The Rugged Soul of the Oilers

This is me in the summer of 1971, the Montreal Canadiens having ripped my heart out just a few weeks earlier. This is 17 miles north of Maidstone, the goat is Billy and I think the dog’s name was Zero (she had a white zero on her back).

Billy filled the Mark Messier role on the two acres of land I lived on in 1971. He was an ornery cuss, as my Dad used to say. Billy sent my Mom ass over tea kettle when she was putting the bed sheets on the clothes line once, it was the maddest I’d ever seen Mom. Wow.

Billy was an absolute ass, stunk to high heavens and was mean as dirt. He couldn’t skate or score like Mark Messier, but it is a good comparable all the same.

I read here, there and everywhere about the rugged soul of the Oilers. Enormous worry about losing Evander Kane via trade, and not having enough Billy Goats in the lineup.

I have more than a little sympathy for those who worry about that side of the game. It’s important, and historically NHL teams have placed great importance on that side of the game.

An example: Sam Pollock, general manager of the Montreal Canadiens. Tired of watching his beautiful skill Canadiens get pushed around, Pollock acquired John Ferguson and Ted Harris, and elevated Terry Harper and Jacques Laperriere over a two-season period in the early 1960’s. The Montreal Canadiens became a lot more difficult to play against. I should mention their captain, Jean Beliveau, was universally respected but no shy violet (based on my father’s reporting). In my own mind, I think Leon Draisaitl maybe plays a similar style in terms of physicality. Any road, the violent Maple Leafs became less worrisome, Ted Harris’ nose spent the 1960’s getting broken and he ended the decade with a long and winding road on the front of his face. Harris and Pollock didn’t care, the club had miles of Stanleys.

Another example: During the final WHA season, Edmonton Oilers coach (and soon GM) Glen Sather observed a skinny Mark Messier easily winning a fight over Oilers’ center Dennis Sobchuk. In 1979 summer, the NHL Oilers drafted him. I have zero idea if Sather knew Messier would be Messier, and the draft day reports included old timey sayings like Messier was ‘raw boned’ but that decision gave this Edmonton Oilers franchise the rugged soul so many of you fret over to this day. Messier, no one will argue against me here, could play in any situation. He was a mur-diddly-urderer on the ice, but he could play the game well.

That’s the point here. John Ferguson could play in the heart of the game. Ted Harris and Terry Harper could, too. Mark Messier was the heart of the game.

When Zach Hyman delivered 28.6 hits-60 at five-on-five (No. 1 forward in the playoffs among the group who played 120+ minutes), that was the rugged soul of the Edmonton Oilers, right? Or is that somehow discounted because he is also skilled?

Do fans want effective players who are physical and can make a difference in the heart of the game, or someone who goes out there and does dumb stuff until he takes a penalty? Hard-nosed hockey is effective, stupid is stupid. There’s a difference.

Darnell Nurse and his 6.49 hits-60 at five-on-five during the playoffs led Edmonton defensemen and was No. 12 among qualified defensemen (160+ minutes, I want the skill players and defensemen play more). So, when we talk about adding to the rugged soul of the Oilers, we can start with names like Hyman, Nurse, Podkolzin and Frederic, right? Or is this just a desire to add some Coke machines? If that’s the goal, I can’t join your cause. I’ve had a mittful of that kind of hockey and it’s no. damn. good.

On the Lowdown today, I’ll be joined by Bagged Milk from Oilers Nation. We’ll talk about the rugged soul of the Edmonton Oilers, about the Riverhawks making the postseason and about the CFL weekend to come. Sports 1440 radio, noon to 2pm.