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.
Small update on Jeff Skinner for those interested… He played his first official game last night and already scored approximately 30 seconds after puck drop ! He added an assist and another goal for the win over the visiting team
6 X $13.5MM for Gauthier – better team deal than I anticipated.
Yeah that’s a decent deal for the Ducks
It is baby of Brogan Rafferty’s Uncle Steve’s first Oilers season.
I have a good feeling about this one!
Who downvoted this 😂
First cuts have been made with Ryan Cameron returned to the USHL and three others released from ATO’s.
Wonder whether Berzkalns will also be released in time for tomorrow, when Muskegon takes part in the USHL’s season-opening tournament.
And also wonder where Lewandowski ends up, as S’toon — whose regular season starts Friday — already has their three Euros. Being not a 1st-rounder and still only 19, he wouldn’t be AHL-eligible yet. Hm.
I thought the Blades had room for Lewandowski after trading Tristan Petersen…..?
In addition to their import draft picks, the Blades listed an Austrian who competed at the 1A (i.e. 2nd highest) level of the WJHC and co-led the tournament in scoring. I haven’t been able to find when he was listed though. And with 2 + 2 in 4 preseason games for the Blades, he’s probably not getting cut.
Also, with no NCAA representation at last night’s game for either squad, I’m not sure that route is an option anymore. If there’s some sort of admission deadline, I haven’t been able to find it.
When does the CBA expire? Not even whispers about a Savoie deal.
I really can’t wrap my head around these deals. I know it’s just shock from the cap rising so fast but wow.
Midnight eastern tonight.
Thank you!
Adam Fantilli signs for 8 years in Columbus.
Link?
False.
Yeah, reporting yesterday was that the two sides are talking but aren’t close.
LT, did you used to (or do you still have) a Sam Pollock voodoo doll? 😆
Not one that worked!
I don’t think it was fully intentional, but the Oilers are extremely well positioned in terms of cap. The timing of their key signings and when the cap started to explode worked to their advantage. Plus 97 is an unbelievable mensch. You can see other teams headed for disaster, while the Oilers have everyone they need locked in. I bet some young skill shakes loose next summer.
Which teams do you think are headed for disaster?
Well, you got a taste of it with Anaheim. Any other team with young players who are vulnerable to offer sheet but short on cap. Teams who place and win a big bet on an offer sheet; some of those will inevitably backfire. Whoever signs Hughes for $20M+. You can just look around the league and see contracts above $17M being thrown around and know that some of those will backfire.
From the polarizing and often unhinged “Western Hockey Scout” on twitter
Caden Harvey (Windsor) was a really good pick by the Edmonton Oilers. He looked like a 1st Rounder to me at the Ivan Hlinka last year, then got buried on a deep Windsor Team. I expect a big breakout this year. You’re welcome Edmonton fans, see I’m not biased. Beau Akey is close to ready.
I didn’t realize but Harvey was still playing AAA in Pittsburgh in his draft-1 year. He did play 4 games in the USHL ay the end of that year and had 3 points. Was also good enough to play in the Ivan Hlinka which Im guessing is not common for 6th round picks?
He then decided not to sign with that team and signed with Windsor. Him and Robinson are going to be fascinating to watch for Windsor this year. Both seem like they have potential to be great value picks and will have big roles this year,
Also, just noticed Andrew Robinson was second on his team at +36 and 11th in the OHL.
The Batherson deal in Ottawa is done 8 x $10.75M
Pierre LeBrun
@PierreVLeBrun
On RFA Cutter Gauthier: critical day for both sides to try to close the deal. Still not done. Ducks made new offer on Sunday, which was progress.
Both sides meet again later today. But if deal doesn’t get done before old CBA expires tonight then there’s an issue because of how the front-loaded rules change in the new CBA. And the front-loaded money is an important part of the current discussion.
Bizarre the ownership groups wanted 7 year deals and smoother payouts and now its such a big scramble to get a deal done under the old rules.
Verbeek was nicely walking a tightrope. Brière changed the league like we haven’t seen in a long time. The Leo and Cutter deal turned a potential top 10 team for a decade into an average team moving forward.
I don’t think the 8 years is the trigger here but the bonus structure permission which are changing.
Don’t think he signs for near 8 years.
Say? Do you think Shawn Horcoff might ever end up back in Edmonton as GM?
No, it’ll be between Parkatti and Harrison K*tz next time theres an opening.
Barzkalns did indeed show very well given his age and scouting report.
Exactly as advertised – a massive load who is strong in all aspect of the game but for light offence. Pracey stated they see undeveloped offensive potential that the org thinks it can develop. If it ever comes, this dude has middle six/top six power forward potential and will make all those that wanted to fire Pracey on draft day look a bit silly.
Miles to go!
I was at the Dome last night and he looked great. On one backcheck he was yelling to the defence and pointing his stick to communicate assignments. He looked like a leader out there. He definitely needs some skill development, as I saw him beat the puck square a few times, but his defensive game looked fully developed.
Martin Hanzal lite is what I’m hoping for
That would be a fantastic result.T
I mean like a big tough minutes C that puts up 25 points a year. That would be perfect. Hanzal was point per game in the USHL in his draft +1, doable for Rudolfs i think
Could be.
Correct me if I’m wrong but I believe the USHL has taken a hit due to he change to the NCAA rules as kids can play in the CHL and then college?
Agreed with everything in the write-up.
I wrote before that the likes of Howard and Samanski as well as Hutson, Marjala and Carfagna should overly show well and they all did. Among the best players on the ice.
I don’t notice Michaels much which is a bit disappointing given his age but it was his first experience out of college.
It’s fresh Horcoff news. I’ll leave the link here.
https://oilerhockey.com/article/40914
Guerin-Grier-Staios-Horcoff. The list keeps growing.
Calgary needs to tank harder. Some nice prospects to be sure, but hard to build a contender without top tier talent typically only found when you draft top-5
Just looking at their cap sheet and prospect pool I would think free agent signings and offer sheets might expedite their rebuild.
Their legacy contracts…Backlund, Strome and Hanley all expire in the next 2 seasons (although the Huberdeau anchor does not) giving them $43 million in cap space in 2027/28 and $72 million the following season.
Their goaltending is solid and with Carels, Nemec and Parekh their D is looking very promising.
Too soon to pull the trigger but it might come in the next 2-3 years.
Can’t tank with top 10 goaltending the Jets on the other hand will be team tank if Hellebuych is traded soon.
I was at the game last night – I have now seen Hutson 5 times in person. I am not aligned on the foot speed narrative.
This guy is on the right side of the puck all night long. Away from the puck he definitely fills space and takes away passing lanes.
He is not getting enough credit for
1Quick on the retrieval of the puck
2Funnelling the play.
I love Hutson. Would love to see him carve out an NHL career.
.
Point taken.
Where did you take it to?
It’s still there….
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.
Harvey is 18, one of the youngest on the ice and without much experience. Howard, who has experience and is a better player than Harvey, should be expected to have a bigger impact, And he did! I don’t think that should be shocking to anyone.
Yes he should be expected to have a bigger impact.
Howard? He had a helluva game. Seriously,
You’re telling me.
Its almost like you are cheering against Howard and hope he fails and gets sent to the AHL….
No I really hope he’s successful. I’m just concerned.
Needs to be put in a position to see what we have. I have no idea if he’s a Babcock type player? If he’s not it’s best to trade him for a player that is.
Agree
We’ll find out but Babcock talks about pace and puck pressure and, well, Howard brings exactly that and we saw that last night.
I hope Howard scores early and gains confidence with every goal. We know D.J men are Joseph-Formenton. I hope Howard doesn’t get flushed over yet I still think Babcock will chance a project deep in the batting order. Maybe it’s Formenton he falls for I think this player was a steal of a deal for us especially those 5 SH goals he’s capable of.
The one player that I really hope bangs one in early is Frederic – get off to that good starts with instant confidence and roll.
Howard likely next in that group.
No doubt Joseph and Formenton are Smith guys and he’ll have them on his PK but, 5 on 5, the forwards will be for Babcock.
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.
Thanks, I missed that the * referred to the 79-80 Oilers and assumed it was the 79-80 camp list.
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.
There aren’t always franchise players even at 1OV. Really good players yes, but not studs. A lot of luck is still required and then a lot of good decisions. We’ve seen how the second part can be hard to do
most of their top prospects (Carels, Wyttenbach, Reschny) are in college and weren’t there.
Calgary minus their top prospects got spanked by Edmonton and their “no prospects”. Atleast that’s the narrative around the Oilers.
Still embarrassing for the Flames.
Carson Carels – UND
Ethan Wyttenbach – QUIN
Jack Hextall – MICH
Cullen Potter – UAZ
Tobias Trejbal – U MASS
Cole Reschny – UND
Henry Mews – UMCH
Wyttenbach look s like he might be a real later round find.
As an 18 year old freshman, he led Quinnipiac in scoring with 25 goals and 59 points in 40 games played.
It appears the Flames have deliberately drafted players headed for the NCAA development path
Even minus that long list of NCAA players not playing last night, Cgy had 3 first rounders and 3 second rounders playing. The Oilers had 1 and 1, respectively.
Calgary had 6 first rounders and 6 second rounders NOT playing.
Most of them from the last 3 drafts.
Considering when their rebuild started, they’re doing pretty well in amassing assets.
It takes awhile.
When you write about other teams, I’m always reminded of the Craig MacTavish line about rookie camp one fall. MacT said “everyone’s Gretzky” and if we believed your prose every team has 40 hall of famers, it would seem. Perhaps a more tempered approach would be both more informative and more believable. Just a thought.
At no point did I suggest any Flames prospect is Gretzky.
The Flames IMO are doing exactly what they should be at this point…amassing a large pool of prospects and letting them cook.
A little luck in the draft lottery would certainly help.
They are building for the new rink that’s the only reason Conroy is getting so much slack. Say what you want about Treliving he build a fine team that panicked after Markstrom couldn’t stop a beachball against us.
The problem is, every organization has a large pool of prospects. You just feel like talking about every single one as if they are worth mentioning when most of them will never make it anywhere and aren’t even talked about on dedicated fan blogs. This website talked about Brogan Rafferty more than anyone in the province of BC has for example.
Because it’s so rare, everyone loves snarky LT. 🤫
meh. They didn’t play because they were scared of clattenburg.
It was too late to get to the game when it was realized that clatt wasn’t playing.
Or at least that’s what I heard.
These games are not indicative of orgnazational prospect strength – often a matter of who brings the “older prospects” – I mean, Howard and Samanski will be in the NHL this year and the likes of Marjala and Carfagna are now not 20 and have a full year in the AHL – not to mention Michaels being like 24 I think.
The flames tops prospects are in college and not available – there are like 3 of them that would top the Oilers list after Howard.
Parekh and Gridin also played in the NHL year and looked mighty pedestrian last night.
Perekh was indeed invisible – probably because he didn’t play….
Griddin is 20 and I thought he played well. More noticeable than any Oiler near that age except Barzallks.
Oilers won the game with goaltending and their 22-25 year olds