I’m getting married today! I want to thank you for your kind words of support and your contributions to this 22-year blog journey. I’m feeling fine today, and am hopeful for another 22 years and several Stanley Cups for us to share. I won’t be online much today, promised I wouldn’t check the blog during the ceremony. 🙂 Please be good to each other.
The big news stories from the first days of camp are Zach Hyman’s absence until November; Stuart Skinner’s improved quickness; David Tomasek’s shot being a real weapon; Matt Savoie’s high level of speed and skill; worry about Mattias Ekholm’s wheels; Leon Draisaitl’s statement about being in the Selke conversation this season. That’s the final key to unlock the real fury of this Oilers team. A responsible and highly skill No. 1 and No. 2 line for the Oilers would represent something close enough to perfect and a probable championship.
Draisiatl’s five-on-five goal share with Connor McDavid last season was 63 percent (31-18). Without the captain, Leon delivered 34-27 goals (56 percent). McDavid without Draisaitl? 37-38, 49 percent. There could be many reasons (Ryan Nugent-Hopkins didn’t score with McDavid as he has in the past) but it was the first time since 2020-21 Draisaitl’s away number was better than McDavid’s percentage.
The playoffs were a different story, especially the Final. Since the series ended, I’ve pondered what went wrong and have concluded it was injuries, playing injured players, and the team’s decision to avoid outlets from their own end that worked in past series. Once the Panthers convinced the coaching staff to change gears, the series was over.
New hope this season has arrived, and maybe this time the team will find the key to victory. It’s going to be a helluva run.
Congrats LT!
All the best to you and yours!
Heartfelt Congratulations LT! Wishing you, your new bride and expanded family years of happiness together.
Congratulations! What wonderful news. The sun shines brighter today.
Wow, LT! What great news! Heartfelt congratulations to you, your bride and your expanded family! And I hope that you all had a joyful and memorable party and that you take a holiday from blogging today… It is our own anniversary here tomorrow, autumn leaves are finally turning here to bring some colour as they did back on our wedding day eighteen years ago. I’ll think of you as I have a beer and maybe another.
I remember you and our conversation. I had no idea you felt that way during our time together, but your wife was talking to my dear friend Sherri ahd spilled the beans. I found out later that day, and took it (and your kind words today) as a compliment. As much as you get from this blog, I get in return from you and this community. It’s a cool two-way street on the old Al Gore!
Congratulations ! Wish you both only the best
Congrats, LT!
Congrats! I am so happy for you. You deserve all of the happiness. This made my day.
Congrats LT and family
Congratulations LT. To contrast, my divorce process is starting to get “meaty” now. Lawyers exchanging shots across the bow. A letter here, a letter there.
🙏
I had a great divorce lawyer: he helped me to keep a sense of humour (& humility) throughout. It helped me from making things more painful than they already were. I wish you good counsel and much patience.
My dad was a great divorce lawyer. Although, he opened his wedding speech for my wife and I with “Now in my time I’ve done over 3 000 divorces…”
Congrats to you both! Wishing you goals for way above expected.
Congrates LoweTide
May the happiest of Days shine down on you and your bride
your a good man, and deserve to love and be loved
Congratulations LT!
I’m excited to see this guy in Bako. Per Stauff:
As long as his game doesn’t Atro-phy.
(Wanted to say that before Gene could.)
That is atrocious.
(Pretend this is a deleted post, because I can only edit, not delete, my own Atro-cious comment)
Oh wow! What happy news! Congratulations! Surely this marks the start of a glorious run to the cup. I’ll expect 26 degrees and sunny on the day they win it, just like today 😉
Great news, indeed! So happy for you LT. Hope you all had a wonderful day today.
Congratulations LT.
Happy nuptials, Lowetide! Wishing you and your partner a lifetime filled with love, joy, and maybe a few Oilers Stanley Cups along the way. 🥂🏒💍
What a day, the Oilers even released a special 3rd jersey just now to honour the occasion!
https://www.nhl.com/oilers/news/release-oilers-unveil-new-alternate-jersey
Love the new kit!
Simple, clean, no BFBS or clutter, slight fauxback vibes. The patch is great,
On X, the Oilers posted a picture of the jersey with the captain’s “C”, and the number 25.
I don’t mean to cause alarm, but maybe there has been a snag with the McDavid contract negotiations, and the call is coming from inside the house.
Fantastic
It’s in the style I usually like…but something about it doesn’t quite work. I think the orange is a little too bright.
I loved the deep blue third jerseys that took them deep into the playoffs.
I wish those had become standard.
That’s great, congrats! Quite the journey you’ve been on!
Fantastic.
This brings a smile to my heart.
You deserve all the good things in life.
Congrats.
Congratulations Lowetide!!
Congrats LT – have an amazing day!
Best wishes to you and your family LT
Have a great day!
Congratulations on growing your family by one dog, two cats and at least one human. 😊
Short interview from Jarventie online – he’s healthy and his goal is to stay healthy as he think he has the game to play in the NHL.
I agree – happy to hear about his health “officially”
He’s a bottom 6 NHLer the only thing keeping him out of the NHL is injuries. If he’s recoverd from last years injury he’ll find a way to our bottom 6. This was a wonderful trade and it’s too bad it was derailed last year as we could of used Jarventie style of play against the Panthers.
Last year’s injury was connected to the prior year’s injury – its been a couple of years. Its tough to imagine he’ll ever have “fully healthy knees” but you never know.
I would suggest he’s more of a skilled forward, middle six more than bottom six. If he makes it.
Congrats LT!
Great day for a wedding.
Take the day off, you earned it!
Congrats LT – wishing you a great day!
Congrats to you LT!
Congratulations to you and your spouse.
Congrats LT, have a fantastic day.
My deepest congratulations, good host! A man of such eloquence, perspective and heart … I think your bride found a unicorn. Ain’t love grand??
Everyone on best behavior today please. Let’s try to do so for at least a week , sort of a comment section honeymoon for this gracious man! Let’s play nice!
Congrats to you and your family!
Salutations and felicitations on the occasion of your marriage, LT! To say I’m happy for you and your special lady is an understatement.
Congrats LT! Fantastic news-blessings to your family!
Congratulations today and forward LT.
All the best to you and your bride, LT!
Congratulations LT!!! Wonderful to hear! All the best!
Love is a beautiful thing, congrats Mr. Tide.
Congratulations LT. So very happy for you and your family.
Congrats!
Congratulations good sir… all the best to you and your lady on this journey together! Cheers!
Not ideal but no concerns in the big picture and there are some pluses:
Zack gets less wear and tear on his body over the season,
There are some opportunities for other players in the top 6 and PP1
if they decide to put him on LTIR, it kicks the can down the road on some “decisions” for cuts (including waivers) – likely saves Janmark’s roster spot to start – hey, maybe they can claim a goalie and keep 3G for a bit to see…..
I sure am cheering for the player to have a season closer to his rookie year regular season.
I’m cheering for the person as well – he doesn’t deserve the vitriol as a person (or a player)
Can he find the space during the regular season and can het get it off quick enough. It sure seems like this player has legit NHL skill but we won’t know until October if he’s able to deal with the less time and space he’ll have in the NHL. Hopefully.
Rishaug was absolutely raving about him after day 1 of camp
Here is hoping he gets some exhibition games with one of the top two centers. He’ll do just fine with Nuge but he may pop with Drai.
This is a worry but I’m not concerned about what vets look like in camp – we’ll see in October. If he is limited, hopefully Stuart will move off of the top pairing and give Kulak the shot there. As we know, Kulak/Bouchard was exception in 150 playoff minutes.
He was in the conversation last year, 6th in voting.
I’m still not sure how he didn’t win the Hart (or Lindsay) with the runaway Richard and still near the top in league scoring while missing over 10 games and playing 2/3 of his minutes away from McDavid and with, well, offensively challenged or struggling wingers, generally.
Then, again, the players voted Kuch and they know best.
Durability is factored heavily by PHWA voters.
On the injury front, the Oil have had a tough time the past two cup finals. Here’s my recollection
24 finals: (1) Drai – broken finger, cracked/damaged rib – a shell of player; (2) Nurse – slowed by something; (3) Kane @ 50% then out. So that’s the 2nd best player in the world, a second pairing D (who struggles in the playoffs), and a top six winger built for the SCF.
25 finals: (1) Zach – out; (2) Ekholm @ 75%; (3) Nuge – broken finger; (4) Bouch – LBI; (5) Walman – something lingering from regular season. So that’s a first line winger, a top 6 winger/excellent complementary player; and noticeably weakened top-3 D.
This list is probably incomplete. By contrast, FLA seemed pretty healthy, IIRC. Yes, Chucky needs surgery now but he looked decent in the finals.
FLA did a great job exploiting the Oil’s weakened D, Conor and Leon struggled when it mattered the most, the goaltending wasn’t good enough. But man, it sure seems like injuries played a significant role.
Peptides.
Exciting day for LT – congratulations.
I wish you decades of health and happiness!
Congratulations Mr LT!…all the best to you and your family!…make sure you get to the church on time!…
Congratulations!! The best day of the year for you. Let’s hope the second best is a Game 7 double OT victory in the SCF against that rats with a young gun scoring the game winner.
Congratulations LT!! Really happy for you! Enjoy your day, and all the best in the future!!
Congratulations LT, Hope you have a great day and many more with your family and new partner in life.
Wow!
I am so happy for you Allan!
you deserve nothing but the best things in life, especially to love and be loved!!!!!!!!
Congratulations, and may you both find happiness together in all the expected and unexpected places in your journey together.
This news has made my month!