The Edmonton Oilers have traded Taylor Hall to the New Jersey Devils. It is a terrible trade.
I wrote those words on this blog June 29, 2016. Oilers management has been chasing goodwill with much of the fanbase since. Incredibly, the organization lost many fans a year before the Hall deal when sending away much of an historically deep 2015 draft for Griffin Reinhart and spare parts. That isn’t completely fair, Cam Talbot was an excellent acquisiiton, but the die was cast in the summer of 2015 or 2016 for a wide swath of the the fanbase. Please read this.
Eight years ago, in an article for The Athletic that asked Oilers fans if they trusted Peter Chiarelli, I wrote “Oilers fans are mindful of the potential ceiling this club had that seemingly no longer exists. The real tragedy is that promise being extinguished by the team’s management. That could (and possibly has) cause a fracture between club and fans that may not have a solution, at least not in the short term.”
I see the events of this summer as the last chance Texaco for the old guard of Oilers management. Chiarelli folded into Ken Holland who gave way to Stan Bowman. There are signs of goodness in the current Oilers way, for me the goaltending, Ryan Shea and offloading Darnell Nurse are all very positive. This team needs another player who can push the river. This team needs it now.
What comes after that? After a 15-year run for the old guard, surely it will be time to fully unleash the math nerds to build a winner. Fans may not like it, but one or two deals that are clear wins and improve the team’s outlook should be enough to reset the fan base and bring a sense of hope back to the team.
In the meantime, Bowman and company have decided to shoot the moon with Mike Babcock and a goalie trio.
Edmonton Oilers roster needs one more piece for another Stanley Cup run
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7531414/2026/08/23/edmonton-oilers-roster-trades-2026/
What if our piece is here already LT. Two words LT. Joshua Samanski.
I like him plenty, but the offense isn’t going to be grand.
Why so sure? He definitely produced at the AHL level – led the Condors in 5 on 5 points at the time of call-up. It was clear he “cheated for defence” at the NHL level (and even Chaulk said “I wish Sammy would take a few more risks).
I don’t know about “grand” but I think there is more to give from this player if the don’t pre-emptively fade him
I hear where you are coming from, but counting on AHL offense to translate to the NHL is very far from a given. I hope Samanski can do it, but his early returns do look poor. 4 points in 24 games and his first goal was one of the strangest goals I’ve ever seen so more like 3 points in 25 games.
He’s already 24 so not young.
Whats a reasonable expectation for him this year?
Would 8 goals 10 assists for 18 points from 4th line duty be sufficient?
Never stated its a lock to translate but asked why its not a consideration – he was a substantial offensive player as rookie pro in North America.
I would also note 1G and 1 primary assist in 5 playoff games – and he produced at the Olympics and he produced at the World Championships. There is pedigree and positive momentum
I think that 8G/18P is more than we’ve seen from a full time 4th line player in a long time on this team.
Big centres take time to develop. Play Samanski in all situations in the AHL slap a letter on him as well. Unless injuries in the middle happen let Samanski marinate in the A all year. The kid needs more offence hopefully coaching or some good wingers can pull it out of him. Just as we countlessly heard Philp was the answer yet big centres that aren’t physical have so-so boots and can’t get points are a dime a dozen.
You said this yesterday, I responded and you ignored. Are you gong to continue to disrespect those that provide thoughts and discourse and repeat yourself while ignoring responses and fleeing from discourse.
Samansk has already been 1C in the AHL and played in all situations, he killed it and was effective in the NHL and even moreso in the playoffs. He’s proven NHL ready and he is not going to develop more offence at the AHL level, he’s ready to develop at the NHL level.
Its mind-boggling that you are pressing for a full year of additional AHL development for this 24 year old that has already proven to be able to play at the NHL level and defend at a plus level while, at the same time, last season, it was egregious to send a 21 year old rookie pro to the AHL when he was struggling to impact at all an the NHL level.
Good Grief.
Good grief indeed,
Samanski has played 26 NHL games and scored all of 6 points.
His 0.17 PPG in the regular season was good for a tie for 118th among rookies most of whom were much younger and quite a few were defensemen.
Another completely irrelevant post in the context of the discussion.
Right on point.
You claimed he was “effective” at the NHL level when, in fact he was well below replacement level.
You can find more “effective” players on the waiver wire almost any time.
Sigh,
He was 55% goal share in the regular season (54% expected goal share) and 2-1 goals in the playoffs (plus his 1G/2P in 5 games).
I couldn’t care less about the offensive production last season – he was an effective player for the Oilers.
Why is Glendering name popping up? Also the Max Jones is bum labelling is getting stale. I believe it’s Max Jones job to lose. If Babcock can get Max playing consistent where he has a couple of good bursts while opening up ice for his linemates then Bob is our Uncle.
Where is the Glendening name popping up?
Fan and blog cites that are are also talking about the EA hockey game ratings and stories about Toby Reider’s time in Edmonton, etc., etc.
There is nothing actually connecting Glendening to the Oilers yet you think he’s signed and in the lineup and Samanksi and Howard are assigned based on….. LT writing about it?
Who’s labelling Max Jones a bum? He’s in competition for a roster spot. The reason he’s competing is he hasn’t been able to stay in the NHL – he’s cleared waivers multiple times. He didn’t play in the playoffs. Samanski did and was effective.
Babcock’s third and fourth lines are going to play more than Knoblauch’s third and fourth lines, but Samansk’s wingers are unlikely to be exceptional offensive contributors. I don’t see evidence Samanski can push the river, although I do believe he is a fine option for this team as an outscorer/penalty killer.
How many 4th liners “push the river”?
Since when is this even practical, let alone a requirement?
Trade the big centre Samanski-Howard for a top 6 player that’s under a good contract. The Hobey Baker winner should still have value. Both players are waiver except and cheap. It’s time Bowman makes the move to get us fully over the hump with Cup #6 six
I would suggest Bowman provide his coach the ELC players that are ready to impact at the NHL level.
Without being contrarian, do you think he has a realistic chance to be the significant addition that LT is saying we need? The names he mentions are Gauthier and Marchenko. Do you think Samanski fits this billing?
Or is it as LT suggests, he likes him, thinks he is a good player, but not a true river pusher like these front line players.
Trading for Cutter Gathier is not in the realm of reasonableness.
I don’t know what Samanski playing 4C has to do with the potential to acquire an established top 6 goal scorer.
As you so frequently say to others, maybe read the context of the original post? LT’s Athletic piece is about adding a significant piece that pushes the river and mentions both Gauthier and Marchenko.
You have legitimately good insights but I’m pushing back against you to show that your insights are often veiled in exhausting, passive aggressive, and contrarian deliveries. You’re allowed to agree with others or at least be more pleasant
I have no idea what you are talking about.
What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
I think they’re talking about a more substantial player to play in the top six, a player that would fit in seamlessly. Although I would consider Samanski playing with Leon and Podz playing on RW. But then of course people would be up in arms saying Howard should be in the top six. However I don’t see it that way.
Babcock will be under the gun from game one. The non mentioning of Howard all off-season has me believing he’s not playing top six and probably not making the squad. The constant posting of OP has me agreeing that Stan-Mike already have. baseball line-up roster card filled out. Do the fans and Mike have the patience to run Savoie-Podkolzin-Howard-Samanski-Dach out of the gate?
What is this weird “non-mentioning of Howard” you are on to now.
Who is talking that isn’t talking about him?
Stauff has talked about him plenty all summer.
When Bowman was asked, he said Howard will be a big part of the team.
This new narrative is made up.
If you want to hear a player fans and management are exited about look at the Tampa followers who are all really hyped about O’Reilly so is management.Third line centres that can play in all situations are hard to come by. We’ve spent countless assets trying for that pot of gold. O’Reilly floor will be a Rem Murray and his ceiling who knows. As for Howard a full season in the AHL except for some table scraps in the bigs is troubling for a 22 year-old small skilled winger is troubling.
Wow, quite the careers you’ve mapped out for the guys.
I look forward to to SOR playing his first pro hockey game.
I look forward to Issac Howard taking that next step in the NHL this season – his GM is excited for it as well – as he’s expressed.
Why would a G.M bash his own players value? You need to listen to the chatter not the fluff. If Mike can’t find a way to get Howard some meaningful minutes then it’s back to the AHL until there’s a few injuries. Last year K.K refused to use him on PP-1 instead going with Walman who still looked injured. I do think Bowman really likes being flexible calling up players but does Mike?
What are you rambling about now?
You’ve already assigned Howard to the minors this season, for some reason.
Most have him on the team and many have him in the top 6.
You are rambling and I don’t understand what you are trying to accomplish.
I don’t know how one could possibly rationalize putting Samanski with Draisatil and Howard in the AHL.
I’d be interested to see what sam could do with Nuge and Kappy as his wingers.
Samanski scored a ton during his 15 year old season, but since then his resume does not scream River Pusher. He will always skewer to be defensively responsible, but to expect much more than a 40 point NHL season in 3-4 seasons from now appears to be a massive stretch.
He will probably max out as a solid bottom sixer with a 10-12 goal, 20-25 assist season.
The thing I feel clear on, is that there will be no clarity until things shake out. Babcock isn’t in the business of catering his system to his players, and our players have been bereft of a systemic deployment since Connor was drafted. This year the message is clear from both sides, the players are on-board, the coach is in control.
It’s going to come down to who’s able to excel under a system. Players will thrive, players will fade, the team results will drive the bus.
97 and 29 saw first hand what unequivocal commitment to a system does in the finals, and are on board.
The insightful discussions, i think, would center around systems, roles, round holes and square pegs. That’s where we surface the patterns that will unfold this fall.
Personally I think this is the best opportunity the Oilers have had to win a cup heading into a season since the late 80’s. I think the square pegs will be the easiest things to fix, much easier than finding a player teams have to plan for. The cap space, coach, system, roster, gm, are all pointing in the same direction for once.
I honestly think, barring major injuries, this is the year we lift number 6.
I see it like this as well mostly. Another part is that this management group can make hockey trades when they want to, and they aren’t always the painfully obvious ones. They aren’t always bleed outs like Holland’s mostly were. So the square pegs can be moved, and they are capable of making more than one deal a season
I haven’t had as much anticipation for a season in a long while. The roster isn’t perfect but for once I don’t see players I strongly feel are hurting the effort instead of helping. There aren’t a bunch of holes to plug finally
Goaltender Samuel Johnsson signs in Sweden.
It would seem Ft. Wayne was not to his liking.
This has been speculated for a few weeks now (and discussed).
Do you have a link to it being official?
King Crimson reference, LT?
I was thinking of that movie (Fracture). However, love King Crimson.
I figured the return on the Hall trade was actually Larsson and Zacha when it was announced but unclear. Anything less was woefully unacceptable. Even that was not really enough – but i could see how a desperate dope could talk themselves into it.
An immediate firing offence if Chiarelli brought me the actual deal as an owner.
LT, why not Matt Savoie as the latest river pusher?
EVP/60 over 2 the last third of the season or so playing hard minutes with 97. Defensively responsible. Good on the PK. Draft pedigree and AHL scoring to back it up. High end to elite speed. Pretty good at finishing chances.
Ya this is where my mind is at as well. Get enough maybes one is likely to exceed expectations. Be it Savoie Howard Podz dach Samanski even muk on d.
This gives me hope more than in years past where the maybes didn’t get nhl time or maybe didn’t exist.
I prefer a few young maybes to a few old maybe nots.
This is very concerning if true. It’s within the 24 hour rule so just the link.
https://edmontonjournal.com/sports/hockey/nhl/cult-of-hockey/edmonton-oilers-samuel-jonsson-sweden
There has been speculation that Jonsson is heading back to Sweden for a few weeks now.
Its not necessarily a bad thing – it depends not he circumstances and the relationship between the player and team – for all we know they are working on it together, it would be a loan from the Oilers and we keep his continued contractual rights (and RFA contract expiry).
Truth be told, the SHL would be a better league to develop in then the ECHL – not knowing their plan with the the AHL goalie roster spots.
Certainly analytics can help management processes improve, but imo it’s more mindset than math that matters.
What seems to seperate teams like Vegas, Florida, and Carolina is, 1) they are simultaneously ruthless and rigorous in their pursuit of cap/contract efficiencies, and 2) they leave no stone unturned in their efforts to incrementally improve their rosters.
Essentially the best managed teams are always grinding to identify the next move to generate more wins. At the end of the day, that’s all “Moneyball” really is. It’s just organizational committment to continuous improvement and never resting on your laurels. The math informs the decisions but it’s the mindset that drives the culture and operations.
Fully agree that analytics are no panacea, especially given how poor hockey analytics actually are by objective standard. There’s a lot of randomness and projections are essentially guesses.
But the three teams listed have distinct advantages, and Florida in particular has been allowed to manipulate term on deals to pay players for years they will never touch the ice.
Vegas and Florida have no state income tax, Carolina has a flat rate of 3.99%, Edmonton has a progressive rate of 8-15%, 15% above $370k.
Every team has to leverage the advantages unique to their market. McDavid and Draisaitl are the Oilers’ advantage. Thus far they’ve been unable to fully exploit the draw of these generational players. Holland almost always paid full freight. Frederic aside, Bowman has been better in this regard.
I think Bowman knows that another material forward is likely needed – he has even said, they plan on adding in-season and its likely to be a forward.
At the same time, there is time and the ability to “asses”. The Oilers have NHL players through the lineup at each of goalie (3), forward (15) and defence (9, including Regula) – this does not include some potential developing or plug and play players like Carfagna, Hutson, Tralmaks, Michaels, etc.
There is time to asses how certain things work and what is truly needed.
Take a look at, say:
1) 4 centers deep with Nuge on a 2-way 3rd line against soft minutes and Dickinson and Joseph on a hard minutes fourth line.
2) take a look at the Nuge/Dickonson third line with Samanski between Dach/Frederic on the 4th
3) take a look at load up and see what Podz/Nuge/Hyman can do
4) see if Shakir is ready for that Michael Kesselring pop
5) see if Walman is back to peak Walman and looking healthy
6) see if Shea/Bouchard and Ekholm/Murphy can work (if Shea picks up where he left off)
if we could sign Michael Bunting for 2M x 1 should we do it?
Bunting / McDavid / Hyman
Podz / Drai / Howard
Nuge / Dickinson / Savoie
Fred / Samanski / Dach
extras
kapanen/Joseph/janmark/jones
I don’t know if I would. Seems like a decent player though for the right price and I like the third line here. Kapanen shouldn’t be sitting though.
He doesn’t bring much offense, I’d rather see what the guys they have can do first, and add a higher end forward than him if necessary. He’s also not a big guy, I think any add has to bring something they lack – impactful offensive push or harder to play against with some offense
You are probably right but he does play with some jam, kind of what Mangiapane was supposed to be. And last year he drew 27 penalties while taking 10.
I believe Kappy is better than bunting although a different player type. I’d also give jones some rope to see if he can be a full time nhl player.
For me bunting is be closer to mangipaine than a first line winger.
Bunting doesn’t move the needle enough for me, nor Stan. Obviously Im speculative on Stan, but to me with the cap space available, and some assets to trade(?), Stan is going big game hunting at the deadline. Think 30 goal scorer, “Drake Batherson” type.
I would take Bunting at No Frills money. I think he would do well on the Oilers 15 goals. Bunting is sneaky good at times and will score a goal out of the blue. He can also play up the line-up if injuries happens.
Sounds like mangipaine.
I’m don’t get why magpie was such a flop.
Nobody wanted to play with him because he still stank like a Flame.
Just emitting a reek of, “Hey, who p*ssed on the campfire?”
I hear they still can’t get the smell out of his locker room stall and it may have to be set aflame.
Ridiculous. Utterly ridiculous.
Deconstructing the OIlers into a morass of unproven prospects, based on statistical inference.
The great failure of Bowman and Jackson was losing Broberg and Holloway, for absolutely nothing.
Coupled with failing to address goaltending after Smith retired, and enduring lunacy of keeping Nurse on the team.
Judgment transcends “analytics”.
Absolutely! On top of that they couldn’t fix Klefbom’s shoulder… fire them all!
Holland created the offer sheets by not signing the players earlier, blocking them and capping out the team. Jackson could have left some money for Holloway yes, Broberg wanted out. Analytics doesn’t make decisions, it can help find undervalued or blocked players, which is how Pracey is trying to get better players than where they are drafting. Much better than just signing old guys like before
Presently there is evidence of good judgement. What’s past is past, time to move forward.
Tommy Lafreniere takes this post personally!