This is the 1980 Edmonton Oilers official training camp list. You can see Andy Moog, Charlie Huddy, Walt Poddubny and left winger Jari Kurri all listed without an asterisk (roster player from previous season). When we look back on training camp rosters from the past, our eyes dance past the known and scan for those distant bells. These Oilers need a distant bell to become something else. Who is it? Is there anyone? Bueller?
Last night’s rookie game
Everyone has their opinions on players and rookie games. For me, it’s a no-win situation for older chaps like Ike Howard, Josh Samanski, Quinn Hutson, Viljami Marjala, Damien Carfagna and that group. They have pro experience and aren’t 19. Now, the Flames had some older fellows too, and in the interest of fairness, the Oilers established men played well.
Howard had the puck whenever he felt like it, and scored a goal-scorer’s goal later on. Viljami Marjala was elusive and creative, deadly skills for a center. I thought Josh Samanski was a tower of power across 200 feet. If we’re going to quibble, Quinn Hutson (despite a nice snipe on the first goal) didn’t show the foot speed he’ll need to make the NHL step. We can’t read too much into it, because it was one game. I liked all the goalies.
The teenagers are the ones to watch in these games, in my opinion. It’s a bigger step for them. David Lewandowski turns 20 in February, but he hitched on to the second line and I liked his game. You can see he has skill but he’s also a thinking man’s winger. Sam Pollock used to draft these guys 10 at a time, the bastard. I like this young player. I don’t know things like foot speed or if he’s going to play middle six or bottom six, but believe he can play.
Rudolphs Berzkalns is a big man at 18 (listed at 6.04, 204) and he’s going to be an absolute load. He won’t get much attention from the rookie game, but considering age and experience, the young man was impressive.
Caden Harvey is 18 and delivered a fine performance. Scored a goal that involved going to the net and second effort. We can’t read too much into it, but it’s a nice introduction for Oilers fans.
For you Bakersfield Condors fans, Simon Tassy will be a player to watch this fall. He looked good out there. Of course, he is 25. I don’t know where Eemil Vinni is going to play, but man he made some saves.
The thing we need to talk about is offense. Most of these cats have a nice two-way game and may one day land in the NHL as good complementary pieces. I don’t see many players in the 18-21 age group we can project on to skill lines. Is Ike Howard the last skill forward before the Oilers re-enter lottery land post-McDavid? That would be a very bad thing.
On the Lowdown today, we will be joined by former Oilers player Shawn Belle. We’ll talk about training camp testing and trying to make the team with such a small window. Noon to 2pm, Sports 1440 and You Tube.
Also, I have a massive sponsorship opportunity on the Lowdown if you run a business and are looking at reaching a large audience (mostly male) over the fall and winter. Email me at lowetideedm@gmail.com and I’ll send you the package.
I didn’t see the first period thank goodness because I heard it wasn’t well played, however the Oiler rookies managed to score a couple goals. It was nice of Marjala to throw Howard a bone for a PP goal and there was Caden Harvey going to the net to score a goal with fine second effort, which we shouldn’t look into it too much because Ike Howard had the puck whenever he felt like it. Whatever that means? Edmonton had the better goaltending and that young Russian defender sure looked good. But overall good for the Oiler rookies defeating the Flamers.
Interesting that Jari Kurri was on the 1979-80 training camp roster. I didn’t know that. He wasn’t even drafted until 1980.
That is the 1980 training camp roster.
I thoroughly enjoyed the Rookie game yesterday. Mainly because I thought Calgary’s crop of prospects would be better than the Oilers’… they should be after years of Calgary’s higher picks, no?
So far Conroy’s rebuild has been sub par.
weird thing is calgary has been bad for 4 years and havnt drafted a mcdavid or Draisaitl like player, or even a hall or rnh type. they are in a deep rebuild
Conroy and the Flames simply haven’t been bad enough.
To Conroy’s credit he has been able to get value out of trading Lindholm, Markstrom, Hanifi, Kadri, and Andersson, but has netted only middling prospects and picks in return.
Calgary has done a smart thing by building out their D first – Nemec, Parekh, and Carels are a solid foundation, but they are exactly three skilled forwards short of having a top-line.
most of their top prospects (Carels, Wyttenbach, Reschny) are in college and weren’t there.