When did we know Charlie Huddy was going to have an NHL career? I don’t recall exactly but am going to guess it was after he was actually having an NHL career. Tracking prospects with little or no pedigree is tough, because there’s only so much you can know until they hit pro.
In the year Huddy was eligible for the draft (1979), he scored 20-38-58 in 64 games. He ranked No. 3 among Oshawa Generals and No. 8 among all OHA (now OHL) defenseman. He should have been drafted, but we didn’t recognize it at the time. Could we identify a Charlie Huddy living in the modern world?
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: What are the Oilers’ ideal defensive pairings after picking up Dmitry Kulikov at the trade deadline
- DNB: Ken Holland’s quiet NHL trade deadline sets up Oilers for big moves later
- DNB: Why the Oilers not maximizing the trade deadline is both predictable and disappointing
- Jonathan Willis: What the Oilers are getting in trade deadline pickup Dmitry Kulikov: A cheap solution to a nagging problem
- Lowetide: What would the Oilers sacrifice if they traded their 2021 first-round pick?
- DNB: A year without Colby Cave
- DNB: To play them together or not? 97 and 29
- Lowetide: Are the 2020-21 Oilers better than the 2016-17 team?
- Lowetide: Evan Bouchard’s season of inactivity — what is the risk for the Oilers?
- Lowetide: Every major transaction Ken Holland has made as Oilers GM
- Lowetide: Oilers’ top 20 prospects, trade deadline edition
TYLER TULLIO
I was hoping Tullio would be more prominent in Bakersfield during his time there, but as it turns out he didn’t get mentioned often. He’s just 19 now (this past year was draft plus one at age 18), and is a full year too young for the AHL. He doesn’t have a massive draft pedigree (fifth-round pick). It’s hard to get a feel for this player. Here’s what we can say: He was among the more successful NA teenagers to play in the Slovakian League in 2020-21. Here they are, ranked:
- RW Tyler Tullio (18): 19 games, 4-9-13 (0.68)
- LC William Portokalis (18): 22 games, 8-6-14 (0.64)
- LW Martin Chromiak (18): 32 games, 7-12-19 (0.59)
Tullio was chosen No. 126, Chromiak No. 128 in the 2020 draft. Huh. That’s an interesting comparable, we may land on this spot for comparable purposes in the future.
OHL COMPARABLES AGE 17 (DRAFT YEAR)
- RC Travis Konecny 60. 29-39-68 1.13 (2015)
- LC Connor McMichael 67, 36-36-72 1.08 (2019)
- RW Philip Tomasino 67, 34-38-72 1.08 (2019)
- LC Michael McLeod 57, 21-40-61 1.07 (2016)
- RW Tyler Tullio 62, 27-30-57 1.06 (2020)
- RC Robert Thomas 66, 16-50-66 1.00 (2017)
This is a great list and an exciting indicator for Tullio. The problem is there’s so little to follow it up. The Slovaks were a Godsend, but Tullio needed a league he could play 40 junior games in and the OHL never got clearance. This is a most unfortunate situation, but the alternatives would be reckless and irresponsible. Hopefully Tullio hammers the OHL in 2020-21, his final junior season.
RAPHAEL LAVOIE
Huddy showed up as a substantial prospect in his first year pro. In fact, he didn’t lose much offense in going from the OHA to the CHL:
- Age 19 OHA: 64 games, 20-38-58 (0.91)
- Age 20 CHL: 79 games, 14-34-48 (0.61)
A quick thumbnail expectation is about 40-45 percent of junior offense coming with a player to pro. Huddy was at 67 percent conversion. A very good number.
We are early days for Raphael Lavoie but there are some good signs. In his first two games, Lavoie had no points, 8 shots and was 0-3 in even strength goal differential. In his most recent three games, Lavoie is 2-1-3 and delivering chances consistently.
I’ve watched his game in Bakersfield and he has a scorer’s mentality in that he’s always looking for the puck and releases it quickly after arrival. They’re playing him on left wing (to my eye) and he’s adjusting, but I think scoring goals in the AHL is a hurdle Lavoie will clear. Early days, but his instincts are exceptional. He’s going to have to work a little harder when his team doesn’t have the puck, though. Here are Lavoie’s numbers compared to some of his draft day comparables who also landed in the AHL as rookies:
- Raphael Lavoie: 5 games, 2-1-3 (.60 pts-game)
- Anthony Mantha: 62 games, 15-18-33 (.53 pts-game)
- Julien Gauthier: 65 games, 16-9-25 (.38 pts-game)
- William Carrier: 64 games, 7-14-21 (.33 pts-game)
Early days but a good sign. Lavoie’s shot can beat AHL goalies clean and he can find quiet ice already. Early days but the trajectory is promising.
LOWDOWN WITH LOWETIDE
TSN1260 at 10 this morning, there is much to discuss. Bruce McCurdy from the Cult of Hockey at the Edmonton Journal will discuss Ken Holland’s second trade deadline as Oilers’ general manager. Joe Osborne from OddsShark talks MLB, NBA and NHL, including the big Capitals-Red Wings deal and how much that moves the line. Chris Peters from Hockey Sense will talk about the big U18 junior hockey tournament in Texas later this month and how important it will be for the 2021 draft. 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. See you on the radio!
Benson – McLeod – Marody is reminiscent of Cleary – Swanson – Riesen from back in the day, but I don’t think that necessarily portends failure for two of the three.
I suppose if you had to pick the Dan Cleary from the former three, it would be McLeod, just based on his age, skating ability, and range of skills.
Strange thing, though: for a guy with such high pedigree, Riesen was never really given much of a shot. First round draft pick, solid scorer in his second and third AHL seasons.
He was given a 12 game audition with a future legit NHLer still trying to establish himself, and Swanson, who went on to be an undersized journey man type.
Not exactly the Puljujarvi/Yamamoto treatment.
I’d love to know what happened there. Maybe the player missed home, but the org is a bit silly for giving up on him after such a limited audition. You also wonder how Swanson would have done had he been playing ten years later.
Development is so much better now, as is the opportunity for skilled players.
Suspect that two, and maybe even all three of Benson – McLeod – Marody have solid NHL careers.
The skating ability of Marody and Benson keeps getting knocked, but all they do is produce more and more, particularly at evens.
At some point they need their 500 ABs.
From Thomas Drance:
Canucks players and the NHLPA held a Zoom teleconference on Wednesday evening, I’m told.
At this point the NHL, the Canucks and the Oilers expect Friday’s game to be played, but I get the sense that tomorrow could be interesting.
———–
Follow up from Dreger:
NHL, NHLPA and Canucks medical will be involved in determining whether the Canucks are healthy enough to play on Friday. A decision will be based on the doctors evaluations of the players tomorrow.
Unrealistic that these guys be expected to go so soon after all the illness they’ve been through.
Wow, Cracknell with a very nice move coming across the blue, beats the defender and buries a snipe. 6-2 with a minute left.
Kesselring with the 2nd assist on the outlet pass…. the Tyson Barrie special.
OP I really appreciate that you take the time and effort to post these updates. I tried to watch the game, but after it hit 5-0 it was just too much for me to handle. Your dedication to the team is commendable.
The so-called fans who are down-voting your Condors comments aren’t fans of this team, what they are petty human beings.
Agreed whomever does that seriously needs some kind of life.
Thank you – I appreciate that.
Condors get one back on the 4 on 3……. Lavoie takes a pass from McLeod and snipes one from the top of the right circles.
Condors have been great on the PK over the last while but have been lit up on it tonight – great puck movement and a one-timer from the Ovie spot makes in 6-0.
Yikes.
Gravel beat by an Eagle on a spin/tight turn move and powers one to (and in) the net.
5-0 Eagles half way through the 3rd.
Condors aren’t going to win this one but, individually, McLeod is still making impressive plays. Just created a scoring chance out of nothing with speed and power splitting the D on a 1 on 2 and getting in on net.
Woddy with the blender in the 3rd – Lavoie playing right wing with McLeod and Benson and Marody with Malone and Stukel right now.
Does Calgary still play Montreal 5 more times?
4 more.
They have a 4-1 record against Montreal this season.
So, their record against the Habs is indicative but their 2-5-1 record against the Sens is not as those games coming up were posited as being in the flames favor.
Nothing but spin and narrative – its plain and obvious – every night.
The Flames are not chasing the Senators for a playoff spot.
Do you think they will catch the Oilers?
Only a fool would think that! Wait what who we talking about again?
Matchups are a strange thing sometimes.
Yep.
Often the results are indicative of style of play.
The Flames have changed their approach to how they play so we’ll have to wait and see how that works out.
Condors having a pretty good 2nd period – titled ice and some plus chances for Lavoie and Benson on the PP but they can’t cash.
They get running around a bit late but get possession – Esposito goes full Oilers and turns it over deep in the defensive zone and a second later its 4-0.
Eagles make it 3-0 early in the 2nd – a quick strike but maybe a weak one on Skinner as it was from in tight and Skinner went down to let it go over the shoulder from the side of the slot.
After a sluggish start to the game, the Condors came on and tilted the ice back but couldn’t create anything overly dangerous. A big kill at the end of the period to keep in 2-0 at the break.
Sens score late but can’t tie up the Jets.
Flames are “getting hot” – they aren’t going to make the playoffs but they can do their best to decrease their draft position.
4 points is hardly an insurmountable lead even with the Habs games in hand.
The Flames have now won 3 straight…over Edmonton, Toronto and Montreal.
Sure it’s long shot but these things do happen.
3 of the Flames next 5 are against the Canadiens so they control their own fate.
The other 2 are against Ottawa and the depleted Canucks.
More future standings projection complete with free-Senator points!
More nonsense that deflects from the topic.
so it’s a DSF post?
The topic? Your new narrative that the flames may just catch the Habs – pronounced because its a mix of anti-Oiler and anti-OP…. that topic?
The flames are on a heater and are still 4 points back and have played more games. There is nothing over the course of the 3/4 of the season to suggest they are, all of a sudden, going to play .750/.800 hockey – their points percentage and -12 goal differential tells us who they are – even before they traded their back-up goalie and have noone to spell Markstrom who is known to not be able to play too much and stay healthy.
With their 3-game heater, the flames have now finally passed the canucks in points percentage with a whopping .477
Suggesting more free-Senators points for the flames, well, given history, we don’t have to talk about that.
You might want to find out what control means. You’ve cherry picked the head to head and the gap and ignored the games in hand.
So when does the rubber hit the road?
McLeod is getting increasingly confident carrying the puck – in all zones – skilled and sneaky moves with the puck to create space exiting the defensive zone and in the neutral zone.
Great development this season for McLeod.
Panic over – skate issue for Benson, not injury.
Lavoie taking a shift with Marody and McLeod – Benson was spilled on the boards earlier in period, I wonder if he’s banged up.
Newhook with a lazer from the circles on the PP.
Condors did a good job killing but couldn’t get the clear and were dead tired after abotu 75 seconds in their own zone.
First shot of the game goes in on Skinner – a dump in to Gildon’s corner, he loses the battle, the puck goes to the Eagle behind the net and in front to an Eagle all alone for a one-time goal.
Unlike Gildon who has been so good this year.
Woohoo, finally found a onhockey feed for condors game without russian hijack. 🙂
It’s probably too late, but maybe the NHL should cut the season down to 49 games to give every team enough time to comfortably get in 7 games against each team in their division, 8 for Northern division with 1 extra game each. Although, I think some teams have already played each other 8 or 9 times, which kinda screws things up.
I wonder if Safin draws back in the lineup tonight and/or if Rodrigue gets the start.
Back to back and the 2nd of 4 games in 5 nights.
Lineup will be identical to last night.
I really doubt we see him the rest of the season, unless standings become irrelevant. Clearly the coaches do not trust him. That does not bode well for his NA pro future. I am very surprised that he is still Oilers property, I thought he would’ve been dealt on Monday.
I wonder if we see his contract terminated early to reduce the contract number….
Hey gents, an earlier comment hung around all day that shouldn’t have and I’m sorry. I have had a crazy busy day. Two things: First, when you post something and realize it’s over the line, you can delete it. I might not get to it for hours (as happened today) and we don’t want to be a community that promotes anything negative toward race, religion, etc.
Second, I just want to tell anyone associated with the Chinese community who posts here that you are welcome here.If you see something you are offended by, please reach out.
I was taught we were all created equal, but more than that I was helped in school by a girl named Elaine Leung. She was very smart and things came easily to her, so she shared her time when I was having difficulty. I ended up being friends with her brother and they were a fine family who had to put up with subtle and cruel racism in a small town where they were alone.
On the off chance that Elaine Leung ever happens by this site, I would hope she would find a place that welcomed her and did not pass judgement beyond strength of argument on a specific subject.
No time outs, no harm done, but I hope we can respect each other and avoid even those borderline items. Thanks.
Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) Tweeted:
The #canucks have had nine players cleared from the NHL’s COVID Protocol since yesterday. The group remaining on the list is Jalen Chatfield, Alex Edler, Jayce Hawryluk, Nils Höglander, Zack MacEwen, Nate Schmidt and Jake Virtanen.
https://twitter.com/reporterchris/status/1382445340108918787?s=20
JT Miller with a very strong repudiation today in a Zoom interview of the NHL decision to have the Canucks return to play Friday.
I’m paraphrasing here but he basically is saying that even with players starting to come off the protocol list, many players have had serious effects from the virus and won’t be ready to play even if they can get in one practice since most haven’t even skated for almost 3 weeks and he and many of his team mates are very concerned about the potential for serious injury.
As of now, there is even no word on whether or not tomorrow’s practice will be able to go ahead if there are not enough healthy bodies to participate.
In any event, it appears if the game goes ahead expect to see a patchwork lineup since many regulars will not be able to play and a few taxi squad AHL players will be making their NHL debuts.
Complicating things even further is the Canucks are scheduled to play a back to back on Saturday night.
I anticipate the game will be cancelled/further postponed and, if so, the league better do that before the Oilers get on the plane for Vancouver tomorrow afternoon (prior to their flight across the country to Winnipeg for the following night).
It’s very tight.
Many of the players will require a medical tomorrow to assess whether they are fit to play.
The first Canucks game that was cancelled was against Calgary with only two hours notice.
We know that won’t happen; it’s the NHL after all
I hope they don’t play, it’s not really fair.
that being said, I hope JTM saves some of that repudiation for the Canuck COVID protocol squad – variants or not, that’s the worst outbreak in NA sports so far… (at least the Dy’s excelled at something this year)
Reminds me of McDavids comments from last year about the restart…concerned there wasn’t enough runway for the plane to take off safely
Scott Wheeler
@scottcwheeler
What JT Miller did today, in speaking out against the NHL’s plans for the Canucks, and in turn the Canucks’ plans for their players, takes a tremendous amount of courage.
That he was put in a position to feel the need to say it at all is an indictment on the league.
Dan Rather will neither confirm or deny today’s post.
Nuge skated on his own for 45 minutes today – waiting for doctor clearance.
Tip said he wants to try Kulikov with a few partners down the stretch before – not committing to any particular partner at this point.
Absolutely no point – at all – to rush Nuge back.
Let him get 110% healthy
I for one would like to give my love for David Perron one of the most underrated Oilers to ever wear the silks.
If you go and watch James Neal’s highlights from Vegas, so many of his goals come as a direct result of Perron doing the dirty work and setting him up.
What an awesome player. Would fit like a glove on the current roster.
But he dared have an opinion, and actually said it out loud!
Agreed.
Tenacious on the puck.
Also, one of the few Oiler assets sold for high on the dollar.
HockeyDB:
2015-Jan-02 Traded from Edmonton Oilers to Pittsburgh Penguins for Rob Klinkhammer and round 1 pick in the 2015 draft (Mathew Barzal)
Yep, MacT sold the stock high…then Chia took the winnings to the penny slots and blew the whole load on Reinhart….
Another angle to what if we got Taylor Hall discusion: what if we got Hall, and signed Nuge for 12 million? Great, but who does Seattle get to pluck from our roster now? Jesse? Kailer?
Cause we have to consider one of them as part of the trade right?
If they re-signed both of those guys prior to the expansion draft:
McDavid, Drai, Nuge, Hall, Yamamoto, Puljujarvi, ______ (Archibald, Khaira, Kaun, Kass – potential for the 7th)
Nurse, Bear, (Klefbom)
Exposed: Jones, Lagesson, Larsson (if re-signed before).
Klef is a wild card right now.
Thanks for the correction! A lot of names with maybe not too much upside difference between them…
Nuge not on the ice for practice today.
I don’t imagine he plays Friday, if there is a game to play in.
What is the actual injury to Nuge? Do we know?
Nothing official from the team, of course.
Certainly looked like a noggin to me.
I did some reading on Tulio earlier and I have to say….very intriguing prospect.
Love the Lavoie pick – a great bet. We are desperate for a shooter
As many people mentioned at draft time – I think it was Lavoie’s work without
the puck that, in part, caused his stock to drop.
For all my grousing – I do like our forward prospects.
I do think both Benson ( 23) and Marody (24) have proven all they can in the AHL and quite frankly -have earned a look with the big club.
I think both lack the NHL speed for success – but no way to know for sure without seeing them up here.
Not sure if this was covered already but the Condors Twitter feed says Tullio was released from his tryout contract. I don’t know where he goes from there.
I think back to the OHL if they are ever allowed to return to play?
2LW 😉
LOL
I think you mean 3LW, after Benson and Holloway……
Ya, I mentioned the Tulio release the other day.
I was disappointed that he didn’t play but it became apparent weeks ago that he wasn’t there to play but simply to practice and see the pro life.
I’m not sure of the timing of this given there isn’t any indication the OHL is getting ready to start.
I challenge LT to wear a shirt of violent green, uh huh
I couldn’t understand!
You wore our expectations like an armoured suit, uh huh
Of course Charlie Huddy should have been drafted, but there were different circumstances as the 1979 draft was a bit of an anomoly. I’m not sure of the reason and perhaps LT can enlighten us, but it was only 6 rounds and 126 players long.
Take a look at the draft list if you have time, it really is incredible. If you’re an old coot like me, you’ll remember a lot of the players. According to HockeyDB, 103 of the 126 drafted players played in the NHL, with an average of 479 career NHL games. Wow.
It was also a multiple cohort draft. 2 draft years in one, plus only six rounds.
1980 was the two draft’s in one.
There were two of them. It went from a 20-year old draft, to a 19-year old draft, to an 18-year old draft.
If Hall used his NMC to go to Boston over Colorado, as is speculated somewhere, I’m still scratching my head. Is his agent Mr. Magoo?
I think the trade results were very telling. If one looks at this stuff objectively.
Is this surprising? Mr. “I want to be a champion” was rumoured to Colorado last summer and then signed in Buffalo.
I find it very unlikely Colorado made an offer for Hall.
The “all I care about is winning” is total bull. If that was the case, Hall would have last year approached the top 2-3 teams in each conference and said, “who will give me the best deal?” And then taken whatever it was.
Instead it was Buffalo. If he signs long term in Boston that is not the smartest bet either. Go to Colorado, Vegas, Tampa, Carolina.
It might be bs, but Hall made $8M this season AND is currently on a contender ready to go on a playoff run.
I am of the opinion that Hall understood his options well.
It was a Covid summer with cap shut down. His opportunities finished quickly. He took an 8M deal for a short season with control of his destiny.
Yes, I agree that’s most likely how it happened.
Ding ding ding.
I keep hearing about Boston being a contender (moreso than the Oilers) but they have an inferior points percentage than the Oilers and a worse goal differential.
They have “playoff experience” but other than that, they are not in a better tier than the Oilers.
Their window is closing whereas the Oilers’ window is opening.
Nonsense.
Boston has a better win percentage and plays in a much tougher division.
Before last night’s shootout win over Buffalo they certainly did not.
Second point is highly debatable.
The Oilers would be in 5th place in that division.
No debate required.
Of course that is debatable they would be playing completely different teams!
Yeah…better ones.
So you willing to admit Vancouver is a shite team! From your lips to gords ears!
Of course the do to you mr Magoo! Of all the out of work trolls how did we get so lucky.
I am not sure that is even a better division much less a “much tougher division”.
There are 3 absolutely crap teams in PHI, NJD, and BUF in the East. Look at their goal differentials: -31, -32, & -47. Uggh. That’s some easy prey for the top 3 teams all year. They have 2 mediocre teams in NYR (a young rebuilding team), and BOS (an older team on the downhill side with 1 good line, and not much on D, and 2 aging goalies (with 907 & 910SV%), and they have three good teams against those shitty and mediocre teams in WSH, PIT, and NYI. WSH is getting older, Pittsburgh is getting older, and NYI is overperforming under a good coach and they lost their leading goal scorer for the season about a month ago. I think the top 3 teams are looking good by preying on the bottom 3 mostly.
That said, there is really no way to tell until they hit the 3rd round of the playoffs and finally play someone outside their divisions. It will be super interesting to see how they stack up then. (someone correct me if their not playing the 1st two rounds within their division)
And with the playoffs structured the way they are this year, with the first two rounds being against division rivals, I would have chosen whatever team is a head above their nearest rivals. By that metric, it seems that Toronto and Colorado have the best chance to make it to the semi finals. The East looks like a tossup between WSH, PIT, and NYI (not BOS), Colorado looks like the favourite in the west (although Vegas could give them trouble), and it looks like CAR and TBL will be slugging it out for the SouthEast.
Why would anyone choose to go to an aging team that is 4th in their division (BOS) and not really even part of the top 3 cluster. Hell, there is even a chance that NYR surpass them for the final playoff spot (only 2 pints back right now and have a way better goal differential meaning all their games were likely close all season) and NYR has some young players that are probably still improving every game. BOS makes no sense as a contender or future contender.
Colorado would have been the smartest move for a player who wants to win this year and sign long term for more chances at a cup. They have lots of cap space and a relatively young team. Toronto might have a chance this year but their cap situation could get ugly and they already have a lot of soon to retire players.
So what your saying is, by your logic this is why we call poker a sport. We have sure come a long way from the gladiators of old and not in a good way! It’s all about the money from management down to players. We as fans are the dupes for making them all rich. Not saying your wrong but it still hurts.
Uhhh..
What I’m saying is that Hall chose to sign with Buffalo for a lot of money (likely because there were no good/term offers from contending teams) knowing that if Buffalo were to miss the playoffs he’d end up as a deadline acquisition by a contending team.
That is, he did not simply take the money and run. Rather he signed knowing that he’d get paid, and also that he was basically guaranteed a playoff run of some sort (for Buffalo or other). Basically he entered the year knowing he could most probably have his cake and eat it too.
Speculation, not truth
Are the Caps, Penguins, Isles and Bruins better than the Leafs, Jets, Oilers and Habs? Maybe, may not.
Are the Rangers, Philly and Jersey ahead of Calgary and Vancouver? Maybe, maybe not.
Is Buffalo ahead of Ottawa – I would say no.
Is the division better? Maybe but very well maybe not.
In any event, the way to say its MUCH BETTER is propagating an anti-Oiler narrative at all costs.
Well said!
Yes…yes they are.
That division has 4 top 10 teams in the league while the North only has Toronto.
Here’s one analysts opinion…but there are many others who agree.
https://nhl.nbcsports.com/2021/04/13/nhl-power-rankings-where-things-stand-after-nhl-trade-deadline/
(waiting on you to shoot the messenger but a reminder that your hockey “insight” such as it is, is so Oiler centric, it’s worthless.)
That division also has 2 bottom 5 teams in the league while the North only has Ottawa.
But there is no such thing as a top 10 team or a bottom 5 team in the league this year as they never play against teams outside their own divisions. There is now way to compare them. We can guess but I don’t think anyone really knows until they play each other in the 3rd and 4th rounds of the playoffs. Boston is in 4th in their own division and could end up 5th and out of the playoffs. Why would anyone choose them as their chance at a cup and their future?
I am really excited to see the development of the new winger prospects.
Do we have a current rank order for likelihood of success for the new blood?
Benson (ripe blood)
Marody (ripe blood)
Holloway
Lavoie
Maksi?
Safin?
Savoie?
Tulio?
Likelihood of success (in their role) without concern for how close:
Holloway
Mcleod
Lavoie
Benson
Too early
Savoie (great first season)
Tulio (really sucks he is missing an entire OHL season)
Don’t place real hope
Marody
Maksimov
Safin
I put Maksimov ahead of Lavoie.
May I ask how and why?
Maksimov had 5 goals in 53 AHL games last year. Lavoie already has 2 (granted, with better linemates and on a better team).
Maksimov was drafted in the 5th round (I believe) and Lavoie in the first third of the 2nd round.
I LOVE Maksimov’s shot but, at this point, he is not closer to the NHL nor does he have a higher ceiling than Laovie, in my opinion.
Maksimov is known for work ethic and trying to improve – I will give him that.
Having a hard time distinguishing between potential and likelihood. Maybe something like this:
Highest potential:
Holloway
Savoie
Lavoie
Benson
McLeod
Marody
Maksimov
Tullio
Safin
Likelihood of having an NHL career:
Holloway
McLeod
Benson
Marody
Lavoie
Savoie
Maksimov
Tullio
Safin
Tulio aside (I just don’t know), I generally agree with those lists. I’d probably have Savoie a little lower in potential (below Lavoie and maybe closer to McLeod) and, at this point, I’d have Marody farther down as far as likelihood to have an NHL career – he’s not young. I’d have Lavoie ahead of him in that regard.
Kahun, Ennis, Turris, Russell are four vets that have, IMO, missed the mark. It speaks volumes that Benson or Marody – who have nothing left to prove at the AHL level, are not given these players at bats.
Do you think it is a Holland or Tipp or combo decision?
If they don’t get some reps between now and end of regular season it will be a missed opportunity in my opinion.
I think it is Holland, that sets the roster. I would love to see Benson get NHL time now that the play-off are established and we didn’t get a LW at trade deadline.
Do we want 2 LW rookies next year? JP and KY are learning on RW this year, but at times production is light and we live with it as they learn. This is getting close for home grown solutions.
I agree
I think it’s a combo decision.
I don’t think Tip would play them much if they were with the team. And I don’t think they’d move the needle much even if he did.
I have no issue giving them this season in Bakersfield then a legit shot at camp next year. I think at least one of them is an Oiler next season.
JMO.
I think this is one area where I agree with these two being “old school” and it being an issue.
Holland spoke expressly about these guys less than a week ago and was very clear that he likes them playing 20-22 minutes per night as they are in Bakersfield and they would only get 8-10 minutes per night in the NHL. He essentially said its tough for young players to get more than 8-10 minutes unless they are on special teams and neither of them would be (youngsters on special teams is an early season experiment).
It didn’t sound like the thought of putting Benson on McDavid or Leon’s left wing was a thought that even crossed his mind. Its essentially, call-up and start in the bottom six.
I know that Kailer got the push to the top 6 after 1 game on the 3rd line last year but I think, generally, these two, Holland in particular, see AHL call-ups down the lineup..
It’s a fine line when you are trying to mix player development with a winning team requirement. Messing with team chemistry can upset the apple cart so to speak.
Well, Gretzky, Holland and others do see these players on a regular, if not daily, basis. And they get regular reports.
Why can’t so many fans believe that if Oilers Management, based on what they see and have reported to them, felt these players would be difference makers for the Oilers they’d be in the line-up? If Management felt they could help the Oilers what could possibly be their reason for not having them on the roster?
Just because the fans haven’t seen them “getting at-bats” in the NHL doesn’t mean Management isn’t watching them closely and assessing them.
As an aside, Keith Gretzky is actually spending the entire season in Bakersfield and with the team.
Cool, thanks for the info.
Benson and Marody were not a Holland draft choice or trade would it be different if they were. It’s a small window to make the NHL you have 2 players that are exactly alike one gets a push the other gets washed out. Why? This could be said for 25% of the league in my opinion.
I really wish the “Hard Ons for Hall” fan club would give it a rest once in a while.
Get over it.
There I said it.
Bring on the rain.
Ha ha ha Taylor Hall as an Oiler is history!
Look, I sold my G35 Coupe 330HP, leather seats, low profile tires, beautiful purr. I sold it because I got a wife and had kids. Replaced it with a family car. 6 years later, man would I like that car back.
These players are 100s of games away from helping the Oilers. Lavoie has the most upside of the forward prospects. (Holloway included) Jeff Carter instincts. Just needs a few chances to score. I just think he needs time to adjust to producing those chances himself at the AHL level before he should get his NHL start.
Definitely agree with your sentiments except for one part. Not everyone has to produce chances themselves in order to be promoted. He is coming up to a team with the 2 best playmaking centres in the league. We produce tonnes of chances…we don’t have anyone to CAPITALIZE on those chances. Lavoie was a second round pick, no pressure of a high first rounder who has to do everything. In my eyes, if he can turn into a one touch scorer who just capitalizes on the chances created for him, I will be a happy man
If you cant produce on your own at the AHL level, your going to have a hard time doing it in the NHL. There are a lot of great scorers who dont get that aspect and never play in the NHL because of it. Griffith on the Condors right now is one of them. You either make plays ever shift so you can play in a top 6 role or you learn to be a two way player to play in a depth role. Its a issue Benson and Mcleod will face next year. They are not good enough to be top 6 forwards in the NHL I dont think, so they should be bagging for pk mins on the AHL team so they can show the coaching staff on the NHL team they can play a depth role.
I am not willing to shut the door on Benson being able to be a complimentary left winger on McDavid or Drai’s line.
He has a skill-set that could potentially mesh well with either.
I’m still not happy that he was sent to the Condors to start with – in my opinion he should never have been moved off the taxi squad and should have stayed over the likes of Patrick Russell.
McLeod will have a PK role in the NHL – he PKd as a rookie on the AHL and he is consistent part of the top two PK pairs this season. Benson gets the odd depth PK shift but, even though there is verbal about him learning to PK in the AHL, its not really happening.
If you want true parity, maybe the league tracks the contracts and the teams who land on the NTC’s the most get a % higher salary cap.
While they are at it, maybe further adjust cap for local tax implications.
Were the Oil in on Hall and Foligno but the players wouldn’t waive NTC? That’s really what I want to know. Because we can talk all day about building a perennial contender, but if players for the most part still just won’t come, we are just pissing into the wind.
Friedman, in his 31 Thoughts, repeated that Holland said that he was not in on Taylor Hall, and didn’t seem to doubt that. Sounds like the only other major team in on him was Vegas. As for Foligno, Holland was never going to give up a first for him, let alone a first and two additional draft picks.
I don’t think either of those players give a good gauge into the Oilers’ attractiveness across the league.
Tyson Barrie did just sign here for a million to two million less than he could have got elsewhere, so I would suggest we are improved in this area over years’ past.
I read someone saying a better offer was posed to the Sabres from a team in the West, but that Hall steered himself to the Bruins. Just a reminder that while teams like Edm and TBL play in the same league, they don’t really play in the same league. imo. Just sour grapes here, sorry guys.
It’s certainly a challenge for Edmonton to compete with the big city feel of NYC, the weather of LA, and the tax advantages of Nevada and Florida.
Despite that, I still think the biggest lure of quality players is the ability to win, and for said player to see himself in a role on that winning team.
The Oilers will soon make the playoffs for two consecutive years. That has not happened for 20 years. It’s not much, but consistently getting into the dance, with two of the best players in the world entering their primes, should attract more than enough players that we would need.
Not saying everyone will want to fly up to this northern outpost, but enough will that I don’t think this should be too much of a concern.
Love your optimism and I agree winning will bring some of them. But I don’t think we will ever be saying we on equal footing. Oh well, I suppose that’s part of what makes us the Oilers, and the underdog status makes it that much sweeter when they do have success.
With respect and all due diligence, getting the lottery win + McDavid is seen in certain parts of Calgary as borderline unfair.
Kindly cram your racism up your ass, sir.
That is a despicably racist comment.
Way over the line.
Watching a lot of Tucker Carlson lately there, hunter? I see he also taught you Baizuo.
I see you are a believer of CNN.
What is a CNN?
Finally, my work is acknowledged.
lol you are somewhat likeable, despite yourself.
If you ever need a fault pointed out in someone, let me know.
Neanderthal, twit!
Personally I think it’s Americans that have a hard time with Edmonton. Other Canadians and Euro’s don’t have as much of an issue.
Or shut the F up. You often wrap yourself around trying to entertain, but you are far far from doing so.
Lavoie’s goal last night was exactly what I dream about for McDavid’s LW. Quietly settled in a spot and wait for a pass. When it comes no time wasted, rifle the puck home. If JP continues to mature and continues to cause chaos on the other side, Lavoie’s best attributes will put to great use on the left side.
Alas this likely at least 1-2 years away?
No reason not to play young scorers, provided they aren’t lollygagging around dragging their toes like during the taylorhalljordaneberle era.
Chaos creation will also likely be the calling card of Dylan Holloway’s game.
At this point we don’t know if he’s going to be ending up as a top 6 guy, middle 6 guy or 3rd line guy but I truly see 3C as his floor unless injuries side-track his career.
With that size, skating and dedication, I see a high floor.
Yeah, I don’t see anything less than top 6 wing or 3C in his future.
I don’t really know a ton about Ty Tullio but I do know that he is among Sean Patrick Ryan’s top/favorite prospects and I trust that guy’s intel and opinion with respect to the OHL.
Lavoie does seem to have a similar game in his early AHL career that he did in junior (from what I saw) – he doesn’t impact the game on a shift to shift basis but he makes 2, 3, 4 plays per game that show his high end skill/shot/size/etc. I agree that he has a scorer’s metality – he does work to find the soft spots in the offensive zone. I do look for him to use him big frame more consistently as he develops.
Yes, he’s playing LW with Cracknell and Griffith (a very good AHL line) and on PP2 with Benson, Marody, McLeod and, now, Lennstrom.
I just hope we actually get some of these guys into the NHL before McD is retired. There is no reason going into the playoffs that Benson, McLeod and Marody should be sitting in the AHL.
They have plenty of depth forwards , they probably don’t see much ice time , see Evan Bouchard . Keep them in the Bake so they get a ton of ice time and develop . You don’t need rookies in the playoffs .
Way to many minutes during the regular season for Connor and Leon they need help.
And McLeod et al will help this, will be difference makers?
What is Lavoie’s skating like. That’s always important to make a transition to an NHLer.e.g. Lander, Benson
Marody, Schremp…
Is Lavoie on your list too?
The kiss of death list.
I’m not a great “analyzer of skating” but, from what I see, his skating is fine – he’s got decent speed in a straight line – doesn’t have the world’s best edges but I don’t think skating is going to be an issue for him.
Of course, many many prospects are also able to improve their skating in their first few years of pro working with pro coaches, etc.
He’s a volume shooter with a decent shot when’s the last time we had one of those?