No, it isn’t winter, in fact we can’t even see it from here (you’re saying ‘shut up!’ right now and I can hardly blame you) but hockey season and the autumn leaves have found us again. Please read this.
We are closer to the training camp for this year’s Oilers, but will have to go through a few days of coaches and managers ‘saying words’ before we find out the important stuff. Like? Where do 97-29 line up? Is Ike Howard with a top center? And on it goes. I could write the same thing I’ve written for the last two weeks, or we could look back. To September 18, 2015 below. How much of what I wrote then reminds you of this training camp?
We’ve been waiting for weeks and today we’ll see actual lines and pairings, or more accurately pairings and pairings (TMac—that’s Todd McLellan’s nickname apparently—likes pairings up front) as camp starts for real. Hall—McDavid, Nuge—Eberle and Draisaitl—Lander appear to be obvious pairs up front, although I’m going to be interested to see if Benoit Pouliot, Nail Yakupov or Teddy Purcell find a spot somewhere in the ‘set in stone’ group. On defense, it sounds like more of a moving target:
Todd McLellan: “Sekera, Oscar, there are a lot of defensemen who are going to be, there’s a lot of defensemen we aren’t sure of, as far as pairs and finding the combination.”
I think we’ll eventually see Sekera, Oscar, Mark Fayne and Nikita Nikitin as the top four but the Oilers do love Justin Schultz and maybe TMac can unlock him. I think McLellan’s quote above suggests intelligence and the ability to reason. Assessing this Oilers defense begins with sorting, then identifying, what’s worth saving.
Todd McLellan: “We’ll have a break in camp very quick where it becomes somewhat evident what our plans are in terms of splitting up NHL and AHL teams. That doesn’t mean that will be set in stone, there will be players who move from the A group to the B group so they can interact.”
Love the urgency here, suspect that was one of the things that derailed Dallas Eakins in his two seasons. They play a SS home and home with Calgary on Monday, then home Wednesday against the Jets followed by away on Friday in Winnipeg and a game in Saskatoon the following night against the Wild. I think we’ll see the NHL team at home against Calgary and the AHL crew play the road game.
Todd McLellan: “I know my experience with Taylor and Jordan was a good experience. There was a complete buy-in for that whole team. If they as strong leaders can carry that over and convince the players that has to happen, we do have a head start. I believe we can do that.”
Can these kids back check, take a hit to make a play, delay the sortie until help arrives, shorten up those outlet passes because no one has flown the zone? Todd McLellan didn’t sign on for Phonics here, this is a mountain.
One of my favorite things about the game of hockey is the brilliant impact of a tape-to-tape pass on the fly. Danny Gallivan used to use the word “springs!” as “the pass to Cournoyer springs him loose from the pack!” and it’s an apt word to use when the transaction is successful.
The Oilers, dear friends, are not the masters of this domain. I’m not expert so can’t say if it’s because the blue simply can’t estimate the impact of bodies in motion, or the damnable forwards are too lazy to skate a few extra feet, or the pressure of a forecheck is too overwhelming for a young team with some doubt and lost confidence.
It’s such an easy thing to do—or looks easy when done well—but these Oilers have been a tragedy at this one fantastically important thing for a long, long time.
Please, TMac, with your big hockey brain and worth ethic honed on the bald prairie, please call on baby Jesus and Liberace’s candelabra and the ghost of Eddie Shore, do whatever voodoo you have to, but bring back the tape-to-tape and let’s get outta here.
One of the things that gives me confidence about McLellan is that he’s talking about process and learning curve without making it personal. The words bite but in a general manner, they don’t appear specific or intended to coach or send messages through the media.
McLellan: “We still have 70% of last year’s players who were not capable of getting it done. There are some big changes, play-wise and commitment-wise, that have to happen.”
No real way to ignore it, or frame it, the words hang in the air, waiting for a rebuttal no one can produce. This isn’t calling out a single player or pointing to a single faction in the room, it’s stating the facts and starting as you mean to go. I hope we see more old fashioned straight talk from Todd McLellan in the coming days.
Our feature guest today will be Kevin McCurdy and we’ll have updates as things happen around the Oilers. We also have Jasmine Jasudavicius at 12:40. We’re on noon to 2pm, Sports 1440 and You Tube. See you on the radio!
Could the Edmonton Oilers make a trade before the regular season begins?
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7572368/2026/09/09/edmonton-oilers-preseason-2026-trade/
They probably should.
Regular moaning of the rabble notwithstanding, they’ve stacked up quantity in some areas usually become a need for one reason or another.
Should they not wait and see how things play out and where they need to spend the acquisition resources?
Yean we’ve been talking about that forever. See what you actually need before you blow your load and lock yourself in.
McDavid did an interview with Friedman that was on his 32 Thoughts Pod – always a good listen.
It was notable that McDavid said “I want to be coached”. When pressed on what that means, he talked about the details of the game and the defensive side. Noted that there are lots of areas of the game that come naturally to him but others he needs to work and and needs to be coached. Mostly on the defensive side but “also on the offensive side….. when the offence dries up, we need to be able to fall back on a system”.
LT, apologies if you don’t want this here, but since many are discussing Formenton’s history with apparently little knowledge of the facts, I’ve linked below the full text of the judgement (91 page pdf):
Hockey Canada trial recap: All players in sex assault case found not guilty
Expand the top article and you’ll see the pdf. You do not have to download it, it can be read in your browser.
Fib… Who’s bandwagon are you on to start the season? Please say some Pacific teams so the curse can work it’s magic.
How many teams are in the league. Minus one from that number and you have your answer.
I just wish for once, during McDavid and Draisaitl’s career, there wasn’t a basket of unknowns and one redemption story.
The drama around this team rivals reality TV.
Longest serial running!
Barry Melrose passes away at age 70.
RIP Barry – gone too soon. I went to a few of his summer hockey camps that he did with Wendel Clark and the Kocur brothers. Great coach and a very down to earth man.
Great dresser and awesome mullet too.
Looks like Friedman and Bieksa weren’t good as gone after all. I may be in the minority, but I enjoy listening to them.
Can’t say I care for the number of Sportsnet+ and Prime games this season. This tier 4 fan will have some extra free time on those Monday and Wednesday nights.
https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/monday-saturday-night-hockey-coming-to-sportsnet-for-2026-27-nhl-season/
I abhorred Bieksa as a player but be really grew on me as a commentator, I’ve always thought Friedman was one of the better ones.
I like Friedman in his lane and Bieksa in controlled doses. It’s the rambling ‘format’ of a ‘buncha guys’ providing non-stop ‘commentary’ that galls.
McDavid:
Hmm….can’t say I love hearing that.
I think there was an acknowledgement there that such attitude was an issue – they won’t have that this year.
Everyone here thought the same thing last season. I love hearing the McDavid and boys have realized that you need to start as you mean to go.
Please read David Staples article on the new signing- Formenton.
edited because you can’t just copy and paste like that. It isn’t fair to David Staples (in this case) or any writer. If someone wants to post the link, please do.
Staples is not an unbiased commentator in this regard. He has been banging the drum in favor of a bunch of guys who have demonstrated significant lack of character and poor judgement, even as mature teenagers.
I’m not going to argue in favor or against the signing, but using his opinion column as a source of evidence is not in the spirit of objective analysis this blog champions.
Staples read the entire judge’s decision and has done as much research as possible to formulate his view. Staples attributes strong value to the findings of the judge and her words who went further in her written decision than just ruling “not guilty” but, ruled that the accuser was not credible in her testimony, essentially lied and the players were more than “not guilty” in a criminal case but actually innocent.
No, that does not mean they were not involved in activities that some might deem wrong or bad or immoral or whatever but that is for each individual person to determine.
I think we would be ignorant if we don’t think that many of our hockey heroes over the years that we cheer for have not engaged in various sexual activities many would wrong or bad or immoral consider…
This had charges laid, and enough evidence for the Crown to take it to trial. Not on the same level, but your point is valid re: male sports stars engaging in “wild
events.
I don’t agree with you. You are welcome to have your opinion and make your own judgements. From the Staples quote you provided, I take issue with this:
“You will hear and read plenty of angry judgements and negative opinions about Formenton today and in the coming weeks and months.
This is handwaving and characterizes any negative opinions as an Appeal to Emotion. I don’t think that’s fair.
Not rising to the level of criminal burden (the highest burden of proof, as it should be) is the bare minimum in a civil society. I found it sickening the way the defence characterized EM and think what happened to her was appalling.
I don’t have to like the signing while also knowing I will never have the absolute full story so would be unfair to judge others who are okay with it.
This is not the forum for discussing this imo, but I’m happy to speak on other platform if any desire.
— nor do I. Beyond all reasonable doubt is a very high threshold for a criminal conviction
— Hockey Canada paid out millions of dollars as a settlement based on the preponderance of evidence which would have included a lot of material that a lawyered up group would prevent from being presented in a criminal case.
— its whitewashing to hide behind the court acquittal IMO. They can hide behind the others that got signed
— From a writer on the payroll who has been fed a narrative and is clearly cut and pasting it
— Anyway to each his own. He’s a loser.
— OJ was also “innocent”, acquitted and deemed innocent by court after following a legal process: he too a loser
I don’t know all the facts either, but there is no denying a gang bang took place. To think of a young man pulling out his pecker and wanking to a drugged/drunk girl being taken advantage of all in the company of several teammates doing the same thing, is absolutely disgusting and makes me utterly sick. This may be the final straw in my lifetime support of this once glorious franchise.
I wonder what the players’ wives all think of this, those opinions would have a lot of merit/weight with me.
What a load of crap. Know the truth.
before you make rash decisions on your fandom, I would encourage you to get more informed on the actual facts of the case, as we know them. The judge’s reasons for her decision are publicly available – they do not line up one iota with what your posted.
The Anaheim Ducks have put veteran Chris Krieder on waivers for the purposes of contract termination.
https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/2026/09/anaheim-ducks-to-place-chris-kreider-on-waivers-for-purposes-of-contract-termination.html
The 35 year old, who had 1 season remaining on his $6.25 million contract, expressed a desire to return to the EC and says if any team that claims him is not to his liking, he will not report.
With Kreider’s cap hit gone, the Duck will have close to $16 million in space to sign Cutter Gauthier.
More from Elliotte Friedman:
https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/ducks-kreider-expected-to-agree-to-waivers-for-contract-termination/
It won’t be enough
The Ducks are screwed this season
He apparently wants Connor Bedard money.
$15 million is enough.
With Roger McQueen and Nikita Klepov likely to make the team, their forward depth should be improved and all of Carlsson, Gauthier and Beckett Sennecke likely to improve as they gain experience, they will be fine upfront.
Certainly some questions on D, but Stian Solberg, Drew Helleson, Tyson Hinds and Tristan Luneau will all get a chance to show their stuff.
Not screwed at all.
Maybe they should be putting Cutter on waivers for contract termination.
Why would they put a 22 year old 6’2″ 205 power forward who just scored 41 goals on waivers?
Let someone else pay him $16M a year, that’s insane. He may not even want to sign for that . He’s basically holding a gun to the organisations head.
Really?
What value do you think he has after scoring 41 goals in his 21 year old season?
Notably he also scored 12 points in 12 playoff games.
His PPG paced that of Connor McDavid’s 6 points in 6GP.
Same playoff PPG as Podkolzin. Why didn’t you use him as the example?
Podkhoizin in 88 games in the regular season and playoffs scored a total of 22 goals and 43 points.
Gauthier scored 45 goals and 81 points.
Do you really think they are comparable?
You just compared Gauthier to McDavid, you wet paper towel.
Something reasonable for the sake of his teammates and the organisation as a whole.
Instead he’s trying to take full advantage of Carlssons offer sheet which they decided to match. Maybe that was the first mistake.
Anaheim can easily absorb both and have ZERO other pending UFAs of significance to deal with in the next few seasons.
With a very strong prospect pool and a full complement of future draft picks, they are in a very good spot.
Easy for you to say.
Senneke is possibly the best of the bunch.
Crunch crunch crunch.
He might be but has 2 seasons left on his ELC.
Next season, the cap increases by $9.5 million while Alex Killorn ($6.25 million) and Frank Vatrano ($4.6 million) will be gone.
The following season, the cap jumps another $10 million.
No crunch at all.
Roger Mcqueen has less substantial offence than Rutger Mcroarty. And I’m a fan as a Sask native myself.
Their depth is gutted and no help will come when they have to pay everyone.
Window went from Montreal wide open to good not great Senators with 1 stroke of a pen.
Selected by the Ducks in the first round (No. 10) in the 2025 NHL Draft, McQueen had 27 points (11 goals, 16 assists) in 36 games at Providence.
“He was rookie of the year in our league (Hockey East),” Providence coach Nate Leaman said. “You look at the list of guys who were rookie of the year in Hockey East, it’s a pretty special group. They’ve all pretty much gone on and done great things.”
Previous Hockey East rookies of the year include Hockey Hall of Famers Paul Kariya and Brian Leetch, as well as current NHL stars like forwards Jack Eichel, Clayton Keller, and Macklin Celebrini and defenseman Lane Hutson.”
https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/prospects/roger-mcqueen-hoping-for-chance-with-anaheim-ducks#:~:text=Selected%20by%20the%20Ducks%20in,in%2036%20games%20at%20Providence.
“His potential is top-six center, just with his size, his ability to win face-offs, his playmaking. He’s just scratching it,” Leaman said. “He’s going to be one of those guys that, when he’s 27, 28 years old, he has a chance to be unstoppable.”
Gutted?
C
Carlsson
Granlund
Poehling
McQuuen
Washe
LW
Gauthier
Vatrano
Nesterenko
Mallot
RW
Sennecke
Terry
Klepov
Killorn
AJ Greer
It is very likely takes over at 2C in the near future while RW Nikita Klepov could arrive sooner rather than later after scoring 37 goals and 97 points as the leading scorer for the Saginaw Spirit of the OHL last season. The Ducks traded Mascon McTavish so they could draft him.
Depending on the final number for Gauthier the Ducks will have north of $20 million in free cap space in 2027/28 and close to $50 million the following season.
Lots of room to wheel.
As is usual for you, you can’t double count the benefit of cap space while also saying their depth like Killorn, Granlund, Vatrano will be there.
Mcgroarty:
D+1 39G 39P.
D+2 36G 52P
24G 6P in D+4. Those are Samanski numbers.
McQueen:
D+1 36G 27P
And a history of back problems. And I’m cheering for the kid. Back injuries for a big man can kill careers.
They traded Mctavish because he cost too much. As for depth. As you said, Killorn, Granlund, Vatrano gone.
In 2 years, they have replaced their 6,7,8,10,11,13,15,16,17,20,21 scorers.
They’ll have replaced it with discount back problem Rutger Mcgroarty and Nikita Scherback.
15 for Gauthier. 18+ for Senneke at his trajectory. That’s 33M right there. 17M to round out the other 3 lines and a D core that got trounced in the 2nd round.
Good luck to them.
The Ducks are toast.
They really had it all and forgot the cardinal rule of signing young talent. They’ll still be good, but they had 2030’s dynasty written on them until this summer. Every GM knew this was coming.
Carlsson at reported ask of $9.5 x 8 last year with Gauthier getting slightly above Demidov money and you could probably haved etched their names on an end of the decade cup today.
Yes Sir.
Adding rookies to improve depth. Okey dokey
Like Savoie and Howard?
Alrighty then.
You don’t know my thoughts on Oiler depth? I did post a couple weeks ago my thoughts on it.
It would be funny if he ends up in Philly and he crushes it. The Leo offer match is the reason Krieder was bought out not because he can’t contribute 20 plus goal. Krieder can still skate he still has a couple meaningful years in him.
He could be a very good pickup for a team looking for another complimentary piece.
He was paid a $1 million signing bonus on July 1 and had only $5 million left on his contract.
Some team could get a bargain.
Kreider was not bought out – the buyout window is long gone.
He agreed to terminate his contract (both he and the team agreed) and he gives up any future compensation owned to him thereunder – not the same as a buyout.
Ok yes thanks for some reason I thought he was bought out even with the window long gone. I’ve always admired his speed-tenacity and his shot.
Wow, didn’t see that coming – Verbeek must be very thankful.
I presume Krieder’s deal was front loaded and is actual cash this season was less than the cap hit. He may even be able to make more in free agency – there are teams with money left they can spend.
Krieder was always a reluctant Duck…a victim of the Rangers tear down.
He will find a spot.
Eastward bound.
Philly. His payback to the Rangers if he scores 20 plus
“Rogers announces that Monday night national hockey broadcasts can now only be viewed by streaming on Sportsnet+.
If you previously only watched Sportsnet through your TV provider, you have to pay extra to upgrade this season.”
Another $12.95 added to many cable bills for content received for free previously
I have Telus and I was able to log into sports net + using the “log in with tv provider” option. The sports net app has always been included with a tv subscription so im guessing it is the same here
Not any longer.
Apparently SOME Rogers and Shaw cable customers won’t have to pay extra but all others will.
Thats BS. Radio it is, I guess
Bandits.
Allan Walsh
@walsha
Headline: Sportsnet Lifts 150 Blackouts to Deliver More National
NHL Games Than Ever for 2026-2027 Season
Will need more details but on first blush, this is a step in the right direction for the fans.
Matthew Iwanyk
@matthewiwanyk
Oilers have 9 games on the new Monday Night Hockey this season that seems only available on Sportsnet+. TV subscribers need to upgrade their package as per release.
This in addition to 5 Amazon Prime games. 14 games on streaming platforms this season.
The Cap is going to go up significantly with all these pay more to see your team. Would not surprise me 2-4 more expansion teams next 10 years. I believe within 20 years they’ll have an overseas league made up of 20 plus teams playing in their own Divisions and Conferences with the Winners of the of the North American pennant facing the European champs in the NHL final. It’ll be like the early expansion when the original 6 Division faced the newly expansion Division. The regular season will be shortened a bit and it’ll be a longer grind to the Final.
I don’t think the deal with Amazon, and this annocument by Rogers, creates any new revenue for the league. Rogers has already committed to pay the league the billions, this is them recouping some revenue.
On expansion, we all but know 2 teams are being added in the next 3-4 years and Europen expansion is real for the league, maybe a decade out. I don’t know about 20 teams in Europe..
The new Roger’s deal today will generate additional revenue since it is coming directly from viewers.
As a PR move Rogers also announced it would unlock a bunch of games that were previously restricted which, in effect, costs them nothing since they have no production costs.
But, you’re right that the league doesn’t benefit directly.
It doesn’t create revenue for the league, just for Rogers, which was my point.
Well I apparently may have gotten the Podkolzin McDavid thing right! With Babcock’s style of play and limited options, this seemed the likely option.
I do not think Draisaitl with them is a sustainable deployment, as he will be needed elsewhere.
If Podkolzin gets a little better at the scrambling play around the net then look out this year. Maroon-Hyman and now Podkolzin will benefit greatly finding that weak spot just outside the crease area.
Formenton cost us only money. If he’s good, free player. If he’s bad he can be dumped in the AHL for no salary cap cost.
Podz. McDavid. Draisatl
Howard. Nuge. Hyman
Joseph. Dickason. Kapanen (Joseph and Kapanen played on same line with Babcock as coach in TO)
Dach. Samanski. Frederic
I like seeing Dach-Samanski-Frederic. They had a stellar run at the end of the last regular season.
I’d rather see Kappy with Nuge & Hyman and Formenton & Joseph flanking Dickinson.
Hyman & Kapanen might have played together with Babcock in TO. Joseph never played in Toronto. Joseph & Kapanen might have played together in St. Louis.
I like the Dickinson line that’s a lot of speed to wear out the opposition.
I just got a text from a buddy whose a Leafs fan. He said the Oilers staff is officially the cantina on Tatooine.
from Oilers skate
Podkolzin with 97 and 29 at scrimmage. Howard with RNH and Hyman. It’s early.. but there it is. (from rishaug)
Exactly, it’s early.
We know you are trying to will Howard to Bakersfield but I think its highly unlikely
My guess for opening night is:
nuge McD Hyman
podz Drai Howard
frederic Dickinson Kapanen
Formenton Samanski Joseph
Dach
ek bouch
walman murphy
shea emberson
Shakir Stastney
and setting aside all the non hockey stuff and the fact that he hasn’t played in the NHL since 21-22 : Formenton was 99th percentile in basically every skating stat that year with a higher top speed than McDavid. And was third in toi/game among their forwards on the pk (Mathieu Joseph was 4th). With Savoie out they must not have felt comfortable with their forward pk group. Played for DJ Smith for two seasons in Ottawa.
Podkolzin with 97 and 29 at scrimmage. Howard with RNH and Hyman. It’s early.. but there it is.
That second line is not going to work i dont think. At least they have Howard in the top 6!
They should discover quickly that Connor & Leon need to run on separate lines. I don’t buy that they’re going to play together. If they want four solid lines they have to spread the wealth, that’s what other teams do.
Could be something like that.
Given how effective Dach was in the games he played as an Oiler, if he has a good camp, its tough to see him sit – I think he can battle Frederic to earn 3LW reps (in due course).
Are Formenton and Joseph not the same player with Formenton being faster the Joseph being more physical? Do we need both of them over Dach?
I think they start with McDavid/Drai loaded at him versus Vancouver but, overall, I do think Nuge will see 1LW time (and 2C and 3rd line) but I’m still not sure about Howard on his offside – not something Babcock likes (at least in the past).
I see Dach/Formenton/Joseph as mostly interchangeable except Dach doesnt PK. They are all left shot unfortunately. But yeah I would play Dach over Joseph. Formenton Im assuming Hes still close to 2021 but that may be overly optimistic.
Stauffer says he thinks he’ll need 20 games to find his NHL game but sees (and others have talked about) top 6 upside.
I don’t put a ton of stock in to his performance in Europe the last few years – I mean, that was a tumultuous time in his life and I presume he wasn’t playing his best hockey.
I’m against the signing mainly because we already have Joseph, Max Jones, and even Quinn Hutson for the role.
Formenton can serve the org as a competitive veteran in BAK, IMO.
I think Formenton will make the Oilers fairly easily.
It’s a 4th & 5th line already crowded with left shots. Formenton is under 200 lbs.
I don’t see the upside.
Yep I think he’s a very coachable with Savoie hurt a PK spot opened up. Plus he’s cheap would not surprise me Babcock trusting him with ice time
I think we want the best players no? If Formenton can beat out others for a spot then that’s an upgrade to the roster
“We already have Max Jones” is not a thing a team intent on Cup-winning would say.
I don’t think Formenton is a meaningful upgrade.
Some speed for the 4th line is nice I suppose, but the improvement is marginal at best.
Joseph, 100% but Hutson does not bring the attributes that Formenton does – certainly not the skating (in fact, the opposite) and not the PK acumen.
Jones isn’t really a PK guy in the NHL, at least to this point.
Bowman. Babcock. Formenton.
I did not have the Oilers becoming Al Davis’ Oakland Raiders on my bingo card.
lol they telegraph everything…
The Edmonton ‘redemption club’ Oilers
Do you not remember or maybe you’re not old enough? Sather was the king of 2nd-3rd chances.
“Let’s do the Time Warp again!”
Five Cups viewing up close the best team ever assembled. I also enjoyed watching the Doug Weight-Ryan Smith-Hemsky hard working days. When Hall-Eberle-Nuge and especially Shultz were killing it in the AHL during the lockout I thought ooh boy we have the best young talent in the league. Who didn’t enjoy the younger days of Batman&Robin crushes it from early on . The Down low shot from Leon was German innovation at its finest. A young Connor was the fastest thing on two skates. Lots of good memories attending many games from day 1 against an original six team Detroit Red Wings as well watching thousands on the Telly with family members and good buddies.
Rookies report this week, that’s exciting.
I’ll see the game in Calgary on Monday.
Media will be at the informal skates today/tomorrow – we’ll get to hear about who had an amazing summer of training.
With camp so short, the first skate will probably give us real information.
I want to see what Tralmaks can do.
Tralmaks for Calder
There was a chance a few hours ago that he could make the team as 14F (Jones as 13F) winning that spot over Hutson (and Marjala, Ratty, Michaels) – if they keep 14 and only 7D, then might go 13/8.
With the Formenton signing, it seems unlikely.
Oilers have signed Alex Formenton to a one-year deal.
Haha. I remember OP speaking many times this summer about how unlikely an addition would be to the signed NHL group. In fairness to OP, I sure didn’t think it would be this soon, or Formenton. All those words about what might happen are lost in the flood of one signing.
OP may have to readjust his certainty about Ike Howard being gifted a spot in the top 6.
Fomenton is 6’3″ and a plus skater with something to prove.
Formenton is probably slated for the bottom six, while Howard will not be gifted a spot in the top six. It should also be noted Formenton scored 18 goals as a 21 year old in the NHL.
Howard should be gifted a top 6 spot. Howard has already earned the opportunity play in the top 6. Of course, he needs to perform to stay but I think Howard’s recent play in North America are vastly superior to Formenton’s recent years in Europe.
Formenton was signed for speed and PK – if anything, I would think Joseph’s roster spot is more challenged by this.
No time for tryouts the rubber is hitting the road.
Interesting signing. He seemed to be trending well with the Sens (18 goals and 32 points as a 21 year old).
Not sure why he signed in Switzerland after that, but he played the last 3 years in that league.
Is this sarcasm?
No, just didn’t realize he was in that group. Or maybe I did know, but certainly had forgotten if I did
lol
The Leftorium, Forward Edition.
Just, “wow”
Tarasenko still out there.
He’ll be 35 in December, they are trying to find players for the future, and I doubt Vlad signs for low enough
Tarasenko does not bring elite speed nor high end PK (and like does not come in near league minimum).
Another Stauffer special – been talking about him for weeks.
Interesting.
Speed and PK – like top of the league speed.
Poor Max Jones – cut.
A couple greyhounds in Formenton & Joseph.
Yep just like the Blackhawk and Wings days. Bowman-Babvock both love speed.
It looks to me that they’re trying to put a team together.
I don’t think those five guys should be punished forever. Nonetheless, while I can’t remember which John Doe Formenton was (I know it wasn’t #1), he had played for the London Knights, which suggests that he may have been more of an instigator than some of the others. He was also the youngest guy on that team, FWIW. (Not sure whether that makes him more culpable – trying to impress the other guys – or less culpable – less social power on the team.)
regardless of verdict, imo, they are all a bunch of systemic doucheballs
He is the third in the group to return to the NHL. He was also the only one who was immediately eligible to sign with a team upon appeal. I believe that is correct. We will discuss at length on the Lowdown at noon. It’s important to discuss, and a reminder (not targeted at Lewis in any way) that we be respectful in this public forum.
sounds right.
I think all of them became eligible to sign in the NHL at the same time.
The nuance here is that Hockey Canada reinstated Formenton earlier this summer but all the others remain suspended by Hockey Canada. That has nothing to do with NHL eligibility and I don’t know what it means (as Hockey Canada never expressed any reason) but it seems to imply that his participation may have been the “lightest”?
Hopefully that’s the case.
Another possibility is that Hockey Canada recognized Formenton as having much more “time served” than the other four. (Formenton missed 2022-23 and 2023-24 in the NHL, which the others did not.)
The other question: can Formenton help out the team?
His boxcars in the Swiss league were 44-13-10-23.
For comparison, players of similar ages in the same league:
52-19-33-52 Jesse Puljujarvi
51-19-24-43 Erik Brannstrom
42-21-20-41 Filip Zadina
In other words, he’s not coming to rescue our Top-6 scoring winger needs.
from this view, I think he would take some time to readjust and get up to speed again with the league, if he ever does, some of that you would think would be mentally
Has size and speed. He may eat some of the other bottom 6er’s lunches, def possible
Yeah, this is a “try him out and if it doesn’t work he goes back to Europe” kind of signing. Its a low risk bet which likely doesn’t impact anyone who *should* be pushing for a roster spot.
Maybe he wanted to keep his body ready for his NHL opportunities. We should have signed a more talented Hart for cheap last year instead of Ingram.
Hart did not want to sign with us.
Can you blame him. Formention is more under the radar the outraged gang WSJW have moved on to their next project
Do we think he’s a lock to make the team or is he battling Jones for 13F (and, if he is on the team, battling Joseph for the lineup spot)?
I have no idea.
I live in Switzerland and saw him play quite some time over the last years…he didn’t have a great season last year… I thought he had much more impact in the games the previous 2 years
Speed, size and a PK player. Gotta give this a serous try.
DJ Smith was his coach in Ottawa, as a 21 year old he scored 18 goals and had the second most time on the PK.
Connect the dots it’s all about PK Under D.J we have a top 8 PK with 10 SHG
You would think the defense & PK should be much improved over last season and DJ Smith will coach that area. It might even make life easier for the goaltenders. We shall see how that all transpires.
When a team scores a SH goal they win over 70% of time. DJ had Joseph and Savoie as SH breakaway duo. Formention can skate and he’ll be used on the PK. Special teams wins games-bottom 6 wins games-better than average goaltending wins games-smart line matching wins games. A focused team wins games.