Jason Chimera took three full minor league seasons and 230+ AHL games before establishing himself as an NHL player. He had believers (Kevin Lowe said every summer Chimera would make the team) and detractors (Craig MacTavish sent him back every time) but eventually honed his skills into something MacT could use. Please read this.
Same thing for Kyle Brodziak; he took some time but became a useful player. Who is this year’s Chimera or Brodziak? I thought it would be Josh Samanski. Mike Babcock believes it could Colton Dach. For me, and Oilers fans who witnessed Craig MacTavish as coach, the memories come flooding back.
MacT liked players who played, well, like MacT. He was an intelligent center who rarely cheated for offense and often saved the day with an astute defensive play. He had a variety of linemates, from the redoubtable Esa Tikkanen to hard working man Kelly Buchberger, but MacTavish played a responsible game like clockwork.
Those are the players he liked, too. So Chimera was traded and Fernando Pisani elevated. There’s no hammer at the end of this verbal, the Oilers were a successful five-on-five team with MacT as coach. The worst thing I can say about MacT as coach is he did not have exceptional power plays, but he didn’t have the fastest horses, either.
Mike Babcock may look past Samanski, and another team that sees what the young German center can do could make a deal and pick the player up via trade for less than 100 cents on the dollar. Could happen. Edmonton lost Jan Hejda and Curtis Glencross during MacT’s time as coach, and absolutely made a mistake when not signing Jeff Petry to an extension all those years ago. Hockey men see things in their own way, and ‘gut feel’ married to the eye test carries the day often.
I don’t know that using Leon Draisaitl on the wing and Colton Dach at center is a bad decision. I do know its risky and not recommended by math, and for me that’s enough to call it in to question.
Why not run McDavid, Draisaitl, Jason Dickinson and Josh Samanski up the middle? That’s the play here. The good thing is enough losses will force change and I don’t see Edmonton outscoring enough with lines two through four on the ice to win enough games. If the club wins, and continues to run the McDavid-Draisaitl tandem, I would expect a deadline deal for a veteran center.
On the Lowdown today, we have the return of Rachel Kryshak at 12:40 and Jason Gregor at 1:20. Oilers news, Elks news, NFL and more! Noon to 2pm, Sports 1440 and You Tube.
Why Oilers finding a No. 2 line without Leon Draisaitl is crucial for Mike Babcock
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7613632/2026/09/21/edmonton-oilers-lines-mike-babcock-leon-draisaitl/
The Chimera yo-yo routine was ridiculous. He was ready in 00-01.
Meanwhile he’d rather run Pittis, Lacouture, Swanson and Kilger out there. Yuck.
Shhh, you’re revealing some of my favourite Puckdoku players that have the lowest usage percentages haha
Babcock is just like all the other new coaches. Will take him a few weeks into the regular season to have a plan. Everything else is just talk.
This, however, is part of the problem. In this day and age, there is more than enough data to support the eye test and establish the 90% line up on day one. The final 10% is open for discussion/injury related.
The 4 centers listed by LT don’t require further experimentation. Play them as is and find the wingers that fit best.
Lowetide, I have been a faithful reader (rarely post, but I read daily) and always will be. But you’ve been repeatedly hammering the same point over and over and over about the Cs. We understand your concern and many of us share it. Just would like a lens on something else from you please.
lol if you don’t like the content read something else.
I think I replied reasonably respectfully actually. I just pointed out that in my opinion, he has hit the same point too often lately. I noted that I’m a devoted reader and will continue to be so. I don’t think it is unreasonable at all to suggest he take some new angles. If I were to hazard a guess, I think Allan would probably suggest that this is the kind of reasonable disagreement he prefers (no mocking or insulting) actually. He also of course, doesn’t need to listen to me and I get that.
I agree, LT should give this guy his money back….
Jets with a solid lineup for their game tonight against the Avs so it’ll probably be crappy tomorrow which sucks.
I would prefer they split by the time I leave the Black Frog for Rogers (Arena!) on the 1st but it’ll be fun to see those 2 fill the net against…Lankinen?
By the Sharks game (first potentially real matchup) the 2 will be split. We talk about this literally every year and they put them together and break them up ad nauseum. They’ll rack up some wins against lesser lights then experiment throughout the year.
They believe this is the best way to get a good start. Based on competition, they’re not wrong.
Yes! Shout out to the Black Frog, what a great hidden oasis of Oilerdom smack in the middle of Nuckville. Say hi to it for me!
If we had no Samanski, we’d probably be ok with giving Dach a spin at 4C.
We/they wanted different….. this is what it looks like. I have time for it.
We won’t know if Dach is trustworthy at center until we trust him.
why is Babcock set on playing 97 & 29 together?
They reportedly want to keep the other lines active and in the game. That’s a worthy goal, but does it lead to winning? That’s the important item.
I do not know that answer. I have always been against playing 97 & 29 together since Todd McLellan days … but it seems ALL of the coaches have gone that way …
It’s because 97 and 29 are otherworldly on the same line. The line gives coaches a cheat code. Thats why they always go back to the forbidden fruit.
I think having them together is great if you have sufficient forward depth. Which the Oilers never have.
Condors’ camp opens today. I presume it’s off ice stuff but they will need players soon. I expect many cuts official today.
I’m sure we’ll see plenty of McDavid and Drai on separate lines as centers. Likely even in game 2 in Vancouver. Who knows who the other two centers will be in that set up.
At the same time, even with those two loaded, there is clear room for Samanski at 4C. Sure, fine, give Dach some reps there and see how it goes but here is hoping that Samanski, the incumbent 4C, who showed well as a rookie, gets his real opportunity as well.
Here is hoping that coach doesn’t move forward solely on a dream of what could be if Dach can perform as a center. Give Samanski his earned chance. Evaluate with a clear head and move forward.
I expect coach wants both Formenton and Joseph in the lineup due to PK and speed and Dach is a lock to play so he doesn’t see room for Samanski with the current healthy group. For me, those two speedsters, with quite a bit of replicated skills, don’t both need to play if it forces a wonder at center. I’m not sure Dach played the position nearly as well as Babcock’s verbal supposes and I don’t think he believes his own words. I saw that line being a mess on the defensive zone, again non NHL players.
I read Babcock’s verbal as not wanting to throw a player under the bus on day 1. He knows he put Dach in an uncomfortable position to try something out – he said pretty much all you can say in that position withiut coming off as a jackass. He also said something along the lines of “at least I know all the guys’ names now” in that interview, so it’s clear he is still figuring out what he’s got with this team. In my opinion, it’s going to take a couple weeks into the regular season to really get a sense of where the coach sees things, and that will be based moreso off of what he does vs what he says.
I definitely think that the shortened preseason favours teams with continuity, which obviously isn’t us. So I agree that it is unlikely Babcock will have his finger fully on the pulse of the team by puck-drop of game 1.