The Edmonton Oilers played a strong, patient and responsible home game on Saturday night, complete with goaltending, forechecking and strong coverage. A broken play led to a goal against, and a fortunate happenstance led to the winning goal. Rookie Owen Michaels and young goalie Devon Levi impressed, the Oilers fans greet today with a sense of hope and satisfaction. Is everything, good? Please read this.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN OCTOBER
- At home to: Vancouver (Expected 1-0) Actual 0-0-1
- On the road: Vancouver (Expected 1-0) Actual 1-0-0
- At home to: Seattle (Expected 1-0) Actual 1-0-0
- On the road to: Anaheim, San Jose, Los Angeles (1-1-1)
- At home to: Mammoth (1-0)
- On the road to: Mammoth (0-1)
- At home to: Minnesota, Carolina, Toronto, Detroit, Calgary (3-2)
- On the road to: New York Islanders (1-0)
- Expected Record: 9-4-1, 19 points in 14 games
- Actual Record: 2-0-1, five points in three games
The road trip awaits, with the McDavid-Draisaitl line intact for the last two games and possibly for California ahead. Babcock had his team playing solid hockey last night, and we are seeing new names emerge as effective performers. Things are getting interesting.
- Draisiatl-McDavid-Podkolzin 14:21, 5-2 shots, 1-0 goals 87X
- Formenton-Michaels-Joseph 9:40, 3-6 shots, 1-0 goals 12X
- Jones-Dach-Kapanen 7:07, 0-2 shots, 77X
- Howard-Samanski-Frederic 4:07, 1-1 shots,57X
The top line continues to roll. In 26 minutes together at five-on-five, Podkolzin-McDavid-Draisaitl are 4-0 goals, 14-4 shots and 75 percent expected goals. McDavid (2-7-9) plus Draisaitl and Podkolzin (both 3-2-5) could be the top line in the NHL if they stay together. Thunder on the mountain.
Owen Michaels scored again! He has scored twice from good shooting positions and is 50 percent goal share playing what people describe as fourth line minutes. However, he faced Matty Benier’s line 3:46 and Chandler Stephenson’s line 3:21, so yeah not fourth line. His 11:52 at five-on-five placed him second among the four centers listed above.
Colton Dach is 0-4 goals this season at five-on-five, the rest of the team is 11-5 goals five-on-five. I don’t think he is a center, but think he could help on the wing. Trent Frederic is averaging over 5 high-danger chances per 60 at five-on-five and is drawing penalties. Encouraging signs. Ike Howard had a shot on goal and a HDSC but needs to play more and with more offensive players. Or they need to trade him.
- Ekholm-Bouchard 12:55, 3-4 shots, 79X
- Shea-Murphy 11:31, 6-9 shots, 1-0 goals, 50X
- Walman-Emberson 6:49, 3-1 shots, 92X
- Ekhom-Murphy 2:55, 0-1 shots, 0X
- Shea-Bouchard 2:52, 2-0 shots, 1-0 goals, 100X
- Walman-Bouchard 2:19, 1-0 shots, 100X
- Ekholm-Emberson 2:12, 0-0 shots, 100X
- Devon Levi 19 of 20, .950
Devon Levi played well, made a big stop and won the game. More importantly, he converted many fans who will be wearing Levi’s soon enough. He could singlehandedly save Stan Bowman.
The coaching staff is changing pairings faster than the bass line on Rancid’s Maxwell Murder. I don’t know if they’re looking for a new Bouchard partner, trying to give Mattias Ekholm some in-game rest, or both. Either way, Ty Emberson was an upgrade on Shakir Mukhamadullin but we’ll see how this plays out.
There are rumours of a trade with the Montreal Canadiens in the air (I assume Kirby Dach) and Emberson would be a reasonable ask. Stan Bowman shouldn’t trade him though. Emberson is the third RH defenseman on the team, with only Josh Brown and Beau Akey offering depth. The Oilers don’t have enough left over if they trade Emberson.
I really liked the game played by Edmonton. Mike Babcock does in fact have them playing a more sound defensive game, and it looks repeatable. If the team can hold on to that thought all year, and have it refined by the playoffs? We’ll see.
If Bowman makes a trade with the Habs, I would recommend Spener Stastney for a young prospect winger.
The Condors played last night, lost 4-3 to Henderson. Josh Brown was the offensive star (two assists) and Connor Clattenburg scored. Quinn Hutson also scored late to make it close, Connor Ungar stopped 27 of 31, .871. The two teams play again today.
Finding the next impact prospect in the Edmonton Oilers’ system
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7655801/2026/10/04/edmonton-oilers-prospects-system-impact-2026/
The Flames after 3 games are 1 goal away from tying Evan Bouchard’s goal total so far this season.
It’s funny, when the Oilers were bad for so many years, Flames fans loved mocking them for tanking or being poor and getting high draft picks.
Now Flames fans are cheering for their team to tank and are starting to wonder if they should have tanked after Tkachuk and Gaudreau left since there are no Celebrini’s or Bedard’s in the next few years.
Sucks to suck.
I read Eric Francis’s latest propaganda piece and apparently this is Year 1 of the Flames rebuild. Rebuilding from what? Talk about a word that’s lost ALL meaning in hockey circles.
Tucker Robertson with the empty net goal. He has had a great night, a beast in the circle.
Condors will get the slit in the two road games in Henderson.
Solid night from Tomkins, currently 25 stops in 26 shots but Condors full value for the win (there is 50 seconds lefts) outshooting 34-26.
It ain’t easy being Eyssimont…
Boston placed on waivers today.
Anything left in the tank?
30 y/o. $1.45m cap hit. Centre.
An overpriced left shot 12F/13F that has played 7 minutes of PK in his entire NHL career?
No thanks.
Dickinson, Nuge and Hyman will all be back in the next bit – there are already 3 current lineup players coming out.
Josh Brown with a hell of a stretch pass to spring Raty on the clean cut breakaway and he gives the Condors their first lead of the season with 5 to go.
I think that’s 3 points for Josh Brown.
Hutson spend 6 minutes in the penalty box in the 2nd period – three earned stick infractions.
Igor looking to score more goals this year then our bottom 6 last year lol 😆
Looks like it could be a very long season for the Flames. Down 3-0 to Kracken 2 nd period
4 second left in the first – Robertson wins the PP face-off, Griffith cross-ice to Hutson who one-times home his 2nd on the season – both on the PP – that’s his thing.
Carfagna is so confident – takes a puck off a scrambled d-zone PK face-off, skates it right through the Silver Knights smoothly in to the offensive zone and deed – runs off a bunch of the Knight’s PP time.
Same lineup for the Condors last night with Tomkins starting.
Here is hoping they pick up offensively where they left off in the third period.
Walman and Emberson formed an effective pairing with 92% xGF playing with Fs generally being asked to punch above their weight. Interesting that people want to trade him after just commenting on how important Emberson is to the 3rd pairing. There are 2 D in a pairing, last time I checked. Walman has always had the ability to play on any pairing in event of injury, which is also valuable. He could play up with Bouch or down with Emberson.
Also, selling D at their nadir is a fan specialty, and this site is certainly not immune to this. See: Kulak, Brett. Jake is just over one year removed from playing great hockey in the playoffs with Klinger over a large sample size, has offensive acumen, and has an AAV that is workable for many teams because it is cost controlled over a time of rapid cap rise.
Stastney or Shak are the D you trade, if needed, to get a piece in return.
Im strictly talking about trading Walman to make room for Fischer, who many expect good to great things from.
Neither Ekholm nor Shea will be dealt, leaving Walman as the man out if the Oilers have any desire to sign Fischer, as he will have zero ambitions to sign on when being blocked by 3 significant veterans.
Imo Fischer will be dealt, as Walman has a NMC until 2030.
Walman’s skating still appears to be laboured and broken, I like the player and he looked better for a game with a Emberson.
I’ll admit I’ve really stopped following our prospects over the past 5-6 years, what with sending out most of our futures for current help….but what’s the deal with Fischer? I don’t recall hearing his name at all before yesterday, and now we’re dealing an established (if inconsistent and overpaid) NHL dman to make room? What’s the deal?
I believe Fischer is still playing US College hockey and has not yet signed with the Oilers although Oilers still have his rights until next August. Could choose to go free agent route??
He is currently at Notre Dame, was a throw-in by the Blues when that thing that I have blocked out of my mind happened during the summer of 2024.
He has been known to Bowman for several years, as he had played on the same Chicago U14 team as his son. Apparently had even been over to their house as a 12-14 year old.
He is starting his senior year after 2 poor team results. Some here have said that this years’ team is projected to be a middling to poor. And if is the case, why would he go back to that? These people are concerned about the US factor and that he will pull a John Marino.
The crappy team factor is refuted by this article:
https://thehockeynews.com/ncaa/latest-news/the-irish-are-coming-why-notre-dames-hockey-future-is-brighter-than-ever
This isn’t the same as Marino, he will likely sign here, given the Bowman relationship. And if there is big potential this season, him sticking around makes sense. Also, it could really benefit him, as he is their PP1 QB as is expected to partner with projected (by some) top 10 draft pick RHD Danny Nelson.
The bottom line is Fischer is an elite skater and is a well-rounded dman, one of the best in the NCAA. We are Oiler fans and so, why would this player come to Edmonton, if he can have his pick of destinations…
What are we expecting this player to be?
To add, he was a targeted add by Bowman who mentioned he had seen him play close to 100 times over the prior few years. He was on the 2025 gold-medal winning US junior team.
He’s not sure thing to be an every day NHL d-men but he’s a decent bet.
While it’s true the Oilers have 3 signed NHL d-men, I don’t think that is prohibitive of him signing. I think even he would expect a year in the AHL before he’s NHL ready which means he’d be looking to make the team in year 3 of Ekholm’s contract.
When he signs in 2027 he will need to sign a 2-year ELC. If he signs with Edmonton at the end of his college season this spring, it will burn the first year of his ELC making it a one year ELC for 2027-28. If he waits until UFA and signs with another team in August, it will be a 2-year ELC expiring in 2029. I think this would be a major factor.
His nationality has nothing to do with my thoughts on this situation.
He’s a free agent come August, he will not sign to sit behind 3 Veterans when he’ll be offered a better chance from a mid to low tier team with a clearer path to be a regular imo. Mike Reilly, Justin Schultz, Adam Fox being 3 clear examples.
This isn’t being an Oiler fan and expecting the worse, its just noticing trends with players that have an ability to chose their own destination being beholden to no one right off the hop.
I’ll be thrilled to see Bowman sign him to a two year contract, burn off the first year then play 7th dman spot duties for a year until he walks as the same 3 veterans will still be slotted ahead of him.
If Edmonton was to move out a veteran ahead of him, it would be a no brainer for all involved that he signs on, yet all 3 vets are on newly minted long term deals.
But eh “these people” or something.
Take Fischer out of the scenario, Walman has been a liability more often then not after the initial playoff acquisition. 7mil for a 3rd pairing defender is probably not how you would like to see the cap spent. 7mil for 13-14mins a night may hamstring the club’s ability to shore up other areas.
Maybe Walman starts skating like he isnt old and broken in the near future and he provides cover/value for his ticket. Im skeptical of it and I do like the player when healthy. What happened to his open ice hits?
Ottawa also has some injuries on their blueline with Sanderson & Zub both out. They might be in more dire straights than Montreal.
Quoted for truth.
Trading Emberson is not the answer.
Emberson is a respectable third-pairing defenceman. Trade someone who is not.
I would be trying to unload Walman. His inconsistency is too much to tolerate, and we have Carfagna and Cibulka waiting int he wings.
Jake Walman is deservedly on Dom’s worst contract list.
He’s been handling the puck like a grenade.
And Out Come The Wolves
Matt Freeman reference?
The length & breadth of your musical interest never ceases to amaze
90’s was the pinnacle of that genre IMO,
Just after the raw NY type sounds of the Ramones, Black Flag & Su!cidal Tendencies
And just before every producer in the world tried to turned every sound into pop music for mass marketing appeal,
My favorite song from that album starts off with a very fast bass solo with lots of shall we say
neck coverage
https://open.spotify.com/track/1F653irkyfBQgMg0yfVJFc?si=69N3iiyTSP2jyfOv_Ssh9g&utm_source=native-share-menu
1 game with McDavid and Drai apart – OTL
2 games with McDavid and Drai together – 2 regulation wins
I like them apart, like most, but his noting the current facts.
What I am learning, with even a couple of the hurt forwards back, let alone all 4 (not even factoring in Janny), they are going to have MANY USABLE options up front.
The forwards are deep. They don’t look deep now as they are 4-5 forwards in to their depth – they are wining – that is depth.
Counterpoint. If the question you are asking is can/should the Oilers be able to beat a lottery team and a non-playoff team playing their two best forwards together, the answer is yes.
Are these results in anyway indicative of how that setup will fare against deeper teams with more high end forward skill…no.
This team can only be judged fairly once it is back to full health…or close to it.
The team has come out with three strong first periods in a row. Whether one thinks that’s on the coach for “having them ready to play” or on the players for “being ready to play” or whatever, it’s a positive for sure.
Now, those second periods with the long change…..
Team needs to get healthy and then find another quality winger
Last night’s early start was the first game I got to watch. I have to say, I felt like the structure looked like a fire drill. Reminded me of Dallas Eakins swarm. But everyone seems to be singing its praises. In any event, I’ll take the results.
Dach may not be a center, but the big winger has gone 3 games in a row with a face off % over 50.
Carrying around a completely useless Max Jones isnt helping him or Kapanen.
Yea Jones has to be first forward out when injured players start returning. Right now we are playing with 9 bottom six forwards.
Out – Jones, Samanski, Formenton, Joseph(probably Howard)
In – Nuge, Hyman, Savoie, Dickinson.
Things will look vastly different.
Podz/McDavid/Leon
Savoie/Nuge/Hyman
Dach/Dickinson/Kapanen
Howard(Joseph)/Michaels/Frederic
If the team insists on keeping the Glimmer Twins together I’d agree that’s probably our optimal lineup when healthy, i may not die on the hill of wanting them driving their own lines but I’ll come close to bleeding out before I’m convinced.
I still can’t figure out the usage of Howard, currently setting him up for failure and tanking his confidence and potential trade value. If you don’t see a top 6 player there, at the very least play him with McDavid or Drai for a pump and dump.
I definitely think they’re making a mistake with Howard’s deployment but maybe when the roster recovers from the early injuries Howard/Michaels can be the building blocks of the mythical soft minutes scoring line.
I would consider this first.
Podz-McD-Leo
Savoie-Nuge-Hyman
Formenton-Dickinson-Kapanen
Dach-Micheals-Frederic.
And Podz-McD-Hyman
Nuge-Leo-Savoie
If they decide to split up McD & Leo
I also wouldn’t mind having another Dach in the lineup. Two big strapping wingers as bookends.
Zero chance Im ever slotting Formenton above Dach on LW.
Jones down, Hutson up would definitely help the team.
In the short term I believe so, I dont see either player being a viable option with a healthy roster.
Being able to win face-offs does not equate to being able to play center in my opinion.
Yes, Jones has been a full liability and Kap poor defensively as well but Dach has also made mistakes leading to goals against (in each of the first two games) – he doesn’t look like a center out there and, well, he looked like a very good and developing winger last season and his skill-sets seems perfect for a winger.
Its an incredibly important aspect of playing center, your team gets puck possession.
Im not championing him to be a center, infact Id love to see his soft mitts alongside a center that can dish a quality pass.
Every player except maybe Bouchard at this point has made mistakes leading to pucks in the back of the net.
Im going to recognize that not everything with Dach playing center has been bad, you do you.
I would opine that its “an aspect” but far from “incredibly important”.
I’m happy he’s won 17 face-offs and lost only 14 – I’m more concerned with his positionally responsibilities in-play.
Don’t trade emberson
Looks like Shea is taking Walmans lunch
They’re going to need to find a way to move Walman if they have any hope of signing Fischer.
Fischer, Howard, Jarry, 1sts for Scheifele.
I would think Walman might be on the move before Emberson. What would a lateral move involving Walman look like? I mean they pay him $7M to be a third pairing Dman.
Well, Walman has a full NMC until 2030 so there’s probably next to no way any Walman move takes place for the foreseeable future.
He might not be happy playing on the third pair. Like the leadfarmer says Shea is eating his lunch. Maybe they should look at Shak & Emberson as a third pair.
He’s essentially anchoring his own pairing with as least responsibility required.
I imagine he’s content everytime he opens his bank app.
Watching him try to skate is painful, I wouldn’t be shocked to see him shut down at somepoint.
It is beyond puzzling why any GM would give Walman a full NMC.
Can’t be traded, waived or sent to the minors, without the players permission.
Totally agree with the positive comments on Emberson.
Man this team is fast. I think this might be the fastest Oilers team ever. They skate fast and they move the puck with authority.
I don’t see how you can move off the top line. I think there are enough pieces (once everyone is healthy) to put together a good second line.
LT, I hear you on Howard but I think Ike also has to do a bit more with the time he has. It’s early and it’s a big adjustment. Needs to be a hair quicker with decision making.
I actually think pairing him with Frederic is a decent fit, because Trent can get in on the forecheck and protect pucks down low.
Well that is going to be his role for sure. With Nuge and Hyman out and Howard STILL not in the mix for top-six minutes, we can see how this likely plays out.
There really isn’t a top six for the time being. There’s a top three & a bottom nine.
I’m curious what Mukh showed in SJ to classify as a guy who can “play either aide”. Is it a case where they tried him there for a bit, so he gets that reputation, or sid he actually acquit himself well on his offside? I feel like players with this reputation are usually the former, and what we’ve seen of Mukh would certainly suggest that.
Clearly we need Emberson, especially with Regula out for who knows how long, there really isn’t any coverage if he goes down. As always, it would be nice if this team could add a 2RD at some point this year, though that only happens if our forwards can stay healthy.
It’s a shame Regula is hurt, as he would be my choice to send out.
Mukhamadullin has only played two games. I don’t think he’ll last on the left side, but would like to see him longer term before they make the call. At least build value until the deadline.
I’d like to give him some rope too, but Shak is not a player I have seen good, myself.
The math is spectacular in a small sample. He has 15.6 ga/60 in 23 minutes at 5v5.
That is astonishing really. 6 goals against in 23 minutes.
23:04 at 5v5
It would take him a couple of great months to get those numbers in check.
San Jose was a bad team. Any defensemen can play either side on a bad hockey team.
“If Bowman makes a trade with the Habs, I would recommend Spener Stastney for a young prospect winger.”
Who are you thinking of LT? I am thinking Owen Beck, RS Center that Canadiens fans were really excited about, but he has seeming taken steps back in the organization and is likely available.
As far as young prospects, that have appeal, that could be available, the only one I see as appealing and potentially available (due to lack of offense) is the huge and great-skating Hayden Paupanekis.
I also see Statsney’s contract may be problematic, due to cap hit.
No one in mind really, but last time I checked the Laval Rocket most players were 20-24 and that’s a good age to acquire a prospect. They could stil have a career.
I don’t think Spencer Stastney gets anything but a low draft pick.
That is a good question.
Jeff Gorton has done Jeff Gorton things and the Habs are dripping with talented prospects.
I could see a guy like Alexander Textier being a “lateral move” type target.
Owen Beck would be very interesting, if he’s actually available, not sure.
My sense is that the Oilers are looking for help with injuries at forward, so they would want someone they can plug into the lineup today. That wouldn’t be Hayden.
I asked Grok.
”Montreal (best fit)
Out or shaky on defence: Kaiden Guhle (groin, about four to five weeks), Alexandre Carrier (day-to-day). Extra forwards: Alexandre Texier ($2.5 million), Kirby Dach, Zachary Bolduc, Florian Xhekaj. Kapanen is close to returning and tightens that group further. Dach is the one Friedman has linked to Edmonton before.”
I see how Texier qappeals from a speed standpoint, and if the Oilers add him that would be the 3rd forward on the roster that has recently been placed on waivers by St. Louis.
IMO, Texier is an expensive tweener who will probably provide a little bit more offense than Joseph and Formenton.
We’re talking about trading Stastney for a depth forward of plausibly similar trade value, right?
Texier is likely better than many of our depth guys currently playing, likely better than all of Dach, Joseph, Michaels, Jones, and Semanski.
He’s a legit 3rd liner.
Perhaps. Last season in Montreal he was probably the 4th best winger, but in St. Louis he was very poor. Previous to that, his results were mostly mediocre to poor, as per puck IQ.
I guess best case he does as well in E-Town as he did in Montreal. At worst, he prevents others from getting a chance to show their stuff.
I’m on team Emberson, have been since he arrived, and I think trading him for short term help is a terrible idea. As bad as losing Kulak last year, but worse in a way because Emberson is quality like Kulak & cost controlled to boot.
Same, he did have wobble his first season, but last year he revealed himself to be a legit NHL dman.
It was very strange and refreshing to see the way they played D as a team last night. Also strange to see an oiler goalie perform robbery to save a game, a clutch save, an important time and moment in the game. Been a while.
It would be a very short sighted trade if it is indeed Emberson for the montreal Dach. Last night proved we need Emberson.
Dach is a band aid waiting to happen, though a likely slight improvement at center than his brother.
If you can get him without giving up Emberson go for it.
Trading Emberson at this point would be a huge error. Shaky has shown to be pretty ineffective playing his off side. Young and likely to improve but not ready for prime time yet. There will be D injuries and he will get some games. D looked good last night.
Albeit a bandaid Kirby is a ten times better option on the dot than his brother. Colton needs to be on the wing. He will progress much better.
Colton definitely needs to be on the wing. Kirby likely does as well.
Good thing the Oilers have McDavid, Drai, Nuge, Dickinson, Michaels, Samanski in the org.
Completely agree. Trading Emberson would be a massive mistake. Mukhamudulin is nowhere close to being able to play on his right side, he’s not processing the game at the speed required as a LHD, let alone a RHD. Wallman can’t play on the right. It would be complete folly.
Tomkins gets the start for the Condors tonight.
Ungar was ok yesterday stopping 27 of 31 in the 4-3 loss. Condors had nothing going until the third period. With all the injuries up top, their lineup is depleted to start the season.
Emberson for Dach would be an egregious trade by Bowman in my opinion.
Sure, fine, move Stastney for him if Montreal retains but Kirby Dach may not make the lineup if the forwards are near healthy and Emberson is the 3rd right shot D on the depth chart and he’s a legit every day player. He was 2GA/60 last year, on last year’s Oilers.
Kirby Dach is as much a center now as his brother and is about the same level of defensive player. He has more skill but less drive and work ethic (per Habs fans and per his coach calling out his work ethic).
I can see this happening but just don’t see Bowman biting on Emberson, a player he targeted and has done well as an Oiler.
The Oilers need Ty Emberson more than Kirby Dach, who I don’t think they need at all and certainly not at $3.6MM (or even half of that).
He is a shadow of the player some fans remember from the play-in. A currently health Kirby Dach has his ceiling massively lowered due to aggregate injuries over the years.
I have always been more pro Bowman/Jackson than against and think they’ve done a B+ job overall (compared to about a C from prior management groups). With that said, I still get nervous when I hear we have been targeting a player for awhile because Bowman’s weakness seems to be willing to overpay for a guy he’s been locked in on (Jarry, Frederic). Doesn’t help that Hughes is a top notch GM too.
I may be wrong but I thought the Emberson/Ceci trade was rumoured to be set up from the Jackson regime before Bowman got there
Not sure it would be a trade for Dach. Mind you Montreal only has 2 R handed D. But they have a pretty good D (and Guehle is out even. He is a lefty). Bowman obviously likes Dach as he drafted him. Hey if Dach could stay healthy he would be a solid pickup for C depth. The kid is huge is an above avg skater and actually has soft hands and passes well.
If they are actually looking to grab him does it mean Nuge is out for longer than we know?
Be fun to see an extra large line of Dach/Dach/Freddy
But not sure Montreal even wants to trade him
This I don’t think I agree with. It’s not about him staying healthy any more, its about all the injuries over the last 5 years having changed who he is as a player. From almost everything I’ve heard/read/seen, he is no longer an above average skater and not a viable center (well any more than any forward can play center, like his brother). Yes, he may still have some offensive skill but, again, from what I’ve read/heard/seen, there is a work ethic issue and a poor defensive play issue.
Oh, MTL definitely wants to trade him (again, from what I’ve read/hear).
I don’t want him at $1.8MM (let alone full $3.6MM) but won’t be “mad” if they move Stastney for him at 50% given essentially a wash money wise and Stastney is 2 tiers below Emberson.
You’ve been wrong before.
Of course, often.
There’s too much smoke around Kirby and Edmonton. The retention part on Kirby 50% must be calling for the Habs asking for a steeper price than Emberson. Clattenburg scored a nice goal last night it’s only a matter of time before he’s called up. Dach-Dach-Clattenburg line is getting closer and closer to reality.
Clattenburg is nowhere near close to getting called up and that line would likely be the worst in the NHL right now.
Dach-Dick-Dach
I wonder if there truly is a trade in the works with Montreal. I mean Kaiden Guhle is on IR and they already have plenty of depth defensemen. Why would they even consider Stastney? There could be a completely different team they’re chatting with.
I’m not convinced this trade that Friedman is talking about last night is for Dach, I think it could be Stastney for another lower end energy player somewhere.
My post was in relation to a potential Dach trade and providing my opinion on giving up Emberson in that trade and my opinion on being OK with giving up Stastney – not to say Montreal would do that (although maybe, they want to move on from the player).
Everyone needs to go listen to Maxwell Murder after that slick reference
Michaels is indeed 50% goals but is getting caved in scoring chances and the things that lead to scoring chances – despite showing up in all the great clips.
Thing is, as LT mentions, Owen Michaels is not playing 4C, he’s playing middle six center minutes and doing yeoman’s work out there.
I am enthused at the possibility of what this player can do to help the team when some top and middle six players are back and he gets to play 4C with real NHL players (like Dach and maybe Frederic on his wing).
3 games in, what a signing.
I don’t think we should be too fussed about any of the numbers. It’s been three games. Tons of roster turnover and two wild games in Vancouver.
He will be a great 4th line C man and hopefully in the future a 3rd.
A month ago I was looking forward to him establishing himself as a middle six center in the AHL.
He has already more than covered the bet – at least in my opinion.
Opportunity-Location-Coach can mean the difference of Michaels carving out a journeyman career in the NHL or AHL.
Kirby dach is just Bowman trying to validate his greatest hits cassette. Feels like we’re headed back into the coke machine era.
Kirby Dach isn’t a coke machine.
We saw both Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl dump the puck in during a tie game in the third period, and not at the end of a shift.
Of course, no one wants them to become a dump and chase team, including presumably the coach, but we are seeing overt changes coming – maybe slowly but maturity is developing.
Dach at center didn’t make sense when Stauff started talking about it in the summer, it didn’t make sense to start camp and it doesn’t make sense now. I thought he played his most responsible game last night but this big kid should be on the wall.
Yeah, it’s interesting to watch. Coach said that it’s easier to play when the puck is behind the dmen. I’m still a believer in dellow’s work on controlled zone entries leading to higher percentage scoring chances. I can’t remember which coach coined the term “dump and place” suggesting an educated dump in a here the player believes he can win the retrieval. A coach I work with believes in this whole heartedly.
I’ve always thought the best plan is to be unpredictable. That’s McDavid’s bigguest issue imo. When he gets frustrated he is easier to play against because he wants to do it all.
Overall, I agree that possession/controlled entries are better, but would argue that is more the case for the first 40 minutes of the game. Dumping and chasing may not result in as much scoring, but maybe it helps by making the overall flow of play less “high event”. In contrast, attempting a controlled entry when one isn’t available oftrn turns into a turnover at the blue line and a jailbreak the other way. So I’d say, depending on the game state (i.e. trying to nurse a game into OT or protect a 1 goal lead), you might be better off losing the shot share 60-40 if it means the overall variance/quality of scoring chances drops off as it means a GA is less likely.
Agreed
If all you throw is fastballs, you will never be a major league pitcher. Two pitches makes you a reliever. Three pitches, and you are a starter.
Dellow is correct for aggregated statistics. But an actual game is a sequence of individual events.
If all one does is controlled zone entries, like a one pitch fastball pitcher, it will not really work.
I think Doug weight had this all figured out pre analytics. Nice mix of tactics as you’re suggesting.
Ty Emberson in 11 or so minutes at 5v5 last night was on for 0.02 expected goals against. There is no reason for a team with hardly any right shot D to trade this man, and he shouldn’t ever be sitting for Shakir either.
This.
I believe he was 2.01 GA/60 last season (haven’t checked for a while but it was in that range).
I have not given up on Shakir after two games but do think he should be on his left side and, for now, there is no current lineup spot (there will be).
I am 100% comfortable with Ty Emberson playing every day and said that prior to the season.
Any though of a trade of Embeson for Dach is highly egregious in my opinion.
“Any though of a trade of Embeson for Dach is highly egregious in my opinion.”
Which means Stan B will for sure do it.