Ken Holland had a very good day on Wednesday, taking advantage of a buyer’s market to reset the center position on a strong NHL team. The headlines landed in Vegas, and for good reason, but the Oilers are much stronger today. I don’t know if you remember, but I suggested a few weeks ago a center would be a fine idea. Then on February 2 on this blog, I wrote:
- LC Adam Henrique. He’s always on the Oilers acquisition list whenever reaching free agency (if Edmonton is a contender). Henrique is a center, and maybe the Oilers grab a winger. However, he has great utility (PP, PK, faceoffs) and a wealth of experience. Rachel Doerrie mentioned him as a strong candidate for the Oilers on her Monday Lowdown hit on Sports 1440.
The cost, considering the retention and the fact two players were coming in and none were going out, was lower than I thought it might be. Holland and the management team improved a strong club in this deal and the asset cost was not severe considering the return. That’s a very good day.
THE ATHLETIC
- Lowetide: Oilers’ trade deadline plan on defence is coming into view
- DNB: Oilers defense secures third-period comeback and OT win vs. Bruins
- Lowetide: Which under-the-radar Oilers prospect could be traded before the NHL deadline?
- DNB: How Calvin Pickard has affirmed his spot on the Oilers
- Lowetide: Is Edmonton Oilers prospect Raphael Lavoie a tweener?
- 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 FROM MARCH
- On the road to: SEA (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 1-0-0)
- At home to: PIT (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 1-0-0)
- On the road to: BOS, CBJ, BUF, PIT (Expected 2-1-1) (Actual 1-0-0)
- 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: 3-0-0, 6 points in three games
- Oilers in 2023-24: 38-20-2, 78 points in 60 games
The Boston game in the distance, this month’s schedule has just four more hurdles (Colorado, Toronto, Winnipeg, Los Angeles) and losses in all of those games (and wins elsewhere) would put the record at 8-4-0. That would give Edmonton a 72 game total of 46-24-2, 94 points in 72 games.
WHAT THE HELL HANIFAN?
The return does seem a bit shy, doesn’t it? My guess is that Noah Hanifin had a big say in where he was headed and Vegas was one of the spots he would be willing to extend. It’s a sweet deal for the Golden Knights, and I give full credit to Kelly McCrimmon. You can get angry and stomp your feet, but the VGK are aggressive, were willing to give up a first and found the most attractive asset available on a day when prices were historically low. If you ever wanted to know how Sam Pollock did business, here you go. The Golden Knights have built a better mousetrap and they’re going to hammer in the morning, hammer in the evening, all over this land. Good for them.
NOT REPLACING CECI
I read a lot about Ceci as the guy who will cost the Stanley, but for me his resume in Edmonton is far richer and more varied than is being suggested online currently. Yes, he did struggle (and was not alone) against Vegas, but you may recall he had a “core injury” down the stretch and in the post season. Since November 24, when yet another Oilers coach sacrificed his career in the name of some new defensive scheme, the Oilers have deployed their blue versus elites five-on-five in this way (with DFF pct results). Notice the gap closing between Cody Ceci and Vincent Desharnais. This is PuckIQ:
- Evan Bouchard 249 mins, 68 pct
- Mattias Ekholm 242 mins, 68 pct
- Darnell Nurse 232 mins, 51 pct
- Cody Ceci 220 mins, 49 pct
- Vincent Desharnais 161 mins, 52 pct
- Brett Kulak 159 mins, 62 pct
A couple of notes: In 2022-23, Vincent Desharnais played just 58 minutes versus elites, Ceci played 493 minutes. The times they are a changin’. Second, Ceci has played 63 minutes with McDavid versus elites in 2023-24, when a year ago that total was 205 minutes. By the way, according to Puck IQ, Ceci away from McDavid this season holds a 50.5 percent DFF percentage versus elites in 231 minutes. This new coaching staff is finding solutions and changing deployment. They are enamored with Mr. Desharnais. I think he might be the deadline edition at No. 2 RHD.
HOW DO THINGS LOOK NOW?
With Dylan Holloway and Sam Gagner in the minors, and moves to be made in the next 24 hours, here’s how the club might look in the days to come.
I know many of you will have different ideas (my idea is below) but I do think the Henrique deal was made with the idea of keeping the glimmer twins together. The roster here allows it. Now, here’s what I would like to see.
Acquiring Carrier doesn’t mean that Desharnais or Ceci won’t play second pair but it does mean the coaching staff has options. If one player rises to the occasion, music! If someone gets hurt, then that’s covered too. The Holloway demotion is a bat signal, we all know it. The player acquired now can be a little higher on the cap tree. I also want to mention I love the McLeod-Draisaitl-Foegele line. In 89 five-on-five minutes, they are 10-3 goals, with a 60 percent expected goal share. I know you have to wait until the 200-minute level, but I’d like to see how those final 111 minutes play out.
Can the Oilers acquire Alex Carrier, or was I just smoking the drapes all night? We’ll talk about it today on the Lowdown, noon to 2pm on Sports 1440. Bagged Milk from Oilers Nation will join us to talk Oilers tonight and yesterday’s trade. We’ll also chat about Vegas Golden Knights and their Sam Pollockian general manager. 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.
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