It’s Thanksgiving Monday morning. All is quiet at the house, dogs are still sleeping and the cats haven’t broken anything yet. We’ll get rollng in a bit, Dad is making turkey. This will be my fifth time doing it, hope it’s a successful day.
Love has come to town. Karen is a gift of grace that landed in my life when I was broken. I cannot describe these last years in any coherent way, but can say she saved me. The trauma, anxiety and fear come back to me from time to time, but the phrase ‘time heals’ is in fact true. I’m happy to be here, happy my kids are healthy and safe, happy for our collection of dogs and cats who keep this place buzzing 24-7.
Ziggy is on my mind these days. My baby dog isn’t able to see or hear well, and a visit to the vet in the coming weeks is going to be difficult for both of us. She’s been through so much, and been such a true friend, and her appetite and attitude remain strong. I am hopeful she is with us for a long time, but am also aware of what her life is at this time.
I find myself unable to think about life without her. However, our job as humans is to love our animals and make sure they don’t suffer for our own selfish reasons. Ziggy is 15. She has lived a life of love and wonder. If I’m grumpy or miss a day or work in the next few weeks, well you’ll have to forgive me. She’s 20 pounds of fury. I love her so.
The kids are slamming life and are great comforts to me. Both are highly creative and carving out careers that are filled with passion and purpose. I am so very proud of them.
CONDORS AFTER FOUR GAMES
Quinn Hutson began last season like a house on fire and is scoring well again this year. I’m not sure a recall is coming but he certainly has caught the eye of anyone watching. I can’t figure out if Aku Raty is good, lucky, or both. Either way he has had an early impact on the team and found a way to work up the depth chart like a rocket. He’s a busy player, will have to find out about foot speed and 200-foot game as the season wears on.
Among centers, Vilkami Marjala is an exquisite passer with plenty of chaos. William Nicholl looks good to me, love his speed and suspect he’ll have the best future among the pivots on the current roster. I knew Tucker Robertson was going to play a large role when the team signed him, and he’s involved in a big way. Good player.
Connor Clattenburg isn’t bleeding goals as he did last year and has scored one so far this season. I see they’ve taken the PK away from him and he’s strictly fourth line. I don’t think Clattenburg is a classic PK guy and if he gets minutes the line doesn’t really matter. I would give him a skill center. though. Clattenburg is never going to be a checker, doubt he PKs in the NHL. He does have good hands and can go to the net. I’d use him that way. Don’t have him transport the puck, and passing should be of the ‘give and go’ variety. Show him tapes of Patrick Maroon. He has good hands and no fear. That’s a useable skill set.
Eduards Tralmaks has been a disappointment.
The emerging story here is Damien Carfagna and Tomas Cibulka. They are impressive together and apart. I’m not sure which of the two will be better but at this point who cares? They were money on Sunday against the Wranglers.
Beau Akey is off to a rough start and I’m not sure what his future looks like in the organization. A trade to another AHL club would probably be best for all involved. He has talent.
Not much on the goaltending yet, I’m still on team Samuel Jonsson. He has played one preseason game for Fort Wayne Komets of the ECHL.
Why the Edmonton Oilers’ top line is off to a historic start to 2026-27 season
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7680901/2026/10/12/edmonton-oilers-stats-top-line-goals/
Summarizing!
Harvey assisted on both Windsor goals in a 3-2 loss.
Robinson was denied soup for the first time this season.
Cameron spectated from the bench.
Prospecting takes a break until Thor’s Day.
Raphael Lavoie with his first NHL point – a secondary assist on a Rasmus Andersson goal.
LT, you are such a GEM. Best of luck with Ziggy. Sounds like other parts are well.
Thank you for the blog.
Fun fact, Matt Savoie got his first 5 on 5 point in his 18th game last year.
Howard has 2 in his first 5, from the depths of the lineup.
Lets not discount the potential of this player to impact offensively, even later this season.
Babcock doesn’t know Savoie from a hole in the head. I can’t see Babcock bumping a player in the top 6 if they’re playing well. Savoie not a sure thing I hope he gets up to speed quickly.
Recent 2nd lines have included Max Jones, Colton Dach at 2C, Jason Dickinson and Hallander.
Babcock doesn’t know Hallander from a hole in the head but he put him in the top 6.
The 2nd line has been interchangeable with the 3rd and 4th this season for the most part – I think Babcock will learn about Savoie and his abilities quickly after he has access to him.
Are you relegating veterans Nuge and Hyman out of the top six. Mike never said Nuge is the 3-C unless I missed it.
Why can’t all of Nuge, Hyman, Podz and Savoie play in the top 6?
There’s no guarantee 3 guys coming off injury are going to gel on that second line. I see one of them on the 3rd line either Nuge or Savoie.
Sure, one of them could end up on the third line but your original statement was you couldn’t see Babcock bumping someone out of the top 6 – I simply provided examples of 3 of many players that have been in the top 6 that could/should/would certainly be bumped for Savoie.
Happy Thanksgiving to LT and everyone here.
Happy Thanksgiving! I always appreciate reading the family perspective. We are likewise gathered together to share memories and bright ambitions. Best to you and yours, especially Ziggy. My mother-in-law faced a similar appointment a few years ago and we were all proved wrong as her friend spent another two years happily destroying things.
Happy Thanksgiving to all the great people who visit here and of course to our host LT and his team.
Our family dog (and really, third daughter as far as our kids were concerned), passed not quite 2 years ago just shy of 18 yrs. She had been completely deaf for a couple years at that point, and her vision was probably 30% ish. We nursed her through the last days as she wasn’t in a lot of pain and the CBD seemed to work well when she looked uncomfortable. Even during all of that, if I held my hand to her nose she would sniff and then give a kiss.
It’s tough to relive that even now, but taking her in the morning that she didn’t wake up was beyond difficult. I talked to her in the basket as we waited at the vet’s, reminding her of the time she learned to wake board, and the time she snitched on Buster because he was up on the couch, among other memories. It kept me from losing it as we waited with other owners who were there for much less awful reasons.
Even holding my Dad’s hand as he gave his final exhale didn’t prepare me for losing our family dog. It’s important to remember their life from their perspective – she had a great time growing, playing, and crying with her two big sisters who fawned over her 24/7 until they left the pack to blaze their own way trails in life.
We now have a few memorials around the house, including a portrait, and a bunch of videos that we still watch from time to time.
Happy Thanksgiving LT all you other beautiful people.
Sorry to hear about Ziggy. We’ve had to out down one pet pet year the last three years and most recently our 17.5 year old cathoula/lab cross. Heartbreak barely explains it. My only advice is to do it a few days earlier than later. You always remember how they suffered if it’s too late. Godspeed.
Hey LT, sorry to hear about your dog and the forthcoming tough vet appointment. My wife and I have had too many of those this year and lost two cats to cancer. Some people will say they are just pets, but those are the people who don’t have pets. They are part of the family and it’s always a blow. Hope all goes as well as it can for you in that respect.
Per Menzies:
When’s the last time you heard our coach talk about boxing out properly. How many goals were scored on Skinner-Pickard on tip-ins the last 3 years. Way too many to count those type of goals seem to be daggers.
I had assumed the previous few coaches preferred that the D leave opposition forwards alone atop the crease and just hoped they could clear the rebound.
Its a breath of fresh air there’s coaching of the basics going on. Imo many of these skill guys just havent been asked or taught D coverage and how to check effectively
Spec:
Dach also skated post-practice with the injured – he’ll be eligible to come off IR for Thursday – no idea if he’s ready (or if there is even a lineup spot for him right away, if we are being honest).
Maintenance day for Ekholm.
Babcock will know if Hyman is playing after he meets with medical post-skate. Not his decision.
Happy thanksgiving LT/everyone.
A heartfelt hug to Ziggy, there aren’t any words that are capable of describing the bond between a dog and it’s person/people, I think it’s better that way.
Spec saying Ekholm not on the ice for practice.
Spec, the one local reporter that doesn’t work for the team that is on the trip, reporting that Levi is in what we think to be the starters’ net at practice.
Edit: I think Janson might also be on the trip. Not positive.
Happy Thanksgiving LT and other folks.
My mother hosted my partner and I on Saturday night for dinner, a combination of my birthday celebration (born on the very day the Oilers played their first NHL game) and Thanksgiving.
It was the first one since my Dad passed away last winter.
Mom used to love hosting all of the big family dinners but has struggled with them since his death. I suppose losing your husband of 50 plus years will do that.
We gave thanks and are thankful for all that we have, but it’s hard to fill the void left by the world’s greatest potato peeler (her words).
We’re learning to live with loss, and the greater the impact on our lives, the greater the loss is felt.
But I don’t need to tell you that, because you have been teaching us all how to cherish our loved ones and the time we have/had together.
Happy Thanksgiving – which is a single word apparently – to all you good Canadian folks.
Ike Howard seems like he might just be in the right place at the wrong time. The Oilers are in win now mode and developing a prospect may not be a priority given the sudden substantial improvement in squad depth. As LT has speculated I can see him being traded if he does not play on Wednesday. Which might make you wonder why they traded for him in the first place.
Ike Howard will have a lot of value to a team like Nashville, Detroit, or Seattle. Chicago as well.
Forsberg, DeBrincat, McCann, or Bertuzzi. Howard will return one of those players in a trade.
Marjala was a major part of the offence last night but had a stretch that will keep him out of the NHL – primarily culpable on goals against in succession including very poor effort on the backtrack and lazy coverage.
He is generally not an uncommitted 2-way player but even doing that once will be communicated from Chaulk up probably and that’s the opposite of a Babcock type play.
Again, it’s probably a one off but, when the org has so many NHL able forwards and you are starting at 19F even with NhL skill and ability, it can’t happen.
Happy Thanksgiving LT and to all that frequent this magnificent space!
Happy thanksgiving LT and all! Very thankful for this site, our host and all the commenters
LT, sorry to hear about Ziggy. I had to do the same with my Zombie about 5 years ago. I still think of him every day. I would love to get another pup but just could not face that pain again so have decided he was my last.
I hated Mike in Detroit he looked arrogant while having that Detroit squad humming on all cylinders. Year after year they looked poised to win the Cup until his main guys aged out. His teams looked unstoppable. Detroit was bounced by us and others in massive upsets in the playoffs and l loved seeing him beet red while Holland looking perplexed. While saying that this team will be a Force come playoff time. I Still think Mike starts Andersen game one at home this coming spring.
Carfagna had the puck half the game yesterday it seemed. He has to be the first d-man call up at this point and he may be ready. He’ll need to wait but I think he’ll see games.
The Hutson/Marjala chemistry is growing and Raty is like Podz on that move – he’s been very hard on the boards and helped that line yesterday.
Hutson can score goals at the AHL level and maybe that will translate to the NHL but he’s not that strong 2-way player that some think fit better than Howard in the bottom 6. He’s fine but he’s not hard a worker than Howard and no better in luck battle.
It’s likely not fair to Hutson but he’s 18F in the depth chart right now. Players are coming out of the NHL lineup and players are heading out and down, not up and in.
Hutson started out well both offensively and in even-strength outscoring a year ago, but lost the plot when Samanski was recalled.. His splits were downbeat second half of the year and I don’t think Viljami will save him. Hutson DID have a strong rep as a two-way winger entering pro, so it’s possible he recovers but his speed isn’t grand so if he can’t check like a demon I don’t think he’s a Babcock player.
Hutson will be traded after a 2-3 game viewing at the request of the team wanting him. Raty was in part of a trade by Bowman years ago. Bowman loves circling back on players he’s well aware of like Tallander. Someone called Raty in the preseason possibly getting a look and even sticking for a few games because of his checking ability. I mentioned it yesterday once we’re humming Bowman and Mike will keep assessing players that are doing well on the farm with some NHL action. Clattenburg-Hutson-Raty if he keeps playing well. These three will all see some action in this marathon of a season.
Raty has looked good (and I liked him in exhibition as well) and, to my eye, plays a “Babock type style” but he’s buried on the depth chart. I mean, he can probably come up today and play on the 4th line within Babcock’s system and do just fine but its tough to see the call:
18F – Hutson
19F – Marjala
20F- Raty
I know you think there are going to be all these call-ups for tastes and pump and dumps but right now there are 3-4 forwards on the Oilers roster that would need to be moved out/down if everyone gets healthy. They aren’t going to be calling up the next tier of players unless there are, again, 5 or so forwards out. At least that is what I think.
They will be assessing, then
trading players after they and other teams get a NHL view. Flyers need to make a trade the Mob is getting restless even in Chicago people want to see a trade for the sake of it. Howard and later on Savoie (depending on extension moolah) will be our most desirable wants. If we see Howard moved up it may be to showcase him.
I think the hope/plan is to trade for a top 6 forward later in the season but, no, I don’t agree they are going to start moving out a bunch of their depth forwards (that don’t have much/any trade value to start with).
Howard has started this season better offensively than Savoie did last year. I think Savoie was pointless in 7 to start and Howard has 2 points in 5 games from the 4th line (I believe Savoie started last year on the third line).
If Savoie agent is asking too much for the 19 goal season with a hat-trick to end the season where I believe it was Vancouver we played who were already on the plane to Scotland to play some lynx golf. Anyhow Pod has 5 goals in 5 games was Savoie season one that any forward of hundreds could have had. What I’m saying is I would think twice about a long term contract to a smallish possible injury riddled forward. I know he was a rookie not on the PP who scored 5on5 yet I’m not signing him to a contact that’s been discussed on here just yet. In saying that watch him turn into a poor man’s Martin St.Louis.
Not sure how Savoie’s next contract got brought in to the discusssion…..
Earlier in the year a contract extension was brought up when other young guys were signing some juicy contracts.
Still have no idea what that has to do with this conversation…..
— My Mom is 76 and she hosts thanksgiving every year at cottage for extended family kids grandkids aunts uncles cousins. It was 40
– as I get older I look forward to these more and more knowing that at some point she won’t be able to host then one day that first Thanksgiving without her.
— I liked your post a lot this morning : thanks.
Wishing you and the gang all the best in the future. Speaking for myself It’s funny how time slows on the little things I took for granted as I get older.
LT hugs from our family to yours – especially the furry ones. Damn I miss the Coyotes. LFG Oilers !!!
Very happy that things are well with you and yours LT.
Will be interesting to see what the lines look like at practice today if Hyman is on a line.
As I posted yesterday, unless they are going to move a non-center to center (Hallander, Frederic) it’s tough not to see Howard not coming out which will be a kick in the balls given his very good game (and he’s been playing well, competing hard).
2 points in 5 games from the 4th line is way more productive than Savoie at this time last season
I can’t see it being Howard but Mike isn’t K.K he’s not going to be as predictable. In saying that I thinks it’s Samanski who I like yet believe he needs to compete better if he’s to stay in a Babcock line-up. Right know Babcock is assessing the bottom six the players know this as well. It’s going to take 20 games for Babcock to get this team humming. On the games Leon-Connor are getting double teamed by the defence with no clean air than Mike needs the Formenton-Frederic etc on the team to step-up and win games for them.
I would agree that Samanski would come out over Howard if it wasn’t for the need for a center. For all I/we know, Babcock will go back to trying to jam a winger (Hallander, Frederic) in to a center position but he did shout-out Samanski after last game (although only played him 6 minutes and change).
I think he’s going to give Tallander a good-good look. This player looks defensively conscious I bet Babcock might have another project on his hands. Bowman struck-out on Tomasek but this player feels different he gives me the Backlund vibe who is under appreciated in Calgary by half the fan base his whole career
When I think of Backlund, I remember him as being the best opposing player when we beat the evil empire in the 2nd round of the 2022 playoffs. And a big reason why we beat them was because he was their best player.
You need a mixture of players to win a Cup. Enough with Connor-Leon-Bouchard doing all the heavy lifting, all the talking to endless reporters after the game. Now the head coach does the speaking, now the head coach and GM are putting together a bottom six. Finally someone other than Leon can win a right handed face-off in Michaels. Holland tried finding this player in the over the hill Vets club. He actually tried bringing in a washed out Sutter who was already retired for a year.
As an FYI, its Hallander – you’ve called him Tallander twice today (and I believe prior as well) – just providing information.
Hallander 100% looked like a guy that could play well in Babcock’s system – he has size and speed, competed hard on the wall and was able to hand on to pucks in the battle game. Reports are that he was skill even if it didn’t really shine in game 1.
This morning we are recovering from 30 guests and 12 hours of prep, eating and clean up. A great way to celebrate both Thanksgiving and my mother in law’s 80th birthday. But today is for resting.
Thanks for the good wishes LT. I hope your day is filled with light, laughter and good memories in the making. And I’m wishing all the best for you and your furry ball of joy. I have enjoyed the Ziggy stories over the years, and was shocked to realize it is 15. These creatures bring us more joy than we can imagine.
That’s such a coincidence. We just landed back in Halifax after spending the weekend an AirBNb in lovely Mahone Bay, NS for MY mother-in-laws 80th combined with Thanksgiving. Great to have the kids home from school and Wilbur, our old English bulldog loved every minute of it as somehow nanny’s food ends up on the floor more than anyone else’s
x2
🐶 🐶 🐶
Prospectgiving!
A hoser holiday means matinee hockey as the House of Windsor is in action. Andrew Robinson keeps on truckin’ with points in all five GP so far (1 + 7), which has him 2nd in team scoring. Caden Harvey has 2 + 1 in that same span.
Stateside, Ryan Cameron had a rough outing on Saturday, lasting but eight minutes after allowing two goals on nine shots. Shall he get redemption today? We wait.
Windsor (Robinson, Harvey) @ noon
Sioux Falls (Cameron) @ 6 p.m.
Both times, as usual, are Horseshoe Bay time.
Thanks Tarkus, good to see that your atlas obscura is moving west!
Horseshoe Bay will be a cluster of chaos today
Trolls fish and chips was so good back in the 80’s, they used to have a Saturday jazz jam. The pub was packed to the rafters, sucking back Tartan beer while listening to real musicians was always a memorable afternoon.
Trolls remains legendary around these parts. It’s a stunner outside here today – just beautiful