Most hockey fans, including this blog’s author, are ignited by fresh and new, and somewhat indifferent about the olds. It’s like fresh bread out of the oven compared to day-old bread. You know what’s flying off the shelves.
My Mom and Dad had differing views on bread. Dad was 18 in 1930, grew up in Radisson, Saskatchewan. He was part of a family with 14 kids and they didn’t waste anything. By the 1970’s, he had perfected the art of finding and using discount food stores. Day-old bread, soup tins that were damaged, honestly the man was outstanding at finding a bargain. I joke about it, but there’s a sadness there. My Dad didn’t need to bargain shop his entire life, but he was shaped by the circumstances of his youth, and those memories of hard times never truly left him.
My Mom, on the other hand, shopped at Woodward’s food floor in Southgate Mall. I don’t know if you ever shopped there, but it was incredible. Anything your heart desired, in terms of food, was available and easy to carry. So it was that I lived the 1970’s with a choice of day-old bread (or older, Dad would cut out the mold and eat the rest) or bread made that morning across the street.
There are online discussion about the Oilers are bringing in Luke Glendening. You might think of him as moldy bread, but he’s a productive player. A righthanded center (I told you they were going to find one!) who is both fast and 37 years old, could fill the No. 4 center role on this Oilers team for 2026-27. He wouldn’t cost much, has a strong faceoff winning percentage (55.6 over a 13-year NHL career) and is a regular on the PK (67 percent FOs with the Flyers after the trade deadline last season).
It would give Edmonton a righty centre, allow the team to send Josh Samanski to the minors, and represents the first blush indicator about Mike Babcock’s roster view.
Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, but Glendening, like Josh Brown, tells us Mike Babcock is going to need some time to find out about this hockey team. I think Glendening is a good hockey player. The Oilers are shopping in the right aisles. I would run with Samanski, but understand the idea.
On the Lowdown today, we will be joined by Janson Duench, who is the new writer and Oilers reporter at The Athletic. He’ll be in studio at 12:40 to talk about this season, what he’s looking forward to writing about, and a little about how he got here. Bagged Milk joins at 1 this afternoon, so it’s a heavy day of Oilers talk. Noon to 2pm, Sports 1440 and You Tube.
If the Oilers bring in the fossil Glendening before seeing what’s on the waiver wire then it won’t be long before avoid contact Samanski is joining his comrade stone hands Tobias Rieder in Europe.
Every time I get a little optimistic, something like this comes out of the org: https://youtu.be/gpHBy_gIdAA?si=461kFBHrIqgavch-
It is such a combination of small thinking, lack of forward-looking strategy and borderline juvenile sounding decision-making.
And this is the edited version straight from the team. It is designed to impress.
This is not a window into highly refined decision-making by the very best in the business for a multi-billion dollar entity the way it should be.
There is nothing wrong with the discussions they chose to show us.
Good Grief.
Very good at convincing themselves that a decision they are close to making is the right one with little counter arguements. Almost no numerical analysis or cap efficiency calcs other than some GP numbers for Andersen which are available to anyone. Looked like a room looking for the easy answers so they can check a box off as done. Not impressed
Do you have a counter argument to the $1MM cap hit on Frederic Andersen? Half of his bonuses are in relation to his playing in, and winning, playoff series.
They have a 7 person analytics department – zero doubt that team was involved in talks outside of what the Oilers show on The Drop. As an aside, Andersen’s analytics show him in a much better light than his trad stat – As per Woodley his expected save percentage was lowest in the league, I believe. .862, last season.
Acting like 3 goalies was “the plan” afterward when we now know it clearly wasn’t.
Or signing a guy because “he can skate to Red Deer and back”.
Or knowing they would have just let Kapanen walk and then instead acting like oh hey, we have a few bucks…all good.
Important rooms making big decisions (or regular ones, frankly) at crunch time and doing it well don’t sound like that room.
Great video,thanks for sharing that
If play-offs were looming, one would choose the absolute best players for the position in order to succeed.
If you are looking at long seasons and 5 years of Stanley Cup contention, one must invest in development and potential.
You are supposed to do both.
If you end up with too many assets, you package up the bottom end and try to get better top end through trades or draft picks. Oilers are presently collecting a lot of bullets, it will be impossible to please everyone.
I think the oilers have a the hottest start ever and go out the gate and challenge and win the president trophy
20-4 start no overtime losses as Levi is used strictly for OT and SO
Haha… you’re a goaltending savant.
I like the B2B plan you espoused and now this…
Changing the way the game is played.
I honestly cant get past 14 kids! I mean holy heck, that’s a lot of everything running around. Mouths to feed, school, shoes, bikes, beds…… 14 kids is amazing, i could not imagine.
Me either. They lost one shortly after birth, another during World War 2, and of course they are all gone now. Hard times to start their lives.
You never watched Monty Python Meaning of Life that begins with the song “Every Sperm is Sacred”
LT is usually right. Babcock is not a new coach but he has been out of the league for awhile. I think we will see a bit of sillyness before the roster is set / roster decisions normalize. We are not far removed from Knobber starting Josh Brown in the playoffs. For whatever reason, Brown is a temptation for coaches.
Babcock knows the importance of getting out of the gate especially with a rested group. I think he pushes the group early if we’re 500 after 20 games the knives will be sharpening up for both Mike and Stan.
The reason, in my opinion, is that somebody signed Brown. And that somebody believed in him and wanted him on the roster. With coach turnover, here we are again.
Maybe Babcock thinks he can play his style. After Murphy there’s realistically no one else that can really duke it out on our D roster. I wouldn’t think Stan or Mike want to see Ekholm scrapping
Somebody also signed Frederic – Then the coach proceeded to start him on the 1st line. This was the worst statistical forward on the team from the get go. They had to know he wasnt 100% just based on his Edge data – Do they look at this?. Yes there are decisions made not based on best chances of winning games
It would seem acquiring Glendening to push Samanski to the minors is an example of the “overcooking” of prospects that Holland was critiqued for earlier this week, no?
I thought one of the benefits we were being sold with Babcock over Knoblauch is the former would find roles for the youth to prosper in the bigs? Now we’re shopping in the aisles of “old vets that Mike likes?”so we can push the prospects back to the bus.
I’m not surprised by this. NHL HCs almost universally prefer veteran experience over rookie errors, but it certainly doesn’t match the narrative on Babcock vs Knoblauch as a mentor of prospects.
Samanski soon turns 25.
He’s already cooked if not not well done.
You’ve done better work.
I was going to mention aging curves but it becomes tedious.
Don’t look at Florida’s all over 30 d-group then.
Elite players age out more slowly.
However, Florida’s top 2 pairs average 30.
Ekholm is 36 and Murphy is 33.
Now that’s old.
What does elite d-men have to do with Guda, Mikola, Balinski, Forsling, etc.?
And all Oilers fans speak about Ekholm’s age – of course, you cite aging curves as they apply to the Oilers but not your 31 other favourite teams.
frankly I am not sure…
It has to be Samanski boots and his lack of physical contact for a big man that Babcock doesn’t like. Babcock has a file on every player he will be ready from day one. I’ve never liked Babcock hated the hire now l I’m starting to warm up to the idea of Babcock squeezing more out of our the bottom six. Bottom six with Jones-Frederic-Dach-Dickinson-Joseph-Janmark. I have a feeling Babcock is going to keep Clattenburg until the last cut. Team first players rub off on others. Booook It………..
Babock not liking Samaski already is quite the presumption.
Clattenburg is a player that Babcock would have zero time for – running around hunting for fights and hits, not playing in structure, not stopping on pucks, turning his back to the play, not able to get the puck off the defensive wall.
Jones will make the team. Clattenburg last of the cuts along with Brown. Babcock showing the league no more running Leon and Connor will be tolerated.,
Connor Leon don’t get run like you think.
Max Jones would do NOTHING regarding that.
Connor Clatternburg, well, you are just going to ignore actual substantive discussion with information for your narrative.
Unless he scores a ton there’s not much to recommend.
but Tim Washe is part great center depth.
Good Grief.
Washe, is almost 2 years younger, an above average (slightly) skater and was credited with 2.33 hits per game.
Samanski is smaller, older, slower and is known for avoiding contact which shows up in his 1.12 hits per game.
Pretty sure which player most NHL GMs would choose and Stan Bowman would be among them.
Giddyup.
I started reading after the first line lie – they are both currently 24.
Babcock gets his Will Acton!
Everyone has a Will Acton in the Closet.
For today anyway, I’m thankful to work in a profession where I can’t be described as “moldy bread.” That’s a tough comp to overcome anyway you slice it.
Bread was a band as well. The Best of Bread is a very good compilation.
After the band broke up they later reformed (minus David Gates) as …..
Toast!
New coach D.J gets his man Joseph. Babcock get his man Glendening. This always happens with a new coaching staff arrives. Both Howard and Samanski are waiver except it’s an easy decision and celebration for the marination and slow cook crowd. Whatever K.K told Howard and Samanski to work on in the minors doesn’t mean so much now that there’s a new sheriff and deputy in town.
Why do you hate Issac Howard.
Babcock will likely love the effort and battle he will bring, if his time in Bako is any indication.
Jones is a way better fit for a bottom six energy role. There’s only so many seats at the dance. Babcock will already have a smallish winger in Savoie in the top six.
I don’t have issue with Howard and Savoie in the top 6. Maybe babs does? Cooper has guntzel point kuch in the top 6 without a problem.
Rod has Aho Blake Stan no problem.
Jones is a tweener, we know this – he’s almost 30 and split last year between the AHL and NHL.
Is he a better fit to play on a 4th line? Maybe – although Dach and Joseph are even better fits with Dickinson.
Is Jones a better fit on a Nuge-centered third line? Nope.
When did 28 become the new 30? Max Jones was drafted 24th overall so he does have 1st round pedigree. Since Max has arrived we’ve seen in a few games Max be the most power driven forward on either team. I think Max Jones may have found a home with Babcock. It’s all about consistency if Babcock can harness that in Kapernen-Dach-Jones-Frederic-Dickinson-Joseph-Janmark we may be unstoppable.
I’m thinking his draft pedigree from 2016 has been trum.ped by his pro career sinse.
Considering he’s played more AHL games than NHL games the last two season, tweener is what he is. He did provide some good minutes for the Oilers last year and will be in the mix this season.
If its all about consistency, well, if anything he’s proven, Jones has proven he’s not that guy.
Like Savoie and Howard, this obsession on Samanski is ridiculous.
What did he prove in last year’s playoffs?
Outplayed by Anaheim 4th liners, if truth be told.
We’ve been searching one forever for a quality bottom six forward who can post some offense. SB signed Samanski and he performed well in Bakersfield and with the big club (small sample size). Why would we block him perhaps leading to losing a controllable asset? That’s just madness.
The greatest ceiling this team has this season is if Savoie, Howard, and Samanski take steps forward. Joseph, Jones, and Janmark doing what they do can’t compare to if the youth arrives. All three had promising seasons last year.
Yes. I agree completely. Add dach and Fred being healthy to the list if likely upside.
I’d still add more youth if it can be acquired. Like Muk on defense sitting ready when needed.
— by order of magnitude this is wrong IMO
— I get it’s off season and it’s fun to analyze projections on players and hope for the best
— Drai playing another 65 games and injured and Conner just being merely “better than everyone else” and they aren’t making it. It took a long time into last season for Conner to play impact hockey.
— The biggest upside is getting McDrai sorted and being deadly on different lines at least some times.
— To the extent Savoie or Howard are contributing passengers because McDrai go off that’s great.
Samanski has 1G, 1 primary assist and was 2-1 goals in 5 games.
Meh I get it but this is not how I would envision weaponizing cap space.
Samanski showing up to camp determined to put the old yellers down would be beautiful.
Not sure where all the adoration of Samanski is coming from.
He’s slow, has a poor shot and his FO percentage in the NHL is under 50%.
https://www.nhl.com/nhl-edge/skaters/josh-samanski-8484509
While Glendening may be geriatric he would be a clear upgrade.
That may not illustrate the point you think it does. Samanksi’s max skating speed on NHL edge is slightly below average. But skating bursts are counting stats. Samanski only played 24 games.
27 bursts of 20-22 mph is a 92 burst pace over 82 games. Well above the 71 burst average.
139 bursts of 18-20 mph is a 475 burst pace over 82 games. Well above the 314 burst average.
So NHL edge shows us a skater who has fairly average top end speed, but the bursts show a player who is constantly playing with pace.
Max Skating Speed:
Samanski – 21.75
Average – 22.17
22+ Bursts:
Samanski – 0
Average – 3.8
The number of below average bursts only magnifies that, at his best, Samanski is slower than average no matter how many times he tries.
The thing is not to block progress when a player is on the edge of becoming an nhl player. The oilers no longer need the proven vets. They have them.
I’ll be interested to see if Sam can increase his speed by 10% by adding leg/core strength to his frame.
I look at speed bursts as a way to put numbers to effort. Some vets that are supposed to show the way are disappointing in that category.
Lack of speed isn’t a death sentence but it definitely increases odds significantly of killing a not ++ in any offensive skill aspect or punches faces/crippling checks better than average guys chances of holding down a regular bottom 6 spot in NHL lineup past scope of tweener or slightly better ceiling (like maybe gets to pensioned in GP.
He is faster than corey perry last year…but slower than corey perry 5 seasons ago.
Fair for Fib to make this point it’s pretty damn relevant regarding the subject.
Corey Owrry was always slow but had elitecskilles in other areas.
Samanski does not.
Remember Holland bringing in Sutter because they didn’t think Lavoie had NHL talent.
I think fibs has a fair point and respect that he brought numbers to prove it. In my opinion his numbers show room for improvement in a young player. I tend to value room for improvement over likely to decline.
Derick Ryan was a very good nhl 4c for the oilers. He went from very good full time 4c, to part time 4wing, to non nhl player in about 18 months.
No one can predict exactly when the decline will happen or how steep it will be. However in my opinion I’ll bet on Samanski taking a step forward and becoming an ligit nhl center over glendenning staying a ligit nhl center in the not so distant future.
slower than average no matter how many times he tries.
That line reminds of of someone. But not Samanski 😉
Every Single Day
You show up to crap on the Oilers and start a fight.
This…
What are you even going on about? I said I hope Samanski shows up determined to beat the old yellers placed in front of him.
He’s played a handful of NHL games and if you watched, he didn’t look out a place.
Your assessment of him means as about as much as some dog shite I stepped in 20 years ago.
come on, don’t be too hard on the guy… he has a unique eye for talent and is NEVER wrong… just ask Colborne, Rafferty, Smith and many others ;)…
If Glendening is incoming hopefully it’s as a mentor for the minor league centers. As well as a possible call up if injuries pile up.
I suspect there will be better options available on early season waivers.
Premier Jim Dinning?
He’s too old and slow. Pass.
Isn’t he a right winger?
NHL Public Relations
The NHL and FCBayern today announced a first-of-its-kind strategic multiyear partnership designed to accelerate the growth of hockey in Germany and the development of FC Bayern in North America.
The unique collaboration is part of the NHL’s long-term international growth strategy in Germany, which includes regular season games in the country for at least the next three seasons, starting with the 2026 NHL Global Series in December.
Details:
https://nhl.com/news/nhl-fc-bayern-munich-announce-partnership-to-grow-hockey-in-germany
veteran coach likes NHL vets. Simple. we may not agree or like it, but it has always been this way.
Samanski leading the top line in minors, ready for the injury call up (inevitable) is a good use of non waiver eligibility. Glendening or Lazar will start the year here. Samanski having a great camp and earning a spot is better then gifting it because of a lack of options. Rather have glendening here to start and then be forced to send him and another vet down because a kid earned a spot then being forced to play a kid because we have no one else.
The other way to look at it is – if we start with Samanski and he gets injured, who are the next options? Do you reconfigure all of the centers to cover 4C, or call up someone from the farm who likely isn’t ready for the job just yet? A contender needs layers of coverage, and unfortunately that means potentially overcooking prospects.
With that said, I do still hope Samanski starts on the team, as I believe he can develop into more than just a 4C. That’s not going to happen sitting in the minors. But I do understand why they may want to add more real NHL players to the roster
This is where I like LTs idea of acquiring a young player to add to the depth chart.
Portrais fits in that way as did Samanski last year.
I do believe there will be options through minor trades or waivers early in season. If the oil strike out on all those then get the glendening type at the deadline.
I understand the desire to increase organizational depth but I don’t send down the younger and likely better player in Samanski in order play a 37 year old no upside, meh, player because he is right handed or he allows for an injury call up.
Sure, sign Lazar or Luke G. and try and get them through waivers and have them as call up.
Let Samanski develop in the NHL – that’s the stage he’s at and that’s how can provide real help in the NHL playoffs, penalty killing in the NHL and taking face-offs against NHL centers.
Many options if he gets hurt, shit they can run: McDavid/Drai/Nuge/Dickinsen. Maybe Marjala is earning an NHL call-up.
With respect, I think your thoughts of Babcock’s view on Josh Brown is a misinterpretation of Stauf’s verbal. I mean, there has been zero on Josh Brown except a quip by Stauff about him competing for the team – a quip that Stauff scaled back the next day saying that would only be if 2-3 d-man are moved out and/or injured – its clear even Stauff doesn’t actually think he has a shot at the team and there is no indication that Mike Babcock does and no indication that a big dude that can’t play with the puck or actually defend except for being big is someone Babcock would like.
The seven roster d-men are set subject to injury or surprise trade – we know this.
I would suggest that Glandening would be shopping the wrong aisles.
Shopping based on “right shot” is not right.
I don’t think they are shopping based on right shot, but more on faceoff stats and pk ability along with tenacious play and speed
They have tons of guys that PK, no need for that – one of those guys would be Samanski, who the implication is they are looking to replace based on handedness.
Luke Glandenning can win face-offs but that is certainly not a reason to bring in a very meh 37 year old to block Samanski who is likely better to start with.
I honestly like it.
Injuries are inevitable and worst case ontario if they send him through waivers and he gets snatched -> then samanski it is!
They have the money for it and this is the type of player you often see addes at deadline for later pick.
The fact that he is plus speed at his age style vet is massive bonus.
Have that real RH center FO black ace who thrives in PK minutes for just money right out of gate is honestly the last piece on my wish list.
If they can get him to ink a 1 yr deal with a bit of a heft to price tag that might help deter waiver snatching desirability -> they have that luxury. Can never have too many centers and as far relative value cap efficient missing piece for roster construction ideally -> he is one of the biggest potential gain for low contrsct fits
Sure, sign Glendening and waive him to try and get him as an injury call-up, that’s one thing. I believe the general premise here is he would come in and take the roster spot in Samanski’s stead.
Samanski should be rewarded for his solid regular season and quite effective playoffs (plus a good Olympics in the middle and great World Championships after) – he doesn’t need more AHL development time, he needs to kill penalties in the NHL and take face-offs in the NHL – he’s ready for the “NHL development” phase and, yes, the NHL IS a development league.
“Glandening” is a legit NHL center who was productive a year ago. As for Babcock and Josh Brown, it fits with the 97-29 playing together narrative. I am absolutely confident Mike Babcock is going to see things differently than Kris Knoblauch, and these are indicators. Bob didn’t mention Josh Brown because he was in a mood to do it. I appreciate your respectful post, but disagree with its conclusion.
2 goals and 9 points is productive?
I suspect Samaski can do that, plus more, in 70 games
I don’t see what Josh Brown has to do with McDavid and Drai playing together.
I 100% agree that Babcock will see things differently than Knob – I sure hope so. I’m highly confident that is not playing Josh Brown, an AHL player that can’t defend at the NHL level, over the 8 NHL d-mean plus Regula that are ahead of him. That does not fit Babcock’s MO (or any NHL coach’s MO).
Babcock is not K.K he will not stand there while 4th liners take runs at Leon and Connor. Brown’s name isn’t being plopped out there because of his looks.
I don’t recall any forth liners taking these runs and McDavid and Leon.
Josh Brown on the NHL team isn’t going to deter a single thing vis-a-vis Connor and Leon. Not a single thing.
Sometimes you miss things watching two games at once.
I definitely miss stuff in the Condors’ games when the games conflict – the platform if good on rewind though.
I would suggest that just because Drai got hurt on the hit from Ozzy Wiesblatt does not mean 4th liners are taking runs at him – it was an innocuous hit.
Babcock will fix it. We have more functional toughness with Murphy-Dickinson add-in Dach-Jones-Frederic will keep the scrubs in tune. It’s simple you take a run at Leon-Connor we take a run Forsburg-Stamkos-Josi. A fourth grader could see that we weren’t a united group last year. First thing Babcock will insist on is mob mentality if you touch Connor-Leon-Bouchard.
Fix what?
Whenever a real liberty was taken with McDavid or Leon, teammates stepped in.
When Ozzy Wiesblatt threw an innocuous hit on Leon, there was no response due to nothing to respond to.
Matthew Joseph should not be inclucded in your list or else your expectations for this player are off.
Tell this to the Panthers. Because they will agitate, stick, and run anyone in the way and the refs will not call it.
The Oilers beat the Panthers 6-3 last season and then lost 3-0 – a game in which Drai did not play and McDavid took a grand total of zero hits…….
I certainly hope the Oilers would not employ Josh Brown in a playoff game against the Panthers in the name of deterrent – I’m confident they would never.
The Panthers had injuries and simply ran out of gas after 3 cup Finals. The panthers with rested up assholes in Marchand-Tkachuk’s-Bennett-Gudas-Hathaway etc. If you think a butch of Barbara Ann Scott’s are going to defeat this team you’re mistaken. Maurice and the rest of the gang know they have a potential dynasty which is way harder to do then 35 years ago. The only team in the East capable of beating the Panthers are the Lightning who can easily get in the gutter with Florida.
I think you put way too many resources in to thinking about the Panthers.
I would love to play against a washed Gudas (Anaheim got better when he left the series) and a washed net negative player in Hathaway. Not sure how rested Marchand is – he just had off-season surgery.
That team has some very very old players – I have no concerns.
You seem to forget Barkov missed the season and Chucky missed a bunch.
They’re going to thump on the Canes or Habs only team stopping them is a crazy ass bolt of Lightning.
I certainly did not.
Not sure what that has to do with responding to a post about the likes of Gudas and Hathaway and Marchand.
“allow the team to send down Samanski”…….
I suggest that is not the right viewpoint for management, almost the opposite.
I don’t think anyone’s arguing that it would be the correct decision. Just that if this move were to pass, that those would be the likely reasons for making the move, giving us some insight into how management is thinking about things.
Here’s some insight for you.
Tarasenko-McDavid-Hyman
Podz-Leon-Kapanen
Nuge-Dickinson-Frederic
Jones-Glendening-Joseph
Janmark
Then they can load up.
Leon-McDavid-Tarasenko
Podz-Nuge-Hyman
Kapanen-Dickinson-Frederic
Jones-Glendening-Joseph
I don’t know if Dach can play he’s only 23, he’s barely out of diapers.
My problem with both your lineup suggestions is where is the upside? Likely Fred. Maybe Podz can put up 25 goals. For me having a proven vets lineup is too safe.
savoie Howard Samanski dach all have significant upside potential. While also all being very different players applying for different roles.
If one flames out then add the glendening tarasenko types for a 4th round pic at the deadline.
I would suggest having Savoie, Dach, Samanski & Howard in the minors is somewhat of a safety net. That is an upside. As well I would have to question your though that a veteran lineup is too safe? In this scenario, I would think Dach would make the club since he would need to clear waivers to be sent down. Not that I’m expecting the team to go that route, but they could.
A vet line up being too safe for me is limiting upside.
For example ekholm and Hyman were the top of the nhl last year for their positions. I think relying on that for 75 ish games is hopeful but unlikely. Both are likely to provide high end minutes for stretches but those stretches will get shorter and less often.
My thoughts would be I’d rather have Savoie on the top line with Nuge as cover short term as needed for example. Or Howard in the top 6 with maybe Kap or jones or even Hyman as cover.
I look at players like tarasenko as a player that was good but more likely to decline than to stay the same or improve.
If half the team is at best stay the same while the other half is likely to decline that’s too safe for me. I like to have halfish the team likely to stay the same while the other half ish is likely to improve.
What if Tarasenko was on the top line with McDavid & Hyman, Nuge on the third line with Dickinson & Freddy and they get hit with an injury bug. Enter Savoie,or Samanski or Howard as required. I just don’t see that kind of depth being a bad thing. If it happens, it happens.
Even worse what if Connor or Leon get injured. The show must go on.
Good discussion cowboy. I respect your point. I’ll push back with if Samanski or Howard are your fill ins when required but aren’t ready for the big time then what?
If Sam and Howard get nhl reps to improve and flame out early then add a sure thing taresenko or glendening at the deadline.
I see putting Matt Savoie in the AHL as a very bad thing for the org.
Come on, you know that re-assigning Matt Savoie to the AHL is NOT in the realms of reasonableness and would probably damage the reputation of Oilers management and crater the relationship with that player.
The Oilers are more likely to sign Savoie for term a $6.5MM then sending him to the AHL.
Losing Dach on waivers is likely not something management is looking to do.
I’m just looking at different scenarios. And Colton Dach shouldn’t see waivers because he isn’t waiver exempt while Savoie, Samanski & Howard are. Facts are facts. If the coach wants a veteran line up then he might get a veteran lineup. I’m not saying this is going to happen but it could.
You didn’t have Dach on your rosters implying he’d be waived.
Bowman isn’t going to do things like waive Shakir M. because Babcock wants Brown (not that Babcock will want Brown).
You are going to waive Colton Dach?
You are going to play Glending, Joseph and keep Janmark over Savoie (and Howard and Samanski).
I couldn’t disagree with this more.
Babcock will get his Kirk Maltby fix having Max Jones in the line-up for game 1 and beyond.
Some are certainly arguing its the correct decision.
Some say get Glendening so they have Samanski as injury depth.
Is there a reason the Oilers would pass on resigning Lazar in favour of bringing in Glendening?
Lazar is much younger, pops more offense, and probably equally good on the defensive side.
He played for Babcock in the olden days.
because the have enough NHL players that they don’t need these two.
Glandening in 37 years old and can’t score. Having him block Samanski because he shoots right would be egregious.
I understand Lazar because he is younger and provided some safish minutes from the bottom of the lineup but he was awful on the PK, they couldn’t use him at all on the PK, even to try and win a face-off.
Play Samanski – handedness does not trum.p ability and upside.
At this time of year, players are still looking for contracts.Lazar might be getting more substantial opportunities elsewhere. It’s unusual for an NHL team to be at this point of the summer with just one RH center at the pro level (Owen Michaels) though. The Glendening idea makes sense if Lazar is getting more significant interest.
Yes this makes sense for sure. With the forward #’s and the 3 goalie’s as well as lots of D , the Oilers will have either trade a few guys or waiver a few. You would think or hope they give Howard a shot in the top 6. But both he and Samanski are candidates to go down because they can’t be claimed. For a 37 year old guy , Luke can still skate great and is a great pk guy as well as a great faceoff guy. He is a tenacious player combined with Dickenson would give you an unreal 1–2 punch down the middle on your pk.
Samanski 48.2 faceoff minimal to no pk time pts
Glendenning 57.2 faceoff lots of pk time.
He is much faster than Curtis and a way better option as a pk guy, plus way better on the draws. I just wonder if they do bring him in will actually help or hurt Samanski’s development? I do think Samanski needed to add some weight to that 6.2 frame and hopefully he went from 195ish to 203-205ish adding muscle. I really like the kid but he got knocked around a lot and off the pucks in the corners late in the season and brief playoffs.
He would play a ton in The A and probably get lots of pp and pk time. With the option the Oilers have to send him down without being claimed, he may go down anyways with the #’s game ( 3 goalie thing) , even if the Oilers don’t bring in a #4 C guy.
Glendening would have a firm grasp of Babcocks system and would provide a stop gap. Would they bring him in on a PTO? If this is the coaches idea it should show a strong preference to veterans prevailing in the starting lineup as opposed to giving young players a chance. They might as well bring in Tarasanko as well and just slot them in the lineup.
Good points
Why do we need a 37 year old stop gap for Samanski?
He had 1G and 1 primary assist in 5 playoff games and was 2-1 goals.
He then went on to have a great World Championship.
He’s ready and he is simply going to get better playing in the NHL which will help in the playoffs. He doesn’t need to go back to the AHL, there is nothing for him to do in the AHL, he’s ready for NHL development.
It’s all in the boots Detroit-Chicago were always the quickest teams in the league. Maybe Glendening boots are more suited for the Babcock forecheck. A third grader can put 2 and 2 together knowing Glendening was handpicked and polished by Babcock.