This is the summer 2016 “Leftorium” defensive depth chart for the Oilers. That’s 17 LH blue, seven RH defenders. Who is left? Darnell Nurse, Markus Niemelainen (two points in Bakersfield last night) and Vincent Desharnais. Here’s an interesting fact: There are seven defensemen on this list who have played in the NHL this season for other organizations.
THE ATHLETIC!
- Lowetide: Revisiting Oilers’ Dylan Holloway pick at the 2020 NHL Draft
- DNB: Oilers demolish ‘one-man team’ label in comeback win over Maple Leafs
- Lowetide: Is Oilers forward Warren Foegele earning another contract?
- Lowetide: Where do the Oilers need to improve depth before the NHL trade deadline?
- DNB: Oilers are back as a Western Conference power
- Lowetide: Could this be the ultimate Edmonton Oilers season?
- DNB: Projecting the Oilers’ 2025-26 salary-cap situation with a Leon Draisaitl extension
- Lowetide: Ranking Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland’s 10 biggest moves
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers complete 2023-24 prospects update
- Lowetide: Stuart Skinner, Ryan McLeod and the Oilers’ development system
- Lowetide: Oilers close NHL standings gap during a brilliant December run
- DNB: Connor McDavid marks 600th NHL game by coming to the rescue in pivotal Oilers win
- Lowetide: What can Dylan Holloway bring the Oilers when he returns?
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers top 20 prospects ranking, winter 2023
WHAT TO EXPECT IN JANUARY
- At home to: PHI, OTT (Expected 2-0-0) (Actual 2-0-0)
- On the road to: CHI, DET, MTL (Expected 2-1-0) (Actual 3-0-0)
- At home to: TOR, SEA (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 1-0-0)
- On the road to: CAL (Expected 0-0-1) (Actual 0-0-0)
- At home to: CBJ, CHI, NAS (Expected 2-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- Overall expected result: 7-3-1, 15 points in 11 games
- Actual January results: 6-0-0, 12 points in 6 games
- Oilers in 2023-24: 24-15-1, 49 points in 40 games
The Oilers have won 11 in a row and you can see the schedule eases after the Calgary game. Important not to look past the Kraken, who are a tough out every night. Edmonton is on a 100-point pace now, borderline impossible on Remembrance day.
LEFTORIUM PRESENT
- LHD (10): Mattias Ekholm, Darnell Nurse, Brett Kulak, Philip Broberg, Ben Gleason, Markus Niemelainen, Cam Dineen, Noel Hoefenmayer, Luca Munzenberger (unsigned), Nikita Yevseyev (unsigned)
- RHD (6): Evan Bouchard, Cody Ceci, Vincent Desharnais, Phil Kemp, Max Wanner, Beau Akey (slide rule)
There were 24 on that 2016 depth chart, but eight names were either unsigned or slide rule. That means 16 names for the Oilers and Condors. Currently the club has 16 names on the depth chart, two unsigned and one slide rule. So, it’s 13 names instead of 16, with the Condors AHL signings (Alex Peters, others) filling in the gaps.
One thing I will give Ken Holland: There are many many recall options from the farm. Here are the updated even-strength goal share by defensemen (through last night):
- Philip Broberg 14-6 (70 percent)
- Alex Peters 14-9 (61 percent)
- Markus Niemelainen 16-11 (59 percent)
- Phil Kemp 17-12 (59 percent)
- Ben Gleason 14-13 (52 percent)
- Noel Hoefenmayer 16-17 (48 percent)
- Max Wanner 19-23 (45 percent)
- Cam Dineen 11-17 (39 percent)
- Xavier Benard 0-3
- Connor Corcoran 0-5
Several things stand out, beginning with Philip Broberg’s 70 percent goal share. That’s amazing. He has played in 19 games, and plays heavy minutes. Six goals. That’s incredible. Also, a goal-per-game for Bakersfield when he’s on the ice at even strength. I hope the Oilers don’t trade this player.
Max Wanner has played in 30 games, and he is high event. When he played with Cam Dineen, they played a lot and goals were going in from everywhere. Since checking down to Alex Peters, the goal share is 8-8 in 11 games. Still high event but less bleeding.
Markus Niemelainen was out for a time and is back in style. In his first 15 games, the big man was 9-10 goals at even strength. Since returning, in five games, he is 7-1 goals. For that reason, I believe he has moved way up the possible recall list.
EDMONTON’S DEFENSE
The current construction of the blue in Edmonton is very strong. However, there are players who are not 100 percent (Brett Kulak) and for the life of me I don’t understand why the club doesn’t recall Broberg so they can give Kulak a rest. Risking further injury is a bigger factor than the winning streak, and there’s a good chance a healthy Broberg will be more effective than Kulak less than 100 percent. These things matter.
Noon to 2pm, Sports 1440, we preview the Oilers-Kraken, talk about Holloway’s recall (it’s apparently imminent according to Bob) and ponder the idea of Edmonton winning the Pacific. What an incredible rollercoaster ride for Oilers fans this season. You can reach me at Lowetide on twitter, in the comments section or on the Sports 1440 text line at 1.833.401.1440 directly.
The Oilers are now at a P% of .622.
9th place in the conference (i.e. out of the playoffs) is .522.
This turnaround is something else.
Oilers at 7th in the league in regulation win pct, which is more comparable to playoff hockey. Very close to 6th.
Hmm. The less I post, the more the Oilers win. You’re welcome.
Does Gourde deserve a suspension? THAT is a play that deserves an auto-suspension. Not a bloody instigator penalty when it’s clearly 2 players that both really wanted to go at the end of a game.
He was acting the fool, no doubt about it.
Final tally for my for funsies records after 41 games each…
Team actual (predicted) variance
Arizona 44(46) -2
Nashville 49(47)+2
Calgary 41(41)0
Edmonton 51(49)+2
Los Angeles 59(53)-3
Seattle 45(41)+4
Vancouver 57(55)+2
Vegas 51(53)-2
I got close, kind of .. that was fun.
OK, Oilers – you’re rocking now.
So, a challenge – how about scoring the first goal or 2 next game?
Against Calgary I can see that happening…
Preds survive a 6 on 5 barrage late to take the win 2-1 in regulation.
Dubois – 0 points
If only he had someone like Huberdeau to spark his offense…
PLD now trails Foegele in scoring.
So.
They’re winning games. They’re winning them and deserve to win them. They’re outplaying the opponents and getting results.
This is weird. I don’t understand this feeling. Why am I calm even when they’re losing?
My only comment: keep Stu warm and let him get his confidence oozing but by gord don’t burn him out! I still think he was gassed against the Knights last playoff. They do have shooters though.
Sea had clean goals on him tonight. I guess high and far side is the scouting report on him…? Any goalies in here to give their take?
It takes a truly incompetent referee to somehow make Chris Lee look good.
Kozari put on a show tonight.
Kozari was the show tonight
Reid wondering if Gourde will face suspension.
The Flames get burned Hrudey won’t sleep until his soapbox moment Saturday. I love it.
Only three teams in the conference posting a W in their last game. That will change later tonight pending the Preds-Kings outcome but still a thing of beauty.
Both Foegele and McLeod are everything fans have dreamed of the Oilers developing –
Now both are basically mini – Hyman style players. Astonishing.
I posted on the similarities of Foegele’s game to Hyman’s last year but it wasn’t favorably viewed. I still stand by that observation though.
When he is at full speed ahead he often looks like McDavid.
99% correct!
I wasn’t thinking about looks or skating stride so much as how they play and the toolboxes, like the motor, and board play. IIRC the distinction I made between the two was that Hyman was smarter and stronger but Foegele had better vision and shot.
I think we have to give Holland some credit for the Foegele-Bear trade, especially since Bear has bounced around so much since that time. Many hated the trade at the time.
This is how I envisioned being an Oiler fan in 2023-24. Relaxed and confident. What a crazy road to get to this point.
Foegele will sign in California next year with those surfer like looks.
Then return to 20 points per season lol
On a seven year NTC/NMC deal for too much money. With LA.
Drai was 13-1 on face-offs. Insane.
Oilers now 3rd in the Pacific Division;
LAK are now in the 2nd wild card spot.
At the 41 game mark for all teams we are second due to tie breaker..
No panic in this team. Even when we start off like crap they stick to it and grind em down. What confidence, this group has. The trust they have in the system and each other is awesome!
Pop the tape. Rewind. Let’s see it again next game.
I love the ending!
Have you noticed the boys get in more scrums defending each other. It seems they’re not worried about losing ice time if a idiotic ref signals one of them out.
That changed completely with the Kane signing and has been that way ever since.
Agreed. Kane made everyone taller and tougher by being willing to wade into any battle his teammates were in, no questions asked. I think he’s a underestimate glue guy, when he has his head on straight.
He was insta-swagger
In this way they’re the Anti-Torontomapleleafs.
Absolutely. I think thats a product of the guys playing for each other. Tight groups won’t let their guys get pushed around. Definitely not scared of penalties!
“Toronto is (an) overrated team like the Oilers”. Calgary Puck
Flames burnt out in regulation.
Well that last five minutes turned a bad game into an interesting one.
Skinner and the PK get the kudos tonight, with Drai and Fogs earning an honourable mention. No soup for anyone else
Dammit, forgot. Meant for Vinnie D to get a bowl of soup too
12 straight. Fun game. C’mon Preds, beat the Kings.
and hey Arizona … beat them knuckleheads. Beat ’em good.
Someone needs to play the Sesame Street “12” song!
1,2,3,4,five
6,7,8,9 ten
eleven
twelve!!!!
thx for that ear worm, imbedded since 6 years old!
That’s now stuck in my head, and now I want to play some pin-ball.
You go back to November 2023 and the Oilers are in the bottom of the league. Woodcroft is fired. Fans are talking about trading Draisaitl and blaming McDavid for sewering the team by being a shadow GM.
You post that the Oilers will turn it around and go on a 20 win 3 loss stretch and climb into a playoff position. How many downvotes do you think you will get?
Hockey is a strange business.
Goalies, Coaches and GMs are good if they win, bad if they lose.
Forwards are good if they score, bad if they don’t.
Any unique tactic/strategy that an innovative coach/player comes up with is immediately copied by the 31 other teams.
“Luck” is the most important advanced statistic but is never acknowledged.
Woodcroft for all his intelligence was unable to alter his tactics on the fly in games and went down with the ship over his new system.
Knoblauch’s best attribute seems to be his ability to change systems based on what the other team is doing and change the course midstream..
“Woodcroft for all his intelligence was unable to alter his tactics on the fly in games and went down with the ship over his new system.”
This doesn’t seem like intelligence at all. More like arrogant stupidity.
Stubbornness? Conviction of one’s own self? There could be many reasons. I wouldn’t say that Jay is a stupid man, but he certainly had some arrogance.
Knoblauch has to be the leading candidate for Coach of the Year at this point.
I’d assume it’s Tocchet.
Followed by Torts.
Getting schooled regularly in the playoffs, only to show up at the start of the season trying to force feed a defensive system that the team clearly hated playing is stupid in my opinion.
Furthermore, refusing to accept that it’s not working in the face of a 2-9-1 record is arrogance personified.
The current coaching has taken this team to a whole new level. One that Woodcroft can only dream about.
That was a stifling 3rd period (even aside from the PP).
You can’t win them all, but they keep doing it.
Still impressed.
La Bamba, baby!
Bring on the baker’s dozen against the Gordless fLames.
Is there a… test… to be an NHL ref? Do you need to know stuff…? or is it just done by AI now and that is why they need to look at the damned iPad 10 times a game.
Who cares. 12.
For reals, Brownie is never gonna score again…
Never, ever!
Not once more! Not ever again. Not one single…!
Nice win. Well done.
Ohhhh Brownie.
Brown on with the empty net
C’mon!!
oh….the defender blocked it…damnit!!
He’s never going to score. But that’s OK cause he’s terrific on the PK.
What’s the double minor and 10 mins for?
Man Foegele is winning someone’s hockey pool tonight.
Refs trying to be the stars of the show with these kinds of calls.
Foggy. 2 minutes for looking so good!
These guys are making me look like a good ref lol
Next game vs Seattle is gonna be interesting
Kane’s fist should be healed by then…
I think the Viking is gonna have a few words…
BOOM!!! Keep ‘em coming!!!
Lovely pass by McDavid.
Way to make them pay
hyman finishes a nice tic tac toe
Gourde comes unglued because he dove and didn’t draw a penalty??
What an idiot.
Oh gotta love that one! Hyman from his office.
Review pending?
That’s it. 12 in a row.
Hot damn!
Guess it’s not quite over yet, but…
Call that one back, I dare ya!
He’s gonna have to answer for that hit next game.
Definitely some dislike developing between these to teams.
This PP makes no sense – 3 minutes?
5 and 2, difference is 3.
Completely opposite to other levels of hockey. Just for comparison, Hockey Canada rules would have had that 4v4 for two minutes, then the 3 minute PP.
I can see the rationale for this — you should front-load the PP otherwise if this happened at the end of the game, you might never see the advantage.
yeah, that’s a weird one
Jack and Louie were saying it’s just how the league scores/records the penalties – the 5 minute major is appied first, and then the offsetting penalty(Ekholm) results in an even strength to complete the other 2 minutes
This would have been easy to avoid too – 5 for the charge, 2 for slash for pitchforking Skinner, 2 to Eks for roughing. Cancel the minors, apply the five.
Credit to the refs being consistent on this the whole game
It’s against the law to praise the refs here.
Love how McDavid got under Gourde’s skin like that.
Has to be 5. The standard was set in this game and that was beyond the two soft calls from earlier.
That was a vicious run at Ekholm.
the Viking is still seeing red