The two things I always look for in sports franchises are balance and depth. It’s difficult to have it everywhere, because by definition one would need a top-flight veteran, an exceptional prospect pushing and another gem just arriving in order to stick the landing on both balance and depth.
For me, much of the fun in sports is watching teams build toward a championship. The Oilers of the Katz era delivered a template unlikely to be repeated, although the importance of drafting early is an absolute must as the rules of the game currently stand.
The Oilers since 2006 have never really been in balance. That’s what happens when you trade peak Chris Pronger and never replace him. However, I am encouraged by some of Stan Bowman’s recent attempts to find something close to balance. One imagines depth would follow.
In order to have have a balanced team there must be quality at the top. So, let’s take the center position. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are one of the all-time best combinations in NHL history. Jason Dickinson is the third-line center, although his offense probably lands him on the fourth line for a championship team.
The third-line center is where balance and depth take a holiday on the current Oilers roster. There are workarounds. You could run Ryan Nugent-Hopkins as No. 3 center, have him play the soft parade and outscore opponents. I’m hopeful that happens eventually, but Mike Babcock may want him on the wing. I have suggested a trade for an emerging RH center, and that would give the team some real balance and range. Maybe Josh Samanski figures out where the goals are. Either way, complaining about Oilers center quality and depth is an easy way to prove you’re a dummy. It’s grand. Really is.
Now, the goaltending has been out of balance (for me) since Cam Talbot got overused and then flushed. However, the procurement department found some interesting options at the outer marker (Samuel Jonsson, Connor Ungar, Eemil Vinni) and added a young goalie with real promise who has NHL experience in Devon Levi. Bowman is trying to find balance and depth, and I like many of the moves he’s made since arriving. From Vasily Podkolzin to Devon Levi, there’s a recognition that one should attempt to marble promising futures throughout the depth chart. You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you’ll get what you need.
The Oilers had the perfect LH defense build going recently. Mattias Ekholm giving way to Philip Broberg on the top pair would have been seamless. The team did go from Tyson Barrie to Evan Bouchard successfully, but kind of buggered that up to by slow-playing Bouchard too long. I like this Carfagna fellow quite a lot, secure in suggesting he was the best defenseman in Bakersfield one year ago and should play NHL games this coming season. I like Beau Akey too, not sure the Oilers managers like him for their team. No one close to Broberg, though. Maybe an offer sheet brings in a Broberg soon.
Which brings us to Ike Howard. The Oilers need inexpensive talent, fast legs and goal-scoring forwards. Howard is all of those things. The Nugent-Hopkins to Savoie transition happened in the second half of the season, and the Hyman to Howard exchange should happen in the next year or so. That’s the kind of team building I like, and it’s why Devon Levi was a terrific addition to this team. If the Oilers flush Howard before giving him full throttle, then Stan Bowman isn’t running the team.
On the Lowdown today, Kevin McCurdy will be our feature guest at 1, and we’ll talk to Taylor Burns from ABH Performance Academy. The baseball academy qualified for Baseball Canada’s U19 National Championship currently under way. We’ll also talk about Canadians getting drafted by big league clubs. Noon to 2pm, Sports 1440 and You Tube.
if you could get a third line of nuge-hyman-perry/kane or deadline winger; i think savoie and howard would be in the top 6 and everything flows. 4th line dick dach fred . lots of other options for the 84 game marathon 🤔
Nuge/Dick/Kap can be that third line with Frederic/Samanski/Dack (Joseph) on the 4th – leave Hyman, Podz, Savoie, Howard for the top 6.
I agree that Bowman has done a pretty good job of retooling our prospects and in some cases ( i.e Podkolzin) the existing line up; including freeing up money to create the line up as he wants it to be .
But for 26/27 I see the Achilles heal as being the coaching. This is 2026 and as Rod Brind’Amour said in his year end interview you cant coach kids old school they wont respond positively. If it turns out badly there are going to be a lot of management and players that are going to have to answer a lot of hard questions. That would be quite something if McDavid asked for a trade because of the behind the scenes pressure he put on management to hire this coaching staff.
I would love to know if Bowman signed of on this willingly or was his arm twisted very hard by the powers above him.There are a lot of other hard nosed coaches that have been in the game a lot more recently then 2019. Winning in 2008 is not a plus as the game has changed so much, it is so much faster than it was back then and because of that the defensive and offensive schemes are a lot different.
I agree old school coaching won’t win.
I believe Babs will use some old school tactics but am hopeful that he has studied what has been working more recently. He has spoke of doing just that.
My biggest disappointment in kk was that he didn’t shift concepts when it was clear the old (even 6 months old ) concepts were being out coached. No plan B.
I believe and hope that Babs will stay nimble when old tactics become stale.
Old school is Babcock’s go to and in the heat of the moment I don’t have confidence he will stop long enough to choose the new way. I think it is going to be a busy year on the blogs as I suspect this team is going to provide a lot of material for the fans to opine on .
Brind’Amour and Tort are both old school coaches and their teams were in the SCF.
In demeanour yes. Not in concepts. Similar to what I expected from Babs.
What exactly is old school? From the exit interviews it sounds to me that the players want accountability would that be called old school? I do think Babcock will take the heat off players like Connor and Leon. When it comes to a club happiness winning cures all even if your coach is an arrogant ass. With the long offseason I expect the Oilers to roll to a divisional crown. Playoffs are a toss up on which teams land on the letter X
Lets leave it at this ..To be continued in March
Sounds like a plan.
Comments from McDrai seemed to indicate, to me, a sense on their part of having never really being taken in hand, never really being pushed or challenged, and it sounds like they’re hungry for it. They want a general. an SOB if that’s what it takes to send them over the ridge and hold the line.
But there are a whole lot more people and players involved in creating a winning “organization” then McDavid Dri Hyman and Bouchard . What about the other coaches players and dozens of behind the scenes personnel . For a winning culture and success they all have to be pulling on the rope with enthusiasm and passion Ask Carolina mgmt if it can be done with only 6-8 guys on board with a SOB mgmt style
That’s how I see it. If MB doesn’t cross the line they will be a better team and love the challenge because it will lead to where they should have been
Babcock and DJ Smith being their Achilles heel? If McDavid asked for a trade because of this? Bowman’s arm being twisted very hard?
Sounds like you’re creating a narrative with no real facts.
Narratives don’t represent facts until future history plays out.As I said I think this team has the horses but I’m not sure these coaches are the right leaders. Time will tell. McDavid has stated as has Dri and Hyman that they wanted Babcock and his style of coaching. that is fact. I’m just saying what happens if these players ( who Im not sure should have a say) are wrong. Do they get to carry the can for their mistake in advocating to ownership that they wanted this ?
I don’t care if Alberta has DST or not but what I’ve always cared about is that this remains consistent across the major provinces (1) so that I always know the time change from BC (1 hour ahead of most of the province), MB (1 hour behind), Ontario/Quebec (2 hours behind) and (2) so it does’t do something and create 9pm game times (so, 9:10 puck drop, give or take).
Here we are with 9pm start times.
Do they know that some of us go to the gym at 5am when they are busy at the office? Do they care? Lol.
Done with the eastern time zone, Jan 3 – a little later than last season but still nice and early.
As my Father In Law used to say when he heard anyone whining…you should write a letter to the Pope.
Is that why the Apostolic Palace has a bankers box with your name on it and labeled “Mark Messier complaints”?
Can you imagine not that long ago family’s had 4-5 kids while the breadwinner tried to provide for them on one salary. There was no smallest violins being played by the war children generation.
This is me, today. Except I don’t have the security blanket of a T4 salary role, I’m a contractor where I’m only as good as my last day’s work.
Just because I dislike the unilateral change in time zones that was implemented via extra democratic processes doesn’t mean I’m looking for a petite violin serenade.
I always enjoyed getting up early with nobody twisting my arm to watch Horcoff score in triple OT against the Sharks.
Me too. We’re allowed to complain sometimes, we’ve got the pressure of the world on our shoulders and (sometimes) nobody to talk to. All the best to you, good sir.
With respect, you don’t understand economics if that’s your take. It’s a little more involved than that
The horror. Why won’t anyone consider OP’s gym schedule?
I know, right.
Imagine, complaining about late starts times for Oilers games – this is likely the first time its ever happened……
As someone who’s up at the crack of sparrow (0415) I can agree that 2100 start times are egregious.
I don’t think that’s what the powers that be were focusing on when they decided to implement something that didn’t pass a vote on several recent passes. What that something actually was, well damned if I know. But I don’t like it, not one bit.
There’s a 4:15 in the morning now? When did this happen?
The last time I saw 4:15 in the morning it was bed time.
Everyone should have DST, all the time.
Just reading that some of Columbus’ kids that they’ve been developing in the minors are going to be waiver eligible this season, including Del Bel Belluz, Pyyhtia and Ceulemans. They’ve got a lot legit NHL players up front and on D, so might be a situation worth watching, if either Howard or Samanski doesn’t look ready.
I wonder if other teams are thinking about that with the Oilers.
Right now, they are set up to waiver Stastney and Regula and one-two of Janmark, Jones, Joseph could be on waivers (depending on which 3 of those guys plus Howard/Samanski break camp with the team.
Oilers will have guys like Tralmaks on waivers as well.,,,,,,,
They don’t need to put anyone of consequence on waivers.
No organization needs to put “anyone of consequence” on waivers any more than the Oilers. I would suggest that, at least for me, both Stastney and Regula are “of consequence’
To me stash and regula could be a nhl third pair on some teams. I also think that there is possibility of Regula being above that at some point. So I agree losing those two could be consequential.
If Murphy gets hurt it’d be nice to have regula in waiting.
I’d trade Ceulemans for either one of Stastney or Regula. Those guys are roster backfill. That said an NHL roster has to have 8-9 defenseman to survive the rigors of a 84 game schedule.
Do we know why Ceulemans was -18 on a team that had d-men at +20 and +16.
Regula was the Condors’ best d-man, I think I stick with him.
They sound like Greek Gods, not hockey players. But what’s the difference?
The two forwards have been point per game players in the AHL, and the d-man was a former first round pick. Bowman has done good work with these type of pickups.
Anytime a new G.M is hired it takes at least 2 years to form a team in his image. We saw Holland take 2 years forming a playoff veteran squad. Now we’re seeing Bowman’s surround his centres with big skilled wingers and a D that’s gets it to them with short accurate passes. When it comes to goaltending Bowman is shoring up the best goalie tandem we’ve seen in a long-long time.
Well, at least one of them is Italian, so there’s that.
The trade of Magpie with still a year left for a useful player in Dickinson could end up being a clear win on the trade especially if Dach stays healthy. I believe Babcock will give him a lot of rope and Colten may be the key to this deal.
My mind is kinda drifting off to thoughts of Bowman potentially moving Jarry for a similar distressed asset that’s a forward, thus opening the door to resign Ingram on the cheap and still run the 3 goalies.
I have huge concerns about Jarry. The only forward I can envision is Debrusk, and that’s a hard no for me. But maybe there’s someone else available.
But this type of idea would leave about $2M in cap space, which is kinda plenty. I like the cap space as much as the next guy, but I’m surprised that the plan would be to open the season as far below the cap as they currently are.
I’m inclined to give Jarry some rope. Let him establish his level of play with a fresh start (instead of mid-season trade, then injury) before making an assessment.
Looking at the numbers I’d probably assemble the lines thusly:
Howard – McDavid – Hyman
Podkolzin – Draisaitl – Kapanen
Nugent-Hopkins – Samanski – Savoie
Dach – Dickinson – Joseph
The 2nd line was slightly better with Savoie at RW last season, but Savoie also posted better numbers away from 97 / 29 than Kapanen did. Besides, in ~50 minutes together Samanski-Savoie posted 56 xGF% and 5-2 goals, so that’s something I’d like to explore.
Likewise Dach-Dickinson, albeit in only 16 minutes, came away with 73 xGF% and 1-0 goals. I’d give the 4th line the hard minutes and find some clean air for the 3rd.
On second though Frederic is probably the incumbent on the 4th line RW, not Joseph. He was part of the great numbers Dach-Dickinson put up in a tiny sample size last year: 71 xGF% and 1-0 goals and 4-2 high danger chances in about 15 minutes.
The only thing that makes sense is.
Savoie-McDavid-Hyman
Podz-Leo-Kapanen
Nuge-Dickinson-Frederic
Dach-Samanski-Joseph/Jones
Howard is waiver exempt and can be sent down to Bakersfeild with no consequence. They can waive Janmark & Stastney with no major concern.
Lines 3 and 4 will not score. Keeping Howard also you to have more offence in the bottom 6.
Howard very well may be a better 2nd line wing with Drai then Kap.
That is NOT the only thing that makes sense.
Having Frederic on the third line instead of Kap and not having Frederic and Dach together is certainly NOT the only thing that makes sense.
He’s going to have to prove it. Don’t you think? You want to just hand it to him.
The only way to actually prove it is to do so in NHL games.
You can’t prove ready in camp or in exhibition games – we’ve seen how little exhibition games – we’ve seen they are all but meaningless.
He’s already proven ready for the opportunity – he earned that last season – now its time to get the opportunity, if he does not succeed, its easy to make a change to deployment and even some personnel.
“For me, much of the fun in sports is watching teams build toward a championship.”
This is why I’m here: your wonderings and your historical perspective—and the thoughtful commentary of so many readers. So far, it’s the only place I’ve found where all of this comes together.
ps. My dream is that one day I find the Habs version of this blog.
You should start one! But keep posting here too!!
I was tempted. But the one who knows me better than myself (herself an Oilers fan) told me in no uncertain terms that I was already distracting from the work I am called to do 🤷♂️
Ah, you’re a Habs fan. I must have missed that previously.
Good news is you have a lot to look forward to. Jeff Gorton, whom I was a fan of his work in New York, has been doing some cooking.
I watched the Habs during these playoffs. What a build—just an incredible cluster of young talent. They are going to be an absolute wagon for a long time.
I agree re long time wagon coming our way. I like how Hughes/Gorton have built a very talented, very young, and very affordable roster. I’m curious to see how the team culture/commitment is sustained.
Was thinking just today of the teams that are emerging to become perennial powerhouses and Montreal was among them.
After signing Kirby Dach to a reasonable one year deal today, they have a lineup with only three 30+ players on the roster and two expire at the end of the season.
Still $10 million in cap space a full compliment of draft picks and only one season of retention on the Gallagher contract.
Utah and San Jose two other teams about to join the party.
“Was thinking just today..”
Hah come on man really?
Thats mostly what you post here daily!
Kirby Dach was signed to a $2MM overpay.
I trade Frederic for Kirby in a heartbeat
That doesn’t mean that Kirby Dach at his contract is something positive or that should be thought of as a benefit for a team. He got that contract due to a $4MM QO but the Habs were able to offer a 2-way deal on that QO because he’s missed so much time – Dach filed for arb to ensure he got a one-way contract knowing he could be in the AHL.
He showed some of what he can bring during the playoffs. Will he be healthy? And, with loading up in FLA, questionable future for Arber X with the Habs, Dach may necessary size/attitude in that Div?
I’m watching these young teams, but from a greater distance than the Habs or Oilers.
Howard. McDavid. Hyman
Podz. Draisatl. Kapanen
Dach. Nuge. Savoie
Joseph. Dickason. Freddy
Janmark
I think they start Samanski in minors. And if Howard falters he is sent down and Samanski brought up. They will run vets first. Vet coaches always do. Would love to see Dach and Samanski run wild. More likely to see Dickason at 3C with Nuge alongside him. And Janmark moved out. the verbal from Stauff and others about Dach at centre makes me wonder if he plays 4C
I like your top 9
It would be fasinating if Dach could take over the 3c spot.
And by the way it’s Dickinson, don’t be an ass.
I like these line, strong spine, Dickinson spotted in his proper role, Dach moving on up, Howard getting his moment, 2nd line properly remaining intact.
Nuge/Savoie creating a strong soft minutes 3rd line with a young Patty Dach.
Joseph and Frederic having a prehistoric aged hunter gatherer nipping at their heels.
I like.
LOL It would be unpopular but that prehistoric aged hunter gatherer (who is really only 33 years old, if it’s Janmark you’re talking about) could realistically also potentially be the 4c.
The Janitor is not a centre. I hope he’s able to come back 100% after so much time off, but at this point he’s a bubble player.
He has more experience playing 4c at the NHL level than either of Dach or Samanski.
Default to the Guide and Record Book all you want.
I prefer to not drive to my destination solely watching the rear view mirror.
Playing, yes. Playing well? Maybe not, right?
It seems like it takes McDavid longer to trust a new linemate and use him than it does Draisaitl. Draisaitl has a history of making linemates better and appears to be “easier “ to play with than McDavid. For that reason I would leave the McDavid line alone with Savoie and Hyman, as this was working in the second half last year. I’d put the new kid, Howard, with Draisaitl and Podz.
That’s how I lean with deploying Howard too; either with Drai-Podz, or on a soft-minutes line with (likely) Nuge-Dickinson.
Most likely he starts on the third line and as he gains momentum/trust he’ll move into the top-6.
I agree except I don’t see Dickinson getting “soft minutes” and I don’t think Howard fits on al line with him.
Safe veterans to establish bona fides and expectations. When he thrives and pushes the issue, he gets moved up.
I’m not saying that’s what I do specifically, I’m saying that’s what I expect based on veteran coach behaviours I’ve observed over decades of watching the NHL.
Babcock has given rookies prominent roles – for example Hyman was stapled to Matthews as rookie (and he was not a prominent name back then).
Transition to Howard should start on September. Play him in the top 6 where he is set up to succeed. One of Podz or Kap can help a third line. It just makes sense.
If it’s not working after a stretch, they can pivot.
Give the high pedigree, high skill, developed kid the opportunity he earned last season.
Pods should play with Drai. Howard can be there also
Sure, move Kap down.
At the same time, I think Podz with Nuge and Dickinson can be a highly impactful 3rd line.
My point really is, there IS a spot in the top 6 for Howard. Each of Savoie, Kap and Podz are better fits on a 3rd line and none of them are established impact top 6 players where its egregious to move them to a third line to help “balance” the team.
I don’t know for sure, but the ability to play within the teams defensive structure might be a thing, not only in the bottom six but also in the top six.
I’m not sure this is true. Both McDavid and Draisaitl experienced a material improvement in performance when playing with Matt Savoie. Having said that…
With the depth available to Babcock I don’t think it’s egregious to put any of the top-9 wingers on the 3rd line, including Nuge or Hyman. Samanski-Savoie had excellent results in ~50 minutes together last year, that could be the genesis of an outscoring 3rd line next year.
I didn’t phrase that properly – I mean that each of Savoie/Pod/Kap are better fits on a third line with Nuge and Dickinson than Howard would be.
On the second point, I agree except for Howard – he’s come so far in his 2-way/overall/away from the puck game over the last 10 months but the man is a goal scorer and offensive player – lets set him up to succeed in the top 6.
It makes no sense to me to remove Podz from Draisaitl’s wing.
I don’t agree.
For sure, I like him with Drai and about they move him away any time soon (and that’s fine) but its not like he’s an established impact top 6 player and he IS a player that could very well help drive a 3rd line to be a very effective line and help balance the roster.
He has established success running alongside Draisaitl, this is factual.
Why fix what aint broken? The Oilers have a bakers dozen worth of wingers that they can tinker with until something rhymes that doesnt include taking the workhorse off of the 2nd line.
I want Podz on the ice more, not less.
I tend to like running pairs and auditioning the other winger until something clicks.
For now, it’s Connor-Hyman until Savoie (or another) can supplant him.
Leon-Podz.
Dickinson-xxx
Dach-Samanski-Frederic had chemistry that would be worth developing until it gives reason to tinker.
There really is plenty of internal competition to establish the pecking order.
Which is good for the team, it’s a chance for everyone from the new guys like Joseph, to established incumbents like RNH to earn a role under the new bench regime.
I kinda like.
McDavid-Hyman
Podz-Leo
Nuge-Dickinson
Dach-Samanski
Good building blocks.
That’s essentially how I lean but don’t want to presuppose Nuge to 3L, for instance.
Maybe a longer off-season and defined role/expectation sees him as 1LW again. On merit.
But yes, in general you’ve fleshed out my theory from a begin as you mean to go along perspective.
I agree, and when a pairing finds their third musketeer don’t over think it and let them cook.
Precisely. We already know most of the pairings. Let the cream rise to the top and then let them gel.
Yes, he has established success along side Drai, that is factual. I remember when Yamamoto has established success alongside Drai, including with Nuge…….
Its not about “fixing” its about making the team better by putting players in a position to succeed (i.e Howard with Drai, not Dickinson) and balancing the lineup.
Podz could complete a top of the league third line.
Howard and Drai could form a duo much more dynamic than with Podz.
Again, I’m not saying it has to happen, or even needs to happen – maybe it’s Kap that moves “off that 2nd line” for now.
Its about a proper placement for Howard and completing that third line.
Depends who is replacing Podz there but over the last two years, Drai without Podz or McDavid over almost 500 minutes is 48% xGF, 50% GF.
Leo with Podz in 1000+ minutes is 59% GF, 55% xGF. Thats one of the best duos in the league and McDavids not even on the line. No reason to break them up, it will almost certainly make Draisaitl’s line worse
Drai/Howard without McDavid or Podz is 100% goal share….. Sure, its 1-0 goals in 6:25 of ice but…
I understand the Drai/Podz combo and I’m fine if Howard is the third winger with Kap going on the third line but I also really like Podz on that third line and I don’t think Leo “needs him”.
Let’s not forget, they can always go back to what they know works. Finding out other things that could work is important as well.
Vasily and Drai. Peas in a podz.
Mushed Peas – I had no idea you were Gene!😂
Pods – Drai – Kap was the Oilers best line at the end of this past season. Should be line 1 at the beginning of next season
Actually Podkolzin-Draisaitl-Savoie was better last year.
w/ Savoie: 105:43 TOI, 52.63 CF%, 58.59 SF%, 85.71 GF%, 57.27 xGF%
w/ Kapanen: 141:13 TOI, 50.92 CF%, 55.48 SF%, 80.00 GF%, 51.50 xGF%
Neither had a huge sample size, but Babcock could start either way and wouldn’t be wrong since Savoie’s underlying stats away from 97 / 29 are slightly better than Kapanen’s.
Both Podz and Savoie make every line they play on better. Both will be moved around the lineup often I would think. Two very versatile players.
This is a reason why I like Podz on the third line, to complete it.
He’s great with Drai but I don’t imagine Drai “needs him”.
But why mess with a good thing. They could alway show Frederic, Joseph or Jones video of Podz and say we want you to play like this.
I’ve explained why multiple times in this thread.
I’m not necessarily right, nor necessarily wrong.
It has been a good thing, doesn’t’ mean that will continues (see Drai/Yamo and Nuge/Drai/Yamo) but, even so, it also doesn’t mean there aren’t other set-ups that could be better for the overall team. Podz can help in other places and other player may be able to impact with Drai.
This team can have balance. Play Howard and Savoie along with Hyman and one of Podz in the top 6 – two lines that can be dynamic offensively.
Play Dickinson with Nuge and one of Podz or Kap on a 2-way line that can play in all situations.
Dack and Freddie banging along with Samanski can be a true energy 4th line. Add in Joseph and it gets fast and better defensively.
Kap can score with Drai for a true second line.
Podz with Nuge and Dick could be a substantial third line.
Jones and Janmark in behind.
They have the ability for balance for sure.
Dickinson is a drag on offense, best suited for fourth line, defensive zone draws and PK. Oilers don’t have a strong No. 2 RH dedender if Murphy falters. We are not sure about the goaltending. I like the team, but suspect balance comes in the new year at the earliest and will require a trade.
Although Dickinson won’t post many crooked numbers, so long as his line is GF+ doesn’t that achieve “depth”?
I mean ROR as the 3C gives me chills and would fit nicely under the cap, but that almost feels greedy.
It is challenging to outscore (or even not get caved) when you post no offence.
I think Dickinson’s success will depend on the quality of wingers he gets.
Put Dickinson with Podz and Nuge and they will be able to score a bit.
Kap and Nuge as well, but not as much as Podz.
I don’t think that’s a guarantee. RNH does not have a strong track record of scoring without McDrai.
I would suggest this is nitpicking, especially with the word on Murphy. Murphy is a legit solid defensive minded 2RD. Why would we expect him to falter in a role he’s established in?
Also, Emberson in a high end 3RD and, well, maybe he could move up the lineup to 2RD if they need that (and I do believe Regula can play in this league.
On Dickinson, perfect world would have him as 4C, sure, due to lack of offence (although he did have a very good year scoring when put in an offensive role not too long ago). He is a strong NHL centre and if you put him with Podz and Nuge, two established top 6 players, that should form a VERY good third line – for balance.
The concern with Murphy is that he is 33 and his coach in Chicago was fading his TOI. There is definitely risk of regrsssion.
Didn’t Chicago have numerous younger Dmen they wanted to get a look at?
The coach in Chicago faded his ice time as the team was not going to be successful this season and they wanted to get more looks at younger players.
His ice time was back up as and Oiler and he was excellent in his role.
Sure, over the course of 5 years, there will be recession but I’m not concerned going in to this season.
I was merely presenting the argument for why one might be concerned about Murphy.
You are free to disagree.
Murphy might get injured. But IMO they have Shea, Emberson & Mukhamadullin for exrra cover in that event.
I agree. Don’t sell Dickinson short. He & Nuge might be dynamite together in a third role.line
It’s inevitable, Howard must get a fair shake in the top six, there is a need for him to prove himself in that way, much as Savoie did last season. But just don’t play the two youngsters together. There’s certainly potential for they could play with two very solid forward duos in
McDavid & Hyman and Podz & Leo. If it works, it works, if it doesn’t then there’re alternatives.
It will be interesting to see if Dach can play the center position. As that would mean Edmonton would have two promising young centers in Dach & Samanski, not only that but the twosome can also play on the wing. Savoie may also have that ability. I’ll just leave it at that .
I’m not sure its inevitable – I hope its so with Howard but I have zero idea what Babs/Bowman will end up doing.
I hope he starts in the top 6 and I think its a viable option for the decision makers but they could just as easily send him down to the AHL or put him on the third line with Nuge and Dickinson or even on an “energy fourth line”.
I don’t agree with any of those other placements but none would shock me.
I figure it’s top six or Bakersfield for Howard.
Could be but I’m not positive – as I said, I have no idea what they might do with him – I see all the listed options as possible for the org.
Some Jordan Eberle news. Eberle’s are fantastic people.
Kraken captain Jordan Eberle donates $700K to Calgary Public Library Foundation
https://www.ctvnews.ca/calgary/article/kraken-captain-jordan-eberle-donates-700k-to-calgary-public-library-foundation/
Classy gesture. Wrong city, though.
Regina? Absolutely.
Edmonton? Slam dunk.
Seattle? Can 100% see it from here.
Calgary? Boo.
(I get it, his better half is from Calgary. Still. ABC, baby.)
Calgarianites can use all of the help they can get with becoming more edumacated.
With this sage perspective, I cede my position and embrace the wisdom of elder Eberle’s gesture.
Any “balance” Bowman has “achieved” so far has been through downgrading the roster, and a relative high cost in high draft picks.
You mean the Oilers are better balanced like the Hurricanes?
No.
then you’ve missed the plot.
Still “whining” about “Boreberg”?
Yawn.
Go cheer on your favourite team.
http://www.StLouisBluesSuck.com
Ray of sunshine.
Man, the way you rag on Bowman for the sins of is forefathers (Old Dutch and ChiaPete, and to some extent, the summer of Distraction Jackson) is as relentless as it is wilfully blind.
Under Holland’s tenure:
Blaming Bowman for the loss of Boberg and Holloway when it was clearly 95% on Holland (Bowman was brand new to the chair when the offer sheets ChiaPete cooked up came in) is, at this point, pathological.
I would like to see the forward transition look like this:
Howard – McD – Savoie
Podz – Drai – Kap
Samanski – RNH – Hyman
Joseph – Dickinson – Freddy/Dach
Add DeBrincat at the deadline or a centre.
3rd and 4th lines can eat some harder minutes.
Somehow that top line lacks balance.
Swap 1LW and 2LW.
Keep Samanski in the middle and Nuge at LW.
There’s too many forwards I want to keep to not run with 14F.
There’s too many D I want to keep to not run 8D.
Keeping 3 goalies doesn’t help either problem.
Hyman/McDavid/Savoie
Howard/Drai/Kap
Nuge/Dickinson/Podz
Frederic/Samanski/Dach
Joseph
Yes, we can change Kap and Podz if we think Podz has to play with Drai. I think he could be very valuable helping Dave what could be an impact 3rd line.
As a cat guy myself I have to say LT, I very much approve of the new Balance photo!
Copy on the cat guy. My wife and I love our furry felines.
And showing my age REO Speedwagon from ‘Nine Lives’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i49TJJvChMM
“They’re drinkin’ moonshine from a wooden tub they started dancin’ gettin all shook up !”
Also copying here. There is one perched on my lap as I write.
That whole album (Nine Lives) is killer from start to finish. It was REO’s last true rock and / or roll album before they started pivoting ever-so-slightly popward with Hi Infidelity.
explain with 2 years of McDavid, why using Savoie and Howard to acquire genuine top 6 forward talent isn’t an imperative?
the present is all
I think the argument put forth by LT pretty much exactly explains this. Unless your goal is to win 1 Stanley Cup in the next two years then follow Calgary and Vancouver into the basement.
The goal should always be to win 1 Stanley Cup.
Hedging your bets while your top players are aging out quickly is a fools errand….just ask Joe Thornton.
With so much parity in the league, it is very difficult to build or maintain a dynasty.
The wave crashed and hit the sandcastle head-on. The sandcastle began to melt under the waves force and as the wave receded, half the sandcastle was gone. The next wave hit, not quite as strong, but still managed to cover the remains of the sandcastle and take more of it away. The third wave, a big one, crashed over the sandcastle completely covering and engulfing it. When it receded, there was no trace the sandcastle ever existed and hours of hard work disappeared forever.
-HeadbangerNeckInjury on reddit.
Well according to you, not for – what is it? Dallas, LA, Vegas, Anaheim, SJ, St Louis, etc etc etc – pretty much EVERYONE but Oilers.
You must have impressive thigh strength, lugging those goal posts all over the place.
All of those teams, other than the Thornton Sharks, have won a cup since the Oilers last turned the trick way back in the last century.
Since the salary cap was implemented in 2005/06 only 3 teams have been able to win 2 in a row.
Once they won, their salary cap space disappeared as their stars needed to be paid often throwing their teams out of balance for an extended period.
As the Sharks learned, paying your stars huge money as they age out before they have won anything is a recipe for a long period of irrelevance.
Perhaps the Hurricanes become an outlier since their cap sheet is pristine:
1) Zero bad contracts
2) No ticking RFA/UFA bombs ready to detonate
3) $10 million in cap space
4) No dead cap
5) A full compliment of draft picks including 4 firsts in the next 3 years.
We’ll see if they have sustain.
“Let me think about the entire history of hockey and demonstrate my confirmation bias by pointing at Joe Thornton to support my ever changing anti-Oiler narrative”
I just did.
Thats it exactly – you did that!
I think Savoie is a top 6 forward.
So do I. I also think Ike Howard will be one soon.
I think soon they will need to pick between one of Savoie or Howard but not both in the top six. Kind of a similar situation as Nuge and Eberle, in the long run it doesn’t work.
Nuge and Eberle played in the top six, often together, for six seasons. That’s a pretty long run.
Sure but how successful was that?
Thinking a bad team’s best players are the reason the team is bad is the Tambellini resigning Lennart Petrell of hockey opinions – Woodguy
Good Christ, you’re blaming those two? You do remember the rest of the roster, right?
I think you misunderstanding me. It’s about the construction of lines and players roles within the line combinations sometimes they aren’t ideal. For instance Podz & Leon are effective together because Podz is a puck hound. Similar with Connor & Zach. Nuge & Eberle didn’t have the same chemistry and Hall for that matter didn’t click because they were basically the same type of players.
Hall, Eberle and RNH absolutely had chemistry.
Hall had the speed and drove the play to the net.
Eberle had the skills to create plays and snipe.
RNH was the playmaker and good overall.
Their production was also good and consistent when they were together vs when they were apart.
This article gives a snapshot of what their chemistry was like together and how they complimented each other.
https://edmontonjournal.com/sports/hockey/nhl/cult-of-hockey/nugent-hopkins-eberle-and-hall-are-the-beatles-of-the-oilers-better-together-than-apart
I’ll give you a quote from LT. ” You do remember the rest of the roster, right?”
Yeah but remember what happened when they traded Eberle and Hall to try to fix the rest of the roster? In the long run, it didn’t work.
They probably should have traded the rest of the roster or gotten more out of trading two of their top assets. Mistakes have been made, How else do we learn?
“Mistakes have been made, How else do we learn?”
I think this is why we are having the discussion that we are though.
Do the Oilers really want to trade Savoie or Howard if the return isn’t worth it or doesn’t sufficiently address a roster need (like what happened with the Hall/Eberle trades).
If Howard and/or Savoie blow the doors off to begin this year and the Oilers only need or want 1 of them, then there’s also no reason why they couldn’t make a deadline move which could net them more value from the trade at that point compared to trading them now.
I truly do not get the angst around having to trade one of them now. They should only do that if a team makes them an offer they can’t refuse.
The difference is that Hall & Eberle were established veterans. Absolutely if the price is right Ibelieve either could be moved. They kind of know what they have with Savoie, but not so much with Howard. Every player on the roster is an asset with a value attached. Gretzky was traded wasn’t he?
The Hall RNH Eberle line was maybe the only positive part of those teams. How they succeeded against the other teams best players was and is a great feat. If Hall and Eberle had stayed on the team, the Oilers would’ve had a couple cups by now.
Connor & Leon made them expendable. There’s only so much room at the top.
A good manager would have fit them in
Thanks.
Podz and Yamo were successful as well – in fact, the line of Nuge/Drai/Yamo, with two smaller players was dynamite for 30 games until Covid.
I don’t understand why there is this narrative that both Savoie and Howard can’t be in the top six – what is this based on?
Lots of small players succeed in the top six including in the playoffs – Stankoven most recently (I know he played 3rd line but he’s primarily a top 6 player.
Imagine when the Oilers add DeBrincat in March….
They may not need to add DeBrincat if Howard brings the goods. Howard needs to play top six if he’s going to make the team, which puts him at a disadvantage. Where as Savoie can play anywhere in the top nine, maybe even the fourth line, but that might be a waste. For me though the main thing is they are both on the small side and could be easily dominated by other teams. However with the right combination of linemates they could have success in the top six.
And we should be giving him every chance to etch it in stone this season.
By eye and by math he belonged on the first line in the second half of the season.
Please explain your understanding of cap management.
Please propose solutions instead of merely pointing out perceived shortfalls and leaving the hard part to others.
WWVD?
Now that Nurse has been trade (and Skinner), he has changed the subject of his cloud yelling to Savoie/Howard.
Oh, I’m well aware.
He’s a less eloquent version of Denis King, always complaining about management no matter what they do and ignoring anything they may do well. Even if Bowman wins the Cup, it’ll be a problem because it didn’t happen in the manner he prefers.
I’ve said it before, and I’m still not convinced to the contrary, but there’s a very good chance verdud is a chat bot.
Savoie produced 19 ponts in 24 games when in the top 6 – without material PP time
Howard very well could score 20/20/40 in the top six (he COULD produce more).
They are a combined cap ht of under $2MM.
They are the present.
Yes and who knows what the future may hold?
Of all the possible problems on the oilers roster Savoie is definitely not one. Howard is extremely likely to surpass any low expectations. His low cap hit adds to his value as well as time to iron things out.
In fact the oilers have less possible problems now than many previous years. In my estimation.