We have made it through training camp and now wait for last minute moves. Will the Oilers keep Owen Michaels or Josh Samanski? Is there a trade in the air? After going 4-0 and having all areas look good, there’s a peaceful calm in the nation. Of course, Game 1 of the regular season brings possible hope and tragedy. First 20 games are huge.
CERTAIN OILERS (20)
Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Jason Dickinson, Zach Hyman, Vasily Podkolzin, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Kasperi Kapanen, Mathieu Joseph, Trent Frederic, Colton Dach, Alex Formenton, Ike Howard, Mattias Ekholm, Evan Bouchard, Ryan Shea, Connor Murphy, Jake Walman, Ty Emberson, Shakir Mukhamadullin, Tristan Jarry, Devon Levi
This group seems secure unless there’s a trade. If I had to pick a vulnerable player it would be Ty Emberson based on training camp deployment. Mike Babcock prefers a bigger player (Shakir Mukhamadullin) over Emberson, even to the point of having a lefty play on his offside. There was much talk about it before and during camp (I believe Godot was saying Babcock would have sticks aligned). Mike Babcock has surprised us a little.
UNCERTAIN OILERS (4)
Ike Howard, Jason Dickinson, Josh Samanski, Owen Michaels , Alex Formenton, Quinn Hutson, Max Jones, Spencer Stastney, Josh Brown
This isn’t a problem if the team makes a deal, but it’s too late to waive anyone. In order to get to 23 men by 3pm Edmonton time today, the Oilers have to make a trade or send a player to the minors. Dickinson to the IR helps but the money stays on the books. Names who could go to Bakersfield include Michaels and Samanski.
THE DISTANT BELLS (5)
Owen Michaels, Viljami Marjala, William Nicholl, Connor Clattenburg, Eduards Tralmaks, Jason Dickinson (ir), Matt Savoie (ir), Mattias Janmark (ir), Aku Raty, James Stefan, Brady Stonehouse, Alec Regula (inj), Damien Carfagna, Beau Akey, Riley Stillman, Atro Leppänen (inj), Tomas Cibulka, Frederik Andersen (ir), Matt Tompkins, Samuel Jonsson, Connor Ungar, Nathan Day, Eemil Vinni, Rudolfs Berzkalns, Seth Griffith, Caden Harvey, David Lewandowski, Rhett Pitlick, Simon Tassy, Zach Bookman, Andrew Robinson, Samuel Sjölund.
These are the injured guys, and I think the Dickinaon injury is the only one attached to mystery. He could be out a short time, but the Oilers ‘day-to-day’ tends to be somewhere between five days and four years. So it’s a range of possibilities. Alec Regula and Atro Leppanen will go straight to the minors when activated. Damien Carfagna was sent out, but if injuries hit I can see him back here. Or he could get dealt, bet there’s some interest in him.
On the Lowdown today, we have feature guests Rachel Kryshak (12:40) and Jason Gregor (1:20). We’ll chat Oilers, Elks, Jays, wild NFL weekend and more. Noon to 2pm, Sports 1440 and You Tube.
Six critical questions for the Edmonton Oilers at the outset of this season
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7636028/2026/09/28/edmonton-oilers-questions-2026-season-schedule/
Oiler have 5 players on IR plus a full 23 player roster and still have $300K of cap space
So we begin. Have to say I’m way more optimistic than last year at this time when the team was obviously a burnt out shell. If the goaltending holds up there are not many holes. All I want for Christmas is Ryan O’Reilly under the tree to shore up the middle 6 and provide some playoff grit.
+1!
Craig Button: “Marchenko is a bigger, faster, harder player than Knies.”
Do these media types not realize that we watch hockey too? Or are they too busy carrying water?
The last bit. Of course.
With the performances of Marjala and Carfagna in camp and them looking like legit call up options, I suspect most would agree to giving kudos to Chaulk and his staff (along with Bowman and Larsson and those teams).
Samanski and Hutson sent down. Howard already on the 4th line from the 2nd.
OP on the aircraft carrier declaring “Mission Accomplished”.
Samanski wrong sent down, in the opinion of many – and he already proved he can play at the NHL level and be effective in the NHL playoffs – Chaulk did a great job there in the 2/5 of a season he had him.
Hutson just isn’t a good enough player.
We know you will never give credit for an AHL developed player unless Todd Nelson was involved.
An AHL developed player has to actually make the NHL to be considered an AHL developed player.
Nelson produced an average of two to three per year in Oklahoma. Where are Chaulk’s 10 players?
Is the suggestion that ability for prospect to make the Oilers in 2010-2014 (apx) has been the same as in the last two years? Please.
I wonder what the recent coaching staff could have done with all those first round picks like O’Marah and Tuebert and Pajjarvi…….
Many of the players Nelson developed played for other NHL teams, not only the Oilers.
and many of them required 3-4 years under Nelson and then, in some cases, AHL time in another org before “making it”.
Chaulk has non-drafted players like Marjala and Carfagna on the verge of the NHL after one season and had Samanski, who was effective in the NHL playoff (and another undrafted player, ready after 2/5 of a season.
Didn’t that era of the Barons under Todd have like 43 or so players the Oilers drafted with higher picks compared to the Oilers who drafted 30 players where their highest drafted player was pick 22 since 2021?
Stop using facts
Stauff also mentioned that Nuge left practice early. Said he he didn’t know if it was a tweak or if he was working in a new pair of skates but something to monitor…..
Holy hell Stauff shooting bullets at Ken Holland. Talking about Owen Michaels and procurement in general, he says “the job of the GM is to relentlessly find players, NOT to go golfing on Vernon with your buddies…..”. He went on from there.
The core Holland built went to two Stanley Cup finals in a flat cap era. Since Bowman took over, the team has been backsliding.
Bowman has yet to stop the slide.
Could’ve easily said that while he was here. He knows where his bread is buttered and toes the line. Political in that everything wrong with the team is the previous administration’s fault. Cough Mangiapane trade.
There’s no objectivity to be found here.
Interesting perhaps only to me, but TJ Hughes is projected to be on the Avs 1st Unit PP. He was a player I’d been watching since his AJHL days as a player of interest and he had been mentioned by Bob as a player of interest as an NCA UFA target the past 2 seasons.
I also noticed that the Avs are projected as dressing 7 D, 5 are Right-handed. Not something often seen in the NHL…
Bowman (on with Gregor) also said that Dickinson is close. The foot has healed, just getting everything around it perfect for game condition. He’s been skating and participating in camp.
Bowman also has really been happy with the maturity in Howard’s game. The biggest thing is his transformation from being a sniper/goal scorer to being a real worker now – he hounds the puck all night, he’s everywhere. He has a high motor game. His attention to detail to play the right way has been excellent. Babcock said to Bowman he’s a different paler than he was executive – competitive, works. He’s a busier player now. He doesn’t lurk around like he used but his focus is to do what the coaches want him to – aggressive on forecheck, pressuring the puck, back-checking. He still has the ability to score of course.
Let’s hope that Howard skating on the 4th line today isn’t indicative of intended deployment. That’s not setting Howard up for success.
I don’t love it, but at least he is on the team and we can see how this goes.
Howard/Michaels dominated flow of play to a 75% expected goal share in their 5:28 together in the the last game.
that last game you are referencing was not against a NHL quality team.
Great info thanks.
Hutson comes to mind. I do not think Hutson has the speed, but maybe he does. If so, all the advice given to Howard applies to Hutson.
Per Gregor:
“He will start skating on his own, likely in the next week or so. Then from that point forward we will have a better gauge of where he will be. I think later in October.” Bowman on Savoie.
“Andersen will be longer than Savoie. I have no set timeline. Janmark isn’t close to playing either. He is several weeks away from playing,” Bowman.
Marchenko traded to Leafs extended 6 x 12.5 extension!
Marchinko to TML for Knies is done.It’s a pretty big deal
Knies, Lorentz, Andrae and a 2nd for Marchenko, Miles Wood, Merzlikins (some retained salary) via Elliotte Friedman
Columbus actually got really good value considering Marchenko traded himself out of town and refused to be there. The people thinking the Leafs made out like bandits are crazy. Knies is a really good player on a reasonable long term contract. He could be Toronto’s next Zack Hyman.
I think that’s a proper fleecing by Chayka.
Toronto gets the best player in the deal, Columbus gets the better value contract and some trinkets and cap flex.
Don Waddell did as best as he realistically could’ve.
Marchenko was NOT re-signing in Columbus. Knies is a pretty good save of a bad situation by Waddell.
He could have made the deal at the draft if he knew Marchenko wasn’t resigning.
Waddell got the Leafs to take Mezlilkins and Wood. Unlikely he could have gotten them to do that at the draft.
Waddell was not trading Marchenko for picks and prospects so the draft was irrelevant.
Agreed. Waddell did well.
Would Columbus be open to moving Knies?
The Oilers should find a way there.
Knies is American … I’m guessing he’s going to be ecstatic to get out the Toronto fishbowl. He could turn out to be better than Marchenko in time. Great deal by Waddell for a player that had no interest in extending with the BJs after this season.
True that he is more American than his more Slovakian brother. He grew up in Phoenix, so is he really tied to the US the same as we believe other US-born players are?
Oilers sent down McLeod to start the season the year after he was called up and played in the playoffs. I will take solace in that via-a-via Samanski.
I will still not understand it in the context of forcing a 4th line winger in to a center roll based on size and keeping another based off of shorting right and winning faceoffs in one game (he was 47% overall on the exhibition).
Any idea what PP 1-2 look-wise is also PK 1-2 F and D pairings.
Babcock is quoted as saying Michaels was often “in the clip” meaning showing up doing the right things. I have no opinion on him right now as I have not seen him yet.
From the games to highlight packages I did not see Michaels. I seen Marajala, Hutson, Howard, Formenton, ect
But I could not tell you if Frederic even played nor much about Michaels. Im not inferring hes bad, just did not notice him one way or the other. What am I missing?
Devils Lettuce provided some intel about 5 posts back thanks.
He seems to be playing good defense and winning faceoffs.
He won face-offs in one game.
He has 9-4 (or something like that) last game which brought him up to 47% on face-offs for the exhibition season – Samanski at 46%.
I want Samanski on the squad, Michaels is going to be a contributor.
How long until the Oilers make a move for O’Reilly?
The best thing Babs has done is distract from all other issues with the team.
Exactly when’s the last time you heard an Oiler name ( Babcock) used tenfold over Connor-Leon-Bouchard who must be loving this as they can finally in a long time just concentrate on hockey. Babcock ego and arrogance as a coach-leader could be just what this group has needed. Polar opposite over the shy tight lipped K.K. Now let’s see Babcock not only get us to the Final the next 2 years but beat the Panthers even if they have Hellebuych in net.
Question: “Is Dickinson an available player?”
Babcock “No!” – curt and straight to the point.
———–
Babcock also mentions that he is getting up to speed. Mentioned seeing some things on the breakout looking at tape that he missed and should have been obvious to him.
I love the way this coach coaches (doesn’t mean I agree with his deployment all the time).
———–
Said Samanski needs to get down and get to work – become an elite PK guys, highly responsible defensive player, etc. Mentioned that often guys go down and they get put on the power play and asked to score but Samanski is old enough that he needs to understand what he needs to work on to be successful at the NHL level.
For me, I think the coach is putting too much in to exhibition season and not enough in to what was done at the NHL level last year, including playoffs. Of course, I’m just a due with keyboard.
Do you know how Babcock coaches? I think you meant to say “I love the way this coach interviews”.
He definitely has the gift to gap.
Do you mean “the gift of gab”?
I think you mean “the goodies of gob”
As per Johnston and LeBron via the Athletic…
“Maple Leafs in talks to trade for, extend Kirill Marchenko, send Matthew Knies to Blue Jackets: Sources”
Boooooo!
Why don’t the Leafs appreciate Knies?
Wish the Oilers could have taken advantage there.
Interesting trade proposal.
As I said over the last while, the trade would have started with Podz and likely Savoie. The retort was always that Podz is untradable or “hands off” and, maybe so but that’s the starting piece of value that we have (and he’s not nearly at the value of Knies, of course).
I don’t understand why the Leafs are in such a hurry to trade a 23 yo, 6’3″, 230 lb winger in the second year of a below market contract that has 5 more years left, to get a guy who’s 3 years older, with similar counting stats last year, who’s going to want a lot more money??
Leaf’s fans are probably pulling their hair out right now.
Not all teams are created equal. Top scorer in Columbus was Werenski followed by KM.
2 years older (Knies is 24 in 2 weeks).
I can see the math but I think KM has higher upside on a team where he doesn’t drive the bus. 40 goal breakout potential where i think Knies has hit his ceiling (imo).
Toronto doesn’t care about money. I think this is a fair trade. Extreme value this year, market rate in the coming years.
Better than whatever Tree wanted from the Habs.
Practice today per Stauff (pretty much as they finished up last game):
Babcock knows Kapanen he must be seeing him well to elevate him in the top six. I would say we see Kapanen up and down the line-up as he’s never had consistency or the health to be an everyday top six.
So I take it Dickinson was on the ice, which is a good sign, but Howard is on the fourth line, in a position he’s not likely to have much success, which was what I was afraid of.
Yep here we go with the energy player role. If Babcock sees Kapanen not feeling it half-way through the game then Howard may get a his opportunity.
I think I’d rather Max Jones on the fourth line than Ike Howard.
As you know I would have kept Samanski and sent Howard to Bakersfield so he could play top line minutes where he belongs and work on what he needs to become a full time top six NHL forward..
Definitely Howard is not an energy player. There will be injuries early on to smallish PP-1 or even PP-2 throughout the NHL. Does Howard fetch you Wright?
I doubt it.
Someone suggested a trade with Montreal Kirby Dach for Frederic, Akey & a 3rd. I’d do that in a heart beat.
Make it happen Bowman. The boys out east especially Montreal saw Frederic good in Boston. With Josh Anderson in a final year of his contract someone will have to help Montreal continue to do the heavy lifting especially playoffs. Kirby hasn’t worked in Montreal Frederic in Edmonton if Frederic returns 8-12 goals he’s a bargain moving forward.
At this stage of his career, Kirby Dach isn’t worth near that. That’s a hell of an overpayment. If they took Frederic that’s a bonus.
Yikes. The bottom two lines are a dog’s breakfast.
1st line : best in NHL
2nd line :
— LW: he can score with McDrai still but 35 and injuries
— RW: 8 6 6 8 7 11 11 goals last 7 years
— C: wasn’t driver a decade ago with way better wingers definitely below average 2C better as McDrai winger or 3C IMO
— Below average 2nd line asking a lot : where’s the goals ?
3rd line:
— LW: hasn’t been in NHL for years really should start as 4th line 13th player doesn’t score
— RW: 29 not legit 3rd line ideal energy 4th liner
— C: never been a C coach sees him good: what could go wrong
— I’d buy it as an average 4th line that doesn’t score
4th line :
LW: small winger needs C to score goals 2 goals in 29 games last year. Not a 4th liner
RW: 8 years 7 points
C: Straight out of NCAA not a C: coach sees him good : what could go wrong
— definitely not a NHL 4th line especially for cup contenders
D: probably better than last years : Shea on 3rd pairing a good start. Better depth.
G: let’s see. Everyone be like “3 goalies is awesome” now it’s two and if one sucks man
— Lots of prospects and projections at this stage of McDrai. Game plan is easy : limit McDrai and go to town on the crap lines.
LFGOILERS: I just don’t think we have a NHL lineup full players all slotted for success
— Babs done a good job of deflecting this
Michaels won 938 faceoffs for Western Michigan during his 119 games.
Michaels won the Frozen four most valuable player leading Western Michigan to the National title. Also a Hobey Finalist while captaining the squad.
Michaels: is a C.
— ah your right : my bad he’s listed as a W incorrectly
— do you believe he’s a 4C on a cup team or are you simply pointing out my error?
— not set up for success as 4C having never played in NHL history tells us.
— job description a lot different being stud C on college team vs being C with a 2 goals cup of coffee offence minded winger and 7 points 8 years on a 4th line having never played. He will get caved IMO. That’s how it works.
— Just not a legit NHL player at this stage for where the oilers are …
Michaels is likely just a placeholder for Dickinson, until the latter is back (or the Oilers swing a trade for Kirby Dach).
That said, by several accounts (most notably by Kurt Leavins), Michaels has showed up to camp with a pro style game, and deserves a spot on the opening night roster. This guy coming out of nowhere, reminds me a bit of how Shawn Horcoff launched his career.
I don’t mind having the two Hobey Baker college men together on a line to start the season for back-to-back games against the Canucks. Those guys should be fired up to show that they belong in the big show.
You don’t know what he is, none of us do.
He was one of the 12 best forwards in camp.
His pedigree is legit and is it’s not working is easy to send him down and call up a guy who did have success at this level.
I didn’t think he was one of the 12 best forwards at camp. If they were using that criteria, Marjala would be on the team.
I think he shoots right and won lots of Faceoffs in his last game.
I hope he’s awesome tomorrow night!
We have no idea what Michaels is at the NHL, but he does have pedigree. He’s shown up and lead his team to the ultimate goal in the league he was playing in. He’s got the compete and battler in him, I dont imagine he’ll look out of place for long, and if he does luckily there’s a similar player he can swap with in the minors.
Janmark was able to perform 4C duties for the Oilers finals team, he wasnt the reason the Oilers didnt win. So can Michaels a career center possible be a legit 4C option on a contending squad. Yes, its possible.
Im not going to lay the negatives of the 4th line wingers at the rookie 4C’s feet.
Your “error” took about 10 seconds of interneting to correct, Ive been a Michaels believer and will continue to do so until new evidence is presented then adjust accordingly.
Michaels played 3 full seasons of NCAA hockey and four years of American junior hockey, and he’s 24 years old. He’s had a fair bit of development and experience. I don’t think slotting him in on your 4th line is unreasonable. If it were I, I probably would have picked Samanski as I saw him good at the end of last year. However, I’m more concerned about Dach at centre than Owen Michaels who is an experienced centre.
Thank’s for that it’s starting to make sense. You’re actually the first poster to show any numbers and a brief history on the player as he’s a complete unknown for 90% of us Oiler fans.
I enjoy opinions but I sorely miss coming to Lowetide and reading the endless comments that revolved around numbers, stats, history relevance of them.
Those days I barely said a word, just enjoyed the brilliant minds battling it out.
When numbers were used to bring others to your view instead of used as a weapon to beat down fellow commentators. Now those guys are winning cups and we’re all arguing over 4C lol.
Excellent intel thanks.
It seemed they had so much to work with. The end of the day results are underwhelming
Injuries take a toll.
They make a difference, however, so does the coaching decisions.
Oilers were considered a one line team or at best a top heavy team. Such talent though, almost enough.
The answer was to create an entire team that can play. Given any team everywhere, one must decide to go top heavy or spread out your talent. So far the last couple of cup winners had talent spread out.
Not just spread out, but assigned roles, identity. Limit aging vets while growing youth. Blend. Roles that suit individual talents. Speed, skill, rugged.
Howard we need to grow. Placed with the line he is on, he might as well go to Bakersfield.
I can agree with all of that, especially the part about spreading out the talent and defining roles that suit individual talents.
If you’re a top heavy team you need to excel at special teams or else the Ducks knock you off in six.
The Oilers outscored the Ducks at 5 on 5.
The Oilers lost the series on the PK, and the PK alone (well plus McDavid getting shelled).
The Oilers were 7-4 goals when both McDavid and Drai were off the ice (and 14-7 when McDavid was off the ice). McDavid being hurt and leaking goals against plus the PK lost the series.
I think Babcock is basically telling him, make me play you instead of Kappanen. Which honestly isn’t the worst thing. Roles in the NHL should be earned not bequeathed.
The “next Podkolzin” is Washington Capitals winger Ivan Miroshnichenko. Book it!
Is he on waivers?
This is a no-brainer pick up for Vancouver or Calgary. If I’m Bowman I’m offering a 3rd to get Ivan Miro.
No, he is on the roster, but showing as a Press Box player with Ethan Frank.
They have a dman on IR, but no forwards, so he likely sticks, barring a trade. Ethan Frank would be a good waiver wire get, as well, IMO.
Jarry with the start tomorrow night. As expected. I presume they split the home and home.
There we have it. It’s surprising to me I thought Mike would keep the pressure of Jarry having his first start on the road. He feels comfortable enough that Jarry has regained form physically and mentally and is our number one goalie.
Starting Jarry makes sense – he’s the established (healthy) goalie, so no reason to yank his chain to start the season.
I don’t see it that way. Levi and Jarry had good pre-seasons. The first start is over-blown and we all know Edmonton fans how instant the pressure will be on Jarry if he coughs up a hair ball first game. It’s a long Marathon race this 84 game schedule.
The Oilers should make LT happy and trade Samanski to Boston for that Poitras guy. He is currently injured so it is a sign from the heavens that it is a trade Bowman would make.
Samanski will be in the Oilers lineup to start the playoffs.
We will put that prediction in the vault for safe keeping.
Don’t get mad at me because Babcock doesn’t like Samanski. I like Samanski! This is a weird decision by the Oilers, let’s leave it at that.
I thought it was pretty clear Samanski had an uphill battle to make the team after the line combos on day one were released.
I like the player fine but he is a marginal NHLer at this point. I think the fact he was a consideration at all to be the teams 4C to start the year is more an indictment on the teams centre depth.
He did until injuries to Savoie and especially Dickinson happened.
Samanski assigned to Bako.
i continue to encourage all parents to have their children shoot right if they are in hockey.
Congrats to Owen Michaels. I could not have been more wrong on his chances to make this team out of camp.
If Samanski was right handed like Michaels you obviously think he makes the team or would it be a toss-up on their perspective training camps? Remember Babcock is viewing these players from afar. People get attached to players maybe Connor will return after Michaels can’t keep pace with the NHL or Michaels could seize the opportunity.
I put much more stock in performance last year in their respective leagues. We know how little exhibition season means with regards to NHL readiness.
Babcock didn’t see it that way. The Owen Michaels are so pedestrian that Babcock obviously feels he can tread water until Jason returns.
Owen Michaels shoots right – likely the top skill he had in making the team.
I’m being a bit facetious here and I will be cheering hard for Michaels (and every other Oiler) tomorrow night
With all the Josh chat I looked up his NHL edge. He’s low on everything, Dach is a little better there but is also huge, fights, and likely has more hands. A lack of C depth and a moribund season got JS some NHL games. It’s not over yet for him, but he might need some more AHL time to get better at skating as you have to for North American/NHL hockey. Stops and starts etc. Lots of Euros have to adapt
Sure, I agree that Dach should be a more locked in lineup player than Samanski at this time but I’m not sure why Dach can’t play on Samanski’s wing like he did last year – with success for both players.
Exactly just as Babcock-Bowman instructed Clattenburg on what to work on the same can be said for Samanski. With the PK wizard Formenton getting signed it meant one less PK spot on the docket.
I have no idea why so many people were giving Michaels next to no chance.
It was due to the intel from some prospect watchers that he is not a great skater.
Steve Ellis & Bruce Curlock stated his skating needs work, but Pronman said: “skates well and works hard at both ends,”
Most excited I’ve been for an Oilers season in a couple of years.
Looking forward to more balanced / tactful deployment and the ongoing development of Savoie / Podz / Howard / Samanski / Michaels / Mukhamadullin.
I’m also looking forward to how Shea and Ekholm are used, ie will we see more Shea with Bouchard when we need a goal? More Ekholm when the Oilers have the lead?
The inn is crowded but the depth is real, finally. It feels like a well balanced roster.
D depth is certainly strong.
Forward and goalie depth we have many hopes and prayers as per usual.
A structured D along with a top 3-PP a top 7-PK can carry your team a long ways.
That deployment was a bit telegraphed last game when Shea was with Bouchard for the 4 on 4.
At the same time, Ekholm had 41 points last year and was tied for 12th in the league for 5 on 5 points. The “5-man unit” with Ek/Bouchard remains legit!
Friedman has Levi as his breakout player – for what it’s worth.
And Edmonton – Florida in the SCF.
But of course who else.
Levi game should get game one Jarry game two.
Please don’t make me watch Tristan Jarry
We’ll watch him Succeed and you will like it, Mister. #maybe
Levi seems dialled in. Here’s hoping Hes a Podz like acquisition
That’s pretty high praise from a knowledgeable source.
Levi has all the positive vibes with the Grant Fuhr mask.
Who do you think is this years “September Darling?”
It might be Kirby Dach.
I like your thinking Cowboy we can match the Leafs trade there’s still 2 days left.
You might be the only one. I see him as a great fit on the roster. He could be played on any line and make it better.
It’s possible that Mike Babcock is pulling a Ty Rattie, but I don’t think so. I like what I’m seeing so far, quite a bit. I have to imagine the 29-97 first line was discussed during the interview process, so Nuge is miscast in the 2C role. Babcock is too smart to think that will work all season and into the playoffs, so the tea leaves and Baghdad Bob tell us that Kirby Dach will fill that role as some point. If not Dach, $8M WAM at the deadline will get something done.
Wouldn’t it be juicy if Vegas completely outsmarted themselves. When you feel the need to act like the smartest guys in the room, you usually aren’t.
I swear if the Oilers trade Samanski I will lose my $hit. This is precisely the bottom six player we have been looking for forever.
i like samanski plenty… but falling in love with fringe NHL players is a oilers tradition.
if you can include him into a trade for a material upgrade its worth it.
Agreed,
Noah Philp RHC big and great story.
Left the Oilers a fringe NHL player and grew to become….a fringe NHL player. Raphael Lavoie got ‘stolen’ and still hasn’t cracked a lineup.
The common thread? Not physical, okay not great boots. Samanski is in that mold. I’m cheering for him to make it but if the option to upgrade is there you take it. A free player used to upgrade a position? Yes please.
Falling in love with your own guys, tale as old as time. As Tulsky said ‘We don’t have the 23 best players in the world so there’s still work to do’.
Good points. Also threat to score. If you can do that when the rest of your game is mid it offsets
I like the young fella as well. But if Babcock doesn’t see him, and we know he works hard and plays a sound defensive game which is what the coach wants, something isn’t quite right. It could be his skating. Babcock has spoken about that in general, and being able to play with pace all of the time, backtracking hard
Engagement-foot speed would be my take.
Here’s a wild thought: the 24something almost rookie who played 1 pro season in NA could benefit from some seasoning in the minors. I suspect Reja is bang on that Josh would benefit from less thinking and more reacting on ice = playing at a higher tempo vs. a more cautious approach. Let’s hope for him and the team he goes down and lights it up!
Babcock seems to have decided largely that the Oilers were too slow last year. It’s not a terrible thesis. His solution seems to be that any want of skill down the lineup shall be compensated for by speed and intensity and Samanski appears to need to quicken his step for the new regime. Hopefully, he can work on his skating in California.
Speculation from Stauff that Dickinson could miss 3 games which is the timeline for an IR stint.
If they put a fifth player on IR, they could keep both Samanski and Michaels for now.
I think they would need to go in to LTIR to have the effective 28 player roster. Wild.
Janmark LTIR? What’s his deal?
Don’t ask don’t tell.
Hi deal appears to be an all-inclusive trip to Robidas Island. For the low-low price of “you still earn the last year of your contract so the NHLPA doesn’t come asking questions”.
That would be a poor outcome for the Oilers as it would be eating in to the cap space and lessening accrual.
I think it would be Anderson LTIR as he won’t be back of the first month, we know that.
Janamrk, its kind of up in the air – they haven’t said much except that he and Regula are “closer” as they were to be skating during camp – on their own.
They’ve sent down Samanski so no need to worry about the cap space.
It’s spelled Andersen kinda like same sounding to the end of the Dickinson name but with a E instead of a O.
He had surgery in March of this year if you look back. He apparently is still recovering.
A trade makes sense but to include ANY player who shoots right is insane. IMO defensmen who play on the wrong side hardly ever are effective. Emberson should be a lock. LWers who play RW do little to make the team more effective. Play Savoie RW when he returns. I would pick Formenton and Dach as bottom six LW. Dickinson will be 3C on return and Samanski Michaels and Marjala are your 4C depth. We are probably stuck with Frederic at 4RW. Howard at 1LW should get a chance but would be trade bait if they upgrade. Everyone else is tradeable
I don’t see an Emberson trade being reasonable for that reason, that would have Alec Regula as the 3rd true right shot d-man on the depth chart.
I like Shakir and I’m looking forward to seeing how he does at 3RD but I’m not trading Emberson unless there is significant value in the deal coming back.
Oil getting Kirby Dach is being telegraphed now, so it will likely happen. I hope not tbh. he shows some flashes then his body breaks and he sits. He is a band aid waiting to happen. It would be an oiler and a Bowman thing to do. Shane Wright, for sure, much better, if you can draw or win a trade without hurting the roster too much.
I like what I am seeing so far in most areas but we are not deep enough yet to beat a panthers squad going full out. See what happens as the year goes.
I do wonder if it could be a podkolzin situation. The burden of being a high pick or a high pick that someone paid a handsome price to aquire is that there are different expectations. If you are paying a 1st rounder + for kirby dach you are expecting a surefire top center that you can pencil into your top 6 for most of the decade….when he turns out to be a 3rd liner and is frustrated with his injuries, playing time, etc everyone is annoyed.
If you pay say quinn hutson and josh samanski for kirby dach the expectations are that this is a bottom 6 center with size, skill, and possible upside.
6 ft 4, 225 lb centers, right shot, extremely distressed asset, that scores at an average of 36 point per season rate, and has high first round pic pedigree… that seems like someone that would be worth taking a flier on.
As long as the acquisition is not too high.
Not if Samanski is part of the price.
you are not prepared to trade a fringe NHL player who posted zero offence at the NHL level!??!
Not for Dach
Kirby Dach – All Goals 2024-25
for your viewing pleasure.
Games played last three seasons:
2025–26: 37 games played (8 goals, 7 assists, 15 points)
2024–25: 57 games played (10 goals, 12 assists, 22 points)
2023–24: 2 games played (0 goals, 2 assists, 2 points) — missed the remainder of the season due to a torn ACL and MCL
Could be worth drooling over. Edmonton might be a nice change of scenery, even if he isn’t a center, which he also my very well be. Well worth the gamble IMO.Next season he’s UFA so he’ll be plenty motivated.
Under Babcock we knew there would be casualties in the bottom 6 with players making the bare bones cap wise. This is the one area Mike really has a say who makes the team and who doesn’t. Babcock prefers Michael’s Babcock does have a pretty good eye for young talent and I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt on Michaels. I would think the cost for Kirby 50% would be Samanski plus or Emberson plus. Kirby when healthy is a NHL player he’s only 25 buy low.
His play in the playoffs undoubtedly caught some attention. Not many guys that size beat D to the net and finish like he did
Samanski is a 4th line player who may aspire to be a third liner if all goes his way. I would have him on the roster but, if a 4th liner and a third rounder gets you a former top 5 pick reclaimation project I don’t see why you wouldn’t take that gamble.
Jesse Puljuarvi is also former 1st round pick reclamation project….
Kirby Dach is not the player he was trending to be the first few years of his pro career. Aggregate injuries have cratered his skating and vastly lowered his ceiling.
I dont take Kirby Dach for free at $3.8MM and I don’t take him for free at half retained either, I think he would be battling for a 4th line spot and his coach calling out his effort in camp is not an up arrow.
My concern would be the acquisition cost. Reportedly the Habs were offered a 2nd rounder and turned it down, hoping for a better return. That’s already too rich for my liking, for a $3.6M 3rd line winger who has played less than 40% of the games over the past 3 years.
I don’t buy the pressure of expectations line. He’s 7 years and two teams deep into his NHL career, the draft expectations are no greater now than they will be 10 years from now.
If the cost is Hutson + 5th, fine. It’s a 1 year contract, we can walk away next summer if things don’t work out. BTW don’t expect him to play center either, he’s a winger.
This. Great comment. Agreed.
Agreed. He makes a lot of $$ for the amount he plays. I do like him but he is injury prone and a fresh start is great but it will be his second fresh start. He gets hurt too much to give up anything substantial. The allure of what he can be if healthy is tempting depending on price otherwise pass.
This very well could happen. Friedman confirmed the Oilers are looking for a right shot center.
I don’t think this player can skate at a level needed to play centre in the NHL any longer and, for me, even at half retained, $1.8MM is an overpay. St. Louis has criticized his work ethic in camp.
The Habs should have to add to divest but that’s not going to happen. Rumors they were offered a 2nd round pick seem illogical to me.
Puckpedia has the Oilers down to $228k in cap space left, due to the Dickinson, Savoie, Janmark and Anderson injuries. They may have been ok before Dickinson, but having to keep all that space on IR (ie for Regula who would’ve been sent down) means they are tight to the cap as of today.
This makes the idea of a trade more plausible, just a bit trickier, since it has to be dollars in, dollars out, imo.
Regula as well – full cap hit given he was on the roster for more than 50 games last season.
They are effectively running a 27 player roster for the cap with 4 guys on IR (Regula, Anderson, Savoie, Janmark) plus 23 player active roster.
A trade for a passable RHC would be a nice punctuation mark (not sure which one) on a solid camp.
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Who you got in mind? Pageau level? Stenlund? Give me names CBO4EVR
That’s the trick really is to find someone. Apparently all roads lead to Kirby Dach, and I’d say the lack of alternatives is why he’s getting mentioned so much. There’s probably worse bets.
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I remember lowetide regaling us for years about logan stanley as being a unique skillset, he has finally signed a 1 yr 1.5 milly deal with the isles. Interesting player, surprised he got so little considering his size, truculence, and skating ability.
It always makes me wonder when it was almost unanimous that Logan Stanley would be getting a 3-3.5 million dolar deal with term and he ends up signing end of september for chump change (nhl version).
what are in these private models that the nhl organizations are utilizing, obviously something has appeared in the model that is affecting the fact that this team is essentially playing 2 wingers as centers ahead of samanski.
I thought his defensive responsibility along with his cleverness would make him a babcock type, but his skating may be the limiting factor.
Innate talent limitation
I can buy a traffic cone for much cheaper that would be similarly effective.
a tree would be much more effective than a traffic cone. A traffic cone is like a shrub – you can just step over
I see Stanley as a slow clumsy skater with poor agility and horrible puck skills. Maybe I see it wrong but his maybe toughness is not enough to offset the lack of hockey skill.
I’m not surprised he got signed cheap I’d also not be surprised if he was healthy scratched often. Vinnie D is a better player in my opinion.
Not trying to be a jerk to your comment but for me I value that player type very lowly.
My guess is Samanski doesn’t provide a lot of physicality and that’s Babs reluctance on him but I believe time will change his opinion.
It’s a great question. I think the difference between Stanley and Desharnais is available via the stats. Desharnais had a 2.33 XGA-60 at five-on-five last season, Stanley was 2.94 XGA-60.
Some teams value those stats, others do not. Desharnais is a much better bet than Stanley at this time.
I liked the idea of having Logan Stanley on board. He is such a giant there is literally nobody in the league that can effectively tackle him. In the playoffs, when more liberties were allowed, there were no Oilers that would go into the corner with Stanley. Seriously, they were throwing snow. With the exception of one in particular who was Evander Kane, who is no shrinking violet but ended up injured conducting the task. The second to mention was little Josh Archibald who did take down the giant but was heavily penalized which didn’t seem fair to me. I mean, if Stanley’s elbows hit you in the face its tough luck cause hes big, thus if Archibald’s shoulders hit you in the knees…… Okay, never mind.
Against Florida, it would be fantastic to play Stanley.
However, he would be a call up, and he was not signing to be a call up. And if you asked who he should replace in the line up there is no good answer. That’s why I say I liked the idea of Stanley.
In regard to Florida shenanigans, it is a true risk, and if they appear to play this game, Edmonton may have to adjust a little at the deadline.
I got lost at skating ability – I mean, am I wrong in my thinking that he is slow and somewhat immobile? Maybe I am misremembering or just plain wrong but I don’t recall skating being a plus for this player.
I would suggest that Vinny Deharnais is a much better skater but I’m open to being corrected.
Lowetide is just being a good father and talking up his son Logan.