Darcy Regier: “I once asked Al Arbour what’s the secret to building a team? He said no secret, it’s not complicated. Get good players.” Please read this.
I think a team does need big wingers and smaller skill wingers and slap shots from the points and passers and yes, even defenders who provide more than half of their value in their own end. You may not believe in every word on every line, but the idea of gathering useful players and keeping them should be a universal commandment of team building.
Darcy Regier: “I think if you miss the playoffs three years in a row, and blow everything up, you’re more likely to miss the playoffs seven years in a row.”
In May of 2006, Darcy Regier spole Oilers future, plain and simple. Regier is hockey royalty—he was drafted by the California Golden Seals—but he learned from Bill Torrey and Al Arbour and the Islanders family. His words, now two decades old, have been bought and paid for by every Oilers fan since 2006.
THE GOOD FACE
Each spring, after the season, Oilers fans grind themselves into a fine white powder arguing over the merits of Matt Savoie versus Ike Howard. We can discuss the virtues of these players, but at some level the idea is to get more of them than the other guy. That’s it. The coach looks a lot smarter in a hurry when the capable veterans stay at consistent levels and the rookies blossom—especially on defense.
When observers of the game begin to talk about things like grit, or rugged play, or “great effort” it is important to remember those things get measured, too. I happen to think that Vasily Podkolzin and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Matt Savoie and Ike Howard give great effort.
A decade ago, those names were Taylor Hall, Benoit Pouliot, and Matt Hendricks. You know what? That effort, that hard work, shows up in the numbers. If a player is effective physically, it shows up. If he can finesse results, that shows up, too. Teams lose Stanley Cups because the other guy did a better job of “get good players, keep good players” and that’s a fact.
GEEZ ALOU
A long, long time ago, I wondered about things. One fall day, a man named Jesus Alou wandered to the plate for the Oakland A’s in a WS game. Now, Jesus was the least famous of the Alou brothers (Matty, Felipe) and was the lesser on the field. He was still rather famous (some people, like my Dad, would use him to swear: ‘Geeze Alou’ was used instead of the more inflammatory JC) but did not hold on to a regular job for a long time.
Long before Bill James and Pete Palmer—and certainly before Corsi—we were still blessed with the brain God gave us. Jesus Alou and his baseball card always made me wonder about his place as a regular in the Houston outfield. In 1970, he had almost 500 plate appearances, but very little power and he didn’t walk a lot. He was not a strong fielder and often played LF. He was, and I have no proof beyond my own voice, the least productive regular outfielder in the game and we knew it. He always had a good batting average though, and the announcers would talk about that and those dynamite Alou boys so the world rolled along. It should also be mentioned that Astros team played in the Grand Canyon and home runs were hard to find.
HOCKEY’S ALOU
Hockey statistics improve every year, slowly but surely identifying any Jesus Alou playing regular minutes. I would suggest that analytics have lowered the perceived and actual value of average goaltenders, enforcers who are one dimensional, defensive defensemen, emply calories offensive wingers.
I would further suggest analytics has increased the value of all skaters who show an ability to help outscore at five-on-five, even strength scorers, small forwards who can play responsibly, minute munchers even if they play at par, and most importantly, skill. Analytics has properly assessed goaltending, and we may not like the answer (just find a guy who can stop the puck and doesn’t cost the moon, and then immediately begin looking for the next guy who could do it when the first guy starts to fade) but it’s coming into view.
All of this to say the following: Darcy Regier not only told the Oilers fans their future in 2006, but he also nailed the Steve Yzerman era with the Detroit Red Wings. Remember the words of Bill Torrey and Al Arbour: Get good players, keep good players.
On the Lowdown today, Kevin McCurdy will be our feature guest and we’ll talk Oilers, World Cup, Elks and more. Noon to 2pm, Sports 1440 and You Tube.
Small skill players
How can Edmonton Oilers still upgrade up front? Here are 3 potential targets
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7443640/2026/07/15/edmonton-oilers-trade-targets-2026-season/
LT, I have long agreed with your Get Good Players, Keep Good Players counsel. Is this more difficult to observe in a cap era? If so, would Get Cap Efficient, Stay Cap Efficient be another useful north star? Darnell Nurse is an example: he’s a good player (no, really), but at that cap hit, it’s harder to make the argument. Is there a WAR/Cap Dollar ratio we can readily deploy?
It’s a big part of being able to build depth with good players. Bowman has done a very tidy job righting the cap situation for a top heavy team. He also has shown the ability to do the getting part at a much faster work rate
I am excited for this season, I always am but usually there are worries that we talk about here. I don’t really have any now. The roster looks as good as at any time in Connor’s era. Not perfect but it’s the most balance we have seen to me. There aren’t any players that I strongly feel shouldn’t be on the team
Now the coaches just need to run the team well and the players do their jobs
This is now Bowman’s team he’s hired a coach who’s on the same page. Bowman has transformed the roster. Bowman always had 2 goalies that were more than capable. We finally have goalies that won’t lose us games we dominate. Do not be surprised if we come out of the gate and never look back for an easy divisional win.
I won’t be, also tempering expectations as there will be a lot of changes for the players to absorb
Babcock will have the Oilers running like a Swiss watch by Halloween. Give Babcock 2 practices and poof oilers have structure in their game. It’s a lot easier to teach defence over scoring. Mantha gets a nice tidy sum for being an injury riddled power forward who scored 33 goals in a career year. Hopefully Mad. Max on our team pots close to 14 goals on a Dach-Frederic dominant line.
I might hope the goalie situation is improved – this in tandem with a more supportive defensive structure over – but i’m not calling that mission accomplished just yet.
All three goaleurs could yet fail.
Any goalie, except the elite 4-5, would have failed behind last year’s team – well, the elite 4-5 may have been able to have a .903. Kudos to Connor Ingram for being above league average save percentage.
Any of the goalies the team had last year, including Skinner and Jarry, and each of the goalies the Oiler have this year will likely be just fine-more than fine if the team is able to effect the structure, and consistency, the coaches will implement.
I would venture to guess that team Ingram asked for more money than what Anderson received. It may work out for Ingram and then again he might have to wait for a phone call as a result of a goalie going down with serious injury. As they used to say “A bird in hand is worth two in the bush”
This is the first year we have the level of goaltending that Connor-Leon haven’t seen. Talbot was outstanding early on but he was a one man wrecking ball. A healthy Jarry is still in his prime years. I believe having Anderson along for the ride is going to benefit not only Jarry but Levi our future number one.
I think it’s even more important to get good players, and constantly add young, capable players. That’s the hedge against costly veterans, always have entry-level talent pushing.
Look at Stan track record he’s always had an assortment of big skilled wingers. We already have Savoie who can be counted on especially under Babcock. Howard just doesn’t fit anywhere Ike is still desirable he’s American-shoot first winger that would fit at least 7 teams PP1 and and another 23 teams PP2. Howard is not an energy player this trade of Howard could really fill the cupboard after Stan took over with 1/2 a stale Twinkie to work with.
There is the daily post about Howard not fitting anywhere and how many teams would use him on their PP2. So many have responded to this over the months, trying to provide factual information and engage in discussion – posts you ignore and then repeats your “talking point”, which really isn’t a talking point as you refuse to engage with responses.
I may have been born at night but it certainly wasn’t last night.
what a random statement.
With respect, why would the team spend assets to acquire either Portias or, in particular Kaliyev and not simply give Issac Howard the reps? Poritas is an AHL player, why would we bring in that player to block Howard? Kaliyev is simply worse, a liability at 5 on 5 that can only score on the PP and has zero value for the Oilers.
I guess Geekie could be though of as further along or “better” but is there any material “betterness” at this point.
Issac Howard may not be ready, we don’t know for sure -but he did everything the org asked of him last year, he did it with a great attitude, he developed his overall game materially and he’s earned the opportunity to play in the Oilers tops six. To block him with a player that is not even close to a lock to be better is a nut-kick and how you lose prospects.
I don’t see the point.
If Howard falters early and they want to look at a replacement, that same trade is likely there in November.
You don’t get them to steal the reps. You get them to have another forward in the system that might be able to materially improve the team at some point this year or the following years.
It’s better to have another player under Howard than to bet 100% on Howard alone. The Oilers are shallow in depth in the grand scheme of things, so adding more NHL ready or close to ready players is better than relying on hoping Seth Griffith can step into the line up.
Trading assets to waive a player?
OP, two of the names are centers, they aren’t competing with Howard. Kaliyev is a pure scorer who will clear waivers and can be recalled. He is, in his own way, a unicorn.
Why do you hate Samanski?
He’s no Pouliot
Smart player, on the right side of the puck. Offensively challenged, but my goodness he had a terrific season outscoring as a flat out rookie in the NHL.
They are competing with Howard in the sense that this team already needs to cut 2 forwards and an addition would make it 3 and less likely Howard is on the roster, right?
No, not at all. The two centers would be pushing Samanski, and I said in the article Kaliyev would be waived and sent to Bakersfield for future recall. It’s a non-starter. The WORST thing that could happen is Dickinson on the fourth line, and that would mean the third line would have more offensive pop.
Kaliyev is different, a UFA that costs no assets. He was unqualified at league min and probably behind Majala on the depth chart but a non-risk.
The other two would cost some assets and increase the group of 5 to 6 competing for 3 roster spots and adding a 4th player that would need waivers. Poitras is a lesser player than Ike Howard who could play over him due to Howard’s waiver exemption (or similar with Samanski) – this is setting a block and how you lose players like Howard, in my opinion.
That’s the point LT is making. If Matthew Poitras is acquired and wins the 3rd line center job, Dickson moves to 4th line center, and the team is better for it (acquire more good players).
If Samanski is sent down because a better player is acquired at his position, this is a net positive.
I understand the point and I don’t agree. If assets are being spent on a player that would require waivers, the plan is to have him on the team and it likely is in replacement of a waivers exempt player that has earned it over the new guy.
There is no real time have competition for spots in camp – not with 4 exhibition games.
Respectfully, not accurate as per the reply from Allan.
The article references no concern about waivers this fall but Poitras is waivers eligible…..
I too now think you understood LT’s point but you have challenges conceding a better opinion.
If Poitras wins the 3rd line center position, Dickenson moves to 4th line center, and Samanski is sent down, the team is better.
Improvement opportunity. We all have them.
Poitras is an AHL player highly unlikely to win the 3C position and more likely to be waived. If they keep him over Samanski to due to waiver risk and not merit….
This is as much a “spend assets then waive” opportunity as it is an improvement opportunity.
My comment on improvement opportunity is asking if you have challenges acknowledging a better opinion.
Great post today LT.
jonah Sigel
@yyzsportsmedia
Corus owns 880 Ched…..
that would be brutal. I trust Stauffer/Oilers Now would end up on 1440 or EST though. I think it is the top sports show in the province by quite a bit by the numbers
The article on Global I saw referenced “news production” will be based out of the east – I hope that means the sports production out west will not be altered but we’ll see,
Stauff is employed by the Oilers, not sure he’d be going external but I can’t imagine his voice is neutered here.
Last week Roger’s shuttered sports radio stations in Vancouver and Calgary.
So far Corus radio stations in those markets are still on the air but Corus cis henmoraging cash and its stick is worth penniescacshare so it may not survive all that long.
Yes you are right – Dustin Neilson said on Twitter it is just the news people, so not Stauffer for now
Is 4 X $9.125MM for Zegras value?
He is a name and former top 10 pick but he got his career high in points and goals this season with 26 and 67……
He had 14 goals and 38 points at 5 on 5 and does not kill penalties at all.
“For most of the season, Zegras played on the left wing, usually alongside center Christian Dvorak.
After the trade deadline, he was shifted to center, where he posted 17 points (five goals, 12 assists) in 20 games down the stretch in the Flyers’ surprising late-season surge to get into the playoffs.”
If he remains a top 6 centre that is a bargain.
Nice quote. Where’d it come from?
I don’t care about the nuances of his deployment this season – he’s now 25 and his career highs are what they are. Maybe he pops in year 7 as a pro – showing himself early….
Zegras will be worth that much by the last year of the contract, at best.
Perfetti at 24 signs a 5 year, $30 million.
Similar height, weight, draft position and points at 22 to Savoie.
I’d say next offseason would be the time to sign Savoie. Shall we see continued progress this season? Or the sophomore slump?
Savoie coude reasonably likely blow past Perfetti’s best offensive season this coming year – if he’s in the top 6 most of the year, even without an uptick in PP time (which he should get), he could blow by 18G/50P – this is Perfetti’s 3rd contract, he is coming off a 2 year bride at $3.5MM.
Savoie could very well be much higher than this if he has a good season and he’s not signed early.
I see Savoie as a more complete consistent player.
Between the two I’d take Savoie now even without any improvement. The oilers should jump at that contract if Savoie would take it.
As usually states, Savoie’s game is more complete. His two way game is much better and he contributes positively on the pk.
I’d be happy with 50 points (Perfetti’s top) and continue being responsible/versatile.
I also agree with you OP, he could easily post 60 points and still be dependable against elites.
Some worry about size and injury, some consistency. I believe he has the intelligence to make it work.
This is true. I also could see Babcock liking Savoie on the third line with Dickinson, at least at times. But yeah if he’s on McDavids line most of the year he will be 40 5v5 points at least i would think
Why do I take pleasure seeing England lose so painfully. They went to the prevent defence way too early. The English coach made substitutions way too late. The coach needs to be fired
He definitely should have subbed fresh defenders earlier before Argentina started pressing. By the time Rashford and Toney came in for more offence, they were done and in desperation mode.
Kane was nearly invisible all game. Saka just sat on the bench when they should have been pushing for an insurance goal instead of defending a 1-nil lead.
The English press is going to tear the manager a new one over this late game collapse.
Argentina was going full mode the English had opportunities to turn it the other way yet they chose to play lock down D for 30 minutes.
England was under siege. Everytime they cleared, Argentina put it right back in the box. To my eyes, England just ran out of gas and didn’t substitute aggressively enough to avoid that fate. They had to know Argentina was going to push hard late.
It was like watching a hockey team continually taking defensive zone draws with a 1 goal lead in the last minute. You just knew it was going to bite them in the ass.
Argentina has been playing rope-a-dope the entire tournament. I can’t believe Spain is the clear favourite can you?
Spain has only conceded 1 goal in the tournament and they’re the European champs. Imagine the odds will move a lot between now and kickoff as money floods in for Argentina.
Spain is going for number 2 while Argentina is vying for number 4. It’s going to be interesting if they try to shadow Messi all game? Messi will get the winner in a storybook finish as something is aiding Messi.
If they don’t mark him tight they’ll find out
Spain by two goals, maybe three.
— I lived in London and now Toronto. There is an unwarranted smugness they share for their team”
— Toronto being the Centre of the Universe just thinks they deserves Cups. It’s akin to the “Bring it back home” hubris and nonsense of the english
— The OBC also had this smugness: conflating winning ways in the past with a manifest destiny because “they know a thing or two about winning”
— Legacy doesn’t owe any team any result in the present or future. You can’t cash checks based on past achievements (but fans deservedly get to own forever the feeling when their team wins it all)
What a game.
English fans will be in shambles after that blown lead.
Messi has to be one of the best professional sports stars ever.
Argentina’s superior skill and fitness wins out.
England folded like a damp pack of crisps. 60 years and counting….
To quote one of my Brit friends, “if England ever wins this damn thing again, the birds will be getting their kit off in the streets.”
When we were commenting yesterday on the game I was going to but didn’t mention the wild card of Messi. Was going to say England needed to neutralize him, and they let him work. It’s like letting Connor do his thing, 9 times out of 10 he’ll beat you if you do. What a player
You really saw the skill advantage of Argentina at the end. Every cross they tried was going into the box and creating immediate danger. When England tried the same thing, their crosses were blocked or wide.
There’s skill and then there’s skill under pressure. Messi and his mates definitely have the latter.
The prevent defense for too long decides the game. Tuchel surrendered.
Attempting to win in any sport by tight rope walking is folly. Always the wrong choice.
Create more margin for error. Every time you can.
Home and Home series against Vancouver to kick things off, perfect set up for a great October.
Be careful what you wish for.
Vancouver ( Tocchet ) tanned our asses in the regular season opener a few years ago.
You can ask Canuck fans, this isn’t that team.
Vancouver’s 1 fan left and became a
Stars Avalanche Kings DucksSharks fanI love the “get good players” discussion. Then I thought of Carolina. Do they really have the best roster?
Probably not. Yet they won the cup in 19 games. Incredible.
This is to say that there is room for other ingredients in the winning recipe Coaching is one of them and the strategy the coach deploys which is a long list of responsibilities. I do not believe the coach should simply “get out of the way” Maybe after game 70, but mostly they shape and deploy the talent available.
This was a shortcoming with the Oilers, often overlooked because “coach got them to……..wherever”
I dont know that Babcock is the answer, I don’t love him, but they are barking up the right tree in regards to attributes a coach needs to guide a winning team
In our game, even with top roster and good coach, luck can still de-rail your chances. So hard to go on those runs and come up a bit short. I hope they have some more runs coming.
I feel CAR’s commitment to depth and pro-active cap management allowed them to carry forward as a winning team and ultimately champion without them necessarily having to hit things perfectly top dead centre. It speaks to the Ken quip that all you can do is give yourself chances to compete – the more chances you give yourself the better chance you manage to come out on top.
They did most things right, and had a perfect storm of luck and opponents backing them up. It’s the Oilers turn for that
The Canes had the best roster, that’s why they won
Thinking about Yzerman he seems to model after his GM Holland. Slow, not creative so can’t cash getting some talent in the draft. Clearly not the heart of Tampa’s success. Getting to playoffs shouldn’t be that daunting, but getting to a super team I think involves luck. Some foresight but luck on top of it
The Bolts got lucky with Kuch and Vas, maybe prime Hedman. The 80’s Oilers got Gretzky and then had a couple of the craziest drafts ever. Then they got Connor, Drai and Bouch became superstars which was not anyone’s true expectation
But being good shouldn’t be that hard if you have a few key pieces. Maybe not Cup but playoffs
I think Grier has played everything right but it’s interesting to consider where SJ would be w/o Celebrini
For sure, if one or two other young guys really hit it they will be really rolling in a few
Al Murray’s contribution to the modern TBL is criminally underrated.
— Detroit never drafted a stud when they weren’t good.
— Mostly because their highest draft pick was 4th.
— it’s hard to win without studs to build around.
Carolina hasn’t drafted in the top 10 since they selected Andrei Svechnikov at #2 in 2018.
In the subsequent 8 drafts, they have only picked 3 times in the first round.
Plenty of ways to build a winner,
— that’s ok : “plenty” must be a hard word for you to understand
— I can see why therefore you’d conflate the exceptional organizational build that is Carolina and conclude there are “plenty” of ways.
Hard to believe Jackson Blake was from the 4rth round of the Bougeault draft. Quite a pick.
LT, where did you have Blake?
He was tiny (5’10, 158 lbs) and played only half of his draft year in the USHL on a deep team with Fantilli, Doan and Samoskevich (the other half he played on a Minnesota high school team)
I want to see the little Canes guys when they play Florida Tampa or Washington in playoffs. They had it pretty easy this run
Me too, those would all be great series’. And they did luck out this year with no Tampa/Florida
64th overall.
https://lowetide.ca/2021/05/28/here-comes-the-sun-2021/
Thanks. Had a feeling you might have liked him. Nice pick. Even Carolina didn’t grab him until 109.
Do you know how many players drafted by Vegas remain on the roster?
ZERO.
Want me to do Tampa Bay next?
— too be fair to you “plenty” is a big boy term
— my youngest still struggles with the concept To be fair to him he’s 4 though.
— He still doesn’t understand that when he’s had 30 bites of candy and I tell him he’s had plenty he says “I’ve only had a few”
— don’t worry you’ll get there.” Look at you big boy: you’ve named a few. Whose a good boy ?Good for you” I know it’s hard.
I am dying lol.
The last player drafted by Colorado who is still with the team is Cale Makar.
He was drafted in 2017.
Do you know what all the teams I’ve mentioned have in common?
No.
Seider is a stud – top 10 d-man on the league and still pre-prime.
Raymond is close.
They really could have used that Zadina pick working out early in their rebuild… Hughes and Bouchard going shortly after
Love it! Great read, LT. Thanks.
Why England vs. Argentina is World Cup’s best, angriest, most chaotic rivalry – ESPN https://share.google/94qd2PY6nkMxEbk9p
A great primer for anyone interested in learning why today’s chapter in one of soccer’s most bitter rivalries is such a big deal to the countries, fans, and players involved.
Hail to the Three Kings. Get stuck in!!!
I am pumped. God’s second hand might reveal itself today.
Match of the century even though I have no skin in the game I would love to see this match go an extra half hour.
I imagine Argentina takes it today, but neither team seems to have much of a hope against Spain. The final is one game of course, but Spain has been dominating, very hard to score on. Strong offense outside of a couple of players hasn’t been a calling card for today’s combatants
I dunno, Argentina could have lost the last 3 games it played and was lucky in some ways they didn’t. I think England has a better chance against them than that.
True but England wasn’t exactly dominant either
Fair enough. The only truly dominant team just lost to Spain. It’s their cup to lose, agreed.
Which I did not expect, but I don’t follow soccer that closely, even though it was my main sport played
Spain is playing very well defensively and they seem to have overcome their long time reputation for choking in big matches. Regardless of who wins today, it should be an exceptional final. But I want England to win. lol
Me too and on penalty kicks 7 deep.
I think both England and Argentina can crack the Spain defensive strategy in the final.
Thanks!
And what makes you think Savoie and Howard are good enough players?
Everything is relative. Nothing absolute , excpet McDavid.
Regier’s criterion was, “get good,” not “get good enough.”
LT has provided a lot of material concerning both and their growth via numbers.
What makes you think they aren’t?
Ike Howard was ranked #99/100 in the most recent Athletic prospect roundup.
Before graduating from the rankings Savoie was in the same range.
Some teams have 4 or 5 prospects ranked much higher.
Savoie being ranked similar and having immediate success in the NHL should make you wonder if the rankings really mean that much
Or it shows that being anywhere in the top 100 means the player has a good shot at being an NHL regualar.
Brogaine Raspberry wishes you would stop cursing so many of the talented youth.
99th ranked prospect seems pretty good.
32 teams in the league. Shitty teams will obviously have more players populating the list.
I suppose it depends how you define shitty.
Last season, Utah finished 4th in the tougher Central Division with 92 points, 1 fewer than the Oilers.
The Mammoth had more RW and more ROW than the Oilers and a better goal differential at +28 compared to +13.
While the Oilers have only the 99th best prospect, Utah has 7, 22, 30, 41 and 77.
Which team do you think will be less shitty going forward?
Worth noting, a notorious shitty team, the San Jose Sharks, have 2, 4, 15, 16, 25 and 32.
5 in the top 25 as well as another who already has significant NHL experience would lead most observers to think they won’t be shitty very long.
lol Arizona / Utah have not won a playoff series in eons. But if you think finishing 4th in the Central means they are a good team, you are entitled to that opinion!
Why do you think it’s some big news event that teams making runs to the SC final have less “top” prospects than teams that didn’t? That didn’t make the playoffs? And, do you not know that more than last season matters in this context?
Once again you are wrong that this is some sort of indictment of the Oilers.
You’ve moved goal posts so far they are now out somewhere with the Voyager probe.
Who do you think watched more of Howard as an AHL player last year: Scott Wheeler or the likes of LT, Curlock and, even, myself?
Whoever gives an opinion that coincides with his petty views.
His incessant wheedling to find some way to shit on the Oilers is truly tiresome, isn’t it? But it is also sort of sad and laughable at the same time.
Luckily there are 31 other teams he can cycle through pointing out how incredibly prospect rich, on the verge of breakthroughs and about to dominate they are, not to mention loaded with weaponized cap space! So far hasn’t he pretty much cursed Vancouver, LA, Anaheim, St Louis, Vegas, Dallas? Who am I missing I know there are more!
Yzerman shifted to the Paul Coffey role as advisor to the owner.
Goodness was he awful since leaving Tampa – a long run of big mistakes and never got above bubble status.
If Yzerman gets another crack at being a GM, I’ll eat my size 15 work boots that are gathering dust in the closet.
He wasn’t that great in Tampa Bay either. Overall, his drafting record is not anything special.
Free agency signings have not been kind to the man either.
His drafting record in Tampa was incredible.
Makes you wonder how much of Tampa Bay’s success should be attributed to Cooper instead of Stevie Y?
And Tampa’s amateur scouting in the early 2010s
Makes me wonder how much of Stevie Ys success in Tampa was Julien Brisbois…
Brisebois? Although he’s done some less than smart things since Yzerman left
Given his(?) Tampa record I had a lotta faith in the Yzerplan.
Oh well. Not my team (for once).
Big difference walking into a team already with Stamkos and Hedman versus walking into a team with just Larkin, who isn’t anything like Stamkos of his prime.
I do think Yzerman was to timid over the years though.
Oilers home opener Sept 29 vs. Vancouver.
With 5.5 months of rest, with a full mental re-set, with the top players citing a renewed respect for the regular season, with the core citing they need to be more structured and play better 2-way hockey, as individuals and as a group, with a HOF Ex and Os coach running camp, is this the year they FINALLY go 9-2-1 out of the gate instead of 2-9-1?
When talking about analytics and driving out scoring, one needs to talk about Evan Bouchard – no matter who his partner is or who he is on the ice with, he’s an elite driver of out scoring.
DJ Smith talked about getting him to the next superstar level and that +30 underrates how elite he can be.
I’m excited to see what Bouch has in store for us this year.
Can he actually not be terrible in October and early November? If so, that’s Norris.
Last season and the 2025 Playoffs, Bouchard was the most important player on the team for driving offence.
I imagine we see a more focused and engaged player in October with a summer of rest.
I think, hopefully, starting the year with more stable goaltending will also make Bouch look much better early.
I’m not sure summer of rest (or lack of rest) will really be much of a factor in Bouch’s start to the season – firstly, I think he’s fairly tireless out there and doesn’t seem to incur “aggregate fatigue” even when leading the team in minutes mightily. Also, his poor starts to the season have simply been every single season in the NHL – I don’t know what it is, its not light he’s not “in shape” but something is always way off early.
The goal is for the whole team to start Sept 29,and if they as a group avoid the early season slump, Bouchard will look better too. I think last season he converted a lot of critics with final numbers & next season he’ll really be a Norris contender in their eyes too.
With 5.5 months of rest, with a full mental re-set, with the top players citing a renewed respect for the regular season, with the core citing they need to be more structured and play better 2-way hockey, as individuals and as a group, with a HOF Ex and Os coach running camp, is this the year they FINALLY go 9-2-1 out of the gate instead of 2-9-1???
The veneration for Yzerman bought him 2 more years than he deserved in Detroit. Failing to make the playoffs the last two years with the advantages he had, and the supposed ability he had, was not acceptable.
If Ilitch is wise, he will look for a Mehta to fix the failures left behind. The only saving grace is there is not a lot of dead cap on that team, and few long term contracts. It will be more about building a desire to be on the team and making the Wings a destination for players.
Yzerman is a warning to all rebuilding teams.
It’s easy to blow it up. It’s hard to build a contender.
Yzerman also made “smartest man in the room” decisions time after time.
Nothing like signing ben chiarot, getting terrible results, and then extending him.
paying to unload walman without calling any other teams around the league.
i believe his hubris has more to play in this story than people like to admit.
I think the same situation is going on in Anaheim with Verbeek.
Verbeek’s team has been blown up but he doesn’t sign the cheques. If your owner looks at say Marner or Rantanen and says why are we paying a guy more than that for 2 years of work, 1 of which he was a part time player, then what is a GM to do?
I can’t imagine Verbeek was that short-sighted when he’s literally on the phone hearing ‘there’s an offer sheet coming, we need $15’.
I think he’s taking the bullet for his owner trying to pull a fast one. Meddling is all too common in the NHL.
True enough.
my favorite yzerman move was on July 1 2023 when he signed future norris winner Brogan Rafferty for a 2 yr 775k deal.
I don’t think it’s hubris but when you’re a stoic the media is already gonna be against you. Add on that nobody knew what the plan was and the team collapsed multiple years (spectacularly last year) and that’s what you get.
No lottery luck means mushy middle for you. They are the Sharks or Oilers without Celebrini or 97. Bad.
Something smells in Denmark when your face of the franchise 29 year-old Captain asks to be traded. Detroit should be a playoff yet year after year they are a bubble team. We are so lucky to have gamers like Connor-Leon.