Preseason arrives and we have numbers!
Darnell Nurse had five shots on goal, Quinn Hutson four. Matt Savoie played well and looked good in all three game states. Samuel Jonsson was a wall in Calgary stopping 12 shots on the evening. Here are some observations from both games, based purely on math and quick looks (impossible to give a complete view when you’re scrolling between two games.
Noah Philp and Curtis Lazar played in the same game and had almost identical results. Both men played over 14 minutes and did well in the faceoff dot. Philp picked up an assist and had the edge in PK minutes. This isn’t going to be an easy competition.
Atro Leppanen played a lot and looked composed. Early days, musn’t get too hyped on the unknowns, because this isn’t the highest level of competition the NHL will throw at him and he’s pretty old to be trying reach higher ground. But I’m fascinated.
Ike Howard picked up an assist, got some power-play time and played almost 17 minutes. Matt Savoie is going to have more impact as a rookie, but the two men are not applying for the same job and that’s a good thing. We could see a controlled introduction into the starting lineup, with Savoie getting the opening night call and Howard arriving 20 games later. Much the coaching staff will need to see in the next couple of weeks.
Beau Akey impressed, he’s a more mature player now. Connor Clattenburg keeps putting crooked numbers up in all the boxes in the summary. We’ll see how he shines later in camp but has made an impression. Matt Tomkins got his feet wet, Samuel Jonsson and Nathan Day impressed in the away game.
Matvey Petrov started this training camp schedule just the way he needed to, getting out in front of the competition and making things happen. No one doubts his skill, aggressiveness may be the key. Lots riding on this season for Petrov. Viljami Marjala did some good things, David Tomasek can shoot the pill but I’d like to see his foot speed over several games. He has a chance.
I didn’t talk much about the veterans, these early games are just to make sure everything works. I was encouraged by Trent Frederic’s skating, much better than last spring and I expect he’ll have a fine season in 2025-26. It was a good day because all the players who are going to be counted on someday to fill significant roles had good games. That’s a fine arrow.
Edmonton Oilers veteran Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is facing the hands of time
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6648887/2025/09/22/oilers-ryan-nugent-hopkins-roster-stats-2025/
Ryan Nugent Hopkins should soon settle in to his role as 3C, and the team will be all the better for it.
If 34 yo Adam Henrique can hold down the role, a 32 yo Nuge, who is a far better player, will add a lot of positive value at the position for the remaining 4 years of his current contract.
Given the evidence, while I’m hopeful, I will believe it when I see it for more than a few games
No coach has had the bench I suppose, or the will to build the team down the lines. Given that there is no question it’s needed as they couldn’t overcome the Panthers twice
The season has to be about creating and training at least 3 lines that can deliver a significant contribution. Hope fully 4, so they can be more fresh and hedge against injuries. Tired players are more likely to get hurt. The more they play, the more the chance to get hurt
If they are playing well as a team they will still challenge for top spot in the west. The GM has refreshed the roster and made it younger and more assertive. Connor by his words hungers for change. He all but said it was stale, practices were flat. It’s on the coaches to make it happen. The Panthers didn’t get as good as they are if Maurice wasn’t pushing then to play his way
The Oilers have enough good NHL players. They have a D group that can move the puck and skate. At one time the bottom 6 was probably hampered by the glass and out D they played with that weren’t great at getting the puck to them in helpful places. That’s not the case anymore. I really want to see a team dialed in and consistently playing their system, not just for 20-30 games and then reverting to bad habits and solo efforts
How about those Lions!!!
Lafreniere and Lewandowski have been returned to their WHL clubs.
As such, prospecting proper proceeds on Friday.
I wish Nicholl was playing this season (it was great to ensure he was so involved at rookie camp even if he wasn’t on ice) but at least we have a couple in the Dub to follow!
Dear Lowetide, congratulations on your marriage over the weekend!! Thanks for carving out and running this wonderful corner of the interwebs! Take care.
Bouch killing with Ek today at practice. Knob thinks he’s great on PK but wants to ensure they manage his minutes a bit so we’ll see.
Coach says they have 11-12 forward options for the PK now.
That includes McDavid and Drai and, they will be used, but, of course, only here and there, etc.
The CFL is moving the goalposts…literally.
https://x.com/cbcwatcher/status/1970180605603115467
…and shortening the field. I am NOT a fan of any of the changes.
You appear to finally have some competition in this regard….
Hahahaha…
Moving to an NFL set up, same length 12 yards wider with 5 extra yards in the end zone (5 less than now). The rouge now just for trapping a team in their end zone. Balls went to NFL size in 2018. Hmmmmm
I don’t mind it, if it appeals to younger football fans and gets some NFL only’s interested. I imagine universities to follow
They’ve instituted almost everything I dislike about the NFL. No stop time on the clock means that teams will lose games because their O-linemen couldn’t waddle fast enough to the line of scrimmage to spike the ball.
They think it’ll increase scoring…by eliminating single points. And by shortening the end zone, which cuts out half your offensive playbook when you near the end zone.
I could go on, but I’ll stop there.
I’ll be in the cold hard ground before i recognize a 100 yard field. Justice for the centre line.
Field goals are currently measured from the point of the kick to the nearest yard line to the goal line. The posts will be 15 yards further back, meaning teams will have to get closer to the goal line to attempt a field goal
Prefontaine has the second best average yards per made field goal at 32.1. Inside 40 yards he’s 94.1%, over 40 yards 62.5%. A 40 yard field goal when they move the posts will be from the 25 yard line
So, if your team is ahead, great news. The bad guys will have to get closer to get the 3 points. Bad news if your behind. Teams will have to focus on making more plays. On the other hand they will also have an easier time attacking the end zone in the air from distance without the posts in the way
well, I gave up on the CFL when we lost the Eskimos. So I don’t care too much. I really do love the Canadian game and all the crazy options our rules allow. So many great memories, especially those created by the canny Tom Wilkinson
They lost half of the fan base because they were and are weak.
How often do quarterbacks hit the post though? Also less room for receivers to find open space.
At the bottom of a recent article at the CoH, it says “This article is not AI generated”. I’m absolutely positive we’ll never need to see those words on this well written blog. But it is a likely requirement of other authors, elsewhere… would a user of AI even be willing to admit it’s article was not actually authored by their own hand/mind? Not likely.
Tie goes to the bigger, younger, faster player….?
It looks like there might be a real competition between these two which is great.
Were Ken still here Philp would be doomed. Stan seems open to cycling in the yutes, but it’s Knob the kid needs to convince.
I’m not so sure – I mean, Holland signed the guy, right.
Agree on the coach!
I could see Philp ending up in the L.A organization rather soon.
Exactly. It’s the coach who has an aversion to youth.
Darnell Nurse taking shrapnel online for “not taking his man” on a goal against in a split squad exhibition game (and a game where I think the Oilers dominated while he was on the ice generally).
Nurse and Skinner won’t get out from under it no matter how they play.
Imagine the talk about Bouchard after ever giveaway with his new contract.
Savoie hasn’t had a bad skate yet. He’s showing each opportunity that he is ready.
Could Howard be a fast learner maybe he has instant chemistry with high end talent. Nobody knows as of yet not me, you are anyone else. Bowman trusted his team and made this trade tor today.
Ummm, I don’t know.
Howard has nothing to do with the post I made.
To your last point, I would suggest that Bowman has been long enough to know there is no certainty that a player like this is ready – far from it.
I’m sure when he acquired Howard he was (and is) hopeful he could fit right in to the lineup but will evaluate in real time – if he needs AHL time, he needs AHL time.
We don’t know yet.
I am very confidant, Bowman isn’t thinking so short term that the first 10, 20, 40 games of the season are paramount – far from it I would think
I have $200 Howard scores 20 I don’t care if he does it in 60 games or 80 games him scoring 20 will be good for the Oilers. This nonsense of having ELC’s starting in the the ECHL and working their way up the ranks is hilarious. If the pace of the NHL Is too fast for a Hobey Baker winner who’s 21.5 years old and is playing the easiest position to transition in Hockey then someone on the team Bowman royally fuked up. If Howard is a dud like Jesse and O’Reilly pans out then heads need to roll.
I hope he scored 20 as well – really would.
Who said anything about the ECHL – not one single person has every mentioned that (that I’ve seen) but you keep mentioning it.
Lots of very good NHL careers started with some time in the AHL. Sometimes prominent prospects need some time in the AHL. A player starting in the AHL as a rookie pro does not make them a dud.
If Howard splits this season in the AHL/NHL and then has 25G/55P like Coronato, does that make him a dud.
I am highly confident Bowman will make the decision that is best for Howard’s development and success. What that means for October 8, 2026 I do not know.
Jonsson keeps doing all the right things. I am very hopeful he shows well in the AHL this year and is a G the Oilers can rely on in the future. I’m glad to hear he played great last night.
It would be incredible for Stu to regain his early career form (Calder nominee!!) and Jonsson (or other draft) fills the back up role.
I feel it has been many years since the Oil had two drafted NHL goalies on the roster. Anyone know?
I think it would have been Deslauriers and Dubnyk in 2009-2010.
Maybe the league figured him out but hopefully it’s the other way around. The losing weight and new coach may enlighten him on tendencies of shooters and he’s definitely going to be quicker laterally.