability in this chain means lost power and reduced accuracy. Balance board exercises that incorporate upper body movement, stick handling, or simulated shooting motions train your body to maintain that stable base under dynamic conditions. You learn to stay balanced while your arms and core are creating movement, exactly like the demands of taking a shot in a game situation.”
Source: https://www.relentlesshockey.com/post/the-significance-of-ankle-mobility-for-hockey-players
Is there a reality where Tomkins starts in Fort Wayne, but is still the first recall option? Ungar and Jonsson would benefit the organization’s future way more as the platoon in Bakersfield this entire season.
I suspect they’ll find a new AHL home for him before the regular season.
Weirdly, I think it depends on how they see Nathaniel Day. Ungar should get the majority of starts in the AHL and They’ll want Jonsson to play a lot as well. If they see Day as a solid prospect, they should want him to play a lot as well. If they do, Ungar/Jonsson in the AHL makes a lot of sense. If they don’t, Ungar backed up by Tomkins and Jonsson backed up by Day makes a lot of sense. The 3 NHL Goalie plan makes the first call-up less likely and will probably be based more on the situation. Short-term (game or two), Tomkins sits as backup but doesn’t play. Long-term (two Gs out 5 games or more) then I think they see what Ungar can do.
Question that’s been bugging me:
Why did we flip Savoie to LW and Howard to RW? This runs counter to their handedness. What Intel do we have that this is preferred by each player and benefits the Oilers? Thanks!
Last season, Knoblauch ran Savoie on LW with McDavid. Until we see Babcock lines, I’ll go with what was established. I agree though, it seems unusual.
Savoie it seems can play all three forward positions. He’s been a center all his life but might be better suited to play on the wing at the NHL level. But who knows maybe someday we could see him play center? Howard is skilled enough to play either wing.
So it shouldn’t really matter which side they play. I would assume with Savoie’s accredited success on McDavid’s LW that is where he’s slotted in the top six which leaves the only other slot in the top six for Howard on RW with Leon. For the time being anyway. i don’t think anything is written in ink at this early stage.
I’m a bit of a sucker for having wingers that either used to, or can play centre. Helps immensely with faceoff win percentage if lads get booted out the circle and the winger has to step in. Also great for PK reasons if you have to throw two wingers out for a shift and at least one of them has faceoff experience.
Lots of distressed assets will be available in the weeks to come, either by waiver as you said LT, or from teams needing to shed salary. It is nice to know the team has not boxed itself in with too many contracts.
Likely far less than usual.
Many teams still have significant cap space due to the changing economics of the league.
I agree
I think the Wings are prime for pillaging.
I would love to add DeBrincat mid season. Or my summer pipe dream, Seider.
Dream big! Both!
I really hope somone has nicknamed Seider “Dickens”…
I’ll show myself out. 🤣🤣🤣😬😬😬
Dach was on with Gregor yesterday. Said he feels comfortable at center and did play a few games at center last season. He is working on his faceoffs this off season. Said he did see Babcock at the rink yesterday but they haven’t detailed where they plan on playing him.
Jones was on Oilers Now. He really seems to think he’s a full time NHL guy and his AHL stint last year was circumstances due to him hurting his hip flexor and cap/CBA business. I hope he realizes he’s got legit comp for a roster spot. He spoke a lot about how close he is with the guys on the team.
Jones did mention that Babcock called him a few weeks back, they have a great conversation that included Babcock detailing what they are expecting of him and how he can have a big role on the team.
If Babcock has talked to both Jones and Dach, and is at the rink on Monday morning, July 13, I presume he’s probably spoke to most guys on the team and seems to be grinding.
Good stuff.
I am sure he has already looked through the pictures on everyone’s phones.
Can’t even joke about Babs anymore good gravy. I chuckled.
If Dach could play center, that would be fab. These attempts rarely work but love the idea.
Playing centre is a lot more than taking faceoffs. It is easy to feel comfortable at centre on Chicago, one of the worst teams in the NHL, playing for a high lottery pick.
Dach is waiver eligible so it’s incredibly doubtful he’s sent down at this point. Unless he’s absolutely awful to start the season, someone will pick him up. Big, fast, physical, willing combatant that can score a little is worth a minimum deal plus 40% for two years.
Babcock and Smith also said they were looking at the PK the morning of the Press conference. Great to see
For the Condors’ roster:
1) will be interesting to see which of Ungar or Jonsson start the year with Tomkins – I presume the older Ungar with SJ starting in Fort Wayne.
2) Cam Dineen is gone but the team will add Cibulka and, potentially Stastney (if he clears and isn’t moved) in addition to Regula who should clear as he did last year.
3) Hamblin and Jarventie are big losses, as will be Howard if he breaks camp with the Oilers, along with Poulin but Michaels should be a good add along with the big Latvian and, of course, even without a forward add, if there is no IR injury, Oilers need to shed two of Samanski, Howard, Jones, Janmark and Joseph and they may/will end up in Bako.
Will be another fun year.
Dineen was 24-30 in even strength goals last season. Carfagna was 53-40, Leppanen 39-44 and Stillman 32-39. I think the Condors will be fine without Dineen, and wonder if Stillman is a guy who can be counted on.
I suppose they could go with 3 goalies, 8 D & 12 forwards, which might mean a veteran laden forward group.