The Oilers prospect depth was greatly improved by 2020’s draft, we’re seeing terrific early results. How many of these first half performances are real?
THE ATHLETIC!
I’m proud to be writing for The Athletic, and pleased to be part of a great team with Daniel Nugent-Bowman and Jonathan Willis. Here is our recent work.
- New Lowetide: The Bakersfield Condors will be competitive in the coming AHL season
- New Athletic: How we’d run the Oilers: Maximize primes of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl
- New Eric Duhatschek: How a stint in Sweden prepared Oilers prospect Evan Bouchard for NHL camp
- Lowetide: How will the Oilers find chemistry with no preseason games?
- Jonathan Willis: After a brilliant rookie Oilers season, how high is Ethan Bear’s ceiling?
- Lowetide: How secure is Zack Kassian’s role on Oilers’ top line?
- Lowetide: Oilers’ signing of Slater Koekkoek could be about more than depth
- Lowetide: Why fans should expect an Oilers playoff berth in Canadian division
- Jonathan Willis: Dave Tippett has more options now thanks to versatile Oilers forwards
- Lowetide: 7 big questions facing the Oilers heading into next season
- Lowetide: What if Ryan Nugent-Hopkins doesn’t sign with the Oilers?
- Jonathan Willis: Left-side logjam will force the Oilers to make a choice, and perhaps a sacrifice
- Lowetide: Ken Holland’s 2020 Oilers offseason report card
- Lowetide: Theodor Lennstrom is the Oilers’ latest European bet on defence
- Lowetide: Why Anton Forsberg could win the Oilers’ backup job in 2020-21
- Jonathan Willis: Team Draft vs. Team Trade: Which collection of all-time Oilers is better?
- Lowetide: Seattle Kraken expansion mock draft 5.0: Who could the Oilers lose?
- Lowetide: Why McDavid and Nuge together could be key to Oilers’ playoff success
- Lowetide: Projected training camp roster for the 2020-21 Oilers.
NHLE’S FOR 2020-21
- Carter Savoie (NCHC) 12 games, 8-5-13 (39.0 NHLE)
- Ryan McLeod (NLA) 15 games, 4-7-11 (28.3)
- Jesse Puljujarvi (Liiga) 16 games, 7-5-12 (28.0)
- Dylan Holloway (Big-10) 2 games, 2-0-2 (27.3)
- Matej Blumel (Czech) 25 games, 8-8-16 (22.8)
- Raphael Lavoie (Allsvenskan) 28 games, 13-8-21 (22.1)
- Evan Bouchard (Allsvenskan) 23 games, 6-11-17 (21.8)
- Maxim Denezhkin (VHL) 30 games, 6-15-21 (21.8)
- Philip Broberg (SHL) 23 games, 2-6-8 (17.0)
- Dmitri Samorukov (KHL) 35 games, 2-6-8 (15.1)
- Matt Cairns (NCHC) 10 games, 0-4-4 (14.4)
- Aapeli Rasanen (Liiga) 19 games, 3-4-7 (13.7)
- Filip Berglund (SHL) 11 games, 1-2-3 (13.3)
- Mike Kesselring (H-East) 8 games, 0-3-3 (12.1)
- Phil Kemp (Allsvenskan) 8 games, 1-1-2 (11.1)
- Kirill Maksimov (KHL) 12 games, 1-1-2 (11.0)
- Markus Niemelainen (Liiga) 14 games, 0-3-3 (7.9)
- Skyler Brind’Amourt (ECAC) 9 games, 1-2-3 (7.7)
- Jeremias Lindewall (Allsvenskan) 19 games, 2-2-4 (6.2)
- Maxim Berezkin (KHL) 25 games, 0-2-2 (5.3)
Savoie was known as a scorer before the draft, but the scouts saw some things that caused worry. If Savoie continues on this track, going to be some teams kicking themselves. This young man is a marksman.
These are fun to do but can also inform. One of the things about Ryan McLeod’s first AHL season that stood out for me was his even-strength scoring. As it turns out, he had enough offense to post solid numbers in the NLA. Remember, McLeod was over a point per game in the world’s best junior league in his draft year. That’s an important line in the sand.
The top-10 performers here are the people you’d expect, plus Blumel and Denezhkin. This is a weird year, but getting production from the prospects you’re counting on is a good thing any time.
Evan Bouchard had a strong showing in Europe, that Duhatschek piece is worth reading.
LT. Read your Holloway Article. Have to disagree on Holloway similiar to Smyth. Kreider maybe. But nowhere near Smyth. Holloway doesnt seem to have much O to me… Smuth comparable wpuld be Dylan Cozens; not Holloway
That’s exactly what I said in the article. Holloway is shy of Smyth.
The most important note of day 1 of camp, for me, is that, given Gregor was advising that Holland suggested there would be an additional roster player not ready to start the season (yes, season, not camp, was used), I saw each of McDavid, Nuge, Drai, Barrie, Larsson and Nurse today. At least the mystery player (if there is indeed one), is not one of them.
Kassian?
Could be but that’s just pure speculation – could just as easily be Jesse or Archie or Kailer or Nygard or Neal or Chiasson……
Where there’s smoke there’s fire. Back injuries can be career enders. Hollaway might be on the team sooner rather than later.
Who has a back injury?
Adam Larsson: “I’m feeling fresh. My body is healthy!”.
Of course, he’s likely to state something along those lines but I’ve been on record as stating I think his “back issues” are over-state. He missed 3 weeks (apx) with a back issue a few years back and then not another game (with his back) until the play-in.
He was a beast down the stretch – 2017 Adam Larsson good.
If we get that player for 50 games, its a boon for the team.
If we get that player for 50 games Holland is going to have difficult decisions to make going forward.
I look forward to seeing it though. Every team needs what he brings when he is healthy.
I agree.
Larsson has expressed a desire to re-sign and stay and, if we see that player this season, I would think the org would be interested as well.
The contract would be a tough one to fit in though. Obviously it could be for term longer than 3-4 years (3 ideally) and, of course, over its term, with Bear and Bouchard, Lars would likely be playing more 3rd pairing and PK with injury cover in the top 4. Larsson would warrant more than the org would be able to play for the role. I mean, 3 X $2.5M, sure, but would Adam accept that?
Difficult. If he has a season that would warrant re-sgning he probably prices himself out of Edmonton.
How Holland handles the defence going forward is going to be fascinating to watch.
Yup, that first sentence was kind of my point. It would be a tough contract.
Similar with Barrie – if he plays well enough to warrant a re-sign, its going to be a 5 X $6M plus contract and not something that fits with the cap structure and organizational set-up. He should be a great one-year mentor to Bear, Jones and Bouchard though.
Too many moving parts to know how it is all going to shake out imo.
Nurse’s contract.
Klef’s health.
Seattle draft.
Samorukov’s play.
Just to name the obvious.
I called it as soon as he signed for way below market 5 year extension coming up. Tippett is going to give him the keys to the city and he’s going to absolutely crush it out of the park. When’s the last D we had that is creative knows when to join the rush and sneak in from the point. I remember Bear doing it a couple of times then he stopped for some reason. Quit name the last Oiler D-man that scored on a 2 on 1 with a one timer. It wasn’t Marc-Andre-Bergeron if anyone’s thinking it’s him.
Yes, we are well aware of your thought’s on Barrie and the course forward including your thought that the one-year signing signals an organizational distaste for Bouchard.
It says something.
Yup, it says that depth, competition and injury cover is important to the general manager.
Whistling past the graveyard again.
If Holland extends Barrie he cock blocks Bouchard on PP1 for 4 to 5 years.
If
It’s the Oilers. Tyson Barrie in a contract year has a career year and finishes top 3 in scoring D and we know the rest. I used to be a golf hound word of the wise do not invest in golf courses with his dad.
https://mobile.twitter.com/MitchLBrown/status/1345759457020559360/photo/1
i found this interesting. Despite his wrist injury that is making shooting tough Holloway is actually not doing too badly
It was interesting Krebs replaced Holloway on the first line last night. Seemed to be a reward for his incredible back check to break up a scoring chance.
I wonder if in the future we’ll be wishing we’d have picked Krebs instead of Holloway.
Personally, I was seeing the latter better.
Krebs was in the 2019 draft, but I agree he is a fine prospect.
Ah whoops, my mistake. I was thinking Krebs was in the 2020 draft.
He is a fine prospect, but not tracking above Broberg or Zegras, I’d think.
As for this draft, who were the best alternatives to Holloway that people were making good cases for?
Maybe Zary or Mercer?
Not in the same draft. The Oilers picked Broberg ahead of Zegras and Krebs, who slid a little because he blew out his Achilles in training. Cozens when just before the Oilers picked.
Since the Oilers were able to get Lavoie in the 2nd, and Holloway this year, that covers a lot of bases.
We understand the choice of Broberg now, seeing that Holland must have already been concerned about Klefbom’s shoulder.
I wanted Zegras and was kinda shocked he picked a D that was ranked lower. I think you nailed it that Kelfbom has been playing with half a chicken wing for the last couple of years and Holland knew it and covered his ass. If you watch his shot in 2017 he was blasting it at almost Souray pace since than it’s been more of a muffin shot.
That’s pretty much drafting for need rather than BPA.
Since Broberg likely is at least a year or two away, it’s possible another player from the long list of the Leftorium could replace Klefbom sooner while McDavid pines for the fjords.
I hope he has a parrot!
Exactly why Canucks should trade Podkolzin for Russell.
that contract time on Hughes and Pettersson is ticking
Tick Tick tick
The Canucks don’t need Russel…neither does any other team.
And once Seattle won’t take him…the Oilers are stuck with him for another season.
Nice work Kenny.
Kris Russell was among the top d-men in the NHL in GA/60.
Noone wants his current contract. He is full value for his 2021/22 contract which is all but fully buryable ($750K) in the minors, if necessary.
$75K ?
Actually $175K but, yes, I made a typo – my mistake and thank you.
I couldn’t remember if it was going up next year or the one after. Minimal impact though.
Sure they do.
without Markstrom they will leak goals like crazy
will need to completely rebuild how they play now that they can’t just trade high danger scoring chances while Pettersson flops around on the ice
Lost one NHL D.
Added two.
Have two of the top ten D in the Canadian division.
Outscored the Oilers 228-225 last season despite playing two fewer games.
Had a better goal differential 11-8.
One team had a totally unsustainable PP last season.
The same team had two forwards who had shooting percentages of 25% and 19.7% and are due for massive regression.
That same team re-signed a soon to be 39 year old goaltender.
The other has a young blue chip goaltender and signed a 30 year old back up who has a Vezina Trophy to his credit and despite an off year last season was a respectable .911 the season before.
Don’t think Kris Russell is the answer for either team.
Yea! The Dys are back the Dys are back! If bull shit was gold you’d be the richest man in the world! Please go away and buy a friend.
Your on top of your game today nothing getting by you.
Except common sense.
Chicago Blackhawks
@NHLBlackhawks
· 1h
OFFICIAL: Forward Dylan Strome has signed a 2-year contract extension!
$2.4M & $3.6M for those who love structure
NEW for The Athletic: Dylan Holloway’s World Juniors performance offers clues about his future with the Oilers
https://theathletic.com/2298447/2021/01/03/lowetide-dylan-holloways-world-juniors-work-offers-clues-about-oilers-future/
Excellent article and informative. I very much enjoyed it.
I appreciate that, thanks!
https://www.naturalstattrick.com/playerreport.php?fromseason=20192020&thruseason=20192020&stype=2&sit=5v5&stdoi=oi&rate=n&v=t&playerid=8474612
in case you are wondering about Hamonics season. Those GF% numbers are something else
Now do the season before that.
Not the first d dman to hit a cliff at 30
I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t bounce back. I don’t think Calgary was what he was hoping for when he signed. Just my opinion. Nothing to back it up other than gossip I’ve heard living here.
He’s a quitter why do you think the Canucks are the only team to give him a chance.
I believe you also said that Boston would never take Rask back. Apparently they thought differently.
He still has a year left on his contract. Let’s see if the Bruins resign him I say they won’t. Let’s go a $100 to charity I say Big Bad Bruins do not resign Tuukka Rask after this year.
Of course they aren’t going to sign him. He is expected to retire. You are the guy who said they would trade him last off season.
You may not like that certain players declined to play when given the choice but that doesn’t mean every GM in the league shares your perspective. And just to be clear Hamonic didn’t quit. All players were given a choice and he chose to not play.
And what is this obsession with betting for charity that seems part of every post where somebody disagrees with you?
It’s a little weird, no? Is nobody allowed to disagree with you without you turning it into a money wager?
Maybe he has too much money?
Over 50 million he doesn’t owe a thing to anyone but I’m sure he lost some of the diehard fan base for life. It a cruel world out there sometimes the wolves get you.
I believe all I hear are Crickets… What do have against charities? If you believe the Bruins organization wasn’t disappointed with Rask opting out that doesn’t make it so. Why do you think Cam Neely is a God in Boston the man played on one leg for years he was a true Bruin and always will be. The shelf life for GM’s and coaches is shorter than the players it’s a dream job and it’s all about winning.
Don’t be putting words in my mouth.
I didn’t say the Bruins weren’t disappointed in Rask’s decision.
You said they would never take him back.
And I give to charity when I feel like it. Not when some guy on a hockey board tries to bully his opinion into fact by placing a $100 bet on an outcome that won’t be determined for 8 months.
That is just juvenile imo.
Obviously your not a gambler if you’ve never bet on something 6 months down the road which is fine. I come from the old school where money talks and bullshit walks.
You really should quit while you’re behind.
Correct me if I’m wrong but the last time I checked I was up $100 in the province of B.C.
You’re wrong.
Next time you make a bet and want it to be pro-rated rather than claiming victory while a player has 3 games in hand, feel free to do so.
So you want to play the little girl prorated game. Mcdavid played 5 less games then Mackinnon and finished 4 points ahead. Your a professional spin doctor so spin it.
That’s funny. I was beginning to wonder if you went to school at all.
Sorry, you make it too easy. 😉
And I have to admit I am not big on calling professional athletes names like ‘quitter’.
Guys who make it to the highest level of athletic competition don’t deserve that imo.
OK. I’m finished now.
Crickets that’s all I hear. Why do you think Calgary might not of resigned him Mr. Know it all? I’m a diehard Oiler fan since day one of the WHA you think I give a fiddlers fuk about what a Canuck player had for lunch.
A really good break down here from a couple of guys who actually know what they’re talking about.
https://theathletic.com/2298184/2021/01/03/travis-hamonic-would-bring-more-to-vancouver-than-just-blue-line-depth/?source=user_shared_article
I think it’s a pretty good bet Hamonic gets paired with Hughes as a reprise of the Hughes-Tanev pairing that was very successful last season.
Playing with Hughes can resurrect almost anyone’s career.
Hamonic is 6’02” and 205 and while he may have lost a step, but his size and defensive responsibility should be a perfect compliment to Hughes.
The signing also opens up a lot of options for deployment of Schmidt, Edler and Juolevi and allows the Canucks to bring in Rathbone, Rafferty etc. on a fourth pairing.
I heard Harold Snepsts has been working out with Gary Roberts and they might bring him in on a PTO. Might be the dream partner for the kid Hughes
Schmidt is going to play RD though isn’t he?
It sounds like you’re suggesting and 3rd pair of either Edler-Benn/Juolevi (lefty-lefty) or Hughes-Hamonic. Doesn’t make sense to me.
Edler-Schmidt
Hughes-Myers
Benn/Juolevi-Hamonic
Seems to make far more sense.
It’s funny also that the article is citing Dom’s model on Hamonic (which projects him to be below replacement level this season) while also suggesting he play with Hughes on a 1st pair. Pretty odd stuff (though as I said earlier, I think Hamonic would be a solid depth add for the team since they only really have 4 defenders).
As we saw last year, ice time for the top two pairings was pretty much evenly split as Hughes quarterbacked the PP and Edler killed penalties.
So…
Hughes-Hamonic
Edler-Schmidt
Juolevi-Benn (who plays better on the right)
Rathbone-Rafferty/Chatfield/Woo
That third pairing is likely to get less than 10 minutes and Benn can be replaced if one of the young guys steps up at camp.
This is assuming Juolevi is ready and Benning seems to think he is (as do I).
Is Myers hurt or something?
Why on earth would Hamonic play over Myers or Edler or anyone other than Benn and the rookies? Hamonic should be playing with Benn or a rookie…
This was a surprisingly unpopular comment.
Oops
Hughes-Hamonic
Edler-Schmidt
Juolevi-Myers
Rathbone–Rafferty/Chatfield/Woo
Benn as veteran cover. He was a healthy scratch often last season.
I was told that Rafferty was a sure-fire 2nd pairing d-man this coming year. The org seems intent on blocking him due to meandering I guess.
Rafferty’s path the Calder has kind of been the definition of meandering..,
No really..graduate from the NCAA..spend a season in the AHL….pretty much standard operating procedure.
Totally standard.
Draft season with the Illonois U18 team
Draft +1 and +2 in the NAHL
Draft +3 as an overage in the USHL
Draft +4, 5, 6 in college
Draft +7, age 24, AHL rookie season
He’s older than all of McDavid, Draisaitl, Kahun, Puljujarvi, Yamamoto, Bear, Jones, 3 months younger than Nurse. Totally normal.
He started late because of an illness in his family.
Take him out and shoot him.
Are you for real?
He seems to be from a Chicago suburb, what did the family illness prevent him from doing?
He played on U18 Team Illinois in his draft year.
Then spent 2 years in the USHL playing in Wisconsin.
Then off to Connecticut for 3 years.
No you weren’t.
I said that is his upside….same as Bouchard who won’t even make the team.
Stop making shit up.
Looks like we were both wrong about how Keefe wants to deploy his forwards. I have to admit I am more than a little surprised.
Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe surprised a few at his opening press conference today when he announced that 41-year-old Joe Thornton will play with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner on a line entering camp, according to James Mirtle. That’s a bit higher than many thought he would play on after a seven-goal season with the San Jose Sharks last year. Keefe added that Jimmy Vesey will play alongside John Tavares and William Nylander, while Ilya Mikheyev, Alexander Kerfoot and Zach Hyman will play on the third line and Wayne Simmonds, Jason Spezza and Alexander Barabanov will man the fourth line.
Looks like we were both wrong about how Keefe wants to deploy his forwards. I have to admit I am more than a little surprised.
EDIT: I think my first post on this got flagged for moderation because of links so I removed them and will try again.
I really can’t see that lasting but will be interesting to watch.
I don’t see it either but with a 10 day TC you have to think this is how he plans to start the season. No Robertson either which I also find a little strange.
What happens if the playoffs are in a bubble again?
Likely a lot of factors involved in his decision.
He has mentioned an ailing family member in the past, had to deal with a coaching change and systems change mid season and the whole team underperformed last season.
I would bet on a bounce back.
I am not surprised by Hamonic’s seeming desire to play hockey this year given the speculation on his talking to teams but I am a bit perplexed.
He opted out of the RTP this summer due to health/safety reasons for his family – 100% his choice, no issues at all with it – made perfect sense given what is publicly known about conditions with family members.
What confuses me is why he wasn’t comfortable playing in the secure zone bubble but is comfortable playing in the season’s return to play which is materially more “dangerous”, as far as Covid goes, than the bubble.
In no way am I going to question Hamonic’s character or anything like that – I’m just a bit confused that he didn’t decide to opt out this season.
I would have to think that its because much more is known about the virus then back in July and the family members are not deemed at additional risk due to the condition(s).
Could be. Could also be that he knows that his career is finished if he doesn’t play this year and he isn’t ready to call it quits. Just guessing.
And you live in Calgary as well. Did you not hear gossip that he was unhappy with the Flames?
I don’t listen to or read flames directed content so, no, I didn’t hear that (it would take an odd person to dedicate time to content of a rival rather than a supported team).
If you are implying that he opted out, not because of family health and safety reasons but because of issues with his team, well, I would question his character (if that is indeed true).
No, just gossip that he wasn’t happy in Calgary. I think the family health thing was real. Just wondering since you live here as well and might have heard some gossip which is all that it was for me. Hard to avoid all Flames’ fans living in the city.
Although he probably realized that being a mentor to a young defenseman was probably his only option. Probably be saddled with Juolevi which isn’t a bad spot for either one at this point in their respective career
Speaking of the Condors lineup from yesterday’s post, I wonder if there is any chance that Tullio could join the team this year. CHL eligible drafted prospects will be permitted to play in the AHL until their respect CHL league starts up. I know Tullio is playing in Slovakia but I wonder if Holland would bring him back to the Condors.
I would think he would need to sign an ELC with the Oilers first. Right now he’s loaned by Oshawa to the Slovak league – I don’t think the Oilers would have any actual control or ability for him to play in the AHL until they signed him.
Nice idea. I guess it depends in large part on how his current situation is going. If he’s happy there I wouldn’t there there would be much motivation to get him back to NA immediately.
47 out of 50 contracts at the moment. That might keep him in Slovakia if he is happy there.
Fair enough and good point (I mentioned the 47 contract when talking about a potential Shore signing).
The contract would slide and be off the 50-contract list once the OHL starts up though (if it does……).
Ranking the NHLs top 10 first lines.
https://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/2069031/amp
You really like those crappy lists.
It feels weird to me that the 3rd, 7th and 10th “best lines in hockey” give up more goals than they score. All of them being Stanley cup contenders too
Those lists are worth about nothing.
Tyler Tullio had 6 points in 7 games for Liptovský Mikuláš in Slovakian Extraliga.
He played in unit with his Oshawa teammates Allan McShane and David Jesus and Carter Robertson (Owen Sound) and William Portokalis (Mississauga). He said he was in contact with Oilers every week.
https://sport.aktuality.sk/c/475201/kanadsky-talent-tyler-tullio-uz-zaskocil-slovan-s-popradom-a-chysta-sa-na-dalsie-timy/
LM is the worst team in the league by a lot. TT’s point per game is top 40.
Of note, the team has shown a marked improvement since Tullio and the other OHLers joined the team. 3 wins after going winless in, I believe, 18 plus games (and have -1 points in the standings).
Here is one off the post and one nice pass to start a scoring play (no assist though):
https://twitter.com/TheOilKnight/status/1345772530263588865
https://twitter.com/TheOilKnight/status/1345781485547126785
Sean Patrick Ryan raves about Denezhkin and, on that now, Al, do we know what Maksimov’s NHLe is including his games in the VHL?
Love the spike from Blumel (although he was held off the score-sheet today) – I look for management to sign him to an ELC for 2021/22.
Samorukov is leading the KHL d-men in goal differential – yes, he’s on a good team and that makes a difference but he’s part of that good team and he’s solidly in the top 4 – sometimes in the top pairing. Doing this playing his off side. He should impact the Oilers lineup before Broberg. I would like to see him assigned to the Condors when CSKA is done and I think he will compete hard for a job in September.
Maksimov has a 26.7 NHLE based on his VHL numbers.
Thank you sir!
I’ve watched all 12 of Savoie’s games with Denver and am highly encouraged. His “offensive skills” were never really in doubt and the reason he was available at 100 were things such as defensive IQ, consistency of effort and fitness.
I have already seen a marked improvement in the first two areas – the first few games, he was standing around a lot in the defensive zone and wasn’t doing much in any area of the game without the puck on his stick. I have seen him make smart defensive players as he’s settled in – breaking up passes, solid plays to get the puck out, etc.
I have no issue with his battle level – he battles on the boards and lays a coupe hits on the forecheck each game.
For me, he simply needs to get stronger – he’s willing to battle but isn’t great at itdo to strength and he gets knocked around quite a bit.
I do have a bit of concern about his skating – he doesn’t seem fast nor does he have great edges – he seems to labor a bit out there.
Fitness is the other thing – I can’t measure this from watching his games online but he seems to fade in shifts.
Thankfully, my noted deficiencies, aside from skating, are easily fixed.
Come on, how well and how quickly his offense has translated is a surprise too. Most 1st rounders don’t put up a point per game in draft +1.
Agreed on all the other stuff being less of an issue than expected, and/or being fixable.
Great early arrows.
Oh, for sure, his offensive production has been a definite plus and has absolutely exceeded reasonable expectations to this point.
I guess my point was simply that offensive skill isn’t what might hold him back from an NHL career, and a top 6 NHL career, but the other “noted deficiencies” and, from my non-professional eye, there has already been marked progression and the areas that require improvement are those that will almost assuredly come with age, growth and experience (and college coaching and facilities).
Absolutely, and it is great to hear there’s been real progress in the other area already!
Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) Tweeted:
#CBJ coach John Tortorella says Pierre-Luc Dubois’ desire for a trade will be handled similarly, in one respect, to how Bobrovsky / Panarin played out two seasons ago. They’ll confront it as a group and deal with it out in the open, he said.
https://twitter.com/Aportzline/status/1345791235525636097?s=20
Pat Steinberg (@Fan960Steinberg) Tweeted:
#Flames are bringing D Michael Stone to training camp on a PTO.
https://twitter.com/Fan960Steinberg/status/1345793132793741312?s=20
As an Oiler fan I really don’t care if it’s Sharon Stone and she probably a better skater.
You would if she opened up her legs.
Showing your age. Emma is the Stone you want. #Wichita
I thought she was super sexy in the Quick and the Dead. I love that movie Popeye Doyle is one of my favourite actors.
Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) Tweeted:
“What Ken (Holland) has done during the off-season has been amazing… we’ve added good players & good people.”
McDavid speaks to new #Oilers additions as the team embarks on Training Camp today. https://t.co/WI4nO9OKU7
https://twitter.com/EdmontonOilers/status/1345795769584926720?s=20
Tyler Tullio had 6 points in 7 games for Liptovský Mikuláš in Slovakian Extraliga.
Not listed because we don’t have an equivalency.
Yes, I saw your reply to Elgin R about Benson and thought this is the same case. Slovakian Extraliga is of less quality than Czech Extraliga, I would guess 2/3 of CZE.
Brendan Batchelor (@BatchHockey) Tweeted:
Travis Hamonic will travel to Vancouver from Winnipeg today, per the #Canucks, and will begin his 7-day quarantine. Will be able to join camp once that is done.
https://twitter.com/BatchHockey/status/1345771277965873154?s=20
Broggan Rafferty needs someone to carry his jock strap around so this makes sense
This move replaces Tanev’s own zone skills and has a knock on effect on defensive deployment.
Would not surprise me if Hamonic ends up paired with the one man breakout machine Quinn Hughes.
That allows for a Schmidt-Myers pairing with Edler’s minutes being scaled back in a compressed season.
Solid move…childishness aside.
It’s a really solid move for the Canucks, there’s no question.
The Schmidt-Myers personality test, interesting you should bring that up HH. I believe that is a psychology-based tool used to determine if someone has been, psychologically speaking, rendered butt hurt by their hero as a young adult. This results in repeated and incessant pseudo-anonymous aggressive acts against said hero’s fanbase for the rest of their lives.
The suffers of this affliction, commonly known as Moose-Rafferty syndrome, experience brief lucid periods interspersed with with frequent episodes of uncontrollable defection and urination in the livingrooms of the homes of acquaintances and often times complete strangers while they are hosting their friends and while engaged in civil converation.
Treatments include asshole conversion therapy, adult diapers with a chastity belt-type locking mechanism and reality check inverventions.
Hard to take what you say seriously considering your knack for getting confused and mixing up defenseman.
flames fans are happy to rid themselves of firetire hamonic.
I’m surprised it took this long although the cap hit may explain that once he is signed. Strong move. Winnipeg should have found a way imo.
Yeah…I have no idea why the Jets didn’t make this move. Their needs on D are dire.
Last seasons game tape perhaps?
Because he bailed out of the payoffs nobody wants a so-so defence man that quits on his team mates. Would he have quit if there was a paycheque for playing in the play-ins and playoffs will never know.
Jets already had a D-man that up and quit and through their whole backend in disarray. Why would they give a contract to Harmonic?
For the same reason that Boston took Rask back.
childishness aside ? does that apply to you as well ? Didn’t think so…
Is Tyler Benson not a prospect anymore? 13 pets in 15 Swiss SW games
It’s a bad sign when Benson is getting the Smid treatment from LT…
Two goals. An NHL player with the puck, but still not one without the puck Unless he starts shooting the puck and driving the net without the puck, he will be a great AHL playmaker for Lavoie, Maximov, etc.
Benson has to change/add to his game to make it. His passing ability is not enough.
Shoot the damn puck. Drive the damn net.
At this point Benson needs to play 12 NHL minutes a night to grow to be a player that can play 18 minutes a night.
But he is blocked by a bunch of 18 minute a night players that are heading to be 12 minute a night players.
Feel bad for the kid if he’s not going to get a opportunity with the team that drafted him trade him to a team that does.
The kid is still on this ELC and he played 7 NHL games last year and will be given the opportunity to compete for a left wing job for the team and as a top injury fill-in.
You seem to think that a 20-21 year old developing player needs to have his GM ensure that there is a lineup spot open to walk in to without competition even before the player has proven ready and that the developing player having to compete for the job and beat out an established NHL player means they are not valued, are being wasted and should be moved (see Benson. See Bouchard).
Personally, I’m quite happy the veteran GM is of the mind-set that young pros need to compete and prove ready for the NHL job and believes that depth and injury cover is important.
No open spot on the roster. Taxi squad will give him an opportunity to show what he has.
With a ten day camp – and the first day is just health checks etc. – I don’t think Tippett is looking for battles in the top nine. There are enough new faces to incorporate.
It’s kind of refreshing in a way and a sign that the team is starting to stabilize a bit that the top nine forwards, six starting dmen and the goalies are pretty much known going in to training camp.
I don’t have an equivalency for the league he played in.
He had 19 points in 15 games and, when re-called, was leading the team in points despite player apx 5 games less than the rest.
Regarding Bouchard, nice to read that the bigger ice in Sweden made him work on his gap control. He could surprise.
Bear, Larsson, Barrie look set. Are you thinking they carry Bouchard as the 7th dman or that they might carry 8?
id bet they carry 4 d pairs and rotate them in and out with the tight scheduling
I agree
make the most of the taxi squad and load management in a compressed schedule
I don’t think they’ll be able to keep 8D on the active roster to start the season. I mean they could keep one extra forward and two extra D but there is already a glut of forwards.
Both Bouchard and Theodore L. can be assigned to the taxi squad without waivers and I anticipate that Lagesson stays on the active roster and those two are assigned. Lennstrom may be assigned straight to the AHL as there are only 5 taxi squad places for skaters.
Of course, Bouchard will be with the team so physically easy to slot him in on any given night. The issue, of course, is (a) roster space and (b) cap space.
Someone will need to come off the active roster in order to activate Bouchard (either by assignment, including waivers, or IR). If its an IR assignment then there are cap implications adding Bouchard and just under $1M to the cap without relief.
The Oilers will carry 29 players but it won’t be easy access to the taxi squad player necessarily – cap, roster spots, waivers, will need to be assessed for every such move.
It could work well for a player like Russel. With his experience he doesn’t have to play a lot and for this year will pass through waivers easily due his contract and flat cap. This could also work quite nicely with Neal as well. Both players have value but not on a par with their cap hit. All in all if the taxi squad is used to its full advantage it could work very well for the Oilers. I can see where this could be used to the teams advantage.
I just think we’re going to have unprecedented numbers of injuries this season
Oh, OK. I thought you were referring to the opening night line up. And, of course, TC could produce a number of injuries.
I anticipate that Bouchard is on the taxi squad if the defensive group comes out of camp healthy. Bouch is 4RD (and, maybe even straight up 7D depending on how you rate Koekkoek and Lagesson) and I anticipate he will play many NHL games this year.
I think that is what most expect. That is why I asked Dustrock what he was thinking and he clarified that he was anticipating injuries.
The only ‘unknowns’ coming out of camp are 7D and the makeup of the 4th line imo. Neal might throw a wrench into that if he comes out sniping but I think Tippett already has most of the line up set in his mind.
Leavins mentioning McLeod as a dark horse for 4C but that would surprise both of us I would think.
I’m sure there will be reports about how good McLeod looks at camp, just as there were last year and just as there were this summer about Broberg.
Big players with high end skating and some skill will almost always shine at camps – we’ve seen it year after year after year. It doesn’t mean they are NHL ready.
I mean, some thought McLeod should make the team out of camp last year and, of course, he was nowhere near NHL ready.
He’s had a fine season in Europe but, to me, he needs to play top 6 minutes in the AHL, for a material stretch of time, before he’s considered an NHL option.
I agree with most of that but the bar to beat out Khaira, Haas, and Quine is not that high. I don’t know anything about Shore so can’t comment.
As I said I am pretty sure we both expect McLeod back in the AHL but Leavins has a pretty good eye and some kind of inside info so thought it was worth mentioning.
I did wonder about the logic of going back to the well with Broberg when the entire world knew he was hurt and teams were going to be targeting him. But I guess you live and die with your big guns.
Many here did not see it like this. The comments I read said things like “powerful skating stride” “Game winning goal not his fault” and “he does the little things so well”.
im throwing the BS flag
link one post that said powerful skating stride
while he was solid yesterday breaking up plays his skating was anything close to powerful,
whoops
How well could you play on one leg. Having watched him healthy he was only 60% of what he is when healthy. I did not think he was good in the game against the Finns however unless you were blind he did some good things defensively. Normally when healthy he is quick to jump up in the rush and a force in the game particularly when playing against his age group. To trash him and the fans that took into consideration that he was playing injured you may knock our rose coloured glasses but, you are being to put it bluntly an ass!
The only one being an ass is you…you clearly are putting words in my mouth…and you clearly don’t know an ass from an elbow..go read the goddamn thread from yesterday before spewing your fat mouth… and you are either too lazy to read or to stupid to comprehend what was written. Ffs.
Please refer to yesterday’s comments….LT does not appreciate carrying links forward from previous threads.
My thoughts so far on Holloway and Broberg.
Holloway reminds me a little of Cleary in the way he skates and Ryan Smyth the way he goes to the net. He is also tough on the boards plus he is really physical. He is not lighting it up points wise but my he looks like he is going to be a great NHLer IMO. I really like him even more when they moved him to the middle. I bet he arrives early.
Broberg is clearly injured. His skating was way off and as a result he really looked disinterested. I think he will be a great player for us but boy it is tough following Zegras who I think is the tourney’s MVP so far.
On a separate note.. Savoie is looking like real steal. Looking at that shot he has makes me think he is the goods. Nice to see really good drafting these last few years.
Hard to watch Broberg injured, resulting in skating like only a mere mortal. His post game presser in Swedish was difficult to watch, it was clear how heartbroken he was with the loss and how much he cared. Seems like a great kid, can’t wait to see him healthy again.
While I don’t speak Swedish I highly suspect he spoke about putting the loss on himself to at least some degree. Paging Dr. Swedishposter for a translation, would be greatly appreciated!
I don’t remember who said it, but one reporter said that Broberg has a “Brusied Ab”. If true, depending on which ab, that definitely would have caused pain every time he try’s to power skate or turn. Feel bad for him, but I know he will get better, and show up all the trolls and haters. He is a stud in the making. Just had some bad luck in this tourney.
Wasn’t that a somewhat random tweet? I took it as a joke based on the fact that he’s shredded (just like his other Swedish D counterparts in the org).
According to Leavins Holloway has an upper body injury that is impacting his ability to shoot the puck. I agree he looked better once he moved to centre.
I think Holland has spent the last 2 first rounders on great athletes. Whether they turn into great hockey players is yet to be determined.
Based on this WJC I think Broberg has the better chance of being an impact player simply because he doesn’t have to be elite offensively to impact games from the blueline. He needs to improve on his read and reacts, especially when defending. I’m also not sure how good his hands are in traffic.
Holloway is kinda the same. Love the size, speed, athleticism, and the non stop motor. But I have some real concerns about his hands and offensive instincts. He has really struggled to hang on to pucks and his only offensive move seems to be head down and go hard to the net.
Holloway seems most effective when the other team has the puck. Not a good sign for a potential top 6 forward. When his team has the puck, he either skates directly into a checker or drives the net. He doesn’t seem to grasp the concept of delaying or drifting into open ice. I think that’s why he got moved off the first line last night. He didn’t have the puck very often and when he did he couldn’t maintain possession very well. In short, he was having trouble playing with skill. Maybe his game will improve at center on a different line.
I see some Moreau, some Smyth and some Wheeler in Dylan Holloway.
I think we knew that his offensive puck-skills may be a bit lacking – I mean, if he was highly skilled with the puck to go along with all the other attributes that made him a 14th overall pick (the size, the skating, the athleticism, the commitment, the motor, the 2-way ability, the desire, etc.), we are talking about a top 5 pick.
At the same time, while I acknowledge that he has seemed to have some trouble with the puck on the stick in the tourney (some bobbles, etc.), lets not forget that he is playing through an upper body injury and we don’t know if that is effecting his puck play.
I saw his two games at Wisconsin, and while he wasn’t super creative or dynamic with the puck on his stick, he wasn’t a black-hole in that regard and made decent plays generally with the puck.
As far as the athleticism, he’s been cited as the “best athlete in the draft”. I like that.
As far as what he becomes as a pro, I’m going to wait a bit longer, I mean, he’s played two club games post-draft (and was the best player on the ice through the two games). I see a very high floor for him – can’t imagine him not being an “Ethan Moreau type 3rd liner” as a floor. That’s a good hockey player.
He could very well end up as the 2-way, puck-retrieval hound McDavid winger that is still required – we saw that play from him during his two games in Wisconsin but, again, he just got drafted.
As far as when he arrives, I can see him possibly turning pro after this season in college but, for me, at this point, I think I’d prefer one more full season of college – a more developed player to start his ELC.
His nickname on this world jr team isn’t The Golden Retriever for nothing!
I chuckled a bit (quietly) when they mentioned that yesterday.
I still think the best comparable for Holloway is Rod Brind’Amour.
Wow !!
Marino reups 6 x 4.4
that is a serious commitment
John Marino year by year contract breakdown.
All salary:
$1,750,000.00
$3,500,000.00
$5,250,000.00
$6,150,000.00
$5,300,000.00
$4,450,000.00
Wow indeed. I would never have expected quite that much that long! Well done to Marino. A super pick by the Oil. While it is a shame this player didn’t work out in Edmonton, that’s just the way the cookie crumbled on this occasion.
I’m blown away. Why so much for so long after one season? Were they worried Marino would turn down a deal for 6 x 3.5? I don’t get it.
Woodguy has a great Twitter thread going on Marino.
Woodguy (@Woodguy55) Tweeted:
Often fans (fancystaters & non),writers, & even team execs can over-hype results of young Dmen when they are playing very sheltered roles
Not so with Marino. 32% vs Elite Fs is solidly in “2nd pair” territory (a hair below ave., but easily in the range) and he did very well too. https://t.co/9uoBR1NgyB
https://twitter.com/Woodguy55/status/1345766807768977409?s=20
The numbers are not in dispute. But his track record is one year. And this is one of the most lucrative contracts signed this year.
It’s called “I wear rose coloured glasses”. Similar to the way some Oilers fans saw Broberg at WJHC….
It’s almost like there’s an echo in here.
He should give half to his agent and who ever got him out of Edmonton. 33% percent of the players in the league it all comes down to timing,injuries, opportunity and whether the current administration that drafted you is still on the payroll. How many players got washed out of the league because of this.
Or run out of town by fans that devalue them.
I don’t know of anyone who has scored this much better in the NHL compared to his prior league. Last year, Marino scored at a 38 point pace for the Penguins. In his last NCAA season his NHLE was 8 and it was 11 the year before. We hardly talked about him on this blog. Quite a remarkable story.
Another product of the Harvard D factory.
Adam Fox, John Marino, Jack Rathbone.
You need to apply context to their NHLe because seniors get the feature minutes and then the next wave gets the primo minutes.
Who’s Jack Rathbone which team does he play on?
Here ya go.
31 points in 28 games for Harvard last season.
Superb skater and a booming shot.
https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=201640
Cute! Twin smurfs for the Canucks blue line! Best part is they will never screen their goalie.
I know it’s not a huge sample size, and regardless of playing time and PP time or lack thereof, name another player who has blown the doors off of his NHLE like Marino has. If you take the average of his last two NCAA seasons, he exceeded his NHLE by 4X. Who else has done that? And who could have predicted that?
That said, I have no idea if he can keep it up or if he is worth 6 x $4.4 mln in a flat cap environment.
Our host likes to cite lack of PP time – Marino was blocked by Fox on the PP at Harvard.
Exactly what’s going to happen to Bouchard after Barrie signs a 5 year extension later this year.