There’s something happening here, what it is ain’t exactly clear. Mike Babcock has the high-octane Oilers playing organized hockey and lying in wait for chances off the rush. The sub-optimal roster, missing Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Matt Savoie, is off to a blazing 4-0-1 start. The chaos of the first two games has given way to structure, positioning and sound goaltending. It all seems repeatable. What in the h-e-double-hockey-sticks is going on out here? Please read this.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN OCTOBER
- At home to: Vancouver (Expected 1-0) Actual 0-0-11
- 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) Actual 2-0-0
- At home to: Mammoth (1-0)
- On the road to: Mammoth (0-0-1)
- At home to: Minnesota, Carolina, Toronto, Detroit, Calgary (3-2)
- On the road to: New York Islanders (1-0)
- Expected Record: 9-4-2, 20 points in 15 games
- Actual Record: 4-0-1, nine points in five games
The Oilers have been able to sustain strong defensive play, for longer periods than five games, over the past decade. However, this does feel different. Why? Personnel and level of performance. The second-fourth lines feel interchangeable. They’re all getting results. The top line looks like money every shift, McDavid and Draisaitl having been joined by Frank Mahovlich (Vasily Podkolzin) in these early days. Quite the scene, this. Most encouraging five game run I can recall, partly because of the way it looks.
Oilers, right now, are a fierce forechecking, physical, fundamentally sound and responsible NHL team. Babcock’s hiring appears to have produced a sea change, as the kids say. Amazing.
- Podkolzin-McDavid-Draisaitl 16:07, 6-5 shots, 1-0 goals, 93X
- Formenton-Michaels-Joseph 10:46, 2-6 shots, 1-1 goals, 32X
- Hallander-Dickinson-Kapanen 10:42, 1-1 shots, 50X
- Howard-Samanski-Frederic 5:04, 2-3 shots, 1-0 goals 40X
How good is the No. 1 line? In 53 minutes five-on-five, the trio is 8-0 goals and 80 percent expected goals. XGA-60 is 0,89 and the goals-60 is 9.93! Music!
The hottest line I recall in recent Oilers history was Nuge-Draisaitl-Kailer Yamamoto leading up to the pandemic in 2019-20. That line played 318 minutes, scoring 5.29 goals-60, had a goal share of 78 percent with 56 expected.
The current group might be the best thing we’ve seen since Gretzky-to-Kurri.
The other lines look increasingly like a Babcock team. Aggressive forechecking, close coverage, closing gaps in the defensive zone like demons and forcing a decision from the puck carrier. All textbook, and the goaltending has held in recent games.
I know for a fact that some of the men who skated yesterday won’t be here for the playoffs (Babcock is still making decisions on things), but if this group played Game 1 of the postseason I’d give them a very good chance to win.
Among the forwards on lines 2-4, I thought Ike Howard had a very nice game, and will throw in Josh Samanski from that unit too. All of the middle-six wingers (Alex Formention, Mathieu Joseph, Filip Hallander, Kasperi Kapanen) did good work to my eye. Whatever Babcock told this group after the first period in Anaheim had sustain. The veteran forwards, seeing Hallander replace Max Jones, played (I thought) their best game in San Jose. I just love the hits with a purpose, which isn’t to knock the opponent into the middle of next week, but rather eliminate said opponent from involvement in the play for key seconds as the play develops. Hallander did that several times, Formenton too.
- Shea-Murphy 18:57, 4-8 shots, 1-1 goals, 47X
- Ekholm-Bouchard 17:19, 8-5 shots, 1-0 goals 94X
- Mukhamadullin-Emberson 10:27, 0-4 shots, 35X
There are some things to clean up, there was some chaos on the GA. You can always feel things going all “loose wagon wheel fell off and rolling down the hill” when the defense isn’t sure what to do and gets caught in no-man’s land. Babcock’s teams are aggressive, because even if you get shredded you were trying to make a legit play. Hesitation is death, and we saw it on the GA. Otherwise, it was pretty solid work by the group, Evan Bouchard is on another level now and Mattias Ekholm is the Swedish Rifleman with that shot.
Condors play today, Babcock says Zach Hyman should play Tuesday so we could see a roster move before the team leaves California. Janson Duench has an excellent summary of the game and Oilers thoughts at The Athletic.
Edmonton Oilers’ AHL prospect defensive pairing could have NHL future
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7677764/2026/10/11/edmonton-oilers-ahl-prospects-defense-carfagna-cibulka/
If the Flyers keep losing they will panic and start dumping players Pennies on the dollar. I would be all over Tyson Foerster, come on Bowman let’s make a deal with troubled teams who are looking for a shoot first goal scorer.
They’ll fire the coach first. Tocchet is as over rated as they come.
Oilers just posted a picture at the Chargers Broncos game in LA. All the injured guys are there- Freddie, Nuge, Savoie, Janmark, Dach. Probably saw 3 games in 8 days or whatever it is in Cali as a good team building opportunity – love to see it! https://x.com/edmontonoilers/status/2109406463596863601?s=46
We knew the Hyman and Andersen were on the trip (and Hyman practicing) but now we see Nuge and Savy are as well. No idea if they have been on the trip from the beginning but they are with the team on San Diego for the football game today.
I can see Hutson getting a call if he keeps putting the pill in the net. Even though he’a scoring off the PP and he’s a smallish forward I do think Bowman likes to reward players playing well in the A. If Vegas and Anaheim can please start losing a few Bowman and Mike will have the luxury and the cap to reward-experiment which hasn’t been on a Oilers docket since forever.
How do you figure given Jones and now another will be out of the lineup for Hyman right away here.
There is still Nuge and Dach to come back.
It’s more likely players will be re-assigned down not up in the near future.
I’m talking down the road players playing well ( forwards) in the A will get in meaningful NHL games.
I’m not so sure. Bowman isn’t going to call guys up from the AHL and make roster moves without reason: injury or material struggle up top.
Barring injuries no chance. They have too many F and Hutson is a skinny tweener who isn’t an established two way player. I hope they move him like Stastney
You don’t fit in with Babcock you’re done. Mike is actually going to have a bottom six that’s accountable. No more flutter sucking off of Connor and Leon a 100 games a year. If we are to win a Cup just as Chicago did with bottom six players being relentless in having the puck.
Right now, there are 14F on the active roster plus Nuge, Savoie and Hyman so Hutson is 18F at best on the depth chart (not counting Janmark).
I think the bottom half of the roster is acutely aware of the depth and are all working hard to do what Babcock is asking of them.
I mean, if Hutson has 15G in 15 games and 10 of them at 5 on 5, maybe they somehow take a look but its tough to see a sightline on NHL time for him this year given the numbers.
It’s all long season 53 games from now things will be different. Players will get hurt and judging by Mike and Bowman if you can’t give a 100% then you’re on the sidelines. Mike is assessing the players he’s been given. There will be roster decisions you won’t agree with same as myself. Whatever the case is Babcock been around long enough and he’s hungry for some vindication. A hungry Connor-Leon-Bouchard-Babcock-DJ-Andersen. This gang is stoked and so am I.
There will certainly be roster decisions and likely very soon as forwards come back from injury – those roster decisions will be forwards down to the AHL. There will be call-ups through the year, there will be more injuries – Hutson could push himself up 6 spots on the depth chart – that’s a long ways to go but I won’t say never.
No offense intended, but aren’t you the guy championing sending out Savoie and Howard because they’re small skilled forwards? Maybe I’m misunderstanding your position, but I feel like Hutson is, at best, more of the same.
Small players can pop scoring wise or have a unique quality like being a shit disturber. Then there’s Yamamoto when he first arrived he was drawing a penalty at least every game and a half. Look at Gallagher on Montreal he’s little shit that’s tough as nails, he was a force in his prime. Bowman will play Hutson and he’ll show enough to the Habs that they trade Dach for him. It’s all about family the Hutson’s and the Dach playing on the same team. The trade will happen at the deadline Booooook it……..
The “tough as nails” game you describe does not fit with Quinn Hutson’s game.
Also, as an aside, looking at the numbers, Yamo drew a penalty about every 4-4.5 games during his first three years as an Oiler.
Now look at the first 2-1/2 months when him the Nuge and Leon were one of the best lines in Hockey. Yamo was getting calls left right and centre than he stopped getting them instantly, refs no longer agreed that being weak was worthy of a penalty. He couldn’t buy a penalty for weeks. Don’t you remember when he first came on the scene how many penalties he drew the first 2-1/2 months. You followed him extensively in Bakersfield. You said you were going senile yesterday I do hope you were joking.
Yamo has drawn 0.9-1.05 penalties/60 every NHL season but for his one year in Seattle (0.74/60).
There was not any material drop of during his time in Edmontons and his two years in Utah were 0.90 and 0.91.
I have noticed a difference in us not getting ticky-tacky penalties with Bowman behind the bench. We all knew San Jose and Anaheim would get calls at the end but by then Babcock dictated the flow of game no withstanding period 1 against the Ducks.
That doesn’t answer my question. Savoie and Howard have are trade bait in your opinion (despite not having high trade value, most likely). Hutson is due a recall. Please explain?
There is 32 teams in the league 22 teams know they have no chance of winning the cup so the wants and needs of these teams are different than a contender like ourselves. Savoie and Howard have more value to other teams in that they are cheap and skilled so on the open market say a Columbus will give us that rugged player like a Podkolzin type. Would you trade Podkolzin for Howard or Savoie? Probably not but say the Hawks or Flyers might jump at that trade.
Condors hold on for the 5-4 win to get their second split (all four games on the road).
Unar with 32 saves on 36 shots.
Wranglers the MUCH better team for the first half but the Condors flipped that and dominated the later half.
Top line (Raty/Marjala/Hutson) – magic.
Pitlick drove a second line – he was really good.
4th line (Clattenburg/Nicholl) barely played – little impact except the Nicholl/Tassy breakaway goal.
Ungar with two solid slot shot saves in succession.
Wranglers didn’t see the Condors’ zone for about 10 minutes after the narrowing goal. Two Condors PPs with full 2 minutes of pressure and then a huge cycle shift after – was pure domination.
Good on Ungar to make two solid saves after that to keep the lead.
Wranglers get the cycle going, Brown activates down low to pressure the man and the slot pass is cashed as Stilman with another weak attempt at the guy right beside him.
Trickled through Ungar – would like him to have that.
5-4 Condors with 11 to go in the 3rd.
Nicholl with a defensive zone clear, lucky break as it gets knocked down to Tassy for a clear breakaway and his first pro goal puts the Condors up 5-3 early in the 3rd.
Condors with 52 seconds of PP pressure – lots of puck and player movement. Carfagna VERY active and he gets it over to Griffith up high who goes cross-ice down low for the Hutson one-timer to take the 4-3 lead late in the 2nd.
2nd of the game for Hutson and 5th of the year in 4 games (3PP and 2ES).
Carfagna puts it deep, a HELL OF A BATTLE by Raty gets it over to Marjala on the goal line, he spins one in front to Hutson who ties it up.
Marjala partially makes up for his back to back defensive blunders (not all on him) – great play by Raty and solid finish by Hutson.
Another 5 on 5 goal by Hutson.
This line is ALL the team’s offence this season.
Whoa, two quick ones for the Wranglers to take back the lead.
First was just a horrid step up by Stilman on a neutral zone flip dump by the Wranglers to lead to a 2 on 1.
Next was an offensive zone turnover by Marjala – 3 on 3 the other way but Marjala is weak on the backcheck and his mark buries the rebound.
Marjala was also swimming on the 2-2 goal.
Here’s a what I remember crediting for the success of the 2006 run:
McDrouch represent elite talent at the level of Gretz Kurri Coffey.
If Babs can weld HHoF talent to some of those 2006 lunch-pail items – watch out.
In progress / TBD:
So like only one or two things 🙂
Tralmaks is a big fan of floating in muffins from distance.
I’m not trying to rip on the guy here but he’s struggling out there and he’s an important piece for this team. He’ll get going.
Oooop – FANTASTIC o-zone keep by Carfagna, little dangle and dish to Raty in the slot who rips one low glove for a 2-1 lead.
Raty has been one of the best Condors this season.
Remember when people were pumping this guys tires in the summer? Now we know why he’s a career minor leaguer .. he may have the tools, but he doesn’t have that dog in him:
I think he must be a much better AHL player than he’s shown so far. I mean he’s scored a lot of goals at 5 on 5 in this league but he’s been a non-factor so far.
In his defence, the Condors’ are weak at forward and he started with Tucker Robertson as his centre and Raty on the other side but the other two have found ways to impact (Raty quite a bit). Tralmaks is jumping off-side on the weak side of rushes and taking muffins from distance.
Condors second and third lines with about a minute of combined pressure (line change included) with the Carfagna and Cibulka pairing. Cibulka scrambles a low o-zone battle, Robertson gets it on net, HUGE rebound and D’Amato, coming on the ice for Pitlick rips home the rebound from the high slot.
1-1
Condors with a developing 3 on 2 but Tralmaks jumps the zone early on the side-boards for a bad offside. He’s really struggling. The depleted Condors need to get him going.
Wranglers with an early PP and look like the prime Oilers PP1 – Ungar with a couple of solid point blank saves but eventually beat on a short side shot from the slot.
1-0 Wranglers early.
Thanks for the article LT, as always you pick the perfect song to start off your thoughts. I always enjoy reading what you have to say and being able to chime in here and there on this blog. Thanks for all you do LT.
Happy Thanksgiving to all! We are usually camping this long weekend but not leaving until tomorrow, so the “kids” (both in their 30’s) are coming over and we are about to deep fry a turkey in the driveway. Then off for a week of camping, to unwind in front of a campfire with friends, eat what we want and have Baileys and maple rum cream in our morning coffee, read a few books, play some cards, paddle up a river, hike and enjoy this season’s fall colours. Let’s keep it going Oilers!
Pitlick up to 2LW and Tralmaks down to 3LW.
Stilman up to 2LD and Sjolund down to 3LD to play with Bookman in his first game.
Ungar with his 2nd start looking to rebound from a mediocre opening game. Holty says 50 friends and family in to watch.
Bouchard is playing like the best defenceman in the world.
Drai looks like he’s struggling a bit on offence but I believe he has the lowest GA stats of any top 6 forward in the league.
Wonder if they are finally walking the walk.
Thanks LT for all you do each day for this organization and this online community.
Thanks to the commenters here for some interesting discussion.
Have a great long weekend.
I think he is the most important player on the team. He generates so much offence and is excellent at defending entries. What a beauty.
Leon is not forcing plays which is probably costing him a few points but he’s making up for it as he’s a rock on that line.
I hate to disrupt the thread of discussion, and I apologise if what I am going to say is a little premature.
The Haller family eats the big meal on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Tonight, prior to gorging ourselves to the state of pleasant discomfort we will go around the table and each of us will take the opportunity to express our thankfulness. This morning, reading over the thoughts, musings, complaints and discursions of devoted fans “holding signs that say hurray for our side” I want to get ahead of the game and thank the powers that be for Mr. Tide. Sir, I have benefited from and enjoyed your efforts and expressive talents for many years. You have lifted me up. I wish you and yours the best on Thanksgiving.
For the rest of you, peace and good tidings. I hope you get to enjoy the time with your people.
Now, I have a turkey to stuff.
Was Shea a Parkatti/analytics singing?
it’s early days, but he looks great.
playing 23 minutes a night at $4m cap.
He’s not a burner; but is getting the job done.
He is excellent. Subtle player.
I do find the thinking that every positive signing must be analytics informed funny.
Shea was drafted by Bowman so there is history there.
I did not realize this (Shea), but Bowman does seem to gravitate toward his Chicago draft picks. Fun fact, going by goals & points, DeBrincat is his best pick of all-time.
A 97 & 12 March reunion has been in the thoughts of many of us on this blog. Personally, I’ve been hoping for this for about 8 years. And the fact he is a Bowman selection confirms it (it also seems that jersey number being left available may not merely be a coincidence).
Colby Cave was #12, so I think that number may be unofficially retired.
Yes his analytics were very good especially offensively and on the PK. I think all signings are a mix of analytics and scouting. There was a scene of the drop where management was raving about his skating and PK abilities.
High IQ player.
No one on waivers today. They can expose Jones tomorrow.
Although, now that I take a look, Hyman is not on IR, he’s on the active roster so they don’t need to make any roster move for him to play.
I say Samanski gets a seat for a game. Was it ever disclosed what the Hyman injury was? It’s crazy to think that besides the PP Nuge-Hyman weren’t really missed. I have no idea where Savoie plays in his contract year. We might be getting Savoie at a good price on a short show me deal that his agent may want since his numbers will be considerably down or a long term deal everyone is happy about. I myself think it’s going to be the Yamamoto type deal. Injuries and potentially losing your roster location and usage is not good for the player coming of a ELC contract.
Samanski would be the obvious choice but for the fact that he’s the center and there isn’t another. I know Hallander can “play center” just like Janmark and Dach “can play center” – it should not be an option while scratching a legit center (just like Dach should never have been at center while scratching an actual center).
I like the structure, and Babcock has done a great job, despite some of his personal internal contradictions. There are a lot of things that bode well from this small sample.
But given the nature of this blog, I feel obligated to point-out that the Oilers are riding the PDO pony with a league-leading 18.48 Sh%. That is not sustainable and will regress as they play against stronger teams with better structure and goaltending.
I am still concerned about the PK, and particularly about the ability of some of the players to execute the high-pressure style of PK that Babcock wants.
They are getting traffic and going to the net which will help make the shooting percentage more sustainable.
Taking into consideration the change in what the league now calls a shot, and the relative decline in SV%, their end of season shooting percentage will not exceed 12 percent.
At least the earned PDO of players like 97/29/2 isn’t getting dragged down drastically by the rest of the lineup. The improved speed of the depth lines is going to help at both ends of the ice. It’s not going to be 105 on the season, but the Bruins’ recent 104 a couple years ago could be challenged if Mike continues to right the ship and Stan keeps finding him gems.
The first 20 games includes one real test coming up midway with the Wild and Lina, which will be the games we find out if this team is more acid or base.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I’ve got to get to some fall yard wor… ah geez, it snowed. Oh well, maybe another cup of CR red honey and I’ll fire up the Dr Z this aft.
For now I’m comfortable with Babcock’s messaging I’ve heard. He’s said they’re just starting and it will get better as they go. They are learning new systems, and if some players can’t do it there will be moves. Bowman is an active GM and can find deals, something that had been lacking to me
They do need to get special teams going as both are behind other top teams, PP probably fixes itself, the PK needs to hit league average at least. Looking at the standings I noticed that their shot volume is low compared to the other better teams. The need to get that up to offset regression in team SH%. Hopefully it’s part of the plan, injuries aren’t helping. Glad they are still capitalizing on the soft schedule
My concern on the PK is with the boots on Murphy and Dickinson – who were acquired and signed for their PK abilities, but with a more stationary system. It will be difficult for them to adapt. And I see it as ironic that they were acquired to improve the PK, but now are placed in a system that does not suit their abilities. It definitely suits McDavid, however.
Hopefully getting healthy can offset some of the return to the meat. And of course getting more comfortable with the new systems, etc.
If you’re gonna have “puck luck” no better time than at the beginning of the season with injuries piled up and against less good teams.
I expect the PK to be a work in progress much of the season.
When healthy they should have the personnel. It is however the least forgiving game state, under a new coach new system pushing high pace high pressure, pulling together a bunch of guys who’ve shared the ice less than a dozen games total.
I think they’ll be some whoopsies for a while.
I think the hope is special teams reverts a bit and covers for a very likely drop in PDO.
That said, great teams usually run a hot PDO in the regular season. So hopefully we stay above 1000.
All those years of listening to Flames fans teasing us about tanking. That team is so bad now they think every 1st rounder is going to turn out. Look no further than Zary already on waivers. I hope the Flames finish in dead last by 20 points lose the lottery and pick 3rd to usher in their new building paying twice as much to see players like Popsicle flop on the ice. I kinda wish that ball washer Hrudey still had a job and wasn’t fired. Him along with countless others (Craig Buttons) took so much pleasure in our hockey woes.
Like the Nucks *spits* it took a long time for Calgary *spits* to embrace tank level hockey.
Curious where the BoA will be ten years from now…
Conroy is building from the net out but there’s no guarantee that Nemec-Parekh or going to be anything special Nemec doesn’t seem to be hockey smart and Parekh is a soft hybrid D that’s a giveaway machine. Parekh is one of those players that everyone loves to hit. He’s going to get KO by more than a lightweight stick in Elias Pettersson.
Buttons is a country mile away from an opinion I can even take seriously.
Mukhamadullin played a good and physical game, I hope he keeps it up and builds confidence in his game. Great to see!
Looked much more comfortable playing on the left. Made good outlets. Did get rocked once pretty good. He may be a tree, but his roots are still growing.
At his height he needs to gain some weight. He’s turning 25 hopefully the team is helping with that, he should have done it already
Not that it’s a huge deal and obviously it’s early but who had Micheals being 9th in the league in faceoff percentage five games into his career? If the kid can bring ANY sort offence, he’s going to have a decent career
Sam who?
It’s Crazy to think Michaels is schooling NHL vets at the face-off school after only playing boys in NCAA college.
Bowman really pillaging Pittsburgh post-Jarry trade.
Shea is going to be one of the best value contracts in the league. What a gamer.
He plays so quiet does is job adding in 35 plus points. Definition of a late bloomer as Bowman knows this player well because he drafted him.
The most impressive thing of last nights game was when the Sharks were pressing and pulled their goalie with a full 2 minute PP coming. Michaels wins the draw like he’s Brian Trottier straight back to Ekholm he then does it again a minute later. Is Michael’s the second coming of Rem Murray? I know Babcock values this skill immensely and Michael’s isn’t going anywhere if he keeps winning draws like last night.
I see Celebrini only hit his potential when he played with McDavid.
He benefited so much from McDavids speed, puck transporting and set up game.
Hes another challenger, but not a McDavid.
Still very young, and still very much The Next One at this point.
It’s as impressive listening to his interviews as it is watching what he’s done in such a short time behind the bench. Using the Nucks games as more ‘preseason’ trials, and putting together 97 and 29 because he needed at least one line that he knew would work while getting the other 3 sorted out, was simple and masterful. Maybe I’m reading too much into this, but at the time everyone seemed to be wondering what he was up to, including me.
Checked league stats this morning and it’s hilarious to sort the list by +/- because it looks like the Oilers roster page for a bit at the top.
And now we see the effects seeping into the lower lines, with guys like Samanski, Howard, Formenton, and Joseph all contributing. As the schedule ramps up in competition and intensity (2 x 2 day breaks on a 3 game road trip?), there’s still miles to go for both Mike and Stan.
Are you not entertained?
Agree re his interviews. A few days ago the TSN Overdrive crew was rediculing his interviews and referencing back to his Leaf days. Not sure what they are getting at. I like his interviews. Nothing too profound but he is positive, doesnt throw anybody under the bus, talks positively about some of the newcomers, and stresses the team can get better. After the first two games where their structure was questionable he blamed coaching as the problem. Because he likes to talk, he is providing a bit of cover for McD and Drai. So far, so good.
As someone posted here recently (sorry for the following paraphrase), an NHL head coach is as much a personality as it is a job title. He speaks well and commands any group he’s in, which I’m sure is a big part of how he’s got the players rowing in unison so far. The team couldn’t afford another slow start, esp given the pillow fight schedule for the first 20, save for the Wild and Lina.
Agree on the personality part. They haven’t had a strong leader as HC in a while. And agree with McNuge that his big personality gives shade to the players. I think most of the top coaches do this, attract attention to themselves, know when to provide cover and when to push. It will be interesting to see how Babs acts when things are more challenging
Loved Podz’s post-game.
Mentioned how it’s a privilege to play with Leon and Connor.
Spec mentioned only 7 shots half way through the game but that they “seemed fine with that”. Obviously getting at sticking with structure. Podz’s response “no, we we aren’t fine with that!”
Love it.
Podz is a beauty!
I agree with you wholeheartedly this morning LT. It’s working, I don’t love everything but it’s working.
What I noticed the most over last year is that last year they were winning with sheer talent. Yet even in the wins the mistakes and the problems were persistent.
Some observers would say what’s the problem they’re winning stop complaining. But the problems were obvious and ever present and in the end did catch up.
This building a team first and then adding the top line to be the difference maker, well it’s working. Is it sustainable? I do think they need that second line with a lot of skill but building the rest of the team and praising them all the time and giving them roles and making sure they provide effort structure in system play. That seems pretty dependable and repeatable.
Good job to the coach and good job to the senior players for supporting and believing.
Oilers and afternoon games haven’t been a good mix in years but they played well enough defensively to win.
Good points about the problems that persisted. I’ve been roasted a few times heading into the Cup runs for worrying about the 5v5 scoring and saying their success was mostly due to the trio absolutely lighting it up and breaking records in the playoffs
The team game seems better and I prefer the more aggressive style, I think it suits them better
Thanks for Giving everything you could over the years as an Oiler Doc… nice to see you give it to Spec as well.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1z-QmaKU_rc
So, when McDavid and Draisaitl split the Hart and the Ross, Bouch takes the Norris and the Oilers win the Pres’ and the Cup next summer, does Babs get the Jack Adams too?
Only if Michaels wins the Calder.
Such an interesting “set if stairs” schedule for the Oilers to start the year.
We know some stuff about this team now but we’ll know a lot more in two weeks.
— For what it’s worth I think the first few bars of the intro to this masterpiece amongst the best
— My dad used to listen to this Buffalo Springfield song over and over and he would rewind in the car or lift the arm and I still brace for that scratch sound at the intro so often he would restart the the LP. I just looked it up again so good
— And for what it’s worth : can’t say nuthin bout these Oilers. Surely they will get a 2nd line when everyone happy but they have met the challenge and then some in this favourable schedule to date against non cup contenders: fun to see
This has been talked about on all the pods and call in shows and online, “what did Babcock say?”.
For me, it’s more like “what did Babcock adjust?”.
I am not a smart enough systems guy to have an opinion but people smarter than me, like Curlock, opined a stark adjustment in their neutral zone tracking and stricture for that 2nd period against the Ducks.
No shade on any prior coach intended but let’s not forget, we have one of the best “hockey mind coaches” of the recent era and he’s doing his thing.
The hope (at least mine) going in to the season was that the veteran core would have a renewed respect for the regular season and come back refreshed, re-set and ready to work and commit to a structured and detailed style of hockey. Combine that with a coach that is known for being a very smart hockey guy who teaches details and demands compete to work for success – that would lead to success.
We are seeing exactly that.
This team is missing an entire 2nd line plus others. It’s essentially a historic line and 3 bottom six lines (some would argue AHL in there) but Babcock has them playing a structure and everyone is playing a role. They are set up for success even while playing above their optimal place in the lineup, because of coaching and executing.
It’s not huge minutes for some, I mean Samanski played 6 minutes but I bet ya he feels great today after that game and hearing the coach heap praise on him.
3 forwards come out from last night’s lineup if they ever get to full health – plus Dach as an option. the depth up front is substantial and that is largely created by the coach.
I think it was mostly he got them to get going. They came out flat in the first. I imagine Babcock said something to the effect of “are you guys going to let them outcompete you and beat you like they did in the playoffs?”
You are correct – it was disclosed that he talked about their compete level in the first period. I just think in-period structure/system adjustments are often more impactful than raw raw speeches and I think they get discounted by the fan more to some degree.
As an aside, to your response earlier this morning on O’Reily, I never discounted his potential and even said in my post that I think he’ll have a good or even great career.
I think it was the Ducks game where he said ‘is anyone feeling good about themselves’
Now obviously not everything Bowman and company has worked out, but there is one very important thing that I have been waiting to happen for literally decades. We finally have a GM who is focused on winning the little deals as much as the big ones. Lowe, Chia and Holland were all hopeless at this. Looking at the roster we have guys like Podz, Emberson, Kapanen, Formenton, Dach, Samanski, Joseph, Shea, Levi and Andersen who were acquired for little or nothing. Teams who have been winning for a while can’t build a decent bottom 6 or bottom pair in a cap league without value FA signings and winning a bunch of small deals. If Bowman can pull off one big deal that probably puts the Oilers over the top, but even without, this team is very competitive.
The Ryan Shea contract could end up being an extreme value deal with the way he is playing and the minutes he is logging. He is playing like a legitimate 2nd pairing stud right now, if he can keep it up all season Bowman will look like a genius.
Yeah, but then there is the Walman contract and trade which more than neutralizes negatively any positives that come with the Shea contract.
Yeah, but then there’s the Podkolzin trade tied with the best value contract in the league that neutralizes any negativity you have in your back pocket.
Podkolzin does not outweigh the loss of Holloway and Broberg with offer sheets.
Frederic, pure negative.
The Jarry trade ranks up there with the Hall trade for awfulness.
Would you trade Podz for Holloway right now with their contracts?
Both are on good contracts. Holloway’s has four years left after this year. Podkolzin’s has two. Podkolzin will be a UFA at the end of his contract, and the Oilers will have to pay a small fortune at that time to retain him for the two additional years that Holloway is already under contract for.
So the difference over five years in the cost of the two players will not be that different when the Oilers have to pay for the extra two. The Oilers “win” the first three years, but will almost certainly “lose” the last two years.
And the Oilers “lost” the two previous seasons, two seasons of McDavid and Draisaitl their absolute prime years.
The thing is the Oilers could have and should have both players.
Promising start, still a small sample size. We haven’t played any contenders, still lots of enthusiasm with the start of the season and the league is not yet working a game plan for whatever Babcock has going on.
I’m maybe reading your monthly predictions wrong LT but I believe we have a home and home against the mammoth do we not?
What to expect in October is missing a Utah roadie.🤙
Oh dang I probably should have read the comments before making my post🤣
I finally got a chance to watch most of a game yesterday, these 8/9pm starts are going to be death of my viewership. It was quite something to see a team where I wasn’t going “well, they’re good now, but let’s see what happens after the intermission” but then they came out consistent after the break.
I remain cautious, but hopeful the team can continue to be on the winning side of the ledger each 10 or 20 game segment. I’m very curious to see the record after 20 games. A Division win could be in the cards.
Glad they are playing a more defensive style and glad they won. 1st 2 periods Oilers had minimal shots on the opposing goalie. The Sharks hit two goal posts. Just wondering: if those two would of went in, would we be having a different conversation…
Goal posts are part of the goaltenders equipment.
Goalies are supposed to protect the part of the net the puck can go in. Close only counts in horse shoes and hand grenades.
And if wishes were horses we’d all be having horse meat every night.
Solid win and Kudos to Jarry who played well.
Team really seems to be buying into Bab’s style of game.
Nice to see Freddy playing well and Samanski played great.
On To LA
Keep it up boys.
Àll things considered if mature hockey is boring that’s ok by me.
Repeatable, consistent performance is a beautiful thing.
The entire fourth line has their best games of the season just as Hyman is ready to come back in to the lineup.
Samanski played the least but received huge shout outs by the coach post game. I think playing center keeps him in. Frederic isn’t coming out, nor should he.
No chance Michaels comes out even if his line is defensively pretty much all game every game. I don’t love the eye test on Formenton but he had a goal, 3 blocks and 4 hits last games.
It’s going to be Howard and that will be a tough pill after he was very good yesterday.
To be honest, I’m not sure Dach gets back in the lineup right away until a bubble player has an overly bad game.
Oh, and I presume Max Jones is on waivers today or tomorrow to make room to activate Hyman. Samanski transitioned to regular recall.
The coach loves Dach. He will find a spit. But the coach did praise Samanski which is nice.
Jones will be the 1st one to be waived, and even tho I thought Howard played very well yesterday he will be the next. The kid needs to play lots on a top 6 line . Not sure Babs gives him that chance. But for Hyman’s return Pretty sure Jones is put on waivers.
Sure Howard had a good game. But don’t you think he’s still a bubble player?
You could be right, but wouldn’t surprise me if it is Samanski who sits. Coach mentioned prior to the road trip that he was planning on splitting McDrai on the road, but there were too many injuries to do it. Now with Dickinson, Hallander and Hyman in the fold is that enough reinforcements to do it? If he does, could see him running McDavid, Draisaitl, Dickinson, and Michaels down the middle. Will be an interesting decision
Well they need a center and Samanski is a center. It may come down to Hallander or Howard. I think Freddy will play. I don’t know if there going to sit Hallander after one descent performance.
Not if they split McDavid and Draisaitl
They might still like to keep the possibility of putting them together during the game, even if they split then. So it might be worthwhile dressing an extra center for in game adjustments.
You could be right but I just don’t see him splitting the primary structure of that loaded up first line on a four game winning streak.
We’ll likely get a sense at practice tomorrow.
Sharks have 1 true gamebreaker, a bunch of hope, and alot of meh to bad. They couldn’t ‘earn’ a call till late in the game after the decision was in.
Ladies and gentlemen, your 2015-16 Oilers.
I thought their goalie was the weakest link.
I’m not sure if Askarov had a chance chance on any of those goals.
Perhaps, Jarry would have been roasted on each of them – in particular the first two from distance (even with the screen on the first). Gotta “make a save”, right?
They even feature one Darnell Nurse.
They were gifted the only call they got.
When I hear Stauffer say the Oilers can expect the next call against I think how did the game get to this where we can predict the next penalty call based on the previous call – NHE – National Hockey Entertainment