Matvei Petrov has reportedly signed with Moscow Spartak of the KHL for the 2026-27 season. Drafted in the sixth round of the 2021 draft, he showed impressive shootout and PK skills with the Bakersfield Condors but was never a threat to make the NHL. Please read this.
I think the pick was worth it, Petrov had skills and some potential as an offensive player. That 2021 draft was the devil in disguise. with Edmonton taking Xavier Bourgault in the first round (after trading down). Just one other player who has dressed for an NHL game was part of the Edmonton list (Shane Lachance) and we’ll see who wins the race (2-1 Xavier currently) for most NHL games in their careers.
I like to wait five years before evaluating a draft, but the Oilers draft so few players annually it’s difficult to get a strong feel for what the team is looking for in amateur talent.
The 2022 draft results are promising four years after, with Reid Schaefer having played 47 NHL games and Samuel Jonsson posting two promising seasons in a row. I like Nikita Yevseyev too, although one doubts he’ll sign a contract with Edmonton.
The 2023 draft has a fine RH defenseman in Beau Akey, but the organization didn’t play him much (and he wasn’t 100 percent, to be fair) so it’s an open question about where his career will land.
The 2024 draft is the Sam O’Reilly draft, suspect he has a 10-year career, maybe longer. I like Eemil Vinni, Connor Clattenburg and William Nicholl from the Oilers list that summer, Clattenburg has already played in NHL games and Nicholl can fly.
The 2025 draft is my favourite since 2018 (the Bouchard-McLeod-Kesselring draft). I really like Tommy Lafreniere, David Lewandowski and Asher Barnett. I bet at least one of those men has an NHL career of note.
The 2026 draft looks shy on skill, with top pick Rudolfs Berzkalns returning very few promising comparables. I was disappointed in Dylan Holloway’s ofense on his draft day, too, so one needs to remember scouts project and sometimes they hit a home run.
On the Lowdown today, former Edmonton Trappers and Toronto Blue Jays great Devon White will join us to talk about the Edmonton Riverhawks’ Field of Dreams Festival August 22nd at Remax Park. We’ll also be joined by Steve Lansky and talk about that massive Elks win last night in Regina. Noon to 2pm, Sports 1440 and You Tube.
Will the Edmonton Oilers’ 3-goalie system work?
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7466134/2026/07/24/edmonton-oilers-goalies-jarry-andersen-levi/
Aside from the awkwardness of running three goalies, my biggest concern remains the same as it has been for some time: will the F-group, and especially McDrai, play the 200 foot game they’ve hitherto only played inconsistently. That play has cost Cups, and vilified goalies in the past.
We are given words to the effect of changing play, from McD and from new coach MB. MB has even trotted out the “Yzerman moment” story.
But we’ve had words in the recent past.
I wait, and have my fingers crossed that the “goalie problem” isn’t also trotted out as an excuse for poor play this season.
It do or die this year. If McDavid is moving on I would think McDavid would give Stan a heads up so we don’t have over zealous fans pull a Mitch Marner departure. The Nurse move ended the tight Core that just fell short to a team that was spiking the water bottles. Leon and Connor still have 3 Cups in them in Edmonton if Stan can get some big skilled wingers riding shotgun. Holland-Bowman tried the nice guy routine it’s time to get nasty in the trenches no more allowing free runs at McDavid-Leon. Bowman needs to protect his meal tickets especially this year with some Stanley Cup worthy goaltending finally. McDavid sticks with Leon and signs an another 2-3 year contract after hoisting the Cup in the City of Champions.
-McD has been clear about one thing: winning the Cup in Edmonton. Given the talent, I can’t see another team being all that attractive. I’m not getting anxious about the “two-year/win-now.” Win-now looks like the worst way to build and sustain a contender.
-You love the “protect McDrai” story. I share w you the appreciation for GMSB’s acquisition of big, fast, young talent. I don’t, however, see protection as their racket. I see, à la both Habs and Hurricanes, forechecking and pressure.
-You had it in for previous goalies; my eye, the deeper numbers (deeper than SV%), and the trade show that goaltending was not the problem. None of this trio inspires. If McD has his “Yzerman moment,” if Draisaitl gets serious about his Selke aspirations, I’m pretty sure any of the six goalies from 2024-2026 would be enough to win a Cup.
This is, I hope, the year where McDrai both compete for Selke, and lift the Cup. I like to think that coach MB’s “Yzerman moment” comments resonate with the Capt, and he finds the next level of his maturing game. Leadership of this kind will lift all players’ confidence and level of play.
McDavid on the Hurricanes top line would be an absolute load.
First off I am a nobody all I do is watch my Oilers as diehard fan. I hope Babcock installs accountability on the players. First thing I do is shorten Connor and Leon shifts. I see both players trying too hard like the weight of the team is on them. Connor and Leon seemed to get burned on long shifts especially in OT where teams just sit back or hold the puck patiently not forcing the issue. I think Bowman has shored up the bottom 6 so that Babcock can play these guys instead of leaning on Connor-Leon. I see at least 2 minutes wiped off for Connor-Leon per game. We can all watch in amazement as they will be talking about this very point of ice time around Christmas when the Oilers are top dog in the West.
I think many are hoping for a bit less ice time including via shorter shifts from McDavid and Drai but what in the world does that have to do with your previous posts or Rev’s response to it? Its just another random statement with no connection to the prior posts……
As an aside, in Toronto, Matthews/Nylander/etc. had much less ice under Babcock and Babcock did expressly and publicly criticize McLellan for playing McDavid and Drai too much.
Matthews was under 20 min/game under Babcock.
The entire season’s success, real success, is predicate on a new found respect for the regular season and the commitment to play a much more structured game and manage the puck better.
The words have been uttered in the past but never as strong as over the last few months and with actions to back up the words (i.e. coach hiring).
Babcock is a highly accomplished structure implementer – if he has the buy in, and he should, as the team executes, the goalie group will be just fine and may even be great with a high ceiling younger.
If they play anywhere near the way they did most of last year, not even Sheshterkin will win a cup on this team.
I look forward to it.
iike 3 goalie system anderson needs rest… and maybe play mvdavid and drai less if playoffs are sewn up
Another up arrow for LT’s fave 2025 draft, Tommy Lafreniere has made the Team Canada WJ Summer Showcase team.
Gives him a solid inside track on making the big squad this Xmas as long as he continues to develop at Western Michigan.
https://hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/team-canada/men/junior/2026-27/summer-camp/stats/team-rosters/409
Working stupid theory that you should fire your scouting director every year. It seems like first drafts are usually home runs and after that is diminishing returns. Lt has written about it many times.
Fraser- Lowe Coffey. Doesn’t fit theory but adding regardless.
KP- Hemsky then Niinimaki
Stu-Ebs then MP
Green-97 then JP
Wright-Holloway then Borgault
Pracey- Oreilly then hard to say when they have no picks.
Maybe they have best ideas for the 1 run then pipeline diminishes or management tailors more after that rather than getting best players. I always assume meddling when theres a bizarre pick.
Scott Wheeler
@scottcwheeler
Team Canada’s World Junior Summer Showcase roster:
F:
Cole Reschny
Philippe Veilleux
Caleb Desnoyers
Shea Busch
Ethan Czata
Caleb Malhotra
Braeden Cootes
Chase Harrington
Tyler Hopkins
Tommy Lafreniere
Dima Zhilkin
Jimmy Lombardi
Ryan Roobroeck
Ethan Belchetz
Cameron Schmidt
Brady Martin
Jack Nesbitt
Tynan Lawrence
D:
Jackson Smith
Keaton Verhoeff
Carson Carels
Ryan Lin
Brek Liske
Daxon Rudolph
Cameron Reid
Charlie Morrison
Xavier Villeneuve
Alex Huang
G:
Jack Ivankovic
Lucas Beckman
William Lacelle
Samuel Meloche
I would think Lafrenière is a long shot to make it but hopefully he raises some eyes at camp and has a good start to the season.
US camp has Asher Barnett (who should be a lock to make it as he was on the team last year) and new goalie prospect Cameron Ryan.
Devo! Love that guy!
Devon White is a great guest, probably the best Edmonton Trapper ever. (Shoutout to Tim Salmon, who wasn’t too bad either)
Devo made such a great catch in the 1992 World Series, got credit for making a double play but got robbed of the triple play due to umpire error.
Respect.
That was an astonishing catch.
It was as good as the Willie Mays catch.
My dad used to split season tickets at John Ducey right behind home plate (a couple rows back of the due with the speed gun) – amazing seats. I probably went to 10-12 games a year growing up. Tim Salmon was my all-time favourite – mashing bombs.
I saw Devon’s first professional homerun at John Ducey! I also spilled beer on Grant Fuhr in a dingy bar in the French Quarter!!!!!
Every time the Oilers trade back in the draft, a painful twitch hits me.
Pick as high as you can or trade out entirely. This is not the NFL.
Amen
Is Hail, Hail a Pearl Jam reference from No Code? If so love it.
Great call. In my opinion, it’s their finest album.
Love the handle. Alice in Chains is one of those great 90s bands. I got to see them with and without Layne
One of my favorites too. But my top favorite PJ album is Vitalogy, precisely for how weird it is. “Bugs” is just goofy AF, while “Stupid Mop” has a killer drum pattern.
And “Last Exit” / “Spin the Black Circle” is as good a 1-2 punch as they’ve ever had.
Yes
How about a shoutout for some Outlaw music in Cody Jinks-Josh-Meloy-Dirtwater-Uncle Lucius.
I hear/read that Vinni has some real upside but I’ll discount him for now as, well, he’s a goalie over in Europe and I have zero real idea. SOR/Clatt/Nicholl – that’s a good haul, all three should play in the NHL and, of course, SOR has a real chance to be a solid-great middle six center (I’m happy to the burgeoning top 6 winger the Oilers have).
Clatt, we know my thoughts – he can play in this league if he commits to developing certain hockey areas for 4 months.
Nicholl is one of my favourites – Oilers fans will love that motor if he can make it at the next couple of levels.
SOR could make the team out of camp and be effective. Clattenburg needs to be a shit disturber. He can keep up skating wise and is pretty good around the net for a 5th rounder. Clattenburg path is raising up dust the idea of making him into a Bob Gainey is laughable that’s who SOR trending towards.
I’ve never heard anyone suggest the Oilers should make Clatt “into a Bob Gainey”- you are making shit up again.
I think they gave him a bit of the Jarventie treatment early given how many injuries he had, and how little hockey he played, in his last few years. The ECHL start was basically a conditioning stint.
If I remember correctly, he started strong upon recall to the AHL but ended up with a very up and down season including some healthy scratches down the stretch. His goal share was very good but that was a sheltered role.
The key here is to play a fun 60+ game season and hopefully earn his way in to the top 4 on merit. The second season pro is a big one – he can put his name back in the conversation.
His skating is special!
He was on the top pairing with Carfagna for a while there and thriving, then Chaulk spoke about having to back them off as poor play and habits crept in.
That’s what the AHL is for, building pro habits and consistency. Beau’s interview at dev camp spoke to his desire to become more well rounded and felt he started to feel comfortable at that level after December.
Considering his injury history and how difficult the jump from Junior to AHL is for non-elite prospects (another advantage of college programs) last season was an up arrow, although not a home run.
The coach, Stauff, everyone says Beau’s assertion level will decide if he takes the next step. Him and Clattenberg could learn alot from each other 😉.
Carfagna may be a real find.
My hope is that, by December, Carfagna has blown by Stilman, Brown and Stastney for call-up (I didn’t add Regula as I also think he can play in the NHL, I just don’t see how it will be in this org unless he clears and there is an early injury).
Matvei Petrov was an underrated 2-way player as a pro. Unfortunately, the goal scoring ability (that shot) from junior just never translated to the AHL. There were a couple of times where he seemed to get some traction and was heating up but then he would get hurt every time. He was a good Condor but not qualifying him was foreseeable.