I wrote those words during the Harvest Moon post after the draft one year ago. The pick of Schaefer ran out of time with recent first-round selections in that he was the first WHL first rounder since Kailer Yamamoto in 2017. The WHL has become less important to the Oilers in the Ken Holland era.
Back in 2010, the club stockpiled 11 draft picks and used four of them on WHL players. Although Curtis Hamilton, Tyler Bunz, Brandon Davidson and Drew Czerwonka produced just one NHL player (Davidson), the Oilers would return to the western league many times over the next decade. Since Holland arrived just before the 2019 draft, Edmonton has chosen out of the west three times (Schaefer, Jake Chiasson, Max Wanner) with Schaefer being the only high selection. Will Edmonton go west this year?
Kailer Yamamoto's season is a riddle wrapped in a mystery. His five-on-five scoring rates were on par with his 20-goal season in 2021-22, but injuries, a long slump and (now) single events that turn out poorly have him losing TOI. What is his future? https://t.co/wbMY6VF63A
RC Ty Halaburda, Vancouver Giants (WHL). Small, skilled smart. 13.9
G Thomas Milic, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL). Average size, now 20, someone draft him!
There’s a great deal of talent in this year’s WHL draft pool. I’m not sure how many of these names go in the first round, but last season the dub provided six in the first 32 selections and 28 in all rounds last July. Edmonton chose Reid Schaefer at No. 32 and then dealt him at the deadline.
Edmonton will pick around No. 60 (if they don’t trade the selection in the second round, I think they may) and I think the team’s best WHL value will be in the Sawchin-Cagnoni-Sidorov area. I’m intrigued by Levis, too. Molendyk will go much higher than I have him.
LOWETIDE 2022 DRAFT LIST FROM WHL
RC Matt Savoie (WHL). Scott Wheeler: Inside the offensive zone, he’s lethal.
LD Mats Lindgren (WHL). Flashy two-way defender has some range.
RC Ben King (WHL). Overager spiked this year.
LW James Stefan (WHL). Impressive passing and scoring winger.
LD Graham Sward (WHL). Intelligent two-way defenseman.
GTyler Brennan (WHL). He’s a big goalie, inconsistent, great glove.
LW Brandon Lisowsky (WHL). Undersized goal scorer. Good numbers.
LW Jordan Gustafsson (WHL). Speedy throwback forward.
RW Ben Hemmerling (WHL). Impressive playmaker under the radar.
LC Fraser Minten (WHL). Two-way C with some skill.
RW Matthew Seminoff (WHL). Skill winger with utility.
LC Matthew Ward (WHL). Magic on the power play
RW Brayden Schuurman (WHL). Small winger, can score goals.
LW Eric Alarie (WHL). Big skill winger.
G Thomas Milic (WHL). Average size, great numbers at U18 WJC and WHL playoffs.
LW Josh Filmon (WHL). Tall, lean forward posted good numbers.
LC Connor Hvidston (WHL). Youngest player in the draft and he can play.
HOLLAND AND THE DRAFT
I suspect we’ll see OilersKen Holland trade that second-round selection for an early third and a fourth (or similar). I’m a fan of Alarie, he’s a guy any team could grab at the back of the draft. He’s a little like Tyler Benson (great passing winger) and math has liked him for three years running.
PROJECTED PICKS
No. 26 overall (traded to Nashville in the Mattias Ekholm deal)
No. 58 overall
No. 90 overall (traded to Arizona in the Nick Bjugstad deal)
No. 122 overall (traded to Philadelphia in the Derick Brassard transaction)
No. 154 overall
No. 186 overall
No. 218 overall
For our purposes, to make things more interesting, I’m going to assume Holland deals No. 58 to the Blue Jackets for picks 66 and 115.
2023 MOCK DRAFT
No. 66 overall: LW-C Juraj Pekarcik, HK Nitra (Slovak). He’s setting the U18’s (5, 3-5-8) on fire currently, played in the pro league at 17, is a September 12 birthday (very young for this draft). Complete range of skills, creative and talented. He is not highly ranked currently but will move up after this tournament. He is benefiting from time on the PP with the brilliant Dalibor Dvorsky, but the Oilers must take chances in search of high-end skill and this would be a strong choice imo.
No. 115 overall: RW Yegor Sidorov, Saskatoon Blades (WHL). This is his second year of eligibilty, Oilers often take those players. Sidorov had a strong offensive season (53, 40-36-76, 15PPG, 246 shots on goal) and should Edmonton took him with its first pick you could justify it. He’s 6.0, 180 and from Belarus.
No. 154 overall: RD Dylan MacKinnon, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL). Adam Sherren, who knows the QMJHL extremely well: “He’s a nimble defender. He’s not overly physical and uses his skating and positioning to defend. He’s an interesting prospect to me. Scouts should love his skating potential, he has some size, and that offensive game looks to be developing. I think he’s a guy who can be a draft and follow and he’ll continue to improve each year. It’s worth noting that he’s a right shot too.”
No. 186 overall: LD Rodwin Dionicio, Windsor Spitfires (OHL). He’s another re-entry (March 30, 2004) and a pure puck mover with chaos defensively. A good skater, not a burner, his stickhandling skills and elusiveness are real strengths. Went 50, 15-35-50 with two OHL teams in 2022-23.
No. 218 overall: LW Vilmer Ariksson, Djurgarden Jr (Swe Jr). A true giant (6.06, 214) he has shown offensive ability all down the line.
Q AND A WITH THE GRUMPY GUY
What a mess Holland has made! After 17 long years of being a seller or a humble buyer, Holland made the big trade and I think it was a wise move. Plus it’s worked out well so far. No sale for you on this point.
The prospect pool is gone!! You seem to be especially upset about this, thought I was the draft and prospect nerd.
Oh you are a nerd alright! Why aren’t you upset? The organization is functioning properly. Edmonton is in the window to win, and just as it was in 2006, picks and prospects are heading out of town.
Holland gave up way too much! Actually, I think he did well, honestly. Tyson Barrie was a lot to give up, but his skill set was duplicated on the roster. I have Schaeffer pegged as a future middle-six winger, that’s a good player but expendable. He might be Warren Foegele, or a little better if he plays with a high-end skill center. The 2023 first-round selection will be the most valuable, but it’s not close to a top 15 pick. Holland nailed it.
And he is left without a prospect pool. The Oilers are thin, zero doubt about it. I think we can be safe in saying the last impact player of the McDavid draft cluster is Evan Bouchard. McDavid, Draisaitl, Bouchard, and plenty of solid support throughout the 2010’s drafts. Bob Green did a good job.
Who is left in the system that will push the river? I don’t believe there are any impact players coming, if that’s what you mean.
Who will play a feature role in the future? I think Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway are going to spend some years in feature roles, but I’m not sure what their bell curve looks like from here. Neither man has grabbed a job yet, but there’s real talent there so one expects the Oilers are biding their time.
Until when? Until such time as they pass the established player in front of them (Bouchard over Barrie) and force a trade, or until the organization decides they are expendable in trade. The foundation of the NHL team is set now, there won’t be any impact prospect forcing his way in as a teenager.
So everyone but Holloway and Broberg could be trade bait? Yes, and I think it’s possible those two could be dealt eventually. Look, the future of all prospects in the system, and the players drafted this season, will take place in a world that has McDavid in his late 20’s or early 30’s. No one in the system now is going to be better than 97. So, if he’s still in Edmonton, you’re pushing and the picks and prospects are a means to an end, not the feature story.
Why bother drafting? Trade them all. I think Tyler Wright, Bob Green and the scouting staff are doing it right. Draft pure skill later, you know there are going to be flaws but skill is one thing that is held as most valuable. You can find Reid Schaefer in free agency, or trade for Warren Foegele. However, if Matvey Petrov or Max Wanner or Maxim Berezkin turn into something exceptional, music! I’d risk every pick on a guy like Nikita Yevseyev. Safe is death.
Will they trade the 2024 first-round pick? Probably.
Draft nerds like you are going to have a tough time. I like these years for teams. It forces creative thinking. In the fall, men like Raphael Lavoie, Noah Philp and Cam Dineen will push for NHL work. Chances are one or two make the team, and the others go to Bakersfield and await recall.
And then they emerge as pieces of the future? Probably not. They’re more likely trade pieces, to be honest. If they can play for an inexpensive cap number, there’s a chance they win a job as a role player, but someone like Derek Ryan is going to be more experienced and reliable.
You’re being most unkind to Lavoie. Really, I’m not. Let’s take Ryan McLeod as an example. He has emerged as a very useful player, and will be looking for a raise. He’ll get one, but it’ll be less than hoped. Eventually, he’ll get the Puljujarvi-Yamamoto deal, and expectations will be raised. At that point, the team would sign him and hope he can deliver at a higher level, or replace him at center with Noah Philp or similar. Maybe they just sign Nick Bjugstad and see if McLeod can hit 40 points chipping in on various lines.
You’ve gone mad. No sir. I like Lavoie a lot, but the odds of him playing 244 regular-season games with the Oilers on a skill line are not high. Yamamoto has played that many, but only 58 of those as a $3.1 million winger. If Lavoie can fill the role for $1 million or so, he’ll stay. Once payday comes, the equation changes.
What about Xavier Bourgault? I left him out because I don’t know. He’s a far different player than I thought he would be, honestly. I expect he’ll play in the NHL as a No. 2 or No. 3 right winger with two-way acumen. He is surprising me, so I’m not willing to put him in the possible trade pile. We’ll see.
LOWETIDE AND JAMIESON
A big day on the show, 10-2 on TSN1260. We’ll chat about the Oilers, the Jets-Vegas, the Kraken and the TML. Plus it’s NFL draft day (well, day one) and we’ll talk about it, NBA today what a wild night there. 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. See you on the radio!
So it’s Vegas if we get by the Kings. Looks like Vegas are saints as WPG got zero PP. With all the days off were are getting now – rest will not be not such a big issue if we can close out the Kings on Saturday. Much better opponent in terms of style, we always seem to play well in Vegas, and their goaltending does not scare me at all. Finish the job in LA on Saturday and hope SEA plays out of their heads tomorrow.
Impressive effort by WPG- they scored 1 and had another called back (and reset the clock)…so they played almost 10 min with an empty net and didn’t get scored on
Yeah something’s rotten in the ‘Peg. When Maurice abruptly resigned (only to turn up fresh with Florida this year) he made some cryptic comments about fatigue and ineffectiveness. They still exceeded expectations this year tho.
Yamomoto will absolutely be traded at the draft for a pick or improvement to our draft position. He can be replaced internally by Lavoie, Kostin or Connor Brown on a very cheap deal, and if that doesn’t work, then a cheap trade deadline winger. Brown is a very obvious target and a bonus-laden deal works for everyone. Yamamoto out is a “no-brainer”.
Signing Bjugstad is a priority for me – and if we need to trade Foegle to do it – then so be it. It’s up to Bjugstad though. He seems to have found a home and there’s not much left of his career to roll the dice on. EDM may not be his first choice all things considered – but it’s his safest choice.
You need a bit of churn on the roster every year but bottom 6 forward is the place that happens. Maybe we pick through the UFA bin for a cheap 4C/13th forward. I doubt anything happens on defense and goal as big changes have been made there over the past 12 months and things need to stabilize. We go 11-7 a lot next year with 5 centers able to split the L4 minutes.
Kane McD Hyman
RNH Drai Kostin
McLeod Bjugstad Janmark or Brown Holloway Ryan Lavoie
I can’t remember who mentioned him first in a pre-deadline trade proposal, but I do recall that I said that trading for him was a no-brainer. He was often mentioned as an add-in for the Chychrun or Gostisbehere trade proposals.
I like Bjudgstad, but agree with others that we won’t be able to afford re-signing him with the price point he’ll command.
Bjugstad would be nice to keep, but he’s American and headed for his last big contract. I won’t fault him for taking the money and running.
Thats the game we have to play, sign the next guy who needs a bump before their last big contract. Catch and release. I am hoping for a trade deadline RW with term next year, but perhaps thats a pipe dream.
Hey I get it but if Bjugstad wants a cup then his present team is probably offers the best chance to do that once or twice before he hangs it up. He said it himself that winning a SC is the most important thing for him at this point. He could bolt for the highest dollar, but I’ve got a feeling that other factors are in play that favor his present team.
MushedPeas
April 27, 2023 8:32 pm
Vegas looking more formidable than they did a month ago.
Winnipeg sleepwalking to start periods will give them the honour of being the first eliminated team.
Edmonton and Toronto left to carry Canada’s hopes.
Well, yeah, they did win the conference!
Turns out VGK had the easiest matchup in the playoffs – Jets are paper tigers and Hellebuyck has been mortal.
If the Oilers prevail and bring their vs-LA-level-game, Broissoit won’t last long. Would be an awesome series, but just speculation for now.
I didn’t watch much of it tonight, largely due to the score and oh the Leafs are losing, but to my eye the players think they have anough firepower, they can just blow teams out. And they certainly are a dangerous team. But with little commitment to defense and hard hockey, how far can they go?
There will be a double or triple header of Canadian teams on Saturday, depending how this Vegas-Jets game goes.
The only question (I think) is, if it’s a triple header, which team plays the late game. I’m having a hard time figuring how the Jets could be the late team if that happens (and likewise how anyone could make the Oilers-Kings play at 1PM local time if it’s only a double header).
If Winnipeg wins, I still think the oilers will play in the afternoon. Winnipeg already played a home game in the afternoon last weekend and I bet the oilers will draw short straw this time.
An afternoon game might actually favour the Oilers – closer to their standard time, younger legs, etc. Am confident Manwood has calculated all permutations.
lol… me neither. Happy for the score in the Jets game all of a sudden.
Munny 2.0
April 27, 2023 7:44 pm
If I were the Leafs coach I would have had the refs check the correct time on that whistle (should be about 16 to my eye), before I call a timeout. buy more time
Edit: and Tampa ices it with an ENer
Last edited 1 year ago by Munny 2.0
Munny 2.0
April 27, 2023 7:39 pm
Leafs pull their goalie now. that surprised me but actually makes sense
Boil-in-the-Oil
April 27, 2023 7:27 pm
Now (7 mins remaining) 2 goal lead for Tampa. Leafs feelin’ like… here we go again.
I laff.
— I think the Leafs are going to go deep. It’s going to be awful tmrw to wake up in Leaf nation hearing how they slayed the Tampa curse. Then later Boston.
— FUN FACT : my loathing of Leafs fans is widely know. There is a significant subset of especially moronic Leaf former fans who “gave up after the lost so and so series”. Or “I’m not cheering untill they win a series”. It’s going to be a long suffering playoff season here for me I suspect.
No question compared to Tampa, Toronto advancing will generate more revenue, but 2 extra games in the series would also be huge. And if Toronto plays Boston, then the Rangers, both those teams would boost league revenues similarly to Toronto with long runs. Carolina, New Jersey, the Islanders and especially Florida, like Tampa, would also not be as nearly as positive for league revenue as Toronto. But how much of a dent would that make in the debt owed still by the players?
The Leafs currently generate great gobs of revenue as a losing franchise. Not likely their revenues grow at all if they win a series. It is a gigantic hockey market, winning is not required.
Their playoff gate revenue per playoff game played would be significantly higher than Tampa’s which would all increase the league revenue.
The only extra league revenue being generated in the playoffs that matters are gate sales (based on team prices – not resale price), concessions (which are probably similar everywhere, merchandise sales and in arena advertising. All incemental tv revenues from ads at this point accrues to the networks not the leagues (but more revenue for the networks helps in future contract negotiations).
Basically the dream scenario for the league for this years revenue would be New York, Toronto, Boston to all play 7 games series, go to the division finals, with the Rangers and the Leafs playing a 7 game Conference final and have the Stanley Cup finals go seven games. To be honest of the teams in the west, Edmonton can generate as much gate revenue as LA. No other team in the west that made the playoffs is as valuable a franchise as the Oilers. La would probably generate more TV revenue for the US networks, but that is irrelevant to this year’s NHL revenue.
I couldn’t possibly calculate it but needless to say it would be huge.
Playoff tickets in Toronto, NY and Boston are comically expensive and I would think a Toronto appearance in the final would drive them even higher nevermind the sales of jerseys and other items which the league gets a share of.
Sportsnet would also be big winner as there are millions of Leaf fans across the country and a few million more who would watch to see if these lose.
Casual fans from all over will tune in to see McDavid in the finals, like we watched and cheered for/against LeBron, Brady, Judge…
On a related note, I’m wondering why the NHL doesn’t volunteer the Oilers for their overseas showcase (this year in Sweden)? The teams generally don’t like this – it’s disruptive and most players are well-travelled – but they’re a global brand for the moment.
flyfish1168
April 27, 2023 1:28 pm
Interesting comment by Frank that the players will get it right away by calling a penalty. The problem is the refs need to have the intestinal fortitude to call the numerous diving penalties that they have let go to this point. They should have been calling it in games 1 and 2. Shows how pathetic refs are to call Leon on for unsportsmanlike.
It’s surprising the officials don’t feel totally embarrassed to have been made to look extremely foolish by the embellishing player (diver).
Reja
April 27, 2023 12:41 pm
So Makar gets to play game 6 while all-star McCann Seattle best player doesn’t. Makar should of been Suspended for 3 games at the least. There is no defending what Makar did. I wanna see Kraken win game 6 while getting their pound of flesh on dirtbag Makar.
Yeah a three game suspension would have been the right call — after the baffling decision to reduce the original penalty to a minor, the one game suspension was basically telling the world that it should have been five and a game.
Makar hit McCann when everyone in the stadium know the play was over and the puck out of play — it was a dirty, non-hockey play and put McCann’s safety at risk. Brutal call.
What?! Star players on Stanley Cup winning teams receive preferential treatment from officials? Say it ain’t so.
Next you’ll be claiming NHL referees engage in game management. Or their hesitant to give the Oilers calls this series with a PP scoring at nearly a 60% pace.
Yeah, I was never expecting much from the NHL.
On the one hand, Makar is important enough to his team’s success that he won’t do something similar anytime soon — so one game was kinda enough.
On the other hand, if a fourth liner does something similar in the future — potentially taking out a key piece from the other team in a close series — it might look like a good investment.
McDavid recieved a 2 game suspension a few years ago for a hockey play. There is no comparison between the 2 plays. Those assholes in Toronto are so jealous we got their boy that they give the best player in the world 2 games for a honest hit. Colorado has always recieved under the table favours from the league.
Victoria Oil
April 27, 2023 11:30 am
LT, you haven’t told us yet who Nashville will take with the 32nd pick.
defmn
April 27, 2023 10:36 am
However, if Matvey Petrov or Max Wanner or Maxim Berezkin turn into something exceptional, music! I’d risk every pick on a guy like Nikita Yevseyev. Safe is death.
======================
Couldn’t agree more. When the team is in the contending window you swing for the fences with the draft picks you have managed to hold on to.
SoCaloil
April 27, 2023 10:14 am
Your take on Borgault is interesting; I don’t know enough to comment but I find it interesting. You do need ELT folks for cap structure reasons.
I’m encouraged to see Broberg’s progression despite him not grabbing a full time role.
He’s got the toolkit and needs to play a bit more.
Would love it if we could sign Bjugstad but cap $$ will be tight again.
It seems like he’s enjoying himself here and he’s young enough to make it a longer contract.
Your take on the window is correct, and the prospect pool will be thinned out further, but the benefit of being a contender is there will be a FA available to sign at discount $$ for the hope of winning a cup ala Maroon and Corey Perry (not suggesting those 2 specifically).
I’d rather have some cap flex at deadline than get too crazy maxing out everything resigning players.
Like sure, if you can take Derek Ryan’s salary and bjugstad and turn that into bjugstad under 2 million on a 1-3 year but if he’s going to get paid they have to walk him.
500k under cap is around a 2.2 million dollar player at deadline.
I doubt Bjugstad re-signs with the Oilers; he should be able to get between 2-3 million on a long-term deal … see Calle Jarnkrok’s contract for comparison … after a good regular season and so far a good playoff appearance. Still is a great trade by Holland. Huge RHC who can skate and have decent hands are rare … he’s going to get paid.
Derek Ryan is 36 … he’s been great this season, but Father Time comes for everyone. If he’s not open to taking 1 year deals at league minimum, then you walk away. Shore should not get more than league minimum either.
Janmark is more of a priority to sign than Ryan. That guy has some game. But I wouldn’t pay him much more than he’s getting right now.
Foegele has turned a corner. He’s still overpriced, but I’m not spending an asset to send him away. Let him play the last year of his deal out.
Yamamoto has fallen off a cliff this season. But I’m not spending an asset to move him out either, though I would explore if their is a market to take him off our hands … they managed to get rid of Jesse without a sweetener, so it can be done, if there is another team that believes that they can fix whatever ails Yamo. Sometimes promising players don’t pan out though.
Kostin and Ryan are the two forwards who deserve a raise over what they made this season. If both can be locked up long-term at reasonable cap hits, then they are good bets to become value deals in the long run.
And of course, the deeper the Oilers go this post-season, the more expensive Bouchard’s next deal becomes. I really wish they could have locked him up before they traded Barrie.
Next year, the early season is for finding out which of Holloway, Lavoie, Bourgault, Philip can be regular contributors. Our D looks set. Skinner is the starter. UFA will bring some new guys on bargain deals, and the market is still squeezed of cap space. Save some cap space for later, so that there is cap space to stock up at the trade deadline.
1. Ryan agreed league min 1 yr
2. Janmark…close to where he’s at sure
3. Bjugstad agreed likely cost more I’d entertain it but only up to a point and no more than 2-3 yrs
I can’t see any team trading for him nevermind his salary. Something is wrong with Yamo he avoids contact and the puck like leprosy maybe they LTIR him next year. I hate buyouts but you have to pay Bouchard, McLeod and Kostin definitely deserves a 2 year deal with a raise.
Not sure what you’re watching, but Yamo is being credited by the NHL for giving and receiving hits at rates very similar to last year’s playoffs, and substantially higher than his regular season rate. So far this playoffs, he has recorded ~10 hits per 60 and received ~12.5 hits per 60. Typically in the regular season he is credited with 6 hits per 60 and receives 7 hits per 60. Worth noting, the only 2 players on the Oilers this playoffs to be hit more often than Yamamoto are Derek Ryan and Klim Kostin. Doesn’t seem like a guy avoiding contact at all.
Unless another actual injury crops up, Yamamoto is not destined for LTIR next season.
I am not excusing his lack of production, nor can I fully explain it, but it is clear that for the time being, Woody has made an adjustment switching Yamamoto and Bjudstadt’s places in the line up for 5 on 5.
If you can’t trade a young 20 goal scorer despite this season which has reasons, you shouldn’t be a GM. No need for a buyout which is almost always a problem later
Yeah, I don’t think Bouchard’s agent was looking to sign long term earlier in the season. Just my opinion but if I was his agent I would be looking for a one year deal to get Bouchard to arbitration next summer with a reported rising cap and covid escrow in the rear view mirror.
That makes sense. Hopefully Holland can get him signed for 2 or 3 years instead at a reasonable number. Though that gets more difficult the more games Bouchard plays as a point per game defenseman.
He wasn’t on ELC though. He was in year two of his second contract.
Munny 2.0
April 27, 2023 10:07 am
Little tidbit from Bob’s show yesterday I forgot to mention. Stauffer was talking to Janmark before the game and he swore to Bob he will play next series, no matter the pain.
He was skating (not participating) in practice today
Elgin R
April 27, 2023 10:03 am
I was listening to NHL radio of Sirius yesterday and the question of who the 2nd best player in the NHL came up. The TO based host and guests all raved about Nathan MacKinnon while giving Leon just a little credit (he plays with McDavid after all they said!). I will take a moment to dispell the myth of Nathan Mackinnon. Please note that I believe NM is a very good player, just not as good as the Germanator (especially in the playoffs where it really counts).
Scoring Regular Season (Career) – Win to Leon
LD: 638 games / 306-438-744 / 1.17 pts per game
NM: 709 games / 284-475-759 / 1.07 pts per game
Scoring Playoffs (Career) – Win to Leon
LD: 42 games / 24-45-69 / 1.64 pts per game
NM: 75 games / 44-55-99 / 1.32 pts per game
Scoring Playoffs (2023) – Win to Leon
LD: 5 games / 6-4-10 / 2.00 pts per game
NM: 5 games / 3-3-6 / 1.20 pts per game
TOI Playoffs (2023) – Win to Leon
LD: 115.3 TOI / 3.2 SH TOI / 69.3 oZS% / 108.1 PDO
NM: 115.7 TOI / 0.4 SH TOI / 72.0 oZS% / 106.3 PDO
On top of all of the above data, Leon is available more to help his team. NM does get injured alot.
The question should be ‘Would you rather have NM or LD on your team right now?’ I take LD all day long and twice on Sundays (if Sunday is a playoff game day).
Also, the Avs D has been significantly stronger than the Oilers D for the majority of MacKinnon/Drai’s careers. Drai has been putting up huge numbers taking ‘outlet passes’ from Mark Fayne and Adam Larsson. Meanwhile, MacKinnon is playing with Toews and Makar.
I would take Drai because he is better. And more handsome. And does more entertaining interviews.
No question that MacKinnon has, for most of his seasons since 2015 played a greater proportion of his TOI with the likes of Rantanen and Landeskog. But Leon has had pretty good company for a lot of his ice time since he became a regular back in 2015. Leon has played approximately 3,600 of his 5 on 5 minutes in the company of Connor McDavid (38% of his total TOI 5 on 5 since 2015) easily the best linemate any forward in the NHL can have over that stretch and its not even close.
Leon’s first year in the league, he had Taylor Hall as his winger for almost 900 minutes. And since 2019, he has played 1,300 minutes with RNH (and almost 100% of that is without McDavid). So in his career so far, at 5 on 5, he has had a first overall pick on his line for 5,800 of his 9,100 minutes of 5 on 5 ice time. And if you think RNH plays second fiddle to Landeskog, in his career, RNH has scored more points and more points per game than Landeskog.
Yes Leon has played a lot with Yamamoto as well, (~2,000) minutes, but other than the one season with Kahun (a total of 340 minutes together), most of Leon’s time with Yamamoto has had RNH, Kane or Hyman as the other winger.
Throw in that Leon has 255 points on the power play in his career, where over 90% of those points have come with playing with McDavid as well,
Not discrediting Draisaitl, or suggesting MacKinnon is better – IMO Draisaitl is the 2nd best player in the world – but he his most common linemates in the last 6 years have been McDavid and Nurse.
Edit: Should have read Redbird62’s post first. Oops.
Last edited 1 year ago by OmJo
Pretendergast
April 27, 2023 10:00 am
Am I wildly biased or was that Mackinnon trip at max a soft call? Glad they didn’t get it and undrafted Tye Kartye (thanks for the name mom and dad) made his mark.
This is where the Oil should be mining to supplement the core imo. More certainty in a 20 year old than 18 year old late round lotto tickets for secondary pieces.
MacKinnon flat out cost his team a goal by playing the fool instead of playing the puck, then being slow on the backcheck while a rank newby scored a goal by simply continuing to play the game whilke MacKinnon took himself out of it. Not just any goal, either, but the go-ahead goal in a tied game AND series. An extremely bad & selfish error.
Marginal penalty at best, I think there may have been a clash of skates, but play through it like the champ you’re supposed to be.
Jared Bednar mentioned it in the post game. Would love to be a fly on the wall when the two inevitably have it out. The coach has every reason to be pissed.
I see he was +2 for the night so he must have pulled the old rec hockey ‘dive into the bench if you’re going to be scored on’ trick. Or he slowly temper-tantrumed his way to the bench and left his replacement holding the bag for the dash one.
Yes, I believe it was Compher who took the -1 for MacKinnon’s late change.
Ek Comb
April 27, 2023 9:58 am
Six Game Ones were won by the lower seeds.
But now everything is back to normal with all the series leads being held by higher seeds… EXCEPT the AVALANCHED. #KeepKraken
There’s no game tonight, you don’t need to start drinking this early.
Bouchard? Schaefer was a fine bet – we’ll see what he turns into.
Broberg’s song has not yet been written.
Bourgault has miles of track to run before there’s a verdict.
Holloway etc.
Yamo has more than covered his bet for a pick in the 20s.
The list goes on – I’m not seeing bad drafting there. The second rounds picks being largely dealt is another issue but we can’t say guys like Lavoie and McLeod are busts. McLeod’s been pretty darn useful the last few seasons. Lavoie has spiked this year.
I didn’t say bad drafting, Broberg was a reach, Holloway was a reach. You make picks like these because you think you know something other teams don’t. 2015 draft was a disaster . I’m rating the GM and scouts as professionals, they could’ve done better. Hindsight is 20;20 but you could say that about any job.
Evan Bouchard and Darnell Nurse would like a word. Also, Draisaitl was not necessarily an easy pick. I loved the guy and was hoping like hell they would draft him, but he had plenty of detractors. Oilers did well.
Bill Guerin should be G.M of the year with the 13 million in buyout money for years to come on Parise and Suter he’s building a fine team. I thought Zegras and Caulfield would pan out but the pick of Boldy was pure genius 6’ 2” 205 that drives to the hoop with baby soft hands. He’s going to be a 35-40 Goals per year for the next decade.
Good for him for how far he has gotten them under the circumstances he created, but we’ll see how long that lasts. For next season, Guerin has only $8 million to spend on 7 roster spots. That might be reasonable, but he has to include 2 top 4 defenseman in that since Klingberg and Dumba are not signed and they are the clear 2nd pairing right now. And Jared Spurgeon, their number 1D, is 33 and signed for 4 more years at $7.75 million.
Add in Fleury is 38, signed for 1 more year at $3.5 million, Gustavsson, who they are riding in the playoffs, is an RFA with arb rights (he will get a big raise based on this season), and Wallstadt (their goalie of the future) has yet to play an NHL game, his goaltending will likely be a challenge as well, since he has no cap to manage that.
Overall, its not like the Wild are a young team, at 12th oldest in the league (the Oilers are 18th oldest). Zuccarello is going to be 36 in September. And though Kaprizov and Ek have emerged for them over the last 2 to 3 seasons, they were drafted at the same time as McDavid and are the same age. So anyone who thinks those two can keep rising to make the team better would have to acknowledge that McDavid can also keep rising as well.
Agreed. Our GM also sees value in normal NHL size and strong skating with skill
I think some US based GMs perhaps didn’t like Zegras’ showboating despite the skill
flyfish1168
April 27, 2023 8:54 am
Nice post LT.
It is difficult waiting for the next game after going every other night. I hope they decide on game time soon for Saturday so we can plan. Obviously, they are waiting to see how the other games play out.It is rare to see an afternoon game in Lala land.
Given that the Rangers/Devils game is scheduled for 8 EDT, it’s likely that the networks will also want to see if they need to schedule Toronto/ Tampa in prime time.
Our golf season is so short. it would be a 1 PM Pacific time start. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a LA King start at home at that time. I could be wrong. I would have to miss this game, unfortunately.
Gregor was saying it is possible that it’s a 2 PM MT start. I really don’t get that at all.
Devils-Rangers and Oilers-Kings are playing on Saturday for sure, with Lightning-Leafs and Knights-Jets also possible if the Leafs and Knights can’t end those series tonight.
Just trying to use logic (not always a good idea), the Oilers-Kings game is in LA (Pacific time), while the Kinghts-Jets game would be in Winnipeg (Central time).
You’d think the Kings would get their home game starting at their normal local time (ie – 8PM-ish MT) instead of them starting at 1PM local time while Winnipeg plays a home game starting at 9PM local.
If the Kinghts can finish off the Jets tonight then I assume the Oilers-Kings would have a later start for sure since the other game(s) will be played on the east coast.
Landeskog Kane
Burakovsky hyman
Nichuskin pick next best winger
Kadri nuge
Makar for the game Bouchard
McKinnon rantanen vs mcdrai
I still would prefer playing Seattle over LA as far as degree of difficulty but I was hoping drai would feast on kings and if they got put of this series they would be harder past it.
Colorado is not even close to the team they were last year.
8 pm game it is
So it’s Vegas if we get by the Kings. Looks like Vegas are saints as WPG got zero PP. With all the days off were are getting now – rest will not be not such a big issue if we can close out the Kings on Saturday. Much better opponent in terms of style, we always seem to play well in Vegas, and their goaltending does not scare me at all. Finish the job in LA on Saturday and hope SEA plays out of their heads tomorrow.
Jets pull the goalie with 8 min left
never seen that before
Been unfolding like a basketball game since…
Impressive effort by WPG- they scored 1 and had another called back (and reset the clock)…so they played almost 10 min with an empty net and didn’t get scored on
Vegas thru to round 2
The panel was speculating about WPG plans this summer
Dubois – RFA with no current contract
Wheeler, Scheifele and Hellybuck all have 1 year left
Ehlers 2 years left at $6M
I think Dubois’ decision will factor into their medium/long term plans – get him signed and play on with this core. If not….
Ehlers would look good on the Oilers
Elliott reiterated this point as they signed off – he said the big one was Hellybuck
Eye opening presser by Bowness after the loss
‘disappointed and disgusted – same crap as back in Feb – no pushback’
Wow
Yeah something’s rotten in the ‘Peg. When Maurice abruptly resigned (only to turn up fresh with Florida this year) he made some cryptic comments about fatigue and ineffectiveness. They still exceeded expectations this year tho.
Winnipeg’s goose is cooked.
The lack of salary cap during the playoffs has done wonders for healing Mark Stone’s back.
If you’re not cheating…you’re not trying.
why am I not surprised to read this from you lol…
Jets look a little dazed and confused.
… Lowry and Appleton do better.
Huge hole though
Yamomoto will absolutely be traded at the draft for a pick or improvement to our draft position. He can be replaced internally by Lavoie, Kostin or Connor Brown on a very cheap deal, and if that doesn’t work, then a cheap trade deadline winger. Brown is a very obvious target and a bonus-laden deal works for everyone. Yamamoto out is a “no-brainer”.
Signing Bjugstad is a priority for me – and if we need to trade Foegle to do it – then so be it. It’s up to Bjugstad though. He seems to have found a home and there’s not much left of his career to roll the dice on. EDM may not be his first choice all things considered – but it’s his safest choice.
You need a bit of churn on the roster every year but bottom 6 forward is the place that happens. Maybe we pick through the UFA bin for a cheap 4C/13th forward. I doubt anything happens on defense and goal as big changes have been made there over the past 12 months and things need to stabilize. We go 11-7 a lot next year with 5 centers able to split the L4 minutes.
Kane McD Hyman
RNH Drai Kostin
McLeod Bjugstad Janmark or Brown
Holloway Ryan Lavoie
Nurse CC
Ek Bouch
Kulak Bro Big D
Skinner/ Campbell
I can’t remember who mentioned him first in a pre-deadline trade proposal, but I do recall that I said that trading for him was a no-brainer. He was often mentioned as an add-in for the Chychrun or Gostisbehere trade proposals.
I like Bjudgstad, but agree with others that we won’t be able to afford re-signing him with the price point he’ll command.
Bjugstad would be nice to keep, but he’s American and headed for his last big contract. I won’t fault him for taking the money and running.
Thats the game we have to play, sign the next guy who needs a bump before their last big contract. Catch and release. I am hoping for a trade deadline RW with term next year, but perhaps thats a pipe dream.
Hey I get it but if Bjugstad wants a cup then his present team is probably offers the best chance to do that once or twice before he hangs it up. He said it himself that winning a SC is the most important thing for him at this point. He could bolt for the highest dollar, but I’ve got a feeling that other factors are in play that favor his present team.
Vegas looking more formidable than they did a month ago.
Jets are a shell of an NHL team right now, though.
I haven’t watched this series, but the Jets are without what Ehlers, Scheifele, and Morrissey?
What team can win a series if you subtract their #1C, #1D, and #1 LW/Winger?
Ehlers is in tonight but clearly not 100%. Jets just can’t get to VGK’s net. Oilers* will NOT have that problem
Vegas just locking it down…Jets with only 5 shots in the first period.
Winnipeg sleepwalking to start periods will give them the honour of being the first eliminated team.
Edmonton and Toronto left to carry Canada’s hopes.
Vegas just dominant.
With all the other series potentially going into the weekend, Vegas will get almost a week off to heal any bumps and bruises.
They will be a very tough opponent in the next round.
Well, yeah, they did win the conference!
Turns out VGK had the easiest matchup in the playoffs – Jets are paper tigers and Hellebuyck has been mortal.
If the Oilers prevail and bring their vs-LA-level-game, Broissoit won’t last long. Would be an awesome series, but just speculation for now.
I would assume you believe the Kraken were just “locking it down” last night as well?
They actually do that very well…a very deep team but their goaltending is always a crap shoot,
Wow. NYR just imploding after looking so dominant in the first 2 games. All those marquee players, and who is this Akira Schmid channeling Dryden?
I didn’t watch much of it tonight, largely due to the score and oh the Leafs are losing, but to my eye the players think they have anough firepower, they can just blow teams out. And they certainly are a dangerous team. But with little commitment to defense and hard hockey, how far can they go?
New Jersey also has Dellow running the spreadsheets looking for a match up edge.
Are you saying the Devils are in the details?
Well our guys definitely not playing at 5pm local on Saturday
Yeah- Ron Mclean just mentioned triple header a minute ago – we’ll be 7 PST, maybe 7:30
*assuming a WPG victory tonight
Lol.
There will be a double or triple header of Canadian teams on Saturday, depending how this Vegas-Jets game goes.
The only question (I think) is, if it’s a triple header, which team plays the late game. I’m having a hard time figuring how the Jets could be the late team if that happens (and likewise how anyone could make the Oilers-Kings play at 1PM local time if it’s only a double header).
If Winnipeg wins, I still think the oilers will play in the afternoon. Winnipeg already played a home game in the afternoon last weekend and I bet the oilers will draw short straw this time.
OK, that makes sense at least. I hadn’t thought of the Jets already ‘paying their dues’ with an afternoon game.
I guess I’d still wonder how much the Jets and their fans would prefer a 9PM local start to a 3PM local start.
Assuming the Leafs play at 7ET (they will) the game in Winnipeg is going to be multiple hours off from a ‘normal’ start time no matter what.
Perhaps Vegas will make the whole question moot.
I just read Gregor’s latest over at ON
He stated that the Oilers game will either be 1pm PST or 7pm PST
I think if you read between the lines then yes, the Oilers will get the afternoon game if WPG wins, and follow the Leafs game if WPG loses
Thanks.
An afternoon game might actually favour the Oilers – closer to their standard time, younger legs, etc. Am confident Manwood has calculated all permutations.
Doesn’t favour my schedule at all though!
lol… me neither. Happy for the score in the Jets game all of a sudden.
If I were the Leafs coach I would have had the refs check the correct time on that whistle (should be about 16 to my eye), before I call a timeout. buy more time
Edit: and Tampa ices it with an ENer
Leafs pull their goalie now. that surprised me but actually makes sense
Now (7 mins remaining) 2 goal lead for Tampa. Leafs feelin’ like… here we go again.
I laff.
These leaves can come back (not quite Oiler quality, but close)
They’ve already done it this series, so they will have belief and the Bolts some doubt, although also some desperation
did that Maroon hit on Gio look that hard?
Shoulder to shoulder, head never got hit and also didn’t hit the glass.
The boarding non-calls on durzi and doughty hits on our players was worst and much harder. So stop your whining leaf fans
It’s what Make BeLeafs fans do….
Fantastic seeing Boston’s 30+ year old players forced to play another game en route to a possible final series vs The Edmonton McDraisaitl’s.
Even better: Watching Seattle take the Cup winners to the brink.
— I think the Leafs are going to go deep. It’s going to be awful tmrw to wake up in Leaf nation hearing how they slayed the Tampa curse. Then later Boston.
— FUN FACT : my loathing of Leafs fans is widely know. There is a significant subset of especially moronic Leaf former fans who “gave up after the lost so and so series”. Or “I’m not cheering untill they win a series”. It’s going to be a long suffering playoff season here for me I suspect.
Let’s not be hasty, they still have the possibility of a complete melt down. Not looking good but the potential is there.
The Leafs advancing would be very good for the league.
They generate huge amounts of HRR and massive TV ratings.
The higher revenue will help pay off escrow much faster and free the upper limit of the cap from its blockage…floats all boats.
No question compared to Tampa, Toronto advancing will generate more revenue, but 2 extra games in the series would also be huge. And if Toronto plays Boston, then the Rangers, both those teams would boost league revenues similarly to Toronto with long runs. Carolina, New Jersey, the Islanders and especially Florida, like Tampa, would also not be as nearly as positive for league revenue as Toronto. But how much of a dent would that make in the debt owed still by the players?
The Leafs currently generate great gobs of revenue as a losing franchise. Not likely their revenues grow at all if they win a series. It is a gigantic hockey market, winning is not required.
There are literally millions of Leafs bandwagon fans across the country.
You would see a sea of jerseys pop up if they advance.
Their playoff gate revenue per playoff game played would be significantly higher than Tampa’s which would all increase the league revenue.
The only extra league revenue being generated in the playoffs that matters are gate sales (based on team prices – not resale price), concessions (which are probably similar everywhere, merchandise sales and in arena advertising. All incemental tv revenues from ads at this point accrues to the networks not the leagues (but more revenue for the networks helps in future contract negotiations).
Basically the dream scenario for the league for this years revenue would be New York, Toronto, Boston to all play 7 games series, go to the division finals, with the Rangers and the Leafs playing a 7 game Conference final and have the Stanley Cup finals go seven games. To be honest of the teams in the west, Edmonton can generate as much gate revenue as LA. No other team in the west that made the playoffs is as valuable a franchise as the Oilers. La would probably generate more TV revenue for the US networks, but that is irrelevant to this year’s NHL revenue.
I couldn’t possibly calculate it but needless to say it would be huge.
Playoff tickets in Toronto, NY and Boston are comically expensive and I would think a Toronto appearance in the final would drive them even higher nevermind the sales of jerseys and other items which the league gets a share of.
Sportsnet would also be big winner as there are millions of Leaf fans across the country and a few million more who would watch to see if these lose.
Casual fans from all over will tune in to see McDavid in the finals, like we watched and cheered for/against LeBron, Brady, Judge…
On a related note, I’m wondering why the NHL doesn’t volunteer the Oilers for their overseas showcase (this year in Sweden)? The teams generally don’t like this – it’s disruptive and most players are well-travelled – but they’re a global brand for the moment.
Interesting comment by Frank that the players will get it right away by calling a penalty. The problem is the refs need to have the intestinal fortitude to call the numerous diving penalties that they have let go to this point. They should have been calling it in games 1 and 2. Shows how pathetic refs are to call Leon on for unsportsmanlike.
It’s surprising the officials don’t feel totally embarrassed to have been made to look extremely foolish by the embellishing player (diver).
So Makar gets to play game 6 while all-star McCann Seattle best player doesn’t. Makar should of been Suspended for 3 games at the least. There is no defending what Makar did. I wanna see Kraken win game 6 while getting their pound of flesh on dirtbag Makar.
Yeah a three game suspension would have been the right call — after the baffling decision to reduce the original penalty to a minor, the one game suspension was basically telling the world that it should have been five and a game.
Makar hit McCann when everyone in the stadium know the play was over and the puck out of play — it was a dirty, non-hockey play and put McCann’s safety at risk. Brutal call.
They won’t want to give a “star” player that kind of form.
The single game sets a precedent but nothing too awkward.
I’m just telling it like it is, for what it’s worth.
What?! Star players on Stanley Cup winning teams receive preferential treatment from officials? Say it ain’t so.
Next you’ll be claiming NHL referees engage in game management. Or their hesitant to give the Oilers calls this series with a PP scoring at nearly a 60% pace.
Yeah, I was never expecting much from the NHL.
On the one hand, Makar is important enough to his team’s success that he won’t do something similar anytime soon — so one game was kinda enough.
On the other hand, if a fourth liner does something similar in the future — potentially taking out a key piece from the other team in a close series — it might look like a good investment.
McDavid recieved a 2 game suspension a few years ago for a hockey play. There is no comparison between the 2 plays. Those assholes in Toronto are so jealous we got their boy that they give the best player in the world 2 games for a honest hit. Colorado has always recieved under the table favours from the league.
LT, you haven’t told us yet who Nashville will take with the 32nd pick.
However, if Matvey Petrov or Max Wanner or Maxim Berezkin turn into something exceptional, music! I’d risk every pick on a guy like Nikita Yevseyev. Safe is death.
======================
Couldn’t agree more. When the team is in the contending window you swing for the fences with the draft picks you have managed to hold on to.
Your take on Borgault is interesting; I don’t know enough to comment but I find it interesting. You do need ELT folks for cap structure reasons.
I’m encouraged to see Broberg’s progression despite him not grabbing a full time role.
He’s got the toolkit and needs to play a bit more.
Would love it if we could sign Bjugstad but cap $$ will be tight again.
It seems like he’s enjoying himself here and he’s young enough to make it a longer contract.
Your take on the window is correct, and the prospect pool will be thinned out further, but the benefit of being a contender is there will be a FA available to sign at discount $$ for the hope of winning a cup ala Maroon and Corey Perry (not suggesting those 2 specifically).
I’d rather have some cap flex at deadline than get too crazy maxing out everything resigning players.
Like sure, if you can take Derek Ryan’s salary and bjugstad and turn that into bjugstad under 2 million on a 1-3 year but if he’s going to get paid they have to walk him.
500k under cap is around a 2.2 million dollar player at deadline.
I doubt Bjugstad re-signs with the Oilers; he should be able to get between 2-3 million on a long-term deal … see Calle Jarnkrok’s contract for comparison … after a good regular season and so far a good playoff appearance. Still is a great trade by Holland. Huge RHC who can skate and have decent hands are rare … he’s going to get paid.
Derek Ryan is 36 … he’s been great this season, but Father Time comes for everyone. If he’s not open to taking 1 year deals at league minimum, then you walk away. Shore should not get more than league minimum either.
Janmark is more of a priority to sign than Ryan. That guy has some game. But I wouldn’t pay him much more than he’s getting right now.
Foegele has turned a corner. He’s still overpriced, but I’m not spending an asset to send him away. Let him play the last year of his deal out.
Yamamoto has fallen off a cliff this season. But I’m not spending an asset to move him out either, though I would explore if their is a market to take him off our hands … they managed to get rid of Jesse without a sweetener, so it can be done, if there is another team that believes that they can fix whatever ails Yamo. Sometimes promising players don’t pan out though.
Kostin and Ryan are the two forwards who deserve a raise over what they made this season. If both can be locked up long-term at reasonable cap hits, then they are good bets to become value deals in the long run.
And of course, the deeper the Oilers go this post-season, the more expensive Bouchard’s next deal becomes. I really wish they could have locked him up before they traded Barrie.
Next year, the early season is for finding out which of Holloway, Lavoie, Bourgault, Philip can be regular contributors. Our D looks set. Skinner is the starter. UFA will bring some new guys on bargain deals, and the market is still squeezed of cap space. Save some cap space for later, so that there is cap space to stock up at the trade deadline.
Honestly if I’m holland:
I buyout yam
2.7 mill back 2023
-500k 2024
1. Ryan agreed league min 1 yr
2. Janmark…close to where he’s at sure
3. Bjugstad agreed likely cost more I’d entertain it but only up to a point and no more than 2-3 yrs
I can’t see any team trading for him nevermind his salary. Something is wrong with Yamo he avoids contact and the puck like leprosy maybe they LTIR him next year. I hate buyouts but you have to pay Bouchard, McLeod and Kostin definitely deserves a 2 year deal with a raise.
Not sure what you’re watching, but Yamo is being credited by the NHL for giving and receiving hits at rates very similar to last year’s playoffs, and substantially higher than his regular season rate. So far this playoffs, he has recorded ~10 hits per 60 and received ~12.5 hits per 60. Typically in the regular season he is credited with 6 hits per 60 and receives 7 hits per 60. Worth noting, the only 2 players on the Oilers this playoffs to be hit more often than Yamamoto are Derek Ryan and Klim Kostin. Doesn’t seem like a guy avoiding contact at all.
Unless another actual injury crops up, Yamamoto is not destined for LTIR next season.
I am not excusing his lack of production, nor can I fully explain it, but it is clear that for the time being, Woody has made an adjustment switching Yamamoto and Bjudstadt’s places in the line up for 5 on 5.
Yamamoto looked useless against an opposition player in front of the Oilers goal the other night.
He’s playing himself off the team.
If you can’t trade a young 20 goal scorer despite this season which has reasons, you shouldn’t be a GM. No need for a buyout which is almost always a problem later
Next year, cap constriction still going to be squeezing on wingers.
I think it might be hard to extract anything when it’s clear you need cap.
June 15 or 48 hours after cup final. Clock is ticking. Limited time offer.
Do non-superstar RFAs ever sign early before their ELC has expired?
I’m trying to think of examples of that happening. Presumably there are some that I don’t recall?
Yeah, I don’t think Bouchard’s agent was looking to sign long term earlier in the season. Just my opinion but if I was his agent I would be looking for a one year deal to get Bouchard to arbitration next summer with a reported rising cap and covid escrow in the rear view mirror.
That makes sense. Hopefully Holland can get him signed for 2 or 3 years instead at a reasonable number. Though that gets more difficult the more games Bouchard plays as a point per game defenseman.
See Skinner, Stuart. Not long term but before expiry
He wasn’t on ELC though. He was in year two of his second contract.
Little tidbit from Bob’s show yesterday I forgot to mention. Stauffer was talking to Janmark before the game and he swore to Bob he will play next series, no matter the pain.
What’s his ailment?
Took a shot off the hand. (also the foot, but he was holding his hand on the bench)
He was skating (not participating) in practice today
I was listening to NHL radio of Sirius yesterday and the question of who the 2nd best player in the NHL came up. The TO based host and guests all raved about Nathan MacKinnon while giving Leon just a little credit (he plays with McDavid after all they said!). I will take a moment to dispell the myth of Nathan Mackinnon. Please note that I believe NM is a very good player, just not as good as the Germanator (especially in the playoffs where it really counts).
Scoring Regular Season (Career) – Win to Leon
Scoring Playoffs (Career) – Win to Leon
Scoring Playoffs (2023) – Win to Leon
TOI Playoffs (2023) – Win to Leon
On top of all of the above data, Leon is available more to help his team. NM does get injured alot.
The question should be ‘Would you rather have NM or LD on your team right now?’ I take LD all day long and twice on Sundays (if Sunday is a playoff game day).
Also, the Avs D has been significantly stronger than the Oilers D for the majority of MacKinnon/Drai’s careers. Drai has been putting up huge numbers taking ‘outlet passes’ from Mark Fayne and Adam Larsson. Meanwhile, MacKinnon is playing with Toews and Makar.
I would take Drai because he is better. And more handsome. And does more entertaining interviews.
MacKinnon has routinely gotten the best wingers in Colorado. Draisaitl has been with NHL bottom sixers for a large part of his career.
No question that MacKinnon has, for most of his seasons since 2015 played a greater proportion of his TOI with the likes of Rantanen and Landeskog. But Leon has had pretty good company for a lot of his ice time since he became a regular back in 2015. Leon has played approximately 3,600 of his 5 on 5 minutes in the company of Connor McDavid (38% of his total TOI 5 on 5 since 2015) easily the best linemate any forward in the NHL can have over that stretch and its not even close.
Leon’s first year in the league, he had Taylor Hall as his winger for almost 900 minutes. And since 2019, he has played 1,300 minutes with RNH (and almost 100% of that is without McDavid). So in his career so far, at 5 on 5, he has had a first overall pick on his line for 5,800 of his 9,100 minutes of 5 on 5 ice time. And if you think RNH plays second fiddle to Landeskog, in his career, RNH has scored more points and more points per game than Landeskog.
Yes Leon has played a lot with Yamamoto as well, (~2,000) minutes, but other than the one season with Kahun (a total of 340 minutes together), most of Leon’s time with Yamamoto has had RNH, Kane or Hyman as the other winger.
Throw in that Leon has 255 points on the power play in his career, where over 90% of those points have come with playing with McDavid as well,
Not discrediting Draisaitl, or suggesting MacKinnon is better – IMO Draisaitl is the 2nd best player in the world – but he his most common linemates in the last 6 years have been McDavid and Nurse.
Edit: Should have read Redbird62’s post first. Oops.
Am I wildly biased or was that Mackinnon trip at max a soft call? Glad they didn’t get it and undrafted Tye Kartye (thanks for the name mom and dad) made his mark.
This is where the Oil should be mining to supplement the core imo. More certainty in a 20 year old than 18 year old late round lotto tickets for secondary pieces.
Tampa’s been doing it for years.
That was hilarious that he just stood there throwing a tantrum. Must have gotten used to last years calls.
MacKinnon flat out cost his team a goal by playing the fool instead of playing the puck, then being slow on the backcheck while a rank newby scored a goal by simply continuing to play the game whilke MacKinnon took himself out of it. Not just any goal, either, but the go-ahead goal in a tied game AND series. An extremely bad & selfish error.
Marginal penalty at best, I think there may have been a clash of skates, but play through it like the champ you’re supposed to be.
Jared Bednar mentioned it in the post game. Would love to be a fly on the wall when the two inevitably have it out. The coach has every reason to be pissed.
Bednar had better wear polyester next game because the baby does have a history of throwing water bottles etc.
One of my favourite MacKinnon clips:
https://youtu.be/XNrO80gTEHM
Nate is still way too wound up. Connor has learned to control himself more and I’m glad. Hard to think when you’re in lizard brain a lot
I see he was +2 for the night so he must have pulled the old rec hockey ‘dive into the bench if you’re going to be scored on’ trick. Or he slowly temper-tantrumed his way to the bench and left his replacement holding the bag for the dash one.
Yes, I believe it was Compher who took the -1 for MacKinnon’s late change.
Six Game Ones were won by the lower seeds.
But now everything is back to normal with all the series leads being held by higher seeds… EXCEPT the AVALANCHED. #KeepKraken
Also except NJD-NYR. Rangers get road ice advantage back tonight.
Referred to series LEADS. So this mormng’s TIED series were already excluded
Props for the blog name and picture!
Thanks..Turns out that Vikings were really into keeping those beards combed :
https://www.thevintagenews.com/2019/01/08/viking-comb/amp/
I’m also a fan of trading down for another pick or two however it shakes out.
More lotto tickets is always good once you’re getting deeper into a draft.
Oilers have not drafted that well in the 1st round and 2nd rd. Aside from the easy picks McDavid and Draisaitl.
There’s no game tonight, you don’t need to start drinking this early.
Bouchard? Schaefer was a fine bet – we’ll see what he turns into.
Broberg’s song has not yet been written.
Bourgault has miles of track to run before there’s a verdict.
Holloway etc.
Yamo has more than covered his bet for a pick in the 20s.
The list goes on – I’m not seeing bad drafting there. The second rounds picks being largely dealt is another issue but we can’t say guys like Lavoie and McLeod are busts. McLeod’s been pretty darn useful the last few seasons. Lavoie has spiked this year.
Anyhoo.
“Your song has not yet been written” is such a great line and like you I fully intend to use it at every possible opportunity.
I didn’t say bad drafting, Broberg was a reach, Holloway was a reach. You make picks like these because you think you know something other teams don’t. 2015 draft was a disaster . I’m rating the GM and scouts as professionals, they could’ve done better. Hindsight is 20;20 but you could say that about any job.
Evan Bouchard and Darnell Nurse would like a word. Also, Draisaitl was not necessarily an easy pick. I loved the guy and was hoping like hell they would draft him, but he had plenty of detractors. Oilers did well.
Easy pick for me
When I think of good teams that draft well, i think of Minnesota and Dallas
I still regret Jim nill not being brought on and instead paying draft pick for cheapet
Bill Guerin should be G.M of the year with the 13 million in buyout money for years to come on Parise and Suter he’s building a fine team. I thought Zegras and Caulfield would pan out but the pick of Boldy was pure genius 6’ 2” 205 that drives to the hoop with baby soft hands. He’s going to be a 35-40 Goals per year for the next decade.
Good for him for how far he has gotten them under the circumstances he created, but we’ll see how long that lasts. For next season, Guerin has only $8 million to spend on 7 roster spots. That might be reasonable, but he has to include 2 top 4 defenseman in that since Klingberg and Dumba are not signed and they are the clear 2nd pairing right now. And Jared Spurgeon, their number 1D, is 33 and signed for 4 more years at $7.75 million.
Add in Fleury is 38, signed for 1 more year at $3.5 million, Gustavsson, who they are riding in the playoffs, is an RFA with arb rights (he will get a big raise based on this season), and Wallstadt (their goalie of the future) has yet to play an NHL game, his goaltending will likely be a challenge as well, since he has no cap to manage that.
Overall, its not like the Wild are a young team, at 12th oldest in the league (the Oilers are 18th oldest). Zuccarello is going to be 36 in September. And though Kaprizov and Ek have emerged for them over the last 2 to 3 seasons, they were drafted at the same time as McDavid and are the same age. So anyone who thinks those two can keep rising to make the team better would have to acknowledge that McDavid can also keep rising as well.
https://novacapsfans.com/2023/04/19/average-age-of-each-nhl-roster-at-end-of-2022-23-season/
Guerin’s ability to tread water through those buyouts is very likely going to be harder the next 2 seasons.
Agreed. Our GM also sees value in normal NHL size and strong skating with skill
I think some US based GMs perhaps didn’t like Zegras’ showboating despite the skill
Nice post LT.
It is difficult waiting for the next game after going every other night. I hope they decide on game time soon for Saturday so we can plan. Obviously, they are waiting to see how the other games play out.It is rare to see an afternoon game in Lala land.
Gregor was saying it is possible that it’s a 2 PM MT start. I really don’t get that at all.
Oiler fans have already lost out on a weekend home game. If they schedule an afternoon game I’ll be supremely disappointed.
Given that the Rangers/Devils game is scheduled for 8 EDT, it’s likely that the networks will also want to see if they need to schedule Toronto/ Tampa in prime time.
Our golf season is so short. it would be a 1 PM Pacific time start. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a LA King start at home at that time. I could be wrong. I would have to miss this game, unfortunately.
Devils-Rangers and Oilers-Kings are playing on Saturday for sure, with Lightning-Leafs and Knights-Jets also possible if the Leafs and Knights can’t end those series tonight.
Just trying to use logic (not always a good idea), the Oilers-Kings game is in LA (Pacific time), while the Kinghts-Jets game would be in Winnipeg (Central time).
You’d think the Kings would get their home game starting at their normal local time (ie – 8PM-ish MT) instead of them starting at 1PM local time while Winnipeg plays a home game starting at 9PM local.
If the Kinghts can finish off the Jets tonight then I assume the Oilers-Kings would have a later start for sure since the other game(s) will be played on the east coast.
Sure hope the Oilers don’t play in the afternoon.
Tampa and Winnipeg need to win tonight to secure an 8 pm start for the Oil. Otherwise, 2 pm.
Go Lightening and Jets!!
https://www.google.com/amp/s/denvergazette.com/sports/colorado-avalanche/valeri-nichushkin-avalanche-kraken-legal/article_eea1d834-e47f-11ed-a977-e3337027decb.amp.html
Landeskog Kane
Burakovsky hyman
Nichuskin pick next best winger
Kadri nuge
Makar for the game Bouchard
McKinnon rantanen vs mcdrai
I still would prefer playing Seattle over LA as far as degree of difficulty but I was hoping drai would feast on kings and if they got put of this series they would be harder past it.
Colorado is not even close to the team they were last year.
Would love a comment from negative Nelly section regarding what was so off about comment.
Do any of you think Colorado is not way worse than last year?
Do you think down hyman/nuge/Kane and bouch out for a game we’d win that game vs Seattle last night?
Not bothered, just curious.