We are in that part of summer where it’s time to decide which of the minor league hopefuls have a chance to make the NHL Oilers this fall. First thing we do is look at a depth chart and then decide on the fellow we believe can shoot the moon. It’s all harmless fun and fuels conversation until we start hearing the actual news that impacts Edmonton’s season.
There are things we know about each of the hopefuls.
In the comments yesterday, Godot talked about Quinn Hutson winning a job over some veterans. LMHF chimed in, and the site may have a new favourite entering this year’s camp. It’s possible for Hutson to impress this fall, he is at an age (24) and stage of his career where this is the time to get a wiggle on if he’s going to make it.
Players who emerge in training camp often leave evidence from their previous minor league season. Here’s Kyle Brodziak, his final two AHL season split in half and showing progression via points-game:
- 2005-06 first half: .56
- 2005-06 second half: .57
- 2006-07 first half: .81
- 2006-07 second half: 1.00
Brodziak arrived at 2007 training camp and mopped the floor with the competition. Coach Craig MacTavish raved about his impressive play, and Brodziak improved his boots and offensive output, winning the day.
Hutson, like Brodziak, will need to improve his foot speed in order to have a legit NHL career. He is not a big winger, but does have scoring talent (30 goals last season as an AHL rookie) and two-way acumen. Here are his scoring splits from last season:
- First Half: 36, 24-15-39 (1.08)
- 2nd Half: 30, 6-18-24 (0.80)
We know the Condors slipped in the second half, partly because Josh Samanski was helping drive the offense on his line. Ike Howard’s splits (1.35 to .86 points-game in first and second half) show a similar decline, and no one questions his offensive ability.
Howard’s max speed (via NHL Edge) was 85th percentile (37.07 kph) , while Hutson (33.22 kph, average is 35.68 kph) is decidedly challenged in this area. When we talk about speed in prospects, you may believe I’m burying the player and writing him off. However, like Howard’s defensive play, we have identified the issues for Hutson: size and speed. He can score, check, is a smart player, took on a leadership role based on reports and can play in any game state.
If he makes it, we should give credit to the player for overcoming an issue that could keep him outside the NHL. If he doesn’t, Hutson will join countless Oilers prospects over the years (Rob Schremp, Anton Lander, Tyler Benson in more recent times) who had impressive tools but could not skate fast enough to impact the play at the puck.
Hutson played just four NHL games last season. It’s possible his max speed will be higher given an 82-game window of opportunity. There are many reasons why an NHL team would want him on a roster. He’s smart, can score in all situatuations (17 at even strength, 12 on the PP, 1 on the PK) and really only has Zach Hyman, Ike Howard, Kasperi Kapanen and Mathieu Joseph clearly in front of him.
However, if those NHL Edge max speed numbers are true Hutson will fall shy, this year and the ones to follow.
On the Lowdown today, Kevin McCurdy will join the show to talk about the hopefuls, from Hutson to Regula. We’ll also talk Elks, Jays, NFL and more. Noon to 2pm, Sports 1440 and You Tube.
The Edmonton Oilers’ complete reasonable expectations for the 2026-27 season
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7504771/2026/08/12/edmonton-oilers-reasonable-expectations-2026-27/
Excellent article. I would take the under on Janmark and Jones each playing 50+ games, but otherwise, everything is very….reasonable.
I agree with the above.
I would also expect that Frederic will blow 16 points out of the water.
Define blow.
Stauff asks what the listeners would think of a line of Frederic/Dickinson/Kap
That’s a third line I could see when they load up.
Trent Frederic was on Oilers Now today – Babcock has reached out to him to talk about the season and expectations from what note. Bob said he was talking to Jerry G. today, Savoie’s agent, and it sounds like Babcock has made the rounds to talk to everyone.
Frederic said he would love to have a PK role – blocking shots, getting it down and out – would love to have that opportunity.
So, Oiler Nation is no more.
Rebranded as Daily Faceoff – Edmonon joining Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto.
In other league news, QR 770 in Calgary has picked up radio brodcast rights for the Flames games after Rogers pulled the plug on all sports radio.
Unfortunately, QR 770 is owned by Corus which is teetering on the brink of insolvency.
Sad days. I was born in Edm but grew up in Cgy with Ed Whalen on AM660.
Best radio voice I’ve ever heard, including his wrestling calls.
Best sports calls when I said radio voice, nothing can beat LT’s soothing tones haha.
How ’bout that?
I was born in Calgary but grew up in Edmonton with Rod Philips on AM630.
Changelings.
I dont’ think much of anything is changing to the Oilers Nation content and I’m highly confident this re-branding was not by choice.
There is no time for try outs. There is no time for likely ceiling tweeners to try and win an NHL job over camp.
Not when they have 15 left NHL forwards for 13 spots and 7 NHL d-men (not including Stastney).
Not when there are 4 exhibition games and a brand new coaching staff that is going to be making material changes to structure on all areas (except maybe PP1) and deployment.
Camp and exhibition needs to be used to finalize opening pairs and combos and to implement system changes at 5 on 5, in all zones and on the PK.
Sorry Quinn Hutson. Your AHL coach has identified things for you to work on and maybe after you put your head down and work and show well you can have a James Hamblin showing.
“Sorry Quinn Hutson. Your AHL coach has identified things for you to work on and maybe after you put your head down and work and show well you can have a James Hamblin showing.”
Please tell him that in person.
I would think that message delivery is the express job of Bowman/Gretzky/Chaulk – of course with some nuanced changes. I think Hutson needs to understand, or learn to understand that full effort 2-ways is what may get him some NHL games, not battling harder in the offensive zone than D.
Thanks for setting me straight. I didn’t know the GMs and coaches talked to players.
If they did their job as you said, they may have already told him what he had to work on months ago….
I would presume they have and I presume the message will be similar when he’s re-assigned in September when he can put his work to work in games.
13 Days is plenty enough to figure out who came to camp to play and who didn’t. Hutson will probably be sent down due to his waiver exemption but I agree with you, there is a 0% chance a PPG AHL player that was 6th in the AHL in goals during his rookie season is going to hear he “just needs to do more at the AHL level”
Just as each and everyone of us view players differently so do coaches for all we know it wouldn’t surprise me if there’s a few raised eyebrows the first few games. I think Babcock will start his tenure with functional toughness with Andersen between the pipes.
If Quinn Hutson isn’t able to take the advice of his organization on what he needs to work on and thinks he should be in the NHL then, well, he’ll never be in the AHL.
He was a PPG in the AHL, which is fantastic, he did at at 24 for half the season.
Issac Howard was more impactful offensively and was 21 for most of the season (turned 22 at the end of March).
New coach always has a few surprises.
You come into camp 20 pounds overweight smelling of wacky tobacky and Jack Daniel’s you’re probably moving down the depth chart. Then again if you have some real funny-bizarre stories about your adventures they may decide to keep you around.
The short camp could possibly help a guy like Hutson. Show up in fantastic shape, impress at fitness testing, absolutely work your tail off in practices, and look better than passable for 2-3 exhibitions against similar calibre prospects from other organizations.
I don’t think Babcock will be married to anyone who was here last year in the bottom 6.
Babcock may not be married to last years bottom 6 but I do believe he will value functional size in the bottom 6.
Babcock values players who are hard-on-the-puck, which is not size dependent.
For me it’s about whole team makeup. With Savoie and Howard and Nuge in the lineup size does become more of a want in the bottom 6.
Definitely not lazy unskilled size but I don’t think that exists on the oilers depth chart. Hutson will be in tough without injuries.
My thinking but Babs may see it differently.
Yes Boman is giving Mike big-skilled-wingers. Babcock will not allow free runs at Connor-Leon like last year. In fact Bowman should phone up the rebuilding Rangers and see what the price tag for fan favourite Rempe is.
Big skilled wingers? What big skilled wingers? Podkolzin, and that is about it.
Dach-Frederic-Jones-Samanski-Clattenburg-Janmark. Mike is not going to follow the script. He’s going to latch onto bottom 6ers to carry more of the load for the hierarchy. I like Hutson maybe Mike does as well. Things happen when Hutson is buzzing around the net. This will not go unseen by Iron Mike.
Ice the best team possible it’s imperative we get out of the gate instead of using up too much energy chasing Vegas. Get a comfortable lead in the standing then you have the patience to tweak and rest players before the playoffs.
Babcock will be using the four games to get his combinations set and to help implement the structure he is putting in – they will be playing a different game in all zones and in all situations but for the PP – a much more pressure style, etc., etc.
There is not time for tryouts.
Babock likely has the 13 forwards he’s looking at keeping out of the 15 legit options.
Hutson will look to impress in the time he gets to be put in the mind for potential call-up.
It’s gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-shiny day
It’s gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-shiny day
That’s going to be our season….a bright, sun shiny day
Hutson is a favorite of mine and differs from the Marody/Benson types with respect to the number of “A plays” he made with the puck on his stick in his brief stint.
NHLedge captures speed but not edgework, which in Hutson’s case is quite good. He plays fast by being in the right spot and being evasive.
LT draws a better parallel with Brodziak. I would say Horcoff and Pisani are others. Not in style, of course, but guys who came in and established themselves from the bottom end of the roster.
I don’t dislike players, but I want players that will make a solid contribution in whatever role they occupy for the Oilers. To me the heart of the issue is this: all the players you mentioned were big bodies that could skate
Horcoff became a solid first line two way centre, so he’s in a higher tier. The other two had the size and speed to be a factor as bottom six players. I think it’s hard for slight or smaller players who have hockey IQ and some skill, but aren’t fast and aren’t elite skill, and particularly aren’t assertive, to find a spot and stick on a top team especially
Some might mention Stankoven and Blake, but they are more talented higher pedigree players, and most importantly are dogs on a bone all of the time. They make up for size with drive and fearlessness
There are a lot of non NHL players that fit the bill of IQ and skill. Stecher spoke about his path and how teams always went with players with more typical NHL traits size topping the list, and he would get bumped down or out. He fights his way back in, but there is a reason this happens
Thanks. Yes, it’s the “quick” and the “difficult to pin down” skating qualities I’m interested in. I can’t find stats on “edgework.” That seems to be an eye-test thing. It’s definitely something his brother Lane excels in. Are they comparable, by your eye?
Eemil Vinni has been signed to a 2-way AHL contract with the Condor. I presume this means he’s coming over and playing in the ECHL but, holy hell, with the 3 NHL goalies plus Tomkins, Ungar, Jonsson, Day and, now, Vinni, I have no idea what they are going to do.
I would remain surprised if they move Tomkins and go with two non established AHL goalies but there is a lot of goalies.
I presume they didn’t think Vinni was going to get Liiga starts.
Possibly incoming trade.
Possible but what is that trade?
I’m not saying its what I would do or want but I still think the org would be very hesitant to move Tomkins and go with two AHL rookies, as exciting as it would be to have Ungar and Jonsson share that net.
With 3 NHL goalies, there is no longer a strong need for an experienced #3 in the AHL ready to come up to the NHL in a pinch.
I would trade Tomkins and let the kids play.
Tomkins isn’t needed for NHL insurance, but he may be determined to be needed to help the Condors which helps them develop their prospect and helps the Oilers org.
Tomkins was very important to the success of the Condors last year – a calm, high ceiling and reliable goaltender.
I’m not positive they want two AHL rookies – there is risk in that and, if the team is chaos in net, its not good for the development of the skaters.
Something has to give though.
There’s only so many seats at the dance. Young goalies need playing time whether it’s AHL or ECHL. Maybe Bowman is grooming Tomkins to be our next Goalie Coach.
Where did Ungar play last year? Everywhere? One groin injury and everyone has a net.
Don’t disagree.
Prior to that groin injury, do they have 3 in the ECHL or AHL or do they make a loan/trade?
“I would not be surprised” does not mean “sure fire guaranteed”.
Nobody was mentioning him. The bar Hutson has to jump over is not impossibly high. He has the advantage of being the only rigiht shot amongst the competition. He might bring the best offense. The short camp does make it harder.
Babcock values “hard-on-the-puck (everywhere)” more than “hard-on-the-man”.
Which is why Janmark and Joseph probably have the edge. And Frederic will have a nice seat in the pressbox. With Jones and Hutson on the outside.
Howard, Samanski, and Dach are probably in direct competition for two positions. And Dach probably also has a chance to displace Janmark or Joseph.
Amongst Jones, Dach, Joseph, Samanski, Frederic and Hutson, who has the highest offensive ceiling?
The Oilers bottom-6, with Dickinson in a key role, will have trouble scoring.
Hutson could be a key player because he can actually light the lamp.
All the others you’ve mentioned have good size. That will likely be a deciding factor.
He’s not being mentioned because, right now, there are two NHL players that need to but cut ahead of him and he’s below them with a gap.
His AHL coach talked about straight legged skating 11 days ago as well as lack of effort on the defensive zone as compared to the offensive zone.
Being right handed does not matter more than being good enough
Colton Dach is locked on the 23 player roster. He’s going nowhere near waivers.
Hutson is the new Tyler Benson – smaller scoring winger with slow boots. Good enough for the AHL where there is really no elite NHL-type talent. Hutson needs to get himself to Europe or a pretty bad NHL team.
Maybe he’s been working on his skating all summer with his Brothers. Quinn might shoot out of the gate so much that Babcock thinks he can mold this player to the next step.
If I was Quinn I’d be taking skating lessons from Lane all day, every day whenever I could.
Benson was primarily a passer without a shot. Hutson can shoot. Benson had multiple seasons to figure out how to adapt and failed. Last year, Hutson was a rookie pro. In September we find out if he has figured anything out from that first year of experience.
The challenge I see is where does he fit in the oilers roster? I like Hutson as a player and believe his short comings(skating) could be improved but having Howard Savoie Nuge and Hutson on the roster doesn’t work in my opinion. So probably only the first three.
I give Hutson about a 1% chance of making the Oilers, I’d give him an 80% chance on a bottom 10 team.
This. Hutson has some good attributes, still I don’t see a role that Hutson can fill which matches the needs of this team. Hutson has some scoring touch, Howard has more based on US leagues, is sturdier and faster. Nurse wasn’t helping the Oilers enough ‘anymore’, he did in those years that they weren’t contending. He will help the Sharks with where they are at, as Hutson might a team in a different situation
Hutson would get top 6 minutes during the decade of darkness then never be heard from again.
Would be great to be proven wrong but we’ve seen a million of these types during the dark walk through the decade.
Regarding Hutson: He has a skill I don’t think we’ve named yet, LT.
When a player first comes up, I’m looking at a lot of course, but the one thing in those first 3 games especially is – can he make the same plays he’s known to make, and is he in the proper locations in time (whether checking, getting a pass, whatever).
I’m not sure what to call it, as it is beyond what we’d call positioning. Many players can get to the right place, but will fumble the puck or take too long to decide or immediately fire it elsewhere to take the pressure off.
If you look like you fit right in immediately and the play continues to flow through you, you have a good chance in the league. If you get to a good opportunity and finish it early, the same is true (Clattenburg stands out above many allegedly legit prospects because he did this simple thing right away and with no amazement).
Hutson’s shot also beats goalies. I’m not on the ice so I can’t see with precision, it might be angle changes or not having a release that’s so easy to read or whathaveyou…but there is something there. This is one of my concerns on Howard – he looks like a pitcher with a strong fastball – but one every hitter can see.
We’ll see what happens and what roster construction looks like – but should he continue his arc, Hutson is exactly the sort of player I’d have starting low in the lineup and primed to move up, or simply earn a meaningful role on a really good squad.
Howard was more productive in the US leagues and at 2 years younger. For Hutson it will come down to what Babcock is looking for. He’s going to have to use his brains and make sure he finishes
It’s Babcock’s team now we might see a few surprises to begin with. I do see more players get an opportunity at some point this year due to injuries and straight up play whether it be on the big club-demotion or on Bakersfield-promotion. 84 games is a lot of hockey. I would have to talk to an old Red Wing fan and see what players Babcock went out of his way too keep 25 years ago as well as flushing certain types.
DJ Smith already told us. Be prepared to work hard all of the time. Do that and if you have enough ability you will win the battle in the role they decide for you and contribute something
Skaters I see with a consistency issue on the roster are Kapanen and Frederic, but Kap played for Babcock and feels he’s turned a corner there. Who knows with Frederic, but a full summer of training and a new shot at it might see him back to what he was before the high ankle and the trade. That player had a decent two way game and played with energy. After that it’s about executing for anyone outside of the core
The 2 years when Frederic scored 17 and 18 he was everywhere dragging his linemates with him. I remember saying to myself holy shit this guy is good. What happened to that player? I wonder why Boston gave up on him? He clearly had no confidence or direction last year. It’s like he was caught in the middle on what to do on the ice. I myself think K.K didn’t have a clue on how to unlock Frederic who has clearly shown he can be a game changer just a few short years ago.
Frederic was a pending UFA and hurt on a Boston team that was going to miss the playoffs. They traded their pending UFA for value, as non-playoff teams do. That is not “giving up on him”, even if he had struggled that season.
Like I said I noticed Frederic to be worth more than what we gave up. He had this dogged effort in Beantown that showed us only a few glimpses last year. As we all know there was a lot of heat on Bowman for trading to acquire an injured player. Frederic then comes out like a house on fire in his debut against St.Louis running 3-4 players in the process and then whammy he re-injured the high ankle sprain. Before his signing I think Connor-Leon-Hyman-Nuge-Nurse-Ekholm-Bouchard really liked what Frederic brought to the table as a teammate and a friend. I think by midseason Frederic confidence was in the tank I really think he went through tough times mentally. Frederic is healthy and he screams a bottom 6 player that Babcock will trust more and more as the season goes on.
-Tom Cochrane
Yet the Oilers keep drafting players who can’t keep up with the play.
Seems like speedy skating should be the first box checked by NHL scouts.
If the player isn’t fast, move along.
Doesn’t take analytics to figure this out.
Except Hutson was not drafted. He was a college signing, and only costs money.
Acknowledged.
But LT mentions some Oilers draft picks with insane skill that just couldn’t make it.
I thought all three of them were good enough for the NHL.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=7ExjJPvvTxw&si=TcpD47yR9eGGYmLh
Props for cochrane reference. Man is a great lyricist. Lunatic fridge has been a personal favourite since i was little.
Just seems like perfect theme song everytime i bother opening up social memedia.
If you have never heard this acoustic album he releases, it is a must. Just puts his songs to another level good.
White hot stripped of 80’s paegentry is insanely beautiful.
Lunatic Fringe is a classic, never to be skipped over on my playlist.
I didn’t know he had an acoustic album… I’m getting it!
Cheers.
Red Rider Unplugged.
Con mucho aprecio.
Who am I?
Max Speed: Generally peaks around 21–22.5 mph in-game (falling below the 50th percentile among NHL forwards).
Speed Bursts: Logs fewer speed bursts over 20 mph than the positional average.
Style: Relies on exceptional positional awareness, clever angling, and active anticipation rather than open-ice foot speed.
https://www.nhl.com/nhl-edge/skaters/mark-stone-8475913
When Mark Stone was 24, Hutson’s age now, he had already delivered three 20+ goal seasons for the Ottawa Senators. Stone is a brilliant player but an outlier of epic proportions.
MAX Skating Speed:
Mark Stone – 22.41 MPH
Ryan Nugent Hopkins – 22.77 MPH
Do you think a difference of 00.36 MPH is significant?
The point being, other attributes can compensate for the lack of foot speed.
In Stone’s case, he has exceptional hockey sense and awareness and his shot is lethal.
There are examples of very good players being below average skaters. I think most of those players have above average size and all have top level compete and IQ.
Matthew Tkachuk is widely seen as the slowest skater in the NHL.
Last season he had only TWO occasions with a speed burst above 20 MPH.
Corey Perry and Alex Ovechkin are only marginally better.
What is your point?
These are HoF players that have always been able to score despite any inablity to skate with any speed.
OIlers could have had Tkachuk but then Chiarelli was intent on destroying the Oilers with his ineptitude.
My point is Quinn Hutson led both his USHL and Boston University teams in scoring despite his slow boots.
He was also second in scoring with the Condors last season at .940 PPG.
As LMHF has shown, skating speed can mask a lack of skill in other areas.
Every time I see Hutson something good is happening offensively. I think he has the puck on a string quality. I hope they don’t bury him if he’s not the right fit long term. I would hope they pump and dump him. Give him a 5 game leash he’s not stupid he knows if he points certain teams will take notice. It’s been so long since we’ve pumped and dumped players showcasing them. Holland has zero interest in that thinking. I think Bowman loves giving players an opportunity how many bottom 6 Hawk players were traded by Bowman because of their success in Chicago. The same could not be said for the Holland era. If you were drafted by Holland it was a death sentence. Holland loved his vets Bowman loves giving players like Samanski real opportunities.
I’m not sure your eye sight memory lines up with reality as the Oilers got absolutely caved in his 32 minutes last season.
One would call the AHL burying, in some cases is development of a prime player and in other cases its development to hopefully earn a bump up the depth chart which is where Hutson is.
There is no “pumping” a tweener – he’s not going to take the place of an actual NHL player for a five game showing
RNH max speed: 36.64 kph (76th percentile)
Stone max speed: 36.06 kph (59th percentile)
Both smart players, both long established NHL high achievers. Using Stone to discuss Hutson doesn’t advance the conversation at all.
The conversation was about Hutson’s skating holding him back.
“Hutson, like Brodziak, will need to improve his foot speed in order to have a legit NHL career.”
He may not make it, but it’s likely due to other factors as many other players have shown.
His skating certainly didn’t hold him back when he led Boston University in scoring.
Yes. Of course, university hockey and the NHL aren’t the same thing. But you know that.
Stone is 6’3 and 210. He has one of the best sticks I’ve ever seen knocking pucks down, combined with his reach. Add his size and that he is no shrinking violet, it allows him to be an effective two way player without being fast. He’s also a far more talented player. No comparison there that’s legit
This probably warrants a longer back and forth – but I’ll put it this way: players that are quick lead to more scouts at any and every level looking like fools than anything else. And this is getting worse, not better. Go watch some higher end U13 and U15 hockey. The amount of players on allegedly good teams who can move around quickly in a practice or a warmup, but have no idea where to go, throw passes at feet instead of sticks, and have no clue how to react to opposition is just crazy. You’ll see better hockey players on the teams below – relegated there because they allegedly weren’t fast enough.
Teaching certain skills (not even broad “skills”, but certain skills) is turning out skaters with sticks in their hands. No clue what to do with it or where to go, but they’ll move around a bunch. The kids are being misled about what is important and that’s sad. It’s also hurting the game along with the fact no one seems to realize that missing the net over and over and over again with a stick 20-40 flex points too low won’t help anyone.
In some ways, same as it ever was. Steve Kelly over Shane Doan. And repeat. Barf.
I agree very much with this. I can speak from experience in this area that scouts look for hockey IQ and compete as the top two qualities. Quality of individual is also at the top.
Skating is a definite asset but can mask flaws that limit the peak of a player. Scouts don’t get fooled by skating as much anymore. Probably why Hutson is where he is. Years past he would not be in the nhl conversation.
And here’s the thing: strong skating fundamentals – absolutely. Balance, turning, power, control, etc…all great stuff and learnable.
Simply being quick? Nice to have, but irrelevant if you can’t play hockey.
I don’t think we can say Hutson is a wasted talent, because we can’t tell the future. However, Bowman signed him and the Oilers gave him a full year at the AHL level. He proved himself. Let’s see how it plays out. Let’s also credit the player if he makes an NHL career from here. That would be an impressive outcome.
Wasted talent? Not sure where you got that LT. I think he’s going to and should make it.
Should have said wasted contract, would have better fit my idea. If Max Jones wins the job, he will have beaten out Roby Jarventie and then Hutson. I don’t think bringing in Hutson and Jarventie is a waste, even if they don’t make it.
Both were good choices.
The over-commitment to Jones is a scouting blind spot in my view. I understand the thought process behind it, but wouldn’t choose the same path. Nothing suggests he will pop – and he’s a big guy that doesn’t do big guy things. They can do better.
Point taken, speed is not everything.
Is that why they chose Steve Kelly?
Or was it just to spite the crowd chanting, “Doan, Doan, Doan!”
Hockey sense is nice, but you still have to get to the puck.
Good thing I’m not a scout, there’s plainly a lot to consider besides skating.
They chose Steve Kelly on his skating speed. They talked about speed and skating ad-nauseum. “Fastest player in the draft” and such.
Doan and some guy named Iginla were sitting there with superior numbers and a better skillset.
Analytics are for those who cannot bring themselves to actually watch hockey games with intellectual honesty.
I hope the Oilers don’t have lazy scouts who don’t watch amateur hockey and allow A-I to do all the thinking for them.
The Oilers have invested in scouting all over the hockey world, from dedicated scouts in the NCAA to the only org that has an AGM based in Europe.
Bowman was one of 5 GMs at the Helinka.
Bowman is a scout by pedigree.
Don’t forget our unconscious biases.
He says, unironically, on a math blog that played a notable part in the birth of hockey analytics.
Two of Joseph/Janmark/Jones/Howard/Hutson can’t be on the opening roster. If Janmark goes on IR, that saves one job (eats cap space though) but, still, how does Quinn Hutson have a shot without two injuries in addition to Janmark)?
His coach 11, days ago, mentioned he has work to do on his skating, he skates straight legged at times and spoke about him needing to work as hard in the defensive zone as the offensive zone.
Does that sound like a player that Babcock is going to promote over Samanski or Jones or Joseph?
I don’t think he makes the team, but that’s based on last season and anecdotal information like the Chaulk verbal.
What I’m talking about in the article is Hutson working all summer to find another gear. He’s scoring in the AHL at a good rate, he is a two-way winger. He doesn’t cost a lot. If you squint you could call him a small ‘h’ Hyman when he and Babcock worked together in Toronto.
You are stating our understanding of things. Things change, OP. They just do.
Babcock is going to give his assistant coach a bone as in Joseph. Obviously D.J has faith in Joseph especially on the P.K. Joseph would have to get hurt or really stink up the joint for him not to make opening day roster.
Joseph is like Janmark. Slightly better overall but less consistent.
Janmark is a #12F. Joseph is a #11F. Actually NHL’ers, but not insurmountable thresholds for any determined young player with ability to jump over.
D.J needs to fix that dreadful PK that would allow the opposition to funnel the puck on the stick of shooters like Cutter Gautier with time and space to pick a corner. D.J is going to fix our dreadful P.K. One way of keeping the opposition honest with their deployment is to give the green light to Joseph-Savoie. I expect to see at least 10 P.K’s breakaways with Savoie-Joseph burying half of them. I can’t wait for the first P.K and the deployment-strategy used by D.J.
Smith has been very clear that they are going to pressure to get the puck back on the PK.
Little doubt they’ll create some fast breaks but this isn’t going to be the 80s Oilers PK.
I’ll keep track of the clear cut breakaways Joseph and Savoie create.
Janmark’s consistent defensive play nosedived – maybe that was playing through injury but he was no longer consistent.
Joseph if a higher end PK guy (numbers) and much more physical than Janmark and has two 30 point seasons under DJ Smith.
It would appear to me that Joseph is the Jamark replacement.
Hutson may be determined but determination does not make one an NHL player and he was not one as of April.
I believe that we talk about it but it’s really a non-factor unless 2-4 injuries hit the Oilers prior to the season.
I mean, we have established NHL forwards whose roster spot are in jeopardy due to depth/competition for the bottom two spots. The likes of Quinn Hutson have no chance.
Subject to injury, Stastney and Regula have zero shot to make the roster, let alone a Damian Carfagna (he may force it later in the season).
I guess Levi is the one but that roster spot is assigned.
New coach, old players. The only thing missing is a young player emerging in preseason or early season. Mattias Janmark was a fine player, but last time we saw him it wasn’t good. Is he better? If he is, Janmark will play. We don’t know that to be true. We need to let this roster come to us. The thoughts of summer can crumble in the fall, it happens every year. Goes vice versa too. Ike Howard made the team a year ago.
Important thing, now coach, that is looking to revamp their structure in all game states (but for the PP perhaps) and it all zones – he has four exhibition games to set his line-up, which could have all sort of new line combos, and implement his structure, including Smith’s PK system changes.
The roster is all but set – its about implementing changes.
I don’t think Babcock will be looking to try out Hutson in camp.
So what is the problem?
The Oilers do not exist to give marginal prospects the NHL experience.