Change is as good as a rest

by Lowetide

This is Ziggy, with her favourite friend. It’s a hedgehog, we bought it the first day she spent with us. It’s a ragged hog now, poor thing. I’ve sewed and stuffed and have contemplated throwing it out, but she loves it truly and I love this dog to the moon and back so that filthy toy that has been washed 10,000 times remains in the house. It’s okay. Ziggy is family.

THE ATHLETIC!

CHANGE IS GOOD AS A REST

The Oilers are 6-3-0 under Kris Knoblauch and the verbal from fans and media is strong, strong, strong. When this happens, I feel compelled to tell the Bill James story about his time in the army reserve in the early 1970’s.

When James was in the army, he noticed specific things were done to keep the soldiers morale high. One of them was changing the commanding officer. Change is as good as a rest, right?

The new commander would have the walls in the mess painted a different colour, change inspection from 6am to 7am, shuffle the training regimen, et cetera. A couple of years later, new commander, same thing. The effect was to change the routine, the equivalent of opening a window on the first day of spring to let all the fresh air in and say goodbye to winter.

Kris Knoblauch, Paul Coffey, Mark Stuart, Glenn Gulutzan, Dustin Schwartz, Noah Segall and David Pelletier are all working to build confidence and help the players make plays. They have changed some things (Daniel Nugent-Bowman’s piece above is an excellent example) and are accentuating the positive in order to eliminate the negative.

The media is responding because the players have clearly bought in and the team is winning games. All is well in the Oilers nation.

Here’s the thing: someday, maybe two years from now, maybe more or less, the online comments will turn on the coaching staff. It’s human nature. We all do it, this isn’t me saying to you “I have the answer” it’s me saying be aware of your own proclivities.

We also look to specific people for guidance without making up our own minds about things. That’s not the same as changing your mind, because once a position is established then it must be tested and I assume you’re intelligent and do those things. This article is designed to make you think.

WHY do you believe that Ken Holland’s track record with the Oilers is black and white? Does the Zach Hyman signing hold no value?

WHY do you believe Ken Holland’s moves are brilliant? Do you seriously believe trading all those picks to get out from under is a good idea? Don’t you know the impact of the Connor Brown contract?

I’m saying the internet, this blog, tends to have people so strong in their own views nothing gets accomplished and that’s a sad thing. We talk past each other now. It’s a ruination. For those of us who live for inspired verbal, it’s a travesty.

The current cap is $83,500,000. The increase is $4,200,000. Connor Brown’s bonus is $3,225,000. The new GM will buy out Jack Campbell.

At noon today, Sports 1440, we’ll talk Oilers, Jays and what you want to say. Daniel Nugent-Bowman from The Athletic will join us, we’ll have a Jays guest (loud noises rumoured!) and more. You can reach me in the comments section, @Lowetide on twitter, or text us 1.833.401.1440 directly.

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Chelios is a Dinosaur

Toronto has 5 regulation wins, tied for dead last in the east and two fewer than Edmonton over the same amount of games. 

This is verging on scandalous — core 4 only winning outright 5/22 times bodes poorly, more poorly than Edmonton blowing a tire off the starting pistol and then regrouping.

kgo

Here’s the thing about Broberg. He’s probably going to be a top 4 guy after 300+ games of experience…that’s 4 years from now….if we get decent value then move him… shit move every pick we’ve got and focus hard on the short term

OriginalPouzar

The other thing about Broberg is that he’s going to be very cheap on the cap for the foreseeable future. $863K this year and possibly as low as $832,500K next (his qualifying offer).

That has massive value for the Oilers and it just makes so much sense to slide him in for a moved-Kulak at a cap savings of apx $1.9MM.

I’m not sure how much of a drop off there would be – probably a bit to start but we’ve seen Broberg handle nightly 2LD and he’s just going to get more comfortable and better.

Harpers Hair

Devils win the Hughesapalooza

Q. 2A
J. 1G 2A
L. 1G

6-5 final

John Chambers

Canucks lose 6-5 in regulation and are now 4-6 in their last 10.

The Shit Midas strikes again.

Now pumping LA’s tires, watch for the Kings to fall back to earth.

Harpers Hair

Well that was fun.

Watching the Kings play Columbus.

The Kings a little sleepy after a long layoff and go down 3-0 after two.

They say, screw this shit, and bombard the Jackets in the third and win 4-3 in OT with old man Doughty scoring the winner.

Now hold the record for most consecutive road wins to start a season with 10…tied with Buffalo.

Next up…the Hughes Bowl in Vancouver.

Pretendergast

A comeback win against a truly historic franchise.

Harpers Hair

I guess I buried the lede.

The Kings have now won 10 straight road games to start the season.

That’s more wins than some teams have in total.

Scungilli Slushy

Fabulous to see the Flattops peak early

90s fan

You’re so weird. Who you cheering for against Van?

winchester

This is an Oilers blog dammit. Try to understand. If you want to
promote another team, off you go. There is a different place for that.

leadfarmer

Is it as much fun as watching the Flames goaltending be in “really good hands”?

90s fan

I see what you did there. Well done.

Bruce McCurdy

In their last 3 third peridos the Kings have outshot thier oppposition by a combined 53-15 & outscored them 6-0

Harpers Hair

They turn it on when required.

Never out of it.

Dee Dee

Had this sudden realization of our resident ummmmmm, hairy guy, trolling all the other team’s boards and behaving similarly with them. Expect he even hypes the Oil on them too.

Harpers Hair

A thread:

Let me start by saying, I have no clue what is going on with the Broberg saga. I think @TSNRyanRishaug reporting is good is because it squares with my thinking on the people involved in the matter. Here is my general thinking on this one:

https://x.com/bcurlock/status/1732204610608374204?s=61

Scungilli Slushy

Terrible sitting on thumb chicken shit management. Holland keeps snoozing into situations obvious even to us armchair GMs

Sure it’s a risk to bet on Bro. It’s also a risk to overpay role players with inconsistent resumes even if they did well in the playoffs. If you consider 3 points and not being invisible good as an example. That has cost many teams a lot of cap and term to receive the usual mediocre play

I would trade any player except Connor (no appropriate return in a capped league) for the right return. The problem is there is only one KH as GM in the league who would overpay for Bro. So, the only outcomes are they get pucks, or Bro gets even more demoralized because nobody will give enough for even KH to consider

Complete lack of vision and cajones

Harpers Hair

Imagine if Kulak had been moved as many suggested in the offseason.

His long term deal is another self inflicted wound.

Scungilli Slushy

The worst is he and Foegele had trade cache we read and now they have zippo ding ding

Ceci probably as well. Ceci is fine as 3RD at a million. Not at his pay given his only strength is in zone D (because he gave up the blue line and isn’t a strong passer or skater)

Harpers Hair

Yep.

OriginalPouzar

Ceci probably as well. Ceci is fine as 3RD at a million. Not at his pay given his only strength is in zone D (because he gave up the blue line and isn’t a strong passer or skater)

My goodness, come on.

Scungilli Slushy

Plenty of detailed analysis that isn’t mine that supports exactly this

OriginalPouzar

Sure, I’ll take that statement at fair value and I’ll also use my eyes to continue with my opinion that Ceci is worth more than $1MM per.

Scungilli Slushy

RD is the biggest need on the team. The Oilers have exactly one that can move the puck and skate well

The best teams balance that. Current chumps have Slasher and Theodore top 4

Scungilli Slushy

Also add defend entries so defending less

Walker from Philly would probably be the best add if not overly pricey. Two way fella and Nurse can cover the size part

godot10

Who can skate well on the right side? Bouchard is average at best.

Scungilli Slushy

Bouchard is an elite puck mover. He is also the best at defending entries on the team, so his skating isn’t an issue. He was also the fastest backwards skater in his cohort

Pretendergast

Theodore shoots left

Scungilli Slushy

Exactly. He’s that good

godot10

Vegas is actually a team in need of a good young LD. Vegas would probably have to work through a 3rd team though.

Scungilli Slushy

Nothing to give we need

Harpers Hair

They already have four RD who are better than Broberg.

godot10

They would play Broberg on the left side. A replacement for Hutton.

Harpers Hair

Hutton..who is likely superior to Broberg won’t be in the lineup when Martinez returns from injury.

Scungilli Slushy

Ya not true. Total inflammatory BS

OriginalPouzar

Oilers social media vandals and their need to propogate their narratives – led by the “King Boys” and their consistently vulgar language directed at Ken Holland.

Most of the day, Holland is bashed and bashed for his drafting and development of Broberg in light of the intel that he’s given permission to for Broberg’s agent to find a trade.

Now that Holland expressly denies that he’s given such permission, he’s just versified for, well, what, I’m not sure.

If the agent wants to leak false info to the main insiders…….

BornInAGretzkyJersey

Who amongst “main insiders,” exactly, is parroting this perspective?

To be fair, even though you’re clearly opposing and dismissive of Dennis King’s based perspective, you’re really the only one who ever spills any ink over his inflammatory drivel on this website.

IMO, LT’s neighbourhood pub is a refuge from the barren wasteland that is Twatter.

OriginalPouzar

Except when their tweets gets pasted on to this site – as has been done with Dennis King in the past.

Scungilli Slushy

Ignore bozos. They have always existed in some way

Kurri17

Per Bob Stauffer on Oilers Now: Ken Holland has NOT granted permission to Broberg’s agent to seek a trade. Broberg’s agent responded saying the request is a reflection of the current situation with the Oilers defence and his client.

godot10

Maybe Jeff Jackson has.

leadfarmer

Yeah that didn’t pass the sniff test. Players that you can’t get rid of with higher cap hits are the ones you let trade themselves
Never heard of a ELC player given permission to trade himself

rich tm

You may be right and this is simply an agent trying to force an issue. But it speaks to the issue of a player unhappy at not being given a chance.

And as LT has stated before, I would not dismiss out of hand the possibility that Holland is saying one thing and Jackson another. There is enough out there to think that perhaps Holland is not much more than a figurehead at this point.

teddyturnbuckle

Now that Brobergs name is out there the Columbus “massive trade rumour ” makes sense if it involves Broberg, Campbell for Merzlikins, Boqvist.

Fuhr and Lowething in Vegreville

Add Boone Jenner for our first and whatever salary retention needed and I’m all in. Lol

W

Is there any possible chance Broberg and Campbell for a bag of pucks?

Scungilli Slushy

If it’s a clean deal and they have a goaler replacement in line not extortionate then you do that just because

OriginalPouzar

William Lagesson, another d-man the managers could not find room for on the roster and coaches could not find a place for in the lineup (even over Brandon Manning) at 27 is solidifying himself as a 15 minute per night guy on a contending team (almost 2 min per game on the PK and over 13 at 5 on 5).

Philip Broberg is 22 and on his ELC.

Perhaps trading him for a return of a rental 1B goalie like Reimer (who I do want) is not prodent.

Perhaps seeing him as the clear Kulak replacement, at apx $1.9MM cheaper on the cap is the way.

The Oilers don’t have to trade Broberg because he is unhappy. He’s under team control and he should be “happier” next season when the org plays him nightly (1.5 years too late).

1952barry

the coaches over the last couple, 3 years have decided he’s not a top 6 guy. I figure he’ll ultimately get traded and emerge as a solid 2nd pair guy

OriginalPouzar

To my point – the organization, over the years, decided the Lagesson wasn’t a top 6 guy but here he is.

I’m not even so sure the org doesn’t think he’s a top 6 but they are unable to find a way to get him in the lineup in a 6D set-up because of the left side established depth and Vinny on the PK.

He proved to be a legit 3LD 10 months ago in Jan-Feb.

greenshifter

If only 3 or 4 of the Oilers defencemen would get hurt too, just like the Leafs

Pretendergast

Exactly

Bling

The Oilers (and Broberg) ought to be prudent.

Yes his development has been bungled this season, and that’s coming on the heels of Bouchard a few years back.

I suspect that Knoblauch will have him in for Kulak soon, though it may take a loss to get there.

I’m not sure how long a 3rd pair D can be sub 40 goal share and be a regular.

Darth Tu

I do not want to see us trade Broberg if it’s for buttons. Can we for once in our existence be the Islanders when they traded Reinhart to us? He was at a low point value wise and we were utterly fleeced. Please don’t let this be Broberg for some 6/7D man or a 4th line forward one for one. There has to be at least a second coming back….

Archetype

What if it’s an antique ivory button?

Oh my goodness, what a spanking button!

Gerta Rauss

Lloyd Braun: ..am I crazy, or is that a lot of gum..?

Jerry: THAT’S A LOT OF GUM!!

Darth Tu

I laughed at this 🙂

Gollum

But Broberg is a 6/7D man. How can we expect much more in return?

Darth Tu

If you’re trading what you call a 6/7 D man for another 6/7 D man, especially when it’s likely an older player who sure as heck won’t turn into anything more, what’s the point?

As for how can we expect much more for him. He was a top 10 first round draft pick that hadn’t quite worked out the kinks yet. As was Griffen Reinhart, and you must remember how much we gave away to get him. The difference being that Broberg can actually skate so has a higher likelihood of actually being a valuable NHL player. Broberg still projects as a top 4 d-man.

I also realise we don’t know what the return will be, and fully accept that I’m going down the “here we go again” path. We have a history though.

DexandRuby

Personally, I think Brobergs a bust. He still looks and plays like a raw rookie. We’ll be lucky to get anything back. If he was so good, he’d be playing every night.

BornInAGretzkyJersey

Nuanced take.

How many minutes has he played?

How has he done, relative to QoT and QoC?

Dee Dee

We did get Pronger once upon a time ….

Roloson almost won us a cup.

leadfarmer

Problem with drafting projects is you need the patience for them to develop

Bling

Not only patience — which I agree with — but also a plan.

Kulak Desharnais have been terrible as the third pair. Broberg has had better results than both at evens. It would eat at anyone to be in his position.

Pretendergast

It really takes nothing for the doom and gloom crowd to pop back in my goodness. It’s like those folks want to be sad.

Broberg isn’t being shopped, he has permission to seek a trade. Nobody has to oblige him unless it makes sense. Saying a guy is unproven when he’s skating with the team every day, has almost a season under his belt, and still can’t unseat a poorly performing Kulak makes ya think a change might be worth it. Who knows. JP wasn’t re-signed by certified smart org Carolina either.

Top 10 pick and NHL top 4D don’t mean what you think it means.

fishman

How exactly does a player put a trade together for himself?????

Harpers Hair

His agent does.

Mayan Oil

Some people are only happy when they are miserable. Irt allows them to find external justification for their own failures.

Harpers Hair

Frank Seravalli

Understand the #Oilers granted permission for Philip Broberg’s camp to seek a trade. Sounds like there has been solid interest on that front.

Edmonton isn’t interested in getting a pick back, they’d like a player. So you’ll have to likely find a player in a similar situation.

John Chambers

It would almost be to the team’s benefit, at this point, to have Kulak, Ceci or Desharnais get injured for 2-3 weeks to give Broberg a run of games playing in one of their spots.

The narrative is that Broberg is poor at defending, while some of the stats say he moves the puck in the right direction.

Shame the Oilers have to play catch-up on the season. Assuming the risk of rotating Broberg in over the short-term could land you a young top-4 D at the 200-game mark.

OriginalPouzar

I prefer Broberg on the ice at 5 on 5 with the puck coming back towards the Oilers zone and in the defensive zone structure.

I give Vinny the PK but, at 5 on 5, I don’t think Vinny is any “better than” Broberg defensively.

Eh Team

Vinny is often stranded in the neutral zone, he can’t pivot and is easy to beat wide. And he can’t make a break out pass from his own zone.

He’s a 7D and Broberg should have been playing ahead of him.

Bling

Why is Broberg being shopped before Kulak?

Kulak has been terrible and it is unlikely they can afford him next year.

Strange.

kgo

Maybe because Gleason is currently more reliable at 3LD than Broberg…shit Neimo might be too.

Elgin R

The Ben Gleason with 4 NHL games in 6 years as a pro vs Broberg? No, no, no.

Remember how bad Nurse was in his first 200 games. Well, I do, and they were bad. Play Broberg now every game for a month and he will improve.

Also, fire Kenny and Schwartz.

godot10

Broberg is clearly the best D in Bakersfield every time he is there.

OriginalPouzar

From the sounds of it, its not that they are shopping Broberg, its that he’s asked for permission to try and arrange a trade as, presumably, he’s not happy with how things are going and I don’t think ANYONE can blame him.

I think it will be a mistake when they move him as the asset back will not move the needle and, as noted, for me, its almost a must that Kulak be moved in the off-season and Broberg step in to every day 3LD for apx $1.9MM cheaper (on his RFA no arb rights deal).

Kurri17

Yes, and then after a poor trade for a lesser asset is obtained, you’ll hear stuff from asset management like “he didn’t want to be here”, and then MSM will write fluff about how Broberg didn’t want to be here and how he failed as a prospect. The reason Broberg wants out is because he knows the org won’t play him.

The sad thing is that I recall discussion two years ago about how Broberg should be replacing Kulak on the third pairing as part of his growth. Yet that still hasn’t happened. It’s short-sighted.

Side

All I want for Christmas is for the Oilers to play Broberg and Lavoie in the NHL. Alas…

godot10

The Oilers still do not understand cap management.

90s fan

So like moneyball, trade all the guys the coach plays in front of him, till he gets the spot?

Decidedly Skeptical Fan

Except in Moneyball, the GM had a plan and knew what he was doing.

Bling

I have liked several of Holland’s moves, particularly Kane and Hyman.

I actually have opined that it is quite unfair he has been effectively sidelined, although maybe for someone on their way out it is reasonable to start that transition.

The drafting/developmental process has been quite flawed. We saw it with Bouchard, we are seeing it with Holloway, Broberg, and Lavoie.

kgo

What was wrong with Bouchard’s development? He seems alright to me.

ArmchairGM

Where were you when Bouchard sat in the press box for the majority of his rookie season?

Gollum

As kgo asked, did that hurt Bouchard’s development?

ArmchairGM

Quite likely. But it’s hard to know either way.

Eh Team

He was ready to replace Barrie at least a year earlier

Harpers Hair

@BruceMcCurdy

With word today that Philip Broberg may be being shopped, let’s review how the Ken Holland era draft picks are helping the Oilers this season.

Broberg, #8, 2019: 10 GP, 0-0-0, -2
Lavoie, #38, 2019: 6 GP, 0-0-0, -2
Holloway: #14, 2020: 14 GP, 1-0-1, -3
All others: 0 GP, 0-0-0

Bobcaygeon

the Oilers identified that problem / issue immediately & fired the guy that drafted those players.
Holland deserves some of the blame for sure but Holland won’t draft another Oiler ever again.

Harpers Hair

There is a narrative that GMs are responsible for 1st round picks and that certainly seems to be true of Holland and the Broberg pick at least.

Bruce McCurdy

Tyler Wright wasn’t here in 2019 when Broberg & Lavoie were picked. Broberg was fairly explicitly a Ken Holland choice.

Shamus23

I would think the Bottom feeders, especially Chicago, San Jose. Would take a flyer on this kid. But I don’t think anyone is going to offer up a return that has the possible potential this kid has. But I could be wrong for sure . I think this kid, if allowed to play every night will be a good D man. Someone mentioned the other day that why don’t they give him a shot at forward. He came up in the Swedish system as a forward then changed to D . He can skate and has a good shot.

Kurri17

Oh man, someone call the fire department for Ken Holland.

1952barry

good work? nope

Bling

It’s a failure of having a development plan.

It may well be that these three players do not have the requisite ability, but thus far it has been much more a failure on the management/coaching side.

Everyone has to be on the same page for these players to turn into NHLers.

Elgin R

Holland’s only plus is he was better than Chiarelli. Katz hires the unqualified ‘burger’ Bob, who then hires more unqualified personnel.

Jackson should clean house NOW, and that includes Kenny and Schwartz.

This is not a participation league – it is about results.

Last edited 11 months ago by Elgin R
Sierra

The boredom has set in. Sky remains dark later and starts too early. Work is in the doldrums leading into the Christmas season. Where are the Oilers’ games to break up the monotony of daily life? Thank gord that Ziggy is still being Ziggy.

Seriously though, why the long break between games? Is this a NHL thing that all teams get? Or is there something that took over Rogers Place? I miss Oilers hockey.

Kurri17

That’s what happens when you dig yourself such a deep hole to start with in a 3 point league.. No room for error, and even then have to pass about 5 or 6 teams on the way. Meaning Oilers not only need to play well, but play better than all those teams going forward.

They got themselves in this spot, so have to deal with the burden they brought on themselves. It will be a major test of the team.

Elgin R

Aaron Rodgers: RELAX.

The Oilers will make the playoffs this year and then who knows, once in anything is possible.

jtblack

yup. that’s why the “US Thanksgiving rule” exists. Math is math.

It’s a big ask for a team that has flaws and currently trusts only 1 goalie.

Guess we will see how the next few weeks unfold.

They will also require perfect health for #97 & #29 ….

Can be done, but as the article states .. “It’s a steep climb”

Last edited 11 months ago by jtblack
DevilsLettuce

Kevin Weekes
@KevinWeekes
👀 I’m told the
@EdmontonOilers
are exploring potential Trade options on young D Broberg. Given the #LetsGoOilers Cap situation, it would likely have to be dollar for dollar transaction. #HockeyX #HockeyTwitter #Alberta

Crazy Pedestrian

That’s cool. Trade a fairly unknown asset at possibly its lowest value for a player with likely less upside/potential that will toil in the minors. Sounds like a very Oilers thing to do. Barf. 🤮

watch him become a top 4 D-man on his next team.

Kurri17

Don’t you know? It’s always a good idea to trade away an untested, unplayed, 6 foot 4, 212 pound, 22 years old, smooth skating defensman who was drafted in the top 10.

A couple years from now, the Oilers GM will blow his brains out paying through the nose for some 30-something year old 6 foot 4 dman instead, so no worries (just like Ekholm, good player but very high cost).

The thing is, the Oilers don’t even know if he is actually a lost cause since they won’t play the guy. Some take a longer time to develop. But you need to actually develop them.

Last edited 11 months ago by Kurri17
Bobcaygeon

You’ve had AHL coaches & manager evaluating Broberg, two sets of NHL coaches & manager evaluating Broberg & the guy can’t stay in the lineup.
maybe, And I’m spitballing here, it’s not the coaches or managers.
He has value as a prospect, demanding he gets playing time when he’s the 8th or 9th defender on the roster is a ridiculous expectation of the team.
a package deal that brings back a player that can be inserted into the lineup would be a win at this point no matter what Broberg becomes down the line.

Kurri17

This is the most typical Oilers move ever.

It tells me nothing has changed at all. Broberg may or may not be a future piece, but its infuriating to waste an 8th overall draft pick without ever even attempting finding out what you have.

kgo

Broberg has played 79 regular season games as an Oiler, and 10 playoff games….seems to me they attempted to find out what they had

Kurri17

Broberg is definitely not an impact guy to date, but those 79 games have been played over several seasons with extremely limited minutes, and the shortest possible leash on errors. He has not had continuous playing time. When he makes a mistake, he is benched and often scratched for games thereafter. A player cannot show what he has got when he has no confidence or leash to build off of.

Don’t misunderstand, I’m not pumping up Broberg and saying he would be great if only they played him, the reality is that Bro is currently trending downwards; I’m saying the Oilers had no plan at all in bringing him on, and those 79 games are not a reflection of his real playing time. I didn’t even want them to draft Broberg, but they did – therefore its absolutely mismanagement to not put him in a position to succeed. If the Oilers were not going to do this, why even waste an 8th overall pick on him? Good teams don’t wasted assets like this

Archetype

Broberg is 22 and hasn’t gained the trust of any NHL coach to play regular, meaningful minutes. There must be a reason that he hasn’t been given the chance.

Displacing Desharnais isn’t a high bar. He’s a former 8th overall pick that’s not delivering on his potential. There’s a place for him on the team, but he’s simply not taking it.

I think the Oilers know what they have. A very good AHL defenceman and nothing special at the NHL level. How long do you wait until he has no value at all?

I have no problem if they make a smart trade and recoup some value from the draft position.

tsunami

smart trade ? are you new here 😉 ?

Scungilli Slushy

Classic Oilers. Kulak is playing poorly, but they can’t let the young guy have TOI because he will make mistakes

Bro is not competing with Des because they play opposite sides. Few NHL D are good off hand, so why should Bro be expected to do that when they haven’t even given him time to settle?

This is why Holland is not a good GM anymore. Like Belichick the game has passed him. Unlike BB Ken still has his GOAT hiding the problems, mostly

He was tight in cap, wasn’t going to be able to ice enough players, and couldn’t see that he basically had to move Kulak, for cap and a roster spot for Bro. Probably Foegele too. They both had good trade value and there was reported interest. Now they both regressed to normal and low value and inconsistent play, as always

But who would be his partner? Not Des! Another greenhorn! We’ll get a 3 pair RD was the answer. And Des had trade value reportedly, or keep him as 7

Deciding that keeping the group together (that got bounced again) was more important than improving was dead wrong, and costly. It cost two coaches their jobs almost certainly, a pile of money, and may cost Bro, maybe even the playoffs. A developed Bro (if they decided they didn’t like him) would net a high quality player or 1st. Now they’ll turn the 8th pick into a pile of poo, most likely

This is what poor GMing looks like. Liking mediocre players and keeping them when they are both overpriced per quality, and you need cap ask a roster spot or two. Wasting your own 1st round pick at an age before most D are stable in the NHL, whom you haven’t even given time to. Who is big and an excellent skater

I can’t see any defense for Holland. Not even mentioning his goaler fiasco

Bruce McCurdy

What he had to do was not sign Kulak for FOUR years, huge 8-figure contract for a third pairing guy. Once it was signed, where exactly was Broberg supposed to wind up?

jtblack

The math for this team is still challenging. 6 game homestand, followed by a 5 game road trip to end December.

6-4-1 gets the team 1 game under .500. Will be an interesting stretch and could well determine what the plan is in 2024.

Hopefully start with a Big Win tomorrow.

Bruce McCurdy

6-game road trip.
Actually 2x 3-game road trips, to the east coast immediately before Christmas & to the west coast immediately after.
6 home, 6 away. Very odd that they are all in a row in each case.

jtblack

Thanks for the correction.

a mix of tough teams and some “easier” games.

SayItAin'tSo, Gretz, SayItAin'tSo!

This is horribly pessimistic haha. Try 9-1-1 and you’re getting close. Odds are climbing higher everyday that the Oilers are now the outright best team in the NHL. Shocking I know but if you actually click through the non-Oiler teams you get some shocking results.

Examples? Sure.

Miro Heiskanen is -6 this season which puts the Norris Trophy Contender equal to that bum Bouchard. But our boy Bouch has five more points than Miro… Still gotta tip your hat to Miro gets a Vezina winner in net and the BEST DRAFTING to help him achieve that -6 while Bouchard allegedly is the reason the Oilers lost all their games.

Both LA and Dallas are damn near being led in scoring by guys >37… Thank goodness so many are getting spooked by HH’s drum banging on Draisaitl’s next contract when he turns 28. LA’s top minute munchers average out to 35 years old. Father time waits for nobody and L.A. is set for its first real road trip of the year. Best hope PLD finds another gear or eight.

Just a casual reminder that Colorado now running Makar, MacKinnon and Rantanen more than the Oilers run their top horses now. Incredibly unbalanced team. Honestly you shouldn’t consider the Avs a contender anymore, they’re sorta done. Also this is Makar’s 3rd knee injury in the last year.

Vancouver has been playing fast and loose all year. Upcoming games is their first true set (opposed to one off’s) against playoff teams from last year. And the mighty trio has cooled off pretty fantastically. Man when the regression truly kicks in its gonna get nasty for the Tocchet System. IN none less game played out boy Skinner has seen 100 less shots than Thatcher… PDO Pony! PDO Pony!

Oh and I was wrong about Vegas. They suck. Lordy do they suck. Lets call em the Las Vegas Jets now. The Boss McCrimmon with four levels of backup tender now…

Oilers are probably leading the Pacific by the All Star Break.

Elgin R

Doubt they lead the Pacific, but still the best team in the division given current accomplishments. Oil get in the playoffs then run the table!

Chelios is a Dinosaur

You’ve been positive even through the worst of this season and I’m there too I think there’s a good chance — no guarantee mind you — that they win the Pacific.

OriginalPouzar

Some notes (from memory) from Chaulk on with Stauffer yesterday:

1) Bob did mention he doesn’t see a Campbell recall this week given his performance last game but was clear the org is hoping he plays well enough to get a recall.

2) Chaulk did say “those two goals can’t go in”.

3) Petrov’s absence last game was injury not a healthy scratch. Just say to day.

4) Bourgault or Lavoie weren’t with Pederson and Caggiula the last bit because those vets were struggling and coach didn’t consider them the top line at the time.

5) Lavoie has asked for PK minutes as he has realized he needs to find a role at the NHL level and he’s done a good job on the PK but his overall minutes are too much now and his 5 on 5 impact is suffering.

6) Paraphrasing but, essentially, Petrov is start to settle on to the pro game and play well but Wanner is staring to come down a bit and doubt himself/hesitate at times.

Munny 2.0

I think the org would have to tell Campbell at the very least that he’s playing for recall. Have to hold some carrot in front of him and see what comes of it. Sad to see him take another step back. I’m less concerned about individual goals though than I am about his reaction to goals. It’s his own head that gets him into the deepest trouble. Has that improved or been fixed?

I really like the belief the org is showing in Petrov. He’s such an unusual player. Has great two way winger potential if it works out. Massive hockey brain.

That’s a pretty smart move by Lavoie. With his reach he could be a real factor on the PK. But what I like about it most is the desire it demonstrates for playing in the NHL. That desire is key to getting there.

I see no downside to being patient with Wanner as he finds his way. He ended last year so well and then didn’t miss a step at the beginning of this year, that we forget he’s a defenseman and how long they can take to matriculate properly. Nature–and development–abhors a straight line. It will come.

Primetime

It’s not a bad move by Lavoie for sure. But remember, Tyler Benson tried the same tactic in an attempt to finally crack the big club and it didn’t work.
The other view point is that Lavoie is never going to be a better option in that role than others who PK naturally. The way he makes the show is if his lethal shot is too hard to pass on…

Reja

Lavoie should of had a cup of coffee last year his development is pooched the same goes for Broberg. The old burnt out percolator needs to be put on a one way bus ticket back to Detroit.

OriginalPouzar

Wasn’t his play in his 6 NHL games this season, after another off-season of training and a full training camp and coming up fully confidant after dominating the AHL to start the season, kind of good evidence that, no, he would not have made an impact on this hockey team that was on a 2 month heater and gearing up for the playoffs last season?

OriginalPouzar

That’s a pretty smart move by Lavoie. With his reach he could be a real factor on the PK. But what I like about it most is the desire it demonstrates for playing in the NHL. That desire is key to getting there.

I agree that its a smart move but, at the same time, I still feel like he has the potential as a complimentary shooter/scorer in the top 6. Sure, may he never “earned that chance” with his play on the 4th line but it just seems like all the parties are find transitioning from the potential to be a complimentary top six scorer to a bottom six energy player and PK guy with some skill before even giving the first a real chance.

I see 20, 21, 22, 23 year olds with less pedigree produce in top 6s of other team all over.

I see no downside to being patient with Wanner as he finds his way. He ended last year so well and then didn’t miss a step at the beginning of this year, that we forget he’s a defenseman and how long they can take to matriculate properly. Nature–and development–abhors a straight line. It will come.

Oh, yes, his first 15 games, playing 18 or so minutes per night and real minutes is a massive up arrow for a 20 year old rookie pro out of the CHL.

I’m sure he’s not even a real thought until 2025/26 (MAYBE late next season but that shouldn’t be the expectation I don’t think).

Pretendergast

Just because he is taking on PK time does not mean he is set in stone as a bottom 6 guy. He hasn’t earned the right for top 6 time. Be versatile enough to be kept on the roster long enough to let your true skills (shot, puck protection) keep you there.

Very smart move. Chaulk himself said the mentality with Ralph was always where is the next goal. Now it is how do I help the team win.

Starts with being useful and dependable, ends with top 6 spotlight duty if done right. Sounds like maturity to me.

Side

Had a dog who had a stuffed bunny toy which came with a pointed hat sewn on it. He loved playing with it so much that eventually he destroyed the bunny, but the pointed hat remained. The hat was probably no bigger than a toonie, but my dog would still bring it to each of us to throw for him. It would also get so wet with slobber that if you threw it at a wall it would make a loud, wet slapping sound and would stick to the wall. It was funny throwing the hat at a similarly coloured wall in our house and hearing the slap, meaning it stuck, and because it was similarly coloured to the wall it would blend in, which would cause the dog to look around confused and amazed, as if the hat had vanished into thin air.

Fuge Udvar

I missed the Ewanyk mention yesterday. Last week he got traded from Germany div2 to Ùjpest in the Hungarian Erste Liga.

I went to Ùjpest games all the time back when I lived in Budapest. Tons of fun! It’s not the highest level of hockey (it’s a step below the Austrian EIHL) but tickets were only 5 bucks, beers 2 bucks or 3 bucks for pint of mulled wine. If the home team wins all the fans throw chocolate bars on the ice to say thanks.

Martin Frolik’s brother also played for them

BornInAGretzkyJersey

Oilers content on puckdoku today.

Archetype

We talk past each other now. It’s a ruination. 

I think about this quite a bit, actually. Everything is either black or white and we’ve lost the ability to see the grey, which is where the good conversation happens.

We argue. We don’t discuss.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohDB5gbtaEQ

Last edited 11 months ago by Archetype
Munny 2.0

Who sets that tone and example? Who enforces it on the socials? Or in the education system? I feel like our modern Manicheeism isn’t a grassroots movement, but rather something that has been internalized and emulated by the people. I agree with LT, it’s a ruination… Which is why they want us devoted to distractions like hockey and away from the important conversations about things that really matter.

Last edited 11 months ago by Munny 2.0
godot10

The world has real problems. Jean-Claude Juncker (the former unelected leader of the EU prior to Von Der Leyen) accidently told the truth about how the Western oligarchy and the American hegemon deal with it. “When things get serious, you have to lie.”

Big obvious lies. It means dissent becomes disallowed, censored, and increasing criminalized when one insists on telling or exposing the truth (i.e. point out that the emperor and their sycophantic courtiers have no clothes.)

The maintenance of the big lies requires the collapse of the Overton window.

Harpers Hair

The world’s largest hockey stick is up for grabs.

https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/worlds-largest-hockey-stick-up-for-grabs-from-duncan-7924221

Perhaps we should crowd fund an effort to install it on LT’s garage.😉

Darryl8843

Except it’s fools gold. Lockport IL is building an arena and they’re putting a stick bigger than the one on the Duncan Arena.
So the big stick won’t be the big stick for much longer.

W

lol, why would you know this little bit of trivia?

Fuhr and Lowething in Vegreville

That blade is akin to Draisaitl’s…

🤣🤣🤣

Harpers Hair
JimmyV1965

I think very few coaches move the needle significantly in either direction. I didn’t have an issue with Tipp or Woody, and I don’t have an issue with Knoblauch either. Hiring a rookie is not an issue for me. Giving him an assistant with zero coaching experience at any level IMO speaks to a disturbing dysfunction within mngt. 

MushedPeas

But so crazy it just might work !

I was nonplussed by / bemused at the Coffey assignment but maybe, just maybe, there was a coach there all along.

I loved Manson the player and liked what he did with the team early on but I always wonder how elite skill guys receive criticism / advice from former players who never shone as brightly. When one of the greatest offensive blue liners off all time has a word for you about defensive play, you might want to bend an ear. Flip side, maybe Coffey has insight few will about what to do with the puck when skating north.

I mean, it’s a frame.
All conjecture at this point.
It’d be nice tho.

Last edited 11 months ago by MushedPeas
JimmyV1965

It’s not Coffey the coach that’s the problem. It’s the process. None of us know if he’s a good coach or not. Neither did the Oilers – because he’s never been a coach. Gretzky was the greatest player of all time and he didn’t set the world on fire as a coach. The best you can say about this hire is they got really lucky – if it turns out he is indeed a good coach.

W

Perhaps a good motivator can be a good coach, see Krueger, Ralph.

Elgin R

+++++

MushedPeas

Can’t argue a word of that.

Melman

Not to be difficult as I agree change can be as good as a rest, but it’s worth noting this group has seen constant change when it comes to coaching. You shouldn’t need to repaint the mess hall every 22 months. Having said that, there was spaghetti all over the walls 9 games ago.

Like most things, the coaching carousel has not been caused by one single thing, although I’d posit that over the years management is mostly responsible due to rushed choices, knee-jerkiness and poor roster construction.

hunter1909

It was linguine!

godot10

Bouchard forgetting for the second year in a row that the NHL season starts in October.

Dee Dee

Only 5 teams in the league have a head coach who was hired prior to 2020 meaning 27 teams hired coaches within the last 3 years.

Longest serving is at 10 years.

Coaching has to be the only job in the world where you have to beat every single one of your competitors or you are considered a loser.

While being analyzed and second guessed by millions of people.

Win and you’re gold. Lose and every person on the planet thinks they know better than you.

godot10

The Pittsburgh Steelers have had 3 head coaches in 50 years. 6 Super Bowls, 7 Super Bowl appearances.

dustrock

Too early to tell, other than maybe the PK, if this is just inspection at 7am instead of 6 am.

We’ll see how Knoblauch or Scotty Bowman or Hannibal would do with a less-than-fit McDavid.

Brantford Boy

Would that be Anthony Hopkins or George Peppard Hannibal?

dustrock

Carthaginian Hannibal 🙂

1952barry

Holland traded several 2nd rounders for short term rentals that didn’t move the needle. Drafting overall, Broberg, Holloway, hasn’t yielded results. Hyman is his best move

Pretendergast

Ekholm will prove to be top tier imo.

Schaefer did what he needed to do, become valuable enough to get a legit top 4 (I’d argue top pairing when healthy) defenceman. The 2023 first Molendyk looks good, but that’s fair value (pick 24) and it’s very early days.

1952barry

I accept tha trade; the real bad one was Anathsaseeyoulater

OriginalPouzar

I would say:

The third round pick for renting Bjugstad was well spend (although I NEVER liked the Kesselring inclusion and we are seeing why).

The second round pick to move Kassian’s contract was necessary and value (granted, it was Holland fixing his own mistake that was very reasonably likely to end like that the day the contract was signed).

The 2nd round pick for Kulak was full value.

The two 2nds for AA, well, many were very happy at the time but it turned out VERY poorly.

The only true rental for a 2nd round pick was Kulak. AA turned out that way but he was an RFA under team control and then, well, the world and cap structure of the NHL both changed.

Last edited 11 months ago by OriginalPouzar
dustrock

you wash the dog toys? Man I’ve been missing out.

Melman

i had to run the collar through the dishwasher the other day after I caught a whiff of that little gem😂

Brantford Boy

LT “I assume you’re intelligent” as I Google ‘proclivities’…

Wow… great post LT, it really resonates with me due to recent discussions and arguments.

Your Orwellian message is well received. Be careful my friend, the Thought Police are close by.

2+2=5!

GB&Q

Oh, Ziggy. 🙂
There’s always one dog toy that rules above the rest.
With Q, it was also a stinky old hedgehog.
With B, it’s a smiling pineapple.
What a bunch of goofs.

Bar_Qu

Change is good, unless it is bad. Glad this change coincided with the improvement in play by the team. It is helpful they added a good coach and not someone who would walk back past sucesses. Now fix the goalers!

Happy birthday LT!