Autumn Leaves

by Lowetide

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Ryan

It’s not quite as bad as JFJ-Horcoff-Hemsky, but how long will Frederic has last on the first line?

We’re not going to win many hockey games if you load up the top line and they’re not scoring at 5v5.

Last edited 3 hours ago by Ryan
Reja

That Bruins team of the 70’s were so good should of won 4-5 instead of 2. Losing Cheever’s etc to the WHA hurt bad. If he only would of payed the players a little more they would of stayed.

BornInAGretzkyJersey

Until Hyman comes back, most likely.

Truculence

Love the reference. JFJ scored a goal once and any line with Hemsky is a winner for me. It’s a small sample – seems early to say the line / team are not scoring at 5v5. From the link provided, the line is controlling play, and team 4v4 goals were excluded. Although I like having McD and Drai on different lines, combining them puts more onus on the other lines to contribute and carry the play. Through 2 games, they have controlled the puck more at evens, which I agree is a good recipe for winning games, and we are discovering which other players will step up this year too. LT specifically mentions elite shot suppression at 5v5 and Philps’ emergence, which are positive indicators so far. Perhaps the Oilers are seeing if Frederic plays well with either of McD/Drai, to inform their decisions when Hyman is back?

DevilsLettuce

Austin Hockey
@AustinHockeyYT
Since 2022-23 Evan Bouchard’s ranks among 184 NHL Defenseman with 2,000+ TOI at 5v5:

xGF%: 1st
SCF%: 3rd
CF%: 4th
SF%: 1st
HDCF%: 1st
HDGF: 1st
Points: 9th
SV%: …165th!
Bouchard is a top-5 d-man in the NHL. Goaltending clouds people’s judgement of his play. #LetsGoOilers

No excuses for Team Canada to not bring Bouchard to the Olympics other then everyone in the league is poisonly jealous of the Oilers.

Last edited 21 minutes ago by DevilsLettuce
Reach Advantage

Happy Thanksgiving all.

Speaking of thanks-giving, I like how thankful/grateful you are LT.
They say it’s the key to mental health – gratitude.

Fibonacci

The Sabres getting roundly booed off the ice after a 3-1 loss at home to Colorado.

The Sabres have now scored a total of 2 goals in 3 games and Lindy Ruff was disconsolate after the second loss accusing his players of not “moving their feet”.

I suspect huge changes could be coming soon.

In other news, it appears that Colorado is not missing Rantanen all that much as Martin Necas picked up two assists on MacKinnon’s 2 goals and now they share the scoring lead in the NHL with 8 points apiece.

Fibonacci

Elliotte Friedman: Re Sabres:

We basically know that two of their franchise players, Dahlin and Thompson, have indicated that it has to get better this year; the Sabres don’t have a long runway for this – 32 Thoughts (10/13)

meanashell11

Kind of a maintenance question. Did I miss a memo regarding what time the daily post comes out?

meanashell11

Ha ha. Well deserved! It is a holiday afterall!

Ryan

Speaking of maintenance — LT just had to pay the vig with Bluehost to clean up a malware problem and is busy moving to a new web host. Smash that PayPal button (bottom of page on the iPhone) if you want those morning posts dropping on time again. 😄

Sierra

Smashed

Reja

Even the King needs his balls busted every once and awhile.

Litke 94

Happy Thanksgiving to you and the family LT! As always, super thankful for your writing and this space which is the best corner of the Oilers online community as far as I’m concerned.

Feel terrible for Sabres fans. Have been brutal forever, and even with Power, Dahlin, and some other decent talent, it looks like there is just no hope in sight. Losing Norris was a gut punch, and today they are getting pummelled again.

€√¥£€^$

I’ve been stumping for Tuch for a couple of years now. That the Oilers are apparently circling that wagon really warms my heart.

The RW position is weakest skater position on the club, he would be a substantial add.

BornInAGretzkyJersey

I’ve been stumping for Tuch for a couple of years now.

You and me both.

Last edited 2 hours ago by BornInAGretzkyJersey
yeraslob

They should think about getting rid of Lindy Ruff… seems like he’s been their coach for eons.

Sierra

turkey dinner. Screw ham, that’s for sandwiches.

👍

MushedPeas

Happy Turkey Day all. I’d had my choice of a feast with friends yesterday evening or turkey and ham with rellies on the mainland, but some virus or other vetoed both and it’s been a weekend puttering away in the apartment. Reminds me of student days where I seemed to catch the flu every reading and xmas break. Today’s holiday might be fueled by McDonald’s and Pita Land, but at least it’s been restful and I’m grateful for that much.

fishman

Any word of line up changes for Rangers game (Walman in)???

Fibonacci

Canadiens Montréal

@CanadiensMTL

The Canadiens have agreed to terms on an eight-year contract extension (2026-27 to 2033-34) with defenseman Lane Hutson.

@FriedgeHNIC

8 x $8.85M

Reja

Wow are they ever building a exciting team Hughes is locking player after player for their prime years. I wish we had Hughes 6 years ago as this man has vision and not the same old same old tactics.

Fibonacci

What an incredible bargain deal.

It takes Hutson until his 29 year old season.

Can you imagine what value that will represent in 3-4 years?

BornInAGretzkyJersey

Jeff Gorton is more likely the guy who deserves recognition. He couldn’t be GM in MTL because he doesn’t parlez vous, so they made him executive VP instead. He’s the same guy who handed Chiarelli a championship roster on a silver platter (only to be fired a year later), and designed the current NYR team with so much speed and skill.

Several of us were calling for him to replace ChiaPete.

Reja

Yes that’s the guy he had something going in New York then poof they canceled his plan which was wierd as he was building a winner. He just needed a little playoff luck.

BornInAGretzkyJersey

Agreed, the timing was surprising. The Big Apple is a tough market.

yeraslob

I could be wrong but I thought he became available when ol’ Dutch was gm. I wanted Holland punted upstairs with Gorton hired as Oilers gm… and Nicholson punted to the moon.

OriginalPouzar

That Condors game was as entertaining a game I had seen in a while.

Marjala and Jarventie were both exceptional.

Jarventie was an absolute beast on the boards behind the Barracuda net twice leading to goal (one his own as he drove net after digging the puck out) and his one assist was slick.

Mariana is as dynamic a Condor as I c am remember. He looks like Ales Hemsky with the puck stick handling through players to the net and great vision and passing skill.

Hutson was quiet but I think he’s “the shooter” and will spike in stretches.

Samanski looked as expected. Highly relied upon on the PK but did struggle there getting in passing and shorting lanes. One big block.

As good as the forwards were, Cam Dineen and Atro Leppanen were equally bad. In particular Dineen who made awful play after lost battle after poor decision all night long.

Leppanen, well, very weak on front of the net and got lost a lot. First game.

Ryan

Happy Turkey day LT and all!

comment image

Sierra

The best turkey ever!

Ryan

What do folks think of Marjala?

He’s not much of a shooter, but his numbers last year line up fairly well otherwise with Puljujarvi.

Marjala (born 2003) put up 52 points in 54 games for TPS in 2024-25 — just under a point per game. That’s right in line with Puljujärvi’s 53 points in 56 games with Kärpät back in 2019-20, when he was 21-22.

Scungilli Slushy

Lots of talent. In pictures he looks like a young teenager. People physically mature at different rates. To me he will need at least a year in the A, probably more given the guys he’s competing with are a lot bigger and also talented, if he wants to hang around for that. He can get paid in Europe anytime

Scungilli Slushy

It’s the same scenario for Leppanen. He’s a smaller D, who is what we call around here a chaos D. I get that Bowman wanted the first look at him and Marjala, but for both they will have to be exceptionally productive to offset what isn’t a good NHL fit. Or play two ways better or get stronger for the young guy

Lewis Grant

Leppanen’s trajectory is absolutely fascinating. Look on HockeyDB. He wasn’t even playing organized hockey at age 20! He was working in an auto body shop or something, I forget where exactly.

And then every year after that, he dramatically increased his point total. Last year, he became the first d-man EVER to lead the Liiga in points. How is that even possible?

https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=228276

Every single year he has taken massive steps forward.

Even if he never plays a minute in the NHL, he’s already got a story.

€√¥£€^$

I think very highly of him. He is very creative and plays in the guts of the game. Not very fast, but gets to the puck quickly. Not a great shooter. He has a chance at NHL games by next season.

I really like Jarventie, I can’t wait to see him fulfill his scoring potential. I really hope his knee issues are history.

Samanski could be a 3 or 4 C in a couple years. He has a very good range of skills.

BuceriasBrian

From my limited viewings I have to say I was impressed with his 200ft game. Creative on the offence and backchecks extremely well. Hemsky is a good comparison as well as Larionov. Looks like a keeper if he can get a little bit bigger and stronger.

Reja

Does anyone know the story on this giant Luke Prokup is he a Vincent Desharnais type? Is he more-less aggressive than Vinny? Can he move the puck up ice fast? Does he kill penalties? He would probably have too if hes going to make it as a bottom pairing type.

Scungilli Slushy

A good comparable would be Regula. Luke in his own words is a more passive type naturally, and is trying to develop using his size and to play with more grit. He gets the MO which is good, the NHL is a tough league. If you’re big and not a high producer, most coaches are going to want some edge from you

Regula is more physical I think but also not a banger. Both have more puck skill than Vinny and skate better. Regula has taken a page out of Bro’s and Emberson’s book on how to get blown up in the bigs. I hope he figures that out, at his size he should be get the lesser of hits like Kane’s second one – head up young fella

€√¥£€^$

He is not Vinnie reincarnated, he is a superior skater and has much better offensive skills.

He lacks aggression and this is a part of why he was available.

In 2 years, if given all the opportunities he did not receive in Nashville, he could be knocking on the door. He has tremendous potential. This was a brilliant AHL signing.

Death By Misadventure

I’m with all those that are saying Pickard should get the next start.

Pickard is not a better goalie than Stu. He is however a mentally tougher goalie.

And there is no doubt, that the team in front of Pickard plays a much more confident and disciplined game.

There is no reason for KK not to lean hard into that dynamic to start the road trip and the season.

Reja

This is a huge year for Cal he’s 33 and scraping and fighting for a contract to stay in the NHL. Cal knows Ingram is in the shadows but if he can keep winning he’s going to keep the dream alive. I expect a dialed in focused Cal on this upcoming rather crucial 5 game Eastern swing.

Scungilli Slushy

I don’t think Pick will have a hard time getting a gig somewhere. Two finals and played important games in the playoffs, decent numbers

Reja

I found it strange for our G.M to mention Skinner 3 fluke goals against Calgary as a anomaly. Like who is he actually trying to bullshit. Mentions for some reason a career back-up that we all know that is his ceiling letting in a bad preseason fluke goal against Seattle. He then wonders why the masses weren’t on Pickard like they were on Skinner. Note to Bowman first off one is a shinny game the other is The Battle Of Alberta.

LMHF#1

He’s a better goalie right now and for the foreseeable future.

Scungilli Slushy

This is a pretty easy start to the schedule, make hay fellas and build some breathing room. Also, get organized for when the tougher teams show up

Scungilli Slushy

Happy Thanksgiving all! Glad to hear things are well LT. Even in strange times there is usually something to be grateful for. It’s good for a body to exercise gratitude, one of the most beneficial things to do

Coach Garlic (it is a gastronomic holiday) will tinker away, at this point I’m not worried about deployments. I hope they build on the last game and meet their goals for this eastern swing

These are all winnable games, the Rangers probably being the toughest game. The sturdy Bruins and filthy panthers lead the league to start out, I will reiterate that team play is the most important factor in success. The Bruins have lost a lot the last few seasons, the panthers their two best forwards. You can still win as a group, for the Bruins at least reg season

Goaltending does play into it, Swayman 5th in SV% Bob 14th (Pick 11th), but the attention to detail and commitment to getting your job done helps them play to their best

fishman

This road trip will mean facing some pretty physical teams. Waiting to see how much “toughness” Frederick brings. It’s the one thing this line up may be lacking….

Scungilli Slushy

True, Fred can’t do it all though, team toughness

BornInAGretzkyJersey

The guys can do it, but first they have to collectively buy into team toughness as the default mode.

Guys like Kulak and Philp showed they’ve got that dog in them last game. Now we just need to see it from more of the roster, on a regular basis.

Probably need another strong skating forward with hands and a bit of a screw loose. Bob keeps stumping for local product, Zack Ostapchuk often predicating his referral with that time Zack tuned in Matt Rempe. The hands aren’t there yet around the net, but he’s young enough that things might yet slow down for him.

Last edited 1 hour ago by BornInAGretzkyJersey
Bar_Qu

Happy turkey day to one and all. We’re doing meal #2 today, with a bird a quarter of the size from yesterday. And despite our host’s pronouncements, we added ham to the preceding. But lots of starches to come today (stuffing, mash potatoes, sweet potatoes). A decent day to not watch hockey & have the baseball game on on the background.

Tarkus

Prospectgiving!

Turkey Day in Canada means Hockey Day in Canada, and the lone NAmateur in action will be spending it in the 306 capital.

Tommy Lafreniere hasn’t exactly gotten off to a Blazing start, registering 2 + 1 in 6 games since returning to junior. He is also wearing Kamloops’ green jacket with a minus-9. The Blazers are in the midst of a hectic swing through the East what sees them play 6 games in 9 days, and they’re coming off a 3-0 loss to Lewandowski and the Blades.

Puck drop ‘twixt Kamloops and Regina is at 2 p.m. Bittern Lake time.

Reja

Start Pickard Rangers were just shutout if Oilers continue the D like the first 2 games the Rangers will be in tough. Pickard has been the sharper goalie we need to get the road trip off on a good start.

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