The Edmonton Oilers have power on and are in search mode (one assumes) with a fourth-line center and a defenseman (last report had a depth LH as the target) as the deadline nears.
Let’s be frank, not Seravalli and not Bagged Milk’s dog but rather open and honest about the reality of the situation. The Oilers have a world of issues currently and many of them can’t be solved at the deadline and won’t be solved before the playoffs.
Illness and injuries can improve, meaning Mattias Ekholm should be closer to full torque by the postseason. Darnell Nurse too, and hopefully whatever is impacting Connor McDavid (although he has been wheeling better of late to my eye).
Even if all of those things work out, the No. 1 line is scoring far less at five-on-five and outscoring is down (although still impressive) for the trio.
We’re deep into the season and still in search of wingers for Leon Draisaitl. The big man has played 90+ minutes five-on-five with eight different forwards as linemates in 2024-25.
John Klingberg has done some good things, and credit to him for joining the cast in the middle of the play, but he’s missing some cues and the Oilers have enough chaos all by their lonesome.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN MARCH
- On the road to: CAR (Expected 0-0-1) (Actual 1-0-0)
- At home to: ANA, MTL, DAL (Expected 2-1-0) (Actual 0-1-0)
- On the road to: BUF, NJD, NYI, NYR (Expected 2-2-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- At home to: UTA, WPG, SEA, DAL (Expected 2-2-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- On the road to: SEA (Expected 0-0-1) (Actual 0-0-0)
- At home to: CGY (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- Overall expected results: 7-5-2, 16 points in 14 games
- March result: 1-1-0
- Oilers in 2024-25: 35-22-4, 74 points in 61 games
There isn’t much to say about tonight’s game. The Oilers are 3-7-0 in the last 10, Montreal 6-4-0. If talent wins the day, it’s a W for the home team. You can’t count on jack doodley with this team right now, so we’ll wait to see how it plays out. I’m assuming Stuart Skinner starts, but he played quite a bit in the most recent loss so we’ll see about that, too.
OLD SAM POLLOCK
On the Lowdown yesterday, I was forced to say nice things about Sam Pollock. Please don’t make me do that again, Edmonton Oilers!
Back in 1971, Pollock called up a young goalie at the end of the season. No one thought much about it, except that he did the same thing four years earlier, and that goalie (Rogie Vachon) backstopped the Habs all the way to the Stanley Cup Final.
So, when Ken Dryden was recalled in spring 1971 to play a few regular season games, it wasn’t huge news. The early news on him in the newspapers mentioned he was studying law “as a hobby” and that he was modest in victory after this first game. Much of the attention in the Gazette focused on Rogie Vachon having played so much and deserving of rest. The top line was Frank Mahovlich with Yvan Cournoyer between Jean Beliveau. Uh, yeah. Terry Harper was held to PK duty.
Pollock’s Canadiens were NOT the best team in the NHL (Boston Bruins) but goaltending can hide many flaws if it’s brilliant. In 1971 spring, Ken Dryden was impossible to solve.
Rogie Vachon was a good goaltender, but Dryden held sway in the postseason and helped bring Stanley to town. The January trade for Frank Mahovlich made the biggest headlines, but Dryden was the major story when all was said and done.
The Oilers, and Stan Bowman, have several issues to solve and not enough cap, assets or time to get them all covered in the next 30 hours.
There is no plan to trade for a goaltender. Why would they? Well, in the scenario I’m suggesting, Stuart Skinner is Rogie Vachon.
All Bowman has to do is find Ken Dryden, right? I don’t think the team can find the modern Dryden at the deadline, but do believe the one move Bowman can make that has a chance to impact all of the issues (lower scoring top line, chaos on the blue) is a big damn brick wall with a quick glove in net.
You can hide many imperfections with an exceptional suit, a black dress, a pitcher who paints the corners and a goalie on a hot streak. Find him, Stan! Then bring him to Edmonton.
Today on the Lowdown, we get you set for the deadline. Bagged Milk from Oilers Nation and Steve Lansky from Inside the Truck podcast will join us, and we’ll be wall to wall deadline and the game tonight. Bagged will talk Oilers needs, and Lansky will tell us about the genesis of trade deadline coverage on Canadian television.
I’m at Lowetide on twitter, in the comments section here and on the Sports 1440 text line at 1.833.401.1440 directly. We can be heard at sports1440.ca; iHeartRadio, Radioplayer Canada, it’s available post-show on apple and spotify, and we tweet it out on X.
With Rishaugs verbal today about Kane increasingly looking like he won’t be back until the playoffs, could Jeff Skinner waive his NTC being part of package that ships him back to Carolina? Does a Jinner, Akey, 1st land Rantanen?
Can they get Ekholm to sit until the playoffs? giving the team more room to add in another top flight available defender?
Mouth breathers fume that the coach survives another day while the Oilers add in some physical play skating to a 4-3 Victory.
The first player Brind’Amour sent packing when he became head coach was Jeff Skinner.
Maybe they miss eachother, maybe he hates Rantanen more.
Per Rishaug
This always seemed more likely to me.
Now, of course, the prices are too damn high to add $5MM of cap hit…..
Parayko is out at least 6 weeks with a knee injury.
Bowman trying to swing a deal for him as we speak.*
*Kidding! I think…
The Blues were just beginning to put the heat on Vancouver and Calgary.
That injury is perfect! Trade for him! He won’t count against the cap if they LTIR him will he? “at least 6 weeks” puts him at April 17, which is the last day of regular season. He’s big and unusually fast for such a big guy. He’s from Edmonton. They need a big RHD.
Any interest in giving a chance to a waived Tyler Pitlick (R shot forward)? Boston just signed him to a 1 yr contract… then they had to waive him to send him to the AHL.
.
I remember Jones’ 2 goal game last season and that he’d scored in the prior game as well. Those were goals that caught my attention. Here’s hoping (this is extremely unlikely) he finds that magic and bring that speed and energy tonight.
FWIW, he play a 3rd game vs Edmonton last season and he didn’t distinguish himself and the previous season he also was not noticeable in 3 games.
I do like the add as a 4th line reinforcement and I’m glad we get to see him in the line-up right away.
This^. I’ve had this feeling for most of the year that the Oilers are on track to get bounced in the second round (or even earlier) and I see so many more holes in this roster than I did last year, in part because a decent chunk of the roster is playing worse than they did last year.
I do not understand why Bowman blew his load for a rental depth piece when it seems pretty clear that the team has more pressing needs and is more than a couple of depth pieces away from a stanley run.
The smarter play would’ve been to acquire players under 30 with term who will be here the next few years. I think Frederic is as good as gone next year.
Instead, it’s another “Kesselring and a 3rd for 40 games of Nick Bjugstad” trade, with a few more of those to come by the looks of it, and the team will have the same, if not more, holes this upcoming offseason, only with fewer draft picks.
The coach appears to have run out of ideas.
Not that he actually tried too many of them in the first place.
Without the benefit of anything “in the room” that would convince otherwise, that would be my deadline move.
You can trot out all the regular season winning %s you want – he’s here for more than just making the playoffs.
You can trot out coach after coach after coach. There is no coach who will satisfy. Eventually there will be a tough patch and we will realize they don’t have the magic touch.
I strongly disagree.
One of the measures of a coach of a team as talented as this one is if he can prevent anything beyond a 3 game losing streak. And limit those as well.
What concerns me about Knoblauch is he’s a classic “impose my method” coach (even though his method isn’t drastic) as opposed to a “use what I have optimally” coach.
That and his complete fumbling of his new players this year.
I’d hoped he would grow through both of those – he hasn’t.
He’s also shown no ability to get more out of McDavid or get him on track – Sather’s greatest power as a coach was getting the most out of his top guys by figuring out what they needed.
I agree. I think some people don’t factor in that you can’t compare the Oilers to most teams, it’s not apples to apples. When you have two players like they do. And a lot of other good players
The Oilers need more than a good coach. They need a coach that can lead a group like they are, and keep responding to where they are at and pushing them forward. They haven’t had that and I think that’s why they keep reverting. They haven’t been able to take that next step that the Gretzky Messier Oilers did, and is 10 years in for Connor. I see the situation as very similar to then
The success they have had I think has been driven by the maturation of the core, and that just happens. They are that good they can drive success, but they have reached the finals once, been bounced earlier than expected a couple of times. Most people expected after a few years experience a Connor McDavid lead team would be challenging for a Cup, didn’t happen
A huge part of that was the GMs not being able to build the right balance. Getting better players especially after Edmonton became a place players would go – which was years ago according to Winter – should be easy for any competent GM, that is GM 101, building a team that can win a Cup is harder and what matters
It takes more than talks about team goals and doling out TOI to get compliance. No coach has had success with the Oilers doing that, and then needing to revert to overplaying the Duo. It takes a strong personality and leader, not a tyrant, to take them through battle. McLellan was closest, but I think his style was not a good fit. Typical org response to get a tough, grumpy, defensive coach because of how they were playing. He is also an old school yeller and F bomber in practices, and that’s not what mean by leading, even if it may be necessary at times
The Panthers – spit – did it. The GM finds players they think fit what they need as Zito said about Jones and Bennett when he got him. That play the aggressive game they want or have the traits needed
He hired Maurice who is a big personality and strong. They did this ina few years as the Oilers once did. Their road to winning again is much harder because they don’t have elite players other than Barkov, but they will go hammer and tongs. Wouldn’t have beat us if the team was healthier bcs of elite talent. It’s the ace in the hole if you play your cards right
I think it’s become pretty clear he was brought in because of his relationship with 97, he’s struggled to adapt and the last 20 games or so have had some baffling decisions
Who are you suggesting for a replacement coach? And why?
Something that Bruce McCurdy mentioned on LT’s show yesterday (just got to listen to it) is the team is just exhausted. That would also go a long way to explaining some of the performance (at least for McDavid, Nuge, Hyman, Henrique) along with injury/illness (Ekholm).
This was the danger in running a short & older roster. The team has run out of gas an is worn out from the compressed schedule, and getting beat up because there’s no one except 39 year old Corey Perry able to push back.
Does not sound promising for the rest of the season.
Max Jones played with Bouchard in London and it sounds like they were quite close.
Maybe Bouch just needs a friend after losing Holloway, McLeod and Foegele from his team peer group.
DNB:
Ekholm and Klingberg out tonight. Dineen draws in.
Yikes.
Max Jones in the lineup tonight.
In my world, the Oil trade J.Skinner and Klingburg for Provorov. But of course, I would also have Marilyn Monroe waiting at home for me, also. In my world.
Best I can do is Marilyn Manson and a plastic desk fan.
I’m calling J Skinz to Columbus
The Oilers issues can be solved with the core incumbent returning to established levels of performance: McDavid, Ekholm, Bouchard, Nuge, Hyman.
There is a second tier of players that can play better, Henrique, Brown, Janmark but the key is the top group.
Without McDavid being a material out scorer at 5 on 5, this team will not compete late for a Stanley.
Knoblauch has hit the nail on the head with one word ” fragile”. Which is surprising for a veteran team like Edmonton. They need some piss & vinegar is all.
Well, Max Jones is playing tonight and, while I’m not sure Jones will be in the healthy playoff lineup, the addition of Kane, Frederick and Jones should certainly change the dynamic of the group.
a.k,a, the first unit, which has routinely been dominant as a 5-man collective for 2 years.
A 2nd rounder and a prospect for Brian Dumoulin……… prices that depth dman are too high.
Last week I was hopeful the Oilers could acquire Vejmelka and Maataa for a 2nd, 3rd, and prospect (Rodrigue). Clearly I was dreaming.
The rent is too damb high!
Wow… Stan might be forced to sit this one out. Not enough in the cupboards to buy depth pieces even.
$4.5 million per for two years for a top four D doesn’t sound so bad now Stan.
Need a new plan Stan.
Andy Moog will forever hold a special place in my heart for his performance against Montreal in 1981. I still believe that is the reason that the NHL changed the first round of the playoffs from a best of 5 to a best of 7.
Trade idea I haven’t seen mentioned would be Kane for Zegras, especially if Evander is insisting playing in regular season games. Anaheim looks to be bulking up and Kane would be a good fit, Zegras would be interesting playing with Connor.
I’m still wondering if the Oil are still suffering a residual hangover from their crappy cup final loss and have realized that the regular season doesn’t mean anything and are saving it for the playoffs…
I remember when Moog came in. He looked like the coaches kid in net. It was a cinderella moment against the mighty Habs. Every kid on my street wanted to take a turn pretending to be Andy Moog while wearing home made bed foam street hockey pads.
That was in 1981. The NhL changed the first round to best-of-7 in 1987.
There was no coming back for the Habs that spring, they lost 6-3, 3-1, & 6-2 & couldn’t handle Edmonton’s speed & talent.
Mogg was unbelievable and the silky smooth skating of Coffey was on full display. Having Danny Gallivan and Dick Irvin praising the Oilers over and over had this fan in 7th heaven. When Messier had the incident with Robinson revealed to me that they weren’t scared of the mighty Habs and they would do whatever it took to win. Sather built that team from lower than scratch and made sure he always had competitive gamers surrounding his core players.
I’ve been saying the template was always in house
Just do what Sather did, hockey hasn’t changed that much. In fact it’s the way the Oilers and Sather changed it to, once the league started letting them play again post dead puck era
It will be interesting to see what magic Bowman can achieve at the TDL. If he can go back to Boston one more time for Carlo & Geekie that would be spectacular. Oleksiak out of Seattle would be ridiculously outstanding. I’m beginning to think Arvid Soderblom out of Chicago might even be a reasonably good young goaltender to run alongside Skinner for the rest of the season, then maybe spent the summer looking to upgrade goaltending even further. But the reality is we may only see something like, Ollie Maatta & Kevin Stenlund out of Utah, which would be ok I suppose.
Good luck tonight against Les Canadiens.
Canadians are tough. Go Canada.
Oleksiak does not move the needle.
Certainly not at 4.6M. He would be Edmonton’s 5th D, at best.
That series in 1971 turned me into hockey fan. Watching Dryden, an articulate hockey player —OMG!—, work magic against that powerful Bruins team. I was smitten.
Thanks for the memory.
But as far as I know, the Oilers don’t have a hot handed goalie in the system. And all those names I’ve heard trotted out do not in any way look like a 1971 Ken Dryden.
In the meantime, a few words from Casey Stengel that I think apply to these Oilers today; “If we’re going to win the pennant, we’ve got to start thinking we’re not as good as we think we are.”
ps. LT or anyone with insight & history here: Why, if Patrick Maroon was so good with McD, was he traded? It seems like the Oilers have been looking for him ever since.
Patrick Maroon was good with McDavid for Patrick Maroon. 27 goals in 81 games is a lot for Maroon. So is 14g in 57 games. Absolutely career bests.
Kane has done 22 in 43, 16 in 41 and 24 goals in 77 games.
Hyman has done 27, in 76, 36 in 79, 54 in 80 and 20 in 56.
I’d argue they haven’t been looking for him ever since, they have* two significantly superior players right now.
As far as why he was moved out; Oilers were missing the playoffs and he was going to be a UFA. Good asset management to move him out.
(*Have might be a stretch with Kane, we’ll see what happens in the next few days. Hopefully he comes back healthy, rested and firing on all cylinders, etc)
Thanks.
FIFA concerned about America being ready for the World Cup.
Let’s take advantage of this moment and correct the blunder: World Cup games at Commonwealth.
FIFA wants priority use of our healthcare infrastructure for players and staff during the tournament. They can kick rocks.
Dryden? Roy?
I’d take the modern Adin Hill.
in terms of finding a cheap goalie with limited pedigree and somehow riding them to glory.
I thought it was going to start last game but I guess it got delayed until tonight.
It’s time. It’s time to get back to a commitment to structure and to effort.
Manage the puck, win battles, bear down in chances and make stops at a reasonable level.
McDavid, Bouchard, Ekholm, Hyman, Nuge – core of the team – play better.
If it doesn’t start tonight, it better start the next game after the TDL with some reinforcements.
Read that John Gibson left the Ducks game last night with an injury. May as well buy him a ticket to Edmonton. He can have the locker right next to Frederic, Regula, and Jarvantie
funny.
Ha!
We could have a Gibson – Demko tandem!
Or Thatcher Demko. He’d fit there too.
This feels like a season that won’t be corrected until summer. Agent turned instant GM for a SCF team misses at the plate big time and another year slips through like sand in your hand. Cart before the horse again. Hopefully Stan stops the addiction to handing out NTCs like Oprah hands out car keys.
Shows been off the air for 14 years. The team is still good at hockey. They’ve moved to the losing games they should win portion. 6-2 was lopsided but they dominated Anaheim for the first 18 minutes and were left with a 4-1 score. That won’t happen forever.
Stu could turn around like Smith did TDL 2022 any minute now tho.
It would really surprise me if Skinner doesn’t start tonight…unless something is up.
I don’t think the other Skinner will be playing either. Max Jones will take his place no doubt.
Have an eye for #46 tonight, should be eye opening.
Ok, so that is exactly what Lowetide said. Need to have my coffee before I post!!!
Prospectrination!
A Thor’s Day quintet takes the ice. Would have been a septet a week ago but for (a) Wakely getting suspended and (2) Lachance’s rights getting dealt.
It’s a bloody shame that Akey’s junior career has been derailed by injury, losing almost a year of development. Having just turned 20 last month, he is still junior-eligible for next season, and he’ll be better served playing big minutes in the O. His 28 points in 45 games (0.62 p/p/g) this season is off the pace of his draft year (0.71). And now with Wanner a goner, it’s even more important that Akey pan out as the Oilers were not exactly flush with RHD prospects to begin with.
The House of Stone’s 8 + 6 in 22 Pete games is an improvement over his 5 + 5 in 18 GP with Ottawa, perhaps a function of more ice time on a weaker team. (Mind you, Ottawa is no screaming hell either and could also miss the postseason.) Following the 37 goals in 68 GP that got him signed, he has scored only 33 in the 104 GP since. One suspects his future involves a lot of time in the ECHL.
Copponi’s numbers are modest on a deeper BU team than his old Merrimack squad. He has 4 + 14 in 32 GP but is tied for 2nd in plus-minus with +13, so there’s that. Will it be enough to get him signed after his senior season is done? We wait.
Similarly, the Vermonters’ collegiate careers will end this spring. Määttä leads the Catamounts with 9 + 17 in 32 GP while Münzenberger has 4 + 7 in 28 GP.
Vermont (Määttä, Münzenberger) @ 5 p.m.
Boston University (Copponi) @ 5 p.m.
Barrie (Akey,
Wakely) @ 5 p.m.Peterborough (Stonehouse) @ 5 p.m.
All times are the same time and are also Bircham time.
It will be interesting to see if Max Jones draws in tonight. I like the idea they recalled him right away and hopefully give him a shot on the 4th line. Someone mentioned the soil asked for him to be a part of the trade. Jones has a quick 1st step and can skate. He can be a real pain to play against and can be chippy. When he drops the mitts he is tough.
Looking at his scouting report from when he came out of London, some thought he would be a top line PF. Guess that didn’t come to fruition. But the way this bottom 6 doesn’t hit and can’t seem to keep up with most other teams of late, maybe the Oil Scouts and brass feel he can come in and add some grit to a team that desperately needs some.
He will be wearing Zack (Huggy Bear) Stortini’s #46 if/when he draws in.
Nice , hope it is tonight
Zorg!
Old and slow was the plan for the bottom six last June. I hope Jones can help reverse that a little (and bring up Philp already!).
has been the player mantra for a long time, they are in a terrible spot when their oldest player has the most moxie on the team. no pushback at all, are a classic win one way team. there is time to make a few changes and adjust culture as well. if you look at hitting stats this year game to game leaders are almost always the new players to the team.
I expect to see (46-42-90) fourth line tonight.