If you’re wondering if the Oilers ever had a moment when 97-29 were placed on the same line and other three lines looked like the Sisters of the Poor, wonder no more. The Oilers arrive at the deadline with a need at No. 2 right wing and No. 4 center, plus the traditional adding on the defense. This train is bound for glory, but the depth chart houses plenty of worry.
THE ATHLETIC
- Lowetide: What’s the ideal deployment for Edmonton Oilers’ Evander Kane?
- Lowetide and DNB: Who says no? Evaluating 20 of your Edmonton Oilers trade proposals
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers enter spring signing season under pressure
- DNB: Goals aren’t coming for Connor McDavid. He’s helping the Oilers more than ever
- Lowetide: Oilers’ Connor Brown and what’s next in his unusual season
- DNB: Oilers desperate to return to winning ways after dreadful loss to Flames
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers top prospect Xavier Bourgault is stalling in the AHL
- New DNB: The Flames are shopping Chris Tanev. Do the Oilers have what it takes to get him?
- Lowetide: How can Brad Holland and Oilers pro scouts impact trade deadline?
- New DNB: Why the Oilers shouldn’t trade Warren Foegele before the NHL trade deadline
- Lowetide: Why this Oilers-Bruins 4-player trade makes sense for both teams
- New DNB: Why a scoring winger should be the Oilers’ top trade deadline priority
- Lowetide: Where can the Edmonton Oilers improve their draft strategy in 2024?
- Lowetide: What are the Edmonton Oilers’ 5 biggest trade deadlines ever?
- Lowetide: Breaking down the Oilers’ 50-man list at the trade deadline
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers top 20 prospects ranking, winter 2023
WHAT TO EXPECT IN MARCH
- On the road to: SEA (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- At home to: PIT (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- On the road to: BOS, CBJ, BUF, PIT (Expected 2-1-1) (Actual 0-0-0)
- At home to: WAS, COL, MON, BUF (Expected 2-1-1) (Actual 0-0-0)
- On the road to: TOR, OTT, WPG (Expected 1-2-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- AT HOME TO: LAK, ANA (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- Overall expected result: 8-5-2, 18 points in 15 games
- Actual March results:
- Oilers in 2023-24: 35-20-2, 72 points in 57 games
I think the Oilers will have some adjustment games as the new deadline additions find their way. I’ll guess the team acquires a center and a RH defenseman and the roster down the stretch of the regular season. If I’m Ken Holland, and know this is the last chance Texaco, I would do this:
- Nuge-McDavid-Hyman
- Kane-Draisaitl-Toffoli
- Foegele-McLeod-Perry
- Janmark-Ryan-Tomasino
- Brown
- Ekholm-Bouchard
- Nurse-Carrier
- Kulak-Ceci
- Desharnais
- Skinner, Pickard
I’ve gone all Andy and bolted the doors, turned the PA on and have the record player on screech while “The Marriage of Figaro” raises the spirits of sad souls to majestic heights. Alas, I know the doors will be ripped apart, and I will pay for my sins. Ladies and gentlment, I traded Dylan Holloway, Philip Broberg, Beau Akey, the 2024 first-round selection and the 2025 third-round pick in exchange for Tyler Toffoli, Philip Tomasino and Alex Carrier (plus some retention). Get busy living, or get busy dying. Here’s what next season’s roster would look like:
- Nuge-McDavid-Hyman
- Kane-Draisaitl-Philip Tomasino
- Dakota Joshua-McLeod-Foegele
- Raphael Lavoie–Oscar Sundqvist-Perry
- Ryan
- Ekholm-Bouchard
- Nurse-Alex Carrier
- Kulak-Jalen Chatfield
- Ben Gleason
- Skinner, Olivier Rodrigue
That’s a lot of changes, but Tomasino in and Holloway out gives the team a RH shot and a little more offensive potential. Dakota Joshua is a load and would give that third line a different look, the fourth line should be difficult to play against and young Lavoie should have an easier baptism with size and filth alongside. Carrier’s acquisition and the signing of Jalen Chatfield would give the team a different look and one hopes that the 2025 deadline doesn’t see a need for a No. 2 RW, a No. 4 C and a No. 2 RHD. No guarantees, though.
WHAT WILL HOLLAND DO?
Ken Holland’s history is full of clues to guide this week. Chances are he makes a trade sooner than later, the main target being a famous player. If I had to guess, this is probably Holland’s list:
- Jake Guentzel
- Pavel Buchnevich
- Colton Parayko
- Tyler Toffoli
Chris Tanev- Adam Henrique
- Vladimir Tarasenko
- Anthony Mantha
- Nic Dowd
- Jordan Eberle
- Sean Walker
- Zach Bogosian
- Reilly Smith
- Nick Seeler
- Matt Dumba
- David Savard
- Alex Carrier
- Scott Laughton
- Sam Carrick
- Brandon Duhaime
- Jonattan Bergren
- Adam Boqvist
- Mikael Granlund
- Mike Hoffman
- Kevin Hayes
- Luke Kunin
I would have Philip Tomasino, Arthur Kaliyev, Kaapo Kakko and myriad other young players who could be available at the deadline. The Oilers can’t afford any more slow and some of these names will be a drag on the Oilers overall speed. Holland has already acquired too many forwards with feet of clay. I don’t believe it will be long now before we see the Oilers make the move.
Bettman 500 as of this morning for the West…
WPG 22
DAL 20
COL 17
—————
VAN 21
EDM 16
VEG 12
—————
LA 11
NAS 10
=========
CAL 5
ST LOUIS 5
Vegas is closer to falling into a WC spot than catching the Oil. If there struggles continue it is even possible that they fall completely out of the playoffs and one of Calgary or St Louis catches the last WC.Could another Battle of Alberta playoff edition be in the cards???
Bettman 500 as of this morning for the West…EXPANDED VERSION
team/B500 GR avg W% remaining opponents L10
WPG 22 23 .561 8-2-0
DAL 20 19 .519 4-3-3
COL 17 20 .555 5-4-1
—————
VAN 21 20 .557 4-5-1
EDM 16 24 .546 6-3-1
VEG 12 21 .541 3-6-1
—————
LA 11 23 .517 6-4-0
NAS 10 20 .531 8-2-0
=========
CAL 5 22 .533 7-3-0
ST LOUIS 5 22 .527 4-5-1
Vegas is closer to falling into a WC spot than catching the Oil. If there struggles continue it is even possible that they fall completely out of the playoffs and one of Calgary or St Louis catches the last WC.Could another Battle of Alberta playoff edition be in the cards???
(Sorry for the formatting — posting doesn’t like the use of tab spacing…)
Cale Makar now a -9 since Feb 1 but everyone here keeps texting how hard he’ll be to play in the playoffs.
Poor kid has had to take a gruesome assignment from a thoroughly mediocre coach and can’t hack it… shocking with his haircut. And that’s before HH admits Bo Byram isn’t worth a bag of pucks at this point.
The Avalanche will be in Calgary ripdown in October 2025 alongside those geriatrics in Fort Worth.
It’s awesome that Vancouver signed a B level “Star” to a Draisaitl level contract. Seriously he’s not even the top scorer on his team in a career contract season 😂 he’s PLD 2.0 but… more of a loser?
Keep telling me how hard it is to play the Ginger who’s been on “load management,” his entire career and how we should emulate a franchise that has set hockey back a decade.
FART.
Look it’s not that Vegas is crap warmed over it’s just that sometimes folks are stuck in the past instead of looking forward.
I know, I get it, it’s hard to digest the Oilers as the best team in hockey but eventually after a lot of psychotic trade proposals ya’ll will eventually come around 😊
LT-Just heard tonight the Oilers are the second oldest team in the league and your moves would only make them older. I would place faith in Holloway,who looks better with each passing game, bring up Broberg and have him rotate in on the third pair, and Lavoie also on the third and fourth line. I don’t believe Nashville is trading anyone as they are in playoff contention and neither Carrier not Tomasino appear to be upgrades. The Canucks are not letting Dakota Joshua leave.
Did Ron just say the Good Guys are the second oldest team behind the upcoming Pens?
Boo yuck
Actually slightly older than the Penguins and oldest in the league.
https://www.eliteprospects.com/league/nhl/teams-physical-stats/2023-2024
Vegas has lost 7 of 9 (is that a Voyager reference, LT?).
One of the best games of this season.
Oilers played the smartest possible game, and Seattle’s eventual goal tastes bitter in their mouth, for all of the good it did for them.
With the W Oilers went ahead of the Vegas Blackguards by points – which baseball fans should understand is calculated entirely by points when it’s the end of the season.
Canucks are even doable, provided Oilers keep playing this quality of hockey.
5th place in the West.
ps: wrote this before seeing the Vegas game result.
Oh yeah! Oh yeah! Oh Yeah!
Ryan Mcleod has just gone 16 games and gotten 1 assist. 16 Shots on the net. Not moving the needle enough.
McLeod does have value via being an elite defensive center and transition player at 5 on 5 – even when he’s in a funk.
1.51 GA/60 is sublime/elite (and a 60% goal share).
Agreed. Snakebitten a bit, but things are usually moving the right direction with him on the ice. Easy player to cheer for by eye, as well.
Worried about McLeod? 1 assist in 16 games? Well. It can be ignored, or it can be considered. But if you look at where his drop-off started, and extrapolate a bit given context and newsworthiness of certain events close to him, though not directly involving him, you can imagine some causality.
Summarizing!
Määttä potted his 4th goal of the season, giving him 3+2 in his last seven games.
Mazura and Münzenberger were not recipients of soup. They shall have to content themselves with radishes instead.
Day did indeed get the night off.
Someone send the Sabres an edible arrangement 👍🏼
Edibles have been sent
Also, please god let LA finish 3rd and Vegas 4th. Please please please.
Vegas is sinking like a Stone tonight. Oilers will officially pass them in the standings tonight, as the Sabres are spanking them right now
Well played
..
Dear Holland,
Get Crosby, you coward!!
Best,
Uncle ucking Steve.
Skins Effy Stonem https://www.pinterest.com/pin/effy-stonem–550494754468644767/
Ooops.
Skins Effing Stones ‘Em
I love it when LT or anyone puts down their thoughts on roster changes.
I would keep Holloway, he is a buzzsaw all over the ice and still growing. Low scoring so far but so was Hyman at same age.
but I love the idea of targeting 22-24 year old players to keep speed and energy up. Tomasino needs to work out his game still, but he can score, while Joshua has looked excellent this year.
Unpopular opinion, but I do not see Lavoie as having any significant success at the NHL level. I would capitalize on his value now or summer. Lavoie plus whatever pick to bring in the Tomasino’s or Kaliyev’s.
I’m all for Tomasino or Kaliyev; but what value does Lavoie actually have? He cleared waivers earlier in the year.
Now I actually think that Lavoie has a future; but based on current value he’s likely to be a throw in, at which point the Oilers may as well keep him. Gonna need cheap guys.
Same as it always was
If Ralph puts effort into his skating and energy level he will have a long career
If he can score enough in the right situation maybe, but he’s in no man’s land right now
There are thousands of talented hockey players in the world. The difference is in pro level effort and consistency
I don’t imagine Lavoie as anything more than C-level prospect value.
He likely has less value now than when he cleared waivers in October as he’s simply run in place in the AHL this season.
All he is now is older and becoming more expensive with another increased QO for next season and not alot of tangible development.
FWIW, Hyman was still in the NCAA at Holloway’s age (22 yrs old).
Hyman didn’t play in an NHL game until he was 24.
(details aside, that’s a solid comparison and a strong point)
Hyman’s career arc is completely unique. I don’t think we’ll ever see anything like this again.
Lol. Foegele is going through it right now. He’s Hyman lite. Late-blooming is actually a typical career arc for someone off that tree. What is unique is such a player–once establishing himself–getting to play alongside Glimmer and racking up all the glam points.
And those two were by no means the first. Charlie Simmer is off that tree AND got the same gift of linemates. Wayne Cashman. Crosby is the smartest, most talented player off that tree, all time. He bloomed early, which is rare for the scoring grinder. Many many others.
Seriously – Charlie Simmer?? At least get your facts right … he was putting up 50 goal seasons ant age 25.
Foegele??? If you believe that, then we better get him extended to 5×5.5 right now.
Crosby is one of the top 5 players to ever play.
None of these examples come close to Hyman’s career arc.
Derek Ryan would like to say hello.
Derek Ryan?? He’s never had a 40 point season, let alone 40 goals and counting. What are you guys drinking tonight?
Not quite sure what you’re arguing against here. The point made was that players like Holloway often mature and improve their scoring a bit later.
I don’t think anyone was trying to claim Holloway is going to be a 40 or 50 goal scorer (I certainly wasn’t), though that seems to be what you’re arguing against.
The comparison made was that all the players listed made considerable gains in their mid/late 20s. They did, and Holloway may as well, especially considering his skill set.
And you guffawed at Simmer, but his scoring by year looked like this before he was placed with Dionne and Taylor:
20 35GP 8-13-21
21 21GP 1-1-2
22 24GP 2-0-2
23 3GP 0-0-0
24 39GP 13-23-36 in the AHL
Then he gets a call, is put with high end linemates and instantly becomes a top player. Seems like a great example of a late blooming scorer with at least some skillset similarities to Holloway.
That phantom call on Nuge was sad the whole game was hooking and holding and the Refs were desperate enough to call that shit on a veteran like Nuge.
It was NOT a phantom call. Watch the replay, he got a handful of the SEA player.
Greg Louganis would have been proud.
Call on Draisaitl was just as bad, defender reaches back and grabs Draisaitl then Draisaitl gets called for holding? Lol
Nice to see them barking at the refs we need a closer level playing field come playoff time against Hollyweird and the Mob.
Foegele 673k
3 pts 13 games
Janmark 245k
4 pts 12 games
Since all star break.
Trade Foegele, use the cap space.
The pump and dump window closed the second Holland signed Perry. Once Jackson and company take the steering wheel next year I expect to see more vision.
Everybody talks about team defence being key to success.
Yet when evaluating players it’s only about points?
Janmark is Nuge’s winger on the PK, the 1st unit.
Foegele is sold as a top 6 forward yet wouldn’t be a top 6 forward on any contender.
Foegele makes 2.5x to Janmark.
Play Janmark on the 3rd line and find an actual top 6 forward.
Foegele gets 0.35sec a game on pp and 0.54secs of PK
Janmark gets 0.02sec a game on pp and 1.52mins a game on the PK.
Foegele has 1 pp point.
Oilers take 5th most penalties in the league.
Janmark has his role for a very nice price tag, Oilers could definitely keep team defense intact moving out Foegele.
Janmark actually plays more PK per game then any forward on the team, the only players that see more PK time then Janmark are defenders.
And we’re talking about moving him out? When the Oilers take the 5th most penalties in the league?
I believe they are suggesting moving Foggie, not Janmark
Who? Where? He’s a solid top 6 forward in several posters eyes.
There’s a post not very far down that says move Janmark out and use his cap space.
Firstly, I never ever said that Foegele was a solid top 6 forward. I have simply posted his production, his actual points at 5 on 5 over various samples of (1) this season, (2) the last 82 games, (3) the last two seasons and (4) the last three seasons.
In all of those samples, his 5 on 5 scoring was top 6 among all forwards in the NHL and in two of those samples, 1st line.
This was in response to most of the targets mentioned as top 6 upgrades – many of which were/are not if we are talking about points at 5 on 5.
Secondly, citing this tiny sample size of Janmark vs. Foegele which is clearly cherry-picked and not even close to a resemblance of offensive impact of the players is telling.
Spoken like a true lawyer OP. You’ve never said anything definitive ever but lordy whichever way the wind is blowing you sure seem to catch the breeze 😉
At long last…
It’s funny, I never look at the straight points any more. The Oilers have been ahead of Vegas by points% for ages.
Anyway, not being negative or anything, but this doesn’t feel like a milestone for me, lol.
The media looks at points in the bank. That’s really the milestone. Officialityness
Yes, there’s logic to it.
But by ‘performance in the games they’ve played’ the Oilers have been ahead for some time.
That feels like the most reasonable way to evaluate for me, even if not all the points have been banked.
It definitely is a choice though (or not, but that’s an entirely different discussion).
I look forward to the next hop for the frog. 9 points back and 4 in hand.
Me too.
Ribbit!
3-1
Not only are the Oilers ahead of the Knights by points (with games in hand) but their points percentage is +.30 on the Knights – .638 to .608 – that’s a significant gap.
Considering how far back this team came from….
Theodore and Eichel have missed a lot of games. Hill too.
Yea I re almost like it’s a Man’s game and boys have a hard time staying healthy 🤷♂️
Should Gary give Vegas some sympathy points then?
Games missed:
Theodore 35
Eichel 18
Stone 4
Carrier 17
Karlsson 12
Stephenson 4
Roy 9
Howden 6
Pietrangelo 5
Hague 8
Whitecloud 16
Hutton 29
Hill 15?
At one point they had 3 AHL D in the lineup at the same time.
Amazing that they hung in there.
Skinner save on Ebs with the last few seconds of the game ticking away was named the Seattle broadcast’s Verizon Play of the Game.
Janmark has more points then Foegele since the all star break.
Time to trade him at peak value!
Janmark to WSH for Dowd with $300k retained.
I was screaming for the team to trade Foegele at his peak, that’s long gone.
That’s some well done satire there.
Skinner continuing to prove that his dip for the first few weeks after the break was simply a slump, something all goalies go through – he’s been elite for 3 in a row now.
Well deserved day off for Stu tomorrow.
It wasn’t a dip. The team defense was lousy.
It’s funny how all the negatives are exactly your narrative and when positives are happening you don’t drop by to post.
Very curious 😉
Kinda positive for Skinner.
I post nearly every day. I am a godot that you don’t have to wait long for.
I know the haters wish I was more like the original.
well it’s a posts per sixty sorta thing and you’re basically Connor Brown’s goal scoring prowess whenever a win streak
comes about.
remember that time Broberg was saving Bouchard? I do 😊
There was 100% a dip – I responded to your post the other day that said this with tangibles examples of differences in his play, as per usual, no response thereto so I won’t waste the time re-state the basis for my opinion.
Stu points! #Goilers
Great job by Desharnais on that pk
I’ve been mostly negative on Skinner this year but he literally stole this one with unbelievable goaltending. Well done
Was at the game sitting behind him and he was very much outstanding! Made a few that were unbelievable! Solid effort!
Full marks for Skinner today. Made the lead stand.
Way to go Skinner.
Nice game, Skinner.
Skinner full value for the win!!!
Whew! Sure made it more stressful than needed but still a good win.
Skinner deserved a shutout today, but they’ll take the two points and the leapfrog over the Kiniggits.
Skinner with a wonderful game. Just outstanding on that last PK
Janmark over Foegele on the kill with Hopkins…hmmm
Great damn game by Skinner. Really strong.
Eberle didn’t dust that one off – was that a crazy save by Stu????
Brownie time?
Not sure that was the smartest play by Drai.
Not a smart play by Drai but absolutely a dive by Mccann. Blow it down and send them both off.
Stupid penalty
McCann sold that hard, but you can see why they called it.
Just to make it interesting. Dumb play but they coulda easily called the dive, too.
Beautiful shift by Janmark-Nuge-Foegele with Nurse-Ceci.
Tough luck on those PK bounces to guide the puck in.
Nurse playing goalie there. Oops.
Bad luck on that goal.
Nomomoto…
reffing The scoreboard there
Was about to comment what a bad shift Nurse had – seems to be disinterested/just not on his game tonight.
And then BOOM, a goal. We’ll take it.
Skinner has had to be on his game tonight.
Helluva shift Kulak.
Yea not sure that’s a guy we trade. Having a solid year.
I can’t see Holland moving him
The key is to use the $2.4MM deadline cap space along with the cap space of the player or two moved off the roster (i.e. Gagner/Janmark/Brown) to ADD without subtracting a material player (Kulak, Foegele, Ceci).
Yea, get some more puck skill in the forward ranks so 3rd line producers aren’t moonlighting in the top 6.
Foegele is watching Janmark play top 6.
Id say in the coaches eyes Janmark is equal to Foegele if deployment means anything.
Yes, the Janmark the was deployed as a healthy scratch within the last few weeks.
Foegele working on his 6th straight 0-0-0 game. Woot.
I thought Draisaitl scored that. We’ll see where it ends up.
Big goal though, after that rocking chair start to the 3rd by the Oilers 😉
BOOM!!! Great hard working shift!!! Kulak saves a goal then scores!!!
Was that Kulak or Leon?
Nice play, either way.