After a Game 1 loss we have the usual combination of calm mixed with unease among comments on this blog. Same as it ever was. I don’t think anyone is out of their brain on the 5:15 over it, but the lack of sample size at the beginning of the season often raises levels of anxiety. Why? Well, put simply, we don’t know what we don’t know.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN OCTOBER
- At home to: Calgary, Vancouver (Expected 2-0) (Actual 0-0-1)
- On the road to: Rangers, Islanders, Devils, Detroit, Ottawa (Expected 2-2-1)
- At home to: Montreal (1-0)
- On the road to: Seattle, Vanouver (1-1)
- At home to: Mammoth, Rangers (1-0-1)
- Expected Record: 7-3-2, 16 points in 12 games
- Actual Record: 0-0-1, one point in one game
The Oilers are still figuring out their roster and the addition of Jack Roslovic further complicates things. You can see a path that lands both rookie wingers (Matt Savoie and Ike Howard) in part-time roles or on the Bakersfield Condors roster. In this way, the Oilers still have to decide what they want to accomplish this season.
If the decision is to bet on Roslovic scoring 25 while Howard does similar in Bakersfield, that’s a reasonable decision, in my opinion. What isn’t reasonable is to expect Howard to arrive back in Edmonton during February and deliver like a player who has 40 games of NHL experience. I suspect coach Kris Knoblauch will like Roslovic well enough to play him as a regular, and that may benefit the team now and into the future. If the club believes Howard has a higher scoring ceiling, then playing the rookie now would be the right play. We’ll see. I don’t think this is an easy choice and I do believe both options can work.
The same decision may be forced on the coaching staff in net. The Bakersfield Condors season begins this afternoon in San Jose versus Barracuda, but Connor Ingram won’t play. The AHL schedule is light on games early in the year, so Game 2 is next weekend. At a guess, I would say any recall of Ingram happens after he has clearly established himself as an option (say 10 games). The caveat is poor performances by the Oilers goaltending tandem can hurry sundown for Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard.
I spoke to Jason Gregor yesterday, he thinks Calvin Pickard gets the net this evening after watching practice. If Pickard performs well, I think it makes sense to run him in the road game against the Rangers. This is a position that is transitioning, and that means running with what works. Miles to go, and a trade at the deadline remains the most likely outcome.
Draisaitl – McDavid – Frederic
Mangiapane – RNH – Savoie
Podkolzin – Philp – Kapanen
Howard – Henrique – Tomasek
Ekholm – Bouchard
Kulak – Emberson
Nurse – Regula
Pickard
Skinner
Those are the Friday lines via Tony Brar. I’ve added in Nurse (who was ill) and moved up Pickard to reflect the possibility he starts. Some urgency for Savoie and Howard, with Roslovic on the roster and the need to send someone to Bakersfield in the coming days to make room for Jake Walman and (later) Zach Hyman.
Holy shut the front door.
I was trying to find Dennis King’s X account.
Spoiler alert. It’s gone.
I fell out of my chair when I saw why.
https://www.nhl.com/hurricanes/news/canes-announce-staff-promotions-and-additions
LT keeps getting dudes NHL gigs
To my eye, looking backwards, Oilers have done a below average job of defending the slot, moving bodies out and supressing shots. This mostly stick check defending and backing in too far make me wonder.
Due to this, I always find the Skinner discussion kind of a “who came first, the chicken or the egg?” discussion.
Seriously Id like to see the defence tighten up considerably when defending the house. (new coach is now in place)
Do this, and then lets see how the goalies fare.
It’ll help for sure
https://x.com/tsnryanrishaug/status/1976719038618468595?s=46
Per Rishaug, Nurse is sick but going to play.
A lot of folks seem to think the Knights and Bolts are the faves. Betting sites like the Oilers still. Others are Panthers, Stars, Avs, Canes. How did their players score in 24-25?
Oilers
50G – 1
20G – 3
over 10G – 6
Bolts
40G – 2
30G – 2
20G – 2
over 10G – 2
Knights
30G – 2
20G – 3
over 10G – 6
Panthers
30G – 1
20G – 4
over 10G – 5
Stars
30G – 3
20G – 3
over 10G – 3
Avs
30G – 2
20G – 3
over 10G – 7
Canes
30G – 1
20G – 3
over 10G – 6
Leafs because they took Panthers to 7 games
Leafs
40G – 1
30G – 2
20G – 3
over 10G – 1
The Canes and Oilers have the least productive top scorers, and other than Makar most of these guys are top 6 forwards
It might seem counter intuitive, but the Oilers lag the other top teams, even with two superstars. Bowman apparently sees this, and has made significant changes to the forwards, and keeps looking
LT sees them looking for a top 6 scorer, maybe that will be Jack. That never hurts, but they have talent, had it last season. The key is getting that talent to put pucks in the net while taking care of things. That’s the coaches’ job. The Panthers are a tight team, but they can still score, the Bolts, Knights are usually like that
One area that hasn’t been addressed well for years is 3C, and I think that’s part of the issue with scoring. Henrique was a very good forward, but I think he’s like Perry now, has to be used in the right way for him to produce. The Oilers don’t seem to plan around that, and used Perry top 6 in playoffs a lot because nobody younger was getting it done well enough. And injuries I suppose
The Panthers have started 2-0 without their best 2 forwards. Which is why I keep thinking it’s a lot about coaching and tactics for the Oilers. I think it is with the Canes, finding a system that doesn’t stifle offense while still being solid. The Canes also don’t have a high end forward
We will see, but they need to get to a next level as a group still. We see it at times, but it has to become a feature. Critical to the main goal. Production and solid defense in any type of game. A constant pressure that wears teams down, and puts them away
Some great info here thanks.
Coaching, tactics and effort can beat a lot of skill.
I like the comment from McTavish about the Oilers being the most impatient offensive team, its like every shift they will give up the defensive side of the puck for an offensive chance.
It’s their nature and why not? But with that tactic, you need your goalie to bail you out.
Or perhaps your defence; and Oil have an excellent defensive group this year.
Last big game Cal was in he couldn’t get the W. If Cal can just be competent it’s his net too keep for next couple of months. Cal is 33 this next stretch is huge for him personally as if he impresses either Edmonton or someone else will give him probably one more contract being a few years. Cal was sharp in the preseason I was disappointed he didn’t start game 1 Vancouver will be a tougher test yet I see a focused Cal leading us to victory.
Lots of chatter about Skinner … but if Nurse doesn’t make a bone headed selfish play, the Flames never get back into the game and Skinner isn’t put in to position to experience that untimely brain cramp.
For me, it’s more about the break down of defensive structure in front of Skinner, and culprit numero uno all too often is Nurse. Once Walman gets back, KK will have enough depth on D to bench him if he’s going he is going to be a liability.
Stuart’s main job this season will be to get Nurse to play with structure. Whenever he goes walk about, bad things happen.
Skinners positioning and ready for anything to happen on the first goal was absolutely wretched.
Why did he look so bad when the deflection went in off of Philp, because he wasn’t concentrating, his blade was up in the air, he left himself in no man’s land.
In OT, a Flame took a shot from the left hash marks that Skinner saved just because he was locked in and his positioning was sound with his blade on the ice. The big paddle is made to protect your 5 hole, keep it in position and good things will happen.
Skaters make mistakes infront of goaltenders all game long, it’s their job to be a wall and bail it out.
Pickard is 34-17-1-1 the last two seasons just because he plays with sound positioning for the team infront of him. That’s all this Oilers team requires, attention to detail, being dialed in.
My take as well. Though Skinner is giving…mid to low vibes. I’m starting to think Stu will never reach his full potential here, and like Dubby needs a new postal code.
Condors game preview has Tompkins as the opening day starter. Disappointed but not surprised.
Day is making a huge leap from OHL to AHL. He impressed the organization and will get his chance. The problem is the organization will devote many starts in a short period to Connor Ingram.
Jonsson should have stayed in Sweden. There are not enough nets to go around. Lousy prospect management continues.
We’ll see. Things could change relatively quickly
Headed to Tech CU arena for the season opener this afternoon. Curious which Condors players are exciting to watch this season?
Samanski
Leppanen
Marjala
Hutson
I hope like hades that at least 2 of those players do enough to garner a recall or roster spot in the next season or two.
Enjoy!
— I like the goalie change after 1 game
— Old School :”we play our starter come hell or high water because he’s the starter”
— New School :” you don’t bring your A-game, we not going to give you more games to find it”
— I like this results driven approach
I was chatting recently with a young goalie who plays in a very competitive league. I had asked him about Skinner. It was interesting. He really didn’t like his style of play, but was completely unable to articulate the issues. In fairness, he plays in BC, so not someone that watches the Oilers a ton.
Most casual Oilers fans lament his lack of side to side movement speed, hence his nicknames, “the statue.”
That vapour lock goal was a killer.
The problem is a flaw in hockey man logic.
Hockey men logic, “Skinner got us to the cup finals the past two years in a row.”
Instead of maybe, “We got to the cup finals two years in a row in spite of having Skinner.”
Last season, Skinner’s save percentage was 21/28 for goalies who played more than 2500 minutes.
I think most Oilers fans see the Skinner issue as a flaw in team building. $2.6 million goalies who can start is not a long list, but the team continues to spend money on defense and forwards. Skinner is the target of fans, but management owns a lot of the blame for goaltending as a position. From Jack Campbell’s signing through today.
Absolutely, Holland bungled things with the Campbell contract. His buyout is still $2.5 million against the cap.
You’re also correct that we need to be mindful of Skinner’s cap hit.
Modern analytic driven teams view the position as volatile and limit contract exposure. Fortunately, Holland is now busy throwing wrenches in the Kings’ cap structure.
Pickard has been fine for what he is, but I’d really like to see the Skinner/Ingram tandem as the next step.
Ingram could be very good, and hopefully one of the young drafted goalies spikes. Goalies are a difficult bunch to project, and the three hopefus this season (Skinner, Pickard, Ingram) have all faltered at times over the past three seasons. They had a guy in Cam Talbot, but played the hell out of him and then let him go because he struggled. That was a big mistake.
I had forgotten that Talbot had 73 starts in 2016. ROFL. What an insane number!
Yeah, they overplayed him then let him go. Multiple errors there.
It would seem almost all successful teams are investing in a #1 goaltender based on a sampling of last season’s playoff teams in the west.
WPG – Connor Hellebuyck – $8.5 million
DAL – Jake Oettinger – $8.25 million
VGK – Adin Hill – $6.25 million
STL – Jordan Bennington – $6 million
COL – MacKenzie Blackwood – $5.25 million
LAK – Darcy Kuemper – $5.25 million
MIN – Filip Gustavsson $3.75 million (just re-signed for $6.85 million)
EDM – Stewart Skinner $2.6 million
Of the contenders in the east…only Carolina and Toronto have a starter under $5 million although the Leafs have 2 goalies earning over $3 million.
As I said net isn’t where you want to try to save money, but Bowman does have limitations. Most teams do because of clauses for more expensive players
Surely securing above average goaltending is near the top of the team building strategy given the importance of the position.
The $3.85 million invested in Trent Frederic would have been much better spent on an upgrade in goal.
IF there was one available. Bowman said they didn’t see anything, but they wanted Frederic’s tool kit having moved on from Perry and Kane
I think this management group can juggle more than one or two balls at a time. If something comes up they will sort it out
— yeah these 6-7 had goalies that were paid well and saved well last year
— there’s even more that are paid similar that didn’t save well last year.
— at least half the goalies in your list will be mediocre this year : a high goalie salary doesn’t proved consistent year over year goalie results
— which is my biggest beef with the same tandem three years in a row : just shake it up.
Oof. Binngton at $6million. No thanks for me.
Talbot for Gustavsson. What a trade for the Wild, man.
Kuemper is old as the trees and twice as dusty, but he sure looked good last playoffs.
The Otter sure looked fallible last playoffs.
Hellybuyck is the goods but he really struggled last playoffs.
I think Evolving Wild had a post about having a $5m plus cap starter not showing benefit in playoffs. Can’t find the source.
Buyouts are killers. It’s better to give up assets than hamstring your NHL team with dead cap. You can always move and find players (or good GMs can) when you have a set core
As for Skinner’s cap, to me that is the one position that you don’t look for cap saving and settle because a fella is relatively inexpensive. The only way that works is an emerging young goalie that is covering the bet
Skinner is younger, but hasn’t taken the net with certainty, and his best year is in the ever distant past. He’s around the age most better goalies establish, maybe it’s this season
Thankfully Bowman made a great bet on a player that had some pretty nice numbers under his belt (has lead the league in GSAA), and came on a discount at no cost. At least he increased depth and did something
The two Dallas series, where he outplayed Oettinger, are not in the distant past.
He did some. The next series Stu was pretty close to Bob 5v5, but All Strengths not close. For me it’s that he hasn’t found all round consistency. They all have ups and downs, but it can’t be in the most important games, where to have a chance you need those extra saves at times
I’m not down on Skinner, but I’m not up either. The eye test has my eyeballs telling me he will have to take a step to be what they need him to be, and I’m not sure his style will allow it. He doesn’t really have a particular strength per se that I can see. For Bob it’s that he’s the best at covering the bottom net, which allows the Panthers to focus on something defensively
This is where I thought – in an albeitly risky and lightly mercenary move – Oil might parlay the Viking’s salary into a ‘premier’ (top 20?) goaleur before the TDL. Not sure what moves they make now to find cap to upgrade, if an upgrade’s in the offing. A foreshortened roster through the season only gets you so far, and moving Stu only clears two and change, so… trade a body outside the heart of the order, with picks/prospects added for retention? I just don’t know.
Agreed, I also see their success misattributed for my senses. They were well down the goalie list in playoffs as well. Both goalies have good stretches of games, but usually a top team has a goalie that is top half most of the time, not up and down, especially when the chips are down
Even top goalies can have weaknesses, like Helleybuick in playoffs. But if your goalie has to have a certain structure in front of him to play well, it’s on the GM and coaches to see that it happens, or you get the Jets
Bowman doesn’t strike me as standing pat on this, but he’s not been rash so far. He also seems to see players better than it was before. I see him willing to do what the Avs did if he deems it necessary and change it up completely in season. As it should be
The issues are lack of athleticism and lack of lateral movement. Those things don’t improve with a coaching change or losing 10 pounds. In fact, they are unlikely to change at all.
If you are looking for a goaltender to cover for the mistakes of puck moving D causing rush chances against, Skinner isn’t your guy. If you want a goalie who can play well within structured in-zone play, he seems to be able to do that, as supported by the extremely high PK SV% during the 2024 playoffs.
🎯
It he gets a chance here, fans are going to love Ingram’s lateral movement.
— Money puck has some good stats the refer too: https://moneypuck.com/goalies.htm
— Skinner is what he is: just a little below expected goals saved than average, and just a little negative in terms of wins above replacement.
— Throwing money at the problem doesn’t necessarily solve the problem: swayman, Elvis, ukko, grubauer: all paid as big time starters last year with less than stellar results.
— Skinner is being paid properly. Lots of guys paid lots more are performing at similar levels.
Given what’s been available and cap space etc, I would say Colorado has done the best job in my opinion at finding goalies—managing their contracts, limiting contract risk, avoiding cap killing contracts, and managing the position like an asset manager. That isn’t to say they have or have found the best goalies themselves.
Lurking around all this is the status of Carter Hart who, as I recall can sign a new contract on October 15th.
Reports have Vegas and Carolina as the most likely destinations.
McCrimmon is wicked smart. I could see him in Vegas. Not sure they are comfortable with Hill.
Per Stauffer:
The @EdmontonOilers morning skate:
Draisaitl-McDavid-Frederic
Mangiapane-RNH-Savoie
Podkolzin-Philp-Kapanen
Howard-Henrique-Tomasek
Lazar-Roslovic
Ekholm-Bouchard
Nurse-Regula
Kulak-Emberson
Walman (IR)-Stecher
Pickard
Skinner
https://x.com/bob_stauffer/status/1977048621330972895?s=46
Won’t get to see Roslovic tonight.
Wouldn’t mind seeing:
Podkolzin-Philip-Roslovic
Picks with the start tonight.
Morning Skate per Stauff:
Draisaitl-McDavid-Frederic
Mangiapane-RNH-Savoie
Podkolzin-Philp-Kapanen
Howard-Henrique-Tomasek
Lazar-Roslovic
Ekholm-Bouchard
Nurse-Regula
Kulak-Emberson
Walman (IR)-Stecher
Pickard
Skinner
—————-
As expected from recent practices.
lets go!
Sorry to be the broken record but I hate 97 and 29 together 5×5.
It works against finding out who can actually play together. Keep the backbone stable and try out all sorts of winger combinations. Obviously I am missing something.
It’s a temporary thing.
You aren’t missing anything.
Why can’t we have both in the NHL indefinitely?
I mean, currently the roster includes the likes of Janmark, Kapanen and Lazar. I have a bit more time for Kapanen but two of these guys are over-capped and the other is replacement level.
Don’t get me wrong, if Howard looks like he could really use and benefit from AHL time, and that may be the case, sure, assign the young man but that’s the only reason why I would.
All three vets clear, almost for sure. Even if one, or two, is lost – this team has a TON of forward depth. None of those vets are locked down defensively or so good on the PK that they can’t be moved on from.
No, I don’t inlcude Henrique as (a) his NMC and desire to stay and (b) well, he’s better than the other three (I understand the cap hit but removing Henrique makes the team worse, I don’t know if that’s the case with the other three).
Removing Henrique does not make the team worse, other then his initial post trade bump he’s been the definition of replacement level player.
His contract with Skinners is 5.6mil, that can land Bowman a quality starter.
That would make the team much better, offload Janmark while you’re at it and suddenly you’re at 7 million, which would most definitely supply Bowman with the cap space to solidify the tending.
The Oilers running McDavid, Draisaitl, Nuge, Philp up the middle with a solidified goaltender makes the team much more complete then keeping a guy because he likes playing here and you don’t want to hurt the feels.
That obviously raises the question….which quality starter is available and at what price?
He has a 14 team no trade list, but my bet is Binnington. He’s won a cup, 4 Nations, $6M this year and next then UFA. St.L is in tough this year
I am not talking about his contract – it is what it is but Henrique is a better player today than Janmark and than Kapanen and than Lazar, at the very least.
I would also like to move Janmark and his cap hit but that’s a non-starter and we are where we are.
I don’t fully agree with this statement. If 2 of the 3 are claimed the forward depth takes a hit, perhaps a big hit.
With a healthy lineup that includes both of Savoie and Howard each of the following are outside the lineup:
Henrique (or Philp)
Janmark
Kapanen
Lazar
Jones
Hamblin
Jarventie
Hutson
Pickard won the net away from Stu Skinner late last season, won it again two games into the playoffs, and will be the organization’s #1 by Halloween.
Picks should be getting 2/3 of the starts. Skinner has been given an awful lot of rope but hopefully that ends soon.
It could very well happen. Question I don’t know the answer to, why did the org try Stolarz for 6 games where he did not perform well (.897 SP) and then get rid of him, but Skinner gets endless rope? His career .918 looks much better than what is here.
I was talking to a friend of mine that’s a huge Leafs fan and I joked that it would be great to have a goalie like Stolarz 😏
I’d alternate goaltenders like Washington did last year. Its a new season, eventually it will become clear who should be replaced with Ingram.
How well does this analysis stack up in terms of QoC?
Pickard went 7-1 in the playoffs against LA, Vegas, and Flo’ Rida.
He was 8-4-1 from March 1 onward when he carried the load. Won games against Carolina, Vegas, and red-hot St Louis during that stretch.
He’s been our most reliable goalie for a while.
Skinner was better than Pickard in the playoffs.
Don’t sit the kids in favour of Roslovic. Put Henri in the press box before you send the kids down. (If money allows).
Can Henri be sent down?
Unfortunately not, Henrique has a NMC. It’s either press box and counting against the cap or trade. He controls his own fate by how he plays or if he gets moved.
I’m now including beach sand with every southern California postcard I’m sending to Henrique.
Throw some nice Pinot Noirs in the basket.
The blunder by Skinner is a preseason mistake. Pickard is the right move play him until he loses. Pickard looked sharper all preseason and we need these points. Skinner is not the only one in a personally vital contract year as Pickard is also looking to stay in the NHL. If Pickard can get on a roll he might land himself a 2 year deal with the mighty Oiler sometime in the New Year.
The Oilers better have their big boy pants on tonight, the team has a lot of depth with more to come in November, if you can’t deliver what is expected, enjoy the PB or the AHL. No f’in around this season. There are expectations and those who do not live up to them are out.
Vancouver looks mid season form especially with Demko in net.
A goalie playing well adds a problem for sure. But there are things you do to make it hard on them. I don’t see that the Oilers are good at doing those things consistently
They often play into the strengths of the goalie. Not screening enough (or at all), not creating seam plays that get the goalie moving and lowers everyone’s SV%. They also won’t shoot high enough, and it’s low percentage trying to beat most goalies low if they’re playing well these days, especially Bob who owns the bottom net
When we play the Panthers they are playing to cause problems especially for Stu. Traffic and going upstairs where he often struggles. When they lost to the Knights Marssechault explained their tactics in surprising detail, and they executed it. Get the big guy moving, and how they broke the D system down which caused the goalies problems
I hope to see the coaches getting them to do those things consistently. It’s meat and potato, but it works when the ice isn’t open, or the goalie is hot. It’s what champions do. A good arrow is them using a bumper on PP, changes the look up, and has someone in the slot all of the time, meaning there’s 3 forwards close to the net, not 2
One thing I thought I saw this postseason past was Oilers targeting the top of the net. But already that seems a long time ago and maybe I dreamt it.
Its impossible to cut Savoie from the NHL roster, is it no? I mean with Curtis Lazar (let along Kapanen) on the roster……..
Don’t see Howard being moved off before Lazar, Janmark (when available to be waived), Kap.
Lazar cannot be on the roster before either of these kids – unless/until one looks overwhelmed and being stunted (impossible to imagine that happens with Savoie).
The Oilers are so deep at forward the waiver risk on the likes of Lazar, Kap or Janmark is a non-issue (and all three probably clear easily, the latter two being over-capped, the last, with term).
Knoblauch has options he is sifting through. Savoie played 9:55 at five-on-five (only Tomasek played less), 16 seconds on the power play and two minutes on the PK. One game sample isn’t anything really, but the five-on-five minutes could go to Roslovic and Janmark (if he returns) could gobble up the PK minutes.
The second-line role Savoie currently occupies was NOT the plan exiting camp. Putting Roslovic in that spot is a risk averse move, and this is a rise averse coach.
This is all true, and I get it but any roster, let along lineup, that has any of Janmark, Lazar or Kap on it before Savoie is, well, “wrong”, in my opinion.
I’m not sure there is any game state, zone, circumstance, etc. where Janmark is better than Savoie – he’s a PK guy but not a great PK guy. He’s a defensive guy but not a great defensive guy. Etc..
I think Lazar is getting underrated for how much unique value he brings – a cheap R shot C who is fast and responsible defensively. His min salary could be huge when it comes to playoffs salary cap.
Kapanen and Janmark’s skills are very much duplicated on the roster and their cap hit could be problematic when it comes to fitting them in under the playoffs cap.
With all that said, I wouldn’t have signed Roslovic and given all that opportunity to Howard, Savoie, and Tomasek
Does Philp not duplicate Lazar’s skills – while being bigger, faster, younger, etc.?
Lazar isn’t that good on faceoffs – just over 51% last season and below 50% the prior two seasons.
Lazar hasn’t averaged over 90 seconds on the PK a game for like 6 years and the last 4 years he was about 1 min game on the PK. That’s a depth PK role.
You’re absolutely right. I should clarify that Lazar provides unique depth as there is no other defensive minded R shot center other than Philp and that this depth makes league minimum. Whereas there are many players who duplicate what positive attributes Janmark and Kapanen bring while costing $0.5 million more than Lazar which could be a big deal come playoffs
I think in fairness to a guy that you sign in free agency like Lazar, you owe him a game or two prior to waiving him. Ya you may end with the same result. But he needs a chance in an actual game to show.
The waived and sent down Janmark a few years ago before he played a game….
Savoie kills penalties I think it’ll be Philp-Lazar-Janmar-Kap getting the green weenie. Bowman in Chicago always had 4 lines that had skill and were a threat to score. Even though Savoie and Howard are on the smaller side I think Bowman wants them to gain experience at the NHL level and see what he has in them. Of course a 4 game losing streak may change the plan rather quickly.
Then why did he sign Roslovic?
Butter and salt up the popcorn because we are going to find out. I think people around these parts are still used to “The Holland Way” those days are over go back and look at “The Chicago Blueprint” It’s going to make for interesting times as McDavid has given Stan 3 years to turn these team into not only a good team but juggernaut that should of happened on Holland’s watch.
Stan covering his bets, looking for guys who can to do the hardest thing in hockey.
It looks like Roslovic will block Howard IMO. After all it’s Howard first pro season whether he’s in the AHL or NHL shouldn’t matter, he will gain valuable experience and see more ice time in the AHL.
That is more likely (even taking in to account handedness).
I don’t think Savoie should be in this conversation.
But they play opposite wings. Ros is a problem for Kapanen, Savoie, Tomasek, Lazar, Philp, and Mangi and Fred that prefer RW to LW. Mostly the RS guys
Bowman isn’t messing around about getting some 5v5 goal scoring. They need it beyond the Duo
I’m uncertain if I’m more excited for the Condors season opener this afternoon or the Oilers first win of the season later tonight…..
I’m hoping to see Nathanial Day get the net but have a feeling they go with Tompkins.
I believe the top lines will be:
Hutson/Marjala/Griffith
Jones/Samanski/Rh. Pitlick
That would leave Jarventie to play with Hamblin
I believe both Millman and Prokop are in as Carfagna and Akey are still injured.
Prospectopoly!
A quintet of NAmateurs will do the hockey this day.
Michigan has risen three spots to #9 in
Casey Kasem’s Top 40the NCAA rankings. They won again last night but Park and Barnett were held soupless. They get a chance to redeem themselves tonight.It didn’t take long for a prospect-vs.-prospect clash to occur as Lew and Laf (formerly a Balkan klezmer duo) oppose each other for the only time this regular season. The Blazers are on their biannual trek through the East division.
Fischer, who procured a PP goal anoche, rounds out the sched.
Notre Dame (Fischer) @ 4 p.m.
Michigan (Park, Barnett) @ 5 p.m.
Saskatoon (Lewandowski) @ 7 p.m.
Kamloops (Lafreniere) @ 7 p.m.
All times, at all times, are Legend time.
A good time to post this item from Casey Kasem
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rV7WF5VVwuo
Ha…first time hearing this. That is awesome. Thanks for sharing.
Victory+ streaming:
Kamloops @ Saskatoon 6:45PM